44 replies to this topic

[Haakon Magnusson]

I've always wondered where the notion of split criticals for the ac20s comes in king crab, because the original source (BattleTech 8613 - Technical Readout 2750) has the ac20s only in each arm, obviously removing lower arm and hand actuator. (Found that some later sourcebooks do some liberal rulebreaking crit allocation, but that is just fasa quality control failing and deserves to be ignored as this configuration is completely legal)


Here's the stat page from TR2750:


We have 3 rules legal variants for the time period, please give us THE coolest 100t mech

[Angel of Annihilation]

I noticed this myself to be honest so never could understand why split criticals was an issue.

Honestly I think they should add it. I did the math and you really couldn't boat it up as much as people like to make out you could plus the shape of the mech means it is either going to have very vulnerable side or CTs or possibly both, not to mention a super big target for LRMs.

I would guess you would have to run a Standard engine in it to survive which would most definately limit you on what weapons you could mount. Also the lack of Lower Arm Accuators means you would have very limited abilty to aim and track targets.

Lastly, being such a low to the ground mech, with such low slung arms, your going to have a hell of a time firing over the top of anything, hell actually seeing over the top of anything would be a challenge.

[MonkeyCheese]

I want it

[Herodes]

IMHO the crit split argument is and was just a strawman for not wanting the KGC.

The Mech is fine.
It is the coolest Mech out there.
It adds variety in looks and loadout to the game.

BRING IT ALREADY !!!

I have a treasure chest full of shiny MC set aside for this one.

[Ewigan]

Looks like cra(b)p

[Carrioncrows]

I think the split critical issue was arisen because of the Highlander, not because of the King Crab.

*shrug*

[General Taskeen]

Because they are going to follow the newest record sheets that's why. Hence why an AC/20 is not mountable on everything with full arm actuators, unless it splits. AC/20 requires 14 criticals, where 2 spill over into the torso when mounted on an arm if full actuators are present.

However, it doesn't matter anyways, because even with full actuators and splitting a big gun, it still has all the drawbacks of having just the upper actuators since the gun is locked into the torso, thus no lateral movement would be possible of the arms.

Same thing goes for Heavy Gauss and LB 20-X. The IS LB 20-X literally requires split critting no matter what, which is also on one of the King Crab variants, it is not possible to mount it even with just the two upper actuators.

In all likelihood they will simply program it so 'split critting' of the big guns only occurs on specific variants or a specific guns on any chassis like an LB 20-X.

Edited by General Taskeen, 20 August 2013 - 03:51 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

but
but
but......


TEH RECORD SHEETZ!!!!!!

lolz. Exactly. Also one reason I like to have the hard copies of the TROs, instead of relying on digital domain for info.
Just gimme MY


and get outta my way.


Apparently as stated some QA person freaked out and felt the mech HAD to have actuators to have claws, so the whole split crit thing was born on it. Of course I have an original set of the 3050 TRO record sheets and it lists lower arm actuators and hands on a RIFLEMAN, the most famous example of a mech without either.

Good ol FASA. (Though the 1st Ed Sourcebooks are still by far the best)

[Le Goat]

Looks like this thing would be very afraid of LRMs

[Bishop Steiner]

Le Goat, on 20 August 2013 - 06:55 AM, said:

Looks like this thing would be very afraid of LRMs

rock, paper, scissors.

Make a MEch with no weaknesses, and you break the game. It would be very short for it's mass, and have wicked firepower, and a tiny CT. BUt width, upper surface and such make XLs a bad idea. Fair trade to me.

[BlueVisionWarrior Online]

If the king crab made it in game, boy would the "OMG MECH SCALING IS WRONG"ites freak the frunk out.

Seem like a rad mech to me, bring it on!

[Bishop Steiner]

BlueVisionWarrior Online, on 20 August 2013 - 07:09 AM, said:

If the king crab made it in game, boy would the "OMG MECH SCALING IS WRONG"ites freak the frunk out.

Seem like a rad mech to me, bring it on!

well, people might freak out less, if the scaling was not so GLARINGLY bad that even the Devs have acknowledged it apparently (finally).

I think the abject fail of the Golden Boy/Kintaro pre-sale might finally have gotten their attention.

[Dawnstealer]

On one hand, it would have a very low profile, on the other, it would have a very WIDE profile, kind of a "super-stalker."

Honestly, I think it's a pretty balanced 100-tonner and would be a lot of fun to pilot. And it would be so wide from above it would be an easy target for LRMs (and Lights looking for a mobile landing pad).

Of course, I'd rather have a Zeus, Hatchetman, and Wolverine first.

Edited by Dawnstealer, 20 August 2013 - 07:30 AM.

[C E Dwyer]

Haakon Magnusson, on 20 August 2013 - 12:57 AM, said:

I've always wondered where the notion of split criticals for the ac20s comes in king crab, because the original source (BattleTech 8613 - Technical Readout 2750) has the ac20s only in each arm, obviously removing lower arm and hand actuator. (Found that some later sourcebooks do some liberal rulebreaking crit allocation, but that is just fasa quality control failing and deserves to be ignored as this configuration is completely legal)


Here's the stat page from TR2750:


We have 3 rules legal variants for the time period, please give us THE coolest 100t mech

We have the coolest allready, its called the Atlas, the crab is well.. just so not..unless looking like a crippled grinning dirty old man is cool

[James The Fox Dixon]

Actually, if you look at the record sheet for the King Crab, it does indeed have split criticals. The arms still have the lower and hand actuators. You check out the record sheets using Solaris Skunk Werks as it has the legal record sheet.

[Damocles69]

Bump for the most regal of sea-dwelling arthropods

[Bishop Steiner]

James The Fox Dixon, on 20 August 2013 - 08:00 AM, said:

Actually, if you look at the record sheet for the King Crab, it does indeed have split criticals. The arms still have the lower and hand actuators. You check out the record sheets using Solaris Skunk Werks as it has the legal record sheet.

Yup. And that is the after the fact record sheet. The original 2750 TRO predates them,and had NO split crits, as demonstrated.

[James The Fox Dixon]

Bishop Steiner, on 20 August 2013 - 08:07 AM, said:

Yup. And that is the after the fact record sheet. The original 2750 TRO predates them,and had NO split crits, as demonstrated.

And BattleTech Record Sheets Volume Four: Assault 'Mechs corrected the error and had split crits for the AC/20s. That collection of record sheets was published in 1991, so even the first official record sheet published by FASA shows the split crits.

The problem with the early TROs was that they didn't fully show what went where and confusion was the result until the official record sheet corrected the error. That has always been FASA and now Catalyst's policy on changes.

[Bishop Steiner]

James The Fox Dixon, on 20 August 2013 - 08:29 AM, said:

And BattleTech Record Sheets Volume Four: Assault 'Mechs corrected the error and had split crits for the AC/20s. That collection of record sheets was published in 1991, so even the first official record sheet published by FASA shows the split crits.

The problem with the early TROs was that they didn't fully show what went where and confusion was the result until the official record sheet corrected the error. That has always been FASA and now Catalyst's policy on changes.

and often those record sheets have MORE errors. As noted, the Rifleman with full 4 arm actuator packages. So I will continue to NOT look at those as gospel. And regardless, the actuators served no useful purpose on the KGC, as even with split crits it got the more limited fire arc of the torso, and the very art design precluded any possibility of actually lifting or manipulating with them.

Of course, by the record sheets and Btech sown rules, the Stalker should be able to fire all it's arm mounted weapons in the rear quadrant, but hey, when have we seen that done? It might be my favorite game, but inconsistency, low quality control and lackluster editing have always been hallmarks of the franchise. Gives it it's charm, I reckon.

[General Taskeen]

Right, but they wanted the King Crab to look cool with hand actuators claws still instead of stubbing straight arms like a Rifleman/Jager with big guns attached. That's the reason. Technically that means it can use those claws in close encounters.

If melee were added, it would be a dream come to true to use a King Crab, grab a Light Mech with the Claw by the leg that gets too close, dangle it up in front of my Mech, and then annihilate with AC/20's.

Le Goat, on 20 August 2013 - 06:55 AM, said:

Looks like this thing would be very afraid of LRMs

Then we will hide in the shade (of a Mech Hanger). :-D

Edited by General Taskeen, 20 August 2013 - 09:55 AM.