New guy on the scene...

[cocoajin]

Im generally a new guy to the Mechwarrior franchise...I played an old copy of MechW2 years and years ago.  I enjoyed it, but found certain things missing.

My first issue was the barren terrain and very little topagraphy detail...in the end it all resulted in minimal coverage.  I also found the concept of an upright armored unit in a modern battlefield problematic unless it could minimize its exposure to detection and weapons fire.  That impressive choice of implementing a mixed combat environment in the game amplifies this concern...but in a good way, I look forward to the challenge.

My concern is in the ability to design/customize a mech unit capable of making use of terrain and cover for concealment.  Im thinking of a small, swift mech, with a low profile and cross-section.  Im hoping for a "longbow" type set up with both a sensory pod(providing artifical/electronic sensory input and target acquistion instead of looking out the cockpit) and a single, long range weapon mounted high on the mech to allow for hull-down engagements of targets.

Will mechs be able to lower their stance...crouch, kneel, squat?

Will mechs(and the appropriate conventional units as applicable) have counter-measures like smoke grenade launchers to lay-down a smoke screens against visual targeting/acquisitions?  How about flares to disrupt night-vision and/or infra-red detection(if in game)?  How about a discharge of metallic flakes to scatter radar or laser targeting?  Will such detection methods be included?  It just seems apparent to me that such high-profile units would need counter-measures considering they are a bit harder to hide in the field.

Anyway, forgive the questions and fantasizing out loud.




 

[Loonatic]

Interesting questions.  I'm sure the devs will be able to answer them in short order.  Otherwise, welcome to the wait.   It'll be worth it.  We're fun, if a bit whacky.

[(TLL)KitLightning]

Interesting questions.  I'm sure the devs will be able to answer them in short order.  Otherwise, welcome to the wait.   It'll be worth it.  We're fun, if a bit whacky.

what does he mean by whacky, Pugsley?

[Loonatic]

I suppose I should've used the correct inclusive there. I'm whacky.  The other guys here are completely normal.  Really. 

[~SJ~ Karuik]

no were only HALF normal!

and welcome to the anticipation Cocoajin!

[Chromillusion]

Did anybody ever make much use of the crouch ability? I never played online, so I don't know if it was useful there, but I know that I've almost never bothered to do it. It really never seemed like it served much purpose, so I'm honestly curious to know if people actually use it often. Maybe I'm missing out on a useful tactic.

[SeniorBiscuit]

I used crouch quite a bit if I needed to hide behind something a little smaller than me while passive ect...

Cool thought, not a deal breaker either way but itd be a nice feature.

[Stormin']

Will mechs be able to lower their stance...crouch, kneel, squat?

Will mechs(and the appropriate conventional units as applicable) have counter-measures like smoke grenade launchers to lay-down a smoke screens against visual targeting/acquisitions?  How about flares to disrupt night-vision and/or infra-red detection(if in game)?  How about a discharge of metallic flakes to scatter radar or laser targeting?  Will such detection methods be included?  It just seems apparent to me that such high-profile units would need counter-measures considering they are a bit harder to hide in the field.

I had a similar thread a while back, and the outlook for flares and smoke seemed promising:
http://www.mechlivinglegends.net/forum/index.php/topic,3464.0.html

In doing a search I also found a few other threads that have addressed those issues.

Did anybody ever make much use of the crouch ability? I never played online, so I don't know if it was useful there, but I know that I've almost never bothered to do it. It really never seemed like it served much purpose, so I'm honestly curious to know if people actually use it often. Maybe I'm missing out on a useful tactic.

I too used squat quite a bit in terrain that included low grade slopes, like I would imagine Sandblasted to be.  I seem to remember doing it all the time in a Shadowcat.

[13th Fear]

I used crouch all the time, particularly during the days of the targeting box mkII bug lol, making me pretty much impossible to hit when jumping... :p

[Ghiest]

I used crouch all the time, particularly during the days of the targeting box mkII bug lol, making me pretty much impossible to hit when jumping... :p

Always someone willing to abuse the bugs to get ahead I suppose, but I must say it was people like you that made me quit playing online in Mechwarrior.

[13th Fear]

I was just kidding... :p

[Defender]

Im generally a new guy to the Mechwarrior franchise...I played an old copy of MechW2 years and years ago.  I enjoyed it, but found certain things missing.

My first issue was the barren terrain and very little topagraphy detail...in the end it all resulted in minimal coverage.  I also found the concept of an upright armored unit in a modern battlefield problematic unless it could minimize its exposure to detection and weapons fire.  That impressive choice of implementing a mixed combat environment in the game amplifies this concern...but in a good way, I look forward to the challenge.

My concern is in the ability to design/customize a mech unit capable of making use of terrain and cover for concealment.  Im thinking of a small, swift mech, with a low profile and cross-section.  Im hoping for a "longbow" type set up with both a sensory pod(providing artifical/electronic sensory input and target acquistion instead of looking out the cockpit) and a single, long range weapon mounted high on the mech to allow for hull-down engagements of targets.

Many of our smaller mechs have quite the suite of sensors. If you utilize TAG and such you can maintain your low profile and enhanced sensors to lay siege from distance while concealed by terrain. Watch the TAG Video for an example.

Will mechs be able to lower their stance...crouch, kneel, squat?

Yes.

Will mechs(and the appropriate conventional units as applicable) have counter-measures like smoke grenade launchers to lay-down a smoke screens against visual targeting/acquisitions? 

The APC currently has dual smoke grenade launchers but they're quite expensive in performance and don't really give that much cover since they poof so small. Besides, you're normally a targeted red blip on most people's screen so it's not very effective at concealment.

How about flares to disrupt night-vision and/or infra-red detection(if in game)? 

We use the default night-vision from Crysis at the moment and a PPC jams the night vision with the EMP burst, effectively blinding people at night.

How about a discharge of metallic flakes to scatter radar or laser targeting?  Will such detection methods be included?  It just seems apparent to me that such high-profile units would need counter-measures considering they are a bit harder to hide in the field.

Anyway, forgive the questions and fantasizing out loud.
 

Hi! Thanks for stoppin' by.

[cocoajin]

Sweet...thx for the informative reply.  I like where this game is going already.   Still no answer of counter-measures for other targeting systems like laser or radar...so I assume no, but its out there now and available to be looked at in the future.

I look forward to stalking you guys in the future.

oh yeah...last thing.  Has there ever been a precedent for a melee type weapon in Mechwarrior?  I have in my head this light-weight, fast, agile(relativly) mech, that is less walking tank/assualt platform and more mech-commando(does that make sense?)...sort of scout/sniper/spec ops type.   

My dream mech is one that has one anti-mech weapon...essentially a long range gun with a lot of smack for a small mech...then light, high rate of fire weapons to fend of squishies and conventional units(tanks, planes, infantry).  But thats when I get a little crazy...I want something the equalivelent to a bayonet.  Something like a armor piercing rod, hydraulically or pneumatically actuated to pierce the hull of an oppossing mech in extreme close quarters and then releases a massive charge from a capacitor(see, im thinking...required cool-down time between uses).  It wouldnt necessarily destroy mech, maybe unless it was severly damaged already.  Instead, it stuns the mech for sometime, allowing me to flee...and probably get a shot off in the process.

Now when I say close quarters, Im talking about requiring contact...the rod would be like you engaging a spring loaded butcher knife from out of your sleeve.  I have in my head the visual of "arm"...yeah my left side will be the typical gun-arm...but my right would be much more human-like...maybe even a useable hand.  The fore-arm would be a bit oversized as it houses the "sheath" and actuation module for the rod.  When Im switch to the rod, the arm comes up off on the side of my view, arm set in "cocked" like position like Im getting ready to punch...and when I make contact with my opponent I fire it like any other weapon....but with this weapon, you see actuators fire off, pistons extend out from the firing, a loud "pfft", smoke/steam and horrendous thud...followed by a bluish, purplish and white crackle from discharging electricty.   Ohhhh! just the thought of it makes me giddity!

Perhaps it could be a very short range area weapon to be used against squishies and conventional ground units...once again, only stunning them...but perhaps a bit more lethal to infantry.

Anyway...Im day dreaming again!

[Loonatic]

Nuffin wrong wif daydreamin!  It's a good thing.   Of course when I do it, they call them 'hallucinations' or 'delusions' or 'psychotic episodes'.  Some doctors have NO sense of humor.

I know there are quite a few Solaris 7 mechs with mech-mashin' melee weapons, such as chainsaws, axes, swords, etc.  It would indeed be pretty interesting to see them in combat, but I doubt it will happen any time soon.  I've always favored the stand-off stuff myself, like LRMS and long-range ACs, lasers and Peepers.  Someone with melee weaps would probably clean my clock.

[SeniorBiscuit]

Sweet...thx for the informative reply.  I like where this game is going already.   Still no answer of counter-measures for other targeting systems like laser or radar...so I assume no, but its out there now and available to be looked at in the future.

I look forward to stalking you guys in the future.

oh yeah...last thing.  Has there ever been a precedent for a melee type weapon in Mechwarrior?  I have in my head this light-weight, fast, agile(relativly) mech, that is less walking tank/assualt platform and more mech-commando(does that make sense?)...sort of scout/sniper/spec ops type.   

My dream mech is one that has one anti-mech weapon...essentially a long range gun with a lot of smack for a small mech...then light, high rate of fire weapons to fend of squishies and conventional units(tanks, planes, infantry).  But thats when I get a little crazy...I want something the equalivelent to a bayonet.  Something like a armor piercing rod, hydraulically or pneumatically actuated to pierce the hull of an oppossing mech in extreme close quarters and then releases a massive charge from a capacitor(see, im thinking...required cool-down time between uses).  It wouldnt necessarily destroy mech, maybe unless it was severly damaged already.  Instead, it stuns the mech for sometime, allowing me to flee...and probably get a shot off in the process.

Now when I say close quarters, Im talking about requiring contact...the rod would be like you engaging a spring loaded butcher knife from out of your sleeve.  I have in my head the visual of "arm"...yeah my left side will be the typical gun-arm...but my right would be much more human-like...maybe even a useable hand.  The fore-arm would be a bit oversized as it houses the "sheath" and actuation module for the rod.  When Im switch to the rod, the arm comes up off on the side of my view, arm set in "cocked" like position like Im getting ready to punch...and when I make contact with my opponent I fire it like any other weapon....but with this weapon, you see actuators fire off, pistons extend out from the firing, a loud "pfft", smoke/steam and horrendous thud...followed by a bluish, purplish and white crackle from discharging electricty.   Ohhhh! just the thought of it makes me giddity!

Perhaps it could be a very short range area weapon to be used against squishies and conventional ground units...once again, only stunning them...but perhaps a bit more lethal to infantry.

Anyway...Im day dreaming again!

Minus the close combat abilities Id check out the hollander, light\medium pretty fast mech, light on armor but it mounts a gauss rifl to snipe at mechs, a real skirmisher\sniper design, I beleive it packs a couple medium lasers to fend off infantry and vehicles.

It is one of the mechs that looks to be in the beta too!