Well folks that is going to do it, at least with OmniMechs for the initial Quicksilver Program. Again I can’t say how awesome this was for me. Some fun times, great ideas, really whacky stuff, good reading, head scratchers, excellent designs, a few arguments, and in the end nineteen new Clan OmniMechs. I feel sorry for the poor InnerSphere. This time around we had five entries by three designers but that only tells a nineteenth of the story. Over nineteen challenges we have had 135 qualifiers by nine designers! Special thanks to Dragon Cat (2), Smegish (5), Shadow Wraith (9), Fitzgerald (11), LordGrayson (16), masterarminas (17), JPArbiter (18), Abele (28), and Drakensis (29) for all those wonderful toys. Not that I am keeping track. That is an average of seven entries for each challenge. Very impressive. Stand up and take a bow. Lets get to the review.
5. Desert Eagle (Abele)
In fifth place is the Desert Eagle which is a Cloud Cobra design done by Abele. I love the Stone Rhino basis but it led to a few too many problems for me. The Behemoth is built on Tokasha by the Goliath Scorpions and likely not available to the Cobras factory wise. Sure they could design it but they really need the Scorpions to mass produce the thing quickly. So that was a minus. The 300 Fusion Engine plus 3 jump jets (3/5/3) gave it the best movement for this contest, a fact I appreciated. Plus for some reason I am always biased to Cloud Cobras have jump jets. I know the Nova Cats are the best hot droppers in the Clans but for some reason I think the Cobras with their aerospace arm would excel here to and they did in my home campaign. Anyway the 16 tons of ferro fibrous (307 factor) gives it the maximum armor protection which is a must for a Zombie. The integral Gauss Rifle and 3 tons ammo was the second problem I had with the design. I guess it works to optimize the performance but I would have liked that 15 tons to be removable. 41 tons of pod space when you add the 15 tons taken by the hard mounted Gauss and ammo would have been nice. All in all, not a bad design Abele. I do like four better.
4. Klondike (drakensis)
So close to being a medalists and considered the front runner for at least a little while was this second shot at the Storm Giant by the Hell’s Horses. This one named the Klondike I really liked and with the EndoSteel chassis you got plenty of pod space, 45.5 tons to be precise. The 300 Fusion Engine (3/5) is smaller than the 400XL that originally came with this Steel Viper isorla and it is a bit tougher. Especially with 19 tons of standard armor (304 factor) which approaches max protection for this OmniMech. Great for a zombie especially when you add to that the integral Anti Missile System and ECM. I like how the Horse’s bought in the Wolves who recommend the Goliath Scorpions and they designed it like the Devastator. Great classic SLDF choice and Prime with the resulting Devastator visage is a pretty awesome idea. Like wise Configuration A which is based on the King Crab is very nasty if not that heat friendly to the pilot. Unfortunately I just though there were three designs that were better.
3. Arctic Tiger (Abele)
This joint Hell’s Horses-Smoke Jaguar project is a very good quad worthy of medal status perhaps even gold. The fluff is very Clan with plenty of combat trails and the name is solid. The design features a 300 Fusion Engine (3/5) which gives a 100 ton Zombie pretty descent movement. Damn near close armor protection thanks to 20 tons of standard plating (320 factor) is very impressive. Obviously it would be the most armored Mech ever to take the field. Finally 43 tons of pod space is pretty impressive and with the limitations of internal space given the Quad nature you got five pretty good configurations. I like them all especially the final D Configuration which features jump jets and an Arrow IV Artillery System. I went back and forth here a few times with final placement here Abele. Two designs beat you out bud. Take heart though your quest to get a quad in the Clan front line is not yet over.
2. Mastodon (drakensis)
I really loved this Goliath Scorpion nasty slow ass omni quad that really fires the imagination. It crawls along thanks to its 200 Fusion Engine (2/3) but man oh man is it some kind of Zombie. You did not go with EndoSteel or Ferro Fibrous to free up more tonnage but after putting in such a small engine. This maximizes internal space which is already at a premium thanks to its quad nature. With 56.5 tons of pod space it would field more weapons than the Dire Wolf and you have some interesting configurations. Given the small engine and limited space any potential heat build up must have limited your weapon choices I would imagine. The four Gauss Rifles of Configuration A are my favorite of course giving this long range behemoth excellent punch. With 20 tons of standard armor (320 factor) she can sure take a beating too. It would be neat to see this or a 2/3 Clan OmniMech Biped as a massive defender equipped with so much long range weaponry that opponents just try to steer away from it. Such an Omni that had Artillery and AA configurations would be scary to try and assault. Great job drak, unfortunately one better.
1. Menoetius (JPArbiter)
Well I wanted a Coyote design and here comes JPArbiter along with one based no less on the Atlas II of SLDF legend. The ‘Mech piloted by Nicholas Kerensky himself - the founder of the Clans! I am still wondering what the Wolves reaction would be? Jealousy? Would they move to stop it? In the end I think not cause the Wolves are close allies of the Coyotes and likely in on production as JP seems to indicate. Plus Menoetius is the brother of Atlas so not the founder’s Mech per say but a really close relative just like the Coyote and Wolf. The name really breaks down well meaning “Doomed Mightâ€. All kinds of interesting thought provoking stuff there. Does it speak to this foolish Crusader invasion? The hubristic nature of the name sake as exceedingly prideful and impetuous to the end is really neat. The Titan of violent anger and rash action could be a lot of deep stuff going on. As you can tell I liked the name. Certainly is a Zombie with 16 tons of ferro fibrous (307 factor) providing maximum protection and a standard 300 Fusion Engine (3/5). With 47 tons of pod space it makes for a nasty compatriot of the Dire Wolf and the DeChevalier. Love Primary Configuration as the Atlas updated and other configs that mirror earlier Clan 100 tonners from the Imp to the Annihilator. Congrats JP!
As for the final IIC to be introduced as a result of these trails we have a lot to choose from. The Pillager IIC was viable but it really didn’t get that much attention. Of course the Atlas IIC is a thought but with the DeChevalier and the Menoetius being so close to that design it doesn’t make sense. Then there is the Xanthos IIC we could do given the quads featured here but again not that many left in a cache somewhere. The Mackie IIC presented by Abele is a neat idea but unfortunately it had no fluff and the age of the ‘Mech make such a design impractical. The Devastator IIC inspired by drakensis and his Klodike is probably my second choice for a new Clan BattleMech but I really like my Thunder Hawk IIC idea. I am gonna go with that for the final new Clan BattleMech design inspired by Quicksilver
Great job gang! Thanks again to everyone for participating. You made this a wonderful experience and contributed to a special fan project. Congratulations to JPArbiter on the win in this challenge and drakensis for winning the medal count. I leave Abele to update the medal count to make it official. However, Quicksilver does go on and we will return to ‘Mechs one day folks. So I hope to see you all for the next grand contest!!
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Topic: Quicksilver Program #19: 100 ton Zombie OmniMech (Read 1633 times)