>>21863382

(and then my name got eaten)

Previous threads:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/21368164/
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/21423338/
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/21481062/
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/21559682/
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/21632792/

(the archive seems to be down? maybe it will fix itself soon)

>>21863382
First take a shower, we've been neglecting our personal hygiene for too long. Then we get some lunch/breakfast. Once the niggling details that are part of being a human being are dealt with we can return to ENGINEERING!

IT LIVES

>>21863471
Seconding this.

Also, were there some outstanding emails? I can't remember or check the archive.

>>21863471
This, and coffee.

>>21863412

List of components you now own:

1x Medium Beam Laser
1x Large Beam Laser
1x Ten-tube Long Range Missile Rack
3x LRM ammo
2x SRM ammo
2x 76mm Autocannon ammo
5x Heat Sinks
1x Medium Mech Actuator Set (Full)
1x Light Mech Acctuator Set (Full)
GM Fusion Engine 175
Strand Fusion Engine 245
2x Autocannon 45mm Small Bore
2x 4-tube Short-Range Semi-guided Missile System
2x Small-Beam Laser
1x Fusion-powered Flamer Unit
3x 5-tube Long-Range Semi-guided Missile System

>>21863412
Here's an alt to sup/tg/

http://archive.foolz.us/tg/search/subject/MechEngineer%20Quest/

For those that are lazy or don't know about foolz.

File: 1354512159709.gif-(500 B, 84x72, Aeneas_2.gif)

Oh, good. I've been waiting to post these altered sprites for the 'Mech, which I presume is still called the Aeneas.

File: 1354512195454.gif-(541 B, 84x72, Aeneas_3.gif)

>>21863565

>>21863531
Coffee is an integral part of breakfast.

>>21863522
I can't think of any, though I could be mistaken. I think we sent the emails out asking people to get proper measurements of the reactor and those ought to be waiting for us when we get back.

>>21863471
>>21863531

You scratch your head, grimace at the flakes, and head towards the barracks to get a shower in. Coffee awaits in your office afterwards.

>>21863522

(Not that I know of. Correct me if I am wrong, the archive is being a douche for me so I can't check the last thread,)

I'm new, just gonna lurk until I understand what's going on, just wanted to say ya had another viewer/player.

>>21863595
Showering, shaving, brushing our teeth! We're going to be clean now.

>>21863602
We're an engineer, a machine that turns coffee and cigarettes into mech designs.

>>21863565
>>21863578

Current operational name is still the Hazard Pay, I do believe.

>>21863631
That's our in-house name for the prototype design. People thought we wouldn't find many buyers for a Battlemech with that name.

>>21863658
How did the Draconis Combine slip folks in here?!

You emerge from your shower, refreshed and smelling less like a foot and more like a human tobacco-conversion factory. You light a smoke and get dressed, the craving for coffee foremost on your mind.

Right behind it is the myriad of opportunities the recent haul has opened up for the Hazard Pay. And of course, it is all up to you to decide what to do with your new windfall.

As you are leaving, you run into Ivan heading in to shower himself. He's covered in soot and grease, and wearing a huge grin.

"Engineer! The Crazy Ivan is coming together! I am fixing the linkages on the right arm so mounting weapon will be easy. Was wrecked to much hell, but that is nothing for Ivan!"

>>21863680

They didn't, that was me being derp and having this thread and L5R general next to each other.

Ignore it and carry on.

Let's get some burning hygiene going on.

>>21863694

Great news, Ivan! What's he planning to link up to the right arm?

>>21863694
If we haven't already, tell him to thank whoever made our ashtray.

Get more details on the urbie and ask if he would be up to making a scary-face for the HZP when we finish the designs.

>>21863741
>>21863747

"Well, for what I am hearing we are having all of the weapons now, eh?"

He clasps your shoulder.

"Janine is wizard with Cbills. it is too bad Ivan is wed to his work, or he might want to be wed to her instead! She can drink, find money from thin airs, and looks much better than a fat Tikanovian could hope for! I am so happy to see so many pretty toys for mounting on the Crazy Ivan and the Hazard Pay!"

When he mentions the HZP, you bring up the question of 'intimidating' armor design.

He guffaws. "Yes! Yes! We are making a tiny Atlas! A mini Banshee! I will do proud for you, Engineer! You can count on Ivan. You can tell me what you want, or leave it to me. I promise either way I will make you very very happy."

>>21863840

"I don't feel like I need to quote Kerensky on the Atlas at you. Make the most terrifying armor you could mount on a light."

>>21863840
"Can you give it teeth? A big, nasty, skeletal grin?"

>>21863840
"Can you make it smile? Because I want it to look like a grinning specter of the battlefield."

File: 1354513472728.jpg-(13 KB, 397x487, 1348288206551.jpg)

>>21863885
>>21863923
Shame we don't have any stealth armor for HIDDEN MOVEMENT

>>21863858
>>21863885
>>21863923

He grins.

"A grinning devil eh? Tiny fast little imp that is stabbing the back of the enemy! I am no artist with a pencil but I am having steel and ceramite! I will do this for you, but the only scary thing right now is my smell, so I will wait to be hearing from you for cockpit dimensions so I can be fabricating your death-face!"

He excuses himself to shower, leaving you to your devices.

What's the plan Daniel?

>>21863971
Food! We haven't eaten for a while, can't code on an empty stomach.

>>21863938
Jesus Christ

Excuse me. My PTSD is flaring up.

>>21863971

Breakfast. Coffee, toast, nicotine. Bacon if possible.

Then, engineering.

By the way, where is the manufactory? City? Countrysides?

What defenses do we have from raiders/other bandits?

A couple of weapons mounts are never a bad idea, if we have spare small lasers.

>>21864025
We're kinda in the sticks, we're on a backwater planet and a decent distance away from the nearest city.

As for defenses, we've got the Crazy Ivan.

>>21864025

(You're currently outside one of the larger cities on Skvorec, which houses one of two spaceports the planet offers. You're on a floodplain, with little cover, no walls, and only the main building is hardened in any way.)

>>21863988
>>21863995

You duck into the commissary and get some grub; pancakes, sausage, a sandwich, and some juice. You grab a tray and jaunt back up to your office to get some coffee to round out your meal.

Your throne awaits, and your computer sits ready. You have a new email, which was expected.

Hatamoto has supplied you with the measurements, and to your elation, they fall well within parameters. The HZP is go!

What now?

>>21864084
Pray to the dice gods for mercy, then make our engineering rolls.

>>21864084
Have our own little victory cheer.

Double check that it fights properly and that all the connections ought to work right. And then get back to work.

How far were we in the design?

>>21864084
Send Hatamoto a reply to thank him for his work, then get to work designing mechs.

>>21864084
We're sitting on a lot of hardware that is worth a c-bill bonanza. Do we at least have some guards with guns?

Meanwhile, let's get the specs up andrig a quick mock-up to scale.

>>21864105
>>21864115
>>21864125

You crank out a quick email to Hatamoto thanking him, and bring up your layouts.

Progress so far:

You have a basic vectored chassis, with the engine mounted and an area designated for that. You have twin stacks of heat sinks on the back, between the shoulders and the 'spine'. You have torso-mounted weapon rails that will make any gear mounted in those locations much easier to work on and remove/install (not quite Omni-level though, more like the Mercury).

You still have yet to apply actuators, myomer, design the armor layout, and all the remaining tidbits.

>>21864140
We totally need to make a little action figure of it once we get far enough along for that, we can stick it above our desk. We should do that with all of our Mechs and have them to scale.

>>21864178
Let's work out cockpit dimensions so Ivan can start designing the rape face for us.

Then work on actuators and make a small prayer to the dice gods.

>>21864125
>>21864084
Yes, send Hatamoto a thank-you email, then get to work.

>>21864140

(Some of your techs and crew carry sidearms, but the complex has no defense net (stripped long ago) and the Crazy Ivan has nothing but a Small Beam Laser for offensive capability. Ivan is waiting on your to clear what he can use on it, if anything, from the weapons you've god on hand.

There's also the cache bonanza that they've had to set aside due to Vincent's visit, so that will get sorted tomorrow.)

>>21864178

Alright then, I say cockpit, then actuators. Myomer after, then armor.

>>21864193
This, the face needs creativity which can't be rushed and the actuators should be done before we work on the armor.

>>21864178
Ivan needed those cockpit dimensions, so let's do that first.
Then we can do the myomer and the actuators.

>>21864214

I say we frankengun the two AC/5s together for the Urbie.

>>21864182
>>21864193
>>21864140

(forgot to mention, you also had plans to have a wooden mockup for the chassis built, but you need finalized dimensions for that, and that's a few days worth of work off, at least.)}

>>21864178
Send the specs over to a lower tech to get it mocked up.
Set up actuator location, myomer, armour in that order.

Sip coffee.

>>21864245
Ignore it for now, complete cockpit and actuators.

>>21864215
This. We also need to finalize the weapon package so Ivan will know what he has to work with in his side project.

>>21864245
Then we can finish the cockpit and then work on the dimensions. We want to make sure that the rails actually work.

We don't need to make the model ourselves; just get a lower tech to rig one up. Easy job, lets them get their hands on it, allows them to feel part of the design process.

>>21864215
>>21864223
>>21864230
>>21864193

You crack your knuckles and get to work on the head assembly.

You have some choices to make here. There are several programs you can purchase to upload into a hand-built mainframe for use on the HZP, or... you can try to have the program already on the Urbie modified. It would cost drastically less, but there is a chance it'd be... tempermental. The computer arrays are also purchasable, buit with Dieter on premises it seems silly to you to spend the cash.

>>21864335

We're not building an urban fighter, really.

I saw we browse what's availiable for purchase before we make a decision. We don't want temperamental software.

Also, get someone to make sure the weapons all work. Rig up a turret and test mount? It'd be bad to mount em on the mech and then they flake out.

>>21864335
We have a few C-Bills to work with, so it isn't worth cutting costs and having an unusable mech as a result.

>>21864335
We don't want to cut too many corners here. Let's see what's available to purchase.

>>21864335
I really don't like the idea of temperamental programs, we just made some dosh we can use it for the job. Make sure to clear it past Janine first, shoot her an email quickly regarding this.

>>21864390
Better to seek forgiveness than ask permission.

>>21864335
If we have the cash, we had ought to spring for the purpose built mainframe. We don't need fiddly bits fucking up our prototype.

Perhaps if the difference is so dramatic, we had ought to present a brief cost/benefit analysis to our boss and see what they say.

>>21864361
>>21864367
>>21864374
>>21864390

You break to send a message to Janine regarding the software for the targeting and tracking and communication systems, and the costs to be had thereby.

As an afterthought, you drop Ivan a line about getting some test rigs on the new gear. You also forward that to Hatamoto and Dieter, since they are your specialists.

Your return to your head assembly, and begin mapping out the locations of the basics: chair, neuro-interface locks and ports, cooling, panels, and all the little bits and pieces.

Any special direction you want to take this? Innovations to be made are to be made here and now, so if you have an idea to try, it's time to discuss it.

>>21864398
That saying does not hold true when she would be willing to rip our eyeballs out.

It's a reasonable purchase and she likes us, she's probably in a good mood today due to things going well so she probably isn't going to say no, but going over her head in finances is likely to piss her the fuck off, something we want to avoid.

>>21864404
The mainframe we'll probably be making in house since we have Dieter, it's the programs and so on for it that we'll be buying.

How hard is it to switch out programming? We could go.with the urbie stuff now while everything else is being rigged up and switch out later.

>>21864435
I would like to try something different with the cockpit, but I don't know enough about battletech.

>>21864435
Some good shock absorbers to keep the pilot from getting rattled around from a hit, an interface that allows for a wider field of view, stronger armor to help keep the pilot alive.

>>21864481

(that's ok, basically there are four types of cockpit: standard, dual, small, and torso-mounted. the latter two are more advanced tech, and not generally available, and the basics behind them aren't fleshed out yet. The former two are still found in this era, though the dual cockpit is rare.)

>>21864435
Let's try to emphasise pilot visibility and SKVOREC TOUGH as much as possible. This is a brawler, not a command mech, it doesn't need displays and fancy HUDs all over the place.

>>21864435

shock absorbers would be a good idea...

I forget, doe sthe full head ejection system exist yet? Could we use that?

>>21864435
Gyro-assisted cup holders, so it doesn't spill everywhere. We could route hot/cold coolant past it too to keep the drink hot/cold.

Other than that, a passive red-dot scope on the cockpit window so even if you get hit with a PPC you can see where the laser will go when you fire torso weapons. Something simple and easy.

>>21864507
A dual could be interesting. On one hand it allows someone to manage the LRM system while the other concentrates on not running into walls at max speed, but the ejection system would be more of a pain, and risks 2 pilots in a light mech.

>>21864525
>>21864520
Make it tough, have shock absorbers, and the red-dot scope is an interesting idea.

>>21864525
I like you.

>>21864523

(yes it does. It's on the Hatchetman, Jenner, and a few other designs in that era. The Hatchetman is a new design for this time period we are in, so they are capable of building them still)

>>21864507
Let's not go for the dual cockpit, it's a bit niche of an item. We want broad appeal and most people aren't going to want to stick two pilots in a Light mech.

>>21864543
two people is pretty excessive for a light mech.

>>21864525
Does the mech have arms? We could put in hard sights for those if they're locked forwards. Could be useful when powering up and you need to alpha strike FUCKING NOW.

>>21864568

(so far it does, but they are fully articulated, so they can't be 'iron sighted' so to speak)

>>21864435
Neck actuators.

Think about it, it already fits with our idea of a "micro-Atlas" to have it be as humanoid as can be. Plus we can give it smaller windows without compromising our pilots field of view.

Were we planning on a head mounted weapon? If so, all the better.

>>21864561
This, let's remember that we're still building a light mech with a market aimed at PDF garrisons. So hold back on fancy shit, this goes for full head ejection system as well.

>>21864559

Cool, let's go for a full head ejection system. It helps pilot safety.

Let's extend SKVOREC TOUGH to not just our 'mechs, but the pilots inside them.

Two questions:
What kind of a schedule is this quest on?
Can someone fill me in on the mech we're designing?

>>21864586
>Neck actuators.

>>21864595
>full head ejection system.

Is this a possible item conflict?

>>21864579
There's something right there, then. In case of HUD issues or you want to focus blowing off a limb, allow a function to lock arms to converge on where the torso is pointing.

(this is purely from MWO where arms amd torso can aim completely different places and spread damage all over the fucking place)

>>21864601

(schedule is whenever I can run it sadly, but I try for once or twice a week, usually wednesday and the weekend. and they are making a 35 ton, 7/11 move garrison 'Mech that is meant to be tough and reliable)

>>21864595
What do we lose in a head ejection system, besides increased cost?
And how much more does that cost, anyway?

>>21864595
Go for tough as we can given that we're designing a light mech. SKVOREC TOUGH and all that.

I don't actually know anything about battletech, but neck actuators seem a bit much given what we're working on.

>>21864595
But incorporating an eject system implies that it will be needed. That's kind of a negative for SKVOREC TOUGH.

>>21864634
no.

>>21864634

No, it implies we aren't DUMB. Every 'mech except for I think teh... spider? has an ejection system.

Not putting one in is the height of idiocy. Not doing our best to protect both the'mech and hte pilot will hurt our SKVOREC TOUGH image.

Alright!

As you wrack your brain for new design elements, you come up with some promising ideas:

Full-Head Ejection System
Neck Articulation
Center-lock design for limbs, torso, and waist, so you can bring everything to bear on-center with the flick of a wrist.

Any other ideas? (these seem to be the ones that everyone is discussing most)

File: 1354516488870.jpg-(541 KB, 1920x1200, 1305617652911.jpg)

>>21864610
I cant see neck actuators being anything other than a hazard and a structural weakness. I imagine if your mech's head gets struck by a high inertia weapon (eg. AC 10). I'd snap the head back, and whilst that might bleed off some of the direct impact damage, it'd give both the pilot and the mech whiplash. A bad idea.

Neck actuators sound like a silly idea.

What are the downsides of head ejection, besides cost and needing anontech to roll below 80.

>>21864623
Well it doesn't need to be just a garrison mech. It's fast enough to keep up with the rest of the light mechs, it'll be tough enough to take some hits, and its weaponry layout means it can engage effectively at most ranges.

>>21864656
Well there's the shock absorbing and reinforcing the fuck out of it.

>>21864659

No downsides.

Literally.

>>21864651
Wait what? I'm not saying NO eject system, just not the full-head one. Or is that what's commonly used?

>>21864656
I really like center-locking.
I could see the ejection system working.
I do not like the neck idea at all.

>>21864627

(they cost more, but they give the pilot a safer environment to eject in/into, and they save all the command and targeting computer arrays, which aren't the most expensive thing on the 'Mech, but are still pricey)

>>21864656

I am for the center-lock, the FHES, and general reinforcement/shock absorbtion/making it toughstrong.

>>21864651
Of course we're going to have an ejection system, but a Full-head one is probably a bit excessive for the mech that we're designing. We're trying to stay on a fucking budget here.

>>21864656
Since visual ports aren't a structural weakness due to the material they're made of, how about a full wrap-around viewing slit?

>>21864656
No neck actuators. Other than that max reinforce and we're all good.

According to SSW a full head ejection system for this mech increases the cost by two-thirds.

>>21864681
I agree with this

>>21864696

What's that put our final pricing at?

>>21864696
Lets not do that, then.

>>21864696
there's an SSW file for this thing?

also, ouch.

>>21864696
Lets not then. We're going cheap.

Neck actuators wouldn't work with locking arms and torso to fire, anyway.

Though "Locking arms to attack position" is a fun phrase, it's also useful for storage.

>>21864709
Too fucking high. Seriously people, we're trying to make a budget light mech aimed for PDF garrisons. Hold your fucking horses on the flair.

>>21864723
>Neck actuators wouldn't work with locking arms and torso to fire

Why would they not work?

>>21864696
So, with that development, we are going for shock absorbers and center lock.

>>21864736
They would, but it would require locking the neck forward. Which kinda defeats the purpose of neck actuators.

Okay, seeing a lot of negative on the neck articulation.

Lots of positive on the 'center lock'.

Not so much on the FHES because cost, but it's still on the table it seems.

So 'center-lock' is go. This is a good stage to design that in as well, since you'll want to build the system as physically as possible, to prevent hiccups with the myomer that could come from a purely software-driven system.

Any other ideas? Or do you want to focus on this at the moment?

>>21864736
Think about it. The aim of locking everything forwards is pinpoint fire.
If your head is off-axis, you're not looking directly forwards. I.e. Not paying attention to the target you're shooting.

Its as simple as putting a cross on the window: you hit the trigger and everything shoots at what's in front of the crosshairs.

>>21864764

I think we can take FHES off the table, honestly.

So, let's focus on getting the cetner lock, cockpit design, and all the shock buffering we can afford to fit.

>>21864657
>>21864659
>>21864695
>>21864723

IRCC the human-shaped mechs in the battletech cartoon were able to turn their heads as a semi-standard feature.

>>21864764
Take a note of the pros/cons of each of the options so we can refer to them later.

We are going ahead with the center-lock, and it is better to concentrate on one thing at a time. Later developments may influence how we feel about the other 2 options.

>>21864764
>FHES
Just to clear this up, if we DON'T get the FHES, do we still get some sort of eject system?

>>21864784

(it depends on author fiat really. some can, some can't but it's not necessary because 360 degree sensor input. it can offer benefits though)

>>21864809
Yes

>>21864809
Yes, otherwise nobody would buy it.

>>21864809
Pilot ejection seat is standard AFAIK.

>>21864809

(yes, unless you remove the system completely to save space, weight, and cost. which is generally not a good idea unless you're the DCMS apparently)

I think we're good with lock and shock, anontech.

(yes, these ideas were made purely for that rhyme)

>>21864809

Unless we choose not to put one in.

We could u;se the crabs! have it rotate the mechwarrior 90 degrees and shoot 'em out the back!

that's a terrible idea

>>21864810
What sort of benefits would you say a rotating head would give us?

>>21864839
Or we could put portholes to the sides of the head! That way the pilot could stick a gun out and fire at the enemy!

Some of these ideas are going full pentagon wars.

Is there a SSW file for this mech?
Because I'd love to run the numbers on some of this.

>>21864850

sensors can't detect shut-down units, but eyeballs can, for one. also it lets you aim better if your targeting and tracking system suffers a critical hit. downsides have already pretty much been covered)

>>21864850
Can fire reverse firing weapons with accuracy, though I'm not sure who would buy a mech like that.

>>21864861

(there will probably be one soon, and there was a readout for the initial design idea floating around. as it stands though, the armor and armament aren't sorted yet)

>>21864863
Maybe a cavalier mech? Designed to rush through enemy formations and plant shots in their vulnerable rear armor.

>>21864890

with maximum possible rear-mounted weapons?

sounds like a niche design.

Let's not build that yet.

>>21864863
One who puts LRMs and more armour facing rearwards.

>>21864874
sounds like a good excuse to whip out SSW

It seems everyone wants to get to work on the center-lock idea then?

You light a smoke, get some coffee, and decide to get cracking on the center-lock feature you just thought up. You can't recall anything that has a system like this, so it'd be a major feather in your 'Mechs cap if it works.

First you have to decide: mechanical/software or pure software? the former is safer but more time-consuming to fabricate/design, but the latter has no failsafe.

>>21864923
Mechanical/Software. We don't want things without failsafes.

>>21864923
A couple of days extra work does not even compare to the lack of a failsafe. Mechanical/software.

>>21864874
>>21864890
Looking at the earlier threads, seems there was a lot of support for arming this thing into a Jenner/Commando esque striker with lasers and SRMs. Which would make sense if we're making a Garrison mech, good and fast close-range punch for operating in Urban environments.

>>21864923
Mechanical/Software. We don't want this screwing up.

>>21864923

(for reference: the 'center all components' thing you can do in mechwarrior games is software-based. your idea would make it so that you can literally lock the torso, arms, and waist in a particular config or configs. that is, if you go mechanical/software)

>>21864923
mechanical/software, there's little point in trying to emulate what can be done more reliably with hardware.

Doesn't the Rifleman have center-lock?

So wait, if our mech is supposed to be intimidating as FUCK, why not put a cheap speaker on the thing and have it broadcast eerie laughter on demand?

>>21864923
Mechanical/software. Skvorec tough and all that.

>>21864973

(it very well may, if someone wants to look it up. couldn't think of anything off the top of my head that had a mechanical system)

>>21864923
Definitely Mech/Software. I thought original anon said it would be for OMFG Alphastrike so not making like that would be retarded.

Industry analysis

No captcha, we're an engineer Janine does analysis

>>21864923
Sense everyone seem set on making this little mech SKVOREC TOUGH lets go with the mechanical/software hybrid.

Would it be possible to make the forward-lock system full mechanical? What would the advantages and drawbacks be?

>>21864981
YES

We've got the time while the techs rig stuff up.

Mechanical/software.

>>21864937
>>21864940
>>21864958
>>21864966
>>21864983

You disregard the notion of a software-driven system in favor of one that relies more on the actual chassis of the 'Mech, and the systems you will put in place to make it work.

You have some options here. You can have it simply center everything, or you can have it have different configurations for each section it controls (i.e. you could have the arms, torso, and waist lock in different rotational settings, and have presets that can be changed) Of course, complex = higher difficulty, and higher risk/reward.

>>21864981
>why not put a cheap speaker on the thing and have it broadcast eerie laughter on demand?

I can't think of a singe reason why we wouldn't!

>>21865039
center everything, not too complex

>>21865039

Let's go for the multiple configs option, but stress-test it in a sim before we finalize the design.

>>21865039
Just have it center everything.

>>21865004
Can't do full mechanical. Pilot neurohelmet needs software interface.

>>21865039
Just full center.

>>21865039
Center everything, we're making a fast moving alpha striker. No need to complicate things.

>>21865039
Multiple configs, letting them synch up the arms and the torso while continuing walking in their current direction is a hell of a boon to Mechwarriors.

>>21865054
>>21865058
>>21865067
>>21865080
Forth-ed, center everything.

>>21864981

Because silent death is much better death.

Also CHRYSALID!

>>21865054
>>21865058
>>21865067
>>21865080

(for centering)

>>21865082
>>21865055

(multiple)

(i'll give it a few more mins then tally it up)

>>21865039
>arms, torso, waist

The torso swivels about the waist, though, so isn't it just arms and torso?

I would say allow arms to lock to torso (torso can move) for preset 1, and arms and torso to lock forwards (nothing but legs can move) for preset 2.

That wouldn't be quite as complex as lots of presets.

>>21865115
Anontech, can you give us some numbers about how difficult/lengthy this option, full center option and multiple preset options are?

>>21865115

(you're only thinking x-axis there friend. you have y and z too)

>>21865115
sounds like a good idea

Rolled 93

>>21865106

Center. No need to complicate this design much.

>>21865039
>>21865106
One more for complex. We need to give this mech a reason to be bought over tried and true designs.

File: 1354518499630.gif-(260 KB, 608x352, 1354000289339.gif)

>>21864981
>mfw

>>21865106
Multiple, assuming it won't increase cost, merely the time spent engineering.

>>21865080
You can alpha with arms locked to torso, but with free rotating torso. Multiple configs, go.

>>21865134

Ops. ID rescinded.

>>21865128

(center-only is a straight roll.

maximum presets is +10 difficulty, same as the weapon rails were

somewhere in the middle would be determined by how many presets. I'd say +2 per)

>>21865115
Why on earth would you lock the torso?

>towards aptedfto

Wouldn't you rather be able to shoot at people on your way to aptedfto then?

>>21865160

I say we just go with the two presets set >>21865115 with this post.

>>21865106

Center. Rugged Mech, simple and tough.

>>21865131
Changed my mind, multi.

>>21865160
Max configurations, if you botch a dice roll we can drop down to center only.

Have one setting to center the arm and leave the waist/torso free to rotate.

(center-only still seems to be winning out, but it's much closer now. I'll give you all another few minutes to sort it out)

>>21865129
>X, Y, Z axis
Only X and Y, actually. Left/right and up/down.
But If you lock torso forwards you lock both left/right/up down anyway. So the two settings would be lock arms to torso (setting 1) and lock torso to legs (setting 2).

(not a vote, already voted)

>>21865249

(mechs can acually 'lean', which i believe counts as z-axis rotation. if not, then disregard. i'm not a pilot after all)

Our first mech has to stand out, NO CUTTING CORNERS. +1 Maximum configurations.

>>21865276
Our first mech has to be simple and rugged by design, plus cheap. Center torso for simplicity and ease of design.

>>21865271
Z axis is generally perceived as depth as opposed to X (horizontal) and Y (vertical)

>>21865319

(yeah just looked it up myself. -1 pilot points for me)

>>21865104
But who doesn't want to burst out of cover in a tiny chryssalid playing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-UDWPXrW5c as loud as possible over your speakers?

(Okay, so it looks like center-only wins by a bit, BUT, there were a lot of changes to 'a few presets' at the end, so I ask if you all want to compromise or just go with the winning vote)

>>21865334
Not I!

>>21865319
>Z axis is depth
And we're not going to lock our legs. That is silly.

Mechs lean automatically, or they fall over. No locking that.

(incidentally, full center is one preset. Two presets should just be +1 for one extra, I thought.)

>>21865337

Presets yo.

>>21865337
I'd like a compromise, nothing too complex but we could use more than just one preset.

>>21865337
Maybe have 2 presets as compromise?

>>21865337
Compromise with locking arms to torso and all center is fine with me.

>>21865337
Let's just slap on the center-only and run with it, no need to complicate things and drag this on.

>>21865347

(the +2 mod per is beyond the first, so if you did two presets, that's +4)

>>21865347
Actually, that's what the gyro is for. by selectively flipping spinning weights, you can use the angular momentum to stay on your feet.

>>21865337
another vote to comprise.

>>21865380
Yeah, the gyro automatically leans the mech.

File: 1354519742003.png-(21 KB, 525x483, Dervish wins the Miss Bat(...).png)

Just dropping in here to say three things.

1) OP is a pretty cool guy.
2) We really need to cut back on the nicotine and caffeine.
3) Dervish is da prettiest, soz he's da boss.

Rolled 96

>>21865354
>>21865358
>>21865371
>>21865374
>>21865382

(seeing a few presets as the trend here. two was suggested a few times here and before, so that's what i'll go with)

You call down to get some food sent up in a few hours; this is going to take all night at least, if not days, to set up and execute. This is a new system so there is no precedent, and nothing to work off of to shave time. So it's up to your brain and your mouse, and a lot of cigarettes and coffee this time.

You roll up your sleeves. Time to put Skvorec Armorworks on the map.

(rolling for +4 difficulty on 'few' presets. lower is better!)

>>21865446
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO US

>>21865444
>We really need to cut back on the nicotine and caffeine.

If that's true then you need to cut back on air and water.

>>21865446

"96". "Lower is better".

Now that's the MechEngineer Quest we know and love.

>>21865446
What...but...how...

>>21865446
>96
>+4
HURP DURP

File: 1354519870895.gif-(1017 KB, 480x270, 1345920159799.gif)

>>21865446
>mfw

>>21865446
OKAY LET ME SAY A 4TH THING

YOU SUCK AT ROLLING LOW

File: 1354519886244.jpg-(519 KB, 2130x1841, 1337728955650.jpg)

>>21865446
I'm not a superstitious man, but the /tg/ dice roller's RNG really tests me.

>>21865446
And this is why i wanted center only. But noooo, we just had to try and add complex shit our simple design.

>>21865484
Dude, it doesn't matter if we did center only or not, with a roll like that nothing is getting done.

On the bright side we'll notice how much it sucks real fucking quick and try again.

>>21865446

NUH UH.

NO.

FUCK YOU.

ROLL IT AGAIN.

Fucking /tg/ dice.
And we all know that if he switched to roll high, we'd get a 1 for our hubris.

>>21865446
huehuehuehue

>>21865446
Amusingly, we're four off 100.

You know, this is what MechEngineer Quest is going down in /tg/ oral history for. Consistent incredibly high die rolls when low ones are desired.

>>21865446
So, with the +4 we manage a 100. Does that mean our computer catches fire and we lose everything?

>>21865506

You aren't taking the +4 into account.

We rolled 100.

>>21865506
Our work desk explodes.

>>21865455
>>21865467
>>21865468
>>21865470
>>21865472
>>21865473
>>21865477
>>21865484

(friendly reminder that this isn't a failure, it just adds to the time it takes to get it right. this isn't under duress or anything, not like you're in combat here. just things arent going very smoothy right now...)


Minutes to hours. Hours to packs. Packs to cartons.

Nobody said this was an easy line of work. Except maybe Richard, but his ass got fired.

This might just be why, you decide, there hasn't been real innovation in 'Mech design in over 200 years. It really is this fucking tough.

(stick with your guns or simplify?)

>>21865527
STICK WITH OUR GUNS! SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!

>>21865527
Roll again, brace for 90.

>>21865527
SIMPLIFY THE STICKY GUNS

>>21865527
Stick with our guns! We're an ENGINEER! We have a DEGREE!

>>21865527
GUNSTICKERY

>>21865527
simplify it to having the arms lock and leaving the torso/waist free to rotate.

>>21865527
Stick with it!

We'll either do it the next time or die of caffeine poisoning.

>>21865527
Fuck lady luck, we won't back down.

>>21865527
If you roll above 90 next time can we retroactively make this a roll high thing? Because /tg/ dice are fucking with us.

File: 1354520235353.gif-(460 KB, 360x240, BUTTONS.gif)

>>21865527
MAKE IT FUCKING WORK

>>21865541
>We have a DEGREE!

.....Do we?

File: 1354520262934.jpg-(71 KB, 500x500, M-7[1].jpg)

SKVOREC TOUGH doesn't come easy.

>>21865562
Yeah, it's part of why we're working so hard; gotta pay off those student loans.

Rolled 31

>>21865562

(yes, you do. i know, right?)

>>21865561
>>21865556
>>21865552
>>21865550
>>21865543
>>21865535
>>21865541
>>21865532
>>21865530

You call for an old priest and a young priest. Barring that, more cigarettes, fresh coffee grounds, filters, and alcohol.

Headaches born of stress are one thing, but headaches born of stress you caused yourself through sheer genius are another. They are very very unfair, but after you managed to fudge the engine and torso rails, you are convinced you can do anything.

So you buckle down, and almost don't even aknowledge Janine when she slips in to give you a printout of the software purchasing options.

(working through the night. lower is better, same mod)

>>21865527
Sinplify,
change the fusion engine to a rubber band.

>>21865623
Anontech, did you have to sell your soul for that roll?

>>21865566
voting this for company motto

>>21865639
I thought it was "we drink caffiene and shit mechs"

File: 1354520659453.jpg-(9 KB, 215x180, kuni3.jpg)

>>21865623
That's the shit

>>21865629
A hand-cranked rubber band.

>>21865661

(well that's Daniel's motto; Skvorec doesn't have one yet.)

>>21865623
YESSSSS, now (assuming this is a success) check the options for programming.

>>21865661
>>21865639
...Do we have a company motto? If not then I vote for making it SKVOREC TOUGH.

Short, simple, to the point.

>>21865687
We can suggest a motto, but we're not actually in charge.

>>21865635

(there may or may not be the corpse of the goat in the middle of some candles in my apartment now...)

>>21865691
if we succeed at the whole mech design thing the company motto is pretty much going to have to follow our ideals on mech design anyways.

>>21865635
>>21865663
>>21865672

The sun sets, the moon rises, and your eyes go red for the billionth time since you decided this line of work was a good idea. School didn't prepare you so much for the design and implementation aspects of this job so much as the 'stay up all fucking night for the fifth time this week' ones.

And this is another of those times. Though with the help of Mr. Coffee and Lady Nicotine, you manage not to pass out before your blurry eyes note that you're green on your latest stress tests, and go for some frigging sleep.

The purchase options will have to wait.

>>21865703
"Fuck, fuck, why won't you work, I need more cigarettes and coffee, I hate everything, hey it all works now, time to sleep."

>>21865727
Acquire blissful rest and pray Janine doesn't disturb it.

>>21865727
Dream of cackling nightmare garrison-mechs, swamping the battlefield in a tide of lasers, missiles and twisted grins.

>>21865727
Prepare to eat alive (literally) anyone who dares disturb our rest.

>>21864981
Imagine what Aeneas-regiments must be like. At 0600 hours sharp, the drill sergeant wakes the barracks with the mech's sound function. During rehearsals, Aeneas-mechs jog around the base in formation, while "singing" by rhythmically triggering the laugh. Whenever the unit goes to battle, or celebrates something, the trololol-chorus is a mandatory ritual.

>>21865777
Just include various tracks for things like "menacing laugh" "boisterous guffaws" "terrifying cackle" "piercing screech" and so on until we literally have an evil laugh for every possible situation.

>>21865777
I like your style!

>>21865730
>>21865741
>>21865751
>>21865774

Sleep comes easy, and with it dreams.

You dream that a huge dropship lands on the tarmac, and some military brass stride down the loading ramp, with Goddard and yourself there to greet them. Behind you is a full company of HZPs, There are handshakes, and the 'Mechs march onto the Union one by one, evil grins all lined up like a psycho parade.

When you finally awake, it's to a knock at your door. You glance at your watch and see you've slept for around 12 hours. At least this time you don't stink... as much.

>>21865817
Answer the door, mumble intelligently at whoever, get more coffee.

>>21865817
No need to shower, in that case. Answer the door and deal with the problems it will inevitably bring.

>>21865817
"Who is it?

Come on in the door isn't locked. If you've come to yell at me give me 5 minutes to smoke and drink some coffee first."

>>21865817
"You better be food and a cup of coffee, because even if you aren't I'm eating what's on the other side of that door."

Up and at-em.

Being able to turn the mechs head is such a basic thing I never thought of it as a downside before. Huh. When you guys say "neck actuators" do you mean like a full neck that sits on a "spine"? Or just a head that rotates back and forth on a single axis? Because tons of mechs can do that much and I've never heard of problems arising from that. Especially if we are going with a hunched design with the head being inset in the shoulders.

>siren
Being noisy is kind of counterproductive for the whole HIDDEN MOVEMENT thing. But then I had this mental image of the mech WOOP WOOP WOOPing around a corner zoidberg style after alpha striking someone in the back.

>>21865828
>>21865829
>>21865835

You call over that it's open, and as you pour your first cup of ambrosia for the day, and light up your air supply you glance over and see Janine sitting on the edge of your desk. She has the manifest for the program pricing in her hand, arms folded, looking perhaps smug and a bit coy.

"Well good afternoon sunshine. I wondered why I didn't get an email from you about this," she says as she waves the printout. "Should have known you were pulling an all-nighter. Again."

You grumble and scratch the back of your head.

"I can summarize this printout for you, if you want. Basically, it says we're too damn poor to get anything from anyone unless it's from the FWL or the Capellans. Take your pick."

>>21865817
"Door's open."
And get another pot of coffee going.

>>21865861
The siren isn't always on of course. Just when you spring the ambush/alpha strike an unsuspecting butt.

>>21865882
Not too well-versed in BTech; what's the difference between the two?
Aren't we on the fringe of the FWL? Wouldn't that make it easier for us to get their software?

>>21865888
or if you want to address large groups of people, or want a mobile air-raid siren.
Actually, that is what you could sell this feature as.

>>21865882
(What are the implications of that?)

>>21865902
and only idly mention that the audio for the siren is replaceable with anything they wanted for a distinctive unit feature?

>>21865917
and then they buy it and notice that there is a suspiciously large amount of memory hooked up to the PA.

>>21865882
No FedCom stuff? Shit, stravag. Guess we should try and get some Capellan mech software, they've got some specialization in it, the sneaky shits.

>>21865900
FWL has a lot of "3rd world" space, and the capellans aren't exactly known for high quality merchandise.
So it's likely the software is mediocre at best.

>>21865932
>>21865917
>>21865902
>>21865888
/r/ing picture of a mech descending on the Nerevarine with a hearty SKREEEEEE

>>21865882
"I like all-nighters, they get stuff done."

What are the differences between the Capellan software and the FWL software?

>>21865900
>>21865909

(the FWL, or Free Worlds League, is the Successor State your planet and company are located in, though you are not affiliated with them at all. They are a loose corporation of planets and sub-governments that barely works but is probably the 'freest' of the major houses. the Capellans, or Capellan Confederation, are space commies basically. they value loyalty to the state, but being a citizen offers crazy access to top-tier services. you have to serve in the military to get full citizenship. they are also the smallest state and poor as hell

What this means is the FWL is more likely to have dodgy and all-star products available, but the capellan stuff is lower-grade but reliable.)