BATTLETECH: The Mercury

[@TehSquare]

Given how many different weapons systems, engines, and chassis the SLDF fielded having something that was actually designed for ease of maintenance and repair was probably pretty welcome.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Imagine the relief on those tech's faces when this thing was what they were working on. lol

[@rmcdudmk212]

I think is a nod to corporations willingness to milk the government for as much money as they can on parts and maintenance as possible in real life.

[@TehSquare]

@@BigRed40TECH “Oh thank god, it has just two guns that we use already elsewhere!”

[@DIEGhostfish]

@@BigRed40TECH Isn't it only the 2 small lasers that benefit anyway?

[@TheGreatDayne1983]

Got to feed that military industrial complex somehow, and if your not buy then someone else will

[@kitirena_koneko]

All you Inner Sphere freebirths can laugh at the Mercury all you want, but we of the Clans were so impressed by the Mercury's modular design that we (well, technically Clan Heckler & Koch, I mean Clan Coyote) took the idea and ran with it the way you should have! See what you could have had if you hadn't been systematically pounding each other into dust and slag?

[@tomecat]

Neveron was a major Battletech outlet in 5th-6th grade. My First long term nation bought a damaged Mercury, and spent 4 days to have it brought back to full. A day after I got it back the massive nation from across the great lake attacked me. First combat was my one Mercury, 2 scorpions and a manticore. He brought two hunchbacks, one stinger, and a locust. My little quicksilver killed the locust, and then ran to flank his 4SP. Between my manticore's lrms and one ml hit I knocked out the mechwarrior. Next contact was the 4G and stinger. My Mercury got knocked out, but all three of my tanks scored hits- the Manti getting a tac and knocking out the ac20. Stinger killed one scorpion but got legged, and the 4G showed a clean pair of heels. Repaired my Mercury and salvaged a stinger and hunchback. Loved the Mech ever after that.

[@michaelmills8205]

At worst, it's a better armed locust with hands. That's decent and any additional tech they put in makes it faster and stronger. It's one of the best 20 tonne mechs. I'm happy to field it and the thorn when I play star league and early clan forces.

[@joelaugustin6407]

Ammo CRIT-ing a raven from behind in the second round of a lights only match sold me on this little guy. He was an absolute terror in the battle that followed

[@yecnay25]

Give this thing Guardian ECM and stealth armor it’s a nightmare gremlin.

[@joebyrnes9254]

Yo I just got this thing in a comstar command 2 Lance pack! I didn’t know much about this unit so thanks a billion for making me even more hyped for this purchase!

[@BigRed40TECH]

No problem! Hope you enjoy :D

[@boomboomzoomer9390]

I almost got said lance pack, but I wasn't sure about the mercury. Ill definitely be picking it up sometime soon now!

[@joebyrnes9254]

@@boomboomzoomer9390 I mean, the king crab alone makes the pack worth it

[@boomboomzoomer9390]

@@joebyrnes9254 Not just the crab, the Highlander and the black knight too. I was just unsure about the 3 smaller mechs in the lance, but it looks like Big Red is gonna cover em anyways.

[@joshuaturnquist5538]

The new Mercury redesign is such a handsome little mech. Too bad it's extremely rare outside of Comstar and Wobbie forces.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Blake's word be praised!

[@mattcarper9853]

@@BigRed40TECH Blake's motto: "...and then they nuked them...." Interesting faction, but I still think the Jihad was bungled from a story standpoint.

[@Jsay18]

@@mattcarper9853 True, but by Blake's Blood I cannot get over these 'mechs.

[@Vericyn]

The 105 variant is available to every great house and the new star league in 3151

[@joshuaturnquist5538]

@@mattcarper9853 I know it probably won't happen, but it would be interesting if they revisited the Blakists. At least more early bits of the Jihad to better show their spiral into suicidal madness.

[@Dragoran5836]

Your series is perfect to for finding intersting new old mechs,

[@BigRed40TECH]

All the mechs get covered. New, old. Doesn't matter. They get covered in order too.

[@rmcdudmk212]

Always thought of the Mercury as an underrated fast scout. The Locust and Stinger get more glory but I have a soft spot for the little Mercury. 💪

[@BigRed40TECH]

Mercury, even the 98, will do a number on either of them imo.

[@rmcdudmk212]

@@BigRed40TECH agree. This mech may not be unseen but it definitely come off as forgotten. 😢

[@Chris_Sizemore]

The Mercury suffers from its late introduction. Locust and Stinger are among the first generation of mechs introduced in the game. The Mercury wasn't present in the tabletop until the 2750 Technical Readout introduced it. This is over a decade later than the original 3025 Technical Readout. Mechs introduced in this and later material didn't have as many figures produced and sold as older mechs. A large portion of the player base stuck to "classic battletech" and 3rd Succession War era units rather than moving into the Clan Invasion era.

[@ogrehaslayers605]

My custom Mercury was one of my top performers, in my latest tabletop game. It didn't deal a lot of damage, but it never got hit, and was always there to lash out with its lasers, backing up others in the Lance.

[@randomnetsurfer]

You have been developing your dramatic voice well over these videos. There has been a noticeable and consistent improvement. Well done!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thanks!

[@Andrewlik]

Pulled this thing in a salvage box, and I'm quite happy with it. The succ wars downgrade acts as a Locust 1E reskin, but you can never have enough light mechs to round out any force

[@fedupN]

Keep reminding me about all these mechs I've forgotten about . Thanks for the awesome vids!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Glad you like them! Thanks Nicholas! :D

[@franksmedley7372]

Hello Red. 'Back in the day'... low, these many decades ago (1984), few had access to the new Star League Mechs and few had the TRO's to back them up. Mostly, they were ignored and under used by my Playing Group. Myself, I used them happily, since they were faster than the standard Locust, and better armed in my opinion since they were an 'all-energy' build. Although MASC limited the design in some respects, it was a useful Mech for my forces. When 3050, 3055, and 3057 TROs came out, I took it upon myself to 'improve' the Mercury in some way. I found that by taking a MCY-105 (the version without the MASC), and exchanging the standard gyro for an XL Gyro, I had enough 'spare' tonnage to give the Mech a total of 4 ER Medium Lasers, and a Single ER Small Laser as well. Armored with 4 tons of Ferro-Fiberous Armor, it was decently protected, and still had a movement rate of 12-18-0. A still respectable speed, even in this day and age of faster Mech designs. Although Alpha Striking with this Mech, on the run, generates 23 heat... with 'only' the base 10 IS DSHS, heat creep is an issue for the Mech. But, a good pilot can 'run and gun' this Mech for several turns before generating enough of a heat issue to worry, or slow the Mech. The simple solution of continuing to run and not firing two of the four Lasers is enough to offset this build up. Somewhat like the 'heat burden' of an Awesome-8Q. In game, this works out that the Mercury, as altered, can shoot in a 'pattern'... 4,4,4,4,2,2, repeat. 12 movement in a straight line works out to a +4 penalty to be hit. And moving 18 generates a +6. Although if maneuvering, you'd never get above a +5 penalty running. Even so, that +5 is important to the Mercury, since it makes even excellent pilots miss their target more often than not. This translates to a longer battlefield lifespan for the unit, and more opportunities to use is ER Lasers to good effect. Although the MCY-100-UK is slower, and still retains it MASC, it does mount an ER Lrg Laser and a single standard Medium Laser. 9-14-0 (18). So, in general, this mech can only get a +4 penalty against being hit by running. If it engages the MASC it can get upwards of a +6, although some of that 18 pts of movement would definitely be used to maneuver. The MCY-100-UK's weapons during an 'alpha strike' only generate 15 heat. Add a run to that, and you never overheat. Other than the chance of doing horrible damage to the Mech's legs, the design is sound and useful. The ER Lrg Laser definitely goes a long ways to helping the Mech become more than 'just another scout' by extending the Mech's combat range envelope. All in all, I would say some Mercury designs are well worth the C-Bills it will cost to field them. Although, as said before, wise use of the Mech's abilities is crucial to its survival in Combat.

[@captaingeneralconch]

MOAR GIVE ME MOAR!!!! I NEED MY BATTLETECH CRACK!!! also wow the Merc looks interesting and unique

[@faithmcclosky4528]

Great video as always, Red. You do a good job pointing out the niche role and purpose of the original mech, as well as touching on it's place in the histroy of Battlemech develepment.

[@robertgriffin662]

Never liked the look of the mercury. Until the current images and CGL MINI. Great vid keep'em coming please!

[@BigRed40TECH]

I will!

[@a6two]

Big Red 40k has quickly become one of my favorite battletech channels.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thanks Chris!

[@danbeasley6135]

Thank you kindly BR for your insetting vids........And happy new year!

[@Kingofdragons117]

I used one to harass the rear of a star when playing Alpha Strike. Was very fast. Going 20" puts it 4" above a locust in speed, which I put to great use.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Speed is life.

[@bryy2053]

Great video breakdown. Quickly becoming one of or my very favorite Battletech content channel, giving me my near daily fix

[@BigRed40TECH]

I try my best to get stuff out every day :)

[@jus10hall89]

Alright, I'm gonna be honest with everybody, and I want everybody to be honest with me. But who else besides me had Allen Jackson's Mercury blues playing in their head when they listened to this. Great content, by the way.👍

[@joshblack2362]

Keep up the great work!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thanks Josh!

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

Simple, efficient and effective. Small wonder it inspire the omnimech.

[@Cytl-bu3nq]

Don't forget to talk about the design in between the Mercury and the Coyotl, that being the Mercury II, made by Clan Wolverine.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Clan who?

[@erikbjelke4411]

@@BigRed40TECH Oh, is that how it is?

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@erikbjelke4411 XD

[@mattcarper9853]

Abject humiliation. Killing a Dire Wolf with a Center Mass Crit from a Mercury.

[@ChaosTicket]

The Mercury is a essentially the Locust 1E, but with 2 arms and MASC. Its solid but its overshadowed by it and its successor the Mercury II being the inspirations for Omnimechs, starting with the Coyotl.

[@Keyrathify]

I always find it funny that standardized parts aka "plug and fight" or "omnipods" are such a revolutionary tech in the future. I mean, what the eff? People didn't think of just having the same adaptable joint connection on several parts of a mech before? I guess it's because Battletech was developed at a time where such things were still music of the future but still...

[@jlokison]

The game developers weren't paying attention to what real world militaries were already starting to field in the 1980s. Pintle and ring mounted weapons were always easy to replace, even if they had a gunner shield or were mounted in a remote electric drive turret. The tanks that major powers, and Israel, put into service in the 80s can't just swap out main weapons, but entire turrets and engine compartments were designed to be easily replaced. The armor was often made modular so sections could be replaced as well as added onto, an exception being the M1-A2 putting a layer of depleted uranium between layers of advanced Chobham armor, but that could still have a layer of reactive armor bolted to it. The Merkava took this to extremes, allowing the Israelis to get a disable tank back into battle within hours of its recovery, helps if they can maintain control of the battle field though. It wouldn't be until the late 1990s early 2000s that Navies started testing truly modular warships where sections of the ship could be swapped out depending upon the mission they were embarking upon. These early designs were all considered failures but the USA, UK, and France are all still working on making modular warships work, I have not been able to find out if China or Russia are doing the same. We might also end up with exoskeleton assisted armored infantry sooner rather than later, DARPA has been working on that since the 70s.

[@Sorain1]

In part it's because if the 'omnimech' idea really got dug into, you stop having mechs as we know them in Battletech and eventually you end up with something closer to Armored Core's interoperable parts system. That wouldn't fit in Battletech as setting, where each mech design and variant is meant to have weight and matter, to be recognizable. It's one of those acceptable breaks from reality (and reason) I think we as fans know and accept.

[@dhoffnun]

Of all the mechs that aren't in (m)any of the video games, this is among those I'd most like to try commanding or piloting. The classics are great and I'll always love them - but slightly more obscure (and specialized) ones like this seem even more fun.

[@kagetemplar]

If omnitech is USB, then the Mercury is IDE.

[@rmcdudmk212]

That's a good analogy 👍

[@BigRed40TECH]

And repairing it is like trying to replace an IDE drive today. XD

[@kagetemplar]

@@BigRed40TECH plug and pray to every god you can think of?

[@chaosknight9131]

GOTTA FAST Also, what this track you used for this video?

[@theJellyjoker]

One of my favorite mechs!

[@TheStrandedSavant]

My Lance/ star has the mcy 99, warhammer, stalker ,kodiak and vapor eagle. That mercury is bad ass.

[@kylebarrie2887]

A fast, high tech relic that is good as an inner sphere 20 tonner gets.

[@gregdomenico1891]

Red, quick question; how come you didn't add the original TRO 2750 art work? And will you with the rest of the series? Just wondering, since I grew up with the Original FASA designs.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Mercury just had really limited art, and it felt like it'd be not great to add to this video. I can confirm MOST other TRO:2750 designs will have their artwork, unless it badly disrupts the flow of the video. So fear not, most will have it.

[@paulsim7589]

That is a very nice looking Mech. I love the 105 version, if I got that I would have to hunt down and retrofit LR/RA/CT Clan ER-Mediums to replace its current weapon package. It would make for a most excellent Light mech killer, an extra ton for a Targeting Computer would also be nice. [The extra range and power of a CER-Med would save me getting to close to Med-Pulse weapons]

[@memnarch129]

You could get even more with a full clan Mercury redesign. Clan Ferro for weight savings and less crits. Add Clan Endo for more weight and your still going to be at same Crit amount the IS Standard structure plus Endo was. Meaning a XL might not be neccesary. Or use the saved weight for more heat sinks and upgraded weapons. Trully the Mercury is a prime example of if it had been retrofit and not just canabalized for its tech it would of been one hell of a mech imo.

[@Phantomsbreath]

It's a decent puncher. Hits hard.

[@michaelkimberling7307]

It would be terrifying to go 170kph in a bipedal robot. And possibly spine breaking

[@BigRed40TECH]

Hope you have a good chair in that thing. XD

[@johnfisher9692]

I admit I laughed when I read about the Mercury's "revolutionary" design concept of easily replaceable weapons. It's nothing more than simple common sence and we have been doing that for decades if not for over a century. Even in WW1 when a warship's guns were damaged or needed relining or the gun itself was replaced, not the whole turret Did space travel make people stupid? Apparently it does

[@BigRed40TECH]

Yes. Yes it did.

[@DIEGhostfish]

Easy is relative.

[@ChaosTicket]

Easily replaceable parts are as much a weakness as a benefit. It makes things vulnerable with poor connecting points. You can make something cheap and easily replaceable, or durable. Ask any soldier and they want their equipment to stay together for as long as possible. In Battletech its mostly just something to add to the lore. It wasnt until Quirks became and option that. If you actually ran a campaign then purchasing all sorts of spare parts is expensive.

[@joshuaturnquist5538]

Well, a lot of modern tech is not designed to have easily replaceable parts, to need special technicians to repair, or special failsafes to make the design not work with non-branded parts. Think of iPhones and most modern cars, they are very well built but not very customizable. You aren't repairing a Tesla in your garage. The Mercury is a high quality mech, but it retains the ability to be modified and repaired easily, making it kind of revolutionary even if going back to older concepts of maintenance.

[@cesaravegah3787]

@@joshuaturnquist5538 true...and we have space travel, so yes maybe space travel and greedy corporations made people stupid...or ar least make difficult to repair

[@AdairCorbin]

Its probably the best succession war 20 Tonner(not that that is saying much) but it is by far the best looking.

[@pmcollectorboy2929]

*looks at the Fire Moth* "Where the f**k did we go wrong?"

[@BigRed40TECH]

It didn't have enough liquid silver. So it got all rigid.

[@wheturangi]

I prefer this to the LCT, purely for the arms. Though I am not a fan of the arm mounted Medium laser. I like the double punch attack. Not a fan of MASC, but it does have its place in combat. Still the versatility of the STG and WSP with jump jets makes them the better generic scout. Runner scout cover more open space, but jumpers can navigate rougher terrain. Its amazing what happens when you go for medium lasers instead of silly MGs and SRM2s.

[@EllenbergW]

Looking at MGs and SRMs from a pure combat pov, they don't make a whole lot of sense, but in a more, let's say roleplay setting and when using optional ammo rules, when you take a garrison contract, those MGs (rubber bullets) and SRM-2s (tear gas rockets) suddenly come in very, _very_ handy. I mean, sure, you can blow up all those protesters that surround a governmental building with heavy mech-weapons, but I'm pretty sure even your employer won't take too kindly to you eliminating half his workforce :) Also, let's not forget Infernos [evil grin]

[@wheturangi]

@@EllenbergW I like this. But from a purely scouting role, lasers are better. No ammo explosions or running out. Plus you get more bang for your buck with lasers. Now from a militia view, MGs are especially good for riot control. An infantry platoon caught in the open can be wiped out by dual MGs (2D6 x 2). SRM2s are just there for inferno rounds for me. Guess I'm a war criminal. The standard STG and WSP are indeed better suited to garrison duty. Plus they are not as decisive in battle compared to most mediums and heavies. As for the workers revolting, I play Kurita and that never happens or else!

[@MrJack556]

Gonna have to try this little guy out...

[@SteelWolf13]

The one thing I really dislike about stock mechs is they almost never put on max armor and build what is left. I say almost because i'm sure there are 1 or 2 out there but I prefer rolling my own on the table top or the PC game.

[@stephenknizek2651]

This may sound like just a vanity, but I never really cared for laser vomit mechs. Weaponized light just doesn’t have the satisfying boom of LRMs or SRMs, nor the thunk of an autocannon or machine gun.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Different strokes. I like most styles myself :)

[@AndrewChumKaser]

Should have been called the hedgehog because holy shit this thing is FAST

[@sim.frischh9781]

Going with the Ben Myers design for the entire video, the Mercury sadly lacks artworks other than the official ones. The mech is definitely interesting, but i don´t know of any video game that fielded it. Probably because it allows no weapon loadout variation. Chassis only. Maybe the MekTek DLCs had it, they had pretty much every single mech. But i never played them.

[@richardthompson3871]

No one: Alan Jackson: (heavy breathing)

[@michaelallen3894]

Interesting little mech.

[@swiftmatic]

"...you've probably done something to deserve it. " 😂😂😂 Also, that -105 is sexy.

[@arbhall7572]

Love this mech. It's the inspiration for my super Locust (300xl engine& m.a.s.c.) 15-22[30] movement! Yeeah it only had a single med laser and a ton&half of armor....but 300 kph!!!! 30 hex movement!!! It's disgusting what you can do with a move like this. Especially if you can get someone to GM a double blind game!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Does this Super Locust have any ability to do anything? lol

[@arbhall7572]

@@BigRed40TECH it goes fast. That's about it. I've only ever killed a handful of scout mechs with it.

[@frankb3347]

Zooooom!

[@EvillBob]

Can't say I've ever been fond of 20 ton mechs, always relying on VTOLs and hovercraft instead. The only exception to this is the Piranha, not because I think it's good but because I think it's funny. Mechs like the Mercury do come close to making me reconsider but for less C-Bills (and none of the procurement headaches) you can get a pair of J. Edgars.

[@shaneg9081]

Huh... Yeah, let's run at double speed and use nothing but lasers. Boiling the pilot alive? Breaking apart mid-stride? We take risks in battle, and if you get lucky with this little guy you can thread that needle.

[@treevenewson]

Definitely looks like Bishop Steiners artwork.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Just not that much artwork for this guy sadly.

[@Demolitiondude]

Got one for the crusade.

[@dilanbrinkley3587]

It really is a great design, but it's still just "Fast Food" to me...but I like heavies. Outside of that class I only like a handful of Lights and even less Assaults.

[@TheStraycat74]

if anyone is interested in my 3050 full clan tech rebuild of the Mercury, lemme know.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Feel free to add it Cat :)

[@krieg4017]

Good.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Very good

[@AdairCorbin]

We disagree on pronunciation sometimes, but Coyote with a silent e is just wrong, it's not a French word. It's Nahuan(Native American)

[@BigRed40TECH]

The vernacular around where I live mostly pronounces it without the E. Sorry. :\

[@buffewo6386]

Mercury: Find the Foe, then bravely flee! Pedantry rarely changes minds, my friend. If the pronunciation is conveys the information in a usable form...It is good enough. If you were instructing us on how that particular language says the word, excellent. If not, who cares. Either way, if you think others must bend to your preferred pronunciation... you don't know people very well. I vary my pronunciation between the Spanish, Texan, and New Mexico border versions. Normally when refering to the animal I say kheye-oat-te (NM). A human smuggler is a koy-yot-te (ESP). And a worthless varmint of any type is a keye-yot (TX). I also remember slightly different pronunciations in Navajo, Hopi, and Apache(Mescalero) when they did not use those I've shared. Regional dialects are a thing, and a species as wide spread as the coyote having not only diffrent local speech variances- but different names in other Native/Aboriginal/ First Nations languages. Ok, my pedantic rant done. So what y'all say we shelve this topic and talk the Game we all love?

[@phcrshroks]

Im ready for it on mwo

[@MegTheWarpsmith]

@BigRed40k are you planning of doing Merlin ?

[@BigRed40TECH]

Once we hit 3058, yes. RIght now I'm just doing the clan portion of 3050.

[@MegTheWarpsmith]

@@BigRed40TECH

[@purple3003]

it's too bad MWO has game engine limitations otherwise I'd like this and the firemoth to be added to the roster. it has been said that you gotta go fast and faster with red paint

[@lukedudley5030]

Nice little mech :-) it's speed is great but the masc system can be temperamental and leave you as an easy target :-) the inner sphere have developed many better light mechs but the Mercury isn't a bad option for any merc light lance :-)

[@CRAZYUNCLE117]

Is it just me, or does the picture look a lot like a jenner with arms?

[@BoisegangGaming]

Light mechs with XL engines are interesting because the weight savings are marginal, but they tend to need to make every ton count. Additionally, faster light mechs have so little armor that if it gets hit, that location will probably be lost anyways. And, well, it could be worse. It could be the Trooper, AKA probably one of the worst mech designs ever built because seriously who thought that thing was a good idea.

[@yoloman3607]

Too bad like real mercury, it melts at room temperature. It is better than the locust but a greater cost, cool to see it before it becomes a puddle.

[@TheStrayHALOMAN]

Thing looks like a swol Locust.

[@DIEGhostfish]

Birds with arms, except it's now Locusts with Arms

[@topcatcoast2coast579]

I got 3050 tech readout. I know this mech.

[@NutjobGTO]

Really gotta set to 1.75x playback speed or else it's like pulling teeth

[@BigRed40TECH]

That's a really, really fast read. XD

[@Original-Yellow]

Silver as a liquid but not.

[@Paladin-1]

🇦🇺🤓🇦🇺

[@joshuamidgette4846]

Meh, I still prefer the commando, jenner, or fire javelin.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'm a big commando guy, but I like most mechs to some degree. Most doesn't mean all though XD

[@Alex-pj8nz]

Not a bad mech, but it just isn’t that combat impressive.