Swift & Silent: Alari Storm

[MicVash]

***EDIT: Raptor Hoverbikes added! Pics & Stats!***

[[This will serve as the Alari Storm Armory thread. Introducing the latest addition...a VTOL.]]

[[...Sorry for the LONG post, but Enjoy!]]

The Gunship project http://www.brikwars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4959 was abadoned for a lighter attack craft. This is only an experimental model, however, and will surely undergo some modifications. Researchers didn't even bother to announce a real name for the aircraft, only calling it 'Prototype.' MicVash just wanted some sort of finished product for his new researchers to tackle.

Clan Morrigan has been disbanded as well and all previous tek and research belong to a new faction: Alari Storm.

Alari Storm specializes in propulsion technologies and will serve as MicVash's new fast attack and airborne assault division.

[[Took some ok quick pics outside. Couldn't get that low of an angle because of background stuff and some of the pictures are out of focus at the edges, but just felt anxious to finally post something.

NOT pictured: 5 other hoverbikes with pilots and 8 other infantry]]









More pics at my photostream on Flickr (Add me as a contact!): http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattman_evers/

Armament: Classified.
Flight Capabilities: Classified.

Faction Info: The Alari Storm is a faction forged from the influence of Exarch MicVash, head of the Crusade Commonwealth. (The CC is a coalition of factions pledging military power to Exarch MicVash for his crusade against the immortals.) The people of the Alari star system agree to help fund MicVash's campaign as long as their existing trade routes remain protected and a share of future resource planets and satellites are put under Alari domain. MicVash has also offered the power of his original faction, Clan Morrigan, to the Alari with his promotion to Exarch. The wealthy Alari offer elite military academies across the system only in existence to fight for the Exarch. One can expect graduates to be some of the best pilots in the galaxy, for the instructors are from MicVash's own Clan Morrigan, and because of the nature of the Alari. Their military sports advanced propulsion technologies, developed from optimizing the Alari Trading Company. Therefore the Alari Storm is a quick, tactical, and deadly fighting force. The Alari Storm serve as the Exarch's fast-response team to any threat.

[[Notice the upgrades on the Hoverbike and the new Altari Storm uniform. I have the same amount of Hoverbikes and infantry I had from Clan Morrigan, the color scheme is just altered and the bike slightly modified. Will post new stats of the bike later. Not planning on creating stats with the VTOL because I'm going to rebuild it. Just not satisfied with it yet.

Reason for the big faction change: I'm pretty picky about color scheme and there was just wasn't enough dark green parts to get creative with some new builds and I didn't want to resort to nearly all black models. They are difficult to photoraph properly and color can really pop out some interesting details. Also I've been in sort of a Dark-Age and I thought it'd be a great way to get out of it by shifting gears. After browsing Bricklink for hours I settled on black, dark blue, dark bley, and a hint of lime green. The Agents series provided me with a good range of parts and I found the minifig parts for dirt cheap. I'm talking torso and legs for about 70 cents.]]

[Jbgarrison]

This color scheme looks like a keeper. I really like the name "Alari Storm" as well!

[Zahru II]

Chunky. I like it!

[Silent-sigfig]

The attack craft, hover bike, and color scheme is beast. Now I know what to do with my agents.

[Warhead]

Luv the engines and tail section best, very nice work.

[Theblackdog]

Absolutely love it, you did a good job adapting the basic appearance to a smaller frame.

[Tuefish]

Looks like some kind of dinosaur, or a dragon. The bike just looks vicious, and I love the color scheme. awesome work.

[Hoboman]

While the gunship looks nice, I must say it is the hover bike that catches my eye.

The hoverbike looks great. I would love to field some of those myself.

[MicVash]

While the gunship looks nice, I must say it is the hover bike that catches my eye.

The hoverbike looks great. I would love to field some of those myself.

Very well.

The upgraded bikes went for a test run out in the wastelands today and our Public Affairs Officer managed to snipe a few pictures.









Combat Capabilities and Background Information have also been declassified:

Alari Storm--->Fast Attack Division--->1st Calvary--->Raptor Hoverbike Squadron

Description: Alari Storm Hoverbike squadrons rely on the advanced capabilities of their pilots and the speed and agility of the Raptor Bikes themselves in order to survive. They are used for a broad range of missions including scouting, hassling slower targets such as tanks and infantry, and "tagging" enemy units. Absorbed from Clan Morrigan technology, the Raptor hoverbike has been slightly improved.

Stats:

Size:2
Structure Level: 1
Armor Rating: 1d10
Base Cost: 2
Move: 18"
Type: Fast, Hover (Can travel over difficult terrain and water w/o penalty. Additionally, all weapons receive +1" range for low cruising altitude. Included is Alari Storm Faction Ability: +2" movement)
Cost: 16 (Base 8, +4 Hover, +4 Faction Ability)

Weapons:
---Twin-Linked Pulse Laser
Cost: 8 (Base 6, +1 for Twin-Linked, +1 for Pulse)
Use: 4
Range: 10" (Base 9" +1" for Hover speed type)
Damage: 2d6+2
Notes:Twin-Linked: May Re-Roll one die once for Use
Pulse: Fires lasers more rapidly, +1 Damage for each die
OR Equipped w/
---Extended-Range Pulse Laser
Cost: 8 (Base 6, +1 for ER, +1 Pulse)
Use: 4
Range: 14" (Base 9", +4" for ER, + 1" for Hover)
Damage: 2d6+2
Notes: ER: Adds half original range rounded down
Pulse: Fires laser more rapidly, +1 Damage for each die
AND ALL Equipped w/
---Tag Lasers
Cost: 4 (Bse 3, +1 for Tag)
Use: 3
Range: 6
Damage: 0
Notes: If a unit is successfully "tagged" all friendly units targeting the "tag" add +2 to skill. This effect cannot be combined. This effect only exists as long as the Tag Laser is within range of the target

Special Equipment/Abilities:
Jinking: Hoverbike pilots cannot be targeted while operating a Hoverbike. In addition there is a -1 skill modifier for an enemy attacker when this unit is "stationary" Cost: 2

Total Cost: 32 (w/o Pilot)

Alari Storm Faction Abilities:
---Trained and Elite Pilots: Every Alari has the Piloting ability (+1 cost on all units) Alari Pilots do not suffer from fast movement attack penalties (+1 cost on all units)
---Advanced Propulsion Tek: All Alari vehicles and armored infantry gain +2" of movement (+4 cost on all units)

[Hoboman]

Wow, I love the way that unit looks. And two weapon versions as well. Nice work.

And thanks for the additional photos.

[Jbgarrison]

Wow, I can imagine these things zippin' all over the battlefield.

So, to get into fluff a bit, in practice does the hover bike squadron get split up and assigned as support elements to other detachments or is it intended to deploy in force as a unit?

[MicVash]

So, to get into fluff a bit, in practice does the hover bike squadron get split up and assigned as support elements to other detachments or is it intended to deploy in force as a unit?

Squadrons are divided into 2 Packs. Each Pack consists of 3 bikes. There is a Pack Leader designated for each Pack. Both Pack Leaders report to the Squadron Commander who typically operates outside of the battlefield. Squadrons can either operate independently or be attached to airborne assault units or escort heavier units.

When operating alongside other units, the Squadron is divided into its 2 Packs. Packs can either both be deployed to entangle multiple threatening enemy units (and their tag abilities allow units bearing heavier weapons to completely choke off the threat) or Packs can do a sort of leap frog maneuver. One pack will dispatch, attack, initiate its tag lasers, and the other pack will move in for the kill.

With the ER Laser, Raptors have an effective reach of 32". (18" of movement +14" range) so they can stay well clear of heavy weapons until they want to move in, or engage distant enemies. Recall that Alari Storm pilots are exceptional so they do not suffer a skill penalty from moving fast. The enemy would receive a -3 penalty (-1 for each 6") against a striking Raptor.

[Jbgarrison]

What do you anticipate is the greatest weakness you'd attempt to account for when deploying the packs? Artillery (AoE weapons)? Or do they have any weakness at all? The inability to target pilots and the minuses to hit while they are going fast and they don't suffer penalty means that you'll probably want to keep them moving all of the time.

I would probably only target them if they were stationary, of course, if they WERE stationary, I'd hold EVERYTHING I was doing and order all available units to engage them exclusively.

[MicVash]

-One of the weaknesses is Armor Rating. A 1d10 cannot save you from a lot of weapons. Raptors make up for it however as you noticed by the penalties to enemy skill, but once you hit, they are pretty fragile, being also only size 2.
-Having a lot of bikes can be pricey (32 CC per bike w/o Pilot) so if you are picky about cost (I'm sure a lot of people aren't though) it can really cut into your budget for heavier weapons and units.
-As for the tagging ability, it really makes bikes vulnerable because they have to stay within 6" of the target to be effective.
-Considering the Raptors only have size 2 weapons (2d6 damage), heavily armored units, even a 2d10 armor rating have a high enough survival rating to keep trying to hit the bikes.
-Any other creative skills/equipment could be a weakness (for ex. a heat seeker missile that adds +1 to skill against a target and ignores all skill penalties)

I would not say artillery is a weakness, because the payload is so slow. In Brikwars you mark the anticipated payload and all I have to do is move out of the way.

Haha, I can see you are really distracted by this unit, which is part of its tactical strength. Raptors create disorientation on the battlefield with them zipping around and so you lose focus on other targets that could harm you, like a big mech or tank.

[Elmagnifico]

Ooh. Pretty.

Reminds me of an old facet of the Gamma Corps I abandoned at one point: Irregular Hoverbike Brigades.

I'll have to see if I can whip up some updated ones sometime.