20517 replies to this topic

[Karl Streiger]

Metus regem, on 26 October 2015 - 05:17 AM, said:

Yea, the Archer and Crusader are similar, but one has SRM leg mounts, one doesn't... Would be interesting to see if PGI would implement leg hard points....

I don't think they will - expect them to be ST mounted.... although leg mounted would add a "third" crosshair - nice for one of the Victor variants

[Metus regem]

Karl Streiger, on 26 October 2015 - 05:21 AM, said:

I don't think they will - expect them to be ST mounted.... although leg mounted would add a "third" crosshair - nice for one of the Victor variants

I'd take anything to make MWO even a little complex... Kind of sick and tried of CoD with Battle Tech skins right now....

[Odanan]

Karl Streiger, on 26 October 2015 - 05:21 AM, said:

I don't think they will - expect them to be ST mounted.... although leg mounted would add a "third" crosshair - nice for one of the Victor variants

The Cicada C had weapons in the legs and was translated in MWO with these hardpoints moved to the torsos. I think is a fine solution (weapons in the legs would be impossible to shoot while running).

[CDLord HHGD]

Just when I think I am done buying mechs with real money... Well played PGI, well played....

[SgtMagor]

this FAFNIR is beautiful

[Bishop Steiner]

Davegt27, on 26 October 2015 - 04:00 AM, said:

some things in MW4 were not so great looking.. but man, dat Cauldron Born.....

Truth to tell, I liked most of the designs "introduced" in MW4.
Chimera, Osiris, Argus, Hellspawn, etc.

It was the interpretation of existing designs I was less in love with (though I liked the Vulture and CB a fair bit)

[KuroNyra]

Same for me.
And damn, now I want the Fafnir.
Beside. I already know the Hero Fafnir, the one piloted by Adam Steiner Ardan Steiner-Davion.

[Odanan]

SgtMagor, on 26 October 2015 - 07:49 AM, said:

this FAFNIR is beautiful

The arms are puny ugly. I prefer the MW4's arms.

[wanderer]

cdlord, on 26 October 2015 - 04:08 AM, said:

The Legend Killer is another SHUTUPANDTAKEMYMONEY moment from me.....

It also wasn't a traditional Rifleman, but a RFL-3N-2, the Star League Royal Rifleman II - and a whopping 20 tons heavier than the original, packing all kinds of League-era goodies in it's chassis.

[CDLord HHGD]

wanderer, on 26 October 2015 - 02:11 PM, said:

It also wasn't a traditional Rifleman, but a RFL-3N-2, the Star League Royal Rifleman II - and a whopping 20 tons heavier than the original, packing all kinds of League-era goodies in it's chassis.

What I know of the Legend Killer was from the novels so of it's loadout, I do not know. Wouldn't take much to differentiate a Hero variant from the standard RFL loadouts though. Gray Noton WOOOOOO!

[Cupid and Psyche _]

SgtMagor, on 26 October 2015 - 07:49 AM, said:

this FAFNIR is beautiful

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose...

I find it to be a very powerful looking 'mech. It is really one of those chassis that can instill a sense of awe in people on the battlefield.

[Cupid and Psyche _]

Bishop Steiner, on 26 October 2015 - 08:08 AM, said:

some things in MW4 were not so great looking.. but man, dat Cauldron Born.....

Truth to tell, I liked most of the designs "introduced" in MW4.
Chimera, Osiris, Argus, Hellspawn, etc.

It was the interpretation of existing designs I was less in love with (though I liked the Vulture and CB a fair bit)

Agreed- the Cauldron Born is a very fine chassis! I really want to get around to making a paper version of it, but I am currently working on the Adder.

Also, the Hellhound had a much nicer design in MW4 than in the original artwork.

[Bishop Steiner]

wanderer, on 26 October 2015 - 02:11 PM, said:

It also wasn't a traditional Rifleman, but a RFL-3N-2, the Star League Royal Rifleman II - and a whopping 20 tons heavier than the original, packing all kinds of League-era goodies in it's chassis.

Not actually confirmed true, unless retconned.

The first mention that it might not be a stock RFL-3N was in the Solaris 7 Box Set published in 1991. It espoused several theories, from being built with star league tech, post discovery of IICs, it was theorized it might have been an 80 or 90 mech, etc.

The only actual canon description of it, in Warrior: EnGarde, was of a stock rifleman armament (5 shot popguns), (paper thin) armor, ammo loads and gross heat burden (when he triggered the large lasers, the wash of waste heat had him comment on it not being an efficient machine). Justin Xiang gives a running commentary of all the mechs shortcomings throughout his match against Philip Capet. Also, nothing was unusual to the eyes of a master technician, Tsen Shang when he prepped it for Justin's use for the title match.

It being anything else, is to the best o my knowledge, unsupported rumours.

Of course, in MWO it could be armed however you like.

[Odanan]

Bishop Steiner, on 26 October 2015 - 03:52 PM, said:

Not actually confirmed true, unless retconned.

The first mention that it might not be a stock RFL-3N was in the Solaris 7 Box Set published in 1991. It espoused several theories, from being built with star league tech, post discovery of IICs, it was theorized it might have been an 80 or 90 mech, etc.

The only actual canon description of it, in Warrior: EnGarde, was of a stock rifleman armament (5 shot popguns), (paper thin) armor, ammo loads and gross heat burden (when he triggered the large lasers, the wash of waste heat had him comment on it not being an efficient machine). Justin Xiang gives a running commentary of all the mechs shortcomings throughout his match against Philip Capet. Also, nothing was unusual to the eyes of a master technician, Tsen Shang when he prepped it for Justin's use for the title match.

It being anything else, is to the best o my knowledge, unsupported rumours.

Of course, in MWO it could be armed however you like.

Agreed. I think Justin and Tsen would notice the mech is heavier than 60 tons.

Even if PGI just swapped the hardpoints, it would make a totally different mech. Let's say... 1 energy hardpoint in each arm (preferably inflated to 2 in each arm), 2 energy in the center torso and 1 ballistics in each side torso.

[Bishop Steiner]

Odanan, on 26 October 2015 - 05:34 PM, said:

Agreed. I think Justin and Tsen would notice the mech is heavier than 60 tons.

Even if PGI just swapped the hardpoints, it would make a totally different mech. Let's say... 1 energy hardpoint in each arm (preferably inflated to 2 in each arm), 2 energy in the center torso and 1 ballistics in each side torso.

yeah, none of the actual description supports the theories, and as far as I know, that is all they were proposed.... as an explanation for how a lowly Rifleman could succeed so marvelously.

Of course, being crazy skilled, might have helped. And Assault mechs were scarce as hens teeth in the late 3010s and early 3020s. So at most it was faced off against other heavies and mediums, more than likely, and even more so, the majority of mechs were far from being in pristine condition. Solaris was not a bastion of top tech at that time in history as opposed to the 3050s. A perfectly maintained Rifleman with a truly elite pilot, against inferior pilots in less than perfect machines, seems the most logical answer.

As you said, they would have noticed the weight, (as would the solaris referees who check over mechs pre match) and they definitely would have noted superior heat sinks, armor or firepower.

[BarHaid]

Do we have some inside info about the next mech that I am unaware? Or are we just theory-crafting here?

[Setun]

I really hope the Annihilator comes out at some point. I need more 100 ton assault mech in my life.

[Steinar Bergstol]

Well, apparently Harebrained Schemes do know what the next two IS mechs are, because on the Order Of Valhalla pledge tier on the Battletech kickstarter it's mentioned that the special order paint scheme will also apply to two more classic mechs in addition to those already announced (including the Marauder and Warhammer). And since they're specifically mentioning "classic" mechs I'm inclined to think it'll be two more unseen redesigns.

NOW GIMME MY PHOENIX HAWK!

[Odanan]

BarHaid, on 26 October 2015 - 09:30 PM, said:

Do we have some inside info about the next mech that I am unaware? Or are we just theory-crafting here?

We don't, but Russ retweeted my tweet about the Rifleman and the Legend Killer.

[wanderer]

Bishop Steiner, on 26 October 2015 - 03:52 PM, said:

Not actually confirmed true, unless retconned.

The first mention that it might not be a stock RFL-3N was in the Solaris 7 Box Set published in 1991. It espoused several theories, from being built with star league tech, post discovery of IICs, it was theorized it might have been an 80 or 90 mech, etc.

The only actual canon description of it, in Warrior: EnGarde, was of a stock rifleman armament (5 shot popguns), (paper thin) armor, ammo loads and gross heat burden (when he triggered the large lasers, the wash of waste heat had him comment on it not being an efficient machine). Justin Xiang gives a running commentary of all the mechs shortcomings throughout his match against Philip Capet. Also, nothing was unusual to the eyes of a master technician, Tsen Shang when he prepped it for Justin's use for the title match.

It being anything else, is to the best o my knowledge, unsupported rumours.

Of course, in MWO it could be armed however you like.

The fact that it managed to not only compete but win in the Class 5 (which is utterly dominated by assault 'Mechs considering it's the only non-Open class they can fight in) arenas for seven years running pretty much points a big flashing sign towards the lostech version. As of 3052, the top 20 on Solaris had one heavy. And it was a refitted Marauder, with the remainder ranging from 80-100 tons.

The "Legend-Killer" Justin fought in was very likely a ringer- and the "real" Legend Killer" was never found. Given the preponderence of lostech Noton's original 'Mech may very well have ended up mothballed somewhere for lack of parts, considering Noton's retirement without a single loss in seven years against a string of assault 'Mechs (where he was the only "heavy" to compete.). The Solaris VII sourcebooks indicate there was evidence that Noton's 'Mech had actually tonnage in the 80-90 weight class....which points straight towards the Royal version. And such a beast was going to be very, very well hidden even (and especially) if it was a Star League lostech chassis.

Note that Class 5 arenas don't check weight- since it's "assault or lighter"- and there is no such thing as a "pre-match check" on a 'Mech unless specific conditions are required (like melee only). (Again, Solaris VII sourcebook- the Marauder in the top 20 is specifically noted as having plenty of secrets other stables would pay to know- and if such an inspection existed from "refs", the info would have leaked.). In fact, if he'd competed in Class 4, there WOULD have been weight checks to insure he wasn't piloting something too big- and a Rifleman II would have failed miserably.

Once you fill in all the lines, it's obvious regardless of not being stated outright.