36 replies to this topic

[ScarecrowES]

I have been unable to find a clear answer to a question I have about omnipods that will help me determine which clan chassis I will be pre-ordering, so I thought I'd pose it to the community to see if we've been given any indication on the subject. It pertains to omnipod installation and chassis mirroring.

Many of the default clan chassis variants are not symmetrical. For instance a given mech will have heavy ballistic weapons in one arm, and an array of lasers in the other. I tend to prefer more symmetrical chassis hardpoint setups. It's already been said numerous times that we'll be able to swap out omnipods from one variant of a clan chassis to another (minus the ct items), but there has been no clear indication of whether a particular omnipod will be restricted to the specific side of the mech it originates on in the default variant. For clarity, we know torso omnipods will only be usable in the torso of the mech chassis it originated on, but if that omnipod originates in the left torso, could it instead be swapped to the right torso? Or the left arm to the right, and vice versa. Essentially, could you buy 2 of the particular omnipod that appears in the left arm of a given variant, and use that omnipod in both the left and right arm of your custom setup?

If omnipods are assigned simply as "arm" or "torso" pods, instead of "left arm," "right arm," "left torso," "right torso" pods (or will be offered by PGI in the store as a seperate mirrored pod), then that will cement my decision to buy the chassis that I actually want. If not, I will have to buy chassis that I'm not particularly interested in because they fit my build preferences more.

[Lostdragon]

Based on the way I understood the information we have so far each section that you can assign weapons or armor to on IS mechs is an omnipod on Clan mechs and can be moved to the same location on another Clan mech. So the right arm is always the right arm and the left torso is always the left torso.

[MechWarrior5152251]

Wouldn't make much sense for a Left Torso to be able to plug into the right side of a mech. So I am confident the answer is no. Arms, highly unlikely, Legs absurdly unlikely.

I hope they allow arms to be swapped, that way the arm would have to be mounted upside down and would therefore be above your head.

Edited by 911 Inside Job, 08 June 2014 - 07:29 AM.

[Bulletsponge0]

911 Inside Job, on 08 June 2014 - 07:28 AM, said:

Wouldn't make much sense for a Left Torso to be able to plug into the right side of a mech. So I am confident the answer is no. Arms, highly unlikely, Legs absurdly unlikely.

I hope they allow arms to be swapped, that way the arm would have to be mounted upside down and would therefore be above your head.

lol

that would be awesome

[Alcom Isst]

911 Inside Job, on 08 June 2014 - 07:28 AM, said:

I hope they allow arms to be swapped, that way the arm would have to be mounted upside down and would therefore be above your head.

Makes it look like a Firemoth.

[ScarecrowES]

911 Inside Job, on 08 June 2014 - 07:28 AM, said:

Wouldn't make much sense for a Left Torso to be able to plug into the right side of a mech. So I am confident the answer is no. Arms, highly unlikely, Legs absurdly unlikely.

I hope they allow arms to be swapped, that way the arm would have to be mounted upside down and would therefore be above your head.

Pods are pods. It's not like you're swapping the entire arm, just the modular bit that holds the weapons or equipment. In terms of both lore and core functionality for tabletop design, these pods were entirely interchangeable (at least for the major assembly type they belonged to, ie arm/torso). This is the core difference in design between IS and clan mechs, where the hardpoints on IS mechs are hardwired, and thus fixed in a given variant. Whereas in clan mechs, only the pods themselves are hardwired, and the mech is set up to handle whatever the content of the pods becomes accordingly.

From the rules of the source material, there's no reason the ballistic pod on one arm of a Timberwolf couldn't be added to the other side of the mech as well.

However, I've seen no specific information from PGI that explains how the pods are set up. We know pods can be swapped from variant to variant within the same chassis, but not if they're treated as they are in the TT, or if PGI has created some custom ruleset that defines an omnipod as "left arm only." Nor do we know, if said custom ruleset exists, if a seperate "right arm only" version of that pod will exist. Or at least, that's how I've understood it so far.

I'm hoping for clarification.

[Diablobo]

If we have left side or right side pods, we can no longer call them omnipods. Omni means "in all ways and places".
They go wherever and however, hence the omni part of the name.

[LauLiao]

Diablobo, on 08 June 2014 - 10:36 AM, said:

If we have left side or right side pods, we can no longer call them omnipods. Omni means "in all ways and places".
They go wherever and however, hence the omni part of the name.

Not true. "Omni" as a prefix merely means "All" or "every". It does NOT mean in all ways and places. For example, one could be omniscient, but not omnipresent. Thus "Omnipod" could simply refer to the fact that it can mount all and every type of weapon, and not that the pod itself could be placed anywhere.

[Vassago Rain]

A left arm can only be equipped as a left arm. They explained this in an ancient command chair post about omni construction.

So no. Sorry, OP.

[Diablobo]

LauLiao, on 08 June 2014 - 10:51 AM, said:

Not true. "Omni" as a prefix merely means "All" or "every". It does NOT mean in all ways and places. For example, one could be omniscient, but not omnipresent. Thus "Omnipod" could simply refer to the fact that it can mount all and every type of weapon, and not that the pod itself could be placed anywhere.

Tell it to the dictionary guys, not me. Your "all" or "every" definition is not as limited as you would like it. The term omni is not as limited as you would like. If it was, it would not be omni.

http://www.oxforddic...n_english/omni-

http://www.merriam-w...ictionary/omni-

[Diablobo]

The entire idea of self contained pods is ridiculous anyway. The Clans switched around weapons and equipment, not pods that are bundles.

The only limitation on whether or not equipment or a weapons can fit in a certain spot is if the location has enough crit spaces not occupied. Each mech's technical readout page lists where the free slots are and how many of each there are. There are no fixed pods that go back and forth between different mechs. If it fits in the location, it can be mounted there. If not, then too bad.

[ScarecrowES]

Vassago Rain, on 08 June 2014 - 10:53 AM, said:

A left arm can only be equipped as a left arm. They explained this in an ancient command chair post about omni construction.

So no. Sorry, OP.

The only specific guidance in the omnimech construction thread is:

"

• OmniPods are specific to a location.
  • E.g. Left arm, right torso, etc.

"

However, this conflicts with other statements about omnipod usage within the same thread. It also doesn't specify, if pods do follow that more specific rule, if there will be a mirrored equivelant available in the store - whereas they have said there will be pods available to produce configurations of a chassis not otherwise available for purchase as a full mech. This is why I've asked.

[Sprouticus]

Diablobo, on 08 June 2014 - 11:45 AM, said:

The entire idea of self contained pods is ridiculous anyway. The Clans switched around weapons and equipment, not pods that are bundles.

The only limitation on whether or not equipment or a weapons can fit in a certain spot is if the location has enough crit spaces not occupied. Each mech's technical readout page lists where the free slots are and how many of each there are. There are no fixed pods that go back and forth between different mechs. If it fits in the location, it can be mounted there. If not, then too bad.

You are of course correct, but there are a ton of ways this game diverges from TT. The customization of the game for Is mechs, the hardpoints system,, etc.

On the end, PGI had to balance flexibility against game play. Their system is not how I would have done it, but I have grown to like the idea.

[Diablobo]

The Clans are going to completely break the hardpoint system that PGI is attempting to implement. Either that, or they are going to have to completely break the Clans. Not only are the clans getting a big time screw over with weapons and engine nerfs, they are getting the biggest nerf of all to the pods.

[ScarecrowES]

Sprouticus, on 08 June 2014 - 11:55 AM, said:

You are of course correct, but there are a ton of ways this game diverges from TT. The customization of the game for Is mechs, the hardpoints system,, etc.

On the end, PGI had to balance flexibility against game play. Their system is not how I would have done it, but I have grown to like the idea.

Oddly, the most simple thing to have done was to have matches be all clan vs IS, leave all clan tech exactly the same as TT (adjusted for MWO rules), and merely have matches consist of 3 IS lances (12 players) vs 2 clan stars (10 mechs). Balance achieved.

[Sephlock]

LauLiao, on 08 June 2014 - 10:51 AM, said:

Not true. "Omni" as a prefix merely means "All" or "every". It does NOT mean in all ways and places. For example, one could be omniscient, but not omnipresent. Thus "Omnipod" could simply refer to the fact that it can mount all and every type of weapon, and not that the pod itself could be placed anywhere.

Diablobo, on 08 June 2014 - 11:16 AM, said:

Tell it to the dictionary guys, not me. Your "all" or "every" definition is not as limited as you would like it. The term omni is not as limited as you would like. If it was, it would not be omni.

http://www.oxforddic...n_english/omni-

http://www.merriam-w...ictionary/omni-

[Dymlos2003]

Diablobo, on 08 June 2014 - 12:01 PM, said:

The Clans are going to completely break the hardpoint system that PGI is attempting to implement. Either that, or they are going to have to completely break the Clans. Not only are the clans getting a big time screw over with weapons and engine nerfs, they are getting the biggest nerf of all to the pods.

You mean omni mechs. Not all clan mechs are omni mechs.

ScarecrowES, on 08 June 2014 - 12:02 PM, said:

Oddly, the most simple thing to have done was to have matches be all clan vs IS, leave all clan tech exactly the same as TT (adjusted for MWO rules), and merely have matches consist of 3 IS lances (12 players) vs 2 clan stars (10 mechs). Balance achieved.

No, no it wouldn't have been.

[Octavian]

The real question is what kind of variety will be available beyond the 3 base variants. I can't imagine that will be our only options (actually i can imagine, but i'm holding out for a bit of sanity on their part).

[Vassago Rain]

ScarecrowES, on 08 June 2014 - 11:52 AM, said:

The only specific guidance in the omnimech construction thread is:

"

• OmniPods are specific to a location.
  
  • E.g. Left arm, right torso, etc.

"




However, this conflicts with other statements about omnipod usage within the same thread. It also doesn't specify, if pods do follow that more specific rule, if there will be a mirrored equivelant available in the store - whereas they have said there will be pods available to produce configurations of a chassis not otherwise available for purchase as a full mech. This is why I've asked.

Okay, I will explain this to you.

You think there will be fluffy pods, or some advanced system. There won't be.

You'll simply buy a daishi-X arms and put them on your founder daishi, and a daishi-Y left torso. In essence, your mechs are all mister potato head.

Nothing in this game is advanced, has ever been advanced, or will be advanced, but we have tons of legos and potato head spares for all gundams.



Edit: added picture for reference.

Edited by Vassago Rain, 08 June 2014 - 12:09 PM.

[Diablobo]

It makes zero sense that the IS mechs can swap out engines and endo or FF, but Clans cannot.