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Two May releases and a brief announcement from Dream Pod 9:

(Of whom I am a paid contractor.)

Sapeur Heavy Engineering Gear

The Sapeur is an engineering gear built primarily for work in mining and construction roles, but they do see combat occasionally and are popular Arena combatants,



1/144 metal model.

Voltigeur (DP9- 9263, $30.00 CAD
The Voltigeur is the main battle tank of the NuCoal faction. The standard configuration is equipped with two Light FIeld Guns, but the kit includes the single Heavy Field Gun for the Hammer variant as well as parts for the CV variant.


The Hammer variant is shown below.


1/144 resin model.

Terra Nova Terraformer Sale
We're also having a sale on all terrain items including the scenic bases! This sale includes the Badlands and miscellaneous terrain pieces and other terrain pieces as well as the entire line of scenic bases.

Act now: the sale ends the morning of Monday, June 4th!

Engineering Gears look as stupid as the tonka toys WizKids put out for MechWarrior back in the mid 00s.

Breotan wrote:Engineering Gears look as stupid as the tonka toys WizKids put out for MechWarrior back in the mid 00s.

:( Ours have a couple major differences from the WK version. First, there's a lot of stuff in canon about various work Gear designs so they're not 'new' to the setting. In fact, it's been canon since the late 90s that an older walker design used for heavy lifting and such was the inspiration for the first military Gear projects.

Also, please keep in mind that the one in red is built as an arena duelist. So, flashy weapons fit the style. The shield and chainsaw are intended as crowd-pleasing weapons.The one in yellow is more of a true 'engineering' model, and is a more representative engineering design.

These designs wouldn't be on a battlefield except in extreme situations, or if fielded by a militia or bandit group that doesn't have access to something better. They're definitely non-optimal. Most have low armor, exposed cockpits, and few if any real weapons. They've got above-average melee, but just getting in range for that is a trick.

The Sapeur (as shown) needs a Heavy Autocannon, Light Field Mortar, Anti-personnel Grenade Launcher, and some Hand Grenades for the 'militia' version. It's roughly in the same 'niche' as the Grizzly, but the Grizzly's far better in almost every way but point cost. The Grizzly has better sensors, comms, and significantly better armor, especially from the front. The Grizzly has a similar hand-held weapon, and better support weapons. Of course, the Grizzly's significantly more expensive.

Basically, the work Gears are a fun option for 'militia' or other themed lists. In the setting, they're a common mass-produced design for anyone that needs a multi-function piece of heavy equipment. A lot of parts are shared with military designs, so they're relatively easy to maintain.

Hey, I like em. And given your description they work and look as you intend.

Plus, -nothing- can be as bad as what WizKids put out, and these aren't even in the same field as that for me.

Great stuff...especially like the Voltigeur! More NuCoal stuff in the works? I'd love to see WIPs on the site.

Balance wrote:

Breotan wrote:Engineering Gears look as stupid as the tonka toys WizKids put out for MechWarrior back in the mid 00s.

:( Ours have a couple major differences from the WK version.

I apologize for the tone of my post. I guess I'm still bitter over the way Weisman the Battletech IP. Still, you aren't shoving these things down people's throats the way Weisman did and having a choir sing to everyone about what an amazing idea it is while you do it. Hmmm... do I still sound bitter? I don't sound bitter, do I?

Breotan wrote:

Balance wrote:

Breotan wrote:Engineering Gears look as stupid as the tonka toys WizKids put out for MechWarrior back in the mid 00s.

:( Ours have a couple major differences from the WK version.

I apologize for the tone of my post. I guess I'm still bitter over the way Weisman the Battletech IP. Still, you aren't shoving these things down people's throats the way Weisman did and having a choir sing to everyone about what an amazing idea it is while you do it. Hmmm... do I still sound bitter? I don't sound bitter, do I?

You do, but in this regard I agree with you. They took a fantastic universe, ran it over with a combine harvester, and then told us how utterly dumb we were for not singing endless praises for their decisions.

As such, the reaction, while bitter, is understandable.

I like the construction mechs, doubt I'll get into heavy gear but iirc they're about the right size to be Made into servitors.

Awesome! I really like the nucoal MBT, very cool aesthetic. Heavy gear is a great game, I am very happy to see it gaining traction again.

Kid_Kyoto wrote:I like the construction mechs, doubt I'll get into heavy gear but iirc they're about the right size to be Made into servitors.

They'd certainly be a good parts source. You could probably kit bash them with appropriate GW minis if you wanted to. I feel the 40k servitors are generally more asymmetrical and have more wires and fleshy bits. The Chargeur might be the best fit, as the Sapeur is a bit chunkier and larger, although it does have the cool drill arm.

I really can't discuss upcoming products... Because I'm generally in the dark as much as everyone else. It's easier that way. It keeps me from leaking info. I generally know very little beyond projects I'm involved in... Maybe a couple weeks advance notice.


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Breotan wrote:

Balance wrote:

Breotan wrote:Engineering Gears look as stupid as the tonka toys WizKids put out for MechWarrior back in the mid 00s.

:( Ours have a couple major differences from the WK version.

I apologize for the tone of my post. I guess I'm still bitter over the way Weisman the Battletech IP. Still, you aren't shoving these things down people's throats the way Weisman did and having a choir sing to everyone about what an amazing idea it is while you do it. Hmmm... do I still sound bitter? I don't sound bitter, do I?

Maybe a teensy bit bitter, perhaps.

I'm kind of curious how a 'horde' army of work gears would perform. They're dirt cheap, by standards... Many are only 15 TV per model. And games tend to be 800-1000 points, so... At 800 TV, you're still looking at 10+ 4-model squads, with points left for a few heavy weapons. The Sapeur is a bit more expensive, but the lack of armor makes it pretty cheap.

They'd definitely get killed in mass quantities, though. A lot of them are vulnerable to infantry weapons, even.

I like the look of the tank. However, what really caught my eye was the sale. Nice terrain really makes the game come alive. Even the new Barnaby transport is on sale.

Breotan wrote:Engineering Gears look as stupid as the tonka toys WizKids put out for MechWarrior back in the mid 00s.

I actually didn't mind the work 'Mechs. I did mind the complete and utter lack of real BattleMechs and that each booster-thing only came with one 'Mech.

And I disliked many of the mechanics of gameplay, or at least the 'actions' or whatever it was. And that customization was and is a strong part of nearly every aspect of the BattleTech universe, except for ClickyTech and the MechAssault games (little wonder they're so lambasted by fans). I also didn't entirely mind the reset button they hit, but they definitely could have done a much, much better job of it.

What I definitely did enjoy, though, were the CAD N/1:144 scale BattleMechs that came along later.

Sorry for the hi-jacking of the thread! The only things I can say that I do not enjoy about Heavy Gear are the hands on the gears, they just don't look very military (I feel the same way about many of the 'Mechs in BattleTech). That and I'd like to see a 'reverse jointed' or 'bird leg' unit. I suppose this is still off-topic, so...

I like the work gear. Looks very utilitarian. I even like the 'exposed' cockpit. And the idea of fielding one as part of a militia force is an option I'd be fond of. It would be interesting to see one with armor plating added to the canopy to try and make it less vulnerable.

Really like the look of these guys! What size are they/ where would I find rules to use them in arena?

Lukez wrote:Really like the look of these guys! What size are they/ where would I find rules to use them in arena?

They're 1/144 scale. I believe the Sapeur is based off the NuCoal Chevalier, so it's an 'oversized' design, akin to the Grizzly, Spitting Cobra, etc.

The rules for using them in Arena should be in Gear Up 5 (which is free).

We've extended the Terra Novan Terraformer sale to the 18th for anyone considering any purchases...

We've also got the Fusilier out this month:
Fusilier Hovertank (DP9-9264, $21.00 CAD)
(Also available in a bundle of 3 at a discount.)

This is NuCoal's fast armored unit designed to be able to quickly flank targets or advance on objectives. It's also available to Humanist Alliance forces as a swap for the common light Hun tank.



The Fusilier is cast in resin and has multiple components to allow for modeling opportunities and variants. Scale is 1/144.


The Fusilier can be equipped with a Light Guided Mortar in its Anvil variant (shown below).


The Fusilier is a major component of NuCoal's armored forces along with the Voltiger main battle tank and the Sampson APC. These three act as heavy firepower and support for NuCoal's Gear and infantry forces.



The Fusilier kit is modeled with articulated thruster mounts and turret details. As a hovervehicle, the Fusilier has a fully-detailed bottom surface.

The Fusilier looks super cool, more and more I'm tempted to pick up nu-coal as well

I like them.

They have that Exo Squad kinda vibe to them, and seem pretty on par with the rest of the range. ( They go along with the other mecs.)

Why does a hovertank still have all the housing for its tracks and motivation systems..? One would think that it could use that space for other things, like concealing and protecting it's giant tacked on engines. Also, that tank has five seperate jet engines but no visible intakes.


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For that matter, do those missiles co exist with the tracks..? Are they just can shaped?

ShumaGorath wrote:

Why does a hovertank still have all the housing for its tracks and motivation systems..? One would think that it could use that space for other things, like concealing and protecting it's giant tacked on engines. Also, that tank has five seperate jet engines but no visible intakes.

I didn't design it, but I'd guess the "tracks" are the core 'hover' bits, so the main central hull can have equipment/crew down to the bottom armor space.


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ShumaGorath wrote:


For that matter, do those missiles co exist with the tracks..? Are they just can shaped?

I'm guessing the missiles are pretty shallow, which fits with canon as a lot of Gears carry either tons of rockets or significantly fewer missiles in shoulder-mount rocket pods that aren't very deep.

If you look, there's a forward 'hump' along the track that the missiles are located in. My guess is the tracks run roughly along the top of the side track-skirt, so the 'hump' is weapon space.

ShumaGorath wrote:

Why does a hovertank still have all the housing for its tracks and motivation systems..? One would think that it could use that space for other things, like concealing and protecting it's giant tacked on engines. Also, that tank has five seperate jet engines but no visible intakes.

The track housings look like they hold the actual engines that drive the hover jets, similar to how a harrier has the engine in its core hull but nozzles on the outside; in this case, the tank has two with another outlet on the back. Also, if you look at the model, there is a black painted inlet positioned next to each and every nozzle that most people would consider the intake. Are they very large compared with current jet versions? No, but this is a sci-fi universe with walking 20ft tall robots that run on diesel engines. A bit of handwavium ore is an integral of almost all scifi.

That stuff looks great!

As an absolute beginner in the world of Heavy Gear, where would I start in terms of rules for this system?

warboss wrote:

ShumaGorath wrote:

Why does a hovertank still have all the housing for its tracks and motivation systems..? One would think that it could use that space for other things, like concealing and protecting it's giant tacked on engines. Also, that tank has five seperate jet engines but no visible intakes.

The track housings look like they hold the actual engines that drive the hover jets, similar to how a harrier has the engine in its core hull but nozzles on the outside; in this case, the tank has two with another outlet on the back. Also, if you look at the model, there is a black painted inlet positioned next to each and every nozzle that most people would consider the intake. Are they very large compared with current jet versions? No, but this is a sci-fi universe with walking 20ft tall robots that run on diesel engines. A bit of handwavium ore is an integral of almost all scifi.

Oh sure, you can handwavium the entire thing. It breaks suspension of disbelief in me a bit though when you take a pre existing tank design, take out the track bits, staple two mailboxes on each side and then call it a "hover tank". DP9 certainly is in a crowded field for designs that make no sense or are lazy and GW has more than it's fair share. This ones just kinda on the nose in my opinion. The larger hovertank design in one of the other pictures actually appears to be a vehicle concepted with flight in mind, this just looks like the modeler/artist got lazy.

I'm guessing the missiles are pretty shallow, which fits with canon as a lot of Gears carry either tons of rockets or significantly fewer missiles in shoulder-mount rocket pods that aren't very deep.

If you look, there's a forward 'hump' along the track that the missiles are located in. My guess is the tracks run roughly along the top of the side track-skirt, so the 'hump' is weapon space.

Those are presumably anti tank missiles, which in heavy gear are massive single shot weapons. They could have can-like proportions though, that's somewhat fitting of the previous aesthetic developed.

ShumaGorath wrote:Oh sure, you can handwavium the entire thing. It breaks suspension of disbelief in me a bit though when you take a pre existing tank design, take out the track bits, staple two mailboxes on each side and then call it a "hover tank". DP9 certainly is in a crowded field for designs that make no sense or are lazy and GW has more than it's fair share. This ones just kinda on the nose in my opinion. The larger hovertank design in one of the other pictures actually appears to be a vehicle concepted with flight in mind, this just looks like the modeler/artist got lazy.

What pre-existing tank design did they take and just slap on that stuff? What I see is a tank that is a follow up of the design that preceeded it (the Hetaroi) that incorporates some of its design features and is a mix between the traditional tank and hovertanks in the game.

http://store.dp9.com/product_info.php?products_id=448



These native Terra Novan tanks use less advanced materials and tech than the earth ones as they pretty much begged/borrowed/stole from stranded and destroyed Earth designs. The first one was more of a blatant copy whereas this one looks like it uses the tech from Earth but the style of Terra Nova. The ones you're talking about and prefer are the Earth ones.

warboss wrote:

ShumaGorath wrote:Oh sure, you can handwavium the entire thing. It breaks suspension of disbelief in me a bit though when you take a pre existing tank design, take out the track bits, staple two mailboxes on each side and then call it a "hover tank". DP9 certainly is in a crowded field for designs that make no sense or are lazy and GW has more than it's fair share. This ones just kinda on the nose in my opinion. The larger hovertank design in one of the other pictures actually appears to be a vehicle concepted with flight in mind, this just looks like the modeler/artist got lazy.

What pre-existing tank design did they take and just slap on that stuff?

Real ones.
+

ShumaGorath wrote:
Oh sure, you can handwavium the entire thing. It breaks suspension of disbelief in me a bit though when you take a pre existing tank design, take out the track bits, staple two mailboxes on each side and then call it a "hover tank". DP9 certainly is in a crowded field for designs that make no sense or are lazy and GW has more than it's fair share. This ones just kinda on the nose in my opinion. The larger hovertank design in one of the other pictures actually appears to be a vehicle concepted with flight in mind, this just looks like the modeler/artist got lazy.

So a tank design that looks a bit off ruins your immsersion, but giant walking robots with knives and axes and ten foot long copies of infantry rifles, dudes riding giant armadillos charging said giant robots with explosive lances, and other such stuff doesn't?

The Fusilier looks fine, yeah, I get what you're saying about the design, but it's not that bad, especially not next to many of the other units in the game.

Those are presumably anti tank missiles, which in heavy gear are massive single shot weapons. They could have can-like proportions though, that's somewhat fitting of the previous aesthetic developed.

They can be either Anti-Gear or airburst missiles which are blast effect weapons effective against infantry and at inflicting stun effects against opponents, but not tremendously powerful weapons (AT missiles are DMG25, AB Missiles are DMG10). Neither weapon need be particularly large.

So a tank design that looks a bit off ruins your immsersion, but giant walking robots with knives and axes and ten foot long copies of infantry rifles, dudes riding giant armadillos charging said giant robots with explosive lances, and other such stuff doesn't?

Pretty much. I appreciate creativity in design and can ignore logical issues (such as trackfeet and rollerskating robots), but when the design influence appears lazy or the final product appears to be the work of an unskilled hand I'm taken out of the experience. You'll note similar criticisms whenever I look at any imperial flyer or tank in 40k.

The Fusilier looks fine, yeah, I get what you're saying about the design, but it's not that bad, especially not next to many of the other units in the game.

I don't like about half the games range. They have the same issue battletech had where its early designs and art were terrible but to maintain continuity of influences they've had to iterate on some pretty awful stuff. It's getting better but stuff like this holds it back.

Alpharius wrote:That stuff looks great!

As an absolute beginner in the world of Heavy Gear, where would I start in terms of rules for this system?

The best intro for the game is the Field Manual. It's the core rules, and if you're into PDFs, it comes with several of the current-equivalent of army books. There's also a version of it in the starters at the dp9 online store.

After that, various books detail various armies. The Fusilier belongs to the NuCoal faction, and is covered int he book Perfect Storm, while the older Locked & Loaded book has army lists and background fro the North, South, Peace River, and Leagueless factions as well as a ton of general background.


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ShumaGorath wrote:

I'm guessing the missiles are pretty shallow, which fits with canon as a lot of Gears carry either tons of rockets or significantly fewer missiles in shoulder-mount rocket pods that aren't very deep.

If you look, there's a forward 'hump' along the track that the missiles are located in. My guess is the tracks run roughly along the top of the side track-skirt, so the 'hump' is weapon space.

Those are presumably anti tank missiles, which in heavy gear are massive single shot weapons. They could have can-like proportions though, that's somewhat fitting of the previous aesthetic developed.

There's several pretty small ATM launchers in the game, though. One of the first ones I can think of is the Klemm light tank, which has pods of three on each side:



I don't have a side-by-side of the Klemm and the Fusilier, but the Klemm is a pretty tiny tank in the setting.

My Caprice Mounts have ATMs thata re 'stored' in long hexagonal launchers, but they're from a relatively different tech base than the Terra Novans.

The Mammoth's ATMs is significantly larger with the arm-mounted missile pods:



But the Mammoth is just huge to begin with.

Alph, I'd also add in the tidbit that the armies mentioned in Balance's post (North, South, Peace River) are rumored to be getting new army rules soon which will make the Locked and Loaded book completely outdated (the Field Manual has the revised game rules already). The army boxes are decent deals so you won't go wrong with those (they include a L&L minibook) but I wouldn't go out an buy a separate full size Locked and Loaded book as its likely to only be good for 3-6 months.