102 replies to this topic

[ImaginaryFireball]

The Black Hawk looks like the Nova because it's a Drac bootleg. After the battle of Luthien, the IS powers started work on making their own versions of Clan Omnis, but with mass produced IS tech. Check out the Rakshasa for the FedCom's take on the Timberwolf.

[Tiy0s]

The Black Hawk-KU is quite literally Kurita putting IS tech on a Nova. As far as the story goes of Battletech goes, it is a Nova rebuilt by Kuritan engineers. You can read more on it here.

https://www.sarna.ne...i/Black_Hawk-KU

As far as booster pack content goes, I'd say the BHKU is pretty good value compared to previous booster packs(though nothing beats that Phoenix Hawk and Stalker pack lol)

The IIC mechs were completely new models from the ground up because they're new mechs. When deciding with cauldron which mechs we were open to make for IS omnis, one stipulation I put early on was that I wasn't comfortable with kitbashing parts from existing mechs and calling it something "new." I limited the choices to mechs that were, according the battletech story, chassis that are already in MWO that were entirely just tech swapped. Perseus, Gauntlet, Black Hawk KU, Centurion Omni, Firestarter Omni, Blackjack Omni, Arctic Fox, etc. Mechs that, according to their Sarna page, read out as "we took X mech and made it omni."

After that, we decided the BHKU was the safest option to dive into the world of IS Omnimech balance. Didn't want to do something too crazy when it's something we've never tried before. One thing I realized I didn't like from previous tech swap mechs is that their silhouettes are the same and you often can't tell the difference between the two until they shoot. So the extra coolant pods and torso bits on the BHKU are meant to alleviate that and make it recognizable as a Black Hawk instead of a Nova.

All in all, I'm looking forward to this patch. After the dust settles we can sit down and analyze which IS omnimechs(if any) we want to follow this up with.

Or I forget all about the BHKU because [REDACTED] is coming out next month and that's my baby.

[crazytimes]

Tiy0s, on 13 April 2024 - 01:13 PM, said:

Or I forget all about the BAKU because [REDACTED] is coming out next month and that's my baby.

Is it a Sunder? Because that would be cool. I'd settle for Avatar. Of all fixed equipment, two medium lasers is definitely not the least practical.

[Tiy0s]

May is not an IS Omnimech

[CycKath]

Tiy0s, on 13 April 2024 - 01:21 PM, said:

May is not an IS Omnimech

So Clan 'Mech possibly appearing in MW5:Clans.... ?

[Hawk819]

1st, and foremost, ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!!

2nd, I'm hoping we're getting a new Clan Chassis. Hopefully A Turkina, or a Kingfisher.

[Terran123rd]

Tiy0s, on 13 April 2024 - 01:21 PM, said:

May is not an IS Omnimech

A Wolverine IIC or Griffin IIC would cool.

Or the Hermit Crab.

[Will9761]

anyukakedvence, on 13 April 2024 - 11:46 AM, said:

Hey PG!

I got that you need money.... but Black Hawk is a copy of the Nova.

Money grab.

Simply is that.

Shame. Pure shame.

If you read the lore of the Black Hawk KU, then you would know that the IS Omni was based on the Clan version. So it makes perfect sense for PGI to re-use the Nova to show how the Black Hawk KU was reverse engineered to make the mech.
https://www.sarna.ne...i/Black_Hawk-KU

anyukakedvence, on 13 April 2024 - 12:17 PM, said:

Yes, It is true...

I hate this and the best pay full price for a copy paste mech.

No, thank you.

You have to remember that, PGI is only using the Black Hawk KU to test the waters. This mech will eventually lead to other IS Omnimechs. So if me paying full price for a "copy paste mech" leads to other IS Omnis like the Hauptmann, Men Shen and Sunder, then I'll gladly pay for it.

Edit: forgot to bring up the lore of this mech.

Edited by Will9761, 13 April 2024 - 02:37 PM.

[TELEFORCE]

This is pretty exciting! The Black Hawk-KU is a good choice to kick off IS omnis IMO. There's so little novelty to the Clan version that it's easy for the Inner Sphere to duplicate - no compact armor or structure, just the XL engine they couldn't reconcile. And they had to make it heavier since Inner Sphere weapons are heavier than Clan weapons. On tabletop the Black Hawk-KU is probably the most solid of the 1st-gen Inner Sphere omnis.

I hope the May 'mech is either the Firemoth or Kingfisher!

[Hawk819]

TELEFORCE, on 13 April 2024 - 02:36 PM, said:

I hope the May 'mech is either the Firemoth or Kingfisher!

I wouldn't get my hopes up for the `Moth. But if it is the Firemoth. Then PGI is in for a wrongful death lawsuit. Cause I'll die of shock and surprise!

Edited by Hawk819, 13 April 2024 - 06:01 PM.

[-Ramrod-]

Ooo maybe it's the Raptor 2....you know with ECM and the VOID Signature System cloaking device xD.

[Utsuho Reiuzi]

Since they're considered a booster pack, will the new 'mechs follow the same rules the last booster pack I can recall did (i.e. 4 months delay for MC, 5 months for c-bills)?

[w0qj]

Thank you!

My thoughts exactly... previous tech swap mechs have the same sihouettes...

IS Omnimechs... exciting times

Tiy0s, on 13 April 2024 - 01:13 PM, said:

...One thing I realized I didn't like from previous tech swap mechs is that their silhouettes are the same and you often can't tell the difference between the two until they shoot. So the extra coolant pods and torso bits on the BHKU are meant to alleviate that and make it recognizable as a Black Hawk instead of a Nova.

[Lionheart2012]

Locked XL? Coolant pods on the OX?

[Rhaelcan]

w0qj, on 13 April 2024 - 07:11 PM, said:

Thank you!

My thoughts exactly... previous tech swap mechs have the same sihouettes...

IS Omnimechs... exciting times

The black hawk KU has some added geo. It looks cool

[PraetorGix]

InnerSphereNews, on 13 April 2024 - 10:03 AM, said:

May Patch - New Chassis

PleasebetheSunderPleasebetheSunderPleasebetheSunderPleasebetheSunder

[Corporal Adrian Shephard]

PGI please optimize the HUD, it "eats" ~15 fps, it's too much for HUD, also add filters to the in-game store, such as ECM, stealth, it’s very sad when I want to find a mech with ECM and I need to view each one

[Samovar Warrior]

Сompletely agree, the game HUD should not reduce the computer's performance so much. This is especially true for players with weak computers.

[Dran Dragore]

D V Devnull, on 13 April 2024 - 10:44 AM, said:

Well... I guess this comes with elephant-in-the-room questions...

Does this mean the I.S. XL Engine will be reworked so 1st-ST loss is not insta-death even if there are worse heat penalties? It seems like that's necessary in order to accommodate I.S. OmniMech designs, thereby making them reasonably viable & enjoyable for everyone?

Will the XXL Engine be introduced to both Clans and I.S. so that lineups are appropriately filled? It would make all kinds of new build options possible, and enable the I.S. XL to still have a reasonable placement... right?

~D. V. "originally never thought of I.S. OmniMechs as being something MWO would ever see" Devnull

thats exactly what i also think when i read that IS Omni Mechs are coming out! When they keep the Engine and they are unchangeable like it is with the clan Mechs then these Mechs are nice but completly useless. Like the Avatar or Sunder: slow and vulnerable. A big turkey shot.

[martian]

Dran Dragore, on 14 April 2024 - 12:16 AM, said:

thats exactly what i also think when i read that IS Omni Mechs are coming out! When they keep the Engine and they are unchangeable like it is with the clan Mechs then these Mechs are nice but completly useless. Like the Avatar or Sunder: slow and vulnerable. A big turkey shot.

My guess is that PGI either gives those XL-engined IS OmniMechs massive armor and structure side torso bonuses to protect their engines or PGI makes their XL engines some special irremovable equipment with specific rules, so that those IS OmniMechs will no die due to side torso loss.