163 replies to this topic

[FLG 01]

Y E O N N E, on 02 June 2019 - 01:37 PM, said:

My issue with the DF is that the MAD-5M and MAD-BH2 do anything I'd want to do with it just as well with the sole exception of dual AC/10s.

I would buy it, but only because I vastly prefer driving chicken walkers.

The Dragon Fire does ballistic armament better in general, I think that is the crucial difference to the Marauder. I could see myself using dual Gauss as primary weapons (safely in the arms, so no torso bomb), aided by a battery of lasers and ECM.
But what I really want is dual AC/20. I might even use an XL then.

As far as energy weapons are concerned... yeah, there other Mechs doing that better.

[TheArisen]

FLG 01, on 07 June 2019 - 06:01 AM, said:

The Dragon Fire does ballistic armament better in general, I think that is the crucial difference to the Marauder. I could see myself using dual Gauss as primary weapons (safely in the arms, so no torso bomb), aided by a battery of lasers and ECM.
But what I really want is dual AC/20. I might even use an XL then.

As far as energy weapons are concerned... yeah, there other Mechs doing that better.

Yeah I don't think there's any question that the DFire would do ballistics better than any IS mech of a similar weight.

[Kanil]

TheArisen, on 08 June 2019 - 10:33 AM, said:

Yeah I don't think there's any question that the DFire would do ballistics better than any IS mech of a similar weight.

"Ballistics" is a pretty broad group for it to be better than every other 'mech at. It's not gonna be running dual HGauss, nor is it going to be doing AC/2 spam, and it's going to be giving up most of it's tonnage gain over the Warhammers to armor it's arms.

'course having the guns in the arms does offer some advantages, with gauss, fitting XL engines, and just general aiming. I kinda wonder if a triple AC/10 variant would be any fun.

[TheArisen]

Kanil, on 08 June 2019 - 02:26 PM, said:

"Ballistics" is a pretty broad group for it to be better than every other 'mech at. It's not gonna be running dual HGauss, nor is it going to be doing AC/2 spam, and it's going to be giving up most of it's tonnage gain over the Warhammers to armor it's arms.

'course having the guns in the arms does offer some advantages, with gauss, fitting XL engines, and just general aiming. I kinda wonder if a triple AC/10 variant would be any fun.

Well that's why I qualified my statement with "IS mech of similar weight" as 70 to 80 ton mechs don't run dual hvy gauss. Stripping the Whammy's arms is a valid point but barring PGI screwing up the DFire I'd suggest it's arms will be in line with the cockpit in addition to the added flexibility of having arm mounts. 6R has good mounts but the DFire should have near perfect mounts.

[TheArisen]

I was looking at the tonnage and X5 ac2 could actually be a thing for the Dragonfire and if you go small engine (xl255) 6 ac2 on a 75 ton mech could be done which would really cement the DFire as the IS's heavy mech king of ballistics. Perhaps it's too specialized for the one build but I guess someone could also run MGs if they were crazy and perhaps some day light ACs will get added (Not too hopeful obviously but it's a thought)

[FLG 01]

Kanil, on 08 June 2019 - 02:26 PM, said:

I kinda wonder if a triple AC/10 variant would be any fun.

Such a build would result in a slow Mech (with XL), or a very slow Mech (LFE). I think 75t are just not enough to work with but then, some people have no problem with driving a very slow Mech.

[Fed0t]

Finished my version of redesign. Background still need some work though.

[Kanil]

TheArisen, on 09 June 2019 - 12:17 PM, said:

Well that's why I qualified my statement with "IS mech of similar weight" as 70 to 80 ton mechs don't run dual hvy gauss.

70 tons is a little light on ammo, but 75 is fine for dual HG.

FLG 01, on 10 June 2019 - 10:42 AM, said:

Such a build would result in a slow Mech (with XL), or a very slow Mech (LFE). I think 75t are just not enough to work with but then, some people have no problem with driving a very slow Mech.

I've exactly zero experience with a 3x10 build, so I don't know how much ammo you'd need for it, but it looks like it would win a footrace with a Dire Whale, so that'll probably be fine.

[Karl Streiger]

Kanil, on 12 June 2019 - 07:08 PM, said:

I've exactly zero experience with a 3x10 build, so I don't know how much ammo you'd need for it, but it looks like it would win a footrace with a Dire Whale, so that'll probably be fine.

Three AC10s or four AC10s for what they are worth are to heavy. Two AC10s and a single ERPPC do the same - and you can already runi it quite okayish on the Thanatos 5S.
When JumpJets were good for anything else but poptarting the 5S would also had the ability to reach places other Mechs could not. Unfortunately because of poptarters PGI nerfed jumpjets until they were only usable for poptarting.

Slow you don't want to go slow - never. Speed is always the key for a tactical game. Especially with 3 AC10s you don't want to move like a sloth - otherwise 1-2ton of ammunition are enough - simple because you sacrifice to much for to little. As slow as you are even a 30pin point for low heat is hardly enough to make a difference when overrun by laser vomit builds

[Nightbird]

Looks great though the first images in the OP are a big too wide from the front to do well. The two images in the second post are perfect.

Edited by Nightbird, 12 June 2019 - 10:42 PM.

[Fed0t]

And with background finally.

[TheArisen]

Fed0t, on 14 June 2019 - 06:20 PM, said:

And with background finally.

Absolutely gorgeous with epic detail!

[DarthMoo]

I think this would be a cool mech to have in my line up .. I'd buy it ..

[TheArisen]

Nightbird, on 12 June 2019 - 10:41 PM, said:

Looks great though the first images in the OP are a big too wide from the front to do well. The two images in the second post are perfect.

True it is a bit wide but it just looks so good that we figured it'd be more valuable to drum up general support for the DF.

[jjm1]

Another hero concept for you to look but not touch.

[Jackal Noble]

Beautiful. Das ist fantastiche.

[TheArisen]

jjm1, on 08 July 2019 - 10:53 AM, said:

Another hero concept for you to look but not touch.

You're spoiling us and it's amazing. I also enjoy the lore you've created for this mech.

[Renzor the Red]

Arm-mounted ballistics and torso-mounted energy? Sounds like a smaller Deathstrike with ECM, which I would totally be into. Probably about the size of a sun spider?

Cool artwork.

Edited by Renzor the Red, 29 July 2019 - 10:23 AM.

[FLG 01]

Renzor the Red, on 29 July 2019 - 10:22 AM, said:

Arm-mounted ballistics and torso-mounted energy? Sounds like a smaller Deathstrike with ECM, which I would totally be into. Probably about the size of a sun spider?

The 75t Marauder would probably closest in size, but the Dragon Fire has the advantage of higher and imo better hardpoints.

I think having the ballistics in the arms is a huge advantage. Greater range of motion, Gauss rifle explosions are less of a threat, and you can use the torso space more efficiently. The Thanatos e.g. cannot use dual AC/20 with ECM and LFE; the Dragon Fire can (plus AMS if you so chose). If one is particularly brave, even the XL is option...

The IS Dragon Fire and the Clan Black Python are probably the 75t apex predators on each side, although there are quite a number of powerful 75t Mechs left like the Falconer. It is a strangely neglected weight... In the last three years, only two 75t Mechs were released, the rather underwhelming Thanatos and the Night Gyr, which is basically a pocket assault.

[TheArisen]

FLG 01, on 30 July 2019 - 07:01 AM, said:

The 75t Marauder would probably closest in size, but the Dragon Fire has the advantage of higher and imo better hardpoints.

I think having the ballistics in the arms is a huge advantage. Greater range of motion, Gauss rifle explosions are less of a threat, and you can use the torso space more efficiently. The Thanatos e.g. cannot use dual AC/20 with ECM and LFE; the Dragon Fire can (plus AMS if you so chose). If one is particularly brave, even the XL is option...

The IS Dragon Fire and the Clan Black Python are probably the 75t apex predators on each side, although there are quite a number of powerful 75t Mechs left like the Falconer. It is a strangely neglected weight... In the last three years, only two 75t Mechs were released, the rather underwhelming Thanatos and the Night Gyr, which is basically a pocket assault.

The terribly ironic thing is the Thanatos drew people in because they thought it'd be strong from just having both JJ & ECM but hard points and geometry are clearly more important. I can get some use out of it but it's clearly not all that good.

In general though it is weird because 75t is one of the ideal weights so one would think it'd get more attention.