Infantry Vs Mech? is it possible, how will it work?

[Hamilton]

Agreed.

Though with the release of the movie, Transformers (great movie in my opinion) I think we are going to see some interests with big robots and some news of Transformers the MMO with some copycats.

[Kerensky]

Yeah, someone will slap together a Transformers MMO, just as a Pirates of the Caribbean MMO was slapped together, and it will be the suck.

You all are positioned nicely to have the jump on them.

[texmechs]

I'd have to say (after seeing Transformers) that I enjoyed the movie immensely, but it really didn't seem like they were Mechs, in the true sense of the word.  Some things I enjoyed:

Movement:  I thought the moves they were capable of were quite realistic, if they were human.
Look:  In Mech form, they were very detailed, farm more so than anything we could put into an MMO.
Animations:  Wow, it was really cool to see them whirl and twist from a vehicle into a Mech.
Gunfire:  Lots of lead, lots of flame, lots of damage.  Who wouldn't like that???

Some things I didn't like:

Movement:  Grabbing a piece of concrete to swing 100 tons to the top of a bridge wouldn't work.  Placing 100 tons on top of an ornate concrete piller on top of a building (or walking across the roof for that matter) would not work.  Good thing it was a movie and not a game.

Animations:  How many times does a truck wheel have to spin around to get stored?!?!?
Gunfire:  Just friggin die already!  Lords of Light, how many shots does it take to kill something in this movie?!?
Believability:  Ok...  Why would you drive on the ground when you can fly 10x as fast, and you're in a hurry?

Overall, it was very entertaining, and I have seen in 3 times now with my nephew, once with my wife.  It is a great example of how to blend reality and fantasy into something that is, overall, fun.  Ok, Josh Duhamel should have stayed on the set of Las Vegas, cuz he's a twit, but the rest of the actors are great.  Shia LeBeouf (Sam) did about as good a job as he could playing the part of the young, nerdy, scientist type.  Megan Fox has a body that would stop an Arena class Mech in its tracks.  John Turturro was kind of lame, but I loved the T-shirt scene.

I think I'll stick to our brand of Mechs, and when we have to stretch believability a little bit, I'll push for things like movement speed, mobility, and player control.  I'd rather not have to explain how I can squeeze something that is 30 feet tall into a General Motors product.

[Hamilton]

Well, Autobots can't fly (most of them anyways), that was one of the special abilities of the Decep-t-creps.

I do agree with the transformation of sizes, and glad that Megatron transformed into fighter rather than a human sized Walter P-38 pistol.

[Hamilton]

/necrospell Raise Thread

Thought it would be better to use an existing thread, than start up a new one, in regards to Infantry vs Mechs.


After some visual concepts of Anti-Mech weapons for Infantry, seems that Infantry will enjoy the benefit of using the potential abusive "Find Weakness" capability.  This capability is not an inherent power though for characters, rather it is equipment based and has its limitations; namely must be used at close ranges.  For Infantry to use "Find Weakness," the sensor (mounted on the Anti-Mech weapon) must be at very close range with a successful skill roll.  This pretty much means, running, flying, or jumping right at the Mech, get the sensor lock, hope the Mech is surprised or preoccupied, and then fire.

This makes Infantry deadly in combat, but only at close ranges; which happens in urban settings mostly.

Although such a system could be mounted in a Mech, the system is not effective due to effective armor designs and interference of energy screens.  For a Mech to use the system effectively, the Mech must go toe-to-toe with the opponent; or reduce the range significantly and disable the energy screens of the target.

[SS2Maximilian]

There is no such a thing as Necrospell, only this:



On a more serious note, I like the idea. But if you want to go as an infantry, what types of anti-mech weapons could be use? Are you talking about a more futuristic C4 or some sort of a bomb and/or some sort of a missile launcher? A little more details if you don't mind, maybe I missed some types of weapons.

[Hamilton]

Preferring to wait until the concepts are drawn out better.
Essentially big toys for Infantry; over the shoulder type weapons.

[Wild_Card]

/necrospell Raise Thread

Thought it would be better to use an existing thread, than start up a new one, in regards to Infantry vs Mechs.


After some visual concepts of Anti-Mech weapons for Infantry, seems that Infantry will enjoy the benefit of using the potential abusive "Find Weakness" capability.  This capability is not an inherent power though for characters, rather it is equipment based and has its limitations; namely must be used at close ranges.  For Infantry to use "Find Weakness," the sensor (mounted on the Anti-Mech weapon) must be at very close range with a successful skill roll.  This pretty much means, running, flying, or jumping right at the Mech, get the sensor lock, hope the Mech is surprised or preoccupied, and then fire.

This makes Infantry deadly in combat, but only at close ranges; which happens in urban settings mostly.

Although such a system could be mounted in a Mech, the system is not effective due to effective armor designs and interference of energy screens.  For a Mech to use the system effectively, the Mech must go toe-to-toe with the opponent; or reduce the range significantly and disable the energy screens of the target.

So if it can only be used in close combat by a mech. Essentially you are saying melee fighters would be the deadliest mech on the battlefield. Provided of course the can actually get close enough to the enemy mech. Not that this would be bad, afterall what can really walk away from a mech sized sword or ax?

As for infantry, I think that the focus should be more towards being able to storm buildings. Also I can see various locals limiting the usefulness of mechs and vehicles. (See the POI thread) Just think of the fear inherent of stripping yourself voluntarily to explore a mission area or to storm an enemy complex.

Not to mention, it would be nice for combat to be possible in neutral areas as the different factions intermingle.

[Hamilton]

You know, I didn't give that thought about Melee Combat for Mechs with Find Weakness.  Well, that would indeed make melee combat go quicker.  Also, come to think of it, that would allow for some maneuvers to work as well, for example, using Battle Fists to tear through armor or breaking actuators.  Whereas before that would not really be possible.  Melee combat would have been more of a slugging match, but the Find Weakness ability would allow for more exci... shoot, almost typed it, dramatic combat. (and lessen the button masher routine)


For Infantry, yes their primary use is for urban combat, or places that provide a lot of cover or prevents the use of vehicles or Mechs.  Seeing Infantry run in the open to engage the enemy, is not to be expected (but if someone wants to, they can, just better expect a very short life expectancy).
<Ok, I got to run 100m, climb to the cockpit so I can fire this "Pilot Killer" weapon and knock-out the Mech...  And let's see, that Mech has two 150mm cannons and a point defense weapon...  Yeah...  Tell you what, I'll give you the weapon and let you charge it, while I count the number of seconds you stay alive.  Deal?  No?  Well then, how about this.  You attract its attention, ie BAIT and lure it to me so that I can surprise it?>

[Stigmatax]

I love chiming in... Does anyone remember what was the best way to take out a tank during WWII? It was taking some guy and having him sneak up to the tank and place some really high explosives on it's tread wheels... the track runs out and the tank can't move... then it's just a matter of how much explosives you put on it to cause it to kill it's occupants.

Round 2... Anti-Tank rocket launchers which punch through armor... killing or disabling the occupants.

The worst thing a tank crew can face is a motivated soldier with high explosives and the desire to use them.

So yes infantry is a serious consideration against a mech unit. If a soldier can hide, and since he can not be seen on radar, wait for the mech to go by and come up from behind... that mech is pretty much toast or is going to be seriously damaged.

It shouldn't take much to take off a mech's leg or arm with a highly motivated soldier and some rope and lots of cool explosives.

[Hamilton]

The worst thing a tank crew can face is a motivated soldier with high explosives and the desire to use them.

Or a trained dog...
Another effective (well somewhat) tactic was to use "suicide" dogs with anti-tank mines strapped on them.  They were small and fast and unfortunately the dogs were thinking that if they ran underneath a tank, there would be food waiting for them.

[Stigmatax]

OOH WE CAN DO THAT WITH NEWBIES!!! 

[Agamemnon]

hehe, Wardogs!   

[Wild_Card]

OOH WE CAN DO THAT WITH NEWBIES!!! 

No, no, no, we use L337 speakers for that Stigmatax.

[SS2Maximilian]

ph34r 73h 1337 5p34k3r5 f0r 7h3y w!!1 d357r0y u5 411!!!!!!!!!111111111111111111111112

Just a quick thought I had about Mech vs Mech melee combat:

If Find weakness is useable during it, shouldn't the "defending" mech ((The one who is actually not charging)) will be able to take down the melee weapon of the other mech? What I mean is that the defending mech had a 2nd ranged weapon, as much as it sounds impossible, he can take that mech's melee weapon by targeting it ((If he is really lucky, he can succeed)), then destroy that mech quickly without a problem. However, the attacking mech can do the same, so it might be open for another type of fight, a combination of both melee and ranged combat, should it be possible that is. Also, I believe that in order to take down a mech faster in full melee combat, he can just try to take down his melee weapons and destroy it.