2300AD, thoughts and wishes

[Colin]

I'm talking more like this:

(Don't really need to show the same image again, do I?)

Isn't that a Battletech Elemental?

Nope. BH-24 combat walker, original work, by Ted Lindsey. This model has a zero-gee maneuver pack. Elementals are more like walking eggs with missile launchers.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

One thing to remember about powered suits is their speed of operational movement—one can't have suits that "run" at 60 mph because sadly the human body can't.

If a human is forced to move their limbs and joint too quickly, they will fail (very painfully and quite rapidly). This acts as a natural limit to flexing of joints which no technology can overcome. We are just made that way.

So, super running speeds please.

 

[EDG]

Nope. BH-24 combat walker, original work, by Ted Lindsey. This model has a zero-gee maneuver pack. Elementals are more like walking eggs with missile launchers.

Well, I guess there's only so much variation that one can have with the "man size power suit with one gun arm" concept .

http://www.moddb.com/mods/mechwarrior-living-legends/images/concept-for-elemental-battlesuit

 

[Vile]

One can't have suits that "run" at 60 mph because sadly the human body can't.

True! If Grud hadn't meant combat walkers to move fast, he would never have created jetpacks ...

 

[GJD]

I quite like the Shirrow style Landmates, the earlier ones from book 1 and 2, rather than the GUGES. I also liked the ORC armour - powered enough to support the weight of extra hard armour for the trooper, but not true powered armour. The TACarms and Fire Toads from AT-43 are quite nice as well. There were a couple of nice designs in the old Mekton Zeta Mecha manual as well.

G.

 

[EDG]

Though I must say, I don't think mecha of any kind really fit the 2300AD setting. Maybe Aliens-style powerloaders, but not combat mecha.

 

[Colin]

Nope. BH-24 combat walker, original work, by Ted Lindsey. This model has a zero-gee maneuver pack. Elementals are more like walking eggs with missile launchers.

Well, I guess there's only so much variation that one can have with the "man size power suit with one gun arm" concept .

http://www.moddb.com/mods/mechwarrior-living-legends/images/concept-for-elemental-battlesuit

Elemental pilots are also genetically-engineered, plus-sized super-soldiers, big enough to handle the Toads. Not keen on them (or giant mechs in general).

I like Landmates, but they don't quite fit. A little too good, I suppose. The ORC idea is worth exploring, to an extent, but ORCs are likely too close to conventional Battle Dress in style and capability.

 

[Colin]

Though I must say, I don't think mecha of any kind really fit the 2300AD setting. Maybe Aliens-style powerloaders, but not combat mecha.

<shrug> They've been there from the beginning as an integral part of the setting.

 

[The Chef]

see my unitelligible post above...

if you have a load lifter, how much does it take to weld on some armour plates and rig up a minigun...

(funny i know have the urge to say... "beautiful" with a cigar in my mouth)

Combat Wakers are a part of 2300 as much as Kafers, stutterwarp, SK-19s and spinning habitats on ships.

 

[GJD]

Elemental pilots are also genetically-engineered, plus-sized super-soldiers, big enough to handle the Toads. Not keen on them (or giant mechs in general).

I like Landmates, but they don't quite fit. A little too good, I suppose. The ORC idea is worth exploring, to an extent, but ORCs are likely too close to conventional Battle Dress in style and capability.

The earlier ones (landmates) were quite clunky. The ORC armour is simmilar the Dragons Tooth Warriors that were mentioned in the Ground Vehicle Guide, although I don't remember if they wore assisted armour or not. I do recall that they could only fight for a short time, but that could equally be because of a short battery-life in the suits.

G.

 

[Sturn]

I'm talking more like this:

Ok great! I thought you meant something like the artsy fartsy stuff in my links above.

I love the combat walkers with the very military look. Everything posted seems very 2300 ADish.

..<snip>..but Combat walkers and Mechs are what got me into gaming.

I love the combat walkers also. I think most 2300 AD fans do. It's the Mechs we don't want. Combat walkers as early battledress not combat walkers growing into big Mechs. It's a fine line I know but one that is important. I don't want 2300 AD becoming just another Mechs in space game. Combat walkers were just a part of 2300 AD, not its entire character. Mechs have a tendency to over come everything else.

 

[The Chef]

Indeed, couldn't agree more Sturn

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

One can't have suits that "run" at 60 mph because sadly the human body can't.

True! If Grud hadn't meant combat walkers to move fast, he would never have created jetpacks ...

Augment the strength with negative feedback loops and the Mech Warrior can make mini-jumps like the astronauts did on the moon! May not be able to go 60mph, but they could be faster than a normal person.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Augment the strength with negative feedback loops and the Mech Warrior can make mini-jumps like the astronauts did on the moon! May not be able to go 60mph, but they could be faster than a normal person.

Yes, but not running—certainly not as depicted in those Japanese cartoons.

Actually that fast hopping is probably about the sort of movement that could be expected in a human-shaped walker suit (notice there is little full limb flexing in the footage of the astronauts).

Now the Manchurian Type-A6, as well as the Type 9-3 suit are another matter....

 

[steffworthington]

hm. ok. My 2p worth...
Keep it as it is... I know... a novel concept but hey, im an old fashioned guy.
Theres no worry with playing a game with an alternative history... this IS a Traveller thread after all.

Take it with a pinch of salt if you like but ive always been one for canon. theres no reason we can't pretty up the setting... just dont change the basics. If the new version veers away from canon then i might as well keep playing my BRP home brew system. Like a recent Cthulhu thread on another site, all it takes is to make one slight change that this or that player finds a little unrealistic then you've lost a sale.

2300AD's history was one of it's fun things... if it was done by an asteroid.. then im out as I dont fancy playing the 'Deep Impact+300 RPG'. i want the return of 2300AD... and I think if a much loved RPG aint broke dont fix it. (the reason i didnt buy T4)
.. and besides I'm writing something similar (a similar apocalyptic event changing a history) for Chaosium Inc. http://www.twilightarts.co.uk

 

[steffworthington]

Just read the above and would like to say I never meant to sound like a spoiled kid or anything.
I'm trying to get across my conviction for the setting as is.

If it changes then I see no need to buy it as I can either keep playing my BRP version (with my notes of 20 years) or go to another game.

I've absolutely no need to go out and buy a game which isn't a new edition of 2300AD. If it changes then there are many others which are out there. Ive been gaming for 25+ years and almost never buy new games because I'll already have the trope classic:

Fantasy- RuneQuest (2, III)
sci-fi- 2300AD, Traveller, transmissions...
horror-Cthulhu.

Theres just no need for me to buy another because it would be far too much like buying a setting I already have... which isn't a problem if its a setting I WANT. Im old enough now to buy new EDITIONS... not new GAMES. It all sounds a bit pedantic and petty maybe... but I love 2300AD and in a similar vein to a massive argument with a guy on another forum who wanted to introduce timetravel and dinosaurs into 2300AD I'm just sick to death of this neverending need to 'fiddle' with things. Release the setting unchanged... I think we'll be surprised. and if you like your 2300AD a little different.. fine. change it in YOUR games... not mine.

Apologies if ive annoyed anyone, it wasnt my intention and thanks for letting me have my little rant

 

[Colin]

Take it with a pinch of salt if you like but ive always been one for canon. theres no reason we can't pretty up the setting... just dont change the basics. If the new version veers away from canon then i might as well keep playing my BRP home brew system. Like a recent Cthulhu thread on another site, all it takes is to make one slight change that this or that player finds a little unrealistic then you've lost a sale.

And perhaps gained five. It's always a crap-shoot.

Personally, if I'm just rewriting 2300AD verbatim for a new rules set, then it's not really worth it. It becomes worthy if I can add value to a setting, add consistency, new breakthroughs in science, and new life.

I can write a bridge between mong Traveller and 2300AD in about 2 days. If I just wanted to play just what was there before, I could do so quickly and easily. Heck, I could do so with just a few notes and the stack of 2300AD books buried in my new basement.

2320AD was an opportunity to add something to a game that I liked, and respected, very much. I want Mongoose 2300Ad to provide a similar experience. Time has moved on since 2300AD was first printed, 20 years ago. I think that it's time 2300AD caught up with the times.

 

[rust]

Time has moved on since 2300AD was first printed, 20 years ago. I think that it's time 2300AD caught up with the times.

I agree, and please remember that the original 2300AD is still available
- if Mongoose 2300AD would be exactly the same, with only some mini-
mal clarifications and thelike, why should anyone buy it ?

 

[EDG]

Personally, if I'm just rewriting 2300AD verbatim for a new rules set, then it's not really worth it. It becomes worthy if I can add value to a setting, add consistency, new breakthroughs in science, and new life.

The irony is that you already did that - and did it really really well - in 2320AD. Now it seems you're being asked (or are volunteering) to reinvent the perfectly good wheel you made earlier that you can't actually use anymore . I can't help but feel that any differences to yet another version of it would be tacked on just for the sake of making it different enough from 2320AD to justify its existence.

And personally, I'm not really interested in seeing a slightly different new version of 2300AD either. It'd be useful for people who have Mongoose Traveller rules and want to play it using that, but I suspect that most other people who liked 2300AD and still play it would be fine just continuing to play the old version if a new one was pretty much the same with just a few history tweaks.

As for updating it, IIRC from the 2320AD playtest, you weren't too keen on updating the 3D map to reflect new discoveries because it'd change the layout and access to the Arms too much?

 

[Dave Chase]

Colin,
Another idea to throw into the mix is Halley's Comet.

Possibly it or it's tail makes some changes to things.

Or by the next pass 2061, we learn of some new material (this is not based on RAMA by Clarke) and then by the next pass we (some government on earth) is intercepting it and mining it.

That could be a cause for war or turmoil.

Dave Chase