Clan Tech Analysis: Armor

Well, the announcement is finally here, and Clans will be invading the Sphere in mid June of 2014. I won’t be getting into the reactions that everyone has had, as that’s… well covered elsewhere. However, with the Command Post we most recently had, we can take a very serious analysis of Clan Tech, and see what we might be able to expect.

According to Paul Inouye in his post Clan Technology – A Design Perspective, he highlights the following, which is relevant to our interests today:

… the ability to customize hardpoints comes with the tabletop OmniMech restrictions. All the configurations of a given OmniMech are based around a base configuration (not to be confused with the Prime configuration). This is the core of the Mech, with all the modular bits stripped out, and what remains cannot be customized at all.

Among other things, this included Armor amount and distribution on a Mech.

Now, a few things are givens, such as how much armor is available at maximum at a certain weight, and that current IS ferro-fibrous armor affords 12% more armor PER TON than standard armor. So, it’s safe to assume that Clan ferro-fibrous armor will follow suit, and afford 20% additional armor per ton. This brings it up from 32 armor per ton to 38.4 (this is consistent with ferro-fibrous in-game giving 35.84 points per ton). With this information, we can reasonably assume what each Mech is going to have as far as armor values. You’ll find those values below, with my personal comments on the matter.

KIT FOX (ULLER) –

Weight: 30 tons

Speed: 97.2 kph (180XL)

Armor: 153/210

Comments: With speeds significantly lower than those of current IS Battlemechs, especially the Spider, the amount of firepower this Mech will be able to carry is going to have to make up for the shortcomings in the armor rating. “At least it’s not a Locust.”

ADDER (PUMA) –

Weight: 35 tons

Speed: 97.2 (210XL)

Armor: 230/238

Comments: Similar situation to the Kit Fox, except that the Adder is at least able to pack some heavy firepower in two PPCs to make up for its slow speed. This one will have to pack a serious punch to compete with the current king of the Lights, the Jenner.

NOVA (BLACK HAWK) –

Weight: 50 tons

Speed: 86.4 kph (250XL)

Armor: 320/338

Comments: Standard armor keeps the Nova protected, and a pretty respectable amount at that. Superior mobility in jump jets, with speeds equal to or greater than, and better hardpoint placement means that the Nova will very likely replace the HBK-4P in nearly every aspect.

STORMCROW (RYOKEN) –

Weight: 55 tons

Speed: 97.2 kph (330XL)

Armor: 364/370

Comments: If the success of the Shadow Hawk is any indication, the Stormcrow has a good possibility to really shine. With high speeds and high levels of armor, if the hitbox gods bless this Mech, the Shadow Hawk will have a very serious contender.

SUMMONER (THOR) –

Weight: 70 tons

Speed: 86.4 kph (350XL)

Armor: 364/434

Comments: The armor values on the Summoner is distressing, to put it frankly. Those who are looking to make this Mech work are going to have to take heavy advantage of the speed and jump jets that the Summoner packs, or they may find themselves downed pretty handily by its more heavily armored competition in the 70 ton bracket: the Cataphract.

TIMBER WOLF (MAD CAT) –

Weight: 75 tons

Speed: 86.4 kph (375XL)

Armor: 460/462

Comments: Quite the opposite side of the Summoner is the Timber Wolf. 86.4 KPH, virtually maximum armor, and incredibly powerful armaments means that the Timber Wolf stands to be king of the heavies, if its hit boxes are done well.

WARHAWK (MASAKARI) –

Weight: 85 tons

Speed: 64.8 kph (340XL)

Armor: 518/526

Comments: 64.8 KPH is pretty scarily fast for an Assault Mech, and 518 out of 526 armor ensures that the Warhawk will be a real threat on the field. Depending on the hardpoints and hit boxes, it can bring some serious competition to the Misery, especially if XL engines stay as 2 crits on the side torsos.

DIRE WOLF (DAISHI) –



Weight: 100 tons

Speed: 54 kph (300XL)

Armor: 608/614 (“armor protection matches that of an Atlas”)

Comments: The Dire Wolf stands to bring some incredibly terrifying firepower to the battlefield, but even D-DCs are running faster than 54 kph nowadays. Its high armor values, however, ensure that it’ll be on the field for a long time, if it’s not focus-fired.

Armor values were taken from Sarna, and doubled to ensure they match the way things work in MWO. I hope it sparks some interesting discussion among the fans.