ProtoMech of the Week: Svartalfa

[Weirdo]

For some crazy reason, I thought the Svartalfa 2 had Streak LRMs.  That certainly would have been a improvement for it being sniper and being able stay in the move hitting its targets.  Nice see you write up something, GreekFire.

Gods, no. The only reason I'd wish for a Streak SvartiMcFly is because I usually find myself fighting against Horse forces, not alongside them. Even if the tonnage were there, Streak would be a crippling loss of capability. You completely write off any nonstandard ammo(and a proto heavy force is too short-ranged on average to ever say no to smoke coverage) and even a proto as big as a SovietAlfa can't stay in direct LoS for very long - it needs to be able to fire from cover.

[mbear]

I still wonder how the hell the Svart actually does its Wigie movement. I assume it just zum's along like its got a jetpack and instead of jumping it does an Ironman and flies along that way, with downwards thrust coming from vents in its chest and wings to stop it tumbling into the dirt. A true WiGIE uses its lifting body but the Svart looks about as aerodynamic as this lil guy -   and I simply can't see any other way of doing it.

Not to derail the thread or launch YAFLT, but I think you're right: Its WiGE mode is more like an AirMech mode in LAMs. Those wings look like they're folded to me, so when deployed fully they probably give more wing area. Combine that with the thrusters and off you go.

In fact, maybe we've seen something similar in the Sylph battle armor:

[wantec]

For the record, I'm as frustrated about those Society Glider Protos as you are. I've got some great ideas for them and I keep pushing to try and get them published in some kind of product. Who knows if I'll be successful, but I still want it to happen.

[grimlock1]

and frankly, the fact that their interface PAL suit is a near carbon copy of the WOB interface suit, including the glaring flaws in design that grew out of the WOB's focus on using the Gestalt's pilot as a terrorist/covert special operative. roles the clans do not do. would indicate they are copying the WOB system a fair bit.

Can you expand on those design flaws?  Granted it's hardly Elemental armor, but as a piloting system, it's dang impressive.

[Kojak]

For the record, I'm as frustrated about those Society Glider Protos as you are. I've got some great ideas for them and I keep pushing to try and get them published in some kind of product. Who knows if I'll be successful, but I still want it to happen.

Well, I for one am rooting for you, because the concept itself is awesome and I want to see more done with it than just the Svart.