34 replies to this topic

[Planerunner]

To Piranha,

Thank you.

Thank you for hiring an art team that is finally doing justice to the mech designs I loved to hate. Yes, you read that right. Hatred. I loved to hate the Centurion. And the Jenner. And the Dragon. And the Commando, Firestarter, and many others that had the misfortune of not being part of the Unseen. See, it wasn't the stats or in game performance that made my stomach churn. These mechs were just quasimodo-mutant-deformed-ugly. I always felt great joy on the table top when I put down a Panther or a Jenner just to put the damn thing out of its misery. Stomp, stomp. No mech should suffer just because it was created by a one-armed, blind monkey high on crack. Such a horrible existence!

The Unseen are a holy armored pantheon of giant mech stompy goodness. They are what drew many of us old timers to the game. Nothing since then has excited me about Battletech. There have been some interesting designs from time to time, but no cohort of sheer awesome comparable to the originals. When FASA lost the Unseen, it was a mortal blow the game has never truly recovered from. Since then, we old timers have mourned while watching the game we love break down like a dying cancer patient. You could have my Marauder when you pried it from my cold, dead hands.

Until now.

This is the artwork the original Battletech universe deserved and never got.


Thank you.

p.s. - please take this art and feed it into the table top game. Please.

[PewPew]

I'm with you, man. Artists in the 80's had such a different perception of what this kind of thing should be. The redesigns have been fantastic (save a couple small decisions in my opinion). We're finally getting the BT universe out of the retro-futuristic style and into a modern, realistic style.

I got to say, I really hope some of the retro-futurism stays, though. Modern designs just seem to predictable.

[Will Hung]

I did like the Urbanmech original...

[metro]

Well said OP!

we will take BT any way we can get it.

and the nature of the beast...some will continue...to swag!

[Phoenix Ward]

+1+1+1

[Omigir]

Long Wang, on 26 January 2012 - 12:03 AM, said:

I did like the Urbanmech original...

There is nothing sane about a person who likes the Urbanmech.

That said, OP is right! 80's BT has all the flair of 80's cars, not very many are coveted.. its time for some modern looks to make these Mechs look like Warmechines...

[Brakkyn]

I think in another 25 years people will look back and wonder what Flying Debris was thinking (or what he was on) when he made these redesigns.

[Atlas3060]

Planerunner, on 25 January 2012 - 11:43 PM, said:

Since then, we old timers have mourned while watching the game we love break down like a dying cancer patient.

Seriously?
You're using one of the most horrible things that could ever happen to someone as a description for how you feel a game went?

I'm somewhat an old timer too but I wouldn't be this melodramatic.

Quote

The Unseen are a holy armored pantheon of giant mech stompy goodness.

The Unseen were a unholy copy of anime in which I'm glad the Reseens have pulled us from and I hope FD's work pulls us further from it.
I'm loving the new Warhammer, Warhammer IIC, Marauder IIC, and warming up to the new Marauder (even though the mini is a pain to put together)

Brakkyn, on 26 January 2012 - 04:22 AM, said:

I think in another 25 years people will look back and wonder what Flying Debris was thinking (or what he was on) when he made these redesigns.

All we can do is enjoy this artwork, just like those that love the older stuff. FD did great on the Hunchback, Catapult, and DAT Atlasssssss. *puts sunglasses on*

[CoffiNail]

With a group as passionate as this, never going to please everyone. EVERY SINGLE MECH they put out will be like this, and so far it has. 3/4 like the new mech, 1/4 do not and complain.

Then we have freebirths whining that this is killing the game they knew. Umm Hello? Pick a option, you either get update mechs looks, or you get no game. Sorry I will take new game, PLUS IMO Flying Debris is doing an amazing job. Holy surats flying, it looks a little anime and transformers like? Umm, it looks functional, the original TRO mechs were hand drawn, in probably 30 min to a hour if that. You really want them to just copy the bland plain ugly TRO images? Yeah yeah you came to love them playing with them for 25 years. Well welcome to the real world where EVERYTHING remotely popular is getting a re-do. Complain like a bandit caste slacker all you like. Welcome to progress, you do not like it go hide back in the shire.

[Omigir]

And that.. is the nail in the coffin on that n__n

[Aegis Kleais]

PGI are dreamweavers, but Paul is the stuff nightmares are made of. <in hushed voice>Word is, he's got a face that'd make a train stop, backup and take a dirt road</in hushed voice>.

Also, using that last tag has invalidated the HTML in my post. Damn you Paul!!!! *shakes fist angrily*

[Aegis Kleais]

CoffiNail, on 26 January 2012 - 06:02 AM, said:

With a group as passionate as this, never going to please everyone. EVERY SINGLE MECH they put out will be like this, and so far it has. 3/4 like the new mech, 1/4 do not and complain.

Then we have freebirths whining that this is killing the game they knew. Umm Hello? Pick a option, you either get update mechs looks, or you get no game. Sorry I will take new game, PLUS IMO Flying Debris is doing an amazing job. Holy surats flying, it looks a little anime and transformers like? Umm, it looks functional, the original TRO mechs were hand drawn, in probably 30 min to a hour if that. You really want them to just copy the bland plain ugly TRO images? Yeah yeah you came to love them playing with them for 25 years. Well welcome to the real world where EVERYTHING remotely popular is getting a re-do. Complain like a bandit caste slacker all you like. Welcome to progress, you do not like it go hide back in the shire.

Thing is, though, it's a bit childish to equate not liking a design with it being "whiny/complaining". A person who doesn't like a design (that you might like) is NOT making the statement in order to personally offend you or make you feel insecure about how much you like it. So don't take it in an offensive manner.

I've been a big fan of the redesigned Mechs until the Centurion came out. My core reason why I didn't like it was that it was significantly too human/Gundam looking, especially with an articulate hand. But I also subscribe to the belief you first stated (in short, "You can't please everyone") I think my dislike of the Centurion's looks will be offset as long as it does not animate in a more human-esque manner, but still, everyone is permitted to have their own opinion, and whether it conflicts with yours or not, people should not equate it to anti-community whining; such actions merely showcase such persons are either afraid of confrontations or take personal differences as a direct insult (transference).

Embrace that we all have a mind of our own; some people will love it, others may not. Individuality is the spice of life.

[Omigir]

Aegis Kleais™, on 26 January 2012 - 06:53 AM, said:

Thing is, though, it's a bit childish to equate not liking a design with it being "whiny/complaining". A person who doesn't like a design (that you might like) is NOT making the statement in order to personally offend you or make you feel insecure about how much you like it. So don't take it in an offensive manner. I've been a big fan of the redesigned Mechs until the Centurion came out. My core reason why I didn't like it was that it was significantly too human/Gundam looking, especially with an articulate hand. But I also subscribe to the belief you first stated (in short, "You can't please everyone") I think my dislike of the Centurion's looks will be offset as long as it does not animate in a more human-esque manner, but still, everyone is permitted to have their own opinion, and whether it conflicts with yours or not, people should not equate it to anti-community whining; such actions merely showcase such persons are either afraid of confrontations or take personal differences as a direct insult (transference). Embrace that we all have a mind of our own; some people will love it, others may not. Individuality is the spice of life.

Not to nit pick, but really, articulated hands are TRO. There are mechs who hold guns. Battlemaster holds a giant auto cannon. There are lots of Battlemechs who have hands of all kinds.

[guardian wolf]

I have to agree with CoffiNail on this one, I like it, it looks like the BA war machine I knew it was, but as an old friend *RC-1138* said by the force this thing is ugly, when he saw the original back then. If you've played Republic Commando, you know what I mean. K'oyacyi ner mando'ad vods.

[Elizander]

Well at least someone had the guts to say what probably most of us were feeling for a long time now regarding the original designs. There's a reason why I keep asking for a Battlemaster you know. If FD keeps it up I might not need one. :3

[Aegis Kleais]

Omigir, on 26 January 2012 - 07:03 AM, said:

Not to nit pick, but really, articulated hands are TRO. There are mechs who hold guns. Battlemaster holds a giant auto cannon. There are lots of Battlemechs who have hands of all kinds.

I understand. And no offense taken. My stance on this has been "I understand that MW pulls many things from BT", but the reason why the game is not called BattleTech:Online is because it is not designed to be a straight up conversion of the TableTop Game. One of the things I personally felt was worth sacrifice was forms of melee or grappling on Mechs. I respect that others feel as strongly opposed to this as well. For me, the more human a Mech became the less I saw it as a war machine and more as a human-sized suit of armor, ala Gundam style. It's just a personal opinion though.

[Omigir]

Well, I can see that, but a hand that can grab does not automatically mean it can do back flips and high fives and crazy articulation. Just like having a smooth run cycle does not mean a mech can do kung-fu. No one is trying to implement a super flexible agile mech. Think of the stance, and the open hand more like that Nissan commercial where the truck drove down a mountain side like it was skiing. We all know a truck *Cant* do that wrought getting jacked up. They portrayed it that way to give it a look/feel. Mechs are drawn they way they are to look a certain way. Centurion is taking its stance to give off a feel, which is prowling/dangerous/ready.

as far as the hand goes? Mechs have hands in every iteration of MechWarrior ever made. Centurion in both MW2 and MW4:Mektek has hands. They are not well rendered, but they are there.

Edited by Omigir, 26 January 2012 - 09:18 AM.

[Nick Makiaveli]

Yikes....just saw the new Warhammers. Time for a new favorite mech

[Solis Obscuri]

Nick Makiaveli, on 26 January 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

Yikes....just saw the new Warhammers. Time for a new favorite mech

Woof...

Yeah, that could use a little work. At least take out the ******* camel-toe...

[Karyudo ds]

Planerunner, on 25 January 2012 - 11:43 PM, said:

...When FASA lost the Unseen, it was a mortal blow the game has never truly recovered from....

Pity, if FASA never ripped off those designs to begin with that wouldn't've happened. Guess they didn't put much faith in this internet thing. I agree though, those designs really gave the game it's image back then. Some of the non-Macross/Dougram designs were still good. I didn't think the Centurion or Zeus were particularly offensive but of course they hold up less today and yeah...most of the "originals" just weren't all that amazing.

Thing that bothered me was why the Stinger couldn't drop it's gunpod or how the Locust could punch or the Blackhawk torso twist...or the Marauder have a center torso turret when the rules didn't support the art they used at all in places. Come to think of it the searchlight in the Warhammer was useable but never mentioned in the TRO and magically took no weight...stuff like that bothered the crap out of me. Would love to see Battletech get some of this goodness though, didn't happen with MW4 but... seems due.

Aegis Kleais™, on 26 January 2012 - 08:25 AM, said:

One of the things I personally felt was worth sacrifice was forms of melee or grappling on Mechs. I respect that others feel as strongly opposed to this as well. For me, the more human a Mech became the less I saw it as a war machine and more as a human-sized suit of armor, ala Gundam style. It's just a personal opinion though.

Thing is...why would you ever spend the money on a machine to give it arms when tank turrets cost less and does the same exact thing they do in the MW games? Yeah it looks cool, but beyond MW3 arms had no function at all beyond being cool...and in MW3 I found it hard as crap to use them and handle torso twisting together, but that might've just been me. Manipulators on a machine like that with arms would in theory have some logistical bonuses beyond the combat melee options and MW has always dissapointed me in how optional they are, I mean in MW2 we took all weapons out of the arms, always. Only reason we didn't in MW4 was because it wasn't allowed.

So personally I would like to someday see the arms given a use of some kind...otherwise MW has always been a funky looknig tank sim to me.