Illyrian Hegemony Equipment Wishlist By Sean Wadey# 356597

This crystal equipment has been around for since the early 3100's the equipment for the the lightest mecha actually was first introduced with the Red Ant in 3087 and the Shocklite in the 3090's. This equipment can be found on the mercenary, gladiatorial and black markets easily and is still in use by many Illyrian security forces and clan military units on tight budgets as well as the insane remnants of the Illyrian garrison on Vupa 6.

(I have not yet figured a balancing cost for these pieces of equipment but due to inherent draw backs like the Emminence Engine they will be relatively low cost compared to the bonuses they give.)

Equipment Name: Aquilam Cogitum
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 10 MIN 25 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (5), Crit-Kill 2%, Ice Vulnerable 12%
Flavor Text: See the enemy as clearly as an eagle see its prey.

Equipment Name: Lupus Cogitum
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # crystal
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 30 MIN 50 MAX
Bonuses: 5% 2xDam, Precision (6), Crit-Kill 2%, Ice Vulnerable 11%
Flavor Text: Cross communicates targeting data with other friendly mecha.

Equipment Name: Leo Cogitum
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # crystal
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 55 MIN 70 MAX
Bonuses: 5% 3xDam, Precision (8), Crit-Kill 3%, Ice Vulnerable 10%
Flavor Text: Designed for the master hunters of the Hegemonian fleets.

Equipment Name: Ferre Cogitum
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # crystal
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 75 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: 5% 2xDam, 5% 3xDam, Precision (10), Crit-Kill 3%, Ice Vulnerable 9%
Flavor Text: Calculating optimal targeting data to tear through anything..

A powerful standard among the Hegemonian fleets and infantry, their designs have been improved countless times. Unfortunately the same operating system has been in use for more than 200 years so there are a lot of known hacks.

Equipment Name: Scout Upgrade
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 10 MIN 25 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (10), Shield (3), Fire Vulnerable 12%
Flavor Text: An optimized upgrade package for the light mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Battle Upgrade
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # crystal
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 30 MIN 50 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (9), Shield (4), Fire Vulnerable 11%
Flavor Text: An optimized upgrade package for the medium mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Elite Upgrade
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # crystal
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 55 MIN 70 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (8), Shield (5), Fire Vulnerable 10%
Flavor Text: An optimized upgrade package for the heavy mecha of the Hegemonian fleets.

Equipment Name: Custos Upgrade
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # crystal
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 75 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (7), Shield (6), Fire Vulnerable 9%
Flavor Text: An optimized upgrade package for the huge mecha of the Illyrian defense forces.

A standardized set of armor and actuator upgrades used among the Hegemonian infantry, their designs have been improved countless times. Unfortunately the lubricant for the actuators and armor plating burns easily if exposed to excessive heat.

Equipment Name: Renown Engine
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics
Type: engine
Tonnage: 10 MIN 25 MAX
Bonuses: Speed +10, Auto Repair (1), Laser Vulnerable 13%
Flavor Text: A variant of the Emminence engine for the light mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Excellence Engine
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # crystal
Type: engine
Tonnage: 30 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Speed +8, Auto Repair (1), Laser Vulnerable 12%
Flavor Text: A variant of the Emminence engine for the medium-light mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Distinction Engine
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # crystal
Type: engine
Tonnage: 45 MIN 55 MAX
Bonuses: Speed +6, Auto Repair (1), Laser Vulnerable 11%
Flavor Text: A variant of the Emminence engine for the medium-heavy mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Prominence Engine
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # crystal
Type: engine
Tonnage: 75 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Speed +3, Auto Repair (1), Laser Vulnerable 9%
Flavor Text: A variant of the Emminence engine for the huge mecha of the Illyrian defense forces.

These are the rest of the engines in the same series as the well known Eminence Engine. They are a powerful standard among the Hegemonian fleets and infantry--their designs have been improved countless times. Unfortunately these sturdy engines begin to falter when subjected to focused radiation of many sorts; this is a problem that has yet to be resolved.

Equipment Name: Scutum Flamma Mk I
Cost: 100 ferrite, 120 bioptics
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 25 MAX
Bonuses: Fire Shield 34%, Missile Vulnerable 12%, Ice vulnerable 10%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry fire shield for light mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Glacies Mk I
Cost: 100 ferrite, 120 bioptics
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 25 MAX
Bonuses: Ice Shield 34%, Missile Vulnerable 12%, Fire vulnerable 10%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry ice shield for light mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Lumen Mk I
Cost: 100 ferrite, 120 bioptics
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 25 MAX
Bonuses: Laser Shield 34%, Missile Vulnerable 12%, Projectile vulnerable 10%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry laser shield for light mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Missilis Mk I
Cost: 100 ferrite, 120 bioptics
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 25 MAX
Bonuses: Missile Shield 34%, Projectile Vulnerable 12%, Laser vulnerable 10%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry missile shield for light mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Telum Mk I
Cost: 100 ferrite, 120 bioptics
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 25 MAX
Bonuses: Projectile Shield 34%, Missile Vulnerable 22%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry projectile shield for light mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Flamma Mk II
Cost: 200 ferrite, 170 bioptics, 35 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 30 MIN 50 MAX
Bonuses: Fire Shield 32%, Missile Vulnerable 11%, Ice vulnerable 8%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry fire shield for medium mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Glacies Mk II
Cost: 200 ferrite, 170 bioptics, 33 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 30 MIN 50 MAX
Bonuses: Ice Shield 32%, Missile Vulnerable 11%, Fire vulnerable 8%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry ice shield for medium mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Lumen Mk II
Cost: 200 ferrite, 170 bioptics, 32 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 30 MIN 50 MAX
Bonuses: Laser Shield 32%, Missile Vulnerable 11%, Projectile vulnerable 8%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry laser shield for medium mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Missilis Mk II
Cost: 200 ferrite, 170 bioptics, 32 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 30 MIN 50 MAX
Bonuses: Missile Shield 32%, Projectile Vulnerable 11%, Laser vulnerable 8%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry missile shield for medium mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Telum Mk II
Cost: 200 ferrite, 170 bioptics, 35 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 30 MIN 50 MAX
Bonuses: Projectile Shield 32%, Missile Vulnerable 19%
Flavor Text: Illyrian infantry projectile shield for medium mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Flamma Mk III
Cost: 450 ferrite, 370 bioptics, 53 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 55 MIN 70 MAX
Bonuses: Fire Shield 30%, Missile Vulnerable 10%, Ice vulnerable 6%
Flavor Text: Hegemonian fleets fire shield for heavy mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Glacies Mk III
Cost: 455 ferrite, 375 bioptics, 53 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 55 MIN 70 MAX
Bonuses: Ice Shield 30%, Missile Vulnerable 10%, Fire vulnerable 6%
Flavor Text: Hegemonian fleets ice shield for heavy mecha

Equipment Name: Scutum Lumen Mk III
Cost: 435 ferrite, 355 bioptics, 54 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 55 MIN 70 MAX
Bonuses: Laser Shield 30%, Missile Vulnerable 10%, Projectile vulnerable 6%
Flavor Text: Hegemonian fleets laser shield for heavy mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Missilis Mk III
Cost: 440 ferrite, 360 bioptics, 54 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 55 MIN 70 MAX
Bonuses: Missile Shield 30%, Projectile Vulnerable 10%, Laser vulnerable 6%
Flavor Text: Hegemonian fleets missile shield for heavy mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Telum Mk III
Cost: 445 ferrite, 365 bioptics, 53 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 55 MIN 70 MAX
Bonuses: Projectile Shield 30%, Missile Vulnerable 16%
Flavor Text: Hegemonian fleets projectile shield for heavy mecha.

Equipment Name: Scutum Flamma Mk IV
Cost: 400 ferrite, 270 bioptics, 66 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 75 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Fire Shield 28%, Missile Vulnerable 9%, Ice vulnerable 4%
Flavor Text: Fire shield for the huge mecha of the Illyrian defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Glacies Mk IV
Cost: 400 ferrite, 270 bioptics, 66 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 75 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Ice Shield 28%, Missile Vulnerable 9%, Fire vulnerable 4%
Flavor Text: Ice shield for the huge mecha of the Illyrian defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Lumen Mk IV
Cost: 400 ferrite, 270 bioptics, 66 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 75 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Laser Shield 28%, Missile Vulnerable 9%, Projectile vulnerable 4%
Flavor Text: Laser shield for the huge mecha of the Illyrian defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Missilis Mk IV
Cost: 400 ferrite, 270 bioptics, 66 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 75 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Missile Shield 28%, Projectile Vulnerable 9%, Laser vulnerable 4%
Flavor Text: Missile shield for the huge mecha of the Illyrian defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Telum Mk IV
Cost: 400 ferrite, 270 bioptics, 66 crystal
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 75 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Projectile Shield 28%, Missile Vulnerable 13%
Flavor Text: Projectile shield for the huge mecha of the Illyrian defense forces.

At first glance these are very similar to the shields available on the mercenary and black markets. However the Illyrian shields seem to attract missiles with the one exception of the missile shield which is based on point defense technology instead of an energy field.

(Note that a 60 to 70 ton mecha with 4 cockpit, chassis and engine slots and 5 shield slots using the above equipment and Eminence Engines and one of each type of shield would have the following modifiers from equipment: Speed +16, Auto-repair (4), Dodge (32), Shield (20), Precision (32), Crit-kill +12, Projectile Shield 14%, Laser Vulnerable 16%, Missile Vulnerable 16%, Fire Vulnerable 16% and Ice Vulnerable 16%. This is not actually considered that much of a draw back since the Meji Shogunate and Cogwerks forces rely so heavily on projectile weapons.)

Now recently the Illyrian Hegemony has allowed Star Factories to start selling the Ammonite, Gigus, Skraig, Nakshi, Magnus, Jadoon and Yallan on the open mercenary market. This is alien technology they have been researching for years and/or the heaviest and most powerful weapon systems used by clans such as the House of Romulous and Strategoi. The only reason these would be going to the mercenary market is Star Factories is already producing something better strictly for the clans of the Illyrian Hegemony.

(The following Niode equipment is what I believe they have developed to replace the older systems above for these yet to be revealed new mecha. Again I have not yet determined a balanced cost.)

Equipment Name: Deimos Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 10 MIN 20 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (+4), Crit-Kill +2%, +3% 2xDamage
Flavor Text: Designed for Light combat and reconnaissance mecha

Equipment Name: Mercurey Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (+6), Crit-Kill +3%, +6% 2xDamage
Flavor Text: Designed for medium combat and reconnaissance mecha

Equipment Name: Diana Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (+6), Crit-Kill +3%, +3% Splash
Flavor Text: Designed for medium area support mecha

Equipment Name: Iris Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (+8), Crit-Kill +3%, +4% Freeze, Slow (5)
Flavor Text: Designed for medium command mecha

Equipment Name: Phobos Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (+8), Crit-Kill +3%, +9% 2xDamage
Flavor Text: Designed for heavy combat mecha

Equipment Name: Nike Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (+10), +3% Crit-Kill, 6% 3xDamage
Flavor Text: Designed for huge combat mecha

Equipment Name: Apollo Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (+10), +3% Crit-Kill, 12% Fork
Flavor Text: Designed for huge area support mecha

Equipment Name: Artemis Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (+10), +3% Crit-Kill, 4% Trample, 4% Splash
Flavor Text: Designed for huge artillery support mecha

Equipment Name: Athena Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Precision (+10), +3% Crit-Kill, 6% Freeze, Slow (6)
Flavor Text: Designed for huge command mecha

Equipment Name: Victoria Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: 5% 2xDam, 5% 3xDam, Precision (12), Crit-Kill 3%
Flavor Text: Designed for combat super mecha

Equipment Name: Minerva Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: 3% Fork, 3% Wide Fork, Precision (12), Crit-Kill 3%
Flavor Text: Designed for area support super mecha

Equipment Name: Nemesis Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: 5% Trample, 5% Splash, Precision (12), Crit-Kill 3%
Flavor Text: Designed for artillery support super mecha

Equipment Name: Jove Cogitator
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: cockpit
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: 8% Freeze, Slow (7), Precision (12), Crit-Kill 3%
Flavor Text: Designed for command super mecha

A new standard among the Hegemonian military, a new secure operating system with the latest in intrusion counter protocols.

Equipment Name: Lorica Minima
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 10 MIN 20 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (12), Shield (4)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new upgrade package for the light mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Lorica Minorum
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (11), Shield (5)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new upgrade package for the medium-light mecha of the Illyrian infantry

Equipment Name: : Lorica Majorum
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (10), Shield (6)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new upgrade package for the medium-heavy mecha of the Illyrian infantry and Hegemonian Fleet

Equipment Name: Lorica Segmentum
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (9), Shield (7)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s optimized upgrade package for Pilus and Primus class mecha.

Equipment Name: Lorica Musculata
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (8), Shield (8)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s optimized upgrade package for Praetorian and Praefect class mecha.

Novum Lorica recently solved the flammable lubricant issues and has created a new standardized set of armor and actuator upgrades for use by the Hegemonian infantry, fleet and defense forces. These new technologies were implemented while they worked on creating the Pilus and Primus class mecha.

Equipment Name: Equis Actuators
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 35 MIN 50 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (12), Speed (4)
Flavor Text: Novum Equis designed actuators optimized for their centauroid mecha

Equipment Name: Castronum LXXV
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (9), +6% Trample, +6% Projectile Damage, +66% Laser Damage
Flavor Text: Novum Castronum ‘s actuator upgrade package for huge artillery and siege mecha.

Equipment Name: Castronum Centum
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (8), +8% Trample, +8% Projectile Damage, +8% Laser Damage
Flavor Text: Novum Castronum ‘s actuator upgrade package for the largest artillery and siege mecha.

Equipment Name: Dolorum Firebase
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (9), +3% Splash, +6% Missile Damage, +6% Fire Damage
Flavor Text: Novum Dolorum ‘s actuator optimized upgrade package for huge area effect support mecha.

Equipment Name: Dolorum Vesuvia
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: chassis
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Dodge (8), +4% Splash, +8% Missile Damage, +8% Fire Damage
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s actuator optimized upgrade package for the largest area effect support mecha.

Other recently designed chassis modifications

Equipment Name: Renown 150
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: engine
Tonnage: 10 MIN 20 MAX
Bonuses: Speed +20, Auto Repair (2)
Flavor Text: The newest upgrade to the Renown Engine for the light mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Excellence 325
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: engine
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Speed +15, Auto Repair (1), 5% 2xDamage
Flavor Text: The newest upgrade to the Excellence engine for the medium-light mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Distinction 550
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: engine
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Speed +11, Auto Repair (1), 5% 3xDamage
Flavor Text: The newest upgrade to the Distinction engine for the medium-heavy mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Emminence 775
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: engine
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Speed +8, Auto Repair (1), 5% 2xDamage, 5% 3xDamage
Flavor Text: The newest upgrade to the Emminence engine for the huge mecha of the Illyrian infantry.

Equipment Name: Prominence 950
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: engine
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Speed +6, Auto Repair (1), 7% 2xDamage, 7% 3xDamage
Flavor Text: The newest upgrade to the Prominence engine for the huge mecha of the Illyrian defense forces.

Novum Castronum has solved the radiation issues and once again improved the Eminence series of Engines. This is a new standardized set of engines for use by the Hegemonian infantry, fleet and defense forces. These new technologies were implemented while they worked with the House of Strategoi and Star Factories to make some of the newest purely human designed mecha in the Hegemony.

Equipment Name: Scutum Flamma XX
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 20 MAX
Bonuses: Fire Shield 32%, Fire Shield (6)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new fire shield for light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Glacies XX
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 20 MAX
Bonuses: Ice Shield 32%, Ice Shield (6)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new ice shield for light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Lumen XX
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 20 MAX
Bonuses: Laser Shield 32%, laser Shield (6)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new laser shield for light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Missilis XX
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 20 MAX
Bonuses: Missile Shield 32%, Missile Shield (6)
Flavor Text Novum Lorica ‘s new missile shield for light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Telum XX
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 20 MAX
Bonuses: Projectile Shield 32%, Projectile Shield (6)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new projectile shield for light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Flamma XL
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Fire Shield 31%, Fire Shield (10)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new fire shield for medium-light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Glacies XL
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Ice Shield 31%, Ice Shield (10)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Ice shield for medium-light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Lumen XL
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Laser Shield 31%, Laser Shield (10)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new laser shield for medium-light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Missilis XL
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Missile Shield 31%, Missile Shield (10)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new missile shield for medium-light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Telum XL
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Projectile Shield 31%, Projectile Shield (10)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new projectile shield for medium-light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry

Equipment Name: Scutum Flamma LXV
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Fire Shield 30%, Fire Shield (15)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new fire shield for medium-heavy mecha of the Illyrian Infantry and Hegemonian fleets.

Equipment Name: Scutum Glacies LXV
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Ice Shield 30%, Ice Shield (15)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Ice shield for medium-heavy mecha of the Illyrian Infantry and Hegemonian fleets.

Equipment Name: Scutum Lumen LXV
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Laser Shield 30%, Laser Shield (15)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Laser shield for medium-heavy mecha of the Illyrian Infantry and Hegemonian fleets.

Equipment Name: Scutum Missilis LXV
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Missile Shield 30%, Missile Shield (15)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Missile shield for medium-heavy mecha of the Illyrian Infantry and Hegemonian fleets.

Equipment Name: Scutum Telum LXV
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Projectile Shield 30%, Projectile Shield (15)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Projectile shield for medium-heavy mecha of the Illyrian Infantry and Hegemonian fleets.

Equipment Name: Scutum Flamma XVC
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Fire Shield 29%, Fire Shield (21)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new fire shield for heavy-huge mecha of the Hegemonian fleets and Illyrian defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Glacies XVC
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Ice Shield 29%, Ice Shield (21)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Ice shield for heavy-huge mecha of the Hegemonian fleets and Illyrian defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Lumen XVC
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Laser Shield 29%, Laser Shield (21)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Laser shield for heavy-huge mecha of the Hegemonian fleets and Illyrian defense forces..

Equipment Name: Scutum Missilis XVC
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Missile Shield 29%, Missile Shield (21)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Missile shield for heavy-huge mecha of the Hegemonian fleets and Illyrian defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Telum XVC
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Projectile Shield 29%, Projectile Shield (21)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Projectile shield for heavy-huge mecha of the Hegemonian fleets and Illyrian defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Flamma C
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Fire Shield 28%, Fire Shield (28)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new fire shield for the super mecha of the new Illyrian Legion and defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Glacies C
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Ice Shield 28%, Ice Shield (28)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Ice shield for the super mecha of the new Illyrian Legion and defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Lumen C
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Laser Shield 28%, Laser Shield (28)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Laser shield for the super mecha of the new Illyrian Legion and defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Missilis C
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Missile Shield 28%, Missile Shield (28)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new Missile shield for the super mecha of the new Illyrian Legion and defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Telum C
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Projectile Shield 28%, Projectile Shield (28)
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new projectile shield for the super mecha of the new Illyrian Legion and defense forces.

Novum Lorica has discovered a way to make a shield without weakening other shields or making a mecha vulnerable to certain kinds of attacks. Although slightly weaker than the niode shields available on the mercenary market the lack of vulnerability is quickly making these the new standard of Illyrian armed forces.The Scutum Circum series combines technology from the Hoplite, Ammonite and Magnus with what has been learned from alien and forerunner mecha to create area defense shielding.

Equipment Name: Scutum Circum XX
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 10 MIN 20 MAX
Bonuses: Trample Shield 26%, Splash Shield 13%
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new area defense shield for light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Circum XL
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 25 MIN 40 MAX
Bonuses: Trample Shield 28%, Splash Shield 14%
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new area defense shield for medium-light mecha of the Illyrian Infantry.

Equipment Name: Scutum Circum LXV
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 45 MIN 65 MAX
Bonuses: Trample Shield 30%, Splash Shield 15%
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new area defense shield for medium-heavy mecha of the Illyrian Infantry and Hegemonian fleets.

Equipment Name: Scutum Circum XVC
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 70 MIN 85 MAX
Bonuses: Trample Shield 34%, Splash Shield 17%
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new area defense shield for heavy-huge mecha of the Hegemonian fleets and Illyrian defense forces.

Equipment Name: Scutum Circum C
Cost: # ferrite, # bioptics, # niodes
Type: Shield
Tonnage: 90 MIN 100 MAX
Bonuses: Trample Shield 36%, Splash Shield 18%
Flavor Text: Novum Lorica ‘s new area defense shield for the super mecha of the new Illyrian Legion and defense forces.

Submitted  by Sean Wadey# 356597

Blurring Beam Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

This is one of the big kid crystal weapons for level 93 and above. It will cost 2,000 Ferrite, 1,400 Bioptics, 69 Crystal  for one. Or spend 276 Crystal to bulk buy 5 with a limit of 60 on these. It does straight damage of 67, has a speed of 101, and has the ability of 2X Damage at 7%.

This seems to be an upgrade from the Heat Laser which is available at level 82, does 60 straight damage, speed of 100, and the 2X damage is only at 6% on the Heat set up. As usual you can put out more for the stats on these with proper mecha model and equipment load out. These are real nice beam throwers truth be told. They are a little faster than some other lasers, hit a little harder and have a higher rate of ability stats than it's lesser cousin. So this should be when you can buy them do so, not ..eh I'll think about it.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Tales from the Campfire Part 3 Battle of the Thermoplas Passway By David McCallum#701548

“How are those steaks going?” asked Peter

Stan poked at the meat in question, dropping a small cascade of juice and fat into the fire below. The resulting flare up momentarily illuminated the faces and deepened the shadows surrounding those seated around the camp fire. “Yeah, almost there, give them another three minutes. We got anything to go with them?”

They all looked at each other briefly before Gampy lent towards his small rucksack. “Got some beans…” he mumbled.

The clearing exploded into uproar, yelled comments ranging from “Oh Hell, No!” through “There’s a naked flame!” and on up to “I still need my eyeballs!”

Momentarily taken aback, he withdrew his hand. “Ok, no beans then”, he sighed wistfully.

The pilots waited uncomfortably for a few minutes, checking that all signs of clear and present danger had passed before Mike restarted the conversation from where it had swerved away to the menu. “So we heard you saying before about getting a double gold,” he said looking over at Mac. “That must have been a high point?”

“Unbelievably so,” he responded in a quiet, far away tone.

“And unexpected,” Kev put in.

Mac nodded. “Yeah. I mean we worked hard and built an excellent team, and the first one was the result of a lot of hard graft and good planning. The feeling when it was over was just… I don’t know…  but the second one was completely out of the blue. That was the Specialist Wars. We were rank outsiders and were pitted against the favorites in the very first round. They just couldn’t respond. Every win was a shock. Even going into the gold medal fight, we were the underdogs…”, he trailed off. Even after all this time, some parts of that whole period still had an unreal quality to them.

The silence was on the verge of growing uncomfortable when Pete whispered, “So how many of you guys got the double?”

Mac snapped out of it, his voice coming back to normal. “Oh, there’s only two of us left now, me and Kev. The others moved on before you got here,” he stated in an offhand manner.

Kev sounded almost hurt as he pointed out, “And Jay Dubya… Remember, he came up with us back then, and moved back to looking after H2 after the Second Faction War?”

Mac raised his hands to ward off any escalation. “Woah, yes, I stand corrected, three of us left,” then he paused. “Well, two and a half really,” he amended, lowering his hands again and glancing slyly over at Kev.

Kev rolled his eyes and sighed heavily with exasperation while Mac continued smugly, “We only count Kev’s second gold as a half because his drop-ships got lost and we had to cover his arse for the first half of the war.”

“Is the fact that you had to cover me a few times ever going to get old?” Kev demanded in mock indignation.

“Not really,” Mac responded with a beatific look on his face.

The two locked gazes, a calculating look coming across Kev’s face, his visage transforming with a malicious smirk. “Do I need to remind you that I’ve paid that back at least a few times since then?” he remarked pointedly.

It was Mac’s turn to groan and roll his eyes, looking to the heavens for confirmation that the conversation was headed I the direction he suspected it was. “You’re going to trot out the stock yard story again…”, he stated flatly.

The other pilots were watching the exchange keenly as if at a tennis match. “Stock yard?” inquired Mike.

Kev’s countenance was one of complete innocence. “You mean Mr Elite Pilot here hasn’t told you what happened at the stock yard?”

“I’m surprised you haven’ already…” put in Mac in a disgusted tome.

Unable to keep up the innocent charade, Kev was by now grinning from ear to ear. “You tell it,” he offered. “It always sounds better when you have to admit to your own shortcoming,” he said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Mac’s shoulders slumped as he sighed before he resignedly began the tale.

“Alright then. The stock yard. It was back during the opening phases of the abortion that was known as the Second Faction War…”

Wind and drizzle. The type of mix that seems too light to worry about, but invades every gap, exploits every opening, leaving you drenched and cold no matter what protection you have on. Grey filtered sunlight, mixed with the exhaust fumes from the newly released Raw Alcohol Combustion engines used by the big mechs. Gravel crunching underfoot, the ground churned by too many machines in too close proximity.

The figure half ran, skipping around puddles, shoulders hunched and head buried down into the upturned collar of his greatcoat. Hands thrust deep in pockets, leading with his shoulders to dodge and weave through the forest of mechanical legs, the undergrowth of packing and munitions crates, the fauna of hurrying technicians and pilots.

Just once, he thought, it would be nice to be sent to a vaguely hospitable war zone instead of some damp armpit. A tropical beach perhaps. With cheerleaders. Clothing optional.

His communicator chimed to interrupt this train of fantasy, struggling to be heard over the roar of automated mayhem. He pulled his wrist clear from the deep pocket and checked the caller I.D. before responding.

“Kev, whats the story?” he yelled over the surrounding cacophony.

“I was going to ask you that,” came the reply, harsh with static from the surrounding weight of metal.

Mac glanced around disgustedly. “Haven’t found them yet to find out,” he answered. “How are we looking back there?”

“Well, we’ve got the main formations out of the drop ships, but it’s wall to wall. If we don’t get some wiggle room back here then I’m scared that Eric is going to… well, start doing that thing…” Kev’s voice trailed off uneasily.

Mac sighed inwardly. One of these days they were going to have to do something about that ‘issue’. Possibly through negative reinforcement therapy using a rolled up newspaper… wrapped around a truncheon.

That unsavory contemplation was curtailed as he spotted someone whose insignia advertised him as one of the Smurf’s senior pilots.

“Understood Kev, look I’ll call you back,” he curtly signed off as he cut the line and hurried after his target, waving his arms to attract the pilot’s attention. “Hey bud, any idea what the damn hold up is? he called.

The pilot raised his eyes with a scowl, obviously preparing some tirade due for a lesser mortal but was pulled up short by the sight of epaulettes denoting a field commander, albeit a brevet rank. “Dunno, check with the smurfing top brass.. over there,” he waved vaguely past the boundary of mecha toward what seemed to be open waste ground.

Following the directions, Mac saw two figures a short way from him, one hunkered down under a low wall while the other scanned over the lip with a magnocular set. Taking heed from their postures, Mac made his way toward them in an awkward low run and came in alongside at a crouch.

“Harley,” he said in greeting to the Smurf Brigade leader, then nodded to the other in acknowledgement. “Mr Penner... the Don sends his regards.”

“I bet he does…” came the grinning reply. That particular feud had taken legendary status in both their respective clans.

Mac composed himself as best he was able while down on his haunches, mentally preparing a more politically correct version of what he actually wanted to say. “There appears to be a bit of an issue,” he began. “I’ve got mechs packed in between here and the drop-ships, and if we don’t make any headway before somebody on the opposition gets creative with an artillery strike, there could potentially be an amount of unpleasantness.”

Penner nodded. “We’re trying to force a salient, but we’ve got problems. We’re penned in on three sides. This area here is about our best chance of breaking out, but it’s not brilliant… look, here’s the problem,” he said, gesturing over his shoulder with a thumb to indicate the other side of the wall. Mac peeped over to take a quick look and quickly ducked back down.

“It’s part of the storm water runoff system,” Penner continued. “Old style concrete. Sixty degree banks on either side, forty meter drop this side, forty back up at the other. The channel itself is over three hundred meters wide, no cover, then scale the opposite banks. They’re dug in all along the top on the far side.” Mac glanced over again, this time noting the tell-tale glint of dim light off metal carapace armor.

Harley hawked and spat into a nearby puddle. “Can you rush it? I don’t see much more in the way of options…”

Penner grinned mirthlessly. “Yes, we can. Even as it stands, I’d still say my Omegas could take and hold the far side, long enough for the rest of you to reinforce us…. If it wasn’t for that.” His finger stabbed in the direction of a slender bridge a few hundred meters along from their position.

“That overhead pass way. Looks like it’s for goods trucks. The orbital scans show it opening out into what looks like a goods loading yard at the far side. They’ve got mechs up there and they have a clean shot straight down the length of the trench. As soon as we drop over this wall we get hit by an enfilade.”

Harley grunted and shrugged. “Ok, so we clear it,” he stated dismissively.

“Not we,” corrected Penner. “I need my main strength here if there’s going to be any chance to force that far bank.”

“Blow the span then,” Mac suggested.

Both Harley and Penner shook their heads. “Can’t.” said Harley. “The adjudicators have put a block on intentional infrastructure damage. We do that, we forfeit.” He paused to rub dripping water from his eyes, then looked the Heroes pilot over speculatively. “Say, Last time you were in Brigade, you made a lot of noise about Heroes being a light and recon unit, yuh?”

Mac returned his gaze with a sour look, already guessing where the conversation was leading. “That was H2, but yeah, I remember.”

He activated his wrist unit and called up his personal A.I. “Dolly? What have you got on that pass way construction?”

Standard thermoplas material construction, single piece span. Single lane in both directions, twenty meter width. Maximum load is rated at around one point five Kilotons. For once Dolly had suppressed any of her… its… usual witticisms and was sticking to a factual readout.

Mac thought for a second, carrying on the conversation with himself even though there were three other interested parties. “So with the mechs that are already up there, it’s got to be lights otherwise we bring the span down anyway just by overloading it… bugger.” Then to Harley, “OK, I’ll clear it.”

“Clear and hold,” corrected Penner. “I need time to get across and give them something better to think about before you pull out.”

Mac nodded in grim agreement. “Clear and hold.”

Another quick, low sprint across the open area and he was back among the assembling assault wave. Slowing to a jog, he instructed the A.I. to give him a clan frequency, and commenced issuing instructions as soon as he received a ‘ready’ chirrup from the comm unit.
“Mac here. Squadron orders, all reserve pilots to your mechs. Prepare attack formation Leonidas, but be on standby for swift formation changes. All other Heroes units, clear me a path to the drop-ships, I’ve got mechs coming through.”

Acknowledgements, more than a few grumbling, came flooding back.

“We about to go for it?” queried one pilot.

“Not yet Eric. All of you, form up behind the Omegas and stand ready. Take your lead from Penner. He’s giving the order for the main attack. Best of luck, see you on the flip side.”

A waiting armorer held the access ladder steady as Mac handed over his greatcoat and ascended to the cockpit of his personal ‘Thesis, the ‘Wellington’. The rear four ranks of his main attack formation were filtering back through the lines, making room for their replacements while freeing up room for the other squadrons to wheel about to their jump off positions.

The point Ammonite ‘Nemesis’ and the Ballista ‘Ypres’ took four steps to the left in synchronization, allowing the Krampus ‘Ionion’ to squeeze into the new elongated battle line while three Ogguns loped forward to take up skirmish positions at the front. Last into place was the ancient Fides ‘Urachnia’, a museum piece even before Mac had ‘acquired’ it under dubious circumstances. About a third of its armor plating was a patchwork of masking tape and primer, a sure sign that the formation change had caught the techs on the hop and that she had been hastily set loose from the upgrade workshops.

The last icon on his heads up display changed from amber to green and he signaled the formation to move out, rotating left in a sharp turn using the Dreadnought ‘Kingpin’, prize mech of the First Faction War as its pivot point. Within moments they were clear of the main assembly point and had performed another sharp about face, forming for a run at the bridge.

“Penner, Mac here. I’m in position.”

“In your own time then,” crackled the response.

Mac exhaled long and hard, rotating his neck and shoulders with a satisfying gristly noise. Thumbing the comm channel over to squadron local he breathed, “Ok, Let’s do this. Take them at a run.”

Unleashed, the squadron set off at a walk and accelerated through a fast trot to a headlong charge, thundering up the thermoplas pass way. They were in dead ground due to the spans curvature, but within seconds the first enemy line was in view and they took them by complete surprise.

Three groups, all sub seventy five tonners, but the two groups further along were obscured by their compatriots and unable to get a clean line of sight. Nor could they manoeuvre for an oblique shot due to the narrowness of the pass way.

Iron clashed, steel shivered, guns roared and lasers flashed as the Heroes’ skirmish line drove into the enemy. Two opposition mechs went down in quick succession before they found their rhythm, then weight of metal began to tell as their return fire started to dismantle the lighter Heroes units.

But that was a mixed blessing for as the skirmishers fell, a firing lane was opened for Mac’s super heavies and the war god’s hammer was wielded.

Ypres blasted away at the downed defenders, making sure of the kills. Nemesis knelt by the guardrail and pumped covering fire up the road as Ionion scampered crabwise around the wreckage, hunting its next victim. The Wellington and the Kingpin simply hurdled the prone scrap, keeping the momentum as they piled into the next line and the war god laughed as thunder rolled across the bridge.

The whole action lasted less than forty brutal seconds from the first shot being fired. Four mechs remained standing.

“Nemesis, get to those security booths at the far end and give me some over watch!” Mac yelled.  “The rest of you, clear the pass way! Tip the wrecks over the side! I don’t want anything auto repairing behind us!”

Ypres’ pilot was out of breath, his mech hanging limply at the waste from where it had taken a lucky shot in a spinal actuator. “What about the crews?” he wanted to know.

“Shock frames should save them, and if not then it’s their own damn fault for not wearing a seat belt.” snorted Mac. ‘C’mon people, get to repairing. Help your nanos do their work. We need to be mobile and off this thing!”

Already there was movement from his downed units. The Oggun ‘Xenon’ was holding a severed leg in place while its nanobots bonded the main limb framework back together on a molecular level. Ypres’ back actuator came online and it stretched upwards, swiveling at the hips to test the repair before shuffling over and using its feet to scoop scrap material towards the downed Oggun ‘Zen’ and the heap that was the Urachnia.

Noting that repairs were in hand, Mac turned his attention to avenues of threat. “Nemesis? Status Report.”

“All clear best I can see. These security booths cover the entrance to the yard proper… a lot of open ground, a few detached trailers parked up and some shipping containers. Other than that, warehouses, loading docks, lifters. Zero movement.”

Yeah, but it’s unlikely to stay that way Mac thought, his gut clenching, knowing they had moments at most before hostiles arrived. He thumbed the channel to Brigade Broadcast.

“Penner, I have the pass way. Ball’s in your court…”

By now all his mechs were at least mobile, even if armor still showed gaping holes that were being woven over with a patchwork of molecular fiber as the repair systems continued working. The security booths at least blocked line of sight, even if their thin tin and perspex shells wouldn’t stop a determined hamster, let alone heavy ordnance. They did however funnel traffic and the mechs had to form into columns to navigate passage.

“Move quickly guys,” he instructed over the local squadron link. “We need to spread out and get into cover. Make sure we can get that open area in a good crossfire if they come back through.”

He let the squadron pass by his mount as he hailed his reserve units. “Get the battle line up here.. and watch to make sure you don’t overload that span! Bring them over no more than five at a time, OK?”

His Antithesis swung in at the back of the line and passed through the security gates as the squadron shook out into its previous double rank formation and fanned out across the stock yard.

They would have covered perhaps seventy meters across open ground when every proximity alarm in the group screamed in unison. Masked by the ferrous constructs and rolling stock, multiple mechs powered their plants and rose into view…

...and the war god smiled…

To be continued…









Submitted by David McCallum#701548

Six Banger Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

For levels 20 and up we have this Niode missile system. It will run you 450 Ferrite, 345 Bioptics, 31 Niodes, or bulk buy 5 for 124 Niodes with only 228 left out of 250. It boasts abilities of Fork at 20%, 2X Damage at 6%, and does straight damage of 55, with a speed of 99.

An affordable system with average speed for a missile, respectable damage, and Fork is always a good thing. Fork can of course be further augmented by mecha build and equipment load out. 2X damage is nothing to scoff at either with the base being 55. This weapon in theory can double its damage capability and fork it right along the line to the next mecha to cause major damage for a minor investment.










Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Weapon Review Tenderizer Elite Missile By Deborah Roaché-Hudak#289133

A low level missile drop came for pilots level 10 and above. This speedy weapon is much faster than most missiles, giving you 99 speed to get those weapons fired. The 35 damage will make an impact when you land those hits. A bit pricey at 17 niodes, 365 ferrite and 270 bioptics, you'll get what you've paid for with this choice because it's worth having if you need more missiles.

The bonuses include 15% fork and 4% 2x damage. If it wasn't enough you'll hit harder with the added damage this one brings, the 2x damage kicking in will really have your opponent cringing. You'll also smack the mecha above or below your target when the fork activates. This limited drop has only 350 offered and are over one-quarter gone.








Submitted by Deborah Roaché-Hudak #289133

Vupa Cannon Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

The Vupa Cannon is available to levels 25 and up. It costs 375 Ferrite, 300 Bioptics, 10 Crystal, or buy 5 40 Crystal no limit/restrictions. It is a straight damage only weapon with 24 Damage, 105 Speed, and no abilities.

These could be considered training wheels for bigger guns as it gets you used to having advanced weapon speed on your side but not necessarily damage. You can of course augment it further with precision cock pit equipment, or any that adds bonuses to projectile weapons. By and large the key here is speed, and to hit hard before they can have a chance to hit you back. Play it smart and capitalize on a mecha build with proper load outs for projectile weapons and this weapon will start to impress with its ability to rapid fire!

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Weapon Review El Pistolero By Deborah Roaché-Hudak#289133

A new projectile weapon dropped for pilots level 20 and above. You'll need to spend 31 niodes, 470 ferrite and 355 bioptics for this 55 damage weapon. Only 250 total weapons were made available and the first fifty went quickly with no limit on this purchase. The fast speed of 105 will help get the first shot off in many fights. El Pistolero will compliment a few mechas that you should have on the field or in your hangar.

The bonuses should make you smile, having both 2x and 3x damage. The 2x damage at 3% and the 3x being at 5% will increase the number of heavy hits you'll deliver. You'll shock the opponent when you have triple digit hits beating them down. If you have skill points in cannon, you should consider this one before it's all gone.









Deborah Roaché-Hudak #289133

Tenderizer Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

This is for minimum levels of 10 and up and will cost you 365 Ferrite, 270 Bioptics, and 17 Niodes. Or bulk buy 5 for 68 Niodes. at present there are now only 312 out of 550 left. This missile system does straight damage of 35, with a speed of 99, it has for abilities, Fork of 15%, and 2X Damage of 4%.

For a lower level weapon this is pretty solid all around. Decent straight damage, speed on par with most other missile systems, keeping with the Fork theme this again also offers fork for dealing out damage. As I said earlier, right mecha build, equipment load out, and the percentages on fork from weapons can pretty much guarantee most of your shots with such a weapon do indeed fork. So get em while they are available kids these goodies won't last long.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

M-75 Tetrad Weapon Review By Pat Willis#22453

For a minimum level of 30 and up this missile system will run you 650 Ferrite, 560 Bioptics, and 35 Niodes. Buy in bulk 5 for 140 Niodes, at present there are only 247 out of 500 left. This missile system has a straight damage of 62, a speed of 99 , and the abilities of Fork at 25% with 3x Damage at 5%.

All in all a pretty solid weapon straight damage is very decent even without the bonus abilities. However the 3X damage is nice just not a very high percentage, this is worth it for the Fork ability. Many mechas now are coming onto the market with fork in the build stats, proper equipment load out combined with the build stats, plus the percentages from this weapon could make Fork a very deadly ability when using this system.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Hidden Loot Part 2 By Kalevi Karvinen#863817

Have you ever collided with force field when you try enter in the gate? Nasty feeling that, even fatal sometimes if the hit is hard enough. How about when you exit from a gate? Ever got a hit to your back end? Not so fatal usually, but damn humiliating. That's why we walk slowly to the gate, and run when we come out. And as soldier, I have done my share of practice for both scenarios. In training and in real situations. But this mess was something new.

I wasn't the  first to go in, so there was possibility that ahead there could be an obstacle. Including some unknown danger. What I did see, was not the mech that went before me, but a brown wall, almost as high as my mech was. Still at full run I started to turn, but that wall continued all around. Couldn't fire any weapons, and the next mech would come out through the gate soon, so the only option was to climb that wall. Mechs are not built for that. Neither was that wall.

Before I got close to that wall, it attacked me. Or rushed... collided... Brown, wet mass of something. That stopped me, then came that hit behind and I was hurled deeper in that thing. My mechs were all buried, but at least the link was still good, so I did know that they were intact. Stuck but intact. Sensors worked too, not really well but managed to get some readings. It looked that whole expedition force got hit with this brown stuff, what ever this was, and we all were stuck. Time to die.

But no, there was Drake and his toys. I had hear rumors about a flying mech, but haven't seen any in real life. He's got two. One by one they lifted my mech back to the surface. Or as close to the surface as they could. This was a swamp, a large swamp. Sensors didn't get any indication that this swamp would ever end. Nice. Nothing better to do, and it was kinda necessary, we started to make solid ground. By walking in circles, compressing dirt little by little, making an ever growing pile, so at the end of day, some of our mechs were only waist down in the swamp.

Remote mechs were sacrificed to make harder ground. So my long collected, bad ass formation, was reduced to the half it's strength. Better ones stand top of not so good ones. Of course there was nothing beyond repair on those bottom ones, they just couldn't move really well because of all this dirty stuff. Three days it took to dig mechs out, and cleaned off what we could. Didn't find all of them. Twenty or so were missing. Maybe there were some deeper holes at the bottom of  the swamp. Or their links malfunctioned and we just missed them. Not very big loss, we still got plenty of working ones.

I was kinda out of loop, what was planned next. Not very surprising, I was an outsider, at best I was treated like a mercenary. Flying mechs were sent scouting, I think the mission was to find high ground, or even better, end of the swamp. We could walk out of here, if we just figured what direction we should go. And another gate would be nice find too. Our entry gate didn't permit us to leave. What I overheard, it was working as it should, but it was one-way gate. Who has ever heard of a gate like that?

I think it was sixth day, or actually night, when the shooting started. Typical panic shooting, when you think there is something out in the dark, and you want to scare it away. Or kill if you are lucky. What I did hear later, something was moving around our force. In the swamp. Something large with faint energy signature. Sometimes it was there and then not anymore. Nobody actually saw it, what ever, if anything, there was. But we moved the outer perimeter out, so the intruder would be noticed earlier, if they came again.

They came alright. We lost thirteen mechs with pilots next night. Lots of shooting, sound of tearing metal and splashing mud. We were a sad group when morning came. And scared. They did find bite marks on some mech. Bite marks? On ferronite that is designed for war. Big bite marks. That thing who was out there could swallow a Red Ant whole. Or things, there were hits on different sides of our camp. But where were the missing mechs? And was it only bad luck, or why were targeted mechs the ones with humans inside? Sure there were hits to the remote ones too, but all missing ones, were piloted ones... No doubt about it in my mind, we were watched!

Next day we were busy with preparations, this was war and are used to it, some little more than others but all did know what to expect next. So when night came, it was not dark any more. Mechs had been moved on circle formation, remote mechs formed outer perimeter, and weapons were hot. Flying ones were back too, they moved slowly around camp. We were ready. And it didn't matter at all...

First warning was multiple missile salvos, flying ones came down hard and lots of lights went out. Shooting back was instant, huge areas of swamp erupted in the air, but still there was no sign that we hit anything. Quiet. Not really, but as quiet as army in ambush can be quiet. No recognizable danger in sight. And then the first mech went under. Then another. And next. I don't think that anybody cared at all about those pilots inside, so much fire was poured right at them. I was close enough to see, when 85 ton Jottun went down like a slipping human. After it rushed scores of laser beams, screaming projectiles, even scorching fire that has little effect in watery environment.

Really don't know what that Jottun was carrying, but it did die with huge ball of snow and ice. And fog was like white night. It even make sounds of combat a little muted, like it all happened far, far away. So muted, that when sounds stopped altogether, I was more scared than I have been ever before.

Finally the fog cleared enough, that we could see again. The swamp was frozen where the Jottun exploded. Almost a hundred meter wide area was solid mud ice. There were a few smaller mechas already walking on top of it, inspecting the area of explosion. One stopped. Backed away weapons pointing at something in the ice. Scores of big mechs started forward, clearly in attack formation. Again I was hoping that I could listen to their radio communications, but no, I was still untrustworthy. But at least I could see what they were doing.

A circle was formed around something. Lasers started burning, clearly in cutting purpose. Something was trapped in the ice. Something big, judging by the size of the chunk they were making. Then came lifting without equipment that was meant to do a job like that, but they did manage. Again they used lasers, to dig into that frozen mud cube. Then first beam rebound. Then another. There was actually something inside. Work slowed down. I did see Drake there too.

Next thing was something out from tales of drunken pilot. Ignis. No, two of them, moved on site. Behind them came two Aspis. Mechs from legends. They climbed almost to the top of that ice pile...... Is there something alive there? Something that need those four to hold it in check?

Melting continues. I see something metallic... a mech of some sort. Long body, kinda flat. There are legs, I see two, there must be two in the other side of body too. That must be tail... almost half it's length is tail... Those look like missile openings in it's back... It got actual mouth? With teeth? Why it is so long? Who ever got the idea that mecha can fight by biting the enemy. I bet that there are more weapons in it's mouth. Or access to cockpit. Submerged mech... in the swamp. Appearance like some sort of lizard... actually there is something similar, compared to Ignis or Aspis... Something about surface design...

If we, or at least I, ever get out of here, this gonna be huge news. We are all gonna be rich. All who survive that is, other mechs are still out there, and I bet that they won't leave us in peace.

(again, maybe to continue)

Submitted by Kalevi Karvinen#863817

Y. L. O. D. (Elite) Laser Weapon Review By Deborah Roaché-Hudak #289133

The Yellow Light Of Destruction is an elite laser for players level 10 and up. For starter pilots, this weapon can help make the difference between whether or not You Live Or Die. You'll be set back 370 ferrite, 280 bioptics and 17 niodes but will be packing 36 damage with a top speed of 102.. This far excesses anything you have access to purchasing on a regular basis.

Those who love surprises will enjoy seeing where the hit lands when the Wild kicks in. The likelihood of making those hits increases with a 4 precision added to this weapon. If you like to gamble, you'll be satisfied with the random mechas dropping when this laser goes wild, bringing a direct and powerful beam. Only 250 dropped so don't delay.









Submitted by Deborah Roaché-Hudak #289133