52 replies to this topic

[Eumenes]

For all it's ubiquity in the Fed Suns, the Enforcer had almost no variants until new tech came out. The Vindicator would be a nice touch, since it has the AA "Avenging Angel" version that would get a better speed cap. Some of the 3050 variants are good improvements as well.

[Brasticus]

Escef, on 24 February 2013 - 10:26 AM, said:

As for mediums they CAN use, I'd love to see the Assassin and Chameleon. The Clint and Hermes II wouldn't be bad choices (though I wager both would pick up unmentionable nick names), and the Vulcan would be interesting (and more probable, having two Succession War variants and a 3050 era refit).

Giggity.

Edited by Brasticus, 24 February 2013 - 11:36 AM.

[Raalic]

Support this game with dollars, and you will see every single 'mech ever conceived in due time.

[Kai Lae]

Stiletto, on 24 February 2013 - 09:57 AM, said:

My question is why no 40 or 45's except the pathetic Cicada? Did we need a medium sized locust? How about a Vindicator? Clint? Hermes II, Wyvern, Even a Wolf Trap would be interesting considering the year.

Blackjack. So you need to wait some. Vindicator should be added however.

[Rigiroth]

Raalic, on 24 February 2013 - 11:43 AM, said:

Support this game with dollars, and you will see every single 'mech ever conceived in due time.

False. The game will die long before they can produce every mech ever at their rate of one mech a month.

[Zordicron]

Steemship, on 24 February 2013 - 01:29 PM, said:

False. The game will die long before they can produce every mech ever at their rate of one mech a month.

Lots of people say that kind of thing. There were people playing MW3 online like, last year yet. maybe still are. I think you and those like you really underestimate fans of the IP.

[MustrumRidcully]

Eldagore, on 24 February 2013 - 08:37 PM, said:

Lots of people say that kind of thing. There were people playing MW3 online like, last year yet. maybe still are. I think you and those like you really underestimate fans of the IP.

MW3 doesn't need a company to maintain its servers.

And beside that, tell me their secret how they made it work under Windows 7 without glitchy graphics and all. I want my beloved MW3 back.

[Kaylos Thex]

Back on topic,

I am looking forward to the Blackjack. 45 tons with either ballistic and energy or energy and missiles.

I do find it odd that PGI went with the Trebuchet over the Dervish. Both are a mix of missiles and energy, but the Dervish would have filled an empty weight class.

I am really looking forward to the Orion. Torso mounted cannon and missiles, and energy arms. IMHO one of the best balanced configurations. It's a bit of a down checked Atlas in that respect. Similar load, just everything one size smaller.

It is amazing to me that "practical" experience vs the table top has changed my mind about what makes a good mech.

[QuantumButler]

The Griffin is unseen bro, it's never, ever getting into the game.

[Kaylos Thex]

I have hope that PGI may yet go with "ringer" stand in mechs.

To me, the Flea is just a Locust with a different name.

Something like a Hammerhands in place of a Warhammer.

[Ngamok]

TBH, the Blackjack and Dervish should be the next set of mediums as you read about those in lots of the books and see them in the games.

[Nicholas Carlyle]

The thing I don't understand is they are redesigning the mechs anyway. Redesign it enough that it doesn't bear a striking resemblence to the reseen/unseen, and name it a Phoenix Hawk or a Shadow Hawk, and put it in.

[Tarman]

Kaylos Thex, on 25 February 2013 - 08:37 AM, said:

Back on topic,

I am looking forward to the Blackjack. 45 tons with either ballistic and energy or energy and missiles.

I do find it odd that PGI went with the Trebuchet over the Dervish. Both are a mix of missiles and energy, but the Dervish would have filled an empty weight class.

I am really looking forward to the Orion. Torso mounted cannon and missiles, and energy arms. IMHO one of the best balanced configurations. It's a bit of a down checked Atlas in that respect. Similar load, just everything one size smaller.

It is amazing to me that "practical" experience vs the table top has changed my mind about what makes a good mech.

Actually being the pilot in the ride instead of abstracting the systems usage from the overlord position 2 scale kilometers above the battle makes a BIG difference imo. Ask the dudes from TRON how different it is to be the guy on the field instead of the guy over top of the field.

[Voidsinger]

I think people forget a cardinal rule in how PGI chooses mechs.

Must have 3 canon variants available in 3050.

That puts the Crab, Enforcer, Dervish and Kintaro out.

The Assassin would be outperformed by 35s of similar hardpoints.

The Hermes II. Unfortunately for the Hermes II, we have the Cicada at 40 with a very similar hardpoint offering, and much more speed.

The Vindicator is a slow 45, and I think we have enough of those, at least the Blackjack is a different hardpoint offering.

That more or less leaves the Vulcan and the Clint.

The Vulcan may cause some issues due to the Scarecrow build. Both have the same movement, and similar hardpoints. The Clint seems more vanilla as a mech, but this might not be such a bad thing. Comes down to those two I think, until PGI changes their chassis choice basis.

[BoydofZINJ]

Elizander, on 24 February 2013 - 10:16 AM, said:

Cause most of the good ones are Unseen (45 tons/55 tons)

The Unseen is a term used for some of the first BattleMech designs from the original game. These designs, longtime favorites of BattleTech fans, were based on mecha found in the Japanese anime series' Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Fang of the Sun Dougram and Crusher Joe.

Legal difficulties prohibited FASA from displaying any more pictures depicting these 'Mechs, although they were often freely mentioned in novels and books, and their rules remained legal. Thus, these 'Mechs remained unseen until the publication of Technical Readout: Project Phoenix, which presented "redesigns", allowing them to be used freely once again.

On 24 June, 2009, it was announced that Catalyst Game Labs had secured the permissions needed to utilize the original "unseen" artwork for these designs again.

Shortly after the return of the "unseen" BattleMechs was announced, the BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction PDF was pulled from circulation. Managing editor Randall Bills made a statement on Catalyst Game Labs' website on August 10th, 2009 explaining the move. An error was made in negotiating the distribution rights for some of the images.


From Dougram

-Dougram

Shadow Hawk (another medium):Reseen as of Record Sheets: Operation Klondike
Shadow Hawk IIC (another medium):Reseen under a new agreement

-H8 Roundfacer

Griffin :Reseen as of Record Sheets: Operation Klondike; however, it can become unseen again depending on legal issues.
Griffin IIC :Reseen under a new agreement; however, it can become unseen again depending on legal issues.

-T10B Blockhead

Wolverine

[8RoundsRapid]

Without the unseen, this really is a poor part of the timeline regarding medium mechs. Like many have posted, there really are just a few available for use for various reasons, and the best ones are all off limits.

Thats too bad, too. I might actually spend money on this game if it had any of the unseen in it. *cough Shadow Hawk *cough

[Nicholas Carlyle]

I still think they could alter the mech's model enough to avoid any issues. It might not make everyone happy, but would give them more flexibility with releases.

[Sug]

Kaylos Thex, on 25 February 2013 - 10:49 AM, said:

Something like a Hammerhands

Nicholas Carlyle, on 25 February 2013 - 11:00 AM, said:

Redesign it ... and name it a Phoenix Hawk or a Shadow Hawk, and put it in.

You can essentially build those using our current mechs. We're eventually going to run into a problem where there is no point to adding more mechs since every hardpoint configuration will be covered by other mechs.

[BoydofZINJ]

Sug, on 25 February 2013 - 11:19 AM, said:

You can essentially build those using our current mechs. We're eventually going to run into a problem where there is no point to adding more mechs since every hardpoint configuration will be covered by other mechs.

Actually, i think they may have some 'mechs have special modules to bring out the balance. ECM is a good example of this - imagine if there were other modules that were "must have" and only used on specific mechs (lights to mediums to heavies to assaults).

[Mister Blastman]

Redshift2k5, on 24 February 2013 - 08:22 AM, said:

Kintaro, also low on variants, also weird looking.

Eh. The Kintaro looks really cool, actually.