[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / r / s / t / u / v / vg / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k] [cm / hm / y] [3 / adv / an / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / hc / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / po / pol / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / x] [rs] [status / ? / @] [Settings] [Home]
Board:  
Settings   Home
4chan
/tg/ - Traditional Games


File: 1361409706602.jpg-(66 KB, 640x480, Mech Factory.jpg)
66 KB
66 KB JPG
The year is 3040, and you are Daniel Holdt, Battlemech Engineer.

You have reason to be proud of yourself; you've popped your cherry in the field, and now you're the proud designer of the HZP-01A Phobos, what could possibly be the most advanced Battlemech design in the Inner Sphere since the Mercury. It's all under the hood: weapon rails, semi-modular armor, a torso locking feature, custom myomer bundle configurations, redundant systems protected by the 'Mech's chassis; it's all there. Just waiting for a buyer.

Speaking of buyers, you've got an invite list with one RSVP so far: the Capellan Confederation has deliberated and agreed to send a cadre of bureaucrats and analysts to inspect your design and red or green light it. This is exciting for you; a Major House, even if it's the smallest one, is interested in your design. Goddard had made it seem like you'd be selling to Mercs and security forces, but this is a big break.

Speaking of Goddard, he's still missing. You have Bruce on the case, but haven't heard word yet. It's a bit worrisome.

Anyway, it's midnight, and you've just finished brainstorming the name for your creation, so the world is your oyster. What'll you do with your night, Daniel?
>>
>>23290553

Archive link:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=mechengineer+quest

Or just search foolz.

Resources:

Sarna.net for basically everything from names to weapons.
>>
>>23290553
Uh shit I dunno.
Go fuck around in the bunker?
>>
>>23290553
Sleep for a week!

But no really. Grab some sleep, for once we don't have a reason to be up early or up late.

We did send out emails to Ivan and who ever else needed to see the most update version of the mech right?
>>
>>23290731

(sure did)
>>
>>23290553
>Speaking of Goddard, he's still missing. You have Bruce on the case, but haven't heard word yet. It's a bit worrisome.
>What'll you do with your night, Daniel?

Check Richard's TERRIBLE mech design that's still left in the database.
I have a GIANT naggling suspicion that he was going to use the engine we ended up selling to Vincent - and I think he's the buyer who sent him here.
Just check it already, it should take a minute
>>
1. Sleep like a brick
2. Emerge from our cave, hiss at the sun
3. PLOT it up with our coworkers
4. Jump jets?
>>
>>23290767
>Check Richard's TERRIBLE mech design that's still left in the database.

Then have someone call the Militia and see if Vincent's ship is still docket in the port.

We SERIOUSLY need to figure out if he's offplanet already.
>>
File: 1361410575521.jpg-(172 KB, 660x950, dw5-wei-zhang-liao.jpg)
172 KB
172 KB JPG
>>23290553
I say we focus on cosying up to the Capellan Confederation, after all, House Liao is the only house that follows The Way of the Musou.

Pic related.
>>
>>23290553

More engineering! Lets mess around with the star league computer and check in with Ivan's crew that was working on it - see if he can't find out anything good.
Ask our resident Energy Weapon Specialist how he feels about making some custom medium beams for the HZP project
>>
>>23290553
Run outside onto the tarmac, run in circles screaming that we're the king of the world. We deserve that.
>>
>>23290821

Yeeeaaaah. Yeah. Yeah.
>>
After we sleep, let's mingle with the techs/Hatamoto/Ivan etc. so we can answer their questions on the design and so we can touch base with everyone after the attack...
>>
>>23290767
>>23290781
>>23290821

You decide to take a walk around the compound to get some air.

A walk turns into some quick laps with lost of fist-pumping and 'yesssss'ing under your breath as you celebrate well, everything. A few garrison troops look on with blank stares.

All that celebrating jarred your mind though, and you though about that engine you sold Vincent. Something bites at the back of your brain, and you run back upstairs to check your computer for his design, since you were keen enough to save it.

After a moment, it finishes loading, and you examine the specs he had so far. No engine yet, but there is enough of a skeleton to do some diagnostics and stress tests to get some info about possible specs he was designing towards.
>>
>>23290906
Let's see what engine you would use to get a decent speed on it, more or less. See how it checks out.
>>
>>23290935
Seconding this
>>
>>23290906
I say we analize the design, maybe there's an idea there that's actually useful.
>>
>>23291001

No. He was TERRIBLE all around

What we're after here is evidence that he may have hired people to dick with us.

Fire off an email to the staff - janine, hatamoto, ivan - and see if he mentioned anything about engines for richard's mech
>>
>>23290935
>>23290978
>>23291001

(rolling to analyze the design based on what Richard had managed to complete before he was let go. Before I do though, the way this will work is lower is better, as usual, but the threshold for success will reveal more and more info the better it is. This means what I need from you all is to tell me four key pieces of info you are looking for from this list: potential speed, potential maximum weight, potential dimensions, estimated cost of current components, positive/negitive stress test results, positive/negative motion thresholds, positive/negative balance and center of gravity. if you roll really well you might reveal more than four of these, but i need to know what 4 you are specifically aiming for so i know how to interpret the results of the roll)
>>
>>23291132
Potential speed, potential maximum weight, those are the most important ones. Motion thresholds and stress test results would be nice.
>>
>>23291132
Potential speed, potential dimensions, potential weight, potential motion thresholds.
We should be able to extrapolate from there.
>>
>>23291132

Speed + Weight + cost of components
Since we're being investigative about engine sizes

Didn't we already do stress test results? I know daniel complained that nothing about his design passed the simulator tests
>>
>>23291181

(you did, but you didn't save the results. you just did it out of curiosity, but you DID save his design for reference as to what NOT to do)
>>
>>23291132
speed,weight, dimensions, cost
>>
Rolled 85

>>23291230
>>23291181
>>23291168
>>23291161

(Speed, Weight, Dimensions, Cost then.

Rolling for engineering, lower is better)
>>
File: 1361412023694.jpg-(49 KB, 413x565, 1319858496094.jpg)
49 KB
49 KB JPG
>>23291276
>>
>>23291276
aahh dice... good to see you hate us still...
>>
>>23291276
dice haet MEQ
>>
>>23291276
Never change, Anontech. Never change.
>>
>>23291276
This is worse than bloodquest dice.
>>
Rolled 4, 4, 4 = 12

>>23291281
>>23291288
>>23291314

(no success means you get half the data you were aiming for, since by bad luck or oversight, you can't fully extrapolate the data you wanted from what he left behind.

1. Speed
2. Weight
3. Dimensions
4. Cost

The way this works is I am rolling 2d4 to determine what two bits you get. if it rolls the same thing twice, the third number determines what the second thing will be. i really hope it doesnt roll triples. if it does, screw it, you get to know all 4, cause that's some odd stuff)
>>
File: 1361412385131.jpg-(103 KB, 604x526, 1336457954263.jpg)
103 KB
103 KB JPG
>>23291381
>>
File: 1361412401045.png-(54 KB, 236x262, 1359598980221.png)
54 KB
54 KB PNG
>>23291381
.....
Ok?
>>
>>23291381

CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN ENGINEER
>>
>>23291381
Well, okay then.
>>
File: 1361412428953.png-(46 KB, 446x256, Funnyboner.png)
46 KB
46 KB PNG
>>23291381
>>23291400
>>
>>23291412

(oh god i'm still laughing, my lungs hurt)
>>
File: 1361412498705.png-(114 KB, 265x292, 1347079125208.png)
114 KB
114 KB PNG
>>23291381

What the fuck just happened.
>>
So just some basic speculation.

1. We suspect Vincent is involved
2. Bruce said that the Eights kidnapped Goddard and killed Vincent
3. Bruce has no reason to lie about this
4. Primary overall suspect is Richard and his family (possibly just Richard)
5. If Richard hired Vincent, that would make Vincent a loose end
6. Spaceport says "Vincent" left with his ship

If Vincent really is dead then the staff of his arms trading company is going to be left hanging. Maybe we should incorporate?
>>
File: 1361412564797.jpg-(15 KB, 141x163, Okay.jpg)
15 KB
15 KB JPG
>>23291381
>>
File: 1361412582454.jpg-(86 KB, 428x510, 1361257275027.jpg)
86 KB
86 KB JPG
>>23291381
>>23291400

Oh god Anontech, are you trying to kill me?
>>
>>23291381
Mostly the dice taketh, but sometimes they giveth.
We can only assume they do so by mistake.
>>
File: 1361412615917.gif-(4 KB, 250x242, 1361004162579.gif)
4 KB
4 KB GIF
>>23291381
>>
>>23291381
MEQ dice. They have a odd sense of humor, if you ask me.
>>
File: 1361412804249.png-(183 KB, 447x483, 1359513932496.png)
183 KB
183 KB PNG
>>23291381
>>
>>23291381

You pour over everything with a fine-toothed comb, and manage to secure the four pieces of data you were looking to get out of this mess:

Potential Speed of this design couldn't exceed 70 kph at maximum; the knee actuator design would fail at that rate.

Potential Weight: Not to exceed 35 tons.

Dimensions: 8m tall by 4.3m wide by 2.8m deep, projected

Cost of components at the time: the design called for this odd honeycombed structure that would have saved some weight but caused attaching components to be a nightmare, forcing it to have inflexible hardpoints at best. You'd estimate the structure alone to run well over a million Cbills to fabricate, materials alone.
>>
>>23291541
What was the Engine Rating of the engine we sold?
>>
>>23291553

(140u Fusion Block, manufactured by General Motors)
>>
>>23291575
Okay, a 140 engine would make a 4/6 35 ton mech, so that fits.
>>
>>23291541
Light
>check
Engine
>check

Guys we got a winner, gotta trace Vincets ship or something. Find a way to to contact his company and find out who the buyer for the 140 is.

Also we got janine working on the crest right?

MEQ: Building mechs and cases.

Gotta hit up Bruce to see how things ar eprogressing on his end
>>
>>23291438

Do we even have contacts for Vincent's people? If we *can* contact them, though, it could possibly be another lead for us (or the garrison) to investigate.

>>23291553

Was Vincent specifically asking for fusion engines in that range, or did we just sell it to him because we needed the money?
>>
>>23291724

(he specifically wanted that engine, and told you he had a buyer all lined up already.)
>>
>>23291541
Okay then, send an email to Janine about our suspicions and this confirmation of it, ask her to help us chase down these leads and get as much info on the noble house Richard was from, and see if she can get into contact with Vincent.

Then I think we need a nap.
>>
>>23291815
>>23291724
>>23291705

You shoot an email to Janine asking her if she's made any headway on the crest you got, and also informing her of your suspicions regarding Vincent, the engine, and Goddard.

You rub your eyes. It's around 3:30 am by the time you're all through, and you're pretty tired. This is early for you, but some extra sleep wouldn't be a bad thing. Max seems to agree as he scoots over on the futon to make room for you, and you crash.

You sleep soundly and deeply, and awake to the smell of coffee. You then realize you don't have an automatic coffee maker.
>>
>>23291877
"Whoever that is, you're an Angel. If you're Janine you're a double Angel."

Then get up, see who it is, get some coffee, and smoke a cigarette, see what it is they want.
>>
>>23291877
Well get up see if there's someone in the room. If so, 'Sup? Is morning or afternoon?'
>>
>>23291927

"Aww thanks sweetheart. Last guy that called me Angel's still in the pen. Good riddance too, I got a bad case of butterfingers," a gruff voice replies.

You sit up and a hand extends with some coffee for you, and as your eyes focus, you see Bruce sitting on the edge of your desk, smoking one of your cigarettes. He's as dirty as the day you hired him, but doesn't smell like you think he should.

"Wakey wakey buttercup. I got some news for you."
>>
>>23291877
>We have succeeded so well that Janine saw fit to get us a servant. People being cheaper than machines an all.

"Good whatever time of day to you as well".
>>
>>23291992
Hopefully good news. What have you been able to dig up?
>>
>>23291992
"Good or bad news?"
>>
>>23291992
"Lay it on me, and anyone who has coffee is an Angel.

And hand me one of my cigarettes."
>>
>>23292038
>>23292063
>>23292085

He lights you a smoke and hands it off.

"Okay so I didn't have much to go on but what I know and what little I got from some folks here before I took off. But I did manage to find some stuff out."

He takes a deep drag and lets the smoke curl out his nose.

"Vincent's ship is still in orbit; it never left. Took off from the space dock but never left orbit. I asked a girl I used to know about it; she works at the spacedock as a radar tech. Cost me a few hours of hankey pankey but I got the info. They've never requested a jump either."

Bruce snuffs that cigarette and takes another.

"Other thing I found out was the money in the HQ is gone. I ran across one of the boys who laid low after the attack, and beat it out of him. Man that felt good. He said he went back to check with some other guys, found the place was crawling with troops, and got out with two others after the rest got shot to hell. He says he was sure he saw the crate with the cash in it in the back of some deuce deuce the coppers had. He also had a bullet wound, so I believe him"
>>
>>23292203

Hmm. Thread seems quite slow today...

Not sure what to do with this information...Perhaps we can go talk to the cops that helped us to defend our factory and see if we can get him to slip up and reveal some more info unintentionally?

I'm not seeing any obvious paths for this investigation for us....we're an engineer...not some kind of super sleuth PI...
>>
>>23292203
What kind of troops? The local cops? Or someone else?

>Maybe I'm derping but it's not too clear who the troopers are.
>>
>>23292384

(yeah, it is a little. happens sometimes, and i think some folks don't enjoy the non-engineering aspects of the quest as much, so they skip out till it's over)

>>23292411

(garrison troops, which are also the local cops. same ones that helped you defeat the pirates and are guarding the base right now till the rest of the pirates are rounded up)
>>
>>23292203
"I'm sure you really disliked getting that information.

Did the guy you interrogated have any other intel? Is he sure it was the cops who did this? Local or otherwise?

Odd, the cops didn't tell us anything about this, that's somewhat suspicious if the coppers were the ones who hit that place and got the cash."
>>
>>23292203
"Thanks Bruce."

We can try an contact the dropship to see whats going on. Probably contact the local police or somthing to try an keep them in orbit. Why havent they tried to jump yet? We really need to get Janine both our and Bruce's info as well. Shoot her an email, see whats up on her end.
>>
>>23292468
Agreed with getting Janine on this. She seems to be more capable of a people person. Plus, two heads are better than one. Make sure she doesn't get too distracted from lining up buyers though...
>>
Hmm ... don't think there's much for us to do about this. I'm guessing Janine has what info Bruce just told us. So at this point check emails and get some food. Tell Bruce 'thanks' for the info, also.
>>
We don't have the full picture yet. We need to talk with the cops and Vincent's employees.

Cops raiding the pirate base isn't really a surprise since they were planning to do that anyway and we haven't spoken with them in a long time.
>>
>>23292457
>Odd, the cops didn't tell us anything about this

Didn't they?

I could've sworn we knew beforehand they'd be after the pirates wherever they could find them, and they'd likely be taking the cash for themselves.

Not to mention they really only need to tell us when they've got a lead on Goddard's whereabouts.


At any rate, we still don't know if the pirates killed Vincent or whomever else happened to be with Goddard (He may have just gotten drunk and slept with some guy).

It seems suspicious that the dropship hasn't left yet, but it may be there because they haven't heard from Vincent yet. But then I suppose it would be on the ground, not in orbit.
>>
>>23292203

Either the garrison has been bought off (not an unreasonable), or they don't know about the money in the crate. If they're actively conducting an investigation, it's almost a given that they'd take anything that they'd find in there.

Perhaps Vincent (or whomever) is waiting for an opportunity to get the stash from the garrison?
>>
>>23292445

I personally just didn't think you were done with the update yet, because dialogue.
>>
>>23292601
Yeah this, just let us know when you want our input and we can chime in. It's hard to guess when you will stop typing.
>>
>>23292457
>>23292468
>>23292499
>>23292515
>>23292555
>>23292570

"Yeah, I told Janine about this already. You're the only one that sleeps in so late, sunshine. Now if you don't mind, I need a shower. I stink like sex, blood, and booze. Not that I mind, but if I'm a corporate man now, I gotta be presentable, right?"

He finishes his smoke and salutes a little farewell as he heads out the door.

"If I dig anything else up I'll let you know. I've been letting everyone that I think should know know about all this stuff, so don't worry about that Sparky."

With Bruce gone, you have more info and a nagging case of hunger to deal with now. What'll you do, Daniel?
>>
>>23292601
>>23292637

(Fair enough, sorry about that. i fall into that trap sometimes)
>>
>>23292659
Pet Max, take a shower. Then head to the mess, see who's around and get some food.
>>
>>23292659
Check e-mails, get more coffee, more smokes, and whatever passes for food around here. Oh and guess a shower also somewhere in that mix.
>>
>>23292659
Check email. Take a page from Bruce and smell human. Chow time.
>>
Hmm so we got Bruce's take on things. I guess the next step would be to check with Janine and see if we can learn anything new from the cops or about Vincent's ship.

If it's time to work again we can do the jump jets.
>>
>>23292659
Yell After him That We are a MECHE and that Sparkies are Terrible. Then realize that you are no longer at college and everyone doesn't know the various nicknames for the various engineering disciplines .
>>
>>23292659
Check our emails, take a shower, and then go to the cafeteria, in that order.
>>
>>23292659
We're still an Engineer, not a detective.

And given that we're ahead of schedule, may as well get cleaned up and well fed. It tends to help the thinking process a bit when you're not some kind of stinking, hungry Sweat Golem.

When do the space chinese show up anyways, tomorrow?
>>
>>23292695
>>23292706
>>23292717
>>23292718

You scratch Max behind the ear and he whimpers a bit then pants and hops off the bed.

A quick check of your emails reveals a message from Janine and one from Ilsa.

The one from Janine tells you she knows what Bruce just told you, and that she's made some headway on the crest; it seems it is indeed the crest of the Kensington family, though it is outmoded. They recently changed affiliations with some local systemic faction types and changed the crest a bit to reflect that. Pretty common thing to do, she claims. But it's for sure theirs.

The mail from Ilsa wonders if you looked at her sketches yet, and if you liked them, since she hadn't heard from you yet.

You stomach grumbles.
>>
File: 1361417113768.jpg-(716 KB, 3000x2000, mechengineerHZP.jpg)
716 KB
716 KB JPG
>>23292839

>Emails

The sketches from Ilsa were the ones that made the cockpit look more or less like the pic, weren't they? If so, then yes, we very much like them.
>>
>>23292839
Send an e-mail to Ilsa about the sketches and that yes we loved them.

Then food.
>>
>>23292839
Look at Ilsa's sketches, respond with an email telling her how much we like them, if there's anything to correct about it do so as well. Apologize for taking so long, we've just been busy.

Then breakfast time!
>>
>>23292839
Send a quick email off to Ilsa that we love the designs, and we can't wait to get a mockup built so that we can see which one is scariest.
Then take a shower and get some food.
>>
>>23292894
>>23292915
>>23292928
>>23292970


You respond to Ilsa and let her know how much you loved her designs, and look forward to seeing how they look in the real.

Janine you tell you'd like to talk to her later about everything so far, as well as the arrival of the Capellans and the invited to everyone else.

After that, you go take a shower and get some food for you and Max. The cook has chicken fried steak today, so that's what the two of you have for breakfast, with Max's garnished with two raw eggs for his coat (cook's idea), and yours with fries and some steamed green beans.

After your meal, you and Max go for a walk, so he can potty and you can think a bit. You light a smoke and take a look over at the Mechbays; and can't help but squint at what's going on.

It seems there is activity in Mechbay 2. The flatbed crane is attached to the rails, ferrying sections of metal up and down the bay. Techs crawl all over the guts of the bay, and you see welding torches flare. The clamps that hold the chassis still are engaged around some bits of metal, and piles of plates sit at the foot of the whole operation.

Max trots back over to you and looks up at you quizzically, wondering where you'll both be off to.
>>
>>23293063
Investigate the activity, watch the first pieces of our baby get built.
>>
>>23293063
Lets watch them start building!
>>
>>23293063
We have 4 bays right? Was bay 2 the one that leads underground? I think there were three small-medium scale and the last one could handle up to assault mechs. But I don't remember which is which.
>>
>>23293063
Let's go see the first parts of our baby being built, feel free to weep openly in joy.
>>
>>23293113
Bay 4 could hold heavy i beilieve
>>
>>23293113

(5 bays, 5th one being the half operational one that can handle Heavies)

>>23293093
>>23293112
>>23293119

You head over to see the beginnings of progress.

It's a pretty emotional thing to know you just spent two weeks designing this thing, and now over the course of the next months the prototype will take shape, tests will happen, and eventually the Phobos will take its first steps. And you will be its proud papa.

Ivan trots out from Mechbay 2 and waves at you.
>>
>>23293169
Wave back and go to Ivan.
>>
>>23293169
"So it's finally starting, eh?"
>>
>>23293169
Look at him with tears starting to form in our eyes, give him a hug. "It's beautiful, it's so beautiful, my baby is coming to life."
>>
>>23293169

Make sure it's actually our design getting built, also, ask Ivan's opinion on the general design and extra things we tossed in to make it ULTRA EASY TO MANUFACTURE AND REPAIR / REFIT.
>>
>>23293199
>>23293226
You know that this is likely the Spider, and not the Phobos, right?
>>
Gotta go for dinner. If you guys start work again before I get back my vote is to finish the jump jets. If we put them on the back of the mech they would be right beside the reactor and all of the connections for plasma and cooling would be very short. That should make things easier to maintain at the very least.

Since improved jump jets don't exist yet we just need to plan enough hardpoints for 7 jets.
>>
>>23293287

(actually, the Spider is in Bay 3)

>>23293179
>>23293199
>>23293226
>>23293254

You and Ivan meet in the middle and he gives you a big Tikanovian bear hug.

"Engineer! You are giving us GREAT plans for new 'Mech! I am looking at them and not understanding them for hours, but then, I SEE IT! The torso I am especially being happy about. So beautiful. Techs from here to Luthien will revel in ease of work with this machine. Taking out weapons a baby could do! How are you coming up with these things?!"
>>
>>23293344

SLEEP DEPRIVATION, CAFFEINE, AND SMOKES.

LOTS OF IT.
>>
>>23293344
So much lack of sleep ivan, So much lack of sleep.
>>
>>23293344
"A lot of caffeine, nicotine, and sleep deprivation. And Janine, she is my muse, I got the myomer muscle from looking at her legs.

You're building my baby, you wonderful man you, I can't wait to see her grow up, take her first steps, I can't thank you enough."
>>
>>23293344

By getting everything horribly wrong first, then starting over after learning what made it so wrong in the first place.
>>
>>23293344

Let's give the plans a final once-over with Ivan, ask if he needs us to explain some of the more unusual parts and layouts, such as the inner layouts of the limbs and the like.
>>
>>23293344
>>23293368

This will only be complete if it comes with a stone cold pokerface to deliver the lines.


When was the last time Daniel even took a bloody shower? He's got to be in danger of some nasty infections at this point.
>>
>>23293416
We took one this 'morning' after we got up.
>>
>>23293344
"All nighters, smokes, and coffee, Ivan."
>>
>>23293433
I feel like one definitely isn't enough.
>>
>>23293416
Daniel takes showers on fairly regular bases from what I remember. Maybe not everyday but he does take them.
>>
>>23293416

(You just took one like an hour ago)

>>23293416
>>23293411
>>23293405
>>23293401
>>23293393
>>23293368

Ivan laughs.

"Sleep is for the weak! And it is being Ivan's turn to stay up forever and make your baby live!"

You ask him if he needs to go over anything with you, and he nods.

"I am not understanding the myomer layout, and what is being this mechanism build into waist, head and arms for locking actuators. Explain to me over vodka in Mechbay."

The two of you head over to the drafting desk set up where you plans are all piled chaotically. Ivan roots through them for the leg plan, and points at the myomer.

"Confusing. Flat bundles? I am not being a doctor, but myomer is being muscle. How does this working?"
>>
>>23293503
Explain to Ivan the thought process behind the bundles, at how they provide ease of replacement and redundancy without compromising range of motion.
>>
>>23293503
"Myomer is a lot like muscle, but not exactly the same. We can modulate the contractions more. So we can have it flat and still have the contractions of the layered sheets do the same type of pulling as it would have with the braids.

What this does is it means if the leg takes damage the only thing that gets taken out is the top layer leaving the rest of the bundles working just fine, they'll think they have a mobility kill, but it just goes a bit slower. Also easy as hell to replace."
>>
>>23293433
>>23293477
>>23293503
Apparently I completely missed it, oh well.


At any rate, on the whole Chrysalid thing, wouldn't it be possible to, at a later date, make a variant with claws? I recall some mechs having variants that are drastically different beyond a simple equipment swap.

Also do we have a fully finalized readout for the HZP yet? I'd love to try it out in an actual MegaMek game
>>
>>23293640

Claws and melee weapons on a light is a very, very bad idea.

You generally don't want blades or melee weapons on anything except a heavy / assault, because they weigh a fuckload and do damage based on their weight.
>>
>>23293640
Not really. Claws SUCK on light Mechs, they weight a fuckton and do shit damage.

We do have readouts for MegaMek I think, though it won't have some of the cooler fancy features like the SUPER durability as we just have the basics and can't do more AFAIK.
>>
>>23293503

The actuator locking system is more of a "reset" button for the arms and torso. If the HZP's targeting systems are compromised or damaged in some way, the locking system is calibrated to lock to a set position. This position corresponds to a red marker on the cockpit viewport; this essentially serves as a way for the help the Mechwarrior piloting the HZP to line up his shots if the computer can't.

The aiming's not going to be as precise since the computer won't be compensating for all the small motions, but the locking system combined with the red sights should help a lot in that regard. Beats spraying and praying, for sure.
>>
>>23293640

(Base HZP Chassis = 6.5 tons of armour with 7 tons of pod space
- Modular armour design to allow for .5 ton increments above 6.5 to a maximum of 7.5 tons.

Military Configuration: 2xMlas 2xSRM4 w/1t ammo
+ High Firepower
+ Versatility with specialized ammo
- Prone to explosions
- Limited ammo (negated by military tier supply lines)

Garrison/Workhorse Configuration: 3xMlas 1xFlamer
+ Can fire all three lasers continuously
+ Can torch stuff
+ Easiest to modify or upgrade

Scout/Skirmisher Configuration: 4xMlas 4xJJ
+ High speed and mobility
+ Ammo independant
- Runs hot

Plus a LLas variant that had, I believe, a LLas, MLas, and a Flamer.)
>>
>>23291541
>honeycombed structure
wait, what?

Endo-steel doesn't exist until we find the memory core guys.
HTF does Vincent know Endo-steel
>>
>>23293726
It does exist, just no one can build it. There's still examples of it from the Star League.
>>
>>23293726
The idea of using the structural design of it is not far fetched, but the materials used are garbage for it. Plus its nice to have other engineers not look like complete colossal wastes of carbon.
>>
>>23293533
>>23293584
>>23293702

You explain to him the idea behind the myomer, and your inspiration, and he laughs.

"I have been Tech Chief for many years. Worked on all kinds of 'Mechs. Never ever once heard of 'Mech being designed from lady's legs. Maybe I am naming first prototype 'Legs' for this, no?"

The locking he seems to get pretty quick.

"This is smart! I am actually asking you if you would want to spread this system to Solaris... I am knowing many pilots who would give left arm for system that lets this happen, since in close combat sensors are always being blown out, and being able to fight with less problem would make much money!"
>>
>>23293714
The moment ferro fibrous and double heat sinks are standard we can up the JJ amount to 7 and be heat neutral. Super nice.
>>
>>23293817
>I am actually asking you if you would want to spread this system to Solaris
If it works on the prototype, we can ask Janine about licensing the technology so that it be retrofitted to other mech designs and sold to Solaris as a retrofit kit.
>>
>>23293684
>>23293686
Oh, I know melee on lights is a terrible idea.

It's just a matter of "Why do it if you're not gonna go the distance?"

Or to laugh at your pals when you somehow beat them in tabletop on something worse than the Charger.
>>
>>23293726

(aerospace still use the basics of this, just his version is inflexible as all hell, and would have literally had to be variantless because the hardpoints where the weapons were located would have to be custom designed for only those weapons, and any thing else would be impossible due to the nature of the structure. but yes, he tried to make endo steel)
>>
>>23293817
"I wouldn't mind spreading it, so long as Svorek got the credit for it in both name and in finances.

Though Janine is the one who takes care of that, I'll bring it up with her.

Any other questions you have? You understand how the electrical system is laid out and everything?"
>>
>>23293817
Oh jeez more patents from skvorec. This is a brilliant idea but one thing at a time.
>>
>>23293859
>he tried to make endo steel
and rolled a 100
>>
what happened to that dog?
>>
>>23293877
It's probably just hanging out nearby us looking adorable.
>>
>>23293875

He ended up with XL C.A.S.E.-II instead.

However, he didn't realize what he had invented, so he scrapped it and started over. And rolled a 99, which resulted in an abomination.
>>
>>23293875
WE HAVE BEEN USING HIS DICE THIS WHOLE TIME

>>23293877
Max is still with us, spirit corgi never lets us down.
>>
>>23293861
>>23293869

You tell him you wouldn't mind it, but Janine would have to come up with the licensing and whatnot for it since you're just a mad scientist with access to CAD. Ivan laughs.

"You are too much modest! Here, drink to your baby!"

He hands you a glass filled with what appears to be at least three shots of vodka, and toasts.

"To Engineer Daniel, bringing us misfits hope for tomorrow!"

He tips his glass back and Max barks approvingly.
>>
>>23294031
CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!
WOOOO!
>>
>>23294031
Do likewise, vodka is good for you.
>>
>>23294031
Swig it back, pet Max.

"To Ivan, the rootinist and quite possibly tootinist Fabricator I've ever met."
>>
>>23294031
Pound that vodka, thank Ivan and let him get back to being comrade fabricator. Think its about time we head out, either to finish concepting the JJ variant or get Janine Ivan's idea to start licensing out tech to solaris.
>>
>>23294031
>Time to buzz kill
Now if only Goddard was here to share this with us.
>>
>>23294060
>>23294076
>>23294092

You toast him back, and he laughs.

"Don't be worrying, Engineer. Ivan will treating this like his own baby, because now it is too! We are the proud papas!"

Max barks again, and Ivan scratches him behind the ears.

"Even poochie agreeing with me. Success is ours!"

A bit more small talk then Ivan lets you know he needs to get back to it, lest his workers get lazy without their slave driver at hand. You share a laugh and depart the Mechbay, taking one last look for the moment at the skeletal bits that will become the Phobos.

Max at your side, you have the rest of the day to burn. It's around 4pm at the moment, which you now know after checking your watch and lighting a smoke.
>>
>>23294141
Check in on Janine, see if she's made any progress on getting in contact with Vincent.
>>
Come to think of it limb locking could also help you overcome some kinds of myomer damage. If your bicep took a hit and you couldn't lift your arm anymore, you could use your other hand to shove your elbow back to 90 degrees and lock it there. The damage wouldn't matter because you wouldn't need to move the arm anymore.

Combining that with the red dot reflector would create some serious zombie power. Solaris is going to love this system because it's all about spectacle, and anything that lets mechs beat the shit out of each other for longer is going to be a big draw.
>>
>>23294141

Should we check in with Hatamoto to ask what we can expect from the Capellan Reps, past what he's told us in the E-mail? There's bound to be gestures and other nuances that we would be well-advised to avoid/adhere to.
>>
>>23294141
Let's hit up Hatamoto to ask about the weapon loadout and our idea of the TECH DEMONSTRATOR loadout versus an actual production loadout.
Then we can talk to Ilsa about making physical mockups of the cockpit design and taking time-lapse video's of swapping weapon loadouts to show the advantages of our rail system.
End with talking to Janine about licensing our tech and about Vincent.
>>
>>23294243
>There's bound to be gestures and other nuances that we would be well-advised to avoid/adhere to.
Very good point. It's not just what we say, but how we say it and how we project.
>>
>>23294243
Thats actually a good idea, also talk about our tech demo idea.
>>
>>23294141
Food with Janine, the longer we're without Goddard the more I fear we'll be without him for good.
>>
>>23294243
>>23294257
>>23294265
>>23294279

You decide to pop by Hatamoto's shack to discuss the Cappie reps and the dos and don'ts, as well as to ask about weapons testing and tech demonstrations, and what might be the best idea for that. Afterwards, maybe a late dinner meeting with Janine.

You leave Max in your office and head over, not sure if Hatamoto's neatness would allow your puppy to be in his workspace, and knock on his door after the short walk back.

Hatamoto greets you at the door.

"Come in, Daniel. I've been expecting you."

You remove your shoes and enter, finding that he has tea laid out already.

"If you give me a few moments I will fetch another cup and some more tea leaves. Make yourself comfortable on the white bench."

A few moments later, after you're situated, he returns, bearing a small brass box. He brews you a cup of tea and before handing it to you, notes that there is a tea leaf standing on end in your cup.

"That is a sign of fortune to come, Daniel. Now what did you have to speak to me about?"
>>
>>23294374

(Dammit, Anontech, why did you choose a new image to post for the OP? I didn't recognize this quest at first)
>>
>>23294374
"Two things, really. One is your opinion on the Tech Demonstrator loadout; do you think that it's best, or that a more conservative production loadout would provide a better impression to our investors?
"Second is, are there any do's and don't's concerning how to talk with the Capellan delegation? More in-depth stuff, like should I look them in the eye when I talk, or is it considered impolite to sneeze in front of them, and how close should I get to them when talking."

Maybe do a timed swap out of weapons so that the investors can see the rail system in action?
>>
>>23294411
Use catalog and crl+f??
>>
>>23294434

(Wasn't expecting it to be today)
>>
>>23294411

(I uh... use a different one every time. well, i cycle through a batch of like 7 different images I've got)
>>
>>23294434
>not using filters and highlighters
Come on man.
>>
>>23294441
Its usually on wednesdays at like 8pm est. anontech generally posts in the bt generals too.
>>
>>23294432
This looks good.
>>
>>23294432
I think we will need to do a timelapse swap cause it will still take far longer than people would want to sit around for I bet. Got Ilsa on that too. Be even better if they brought their own crews to show how even new techs could find it to be really awesome to repair.
>>
>>23294498
What kind of preference do the Cappies like? Genral-purpose? We should make our test model the one with the biggest appeal.

First impressions are a big thing, we want the test type to be the one to garner the most interest possible.
>>
>>23294432
>>23294474
>>23294498

You first bring up the topic of the Tech Demo of the Phobos. Hatamoto clears his throat.

"Yes, well, since we do not manufacture the weapon systems for our design, and it is likely that the Capellans will opt for a licensing agreement, we needn't show them a weapons demo at all. People who purchase directly from us are more likely to want to see it, though having the option for the Capellad delegation is not a bad idea. My people favor long range weapons and non-classical tactics, due to the nature of our military structure and lack of resources. So if you wish to impress them, I would suggest making use of the long range missile batteries we have, or the Large Beam Laser you acquired from Vincent. Either of them will speak to the Capellans more than autocannons and the like. Short range missiles too; the Capellan military has a soft spot for Inferno missiles and other non-traditional ammunitions of that type. So I'd focus on that sort of thing. Keep in mind as well they will be looking for something that can serve in as many battlefield aspects as possible, so showcase flexibility. As imposing as your design looks on paper, I can tell you the visage you and Ilsa are crafting for this machine will not sway their decision in the least. They are after practicality, so sell that to them.

Insofar as the cultural decorum... I would not worry about it. If the delegation is predominantly Sianese then they will assume you are not and disregard any effort you might make to appeal to their sense of culture. If they are not, they will act like any other non-Sianese businessperson, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Be polite, truthful, and blunt. Don't doctor your words. Treat them as contemporaries, because some of them will be."

You bring up the notion of showcasing the rail system in a timelapse, and he agrees.

"That manner of 'selling practicality' is what I was referring to, Daniel. Any other questions?"
>>
>>23294564
Well the tech demo is just that, showing off all the bells and whistles. Then we show them the variants we have planned.
>>
>>23294374

>>23294432
Do this.

Also: "I know you're an energy weapon specialist, but I was wondering how much experience you have with BUILDING lasers. I was thinking we could lower our overhead if we built some medium beams ourselves."
"Something else has been at the back of my mind - when I was at school, there was a paper on a very interesting weapon, perhaps the first actual innovation that I'd seen. A binary cannon with TWO laser cores. The thing was a heat hog, but it WORKED..."
"I was thinking about our next project, and realizing there aren't really any energy weapons in the 3-4 ton range. I was thinking we could try making one using smaller cores than a large uses. What do you say?"
>>
>>23294725

A Blazer cannon out of mediums isn't actually that bad, however, what I'd REALLY like to see us try to make would be slaving a bunch of Smalls together to make a Small Laser Array.
>>
>>23294691
Then it sounds like we should use the Military Loadout, LRM variant, to impress the Capellans, and take the time-lapse video when we convert it from the Military Loadout to the Tech Demo Loadout, or vice-versa.
>>
>>23294691
Nice. So the LRM5/SRM4(we can use half ton ammo bins right?) mlas and flamer demo build is going to be their favorite thing ever.

Show that its a good platform for both missle types and its easy to swap them out for each other. Show off range of arm motion and adaptability of our hardpoints in arms an such for lasers/flamers.
>>
>>23294725
Eww, blasers.
>>
>>23294784

An anon in the last thread pointed out something that I feel the need to bring up again:
They pointed out that we can use Vehicle flamers for liquids capability, and I've realized they're a HALF ton each instead of a full ton.
With 20 shots to a ton, we might actually have a use for the triple-ports on the arms.

We should also ask the Cops if they have any spare ones we could buy off of them... (chances are there's a spare vehicle flamer in their armory)
... and we should also have janine call them, and ask if they found Goddard or clues to the Eight's hideout that we tipped them off on, ora general status update
>>
>>23294815
>Nice. So the LRM5/SRM4(we can use half ton ammo bins right?)
We need to make an engineering test, but yeah kinda.

Next up: half bins and jump jets on our CAD program
>>
>>23294847
Stuka jets!! Hopefully that wont make them not up to SKVOREC TOUGH standards.
>>
>>23294725

"I could work with you to design a prototypical laser weapon, yes. I have, as a matter of fact, had a pet project for years in that vein. I don't have the equipment to produce a prototype though, so it has had to sit on the back burner for some time. When we have free time after the Phobos is in production we can take a look at it together, perhaps."

>>23294784
>>23294815

"My advice would be to use one of each of the SRM and LRM racks to show that, not only is the design flexible, but that you have properly used their software to full effect, and that everything meshes 100% perfectly.

Is there anything else?"
>>
>As imposing as your design looks on paper, I can tell you the visage you and Ilsa are crafting for this machine will not sway their decision in the least.
That's okay, the mask is just a big warning sign for all of the nasty stuff we have under the hood.(REEEEEE)

>>23294782
That's... actually a great idea. You get the benefits of an MG array without the gigantic downsides of carrying MG ammo.

>>23294843
For firefighting purposes I'm now sure how much "anti-flame" power a single shot of fire retardant has. More flamers might be overkill given that your "output per second" isn't as important as combat "DPS". 7 tons of pod space is still enough for one flamer, two vehicle flamers and 5 tons of foam.
>>
>>23294961
I think that will be all, thank you.

Time for Janine!
>>
>>23294961
I believe that's it. Thank Hatamoto, and leave.

Then we can go and talk with Ilsa about the cockpit design and creating mock-ups. Maybe talk to Dieter about any computer considerations that are needed or quirks that might come up as a result of our design choices.
>>
>>23295057
I retract my idea and go for this one
>>23295059
>>
>>23294961
Oh wait up, there were two things I thought of in the last thread we needed to ask Hatamoto.

- Hardened laser optics: Basically adding replaceable sapphire plates over the laser barrels to protect them from damage.

- Laser sight PREDATOR MODE: Running laser weapons on low power to use them as their own underbarrel laser sights. This will make targeting stuff at short range very easy even if you lose all sensors. AFAIK this is how trainees play "wargames" using laser weapons on low power, we just need to make this a software thing so the pilot can turn it on whenever he wants.
>>
>>23295119
Oh shit, that's right!
The Predator Mode would also be a great technology to license to Solaris as well, thinking about it.
>>
>>23295119
And that will jive really nicely with our locking feature. So yea those then leave for Ilsa and Dieter.
>>
>>23295119

"Sadly I don't really know that you can get much more durable systems than we currently produce for laser optics, Daniel. They are so fine-tuned that as it is the greatest issue isn't the lenses, it's the shock of combat and the jarring that puts them off-calibration. They already possess numerous systems to prevent this, and adding any more would simply add weight with no performance enhancement.

The Wargames mode? Standard feature. No need to add it, and in fact it is a trick veteran Mechwarriors use in combat to this day. It is an easy way to determine one's skill as such; one of many. Making it a simple toggle is a novel idea though, as one has to go through several subroutines to activate it, since doing so accidentally in combat is quite a serious mistake. Adding the ability to fire a full blast after using the wargame mode to 'sight' wouldn't be that hard, but you'd have to add additional capacitors to the lasers in question to activate the ability to do this, since it affects recharge rates. Essentially you'd need to double-capacitate all laser weapons that had this, since each blast they fire expends the capacitor till it recharges, and having two different charges on hold would need two sets of capacitors. Does that make sense to you?"
>>
>>23295013
>7 tons of pod space is still enough for one flamer, two vehicle flamers and 5 tons of foam.

I was actually thinking that instead of running a mech flamer, we could run THREE vehicle flamers and a half ton of ammo.(10 shots)
that's actually a good amount of close-in firepower for two tons.
>>
>>23295230
"Yeah. Doesn't sound like we'd be able to do it unless we produced the lasers ourselves, then."
>>
>>23295230
>Does that make sense to you?
It makes sense, and it sounds like it would be better as an upgrade kit we sell as an after-factory add-on than as a standard feature.
>>
>>23295230
>Essentially you'd need to double-capacitate all laser weapons that had this, since each blast they fire expends the capacitor till it recharges, and having two different charges on hold would need two sets of capacitors. Does that make sense to you?"

"I think it does. But since it has such a low draw, wouldn't it be easier to give it a seperate, low-current feed for that purpose from, say, the myomer? Without it, though, how much bulk do you think that would add? It shouldn't be that much, right?"
>>
>>23295230
Well looks like thats off the table now. No point in having to make specialty lasers for all our mechs, thats the opposite of how we are building this. Still a good idea for the solaris arena tho. How heavy would these low power capacitors have to be?
>>
>>23295297
>>23295310
>>23295337
>>23295344
Why don't we just tape a laser pointer to the weapons?
>>
>>23295429
Boresighting, mostly.
>>
>>23295297
>>23295310
>>23295337
>>23295344

"You could make a low-power connection, but you would have to use a trickle-capacitor, and that would be the same thing as using a low-power one. You would still need two sets, and you can't do it with a constant stream of power, sadly."

Satisfied, you share some pleasantries, and excuse yourself to go speak with Dieter, whom you haven't had the chance to see really in several days.

You arrive at his shack and knock on his door, and are greeted by the pleasant old man himself.

"Ah! Daniel my lad, come in! Things are a bit chaotic, so mind your step!"

You enter, and see mainframe cases everywhere, with wires and harnesses draped all over, and instrument panels on tables as far as the eye can see.

"I'm about halfway done with the first prototype, Isn't that exciting? The specifications you gave me allowed plenty of room, so this has been a pleasant experience!

Was there cause for this visit? Well, besides this anyway; I hear you've finished the design! Congratulations are in order!"
>>
Are you sure it would need a capacitor? I thought it would just need a secondary power line running directly to the laser emitter. A capacitor is only needed if you want to dump a LOT of power into the emitter at once, which you need to do if you want to damage something. But we only want to turn the emitter into a laser pointer.
>>
>>23295450
But... what?
>>
>>23295480
"No big reason. Just checking in, seeing if there's any questions, concerns or anything like that you wanted to bring up about the design.

Good to see you're doing well.

For the prototype demonstration we're likely to be using a non combat loadout and swapping parts in and out with the rail system to demonstrate it. Will the software be able to handle changing weapon loads like that?"
>>
>>23295480
>>23295481
Oh I see, we still need enough for a trickle charge. Well put this project on the back burner then like that binary cannon and small laser array. We can revisit this when we work with Hatamoto on making new laser stuff.

If we can make the "mod" small and light enough it should be an easy retrofit to add it to existing laser weapons. We could make them in house or license the design to Solaris.

>captcha: ancien ehlehens
>>
>>23295501
Seconding this.
Especially how the computer can handle the (relatively) fast swapping of weapons in the torso rails.
>>
>>23295572
>laser pointers on Solaris
>TACTICOOL, TACTICOOL EVERYWHERE
Guys seriously we should just tape laser pointers to all our guns. Even the missile launchers. We can call it our Operating Operational Operators line.
>>
>>23295292
You can't load vehicle flamer ammo in half tons unfortunately. Also I would advise against vehicle flamers in general, unless you are designing a tank or a firefighting mech. Flamer ammo makes the mech prone to critical hits.
>>
>>23295501
>>23295573

"Ah, yes, your specifications have been just fine. No problems here, so far."

You ask him about weapon swapping.

"Oh! Well... I'll admit I didn't look at anything other than the head assembly because I'd assumed you wanted the computer done as fast as possible. Hm. Well, the Capellan software is robust, to be sure. I don't think there will be much trouble so long as you don't start swapping archetypes too often; It doesn't seem to like going from handling a Large Beam Laser to a 76mm Autocannon, for example. So if you set a default weapons configuration, you're going to want to keep with those weapon types to maximize efficiency. I had noticed beam weapons and missiles; so those would be your primaries, and if you added a ballistic weapon, the computer would lose efficiency unless you re-calibrate it; a process that takes a long time, and precision equipment, which is something most field mechanics don't have.

All in all, it affects the flexibility a bit, but many command and control programs have this issue, so it's not something that will kill a sale."
>>
>>23295666
Okay, we're on good ground then. That fits our plans well.

(Also take notes on this issue. When we inevitably design an omni, we'll want to be aware of this.)
>>
>>23295663
>You can't load vehicle flamer ammo in half tons unfortunately.

Yet another reason for half-ton bins
AND
flamer ammo is just as bad as lrm/srm ammo, right? Or is it somehow worse
>>
>>23295736
It acts like inferno ammo, doesn't it?
>>
>>23295666
We don't plan on putting any non-missile ballistic weapons on the mechs WE build. But if we license the design out they may decide to mount some machineguns. (or if kinda dumb, an AC2) At point software issues are their problem anyhow.

How much did the cappie sofware cost us? There is no reason we couldn't get some newer stuff later and offer it as a firmware refit.
>>
>>23295666
Eh, mech's a bit light for any ballistic weapons beyond machine guns. And machine guns aren't exactly precision weapons at the best of times.
That, and lasers don't need highly explosive bins of ammunition. We have missiles for that!
>>
>>23295666
Ask if there's any way to create pre-set computer modules that could be used to quickly and easily re-calibrate between ballistic, missile, and energy weapons.

Like, have a module with a factory-set calibrations for ballistic weapons, and if a customer needs to change from a Large Laser to a pair of AC/5's, then after they swap the weapons, they plug in this computer card and it loads calibration routines that will get the onboard computer most of the way to full re-calibration. The rest of the calibrations can be done in the field by field engineers.
>>
>>23295666
"Thank you. Good to know all of that. That ought to work. It'll probably be set up with a LRM, SRM, Flamer and ML to begin, might swap things out to show them that a LL can be put in easily and demonstrate things.

Is there anything I can do to help you with this?"
>>
>>23295793
Good call. All in theory, of course.

Omnimechs ho!
>>
>>23295736
>>23295756

(yes, basically. It does remaining # of shots * damage per shot in damage, and that equation again in heat I believe. even firefighting foam does damage on ammo hit i think; from rupture pressure, but I think it's only a set amount, like 10 or something. can't be arsed to check)
>>
>>23295702
>>23295765
>>23295793
>>23295804
>>23295806

"A quick-calibration tool? Hm... perhaps. I know higher-end software has it, but it's also a finicky thing at best. I could possibly arrange for it, but it'd take time. Since you are using missile weapons and beam weapons only, and require Hatamoto's expertise more than mine in that regard, I should have some free time to look into it.

As far as help goes.. hmm. Not that I can thi-oh! Yes there is!"

He rummages through some things and digs out a printout.

"Can you explain to me the dead space in the cockpit here? These are for non-command and control systems, I know, but what are they for, if I might ask, since I have to design with these things in mind."

(he's referring to the survival and comfort modules you planned with shower, food storage, and other utility stuff)
>>
>>23295879
"I was planning on sticking in utility stuff, comfort and survival modules, things that would allow the pilot to go out on longer expeditions without trouble. Food storage, shower, that sort of thing.
>>
>>23295905
This, basically. Not much more needs be said.
>>
>>23295879
"Ah, those. I was planning on adding some utility modules for long-range patrols and other sorts of duties that might keep a pilot away from a base for a long time. Things like food storage bins and a shower. Maybe even an improved septic module."
>>
>>23295879
"I was checking some of the cockpit requirements for mechs, out of the handbooks of the great houses - particularly for heavy and assault mechs, that need storage for personal weapons and extended deployments. Shower, john, that kind of thing. I thought I'd try to fit that in our ours. Its a Light, but for garrison duty? Sure, why not."
(joking)"Its sure gonna be an expensive portapotty, though!"
>>
>>23295905
>>23295942
>>23295945
>>23295961

"Ah! Creature comforts! I see, that's a good selling point, and your cockpit design leaves plenty of room for them, to be sure.

I'll keep in mind that the humidity level will be higher than normal due to the refrigeration and shower water tanks, thank you."

You chat for another half hour or so (was there anything else you wanted to talk to him about?)
>>
>>23295879

That reminds me - those little survival kits built in to 'mech/plane ejection sheets - sidearm, clothes, rations, etc. Is that included by the manufacturer, like I car first-aid kits, or is it supplied by the military.

I fit's us, we should see if we can cram a LAW or vLAW into it. Because fuck that guy who just shot your 'mech out from under you.
>>
>>23296000

Nah, I think that's all for Dieter.

...so, back to the office, do something? maybe think up the concept of the next design, research weapons suppliers, maybe establish a semi-normal sleep schedule?
>>
>>23296000
What time is it?
>>
>>23296042

(supplied by the military because they have standards you might not be able to fulfill, like a certain sidearm or something.)

>>23296069

(around 7pm or so)

>>23296056

(you're still pretty wired and awake, only been up less than 8 hours. also it's getting close to 6 hours of quest for me, i'm hungry and so is my girl so i might be calling it soon due to hunger and numb ass from sitting all this time.)
>>
>>23296000
>>23296111
I think that's it for Dieter.

Now let's check in with Janine, then we'll ask Ilsa about a mock-up of the Phobos face to see which is scariest when actually looked at.
>>
>>23295879
Hmm that was quite a while ago. IIRC we planned on adding a bunch of things:

> Extra cockpit cooling
Anontech said mech's already have this. So if we were to innovate in this area we would have to do something very dramatic like isolating the cockpit from heat entirely. Maybe on a later design.

>Pilot seat shock absorbers
If we can isolate the command couch from the worst of the bumps and jolts that would GREATLY improve pilot survival, especially in a light mech. Falling down in btech will get you killed very easily.

>Cold food storage and basic heating
Simple stuff really. This would allow you to carry food better than freeze dried MREs and stuff like that. If you have ever had to go without it, just having hot water on tap is a huge plus.

>Shower facilities
Should be possible to isolate this from the rest of the cockpit. If not I guess we could just mount it outside the mech on it's ankle or something.

--

Did we ever work the shock absorbers into the design? We just need some space on the floor where the pilot's chair attaches to the mech. The hardest part would be hooking up all of the control stuff to account for the free floating chair.
>>
>>23296111
>so i might be calling it soon

Archive it now so you won't forget later
>>
>>23296132

(done and done)
>>
>>23296056
>research weapons suppliers
Corean-Stewart or StarCorps. Corean produce a shitload of stuff, and are the big Quad proponents in a decade or so. StarCorps make everything. Including Omnis, circa 3058.

Fuck Irian for being WoB puppets, big or not.

Ceres Metals is also probably a good one to get friendly with, if the Cappies let them export to us. Which they probably will, given the FWL/CapCon detente.
>>
We should probably design the jump jet systems before Ivan and the crew gets too far along with the mech skeleton.
>>
File: 1361430369854.jpg-(654 KB, 2202x1558, HZP v3c copy.jpg)
654 KB
654 KB JPG
>>23296126

>calling it soon
>Ditto

Just a quick update on the drawing. Been swamped the past week, so not much progress. I couldn't figure out a way to make the modular armor look like scale mail, so I went for bolted on look. Makes sense if we are just attaching extra armor to the baseline level. It would be hilariously simple to fabricate/replace this small armor pieces at a location level even with sub-par resources.
>>
>>23296298

I find it somewhat funny that the small armor pieces overlapping each other being so easy to procure / fabricate even on the deadest rock in the galaxy adds even more survivability to the mech.
>>
>>23296298
>take damage in battle, need replacement plates
>cut enemy mechs up and bolt the flat bits on
>sliced-up badges, logos etc visible on armour
>along with a disjointed YOU'RE NEXT
skree.
>>
>>23296330
i think its awesome! now we go see janie?
>>
>>23296339

>Someone, Somewhere is going to use the armor pieces of a Atlas head to reinforce their codpiece and never paint over it.
>Someone, somewhere, is going to see this and piss themselves.
>>
>>23296330
>>23296339

We're the hero the Succession Wars deserves.
>>
>>23296359
We need a separate quest about a hotshot mech pilot using a HZP to scare the shit out of everyone he comes across.
>>
>>23296291

(have to save that for next thread, my stomach demands food in a painful fashion. sorry bros)

>>23296298

(lookin good as always)

thanks for the great thread guys. i'll pop in while i eat to answer questions and stuff, as usual, so post away!
>>
>>23296359
>Atlas Codpiece
>Atlas Hat
>Atlas Pauldrons

Problem, Lyrans?
>>
>>23296339
>>23296330
>>23296359

>Utility hands.
>>
>>23296395

It's not nice to make fun of their scouting parties.
>>
>>23296380
thanks for the good read anontech
>>
So i'm curious as to what Hatamoto's got in mind for his lasers. Is he perhaps working on pulse/ER technology for them?

We should start up a weapons division, on paper. We could licence out shit like the locking arms/torso to fund reverse-engineering the AMS and UAC/5 or Hatamoto's lazors for production.
>>
>>23296558
He's a cappie. He's probably trying to make Inferno lasers or Thunder-Augmented lasers.
>>
File: 1361431869546.jpg-(679 KB, 2202x1558, Puttin' on the ritz copy.jpg)
679 KB
679 KB JPG
>>23296395

>If you're blue and you don't know
>where to go to why don't you go
>where fashion sits
>Puttin' on the Ritz

I like your style, anon.
>>
>>23296558
Probably something CRAZY like a bombast
>>
>>23296585

You are surprisingly close with one of your suppositions, Anon.
>>
File: 1361432128099.jpg-(107 KB, 548x575, 1360416465471.jpg)
107 KB
107 KB JPG
>>23296591
YES.
THIS PLEASES ME.
>>
>>23296585
>Inferno Lasers

So, a flamer?

>>23296625
Oh gods
>>
>>23296625
>Close
>To Inferno Lasers

...Plasma Rifle? Inferno-style heat, supposedly uses lasers to superheat the plastic ammo.

>Or Laser Thunder mines

I don't even
>>
File: 1361432653305.jpg-(16 KB, 300x525, 1359027835868.jpg)
16 KB
16 KB JPG
>>23296591
Ohmagawd, it's like a 35-ton culexus assassin.
>>
>>23296591

Not..badass enough.

Give it a codpiece, composed of a Warhawk's bridge.
>>
>>23296755

No. It needs a Cigar.

And its arms need to be SLIIIGHTLY edited..... so that it's giving a Thumbs UP with one hand
>>
>>23296755

Drawfags! Bring me a Phobos carrying a Gargoyle or Executioner's ugly head on a pike!
>>
>>23296811

Hm. Should we see if we can export to the Rasalhagians? I don't think they have much of their own production capability, and a new nation is always in need of new kit, not Lyran/Drac castoffs.
>>
>>23296861
ComStar would probably approve, given their role in the FRR.
>>
>>23296861

You're pretty free to license your design wherever you want, though people can deny you passage through their space to export things directly.

Also the FWL is likely not able or willing to control you in a detrimental way in that regard since they are so fractured. It's more likely that a minor power would be the one to get in your way within the FWL itself.
>>
>>23296962

Hey Anontech, on a scale of 1 to 10, how fucked is anyone going to be, going against someone fielding an entire Lance of the HZP Phobos? With 1 being "Absolutely Fucked" and 10 being "There is no accurate term in all of the multidimensional space to describe the amount of fucked they are"
>>
>>23297091

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVKWCpNFhY
>>
File: 1361434692799.png-(258 KB, 421x500, 1329094945633.png)
258 KB
258 KB PNG
>>23297121


..I fear for all that is or ever will be now.
>>
So, sell to mercs and garrisons and license to Houses and other large militaries. Seems like a plan.

For every Phobos out on campaign making pirates shit bricks there is going to be another dozen out fighting forest fires, building orphanages and rescuing stranded mountain climbers.
>>
>>23297091
Game over, man! Game over!

http://youtu.be/np9tBI7_nq8
>>
File: 1361434855038.jpg-(28 KB, 600x338, 1360745613593.jpg)
28 KB
28 KB JPG
>>23297121
>>23297091
>>
File: 1361435580686.png-(8 KB, 335x281, 1360191466756.png)
8 KB
8 KB PNG
>>23297121

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay~
>>
>>23297137
>>23296962

FRR might be interested in licensing it. They're just starting up a few new production lines in the 3040s.

Though we could probably get financing from ComStar to build a bigger construction line if we say it's for supplying the FRR.
>>
Bummer i missed this one due to timezones and exams.

However yes, we should work on them jetpacks and start doing a weapons development and manufacture division for the locking system + red dot, and working with Hamato on Lazors as well as reverse engineering the ABM and guns.

Also perhaps starting our dedicated security department, and getting some training in shooting a gun, driving and fighting in a mech, especially the one we designed and perhaps some aerospace piloting.
>>
>>23297499
Lets not get in bed with them.
>>
>>23297160

Wha?

Not sure how to interpret this.
>>
>>23297639

Also, signing off for the night. Thanks again all.
>>
>>23297639

It doesn't go up 11.

That's -too- casual for the HZP Phobos.

It goes up to 12.
>>
>>23297669
While indeed a nice little mech , we should consider getting the jet flamer design sometime, and get some kind of a marketing scheme and legal advice.

Do keep in mind that BT economy runs on magic and actively screws over the customer every where they can.
>>
>>23290686
>>
>23299547
>23299553

Verily; repost, without yon quotes
>>
>wake up and go to read thread
>all the posts are gone
Whelp.
>>
23299764
I have no idea what i posted at the time, but all in all we could keep this alive till Anon Returns for a early rerun...
>>
WELP

GUESS WE WON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THIS SESSION.
>>
Wait what the christ happened?

did moot piss on the servers again or something?
>>
>23300338
Any post with quotes in them broke.

They're gone, possibly permanently.
Database probably wiped or something.

Unfortunately the archives update directly, so those quest posts look like they're fully nuked and gone, even from backup.

Nothing is left. Just dust and echoes.

Not even beacons.
>>
Nobody knows bird.jpg
>>
>23300315

SUMMARY:

The local garrison may have recovered a crate that contains money that was used to pay off the Eights to kidnap Goddard. Also, Bruce (the former pirate that joined up with us) discovered that Vincent's (Goddard's old 'friend' and weapons dealer) ship has not yet left the system, nor has it requested permission to jump out.

Upon checking Richard's mech designs, it was discovered that Richard's mech was designed to not go faster than 70 KPH, weighed no more than 35 tons, and had some sort of horribly impractical semi-Endo Steel skeleton system. Curiously, we remembered that Vincent mentioned that the 140-Fusion Engine that we sold him already had a buyer lined up. This fits in with a 35-ton 'mech that only goes 64 KPH max speed. There may be a lead here that bears investigation; Vincent was/is in on the plot to kidnap Goddard, and the garrison may also be involved.

Ivan thinks our creation is great. Flat Myomer Sheets ensure redundancy and easy replacement. He also wonders if we'd consider using the torso/arm locking system-painted cockpit reticule system to Solaris since they deal with that shit all the time.

Hatamoto says that, in order to impress the Capellans, we'd need to display that our machine is practical and useful. They'd be most impressed with seeing that our 'mech can use long-range weapons effectively (large lasers, LRMs) as well as SRM systems. They would also like to see if our computer's systems can effectively handle all the weapons switching that the modular points afford it.

Dieter said something to the effect that the space we created for creature comforts was pretty spiffy, and he would have to design the system to handle the greater-than-average humidity in the cockpit.
>>
>23300455
Oh, thanks, that's pretty sweet. Who's dealing with finding our boss? Can we afford an intelligence agency or private detective to go about hunting him down or the like?

The design side of thing seems to be going well.
>>
>23300455
>greater-than-average humidity in the cockpit
Maybe we should consider a small dehumidifier in the cockpit?
>>
Wasn't there a LLas Mlas and SRM variant we had that we can use to sell to the Cappies?

I was thinking of a LRM/SRM variant, but I'm worried about the amount of ammo it'd need, it'd be very dependant on its supply line.
>>
>23300487

From what Dieter said, it didn't seem like the humidity would be a huge thing to deal with. He also mentioned that the software used for the 'mechs computers would probably be able to handle the weapons switching, though some work with Hatamoto would need to be done (I think).

As far as investigations go, we don't really know at this point. Bruce said that he already notified anyone else in the staff who would know what to do with the information. Daniel was pretty much just going around to see if anything else needed to be done

Oh, also:

Janine said that the crest that was found did indeed match Richard's family crest, though it was outdated. Royal family crests apparently undergo redesigns every so often due to bureaucracy, but this might be too much of a coincidence.

Hatamoto also mentioned that the Capellans would not be swayed by aesthetic choices or buzzwords. Succinctly and honestly displaying the HZP's strength of design is key.
>>
>23300524

Hatamoto mentioned that, for demonstration purposes, an HZP that incorporates both LRM and SRM systems might be the way to go. It wouldn't be real practical as far as combat situations go, but it would display that the Phobos can handle both missile systems at the same time.

Installing the large laser may come as a lower priority; BTech fluff may indicate that targeting systems for all lasers are fairly similar, and don't require a major overhaul for heavier systems since they're all fundamentally the same thing.
>>
Honestly, I think we should deal with them just like Hatamoto, blunt, and to the point, the way he said it didn't make them seem too terribly different from himself.

I really want to shove a LRM and a SRM in the torso, and show them how easy it'd be to swap them into different missile types.
>>
Something like "We have a LRM and SRM in the torso, not very practical, however, one of the key features is the ease of swapping weapons into similar types, with less effort and time compared to a standard mech, we can swap the LRM into a SRM to convert it into a skirmish mech."

or something like that.
>>
File: 1361461314979.gif-(2.56 MB, 450x253, full retard.gif)
2.56 MB
2.56 MB GIF
I CAN'T SEE SHIT
>>
I can bet the next few quests are going to have to have summaries.
>>
>>23290553
welp, lost posts aren't coming back.
>>
File: 1361467438910.png-(33 KB, 120x180, vavatar.png)
33 KB
33 KB PNG
>>23301328
>mfw they are
>>
File: 1361467540718.jpg-(15 KB, 300x400, 1337965073153.jpg)
15 KB
15 KB JPG
>>23301372

What a magical day.
>>
>>23301328

Clear cache, then refresh.
>>
>>23301372

Ah, I spoke too soon.

Damn, we lost a couple of threads that autosaged in the meantime, though, like that harry potter quest and that succubus quest.
>>
I saved a copy of the thread (With the links working) just in case the archive is still fucked.
>>
>>23301597
Err, sort of working.
The posts are there, but if you click on the links, they lead to the actual 4chan version of the thread, so hopefully the archive fixes itself.
>>
>>23301618
>>23301597
I've refreshed the suptg thread, it's back fully with all posts.

As I was saying, succubi quest and harry potter quest took a hit.
>>
>>23297091
Oh, c'mon now. We absolutely have to remember that despite being a decent mech, the Phobos is still very much a standard level-1 light mech that, if alone, will struggle to even provoke PSR's. A lance of them can drop a heavy or even an assault on a good day, but they should never be employed in a strict "main battle mech" role.

The design is solid, however, and will be top-of-the-line for its era, capable of competing with Jenner, Spider, Mercury and Commando in the "fighting light" category rather than just as a spotter and vehicle and infantry molester.
>>
File: 1361473930308.jpg-(20 KB, 327x173, Perfect.jpg)
20 KB
20 KB JPG
>Everyone else's response to the HZP Phobos.
>>
File: 1361475934228.gif-(455 KB, 250x141, 1351054926913.gif)
455 KB
455 KB GIF
>>23302796
>enemy mechwarriors' response to seeing an HZP-01 Phobos lance appearing from the darkness
You know what we should do?
Once the prototype is finished, ask the garrison mech pilots to help us test it out by being a focus group for it.
We have them engage in a laser tag match against the Phobos, at night.
>>
>>23303360
Well, once we're making big Money and paying concurrently big taxes, they'll probably be buying Phoboses from us.

Plus, we sort of need their protection until we can afford some proper corporate security. So maybe lease them the Spider or some prototype Phoboses until then.
>>
>>23307135
Or donate one of the flamed-armed ones.



Delete Post [File Only] Password
Style
[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / r / s / t / u / v / vg / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k] [cm / hm / y] [3 / adv / an / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / hc / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / po / pol / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / wsg / x] [rs] [status / q / @] [Settings] [Home]
[Disable Mobile View / Use Desktop Site]

[Enable Mobile View / Use Mobile Site]

- futaba + yotsuba -
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective parties. Images uploaded are the responsibility of the Poster. Comments are owned by the Poster.