Stats:
Metal - 280
HP - 550
Speed - 2
Build Time (Unassisted) - 28.8
--- Slowing Beam
Damage - 178
Reloadtime - 1.00
DPS - 178
Range - 600
The Moderator is a very unique unit built from the Jumpjet/Specialist Factory. It is a support walker with no jumpjet capability. It deals no direct damage, but instead carries a fast-firing slowing beam that fills a 'slow' bar on the enemy it hits; the % is the total reduction in movement & attack speed, which caps out at 50% and slowly decreases until the unit is back to full speed again.
Used well, Moderators can absolutely decimate certain units and aid in the destruction of others. Let's take Kodachi's for example; the Kodachi is a heavy raider buggy with a fast max speed but poor turning and acceleration. It excels in fast hit-and-run attacks using it's napalm bomb for maximum effect and has enough HP to escape intact, making it a very annoying unit to fight. Moderators nail them to the wall. Typically someone using Kodachi's will be trying very hard to not get too close for too long because Pyros and even Puppies will slam them down given half the chance; if they dare get close enough to your army, the Moderators slowing beam will render them nearly useless and easy to pick off with the rest of your forces.
Moderators are also effective in defense as well, particuarly against gunships and bombers. Gunships rely on fast speed and firepower to kill their intended target(s) quickly then retreat before they take too much damage. If they get tagged by a Moderator they become sitting (floating?) ducks, unable to do enough DPS to kill their target let alone have the acceleration or speed to get away in time to avoid being chewed apart, as long as you have adequate AA. Bombers also aren't likely to survive their first run if they are slowed down; one thing I need to test is its effectiveness against the Licho, which is a notoriously fast bomber with absurdly good turning and acceleration, making it a hard to catch unit. Moderators should fix that handily if they can get a decent hit.
Currently no other unit in the game packs a slowing beam except the Commander, which has to be modified to carry one. Next time you need an extra punch against those annoying, fast hit-and-run units, consider integrating Moderators into your defense/attack strategies. A few things to beware of; Moderators are very weak units and die quickly due to their low HP and slow movement speed, so using them in your own hit-and-run attacks is not recommended. They also do barely anything to big units like the Goliath or Sumo. That said, they are still a very useful option against most low-end units and nearly all attack gunships/planes. Treat them well.
