Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

GBL wrote:

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Ironbovin and I were having this discussion: I had assumed that the quads would have multiple crew. Their bases being bigger than most of the buildings I own, would you say that it is reasonable to think that it takes more than a single person to operate such a behemoth?

I think the problem with this idea, is that the Quad mechs would be vastly more stable than the biped ones. Current robotics can make a functional quad, but perfect bipeds still elude us.

Sorry GBL, you obviously have not heard of "Asimo". The worlds first self contained bipedal robot capable of running. Yes, that's right, a propper running robot that gets both feet off the ground at the same time. OK, it's not "perfect", but then again, nothing ever is.

So we may be closer to the sort of bipedal armour that Jon is designing than you think, we obviously already have the software so it's just a matter of the complexcities of scaling the small sized Asimo up to something that size.

 Conrad Turner wrote:

GBL wrote:

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Ironbovin and I were having this discussion: I had assumed that the quads would have multiple crew. Their bases being bigger than most of the buildings I own, would you say that it is reasonable to think that it takes more than a single person to operate such a behemoth?

I think the problem with this idea, is that the Quad mechs would be vastly more stable than the biped ones. Current robotics can make a functional quad, but perfect bipeds still elude us.

Sorry GBL, you obviously have not heard of "Asimo". The worlds first self contained bipedal robot capable of running. Yes, that's right, a propper running robot that gets both feet off the ground at the same time. OK, it's not "perfect", but then again, nothing ever is.

So we may be closer to the sort of bipedal armour that Jon is designing than you think, we obviously already have the software so it's just a matter of the complexcities of scaling the small sized Asimo up to something that size.

Oh I have. Its just that Quads are always more stable. I never argued that they bipeds are unlikely, just that the quads will be more stable than the bipeds (and thus less likely to need assistance driving)

Oh man, didn't realize Paulson was here! Must've missed him :(

Next time! The Games n Gears base boards will work perfectly for this, shown at the Dropzone Commander booth along with their buildings.

GBL wrote:
Oh I have. Its just that Quads are always more stable. I never argued that they bipeds are unlikely, just that the quads will be more stable than the bipeds (and thus less likely to need assistance driving)

I don't think it's a matter of driving assistance though. If we're talking 'guy in a chair wiggling joysticks' then computers would have to be taking care of all movement and balance issues beyond 'move in this direction at this speed'. Maybe when traversing difficult terrain the driver would designate foot placement zones via the same gaze-tracking used to control targeting but anything more than that would be too clumsy.


The second occupant could be due to the quads having enuff dakka to keep the first suitably amused, because they move slowly enough that the driver can do his thing without throwing off the gunner's aim, because they can have an extended cockpit without too much weight and bulk penalty from the extra armour*, because it's a good place to have a commander in the thick of it directing the rest of the force, or because it just seems right that the bigger mech has a bigger crew.


* Though the heavies look like they could make room for a co-pilot without hassle as well. Even if those are better piloted by only one guy at a time, the endurance advantages from having a second to provide hot cocoa and backrubs would seem to make it a no-brainer. But I guess that's not the genre convention.

 RiTides wrote:
Oh man, didn't realize Paulson was here! Must've missed him :(

Yeah, you've got to be quick with the iron nails before his footprints disappear.

Revised stat cards are now uploaded to the Yahoo Groups file section.

The new changes should hopefully make the cards a bit easier to follow and also now have basic point costs for playtesting.

An average force size would be 150 points.

Non-Armor Systems and advanced ammo types cost 5 points per selecton. Armor systems cost 10 points. Veteran pilots cost 15 point each and an Ace is 30 points. (Weapon costs are still being worked on so ignore them for now).

You cannot have more than 2 vet pilots on a force, or more than one ace. You cannot mix vet and ace pilots in the same force.

Great idea to differentiate each weapon. It makes it more imposing visually, but a lot more intuitive to sort out which weapon has fired, is damaged or is on the mecha, period.

Here's a couple pictures of the Raptor Gamma (aka Sniper) I'll have pictures of the other mechs shortly.

All the pre-orders should be shipping out by friday next week.

That is a thing of beauty! I am just waiting for funds to transfer into my Paypal account, and I will be placing an order for that and the other new variant on Saturday or Monday

I already placed an order for a Goshawk, I'm debating adding a second one.

Obviously you should buy one for your good buddy Alfndrate

If money weren't an issue, I gladly would. I'd sit down for a playtest too. But I had to buy a car. Eh.

 paulson games wrote:
Here's a couple pictures of the Raptor Gamma (aka Sniper) I'll have pictures of the other mechs shortly.

All the pre-orders should be shipping out by friday next week.

Spoiler:

They look great.

Are those missiles on the arms now? I like them, but they might be more visually striking as 5-packs.

Wish I had money right now.

Missiles have a varying number of dice assigned to them depending on the weight class of the weapon. Light missiles giving 3d hits, I think 3 look appropriate... and won't have the consequence of requiring quads to look all: "Yo dawg, I heard you like missiles!"

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Missiles have a varying number of dice assigned to them depending on the weight class of the weapon. Light missiles giving 3d hits, I think 3 look appropriate... and won't have the consequence of requiring quads to look all: "Yo dawg, I heard you like missiles!"

Its not the amount of damage that concerns me, its simply the empty real estate on the front of the launcher. Just a minor concern.

Oh, then yeah, maybe. Personally, I prefer the old launchers that had three tubes protruding slightly. I guess they must have been a pain to cast.

And the little elves convinced me to get a second goshawk.

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Oh, then yeah, maybe. Personally, I prefer the old launchers that had three tubes protruding slightly. I guess they must have been a pain to cast.

And the little elves convinced me to get a second goshawk.

Agreed

They remind me a lot of the mechs in Chrome Hounds, which is a good thing. Great idea, can't wait to see how it turns out.

The change to the missiles was to make a differant launchers option. Currently the stats have it armed with the same misisles as the alpha raptor however when Iget to the point where I revise all the mechs to include the advanced rules and builds the gamma sniper will c arry heavy missiles instead of the normal light version.

The tube missiles are giant pain in the butt to cast, but not the reason for the change.


Here's the Beta striking his best Rifleman pose.






In between rounds of casting I decided to start slapping some color on this guy, aiming for a low visability scheme for night hunting (he's still WIP).

Nice paint job. I really ought to get myself a lighter background for my pictures. I can't help but think my Raptors were hard to discern when I see all the great lighter paint schemes.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh and Jon, do send me my credit card back when you're done with it!

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Oh and Jon, do send me my credit card back when you're done with it!

Not while it still has blood to give

Just ordered my three Goshawks, one of each.

Well plaed sir, well played.

Valhalla42nd, we need to get to get together for a skirmish sometime since we are local . I should be ordering the other 2 raptor variants today, so I will have 3 NorAm, and you will have 3 Neo Bloc! I also have 2 packs of Dropzone Commander city terrain. Maybe we can try this out at Dropzone Games some weekend

Well... Maryland is only an 11 hours drive... I could make it!

Maybe at a convention

And ordered the beta and gamma

Sounds like a plan!

New on the Yahoo Group: Activation cards!

This one pleases me to no end. I love the random element that activation cards bring to the table, hopefully there will also be an interrupt card to vary the length of a turn.

Activation cards are posted along with the relevant rules.

(They are sized to fit standard ultra pro sleeves).

Do you get an email when things ship from paulson's online store guys? Just curious

I get a message saying it has shipped as soon as I make a payment. Since these are pre-orders... I suspect the computer lies.

It always lies...