AWS-8L Awesome - PEW PEW PEW PEW

[Breetai]

Code: [Select]

Awesome AWS-8L

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Introductory
Era: All Eras (non-canon)
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-E-D
Production Year: 3025
Cost: 6,227,640 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,536

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 240 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    4  Large Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                     122 points                8.00
Engine:             Fusion Engine                240                      11.50
    Walking MP: 3
    Running MP: 5
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             30                       20.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 HD, 6 LT, 6 RT, 4 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 232                 14.50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     25           34       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  15       
                                           L/R Torso     17           24       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  10       
                                             L/R Arm     13           23       
                                             L/R Leg     17           30       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Large Laser                                  RA        8         2         5.00
Large Laser                                  RT        8         2         5.00
Large Laser                                  LT        8         2         5.00
Large Laser                                  CT        8         2         5.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 18

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 15
3          4       4       0       0      4     0   Structure:  6
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA



So this one's more of a slightly BV-cheaper sidegrade of the 8Q than anything else, but I think it has merit.

It's still a big ugly slab of metal that takes ages to kill - though with a heavy weapon in the midline it's even more of a terrifying Zombie 'Mech. You're losing a bit of range, however you're also no longer vulnerable to 'Mechs that want to get within 90 meters and chew your face off thanks to no longer having minimum range modifiers. The standard firing patters still apply - you drop out one of your guns ever other round while moving or every third round while stand-and-delivering, and while you're not doing quite as much damage concentration, you're outputting about 10% more damage than an 8Q and losing less proportionally whenever you cycle a weapon out. If you want to get up close and personal this means just firing the torso weapons so that you can punch them in the head every cooling down round.

As for team usage; field them alongside missile support units that need protection up close, particularly those that don't have many high-penetration weapons of their own. One of these acting as the bodyguard for a pimp squad of Crusaders means that you get to blow holes in the armour that their LRMs have softened up for you, and then it's SRM time.

[Daryk]

Most importantly, you gave it back its other hand... ;D

[Syzyx]

An excellent design, but I would really consider putting the fourth large laser in the other arm so you don't have a blind spot where you cannot retaliate on your left side. Yeah, a Locust isn't a huge threat, but when you can't shoot back at it at all it's more than enough.

[Breetai]

An excellent design, but I would really consider putting the fourth large laser in the other arm so you don't have a blind spot where you cannot retaliate on your left side. Yeah, a Locust isn't a huge threat, but when you can't shoot back at it at all it's more than enough.

That's likely what I would do if I were min-maxing it, but I wanted it to feel more Stock Awesome-y, as arguably if you wanted to take this concept to its logical conclusion you'd have more of a Warhawk than an Awesome.

[Syzyx]

I accept your rationale gladly and withdraw my critique. Brilliantly done!

[DevianID]

I always liked the idea of the medium laser awesome too.  For pew pew pew *4.  12 medium lasers instead of 3 PPC, and 37 heat sinks so you can shoot everything, even the small laser in the head, for no heat besides movement.

[CloaknDagger]

I always liked the idea of the medium laser awesome too.  For pew pew pew *4.  12 medium lasers instead of 3 PPC, and 37 heat sinks so you can shoot everything, even the small laser in the head, for no heat besides movement.

If you want to get really silly, you can use the Line-Of-Sight rules and either dial-down or linked heat sinks, so you fire either 2 damage and 1 heat Medium lasers at line-of-sight range, or 3 damage and 2 heat medium lasers.

I suppose with the new BA weapon rules you could also equip 500kg Medium lasers with 0 heat if you switch to a fuel-cell engine.

[DevianID]

If you want to get really silly, you can use the Line-Of-Sight rules and either dial-down or linked heat sinks, so you fire either 2 damage and 1 heat Medium lasers at line-of-sight range, or 3 damage and 2 heat medium lasers.

I suppose with the new BA weapon rules you could also equip 500kg Medium lasers with 0 heat if you switch to a fuel-cell engine.

The LOS range including medium lasers is a big reason we stopped using LOS range in a campaign.  Once the pilots hit elite or with skills added in, and with larger maps, the medium laser became king of LONG range shooting.  Nothing could survive to get within 20 when the medium lasers were hitting reliably 40+ hexes out and being taken in large numbers like medium lasers are want to do.  It made elite units untouchable, cause return LOS range fire was too inaccurate for regular troops, and if they were moving to get closer the movement penalty made it downright impossible for even vets to hit the elites firing with LOS med lasers.  Now we play on much smaller maps too, since LOS isnt a thing we are emphasizing any more haha.

[Daryk]

Artillery is the hard counter for LOS abuse like that...

[DevianID]

Artillery is the hard counter for LOS abuse like that...

Artillery/AE is the hard counter to everything though lol--it even flaks air units.  With the terrain destruction rules, you can use AE to just bury your enemy 4 levels down if they somehow survive the damage.
For extra fun, if you use the LOS rules, I recommend artillery CANNONS.  The thumper and long tom are far enough for LOS range bands, so you get same turn artillery from super far away.  The sniper with range 12 doesnt get a LOS range, making it more like the petard mortar in terms of its shell weight and range.

[Daryk]

With Ghosts of Obeedah in the mix, don't forget BA Tube Artillery too... I think they just forgot about it when they were making those rules.

[Isokrates]

I like it A LOT