VotW: Hanse MBT

[Colt Ward]

No, I said frontline . . . HFF has been out . . . what 30 or more years by the time this was designed?  This is supposed to slug it out, HAS to slug it out to get into its own weapon range, as such it needs every bit of protection it can get.  I do not know the specifics of hardened but perhaps that would be a better choice than HFF for the Hanse.

You will also notice the last bit was about the sum of the shortcomings- short ranged main gun, slow for the main gun, no turret with low speed causing facing issues, and frontline unit designed for battle line not using best armor all add up to making the Hanse a bad choice.

As an aside, we could point to the design IMO it was patterned after which is the Clan's Athena . . . which does but perhaps should not have a turret since the main guns are not located in the turret.  But it also has a TC and seven hexes more of range for the pair of BFGs.

[marauder648]

I like the Hanse personally, sure its got its drawbacks but its basically an assault gun.  Yet the fluff for it makes me think "This tank was designed by someone who ragequit or was fired so they made the fluff into https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4zYlOU7Fpk "

[Taurevanime]

Colt Ward, I suspect the designer didn't want to make an optimised design. Rather something flawed in it's own ways that was still useful if used correctly, but by no means such a stellar machine that it would have to be part of any army, for it would be lacking without one. It is very easy to design something that is optimised to the last detail to squeeze every last bit of potential from it. It is a lot harder to go "No. This is good enough. Let the players have fun with it's flaws." Because remember, this is a game.

[Welshman]

The CGL designer didn't have a choice. The WizKids Mini drove the stats and that mini was pretty clear on not having a turret.

Start throwing in tonnages available and you get the Hanse we have now. Any suggestions on making the original design better have to keep in mind it must match the mini and the tonnage.

It's easy to design stuff. It gets hard when you start dealing with in universe rules, art, and other factors that pop up in the TRO design process.

[JadeHellbringer]

The CGL designer didn't have a choice. The WizKids Mini drove the stats and that mini was pretty clear on not having a turret.

Start throwing in tonnages available and you get the Hanse we have now. Any suggestions on making the original design better have to keep in mind it must match the mini and the tonnage.

It's easy to design stuff. It gets hard when you start dealing with in universe rules, art, and other factors that pop up in the TRO design process.

To be honest, I always assumed (from the mini) a pair of autocannons and a PPC for the main weapons, so in that regard you guys actually came up with something pretty impressive here.

[Welshman]

To be honest, I always assumed (from the mini) a pair of autocannons and a PPC for the main weapons, so in that regard you guys actually came up with something pretty impressive here.

Yeah, I forget who designed this one (Jymset would know). I'm impressed with what he did as well.

The original probably was ACs and PPCs, during the WizKids era we hadn't standardized a lot of the cool newer tech that is standard in Total Warfare.

[False Son]

I like it.  Its interesting, which is saying something for the FedSuns.  That it is also effective is also nice.  But interesting and FedSuns heavy armor haven't gone together for... wait, did it ever?

[JadeHellbringer]

I like it.  Its interesting, which is saying something for the FedSuns.  That it is also effective is also nice.  But interesting and FedSuns heavy armor haven't gone together for... wait, did it ever?

I've been forced to take cover from enough Challenger MBTs over the years to say that they certainly have gone together, at least once.  ;D

[False Son]

That isn't interesting, that's effective.  I'd never knock the effectiveness of AFFS heavy armor.  But, that to me seems like the general trend: effective and boring or not very effective and boring.  The Hanse is a different beast.  And yes, it is a beast, just a tricky one to use.

[solmanian]

The Hanse. The MBT I love the most. The MBT I hate the most.

It's looks so badass! A good contender for the "prettiest" tank.
But It's a turretless MBT, which to me as a former tanker, is heresy.

[False Son]

You know, that's a good point.  If the MBT was left out would it help deflect some of the criticism?  Hanse Heavy Tank?

[Alexander Knight]

When I look at this tank, the image of it bursting from cover at high speed with the phrase "Bout that time them Duke Boys realized they was in a heap o' trouble" comes to mind.

[False Son]

If I saw it cresting a hill i'd think I was the one in a heap o'trouble.  2 plasma rifles?  Yikes.  For the combined arms centric operations of the 32nd century that kind of firepower is worth the trade in tonnage for single heat sinks.  Plasma rifles are not the most widely deployed weapon and it is good to see a platform using 2.

[Sabelkatten]

Of course a turret would have made it a lot better, but the thing that really irks me is the choice of sponson weapons - it's Davion, Magshots, man, Magshots! :D

It really needs an official variant with HFFA (less half a ton) that replaces the LMGs with 4 Magshots and a ton of ammo!

[Jellico]

That isn't interesting, that's effective.  I'd never knock the effectiveness of AFFS heavy armor.  But, that to me seems like the general trend: effective and boring or not very effective and boring.  The Hanse is a different beast.  And yes, it is a beast, just a tricky one to use.

Interesting word there. "Heavy" armour. There was a certain amount of Alacorns, Ajaxes, Challengers, Oh My! earlier in the thread. Ignoring the comparisons of 75 ton tanks to genuine assaults, well, those are genuine assault tanks. Those rare units brought out when something really has to die. A quick glance at the Davion heavy tanks in the 3145 RATs suggests a far more mediocre line up making the Hanse look much better.

[Welshman]

You know, that's a good point.  If the MBT was left out would it help deflect some of the criticism?  Hanse Heavy Tank?

I tried, but the WizKid force was too strong with the name.

[JadeHellbringer]

I tried, but the WizKid force was too strong with the name.

Yeah, I have a JF Hanse here on my coffee table (it was the figure that caused me to start thinking about doing this article actually), and it's listed as a 'Hanse MBT' on the base. Which means the foul-up is on WK, not Catalyst.

But yeah, a Hanse Tank Destroyer would have helped. ;)

(I did think about going into the differences between an MBT and a tank destroyer in the article, but... well, it was a long enough VotW article anyway for a unit with no variants, let's not overload it!)

[solmanian]

You know, that's a good point.  If the MBT was left out would it help deflect some of the criticism?  Hanse Heavy Tank?

The stickler in me would prefer the much more accurate "tank destroyer".

Interesting word there. "Heavy" armour. There was a certain amount of Alacorns, Ajaxes, Challengers, Oh My! earlier in the thread. Ignoring the comparisons of 75 ton tanks to genuine assaults, well, those are genuine assault tanks. Those rare units brought out when something really has to die. A quick glance at the Davion heavy tanks in the 3145 RATs suggests a far more mediocre line up making the Hanse look much better.

Only because the RATs didn't let the Destrier come out and play. I guess it would be unfair toward the other factions tanks...

[Weirdo]

Well if the dial says 'MBT' instead of 'Main Battle Tank', you could have had fun with the acronym. Admittedly, I dunno what you would do with a Monstrous Breakfast Taco, but I would leave such issues up to the writers.

[Welshman]

Well if the dial says 'MBT' instead of 'Main Battle Tank', you could have had fun with the acronym. Admittedly, I dunno what you would do with a Monstrous Breakfast Taco, but I would leave such issues up to the writers.

They meant it to be:
Massive Blazing Guns

But the printer messed up and they went with MBT.  :o










<Kidding, absolutely kidding>

[JadeHellbringer]

Maybe Buy a Turret

[Welshman]

Maybe Buy a Turret

Might Be a Tank

[Nahuris]

Might Be a Tank

+1

Nahuris

[Dragon Cat]

It's looks so badass! A good contender for the "prettiest" tank.

That I can't disagree with when they came up with the Hanse someone decided it was time a tank got to look good

Funny thing about the MBT bit I ignore the name it looks like a Tank Destroyer it plays like a Tank Destroyer...

[worktroll]

I'm imagining a Capellan vehicle soon to be called the ""Hanse Tank" destroyer" ...

[JadeHellbringer]

I'm imagining a Capellan vehicle soon to be called the ""Hanse Tank" destroyer" ...

They misspelled it "Regulator II". I'm sure they feel just awful about the error.

[Deadborder]

I'm going to admit that I quite like the Hanse. It's a flawed design, yes, but not as bad as the TRO makes it out to be. Certainly it's got its uses, and as a Tank hunter/ambusher/bum steerer/peon annihilation unit, it has a lot of plusses. The two plamas are potentially devestating to armour or BA, and hitting a 'Mech for +2d6 heat is allways going o be a lot of fun.

It does take some skill to use; move them in pairs or with something protecting the sides has worked well for me so far. I've even used one as a trap with opponents trying to get arounbd it only to stumble into BA.

In the end, it's a "personality" tank, and i'll take "personality" over optimized any day

[Alexander Knight]

the key to the Hanse is to use Good ol' proper Orky Know-wotz.

"WAUGH!!!"

[FedSunsBorn]

At least this thing has a bit of speed to help with the "no turret" flaw. Also, I echo others at weeping at seeing the Hanse name used on such a vehicle. Still, with the right team of units, I could see a use for this design just not a varied one...

Still, I think this design fits the Davion vehicle mindset perfectly. Forget a smaller Tank Destroyer like others are using, lets make it a heavy design. Davion's love their heavy vehicles and since they needed a Tank Destroyer...go big or go home, right?

[gyedid]

You know, that's a good point.  If the MBT was left out would it help deflect some of the criticism?  Hanse Heavy Tank?

Would the Hanse be better described as a tank destroyer, rather than a MBT?

cheers,

Gabe