Battletech/Mechwarrior Lore - Tex Talks Battletech : The Mackie, The Rise of the Battlemech

[@blainepardoe4758]

I totally endorse this episode.

[@theuberkep]

Thank you, I was a huge fan of your BattleTech books when I was younger. Exodus road is an amazing book.

[@banebeard]

Ty for your amazing books

[@joshfleming6110]

Just have to leave a comment. You and Stackpole wrote my childhood.

[@dtan3902]

I love that KZbin and other platforms now allow us to reach out and thank creators like you who played a part in our lives. Thank you!

[@matthewbrothers2199]

Its awesome that the people who helped come yp with and refine the lore like the stuff. its a great way to disuade Tex from silly notions that you guys wanna beat him with bags of frozen oranges.

[@blorfgur5430]

I am unreasonably happy that the BattleMech was created from the ambitions of a man who looks like a young 1970s Dr. Robotnik/Eggman.

[@Chopstewie]

This is the kind of goofy shit that happens is actual history. Kino.

[@Banthisyoutube-zs6sx]

​​@@Chopstewie facts. I just saw a picture of one of the original delta operators he is in 1980's dad glasses, thinning hair looking like "nerdy dad 1" from an 80's movie and dude stacked bodies like cordwooid

[@derekhinger1343]

@@Banthisyoutube-zs6sxalways the way it goes. The ones you truly would need to worry about seldom broad ast it

[@Banthisyoutube-zs6sx]

@@derekhinger1343 thqt was my gramps......we only found out a small bit of what his 30 years in the army entailed. He didn't start talking until he almost died and by that point the parkinson's was starting to take over. I found his silver star citation tucked away in a book shelf under 30 years of dust. Dude was 5'4" maybe a 120lbs but mom said his troops were intimidated as hell by him.

[@bthsr7113]

"Without warships, a nation was a theory. With warships, a nation was fact." Ooooh, goosebumps.

[@wolfluva24]

I was mowing the lawn and stopped shivering up and freaked out my neighbors walking by this man has a voice that makes me wanna hear more

[@ohnokylewhy]

I imagine there's a group of engineers whose ghosts still laugh maniacally at how they put a cock rifle on the granddaddy of Battlemechs and nobody questioned it, not even our favorite space historian.

[@GhostBear3067]

Not just one, but TWO of them!😜

[@bthsr7113]

It's a good place. It makes shooting vehicles easy

[@barrybend7189]

Make Peen nis into Robot! While banging a wrench onto pile of weapons and metal.

[@stevenraycopley8885]

Also if you lose to one, you dont mention which of its weapons did you in. At least, I, for one, would not say I got blasted by the crotch cannon of a Mackie if I lost to one lol

[@Jonnyg325]

I mean, at this point we just go "whatever, at least it doesn't shoot foam"

[@gallendugall8913]

"woven diamond fiber" makes it sound expensive but I've used diamond grinding wheels. We're talking industrial grade diamonds which are cheap and not gemstone quality diamonds which are currently expensive due to elaborate price fixing. Diamonds are common.

[@MrAsaqe]

Or woven carbon fiber in laymen's terms.

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

I just used at diamond whetstone for the first time recently and I can see why there’s such a use for industrial diamonds.

[@bthsr7113]

We're still talking about a lot of the stuff.

[@Gigas0101]

I assumed the expensive part was integrating it into 20 tons of military grade steel armour, or the fact that there's 20 goddamn tons of it.

[@Vaasref]

Diamond is not the same as graphite. Sure they are both carbon structures but in material science how you put your atoms is the important part. Also making fibers instead of sand grain sized diamonds is not on the same level of complexity. I don't know what the characteristics of a composite using diamond fibers would looks like, but I sure give them that making tons of the stuff is some advanced tech.

[@GhostWolf_X]

Ah the Mackie, the progenitor of all battlemechs in universe. The only mech on table top that my dad customized with Star League era tech and procceded to bring the pain to some guy's Timberwolf

[@adamblakeslee5301]

Wait what?

[@BunkerAnon]

Adam Blakeslee Grandpa Mech don't mess around.

[@WastelandSeven]

LOL Tha'ts great! If it still works old tech will kick ass. Look at modern small arms. We use cartridges that still work the way they did a hundred years ago. If it works, it works.

[@gedrot2486]

@@WastelandSeven You could say metals are just really refined rocks, so shooting bullets is basically throwing rocks really, really fast...

[@philtkaswahl2124]

@@WastelandSeven It helps that for a 100 tonner the Mackie is relatively underarmed. Lots of ways you can jam all sorts of nasty in it, especially with more advanced tech when customizing it.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

"They needed something to solidify their power...something powerful..." Something like an Urbanmech

[@janrautenstrauch4729]

Does anyone else find it funny that even the Prototype of Prototypes, the Mackie, is still faster than an Urbie?

[@shydex]

Seriously.... fuck you

[@kinagrill]

@@janrautenstrauch4729 Well the Urbanmech was made for cheapo, not great functionality. :P

[@janrautenstrauch4729]

@@kinagrill Yeah, a cheap way to die out in the open. Hm, maybe that's why the arrow-IV-Version exists.

[@phillipmele8533]

Jan Rautenstrauch Precisely. Fire support Urbies for open ground, proper base model Urbies for, well, *Urban* combat!

[@EnsignGeneric]

"War, in theory, became more humane." [Laughs in Firestarter]

[@kereminde]

Ah, for when you need to exfoliate aggressively... I mean, defoliate. Defoliate aggressively.

[@robertagren9360]

The theory is humans should be part of war and lives lost to be a reminder about the cost of war. The fear of war is the key to war. Without it there's no victory because a war that is won without admit by the defeated is a lost cause. In theory the mechs looked like humans but the truth is that they weren't.

[@edwardfontaine7108]

What's the point of war if your trophy doesn't shine.

[@concordetconstabulary219]

You made this Taurian Guard laugh with that one. I like you.......stay out of the Concordet.

[@achtsekundenfurz7876]

16:02 BPL Code, §1: Whenever that image comes up, it's time for some major snark.

[@DrmChsr0]

Here's another fun factoid about the humble Mackie. Remember when Kerensky took a hundred of these museum pieces to the Exodus? One eventually ended up with the Smoked Jags. On Huntress. Which then became the ride of a certain Freebitrth from Clan Jade Falcon for a very short while. YEP, A SMOKED JAG LOST TO A FREEBIRTH IN A MACKIE.

[@seand.g423]

A Verdigris Dodo Freebirth

[@Jimalcoatl]

I think this may have been the only BT novel I read years ago. The only thing I remember is that it was about a Jade Falcon freebirth named Jorge.

[@zabelsword]

Pepperidge Farms remembers.

[@raw1175]

Clan man bad

[@Korraganitar]

@@Jimalcoatl ah, I dont suppose anyone has told you about how Jorge is an alias?

[@TheMalthas]

Reactor on-line, Sensors on-line, Weapons on-line. All systems nominal.

[@Deridus]

Checklist complete... SOB.

[@Sgt_Glory]

You two managed to active not one but two nostalgia moments consecutively, bravo XD

[@austinsurratt1459]

Took the words right out of my mouth

[@vulture8298]

I can hear this sentence in my head from four different games plus mission packs!

[@juliomontega2868]

Coffee level: Critical!

[@blasterofmuppets4754]

The Mackie first appeared in Tales of the Black Widow Company. Were two dispossessed mechwarrior brothers dug up two very old Mackies and fought against one of the Black Widows lances. The Mechwarriors of the BWC had never seen these mechs and due to their special canopys which dont allow to see the pilot within, thought that these were ghost mechs without a pilot. This was as awesome as its gets back then.

[@wowliker642]

That honestly sounds dope. Polarized cockpit canopies made them think they were ghosts in the machine.

[@Pathfinder118]

My favorite part is the special rule that if the mackies run at full speed their myomer can break down but even in a weakend state, just the two gives the whole lance a run for its money because just the two still out TON the lance by 50 tons and the Mackie has the range to keep up with all but the archer in the scinario.

[@MrSaywutnow]

Not only did Kincaid win with style, one of the remote tank operators literally pissed himself at his station out of sheer terror at what he had just witnessed. And so the gold standard in measuring the success of a weapons test was born.

[@bthsr7113]

I highly doubt that was the first time something like that happened.

[@watchm4ker]

No, the gold standard is making the onlookers quote scripture. Bonus points if it's not even their religion.

[@seand.g423]

@@watchm4ker 🤔 quoting outside Scripture _while_ pissing themselves?

[@combativeThinker]

@@watchm4ker “Now we are all sons of bitches.”

[@mrgoob76]

i remember reading that in the source book somewhere too

[@aaronsiroky1794]

I think what makes Battletech Lore more appealing than other universes is that centerpiece technology like Mechs have a thought out logic behind their existence beyond just *"mech cool, it future now, pewpewpew"*

[@Trynt33]

It's like this and Armored Core managed to get it right

[@lukmaanpratomo6866]

What got me into the battletech universe was simply the out-of-the-box yet feasible structural components of the mechs themselves - namely the Myomer lattice.

[@SnakebitSTI]

Mechs always come down to "mech cool pewpewpew" on some level. Take the Mackie's first test for example. What if they had used the same new technologies for a new tank? Lower ground pressure, lower profile, less armor needed...

[@liamhogan4369]

I've thought about that, and tanks can't take advantage of myomer to enhanced their movement ... jumps jets, certainly, but that's a ways off. Honestly, vehicles often handwave the heating issues. They don't even take into account heat from missiles, and realistically, they simply don't have enough surface area for something like the Shrek to not boil over.

[@SnakebitSTI]

@@liamhogan4369 Sure they can. Just use myomer to pull on cranks. As for heat, you know something you don't see on battlemechs but exists on every real world tank I know of? Radiators with forced airflow for cooling. Battletech bases combat around mechs for the sake of basing combat around mechs, and that's fine. The mechs are the point. A more realistic treatment of the setting would involve much more combined arms warfare, but it's not meant to be a game about combined arms warfare.

[@moriskurth628]

Steiners staging Theater Plays with Battlemechs is a thing I didn't know I needed in my life until I saw it.

[@frocat5163]

Just one more example of why House Steiner is the Greatest House.

[@Logan912]

@@frocat5163 Until Katrina just had to ruin it

[@ssjjshawn]

@@Logan912 Yeah, and sadly Daddy's Little Psychopath also managed to Inherit Davion's Pre Dark Age plot armor to make things worse

[@cookiesboi5]

Time stamp?

[@tirirana]

"Mom can we have Neurohelmets?" "No, we have Neurohelmets at home." Neurohelmets at home: *pasta colander with three-phase 400V attached*

[@barrybend7189]

Meanwhile me in my YF-21: ha ha space plane goes woosh.

[@NodDisciple1]

@@barrybend7189 Meanwhile In My Battleship: This is Bullshit! I can glass whole planets, but WHERE ARE MY SPARE PARTS!?

[@Scriptedviolince]

@@barrybend7189 YF-19 is objectively better.

[@barrybend7189]

@@Scriptedviolince i would say VF-22 as it fixes all the YF-21's problems but its missing the ISC system. Plus its a craft Max was able to take advantage of in full combat without issue.

[@Scriptedviolince]

@@barrybend7189 Well, I was saying YF-19 because it was the direct competitor to the YF-21 for the same UNgov contract and they were both designed at the same time. Of course the VF-22 is better it has at least seven years of improvement on the design submitted for Project Super Nova.

[@travishabursky4362]

Tex has definitely written some major historic articles, as this is exactly what a published history piece feels like.

[@theblackpantslegion]

you are correct.

[@travishabursky4362]

Keep up the good work, Tex. Congrats on your sobriety.

[@ComfortsSpecter]

Vibe and a half

[@jarrodsanborn4486]

How the hell are you all STILL getting better at this? Ignoring the topic related jokes and comedy, there are legitimate researchers and documentary writers that could use your work for aspirations. Your plot pacing and evolving production value are impressive. You ALL deserve a emmy or grammy or some other type of latinum cast trophy for doing it properly.

[@theblackpantslegion]

Thanks, but I'm not in this for pieces of metal. I just want people to realize there's better sci-fi out there than games workshop.

[@kierenrei4423]

@@theblackpantslegion Bingo!

[@arinthel]

If we ever crowdfund a real world history documentary by Tex I’m backing at the highest tier.

[@watchm4ker]

@@theblackpantslegion It's strange to think that Battletech is actually older by a few years. But then, 40k is (in the literal sense) a series of jokes taken far, far too seriously.

[@sid2112]

@@theblackpantslegion man, and I thought you couldn't be more friggin awesome.

[@archmagosdeciuskronen1501]

*Chuckles in Clanner Quad L-Pulse Laser* *Remembers getting flanked by a Mackie and screams in Clanner no Armor more guns doctrine*

[@philtkaswahl2124]

"My Khan, the last thing I heard before Star Captain Decius' comms were abruptly silenced was a decidedly high pitched scream. Never before have I heard its like."

[@moriskurth628]

I wonder if Clanners would consider it an honorable death if they were killed, if in a dishonorable way (ambush or attacks from concealment for instance), by what is pretty much the setting's equivalent to a bloody British Mark II in a world of M1 Abrams Tanks.

[@orangedream267]

@@moriskurth628 Reminds me of some nutters who take M22 Locusts and BT-5's into high tier games in War Thunder. Both those tanks have 100mm max penetration or something. IF even that much. At that point you NEED to hit the flat back sides of modern tanks and the backs of their turrets to have a chance at penetration.

[@Austin-cn8vh]

@@orangedream267 I once saw a pack of M22's swarm a Tiger I. It was both funny and terrifying

[@Scriptedviolince]

@@orangedream267 IIRC, the equivalent in this case would be taking a locust and kiting around an atlas, sticking behind it so it can't murder you and just plinking away at the back armor. A valid strategy to be sure, and not one that works on the tabletop, but one that relies heavily on the "mad bastard"ness of the locust pilot.

[@toysoldiernerio7172]

as a tank mechanic, it is still my dream to one day become a battlemech mechanic. Korea has some promising work that i hope surprises everyone and legitimizes bipedal support platforms. also the Merkava tank is one of the most versatile weapons platforms ever designed in the modern day. it can fulfill any battlefield role quite literally. so it's fitting that the next generation of ground warfare to crush the old.

[@DropTheHammer556]

As a long-time battletech gamer, it's my dream to become a battlemech pilot! Maybe we can work something out?

[@robertschumacher2707]

Battletech has its' own version: www.sarna.net/wiki/Merkava

[@toysoldiernerio7172]

@@robertschumacher2707 ah, i still imagine the battletech version is at least slightly based on the real world version.

[@Gigas0101]

@@toysoldiernerio7172 It's a continuation of the line by the looks of it, though with far more missiles than the Merkava currently has and two machine guns. The Sarna article's a good read. I do like how the future Merkava in these tests pack a layout most light mechs wish they could run.

[@Lieutenant_Dude]

I’d be down with a Hyundai battle mech.

[@jamesricker3997]

Dr Atlas was awarded the first Nobel title by a grateful Terran Hegemony. Dr Atlas became the first Inner Sphere Noble and we all know where that road went. The good doctor also had a Mech named after him

[@dolomaticus1180]

The thing I love about this episode is that how the IS and Clanners came to the same conclusions: All out war was not something that could be kept up. But both approached the solution to this in some ways similar, but in applications very, very different.

[@Darqshadow]

On one side, we have massed mech, armor, artillery, infantry, and mechanized formations made from volunteer or conscript forces On the other side, warriors born from a test tube and trained from birth and discarded after a few decades. And Tukayid destroyed the Clanner way of thinking didn't it?

[@elitebuster2012]

​@@Darqshadowmaaaan you are not gonna like the extreme end of the Canon timeline....

[@Darqshadow]

@elitebuster2012 yea I've looked into it. Seems like a cheap cop out to me.

[@opinionsofamiddleagednerd4283]

Oh my God, that intro is 80's perfect beyond words!!!

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

not just the intro, but on several occasions throughout the video as well..

[@opinionsofamiddleagednerd4283]

@@ranekeisenkralle8265 Agreed.

[@SentientKhrushchyovka]

Reminds me of metal gear 2 solid snake. Just watch the intro of that game, this can not be a coincidence

[@mrkingbox]

@@opinionsofamiddleagednerd4283 LLP

[@opinionsofamiddleagednerd4283]

@@SentientKhrushchyovka Again, I agree. Late 80's, early 90's mech feels.

[@Whipster-Old]

Neurohelmet standing by. Excitement levels elevated.

[@GhostBear3067]

Hopefully not too elevated, that could cause a malfunction and just ask Discount Dan how that ends up...

[@philtkaswahl2124]

I misread that as "excrement levels" and had an immature giggle.

[@BunkerAnon]

Lick that cable before jamming it in. Sparks are expected.

[@NodDisciple1]

The face of that first Mech Pilot said it all. He had both a huge hate/anger boner and literal "Happy time" Boner at the same time.

[@Whipster-Old]

Vital update: As it happens, I had a bad takeaway and excrement levels were elevated. @GhostBear3067

[@imglidinhere]

The lore build up leading to the construction of the mech itself is vastly deeper than I could have ever imagined. Every video you make brings me further into the lore of this series of games and books than I could have ever thought possible. If someone made a BattleTech TV show today, I swear people would call it a GoT clone... when in reality, GoT is just a clone of the history of the world (minus the dragons and mutants). In BattleTech, dragons and mutants take another form: the Dragon and the Urbie. :D

[@bthsr7113]

A tv show would likely be influenced by the shots and acting of GoT, but you're right that both are drawn in writing from the wild history of our very real and very dangerous world.

[@cycoticmongoose]

imglidinhere coincidentally, Tex talks about what he imagines a Battletech show could be (as a Netflix/amazon series) on the latest BPL podcast. Here’s a Spotify link if you have it: open.spotify.com/episode/3EaDvjUjSodN8W5KlFtZGa?si=6q1_4CvbRUqcoNk9t9rkBQ

[@Paerigos]

I undortunately dont see anyone who would be worthy to play people like Alexander Kerensky, James McKenna, Elizabeth Hazen, Hanni Schmidt... or even Tyra Miraborg... but would be fun to see elementals doing football mach against Sheliak :D :D :D

[@christopherwall2121]

@@Paerigos that's when you do what most filmmakers do in that case: cast unknowns, character actors, That Guy actors in elevated roles

[@bisonhawk1]

The aftershow is a show unto itself. As a supply chain major, I enjoy the stories of innovation, manufacture, and logistics that is Battletech. I have been known to reference the universe during class discussions on occasion.

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

that class would have been interesting to watch... On a side-note, yeah, I too like the novels in that setting (with one or two exceptions which were sub-par - which in itself isn't a bad ration considering there are over 60 novels. Wish the same could still be said about today's entertainment..)

[@cycoticmongoose]

Ranek Eisenkralle that’s a far better ratio than the Horus Heresy books. I’ve yet to read any Battletech novels, so do you have any starting recommendations? I’m most intrigued by the Star League era if that helps

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

@@cycoticmongoose The novels start sometime after the Third Succession War unfortunately, so SLDF content is a bit limited. That said, the first novel is called "Decision at Thunder Rift" which is a good starting point as many of these novels contain subtl cross-references, so reading tham in their intended timeline makes a lot of sense. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_BattleTech_novels As for Horus Heresy, I have so far only skipped one of those, but haven't yet read the newer ones. Granted, some of the Horus Heresy novels don't add all that much to the overall story, they are mostly entertaining nonetheless.

[@cycoticmongoose]

Ranek Eisenkralle thanks for the info! Too bad Star League isn’t covered as much. I suppose that’s one of the reasons why Tex made the Amaris Civil War videos. I do agree about the HH books being entertaining, but I very much like when they actually impact the overall narrative versus being some one-off remnant of loyalist forces that ultimately don’t change Horus’ march towards Terra. That being said, any of Abnett’s books are solid reads

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

@@cycoticmongoose I agree on Dan Abnett, but as far as not impacting Horus' march towards Terra, I have to disagree. We are talking about a galaxy-spanning civil war. As such it makes sense to pay some attention to theatres where the main "celebrity" is not present as well in order to maintain a sense of scope.

[@kohlberrrto897]

Remember, you need an extended mech warranty, and I need your gold Don't hesitate! Act now! (My) Satisfaction guaranteed!

[@stiltskino4009]

500 dollar gold mech you say?

[@ultravioletparakeet1134]

I bought a Hunchback from you, and the AC-20 falls off the mech every time I fire it. Does the warranty cover fixing this?

[@Winterydee]

I keep trying to contact you, however everytime I send the message it is bounced back by ComStar with a message saying "Sorry but the recipient is a know con artist and swindler. All comms track to him has been blocked due to issue. Thank you for using ComStar for all your interstellar communications. Also don't forget to pay your bills FUCKO!"

[@Xinthar]

What A steal (i mean Deal) oh god not the phosphorus

[@ChocorocK]

Hey the catapult i bought from you literally has 2 torsion catapults tied to where the missile racks should be, rocks and all. This is not whats written for the 3 for 1 deal in the brochure. I want those freedom impaired periphery hicks i used for payment back.

[@blackops555]

Grandpa Tex voice: IIIIIII remember when I was sent out to steal the Mackie from the Hegemony waaaayyyyyy back in 1945! Seriously though, this has been a long time coming, and a well deserved break is in order.

[@NorthernNorthdude91749]

Technology marches ever onward. Before WW1, the idea we now call "the tank" was seen as nothing but fantasy. "A mobile bunker? How insane!" they cried. But then the first British tanks crawled their way across the bomb blasted battlefields of France, terrifying the Germans to such a degree that they just abandoned their fortified positions and ran at the mere sight of these behemoths. The vehicle we now call the "fighter jet" was designed as a whole new breed of aerial combat and ground support platform. The then-standard propeller driven planes such as the Supermarine Spitfire, Mitsubishi Zero and Messerschmidt BF109 were seen as pinnacles of airborne combat vehicles, but the newly developed and promising technology of jet engines that were being researched by both Great Britain and Germany ensured that a propeller design would be totally outdated within a couple short years. The rate and scale that military technology evolves is astounding. 100 years ago, just about everything in our arsenal today would have been seen as science fiction and nothing more. Something viewed as impossible or impractical can be made viable and even the standard with the advent of new technology. With all this in mind, I am firmly of the opinion that legged mech designs will be created and used by military groups in the future. Will they totally replace tanks? Maybe. Maybe not. But I am 100% certain that they'll present a new field and frontier for warfare.

[@aaronmaynard6019]

I would say though there is one thing technology won't ever truly replace. The poor bloody infantry. If anything, all war is infantry, supported by the technology. No matter what the thing, you can't take ground without a dude with a rifle. Also, the tank had kinda been invisioned, aka the armoured car but the idea of a land battleship was always an idea. And to the germans running from the tank, its hard to actually say if that is real, as the writing of both sides kinda contest each other. Plus, Germans got good at destroying them, only they where replaced faster.

[@everyonethinksyoureadeathm5773]

The admiralty at the time thought battleships would always be the mainstay of any fleet and the use of carriers would just be novelty or just used as support craft. Then the Japanese showed how to force project with aircraft carriers in WWII and the era of the battleship ended soon after the War.

[@jayk6620]

@@everyonethinksyoureadeathm5773 The era of the Battleship ended at 810am PST, December 7th, 1941.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

@@jayk6620 Actually it ended on December 8, 1941 on the Malayan coast. It could be argued that the gray ladies of Pearl Harbor were taken by surprise, and with a little advance warning might've weathered the raid with little loss, even if they were static targets. But there was no excuse for Prince of Wales and Repulse being run down and torpedoed in open water.

[@tristanbackup2536]

I see that tanks will be put into support roles with mechs instead of like today they're use to break the front lines with infantry support. Tanks will be the absolute infantry in that kind of future of warfare.

[@WatcherPrime]

Silly head canon: United Hindu Collective was disappointed over the Ares Convention due to the fact that they were preparing for the rise of Gandhi the VII, who reign would be backed with atomic weapons.

[@Azraiel213]

"Give them an irradiated wasteland and call it peace." - Mahatma "Fallout" Gandhi

[@Elenrai]

❤ Good to see we aint letting that -1 aggression bug be forgotten😂

[@davidmeigs2152]

*Desire to know more intensifies* One of my all time favorite Battletech scenarios is the one in which the Black Widows (Wolf's Dragoons) engage with two mothballed Mackies from a museum, something about the description of the unnerving effect of the tinted glass making them seem ass though nobody was piloting them always stuck with me. Also, I really loved the mech quirks they provided, always wanted to run an extended campaign like that, really dig in to the tech readouts and give every piece of kit its own little bit of personality. Because... who doesn't like personalizing their big stompy robot warmachine?

[@edrice2621]

That scenario was in the Tales of the Black Widow Company sourcebook from 1985.

[@davidmeigs2152]

@@edrice2621 thank you, still have it sitting on the shelf.

[@MrBluman999]

That description reminds me of a golem. An ancient and lifeless guardian.

[@davidmeigs2152]

@@MrBluman999 exactly. These two ancient monolithic statutes whir and judder to life, with squeals of tortured metal groaning at every step and turn. The clear glass of their cockpits dark, barren, and devoid of life as these guardians of wars long fought amble forth from their enshrined tomb, as though called, once again, to battle by the collective will of the people. The juggernauts of bygone legend slowly, emerge from torpor, shaking the dust of ages from the terrifying weapons of ages past. You, in your lowly, though still venerable, Stinger turn, facing the looming behemoth noting that, as clouds of war steal away the moon's pale light, these beasts carry no pilots... their cockpits dark and no comm chatter, boasts, or challenges issue from the ghostly iron giants. Then, as clouds part an ardent beam shines pale against their hull, illuminating heraldry not seen in centuries; a faded yellow star surrounded by pale dots, the third of which catches your eye, chipped and peeling it is blue and tugs at the deepest recesses of ancestral memory. "Oh God..." your lance mates voice crackles in, "no way..." the gulp is audible, just as your throat goes dry, anticipating the words to come, "those mechs... they're... no, they can't be..." but they are, "those mechs are Terran Hegemony!" Just then, a monster turns its baleful, empty gaze upon you, archaic capacitors whine and pop with building charge, blue plasma building baleful as tortured myomers bundles struggle against rusted joints to raise one of the universe's first particle projection cannons... directly at your scout mech... What do you do?

[@henryk8874]

@@edrice2621 I still remember reading it too. I think I bought it at Forbidden Planet in NYC.

[@chesterstevens8870]

Came for an analysis on an early battlemech, stayed for the in-depth history lesson on the dark ages of the Inner Sphere.

[@sid2112]

Oh yeah way to be an asshole, asshole. 😊

[@witherrose1566]

I wouldn't call it the dark age. Hell, this is more the Roman Republic era to the Medieval era that the succession wars would be.

[@sid2112]

@@witherrose1566 Dark ages with megaton nukes!

[@dubuyajay9964]

I'd argue the eras AFTER the Star League are the TRUE Dark Ages.

[@ssjjshawn]

Ironically, less people died in the age of war, than did in World War 2. Then the Amaris Civil War blows that out of the water, only to be Immediately one Upped by the First and Second Succession Wars.

[@chakatBombshell]

Back in the day when hearing the words "ground war" led to a sigh of relief on everyone's part.

[@phillipmele8533]

This is what I love so much about this series. As cool as the giant documentaries about historical events are, you covered much the same kind of stuff while focused solely on the Mackie. The ‘Mechs are always created in response to *something* in the lore, whether it’s new tech, new wars, or new circumstances. Explaining the ‘Mech will require explaining the context that created the ‘Mech, and I love this series specifically for that fact.

[@theblackpantslegion]

Thank you for saying so. I'm evolving as we go along.

[@phillipmele8533]

BlackPantsLegion Hell yeah you are! Comparing this episode and the Blackjack episode to the Awesome and Atlas episodes shows how clearly you’ve improved. I hope to see more. But at a liveable pace damn you, take breaks!

[@MathewJC25]

Hope you all know how much we appreciate you all for your hard work! BPL is the best damn Battletech informative and content channel out there. And we are freaking proud of you mad lads!

[@freefiremclin9379]

Damn right

[@josephwatson2357]

MathewJC25 couldn’t agree more

[@TactWendigo]

I fourth this.

[@berndoggler37]

5thded

[@MikeWillTech]

I wish you could like a comment as many times as you want. Tex has the best grizzled voice for battletech lore!

[@AsbestosMuffins]

Urbanmech: "Grandpappy?" Mackie: "You are no child of mine!"

[@weldonwin]

Urbanmech: Awww, that just the Oedipus Complex talking

[@FirstLast-cg2nk]

Mackie: He ain't my boy, but I love him like a son.

[@Insanemage2001]

As someone who started with the cartoon while on my lunch break from elementary school, dabbled in the video games over the years and recently finally started taking the dive into the depths of this setting, I just want to express how much of a damn pleasure it's been to find this channel, and just how much better these keep getting. Masterfully done folks. Take as much time as you need for the next one and I will damn sure be here waiting. Also probably related to the first thing, Axman/Hatchetman eventually? No rush but there's just something so delightfully inner sphere as "Man, I know what these pinnacles of technology need, Melee weapons!"

[@MrPayne616]

Reading the end of this comment I could just hear Tex's mad laugh.

[@et3inuyasha]

Give a Highlander - ninety tons of jump jet equipped angry - a claymore.

[@Insanemage2001]

Can hear the bagpipes already

[@thepbg8453]

I have fellow player in a Battletech RP I am in. He is a old cowboy from New Abaline (Space Texas). He pilots a Stock Mackie MSK-6S. During the Clan Invasion. And Wins! Get Focht!!!

[@Paerigos]

Well per tradition we have hard time of performing a sacrilidge of destroying such important artifact of of history. its like when someone asks us to trash Atlas II...

[@thepbg8453]

Quiet Goliath Scorpion

[@RoKKr023i]

@@thepbg8453 You cannot silence the guns of combined arms my distinguished fren.

[@kennieminski7080]

"The population was decimated,"? Me thinks you understated that.

[@weldonwin]

Hmmm, I suppose "Turned to Fucking Ashes and Memories" would be more accurate

[@gusty9053]

Well with millions turned to glass 1 in 10 looks downright optimistic.

[@marley7868]

hey that is slander those goverments spent alot of time money and effort to repurpose the populous into fertilizer which was then nuked

[@hamsters7760]

While "decimated" has a Latin root, its English definition isn't exactly matched to decimatio. To understate it.

[@benjaminrobertson2990]

I ran a Mackie MSK-9H as part of a Rasalhague force against the Smoke Jaguars during a friendly game over the holiday. It did a wonderful job, absorbing tons of clanner munitions and popping off with its dual PPCs. Contributed to a bloody but resounding win for the KungsArmé

[@bthsr7113]

So in a way, the age of warships, especially Tintavel, was a forecast for the first succession war and the dark age following Tukayid. Warfighting may change it tactics and tech, but people seem to be a lot slower to adapt. The Normalizing of conflict resolution via battle also calls to mind the Clanner philosophy, though less directly.

[@thil2894]

One day, Tex will talk about the Orion. On that day, my life will be complete. The remain would be bonus.

[@Servellion]

I'm hoping the glorious King Crab gets one. As it is, I do wish he'd make smaller episodes. Mainly because these hour long episodes are nice, having to wait four months for one episode about the first mech is a bit much. Plus all the other vids he does as well, having one big episode to hang over everything for months on end cannot feel good.

[@Pulmonox]

@@Servellion The Blackjack episode was a good length. Maybe trim it down to around a half hour, but that range I think is ideal for these mech talks. I DO like that he goes into greater detail for the stories though. I REALLY wanna hear his take on Operation Bulldog. I can just imagine the glee at which he narrates the decimation of Clan Smoke Jaguar.

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

@@Servellion I second your wish for the KGC, but disagree about the length of the episode. Yes, having to wait for long is a bit of a bummer, but creating an entertaining 1-hour+ episode from barely any source material speaks of a level of skill I gladly wait for to see more of.

[@masterlink2319]

@@Servellion I'm sure the Crustacean of Noble Lineage will have it's day. I don't mind the length of the videos. There's a lot of love, time and planning that go into them, not to mention they upload a lot of other content in between as well.

[@fennyferrister668]

@@Servellion If you haven't figured out yet his love isn't focused on the mech itself but the battletech universe. The mech is actually a foil to use in discussing the universe around the mech.

[@jacobyin5320]

MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. THANK YOU TEX. I must now do the customary dance of my people, which is; drink copious amounts of beer and beat up anyone who remotely looks Capellan.

[@DoomChopStick]

I look like a Capellan but I shall join you in this dance to beat up my own people!

[@jacobyin5320]

@@DoomChopStick Yeah! *hands you a beer then proceeds to kick the crap out of you*

[@Deridus]

Did someone say beat up Capellans? *Beer drinking intensifies*

[@KayjanSoban]

@@Deridus WOO! Dogpile those filthy Inners- I mean... Capellans. Yes... Capellans... Only the Capellans...

[@gusty9053]

@@KayjanSoban something smells clanny, i mean fishy

[@fien111]

"Ah, now that they're done with the epic two-part history of the Clans the BPL can take things a bit easier and just do a standard episode on a 'Mech" >Hour and a half long documentary movie on the first Battlemech ever You spoil us, you fine gentlemen Also that Warren Zevon parody was pure Germanium, thank you for that.

[@KrawmKruach]

I want a TTS inspired series based on the adventures of the steiner scout squad, that would be amazing. Sorry i mean Steiner Assault Lance

[@gallendugall8913]

Rules of war being a permission slip for wars to go on forever is an interesting debate. The TOS episode A Taste of Armageddon (more famous for Kirk's bowling ball martial arts) did a good job taking the idea to it's logical extreme.

[@MrFleem]

Mildly disappointed that the Steiner didn't pronounce Caesar like "Kaiser".

[@Deridus]

You are not alone... Das war kein 'Caesar.'

[@Sleepy_zzzzz]

You weren't the only one.

[@naomy1701]

id guess he didnt because germans dont say Ceasar like that, not at all >_< "Kaiser" and "Caesar" are very easily distinguishable just by hearing it spoken out (german is my native language, just as info that i know what i talk about lol)

[@naomy1701]

@Aaron M and yet its 2 diff words and differently spoken. also a well known fact

[@MrFleem]

@@naomy1701 Yes, I heard that before. But also I recently learned that in classical Latin, Caesar is pronounced with a hard C. So that's why.

[@DapperBrick]

I haven't had the means to expose myself to this universe that I've loved to death since I played Mechwarrior 3 on my parents pos dell computer when I was younger but watching these magnificent videos you put so much care into makes me feel more connected to it and I cannot thank you enough BPL as well as Tex and everyone else involved thank you.

[@godsoloved24]

Man, all these years I've enjoyed the Mechwarrior and Mech commander games, and never knew .5% of the lore of this IP. These videos have been so awesome.

[@tituspaul2765]

Why drink and drive when you can smoke and fly.... Thank you Tex.

[@JamLpOtHeAd]

Drop Acid and teleport! ;-)

[@karlryan3781]

The final song reminds me of Bubble Gum Crisis. This was a great addition to the Tex Archive. Thank you to Tex and all the people that made this video. You are all Awesome. The 3 PPC one.

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

The term you are looking for is AWS-8Q

[@Zues120]

"The only thing more dangerous than a warrior culture... Is us" Thats a terrifying statement lmao

[@Lunar137]

"And if you doubt that, well, fuck around and find out."

[@KenS1267]

I always thought of the Mackie as more or less the British Mark I tank. It wasn't so much that it worked but that it showed that the concept of a mech was possible., just as the Mark I showed that the concept of an armored vehicle was possible. The Rifleman has a soft spot in my heart, as do all the original designs, but man is it bad. I hope GM doesn't get too mad at you this time. I'm glad the Steiner Scout Squad is doing their part to send people who talk at the theater to the special circle of hell reserved for them and people who take advantage of Christina Hendricks. The more ComStar ads I see the more I like those Word of Blake guys. I mean how bad could they be? And finally Tex and crew, take some gorram time off. 90 minute long Tex Talks are epic but damn they must be exhausting.

[@CowCommando]

It's rather hazy when it comes to kneecaps. I'm sorry what universe were we talking about?

[@DrmChsr0]

On one hand, those Blakists mounted an Arrow IV onto an Urbanmech to turn it into a WARCRIME TRASHCAN... On the other hand they mounted an Arrow IV onto an Urbanmech for the express purpose to fire NUKES so...

[@Captain1nsaneo]

Wait, he did the advisor for Majesty? I loved that character!

[@TheColdsuit]

The first 90 seconds had me grinning like a goddamn madman.

[@jamesharbinger1711]

Can die a happy man when Tex drops an episode on the humble and overworked Centurion

[@DocDelray]

Damn, I honestly had no idea there was so much to learn about the Mackie. Though I probably should've guessed we'd need a history lesson on the world and time that birthed the first BattleMech. Still, another awesome video and lecture Tex and I greatly look forward to the next one.

[@philtkaswahl2124]

Aww, yeah, the Mack Daddy itself. Love using these guys in the BTA 3062 mod of the HBS game. They're like angry giant cosmonauts asking if you even lift. Hope I roll their custom Tex pilot next career and find a Mackie to put "you" in.

[@medikohl]

I once went up against two full lances of various Mackies in BTA, good day for salvage. Used a few *heavily* modified high speed urbanmechs to core them from behind.

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

I think I'll have to check out that mod then. Any other mechs that mod introduces? I mean, dual-Gauss KGCs and quad-UAC5 ANHs are nice, but after a while I am looking forward to something else... ..also wish they'd enlarge the map post campaign to encompass all of the Inner Sphere and Periphery... ...and maybe add the Clan invasion as endgame DLC?

[@philtkaswahl2124]

@@ranekeisenkralle8265 The latest builds of the mod already have the whole IS, Clan Space, and the Major Periphery states. As for Mechs, they add so many that listing them's a bit of a chore on the phone. My favorite is the Taurian Talos of their fanmade custom models. There's also the Templar omnimech, the Matar superheavy, and the Penetrator is about to be added. And a lot more.

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

@@philtkaswahl2124 Cool. Thank you. Would you mind posting a link where to get that mod? Can't find it on steam

[@philtkaswahl2124]

@@ranekeisenkralle8265 KZbin seems to be blocking direct links, but you can find it by searching "battletech advanced 3062 nexusmods" on Google. Just follow the download and install instructions on the description page for the mod on Nexusmods. Said page will also give you a Discord link for the mod so you can ask for help from the community and mod team. Be aware that it's quite an intensive and resource hungry mod.

[@Spartan120]

An iconic design so legendary that the Lyrans had to steal it to form the Steiner Scout Corps. 1:06:22 Ah good ol' Steiner Scout logic. The best way to deal with theater critics (and most problems in life) is a pointblank AC/20 salvo. I'm surprised that critic lived long enough to scream after getting turned into red mist.

[@KillerOrca]

He died so hard he didn't realize he died.

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

more like the scream coming from people nearby being covered in said red mist..

[@weldonwin]

It wasn't a direct hit, the shells hit close by so he got hit by the shrapnel. Not enough to kill him outright, just enough to reduce him to a screaming pulp of exposed organs and mangled limbs

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

@@weldonwin And that is why you use Highlanders instead of Atlasses: If something small and squishy annoys you, you give it a Highlander Burial! No matter if it is a critic or a light mech.

[@truckerallikatuk]

That wasn't a scream, it's just the noise made by bone fragments going supersonic.

[@jyrifrigard227]

The intro was so 80's that i i grew a mullet while i was watching it :D

[@trentonarney6066]

With that intro I was thinking there better be a mullet in here somewhere and boy howdy Tex did you not disappoint.

[@Rocketcustompaints]

I just picked up a miniature of the mackie , thank you Mr Tex and the BPL

[@matthewbrothers2199]

From the mouth of babes: “daddy, if Amazon has an army wouldn’t they basically be ComStar?” “Yes. Yes they would.” XD

[@bthsr7113]

Ah, but they don't control communications or banking, so they'd be a different megacorp.

[@MrTwistedLizard]

@@bthsr7113 don't control them...yet

[@Magavynhigara]

Id love to see amazon mech battle walmart

[@Abrxas01]

@@bthsr7113 Amazon Web Services........ we were discussing how they DIDN'T control communications?

[@sid2112]

Here I am in the periphery muttering "oh sh-t, here comes another one".

[@Dudeosaurus]

Give him a pair of goggles and a 'stache, I reckon the Editor could pull off a flawless Jacob Cameron.

[@Bitterman5868]

Bernie Lomax of Battletech

[@rare.and.important.content]

Just about right from the beginning of Tex doing Battletech content and asking for suggestions for upcoming 'mech videos I've been jokingly asking for the Mackey, and now, a month after release I got around to watching the thing I was after. Well, holy shit, I am just completely humbled by this delivery, not just by Tex, but all of the artists involved (not to imply I was a part of the motivation for this video at all, this is just miles beyond anything I could have ever imagined)

[@theblackpantslegion]

Thank you kindly.

[@DarkKnightCuron]

THAT METAL GEAR 2 OPENING THO. ABSOLUTELY WELL DONE, TEX AND CREW!

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

Metal Gear 2? I would have assumed it to be just 80s-themed music, but alright, if you say so I'm willing to believe it. makes sense though since the video is about some pretty Heavy Metal...

[@DarkKnightCuron]

@@ranekeisenkralle8265 Yeah, you should be able to find the old intro to Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake and make comparisons with the intro to the Mackie video. Its a really awesome homage to that sort of 80s (technically 1990) sort of action, especially when it comes to the whole 'future of warfare' bit.

[@Macc_]

@@ranekeisenkralle8265 I don't know about the music, but the graphic at 1:12 up until the title is most definitely straight out of Metal Gear 2. Look up the intro for the MSX.

[@bobbrown5460]

I just got one in the hbs battletech 8t has a 300% modifier on repair time because it is called a museum piece, but it looks like a space man.

[@RalphyNoPants]

Where did you find it? Are you running mods?

[@bobbrown5460]

@@RalphyNoPants ya if I remember right its the battletech revised mod pak its one of the newer ones on the mod page just search for nexus mods battleteh and you will find it it took a wile though cause 2 parts were in one system and had to travel for a wile to find a 3rd in combat though its ok for 100t but Mr crab is far more flexible and does not take 180 days to repair when its arm falls off 😉

[@jameskish4044]

I just built a modern MWO Mackie, 90 ton Mauler-2P: Standard 320 Engine, Heavy PPC, Ultra AC 10, Three Medium Lasers, co-axial mount Light machine Gun. It is so far running very well.

[@jameskish4044]

I have re-tooled this to a Mauler-1P (Better PPC Quirks) Now; light 300 Engine, Heavy PPC, LBX 10, Co-axial AC 2, 2x Rocket Pack 10, 2x Small Laser, 1x Small Pulse Laser, 2x Machine guns...sounds like a lot but everything is in three different weapon groups, except the Rocket Packs which are on there own channel, reasonable heat stability, Group 4 for ex. is Small/Pulse Lasers plus Machine guns, good for short range brawling "Spray & Pray" P.S. AMS w/ two tons ammo, 490 some points of armor.

[@jameskish4044]

Hehe its cheap to build this Mech if you have some C-Bills. They made me run IS Marauder II's for awhile so that's what I have been working on.

[@meatmelon1476]

Welcome to the inner sphere, where war crimes are our most popular international sport

[@Tirak117]

Thank you for all you do for the community. Your examinations of lore and telling of it truly gets across that bitter sweet part of BattleTech. I can't wait for the Rifleman, it's my second favorite mech, beaten only by the Champion :)

[@David_Fellner]

Beautiful work Tex and the legion, I love these! every time I see a BattleTech lore video premiering, I clear my schedule (which is usually already clear these days), buy a pack of my favorite beer, and instantly feel cheered up for the entire day. So, thanks for that.

[@randomnetsurfer]

"Netscape Navigator buys four planets" ... /me dies laughing!

[@nineballmk2]

h-how!?

[@GnomeDeathKnight]

Capellans being dirty treacherous Capellans? Shocker. Beautiful piece Tex, thank you again! Each time I see one of these gems release, I can only say "A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one."

[@trevorberryhill2398]

saw the length and subject of this vid and turned off my phone. just out right set it down. then i came to my front room and started playing it on my TV, as the content, and its creator deserve.

[@brjannonlatunen4975]

I have a Mackie in one of my Roguetech campaigns sporting 2 long toms 😁

[@QwertyCaesar]

Gotta keep that antique safe from enemy fire.

[@jameskazd9951]

these long form documentary type videos are so great, never even heard of battletech till a few months ago, but i am really enjoying these informative lore videos

[@theblackpantslegion]

Glad you like them!

[@evilminion6326]

I can't even begin to list the amount of time I spent playing majesty. And to hear the adviser again makes the nostalgia hit that much harder.

[@macuss87]

I knew there was a part of me that wanted this video. The Makie is the OG afteral. I didn't know just how damn excited or how much I really wanted it until I hopped on YT and here the video was top left corner of my reco's Hot diggity damn. Time to order me a meat moutain!

[@bavettesAstartes]

That ending bit by Duncan almost made me crap my pants laughing. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why it is the BLACK pants legion and not the WHITE pants legion.

[@miroslavmalivukovic1534]

Should have been the "brown pants legion", but oh well....

[@buffbattleboy9569]

And we don't talk about the red pants legion.

[@boomboomf2268]

Love the setting, kinda perplexed that noone thought of just slapping armor and guns onto a industrialmech, esp since in that era some of them had fusion engines so you didn't have the issues of an IC engine. Granted military-industrial complex + infinite money doesn't trend towards efficiency. That would account for the 90 year design cycle

[@MrAsaqe]

Industrial mechs are worse at maintaining good working parts, lack a neurohelmet and heavy as balls.

[@boomboomf2268]

@@MrAsaqe True, but they existed fairly far in advance of the Mackie. I'm just surprised that, considering the number of things human beings have adapted/slapped a gun onto over the years no one had adapted an industrialmech for warfare pre-Mackie.

[@Hart501]

@@boomboomf2268 I’m sure it probably happened. The way I see it is a lot of people probably looked at it like the Technical of our universe, a unique way to get a gun moving but we already designed a future tank that can do that but more.

[@zenoblues7787]

Purely speculation on my part but based on what was said I believe they probably tried that it didn't quite work. They tried other things those also failed. They went back to the drawing board and just went with the Mackie out of desperation to create something that works.

[@craigerz2875]

Another amazing video. You truly make the best lore videos on this platform. You guys can create suspense and intrigue that very few could ever hope to achieve. Tex and the team are the reason I got into Battletech and why it is now my favourite fictional setting. The fact there is so much more to cover in the future is what makes me excited the most. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@theblackpantslegion]

Glad you like them!

[@DarthGarak]

Came here for awesome stuff, got even more awesome stuff that I expected. Seriously did not expect you to touch upon the Ares conventions and the rest of that time period. That was great to see. Also, it would be awesome if you one day did a video that talked about the Great Houses and some of their more famous characters. Yes, I mostly want to hear how much you would snark at Kurita and the Capellans.

[@The_Cosmic_Navigator]

I just finished watching this. The artwork was awesome, I was extremely impressed. I love that Battletech has such a devoted community. The BPL is filled with incredibly talented people. I know I might sound like I am blowing it out of proportion, but Battletech/Mechwarrior makes me think of my dad. I miss him terribly and I kinda feel like I am still connecting with him when I am around fellow mechwarriors. Even if some of you may be filthy, stinking, Capellans or Kuritans. Good job everyone.

[@Fulkerguy]

Roland the Headless Urbie Pilot is the song of my people. Thank you Goat.

[@shaajax675]

This is by far the best channel on KZbin. I’m blown away. The dedication and love that go into each video is insane. Thank you everyone who works in these and thank you Tex

[@Zeithri]

15 hours until we get an update from the Steiner Scout Lance!

[@vulture8298]

We won't even see it coming.

[@Zeithri]

@@vulture8298 " _I've scouted the KZbin comments section with a pack of LRM-20's._ "

[@Shadow-Kalbo1]

@@Zeithri i scouted ahead of you with an AC20 all hostiles eliminated

[@TheCrimsonSpork]

Andy Fraser - Ninja Mode Activated: the enemy will never see us coming if they’re blinded by nuclear fire

[@Zeithri]

@@TheCrimsonSpork ​ @Andy Fraser Your work is Exemplary!

[@Snipermac99]

It's already amazing and it's just got to the synthetic myomere. Also "ESPN: Hockey isn't a sport" Hahaha.

[@Feiora]

Well its just a bunch of guys with sticks and padding that move about on ice smacking around a little black disc and occasionally a fight breaks out in this group of men thats leads to bloodsports on ice sooo...

[@bthsr7113]

Still more of a sport than cupstacking.

[@Keeper]

I just wanted to say thank you to all involved for this one, I really appreciate it. All your Battletech lore videos are awesome and really eye opening into this universe.

[@owenbrighurst9282]

Not sure if anyone has posted about this yet, but 2 Mackie MCK-5S were in comvat with the Black Widow Company, Fire Lance on Proserpina around 3025. The Karena Brothers fielded 2 from their family stores. Interestingly they were equiped with 1x PPC, 1x Large Laser and 1x Autocannon (weighing 8 ton). Also had 20 ton armour, 20 Heat Sinks and one-way cockpit glass giving an eerie 'no one home' feel.

[@scottmacgregor3444]

"Supremely expensive and occasionally not work." **Looks at F35.** Checks out. Err, make that Checkers out.

[@SMAXZO]

And the Bradley.

[@bthsr7113]

That damn plane we can no longer rid ourselves of. The one that forced a redesign of its signature munition and an overhaul of any helicopter pad expected to handle one. The one that flies upside down for CAS. The turkey whose cannon cracks its housing with inaccurate fire. The one with software that houses worms and literally hundreds of bugs. The master of none, loser of most.

[@Feiora]

@@bthsr7113 You seem angry, maybe Discount Dan can find you a better opinion in his archive of slightly used vehicles?

[@CharlesUrban]

@@bthsr7113 "Thank you for flying Boondoggle Airways. Please place your seat backs and "defense" contracts in their upright and bribed position. We hope to gouge you again soon. 'Boondoggle Airways--It's Graftastic!'" Meanwhile, they keep trying to mothball the A-10, but it's too damned good at its job to get rid of it even after all these years. Best plane ever. (Disclaimer: I am pretty much the exact opposite of a military-type guy. I just have strong opinions on money going to stupid things when they could go to smart things.)

[@bthsr7113]

@@CharlesUrban Oh I am well aware of how they keep trying to throw out the plane they actually need. The hog, which they hog to themselves while trying to kill it.

[@bobrocker7229]

I just recently found your channel and spent the weekend binging these. These are amazing, to say the least. I’ve been a fan of the series since i got a copy of mechwarrior 2 with my first pc back in the day. That opening sequence is still one of the coolest things ever. I had no idea the lore was this rich. You’ve spent hours going to detail and keep mentioning there are whole subjects you are leaving out! Cant wait for the next one. What you’re doing is truly appreciated!!!

[@theblackpantslegion]

Welcome aboard!

[@miss_bec]

I played in a campaign last year, ran by a friend. Part of that campaign involved partaking in a lance-versus-lance tournament that lasted about a month. The grand prize? A Mackie, outfitted with modern equipment, valued at 30 million C-Bills. It was our retirement fund, and I desperately wanted to send it into battle to close out our contract. Unfortunately, my friends said no. Still, a good memory.

[@EskoMorko_]

I've been listening to Tex Talks for about a week now while painting and I must say that the level of the content is both high quality and wonderfully humorous

[@dieseljester3466]

Capellans: "We're going to make war legal!" Also Capellans: "Wait... why's the Free Worlds League and Federated Suns now taking chunks of my realm?"

[@ChaosTicket]

Steiner Scout Squad is entertaining, but going into new territory keeps it interesting. Duncan Fisher, dont let him be the DM because he will just kill Player Characters until the players quit.

[@seand.g423]

Hey, if they're still playing after hearing that _he's_ the DM, that's quite frankly on them...

[@xodia9054]

I am looking at the layout of the Ares Convention and all I can think of is "this pretty much guarantees major usage of insurgencies and asymmetric warfare."

[@louhodo5761]

As I sit remembering the years I spent piloting a CN9-A for the DCMS. Ahh the good ol days of the 4th succession war. I look forward to the rifleman episode next. Great work as always.

[@TactWendigo]

I can't wait, I just listened to the Exodus part one and two for the second or third time last week.

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

I do remember one of the novels in the Jade Falcon trilogy also involving a scene with a Mackie.

[@lukegrimes916]

Tex, you and the crew outdo yourselves with every new installment to this series. Thank you so much from someone whose fondest memories are of my father teaching me to play Mechwarrior 3 and 4. You guys truly do your fans and this fantastic universe justice!

[@ambostralian]

I absolutely love how much time you spend giving credit and thanking all the people involved in bringing these lectures to life. Most creators just give a shoutout, you dedicate an entire section of the video to them

[@Thunderchicken69]

I like the fact that Ameris’ ghost is haunting the dumpster behind a Shoney’s, presumably in Van Zandt