'Mech of the Week MEGA ARTICLE: BNC-** Banshee

[MarauderD]

Yes, it's a WYSIWYG upgrade to the 3S. The 5S had the same philosophy but the weapon placement and reliance on a IS XL made a bigger difference than you would think.

Correct, but remember that only the ER Lasers (4 medium, 2 small) are Clan Spec weaponry on the 12S.  The rest is IS tech:  Gauss Rifle, 2 ER PPCs, and the SRM 6.  It's like they wanted to avoid going full munchkin, but went just far enough with the Clan Engine and Lasers for us to sit up and take notice that damn, this is a monster.

[SteelRaven]

I always thought the term Munchkin was stupid. If you have the gun, you are going to use it. Besides, it's hard to do anything else with the Banshee at this point without bumping up the tech level.

[MarauderD]

I always thought the term Munchkin was stupid. If you have the gun, you are going to use it. Besides, it's hard to do anything else with the Banshee at this point without bumping up the tech level.

Yep, just saying that it is like a 3/4 Clan tech Banshee, unlike the Lyrans new Crusader, which looks to be a Clan Machine (maybe not the structure/armor).

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

It's because Inner Sphere factions were only able to produce Clantech in the Rec Guides that they've been shown to produce in other sources.  Defiance Industries has thus far only been shown producing Clantech lasers, missiles, and XL engines.  They haven't been shown producing Clantech PPCs or Gauss Rifles yet.

[Hellraiser]

Besides, it's hard to do anything else with the Banshee at this point without bumping up the tech level.

/cough,  SFE-285 !!
What can I say, I just really want a SFE Banshee moving 3/5 that is beyond Intro tech level.

[SteelRaven]

/cough,  SFE-285 !!
What can I say, I just really want a SFE Banshee moving 3/5 that is beyond Intro tech level.

... Yeah, I have a simple upgrade to the 3S but I'm guessing it's too simple for many as it would be competing with so many other 3/5 designs.

[Hellraiser]

... Yeah, I have a simple upgrade to the 3S

Ditto,
I've posted ideas in the design section over the years.
It doesn't need a lot of "new" tech.
I don't think I've ever used anything past 3050/C3 in most of them.
The 3S lends itself to sticking w/ the basics but boosting the range/reach of the big 3 guns.

[SteelRaven]

I won't be posting mine in Fan Designs only because it's too simple, upgrading to DHS does allot. Staying on topic and keeping away from fan designs, the 12S does allot more that many GMs wouldn't allow without a official RS.

The 12S gives us the firepower of the 3S, upgrades it while hardly compromising any survivability for speed (if you loos both side torso on this mech...how? ) The 5S does a great job but that IS XL can be a problem (yes, I'm talking from personal experiences. Always load Infernos) The 6S, 7S and 9S are decent compromises between the 3S and 5S (the Wobbie 8S isn't to be ignored, just a different design direction going 100% AX Murder)

[Middcore]

... Yeah, I have a simple upgrade to the 3S but I'm guessing it's too simple for many as it would be competing with so many other 3/5 designs.

The 3S with an LB 10-X swap and CASE is probably better than any IS assault in TRO3050 except maybe the 5S.

[SteelRaven]

The 3S with an LB 10-X swap and CASE is probably better than any IS assault in TRO3050 except maybe the 5S.

:thumbsup: See, I didn't ever need to post it

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I remember trying to build a hypothetical 4S and running into the "problem" of a straight upgrade of the 3S simply being too good compared to the 5S.  Though I have to wonder if we're ever going to see a Banshee 10S and 11S at any point?

[Hellraiser]

I remember trying to build a hypothetical 4S and running into the "problem" of a straight upgrade of the 3S simply being too good compared to the 5S.  Though I have to wonder if we're ever going to see a Banshee 10S and 11S at any point?

Yeah, but keeping the SFE & skipping Endo lets you run it as a "field refit" instead of a factory production model.
There is a benefit of having 4/6 to be sure.
I just would rather keep my top end assaults Slow & Durable

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

That's my point: simply upgrading the heatsinks and weapons and adding CASE makes for a machine that's significantly better than the 5S in everything but speed, and the serious durability boost by having a standard engine as well as a few extra tons to devote to armor really negates that.

[Sabelkatten]

Getting it back up to 4/6 seems to have been one of the main goals of the 5S. Making it 3/5 may arguably make for a better mech, but if you don’t want a Warhawk kiting you 4/6 is what you need.

[Hellraiser]

a Warhawk kiting you

Too funny an image.

That's right up there with someone's sig line that was something like "Elmo will flank with Devastator & Stalker"

[BrianDavion]

That's right up there with someone's sig line that was something like "Elmo will flank with Devastator & Stalker"

CREEED!

[Greatclub]

The 6S, my favourite banshee, is extinct by the dark age. Sadface. Even -8S manufactured for the WOB survive until ilclan era.

I guess the 7S entering production the next year means that not many were ever produced, but I really think it's a great, (certainly not perfect) and characterful mech.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I suspect it was primarily intended as a test-bed for the Heavy Gauss Rifle and got a consequently short production run because it wasn't really intended to fight.

[Scotty]

The 12S has debuted since this article and I'm not adding more to this monstrosity but it is the best Banshee by a good margin.

[Weirdo]

Does it have the requisite fist/gun ratio?

[Scotty]

For your tastes?  No, it's a descendent of the 5S like its designation suggests.

It does have the requisite speed, though.

EDIT: Cliffnotes version:

4/6 Clan XL, 14 DHS

2x IS ER PPC
1x IS Gauss Rifle (2 tons ammo, legs)
4x Clan ER Medium Lasers
1x SRM 6 (1 ton ammo, left torso, CASE)
2x Clan ER Small Lasers

288/293 total armor, missing 2 points each leg and 1 point CT

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

The 12S has debuted since this article and I'm not adding more to this monstrosity but it is the best Banshee by a good margin.

Given the amount of Clantech it's got, I'd certainly hope so.  Be pretty pathetic if it was beaten by one of the all-IS tech variants.

[Scotty]

Given the amount of Clantech it's got, I'd certainly hope so.  Be pretty pathetic if it was beaten by one of the all-IS tech variants.

It is also a strong contender for best value buy even with its BV as high as it is, beyond being simply the most capable individual record sheet among Banshees.

[Greatclub]

I suspect it was primarily intended as a test-bed for the Heavy Gauss Rifle and got a consequently short production run because it wasn't really intended to fight.

The concept was certainly proved; the pilot upgrade it needs (4/4 minimum) is the only drawback. Even that's mitigated by the fact it loves to punch things in the face

Does it have the requisite fist/gun ratio?

Same as the original banshee, 3 guns.