Subscribe to download
Merc-LAV

The Merc-LAV (Light Assault Vessel) is a remix of jrandall's excellent Merc-MAV SV here: https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1629437230
which is probably my favorite SV in Empyrion ever. Unfortunately, it hasn't been updated for a while and the game has moved on without it.

The original MAV is an amazing POI destroyer but all of its giant thrusters, rocket pods, and heavy armor shoot it all the way up into the Tier 4 CPU range, making it impossible to acquire in survival until late in the game, and even then needing extensive retrofits to get the CPU situation under control.

The LAV was created by removing the rocket pods and engine nacelles from the central fuselage and replacing all heavy steel armor with regular steel blocks. All weapons were removed save for a gatling gun added under the cockpit A-10 style. Painstaking effort was taken to re-imagine the exterior in the style of the MAV without compromising on the original cargo volume (4125 standard, 2500 ammo) or introducing too much vulnerability.

The constructors behind the cockpit were removed and replaced with a designated area to place a hull shield later. Also present are designated areas for additional weapons, a pentaxid tank, and T2 CPU. While it is bulky and lightly armed for the amount of materials it requires, it does not need any non-started resources and is just shy of the 6000 CPU limit for Tier 1.

The LAV is not the insane POI destroyer that its older brother is, but it is a good starter SV with room to grow and can even carry passengers in the back (seats not included). It will be able to take you anywhere on and off planet and can shoot up the occasional hostile drone.

Some other minor changes from the MAV:
-One of the fridges was removed (I usually only play with one fridge in any of my vehicles)
-A couple of fuel tanks were removed to save on CPU costs
-The interior area was rearranged to allow easy access to fuel, O2, and (future) pentaxid tanks all adjacent to each other
-Standard Thruster M's were used rather than the enclosed versions since they can be upgraded to T2 Thruster M's via the Multi-Tool later once Cobalt is acquired