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[InnerSphereNews]

HUNTER PACK:

IN THE MECHBAY WITH MARK NICHOLSON

Preorder the Hunter Pack HeRE >>>

Greetings MechWarriors,

In this news post, Mark will be showing us the progress and process of creating the 'Mechs and other assets that will ship with the Hunter Pack! We hope you enjoy this look at our development process!

Check back for future updates!

The MWO Team

IMAGE 1 - The Hard Point Preview

PREORDER THE HUNTER PACK HERE >>>

[Mark Nicholson]

So back when we did the preview for the Warden Pack, a couple days before release, I followed up the announcement with a bunch of work in progress images and some description of what was going on. I continued to be present in the thread and answer as many questions as I could. You can find it HERE.

This time, we decided to start a bit earlier, and post some things up as they're happening. Starting today with the above preview of weapon hardpoint locations. On the Warden Pack, I had seen where some of the weapons were at, and was considering reworking a few of them to look better. I didn't have time in the end, and had to put that idea on pause again. When considering the Stalker for the Hunter Pack, I was immediately struck by the weird look of the side torso PPCs.



They look like tusks,and we already have enough of those. It doesn't make any sense for them to stick out away from the body like that when there's both plenty of room in the body and this would match the look of the lasers. So they're now moved up, closer together, and farther back.

For the new hardpoints, the side torso secondary energy location is up near the arms. It could have taken the space where the Misery has the ballistic hardpoint, but I didnt' want to limit what we could do with the 'Mech in the future, by overlapping the 2nd Energy with 1st Ballistic and 1st Missile. The 2nd Energy in the center torso could probably have been done with a new pair of side-by side, but that always feels weird when you only equip one. I went with something more interesting and created a nose cap. I'd like to get the nosecap working with paint, but I'm not sure I'll have time to do that and have it support every skin we have for the stalker. I'm interested to hear opinions on this. The head mount then had to be up top, as there wasn't enough room above the second energy to put something, and not get in the way of the player view. This is always much harder, adding hardpoints to 'Mechs after they're released, you can't plan for more nested locations and adjust the 'Mech to fit the weapons.

The Phoenix Hawk was much easier by comparison. The left torso Energy matches the right. The head Energy hardpoint fits right in between them, as the only other option was some sort of tacked-on mohawk looking laser that would ruin the look of that smooth round head (ew). The arms now finally have a weapon priority that matches the concept art, and previous depictions, of the Phoenix Hawk.


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Update
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I'll be double posting new images below, but I trust you all to be able to scan through the thread pretty quickly and find anything I've posted in blue text. So please do that if you're looking for context on the following images, or any questions I've answered.

[Glaive-]

aaaw man, I was thinking of skipping this one, but that Stalker's hardpoint placement has me reconsidering..

[TercieI]

Nice. Appreciate this. Looking forward to seeing more.

[Roodkapje]

Are there people out there who would actually spend real money on the Phoenix Hawk ?!

[Heavy Money]

Great, glad you are posting about the process again! Its really cool to see.

[Gas Guzzler]

Roodkapje, on 25 August 2021 - 10:08 AM, said:

Are there people out there who would actually spend real money on the Phoenix Hawk ?!

Yes. MASC, JJ, and 7E two of which are shoulder mounts.

[Nightbird]

1B and plus one of those high energy in each torso would make the Stalker a no-brainer. As is, losing those 2E high in each arm only to get 1 back in the torso hurts.

[TercieI]

Roodkapje, on 25 August 2021 - 10:08 AM, said:

Are there people out there who would actually spend real money on the Phoenix Hawk ?!

Sure. I've loved it since it dropped. Hit leaderboards on a few variants and have always found it very fun to drive. This pack was a way easier buy than the Stryker for me.

Edited by TercieI, 25 August 2021 - 11:01 AM.

[FLG 01]

Mark Nicholson, on 25 August 2021 - 09:03 AM, said:

The arms now finally have a weapon priority that matches the concept art, and previous depictions, of the Phoenix Hawk.

Thank you so much!

[Bolo Atari]

Could you move up the deployment date? Great. Thank you!

[Mark Nicholson]

Bolo Atari, on 25 August 2021 - 11:30 AM, said:

Could you move up the deployment date? Great. Thank you!

I really can't. what you're seeing above is all that's done right now. And for you it's 8 weeks until it goes up, but much less for me to have it ready for testing.

[Clay Endfield]

Well, those higher Energy Torso mounts do open up the possibility of ER PPC/Heavy PPC builds. Really hoping that this Stalker gets more Armor quirks for durability. Stalkers are hard to kill, but for a Zombie Assault limited to close-Quarters brawling, 3x MPLs and 57 KPH isn't going to be enough to make it Zombie anymore than a few seconds. Giving it something silly like +20 CT Armor and +10 CT Structure could make it last that much longer; long enough to effectively Zombie.

[D V Devnull]

Mark Nicholson, on 25 August 2021 - 09:03 AM, said:

For the new hardpoints, the side torso secondary energy location is up near the arms.

An enlightening note, Mark... Thanks... That brings me to a question which someone else might possibly ask (because of the given that there are people who get frustrated when they set up a Weapons Loadout and the MechLab simply will not listen)... If someone wishes to load the Side Torso in a manner where a Laser-type Weapon is lower and the PPC-type Weapon higher, is that possible to do? Or is this going to pull a Banshee and shove the PPC-type Weapon down lower unless there is two PPC-type Weapon present?

~D. V. "one of many who encounter issues with mounting their Weapons where they want them at" Devnull

[Mark Nicholson]

D V Devnull, on 25 August 2021 - 01:08 PM, said:

If someone wishes to load the Side Torso in a manner where a Laser-type Weapon is lower and the PPC-type Weapon higher, is that possible to do? Or is this going to pull a Banshee and shove the PPC-type Weapon down lower unless there is two PPC-type Weapon present?

It's going to remain consistent with existing weapon hardpoint behavior, as seen in the default loadout, and prioritize EH1 over EH2.

[justcallme A S H]

I like these threads Mark and the information in them and I know heaps that find it just as interesting what goes on behind the curtain.

Keep it going!

[Heavy Money]

Mark Nicholson, on 25 August 2021 - 11:39 AM, said:

I really can't. what you're seeing above is all that's done right now. And for you it's 8 weeks until it goes up, but much less for me to have it ready for testing.

Daeron mentioned on his last NGNG appearance that you all might be looking for someone with 3D experience to help with some of the work load. Is that still the case?

[Gas Guzzler]

Mark Nicholson, on 25 August 2021 - 11:39 AM, said:

I really can't. what you're seeing above is all that's done right now. And for you it's 8 weeks until it goes up, but much less for me to have it ready for testing.

How are the in house Stone Rhino concepts looking?

[w0qj]

MWO already is/will knock itself out cranking out this ~70day leadtime Hunter Booster Pack delivery leadtime.
Which is a short time from implementation to testing to rolling out.

Previously it's 90-100day leadtime for both Stryker & Warden Booster Packs!

Bolo Atari, on 25 August 2021 - 11:30 AM, said:

Could you move up the deployment date? Great. Thank you!

[Angrius Windstorm]

I'm sensing a strong vibe here. The Phoenix Hawk camo looks familiar, and the name of the pack is Hunter, hmmmmmmmmm. Oh that's it, a Robotech vibe. SOLD :-)