BATTLETECH: The Vulcan

Honestly, it always hurts to really dig into a mech and just roast it, but the #Vulcan is one of those rare #mechs in #Battletech and #Mechwarrior that's just atrocious. Beware ye who enter here, if you're looking to see a lot of the virtues of this machine, it doesn't have many.
We do talk about variants, and we do cover its best one, which is a solid mech as well. Fair is fair, I just wish the rest of the designs were like this, because I'll not lie, this thing is not a great performer. In the TRO:3025 it says it did its job "well" under the #SLDF. I genuinely don't see how.
As a quick note:
One art piece from this is here:
mwomercs.com/f...
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#Battletech #Mechwarrior #HouseKurita #HouseDavion #HouseMarik #HouseSteiner #HouseLiao #Battlemech #SuccessionWars #Mechwarrior #Medium #MediumMechs #MediumBattlemechs #Vulcan #CatalystGameLabs #CGL #StarLeague #FreeWorldsLeague #FWLM #Lyrancommonwealth #Lyran #LCAF
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.

[@thestabbybrit4798]

I hated my Vulcan so much that I left it stood outside our gate with the engine running in the hope someone would take it. The next day, there were two Vulcans outside the gate.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Sorry about that dude, I was looking for somewhere to park my spare Vulcan. I figured I'd leave it in a good home.

[@miafillene4396]

Hey, I will gladly take them

[@aprinnyonbreak1290]

Keep doing that, and I think 4 Vulcans will assemble into a Charger.

[@robrib2682]

Where'd ya leave it? I don't care that this thing is cheap, spare parts are expensive.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

@@aprinnyonbreak1290 If you combine two Vulcans you get a Firestarter and two spare autocannons.

[@enderz7593]

I rolled a Vulcan in battletech (HBS), I spent 5 minutes looking at it in Mech lab wondering what to do with it. So I sold it and bought a Phoenix Hawk.

[@michaelbaker8284]

I made good use of it as a convoy interceptor. All those light weapons do have a role.

[@nravenz7538]

@@michaelbaker8284 it has its uses. of course the highly important role of anti infantry but also in mechwarrior 5 it is a fantastic circle strafer, being super nimble

[@deepfriedshekels]

I did the same in Mwo, bought one thinking I could use it with pulse lasers, then I ended up buying a Phoenix hawk

[@Capsuleer7]

The first mech I ever had, and I've never been able to figure out why I like it. Against mechs, I tend to just back up my teammates. But in combined arms operations it's a great machine. (ref. TT and Mechwarrior Destiny games) Hell, remember one great match in MWO where my completely stock VL-2T had a jumping, running duel against a tricked out Javelin. The two other heavier mechs couldn't keep up a chase, and one had no weapons left. The map was Solaris City and, yeah, we were going to win once the clock ran out but I was glued to his ass. Eventually the Javelin made a fatal error and missed jumped. Slamming face first into the corner of a couple skyscrapers. Before he got the chance to turn around, I shredded his legs and ended him. I'd like to think I blowtorched his cockpit for good measure after the clock ran out.

[@idioluh5838]

In reality, a (relatively) low-caliber autocannon lilke an AC-2 would be an extremely effective anti-infantry and anti-light-vehicle weapon. So I guess it was not added to be used against other mechs. Instead, it is the main weapon against Vulcan's main targets, with machine gun and flamer used as supplemental weapons for the close range.

[@aprinnyonbreak1290]

I mean, if they took the "for anti mech purposes" off of the cannon, and just defined the Vulcan as a general "anti-everything but Mechs" support package, I think it'd be a little less maligned.

[@bishopsteiner7134]

@@aprinnyonbreak1290 they literally did, in the same sentence.

[@wisecrack4545]

100% this. The Vulcan was never meant to be an anti mech platform. Neither Tabletop rules or any of the mech vs mech PC games really capture just how useful it would actually be. In universe, it would be a real nightmare for infantry. The AC2 out ranges anything regular infantry can carry - anything short of field gun platoons with their own Ac2s won't be able to return fire if being shelled at long range. . This range advantage allows the Vulcan to lay down effective suppressive fire against entrenched infantry so other units like allied infantry in APCs can move up the field relatively unmolested. This is something a Firestarter cannot do - sure the firetstarter might be better at short range with extra MGs and flamers, but it also exposes itself to enemy return fire and potential for a deadly close range ambush. Very few light or medium mechs actually pack an AC2 to begin with, and IMO the Vulcan is the only one that does it well. The mech has a use.

[@reighniz4488]

In my time I have found two viable uses for the Vulcan: 1. Equip it with a Tag and some Small Lasers then max out the remaining tonnage with armor and use it as an Ambusher/Marker. 2. Equip it with a slew of Small Lasers and jump in behind other mechs. Have successfully taken out Enforcers in one barrage using such a configuration.

[@dynamicworlds1]

I've also found a slight variation on 2 (in my case dropping the jump jets, cranking up the armor, and using a snub ppc and a bunch of mgs) can make it a viable option for running down and killing vehicles. Once those are mopped up, it can swing back to the mech fights and crit-seek against things that have had their armor blown open by other mechs with more punch.

[@davidhaaijema4521]

3. Double Light Rifle (2 tons ammo) + Double Medium Laser, 2 or 3 JJ's depending on mission so you have room for more armor is my favorite setup for the Vulcan in MW5, it effectively makes it a light killer and excellent urban harraser.

[@andreykuzmin4355]

This... is exactly what I did with it in my first walkthrough of Battletech 2018 video game. It seems, that it is the only thing it's good for...

[@ashaide]

The addition of that special equipment in the Battletech videogame made this useful as a backstabbing assassin. Remove everything and install Small Lasers and full jump ability. The special equipment gives you a longer range. At the same time, the same special equipment gives you protection from melee attacks (that the AI almost always uses when in melee range). With just stock SLs, all those small lasers Called Shot to the back locations already deals a good deal of damage. Now add improved SLs, and you have a very deadly backstabbing assassin mech. It gets REALLY DEADLY with ER SLs. Now put an Ace Pilot MechWarrior in the cockpit and make sure you move after your target, and you can murder even assaults with tough rear CT armor as you can hit it TWICE - first when you attack it on your turn and then the next turn when you start before the heavier mech - and then leap away. I called my latest version of this as the Deathsquito, in homage to the scariest littlest creature from Valheim.

[@ryanmeyer5424]

The Vulcan in it's primary configuration is so mediocre that it's sad. It can handle vehicles and infantry and that's it. However the mech's low profile design makes it surprising durable and because of the Vulcan's abysmal loadout, people tend to ignore it until it jumps behind them and starts kicking shins. However, the 5t variant is much more compelling. Medium lasers provide much more bite, with machine guns for crit seeking and a flamethrower because infantry must die. I'm playing in a campaign right now and we rolled up a Vulcan and we thought we were going to replace it ASAP but... It keeps being useful. As the 2t, it was capable of immobilizing vehicles, wiping out infantry, and doing crazy shit like frying the engine out of a Wolverine with the flamer. As the 5t, it's even more deadly and it has the unique distinction as the only mech we have that has never suffered serious damage thanks to the low profile design in either of configurations. Is it a good mech? Hell no. But sometimes you don't get to have 'good' and have to make due with mediocrity and a pilot so crazy he dropped kicked a Guillotine off the map.

[@Zattack19]

Four ways to win. Tactics, Technology, skill and the Absolute batshit insanity only Canopis battle powder provides

[@wellhello1575]

I remember running a MW desitiny RPG campaign where my players had to find and protect a defector from the Federated suns they had to escort him out of the facility he was at and then across a medium sized battle map to their hidden dropship. They fumbled most of their sneaky challenge rolls (not a surprise as all of them were combat characters) and eventually put the while base on alert, as well as the patrolling mech forces in the vicinity. Because they had done this the main hanger where their own battlemechs (A mix if high end lights and mediums) had snuck in as well as where they were supposed to steal an additional mech for the defector was locked down with enough guards to make attempting entry suicide. Instead they had to go the repair bay nad try to steal some damaged yet functional mechs, When I rolled up what mechs they would find, wouldn't you believe it, two Vulcans came up. The two characters who would have had to pilot them opted to take the barely functional Bulldog tank, also in the repair bay, instead.

[@ryanmeyer5424]

@@Zattack19 Nothing quite as effective as weaponized crazy.

[@robertharris6092]

Sounds like more of a utility vehicle.

[@solair4553]

I got a VL-BL in a modded MW5 game and loaded with inferno SRMs that thing was NASTY while the rest of the lance drew fire the thing sped around clearing vehicles and after that was done crit seeking every time that thing came back with only armor damage

[@GliderBane]

One thing that puzzles me about the origional 3025 40 ton mech designs, is the lack of one that has a 5/8/5 movement profile. If you run 8, you still get the -3 targeting modifier that you get with a 6/9/6 design, but you also free up tonnage for more armor and firepower. I think this would have gone a long way to improve the 40 ton mechs usefulness.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

I agree fully. Same goes for 50 ton mechs. Few of them move 5/8, but then the 55 tonners mostly hit the 5/8 movement. Seems odd.

[@Funkin_Disher]

Absolutely infuriating, especially since i have a mental tic pushing me to mechs with 200 and 300 rated engines.

[@treevenewson]

Yes, at least until the Clans arrive.

[@leosign225]

You have to remember that when the game was first coming out the 40 ton weight bracket was considered a heavy scout. As such the guys making the mechs tried very hard to make the units have the speed and maneuverability of a wasp with the firepower more in line with a 50 toner. The math didn’t ever work out and mostly players ripped out the long range guns to slap four or five medium lasers on it and up armour the mech. At least that’s the table top reasons. In universe it seems that ever R&D team were doing lines of canopian battle powder for this weight bracket.

[@johnmeyer4789]

@@leosign225 my memory isn't so great, I generally agree, but posit the whitworth.

[@frankb3347]

I appreciate how you always give the best presentation of each Mech. The fact that this time you're like "I've got nothing but at least there's some variants" really says a lot.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Sometimes you can't fix something that is just so wrong-headed as a concept. That is the Vulcan, outside of the 5T, which is competent.

[@frankb3347]

@@BigRed40TECH yeah... AC/2s are really bad. Especially on lighter Mechs like this. I do like the 5T variant well enough however.

[@yourseatatthetable]

A lot of questionable designs were introduced at points in history where the voracious demands for war machines meant that their would be buyers, no matter how bad a design was, unless, of course, it fell apart or exploded just trying to unload it from the crate. This said, consider where many of these truly bad designs tend to end up. Home Guards, penal units,, third line garrison forces. Ironically, training units can also find a number of these designs. Meanwhile, as Red states, the Vulcan works well in the very narrow niche that it appears to have been designed to fill. This serves to remind us, if we choose, that many of the (as of 3025) main line forces have been forced to tap 'any' 'Mech or vehicle they can get, and regularly put them into scenarios where they were never intended to serve. Used for civil unrest control, anti-infantry and light mechanized forces, or for city operations, the machine falls into that 'well, it's better than nothing... So, 'um, Dude?! Your just the pilot for the job... Good luck!"

[@treevenewson]

3025 the best Era

[@yourseatatthetable]

@@treevenewson I believe that from tabletop and RPG standpoints, it has the most players. Things got wonky after the FedCom war, in my opinion.

[@katherineberger6329]

Really the best use for a war machine that isn't up to snuff as a frontline unit is a trainer.

[@bthsr7113]

The Rifleman had a similar problem. Specialized platform forced to the front lines with face rolling pilots.

[@Logan912]

@@yourseatatthetableIt’s a restrictive era at least in tabletop, MechWarrior 5, and HBS Battletech, but that also gives it charm and makes LosTech stuff that much more important and sought-after. I do think the FedCom Civil War era (and beyond) is fun and interesting, but it’s pure chaos in terms of available mechs and equipment which can be overwhelming for new players.

[@passgo8507]

I was playing mw5 and I had the option to getting this or an AC5 and a few SRM’s for salvage. I took the weapons. I feel I made the right choice.

[@lukedudley5030]

You could've sold it I suppose for more lovely C bills :-)

[@passgo8507]

@@lukedudley5030 fair, but I’d rather make the c-bills without feeling bad about sticking someone else with this lemon.

[@jonbezeau3124]

AC/2 autocannons are worth their weight in MW5, and I hate dealing with Vulcans that want to empty out that ammo bin before closing in with their machineguns and flamethrowers which also deal far more damage per minute than they would in tabletop.

[@timothyaldridge1236]

Ran one of these in mw5 YAML and it was a little monster...it made no sense

[@Gigas0101]

To be fair to the AC2, it's not the AC2's fault it was mounted on a Vulcan. Granted, if I was in a Vulcan and someone told me a real battlemech was in the area, I'd prefer to be about an AC2's range away from 'em as well.

[@kagetemplar]

Despite the flaws this mech has lived long and prospered.

[@BigRed40TECH]

This post is as cringy as the vulcan. I love it.

[@boneshaman8912]

@@BigRed40TECH It was.... the most logical joke.

[@sixeswild274]

I think the Vulcan is kind of like the Banshee, as in it didnt really get to shine until lostech and a few other things came along. The 5S tricked out with MASC, a pair of snubby ppcs, a trio of MG and a smol laser is pretty capable combo.

[@Gillymonster18]

Problem is: almost every other mech out there also benefits from Lostech developments. At best it still sits right where it is.

[@gunraptor]

The Vulcan 5T with 5 MPLs is the most tactical mech in MWO. Just for that, it has my enduring love.

[@glyrr]

I find that my Bloodlust with 4 SRM4s does reasonably well if I stick close to the team.

[@gunraptor]

@@glyrr Yeah, I've been wanting a Bloodlust as an SRM boat.

[@MM22966]

I always thought "Scarecrow" pilots would have a REALLY hard time surrendering to defending infantry if they were forced to eject.

[@meshuggahshirt]

That's just a side effect of installing flamers, tbh

[@sharlin648]

As Mitchell Merchant said below, this thing needs to be a 5/8/5 and replace that useless AC-2 with say a large laser, give it a quartet of MG's and some medium lasers instead of the other garbage its armed with.

[@wellhello1575]

'foritsintendedpurpose' should be the catchphrase for 40-tone mechs.

[@kenthekhan]

In the battletech videogame I found it so inadequate that i turned mine into a ppc sniper, stripped everything off except two ppc and kept the jump jets and added heat sinks.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's most definitely inadequate, I turn them into Autocannon boats usually.

[@gusty9053]

I went in the opposite direction. With the "commander mode" the Vulcan gets extra range to small slots. Small lasers for backstabs all the way :)))

[@zarelli7831]

Why not just max the armour?

[@mackenzieseymour7995]

Battletech pc game. Took the ac2 off and added arm mods and a coil. That bad boy will run up to and topple anything below a heavy. They had trouble retaliating due to the cqc suite. Was great at tying things up until I got something heavier.

[@arisakathedappergoose4796]

I tried that PPC sniper thing... then found that other mechs do it far easier. Inadequate is an understatement

[@z3r0_35]

This is a mech that really doesn't need to move at 6/9/6. If the engine were downrated so it moves at 5/8/5, you'd still have the same movement modifier with a lot more tonnage to add more weapons. For example, you could stick in a large laser and enough heat sinks to stay cool while shooting it and jumping, or you could get rid of the machine gun and its ammo to shove in an AC/10 and a ton of ammo, or you can throw in a couple of SRM-6s for crit seeking. The 40-ton mechs in OG Battletech didn't have to suck, but they do suck, and they suck because of intentionally bad design choices.

[@cavalryscout9519]

You're right, if the goal was to build a Vulcan that was better at killing other Vulcans. 40 ton mechs also have frail internal structure and just can't mount enough armor to deal with the hate that more effective weapons would draw, so there is nothing that you can do which would let you use a 40 ton mech the way you would a 50 or 55 tonner. Once you have a 5/8/5 mech, it's competing with other 5/8/5 mechs, and they would all smack the snot out of anything 40 tons. The 40 ton mechs are kinda bad designs, but they are all trying to do things that you can't do with a 50 or 55-ton mech. (I mean, once you make a 50 ton mech move 6/9, you have the Scorpion, which is an honorary 40-ton mech.) If you want a 50 ton mech to move 6/9, you need to cram an Atlas-sized engine into it, and you gain little-to-nothing over a 45-ton mech moving the same speed. A 40 ton mech can't compete with a 50 or 55 ton in armor or firepower, but it can be a little faster, so most 40 ton mechs are designed to be a little faster. I mostly roleplay, so I would never rely on a 40-ton mech for firepower, because you just can't keep them on the line that much. If I mounted SRM-6s, an AC/10, or a PPC on a 40-ton mech, it would be exposed to similar firepower and would probably take expensive damage or be destroyed. It makes more sense in terms of cost, pilot survivability, and the ability to quickly put the same mech into multiple battles, to just use a 50 or 55 ton mech if you want something that moves 5/8/5 and has decent firepower. If you want a lightly-armored, fast mech with firepower, light strikers such as the Commando or Jenner make a lot more sense, because they are far cheaper to buy or to repair (though they still suck at protecting their pilot). It really is just the tonnage range that is bad. There is rarely a need for something that is just marginally improved over light mechs while being much more expensive. You can make a "better" 40-tonner, but it's not going to stand up to a 50-ton mech, while costing almost the same, and you are usually better off putting your BV/tonnage/C-Bills into fewer, heavier mechs. It's generally better to avoid the whole weight class unless you're going for some specific niche (or have roleplaying reasons).

[@NeroLordofChaos]

​​​​​​​​@@cavalryscout9519 It's not that 40 tonners are bad, it's that the best designs for them are either given poorly fitting roles, wrong sized engines, inadequate weapon loadouts, or some combination of all 3. The Whitworth has value as a missile boat but is slow as hell. Drop both LRM10s for a single LRM15, change the 160 to a 200 and add either more armor or an additional half ton of ammo for a 40 ton dollar store Trebuchet...with jumpjets. Down engine the Cicada to a 280 and it STILL has a _7/11/0_ movement profile which is fast enough to run down most lights that aren't a bug (like the Locust or Spider) and keep pace with the Jenner with about 9 tons or so of free tonnage to play with, all weapons removed. If you go all in, you can get 5 medium lasers (or 4 medium and 2 small lasers) and 4 heatsinks on there and still stay fairly heat neutral if you aren't running...though once ECM becomes available, I'd probably ditch 2 tons of laser and heatsink to throw one on. I'd probably run it with some Jenner variations as a fast moving harrasser lance tbh. The Assassin if down engined to a 240 (which gives it a 6/9/7 movement profile if you don't touch the JJs) and given a PPC to replace the medium laser can act as either a more mobile Panther or a dime store Griffin depending on whether you keep the LRM or SRM. Remove the SRM2 and ammo for another LRM5 and you get the dimestore Griffin with a shared 1 ton of ammo. Ditch the LRM5 and upgrade the SRM to a SRM4 and you get a more mobile Panther. With a little extra to add heatsinks, armor and ammo left over. Or just triple/quadruple up on medium lasers in the arm, dump the LRM for an additional SRM, ammo and heatsinks and start backstabbing.

[@Vessekx]

The issue with the 5T, which everyone seems to completely overlook, is that by the time it gets in range of *anything* that is actually a threat to it, it has already lost the armor advantage it had over the 2T design due to incoming fire. Is the AC-2 a great weapon? Not by a long shot. Does the AC-2 out range essentially every weapon system in existence before the arrival of ‘Clanny Sue’? Yes. That puts it in a position to dissuade lighter Mechs from engaging it or, failing that, knock off a ton or two of armor before they can close to *their* effective range.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Ac2 is genuinely, pound for pound, the worst weapon in the game imo. And always was :\

[@Vessekx]

@@BigRed40TECH, definitely. It has an incredibly tiny niche, and is outclassed by every other weapon system in BattleTech whilst outside that niche. Meanwhile, that niche is best filled by mounting it on the same platform this weapon is most effective against. Fast VTOLs.

[@bthsr7113]

You know you can take more than a single AC2 right? Of particular note is the Kraken, though that's the ultra variant.

[@1337w0n]

>40 Tonners are useless. Okay, so if the engine/gyro/structure is standard, then 40t mechs have the most tonnage for 7 MP at 14 spare tons With an XL engine 40t and 35t mechs have 17.5 spare tons at 8MP (35t are also optimal with 9MP and 13 spare tons) Add in Endo, and it no longer shares the space with 35; the new optimal is 8MP with 19.5 spare tons. Jumpjets do not affect optimal total tonnage for these configurations, and XL Gyros are a similar story.

[@MichaelJCaboose013]

If 2 Vulcans fought each other, they would both lose.

[@michaelkeha]

the Vulcan is one of those mechs that really really benefits from later era stuff like light AC5s

[@zookeeperdan5401]

This was always one of my favorite looking mechs. It was so different with the very thin and tall profile and well deserved the "scarecrow" nickname. Unfortunately they used up all the coolness in the looks of the design leaving the armament very uncool.

[@gendoruwo6322]

it's tall and thin... like it belongs to a fashion show.

[@faithmcclosky4528]

Great review as always. This mech is a stinker and you pull no punches, but you keep it very analytical and balanced, which I enjoy in these mech reviews.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's a truly awful mech. I still like it even, but I'm not gonna make apologies for it. Bad is bad.

[@emptank]

In Hairbrained's battletech video game this mech has the effect that small weapons: flamers, machine guns, and small lasers get bonus range creating a small sweet spot where it can unleash a full alpha strike and still have a decent chance of hitting with its ac2. An interesting idea that does make the mech more useful but it just doesn't have enough small slots on it to ever put out the kind of damage you might want from it. Combined with the fact that good small weapons are annoyingly difficult to come by and you really are much better off running a firestarter or commando if you want something light and fast that still hits like a truck.

[@ZlothZloth]

I made one I called the Small Fry based on the 2T. It had 4 small lasers (two of them pulse by the end of the game), a medium laser, a couple of heat sinks, some jump jets, and pretty strong armor. That thing punched well above its weight. I beat the Big Steel Claw mission with it running solo!

[@aprinnyonbreak1290]

I made one with a bunch of S Lasers, and one L Laser, and it was my go to for Convoy missions. Guts vehicles or other Light Mechs like nobody's business while drawing as much fire as humanly possible, then limping away to take potshots with the L Laser while everyone else cleaned house. Very niche and purpose driven mech, but indispensable in the role. Also was pretty good at closing and ripping apart the odd LRM platform.

[@polaris88]

Honestly having poorly designed mechs really just adds to the charm of the battletech universe makes it seem more realistic in comparison to other scifi or games. Great video

[@BigRed40TECH]

I genuinely like the Vulcan from a lore-perspective, or even a narrative RPG or campaign perspective. But I'm not gonna lie and say it's not terribad. lol

[@polaris88]

@@BigRed40TECH exactly it's one of those mechs lorewise you could see a militia or pirate unit using. The battletech universe is just fleshed out so well. I have a 3d printed vulcan just to put into a militia lance.

[@aprinnyonbreak1290]

Is this thing a shitstorm of tactical, engineering, and basic design failures? Yes. Is it still 40 tons of weapons and armor able to tear apart a city block, with a bit of patience? Also yes.

[@fix0the0spade]

The modern design of the Vulcan makes me think of an Atlas that did nothing but cardio, for years.

[@miemsliva4464]

Speaking specifically from MW5 Mercs, the two Vulcan variants im most familiar with is one with four M-Laser short bursts, and a machinegun ans flamer. And the one featuring a mixed bag of a machinegun, ac2, M-laser SB, and a flamer once again. All this in mind, the four med laser ones can actually be surprisingly effective, like a bigger and more armored javelin, with slightly more firepower, especially if you replace the flamer with a S-laser, to use in closer ranges both to help let you quickly vent heat between laser volleys, and helping you strip armor faster so the mg can eat at the internals. As for the variant with the ac2, while it's generally just worse, being more lightly armored and due to the 2 different ammo types and frankly ridicuous 6 ton ac2.. I've found it very fun to swap out both ballistic weapons and their respective munitions with Light Rifle's and 2 and a half tons of shots, coupled with replacing the short burst M-laser in the chest with a normal one, and the hand flamer with a small laser to help save weightand provide more effective self defense. You can also of course add more armor, seeing as he light rifles only weight as much as the single ac2, and I tend to remove a jumpjet or two in favor of more defense, especially or what's essentially been converted into a long range ballistic sniper with two moderate self defense tools, and having practically no need for any heatsink (added in, that is)

[@yourseatatthetable]

Also consider, if you will, that because so many front line/main line forces are forced to push machines into roles that they were never decided for, that this too, is part of the flavor or spirit of early BT. Perhaps even various eras since 3025 as well. Once, when the SLDF and House Militaries existed prior to the grind fest of the Succession Wars and sundry, having specialty 'mechs and vehicles was desired. From a mechanics/game view, there has been a shift away from 'rolling randomly for the TO&E' and using various point systems to cherry pick what you want your lance/company to consist of. Which is fine, don't get me wrong, but it isn't in the flavor of how BT is really meant to be used. Most Merc commands have to make do with whatever hardware they can acquire, salvage, 'um', steal, or are gifted to them. This goes for most House line units as well. With attrition and logistics/parts issues, anything but Veteran and Elite units tend to end up with a true collogue of designs, often tapped to fill slots, their intended role be damned. It's something that I've always liked about BT, personally. As the years and decades have progressed, in our real world analog, every era and license holder (and many non-license holders it would seem - 'bloody Germans.") has cranked out more and more designs for our enjoyment. Some are truly bad, or visually, look, well, unrealistic is being generous. This 'may' represent the different styles, needs, and ascetic tastes of the various factions producing them (and granting the game companies continuing sources of revenue as players snap them up). Meanwhile, in truth, most new designs, appearance aside, are simply clones or offshoots of the hundreds of those already in service. It's like automobiles. It might be fancier, or have different headlights, or perhaps some stylish look, but at the end of the day, they are transportation and that is the only purpose that they serve that truly matters.

[@Kuraimizu9152]

_"It has less guns than my Bayamo, and it's uglier! How is that even possible?"_ Some Vulcan pilot

[@jmannthemarine2407]

Love the video, man your channel is growing awesomely. I've never had any luck with the vulcan I never really paid it much mind.

[@MrDecelles]

This is a great mech. For lore purpose. It is like an interwar infantry tank.

[@depth386]

In Battletech(HBS) I liked to put 4 small lasers and 1 medium laser on this mech. It mostly serves as a backstabber with jump jets and it evasion tanks nicely because of the CQC. It can sometimes be a punch-bot when heat is a problem or when the situation is sufficiently favourable.

[@stephenknizek2651]

Sad thing is, the Vulcan is a very useful mech, but the Inner Sphere already had a fire starting mech…called the Firestarter. Five tons lighter, just as fast, and cheaper than the Vulcan. I cannot really complain about the mech, it’s just that I don’t see why either the SLDF or Amaris militaries engaging in an interstellar war needed to build something that they already possessed. I wouldn’t say no if I obtained one…my first Marik-based merc unit had one due to the dice RNG gods…but if given the choice, no. Though I will say, that no would be an uncomfortable one, like telling my kid he can only have one puppy.

[@eugenequek6797]

it also has better suite of weapons for the intended role

[@NeroLordofChaos]

The firestarter is just better all around...though flamers were gimped in HBS Battletech and AC2s were uncommonly good for head hunting in that game thanks to called shots and Ultra 2s. Bunch of flamers and machineguns and you can flatly cripple any mech that doesn't OD on heatsinks. The Vulcan just does everything kinda poorly and has a huge silhouette for its tonnage.

[@mrbigglezworth42]

The AC/2 can be used against mechs...but never as just a singular AC/2. triple or quad AC/2 can really send rounds down range to make even assault mechs think twice about poking their heads out. The Vulcan just suffers the same problems a lot of mechs do in that all their weapon systems don't always compliment each other for their intended role, and the Vulcans autocannon makes you wonder who thought slapping it on a 40 tonner was a good idea.

[@mrbigglezworth42]

@@VndNvwYvvSvv Depends on what game we're talking about. Battletech 2018 Marauder is a head chopping machine with triple AC2 that even assault mechs go down every other turn with it. MW5 vanilla Mauler can do it if you chuck both LRM15s and their ammo for more AC2 ammo and armor. Modded you got the Champion and rifleman that can both reliably do triple AC2 and plink most targets to death while having a decent amount of bullets to do it with. At the very minimum you could get away with a Shadowhawk 2H with a down graded engine and nothing but the AC2s but those 5 extra tons really help.

[@shakeemsymonds7362]

This is definitely a mech that's better in the lore than it is in game. In the lore, these were deployed in cities during the Amaris civil war. That means all kinds of crazy could happen, for example: A suprise enemy mech lance drops in in order to wipe your citie's AA, and and while your Vulcan is woefully unprepared on it's own, if you had even a friendly urbie and some miltita, you *might* be able to hold them long enough for support, depending on the size of the enemy of course. In game it alright, but in a game where it's mechs vs mechs most of the time, the Vulcan is built for mechs vs infantry (and maybe mechs)

[@BigRed40TECH]

I dunno if I'd say they're alright in game. Even then, the VL series is just worse off than a Firestarter at handling any of these weird tasks. It's just a shoddy design imo.

[@yecnay25]

In HBS I turned mine into a 5T, replaced the MG with a small laser and use it on Convoy ambush missions where it's movement and cqc suite make it ideal for stomping target vehicles while its heavier Lancemates shatter the guard units and reinforcements. That's just in the HBS game tough.

[@seanmac1793]

I will say the Vulcan makes sense in the lore for how it was put together essentially being what could we build in this liberated factory right now. the result isn't good but it is a mech.

[@semperatis]

By dropping it's movement to a 5/8/5, the 5M variant can be tweaked into something a little more effective. Up the armour to 8 tons, keep the endo-steel and 11(22) h/s, drop the LPL for a SNPPC(RT); MG ammo to 0.5t and add CASE; 4xMG(LA); Flamer(RA); ML(LT); SL(LT); SL(RT); TAG(H). BV: 1093 This makes it much better at the job it was originally designed for as well as inceasing it's anti-mech punch. This model also doesn't suffer from having an XL engine either.

[@ogrehaslayers605]

The Vulcan is the mech I personally pilot MOST in Mechwarrior 5. I took off the Flamer and Machine Gun to up the armor, add a small laser, and upgrade to a Medium Pulse Laser. Love the AC/2 for sniping.

[@scottmcintyre2809]

The 5Sr variant from TRO3085 has the most potential of the canon Vulcan variants, I think. Swaps the AC/2 for a plasma rifle, and 10 damage + heat buildup is going to make most lights and mediums think twice, plus it further supplements the mech's anti-infantry power. But the rest of what they did to it just makes no sense. They decided the way forward was XL and MASC and no real change in the armor (they get a handful of extra points by switching to Ferro Fibrous). My custom basically takes that concept, leaves it with a standard engine, does FF and Endo Steel, Double Heat Sinks (only generates a few points of heat with 10DHS, basically fire the ML OR Flamer if you're jumping and you'll run cool forever), and CASE in both Torsos for the MG(1/2t) and PR ammo. Ends up with 6.5t of armour on a zombie mech that will decimate infantry and punch flaming holes through any light or medium mech that tries to run it down. A bit light on plasma ammo, at 10 shots, but a savvy pilot should be able to stretch that to fill most battles.

[@alexsawchuk5371]

One thing I know is that every time I’m playing mechwarrior 5 and I see one of these come running around a corner I smile a little since the game is giving me a free kill

[@Kpiozero]

I'm convinced that the Vulcan exists to get bullied as a tutorial mech.

[@leejeromejardinejohnson8431]

I like the volcan as it reminds me of the gif of the toddler running. The one where he gets scared dose a 180 and runs away.

[@legomech1946]

Haha I really love your subtitle for this one!

[@BigRed40TECH]

The most 40-ton mech of them all! lol

[@mimief7969]

I needed medium mechs, I'm throwing salvaged Vulcans into the meat grinder.

[@wellhello1575]

5:35 A picture of two mechs that look cool but are both shit-boxes hurts in a special kind of way.

[@FuelDropforthewin]

The Vulcan is a light mech that ended up getting over designed out of its weight bracket. A committee was probably involved.

[@fpsempire0599]

The uAC/5 variant can be pretty deadly. Had a game recently where it was an absolute terror. Got behind my mechs real easy too

[@adeptuslatrina]

I've killed more Vulcans in MW5 than I care to think about. Honestly it seems like the Draconis Combine is trying to get rid of them by throwing them in front of my Marauder...

[@BigRed40TECH]

Even funnier, the Vulcan is typically deployed MOREso (even though it's seen everywhere) by House Steiner and Houser Marik. Crazy, right? lol

[@adeptuslatrina]

Maybe they acquired them through salvage and realized what they had...

[@fix0the0spade]

@@BigRed40TECH To be fair the Lyrans probably consider them infantry.

[@Vessekx]

@@fix0the0spade, Steiner troops upon first encountering Clan battle armor: “Who still uses light infantry these days?” :scoff:

[@Funkin_Disher]

Its a great mech to use as fodder against rookies youre teaching to play or mooks in an RPG campaign. Its obviously a mech and bigger than a light but not really that threatening unless you are caught outside your own mech or already basically crippled in it.

[@jacobrancourt2508]

Ah yes, the Vulcan. The mech that can be inadequate at every range.

[@aprinnyonbreak1290]

I always hate that in a mech. "This mech is decent at midrange, and too slow to get into close range against most targets. I will mitigate this mediocrity by giving it a single LRM 4, I am a genius."

[@johnwiebe8581]

"For its intended use" being anti infantry the 5Sr and 7T should be good with the mounted plasma rifle, former with a masc, the later with a target computer. This should handle infantry and tanks decently. The main problem, as stated in so many comments, is the lack of anti mech defense- just one medium laser.

[@connorriggs1518]

Yet another Mech I have never heard of interesting

[@dukealabaster5767]

Funny thing i just added this mech to a lamce im going to play against a friend of mine and I picked it more in place of my light mech for the AC/2 specifically and its maneuverability in a general sence and while it dose have lower armor it has the narrow quark so ill see how it holds up.

[@shadowslayer205]

In Mechwarrior 5 I used the hero vulcan, which replaced the regular vulcan's kit with a bunch of machine guns and SRM launchers. Its paint job was ugly as sin but you couldn't argue with its firepower.

[@joebyrnes9254]

Having been playing mechwarrior five in my sort of “use only mechs you don’t” I…kind of grown to like it… granted! Granted! I heavily modded this thing, half-ton for machine gun ammo, changed the flamer to a small laser and removed a few jump jets so I could free up weight to upgrade the ac-2 to an ac-5. I feel it could do good as an ambush or hit and run skirmisher. Honestly I’ve grown to love it in this way though the VL-5T is for sure the superior variant in my opinion cuz it can do the things I listed before but better.

[@fusfauxpas]

I ❤ bad mechs

[@LostBeaver]

In the battletech videogame I turned a 2T model into a light fire support platform with 1 LL and the A/C 2 by stripping most armour. It sucked by at least in early game 65 damage isn't bad

[@theviewer1423]

I piloted the Bloodlust version of this mech its quite fast and packs a nice punch.

[@antonymash9586]

Seems like the simplest fix is to swap the flamer and the AC2 for some SRMs with 2 tons of amunition, one standard and one inferno. Still able to toast infantry, mechs and vehicles. Better able to punch light and medium mech and backstab heavies. At that point it might be worth an engine downgrade and swaping out the MGs for more armor.

[@MrSpartanspud]

I like the bloodlust for MWO. And with BTA3062, if I have some upgrades I use it when I pick one up. Clan engine, IJJs and clan MGs being the focus for a rear engine critter.

[@kylebarrie2887]

I make the most of this mech when I have to use it. It can become a good light hunter if equipment with lots small lasers and the ac removed, given more armour (possibly a large laser) and you can make it work.

[@Tekdruid]

It surprises me they didn't add a kitchen sink to the weapons loadout.

[@Inignot12]

The thumbnail is perfect, it is the most 40 ton mech.

[@cavalryscout9519]

I'm going to be the oddball and say that I've actually always had success with the Vulcan. I usually put it in a heavy lance that has a lot of long-range firepower. I primarily use it as a scout/spotter in the early game when enemies are generally too far away to hit it easily, and allies are too far away to spot for themselves. As a scout, the frailty and poor firepower don't hurt much, since your scout shouldn't be getting into 1v2 or 1v3 fights anyway (which is what happens if the scout stops to fight). As a pure scout it still doesn't offer much over a Locust, Wasp, or Stinger, except for being more survivable for the pilot and more likely to escape after being damaged. As soon as the rest of the lance is in range, I pull it back behind the rest of the lance, setting fire to any cover the enemy might use, using smoke to limit how many enemies can engage at once, and generally trying to make the enemies overextend to catch the Vulcan. Flamers are great on scout mechs. Next I have the Vulcan run around well behind the rest of the lance, peppering targets with the AC/2. This is not a very important role for the Vulcan, just what I have it doing. While it's in the back, I'll use the Vulcan to deal with any enemies who try to flank the lance. Any mech which just jumped 5+ hexes to flank is going to be very vulnerable to the flamer. The AC/2 is also an okayish weapon against light mechs, and at any range 4+ it will have a significant accuracy advantage over medium lasers. The MG is also okayish against light mechs, and covers ranges where the AC/2 would be impractical. The Vulcan's mobility really helps in this role, since it can generally keep up with any flanker and can cover the whole lance. More expensive mechs (like the Phoenix Hawk) would be better at dissuading flankers, but you don't want to invest that much BV/C-Bills and then *not* keep the mech on the front line as much as possible. Later in a fight, the Vulcan works as a disabler. It has the speed and jump-capability to get into flamer range if an enemy is running high on heat, and that can do a huge amount to reduce their firepower and mobility, or even shut them down. The Vulcan can also jump out to ignite a hex either to deny that to the enemy, or to provide smoke for your lance. Flamers are a really niche weapon, so you don't want them on most mechs, but they make sense on something you'd be holding in reserve anyway. (I know the flamer is a much bigger deal in 3025 where there are no active probes or double heatsinks.) As an anti-infantry mech, the Vulcan's armor is not a deficiency since your anti-infantry mechs won't be the first ones to meet the enemy. Brawlers usually go first into close quarters, because infantry isn't the only thing that might ambush you. If you don't have active probes, you probably aren't going to spot the infantry before the ambush, so a good anti-infantry mech needs to be able to hang back a little but quickly respond to an ally in trouble. Locusts, Firestarters, Stingers, and Phoenix Hawks are other really good anti-infantry mechs, and none of them (except maybe the Phoenix Hawk) are likely to fare well in an ambush. So I'm not putting a Vulcan in a lance just for anti-infantry, but to fill a lot of roles that I don't want a dedicated mech for. I would generally place it with mechs that move 4/6 or slower, since faster mechs don't have as much need for scouts, for anti-infantry support (if they survive the first turn they can just escape), or for an ally to counter flankers. The Firestarter covers the same roles with greater close-range firepower, and similar BV and cost, but the Vulcan is also harder to hit and can continue plinking with the AC/2 during the part of the battle (the majority) where lightly-armored mechs just can't stand between juggernauts on either side. The Phoenix Hawk is more survivable and better armed, but at 125% the cost and 150% the BV, so it's not a mech that you would want to spend much time in reserve waiting for an enemy flanker or for infantry. Also, a lot about the Vulcan works best in the 3025 period. With lostech or clan tech, active probes reduce the effectiveness of smoke, double heat sinks make the flamer trivial, and XL engines allow the 50 and 55 ton mechs to match the Vulcan's speed. On top of that, pulse lasers, ER weapons, clan pilots, and targeting computers all make it so the movement penalties for 6/9/6 just aren't that challenging. A Vulcan jumping 6 hexes as it spots 3 3025 mechs will probably survive; a vulcan jumping 6 hexes as it spots 3 ominimechs is probably going to be a ball of fire visible from orbit. But yeah, I actually use the Vulcan a lot with heavy/assault lances. It doesn't even cost significantly more than the light mechs that cover the same role, and it costs significantly less than most of the high-mobility medium mechs. You just can't use it as a frontline mech.

[@aprinnyonbreak1290]

Vulcans are pretty decent at catching and ripping apart light scouts, and the AC/2 can at least keep it out of trouble if(when) it's outgunned in the big stupid firefight, while still contributing. Just replace the Flamers with damn near anything else. Scout, antiscout, and long range fire support ain't the WORST role compression I've ever heard of.

[@rudyvalle9022]

If it’s one hex away in the rear arch of a mech that didn’t move and has open torso armor it’s pretty useful.

[@BigRed40TECH]

What a ringing endorsement lol

[@mr6johnclark]

A reminder of one of the mechs i havent bought in MWO

[@erikbjelke4411]

As the Crab proves, you can look goofy, as long as you're dangerous. As the Vulcan proves, if you look goofy and aren't dangerous, you'll never be anything but a joke.

[@Slenkamure]

Vulcan has a place, it is a fairly solid mech for vehicle hunting but not much else

[@gendoruwo6322]

as long as those vehicles are not escorted by mechs...

[@chrisgregory3955]

AC/2s are 6 tons, and it needs at least one more ton for ammunition. That's far too much weight for a weapon which only does 2 damage.

[@forrestpugh7575]

Autocannon stats in Battletech are just stupid. There is no logical basis for them to be built the way they are.

[@bthsr7113]

Didn't know it was THAT heavy.

[@Stormeris]

I honestly love the Vulcan (5T) I'd argue this variant is probably one of, if not, the best 40 tonner of its time

[@bryy2053]

Hell yeah. Another video.....

[@malusignatius]

The BT computer game did have me revise my opinion of the Vulcan a little, if only because it makes a mean mortar carrier.

[@happywombat]

Another mech thats overall subpar? That is just what im looking for, thanks ill take a whole Lance of them.

[@Bomfunker91]

I don't know what it is about the Vulcan 5T, but I have a huge soft spot for that gangly little medium mech. Maybe it's just how it takes a frankly inadequate design and turns it into something that *is* adequate.

[@matthewneuendorf5763]

I always figured that the ac was for demolition of occupied buildings from beyond the reach of the infantry holed up inside.

[@bthsr7113]

Or when some launcher teams are on a distant hill, VTOL is harassing, or a truck of infantry is rabbiting.

[@noanswer1864]

Imagine being a lowly NCO squatting in the trees as one of these approaches your unit. Not only do you know for certain that you are about to die to something eight times larger than the armored hovercraft they should have sent to do this job, but you also know that this stupid waste of funding is going to be just as helpless once your friendly Battlemaster starts wondering why the trees stopped spitting LRMs and speaking ground-pounder at the enemy.

[@bthsr7113]

The battle master has to catch it first.

[@EricLinstone]

Yeah, but at least it's not a Charger, right? ;) In the video game it has a quirk that gives it's support weapons (SLs, MGs, Flamers, ect.) longer range. But the base version, only has 2 support hardpoints. In keeping with the whole not being able to do what it's designed to do thing.

[@Ravenblues]

Everybody gangsta until the 40 tons sentinel hits with uac5 and atm12

[@TheGreatDayne1983]

The Vulcan? It really is the only logical choice.

[@SeedemFeedemRobots]

>design a mech intended for close range urban fighting >heaviest weapon is a peashooter with minimum range literally it could of had some SRM packs instead with a ton of inferno missiles to switch to and not only would its role become actually coherent, improved recreational warcriming, it would also better fit the theming of the name.

[@Somewhat-Evil]

The AC-2 can be useful in a long-range harassment/support role. The Vulcan should fall back to the "backrow" whenever enemy mechs are encountered. It should come forward only if the target mech is heavily damaged, running hot, or ideally both, to finish them off. The Vulcan is an anti-infantry skirmisher not a main line combat unit. The tactics of a battlefield scavenger not a predator is recommended. It was also made to mimic/answer the Amaris Empire's "Jackrabbit" in long-range harassment. The question is why the SLDF never made a "Joker" variant of their "Vulcan".

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'd just argue there are flatly better options to do that to be fair. :\

[@Somewhat-Evil]

@@BigRed40TECH In my own experience the Vulcan is hated most by those who "munchkin" the game system. The Vulcan, or any fast unit armed with an ac-2, is a pain to deal with unless restricted by the edge of a game board. Death by a thousand paper cuts results unless you chase them into enemy controlled territory. The mech is in production in both the Commonwealth and Free Worlds League making the unit and parts easily available in campaign games that enforce hard logistics rules.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@Somewhat-Evil It's really not a pain to deal with if the game has the standard amount of terrain you'll see in most games, it won't get LOS, it's not an LRM launcher or artillery. It's just a bad mech. Bad is bad. I'm not exactly a munchin either, I built my companies to be specifically built and modeled on which house they come from and nothing more. But I'm not going to lie and say the Vulcan's good. It's among the worst.

[@andrewt3768]

I've never used one of these on the table top, but I have hated this mech in HBS Battletech, MW5, and MWO. If I ever pick one up as salvage in MW5 it's just to sell it. I simply don't take it in HBS Battletech. Hopefully it's better on the table top.

[@furikuri6585]

To quote a different youtuber who got this mech in his heavy Metal crate: "Vulcan i get for you?" ... A better mech would be good 😅. At least the 5t is useable

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Let's goo!!

[@eriktarte2743]

I'm currently fielding a 5T in my "I got my s**t together" run of Mercs and I was a little appalled to read the comment section like "is something wrong with me?" Cuz I'm currently having a great time in it

[@BigRed40TECH]

In Mechwarrior, a lot of the underperforming mechs get big boosts due to major reblanaces of weapons systems.

[@CRAZYUNCLE117]

The vulcan, a mech designed by committee. If the name doesn't tell you, it's a joke, piloting it will!

[@bthsr7113]

What's wrong with the name?

[@CRAZYUNCLE117]

@@bthsr7113 It is illogical to try to explain the obvious to you.

[@aiden7452]

Anybody know what that missile carrier vehicle is at 4:35?

[@lexington476]

Great video. Live long and prosper 🖖🖖🖖.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I hope I live long and prosper longer than the Vulcan ever will :P

[@Scaevola9449]

I would honestly take a Firestarter over a Vulcan

[@NemFX]

I think there's a reference missing here. The Vulkan is an anti air mech. It's got a super long, weak gun. Like the m163. That's an anti aircraft version of the ubiquitous m113 troop transport tank. The m163, its name? Vulkan.

[@AccessAccess]

In 3025 era AC2 isn't as awful as it sounds. It's an insurgency mech that can control ranges using its jump jets and harass slower mechs using the longest ranged weapon in the game. Might seem like a one-trick pony but a Heavy mech that goes 4/6, or any assault, can't catch up with it (ever). It can just keep backing off an plinking away with the AC2 until it runs out of ammo. It's not an efficient way to kill anything, but harassment can force your enemy to stay in tighter formations or employ either AC2s or faster mechs with LRMs or PPCs to chase it down. While most pilots would still rather have three LRM5 or a PPC for the same tonnage of the AC2 and ammo, the LRMs have slightly less range (and many mechs from the era had LRMs) while the PPC generates heat which means it can't be used along with jump jets or else you will risk losing movement points due to heat in future turns. So really the AC2 can serve a role in the succession war era, though that role is limited to harassment it is better than nothing in an era where having a mech was better than having no mech (being dispossessed) at all.

[@BigRed40TECH]

to be fair, in 3025, which is the main era I play, I genuinely find the AC2 to be dramatically underwhelming. I would rather have any other weapon, rather than an Ac2

[@wheturangi]

I was gifted this, so I had to keep it. Its in my Base Security lance. Its stays at the base to guard it. The massive AC2 is huge and overrated. Its just not good at much of anything. But it has character and not much else. I like it for RP, but fighting with it is just annoying.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I hope you realize the gift they gave you, was a 40-ton coffin.

[@wheturangi]

@@BigRed40TECH I never said it was a good gift. The problem is that without the AC2 it starts to look like a broken Firestarter. Its cute in an odd awkward hillbilly way. Its more memorable to me than the Clint, but that aint saying much.

[@blackwind743]

The VL-BL Bloodlust from the video games is a beast with four SRM 4s three machine guns and a small laser but it does have an Inner Sphere XL and all the extra frailty that comes with. Definitely one of my favorite 40s though.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@blackwind743 Sounds great, it's just not apart of the core canon afaik.

[@starsidescav9487]

Honestly really like this thing in mw5, throwing hands quickly became my main anti mech weapon lol

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

If you let your players customize your mechs, swap the AC2 for a Large Laser and add 2 tons of armor.

[@AmbroseBoaBowie]

If the Vulcan are a person they would be the creep that had a greasy balding hair, never showers, always sweats even when it’s not hot out, and waits in front of the local elementary school with a white van.

[@Eulemunin]

Used to pull the MG for armor, AC/2 for LL, ML and other tonnage for HS. LL and Flamer is not great but good enough with that speed.