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Author Topic: Dr. Hellbringer (Or . . . How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Clans)  (Read 1235 times)

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masterarminas

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Dr. Hellbringer
 
(Or . . . How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Clans)

As a satirical look at how a Clan scientist might well try to prank the Khans, the Hellbringer (Inner Sphere designation:  Loki) appears to be the single best example.  On paper, the design at first appears to be rather formidable:  An OmniMech 65-tons in overall mass, capable of reaching and sustaining overland speeds of 86.4 kilometers per hour, thirteen double-strength heat sinks tanked into the engine core, and twenty-eight and a half tons (good God, ya’ll!  What is it good for?) of space for weapon pods.  But those laughing scientists pulled their prank, because the canon Hellbringer is outfitted with 8.0 tons of standard armor.  Yep, you heard right.  Less armor than a 3025-era Griffin or Shadow Hawk or Wolverine or Vindicator; the same armor package as shown by the 3025-era Phoenix Hawk!

And whereas that P-Hawk of old almost maxed out what it could carry, the Hellbringer is a very thin-clad heavy.  In fact, it has LIGHTER armor than the P-Hawk on the center torso, right torso, and left torso fronts, the same on the legs, marginally better armor on the arms, and MUCH better armor on the rear and head.  What?  (You ask; we all asked.)

And the reason that the Hellbringer carries such a criminal low level of armor protection, my friends?  The scientists who designed and built it used STANDARD internal structure and STANDARD armor plating.  That is right, they were penny-wise and pound-foolish to the extreme.  Had they instead used endo-steel internal structure and ferro-fibrous armor plating, they could have fitted 3 more tons of armor while retaining EXACTLY the same amount of pod-space.  That is enough armor to transform the Hellbringer from the package of an average Inner Sphere medium to the maximum amount of armor possible on a 65-ton chassis—more than a Thunderbolt and NO ONE calls the Thud under-armored.

That is why I call the design penny-wise and pound-foolish, my friends.  The designers save a grand total of 359,700 C-Bills on the design.  On an OmniMech that costs more than 19,000,000 C-Bills for the Prime version.  That is less than 2% of the price in having to replace a Hellbringer.  Wow.  Now, I know that we couldn’t have the Clans with an abundance of GOOD designs (since the Inner Sphere was destined to win), but it truly strains the imagination to see just what the Khans thought they were saving here.

What armor the Hellbringer does have is fairly well thought out, sort of.  All locations (except the head) can take an AC-20 hit (ONCE!) and remain functional.  Only the center torso can take two shots from a Gauss Rifle or a Clan ER PPC, but the rear can at least stop a Clan ER Medium Laser from penetrating.

And then we get to the configurations.  Oh boy.

The Prime has just the 13 double-strength heat sinks banked in the engine.  Now, I don’t know what the designers were thinking:  either it is a sniper, or an electronic specialist, or anti-infantry specialist, or a close-quarters combat specialist; it tries to do it all.  Each arm carries an ER PPC.  Backing up these guns are a Streak SRM-6 (15 shots) in the right torso, with a pair of MGs and a half-ton of ammunition (100 shots).  The left torso carries a 3-ton, 3-critical targeting computer, an Active Probe, an ECM Suite, and three ER Medium Lasers.  The head carries an AMS with 24 shots in the center torso (huh?  Did they forget they have ample room in the side torsos?).  Finally, each leg has TWO A-Pods, for a total of four.  FOUR.  At range, the Hellbringer Prime overheats by +7 (both ER PPCs; the AMS; and a run); in close it is either oversinked or dramatically undersinked, generating -4 (ER Mediums; Streak SRM-6; AMS; running) or +11 (ER PPC; all three ER Mediums; Streak SRM-6; AMS ; while running).  Now, it can be heat neutral if you walk, use the AMS, fire one ER PPC, and two ER Mediums—but in that case, all of other guns are just dead-weight.  It carries two MGs, so why the A-Pods?  I mean that would two more DHS right there, folks?  Which would you rather have:  four one-shot weapons only good against conventional infantry or two more DHS?  Hmmmmm?

Configuration A is another head scratcher.  The right arm carries an Ultra AC-5 with 20 shots; complemented by a pair of ER Large in the left arm.  These are backed up by an LRM-20 in the right torso, with a single ton of ammunition (6 shots . . . SIX SHOTS!  What the . . . ?) .  We also get those twin MGs in the right torso, but this time we get a full ton of ammunition (200 shots), but the ammunition is stored in the CENTER TORSO again.  What is it with the Hellbringer and CT bombs?  Huh?  The left torso carries a NARC homing beacon launcher, with one ton of beacons (it is déjà vue all over again; 6 shots . . . SIX SHOTS!) and an Active Probe.  Last, but not least, we get an ER Medium in the head.  Same 13 DHS (did anyone consider 13 to be an unlucky number?  Because it is for this OmniMech.)  Firing both ER Larges, the UAC-5 on double-tap, the LRM-20, and running put this design at +8.  By the time the NARC even gets into range, the odds are the LRM-20 has already exhausted its ammunition.  So our close in heat drops to +7, at least until the UAC-5 jams or runs out of ammo (10 double-taps is NOT GOOD).

Configuration B seems to know what it wants; my belief is that it is trying to commit suicide.  The main weapon is a Gauss Rifle in the right arm with one ton of ammunition (8 shots . . . FACEPALM).  This is backed up by an LB-5X in the right arm with . . . (wait for it) . . . one ton of ammunition.  Twenty shots, but we can’t load both slug and cluster to choose between them; nope, you get one or the other.  For close-in work, we get two SRM-6s with Artemis IV (with TWO tons of ammunition, thankfully) and an ER Small Laser.  This configuration CANNOT overheat.  Firing everything on a run results in 12 heat and you dissipate 26.  Way to go on designing an OmniMech that is efficient, fellows.  Bravo.  (Sarcasm mode disengaged,  >:D)

We don’t get the C Configuration until after the Truce of Tukayyid.   This model has an ATM-6 in the right arm as the main gun (three tons of ammunition, giving 30 shots; are they learning?), with an ER Large and two ER Smalls in the left arm.  We’ve also got two ER Mediums in the left torso, and in the right torso a massive LB-20X autocannon (three tons of ammunition for 15 shots; thank God!).   This model can run and gun with everything BUT the twin ER Mediums for +2 on the heat scale; adding those weapons puts us at +12.  I think it would have been better to remove the ER Smalls and one ER Medium for two more DHS; but hey, what do I know?

Configuration D has possibilities (there are always possibilities, Jim), but the execution is worthy of a Vo-Tech student, not a Clan engineer.  Each arm carries two Plasma Cannons (a ton of ammunition each, for 40 shots in total).  The right and left torso are equipped with two medium pulse lasers each, while the head has a micro pulse.  Finally, once again we return to the anti-infantry pods:  four B-Pods, two in each leg.  Sigh.  Still no extra heat sinks.  We lose the ability to engage at 19+ hexes, and at anything above 13 we are looking at +4 on the heat scale (Plasma Cannons and running).  Manageable.  In close, we run cool if we fire one Plasma Cannon and the four medium pulse:  -1 on a run.  +6 if we fire two Plasma Cannons.  At least we have the ammunition reserves to use those Plasma Cannons a good long time . . . oh wait, we don’t.

Configuration E has two ER Large Lasers in the right arm and a HAG-20 in the left (two tons of ammo for 12 shots).  Plus, we have an LRM-10 with a single ton of ammo (12 shots).  +8 heat if we run and gun with everything, but thankfully, we will soon run out of ammunition.  Oh wait!  This version also has 5 jump jets!  MORE HEAT.  Thank you so very much, scientists.
 
Configuration H is the last official version of the Hellbringer.  It too has those same 13 double-strength heat sinks (ah, scientists?  Techs?  You fellows do know you add DHS to the pod-space, right?).  This model has an ER PPC in the right arm, a Heavy Large Laser in the left, and an Ultra AC-5 in the right torso (with two tons of ammunition, 40 single and 20 double shots!  Hurrah!).  The left torso carries FOUR Heavy Small Lasers, an Active Probe, and an LRM-15 with two tons of ammunition (16 shots).  Finally, just to waste space, it carries two A-Pods, one each in the right and left leg.  At range, this model runs cool:  ER PPC, UAC-5, and LRM-15 (plus a run) means we are at -2 on heat.  But in close?  That Heavy Large Laser and quad-mount Heavy Smalls (plus a run) puts us at 32; or +6.  Without the ER PPC, UAC-5, or LRM-15.

In many respects, the Hellbringer exemplifies the idiocy that many believe the Clans hold in their daily lives.  It is under-armored, under-sinked, over-weaponed, and defends against threats that reasonably pose no real menace to a 65-ton fast cavalry unit.  Unfortunately, to fit the story line, this is what designers thought the most common Clan heavy OmniMech should be.

I've posted my Improved Hellbringer HERE and would welcome anyone who wants to post their own Hellbringer ideas there as well.

Don't get me wrong, I've always loved how the Hellbringer looks, and despite my lack of faith in its criminally low armor protection, it is an OmniMech that I will use time and again.  It just could have been SO much better.

When looking at the Hellbringer (full fan article HERE), we are struck by how simple it would be to fix many of the problems.  First thing, the design gets endo-steel and 11.0 tons of ferro-fibrous armor plating.  That brings the Hellbringer up to 100% of the armor allowed on a 65-ton chassis, while keeping the pod-space identical at 28.5 tons.  To leave as much space for weapons as possible, and keep the feel of the original configurations, we allocated 1 ES and 1 FF to each leg, the right arm, center torso, and left torso, with the left arm getting 2 ES and 2 FF.  That keeps the right torso and right arm open for any big guns we might pack.

For the Prime, we carry two ER PPCs (right arm/left arm), three ER Mediums (left torso), an Active Probe (left torso), an ECM Suite (left torso), an AMS (head) with 24 shots (right torso), a Streak SRM-6 (right torso) with 15 shots (right torso), two MGs (right torso) with 100 shots (right torso), and a three-ton targeting computer (left torso).  Instead of those A-Pods, we increase our heat sinks to 15 doubles (right torso and right arm).  That is +3 on a run at range (2 ER PPCs, AMS, and run) and +3 to +7 in close (one ER PPC, 3 ER Mediums, Streak SRM-6, AMS, and run).

Configuration A has two ER Large Lasers (left arm), an LB-5X (right arm) with 40 shots (right arm), an LRM-15 with Artemis IV (right torso) with 24 shots (right torso), an Active Probe (head), and two MGs (left torso) with 100 shots (left torso).  We also mount fifteen double-strength heat sinks.  This configuration has longer-range on the LB-5X and no longer jams, and there is ample ammunition for a full ton of both slug and cluster.  The LRM rack is smaller, but endurance is greatly enhanced and we got rid of the need for that USELESS Narc launcher.  Max damage is somewhat lower, but she’s fairly cool running (+2 on a run, at long, medium, and short).

Configuration B we keep that Gauss Rifle (right arm) but bump the ammo to 24 shots (2 right arm; 1 right torso).  The old LB-5X autocannon gets replaced with an ER Large Laser (left arm).  We keep the two SRM-6 with Artemis IV but split them between the right and left torso; each also gets 15 shots (right torso; left torso).  We also upgraded the ER Small Laser in the head to an ER Medium.  Fourteen double-strength heat sinks gives us enough to run and gun with EVERYTHING and remain heat neutral.  With a half-ton left over, we add a flamer for anti-personnel work.  What?  Hellbringers seem to have AP weapons in spades in canon.

Configuration C stays much the same.  The main guns are an ER Large Laser (left arm) and an ATM-6 (right arm) with 30 shots (right arm, mix of standard, HE, and ER).  An LB-20X packs the right torso, with 15 shots (one in the right torso and two in the left torso).  Two ER Medium Lasers (left torso) round out our guns.  We add a fourteenth double-strength heat sinks (left torso), and this one is golden.  Max heat on a run with EVERYTHING is only +6.

Configuration D we change a bit on.  The left arm keeps two Plasma Cannons and 40 shots, but the right arm instead gets an ER PPC.  We keep the four Medium Pulse Lasers, but substitute a flamer for the micro-pulse and add an Active Probe (right torso) and an ECM Suite (left torso).  Finally, we add two more double-strength heat sinks (right torso and left torso) for a total of 15.  That is +3 in close (ER PPC and four Medium Pulse, plus running) and +1 at range (ER PPC and 2 Plasma Cannons, plus a run).  And we can now hit at 19+ hexes!

Configuration E has a HAG-20 in the right arm, but we increased the ammunition to 24 shots (2 right arm; 2 right torso).  We only added four jump jets (since we don’t have a free center torso crit and I HATE asymmetrical jump jets).  The twin ER Laser Lasers in the right arm were replaced with a single ER PPC.  Sure, we lost a bit of range, but 15 points of concentrated damage goes with the 5-point damage clusters from the HAG.  We removed the LRM-10 launcher, and instead this model carries an SRM-6 with Artemis IV (left torso) with 15 shots (left torso).  Finally, we added an ER Medium Laser to the head.  Maximum heat is +6 on a jumping alpha strike—which is quite easily handled.

Configuration H features an ER PPC (right arm), a Heavy Large Laser (left arm), an LB-10X Autocannon (right torso) with 20 shots (right torso), an LRM-10 with Artemis IV (left torso) with 24 shots (left torso), and an ER Medium Laser (head).  At range, this version can run and fire the ER PPC, LB-10X, LRM-10, and ER Medium for +2 heat.  In close, it has the Heavy Large, LB-10X, LRM-10, and ER Medium for +5 while running.

And these are just canon configurations, people.  My favorite custom variant is the one I call the Hellbringer F.  An ER PPC (right arm), matched with an LRM-20 with Artemis IV (right torso) with 18 shots (right torso).  An AMS (head) with 24 shots (right torso) for defense.  An Active Probe (left torso) and ECM Suite (left torso) to provide electronic warfare coverage for my Star.  Three ER Medium Lasers (left torso), and two Streak SRM-4 racks (left arm) with 25 shots (left arm).  And finally, a two-ton, two-critical targeting computer (left torso).  Just the base 13 DHS, but she doesn’t overheat in her brackets (ER PPC/LRM-20/AMS/running at range=22; 3 ER Medium/2 Streak SRM-4/AMS/running in close=24).   She’s got armor, she’s got speed, and oh, yeah, baby, she’s got firepower no matter what range your at.  She can see you and she jams your gear.  What more do you want?

Code: [Select]
Improved Hellbringer

Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped Omnimech
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E
Production Year: 3049
Cost: 16,095,406 C-Bills
Battle Value: 969

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 325 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    28.5 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   104 points                3.50
    Internal Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 2 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             325                      12.00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             13(26)                    3.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 211                 11.00
    Armor Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 2 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     21           32       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  10       
                                           L/R Torso     15           23       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  7         
                                             L/R Arm     10           20       
                                             L/R Leg     15           30       



================================================================================
Loadout Name: Prime                                          Cost: 19,317,031
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E                         BV2: 3,031

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             15(30)                    2.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT, 1 RA
    CASE Locations: RT                                                     0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER PPC                                       RA        15        2         6.00
ER PPC                                       LA        15        2         6.00
Streak SRM-6                                 RT        4         2         3.00
2 Machine Guns                               RT        0         2         0.50
3 ER Medium Lasers                           LT        15        3         3.00
Active Probe                                 LT        0         1         1.00
ECM Suite                                    LT        0         1         1.00
Targeting Computer                           LT        -         3         3.00
Anti-Missile System                          HD        1         1         0.50
@Streak SRM-6 (15)                           RT        -         1         1.00
@Anti-Missile System (24)                    RT        -         1         1.00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              RT        -         1         0.50
                                            Free Critical Slots: 9

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 30
5          5       5       3       0      3     1   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, AMS, PRB, RCN, ECM, CASE, SRCH, ES, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: A                                              Cost: 18,770,469
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E                         BV2: 2,195

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             15(30)                    2.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT
    CASE Locations: LT, RT, RA                                             0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LB 5-X AC                                    RA        1         4         7.00
2 ER Large Lasers                            LA        24        2         8.00
LRM-15                                       RT        5         2         3.50
    Artemis IV FCS                           RT        -         1         1.00
2 Machine Guns                               LT        0         2         0.50
Active Probe                                 HD        0         1         1.00
@LB 5-X (Cluster) (20)                       RA        -         1         1.00
@LB 5-X (Slug) (20)                          RA        -         1         1.00
@LRM-15 (Artemis) (24)                       RT        -         3         3.00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              LT        -         1         0.50
                                            Free Critical Slots: 11

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 22
5          4       4       4       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, CASE, SRCH, ES, SOA, IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: B                                              Cost: 18,371,375
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E                         BV2: 2,281

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             14(28)                    1.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT
    CASE Locations: LT, RT, RA                                             0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gauss Rifle                                  RA        1         6        12.00
ER Large Laser                               LA        12        1         4.00
SRM-6                                        RT        4         1         1.50
    Artemis IV FCS                           RT        -         1         1.00
SRM-6                                        LT        4         1         1.50
    Artemis IV FCS                           LT        -         1         1.00
Flamer                                       LT        3         1         0.50
ER Medium Laser                              HD        5         1         1.00
@Gauss Rifle (16)                            RA        -         2         2.00
@Gauss Rifle (8)                             RT        -         1         1.00
@SRM-6 (Artemis) (15)                        RT        -         1         1.00
@SRM-6 (Artemis) (15)                        LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 13

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 23
5          6       6       3       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: C                                              Cost: 18,654,969
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E                         BV2: 2,304

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             14(28)                    1.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT
    CASE Locations: LT, RT, RA                                             0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATM-6                                        RA        4         3         3.50
ER Large Laser                               LA        12        1         4.00
LB 20-X AC                                   RT        6         9        12.00
2 ER Medium Lasers                           LT        10        2         2.00
@ATM-6 (10)                                  RA        -         1         1.00
@ATM-6 (ER) (10)                             RA        -         1         1.00
@ATM-6 (HE) (10)                             RA        -         1         1.00
@LB 20-X (Cluster) (5)                       RT        -         1         1.00
@LB 20-X (Slug) (10)                         LT        -         2         2.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 10

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 23
5          5       5       2       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SOA, FLK 1/1/0


================================================================================
Loadout Name: D                                              Cost: 19,394,375
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E                         BV2: 2,670

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             15(30)                    2.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER PPC                                       RA        15        2         6.00
2 Plasma Cannons                             LA        14        2         6.00
2 Medium Pulse Lasers                        RT        8         2         4.00
Active Probe                                 RT        0         1         1.00
2 Medium Pulse Lasers                        LT        8         2         4.00
ECM Suite                                    LT        0         1         1.00
Flamer                                       HD        3         1         0.50
@Plasma Cannon (40)                          LA        -         4         4.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 14

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 27
5          5       5       3       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, ECM, ENE, HT2, SRCH, ES, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: E                                              Cost: 18,710,656
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E                         BV2: 2,611

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 4  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT                                         4.00
    CASE Locations: LT, RA                                                 0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAG-20                                       RA        4         6        10.00
ER PPC                                       LA        15        2         6.00
SRM-6                                        LT        4         1         1.50
    Artemis IV FCS                           LT        -         1         1.00
ER Medium Laser                              HD        5         1         1.00
@HAG-20 (12)                                 RA        -         2         2.00
@HAG-20 (12)                                 RT        -         2         2.00
@SRM-6 (Artemis) (15)                        LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 13

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 26
5/3j       5       5       3       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SOA, FLK 1/1/1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: H                                              Cost: 18,838,531
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E                         BV2: 2,223

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: LT, RT                                                 0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER PPC                                       RA        15        2         6.00
Heavy Large Laser                            LA        18        3         4.00
LB 10-X AC                                   RT        2         5        10.00
LRM-10                                       LT        4         1         2.50
    Artemis IV FCS                           LT        -         1         1.00
ER Medium Laser                              HD        5         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Cluster) (10)                      RT        -         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Slug) (10)                         RT        -         1         1.00
@LRM-10 (Artemis) (24)                       LT        -         2         2.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 16

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 22
5          4       4       2       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SOA, FLK 1/1/1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: F                                              Cost: 19,581,031
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E                         BV2: 2,897

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: RT, LA                                                 0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER PPC                                       RA        15        2         6.00
2 Streak SRM-4s                              LA        6         2         4.00
LRM-20                                       RT        6         4         5.00
    Artemis IV FCS                           RT        -         1         1.00
Active Probe                                 LT        0         1         1.00
ECM Suite                                    LT        0         1         1.00
3 ER Medium Lasers                           LT        15        3         3.00
Targeting Computer                           LT        -         2         2.00
Anti-Missile System                          HD        1         1         0.50
@Streak SRM-4 (25)                           LA        -         1         1.00
@Anti-Missile System (24)                    RT        -         1         1.00
@LRM-20 (Artemis) (18)                       RT        -         3         3.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 11

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 29
5          5       5       3       0      3     1   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, AMS, PRB, RCN, ECM, CASE, SRCH, ES, SOA, IF 1

So what can you do with a Hellbringer?  Post your favorites!

Master Arminas


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Gabriel

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Hmmm Very Interesting. Boy we are going full bore lately I like it
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Fear is our most powerful weapon and a Heavy Regiment of Von Rohrs Battlemech's is a very close second.-attributed to Kozo Von Rohrs
Will of Iron,Nerves of Steel,Heart of Gold,Balls of Brass... No wonder I set off metal detectors.Death or Compliance now that's not to much to ask for,is it?

Knightmare

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That's one of the best articles I've read in a long, long while.

Note: One of the "reasons" I've read trying to explain some of these design choices comes from the Clan-style of Trial Combat. A hallmark of this design trend (like the trend of zero anti-ASF weapons on Star League-era WarShips) is a light ammunition load, terrible heat curve and low armor. Supposedly Clan Warriors are so awesome they can dodge incoming fire, snipe with incredible accuracy and fight all of their battles 1 vs. 1...which is more or less accurate according to Pre-Invasion fiction. Coupled with the low intensity, single-clash style of Clan Trials the Hellbringer doesn't look all that out of place. Still terrible, just not out of place or character. 

You'll notice how later official variants tend to mount more ammunition. This is supposedly in response to Clan experience in fighting the Inner Sphere. Still, an increase in ammunition does little to mitigate the design's underlying problems. Then again, we're talking about 200+ years of entrenched design doctrine. While older doctrine shouldn't matter in the face of obvious and logical solutions to real in-your-face problems...people are stubborn & dumb.

The canon 'Mech is definitely complete crap, but then again, if you manage to kick some serious butt with a Hellbringer you're kinda of a BAMF player and possibly the epitome of a Clan Warrior.

Hmm...maybe it's not all that bad after all...

Just something to chew on. 

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Quote from: Dragon Cat
WORD (of Blake) is good for two things. 1. Leaving inappropriate notes on other people's work. 2. Adding fake words (of Blake) to the dictionary.

Dragon Cat

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An excellent article!!

And I completely agree - first ever Clan Mech I destroyed was a Hellbringer fighting an early Clan scenario - first Mech to fall we thought it would be easy then we faced the Battle Hawk (Nova), Summoner (Thor), Mad Cat (Timber Wolf) and the Diashi (Dire Wolf).

My group quickly learnt to respect Clan Mechs but we all kinda agreed that the Hellbringer was our first target in a fight from there on.
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My stuff, and my AU timeline follow link and enjoy

http://www.ourbattletech.com/forum/dragon-cat-collection/

The original CBT thread
Dragon Cat on CBT


Really, as long as there is an unbroken line of people calling themselves "Clan Nova Cat," it doesn't really matter to me if they're still using Iron Wombs or not. They may be dead as a faction, but as a people they still exist. It's not uncommon in the real world, after all.

Gabriel

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Got to start somewhere
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Fear is our most powerful weapon and a Heavy Regiment of Von Rohrs Battlemech's is a very close second.-attributed to Kozo Von Rohrs
Will of Iron,Nerves of Steel,Heart of Gold,Balls of Brass... No wonder I set off metal detectors.Death or Compliance now that's not to much to ask for,is it?
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