Ahoy mateys. So we have our loverly steam tank, and its ability to hit like an elephant...I SAY IT NEEDS MORE DAKKA! Bring back the options, the cool toys, and other fun stuff that was Imperial-worthy...yet make it more...unreliable? Muahahahaha!
Here are some suggestions to help kick of making the tank fun yet deadly:
1) Extra points for improved reliability. Allow either cheap yet temperamental tanks, or allow upgrades to buffer against steam loss (Advanced cooling system: Counts as being +2 wounds for purposes of rolling to generate steam, up to the original wound total), or for terrain purposes (Spiked Front: May move through forests as normal. Impact hits on the charge count as armor-piercing).
2) A more colorful set of rules for misfires...When a tank builds up TOO much steam, I would like to see every unit in b2b with the vehicle take D6 s2 hits with no armor save, as it attempts to vent steam at the last minute. If this is too unbalanced (Say people try tank-bombing), reduce to d3. Alternatively, rules to inflict crew damage could be interesting if game-bogging...this would involve improved testing.
3) Acceleration/deceleration: One of the weirder things about the steam tank is I'm able to use it like a slow helicopter, moving it side to side and circle-strafing chariots with cannon-fire due to the 90-degree pivot rules...having some sort of acceleration/turn limitations would be rather nice, and add more unpredictability.
4) More weapon options: Fighting platforms! With multiple repeater handgunners hiding on top! I want this!
5) Fix it so buffs work on it like normal; the Steam Tank, alongside any crew on top, is a single unit...Bring on Second Sign and Celestial Shield tanks.