tgsofgc
11/15/03 01:48 PM
67.4.192.23
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So what is to stop a designer from placing a mech's engine "off center", say in the left or right torsos:
Assumptions:
1) The mech's center torso is vulnerable even with out the engine being there. This is because the center toso being destroyed represents the majority of the mechs connective tissues (read as wiring, and cooling tubes) become severed/destroyed preventing the mech from functioning. Also standard gyroscopes must be placed centrally and this fragile component is quite critical to a mech (well if you like standing up).
2) The side torsos are more vulnerable, less armor and hit more often.
So why place an engine off center:
1) With mech components becoming rarer in certain regions such an arangement is logical because it increases the likely hood of being able to salvage either the Gyroscope or the Reactor, which in a normal mech go down together.
2) Surprise, mounting the engine off center allows the mech to mount more center torso equiment which can give the mech at least a theoretical tactical advantage. Also it allows for easier mounting of certain equipment required to go into the center torso, such as a torso mounted cockpit.
3) To create a more secure location on the mech for mounting equipment. Due to hit probability and the large potential armor the center torso is one of the most secure parts of a mech. This makes it a great place to store valuable (though few as valuable as a reactor) or volatile (read as explosive) components. So move the engine aside and fill it with an ammo bin.
4) Possible logistic advantages. Assuming factories needn't be retooled just to make the new mechs, perhaps an off center engine would make it easier for techs to access and would make it easier (faster) to repair.
So Stats:
Cost as a regular engine.
Weight as a regular engine
Criticals, move all the standard engine criticals to either the left or right torsos. Note the bulkiness of xl and larger engines makes this impossible.
I find that 'pinpoint' accuracy during a bombing run increases proportionally with the amount of munitions used.
-Commander Nathaniel Klepper,
Avanti's Angels, 3058
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