1016 replies to this topic

[Bishop Steiner]

TheArisen, on 12 February 2017 - 12:55 PM, said:

Yeah but I don't think the Atlas II merits a new chassis/mech pack. Is there another mech that would fit to be the "poster" mech of the SLDF?

as a Flagship Mech? Not really. One could make an argument for the Highlander, possibly, or of course, Kerensky's own Protector Orion... but those are out already.

I feel the Atlas II is at least as "unique" a Chassis as the Grand Dragon...but more to the point, just seems to be one of the few "Symbolic" SLDF Mechs not released already.

That said, I believe almost ANY 2750 TRO Mech would be more appropriate for the Cameron Star than ANY of the 3058 stuff.

[TheArisen]

Bishop Steiner, on 12 February 2017 - 01:00 PM, said:

as a Flagship Mech? Not really. One could make an argument for the Highlander, possibly, or of course, Kerensky's own Protector Orion... but those are out already.

I feel the Atlas II is at least as "unique" a Chassis as the Grand Dragon...but more to the point, just seems to be one of the few "Symbolic" SLDF Mechs not released already.

That said, I believe almost ANY 2750 TRO Mech would be more appropriate for the Cameron Star than ANY of the 3058 stuff.

I looked at sarna and I didn't really see a standout. I'm sure there are more fitting mechs but there's mostly variants of in game mechs. The Nightstar may not be the perfect choice but I don't think it'd be a bad choice either.

[Bishop Steiner]

TheArisen, on 12 February 2017 - 01:21 PM, said:

I looked at sarna and I didn't really see a standout. I'm sure there are more fitting mechs but there's mostly variants of in game mechs. The Nightstar may not be the perfect choice but I don't think it'd be a bad choice either.

I don't disagree.

But I'd say that he Cameron Star is tied to two things...the SLDF and the Clans, later.

So IMO, it should, if used as a Badge, be part tied to something truly iconic to either... an Ilkhan's Mech, for instance.

That is one reason I feel the Atlas II is the most logical choice.

It was the separate, exclusive version of the Atlas, a mech designed by Kerensky, for the Royal Regiments of the SLDF.
Literally EVERY Atlas II pilot that survived the Amaris Civil War, left with Kerensky in the Exodus.
Nicolas Kerensky, heir to Aleksandr, father of the Clans, and the first Ilhkan, drove one.

(Although it should be noted that Sarna appears to be making a huge assumption on the nature of Kerensky's AS7 II, as the majority of Clan Tech had not even been invented yet, and by his death, there was mostly just a hand full of proto Clan Weapons, like the Improved ERPPC created by Clan Wolverine. At least if going by the ongoing retcons and deeper looks being given to the Golden Century, etc)

[Y E O N N E]

Isn't the Clan version of the Cameron Star turned sideways? And blood red?

[TheArisen]

Bishop Steiner, on 12 February 2017 - 01:29 PM, said:

I don't disagree.

But I'd say that he Cameron Star is tied to two things...the SLDF and the Clans, later.

So IMO, it should, if used as a Badge, be part tied to something truly iconic to either... an Ilkhan's Mech, for instance.

That is one reason I feel the Atlas II is the most logical choice.

It was the separate, exclusive version of the Atlas, a mech designed by Kerensky, for the Royal Regiments of the SLDF.
Literally EVERY Atlas II pilot that survived the Amaris Civil War, left with Kerensky in the Exodus.
Nicolas Kerensky, heir to Aleksandr, father of the Clans, and the first Ilhkan, drove one.

(Although it should be noted that Sarna appears to be making a huge assumption on the nature of Kerensky's AS7 II, as the majority of Clan Tech had not even been invented yet, and by his death, there was mostly just a hand full of proto Clan Weapons, like the Improved ERPPC created by Clan Wolverine. At least if going by the ongoing retcons and deeper looks being given to the Golden Century, etc)

Yeah the Atlas II is even mentioned specifically when you look at the page for the sldf royals. I guess they could release it as a clan mech but ppl would whine about it being a copy like the IICs, etc.

Now that I think about it, isn't it kinda strange there's no "royal" Nightstar variant?

Yeonne Greene, on 12 February 2017 - 01:37 PM, said:

Isn't the Clan version of the Cameron Star turned sideways? And blood red?

I'm pretty sure that's correct.

[Bishop Steiner]

TheArisen, on 12 February 2017 - 02:05 PM, said:

Yeah the Atlas II is even mentioned specifically when you look at the page for the sldf royals. I guess they could release it as a clan mech but ppl would whine about it being a copy like the IICs, etc.

Now that I think about it, isn't it kinda strange there's no "royal" Nightstar variant?



I'm pretty sure that's correct.

I don't see any reason why it would remotely be released as a Clan Mech. As noted...when Kerensky drove it, Clantech, as we know it, was not even really a thing yet.

[FLG 01]

TheArisen, on 12 February 2017 - 02:05 PM, said:

Now that I think about it, isn't it kinda strange there's no "royal" Nightstar variant?

The Nightstar is a Royal BattleMech for all intents and purposes. The 'royal'-epithet is informally used for the latest and hottest designs which are assinged to Royal SLDF Divisions first. And the Nightstar is one of the latest and hottest designs, which was assigned to Royal Divisions. The SLDF just never got old enough that the NSR-9J would be dated and assigned to Regular Divisions too (resulting in the need for a new NSR variant intended to the Royals again).

In the RAT the Nightstar is in the same column as the other assault 'Royal Mechs' like KGC-000b, Thug THG-11Eb, or the Atlas II.

Bishop Steiner, on 12 February 2017 - 02:25 PM, said:

I don't see any reason why it would remotely be released as a Clan Mech. As noted...when Kerensky drove it, Clantech, as we know it, was not even really a thing yet.

Yes, it was a thing. The ClanTech Atlas II is dated to 2833, and that is sometime after ClanTech was introduced. Clan ECM? Regularly produced since 2832. C-XL? Since 2829. Etc.
It is quite sensible that the founder of the Clans would have access to ClanTech early on. I would be more surprised if he had no ClanTech... It is ironic that Nicholas likely used this Mech only once - when he died in 2834.

Edited by FLG 01, 12 February 2017 - 02:34 PM.

[TheArisen]

Bishop Steiner, on 12 February 2017 - 02:25 PM, said:

I don't see any reason why it would remotely be released as a Clan Mech. As noted...when Kerensky drove it, Clantech, as we know it, was not even really a thing yet.

But every single Atlas II is in Clan space.

[Bishop Steiner]

FLG 01, on 12 February 2017 - 02:33 PM, said:

The Nightstar is a Royal BattleMech for all intents and purposes. The 'royal'-epithet is informally used for the latest and hottest designs which are assinged to Royal SLDF Divisions first. And the Nightstar is one of the latest and hottest designs, which was assigned to Royal Divisions. The SLDF just never got old enough that the NSR-9J would be dated and assigned to Regular Divisions too (resulting in the need for a new NSR variant intended to the Royals again).

In the RAT the Nightstar is in the same column as the other assault 'Royal Mechs' like KGC-000b, Thug THG-11Eb, or the Atlas II.




Yes, it was a thing. The ClanTech Atlas II is dated to 2833, and that is sometime after ClanTech was introduced. Clan ECM? Regularly produced since 2832. C-XL? Since 2829. Etc.
It is quite sensible that the founder of the Clans would have access to ClanTech early on. I would be more surprised if he had no ClanTech... It is ironic that Nicholas likely used this Mech only once - when he died in 2834.

first read what I said... was not REALLY a thing yet. Yes, some small bits existed. MOST, was perfected and produced during the Golden Century. Even many of the existing bits in little Nicky's lifetime, was NOT the version we see in the Clans, now, for instance, the improved ER PPC.

[FLG 01]

Bishop Steiner, on 12 February 2017 - 03:06 PM, said:

first read what I said... was not REALLY a thing yet. Yes, some small bits existed. MOST, was perfected and produced during the Golden Century. Even many of the existing bits in little Nicky's lifetime, was NOT the version we see in the Clans, now, for instance, the improved ER PPC.

Sorry, I just stick to canon information. Check the IO on the PPCs e.g.:

Technology Base/Rating ... Availability Rating ... Prototype (Faction) ... Production (Faction) .... Common .... Page Reference ... Notes




The Improved PPC e.g. was already extinct when Nicholas's ClanTech Atlas II was build, while the regular Clan ER PPC which we all know and love in MWO was already in regular production by 2826 and in fact even common by 2828 - again, years before Nicholas's death and special Mech.

So I must admit I don't fully get what you define as "real thing", but according to the lore the Clan ER PPC - not its predecessors (the Improved and Enhanced PPCs) - was in production and common before Nicholas died. Same is true for most ClanTech, so obviously there is no problem with his Atlas having it.

Edited by FLG 01, 12 February 2017 - 03:38 PM.

[TheArisen]

Well whatever PGI decides to do with the Atlas II is up to them but considering the Nightstar is technically a SLDF Royal mech, I'd say it's worthy of the Cameron Star.

Edited by TheArisen, 12 February 2017 - 09:46 PM.

[TheArisen]

Hey guys, how good of a chance does the Nightstar have of making it into MWO this year?

I tweeted Russ and even Paul about the Nightstar when Russ was making his 6 month release plan. Idk if Russ saw it but Paul tweeted afterwards "I'm not in charge of mech releases but I know a guy..."

[Metus regem]

TheArisen, on 17 February 2017 - 07:15 AM, said:

Hey guys, how good of a chance does the Nightstar have of making it into MWO this year?

I tweeted Russ and even Paul about the Nightstar when Russ was making his 6 month release plan. Idk if Russ saw it but Paul tweeted afterwards "I'm not in charge of mech releases but I know a guy..."

If it does, great, if not, not going to sweat over it.... she's not a chassis I have a lot of love for... I'm more of a Devastator guy.

[TheArisen]

Metus regem, on 17 February 2017 - 09:26 AM, said:

If it does, great, if not, not going to sweat over it.... she's not a chassis I have a lot of love for... I'm more of a Devastator guy.

Any particular reason why the Nightstars not very interesting to you? Also, why do you like the Devastator so much?

[Metus regem]

TheArisen, on 17 February 2017 - 08:59 PM, said:

Any particular reason why the Nightstars not very interesting to you? Also, why do you like the Devastator so much?

To be honest, I've never really fought them in TT and I'm not a fan of the Marauder and the units that spawned from it...

As for the Devastator, well she made an impression the first time I fought one, it soloed an entire Lance with split fire head shots. I know the odds of that happening is extremely low, but it still happened. I went on to use them from time to time, they've never done anything like that for me, but they have been very consistent for a dual Gauss platform for me.

[FLG 01]

I have a soft spot for the Devastator, too. It was one of those post-TRO:2750 Mechs giving us glimpses of the true power of matured Star League designs. The TRO:2750 Mechs were solid but tbh rather pedestrian. Between 1990 and 1995 FASA gave us more powerful SL-Mechs, published in various scenario books. One of those was the Devastator and it featured fascinating fluff involving the Fox himself. As a fan of Star League designs I found it hard to escape the appeal of it.

This has something to do with the Nightstar: TRO:3058 collected all those Star League Mechs and added a few equally or more powerful Mechs to it. One of them was the Nightstar. (Another one of note was the Thunder Hawk). Yes, that was power creep at its best, but then with the Clans on the table the IS needed it.

Does that sound familiar?

As I have outlined before I liked the Nightstar better, and I am quite sure it would perform better in MWO. But I would be tempted by the Devastator. A lot.

Edited by FLG 01, 17 February 2017 - 09:56 PM.

[Karl Streiger]

Metus regem, on 17 February 2017 - 09:31 PM, said:

To be honest, I've never really fought them in TT and I'm not a fan of the Marauder and the units that spawned from it...

As for the Devastator, well she made an impression the first time I fought one, it soloed an entire Lance with split fire head shots. I know the odds of that happening is extremely low, but it still happened. I went on to use them from time to time, they've never done anything like that for me, but they have been very consistent for a dual Gauss platform for me.

That is the reason i don't allow the warhammer iic in my games anymore. the beast is a killer. oh one of his victims was a devastator when i used him for the first time. afterwards i did draft a devastor with its main guns but no secondary armament and std fusion

[TheArisen]

FLG 01, on 17 February 2017 - 09:56 PM, said:

I have a soft spot for the Devastator, too. It was one of those post-TRO:2750 Mechs giving us glimpses of the true power of matured Star League designs. The TRO:2750 Mechs were solid but tbh rather pedestrian. Between 1990 and 1995 FASA gave us more powerful SL-Mechs, published in various scenario books. One of those was the Devastator and it featured fascinating fluff involving the Fox himself. As a fan of Star League designs I found it hard to escape the appeal of it.

This has something to do with the Nightstar: TRO:3058 collected all those Star League Mechs and added a few equally or more powerful Mechs to it. One of them was the Nightstar. (Another one of note was the Thunder Hawk). Yes, that was power creep at its best, but then with the Clans on the table the IS needed it.

Does that sound familiar?

As I have outlined before I liked the Nightstar better, and I am quite sure it would perform better in MWO. But I would be tempted by the Devastator. A lot.

Yeah I'd buy the Devastator if it came out but obviously I'd be much more excited for the NIghtstar.

[Czerno Alpha]

It looks like an IS version of the Ebon Jaguar.

[TheArisen]

Czerno Alpha, on 18 February 2017 - 03:16 AM, said:

It looks like an IS version of the Ebon Jaguar.

The first rendition by Bishop was based on the ebj but if you look at the other renditions you can see more of it's Marauder roots.