From: foregone@stein.u.washington.edu (Carl Chavez)
Subject: Re: high-speed hovertanks REDUX!
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 00:19:54 GMT

In article <1992Dec20.173113.1343@samba.oit.unc.edu> Jesse.Taylor@launchpad.unc.edu (Jesse Taylor) writes:
>Yesterday (well, that's the time that the post arrived here), someone
>posted a message about FASA's new rule that 'mechs now move AFTER all
>vehicles.
>
>Bummer. I liked the Amputator, too. Sigh. That new rule cancels every
>cannon fodder MG vehicle, and most of the non-MG ones, except for in
>cities, where you can back 'mechs into corners 'n such.
>
>However, FASA's rule said that 'mechs move after vehicles b'cuz of the
>neurohelmets, which make the mechwarrior able to move like his 'mech.
>
>Hmmm...
>
>WHAT IF (aiii! not the dreaded whatif!!) you mounted something in a
>vehicle similar to the Rigger Controls in ShadowRun, or perhaps a Virtual
>Reality control suit for the pilot. It is technologically feasible for the
>IS (the can build 100-ton stomping battle machines. and you're telling me
>they can't build VR?!) and the system needn't be as complex as the
>neurohelmet, since it doesn't have to do the stuff with the myomers. It
>would give the pilots every bit as good a reaction as the 'warriors.
>
>Of course, it would be more expensive, and possible (probably) more
>massive than the current controls, meaning that the current style of
>suicide vehicles wouldn't work in a cost-based system, and tonnage-based
>vehicles would be less kick-rear.
>
>However, it does mean that you can still use them...
>
>Anybody have any thoughts on this idea? (c'mon, I know it's Christmas, but
>dredge out that Btech knowledge, guys!) :):):)
>

Does anybody know how much the VR system in Unbound costs? It would
be nice to have those installed on non-suicide ram vehicles like my
Amputator! The VR system would give the same abilities to a vehicle
pilot as to the mech pilot.

Actually, why don't we modify vehicles so they can the same neurohelmets
as mechs? Let's see, a mech cockpit is 200000, so let's say the computer
system costs about 100000 and is 1 ton. This will allow vehicles to move
with mechs, but will increase the cost enough so that munchkin vehicles
can no longer be affordable or weight-effective.
 
Otherwise...



(((((((((((((((((( PRESS RELEASE ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Seattle, WA, Terra (Comstar) - Research laboratories in Seattle and Portland
have just detected a strange anomaly that is currently effecting the temporal
physics of all machinery not defined in military parlance as mechs. 
This anomaly is expanding at a geometric rate out from Terra through the
Inner Sphere, Periphery, and beyond. Presumably it will affect Clans also.
Comstar scientists are have found that non-mechs will not move for a
very short time until the mechs around them have moved. This strange
phenomenon will continue to be studied by Comstar scientists; however,
Word of Blake extremists consider the warping of time to be "a sign of
the Holy Blake, who wishes to return to smite the Comstar heathens".



((( ADVERTISEMENT )))

Lawless Systems of Canopus Inc. regret to inform the public that the recent
change of temporal laws has forced us to discontinue production of the popular
Amputator mech. Old Amputators may be exchanged for our newer models which
feature less speed and more weaponry. Contact foregone@u.washington.edu
through Comstarnet for revised tech specs.