32 replies to this topic

[Team Leader]

Sybreed, on 08 April 2013 - 12:06 PM, said:

did you read Bryan's answers for ask the devs #35?

MGs aren't likely to get another buff soon...

Yeah, I just did. I think this is the first time in my life I've ever actually been angered (maybe just bothered?) by something someone said about a ficitonal contruction...

[armyof1]

Josef Nader, on 08 April 2013 - 12:08 PM, said:

One word, MASC. If MASC is locked to specific mechs or variants, the Fleas will be able to turbo boost away from danger and escape from streak-toting lights in a quick burst, dodging or breaking locks like champs.

Trust me, the fleas will be an exceptionally obnoxious threat when piloted well.

I haven't heard anything about MASC being in development, are you sure it's going to be released with the upcoming Flea? And how fast would it go then? It'd need 200+ kph to get away from getting streaked to death by R3L and Streakmandos.

Personally I think they chose the Flea simply because it would require so little work to make it since it's basically a smaller Raven with a stubbier nose.

Edited by armyof1, 08 April 2013 - 12:25 PM.

[Oppresor]

I would really like to see a full Recon version of the Flea, maybe one defensive weapon, say a Light Pulse laser. The Flea would be fitted with BAP & TAG, maybe ECM; it's sole purpose would be recon and evasion using it's awesome (as long as its not capped) speed and size advantage. I currently use a Spider like this, believe me it's fun.

[Josef Nader]

armyof1, on 08 April 2013 - 12:23 PM, said:

I haven't heard anything about MASC being in development, are you sure it's going to be released with the upcoming Flea? And how fast would it go then? It'd need 200+ kph to get away from getting streaked to death by R3L and Streakmandos.

Personally I think they chose the Flea simply because it would require so little work to make it since it's basically a smaller Raven with a stubbier nose.

Every flea variant has MASC. The base variant flea has MASC. They can't release the flea without releasing MASC, as they'd be cutting out an important piece of kit that makes it good.

Swap the Standard 120 for a nice, fat XL engine and you have an incredibly fast little bruiser.

And every single mech model in this game must be made from scratch. You can't just copy assets, change a few verts, and reskin it. Every mech needs custom modeling, custom rigging, and custom skinning with very little overlap between them.

Edited by Josef Nader, 08 April 2013 - 01:35 PM.

[ArcDemon]

Josef Nader, on 08 April 2013 - 01:20 PM, said:

Every flea variant has MASC. They can't release the flea without releasing MASC, as they'd be cutting out an important piece of kit that makes it good.

Swap the Standard 120 for a nice, fat XL engine and you have an incredibly fast little bruiser.

And every single mech model in this game must be made from scratch. You can't just copy assets, change a few verts, and reskin it. Every mech needs custom modeling, custom rigging, and custom skinning with very little overlap between them.

Only the FLE-17 model, first built in 3049, has MASC. The addition of Endo and MASC was made possible by the gray death memory core found in the 3040s that unlocked a lot of lostech for the Inner Sphere just before the Clan invasion. The other models are from the 2xxx era and lack MASC.

[Josef Nader]

Ah, my mistake. Corrected. I just assumed that unless it was specifically mentioned the kit remains the same between variants.

[Tank]

ArcDemon, on 08 April 2013 - 11:33 AM, said:

A Commando will have plenty of time to be an Atlas when he grows up. I can't stand the people who won't let them run around free, shooting SRMs into the back of mechs while they're still young enough.

That's right! They are light, wild, and free.

Spoiler

P.S. youtube is ******* that fight's against freedom

Edited by Tank, 08 April 2013 - 09:36 PM.

[Johnny Reb]

hashinshin, on 08 April 2013 - 11:12 AM, said:

I hope the Flea never releases.

The commando is barely functional as is, remove 5 tons and you'll just be ruining your team.

I agree but hopefully tonnage limits will be introduced then it might be viable. Now, nope!

[Deathlike]

All you need to know about the hardpoints: Energy+Ballistic

Given that MGs are useless, you know what you'll be getting. See Spider-5K, except with less tonnage to work with.

[Zylo]

Josef Nader, on 08 April 2013 - 11:22 AM, said:

Considering it's the same overall size as the commando with about half as much surface area, I'm inclined to disagree. The flea's greatest strength is that it's positively miniscule. If they do it right, the flea will be a threat largely because it's so difficult to hit.

Flea pilots better hope for a serious SSRM2 nerf then. Even if they have additional speed with MASC it comes down to how quickly they can open the distance between their mech and the enemy light. If the speed difference is too low they just won't be able to pull away in time. If they run straight to try to open the max distance possible they will be shot in the back with lasers by the light that is chasing them. Spash damage will also be a major threat to such a light mech and even large lasers at range are going to hurt even if they don't get the full duration of the shot on target.

The flea will be an annoying target for unskilled pilots but any pilot that can aim will drop them easily.

Edited by Zylo, 08 April 2013 - 10:11 PM.

[valkyrie]

I may actually buy a week or so of Premium come Flea week.

Not to buy Fleas, mind you, but because at that point we should hopefully have ballistic state rewind. AC/20 Jager + lots of 20t Lights with glass kneecaps = $$$

[Nutlink]

ArcDemon, on 08 April 2013 - 11:09 AM, said:

the Flea should could be the fastest light mech yet

and zero, on 08 April 2013 - 11:24 AM, said:

They need to remove the speed cap.

Where are you guys getting your info from? The Flea was only a 97kph mech. 129kph with MASC. The Spider goes as fast as a Flea with MASC with stock engines on both. Now, assuming they add MASC, then yeah, the speed cap should be removed for maxed out engines with MASC. If they DON'T add MASC right now, then no, the speed cap is fine where it's at because you still won't break it.

In other words, the speed cap removal is dependent on the release of MASC, not the Flea.

[valkyrie]

BOTA49, on 08 April 2013 - 10:26 PM, said:

Where are you guys getting your info from? The Flea was only a 97kph mech. 129kph with MASC. The Spider goes as fast as a Flea with MASC with stock engines on both. Now, assuming they add MASC, then yeah, the speed cap should be removed for maxed out engines with MASC. If they DON'T add MASC right now, then no, the speed cap is fine where it's at because you still won't break it.

In other words, the speed cap removal is dependent on the release of MASC, not the Flea.

Let me tell you what's going to happen with MASC: It'll get introduced, but do absolutely nothing. PGI will say "this will do something soon™!" and then proceed to let it stay absolutely useless for god knows how long, just like the command console.

They'll still gladly take your C-bills for it though!