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Perhaps the addition of an anti-missile system option. I know missiles can be used to counter incoming missiles, but Im thinking more of a system like the CIWS used to defend naval ships against missiles, but on a smaller scale. That way gun mechs dont have to mount missiles to defend against other missiles, and missile boat mechs dont have to expend offensive weapons to defend themselves.

In real life missiles are indeed more or less an automatic kill if used properly, but they have a few disadvantages.

1) Reaction Time: It generally takes longer to get a missile shot off rather than a gun shot. This is because the missile generally needs some time to lock on to the target that a gun does not. Of course, on the flip side, the missile is more likely to hit.

2) Interceptable: Missiles travel slower than gunfire and have a more obvious firing and flight signature making it possible to use hard-kill anti-missile systems to shoot them down before they hit. This is theoretically possible against gunfire too, but much, much harder.

3) Jammers, Decoys and Stealth (oh my!): The missile's target tracking system is vulnerable to being interfered with through jamming, decoys and stealth systems, making it much harder for a missile to score a successful hit.

4) Ammunition Capacity: Missiles are much bigger than shells of equivalent power so far fewer can typically be carried.

5) Expense: Compared to conventional shells of comparable power missiles are far more expensive.

6) Firing Signature: It is a lot easier to tell where a missile is fired from and when it is fired, giving the target a chance to seek cover or to shoot at the missile launcher. Some forms of missile guidance require the firing unit to stay still and focused on the target, so a common anti-missile tactic is to shoot the unit that fired the missile with guns and force him to duck.

If the game system accurately reflects most or all of these limitations then missiles will not become unbalancing.

Good points, but honestly Id rather not spend the majority of the game working on missile/counter missile events, but thats just my taste. Its Paulsons game, and if he wants missiles to be the big killer, so be it. Im going to be in on the KS for some mechs no matter what.

The question at this point is if the rules will be something I (and those I game with) can get behind, if they need to be modded a bit, or if a different system all together will be used.


Ill add a note of personal taste...Ive never been a fan of salvo fired missiles like in Battletech. Sure, it makes for great cinematics in film, but its really highly impractical. I far prefer to see missiles as a single shot per firing deal.

I've already got most of that covered guys, you might want to check the beta rules out. http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/MechaFront/

Missiles are limited in payload while other weapons are not, they can be shot down both by anti-missile systems or missiles being fired defensively. ECMS and other equipment will be in the expanded advanced rules. So take a peek at the system you just might be surprised




.

 paulson games wrote:
I've already got most of that covered guys, you might want to check the beta rules out. http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/MechaFront/

Missiles are limited in paylod while other weapons are not, they can be shot down both by anti-missile systems or missiles being fired defensively. ECMS and other equipment will be in the expanded advanced rules. So take a peek at the system you just might be surprised




.

I skimmed the rules, already knew about the defensive fire option.

I have the rules, and emailed a copy to my friend to print out, hopefully within the next couple weeks are going to give them a run.

To those that think missiles are that deadly...

Buddy blew all his light missiles at me. Shot them down with my missiles and machineguns. Sure, I had no actions left, but he had no weapons left.

They're not as ridiculous as you think. They're the rock to light mech's scissors, but not terribly effective against the bigger mechs with higher armor values.

As for the "which medium to use" question:

Obviously, plastic > plastic > resin > resin kits with metal weapons and detail bits > all metal.

However: customizable models and the ability to swap out weapons and equipment via magnets or some other method is far more important than the material used.

This is going to sound crazy... but would mdf/hdf kits work?

MDF mecha? Say...

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
This is going to sound crazy... but would mdf/hdf kits work?

Laser cut wood MDF?

I'm not sure how that would work.




Here's a WIP shot, not done but getting close.

Looking good! Is the CAD model of the quad walker complete?

Paulson...are you willing to reveal which mech you are having printed for the Kickstarter, or do we have to wait until it launches?

Looks like I'm in the home stretch so the new color art I have in progress and other pics I'm going to hold off on til it goes live. Its getting close

I'm not sure how it would work either, and the shapes might have to be a bit more basic, Although one set I bought from Impudent Mortal landed my two small sheets of 2mm details to add to my building which was lovely and versatile. It might be worth looking into.

Dammit Paulson, I'm a (teacher) not an engineer!

I'm an engineer, and would like to request that the words "laser cut" and "MDF" not be uttered in this thread again .

You Could try something like that, but there are so many kickstarters for that type of thing bow, and these mechs will look so much better being cast in 3D, rather than cut from 2D pieces and assembled together. I even have a laser cutter at work and operate it at times... Great for some things, and not for others. This is one of the "others"

 RiTides wrote:
I'm an engineer, and would like to request that the words "laser cut" and "MDF" not be uttered in this thread again .

You Could try something like that, but there are so many kickstarters for that type of thing bow, and these mechs will look so much better being cast in 3D, rather than cut from 2D pieces and assembled together. I even have a laser cutter at work and operate it at times... Great for some things, and not for others. This is one of the "others"

I will agree completely. Just the sound of it is a huge turn-off. Id say if things are as close as Paulson says, we can leave the material debate behind as its already been chosen. Now its just time to get ready for the Kickstarter.

Any news for us?

Yes, we got now news this past Monday... would love an update even if it's "still going"

Still working on stuff, nothing pic worthy as most of it has been on the second edit of the rules.

Oh dear, someone editing their rules to make sure they are a good system?

And before you tell me I haven't given you feedback, I know. I've been swamped with work and school, playing has taken a distant last position on my "to do" list.

Thoughts, comments?








WIP thread: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/511518.page

Looks good, as usual.

Looks nice. It reminds me alot of one of the German Dust mechs though.

I really like that model a lot. I think the bulk of the torso and weapons all close together makes it look like it means business. The feet could probably stand to be a little bit bigger; it looks 'wrong' for something so large to have such a little footprint.

Yeah, the footpads could be a bit bigger, but I love the ankle details.

Rather than post a whole new pic I updated the link. Foot size was increased slightly and I added further modifications to the leg armor.

Scrolling up and...

nice.

Subtle change, but I think it makes the legs look better.

1.) I think the second render, the feet look better.

2.) I think the torso guns seem a little undersized, depending. Are they anti-mech weapons? If so I think they're a little too small. If they're anti-infantry lasers or MG's, though, they're probably about right. And of course i they're modular; then it doesn't matter 100% how it scales to each specific mech chassis.

The guns look perfectly sized for some sort of laser or autocannon. Think about just how tall the mech is and figure out the calibre of the guns. They're pretty huge.

Also, the bore size of a gun doesn't necessarily indicate it's role.

I'd like a few, please!