26 replies to this topic

[Malcolm Vordermark]

Bud Crue, on 24 June 2016 - 07:13 AM, said:

Sorry, my error with the chicken walker designation. I am focusing on the non-humanoid mechs with narrow front profiles like like the Catapult, Crab, Stalker, Timber, etc.

To my way of playing I seem to have a lot longer lifespan in most non-humanoid mechs and staying on target during that lifespan by just wobbling rather than twisting. To my way of thinking that smaller profile of the non-humanoid mechs which allows this was an advantage before the rescale and is still, but has this advantage (if you buy that it is an advantage) increased as a result of the rescale?

Reversed joint legs and the non humanoid torso often go together. Just pointing out its not the reason.

So far, I don't really find it to make that much of a difference. I find width to have a bigger impact on a mech's hit boxes. Most of the time mechs are already tall enough that their height isn't the reason you missed a shot, they typically move horizontally across your screen, and height doesn't really impact the effectiveness of torso twisting. Certain cover may no longer be tall enough and the distance between the cockpit and low slug weapon like on the Black Knight have increased.

That said, we're still kinda waiting and watching to see how it all shakes out.

I should also mention that the size increase impacted lights differently. I'm no light expert so I can't comment on how much they were affected.

[Pariah Devalis]

Bishop Steiner, on 24 June 2016 - 07:27 AM, said:

yes, in a game. Funnily enough, in actual robotics, what we call "chicken walkers" are horrible clumsy and inefficient since they (Catapults, TimberWolves, Cataphracts) are not actually bird walkers, but simply reversed Plantigrade. The Huntsman is the first actual digitigrade, or true walker we are getting. Though it's hip to knee to ankle ratio is closer to a dog leg than a chicken.

Technically, the Crab is the first true digitigrade we have.

Quote

Like the MW4 Shadowcats did?

Mmhm. Loved the fluidity of the MW4 animations. To this day, still think the game had some of the best mech animations, even if some were a little too bouncy and would cause shaken baby syndrome to the pilot.

[Hit the Deck]

Pariah Devalis, on 24 June 2016 - 07:29 AM, said:

Technically, the Crab is the first true digitigrade we have.

Its legs/feet combo doesn't actually exist in nature.

[Pariah Devalis]

Rouken Vordermark, on 24 June 2016 - 07:27 AM, said:

I should also mention that the size increase impacted lights differently. I'm no light expert so I can't comment on how much they were affected.

As long as you're not a Jenner, Panther, Firestarter, or Wolfhound... It changed almost nothing. NOTHING.

Raven stayed about the same, as did the Adder. The ACH stayed the same, KFX got a hair smaller (won't save it), and the Spider got a smidge fatter but otherwise is fairly similar to what it was. The 25 ton mechs stayed the same, and the Locust got even smaller.

Those mechs that got larger? They were way too small before. Virtually no difference in durability between them and 40 ton mechs, yet they were formerly way too small. Now they're bigger, but they still move fast and still provide a smaller target than 40 ton mechs. It isn't like they were lacking in firepower, either. Just don't face rush the enemy and they run well. Still see Oxides tearing it up on the field.

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 24 June 2016 - 07:37 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Hit the Deck, on 24 June 2016 - 07:31 AM, said:

Its legs/feet combo doesn't actually exist in nature.

correct, the Crab is an odd digitigrade/ Hybrid. I honestly haven't tried to map out it's range of motion or efficacy, but it is as made up as the traditional chicken walker as an actual leg design.

Pariah Devalis, on 24 June 2016 - 07:29 AM, said:

Technically, the Crab is the first true digitigrade we have.



Mmhm. Loved the fluidity of the MW4 animations. To this day, still think the game had some of the best mech animations, even if some were a little too bouncy and would cause shaken baby syndrome to the pilot.

yeah...shame the models themselves were pretty fourth grade paper mache bland, but the movement was nice.

None of this actually having a darn thing to do with the OP, lol.

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 24 June 2016 - 07:44 AM.

[Hit the Deck]

Bishop Steiner, on 24 June 2016 - 07:43 AM, said:

correct, the Crab is an odd digitigrade/ Hybrid. I honestly haven't tried to map out it's range of motion or efficacy, but it is as made up as the traditional chicken walker as an actual leg design.

Did/do you study biomechanics?

[Bishop Steiner]

Hit the Deck, on 24 June 2016 - 07:44 AM, said:

Did/do you study biomechanics?

I do. Though I have not gotten to attend college for it (all the non related course requirements freak me out), I did audit a few course, and spend a lot of time with people who design actual robots. Bio-Mimetics is one of the most fascinating field sin science for me. Also driven by my OCD needs as an artist, tbh. Autistic folk like me really tend to have a need to know WHY about everything we do.



stuff like this I can spend weeks poring over.

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 24 June 2016 - 07:51 AM.