MotW: WVR-** Wolverine

[Cidwm]

That's a Succession Wars-era variant and the PPC was not the SHD's original armament.  It was clearly intended as a poorer cousin to the Griffin--despite the fact that it was, in certain respects, more effective.

cheers,

Gabe

The Griffin is the only Classic lighter than the Warhammer to carry a PPC. In fact, it is the only featured BattleMech of 3025 to combine a PPC and 5/8 movement. Nuff said.

The SHD-2K was in the original 3025 TRO. My statement still stands.

Btw this is a good mech of the week article. I really enjoyed it and I an not bashing his work.

Cheers

[jymset]

The SHD-2K was in the original 3025 TRO. My statement still stands.

Btw this is a good mech of the week article. I really enjoyed it and I an not bashing his work.

Cheers

Thanks! In my defense, I did say "featured" which means TRO-statted variant to this MULer. But that's semantics and my real defense is that the sentence was basically just trying to cut short an explanation why the Griffin may be conceived as the stronger 'Mech when the Wolvie clearly is. :))

So, what do you guys think of the primitive Wolverines?

[Empyrus]

The 1R seems kinda meh, not enough punch. Of course, this is arguably an issue with just about all primitive designs.
The 3R seems a bit better despite having less armor, and it doesn't have excessive amount of AC/5 ammo. And the 3R is more like the standard Wolverine with its SRM-6.

[Decoy]

First thing that comes to mind is the fact that Earthwerks and their subsidiary, Kallon Industries must be where Vicore got the inspiration to update all the old designs. Earthwerks made a lot of money modernizing many of these.

After that, it is a nice little trooper. If I were looking to produce primitive 'mechs, I think I'd produce the 1R. The extra ton of ammo gives it a bit more flexibility in the modern age. That and being built like a brick. ><

[Giovanni Blasini]

I dunno. Really, it has no less punch than the SHD-1R, and actually picks up both more ammo and another jump jet.  The trouble with both is that, without their secondary missile weapons, there's so little to differentiate between the two.

[Scotty]

The -3R is hands down the better machine.  Remember that Primitive Armor only provides 8 points per ton, so the loss of "three tons" is the felt-loss of a ton and a half (or less) in modern terms.  It gets an entire SRM-6 for that, making it handily one of the best Primitive 'Mechs, full stop.

[Giovanni Blasini]

It's 10.67 points/ton, so it actually gives up more like 32 points of armor.  Amusingly, in some ways it's the Shadow Hawk 2D of the primitives.

[gyedid]

A design thread has been started here:

http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=54524.0

cheers,

Gabe

[Wrangler]

I like image of Primitive Wolverine. I would rather have that be the "modern" NuClassic image and the current as the primitive version. The primitive version is more like unseen one than nuClassic version.

[Tymers Realm]

A design thread has been started here:

http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=54524.0

cheers,

Gabe

Actually there's a older design thread closer to when the MotW article was posted.
I know. I posted my Gauss Rifle variant in that thread...

[Comedian]

I like the look of the primitive Wolverine.
Looks really cool.

[MightyBolamite]

I didn't pay much heed to the Wolverine for years. Oddly, it was MWO that got me interested. Next thing you know, my character is riding one in a TT campaign. I like it. The Marik versions are really great refits. If you play with quirks, the Wolverine is invaluable.
I like the nuSeen art, not fond of the old stuff, sorry.

[blitzy]

It was the Wolverine II for me, I found it oddly elegant.

[GespenstM]

Bah, I'm a bit late here too. Wanted to chime in on the WVR-7M and -9M though.

The -7M is actually the better machine. I'm serious. the -9M has a significant problem with its weapon ranges not lining up right (your SSRM-6 is best at the HPPC's minimum range!), and while a headcapper is valuable the more versatile weaponry on the -7M lets it discourage Lights from getting too close. It can also fight a little better at longer ranges. The -9M is not bad, but I truly believe it is a downgrade to the -7M.

...Of course, the FWL seems to have both in service in current era as far as I can tell, so we don't even have to pick and choose; you get whichever one you like.

[gyedid]

Bah, I'm a bit late here too. Wanted to chime in on the WVR-7M and -9M though.

The -7M is actually the better machine. I'm serious. the -9M has a significant problem with its weapon ranges not lining up right (your SSRM-6 is best at the HPPC's minimum range!), and while a headcapper is valuable <snip>

You sound like a good candidate for membership in the Blazer Mafia  ;D

cheers,

Gabe

[Greatclub]

I believe I shall speak in defence of the -9D, which I have used successfully a number of times.

Basically, it is a very Davion design, as it combines the RAC with a combined arms philosophy. it's a dedicated spotter with a boatload of critseeking to rip up the insides exposed by those Arrow IV rounds. I'd like the jump-jets, but that ignores just how aggressive this guy is, he wants to be right in front of you, not hiding in the bush.

It works well in a dedicated company. Take four Bombardier -05A or Longbow -8V, two to four Stealth -2D2, and four to six Wolverine -9D. I'll play that against pretty much anything on tight maps, up to and maybe including a clan binary

[Heavyguard]

We did just get the -6D as well in RS:SW with an AC10 and ML moving at 5/8/5.

[Wrangler]

Wow, i missed that.  Didn't realize they slipped couple new variants in the Record Sheet book.

[Colt Ward]

I think a half dozen appeared . . . but I do not remember many details- did the armor go up?  how much ammo again?

[Greatclub]

Assuming I remember right, it was a straight SRM6 + SRM ammo + AC/5 = ac/10, swap a heat sink for ammo. So same armor, twenty shots ammo

Hardly something I'd chose, but I wouldn't complain much if I rolled it on a RAT.

the other new ones were a javelin, thunderbot, zeus, atlas. Somebody loved SRMs on assaults, have your box-o-doom ready.

[Colt Ward]

Yeah, I remember the Davion TBolt- give it a AC! . . . heck a WVR-6D would be pretty sweet with Precision rounds as a militia mech pressed into regular service during the Jihad . . .

Sure, bring that speedster over to try to backstab the fire support- 10 point hit is going to make someone hurt.  Especially since post-Invasion I tend to play with rapid fire ACs.

[Hellraiser]

It seems I forgot the Scorpion, which is kinda a Classic. But that's ok, because it's a quad and doesn't count.  :P

...the things that keep me up at night...

You also forgot the Trebuchet-K from Sorensen's Sabres w/ its PPC/AC5 in place of the LRMs.   But no one likes that thing anyway :)

[Hellraiser]

Honestly, we should have gotten a LAC/5 version of the -7D in the Jihad . . . the MASC certainly makes up for the slightly shorter range.

LAC5, MML and maybe a MVSPL . . . have to play with that when I get home.

Not a bad idea, but to me what we SHOULD have gotten was the 8D/9D not both toting the RAC2, one of them should have been a RAC5 leaving the other the RAC2.

Maybe the 2 tons of savings is how one got a TAG or something, but instead they are just weird RAC clones w/ different back up weapons.

[VhenRa]

Assuming I remember right, it was a straight SRM6 + SRM ammo + AC/5 = ac/10, swap a heat sink for ammo. So same armor, twenty shots ammo

Hardly something I'd chose, but I wouldn't complain much if I rolled it on a RAT.

the other new ones were a javelin, thunderbot, zeus, atlas. Somebody loved SRMs on assaults, have your box-o-doom ready.

My main "Huh" at the 6D is the layout.

Why in hell does it have a left arm autocannon...

[Colt Ward]

Because the first pilot to get the refit approved was a lefty . . . considering most of the world is built for people who are not in their right minds, its acceptable.

[Scotty]

not in their right minds

BOOOOO!

[Wrangler]

Wow, that joke was Weapunized.

[Empyrus]

I have say that this thread made me a Wolverine believer. (Along with some help from HBS BattleTech game.)

Before, i was more of a Griffin and Shadow Hawk person. Aesthetics were a big part to be sure. The Shadow Hawk is a superb looking design, and the Griffin both looks good and functions reasonably well.

However, the more i had to deal with the Shadow Hawk in HBS's BT, the more frustrated i became with it. Never could make it work well, it was difficult to customize without turning it into a Griffin or Wolverine, and its base version is just worthless, lacking in every area just enough it doesn't really work as a generalist.
On tabletop side the same issues are present, and its variants are no good either (or, well, they're OK at times but make dubious decisions all the same). It is something of a brainless beauty.

And The Griffin... OK, it works in its role. But the truth is, i'm more of a brawler, it doesn't really suit me.

But the Wolverine. It doesn't let me down. It runs cool in its -6R iteration, and the laser armed versions are powerful enough they replace bunch of heavier designs easily. And i've started liking its thuggish looks, especially with the Primitive art and the nuseen version.
Honestly, i'm doubtful i would've even really tried the Wolverine if Jymset's article hadn't been convincing.

[Rainbow 6]

Interesting read on the Wolverine, will there be an update to include the RecGuide variants at some point?

[Empyrus]

Interesting read on the Wolverine, will there be an update to include the RecGuide variants at some point?

Probably not until moratorium for the RG variants is done.
That would be in... late August, early September i think?