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Karagin
Imperial Karagin Army
Imperial General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4120
Location: United States
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 Posted: 25-Sep-2004 21:24 Post subject: Three Legs or not? |
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Okay after reading League of Extaroniary Gentelmen Vol 2, (yes it was a wonderful day when mail arrived and the book was there...now if only they would let us leave...), I got to wondering about three legged mechs...I recall an article in one issue of either Battletechnology or Stardate/Stardrive on this and so I thought I would ask...
Would this be something fesable or not? Let's look at the pros and cons for this and see if we can't come up with a way for this to work or not...
Looking forward to the comments...hey I need something more interesting to do then dodge IEDs and mortar rounds during my last couple of weeks or so, I hope, here.
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Karagin
Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato
"Wasted trip Man. Nobody said nuthin' about lockin' horns with no tigers." Oddball
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drfunk
Draconis Combine
Kashira
Joined: 14-Mar-2004 00:00
Posts: 156
Location: Canada
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| Posted: 25-Sep-2004 22:35 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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Why would you want a three legged mech? I guess it just don't make sense to me. The concept sounds interesting though, but I can't see it being very feasible.
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A wise man speaks because he has something to say. A fool speaks because he must say something.
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StarRaven
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 01-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 1138
Location: United States
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| Posted: 25-Sep-2004 23:31 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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I also have trouble seeing this work. I can't quite see a way for a machine to coordinate three legs, even with a neurohelmet. A four legged 'Mech works, and so does a 'Mech with two back-canted legs (Timber Wolf is an ideal example). The man shaped 'Mechs (Atlas) always seemed almost workable, but a 'Mech doesn't quite have the flexibility to make it seem accurate (no spine). But I just can't see a three legged 'Mech.
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- Attributed to General Aleksandr Kerensky
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Seraph
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Major
Joined: 11-Mar-2004 00:00
Posts: 1744
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| Posted: 26-Sep-2004 00:56 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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Think UrbanMech/R2-D2!! 
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If ignorance is bliss, then why are you so miserable?
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Erenon
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Sergeant
Joined: 04-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 976
Location: Singapore
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| Posted: 26-Sep-2004 01:27 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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I'm a lot more in favour of a mech body on tracks.. Three legs doesn't seem very workable too me.
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"My job is to keep the majority of people in this country alive. That's it. If fifty-one percent eat a meal tomorrow and forty-nine percent don't, I've done my job." - The Beast (AKA The President), Transmetropolitan
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 26-Sep-2004 05:39 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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It could be useful for artillery mechs. Three legs is more stable than two, after all. Not that I see any reason to try when you can build a quad.
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Havoc~Ronin
Federated Suns
Major
Joined: 13-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 427
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| Posted: 27-Sep-2004 12:11 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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I can see two ways a three-legged mech would work (and this is not a supportive comment):
1. the third leg is deployable for stability (either like a stabilizer on a gun platform or like using a walking stick while hiking). This would definitely compromise armor and weaponry in order to make it fit.
2. a single leg in the front (similar to the three-wheeled cars found in Europe). This mech's running movement would resemble a gallop. While walking, especially over rubble or difficult terrain, the mech would have a stability advantage of a bipedal machine.
Designing such a mech is another ball of wax...
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"Ours is not to question why, ours is just to do...."
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StarCommander_One-Eye
Draconis Combine
Shujin
Joined: 17-Aug-2004 00:00
Posts: 141
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| Posted: 27-Sep-2004 15:10 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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The whole Idea just sound ridiculos to me.What Is the point?What would make a three legged mech better than a four or two legged mech?I just think it is a stupid idea
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Seraph
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Major
Joined: 11-Mar-2004 00:00
Posts: 1744
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| Posted: 27-Sep-2004 17:18 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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Well, it would have 5 limbs. It would have the advantage of a 2-legged mech in that it has arms to mount more weapons and engage in physical attacks. It would also have 3 legs, an advantage in that you can have 6 regular heatsinks in the legs rather than 4. Good for standing in level 1 water. Also if you lose a leg you may be immobile but you don't necessarily fall down.
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If ignorance is bliss, then why are you so miserable?
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drfunk
Draconis Combine
Kashira
Joined: 14-Mar-2004 00:00
Posts: 156
Location: Canada
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| Posted: 27-Sep-2004 17:27 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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Quote:
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On 2004-09-26 00:56, Seraph wrote:
Think UrbanMech/R2-D2!!
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Hmmm how do you put it oh right target practice!!!!!!!! 'nuff said.
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A wise man speaks because he has something to say. A fool speaks because he must say something.
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Erenon
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Sergeant
Joined: 04-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 976
Location: Singapore
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| Posted: 27-Sep-2004 19:19 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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Quote:
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On 2004-09-27 17:18, Seraph wrote:
Well, it would have 5 limbs. It would have the advantage of a 2-legged mech in that it has arms to mount more weapons and engage in physical attacks. It would also have 3 legs, an advantage in that you can have 6 regular heatsinks in the legs rather than 4. Good for standing in level 1 water. Also if you lose a leg you may be immobile but you don't necessarily fall down.
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Along this lines, wouldn't it be better to have a quad legged mech with a torso and two arms? Then you can 8 regular heat sinks in the legs. More stable too.
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"My job is to keep the majority of people in this country alive. That's it. If fifty-one percent eat a meal tomorrow and forty-nine percent don't, I've done my job." - The Beast (AKA The President), Transmetropolitan
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Sep-2004 07:24 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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Now there is a good idea! The centaur mech. Instead of run/walk it would be trot/gallop. 
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Festina Lente!
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Erenon
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Sergeant
Joined: 04-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 976
Location: Singapore
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| Posted: 28-Sep-2004 07:34 Post subject: RE: Three Legs or not? |
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And it will carry a lance and be equipped with plate barding/armour.... errr.. sorry wrong game
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"My job is to keep the majority of people in this country alive. That's it. If fifty-one percent eat a meal tomorrow and forty-nine percent don't, I've done my job." - The Beast (AKA The President), Transmetropolitan
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jymset
Scavenger
in pursuit of LosTech
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 956
Location: Germany
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2008 14:09 Post subject: Three Legs or not? |
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Arise, dead thread!
I found this thread via google!  Just doing some more research on StarDate magazine.
Indeed, the Hedgehog was published in StarDate 3/5. It included some rather unwieldy rules. Dave "MacAttack" McCullough - now a BT author - once adapted these rules to be more streamlined and better fit with modern rules.
Well, my whole web-project is not finished, far from it. But TRO: StarDate sure is. You can find the Hedgehog here, tell me (and Karagin, if he's still around) what you think! Have fun  ing
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The AC5 is a great gun!
On heat, 3025 style:
A Rifleman knows no heat.
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2008 20:47 Post subject: Re: Three Legs or not? |
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| jymset wrote: | | Well, my whole web-project is not finished, far from it. But TRO: StarDate sure is. You can find the Hedgehog here, tell me (and Karagin, if he's still around) what you think! Have fun ing |
Karagin's in Iraq.
Shoot me a PM and I can send you his e-mail addy.
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