BATTLETECH: The Firestarter

There is a #LightMech which often goes unnoticed to the untrained eye, and is one which can wreak havoc on any formation. Tanks, infantry, even #Battlemechs are not safe from this fire-shrouded devil in the world of #Battletech and #Mechwarrior. #Mechcommanders know its name, and send these machines to bring havoc and destruction.
Today, we are going to talk about the #Firestarter.
All art was sourced from games or from tabletop artwork, with one exception, found here:
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#Battletech #Mechwarrior #HouseKurita #HouseDavion #HouseMarik #HouseSteiner #HouseLiao #Battlemech #SuccessionWars #Mechwarrior #Light #LightMechs #LightBattlemechs #Firestarter #CatalystGameLabs #CGL #StarLeague #battlemech #InnerSphere #FASA @SLDF
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.

[@michaelmills8205]

I would say the Firestarter is a "Walking War Crime", but it moves a fair bit faster than just walking.

[@connormclernon26]

It’s the Mech that has the Warcrimes on by default.

[@TheKingOfHalo]

I remember the mission in MW5 where Ryana is alarmed that a Firestarter is attacking a friendly settlement. It makes sense now seeing how much damage the Firestarter can do if left unchecked.

[@wavestrider2160]

Use one on a demolition mission, you'll get the gist right away

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

There is something truly terrifying when a machine can jump into the middle of a regiment of infantry, deal upwards of 20d6 damage, and jump out. Tabletop rules combined arms should always include a Firestarter.

[@KageRyuu6]

Still need to be able to hit the infantry, but flamers do make this job a bit easier in some ways. Base 4, Jump +3, Camo +3, IR +1, Heavy Woods +2, Squad Size +1 = To Hit TN 14, ie Impossible. Firestarter would need to walk to even have a 2.7% chance of hitting. Course one could just set the forest on fire as well, hence indirect warfare.

[@Tekdruid]

One of the mechs that causes an immediate _"OH CRAP"_ reaction when spotted.

[@TalkerDudeMan]

Thunderbolt: I fear no 'mech. But that thing... scares me.

[@TheDownrankTrain]

Everybody gangsta till the Firestarter precision shots the Left Torso with 6 flamers

[@TheDownrankTrain]

The thing that makes the Firestarter such a standout light mech is that it doesnt matter what you are piloting (unless perhaps it is clantech with absurd amounts of double heat sinks), a Firestarter is ALWAYS a credible threat to you

[@StressmanFIN]

The 'mech that's guaranteed to give it's pilot PTSD, watching infantry turn to vapor and ash in seconds. ...Unless they're a sadist. x)

[@ian5395]

*excited salamander noises*

[@TheGreenKnight500]

I'm the trouble starter, punkin' instigator I'm the fear addicted, danger illustrated I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter You're the firestarter, twisted firestarter I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter I'm the bitch you hated, filth infatuated - yeah I'm the pain you tasted, well intoxicated I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter You're the firestarter, twisted firestarter I'm the self inflicted, mind detonator - yeah I'm the one infected, twisted animator I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter You're the firestarter, twisted firestarter I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter

[@robertroy7818]

Every time I've ignored this mech it's roasted one of my big boys with so much heat that it was basically useless for 2-3 turns. Absolute monster of a light.

[@aprinnyonbreak1290]

This thing stands alone as a mech that defies its low tonnage when it comes to how much of an impact it has on a battle. The fact that it's pretty good even outside of combined arms should tell you just how good this seemingly awkward little mech is. Poor things tend to have short, brutal lives, though.

[@TekkaSage]

Short life cause the moment you see it you focus fire on it.

[@passgo8507]

One of the best light mechs out there. Quick, annoying, and easily underestimated. There’s nothing quite like bathing a mech in flames, overheating it, and laughing maniacally while the pilot pops like a microwaved hot dog. I got this thing early on in my MW5 campaign and it’s been my most stalwart choices in nearly every campaign I enter.

[@bbsamik1999]

This mech is literally designers going "what would a Terrorist be in mech form?" its literally a terror weapon

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's War-Crimeserific!

[@malusignatius]

Burn baby BURN. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Firestarter. It's a 'mech that requires a bit of thought to get the best out of, but it's incredibly versatile, particularly if you're using the advanced rules and set fire to forests for cover etc. Also, when you absolutely, positively have to do warcrimes, it's without equal.

[@BraindeadCRY]

Its not a warcrime if there aren't any witnesses

[@patrickkenyon2326]

Napalm is your friend. It never wants to let go.

[@malusignatius]

@@BraindeadCRY *evidence.

[@malusignatius]

@@patrickkenyon2326 Who needs napalm when you have reactor plasma though?

[@patrickkenyon2326]

@@malusignatius I suppose that works too...

[@Reverb154]

You can't go wrong with fire. The best way to improve on this design is if you could add a Streak SRM-2 with Infernos to REALY bring the heat!

[@saigancat]

I discovered the Firestarter during MW5 and it has become my favorite mech. I run it in my lances often in HBS Battletech, both the FS9-H and E in MWO, and even grabbed an IWM model for the tabletop. Fantastic mech, made me a flamer addict.

[@lalosaurioXL]

The terror of the buildings, punisher of bases, demolition mech Firestarter, such a legend

[@GliderBane]

Sadly, this is why the Vulcan has such a poor reputation. This thing does its job better.

[@gearshiv]

Cheeper too

[@JoshuaVTrinity]

All so it can have a “big” gun that is the laughable ac2

[@bthsr7113]

@@JoshuaVTrinity With short range penalties.

[@depth386]

Vulcan is a boss if you drop the AC2. I love what they did in HBS’ Battletech with the Close Quarters Combat Suite.

[@magni5648]

@@depth386 Yup. The VL-5T is quite a little monster.

[@wheturangi]

Firestarter is the posterchild for the atrocities of the Succession Wars. You can just see it ravaging cities with its flamers and MGs. I paint mine in gold and have it partnered with a white Urbie. Both serve in my Base Security lance. It is a fun little mech, but I would rather use the Jenner.

[@BraindeadCRY]

The firestarter sets other mech on fire, the Jenner sets itself on fire with how hot it runs. Both are good mechs for different environments, in a scorching hot desert city I'd certainly chose the firestarter over the jenner, in a frozen tundra its the Jenner all the way.

[@Wrootplonk]

In the early game and well into the midrange of the BT-game from 2017, any Firestarter popping up is damn near instantly a primary target. I want that thing crippled and preferrably out of the fight faster than an AC20-shot to the head will delete a pilot. They can go from a nuisance to outright deadly as hell in a very short order of time.

[@Einwetok]

Especially with all improved MG's and melee mods. Crit-crushed quite a few mediums and heavies with that loadout.

[@mikeh2850]

@@Einwetok that's how I prefer to use it. Flamers won't kill, and only have four shots. Those machine guns plus melee, you only need 4 turns to take out a lance.

[@Einwetok]

@@mikeh2850 Those weightless +++ mg's and the weightless melee mods let a Firestarter do what a hatchetman wishes it could.🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@NonApplicable1983]

Legitimately one of the actual scariest ‘mechs you could come up against as infantry in BattleTech. I’d rather face a Dire Wolf than a Firestarter.

[@faithmcclosky4528]

Great vid as always. I think you nailed the soundtrack on this one, it had a very Firestarter feel to it. I always liked the Firestarter, it always proved to be a nimble harasser unit for me, especially in the Succession Wars era play.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The best part about the Firestarter, is it can display warm-greetings for its opponents in a real way. By burning them alive.

[@TheDownrankTrain]

What is the music used?

[@elementz301]

My favorite light mech and probably 2nd favorite mech in general. So so so much fun to play in Mechwarrior and the HBS battletech

[@melonetankberry5211]

most impressive. there is just nothing wrong or left to ask for with this mech. it alone chanced my view on how strong "light" weaponry actually is/ how 2 medium lasers are just the perfect amount for decent anti air ability (+ being most protected mounted in the center as the most valuable not likely to be lost piece). it really got it all, if you are willing to engage. just keep running, just keep shooting.

[@kazekamiha]

Hoo boy... PC Game experience there's three things I *hate* seeing on the other side. Anything with an AC/20 because that's HUGE damage. Hunchbacks and R-60L Urbanmechs are doubly worrying in the early game. SRM and LRM Carriers because while their armor is paper thin they chuck HUGE amounts of missiles that can kill your stability as well as armor. And Firestarters because if it gets close and starts torching you you cannot use any high heat energy weapons and internal, structural damage is likely. You cannot underestimate these things. They are near the top of my 'to kill' list whenever they show up. Even if they cause no real damage the heat alone makes it a threat.

[@connorriggs1518]

Finally my favorite light mech makes its appearance in a burst of flame roaring flame and the smell of Mech warriors cooking in their cockpits

[@Hierax415]

You either cook yourself by firing every weapon you have to keep it away from you, or you don't and it cooks you for letting it get close.

[@sinjin8576]

Staff at Argyle technology: "how many war crimes do you think we can pack into a single mech?"

[@51DEMONIC]

Ah the Firestarter, truly a curse and evil mech, that lingers at the edge of many veteran Mechwarriors mind. A threat anyone should take seriously. For me I always prioritize these units for destruction. Got to say, this mech says a lot about those use it, least those outside of the Mirage variant.

[@cavalryscout9519]

This is the only light mech I will use if I can afford a medium as a replacement. It's just too useful, and fits in basically any lance, either as a scout, or as second-line support/utility guarding against flankers, reacting to infantry, burning cover, setting smoke screens, or shutting down enemies who run their heat too high. The only downside is that it's relatively expensive for a light mech, and costs around the same as most 40 tonners. That's not a huge downside though.

[@oliverlacota3112]

To be fair, considering the versatility and hitting power of the 'Mech in question, it earns that price tag effortlessly, and arguably deserves it better than the Medium 'Mechs it contends with. Money well spent.

[@cavalryscout9519]

@@oliverlacota3112 Yeah, it's definitely a good mech, and it's priced similarly to the 40-ton mediums, which are pretty "meh" (both in C-bills and BV). It's just not quite as budget-friendly as something like a Wasp.

[@bezyn2291]

i love Firestarter, replace flamethrowers with small lasers and what you get is a mini Grasshopper, a devastating mech punching far beyond it`s weight.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

That's a Mirage.

[@beyondEV]

add max armor to legs and the half "damage from dfa" module. dfa and fire the 4 lasers gives massive damage and your legs still have some armor left.

[@sharlin648]

Lovely little 'Mech, it was also the best way to deal with Elementals as flamer's can really screw over Battle armour. Great review!

[@tomsimpkins1211]

Man I love the Firestarter, it's amazing. Maybe takes more effort than other mechs, but if wielded right it can cause havoc in any target.

[@furikuri6585]

Propably the best light mech pre clan fuckey imo. Even thou the firestarter was designed for a specific role, it can do all other roles of light mechs fairly well so there's never a reason not to field this mashine, something wich is rare in BT mech-design. It is dangerous against all classes of mechs, infantry and vehicles, even an assault mech jockey is going to break into a sweat when there's a firestarter in the neighborhood. Ofc the FS9 won't down a assault allone, but it could serve as a distraction for allies to pommel the bigger target If it decides to turn it's attention away from them so it won't get it's cheeks roasted by a measly 35T mech.

[@DIEGhostfish]

The return lf DHS and the cap.on external forced heat really hurt it as a mech v mech weapon

[@MM22966]

Also probably a mech its mechwarriors have a hard surrendering to infantry after being forced to eject from.

[@dwavenminer]

The perfect mech for taking out all those insurgent squirrels.

[@DIEGhostfish]

Hovertank units would also like firestarters for wood clearing

[@lukedudley5030]

Gotta love something that burns everything that gets in its way :-) fast enough to avoid a lot of incoming fire and tough enough to shrug off any hits it does take :-) great little mech that's actually cheap to buy too and has a space in any merc lance :-)

[@TheGoldenBoy01-x4n]

This mech is a fun mech to play. In Mechwarrior 5 and HBS BATTLETECH 6 flamers is extremely effective.

[@hurnn1543]

Firestarter is maybe my favorite light mech, it does everything good enough and is a nightmare in close terrain.

[@Kotch111]

The firestarter is a beast. In the video games because ranges are so short but on the tabletop, it provides a smoke screen that provides cover to the whole lance - which can easily overcome range advantages. Just pray you're fighting it on a moon (and that it doesn't cause your sinks to fail).

[@STzim]

Firestarter is here to manage your heat. Let's see how good your heat management really is. As I hate to worry even more about heat management the only thing with hire priority is an srm carrier and even then it depends. Hate to fight it so it's a decent design. Can fight light and most heavy and assault don't want it anywhere near ruining their heat management.

[@gufbrindleback]

That's the picture of a Firestarter attacking Anthrocon!

[@Marianom84]

This is by far one of my favorite mechs! I love firestarters!

[@tawesssoabbox]

The Firestarter.. For when you not only want to make a war crime... but all the war crimes... I esp love the fact that the fluff is very particular about how fire is one of the greatest fears of mechwarriors.. so this mech in universe is literally made to be a terror tool.

[@Wingchunmandan]

You're really putting a ton of content out there and I appreciate it.

[@mrbuzzsaw9340]

Great video I have multiple builds for them in both Mechwarrior and Battletech. A solid mech that can both take and deal damage. I feel safe throwing this mech into a flanking role to harass enemy range. The FS-9s is my favorite varient it can run and gun especially if you give it stealth armor.

[@michaellaramee1965]

Loved the Firestarter, in my BEX run of Battletech I was still deploying a Firestarter during the clan invasion just so I can try and roast a clanner. I wouls strip the medium lasers and just go all in on fire and speed, rush one of them, punch them in the face and set them on fire. I mean the pilot survivability wasn't the greatest but damn was it effective when it wanted to be.

[@IronWarhorsesFun]

The Firestarter: Because nukes may be an Inconvenience but PURGING WITH HOLY PROMETHIUM IS FOR THE EMPEROR!!!

[@matthewspencer2094]

Got one of these early in MW5. Never looked back. Never downgraded to a medium, heavy, or assault. There is no mission this thing cant cook. Either lasers or flamers... Damned unbeatable.

[@user-jq1mg2mz7o]

this thing is both a beast in CBT and HBS. in the latter, making use of its high speed (and thus evasion), relatively higher weight in its class (thus higher melee), and its many support slots allows one to rush around coring assaults in melee even at 5 skull missions. simply amazing

[@vali6717]

I rarely like to use light mechs but the Firestarter is one that I truly respect. Four flamers and two medium lasers is a truly lethal armament and cannot under any circumstances be ignored especially if the Firestarter is able to get behind heavier mechs. I personally preferr mine without the machine guns for even more flamers and its touch is the kiss of death for any machine caught out of formation.

[@emptank]

These things could be monsters in HBS if you found the good small weapons. There's a rare double plus machine gun that takes five extra shots so it can deal up to 45 damage instead of 30 and it adds no weight to the mech. With a few of those you could have a firestarter with six machine guns and six medium lasers that still has jump jets and decent armor. That's a light mech that can consistently put out 250 to 300 damage each round. It's hits harder than most heavy mechs and moves on initiative 4. Put an ace pilot in one and you can reserve down to a low initiative, sprint behind an enemy after they've moved, shoot them in the back before they can react and then jump jet away to safety. Terrifying.

[@LowlyMerkit]

Absolute favorite light mech, especially replacing all flamers with small pulses or small ER lasers.

[@halldak1119]

Tied with the Spider for my favorite IS Light. A wonderful swiss army knife of a chassis.

[@kennetth1389]

One of the most hilarious mechs to play

[@chrisbritt4266]

I'm glad you did this video that is my absolutely favorite light Mach ever

[@Dragoran5836]

WE DINT START THE FIRE!🎼 It was that mech!

[@theodoreschott3293]

Well it looks like I found a new mech to put into every lance!

[@Zenpharian]

The mech love of my life

[@Lady-Santiago]

Oh yeah, this mech is such a god damn gem in so many ways. Table top it's super versatile and is one of a kind, it's one of the best light brawlers in MWO, HBS battle tech gives it the ability to turn into a massive alpha strike monster. This mech is a gem and is one of my favorites and I can't wait for the new sculpt.

[@elchjol2777]

My introduction to the DCMS and the danger of the firestarter was defending a military medical center in Davion territory from them in MW 5. After a rather long fight for the early game a pair of them dropped in with a Jenner and a Javelin backing them up, With only a worn down Centurion,Jenner,Javelin and an Urbie to defend it was a rather desperate brawl. I may have won but the repair bill hurt my early game. First time hearing Judgment and Retribution too so got good music with a good fight.

[@seannorthern8854]

Just a thought: God bless this obviously Canadian-designed auditor of the Geneva Checklist.

[@andrewweltlich9065]

By far my favorite light mech

[@AliasDrakes]

I have long hated the Firestarter, but not because it was bad, but because I perpetually struggle against it.

[@gusty9053]

My only point of reference is the HBS pc game BEX modded :)) but the Firestarter is scary in all configurations: standard, all lasers, all flamers, even several machine guns work well - it crits like there is no tomorrow.

[@Circ00mspice]

Ah the pure embodiment of "Geneva Suggestions"

[@frankb3347]

Twisted.

[@DIEGhostfish]

I wish the Firestarter had hands, it has the spare critslots for them.

[@kalebglenn5279]

So it can HOLD a massive flamethrower too? Good thinking :P

[@JumpingFlapjack]

What are three Firestarter and a Marauder and one Battlemaster on a clearing? Quite simple: A BBQ-party on six legs! XD This "joke" comes from an episode at Mechwarrior online where two colleagues and I, all in Firestarters, grilled a poor Marauder and an already heavily damaged Battlemaster in a clearing. Proverbial^^. Because the Marauderpilot was good, and had us pretty heavily damaged, so that we each had only one or two Flammer and MG`s, and on off us a single light laser. So we have them then well fried on low flame^^. All three of us survived, and we already got orders for several medium rare mechsteaks and other tasty delicacies XD. (It was one of my most exciting and best matches I ever had at Mechwarrior online. )

[@CRAZYUNCLE117]

Some designs may need updating over time, but never need modification. Watched a tonnage vs tonnage game where 1 team was almost all assaults while the other put as many firestarters on the board as he could. I think it came out to 12 FS-9 for each assault lance. The game took a long time, due to the amount on mechs, but as soon as the first assault got into jump range... In one turn he had caused so much heat that the mech forced an ejection. Yes, they had that in the rules they played by. Even though the assault team, yes I said team, got smart and tried to get distance, they knew their time was limited. I would not say it was a blow out, but it was one sided. It is like Big Red 40K says, "It is all in how you play." (I remember you saying that on a livestream)

[@DIEGhostfish]

Yeah the external heat cap is very important as a limiting factor otherwise fs spam just gets silly

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

Every mercenary regiment that is successful in the long run has at least one of these things in its TO&E. The Eridani Light Horse at one time had at least three of them. It does one thing, and does it very well. In the pre-Clan days when many mechs had only ten heat sinks, it was very dangerous! Running a Firestarter with some degree of success require using approved fire starting rules, or a Mechwarrior GM who is willing to handwave some complexity for the quick answer of "Does it burn well?" Never got to use one in the old merc unit as a friendly mech. (A few appeared as opponents though and got mad respect.) But if I started up again there would be a Firestarter in the ranks.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Firestarter pilots sleep easy at night lol

[@StarShadowPrimal]

In the Battletech PC game, even though the base game tends to punish you for not using your biggest mechs, I enjoyed keeping at least one of these for lunar and other poor heat sinking environments. They can force a shutdown or ammo cook-off on units more than twice their size if they are cutting it close on heat management, especially if you hit them from behind and crit some heatsinks.

[@EricDaMAJ]

I’m nowhere near as enamored with the Firestarter as the narrator. But there’s no denying that in hot environments one jumping over a ridge to roast your already redlined Stalker is horrifying.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I've seen it used to such great effect in 3025, and I've used it to great effect in 3025, I can't help but love it. IMO, the best light mech of the Succession Wars era.

[@alexdemoya2119]

Ideal mech to run down giant tunnels in

[@ian5395]

I'll take every firestarter you can share. we gonna swarm like we're protos

[@cliffsangelsphotography]

Fire In The Disco 🔥

[@ogrehaslayers605]

A long time favorite!

[@donaldcampbell3043]

I love anything with MGs and the Flamers just add to the fun...

[@rylian21]

Firestarters are NASTY. It is maybe the only light mech I truly fear in a fight.

[@blue95kun]

Firestarters are very much welcome at barbecue parties and travelling carnivals. The skill of the pyrotechnics just burns them up.

[@afitz34]

It’s very hard to rebel against a world’s rulers when you are on fire…

[@Kpiozero]

I like how the Firestarter can very easily warp the entire battlefield around itself as a wrench thrown into the gears of any fine tuned strategy. Overheating your mech is risky at the best of times and deadly at the worst, I'm curious if other Mechs specialize in tormenting their foes with heat.

[@AGS363]

Oh, so that is why you are so on fire!

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

See now this? This is what an Urban mech should be; you're fast and maneuverable enough that you should be able to mitigate the need for range, you have enough fire power to brutalize other light mechs in close and you are a nightmare to infantry.

[@BigRed40TECH]

And it's almost as armoured as the Urbie too.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

@@BigRed40TECH And almost 3 times as fast.

[@DIEGhostfish]

@@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285 Fitting, since it leaves a lot of Char

[@Chris_Sizemore]

The Urbanmech is half the price (in C-bills). Also in a one-on-one fight ... the Urbie has a real chance to win. Better reach means it gets to start pilling up damage before the Firestarter gets to engage. Once the Firestarter closes the distance it has a firepower advantage, but that firepower isn't concentrated in a single location. All the Urbie needs to do is double up a shot to get some internals, and a 3rd shot to any location will cripple the Firestarter. The thing that lets a Firestarter compete with heavier mechs doesn't work on the Urbie: heat. The Urbie runs extra cool. If all it does is walk and fire the AC10 it can vent 7 additional heat per turn. The Firestarter can only cause 8 points of heat. It isn't even worth trying against the Urbie except to shut down the small laser. The small amount of heat a Firestarter can cause won't have a drastic result on a match between the mechs, but the Firestarter needs to use them if it expects to close the distance to engage the machine guns. Neither mech has a clear advantage. The Firestarter is much better at taking down mechs that have a heat problem. That isn't the Urbanmech.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

@@Chris_Sizemore 1. And for the price of an urbamech I can get 2 warrior attack helicopters or Hetzers which will tear it a new one. 2. The range advantage is moot since it isn't going to be able to get an unobstructed line of sight shot on the mech that is going to have at least a +3 modifier to hit (assuming it has line of sight at all) 3. True if the Urbie is able to get a hit on the fire starter it's going to hurt, but if it misses that AC then that means that all that damage is worthless. By comparison the firestarter has more shots against a much easier to hit target which means a greater liklihood of through armor criticals and headshots. 4. The firestarter's flamethrowers can and will cause damage just like any other weapon and furthermore if enough of it connects it can knock the trashcan over with a piloting check. 5. The Firestarter has the advantage of mission profiles as well over the urbs; the former can perform pretty much any roll you'd want a light mech for while the urbie is only good in an extremely narrow roll.

[@GhostBear3067]

My battle cry has long been "LIVE AND DIE BY THE SHUTDOWN OVERRIDE!!!" and the Firestarter is there to simplify that selection.

[@AdairCorbin]

It's the only light mech in 3025, that scream must kill, preferably at range! That said while it has been effective for some of my enemies it's never been super great for me in actual games, functioning mostly as a bullet sponge.

[@tenchraven]

The Firestarter is, simply put, "infantry be gone". The physical embodiment of a war crime. And I named my H "Mercy".I do like to swap the arm flamers for vehicular flamers each with a ton of ammo, swapping the MGs for SLs or dropping an MG and half ton of ammo. You can just turn off the pilot lights and make a puddle, then spark it with the plasma. -Rioters- Infantry don't like to get wet, it hurts thier morale. But no mention of the -K?

[@BigRed40TECH]

There are too many variants for me to cover in a single video. These videos don't deep dive all variants. :)

[@forzafan92]

in mechwarrior 5 and battletech, i fit at least one firestarter with all small lasers and machine guns. i use the hero FS9-E with small pulse lasers and machines guns and it is super effective, high mobility combined with a high rate of fire, i can scrap mechs well above its weight. in battletech i always use it by having someone that can shoot then move, as i can hold their action, get behind someones mech, core them, then next turn cycle i sprint/jump them away. one of my all time favorite mechs.

[@foxdavion6865]

My go to light mech for Tabletop, HBS Battletech and Mechwarrior 5.

[@Demolitiondude]

Trodgdor was a man, I mean, he was a dragon man,

[@BigRed40TECH]

Burninating all the time dude.

[@kylebarrie2887]

Good light mech hunter as well as vehicle/squisher in video games, it also can kitted out most how you want it.

[@Kaiju-Driver]

Thanks to the battletech PC game I have a Deep fear and respect for this mech.

[@robinmottart3859]

my favorite mech!

[@sebastiang.5032]

It buuuuuurns us! #Gollum

[@patrickkenyon2326]

Ah, the Firestarter. Run circles around that Heavy with the PPCs, wait till he fires and runs his heat up, then jump into his 6 and burn. Keep him shut down till his friends are dealt with, or he panics and ejects.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Don't forget to chew him up with MG's the whole time on his side and rear armour to just whittle him down.

[@patrickkenyon2326]

@@BigRed40TECH Now why would I want to scratch the paint on my pretty new Mech?

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@patrickkenyon2326 Because ammo explosions are pretty ;)

[@patrickkenyon2326]

@@BigRed40TECH Ok, you have a point, but... New Mech!

[@erikbjelke4411]

I think the reason Firestarters fall off as tech advances is there really isn't an "advanced flamer." Lasers get to be ER or pulse, PPCs get myriad upgrades and new versions, missiles get Streak and Artemis, autocannons get LB-X, Ultra, and Rotary, but flamers are just. . . there. Thus, the 'Mech whose whole thing is "I really like fire" gets left behind, because the thing it's designed around gets left behind.

[@danmorgan3685]

In my head cannon whenever infantry units capture a mech warrior they tend to ransom them. With the exception of Firestarter pilots. Those are shot out of hand.

[@jtjames79]

Barbecued. Served with side of fried green tomatoes.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Firestarter is just trying to spread the warmth. Why are people so mean to their pilots? :(

[@danmorgan3685]

@@BigRed40TECH It's a terror weapon. Flame thrower operators and machine gun crews were rarely taken prisoner for a reason.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@danmorgan3685 I was kidding. lol

[@TheStraycat74]

3050 full clan tech rebuild version: FS-10A still 35 tons but now with Clan Endo Steel and 6 tons of Ferofiberous, a clanner XL engine and DHs and Jump Jets, leave the FS-10A with 13.75 tons of podspace. that doesn't sound like much for a 35 ton mech with 6/9/6 movement, but the Firestarter makes use of all of it. Prime config has 8 clan mech flamers, 4 small pulse lasers, 3 clan machineguns with a ton of ammo, and 4 extra double heat sinks. Alt-config a has 3 ER-medium lasers, 8 standard srm-2's with 2 tons of INFERNO ammo and 2 tons standard srm-2 ammo, a single Clan MG with half ton of mg-ammo, and 2 extra DHS. max armor, decent movement for it's weight class, tons of fire or inferno rounds, the Clan Rebuild Firestarter is an infantry mans worst nightmare.

[@robertb7293]

My lance is in your face. My lance is in your base. My lance is invincible. My lance will never retreat, because my lance is unstoppable. My lance is on fire. Uh? ... Oh. GG.

[@SeedemFeedemRobots]

6:37 Inner Sphere Firestarter attacking a Clanner garrison during Operation BIRD DOG, 3059