AEF-04 Zwar (Aegis Overlord)

[Joseph Hewitt]

Today I made a new mecha for Aegis Overlord, the AEF-04 Zwar.



MV: -4
TR: -2
Se: +2
Mass: 79.5 tons
Speed: 29dpr walk, 103dpr skim, 100dpr space

Weapons: Plasma Quad Cannon, Plasma Fist, Guided Missiles, Heavy Swarm Missiles, Machine Cannon, Intercept Laser

Systems: Class 4 ECM, High Output Engine, 3 Weapon Mounts

Background
The Zwar was originally created during the Unification War. Aegis commanders needed a heavy support mecha for immediate use. Two separate research projects, one for a heavy battroid and the other for an artillery arachnoid, were merged in the hope that there would be enough good parts between them to construct a single effective mecha. The Zwar was the result.

From the beginning pilots hated its appearance. The engineers decided to install only one arm to cut down on materials. Mechanics also hated this design; the plasma weapons are integrated with the engine, leaving little room for modification. Unfortunately for them, at the time of its introduction the Zwar was the only destroyer available to Aegis commanders.

The power and high rate of fire of the quad cannon did make up for a few of the Zwar's shortcomings. A number of aces even took it as their mecha of choice. Soon, though, the Chimentero was introduced and the Zwar was relegated to a rear line unit.

Comments
I think it's pretty obvious that this mecha was inspired by the Zock from Gundam. Both are big, round, ugly robots with quad-barreled cannons in their chest. Also both of their names start with "Z".

After playing with the Zwar for a while, I think I could add more equipment to it. It's a class 8 battroid, which means it should be able to carry lots of inventory. Because it only has three mounting points I can't add more weapons, but I could add external armor. I'd like for this mecha to be heavier than just 79 tons.

Interestingly, the Zwar has the same MV/TR/SE as the Chimentero. It also has around the same movement speed, but isn't as heavy.

The plasma quad cannon is DC12, Spd:2, BV:4 and brutal. It's great fun to play with. It's not as nasty as the Ovaknight's core cannon or a light nuclear missile, but it's still not something you'd want to mess around with. The fact that it's an energy weapon with a speed of 2 is also very nice.

[Karoline Dianne]

coolio. XD reminds me of the undead abomonation from warcraft. lol

[Francisco Munoz]

I was playing with a few days ago... nice beast.
It really needs a 3d model as its looks are so different from all the others mechas.

[Joseph Hewitt]

I'm working on the 3D model now, with reference images and everything. You know, 3D models are much easier when you actually do some reading about how to do them properly... ^^;

Edit- I've just committed to SVN with the new item image and sprite.

[Ephafn]

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

I'd like for this mecha to be heavier than just 79 tons.

I checked the cfg in SVN and there is a lot of negative mass fudging in its definition. I guess if you removed it all it will make it a lot heavier.

By the way, why does it have skim jets? Since it was designed for warfare on the moon, it wouldn't have needed them. Although a hovering variant with no legs could make a nice space version.

[SharkD]

Would you upload the model somewhere? I'd like to look at it.

Also, did you add the new Chimentero image from a few weeks ago to SVN?

[Joseph Hewitt]

I've just uploaded the Zwar model to the yahoo group. I forgot to add the Chimentero sprite to the GH2 archive; it's there now. One thing is that it looks a bit small. Is it possible to increase its size a bit, or would it then not fit in the frame?

This is the sprite render I did for the model. Its legs are a bit too thin but otherwise I'm quite happy with it.

[palefire]

I seem to remember that there's a Zock in one of those Gundam fighting games, it's painted pink with a white belly, and it's kind of cute. Or was it an Acguy? Anyway, with some effort they can look cute.

Well, at least the Zwar is smiling.

[SharkD]

Here's the Chimentero, slightly larger:



Is this better?

Here's the Zwar re-rendered:



I like the Zwar. I think it's your best model yet!

[Albijoe]

When I originally modeled the Chimentero, it got cut off - I think it was 25% larger.

I'm thinking the Chimentero is top heavy - I tried to increase the leg size, but they still look too small.

Here's one with larger legs.  I also simplified the "core cannon" to hopefully have it show up in the small pics.



Here's the model geometry.  If someone wants to make the small views, that would be really cool - I have tons of trouble getting the settings right.  It took me hours for my first try, and I still didn't have the lighting correct...
http://www.savefile.com/files/1023523

[SharkD]

Here's the updated sprite using the new model:

[Albijoe]

That looks like the old model - I see the same hint of green in the right shoulder that I replaced with black.  I also don't see the legs out to the same width as the arms.

I definitely sent the wrong model - here's the correct one.

http://www.savefile.com/files/1025250

I even downloaded & opened it to make sure.

[SharkD]

Here it is:



I think the original looks better.

[Albijoe]

Thoughts on something in between?  I think it definitely looks bigger now.  Maybe only expand the feet?

[macksting]

Oh dear... Almost. The feet are just slightly too large; I do prefer it, actually, so I'd be fine with that bigfooted death machine. Just my preference would be somewhat smaller feet.