BattleTech: Specialized Periphery Battle Armor Designs

Today, we dive into the history of some of the more unique designs of battle armor from the Periphery
Join this channel to support the creation of future videos and access our Discord!:
/ @mechanicalfrog
BattleTech imagery remains the property of Topps.
Some video thanks to Pixabay
#BattleTech #Mechwarrior #CatalystGameLabs #lore #Elemental

[@TroidHunter]

“Mom, I want a Marauder.” “We have a Marauder at home, sweetie.”

[@MechanicalFrog]

Pinning this. Laughed very hard.

[@bthsr7113]

This is the marauder you get out of the gumball adjacent dispensers over an actual model kit.

[@be-noble3393]

Jake’s Taxidermy Battle Armor: a subsidiary of Discount Dan’s Totally Not a Scam LLC

[@Accentaur]

Oh hey I bought a LAM from that Discuento Danielo guy. Still have no idea how to make it leave airmech mode. Send help.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Did you try rubbing some dirt on it?

[@Accentaur]

@@MechanicalFrog good idea. It'll buff right out.

[@stormcrow28]

The Ravager received a refit in 3101 which removed the heavy recoiless rifle for a light RR, and an eight shot LRM-3. This variant keeps the heavy armor and is also more mobile then similar battle armor such as the Kanazuchi. The Ravager is best used on the defense, but the LRM variant gives you excellent range especially for a battle armor unit. A 5 person Marian squad of LRM Ravagers is a pretty cheap, well armored LRM-15 with 5 6 hex range 2 pt LRRs to boot. They're met for defense and cheap fire support. The Marauder, on the other hand is designed to provide firepower against hardened targets.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Awesome. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@Darren_Xero]

Think of Marauders as a sort of heavy mechanized infantries

[@rudyvalle9022]

Me: “Why didn’t he show the stealth armor?” Also me: 🤦‍♂️ “duh, it’s stealth”

[@MechanicalFrog]

It was there the whole time!

[@DeamonMaim]

Ahh yes Marian Battle Armor proof that even though they may not have the punch and tech base of the Sphere or Clans. Never ever underestimate a scrappy crazy legionary

[@MechanicalFrog]

The Periphery refuses to quit. Even with rocks and sticks, they will fight on.

[@oneproudbrowncoat]

Ave Caesar!

[@MechanicalFrog]

@@oneproudbrowncoat Vini Vedi Vici.

[@oneproudbrowncoat]

@@MechanicalFrog (that's "veni vidi vici". 😉)

[@Marveryn]

thinking over i can see the marauder being one of the useful battle armor for a units that need fire power for their ground infantry. It let them carry 3 support weapons in one vehicle and its fast enough to keep up with a foot rifle platoon. One key feature its the tag which allow to call in greater firepower should the need arise. Like you mention frog i don't see it working on its own as it too slow for a mobile warfare but its would make a good ambusher as long as it had a get away ride nearby.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Absolutely.

[@robrib2682]

Honestly I could see that in a low points game with ambush rules (or whatever the rules that let you deploy vehicles in cities that are hidden are called) because realistically you would need maybe two infantry squads along with a lrm boat/ lrm carriers depending on how low points we're talking to pull that off.

[@oleksaderzybis9052]

Specter is wonderful piece of tech between PA(L) and heavier BA, truly love it. Sadly, we can't see one, even in a vid. :D

[@MechanicalFrog]

Maybe one day!

[@sim.frischh9781]

Well it IS a stealth design, after all XD

[@davidgrunt]

Stealth armor so stealth all that can be seen is a black screen

[@jlokison]

I think I can make out a carbon nano tube coated silhouette in that field of black... but that might just be a visual hallucination.

[@davidgrunt]

@@jlokison The only way you know it's there is because you know there is nothing there....

[@MechanicalFrog]

I am continually sabotaged by technology.

[@keebbles]

Just go with the joke. It's what I thought you intended anyway.

[@Yacovo]

I look at the Marauder battle armor and I can't help but think of the Stone Rhino with that squat and triple cannons. Wonder if the Clans would call a Trial of Copyright. Thanks for the video.

[@Accentaur]

Can you imagine what a IIC variant of the Marauder BA would be like? One can only dream.

[@Darren_Xero]

To be fair, though. The Marians weren't intentionally "copied" the Clans including their own military structures. If anything, it was mostly a coincidences

[@christianholzschuh6853]

The clans will propably say silent since the Stonerhino is also a copy of a mech amaris designed.

[@bthsr7113]

Besides, the chimney kittens stopped being a thing, so the only party that reasonably could sue is gone.

[@kalixascsi66]

AVE CAESAR! I love the Marauder battle armor because it is so derpy and stupid looking, but is also an unstoppable killing machine. It's like the Marian Hegemony looked at the Marauder mech and though "We can make that tiny! Easy!".

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's sure a thing.

[@bthsr7113]

@@MechanicalFrog I mean, a ballistic on top, a PPC in each arm, and the overall shape do all evoke a Marauder. Though I definitely recommend keeping fast movers to get them into and out of hot zones. Or have them wait as parts of elaborate concealed kill zones to leave no survivors to shoot at you while you reposition.

[@kalixascsi66]

@@bthsr7113 The Marian Locust and Commando variants are fast and pack a monstrous wallop. I typically field a century of them with Marauder BA in my manipole and they are a terror.

[@screenmonkey]

The Marauder is also the name of the Armour from starship troopers.

[@Vespuchian]

Assuming that long snoot is for the pilot’s legs (no way your getting your legs past those hips), I think the Marauder BA counts as the smallest class of Protomech. 😅

[@charleslarue792]

I'm using a squad of Marauder BA in my BTA 3062 run. It gets a lot of work done! 5 TAGs mean that with split fire I can tag multiple mechs in one round. It has high priority so it can use squad support abilities early. The Support Peepers have good range for a BA weapon, and it can do a shocking amount of damage with 10 of them to a squad. It's similar damage to an LBX-20, split fire lets you apply the PPC debuff to multiple mechs, and it can knock down unstable mechs. It's slow as hell, so it needs omni or transport support, and they get shredded pretty often because the AI likes to target slow targets, but they're great team support.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Awesome to hear! I might have to give BTA3062 another try just for the battle armor.

[@wraith7989]

The Periphery: where anything goes and nothing makes sense.

[@MechanicalFrog]

And that's how we like it.

[@gregbird5684]

😂i see what u did there😂😂 "stealth armor"😂😂 bravo Mechwarrior frog👏👏👏👏👏

[@MechanicalFrog]

Classic

[@sebastiang.5032]

Yaaay, the BA train of fun rolls on! I'm loving it!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you're enjoying them!

[@GonnaDieNever]

I'd love to see a video about the Blakist Demon series PA, particularly the Asura and the Nephilim. The Asura IMO is one of the better IS "Elemental Knockoff" designs, while the Nephilim is one of the more brutal assault armors around.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm very sure the WoB armor will be getting their own video in the near future.

[@shagakhan9442]

I love field the demons. I put 2 Nephilim in Bolla stealth tanks, and run them into cover on mid board. I keep 2 stands of Se'irim on my Archangel, and Seraph assaults. Looooooove the hard hitting and stealthy WoB armors. As a plus, they have a terrible visage to behold.

[@defiantmechwarrior2397]

I always thought only clans had armor but slowly though you and a little bit of red I am learning IS had armor too.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Oh so very much of it...

[@bthsr7113]

I daresay it's seeming like without the iconic and well balanced Elemental, the Sphere felt more free to experiment.

[@MechanicalFrog]

@@bthsr7113 We're going to get to the Clan armor soon. There are some wild designs.

[@TheOtterpop]

I dont normaly watch youtube videos but I do find your are very calming and very informative and exciting. Thank you for being you

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks a lot, Otter!

[@Bluehairedgirl89]

(Thank you very much for all the work you put into this video it was great. It’s so awesome to see more periphery equipment and all this battle armour gives me so many combined arms ideas.)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Damienx247]

Marian Hegemony logo is awesome. Reminds of the Undead troopers from Mutant Chronicles.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah it sure is an attempt to be intimidating.

[@kierdalemodels]

👏👏👏Excellent stuff. I knew of the Spectre but not the others. I’m really enjoying this series👍

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad to hear it!

[@ralphsexton8531]

That ravager seems perfect for prepared defenses around a landed DropShip. Where the ship isn't going anywhere, speed is less of a concern, and resilience could be the saving grace. The Marauder likewise, though that speed and thinner armor does give me pause. Still, serious firepower for that size!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah so long as it can stay put, no problem.

[@Hammerhead227]

The Hegemony does love their many Marauder variants

[@MechanicalFrog]

Good times had by all.

[@YalelingOz]

That marauder suit looks sweet, I want one! (I don't know what I'd do with it, but this is how impulse purchases go.)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Put it in the yard to scare off solar panel salesmen.

[@DarthHippygaming]

Periphery: you have me interested Battle armor: No you have my attention.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Heh. double threat...

[@IronSuns]

Ye Marauder battle armor

[@MechanicalFrog]

Seriously, after dozens of requests...

[@nukenuked5749]

SWEET more armor videos woooot wooot wooot

[@MechanicalFrog]

So many more to do...

[@yecnay25]

I hate the Romanboos but I do love the Marauder BA, it’s like the pug of the Marauder family.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's sure a thing...

[@yecnay25]

@@MechanicalFrog like I said, it’s a deformed Mad-3R and can ride its larger models into battle like a baby possum lol

[@BlackjackMC1]

Marauder BA platoon in a city is loads of fun to use.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I bet.

[@Darren_Xero]

I hope one day CGL will make new models of Marian Ravagers & Marauders BAs

[@MechanicalFrog]

That would be cool.

[@jasonscarborough94]

Death Ray Designs makes a 6mm scale piece that's entire selling point is "This is a squad of Tennent Battle armor, its totally not a squad of Marauder BA, but, you could definitely use it for Marauder BA."

[@level98bearhuntingarmor]

9:23 oo battle armor that I legitimately think looks really cool (mostly a mech guy)

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's just nice to know these things are out there to use if you want to spice things up. :D

[@Kepora1]

Okay, I like the Marauder's design.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's an interesting one, for sure.

[@matthewpena3932]

This was brilliant.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Heh, glad you enjoyed it.

[@mirrorsandstuff]

Cackled at the advert. Nice touch.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Got a little silly...

[@VickyAmaru]

I really hope we get more variants of battle armor in Catalyst plastic at some point in the near future.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah we'll see how the Inner Sphere Standard turns out. I know their process really has trouble with objects that small.

[@RattlerNxt]

I’m bringing a Marauder in my Scorpion Empire Seeker force. I have been loving the Cadaver already.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Let the Marauders out to play.

[@fedupN]

Huh. Periphery Battlearmor. Neat.

[@MechanicalFrog]

yes... neat.

[@CMDR_B0B]

As a 34th century SnakeShip Salesman, I'm just here for the commercials... [Yes, most of my Live&Lovely Keelback adds are stolen from different times/timelines. Don't forget I'm also the Official Liaison for the 🎶 Amazonian Space Pirates 🎶] ...10/10 was not disappointed. In fact I really dig this particular Overlooked reality of war in the Sphere & the Pereriphy (& humankind in general) for Centuries. Production Quality battlefield Fakes date back to the early 20th century. No reason a full company of "wacky inflatable arm mechs" , and eventually Battle Armor (inflatable vehicles are Ancient Tech) wouldn't be easily available. And of course far better Fakes can be made if the money is good, even just adding some heat & electronic "noisemakers" for sensors to pickup should cover most satellites and high altitude scouts. Best full sized mech to imitate (I'm old school and have a deep love for Battletech's original Poster Girl). Have Fun&Post Dangerous -Lakon Marketing Division, Keelback Office -'Only ship in the Galaxy to come equipped with a soul 😇'

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hah! I love it.

[@spacewolfblackmane19]

I really disappoints me that we don't get more stories from the micro nations. I can see great narrative potential coming from there. Also I love these lesser known designs, however I think I'd rather stick with speed, and close range knife fighting fire power, unless I'm defending an objective.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm hoping that in time, we will start to see stories from across known space. Especially as Catalyst puts the pause on big events happening in the IlClan era. It's an opportunity to tell smaller stories.

[@lebe5894]

Proof that the Marian Hegemony is the greatest faction in the periphery!

[@Accentaur]

Proof that by staying true to Caesar, you might just get your hands on a BA Marauder. Or just straight up buy it from the Taurians. Coin toss.

[@lebe5894]

@@Accentaur Ave true Ceaser!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Veni Vedi Vici.

[@bthsr7113]

Yeah, I prefer a good old giddyup, posse! There's pirates to shoot and loot!

[@HondaWagovan]

If you are fighting in very restricted battlefields, say clearing tunnel complexes, the ravager battle armor would be a very excellent at clearing those spaces.

[@parallaxgames]

Frog, I'm really hoping you get to the Longinus soon.

[@MechanicalFrog]

"soon"

[@mwhyte1979]

I think there was something wrong with the vid. While talking about the stealth battlesuit there was no pic--- wait never mind!

[@MechanicalFrog]

*taps brain case*

[@sim.frischh9781]

Ah yes, Marauder finally got its video.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Just goes to show, asking dozens of times yields results.

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@MechanicalFrog XD Don´t lie, you were looking for an excuse to make videos of all BAs, weren´t you? ;)

[@MechanicalFrog]

As if I needed an excuse.

[@madmusial]

What about pairing the Ravagers or the Mauraders with a Gun Battlemech. Seems like a good combo for the Taurians who appear to have ready access to all 3 as a garrison force. Support them with a missle boat or two? Or even just some LRM carriers.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The combos really can do some interesting things.

[@ryandow6953]

JeSUS that's a CHONKY BOI!!!

[@MechanicalFrog]

"Oh lordy, he comin!"

[@keithwinget3450]

Was there ever a demand for a mech designed purely as a battle-armor delivery platform? I can imagine a quad mech built entirely for speed, sacrificing armor and weaponry to be able to carry up to two units of battle armor. Ok, maybe it would have a couple mgs just in case, but otherwise just imagine you took the weapons out of two cicadas and then put even bigger engines in both of them and welded a solid platform to the back of one and the front of the other, and just called it a 85 ton (5 ton armored platform I guess?) 4-legged apc. :P

[@MechanicalFrog]

Not that I know of.

[@jasonscarborough94]

Clan Ghost Bear originally designed the Fire Moth or "Dasher" as a light infantry transport mech, it had detachable troop bays and everything, but, the bays didn't fair well in testing and so they were removed. That's really the closest I can think of

[@andrewduitsman3918]

Can I make a request, could you look at the Rostam and Silverback battle armor from Death Ray Designs? Then cover what in setting what real Battle Armor you think they best proxy. I think that would be awesome.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Very likely soon.

[@andrewduitsman3918]

@@MechanicalFrog That is awesome.

[@shagakhan9442]

The Rostam looks like Chuchulain, and I proxies the Silverback as IS standard battle armor.

[@Echo1608.]

Now I have to ask...Can a Marauder ride a Marauder into battle?

[@MechanicalFrog]

If the Marauder has hand-holds welded onto it, sure.

[@bthsr7113]

@@MechanicalFrog Sounds like a worthwhile investment, if only for one Memrauder.

[@vana.johnson8845]

✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✔ Keep'em Coming @MechFrog🤖🐸

[@MechanicalFrog]

Will do!

[@shagakhan9442]

Too bad I missed out on DRD's miniatures of these baddies.

[@NodDisciple1]

You going to cover Marians in this vid? You think they would be all over the Power Armor due to their Rome Fetish.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I did a video on the Marians a little while back. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHjVeol9aZuMhJo

[@bthsr7113]

2 questions, does the ventral RR on the Marauder BA have turret functionality with 360 rotation, and do the Jump Extenders produce a smaller thermal signature than Jump jets?

[@MechanicalFrog]

I do not think it has rotation like that. Though it doesn't say, It makes sense that the mechanical jump extenders, which are purely mechanical and not benefitting from an exothermic reaction, would have a smaller IR signature.

[@sordcooper2]

Ok, so how much punch does a recoilless rifle pack? I tried to check sarna for some refence but I came up empty. We talking like a mech grade machine gun? AC2? AC5? gotta check how hard a battle armor ppc or Gauss rifle hits for that matter too

[@MechanicalFrog]

The TechManual says a Light Recoilless Rifle does 2 damage to a mech. MedRF - 3 Dmg. Heavy, also 3. Against infantry a LRR does 1D6 Damage, MdRR - 2D6, HRR -2D6

[@bthsr7113]

@@MechanicalFrog So is there a reason to use the heavy one?

[@MechanicalFrog]

@@bthsr7113 Not that I have been able to decipher.

[@bthsr7113]

@@MechanicalFrog Does it do more damage against other battle armors or vehicles than the medium? Or have more range?

[@MechanicalFrog]

​@@bthsr7113 Total Warfare says the Heavy has 1 longer range in each bracket. 1-3, 4-5, 6-7 vs the medium's, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6

[@JosephMitchell-zw3db]

Nice winder if the Mauraders know about the BA maurader

[@bthsr7113]

Advertises anti-piracy use. Has Marian Hegemony flag. These do not compute.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The best bad guys think they're good guys.

[@bthsr7113]

@@MechanicalFrog Debatable, but most bad guys think they're in the right.

[@randomnetsurfer]

Wait okay, so I'm developing BA via the Techmanual, and they have a maximum ground MP of 3, so how is a BA managing to get 4 ground MP? Thanks in advance!

[@MechanicalFrog]

The short answer is, I don't know. The long answer is, I have no idea. BA rules are silly.

[@randomnetsurfer]

@@MechanicalFrog Aha, you mentioned it in another video, there's an actuator enhancement system (type thing?) that gives +1 MP.

[@sanguiniusonvacation1803]

How does a protomech, and a battle armor differ ?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Battle Armor really only go up to 2,000 Kilograms. Protomechs can be 2-15 tons.

[@johnnythompson3734]

As a privateer/mercenary/pirate, I greatly disapprove of your partnership with Jake's battle armor taxidermy.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I figured I would get more complaints about a company that is apparently making scarecrows out of dead human beings and their battle armor but, shockingly my viewers are pretty ok with it.

[@willcullen3743]

No images?

[@MechanicalFrog]

?

[@cmdrhatchy9611]

I'm not sure how I feel about battle armor. Yes it makes far more sense for a scifi universe to use powered suits of armor instead of building sized robots and it makes more sense for smaller powers to have them instead of mechs inside the Battletech universe...but...I dunno...to me they don't feel like they have a place outside of the Clans (which should have been powered armor centric because the logistics behind that kind of force would be far easier than what it is that they did) So yeah, I'm not sure.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Sounds like Hatchy needs an Overlord delivery of suits to put through their paces.

[@thetyrantofsyracuse]

Marian Mercenaries!! Ive always wondered how many other folks play as Marians. They have been my faction since i learned about Battletech, and ive never encountered another Marian Commander in the wild.

[@chrism6229]

Put a marauder on a Savannah master and ride into battle like a Bioroid. cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/covers/images/024/363/283/large/chris-vera-bioroid-hover-sled-01.jpg?1582161128

[@MechanicalFrog]

Sounds, horrifying.