So, the MS-19 Dolmel.

First appearing in the videogame Mobile Suit Gundam: EX Revue, it is a prototype space assault mobile suit developed at the space fortress A Baoa Qu. It was supposedly deployed at the Battle of Solomon and the Battle of A Baoa Qu, whereupon one unit (piloted by Ramuiko Stein) was shot down by Amuro Ray in the Rx-78-2 Gundam. It is notably the first mobile suit made specifically for a videogame, making it the out-of-universe ancestor of a great many things.

The Dolmel was armed with multi-launchers built into its arms (essentially a precursor to the combination beam gun/beam sabers seen on many later Neo Zeon units, like the Qubeley), four missile pods (two on the shoulders, two smaller models built into the chest), toe beams (short beam sabers mounted on the feet) and Heat Piles (the shoulder spikes were able to be heated to increase damage during shoulder bashes).

The Dolmel would later be reproduced (along with several other old war materials) by the organisation True Federal in 0083, where it would be modified into the Dolmel Douhet (/Doue), and piloted by the Organisation’s Leader, Richard Grayson. This modified Dolmel was fitted with a more Gundam-style head, which contained a Demon Blade System (yet another derivative of the EXAM System). It also slimmed down the original’s multi-launchers considerably. Out-of-universe, it’s presence as the main suit of the organisation is due to True Federal’s (and Gundam Katana in general’s) theme of using mobile suits that originated in videogames (like the GM Juggler, Gundam NT-X “Netix” and Mass-Production Big Zam). Since it was the first created, it’s the suit used by the head.

(Also, I am aware that the Dolmel Douhet/Doue has several other subtle design differences to the regular Dolmel, but the artstyle lends itself to list of rounded features compared to the norm, so I couldn’t say with confidence what’s a change and what’s artistic interpretation)

Design-wise….. I honestly struggle with the Dolmel’s design. I keep going back-and-forth on disliking it and being fairly ambivalent towards it. It can’t escape the fact that it was made for a fighting game, it’s weapons, style and even its colour schemes scream it’s origin loud and clear.

It’s obviously designed to have a distinct, imposing silhouette, it armaments designed to leave its hands free and expressive, an eye-catching colour scene to pop with the scenery, and leave little doubt as to where it is at any given time. The design influences of Zeon are clear, since it looks like an up-built Zaku with some additional parts- fitting for a Zeonic Prototype unit. I like the missile launchers and the multi-launchers in the arms, but I honestly find the toe beams and heat piles a little silly (heat weaponry typically degrades with use, so you’d have to swap out the shoulder spikes periodically. It’s part of the reason everything started using beam weapons around the time of ZZ). I think the later artwork (i.e. the one at the top) does a wonderful job of making it look like something Zeon would actually build though.

So why am I talking about it? (Especially pointed since it shows up in Gundam Katana)

Well, I had a dream the other night, and while it wasn’t the focus, apparently the best my subconscious could pull up was the Dolmel, so I figured I’d do a post on it to get it off my mind.