MOTW: INF-NO Inferno Omnimech

[JadeHellbringer]

"Three shall be the number thou shalt count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out."

"Coming soon from Achernar, the Argus-V! Don't think about it too hard, just BUY!"

[Hazard Pay]

The Suns are like Nega-Valve, they can’t count to two and skip to three.

[JadeHellbringer]

So I was thinking about this a while ago- and looking forward to a miniature of it- and realized that there's, to the best of my brief research, not a version with a retractable blade, and that feels like a missed opportunity to stay close to its visual forefather from a mysterious other-universe.

Then again, slow machines with melee weapons tend to not get a chance to do much more than wave their weapons menacingly as faster units zip away from them, so maybe that's just as well. (I've always found a 4/6 melee fighter like the Hatchetman to be a waste of time)

[Weirdo]

That's just an opportunity to surprise your enemies because it also has a Supercharger, akin to that one Doloire config.

Given how rarely folks tend to actually ask to see other players' sheets, it's a great way to stick to 4/6 speed for a while and then surprise them with an 8-hex charge into kidney-shanking range.

[Colt Ward]

JHB, take a look down in the customs for a brawler I put up- and like Weirdo says it has some surprise mobility.  Seems a waste not to use those fists if you can get in range- also why I asked about AES w/o stuff in front.

[Natasha Kerensky]

Purely aesthetic comment... the Inferno has always looked and felt like a quirky Periphery design limited in tech and built for survivability and long-life, rather than a FedRat or other Spheroid design.  I wish it was a Taurian omni or something.  Doesn’t fit the FedRat cavalry or increasingly high-tech (R config aside) Spheroid vibes for me.

More importantly, as an omni, the Inferno needs more specialist and varied configs.  The canon configs are all generalists with one or two long-range hole-punchers supplemented by missiles or lasers.  Needs an LRM boat for fire support, a supercharged shock trooper/breacher with an AC/20 and massed medium lasers/SRMs, a jumpy close terrain knife-fighter with pulses, a command unit with C3, etc.  Some of the utility and extra cost of omnis gets wasted when their configs are variations on a theme instead of being truly different in role and function.  In a campaign, I want my omnis to open-field skirmish on Monday, besiege a city on Tuesday, breach the city’s walls on Wednesday, and hunt down surviving enemy units in the urban core on Thursday.  Those roles are best fulfilled by truly different omni configs, but the Inferno arguably only has configs for the first one.

That said, TRO/RS variety would benefit from more omnis built around survivability as their top priority like the Inferno.  Compact engines, reinforced structure, armors like ballistic-reinforced, etc. are underutilized, especially in omnis.  An Inferno-like quad with compact components in the center torso seems especially synergistic but underexplored in the canon.

FWIW...

[Colt Ward]

The old FS Centurion already established this design philosophy with 4 open crits in the CT and average speed for its size in the era.

4/6 IMO is not going to see it carrying a AC/20 in this era either.  I do agree it needs some muggers- heck, where da dakka?- but we should get lots of configs.  Unfortunately we just do not, FINALLY the original Clan Omnis are getting more variants that are not restricted by advancing equipment (Hellbeinger was for longest time only LB-20X heavier Omni) where basic choices are missing.
Like the Gargoyle not having a LB-20 substitution for the UAC w/o APGRs.

[BrianDavion]

Purely aesthetic comment... the Inferno has always looked and felt like a quirky Periphery design limited in tech and built for survivability and long-life, rather than a FedRat or other Spheroid design.  I wish it was a Taurian omni or something.  Doesn’t fit the FedRat cavalry or increasingly high-tech (R config aside) Spheroid vibes for me.

More importantly, as an omni, the Inferno needs more specialist and varied configs.  The canon configs are all generalists with one or two long-range hole-punchers supplemented by missiles or lasers.  Needs an LRM boat for fire support, a supercharged shock trooper/breacher with an AC/20 and massed medium lasers/SRMs, a jumpy close terrain knife-fighter with pulses, a command unit with C3, etc.  Some of the utility and extra cost of omnis gets wasted when their configs are variations on a theme instead of being truly different in role and function.  In a campaign, I want my omnis to open-field skirmish on Monday, besiege a city on Tuesday, breach the city’s walls on Wednesday, and hunt down surviving enemy units in the urban core on Thursday.  Those roles are best fulfilled by truly different omni configs, but the Inferno arguably only has configs for the first one.

That said, TRO/RS variety would benefit from more omnis built around survivability as their top priority like the Inferno.  Compact engines, reinforced structure, armors like ballistic-reinforced, etc. are underutilized, especially in omnis.  An Inferno-like quad with compact components in the center torso seems especially synergistic but underexplored in the canon.

FWIW...

Sounds like we're mostly in agreement. the lack of varity was definatly felt while I was writing this. it does feel a little low tech but given the thematic state the AFFS is in in 3146 that makes some sense. Though I could definatly see the design being lisenced to a manufacturer in Flivelt.

I can think of a few varients that would keep with the theme. A D varient with paired SNPPCs in the chest, and twin MVSPLs and jump jets in the side torso. And maybe a varient that pairs a LB20X with a ER LL. The chassis has a LOOT of room for varity and hopefully the design isn't forgotten about and we GET these varients in future products

[Wrangler]

With the Dark Age/IlClan era being as combined-arms friendly as it has been, this seems like the kind of machine that could use a Hanse or two backing it up. Try to flank Mongo here, get a face full of Hanse. Flank a Hanse (doable), get the other one and the Inferno staring you down. A spare Zibler wouldn't hurt either.

No that's something I don't think has ever been covered before. How formation should be in the combined arms side of Dark Age that would feature a Mech such as this. It certainly not the typical 4 mechs and lance of whatever attached lance is needed.  DA Novels as only pre-Blackout  and hearly 3130s guide.  Worst formations ive aee was sinhle BattleMech,  could industrialmech mods pair main battle Tanks and couple squads Battle Armor riding shock gun.

[Colt Ward]

. . . couple squads Battle Armor riding shock gun.

I thought Mech Tasers on BA had gone out of style with Blakism?

[JadeHellbringer]

I thought Mech Tasers on BA had gone out of style with Blakism?

The Gyrfalcon-3 would like a word.

And that word is 'BZZZZZZZZT'.

[NUT-BUSTING TORQUE]

Purely aesthetic comment... the Inferno has always looked and felt like a quirky Periphery design limited in tech and built for survivability and long-life, rather than a FedRat or other Spheroid design.  I wish it was a Taurian omni or something.  Doesn’t fit the FedRat cavalry or increasingly high-tech (R config aside) Spheroid vibes for me.

More importantly, as an omni, the Inferno needs more specialist and varied configs.  The canon configs are all generalists with one or two long-range hole-punchers supplemented by missiles or lasers.  Needs an LRM boat for fire support, a supercharged shock trooper/breacher with an AC/20 and massed medium lasers/SRMs, a jumpy close terrain knife-fighter with pulses, a command unit with C3, etc.  Some of the utility and extra cost of omnis gets wasted when their configs are variations on a theme instead of being truly different in role and function.  In a campaign, I want my omnis to open-field skirmish on Monday, besiege a city on Tuesday, breach the city’s walls on Wednesday, and hunt down surviving enemy units in the urban core on Thursday.  Those roles are best fulfilled by truly different omni configs, but the Inferno arguably only has configs for the first one.

Yeah, and that would also give a clue to the tactics and overall mindset that a particular house would have for a unit- the FedSuns are going hypertech on their standard 'mechs with most now being mixed tech (because space knights), so I could see where they conversely made their omnis mechanically way more basic and simple for home guard units that actually need one thing to do a lot of roles. It also makes "in universe" sense because a lot of the clantech they made is not in omnipod form, so these home guard units are basically using the same pod guns as the first generation in 3058. The Lyrans are the complete opposite- its a display of wealth and status on some subconscious level with the Regent, and the RotS is similar with the Dolorie. Capellans, I think the Vandal shows a mindset where the omnis are meant as singular hunter-killer units working in concert- making me wish they were using something like C3i. I think the DCMS is the only remaining "house" that sprinkles omnis throughout their forces on some even level.

That said, TRO/RS variety would benefit from more omnis built around survivability as their top priority like the Inferno.  Compact engines, reinforced structure, armors like ballistic-reinforced, etc. are underutilized, especially in omnis.  An Inferno-like quad with compact components in the center torso seems especially synergistic but underexplored in the canon.

Basically my thoughts on the Lyran Götterdämmerung.

[Colt Ward]

It also makes "in universe" sense because a lot of the clantech they made is not in omnipod form, so these home guard units are basically using the same pod guns as the first generation in 3058.

Pod mounting a weapon, or "un-podding" a weapon is not complicated or really expensive.  Forces with lots of Omnis would do well to carry extra empty pods to mount weapons in to use salvage.

Further, most Houses produce plenty of Omnis, bother generic (3058) and faction specific.  They are also buying Clan Omnis like Ice Ferrets, Sojourner, Coyotl, and Woodsman.

[Wrangler]

I think it's okay, I've not developed strong option on on it since I've not gotten play it.

I do find it strange that mech named Inferno isn't packing flamers or dare i say infernos to live up to it's name.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

The MMLs can use infernos.

Something my gaming group is keenly aware of...

[Wrangler]

Funny thing is I get  a "Wolverine" vibe from the design.  Just heavier and a OmniMech.