22 replies to this topic

[Yeach]

With Battletech Tabletop (due to being hex-based), a mech engine for a certain tonnage can only be created for various movement speeds.
For a 50 ton mech you can only choose the
150 for 51 kph (3/5 MP)
200 for 64kph (4/6 MP)
250 for 81 kph (5/8 MP)
300 for 97 kph (6/9 MP)
I do not like it that both the Hunchback and Centurion have the same engine and the same speed.

I would like to see, like in Mechwarrior3, that we should be able to choose a 220 rated engine (for example) to get a speed of 71 kph max speed for a 50 ton mech.

Also Battletech rules cheats in giving odd number walk MP an extra 0.5 MP or 5 kph.
ie 5 walk MP = 8 run MP instead of 7.5 run MP.

Edited by Yeach, 04 April 2012 - 08:52 PM.

[Kaemon]

*scouts in*

Pro-tip - starting off your topic with the phrase 'going away' or 'getting rid of' TT rules is not going to garner much support for your idea.

Plus they've already said they can and will modify TT rules as it pertains to playability for an online game.

*scouts out before the LRMs start coming in*

[Siphonaptera]

Kaemon, on 19 March 2012 - 04:53 AM, said:

*scouts in*

Pro-tip - starting off your topic with the phrase 'going away' or 'getting rid of' TT rules is not going to garner much support for your idea.

Plus they've already said they can and will modify TT rules as it pertains to playability for an online game.

*scouts out before the LRMs start coming in*

The only reason that the engines were always multples of weight was because you couldn't do anything with '3.5' movement on a hex board. Allowing for smaller changes follows tabletop rules except for the rounding (if you bought an engine that let you move 3.5 it was rounded down, doesn't have to be here).

This would get rid of the silly jumps every other movement speed, so max speed doesn't go 20 kph, 30 kph, 50 kph, 60 kph, 80 kph. It is a good suggestion.

[canned wolf]

I'm all for this, but I would give the new engines quirks. Maybe even relate the quirks to a specific manufacturer. Engines made by Vlar could produce slightly less heat but take up an extra crit. Engines from GM could weigh a little less but have power fluctuation issues causing screens to flicker and locks to break under heavy load.

[Siphonaptera]

canned wolf, on 19 March 2012 - 08:20 AM, said:

I'm all for this, but I would give the new engines quirks. Maybe even relate the quirks to a specific manufacturer. Engines made by Vlar could produce slightly less heat but take up an extra crit. Engines from GM could weigh a little less but have power fluctuation issues causing screens to flicker and locks to break under heavy load.

That is a completely different idea, since engines weighing different amounts defeats the point of being able to buy one with a slightly higher rating.

[guardiandashi]

nitpick a 50 ton mech can use: a 50 rated engine and move 1/2
a 100 rated and move 2/3
150 3/5
200 4/6
250 5/8
300 6/9
350 7/11
400 8/12 (but it would have to be xl or xxl

[Agent CraZy DiP]

I'd like to see a variety of engine choices in the game. This one has a better top speed, but that one has a better acceleration. This one has more torque for uphill, but that one can run cooler long... This one has a better radiator, that one has a boost feature but burns hotter... Could really throw a loop into customizing your mech to fit your gameplay style.

[MaddMaxx]

Lots of Engines is good.



Better yet, only allow UP sizing from the Prime installed model.

[Yeach]

Yeach, on 18 March 2012 - 07:25 PM, said:

I do not like it that both the Hunchback and Centurion have the same engine and the same speed.

With MaddMaxx's table without any other changes (tonnage or critical) wise I would like to upgrade my Centurion to a Vlar 205 Engine (same tonnage as a Nissan 200 engine);
I like to get my extra 1.6 kph.

If only as a minor detail in differntiating a Hunchback and a Centurion.

[wolf74]

Engine Rating / Unit Weight = Walking MP
Round to whole number (Walking MP * 1.5) = Running MP

Walking MP * 10.8 = Walking Speed in Kph (one Heat sink per heat cycle)
Running MP * 10.8 = Top Speed in Kph (Two Heat Sinks per heat cycle)

for Video Game we can go off the Whole Number for walking MP.

Edited by wolf74, 20 March 2012 - 07:12 PM.

[Yeach]

wolf74, on 20 March 2012 - 07:11 PM, said:

Engine Rating / Unit Weight = Walking MP
Round to whole number (Walking MP * 1.5) = Running MP

Walking MP * 10.8 = Walking Speed in Kph (one Heat sink per heat cycle)
Running MP * 10.8 = Top Speed in Kph (Two Heat Sinks per heat cycle)

for Video Game we can go off the Whole Number for walking MP.

Why do we need to round up to a whole number?

Why can't you just go walking MP x 1.5 = running MP without rounding up. This isn't the board game.
3 walk MP = 4.5 run MP 48 kph (not 5 MP, 54 kph)
5 walk MP = 7.5 run MP 81 kph (not 8 MP, 86 kph)
etc

The MadCat and Dragon running at 86 kph SHOULD BE FALSE!!!

[Zureal]

waw, what a nit picky topic XD seriously, why the hate on if some mechs go the same speed? if you doint like the speed then get a bigger engine. I doint see how the current model is messed up or something :/ anyways, just my thoughts

[Pvt Dancer]

Zureal, on 20 March 2012 - 09:58 PM, said:

waw, what a nit picky topic XD seriously, why the hate on if some mechs go the same speed? if you doint like the speed then get a bigger engine. I doint see how the current model is messed up or something :/ anyways, just my thoughts

Trolls gotta troll

[canned wolf]

Siphonaptera, on 19 March 2012 - 05:04 PM, said:

That is a completely different idea, since engines weighing different amounts defeats the point of being able to buy one with a slightly higher rating.

That's a naive argument. XL's already introduce engines that are lighter but produce more power. The downside is that they are more likely to take an engine crit and they take up slots that could be used for weapons or equipment.

I'm not suggesting anything that drastic. Just minor quirks that have to be considered when designing your mech.

[Pht]

Yeach, on 18 March 2012 - 07:25 PM, said:

I do not like it that both the Hunchback and Centurion have the same engine and the same speed.

I don't like that there's any other battlemech in existance besides the urbanmech ...

Therefore, it's justified that we should get rid of all of the others!

[Wraith 1]

Quote

I don't like that there's any battlemech in existance that look like a trashcan ...

Therefore, it's justified that we should get rid of all of the urbies!

Fixed. Oh wait, there's no urbies to get rid of yet...

[Mason Grimm]

Apparently this was NOT about modifying Table Top stuff but about MWO type Engine stuff.

[That Guy]

engine speed really should not affect how fast a mech goes very much. you can plop a 400 rated engine on an urbie (ok, maybe use an extension coord) that thing aint going to go 150 KPH. it just isnt. its little legs were not engineered to do that kind of stress.

If you want your mech to go faster you should invest in some extra myromers for the legs, and get new joints and suspension/shock absorbers. add a couple tons to the legs and it takes up some crit space. probably be cheaper than a whole new engine anyway

every mech variant should have a maximum speed that it is capable of attaining (at that max should be relatively close to its TRO max speed). so no atlas running around at 100kph (which i must admit is most amusing in MW4)

[canned wolf]

That Guy, on 02 April 2012 - 09:14 PM, said:

engine speed really should not affect how fast a mech goes very much. you can plop a 400 rated engine on an urbie (ok, maybe use an extension coord) that thing aint going to go 150 KPH. it just isnt. its little legs were not engineered to do that kind of stress.

If you want your mech to go faster you should invest in some extra myromers for the legs, and get new joints and suspension/shock absorbers. add a couple tons to the legs and it takes up some crit space. probably be cheaper than a whole new engine anyway

every mech variant should have a maximum speed that it is capable of attaining (at that max should be relatively close to its TRO max speed). so no atlas running around at 100kph (which i must admit is most amusing in MW4)

I like the idea but it's a pretty major departure from the canon. That's always been my major issue with Battletech. Trying to figure out when to stick to the system and when to ditch it because it makes no since.

Edited by canned wolf, 03 April 2012 - 07:25 AM.

[Strum Wealh]

Agent CraZy DiP, on 20 March 2012 - 08:29 AM, said:

I'd like to see a variety of engine choices in the game. This one has a better top speed, but that one has a better acceleration. This one has more torque for uphill, but that one can run cooler long... This one has a better radiator, that one has a boost feature but burns hotter... Could really throw a loop into customizing your mech to fit your gameplay style.

To add some needed(?) clarification:

The Fusion Engine is not an engine in the same way as that which propels an automobile or conventional armored vehicle.
It is a magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator similar to a device known as a tokamak, where the plasma used to generate electricity is provided by a compact, portable fusion reactor.

As such, it does not actually have a torque rating, it cannot really be geared up or down in the same way as an ICE, nor does it necessarily have the same relationships between speed and acceleration as the engines found in automobiles and conventional armored vehicles.

That being said, a "bigger" (higher rating) engine should produce more electrical power, and as the BattleMechs' myomers are apparently voltage-driven and more power generally translates into higher voltages (if current is considered constant), then the myomers are able to exert more force (which would account for the speed increase).

'Mechs also (canonically) had access to Myomer Accelerator Signal Circuitry ("MASC"; a system that increases the rate at which the myomers work, increasing speed at the risk of burning-out/locking-up the actuators), Triple-Strength Myomer ("TSM"; a bulky and expensive myomer variant that offers improved performance when the 'Mech is running hot), and Superchargers (devices that alter the safety limiters on the Fusion Engine to allow for increased power output at the risk of catastrophic damage to said Fusion Engine).
Canonically, MASC and TSM are incompatible with one another and could not be mounted on the same 'Mech, but either could be used together with a Supercharger.
It remains to be seen if and/or how the Devs will implement any or all of the above.