Submersion

[SharkD]

How about making SUBMERSIBLE a seperate trait for mecha?

[Epsilon]

Out of curiousity, what would that enable? Mecha can walk underwater during a battle. Unless you're thinking about the overworld map in GH1.

[SharkD]

That's kind of my point. They shouldn't normally be able to, IMO.
I suggest that walking under water cause HAYWIRE and RUST damage for mecha that don't have the SUBMERSIBLE attribute.

[Epsilon]

IMO, since they're built to survive space, plasma burns, focused laser beams, missiles, explosive bolts, Napalm-X and being hit by a 20-foot long marriage of a chainsaw and a sword... Water wouldn't really be an issue. Although this is more of a thematic question that Joseph would be able to answer; as he created the mythology for Gearhead, he'd be the one to answer if a Buru Buru is waterproof or not.

[SharkD]

Well, in Space you're merely trying to contain air-pressure, whereas under water you're trying to repel water-pressure. Not only is water-pressure greater than air-pressure, the pressure is also exerted along opposite vectors.

[Joseph Hewitt]

Nearly all mecha in the GearHead universe are sealed against environmental conditions to some extent. It might not make real-world sense to overengineer everything that much but it is a useful game mechanic.

If I were to add a submersible trait, it would likely only apply at extreme depths. All mecha are sturdy enough to survive the pressures found at the bottom of a small lake, which is the only water currently encountered. I would presumably also add traits to handle spaceworthiness and resistance to other extreme environments.

In space, mecha may be used if they have a space flight movement speed. An underwater movement type could be added and mecha only selected for underwater battles if they have this type.  The advantage of doing things this way instead of as a sealed intrinsic is so that a player can make their mecha seaworthy through mecha engineering or swapping equipment.

[SharkD]

Well, I suggested it mainly to add tactical flavor. Currently, the different terrain types merely serve as eye-candy, IMO.

[Epsilon]

Quoting: SharkD

Well, I suggested it mainly to add tactical flavor. Currently, the different terrain types merely serve as eye-candy, IMO.

Not really. Forests and rubble provide cover, you have a higher to-hit chance if attacking from a higher elevation, and you're much more likely to be hit while travling underwater. If you're talking about forest/dedzone, yeah, that needs a difference somewhere.

The big missing thing is not being able to douse mecha fires while underwater. What's up with that?

[SharkD]

Quoting: Epsilon

Not really.

Yes, it is in fact my opinion. Or, are you psychic?

[Epsilon]

Quoting: SharkD

Yes, it is in fact my opinion. Or, are you psychic?

Oh, sorry. Missed that IMO.

[Joseph Hewitt]

Quoting: Epsilon

The big missing thing is not being able to douse mecha fires while underwater. What's up with that?

Most Burn weapons use chemicals that don't require an external oxygen source to continue burning. So, neither being underwater nor being in the vacuum of space are of much help.

[SharkD]

(Sorry for posting this in two threads.)

I agree with Epsilon. Being underwater (or in a vacuum) should douse flames. Maybe have seperate CHEMICAL BURN or RADIATION for flames that don't require oxygen?

[Epsilon]

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

Most Burn weapons use chemicals that don't require an external oxygen source to continue burning. So, neither being underwater nor being in the vacuum of space are of much help.

Oh, so it's like Super Napalm or some other burning chemical that dosen't necessairily consume oxygen? Gotcha.

[peter]

Idea:  Mecha with underwater thrusters can move on the surface of a lake and choose their altitude underwater.  And they get a much smaller MV penalty.  Modules (or whole mecha) could have a tag that says whether they're streamlined for underwater movement or not, which affects the MV penalty.

 Moving underwater, or just being underwater, could add some overload.

[draconuszero]

If you go too deep underwater, would you get damage because of high pressure?   On the topic of underwater, will there be underwater treasure and/or sunken ship retrieval/exploration missions?