Convoy 2 - Div18 Sedan

Sedan, Xtra-Heavy Chassis, Heavy Suspension, Large PP (PC) (10dp), 4 Solid Tires (12dp), Driver (no equip); HDSS (10/reg) back, FOJ (25/reg) back, MD (10/reg) right, MD (10/reg) left, IFE, spoilers & airdam, safety seat, HTM, 10 dischargers: 4 oil (FBRL) 6 smoke (2T, 2U, 1R 1L); 3 total links, 59 pts total for Wheelguards/Wheelhubs (10 pt WG each on back, 10 pt WH on back, 19 WH for front 2), no cargo space, 193 pts Plastic Armor: F 25 B 70 R 32 L 32 T 14 U 20;  HC: 3 (4 over 60), Acc. 5 (HTM 10), Top Speed 90 (67.5), Pwr 2100, 6118 lbs. (max 6120), $17,489.00

Design Notes - This is part of the Convoy project, see here for the lead post.  Convoy 1 is a lead vehicle while this is my attempt at a credible "tail end charlie."

Convoy 1 is $24,983, leaving $55,017.  This one makes it $37,528 left.

Originally, this was a luxury with a crew of 2, but I didn't see why.  It was dated originally Aug 12, 2007.

Desperado 2057 - Div18, Div15, Div10 Compact (Updated)

Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Med PP (SC), 4 Solid-Radial Tires, Driver; MML (10/incen) in 1sp. turret, 2 linked MML (10/incen) front, smartlink, TC, HTM, 10 oil/smoke dischargers, linked to 4 bumper triggers (also linked to that side's weapons) 40 pts WG/WH, 9 pts LRFP CA around driver 175 pts Plastic Armor: F 35 B 35 R 38 L 38 T 14 U 15; HC 4, Acc. 5 (HTM 10), Top 90 (67.5), Pwr 1540, 4439.6 lbs. $17,750.00

• Div 15 Option - Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Med PP (SC), 4 Solid Tires, Driver; MML (10/incen) in 1sp. turret, 2 linked MML (10/incen) front, smartlink, TC, HD-brakes, HTM, overdrive, 10 oil/smoke dischargers, linked to 4 bumper triggers (also linked to that side's weapons) 40 pts WG/WH, 9 pts LRFP CA around driver 89 pts composite armor (24 Metal/65 Plastic): F 5/8 B 5/8 R 7/5 L 7/5 T 0/14 U 0/15; HC 3, Acc. 5 (HTM 10/Overdrive 2.5) Top 90 (67.5/110) Pwr 1540 4439.6 lbs. $14,900.00


• Div 15 Option - Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Med PP (SC), 4 Solid Tires, Driver; MML (10/incen) in 1sp. turret, 2 linked MML (10/incen) front, smartlink, TC, HD-brakes, HTM, overdrive, 10 oil/smoke dischargers, linked to 4 bumper triggers (also linked to that side's weapons) 40 pts WG/WH, 9 pts LRFP CA around driver 89 pts composite armor (24 Metal/65 Plastic): F 5/8 B 5/8 R 7/5 L 7/5 T 0/14 U 0/15; HC 3, Acc. 5 (HTM 10/Overdrive 2.5) Top 90 (67.5/110) Pwr 1540 4439.6 lbs. $14,900.00


• Div 10 Option - Compact, Std Ch., Hvy. Sus., Med PP, 4 PR Tires, Driver; MML (10/reg) in 1sp. turret, 2 linked MML (10/reg) front, smartlink, TC, 10 oil/smoke dischargers, 33 pts WG/WH, 43 pts sloped composite armor (16 Metal/27 Plastic): F 3/4 B 3/4 R 5/4 L 5/4 T 0/6 U 0/5; HC 3, Acc. 5, Top 97.5 Pwr 1400 3699 lbs. $9,988.10

Design Notes -This is an update of an obsolete design:

Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Medium PP, 4 PR tires, driver, RL front, RL in turret, 191 pts. Armor: F50 R35 L35 B36 T15 U20; Acc. 5, HC 3, 4196 lbs., $9883

It's obsolete because of the 2sp turret, and I'm wondering if I had the right engine (I guess 4200 lbs could use a Medium PP).  The update jacked it up to div18 (which most people use as div20).  I guess it's the PR tires. Anyway, I provided a number of options, and the div10 one took the most ingenuity, given I was committed to keeping the entire weapon system intact: 3 MMLs with a smartlink and targeting computer.

It's the Div10 design process that keeps me committed to using the Excel designer (from the fine folks at MADHAT) - the ability to manipulate the armor numbers, and balance this with that, is best accomplished with a spreadsheet.  The online ones don't help in the same way (let alone my 30 years ago system of filler paper and a watch calculator).

Comeback 2057 - Div18, Div15, Div10 Compact (updated)

Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Medium PP (sc), 4 Solid-Radial Tires, Driver; RL (10/incen) front, SD (10/incen), HR (incen) on rkt platform (linked to ram), ramplate, SWC to RL, HTM, 10 oil/smoke dischargers linked to 4 bumper triggers (also linked to that side's weapons) 28 pts WG/WH, 9 pts LRFP CA around driver 165 pts Plastic Armor: F50 (ram) B30 R30 L30 T13 U12; HC 4, Acc. 5 (10), Top 90 (67.5) Pwr 1540 4436.6 lbs. $15,800

• Div15 Option - Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Medium PP (sc), 4 Solid-Radial Tires, Driver; RL (10/reg) front, SD (10/reg), HR (AP) on rkt platform (linked to ram), ramplate, SWC to RL, HTM, 10 oil/smoke dischargers linked to 4 bumper triggers (also linked to that side's weapons) 29 pts WG/WH, 9 pts LRFP CA around driver 183 pts Plastic Armor: F50 (ram) B35 R35 L35 T13 U15; HC 4, Acc. 5 (10), Top 90 (67.5) Pwr 1540 4438.6 lbs. $14,994
• Div10 Option - Compact, X-Hvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Medium PP (sc), 4 PR Tires, Driver; RL (10/incen) front, SD (10/reg), HR (AP) on rkt platform, SWC to RL, HD brakes,10 oil/smoke dischargers linked to 4 bumper triggers (also linked to that side's weapons) 30 pts WG/WH, 9 pts LRFP CA around driver 80 pts composite Armor (36 Metal/44 Plastic): F8/9 B8/9 R8/8 L8/8 T2/5 U2/5; HC 3, Acc. 5, Top 90 Pwr 1540 4438.6 lbs. $9,842

Design Notes - Update of this compact, rendered obsolete by a 2sp turret in a compact:

Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Large PP, 4 PR tires, Driver; 2 space Rocket Platform with MFR, RL (10/incen.) front, SD (10/reg) back, ramplate; 182 pts plastic armor: F50 (ram) B30 RL 40 T9 U15; HC 3, Acc 5, 4439 lbs, $9,991

At first, I not only couldn't keep this under 15 for my tastes, let alone 10. But with metal, I may have made it OK.

Hellion 2037 - Div18 Midsize

Midsize, Xhvy Ch., Hvy Sus, Large PP, 4 Solid tires, Driver, RL (10/incen.) in turret, SD (10/expl) back, FCE (10/reg) back, IFE, HD-brakes, 60 pt Ramplate; SWC, back weapons linked; 253 pts plastic armor: F60, B50 R50 L 50 T23, U21; HC 3, Acc. 5, 5757 lbs, $17804

Design Notes - As a fun extra, in lieu or in addition to the counter picture, I've scanned in the original drawing I made for combat (note the loose-leaf paper, ah memories). Naturally this needs improvements; I've become convinced that I'm not a ram-plate-player. But if I want one, I need to get the speed and handling up etc., maybe move the weapons to bumper trigger.

[Updated Nov 8, 2013]

Hyperion 2057 - Div15 Midsized (Galaxy)

Midsize, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Large PP, 4 PR tires, driver, 2 linked MG (20/incd) in turret, FOJ (15/reg) back, 6 Smoke/Oil Dischargers, IFE, SWC, Bumper Triggers R&L, 10 pts. FP CA around driver, 86 pts Composite MET/Plastic armor: F(10/5) B(8/3) R(11/3) L(11/3) T(0/17) U(0/15); Acc. 5, Top 90, HC 3, 5754 lbs., $14,304

• Non Metal Option - replace metal with a (total) of 246 pts. plastic armor; $16,561


• Non Metal Div15 - replace MGs with VMG (20/reg), FOJ is (10/reg), remove SWC, 240 pts plastic armor; 5750 lbs, $14,990


• Hyperion 20 - 4 Solid tires, VMG in turret (20/incd) in turret, FOJ (15/reg) back, 6 Smoke/Oil Dischargers, IFE, 4 Bumper Triggers, HD-ABS, HD shocks, spoiler & airdam, 10 pts. FP CA around driver, 2 10pt WG back, 2 5 pt WH front, BA for driver,  200 pts plastic armor (F40 B35 R45 L45 T20 U15); Acc. 5, Top 90, HC 3(4), 5760 lbs., $19,875


• Hyperion 25 - 4 Solid-Radial tires, VMG in turret (18/incd) in turret, SS(10/Hot) back, 7 Smoke/Oil Dischargers, HRSWC, FE, 4 Bumper Triggers, HD-ABS, HD shocks, spoiler & airdam, 10 pts. FP CA each around driver & PP, BA for driver, 200 pts plastic armor (F40 B35 R45 L45 T20 U15); Acc. 5, Top 90, HC 4(5), 5760 lbs., $24,895

Design Notes - This is an update of the original - and personal favorite - Hyperion. I haven't playtested recently (if I ever learn how to program, I'd create a playtest program for this purpose). Anyway, as a Div15 it's pretty good; I'm not sure if it'll hold up to the nasty stuff in 20 and/or 25.

Name Notes - Hyperion is a moon of Saturn, and in general one of my favorite names.

[Updated Nov 15, 2013]

Pluto - Div18 (15) Compact (Galaxy)

Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., driver, 4 SD tires, Medium PP (PC/SC), MML with mag (20/Incen) in turret with TL & LGL to all 20; SD rear; IFE, SWC, spoiler & airdam, 2 10pt WG rear, 2 10 pt WH front, BA for driver; 175 pts. Plastic armor: F35 B35 R34 L34 T20 U18; Acc. 5, Top 95, HC 3(4), 4436 lbs., $17,700

• Pluto 15 - Remove IFE, SWC, mag from MML; add 10 pts. CA around driver and around PP, add Oil Discharger back, add 25 points armor (200 total); 4440 lbs, $14,975
• Ram Pluto - 4 PR-radial tires, upgrade PP to Large (PC/SC), remove mag from MML, SWC is HRSWC, remove: SD, IFE, WG & WH; add: ramplate, safety seat, 10 pts. CA around driver and around PP, active suspension, HTM & Overdrive, IcD back; 170 pts armor: F50 (ram) B30 R30 L30 T15 U15; Acc. 10 (20), Top: 120 (80/140), HC: 5 (6), 4440 lbs., $24,785

Design Notes - The 18 version is from last year and I made the 15 version now - which is a nice little car, well protected and nimble. The ram version is actually another car design I had in the coffers that shared that one characteristic (compact with turreted MML). This leads, naturally, to the philosophical question about what makes a car an option of an original or a whole 'nother car. In this case, I consider the size of car plus similar weapon system to be the same car. But it could go either way.

In any case, the Ram car is more versitile than the original Pluto, and I guess if I took out the active suspension, it'd be a credible Div20. But I just love high HC.

Reprisal 2057 - Div18 Midsized

Updated again, here.

Midsized, Xhvy. Ch., Hvy Sus., Large PP, 4 SD tires, driver, VMG (10/incen.) front, Rct Plt. with TL & MFR (LGL), LGL to 2 linked HR front & 2 linked HR back, front and back rockets linked with MFR, 2 10pt WG rear & WH front, BA for driver, 192 pts Plastic Armor: F40 B40 L40 R40 T17 U15, Acc. 5, HC 3, Top 90, 5756 lbs., $17,597

• Flaming Reprisal - Switch MFR with 6 linked Mini-rockets, all rockets incendiary, add Flaming Oil Disch. back, remove 29 pts. armor; 5759 lbs, $18,733
• Reprisal HESH - Replace VMG with RR (HESH), add SWC (TL), Flaming Oil Disch. back and 6 pts armor, 5759 lbs., $17,693
• Incendiary HESH - Flaming Reprisal plus HESH option, 169 pts armor total, 5757 lbs., $18,329

Design Notes - Updated from here. A number of decent options; low on accessories (as is normal for the low dollar stock-cars). Since FP armor is rare at these low levels, a good heavy dose of incendiary-ness can be a deal-maker.

Megashot 2037 - Div18 Station Wagon

Station Wagon, Xhvy. Ch., Hvy. Sus., Super PP, driver, 4 SD tires, 2 linked ATG front, 2 linked HR on platform; targ. comp.; 155 Armor: F40 R30 L30 B30 U20 T5; Acc. 5, HC 3; 6600 lbs., $17,450

Option - remove platform & rockets, switch to SWC, add 30 pts. armor, $17,050

Design Notes: Nose heavy and not versatile enough for Div18, I'd say. It's always nice to imagine what would happen if you connect with both ATGs at once, though.

Name Notes:  Original name was "Malanian." I assume I used this because my brother, as a kid, wrote a short sci-fi story for 3rd grade where the hero's spaceship was named the "Malanian Cheeseway" - a combo blurb for Millenium Falcon and Milky Way Galaxy.

[Updated Nov 10, 2013]

Nosferatu 2037 - Div18 Luxury

Updated here.

Luxury, Xhvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Super PP, 4 SD tires, driver & gunner, 2 linked ATG front, MD back, 2 SWC; 150 pts armor: F30 R30 L30 B30 T15 U15; Acc. 5, HC 3; 6600 lbs, $17,850

• Option 1 - remove 10 pts armor & 1 SWC, add Cyberlink to ATG; $32,650
• Option 2 - downgrade SD to PR, take off 4 pts armor, add ram-plate (F30) & bumper trigger: $17,170

Design Notes - A cyberlink to a ATG?! Yes, I used to be that dumb. The original had a heavy nose and needed updating.

Name Notes -  The original name was "Norfangu."  I changed it in 2057 to Nosferatu because, as I wrote with the update: "Nosferatu is the name of a still-creepy 1920s vampire film (the word seems to be the original Romanian word for vampire)."

Image from here.

[Updated Nov 11, 2013]

Swarm 2037 - Div18 Luxury

Luxury, Xhvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Super PP, driver, 4 SD tires, RL with mag front, 2 sp. Turret with 6 linked mini-rockets each with a 3-space magazine, 24 MnR total. Targ. Comp. 216 pts. Armor: F46 R40 L40 B40 U25 T25; HC 3, Acc. 5, 6595 lbs., $17,870.

Design Notes - Definitely can use updating: Laser guidance, at least for the front RL (24 rocket links gets pricey!) With the new fire rules, those should be incendiaries to make the 'swarm' of rockets worth the while.

[Updated Nov 12, 2013]

Chaser 2037 - Div18 Midsized (Obsolete)

Midsize, Xhvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Super PP, driver, SD tires rear PRR front, RR in turret with extra mag, 2 linked MG front, 4 5 pt. WG, spoiler & airdam, 98 points plastic armor, F20, R19, L19, B19, T6, U15, Acc. 10, HC 3, 5199 lbs., $16,668

Combat record - 14 hits to F, 6 to R, 3 shots for RR, 1 for MGs

Design Notes - Weight (and armor) was kept low to keep the acceleration 10. See my rant for "Manna" below. All I need nowadays for this car would be some PC/SC and HTM. Grrr. And yet I was dumb enough to take this into combat.

Name Notes -  As seen in the original scan above, this was originally named "Chaiskar."

[Updated Nov 8, 2013]

Blah - Div18 (Div15 & Div20) Midsized

Midsize, Xhvy Ch., Hvy. Sus., Large PP, 4 PR tires, driver & gunner, 2 linked LL in turret, MD back, SWC for gunner. 245 armor: F60 L50 R50 B50 T20 U15; Acc. 5, HC 3, 5760 lbs., $17,870

• Opt. 1 - "Econoblah" - LLs to MGs, $14,870  
• Opt. 2 - "Extrablah" - remove 17 pts armor, change LL to Laser, 5758 lbs, $19,548  
• Opt. 3 - "Blah II" - keep LLs, remove gunner, add FE; convert MD to HDID, $19,170

Design notes. Basically an obsolete design because there's no reason to have Light Lasers. Especially 2 linked ones (even back then, dummy). This whole design is a varation of Hyperion: a 2 space turret, 2 space dropped weapon. I think that's what I'll do - have that template (and use the name Hyperion, which I like) and give the full combos.

[Updated Nov 6, 2013] 

Deimos 2037 - Div18 Midsize (Galaxy)

Midsize, Xhvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Large PP, driver, 4 SD tires, VMG in turret, RL front, linked SS & SD rear, F & B bumper triggers, 3 smoke dischargers (B, L, R); Targ. comp. Armor: F50 R43 L43 B46 T15 U18. Acc 5, HC 3, 5757 lbs., $17,478

Design notes -  A little over weaponed and under-gunnered. For a stupid reason, I did not often put gunners in my cars. And I took those sick babies into combat and still didn't learn my lesson. Geesh. Still this is a respectable vehicle, good for arena and the roads.

As you can see from the above scan pic, this was one of my earliest cars (as seen from the art and the type of paper it was written on). 

Name Notes - Deimos is one of the two moons of Mars.

Pic of the planet from the government.

[Updated Nov 8, 2013]

Pibroch 2037 - Div18 & 20 Compact

Updated here.

Compact, Xhvy Ch., Hvy Sus., Large PP, driver, 4 PR tires, HL front, 138 pts Armor: F28 R30 L30 B25 T10 U15, Acc. 5, HC 3, 4378 lbs., $17994

• Option 1 - "Clumsy Pibroch" - Downgrade suspension to Improved, add 10 pts. armor; HC 2, 4438 lbs., $17,924
• Option 2 - "Pibroch 20" - add 10 pts armor, SWC; 4438 lbs. $18,624

Design Notes - My friends and I created a Division 18. We found that a lot of designs fell in that category and that it still felt different from 15 & 20. In general the lower price categories were harder to design and rewarded creativity (especially in those low-accessory days).

It's nice to see a Heavy Laser in a low division, let me see if I modernize a design for div15!

The name is from this year; I've been listening to my Jethro Tull recently and it's way better than the original name (which has been lost to history).

Nov 13, 2013 Update: The original was unnamed.