RPG Labour Jacks

[PG_Norton]

I was reading the latest No Quarter and they were talking about a arcane mechanics starting with a light labour jack.

I was thinking that this may end up being a new light jack option for Mercs.

What do you guys think and what do you think it will have and cost. I am thinking 3 points, speed 5, str 8, mat 5, rat 4, def 12, armour 16, with two open fists, power 4. (P+S=12)

[canadianone]

um, my only question is, why would anyone take that Jack... it doesn't do anything, 10/10 i would prefer the buccaneer. 2 P+S 12 fists just doesn't do damage, speed 5 is terrible for a jack. I know its cheap, but it really doesn't serve any purpose i can conceivably think of. Im not trying to be rude or obnoxious, its just that if you look at the other types of 3 point jacks, one has a great KD ability, the other two have good weapons and are incredibly focus efficient. This Jack just doesn't DO anything unlike the other ones.

[Ashcans]

I agree with the above.

The Buccaneer is probably the closest template we have for a weaponized labor jack, as that's basically what it is. Based on what you have posted, you've kept the same points cost (3) but reduced the SPD, MAT, RAT, and DEF and dropped it's ranged weapon and Assault ability in exchange for one point of ARM and a second open fist. Seems like a pretty lackluster trade.

Honestly I would like to have a light jack with a couple open fists so that I could use more power attacks without feeling like I am wasting my Nomad's/Mangler's activation. But I think that you would want to keep the Buccaneers basic profile, maybe just add one point of ARM. Then give it a useful melee ability like with Combo-Smite (* AttacK), or something new like 'Grappler: This model may perform locks, pushes, headbutts and throws without spending focus'.

It would still probably lose out to the Buccaneer, though.

[Lanz]

Could be a 2-point 'jack. In which case 3-4 of them would be great for board control if you can manage the focus. They'd be tougher than almost any 2 point solo for the same cost.

[Ashcans]

A 2-pt jack would be great. And if it had something like Grappler (or a similar focus-saving feature) you could marshall a couple of them to someone like Sam or Rutger and have a grand time!

[bStyker]

"Lesser Warjack?" They could be like Lesser Warbeasts a la Legion, only as Warjacks. Maybe they can only be Jack-Marshal'd as their Cortex isn't strong enough to be linked w/o exploding or something? (Or they can only be allocated 1-2 focus max?)

I'm thinking something along the lines of:
SPD 6, ARM 14, 12 boxes (2 in each column, with decent Rhulic distribution of systems...), and w/o the ability to Slam/etc.

Picture them kinda like Half-Jacks, only that instead of becoming mines, they can actually attack w terrible stats? Their main use would be to be a general nuisance, or perhaps repair a la "Bodge" ability that Half-jacks have?

3 points for a unit of 2?

[Ashcans]

I am not sure I would actually want Lesser Warjacks, now that I conside rit, because it would a terrible shame to get another jack with two open fists and not have it able to power attack.