[old] Leg wheel module/frame [Helios]#286
Wheels on the legs that provide a movement like in Code Geass’s Landspinners would give for a option of faster manuverability around maps and provide a playstyle of fast characters with the downside of less flight time due to the additional weight of the wheels.
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This kind of movement on the ground would allow for a great flow in combat with weapon fire and swings not slowing the Mass down due to the motion provided by the wheels, its could be compared to horse jousting when using melee and horse archers for ranged.
I figure the wheels be activated on the ground and flight works when your in the air like jumping, so the transition from ground to air is smooth if your wheeling about. Shift would still be the normal activation bind. You could also rev up the wheels for a massive speed boosts to close in on enemies, its bind could be right click and shift, letting go would finish the rev. Base frame boost could look like AC surface gliding if there are no wheels.
With how similar it is to the skeleton frame, something like this will could also be implemented in a new module slot or main engine node that can be researched in the development tree and equipped in the tuning screen allowing it to be potentially used across different frames like Rex and Spider. Depending on how its placed. The armor parts used could be linked the heel armor parts or possibly its own armor parts, that is of course if the player enables the aesthetic.
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A name suggested by Void Walker was Helios for the greek god that symbolised the sun and known for riding through the skies in his chariot blazingly fast. It fits with how the Mass would actually fight too!
Do note, the module changes the movement and could be a main engine node which would allow for easier balancing. I know architect is all about the gameplay but it is getting seriously bloated and putting this kind of movement change into engine does make sense. The frame/armor changes are optional and could be used on anything, like if you got a Helios module equipped you could enable the Zephyr aesthetic.
Concept art provided by Octahedrone
I personally second this as well, even if it’s done through different heel/foot parts as opposed to yet another planned frame change. This way, given that there are plans for making every armour part compatible with every frame type, it would also be possible to have these wheeled feet on quad-leg and reverse-leg builds. This would give players even more options in regards to emulating particular styles of mech, as many Armored Cores with quad-legs had the ability to glide over terrain without needing to walk or boost, as if they had wheels within their feet.
If they cannot fly though, they would need to enter in areas a different way like perhaps that get air dropped in from some kind of plane/ship.
The ‘they can glide over terrain’ part refers to basic, non-boost assisted movement specifically for certain generations of Armored Cores with quad-legs; for most mechs (including bipedal ACs), the equivalent would be walking, whereas for wheeled or tracked vehicles such as tanks Code Geas’ Nightmares or tank-type ACs, this would be driving. Even Nightmares and tank ACs can still fly however, but that’s besides the point as the suggestion was solely in regards to ground movement without the assistance of boosters. Use of boosters on a MASS and on an AC can and likely will result in flight, regardless of leg type.
Module
This kind of movement on the ground would allow for a great flow in combat with weapon fire and swings not slowing the Mass down due to the motion provided by the wheels, its could be compared to horse jousting when using melee and horse archers for ranged.
I figure the wheels be activated on the ground and flight works when your in the air like jumping, so the transition from ground to air is smooth if your wheeling about. Shift would still be the normal activation bind. You could also rev up the wheels for a massive speed boosts to close in on enemies, its bind could be right click and shift, letting go would finish the rev. Base frame boost could look like AC surface gliding if there are no wheels.
(Inserts another example of leg wheels that is more related to Gundam series for an extra point of reference and strolls away.)
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/PFF-X7II/S6_Saturnix_Gundam
Frame/Armor
With how similar it is to the skeleton frame, something like this will could also be implemented in a new module slot or main engine node that can be researched in the development tree and equipped in the tuning screen allowing it to be potentially used across different frames like Rex and Spider. Depending on how its placed. The armor parts used could be linked the heel armor parts or possibly its own armor parts, that is of course if the player enables the aesthetic.