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Author Topic: Discussion: Quad Mechs  (Read 849 times)

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Takiro

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Discussion: Quad Mechs
« on: August 14, 2017, 04:13:09 PM »
My friends and I had a BattleTech Talk this weekend where the topic of Quad Mechs was the agenda. Several things came up and I wanted to ask you guys some unresolved questions I have. Please add any comments you have on these four legged friends you'd like. Love to have a big open discussion on the Quad!

When did the Improved Quad come out? More of an in universe technical question than real life stuff. Instead of arms you have front legs for example along with a variety of game mechanics that made it a different experience than Bipeds. Game texts say 3060 but that ignores Clan Quads like the Fire Scorpion and the Thunder Stallion which existed for years prior. Did the InnerSphere develop their improved Quads based on Clan examples or completely separately?

Shouldn't the rear armor for a Quad be its soft underbelly and not behind it?? Yeah this is more of a real life look at game mechanics. I just think the armor setup for the Quads could be completely different especially given the rules provided.
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JPArbiter

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2017, 04:59:50 PM »
pretty sure that was just a retcon of the rules, so the answer is "Always"
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Red Pins

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2017, 06:33:57 PM »
Hmm.  That would be the appearance of the Tarantula, I think.  Light with 2 MLs and a 2-P.
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lrose

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2017, 08:08:48 PM »
The Scorpion and Goliath Fluff in the original TR3025 both discuss the about the dangers of quads being attacked from below.  Maybe Quads should have an extra armor location (torso bottom?) that can only be attacked by Vehicles or Infantry in the same hex or adjacent to the quad (I can see tank next to the quad trying to fire up at it hitting the bottom rather then front or rear armor) and can only carry very limited quantities of armor.  (Think less then 10 points, probably less then 5 max- no seperate IS points- just the same as the CT). 
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Dragon Cat

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2017, 09:25:43 PM »
I see quads as a good way to make a Mech faster than you normally see from a weight Class with less crits you have a lot more chance to spend tonnage on a bigger engine.
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Takiro

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2017, 03:51:23 PM »
I guess you could always just say it was a retcon JP but Quads (in the InnerSphere) really took off after 3060 and were known for their problems before that.

Actually Red Pins the Tarantula in the original 3055 follows the old rules too Red Pins.

Irose I would be inclined to just translate Rear for Bipeds to Bottom/Underbelly or whatever you want to call it.

Interesting thoughts Dragon Cat, after doing the Quicksilver Trials here I noticed there was a sweet spot for Quad designs in the Heavies who could be faster. Lights suffer it seems cause all those extra criticals let you use ferro fibrous or endosteel while assaults run out of space to quick.
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Red Pins

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2017, 08:05:40 PM »
Oh.  I thought it was fluffed as the first new quad, blah, blah, blah, mechwarrior testimonials, blah.  But, ok.
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Dragon Cat

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #7 on: August 17, 2017, 03:12:00 PM »
Takiro you're not wrong Heavies do benefit from being faster as quads assaults can work the same way but neither can really take advantage of Ferro or Endo (IS or Clan) since the crits are so tight.

Lighter units swing the other way they can take advantage and couple it with the speed
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Quote from: ColBosch on March 15, 2015, 05:35:30 PM

Really, as long as there is an unbroken line of people calling themselves "Clan Nova Cat," it doesn't really matter to me if they're still using Iron Wombs or not. They may be dead as a faction, but as a people they still exist. It's not uncommon in the real world, after all.

Cryhavok101

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2017, 04:39:41 PM »
Coming a little late to this thread, but I have a question:

What are improved quads? I haven't heard the term before. Is it just the current Total War rules for them, as opposed to a previous edition?
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Takiro

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2017, 06:37:51 PM »
Well back in my day ::) when I first started playing in the early 90s BattleTech Quad Mechs were not that different from Bipeds - rules wise. Arms were just arms aka front legs with no structural difference from bipeds, there was the additional maneuverability of side stepping through hexes. If you look in the first versions of TRO 3050 and 3055 you will see the Scorpion, Goliath, and Tarantula really are no different from a biped design wise. TRO 3058 published in 1995 had no Quads whatsoever then in 1998 there is the appearance of improved Quads in TRO3060. For the InnerSphere designs like the Bishamon, Barghest and Sirroco launched a new wave while the Clans (who presumably improved Quad designs the InnerSphere) debuted the Fire Scorpion and Thunder Stallion.

Let me drop this quote in from sarna.net (BattleTech wiki) -

Quote
Quadrupedal
The Quad 'Mech uses its "arms" for legs which gives these designs some additional stability and maneuverability (such as sidestepping, also known as lateral shift movement). The concept was much maligned for sacrificing the overall versatility of BattleMechs and the early designs, notably the Scorpion and the Goliath, proved flawed, being notoriously difficult to maintain and highly susceptible to breakdowns. It was only around the year 3060 that improved technology led to new quadrupedal 'Mech designs, although the stigma associated with the general concept still lingers. Bipedal BattleMechs remain the vastly more common 'Mech.


So fluff wise I think there could be a story of improvement oft over looked that yes JP could simply be termed retcon.
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Cryhavok101

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Re: Discussion: Quad Mechs
« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2017, 09:51:42 PM »
Ah okay, thanks for explaining.
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