New Mech concept in <30 days - Bryan

Hello everyone - its speculation fun time!

As some of you know Bryan held an AMA on Reddit the other night with lots of great questions asked:

AMA Here: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1cyz2x/i_am_bryan_ekman_the_creative_director_of/
Question + Answers here: http://pastebin.com/QpRFhRBV

Anyways - this question was asked and answered:

"How far off are the next mech announcements? PGI (You, I believe) has previously said that there are 6 mechs whose concepts are ready to go, and were waiting for some sort of PR event."

Bryan: "We're going to be announcing the next `Mech within 30 days"

Well guys? Speculation time? The last Assault or something else?
What assault? My money is on the Banshee since its a 95 ton mech - one of the missing tonnages beside a 55 ton mech. Victor would be nice for an assault and so would the Mauler. That being said I would love to see the Dervish because more mediums are always needed and it fixes that 55 ton gap too.

 

There are a lot of gaps, currently. 20 and under, 45, 55, 75, and 95 are currently missing. I just hope it's not another 50-ton.

 

The 75-ton Orion has been announced.

 

20 ton - Flea (July?)
45 ton - Blackjack (May)
55 ton - MIA
75 ton - Orion (June)
95 ton - MIA

 

Hrmmm some thinking fun here. I am sure you are right about it being certain weight class fillers. There are a few I would like to see. Will make the names clickable links to the Sarna wiki for easy details.

The Clint could be some real fun. Sure we already have a 40 tonner in the Cicada but would be nice to have a humanoid 40 tonner.

The Flashman could be a fun 75 ton option but possibly a little too similar to a Jager or Orion to make the cut.

When it comes to 55 tons how about a Griffin or has some legal mumbo jumbo robbed us of that old starter set classic as well? Would be especially neat if they gave us the Griffin then when the clans invade they bring their Griffin IICs to the mix.

The Black Knight could be another 75 ton offering a bit of a change. I personally feel there could be some more varied energy chassis in the game.

Another one of the first battlemechs I ever saw in my first starter set back int he day, the Shadow Hawk would be an awesome 55 ton addition but probably never will be seen thanks to legal mumbo jumbo like the other mech I would love to pilot the Warhammer.

The more I dwell on it the more I find legal mumbo jumbo screwing with what I would like to see in the game.

Not going to put a lot of thought into 95 tons as I am not an assault pilot. I just don't mesh well with them.

 

I want my Marauder but I know it will never happen.

Most of the 55 ton mechs are actually classed as Unseen; Wolverine, Griffin, Shadowhawk, Phoenixhawk etc.

The Osprey looks FUGLY in my opinion and I think everything else isn't due to be released till 3052 (Grim Reaper). I am not for sure for sure on that though so don't quote me.

 

I don't recall seeing a Shadow Hawk or Griffin in Robotech/Macross. Do I even really want to know why these are unseen or is it another one of those issues that will make me slap a ho?

 

So many mechs that I love in the 55 ton range... But their original manufacturing date probably takes them out of the running. Because I'd love a Bushwhacker. But Otherwise, more in time-line... I'd like to see the Osprey.

Totally onboard with Black Knight as a 75 ton. Loved that mech.

 

Oh so they're not announcing the next mech, but rather the...few-nexts one.

The Flea looks like it will be fun, but if they limit it to a 170 XL (151.5 KPH with tweak), it's going to fill up on DHS (especially with the min 10 requirement) and be even less efficient than the Commando. I almost wonder if they should drop the minimum to 9 for Spiders, 8 for Commandos, and 7 for 20-ton mechs.

 

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Unseen

 

For those of us unable to get to that site at work, can you quote why it's unseen? Or do I have to wait in suspense until I get home?

 

I would like to point out on that page, Michael, that both the Griffin and Shadow Hawk are listed as "Reseen" and "Under new agreement".
A slight shimmer of hope.

 

Basically, the creators of BattleTech stole the artwork from some Japanese mecha thing, and they sued and won. Kind of a dick move to begin with.

 

This is not accurate - Battletech legally Licenced the artwork from the Japanese studio and creator that originally did Macross - but there was an american company that had the "TV rights" to make Robotech in north america - it was the USA company with the American licence for only the TV show that sued FASA - which creates a huge grey area over who was right and whos wrong because technically FASA licenced the mech designs for the game from the original content creators legally - let they lost in court. American Copyright law is funny.

 

The sad result of all of these money grabs is that 20+ years later we can't make it a dozen posts through a guess the upcoming mech thread without the whole legality thing screwing that up too.

 

Anything with the word "Seen" in it isn't something PGI is going to touch.

Unseen? Risk a lawsuit
Reseen? Risk pissing off the purists or those of us who grew up playing the Unseen (Marauder for me)

It is a twisted mess and a fustercluck any which way you look at it.

 

At this point I don't really care about looks. Pick up any BT/MW TRO or book and the first impression you will have is that this needs an art over haul. None of the mechs we have now made the transition without artistic license and many of them really needed a bit of a face lift. I haven't been disappointed by any of the unseen/reseen art fixes I have seen so far and the older fans should be happy that the unseen even get another chance at all through an art overhaul.

Lets face it, what actions have IGPGI taken thus far that indicate that they care much about pissing the players off? Let me hit the MWOmercs general forums and OH WAIT, I CAN'T! IGPGI had to get rid off it to quell all off the QQs and angry masses lol. Fear of lawsuit is about the only reason I see there. I, for one, would love to see the unseen back with new "you can't sue me!" looks about them. Nice and modern. Sure it isn't what we grew up with but neither are any of the mechs in game now for that matter.

 

This is subjective. YOU are happy, some are not, others are indifferent. Personally I only like about half of the Reseen designs. Stinger? Wasp? Blech! Marauder? I could learn to love it and have several in my miniature collection, Archer? Meh, if I have to. Nothing to jump up and down and clap about that is for sure.

I would support this solely on the fact that I have seen a concept of Flying Debris interpretation of a Marauder and I could dig it totally!

 

Alright so heres how I see it:

Very High Probability:
Banshee - Assault (needed for even # of lights/med/heavy/assault) - 95 tons (needed missing weight) - lots of variants

Its a double threat of both things we need - an assault mech and a 95 ton mech.

High Probability:
Zeus - Assault (needed) - it's also a very iconic mech with lots of variants - lower ton assault

Victor - Assault Mech (needed) - lots of variants - lower ton assault

Medium probability:
Mauler - Assault (needed) - odd design though lacks variants - 90 tons - could easily be made a brawler OR support mech

Dervish - Medium mech - 55 tons (need - missing weight) - good number of variants in the timeline - can easily fill a number of roles

Charger - Assault mech (needed) - 80 tons = lower ton assault - fast assault gives it a unique role - tons of variants

King Crab Tier
King Crab - Assault (needed) - its the mother fucking King Crab - who doesn't want this?! LOOK AT IT, JUST LOOK AT IT - ITS A FUCKING CRAB!

 

And then there are the perfectly legal Project Phoenix re-designs of all of the Unseen/Reseen 'Mechs. Some people may hate them, but they can easily be used in this game.

I want my Locust, Phoenix Hawk, Crusader, and Marauder, damn it. Those and the rest of the PP 'Mechs are iconic, and they NEED to be in this game.

As far as the "under 20" gap goes ... there aren't any real 'Mechs below 20 tons.