I think a lot depends on the definition and final form vs. function rationale. Transformers that can effectively 'stand' to leverage the ground for physical activities is fine. The space combat walker I included in the Artemis Frigate thread just below this would be a viable entity in any future. Where you have a machine designed for a specific task and optimized for this task. If it makes sense to have them on two legs fine, if it makes sense to have them skittering along on a hundred legs that's fine. Having big dogs that weigh a gazillion tons walking over ice, that have no effective field of fire, waste energy in inefficient movement methods that could be used for firepower, and are inherently unbalanced and unstable... now that's stretching things.
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- Thread starter IanBruntlett
- Start date
Reynard
Emperor Mongoose
Remember one thing, even today in the real world we are experimenting with various walker vehicle concepts. One being http://www.theoldrobots.com/OSU-ASV_Walker.html
Tell me if some nation actually creates a working walker it won't be weaponized. Rather than 50 feet tall thus validating the "If you can see it you can hit it" rule it's built... sensibly. No sure what that might entail unless I see a working one. Still low to the ground but the legs allow better terrain mobility. Many military walkers are one man tanks when 'power suits' are the unrealistic thing in the universe. It's untiring, packs vehicle weapons and armored making it a step between infantry and armor. In 20-100 years it may be unthinkable to field a military without them.
Tell me if some nation actually creates a working walker it won't be weaponized. Rather than 50 feet tall thus validating the "If you can see it you can hit it" rule it's built... sensibly. No sure what that might entail unless I see a working one. Still low to the ground but the legs allow better terrain mobility. Many military walkers are one man tanks when 'power suits' are the unrealistic thing in the universe. It's untiring, packs vehicle weapons and armored making it a step between infantry and armor. In 20-100 years it may be unthinkable to field a military without them.
Lord High Munchkin said:
The thing is, in any setting where there are aircraft (or at least "top attack" missiles), ALL armored vehicles suffer this problem, so I have never accepted that as a primary reason why mechs are impractical. (Ground pressure issues and such, well, that's another story.)
I still think that "Heavy Gear" or "Landmate" sized mecha could be practical until we get battledress working. Battledress with grav belts and FGMPs, backed up with meson artillery and grav tanks though, that's going to cause a lot of trouble. (Except that it requires magic anti-gravity. Alas.)
