So, just a curious thought I developed while setting up various builds on the Clan 'Mechs: Why do they have an option to carry a hand? Like on the Stormcrow: http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=185&l=64b60d7dccd0d5a2844168a22502f5794983e962 Why would you ever want to lose those two slots? Sure, I understand selecting the Lower-Arm Actuator: horizontal arm-rhetical movement can be a valuable asset, particularly for Beam Weapons. But a Hand? What is it supposed to do, other than take up an extra slot . . . with no actual in-game effect . . .? Any ideas anyone? Is there something I'm missing here? (Only half-plausible explanation I can think of is that they actually intend to let 'Mechs eventually use their hands to grab each other in CQC. If/when that is the case, I understand this option. But until they actually let us do that . . . what's the point in allowing us to select the Hand at all?)
Because they're Omnipods so you can add them. Semi-purists like me would complain if you couldn't.... Besides....go read the books you need to hands to do all the non combat heroic things like lifting debris off your trapped friends.... or crushing elementals that have jumped on to you....!!!! Mmh elementals wouldn't half change this game.
They are because they're in the TT rules, in the mech record sheets. In MWO, you can leave them out or keep them (if you don't need the extra space) as you wish, whether it is for visual reasons or others. They don't provide crit buffer though. Presumably they would matter for melee combat if it is ever implemented in MWO. In that case, mechs without lower arm actuators are probably terrible or can't even engage in melee combat (can't recall the TT rules for this), those with lower arm actuators but no hands are probably medicore (perhaps a chance their weapons get damaged or something), and having hands makes the mech useful in melee combat. But for now, no point. Do note some IS mechs have hand actuators, some don't, some have one.
Except that clanners fight like a girl when it comes to melee (they don't like it) Now a YLW coming after you ripping you up one limb at a time... I would love me some melee, es. melee weapons. That would give IS something nice.
Did I mention weapon based melee combat once? Besides... What are the odds of the IS pilots turning it into a free for all battle within say 2 minutes of the start.
There is precedent for clanners engaging in melee only combat though That made Tamar Malthus go at him with melee only It didn't work out so well, but it did happen
I do remember fondly the 100 ton Berserker mech with its massive axe and Triple Strength Myomer or MASC.... in your face carnage at its best.
I always thought the hands become a part of the internal structure (you need an empty crit-slot to choose em - but once chosen they turn grey like all other internal parts). They dont appear as a crit-slot which makes them useless (from my understanding) for crit-padding (since only equipment in those critical slots can be critted). My 2 cents
Hm... Fair point. If thought that the hand (at least) could still be critical'd, but the lower arm actuator could not.
I am hoping that they will add the ability to flip the bird. Maybe map the B button or something. I'd have hands on every mech if I could do that.
