OBT Forum

Very nice Ice, glad to see your take on this old Omni!

As I said I have some other thoughts but will wait to review the design before revealing them to everyone here as to maintain the balance of the contest.

Interesting pic marauder648, I like the dog's head on this war machine.

Final day for entry folks! If you have any revisions in mind or would like to submit anything new you have 18 and a half hours to do so. 

Well folks I am sorry to tell you that this has been a sad week for me as my beloved Bo dog passed away suddenly after 12 years of unparalleled friendship. Appropriately with the Lupus being our design contest of the moment I’d like to dedicate this review to him. Like my four legged companion we had four exceptional designers submitting twenty seven possible challengers to the existing three canon variants. Suffice it to say that the level of quality you guys continue to bring is excellent and it is a privilege to be able to call upon your services. Before we go forward with the review I wanted to start with some thoughts on the Lupus which I jotted down last weekend which will probably be combined into the winner’s fluff.

First off is the design conflict and partnership that the Lupus would seem to naturally have with the Hellfury. For the conflict angle we only need to look to both designs creators (Coyote vs Star Adder) to find faction antipathy but let’s get under the hood. The Hellfury receives a jump start from existing Lupus chasses which can be upgraded into that new Werewolf design. This cannibalization of the old to make new would be a powerful factor for any Clan interested or preferring the Hellfury (Star Adder, Burrock, Hell’s Horses, Ice Hellion and Jade Falcon). Meanwhile you have others (Coyote) looking to bolster their second line forces with the Lupus or in the case of poorer Clans (Blood Spirit and Goliath Scorpion) complete the modularization of their frontline formations. While the Hellfury would proliferate faster than other Quicksilver designs thanks its secondary production facility on Albion (thanks Burrock) it also has the effect of sustaining the Lupus. Both designs use similar or identical components which gives the Lupus a new lease on life even if some would like to see their total conversion into the uprated Hellfury. The only Clan where both designs co-exist in the very same Touman and will likely continue to do so is Wolf. The Lupus is valuable to them as an augment for their second line forces while the Hellfury can work very well with their new Linebacker in frontline service.

Now with all that being said let’s get to the InnerSphere designation and fluff review before we delve into the new configurations for this venerable war machine. Everybody was pretty much in the same territory with fluff which was well written and had something to do with Wolf and Coyote. Same too with the also known as Spheroid name which were mainly Norse in nature which was in line with canon practice. Both fluff and name points went to marauder648 for his approach this time around as he narrowly beat out the competition. I thought Bradshaw’s name was intriguing as was drakensis approach to the story but overall marauder648 narrowly squeaked on by for 2 bonus points!! Congrats.

For Primary Configuration I went with the twin LRM-20 concept that three variants including canon took a swipe at. One of the flaws with the canon approach to me was lack of ammunition for these main weapons which both marauder648 and drakensis did by adding another ton. Both also dropped the jump jets to get this extra weight as well and to me came down to the secondary weapon array. While marauder648 added 2 ER Mediums and 2 Double Heat Sinks I thought drak’s approach with 2 Streak SRM-4s matching an InnerSphere Archer variant was slightly better. Close one but point one goes to drakensis!

Initially I thought that Alternate Configuration A presented by canon was gonna be a goner either out done by another Ultra AC/10 concept or squeezed out by a whole nother approach. This however was not the case as Bradshaw A (loss of range) and Ice Hellion A (inefficient use of Targeting Computer) were not marked improvements in my opinion. Other options which included the LB 20-X AC, Gauss Rifle, and massed groups of Streak SRMs also failed to unseat this canon entry which remains entrenched as Configuration A. Point one to canon.

As you could tell by my last evaluation Alternate Configuration B from canon with its LB 20-X AC failed to win my approval mainly because of its lack of mobility. Luckily, we had others venues to choose from including twin LRM-15 launches as this war machine’s main weapon. Three challengers (Bradshaw Prime, marauder648 B, Ice Hellion Prime) took this approach with some tantalizing ideas. While Ice Hellion was a little better with his Targeting Computer here I like it when your submissions make the most aka using all five tons for that high tech aiming system. Nothing wrong with Bradshaw’s entry here what so ever he just got beat out by marauder648 B and his very Blood Spirit entry which fit like a glove. His mini Blood Kite is spot on and earns marauder648 a point!

Leaving canon behind at Alternate Configuration C we delve into completely new territory for this concept. Embracing the InnerSphere method with Clan tech once more drakensis C which mirrors the Warhammer is a formidable addition to the Lupus which unlike the Mad Dog is more than just a missile boat to me. I always thought the canon upgrade (Hellfire) showed this ‘Mechs range when it came to different types of armament carried. With two ER PPCs and enough Double Heat Sinks (plus 6 additional) to use them the backup weaponry is gravy. An SRM-6, two ER Smalls, and four Machine Guns can give any one especially infantry which get in close a bad experience to learn from. Point two to drakensis!!

Configuration D was based on the LB 10-X AC and was in many cases a knock of canon A which as it turned out wasn’t that bad at all. While drakensis A and marauder648 were very good I thought Ice Hellion D which was backed up by an LRM-15, two ER Mediums Lasers, an SRM-4, and Flammer provided the best possible combination. It was perhaps the closest call of the entire competition as I went back and forth here a few times but ultimately decided that the concept was solid and Ice did indeed have the best one. Point number one for Ice Hellion!

At least three folks tried to use an LB 5-X AC in their presentation but only one mixed it with two LRM-10s and a Large Pulse Laser. Ice Hellion E with a Large Pulse Laser added to that along with four ER Small Lasers can wreak havoc on conventional forces. The other two from marauder648 and drakensis I just felt like they lacked something. The overheat value isn’t that horrible and it has a good mix of weapons for gutting infantry, tanks, vtols, and even fighters. Nice job, point two to Ice Hellion!!

I liked drakensis F the best for Alternate Configuration F as his all energy sniper variant which can stay in the field forever and uses a two ton Targeting Computer optimally. Two ER Large Lasers and two ER Medium Lasers are linked together for near constant fire thanks to six additional Double Heat Sinks. On top of that we keep the five Jump Jets of canon prime to achieve maximum mobility while blazing away at long range. I can certainly see Goliath Scorpion utilizing this variant for their well-placed shooting ways. Point three to drakensis!!!

Alternate G is usually my big ‘G’un variant with Gauss Rifles, LB 20-X ACs, and Ultra AC/20s squaring off for dominance. As you already know from my Configuration A comments Gausses and LB 20-Xs did not make the cut meaning Ultra AC/20 rules here. With only two possible entries to chose from you know that it is either marauder648 Gloria or drakensis B which won the day. While I liked Gloria it lacked ammo and I really do not see a Lupus running around on Tukayyid. What put drak B over the top for me was it’s mobility (5 jump jets) in concert with that big gun which had 15 shots and a plethora of backup weapons which could annihilate opposition at close range. A very nasty city fighter. Point four to drakensis!!!!

Perhaps the ‘H’eaviest damage comes from Alternate Configuration H which features SRMs as its main weaponry. While Ice Hellion B takes a stab at this I felt that drakensis E does it best by supporting six SRM-6 batteries (72 damage possible) with six ER Mediums (42 damage possible). These weapons produce two distinct brackets which thanks to six additional Double Heat Sinks can alternate fire effectively. While a running Alpha Strike is not advisable by any means such an action can devastate any ‘Mech with 114 possible damage in a single turn even though shutdown is likely (24 overheat). Still this one is a winning combination to me. Point five to drakensis!!!!!

‘I’ in this case stands for instruction as grouped Pulse Lasers can provide accuracy to green pilots which in the case of the Clans could use the Lupus as a trainer for cadet formations. Bradshaw C effectively groups two Large Pulse Lasers, two Medium Pulse Lasers, and four Small Pulse Lasers to achieve maximum accuracy at all ranges. Three additional Double Heat Sinks help cool all that Laser fire but pilots should be wary of their heat scale lest they overheat by 16. ‘I’ could also stand for aerospace Interdictor as twin Large Pulses can accurately deal with any high flying opposition effectively. Nonetheless point to Bradshaw!

In conclusion I’d have to say that drakensis strikes back with five points and the resounding win especially in the design competition. In second place with wins for name and fluff helping out was marauder648 with a total of three points. Ice Hellion gets the bronze this time around with two design wins while Bradshaw and canon round out the scoring with one design win a piece. I’d like to thank everyone for providing such great variety and skill in this dog eat dog competition which did a lot to distract from a tough real-life week. In the end thirteen different concepts were considered for our traditional ten configurations so some had to be left on our cutting room floor. Those are the breaks I guess. Hope everyone returns for this week’s contest!

Thanks bud

Initially I thought that Alternate Configuration A presented by canon was gonna be a goner either out done by another Ultra AC/10 concept or squeezed out by a whole nother approach. This however was not the case as Bradshaw A (loss of range) and Ice Hellion A (inefficient use of Targeting Computer)

Could you elaborate a little more on this Targeting Computer thing?

Congrats to the winner.

I still like my naming story better 

Yea only liked the Green Warrior Version with Pulses and the Trainer model, wasn't very inspired with this design.

I prefer when entries make full use of their Targeting Computer.

Point taken although I still think that a second ER Medium Laser is better.