52 replies to this topic

[Garth Erlam]

We’ve had an interested week haven’t we? We announced the Cicada (to quote Doxy: “Great looking Mech and the name fits it perfectly. Bet this mech will be one of the first to get focused fired due to it being extremely mobile and thus dangerous. “) and added dozens of screenshots. We were thanked in a delightful thread, and debate raged across the forum over weapon distances. With all that said, people still all want to be in, and hear about, one thing: The Beta.

So here is some Friends and Family Beta news.

We launched version 2.0.14 this week, which has a (mostly) functional Mechlab. Immediately everyone set about trying to break it – we had all large laser Atlas’, Machinegun/AC-2/Flamer Hunchbacks, and a Jenner that seemed to go Mach 1, but we thought we’d share the following with you:
Modified Hunchback HBK 4P:

• Replace the six Medium Lasers in the right torso with six Small Lasers
  
• Change the arms to - right arm: 2x Medium Lasers, left arm: 2x Small Lasers
  
• Remove all heat sinks and armour from left torso
  
• Max the armour of both legs
  
• Add heatsinks to legs/right torso/arms until you’re maxed (26 total heatsinks)

The idea of this ‘Mech is that you run extremely cool, able to constantly fire your small lasers as you close in on your opponent. The leg armour prevents legging, and the reduced left torso armour allows you to stack it over more important areas. It performs extremely well close up, though be wary of ranged opponents, who will simply keep outside your small lasers distance and pick you apart!

[CMDR Sunset Shimmer]

Nice share!

Probably not a mech I'll be fielding, but still an interesting idea. Small Lasers can be DEVISTATING in high numbers.

[Dihm]

lolz small lasers only ididoths use those.

Edited by Dihm, 11 May 2012 - 09:06 AM.

[Balls of Steele]

It's not the size...it's how you use it.

[CoffiNail]

I get in close, and knife, i mean small laser you in the back!

Small lasers are obviously going to be OP. I plan on boating them

[WerewolfX]

I cannot have higher hopes for this game the videos and the feel of the mechs are spot on the Mechlab looks to be a good system and I agree with it. The screenies much appreciated as always. This game has a lot of love going into it and I for one can't wait to play it.

[Kenyon Burguess]

Garth Erlam, on 11 May 2012 - 09:00 AM, said:

• Max the armour of both legs

guess ya'll like to leg at the office

[Garth Erlam]

Geist Null, on 11 May 2012 - 09:07 AM, said:

guess ya'll like to leg at the office

Paul legs Russ in every match we play.

[Dihm]

What a troll.

[autogyro]

Interesting, it'll be good to see some new novelty ideas for Mechs.

Thanks for the update!

[Kyuui]

Looking forward to this, and man the leg comment gave me a visual, I really didn't need this early in the morning...

is it here yet.....?

[Kanatta Jing]

Garth Erlam, on 11 May 2012 - 09:00 AM, said:

Modified Hunchback HBK 4P:

• Replace the six Medium Lasers in the right torso with six Small Lasers
  
• Change the arms to - right arm: 2x Medium Lasers, left arm: 2x Small Lasers
  
• Remove all heat sinks and armour from left torso
  
• Max the armour of both legs
  
• Add heatsinks to legs/right torso/arms until you’re maxed (26 total heatsinks)

The idea of this ‘Mech is that you run extremely cool, able to constantly fire your small lasers as you close in on your opponent. The leg armour prevents legging, and the reduced left torso armour allows you to stack it over more important areas. It performs extremely well close up, though be wary of ranged opponents, who will simply keep outside your small lasers distance and pick you apart!

The left torso with no armor and no internals.

For all intents and purposes it's an indestructible armor plate strapped to the front of the mech for the purposes of absorbing damage?

Or does it move all damage to the center torso? In which case this isn't that bad.

[Paul Inouye]

Garth Erlam, on 11 May 2012 - 09:11 AM, said:

Paul legs Russ in every match we play.

What the?!?!?!

*rage flips Garth's desk*

I don't leg. I hate legging.

Now plugging an AC/20 round into the back armor of Russ' 'Mech.. that's a different thing.

[Monky]

Ah, the joy of the ol' small laser boat. Jenners make a good boat for them too (assuming you can cram 6 of them on there since you guys are adding an additional hardpoint to each slot in the screenshots so far), much cooler running and your speed lets you close in fast. Plus you can mount a ton of armor or upgrade to an SRM6.

[Gigaton]

Garth Erlam, on 11 May 2012 - 09:00 AM, said:

• Remove all heat sinks and armour from left torso

Any disadvantages for doing that (yet)? Do you lose the left arm if th left torso bites it? Does losing left torso open you up for damage carryover to central torso?

[Gun Bear]

Small laser boat.... now I know what to name my drink I invented!

12 oz of tequila
12 oz of orange soda
1 cup of fruit punch
and ice to the top of a blender

Mix it into a smoothie and pour into 4 glasses, add a shot of rum and enjoy.

Gigaton, on 11 May 2012 - 09:35 AM, said:

Any disadvantages for doing that (yet)? Do you lose the left arm if th left torso bites it? Does losing left torso open you up for damage carryover to central torso?

What they forgot to mention was they were sporting an XL engine to save weight.

[Garth Erlam]

No it's not meant to absorb damage, it's a glass cannon (ish). The idea is that you hold your Right Shoulder towards the enemy, and always hit them.

That said it isn't my build - I go max armour with everything I use

[Balls of Steele]

Weird question that popped into my head: is there any type of equipment that you can mount that can analyse an opposing mech's armour layout?

[Bullwerk]

It truly has been an awesome week, thanks PGI for letting us in on the developments and fanning the flames of fanboism, optimism, pessimism, and just straight insanity throughout the forums. I say well done and I'm surely looking forward to next week!

-EDIT-

Oh and am I the only one that can completely picture Paul going hulk on Russ's desk? Oddly enough instead of making me frightened or awed it just makes me giggle inside!

Edited by Bullwerk, 11 May 2012 - 09:59 AM.

[Aegis Kleais]

This screenshot shows a good visual estimation of about how far 90m is, which is the range of weapons like the Machine Gun, Small Laser, Small Pulse Laser and Flamer.

This screenshot not only does a great job in showing Mech scales (which btw look SPOT ON) but it also shows the default muted skins, which look really nice in the game world. You don't see no pink in these screenies, and they day you DO, it'll be the Mech that's a smoking pile of wreckage.