Hephaestus

Hephaestus
Class:	Hovercraft
Faction	Clan
Ticket cost:	1 upon destruction
Tier:	4
Speed:	84 km/h
Turret rotation:	360°
Turret pitch:	-10° to +70°
Variant Armament
Variant	Weapons	Equipment
Prime: Price: 46 100 CBills Total armor: 18 434	2x CMPL 1x CSPL 1x TAG	BHP AECM C3 EOptics 1 HS 0 free tons 6t Armor
A: Price: 39 500 CBills Total armor: 18 434	1x CMPL 1x CLRM15 1x TAG	BHP EOptics 0 DHS 1 free ton 6t Armor
B: Price: 40 400 CBills Total armor: 21 194	3x CSPL 1x ATM6 (HE)	C3 GECM 1 HS 0 free tons 7t Armor
C: Price: 42 250 CBills Total armor: 17 055	1x CERLBL 1x CERSBL 1x CNARC	BAP AECM C3 0 HS 0 free ton 5.5t Armor
D: Price: 35 750 CBills Total armor: 18 434	2x CUAC5 2x MG	BAP EOptics 0 HS 0 free tons 6t Armor
E: Price: 42 050 CBills Total armor: 18 434	2x HML 1x CDSRM4	BAP GECM 4 HS 1 free ton 6t Armor
F: Price: 36 300 CBills Total armor: 18 434	3x CLBX2 1x ATM6 (ER) 1x TAG	EOptics 0 HS 1 free tons 6t Armor
G: Price: 40 550 CBills Total armor: 18 434	2x CERMBL 1x ATM6 (Std)	BAP GECM EOptics 0 HS 1 free ton 6t Armor

All stats current as of release 0.15.3 </div>

The Hephaestus is a Clan light scouting and spotting Hovercraft introduced with MWLL 0.4. All variants are equipped with advanced electronics packages, allowing it to spot enemies early with BHP while remaining undetected itself using GECM or providing cover for friendly units with AECM. Every Hephaestus has a infantry bay that can carry up to one Battle Armor (unfortunately at this time the battle armor loses it's larger weapons when it enters the Hephaestus.)

Roles and Gameplay Hints

Prime

A close range brawler, the prime is able to harass smaller mechs and tanks thanks to its twin small and medium clan pulse lasers. The Hephaestus prime is also one of the only units at the start of the game with AECM allowing it to cover its allies from enemy NARCs all game and its fast enough to avoid most fire coming its way. One glaring weakness of the Hephaestus is its fast speed, while slower then a harasser it will still have trouble bringing its full damage on a single spot due to its high speed. It is a cheap brawler though and very well adapt to poking at partisans or other light units and should never be underestimated.

Note that two of these units traveling together will shield each other, and any other unit in the area. This can be great for stealthy strikes with hovercrafts, which can be truly devestating if accompanying assets are heavily-armed Eponas.

Variant A

A spotter, that trades one pulse laser and some armor for LRM and a TAG. Those allow it to give long range fire support or to use its speed and stealth to attack from long range, only to vanish into cover right afterwards. With its lack of free tons it can't stay in the field long by itself.

Variant B

This variant exchanges all the pulse lasers of the prime for 2 CERMBLs and a DSSRM4, giving it a longer range on the medium lasers and a stronger short range punch.

Variant C

Only armed with 1 ATM9, this variant is intended for a supporting role. It uses its AECM to provide cover for friendly units and the combination of C3 and a BHP to feed them radar data far more detailed then they could gather themselves.

Variant D

Variant E

Variant F

Variant G

Canon

The first Hephaestus scouting tanks left assembly in 3064. They are being produced exclusively by Clan Hells Horses. Matching its reconnessaince role, it is equipped with a fixed Active Probe and has moderate protection through five tons of armor. Five ton of weaponry allow it to defend itself against lighter opponents. The prime configuration is designed for electronic warfare, carrying TAG and ECM.
Battletech Reference