I noticed that Light 'mechs have almost as many slots as Assault 'mechs, despite being 1/4 the size or less. I'm not sure if this is intentional or not, or for balance, but just wanted to check.
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Mech Slots
Started by Shroomicide, Nov 10 2012 10:35 PM
2 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 10 November 2012 - 11:47 PM
I noticed the same. Thing is that at their weight they can't really use them.
Except now with the heatsink, armor and structure upgrades they can. Kind of makes the lights the most valuable mech type now.
Lights are kind of unfair now. Fast, laggy, and can't be knocked down. Kind of makes them the bane of the game.
Except now with the heatsink, armor and structure upgrades they can. Kind of makes the lights the most valuable mech type now.
Lights are kind of unfair now. Fast, laggy, and can't be knocked down. Kind of makes them the bane of the game.
#3
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Posted 02 December 2012 - 02:14 PM
Agreed. I've studied the mechanics, and if you put a XL 300 engine in the Jenner, it can go almost 140 KPH. I've done personal testing with this, and I can run straight into the enemy team and back out almost unscathed (provided LRM cover) because of the lag shield.
However, as with the slots, you can only generally put one upgrade on something like an Atlas before you run out of room. To explain, here's a basic technical explanation:
There are 78 slots on a mech, regardless of weight class. In a mech without rotating arms, such as the Jenner, 27 of these slots are taken up by gyros, engines, actuators, etc. Being armless isn't an issue for these mechs, as they have a 240-260 degree turn radius. This means a Jenner can equip all upgrades, and still take up all hardpoints, without running into slot issues.
In a mech with rotating arms (currently both Assault mechs), 31 of these slots are taken up by necessary components. While not many more, heavy mechs are designed to carry massive guns. With Endo-Steel or Ferro Fibrous, an AC20, two large lasers, two Streak SRMs, and a handful of ammo and heat sinks, an Atlas runs out of slots before tonnage.
Comparatively, an SUV and a Sedan both operate off of the same mechanics, and those mechanics take up MUCH more room. However, with the larger size, they increase their storage capacity at the same time.
It's still strange to me. Why do larger mechs have less space? I understand that the components are larger, but shouldn't this be an exponential situation instead of a flat rate, as with a car?
Clearly, a simple addition or reduction to the number of slots on either mech would be problematic. One possible solution to this would be strategically located hardpoints, such as the Atlas having extra room in its massive legs. This would prevent hardpoint-boating (such as two Gauss cannons on an Atlas) and would increase the storage for equipment and ammo in larger mechs without making them less fair overall.
Another interesting possibility is being able to take out actuators or gyros, allowing for more slots but reducing maneuverability. The six extra XL Engine pieces could also be moved around, as they restrict the Atlas's shoulder hardpoints.
However, as with the slots, you can only generally put one upgrade on something like an Atlas before you run out of room. To explain, here's a basic technical explanation:
There are 78 slots on a mech, regardless of weight class. In a mech without rotating arms, such as the Jenner, 27 of these slots are taken up by gyros, engines, actuators, etc. Being armless isn't an issue for these mechs, as they have a 240-260 degree turn radius. This means a Jenner can equip all upgrades, and still take up all hardpoints, without running into slot issues.
In a mech with rotating arms (currently both Assault mechs), 31 of these slots are taken up by necessary components. While not many more, heavy mechs are designed to carry massive guns. With Endo-Steel or Ferro Fibrous, an AC20, two large lasers, two Streak SRMs, and a handful of ammo and heat sinks, an Atlas runs out of slots before tonnage.
Comparatively, an SUV and a Sedan both operate off of the same mechanics, and those mechanics take up MUCH more room. However, with the larger size, they increase their storage capacity at the same time.
It's still strange to me. Why do larger mechs have less space? I understand that the components are larger, but shouldn't this be an exponential situation instead of a flat rate, as with a car?
Clearly, a simple addition or reduction to the number of slots on either mech would be problematic. One possible solution to this would be strategically located hardpoints, such as the Atlas having extra room in its massive legs. This would prevent hardpoint-boating (such as two Gauss cannons on an Atlas) and would increase the storage for equipment and ammo in larger mechs without making them less fair overall.
Another interesting possibility is being able to take out actuators or gyros, allowing for more slots but reducing maneuverability. The six extra XL Engine pieces could also be moved around, as they restrict the Atlas's shoulder hardpoints.
Edited by Shroomicide, 02 December 2012 - 02:20 PM.
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