>>Sounds sort of familiar. ^_^ Shame, though - having the option of
>>physically smashing things after (or even before) you run out of
>>ammunition seems like it'd make for a considerable fun factor.
>
>Melee is an option for those whose 'Mech designs support it, which
>isn't everybody. Some players bitch that that causes a balance issue,
>but that's a pretty standard MMO complaint. It's tricky to pull off,
>though, even if you have one of the 'Mechs with arms that can actually
>move that way. The control inputs for anything other than "track arm
>weapons on target" are seriously non-intuitive.

Fair enough - my mind is just almost irresistably attracted to the idea of picking up, say, a convenient Wolfhound and using it as a melee weapon... of course, I tend to be close enough to get caught in a cookoff at least once every couple missions anyway, so my perspective isn't quite the same as most people's.

>Plus, there's the small problem that if you actually do manage to take
>your opponent out in melee combat, there's a good chance his
>'Mech will blow up in your face, which is... inconvenient. No, melee
>is something best left to the enthusiasts and those who don't
>particularly mind the possibility of Dispossession...

Regular military types wouldn't own theirs anyway. ^_^ As long as you do enough damage to make sending you out again cost-effective...

Anyway, I'm not really suggesting that it'd be a standard tactic, or anything - just that, like a Death From Above, it'd be fun.

>In a private room at La Vie Riche with his bodyguard and three
>hookers?

The idea jumped out at me before Zoner had even opened his mouth, actually. Sorry. ^_^

Ja,
-n