Main Book War Mount Preference

[slappy]

As I've said before, big fan of the War Mounts. I was curious what is everybody's favorite War Mount from the Main Book. Mine is a toss up between the Dracos and the Zephyr.

[NMI]

gorehound

[NMI]

2nd choice would be a Behemoth with all the ranged weapon modifications!!!

[Tinker Dragoon]

What about the horsies and mega-horsies?

[slappy]

I accidently left them out because they suck

[demos606]

As much as I like dracos and zephyrs (draco is decidedly preference of the official mounts) I have a hard time considering 'hounds "mounts". Pack animals say more companion than mount for me and horsies are little more than rapid transit for Saints and Biotics that can't get a proper ride.

[slappy]

Does anybody like the Strider? I wonder why Carmen stated this War Mount is the favorite among Outriders. I'm presonally not a big fan of it.

[demos606]

The way it seems Outriders were envisioned by Carmen (medium cavalry) is not how most players seem to be using them. My group went with a Grendel and Behemoth as personal mounts for speed and fire support respectively. I'm alternating between Scarecrow (I need my evil fix) and Arch-Angel depending on the mission and the other GM is bringing in a Roughneck when I start back up after Mardi-Gras - he has a Dreadguard rotating with it. I very nearly took War Mount Piloting for my Arch-angel to suplement out group with a Dracos or Zephyr but decided against it at the last minute - and if Im playing the Scarecrow, we hurt for aerial support if everyone plays personal mounts.

I had to pull out the book and look up Striders because I couldnt even remember why they hadnt impressed me enough to want one. Mostly it's a matter of not fitting the role I see Outriders playing in the survival of humanity - attempting to face the machines in open combat is paramount to suicide for all but the strongest Houses which isn't where I see most GM's putting their players. I also don't see many houses trying to flaunt their might openly for fear of massive genocidal machine retribution, including orbital bombardment if necessary to eliminate the nuisance.

[maasenstodt]

I accidently left [horses] out because they suck

I can envisage an amazing Splicers campaign using under equipped Dreadguard and Roughnecks equipped primarily with ancient type weapons and using horses as their key military and transportation tool. The whole thing would be done in the style and tone of Henryk Sienkiewicz's historical novels of Poland's cavalry in the 17th century.

Wow. That would totally kick ass.

Not putting horses on your poll? For shame!

[demos606]

Thing is, host armors are as fast as, or faster than, the megahorses and can take a far better beating. OCCs that would use horses are typicly not the ones that would be involved in close ground combat - archangels, saints (the ultimate non-combatant), and skinjobs. Biotics I dont see using a horse for anything but "casual travel" due to the massive body modifications for weapon systems.

[maasenstodt]

Thing is, host armors are as fast as, or faster than, the megahorses and can take a far better beating. OCCs that would use horses are typicly not the ones that would be involved in close ground combat - archangels, saints (the ultimate non-combatant), and skinjobs. Biotics I dont see using a horse for anything but "casual travel" due to the massive body modifications for weapon systems.

I think that a key stat being overlooked here is the production cycle. Something as simple as a Grendel requires a 2 year gestation period in the vats, while a Dracos takes 5 years. Especially for smaller houses with only one or two vats, it could be very difficult to produce War Mounts at anywhere near the rate of horses or Mega-Horses (I'm presuming here that Mega-Horses are regular horses that just take a dip in the vats, much like Biotics).

This entire area of vat production has received too little attention as far as I'm concerned, something that will hopefully be remedied in a future supplement. In the meanwhile, I can easily see a situation in a smaller house, the kind I'm more likely to play in, with Outriders having access to Mega-Horses while everyone else is stuck with the real thing.

[abtex]

Another reason might be that Mega Horses without their tack and Rider
(ie. Saddle, barding, etc.) can hide in plain sight from the robots. Unlike
other War Mounts that must hide or fight.

from the missing Chapter - "Why Mega Horses".

For better or worse through out their history, the Great Houses have
created a board range of Mega type War Mounts that are being used by
them or have been used at sometime.

Some Houses will provide their Biotics with the Max-ed Mules
(their 'want to be' Mega Horse), over the beat up old horse they normally
provided in other Houses or the newer armed and armored mule, they
lovely call the Badd-O-Mule. In swamps and marsh you can find a
version or five of the Moose or Water Buffalo being used. Great Houses
on (or more likely under) the open Plains use a modified Plains Buffalo,
they can live off the grasses and limited water supply, run for hours
without rest before they were recruited to the cause. Many of Giai's
creations have found their way into the Engineer BioPools and have been
turned them into a new and improved Dire-'Something' War
Mounts. Or even stranger ones, like the TexAx Raindeer series and their
CrayFish (don't ask their notes are somewhere) or camels (for the dry
lands), lobsters (amphi).

Mega War Mounts can pull more that carry. So you may find carts,
wagons and armed chariots being widely used in some locations and not at
all in others. Living Kites been reported being towed by Outriders to
provide limited air cover and early warning. The Kites have been seen
with (and more commonly without) Biotics being tied to them.

===============================================
Mega Mount Tack and other gear.

1) Barding - Living and manufactured Armor for Mega Horses (and
other riding beast). Main purpose is protection, but like other forms of
Organic Armor it maybe armed with Bio Weapons or have Gripper Pads
(see below).

2) Battle Saddle - a removable organic War Saddle. Like a War
Saddle it helps protect the rider, keeping him in place and most important,
aids in keeping control of his mount. The mount can be a War Mount or a
'borrowed' one of Giai's.

3) The Pack Frame - a different form of Battle Saddle. While
created to carry supplies and equipment, it also aids in controlling mount,
be it a 'borrowed' Giai's critter or War Mount. But with the right Bio
Enchancements it can work the wonders of Bio Technology. Provide new
supplies, water and food just a start. Regrow lost or destoryed equipment.
Maintain BioTech devices bing transported on it. Aid in reloading
weapons or just grow more Ammo for them. Because the Enchancements
can "milk" a mount of it's life force, long term use can impair and even kill
the mightest of Giai's beast or a War Mount. So use it care.

4) Feed Bag - Used on a long patrol or while travelling to a battle
and even in the Great House stables, the Feed Bag can provide a quick and
nutritional meal for a War Mount or 'borrowed' one. The feed is processed
by placing the mount's normal food in the Bag and letting it's inner lining
refine it. While the feed is very nutritional, like most 'Healthy food' it
leaves an empty feeling and lacks taste, so flodder (ie. grass or hay) and a
fruit or two maybe needed to keep the mount happy. The Feed Bag can
also boost the Mount's abilities through Bio Organic and other chemical
means. The Bags come in designs for use by herbivore and omnivore
animals.

5) Horse Fly - It helps supports and maintains a War Mount and other
riding beasts. The basic version aids in 'borrowing' Giai animals for use by
the Resistance forces, by using of their chemical sprayers. They can heal
injured beasts. Harvest feed for it's beast. With the proper Enchancement
even provide protection (by a Force Field or create temporary barding).


Bio Enchancement

Gripper Pads - A form of Articulated Spines that allow a Bio
Construction to hold/grip an item or weapon and even use or fire it.

Meal Milk - A form of food that is provide by the War Mount. It
liquid but can be used in many different ways, from just drinking to use in
soild dishes cooked over a fire. Some Librarians have provided several
different favors and thickness of Meal Milk for their Great House.

Meat Strips - Areas on some War Mounts can have Strips of flesh/meat
cut from them to provide food for their riders. Because of regeneration the
beast is not hurt, but may not be happy about being used as a food source.
While still being alive that is.

Water Storage - Allows the War Mount to drink large quantity of water,
that storage it for later use by the beast or it's rider(s). Like a camel does.

[abtex]

from the missing Chapter - "Why Mega Horses".

Any thoughts on costs or bio-e points for the items in my posting above.
Or expanding on the types of items.

[slappy]

I like what you've done. The Meat Strips Enhancement is a little creepy though. It reminds me of Homer Simpson in the Garden of Eden from the Simpson Bible Stories episode.

I noticed I got volunteered for a few writing jobs. I appreciate the faith in me, but I try to stay away from other people's ideas. I still feel like a stole the Falconer idea from Taalism. I went a totally different way, but it still nags at me. Never doing that again. Someone throws up an idea from now on, they own it. You did have some good ideas. Don't sell yourself short. You can write it up just as good as I can.

[abtex]

I like what you've done. The Meat Strips Enhancement is a little creepy though.

Ok. The Meat Strips is creepy. but it makes a Splicer kind of sense. But it not bad so
are the Food Bugs that I have on paper.

I noticed I got volunteered for a few writing jobs. I appreciate the faith in me, but I try
to stay away from other people's ideas. I still feel like a stole the Falconer idea from
Taalism. I went a totally different way, but it still nags at me. Never doing that again.
Someone throws up an idea from now on, they own it. You did have some good ideas.
Don't sell yourself short. You can write it up just as good as I can.

But we are still waiting for his Killer Frisbees.
I need to get a new copy of Monsters and Animals to even try the mules.
Volunteered or ask for (by me at least) was the Horse Fly.
Sorry about that. Will remove the require in a minute.
Only ask the following:

Any thoughts on costs or bio-e points for the items in my posting above. Or expanding
on the types of items.

That Posting was a 5 minute brain fart, but take me a week to put together. Writing for
me is a dream. No a nightmare most of the time. Thinking I can do. But I need something
to kick start the process.

[IsaacFayde]

Personally I like the Behemoths because of the interaction my group does with it. They named our Outriders personal Behemoth 'Skippy' and it has been the center for some rather emotional combats as it got swarmed by machines and the Outrider screaming "SKIPPY!!" in anguish. Its even worse since my dog is named Skip and comes running every time he does this. end rant, thanks.

[TechnoGothic]

Gorehounds

They are perfect just about.

Then i like Behemoths too after the gorehounds.

The rest i use on a need bases only.

The outrider in my group has a Dracos named Draco
He is saving its bio-e points to buy an Omega Cannon
He expects the War-mount to do all his fighting, but get mad Out of character when it got hurt. So i had it get "lost" for the last 4 levels.

Its a Low Combat game i'm running anyways.they have had 1 fight all this time.

[runebeo]

Draco is best by far its got it all. Just for fun try to take an out of controlled 0ne down and i bet u get a new respect for them.

[demos606]

Any warmount is dangerously powerful if used intelligently. Draco are the most obvious example of this but a Zephyr Archangel combo is downright disgusting with the right loadout.

[Mudang]

I have to go with the Behemoth. I just love the massive artillery support that they can provide.

[Lt. Holmes]

I voted for the Behemoth, but not because of the weapons and toys it gets (though those are neat, too). I voted because of its personality. As a dog owner myself, I can only imagine the sort of playful havoc an 11-foot tall, armour-plated, alien puppy would inadverently cause.

[runebeo]

Dracos is the way to go it has got it all and it can transport a small squad. Hope the new source books has more art with them.

[Mudang]

Dracos is the way to go it has got it all and it can transport a small squad. Hope the new source books has more art with them.

But it doesn't have the ability to fire 6d8x10 +180 MD volleys with a blast radius of 80ft.

[Spinachcat]

I am a BIG fan of MegaHorses. I love the idea of a old horses and any troublesome herd animals being sent to the Biotic Baths instead of the glue factory. I agree that they would be very popular with smaller Houses who don't have 2 years time to wait for mounts, but need to dip and go on a shorter schedule.

Also, the term MegaHorses could refer to any large quadruped that has undergone Biotic DNA recombination, not just Seabiscuit.

MegaHorses are more disposable than any other WarMount and this makes them more useful for missions where they can be "fire and forget" style transport vs. a Zephyr or a Strider which are extremely important to the House.

[RockJock]

The Behemoth reminds me of the dog in Smurfs after everyone's description. I like the Strider as the average unit that it is.

[runebeo]

Dracos is the way to go it has got it all and it can transport a small squad. Hope the new source books has more art with them.

But it doesn't have the ability to fire 6d8x10 +180 MD volleys with a blast radius of 80ft.

That is a great point too but flight also makes might and with the machines so strong escape is on my mind too. Still it's a 6 legged, plasma breathing, laser wielding, quill blasting, flying dragon that carrys troops with near 50 supernatural strength plus upgrades.

[maasenstodt]

I am a BIG fan of MegaHorses. I love the idea of a old horses and any troublesome herd animals being sent to the Biotic Baths instead of the glue factory. I agree that they would be very popular with smaller Houses who don't have 2 years time to wait for mounts, but need to dip and go on a shorter schedule.

Also, the term MegaHorses could refer to any large quadruped that has undergone Biotic DNA recombination, not just Seabiscuit.

MegaHorses are more disposable than any other WarMount and this makes them more useful for missions where they can be "fire and forget" style transport vs. a Zephyr or a Strider which are extremely important to the House.

After all this time, I still haven't voted in this poll because Mega-Horses remain absent from the choices.

[abtex]

After all this time, I still haven't voted in this poll because Mega-Horses remain absent from the choices.

slappy can add that to the poll right?

[slappy]

Nope. Once someone votes once, it locks out. I discovered that after I realized the Zephyr wasn't included.

But I wouldn't put the Mega-Horse on their anyway.

[NMI]

Actually I can alter the poll if you wish.

[slappy]

Sure. Throw them both on there.