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Havoc~Ronin
Federated Suns
Major
Joined: 13-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 427
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 Posted: 21-May-2004 08:16 Post subject: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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I was perusing through my TROs last week and was struck (again) by the bizarre ejection system of the Crab. This got me to thinking of the different ejection systems installed in battlemechs and how they would affect battlefield survivability. Now , I know that in combat, nothing works the way they are supposed to, so using this as a premise, I thought it would be interesting to rank the various ejection methods.
The majority of mechs use the common blow-the-plate-and-out-the-top system which, depending on the mech's last position, can be quite deadly. I therefore assigned it a 6 of of 10.
So, here is my ranking (from safest and highest probability of pilot survival to most dangerous) :
1.) Entire head assembly ejection system (like the Hatchetman and Axeman) 9/10
2.) Most common vertical punch out system (like that of the Phoenix Hawk, Warhammer, etc...) 6/10
3.) diagonal ejection system (like the Catapult) 4/10
4.) Rear ejection system (like the Crab) 3/10
5.) No ejection system installed 1/10
Now, I know I am missing some, so if anyone can add to this, please do.
Remember, once you have experienced your first punch out, you will do your damnest to avoid needing to do it again.
[ This Message was edited by: Havoc~Ronin on 2004-05-21 10:50 ]
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Wanallo
Federated Suns
Leftenant Colonel
Joined: 02-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 671
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: 21-May-2004 09:53 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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The Catapault has a diagnal Ejection system, something to do with the shape of the 'head' . I would think that is extremely deadly in a high rise urban environment, unless the building nextdoor is the playboy mansion 
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Havoc~Ronin
Federated Suns
Major
Joined: 13-Nov-2003 00:00
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| Posted: 21-May-2004 10:47 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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Cool...Thx
I will modify my original post. That would suck if you had to punch out of your Catapult in an urban setting where you might clear the first low rise building, but end up slamming into the tower behind it. You would have to hope that your mech was lined up with the road for a safe ejection.
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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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| Posted: 21-May-2004 11:13 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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I can see a lot of pitfalls to the entire head system too, especially if the head has been damaged, raising the potential that various subsystems in the ejection system may not be functional...like the parachutes and retrorockets.
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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 604
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| Posted: 21-May-2004 11:40 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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I know its been a while since I perused the rulebook, but is there a critical hit to the head that would disable the ejection system? Worse than ejecting into the side of a building or tree would be reaching for the Loud Handle and getting a 'System Disabled' notice on the HUD.
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ralgith
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company
"Ralgith's Renegades"
Colonel
Joined: 18-Aug-2003 00:00
Posts: 2021
Location: United States
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| Posted: 21-May-2004 13:38 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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I have a roll chart fotr this that I posted in my House Rules and Equipment Thread...
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Colonel Ralgith t'Mayasara
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company 'Ralgith's Renegades'
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ralgith
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company
"Ralgith's Renegades"
Colonel
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 21-May-2004 13:39 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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Quote:
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On 2004-05-21 10:47, Havoc~Ronin wrote:
Cool...Thx
I will modify my original post. That would suck if you had to punch out of your Catapult in an urban setting where you might clear the first low rise building, but end up slamming into the tower behind it. You would have to hope that your mech was lined up with the road for a safe ejection.
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Well, considering Catapaults are worthless in a city anyways 
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Colonel Ralgith t'Mayasara
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company 'Ralgith's Renegades'
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 21-May-2004 14:19 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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That would be called Darwinism. Only an idiot would be walking a catapult between buildings. So therefore only idiots would be killed by ejecting. 
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Seraph
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Major
Joined: 11-Mar-2004 00:00
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| Posted: 21-May-2004 19:17 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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I know that the Spider has no ejection system at all. The pilot must climb down through the chest and exit out the lower hatch which happens to be between it's legs and descend a retractable ladder to the ground. Kinda sucks for Spider pilots huh?
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Havoc~Ronin
Federated Suns
Major
Joined: 13-Nov-2003 00:00
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| Posted: 25-May-2004 10:55 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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Now there is a mech where you wanted to drill enough times to be able to bail out in shortest amount of time possible. I bet every Spider pilot hoped that a fire wasn't burning the mech's nether regions when he/she had to get out.
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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 604
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| Posted: 25-May-2004 12:12 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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I think that would be the mech equivalent of Jock Itch, there.
So do the Clans have a zero-zero ejection system for their mechs? Or are they cursed with climbing out whenever their machines are going down?
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ralgith
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company
"Ralgith's Renegades"
Colonel
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| Posted: 25-May-2004 13:36 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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No, the clans have just as many problems ejecting. Several times in the fiction it talks about it.
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Colonel Ralgith t'Mayasara
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company 'Ralgith's Renegades'
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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
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| Posted: 25-May-2004 14:14 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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You'd think that after umpteen-many years of refinement, the Clans would have come up with a better ejection system.
whether or not they actually USE them is another matter.
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Ronin
ComStar
Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 27-May-2004 13:45 Post subject: RE: Pilot Ejection Systems |
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| the lack of usage among the clans is probably why they haven't adavnced the ejection technology like they have the weapons and other systems
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