163 replies to this topic

[TheArisen]

FLG 01, on 03 February 2019 - 12:12 PM, said:

It is a capable glass cannon. It can dish out good punishment, using its ECM and JJ to get in and out quickly. But there is no staying power whatsover due to the really bad hitboxes. Also, the ECM placement prohbibits certain builds. It has its weaknesses, it is just not as bad as people think it is.

The DFire on the other hand would rely more on raw power and better hitboxes, not so much on mobility. As such it is indeed/hopefully quite close to the Marauder but with dual gauss in the arms and ECM.
For mobility its brother, the Maelstrom, or the Falconer would be the better choices than the Thanatos. That is really the main problem with the Thanatos: whatever you want to do, there are Mechs which can do it better. (to a certain extent, it has this problem in TT too, to be fair).

The thing is the DFire isn't a slow mech, depending on the build it'll still be able to run up to a 360. I could see some builds pop up with a 350XL that would make it quite mobile, although I do anticipate a 325LFE being the most common choice.

[jjm1]

Dragon Fire PSD template finally up. For anyone that has been itching to paint their green and pink polka dot camo on it.

https://www.devianta...plate-784147812

[TheArisen]

jjm1, on 04 February 2019 - 03:32 AM, said:

Dragon Fire PSD template finally up. For anyone that has been itching to paint their green and pink polka dot camo on it.

https://www.devianta...plate-784147812

Aweaome stuff jjm! I will of course happily feature good repaints.

For ideas FLG's post on the first page or so outlines all the famous pilots and their units are listed, although I will admit to certain famous units...

[FLG 01]

TheArisen, on 04 February 2019 - 03:41 AM, said:

For ideas FLG's post on the first page or so outlines all the famous pilots and their units are listed, although I will admit to certain famous units...

I really would like to see Julie Hoffman, CO of the Alarion Jäger. A staunchly loyalist unit, they fought until the end and Julie died defying Peter Steiner-Davion.
Also they have a very nice paint scheme:
http://camospecs.com...eman---rfl-6x7m
(I like the grey and white combo).

[TheArisen]

FLG 01, on 04 February 2019 - 08:48 PM, said:

I really would like to see Julie Hoffman, CO of the Alarion Jäger. A staunchly loyalist unit, they fought until the end and Julie died defying Peter Steiner-Davion.
Also they have a very nice paint scheme:
http://camospecs.com...eman---rfl-6x7m
(I like the grey and white combo).

Yeah I hope someone does her's as well because she's a good hero candidate.

Fed0t is actually still in process on the Lightray but when he moves to the DFire I'll include her as a suggestion.

[Karl Streiger]

FLG 01, on 04 February 2019 - 08:48 PM, said:

(I like the grey and white combo).

same scheme but blue and white - but with the Lyran w***e on the throne disbanding this great unit, only the white remains.

(It clearly shows that the insects brats ruling the Inner Sphere have an IQ far below the average - what would happen if a Fafnir fire his Heavy GaussRifle in the confined space of a Throne Room?
Exactly everybody dies.


On a side note - the Dragon Fire uses a Zeus Slingshot GaussRifle - also to be found on the Tempest (when looking at the artwork of the tempest however you clearly see that FASA guys had serious problems to differ left from right - obviously the Gauss is in the left arm not in the right. The modernized Cyclops is the third Mech to use this GaussRifle.... not as common as the Gizzard and Poland Main or the M7 (in the 3058 its called NorseStorm - but its the same rifle to be used by the Highlander)

Edited by Karl Streiger, 04 February 2019 - 11:50 PM.

[Fed0t]

FLG 01, on 04 February 2019 - 08:48 PM, said:

I really would like to see Julie Hoffman, CO of the Alarion Jäger. A staunchly loyalist unit, they fought until the end and Julie died defying Peter Steiner-Davion.
Also they have a very nice paint scheme:
http://camospecs.com...eman---rfl-6x7m
(I like the grey and white combo).

TheArisen, on 04 February 2019 - 11:21 PM, said:

Yeah I hope someone does her's as well because she's a good hero candidate.

Fed0t is actually still in process on the Lightray but when he moves to the DFire I'll include her as a suggestion.

Lyran Alliance Hero? Color me interested!
What about loadout, as i understand it wasn't specified in lore? So should i draw her mech stock or anybody have some suggestions?

[TheArisen]

Fed0t, on 05 February 2019 - 04:13 AM, said:

Lyran Alliance Hero? Color me interested!
What about loadout, as i understand it wasn't specified in lore? So should i draw her mech stock or anybody have some suggestions?

Her loadout isn't specified in lore but it was probably stock. However, due to the battle doctrine (High speed flanking with combined arms) of her unit we thought her mech would make a good fast variant hero. The two ideas to make a fast variant is first, a Falconer inspired variant with XL375, x1 erppc, x1 gauss, x4 Mlas, JJs. Second idea is a MASC variant with an xl300, x4 mgs, x1 gauss, x1 lbx10 & x2 erMlas. Of course if you have any other ideas then that's cool too.

[FLG 01]

Fed0t, on 05 February 2019 - 04:13 AM, said:

Lyran Alliance Hero? Color me interested!
What about loadout, as i understand it wasn't specified in lore? So should i draw her mech stock or anybody have some suggestions?

Probably stock but if one wants to change it, the combined arms doctrine of the Alarion Jäger and their emphasis on rapid maneuvering imply a more mobile variant as TheArisen said.

Colonel Julie Hoffman was a media darling for a while: charming, extrovert, and her command was a showcase unit of the new LAAF. However, the media turned on her and she was subject to character assassinations and invasions of her privacy.
Despite those attacks, or perhaps because of them, her unit developed a very close relationship with her. Some people even called it a personality cult. Indeed, when she was killed in the final battle for Tharkad, the Alarion Jäger disintegrated and were virtually destroyed.

Up to that point the unit had performed consistently excellent. They were quite prominent for being an integral part of the almost legendary battlegroup of Maria Esteban and Linda McDonald (11th Arcturans) who hunted Victor. In the Battle of Tharkad they also did well against the Kell Hounds, which is saying a lot. ...until Julie Hoffman died.

Peter Steiner-Davion was so impressed with the service record of the Alarion Jäger that he authorized to rebuild them after the war. (Some people believe this was a huge mistake considering the survivors were staunchly pro-Katherine).


PS: The FCCW-era has a very rich lore even for the standards of BattleTech because there are numerous handbooks, novels, short stories etc. I think it is a shame that PGI ignored most of it when doing the FCCW-update.

Edited by FLG 01, 05 February 2019 - 02:32 PM.

[Karl Streiger]

Well well well - did you realize that both "Hero" Dragon Fires were deployed on the Tharkad.
Maybe you can merge them into one version - although I really don't like the FC2s loadout.

The LPPC in the left arm doesn't make sense - that the Gauss moved into the torso is just the consequence of the rigid build rules.
So instead keep the GaussRifle there - upgrade the PlasmaRife in the other Arm into a HPPC and fill the torso mounts with medium pulse laser. ...
quick check - Gauss, HPPC, 4 MPLAS, LFE,FF,ES,ECM, 11DHS - while not speedy its tougher is a very heavy hitter and can support infantry

[TheArisen]

Karl Streiger, on 06 February 2019 - 12:36 AM, said:

Well well well - did you realize that both "Hero" Dragon Fires were deployed on the Tharkad.
Maybe you can merge them into one version - although I really don't like the FC2s loadout.

The LPPC in the left arm doesn't make sense - that the Gauss moved into the torso is just the consequence of the rigid build rules.
So instead keep the GaussRifle there - upgrade the PlasmaRife in the other Arm into a HPPC and fill the torso mounts with medium pulse laser. ...
quick check - Gauss, HPPC, 4 MPLAS, LFE,FF,ES,ECM, 11DHS - while not speedy its tougher is a very heavy hitter and can support infantry

Hoffman was on Tharkad but you're saying Kishimoto was too? Who is the second?

I do like the hardpoints though, still feels like a DF but it's unique.

[Will9761]

If Flyingdebris ever made the Dragon Fire, I hope he sticks to the art style of jjm1. Because having the laser CT in the mouth makes much more sense adding to its name, especially if the laser is replaced by a flamer. Besides, the TRO artwork makes the Dragon Fire looks, well...erm...as if it was compensating for something. The mech is supposed to be called "Dragon Fire", not Dragon...well you know.

[CaptainBasement]

YES PLEASE

[jjm1]

Will9761, on 07 February 2019 - 11:31 PM, said:

If Flyingdebris ever made the Dragon Fire, I hope he sticks to the art style of jjm1. Because having the laser CT in the mouth makes much more sense adding to its name, especially if the laser is replaced by a flamer. Besides, the TRO artwork makes the Dragon Fire looks, well...erm...as if it was compensating for something. The mech is supposed to be called "Dragon Fire", not Dragon...well you know.

Forgot to mention before that using a dragon head motif was TheArisen's suggestion. I didn't even think of it.

It works doesn't it, even though the original cockpit is closer to a Combi T1 than a dragon.

[Will9761]

It was a wise decision in my opinion.

[TheArisen]

jjm1, on 08 February 2019 - 12:34 AM, said:

Forgot to mention before that using a dragon head motif was TheArisen's suggestion. I didn't even think of it.

It works doesn't it, even though the original cockpit is closer to a Combi T1 than a dragon.

Haha I was just trying to come up with ideas to help because Bishop talked extensively about how difficult the DF was to draw and I wanting it to be a sleek design.

[jjm1]

TheArisen, on 08 February 2019 - 02:07 AM, said:

Haha I was just trying to come up with ideas to help because Bishop talked extensively about how difficult the DF was to draw and I wanting it to be a sleek design.

Yeah I don't blame him. The miniature is like an egg crossed with an excited frog.

After a whole lot of terrible sketches the one I concepted turned out a lot more menacing than I originally thought it was going to be.

Edited by jjm1, 08 February 2019 - 06:30 AM.

[TheArisen]

jjm1, on 08 February 2019 - 06:29 AM, said:

Yeah I don't blame him. The miniature is like an egg crossed with an excited frog.

After a whole lot of terrible sketches the one I concepted turned out a lot more menacing than I originally thought it was going to be.

Hahaha yeah that mini is just so ugly and it doesn't look like the tro art as much as it should.

Thankfully I know Alex and a few others at PGI have seen the artwork, Alex even tweeted out your DF, so I'm hopeful this whole thread will yield results.

[FLG 01]

It is rather curious that this Mech has ECM. While the blueprints date back to the Star League, the designers in the 3050ies wanted a Mech to counter the Clans and build the Dragon Fire with that in mind. However, ECM is not overly useful against the Clans (when using TT rules; in MWO it is different of course). Perhaps it is a holdover from the original Star League design, perhaps somebody had the foresight to anticipate conflicts with C3-equipped forces like the Dracs.

Anyway, regarding the hero Mech... of course I think Julie Hoffman would be nice. I also would not change her Mech much, assuming she had a -4F: replace the Gauss with an HPPC and use the remaining tonnage for JJ and DHS. The Mech would be more mobiles, especially going by TT rules, without losing too much firepower. It is also a nice hardpoint change for MWO.
A 375 rated engine would require more drastic changes like replacing the Gauss with an ERPPC, the LB-10X with a LB-5X, and downgrading the MPL to ML. I mean, it could work. But JJ seem like an easier choice. Alternatively, MASC is an option.

[Fed0t]

Mech builds are not really my field of expertise, but what about this: 2 LB-10X (in arms), 4 ERML (2 in ct and 2 in left torso), and MRM10 (in right torso), default XL300\endo-steel\standard armor, 2JJ, ECM, 2 additional DHS, 4 tons of LB-10X ammo and 2 tons of missile ammo, in remlab i end up with 0.5 unused tonnage and 3 slots with full 14.5 tons of armor so stripping even 0.5 can add 1 more DHS.
It brings missile hardpoint (or maybe even two) in right torso and with head energy hardpoint it makes 5E 2B 1(2)M.

This is probably stupid idea but i just love LBX\MRM\ML combination in MWO for medium range.