’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker

[Savage Coyote]

I suppose, but what about TSM supposedly makes it so that once I have it I suddenly do? What's keeping me from just saying "hooray, I've got TSM, guess I'll save it for an inferno-rich day" and then simply running the 'Mech just as cool as I would if I didn't?

There's the whole BV thing I already mentioned in my last post, of course. But other than that?

Nothing forces you to use it, though I'd argue many of the canon designs that have TSM on them are also designed to make use of it and not just as a "oh, hey look I have this and just happen to have hit 9."

The 3T Defiance is one that you don't have to use the TSM and still be an effective 'Mech;  you just pay the extra BV for it.

[Tslammer]

In reading all of what you all go through I am so happy my group can ignore BV and does not have to only play stock designs. We fight (RPG setting)what ever the GM throws at us including modified Zerks. The last one (two weeks ago) had two ERPPC one in each arm something like 9 ML, AMS, ECM, Beagle, TSM, and Armored components. He ditched the Axe and MASC for armored components. But he could not catch and kill anything. We surmised its great at killing 4/6 speed mech's and if it can catch you it can kill you. But it spent the night chasing a cagey Flashman it could not corner.

We also play on a large table 50x60 Geo-Hexes so there is either room to run and hide or flank depending on the set of the terrain.

[Kotetsu]

Added the latest variant to the write-up.

[Wrangler]

I haven't seen where you added the new materials.

As far I know, there only been one sighting of a Berserker during the Dark Age. That was on Aterus during Operation: Homecoming piloting by someone in the 1st Regulan Hussars in the novel, To Ride the Chimera.

[Soutek]

Always liked the Berserker. I'm thinking about fishing one out of the salvage yards and painting it.

[mbear]

I haven't seen where you added the new materials.

Wrangler, it's the paragraph that begins "Sometime after the Jihad, Defiance revisited the Berserker and successfully..." It's from RS:3145 NTNU.

[garhkal]

I'd love to see a berserker paint job that makes it look like a fire breathing dragon

[Grantwhy]

and to add another voice to the Hatchet vs Kick debate ....

One thing I don't think I saw in this thread was comparing 'firing arcs'

* A Kick can hit a target in one of the three hexes in 'front' of the 'Mech (not counting Quads in this example)

* With Torso Twist, a Hatchet can hit a target in any of the six hexes around a 'Mech

Now, that may not seem like a important thing, and in game it may not stop people getting into to the rear of a Berserker with a lighter 'Mech and Kick to force a PSR (I have fond memories of having a Locust do that and knock over an Atlas  ),
but in-universe, there would be a BIG difference between getting behind an 100 ton Assault 'Mech and kicking when you know it has little chance of getting a physical attack on you vs getting behind a Berserker and watching it torso twist and swing a 7 ton Hatchet at you .

Then there is the fact that when trying to Kick you have to manoeuvre to get your target in your 'front' three hexes.  To use the Hatchet you just need to be next to your target  .

[garhkal]

Plus with hatchets you can hit above you as well.

[Mordegald]

Never played a Berserker or gone up against one, but I'd still like to pick one up. It's just such a cool 'mech.

As for the hatchet, I like the weird square sideways one in the official art. The Harried Salaryman and his Briefcase of Perdition take no prisoners.

[SteelRaven]

The Berzerker has always worked very well for me. Very good speed to close in on the enemy or to get out of harms way and descent range for a Melee mech.

[JadeHellbringer]

Never played a Berserker or gone up against one, but I'd still like to pick one up. It's just such a cool 'mech.

As for the hatchet, I like the weird square sideways one in the official art. The Harried Salaryman and his Briefcase of Perdition take no prisoners.

It's worth it. But skip the miniature- or at least be ready to mod it. That axe is really disappointing, sorry to say. 

[SteelRaven]

It's worth it. But skip the miniature- or at least be ready to mod it. That axe is really disappointing, sorry to say. 

The looks the best in a running pose;

[JadeHellbringer]

Oh no argument- which means a lot of cutting and pinning in the legs to do. Since I'm terrible at that sort of thing, not much I can do about it.

And it still doesn't fix the axe. For seven tons, I want something that looks like a blade from hell- that hardly even looks like an axe. Compare it to the original artwork, and look at how small it is!

I've seen someone replace it with a GW axe from some Warhammer model or other, that looked pretty great- THAT I might be able to do myself, but cutting the legs up like on the two pics above is well beyond my abilities.

[SteelRaven]

I'm terrible at modding my self and I fave yet to see one BT mini with a axe that looks as good as the artwork. Well, at least the axe isn't as bad as the claws on the pillager #P

[wantec]

Oh no argument- which means a lot of cutting and pinning in the legs to do. Since I'm terrible at that sort of thing, not much I can do about it.

And it still doesn't fix the axe. For seven tons, I want something that looks like a blade from hell- that hardly even looks like an axe. Compare it to the original artwork, and look at how small it is!

I've seen someone replace it with a GW axe from some Warhammer model or other, that looked pretty great- THAT I might be able to do myself, but cutting the legs up like on the two pics above is well beyond my abilities.

Chicken. Seriously though, the best practice is to just go out and do it. If you screw it up, well suddenly your "running" pose turns to a "badly damaged and running for home" pose. And if you screw up really badly it just ends up as the wreckage decorating the base of another mech. You just gotta take some chances.

For the legs & arms, you might be able to get away with slowly bending each joint. You might not get as dramatic a pose as cutting and pinning, but you could get a walking pose instead of merely standing. Or you could get a trotting post out of a walking one, depending on the sculpt of the particular mini.

[JadeHellbringer]

Chicken. Seriously though, the best practice is to just go out and do it. If you screw it up, well suddenly your "running" pose turns to a "badly damaged and running for home" pose. And if you screw up really badly it just ends up as the wreckage decorating the base of another mech. You just gotta take some chances.

For the legs & arms, you might be able to get away with slowly bending each joint. You might not get as dramatic a pose as cutting and pinning, but you could get a walking pose instead of merely standing. Or you could get a trotting post out of a walking one, depending on the sculpt of the particular mini.

With respect, money is tight enough right now that if I'm going to drop money on a miniature, it had better be a good one- if it's something that I stand as much chance of ruining as I do of painting halfway decent, I'm better off spending my money on something else.

(This from someone who's last miniature purchase was at Christmas... a Clint. Of all things.  )

[grimlock1]

The C3 really needed to have a left hand.

"Why?" you ask.  Other than my perpetual eye-twitch at the mechs that omit lower arm and hand actuators for no good reason, I direct your attention to the A Time of War Companion, page 69, and the Zweihander SPA. 

So that's a 20 point hatchet attack, doubled for TSM, plus 2 points for every ten tons of attacker...  When I punch those numbers into my calculator...  What that heck?  My calculator just jumped up and ran away!

[marauder648]

Re-done 'zerker you say?

Done by Matt Plog, this is a take on the C3 but used in Solaris.  My issue with the Zerker, and its the only one, is its look. The fluff says DI spent many many monies on designing the Berzerker to look scary and imposing.  It looks like it was designed by Apple, lots of smooth, rounded edges and sweeping curves which work to make it look oddly elegant for a 100 ton machine who's whole purpose is to get close and go "IMMA PUNCH YOU WITH MY AXE!!!!"  That one looks a bit more bitey, less Apple and more "I WILL BITE YOUR TORSO!"

[grimlock1]

Re-done 'zerker you say?

Done by Matt Plog, this is a take on the C3 but used in Solaris.  My issue with the Zerker, and its the only one, is its look. The fluff says DI spent many many monies on designing the Berzerker to look scary and imposing.  It looks like it was designed by Apple, lots of smooth, rounded edges and sweeping curves which work to make it look oddly elegant for a 100 ton machine who's whole purpose is to get close and go "IMMA PUNCH YOU WITH MY AXE!!!!"  That one looks a bit more bitey, less Apple and more "I WILL BITE YOUR TORSO!"

AGREED!  The original art for the 'Zerker was bland, almost soothing!  The 3055u art, but interior and cover are better, but you're description of it being an Apple product is great.  There should be nothing soothing about 100 tons of flame belching, hatchet swinging metal, bounding across the battlefield at 90 kph!

[Wrangler]

As pretty it looks, it doesn't look like Berserker to me.  Looks like slim Atlas wearing a American Wild West bandit bandana over it's mouth to mug people with the Ax.

[sadlerbw]

Yeah, the face is a little too 'atlas' for me...but the LITERALLY EVERYTHING ELSE looks great!

I will admit, the shoulder pads give me a mutant league vibe, but in my book that isn't a bad thing.

[Luciora]

You definately want to shorten the left arm at the very least.

[Orin J.]

Re-done 'zerker you say?

Done by Matt Plog, this is a take on the C3 but used in Solaris.  My issue with the Zerker, and its the only one, is its look. The fluff says DI spent many many monies on designing the Berzerker to look scary and imposing.  It looks like it was designed by Apple, lots of smooth, rounded edges and sweeping curves which work to make it look oddly elegant for a 100 ton machine who's whole purpose is to get close and go "IMMA PUNCH YOU WITH MY AXE!!!!"  That one looks a bit more bitey, less Apple and more "I WILL BITE YOUR TORSO!"

One of those rare times Plog's work doesn't sit well with me. It just smacks of trying too hard, i suppose Plog didn't like the old design either.

[marauder648]

It was actually my fault :p  I had the idea for the armour additions, and saw this as a ride of a Solaris Gladiator who put on a lot of cosmetic stuff to make his 'zerker look mean and unique Its actually loosely based on one of the warrior armour tiers from Warcraft :p  So blame me, not him

[garhkal]

That Berserker pic makes it look like he's armored via heavy armor..

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Berserker has one of the coolest illustrations:
"Intimidating Paint Job"
 

I have a Berserker mini painted up to look like that card.

[Wrangler]

Rather like that version more, it has more Berserker (be scared) thing going for it.

[sadlerbw]

I swear I saw a re-do of this mech that had flaming liquid dripping from the flamer which looked really cool. However, I can’t seem to find it anywhere, so I may not be remembering correctly. I want to say it was another take on the Plog design above.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Are you sure you're not thinking of the artwork in TRO 3055 Upgrade?