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*sniffle* Where's My Mauler?


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#1 Syllogy

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Posted 30 January 2013 - 08:45 AM

Introduced: 3048
Class: Assault
Cost: 18,399,600 C-bills
Mass: 90 tons
Armor: Ferro-Fiberous with CASE
Engine: 270XL
Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
ECM: No
Stock Hardpoints:
  • Left Arm: 1 Energy
  • Right Arm: 1 Energy
  • Left Torso: 1 Missile, 2 Ballistic
  • Right Torso: 1 Missile, 2 Ballistic
Models:
MAL-1R
  • 2xER Large Lasers
  • 2xLRM-15s
  • 4xAC/2's
MAL-1K
  • 2xPPC's
  • 2xLRM-15s
  • 4xLight AC/5's
  • Endo Steel Chassis
MAL-1PT5
  • 2xMedium Lasers
  • 2xLRM-15s
  • 4xAC/2's
MAL-3R
  • 2xLRM-15s
  • 2xLB-X AC/10s
(For Fun)DCMS-MX90-D (Daboku)
  • 2xLarge Lasers
  • 2xLRM-10s
  • 4xAC/2's
Link: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Mauler



For me, the Mauler was a classic mech. It was the Yin to the Atlas' Yang.

Where the Atlas is suited for close-range brawling matches, the Mauler is built for power at Range, but is also adaptable to many situations because of it's diverse hardpoints.

Thoughts?

#2 DocBach

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Posted 30 January 2013 - 11:24 AM

Yes, but only after I get a Zeus.

#3 GrimReality

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Posted 30 January 2013 - 05:57 PM

Always loved the Mauler.

#4 Badconduct

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Posted 30 January 2013 - 09:30 PM

Hands down want this to return, most used mech in 4.

#5 Strum Wealh

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 03:32 AM

View PostSyllogy, on 30 January 2013 - 08:45 AM, said:

Thoughts?


Summary of the following material:
Due to several concrete factors, the Mauler would actually be a poor candidate for MWO unless and until the in-game timeline advances significantly (to at least 3060, though 3062 would be better still for it).

----------

The MAL-1R, the primary variant, "just came out" in 3049.

The MAL-C doesn't exist until next year (3051), and only differs from the MAL-1R by dropping one ton of AC ammo for a C3 Slave Unit.

The MAL-2R doesn't exist until 3060, and requires IS versions of the UAC/2 and ER Medium Laser.

The MAL-3R doesn't exist until 3062 (though, it at least differs from all of its relatives with arm-mounted ballistics (one LB 10-X in each arm) and a head-mounted energy weapon (Small Laser)).

The MAL-1K doesn't exist until 3069, and requires Light AC/5s and Snub-Nose PPCs.

The MAL-1PT5 isn't a canon variant (but neither are most of the Hero 'Mechs at this point :lol:).
However, it is identical to the (also non-canon) Linesman - the same hardpoint layout as all of the other Maulers (minus the -3R) with x2 MLas, x4 AC/2, and x2 LRM-10.

Neither the Linesman nor the (actually canon) Daboku are Maulers; both are separate 'Mechs and failed prototypes that never reached the production stage, and both are identical in terms of hardpoint layout to the Mauler.

In summary: the Mauler doesn't have the available variants for the game's XP system, and there is effectively no diversity between variants (as every variant (except the -3R) can be exactly reproduced on every other variant (except the -3R), and the eight (8) minimum required hardpoints don't leave much room for expansion), and this is why the Mauler is a relatively poor choice relative to other 'Mechs (like the Banshee, Zeus, and/or Cyclops).

-----

The Daboku is considered a separate 'Mech with only a single variant (which was considered an abject failure, on top of that), and the weapons load and layout are effectively identical to the Mauler (with the latter merely exchanging the Large Lasers for ER variations).

Moreover, the MAL-C variant of the Mauler merely exchanges one ton of AC ammo for a C3 Slave unit; again, the minimum hardpoint layout is identical to that of the basic MAL-1R (such that either could very be easily created from the other).

Even the technically non-canon Linesman (a Capellan-built predecessor to the Daboku, and also considered an abject failure) carries a similar weapon layout (albeit mounting Medium Lasers in place of the Daboku's Large Lasers).

Even if the Linesman and Daboku were reconsidered to be merely other Mauler variants (for the purposes of getting around MWO's three variant requirement), everything that would be available in the timeline's near term (Linesman, Daboku, MAL-1R Mauler, and MAL-C Mauler) require the same set of minimum hardpoints in the same locations; there exists very little overall variation among them, and even adding extra hardpoints would accomplish little more than making one vastly preferred to the others (potentially to the same degree as, say, allowing only one of them to have access to ECM).

Additionally, at 90 tons, the Mauler/Daboku/Linesman would be competing (insomuch as it can) with the equally-fast, jump-capable, ostensibly more-popular Highlander.
Even the lighter (80-ton) Victor might be a better candidate for an assault-class ballistics boat - the VTR-9A1 variant would have three distinct sets of ballistic hardpoints (the AC in the arm, and MGs that would likely be moved from the left- and right-legs to the respective side-torsos), and is jump-capable, and is generally faster (default speed of 64.8 kph, with a 320 engine).

#6 MajorBludd

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 05:59 AM

I hate to say it but Strum Wealh is correct in that time line's and variants are not in its favor.

And it sucks as its rather iconic and I'd love to use it.

Maybe if they took a few mechs that are popular but were lacking spin offs and put them in their own XP group it could work but I don't see a experience points grouping of a mauler, Urban mech and a few others happening.

#7 DocBach

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 11:21 AM

DIdn't they invent some of the Cataphract variants we see in MWO? Perhaps they could make a new Mauler variant specifically for MWO.

#8 Strum Wealh

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 12:15 PM

View PostDocBach, on 31 January 2013 - 11:21 AM, said:

DIdn't they invent some of the Cataphract variants we see in MWO? Perhaps they could make a new Mauler variant specifically for MWO.

No; the CTF-1X, CTF-2X, CTF-3D, and CTF-4X are all canon variants.

They did, however, make up the CTF-IM (Ilya Muromets) Hero 'Mech, probably due to the actual canon Hero variant (the CTF-2X (George), aka Lucky Thirteen and piloted by George Lytton as a member of the Fox's Teeth) is insufficiently distinct from the base variant (the differences being the replacement of the LL with an ERLL and replacing the SHS with DHS - easily achievable in the MechLab).
The alternative, of course, is that PGI could have removed the CTF-2X and outright replaced it with Lucky Thirteen, just as the CN9-AH was removed and outright replaced with Yen Lo Wang - though, imagine how well that move would have been received.

Also, recall what happened during the week-long period between the removal of the CN9-AH and the implementation of the CN9-D - Centurion pilots were unable to unlock the Elite efficiencies without having to spend MC/cash to purchase the then-newly-released Yen Lo Wang to act as the third variant.

Even if they added the MAL-C a year early and introduced a Hero variant, the same thing would happen - would-be Mauler pilots would be unable to unlock the Elite efficiencies unless and until they put down the MC/cash for the Hero variant.
And the third canon (read: c-bill purchasable) variant doesn't appear until 3060...





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