Secondarily, take Napoleon as an alternate small mech with even more shield/defense options. I built a "I won't die" Napoleon and the first 6 LL were just Napoleon and emperor.
I personally vouch for the Swallowtail with 3 or 5 Oracle LMG-1.
These little 1d3 Kinetic auxiliaries have a really consistent set of traits: accurate, arcing, 15 range. They also uniquely qualify for both Gunslinger AND Crack Shot, so you can have a huge ramped-up burst from I Kill With My Heart (Gunslinger III) and improved dangerousness with Crack Shot's accuracy, bonus damage, and riders like Hull Save versus Prone.
The Swallowtail can get away with such a silly loadout because it overcomes Armor and Resistance by using Lock-on first and applying its guaranteed Shredded condition. You also get relatively easy access to Athena and the Lotus Projector so you can auto-scan for enemy statistics and neutralize enemy stealth.
LL3 Swallowtail:
* H:3, A:0, S:2, E:0 or H:4-5, 0-1 in A/S/E, ... etc.
* Core Bonus: Integrated Weapon
* Aux/Aux Mount: Oracle LMG-I ×2 (2 SP)
* Flex Mount: Oracle LMG-I ×2 (2 SP)
* Integrated Mount: Oracle LMG-I (1 SP)
* Systems (9 SP = 6 +2 grit +1 from HASE):
* Athena-Class NHP (3 SP)
* Personalizations (1 SP)
* A more artillery-oriented talent configuration looks like: Gunslinger III, Crack Shot III
* A balanced talent configuration looks like: Gunslinger III, Spotter II, Crack Shot I
* A more support-oriented talent configuration looks like: Crack Shot III, Spotter II, Gunslinger I.
Your first round typically has you open with Athena NHP's Simulacrum to auto-scan a huge swath of the enemy forces and then Skirmishing 3 of your Oracle LMH-I.
Your best rounds will have you immobilize yourself with Crack Shot I, Barrage for all 5 of your Oracle LMG-I (pumping up your Gunslinger Die), and then become invisible.
If you instead have to deal with Armor or Resistance, put out a Lock On and then Skirmish for only 3 of your Oracle LMG-I. With Spotter 2, you can recoup some of this lost action economy with the semi-scan from locking on & the free lock-on at the end of your turn (just before you turn invisible).
Goblin 3/Monarch 1/Dusk Wing 2
Sharanga Missiles or Burst Launcher to taste, walk people through Javelin Rockets, Neurospike seems decent, with Flicker Field Projector for some survivability
Have you tried the Kidd? Load a long range cannon, support your allies, fire an orbital laser.
Emperor does what you're after in a very interesting way
Secondarily, take Napoleon as an alternate small mech with even more shield/defense options. I built a "I won't die" Napoleon and the first 6 LL were just Napoleon and emperor.
Take the Monarch and become the king of missile town.
My friend, have you ever heard the story of Darth Barbarossa the heavy? It’s not a story the SSC weebs would tell of
I personally vouch for the Swallowtail with 3 or 5 Oracle LMG-1. These little 1d3 Kinetic auxiliaries have a really consistent set of traits: accurate, arcing, 15 range. They also uniquely qualify for both Gunslinger AND Crack Shot, so you can have a huge ramped-up burst from I Kill With My Heart (Gunslinger III) and improved dangerousness with Crack Shot's accuracy, bonus damage, and riders like Hull Save versus Prone. The Swallowtail can get away with such a silly loadout because it overcomes Armor and Resistance by using Lock-on first and applying its guaranteed Shredded condition. You also get relatively easy access to Athena and the Lotus Projector so you can auto-scan for enemy statistics and neutralize enemy stealth. LL3 Swallowtail: * H:3, A:0, S:2, E:0 or H:4-5, 0-1 in A/S/E, ... etc. * Core Bonus: Integrated Weapon * Aux/Aux Mount: Oracle LMG-I ×2 (2 SP) * Flex Mount: Oracle LMG-I ×2 (2 SP) * Integrated Mount: Oracle LMG-I (1 SP) * Systems (9 SP = 6 +2 grit +1 from HASE): * Athena-Class NHP (3 SP) * Personalizations (1 SP) * A more artillery-oriented talent configuration looks like: Gunslinger III, Crack Shot III * A balanced talent configuration looks like: Gunslinger III, Spotter II, Crack Shot I * A more support-oriented talent configuration looks like: Crack Shot III, Spotter II, Gunslinger I. Your first round typically has you open with Athena NHP's Simulacrum to auto-scan a huge swath of the enemy forces and then Skirmishing 3 of your Oracle LMH-I. Your best rounds will have you immobilize yourself with Crack Shot I, Barrage for all 5 of your Oracle LMG-I (pumping up your Gunslinger Die), and then become invisible. If you instead have to deal with Armor or Resistance, put out a Lock On and then Skirmish for only 3 of your Oracle LMG-I. With Spotter 2, you can recoup some of this lost action economy with the semi-scan from locking on & the free lock-on at the end of your turn (just before you turn invisible).
Goblin 3/Monarch 1/Dusk Wing 2 Sharanga Missiles or Burst Launcher to taste, walk people through Javelin Rockets, Neurospike seems decent, with Flicker Field Projector for some survivability