BATTLETECH: The Executioner

[@BigRed40TECH]

Edit: A quick aside, I accidentally labelled the Executioner P, as the Executioner K. Apologies. If you're wanting to field an EXECUTIONER yourself in BATTLETECH: A Game of Armoured Combat, or Alpha Strike, you can find it in the Clan Invasion box, along with the NOVA, TIMBER WOLF, MONGREL, and ADDER: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-clan-invasion It is also available on Mechwarrior Online, through unlock of playing it in-game. BUNGLETECH also provided me with some assistance for getting this project moving, and I'd recommend checking out their Podcast: anchor.fm/bungletech As promised, here is the full array of Resources used to make this video, I recommend almost all of them, as they're great reads. Tons of material here: Technical Readout 3050 Upgrade: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-3050-upgrade-pdf Recognition Guide Volume 9: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-recognition-guide-ilclan-vol-9 Shrapnel issue 08 (Executioner-B): store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-shrapnel-issue-8-the-official-battletech-magazine Betrayal of Ideals (For Clan Wolverine Portion of Script): store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-betrayal-of-ideals A Question of Survival (GREAT Book) for Ghost Bear and Alaric interactions: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-a-question-of-survival-by-bryan-young All Other Information: BATTLETECH: Invading Clans: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-invading-clans-pdf BATTLETECH: Era Report 3062: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-era-report-3062-pdf BATTLETECH: Wars of the Republic Era ( FANTASTIC Book!): store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-historical-wars-of-the-republic-era-pdf BATTLETECH: Field Manual: Warden Clans: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-field-manual-warden-clans-pdf BATTLETECH: Era Report 3145: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-era-report-3145-pdf BATTLETECH: Dominions Divided: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-dominions-divided I was not paid to promote any of these materials. They're what I referenced to make this video. I recommend all of them because they are informative, and enjoyable.

[@Gigas0101]

There's a ton that I like about your videos, from your seamless ability to blend in-universe and out-of-universe perspectives to the way you pronounce jaguar as "jog-wire" with absolute confidence. I dunno how I feel about you going the Tex Talks Battletech route of producing three hour videos where a half an hour 'mech video and a separate faction breakdown would suffice. So long as it's good for your channel and good for you, though, I'll keep watching your fantastic vids.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@Gigas0101 I've gotta stress. The 3 hour-videos are *not* the norm on the channel. Most videos are still going tobe 15-30 minutes long.

[@kvasac123]

@@BigRed40TECH Personally, I love these long videos and the way you combine mech talk with BT universe storyline. But I am grateful for the shorter videos too, sometimes, you just need a quick listen.

[@Gigas0101]

@@BigRed40TECH That's a relief, your longer videos are great but I definitely prefer your shorter videos about 'mechs and weapons.

[@Dracobyte]

Nice video!

[@77professional]

I find it amusing and ironic that Clan Ghost Bear would be closer to the values of Alexander's SLDF than his son's vision for the clans.

[@Aleksandrgrc]

The bears most recently. Meh. But they it's said they are slow to act. I say they actually plan ahead and act quick.well. they have adapted and evolved as much as they have simply grown.

[@michaelmoolick9419]

It rings true to history though. When a great military man that assumes ultimate political power, his sons are typically far less ideal leaders than he is. Ceasar, Alexander, Ghengis Kahn and their accomplishments are well known, their sons are not.

[@Darren_Xero]

There's also the Goliath Scorpions, whose Scorpion Empire is modeled after the Rasalhague Dominion. The Ghost Bears weren't the only ones who don't see eye to eye with the Nicky K's insanity

[@warlok363]

Still a cult

[@WayoftheFerret]

Not at all. At the end of the day, Clan Ghost Bear is still a Clan.

[@hughsmith7504]

We finally get a clan/inner sphere society that is stable, not horrible to live in, and even plays football still. But the writers just can't 'et us have nice things can they?

[@BigRed40TECH]

I suspect that's not why the Dominion jumped off the stupid tree. :|

[@Executioner9000]

Well this is Battletech after all.... As much as I hate to see the Ghost Bears with the stupid pills, without them the setting might devolve into 'Peacetech' which is bad for everyone, quiaff? 😉

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@Executioner9000 I think there were valid conflicts they could have gotten into. It's more peacetech with them supporting the Ilclan, than not.

[@jasoncooper6047]

The writers beat themselves and the Bears with every limb on the stupid tree on the way down.

[@McMorganTheMerc]

Came for mech lore, got probably one of the best Rasalhague lore videos on KZbin. Perfection

[@BigRed40TECH]

I did my best. :)

[@WayoftheFerret]

"Alpha striking is not the default state of fire." - Red 2023 My man these are *Clanners* we're talking about

[@BigRed40TECH]

HIT BUTTON!

[@WolfHreda]

Which is why he made that statement. To remind we members of the unga bunga caste of the Inner Sphere that just because all the buttons are there doesn't mean we have to press them all at once.

[@GhostBear3067]

​@@WolfHredausually we do not have to, the Alpha Strike gets its own button for efficiency. Because LIVE AND DIE BY THE SHUTDOWN OVERRIDE!!!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Worth the wait. Thanks so much for tackling such an epic project, Red.

[@Aleksandrgrc]

It's was said in the battletech forums that the executioner would of been better off as a 85 tonner and the Warhawk as a 95 tonner. Today 100 years later there is the jade pheonix and hellstar respectively.

[@MidnightDream034]

And the Jade Phoenix has become one of my all-time favorite assaults. Super excited for IWM to provide a metal sculpt

[@christopherhutchens8077]

Warhawks should have 10 tons of jump jets

[@44R0Ndin]

@@christopherhutchens8077 Why 10t of jump jets when you could put on maybe 4 tons of jump jets and 6 tons of a Partial Wing System instead? You'd probably get better results out of that, right? I might have the balance wrong, but the partial wing system is a good idea, I'm sure, and you can probably do both the jump jets and the PWS within that 10 ton budget, to get more performance out of the mech's jumps than just a standard 10t of jump jets. Of course, if you switch to IMPROVED jump jets, that might be better than normal jump jets and a PWS, but again, there's nothing stopping you from combining the IJJ's with a PWS of their own as well.

[@osogitzgraymane72]

The problem with the bear, is it has been manipulated so easily. And doesnt seem to learn how to fortify itself from this. I wouldnt be surprised if this dominion divided era is nothing but false flags and psy-ops from wolf sources. All in hopes of trying not to keep the bears from becoming the next wolverines. Cause wolverines are dangerous but not as dangerous as an enraged bear. Great vid. A lil long in the teeth for me but great none the less.

[@alganhar1]

Ever seen a wolverine chase a Grizzly off its prey? I have. Size is not everything, Wolverines are the largest of the Mustelids, and Mustelids are frankly insane. Just so you know, the Honey Badger, aka the Ratel, is also a Mustelid, and that thing will face down lions....

[@christophermzdenek]

I love that Clan Coyote, in creating the Omni-Mech essentially just rediscovered a beefed-up version of USB Type C.

[@thunderK5]

Minor note: The Tatsumaki-class destroyer destroyed at Alshain was named The Dragon's Last Tear. She was the first of many WarShips killed by the Ursa Major, a ship that really deserves a video in the vein of Skynea History or Drachinifel.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'll keep that in mind.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

Absolutely looking forward to this; the Executioner is like a horrifying combination of NFL center tackle and ballet dancer with it's combination of speed and firepower on a 95 ton frame. Absolutely the mech of choice for the discerning duelist.

[@AlexVergo764]

Too right bro hell yeah

[@turk88]

Now if only the clanners would actually use it to punch and melee...

[@bthsr7113]

@@turk88 Yeah, it took them a while, and there are some designs that would be well served by melee accepting retrofits.

[@krullachief669]

@@turk88 Why punch when you can instead just use your 'mech to charge through the enemy's dropship to get to them?

[@dietplain7542]

"The conflict became a bloodbath, one fueled by mutual hatred and disrespect by both sides." Great line Red!

[@kathilmechworks4895]

Well Bear you did it. Created your own meme in the setting. May Derp bear live forever.

[@BigRed40TECH]

May derp bear die for represnting something I wish didn't happen XD

[@jamesoakes192]

A great video, the images during the Dommions Divided sections was so on point

[@BigRed40TECH]

Much appreciated!

[@sypoth]

I'm honestly happy with you doing the clan histories alongside the mechs especially the parts that feature the mech and it's role during said history. It gives these videos a sense of progression through time. I especially love how every time I hear the history of Ghost Bear just how accurate things live up with the lore of my unit in terms. Thankfully I didn't have to face off against this monster but a few times before making the alliance with Ghost Bear that was basically we don't fight each other and if they need help we provide it. I'll never forget one of the few times I did fight against one of these beasts though, I had to double team it with my custom Timberwolves unfortunately the game had to be called before a Victor could be named but having those jump Jets made all the difference against an assault unit that could out run a medium mech.

[@Darren_Xero]

Executioners - a Clan Burrock mech perfected by Ghost Bears, initially made to be harbingers of death to its enemies, became guardians of the hybrid union with the best of two worlds that's the Rasalhague Dominion. Then suddenly became butchers to its own populations in the tragic turn of event in the ilClan era All in all, I enjoyed the Ghost Bears' journey in the Inner Sphere, especially when it also involved Rasalhague, Draconis Combine & Clan Nova Cat. Spectacular work as always, Bear. It's almost as great as the Stone Rhino video, even though you managed to stomach past the unpleasant part of the Dominions Divided

[@ZackHeise]

I like the idea of the Executioner Prime carrying a point of elementals as close range protection as it snipes from afar. Nova star battlearmor being able to fire on mech is a dope little mobile short range squad.

[@deadwolf2978]

Woke up in the night as my youtube autoplay started talking about Ghost bear Dominion... i thought it was an advert. Stayed for incredible story and mech. ❤

[@JCDadalus]

Now that was a long video. I enjoyed the lore behind every series of variants you shared, and how they thematically would fit chronologically and when they'd be available. Very well done and an impressive length of time.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tehpw7574]

Over Heatsinking: The thing that comes to mind with the Executioner used by the Ghost Bears is this: Which trials on which worlds the Ghostbears do not have a presence on, have base temperatures higher than Terran-Standard?

[@BigRed40TECH]

Oversinking a Prime just doesn't seem reasonable or likely, given the Bears mostly had tundra in the Kerensky CLsuter. lol

[@tehpw7574]

@@BigRed40TECH again, it's the other 2 dozen+ worlds in the pentagon and Kerensky Cluster that I'm thinking about (after all, unless something supersedes it, War of Reaving is the most current geographic detail of Clan Home world temps and Gravity on the main worlds in each system, at least). It's a vague attempt at explaining design choices *made back in 1989* when the Original 16 Omnimechs were being made *shrug, smiles* Don't make me huggle you into submission! :D

[@BigRed40TECH]

I will resist this flawed logic forever! :P

[@bthsr7113]

Call it precautionary restraint on overly aggressive pilots?

[@knutboehnert3163]

The real beauty of this presentations is to show the configurations of the Mech in presentation alongside the timeline and how these change over time. Plus the placement of the Mech in the history of its origin and current operators is just so much more than TR can ever do.

[@harvestblades]

This did not dissapoint & was well worth the wait! One of the most legendary Clan assault mechs & Ghost Bear/Dominion lore equals a big win.

[@freeranger00]

Great video! The Ghost Bears are one of a few Clans that I rather like, so this was a good one for me. I think that I agree with you on just scratching my head at the actions of the Dominion in the ilClan era, just as I find many of the story choices strange.

[@RecklessFables]

Yeah, awkward shoehorned reasoning to continue conflict.

[@jerrymaurer2100]

I love the combination of tech read out and lore. Thank you for all your hard work

[@blue95kun]

I can say the Executioner is one of the few Clan Assault mechs that I like. The TC load out for this mech is absolutely monstrous.

[@RidinDirtyRollinBurnouts]

On sarna one of the configurations has a 2.0 BV of over 3,800. That's nuts

[@RoKKr023i]

I liked it's hardpoints as an ignorant mech 4 mercs doofus. and its... Highlander like ability to bury. jumpy assaults are wicked nasty. Didn't help it looked badass.

[@kilrathi827]

Great job, great video. Appreciate the combo lore briefing on the state of the Ghost Bears & Rasalhague

[@BigRed40TECH]

Much appreciated!

[@ajacksdragon]

I found your videos a couple months back. Been working my way through the mech playlist. Always hype for more of your work.

[@BigRed40TECH]

When this thing drops on Saturday I hope people enjoy it. It was a ton of work. Always makes me nervous. lol

[@santillo1]

This may be the best thing published on this site this year, not just Battletech content wise, but in general wonderful work sir amazing truely

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you!

[@GhostBear3067]

The story of the Clan's founding is told a bit differently amongst the Ghost Bears: Nicholas Kerensky originally wanted to maximize his leadership resources by splitting Sandra Tseng and Hans Ole Jorgensson to each lead a Clan, but they refused to be separated. They decided they would rather freeze to death in the antarctic regions of Strana Mechty and proceeded to do just that. But while there a ghost bear family found them and instead of eating the two humans nursed them back to health. Tseng and Jorgensson observed the ghost bears behavior in family dynamics and hunting tactics and then returned to Nicholas Kerensky and demanded to be allowed to establish a Clan based on the ghost bear together. While Kerensky was still hesitant to keep them together it was at this point that his wife brought up that he himself was keeping her by his side and hypocrisy would reflect poorly on his leadership. Kerensky therefore allowed Tseng and Jorgensson to found Clan Ghost Bear as a married couple.

[@JustinPivinski-cm2rh]

This is my favorite video from you so far as ghost bear is my faction. Thanks for your hard work.

[@l0rf]

Well, I'm going to be on a train for hours today so I think this is pretty much going to be my onboard entertainment. Thanks for diving deep into the topic of the chill Teddy clan and their mechs.

[@FireGoliath]

I was there when this thing debuted in the 3050 TRO and Clan Invasion and I gotta say, boy were we freakin' confused by this thing. Awesome breakdown and a wonderful look into the lore.

[@benjaminrobertson2990]

Gotten into battletech over the past few months, after having no interaction since Mechwarrior 3 or 4. Was immediately taken with the story of the Rasalhague Dominion, delighted to play out the independence war in MW5:M, and now I'm a few lances and an elemental star deep into collecting a 1st Drakons mixed sphere/clantech force.

[@drmario1218]

Been listening like a podcast most of the episode. Turn the screen on to be greeted by Derp Bear. I was not prepared for the silent sass subtly smuggled in a saga of stalemate and subterfuge. Thanks for making this, I learned a ton about the universe. o_o7

[@jefaus06]

The Ghost Bears and the Dominion are opened up to us through the pounding footsteps of the Executioner. Thanks Red!

[@vectremy]

I love these videos! I listened while painting and i still cant believe there's this much material out there. Keep up the amazing work!

[@captaingeneralconch]

❤🙏🙇‍♂️🙇‍♀️🙇 knocked it out of the park again Red brilliant job as usual

[@BigRed40TECH]

There were 2 mistakes I missed. I'd not consider knocking it out of the park, but I think it was good.

[@captaingeneralconch]

@@BigRed40TECH mistakes what mistakes I noticed nothing and will vehemently defend that I witnessed no mistakes

[@MidnightDream034]

Hell yeah almost 3 hours, we eatin good today bois!! Great work. Thanks for all you do BigRed!

[@marsar1775]

i was right, it was well worth the wait for you to make sure you were satisfied! i like the story choice, helps explains the reasons for the variants and thus, the design as a whole

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you so much :D

[@dashsocur]

Very well done. Definitely understand your comments on the Clan ranking video now regarding Ghost Bear. Really sad how the writers seemed to completely forget what made both halves of the Dominion who they were. In the writers haste to prop up Clan Wolf once more, the Dominion not only abandons their longtime ally in the RotS but doesn't even seem to care that they are gone now?. Seriously, the Dominion tore the Nova Cats to shreds over one incident and yet they not only meekly take intentional insults from Ward but practically burn their own house down for the "privilege" of licking his boots?

[@1337w0n]

The Executioner: "What if the Banshee were a Clan Omni?"

[@boneshaman8912]

I have often seen classic IS mechs in most of the original clan omnis. Catapult+ Marauder= Mad Cat. Archer+Rifleman= Vulture. And so on.

[@WolfHreda]

"Well, when a _Banshee_ and a _Charger_ love each other..."

[@amw5288]

The other one might have had a fling with the Highlander though

[@dragoburnhard]

that was supriseingly good for 3 hours and you got so much detail keep going

[@randomnetsurfer]

My favourite clan! I lost track of the setting after the Jihad so it was very cool to get caught up. Learned a lot too. I prefer these long form videos, honestly!

[@AWholeLegionary]

Ooh, feature length film about the Executioner? Yes please!

[@Tellos]

Awesome vid as always and really enjoyed the deep dive into the histroy.

[@GhostBear3067]

55:58- I recite that before every shift at my EMS job and sometimes while en route to certain calls.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

Definitely going to watch this. The Executioner is the anchor of my Clan Smoke Jaguar star (courtesy of Clan Invasion box), so I'm looking for pointers.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Speed is life. Snipe, reposition. Or if a meaner close range variant? Maneuver on the way in, and then strike with speed and determination :)

[@WolfHreda]

And I thought your Timber Wolf video was a masterpiece. This was amazing!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Check out the Stone Rhino video, it's probably the best on the channel. And the upcoming Warhammer IIC video is even bigger than this one ;)

[@WolfHreda]

@@BigRed40TECH I have a hard time believing that, but I'll take your word for it.

[@georgesulea]

Great storytelling and details Sir. Very Cool.

[@hardcorepoetic]

I enjoy the way you make videos.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I appreciate that!

[@Pariah502]

Great video on one of my favourite Clan Omnis! Small aside: You mentioned saKhan DelVillar's death by a lucky shot to her 'Mech. DelVillar was an Elemental though and although some rare Elemental-type Warriors in lore piloted 'Mechs, the pilot card for "Bestla" in the CI kickstarter explicitly says that DelVillars point of Elementals rode her Summoner on Last Frontier. I don't have Era Report: 3052 on hand or I'd read up more.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Resources I used were older than Era Report 3052, which isn't in the reosurces list. Mostly used Field Manual: Warden Clans. "The green First Freemen offered little resistance, but a chance LRM shot felled Khan DeiVillar" It never specified DeiVillar as an elemental. So, newer resources added clarity that I didn't have. :)

[@Skygaze-3]

Thanks for the vids Red, it's really nice being able to pop my earbuds in while I work and be immersed in my favourite setting for awhile. Good luck with your future projects, stay metal 🤟

[@BigRed40TECH]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@matthewrawlings3910]

Oh dear God that overlaid bear at 2:34:00, I'm dying of laughter!

[@BigRed40TECH]

I thought about just not. But. What else was I supposed to do? lol

[@dessfigures2447]

Amazing video! I have to admit though you could really tell how weird the plot of Dominion divided is just by skimming through it. Still I think you did a good job of talking about how bizarre it is.

[@SteelWolf13]

Awesome video. Typo at 00:56:21 "Lines 45-58" typed "Lines 45-48" were said. Only caught my attention because I wanted to see if there were in fact that many lines listed as said. Can't make a video this long with out something slipping by. I bet you actually have a 4 hour directors cut some where of this. B-roll included.

[@Aleksandrgrc]

Ive always been a fan of fast assault and mediums including the executioner. I seem to have a lot of the same favorite chassis as BigRed here. I received this mech as a reward in mechwarrior online, at wich point my hbk4k stopped being my main ride. Now, although taking a clan assault that can win races is an easy button, it keeps one less meta mech on the field so I never felt 2 bad. I almost always ran it with 2 erppcs 6ersmalls and 2 srm 4s. What I like about the chassis is the jumping but also the height. I like being able to shoot Overtop of Timberwolves with my torso ppcs. Then jump over and into the front rank to tank. I like how in the old viridian bog I could get to the top without the stairs by jumping on the trees. Or with canyon network how it can seize the center when you only expect lights and fast mediums to be there early on in the match. I like how it feels it takes piloting finesse to get enough to make it competitive, at least in PUGs. It's undergunned so opponents don't hate you as much and it has enough armour and speed to be forgiving if you make mistakes. If it cannot out position you, it can give you one heck of a fight, it's an assault that the lights do not like.

[@mattmfjaynes]

Such an awesome video, and totally worth the wait!! I love your videos like this and hope that you keep them coming for many years to come

[@BigRed40TECH]

More to come!

[@porthosduvallon5301]

Amazing video! All about my favorite faction(s) and one of their signature mechs, I absolutely loved it!

[@StilgarAstartes]

What a video! That must have taken a hot minute to make. Appreciate your Efforts - especially since I'm not up to date in the post-succession-war eras.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Couple hundred of hours! lol

[@Ray-tg1sj]

What a beast of a video. Well done sir.

[@calumdeighton]

YES! 1st like & Comment!

[@getawaydance]

Another impressive video. I love these deep dive videos filled with lore. You get a glimpse of that world from a certain perspective for each faction story. I love how it's told.

[@dajerkfromurk8713]

Awesome job, as always!! I really enjoy the mixed format with specs and lore, although I realize that a LOT more work goes into them. But, dang if the aren't great to put on while painting minis! :D

[@BigRed40TECH]

Hundreds of hours! lol

[@bartlester591]

I loved it. I thought it was very deep informative and interesting. I love the way you weave not only the machines in their variance, but the history and everything behind it and everything that’s going on are used to play along time ago I haven’t played battle tech in a long time so this information download is actually interesting for me. There is one Mac I think it’s in the 3050 or 3055 books, that a friend of mine used to play, and he was in a light Mech fanatic, and I was wondering, maybe if you could do a dive into the phantom

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's gonna happen one day. But there are a lot of other mechs coming first. I expect you'll see that before mid-next year.

[@timstinies9519]

So I actually loved the combined video. It helped equate different load out to time eras. I haven’t played too much of the table top since I mostly paint, but I love ghost bear from mechwarrior to as well so this video for me was perfect. I got to hear the history of ghost bear and learn more of the Mech

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you for the kind remarks! :)

[@eezaak21]

Wow! This was great! Amazing work.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you Eezaak! :D

[@sypoth]

"This statue is dedicated to Gorman Bekker of Clan Ghost Bear, whom was felled during his nineteenth Trial of Possession for the Executioner not by his opponent but unbelievably by a brain aneurysm. After eighteen batchals against fourteen clans this was the only defeat suffered by this fierce warrior!" - possible annotation to a statue of Gorman Bekker within the Clan Smoke Jaguar generic repository after his death, an almost unheard of honor for a member of an enemy clan.

[@wraith7989]

This was fantastic. Well done!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you kindly!

[@Arvyn992]

Liked the part at 2:31:00 to 2:32:35 for what just came out of nowhere in the setting

[@cargo_vroom9729]

This is almost making me regret painting my executioner for Hell's Horses, even though they also use it heavily.

[@Welvryn]

Amazing video, super informative! I stepped away from Battletech/Mechwarrior for a while when I joined the US Air Force, so a lot of this information is new to me. I used to run with an Executioner and a Kodiak in my assault stars back in the day, I really loved both of those mechs!

[@DawnOfDaybreak]

I love the retarded bear image (@ 2:30:54) being danced around when you’re talking about the... pretty deep inconsistencies of the BT writers when it came to how they just... accepted Alaric Wards’ invasion and crushing of The Republic of the Sphere.

[@Andrewlik]

This Saturday is a big day for the both of us, eh red?

[@bronsilverstring5874]

Make a melee stealth armor katana Assasin video and make it good OR ELSE

[@Andrewlik]

@@bronsilverstring5874 if that's the shenanigans that occur when i start MW5 back up with friends, sure

[@donaldcampbell3043]

Another great video, and it answered one of the questions I had from back in the day, what hsppened to Kitsune Kurita...

[@Mavairo]

My mercenaries, that were based out of the RD in illclan packed up and took their production facility with them, to the Tamar pact. They're building their own Nightstars (I have 2 custom variants, and of course the 9J) in no small part to answer the Executioner. They picked Tamar because it's an area rife with conflict and need to train a glut of new pilots, tankers, elementals, battle armor. It's also close enough to Terra, and their homeland to either strike at Ward when the time comes for the insult he dealt to their people, or to strike at the prince for being a power hungry vacuum brained idiot back home. It also has some former steiner production facilities. An ancestor's favored weapons platform, to slay the monster unleashed upon it's own people.

[@dutchduke8864]

Love the long videos, they teach me so much about battletech history. My thoughts on how this plays out. Wolves being wolves and everything works in their favor. Combine retaliates against the Dominion and begins winning, and winning hard. The Dominion then have to beg to join the Star league and to save them. Now if the wolves are smart they will also offer help to the Federated Suns to reconquer lost territory from the combine in return for joining the new start league. And wouldn’t it be interesting if the Raven alliance joined the star league as well? Being attacked on all side the combine would resist until being utterly destroyed or having bending the knee humiliated to there enemy the Wolves and joining the league. In one rejection the wolves gain authority and members to their new star league, I see little downside in the short term for them but possibly a lot of simmering resentment long term. But this being the Wolves it will all work out to their favor.

[@tonyblitz1]

Very excited to see a video that delves into Clan Diamond Shark/Sea Fox history. If clan Ghost Bear is this dynamic then I'm curious about the kind of politicking and shenanigans behind a clan twice renamed and, apparently, collectors of every mech known to clan-kind. They certainly don't seem to produce much protagonist energy, but I still think they're neat.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I don't intend to explore the Sea Foxes.

[@tonyblitz1]

​@@BigRed40TECHI'm disappointed to hear that, but I fully support you choosing the content you cover. Is it a similar situation to clan Wolf?

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@tonyblitz1 Clan Wolf and Sea Fox won't be getting extended content unfortunately.

[@nathanmerritt9739]

Well worth the wait. Thank you :)

[@theodoreschott3293]

Ok I have always hated the Gladiator/ Executioner. But this video has made me see it in another light and you've actually turned me to like it. And the depth of the backstory and all it was in over time is amazing!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Mission Accomplished! XD

[@Ghorum]

Wow BigRed have your videos ever evolved. What a fantastic piece of art.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope you enjoyed the Stone Rhino too. Oh, and the Timber Wolf comes in tomorrow :)

[@krullachief669]

Ya know, the best way to describe Ghost Bear, and indeed the thing that The Executioner exemplifies best, is that when they go in on something they go in big. It's also super interesting and genuinely sweet to see what was once a super hardline Crusader clan go in hard on becoming a Warden clan and when it is formed, becoming one of the most genuinely interesting amalgamized State in the Inner Sphere with the Dominion. Like, they actually integrated super well considering their entire history, to the point that the fact they really did become a blended society with only a little bit of Clanner downsides that I imagine are still being worked on to this day. Guess that goes to show what actually working with the systems you conquered, even if at first reluctantly, really really works. As for the 'mech itself, I've heard it described best as "95 tons of Angry that will most likely charge you through the Leopard you just dropped from" and that is just fantastic. "Alpha striking is not the default state of fire." And you sir are a fucking coward! A coward I say! One of whom I wish to never fight with on the field of battle! For one that does not alpha strike when they can will only taste defeat! Or they're in minimum weapons range but that's fair enough because the intent is there.

[@scytheseven9173]

Thanks for the video The Mastodon is equal in tonnage to Executioner as a 95-ton Ghost Bear/Rasalhague OmniMech, though a much more lumbering beast and arguably a larger one. A shame it's difficult to maintain, as is its whole family of 'Mechs, but they look cool at least.

[@Tatsu_of_Liao]

Great job, Bear!. Keep up the great work!!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thanks! Will do!

[@SCBear21]

This was fantastic. You always deliver content I enjoy. I just enjoy your voice, style and presentation. You make great vids. You mentioned the Kodiak at least twice and I’d love if you covered it.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Kodiak will get covered when I reach 3058. I can't cover only the most popular mechs, as it'd not give people things to look forward to :P

[@benparker2522]

Nice, I can imagine you being a bit burnt out after this one, but this kind of video following the entire history of a faction with one mech is awesome, and it'd be cool to get more down the road : )

[@coulbauth]

Great Video Big Red_40TECH alot of the it was stuff I didn't really get a chance to read as I had not really been in a position to keep upto date on as children eat up a lot of time and money (see children are evil). I remember the original 3050 The return of Kerensky in the opening of overview. "What weighs 95 tons, can run almost 100 kph, can jump 120 meter, and carries a gauss rifle? I don't know but I am getting out of here." was my favorite line about this mech still is to be honest.

[@ianramsey101]

The invading clans went forth and conquered territory during Operation Revival. Clan Ghost Bear did something psychologically different. They came home.

[@GhostBear3067]

And enjoyed a nice North American Rules football game.

[@mangofanta2667]

Absolutely love these long form videos, I think a really good idea would be to try to find more mechs that can relate to a factions story and tell the tale of every faction. Looking forward to when you eventually get to the Taurians

[@BigRed40TECH]

It won't be 3-hours when we get the Taurian one, but there will be something for them eventually. I promise. :)

[@DueIistGio]

Amazing vid bro, Glad to see it finally out

[@DzinkyDzink]

1:23:09 Ah yes, hot desert jungles! My favourite kind of spot for a vacation!

[@trevorastin5896]

Boy, oh boy! Been waiting all week for this. 🤖

[@sonofeyeabovealleffoff5462]

I've always seen the Executioner as the meaner, pissed off blood-god big brother of the Gargoyle. Maybe its because of how the Gargoyle and Executioner look in the Mechwarrior 2 games bevause those were my entry into BattleTech in the mid 90s.

[@calumdeighton]

I'm not Clanner. But for my Clan Mechs I'll be looking to acquire one of these machines for my forces. So far they are at a Star Commander Strength. I'll be looking to expand them to a Star Captain level.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's a fun mech. Straight from the core Clan box too. :)

[@mattcarper9853]

Epic length here sir!

[@gryphon3241]

Ah yes, dominion divided. i.e. "we're one of the most prosperous and successful societies in the inner sphere, achieved only through the blending of the "best" aspects of our two cultures, but now suddenly we're just gonna say fuck it and try to go back to the old clan ways because clan wolf has plot armor and took terra" I'm relatively new to the actual battletech setting in depth as i picked up the tabletop about 6 months ago after years of only playing the vidja games. Frankly, i despise the clans as an entire concept, absolutely loathe them, but if i had to pick a "favorite" clan it would have been ghost bear. especially with the formation of the ghost bear dominion and the morph into the rasalhague dominion, as successful as they where. And the more i dig into this era of the lore the more i find i despise the wards specifically and clan wolf as a whole just because they can seemingly do no wrong in the writers eyes................anyway, rambling rant more or less over, this was an absolutely fantastic video Red. You've really outdone yourself

[@amw5288]

Well. This was a massive video for a mighty mech. Great one at that I think. Worth the wait Red! This leaves me with two questions: 1 Did you discover any examples of Ghost Bear family structures during the invasion? Ive always read that they exist but never examples. 2. What were the Dominions Divided writers thinking?! Did they even read the Dark Age lore of the dominion?

[@BigRed40TECH]

-Ghost Bear's have a family amongst civilian caste-members. Meaning that they get to raise their children, and maintain those connections throughout their lives. In the Warrior Caste, you can see it in AQOS, and I suspect that is very much the kind of family that is a harsh one. Pull your weight. Work together. There is a greater idea of collective struggle. Not sure on the further details though. - They were probably trying to find a way to get the Dominion into conflict, and supporting the Ilclan. It's just, the faction likely wouldn't have done the latter.

[@amw5288]

@@BigRed40TECH Thanks ought to check out AQOS then. Here's to hoping that they do something less bizarre with the setup they have. Maybe have the combine smash the dominion into a begrudging truce while the actions of Ilkhan Gary St... I mean Alaric will decide the "victor" between the joiners and refusers.

[@whitardesigns7572]

Enjoyed the video! Thanks :)

[@Euphoria0011]

I was watching a chat between renegade hpg, sven, and tex a few days ago, and I believe like the charger seems to get hate, due to its lack of use in mwo, the executioner, also seems to suffer this as well for similar reasons. You mentioned a MASC and Supercharged variant of the executioner, and I could only imagine, like an energy/melee build, a build that mounts LAMS, LBX20, and maybe a variety of support lasers and flamers, that could pulse those 2 items, and duck until in range for some absolutely devastating combos between the hand and leg melee, and the ranged equipment. I might forgo jumpjets still, though, on second thought, the lore and where Im unfamiliar, tabletop, seem to be places where they, and battlemechs in general, shine much brighter. I have always imagined it living very well up to its name, just not in MWO or applications without what helps define it the best at what it can be. Super cool review, I do long haul otr trucking and this was an awesome 3 hour bit Id listen to an infinite amount more times. Thank you Big Red

[@Aleksandrgrc]

It's definitely not a meta mech but I've used the executioner as my main ride in mwo. I did not feel the top of the food chain but not disadvantaged. The mobility allows it to win some races which means it does not have to directly duel other meta assaults.

[@sim.frischh9781]

Almost 3 hours, damn, that must be your longest video on BT so far... i just checked, the Stone Rhino is even longer O.o But given how much you speak about the whole Burrock/Ghost Bear stories that are part of the mech´s background, i understnad how it could reach that length. I will have to watch this video in bits...

[@gregbird5684]

Good one red!!!! Well done 👏 👏👏👏👏

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you 😁