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Metacampaign 2010: A Steel Battalion Scenario
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Yeah, I remember this one match where I was using the Yellow Jacket (I think?) in a more crowded, hilly environment with multiple bases clustered together. It was when we had TOGSolid on artillery support as a JAR. I was able to marker multiple VTs, and even flank one of them from behind.
Though I got my arse whooped when I tried to take on a sniper in the open areas, which was a big mistake.
Trying a 99x9 Garpike Flamethrower only vs 1 Earthshaker match may be an amusing spectacle!
A quick curious question about VT Customization, I was aware of a pilots ability to add a symbol to the side you one's VT, but then I came across images and reference to the Love Wagon, which is a VT that is pink and purple... Could you paint your entire VT in campaign or free mission mode?
I believe it may be both. Not sure. I did tinker with that feature though.
Is there anything in the basic layout of the controller you'd change?
I notice there's a large chunk of mostly unused controls, at least during the Metacampaign matches(well, and Boot Camp, but Boot Camp *is* just about teaching basics).
...of course, there may have been some original design intent behind making some buttons a pain in the ass to get to.
I'd totally add in a "zoomed aim control function" that helps reduce the sensitivity of the aiming block when I'm trying to eyeball a long-range shot without alerting him to my presence. Having my targeting reticule jump around a target the size of a dime is mighty frustrating.
Not really. Obviously, the entire radio block can take a running leap, but I understand why they did it how they did it at the time. The left stick could use some reinforcement against people trying to make it move up and down. The switches could be beefier (I'm sure you saw some eye hook units). TL;DR, I'm very happy with the layout and the need to learn cockpit management - I'd just like it to be sturdier.
edit: and there's already a sniper mode. It's not universal for a reason.
Good to know. Velcro on a few units that passed through my grip seemed to help with keeping it stable, but the 2-way stick reinforcement is a great place to start looking. Much appreciated.
That would assume there's more than a crazed look in my eye currently. I have a few ideas, and some basic exploration that will require making a huge mess of a semi-functional controller - ultimately, my intent is to be able to house a unit in arcade cabinet style MDF. Ideally I would also like to explode out the configuration so the buttons are replaceable and the only major segment to worry about is the actual PCB(which should last a damn long time as long as you don't spill Coke in it), but housing it in something non-plastic that will actually stay put when you use the controls is my primary goal.
With a handful of units produced, and fewer that are likely to have survived until 2010, finding a way to preserve the stock is a good idea.
I could see it. Russian potato salad is pretty good, you know
Normally not a fan of potato salad myself, but I certainly what the boys were dishing out that day.
Being on the receiving end in the giantkiller match, not so fun. Though I thought I did a good job avoiding the hits for the most part.
I was more or less thinking of metal reinforcement or actually fabricating metal versions of the controller. The right, left and center blocks encased in metal, the sticks made of metal, etc...the only things that would be original would be the circuitry, wiring, control buttons/potometers, and the like.
It would probably run us a few thousand to fabricate about 10 metal versions of the SB controllers with a metal fabrication company (people with CNC and sheet metal fabrication machines) for importing the electronics into.
Edit: I've had experience with CNC milling, but what I know is out of date by today's industry standards. I can see the blocks being fabricated from sheet metal, and the faceplates being milled out with CNC machinery complete with button holes and the like. The faceplates would be boltable to the blocks, making it easier to remove the faceplates for cleaning out the interior. You'd have to talk with a CAD designer with access to CNC milling equipment to consider whether or not this is feasible.
Hahaha, Garpike sliding into homeplate. The image vastly amuses me.
Believe me, the mine trick works. You're trying to deploy in front of you, but squeezing the trigger isn't doing anything. Then you realize you're in 2nd, so you shift into reverse... You can see where this is going.
Doing donuts will eventually get you on the ground, but you don't have a lot of control over your drop spot or orientation.
Doing an abrupt stop from 5th gear seems to work.
I hadn't considered anything like this, and it's an interesting direction to go - I imagine it would be much closer to maintaining the true shape of the control panel than what I am going to do. I'll have to keep you updated as I start making horrible, horrible assault upon a controller.
Oh, and apparently if you pop toward the end, this Gamers With Jobs podcast gushes about the Steel Battalion room again this year: http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/51597
...now if I could just remember which 4 guys, since I'm pretty sure we stuck them all in Vitzhs for a FFA.
I really do recommend going with an all-metal version of the controller. It'll be heavier, but it'll be even more sturdier. Stainless steel or aerospace-grade aluminum are your best bets.
Edit; Or in the true spirit of Borderlands and post-apocalyptic insanity, you could go to the junkyard and find scrap sheet metal and use that.
Stupid not having a job to pay for stuff
Chicago Megagame group
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...screw it, gonna go for one.
Did the Jaralaccs just get to choose what side they wanted to participate in at random, or was there actually a "buy them out with money" mechanic that I just didn't notice? Because I didn't see a Jaralaccs on the HSD side until mid-morning Sunday.
Chicago Megagame group
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OH! I remember those guys... vaguely... They told Mara they were reporters and he was like "Still gotta get in line for the 'campaign, guys." They asked him like 20 questions or some such. I didnt stick around because I was loading up in that particular round.
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
It was a convenient way to handle VIPs and other parties who were likely to play a round or three then vanish. In the case of our Omeganaut, he stuck around and preferred to play with PRF, so we added another one Sunday morning to balance things out.
We had a JAR faction in the beta event and allowed them to set their own prices and do their own negotiations, and it was a disaster. This was much simpler and it got the job done.
I actually think that it'd be an interesting mechanic to stick some of the more advanced pilots from this campaign - Kato, Ben, etc. - into the Right brothers, and have them be of limited use to either faction. Perhaps usable only a certain number of times per turn or day. They'd only draw one VT from the supply pool each time since they're not strictly PRF or HSD, but in return they might have a little more knowledge on the locations of Right Brother "factories" (the roaming enforcers).
Food for thought.
Chicago Megagame group
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I like the idea. During the downtime, I can check out the rest of the convention and actually play something else for a change. I didn't have the time to stand in line for Portal 2, Guild Wars 2, or Need for Speed this year.
My love of Portal was trumped by the fact that I could play Steel Battalion multiple times in a day and hadn't done so before.
Likewise. VT goodness trumps anything. Especially if it's aged almost a decade. It's like fine bourbon.
Blah, I wouldn't have gone to PAX if it wasn't for SB.
They could delete everything else off the PAX program and I would still be pleased as punch to go.
everything seemed spot on for the roles of factions in the metacampaign, and it's good to leave it at that.
PRF and HSD beating each other sensless.
RB Enforcers handing out VT tokens around the convention center.
Jaralaccs remains the VIP faction, but takes on the best Aces of the last few metacampaigns.
Knowing that Jaralaccs mercs were the top aces of the "last war" might build up their mystique at convention time. :P
To keep the number of Jaralaccs "mercs" down, it would still only be something that Maradine would issue.
All that aside, I plan on wearing my kill cards in a nice little bandolier at Prime 2011.
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
I was playing PRF not cause I preferred them, but just cause the HSD tended to have at least a dozen players in the morning and at least once or twice the PRF only had 4 guys. During the evenings it seemed to reverse save for Sunday where both sides were swamped. I really didn't care who I fought for so long as I got to stomp around in a VT and stick cutter booms in people
Much like VT piloting, getting into the big name games is all about positioning. If you're standing in the right place at the right time you can easily get some play time on everything without having to stand in line for hours. It helps to have a good understanding of crowd mechanics.
I need to get less hesitant about being squad leader. I'm pretty good at it when I do end up in that role, I just seem to prefer being the back seat tactician rather than the fearless leader.
I'm good at being the fearless leader to the point where I inadvertently make myself into a sitting duck and shot to bits. Or when I'm in a Prominence M3, I pick apart my enemies while closing range.
I can spot some general coverage issues and other things that could be handled - I'm pretty good at spotting auxiliary objectives that would make the overall fight easier. That one match I was in when the HSD deployed a Sheepdog? I made it VERY painfully clear to my team that they had to take down the Sheepdog ASAP. We had someone set up with four Rapiers (I think) and sent him after the Sheepdog. He lost only one Rapier in the entire engagement.
Once my interpreters told me that the Sheepdog was down, I went straight for one of their camps, putting the heat on them. Intercepted a pretty beefy VT, took him down, and then nailed a VT at the camp who was powering up with my Railgun right as the match ended.
I suppose what I'm getting at is that we could probably be JAR mercs and cover each other's shortcomings.
Speaking of, I'm pretty sure that there's only going to be three ways one is guaranteed a spot in a match: Come straight from boot camp, have volunteered to sit out at least one match before hand, or show your Force Commander the Earth Shaker card and say, "I would like to pilot this round, please." That last one works really well, btw.
Mara the RB idea was just a way to kind of scoot all of us that got a lot of stick time this campaign to the side in the future, so more pilots can take the banners of capitalism and soda and run with them.
Chicago Megagame group
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Whoa!
I find that I pick up more and more of these tiny nuances in the HUD, game play, VT finesse, and over all stick time is hugely upping my skill level. Just getting comfortable with the sticks and button locations I find has and is making me more effective on the field. LOL GO FIGURE RIGHT??
I was honored to be a Jaralaccs and would do so at the drop of a hat if not only for the amazing VT's! But I kind of like being a merc, so I guess I'm suited to it! Not to say that I didn't like the pilots in the PRF or the amazing commander Maze! HSD had some awesome pilots and commander too!
I have SB fever pretty bad!
TTT
I did a bunch of fun 5th gear quick full-stops using Mara's 3-way technique without falling over. Or by "abrupt stop", do you mean running into something?