'Mech of the Week: THR-* Thunder

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

The C4 is the only Thunder variant I've ever seen on the table.  This was at the GenCon 2016 Masters and Minions event, and when it tried to exchange long-range fire with my BNC-9S, things went badly for it.  One Thunderbolt 20 isn't nearly good enough against a Gauss Rifle, HPPC, and LPPC that are all tied to a TC and on something 25 tons heavier with decidedly thicker armor.

[mbear]

The C4 is the only Thunder variant I've ever seen on the table.  This was at the GenCon 2016 Masters and Minions event, and when it tried to exchange long-range fire with my BNC-9S, things went badly for it.  One Thunderbolt 20 isn't nearly good enough against a Gauss Rifle, HPPC, and LPPC that are all tied to a TC and on something 25 tons heavier with decidedly thicker armor.

The fact that the Banshee outweighs it by 40 tons probably didn't help either.

[Arkansas Warrior]

The fact that the Banshee outweighs it by 40 tons probably didn't help either.

Banshees weigh 110 tons?

[mbear]

Banshees weigh 110 tons?

*cough* Congratulations AW! You passed my test. Today at lunch collect your cookie to celebrate.

[Empyrus]

A Banshee weighs 110 tons when it is using a flatbed truck as club.

[Arkansas Warrior]

Steiner needs to make that happen, though.  "The new and improved Banshee II!  Now even heavier!"

[UnLimiTeD]

I actually checked. It is sadly not possible due to the main selling point often being speed. At least not 110 tons.
Guess we'll have to have a lighter Thunder, then. Though the CC is really not short of 55 tonners, are they?
Speaking of the thunder, the stealth armour would afford it some benefits against a slow long range design. Maybe not enough to offset the firepower discrepancy, sure, but every bit helps.

[Empyrus]

Speaking of the thunder, the stealth armour would afford it some benefits against a slow long range design. Maybe not enough to offset the firepower discrepancy, sure, but every bit helps.

You didn't read the article or TRO entries, did you? Because THR-2L and -3L Thunders do sport stealth armor.

[Kit deSummersville]

The Thunder may also be a throwback to the ancient Koschei, an early heavy cavalry design that sported an AC/10 in its left arm with massive barrel/cooling shroud (IRL, things may be other way around though, the Koschei being styled after the Thunder).

Hehe, actually the Koschei had artwork done first and was sporting a missile rack instead of an AC. I tinkered around with it a bit and came up with the design as it is today and the artist was gracious enough to tweak the artwork to make it an autocannon. I don't think the Thunder ever came up at all in that process.

[Empyrus]

Huh. Well, it still makes for a nice potential historical connection in-universe.

[Kit deSummersville]

I'm all for that.

[CrazyGrasshopper]

Hehe, actually the Koschei had artwork done first and was sporting a missile rack instead of an AC. I tinkered around with it a bit and came up with the design as it is today and the artist was gracious enough to tweak the artwork to make it an autocannon. I don't think the Thunder ever came up at all in that process.

The great mystery is resolved. Before, when looking at Koschei's left arm I was asking: "Just why?" It makes sense now.

[UnLimiTeD]

You didn't read the article or TRO entries, did you? Because THR-2L and -3L Thunders do sport stealth armor.

I totally did, which is why I'm posting here.
Even quoted a comment regarding it fighting a long ranged banshee.
I have to admit I have no idea where you're coming from here.  ???

[Demon55]

to be honest, i kinda wonder whether the original Thunder wasn't designed around the idea of supporting the CapCon's existing designs, rather than as a true cavalry mech? many of their existing designs were 4/6 longer range platforms (Vindicator, Catapult, Cataphract), so a 5/8 short ranged brawler would have filled a niche.

(also, does anyone else find it ironic that the Cataphract is not a cavalry design?)

Yes but the name is quite fitting.  Or they could have made a 5/6/x heavy called the Clibanarii and had the Cataphract go 5/8/x.

I could also see the machine replacing the Victor add stated earlier.

Yes the Lao Hu is a better design, IMO.