Weapon Review: Focus Jet By Joshua Bourne ID #702128

"Tight tolerances during manufacture ensure a focused high power jet of fire."

Once more, the Craftsmen have given us another limited time weapon, this time in the form of the "Focus Jet". Let's take a look at it and see if it's worth the investment...

It's stats are as follows:

Damage Type: Fire
Damage: 140
Speed: 104
Burn: 35%
Splash 20%

This is a very high powered Fire weapon that will toast nigh on any mecha that it crosses paths with, only the fire cautious won't need to worry about this all too much. To pick up one (or multiple) of these weapons, they cost the following:

Ferrite: 1937

Bioptics: 1300

Niodes: 59

Or a bulk buy..

Niodes: 236

Now it's important to note that this weapon is limited to pilots level 102 and higher, meaning you have to be highly qualified to even get a chance to buy it, never mind purchase it to use it on your mecha. Also you are limited to how many you can purchase, currently set at 25.

Do I think this weapon is worth the investment? Well the Burn and Splash stats are fantastic, giving it plenty of long lasting damage along with multiple targets being caught in the spray of heat, but I can't help but feel it's outclassed by the Prometheus that's purchasable 8 levels later. It has a touch less damage, but it's faster, has more burn percentage and has innate double damage, making it hit well above it's weight.

All in all, I'd give this weapon a 7/10. It's a great piece of kit, but for the price, and the competition it's got in the Fire category, it's a bit too difficult to say it's better than the existing weapons.

Shrapnel Blaster - By Joshua Bourne #702128

"Repurposes salvaged metals into projectiles."

Hot off the presses, we've received a new weapon from our Factories called the "Shrapnel Blaster". 

However this is a limited item, so get it while it's still here.

The Shrapnel Blaster is a Niode weapon with the following stats and costing:

Damage: 121
Speed: 105
3X Damage 12%
Trample 12%
Min Level: 71
Ferrite: 2001
Bioptics: 1200
Niodes: 60

Or buy in bulk for:

Niodes: 240

This new weapon is a devastating gun for any Projectile wielding mecha, giving it serious punching power with absolute ease.

The speed of the weapon is very good, allowing it to loose off its salvo before a lot of other high powered weapons in the Galaxy. And when you combine it's damage and speed, along with a 12% innate triple damage AND trample damage, it's going to devastate multiple mechas at once.

All in all, I think this weapon's a must have for those that can afford it. But don't miss out! They are in limited supply!

Nebula Drive - By Joshua Bourne #702128

"Fueled by a micro-nebula"

Not too long ago, we were introduced to the new 105 Ton behemoths that are the Guardian mechas, and their intense weight and gear requirements meant that the Gear suppliers had to work tirelessly to provide Pilots that own these mechas the required gear to equip them with.

This is one of the new pieces..

The Nebula Drive is a Niode Engine piece that's available to 100-105T mechas with the following stats:

Speed + 4
Fire Damage + 5%
Proj. Vulnerable 5%
2X Damage 4%

This item first made a lot of pilots happy to see, that they'd be able to purchase items to slot onto their new mecha and take out into the field effectively, but it soon sunk in that the gear was not too good against the competition 5 tonnage lower. Of course, these are the "test models" for future Equipment types, but for now we're stuck with relatively "weak" items. However I digress...

It has an okay speed buff to it of 4, which when stacked will provide the joints with enough speed to get out of a pinch, and get those devastating salvos of shots off in quick succession.

If you're partial to using Fire type weapons, this Engine'll be for you, as you get a decent 5% increase to their effectiveness, but watch out for it's innate 5% Projectile vulnerability as a result of using one (or more) of these items.

Finally, this gear also grants the mecha with an increased chance of scoring double it's intended damage, making it a very deadly weapon indeed.

My overall outcome of this gear: Mediocre. I'd wait till they get the kinks and work out the issues of the gear before beginning to purchase the Niode variants, but that's just me

History Equipment Review – By John Ringo #899287

David McCallum burst through John Ringo’s office door and started walking in circles while waving his arms around like a flightless bird who truly believes in his heart he can fly if he only flaps fast and hard enough. He stopped in front of the bookcase and starts frantically pulling books off shelves and looking inside them for the ones that have hollow insides where you can stash a bottle of booze. As the pile of empty books started to grow into a small mountain he started to mumble a few words over and over again. “It is history…. It is history…. It is history!!!!!! Why is the Rum gone…. Why is the Rum always gone?!!!” With that he collapsed on the floor into a sitting position and hugging his knees to his chest started rocking slightly back and forth in a soothing motion.

John having been in this business long enough now to recognize the sure signs of writers block from working too hard opened his lower desk drawer and removed a bottle of “Medicine”. This 108 Proof bottle of Rum should put him back to rights. John walked over to David and forced his hands open and thrust the bottle into them. With a cry of joy David took to the bottle like a baby to his mothers breast for the milk of life its self. After 1/3 of the bottle was gone the sounds he was making started to sound more like words. When ½ of the bottle was empty his eyes found John’s and he spoke. “Thanks Mate. After being away so long I should have paced myself better and not rushed the work as fast as I have been. I had just sat down to write up a review on the 105T Chassis equipment called “History” and I just snapped. Next thing I know here we are. Well I think I need to take a break for a while.” David passes out on the floor with a smile on his face.

John walked back to his desk and hits the button to start recording:

Well it looks like my guest writer David McCallum needs to take a break so I will pick up where he left off and talk to you today about one of the Chassis options for your new Guardian that was named “History”.

The store listed this as costing 2200 Ferrite, 1000 Crystal and 50 Niodes. What the hell? Crystal and Niodes for the same piece of gear??

So here are the good points. You get a 10% boost to your Fork chance. You get 5% to your 2X and 10% to your 3X damage chances…. I personally love Fork on my mechs and I will never turn down a boost to my damage multipliers but as good as this piece starts we get to the bad points…

This equipment has a -2 speed vulnerability…. Like your BFM Guardian needs to be any slower. Even worse than just slowing your mech down this equipment is missing something even more important… there is nothing that boosts your Dodge chances.

Let’s hope that as your faster foe closes in on you on the battlefield your Vorpal Sword comes up quickly in your gun rotation so you can 100% crit him before he pounds your slow not dodging butt into the ground.

Well that is all I have for you today. Be sure to tune in next time when David has another snappy review for your consideration. *Grin*

Intelligence Unit Equipment Review - By David McCallum #701548

I'm absolutely flabbergasted.

Never in all my life, and I can say this without a word of doubt, has my flabber been so gasted.

I'm scanning through the offerings in 105 ton range equipment, and I can't believe the absolute dross that the manufacturers are trying to palm us off with.

I've seen better stuff encrusted under John Ringo's desk (that chap has some unsavory habits, but that's just between the two of us, alright?)

Look at this... I mean seriously...

The Intelligence Unit.

This is a shear exercise in reverse psychology if ever I have seen it, and I've seen some things let me tell you. Including the underside of John's desk, and neither of these things are pretty.

It's like people who get toothache, then have to use their tongue to probe said tooth just to double check...

Or drinking a can of Irn Bru... it's just so vile, that you can't believe it possibly could have been that bad, so around a year later, you have to buy another can just to double check how awful it was the first time.

And you keeping doing that every year!!!

Like the aforementioned people, this unit is not intelligent!

Lest see what they are flogging it for (and I use the term because it's interchangeable with the suffix 'a dead horse'!)

85 Crystal, 2263 Ferrite and 1876 Bioptics; admittedly at this kind of level it is small change. But when you look at what you are getting, they may as well charge you a good hundy for a glass of water; a thou just to use the public restroom.

So, what do you get?

A Slow effect of 5, 4% rolling fire (or trample as you plebeians call it) cutting into the opposition second rank, a whopping 2% (yes, I have my facetious voice on..) chance of a double overcharge shot, and of course a 2% vulnerability to solid shot.

A VULNERABILITY!!!

How many times have we pilots said to suppliers not to give us kit that gives us a bigger chance of getting shot!?!?

Oh, here you are Mr Pilot, this is the best thing since sliced bread, it will let you win every fight, but, erm, just so you know, there's a teeny possibility it could get you killed. One in Fifty-ish. A statistical improbability. Don't let it worry you.

I would sigh heavily, but it doesn't come across very well in print. OK, just imagine that I did a really big sigh. See, your imagination shows you have more intelligence than this module.

I can only spell this out once more before I feel the need to nail my forehead to the desk.

Listen closely all ye manufacturers of low grade and useless equipment.

We Pilot Big Mechs.

We Want To Shoot Things.

Cockpit Equipment supposed to help us Shoot Things.

When I can borrow the wife's lipstick and draw a big cross on my windscreen with it and get more precise shots with that than your equipment, then You Are Doing It Wrong!!!!

Oh lord I need a drink now.

Patrick must have left a stash somewhere around here that hasn't been raided yet...

ODM Module Equipment Review - By David McCallum #701548

Maybe it's my age and the old eyesight is going.

Or maybe I just have a healthy imagination (or an unhealthy predilection with some decidedly dodgy practices as the wife would put it...)

I'm flicking though the trade catalogues, trying to catch up with the latest offerings on the market when my eyes are drawn to the Dom Module...

Sorry, what was that?!?!

I mean, I know the Bunnies brought us some decent engines in the Orcus Wheel and the Anzu Run... heck, that one can even scale up to the new 105 tonners, but a module that relies on whips, chains and a 'safe word' to slow down???

Thankfully I was mistaken (or at least my eyes were) and I had misread the name of the ODM Module. And no, it isn't a Bunny invention.

So, let’s see what this thing can do.

According to the spec sheet, for 2001 Ferrite, 1821 Bioptics and 55 Crystal you get an engine module fit for 100 and 105 ton mechs that has a Speed rating of 3, a 2% chance of double damage shot and a vulnerability to projectile shots of 2%.

Gah, when will the manufacturers learn not to release kit that has a built-in vulnerability?

I certainly won't be fitting any on my 100 ton mechs at any stage. The double damage shot isn't worth it, and both Kinetic Converters and Power Nodes have no down side to them. Plus, they have better torque of the starting blocks!

I seriously get the feeling that simply because they can fit into a 105 Guardian chassis, somebody is trying to make a quick buck before the more discerning manufacturers catch on and start producing a decent engine block.

Because if you are looking for an engine for your ill-gotten gains, you can either use the aforementioned Bunny made Anzu Run and have it blow up in your face, or you can shell out some serious Niodage for a Nebula Drive and still put up with rubbish speed and an even bigger vulnerability to hard shot.

Seriously.

I think I've been gone too long and you folk have been putting up with some serious substandard offerings that other publications have failed to review in a proper manner...

Fear not, your mouthpiece is back and we shall crusade for decent gear once more!

Zeta Grade Shield Review - By David McCallum #701548

Ok, I'll count down for you, you know the way this goes... altogether now...

Five

Four

Three

Two

One...

LOVE A SHIELD!!!

And even better, even without these newfangled 105 tn mechs, I can use them!

Let’s dive straight in and look at the book value (hah, as if I'm going to buy straight off the shelf.... I know, I'll stop chortling shortly...).

950 Ferrite, 780 Bioiptis and 55 Niodes gets you a flat shield strength of 46 on both types available, a 21% Laser and 9% Fire mitigation on the Lumen with corresponding numbers for Fire and Missile on the Flamma, while the Lumen gets a 7% Missile Vulnerability and the Flamma gets similar against Projectile rounds.

3 extra Niodes for a 17% flat shield increase over an Epsilon class shield.

Also for that your vulnerability goes down by 12.5% (or a good old eigth as we say in old money...) but do watch out, because the mitigation percentages are lower on the Zetas as well... 8% loss on its primary shield type and a hefty 18% on the secondary.

Admittedly at the moment these are only the pair of them on the market and they are going to be a must if anyone is fielding the really big jobs, but for the rest of us mere mortals, the news is good.

On a 100 ton mech the cost is almost identical and each is fully interchangeable with its counterpart, Epsilon for Zeta and vice versa.

All you need to do is guess which is going to be more important, straight shields for all around coverage or the mitigation to try to blunt some of those X6 and X9 staked shots that the 100 ton hulks throw about for fun.

Make your choice wisely....

The Great Fiasco Of The 105T Equipment By German Jaramillo #685605

After the appearance of the Guardian super class mech, which exceeded the 100 tons that seemed to be the ceiling of the highest technology, we suffered an obvious shortage of equipment.

Some manufacturers were able to adapt some large pieces to be used in the Guardian, but because they were pieces of great rarity, only available in the Mystery Vortex, for the majority of pilots did not offer a reasonable opportunity to equip the newly acquired guardians.

THE JOKE

Finally, the first pieces of equipment are seeing the light, but to the great surprise of this pilot who writes these lines, they are not only a disappointment, but a real fiasco or a bad joke.

Let's see:

CYCLOTRON CONTROLS

To be a cockpit module based on niode technology, it is by far the worst in its class among which we could acquire for any mech above 80 tons.

PROS:

+ Decent increase in projectile damage by 4%

+ Good increase to ability to double damage 2x Damage 6%

And here are the advantages, now the drawbacks:

CONS:

- Very LOW precision, considering that it is an elite cockpit. Only 4 prec is almost a joke that discourages the acquisition of this module.

- Vulnerability to laser 3%. This vulnerability to one of the most common weapons, and particularly lethal if equipped when fighting against a Fext, is a really annoying tare, we repeat, when it is a piece of niodes.

CONCLUSION:

Although the increase to damage is decent, the flaws are sufficiently negative to be of no interest to acquire this piece, which also has a very high price in niodes, considering what it provides.

INCREMENTAL PANEL

Well, the same ridiculous precision for this crystal cockpit module. Again, we face a piece of low quality, even if it is possible to equip it in a guardian's body.

PROS:

+ Reasonable increase to damage (2x Damage 4%)

+ Something of freeze, which never goes wrong (3%)

CONS:

- Low precision (4)

- Laser vulnerability 3% as with its counterpart of Niobium, this is crap.

- Ice vulnerability 5%. If the laser vulnerability already advised against this piece, the vulnerability to cold so brutal make it easy prey of any Boreas.

OOM MODULE

Another "pearl" of some lazy engineer or caused by a so early half developed research.

The lower speed seen in a propulsion module, a small boost and vulnerability, make this piece somewhat suitable for junkyard.

PROS: ... Any?

CONS:

- Low speed (only +3)

- Low ballistic improvement (a little 2% of double damage that does not justify the acquisition)

- Vulnerability to projectiles ... No thanks.

ANZU RUN

Enter the world of 105 tons a funny classic of pieces that I would never equip.

In the first year of academy for mech pilots, you realize that equipping Kickback is an idea only suited for madmen who are self-mutilating or aiming for suicide.

Normally, the kickback flaw, comes from a power imbalance in the pieces offering a high power, but this is not the case.

PROS:

+ With +8 speed, we get a speed slightly higher than normal in a piece of glass technology

+ Decent increase in laser weapon damage (+ 5%)

CONS:

- That increase of laser is not very effective, because the natural build of a Guardian does not contemplate them, reason why it loses synergy.

- Kickback 20% self-inflicted 20% of damage done. A price too high to get that speed that is far from extraordinary, unless you were aiming to help your opponent to defeat yourself.

Yes, decent speed and interesting boost to laser, but at a so high cost.

LAST CONCLUSIONS:

Given the many expectations and hopes placed on the Mechs engineers, and in view of the results obtained, I believe that I will continue to wait for decent quality equipment to appear before investing resources in pieces that instead of improving the Guardian seem designed to sabotage it.

If it is not possible to acquire decent equipment more than Mystery Vortex, then I will wait patiently for the day to come when I can complete the equipment needed for my Guardians, who aside my Excalibur, the first of the four Guardians I received and that is fully upgraded, are also in a long process of upgrading.

In the while time, I will continue to use the traditional BFM Of 100 tons, that have enough equipment to make them faithful companions of battle.

FOF Targeting Equipment Review By John Ringo #899287

Welcome my friend to Jamar’s House of Finery! We only have the finest equipment and weapons your Niodes can buy. I am Jamar, your humble host. Can I interest you in a Meson Drive or a V.I.M. Board? Oh, you are looking for a cockpit that is 30 Tons or less with a large boost to Missile Damage? I have just the thing! This FOF Targeting cockpit satisfies your needs and has much more to offer. Please take a look at the brochure for all the item stats.

5 to Precision is a solid stat for any mech in this weight class and the boost to 2X Damage would complement a Trooper very well with its native 2X Damage as it grows in levels. The extra 4% Projectile Damage could go very well on a Warhorse or an iMech. You wanted a boot to your Missile Damage and this unit has a 10% boost! If you have a Banshee or a Shocklite you could see large dividends with this cockpit.

By law I am only able tell sell you up to 40 of these units in total. If you want more than that you will have to try and win them as a prize or take some as a spoil of war in a raid on the warehouses of your enemy. How many can I provide for you today?

Submitted By John Ringo #899287

Ghost Focus Equipment Review by David McCallum #701548

First of all, read the small print.


There's a very good reason why you can only get these for a limited time and in very small numbers.


Prolonged use may lead to unexpected side effects, including nausea, vomiting, headaches, blurred vision, trapped wind, flatulence, diarrhea, incontinence, spontaneous combustion, hair loss, blurred vision, acne, abdominal cramps and undergoing puberty again.


That's the sort of thing you need to watch out for with Chroniode enhanced equipment, and of course by now we all know who has hold of a Chroniode and who has hand in getting this kit on the shelf.


Just think about that for a second, and let it sink in.


Now lets see what it does.


Available only for the massive 100 ton mecha, 55 Niodes and 2000 apiece of Ferrite and Bioptics gets you a cockpit suite that delivers a whopping 13 Precision factor, double and triple damage chances of 8% each plus a surprising dodge rating of 2.


How does it do all this you may ask?


Well I shall be happy to enlighten you.


The idea behind it is very simple.


Chroniodes can mess with time, we already know that. Well this wee item can actually see into the future, not just predicting the probability of where a target might be, but seeing where it actually is... or will be in the time it takes from your munitions to travel between you and the target.


Not only that, but it can see what the the effects of things like windage and refraction will have been, allowing you a foresight of the correct angle of attack in order to enhance damage.


It also gets to see where the enemy will have been firing from in the near future, sending impulses a few seconds ago to haul your gargantuan frame away from where you would have been now, hence the increased dodge.


If the tenses are starting to get a little strained at this point don't worry... things get a bit wibbly wobbly when you talk in terms of time.


So why will it only work on 100 tonners?


Well that's because only a 100 ton mech has engines powerful enough to supply the 1.21 Gigawatts of power needed to juice this piece up...


Duh!



Submitted by David McCallum #701548

Meson Drive Equipment Review by David McCallum #701548

Right, let's see how many of you have been paying attention.


Think of it like an exam... by now you should be able to look at any piece of kit and work out if its a good'un or not.


We'll start you off with a nice easy one, the new 100 ton engine, the Meson Drive.


Let's look at the book listings. 58 Niodes, 1535 Bioptics and 2174 Ferrite gets you an engine module
only usable in the biggest brutes, giving them 8 speed, a missile boost of 6% on to damage along with one of 3% on projectiles.


What boxes does it tick?


Negatives are non existent. For the BFM class, that is always a huge draw card. Engine wise, that makes it in the same league as Gigabot Swarms, Orbit Cores, Zentron Thrusters for Niode equipment and Kinetic Converters or Power Niodes in Crystal kit.


Thing is a Gigabot Swarm is specialist repair gear so isn't really an equal. Orbits and Zentrons are more like it, but of all three they each seem skewed towards particular weapon types and therefore have a bias towards a particular chassis or two. The speed of 8 on the Meson does however put it at the top end of whizziness on the engine stakes at this weight though.


The thing is it needs it, because by now you should have worked out that this thing is screaming to be put on a Potatotron or Rumbaba and both seriously require the boost because those missile weapons
are so slow.


So concentrating purely on missile mechs, a Ballistic Amplifier is not a bad bet if you are on a budget. Its probably the closest piece you will get that is directly comparable to the Meson, but al bonuses are a little lower and it has that annoying laser vulnerability.


The only other missile enhancer is a Spark Core, a fraction slower, a little better damage boost, projectile boost has been replaced with some Fork, but a big hit against incoming projectiles. 6 less niodes in cost though.


So yes, for a missile mech the Meson is definitely the best choice. In practice though, those chassis have 7 or 8 slots to fill, and the extra cost stacks up to almost another equipment piece.


You may find yourself mixing and matching all three pieces (and maybe even adding the odd Power Node) just to balance cost, power and penalties.


Such is the life of the owner of a 100 tonner.


Submitted by David McCallum #701548

Modular Fuel Line Equipment Review By Pat Willis#224534

The basics on this engine piece is it is for 90-95 Ton mecha, they do Auto repair of [3], have Fire shield at 10%, Fire Damage at +5%, Ice vulnerable of 8%, and 2X Damage at 11%. All that comes to a price of course which is 1,962 Ferrite, 1,341 Bioptics, and 51 Niodes.

Now the big question is as always ... "Is it worth it?" Ice shielding will easily take care of the vulnerability it has. If you feel like investing the Arctic Delta has Ice Shielding at 38%. Also the BMF mecha sport enough shielding slots that you should easily be able to handle the switch off in vulnerabilities.  Fire damage here is decent, but not too high, in any event it would add a nice kick to your flame arsenal.

Fire shielding here decent at the 10% mark, could be worse could be better. Any bonus though as I said is a plus. Finally we come to the Auto Repair function with its [3]. That isn't shabby at all, given this engine piece doesn't have a speed rating it should be able to hold its own with the Auto Repair. Don't rely on it though one good critical hit and you mecha is toast. But for the times that doesn't happen this is a nice little feature.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Heatsink Ports Equipment Review By Pat Willis#224534

For mechas in the 45-55 to range we have this little gem. It will cost you 355 Ferrite, 168 Bioptics, and 44 Crystal. It packs the abilities of Speed +10, and Dodge (2). A crystal engine that packs more than just speed modifications is always a good thing and even a small bonus to dodge is a good thing. This engine is rather affordable, packs solid speed and marginal dodge bonuses.

Put into a proper tonnage mecha with the right chassis equipment to offer a high level of dodge those marginal bonuses to dodge on this engine suddenly become the difference between getting slaughtered, or walking away from a fight. There of course are better engines out there, and they are mostly Niode to boot. But this is crystal, cheap, and offer solid stats no real way to go wrong here.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Aegis Field Equipment Review by David McCallum : #701548

Shall I recount the ways in which I love thee....


No vulnerabilities has't thou...


Thine protection is twofold betwixt the awesomeness of the most plentiful of munition types...


And a bit of fork as well...


But most of all, I love thee for thou art a shield... love a shield.


See, we are a far more cultured lot over here compared to the A.N.N.


Well, except for Pat who still thinks that flatulence is the highest form of humour. Or Kenneth, our own Maroon Helmet, who is yet to graduate past doing hand written reports in crayon. Or Ron and Joel who start a mech review with whether or not the chassis looks like it's got wuzzbams...


OK, I'm cultured. Still more than the other place has got.


But that's not getting this review done. You know the drill by now. Is it useful, can I find a space for it readily, would I buy one?


Well I did. I managed to get hold of one while there were still limited numbers on the open market, before they became only available through the mystery Vortex Crates.


Of course it has to go on a 100 ton chassis, but the good thing about those behemoth beasties is that they have so many shield hard-points that you can always find space in the line for something a little different or special.


Lets see what this one can do that's special.

Compared to an Epsilon class shield (the only real equivalent) it has 23% mitigation for both Lasers and Projectiles. Probably the best combo you can have, and both have the same rating, rather than half mitigation for the second munition like you get with an Epsilon.


You also get Fork mitigation of 35% and Wide Fork of 40%.


Instead of a vulnerability, you have your straight shielding ability reduced by around a third, but that's still around the same as  Delta grade shield.


The thing is, on a hundred tonner, this piece allows a lot of flexibility.


On a Fext, with only 4 hard-points, you can use this in place of 2 shields, rely on the inbuilt Ice shielding and double up on shields that have become vulnerable due to equipment choices. The same goes for a Notos, just substitute Missile for Ice.


With a Potatotron you are using it to enhance anything that is needed because of that extra hard-point past 5, while on a Reaper you can use it to free up slots to cover the built in Missile vulnerability.


The point is, this is not a piece that you can only fit depending on what other choices you have made, unlike the other shield types.


This is one you can use as a starting point and build around it.


And you wonder why I love shields?



Submitted by David McCallum : #701548

Orbital Controls Equipment Review by David McCallum : #701548

There are few things that bring forth deep rooted terror in seasoned pilots, however the phrase "Bring Forth the Comfy Chair" is one of them, especially when it is unexpected.


As unexpected as, say, the Spanish Inquisition was.


And while this particularly comfy chair may have been unexpected, it's not in any way unwelcome.
 

You can now only get this gear through Vortex crates, but a few pieces were available on the blac.. I mean through suppliers who provide for the more discerning collector of rare purveyances.


I was fortunate enough to get hold of one, and while the price at the time was perhaps a touch on the expensive side, it is nonetheless a very tidy bit of kit.


Suitable only for the super heaviest of machines, it is precisely what you would hope for in a piece of cockpit equipment, the ultimate evolution of the humble cup older.


14 Precision... check. In fact that's the best target acquisition and tracking you can get, bar none.


3% Crit-kill... check. Plenty of pieces out there that have a rating the same, but there are also plenty who don't. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm more than happy to take a chance of one shotting a 100 tonner if its facing me.


Now there are plenty of cockpit systems that have these two in conjunction with other bonuses, and in this case its Freeze rated at 11% and Slow rated at a reduction factor of 8.


Both lend themselves to being popped onto an Ice chassis, but of course you can't! The Boreas is the heaviest Icer at 95 tons. Maybe Unification has a 100 ton ice mech out there... if these things are being pulled into the Vortex, they have to come from somewhere?


But that's pure conjecture on my part...


But getting back on point, it does allow a starting point to stack Ice weapons on a 100 ton chassis if you are looking at special build.


Otherwise, again these are useful bonuses that can disable a big enemy and that is always a useful thing. Infact if you check, this piece is a reasonably logical extension of the M-hole being the only other cockpit sytem that has this combination of bonuses, albeit in differing amounts.


All in all, I'm not unhappy with this. It fills a gap that the M-hole can't due to its tonnage restriction, and gives a solid boost to any 100 tonner you put it on.


Thumbs up from me!

Submitted by David McCallum : #701548

An Equipment Review For New Players by David McCallum : #701548

If truth be told, probably very new players, but it occurred to me that in all my time I haven't actually seen anything official on just how important this piece of gear is.


It fits on any mech at all from 10 tons up to 100, has no drawbacks whatsoever and gives any mechs some form of boost.


Actual worth of this piece is 5 Niodes (and you should learn very quickly that niodes can be hard to come by and spent very wisely indeed..) but you can't actually purchase it.


You get it FREE!!!


I am talking of course about the humble Instant Upgrade Kit.


And when I say free, I mean of course that you need to make some in game friends and you can send and recieve gifts, of which this is probably the most important one.


Think about it. Every day, you can make one of your mechs permanently better. Veteran players will no doubt advise you to use them only on Niode mechs, and for you first little while in your career you should certainly reserve them for your warhorse or the mech you will receive upon joining a clan.


But if you already have your Niode Mechs fully upgraded, there is no reason you can't use one of these on a Crystal mech. Trust me, if for any reason you do run out (and I can't recall running out in the past few years), send them to all you friends and they will come flodding back in.


Now just as a quick aside, definitely keep the X2 Instant Upgrades you get as KOTM prizes or mission completions for your Niode Mechs. ou don't get many of them and you need to use them for the best return.


So there you have it. The most under rated piece of gear in the game, all free and worth around 150 Niodes expenditure a month. At least that what you would have to pay to get the equivalent in upgrades.


Submitted by David McCallum : #701548

Egg Nog Equipment Review by David McCallum : #701548

There are certain things a chap should not have to deal with when sober.


It all started so innocently.


With it being the new year, young Kenneth, bless his little cotton socks, decided to purchase a new set of combat fatigues. The packages duly arrived and he tore them open with the enthusiasm of a puppy that just discovered the joy of bubble wrap.


Out came the new overalls, a one piece light tan, nicely tailored, pockets all over the place, you get the gist. So we have to put up with him prancing around in front of a chrome bulkhead that he was using as a full length mirror for the next ten minutes. I mean seriously, when one gets to a certain age you need to realise you are built for comfort rather than speed, and there are certain poses you just can no longer get away with in polite company.


That wasn't the worst of it.


Out came the new combat helmet, and you could tell that there was an issue as soon as he opened the package.


"Oh", came his small quivering voice. "They got the colour mixed up."


And sure enough, he lifted a maroon helmet out of the sea of shipping nuggets.


And then true to Kenneth form, he spotted the bright side.


"But that's OK", he beamed. "I used to fight with the Ruby Dragons, so this will be a nice nod to them." And he promptly put the helmet on.


Take a moment to picture it in your minds eye. A tight fitting tan costume, topped with a maroon helmet.


There is just no plausible way that you can explain to the unsuspecting innocent just what an absolute fashion disaster that is likely to be nor the images it is likely to invoke, especially without the use of hand gestures.


Even Patrick had the decency to wake up from his mid morning inebriation and blink.


And since he is the boss, I decided that with discretion being the better part of valor, and with cowardice being the better part of discretion, I should valiantly go and hide in the stationary cupboard while Patrick explained some of the... erm... facts of life.


I took the time to have a decent look at one of my new toys.


Now I get the feeling these aren't going to be on the open market for too much longer, and I freely admit mine was scavanged from Santa's hordes, but at present you can get them for 45 Niodes, 905 Bioptics and 832 Ferrite.


Now its not a bad little piece of cockpit kit. Unlike the cup holder for the little guys, this is a big boy's version with its own liquid dispenser, suitable for any chassis between 75 and 90 tons.


A precision of 10, which is nice and standard for Crystal gear at that tonnage and is a very good benchmark. Can't argue with that.


Shield of 8. That's unexpected, but love a shield. I expect that loaded on this stuff, you just don't feel the pain. I'm guessing you don't give a monkeys about recoil either which accounts for the increase in velocity for projectile munitions.


A blessing in disguise, if you are already seeing double, chances are you are going to fork the odd shot.


Ah yes, the drawback. A speed negative. Let's get real, when you are right royally tanked your reflexes are going to be off. I may have to run empirical tests, but I'm guessing that this would actually be a speed increase for Patrick given his usual state.


Oooh, but I've left the best until last. With all of that toasty goodness swilling around your innards, you can run things just that much colder. 25% freeze for every shot colder.


Now that's just a whopper. To put it in perspective, there is no other piece of gear that has freeze in that order of magnitude. You do get close with the built in chassis bonus from a Jottun, and of course the built in stiffness potential from a Magnus is just obscene...


Sorry about that.. whopper... stiffness... obscene... I'm getting flashbacks to Kenneth's new outfit.


The point is, a single one of these on a decently leveled Magnus and its nighty night target, at least for a short nap.


But for my mind, you'd want to couple it with the throw weight of a niode mech to offset that speed negative. The Antithesis isn't bad, since it already has built in freeze, but to my thinking the new Onyx is almost begging for one of these. Or fling them on a Dreadnought and give it another string to its high speed bow.


Just one thing... make sure that once combat is over, you have a good backup crew that you trust. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting
, slurred speech, falling over and a distinct lack of judgement when it comes to the attractiveness and availability of those around you.


You may even think that Kenneth looks good afterwards...

Go on, admit it... you were thinking of something else, weren't you?



Submitted by David McCallum : #701548

Solderbot Hive Equipment Review by David McCallum : #701548

There are moments when... well, to put it in very PC terms, you have a moment.


And I freely admit, I may have had a bit of a moment when one of my clan mates pointed this piece out to me. My, haven't we just been spoiled recently.


Now I admit he was being a bit facetious since we have this long running difference of opinion.


You see, he is a big proponent of shields. Shields above all else.


Now you know me. Love a shield. Believe I've said so in the past.


But while I may say that, its probably only so i can get it in the sack. Because while I'm... well, you know.... I'd be thinking about Auto Repair.


I mean, just look at it... with out drooling if you can.


A book value of 56 Niodes, 1101 Bioptics and 1909 Ferrite for a chassis piece that gives you a dodge
value of 9, a 35% Wide Fork shield (love a shield!) but also that oh so sexy Auto Repair factor of 2.


And no penalty!


Again!


OK, so if it did have a downside, it's the fact it can only fit in a 100 ton chassis... unless of course you think big is beautiful, and why shouldn't you.


We should probably have a look at what it is replacing, and bear in mind that it is auto repair we are after.


Funnily enough they are both engines.


There's the Gigabot Swarm. Now I haven't reviewed this formally, but its not bad. A bit slow on the speed stakes, but you do get some bonus dodge and shield along with auto repair, and no  penalties. Its worth a second glance to pair this up with the Hive to get a reasonable auto repair value while not limiting yourself in chassis options.


The other is the now very unfortunate loser, the Reaper Core. It's that kickback. Everyone hates it, most tolerate it but everyone had hoped we had left it behind once we advanced past 75 tons. To be forced to use it for your big mechs was just... a turn off.


Still, unless you are of masochistic tendencies, you no longer have to tolerate that sort of... treatment.


Now, please excuse me... I believe I may have a dinner date.



Submitted by David McCallum : #701548

Power Node Equipment Review by David McCallum : #701548

Its not often that you see an equipment manufacturer go bankrupt, but we have just observed it.

Kinetic Converter, you are the weakest link...

Goodbye!

Seriously though, there is now no need for them. Scrap 'em all. Remove their taint from all catalogues.

Replace all photographs with those of the Power Node engine.

1440 Ferrite, 1300 Bioptics and 62 Crystal is a touch more expensive, but lets face it, if you can level up a 100 ton mech, its the sort of price you sneeze at.

And for that paltry sum, instead of a flat speed rating of 5, you get a speed rating of 6.

But wait, there's more!

You get a built in Ice damage boost of 5% to every Ice weapon!

And if you are one of our first callers (well, any caller to be honest) we'll throw in a bonus of 2% freeze absolutely free!!

And the best part is yet to come...

There are no penalties.

Lets just see how that rolls around the tongue.

No penalties.

No penalties!

No Penalties!!

Don't think there's anything more to say really...



Submitted by David McCallum : #701548

Battle Upgrade Equipment Review By Pat Willis#224534

For 30-45 ton mechas we have this chassis equipment piece. This will cost 218 Ferrite, 158 Bioptics, and 26 Crystal. For all that you get a Dodge of (9), Shield of (4), and fire vulnerability of 11%.

I'm sure anyone who reads these pages knows what I am about to say next, when will the techs ever get it through their heads to make a equipment piece or shielding that will not hinder you with vulnerabilities. Oh I know shield it cover it that way. Then I got a whole nother vulnerability to work with because of the way everything is vulnerable to everything else. I used to be so excited like the rest of you thinking the addition of equipment would be a god send. Now I am realizing the majority of equipment is vulnerable to something else, how is that helpful? So like with most equipment pieces containing vulnerabilities I say pass it by save your resources for pieces that are worth while. Like maybe spinal bracing for 25-50 ton mecha with a dodge of 12 no add ons beyond that and only 2 more crystal for the cost.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534