Article Removed

[GespenstM]

Article removed on 9-17-2013.

[martian]

Interesting article.

One thing worth mentioning is the very low Battle Value of the ZU-G60 - mere 1503 points.

As for a complementary 'Mech, there is one units that has worked for me well when paired with the Anzu:
CRD-7W Crusader
- this Blakist refit of obsolete Marik CRD-5Ms complements the Anzu with much needed LRM fire support, and when enemy's armor is breached, it can charge forward and finish the enemy with its devastating SRMs.
- I think it may be quite common in the former FWL/MSC space.
- it has very low BV.

[GespenstM]

I did mention the BV, but only toward the end... and admittedly did not explicitly say it's 1503 BV; I only said it hits hard for the BV or weight. May edit it in a bit to make this point more clear.

On the CRD-7W: I had overlooked this 'Mech, somehow missed it while browsing the Master Unit List. Seems it is available to FWL after all, and after looking at it... you might be right. Assuming every weapon hits, you'll get about 16 missiles on the target. That's not great at long range, but for 1221 BV this is understandable. 16 SRMs however is much more interesting. This could be a good idea.

[chanman]

So do we call it the 'Anzu' or is it the 'Zug-60'? (Weirdo?)

[GespenstM]

Alternatively we could call it the "looks really cool", or the "Front Mission called, they want their Wanzers back."

[martian]

Assuming every weapon hits, you'll get about 16 missiles on the target.

It has Artemis IV FCS, so with average hit values it more like 22 missiles on target.

Or if you prefer something with the FWL tag, then YMN-10-OR Yeoman. It fills the same niche and keeps the low BV too. It has less armor, but makes up for it with the Light Engine and Jump Jets. I have used the Anzu with the Crusader, as I strongly dislike the looks of that ugly shoebox Yeoman.


And as for the nickname, I would just call it "the Inner Sphere's Thor", just like the Rakshasa is "the Inner Sphere's Mad Cat".

[GespenstM]

The -10-OR Yeoman is secretly good; some people just don't realize it yet. I like it a lot, and its jump capability would let it travel with the Anzu far more easily.

[Death by Zeus]

I would argue that this is the perfect platform for TAG.  Because one has to be within 15 hexes to use TAG one needs a durable platform.  Durable, something light mechs and lower tier Mediums are not.  15 hexes seem to within the Anzu's sweet spot firepower wise, making TAG  perfect for consistent use every turn.  Yes while it is long range for TAG it has no other drawbacks. 

[martian]

I would argue that this is the perfect platform for TAG.  Because one has to be within 15 hexes to use TAG one needs a durable platform.  Durable, something light mechs and lower tier Mediums are not.  15 hexes seem to within the Anzu's sweet spot firepower wise, making TAG  perfect for consistent use every turn.  Yes while it is long range for TAG it has no other drawbacks.

Personally I prefer TAG on faster platforms - the FWL has got the new GBT-1L Gambit ...

For me, the TAG on the ZU-G60 Anzu is a secondary thing.

[GespenstM]

It's somewhat durable. That said, 176 Armor and an XL Engine on 4/6/4 only go so far. These factors combine to make a unit that will get some convenient TAG shots in here and there, but I do not think they will always be on the targets you want. If you're using a 'durable Mech' approach to TAG I would think the ANV-6M is a little better? Not ideal, but an improvement over the Anzu; it is faster and has a Standard engine. The thin leg armor is an issue, but no more of one than 5 tons of explosive ammo (even with CASE II) would be.

There are better options for TAG in terms of durability or speed. TAG is a nice bonus thrown on top of impressive damage output in the Anzu's case, I believe.

[Moonsword]

There are better options for TAG in terms of durability or speed. TAG is a nice bonus thrown on top of impressive damage output in the Anzu's case, I believe.

This isn't the first time the FWL has done that.  The MAD-9M and 9M2 do exactly the same thing.  TRO3050's ON1-M, STK-5M, and TBT-7M all used Narc the same way.

[GespenstM]

I hesitate to describe the ON1-M and TBT-7M as doing "impressive damage", but I get your general point (and the MAD-9M2 certainly qualifies as doing both damage plus TAG). It seems like one of those things that gets thrown in if a ton is left over and all the other perks the 'Mech needs are handled (though I would have rather seen the Anzu bumped up to 20 armor in each Arm first). Aside from that complaint, it's a fine trend and one I hope continues in future TRO books.

My own play style barely makes use of it, but this does not stop me from admitting it is a very nice thing to add in for those of us who really like Semi-Guided LRMs and Arrow IV. When the worst I can say about a piece of equipment is "Eh, it'll make other FWL players happy even if I don't care about it"... that's pretty good.

[Diablo48]

I hesitate to describe the ON1-M and TBT-7M as doing "impressive damage", but I get your general point (and the MAD-9M2 certainly qualifies as doing both damage plus TAG). It seems like one of those things that gets thrown in if a ton is left over and all the other perks the 'Mech needs are handled (though I would have rather seen the Anzu bumped up to 20 armor in each Arm first). Aside from that complaint, it's a fine trend and one I hope continues in future TRO books.

My own play style barely makes use of it, but this does not stop me from admitting it is a very nice thing to add in for those of us who really like Semi-Guided LRMs and Arrow IV. When the worst I can say about a piece of equipment is "Eh, it'll make other FWL players happy even if I don't care about it"... that's pretty good.

Honestly, I would much rather have a Flamer (or ER Flamer) over the TAG.  It adds a lot of flexibility to any design, and a good anti-infantry weapon is never a bad thing with the increasing lethality of PBIs.

[GespenstM]

Sure, I'd prefer a flamer or small pulse laser too, but if this is the kick that official 'Mech designers are going to be on for FWL... I have to say "hurrrr durr toss in TAG because the FWLM uses lots of Indirect Attacks" is a tremendous improvement over the old kick the FASA-era designers were on. You know the one; "hurr durr it's FWL so add poorly thought out Light Gauss to its weaponry even if it makes no sense whatsoever or actively makes the design worse."

I'll gladly take "randomly throws in a 1 ton item that helps enable your faction to do its special combat trick, even if it's not optimized for this" over the alternative we've been getting. At least random TAG has a realistic chance of helping... or at worst, is only a waste of 1 ton instead of 13 to 14.

I agree that going with an anti-infantry weapon would be a lot better overall, yet random TAG instead is alright.

[martian]

1) I prefer TAG which weighs one ton, does not explode and can't be jammed - surely it's better than the NARC which would weigh three tons plus additional two tons of explosive ammo and would be vulnerable to ECM.

2) A flamer or SPL would be useful, but it's okay. The Anzu is supposed to operate with other FWL Mediums and Heavies that often have some anti-infantry weapons (TDR-7M - twin MGs; BLK-NT - paired SPLs, Plasma Rifles or a Flamer; Reseen Crusaders or Reseen T-bolts with MMLs/Infernos).

[Adgar76]

Besides, if you're concerned about infantry there is nothing stopping you from loading fragmentation ammo in one of those LRM ammo bins  ;)

[Diablo48]

Besides, if you're concerned about infantry there is nothing stopping you from loading fragmentation ammo in one of those LRM ammo bins  ;)

Sure, but that cannot create smokescreens or firebreaks like a Flamer, and fire is about as good as it gets when you need to inflict massive property damage.  Really, a Flamer is a wonderfully useful tool on any 'Mech even if there are no infantry in play which is why I like to include them on my custom designs whenever I can, and that TAG slot is exactly the kind of opening I would slip a Flamer into.

[cold1]

The Anzu makes a lot of sense when you consider the adundance of things like Archers and Patriots in FWLM forces.  It can get to mid range, lay down solid direct fire, and TAG for additional hurt.  If you use it right this thing should be able to kill stuff dead.

[Ian Sharpe]

High priority target.  I'm very mistrustful of those arms, as experience with Novas and Jinggaus has show that a gauss round to the arms and one lucky hit later, I lose lots of fire power.  The Anzu can't hit the higher TMMs of either of those and still has their frailties.  Kill it quick, or at least take off those arms.  Yes, it can then spot for others so finish it off. 

[GespenstM]

Here's the thing about the Anzu's admittedly somewhat weak arms: It can still dish out meaningful damage. If you shoot off the UAC-10 arm, you still have a LRM-10, Light PPC with Capacitor, and ER Medium Laser. That's 6 average + 5 or 10 + 5 damage... still enough to force a PSR if all of them hit and the LPPC is Charged at the time. Even without that it's still 16 damage total. That's not great, but for a unit that has lost its main gun that's not bad.

If you lose the other arm, you still have a UAC/10 and LRM-10. 16 to 26 damage. That's fine.

Yes, I would have rather seen the design lose TAG in favor of bringing the Arm protection up to 20 and finding something else to do with the remaining half ton. What we have is still playable and pretty strong, though. The Anzu's response to losing an arm is to simply set its other weapons on their higher damage, higher heat modes and still do decently well.

[GespenstM]

Bumping with some food for thought (and a bit of trolling): How do you suppose Erik 'NWO Wolfpac' Wulf Wolf of clan wolf (formerly of the Free Worlds League) pulled off killing seven clan so-called 'Mechs in a single Anzu, as mentioned in the TRO? While his J70 Anzu hits hard, I wonder how it had enough armor or ammo to accomplish this even if they accepted seven one on one sequential duels with him? "Lots of back shots"?

[Diablo48]

Bumping with some food for thought (and a bit of trolling): How do you suppose Erik 'NWO Wolfpac' Wulf Wolf of clan wolf (formerly of the Free Worlds League) pulled off killing seven clan so-called 'Mechs in a single Anzu, as mentioned in the TRO? While his J70 Anzu hits hard, I wonder how it had enough armor or ammo to accomplish this even if they accepted seven one on one sequential duels with him? "Lots of back shots"?

Stingers, Wasps, and converted industrials?

[martian]

"Lots of back shots"?

No. Just one big Fuel Tank and six Clanners around it. And then Eric fought for one hour the seventh Clanner.  :)

[Molossian Dog IIC]

It was an accident.

[Savage Coyote]

Yeah... lot of snake eyes and head shots...

[jymset]

I return to this thread wanting to review its MotW article, and I see this...

Article removed on 9-17-2013.

???

[The Eagle]

Well, Gespenst has returned to us, so PM him and perhaps you can convince him to repost his article.