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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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 Posted: 28-Jan-2004 19:40 Post subject: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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Zeus Zeu-23
Level 1 Battlemech
Tons: 80
Walk 4
Run 6
Jump 0
Heat Sinks: 19
Armor 11.5 tons
(distributed as per the stock Zeus)
Weapons and Ammo:
AC/5 LA
AC/5 (Ammo) 20 LA
Large Laser RT
Medium Laser CT
Medium Laser LT (R)
SRM-2 x5 (RA)
SRM (Ammo) 50 (RT)
BV: 1046
Cost: 7,418,641 c-bills
An experimental modification produced in limited numbers by the Lyran Commonwealth, the Zeus X-1 was produced to counter those critics of the design who claimed its short range firepower was deficient. This was of particular concern to units stationed on the Draconis border who often faced units composed of swift moving Jenners capable of moving inside of the Zeus' long-range strike envelope before the Zeus was capable of doing significant damage. The LRM launcher was replaced with an array of SRM-2 launchers. The multiple launchers allows the pilot to control the rate of ammunition consumption, effectively allowing this Zeus to keep its missile launchers in play longer than the standard variant without increasing the amount of weight or space devoted to ammunition storage.
Although this Zeus performed well in both test runs and in initial combat trials against Kurita units, internal political rivalries among the various designers and nobles controling the Defiance Industries plant on Hesperus II precluded full-scale production or deployment at the expense of other Zeus variants. Today, fewer than a dozen examples of this 'mech remain in service with the 4th Skye Rangers, a couple Donegal Guards units, and various mercenary units in the employ of the Commonwealth.
[ This Message was edited by: -Mud on 2004-01-28 19:40 ]
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 29-Jan-2004 12:29 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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That's a good variant of the Zeus, one that makes sense. Could be quite nasty in a game too.
Of course there was no need for it. If you need SRMs you deploy a lance of Commandos in addition to your stock Zeus mechs.  So it wasn't only Defiance officials causing trouble, Coventry Metalworks was against it too.
[ This Message was edited by: Nightmare on 2004-01-29 23:58 ]
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A tree fall in the forest, and no one is around, and it hits a mime. Does anyone care?
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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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| Posted: 29-Jan-2004 14:54 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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Those shaisty bastards! I knew my clan invaded their world for a reason
[ This Message was edited by: -Mud on 2004-01-29 14:55 ]
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Vampire
Free Worlds League
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 917
Location: Spain
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| Posted: 29-Jan-2004 15:20 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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Touching a 3025 sacred cow 'Mech? Sacrilege!
Actually I like both the design, and Nightmare reply pointing out that it's not enough with a good design if it doesn't fit with existing doctrine.
This is an excellent example of oddball variants that didn't make it into the production line. I wouldn't use this 'Mechs as a common machine in the field, but it certainly would be useful as a curiosity, a uncommon trophy or heirloom, or a surprise for jaded players that think they know all there's to be known about 'Mech designs.
I think this variant sucks  , but I would use it anyway.
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Memento audare semper
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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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| Posted: 29-Jan-2004 18:11 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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I actually built this variant for a merc company I am putting together. I had the Zeus mini sitting around, and I had a spot in a heavy lance for it, so I figured I would throw a monkey wrench at my opponents...I later discarded this plan, after structural tests showed that throwing a monkey wrench large enough to actually do any damage would burn out the arm actuators of even the largest 'mech. Perhaps it could be incorporated into the unit insignia though...a giant monkey wrench hitting a Warhammer in the head might work.
[ This Message was edited by: -Mud on 2004-01-29 18:12 ]
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 30-Jan-2004 00:13 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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The infamous Free Rampage Company had an insignia with a non-descript soldier in DCMS-style gear waiting for the firing squad. Founded by escaped Kuritist renegades, their hatred for the Combine was, if not legendary, then strong. They had been sent on a suicide mission behind enemy lines since their commander wanted to get rid of them.
Loose cannons, thieves, compulsive liars and malcontents all.
McAle, the craziest of them, had a personal sign on his mech: a vaguely Takashi-like man being crushed under the foot of a Thunderbolt. This had to do with the incident he was sent to the Legions of Vega for, namely destruction of DCMS property and insubordination. He stopped a stolen mech by kicking in the cockpit AFTER damaging it so much it couldn't move. The commander was livid when he discovered the mech's head was destroyed. He almost choked when McAle said "there's some left under my foot". The only reason McAle got off with a transfer was that seppuku would have been too lenient. 
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A tree fall in the forest, and no one is around, and it hits a mime. Does anyone care?
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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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| Posted: 30-Jan-2004 14:57 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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| Legion of Vega, huh? Maybe he should have been assigned to Zeke as his punishment
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 31-Jan-2004 01:13 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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IIRC anyone sent on a suicide mission should get a mech that's on it's last legs anyway. I think the soon-to-be four founders of the FRC had a Stinger, a Wasp, a Warhammer and a Wolverine. The first two were cheap and old, the 'hammer was damaged and the Wolverine was out of spare parts. Back then the DCMS still ran on a steady diet of Jenners, Panthers and Dragons, with other mechs as flavoring.
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A tree fall in the forest, and no one is around, and it hits a mime. Does anyone care?
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 02-Feb-2004 06:52 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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I would put the SRM ammo in the arm. It would allow it to blow off and not destroy as much of the mech. I like the placement of the Weapons besides that. Ammo dependent in the arms and the energy in the Torso's... 
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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| Posted: 04-Feb-2004 15:18 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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| The original Zeus had its LRM ammo in the torso. Rather than completely rebuild the arm my techs put the ammo into the torso.
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AWAD
Draconis Combine
Chu-sa
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 766
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| Posted: 08-Feb-2004 20:59 Post subject: RE: Zeus ZEU-23 |
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Intresting and all the other things the rest of them said. I like the odd balls for a reason, not just super mech or a Clint that becomes a Whitworth. But I thing SRM-2s just suck.
Compare 2 SRM4 vse 4 SRM2.
If all hit and you roll average on the number of missles, the SRM4 version gives you 6 hits, the SRM2 gives you 4 hits. That alone makess SRM 2 not worth it. So drop the 2 racks, add a pair of 4s and another ton of ammo.
AWAD- Of course you could be a bastard and use inferno against the hot Jenners
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