150 replies to this topic

[Butane9000]

Edited by Butane9000, 25 September 2012 - 08:39 PM.

[HAV0C]

I see where you're going, but there are three variants.

1.) HGN 732 - The 'classic' Star League era Highlander. Likely the one pictured above. Sports Ferro Fiberous armor and CASE as well

2.) HGN 733 - The downgraded succession wars variant, AC 10 instead of the Gauss and more armor to make up the weight difference.

3.) HGN 732b - A rare design even in the star league era, but able to be manufactured now thanks to the reintroduction of double heatsinks and Artemis IV Fire Control System for the LRM 20 and SRM 6, if they allow Artemis to be placed on SRM's anyway. Retains the Gauss Rifle as well as adding a third medium laser to the right torso.

I should note that the 732b, as of 3050, is capable of being built. It uses a standard engine and structure, double heatsinks, a gauss rifle with 2 tons of ammo, 3x Medium lasers, an LRM 20 w/ Artemis IV and an SRM 6 w/ Artemis IV. The SRM's may not retain the FCS, we'll see. But as of 3050 all the technology listed is back in production, including Ferro Fiberous Armor and CASE as well.

Each variant can have a differentiation of hardpoint allocations similar to what's been done with other 'mechs such as the Dragon.

Will the variants play similarly? Sure, but at the end of the day it'll be a vastly different animal compared to any other Assault out there so far.

Just my two cents.

<S>

-Colonel Andrew "Havoc" Davis
Death's Hand Brigade Mercenaries.

[Odanan]

OK, I'm geting used to the idea of the Highlander as the 4th Assault.

I suppose the hardpoints will be like this:

HGN-732
2x Medium Lasers, 1x SRM-6, 1x LRM-20, 1x Gauss Rifle
2x Energy, 2x Missile, 2x Ballistics

HGN-732b
3x Medium Lasers, 1x SRM-6, 1x LRM-20, 1x Gauss Rifle
3-4x Energy, 2x Missile, 1x Ballistics

HGN-733
2x Medium Lasers, 1x SRM-6, 1x LRM-20, 1x Autocannon 10
2x Energy, 3x Missile, 1x Ballistics

So we can have a Ballistics Highlander, an Energy Highlander and a Missile Highlander.

[HAV0C]

Odanan, on 25 September 2012 - 06:22 PM, said:

OK, I'm geting used to the idea of the Highlander as the 4th Assault.

I suppose the hardpoints will be like this:

HGN-732
2x Medium Lasers, 1x SRM-6, 1x LRM-20, 1x Gauss Rifle
2x Energy, 2x Missile, 2x Ballistics

HGN-732b
3x Medium Lasers, 1x SRM-6, 1x LRM-20, 1x Gauss Rifle
3-4x Energy, 2x Missile, 1x Ballistics

HGN-733
2x Medium Lasers, 1x SRM-6, 1x LRM-20, 1x Autocannon 10
2x Energy, 3x Missile, 1x Ballistics

So we can have a Ballistics Highlander, an Energy Highlander and a Missile Highlander.

Precisely.

That's exactly what I was thinking for the individual hardpoints on each variant.

Glad you and I are on the same sheet of music there Odanan

<S>

-Colonel Andrew "Havoc" Davis
Death's Hand Brigade Mercenaries

P.S. Now to get it where I can repaint this thing in DHB colors!

[Odanan]

HAV0C, on 25 September 2012 - 06:18 PM, said:

Each variant can have a differentiation of hardpoint allocations similar to what's been done with other 'mechs such as the Dragon.

Will the variants play similarly? Sure, but at the end of the day it'll be a vastly different animal compared to any other Assault out there so far.

I was typing the same general idea at the same time.

[HAV0C]

Odanan, on 25 September 2012 - 06:27 PM, said:

I was typing the same general idea at the same time.

Great minds, my good sir, great minds.

<S>

-Colonel Andrew "Havoc" Davis
Death's Hand Brigade Mercenaries

[Der BruzZzler von Wiesndoof]

It's time for ...

[HAV0C]

The Birdeater, on 25 September 2012 - 06:34 PM, said:

It's time for ...

Why can I only like this once.. Why????

(My default desktop background on my gaming PC)

*E-highfives The Birdeater*

<S> See ya dirtside.

-Colonel Andrew "Havoc" Davis
Death's Hand Brigade Mercenaries

[IceTitan]

Id say Battlemaster.

[EmyLightsaber]

I don't know if it's already been mentioned, but my vote is on the Timber Wolf.

[Odanan]

EmyLightsaber, on 25 September 2012 - 06:57 PM, said:

I don't know if it's already been mentioned, but my vote is on the Timber Wolf.

Get out of here!

[HAV0C]

I like Madcats. They make the most fantastic popping noises when you land on them in a Highlander.

We'll get clan 'tech one day, and it'll be very cool once we see it (Can't wait to see Flying Debris take on all the clan classics like the Madcat, Thor, Loki, Ryoken, Masakari, and Daishi.

That said, Clan tech in general is fun to destroy, mostly because you can just FEEL the rage of the 'superior' pilots radiating off of them at being best by their 'freeborn stravag' counterparts in their 'inferior' tech.

Note: This post is in no way meant to be inflammatory, but is made from the perspective of a dyed-in-the-wool Inner Sphere mercenary who REALLY likes to kill clanners (and made a damn good showing of that in the old BTU league back in the day!). Specifically Jade Falcons, but I have no bones about putting a Gauss round, or Highlander foot, through any clanner's cockpit

<S> See y'all dirtside.

-Colonel Andrew "Havoc" Davis
Death's Hand Brigade Mercenaries

[Felicitatem Parco]

The King Crab is just a landing pad for a HIghlander.

[HAV0C]

IceTitan, on 25 September 2012 - 06:52 PM, said:

Id say Battlemaster.

I'd say you're likely to be disappointed. I love the Battlemaster too, believe me, but it's one of the unseen and I *seriously* doubt we're going to see any unseen stuff. There's just too much risk involved sadly.

I hold out hope, but that hope is tempered in the reality of the legal ramifications of yet *ANOTHER* run-in with Harmony Gold and their lawyers.

We shall see, though. All we can do is wait on what comes next after the Highlander.

<S>

-Colonel Andrew "Havoc" Davis
Death's Hand Brigade Mercenaries

[Odanan]

HAV0C, on 25 September 2012 - 07:14 PM, said:

I'd say you're likely to be disappointed. I love the Battlemaster too, believe me, but it's one of the unseen and I *seriously* doubt we're going to see any unseen stuff. There's just too much risk involved sadly.

I hold out hope, but that hope is tempered in the reality of the legal ramifications of yet *ANOTHER* run-in with Harmony Gold and their lawyers.

We shall see, though. All we can do is wait on what comes next after the Highlander.

<S>

-Colonel Andrew "Havoc" Davis
Death's Hand Brigade Mercenaries

Forget the Unseen - they are out of question. But the Reseen Battlemaster is not that far fetched. Many of it's variants have Command Console, which will be very useful when the Orders are fully implemented.

[Silent]

"...A 'Mech which at this time has no name..."
"I know its name..."

Here I am
I'm the master of your destiny
I am the one the only one, I am the god of kingdom come
Gimme the Highlander!

[Terick]

HAV0C, on 25 September 2012 - 06:18 PM, said:

3.) HGN 732b - A rare design even in the star league era, but able to be manufactured now thanks to the reintroduction of double heatsinks and Artemis IV Fire Control System for the LRM 20 and SRM 6, if they allow Artemis to be placed on SRM's anyway. Retains the Gauss Rifle as well as adding a third medium laser to the right torso. I should note that the 732b, as of 3050, is capable of being built. It uses a standard engine and structure, double heatsinks, a gauss rifle with 2 tons of ammo, 3x Medium lasers, an LRM 20 w/ Artemis IV and an SRM 6 w/ Artemis IV. The SRM's may not retain the FCS, we'll see. But as of 3050 all the technology listed is back in production, including Ferro Fiberous Armor and CASE as well. Each variant can have a differentiation of hardpoint allocations similar to what's been done with other 'mechs such as the Dragon. Will the variants play similarly? Sure, but at the end of the day it'll be a vastly different animal compared to any other Assault out there so far. Just my two cents. <S> -Colonel Andrew "Havoc" Davis Death's Hand Brigade Mercenaries.

The last of the 732b's were in the hands of COMSTAR... meaning no. Those mechs shouldn't be avalible to us. Will tehy. Probably since there is so little variance over that frame. Also no one besides COMSTAR and the clans knew of them... The rest of the IS didnt' know about the real royals, 'b's until the *****...

Personaly I think the 'reintroduction' of Star League designs as tech level 1 designs is bogus. It is because of the whole unseen issue.

As for the mech. Yes it will perform diffrently then the AS-7, But it is such a horid mech.

Smaller designs can outgun, out armor and run it... why is it a good idea? It isn't. It is good as a distraction for the newbies, "Shoot the big guy. He must be strong..."

I would have rather seen a Zeus first if it has to be an assult. If anything... there are a lot of designs that come to mind. The ENF and VND being the first two that come to mind, and aren't unseen. I love the WVR, especialy the 7K.

The Cyclops and Banshee aren't great mechs around that weight... but once you add in XL engines they can really pack in the weapons. The BNC-3S is a better assualt then the HGN.

Side Note: Is it me or have they only picked assault mechs taht ahve a base mvoement of 3/5... so they dont' want fast assaults? Will this mean teh Gargoyle and the Charger aren't ever goign to be in? Does this mean that the Warhawk is to fast?

Edited by Terick, 25 September 2012 - 08:38 PM.

[HAV0C]

Terick, on 25 September 2012 - 08:34 PM, said:

The last of the 732b's were in the hands of COMSTAR... meaning no. Those mechs shouldn't be avalible to us. Will tehy. Probably since there is so little variance over that frame. Also no one besides COMSTAR and the clans knew of them... The rest of the IS didnt' know about the real royals, 'b's until the *****...

Personaly I think the 'reintroduction' of Star League designs as tech level 1 designs is bogus. It is because of the whole unseen issue.

As for the mech. Yes it will perform diffrently then the AS-7, But it is such a horid mech.

Smaller designs can outgun, out armor and run it... why is it a good idea? It isn't. It is good as a distraction for the newbies, "Shoot the big guy. He must be strong..."

I would have rather seen a Zeus first if it has to be an assult. If anything... there are a lot of designs that come to mind. The ENF and VND being the first two that come to mind, and aren't unseen. I love the WVR, especialy the 7K.

The Cyclops and Banshee aren't great mechs around that weight... but once you add in XL engines they can really pack in the weapons. The BNC-3S is a better assualt then the HGN.

Side Note: Is it me or have they only picked assault mechs taht ahve a base mvoement of 3/5... so they dont' want fast assaults? Will this mean teh Gargoyle and the Charger aren't ever goign to be in? Does this mean that the Warhawk is to fast?

Dude? Are you High? How is the Highlander a horrid 'mech?

You're entitled to your opinion, even if it is a little skewed or downright wrong here. Hell MOST of the designs we have in game *RIGHT NOW* are star league era but reduced to tech level 1 due to the succession wars. The Atlas, the Hunchback, the Centurion, the Catapult, the Commando, the Awesome, the Stalker,.. shall I continue?? 'The whole unseen issue' you cited aside, the Highlander is just as viable a choice as any other assault, considering it's just like the Atlas, Awesome, and Stalker. Star League era designs that are still in production but have had to resort to lower tech levels due to the ravages of the succession wars. We'll probably see others such as the Banshee and Victor, or Mauler introduced later as well.

Now, with that said.

Any smaller design can be kitted with a bigger engine to out run it. Hell that's the point of having a smaller 'mech, they can move faster with the same size engine. There are even other 90 ton 'mechs that are faster (The Cyclops moves 4/6 after all, but it sacrifices armor to get that kind of speed)

As far as a smaller design being able to out armor it: I call bullsh*t sir, plain and simple. The Highlander sports 99% armor coverage. No 'mech of smaller weight class can effectively sport more armor than the Highlander. Can they get close? Heck yea they can, but none of them straight up out-armor it. Now 'mechs of a heavier weight class (95 to 100 tons) can, sure. But that's how the game operates.

Regarding outgunning it, it has nearly the same firepower potential as an Atlas, a 'mech 10 tons larger, in it's HGN 732 variant. It's missing 2 medium lasers. Whupty-do. It's got a lot of firepower no matter what range you're fighting it. That, in my view, is the hallmark of a successful design.

And, I'll clarify *in your opinion* the BNC-3S is a better assault than the HGN. That's your preference, and I respect it to be sure, but don't pass off your preference as gospel. Both 'mechs are effective at their roles: Assault. The Highlander has far more maneuverability in close. The Banshee has greater top speed. Is one better than the other? Not really, they're just different.

And just because the first 4 assaults they've revealed all move 3/5 doesn't mean that's all we're going to see speed wise. Give 'em time, there's a LOT of 'mechs to redesign over the coming months and years. Stop assuming the sky is falling and wait to see what comes.

Also, if you're going to try and claim a 'mech like the Highlander is horrid, and then name the Charger as a potential later 'mech to be included, you need to check your priorities. Yea the Charger has impressive speed for an 80 ton 'mech, but it's rocking 5 small lasers. That's it. Just 5 small lasers. Think about that for a bit. Sure you can get there fast, and then slap fight the 'mechs you meet once you arrive.

Just my thoughts. <S>

-Colonel Andrew "Havoc" Davis
Death's Hand Brigade Mercenaries

[Terick]

The AS-7 is a horrid mech also. I base my conclusions on hours of playing with peopel that know how to use their mechs. The AS-7 and HGn for being top of the line assaults are just lacking in tech 1 and then going to Tech 2... they dont' get much better. Sure people love them... doesn't change

An XNT-30 with side steppign in beats the AS-7 in to pulp... and the XNT-30 is a AoW design... Now the XNT-30 is a quad, but you can fit the same specs in to a biped also. Then you get twist and don't need teh sidesteping.

For example the CPLT-1C, LRMs and MLs. Those are long range and short range weapons. MLs aren't long range, thouhat woudl be LLs and AC/10s. There are other mechs that have this as well. The TBT and ARC come imediatly to mind.

The HBK-4G. A great close range brawler.

What do all of these designs have in common besides focusing their weapons in one or two areas? They needa team to be at their best.

I rather have a lance of specialists with each person doign their job correctly then ahve four generalist design with pilots that try to work as a team.

Having a mixed bag of gear does not make a great design. Designs taht ahve a mixed bag means they are not weak in one area, but they are nto strong in area either. The best thing si a designt aht has one or two engagement ranges.

For the speed, I'm makign an observation. I will really be suprised if the Dire Wolf is the only clan asault mech we see. Would really miss the Gargoyle C.

As for the charger, when it gets that XL engien it becoems a lot more lethal, nto to mention there are soem variants that drop the speed down to 4/6 and add firepower... but at that point it is just another 80 tonner, not that unique.

The BNC-3S moves at 3/5 same as teh HGN, no jump but... it has guns, lots of guns...
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Banshee

hmm... looking at the BNC-3S, enough Ballistic space for an AC/10, Eneough energy slots for 2 PPCs, 4 MLs and 2 SLs... and then we have an SRM-6.

Now that is the payload of a real assault mech. Does it ahve the heatsinks to use those weapons? yes. Alpah all the time, no. That is level 1, the 5S is even mroe fun at level 2 tech. Sure your HGN has jump... but the BNC-3S just wades forward and assaults.

Edited by Terick, 26 September 2012 - 03:05 AM.

[Alex Wolfe]

Terick, on 26 September 2012 - 02:37 AM, said:

The BNC-3S moves at 3/5 same as teh HGN, no jump but... it has guns, lots of guns...

So 3S has a loadout that turns it into a 95-ton turbo-oven, and other variants sport... PPC, AC5 and one small laser, or equivalent?

Still not seeing the superiority to Highlander... I'd rather have an assault jumper than the actual "Atlas lite".

Edited by Alex Wolfe, 26 September 2012 - 02:55 AM.