11 replies to this topic

[Brenden]

Hi there.

While looking at my Adder in the 'Mech lab, I began to strangely become very interested in the shape of it's body. Specifically, the massive "Hood" it has covering the cockpit. Given the shape of the hood, it looks like it would only be natural for it to let things like water, soot, and snow stick to the hood and drip off the sides. Which got me thinking of some far off backwater world re-purposing the carcass of a destroyed Adder; hollowing it out and using the Hood as the roof of a building or as part of the foundation of a house. And that got me thinking of other things.

Imagine a STALKER, re-purposed and disarmed. It's painted a bright blue with a white streak going down it's middle and down it's torso with the words "Goodyear" painted on both sides as it walked down the street.

A FIRESTARTER re-purposed into a FIREFIGHTER; The four flame throwers replaced with fluid guns that release a spray of fire-fighting chemicals. It could be given hand actuators to allow it to clear rubble and debris away for the firemen. Could even be painted white with black dots.

A LOCUST with a dual-cockpit that acts as a taxi for the very wealthy. Maybe it keeps it's machine guns but drops the laser. If a client is a high-value target, the locust could protect them from would be burglars or assassins.

Feel free to add anything else! I love this concept and I enjoy seeing new additions to it.

[Anjian]

Anime is a great place to see non combat use of mechs.

One of the best is Patlabor, where mechs are used for police work. The mechs are only armed with a giant robot sized nightstick and classic revolver. That can be used if criminals abuse mechs for purposes of crime. Other purposes for the mechs are rescue, and even directing traffic.

So often in the case in the Gundam universe, you see mechs directing land or space traffic, but also very often used in construction and engineering work, such as repairing space colonies or stations.

In the Battletech universe, its not hard to imagine mechs used for law enforcement, patrol, and rescue. Or mechs used for agricultural purpose. Mechwarrior Dark Age has specific Agri and Industrial mechs, meant for non combat purposes, but unfortunately because of the political circumstances, were repurposed into military use.

One type of mech would be inevitable in any mech dominated world, even if there is little said about it. Those are mechs specialized for recovering other mechs, as well as mech parts and scraps.

[Snowbluff]

Anjian, on 09 February 2017 - 08:05 PM, said:

Anime is a great place to see non combat use of mechs.

One of the best is Patlabor, where mechs are used for police work. The mechs are only armed with a giant robot sized nightstick and classic revolver. That can be used if criminals abuse mechs for purposes of crime. Other purposes for the mechs are rescue, and even directing traffic.

So often in the case in the Gundam universe, you see mechs directing land or space traffic, but also very often used in construction and engineering work, such as repairing space colonies or stations.

In the Battletech universe, its not hard to imagine mechs used for law enforcement, patrol, and rescue. Or mechs used for agricultural purpose. Mechwarrior Dark Age has specific Agri and Industrial mechs, meant for non combat purposes, but unfortunately because of the political circumstances, were repurposed into military use.

One type of mech would be inevitable in any mech dominated world, even if there is little said about it. Those are mechs specialized for recovering other mechs, as well as mech parts and scraps.

Don't forget that mechs come with hands. They assist in a units salvage operations after a fight, presumably.

[RestosIII]

Brenden, on 09 February 2017 - 06:38 PM, said:

A LOCUST with a dual-cockpit that acts as a taxi for the very wealthy. Maybe it keeps it's machine guns but drops the laser. If a client is a high-value target, the locust could protect them from would be burglars or assassins.

Isn't that just the point of the Hornet?

[Escef]

In-universe, various industrialmechs and agrimechs predate the battlemech by a long time. They get used in cargo loading, cargo transport, demolitions, mining, logging, grain harvesting, etc.

[Anjian]

I can imagine the use of a repurposed mech used as a passenger taxi and/or cargo track for areas without roads.

Dropships though, might be another alternative in such circumstances.

Smaller mechs used for agricultural irrigation and fumigation, fire fighting, ditch construction, are not hard to imagine either. Might as well put planetary exploration in the list.

[Bombast]

The Viper's tiny little arms and hands look like they'd be really good for cleaning out gutters and pipes. Also might make a useful tool for [REDACTED Because The CoC is Stupid].

Edited by Bombast, 09 February 2017 - 08:43 PM.

[RestosIII]

Bombast, on 09 February 2017 - 08:34 PM, said:

Spoiler

The Viper's tiny little arms and hands look like they'd be really good for cleaning out gutters and pipes. [Redactastic]

Word of advice: Maybe you shouldn't mention a part of the body below the belt immediately after you get off from a suspension.

Edited by RestosIII, 09 February 2017 - 08:45 PM.

[Bombast]

RestosIII, on 09 February 2017 - 08:35 PM, said:

Word of advice: Maybe you shouldn't mention a part of the body below the belt immediately after you get off from a suspension.

MWO CoC said:

Posting or referring to reproductive organs, waste organs, or inappropriate bodily functions.

This is the dumbest god damn forum on the internet.

[RestosIII]

Bombast, on 09 February 2017 - 08:43 PM, said:

This is the dumbest god damn forum on the internet.

Hey, I got yelled at earlier by a fellow forum goer for posting a gif that would scar the minds of the poor little children playing here. But at this point, I'm used to it. Just forget sometimes that I need to be slightly stricter with my posting than the private Christian server run by a pastor I used to go to.

[Snowbluff]

Bombast, on 09 February 2017 - 08:43 PM, said:

This is the dumbest god damn forum on the internet.

Ugh, what's the point of paying the toll?

[Brenden]

I sort of figured that Industrial Mechs and Agricultural Mechs would be a thing, but I'm talking some more unconventional uses for the Battlemechs. Like the aforementioned Locust Taxi or Hinden-Stalker. Maybe an Atlas could be part of a spooky venture for some amusement-park; ATTACK OF THE ZOMBIE-ATLAS.