13 replies to this topic

[Zervziel]

Ok we've all been there at some point, trying to fire only to have our weapons get blocked by a teammate's mech half our machine's size. With something like a tank that's makes sense, but considering many of our mechs are humanoid in shape, it's rather idiotic ultimately.

So what I'm asking is would it be possible to have some way to dial our mechs arm to be more level with the shoulder? Extending when need be?

I mean it adds another level of detail/skill to fighting and it allows the game to make better use of the mech's unique design.

I mean not all mechs would be able to use it like the Catapult and the Stalker, but in many ways, they have several advantages because of how they hold a good many of the weapons about equal with the top of their mech.

I mean at the moment, the Fatlas is actually at a disadvantage because it's weapons are relatively easily blocked due to all of it's weapons being locked at waist height. While most Atlases don't carry much in their arms, it'd at least allow them to poke back when moving behind a hill.

Another point is this would allow players to use their mechs arms to better block shots to the torso. I mean the Centurion's shield would be pretty useful then.

It's not a perfect system as stuff like avoiding hitting your own mech's arms would need to be worked out, but it's still something to think about. Certainly make the game more interesting.

[Joseph Mallan]

Heck just being able to lift and lock my arms in the raised position would be grand!

[DONTOR]

Good idea, but it might be hard to implement without making some mechs less effective.

[Zervziel]

How would being able to raise the arms make some mechs less effective? All the mechs that can't already have their "arms" about headlevel like the Blackjack, Jagermech, Stalker, and Catapult.

The only thing I'd see as a major tripping point is deciding which mechs move their arms out to where they are equal or forward and up. I mean the Atlas, Banshee, Battlemaster, and Awesome would need to move their arms forward and up to avoid clipping issues thanks to their mech's shoulder geometry. Some of the Heavies could simply raise their arms out to the side, but the Cataphract would need to move it's arms forward and up. As would the Thunderbolt.

[Zervziel]

One thing to note is it would make it important for people to remember where their weapons are in regards to how they hit. Plus weapons fired during rising and lowering should be more inaccurate.

[moneyBURNER]

Adding keys for different arm positions would make the Atlas an even better dancer.

Also: "I surrender!" or "We are the champions!"

[Blue Boutique]

DONTOR, on 06 May 2014 - 11:13 AM, said:

Good idea, but it might be hard to implement without making some mechs less effective.

Unless you consider that raising only one arm be acceptable since raising both arms is like carrying 30 pounds weights arms out in both hands, upsetting the balance and falling forward.

[Zervziel]

Blue Boutique, on 06 May 2014 - 01:14 PM, said:

Unless you consider that raising only one arm be acceptable since raising both arms is like carrying 30 pounds weights arms out in both hands, upsetting the balance and falling forward.

Except that most of the weight of the mech is in the center. Plus the game doesn't take weight of the arms into account at the moment so that's not really an issue.

[Blue Boutique]

Zervziel, on 06 May 2014 - 01:37 PM, said:

Except that most of the weight of the mech is in the center. Plus the game doesn't take weight of the arms into account at the moment so that's not really an issue.

Except that you can kill a Jagermech by shooting the antenna so reality isn't an issue right now. The wonderful thing about game universes that you can make up the rules and hard code it to only raise one arm only.

[Zervziel]

Blue Boutique, on 06 May 2014 - 01:47 PM, said:

Except that you can kill a Jagermech by shooting the antenna so reality isn't an issue right now. The wonderful thing about game universes that you can make up the rules and hard code it to only raise one arm only.

If reality isn't the issue then why were you bringing up arm weight in the first place? Also game universes still need to follow some set rules. This is why we can't use LAMs and Quads atm.

[Blue Boutique]

Well, I do not want to see mechs walking about arms outstretch and moaning, "BRAINS...BRAINS...."

[Androas]

Blue Boutique, on 06 May 2014 - 01:14 PM, said:

Unless you consider that raising only one arm be acceptable since raising both arms is like carrying 30 pounds weights arms out in both hands, upsetting the balance and falling forward.

Yeah but forget the fact, that those "30 pounds" mean nothing to an Titan weighting in at 100 Tonns, with strong artificial muscles.

mechs are, build arround full arm movement, that is one of the Advantage, without it, you could stick to tanks.

[ShadowWolf Kell]

Androas, on 07 May 2014 - 02:50 AM, said:

Yeah but forget the fact, that those "30 pounds" mean nothing to an Titan weighting in at 100 Tonns, with strong artificial muscles.

mechs are, build arround full arm movement, that is one of the Advantage, without it, you could stick to tanks.

That's the whole purpose of Myomer bundles and why they made Mechs possible.

Fortunately the Clans circumvent all that nonsense by simply removing arm actuators from the Omnipods. The IS is stuck with them hardwired.

Edited by ShadowWolf Kell, 07 May 2014 - 03:10 AM.

[Zervziel]

Blue Boutique, on 07 May 2014 - 02:43 AM, said:

Well, I do not want to see mechs walking about arms outstretch and moaning, "BRAINS...BRAINS...."

The whole reason mechs have arms is to have the full range of motion that allows. Sorry if the idea of a walking tank with arms making full use of said arms offends you.