13 replies to this topic

[Xoxim SC]

I was just curious as to what clan mechs are we for certain never going to see due to copyright issues?

[General Pete]

A lot of the 2nd line clan mechs from the original 3055 tech readout are out: Marauder IIC, Warhammer IIC, Locust IIC, Griffin IIC, Shadow Hawk IIC, Rifleman IIC, all beacuse they had nice glossy anime artwork they lifted from somewhere for them (doubtless some incarnation of Roboteh). I also heard some of the other 2nd liners were out, like the Black Python (called the Viper), the Conjurer (problem with that one was it was too close a rip-off of the original Wolverine), the Behemoth (Stone Rhino) and the Kracken (Bane). A shame- there were some pretty awesome iconic mechs in there (anyone ever run a RIfleman IIC? It was pure murder on the tabletop).

[Sniper09121986]

Here is the current list: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Unseen

[Odanan]

Todd Lightbringer, on 13 July 2014 - 04:30 AM, said:

I was just curious as to what clan mechs are we for certain never going to see due to copyright issues?

For certain? The Macross-derivated mechs:

Phoenix Hawk IIC
Behemoth
Warhammer IIC
Rifleman IIC
Marauder IIC

These following, "owned" by Victor Musical Industries, are a possibility to show up (redesigned like the Phenix mechs):

Conjurer (Hellhound)
Glass Spider (Galahad)
Howler (Baboon)
Bane (Kraken)
Vapor Eagle (Goshawk)
Black Python (Viper)
Incubus (Vixen)

See here for complete info.

Edited by Odanan, 13 July 2014 - 05:01 AM.

[Sniper09121986]

Odanan, on 13 July 2014 - 05:00 AM, said:

For certain? The Macross-derivated mechs:

Phoenix Hawk IIC
Behemoth
Warhammer IIC
Rifleman IIC
Marauder IIC

All of these are listed as Reseen. As far as I understand, their original IS versions are indeed Unseen, but IIC versions are OK.

[Odanan]

Sniper09121986, on 13 July 2014 - 05:47 AM, said:

All of these are listed as Reseen. As far as I understand, their original IS versions are indeed Unseen, but IIC versions are OK.

You tell that to Harmony Gold.

[Sniper09121986]

Odanan, on 13 July 2014 - 05:50 AM, said:

You tell that to Harmony Gold.

They shelved these too? Well, some people just can never get enough

[Pariah Devalis]

Sniper09121986, on 13 July 2014 - 05:59 AM, said:

They shelved these too? Well, some people just can never get enough

The problem is not even the redesign, but the name. Even though the name of the mechs are not under the copyright laws it sets off the red flags that H.G. might jump on. H.G. is a gigantic Troll company that, at this point, seemingly coasts on the money it makes suing people. Give them any sort of excuse to sue, and you invite disaster, even if the lawsuit would be thrown out.

The legal fees to defend your case would be astronomical. :\

Also, what about the Jenner IIC? Is that not also another unseen?

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 13 July 2014 - 06:06 AM.

[General Pete]

yep- I forgot the Jenner IIC...

[FireSlade]

Well the IIC version of mechs that we have now, (Griffon, Shadow Hawk, Jenner) would be possible with enough alterations to make it look more Clan like and give them the same Clan HUD. The biggest problem that I see with IIC mechs is that they are standard Battlemechs with Clan weapons. What has been keeping the Clans balanced is all of their restrictions due to them being Omnimechs. On top of balance then there would be the whole obsoleting of the IS designs. Imagine a 4CERML, 2CSPL Jenner IIC.

Right now I am thinking that we can write off all of the IICs, Clan Battlemechs, and any Clan Mechs with A-Pods (no use for them in MWO). The Battlemechs and mechs with A-Pods we may see in the future depending on PGI balancing them and just putting A-Pods in with the only real purpose of being a tonnage/crit sink but with how things are going they have much bigger issues to deal with. Just my opinion though, so no need to lose hope....

[TibsVT]

Sadly I have to agree that Clan BattleMechs will likely not be released.

[Pihoqahiak]

Odanan, on 13 July 2014 - 05:00 AM, said:

For certain? The Macross-derivated mechs:
Behemoth

These following, "owned" by Victor Musical Industries, are a possibility to show up (redesigned like the Phenix mechs):

Conjurer (Hellhound)
Glass Spider (Galahad)
Howler (Baboon)
Bane (Kraken)
Vapor Eagle (Goshawk)
Black Python (Viper)
Incubus (Vixen)

See here for complete info.

The Stone Rhino (Behemoth) belongs to that bottom category as well. It was not a Robotech/Macross/Harmony Gold property. Some sources mistakenly report that it is a copy of a M.A.C. series Destroid from Robotech/Macross, but that is not the case.

Edited by Pihoqahiak, 16 July 2014 - 09:25 AM.

[Keeshu]

Pihoqahiak, on 16 July 2014 - 09:25 AM, said:

The Stone Rhino (Behemoth) belongs to that bottom category as well. It was not a Robotech/Macross/Harmony Gold property. Some sources mistakenly report that it is a copy of a M.A.C. series Destroid from Robotech/Macross, but that is not the case.

Is Victor Musical as bad as Harmony Gold? While I'm generally not a fan of assault mechs, Stone Rhino has one of my favorite designs, and it has a nice loadout (and JJs!).

[Zerberus]

Apart from the unseen /reseen debacle, we also have to acknowledge that Battlemech /Omnimech is, at this time, a very key factor in the balance of IS vs Clan.

While this does not mean that we will never see IS Omnis and clan battlemechs, for the time being I think it`s definitely something that they`re likely to try to avoid for at least the next, say, 2 years or so, because it has the potential to become a much bigger balance nightmare that Clan omnis vs IS battlemechs already must have been.