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GreyWolfActual
Catalyst Demo TeamPosts: 13386 LARP'ing is fun!  
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We’re jumping up to the skies this week and we’re doing it with an oldie. The Nightshade VTOL is an old unit, both In-Character and Out of Character.
The key thing about the Nightshade is that its old. It debuted in TRO:2750 and its universe introduction was in 2597. If there was any doubt, it was a Star League unit. The reason that this date is so important is because the Nightshade is the first craft to carry a Guardian ECM. So lets see what else it has besides a single ECM unit.
The Nightshade is twenty-five tons of which nearly a quarter, six tons, goes into a 160 Fusion engine. This gives the Nightshade the very useful speed of 12/18. So now we’ve got a fast ECM unit, what protects that other than speed?
For starters, two tons of armor. This is not all that much, but in the old days of BMR and before heavily arming a VTOL was a waste of tonnage. In this case the 10/5/8/2 pattern is enough to take one turn of fire at you, which really you shouldn’t allow yourself to be taking. The distribution also speaks volumes, note that the rear has more than the sides, clearly you are expected to use that little extra armor for running away.
Yet there is one more piece of equipment that the Nighthade has, a front mounted medium laser. This makes the Nightshade even more deadly. A single medium laser won’t do too much but if used properly it can deliver a coup dé grace to a damaged unit, or just annoy the hell out of your opponent.
Usage is damn simple. Keep it hidden. It has an ECM so you best find some hill near your enemies, fly NoE and at full speed and hide. Then the next turn move. You should never have less than a +4 on your Nightshade’s TMM. Just keep that ECM in play and the Nightshade hidden and it’ll be worth it.
But what’ll it cost you? Well, under BV 1.0 you could get a fast and mobile ECM unit with a punch for all of 309 BV and a mere 1,222,222 (that’s a lot of 2s) C-Bills. However given its history as a Star League and ComStar/WoB unit, you probably don’t have a very good chance of getting one.
However, WoB brings up an interesting idea. ECM annoys C*, the DC, and the FS a lot because they all make extensive use of C3. Even the remnants of the FWL would be annoyed by it (no more semi-guideds). Given what WoB would do to the LRM and SRM Carriers, I’m surprised we haven’t (yet) seen a WoB upgrade. Simple changes include an ER Medium Laser swap and ferro (or heavy ferro) armor. The only major upgrade is an XL. Keep the speed the same but use the three tons for goodies. You could do a half ton more armor and ferro it for fifteen extra points while adding a C3i of your own. You could slap on two ER Mediums in place of the single medium and give it more armor. If you want to bump the speed you could make it a 15/23 mover and still have a half ton more for armor. There’s actually a fair amount of room to play on the Nightshade.
Suffice it to say, its a very, very, useful and annoying unit. Given who it is run by I am sure we can expect to see them in the heart of the Jihad.
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"My name is Saul Tigh, I'm an officer in the Colonial Fleet. Whatever else I am, whatever else it means, that's the man I want to be, and if I die today, its the man I'll be."
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oldfart3025
Major Posts: 5075 Maskirovka: Helpful Public Service Messages.
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The Nightshade is an excellent EW support unit for helicopter Flights. We've been using them for many moons, now.
Our SOP calls for five ship Flights, composing of four combat helos and one Nightshade for ECM coverage. Considering that we use Maxtech rules for VTOL combat, having a defensive electronic bubble futzing with enemy systems, makes attack helicopter formations more annoying. And potentially more dangerous to deal with.
We play an upgraded Nightshade in "front line" formations, nowadays. The old canon base model is somewhat rare on our tabletop today, and only used in certain "secondary" formations (other than militia) in any case. The original is still quiet useful. So complete abandonment has not been considered.
Our hopped up version takes the XL route for needed tonnage. The Guardian unit is dropped for the improved Angel ECM Suite. The remaining ton goes toward nearly doubling the protection, with three tons of AHFF armor. Finally, the Medium Laser is upgraded to an ERML. This home version, called the Mark 2, is strictly front line material in our campaigns.
Just my two cents worth.
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"Our unity is our strength. Our Chancellor is our will. These two things no army of men, or of Battlemechs, can ever deny." "Though we may die this day,or the next, first,last,and always remember this: We are Capellan." - Talon Zahn, 3072 My Blog: http://maskirovkassbhq.blogspot.com/
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Welshman
Manei Catalyst ModeratorPosts: 11621 We are the finders of your secrets
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The speed is the key on this bird. In my opinion the 2nd best SLDF VTOL and one of the best fast recon birds in the sky. A pity she is so limited in who can use it.
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Jim1701
Warrant Officer Posts: 778
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Actually, Semi-Guided rounds and TAG are completely unaffected by ECM so the FWL wouldn't care so much.
As for the Nightshade I'd modify it by ripping out the ML and putting in TAG. That way I could make use of it with my own SG armed units and Arrow IV. |
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"Don't Panic"
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Jimmyray73
Lieutenant Posts: 1461 Warning: Bullets come out this end...
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| Hmm, a Nightshade and 3 Rippers to get GroPos into the rear, or Nightshades and Cyranos teamed up were favorite combos back in the day... |
In fact, every day when I wake up, I have the watch commander comm me to say, 'You're a murderer, sir.' It's like my cup of coffee in the morning... (Poached shamelessly from GiovanniBlassini)
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Iron Mongoose
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 6669 Do you feel like we do?
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Actually, Semi-Guided rounds and TAG are completely unaffected by ECM so the FWL wouldn't care so much.
As for the Nightshade I'd modify it by ripping out the ML and putting in TAG. That way I could make use of it with my own SG armed units and Arrow IV.
I would do this as well. A single ML is threatening to light or damaged mechs. Ten laser guided bombs can redo the landscaping. |
No more turning away from the weak and the weary No more turning away from the coldness inside Just a world that we all must share, its not enough just to stand and stare Is it only a dream that therell be no more turning away? Kindraa Leader Amy Lynn of the Fire Mandrills (FGC) Speaker for Parlament Priya Jhingan, FWL (FGC)
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Arkansas Warrior
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 9909 Men fight most fiercely in defense of their Home.
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| I third the motion. |
Recipient of ColBosch's Pedant of the Month Award for February 2007, for Reply #27 here. 'shovels we have, shovels we will use, bayonet charge or not.'-Beachhead1973 FGC Personas: Galaxy Commander Carolus Magnus, Rho Galaxy, Clan Ghost Bear Field Marshal Nathaniel Hasek, Capellan March, Federated Suns.
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Sabelkatten
Major Posts: 4333 Kitty got guns!
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There's something odd here...
IS+Controls+Lift+SFE+ML+ECM = 2,5+1,5+2,5+9+1+1,5 = 20...? 
Where did the last 5 tons go?
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For your online game needs: TAKEAPLAY.NETYOUPLAY.ITThermodynamics for dummies: -You can't win, you can only break even. -You can only break even at absolute zero. -You can never reach absolute zero.
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3rdCrucisLancers
Damn Handsome Catalyst Demo TeamPosts: 14134 Spiny avenger
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There's something odd here... IS+Controls+Lift+SFE+ML+ECM = 2,5+1,5+2,5+9+1+1,5 = 20...? Where did the last 5 tons go?
Towards the fine mahogany and luxurious Corinthian leather interior. |
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"The deconstruction stops here: we come back to the seduction of the idea that, amid all the bad guys, we might find one champion to hit back, harder than they can think of."
---Mark Rosenfelder, "Bob's Comics Reviews: Watchmen"
'I'm sorry, Princess,' said the hedge-pig, 'but I can't help it. Only human beings speak lies; all other creatures tell the truth. Now that I've got a hedge-pig's tongue it won't speak anything but the truth. And the truth is that I love you more than all the world.'
---Edith Nesbit, "The Princess and the Hedge-Pig"
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Welshman
Manei Catalyst ModeratorPosts: 11621 We are the finders of your secrets
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Well for starters she is 25 tons
From HMVee
Type/Model: Nightshade
Mass: 25 tons
Equipment: Items Mass
Int. Struct.: 15 pts Standard 0 2.50
Engine: 210 Fusion 0 9.00
Shielding & Transmission Equipment: 0 4.50
Cruise MP: 14
Flank MP: 21
Heat Sinks: 10 Single 0 .00
Cockpit & Controls: 0 1.50
Crew: 2 Members 0 .00
Rotor Equipment: Main/Tail Rotors 0 2.50
Armor Factor: 32 pts Standard 0 2.00
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front: 3 10
Left / Right Sides: 3 6/6
Rear: 3 8
Rotor: 3 2
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Items Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Medium Laser Front 3 1 1.00
1 Guardian ECM Body 0 1 1.50
Cargo Bay Capacity Body 1 .50
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 3 3 25.00
Items & Tons Left: 7 .00
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Sabelkatten
Major Posts: 4333 Kitty got guns!
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Ah yes, 14/21 move. I thought it was something like that. But why the .5 ton cargo bay?
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For your online game needs: TAKEAPLAY.NETYOUPLAY.ITThermodynamics for dummies: -You can't win, you can only break even. -You can only break even at absolute zero. -You can never reach absolute zero.
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Weirdo
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 12603 The Sexy MAD Strut©. Now with 93% less pants!
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Because this was back when they put tiny cargo bays on everything, as opposed to tacking on a random small laser to fill things out.
(Granted, putting that mass towards a bit more armor would have been nice...) |
The following have no place in proper conversation, as they are not words in any way: U, R, 2, and teh. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR USING THEM. "Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!" -Neko Bijin "It's just that the Hegemony had one answer to every naval problem. 'I kills it with my battleships.'" - Liam's Ghost "...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler You know, Zug, it's times like these that it's clear YOU ARE A FRICKIN' GENIUS. - 97jedi "Errol, where are you going!?" "Space Hawaii is THAT way!" -Intercepted comm chatter, Battlefleet Insanity Founding member, Phacade Force Five
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Welshman
Manei Catalyst ModeratorPosts: 11621 We are the finders of your secrets
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| Special Ops insertion. 1/2 ton is enough to carry a couple of LRRP guys. |
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