Thursday, July 31, 2008

Replica: Police Interceptor 2057 (Compact)


Compact, Xhy Ch., Hvy-Active Sus., Sport PP (PC/SC), 4 Solid-FP-Radial Tires, Driver (in Blended Body Armor (Police Uniform)); Ramplate, FPRP Spoiler & Airdam, safety seat, HD & Anti-Lock Brakes, HD Shocks, No Paint/Tinted Windshield, HDHTM & Overdrive, Surge protector, vehicular computer, voice-control software, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, LDR, 10 pts. RFPF Component Armor around Driver. 175 pts. FPRP Plastic armor: F50(ram) R30 L30 B30 T15 U20. Acc. 10 (20 HDHTM/5 Overdrive), Top speed: 155 (102.5 HDHTM, 175 overdrive), HC 5 (6 over 60). 4440 lbs., $58,400

Low Power Option - Compact (Streamlined), Xhy Ch., Hvy-Active Sus., Large PP (PC/SC), 4 Solid-FP-Radial Tires, Driver (in Blended Body Armor (Police Uniform)); Ramplate, active suspension, FPRP Spoiler & Airdam, safety seat, HD & Anti-Lock Brakes, HD Shocks, No Paint/Tinted Windshield, HDHTM & Overdrive, Surge protector, vehicular computer, voice-control software, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, LDR, 9 pts. LRFP Component Armor around Driver. 189 pts. Sloped RPFP Plastic armor: F60 (ram) B31 R32 L32 T14 U20. Acc. 10 (20 HDHTM/5 Overdrive), Top speed: 132.5 (87.5 HDHTM, 152.5 overdrive), HC 5 (6 over 60). 4439 lbs., $59,808.80

2063 Low Power Option 2 - Compact, Xhy Ch., Heavy Sus., Large PP (PC/SC, 2300 pwr), 4 Solid-FP-Radial Tires, Driver (in Blended Body Armor (Police Uniform)); Ramplate, Roll-Cage, Active suspension, FPRP Spoiler & Airdam, safety seat, HD & Anti-Lock Brakes, HD Shocks, No Paint/Tinted Windshield, HDHTM & Overdrive, Surge protector, vehicular computer, voice-control software, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, LDR, 10 pts. FPRP Component Armor around Driver. 164 pts. Sloped RPFP Plastic armor: F50 (ram) R30 L30 B30 T9 U15. HC 5 (6 over 60), Acc. 10 (20 HDHTM/5 Overdrive), Top speed: 120 (80 HDHTM, 140 overdrive), Cruising 72, 4438.6 lbs., (4440 max), $58,045.80

Design Notes - After reading my design for the Police Interceptor after all these months, I realized that it may work as a compact more than a Mid-sized. Specifcally, I wanted more armor. Turns out that the compact isn't better (I had to remove a lot from the original design). But I felt the advantage a compact had was in possible speed - a suped-up sport engine gives massive acceleration and top speed, mainly to allow HDHTM = 20 acceleration with top speed of 102.5, a.k.a. 5 seconds from ignition to top speed. Heh.

Dec 7, 2013 Update - the Option was added; it was in my draft pile dated July 31, 2008.  Then I updated it further to get a roll-cage in exchange for streamlining.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Embiggen 2057 - Div10 Compact (Updated)

Compact, Hvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Medium PP, 4 PR Tires, Driver, VMG (20/Incen.) front, mini-Rocket platform with 3 linked incendiary Mini-Rockets, FE, Targ. Comp., 10 pts FP-CA around driver, 155 pts Plastic Armor F30 B30 R30 L30 T20 U15, Acc 5, Top 90, HC 3, 4060 lbs, $9,990

  • Option 1 - Xhvy Ch., add PC/SC to engine, no FE, SWC instead of Targ., add 10 pts CA around PP (but all CA no longer FP), armor now 36 pts Metal & 50 inner plastic (F 10/9 B 10/9 R 10/0 L 7/8 R 7/8 T 1/8 U 1/8). Acc 5, Top 95, HC 3, 4440 lbs, $9,995

Design Notes - The original design was made obsolete by a rules change (at one point compacts could have 2 space turrets/rocket platforms). It had a forward VMG and an MFR with a targeting laser. To remake it with a 1 space platform made very little sense (1 HR with laser sight when you already have a VMG?). So to remake it, instead of Div15, I went lower, and did whatever would be effective with a 1 space platform = 3 incendiary rockets (where the key is to put burn mods over damage).
Original: Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Large PP, driver, 4 PR tires, VMG front, 2 sp. rocket platform with TL & LGL to MFR, targ. comp., FE; 165 Armor: F40 R30 L30 B30 T15 U20, Acc. 5, HC 3, 4440 lbs., $13,595

Div10 Discussion

The gladiator series is going well, but when looking to see what to make the official Div10 version, I saw that I have a number of very strong Div10 designs already on the books. I'm wondering whether I should make a new one or just choose one of the existing:
  1. Venus - compact with turreted HMG & 186 pts armor
  2. Nasty - Compact with front ATG (APFSDS) & 207 pts armor
  3. Chewer - front VMG with ramplate & 147 pts armor.
Or make a new one. If anyone has an opinion, comment away.

Zardoz - Div10 Midsized


Mid-sized, Xhy Ch., Hvy Sus., Large PP, 4 HD tires, driver; RR (10/reg) front, OJ (25/reg) back; 10 pts. CA each around driver & PP; 53 pts Metal & 33 pts plastic inner armor (F 15/2 B 12/2 R 13/2 L 13/2 T 10/0 U 15/0); Acc. 5, Top 90, HC 3, 5759 lbs $9848

Design Notes - This came as a design experiment after messing around on Gladiator15. It's not good enough IMO to be the Gladiator 10 (for that I'll go to a compact).

Name comes from this freaky, freaky movie; pic originally from www.TheToyRoom-Redux.com, which I have mildly modified.

Gladiator15 - Div15 Midsized


Mid-sized, Xhvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Large PP, 4 Solid Tires, Driver; VMG (20/reg) in turret, SS (10/reg) & SD (10/reg) back corners, linked; 10 pts. CA each around driver & PP, 228 pts Plastic Armor (F45 B45 R48 L48 T25 U17) Acc 5, Top 92.5, HC 3, 5714 lbs, $14,998

Metal Option - add incendiary ammo in VMG, explosive spikes in SD, hot smoke for SS, FP the CA, add 6 oil dischargers linked to 4 bumper triggers; Armor is now 40 pieces metal & 30 inner plastic (F,B,R,L: 10/0, T,U: 0/15), Top 90, 5760 lbs, $14,980.

Design Notes - It's 46 lbs light than maximum weight in order to get it under 15K. I hate wasting weight, but there's very little that costs little and weighs a lot with no space (except metal armor but you need more than a few pieces to be useful, but that led to the Option experiment.)

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Gladiator 25 - Div25 Luxury

Luxury, X-Hvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Large PP (PC/SC), 4 Solid-Radial Tires, Driver & Gunner (each in BA); ATG (10/APFSDS) front, OG (10/reg) back, SD (10/explosive) back, HRSWC (gunner to ATG), SWC (driver ATG); 6 oil/smoke dischargers linked to 4 bumper triggers; 2x9 pts WG on rear wheels; 10 pts FP CA each around (a) driver, (b) PP and (c) ATG; 177 pts plastic armor F 35 B 34 R 40 L 40 T 13 U 15; HC 4, Acc 5, Top 92.5; 6597 lbs, $24,870

Design Notes - The Division 25 version of these two.

Gladiator20 - Div20 Luxury


Luxury, X-Hvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Super PP, 4 PR-Radial Tires, Driver & Gunner; ATG (10/APFSDS) front, OG (10/reg) back, SD (10/explosive) back, 6 oil/smoke dischargers linked to 4 bumper triggers; Targ. Comp. (gunner), SWC (driver ATG); 10 pts FP-CA each around driver & PP; crew each have BA; 182 pts plastic armor (F40 B34 R40 L40 T13 U15); Acc 5, Top 100; HC 4, 6595 lbs, $19,950

Design Notes - Like the others of this name (see the first here) the Gladiator class is designed to be a test opponent of a designed car in the cost class. Gladiators aren't the perfect design, they're just meant to be very tough.

Gladiator30 - Div30 Luxury


Luxury, X-Hvy Ch., Hvy-Active Sus., Super PP (PC), 4 Solid-Radial Tires, Driver & Gunner; ATG (10/APFSDS) front, OG (10/reg) back, 6 oil/smoke dischargers linked to 4 bumper triggers; HTM; HD-ABS, HRSWC (gunner ATG), SWC (driver ATG); 10 pts FP-CA each around driver, PP, ATG; crew each have BA; 162 pts plastic armor (F30 B30 R38 L38 T11 U15); Acc 5 (10), Top 105 (77.5); HC 5, 6600 lbs, $29,790

Option 1 - Replace ATG with BC (10/reg); remove: CA for front weapon, HRSWC and HTM; 183 pts armor (F40 B36 R40 L40 T12 U15); 6600 lbs, $29510

Option 2 - Like #1 but HESH ammo for BC, remove Platinum Catalysts from engine; Top speed 100, $29410

Design Notes - I put this together swiftly as a 'test car' - i.e. to test other designs in the price range. If another Div30 design can hold its own against the gladiator, then it may have a chance in the ring.

Janus - Div30 Van (Galaxy)


Van, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Sport PP, driver & gunner, 6 PR-Radial tires, 3 MML (10/AP) in turret, OG (10/reg) front, 2 PGS and 2 Hot Smoke GSS (1 BL 1 BR 2 Back), DSP under, 7 oil/smoke dischargers (linked to 4 bumper triggers); HD brakes, 2 targeting computers,; 10 pts FP-CA each around driver, PP, and OG; Driver has BA & FP suit, both crew have PFE. 133 pts. plastic Armor: F(21) B(21) R(30) L(30) T(20) U(11); Acc. 5, Top 105, HC 3, 7195, $29,890

Design Notes - This came about from the updating of Tethys (the name is another moon of Saturn). This has a much better balance of weaponry than the original; still - as a van - the armor is light (not counting the 30 pts Comp Armor + DSP).

Tethys - Div40 Van (Updated)


Van, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Sport PP, driver & gunner, 6 PR-FP-Radial tires, 3 MML (10/AP) in turret, BC (10/reg) front, MD (10/reg) back, DSP under, 7 oil/smoke dischargers (linked to 4 bumper triggers); HD-ABS, HRSWC (gunner to MML), 2 SWC (gunner to BC, driver to MML); 10 pts FP-CA each around driver, PP, BC, and MD. Driver has BA & FP suit, both crew have PFE. 117 pts. plastic Armor: F20 B20 R23 L23 T20 U10; Acc. 5, Top 105, HC 3, 7191, $39,560

Design Notes - This is an update of this 2037 design, and, as such, it suffers from the van messiness of 20 years before. I updated as much as possible while retaining the original weaponry (3 turreted MML, 2 linked RR front, 5 PS all around, MD back) with the Absolute Van Necessities: every van must have a gunner, component armor around the driver & PP (and maybe the rest of the equipment) and if possible a spike-drop plate. All those are cheap armor and until the van armor is priced lower, I'll use the loophole. I think these designs show that vans really should go with the One Big Gun structure and use the space for large & light weapons (e.g. defenses)

Isohedron - Div50 Subcompact


Subcompact, C/A frame, Xhvy Ch., Hvy-Active Sus., Small PP (PC/SC), 4 Solid (FP-Radial) tires, driver (Blended BA & PFE), RL (10/Incen) front, ITL front, LGL to 10 rockets, 5 oil/smoke dischargers, HRSWC, HD-ABS, HD shocks, 4 bumper triggers, HTM-Overdrive, Spoiler & Airdam; No Paint Tinted Windshield; 133 pts RRFP Plastic armor (F30 B20 L25 R25 T20 U13); Acc. 5 (10), Top 90 (67.5/110), HC 6 (7), 2760 lbs, $45,552

Design Notes - I had this on the drawing board, and it looked finished. I didn't see that it had been posted, so here goes. It's the contrast, I guess, with these Div5s. A waste of money, life and limb... ladies and gentlemen, I present the $45,000 subcompact. For the mother in law.

Superfly - Div5 Compact

Compact, Std. Chassis, Hvy Sus., 4 HD Tires, Medium PP, Driver; 4 LR front, FT (10/reg) back or right, 119 pts plastic armor F29 B30 R25 L25 T5 U5; Acc 5, Top 100, HC 3, 3624 lbs, $4,997

  • Note - As usual, move the weaponry and armor around based on the needs of the track
  • Option 1 - Switch LR to 2 HR, remove 8 pts armor; Top 97.5, 3676 lbs. $4,993
  • Option 2 - Switch LR to 2 linked MR, only remove 3 pts armor, 3606 lbs, $4,998

Design Notes - Not a bad design. In general, when dealing with the ends of the price spectrum (Div5/Unlimited) you need to exploit the rule asymmetries. Some weapons are heavier than they are expensive (rockets, flamethrowers) which fit the lower divisions. The FT is especially good at the lower level because of its sick accuracy and it's flammable fun. Get close and fry 'em.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Bantam - Div5 Compact


Compact, Lt. Chassis, Hvy. Sus., 4 HD tires, Medium PP, driver, RL front, 2 linked JD back; 86 pts plastic armor F20 B20 R18 L18 T5 U5, Acc. 5, Top 105, HC3, 3326lbs, $4,938.

  • Option 1 - Replace RL with 1 MG (10/incendiary), add another JD (linked R,L,B), remove 8 pts armor, 3328 lbs, $4,909
  • Option 2 - Like #1, but no extra JD, 13 shots in MG, only remove 6 pts armor, 3222.5 lbs, $4,997.50
  • Option 3 - Like #2, MG with 10 shots HD ammo, 79 pts armor, 3234 lbs, $4,997

Design Notes - Compacts are the best for Div5, no? Get more armor and space than the execrable subcompacts. Then again, this design is so simple that I'm sure it's the most common compact div5 matrix. Eh, whatever. Maybe not; I prefer higher HC, so others may lower suspension and use the money for Yosemite Sam mudflaps, or something.

I recommend having a Driver-1, Gunner-2 in this (it's a rule loophole, Driver 2 adds 1 HC, Gunner 2 adds 1 to hit; Improved Suspension is $200 cheaper than Heavy but a SWC is $500).

Welter - Div5 Midsized


Midsized, Light Chassis, Imp. Sus., 4 HD tires, Medium PP, driver & gunner, MML front, 2 linked HR right, 2 linked JD rear; 60 pts plastic armor (F12 B12 R15 L15 T3 U3), Acc. 5, Top 95, HC 2, 3815 lbs, $4990.

Design Notes - Now we're talking. As opposed to the previous 2 div5s (Boxer and Slapjack, Luxury & Sedan respectively), Midsized and under start making sense. Get a decent gunner in and the MML hits like an MG and can tear off metal armor from sneaky duelists. Those other designs were novelties, this sucker can win. Armor is heavier on the Welter than on any subcompact, and the linked HRs will eliminate any remaining opposition.

Slapjack - Div5 Sedan


Sedan, Light Chassis, Light Suspension, 4 HD tires, Medium PP+SC, driver & gunner, 4 HR front, 2 HR right, 2 HR left, 52 pts armor (F10 B10 R14 L14, T2, U2); Acc. 5, Top 90, HC 1, 4128 lbs, $4996

Option 1 - Remove 1 HR front, add JD rear and 8 pts armor, 4225 lbs, $4990

Design Notes - This is not only part of the new endeavor to create a fleet of div5 cars (see Boxer here), but this is now my first Sedan. I don't know when Sedans were introduced, but I didn't have 'em 20 years ago, and that's when I first wet my design whistle. But if I'm going to make sucky cars, why not go whole hog?

The Slapjack is basically a toned down Boxer with better tires and no Junk defense (improved with the first option).

Boxer - Div 5 Luxury


Luxury, Light Chassis, Light Sus., 4 Std. tires, Medium PP+SC, driver & gunner, 4 HR front, 2 HR right, 2 HR left, 2 JD back, 48 pts armor (F10 B9 R13 L13, T1, U2); Acc. 5, Top 90, HC 1, 4450 lbs, $5000 [Max weight for engine 4620]

Design Notes - It's been a while since I added a new design (my game-playing goes in weird waves), and looking through my blog I noticed that I didn't have a single Division 5 design! So I'm endeavoring to post at least 1 design for each possible body style. Not that all these cars will be the best choice for a Div5 duel - the Boxer as case in point. If I've learned one thing from battle, it's that HC is worth more than any single component/attribute. More than tires, weaponry, or armor. A tire shot, for example, is just another way of testing Handling Class (same with oil slicks, etc). So in general I want to stay away from Light Suspension.

Also, this car is exactly 5000 smackers. If your referee allows only $4999.99 then you're out of luck. I used the cheapest tires, armor, weapons, and still only made it under the wire.

Counter Followup

Rick Havok, in the comments on this post, says there's a (new) tool to help make car counters. To quote the man hisself:
I found the answer to better counters! Go to http://sketchup.google.com/ and download it. It's a free 3-D rendering program from google. What's great about it is that you can borrow car models that other people have made and posted online - for free - and position the camera above it for a top down view.
I haven't tried it yet, but when I do I'll name a car after Mr. Havok (whose name works well for cars, no?)