'Mech of the Week Repost: Pulverizer PUL-2V

[GreekFire]

Originally written and posted by wantec on 11/12/2009

Today's 'Mech of the Week article was requested by DragonKhan55. Reaching back into the past, it is a scary monster in the dreams of many sibko brats. Today's 'Mech of the Week is the Pulverizer.

First appearing in the BattleCorps story Betrayal of Ideal, the Pulverizer was one of the first new BattleMechs developed by the Clans and was developed by Clan Wolverine, the Not-Named Clan. For a while all we had to go on were the description of the stats given in the story, which didn't quite cover everything. We knew it had an improved ERPPC, some LRMs, and a pair of Large Lasers. At first we were told it was a match in tonnage for a Thug which lead folks to believe it was an 80 tonner. Later we learned it out massed a Bombadier by 25 tons, which clearly makes it 90 tons not 80. My best guess is that when the Pulverizer was described as a match in tonnage for the Thug, it was meant as a match in terms of weight-class and not strictly tonnage. We also had the little tid-bit from TechManual that the Pulverizer was the first 'Mech made by Clan Snow Raven, built in 2824 (the MUL says it was first produced in 2823). There was little else to work with until GenCon 2008, when we got Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents containing all the stats, background, and a piciture, and in the GenCon CamoSpecs Diorama there was a Pulverizer mini in Word of Blake Colors.

Since the Pulverizer was designed in the early years of the Clans, it still uses an Inner Sphere tech-base, with its bulkier components and weapons. The shining piece of technology is the Enhanced ER PPC, the mid-point between the Clan-tech and Inner Sphere-tech ER PPCs. It weighs the same and takes up the same amount of crits as an Inner Sphere ER PPC, but it hits almost as hard as a Clan ER PPC, hitting for 12 points of damage. A 360 standard engine is used, even though it eats up 33 tons. Each arm carries a standard Large Laser. An LRM 10 rack with a ton of ammo sits in the left torso, protected by CASE, while the Enhanced ER PPC sits in the right torso. A Guardian ECM Suite is mounted in the center torso to provide some electronic cover.

An Endo Steel Structure, Ferro-Fibrous armor, and double heat sinks are used to save tonnage. A total of 15 double heat sinks mean you can walk and fire all but one Large Laser for +/-0 heat. Leave out the LRMs and you can fire the PPC and Lasers for only a slight overheat. With so many medium to long range weapons, having some options to swap firing patterns or go for a small overheat is a nice benefit. Now when it comes to the armor there's a slight problem, it's 1 point over what it should be. That means 1 point of armor will come off the head, CT, or CT rear, and the CT rear is the only place where it's a good choice to remove that point. As for the smart armor test, it passes almost everywhere with flying colors. The arms and side torso each have 30 points of armor, enough for 3 PPC hits or a pair of Gauss slugs. Each leg carries the max of 38 points. The rear side torsos have 8 points of armor, enough for a Large Laser, and acceptable since it's maxed out. As it stands the head has 9 points the CT has 45 and the rear CT has 12 points. One point has to come from one of those 3 locations, and the rear CT is the best choice.

Overall I think the Pulverizer is a well-designed assault 'Mech. Even if it had been built with an Inner Sphere ER PPC instead of the Enhanced ER PPC, it would still rank highly in my mind. It's obviously designed to fight at a distance and it has enough heat sinks to allow it to put out a good punch at range.

My rating: 9/10, hard to kill, with a long range head-capping ability the Pulverizer is a beast.

How I would improve it:
Really this 'Mech is limited by the tech base, but if I had to make a change, I would remove the LRMs, ammo, and CASE. Then I would us 0.5 tons to max the armor, add a double heat sink, and add a Medium Laser and two Medium Pulse Lasers for close-in damage.

How I would use it:
With the Pulverizer the idea is to stay at medium to long ranges, using your PPC and Large Lasers to open holes, while using the LRMs to try and crit-seek. You have plenty of armor, and with a 4/6 assault 'Mech it's tempting to wade into the middle of things and take on everyone, but sticking back at range, using the thick armor to let you outlast everyone else is the best plan.

Variants
No official variants to speak of, but there is the interesting speculation that the Pulverizer could have been a forerunner to the Kingfisher Omni. Both are 90 tons, moving 4/6, with an Endo Steel Structure, Ferro-Fibrous armor, and they carry almost the exact same armor placement. Most of the original Kingfisher's original variants feature large energy weapons and are designed to fight at medium to long ranges.

The MUL has it right here: http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/2590/pulverizer-pul-2v
CamoSpecs, over here: http://camospecs.com/MiniList.asp?Action=Detail&ID=1626
As a bonus, the 2008 CSO Diorama pictures (including those with the Pulverizer) can be found here: http://camospecs.com/Unit.asp?ID=984

[marauder648]

I'd never heard of this machine until now, its a nice Clan energy boat and evolutionary design and as you say could be a grandfather of the Kingfisher although they took different routes with the Fishy and its mostly ballistic loadouts. 

This is another one of those designs along with a lot of the Golden Century ones that sit there and go "Oh how nice would WE be with modern tech hrrmmmm!?"

[Fragger]

I absolutely love this mech and want to thank the person who designed it.  O0

I just whish there were more areas where I can use this beast.

[Dragon Cat]

I'd never heard of this machine until now, its a nice Clan energy boat and evolutionary design and as you say could be a grandfather of the Kingfisher although they took different routes with the Fishy and its mostly ballistic loadouts. 

This is another one of those designs along with a lot of the Golden Century ones that sit there and go "Oh how nice would WE be with modern tech hrrmmmm!?"

You've missed out

I liked that Mech the minute I got Blake Documents that the Mercury II and Raptor II as source books go that one was sweet for the toys in back and content

First time I used this Mech me and a friend were messing around he'd never seen it before but when I said it was a Wolvie design he wasn't too happy when I added a pair of Wolverines and a Mercury II he was even more annoyed

Tried to pin down the Pulveriser but the armour and speed kept it out of serious danger.  My three lighter designs ran circles around his units flanking causing tons of damage while this beast sniped away happily of added in a bunch of LRMs to cause trouble

At the end I used the speed and lasers to finish off two crippled Mechs it was a good day... For me

[Wrangler]

Such a lovely beast, lost to the sands of time.  The forbidden fruit of the Clans indeed.  Taking down Clan Wolverine's enemies as it's self is taken down in the exchange.   

I still chuckle, having saw my old comment on the original article, where artist who made the featured miniature/prototype for gencon revealed that Cicada was basis of his rendition of this beasty.  No variants? Well, Cicada can look proudly on its long lost child, since its mini was used as basis for it. 

Thanks for resurrecting this article GreekFire and the original review wantec!

[gyedid]

You've missed out

I liked that Mech the minute I got Blake Documents that the Mercury II and Raptor II as source books go that one was sweet for the toys in back and content

Interestingly, the other two Wolverine 'Mechs, the Mercury II and Stag, appear in the random assignment tables for the Rim Federation in the Empires Aflame setting--no other faction has them.  Unfortunately, the Pulverizer isn't in the assault 'Mech column :(  But if you want to play in that setting, I suppose there's nothing stopping you from also asserting that the Pulverizer exists and is also deployed by the RF  :P  ;D (perhaps without the enhanced ER PPC though)

cheers,

Gabe

[Dragon Cat]

Forgot the Stag one Mech I can't remember using

[Wrangler]

Forgot the Stag one Mech I can't remember using

How can you forget the Stag, it won't be party without it. ;)

[Nahuris]

I picked up a Pulverizer, with thoughts of putting in my WOB forces, based on the painted one.......
However, now that I have it, I noticed that if you look straight on at the torso, it looks like the head of the Predator from the movie Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger..........

It would an interesting design for the WOB reborn......I mean RoTS to pull out and field. It would definitely infuriate any Clan warrior that saw one.

Nahuris

[SteelRaven]

Just noticed some of those similarities to the Kingfisher myself, the Pulverizer could very well be the Kingfishers forgotten forefather.

[mrbooth]

Interestingly, the other two Wolverine 'Mechs, the Mercury II and Stag, appear in the random assignment tables for the Rim Federation in the Empires Aflame setting--no other faction has them.  Unfortunately, the Pulverizer isn't in the assault 'Mech column :(  But if you want to play in that setting, I suppose there's nothing stopping you from also asserting that the Pulverizer exists and is also deployed by the RF  :P  ;D (perhaps without the enhanced ER PPC though)

cheers,

Gabe

Just a thought but the Pulverier V 2 is a refit of the orginal model according to the story so it should be possible to create a rim company of the stigma designs. Command lance split between pulverizers and rampages, strikers lance of dragoons and scout lance of mercury II and stags

[Stormlion1]

Don't forget that the Ravens picked up the design after the Wolverines were annihilated, even changing history to say they were the developers. Only the Wolverine II was phased out of the Clans because of its connection to the Not Named. And all they did was give it a redesign and call it a Hellhound after Nicky K died.

[GreekFire]

Don't forget that the Ravens picked up the design after the Wolverines were annihilated, even changing history to say they were the developers.

Now wait, I'm not seeing anything that suggests that. The Tech Manual says its their first 'Mech, but doesn't say that they developed it. Kind of like the Lyran Commonwealth and the Mackie.

[Stormlion1]

Now wait, I'm not seeing anything that suggests that. The Tech Manual says its their first 'Mech, but doesn't say that they developed it. Kind of like the Lyran Commonwealth and the Mackie.

Would you use a mech designed by and used by the Not Named? The Ravens wouldn't but since not many would know of the design or have seen it then it would be easy to lay claim to the factory's and tell your population its your new design. And history was rewritten quite a bit after the Wolverine Annihilation. Snow Raven Khans which died, but didn't. Who nuked who. Who was behind something's and even battles fought and where and how much time had passed. A mechs lineage would be nothing at that point.

[Tyler Jorgensson]

Just because someone developed the tech doesn't mean the new nation can't repurpose/redevelop it and rebrand it as their own. For the time it was quite revolutionary.

[Intermittent_Coherence]

They did split the spoils from the Annihilation among themselves. Ghost Bears got scientists, Falcons got Mercury II's, etc. It's entirely possible that the Snow Ravens were awarded the new mech as compensation for getting nuked.

For all that the Clans love to demonize the Not-Named, they have no qualms taking the same steps that Clan took in its bid to secure its future in the Kerensky Cluster. Modern day Clans always seek to get a leg up over their peers by either innovating new weapons or new mech designs, in addition to trials. In the early days of the Clans it was the Wolverines who were early leaders in the Clan rat race, also using these same steps.

[Stormlion1]

In the early days of the Clans it was the Wolverines who were early leaders in the Clan rat race, also using these same steps.

And it made them targets of most of the rest. Sad isn't it? And the funny part is in the end, Nicky K knew he got used and all he could do was try to make lemonade from bad lemons.
The Pulverizers that did make it into Clan service though probably were used to they were destroyed and not replaced. Most likely only two production runs really, the original Clan Wolverine run and a later Snow Raven run to help rebuild there conventional forces. I do wonder if any of the surviving Pulverizers, now considered second line designs were among the mechs to be traded to the Blood Spirits when they had there mechs for warships deal. And if nothing else there is a single stripped down Pulverizer left as a lonely guardian over a grave on Barbados. 

[WeaponX]

They did split the spoils from the Annihilation among themselves. Ghost Bears got scientists, Falcons got Mercury II's, etc.

Didn't the Coyotes get the Mercury II?  The tech they learned from the Mercury II was a big factor in the development of the Omnimech, in fact I don't think there would have been an Omnimech had the Coyotes not gotten their hands on the Mercury II.

[Intermittent_Coherence]

Didn't the Coyotes get the Mercury II?  The tech they learned from the Mercury II was a big factor in the development of the Omnimech, in fact I don't think there would have been an Omnimech had the Coyotes not gotten their hands on the Mercury II.

They did. Heck, the Coyotl looks like little more than a repainted Mercury II. Well, maybe they updated the components a bit with Clan spec. But the resemblance is uncanny enough to make me think the Mercury II was in fact an omnimech and the 30yr "development time" was mostly trying to duplicate and mass produce the system reliably.

[Stormlion1]

All I know is I just wish there were still Pulverizers that could be fielded. The few times I have used one they have been awesome. Very good for hunting down and killing problem enemy mechs.

[Maingunnery]

All I know is I just wish there were still Pulverizers that could be fielded. The few times I have used one they have been awesome. Very good for hunting down and killing problem enemy mechs.

Well there might still be some Wolverines around....  ;)

[Prince of Darkness]

All I know is I just wish there were still Pulverizers that could be fielded. The few times I have used one they have been awesome. Very good for hunting down and killing problem enemy mechs.

And the Kingfisher isn't? Comon' guys- it's kind of obvious to see some genesis here. Hell, just looking at the Kingfisher it's got the similar squat torso, my-hips-are-next-to-my-shoulders kinda thing going.

[Stormlion1]

Well there might still be some Wolverines around....  ;)

Well yes, there off keeping the horde of Aliens from invading the Inner Sphere! I for one prefer the old FASA era explanation of what happened to them.

[Maingunnery]

Well yes, there off keeping the horde of Aliens from invading the Inner Sphere! I for one prefer the old FASA era explanation of what happened to them.

Why choose? There could be many Wolverine factions.  8)

[Stormlion1]

True, always liked the idea some became the Umayyads, some of the civilian castes and ex-Combine prisoners joined Comstar and later became the founders of the WoB, and the rest eventually made there way all the way around the Inner here and just kept going...and going...and going...and going until they eventually found and fought alien invaders and played no further part in the Battletech story.

[Maingunnery]

True, always liked the idea some became the Umayyads, some of the civilian castes and ex-Combine prisoners joined Comstar and later became the founders of the WoB, and the rest eventually made there way all the way around the Inner here and just kept going...and going...and going...and going until they eventually found and fought alien invaders and played no further part in the Battletech story.

I am also going with that, as it is a good scenario to explain why WOB never had wolverine tech.

[Intermittent_Coherence]

Well yes, there off keeping the horde of Aliens from invading the Inner Sphere! I for one prefer the old FASA era explanation of what happened to them.

Ehh? What is the old FASA explanation?

I am also going with that, as it is a good scenario to explain why WOB never had wolverine tech.

They didn't? I thought they had the mechs. Aside from those, the only other unique piece of Wolverine tech is the gutbuster.

[Maelwys]

The Pulverizer only showed up in in a Diorama, which isn't canon canon, and the designs only showed up in Jihad Secrets, and the writeup says that the 3 Wolverine `Mechs haven't been seen in the WoB's hands.

The WoB/Wolverine connection is still sort of a nebulous "Not confirmed/not true/who knows"

[Intermittent_Coherence]

Ok.

[Trace Coburn]

Ehh? What is the old FASA explanation?

  As Stormlion1 mentioned, as soon as people made connections between the Minnesota Tribe and the fate of the Wolverines, they started wondering why no-one had heard anything from them ever again — especially in light of the Clan Invasion and the grudge the Tribe/Wolverines presumably harboured against Kerensky’s Tank-born.  One of the FASA developers (I’ve never nailed down exactly who said it when or where) joked that the Wolverines never (again) became a factor in the Inner Sphere’s affairs because they were too busy defending the Inner Sphere from an Invading Alien Horde.  (The corollary being that one reason sapient aliens never appeared in BattleTech was because the Wolverines were giving them all the fight they could handle.)

[Stormlion1]

  As Stormlion1 mentioned, as soon as people made connections between the Minnesota Tribe and the fate of the Wolverines, they started wondering why no-one had heard anything from them ever again — especially in light of the Clan Invasion and the grudge the Tribe/Wolverines presumably harboured against Kerensky’s Tank-born.  One of the FASA developers (I’ve never nailed down exactly who said it when or where) joked that the Wolverines never (again) became a factor in the Inner Sphere’s affairs because they were too busy defending the Inner Sphere from an Invading Alien Horde.  (The corollary being that one reason sapient aliens never appeared in BattleTech was because the Wolverines were giving them all the fight they could handle.)

Better explanation than they joined the WoB in my opinion.  ;)

[Nahuris]

If they HAD joined the WOB, it would beg the question of why doesn't the WOB have Enhanced ERPPC's?

Although I do wish some IS faction would have gone that path...... I have a Pulverizer, and I would absolutely love to field it on a battlefield, and not be totally limited to one specific faction or time era.

Nahuris

[Caedis Animus]

EDIT: Deleted for inaccuracy.

Now, the reason why the Wobbies don't use the Enhanced ER PPC can be linked to many things. For one, I doubt it was as easy to mass-produce. For another, maybe there was no connection between the Not-Named and the Wobbies; It keeps things dubious.

[glitterboy2098]

it is also possible that the people who knew the trick to making the iPPC didn't make it out of the homeworlds or died enroute to the IS. i don't think the Wolverines had many of their new designs when they fled.. the Minnesota tribe is described as using SLDF gear (or something very similar to it), and IIRC the trial of annihilation kicked off over a bran cache of SLDF gear.

and even if some did make it to the IS, odds are that in the years between then and the comguard being unveiled, the tech may have been filed away and forgotten.. remember the public comguard didn't even really get allowed access to much of star league level tech until the clans hit.. and by then i suspect that it was too late to dig out iPPC plans and redevelop them.

[Maingunnery]

meh.... I am sticking to my split theory.  ;)

[gyedid]

If they HAD joined the WOB, it would beg the question of why doesn't the WOB have Enhanced ERPPC's?

Although I do wish some IS faction would have gone that path...... I have a Pulverizer, and I would absolutely love to field it on a battlefield, and not be totally limited to one specific faction or time era.

Nahuris

The Empires Aflame setting gives you that possibility  ;)  Make it so that Rim Federation scientists have managed to come up with the eERPPC, and suddenly the Terran Supremacy (and the Lyrans) will be VERY interested in acquiring a sample for themselves...

cheers,

Gabe

[Maelwys]

Of course, the WoB might have decided to attempt to go right past the enhanced ERPPC and straight to trying to produce the Clan ERPPC, since we know they were working on producing other Clantech.

This is of course assuming that there's an actual WoB/Wolverine connection that allowed them to know about the Enhanced ERPPC.

[Wrangler]

I guess We'll never know.  Unless future product put glimmer of light on the subject with signs of a Pulverizer liggering around.
Interstellar Expedition book (ISP3) had short story of ill-fated expedition discovering what they suspected be remains of the "Minnesota Tribe" with Clan Wolverine symbols on it.  A picture from the book shows a Pulverizer.

Unfortunately its fuzzy if the story is canon (not vague or not) rumor that no one found out about or just optional adventure of WoB exterminating IE group by WoB hold outs with their lovely Thera Class WarShip.

[mrbooth]

Quick look at the RAT in otp widowmaker Pulverizer is listed  in the other clans table as matter of fact all three Wolverine mechs so more options to play if  you  do early clan battles.

[Maingunnery]

Quick look at the RAT in otp widoemaker Pulverizer  listed  in the other clans table as matter of fact all three Wolverine mechs so more options to pllay if  you  do early clan battles.

Would that means that the Clans managed to capture the manufacturing equipment for those Mechs? Or would have been possible for the Clans to reverse engineer the designs from salvage? Or are all those Mechs on the table just salvage from the annihilation?

[Col.Hengist]

If they HAD joined the WOB, it would beg the question of why doesn't the WOB have Enhanced ERPPC's?

Although I do wish some IS faction would have gone that path...... I have a Pulverizer, and I would absolutely love to field it on a battlefield, and not be totally limited to one specific faction or time era.

Nahuris

Jeremy and heath are moving back in the summer. They challenged me to a 10K bv 2 game. Is tech only... I haven't told them yet but I'm using a wolverine force of 1 pulverizer, 2 stags and 2 mercury II's. Want in?

[mrbooth]

Would that means that the Clans managed to capture the manufacturing equipment for those Mechs? Or would have been possible for the Clans to reverse engineer the designs from salvage? Or are all those Mechs on the table just salvage from the annihilation?

I would say they have to be building them. It has been a while since I read the stories but my impression is that they where still rare in the Wolverine ranks at the time of the annihilation. So either capture the production lines or reversed engineered them. 

[Nahuris]

Jeremy and heath are moving back in the summer. They challenged me to a 10K bv 2 game. Is tech only... I haven't told them yet but I'm using a wolverine force of 1 pulverizer, 2 stags and 2 mercury II's. Want in?

I own a Pulverizer and a Mercury II --- sure

Nahuris

[Col.Hengist]

Cool. Gotta pick up some stags

[Stormlion1]

I would say they have to be building them. It has been a while since I read the stories but my impression is that they where still rare in the Wolverine ranks at the time of the annihilation. So either capture the production lines or reversed engineered them. 

Its noted as the Snow Ravens were producing them after the Annihilation. I honestly bet they were used in second line formations for the longest time and were either traded away to other Clans or scrapped by the Clan Invasion era though. Bet the production line was switched over soon as the Omnimech became the design of choice as well.

[Maingunnery]

Its noted as the Snow Ravens were producing them after the Annihilation. I honestly bet they were used in second line formations for the longest time and were either traded away to other Clans or scrapped by the Clan Invasion era though. Bet the production line was switched over soon as the Omnimech became the design of choice as well.

I have been rereading Betrayal of Ideals and I am getting the sense that the Clans have rapidly reverse engineered them:
- The factory equipment was placed on one of the Warships.
- The Wolverines Warships fought to the death or seemed to escape. Any wrecks weren't carefully inspected or seem to have been quickly send down the gravity well.
- The Clans made a really big deal of salvaging the BattleMechs on Barbados.

[Intermittent_Coherence]

- The factory equipment was placed on one of the Warships.

Not only that, but I got the sense they made sure to make several backups of the technical specifications.

I honestly bet they were used in second line formations for the longest time and were either traded away to other Clans or scrapped by the Clan Invasion era though. Bet the production line was switched over soon as the Omnimech became the design of choice as well.

That would depend on how soon they were able to get an alternative design they could use. The Snow Ravens weren't exactly military powerhouses outside of their extensive aerospace assets. The Clans of the time were a bit more pragmatic. A bit short on originality as well, but I digress.
The Ravens were likely awarded the salvage as consolation for accidentally nuking their own city. And as far as how they used them, I doubt the Ravens would let such a solid design languish in second line roles when it had proven itself repeatedly in the runup to the Annihilation.

[Stormlion1]

I have been rereading Betrayal of Ideals and I am getting the sense that the Clans have rapidly reverse engineered them:
- The factory equipment was placed on one of the Warships.
- The Wolverines Warships fought to the death or seemed to escape. Any wrecks weren't carefully inspected or seem to have been quickly send down the gravity well.
- The Clans made a really big deal of salvaging the BattleMechs on Barbados.

Well the salvage was important for multiple reasons. The entire blow up with the Wolverines started because of the uncovering of a Brian Cache of Mechs (which honestly everyone needed to build up there forces) and equipment and no Clan had even started building new designs or even mechs except the Wolverines. They were all still using old SLDF gear up until that point. The other clans needed the Wolverine mechs and equipment to rebuild and to get a leg up on new development they had all started recently but were behind on. The Wolverines were pushing ahead in many fields and the rest stayed stagnant. So the Wolverines started the arms race, and were the first to fall in the Arms Race.

I have two Pulverizers in my collection, one in a Tan/Black scheme I use for my Wolverine Star and one painted up in SLDF Colors. I plan to strip the OD Green one when I someone comes out with a Rim Federation paint scheme. I kind of doubt they continued to use Amaris colors myself.

[Sjhernan3060]

Didn't the Coyotes get the Mercury II?  The tech they learned from the Mercury II was a big factor in the development of the Omnimech, in fact I don't think there would have been an Omnimech had the Coyotes not gotten their hands on the Mercury II.

So many story line angles to go with this! I will be placing a pulverizer in my spirit blood guard keshik. Acquired in just that fashion.

I would like to see a spirit version of this but not sure what the sprits would do to upgrade the design...

[Tyler Jorgensson]

Eventually update the Gtbuster to an ER PPC and the rest of the tech to Clan. Blood Spirits though might just slap a couple more ER Large Lasers and LRM's on it

[Sjhernan3060]

I am hoping that more variants of this cool design will make it into the golden century TRO

[Tyler Jorgensson]

The problem being it is a Wolverine design: I highly doubt the other Clans would use a lot of them, and even those that do use them would quickly try and phase them out. I doubt they would put any effort into designing variants. IMO they would try and make a IC version ASAP...

But I hope I'm wrong cause I love the damn thing: bought a model and everything

[Sjhernan3060]

Considering that the wolverine mech was rebranded I hope that would be the case for the pulverizer.

Per sarna: ECM fell out favor in the culture of dueling that arose with the clans so what would be a good swap? MASC or more heat sinks? Bump up the size of the missle rack?

[The_Livewire]

Considering that the wolverine mech was rebranded I hope that would be the case for the pulverizer.

Per sarna: ECM fell out favor in the culture of dueling that arose with the clans so what would be a good swap? MASC or more heat sinks? Bump up the size of the missle rack?

I'd say MASC and bump up the rack, if possible.  If  Golden Century designs use clan tech, then heat sinks, lots of heat sinks.

[glitterboy2098]

easiest swap would be to pull the ECM for an active probe.

[cawest]

would like to see the 100 ton Pulverizer II in fan fic.... I like the idea of them fighting cylons.   ;)

[Sjhernan3060]

If the weapons were all upgraded to invasion era tech would more heat sinks be needed?

[gyedid]

If the weapons were all upgraded to invasion era tech would more heat sinks be needed?

Yes, the large lasers would become ER larges, with a gain of 8 heat.  There also would be the temptation to double the size of the LRM rack.  You only get 3 tons back from the weight reduction of the lasers and the ER PPC.

cheers,

Gabe

[glitterboy2098]

so don't double the LRm's, and sink that extra mass into a few additional DHS.

[Sjhernan3060]

I dig it. Getting crazier now for the spirits what about a targeting computer?

[Kit deSummersville]

Targeting Computers were more a Goliath Scorpion and Coyote thing. The Spirits weren't known for them, especially with their level of pilots.

[gyedid]

That, and they considered tarcomps too expensive with the perennially limited resources they had.

Cheers, Gabe

[mrbooth]

Thread necro but new variants to talk about.

The full clan tech rebuild is very nice 2LPL and a ER PPC with enough heat sinks to use every turn yes please with max armor and SFE its a bit of a zombie mech.

[Empyrus]

Isn't there a moratorium on Golden Century material that hasn't been published before?

[Stormlion1]

Thread necro but new variants to talk about.

The full clan tech rebuild is very nice 2LPL and a ER PPC with enough heat sinks to use every turn yes please with max armor and SFE its a bit of a zombie mech.

Its suprising that it continued in service all the way to the Dark Age. Originally its was a short lived Wolverine/Snow Raven design that quickly disappeared. Now we are finding it soldiered on.

[Luciora]

Sarna does.

Isn't there a moratorium on Golden Century material that hasn't been published before?

[DarkISI]

Isn't there a moratorium on Golden Century material that hasn't been published before?

For Sarna or a Mech of the Week article. Not for discussing a variant.

[Empyrus]

Ah, well then.

[Maingunnery]

Its suprising that it continued in service all the way to the Dark Age. Originally its was a short lived Wolverine/Snow Raven design that quickly disappeared. Now we are finding it soldiered on.

It seems to be more of a case of it being back in production.

[Wrangler]

The Mech pretty solid machine and its theRavens first built mech. 

[Decoy]

I just want to say how ashamed I am that it took me this long to realize that the Pulverizer is the biggest Wolverine. The resemblance is great in the positioning of the weapons and general looks over all.

[Sharpnel]

The Mech pretty solid machine and its theRavens Wolverines first built mech.

FTFY

[gyedid]

What are these "improved" 4-ton large lasers?

cheers,

Gabe

[Ruger]

What are these "improved" 4-ton large lasers?

cheers,

Gabe

Old Clan tech.

Ruger

[LightGuard]

What are these "improved" 4-ton large lasers?

cheers,

Gabe

Funnily enough, they are described in the 1st Edition Technical Readout 3050. It was really kinda neat to see them brought forward, and then used in the new TRO Golden Century.

[Hellraiser]

What are these "improved" 4-ton large lasers?

cheers,

Gabe

As LG mentioned, they come from TRO3050.

I don't have my copy in front of me but IIRC they are mentioned in the same area that tells us that Missile Launchers, MG's, & Flamers  weigh half as much & take up 1 less crit.

The difference is you never see the "Lighter" lasers used because the Small/Medium don't actually loose weight & why use the i-LL when you have the ERLL for same weight & crits.

I think the one unit they might be used on is Dropships from TRO2750, Titan & Confederate.
IIRC they get some extra cargo space since all the LL's are converted to the i-LL standard.
But I'm not even 100% sure of that & would have to double check the math.

[Luciora]

The proto-clan gear rarely gets mentioned also because we never saw a formal listing of stats, not to mention just up until recently, mechs using them.

I'm sure there are players that would have been rather fussy seeing a custom design with the proto tech, asking to see the rules about it and then only given the line about 1 space smaller and 1 ton less, or half.

People need a full rundown to accept them. 

[Hellraiser]

Funny thing is, that line is what lead to us seeing the other tech, LRM, SRM, MG, Flamer.

The only thing we didn't see was the i-LL.

Probably because it eventually lead to the ERLL-c while the other weapons never went anywhere further except maybe seeing Streak's get reduced to the same tonnage as IS-SRMs.

[VhenRa]

I believe it also had listings of clan standard autocannons.

[UnLimiTeD]

Well, who could have predicted those would one day be useful again.  ;)

[Hellraiser]

You know, it occurs to me, if they had just said all "3025 IS Tech" items were available to the clans at the same ratio as the SRM/MG/Flamer,  IE,  1/2 weight & 1 crit less.......  We might have actually seen a lot of the basic weapons.

When your IS-ML is now 1/2 ton, it starts to be competitive again v/s normal clan tech MPL/ERML.

It also would have given them something to base the Heavy Lasers on since its double damage.

[Crimson Dawn]

Well a clan ER small is almost there it is a half ton 5 point damage weapon though it does have IS medium pulse laser range.  Give a mech some long range weapons to compensate and those small can be fairly nasty.

[Intermittent_Coherence]

Looks like the all Clan tech version spent has an extra 1/2 ton armor just for 1 armor point.

Seems a waste IMHO.

[Sjhernan3060]

While I love everything about this Mech I am not a big fan of the current sculpt however the new Amarok model looks like it could be cannibalised for better legs etc. does any one have any side by side comparison picts of the amarok next to other assaults?