Hard Sci-Fi Mecha Space Conflict - My Webcomic idea

That could work. Mechs still fill in for heavy weapons roles and such. This being said Mech's basic look.◊

Anywho, Cybernetics, Advanced Genetics, Space Travel, Space Stations and Colonies and A.I.s, I think I have everything.

edited 4th Nov '14 1:02:02 PM by EchoingSilence

Do humans have tailored genetics these days? Would be useful to have some bear DNA if you're working in space to prevent bone loss.

Well that would get to the bear bones of the situation but no not really. Tailored genetics isn't much of a thing beyond super soldier attempts. Same with cybernetics. This is due to cost mostly.

Centrifugal gravity and artificial grav emitters on colonies and luxury ships is what the common man gets. It works a bit but workouts are still very much recommended to keep your bones healthy. And vitamins.

edited 4th Nov '14 3:07:21 PM by EchoingSilence

Okay I've got most covered, I plan on exploring the implications of having automated troopers, mecha, and such. I think I have everything covered! Thank you all for your help!

And if you ever have any questions about the setting feel free to ask, I'm gonna get started on writing the story out.

Yeah, what are you planning to call it, When are you going to be releasing, and where can I find it?

1st Question - Working Title is Endless

2nd Question - End of 2014 at best, Spring 2015 at worst

3rd Question - I will be building a Tumblr blog specifically for it soon enough!

Also the story will focus on a Mercenary pilot, Auxiliary Pilot as he has to be legally called. I'm going to refrain from coming up with stupid names for things and give them names that make some sense. Hopefully.

edited 6th Nov '14 5:34:33 AM by Echoingsilence

The hands are too small and fragile in both of those pictures (the second one is basically a Zaku Head Scopedog...), Echoing. They'd be great for precision work (assuming the pilot controls support it, a la the glove controls in Patlabor), but useless beyond picking up a weapon designed for it.

I'd use claws (like Braiger) or a large waldo (like the FN-8G Harby-G II from Front Mission Gun Hazard), and focus on making the weapons bullpup types to cut down on the weight that has to be supported by the wrist alone.

The elbows (and knees) are limited in their flexibility because they're built to carry, after all.

edited 6th Nov '14 8:57:00 AM by DeusDenuo

Alright I will make the changes and come out with a updated version when possible. Hopefully with the artificial muscle more obvious.

Also as for the Zaku Scopedog look. That was intentional as the two embody the look of mass produced weapons but I should try to make it less obvious.

edited 6th Nov '14 9:33:48 AM by EchoingSilence

It was basically "what if the entire series was nothing but Zakus".

...

"Really volatile Zakus."

I'm doing a thing for Na No Wri Mo that's more Alternate World Front Mission, myself, with the units serving as a sort of counter-terrorism police force. One of the first things I incorporated was the importance of legs as g-force reducing landing gear. (You'll recall the special animation A Ts have when they land from a high drop.) I figured 'the pilot can survive up to a 20 meter vertical drop in one of these' would make a good selling point, and would keep the MattIIs in my readership happy.

I also wondered about how useful melee tactics would be with them (the protagonist's unit has a built-in Pile Bunker in each forearm, and armored sheathes slide out to surround and protect the fists during use), and concluded that they'd need to be quick hit-and-run tactics. A single hit would be fatal (Mellowlink-style) on a biological enemy, but not necessarily to another unit, so I'm still working on something there for the third act.

Echoing Silence, I wonder if you're familiar with Kidou Keiji Jiban at all? The character there gets an arm-mounted drill and waldo (plus big-ass gun) as an upgrade, and it occurs to me that having an effective means of grabbing more at once beyond just what your hands are capable of is a useful thing. Maybe a shoulder- or back-mounted claw weapon? I don't think a Wild Wurger-style arm claw would have enough torque in the existing arms, is my problem with the idea - a Huckebein Boxer unit would.

There's also the question of armor - I figured that each model would be designed around its effective fighting range, and would be armored accordingly. A melee-range model would have heavy-ish frontal armor, and a sniper model wouldn't need it. Again, Front Mission seems to have worked out most of the kinks - though the difference between that and Votoms in that regard seems to be the setting and the number of manufacturers (based on real-world auto makers?).

As for the whole sliding-around-on-solid-surfaces thing that Votoms started - have you seen the later OV As? It really looks like there are different leg options suited for different terrain (solid, waterlogged, sand, rough solid, turbo solid). I have incorporated this into my own designs as well.

I look forward to seeing where you take your idea, too!

Grabbing beyond hands was something I thought of with the first design you saw, those black circles on the arms are actually extension ports, for attaching shields and weapons, but that brings a good point.

The Motungs would have to be versatile and modifiable, which was intended by stating they are relatively simple machines who need various improved computer cores depending on the additions. But at basic all of them have a wheel system and thrusters for fast movement, with the legs meant for traversing terrain the Motungs can't just walk over.

Would a mitt like hand work with the weapons? Also all the guns for Motungs are Electric caseless weapons to avoid heating the barrels to much to the point of useless.

For a weapon with a trigger and a handle to hold it by, you only need a trigger finger, something to hold the weapon with (a 'three fingers in one' mitt?), and a thumb or something similar to keep it in place. If the thing to be grasped is designed to be grasped by the manipulator with a remote trigger, you could get away with a grasping waldo. However, a hardware trigger does make it so anyone could pick the weapon up to use it, like from a fallen comrade or an enemy.

Unless those hand-like manipulators are meant to do something requiring fine precision (Motangs issued to counter-terrorist teams might need them, but they'd be useless in a colosseum sport), it's just more parts that need to be maintained or replaced, both at some cost.

Ha - if the Motung manufacturers also make the weapons, they could have manufacturer-specific hand types.

Those caseless shells - would they cut down on the weight of the weapon or would it become more complicated, replacing a mechanical hammer with a 'spark plug' assembly? For some reason, I immediately imagined the FN P90 when I read that (scaled up, of course).

Alternately, cutting the firing rate down would be enough to prevent overheating as well. Though if the idea is to be able to fire at full-auto, you'd be better off with something belt-fed (a chaingun or minigun). Even with the added stability and accuracy of a mechanical arm, I can't easily imagine something that is both hardened enough to require something more than burst fire, yet could be taken by Motungs rather than tanks.

If you want a weapon that has significantly improved capabilities over modern guns while still remaining grounded in hard science, you might want to take a look at ETC Guns.

I've also seen mention of liquid-propellant firearms that would allow the user to set propellant yields (and thus muzzle velocity) on the fly. Combined with an ETC ignition you'd get a gun that could be set for high-power single shots or rapid suppression fire while at the same time cutting down on maintenance due to the cleaner propellant burn.

I wonder if that's what 'solid shooters' are supposed to be in Votoms? It's really hard to picture this as compact, handheld technology, and its ability to pierce armor would basically make it unsuitable to use in a place where collateral damage is an issue (or, for the same reason, it'd be overkill against anything that's not a heavily-armored tank).

There's a scene in the Patlabor-based 'Minipato' series, where Gotoh (and to a lesser extent Shiba) explains the reasoning behind why the 34mm Revolver Cannons (which are almost certainly closer to 75mm) don't leave gaping holes in the buildings behind the buildings behind their civilian Labor targets. Apparently they use hollow-tip bullets (I think that's what it was) that are purpose-made for this.

Well considering Motungs aren't that big (Save for a few Super Types that are utilized by bored government bodies and science development teams for new technologies or gladitorial fighting) 37mm is going to be a bit big. A solid 14.5x144 rifle shell or even just a standard .50 cal would most likely be enough for a weapon for the Motungs.

And body mounted weaponry such as rocket launchers would be more than possible with computer programming blocks, you know, like the control box in Armored Trooper Votoms mounted on the backs of Armored Troopers for more complicated machinery.

Also switching out hands should be a thing, 5 fingered hands would work for Rescue operations.

Alright got the update◊ Tried to give it stockier looking legs but this is the standard UECF Motung, called a Centurion.

And the reason for it to have hands is actually for easy switch out of weapons, especially in space combat, gun runs out of ammo? Pick up extra ammo from fallen comrades. Your weapon wrecked? Pick up a spare one from a fallen suit.

Also those odd circle designs upon the arm are socket ports, for extras, such as shields, launchers, or even just extinguishers in case of fire. The suit is simple with modifying in mind.

Also sorry it looks a bit off.

edited 9th Nov '14 12:13:19 PM by EchoingSilence

I like the visibly enlarged ground movers on the legs, and the antenna on the back of the head (which you'd think more mecha designers would do...).

I think the exhaust ports(?) on the front chest might cause problems in an ED-209 sort of way. I seem to recall someone remarking somewhere that a bomb disposal high-collar would be useful, or would make the 'head' an additional sensor but not the main one as those neck joints make it too high a target.

Overall, well done you! It looks like something that's been inspired by another work, but is deliberately doing its own thing. My X Meets Y impression is: Votoms meets Otacon.

Why thank you, also those are intakes for in atmosphere work.