23 replies to this topic

[Christof Romulus]

Greetings,

I propose changing the energy hardpoints on ALL variants of the Atlas to use the upper part of the arm, instead of the outside part of the arm.



While this doesn't seem like much of a change, it actually changes a whole lot.
Simultaneously it would raise the origin point of the weapon to that of the CT lasers - Allowing the Atlas to be able to fire over slight raises in terrain, while also bringing those origin points closer to the center line of the mech - only SLIGHTLY, but I think it would drastically change the effectiveness of the Atlas, and for that reason should be considered.

This hardpoint location already exists, as evidenced by the Boar's Head, which uses it - I merely am requesting that it be the starting hardpoint location for all Atlas models.

[no one]

The Atlas already has a considerably less derpy weapon placement than most 'Mechs.
*cough* Battlemaster *cough*

[CycKath]

YES!

Because it matches the location on the tabletop Atlas!

[Amsro]

Christof Romulus, on 06 March 2014 - 05:06 PM, said:

Greetings,

I propose changing the energy hardpoints on ALL variants of the Atlas to use the upper part of the arm, instead of the outside part of the arm.



While this doesn't seem like much of a change, it actually changes a whole lot.
Simultaneously it would raise the origin point of the weapon to that of the CT lasers - Allowing the Atlas to be able to fire over slight raises in terrain, while also bringing those origin points closer to the center line of the mech - only SLIGHTLY, but I think it would drastically change the effectiveness of the Atlas, and for that reason should be considered.

This hardpoint location already exists, as evidenced by the Boar's Head, which uses it - I merely am requesting that it be the starting hardpoint location for all Atlas models.

ANY arm mount weapon that isn't intergrated center arm should ALWAYS mount to the top first.

This should apply to any mech.

Battlemaster
Atlas
Thunderbolt
Shadowhawk
I'm sure there are more.

Ideally the location should be decided when building the mech. Install the weapon in the appropriate slot.

Edited by Amsro, 06 March 2014 - 06:08 PM.

[Bagheera]

Gets my vote, and bro, I don't even Atlas.

[Nothing Whatsoever]

For all mechs, this would be nice.



And, when the devs could get to it, it would be nice to individualize the hardpoints.
What I mean is being able to select which hardpoints to fill, not just drop weapons into a section and hope for the best, or be forced to trick the system to put some weapons where you hope they would stay.

So staying with the Boar's Head, the Arms could have this sort of labeling:

• Upper Energy Hardpoint
  
• Middle Energy Hardpoint
  
• Lower Energy Hardpoint

Another example, the D-DC Missile Torso.

• Upper 10 tube Missile Hardpoint
  
• Middle 6 tube Missile Hardpoint
  
• Lower 6 tube Missile Hardpoint

And so on for the rest on all of the variants. An alternative labeling could be to simply number the hardpoints or maybe not even bother naming, too I guess, since they ideally should show visually on the mech when filled with an appropriate weapon anyway.

[General Taskeen]

I think they put them there simply because the old artwork shows the weapons on the sides



However, as you can see there, a Battlemech is able to rotate and aim fully actuated arms, so as the pilot rotates the left arm like a human arm, the weapon is on the top side.

I wish they would add more simulation control options that would allow the player to use advanced aiming like that by moving arms around for better aim.

[Christof Romulus]

General Taskeen, on 07 March 2014 - 09:46 AM, said:

I think they put them there simply because the old artwork shows the weapons on the sides



However, as you can see there, a Battlemech is able to rotate and aim fully actuated arms, so as the pilot rotates the left arm like a human arm, the weapon is on the top side.

I wish they would add more simulation control options that would allow the player to use advanced aiming like that by moving arms around for better aim.

Actually, the arm mounted weapons are depicted both ways:

[oldradagast]

Amsro, on 06 March 2014 - 06:08 PM, said:

ANY arm mount weapon that isn't intergrated center arm should ALWAYS mount to the top first.

This should apply to any mech.

Battlemaster
Atlas
Thunderbolt
Shadowhawk
I'm sure there are more.

Ideally the location should be decided when building the mech. Install the weapon in the appropriate slot.

Agreed.

Mechs with full arms are already at a disadvantage vs. those with partial arms (Jager, Stalker) thanks to the latter having much higher mounted weapons. While this change would not be huge, it would still help and offer some logic to the weapon placement.

[Zerberus]

oldradagast, on 11 March 2014 - 11:13 AM, said:

Agreed.

Mechs with full arms are already at a disadvantage vs. those with partial arms (Jager, Stalker) thanks to the latter having much higher mounted weapons. While this change would not be huge, it would still help and offer some logic to the weapon placement.

I consider the extended range of motion to be an advantage, because I can shoot them when they can`t shoot me. But that`s semantics irrelevant to the actual discussion

I`ve seen both countless times over the years, and actually prefer the look of "outside" weapons tbh. Also, I don`t think raising them all of 12 inches will make a significant difference in gameplay. You can`t reallyshoot over ridges with the CT lasers, either, so the point is kind of moot from a gameplay perspective...

BUT: the "outside" weapons do make it easier to tell what your enemy is packing from a purely visual standpoint....

Would abstain, but voted never because I like the current look and don`t see any real advantage to the change. I like my Atlases just fine the way they are.

Edited by Zerberus, 11 March 2014 - 07:51 PM.

[Gladewolf]

Give mechs with articulated arms the ability to raise them instead. That's what all of those extra actuators are for.

Edited by Gladewolf, 12 March 2014 - 04:30 PM.

[Christof Romulus]

Bump for great justice! (Yes, I know it's shameful after so much time, but THIS is the change the Atlas deserves!)

[Burktross]

You think that's bad? Hunchbacks have PPCs bellow their arms.

[Glythe]

+1 for fixing the Atlas arm energy mounts

Gladewolf, on 12 March 2014 - 04:29 PM, said:

Give mechs with articulated arms the ability to raise them instead. That's what all of those extra actuators are for.

While this would be awesome it's not going to happen :/

[ImperialKnight]

weapons should always occupy the higher mounted hardpoint regardless of the mech

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

/signed

Though the old art has been pretty arbitrary in many ways with regard to where the lasers are mounted on the arm, the upper surface seems like a more traditional placement than the alternatives. In addition it'd give a minor boost to Atlas playability.

[Vegalas]

What about the ballistic hardpoint? It would still be bad.

[Weepy Wanebow]

Christof Romulus, on 11 March 2014 - 10:01 AM, said:

Actually, the arm mounted weapons are depicted both ways:

]

In other news that elemental is about to get wrecked

Edited by Smell Da Glove, 19 March 2015 - 12:18 PM.

[TheArisen]

Praetor Knight, on 07 March 2014 - 09:38 AM, said:

For all mechs, this would be nice.



And, when the devs could get to it, it would be nice to individualize the hardpoints.
What I mean is being able to select which hardpoints to fill, not just drop weapons into a section and hope for the best, or be forced to trick the system to put some weapons where you hope they would stay.

So staying with the Boar's Head, the Arms could have this sort of labeling:

• Upper Energy Hardpoint
  
• Middle Energy Hardpoint
  
• Lower Energy Hardpoint

Another example, the D-DC Missile Torso.

• Upper 10 tube Missile Hardpoint
  
• Middle 6 tube Missile Hardpoint
  
• Lower 6 tube Missile Hardpoint

And so on for the rest on all of the variants. An alternative labeling could be to simply number the hardpoints or maybe not even bother naming, too I guess, since they ideally should show visually on the mech when filled with an appropriate weapon anyway.

Agreed.

[Koniving]

Amsro, on 06 March 2014 - 06:08 PM, said:

ANY arm mount weapon that isn't intergrated center arm should ALWAYS mount to the top first.

Battlemaster

Should especially apply to BM.



Various others.
Basically, the BM had almost always held jettison-capable ACs and PPCs. Such weapons are easily replaced/interchanged (akin to Omnimech weaponry) versus non-jettisonable weaponry.