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Mecha in SAoY
- Thread starter ShotJon
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Rizzo
Well-Known Member
My biggest issue i can find with a mecha is its size and weight. It's too large to be transported with ease and too heavy to be used on any surface you don't want to have to repave. However I do think a frame could do well in its place, like This one.
I'm not sure if anyone here is familiar with the game titanfall. In my opinion something like that would probably be the best solution for bigger firepower in a combat zone. However if it is not compatible with powered armor it would make its operation more clumsy. so my idea is:
Build a frame with a cockpit large enough for a PA and program it to be intelligent enough to protect itself while it is parked. From there you can also teach it to follow you. The game is based on real principles. Those principles apply to just about any computer that can operate on its own, which just so happens to be commonplace in our setting
I'm not sure if anyone here is familiar with the game titanfall. In my opinion something like that would probably be the best solution for bigger firepower in a combat zone. However if it is not compatible with powered armor it would make its operation more clumsy. so my idea is:
Build a frame with a cockpit large enough for a PA and program it to be intelligent enough to protect itself while it is parked. From there you can also teach it to follow you. The game is based on real principles. Those principles apply to just about any computer that can operate on its own, which just so happens to be commonplace in our setting
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Aendri
Inactive Member
A mecha with our level of tech doesn't have anything like that kind of limitation, Rizzo. We're talking a nation where there are PEOPLE who can hover with no visible effort. If you honestly think we can't make a mecha that doesn't weigh anywhere near what it logically should, you're sadly mistaken. Gravity manipulation is a well established part of nearly every faction, even if only in the sense of artificial gravity.
To be honest, I'm not big on a transforming thing either. I think the reference to Skynet's HKs is probably the best possible idea. Not incredibly fast, but tough, incredibly well armed, and designed for low altitude middle fingers to general regions.They're not the air superiority unit, they're the unit that makes everything on the ground PRAY the air superiority shows up in time. Obviously the general design would probably be much sleeker and smoothed off for Yamatai, but the general idea is the same. Basically a superfuture version of the A-10.
To be honest, I'm not big on a transforming thing either. I think the reference to Skynet's HKs is probably the best possible idea. Not incredibly fast, but tough, incredibly well armed, and designed for low altitude middle fingers to general regions.They're not the air superiority unit, they're the unit that makes everything on the ground PRAY the air superiority shows up in time. Obviously the general design would probably be much sleeker and smoothed off for Yamatai, but the general idea is the same. Basically a superfuture version of the A-10.
Syaoran
Retired Staff
@Rizzo most of the mecha in this setting are acutally the size of Titans in Titan fall if you look at teh Gekido it's only 6.9 meters tall, which is just under 23 feet. Or about two stories tall, really not that tall at all when Mecha are concerned. The Gekido is also only 18 tons because it's so small.
So we'd have fuchikoma-like tanks (TASHA), regular tanks and walking/flying mecha-tanks? Or maybe we'd replace the TASHA?
Fred
Retired Staff
The Miharu-plot only Akuma was a mecha, but when I described it I referenced it as being about 3 times taller than the Daisy power armor. I wanted something large enough to 'loom', 'overshadow' and 'tower' without wanting to make it so tall that a power armor next to it would be entirely irrelevant. Dwarfed, yes. Intimidated by something that could smack it across a room, yes.
It was about the size of the ED-209 shown by Wes above (probably a bit taller, actually, but still within the same realm of scale).
It was about the size of the ED-209 shown by Wes above (probably a bit taller, actually, but still within the same realm of scale).
CadetNewb
Well-Known Member
Some of the others beat me to giving a reply to the question, but I think there's still more I can add in regards to the role mechs or frames can play. I've said it before, but it seems like it was missed; when ships and fighter-bombers aren't there for you, things like these become a godsend because they stay with the infantry like a loyal dog. After all, the enemy may do something horribly right on their part while playing for keeps. In Star Trek, this reality became pretty painful whenever ships couldn't give Star Fleet personnel support, leaving them exposed and with nothing.
As for what the SAoY could choose?
I would not recommend going for a walker design Wes, primarily so that players have something more relatable and also playable should a GM wish to make a plot or players use them. In most other instances, they'd still take a backseat to PA though. Another consideration is that a humanoid design is more flexible in that it has better melee options if it came down to it. Such a design is simply more autonomous. In comparison, a tank is a lot more vulnerable close-in despite having similar firepower and can't be as 'resourceful' as a frame. If you'd prefer a design that's about 3 meters in height similar to Fred's Akuma and the ED-209, you may want to take into consideration the Armored Shrikes from Blue Gender to get an idea of their scale, though probably not asthetics or even performance. It's not a new anime, but for our purposes, it's worth taking a look at, as the pilots have an open cockpit which further helps give us a good idea of just how big or small they are.
A three meter design like that is compact, easy to transport and nimble, however, there's a good chance it'll be in the same ballpark as a decent tank in terms of firepower at best. Not only that, but that size category looks like it's already taken up by the TASHA. You may be better off with a 6 Meter design, which would be able to house a lot more firepower, and act as a peer against things like the NMX Ravager. To get a sense of scale - but again, not performance or asthetics - the Titans are a good bet. The best thing about them is that they're roughly the size of several other frames in SARP as well.
As for what the SAoY could choose?
I would not recommend going for a walker design Wes, primarily so that players have something more relatable and also playable should a GM wish to make a plot or players use them. In most other instances, they'd still take a backseat to PA though. Another consideration is that a humanoid design is more flexible in that it has better melee options if it came down to it. Such a design is simply more autonomous. In comparison, a tank is a lot more vulnerable close-in despite having similar firepower and can't be as 'resourceful' as a frame. If you'd prefer a design that's about 3 meters in height similar to Fred's Akuma and the ED-209, you may want to take into consideration the Armored Shrikes from Blue Gender to get an idea of their scale, though probably not asthetics or even performance. It's not a new anime, but for our purposes, it's worth taking a look at, as the pilots have an open cockpit which further helps give us a good idea of just how big or small they are.
A three meter design like that is compact, easy to transport and nimble, however, there's a good chance it'll be in the same ballpark as a decent tank in terms of firepower at best. Not only that, but that size category looks like it's already taken up by the TASHA. You may be better off with a 6 Meter design, which would be able to house a lot more firepower, and act as a peer against things like the NMX Ravager. To get a sense of scale - but again, not performance or asthetics - the Titans are a good bet. The best thing about them is that they're roughly the size of several other frames in SARP as well.
Reynolds
Well-Known Member
I thought we already had mechs in SA with the KEIKO? Even if it is kinda small, at only seven feet or so, it''s basically just a bigger, beefier Mindy that is more powerful in almost every way. And can mount more/larger weapons.
I actually tried to do something more like this:
But it didn't quite work out.
I actually tried to do something more like this:
But it didn't quite work out.
Syaoran
Retired Staff
The KEIKO isn't a true mecha from how I understand it. It's not 'worn' like a PA but it's equipment is still on the same level as a PA, it just controls better because you use your mind. And 7ft is only big for Yamatai, you can literally have solders from other nations as tall as it. You can't really treat it like a Mecha in that situation, it pretty much serves the same role as PA.
so, high-speed, heavy-firepower support you say? With full flight and hover capabilities?
/plug
Think bigger: About half the length of the Sakura. Squatter. Mechanically more simple.
Like... A YF23 and Metal Gear Rex had a three-legged baby and a stingray was the godparent.
Can pull all of its elements in to become a single sleek hull, or extend them for the harder landings.
The joy of an air-combat frame over a ground-pounder (1:55)
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Try an Try an FZ-150 Feios.
Or maybe an AV-280 Granpas
I really *LOVE* these shapes. I can see them launching and retrieving what are basically highly simplified or lobotomized of unmanned power-armor as weapons-pods, having two "main cannons" designed so they can be swept over the hull of a larger vessel to strike multiple systems, rather than explicitly as a PtP ranged strike weapon.
I can see its interior being a spacious cockpit and one large room behind it with equipment built into all walls. Bunks, cooking equipment, stuff like that.
If they operate at range, some versions might even have very simple manufacturing gear to repair themselves.
Or maybe an AV-280 Granpas
I really *LOVE* these shapes. I can see them launching and retrieving what are basically highly simplified or lobotomized of unmanned power-armor as weapons-pods, having two "main cannons" designed so they can be swept over the hull of a larger vessel to strike multiple systems, rather than explicitly as a PtP ranged strike weapon.
I can see its interior being a spacious cockpit and one large room behind it with equipment built into all walls. Bunks, cooking equipment, stuff like that.
If they operate at range, some versions might even have very simple manufacturing gear to repair themselves.
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Aendri
Inactive Member
I still feel like the transforming element is just unnecessary overcomplication. With Yamatai's antigravity capabilities, there's literally no reason this should have to transform and walk around. If we're really looking for that gunship feel, I really think we have to abandon the mecha side, because it just doesn't make sense anymore.
CadetNewb
Well-Known Member
I agree with Aendri on this. A frame is a ground unit that can happen to fly, but is orientated to working from the ground. Not air. Even if it was reconfigured to be an 'air specialist' frame, an actual gunship would likely outperform it. Stay focused. Keep in mind why we're even considering a frame; for situations where air support is a no-go.
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