322 replies to this topic

[Sparkymarkyp]

Next ones gonna be an assault mech im afraid,

I think the Urbie could be interesting in MWO but would it be next to useless unless its a city/urban environment?i.e. due to its slow speed

Also been checking on Sarna - can anyone confirm but is the Urbanmech the slowest mech ever built? (excluding industrial mechs etc)

[Rosengren]

Anything cheap enough with just barely enough mobility to ignore some terrain and with more firepower than is healthy for its weight class would be able to excel in defensive roles in the right terrain. I mean okay, if we're doing 6v6 then something light and slow is at a serious disadvantage in any form of aggressive play but if you're going by a balancing factor other than simple numbers it'd be more like 6 versus 5+4 urbanmechs.

If your opponents can put four units of very serious firepower at just the right spots at-will, you will likely be in some trouble. Losing one of the zerging units don't matter because they still outnumber you. They'd be human-guided mines. Resource costs wouldn't be a problem for a bunch of people. Take a look at EVE, Goonswarm in particular. They had numbers enough to throw out cheap, efficient light ships and win wars with other groups through attrition. They had large and more expensive stuff for their more proven members, too, but above all they had stupid amounts of manpower. Sheer numbers plus just the right amount of the right kind of utility at a very low cost is something to watch out for.

[GreenHell]

The Urban Mech and the Annihilator both have the slowest speed in the game at 32.4km/h.

[SuomiWarder]

Ah, the Urbanmech...the poster child for the underdog...the champion of the unloved....the ride of choice for the eccentric.

I swear alliegance to you of Walking Trahscan for you forever more remind of me of R2D2. And who wouldn't want to ride INSIDE a giant R2D2 armed with a cannon and a laser?

[FaustianQ]

GreenHell, on 28 May 2012 - 01:16 PM, said:

The Urban Mech and the Annihilator both have the slowest speed in the game at 32.4km/h.

Except you can mostly fix an Annihilator - 3/5, ES, x2 UAC/20, x2MLas, X2LLas, x14DHS, 19t Std. Alternate between the UAC/20s or the lasers and you can fire indefinitely (can never alpha however). Replace UAC/20s with Gauss if you want to fire everything and run heat neutral.

The Urbie has much less wiggle room for effective design.

[HIemfire]

verybad, on 26 May 2012 - 05:06 PM, said:

The Urbanmech may be in the light tonnage range, but it's role is as an assault. Tripple it's tonnage and you've gor 3 AC-10s, 3 SL, 18 tons of armor, and jets. Makes for a great assaultmech in the 3025 tech era. It doesn't fit the template for what people expect a light to do, but if they get it into the game, we will show you what 12 Urbies can do,

We will bring fear upon those who loath us!

You mean like this?
Triple Urbie

Mass: 90 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Introductory
Era: All Eras (non-canon)
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-D-D
Production Year: 3025
Cost: 6,261,925 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,452

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 180 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 21.6 km/h
Maximum Speed: 32.4 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
Jump Capacity: 60 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
3 Autocannon/10s
3 Small Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 138 points 9.00
Engine: Fusion Engine 180 7.00
Walking MP: 2
Running MP: 3
Jumping MP: 2 Standard
Jump Jet Locations: 2 CT 4.00
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 14 4.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 HD, 6 RT
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 279 17.50

Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 29 44
Center Torso (rear) 14
L/R Torso 19 29
L/R Torso (rear) 9
L/R Arm 15 30
L/R Leg 19 38

================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autocannon/10 RA 3 7 12.00
Small Laser RA 1 1 0.50
Autocannon/10 LA 3 7 12.00
Small Laser LA 1 1 0.50
Autocannon/10 LT 3 7 12.00
Small Laser LT 1 1 0.50
@AC/10 (60) RT - 6 6.00
Free Critical Slots: 12

BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 9 Points: 15
2j 1 0 0 0 4 0 Structure: 7
Special Abilities: SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, AC 3/3/0

Unfortunately the maximum armor for a 90 ton mech is 17.5........... Close to what you get with three urban mechs, also close to costing about 50% more than 3 urban mechs.

[LordDeathStrike]

yes was winning till the no people made multiple accounts to rig the vote.

[dogowar]

Urban mechs look like the satans spawn of RD-D2 and dusty bin LOL.

[Tincan Nightmare]

Sizzles, on 28 May 2012 - 12:40 PM, said:

The Urban mech is a VERY circumstantial ambush mech. It has a low top speed, is rather lacking in armor but not so much in firepower. This is all because it is meant to be used in a city where there is an overabundance of cover. It finds a target, pops out, hammers out a few salvos from its weapons, and fades back into the concrete jungle. Take it outside of its natural habitat, and it quickly becomes an easy kill.

I'm still figuring out how it fades back into the urban jungle when it is going to be slower than the average assault mech it runs into. An Urbanmech better be able to defeat what it runs into, because it doesn't have the speed to disengage and run away.

[Rosengren]

Tincan Nightmare, on 29 May 2012 - 12:50 AM, said:

I'm still figuring out how it fades back into the urban jungle when it is going to be slower than the average assault mech it runs into. An Urbanmech better be able to defeat what it runs into, because it doesn't have the speed to disengage and run away.

Jumpjet behind a building while your team-mate continues attacking whatever you just shot an AC20 into, I guess.

[Redbrew]

R2D2's over weight brother!

[Skylarr]

Tincan Nightmare, on 29 May 2012 - 12:50 AM, said:

I'm still figuring out how it fades back into the urban jungle when it is going to be slower than the average assault mech it runs into. An Urbanmech better be able to defeat what it runs into, because it doesn't have the speed to disengage and run away.

The idea is that the heavy or assault mech will be by itself when he walked into the ambush. His buddies will most likely be over 100 meters away. 100 meters is allot in an urban setting.

The Urbanmech would have support hidden with him (infantry, armor). Since they are hidden the enemy will not see them until it is to late. The Urbanmech and his support would be set up in med to heavy building so the building takes allot of the return fire. If they can spring the trap right they can hit the enemy enough to hopefully knock him down and damage him enough to slow him down or force him to pull back.

Should it be Mech number 12? I voted yes, but, I know it will not be and should not be the 12th Mech. The Urbanmech is like every other Mech in the Battletech Universe. It has it place and its time. most player will not want to use them because they are a defensive Mech. They should hang back and defend a base. Hiding behind a hill ready to spring an ambush.

[Athena Hart]

Can't....... Stop......Laughing! The Urbie, Makes good target practice.. I mean c'mon.. its slower than an Atlas and weighs next to nothing. Do like using them for target practice.. nothing like shooting at something that has no chance of getting away.

[shortpainter]

Urbs for life

[chaz706]

Wot m8?

[Iron star]

Lusse, on 26 May 2012 - 07:00 PM, said:

Urbie = Loltracktor of MWO...

that was a great connection

[Thorn Blackwell]

I would much rather see something more useful. In a mixed weight class battle it would be less than useless, I'd classify it as a salvage gift for the opponent.

[Tincan Nightmare]

Rosengren, on 29 May 2012 - 06:45 AM, said:

Jumpjet behind a building while your team-mate continues attacking whatever you just shot an AC20 into, I guess.

With a 60 meter jump range? The building better be right next to the UrbanMech and not to tall or it isn't going over. Plus you better hope your opponent doesn't mount them too. Oh and the AC/20 Urbanmech has 3 points of r/l torso armor, and 8 points on the arms. Get that shot off quick because you are going to die quick.

Skylarr, on 29 May 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

The idea is that the heavy or assault mech will be by itself when he walked into the ambush. His buddies will most likely be over 100 meters away. 100 meters is allot in an urban setting.

The Urbanmech would have support hidden with him (infantry, armor). Since they are hidden the enemy will not see them until it is to late. The Urbanmech and his support would be set up in med to heavy building so the building takes allot of the return fire. If they can spring the trap right they can hit the enemy enough to hopefully knock him down and damage him enough to slow him down or force him to pull back.

Should it be Mech number 12? I voted yes, but, I know it will not be and should not be the 12th Mech. The Urbanmech is like every other Mech in the Battletech Universe. It has it place and its time. most player will not want to use them because they are a defensive Mech. They should hang back and defend a base. Hiding behind a hill ready to spring an ambush.

I love how all arguments for the Urbanmech are put out in best terms for the Urbanmech. Its opponents are always alone, it always has support and allies. So anyone fighting in an urban setting, unless in an Urbanmech, will just scatter at random and give up lance formations and run around by themselves? And they will never bring armor or infantry with them? Or send in scouts to locate defenders (which with the Urbanmechs slow speed are not going to relocate easily after being detected?) I would never plan a defense on assuming the enemy would act foolishly. And even a 35 ton light mech is not easy to hide.

Edited by Tincan Nightmare, 30 May 2012 - 02:20 AM.

[Rosengren]

Tincan Nightmare, on 30 May 2012 - 02:20 AM, said:

With a 60 meter jump range? The building better be right next to the UrbanMech and not to tall or it isn't going over. Plus you better hope your opponent doesn't mount them too. Oh and the AC/20 Urbanmech has 3 points of r/l torso armor, and 8 points on the arms. Get that shot off quick because you are going to die quick.

Putting a mech in a situation it has difficulty escaping from is not a good idea for anyone so you likely seek out the spots where you can jump around. There's also the possibility of the urbanmech, if it is implemented, being statted in such a way as to make it ok to sacrifice one to cripple an opponent. So much depends on how the game actually plays, what game modes there are, what the maps are like, what kind of terrain is favoured by most mechs, what role resources have and what kind of fighting over territories you can do.

In classical VS terms, with just a map and a set amount of players, the urbanmech is likely to be of very limited capabilities on most maps. If BV is used instead of player numbers and there is territory to be had, suddenly something that packs a punch and is cheap enough to practically throw away will be much more useful.


If the Urbanmech ever is included, though, it will be because the developers made a real use for it.

[wanderer]

Urbies on the tabletop have always been handy for me, as part of the mind games.

If you leave it alone, it's a self-mobile turret that will take a bite out of larger 'Mechs if they're dumb enough to let it get in range- and the AC/10 standard is respectable range, while being wonderful for keeping scouts out of a bit of territory.

In MWO terms, one of them will chew the living heck out of the big three recon machines- Commando, Jenner, and Cicada -if they get in range. It's main gun will penetrate pretty much anywhere on the first shot for internal damage, including the legs and torso. It outranges two of them and has the armor to take quite a pounding from a UAC/5 before going down (and more likely, will just plain go to cover) to the Cicada. That being said, it makes a pretty darn mean guard dog. That it's slow means you don't even worry about the pilot getting too far out of line...because he can't move that fast to begin with. Put it down where you don't want the scouts getting to easily, and the Urbanmech makes a really, really good speed bump.

What it's utterly lousy for is any kind of offensive operation. That drives most players insane, because you're talking a design that's supposed to sit in place and play ambush predator/picket line in it's standard configurations, though it's easily turned into one of the most annoying fleabiter designs ever if you swap it to dual AC/2's. It's a specialist. And that drives as many players to love the thing as they do hate it.