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This makes me think of the word "Lostech" that I learned from a game when I was a teen. I have adopted it into my vocabulary and it is amazing how much once state of the art wondrous technology is getting lost to time as it is replaced. Think of the Vacuum Tube that lead to transistors and microchips. They almost seem like magic now (even though I know the basic physics behind them). Or the Cathode Ray Tube that lead to color tube TV's being everywhere at one time and now you can hardly find one as they have all been replaced by LCD's or other flat panels.
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Lost...

The first thing that came to mind upon seeing this thing is the Fire Moth from BattleTech.

I am reminded of the Unseen in this regard. Some of the initial battlemech models were copied right out of anime that FASA was watching and thought looked cool. When the initial IP holders got upset about this usage, FASA tried to straighten out usage rights. For some, this was just a matter of debating and seeing if they could come to an agreement. For others, no one actually knew who had ownership of the appearance and this resulted in over a decade of legal confusion before Catalyst was finally able to get a deal in place that would permit new usage of that imagery.

And funnily enough, the jet bears some remote resemblance to a fictional design called Xerxes

I'm pretty sure even an UrbanMech would do the job.

The basis for Mechs are artificial muscles, http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Myomer

Why waste time on all this. Battle Mechs will not only utterly destroy the enemy but make then scream and run like children.

All we would need is 3 MadKat Mark II's and 3 pilots and a single small support base.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Mad_Cat_Mk_II

IF we could as a country make that technology work, Just one can take out a column of modern tanks all on it's own.

And bring on the Fourth Succession War!

Here you go. What do I win?

Probably via Dropship. It's much more economical to outsource to mercs like Wolf's Dragoons or the Northwind Highlanders than to keep your own stock of mechs around.

And off the top of my head, you've forgotten the Mad Cat/Timberwolf F, a Mechforce UK design, which doens't have missiles. You might find this page informative: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Timber_Wolf_(Mad_Cat)#Alternate_Configurations

I think it's [citation needed] with regards to the playing habits of Battletech power gamers. The spirit of the game is what you make it - I've played games with stock mechs and custom mechs on all types of terrain. To my mind, playing on the blank white maps is mindbogglingly boring; I can't imagine why anyone would.

As it is, many designs in the cannon are highly optimised with very limited roles. Eg. the classic TRO-3025 Charger or the more recent Mjolnir - these are designs that fail utterly outside of their niche. While broadly capable units exist (like the multi-role Warhammer), it's often suicide to take mechs unsuited to the terrain being used.

I do agree, however, that canon units can be fun because they are a mixed bag that forces you to adapt to whatever it was that the random unit table handed you.

Good thing for you, the Gauss Rifle uses very little heat.

Hey, you get 10 heatsinks free with the engine. If you use double heatsinks, it won't cost you any critical slots for engines larger than 250 rating.

*Sigh* I'm a Battletech geek.

Actually, PPC stands for POWER Performance Computing. Or Particle Projector Cannon in case you're into BattleTech.

BTW, my sig is mostly aimed at people who start their posts like "IANAPPP (I am not a particle projector physicist) but..."

How long until it's in hobbyist hands?

I want one of these: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Marauder

Failing that, how about http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Turkina or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Dire_Wolf_(Daishi)
But a http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Locust or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Kit_Fox_(Uller) would be fun too.

Any way, new toys for robotics are always fun.

How long until it's in hobbyist hands?

I want one of these: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Marauder

Failing that, how about http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Turkina or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Dire_Wolf_(Daishi)
But a http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Locust or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Kit_Fox_(Uller) would be fun too.

Any way, new toys for robotics are always fun.

How long until it's in hobbyist hands?

I want one of these: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Marauder

Failing that, how about http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Turkina or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Dire_Wolf_(Daishi)
But a http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Locust or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Kit_Fox_(Uller) would be fun too.

Any way, new toys for robotics are always fun.

How long until it's in hobbyist hands?

I want one of these: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Marauder

Failing that, how about http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Turkina or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Dire_Wolf_(Daishi)
But a http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Locust or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Kit_Fox_(Uller) would be fun too.

Any way, new toys for robotics are always fun.

How long until it's in hobbyist hands?

I want one of these: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Marauder

Failing that, how about http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Turkina or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Dire_Wolf_(Daishi)
But a http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Locust or http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Kit_Fox_(Uller) would be fun too.

Any way, new toys for robotics are always fun.

BATTLE MECH

BattleMech is a CopyWrited program written by myself, Ralph Reed. The Battle program is put in the public domain as ShareWare. The ARC file may be freely distributed as long as all files and this message remain included.

If you like the game and would like to contribute to the cause, please send $20 to:

Ralph H. Reed
P.O. Box 1497
Eglin AFB, FL 32542

In exchange for your contribution I will put you on my list of registered owners and will send you a copy of the latest Battle program and the Factory program. The Factory program allows you to design your own BattleMechs. You will also be notified of future enhancements to the program. My intentions at the moment are to turn this into a true role-playing game. The first change will be a single player mode where you can fight against fortresses and dropships. I also plan a Load and Save game option which will include loading preset scenarios. A player
controlled map generator is also in the works. Evenually I hope to have pilot files that will allow a pilot to gain experience and skill from combat to combat.

BATTLE MECH

BattleMech is a CopyWrited program written by myself, Ralph Reed. The Battle program is put in the public domain as ShareWare. The ARC file may be freely distributed as long as all files and this message remain included.

If you like the game and would like to contribute to the cause, please send $20 to:

Ralph H. Reed
P.O. Box 1497
Eglin AFB, FL 32542

In exchange for your contribution I will put you on my list of registered owners and will send you a copy of the latest Battle program and the Factory program. The Factory program allows you to design your own BattleMechs. You will also be notified of future enhancements to the program. My intentions at the moment are to turn this into a true role-playing game. The first change will be a single player mode where you can fight against fortresses and dropships. I also plan a Load and Save game option which will include loading preset scenarios. A player
controlled map generator is also in the works. Evenually I hope to have pilot files that will allow a pilot to gain experience and skill from combat to combat.