BATTLETECH: Quad Battlemechs

It is finally here. The #Quad #Battlemech video has arrived, going over the origins, and history, of the work of Dr. David Harrison, and the companies who worked with him, as they created 4-legged Battlemechs.
From the #AgeofWar, through to the #StarLeague, into the #ClanInvasion, #Blakist era, #DarkAge, and #Ilclan era, these machines have roamed the #InnerSphere and #Clan space.
Every great House has been involved in their deployment, and a handful of Clans.
So, join us on a journey inot the strange and 4-legged, and the genius, or supposed genius, that crafted this path.
Oh, and Praise #Blake
#battletech #mechwarrior #CloudCobra #WordofBlake #Comstar #WOB #GreatHouses #SuccessionWars #3025 #Scorpion #Goliath #StalkingSpider #Tarantula #Xanthos #CapellanConfederation #HouseLiao #LyranCommonwealth #HouseSteiner #Revenant #Terra #Drone #ScorpionLAM #LAM #terranhegemony #HouseCameron #SLDF
0:00 Opening
3:28 "Ahead of Its Time"
13:11 The XNT-20 Xanthos
15:44 Of Quads and Rules
20:00 The Grand New Era... That Wasn't
30:27 The SCP-1N Scorpion
38:37 The GOL-1H Goliath
44:25 The XNT-30 Xanthos
51:16 A Forgotten "Marvel"
1:00:43 The Scorpion LAM
1:02:06 Darkest Before the Dawn
1:07:08 The ZPH-1 Tarantula
1:11:58 Far Away, in a Distant Land
1:15:40 The Stalking Spider
1:21:46 Vacant... Yet Occupied
1:30:09 The UBM-1A Revenant
1:35:31 The End of History
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Note: I am not associated with the Battletech / Mechwarrior IP, and create this under fair-use. Ownership of the Battletech IP resides with several companies at this time. I support all official releases.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Alright, there is a lot to cover here in the resources Post: First, at one point in the video I do state that Hollis believed Harrison was a genius, and this is probably the case, but it isn't outright stated, its something cobbled together from several resources across multiple entries. Beyond that, all data and information used to make this video, can be found in the following sourcebooks: Technical Readout 3025 (Original): Technical Readout 3039: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-3039-pdf I had to brush up on Quads a bit because I've not played with them in literal years, and to do so I went to the Battlemech Manual: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-battlemech-manual-book-pdf-combo XTRO Primitives Volume 4: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-experimental-technical-readout-primitives-iv-pdf (for the Xanthos and tons of interesting information about Dr. Harrison) XTRO Boondoggles: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-experimental-technical-readout-boondoggles-pdf (for the Scorpion LAM) TRO 3050 (original): TRO 3055 Upgrade: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-3055-upgrade-pdf-1 (for the Tarantula) TRO 3060: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-3060-pdf (for the Stalking Spider, and a few references to other designs) TRO Dark Age: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-dark-age (for the Xanthos) Final Reckoning: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-jihad-final-reckoning-pdf (For the Revenant) Recognition Guide 19: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-recognition-guide-ilclan-vol-19 (A few Scorpion references) And I think either TRO 3145 or TRO 3150 for more information on the Revenant. There you all go. I hope you enjoyed the video.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The quads will continue until morale improves.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I hope not XD

[@lichlord267]

I hope so lol

[@grassycrab]

I take it this attitude invented quadvees lol

[@Akabans999]

better quads than LAMs

[@mikavanpolen8418]

@@BigRed40TECH They will. That and primitive mechs.

[@graywolf7132]

I remember back in the day when I first picked up TRO 3055. I came upon the Tarantula, read it's entry and went, "Holy crap, this is quad that doesn't suck!"

[@CaptainBanjo-fw4fq]

I love the tarantula. It was a lot of fun in Mechwarrior 2 and one of two IS mechs in the main campaign (the other being the Battlemaster).

[@jasonstandlea1784]

"Oh.... good god.... that WAS their idea." Oh man, best line ever

[@WolfHreda]

In honor of this magnificent work, I have deigned to add a Tarantula to a company-sized unit list for Civil War and beyond play.

[@NotScoutie]

Once I finally get into company building, I likely will as well!

[@Jaeger_Bishop]

Red: "Genius can not be rushed without consciousness." Vaas Montinagro: "Did I ever tell you the definition of insanity?"

[@scytheseven9173]

the Doom Courser is probably my favorite Quad 'Mech, and one of few good Hell's Horses designs the quad is definitely the best place for a BattleMech turret

[@psychocomytic9778]

Can't wait for the discourse. Always been a fan of wacky mechs in general, keeps things from getting monotonous.

[@toejams9310]

Ah quads, the weird redheaded stepchild of Battletech. Props to Red for covering them. The intro really set the stage for the entire video, especially the comment by Red at the very end of it. The Revenant was a new one for me, and a really scary concept if used in a fully supported deployment, not in a last ditch meddle finger to your foes.

[@Somewhat-Evil]

Dr. Moreau: What is the law? Sayer of the Law: Not to go on all fours, that is the law. Are we not men?

[@michaelthomas5433]

Mech. The word is mech.

[@jarreddean2094]

No we are DEVO

[@derekhinger1343]

Fav (& likely most obscure) Val Kilmer movie lol 😂 🍿 🎥

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

Quads are one of those things I love about BattleTech; the weird offbeat shit that exists to make the setting diverse and interesting as opposed to just optimizing for best gameplay performance overall. If I could I'd sit down and watch a video by red on every single insane, deranged thing that the developers have put together in this game, whether it's exoskeletons or macrofauna or blimps or just what the fuck ever because it's all so much god damn fun.

[@calebharris292]

It's like in real life; that every few decades, someone tries to make a flying tank.

[@Marveryn]

wait till they try to make the insectoid mech. I believe it show up in mechassault???? you would think that we one of those word of blake mech

[@michaelbarnard8529]

Bipedal mechs are substantially more off-beat than four legged mechs. Quads are much more reasonable than upright designs.

[@DonaldWWitt]

@@michaelbarnard8529 Four legs good, two legs BAD!

[@bthsr7113]

Well in fairness to Battletech, the Battlemech is driven in no small part by neural interface, and thinking in true quadripedal is hard for a human brain... but it would be much easier for computers than two legs.

[@thexsoar]

Finally, someone did a deep dive into the scorpion LAM, thank you.

[@robrib2682]

You know oddly enough if they ditched the whole idea of having it keep the jump Jets after deployment it could have been a really interesting and useful tool in planetary invasion if they just dropped it from low orbit and had a ring of thrusters that attached into it slow it down enough to deploy behind enemy lines as a forward scout/ harasser. But no, that's too much like the hover drop maneuver and the inner sphere can't have nice things like that

[@thexsoar]

@@robrib2682 I always envisioned it as a quad with a one-off flight transformation, like to get away of to get to the front lines fast (Like an aerial form of MASC), but no they tried to do everything and... well failed.

[@seand.g423]

The only kind of "dive" I _ever_ want to _imagine_ with _any_ connection to that gordian knot of tech Heresy is _maybe_ as a Lance deployment. And even that, mostly for the Darwin Award candidacy...

[@V3RTIGO222]

I remember hearing about the tarantula being disturbingly scary... The idea of the role of the Quadmech overwhelming foes in a ground assault by Harrison may have been utter nonsense, yet the creation of the Revenant echoes a future where quadleg dronemechs descend upon a world like a tide of locusts.

[@bthsr7113]

Funny you compare them to locusts. Devouring all in their path, until they slumber on a dead world, waiting for something to eat. There is a setting I know of where 4 legged autonomous monsters swept over a world devouring and muliplying until it became one giant waste. A toxic expanse of nothing. But to tell you its name is to spoil it.

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

Listening to the video, part of me feels like the Quads also suffer from awkwardly trying to use the basic mech hit location chart. I understand wanting to keep things simple by reusing it, but I feel like part of what would make Quads appealing is their unique profile whare half the machine's components are obscured behind the other half in every firing arc(at least on the ground, from above or below it all free game) This would make that "battle line wave" idea that was described make sense. You could up armor the front legs and torso components while leaving the back kess armored, maybe move the ammo back there, and then have them phalanx together to protect that weakness(or you know, have other combined arms cooperation strategies going on)

[@johannesbowers7467]

​@@bthsr7113 Juggernauts and Feldreßs, oh my?

[@bthsr7113]

@@johannesbowers7467 No, nature was doing just fine in the anime there (Don't know if the light novels get nastier with ecological disaster), I am talking about war machines that make the Legion seem manageable in terms of numbers. Besides, Juggernauts are manned, as are Feldres and Reginleiffs. The machines I speak of swarm without human direction.

[@kevinpatrick6080]

Ran a campaign once in the 90s. It was quirky Clan Invasion era stuff. Most of the unit was made up of Scorpion pilots driving what the collapsing Rasalhague Republic could afford... The players really came to enjoy the little beast (with the post 3050 errata). Still one of my favorite mechs!

[@tuomastall5836]

I used to think that quadruple leg mech designs were dumb. Then I saw A-1 productions’s adaptation of “Eighty-Six” in 2021and now I cannot get enough of quads!

[@user-th7ig2oy9v]

Have to love the Xanthos being so bad at everything that a bullet point is "Has Four Legs"!

[@l0rf]

- always tried its best.

[@hammer1349]

Tbf Hollis didn't seem to give it much of chance either when providing the materials. It seems like it could have been good if it could have been provided up to date equipment and components

[@YCCCm7]

The Scorpion LAM is perhaps the single biggest waste of money imaginable... At least in terms of "we can see this is a terrible idea from hundreds of miles in the distance".

[@ero9841]

Humanity will never stop trying to make tanks fly and in a way its not a bad thing.

[@iller3]

Yeah, but that Safety Factor though...

[@TeflonTrout]

​@@iller3Oh, it's gotta be at LEAST 7

[@raithnor6007]

Growing up, I had a friend that would use 4 legged LAMs as Battle Armor busters. It would also cost more than an Atlas in terms of C-Bills.

[@th3b33f]

The classic music works so well

[@BigRed40TECH]

It works better than the Quads even XD

[@Executioner9000]

It's okay, but I really missed the MW2 soundtrack

[@kelleylafitte6503]

This whole time, Dr. Harris never once thought of mounting the body to a rotating platform on top of the legs and solving the body rotation issue

[@michaelsudsysutherland5353]

Loved the quad history! As a player who frequently encounters Neo-Aksarben forces on the field (as allies or enemies...), I see a lot of Scorpions (and the occasional Goliath) alongside all the gun tractors. This has influenced my own collection, and it's good to get the history of these odd machines, as I'm not always certain which TRO has them in them, so these videos are great. Besides, everybody and their brother has videos about other more popular mechs, covering such oddities stands out!

[@kierdalemodels]

“Like a giant salamander that farts!”😂

[@Hammerheadcruiser]

A fascinating history lesson

[@randomstuff8900]

Man, I love the Revenant. It's such a cool looking machine. I look forwards to *eventually* fielding one.

[@brianhenry152]

Definitely getting Dr. William Whitney Christmas vibes from this Dr. Harrison character... While I've never been a fan of quad mechs, this was a fun watch! You are a man true to his word, Red!

[@BigRed40TECH]

It has a Leg Factor of 7.

[@77professional]

At least they are not tripods. I mean imagine someone coming up with something like that!

[@polyquaternium7]

There is one! the Ares superheavy assault omnimech, 135 Ton of Tripod madness :D

[@josharmstrong8813]

. . . . . So who's gonna tell em?

[@psychocomytic9778]

Someone beat us to it.

[@aprinnyonbreak1290]

Atlas: You're a pretty bug guy Orca: For you

[@argokarrus2731]

The most insane part is that Tripods unironically would change warfare or at least battlemech design 😂

[@Xydarc]

Another great video! It's quality Battletech content like this is why I support the channel. Thanks Red!

[@knutboehnert3163]

A very well rounded overview of the relevant builds of quad mechs in the Battletech universe. All that presented in an entertaining way.

[@josharmstrong8813]

God I love the weirdness that is Quads, practical in concept (4 legs are better than 2), but absolutely shafted by rules/ lore basically excluding them I hope they make some quad exclusive rules to help them preform in the game like perhaps: • Allowing them to walk sideways/ strafe perhaps to aid in movment options and allowing it to more easily maintain lock on targets • giving more room in the torso areas to help offset the lack of arms or allowing to mount wepons in a similar maner to the arms but without the bonus as there mounted to the hull • Improved accuracy due to a more stable platform • Overall i think that quads can really shine if just given the chance and be a unusual but unique mech to the lineup As much as quads get a bad rap I just cant help but love them for there unique looks and the idea of a big metal bug scuttling around or a massive tank with legs that wouldn't look out of place on Hoth XD Now im not saying there better than conventional mechs i just like the playstyle idea of a stable fireing platform that can reliably hit targets at range but may suffer due to the lack of arms P.s. I love the touch when the goliath is show and the hallelujah music plays like its the chosen one going to lead all quads to a promised land free of hate and janky rules😂 maybe you guys may have an idea to make quads work in there own odd ways Conclusion: I just think there neat :) and thank you for listening to my tangent

[@bthsr7113]

Agreed on all points.

[@seanmorison429]

There are rules for side stepping quads.

[@MrSnobok]

The Dr Harrison saga reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Homer designed a car that drove his brother's company into bankruptcy.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Just imagine if he kept doing it.

[@MrSnobok]

@@BigRed40TECH Nothing is foolproof to the sufficiently talented fool. Dr Harrison did make quite the storied career as you explained well.

[@vishnu79]

If you haven't already done so, you should look into Tex Talk's Battletech's historical documentary video about the real-life shenanigans of Dr. William Christmas and his "Christmas Bullet" monoplane. The guy managed to actually kill people (test pilots) with his cantilevered monoplane fighter designs. FOR YEARS! And somehow got actual governmental people to get onboard with his "ideas" and give him money. Reality is always stranger than fiction.

[@lukebilan6151]

I LOVE THE QUADS!

[@mikewarden5777]

Fantastic video, Red. It was well researched and presented with a touch of musical refinement. Bonus points for mentioning the greatest of all Clan totem mechs, the Thunder Stallion. An A++ my good sir.

[@TheSheenMcClean]

Came for the quads, stayed for the Beethoven.

[@MrSleepy677]

3050, A BIG RED ODYSSEY.

[@riptors9777]

The first quad mechs where BAD, the goliath and scorpion are criminally undergunned and especially the goliath never really overcame that low amount of firepower, but then eventually we got beasts like the sirocco and the barghest that showed that there is a place for quads in battletech.

[@infernum5646]

I loved this video. Comprehensive, vicious, and fair. My favorite part was the Revenant. Had completely forgotten about that little bugger. Skynet would be proud of it.

[@zeewulfeh]

As a member of QuadMech Gang, I fully embrace their superiority. This was a fun dive into them.

[@Gladius-XC]

Really enjoyed the video and your take on Quads. One of the critiques I have for other content creators is when they just list a bunch of stats that I can easily get from reading the TRO. Your opinions on why something is good or bad, and specifically WHY you feel that way are the real draw of your videos. I also really enjoyed the stories interlinking the different ‘Mechs, and would like to see more videos that follow the same formula.

[@nachoneitzscheese]

I was hoping for more of a focus on the Hell's Horses in this video, since they're one of the factions in BattleTech that has most enthusiastically embraced the quad mech concept. But that's fine, since Big Red is clearly saving that discussion for the hotly anticipated quadvee video. And by hotly anticipated, I mean by myself and the dozen or so other deranged quadvee enjoyers.

[@Tempest_Murder]

I like the idea of having a 100 ton, waddling battering ram with the cockpit at the very front and placing the majority of the protective tonnage BEHIND the pilot. Much better than placing the pilot in the center like in that outdated 21st century "modern" armor. Literally dripping with 3025 Liao sauce.

[@richardlayton7184]

I love the Quads. Their side step maneuver can flank an unaware opponent. The legs add armor and stability but sacrifice the carrying capacity of arms. I, for one, am fond of the Scorpion and Goliath.

[@Bluemaxx83]

Thankyou for highlighting just how good the Tarantula can be when used effectively. I love that little bug and it has been the bain of many heavier mechs for me over the years 😅

[@freeranger00]

Great video. I think that you were fair to the various quads, even if I irrationally like the Scorpion. The Goliath and Tarantula are really good in their roles and deserve the props you give them in the video. I was aware of the Revenant, but dang, if the Wobblies had deployed it earlier as support for their other forces it might have been a real game changer. Now I want to do a campaign around drone mechs, it feels like an interesting topic.

[@elchjol2777]

I can see a quad design being good for mounting AA weapons,give it a nice flat back to mount upward facing missile racks or a gun turret to deny the skies. Other than that,get a tank or a biped mech.

[@louiswilkins9624]

Xanthos sounds more like a proof of concept more than an actual battlemech.

[@OrangeAmped]

Perfect background music for galaxy brained geniuses who know that the quad is the wave of the future.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'm glad a few people caught on to why the classical music was used XD

[@CJamesGoode]

Great Video. I have a fog of a memory, that Back in the Fasa days there was a 6 legged version of the Scorpion as well. well, but I might be combining it with something else.

[@Berathan-dnd]

I've been plating Battletech 3062 and just fought some mercs with a clan tech Goliath. It was terrifying.

[@Mario-kf3ej]

only those who do not skip leg days can appreciate quads to thier fullest !

[@NishidateKitsune]

Welcome back, Big Red. And yes, I do love Quads in spite of their flaws.

[@chriswriter9087]

I’ve been watching one of the “inspirations” for BattleTech Dougram. It’s interesting how in their origin series the Quad Goliath & Scorpion were outdated machines in the process of being replaced by Bipeds. Meanwhile in BattleTech Quads like the Goliath & Scorpion were sidegrades & novelties at best and flawed dead-ends at worst.

[@FlyingWithSpurts]

Harrison was a fan of the historical Terran drama Empire Strikes Back

[@axinite2545]

Amazing video, had my attention the entire time. Loved the coverage. A good bit on why I love the bt universe. It's serious but also realistic in being quirky with bad ideas, mechs in the 31st century are like the biplanes of WW1, some things are still being figured out. Also, I now want to run a full lance of scorpion lams. All because of the exasperation in your voice when you covered it. Just because it's a bad idea means I should.

[@BigRed40TECH]

You can make it work if your opponent lets you XD

[@quinnsanders2771]

Red I’ve watched a lot of your content and this is definitely one of my favorites you’ve made the music was S tier and the tragedy comedy aspect especially in the beginning is what I live for I didn’t know anything about the LAMs or Quads so this was S tier

[@alexs5814]

I watched the entire Vid and i thank you from the depths of my hearts for bringing the splendour of Battletech quads to my attention.

[@matthewjay660]

Hello Big Red, I LOVE quads! ☝🏻 However, I construct them from scratch myself. I NEVER use a pre-fabricated quad 'mech. I always put in turrets so it can "torso-twist", double heatsinks, and I do like to use a COMPACT ENGINE & a COMPACT GYRO to free up some internal space. I also ALWAYS use Case II. Seyla!

[@BigRed40TECH]

I never play customs on tabletop, ever. So we're just playing different games, and thats okay :)

[@Alizardwithdaftideas]

Firstly, excellent video. Secondly I was determined to maintain my disdain for quad mechs in Battletech. But then you showed me the Tarantula and Stalking Spider. Now I find myself torn.

[@alyssinwilliams4570]

an advanced rules that might be interesting to try out that might help quads a little bit - the rear torso is the *underside*. If a mech is at the same or higher elevation it simply cant hit the rear, and a reduced chance if at a lower elevation. But, armor and infantry can hit the rear torso normally (infantry perhaps at a bonus). Perhaps partial cover giving it a huge bonus to protect the legs? though, there is also the advanced rule where partial cover provides no bonus, but can instead absorb hits if the random hit location is covered, so there is that too. I also think the advanced construction item of 'turret' should be pretty standard (and maybe even free) for quads

[@armwulfpiloteer3255]

I would love to see a mech that can walk on either two legs or four. I see it as a weird inner sphere heavy with a load out similar to the archer. On all fours, it moves fast, but not very agile- and uses LRM's on the back in combo with two small lasers on the head. While standing, it has limited torso twist but gains use of 4 medium lasers, two per arm with solid firing arcs. The cockpit is sphere shaped and rotates as it stands or drops to stay facing forwards. While running it can bombard with LRM'S and handle infantry with its small lasers. Or drop prone and hull down. While standing it's slower, but with some torso twist and arm firing arcs.

[@xensoldier]

amazing video RED!

[@mrbigglezworth42]

Quad mechs sound like a good idea, but probably should've leant in harder in being a slower moving and harder hitting weapons platform. A turret with 4 legs and the ability to do 360 rotations would be a neat idea.

[@johnwiebe8581]

Great and well balanced video, pointing out the faults but also the triumphs. This video inspired me to make a Scorpion upgrade which I may post on the Discord later. I will disagree with you on one point, I don't think Harrison was a fool. He was ahead of his time, therefore didn't have the tech he needed to succeed and was overly optimistic of his ideas. Quads will never take over from bipeds but they could function beside them (or behind them) in specialty roles; they have a place even if there be few who use them.

[@JokerFrog]

I really had hoped to hear some of the lore on the Antlion and any field use it might've gotten. Great video as always though!

[@ero9841]

I honestly really like dedication to get these mech running. Even the lam version. Good job red video was one of your best. I've got friend who is an ace in a golaith it's amazing seeing him run it.

[@hobbstactv2571]

I always thought that the proper place for a design as stable as the Quad was in the rear, equipped with slower speed, jump jets for placement purposes, and artillery like Thumper, Sniper, and Long Tom cannons.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Your just better off with a tank doing those jobs sadly.

[@readwatchlisten2863]

I'm glad to see Quad Mech getting some content. These mechs are victims of wonky rules. I think we all understand the conceptual problems with bipedal mechs, but we flipped the "I, believe" switch on when playing the game. Sadly, that switch got flipped off when it came to Quad Mechs. Shame, they could have been very cool and useful in the game.

[@kierdalemodels]

Good stuff. I was glad to see the Sirocco mentioned👍 I think you gave the quads a very fair appraisal.

[@toddcox1942]

The Barghest gets a single paragraph mention in Flashpoint and I was like "we've been mentioned on the telly!"

[@MatthewSobotka]

The Xanthos XNT-5O, is a total beast in Alpha strike rule set in a head hunters capture the flag, or a last mech standing game type. Due to its massive 11 armor and 11 structure, plus it has the jump strong trait. Meaning it has an effective TMM of 3 when jumping. Granted it cant really shoot well, but if you need a damage sponge it cannot be beat. As if you can get into Cover its as hard to hit as a locust, plus its got armor to stay.

[@williamjanak2013]

Little surprised you didn't mention a Quad with a turrent. Unless I missed it doing chores.... But it was still a good video as always.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Just didn't work out based on the pathway we were talking about. Even with turrets though, they're pretty limited imo.

[@Vagabond820]

Maybe quads should have been given 6 extra crit slots in each side torso. But that, like unique hit tables and damage transfer rules, would have required extra work involved in their creation instead of shoe horning them into their existing rules.

[@saladinbob]

The problem with Quad Mechs is that they're inherently badly designed. The mistake was in mimicking an animalistic profile. If all you wanted was the advantage of additional stability and increased armour then the design should have been a quadrupedal humanoid Mech design which provides you with the best of both designs whilst eliminating many of the flaws. Build in an ejection system for the legs and an ability to move the pelvis back and forth and you even eliminate the advantage of shooting a leg off, doubling its durability.

[@lordilluminati5836]

So a centaur mech?

[@novacat3032]

yeah you get it... start with the Scorpion: just by going to 50 tons you get 2 tons to use to improve the mech and only lose a few points of internal structure, just a tiny tweak and you get a far better mech

[@hammer1349]

Reminds me a lot of the Eva provisional unit 5. Humanoid upper half and quad roller skate legs

[@axinite2545]

I also imagine they would fare better in a non TT environment, such as mwo or mw5. Lower profile, harder to shoot, capable of moving sideways while shooting, and with more effect from small terrain differences helping cover them. It's already a pain shooting a flea up close, imagine one half it's height. TT is a bit of a limited applied environment.

[@OtioseFanatic]

The entire main issue of quads in universe is that even low profile ones shake the ever loving piss out of the pilots while even at a slow pace. Putting the pilot on top of what is essentially a tower would only make that issue way, WAY worse. Imagine riding at the tip of a metronome as it swings back and fourth and still being expected to aim at something mid combat and not blow chunks while ALSO being at a real risk of the weight of your own neurohelmet breaking your neck through whiplash with every step. And the whole "leg eject and waist slide" idea would be needlessly overcomplicated and expensive, like a LAM but less versatile. Remember the Daiboku? I do. The real problem is that there is literally no reason at all for the TT quad rules to be as needlessly bad as they are. There's no reason why you can't eject from one other than a rule designer taking the piss and the whole idea of having more legs should indeed mean that you shouldn't be COMPLETELY screwed when losing one, especially when tripod Mechs exist. The real problem is that the old guard is too afraid to make the AGGRESSIVE rule changes that need to be made for quads to make sense next to biped and quad designs.

[@seanmorison429]

Love Quad mechs!

[@ii2bcnii]

Quad-mechs? The Goliath Scorpions approve.

[@philipgard6762]

I've enjoyed quads frequently for their lower overall height as they are good at hiding in terrain and springing an ambush.

[@jordansimpkins8784]

Great video, I think the snow fox is an intriguing clan light that's a quad.

[@bobsmith1313]

I wish the Scorpion had a quadvee hover or tracked conversions since it's basically a tank

[@SRM576]

Great video, love the weird technologies that fell flat on their face in Btech. Reading up on the drone quads is a trip, makes me want a celerity model.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Praise Blake O.O

[@kereminde]

Took a bit longer to get to this, as I wanted to be able to pay attention closely. This was a great video, a good example of one of your long-form videos (like the slightly longer Warhammer IIC video). I look forward to giving at least two of the Quads a shot once my Kickstarter stuff arrives.

[@jeffreywilliams8018]

When I originally played Battletech, I never gave quads a chance (outside of piloting the clan refit of the Tarantula buried in the cheat codes of Mechwarrior 2), but the clix game of all things actually convinced me to give them a chance many years later. They definitely have their flaws, but they perform no worse than many of the other niche bi-pedal mechs of the game when used properly. As long as they can stay in their lane, they can be quite effective. …kind of like how your opinion of the Raven will change drastically if you’re playing a larger-scale, double-blind game or a 1v1 Solaris duel in the Steiner Stadium.

[@kaipoh265]

I have a metal xanthos sitting on two linked hex bases. Such an ungainly beast. Love it.

[@Dreadwolf3155]

Scorpion LAM......oh i effin love it!

[@kks557]

I'm looking forward to this! Bring on the honesty of how bad most of them are!!! lol

[@John-jv7ki]

Nicely done, very good video...

[@TheBloodedCat]

As a blossoming FWL supporter, the Sarath 10B makes me excited to play more in the ilclan era

[@robertreid9256]

I'd never heard of the scorpion LAM, I really like quads and LAM. Thanks for the video.

[@Tzilandi]

43:52 - "Where things fall apart is if your opponent doesn't let the machine operate as intended." Any strategy that hinges on your opponent not trying to stop you is probably not going to meet a lot of success...

[@hammer1349]

Admittedly a lot of specialist vehicles are in the same boat. Quads are best suited to those niche roles like artillery carrier etc

[@GojiKaichou]

*looks at Goliath, then looks at Scorpion, nods sagely* "Yep... Quads are a thing that exists. Welp, time to see what these things can do..." *straps into Goliath pilot seat, powers mech on, and is killed almost immediately by the opfor, as the Quad was the biggest, SLOWEST target available*

[@Smokeyraven42]

Great job!

[@mikavanpolen8418]

Now quads, later primitives. We just keep pushing.

[@JosephMitchell-zw3db]

Ty cool Goliath tank by hells-horses and thanks 2 models I had now clue on thanks was great

[@negawan]

wish i could like this 4 times for each leg

[@jlokison]

Started playing in the late 80s but I've always thought it odd that the front legs damage transfers to the side torsos but the rear legs don't they should be the same one way or the other. Personally I also wish they had rules for hexapods, centaurs, octopods and scorpions as well, but that's just a me thing.

[@calumdeighton]

I hope at some point in the future you will do the Ares. After this video I'm kinda interested in the idea/notion of quad mechs. After all. Most land animals move around on 4 legs. Also my 1st encounter with quad mechs was the Land Stalker from Ratchet & Clank Dreadzone. As for the video and topic of it. I think quad mechs in their initial introduction and run just came too early. The technology hadn't come along yet to make it a viable option, and the role they've come to fulfil differs greatly. The egghead nut who came up with the first three I can give credit too for his stubbornness. But he should have taken a step back and assessed what the heck he was making. I'm interested in the idea of quads becoming more common in the near future of BattleTech. I've already got the nutty idea of forming a full company of battle armour as some sort of heavy infantry drop company for campaign stuff. Just replace paratroopers with battle armour and drop them on an isolated target.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I really hate the Ares (Mech). I don't want to cover it.

[@calumdeighton]

@@BigRed40TECH Got it.

[@julianares1343]

Funny use of Beethoven's music in the background.

[@MOrab46019]

Love the music pick. It had Discovery Wings feel to it. Thank you for that.

[@IceSilent]

Ah the quads! Great work as usual Big Red! Currently have a Barghest, Thunder Fox, Jaguar, and Sarath in my collection. I house rule the heck out of these guys to bring them more in balance (and apply a dash of common mechanical sense) with their bipedal cousins. I regret nothing.

[@ampgp03d]

1:21:55 i honestly thought for a moment my phone was acting up until I saw the celestial mech. Also loves the T1 quote

[@Dreadwolf3155]

I love the idea of quad mechs especially with turrets and the bonus to piloting skill rolls but never used in combat because....just seems really awkward if you lose a leg!

[@leroyottersberg7151]

Though not a quad lover, I definitely enjoyed the education on quad history. Quads might have gotten a few things better, they only prove that some dreams are actually are a delayed nightmare. At least Hollis managed to be partially redeemed through the success of the Battle Master.

[@l0rf]

Quad leg day must be awful. But this video really is quality yet again.

[@user-co4os7kl6b]

Quads mechs had the ability to be a perfect specialist frame, good stablity, good terrain moblity, great silhouette for stealth and cover. It's a great ambush, sniper, and hit and run frame, but it can't be put anywhere else. Only if it was able to be made that way, things could have been different