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Post by WaffleM on Aug 6, 2010 11:45:40 GMT -5
I've just begun some re-designs for the vehicles to better fit the customization rules and to add some 3D styling. So far I'm not really pleased with the look of my first attempt at the new Ultra-Light Class Vehicle, but it is just a first attempt. It needs a ton of stretching, shifting, and re-angling. New turret designs should make a difference too. I'm hoping that my next attempt won't look like a sedan with a big butt...
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Post by tugunmojo on Aug 6, 2010 19:01:46 GMT -5
What if you look at it the other way. What I mean is reverse the front with the back. Looking at it that way, it reminds me of how your tanks are. The front end is wider than the back--which I happen to like Also, have you ever considered the Ultra-Light Class vehicles being hovercraft? Whatever you do, I'm excited already! ;D
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Post by WaffleM on Aug 9, 2010 8:10:18 GMT -5
I think I'm going to keep the front end narrower, because this keeps the front end taller (that's the cabin). With a little shifting, I'm planning on having the turret mount on the back half with the weapon being able to fire over top of the cabin. With the main options for the Ultra-Light class being either a turret or a cargo bay, I'm not sure If I'm going to make one back end with the option of gluing on a turret or cargo doors, or have two different back ends (one with a turret and one with the cargo doors). I'm leaning towards the two different back ends as gluing on cargo doors won't look as clean as having them part of the design and hopefully make them easier to build. Hover craft... (drool) Chuck! We need hover options!!! Just out of curiosity: when you think hovercraft options, were you thinking about traditional inflated skirts, turbo fans, anti-gravity lifts, or something different?
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Post by tugunmojo on Aug 10, 2010 14:58:23 GMT -5
As I've probably already mentioned somewhere, my early wargaming experiece started with Steve Jackson Games OGRE. One of my favorite vehicles was the hovercraft. They were all about speed (great at taking objectives or out-flanking the opponent) and they were not horrible at combat. In that game's particular mechanics, hovercraft moved, attacked, and at the end player's turn, moved again. This allowed them to be the hit-and-run units of choice. They moved normally on flat terrain, were given a bonus when moving their entire move (either to their 1st and/or 2nd move action) on either water or roads. However, when moving through other difficult terrain, they were penalized and could be incapacitated. So, the type of terrain on the map could have an serious impact on the effectiveness of hovercraft. In some places, they would dominate and in others, they would be crippled.
As to what hovercraft should look like: I'm probably most familier with the traditional inflated skirt design but don't really have a specific preference. While I like the idea of "anti-gravity" hovercrafts/tanks/etc, I don't know how I feel about it in a game with Mechs. To me, Mechs are a pre-anti G technology. However, design what you feel is best. It sure will not stop me from playing this game! However, whatever you design, I think that it will have an impact on the specific game mechanics for hovercraft. For example, if the hovercraft employed Anti-Gravity technology, you might consider a "pop-up" option: Instead of moving, hovercraft unit can briefly "pop-up" over a level 1 (or 2?) terrain feature and fire at target. This would allow the hovercraft to ambush over terrain.
I feel there are two ways you could approach hovercrafts. Either, just make them a specialized unit (I think this matches your game best as Armor Grid is now) or make an "army" that utilizes "hovercraft technology." I think unique army groups is a cool idea, but to be honest, I also like the generic-ness (I'm not sure that is a real word!) of the game as it is now. I'd almost rather not have specific armies, just different model pieces that we could use to mix and match our construction ideas. Actually, I want both, generic rules with various model pieces to build our vehicles/mechs, and armies with their own specific minis! Not asking for much, am I? ;D
Sorry to drag this out, just thinking "out loud."
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Post by tugunmojo on Aug 11, 2010 9:46:53 GMT -5
I'm curious to know what the rest of the community thinks about this subject--I know I'm full of crazy concepts and wants.
What are YOUR ideas?
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Post by davethelost on Aug 11, 2010 10:06:41 GMT -5
I really like the idea of ducted fan hovercraft. A brute force approach that seems in line with Mechs. Anti-grav seems too high tech and renders ground units rapidly obsolete.
Some sort of nap-of-the-earth flier with pop-up capability would be fun. Think helocopter gunship....
As for designs on the ultra-light, perhaps an option for an open cargo bay? I think closed cargo bays are more likely, but there is just something about an open bay. You could even do a "Technical" style unit, a spindle mounted gun and a standing infantryman in the back cargo bay. Just a crazy thought...
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Post by WaffleM on Aug 11, 2010 11:24:01 GMT -5
I think ducted fans will be the way to go too, kind of like Harrier jump jets. Hovers and VTOLs will probably wait until the Aerial Expansion... I'm focusing on the ground units for now, trying to make the vehicles fit the customization rules better.
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Post by tugunmojo on Aug 11, 2010 12:43:45 GMT -5
Aerial expansion . . . ?
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Post by WaffleM on Aug 12, 2010 8:36:53 GMT -5
Shh! That's top secret! Actually it's just far off in the planning stage- no rules or miniatures yet, just some ideas being pondered...
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Post by WaffleM on Aug 12, 2010 10:13:42 GMT -5
Getting a bit closer. I still need to allow room for side doors and create a new turret, but I think the basics are there. And no, It's not going to be red and blue. I just do solid color fills to make sure I have closed shapes as I'm working on a design.
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Post by Dagger on Aug 12, 2010 19:11:24 GMT -5
I really like the idea of ducted fan hovercraft. A brute force approach that seems in line with Mechs. Anti-grav seems too high tech and renders ground units rapidly obsolete. I'm with you on this one... maybe even turbo-fan assisted anti-grav. Anti-grav has only been developed to the point where it can help lighten the vehicle, allowing turbo-fans to be used for hover and maneuvering.
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Post by Parduz on Sept 27, 2010 5:52:32 GMT -5
I really like the idea of ducted fan hovercraft. A brute force approach that seems in line with Mechs. Anti-grav seems too high tech and renders ground units rapidly obsolete. I'm with you on this one... maybe even turbo-fan assisted anti-grav. Anti-grav has only been developed to the point where it can help lighten the vehicle, allowing turbo-fans to be used for hover and maneuvering. Thinking at how they should move makes me recall my opened but unused tiny box of SJG BoatWars.... hovercrafts had vector movement
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Post by Parduz on Sept 27, 2010 7:44:07 GMT -5
If i may say, sloped sides does not works well with the style you set for your vehicles (that interlocking way you invented, very simple and futuristic). More, they are harder to build than straight sides. And finally, vehicles loose that "i'm tough" feel. If i'm not wrong there's not so much military modern ground vehicles with sloped sides. If this should be a very light vehicle, why not try to recall that WWII famous american jeep? If you want curved sides, look how this japanese guy do it: art66.hp.infoseek.co.jp/fart66002_pap01_002.htm
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Post by WaffleM on Nov 9, 2010 16:06:09 GMT -5
After scrapping the overly fiddly designs above (they kept looking like station wagons! ) I've begun reworking the existing vehicles into newer designs. Phase 1: Side of Front Half of Ultra-Light Vehicle This time around, I'm going with more of a Humvee inspired approach. I may end up converting this into the Light Vehicle, instead of the Ultra-Light, as it's turning out much more truck like.
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Post by Mike H "Chugosh" on Dec 27, 2010 2:31:40 GMT -5
Some of my favorite cars have been station wagons. Ducted fan hover/fliers are kewl. A-grav is too far future (or far fetched) for a gritty ground action kind of game. Skirted hover onlies are still cool too. I too once was an Ogre player. Finally, I dig the rugged look of the illustration above.
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