32 replies to this topic

[Appogee]

PGI's original thinking on cockpits could be summarised as "IS Mechs look industrial, Clan Mechs look more sci-fi".

I think it's a neat distinction which adds some much-needed flavour to the game.

So I was disappointed to find that Kodiak seems to be an exception to the design plan... exposed tubular framing, old fashioned instruments, a very enclosed perspective out of narrow window glass.

What do you think?

Edited by Appogee, 17 May 2016 - 05:41 AM.

[Metus regem]

Guess you've not been in the War Hawk lately.... IIT has a bunch of analog readouts....

[Juodas Varnas]

Appogee, on 17 May 2016 - 05:38 AM, said:

PGI's original thinking on cockpits could be summarised as "IS Mechs look industrial, Clan Mechs look more sci-fi".

I think it's a neat distinction which adds some much-needed flavour to the game.

So I was disappointed to find that Kodiak seems to be an exception to the design plan... exposed tubular framing, old fashioned instruments, a very enclosed perspective out of narrow window glass.

What do you think?

I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.
Inner Sphere ones are the comfortable looking, nicely designed cockpits where you wouldn't mind taking a nap, while Clan ones are very spartan with just the bare necessities (their cockpits don't even have toilets!)

Edited by Juodas Varnas, 17 May 2016 - 05:46 AM.

[Afuldan McKronik]

The IIC mechs are also oldschool. I actually kinda think its a bit of flavor difference between Omni and Battlemechs for clans.

[Thorn Hallis]

I like it. Especially the additional armor over the cockpit.

[El Bandito]

Kodiak is a relatively new Clan mech (produced in 3001), and Clan Ghost Bear had spared no expense in building it, by giving it the most expensive engine and Endo Steel frame. IMO, it should look and feel new.

Thorn Hallis, on 17 May 2016 - 05:48 AM, said:

I like it. Especially the additional armor over the cockpit.

It's a detrimental feature, reducing one's ability to scan the skies for UAV. It does have a unique feeling.

Edited by El Bandito, 17 May 2016 - 05:54 AM.

[Zerberus]

El Bandito, on 17 May 2016 - 05:50 AM, said:

It's a detrimental feature, reducing one's ability to scan the skies for UAV. It does have a unique feeling.

Yes, it is... but conversely it also keeps you concentrated on what you SHOULD be doing in a Kodiak, which is tearing apart anything in front of you with no intent of stopping... And it definitely also conveys that feeling IMO...

[Appogee]

Juodas Varnas, on 17 May 2016 - 05:45 AM, said:

I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.

Russ said pre-Clans that they were aiming to give the Clan Mechs a more futuristic look and feel, as the Clan warrior cultures had been developing and refining Mechs out on the periphery for centuries, while the IS were content to repair and redevelop their existing chassis. There was also a VLog with the cockpit designer a year or so ago.


Indeed, as far as I can see, all cockpits have followed that philosophy ... til now.

Metus regem, on 17 May 2016 - 05:42 AM, said:

Guess you've not been in the War Hawk lately.... IIT has a bunch of analog readouts....

Noone said anything about analogue vs digital.

Warhawk's cockpit looks far more modern and sci-fi than Kodiak's.

That is the point of this post.

Afuldan McKronik, on 17 May 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

The IIC mechs are also oldschool.

True. But the IIC Mechs are essentially a modification of a base IS design. So it's consistent with the original design idea that their cockpits would be more IS-like.

Edited by Appogee, 17 May 2016 - 06:11 AM.

[CDLord HHGD]

Maybe that's the distinction between regular mechs and omnimechs.... ?

[MeiSooHaityu]

The cockpit looks ok to me. It's not my favorite, but it isn't terrible for sure.

I mean, at least it isn't the worst like the Cicada . Then again, that mech is ugly inside and out.

[Metus regem]

Appogee, on 17 May 2016 - 06:10 AM, said:

Noone said anything about analogue vs digital.

Warhawk's cockpit looks far more modern and sci-fi than Kodiak's.

That is the point of this post.

/shrug

It has a cockpit that feels inline with it being a military vechile, having flown AH-64D's it really does feel inline with that.

[Johnny Z]

Please add the video link....

CD LoreHammer Lord, on 17 May 2016 - 06:15 AM, said:

Maybe that's the distinction between regular mechs and omnimechs.... ?

Is the Kodiak a battlemech or omnimech?

[Appogee]

Metus regem, on 17 May 2016 - 07:43 AM, said:

It has a cockpit that feels inline with it being a military vechile, having flown AH-64D's it really does feel inline with that.

Does an AH-64D feel like it was designed by a socially-isolated genetically-engineered protowarrior caste 1000 years from now?

CD LoreHammer Lord, on 17 May 2016 - 06:15 AM, said:

Maybe that's the distinction between regular mechs and omnimechs.... ?

I guess it could be.

[Nyte Kitsune]

Johnny Z, on 17 May 2016 - 08:04 AM, said:

Please add the video link....



Is the Kodiak a battlemech or omnimech?

Battlemech, Not an Omni. Its just Clan, which makes it nasty. More in line with the IIc mechs.

[L3mming2]

I want to see it too
(the video link)

Edited by L3mming2, 17 May 2016 - 08:12 AM.

[L3mming2]

foud it https://www.twitch.t...ngtv/v/66897823

[ScarecrowES]

Appogee, on 17 May 2016 - 05:38 AM, said:

PGI's original thinking on cockpits could be summarised as "IS Mechs look industrial, Clan Mechs look more sci-fi".

I think it's a neat distinction which adds some much-needed flavour to the game.

So I was disappointed to find that Kodiak seems to be an exception to the design plan... exposed tubular framing, old fashioned instruments, a very enclosed perspective out of narrow window glass.

What do you think?

Most Clan mechs have exposed tubing. Impact cages. They're especially visible on wave 1 omnis. Kodiak cockpit doesn't seem out of line with other Clan mechs to me. I can definitely tell at a glance that we're looking at a clan mech.

[Metus regem]

Appogee, on 17 May 2016 - 08:07 AM, said:

Does an AH-64D feel like it was designed by a socially-isolated genetically-engineered protowarrior caste 1000 years from now?

Nope felt like it was designed by someone that would never have to sit in it during a combat situation.... just like the Kodiak would've been, Scientist and Labor cast would've been the ones doing the design work with input by the warrior cast.

[Bishop Steiner]

Being a Battlemech it was still designed with Second Line forces in mind. Front Line Ristars would be driving the Executioner Omnimech, instead. As such, just like the IICs, it gets the more dated, industrial, low tech feel. Remember, the IICs are NOT reconditioned or updated Inner Sphere mechs but entirely new Clan Battlemechs based off the basic Design of the old IS design.

But a Hunchback IIC has about as much in common as the A10 does with the earlier P47 it get's it's "Thunderbolt" name from, technologically. Role and inspiration, yes, actual shared components, etc? No.

So while the Kodiak actualyl was somewhat ironically embraced after the Battle of Tukayid by some clan front line warriors, it, like all Clan Battlemechs of this era, was never actually meant to be as spit polished and shiny/fancy as the Omni mechs.

[Evan20k]

From a lore perspective, why is that? Were clans convinced that Omnis were just inherently more combat efficient or was it because they could swap out damaged pods making for fast repairs?