New Things In Game By Pat Willis#224534

Hello all, unless you have been away from the cockpit or living in a cave shacked up with Vol worms, you probably noticed a few new things in our beloved Galaxy. First off the niode lotto now runs three times a day at eight hour intervals. In theory this should allow more entries per day, cycle through the winners faster, and alleviate all the..."Its rigged!" cries on the game board.

Next up is a show off your best damage feature. On the home page it highlights for you the biggest damage thrown out thus far in combat. Now this is not necessarily your biggest and best damage, just the biggest and best hit that happened at the time from any player. To that I have to say, yeah it looks good but unless it is strictly keeping track of my damage, I really am not concerned with it and it is basically...."Cool story bro."

Lastly we have now in game chat. A small side bar appears to the right of your screen in Facebook when you access the game, and you can chat with whomever is online at that time. Hard to catch folks in there sometimes as most log in, do their thing, and leave. But there are conversations to be had, as well as smack talk galore. It should prove highly interesting come the next Wars or raids to see who has what to say in that chat. So that's what is new and exciting in your Galaxy today, thanks for tuning in and as always happy hunting.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Ask The Editors By Pat Willis#224534 And Germán Jaramillo Pulido#685605

Hello everyone, today we are trying something a bit different. We're letting players if they like, ask us questions as either individuals, or as a group. If this is popular or enough questions come in we would consider giving this its own category in the side bar. Questions can be asked either here on site, or in our facebook group. Just remember to put your user ID# in so we can credit you for it. Today's questions from Germán Jaramillo Pulido#685605 for myself.

Germán asks the following....
1. After these three years of Mecha Galaxy... How has this universe evolved through the time?

2. How do you find the balance between wallets and free players?

3. What are the main points that encourage free players to stay in MG universe, with all those walletsharks around?

4. How the player population grew/decayed along the three years?

5. How many of the old glorious clans stay alive and how many have died in the long run till the present?

So in order then.....
1. We have equipment for starters! It may not seem like much but for a couple years equipment was "coming soon" and we saw hide nor hair of it for a long, long time. I can recall when the Dilophos was the newest mecha, there were no mechas listed after it and huge and BMF mecha weren't even a thing. So a lot more mechs in general. Also player input and creativity have gone way way up. We used to only have A.N.N. Now we have them, us, the Wikipedia being made. The player Senate has come and gone, I was there for the first Faction war, which the Brotherhood won in Div1. We have so many different types of KOTM now hangers didn't used to be so simple click and go, they used to be drag and drop. So much has changed, grown, or been worked on overall it is hard to list here so lets call that the highlights reel.

2.Wallets and free players huh? Personally I find basic crystal stuff or "free players mecha/gear" to be alright, so it is very possible to get by in this game on such. With that said there is a definite difference between the two. Wallet warriors have all the new shiny mecha decked out with all the new shiny gear, and sporting the latest high damage weapons.( If they know how to build them or not, well that depends on who we are talking about.) Free players are by and large doing some form of camping. They sit in the lower to mid divisions, with mostly standard mechas and equip, and take it one tourney, or raid at a time. Keeping what they can use and selling the rest to upgrade what they have. So yeah there is a difference to a degree. Honestly they seem pretty evenly divided throughout the game so player wise the balance is real good, not to mention they seem pretty evenly spread throughout the divisions. Wallets usually buy levels and jump through the ranks while free usually take their time, camping as they go, so overall pretty well balanced out between the two.

3. Simply depends on what kind of person you are. If you give up easily this game may discourage you fast. The Devs try and give us all a shot though they have name the mecha contests, name the weapon, they have been known to let players have a go at being a boss raid bad guy. they listen, they do what they can, and they are the most interactive out of any development team I ever heard of. So for free players all I can say is hang in there, the wallet warriors will surpass you for greener pastures eventually. Losses don't count to your overall kill totals and don't deter you in any way game wise. Hang in there go for what you can, where you can, play to your strengths, get involved, and things can turn around fast.

4. Player population around here seems to be like any other game really. Get some growth here, some drop off there, oh look here come some more, rinse and repeat. Although once they branched out to Kong, we seemed to get a lot of new blood all at once. Although to be fair that could have been regular FB players starting up ALTS on kong in the beginning. Seeing as we get new players on a regular basis I would say overall it has been growth of the slow and steady variety.

5. Old clans, oh man... so many have come and gone through the time I've played it is hard to keep track of them all. I joined the AFF when it was first being formed, I am in The Brotherhood now which is among one of the oldest clan family names, if not the oldest now. I remember when Smurfs and Bunnies just started, when Murderbots ruled the roost and Cyberstorm was made to take them on (or so the story goes.) So many clans would form up then spark off, only to die and be disbanded a month later it is hard to keep track. So in all honesty on who has come and gone clan wise since I have been playing, way, way to many to name.

 
Submitted by  Pat Willis#224534 & Germán Jaramillo Pulido#685605

Turkey Cooker Weapon Review Germán Jaramillo# 685605

It’s Turkey Day, and the special day offer: The Turkey Cooker has already been sold!... 150 good units off now forever or at least for a long long time, until they got added into some special loot on Wars or Raids or future events…

1. INTRODUCTION/HISTORY:

December 3303… It’s turkeys’ day and the turkey has to be cooked… For the most bizarre Chefs the Galaxy Factories present… Ta-daaaaa the Turkey Cooker! An amazing flamethrower for low to high skilled pilots.

2. TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Manufacturer: Independent factories.
Quality: High tech niobium based weaponry with a spicy touch.

Damage: 55 (High for the available level 22, Average in the end leagues)
Speed: 104 (High)
Abilities: Burn 22% (High incineration power)

Availability: Already sold! Was available during the Thanksgiving Day with up to 150 acquirable units (maximum 10 units per squadron)… Did you bought any? Congratulations!

Cost: Ferrite: 400 (300 while there was a weapon sale); 300 bioptics (225…); 31 Niodes (23)
Bulking by 124 Niodes (93 by the discount)
Min level required to buy it: 22.

3. OPERATIVE LIFE:

In the earlier levels is a blast, in the higher levels still good for backup mechs… Might be a weapon you may keep forever.

4. DESCRIPTION:

Morphology: If you were close enough to check it, you got burn as a toasty turkey… No reports available aside a single word intercepted by intercom from one of our MIA spie... journalists: Hot!!!!
Guessing a bizarre flamethrower style model…

5. EVALUATION:

Tier VI
Score: 10/10 for light squads/rookies; 7/10 for higher pilots (Desirable)

A couple bulks and you were done… Did it? Yeah, congratulations… Other way, well, another hotty weapon before your eyes, not in your hands. Gasp. Gone sold in less than 24!











Submitted by Germán Jaramillo# 685605

Freeze

Turducken Cover A Thanksgiving Weapon Review By Germán Jaramillo#685605

Thanksgiving Day has come, and with this date, the consumption of false turkey specimens actually processed with meat of snavurm... During one of the gluttonous meals of snav... Ops, I am meaning: of turkey; the elite pilot Carlos Leiber, of the “666th Dragonslayer” Clan, decided to share his not so good desires with his major enemy, his ultra nemesis of the clan “Hunter of Dragon's” by shooting a few good volleys of missiles camouflaged with a framework in the shape of gigantic turkeys... Happy Turkey Day, Badass!

1. INTRODUCTION/HISTORY:

December 3303… It’s turkeys’ day and there is always time for unexpected ways to celebrate such a date in the shape of turducken cover expansive ballistic gifts.

2. TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Manufacturer: Independent factories.
Quality: Scratched niobium based weaponry with a secret elite recipe.

Damage: 58 (High-Average)
Speed: 100 (Average)
Abilities: Fork 50% & Splash 10% (High Tech Skills)

Availability: One was given to every mech pilot showing during the Turkey Day. Much love spread.
Min level required to buy it: NN.

3. OPERATIVE LIFE:

The superior skills of this weapon makes from this missile ammo something dangerous enough as to keep it equipped in your mechs even if you were fighting in the highest division.

4. DESCRIPTION:

Morphology: A special universal missile launcher is required in order to shoot this silly missile against your surprised enemy. Be care as you might spread the explosive damage on nearly targets as to spread collateral destruction all around.

Did you hear about the Troy Horse? Well this is not quite the same but… the missile head is camouflaged inside an unexpected turkey cover… Come on! Seriously? Oh yes man… Just let’s see the spectacle…

5. EVALUATION:

Tier VII
Score: 9+/10 (Advanced Scratch Tech)

Is free, has a decent damage (high for inexperienced pilots and light squads, decent for veterans) and the odd tech of its manufacture gives excellent if not superior qualities to deal whole damage among the enemy files… The only thing you may regret is to forget to visit the battlefield or the mech pilot social clubs during this day, missing the Turducken Cover from your arsenal.

 Submitted by Germán Jaramillo# 685605

Krampus Is Coming By Brian D. Wise#17026

... Sitting around the campfire one evening after the latest Clan War has ended, Michael Price tells the men a story.

"A few years ago I witnessed a battle that made me give up being a pilot. The field was as white as a sheet of paper and you couldn't see more than a few feet in front of you. I was piloting an oggun back then, and was guarding the rear of the supply convoy."

Michael sat there and stirred the fire, looking into the heart of the fire. The men around them felt a deep chill in the air.

"A blizzard was upon us. In the blinding snow, we could see shadows moving. At first we thought it was some of our own forces. But soon communications started to come of a ghost army attacking the front lines. We stood there shocked as we heard this."

The men felt the fire grow weaker despite it roaring in front of them.

"This ghost army would not stop. Mechs of all tonnage were slowly whittled away as wave after wave fell upon them. They couldn't see who they were fighting, and the sounds of men and mechs being slaughtered wholesale was terrible. But, we stood there as our friends fought valiantly, soon we could here the roar of cannons coming closer. The storm started taking its toll on the mechs, ice freezing some mechs in their place including my own. I was forced to listen to cannon fire hitting mechs all around me. Eventually the cannon fire died down and the storm eventually subsided we awoken to the carnage surrounding me. I was surrounded by krampuses painted white and grey."

The air turned such a bitter cold suddenly that the men could see their own breath. The fire appeared to have died completely.

"They eventually moved on." Michael said as the fire came back to life.

"So why did you tell us this story?" Asked one of the pilots.

Michael looked at the men, and then the sky. "Word came down from the bosses. Next years clan wars, we will be returning to that very planet. And from what I heard, there are still whispers that the Krampuses are still there and whenever a winter storm blows in you can see their shadows moving about."

 Submitted by Brian D. Wise#17026

Rookies

Still Taking Comic Script Ideas By Pat Willis#224534

Hello all, do folks enjoy the comics we run here both player generated, and official MG made? Got an idea and want in on the action of making a script that may see the light of day on our pages? Here's what you do to get one made...

1. Send a submission detailing how you want your comic to go,between 3-8 panels please.

2. Include your player ID# with the submission to receive proper credit for your idea.

3. We take the idea, talk among ourselves, and pass it along to Molly with recommendations on if it works or not, or how to make it work if necessary.

4. Molly has final say on what is approved or not. But if it does make it she will mark you down on her list for the idea submission, and it is passed along to the artist or artists (We still don't know who makes those great strips)

5. Once it gets to the artist it's approved all you have to do is sit and wait for it to come out. Once it sees daylight, Molly would then pay out, and we get the finished product to put in our pages here.

So there you have it folks five simple steps to comic strip stardom! Best part is we're always accepting scripts, so there is no real expiration date on this offer. Still here reading this? Get on outta here and go think up a comic script.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Happy Thanksgiving from David McCallum # 701548

Meanwhile, at the Turducken Cover munitions factory...

Happy Thanksgiving to the whole Mecha Galaxy

by David McCallum # 701548

A Special Double Weapon Review By Germán Jaramillo# 685605

A TOP LASER WEAPONRY STUDIO: BLUE DRAGON vs. TWIN GRAZER.

I. TWIN GRAZER
II. BLUE DRAGON
III. CONCLUSIONS
....................................................

I. THE TWIN GRAZER

1. INTRODUCTION/HISTORY:

The Alpha Corporation developed this devastating laser weapon as main tool of destruction for the terrific BFM Regis.

2. TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Manufacturer: Alpha Corporation.
Quality: Superior niobium based weaponry (Elite)

Damage: 125
Speed: 100 (Average)
Abilities: 3x Damage 10% & 2x Damage 10%

Availability: Limited.
Acquired through: Regis acquisition (carries a couple Twin Grazers)
The Alpha Corp. has forbidden the sell of this weapon in other way than mounted in their Regis mech. Minimum level required to buy it: NN.

3. OPERATIVE LIFE:

Currently now, is one of the top definitive laser weapons. You are entitled to celebrate each acquisition of this deadly destructive machine and fast equip it in your favored mech.

4. DESCRIPTION:

Morphology: An external and dreadful double-laser cannon montage, with firing dynamically adjustable with the telemetric mech systems and allowed to double, triple and eventually multiply by six the strength of each single laser beam targeting your unfortunate enemy.

5. EVALUATION:

Tier: XV
Score: 10/10 Excelsior.
Just… you want it.











...........................................

II. THE BLUE DRAGON


1. INTRODUCTION/HISTORY:

The Star Factories was the first one to incorporate this destructive laser on the painful 100 tons mech Fext, although this weapon was available in the weapon markets prior to the release of the Fext.

2. TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Manufacturer: Star Factories.
Quality: Superior niobium based weaponry (Elite)

Damage: 125
Speed: 104 (Superior)
Abilities: Crit-Kill 19%

Availability: Limited to 50 units.
Acquired through: Fext acquisition (The Fext carries a single Blue Dragon). Also acquirable in the official and black weapon markets.
Minimum level required to buy it: 107.
Cost: Resources per single laser: Ferrite: 2100; Bioptics: 2100, Niodes: 58.
Bulk: Each five: 232 Niodes (Saving 58 Niodes, 10,500 Ferrite and 10,500 Bioptics)

3. OPERATIVE LIFE:

Currently now, is one of the top definitive laser weapons. You are entitled to celebrate each acquisition of this deadly destructive machine and fast equip it in your favored mech.

4. DESCRIPTION:

Morphology: An external deadly single cannon supported by the AI targeting systems in the detection of the enemy mech’s weakness to aim for a kill shot.

Real combat tests show an average odd of one in two shots to destroy your enemy (Within the usual enhancements of pilot and machine at those high ranks).

5. EVALUATION:

Tier: XV
Score: 10/10 Excelsior.

There is hardly a better weapon than this one.
Your enemy might die fast enough as to be allowed to realize who he was fighting.












..........................................

III. CONCLUSIONS:

The Blue Dragon vs. the Twin Gazier:

Damage comparison: Both carry the same destructive power in isolated firing tests (without targeting systems)

Speed comparison: The Blue Dragon shows to be faster in its firing cadence by a significant timing.

Special: While the twin Grazier can get on an average, a higher damage thanks to an optimized damage scanning on the enemy systems, the Blue Dragon can just disable the entire mech on a perfect shot.

Availability: While the Twin Grazers can only be acquired through the Regis mech, the Blue Dragon was widely sold in the official and black markets. Recently, incorporated to the weapon systems of the newly released Fext. The last BFM 100 tons machine.

Finals: The Blue Dragon shows to be superior to the Twin Grazer… What doesn’t means that you should drop into the garbage your shiny Twin Grazers… Just keep them all!

Submitted by Germán Jaramillo# 685605

Triplex Matrix Weapon Review By Germán Jaramillo# 685605

1. INTRODUCTION/HISTORY:

The Star Factories developed the Triplex Matrix from an evolved prototype of the forerunner technology, releasing the weapon in 3303, after the Clan wars and a new wave of the Bismarck-Drocha’s League menace got defeated.

2. TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Manufacturer: Star Factories.
Quality: Advanced crystal based weaponry (Common & Limited)

Damage: 82 (The highest for crystal laser)
Speed: 101 (Above the average)
Abilities: 3x Damage 7%

Availability: Limited (50 available units per Squadron).
Min level required to buy it: 131.
Cost: Resources per single laser: ferrite: 3050; bioptics: 2100; crystal: 77
Bulk: Each five: 308 Crystal (Saving 77 crystal, 15,250 ferrite and 10,500 bioptics)

3. OPERATIVE LIFE:

Once you acquired the Triplex Matrix, they will stay forever in your secondary and back mech lines, probably replacing other weaker crystal laser montages.

4. DESCRIPTION:

Morphology: A montage of quartet laser cannon, allowed to triple the strength of each single beam burst.

The montage is suited to be covered inside the mech shielding while not on fire, protecting it from enemy impacts that may disable the weapon systems.


5. EVALUATION:

Tier VIII

Score: 10/10 (Top crystal standards)

Its high damage, decent speed and useful skill makes from this weapon a “must have” no matter if you were a crystal pilot or a niode one. You will always have slots where to allocate this marvelous laser even if you had a strong elite collection of weapons.

Acquire your 50 as soon as possible through the bulk option during a sale off and save a nasty amount of resources above 770 crystal, 152,500 ferrite and 105,000 bioptics for all the 50 Triplex Matrix montages.

Submitted by  Germán Jaramillo# 685605

The Fext A Mecha review by Germán Jaramillo# 685605

Designed for combat as an avatar of war, this demolition machine is the epitome of the destructive capacity of the 100 tons Titans.

Even if military achievements and the proverbial ability as a strategist of the General Nova fell into oblivion, the creation of the gargantuan designed by the General and produced by Star Factories, which is capable of devouring with astonishing ease to other mech of the same category, is enough in itself to immortalize the name of the great military.

Baptized as Fext, an abomination undead from the Nordic folklore of old Earth, this avatar of death is able to achieve targets capable of dismantling the primary systems of any enemy with a single shot from his formidable blue dragon laser mech.

The General Nova nourished the dream of creating his own creature during the long years piloting other mechs, developing tactics and maneuvers that made him legendary as pilot and lethally effective as military. Finally, came the day that the accumulation of experience saw the light in the form of a design of the definitive, developed weapon from the reverse of the Forerunner technology, a process that is not unknown in the creation of many of the most powerful BFM to us.

The strong points of the Fext relay in the focus rather than in a wide bow of capabilities. Betting on the specialization, Nova designed the Fext concentrating capacities, instead opting to cover an arc too broad of skills as to be as effective as he wanted.

Once reached its maximum development (on level 181), we obtain the following capabilities:

Speed: 5 (a nivel 142)
Laser damage: +55% (a nivel 176)
1.5x Damage: 60%
2x Damage: 29%
3x Damage: 28%
• In a perfect shot, the Fext can deliver 9x Damage!
Fork: 9%
Precision: 5
Ice Shield: 70%
Trample Shield: 50%
Cockpit Slots: 7
Chassis Slots: 7
Engine Slots: 6
Shield Slots: 5

As an additive to mobility systems higher than that normally a monster of its tonnage is able to use, it has a powerful armor incorporating a flow of exhaust radiant able to counteract the effect of cold-based enemy attacks.

Although the Fext firepower is concentrated on the use of the lasers that can be equipped (with a maximum of 60 level 181), with a system of telemetry dynamic and precognitive, able to increase the effectiveness of their lasers with high efficiency (55%), the weapon systems can analyze enemy mech selecting as a priority target their vulnerabilities, which empowers the Fext to cause devastating damage when it achieves an impact on the weak points.

This ability to impact on critical points causing a much higher than usual damage allows the Fext equip another weapon with which to be able to take advantage, despite sacrificing the laser weapons system’s capabilities, comparing him to the versatile and devastating Torrent and even surpassing it to draw enemy party's vulnerabilities, but possess the ability of the torrent of creating authentic curtains of fire able to devour entire enemy lines. In compensation, the Fext can destroy any enemy mech with a single accurate shot.

The General Nova ordered that the first to enjoy this wonderful machine of war, similar to an avatar of death and destruction were more powerful and skilled pilots of the first division during the year 3303 Clanwar.

Submitted by Germán Jaramillo# 685605

How Fair are the Prizes? by David McCallum #701548

Its been a funny war this one. Now the dust has settled and folks are digging into the post match carnage continuation that we refer to as a raid, it has allowed time for me to reflect on certain changes.


The big one of note has been my attitude towards the prize packs on offer. Yes, losing out big time during the Faction War may have had this question lurking in my subconcious, but I feel I can now finally weigh in with an opinion on that age old bone of contention, the fairness of prizes.


To summarise (in a very simplistic way) there appears to be 2 camps. Those in the lower divisions who look at the prizes on offer for the likes of Division 1 (especially the free mech for 8 kills) and state that it is unfair.


Then there are those who are actually in the upper brackets, whose response appears to be "stop mucking about trying to dominate the lower dvisions, get up here and earn the good stuff like we did."


MOAR! cry the hecklers...


Now don't get me wrong, I have hovered indecisivly between these two opinions. I can certainly recall being a lowly level 20ish newcomer, glancing up at Mount Olympus where the Gods bickered and fought and had avaricious thoughts about the prizes on offer there. I also recall a more recent period in divisions 4 or 5, steadily plugging away at silver medals, gathering useful weapon upgrades and equipment (plus the occasional mech) and being more than satisfied that I could.


And then this months war happened.


I can't say if it was because Fusion formed, or Cyberstorm disappeared, or the increase to minimum team numbers, or if it was a byproduct of the Myth and Legend snake draft competition, but you could hear the spread sheet wallahs having a furry caniption as their meticulous level management went out the window. Sometimes you just have to say "stuff it", put your best teams forward and play the cards you are dealt.


We got dealt Division 3.


While a daunting prospect in and of itself and definite uncharted territory for us, for the purposes of this dissertation it should be pointed out that Division 3 is the start of the top band of prize packs.


I'm going to pause at this point... the following section should in no way be construed as an attempt to insult the exploits of our noble opponents from the Elite Special Forces, Slaughter House 5 and last but by no means least, The Isle of Misfit Toys. It is simply the joy of a pilot who has remembered that, yes, there is a big difference in prizes when you go from one prize band to the next.


Oh, and since some areas of the world insist on litigation, parental guidance is recommended, viewer discretion advised, may not be safe for work or politically correct, do not even ATTEMPT to watch until you are onto your second coffee of the day, yadda yadda yadda...


And could somebody please get ready to hose the Smurfs off because you know how excitable they can get...





I think you get the picture. Some of you may need to speak to Dr Drake, he has the brain bleach.


But we got the same frikkin prizes as the Brotherhood!


Yeah yeah, I know you are going to point out that the NWH still get an extra big blue mech, but lets face it, that's about all they are going to keep... most of the rest is just going to get slagged for niodes. All things being relative, I got the better end of the deal.


The point of that little outburst however is to illustrate that yes, there are indeed benefits to moving up in divisions and fighting for the higher prizes. Some of you may have become so comfortable at the level/division you wish to dominate, you've forgotten the feeling that comes with a bigger payout.


Go and hit play again if you need a reminder.


Submitted by David McCallum #701548

Titan 100 Ton Mech by Spike Shepard #846030

100 Ton Titan

Ferrite: 21500
Bioptics: 21500
Niodes: 160

Tonnage 100
 Armour Points 270
 Start Weapons 10
 Min Level 98
 Min Heavy Skill 55
 Levels/Weapon 4


Bonuses
Build Laser Damage + 10%
Build Ice Damage +10%
Build Freeze + 4%
Build Fork + 4%
Build Speed - 24
Level 2 + 1 Chassis Slot
Level 3 + 1 Shield Slot
Level 4 + 1 Engine Slot
Level 4 + 1 Weapon Slot (+ every 4 levels)
Level 5 + 1 Cockpit Slot
Level 6 Slow (4)
Level 8 Fork + 4%
Level 10 + 1 Engine Slot
Level 11 + 1 Shield Slot
Level 12 Laser Damage + 5%
Level 13 + 1 Cockpit Slot
Level 14 Ice Damage + 5%
Level 15 + 1 Chassis Slot
Level 17 Trample 5%
Level 18 Fork + 4%
Level 21 3X Damage 10%
Level 22 Laser Damage + 5%
Level 23 Ice Damage + 5%
Level 24 + 1 Cockpit Slot
Level 25 Freeze 4%
Level 27 + 1 Chassis Slot
Level 28 Fork + 4%
 Level 30 + 1 Engine Slot
Level 31 Laser Damage + 5%
Level 32 + 1 Shield Slot
Level 33 Trample 5%
Level 34 Freeze 4%
Level 35 Ice Damage + 5%
Level 36 + 1 Cockpit Slot
Level 37 Laser Damage + 5%
Level 39 Fork + 4%
Level 40 + 1 Engine Slot
Level 41 Ice Damage + 5%
Level 43 Fork + 4%
Level 44 + 1 Shield Slot
Level 45 Laser Damage + 5%
Level 46 Freeze 4%
Level 48 Ice Damage + 5%
Level 50 Slow (10)
Level 50 2X Damage 10%
Level 54 Laser Damage + 5%
Level 58 Ice Damage + 5%
Level 61 + 1 Shield Slot
Level 62 Fork +4%
Level 64 Laser Damage + 5%
Level 66 Ice Damage + 5%
Level 71 + 1 Engine Slot
Level 72  + 1 Cockpit Slot
Level 74 Slow (8)
Level 75 2X Damage 10%
Level 79 Laser Damage + 5%
Level 81 + 1 Chassis Slot
Level 85 Ice Damage + 5%
Level 91 Fork + 4%
Level 100 3X Damage 10%
Level 100 Wide Fork 10%
Level 104 + 1 Cockpit Slot
Level 111 + 1 Chassis Slot
Level 126 + 1 Engine Slot
Level 140 + 1 Shield Slot
Level 155 + 1 Chassis Slot



Stats at level 155

Freeze 30%
Slow (30)
Fork 28%
Wide Fork 10%
Ice Damage + 50%
Laser Damage + 50%
Trample 10%
2 X Damage 20%
3 X Damage 10%


Slots

Cockpit - 6
Chassis - 6
Engine - 6
Shields - 6


Bios

 As the smoke swirled across the battlefield the fight was finally over. Titus was defeated and his mecha was left smoking. Shepard was sure Titus had ejected at the last minute but the smoke was so thick that visibility was poor and once again Titan had escaped. Once again Shepard and his pilots scoured the battlefield but only came up with one usable weapon, a Ferrite Storm, everything else left was worth little more than a few Ferrite. Shepard was frustrated! How many times can Titus escape?

How many times would he have to drag his mechs around Yomi's Reefs? Eventually the Bounty on Titus would not be worth the expenditure.

 Shepard returned to the Cockpit of Grimm-Luck, his Regi, and fired off the Twin Grazers in frustration at the empty hanger that Titus had emerged from. Surprisingly and quite unexpectedly there was a rumble and the hanger collapsed into the ground leaving a large hole. As the smoke and dust slowly cleared Shepard was sure he saw a glint of metal in the moonlight and approached the hanger to investigate. As Shepard drew closer he could see more than a glint of metal....he stood in awe of what he could see hidden below the hanger.

 The sight that met his eyes was one of a giant Blue and White Mech. It had to be at least 100 tons. It was like nothing he had ever seen before. The only distinguishing marking was down the left leg and read 'TITAN MK 01'.

 Slowly Shepard realised what he had found. He had found the reason Titus stuck to 'The Reefs' and why Titus kept coming back. Titus was building his own custom mecha! Shepard paused for a minute before calling his drop ship and loading the 'Titan' on board before Titus returned or anyone else turned up to lay claim to his prize.

 Back at Heroes HQ Shepard, along with the help of his clan mates quickly started work on analysing the Titan and the results were astounding.

Defensively it could hold it's own and when fitted with the right shields it was more than a match for any mecha currently known. Offensively though it excelled in many ways. Laser and Ice weapons had considerable damage boosts but the most impressive aspect of the Titan was a strange glowing crystalline substance encasing each of the weapon ports. When Laser or Ice weapons were fired from these ports the crystalline substance refracted the shot into many different pathways causing the weapon to 'fork' hitting additional targets with the same damage as the initial shot.

Clearly in the hands of the right pilot, like Titus, this mecha is more than deadly and able to take out a whole row of mecha with one well timed shot.

Submitted by Spike Shepard #846030

Equipment Game Debate By Pat Willis#224534

Hello all, I have an issue to bring to the table regarding equipment. Why is it we can't get pieces of equipment that do just speed, precision and dodge? Why do all the higher tonnage pieces have so many flaws built into them? And lastly why are shields so weak?

Lets look at the basic categories of speed, precision and dodge. On the lighter tonnage mechas there really is no problem you can find what you want minus shielding without much hassle or problems. The equipment does what it says it does then the higher your tonnage goes the more you start running into vulnerabilities, and speed losses. Last I heard it was harder to build something so small, as opposed to something so big. So shouldn't the deficiencies be more on the lighter mecha and get better as you go up in tonnage?

Also what is with the equipment limits? What suddenly you don't want my hard earned niodes for shoddy equipment? Weapon limits I can understand, but equip limits? What sense does that even make? Okay I'm going to spend extortion prices for a single piece of defective equipment but I can't cause I am at the limit...come again.  Yes extortion prices, like 56, 57,58, niodes per cockpit piece alone for 100 tonners, that's half a days lotto win. Now why in the hell would I shell that much out for defective equipment, that just gets worse as the tonnage goes up.

Can we talk about shielding for a minute as long as I have you here? Does shielding make sense to you? To me it doesn't, mainly because the only real individual weapon type is ice. Otherwise aren't lasers, and fire just different combinations of light, heat, chemical etc? Missiles and Projectiles, both impact and kinetic based damage, so why doesn't one protection type double up to cover its secondary damage source? Look in the crystal shields and you'll see what I am saying. Oh it'll protect from missiles with a shield at 26% or fire at the same percentage but then you get projectile and laser vulnerabilities. Granted at a reduced rate of 3% but really shouldn't it be  say Missile shield 26%, projectile shield 3%, Ice vulnerable 8%. Doesn't something along those lines make more sense?

So why would you go through the hassle of buying niodes, to buy this kick ass mecha, and all its weapons, only to get to the equipment and realize you are limited on what you can put in, every other piece the higher you go tonnage wise brings your mecha down, and you're spending premium prices on less than desirable equipment?

 I get they want game balance, and to bring new things to the table but this is just ridiculous dealing with it every time I get a new mecha. I like a challenge as much as the next guy, but I play games for fun, and to relax. If a game stops being relaxing to me and has the fun taken out of it I start to stay away from it. At this time it's a consideration  here, and it's mainly because of this equipment. So one more time, can we please get equipment that does what it is supposed to do?

We don't need all this x2 or x3 damage added in to our precision if it means taking away speed or a vulnerability attached. How bout one simple speed rating, then do the same for dodge with the chassis, and precision for aim. That's really all folks want. No need to get all complex with it and have a plus to this, this, and that, but then get slammed by built in defects. Or at least lower the prices for gear with all that extra crap attached to it. Cause I don't know about you but I won't shell out those kind of niodes for vulnerable crap equipment.

 Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Expanding Cables Equipment Review by David McCallum #701548

Right, back to school for a few seconds, so that we are all on the same page.


Your offensive systems belong in the cockpit and engine slots; precision so you can hit things and speed so you can fire fast.


Defense belongs (obviously) in the shield slots, but also in chassis; that's where you get the dodge that means you don't get hit.


So if the equipment manufacturers are in any way asking you to give up any of those core stats, you need to think really long and hard about it. Is the added trick really worth the loss?


Time to examine this latest offering on the market, Expanding Cables.


They weigh in with a book price of 442 Ferrite, 286 Bioptics and 40 Crystal. For this you get a dodge rating of 10, a 2% triple damage multiplier and 5% vulnerability to ice weapons. Comparative package for the same tonnage range is calibrated joints, at 9 dodge, a speed bump of 2, 30% trample shield (very useful) and a lesser fire vulnerability of 3%. Horses for courses, one defensive package vs an offensive package.


Of course compare this to Spinal Bracing with a dodge of 12 covering the low end tonnage range and Frictionless Bearings for 13 dodge up at the top. Dodge is your main stat coming from a chassis piece, so any dodge loss has to be really, really worth it.


So we are being asked to give up 2, or 3 at higher tonnage, of defensive dodge, and return we get a minuscule chance of triple damage, plus a bonus of... no, make that another loss of defence as well.


The problem I have with that is that at low tonnage, you hardly have enough shield slots to leave you without a gaping hole to start with... and now you want me to give up even more vulnerabilities?


And by the time you can field tonnage that can cover that deficit with shields, you've got the option, in crystal, of Ankles Supports that give up some defence for a different type of defence, no vulnerability, and a damage increase that has twice the ratio.


All in all, if you are the kind of berserker loon who cares only for large explosions and has no concept of personal safety, this is the ideal system to add to your machines.


For the rest of us... maybe pass this one by.



Submitted by David McCallum #701548

Oopsy By Mark SHC Wiseman#12304

Submitted by Mark SHC Wiseman#12304

A Long History By Germán Jaramillo Pulido ID # 685605

WINDS OF WAR (Chapter One)

A Chronicle of the 82nd Omicron Guard from the RND Caissan Regiments in the 3303 Clanwar.

First Round

The luck was thrown: The strategists of the R&D Staff who had plan the master lines for this current war had mistake their calculations by a thin margin as a blink… But that mistake was enough to make the Galactic Senate to fix the 82nd Omicron Guard in a higher and unexpected division: The sixth instead the seventh were we could just trample towards the victory. Instead, we had a harsh panorama where our chances got drastically lowered.

When the news arrived to our Caissan Winter Headquarters, the reactions were diverse: Shock and surprise for some, deep thoughts for others, excitation for many.

The Squad Commanders ran to accelerate the preparation for the oncoming carnage and re-calibrating the mechs for the new required maneuvers and tactics… But some, some felt a warmly dance in their stomachs, tasting the flavor of the true risk of war, the taste of the unknown, the adventure that, after all, is a common and old Lady all we met and beloved since our careers as mech pilots started.

Soon, the first squadrons were ready to jump into the battlefields chosen by the Senate in secret deliberation, allowing the participants to know the exactly location a short lapse de time before so no one clan could acquire advantage by scanning the terrain before than any other.

The Niobium signatures opening the gateways were received and without anymore delay, our Commanders led towards the adventure to our well trained companies, leaving the cold plains and white fjords of the blue Caissa, a cold planet in surface, but inhabited by a population with a burning passion in their hearts.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o o o O O O o o o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I checked personally the formations of my squad from my Commanding mech “Absolute Zero”, a tuned Boreas in which I had the honor to conquer the Gold in the last Faction War. And line after line, we vanished from Caissa towards an uncertain future.

Our first opponent, randomly selected by the super computers of OMNIA (Omniscient Millenary Numbers Intelligence Array), was Defenders of Bunny. Some of the old school pilots could remember only a time when the 82nd Omicron Guard was young and the head lance of the R&D battalions, they had a war in division six, where they got defeated by an early but strong Zeon Clan... The good of our elder veterans had fought yet in almost every battlefield along the wide and far galaxy and for them, every classic clan was like an old known fellow.

There we were and in the horizon, we could spot a thin pink and pale line of enemy mechs, some hundred miles away and only well reachable with the support of our drone assisted telemetry from a grey and harsh sky, ornate with three carried moons. All right: the Proximal Xenia planet was not what we could call as a Paradise for holidays, but as battlefield seemed excellent as everyone could fight there without being afraid of the ambient environments and the biological hazards.

I requested from Marie a bigger image from our far telemetry systems to better scan our opponent... (Marie is the IA I had installed in my commanding Boreas and which remembers me my true love… But this is another story that I will keep for a different time as she doesn’t matter now).

The first images arrived distorted by the strong magnetic field of Xenia, but soon fixed with the re-calibration of the drone sensors I could finally appreciate the deadly and annoying chassis shape of the Defenders of Bunny. A short tremble assaulted me while looking the bizarre enemy mechs… Those machines of mass destruction looked sinister with those deviant painted bunnies extracted from some nightmare… Their Crest showed a bloodthirsty rabbit with a razor in his hand and as motto… ka-click...Bizarre!

Naive and innocent bunny’s weapon till their shark like teeth? By all means, if we were not veterans who already saw almost everything, we could scare with those insidious distortions of innocence as in a psychological attack… but crap, our many pilots already had received their fire baptism after many battles and the enemy’s war pictures couldn’t even make us blink. Oh man, I am ashamed to say I took this as a personal goal as my first girlfriend loved the rabbits and I get really annoyed when I meet anything reminding me to her, so I decided to scrap every one of their painted chassis and crests with some focused devotion.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o o o O O O o o o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

As the arbiters signal to start the battle got spread and the inhibitors keeping our mechas in stand by turned off and the action started.

Hello there, Bunnies. Did you have a decent master of dance? Let’s play then!

And the battle started with the squadrons of Mochammad Amirullah and Sean Wadey trampling in a crazy run towards an enemy that seemed cautious, evaluating our forces in a defensive stance before counterattack.

Our cockpits became to boil with the rivers of battle data and tempered orders flowing from our many scans into our IAs, allowing us to reevaluate each small action and supporting us to take fast decisions in the term of micro seconds.

The first blood split was from our enemy and in the middle of the sudden battle storm, appeared among the fog and the confusion the squad of one of their heroes: Bolverk Borson, who charged against our fellows Joe and Amir.

The luck was threw, soon the fields were covered by the battle fog, the hell like flames, the numerous laser beams, curtains of projectiles, rain of missiles, explosions and sudden mech statues of ice crystal, reflecting the many lights as if the most beauty fireworks were thrown. There is always a split of second where I get in ecstasies before the luminescence fireworks from the weaponry. I pledge that sometimes, that show is so incredible than the IA gets forced to drag me outside my statuary status.

So I didn’t lose more time and led my squad towards the very center of the war theater.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o o o O O O o o o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A dense fog was hugging the burned soil, showing sometimes the remnants from what it was some hours before some deadly and gallard looking battle mechs.

There you could find some scraps showing the Big O emblem, the banner of our Clan, but more of them, showed the rabid rabbit of our enemy.

When a sudden big wind gust spread enough of that dense fog, allowing us to spot a wide portion of the battlefield, I got surprised by the bloody feast we caused… So after all, our debut in the Sixth division was not as bad.

By the operative channel we heard the short words of our Commandant, Jeff Pizanti: “Jacque Mate”… So all got said, and soon, I started to catch the hooray s of victory of our boys.

This is, while our reckon squads completed the patrol through the rough terrain looking for any last resistance; I could admire the remnants of a sea of expensive garbage made with thousands of tons of ferrite, bioptics, crystal and Niodes… Niode matrices even burning some of which maybe could be rescued… Of course, we are gentlemen and we allowed to the Bunnies to recover their own remnants and lick their wounds in peace. The battle had succeed in an honorable way and I have to admit that now, when I find a painted rabbit chassis, I don’t frown recalling that ex-girlfriend of old… but with admiration to an opponent who when he knew he was overwhelmed, he fought with courage and valor, never falling in desperation.

I hail you, Bunnies.

Later, the judges reported us the score for this first round: 146 vs. 71… We just trampled our opponents during the battle!

Another good news: no one got real casualties (aside the several and incredible expensive mechs damaged), so all we could celebrate a decent enough victory as the Bunnies could at least extract some important lessons to use to try kick our arses in our future encounters.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o o o O O O o o o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Encouraged by our first victory, some started to ex-peculate about our opening chances to conquer the appreciated gold, approaching the 82nd another step in the path of our long time unbeatable brothers of our insignia ship: the glorious and shiny 99th Chessmen [R&D Core], our star unit.

Then, the base megaphone announced the scores for the other divisions and clans…

FUSION, the favorite in div1 after the mysterious vanish of the legendary and eternal Cyberstorm, obtained a great victory consolidating the previsions of everyone… Below the First Division, the prestigious names succeeded one after all, all of them without surprises, confirming our bets, until they mentioned the results for the tenth division, announcing the fall of our beloved brothers of the 99th Chessmen.
A shock for many of us, that the honey of our victory could hardly cover.

Yes, we knew that silver couldn’t be a trouble for our dethroned brothers and the gold in their division now seemed clear to end in the hands of those who defeated our fellows… One of those many AFF flagged Clans: the Avenger.

I believe Avenger made honor to their battle name, as they effectively revenged to the many AFF flags that along the time felt before the power and triumphal march of the Chessmen...

End of Round One...

 Submitted by Germán Jaramillo Pulido ID # 685605

One Weapon To Rule Them All By Brian D. Wise #17026

Michael Price was digging through an assorted box of weapons found in a storage bin marked discount. He was looking for one of those unique weapons that are hard to find and worse, would normally be expensive as hell, but in the discount bargain bin you never know what you might find. So while digging around he found what looked like a very large missile, stuffed way in the back labeled Drake industries - xxl-mhnw-006, it also had a large prototype sticker slapped on the side of it. The shopkeeper didn't remember when or where he got the weapon, all he knew was it was too large to keep taking up space in his warehouse and that it had an inch of dust still on it. Michael offered 20 niodes for it and the shopkeeper agreed, happy to see it leave his shop.

Michael loaded the 15 ton missile launcher onto the flat bed of his cargo hauler and went back to the base. He was going to see if it was one of old Dr. Drakes mystery weapons from one of his raided bases from a long time ago. unfortunately for Michael, as soon as he got back, the base was in an uproar. Clan Wars had been announced and everyone was to get ready for the next major offensive. So, Michael quickly had them unload the Cargo Hauler as he went back to his duties as the Supervising Mechanic for all of the bases mechs.

During that time the weapon was crated up and stored so that once againit would be lost in pile upon pile of equipment and weapons being moved both in and out of Weapons Storage Facility Echo Charlie Alpha 7, ECAT for short. For 3 years the weapon once again sat in a large wooden box, in the back of a huge warehouse gathering dust. Then after a major reorganizing by Drake Morningstar, the Crate was once again unearthed from the cobwebs and pounds of dust and niode parts that had littered the very deep corners of the warehouse.

"What the hell is this?" Drake commented as he looked over the spreadsheet that showed every piece of equipment that was supposed to be in the facility.

"Hell if I know," commented Ted Logan, "I just need to know where do you want it?"

"Take it outside and dust it off, and while your at it find me a crowbar." Drake said as he walked back towards the pile of niode equipment that needed resorting.

The Crate was taken out of its dark corner and eventually cleared of all the dust and bug carcasses that had accumulated onto the box. Ted noticed that the box felt warm, which made his skin crawl. Drake finally finished sorting and cataloging everything, he was driven to earn that Torrent and was going to do everything in his power to convince his supervisors that he deserved it.

"Well what do we have here?" Drake commented to himself as he opened the rather large crate. As he opened the crate a warm breeze from inside the crate, it chilled him to the bone. Inside the crate was a massive 15 ton missile launcher. no mech he knew of short of the heaviest top of the line mech could ever hope of using it effectively. He swore it belonged on the back of the new Typhoon mech that everyone was drooling about but could rarely get a hold of. Drake quickly walked over to the main hanger to go find Michael and asked him what was the monstrosity and could he equip it to a mech to test it out.

To Michael's surprise he was delighted to see that the mammoth missile launcher was still here on the base, and had been found. He quickly had it moved to the main bay so he could take it apart and service it. It was rare for him to get to play with anything as destructive as this weapon surely was.

After 12 hours of going over it he had figured out why no one wanted it. only the most expensive mechs in the known galaxy could hope to effectively wield this weapon and hope to survive and even then...most likely the mech would be either ripped apart by firing the missile, or the blast that came from the 6 handheld nukes that were daisy chained into the weapons warhead. he was scared of even letting anyone think of firing the monster off within 25 miles of the base. However the commandant saw the monstrosity as a potential game changer and ordered it fitted onto his personal Torrent along with several blast shields around the cockpit. He wanted to see the weapon test fired once to see its effectiveness in battle versus some of Captain Kilgore pirates. He sent out the lone mech to pirate moon along with a drone to see what kind of carnage the weapon could do.

The events that occurred here, have been redacted from all but the video seen here...( a video screen shows the torrent walk into a pirate encampment and start fighting off a cluster of red ants, nerios, and anzu. The pirates appear to be able to take advantage of the weighed down torrent as it appears that either the torrent has already been slowed, or that the torrent has been somehow frozen. As we then see the missile launcher start to shake the mech violently and launches out what appears to be a small ICBM toward the furthest away mech, what appeared to be an anzu. The explosion from the missile whites out half of the screen as we see the blast-wave cause a massive earthquake which causes all of the mechs near the anzu to either shutdown or explode. We also see that the Torrent has shutdown due to either firing the missile, the earthquake from the missile hitting, or some combination of the two.)

The footage is labeled Dr. Drake's Earthquake Missile Launcher.

Dr. Drake's EML
Missile Weapon
damage 135
speed 85
Effects:
Splash 35%
Wide Fork 20%
Kickback 95% chance to deal 120% damage

Dr. Drake's patented Earthquake Machine, for when you need to move a lot of earth fast. Warning, side effects may kill those not prepared.

Submitted by Brian D. Wise #17026

There Be Dragons By FJ Bros#885020

As F.J.B.R.O.S. Unit 1 was packing his bags, he had only one thought on his mind, “hic sunt dracones”, There Be Dragons…

Ancient map makers supposedly used the term to mark the unknown or to serve as a warning. Supposedly, it never appeared on any real map, but was a creation of literature. It was most likely derived from the various different creatures or monsters that adorned the maps of old. After all, Dragons weren’t real, and were creations of human imagination. Either way, the meaning was the same, beware the unknown.

The badges and medals accumulated, Unit 1 left in his locker, packing only the tools for the future. The past would be cumbersome, and he needed to be sharp, for There Be Dragons…

It wasn’t that he wouldn’t miss his AFF brothers and sister, or all the memories. He definitely appreciated all the tactics and training that he received from the AFF elite and commanders. Under AFF tutelage he racked up one Gold Medal for the 3302 Faction War, six Gold Medals and one Silver Medal in Clan Wars, and a Silver Medal during the Mechalympics. Not to mention the nearly countless KOTM Gold, Silvers and Bronzes and occasional Circuit Fight medals. Not bad for a mecha pilot that had trouble closing the cockpit hatch just 9 short years ago. It has been a long learning process with the folks he came to see as his family.

But family was a foreign concept to a Simulacrum, and the mission dictated that stagnation and inaction were not in the cards. There would be no growing old with old friends and hanging onto earned allegiances. There was a mission to accomplish and the Benefactor had grown impatient.
When the Mastermind approached him about the change in scenery, it was an easy decision. I could follow the Heart or I could follow the Brain. The Heart had no place in Unit 1’s world of logic.

The Burly Leader had been a kind friend and mentor, but his way of rule was antithesis to the order and discipline in which Unit 1 preferred to live. The Benefactor would have pushed for a move to a new clan in time anyway, so the timing was right. With the long term stasis of the Imperials on the near horizon, the seven known FJBROS Units would need to step up their time tables to complete the mission. The wars and raids always revealing more and more information, and the closer to the top of the clans, the information was unspoiled to those who knew what to look for.

Unit 1 realized that that “There be Dragons”, wasn’t a warning for him or his new comrades. It wasn’t a forewarning of the unknown future or unknown paths to tread. It was a warning for everyone else, for there really are Dragons, and he was one of them.

Submitted by FJ Bros#885020

Regi And Gigax By Germán Jaramillo #685605

Submitted by Germán Jaramillo #685605

The Legendary Frigis Mecha Spotlight On Frozen Dream By Pat Willis#224534

Ah Frozen Dream, my Frigis mecha who acquired me no small amount of fame when it helped me reach legendary pilot status. The battle Artificial Intelligence program received the same upgrades as Jabberwocky making it an Actual Intelligence program, and giving it a near limitless capacity to learn. He took a short break for a time and downloaded himself into a Boreas frame due to frustration at the age, as well as wear and tear his old "body" was put through. So many wars, raids, and tourneys will make short work of almost any mecha fast.

So as he was enjoying his life as a Boreas, I shipped his Frigis frame back to the manufacturer for a complete overhaul and upgrade. It took a while, but eventually they shipped me back a totally overhauled, good as new, like it stepped off the assembly line fresh Frigis. I looked it over head to toe until I was satisfied that it was 100%, then I got the Actual Intelligence back into its proper frame. To say Dream was happy to be back home would be a huge understatement. He started doing laps around the hanger because he enjoyed the lighter frame so much more than the lumbering speed of the Boreas.



As was he came back without weapons and equipment so his basic build stats at my current level of 107 were as follows.....


Tons: 80

Level: 107
Armor: 1061
Class: Frigis

Bonuses before
equipment:
Precision (30)
Speed - 15
Ice Vulnerable 10%
Freeze 58%
Speed + 20
Laser Damage + 46%
Ice Damage + 44%
3X Damage 10%
2X Damage 8%
Shield (40)

He had 4 Cockpit slots, 7 chassis slots, 4 engine slots, and 4 shield slots to be filled. So we got to work right away. I outfitted him with Hawkeye Marksman Modules across all his cockpit slots for added laser damage, added precision, and a small bonus to Crit-Kill  capability. The chassis got 4 Muon Junctions for the combined dodge, fork, and freeze capabilities, combined with 3 Coolant Systems to give it added speed and Ice damage. The 4 engine slots utilize  1 Indefinite Singularity Engine for speed and 2x damage ability, 1 Max Torque Charged engine for the speed, and 2 Parallel Relays for the extra energy output/speed. Lastly the shield slots were taken up by MNTN Delta, Caudata Delta, Arctic Delta, and a Faraday Delta. So all that thrown in on top of the build stats comes out to.....


Fire Damage + 30%
Ice Damage + 74%
Laser Damage + 86%
Missile Damage + 28%
Speed + 68
3X Damage 10%
Fork 24%
2X Damage 11%
Crit-Kill 8%
Precision (74)
Freeze 103%
Dodge (40)
Shield (156)
Ice Shield 28%
Fire Shield 29%
Fire Shield (60)
Proj. Shield 19%
Laser Shield 21%
Missile Vulnerable 9%

On top of that he has room for 33 weapons at present which a couple were borrowed from Jabberwocky as they just made more sense here with the added laser damage potential. So I put the following weapons in 7 Black Widows, 3 Archfiends, 2 Rage Pulsars, 2 Northwind Eradicators, 3 Flavian Spears, 4 Burning Ice, 4 Polar Vortex, 2 Nova Zembla, 1 Tinsel EMP,  and 5 Winter's Grasp.

 So while there are a few things I mean to correct or replace in the near future by and large this is what he is shaping up to be. Yes he is vulnerable to missiles, but with his speed of both the mecha, and his weapons he should get off the shots before missiles fly. Not to mention not a whole lot of folks run missile mechas out in the front line. But before he had an Ice vulnerability of 10%, now he has a less of a percentage to a different weapon type.

 So until multi purpose shields make it to this weight class I just may have to deal with it and hope another shield expansion will pop up eventually. Dream is still a work in progress and won't be done for a bit yet, at least not to my satisfaction, but it is getting there little by little.

So there you have it folks a Frigis that got me where I am today, and what it looks like now both inside and out. I do these pieces so folks can see there are some in the game who aren't afraid to show their builds for good or bad. What's the worst that can happen? Someone builds your load out to fight you? Oh no, not like you can't change it up and out in a short period of time. Also on the flip side you may get feedback to help improve on your already existing build. So what I am saying here folks is basically, stop being scared, show off the builds, get feedback, see what happens. Until next time both Frozen Dream and myself wish you happy hunting.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

The Year So Far Stats By Pat Willis#224534

Seeing as the year is almost at an end I thought it would be fun to take a look at the site stats to see what our top ten viewer reads were so far. This is what I found...

Every now and again I like to look in and see what is what, figured I'd let you guys and gals know as well. We'll look back on these stats and see what has changed once the year ends.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Knight Fantasy Mecha By Spike Shepard#846030

100 Ton - Knight
Cost - Ferrite 17500, Bioptics 14000, Crystal 400.

Specs :
Tonnage - 100
Armour - 240
Start Weapons - 8
Min Level - 91
Min Heavy Skill - 55
Lvl/ Wpn - 6
Manufacturer - Heroes Inc
Designer - Spike Shepard

Bonuses:
 Build Speed - 24
 Build 2X Damage 4%
 Build 3X Damage 6%
 Build Fork 6%
 Level 3 + 1 Chassis Slot
 Level 4 + 1 Shield Slot
 Level 5 + 1 Engine Slot
Level 6 + 1 Cockpit Slot
 Level 5 Laser Shield (10)
 Level 6 + 1 Weapon Slot
Level 8 Speed +4
Level 10 Missile Shield (10)
 Level 11 2X Damage 4%
 Level 12 + every 6 levels + 1 Weapon Slot
 Level 12 Speed + 4
 Level 13 + 1 Shield Slot
 Level 15 Proj. Shield (10)
 Level 16 + 1 Cockpit Slot
 Level 18 Speed + 4
 Level 19 + 1 Chassis Slot
 Level 20 Fire Shield (10)
 Level 21 + 1 Engine Slot
 Level 22 2X Damage 4%
 Level 23 + 1 Cockpit Slot
Level 24 Speed + 4
 Level 25 Ice Shield (10)
 Level 26 + 1 Shield Slot
 Level 29 + 1 Engine Slot
Level 30 Laser Damage 10%
Level 33 Missile Damage 10%
 Level 36 + 1 Shield Slot
Level 38 Proj. Damage 10%
 Level 40 + 1 Chassis Slot
 Level 43 Fire Damage 10%
 Level 45 + 1 Shield Slot
 Level 47 3X Damage 10%
 Level 48 Ice Damage 10%
 Level 50 Fork 6%
 Level 50 Shield (10)
 Level 55 2X Damage 4%
Level 60 3X Damage 6%
Level 65 + 1 Engine Slot
 Level 70 Fork 6%
 Level 75 + 1 Cockpit Slot
 Level 80 + 1 Chassis Slot
Level 90 + 1 Cockpit Slot
Level 100 Crit Kill 10%
Level 110 + 1 Engine Slot
Level 120 + 1 Chassis Slot
Level 130 Shield (10)
Level 140 Speed + 4
Level 150 3X Damage 6%

Overall Specs at max without equipment....

Speed - 24 (build)
Speed + 20
Missile Damage + 10%
Laser Damage + 10%
Projectile Damage +10% 
Fire Damage +10%
Ice Damage +10%
Missile Shield +10%
Laser Shield +10%
Projectile Shield +10%
Fire Shield +10%
Ice Shield +10%
Shield (20)
2X Damage 16%
3X Damage 18%
Fork 18%
Crit Kill 10%

Slots

Cockpit - 5
Chassis - 5
Engine - 5
Shield - 5

Knight Bios
One night while playing a chess match Spike Shepard picked up his knight ready to move the piece but instead he just looked at it and remarked 'We have a Rook, we have a Bishop...but we don't have a Knight'. Initially some of Clan heroes looked at him a little strange until he grabbed a pencil and some paper and started sketching. About 30 minutes later after much Hmming, Tutting and a few head shakes Spike finally shouted 'Eureka!' and waved his sketch in the air. The Knight had been born, on paper, though the building of the Knight would be a different matter altogether.....

The quadrupedal design of the mech encountered many problems and Shepard struggled to get the Mech to stand, let alone move around with any co-ordination. The mech was almost scrapped at one point until the day that Shepard took out a Keradon for a ride and realized that the poly pedal design could be adapted and enlarged to drive this giant mech forward. With a few tweaks and a bit of research the poly pedal design was modified and adapted to drive a mech almost three times the size of the Keradon. Within a few months Clan Heroes had a fully working prototype and put in through rigorous testing.

Surprisingly a mech of this size was not made for the front lines of combat. The qudrupedal design allows for the Knight to carry heavier, longer range weapons and lots of them. Not only that but the Knight has been built to be prolific with every type and size of weapon available. Leaving the Knight to be best used as long range artillery or heavy support for smaller, faster front line mecha.

The Knight though is not just for support or long range assaults. It can hold it's own in close combat if need be and has built in shields allowing it to help negate damage that would cripple or shutdown lighter mech. Also the quadrupedal design gives the Knight a boost to speed that is missing in other mecha of similar tonnage. This ability helps the Knight stay in a sustained battle meaning the Knight is not easily overrun but multiple opponents either. All round the Knight is a great addition to any commanders line-up and used wisely it can turn the tide of a battle.














Submitted by Spike Shepard #846030

Clan War Blues By Melanie Carter#716590

Submitted by Melanie Carter#716590

The Crimson Death Missile: The Barbarossa. A Weapon Review By Germán Jaramillo# 685605

In the ancient ages of the history of the old Earth, cradle of the humanity, there were some warlike figures of great renown that shared before or later the Barbarossa's nickname (an old italic word meaning “red beard”)… There existed a German Emperor, a fierce, shrewd and powerful admiral of the Ottoman empire and a painful pirate of the Caribbean sea… All of them turned into legends into their respective ages, been feared and admired equally and became nightmares for many.

This way, the creator of this weapon, taken by his deep interest to the archaic history, as well as for a certain poetic talent, has wanted to baptize this weapon of mass destruction, this jewel of the tactical ballistics with the name of Red Beard, “Barbarossa”. Few missiles of its category have the cruising speed (100) that the Barbarossa is capable to reach, guaranteeing that will be the crimson missile and not another one the one kicking down your target.

But if the qualities of a high speed and an unpredictable path were not enough, the Barbarossa is provided in addition with a double tactical head that fires during his ballistic flight once the main target becomes fixed in its effective range of impact; then, the IA leading the Barbarossa selects a secondary target next to its primary destination.

The ballistic tests offer a frequency of double strike of 40 % in a blank mech prototype without any equipment, which in conjunction with a suitable telemetry on a well equipped mech, guarantees statistics superior to 50 % to reach a double shot.

This is out of doubt that if those powerful warriors of old were reincarnated as clones, they would feel proud of the destructive creation that shares in their behalf a crimson awe of destruction.

It is as great the destructive power of this missile that the engineers who created the Barbarossa, limited the launching IA to ten units at once… Maybe with trading purposes…

 Submitted by Germán Jaramillo# 685605

Current Jabberwocky Build By Pat Willis#224534

As many know I am very fond of my Frigis mecha, Frozen Dream. After all that mecha got me legendary pilot status, then there is my Boreas, Cryomancer. He's all ice, and projectile death, a total killing machine. Now we come to my other favored mecha the Regis I found when they were still out and about on the Yomi Reefs, Jabberwocky. My current pilot stats are at level 107 and the build stats for this mech are also at that level. 


First off the basic build stats which are as follows......
Tons: 90
Level: 107
Armor: 1433
Class: Regis

Bonuses before
equipment:
Laser Damage + 54%
Speed - 26
3X Damage 10%
Crit-Kill 10%
Speed + 28
Fork 20%
Trample Shield 40%
Laser Shield 25%
Trample 10%
Auto Repair (1)
Precision (5)
Proj. Damage + 15%
Wide Fork 8%
2X Damage 10%
Dodge (2)


Now to start with at this level she has 39 weapon slots. I decided to capitalize on her inbuilt laser bonuses, and her crit-kill capacity. As such she is outfitted with four Twin Grazer lasers, ten Cherenkov Rays, two Black Widow lasers, three Archfiend lasers, and the other twenty slots are all Flavian Spears.

She is thoroughly equipped to do massive damage as soon as the power button is turned on and her laser batteries are charged. She can take just about as much punishment as she can dish out which saying quite a bit given her damage potential with just build stats, then factor in weapons and equipment and she is a nightmare to face on the field.




Now we come to her equipment with currently six cockpit slots, six chassis slots, five engine slots, and four shield slots. The cockpit I just loaded up with crystal based Sensor Arrays for both precision and Laser damage bonuses, also the lesser freeze potential comes in quite handy. The chassis slots are all Muon Junctions. What can I say with inbuilt Fork, attached to a dodge ability, well to me that is win/win. The engines are R.A.C.E engines across all slots. Mostly because they bring a decent speed to the party, enhance the dodge by a touch, and the auto repair stacks nicely. Then finally down to the shielding slots it took some doing but finally I managed to balance it all out with a Lightning shield, Thiokol Delta, Caudata Delta, and an Arctic Delta. All of these goodies plus build stats combine make her total stats look like this....

Level: 107 / 107
Armor: 1433

Proj. Damage + 35%
Laser Damage + 84%
Speed + 52
Trample 10%                                                          
3X Damage 10%
Wide Fork 8%
2X Damage 10%
Fork 56%
Crit-Kill 10%
Freeze 60%
Precision (65)
Dodge (67)
Auto Repair (6)
Shield (112)
Trample Shield 58%
Laser Shield 25%
Proj. Shield 29%
Fire Shield 49%
Proj. Shield (30)
Missile Shield 38%
Ice Shield 19%

Class: Regis
Weapons: 39

So there you have it folks my current build up for Jabberwocky. Is she the best out there? Nope, can she hold her own? Hell yes. Can she be improved upon? Always no doubt about it. But for now she is just a fierce crit-kill, laser bonus death machine, and honestly I just love her this way.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Got A Light?

Dreadnought Mech Revue By David McCallum#701548

DREADNOUGHT!


The word deserves capitalisation since it rolls off the tongue in the same manner as a half ton lead projectile.


The word conjures imagery of ancient ironclads, squatting on the oceans of old Earth in the same offensive and domineering fashion that a rib roast at a vegan banquet would, looking for all the world like the result of unholy copulation between a hedgehog and an armadillo in a steel foundry at midnight on the solstice.


Our own dreadnoughts follow in the same ilk, sitting on the field of battle with all the grace and style of an anvil applied to somebodies head.


It is perhaps there that the similarity ends, for while the Dreadnought did indeed dominate the Mecha Galaxy for a short while, it quickly became supplanted by the crowd favourite (and even less stylish) Torrent. And that in turn has slipped down the power rankings, surpassed by the advent of the dino mech hordes, the Boreas and the massive 100 ton battle fortresses.


So what exactly do you get for your money if you are looking at a Dreadnought?


140 Niodes, 15500 Ferrites and 12500 Bioptics gets you... well, not a lot on paper to be honest. Wait a little while and for the same sort of budget you will have access to the Torrent, which seasoned pilots will tell you is a far better option, especially when fielded in ranks or squadrons.


Oh, the Dreadnought is certainly the faster of the pair, with ample space for power plants which give it a speed that belies its namesake, but the cockpit and targeting systems of the Torrent more than seem to make up for that edge. And rigged for projectiles, the Dreadnought has certainly been described as a one trick pony...


So if all this is true, what exactly does the Dreadnought say on the modern battlefield?


Actually, it says a lot. You see, the Dreadnought may not be the dominant force it once was on the fields of glory, but it has become synonymous with  being the sought after prize awarded to those pilots who have survived the crucible and forge that is a Faction War and have come out at the top of the pack.


A single Dreadnought could be raid booty. A pair could be lucky looting.


But a squadron? That is the mark of a pilot who wears his or her big green blocky badge of honour, the mark of a pilot who has come through days of intense battle and can certainly get the best out of a fast gunslinger that may not be the best, but is certainly a still worthy and hazardous foe.


Its no longer the mark of the metal but the measure of the meat.


Face these nimble beasts in a fight and you need to wonder... is it you or the pilot you are facing who truly dreads nought?



Submitted By David McCallum#701548