Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 12:16 pm
Exactly Aegus. My mechs are bio-mechs primarily. The others are more walking weapon platforms. I do stock mechs, but primarily to sell.
>.<Central Facehuggeria wrote:Very good points, Kanuckistan. Nice to see someone come up with the general reasons why a mech won't work as well as a tank. But my mecha bias still requires me to try an counter them.
Target profile: In the future, with targeting systems becoming more and more precise, a tank's small size isn't going to be as much of a factor imo.
Stability: What if a mech is equipped with energy weapons? Would a laser have recoil?
Ground pressure: Can't mecha just have really big feet? Like clown shoes!
They can mount more weapons: I see. So you're saying that a tank can mount 4 120mm cannons? Some mechs can. But they are then again much larger than most tanks, and designed to fufill different roles.
See farther/Shoot farther: I've never really been a fan of this one, so I'll just let it slide. (Although, I'd like to see a tank arch its fire if it's carrying an energy weapon or railgun.)
Can sidestep: I concur. Sidestepping doesn't work too well.
Urban Kombat: Power armor reigns supreme here. Mechs come in a distant second, with tanks coming in third.
Fewer crew: 1 crewman in the mech, ten in the maintence team.
Mechs have reactorz!: Tanks can, but really, how many tanks actually do?
Mechs can be better than tanks in specific instances, just like infantry can be better than tanks in specific instances. Each unit has its own uses.
Not a few of my tanks mount reactors, but most of the heavy ones. Almost all the grav tanks. Also, boy, I have to say it, "Don't use that syntax with me, boy!"Central Facehuggeria wrote: Most sci-fi tanks do? Like...whom's? JJR says he has a few, My giant tanks have reactors, but those are the only ones that I'm aware of.
Target profile: My point is that if targeting technology is good enough, it won't matter if you're a tank or mech. Sure the mech is a bigger target, with sufficiently precise targeting devices, both of them are going down equally hard.Jangle Jangle Ridge wrote:
>.<
Why does Kanuck always get congratulated! I came up with some of those reasons and they weren't called "Real"! I feel so betrayed!
Now, onto teh pointz0rs:
Target Profile: Yes, but it's a lot harder to ambush someone when you're the size of a small fucking building. Also, mechs can't really hide behind hills, because they're so tall. Lastly, just because targetting systems will get better doesn't mean the huge target will have any sort of advantage over the small one.
Stability: Not a laser pointer. But heavy lasers, like weapons-grade or industrial-grade lasers would. Also, limiting yourself to light laser weapons with little recoil is a major weakness. Simply place a reflector shield on the thing and laugh as the burst lasers bounce off. The lasers overheat, you take down the shield, and blow the mech to shit with your heavy gauss rifles.
Ground pressure: Yes. Clown shoes. Scare the 51st Childrens' Also, big feet slow your mech down by adding more weight to the feet. And they make delicious little targets.
They can mount more weapons: Actually, a tank possibly could mount four 120mm cannons. My Stoneman has a 300mm cannon and two 60mm chainguns. Of course, it's more like a rolling incarnation of armored death. To add more guns to a tank, you merely upsize it, heightening, lengthening, and widening the chassis. Than, strap on more guns. You can't really do that to a mech.
See farther/Shoot Farther: Well, nothing can. But a tank can arch weapons like missiles, mortars, conventional turrets, and signals to shoot the orbital Ion Cannon right neah.
Can sidestep: They need a mech to do a tapdance. A sideways tapdance, will special clicky clown shoes.
Urban Kombat: Power armor does rule here. Though I must dissagree with mechs coming second. I think tanks do. Especially speedy ones. You can hide a shitload of tanks in a city, but hiding a single mech can be a stretch. Especially fast hovertanks, that can strafe at the same speed it moves forward.
Fewer Crew: You need more space to fix a mech, too. Along with that special equipment stuff.
Mechs have reactorz!: A lot of mine do. Why? Like Kanuck said, don't compare present day tanks to uberfuture mechs. It's just kind of stupid.
Like the jaguar or panther? Or are you talking about the lil mechs like the spider and tiger?Mekanta wrote:Meh, I found a happy medium.
My Akujin will ass rape Tanks, Aircraft, and Mechs alike.
And one "Get out of Tentacle Rape Free" card to Siesatia for mentioning Earth 2150. I was going to steal some of those units for Underpact Mekanta. ^_^