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Here's some attempts at adding shields and 'general' improvements to a few assault titans.

My 'best' luck came with the Vertigo... I never did quite like this design, it never quite worked the way I intended, but this set up seems to be a little better.

I've completely dropped one GMH2 rack and reduced ammo to 32 rnds in the remaining 2.
Played around with the armor... and added a level1 shield, 3APs in the RT,LT and 1AP in the CT.
Also improved the heat dissapation by -0.50 C/sec (it always ran hot for me.. this should help)



Titan Name: Vertigo Short Range Assault Titan
Chassis: Mark MK-A4 Design: Bblue
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Weight: 199.9t (200t maximum) Height : 15 [meter]
Bmt : 35 (34 kph) Reduce Heat: -4.85C/sec.
Jmt : 12 (100 kph) for 30 secs Cost : 554603($)


Equipment:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Component/Type/Location

Engine : Mark MK-I [Engine 8] [CT ]
HeatReg.: Mark MH-II [Heat A]
Shield : Simson-Light [Shld1] [CBT ]
LifeSup.: B.M.I. [Life 3] [Head]
Scanner : Mark X-S [Scan. 6] [Head]
Computer: Mark BC-X [Comp. 6] [LowT]
E.C.M. : TraCop [E.C.M. 5] [CBT ]
JumpPort: Morola MJ [Jump 4]


Weapons:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Location/Weapon/Ammunition/Slots

[RA ] G.M.H. 2 RACK (032) [2]
[LA ] G.M.H. 2 RACK (032) [2]
[RT ] HEAVY MESON GUN (020) [2]
[LT ] HEAVY MESON GUN (020) [2]
[RL ] LIGHT MESON GUN (015) [1]
[LL ] LIGHT MESON GUN (015) [1]
[RT ] BLACK RAY GUN
[LT ] BLACK RAY GUN


Armor:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Loc/Internal/Armor/Status/Points/mm

[Head] (15) Dullaroy HMAX 027 [039mm]
[RT ] (29) Millenia (S) 052 [104mm]
[CT ] (29) Vicenium (S) 056 [094mm]
[CBT ] (19) Millenia (S) 022 [044mm]
[LT ] (29) Millenia (S) 052 [104mm]
[RA ] (29) Vicenium 055 [092mm]
[LA ] (29) Vicenium 055 [092mm]
[LowT] (19) Millenia 055 [110mm]
[RL ] (25) Vicenium (S) 057 [095mm]
[LL ] (25) Vicenium (S) 057 [095mm]

Armor Index: 3.68 [Total APts/T]
Internal: 248 [APts]
External: 488 [APts] Max:[111mm]
Total Armor: 736 [APts]

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The Sodom... some interesting changes but at some heavier(?) costs.

btw.. The Sodom in the 'unoffical database' has a minor 'bug' it has enough free wieght to add an addition AP in the LoT (would be a good thing since the engines there)

To add a shield to the Sodom (a titan I think would benefit from one)
I dropped the EMP (didn't relly seem to fit what the titan was doing)
Lost 5APs in the LT and RT, lost 11(!) APs in the CBT, but still at 39APS
Reduced flares from lvl6 down to level4

Gained a level2 shield
gained 3 AP in the LoT (engine location)
+1 AP in the LA and RA
improved cooling rate by -0.38C/sec

I like these changes but they are 'end-user' calls and may deviate too much from original designers intent.




Titan Name: Sodom test Medium Range Assault Titan
Chassis: Mark MK-A4 Design: Vicious Byte
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Weight: 199.9t (200t maximum) Height : 15 [meter]
Bmt : 35 (34 kph) Reduce Heat: -3.66C/sec.
Jmt : 12 (100 kph) for 30 secs Cost : 526448($)


Equipment:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Component/Type/Location

Engine : Morola M5 [Engine 5] [LowT]
HeatReg.: Triton H8 [Heat 8]
Flares : FL Frontier [Flare4] [LT ]
Shield : Sharidan [Shld2] [RT ]
D.C.S. : S.A.W.Fast [D.C.S.6] [CBT ]
LifeSup.: Bisvo Inc. [Life 6] [Head]
Scanner : Mark X-S [Scan. 6] [CT ]
Computer: Mark BC-X [Comp. 6] [CT ]
E.C.M. : Mark EXL [E.C.M. 6] [RT ]
JumpPort: Morola MJ [Jump 4]


Weapons:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Location/Weapon/Ammunition/Slots

[RA ] GAUSS CANNON (030) [2]
[LA ] GAUSS CANNON (030) [2]
[LT ] GAUSS CANNON (030) [2]
[RL ] LIGHT MESON GUN (015) [1]
[LL ] LIGHT MESON GUN (015) [1]
[Head] PULSE LASER


Armor:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Loc/Internal/Armor/Status/Points/mm

[Head] (15) Dullaroy HMAX 027 [039mm]
[RT ] (29) Vicenium 061 [102mm]
[CT ] (29) Dullaroy (S) 069 [099mm]
[CBT ] (19) Dullaroy 039 [056mm]
[LT ] (29) Titanium MAX 061 [111mm]
[RA ] (29) Millenia 055 [110mm]
[LA ] (29) Millenia 055 [110mm]
[LowT] (19) Titanium MAX 061 [111mm]
[RL ] (25) Dullaroy (S) 069 [099mm]
[LL ] (25) Dullaroy (S) 069 [099mm]

Armor Index: 4.07 [Total APts/T]
Internal: 248 [APts]
External: 566 [APts] Max:[111mm]
Total Armor: 814 [APts]

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Next was the Banshee

Added a level1 shield and improved the cooling rate by -0.13C/sec

Lost 2 level of JJs[:@] (reduces jump distance from 3 hexes to 2) and lost 6APs in the LoT

My guess on this one is that it's a wash... Personally I like the shield over the jump jets, I always seem to find myself looking for a shield with this design BUT I also know I don't use JJ's to thier fullest potential a lot of the time.[:-] So the shield fits my playstyle a little better, but the JJs would probably work better for other playstyles.




Titan Name: Banshee test Short Range Assault Titan
Chassis: Mark MK-A1 Design: Bblue
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Weight: 200.0t (200t maximum) Height : 15 [meter]
Bmt : 38 (31 kph) Reduce Heat: -4.77C/sec.
Jmt : 12 (100 kph) for 30 secs Cost : 505710($)


Equipment:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Component/Type/Location

Engine : Mark MK-X [Engine A] [CT ]
HeatReg.: Mark MH-II [Heat A]
Shield : Simson-Light [Shld1] [LowT]
LifeSup.: B.M.I. [Life 3] [Head]
Scanner : Mark M-S [Scan. 5] [Head]
Computer: Mark BC-X [Comp. 6] [CBT ]
E.C.M. : TraCop [E.C.M. 5] [RT ]
JumpPort: Morola MJ [Jump 4]


Weapons:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Location/Weapon/Ammunition/Slots

[RA ] COLD LIGHT GUN
[LA ] COLD LIGHT GUN
[RT ] COLD LIGHT GUN
[LT ] COLD LIGHT GUN
[LT ] TESLA BOLT


Armor:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Loc/Internal/Armor/Status/Points/mm

[Head] (13) Dullaroy HMAX 025 [036mm]
[RT ] (29) Vicenium (W) 051 [085mm]
[CT ] (29) Titanium MAX 056 [102mm]
[CBT ] (17) Millenia (W) 028 [056mm]
[LT ] (29) Millenia MAX 051 [102mm]
[RA ] (27) Vicenium (W) 056 [094mm]
[LA ] (27) Vicenium (W) 056 [094mm]
[LowT] (17) Millenia MAX 051 [102mm]
[RL ] (23) Vicenium (W) 056 [094mm]
[LL ] (23) Vicenium (W) 056 [094mm]

Armor Index: 3.60 [Total APts/T]
Internal: 234 [APts]
External: 486 [APts] Max:[102mm]
Total Armor: 720 [APts]

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Took a look at the Behemoth also..
It's the same situation as the Banshee, easiest swap is 2 levels of JJ for a shield1 or 2 levels of flares and 2 levels DCS for a shield1. Agian it sorta feels like a wash... however....

The AI does seem to be able to use shields better then it can efficently use JJs, so with the AI in mind.. the shields may be a better call? I would recommed the changes for the Vertigo and the Sodom, the others...well.. anyone got a coin?[;)]


Downloadable xchange file for these is below

As requested, here's my database link... I'll add your modifications in there when I get around to it.

http://home.graffiti.net/coyote27/tos.html

I like the look of some of the modifications you've made. The Vertigo especially and for several reasons. I've always had trouble closing and then using its BRGs effectively, the shield and cooling rate will really help. I've also hated feeling like I need an uber-jock to use all of its weapon systems effectively and taking away from the GMHs makes it easier to focus on its strengths (the BRGs and mesons of course).

I agree that the AI uses shields more effectively than JJs, but I like JJs so much that I put level 6 in nearly every titan I make. Mobility, improved LOS, and dfa are all great, but the biggest advantage is the huge defense you have while using L6 JJs. For an assault it not just 3 tiles of excellent mobility, but also 30 seconds of being very hard to hit (it seems to be an ideal amount of time to scan a target and recycle your weapons as well).

I think the Tentakel could really use an overhaul, its system locations are a big weakness. They would be scary except that enemy jocks die of shock from shoulder hits very quickly.

That, and it always runs out of ammo before it can kill anything

ORIGINAL: happybjorn
I like the look of some of the modifications you've made. The Vertigo especially and for several reasons. I've always had trouble closing and then using its BRGs effectively, the shield and cooling rate will really help. I've also hated feeling like I need an uber-jock to use all of its weapon systems effectively and taking away from the GMHs makes it easier to focus on its strengths (the BRGs and mesons of course).

I agree that the AI uses shields more effectively than JJs, but I like JJs so much that I put level 6 in nearly every titan I make. Mobility, improved LOS, and dfa are all great, but the biggest advantage is the huge defense you have while using L6 JJs. For an assault it not just 3 tiles of excellent mobility, but also 30 seconds of being very hard to hit (it seems to be an ideal amount of time to scan a target and recycle your weapons as well).

I think the Tentakel could really use an overhaul, its system locations are a big weakness. They would be scary except that enemy jocks die of shock from shoulder hits very quickly.

Let me know how the Vertigo plays.. haven't had a chance to try it out myself, Coyote's titans are keeping me busy as I sort through them, fine tune, and trim down the numbers to reduce titabs that are too similiar in my database. The original Vertigo was designed with 2 things in mind, we needed another BRG titan in the assaults and the GMHs were there to help support titans as the Vertigo closed, cause let's face it.. 3 GMH2 racks can take a while to do any real damage to another assault [;)] Itt never did quite work that way on the battlefield. The shield should help some. As far as the 3 skills needed to use it... it's an assault and a jock using it should be good in atleast 2 of the 3 by then and be able to get enough xp from a couple of battles to get the third up to par, but definately not a titan for a jock still cutting his teeth.

I agree that JJs are very useful, and if you use them to good effect and it sounds like you do, you know how useful large JJ can be. But when dealing with the database it's 'troublesome' to me to load a lot of titans the AI is going to be using up with JJs at the expence of other equipment, because alot of the time they can become deadweight for the AI, but even then they should be represented in the database, so I hit a conundrum on where to 'draw the line'.

The Tentakel's LS is a pain[:@] but it just don't fit anywhere else efficiently without losing something.

ORIGINAL: Coyote27

As requested, here's my database link... I'll add your modifications in there when I get around to it.

http://home.graffiti.net/coyote27/tos.html

That's a lot of titans[:'(] I'm about half way through tweaking and weeding the user designed ones (don't want too many similiar type titans in any wieght class). There's common minor 'glitches' with a lot of them (extra mm of armor with no effect on AP is the most common, but a couple can benefit with a few minor changes... armor type etc..) Haven't even started looking at the potential improvement to the 'standard' titans yet.


btw.. anyone have any 'significantly different' assaults? I'm running behind in that wieght class. I guess it's harder to get a good variety when one assault can do so many different things. They all seem to come with everything.