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

Goliath Rack Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

Today we are looking at the crystal missile launcher known as the Goliath Rack. It is available to levels 40 and up, with no limits or restrictions listed. As usual we'll be looking in the same weapon category to compare it to the weapons above and beneath it level wise.

So at level 34 the Quad Rocket is the weapon to compare, it sports a 36 damage, a speed of 93, and no weapon ability attached to it.

The Goliath rack has the damage advantage, looses out on speed but gives you a weapon ability of Splash at 5%. So clearly an upgrade to its predecessor.

Then at level 45 we have the S2A Missile, which does 42 damage, has a speed of 90, and a weapon ability of Splash at 2%.

Oddly enough the Goliath rack is still a contender, yes it looses out in damage by 2 points, but the speed is comparable, and the weapon ability is stronger by 3%.  So unless you REALLY want those extra 2 damage points honestly there is no hurry to upgrade to the S2A Missile system as the Goliath Rack is a very viable weapon for its level bracket and as we can see even beyond it.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

The Brotherhood And Dragons Have Combined Forces By Pat Willis#224534

We had initially touched on this subject a couple of months back in a Galaxy Gossip piece titled, "Evolve or Die". Well it would seem that it is gossip/rumor no longer. I can report that it is a reality as of now. As a member of the Brotherhood I had the chance to see most of the inner workings behind this merger.

Brotherhood command took all of our thoughts, questions, doubts, and aspirations into account. They addressed what we asked them to, they saw to it that we would still be a cohesive group within a group. That we would be stationed together whenever possible, and that we would still retain much of our rich and legendary history.

For instance our clan number I.D. has been 323 as Northwind Highlanders of the Brotherhood. We maintained our clan I.D., opened Garhan station to members of the Dragons clan and became the Northwind Dragons. Neatly incorporating each other into our ranks and vice versa. Thus far the transition remains a smooth and uncomplicated one.

The Dragons understand they are dealing with a long lineage that dates back to the early days of Mecha Galaxy, and they respect that. They understand that the Brotherhood has its own reputation, as well as traditions, and they know such are important to Brotherhood members. As such they have treated this with the utmost respect and courtesy, not only to the clan at large but to each of us as individuals.

So now we are a Brotherhood still but a Brotherhood of Dragons, we still are Northwind but Dragons as opposed to Highlanders. Our traditions and ways are welcomed as well as respected among our new clan mates, our fighting styles and level averages compliment each other rather well. Both groups had a solid reputation and fighting track record on their own, it will be exciting and interesting to see what this combination can do in future wars.

Oh yeah, and we got a fancy new clan insignia as well....

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Logo by Germán Jaramillo Pulido#685605

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

Rocket Roll Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

Today we're looking at a no longer available limited release niode missile launcher the Rocket Roll. All pertinent information is contained in the image and again was a limited availability weapon for levels 22 and up. As usual we'll be looking in the same weapon family at the weapons closest below, and above in levels to compare it with.

The weapon beneath it in level is the Advanced Fury Rack, available to levels 15 and up. It sports 18 straight damage, a speed of 91, and the weapon ability of Fork at 60%. The Rocket Roll has damage beat, as well as speed, and even though it has two weapon abilities they honestly don't match up to a Fork ability at 60%.

Above it level wise is the Black Rain missile launcher available to pilots level 25 and up. That has 31 straight damage, a speed of 92, and a weapon ability of Fork at 60% also. Again the Rocket Roll has the straight damage and speed advantages but honestly it just can not beat another weapon with an ability set at 60%.

All in all the Rocket Roll is a fine weapon with respectable straight damage, as well as speed but it simply can not compete with either weapon it is listed here with seeing as it has half the weapon ability of the other two, and that is with factoring in a secondary weapon ability that it has at 3% for 2X damage. It's a decent weapon in and of itself but lets face it readily available weapons with Fork abilities at 60% makes this weapon lose out every time.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Anonymous by Ron Frye #879655

Submitted by Ron Frye #879655

Return of the Unification by Theo Peoples #847147

They are coming back. Recently a portal to another dimension has opened right on AFF’s doorstep. The alarm awakens me from my booze soaked slumber. We are getting called to the command center for an emergency briefing. I stumble into the command center still reeling from the night before. As I head to my seat, attempting to light my cigar at the same time, I notice not only am I not the first person there, I’m practically the last one entering. As I go to sit, I listen to the chatter about the Unification returning. With us it was not a talk of worry or distraught, more like excitement, since we do love a good battle. Our fearless leader Luc Lachance heads to the front with the tough task of calming down all of us Gung-Ho maniacs. He calmly gathers himself and informs us of our favorite plan; “You know the drill, something needs killing, and we are the ones to do it.”


As he is going over the details of the why part, I am already beginning to zone out. Scout forces and AFF, Half-Baked Harrison and portal stabilization devices, all topics that either go over my pay grade or don’t interest me. But then he gets to the where and I begin to get interested. We are headed for a small ferrite mining planet out near the far reaches. Apparently the Unification forces have set up a
forward base in a rather quick and discreet fashion. Our task is to engage and hold or destroy the enemy forces while the PSD plan is put into play to close the portal. Standard gateway drop formations are called for most. The goal is to land just outside of the unification operating range and steamroll in, destroying all resistance along the way. Our own leader tells us he plans to drop near the natural gas vents of the planet and follow them toward the base, increasing the power of his flame weapons considerably. Chris Harding is charged with engaging Unification light and medium scout forces over some unstable grounds only fit for the lower tonnage. Chris chooses to take his trusty squadron of Vizi’s, Warg’s, and Ogguns to navigate the terrain and crush the enemy.


Then there is myself. I am given the task of dropping behind enemy lines in a stealth mode of sorts. The only way to accomplish this gateway drop that wouldn’t trigger alarms is to take only a handful of each mech, or a Triple Rainbow. I am given the task of engaging the enemy, try to push forward slow and steady while the others plough through their front lines headed my way. The goal is to slow down the possible enemy reinforcements while the others engage and push them back.


As the briefing goes on an emergency message comes in, “There is a plan to close the portal. All mercenary clans are asked to participate.” Luc goes over to the screen and reviews the plan. We are then informed that we will change our battle formations, split into 2 teams. The first team will go on with the assault. The second smaller team will stay behind and work with Half Baked Harrison and the AFF to close the portal. Stephen, Troy, and Moe are picked to stay behind. The rest of us prepare for battle.


'The Day' has come and we prepare for the gateway jump. We receive the signal from Stephen that they will begin to enact their side of the plan a while after we leave. I get my squad ready and begin to move out. As my team hits the ground it’s silent, a little eerie. I look on the radar looking for the first enemy on sight. I’m ready to engage the first mech I see. I pull up the long range and spot a blimp in the distance, halfway between the enemy base and myself. I send the order out for full combat speed, weapons ready. My team moves through the area at top speed. The Dreadnaughts are sent ahead to begin the bombardment with the Antithesis and Boreas coming in for cleanup. We engage the enemy with the sounds of cannons roaring and missiles flying by our cockpits. And yet the battle is almost over before it began. I continue to look on the long range scanners and see nothing. I break the radio silence “Command, I’m not seeing any targets, almost smells like a trap. Any reports from the front?”


“No activity to report, oddly quiet across all squads,” he replies. Then sh*t hits the fan, an S.O.S. is coming across from the base. The plan to close the large portal has opened a smaller one at our base!!!


I order a full retreat back to the portal for my squad. I am getting scattered reports from the comms about the Unification pouring through the portal. Those who stayed behind are barely holding on. I send a call to my hanger on the base and order all remaining pilots to get any remaining mechs on the field. The second of command of my team, a 2nd generation very angry Drake clone informs me simply, “I’m singing to the choir and to shut the hell up, we are on the move already.” Gotta love that guy. I continue to the portal as I am one of the last ones to make it back being the furthest out. I go through it at full speed, ignoring all the safety limits, don’t have time for safety when the base is under attack. Full combat speed is ordered to meet up with my remaining team as soon as we exit the gateway.


My team comes barreling through under heavy fire. Bing and Glenn are nearby engaging the enemy with full strength, trying to keep them at bay while the rest make it through. Chris is the last to make it back with his lighter formation. Bing and myself are tasked with providing him cover fire while he returns to his hanger to retrieve his main force. As he makes it back I received word that the remainder of my forces are headed my way to meet up. The longer this battle goes on is not good for us. The Unification army has managed to take out our communications tower and subsequent command center. It quickly becomes a chaotic battle where the only thing we can do is shoot first and ask questions later.


The battle has raged on for over 5 hours now as they continue to pour through the portal. I have no idea whose team is where and operational. As the battle is beginning to wear on us all, I spot one of the Lady Viva’s Axe Bots running communications between squads. Their is hope after all! The Unification forces are beginning to trip over there own smoldering mechs. We have inadvertently created a small wall of fallen mechs that is giving them more trouble than it seems to be worth. The enemy has begun to withdraw. They were unable to capitalize on the element of surprise, and the overwhelming numbers were becoming their undoing.


Finally the portal is closed. We continue to sweep the area, looking for any stragglers. Then Luc comes over the recently duct tape repaired comms, “Congratulations guys, we survived the onslaught. That was fun, let's do it again sometime” In a dark way we all agree, because in the end, we are a bunch of battle loving maniacs!


Submitted by Theo Peoples #847147

T10 Tsunami Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

The T10 has a minimum level requirement of 55. All pertinent stats including purchase info are in the image. With that said lets see if it's worth the niodes. I say it depends on your play style, do you go in for the quick kill or do you hold out playing the long game until those big but slow weapons come online?

Let me explain this weapon sacrifices its speed for possible damage. This is of course is a trade off, being slower in speed to fire but if it does go off chances are it will fork the damage.

Variable of course by mech and equipment type the Fork can reach higher numbers. Will you see it go off often with that speed on it? Probably not but when it does launch and hit it will make itself known to your opponent. So depending on your play style this weapon may be right up your alley, this is a clear cut definition of slow and steady nukes em all.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Black Watch Niode Ice Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

Another look back on limited availability weapons of the past. Today we're looking back on The Black Watch niode Ice weapon, all pertinent information about it are in the image, please remember it has come and gone already.

 Let's talk for a second about the fact it is a 62 Damage weapon available to level 30 players. That is unheard of really, a crystal based Crystalion does 59 damage and is available at level 69, then there is the Gorgon crystal ice weapon sitting at 67 damage for levels 79 and up. The Black Watch ice weapon sits nicely in between the two with a damage of 62.

The speed isn't too bad either as most high end crystal ice weapons have speeds of 99. The speed this weapon has is comparable to the Winter's Grasp Ice weapons that come with a Boreas mecha. Really the fastest ice weapon is the Tinsel E.M.P. with both speed and damage set at 111, but that is an exception to the rule. For an ice weapon this is a decent speed honestly, and stats wise it matches weapons in the same category that are 30-40 levels higher than itself roughly.

Put this on a mecha sporting added ice damage, or inbuilt slow and freeze effects and this gun will shine, as it already has those abilities built in. at that point all you are doing is increasing your odds of the weapon using its special abilities. As always a mechas built stats, your skill point allotment placement,and equipment load outs will have a huge impact on how your mecha performs, but for the level, with the damage it does, and the speed it fires at, this is not an ice weapon to pass up.


Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

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