Its been a long time since we finished up Quicksilver Upgrades, at least the Mech part of it, so let’s get right down to it. Five canon configurations will duke it out with fifty four entries from six design challengers. Unfortunately, Abele had no Quicksilver fluff and Bradshaw had only a funny little blurb so only four stories to choose from. Ice Hellion wrote his from a Wolf perspective and he had a nice start but lost me along the way. A Smoke Jaguar view was provided by drakensis was a bit better and could work nicely but ultimately it was the generic approach by marauder648 and masterarminas which I thought was the best especially when combined. So, half a fluff point each to marauder648 and masterarminas! And now onto the configurations.
With its comparatively small engine for maximum pod space and thus low integral Heat Sink number the Dire Wolf is not an ideal platform for multiple ER Larges. Don’t get me wrong the massed extreme range weaponry is pretty potent stuff but prohibitively hot in the Diashi’s case. canon Prime produces seventy-two weapon heat with only forty-four cooling capacity which has a max damage factor of ninety-eight. So, if you run and alpha strike you’re automatically shutting down which I will grant you is unlikely at best. However, I at least want to fire all four of my ER Larges but if I do and move than overheat consequences begin. The Ultra ACs and LRMs only exacerbate the problem. I liked marauder648 Prime which subtracted the LRMs and added Double Heat Sinks but found drakensis E with its four ER Larges a better more accurate bracket firer. What works with the Dire Wolf best in my opinion is the Gauss Rifle which both masterarminas Prime and marauder648 E replaced two of the ER Larges with two of these massive ballistic weapons. While slightly shorter ranged and ammo based these cannons hit harder and run a lot cooler than lasers. This led some like Bradshaw Prime, masterarminas E, and Ice Hellion to pull the lasers for the twin pairing of dual Gausses along with two ER PPCs. I ultimately thought that masterarminas Prime was the way to go here even though you might see one of those other entries later on. Two ER Large, two Gausses, an LRM-10 with Artemis, and two ER Mediums have pretty good ranged firepower. Thanks to eight additional Double Heat Sinks this new primary configuration runs pretty cool. Design point one to masterarminas!
Of the original three Diashi configurations in Techincal Readout 3050 this one, Alternate A, is easily the best in my opinion. Very cool running and solid variant which has a high level of accuracy thanks to its Pulse Lasers as well as a couple of Streak SRMs. The only thing strange here would be the three tons of Anti-Missile ammo which is a bit much. Abele A prescribed to my Gauss is good theory for the Dire Wolf swapping one of the three Large Pulses for a second Gauss. The Streaks and the Anti-Missile System also get switched out for four ER Mediums and an ER Small which makes for a pretty good challenger. It runs a little hotter than its competition even though it has better firepower but I wanted to say nice job here. Three designers (drakensis C, Ice Hellion D, and Bradshaw F) all tried their hand at a four Large Pulse Laser variant which while qualifying here were not successful but who knows you may see them later. Third place was Bradshaw A here that mirrored the original except for the absence of the Anti-Missile System which was replaced by a Medium Pulse and three ER Smalls. I would have preferred another Double Heat Sink at the expense of two ER Smalls a move which may have won you this contest. Both masterarminas A and marauder648 A simply dropped the excess two tons of Anti-Missile ammunition for a Medium Pulse Laser. This improves on an already excellent canon version and comes down to weaponry layout as both challengers are identical. In my opinion it was marauder648 A which very narrowly eked it out here as it followed the canon layout which made a little more sense to me. Design point one to marauder648!
With canon B featuring all those small caliber Autocannons along with a single mid-sized one I rounded up all eleven of those configurations submitted here for a comprehensive look. While the original version sets the standard for this contest it is quite possible the worst loadout for the Dire Wolf. I suppose it is the massed Ultra AC/2s that really kills it for me but with only fifteen Double Heat Sinks you can’t even fire both your ER PPCs without outpacing your dissipation rate. I liked what Bradshaw B tried to do better with has four LB 2-X ACs paired with four ER Larges which provides excellent range even though it isn’t the hardest hitter. Thirteen Double Heat Sinks do a pretty good job of cooling this extreme reacher which also has a Flamer for any close in opponent. Two entries, drakensis D and masterarminas F, featured four Ultra AC/10s which is a pretty potent mid-range approach which could produce a winning entry later on in this contest. I would say the same thing about Abele B and Bradshaw C which both have twin Ultra AC/10s as well as dual ER PPCs. Bradshaw H went for superior accuracy provided by four LB 5-X ACs, two Large Pulses, two Streak SRM-4s, and three Flamers while drakensis H tried a death by paper cuts approach. Two LB 10-X ACs, two LB 5-X ACs, a Small Pulse, four Flamers, four A-Pods, four Machine Guns, and two Anti-Missile Systems don’t provide the biggest punch unless you’re a facing off against infantryman. Abele H tried one with an Ultra AC/5 together with a LB 5-X AC, two ER PPCs, three ER Smalls, and four Double Heat Sinks. It seemed to me that the two submissions with LRM batteries replacing the Ultra AC/2s were the way to go. I thought masterarminas B which used two LB 5-X ACs, two ER PPCs, LRM-15 with Artemis, two Medium Pulses, and an ER Medium cooled by eleven additional Double Heat Sinks was the second-best entry. What I liked best was marauder648 B which felt like a cross between a Loki, a Thor, and a Vulture. It retains the LB 10-X AC, two ER PPCs, two Medium Pulses, and an ER Small while adding two LRM-20s each with an Artemis IV FCS. While nine additional Double Heat Sinks can’t keep you cool Alpha Striking and only twenty-four missile salvos are available these drawbacks don’t keep this entry from the top spot here. A nice improvement marauder648 and design point two to you!!
I am going to place configuration S here even though there is no true canon alternate C to set the pace. This urban combat master has an LB 20-X AC with 20 rounds, a Large Pulse, five Medium Pulses, two Streak SRM-4s with 25 salvos, two Machine Guns with 200 shots, two A-Pods, three Jump Jets and eight additional Double Heat Sinks. Unfortunately, there were only two challengers who featured jump jets for mobility and a massive Autocannon which are my criteria here. Ice Hellion B had a LB 20-X AC with 15 rounds, two Large Pulses, a LRM-10 with 12 salvos, six ER Mediums, a six-ton Targeting Computer, Active Probe, ECM Suite, three Double Heat Sinks, and three Jump Jets. This entry runs a little too hot for me but there is also Abele G with an Ultra AC/20 with 15 shots, Large Pulse, three Streak SRM-6s with 45 salvos, two Medium Pulses, two Machine Guns with 200 shots, four A-Pods, Active Probe, ECM Suite, five Double Heat Sinks, and three Jump Jets. A solid challenger for sure but I think the canon configuration will be retained here as the best possible city fighter presented. The LB-X is bit better than the Ultra AC in the confines of a metropolis and for combating conventional forces that dwell within. Abele G might be back again in this contest but the point here goes to canon!
The basis for Alternate D is the Widowmaker’s personal configuration which I will say is up for the honor thanks to Natasha’s status. It combines an Ultra AC/20 with other large long-range weapons like an LRM-20, Gauss Rifle, and ER Large to a terrifying killing machine. With the capability of inflicting 104 points of damage while generating a total of 41 weapon heat it is a beast whose only problem could be limited LRM and Ultra AC ammo. Since eight Double Heat Sinks allow it to cool forty heat it is pretty cool running and ideal for trials. I wonder though if Natasha would allow anyone to claim it despite its legendary status. I have to mention Abele G here again with its Ultra AC/20, Large Pulse, 3 Streak SRM-6s, 2 Medium Pulses, 2 Machine Guns, 4 A-Pods, Active Probe, 5 DHS, 3 Jump Jets. I love its jumping ability and as it generates 44 Weapon Heat with 34 cooling it really doesn’t run all that hot in spite of being able to put out 104 points of possible damage. We also have some multiple Ultra AC/20 carriers here which are truly terrifying like Bradshaw’s so-called Pure Death. Three of those massive big guns along with four ER Mediums and an ER Small can do 153 damage possible. However, the mid to short range nature of this machine without mobility from jump jets make it too slow for me to deliver this truly awesome punch. Plus, the fact it can only cool 32 heat thanks to four additional Double Heat Sinks when generating a possible 64! Meanwhile Bradshaw D has two Ultra AC/20s, two Large Pulses, and two Streak SRM-6s which makes for a pretty intriguing bracket firer. While 56 weapon heat total is far too much for its base 24 cooling system splitting its arsenal can result in a far more reasonable 28 weapon heat which could result in a possible impact of 80 to 44 points of damage. The best of the twin Ultra AC/20 carriers comes from marauder648 G with 2 Ultra AC/20s, two Large Pulses, Medium Pulse, ER Small, plus 10 additional Double Heat Sinks. This results in 54 weapon heat with 44 cooling and 112 damage possible which is pretty awesome. I also really liked marauder648 D with a single Ultra AC/20, two ER PPCs, two Large Pulses, two ER Mediums, ER Small, and thirteen additional Double Heat Sinks. Sort of reminding me of a Masakari with an Ultra AC/20 this variant produces 76 weapon heat with 50 cooling and 109 damage possible. Finally, there were two entries who mixed their Ultra AC/20s with LB 20-X ACs for hard hitting sluggers. Abele F featured an Ultra AC/20, LB 20-X AC, Gauss Rifle, 2 ER Mediums, Medium Pulse, Anti-Missile System, along with three more Double Heat Sinks. While I like the low 35 weapon heat combined with 30 cooling and a 96 possible damage capacity it proved too ammo reliant for me as its main weapons are entirely ballistic. I liked drakensis B with an Ultra AC/20, LB 20-X AC, 2 ER Larges, LRM-15 with Artemis, ECM Suite, Active Probe, and eight supplemental Double Heat Sinks. Generating 49 Weapon Heat while cooling 40 at max efficiency it can deal 95 possible damage. So, we have several excellent contenders for this Ultra AC/20 configuration which will it be? We look at the Widowmaker and it has what a Diashi needs cause of its slow speed - ranged firepower coupled with a short-range punch. While marauder G and D along with drakensis B were the main competition here against Natasha’s. After a painstaking review I have concluded that marauder648 D with a constant 50 long range energy firepower that couple with an impressive short-range punch is the way to go here. Point three to marauder648!!!
I will allow masterarminas E and Ice Hellion E with their twin Gauss cannons and dual ER PPCs to set the pace for our first wholly non-canon variant since that combo is indeed one of my favorites but we will also review three Gauss carriers with a single ER PPC as their performance is nearly identical. Ice Hellion E has two ER PPCs and two Gauss Rifles along with seven ER Mediums and an Anti-Missile System which is an interesting bracket firer. Bradshaw G really stand for Gauss with three of those massive cannons as well as an ER PPC, four ER Smalls, and a Flamer. Nine tons of Gauss ammo gives the Mechwarrior two dozen rounds of continuous firepower to bombard your enemy with. The configurations I liked best here ultimately utilized LRMs to augment its long-range firepower. With three Gauss Rifles, an ER PPC and a LRM-10 linked to an Artemis drakensis F can run and Alpha Strike for sixteen turns. I will say it has a lower heat spike than the rest of its competitors but I have reservations about its ammo dependence. I liked masterarminas E with two ER PPCs, two Gauss Rifles, and an LRM-10 with Artemis a little better. It has two dozen rounds of ammunition available and it can fire everything with any movement resulting in the slightest of overheating. What I liked even better was Bradshaw Prime which together with twin 2 ER PPC and dual Gauss Rifles has an LRM-15 with Artemis. Granted the ammo and Double Heat Sink balance is a little off but nothing we can’t fix. So by the slimmest of margins the point goes to Bradshaw!
F will stand for ‘Fire Support’ with LRM carriers being the feature fare here! Abele E featured the most LRMs with eight 15 racks fed by sixteen tons ammo which enables sixteen rounds of continuous fire. Unfortunately, with only five additional Double Heat Sinks this load out over heats by six a turn just firing these missiles. Kinda of the same thing with Bradshaw Lobo which had four LRM-15s and only thirty-two shots along with three ER PPCs linked to a Targeting Computer. While adding a dozen extra Double Heat Sinks it still isn’t enough to cool this design, perhaps if you went with Large Pulse Lasers instead. Very similar to marauder648 F with four LRM-15s linked to an Artemis IV FCS supplied by sixty-four rounds of ammo paired with two ER PPCs. Eight supplemental Double Heat Sinks here cannot cool this loadout so let’s take a look at drakensis G. This one has more of a bracket fire approach with five LRM-15s paired with ten Medium Pulses which isn’t bad but I liked the seven rack carriers even better. Ice Hellion F has seven LRM-15s and a Large Pulse supported by five Medium Pulses for close range engagements. With only forty-eight salvos though this configuration didn’t have much endurance and the seven additional Double Heat Sinks can’t cool the long-range fire. What I thought was the best was drakensis A with seven LRM-15s supplied by one hundred twenty-eight rounds of ammunition which are further backed up by three Medium Pulses at close range. Seven supplemental Double Heat Sinks do cool the continuous missile fire which can last more than eighteen turns while running if necessary. Nice job and point to drakensis!
G will be our ‘Gun’ configurations sporting all those Ultra/AC/10 carriers we saw during this contest. These medium sized and medium ranged ballistic weapons were a good fit with the Diashi which is more suited to low heat producing guns rather than lasers. With only a single Ultra AC/10 masterarminas D had a little bit of everything with a Gauss, two ER Larges, two ER Mediums, and an ER Small all linked to a seven ton Targeting Computer. While more accurate than its competitors here it was also a lighter hitting model which is the reason for its last place finish here. Two models (Bradshaw C and Abele B) paired two Ultra AC/10s with two ER PPCs for a pretty effective variant. While Bradshaw C featured mobility I was surprised to find that the heat spike out of Abele B which was equipped with an ER Large wasn’t that bad at all. It was the four Ultra AC/10 carriers from drakensis D and masterarminas F that I found were the best. Ultimately, I liked the single added Double Heat Sink and twenty extra shots which masterarminas F featured over drakensis version. Capable of running and double firing all of its Ultra ACs for more than a dozen turns this variant is badass. Additionally, it has two ER Mediums and an ER Small for close in support should it become necessary. Point two to masterarminas!!
Massed Streak SRMs are the order of the day for our new Alternate Configuration H and I have to lead off again with Abele G which has three Streak SRM-6s. While it qualifies here again I think this Ultra AC/20 variant with jump jets is good but not quite a winner. Both drakensis Prime and marauder648 E were very similar entries with four Streak SRM-6s and a Gauss Rifle. While each varies from there neither was good enough to overcome the best in my opinion which was drakensis E. With eight Streak SRM-4s (75) this configuration goes back to the original Prime for four ER Larges and then links them to a Targeting Computer. This super accurate bracket firing masterpiece is ideal because of it thirteen additional Double Heat Sinks. You can fire your ER Larges all day for extreme range firepower or if your opponent can close switch over to a SRM barrage paired with two ER Larges. For good measure he threw in an ER Medium and a Flamer for last ditch support creating a powerful variant in the Dire Wolf arsenal. Point two to drakensis!!
For our last configuration we will take a look at all those entries who have been left out so far like Ice Hellion’s. From his Prime entry which was an energy boat bracket firer or his A configuration which paired three Gausses with a LRM-15 and four ER Mediums which may have been a little too ammo reliant these were really unique. This individuality could have hurt them but I did consider them here so nice try bud but no cigar. Also, despite their accuracy the Large Pulse Carriers (drakensis C, Ice Hellion D, Bradshaw F) ran too hot, lacked the reach of other configurations and didn’t hit hard enough for me. Abele’s Artillery Carriers (Tau and Omega) were also considered here but I found this support role beneath the frontline Dire Wolf and therefore not in the top ten. LRM & SRM Carriers nearly won the day here with Bradshaw E (running way too hot for my tastes) being defeated by Abele C. However, it was Abele G which was always a bridesmaid in this contest up until now which I think best fits here for Alternate Configuration J. Jump Jets and the mobility the provided were the key to this victory as was this variant’s complementary nature to Alternate Configuration C. While C will be the vehicle and infantry killer of the Dire Wolf in a urban environment J will be at its side knocking out enemy Mechs with its Ultra AC/20, Large Pulse, three Streak SRM-6s, and two Medium Pulses. Its well defended for urban mastery thanks to two Machine Guns and four A-Pods plus a superior array of electronics (Active Probe and ECM Suite). Point to Abele!
With three and a half points marauder648 gets the win here with second place going to masterarminas with two and a half points. Third place goes to drakensis with two points while Abele and Bradshaw get a point each and canon retains a single spot here. Sadly, only Ice Hellion got shut out completely and that is a damn shame. You guys really did a great job on the Dire Wolf (Daishi) as well as all the other existing Clan OmniMechs. I will be along tonight or tomorrow with a look at the overall scores for Quicksilver Upgrades but this project wouldn’t be anything without you all. It was a privilege to judge your excellent designs which built upon the canon originals to create the very best versions of these iconic Mechs possible. Thanks again guys, please take a bow!!
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Topic: Quicksilver Upgrades #34: Dire Wolf (Daishi) 100 tons (Read 7278 times)