Adding components dynamically sounds rad.  Why not have different arm pods to snap on based on weapons then?  Basically, the vulture stripped down has flat torso panels and arms that end with clamps for the weapon pods.  You slap in a Large Pulse Laser on the arm and it puts in the CBT laser cannon, you put on an ER Large Laser and it puts in the hexagonal pod from a Timber Wolf.  Slap a Gauss Rifle on their and it puts on the arm from a Thor.

This would generate instant weapon recognition amongst players.

Sounds like it might work, after all there where the ballistic/missile/lazer weapones slots in MW4, all it would do is add an in game visualization on the individual mechs. I don't know how much more work that would be for the team though. Also it should only work on externally mounted devices (Vultures nose cannon, arms, e.t.c.) I think that (while yes it would be cool) it would be unessecary to have a similar process on internally mounted weapones (off the top of my head the 2 Mg's and Large Lazer on a Bushwacker). If it where done in such a way it would also make sure that non-omnimechs wouldn't appear as such (I have always had it in my head that the Arms other mounts  even on old Innersphere mechs (such as the Marauder, actually particularly in its case because of the dorsal mount) could be removed and replaced).

It's simple, any hard mounted weapons (i.e. 95% of all IS mechs) would end up with an inability to drastically customize weapons on their mechs, much like MW4 made it, and some might even be static.  An Atlas can only place a single energy weapon on each arm, a single AC or Gauss Rifle on the right torso, and only 1 missile launcher per torso.  The Clans have the advantage in being able to load out their mechs with different weapons because of their use of omni pods.

An Atlas being equipped with the standard armament of 2 ER LL, 1 Gauss Rifle, 2 LRM-10s and an SRM-6 adds up to 44 tons of weapons.  I could also see a player equipping the same Atlas with 2 Medium Lasers, 1 Gauss Rifle, 2 LRM-20s and an SRM-2.  Or 2 ER PPCs, 1 LB-10X, and 3 LRM-10s, or 2 Large Pulse Lasers, an AC/20, and 3 SRM-6s.

The IS models would be stuck with the same numbers of guns, but be almost impossible to distinguish from one another, while the Clan mechs can equip whatever pods they want, but are easily identified.  The Clans have a greater advantage in load out, but suffer from recognition by their enemies, while the IS is pigeon-holed into the mech roles, but can dish out some nasty surprises.

Personally I think the Atlas with 2 Large Pulse, AC/20 and 3 SRM-6s is pretty brutal.

The hybrid Vulture looks pretty good guys (and ladies).  My recomendation is to use the classic Vulture's feet.  The feet on the MW4 and Hybrid unit currently look too small (much like the legs on the Masakari look a little small).  Also, please consider the MW:AOD Vulture Mk IV, which also looks like a brawler.

https://www.wizkidsgames.com/images/figures/Rotating/MWVG/MWVG_OC2.jpg

Keep up the great work!

I like the original Vulture best, but at the same time I'd really hate to see the hybrid go to waste since it's very good.

It would be nice if there was a way to include both the hybrid and the original vulture. Perhaps have the hybrid as an alternate configuration?

I think the devs should override community input and use the Mw4 model

I'd give the hybrid a 3/5.It feels a little disproportioned - arms need to be a little closer the torso,lengthen the legs in relation to the torso,maybe make the arms a little smaller...

If it came to CBT or MW4,I'd go for MW4 because it's what I grew up on.I'm figuring most people here are basing their ideas of what a vulture 'is' on whichever version they came into contact first.We've all got our prejudices, and unfortunately when it comes to an entirely fictional 'mech there's no 'right' design,eh?

And we need spurs on this thing,damnit!