BATTLETECH: The FIREBALL

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Fireball's rules can be found in the following places: TRO: Clan Invasion: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-clan-invasion TRO 3055 Upgrade: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-3055-upgrade-pdf-1 (Same as above, just with different mechs in the book, the Fireball is in both) TRO: Most Wanted: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-experimental-technical-readout-most-wanted-pdf (Fireball XF Entry) Record Sheets Clan Invasion has the most Fireball configurations in it: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-record-sheets-clan-invasion The Fireball miniature from Iron Wind Metals: www.ironwindmetals.com/index.php/categories/cat-battletech/cat-bt-bm/product/battletech-20-440/category_pathway-2

[@topcatcoast2coast579]

Love you for being a purple bird man.

[@notimportant768]

the XF version goes faster than a fucking bugatti veyron. wow.

[@dogofwar6769]

One of the things I love about the Battletech universe is just how often they're be a bad mech with a whole story behind it as well as how it eventually became a respectable machine.

[@riptide1ful]

Just like the Banshee

[@panzerschliffehohenzollern4863]

Or the Charger. (Still kinda bad but when everything better gone kaboom then it gotta make do)

[@MapleLeaf2501]

@@riptide1ful Its why the Banshee is one of my fav assaults, one of my favs overall if not my fav mech, period. An absolute zero if there ever was one when first brought onto the battlefield, and then with some tweaks and some solid variants being made (or if you're like me and my buds, just make your own) and it can become this hero of a unit that can hold its own.

[@joshuaturnquist5538]

Im surprised zero of the variants have a TAG. It's a lightweight system, and when you are running this fast you are gonna be a crazy good artillery spotter.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'm sure if we get a new model, we'll get more variants.

[@bthsr7113]

Heck, considering that there's even a lightweight version of TAG it is an even bigger failing that there isn't a variant to spot targets.

[@BoisegangGaming]

Can probably also outrun the explosion, too.

[@hermes7587]

A TAG would turn this Mech into something useful. I guess this was NOT the primary motive of this design.

[@johnarnold8485]

One of those mechs that earns its place by making total sense in the lore but no way am I ever dropping the Cbills to toss one of my pilots into. Very neat regardless, and what a hilarious custom version.

[@robrib2682]

Hey, sometimes you find these things on sale and they're fairly useful for training academies and the like

[@77professional]

When you expect a mech to earn its name by what it does to others only to find out it got its name from what happens to you.

[@wraith7989]

They named it the Fireball because that’s what Elementals turned it into.

[@ambientlight3876]

It's a crazy little design hobbled by its weapon package. I made a variant with 10 double heat sinks, 3 ER Medium lasers, and an ER small laser. I found this variant kept my opponents off balance and pinned down.

[@l0rf]

At 432 kmh and next to no armor... I can imagine this mech exploding from hitting a particularly unlucky bird mid-flight. Great video, fun little insight into another mech I had no idea existed.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Hey, 69 points of armour is a lot for 20-tons! lmao

[@l0rf]

@@BigRed40TECH It is quite the ... nice amount. 😎

[@Executioner9000]

Comparing this thing to the true Elemental hunter of 3055, the Komodo, is always funny to me.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Komodo is amazing, I can't wait to cover it.

[@bthsr7113]

Looking at it as my sarna google of the hour, needs a pulse variant, but looks very fun.

[@BoisegangGaming]

The XF is pretty much someone going "how fast do you want this mech to go" and its pilot going "yes". Literally a meme build and I love it. Tbh, surprised there's no stealth armor variants here, or mechs with a Chameleon or Null-Sig system. Would be really funny to just see a blip and then it dissapears because its already back at base by the time it's spotted.

[@Kepora1]

Literally outran the radar waves bouncing back

[@BoisegangGaming]

@@Kepora1 "Must have been the wind".

[@PaganPilot]

request to mech tech was just "I'm fast as fu*k boi"

[@Prich319]

It just occurred to me that the 9D is basically a faster Wasp that can't jump.

[@BigRed40TECH]

And that's much faster.

[@Gigas0101]

As soon as I saw the XF, I had a terrible thought. Remove the ER small lasers, reinforce the legs, strip as much armour off as possible... Add Jump Jets. This is the ultimate LAM.

[@PaganPilot]

Also partial wings

[@Salesman9001]

I did this in HBS BT. No armour and the only weapon a handheld Rocket 20 launcher or Tazer. It was very fun until mech with MRM 200 hit it a couple times (a lot of times), I consoled myself by crying into stack of MRM launchers taken as weregild

[@coreytaylor3633]

the ALM-AV the latest 1 shot artillery system. When you literally want to ram someone with a flying mech

[@jasonstandlea1784]

Imagine modifying this little bugger to have Chameleon and/or Null-sig.... it'd LITERALLY be a blur scorching across the battlefield and all but impossible to hit

[@BigRed40TECH]

That'd be amazing.

[@Einwetok]

A spread of LRM mines or plain old mines make that a very expensive NO...

[@jasonstandlea1784]

@@Einwetok losing a leg at 170+ KM/H... how long of a skid would that leave?

[@Einwetok]

@@jasonstandlea1784 All those top shelf components, turning into scrap. You can hear his techs wailing in the distance....

[@BoisegangGaming]

​@@jasonstandlea1784there would be probably be like half a kilometer of wreckage.

[@michaelpfister1283]

okay... Having "I BRAKE 4NO1" emblazoned on Eduardo Vincetto's ALM-XF is pure genius. Love it!

[@sypoth]

I don't understand all the hate this thing gets it lives up to it's name quite well and does so quite well almost every time it is put on the battlefield. I mean who can't help but enjoy the show and Laugh when you're enemy provides such an expensive fireworks show as a bunch of Fireballs becoming their namesake?

[@mikewaterfield3599]

in my head cannon its an advanced spider. It needs a TAG.

[@krullachief669]

It's mostly because the original variant was designed to hunt toadies and then proceeded to not have a weapon loadout good for that. Honestly giving it a standard SRM 2 with inferno ammo and another machine gun using that saved half ton, and another on top of it if you give it a half ton of MG ammo would be the way to go for fucking over Elementals/BA.

[@Chris_Sizemore]

The Fireball would be easy to modify into a better version of itself if you get rid of all the ammo based systems. 7E(nergy) variant: -streak srm2, -mg, -ammo for both, +double heat sinks, +2 ERML (IS or Clan as available), +2 SPL (IS or Clan). With a full energy package including ER medium lasers, this Fireball needs the double heat sinks because it can generate 16 heat a turn if the pilot choses to run up to something and do an alpha strike. Hopefully an isolated infantry unit or other light target. 7T(ag) variant: Same as the 7E, but drop 1 SPL for a Tag system. This gives the Fireball less reason to engage infantry, which is probably better for its survival. With artillery support this Fireball can finally perform its original intended purpose: fighting elementals. The 7T doesn't need the double heat sinks as badly as the 7E does, especially if a ERML is replaced instead of a SPL to accommodate the tag.

[@RibusPQR]

I am just wondering why it doesn't use flamers or a plasma weapon.

[@Chris_Sizemore]

@@RibusPQR Flamer is very short range. It could use one, but using it for anything other than anti-infantry and setting fires is risking the mech. And the Fireball doesn't have the tonnage available to mount a plasma weapon. You could mount inferno rounds in the SRM-2, but that realistically is the mechs only weapon.

[@hughsmith7504]

because some crazy bastard would point them backwards to see if they could go faster :)

[@BoisegangGaming]

This is what happens when mechwarriors, like puppies, get the zoomies.

[@bthsr7113]

And just like a zoomie puppy, it's most dangerous to itself.

[@BoisegangGaming]

@bthsr7113 as someone who works as a doggy daycare attendant, oh yeah. A dog getting the zoomies has a pretty good chance of stepping on another dog and that dog getting mad or some other dog wanting to join in and it ends up just being "chaos ensues".

[@beskar66]

You either move like a fireball or die as a FIREBALL

[@BigRed40TECH]

GOTTA GO FAST!

[@beskar66]

@@BigRed40TECH mee mee

[@MajorTymojo]

Its a fantastic scout with its speed & quirks, its just outside of scenario games or megamek massive map games you won't appreciate that cause all you'll remember is how fast the fireball lived up to its name. It will never not be funny how it was supposed to be an elemental hunter, kind of like how the assassin was supposed to be a light hunter but most things outside of a stinger or wasp outgun it. To be fair 20 tonners do tend to disintegrate on contact so its hard to hold it against them. They're cheap, fast, and useful, just rarely decent in direct confrontation that tabletop has outside of a little backstabbing. Although being able to buy 2 locusts for the cost of 1 ALM-7D is a black mark against it given it doesn't fill its niche of elemental hunting.

[@DIEGhostfish]

"Hunting elementals with SRM and SSRM 2s" is a relic of older rules where the ability to shoot inferno was restricted only by "is it a 2?" No 4 or 6 could fire Inferno, but a 2 always could, be it streak or standard.

[@afitz34]

As a scout and forward observer in a combined arms game, it would be superb. Unfortunately those types of situations or scenarios don't' come up very often to justify it's deployment. Even when they do, I can think of other, more durable platforms to use-which might even be useful once the initial missions has been completed.

[@baker90338]

Ah yes, the pokéball! A classic for people whom need a battle armor taxi. If you ever want to do a joke lance/company, try sticking 3 of these and your preferred assault mech in a lance, along with your preferred inner sphere battle armor. You will become legend.

[@samuelbaldwin2184]

How are you putting battle armor on it?

[@bthsr7113]

@@samuelbaldwin2184 That's what I want to know since red didn't even mention it being able to carry them once.

[@TopMav117]

​@@samuelbaldwin2184magnetic clamps

[@marsar1775]

@@samuelbaldwin2184 bolt on benches from ikea, redneck style mods or they hold on very tight

[@RibusPQR]

Some Battle Armor have equipment which allow them to ride on vehicles or mechs which aren't omni. The requirements also vary depending on the weight class of the battle armor. Check in the Techmanual

[@rafale1981]

The fireball is what you take to battle if you want to troll your opponents. Cool lil’ guy.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Trollball.

[@thedocklighter]

_Doin' the Fireball shuffle_ With those SRMs, this mech is one expensive fireworks display. The variant without the SRMs (just MLs & extra armor), though [chef's kiss].

[@tenchraven]

Ah, the Fireball. Probably the worst mech in the game. Not enough firepower, at least in the original model, or armour to do anything but run away. instead, they were sent out to be shredded by elementals. Honestly, I'd rather drive an Ostscout- at least then you KNOW you're not actually in a combat machine and aren't tempted to duke it out. Better would have been to put on MG and a half ton or a single ML in it, and turn over the rest of the weight for even more engine.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Fireball is fantastic in its configurations.

[@DanielIsberner]

You take the XF and you don't need to fire any weapons. You just enter an enemy Dire Wolf at the back and come out in the front.

[@hmad898]

base variant is a fast and cheap initiative sink, and the variants have similar uses. it doesnt hunt elementals but it is definitely usable.

[@tenchraven]

@@BigRed40TECH Any 20 tonner with an XL engine is a waste of money. Yes, it can run away really, really well. And if it trips over an infantryman, it fails. As you said, the -7D is a failure, it's operation paradigm is "someone saw me, RUN AWAY!" For the same speed and survivability, a VTOL can do the same mission a lot less money. If you're going to burn money, going up to 260XL and arming it only with a ML would have been a better call, making it a Ostscout on speed. Or putting in a more practical engine, keeping a basic SRM rack rather than the streak, and putting a siren and light bar on it for "crowd control". Sure, the SRM tank is full of tear gas and firefighting foam, absolutely not infernos.

[@bthsr7113]

@@tenchraven Wait, you're telling me I can use an SRM carrier to fight forest fires? Well cool damn.

[@DapperRaccoon]

I lost it with the comments you had in the XF model section. Well played sir, well played.

[@BigRed40TECH]

:P

[@No_1OfConsequence]

Funny story about the initial piece of Fireball art, it inspired me to reach out to Matt Plogg to do a MQ 1 Predator picture for my tech school class. He did a great job, well worth what I paid him.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Nice!

[@Primearch-GG]

Random dnd wizard main in a dimentional rift scenario: I Cast Fireball! (Rolls nat20) Cast Fireball: I am Fireball Mech!

[@vojtechpribyl7386]

One thing that people usually forget is that these old TRO machines were built under different rules. Whenever you see these weird SRM-2s, streak or not, then remember that under the old rules it were these small SRM packs, that only allowed to carry infernos. Thus this thing may be rather lackluster, but it literally threw a fireball on whatever it encountered AND it was always to full inferno effects, because the infernos didn't scale and just produced random amount of heat for three rounds per missile. Quite effective against units that had to roll every round whether they just didn't burn to a crisp.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Hmmmm. Pretty sure by the time 3055 came out, you couldn't put infernos in streak launchers iirc.

[@vojtechpribyl7386]

@@BigRed40TECHThe old TRO 3055 came out in 1992, which places it in the old Battletech Compendium from 1990. On p. 60 you can find that they were like that back then. Of course you couldn't target infantry, but you could make any hex burn for six rounds, so they would at least come out and play, or risk burning to death.

[@g3heathen209]

A great entrant to the Solaris cannonball run!

[@skywatersky]

There's just something appealing about a 'Mech that pushes speed to the absolute limit of practicality.

[@WolfHreda]

Eduardo Vincetto: He's all about family. And speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed

[@matwisn1652]

Interesting how every failed striker is apparently a "great scout". Interesting how every failed scout is apparently a "damned coffin".

[@empoweredshemphoward]

I like this mech, move over commando. This thing equipped with flamers would be terrifying to infantry.

[@chriswriter9087]

I only knew the Fireball for it’s terrible original configuration. The 8D & 10D are surprisingly effective and the XF is absolutely hilarious. Also you’re font is displaying 0 as 8.

[@sim.frischh9781]

I think mechs like this get double heat sinks to increase the total production of DHSs and thus reduce the overall price. You know, mass production reducing cost on the individual piece. This could make implementing DHS on mechs that don´t REALLY need them indeed sensible. And it leaves open the possibility to swap weapons for an energy loadout with a heavy heat load while avoiding overheating the machine. Three ER medium lasers would be no problem with a full set of DHS even when running full speed.

[@Qardo]

You know. For a mech that really cannot do much but run really really fast, for a mech. Calling it the "Fireball" is too on the nose. It either moves as fast as a ball of fire or ends up becoming a ball of fire. There is no middle ground.

[@robrib2682]

You either see the the paint job when it's moving fast enough to mistake it for flames or you see the flames from the ammo bins

[@hobbstactv2571]

Duncan Fischer: "I CAST FIREBALL!"

[@irondarknessdarkness8900]

have an Atlas yank up the anchor chain in the path of that XF thing for the maximiun comedy kill.

[@mbr5742]

The Fireball - has Fireballed. The Buzzsaw now exists twice. And Dynamo has shortenend out...

[@ogrehaslayers605]

This thing would be pretty good at Infiltration mission in MW5 though. I've always kinda liked this little guy even though I've never used one. Be a truly fun replacement mech for a player in the RPG while they tried to get a "real" mech.

[@semperatis]

My take on it drops the movement to 10/15,(Still +4 move mod). Drop the SSRM2 & ammo for twin ML's, drop the MG & ammo for a SPL, add a Beagle Active Probe(CT) and a TAG(H),or Remote Sensor Dispenser(LT) and Recon Camera(H). Either really boosts it's new role as a scout mech,you can even upgrade it's armour to LFF if you wish, though this gains you only an extra 3 pts of armour.

[@135forte]

Regardless of how good or bad the mech is, the ones like this with random nonsense scribbled on them in their offficial art appeal to me. It's a level of character newer art doesn't have.

[@lukechaplin3263]

Really cool mech, i haven't had any real expose to much past tukkyid, so i had not head of this one. Im really suprised there isnt a variant with probes or equipment and just like a single small laser for leaning futher into recon

[@Iknowtoomuchable]

Give me a 35-tonner with a good engine, heavy armor, and some pulse lasers. The enemy no longer has battle armor.

[@JiyuKishiParn]

Those NAIS guys are so smart even their failures are brilliant.

[@YCCCm7]

The XF's mentality: They can't kill you if they fly off your windshield every time you hit the giggle switch.

[@Reverb154]

For an Illclan update, give the Fireball ten stock double heat sinks, a Clan medium pulse laser, and an Angel ECM Suite.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Stealth Armour too O.O

[@Reverb154]

@@BigRed40TECH No, I'm trying to keep the cost down. Plus I'm using the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) method for design.

[@sterner626]

Good work as always. Haven't fielded a Fireball before, kinda thinking about it now lol. Zoompewpew

[@BigRed40TECH]

Froooom lol

[@nexusofice9135]

Awesome video. Can't wait for the rest in this TRO.

[@Vagabond820]

When the engineer asks how fast and you answer: yes.

[@lebe5894]

Ima say it this mech is a baller.

[@sk1llblack]

I fucking love the Fireball, and I love shit light mechs.

[@MegaduceFlare]

I would say that the only sensible field refit, at least for the 7D around the time of its introduction, would be to swap out all the stock weapons, upgrade to double heat sinks, and add in either 4 medium lasers (for 'mechs or vehicles) or 4 small pulse lasers (for battle armor or infantry). Though I suppose that'd just make it too much like another light in TRO 3055 :P

[@bthsr7113]

4 SPL would be best to maintain accuracy at speed and fulfill the original objective... but you might want to swap a couple out for utility features if you favor scouting.

[@bthsr7113]

You say it was adapted to be a good scout, but you did not list any variant that installed an active probe, Target Acquisition Gear, or the cut down NARC launcher designed for Fed Suns battle Armor. Instead of giving it tools to work smarter, they gave it new weapons to fight harder.

[@BoisegangGaming]

Yeah, we might see some new variants if it ever gets any new mentions but at least there's always the "build it yourself" option.

[@bthsr7113]

@@BoisegangGaming Yeah, that's always an option. If the mech failed, mod it until it works or is functionally a new mech.

[@Darren_Xero]

Like the Rakshasa to the Timber Woof/Mad Cat, I got the feeling that the Fireball seemed to be an imitation to the dreaded Fire Moth/Dasher. Instead of being the "Elemental transport", the Fireball was to be an anti-Elemental mech that turned out to be a debacle by design. But both are being a fast recon mech. The saying of "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, that mediocrity can pave to greatness" rings too true on Fireball. Actually, it should be named Fastball

[@bthsr7113]

Nah, save the "Fastball" title for an actual dedicated BA carrier that is designed to throw them into the fight.

[@terrinils3165]

I've been quietly waiting for your video on the Fireball so I can get your thoughts and breakdown on the ALM-10D. Currently writing a short story featuring a 10D going up against a DOL-1A1. It will be a tough fight for the Dola, but the goal is for it, and it's MechWarrior to not come out whole in the end.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Awesome!

[@Arvyn992]

For some reason I was hoping the XF was Painted Blue

[@greysonjones5429]

Fantastic video. I can't wait for Catalyst to bring us a fireball in plastic. My Fedcom Gaurds could use one... Ot maybr two.

[@gearstark2479]

FedCom Mage: I cast Fireball! NAT 20! DM: That’s a critical, the entire Clan Elemental Star just burst into flames.

[@MuteMccache33]

The fireball xf is the mech you can’t shoot not because it’s outmaneuvering you, but instead because it’s outrunning your bullets

[@chaosknight9131]

This feels like it would make a damn good Dark Age Sec-Mech, being a near unparalleled pursuit predator when put up against low life criminals

[@freeranger00]

The Fireball is cool because the US didn't understand how to fight elementals, so they built this strange machine to do it, found out that it was a failure in that role, then repurposed it as a stellar scout unit. Battletech's propensity to have these non-optimized units and then explain them in-universe is one of my favorite parts of the setting.

[@Chillsmack]

I’ve always loved light mechs and the lighter armaments they have: makes each one feel more unique than heavier chassis in my opinion. And the Fireball is a fave lol I think it’s a charming little design

[@stormcrow28]

Davion egg run fast. Have little boom but make big boom when hitting bigger Clan egg. Much vroom. Ork like 13 painted in red please to praise Gork and Mork.

[@LezzyMania_02]

I prefer the Newer Upgraded version of the Fireball. Not only it had more armaments than its old variant but also far more Armored.

[@rickusjamesus]

I love the Fireball! So much so I did a campaign with a lance of them trying to hunt Elementals and it was tough! Fun though

[@bruenor316]

The XF weighs about the same as a loaded tour bus, and can hit the same max speed as a Bugatti Veyron; even a 40K Ork Speedfreek would be happy with that!

[@bthsr7113]

cept not nuf dakka

[@maube8007]

Que the Boss. "Baby, we were born to ruuuuuuuuuuuuuun"

[@joshuamidgette4846]

Got it, pulse laser the area around the Fireball, we're bound to hit something.

[@Kepora1]

*Cackles in XL pulse boat Hunchie 4P*

[@bthsr7113]

Mines and area bombardment are also valid options.

[@meshuggahshirt]

Reinventing the LAM by finding a way to squeeze a partial wing onto the XF and get it airborne under its own power

[@greyjedi4794]

Well done Red, Seyla

[@Timberjac]

The XF variant should have been called KT (kinetic torpedo).

[@BigRed40TECH]

Your a cruise missile harry.

[@Elrigger]

Excellent video on a little understood mech

[@AGS363]

Gotta Go Fast!🦔

[@scytheseven9173]

Love later variants of the Fireball

[@thomascraiker6449]

I’m here to chew bubblegum and kill Firemoths, and I’m all outta bubblegum.

[@kevinmulkey9774]

Always wanted to like the Fireball. But the Dart just works out better across the board being almost as fast with a standard engine. You just need to ditch the three stock IS Small Pulse Laser's is all.

[@swiftdraw]

The underlined comments on the XF were the cherry on top of a hilarious mech.

[@sanguiniusonvacation1803]

I have always thought the bad versions where made to be sold to the combine

[@metalmadness5851]

A machine truly full of character!

[@mikewaterfield3599]

not gonna lie, the weapon load out on this speed freak makes no sense to me.

[@BigRed40TECH]

THe 8D and 10D are much improved.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

The design team really didn't understand how hard Elementals are to kill. They obviously didn't have the best combat report data to work from.

[@RyeFields]

It has the need. The Need for Speed.

[@yecnay25]

Putting a TAG or Beagle seems like a no brainer for a recon mech. Wonder why no variant has that?

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'm sure we'll get one in the future.

[@bthsr7113]

Because this mech's designers still fail.

[@Soulfruit260]

You wanna see me run to that mountain and back? … You wanna see me do it again?

[@STSGingie]

I did a doubletake when I heard the final quote. Then laughed, well done.

[@Moondog66602]

Always love learning about mechs ive never heard of

[@Slightlylyons1]

It was death to Elementals when the Streak 2 could fire inferno missiles. Which also makes it's no energy weapon payload make a bit more sense.

[@Slightlylyons1]

Also the XF can mash the go fast button, but it's far smarter to alternate using the MASC and Turbo.

[@paladinslash4721]

No autocannon? What kind of Davion mech is this?

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

I guess the AC-2 was too heavy?

[@robrib2682]

The kind that has srm's and energy weapons instead So in other words it was dumpster dived from the combine in all due likelihood

[@DanielIsberner]

Really good look at the Fireball :)

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thanks Daniel!

[@jamesmortimer4016]

Little bastard probably outruns some LRMs

[@Kepora1]

Are youbsure that last pilot wasn't really just Ricky Bobby?

[@BigRed40TECH]

It was just a fake name. Ricky Bobby has been alive for more than a thousand years now. He moves so fast he doesn't age.

[@Kepora1]

@@BigRed40TECH I mean time dilation and relativity ARE things. If you go fast enough you essentially time travel! Alternatively it may simply be one of the most hallowed blood names of Clan Meth Weasel.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

This was one of those designs in the Clan Invasion Sourcebook that I glance over and dismissed as not being useful. thanks to this review I have taken a longer look at the Fireball, and I'm still inclined to dismiss it! 😆 It's amazing that NAIS and Corean signed off on this Humpty-Dumpty scout 'mech. I'll give it a pass in period lore, since the 3053 date indicates this was a rush job design made to counter Elementals, but with incomplete and incorrect data to work from. GIGO can be fatal when lives are on the line... I didn't know an egg-shaped 'mech form so popular in the Sixties and Seventies could be aerodynamic enough to generate such speed! Based on the illustration the Low Profile perk seems merited, since I think it has less height and less width than a Locust. 🤔 Lordy, an 11/17 move, even the Dasher pilots are amazed. However, the armament is pathetic, equal to a low-grade APC. The standard Elemental point outguns it at range. 😑 Gotta say, even the variants don't improve on it, especially for the cost. A 3050-era bug 'mech will do more, and possibly last longer. Oh well, you live, you learn, and here's hoping the next attempt works better!

[@BigRed40TECH]

I mean, I'd not take the standard 7D ever, but I think the 8D and 10D offer some real value personally.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

@@BigRed40TECH Upon review the -10D is a superior Locust-E type.

[@Barga6464]

Me and a friend of mine did a 1 on 1 fight with an urbanmech and a fireball. The fireball lost, but it should be noted not by alot. Instead of firing of ranged attacks it made several desperate charge moves that tore the urbanmech down to its jump jets before a lucky cockpit hit killed it. I'll be getting an official model as soon as one comes out. I feel it has more merit than some give it.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's got a metal model atm. Found in the pinned comment in the comments section :) But I'd like to see this one in plastic.

[@Barga6464]

Id like to add a couple more fireball escapades, as I truly believe charge attacks are now the most viable way to use this thing. Since last I commented I've had 2 more games, one that ended in a tie, as the final charge led to mutual engine destruction, and the other where a lucky charge knocked the enemy urbanmech into a lake, it fell over, and then the pilot drowned. In my testing I have seen the following: upgunning the Fireball is almost completely foley. Any amount of extra firepower will be almost immediately crit out of the machine, and slowing it down for more room brings down its dodge abilities to near lethal levels. Going faster on the other hand works wonders. When you start getting upwards of 20 movement and throw on a supercharger for good measure even just having 2 small lasers can be an impossibly hard to hit nuisance. And charging at that speed, even with that small amount of weight, remains a proven and powerful tactic. Viability of this machines combat ability is improving over time, the only caveat being you have to use succession wars tactics to see victory.

[@floridaman3823]

"I just wanna go fast.." -Vincente

[@hermes7587]

The Fireball is 7D is one of the most useless Mechs in existence. Sure it is fast but for what purpose? The weapon load is a bad joke. It is only dangerous to a Hussar. There is no BAP, no TAG, no C3, no system that would benefit from the incredible speed. Why would anybody spend 3 million C-bills for a Mech, if you can buy 6 (!) much more useful Sprint scout VTOLs for the same price?

[@shellbackbeau7021]

Legendary philosopher indeed!

[@MetalGlitch]

I created a custom fireball with a clan large pulse laser and light tag. Barring a stupidly lucky shot or mass bombardment, it is basically impossible to hit.

[@RonOnTheWay]

I wish I kept my metal models... I had a fireball :(

[@BigRed40TECH]

They still make them! Link in the top pinned comment XD

[@defiantmechwarrior2397]

Fireball nah fastball

[@Darren_Xero]

Ikr. should be named Fastball, but Davions aren't Americans & know nothing about baseball

[@jameshiggins5686]

I CAST FIREBALL!!!