With seven different designers putting forth twenty six (7 Irose, 2 Takiro, 1 masterarminas, 11 Bradshaw, 2 drakensis, 2 Ice Hellion, 1 Abele) entries we had plenty of Urbie concepts but there could have been even more. I didn't get a chance to write out my Lyran built UrbanMech featuring EndoSteel and armed with a Gauss which would have been a proof of concept design for the Hollander, drats! Well I sure hope there is a ComGuard variant out there considering it is one of the Mechs that they rode to victory at Tukayyid. Thanks to everyone's input I've established a Retroactive Speed Cap (4/6/4) which alters the original design criteria. I do agree that a faster UrbanMech losses a certain inherent character trait should always remain. So, with no further ado let's get to the evaluation.
DISQUALIFIED
26. UM-C58 (Takiro)
My UrbanMech concept which was proceeded by an even faster model was ultimately found to be too fast. This ComStar anti-Clan refit which used Commando or Valkyrie engine to gain new found 5/8/5 movement while its main weapon also qualified for my Large Pulse challenge. Backed up by a Medium Laser it also had Double Heat Sinks which helped keep it cool along with six tons of Ferro-Fibrous (105) for max protection. Oh well, back to the drawing board for me.
25. UR-70D (Bradshaw)
This death by paper cuts Urbie with four Medium Lasers and eight Small Lasers is cooled by Double Heat Sinks and protected by six tons of Ferro-Fibrous (105) for max armor. Not bad and the fluff about the Corean legal battle is a decent hook. Unfortunately at 5/8/5 it is too fast now so has to be disqualified, sorry bud.
24. UR-EW2 (Bradshaw)
A bit more conventional with a Large Laser, SRM-4 (25), and Small Pulse as it's punch with four and half tons of Ferro-Fibrous (80) with a CASE to safeguard against ammo explosions. Double Heat Sinks cool everything but at 5/8/5 this entry is too fast and must be disqualified, sorry again.
DEFICIENT
23. UM-R62 (Bradshaw)
Holy Pulses Batman, this is a Liao variant thanks to technologies from their Marik alliance. A dozen Double Heat Sinks do effectively cool the design while six and a half tons of armor provide near max protection (104). While accurate four Medium Pulses and four Small Pulses lack range while its 2/3/2 speed is horrendously slow. This resulting short armed Urbie could threaten foot infantry but little else as I doubt it could close to effective combat reach.
22. UR-EW1 (Bradshaw)
This faster (4/6/4) Earthwerks point defense attacker is frustratingly good but at the same time bad. Love the speed upgrade but eighteen Small Lasers and a Flamer are far too tight ranged (3!). If only you presented your Medium Laser Hunchback variant inspired arsenal here. Six tons of armor (96) and Double Heat Sinks are solid but the reach is too small.
21. UM-M60 (Bradshaw)
I wish this 2/3/2 concept from an old Hunchback variant by way of the Free Worlds League was faster. Eight Medium Lasers and the TAG have better reach while the Guardian ECM Suite gives you some stealth. Fourteen Double Heat Sinks and tons of armor (96) are fine but it is still too slow. Combining this approach with your faster Small Laser variant before could have produced far better results.
20. UM-R83 (Irose)
I really liked the fluff for this secret counterinsurgency refit fielded by some agency of the Draconis Combine on Gator III. However, as my review progressed this slow 2/3/2 with six tons of armor (96) and cooled by eleven Single Heat Sinks has very short ranged weaponry. Two Medium Pulses, two SRM-2s (50), four Machine Guns (200), and Flamer are great against infantry but incredibly short ranged. Despite a Beagle Active Probe and C3 Slave this model seems like a lumbering luxury.
19. UM-R65T (Irose)
This Taurian refit of cached Star League era purchased Mechs in response to the Davion threat was well written but too slow (2/3/2) and close ranged with four SRM-6s (30) and a Small Laser. The six tons of armor (96)and Double Heat Sinks aren't bad but that combat reach is lacking in my opinion.
18. UM-D01 (Bradshaw)
Much like the other 2/3/2 Urbie's with short to mid range arsenals this four SRM-4s (50), Medium Laser, and Small Laser has limited combat reach. I will say that the Guardian ECM Suite gives you a bit of stealth along with max protection from six and a half tons of armor (104) plus CASEs in both torsos. Double Heat Sinks also provide excellent cooling for this Capellan March variant but it was too short armed for me.
17. UM-R70 (Irose)
The top of this category sees another painfully slow 2/3/2 but unlike other Urbies here has one big gun. This is a key component of the UrbanMech to me - yeah she is slow but it can end anyone with one good shot. It's base AC/10 can breach the head of any 'Mech and has a range of 15 hexes. Here Irose uses common parts with Spider and Vulcan to create a FWLM Pulse variant. Made by Nimakachi on Tematagi it features Double Heat Sinks and six tons of Ferro-Fibrous (105, max) as well as a Large Pulse, 2 Medium Pulses, 2 Machine Guns (100), and a Flamer. The Large Pulse is just a little below range (10 long) and damage (9) of what I am looking for here. The accuracy of such attacks is certainly a plus and if it was slightly faster perhaps I say yes. Almost but not quite.
PASSABLE
16. UM-R70L (Bradshaw)
This Liao infantry killer armed with two Medium Lasers, six Machine Guns (200), three Flamers, and two Small Lasers is a bit too short range but I am liking that 3/5/3 movement. Six tons of armor (96) and two CASEs are ample protection while Double Heat Sinks cool everything nicely. Not a winner but passable in my opinion.
15. UR-70K 'the Ice Box' (Bradshaw)
Same reasoning for this Kurita follow on force which is similar but a little different from your last reviewed configuration. Two SRM-4s (25), two Medium Lasers, Small Laser, and four Vehicle Flamers (40) have a little more range. Like the 3/5/3 movement and the six tons of armor (96) with two CASEs together with Double Heat Sinks to cool it. Not bad, just others were better.
14. UM-M70 (Bradshaw)
Produced by Hellespont Industries presumably on Betelgeuse and funded by the FWLM this 3/5/3 Urbie goes with a Large Pulse and two Medium Pulses for its weaponry. A Beagle Active Probe helps find enemies that your very accurate Pulses can cut down while the whole thing is cooled by Double Heat Sinks. Six tons of armor (96) provides solid protection but again there were others that were better.
13. UM-R60BLC (Abele)
The Blazer and the UrbanMech were a natural fit in my opinion as it had the same range as the AC/10 with more punch. It will take your head clean off if I can borrow from Dirty Harry. This Free Worlds League simple refit has a Medium Laser, fourteen Single Heat Sinks, and 6.5 tons of armor (104). All good but I would have liked faster than 2/3/2 movement which is why this entry is ranked here.
12. UM-R630L (Ice Hellion)
The finest 3/5/3 Large Pulse armed Urbie was this entry from Ice Hellion. This well justified Capellan fluffed Mech was also equipped with a Medium Laser, Medium Pulse, Guardian ECM Suite and Beagle Active Probe. Solid firepower and superior electronics which were helped by five and a halftons of Ferro-Fibrous (98). Not bad at all but I was hoping for something even faster.
11. UM-R64 (masterarminas)
This Capellan upgrade made at Betelgeuse went 3/5/3 had five and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous (98), a Blazer, a Medium Pulse, a Small Pulse, and eleven Double Heat Sinks. Very nice job on speed, primary weapon, and armor protection perhaps the secondary weaponry could have a longer reach but in the end I just thought others were better.
NEAR MISSES
10. UM-R631L (Ice Hellion)
The best Capellan Blazer armed 3/5/3 design in my opinion featured a Guardian ECM Suite which granted a nasty surprise factor. Rounded out by five and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous (98), a Small Pulse, and Beagle Active Probe this design wasn't bad at all. Good fluff too but unfortunately there was a Liao concept I liked even better.
9. UM-R69K (drakensis)
This Kurita mobile defense turret is an interesting concept despite it slow
2/3/2 movement. Essentially a Gauss Rifle (8 reloads) with legs this war machine would likely augment static defenses. Well protected by five and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous (98) and sufficiently cooled by ten Single Heat Sinks this powerful one trick pony would need an EndoSteel refit to work. While plausible especially the way it is written it just fell a bit short to me as too much trouble for its worth.
WINNERS
8. UM-RD (Irose)
Violating my design criteria with no jumps and being the absolute slowest moving Mech I've ever seen is this damn good concept. Based on a canon variant this stop gap measure to reinforce the Draconis March by Duke Sandoval creates a Light Artillery Urbie. 'The Broken Arrow' as I have dubbed it has only four and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous (80) and it moves at a rate of 2/3. A single massive Arrow IV Artillery System with 10 rounds of ammo is its only weapon making it strictly rear line fire support. Single Heat Sinks could lead to heat problems but this wouldn't be horrible. So congratulations you successfully broke the rules and delivered a winner!
7. UM-B64 (Takiro)
This Free Worlds League refit used in the Civil War which gains maneuverability thanks to parts from the Wasp or Stinger is vital to the storyline. Should be fun seeing if Isis forces can beat this Blazer armed 4/6/4 trashcan with a Medium Laser for backup and Double Heat Sinks to cool it down. While Alpha Strikes can present overheating especially when combined with movement this Laser Shotgun toting war machine might just stand a chance. Especially with six tons of Ferro-Fibrous (105) providing max protection.
6. UM-D02 (Bradshaw)
Good as is but with the proper fluff this one could have even been better. I really like this Federated Suns variant even though it goes just 2/3/2 and has only ten Double Heat Sinks. With just one more cooler this Mini-Awesome could have moved and fired it's twin PPCs repeatedly. I probably would have forgone the three Small Lasers altogether in favor of the extra cooler and some near max armor. Still five tons of Ferro-Fibrous (91) ain't but what I was thinking for a story behind this winning concept is what about a ComGuard variant? Be a nice completely unexpected Clanbuster on Tukayyid which they were said to have. At any rate this concept is a winner.
5. UM-KH (Irose)
I really liked this Kell Hound refit following Twycross which could serve as a base for an AFFC or merc refit. Going 4/6/4 thanks to a Stinger engine and armed with an ER Large backed by two Medium Lasers it also features a Guardian ECM Suite and Beagle Active Probe. Protected by six tons of armor (96) and cooled by ten Double Heat Sinks only a Jumping Alpha Strike results in a low overheating condition. While I would have liked a bigger punch the big movement and range negate that concern, nice job!
4. UM-R70S (drakensis)
This FedCom upgrade which while expensive is nicely written and ties into my setting development probably the best of any design thus far. The 120 XL Engine is a stretch but previous contests have endorsed this model in production. This enables it to go 4/6/4 and carry two ER Larges for a lostech Phoenix Hawk feel. A dozen Double Heat Sinks can nearly keep up with all the heat and six tons of armor (96) is always a good base for the UrbanMech especially this one which can deal damage from range and hope to escape.
3. UM-R63A (Bradshaw)
Our bronze medal winner was just a simple refit of canon 3050 upgrade which is rock solid concept for militias all around the InnerSphere. Going only 2/3/2 it has five and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous (99) and is armed with a LB 10-X Autocannon (10) and two Medium Lasers. Short and simple a very effective improvement.
2. UM-R61 (Irose)
This low tech Mini-Vindicator using the engine from the Stinger to go 4/6/4 was the finest concept to me in the entire contest. Very plausible to me that a struggling to rebuild CCAF would utilize such a refit to augment it's strength. Armed with a powerful PPC and LRM-5 (24) it has good range with a possible knock punch. Single Heat Sinks do struggle to keep up with all the heat generated though and there appears to be a minor error in armor factor presented which should be 96 for six tons of plating. Despite that I have to say great job and fantastic concept.
1. UM-R62 (Irose)
Out doing himself with a lostech make over of the Mini-Vindicator, maybe we could call it the Vigilante, is Irose for the win. This new model uses EndoSteel for maximum weight savings and that Stinger engine again to go 4/6/4. An ER PPC replaces the PPC for even greater range and thanks to Double Heat Sinks this new powerful Urbie is a threat to any battlefield opponent. The LRM-5 (24) remains and is augmented by a Medium Laser for further firepower but watch that Heat scale. Minor error in armor factor presented for the base six tons of armor (96) but no big deal. Great job and gold medal to Irose!
