Greetings, Dan here!

As I alluded to last week, I have been holding off on featuring a zord from the Power Rangers franchise in these showcases as BTE does not currently feature combining mechs (though it is something I'm working on). That said, while I will not be able to feature one of the ever-cool megazords, that doesn't mean there aren't individual zords in the franchise that aren't worth building. While the Dragon or White Tiger Zords will be first to mind for many, one zord has always stood out in my head as just being a cool design and that's the Red Dragon Thunderzord. There's just something about flying into combat as a robotic eastern dragon that is just inherently epic. We're going to be building this zord as a starter mech today. For context in its abilities, the Red Dragon Thunderzord often races into battle ahead of the rest of its team, able to engage with enemies solo, taking some weaker monsters out on its own. At the very least it can tank the enemy until support arrives. Its primary mode is the serpentine, flying dragon mode where it can shoot out a plasma breath at a distance, or if it gets in close use of its claws. Where it does the majority of its fighting though is in a humanoid warrior mode, where it wields a black staff against enemies.

To begin, we shall install the Caballero Frame for 12 Armor Points. While this is low for now, it could be improved later to make the zord tankier if desired. Next so the Red Dragon can rush into combat, we'll install a Blitz Boosters for Movement Rate of 2. We'll need to install a Blitz CPU for 2 Utilities. Finally, we'll install a Caballero Radiator with a Heat Rating of 8.

For our utility systems, we'll install an Aerial Frame allowing us to apply MR into aerial movement, and the Overdrive Mode Converter for our Warrior Mode. That means our default will be the flying Red Dragon mode, converting into the Warrior/Overdrive Mode only sparingly to engage in solo combat. This overdrive mode will increase the zord's MR by 1, as well as add 1d6 to the current damage dealt. Unfortunately, this mode comes with a time limit as at the end of each round, the excess heat generated by it will deal damage to the pilot equal to the number of rounds it has been active. While the strain on the pilot wasn't in the show, this will lead to the modes being utilized in a method similar to that in the show. Fly in, attacking with the dragon, switching to the warrior mode when it gets tough, or if an enemy needs solo'd. 

Speaking of attacking, we're going to build two Weapon Systems. The first will be the Plasma Breath for the dragon mode. (This Weapon System isn't actually mode specific, but there is nothing stopping the player from limiting themselves for the sake of flavor). We'll be giving this system 4HR, that means we'll only be putting one heat into each feature, but we will apply our optimization into Range. The final stats for this weapon system will be: 1d4 Damage, Rate of Fire 1, 4 Ammo, and Medium thru Far Range.

For our second Weapon System we will be building the Power Strike at 4 HR. This will serve as our melee attack in either mode, whether that be with the dragon claws or the warrior staff. Once more we will be putting one heat into each feature but this time we'll apply the optimization to damage. This will give us the weapon stats of: 1d4+3 Damage, Rate of Fire 1, 4 Ammo, and Melee Range. Now when the Red Dragon enters its Warrior Mode by activating the Overdrive Mode Converter, this will mean the Power Strike will be the optimal attack, as the total damage will be 1d4+3+1d6 and that isn't counting the pilot's weapon skill bonus which would raise total damage on a hit even higher. Then also, while the weapon system only has 4 Ammo, since it has the Melee Range, it can continue to be used even once ammo is expended, the damage would just be reduced to 1+1d6.

Overall this makes for a fast front line mech. Natural routes for improvement could be improving the Frame for more AP, or shield disposables/utilities for SP, generally making it tankier. An improvement to the radiator or adding Heat Sinks through an improved CPU would allow the Weapon Systems to be re-kit, improving their Damage, Ammo, or Rate of Fire. The player might also consider improving the Boosters so the Red Dragon could rush and pull back more easily, allowing them to run circles around slower, melee focused targets. Regardless of what route a player might develop their zord, this build makes for a fun mech to play.

For next time, I think I'll be a little self indulgent. While a sample Character Sheet is provided in the book at the end of the character creation sections in the Ursa Major, I'd like to visit the mech depicted in Beneath Twisted Earth's prose introduction, the Gauntlet. So anyone who has picked up a copy of the free version or the preview book and enjoyed the intro, be sure to stop by for the next devlog. In the meantime, thank you for your interest, and I hope to see you at the launch of the print version of Beneath Twisted Earth!