20517 replies to this topic

[Steven Dixon]

Cattra Kell, on 07 February 2013 - 07:39 PM, said:

Calling it right now:

Next Mech will be announced 13th of Feb. If its another medium I am guess the Dervish, chances are its the final assault though and my lot is with the Zeus or Banshee.

Next Hero mech will be a Cicada, announced either the 27th or the 6th.

That is my prediction based on previous dates.

I agree. I want the Zeus, my guess is that it will be the Banshee (semi fast Assault) or Charger (same reason but even faster, although we already have a few 80tons). The Cyclops is possible if they want a command mech (by the time its released CW will probably in in play), I would have thought the Victor was likely until the released the Highlander (now they don't need a jj assault).

[CDLord HHGD]

Lonestar1771, on 08 February 2013 - 11:06 AM, said:

What is that in the foreground? Also that madcat design is "not too shabby", to quote our most famous ML member.

That is a Shrike

[FupDup]

cdlord, on 08 February 2013 - 11:39 AM, said:

That is a Shrike

Notice that the Shrike's arms are melee in your picture, but that artwork above shows ranged weapons. Therefore it looks more like a Gyrfalcon to me.

Edited by FupDup, 08 February 2013 - 11:44 AM.

[Lonestar1771]

cdlord, on 08 February 2013 - 11:39 AM, said:

That is a Shrike

Huh? Never heard or seen this one before but I kinda like the look of it to be honest.

[CDLord HHGD]

FupDup, on 08 February 2013 - 11:44 AM, said:

Notice that the Shrike's arms are melee in your picture, but that artwork above shows ranged weapons. Therefore it looks more like a Gyrfalcon to me.

Could be, both look very similar and I wouldn't put it past the Dark Ages artists to get it wrong.....

[FupDup]

cdlord, on 08 February 2013 - 11:46 AM, said:

Could be, both look very similar and I wouldn't put it past the Dark Ages artists to get it wrong.....

Well, the Dark Age artists did screw up the Atlas big time after all, so I guess anything's possible with them...

[CDLord HHGD]

FupDup, on 08 February 2013 - 11:47 AM, said:

Well, the Dark Age artists did screw up the Atlas big time after all, so I guess anything's possible with them...

This thing?

[MischiefSC]

FupDup, on 08 February 2013 - 11:47 AM, said:

Well, the Dark Age artists did screw up the Atlas big time after all, so I guess anything's possible with them...

I'm just hoping we see more than a dozen or two mech types. Gah, imagine a game with 40 or 60 different mechs? I know there are a lot of negative things to say about that but... but.... BATTLETECH!

Like the name by the way. Is it a TANDEM reference?

[FupDup]

cdlord, on 08 February 2013 - 12:07 PM, said:

This thing?

That one's not too bad, actually. Seems to lose most of the Atlas's spirit/mojo, but still badass in its own way. This is the one I was referring to as a screw-up:


The HORROR!!!

MischiefSC, on 08 February 2013 - 12:11 PM, said:

I'm just hoping we see more than a dozen or two mech types. Gah, imagine a game with 40 or 60 different mechs? I know there are a lot of negative things to say about that but... but.... BATTLETECH!

Like the name by the way. Is it a TANDEM reference?

My name was the first thing that popped into my head while creating a CnC: RA3 account. I've used it ever since (except as a Gmail account, because some jerk stole it!)

A game with a bazillion mechs would be awesome if they can all be somehow balanced so that each has at least one legitimate tactical use to it (without being made obsolete by something else).

Edited by FupDup, 08 February 2013 - 12:17 PM.

[CDLord HHGD]

FupDup, on 08 February 2013 - 12:11 PM, said:

That one's not too bad, actually. Seems to lose most of the Atlas's spirit/mojo, but still badass in its own way. This is the one I was referring to as a screw-up:


The HORROR!!!

Blech! I completely forgot about that one, luckily I don't own that model. Think I died a little just being reminded of it though....

[Adridos]

Thontor, on 08 February 2013 - 11:12 AM, said:

I don't know what is in the foreground but that madcat looks like a Mad Cat Mk II

No, that's Mad Cat IV 2xERPPC, 4x 6SSRM and an ERSL. A Dark Age design, but one of the better ones, and FD really improved it over that piece of crap that the original DA design was.

cdlord, on 08 February 2013 - 11:39 AM, said:

That is a Shrike

No, the guy below is right. Gyrofalcon. Once again a noticable improvement of design.

FupDup, on 08 February 2013 - 11:44 AM, said:

Notice that the Shrike's arms are melee in your picture, but that artwork above shows ranged weapons. Therefore it looks more like a Gyrfalcon to me.

[Joe Mallad]

love all the dark age mechs there. To bad we wont see any of them lol. The Jade Falcon Assault Shrike is one bad *** mech and the Mad Cat MK IV (Savage Wolf) is also a bad as mech.

[Phoenix Branson]

Odanan, I have a suggestion. On the OP, it would be cool if you added what time the BattleMech was announced in addition to the date. Every Wednesday I get excited and wonder if we are going to see an announcement...

Edited by Maverick01, 08 February 2013 - 09:07 PM.

[Norris J Packard]

Maverick01, on 08 February 2013 - 09:05 PM, said:

Odanan, I have a suggestion. On the OP, it would be cool if you added what time the BattleMech was announced in addition to the date. Every Wednesday I get excited and wonder if we are going to see an announcement...

It is always sometime between 11 AM to 5 PM PST

[Anony Mouse]

Norris J Packard, on 07 February 2013 - 08:04 PM, said:

It can't be the Dervish. It doesn't have enough variants unless they resurrect an extinct XTR Primitives one.
It can be the Kintaro though. That does have enough variants.

Actualy theres the DV-6M, DV-1S, DV-6MD and DV-7D that are timeline appropriate, so plenty of variants.

Cattra Kell, on 07 February 2013 - 08:27 PM, said:

This is very true. With two 50 ton mechs for the medium class announced (Blackjack being 45 and Cicada 40) I was hoping for something in the 55 range. But I think the higher probability is another assault, and I think they would go with something in the 80 ton range if they were doubling up on the same weight or they would fill the 95 ton missing slot.

The problem is the best and most plentiful 55 tonners are the unseen. There are a few other options for 55 tonners though. The previously mentioned and erroniously denounced Dervish. The correctly perported Kintaro. Also the Hoplite, Lynx and if we venture into quads the Scorpion. The Wraith and Cronus are borderline either by the timeline or the number of variants but would each make great additions.

Still plenty of other killer potential additions to the mediums stable (personally I've been disappointed with whats offered so far). Theres Assassins (40 ton), Vindicators (45), Clints (45), Hermes II (45) . And when we get around to needing more 50 tonners, Crabs, Starslayers, Chameleons, Enforcers (why they didn't pick ENF over CN9 to start with is beyond me), and maybe the Uziel. The uziel doesn't use tech beyond whats in game now, but I'm not sure about its canon debut, also it was featured prominently in that horrible xbox bastardization of the franchise and it wouldn't surprise if it ends up a bit of a leper at PGI because of it :]

Edited by Anony Mouse, 09 February 2013 - 05:34 AM.

[Strum Wealh]

Actually, the DV-1S uses "primitive" tech" (which doesn't make a resurgence until the WoB J***d).
However, the DV-6M, DV-6Md, and DV-7D would/should be available to provide the Dervish with the necessary three variants.

The Lynx isn't available, timeline-wise - none survived the Succession Wars ("The few remaining Lynxes were ultimately cannibalized for whatever could be salvaged.") and the design doesn't see production again until 3056.

The Hoplite is a Dragoon-exclusive 'Mech and also not in production (at least, in the Inner Sphere); "After the [Wolf's Dragoons] cut ties with the Clan Homeworlds in 3020, they also lost access to replacement Hoplites, with attrition bringing the design close to extinction by the J***d."

The Uziel is unlikely to be added anytime soon due to tech and timeline restrictions:

• The standard/archetypical variant (the UZL-3S) requires IS versions of the LB 2-X AC and the ER Medium Laser, and doesn't come into being until 3065.
  
• The prototype variant (UZL-2S) doesn't come into being until 3063, despite the necessary tech (standard PPCs, standard MGs, standard SRM-6, BAP, Endo Steel, XL Engine, DHS) being already present.
  
• The third and final normal (that is, not "named"/character-specific) variant (the UZL-8S) doesn't come into being until 3075, and requires IS versions of the Streak SRM-6 and the Improved Jump Jets.

Also, the Enforcer only really has two normal variants: the ENF-4R (available since 2777) and the ENF-5D (makes its debut in 3050).
Its "successor", the Enforcer III, doesn't become available until 3059 and is considered a different 'Mech despite being of the same mass (in much the same way as the Dragon and Grand Dragon).
The Centurion, by contrast, actually has (more than) three normal variants of its own and is arguably more well-known than the Enforcer.

[Stingz]

Anony Mouse, on 09 February 2013 - 05:11 AM, said:

Actualy theres the  DV-6M, DV-1S, DV-6Md and DV-7D that are timeline appropriate, so plenty of variants.

DV-1S: Primitive parts, extinct.

DV-6Md: Refit; XL engine to fit more gear.


There's only 2 available until the Clan invasion(even then 3062+), and by then there are better 55 tonners.

Edited by Stingz, 09 February 2013 - 07:18 AM.

[hercules1981]

I'm not sure y so many people on the topic in the last week or so r saying the next assault is gonna b anything but the highlander. It is in the battlemech section under assaults and so is the jagger mech under heavy and the treb under med. those 3 will b out b4 any other mechs fellas sorry to crush your hopes about others. If I could bet with any of u on this I'd throw a 100 down on what I just said being correct not in that order but those 3 first for sure and I don't even buy scratch tickets.Unless every1 is talking about them just saying what mechs will b in the game later on rather then when they actually get released to play

Edited by hercules1981, 09 February 2013 - 08:27 AM.

[Doden Kriger]

To bad it isnt 3051-52. Love to see my lovely Avatar back in the game

[Strum Wealh]

Stingz, on 09 February 2013 - 07:11 AM, said:

DV-1S: Primitive parts, extinct.

DV-6Md: Refit; XL engine to fit more gear.

There's only 2 available until the Clan invasion(even then 3062+), and by then there are better 55 tonners.

The main point against the Dervish is that all of the variants are fairly homogeneous - missile launchers in both arms and both side-torso locations, and an additional energy weapon in each arm.

Hypothetically, PGI could differentiate them by:

• DV-6M: add one additional energy hardpoint to each side-arm (for a total of two energy hardpoints in each arm, one missile hardpoint in each arm, and one missile hardpoint in each side-torso)
  
• DV-6Md: add one additional missile hardpoint to each side-torso (for a total of one energy hardpoint in each arm, one missile hardpoint in each arm, and two missile hardpoints in each side-torso)
  
• DV-7D: add one additional missile hardpoint to each arm (for a total of one energy hardpoint in each arm, two missile hardpoints in each arm, and one missile hardpoint in each side-torso)

As described, each Dervish variant would have a total of 8 hardpoints, with one (DV-6M) being more energy-heavy, one (DV-6Md) focusing on more missiles mounted in the slower-tracking but better-armored (and more spacious, given the number of potentially-available criticals) torso, and one (DV-7D) focusing on missiles mounted in the faster-tracking (and further-tracking, given the increases field of fire) but more-vulnerable (and less spacious) arms.

-----

As a side note: the first (and standard/archetypical) variant of the Bushwacker (the BSW-X1) isn't available until 3053, the second variant (the BSW-X2) isn't available until 3054, and the third variant (the BSW-S2) isn't available until 3056.
As such, the Bushwacker isn't a viable choice for MWO until at least 3056.