OBT Forum

Hmmmm...this is gonna be a challenge.  The Hankypanky is a TRO3058 Mech and that book didn't give us much in the way of lemons or bad designs. Sure you could make a point for the art (sorry, just don't like Loose's style), but design wise we didn't get too many ones that stank or were basically useless.  Sure we got some that could use work, like the Black Lanner, but we didn't get a drumroll of flaming turds.

And the Hankypanky is definately one of 3058's better ones, and the canon configs (save the LB-2 one) are all pretty darn potent to the point that i'd say that this might even be missed off the Quicksilver programme as this Mech at the time is basically brand new. But here we are.  So i'm going to have to have a long think about this.

Hah! Totally forgot I did that

Nice drak!

Very nice marauder648!

Oh very good, our three usual suspects are all in!

Maybe Thanksgiving might bring a few more designers out?

Well I must say that I half expected to keep two or three canon configurations going in just based on the newness of the Arctic Cheetah. However, I failed to reckon with the twenty-one excellent design entries from a very talented trio which made it tough on existing canon variants. I probably could have chosen a dozen or more configuration but ultimately choose to limit the number of possible variations to just ten. It was a difficult decision but one that revealed the best general concepts for the Arctic Cheetah.

Overview – I thought that drakensis intro fluff was a little better than marauder648 which as you will see gives drak the win in this very tight contest.

Primary Configuration – For the base design I am forced to agree with our entrants here that a long-range combatant and close-range scout don’t mix into one good configuration. I found drakensis Prime to be a little inefficient with an Artemis for each LRM 5 but I did like the additional Jump Jets. I liked Abele Prime which took us in a different direction as he split toward a recon variant with the additional jump jets and high tech electronic package. Ultimately, I think marauder648 Prime with its twin LRM-10s, two ER Mediums, and an ER Small takes the best parts of Prime and D creates a suitable new standard for the Arctic Cheetah. Nice job marauder648, score one!

Alternate Configuration A – While the canon version is pretty solid I really liked all the entries from our design team. While drakensis A provided an interesting mix of long and short-range missiles and Abele A downgraded the Streak SRMs to provide a greater secondary punch the win goes to marauder648 once more. His simple upgrade of the canon design swapping the Small Pulse and Flamer for an ER Medium and an ER Small creates a better variant. Score two for marauder648!!

Alternate Configuration B – The least sexy canon configuration with its pop gun LB-2X AC anchor seemed destined for the scrap heap from the start. We had some good big gun challengers from Abele B’s ER Large linked to a two ton Targeting Computer which I felt was an inefficient use of that high accuracy system to marauder648’s ER Large with a Streak SRM 6. This one was going to be an ER PPC for me which gave me two choices. Abele’s Eta with 2 Machine Guns and a Medium Pulse just couldn’t compete with marauder648’s B that featured the ER PPC, 2 ER Mediums, a Flamer and an additional Double Heat Sink. Score number three for marauder648!!!

Alternate Configuration C – The best canon configuration of the bunch in my opinion was backed by marauder648 and after looking for something better I really couldn’t find it. The closest competitor may have been drakensis C which changed it into a pure anti-infantry killer. C for crowd control or city combat with its four machine guns, flamer, twin ER Mediums, Small Pulse, Anti-Missile System, TAG, and 2 additional Jump Jets. Unfortunately, it just missed the cut, sorry drak. I think canon C is the close in knife fighter of the bunch with good range and power. Point for canon.

Alternate Configuration D – With Prime’s new upgrade to LRM-10s a new D was need that could fill the close in combatant whose recon skills were second to none. There were only two entries that had an Active Probe, an ECM, and while not required a TAG. With two Streak SRM-4s and a Flamer drak B was good but I liked Abele Prime better with its two ER Mediums, three Small Pulses, an ER Small and most impressive two additional Jump Jets. This all energy arsenal gives it the ability to operate for some time without resupply and the maximum maneuverability both served this Long Range Scout well. Point to Abele!

Alternate Configuration E – The first of our supplemental configurations goes to drakensis D who utilized a one ton Targeting Computer well pairing an ER Large and ER Medium. Adding an LRM-10 to support this accurate long-range fire was a very solid move. Point to drakensis!

Alternate Configuration F – The second supplemental configuration was the triple SRM-6 pack fed by three tons of ammo (although I might of gone with just two tons of ammo for some other weaponry) and twin ER Mediums again from drakensis. Seen this from him before but it is an effective use of the old SRM which I like a lot, nice job. Point two for drakensis!

Alternate Configuration G – While eight shots for two LRM-15s isn’t much this heavy fire support variant from drakensis that relies on a single ER Small for back up is solid. I could see the Clans trying to saturate the battlefield with massed fire against on coming InnerSphere opponents and then sending these guys back to reconfigure or load up again. Point three for drakensis!!!

Alternate Configuration H – The Large Pulse Laser of Abele C was considered for the big gun B configuration but couldn’t measure up to the ER PPCs. However, this variant by itself was too good to pass up on altogether with its Large Pulse, Small Pulse, Streak SRM-2, and Flamer. So congrats on securing a spot here Abele, point number two!!

Alternate Configuration T – Finally and we had a lot of good contenders is a design that reaches back to the old canon B. Yes the LB-2X was a pop gun and the LB-5X is just a little better but with an ER Medium and a Flamer I can see it earning the tenth and final spot. Point number three for Abele!!!

Well the configurations came out as a 3-3-3 tie! Congrats to everyone for a great contest but the win goes to drakensis whose overview fluff carried him to a 1-point victory. Nice job everybody. Remember that one point for fluff overview can cement a victory here. Thanks again for doing such a fantastic job. See you soon for the next contest!!