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As my work continues on the AC/20 design challenge we take a slight break to look at the final medium OmniMech in the Quicksilver Upgrades. I expected there to be a lot of complaining about a lack of pod space but instead we have five competitors with thirty-one entries! This was quite impressive to me especially given their quality which really makes it difficult for me to pick some winners. Well time for me to stop complaining and get to it!

First off nobody disappointed when it came to choosing an InnerSphere designation. Here we had six submissions including Vinton2’s from November when he won the Fire Falcon IS name with Skadi (the Norse Goddess of Winter and the Hunt). Not a bad theme after seeing how they named their ‘Mechs (Uller, Fenris, Loki, Thor) during the Invasion. His suggestion this time around (see link below) would be Norn (singular fate goddess) which fits the theme but not sure if I really love it. Ice Hellion Rapier and Stiletto comparison fits the Black Lanner and Fire Falcon but gets away from the established theme (not bad if we were going Nueva Castile).   Abele’s Kicking Bird is a good nickname certainly but not quite an official designation. I really liked the Sturmadler ‘Storm Eagle’ by marauder648 but it again departs the Norse theme although stays very Lyran. Also, I thought it might be more appropriate for a large Mech as well. The Harrier is probably the best by drakensis as it captures the essence of the design and gives it a generic designation but it does not match the theme. Habrok by Bradshaw which does match the Norse theme I had originally placed in third but research based on theme is really very apt. So, first point to Bradshaw!

https://www.ourbattletech.com/forum/index.php?topic=3422.msg43007#msg43007

Now for our second bonus point the fluff where all five contestants had taken a shot this time around. It was a little too early for such a cooperative effort at Olevetti Weaponry and the Jade Falcon Clan sorry drakensis else wise excellent. Bradshaw had a more InnerSphere based fluff which I generally look for a Clan perspective based on the Quicksilver Trials and more recent events. Abele’s captured intel report by a Falcon Bug-Eye turns the perspective nicely but I liked marauder648’s and Ice Hellion’s better. While both were very good at updating the Black Lanner Ice Hellion edged out marauder648 by a feather with a little more in-depth Clan description mentioning Ice Hellion and battles versus Steel Viper. Very nice job everyone but point Ice Hellion!

On to configurations with Primary where canon has a generalist sporting an ECM which has to bracket fire which I don’t really love. Many challenged this setup directly with an ER Large Laser/LRM combo often removing the SRM-6. Only Bradshaw kept it by removing an ER Medium but upgrading to an LRM-15 with one ton of ammo gave you only 8 shots which I don’t care for. While I considered drakenis and Ice Hellion Prime’s which were more balanced I liked marauder648 entries. While his Prime has the same problems, the others share with heat it is his B which combines an LRM-20 with Artemis and 18 shots paired with an ER Large which I liked the most. While it changes the base configuration from a do it all to a fire support machine it is quite effective and heat neutral. It can stay at range at hammer away pretty effectively. Point to maauder648!

Canon sets the pace again with Configuration A’s basis on the ER PPC which might be the best singular possible weapon that the Black Lanner can field. I like canon’s version supported by two Medium Pulses and a full electronics package (Active Probe, ECM, TAG) for recon duty. A high bar to overcome. Abele’s Prime falls in here with the generalist of the original which ain’t bad but not quite what I was looking for. Bradshaw E is more of a combatant with an SRM-6, ER Medium, and ER Small which features Jump Jets for added mobility, very nice. Ice Hellion A keeps the ECM and Active Prove while adding a Targeting Computer which is even nicer while downgrading the Medium Pulses to ERs and replacing the TAG with Machine Guns. The winner however takes both the mobility of Bradshaw and the accuracy of Ice Hellion to make an effective sniper scout which was drakensis A. The ER PPC linked to a Targeting Computer with six Jump Jets while also retaining the Active Probe and ECM is really very nice. Can stay in field forever and snipe away at any opponent effectively from range with that big gun. Point to drakensis!

With the LRM-20 now being featured in the new Primary and canon B’s lack of ammo (nine shots a piece) I think you guys can see where I am going here. Abele’s B with three LRM-10s have a dozen shots a piece like Ice’s B but lack the increased accuracy of an Artemis IV which is the most attractive to me even though you have better back up weaponry with ER Mediums. Both drakensis and Bradshaw B have that winning combo of effective fire support fed by a dozen reloads which is backed by two ER Smalls. As we have a tie for configurations it comes down to best fluff for said configuration and lastly who submitted it first. Based on these tie breakers I have to go with drakensis whose comparison to the Archer is apt and allusion to a variant which drops the ER Smalls for more salvos beats out Bradshaw solid description of his B plus he kind of did beat you to the punch bud. Point two to drakensis!!

With a Streak SRM-6 battery and six ER Mediums cooled by three additional Double Heat Sinks canon C is pretty good but there is room for improvement. Ice Hellion F features two Streak SRM-4s like drakensis C and both variants use Pulse Lasers for accuracy but drak also puts a Targeting Computer in. However, it is Bradshaw C which simply improves on canon the best by dropping an ER Medium for a one ton Targeting Computer reducing the heat problem of the original by adding accuracy. Nice job, point to Bradshaw!

For D we get nasty on infantry with a standard SRM coupled with Pulse and other minor weaponry to create a fast-moving conventional killer canon wise. This is one of canon’s best like A in my estimation especially given its role to play in combat especially since it has an Active Probe to find and kill said targets. Going more for ER Smalls (six total) and dropping the SRMs to 4 packs in drakensis D may get too far away from that role. Bradshaw D drops a ton of SRM ammo to go for more Machine Guns but this limits the duration of effectiveness of the original. I also entered marauder648 E here as well even though it lacks SRMs but it too fails to surpass canon at least when it comes to the sheer anti-infantry role established by the original at least in my estimation. I do like how it removes ammo using weaponry and stays in the field forever. Perhaps the closest to eclipsing canon was Ice Hellion D which added mobility (albeit limited 4 MP) to this configuration while reducing the SRMs like drak did. I am gonna give this one to canon though as for killing infantry something it is very useful for it is probably the best especially given its enemies Steel Viper and the InnerSphere employment of such forces. Point canon!

For our new E configuration we go right to one of the most unique but effective configurations submitted by our challengers, marauder648 D. With its twin ER Larges supported by dual ER Smalls linked to a Targeting Computer and cooled by two additional Double Heat Sinks this model is an effective ‘E’xtended range sniper that can remain in the field for long periods and harass the enemy if necessary. It can also run down fast lights attempting to do the same with its speed and weaponry range. Point two to marauder648!!

For the new F configuration I decided to focus on those entries who featured the Large Pulse Laser as their main weapon giving the Black Lanner range, accuracy, and duration on the battlefield. We had three folks go in for something like this which would come in handy as an anti-aerospace platform as well. Both Bradshaw A and Abele A were variants of the ER PPC scout configuration which were pretty darn solid. However, Ice Hellion E took a Large Pulse and two Mediums and tied them to a Targeting Computer protected by an ECM for even greater accuracy which despite targeting limitations would certainly have a place in the Clans. I could see inexperienced sibkin using this one as well. Point to Ice Hellion!

For our big gun configuration or G we could have had somebody go for the uber massive Gauss, LB 20-X, or Ultra AC/20 with a single ton of weaponry. Probably wouldn’t have been too effective but one person did submit a large ballistic weapon that I do find suitable for the Black Lanner. The Ultra AC/10 provides pretty solid firepower at mid-range which can cycle up if required to double fire. While Ice Hellion G fluff does elude to it being a dueling variant I could see it having a place in combat with pretty good staying power thanks to three tons or thirty rounds of ammunition (15 if fired twice constantly). Point two to Ice Hellion!!

A smaller ballistic weapon that three entrants tried out was the LB 5-X AC which despite its size provides good ranged firepower especially against conventional opponents. Plus this cool firing weapon helps the ten double twenty heat sinks of the Black Lanner stay cool. The accuracy of cluster rounds also makes it a good candidate for anti-air operations as well. Using four ER Mediums and two tons of ammo marauder648 C would be a great tank killer but the range of Ice Hellion H with LRM-5s is a bit more desirable for VTOLs and aircraft. Returning to the Prime configuration ER Large was the better choice I felt for reach by Abele D who also had an ER Medium for closer in support. Heat friendly and long ranged this model can easily do the job I was looking for in concert with the LB 5-X AC. Point to Abele!

Finally, because the Black Lanner has such a relatively small amount of tonnage I would really like to include a Configuration K or Knife Fighter which can get in close rapidly and unleash a large volley small weapons to batter any would be opponent. While I considered marauder648 E, Abele C, and Ice Hellion F it was another Ice Hellion configuration which won the day IMO. Ice Hellion C with its five ER Mediums and six ER Smalls can do sixty-five points of damage potentially! All eleven lasers are tied to a Targeting Computer which increases the chances of that happening. Only down side is the thirty-nine heat spike you get on a running Alpha Strike which despite three additional Double Heat Sinks means you go over by thirteen. That is concerning but the risk is worth it especially to a Clan Mechwarrior given the potential reward. Point three to Ice Hellion!!!

I guess it is only appropriate that Ice Hellion is the second Clan to get their hands on this new fast OmniMech and that their favorite son wins this contest. Well done Ice Hellion with a total of four points (3 design and 1 fluff) you are the winner this time around. Tied for second was drakensis, marauder648, and Bradshaw each with two points total (although design wise drak and marauder beat you out chin scratcher). Abele and canon round out this competition each with a design point for a very well-done challenge by everyone. Some real good concepts and high level of participation. Hope it carries over into our next contest where we will be going up in weight class. See ya soon for that one folks!