SubZero MKII Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

This is a niode Ice weapon available to levels 22 and up, please note it is a limited release weapon and as such it has a limited quantity to it, and it is  currently sold out. Aside from that note there are no limits or restrictions placed on how many you can own if you were lucky enough to grab some.

In sticking with our comparison  format we will look at how it stacks up against the level 20 Blue Reaper. The B.R. does 29 straight damage, has a speed of 96, and the weapon ability of Freeze at 8%.

The SubZero MKII buries it in all aspects. Straight damage is higher, speed is better, and you get two weapon abilities as opposed to one. But hey makes sense right? It is after all a weapon for higher levels than 20.

Well the next niode Ice thrower in the shop is the Ice Bolt. That is a level 30 weapon packing, 43 straight damage, 98 speed, and a weapon ability of Freeze at 20%.

Still the SubZero hangs in there with more damage, better speed, and its two weapon abilities at lesser percentages than the one at 20% but it's all of 8 levels lower so I guess we can't have it all wrapped in one weapon. Even with that though the SubZero is a kick ass gun and should be taken seriously. It can augment and help outfit your favorite ice mecha and do some killer damage. Honestly surprised there are some left still in the shop.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Kojin Stove Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

Damage 85

Speed 105

Burn of 33% with Splash of 5%

This is a big boy toy for certain. A high power high burn rate flame weapon that is devastating to any it touches. This weapon excels on mecha that are built to support flame weapons (Inferno, Gigus, Dilophos) it is devastating to those who cannot take flame damage. Used properly and in combination with the right mecha this weapon will be the prize of your arsenal, especially when attached to a high level high damage mecha configuration. This is no Zippo lighter kids this is one of the big guns and as such it will cost you but it is worth every single niode to watch your enemy burn like a birthday candle.












Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Groundpounder Equipment Review By Pat Willis#224534

A piece I don't have pricing information on as I got mine as a reward in CW/Raid's. What I do know is this is for 90-100 Ton mecha . It has the abilities of Trample at 8%, Fork at 7%, 3X damage at 6%, Projectile damage +2%, and Freeze of 15%.

Some of the higher tonnage mechas have trample and in some cases fork built in them, so this would compliment them just fine. Ignis has Fork, Regis has Trample, Yallan has Fork, Jadoon has Trample, Magnus has Freeze and Fork, and the Boreas has X3 damage. All the mechas listed above and the abilities listed with them can be further enhanced by this chassis piece. How much of an enhancement would really be up to you depending on how much of which equipment piece you put in what mecha. Bottom line there is serious potential here for whooping ass, so if you can get a hold of one of these go nuts with it. They were on offer for the appropriate levels in the Mystery Vortex at one time as well, maybe they will come around again.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Nanobot Repair Equipment Review By Pat Willis#224534

For mechas 25-50 tons we have this niode chassis piece. It'll cost you 285 Ferrite, 250 Bioptics, and 27 Niodes to buy. It provides Auto Repair of 4, Shield of 1, and Kickback at 10% odds for 80% damage. That auto repair sounds good doesn't it? Shielding is pretty small as to almost be non existent with just a 1, but the kick back, ouch.

Depends on your play style I know, some folks like the suicide bomber in their ranks. However most players won't touch kickback with a 12 foot pole even at 10% odds. If and when it goes off it'll rip your mecha a new one with 80% damage. May as well stick some explosives on your mecha, set it for a short fuse, and run it around the training grounds till it detonates at that point. I have yet to meet a player who champions the kickback equipment, and there is a pretty good reason for it, they already blew up using it.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Handheld Nuke Equiment Review By Pat Willis#224534

For mechas in the 35-55 ton range we have this niode based chassis piece of equipment. It costs 3,100 Ferrite, 2,496 Bioptics, and only 6 Niodes to buy one. also these have been given out quite a bit as raid rewards following Clan wars of late. It does X2 Damage at 75%, X3 Damage at 25%, has a Kickback of 90% odds, at 100% Damage.

Now maybe you can see why it cost more in Ferrite, and Bioptics than Niodes. Why anyone would want to detonate their own mecha in battle using one of these is beyond me. Then again I have a personal rule of no kickback on anything I own. So I guess it boils down to your play style, but if you want to splatter yourself all over you opponents canopy by using one of these be my guest. Honestly I see no upside to this as the upside of damage dealt, results in detonation of some sort to you. So if your play style is to suicide bomb the opponent this little number is for you, everyone else steer clear.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Trash Talk by David McCallum : #701548

Being the total gentleman I am, I would normally be loathe to publish such puerile banter as implied by the title.

However Patrick (in his infinite wisdom) has decried that there is not so much of it around as there was in the good old days, and as such we are duty bound to enter into such tomfoolery.

Ah well.... have at it.

A pleasure as always... until next time.

Enkidu Panel Review By Pat Willis#224534

Today we're looking at some pretty kick ass cockpit equipment for 95-100 ton mechas. The Enkidu Panel ( E Panel for short) is set up to help get your mecha on track and tracking opponents.

This piece packs a Precision of 10 which is no slouch by any means. Honestly the only other cockpit pieces that offer the same amount for Precision are the niode based Smart Gelpack, and the crystal based Sensor Array. Both however only pack on two added abilities whereas the E Panel goes for three.

The three perks here are in the form of weapon specific damage modifiers. Missile, Ice, and 3X to be exact. Looking just at mecha  specific build bonuses the E Panel would be ideal for the following mechas - Missile of course can be used by the Anubis, Apatotron, Typhoon, and the Humbaba. Ice can of course be used by the Boreas, Glaccus, and the Corsair. 3X damage modifier would most likely serve best on a Fext, or a Reaper. Now of course you can equip and outfit your mecha however you may choose, just with those attributes already assigned to those specific builds it may be worth looking into just to see how it all goes together.

To negate the fire vulnerability there are a few options for shielding available. In the niode based category we have the Flamma Epsilon and Akani Epsilon. For crystal based you have the Incombustibilis. In this case niode will get you more shield coverage than crystal, but it would be worth it if you  stack these E panels for major effect. Overall a solid piece, and if you've been reading this site for any length of time you know I don't usually say that about a equipment piece with vulnerabilities.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

The Fog Has Voices By Kenneth Hicks ID# 846092

Yomi Reef
Srixin
Delta Ridge, 2 km North of Tin Can Alley

It's been nearly a month now since the last incursion of Unification forces. Since then, members of the Mercenary Clans have been working with the Illyrians on building defensive positions, tech labs, and massive fields of electro magnetic gear, aimed at catching loose communications from the Gates.


Brainerd Charlie this is Brainerd Delta; I'm entering the slew 2 klicks South of you, taking Delta squad with me, over...

A month later, and they're still running pilots through psychological testing and retesting. It's not our flipping fault the eggheads can't here the call signs.


<skrrrt> Brainerd Charlie this is <skrit, skrrrr> Delta, pull back! Pull Back!

One theory is we're hearing current battles going on in alternate dimensions.


<skrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr>

Another is that we're catching Echos of past conflicts. That somehow our neural inputs are working as receivers for our grey matter, to hear and visualize random conflicts close by geographically and sometimes from within ourselves.


Brainerd Alpha through Delta eliminated. Move on to Wagi Alpha, over.

Whatever the reason, hearing the transmissions, seeing the ground, imagining or remembering the battle, all of these things help remind me of the sacrifices my brother and sisters have made to keep this universe, this time line, this reality safe for myself and my family. There might be a day some other soldier stands here and listens to my call signs, but until then, I'll keep the memory of those before my alive and well. Both in mind, heart, and spirit.


Happy Veterans and Armistice day to all those that have served. Your memory and actions live on.

Caged Singularity Equipment Review By Pat Willis#224534

A Niode based engine piece for mechas 75-90 Tons, one will cost you 2,003 Ferrite, 694 Bioptics, and 54 Niodes. For all that you get Speed at +3, Trample at 3%, Auto Repair of [2], and a Shield of [7]. The speed boost is decent nothing major, or to be excited about but still not too bad. Combined with the auto repair factor that may not be a bad idea for stacking if you have the slots for it in your mecha.

The Trample percentage isn't bad but it's under 5% so it's minor. The major bonus here is it has no vulnerabilities. So much equipment is subject to poor craftsmanship leading to vulnerabilities in the design. This is one solid piece that delivers and may even keep your mecha together for an extra round or two when needed most with the Auto repair. No real downsides to be had here.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Multi - Fuel Turbine Equipment Review By Pat Willis#224534

A niode based engine for mechas 35-55 Tons. It will cost you 210 Ferrite, 110 Bioptics, and 21 Niodes. It has the following abilities- Speed +14, 3X Damage at 4%, Missile Vulnerability at 12%, and 2X Damage at 3%.

A fast engine no doubt the bonuses attached to this piece could do some serious damage with their modifiers when applied to a mecha which already had one or both stats in place on it. The missile vulnerability can be dealt with given proper shielding, as well as levels on your mecha to have enough shields to continue canceling out the vulnerabilities tht you trade off on when you install shields. Either way you look at it this engine is no slouch and will serve you well.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

We Are Warriors by David McCallum : #701548

Profit.


Keep that single word in your mind. It is the single most important thing in our existence.


We fight for profit.


The best deal, whether it is equipment, mechs or resources.


That's why we joined the Mercenary Warrior Clans.


Leave your politics, your religion, your ideologies at the door, or leave the clan. They have no place here. Prejudices and cries of inequality do not belong.


Those sentiments are the fuel that drives others. Let them have their beliefs, whatever they are. Just as long as they can pay. The stronger that fuel, the bigger our pay.


Oh, there are other reasons to fight.


Honour. Thrill. Sport. Revenge. Pleasure.


Survival is always acceptable.


Just make sure you get paid.


Now go and get drunk or get laid. Either way just get out.


Dismissed.

Submitted  by David McCallum : #701548