Why are the mechs so big?

[Senlin]

So, realize that the idea of mechs weighing 50-100 tons from a real world physics point of view is ridiculous, but I manage to run with it, because, you know, big mechs stomping each other is cool.

But, why are they so huge compared to vehicles? I mean, is there some lore explanation how the hell is it possible that a 30 ton mech is 10 times bigger than an 80 ton vehicle?

[Bone White]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density

[Gracey Face]

The mechs are scaled to something along the lines of 250% of the size they should be for easy readability/visual effect.

There is a file you can modify to make it better if you want.

The file is located here:
x:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\BATTLETECH\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\data\constants\CombatGameConstants.json

Change the "TEST_MechScaleMultiplier" variable to any size you want. Don't forget to backup the file before editing.

You can do this with notepad++. Right now it is set for 125%, but apparently the mechs are the right size at around 50%. (I personally havent bothered resizing them.)

[Cutlass Jack]

Because man has been overcompensating since the dawn of recorded history. :P

[Senlin]

Originally posted by Bone White:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density

Hey, thanks. I'm familiar with the concept. So, let me rephrase just for you. Why do the mechs have so much lower density than tanks?

[Senlin]

Originally posted by Please don't kill me!!:

The mechs are scaled to something along the lines of 250% of the size they should be for easy readability/visual effect.

Well, that would be nice to do for vehicles too, wouldn't it? Some of their design actually looks nice and distinctive when zoomed in, but at normal zoom level I use I can never differentiate between them...

[Senlin]

Originally posted by Please don't kill me!!:

The mechs are scaled to something along the lines of 250% of the size they should be for easy readability/visual effect.

There is a file you can modify to make it better if you want.

The file is located here:
x:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\BATTLETECH\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\data\constants\CombatGameConstants.json

Change the "TEST_MechScaleMultiplier" variable to any size you want. Don't forget to backup the file before editing.

You can do this with notepad++. Right now it is set for 125%, but apparently the mechs are the right size at around 50%. (I personally havent bothered resizing them.)

Oh, interesting, thanks. I might try it as some point, but I doubt the game would look good, as everything is made fit to the current scale.

So, in the actual Battletech lore the mechs were not that big, it's just in the tradition in the video games?

[Sigmar]

Originally mechs were not so big. Their size was comparable to tanks. But later on they got bigger, but tonnage remain the same.
Google "battletech shadow hawk tank", you'll get an image of Shadow Hawk trying to turn over a tank. That is original size meant for mechs.

For lazy:
http://assets-cloud.enjin.com/users/3647322/pics/original/3133351.jpg

[Gracey Face]

Originally posted by froz:

Originally posted by Please don't kill me!!:

The mechs are scaled to something along the lines of 250% of the size they should be for easy readability/visual effect.

There is a file you can modify to make it better if you want.

The file is located here:
x:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\BATTLETECH\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\data\constants\CombatGameConstants.json

Change the "TEST_MechScaleMultiplier" variable to any size you want. Don't forget to backup the file before editing.

You can do this with notepad++. Right now it is set for 125%, but apparently the mechs are the right size at around 50%. (I personally havent bothered resizing them.)

Oh, interesting, thanks. I might try it as some point, but I doubt the game would look good, as everything is made fit to the current scale.

So, in the actual Battletech lore the mechs were not that big, it's just in the tradition in the video games?

Things arent made to fit the scale actually. Though you might not notice it at first. For example even your light mech's foot is wider than a two lane road. Or just compare the size of your mechs to buildings.

The largest mechs in the game are only supposed to be 12-14m tall in the lore. To give you an indication of how oversized they are.

[nilus]

Originally posted by froz:

So, realize that the idea of mechs weighing 50-100 tons from a real world physics point of view is ridiculous, but I manage to run with it, because, you know, big mechs stomping each other is cool.

But, why are they so huge compared to vehicles? I mean, is there some lore explanation how the hell is it possible that a 30 ton mech is 10 times bigger than an 80 ton vehicle?

Its an abstract. Nothing is scaled perfectly right to each other. Technically each dot(a hex in the board game) you move is 30 meters away. Dont go down the rabbit hole of what that means for weapons ranges. The official reasoning for all the silliness has always been "Its a game" and just move forward. :)

[nyanko]

I think the better explanation is vehicles don't weight the tonnage they are announced to be. It is an indicator on how strong they are in their weaponry compared to mechs. Mechs on the other hand actually weight their tonnage.

[DasaKamov]

Originally posted by froz:

Why do the mechs have so much lower density than tanks?

Space technology.

No, really. The components of mech construction: Ferro-Fibrous armor (increases tensile strength, offering better protection but at the expanse of increased volume) and Endo-steel (reduced weight, increased bulk), as well as Myomer (synthetic muscle-fiber for mechs) explain all of your questions as best as any sci-fi board game can be expected.

[Senlin]

Originally posted by Please don't kill me!!:

Originally posted by froz:

Oh, interesting, thanks. I might try it as some point, but I doubt the game would look good, as everything is made fit to the current scale.

So, in the actual Battletech lore the mechs were not that big, it's just in the tradition in the video games?

Things arent made to fit the scale actually. Though you might not notice it at first. For example even your light mech's foot is wider than a two lane road. Or just compare the size of your mechs to buildings.

The largest mechs in the game are only supposed to be 12-14m tall in the lore. To give you an indication of how oversized they are.

That's not what I meant. I meant things like the distance between dots (so the mechs that are currently neighouring each other would not be able to hit each other if they were scaled down).

[Senlin]

Originally posted by nilus:

Originally posted by froz:

So, realize that the idea of mechs weighing 50-100 tons from a real world physics point of view is ridiculous, but I manage to run with it, because, you know, big mechs stomping each other is cool.

But, why are they so huge compared to vehicles? I mean, is there some lore explanation how the hell is it possible that a 30 ton mech is 10 times bigger than an 80 ton vehicle?

Its an abstract. Nothing is scaled perfectly right to each other. Technically each dot(a hex in the board game) you move is 30 meters away. Dont go down the rabbit hole of what that means for weapons ranges. The official reasoning for all the silliness has always been "Its a game" and just move forward. :)

Ah, I'm not even going to start the topic how the super-advanced weapons can only shoot at 1/10 of the distance a WW2 infantry weaponry could etc.

I was just curious how the lore explains it, as it seem there are a lot of explanations in it for other silly things (the thread about mech vs tanks prompted me to think about this).

[kylania]

Originally posted by froz:

So, in the actual Battletech lore the mechs were not that big, it's just in the tradition in the video games?

http://i.imgur.com/1FuO76I.png

[airey_jonathan]

At the risk of getting off on a tangent. Not crazy ridiculous an M1 A1 weighs 62 metric tons and it was designed in the 1980s and more than 10,000 have been built.