20517 replies to this topic

[Odanan]

FireSlade, on 10 September 2013 - 10:46 AM, said:

I just cannot agree; stock the Banshee is an underpowered heavy mech while the stock form of the Cyclops packs more punch for the same attributes. The only thing that the Banshee has going for it is the 95ton fill, and it's looks, which depending on how Alex does it may be good or bad; while the Cyclops offers more of a true assault electronic warfare package with more firepower.

People usually forget the Banshee 3S...

[FireSlade]

Odanan, on 10 September 2013 - 11:43 AM, said:

People usually forget the Banshee 3S...

The 3S is not a bad design, but is just one good one out of a group a bad ones. I could be completely wrong here since PGI with setup their own hardpoints to match the other assault mechs. Personally we still need a true EW assault mech and maybe one with a command console will light a fire under the Devs. ***** and get them to come up with more functions for the command couch. Though I do agree with you about getting the Banshee since we need a 95ton mech; I just think that Banshee < Cyclops

[Strum Wealh]

As far as the Banshee goes, the BNC-3S would likely be the most popular of the available variants (and serves as the basis for one of the canonical potential Hero 'Mech, the "BNC-3S (Reinesblatt)" (the personal 'Mech of one General Jeren Reinesblatt)), and the BNC-3E is the "basic/default" variant, so those two would be certainties.

Quote

General Jeren Reinesblatt: Despite graduating from the respected Nagelring, Reinesblatt lacked the social contacts to rise through the Lyran ranks and left for the Periphery full of bitterness. He found numerous like-minded MechWarriors and created the elite mercenary/bandit unit the Blades of Death. Perhaps because of the General’s resentment, the unit does not take officers prisoner and often subjects all other prisoners to servitude, though warriors that surrender before battle are often let go without their ride or after a hefty ransom. Reinesblatt has turned his Banshee (formerly a -3S model) into a terrifying machine by replacing his PPCs with a large laser and LRM 10. For good measure, he completed his custom design by adding a massive axe.

(TRO 3039, pg. 166)

For the remaining variants, the BNC-3M isn't too bad (an energy mount in the head and at least two of energy mounts in each of side-torsi) and the BNC-3Q could lead to amusing ballistics-related hijinks (~7 or so ballistic hardpoints all together in the RT, in addition to an energy mount in the head).

And as an alternative canonical potential Hero 'Mech, there is Captain Greg Oliphant's personal Banshee, "The Court Jester".

Quote

Captain Greg Oliphant: Piloting a Banshee leaves many pilots sullen and resentful, but Oliphant is far from that. Inheriting his ’Mech, “The Court Jester,” from his mother, he decorated it with a giant fool’s cap with bells. As if violating one regulation wasn’t enough, he has painted an elongated grin on its face. Despite his rebellious attitudes (or perhaps because of them), his company in the Seventy-first Regiment of Eridani Light Horse performs excellently in the field, and nothing can dampen his spirits.

(TRO 3039, pg. 166)

Thoughts?

[Bishop Steiner]

SgtMagor, on 10 September 2013 - 07:44 AM, said:

cross eyed Banshee ftw!
(beats Biker beard Banshee Odanan is so fond of tho!)

[Jack Gallows]

I'm still going to lobby for the Cyclops even though I'd be fine with the Banshee if it turned out that way (assuming it'd be either of them, anyway.)



CP-10-Z: being the Cyclops base variant, carries at least 1 Ballistic, 2 Beam, and 2 Missile hardpoints. Nothing special as it tends to make for a slightly lighter Atlas, but the same could be said of the Orion. I'd see them adding either another Ballistic or adding another Beam and Missile hardpoint.

CP-11-Q: Removes the CP-10-Z's Ballistic hardpoint in favor of adding another LRM launcher, making it carry 2 Beam, and 3 Missile hardpoints stock. Add in another beam or a fourth launcher it could be nasty, or add the ballistic back in. I'd be in favor of dropping the ballistics for more Beam/Missile points, though.

CP-11-B: Dual Gauss on this variant provides a good punch. 2 Ballistic, 2 Beam, 2 Missile hardpoints before any are added. It's got a smaller engine then the other variants to fit the extra Gauss. Not timeline appropriate though, as Sturm points out below.

CP-11-A-DC: Cyclops with Command Console? Add ECM and you've got a command 'mech.....as soon as we know what a Command Console will eventually do.

Nothing exceptionally different at first glance, but seeing as PGI always spices up each variant with additional hardpoints and it could be good. Add in ECM on a second Assault 'mech as this is a good candidate for it, and it brings a bunch of the battlefield. Besides, I really want to see Alex tackle this design visually.

Possible Hero 'mech candidates: (Pulled directly from Sarna)

Quote

Captain William Cameron was Jaime Wolf's communications officer with Wolf's Dragoons, using a Cyclops to help coordinate the legendary mercenary unit. He was killed on Crossing during the Fourth Succession War.

While the pilot is now dead, they could go the way of Kerensky's Orion and still include it. Not a lot of info lets them play around while also adding a Wolf's Dragoon flavored Hero 'mech to the mix. Who doesn't want to see THAT paint job prowling the battlefield, even if it's not Natasha's Warhammer?

Quote

General Ariana Winston, Commanding Officer of the Eridani Light Horse between 3045 to 3060, piloted a modified Cyclops which featured a dual-cockpit for command and coordination purposes. She is perhaps best known for assuming command of the reborn SLDF's Task Force Serpent after Morgan Hasek-Davion's assassination and leading the bloody campaign to destroy Clan Smoke Jaguar on their homeworld of Huntress, though she was killed during the effort.

So, as is quite obvious, Ariana isn't commander of the ELH just yet, but it shows that the 'mech has more options if they wanted to add another Hero 'mech down the line. This would be a really cool Hero 'mech to me.

Strum Wealh, on 10 September 2013 - 02:01 PM, said:

Thoughts?

If we're going to get the Banshee having Captain Greg Oliphant's "Court Jester" in would make more sense, as the other Hero 'mech carries an axe. Also, it has ties to the ELH just like Ariana's so it would pair nicely with her Cyclops if it made it into game as well down the road. Besides, Oliphant's additions are awesome and would make for a really cool looking Banshee.

Edited by Jack Gallows, 10 September 2013 - 06:19 PM.

[Strum Wealh]

I support the Cyclops, as well...

Strum Wealh, on 11 January 2013 - 03:17 PM, said:

Admittedly, I'm not expecting the Cyclops to be BattleMech 20, but I don't think it's in the weakest of positions as far as potential selections for the next round or two of IS 'Mechs.

• The Cyclops is common and popular in-universe; "the Cyclops is a formidable weapon to be found in the battle lances of almost every `Mech regiment in the Successor States" and "the Cyclops has been a part of every major engagement in the Succession Wars, having proved itself in both close combat and as an efficient command control vehicle" (direct quotations from pg. 118 of the original TRO 3025).
  
• There are currently three 50-ton 'Mechs announced (and, with the Trebuchet's implementation slated for next month, there will be three 50-tonners in-game), so having the Cyclops at the same tonnage as the Highlander isn't too much of an issue (and would be less so if the Banshee is announced, which would have all weight brackets in the Assault class represented).
  
• As noted previously, the Cyclops with the variants listed (CP-10-Z-DC, CP-11-A-DC, and CP-11-C) stands to be the quintessential command 'Mech, especially if the Command Console and C3 Master Unit are implemented with capabilities from the advanced rules in Tactical Operations (as G-ECM was).
  
• The Cyclops has additional variants "in reserve", including the CP-10-Q (replaces the ballistic weapon with another LRM-10 and a Medium Laser, both in the RT) and the non-command variations of the CP-10-Z and the CP-11-A.

With a ~6-month turnaround from announcement to implementation, even putting the Cyclops in the next round of IS 'Mechs would likely mean that it wouldn't be expected to be implemented until around July or August, at the earliest - plenty of time for the Devs to implement and test the systems and capabilities needed to make it the great command 'Mech that we'll need in order to dispense with the Clanner scourge.

Your thoughts?

Strum Wealh, on 11 January 2013 - 04:55 PM, said:

CP-11-B... "Date Introduced: 3071"
It might be a while before we see that one...

Quote

"Dual Cockpit refits: The Cyclops is one of the Capellan Confederation's preferred 'Mechs to install Dual Cockpits. Standard refits usually install the Dual Cockpit on a CP-10-Z or CP-11-A, removing one ton of autocannon or gauss rifle ammunition, respectively."

Variant 1: CP-10-Z-DC (available since 2750)
equipped with x2 MLas (RA, LA), x1 AC/20 (RT), x1 LRM-10 (LT), x1 SRM-4 (CT), and a Command Console (HD)
Potential Hardpoint Layout:
LA: x1 Energy
LT: x2 Missile
CT: x2 Missile
HD: N/A
RT: x1 Ballistic
RA: x1 Energy

Variant 2: CP-11-A-DC (available since 3045)
Equipped with x2 MLas (RA, LA), x1 Gauss Rifle (RT), x1 LRM-10 (LT), x1 SRM-4 (CT), and a Command Console (HD)
Potential Hardpoint Layout:
LA: x2 Energy
LT: x1 Missile
CT: x1 Missile
HD: N/A
RT: x1 Ballistic
RA: x2 Energy

variant 3: CP-11-C (available since 3049)
Equipped with x2 MLas (RA, LA), x1 Gauss Rifle (RT), x1 SRM-4 (CT), and a C3 Master Unit (LT)
Potential Hardpoint Layout:
LA: x1 Energy
LT: N/A
CT: x2 Missile
HD: N/A
RT: x3 Ballistic
RA: x1 Energy

If "it makes more sense to put 'Mechs in for what roles they can play", then the Cyclops - with two variants carrying Command Consoles and one carrying a C3 Master Unit - would be (in the absence of the Marauder and BattleMaster) the quintessential command 'Mech.

'Twould be even more interesting if the Command Console were to receive its abilities under the advanced combat rules in Tactical Operations (such as a form of satellite uplink (which could allow for some form of advanced BattleGrid as well as the generation of an ECCM field, among other abilities; see the "Satellite Type Table" on pg. 195 of TacOps), access to remote sensors, and the ability to generate ghost targets).

Finally:

• "General Ariana Winston, Commanding Officer of the Eridani Light Horse between 3045 to 3060, piloted a modified Cyclops which featured a dual-cockpit for command and coordination purposes."
  
• "Captain William Cameron was Jaime Wolf's communications officer with Wolf's Dragoons, using a Cyclops to help coordinate the legendary mercenary unit. He was killed on Crossing during the Fourth Succession War."

If it's good enough for the CO of the Light Horse and the comms officer of the Dragoons' command lance, it's good enough for us, yes?

(source)

Edited by Strum Wealh, 10 September 2013 - 05:20 PM.

[Kanatta Jing]

We're still 2 light mechs short of the the old 'even' standard. Just to remind everyone of the yet unannounced time line appropriate light mechs available.

Firestarter
Hermes
Hussar
UrbanMech
Javelin
Mongoose
Panther
Spector
Wolfhound

I'm actually looking forward to the Javelin and it's promise to become the replacement for the streak cat.

[Jack Gallows]

Kanatta Jing, on 10 September 2013 - 08:03 PM, said:

We're still 2 light mechs short of the the old 'even' standard. Just to remind everyone of the yet unannounced time line appropriate light mechs available.

Firestarter
Hermes
Hussar
UrbanMech
Javelin
Mongoose
Panther
Spector
Wolfhound

Spector doesn't get reintroduced till 3053, so it's out for right now.

I'd still like to see the Mercury, but it's so rare it might as well not exist.

[Scrawny Cowboy]

Firestarter and Urbie are a must. I think when they finally do a pass for flamers, the Firestarter will be the testbed. And Urbie because it is a must.

[Odanan]

Urbie is a must. Even if it sucks, it will be the MWO's joke "character".

[Kuso]

Bishop Steiner, on 07 September 2013 - 05:08 PM, said:

Kiriage~San strikes again!!!!


rawr.

Holy {Scrap}, WANT! Make it happen PGI!

[Bishop Steiner]

Odanan, on 11 September 2013 - 10:52 AM, said:

Urbie is a must. Even if it sucks, it will be the MWO's joke "character".

Dang skippy.


And just wait til Kiriage~San finishes giving my Deputy Dawg the same treatment he has given my King Crab. The man is amazing!

[Jack Gallows]

Just wait till you see [REDACTED] over in the Repainted Concept Art thread, Bishop!

Edited by Jack Gallows, 11 September 2013 - 06:46 PM.

[Phoenix Branson]

I'm thinking PGI will launch with a new 'Mech and a new map, since UI 2.0 isn't finished. Do you agree?

Edited by Maverick01, 12 September 2013 - 07:38 PM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Jack Gallows, on 11 September 2013 - 06:45 PM, said:

Just wait till you see [REDACTED] over in the Repainted Concept Art thread, Bishop!

stilllllllllll waiting.

[Tkhaw]

Maverick01, on 12 September 2013 - 07:37 PM, said:

I'm thinking PGI will launch with a new 'Mech and a new map, since UI 2.0 isn't finished. Do you agree?

They better... or else... what's the point?

[SgtMagor]

[Jack Gallows]

Someone needs to photoshop that Banshee giving a thumbs up.

[SgtMagor]

Jack Gallows, on 13 September 2013 - 10:22 AM, said:

Someone needs to photoshop that Banshee giving a thumbs up.

think Bishop did that with another pic

[Damocles69]

Make way for the most regal of crustations