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Author Topic: 'Mechs, Factories And More  (Read 62434 times)

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Knightmare

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'Mechs, Factories And More
« on: February 16, 2011, 04:56:11 PM »
The most common question I've been asked is - "How many 'Mechs are still available, how many JumpShips, and how many factories are still in operation?"

Right now, there isn't much decided for any of these subjects, so if you have some constructive thoughts, I'm all ears.

Things to keep in mind...

- The 1st & 2nd SW were worse than in canon and the 2nd SW started almost immediately after the 1st.
- The HPG blackout is over 180 years in length.
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Rainbow 6

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2011, 05:02:53 PM »
How many factories/production sites do you invision there being left in operation, i'm thinking not to many which will mean lower numbers than the cannon 3025 figures.
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Knightmare

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2011, 05:35:33 PM »
Quote from: Rainbow 6 on February 16, 2011, 05:02:53 PM
How many factories/production sites do you invision there being left in operation, i'm thinking not to many which will mean lower numbers than the cannon 3025 figures.

Considerably.

In fact some worlds will be void of their factories altogether, or so messed up that they're literally cobbling stuff together.
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Davout73

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2011, 09:36:58 AM »
I suspect if the blackout has been this long and permanent the moratorium on jumpships probably occured earlier, which means there could be more of them, and more of the production facilities in general.  Total production is still probably low though.

Davout73
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Knightmare

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2011, 10:34:12 AM »
Quote from: Davout73 on February 17, 2011, 09:36:58 AM
I suspect if the blackout has been this long and permanent the moratorium on jumpships probably occured earlier, which means there could be more of them, and more of the production facilities in general.  Total production is still probably low though.

Davout73

Hmm...the overall numbers would probably still be a bit lower with a more terrible 1 & 2 SW, but you're definitely right about the moratorium on JumpShips and functional factories. Given the extra importance of JumpShips as couriers, they would be almost sacrosanct.

I think an undo advantage goes to manufacturing facilities located in a House's deep interior. It's really the LC, FS and DC that have to be addressed prior to the blackout. The remaining areas of space are already so contested or easily reached (like major factory worlds in the CC) that they're easy to figure out...
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MechRat

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2011, 11:16:38 AM »
I believe I asked you this before KM, but what are your feelings about the manufacture and use of IndustrialMechs in a combat role? I'm thinking along the line of what is supposed to occur in the so-called "Dark Age". They wouldn't be nearly as sophisticated as a true BattleMech but I believe they would have a purpose.
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Knightmare

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2011, 12:49:53 PM »
It's certainly a good idea and I'm all for it. Energy weapons would be limited, but that's alright since a lot of those factories would be gone anyway.

I don't see a problem.
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MechRat

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2011, 02:08:11 PM »
I was intending to have them mount ballistic or missile weapons only.
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Knightmare

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2011, 02:17:46 PM »
Quote from: MechRat on February 17, 2011, 02:08:11 PM
I was intending to have them mount ballistic or missile weapons only.

I don't think Energy weapons are out of the question, I just figure they're far less likely to make a showing on an Industrial 'Mech.

I was doing some reading about Holy Shroud and the scavenger mentality of the Third Succession War...in a hyper inflated version condensed into a smaller time frame slap stick war material would probably be the norm.
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Rainbow 6

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #9 on: February 17, 2011, 02:42:52 PM »
Would these be Industrial mechs with quick refit packages or the industrial chassis/ICE engine designed as combatmechs?
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Ice Hellion

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #10 on: February 17, 2011, 02:51:29 PM »
Modern ballistic and missile weapons or primitive ones?
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The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Knightmare

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #11 on: February 17, 2011, 02:54:01 PM »
Guess it would depend on the builder, but the situation is pretty flexible.

Taking into account canon we know that IndustrialMechs were often the first to go - cannibalized to maintain BattleMechs during the long years of the Third Succession War. We also know that IndustrialMechs were destroyed in great numbers during the 1st & 2nd Succession War (more so in this AU since more of everything was destroyed in far greater numbers.)

IndustrialMechs make a comeback in the Dark Age time line thanks to Stone's swords to plows program - retooling factories for civilian production or trading weapons for industrial equipment.

I'm not saying surviving IndustrialMechs aren't going to be converted for combat, but it still is cheaper and easier to produce conventional vehicles.

I guess surviving factories will have to make a decision - retool for civilian or bastardized military equipment, refit their existing IndustrialMechs or continue to try to produce BattleMechs.

For argument's sake lets say that half of the known factories in the Inner Sphere in 3025 are gone and the remaining produce half the output. We'll take a third of the surviving DropShips and JumpShips circa 3025 and also halve the number. That should create the pretty good picture of what the IS looks like.   

Edit:

Ice, I'd say Level 1 or Retro.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2011, 02:54:37 PM by Knightmare »
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Ice Hellion

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #12 on: February 17, 2011, 02:57:41 PM »
Quote from: Knightmare on February 17, 2011, 02:54:01 PM
For argument's sake lets say that half of the known factories in the Inner Sphere in 3025 are gone and the remaining produce half the output.

Modern or retro equipments?
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Knightmare

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2011, 03:00:07 PM »
Total.

But if a factory could work retro, then so be it. If not, jury-rigged standard Level 1.
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Hessian

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Re: 'Mechs, Factories And More
« Reply #14 on: February 17, 2011, 04:08:08 PM »
What about reducing the number of 'Mech production lines per factory? E.g. Defiance Industries on Furillo would not operate several different 'Mech production lines but only one. This way production could also be reduced significantly. And it could be quite easily explained(the other production lines were cannibalized in order to keep just the sole remaining production in working order).

Just my two € cents though.

Ciao
Hessian
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