Armored Fast Extraction 'Mech Options

[Col. Klink]

I know HBS isn't going into that much detail but.... the stock Spider's cockpit is so small and crammed full with electronics that there wasn't even room for an ejection system, let alone a rumble seat or similar. Where is your target person going to sit on the way back, on your lap?

 

[MeiSooHaityu]

I know HBS isn't going into that much detail but.... the stock Spider's cockpit is so small and crammed full with electronics that there wasn't even room for an ejection system, let alone a rumble seat or similar. Where is your target person going to sit on the way back, on your lap?

A backpack maybe. Sort of like one of those baby carrier harness...except for VIPs.

 

[Cynwulf]

I know HBS isn't going into that much detail but.... the stock Spider's cockpit is so small and crammed full with electronics that there wasn't even room for an ejection system, let alone a rumble seat or similar. Where is your target person going to sit on the way back, on your lap?

details....HBS doesn't seem to be that big on the fluff which is unfortunate.

 

[Packrat]

I know HBS isn't going into that much detail but.... the stock Spider's cockpit is so small and crammed full with electronics that there wasn't even room for an ejection system, let alone a rumble seat or similar. Where is your target person going to sit on the way back, on your lap?

Just ask your mechwarriors which of them finds the VIP the most attractive and you're good to go.

 

[Prussian Havoc]

details....HBS doesn't seem to be that big on the fluff which is unfortunate.

I see what you mean, but I view it as a trade off.

HBS has given us the Aurigan Directorate, Restoration and Coalition.
HBS has given us the ARGO.
HBS has given us Turn Order.
HBS has given us a Stability System.
HBS has given us Melee, to include Death From Above.

If a Spider's cockpit seats 2 comfortably... yeah, I can live with that and more.

 

[ShadowDragon868]

Per TT construction rules, Light 'Mechs cannot mount Rumble Seats.
This actually rumbled me when I was trying to write that fanfic, because I had planned as a unit quirk "everyone has rumble seats."

That having been said, 'Mechs are big, that rule is stupid.

 

[Packrat]

That having been said, 'Mechs are big, that rule is stupid.

Mech cockpits generally aren't, though. Have you ever really studied the art? Some of them are so small I can barely picture one person fitting inside, let alone two.

 

[Tnarien]

Mech cockpits generally aren't, though. Have you ever really studied the art? Some of them are so small I can barely picture one person fitting inside, let alone two.

The novels get pretty detailed about this. They're...cozy (looking at you Lori and Grayson).

 

[MeiSooHaityu]

Mech cockpits generally aren't, though. Have you ever really studied the art? Some of them are so small I can barely picture one person fitting inside, let alone two.

The Assassin is another one too. In lore the mech is so cramped in the cockpit, that MechWarriors that are assigned to them often develop back problems.

"The Assassin was not flawless however,... it has the dubious distinction of having one of the most cramped cockpits of any Inner Sphere 'Mech. Dozens of attempts by Maltex over hundreds of years to overhaul the cockpit cooling system to create more elbow-room ended in failure, not only limiting Assassin pilots' time in-cockpit to half of that of other 'Mechs, but causing many to develop a lifetime of back problems." - Sarna.net

Overall though, I get the feeling that our head mech technician, Yang Virtanen, seems like a rather skilled tech capable of a lot ingenuity and creative work-arounds. I could see where he could squeeze enough room into a Spider cockpit to accommodate another person (although I doubt they will be comfortable...or tall lol). Think of the additional room for a VIP as sort of "Gurney Bubble", but for a Spider.

Basically, I can see where a person can take that bit of lore as law, and I can see where it can be adapted to fit a narrative. It just depends on how they want to take it. It's their game, thei world, they should play it how they like .

 

[TaurianMerc]

Just ask your mechwarriors which of them finds the VIP the most attractive and you're good to go.

Well, as a Canopian aren't you used to people on your lap?

 

[Packrat]

Well, as a Canopian aren't you used to people on your lap?

When you have access to tons of water, you can afford to get picky about what you drink.

 

[HonorKnight]

A backpack maybe. Sort of like one of those baby carrier harness...except for VIPs.

It's actually more of a dangly purse full of packing peanuts. The 'Mech runs up next to a building, the VIP dives off of the roof into the purse, and the packing peanuts ensure they only get moderately injured, not killed outright, from the wild swinging around and repeatedly smacking into the 'Mechs leg during the evac. The purse even comes covered with glitter, rhinestones, and other decorations; apparently one of the Argo engineers let his preteen daughter design it.

 

[ShadowDragon868]

It's actually more of a dangly purse full of packing peanuts. The 'Mech runs up next to a building, the VIP dives off of the roof into the purse, and the packing peanuts ensure they only get moderately injured, not killed outright, from the wild swinging around and repeatedly smacking into the 'Mechs leg during the evac. The purse even comes covered with glitter, rhinestones, and other decorations; apparently one of the Argo engineers let his preteen daughter design it.

So basically, VIPs are expected to Assassin's Creed dive their way into a mech-mounted bag of packaging peanuts and then do their best marshmallow rice-krispie impression?

I like it.

And yeah, the 'mech cockpits thing being small... Here's an easy solution: build it a little more forward.

 

[FireStoat]

In answering the question as to where the VIP sits or is placed in the battlemech - easy. According to Battletech fluff and the wiki, every mech comes with a toilet. The VIP is going to need it too considering how bad my driving is.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Cockpit

 

[Curuno]

Jordan's extraction spider got a bit of attention on the old forum, but I didn't hear as much about the alternative fast-moving options. Certainly locusts don't make the list, with the tissue paper they call armor, but there are still a few options to consider....

If the Firestarter retains the massive jump range it had under the Beta in it's unmodified configuration, it's a very good contender. Being able to bypass the terrain features at speed counts for quite a bit for evading pursuit.

 

[Na'Shar]

If the Firestarter retains the massive jump range it had under the Beta in it's unmodified configuration, it's a very good contender. Being able to bypass the terrain features at speed counts for quite a bit for evading pursuit.

I could see the Firestarter as a contender, but I'm not sure I would run with stock. I'd drop some weapons, not going to speculate on what until we know exactly how flamers function and their specs in the release, but drop something for enough heat sinks to be able to jump continually if necessary.

 

[_Firefly]

I could see the Firestarter as a contender, but I'm not sure I would run with stock. I'd drop some weapons, not going to speculate on what until we know exactly how flamers function and their specs in the release, but drop something for enough heat sinks to be able to jump continually if necessary.

Fair point. Even with 12 sinks the FS9-H builds up plenty of heat in long distance jumps, even more so with an Angel of Death pilot. With 14 sinks, 2 MLs and max armour that should be more manageable.

 

[HonorKnight]

If the Firestarter retains the massive jump range it had under the Beta in it's unmodified configuration, it's a very good contender. Being able to bypass the terrain features at speed counts for quite a bit for evading pursuit.

Jump distance is not tied to the chassis, merely to the number of jump jets. And the jump jet capacity is tied to the engine, the same as run speed. At 6 jump jets maximum, the Firestarter is both a slower runner and a shorter jumper than the 7 jump jet Jenner or CDA-3C. You could really push the envelope with an 8 jump jet spider, if you're willing to drop another ton of armor.

 

[Funkin Disher]

You guys, this is what the Charger is made for. Almost as fast as a Commando, almost three times the armor of a spider AND can smack aside anything in its way with ease. You can even trade out the lasers for Jump Jets if you need them.

 

[_Firefly]

Jump distance is not tied to the chassis, merely to the number of jump jets. And the jump jet capacity is tied to the engine, the same as run speed. At 6 jump jets maximum, the Firestarter is both a slower runner and a shorter jumper than the 7 jump jet Jenner or CDA-3C. You could really push the envelope with an 8 jump jet spider, if you're willing to drop another ton of armor.

True, but the FS9 offsets that with more armour and heat capacity than either of them. Still, to me it's a toss-up between a JR7-F and an FS9-H - I'd go with the latter purely out of personal preference (I think the redesigned Firestarter looks great, plus it's named like a Prodigy song).

As a side note: hooray for a third confirmed Canopian on these forums! We can form a mini-faction with @Packrat.

You guys, this is what the Charger is made for. Almost as fast as a Commando, almost three times the armor of a spider AND can smack aside anything in its way with ease. You can even trade out the lasers for Jump Jets if you need them.

Run through walls rather than jump over them... I like your way of thinking. Besides, with access to a factory-level facility it'd become ripe for conversion into a 1A5.