Hard to believe it is September already and another great design contest has come and gone. This time around our five usual suspects submitted thirty-nine entries to compete with four canon variants which did not feature advanced tech. I broke every configuration down into twelve overall concepts and as you know there can only be ten winners. With the ‘Mechs rather slow overall speed (4/6) I did favor those with superior range over close up hitting power. I figure when confronted by Clan opponents of equal size who are faster you are gonna at least want to be in range to compete with your greater pod space rather than be to overspecialized for short ranged assaults. Once more this challenge is too close to call but first things first let’s get to best fluff and best InnerSphere designation.
While I had an extensive overview already prepared I thought that Bradshaw resolved the major point I let hang in the air. Alluding to some Diamond Shark industrial espionage helped establish the Night Gyr basis which I was looking for. Ice Hellion was a solid second place showing here with good depth and analysis. Both drakensis and marauder648 were good but a bit to generic and I’d like to reward someone for taking a chance in a good way. Unfortunately, Abele this Mech was not available at the time of Luthien or Tukayyid so while I appreciate your effort I have to rank your fluff as fifth. Point to Bradshaw!
For InnerSphere name designation I found that Ungulate (a hoofed animal) by Bradshaw was last place this time around. I just didn’t get that reference at all and while simple Abele’s Nova Cat was better even if the Mech wasn’t around for Luthien or Tukayyid. It makes sense as it is the Clan which uses it first in the InnerSphere so not bad. However, I was looking for something Draconis or Japanese like Donryu (Storm Dragon) from marauder648 or Supon (Snapping Turtle) from drakensis but Ice Hellion was first. Plus, his Shiden (Violet Lightning) had a good story behind it in Battle History so point to Ice Hellion!
For Primary Configuration I again deferred to canon which starts us off this time with twin ER PPCs and three ER Large Lasers. Even with fourteen Double Heat Sinks you don’t have a prayer to cool off with this thing. As I guide to competing against the potential of this canon offering I looked to every multiple ER PPC configuration entered. In all there were four challengers that I deemed close enough to the original intent of canon version. The most radical departure from canon was marauder648 F which was more of a generalist holding onto both ER PPCs and dropping five additional Double Heat Sinks. Supporting the PPCs are an LRM-20 linked to an Artemis IV FCS, two Streak SRM-4s, and six ER Small Lasers. This creates more of a bracket fire machine with a Mechwarrior having to monitor his weapon fire carefully depending on range. Not bad but I wanted to keep closer to the original if possible. Ice Hellion Prime kept two ER PPCs and an ER Large Laser while dropping one of the additional Double Heat Sinks to include two Medium Pulse Lasers, an Active Probe, and a Targeting Computer. The two Pulses make me think you were just trying to be different from someone else rather than going with four ER Mediums. Abele E retained two ER PPCs and two ER Large Lasers increased additional Double Heat Sinks by two to deal with all their weapon heat and had enough room to spare for two ER Medium Lasers. I like it a lot but Bradshaw Prime was even better in my opinion with a simple and straightforward swap of an ER Large Laser for a Targeting Computer which reminds me of the fix for the overheated Nova Prime. Now you can fire close to everything and accurately too, design point to Bradshaw!
As marauder648 backed a few (the first three to be precise) of the canon configurations it was this one where I felt he was most likely to be right. Four ER Larges all tied to a Targeting Computer with enough Heat Sinks to fire and run all day long and you can also jump. Not only is it a good long-range sniper but it is so very Nova Cat as it was this Clan that perfected the Clan ER Large and came up with such designs as the Supernova to utilize it. So those challengers who featured multiple ER Larges would have a tough road to hoe. Six qualified in my eyes for this concept including drakensis Prime, drakensis F, Abele D, Abele E, and Abele G. None came as close to unseating canon A as drakensis A which takes bracket firing to a new level. Two ER Larges and two LRM-15s with Artemis can deal fifty points of damage at long-range or until you get into reach of the seven ER Mediums and did I mention that everything is linked to a Targeting Computer? You can fire one bracket or the other for nearly the same damage (50 or 49) and near amount of heat generated (32 or 35), nasty. However, I still can’t see it replacing the Hell Cat A from canon, too Nova Cat this one, very close call though. Point to canon!
The LRM boats are rolled in starting with canon Configuration B which sports six LRM-15s with thirteen reloads each and two ER Mediums for backup. It has enough Heat Sinks to dissipate its main fire support battery and can inflict massive saturation damage (90) with these missiles. I agree with marauder648 again that this is another good one but four challengers would step forward. I should also mention here that Arrow IV Missile Artillery concept narrowly failed after receiving strong consideration. Even though I felt Ice Hellion F fit the design well I feel that this premier front line Mech would not be commonly carrying such a load out, sorry. While Bradshaw B1 tried one upping the canon B by adding another LRM-15 for a total of seven which is super impressive it failed to account for the massive heat spike generated while firing this massive salvo. That left three entries which featured four LRM-20s with Artemis IV FCS which generate 24 heat and 80 damage possibly. I have to say that that even though these generate ten less damage potential then canon B it is a winning concept for their superior missile to hit ratio. Unfortunately for Abele B he added no heat sinks to deal with the extra heat generated from missile fire despite having good backup weapons and 15 reloads. Bradshaw B also had 15 reloads and three Double Heat Sinks but 2 ER Smalls are pretty weak support weapons for the main load. While not perfect drakensis E had two extra Double Heat Sinks accounting for most heat buildup and a healthy supply of backup with four ER Mediums. While only having twelve reloads available hurt his case somewhat I think this is the best LRM configuration. Point to drakensis!
C was the final canon configuration which qualified for our contest here but agreeing with marauder648 again this one doesn’t stand a chance. Utilizing smaller caliber Ultra ACs and a LB 5-X on this ‘pocket Assault’ was not the way to go in my opinion but mid sizes I can see. I know that statement is bad news to Bradshaw E but he did focus in on the right concept here which is anti-air in my opinion. Ten challengers all with at least two Large Pulses squared off in this concept arena to replace the undergunned original. I should also mention another concept here featuring Ultra AC/10s which didn’t make it. A configuration sporting these weapons could have been formidable but Abele J was the only game in town and just didn’t have what it took in my opinion to make it to the final ten. With more of a ground assailant mind set Ice Hellion E, marauder648 C, Bradshaw C, and Abele F were all good but just not what I was looking for here. They were a formidable subset and one which you may indeed see later but for now let’s get back to shooting down fighters. Some folks thought two Large Pulse weren’t enough as both Bradshaw A and Ice Hellion A featured three while Abele A went with four Large Pulses. If you went Targeting Computer and nine Double Heat Sinks I think you would have one Abele but two contestants had a good AA combo. With two LB 10-Xs each with twenty shots and two Large Pulses cooled by two additional Double Heat Sinks both drakensis D and Ice Hellion C were identical entries. As I said gents the four Large Pulses with a Targeting Computer would have beaten you but that wasn’t here so one of you gets the win. Both have solid fluff but drakensis D was the first one to be entered so the very narrow tie break goes to him. Point two to drakensis!!
A lot of folks seemed to embrace the big guns (Ultra AC/20s and LB 20-X ACs) next so let’s talk about both concepts for our new D configuration. I had envisioned the best from each walking away with their own configuration win but after serious consideration there can be only one. My reason is the range factor of this 4/6 OmniMech which should be higher on this ‘Pocket Assault’. Without superior speed to close range I feel it would be disadvantageous to have too many tight quarter sluggers in the arsenal. There were four Ultra/AC 20 contenders including marauder648 D, drakensis C, Abele C, and Bradshaw H. While Bradshaw H was the best of this subset I ultimately choose the LB 20-X AC winner over this one which surprised me. Usually I am more apt to pick the Ultra AC/20 but here I thought the LB 20-X AC was superior. Especially those configs which doubled down which Abele C did while splitting the difference. Very impressive especially when you consider he lumped on an ER PPC which is a big gun trifecta. Didn’t love the Medium Pulse inclusion though and maybe would have gone with this one if you had replaced them with Double Heat Sinks to mitigate build up concerns. With Ice Hellion E and Abele D sporting only one LB 20-X that means that Bradshaw D which is the only other config to double down with two LB 20-Xs gets the win. I liked the arsenal which includes four ER Mediums and two additional Double Heat Sinks as well as the fluff which adds to the flavor saying that some pilots swap Autocannons meaning Ultras are possible here. Close range I know but extremely nasty firepower and we need at least one of those, point two to Bradshaw!!
While Streak SRM-6s are a close-range weapon like the big Autocannons previously discussed our two E contenders have other long weapons to offset this disadvantage. Bradshaw C as mentioned previously had two Large Pulses which are super accurate and grouped them with five Streak SRM-6s. You really can’t miss and this entry featured jump jets for extra mobility and three additional Double Heat Sinks to deal with a heat build up which this thing does. A fine entry but one that is upstaged by what is becoming a signature Ice Hellion delivery. His D is one of my favorite submissions as it pairs an ER PPC and ER Large Laser both tied to a Targeting Computer for excellent long-range sniping. Add to that six Streak SRM-6s which will obliterate anyone foolish enough to close with this model. With only forty five rounds this missile barrage will only last seven to eight turns but he ain’t missing and I am pretty sure your not surviving. While these long and short range brackets can’t be fired at the same time this combo is deadly and I approve. An ECM Suite insures that opponents cannot disrupt his superior targeting systems and therefore have to endure the full punishment this machine deals out. He also included four Double Heat Sinks to cool off weapons fire from either bracket. Point to Ice Hellion!
With the consolidation of big Autocannon configurations, the failure of Ultra AC/10s to be widely considered, the dishonor or unglory of Artillery we are left with Generalists to round out things here for F. While the best one was reserved for last there are several others which are pretty darn solid. A solid ground assailant is bought to us by marauder648 C with marauder 648 F going with an effective missile energy mix. Bradshaw F feels like an upgraded InnerSphere Atlas to me and gets second prize here though. It was Abele F which stands out to me the most here and his submission was based on Nova Cat E which features ATMs not allowed because of their future tech status. With twin LRM-15s and two Streak SRM-6s supported by two Large Pulse Lasers this is a very nice variant. An ECM again prevents disruption of advanced missile targeting systems and four Double Heat Sinks help cool it. While not enough to Alpha Strike constantly I think you could get away with it once or maybe twice an engagement but with an average of fifty damage at long and short ranges with accuracy it is more of a bracket firer. Point to Abele!
G is for Gauss and we had at least four challengers utilize this weapon as their main gun during this contest. I like the approach because of the Hell Cat’s large pod space availability and relatively low heat threshold. So this big ballistic fits perhaps twice over which Ice Hellion G and Abele Prime both attempted. I think drakensis B was just faster on the draw here when he put my favorite combo together this time with two Gauss Rifles and a single ER PPC. With two dozen rounds of ammo for each rifle and only a single PPC to generate heat this variant can really fire all day long at range with three knock punches a round coming. Very nice and four ER Smalls are also included as backup which I might have gone in another direction within all honesty but your core is solid. I didn't see Bradshaw Configuration I probably cause of reviewing offline data on my galaxy s3. It is good and on par with drakensis B. While accurate it does not dissipate all its weapon heat which puts a crimp in things. Your over by five heat each time you fire. If you ditched the Jump Jets and went with more Heat Sinks than I would have had to change the decision. Sorry about the oversight but still point three to drakensis!!!
The complete exception to my range rule and something Nova-esque which fits here is the new H configuration bought to us by massed Medium Pulse Lasers. The accuracy provided by these weapons can devastate opponents and so this became my second (and last) close in killer. Abele H was a highly mobile (4 Jump Jet) eight Medium Pulse battery supplemented by two Streak SRM-6s. Eight Double Heat Sinks help cool it and two Small Pulse Lasers (which I could have done without) added to its firepower even further. Bradshaw G was just better though with ten Medium Pulse Lasers all tied into a freaking Targeting Computer for extra evil not missing wowness. Nine additional Double Heat Sinks cool this weapon fire completely even though they don’t account for movement. An Active Probe helps you find an eliminate any poor infantry man who dares raise a rifle to your presence and oh yeah you can jump too. Yikes and away, point three to Bradshaw!!!
K stands for Kerensky and in this case the best fluffed configuration in this contest. The best generalist and biggest middle finger to the Wolves for their interference in the Hell Cat design is drakensis F which is modeled after the Atlas II of none other than Nicholas Kerensky. It features an impressive array worthy of all the ‘Pocket Assault†status we have talked about with an LRM-20 linked to an Artemis, two Medium Pulses, a Streak SRM-6, an LB 10-X, and two ER Large Lasers. With only two additional Double Heat Sinks you have to watch what you fire when but this is more of a message configuration which is loud and clear. Love the Trial of Grievance mention as well which is all too appropriate, great job and point four to drakensis!!!!
So we have an overall tie for first place this time around with drakensis and Bradshaw each earning four points, well done men! Ice Hellion got two points this time around giving him a bronze medal this time around. Abele also pointed this week along with canon although I should point out that marauder648 correctly backed that even though he received no points in this contest. Well done everyone, I think we certainly improved the Hell Cat and really bought it into the Quicksilver story with your efforts. Looking forward to seeing you soon for our next contest which will be an iconic one for sure. Till then I hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day weekend here in the States and elsewhere. See you tonight for Upgrade 25!
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Topic: Quicksilver Reconfiguration #2: Hellcat (formerly the Nova Cat) (Read 3092 times)