Well I am glad everyone had fun but I am beginning to get concerned about Red Pins excitement for these contests. Seriously bud I have plenty more work to do for Quicksilver so I do not think you will be bored for quite some time. Right now, its time to judge the contest and up first is a look at the fluff.
Abele’s interesting version of Diamond Shark taking charge of the Coyotl upgrade was a bit too much so ya got last place here but your idea does make some sense. Especially given their historical involvement in the first OmniMech’s development and the fact their Mongrel (Grendel) just got discontinued similar movement profile forcing the Clan to consider possible replacements. As a result of this and massive damage taken at Tukayyid I could certainly see the Sharks as participants in the Coyotl revival. They may even be the second Clan to use it and perhaps there are others aside from Coyote who would press these older models into service? What do you guys think?
Unfortunately, drakenis did not go far beyond an excellent InnerSphere name suggestion with his fluff earning him third place here but I think the name thing works out just fine for him in the end, don’t worry. Marauder648 did a nice job however I think that the clear winner in the fluff category is Red Pins with his version of this ‘Mechs Quicksilver revitalization. Point for Red Pins!
For the InnerSphere Designation we had a few different choices even though Red Pins didn’t really jump into the pool. The Lycan theme by Abele was promising but unfortunately doesn’t translate from Diamond Shark upgrade to InnerSphere name. I liked where marauder648 went with comparisons to the Bushwacker for an InnerSphere name but the timing is an issue. It is true that a few prototypes were in existence in the early 3050s but mention of the Refusal War is a tad premature. That leaves drakensis with the Coyote as a simple straightforward InnerSphere name made because of a simple mistake. Point for drakensis!
Primary Configuration – For the first configuration I tried to focus on the ER PPC as the main weapon just as the canon original did. A little surprised that no one tried to double up on the PPCs ala the Adder (Puma) but I suppose heat was the big obstacle there even though three Double Heat Sinks would help that a bit. Most were based on the canon version with Red Pins prime eliminated canon’s LRM rack for another Streak (ER PPC, 2 Medium Pulses, 2 Streak SRM-4s with 25 shots, and a Flamer), drakensis prime traded Streaks for regular SRMs and a bunch of ER Smalls (ER PPC, 6 ER Smalls, SRM-4s with 25 shots, LRM 10 with 12 shots, DHS), Abele F dropped the Streak SRMs and Medium Pulses for more of a long range feel (ER PPC, 2 LRM 10 with 24 shots, 3 ER Smalls, and a Double Heat Sink), while Abele C ditches the missiles altogether for an Active Probe and Jump Jets (ER PPC, 2 Medium Pulses, Active Probe, 7 Jump Jets, and a Double Heat Sink). Ultimately, I agreed with marauder648 who endorsed Canon Prime (ER PPC, MPL, Streak SRM-4[25], LRM-10 [12], DHS) this able generalist and gave him half a point for writing up the new fluff for this configuration. Point canon and half point to marauder648.
Alternate Configuration A – Next as I did with the first the focus was on the Large Pulse Laser as the main per canon. Again, I could have seen a twin Large Pulse variant without Jump Jets and a few other things thrown in for a capable anti-aircraft model but alas. It seems like all the entrants based their Large Pulse variants on canon Alternate A like drakensis A which dropped secondary short-range armament for long range missiles (Large Pulse, 4 LRM-5s [48], 7 Jump Jets) and marauder648 A who consolidated the Streak SRMs into a larger launcher and upgraded secondary weapons (Large Pulse, Streak SRM-6 [15], 2 ER Mediums, 7 Jump Jets). Only Abele Prime dropped the jump jets for more firepower (Large Pulse, 3 ER Mediums, Streak SRM-6 [15], ER Small, 2 DHS). While these alternatives are intriguing I found canon A (Large Pulse, 2 Streak SRM-4s [25], Small Pulse, 7 Jump Jets) highly accurate and heat friendly. Point two to canon.
Alternate Configuration B – With only two canon configurations I had to rely on our four challengers for the next focus point. With five submissions featuring the ER Large it looked like a good place to go. Two of these contenders featured a single ER Large supported by other weaponry. Part fighter, part scout drakensis F has an ER Large, ER Medium, 2 Machine Guns, a Narc Launcher, Anti-Missile System, Active, Probe, ECM Suite, TAG while marauder648 B had an ER Large, LRM-15, AMS, ER Medium, ER Small, ECM Suite, Double Heat Sink for more offensive operations. However, as I was whining about in the first two configurations I wanted a twin main gun carrier if possible and thankfully we got three. Red Pins A modeled his twin ER Large, four LRM-5, two Medium Pulse, and Flamer variant on the Timber Wolf which was a neat idea. Unfortunately, without additional heat sinks it would be difficult for this model to deliver all of its arsenal. Abele E was also interesting with two ER Larges, six Jump Jets for mobility, Anti-Missile System, Active Probe, and two more Double Heat Sinks. In the end it was drakensis B with its twin ER Larges linked to a Targeting Computer supported by a LRM-10 and one ton of ammo along with two additional Double Heat Sinks that filled this long-range sniper role best. Point to drakensis!
Alternate Configuration C – Long Range Missiles seemed to be another popular weapon system with four submissions, one from each contestant, being entered for fire support duty. With the most missiles away drakensis C featured three LRM-15s with three tons of ammo, enough for eight rounds of bombardment, not bad. A close second was Red Pins D with four LRM-10s and four tons of ammo, enough for twelve rounds of bombardment, pretty good. However, I liked the accuracy and sixteen rounds of sustained fire that twin LRM-15s with Artemis IV FCS backed up by two ER Mediums plus an ER Small submitted by both marauder648 D and Abele B just a little more. Tie breaker goes to the one with superior fluff and that was marauder648 with his Lupus II breakdown. Point to marauder648!
Alternate Configuration D – One of my favorites was drakensis D whose five ER Mediums linked to a Targeting Computer, six Double Heat Sinks, and seven Jump Jets made for an excellent mobile medium ranged asset capable of long term independent operations. It can Jump Alpha Strike all the live long day and not worry about overheating then there is the fluff which eludes to the new Khan guiding some proteges to this war machine for their Trials. Most excellent all around. I did consider other contenders for this spot like Red Pins E but with top marks in concept and fluff there was really no true challengers. Well done, point two to drakensis!!
Alternate Configuration E – For the full range of ‘E’lectronics that make up a capable scout variant I searched high and low. Two entries – Abele E with its twin ER Larges, six Jump Jets, Anti-Missile System, Active Probe, 2 Double Heat Sinks and Red Pins G with six ER Mediums, an ER Small, a NARC Launcher, Active Probe, four Double Heat Sinks – were part scouts and not quite good enough here. Another two – Red Pins B with ten ER Smalls, two ER Mediums, Flamer, Targeting Computer, Active Probe, TAG, ECM Suite, and 3 Double Heat Sinks and drakensis F had an ER Large, ER Medium, 2 Machine Guns, a Narc Launcher, Anti-Missile System, Active, Probe, ECM Suite, TAG – were full electronic scouts but lacked the mobility afforded by Jump Jets. This gave the win to quite possibly my second favorite configuration of the contest - marauder648 C with its four Medium Pulses, 7 Jump Jets, TAG, ECM Suite, Active Probe, and a Double Heat Sink to help cool it. Accurate, mobile, self-sufficient, and pretty heat efficient this was a winner for me. Point two to marauder648!!
Alternate Configuration F – Both Abele A and marauder648 E submitted a Gauss Rifle configuration that featured that powerful main gun with two tons of ammo supported by an ER Medium and ER Small. Being a fan of the Gauss theme, I loved it of course and tie breaker fluff would determine the winner of this contest. This was a tougher choice then C as Abele quite correctly points out considering an LB-20X and an Ultra AC/20 which I did with Red Pins C but decided against. However, marauder648 also correctly predicts a sister configuration of an LB-10X and similarities to the Shadow Cat which mounts the Gauss too. Close but the point goes to marauder648 for his third!!!
Alternate Configuration G – Of course, I love little knife fighters like Red Pins F which has a dozen ER Smalls for a withering sixty points of damage for only twenty-four heat generated. He also adds five Double Heat Sinks allowing this variant to fire everything and jump seven only going over by one heat point. Plus a TAG gives the Mechwarrior the ability to call in artillery if necessary for added punch. While there were other short ranged contenders none were more reminiscent of the Khan’s ‘Great Coyotl’ which defeated Sullivan Koga Assault OmniMech to win him the leadership of the Clan. I don’t think he could have known about this similarity and I hope to post this hero Mech tomorrow for your inspection. Point to Red Pins!
Alternate Configuration H – Similar to Configuration F’s Gauss I was looking at the other big gun options and found that drakensis E with its Ultra AC/10 was another good option. Three tons of ammo gives it fifteen rounds of double fire which is backed up by two ER Mediums and a Flamer. A solid addition to the Coyotl and point three for drakensis!!!
Alternate Configuration I – Finally the LB 10-X Autocannon had a few different contenders like marauder648 F which had three tons of ammo and the exact same supporting loadout (2 ER Mediums and Flamer) as my last winner from drakensis. Add in the fact that winning Configuration F fluff spoke of sister variations and it is very tempting but I liked Abele D a little better. With only two tons of ammo his version has a Medium Pulse, a Small Pulse, and an ER Small. It is a bit more accurate and geared to dealing with conventional forces which an aging OmniMech might see. Point to Abele!
As I only select ten winning configurations there were four additional themes that missed the cut despite providing some interesting possibilities. The NARC Missile Beacon (drak F and Red Pins G – not sure the Coyotes would use it), Ultra AC/20 (Red Pins C – interesting but somewhat limited), SRM barrage (Red Pins H – not enough ammo), and twin LB 2-X AC (Red Pins H – limited firepower).
So, with 3 points for configurations and 1 point for name it is drakensis who wins this contest narrowly. It was marauder648 who scored the most points in the configuration competition with three and a half so from a design stand point he came out on top. Canon retained two configurations leaving only one design point each for Abele and Red Pins but Pins gets a bonus point for fluff giving him third place. Congrats guys, thanks for all your efforts. See ya soon for the next contest!!
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Topic: Quicksilver Upgrades #10: Coyotl (??) 40 tons (Read 1745 times)