The shortcoming of the original and modified canon versions of Primary Configuration are the six volleys of ammo for the LRMs. I’d like to stay faithful to this layout somewhat which is why I judged only four challengers worthy of possible replacement. Really liked marauder648 Prime which simply removed the Medium Pulse Laser to increase the LRM ammo but I would have also decreased the Machine Gun ammo (100 is good enough) or switched them out all together for ER Smalls. Keeping the LRM-20s was possible but the remaining contestants downgraded them to 15s pairing them with Artemis IV FCS for increased missile hit probabilities. While Bradshaw Prime was good the decision to drop the Small Pulses for more LRM ammo was a bit much. I liked that both drakensis Prime and masterarminas Prime included these weapons which can deal with infantry. A virtual tie between them came down to fluff and the facing of the ER Small Laser which narrowly give the first design point to masterarminas!
A was the dual ER PPC configuration which had its proponents like maruader648 who endorsed the Streak SRM-6, three Medium Pulse Laser, and ER Small Laser goodness. Abele F was a mobile version with five Jump Jets ample electronic systems (ECM, Active Probe, TAG) as well as two ER Mediums and twin Machine Guns. Bradshaw A took it up a notch with two Streak SRM-6s by dropping a Medium Pulse and losing three Double Heat Sinks. However, I thought that drakensis C which uses a Gauss Rifle supplied by sixteen rounds of ammo to create the deadliest combination of weapons with the two ER PPCs. With superior long-range firepower and an added Double Heat Sink this new A Configuration can decimate opponents at long range and has a Flamer for extra support in close. Point to drakensis.
Now with a Gauss appearing in the new A I considered removing it here for another weapon combination. However even with the Timber Wolf’s five integral Double Heat Sinks the Gauss proves to be a solid addition which is so nice we will see it twice. The original canon version has a pretty light ammo supply and with six challengers available it is unlikely to survive. Doing his best to build off the original marauder648 B drops everything except the Rifle and the Large Pulse to triple the Gauss ammo while adding two ER Mediums, two SRM-6s, and an ER Small which is dramatically better version. Abele’s Angela McCaig which pairs the Gauss with two ER Larges, two ER Mediums, Flamer, and 2 Double Heat Sinks to again create a solid variant. But as Bradshaw can tell you by his two attempts (B and F) I like the Gauss paired with an ER PPC. Between him and marauder648 G we have another three great combos all effective with their own strengths. It was masterarminas B with its LRM-10 linked to an Artemis plus two ER Mediums which created the best combination narrowly beating out Bradshaw F for the win. Point two to masterarminas!!
The bar was set for Configuration C by the canon version which featured a small caliber cannon. While my appreciation for canon C with an Ultra AC/5 growing during this review it suffered somewhat for being very similar to the new Prime. Improving on canon C was marauder648 C with an LB 5-X AC linked to a Targeting Computer for a solid variant. Bradshaw E featured two Ultra AC/5s paired with two ER Larges giving me a very capable Rifleman type feel. Only drakensis H went even smaller caliber with four LB 2-X ACs and an ER Large which creates a light hitting but far reaching configuration. Bradshaw G mixed both an Ultra AC/10 and a LB 5-X AC pairing them with an ER Large, two ER Mediums, and an ER Small. Scaling it up to an LB 10-X AC was marauder648 E and masterarminas E featured an Ultra AC/10. While these all bought something different to the table I liked Abele B the best of them all. With an LB 10-X AC as its basis he pairs it with an ER PPC, LRM-10 with Artemis, Streak SRM-6, and a Small Pulse Laser. Ironically this mirrors the old canon B variant and earns Abele his first point here!
With multiple Streak SRMs appearing on the canon version this is perhaps my favorite Mad Cat configuration from the old TROs. It does produce a bunch of heat however and could result in a automatic shutdown if you Alpha Strike. I thought that drakensis D which reduced the Streak SRM ammo is a little too risky for me. Abele D swapped the ER PPCs for ER Larges while adding two more ER Smalls and two additional Double Heat Sinks. Bradshaw C did the same thing but also went with six Streak SRM 4s which may get you a little better ammo efficiency. Abele H has four Streak SRM-4s, an ER PPC, and features five jump jets for enhanced mobility. What I liked best was marauder648 D which simply swapped the ER PPCs from canon for two Large Pulses. It is significant that George Kerensky used this configuration in his rise to Loremaster of the Wolves in my Clarion Call story as well. Bottom line is that this variant is highly accurate version which is more heat efficient, point to marauder648!
E has a little bit of everything and gives me the opportunity to discuss some entries which didn’t make it. While drakensis F was unique and intriguing I just felt that this Thumper Artillery variant was not a top ten finalist early on. There were also several Missile Boats which could launch sixty LRMs down range at hostile opposition. Abele Prime had six LRM-10s and solid support weapons with four ER Mediums while drakensis E featured four LRM-15s all linked to Artemis IV FCS. However, lit had limited support weapons which Bradshaw D with four LRM-15s and 4 ER Mediums was the polar opposite. I suppose Abele G with two LRM 20s and 2 ER Larges was the best of these but to me they really failed to separate themselves from the Prime contenders which approximate their damage and range. Abele E though did a little bit of everything with its twin LRM-15 linked to Artemis, two Streak SRM-4s, Large Pulse Laser, Medium Pulse Laser, and Flamer. I found this entry to well balanced, accurate, and highly effective. Point two to Abele!
Grouping small weapons into an effective weapon array the aptly lettered G Configuration has a couple of contenders. Taunus from Abele is pretty impressive with ten Medium Pulse Lasers linked to a Targeting Computer creating a Black Hawk like mid-range arsenal that is highly accurate. I really like this one Abele and will be using this character in our Solaris campaign. However, G is also for Goliath Scorpion and masterarminas G is just so damn nasty with its two Targeting Computer enhanced brackets. Three ER Large Lasers can wreck opponents at range or you can close to short range for a devastating barrage from fifteen ER Smalls. Four additional Double Heat Sinks help Scorpion Mechwarriors cool their weapon fire but don’t Alpha Strike. Fantastic job masterarminas, point three to you!!!
Go heavy or go home with Configuration H featuring the big guns of the Mad Cat which in this case were Ultra AC/20s. Two entries featured the largest caliber autocannons which you can mount giving the OmniMech the biggest possible punch. This is handy in a fight versus Assault Mechs and sort of reminds me of saKhan Brandon Howell’s Timber Wolf used in the Trial of Restoration. While it didn’t work out for him thanks to a lucky head hit I think it was pretty darn effective nearly knocking out his opposition. I like what marauder648 F does with this big gun, five jump jets, an ER Large Laser, SRM-6, and two ER Mediums. Narrowly edging you out was drakensis G which I found to be a little more effective at close range with an ER Medium and three Medium Pulses. Adding to this tight quarter killer was the Anti-Missile System, Active Probe, and ECM Suite which give it formidable scout capabilities. Point two to drakensis!!
The independent operator is Configuration I which is a big gun energy boat with at least four Large Lasers. Bradshaw Eta and Bradshaw Iota remind me a lot of the Star League Black Knight with their arsenals. I prefer Iota with its ER PPC, two ER Larges, and Large Pulse Laser that can really put a hurt on opponents but watch that heat scale. Abele C with four ER Large Lasers has better overall range but the Heat Sinks are a wee bit of overkill here. Just a little better is drakensis I which drops a Heat Sink from Abele’s version to add a point defense Small Pulse Laser which can be valuable when confronted by the rare armored infantry patrol. Point three to drakensis!!!
Finally, wanted to have a Jump Configuration to add mobility to this venerable OmniMech’s already impressive capabilities. We had ten variants including canon S which qualified in this area, as well as marauder648 F Ultra AC/20 carrier, Abele F dual ER PPC recon model, Abele Londerholm Revolt which is a brutal machine gun beast, and Drakensis J is an anti-infantry model. Again while each brings unique capabilities I liked other variants better like drakensis A is a bracket fire model with two ER Larges or six Medium Pulses available for work but not both when jumping around. I also really liked Abele’s Dashiell Hammond variant which is based on Aidan Pryde configuration. With two Large Pulses and three ER Medium Lasers all linked to a Targeting Computer plus a LRM-10 with Artemis IV FCS is drakensis B is a solid entry but it goes overheat somewhat. Abele H with four Streak SRM-4s and an ER PPC improves on canon S but goes overheat slightly earning a solid second place. Masterarminas F has an excellent mix of weaponry with two Large Pulse, LRM-15 with Artemis and Streak SRM-6. These systems are also accurate which helps a mobile configuration and generating 29 weapons heat along with 47 possible damage it is a solid addition here. Point four to masterarminas!!!!
The win goes to masterarminas with four design points followed closely by drakensis three points earning him a solid second place and Abele pulled down two points for the bronze. Bradshaw got one point for fluff and marauder648 also scored helping to shutout canon quite impressively. Great job guys! You guys are alread hard at work on the Night Gyr which looks quite promising. Till tomorrow gang and some warship comments maybe if time allows. Thanks again to everyone who participated. Hope to see you all for the Night Gyr review in two weeks.
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Topic: Quicksilver Upgrades #25: Timber Wolf (Mad Cat) 75 tons (Read 3624 times)