Author Topic: MotW: Eisenfaust  (Read 21822 times)

Sabelkatten

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #60 on: 09 May 2012, 02:47:29 »
When the battle plan is let the assault mechs get all the attention, and let the little guy stick the knife in, There are many better choices than the eisenfaust for that role.
This comment shows why some people can't get any use out of the EFT. You don't try to use a slow (relatively) short-ranged design like this for that kind of mission!

Used as an escort (like the Battle Hawk tends to be used) the EFT isn't there to draw attention or even to significantly contribute to the long-range fire. Which means that it's pretty much a waste of points if the enemy consists entirely of long-range mechs. There's not even much point in killing it first since it's not doing much!

No, you bring it along in case the enemy has a bunch of fast stuff that he's planning to trash you fire support with. In this case you leave the enemy with a real problem - shoot the T-Hawk which isn't doing much to kill off the close assault and hope the escort doesn't kill you first, or shoot the escort and leave the fire support to continue its primary mission?

Under those circumstances the EFT may be well worth its points.

monty

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #61 on: 09 May 2012, 05:45:52 »
It's just as well to be loved or hated, so long as they're talking about you, right?


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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #62 on: 09 May 2012, 08:23:03 »
As a FWL fan, I think you know how wrong that is... :D
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StCptMara

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #63 on: 09 May 2012, 08:25:28 »
As a FWL fan, I think you know how wrong that is... :D

As a FWL fan, he is probably aware that the obituary of the FWL was probably the biggest
publicity it got, and its eventual reformation was pretty much expected.
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Eldragon

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #64 on: 09 May 2012, 08:31:14 »
Here is the untold story of how the Eisenfaust was developed:

Simmons (Sr. Defiance Industries Manager): Gentlemen, we have untapped production capacity. Factory 15; third shift is going unused.  With each new mech produced, we get a fat check from Tharkad as part of their new rebuilding program. We need a new mech design, and we need to start building it NOW.

Kiff: Well sir we have a lot of unused 180 XL engines

Simmons: You're off to a great start. What  tonnage are we looking at?

Kiff: Well... uhhh.... normally we would use that engine on a Wasp or Locust... but all we have to spare is Hollander II frames.

Simmons: Perfect! Use whatever surplus we have. Everyone loves the Hollander.  Those bean counters in Tharkad don't care what we produce, so long as we produce them.

Kiff:Sir... a 180XL on a 45 ton machine is going to be moving really slow for its size. We might want to consider....

Simmons: Nonsense! Max out the armor on that baby and it will be fine.  I can see the Holovid spot now: "The most armored mech in its class!"

Jenkins: "We also have a great deal of surplus of plasma rifles. Customer's keep trading them in for PPCs. We could use one of those as the primary armament on this mech."

Simmons: Good, good. Use whatever we got handy. Jenkins understands what we are doing. Unlike Kiff here. We are in the business of building war machines, not fighting in them.

Now, what are we going to call it?

Jenkins: Iron Fist No true Lyran would say anything negative about a Mech called the "Iron Fist", its practically treason!

Simmons:  Hmm... its good, but not perfect. Lets call it the Eisenfaust. Steiner quartermaters cannot resist a mech named in German.  Now pass these specs down to the eggheads in R&D to slap this thing together.

6 years later, Simmons, Kiff, and Jenkins were indicted for conspiring to conceal the results of the Eisenfaust safety testing. Simmons and Jenkins accepted a plea bargain. Kiff is now serving an 8 year prison term.



Demos

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #65 on: 09 May 2012, 08:34:56 »
Muahahah. Wonderful!
Kiff didn't deserve it better!  ;)
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DarkISI

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #66 on: 09 May 2012, 09:49:09 »
You sure Kiff was involved? The whole setup sounds more like Zapp... ;)
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willydstyle

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #67 on: 09 May 2012, 10:42:29 »
6 years later, Simmons, Kiff, and Jenkins were indicted for conspiring to conceal the results of the Eisenfaust safety testing. Simmons and Jenkins accepted a plea bargain. Kiff is now serving an 8 year prison term.

Considering the lack of explosive ammo and an XL engine, this thing would actually be quite *safe* for pilots.  I'm thinking that particularly cowardly pilots might even *want* to use them  ;D


Eldragon

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #68 on: 09 May 2012, 10:54:13 »
Considering the lack of explosive ammo and an XL engine, this thing would actually be quite *safe* for pilots.  I'm thinking that particularly cowardly pilots might even *want* to use them  ;D

True, but then there are the "unlisted" safety problems....

The Plasma Rifle ammo dumps if you move the torso 90 degrees to the left while the headlights are on.
The escape hatch swells shut when the cockpit exceeds 100 degrees F
The cup-holder can't hold a cup when the mech is moving at a full run. Three test pilots had second degree burns from spilled hot coffee.

 :D
« Last Edit: 09 May 2012, 10:56:51 by Eldragon »

willydstyle

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #69 on: 09 May 2012, 11:16:13 »
True, but then there are the "unlisted" safety problems....

The Plasma Rifle ammo dumps if you move the torso 90 degrees to the left while the headlights are on.
The escape hatch swells shut when the cockpit exceeds 100 degrees F
The cup-holder can't hold a cup when the mech is moving at a full run. Three test pilots had second degree burns from spilled hot coffee.

 :D

Propaganda, all! (maybe not the plasma rifle bit... but lack of ammo is a great reason to head back to base before the fight starts anyways :D )
It's so well sinked the cockpit never gets above a cool 85 F.
And it can't run fast enough to spill the coffee in the first place :D

daeceg

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #70 on: 14 May 2012, 00:03:33 »
Not true--Mythbusters proved that the faster you move, the more your ride smooths out.  On two different occasions (including with square wheels!)

iamfanboy

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #71 on: 14 May 2012, 04:12:26 »
Has anyone considered a version with a Light engine? Lose the MPLs for ERMLs to recover the tonnage and you'd have a solid 45-ton 'Mech without much high tech in it other than the DHS and the Light Engine... Or maybe just one ERML and drop the ERSL for an ECM, making it very useful for escort duties...

Though frankly, if I'm looking for something to escort big 'Mechs that has an ECM and doesn't strain my budget, I reach for the Anvil. That 'Mech is the sleeper hit of TRO 3055 IMHO.

But overall, the Eisenfaust is one of those that I really like the look of (it's a Stone Rhino's little brother! Adorkable!) but its uses seem... well, marginal. I don't outright hate it, like I do the Mangonel, but that pesky XL Engine... especially for such a slow mover that doesn't need a heavy engine in the first place... I can forgive XLs in light, very fast 'Mechs to push them WAY over the top in speed, I can forgive them in assaults that have the armor to shield them and can use the saved tonnage on assorted nasties, but slow mediums?


It's just one of those that I'd refit the moment I laid hands on it because it's just this close to being really good, and that makes me a pariah at the "no modifications, if you don't like the Marauder II's CASE in the wrong torso than suck it up butterball" table.

Sabelkatten

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #72 on: 14 May 2012, 05:19:26 »
Has anyone considered a version with a Light engine? Lose the MPLs for ERMLs to recover the tonnage and you'd have a solid 45-ton 'Mech without much high tech in it other than the DHS and the Light Engine... Or maybe just one ERML and drop the ERSL for an ECM, making it very useful for escort duties...
SFE, actually. :)

blackjack

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #73 on: 28 May 2012, 23:13:35 »
Eisenfaust fan here, its weapons mix is interesting because after a couple hits with the plasma rifle people start to slow down. Played off against heat hogs the extra heat they lay on someone can really be a pain. They do evil things against 3025 mechs like the marauder.
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willydstyle

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #74 on: 28 May 2012, 23:25:56 »
Eisenfaust fan here, its weapons mix is interesting because after a couple hits with the plasma rifle people start to slow down. Played off against heat hogs the extra heat they lay on someone can really be a pain. They do evil things against 3025 mechs like the marauder.

I also enjoy the Eisenfaust, but really, the same could be said of any plasma-rifle equipped mech, of which the Eisenfaust is not unique.

oldfart3025

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #75 on: 06 June 2012, 02:31:30 »

I'm pretty positive toward the Eisenfaust. It's pretty useful in wild downtown firepower parties. It's lack of jump jets is something of a handicap. But the tactics used to get around the issue earned the 'Mech it's nickname in my playgroup: "The Backdoor Bot". It usually involves using the insides of buildings as concealment, or punching through one on the fly, and then striking a target of opportunity from behind.

All's fair in love and war.

We've run a couple of -4Js in militia units to try them out. But the -7X sees the most play at this point.

However, we are eager to give the EFT-8X a whirl. But I have a sneaking suspicion that old fashioned heat management will play a big part in running one of these things on the tabletop.

Just my two cents worth.
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Welshman

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #76 on: 07 June 2012, 13:11:05 »
Good a place as any. Oldfart, great to have your comments in the Units of the Week threads again. You've always got some great insight.

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Moonsword

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #77 on: 07 June 2012, 16:44:34 »
Absolutely agreed.  Welcome back.

iamfanboy

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #78 on: 07 June 2012, 18:37:57 »
Good to see - wait, do I know you?  :))


Anyway, I've actually been thinking about adding an Eisenfaust to my collection of 'Mechs for more variety in my SW games. While it's not a GREAT design by any means (a slower, tougher Enforcer without JJs), it's not COMPLETELY without merit in SW terms - 3/5 is bad for things like the Atlas because it has mostly short-range armaments; 3/5 works for the Hammerhands because (in SW era) it's got a reasonable range on its main guns.

Plus, if I'm doing my math right, the -4J is actually pretty well sinked for SW-era combat. I'm not sure, though, because I can't seem to find an official record sheet in my 3085 RS pdf.

My consideration is maybe putting into my Kuritan Light Fire lance, backing up the Whitworth, the Panther, and the captured Valkyrie - or maybe having it be buddy-buddy with the Atlas. I think one would look quite nice in Sword of Light colors, and having a slightly flawed 'Mech would help balance out the other good designs I gave 'em...

oldfart3025

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #79 on: 07 June 2012, 23:06:06 »

Thanks, guys. It's good to be back on the Fan Articles boards, and seeing good people keeping things cruising here.  :) O0
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Moonsword

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #80 on: 08 June 2012, 11:26:52 »
Plus, if I'm doing my math right, the -4J is actually pretty well sinked for SW-era combat. I'm not sure, though, because I can't seem to find an official record sheet in my 3085 RS pdf.

From checking my own files, the 4J is in the Unabridged Cutting Edge volume.  The only one in the PDF version of the print book is the 7X but SSW can print out pretty decent sheets if you need one.  As for heat sinks, you have ten.

vidar

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #81 on: 08 June 2012, 15:44:08 »
I like the style of this report, do not be afraid to branch out and do something different form time to time. :))

DarkISI

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #82 on: 08 June 2012, 15:45:22 »
From time to time? You have read my other MotW articles, have you? :D
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vidar

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #83 on: 08 June 2012, 15:48:31 »
No I was just trying not let the "Proper English" police find me.  They are really scary >:D

Arkansas Warrior

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Re: MotW: Eisenfaust
« Reply #84 on: 24 January 2022, 21:14:48 »
So, I get that this is some serious thread necromancy.  But why start a new thread on the Eisenfaust when there’s a perfectly good one lying around?


So, with the release of Tamar Rising, I’ve been looking at Lyran Mechs, maybe putting something together for a unit fighting in the hinterlands.  And I’m a sucker for slow, relatively light mechs like the Panther, or even UrbanMech.  I also have an irrational fondness for blazers.  As such, the Eisenfaust-8X is really standing out to me.  Has anyone played with it much?  Obviously it’s not something you want for cavalry warfare on open plains, but a blazer and a medium VSPL are a good start in an urban battlefield.  No ammo to worry about, pretty easy heat management, excellent armor.  It’s just slow and can’t do much beyond medium range.
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