[Wrathcaster]

I think a cool idea would be to integrate some aspects of the mech gaming found in the Armored Core games into a MechWarrior-esque environment. I think you could add dimensions to gameplay by offering greater diversity in mech types apart from just light, heavy, medium weight class and traditional Mechwarrior weapons systems.

For example, you could implement Mechs similar to AC's which offer movement similar to human bodies, with the full range of motion of arm and leg parts while using shoulder and hand-held weapons to supplement the mobility. I'd imagine the strategy involving an AC to much different than a Mechwarrior machine. If you've ever played Armored Core before, you know what I'm talking about. The AC's are for the most part extremely mobile, and you really excel if you can develop a skill of "skiing" similar to what you could do in Tribes, by closely controlling the boost of what I guess you'd call jumpjets. I've played the Mechwarrior series and the Armored Core series extensively, and I think it'd be cool to include Armored Core type mechs as a smaller, more mobile with weaponry much less damaging than the standard mech, but with enough mobility to make use of aimed shots on the move.

So, I think it'd be cool to integrate aspects of both games, even if you wouldn't want to include AC's as a new mech type. Some examples are:

-A variety of arm parts to choose from that allow greater customization in both the way arms move but also how they equip and fire weaponry.

-A variety of leg parts for much the same reasons, but could also could add a level of customization in the particular mechanics of legs, like if extra jumpjets were attached or if you wanted the leg parts to operate completely different from standard bipedal. AC used parts such as hover-legs and tank treads, as well as more human looking legs and of course the legs that you see on most mechs in the Mechwarrior series.

-Effective mortars or grenade launchers that worked with a rangefinder target ing system or up close using simply good judgment and aiming.

-Different heads/cockpit types would be cool.

I guess basically I'd support being able to modify your mechs to better suit your needs in battle. The way you can completely construct an AC from the ground up has always enticed me, and I had always wished you could do more of this in Mechwarrior. Interchangeable parts FTW