Fafnir Clan Logo By Germán Jaramillo Pulido#685605

Submitted by Germán Jaramillo Pulido#685605

Tiamat Clan Logo By Germán Jaramillo Pulido#685605

Submitted by Germán Jaramillo Pulido#685605

Square Flame Weapon Review By Pat Willis#224534

Damage-30

Speed-103

2x damage 2%

3x Damage 2%

One of the corner stones of any effective flame based arsenal. This weapon is fairly fast firing and for its level the damage is actually pretty good. The bonuses included in their abilities of course can be further augmented by equipment and specific mech types.

It is a solid performing weapon and can be relied on with no worry. The selling point on this one is all speed though for a flame weapon it is very fast (flame weapons like the diablis nozzle and rupture shot clock in at 105 speeds by way of comparison.) So you really can’t argue with a quick shooter.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Tradition and Superstition by David McCallum : #701548

We compete. We play games.


Ergo, we are superstitious.


It may be little things.


A mech you can't go into battle without.


Hitting a different mission after you get a duff one like 'Blank Stare' or 'Nothing to Report' so it instantly breaks the bad run before it starts.


Not attacking the same player twice in a row in case luck swings the completely opposite way.


And it's infectious as well with people feeding off each other.


I started one myself.


I normally fight as a specialist, so much so that before this war, I can't actually recall the last time I wasn't one.


We don't like getting caught out of formation, so a reminder is normally sent over clan chat. Most of the guys respond to confirm they have seen it and are all set. Sometimes they confirm before the call goes out.


My confirmation is 'cruisers on the field', due to the spec type I normally use. It seemed funny not to be declaring that this war... almost setting my teeth on edge.


And then one of the other guys declared he had set his spec, somebody who normally uses a weight class a little higher than mine.


'Heavy cruisers on the field' was the call.


The raccoons were not my fault. A clan mate had one as his profile picture eer since I joined, and his luck in raids was obscene. Then he changed the picture and his loot dwindled to nothing. We suggested he put it back, the loot arrived again.


Now my raid luck was not abysmal, but it was below average. I changed my profile pick to a raccoon, and I had a run of loot luck that was so far into the top of the bell curve that I lost sight of it.


Suddenly we were overrun with raccoon profile pics.


We formed a new clan at the bottom end, the Raccoon Rangers.


The clan chief stayed diplomatically silent on the matter. The 2IC was far more vocal and either dismissive or mildly annoyed at the frivolity of the situation.


It must have been maybe... 20 minutes? before that particular war started that we got notification that 'somebody' had changed their profile picture. The catcalls on clan chat were intense to say the least.


Under the circumstances, trying to use the reason of 'It can't hurt' doesn't cut the mustard with our lot.


And there must be more out there. Weird, wonderful, just downright strange or 'in jokes' that need to be explained.


Come on folks, fess up. Note them below and we'll even pay for them.



Submitted by David McCallum : #701548

To Our Readers By Pat Willis#224534

Hello one and all,

I am writing this to simply have a heart to heart no BS talk with each and every one of you. You see this site is maintained by less than a handful of people. David, Kenneth,and myself. Joel and Ron are consultants and occasional contributors but are no longer full time staff. As a result we are all subject to different time zones, availability, and even free time.

This leads to us trying to put out content for you, with trying to maintain a 2 post per day minimum (now down to just the A.M. post.) not an easy task. Yes there are weapons galore in the game, as well as a variety of equipment to cover.

 However we're more than just a tech manual. And to be honest while quick and easy to write up such reviews may be, they can become tiresome to turn out day after day. We have other options available to write up as is evidenced by our site navigation bar, but we would rather the bulk of that stuff come from you the readers.

We want to know your pilot stories, actual in game events, or made up sorties, we want to know your preferred mecha, reviews on it, hell share a build. By the stars especially if you think you'll be retiring from the game share your builds! Pass the knowledge on rather than leaving newbies and up and comers grasping in the dark. Got a commentary? Toss us an editorial, but please try to keep it this side of civil.

In a nutshell there is only so much we can do as small group of editors and advisors/contributors. We need you, we need your submissions. We need your clan lore and logos, your news, hell even bragging rights, or issuing challenges. We need that to stay here as a network for mecha galaxy. Otherwise we simply will run out of things to print or publish and all you'll be left with once again is A.N.N.

I was hoping that won't be the case as so many seemed keen on having an alternative network to run in competition to A.N.N. from the get go. And lets face it no disrespect or offense meant to them but, they carry a bias and always kind of have. ( I used to work for them I know.) But think of it you kind of have to to get your stuff implemented as they do in game. They are very  much THE Mecha Galaxy news. Why? because about 60% of the time they are making it and are able to keep in touch with the devs. All well and good.

Us? Never claimed to be THE news of anything. I may have an ego but I am not that egotistical. My sights were lower, more humble if you will. I just wanted to be the voice of the players. Make sure every one and every side was being heard. Not ram new rules and events down your throats with continuous stories and endless bombardment on the game page. We just have always wanted everyone to be heard in as calm and relaxing manner as possible. For a war game where everyone is against everyone else this is about an neutral and unbiased as it gets.

As I said however we can not maintain this indefinitely on our own, we need you ladies and gentlemen. Otherwise to be honest this will just have been a brief experiment in free press. So please consider what I have said here, look at your own, as well as your clans exploits and give us a transmission. We pay, we have solid views per day, so I know this will be read, so you have nothing to loose with us. Nothing more than you would in submitting to the other guys, and risk perhaps having it omitted due to conflict with the "official" narrative. Think about it, I'll keep this running as long as I can. Without submissions however closing shop is inevitable.

Happy hunting one and all,

Pat Willis#224534

Fraction Wars Interview with Colin Toenjes #650451

It is my lot in life to be yelled at.

If it isn't Pat, it is my clan leaders who, for reasons known only to themselves, refer to me not by my given name but as 'Number One Suspect'.

The fact that I am completely innocent in all cases is a given, but it doesn't stop them trying.

Except on this one occasion, when I managed to find my current C.O. in a far more talkative and less voluble mood, and we actually managed to have a decent chat.

GG> So, change in format and you ended up with a command position this time. To start off with, what are your thoughts on the format itself?


CT> I actually liked the smaller group format.

It left less room for error, true, but we saw a lot of closer fights.  less true blowouts.
made it more exciting in many ways.


GG> It's funny how peoples perceptions are different... it seemed as if it was pretty much a foregone conclusion if it was pay players vs free players and only a chance of being close if you were both in the same bracket. No chance for upsets... very formulaic.


CT> Well, I'm not a big-pay player, neither is anyone who was in my group this go-around, and we did OK, coming home with a silver.  You're going to have a disparity between the groups with long-term success or big wallets and the other groups in almost any of the war formats.

Mecha Galaxy is at such a level of maturity now that you've got tiers that have evolved because of the disparity of prizes over the long term of the game.  Success truly does breed success in this game.
It can be overcome with hard work, but that curve gets steeper with each war.


GG> OK then, so how was it more exciting, given the stated disadvantage your group would have started out with?


CT> We had a better chance of being competitive with the smaller versions of the top tier clans.  Even in those clans there is a spectrum of abilities,  and when you find someone in that group who you can beat, those wins can become important if you can string enough of them together.  It gives you more of a fighting chance.  In a 9 versus 9 match-up, those top tier clans can "conceal" those weaker players and having a bigger preponderance of players who are ton for ton stronger than you, those weaker players giving up a few losses doesn't matter as much.  But int this format,  those losses or a mistake like being out of formation can turn the tide of a smaller battle and surprises can occur.

I know we saw that in some of the other fights in the Heroes family, in one case where a fight was determined because we caught someone out of formation just long enough to earn 2 wins, 2 wins that made a difference.  And those kinds of close fights happened in a number of divisions, which made it exciting overall.

I'd bet we see a lower payout on the niode bets when they are resolved because of that uncertainty and closeness of combat levels.


GG> Ah, now you mentioned the close matches... we are currently sitting watching 3 fights in overtime that won't be resolved by the time this goes to publication.

Care to place any last minute predictions on those fights?



CT> Let me take a look at the contenders...

Division 7, I'd expect Death's Dealers to win out over the Brotherhood.


GG> Hah, Pat's fighting in that one, so I'd expect the big editorial crayon to be brought out on that comment.


CT> Defenders of Bunny and Phoenix in Division 7 looks to be going to the little carrot munchers.

which is the division 14 fight?


GG> 110th vs Death's Acolytes.


CT> I think the 110th will prevail there.


GG> Time will tell I guess.

Now, going back to an earlier comment you made about catching folks out of formation...
apart from that one instance, do you think that specialists actually played a huge part in this war at all?


CT> Yes I think they did.  With the small formation sizes, having a good spec could prevent attacks to your formation, where having a bad spec could open you up more.

I saw that happen in at least one of our Heroes family fights, the one with my son in it.  Our spec didn't get attacked at all, where their spec was easily attacked by all of us.  It made the difference there.

It was a case of Proper Planning Preventing Poor Performance.


GG> Pretty postive you missed a P there...


CT> Keeping it clean.


GG> No probs... although you obviously aren't privy to our staff meetings.

The way its coming across, it almost seems as if you are quite a fan of this smaller format?

Or is it just a case where a change was as good as a rest?


CT> It's a nice change.

Do I want it to be permanent?  I could adapt to it.

Different strategies, new ideas.


GG> OK then, I guess it begs the question of what other 'one off' changes do you think would be viable?


CT> I wouldn't mind seeing the return of the Mechalympix format, as long as it was shorter.

I'd love to see some way to do a tournament where it was based more on a combination of the individual skills in a Clan rather than PvP combat.   If the wave challenge could be made to somehow work better, having each member of a clan run through that and aggregating the results across the clan would be a fun challenge.

perhaps a competition to see how fast a clan could complete a raid-style event.
only the normal limit on stim packs, no buying of energy or video refills.


GG> I was just thinking of a raid style with progressively harder waves... 3 duck eggs and you're out,
medals determined on total kills


CT> Possible. I don't mind seeing things being shaken up. It adds a new level of complexity.


GG> There definitely seems to be two camps on that... the ones who relish change and the ones who just want it static because having to re-arrange every war is a pain.


CT> That's just human nature in a lot of ways.  Some prefer being progressive, others are more conservative or reactionary.


GG> One final question before we wrap up.

How are you feeling that the story-line has progressed and integrated with the game over the course of this year?


CT> I think it's been better.  We're seeing more story being fleshed out across the bones that were already there.  If I may, I see quite an analogy to another mech centric game I enjoy in Battletech.

It started out as a beer-and-pretzels big-stompy robots game with some framework of fluff and then grew and built story around that.  I see something similar happening here.


GG> Yeah, love a story myself, and its certainly good to see so many clans getting the chance to become a part of the in game lore., especially the ones who maybe aren't as outspoken as some of us.

Anyway, I'll leave you alone now.. good to actually have a professional chat rather than just get yelled at.


I covered my ears at that point and beat a hasty exit...

Submitted by David McCallum : #701548

Clan Wars A Video Editorial By Pat Willis#224534

Who Are The Real Bad Guys A Galaxy Gossip Video By Pat Willis#224534

Editors note * this is for fun not to be taken as news or fact hence why it is listed under Galaxy Gossip.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

Solderbot Hive Equipment Review by David McCallum : #701548

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


And no penalty!


Again!


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


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


Funnily enough they are both engines.


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


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


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


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



Submitted by David McCallum : #701548

Evolve Or Die By Pat Willis#224534

The Brotherhood, one of the oldest if not currently the oldest clan family in Mecha Galaxy and where I personally hang my hat. They have seen many great players pass through the clan halls and call it home. They battled all the greats in the game from the old days like Cyberstorm, and Murderbots back before they were AFF. They were often fierce competitors in KOTM, and the clan halls were adorned with many first-place medals from both Clan and Faction Wars. But like many great old houses age has set in; cracks are beginning to show.

The first major crack was many brothers breaking off from the clan to start something new with Fusion. They were perusing their own play style and trying to start something different in the galaxy. Not saying anything against them or theirs mind you just stating that such a clan formation from the bulk of another major clan family is a rather large crack in the cohesion of any clan.

Morale thus over all took a major hit and given the remaining numbers in the active clan family results varied from war to war on how the remaining brothers and sisters performed overall. If the result wasn’t necessarily a desired one, or the expected, well of course morale suffers that much more. No matter how you try to hide it, or who you are it is felt. So, another major crack in the old regal house. Going from a solid Gold medal winning clan to a more all over the board situation with various clans bringing home whatever they could pick up.

Alliances were made here and there that before wouldn’t have even been considered. Some worked favorably, some had a mediocre outcome, and others crashed and burned horribly. The clan everyone used to want to team up with had to basically outsource to other families to make temporary alliances to get the job done. This further effects morale, performance, and showings for the clan’s trophies.

We also had brothers retire from the game entirely or pass away. Such things will always affect the ones still playing. We can chalk that up to further morale decline. What that left us with is a once old and great name slowly dying due to break offs, morale loss, decline in membership, and a spotty performance in KOTM and C.W.

But, we are the Brotherhood. We do not lie down to die so easily. The powers that be have recognized these things. They have read the writing on the wall, and they refuse to accept it. A life line has been offered to the Brotherhood from an unexpected direction. The life line has come from the Dragons clan family.

Dragons leadership has offered a full cooperative and even alliance with the Brotherhood across all clans and divisions. Dragons as many know are a newer but solid name in the Galaxy for a clan family. They have some of the game’s best pilots, hold overall decent levels, and are consecutive performers on the battle field, as well as generally good folk.

The situation now is up to the Brotherhood to decide the fate of our ancient and noble name. Our leadership is listening to each and every one of us who has a question, concern or idea pertaining to the saving of our clan. Spirits are high, doubt is beginning to give way to hope. Will we survive as the Brotherhood still, will we become Dragons, or will there be a totally new emerging force that will yet be born?

Either way there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the Brotherhood, and it looks to be a Dragon’s flame.

Submitted by Pat Willis#224534

That New Car Smell By Kenneth Hicks ID# 846092

So, here we are. We’ve weathered the mad scramble that was making 5-7 player clans, we limited it to one Specialist. Now we get to take this baby out for a drive.

Squad Wars 3317 brings into a new era of tactical fighting. It’s twice the preparation and zero room for error. After Battle One, we’ve all seen some surprises. It’s almost like a fresh start.

On the positive side, this has seriously taken a lot of the “insert rod A into slot B” mechanics out of Clan War. Level strength has never been so important as it is now. I’ve seen some excellent squads that came as a bit of a surprise, and squads disappoint for the same reason. A fair and accurate strength check of your clansmen has helped out several groups so far.

On the negative side, I don’t like what’s becoming of Specialists. I honestly wanted to see this aspect evolve with new types of formations to make people work a bit more. But with the single spec. per squad rule, it’s made the concept all but obsolete.

Those are the two biggest areas of impact that I’ve seen so far. If you have an example, input, or an opinion, please comment below (niodes!) or post it as a comment on this page and I’ll work those into another piece (if you do this, give your player ID for moar niodes!)

As always, this is Kenneth Hicks, signing out.
<End Transmission>