Avatar

Fan-made image by VileRancour.

The Chmmr Avatar is the culmination of the Mmrnmhrm and Chenjesu's combined technological prowess, replacing both the X-Form and Broodhome. The Avatar boasts the greatest firepower of any war ship to see mass-production in our region of space. As The Process was initiated with the intent of creating a race powerful enough to defeat the Ur-Quan Hierarchy, it is assumed that the Avatar was designed specifically for the purpose of defeating the Ur-Quan.

Propulsion

The Avatar possesses slightly higher maximum speed, acceleration and turning rate than both the Ur-Quan Dreadnought and Kohr-Ah Marauder; its mobility is roughly average. It is quite large, however, and appropriate care should be taken near gravity wells.

Armament

Primary

The Chmmr have designed the most devastating laser in the galaxy, so powerful that it ionizes the solar wind, causing visible sparkles in the void. Capable of burning through the toughest of armor in moments, this laser makes head-to-head weapon exchanges with the Avatar a suicidal proposition. Some sources describe this primary weapon as a "heavy X-ray laser."¹ Unlike the other laser weapons, the Avatar's laser inflicts two damage per hit. The laser fires continuously while the weapon button is held down, allowing it to trigger as much as 24 times a second. While undeniably powerful, this weapon's range is relatively short.

Secondary

To overcome its range deficiency, the Avatar is also outfitted with a powerful tractor beam capable of pulling ships into the Avatar's maw by generating a field of artificial gravity. The effect of the tractor beam depends on the mass of the targeted spaceship. Massive ships experience less gravitational acceleration than smaller ships. However, an affected ship must also be fast in order to overcome the pull of this device. Slow ships and lightweight ships will inevitably be dragged in. Non-inertial spacecraft such as the Arilou Skiff, being unaffected by gravity, are immune to the tractor beam.

Additional

In addition to its already formidable arsenal, the Avatar is orbited by three automated laser turrets nicknamed "ZapSats". These are intended as both a form of protection and close range fire support. ZapSats will shoot repeatedly at any enemy projectile or ship within their reach. Given their high rate of fire, ZapSats are quite effective at negating a variety of different weapon systems. While all three ZapSats are functional, the Avatar is virtually unassailable when pitted against certain adversaries. Each ZapSat has 10 hit points.

Tactical Overview

• While the Avatar is not the fastest of ships, its tractor beam indirectly improves its mobility. With judicious use of the tractor beam, the main weapon can quickly be brought to bear on many unfortunate foes. The tractor beam can also be used to interrupt an opponent's gravity whip or even pull an opponent into the planet. However, both the main laser and the tractor beam can deplete the Avatar's power banks if overused. Indiscriminate use of the tractor beam can also send an opponent into a high speed trajectory, potentially giving them an advantage.

• Ships that typically fare the best against the Avatar are those which can maintain a position outside of the Avatar's weapon range and shoot through its satellite ring. Ships capable of shielding themselves from damage can also threaten the Avatar by using their shield to overcome the Avatar's overwhelming firepower and attacking it from beyond its reach when able.

• The Avatar is quite vulnerable after its ring of ZapSats has been destroyed. When attacking ZapSats with a barrage of projectiles, more of your shots will connect if you shoot into the path of oncoming ZapSats as their orbit draws them toward your ship.

• The Avatar's laser is incredibly powerful, but it's also a narrow line that cannot reach anywhere other than the 16 standard angles. Enemy ships can align themselves between these angles and attack the Avatar if the pilot is not careful--a very bad thing when all three ZapSats have been destroyed. The tractor beam is sometimes able to pull an enemy ship out of the Avatar's "blind spot", and it works especially well for this when used preemptively as they try to maneuver into position.

Notes and references

¹3DO version ship video

3DO Chmmr Avatar Basic stats Crew: 42 Value: 30 pts Battery: 42 Batt. Regeneration: 0.5 units/frame Armament Primary: Heavy X-ray Laser Secondary: Tractor Beam Refire delay: 0 frames Refire delay: 0 frames Energy use: 2 units Energy use: 1 units Propulsion Max speed: 35 world units/frame Turn rate: 0.25 facings/frame Acceleration: 1.166 units/frame Mass: 10