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JadeHellbringer
Turkish Prison Warden ModeratorPosts: 24755 Failed Trial of Position 
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JHB here, back after several months of being away! How do, folks?
A couple of things before we get on with the article. First off, I cannot apologize enough for being away in the first place. Most of you know at least a little about the events that took place last December that forced me to leave Spokane, WA and a two-year relationship. The problem is that when you are forced to leave with only what you can carry, you have to prioritize- and a big-ass box of CBT books ain't easy to carry. Thus, many of my books stayed in Spokane with the now-ex. It took several months, but finally I managed to get her to give me those back (not much else, I might add). The problem in the meantime? Without TROs, its very hard to write a good VotW article. I can pull stats off of chaosmarch.com, sure, but the stories behind the unit? Not so much. It was a bit tricky, to say the least...
...which leads me to my second point. GreyWolfActual did a GREAT JOB on this space for several months, and I want everyone to give a big round of applause to my long-term stand-in! If I have to take time off again, he'll be the guy you talk to, I guarantee it! He covered some very good stuff, and I found myself more often than not unable to really add anything to what he'd already said. Great show, GWA!
So, with that said, lets get on with it. This article was supposed to go up last weekend, but hey- work is kicking my butt, shaddup. We're going to talk about a neat little Star League era chopper that I recently met in battle for the very first time in a Jaguar/ELH game. Its an odd, teardrop-shaped little eggbeater with a weird name and a vital battlefield function. Pull out TRO:2750 and lets learn all about the Cyrano!
First off, the Cyrano is a big (30 tons) VTOL intended to serve as a flying scout unit for SLDF units. Remember, this is back when the Beagle Probe was brand-new, and SLDF commanders wanted them big-time. Mounted on a Mech or tank was nice, but what about those hard-to-reach spots on a battlefield, like up on that Level 8 hill over there? If only there was a way to move a Beagle around the field at a rapid pace? Ta-da, the Cyrano was born.
The Cyrano's 30 ton frame allows it to do a lot of work, but with some very big drawbacks. The core of it is a DAV 220 fusion engine, giving it a fantastic 12/18 movement curve that allows it to outrun almost any ground unit out there, and even most VTOLs. Thats important for a scout- it means this thing can move around the field like nobody's business, looking for hidden enemies. It also means it can dodge enemy fire, which is very, very important...
...because this copters armor sucks, even by VTOL standards. A half-ton of armor covers this whole aircraft! Ferro-fibrous, yes, but only half a ton! That means a small laser strips the front, and kills absolutely any other location. Ow. Since this is a scout, and not intended to fight anyway, thats not a huge deal- and that high speed really helps to put modifiers high enough to dodge a lot of attacks. Just be forewarned- your Cyrano is not going to survive long if it starts getting shot at, as we'll discuss shortly.
The Cyrano is built around a Beagle Probe, which has a neat little gun-looking protrusion on the port side of the odd looking craft. The abilities of the Beagle Probe are well known to CBT fans, but the basics are that it spots hidden units- a big thing, considering when this was designed the primary opponent of the SLDF was Periphery units that often resorted to guerilla tactics. These were important craft as a result! A surprisingly powerful (and heavy) main weapon is the large laser mounted in the nose, giving the craft its name of Cyrano (big nose- if you get it, you get it). Thats an eight-point smackdown it lays out at a pretty good range, a pretty good shot for a scout VTOL. Of course, at five tons one has to question if its really a good idea, or if a couple of mediums and some armor would be a better choice. Note that the fusion engine means that there's no need to worry about adding heat sinks- a big plus. It does however preclude an upgrade with an ER laser, due to the higher heat output.
My experience with a Cyrano came in a game on Huntress between (my) Smoke Jaguar forces and the Eridani Light Horse. A Cyrano did indeed spot two hidden Clan Mechs, a Vulture A and a Rifleman IIC-1, and the result was that the Vulture was torn up long before it got off the shots with its vaunted SRM racks that I'd hoped to do. In revenge though, the Rifleman found that its only target was the little craft- and its pulse lasers allowed it to target the otherwise nearly unhittable copter with ease. Slap, crash, burn. It did its job, and well, but the cost was high- it seems almost like its disposable in a way, though the cost and rarity (when it was designed) of the Beagle Probe should make it quite the opposite.
Have you used it? Fought it? Made a variant? Think I'm a jerk for leaving you for six months? Sound off people!
I will be gone next week due to being in Tennessee for the weekend, but will return likely next Tuesday if I have time with a story of another Star League vehicle... one that caused a real ruckus in political circles by dint of its mere existence... |
Now its over, I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want, or I'm still alive, and there's nothing I want to do Self-appointed Warden of the Washington D.C. Turkish Prison Crew
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GreyWolfActual
Catalyst Demo TeamPosts: 13385 LARP'ing is fun! 
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Welcome back JHB! 
It's an expensive one-shot wonder. 739 BV, ouch. Her greatest asset is her speed and since she has lots of it, and no armor, I believe that the Cyrano is the oldest VTOL that can attempt to play in the Cannonshop camp of VTOLs. I don't think she's particularly good at it, the armor makes any return fire extremely dangerous, and her range is very limited, even in a Level 1 battlefield.
If you want to make it a Scout and just a scout, drop the Large. Slap on an ECM and give everything else to armor. 4.5 tons of ferro is enough to survive some fire, enough to crank the engine and run. |
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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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neutrino cannon
Lieutenant Posts: 1147
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The LAWS OF CANNONSHOP VTOL DEPLOYMENT actually state that a vtol must have a range advantage as well as a speed advantage to survive.
This is a funny little chopper when you compare it to the charger. The charger is a slow scout with lots of armor and pitiful weaponry, while the cyrano is a pitifully armored, blazing fast scout with a suprisingly large gun.
As it stands, the cyrano is probably best for scouting, and blowing up light hovercraft and PBIs; anything that 8 points of hurt will core that can't shoot back. Of course, weaving in and out of a battlefield with so little armor is bound to be your undoing in short order.
Getting rid of that laser is the first order of business. The speed is fine, but another half tonne of armor would go a long way in strengthening the wet tissue paper armor this bird carries. I say drop the big laser for two ER mediums, ECM, AMS, CASE and another half tonne of armor. That gives it 25% more hitting power in nice 5 point rotor slicing groups; perfect for defending itself against other choppers, as well as additional stealth and some degree of protection against LRMs, which are the most common long range VTOL killers on the battlefield. |
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And you thought the hydroponics facilities on warships were for growing food!
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Marveryn
Captain Posts: 1768
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The LAWS OF CANNONSHOP VTOL DEPLOYMENT actually state that a vtol must have a range advantage as well as a speed advantage to survive.
This is a funny little chopper when you compare it to the charger. The charger is a slow scout with lots of armor and pitiful weaponry, while the cyrano is a pitifully armored, blazing fast scout with a suprisingly large gun.
As it stands, the cyrano is probably best for scouting, and blowing up light hovercraft and PBIs; anything that 8 points of hurt will core that can't shoot back. Of course, weaving in and out of a battlefield with so little armor is bound to be your undoing in short order.
Getting rid of that laser is the first order of business. The speed is fine, but another half tonne of armor would go a long way in strengthening the wet tissue paper armor this bird carries. I say drop the big laser for two ER mediums, ECM, AMS, CASE and another half tonne of armor. That gives it 25% more hitting power in nice 5 point rotor slicing groups; perfect for defending itself against other choppers, as well as additional stealth and some degree of protection against LRMs, which are the most common long range VTOL killers on the battlefield.
I wouldn't bother with more armor no matter how much you put the rotors will still only carry a paper thin 2 so placing weapons that puts it within range of there weapons is a no no.. so it need weapon that lets it stay long and the longer is better Large laser is good for that but fitting it with anything that would give it extra range would be better. with its beagle active probe..its should only skirt in find hidden units and runs away as fast as possible and report what it found when in use in battle.. take advantage of the laser lack of ammo and keep firing at nearly extreme ranges. Even if it you need to roll a 12 to hit your so would your opponent. when fancing with a mech with better weapons or weapons with greater range.. retreat to fight another day is warrented. |
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Hovering in the brink of sanity
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chanman
Major Posts: 5778 Yes, it ends in fire. That's why it's awesome!
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Courtesy of chaosmarch
btw, could you include Cyrano somewhere in the thread title? 
thanks! |
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Albatross
Colonel Posts: 13080 Guerra cominciata, inferno scatenato
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| I'd replace the large laser with some quality electronics. ECM, TAG, and then two machine guns and half a ton of ammo just for flavor. The last ton would go towards armor, if possible. |
The [Free Worlds] League is an acquired taste, but one indicative of a refined gaming palate. It requires subtlety and imagination to play as a Leaguer. It's no shame on them that they are so few in number; rather, shame on us.
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bluedragon7
Sergeant Posts: 174
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wasn't there a mess up with the stats in 2750? like power amplifiers for that fusion drive LL? That 0.5 ton could be used for more armor i think
my 2750 is 700km away, so i cant verify,.. |
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Sabelkatten
Major Posts: 4333 Kitty got guns!
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I'd start with dropping the engine to a 160 SFE, then adding 2.5 tons armor.
That is, at 25 tons you get more weight left on a 12/18 VTOL than at 30 tons.
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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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GreyWolfActual
Catalyst Demo TeamPosts: 13385 LARP'ing is fun!
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wasn't there a mess up with the stats in 2750? like power amplifiers for that fusion drive LL? That 0.5 ton could be used for more armor i think The record sheet I have does indeed show a power amplifier. |
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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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JadeHellbringer
Turkish Prison Warden ModeratorPosts: 24755 Failed Trial of Position
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The record sheet I have does indeed show a power amplifier.
Well that should help a little! Nearly doubles the amount of armor, right?
An earlier comment mentioned ER mediums, which is fine post-3060. Remember though that this didn't exist in the SL era, when this was common. Standard mediums are a better bet- three of them, along with two tons of armor, should make for a pretty effective scout/gunship that can take a beating as well as deliver a pretty impressive one as well. |
Now its over, I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want, or I'm still alive, and there's nothing I want to do Self-appointed Warden of the Washington D.C. Turkish Prison Crew
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kindalas
Warrant Officer Posts: 548
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| I think that the Cyrano suffers from new toy syndrome. TRO 2750 is full of designs that are built around a single LV 2 weapons system. I personally think that large numbers of the 2750 designs should be revamped to better reflect the intagration of the new weapon systems. Instead of having mechs like the Crab with FF armor or the Cyrano with a probe and FF armor. |
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Being witty means that it is intentional when it you are not.
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Welshman
Manei Catalyst ModeratorPosts: 11618 We are the finders of your secrets
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Welcom back Hellbie!
At the time it was made it was likely a very effective VTOL. In the modern battlefield I find it is amply replaced by the Sprint. I won't go into the virtues of the Sprint here (Has an article been done on these?) but suffice to say I have made them a terror to be feared in the current running Fan Council Game.
WM |
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3rdCrucisLancers
Damn Handsome Catalyst Demo TeamPosts: 14132 Spiny avenger
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Standard mediums are a better bet- three of them, along with two tons of armor, should make for a pretty effective scout/gunship that can take a beating as well as deliver a pretty impressive one as well.
Isn't it basically just an Mi-24 Hin---erm, Pinto gunship? |
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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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JadeHellbringer
Turkish Prison Warden ModeratorPosts: 24755 Failed Trial of Position
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Isn't it basically just an Mi-24 Hin---erm, Pinto gunship?
Totally different in most ways. The three MLs are the only similarity, really. The LRM and cargo pods of the Pinto are dropped for higher speed, which makes it a dedicated scout rather than a scout/cargo/whatever chopper.
(Oddly, our current Jihad campaign features a Pinto that has had its lasers removed instead, keeping the LRM for Thunder munitions and adding TAG and some armor.) |
Now its over, I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want, or I'm still alive, and there's nothing I want to do Self-appointed Warden of the Washington D.C. Turkish Prison Crew
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Weirdo
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 12603 The Sexy MAD Strut©. Now with 93% less pants!
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| Hmm...anyone have any thought/experience as to how well the Cyrano's combo of speed and LL fare when using the MaxTech strafing rules? |
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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JadeHellbringer
Turkish Prison Warden ModeratorPosts: 24755 Failed Trial of Position
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Hmm...anyone have any thought/experience as to how well the Cyrano's combo of speed and LL fare when using the MaxTech strafing rules?
I never thought of it, to be honest, but I don't think its a good idea. Again, that armor means that you won't get more than that one pass on most targets. Think of that laser as a backup gun to the real job of hauling the BAP around the field- using it as a combat asset will get you flat out killed. |
Now its over, I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want, or I'm still alive, and there's nothing I want to do Self-appointed Warden of the Washington D.C. Turkish Prison Crew
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Weirdo
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 12603 The Sexy MAD Strut©. Now with 93% less pants!
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| Maybe I should just stay away from this unit then. Not only are BAPs used so rarely in games in my area that they're practically wasted tonnage, but I have a personal love for the standard Large Laser, and will use it any chance I get. Assign a Ripper to me, and it WILL get killed, in all likelyhood. |
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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3rdCrucisLancers
Damn Handsome Catalyst Demo TeamPosts: 14132 Spiny avenger
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| Likewise. |
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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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Fireangel
Major Posts: 4090
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Cyrano VTOL Redoux
Rather than commit thread necromancy, I decided to follow the forum's suggestion and start this thread, pointing to the original VotW article for completeness' sake.
http://forums.classicbattletech.com/index.php/topic,1850.0.html
Yes, I'm talking about the Cyrano; 30-ton, beagle and large-laser-carrying ferro-fibrous popable ballon that it is.
I faced the thing yesterday and found it so pitiful I just had to check the VotW on it... it was not encouraging.
First, a couple of replies to some comments on the original thread:
I wouldn't bother with more armor no matter how much you put the rotors will still only carry a paper thin 2 so placing weapons that puts it within range of there weapons is a no no.. so it need weapon that lets it stay long and the longer is better Large laser is good for that but fitting it with anything that would give it extra range would be better. with its beagle active probe..its should only skirt in find hidden units and runs away as fast as possible and report what it found when in use in battle.. take advantage of the laser lack of ammo and keep firing at nearly extreme ranges. Even if it you need to roll a 12 to hit your so would your opponent. when fancing with a mech with better weapons or weapons with greater range.. retreat to fight another day is warrented.
It needs more armour. Badly. in order to get within Beagle range it needs to close to within the range of a lot of other things on the battlefield. The one I faced was brought down by a platoon of foot energy rifle infantry. You may not think that an extra point in the rotor is important, but trust me, every little bleeding bit helps.
wasn't there a mess up with the stats in 2750? like power amplifiers for that fusion drive LL? That 0.5 ton could be used for more armor i think
my 2750 is 700km away, so i cant verify,..
Correct. TRO: 2750 pp. 95 shows 0.5 tons allocated to unnecessary power amplifiers. Using this new tonnage for armour literally doubles the protection, allowing for 6/4/2/2 protection (though I'd move a point from the front to the rear for a little better all-around coverage).
I'd start with dropping the engine to a 160 SFE, then adding 2.5 tons armor.
That is, at 25 tons you get more weight left on a 12/18 VTOL than at 30 tons.
Of course, designing the Cyrano as a 25-ton VTOL makes sense, but generally speaking, TPTB at the time believed that bigger was better and thus decided to give the VTOL "character", which translates as "a dumb flaw that may well kill the thing".
Regarding the Large Laser, I am of the opinion that it is too much gun for this particular kind of unit, which should be using its weapons only in extremis. Pulling it out yields five tons to play with; put 2-3 tons into armour and the rest into 2-3 medium lasers.
Maybe 2 medium lasers, an ECM suite and a ton and a half of armour.
For my personal style, I'd put in an extra ton of armour, a single medium laser and a three-ton infantry carrier for building flushing.
Then we start thinking what alterations may have been made by C* and WoB... or the clans for that matter. I can almost see a Hell's Horses version with a pair of ER mediums, active probe, TAG and 3.5 tons of clan FF armour.
What is y'all's take on the Cyr? |
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Welshman
Manei Catalyst ModeratorPosts: 11618 We are the finders of your secrets
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I've used the Cyrano in battle and short of finding a way to fit an ERLL on it I would not change one single thing.
The key to the Cyrano is proper usage and mantras-
Never get closer then 13 hexes to you opponent, this puts in you in the Medium to Long range for most everything.
If your opponent has an LB canon then don't even get into range. See mobility.
Speed is life- You can move 12 hexes at cruise but don't! Go flat out always
Use the map- More importantly use the edges, scream around the map, stay away from everyone. If it's a small map then you should never have brought a Cyrano to the game.
Angle of attack- Even when you do close to attack always try and come in from the rear, but not the direct rear. Look at the arms and never get into an arm arc of a dangerous weapon.
When I fielded two of these against GWA, one of them actually left the game as my sole surviving unit. We called the game a technical draw, though he won by dint of more ground force. He was lucky to get an 11 to hit my veteran Cyrano. I was usually getting 7 or 8 to hit him.
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Plainsfox
Major Posts: 5913
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There are two new variants of the Cyrano.
One involves replacing the engine with a Light engine and the large laser with a plasma rifle. It also adds two tons of armor.
Another replaces the laser with two medium lasers (It doesn't say ER, I would hope they are) and using the remaining space left for rocket pods. |
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Dark_Falcon
Lieutenant Posts: 1082 The last thing a Spitfire sees behind it.
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There are two new variants of the Cyrano.
One involves replacing the engine with a Light engine and the large laser with a plasma rifle. It also adds two tons of armor.
Another replaces the laser with two medium lasers (It doesn't say ER, I would hope they are) and using the remaining space left for rocket pods.
They are standard MLs. I rather like the RL variant of the Cyrano. It is a good strike unit: get close, fire a massive volley, and then run. That strikes me as a very good mission profile for a helo. |
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"Peace is the dream of the wise, war is the history of Man." - Sir Richard Burton
The bullet doesn't care if you're ready.
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GreyWolfActual
Catalyst Demo TeamPosts: 13385 LARP'ing is fun!
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| Neither variant really is a substantial improvement of the Cyrano. The limitations that ammo-based weaponry adds do not overcome the benefits that the large laser had. As far as the RL version goes, the Cyrano isn't that platform. Use a Cavalry if you want that. The Cyrano is a mobile sniper, and the RL variant wastes a perfectly good platform to turn it into a quasi-useful OS bird. |
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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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Weirdo
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 12603 The Sexy MAD Strut©. Now with 93% less pants!
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I actually like the plasma Cyrano, though I haven't run it yet, and don't forsee using one in the near future. (not available to either of my main factions) Given that it's fielded by the Taurians, I'm pretty sure their fans will be all too happy to field a flying plasma rifle that can dart in at blinding speeds and tear good-sized chunks out of Davion battle armor formations, while still somewhat capable of surviving return fire. A Taurian counter to the Grenadier and/or Hauberk, perhaps?  |
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: 11618 We are the finders of your secrets
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I actually like the plasma Cyrano, though I haven't run it yet, and don't forsee using one in the near future. (not available to either of my main factions) Given that it's fielded by the Taurians, I'm pretty sure their fans will be all too happy to field a flying plasma rifle that can dart in at blinding speeds and tear good-sized chunks out of Davion battle armor formations, while still somewhat capable of surviving return fire. A Taurian counter to the Grenadier and/or Hauberk, perhaps?
The Grenadier maybe but the Hauberk's LRMs would tear it to pieces.
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3rdCrucisLancers
Damn Handsome Catalyst Demo TeamPosts: 14132 Spiny avenger
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The Grenadier maybe but the Hauberk's LRMs would tear it to pieces.
I thought much the same, but if it can get inside the minimums, it's going to hit more often then they are. |
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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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GreyWolfActual
Catalyst Demo TeamPosts: 13385 LARP'ing is fun!
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| However, getting to that minimum is the tricky part. And even then, any hit by the Hauberks will do the Cyrano in. |
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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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Welshman
Manei Catalyst ModeratorPosts: 11618 We are the finders of your secrets
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I thought much the same, but if it can get inside the minimums, it's going to hit more often then they are.
Don't forget the Hauberk has a backup weapon of the Magshot.
Also a smart commander will have something to back up the Hauberk, Grenadiers, Harrasers, Maxims.
I'll stick by my original usage mantra. If you get closer then 11 hexes from your target you did something very very wrong.
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Weirdo
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 12603 The Sexy MAD Strut©. Now with 93% less pants!
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However, getting to that minimum is the tricky part. And even then, any hit by the Hauberks will do the Cyrano in.
With speed like the Cyrano's, it can easily dodge a long-range salvo or two, then dart in to near-pointblank range in a single turn, offering no chance for a sweet-spot volley. Also, don't forget that he said this variant increases the armor by two full tons. It won't like being hit by a Hauberk squad, but I can easily see one surviving. Call the odds roughly 50/50 rr so...
Don't forget the Hauberk has a backup weapon of the Magshot.
Also a smart commander will have something to back up the Hauberk, Grenadiers, Harrasers, Maxims.
I'll stick by my original usage mantra. If you get closer then 11 hexes from your target you did something very very wrong.
And a smart commander won't be sending in his Cyranos alone, either they'll also have support, or they'll be deployed as part of a flanking strike where the bulk of the enemy forces will be focused elsewhere, or ideally both. And given the range brackets of the plasma, I'd want to close to at least 10 hexes, so that your shot is at medium range, and you have a fair chance of justifying the chopper's use.
I'm not saying that the Plasma-Cyrano is the be-all end-all of suit-hunting or that it can do it alone. Just saying that it might be wise for the commander of a balanced force facing another balanced force to look for ways to pit the business end of that plasma rifle against those advaced battle armor suits, of which the Taurians have no close equivalent, and thus must find another way to kill them. |
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 |
