28 replies to this topic

[Nova Latios Storm]

Good idea or bad idea? Tell me in the posts below.

http://www.sarna.net...gory:ProtoMechs

First created by Clan Smoke Jaguar, ProtoMechs were designed as a way for armoured troops to deliver the firepower of a BattleMech to the battlefield without requiring a large amount of production resources.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/ProtoMech

Edited by Nova Latios Storm, 14 June 2014 - 02:41 AM.

[david upton]

well first of all what the heck is a PROTO Mech? then i'll vote. we need the details man thanks :}

[CyclonerM]

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/ProtoMech

[Exilyth]

Protomechs are what happens when a 'Mech and battle armor... erm... do the "birds and bees" thing. That's why they look so ugly.

Tbh, I'd rather see vehicles, infantry, battle armor, dropships, turret emplacements, minefields ( &vibrobombs), mobile structures, industrial mechs, support vehicles... implemented before even considering protomechs. Also, we don't need smaller-than-lights hopping around when there's still lots of issues with hit detection.

[MilesTeg1982]

Nova Latios Storm, on 13 June 2014 - 05:28 AM, said:

Good idea or bad idea? Tell me in the posts below.

http://www.sarna.net...gory:ProtoMechs

I could imagine Protomechs as part of some kind of PvE-Content (if that ever happens) or maybe like turrets as part of base defenses - like you cap an enemie base and every 30 seconds a wave of Protomechs (or other vehicles) spawn.

However I really can't imange how anyone would like to play a Protomech against other mechts - which would result in certain death (even a light would be able to kill a protomech with only a few shots) - don't think that will be much fun. Also it would be a major drawback for the team because protomechs carry very low firepower.

[tucsonspeed6]

I thought I heard somewhere that FASA was pretty hard pressed for original art at the time and hired some artists with instructions to make mechs that looked "monsterous" and the artists took that literally and made a bunch of fantasy themed mechs. Hence the Minotaur protomech among others.

In any case, whatever the reason for their existence, they are terrible and ugly and one of them has boobs. As such, I gladly vote "hell no" with as much enthusiasm as I can muster.

[DustySkunk]

Not likely to be viable in game. According to the fluff, a group was equivalent to one mech. Also, the first protomechs won't even hit the field until 3060. In MWO it's 3049....

Edited by DustySkunk, 13 June 2014 - 11:59 AM.

[Max Payn]

There was a time when the Lords of the Battletech Universe discovered that their powers where fainting. So they turned back to their roots and found out. There are still Mechs been used in Japan. So they joined forces with.... THE POWER RANGERS!!!
GO GO POWERRANGERS!!! And there they were: The Protomechs!!! DADA!!!!

....too bad, that even in Japan... the times of really cool mecha stuff is....long gone.

[Naduk]

firstly i voted no
they are such an out of place unit in BT even their lore is confused !!!
they needed the unit to combat inner sphere insurgency (why elementals and regular rear guard forces can't do it i dont know)
they cannot complete the design before enhanced imaging was made
yet enhanced imaging was around well before the clan invasion of the IS
a special breed of pilot was needed to be born, yet when the EI issue was solved (maybe they finally scabbed one of a dead jade) they had pilots ready to go ... so much for years of development not to mention sibko training and the whole growing up biz lol, it doesn't stop there.

aside from all the contradictory nonsense surrounding protomechs
there is many more important things to get into the game first
community warfare
tanks
vtols
aerospace fighters
dropships
hot drop pods
Solaris VII
infantry
ammo types for weapons (inferno SRM anyone)
unseen mechs
maps
maps
maps
maps
single player

then more things i haven't thought of
then protomechs ..... maybe

[Sevrid]

Exilyth, on 13 June 2014 - 08:20 AM, said:

Protomechs are what happens when a 'Mech and battle armor... erm... do the "birds and bees" thing. That's why they look so ugly.

Tbh, I'd rather see vehicles, infantry, battle armor, dropships, turret emplacements, minefields ( &vibrobombs), mobile structures, industrial mechs, support vehicles... implemented before even considering protomechs. Also, we don't need smaller-than-lights hopping around when there's still lots of issues with hit detection.

This, also lets face it will take a while to get the stuff we need in the game before we even get the other things that are "would be nice to have."

[wanderer]

Fun note: First generation Protomechs were deliberately designed to be failures- which meant they then fell back into the control of the Scientist caste. And as noted, first gens were freaking ugly pieces of scrap metal.

Later-generation ones would then be used (to much better effect) in the rebellion led by what was known as the Society. These actually pushed near the weight of a full-grown 'Mech, from 10-14 tons, and could pull tricks like VTOL movement, being able to hitch rides on full-grown 'Mechs, and extended jumps that would make a Spider jealous.

[Alex Warden]

Exilyth, on 13 June 2014 - 08:20 AM, said:

Protomechs are what happens when a 'Mech and battle armor... erm... do the "birds and bees" thing. That's why they look so ugly.

Tbh, I'd rather see vehicles, infantry, battle armor, dropships, turret emplacements, minefields ( &vibrobombs), mobile structures, industrial mechs, support vehicles... implemented before even considering protomechs. Also, we don't need smaller-than-lights hopping around when there's still lots of issues with hit detection.

just quote this because lazyness... my thoughts exactly

[Strum Wealh]

wanderer, on 13 June 2014 - 10:32 PM, said:

Fun note: First generation Protomechs were deliberately designed to be failures- which meant they then fell back into the control of the Scientist caste. And as noted, first gens were freaking ugly pieces of scrap metal.

Later-generation ones would then be used (to much better effect) in the rebellion led by what was known as the Society. These actually pushed near the weight of a full-grown 'Mech, from 10-14 tons, and could pull tricks like VTOL movement, being able to hitch rides on full-grown 'Mechs, and extended jumps that would make a Spider jealous.

Yeah... they were basically large Heavy Gears with neural control systems and without SMS.

[Ralziel]

Maybe. They'd have to be a game mechanic for a mode, or short term consumable thing, rather than something that could be piloted. Unless they had only proto on proto matches, they could be seriously damaging to any semblance of balance we'll have.

[Kissamies]

Even LAMs would be more welcome, I think.

[Vellron2005]

Light mechs are light enough.. If you introduce protomechs, then you might as well introuce tanks, aircraft and other misc combat vehicles.

Simply not needed.

[Sniper09121986]

Vellron2005, on 08 April 2015 - 05:03 AM, said:

If you introduce protomechs, then you might as well introuce tanks, aircraft and other misc combat vehicles.

And battle armor, please. And make maps, like, the size of Alpine (my favourite map!) for all of this awesomeness to fit in, introduce bidding and zellbrigen optional mechanics and generally aim for Planetside 2 style of combat (with all due vehicles, of course). Why ever stop striving for perfection? We already have a protomech-grade STD 60 engine anyway

[Celtic Warrior]

I would prefer to keep the preschool out of this game at least.

[Chuanhao]

Remember what killed the old TCG? The introduction of non stompy robots as playable creatures with the Arsenal Expansion. There is so much more improvements required of current mechs, melee, especially. And melee is going to be necessary if the knee capping option of elementals is to happen in the game. So no protos until mechs (more More MORE), maps (non-CW), and modes (CW Post-BETA; Solaris) are improve substantiated.

[Tarogato]

Protomechs:

A: don't come out at all until 3060. Currently the year is 3050, or 3052 depending on how you look at it.

B: they're not even interesting. I'd rather have tanks and elementals and battle armour.