User blog comment:CaptainMcToasty/Mech time!/@comment-24857254-20140706055854

Hey Toasty, don't know if this is still open or not, but I thought I'd put my two cents in after seeing the new Volume 2 trailer and got my mech geek on. It's for my character Tam Nightingale, who is undergoeing heavy revision. I've based my mech design off of a picture, with it's predecessor included later. I also drew up a bit of a class system to differentiate between it, droids, and the SOB from the trailer. I sort of tried to write it like an advertisement.

The mech is basically a chicken walker, with legs mounted on either side of the body. The body includes the cockpit and engine, while the tweaponry is mounted on a pivoting torso on top. It basically looks like a demented, headless chicken. Like I said, it's based off a picture I found. I'd imagine it's mostly used for combined scouting and small engagements, or at the most guerilla fighting.

(.5 to 10 tons: Droid Class. 11 to 20 tons: MUTT Class. 21 to 50 tons: Assault Walker Class (read: the mech from the trailer))

Class: Multi-Use Attack  Walker - MUTT

Model: AT-10 Frog

Height: 14 feet (crouched), 18 feet (standing)

The second attack walker created by the Schnee Dust Corporation, the AT-10 Frog (http://karanak.deviantart.com/art/Multi-purpose-mech-Class-2-258957337) improves on it's predecessor, the AT-5 Scarab (http://meganerid.deviantart.com/art/four-legged-mech-25315038), by raising it on two legs and giving it a more modular design, giving the pilot much more flexibility for a given situation. The cockpit not only includes the command couch, but also the dust reactor, capable of an output of 160 megawatts, and also an upgradable sensor suite and state-of-the-art life support. The command unit has three nodes, one on the top and two on each side for weaponry and legs, respectively.

When in use, the cockpit floods with liquid suspension agent that absorbs impact shock. This command unit is standard and serves as the base for any other modules added in the future. In case of emergencies (ie, critical system failure, damage, etc), all modules will automatically eject and rockets will engage, propelling the pilot and the entire command unit to safety. Rockets have a 150 mile range, and can be set to a predetermined destination in case of pilot blackout. Included are a pair of coaxial rotary machineguns, one mounted to the left of the cockpit, and the second used in a CIWS mount located at the back. Floodlights, smoke launchers, and 1000 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition come standard.

There are Walker and Wheeled packages available for legs. The legs have a 15 ton recommended load limit - if this limit is followed, the Frog is able to jump over thirty feet in the air and can run at over fourty miles an hour. This is an estimate, as lighter loads will result in varying results.

The Wheel package adds a pair of legs to each leg mount, converting the Frog to a four-legged design, and each leg is equipped with all-terrain tires. Speed is increased to almost eighty miles an hour; however, the loadlimit is decreased to 10 tons and the unit cannot jump.

Weapon packages can vary but the standard includes an arm-mounted 40mm vulcan cannon on it's left side, a standard manipulator arm equipped with a pilebunker, and a center-mounted 100 megawatt plasma cannon, which is normally housed behind armor plating to prevent damage and subsequent explosive overload. The cannon has a theoretical fire rate of eightry shots per minute. WARNING - Repeated firing within a ten second period will overtax the reactor and can cause a full shutdown, up to and including system malfunctions and/or overload. Limit firing to two shots every ten seconds.