From: Jesse.Taylor@launchpad.unc.edu (Jesse Taylor)
Subject: Re: high-speed hovertanks REDUX!
Organization: University of North Carolina Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 03:45:11 GMT

In article <1992Dec23.001954.9921@u.washington.edu> foregone@stein.u.washington.edu (Carl Chavez) writes:
>In article <1992Dec20.173113.1343@samba.oit.unc.edu> Jesse.Taylor@launchpad.unc.edu (Jesse Taylor) writes:
>>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.
>
>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.
	It's not necessary to mount a neurohelmet in a vehicle -
neurohelmets are for the utilization of myomers, and so that the 'mech can
move like a (very, very large) human. The complex electronics could be
simplified for vehicles.
	Another reason (IMHO) why 'mechs would move first is... (ok, think
about it...) They've got a GREAT view of the battlefeild from those
30-meter high cockpits.
	So.

	What you need is to mount a turretlike thing on the top of the
vehicle, with a gyrobalance and sloped armor and the pilot inside, so that
he gets a great, stable view of the battlefeild. PLUS the VR controls.
This goes a long way to killing the munchkin tendency, because to make a
vehicle that can fight 'mechs at their speed, you have to stick in a lot
of equipment, plus you make the pilot vulnerable.

VR Control aRray (VRCR)
	This is mounted on a vehicle in place of a turret, or as part of
an existing turret. The VRCR has a gyrobalanced cockpit enclosing the
pilot and a Virtual Reality control device. The VRCR/Turret rotate in the
same way as the head of a 'mech. The turret weapons can only fire in the
direction the cockpit is facing. A breach in the cockpit armor disables the
gyros, rendering the system useless, and the vehicle will move the same as
a normal one. If the turret is destroyed, the vehicle can no longer move,
but as the gunner is in the body, the non-turreted weapons can still fire.

Tons: 2, including 8 pts turret armor.

How's this do, or is it still too munchkin? I think that, true, 'mechs
should be the focus of the game, but specialized vehicles that can fight
close to the level with 'mechs should be allowed too - with the
restrictions of the VRCR.

Suggestions?

JT

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