7732 replies to this topic

[Bishop Steiner]

CyclonerM, on 28 January 2014 - 11:42 AM, said:

I assume they could be mediums since the other novels i have read describe the large lasers as green..
But with those machine guns taking so few tons i would bet they are LLs.

So why not a Ballistic/Energy Battlemaster like this?

Hanse Davions BLR was 3025 tech. It carried a standard 340 engine, which was massive. Battlemasters were alway undergunned in TT, largely because of that engine. Standard loadout of the 1G was 4 forward facing mediums, 2 rear, 1 srm6 a ppc and 2 mg. The Davion version dropped the srms and rear lasers for more armor and 6 more SHS. No way it was packing larges.

Not that it would stop PGI from releasing a slower version with larges, or a version with new tech added.

Nathan Foxbane, on 28 January 2014 - 02:50 PM, said:

Page 258 of Warrior: Coupe "Tall and humanoid, with a massive, pistol-like PPC in its left hand..."
Same page when engaging a Panther and then a Marauder: "The PPC in the Battlemaster's left fist cored the aft armor on a Panther..." and "A Marauder turned around to face him. It stabbed one massive arm in his direction, but Hanse angrily batted it aside with the Battlemaster's right hand."
Page 259: "Hanse dropped his targeting crosshairs onto one Locust and fired all four of his forward lasers."
Describing Hanse's Battlemaster in part during the Death Commando/ComStar raid on New Avalon. We learn it has a left hand PPC, and four forward firing lasers and at least one rearward firing laser. No SRMs are ever fired and no Machine Guns fire in the fight. So either Starbird has changed since The Sword and The Dagger, or Hanse swapped his old ride for a lefty BLR-1G and went into battle with no ammo. Or Stackpole completely derped on where the PPC was mounted.

from the MW first edition handbook. Pretty sure he based it off that picture, and just didn't proofread it.

[Bishop Steiner]

Odanan, on 28 January 2014 - 08:03 AM, said:

For those who don't want to read the whole book, I will transcribe here the parts about the Battlemaster:

Chapter 35

Spoiler

(...)
The compartment that held the Prince's BattleMaster was marked with both the Davion crest and the symbol of the Federated Suns. The monster machine stood there silently, its domelike upper body framed between tremendous arms. Lasers and machine guns bristled from its every port The Tech assigned to its care opened the sliding portal and moved the thing out on its tracked carrier.
"It is always ready for use, though the Prince seldom has the time to drill in it any longer," the man said.
(...)
But the other Hanse was now climbing up to the ‘Mech, quickly, triumphantly. He slid into the cockpit with practiced ease, closing it behind him. After only a short pause, the 'Mech's arms lifted into a salute. The turret swiveled smoothly through its full round of modons. And the weapons, those dark round mouths that could spit death in beams or bursts, moved and locked into position. The 'Mech turned on its heel and aimed them at the ferrocrete wall provided for testing weapons.
Red lances probed, leaving more dark scars on the pale stone. Machine guns chattered, their slugs bouncing harmlessly into the baffles set there to contain the ricochets. The BattleMaster went through its paces flawlessly.
(...)
Ardan, just behind his old friend, tapped Hanse on the shoulder. "You had a secret code, didn't you?" he whispered. "To activate the 'Master!"
Hanse turned to smile at him. "Yes, Dan, I did."
Ardan had a moment of comprehension. Something that Melissa had told him back in Tharkad came to him with sudden clarity.
"Starbird..." he murmured.
"Ah, my friend," said Hanse Davion with a smile, "that would be telling."

Chapter 37

Spoiler

(...)
Ardan knew Hanse was right If someone had forewarned him of all that had occurred within the past year, he wouldn't have believed it And, to add to the confusion, Felsa had made him an uncle. Perhaps that Sortek would also become a MechWarrior one day.
"Hey!" he yelled as Hanse stalked past him toward the hell that was the Gauntlet. "Do you want to be a godfather? My sister asked if you would consider it. I've got a nephew!"
The BattleMaster turned in its tracks. Its arm, heavy with weaponry, came up in a salute. A laser, held high, shot red light into the sky in a celebratory burst.
"Of course," said Hanse Davion, Prince of the Federated Suns. "I can never have too many Sorteks in my entourage.
Now come along. The Gauntlet needs a workout, don't you agree?"
Grinning, Ardan followed his friend and ruler into the mouth of hell.

So, what we know about the mech:
- it has more than one laser and more than one machine gun.
- it also has at least one laser in the arm (along with several other weapons).

The book describes all lasers in red color, so they are not necessarily small lasers.

also, the overall proofreading and continuity errors in TSatD are legion, so I would not read too much into the laser in the arm thing. Unless he had a torso laser swapped for the halibut. It's like the "Splinter in the Mind's Eye" of the Battletech fiction universe. Was written so early into the creation of the game world that it almost could be said to be non canon in much of it's fluff.

I would say that Hanse's BLR was a simple 1D, or one with a laser moved.

[Reno Blade]

I guess we could do something like this:
1 Large Energy + 1Balistic in each arm with 2 energy in the torsos.
(Say PPC/LL+MG in each arm and 2ML in each torso, maybe 2ML in the CT too)

Or you wait for the clantech and add the Red corsair's Battlemaster (2 Cerppcs)

[Odanan]

Bishop Steiner, on 28 January 2014 - 09:48 PM, said:

also, the overall proofreading and continuity errors in TSatD are legion, so I would not read too much into the laser in the arm thing. Unless he had a torso laser swapped for the halibut. It's like the "Splinter in the Mind's Eye" of the Battletech fiction universe. Was written so early into the creation of the game world that it almost could be said to be non canon in much of it's fluff.

I would say that Hanse's BLR was a simple 1D, or one with a laser moved.

It might be a simple 1D, but why not use these characteristics to make a new (hero) Battlemaster?
Many people will certainly want to pilot the Hanse's ride.

Mark Hayden, on 28 January 2014 - 07:39 PM, said:

I can't help but notice the similarities between the load out you describe (in particular the lack of a missile rack) and the appearance of the BattleMaster on the cover of The Sword and the Dagger. Makes me wonder if that's your Starbird?

It is the only Battlemaster in the book, so it must be the Hanse Davion's mech. (tough that painting is boring)

PS: do you see a laser in the center torso?

Edited by Odanan, 29 January 2014 - 04:23 AM.

[Odanan]

And Hayden, I hope PGI will continue to release IS hero mechs during the Clan "Invasion", even if along Clan heroes.

There are still several mechs to apply, enough for the whole year of 2015: Quickdraw, Trebuchet, Blackjack, Raven, Spider and the Phoenix bunch. (that will keep us freebirths spending money)

Edited by Odanan, 29 January 2014 - 04:41 AM.

[Hayden]

Getting us back on track...



This Fox Hunts!

3,000 points if you can tell me what book this is paying homage to (Hint: there's a sister image to this that I can't release yet).

ED: And another for the road.

Edited by Hayden, 29 January 2014 - 06:08 AM.

[CyclonerM]

Hayden, on 29 January 2014 - 05:09 AM, said:

Getting us back on track...



This Fox Hunts!

3,000 points if you can tell me what book this is paying homage to (Hint: there's a sister image to this that I can't release yet).

Mmh.. I may be one of the Succession Wars era books which i have missed. The only notable Blackjacks i remember are one of the Gray Death Legion on Verthandi and Subcommander's Maurice Fitzgerald of the St.Ives Compact seen in the Capellan Solution series. But he was not a Fed-Com pilot..

[Hayden]

CyclonerM, on 29 January 2014 - 06:07 AM, said:

Mmh.. I may be one of the Succession Wars era books which i have missed. The only notable Blackjacks i remember are one of the Gray Death Legion on Verthandi and Subcommander's Maurice Fitzgerald of the St.Ives Compact seen in the Capellan Solution series. But he was not a Fed-Com pilot..

More obscure. The pattern and colors are based off an old scenario book, the 'mech in question was originally a wolverine, but since I can't pass that around just yet...

[Featherwood]

Hayden, on 29 January 2014 - 06:10 AM, said:

More obscure. The pattern and colors are based off an old scenario book, the 'mech in question was originally a wolverine, but since I can't pass that around just yet...

Then I recall only one relevant book: 'Fourth Succession War Scenarios Vol. 1' - it has brown wolverine with fox head and 57th number (B-157)


Edit: picture from sarna.net

Edited by Featherwood, 29 January 2014 - 06:37 AM.

[Hayden]

Featherwood, on 29 January 2014 - 06:34 AM, said:

Then I recall only one relevant book: 'Fourth Succession War Scenarios Vol. 1' - it has brown wolverine with fox head and 57th number (B-157)


Edit: picture from sarna.net

Well played, sir

[Odanan]

Hayden, on 29 January 2014 - 05:09 AM, said:

Getting us back on track...
This Fox Hunts!

3,000 points if you can tell me what book this is paying homage to (Hint: there's a sister image to this that I can't release yet).

ED: And another for the road.

He is back!!!

[Bishop Steiner]

Odanan, on 29 January 2014 - 04:17 AM, said:

PS: do you see a laser in the center torso?

more likely a sensor package.

I do agree it would be nice to get a distinct versions for Davion. As for paint, IDK; I'd be happy with the Davion Guards scheme on it. But since most of the units weren't even conceived, let alone fleshed out when that book was made, *shrugs*

Of course, looking at a lot of the covers and writeups from the books in the 90s, continuity and quality control were never highpoints for FASA

[Featherwood]

Hayden, on 29 January 2014 - 06:50 AM, said:

Well played, sir

The pleasure was mine, sir

[Featherwood]

Good news, everyone! PGI has silently updated the promo-page of Clan pack collections and among other changes there were added OmniMechs pictures of better quality. For comparison:
(old picture from MWO facebook page)

(new picture from updated Clan package promo page)


I foresee more cool repaints coming!


P.S. Please use transparent background for OmniMechs repaints.

[Odanan]

Featherwood, on 30 January 2014 - 02:03 AM, said:

Good news, everyone! PGI has silently updated the promo-page of Clan pack collections and among other changes there were added OmniMechs pictures of better quality.

Thanks!

[Devil Fox]

Nice... now just to wait for the masters to do their work with templates! Be good to start using some of the downtime I'll have soon for more repaints.

By the way, do we know if the concept art that's associated with the brand new chassis next week will also be released for us to go to town on?

[Odanan]

Apostal, on 30 January 2014 - 04:51 AM, said:

By the way, do we know if the concept art that's associated with the brand new chassis next week will also be released for us to go to town on?

Let's hope they release the new IS light mech concept art in the next few days - tomorrow would be great.

I need something to do this weekend after finishing my Battlemaster "Starbird" repaint.

[Mark Hayden]

Apostal, on 30 January 2014 - 04:51 AM, said:

By the way, do we know if the concept art that's associated with the brand new chassis next week will also be released for us to go to town on?

*looks into this*

[Odanan]

Mark Hayden, on 30 January 2014 - 06:06 AM, said:

*looks into this*

Da man.

[Odanan]

OK, here is my rendition of the Battlemaster "Starbird", Hanse Davion's mech:

I removed the SRM box and added a painting to emulate the Battlemaster from the book's cover:

Spoiler

Edited by Odanan, 30 January 2014 - 08:21 AM.