AWS-10KQ (Or: How to build a better Charger)

[loki_gti]

Common sense dictates that this should not work. And yet still, it somehow does...

English is not my first language. If there is any weird grammar in the fluff, please tell me.

Awesome AWS-10KQ

For almost four hundred years, the Awesome has been a common sight in most armies in the Inner Sphere - even though it was almost exclusively manufactured in the FWL.Over the course of the Succession Wars, many companies have tried to reverse engineer the design or acquire a license for its manufacture, chief among them Luthien Armor Works, who were looking to retool their Charger line into producing something useful. Such efforts were always met with staunch opposition from IBMU, who would rather spend millions on lawyers, bribes and sabotage than let anyone steal away their gold mine.Their fatal blunder would come in 3064, when the fine print of the 17,000 page contract for the AWS-10KM allowed Alshain Weaponry to develop their own domestic variant. As they lacked a suitable production line, this was not seen as a problem.

In secret, however, AW offered LAW a production subcontract for a cosmetically altered 10KM. This initial proposal was met with rejection, as the old Wells line was by now producing the modernised CGR-3K and Hatamoto-Chi. A radically different variant was instead proposed, which would essentially combine and improve upon the capabilities of the classic Charger and Awesome.


Capabilities:

The key to making the AWS-10KQ work is the massive Hermes 400XL powerplant at its heart, the same engine that drives the CGR-3K. This was further combined with Triple-Strength Myomer, which gives it an incredible top speed of 97.2 km/h.The armor coverage is identical to the classic 8Q, while the PPCs have been upgraded to the new Snub-Nose models. The head mounted small laser has been retained, and six additional ERSLs have been added to exploit holes and to help with heat management.While the XL Engine reduces its survivability somewhat compared to the base model, the drastically increased speed allows it to either be grouped together with fast Heavies or even Medium 'Mechs, or to serve as a flanker for an Assault Lance.


Deployment:

The initial production run left the assembly lines just in time for the Battle of Luthien, where it was immediately put to good use.
After the destruction of Luthien Armor Works it is currently unknown when, where and if at all production will resume.


Notable 'Mechs & MechWarriors:

-tbd-


Quirks:

Battlefists

Code: [Select]

Awesome AWS-10KQ

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-F-D
Production Year: 3067
Cost: 23.152.470 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1.995

Chassis: Technicron Type G Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Hermes 400 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h (64,8 km/h)
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h (97,2 km/h)
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Durallex Heavy Special Standard Armor
Armament:
    3 Lord's Light 5 Snub-Nose PPCs
    6 Diverse Optics Sunbeam ER Small Lasers
    1 Diverse Optics Type 10 Small Laser
Manufacturer: Luthien Armor Works
    Primary Factory: Luthien
Communications System: Garrett T19-G
Targeting and Tracking System: Dynatec 2780


================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   122 points                4,00
    Internal Locations: 4 LT, 4 RT, 3 LA, 3 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             400                      26,50
    Walking MP: 5 (6)
    Running MP: 8 (9)
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             16(32)                    6,00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4,00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA
    TSM Locations: 2 CT, 2 LL, 2 RL
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 240                 15,00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     25           30       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  19       
                                           L/R Torso     17           24       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  10       
                                             L/R Arm     13           24       
                                             L/R Leg     17           33       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Snub-Nose PPC                                RA        10        2         6,00
Snub-Nose PPC                                RT        10        2         6,00
3 ER Small Lasers                            RT        6         3         1,50
Snub-Nose PPC                                LT        10        2         6,00
3 ER Small Lasers                            LT        6         3         1,50
Small Laser                                  HD        1         1         0,50
                                            Free Critical Slots: 9

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 20
5          4       3       0       0      4     1   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: TSM, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA



[Feign]

It seems like there was an Awesome in one XTRO or another (Most Wanted, I think) that actually was an AWS-8Q with a CGR-3K's engine and heatsinks stuffed into it with the frankenmech rules...

It's appropriately terrifying.

Yours takes it a step further with the snub PPCs and Endo to give it all those DHS.  Pretty good, altogether.

[Natasha Kerensky]

You can do the same thing with the Flashman (trading the three large lasers for a trio of snubbies and adding TSM), and I think it's a little more efficient, allowing for better secondary weaponry.

Works with plasma cannons, too.

FWIW...

[loki_gti]

It seems like there was an Awesome in one XTRO or another (Most Wanted, I think) that actually was an AWS-8Q with a CGR-3K's engine and heatsinks stuffed into it with the frankenmech rules...

But this one goes up to eleven has TSM! Which I'd say is quite important for improving the Charger's primary weapon, the allmighty foot actuator (and the Awesome's battle fist).

You can do the same thing with the Flashman (trading the three large lasers for a trio of snubbies and adding TSM), and I think it's a little more efficient, allowing for better secondary weaponry.

True. I mostly went with the Awesome for aesthetics. Replicating the Charger's armament was mostly an accident, I had three tons left and wanted to pad the side torsos... ER Smalls seemed like the best option, especially since they allow you to keep the heat at 9 all the time (even when losing one of the PPCs or taking engine hits). And they are actually useful as critseekers when at melee range.

Works with plasma cannons, too.

Eh. I love plasma cannons as much as the next guy, but I wouldn't want to depend on them for keeping TSM active. Even on the Flashman you can't give them more than 20 shots, and that would require sacrificing all secondary weapons (which would mean having to carefully manage heatsinks and movement heat)...

[Simon Landmine]

the Charger's primary weapon, the almighty foot actuator

Fair point!

[tomaddamz]

It needs a C3 Slave...and it was on the old boards years ago.

Code: [Select]

Charger (Sumotori)
IS TW non-box set
80 tons 
BV: 1,939
Cost: 24,338,489 C-bills

Movement: 5/8/5
Engine: 400 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 122 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 240/247
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               25       37
Center Torso (rear)                 12
Right Torso                17       25
Right Torso (rear)                   8
Left Torso                 17       25
Left Torso (rear)                    8
Right Arm                  13       25
Left Arm                   13       25
Right Leg                  17       33
Left Leg                   17       33

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Small Laser                     RT     1
Small Pulse Laser               CT     2
PPC                             LA    10

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
C3 Slave                        HD
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LT
PPC Capacitor                   LA
Beagle Active Probe             LT
Guardian ECM Suite              LT
Yes it's spendy...but look at the Fine Corinthian Leather©, also look at the supporting gear, you have the capped PPC that will shoot rarely, ( it just builds heat, and if it hits great), the Fully Digital Laser Array®, that can dial heat to exactly what level you want, and a full Recon/Electronic Warfare suite that finds hidden targets, keeps you from getting victimized by High-Tech guided weapons, but also lets your "properly equipped" friends join in on the mayhem.

There is a downside though...

Anybody seeing an 80 ton mech firing energy weapons without regard how remote the shot is ( and it's legal to fire when the target is impossible to hit, just to build heat) within 9 hexes probably , kinda knows what is coming really soon.  Their reaction is usually going to be "kill it, kill it with fire" and everybody and their 2nd cousin is going to dump ludicrous amounts of firepower to put this mech down...fast.

[CrazyGrasshopper]

If we are talking about 5/8/5 movement profile for a 'Mech with TSM, it does not have to be an 80-tonner. Grasshopper would be a better platform for such things. Cobbled this one a while ago:

Code: [Select]

Grasshopper GHR-8D
IS
70 tons 
BV: 1,983
Cost: 18,340,082 C-bills

Movement: 5/8/5
Engine: 350 XL
Heat Sinks: 13 [26]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 107 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 208/217
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               22       31
Center Torso (rear)                 10
Right Torso                15       21
Right Torso (rear)                   7
Left Torso                 15       21
Left Torso (rear)                    7
Right Arm                  11       21
Left Arm                   11       21
Right Leg                  15       30
Left Leg                   15       30

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Large Laser                  LA    12
ER Large Laser                  RA    12
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Small Laser                     LT     1
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Small Laser                     RT     1
Small Laser                     HD     1
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Standard                       None
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA

And a filthy Mixed-Tech variant:

Code: [Select]

Grasshopper GHR-8E
 Mixed (Base IS)
70 tons 
BV: 2,374
Cost: 18,686,457 C-bills

Movement: 5/8/5
Engine: 350 XL
Heat Sinks: 13 [26]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 107 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 208/217
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               22       31
Center Torso (rear)                 10
Right Torso                15       21
Right Torso (rear)                   7
Left Torso                 15       21
Left Torso (rear)                    7
Right Arm                  11       21
Left Arm                   11       21
Right Leg                  15       30
Left Leg                   15       30

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Large Laser (Clan)           LA    12
ER Large Laser (Clan)           RA    12
Medium Re-engineered Laser      LT     6
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Micro Pulse Laser (Clan)        LT     1
Medium Re-engineered Laser      RT     6
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Micro Pulse Laser (Clan)        RT     1
Micro Pulse Laser (Clan)        HD     1

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Standard                       None
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA

Both could use more armored actuators in arms. They can drop one Medium Pulse in order to get them. The weapon loadout turned out to resemble the one of PTR-4D, which was not intentional (I started from a different one). Simply such loadout is reasonable for a melee 'Mech.

[loki_gti]

It needs a C3 Slave...and it was on the old boards years ago.

Code: [Select]

Charger (Sumotori)
IS TW non-box set
80 tons 
BV: 1,939
Cost: 24,338,489 C-bills

Movement: 5/8/5
Engine: 400 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 122 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 240/247
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               25       37
Center Torso (rear)                 12
Right Torso                17       25
Right Torso (rear)                   8
Left Torso                 17       25
Left Torso (rear)                    8
Right Arm                  13       25
Left Arm                   13       25
Right Leg                  17       33
Left Leg                   17       33

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Small Laser                     RT     1
Small Pulse Laser               CT     2
PPC                             LA    10

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
C3 Slave                        HD
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LT
PPC Capacitor                   LA
Beagle Active Probe             LT
Guardian ECM Suite              LT
Yes it's spendy...but look at the Fine Corinthian Leather©, also look at the supporting gear, you have the capped PPC that will shoot rarely, ( it just builds heat, and if it hits great), the Fully Digital Laser Array®, that can dial heat to exactly what level you want, and a full Recon/Electronic Warfare suite that finds hidden targets, keeps you from getting victimized by High-Tech guided weapons, but also lets your "properly equipped" friends join in on the mayhem.

The electronics and increased armor are certainly nice. And the Jump Jets are *very* nice. But I'm not so sure about the Armament. If you rarely use the PPC at all, why not go with two(tree?) ER Mediums instead? The saved weight could go toward upping the main weapons to 6 MPLs:

Code: [Select]

Charger (Sumotori B)

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: All Eras (non-canon)
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 0
Cost: 24.360.090 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2.038

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 400 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h (64,8 km/h)
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h (97,2 km/h)
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    3  ER Medium Lasers
    6  Medium Pulse Lasers
    1  Small Laser
    1  Beagle Active Probe
    1  Guardian ECM Suite
    1  C3 Computer (Slave)
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   122 points                4,00
    Internal Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 4 LA, 6 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             400                      26,50
    Walking MP: 5 (6)
    Running MP: 8 (9)
    Jumping MP: 5 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT                                   5,00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             13(26)                    3,00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4,00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
    TSM Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 240                 15,00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     25           39       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  10       
                                           L/R Torso     17           25       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  9         
                                             L/R Arm     13           25       
                                             L/R Leg     17           32       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 ER Medium Lasers                           LA        15        3         3,00
3 Medium Pulse Lasers                        RT        12        3         6,00
Guardian ECM Suite                           RT        0         2         1,50
3 Medium Pulse Lasers                        LT        12        3         6,00
Beagle Active Probe                          LT        0         2         1,50
Small Laser                                  CT        1         1         0,50
C3 Computer (Slave)                          HD        0         1         1,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 1

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 20
5j         4       4       0       0      4     2   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: TSM, PRB, RCN, ECM, C3S, ENE, MHQ1, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


(I tried recreating your original design in SSW, but I end up one ton underweight and with a free crit... Did I miss something?)

There is a downside though...

Anybody seeing an 80 ton mech firing energy weapons without regard how remote the shot is ( and it's legal to fire when the target is impossible to hit, just to build heat) within 9 hexes probably , kinda knows what is coming really soon.  Their reaction is usually going to be "kill it, kill it with fire" and everybody and their 2nd cousin is going to dump ludicrous amounts of firepower to put this mech down...fast.

Sure. And while the enemy is busy shooting at the big, scary melee mech, his lancemates in their glass cannons are free to stand still and pound everyone to scrap. Especially if they use C3! >:D

If we are talking about 5/8/5 movement profile for a 'Mech with TSM, it does not have to be an 80-tonner. Grasshopper would be a better platform for such things. Cobbled this one a while ago:

Code: [Select]

Grasshopper GHR-8D
IS experimental
70 tons 
BV: 1,983
Cost: 18,340,082 C-bills

Movement: 5/8/5
Engine: 350 XL
Heat Sinks: 13 [26]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 107 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 208/217
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               22       31
Center Torso (rear)                 10
Right Torso                15       21
Right Torso (rear)                   7
Left Torso                 15       21
Left Torso (rear)                    7
Right Arm                  11       21
Left Arm                   11       21
Right Leg                  15       30
Left Leg                   15       30

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Large Laser                  LA    12
ER Large Laser                  RA    12
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Small Laser                     LT     1
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Small Laser                     RT     1
Small Laser                     HD     1
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Standard                       None
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA


Now that one is a menace. And I really like the heat curve  O0

And a filthy Mixed-Tech variant:

Code: [Select]

Grasshopper GHR-8E
 Mixed (Base IS)
70 tons 
BV: 2,374
Cost: 18,686,457 C-bills

Movement: 5/8/5
Engine: 350 XL
Heat Sinks: 13 [26]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 107 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 208/217
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               22       31
Center Torso (rear)                 10
Right Torso                15       21
Right Torso (rear)                   7
Left Torso                 15       21
Left Torso (rear)                    7
Right Arm                  11       21
Left Arm                   11       21
Right Leg                  15       30
Left Leg                   15       30

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Large Laser (Clan)           LA    12
ER Large Laser (Clan)           RA    12
Medium Re-engineered Laser      LT     6
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Micro Pulse Laser (Clan)        LT     1
Medium Re-engineered Laser      RT     6
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Micro Pulse Laser (Clan)        RT     1
Micro Pulse Laser (Clan)        HD     1

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Standard                       None
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA


There is nothing filthy about going mixed tech and then keeping the IS pulse lasers  :P
Not sure why you would go with Re-Engineered Lasers... A single TSM kick is going to cripple any mech in reflective armor, which only leaves Hardened Armor. Which is kind of rare, I think?

Both could use more armored actuators in arms. They can drop one Medium Pulse in order to get them. The weapon loadout turned out to resemble the one of PTR-4D, which was not intentional (I started from a different one). Simply such loadout is reasonable for a melee 'Mech.

Why would you want to armor the arm actuators? Aren't legs and gyro higher on the priority list?

[tomaddamz]

The electronics and increased armor are certainly nice. And the Jump Jets are *very* nice. But I'm not so sure about the Armament. If you rarely use the PPC at all, why not go with two(tree?) ER Mediums instead? The saved weight could go toward upping the main weapons to 6 MPLs:

[snip---for brevity and readability]

I'm glad you like it, the design idea is to have a balanced heat at contact distance, whether you walk, run or crawl.  If I up the armament for close range I have to add heat sinks as I want as much of it to fire at contact as possible.  The PPC is a design chioce as 1). it doesn't like shooting at contact 2).  can hit at range and 3). Pads crits in the arm.  The Fact you are charging into the enemy, makes the Electronics to me a no brainer.

(I tried recreating your original design in SSW, but I end up one ton underweight and with a free crit... Did I miss something?)

Nope, I missed it, it's actually a ton short and space free, I'll probably jam another SPL in there.

Sure. And while the enemy is busy shooting at the big, scary melee mech, his lancemates in their glass cannons are free to stand still and pound everyone to scrap. Especially if they use C3! >:D

  A pair of 16 point hits on the punch table, it's rational to fear the big scary melee mech, it could lead to "sudden cranial amputation"

[CrazyGrasshopper]

There is nothing filthy about going mixed tech and then keeping the IS pulse lasers  :P
Not sure why you would go with Re-Engineered Lasers... A single TSM kick is going to cripple any mech in reflective armor, which only leaves Hardened Armor. Which is kind of rare, I think?

It was supposed to be a Dark Age anti-Kuritan headhunter. For that variant you can even fit in a supercharger, but it will cause a massive bloat in both BV and cost. BV calculation system really hates bracket-firers and poorly accounts for overheating, especially in the case of designs with TSM.

The reason to armor arm actuators was to keep them functional, since they are not well-padded. Landing two punches gives a head-capping chance of around 30% for any 'Mech without Hardened Armor.

Swapping Re-engineered lasers for usual pulse ones and taking off armoring from shoulders frees 2 ton to armor gyro instead.

P.S. I also think that kicks are currently overpowered and reasonably hope it will be fixed in the next iteration of rules.

[CrazyGrasshopper]

Now that one is a menace. And I really like the heat curve  O0

I can actually do something akin to tomaddamz's suggestion:

Code: [Select]

Grasshopper GHR-8D
IS TW non-box set
70 tons 
BV: 1,987
Cost: 18,217,682 C-bills

Movement: 5/8/5
Engine: 350 XL
Heat Sinks: 11 [22]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 107 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 208/217
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               22       30
Center Torso (rear)                  9
Right Torso                15       21
Right Torso (rear)                   8
Left Torso                 15       21
Left Torso (rear)                    8
Right Arm                  11       21
Left Arm                   11       21
Right Leg                  15       30
Left Leg                   15       30

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Small Laser                     HD     1
Small Laser                     LT     1
Small Laser                     RT     1
Medium Pulse Laser              CT     4
PPC                             LA    10
PPC                             RA    10

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Standard                       None
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             LA

If you do not mind damage reduction, PPC's can be swapped for Snub-Nose ones, freeing 2 ton for some other stuff (Angel ECM Guardian ECM+0.5 ton of armor, C3 Slave and TAG, 2 SPL or 1 MPL).

[Hellraiser]

You can do the same thing with the Flashman (trading the three large lasers for a trio of .....
Works with plasma cannons, too.

I recently salvaged an 8K in our campaign & I have been giving some serious thought to a similar set up.

The idea of firing 3 Plasmas every turn while Running just screams mean machine to me.

Sure its a bit short ranged but nothing wants to be near it.