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Yup I saw Abele. I'll give you a full review once the contest has concluded.

Nice fluff JP. That gives us 4 entries thus far.

Just as long as you don't review as part of this challenge, it's OK with me.

That's what happens when we only have one entry per person and a handful of people who have been around for all 14 challenges (thus far). My 85-tonner is ready to go and I will be working on the remaining foour entries over the next two or three days.

EDIT: WOW! No entry from MA. That's a first. My top three for this contest (in the order they were submitted): Fearsome, Widowmaker, Lunar Kestrel.

Ah . . . the Widowmaker is mine.  I posted it and everything. 

MA

Well this time around we only had five entries by five designers. I must say I was really expecting more interest in this non-Zombie challenge. I suppose the 80 ton chassis is something of a transition for designers from Heavies to Assaults. You start running out of critical spaces for weapons if you put too much special equipment like ferro-fibrous, endosteel, along with that XL engine. Sure you got plenty of mass to fool around with but internal space becomes more and more vital. Quads suffer the loss of some 16 potential critical spaces when compared to bipeds making heavier Vampires all but impractical for their chassis. I would have liked to have seen an entry with a dedicated 3/5/3 movement profile for this Vampire so I added my own as an example. Now for the review.

N/A. Hydra (Takiro)
I will post my Diamond Shark creation which I doodled up earlier in the week following this review. Based on the Naga I named it the Hydra cause of the natural connection with the Sharks oceanic environment. While I did not work on any fluff the design is the 3/5/3 I was envisioning at the start of the contest. While slow the maneuverability added to this assault weight machine makes it virtual unstoppable capable of going anywhere. Unfortunately the 240 XL Engine accounts for only 9 of the 10 fixed double heat sinks which whittles away at vital internal space. I did use EndoSteel structure here to further increase pod space but went with 15 tons of standard armor which gave me a 240 factor. This either or came down to the best weight savings for 7 critical spaces (EndoSteel gives you 4 tons of weight savings while Ferro Fibrous only provides 2.5 tons). As a result I ended up with 46 tons of pod space available for weapons and equipment along with 35 free criticals. Not too shabby if I say so myself.

N/A. Sabertooth (Abele)
Well I am under a no review request from the designer so without voicing what I liked and did not - here are the facts on this Quad non-contender. The Sabertooth would have been forwarded by the Hell’s Horses and featured a 320XL engine which drives it along at a 4/6 movement rate. There was 36 tons of pod space available for weapons and equipment with 15.5 tons of standard armor plating producing a 248 factor. I would like to thank Abele for working up this Quad even though it is not an official part of this contest.

5. Lunar Kestrel (fitzgerald)
This interesting Snow Raven presentation was put together with substantial Jade Falcon aid it would seem. Even though these Clans are hated rivals I could see them making a some sort of deal. The amount of new toys (Laser Heat Sinks and Full Head Ejection system) featured on the Kestrel do give me some pause. Would the Falcons use their best stuff? Is suppose they are trying to win the contest after all but would they share with the Ravens? I do like that you are using parts from existing Clan OmniMechs like the 320XL engine but the new chassis might prolong development. While these are minor concerns the overall design is very good with half of the war machine’s mass (40 tons of pod space) being reserved for weapons and equipment. With 12.5 tons of ferro fibrous (240 armor factor) you nearly max protect this assault Mech. I especially liked the space configuration which was very unique and thought provoking. However, four designs just out did you. Though luck fitz, good stuff. 

4. Widowmaker (masterarminas)
The third entry of the contest comes from the mind of Natasha Kerensky and the Wolves by way of the Ghost Bears. This is quite an interesting partnership forged by the Quicksilver Trails but one that works. The name has me sort of conflicted since the no totem ‘Mech rule sort of addresses it but coming from the Black Widow I can see it. One hand it skirts the edge of Clan acceptability but on the other is very Tasha. The fluff is well done as always. Like the basis on the Naga chassis whose appearance has been slimmed down and the Wolves have the plans along with Ghost Bear resources certainly expediting production. With 40 tons of pod space this OmniMech certainly qualifies as a Vampire and has some nice weapon configurations inspired by Bear ‘Mechs like the Grizzly and Kodiak. Protection is done well with 15 tons of standard plating (240 armor factor) along with an integral AMS. Plus the Widowmaker can move with the 320 Extra Light engine (4/6) from Ghost Bear’s 40 ton Viper (Dragonfly) OmniMech. A fantastic job masterarminas but three designs still did better in my opinion. Sorry bud.

3. Darksteel (JPArbiter)
Just edging out the Widowmaker was this Goliath Scorpion submission presented with the help of Cloud Cobra. Using the 320XL engine (4/6) from the Dragonfly definitely seemed the way to go but could the Scorpions obtain the power plant from the Ghost Bears? A modified Marauder IIc chassis (EndoSteel) slimmed down for weight is a bit of a redesign but ok. With 12.5 tons of ferro fibrous armor (240 factor) you max protect this design nicely and 43 tons of pod space for weapons and equipment is very nice. The configurations look good and the confusion some looks give opponents (ala the Mad Cat) I enjoyed. While I wish you had more of a background story an awesome name goes along way and I like the Darksteel. So despite having less fluff, name coolness puts you over the top for the bronze medal.

2. Fearsome (drakensis)
Another great job right out of the box was the Fearsome developed by the Coyotes which is definitely deserving of its name. With 47.5 tons of pod space it comes close to rivaling the Dire Wolf for mass reserved for weaponry and equipment. Built around the original Awesome chassis (which fore goes EndoSteel) and citing the new IIc effort really expedites construction nicely. Acquiring the 240 XL Engine (3/5) from the Snow Ravens who used it on their Clint IIc was inspired and gives this lumbering war machine adequate assault level speed. The 12.5 ton Ferro Fibrous armor hide (240 factor) gives this OmniMech nearly complete protection. Your weapon configurations really bring the pain and heat stroke if your Mechwarrior does not monitor his rate of fire. Simply awesome drakensis but one entry beat you out. Congratulations on the silver!

1. Nighstalker (Abele)
Wow! Dude you fired quite an opening salvo with this Ice Hellion entry. A little background for you guys from my old campaigns. We had a Clan Second Line Mech called the Nightstalker which was produced by the Diamond Sharks. While it was 90 tons Abele really hit a cord with me. Plus the Nightstalker really fits the Monster Tactical Doctrine as a Vampire enshrined in Operation Restoration. So the name carries you very far here. I like the fluff too with a chassis that reminds me of some real early kitbashes seen in the back of TRO3050. Probably would have been easier to go with a Naga but the Woodsman upper half and the Warhawk’s lower creates an interesting look combined with your Nosferatu aesthetic creates a great visual image. Not only do you have 43 tons of available pod space but an integral ECM suite and A-Pods as well. All this equipment combined with the XL Engine, EndoSteel Structure, and Ferro Fibrous armor (10.5 tons for a 201 factor) makes things tight (30 free criticals). However your configurations including a couple of artillery variants do a nice job - especially at replacing the Naga. While armor is a little light the speed (4/6) thanks to the 320XL Engine is pretty darn good and all that firepower makes for a deadly OmniMech. Great job!

Congratulations to the winners and thanks again to everybody who participated. Next contest should be up Sunday. Till then!!

Consider me overwhelmed. I thought there were at least two designs better than mine, especially in the fluff. Congrats to the other medalists.




And updating MA's tally board, once again


Drakensis:  4 Gold, 1 Silver, 4 Bronze
Master Arminas:  4 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze
Abele:  3 Gold, 7 Silver, 0 Bronze
JPArbiter:  1 Gold, 3 Silver, 4 Bronze
Smerish:  1 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze
Fitzgerald:  1 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze
Lord Grayson:  0 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze

Abele now sits alone at the top with ten medals. In second is drakensis with nine; with MasterArminas and JPArbiter in third with eight medals apiece.  Followed by Lord Grayson with three, and then Fitzgerald and Smegish at two apiece.

Abele:  10
Drakensis:  9
Master Arminas:  8
JPArbiter:  8
Lord Grayson:  3
Fitzgerald:  2
Smegish:  2

Yeah, I need a bronze to complete my collection