The lack of 6/9/6 mechs as a limit in the use of light/medium mechs

[Kutuzov1]

Thanks to the "unseen" problem (Google it, to long to explain) we lack most of the iconic mechs with a Table Top (TT) movement of 6 walk 9 run 6 jump. (approximately 6/12/6 in Harebrained Battletech).

As the weight of the engine+gyros combo is one of the key factors in how much weight is available for other equipment, the absence of the 6/9/6 and 5/8/5 mechs in the weight bracket between 20 to 45 tons limits our tactical options.
Currently we have very fast but fragile mechs (Locust, Jenner) or slow and robust mechs (Panther). There are only 2 mechs in that weight class with a walking speed of 6:s the Commando, that can be refitted with Jump jets (JJ) but it has a low weight and the Firestarter, that has a problem with the weapon layout.
Both good mechs, but we need some of the mechs that aren't subject to the unseen problems to cover more of that niche in the game: Javelin, Clint, Vulcan.

i would like to get back the Stinger, Wasp, Valkyrie and Phoenix Hawk, but, for now, adding the other mechs will allow more variability in the game.

 

[Antediluvian Monster]

Javelin and Vulcan seem likely additions the moment we get more 'mechs in the game as they have their models ready. Phoenix Hawk has one too but it seems to be facing renewed legal trouble.

Actually, other than Javelin, Vulcan, Crab and Cyclops are there any 'mechs thay could be added (i.e. they have models in MWO, fit in late Succession War setting and are not unseen). Would they do 'mech pack for just four?

EDIT: Forgot Flea.

 

[Lawler]

Unless there are new shinanigans afoot (like within the last week), the unseen are legally able to be seen again and HG had a very stern talking to about pursuing a lawsuit with no legal basis to back up their claims. They were also barred from presenting any similar case again.

So you can be sure that at least a couple speedier mediums are coming, as well as some of the iconic classic BT mechs. But how they’re delivered, by whom, and when are still very much up in the air.

 

[Roguenull]

YES I totally agree we need 6/9 and possibly even 7/11 Medium mechs! Not just for lore reasons (I'm an 80s BTech buff myself), but to fill the current strategic lacuna. Right now the best scout is basically a 5/8/5 Quickdraw or Dragon since it is as fast as a SH / Griffin. A 6/9/6 Med mech with decent armour and better mobility offers a worthwhile incentive to trade off.

 

[Juodas Varnas]

The Scorpion is a 6/9/0 55 Tonner, just add jump jets yourself!

 

[Jekub]

Unless there are new shinanigans afoot (like within the last week), the unseen are legally able to be seen again and HG had a very stern talking to about pursuing a lawsuit with no legal basis to back up their claims. They were also barred from presenting any similar case again.

So you can be sure that at least a couple speedier mediums are coming, as well as some of the iconic classic BT mechs. But how they’re delivered, by whom, and when are still very much up in the air.

From what I've seen and heard, the Unseen are still Unseen, HG are still pursuing Piranha Games for their use of the Unseen and HBS are not using the Unseen while that lawsuit is ongoing. If/(hopefully)when HG loses that lawsuit, HBS will undoubtedly introduce the Unseen. From what little I've seen and know about copyright law, it would seem that HG have no rights to the Unseen designs. However, in the 80's a judge DID grant HG world wide copyright on the mecha/character designs for Robotech/Macross. Which is what started this whole clusterfrak in the first place!

 

[Kutuzov1]

The Scorpion is a 6/9/0 55 Tonner, just add jump jets yourself!

I haven't seen one in game, so far.

 

[Juodas Varnas]

I haven't seen one in game, so far.

And thanks to Mitch, you probably won't

 

[Dr. Banzai]

I am pretty sure the moment those issues were to be settled in our favor the guys at HBS would have an update with those mechs ready for download. At least the ones PGI has already remodelled. However due to LLaser and PPC heat issues non of the heavier ones would actually be decently playable. Phoenix Hawk, Rifleman, Warhammer and Marauder would all be suffering from excessive overheat and no longer be able to make use of their weaponry. They ran hot in TT but adding 30% weapong heat just renders them severely crippled imho.

 

[Antediluvian Monster]

Phoenix Hawk, Rifleman, Warhammer and Marauder would all be suffering from excessive overheat and no longer be able to make use of their weaponry. They ran hot in TT but adding 30% weapong heat just renders them severely crippled imho.

Marauder would be great, the game could use another useful 75 ton heavy. Obviously the stock one would be sucky as the game currently is but at least it has at minimum a single autocannon hardpoint and that makes it much more useful than Black Knight already (and arguably, more useful than Battlemaster, Banshee, Victor and Zeus).

 

[cpip]

Javelin and Vulcan seem likely additions the moment we get more 'mechs in the game as they have their models ready. Phoenix Hawk has one too but it seems to be facing renewed legal trouble.

Actually, other than Javelin, Vulcan, Crab and Cyclops are there any 'mechs thay could be added (i.e. they have models in MWO, fit in late Succession War setting and are not unseen). Would they do 'mech pack for just four?

EDIT: Forgot Flea.

Raven and Wolfhound might be suitable, though both are very new at the end of the Third Succession War / beginning of the Fourth. However, given that we've got Cataphracts in the hands of pirates and mercenaries, I don't see why we couldn't encounter Ravens, especially in Liao lances.

 

[Minchandre]

I'm really missing the Dervish, which nicely fills in an early-game fire support role that's currently being plugged by awkward Shadowhawk variants (at least for me).

 

[dv-]

I'm really missing the Dervish, which nicely fills in an early-game fire support role that's currently being plugged by awkward Shadowhawk variants (at least for me).

And Trenchbuckets.

 

[cpip]

And Trenchbuckets.

We do get the Trenchbucket, but, alas, neither Dervish nor Whitworth.

 

[Minchandre]

And Trenchbuckets.

Maybe it's just bad luck, but by the time I saw a Trebuchet, I was already running mostly heavies.

 

[Max_Killjoy]

GIVE CYCLOPS!

Ahem, sorry, carry on...

~~~~

One downside of adding a lot more mechs is the way the salvage system works.

Would probably need to change to make each general chassis generic across all variants, and then let the player choose which variant they wanted to reassemble once they had three parts.

 

[Sven Helgrim]

Even without the Unseen, there are plenty of ‘mechs that HBS can add to the game.

I’d love to see the Assassin, the Charger, the Hatchetman, the Wolfhound, the Mauler/Hatamoto, the Raven, the Mackie... the list goes on and on.

 

[Lyrch75]

I am pretty sure the moment those issues were to be settled in our favor the guys at HBS would have an update with those mechs ready for download. At least the ones PGI has already remodelled. However due to LLaser and PPC heat issues non of the heavier ones would actually be decently playable. Phoenix Hawk, Rifleman, Warhammer and Marauder would all be suffering from excessive overheat and no longer be able to make use of their weaponry. They ran hot in TT but adding 30% weapong heat just renders them severely crippled imho.

Yeah, they have the heat on certain weapons way too high. Adjust them by just a few points and they, surprisingly (sarc/) become useful.

 

[Jade_Rook]

During the beta I created a mod that added a lot of the 3025 mechs. No new graphics, just the appropriate stats. I have plans to update that for the full game, I have just been a little short on time lately.

Also, Scorpion would be the best 6/9 to add to the game.

 

[Drasius]

Even without the Unseen, there are plenty of ‘mechs that HBS can add to the game.

I’d love to see the Assassin, the Charger, the Hatchetman, the Wolfhound, the Mauler/Hatamoto, the Raven, the Mackie... the list goes on and on.

Half of which don't exist (Wolfhound/Mauler/Hatamoto-Chi) while the Raven is still a (mostly non-functional) prototype-only special that wouldn't be seen anywhere near the periphery and the Hatchetman is a Lyran house unit that has only just been produced and wouldn't have had time to make it's way out of Lyran space yet, let alone all the way to our little corner of the periphery.

The Mackie wasn't built after the fall of the league and even back then there were a pittance of them still in service.

There's plenty of 'mechs to chose from that could be added, but many of the ones you've suggested make for a rather poor fit.