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Member Review : 05-Jun-2023 04:33 |
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0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
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| BattleMech: |
Night Gyr C |
| Rating: |
2.50 |
| Comment: |
The trio of UAC-2s are a sticking point for a lot of people, and for good reason. They absolutely underperform, it's basically a proto RAC-2 for DOUBLE the weight.
But the C Variant ALSO mounts a pair of ERLLs and ERMLs that are VERY well-sinked. And they, like the 3 UAC-2s, are all tied to a Targeting Computer. That TC makes the Ultras much more useful, as they'll actually have a chance to hit targets at the near-extreme ranges they can reach. A bit closer in, the ERLLs can join them while still remaining heat neutral.
It's far from the worst Night Gyr variant, but you'll likely pick it because a better variant is more expensive BV-wise. |
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Member Review : 05-Jun-2023 04:17 |
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0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
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| BattleMech: |
Banshee BNC-3S |
| Rating: |
5.00 |
| Comment: |
Though the Highlander 733P comes close, the Banshee BNC-3S is arguably the best Assault Mech of the Succession Wars, bar none.
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It doesn't have LRMs, so it lacks the range of some Mechs. Neither does it have to knockout punch of an Autocannon 20. It's a 3/5, meaning its slower than some, and faster than none. And for a 95ton Battlemech, 15tons of armor is very average to somewhat mediocre level of protection. So given all these disadvantages, what is it that recommends the BNC-3S so much? Two main reasons.
The first reason is sheer. Direct. Firepower. Two Particle Projection Cannons, an Autocannon 10, and enough heat sinks to maintain the same 3-2-3 firing rate as the Awesome. Only the Awesome can match the Banshee's concentrated punch out to medium and long range. Though, the Awesome's 3rd PPC means it actually has an edge in range and in disregard for ammo. Why should the BNC-3S be considered better than the classic Awesome 8Q?
The second reason is a *fantastic* battery of support weapons. 4 Medium Lasers, 2 Small Lasers, and an SRM-6 launcher. Unlike the Awesome, the Banshee 3S can EXPLOIT the damage it does at range, hole-punching then crit-hunting. Once the distance has closed, it can fire everything but the PPCs and remain heat neutral but for movement. There's more to single the Banshee out for though.
A mere 3 tons of total ammo means it's much less prone to ammo explosions than many of its counterparts. It weapons are well-distributed too, so much so that it remains dangerous even after the loss of a side torso. And the Banshee platform is an **incredibly** common design. Thousands survived the fires of the Succession War, making the base Banshee more numerous than any other Assault Mech. Combining that with its bad reputation means that you can frequently buy the base model for rather cheap, putting the savings towards refitting to the BNC-3S variant.
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Some Assault Mechs are faster or more mobile. Some are much better protected. But few can weather the fire the Banshee can deal in return. |
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Member Review : 05-Jun-2023 02:17 |
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0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
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| BattleMech: |
Templar TLR1-OC |
| Rating: |
4.00 |
| Comment: |
On paper, the C Variant of the Templar Omni seems a jumble of too many weapons and not enough heat sinks. A closer look reveals that while it's something of a callback to the venerable Victor, the Templar C is also a bracket-firing extraordinaire.
It's main gun, the LB 20-X Autocannon isn't just distinguished by the cloud of cluster fragments it can fire, but also by it's range. 4/8/12 is a vast improvement over a standard AC20's range. It also happens to sync perfectly with the sole ER Medium Laser, which may have been considered an afterthought by some. Combined with the ER PPC, you have a solid mid-range arsenal that is easily sunk by the design's 14 DHS.
5 Medium Pulse Lasers may seem excessive in some ways. 10 tons devoted to lasers with what seems like a miniscule range of 2/4/6. But it also works out to have the exact same footprint of heat generation as the ERPPC and ERML. After the Templar has opened holes in enemy Mechs, it can use its superior maneuverability to close in. At 120 meters or less, the 5 MPLs and massive LBX cannon will exploit any holes that you can find. And with its maximum armor of 16.5 tons?
XL Engine or no, the Templar C can hang in the battle a long time. Cool as a cucumber when piloted right, a worthy FedSuns successor to the Victor, and hell on 2 legs to any Mech caught unawares. |
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Member Review : 10-Dec-2022 03:39 |
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0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
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| BattleMech: |
Highlander HGN-733P |
| Rating: |
5.00 |
| Comment: |
A Succession Wars era variant of the standard Highlander HGN-733, the 733P removes the Autocannon-10 and its 2 tons of ammo for a Particle Projection Cannon and 7 Heat Sinks.
The drawbacks for this loadout change are minor, but they are there. Chief among them is that unlike the AC-10, the PPC has a minimum range. This is a disadvantage at pointblank range. Besides that, the 733P is also marginally more expensive than the standard 733.
In every other area, the 733P is an improvement. The PPC has longer range over the AC-10. It also doesn't rely on ammunition, giving the Highlander more battlefield longevity. The removal of that ammunition also makes the Highlander less vulnerable to ammo explosions; the original 733 has a startling SEVEN tons of ammo onboard!
The HGN-733P is a very well-balanced Assault Mech. Mobile for its weight, with near-unbreakable levels of armor and equipped with a solid weapons loadout. Its extensive ammo bins mean it's built more for longer campaigns than short battles (that second ton of SRM ammo in particular is almost always untouched), but besides that?
It's one of the best Assault Mechs you can pilot in 3025 and second to none. |
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Member Review : 01-Dec-2022 02:02 |
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0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
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| BattleMech: |
Centurion CN9-AL |
| Rating: |
4.50 |
| Comment: |
The Centurion CN9-AL isn't just one of the best Mediums, but one the best Mechs period in the Succession War era.
As much as I like the CN9-A, it has its downsides. Namely, carrying 4 tons of ammo, protected by just 8.5 tons of armor. That vulnerability means it frequently will suffer a catastrophic ammo explosion LONG before it actually exhausts its ammo bins.
The AL's switch from AC-10 to Large Laser does result in a small loss in firepower. But this halves the ammo the Centurion carries, consequently halving the risk of ammo explosion. It further improves the Mech's protection by adding 2.5 tons of armor, increasing protection by nearly 20%. The addition of 6 Heat Sinks ensures that the Mech remains cool in most situations. What you're left with is a VERY rugged and cost-effective design, able to contribute at all ranges and endure longer than many heavier designs.
In several campaigns, I've modified the AL to swap the positions of the rear-mounted Medium and arm-mounted Small Laser. That modification has never failed to deliver on its modest cost. But even without that mod, this Mech is a powerhouse. Use it and you'll rarely be disappointed. |
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Member Review : 02-Nov-2022 06:24 |
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0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
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| BattleMech: |
Dervish DV-8D |
| Rating: |
4.00 |
| Comment: |
Lostech upgrades can be a crapshoot depending on the Mech, from removing armor for CASE to 'upgrading' to ER Lasers and PPCs unsupported by Double Heat Sinks. The earlier 7D Dervish instead had a seemingly underwhelming, but rather common sense set of upgrades. 15 years later came the debut of the more radical 8D. So let's have a look at what using an XL Engine did for the 'Mech:
-The 2 LRM-10s & 1ton of ammo each were upgraded to 2 LRM-15s w/ArtIV & 2tons of ammo each, nearly doubling it's effective long-range firepower
-Armor was increased from 8 tons of FF to 10.5 tons of Standard (nearly 15% more than the 7D and almost 30% more than the 6M)
-SSRMs & ammo replaced with 2 additional Medium Lasers and all 4 were upgraded to ER models
The XL Engine has its drawbacks, but this has been more than balanced out by giving the Dervish the effective loadout of a 3025-era Catapult, despite being 15 tons lighter. And not only was this improved with Artemis-IV and Extended-Range backup weapons, but complemented with deeper ammo reserves and the Dervish's signature manueverability.
The 8D is expensive and does have the typical IS Extra-Light vulnerabilities. But it's also an excellent pocket-heavy, punching well above its weight in the fire support role. |
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Member Review : 19-Jul-2022 15:02 |
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0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
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| BattleMech: |
Arctic Fox AF1F |
| Rating: |
4.50 |
| Comment: |
One of the best variants imo, and an improvement on the D Configuration. The pair of MML launchers provide respectable damage at range, but closer in is where this Mech excels. The ER Mediums add additional throw weight as it closes, but within 9 Hexes, the MMLs are the stars of the show.
You can fire both launchers with 2 of the 3 Mediums, run, and stay **COMPLETELY** heat-neutral. All for a max total of 38 damage, which approaches Clan Light levels of firepower. Very impressive. The 3rd ER Medium can be thrown in with only moderate overheat values.
This variant's main downside is that 2 tons of ammo next to an XL Engine with no CASE is a risky proposition. But the AF1F isn't meant to be conservative. It's meant to annoy opponents at range, then savage the unwary up-close. And it excels in that role. |
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