BATTLETECH: The Archer

[@thestabbybrit4798]

The biggest flaw of the Archer is the lack of stealth - enemies can hear the 1812 overture begin playing long before the first missile salvo hits.

[@alericantonelli4656]

All the better to let them know their doom is imminent!

[@enricopaolocoronado2511]

I see that as an absolute win. Let one's foes hear one last symphony before their destruction is assured.

[@alericantonelli4656]

@@enricopaolocoronado2511 that, or we can blast sabaton XD

[@enricopaolocoronado2511]

@@alericantonelli4656 Yes.

[@wernerviehhauser94]

Let them know whats coming. Saves my ammo if they decide to turn and run.

[@mrbigglezworth42]

The Archer, the Catapult, and the Longbow operate under the simple question of: " Do you see that thing over there?" "I don't want to"

[@DonaldWWitt]

ALL THE MISSILES!!!

[@bulbafett5001]

Longbow is my favorite, but an Archer will do nicelyy every time too.

[@DonaldWWitt]

@@bulbafett5001 I like that the Archer has BATTLEFIST, so if an enemy get's within your LRMs minimum range, you can just walk up and CLOBBER them!

[@bulbafett5001]

@@DonaldWWitt it is certainly a massive bonus for it. But I love the Longboe 7V. 2 lrm20s with artIV, 5 MPL and one ERLarge laser. With an XL engine.

[@alexandruraresdatcu]

You forgot the stalker

[@brianhenry152]

Critic:. Ok, so your mech's primary armament is two 20-pack LRM launchers? Archer Pilot: Yep. Critic: And LRMs stand for 'Long Range Missiles'.. Archer Pilot: Makes sense. Critic:. So you should stay back and offer long range fire support to your lance mates! Archer Pilot:. I'm gonna punch things.

[@jonbezeau3124]

Punching is okay if you didn't have a woods hex to grab a tree from.

[@jlokison]

Or an urban ruble hex to grab a metal girder from, they usually last a little longer than a tree.

[@HistoricalWaifus]

If god did not WANT me to punch things why did he give me FISTS

[@robrib2682]

The Archer: when you are your own bodyguard

[@user-kn9gl9dt6l]

Literally me every mission in mw5

[@fix0the0spade]

For all it's supposed to be a Lurmboat my favourite Archer has and will always be the ARC- 4M Ismail that loses the standard loadout for 8 SRM-4s, two Medium Pulse Lasers and extra armour. Nothing throws a table into chaos like the 'fire support' mech sprinting across the table, punching a Commando in the face then shotgunning 32 SRMs into an Awesome. It makes quite an impression.

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

The element of surprise is always run to exploit on your enemy.

[@nemamiah7832]

LRMs? Check. Bunch of MLs? Check. Lots of armour? Check. 4/6? Check. Command Mech Quirk for +1 to Initiative Rolls? Check. What's not to like? No, seriously, what's NOT to like? It's great!

[@brianhenry152]

It runs pretty hot...

[@yoloman3607]

Rear facing weapons. Why.

[@youtmeme]

its ur corn!!!!😂😂😁😁😄😄😊🙂

[@ParadoxriftsAU]

In general; if a later variant is worse than the original design when compared head to head, you need to consider what other designs were being utilized in the same time period by the militaries that purchased it. Many mech designs and variants don't make sense unless considered in the context of what else the fiction says is widely available at the time of initial production or refit.

[@andrewweltlich9065]

Artemis is ESSENTIAL on any LRM boat. Swapping out the LRM20s for LRM15s + Artemis keeps roughly the same amount of damage output while generating less heat.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's essential for Star League Era tech+, LRM boats, as that's when its available.

[@jeffreybomba]

For original tech, a support mech does not need to be the second most armored heavy mech. Just one tone less or armor and 1 more heat sink lets you run and fire 4 LRM 20’s without penalty instead of 3. That is a 33% increase when you hit crunch time. As you continue that extra heat sink can change you ride up the penalty scale significantly.

[@jeffreybomba]

@@BigRed40TECH With new tech, LRM 15s with Artemis IV saves 4 tons, extends ammo by 25% and causes little damage reduction. Adding 2 CASE2 and 2 HS increases durability and let’s you run and LURM all day. Strip 1 ton of armor and add a Coolant pod for if something gets close and the cost/BV is probably pretty good compared to Endo, Artemis 20 and DHS.

[@224224josh]

My Archer is a shotgun. overloaded with Heatsinks and SRM's it wipes out Assault mechs in just a few seconds.

[@rylian21]

@@224224josh sounds like my wacky Catapult. 6 streak SRM6. It just sandblasted armor off its target.

[@passgo8507]

Love, love, love this mech. An absolute BEAST in both tabletop and video game form. Indirect fire support in the 4M model is one of the best you’re going to find, period. I rarely run an ops without this bad boy in my stead. An absolute legend of a mech.

[@toddkes5890]

For 3025 or other older tech, swap out the LRM-20s for 4 LRM-5 each. A single LRM-20 masses 10 tons and generates 6 heat, so using Single Heat Sinks the entire package masses 16 tons to be heat-neutral. A single LRM-5 masses 2 tons and generates 2 pts of heat, meaning 4 of them will take up 8 tons and produce 8 heat, again totaling 16 tons. The fun part is that the four LRM-5 mean it can lose one of the launchers and still keep firing, while a single LRM-20 that takes a critical hit is out of action until repaired. Also, if the platform has sufficient cooling to spare (i.e. a Mech's main reactor, or vehicles not caring about heat from non-energy weapons), the LRM-5 becomes more efficient in terms of damage per ton. The problem for using multiple smaller launchers is when you get Artemis and similar 1/launcher guidance systems. A single LRM-20 will only need 1 additional system, while the four LRM-5 will need 1 system each.

[@Tibsteronice]

Your video output is friggin insane. Well done with all of these mech profiles.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I do this full time, so I hope the output is good. lol

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

@@BigRed40TECH Well I for one appreciate your work.

[@kapitan19969838]

​@@Dang_Near_Fed_Up I second that

[@joshuamidgette4846]

Running an assault lance in MW5, targeted kill mission in what turns out to be a large city. We ran into six mechs that day though only two are remembered. There was the supercharged Banshee with chemical large lasers and then there was the Archer. No idea what variant it was, all we know is he had an srm6 and srm4 in each box launcher, and he was lethal in that city fight.

[@Spartaner251]

I think the ARC-2S is pretty elegant solution to the short comming of the 2R heat with the LRM-20 racks. you are able to be more mobile or outright heat neutral when shooting the 15s, with the addition of more ammo per ton per launcher, you can keep up a longer barrage, if the mech closes in you can even alphastrike the short range armament without going above 14 heat! means you can run, shoot and then only fire the SRM or Med Laser for two turns while still running and cooling down, or standing a turn and fire only one or the other and then move again, which allows for good flexibility or speed to empty out the SRM ammo bunkers. because 25 salvos is quite a lot in a tabletop fight.

[@NonApplicable1983]

The ARC-4M is a near-perfect machine. I’ve won games with nothing but a single 4M with empty ammo racks finishing off the remains of the enemy lance with its battlefists and lasers. The initiative bonus can also be a great advantage if you’re playing with design quirks.

[@malusignatius]

The Archer is certainly a powerful support 'mech, but I admit I've had better luck with the Catapult.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Catapult's better at defending itself, but worse at giving support imo.

[@malusignatius]

@@BigRed40TECH That's fair. I also like Jump jets which is a factor as well.

[@nemamiah7832]

Catapult is a better choice if you already sporting a Marauder or Black Knight for the Command Mech bonus. But if you want an LRM boat AND a Command unit, Archer is an amazing choice. I would call them both equally viable Heavy mechs. They just perform in different roles.

[@DonaldWWitt]

@@BigRed40TECH Shouldn't that be the other way around? A Catapult has huge missile boxes for arms perfect for vomiting indirect fire but not great for much else, while the Archer has BATTLEFIST and arm mounted lasers...

[@DocWolph]

For some dumb reason it never registered with me, but a LOT of the older (mainly FASA) designs, Archer, Rifleman, Warhammer, Marauder, to name a few, look almost exactly like the Macross/Robotech mech designs. Now I get why the newer designs deviate so far from those, recalling the lawsuits over that very issue some years ago.That said, the newer designs look FAR better and believable.

[@n00bfishie]

That’s because FASA licensed some of the art from Macross/Robotech. This led to a big legal mess when Harmony Gold alleged to have an EXCLUSIVE license to the art, at least in the United States. (That said, Harmony Gold did not actually have the exclusive rights and it’s position was eventually debunked during the Harmony Gold v. PGI lawsuit). But this whole legal mess caused these designs to become “unseen” for a huge chunk of Battletech’s history. TL;DR version: They look the same because FASA licensed the same art.

[@CrymsonKyng]

@@n00bfishie The biggest issue with Harmony’s lawsuits was FASA and it’s successors never had the funds to fight Harmony in court. If they had the cash those mechs would never have become unseen. Ironically now that it’s no longer an issue the unseen designs have been replaced

[@Mustangofold]

Reason I initially only started playing using a Phoenix Hawk. Then Harmony Gold decided to try to milk their very limited rights to the anime, which they really messed up as well, with even the original anime company saying, no, you don't have those rights. Basically legal extortion/lawfare by Harmony G. Still hate them.

[@Sam-Jones]

these look like something you'd see with a tank unit. still badass

[@DocWolph]

@@Sam-Jones Battletech/Mechwarrior is more or less tank combat. The way the mechs are handled is nothing like how Japanese anime tends to handle mechs.

[@tullyDT]

It's a good mech, but I'd rather trade the armour and maximum long range damage potential of the archer for the mobility, heat management and improved short range damage output of the catapult. I find that the catapult is better at getting itself into position, and escaping from mechs that close in or mauling anything that gets close to it if it cant run. Plus the LRM 15s aren't too shabby

[@zraal3759]

Agree. It all depends on the scenario and play style. I find that a fire support lance of 2 archers and 2 catapults work fantastic together. The archers go straight in and go for mellee if necessary and the catapults go for the flanks.

[@Kuhesgewehr]

I always find the Catapult just a little too lightly armored

[@robertgriffin662]

Love this series and this mech! I have a ? The MML's when you look at the TRO'S it reads 33/55 for instance. Does that 33LRM SHOTS AND 55 SRM shots per ton or just 55 or 33? Thankyou for your answer!

[@tullyDT]

The ARC-6w armed with eight Rocket Launcher 20s and two Rocket Launcher 10s is a really fun variant to run even though it is a pricy one shot weapons platform

[@lonelystrategos]

I love how every Marian Hegemony variant of a mech has shit tons of RL's strapped to it. They have a Commando with 2 medium lasers and SIX RL-15's. Those Space Romans really like rocket launchers.

[@tullyDT]

@@lonelystrategos It's one of the more interesting faction specific quirks

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

One of those designs that's solid pretty much at any time period, it's only real weakness is heat build up.

[@rmcdudmk212]

It's hard to find a missile boat that can beat the Archer at or below it's weight class.

[@lonelystrategos]

The Yeoman, because who needs anything other than LRM's.

[@rmcdudmk212]

@@lonelystrategos 🤣

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@lonelystrategos Armless mechs come with their very own unique pros and cons. I for my part prefer my mech to be able to punch that @$$hole that thinks they can just come close and gnaw on my butt.

[@lonelystrategos]

@@rmcdudmk212 In all seriousness though, I like the Catapult a bit better than the Archer.

[@rmcdudmk212]

@@lonelystrategos the catapult is a better mech but I feel the need to put ace pilots in those and it always skyrockets my BV

[@nickl6820]

I definitely have a soft spot for the 2R as my character rode one for most of the last 3025 era campaign I was part of. I even managed at some point to talk the Mech Techs (Organizer) to flip one of the torso MLAS around to face front. In HBS' game I like to outfit the Archer similar to the 8M, just without the fancy DHS and ER. Not gonna argue that it's better then the 2R, but it feels good to me.

[@yecnay25]

I always take one of these with my Heavy Lance in HBS Battletech.

[@tenchraven]

The Archer is a near perfect mech in it's niche. So much armour. How to mess with people on an urban board, let the other guy find an Archer in an alley way. Limited danger, under the minimum range. Then pop the covers, show them what replacing each LRM20 with a trio of SRM6s and heat sinks looks like. At under 100m. Sure, heat is a lot even with DHS, but when that first salvo is 36 Infernos the other guy knows how it feels. The burning is love.

[@sypoth]

I was gifted a pewter one of these for my birthday from a very good friend. The lore of how it came to be in my unit was that it was found during a recon mission through a dangerous asteroid cluster inside of an old jump ship. The thing was still in nearly new condition and we salvaged it, outside of a few supplies the jump ship was garbage though and only useful in helping to establish a point of reference. It replaced the Catapult one of my guys had been using and I even experimented with adding armor and weapons by arming it with a box style shield that could be purged. Unfortunately the pilot lost his life to a head shot and that was pretty much the end of me using all but my command pilot. But in the end the formation was very good having one Atlas, one Awesome, one Commando, and one Catapult later Archer. Commando was for recon and harassing, the Catapult/Archer for long range Artillery, the Awesome covered any units needing to fall back, and the Atlas was the heavy hitter.

[@kennethelkins-wulff9644]

Amazing video BR40k! Amazing! I like the Archer and I'm glad you gave it a great video and you went over some of the variants. Thank You for These videos and the Weapons Videos!

[@faithmcclosky4528]

Great video as always, Red. I especially liked you pointing out some of the famous pilots throughout the centuries, I thought that added some nice color to the video.

[@BigRed40TECH]

How can you mention the Archer without its pilots? It's almost a vehicle exclusively for these guys. lol

[@enricopaolocoronado2511]

When I finally have a gaming rig strong enough to run MW5, I'm getting the Archer and giving it a bright red paint job.

[@louhodo5761]

After my CN9 was destroyed on Crossing I switched to the ARC-2K great mech served me well till my retirement from the DCMS in 3058

[@ambientlight3876]

This is a solid design. It's major strength is it's a long range power house.

[@pelmen1294]

One of the original 12 thus one of the most iconic. First featured in the original "A game of armored combat". 1988

[@ericlinhoff2015]

1984, in Battledroids, the direct progenitor of Battletech. Kinda hard to find now.😁

[@jamesheinze4202]

Love your stuff, I would also love to see a video on the Berserker

[@BigRed40TECH]

I LOVE the Berserker. When we hit 3055's TRO, I will be excited.

[@kylevidauri4869]

My first mech was an Archer, and on its first deployment the pilot rained hell on a Clan Binary until he ran out of ammo, then went on to bludgeon an Uller to death before being cut down by a Mad Cat point blank.

[@ImperviousSC]

I just got an ARC-2K in my MW5 campaign, and it's become my favourite command mech. Max armor, 2 large lasers, and SSRM launchers gives me some moderate but reliable medium range damage with the lasers, some pretty devastating damage up close with the SSRMs, and while it still runs hot, it's manageable. The mech itself has decent speed, maneuverability, and armour. It's been super fun to use so far.

[@Angel7black]

Go to LRM Boat when only innersphere mecha are options or need something relatively cheap, right next to the catapult

[@umbrum2]

what pushes this mech to the top for me on the table top is the rear lasers. Little mech run around the back giving you trouble? Dont worry you can still keep your missiles pointed down range and have some abilty to defend your self.

[@tnh723]

Your narration is fantastic! Im so glad I found your channel. You, Baldemort, Tex, Garand Thumb, Brass Facts, and more will help make my long commutes home a pleasant one. Thank you for all the hard work

[@hermes7587]

The Archer is the definitive LRM missile boat design for the sucession wars era. The only weakness are the large ammo load in combination with the relatively weak rear side armor and the poor heat management. Critical hits to the ammo are probably the most common way for Archers to be destroyed. Apart from lucky hits it is a very durable mech that can dish out a lot of damage at long range and has a decent self-defence ability. If the Archer ever runs out of ammo, it can be used as a surprisingly effective brawler, that can deal devastating punches and kicks.

[@DevilPogoStick]

My most solid mech in MWO. A basic ARC-2R with a pair of LRM 20s with Artemis systems, two ER Medium Lasers on the arms, double heat sinks, and a TAG on the torso. Edit: Also have Endo Steel added now that I actually looked at my specs...Sorta. Was it impractical? Maybe. But did it gave me a consistent body count and survivability? The best of all the mechs I have. I nicknamed it Janson, after my favorite character in Star Wars.

[@georgesiegel7026]

I will try that.. I run mine with a light engine that moves me at 3/5 max armor six med lasers with 3 lrm15/a and 12 dhs. This thing shines. I run six runs of ammo.

[@canisblack]

Been watching/listening to these and the last couple of days and they're making me want to boot up HBS's Battletech and start a new game (I haven't even finished a first one though!).

[@BigRed40TECH]

Awesome. Just remember, best mech is biggest mech, always! /s

[@stephenknizek2651]

Honestly, if you have a company-sized mercenary command, and you don’t have an Archer…are you really a merc? I kid, I kid. XD

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

Naw that is a good point.

[@dracowar6]

my favorite mech in MW5. The hero one you get by quest is also really, really pretty :D

[@dannythehonestgamer6051]

If i get a free pick for what my long range support is to be the Archer is the first thing i would ask for. With the Catapult being the second choice.

[@Timberjac]

Possibly the 70 tons best used (in the Inner Sphere). More than 180m, 2xLRM20. More than 30 but less than 180, 4 Medium Laser. less than 30 m, 2 Medium Laser and two nice arms with all the actuators to scare.

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

Probably the best mech for my desired play style (long range indirect fire, bombardment en mass), and my absolute favorite Inner Sphere mech. Stash a few of these behind a hill and send in a scout with stealth, tag or narc, and either armor or speed to stay alive. Then rain hell on the enemy with concentrated fire, most mechs go down in 2 to 3 turns at most. And those who don't have tissue paper with gaping holes for armor afterwards, which can be cleaned up with ease.

[@enricopaolocoronado2511]

Revisiting this video, I actually had a bit of a chuckle when I realize how radically different the Archer is from its inspiration (the MBR-07-Mk.II Destroid Spartan from Super Dimension Fortress Macross) in terms of function. Where the Archer, as established in BT canon, is a long-ranged fire support 'Mech, the Spartan is the polar opposite in which it is a hand-to-hand combatant and has the speed to match its purpose.

[@blue95kun]

Somehow if given a choice, I’d still take the Archer over the Crusader or Catapult. If in doubt, forgo using the Medium Laser and give them the Strong Hand.

[@schneecoraxx8689]

love me an archer, amazing at every tech level and capable of accepting so many different upgrades. a wonderful platform indeed. LRM15+ART, swap in a double sink kit, swap lasers for pulse lasers. something running at you? fill it full of missiles till it either stops moving, fucks off, or gets close enough to feel the wrath of 4 pulse lasers.

[@jonbezeau3124]

There are a lot of Archer models (probably the best ones) that I won't mess with because they're standing on the Crusader's toes in my mind, so I'm a 2R guy. I loved commanding my lance from an Archer in MW5, the range on my LRMs let me order my team around as first priority and then light up any enemies who weren't dying fast enough unassisted.

[@sebastiang.5032]

"How many missiles do you want to launch?" Archer: "Yes."

[@mr6johnclark]

I have all variants in MWO. my favorite one is the one with ECM.

[@MechaTheSpider]

It's so funny how Battletech adopted the Spartan's design from Macross, putting the cockpit inside basically a camera, and then making the weapon system that emerges from the center torso just solid while removing the cockpit from the top. Then again, if the Archer was anything like the Spartan, it'd be a monster with something like an AC20 sitting in the center torso on top of all the other weapons it already has.

[@everyonethinksyoureadeathm5773]

I ran my Archer's with SRM 6's + inferno munitions. However once I got my grubby hands on clan tech. All IS weaponry was swapped to clan (along with a Clan spec XL engine). 4 ATM 9's could reach out and touch someone and if they kept charging in, they wouldn't be able to get 3 hexes close until their CT gave out.

[@Xagroth]

I've found the Archer as a fine chassis to work with, both as a TT model and in Mechwarrior Online. I prefer, however, two "personal" options for both games: Endosteel, double heat sinks, and Guardian ECM systems and Command Console are present on both, a Laser AMS and 432/434 armor (3.5 tonnes). Version 1 is a brawler with 2xMRM30 and 6xSmall Laser and an XL300 engine with 2 extra heat sinks, moving at nearly 70kph. Then there is the 1 Beagle Probe 2xLRM20 and 5 tonnes of ammo XLEngine 275 (63.6kph) with 2xMed Pulse Las and 2xMed Las.

[@androssthered1157]

Wicked beast of a mech. Great video as always you Purple Chicken lover.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Purple Bird stronG! :P

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

Austro-Hungarian dudes.😆

[@robrib2682]

You know I always liked the look of this, although one thing that I've always wondered is has anyone ever been crazy enough to for a mission or two switch out the long range missiles with short range ones just to deal with someone who keeps ambushing backline formations? Because I honestly feel like that's something that probably happened at least a few times and I've never heard of it

[@DerDrecksack87]

Yeah, i used it often in MWO and MW5 with clan SRM6 launchers and 4 clan ER Medium lasers with endo, xl engine & double heat sinks, you will delete a flanking light mech in one or two bursts and you can alpha several times before heat is an issue, it is a fantastic brawler outclassing even some of the heavier dedicated mechs in raw continuous close range firepower, you can win against any 85 ton assault in 1 v 1 cqb and you can outmanuver 100 ton assaults in urban settings, there is really no fight u cant win except on flat terrain without any cover getting spotted by something outside ur range, anything above 65 tons will probably smoke you before you reach the distance to return fire, this is why ECM is a must if u are brawling with it.

[@robrib2682]

@@DerDrecksack87 thanks for the advice, if I start playing mwo then I might try that

[@jeffersonian000]

I always wanted to build an Archer as it’s original Macross incarnation, with 12 single shot Arrow IV missiles and a set of rocket empowered armor piercing battle fists.

[@michaelbuehler3897]

It's really useful in Battletech because of the unique part it has. Mech has a really useful Hero variant in Mech 5.

[@vali6717]

One of the most superb mechs of its era, or any era, I love this thing. If it had the weapons slots and heat management for it in HBS Battletech I would definitely equip an Archer with four SRM6s and actually test how it would work as a brawler but that is talking about a lot of double heat sinks from the start and probably more weight than I would be comfortable sacrificing for what is basically a missile shotgun.

[@connorriggs1518]

Well I like the Archer if I had to pick a command mech for some pirates can’t beat the crusader or axman for me

[@furikuri6585]

Nice vid as allways 👍! Alexander Carlyle, the son of Grayson Carlyle and Lorie Calmar from the Graydeath Legion, used a Archer to fight and command as well. He was given a 2nd line mech on purpose to counteract Alexander's tendency to rush in to the fray. I don't know what he used when he left the Legion to join the LCAF thou...

[@AlexisVolk97]

Why would you want an Archer to do anything but rain missiles on the enemy? If you trust whoever's in charge to understand you should protect your fire support you can even cut one or two lasers in exchange for more ammunition, and just retreat when you run dry.

[@OmniMontel]

Oh you want to init sink that archer, after you run dry is why. Honestly when in a campaign where I can customize it, I pull the arm mediums off and remount one center torso. Flip the other two around front and put in a heat sink. That heat sink helps. Launch missiles at every opportunity when you start to run low about 3 rounds of fire left close with the remains and start looking for 7 hex lrm shots hard. It rips up the remnants of mechs that are thin at that point. When you get out of ammo, 15 damage and that much armour with the punches and kicks in a zombie are mean.

[@irishijo1]

One of my personal refits was bumping down the LRMs to 15's, adding Endo, and I forgot if I did something with the engine, but with the weight savings I added two hatchets. My Brutal Beast was a fun berzerker for any pesky light or medium that got close to what they saw as merely a "Fire Support Mech". Looking back on it maybe a couple of MML's would have served it well in CQC.

[@jacksonbowns1087]

A favorite heavy design of mine and not just because of its, ahem, *Spartan* origins, because I honestly like the current design better than the original. I love 'mechs that are designed to put out a copious amount of fire (LRMs, SRMs, lasers, whatever they can shoot), which, funnily enough, happens to contain the Longbow, the Crusader, the Annihilator, the Black Knight, the Catapult. All of that aside, it's a rugged, purpose-built 'mech that looks good while doing its job, with the biggest downside being its competition with the Rifleman for best 'mech/industrial oven.

[@Dracobyte]

A classic missile boat from the #Battletech universe!

[@stevend1325]

Archer is a great mech, in my top five of 3025. I love running archers atlas orions hunchbacks and stalkers. Crabs, wolfhoundss and kintaros are a honorable mentions (use them for scouts)

[@bigshaun808]

I've always used it as a running slug shotgun

[@sim.frischh9781]

I prefer the Archer with Endo Skeleton, 2x20LRMs with Artemis IV, Double Heat Sinks and 4 medium lasers, CASE for the ammo and max armor. Standing back and supporting lance mates from behind, becoming a reliable force your team can count upon. Getting kills is secondary, weakening the enemies for my allies is essential. And if anyone gets funny ideas and tries to get too close, there is a pair of solid fists welcoming them.

[@nemamiah7832]

Have you heard the sad story of ARC-5CS the Wise? He brought 4 LRM15s with Artemis IV and 6 tons of ammo. And it gets focused down just because it exists on the table. I love it. I love it A LOT.

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@nemamiah7832 Would possible make more sense to go for a Longbow then... At least it has more armor.

[@OptimusWombat]

Good video series. The only nitpick I have (and it's not just you, it's probably 95% of people) is that you talk about CASE "protecting" the ammunition, when it does nothing of the sort. "Protecting" the ammo implies that it reduces the chances of an ammo explosion. When all that CASE really does is redirect the damage from an ammo explosion, preventing damage transfer to the next location on the damage diagram.

[@kazekamiha]

Loved this in the HBS game. I stripped the lasers down a bit for more Ammo, kept it way in the rear and just bombarded everything with MISSLES. It was a Knockdown Beast. I also picked up the Hero Archer in MW5... And haven't used it. I'm... Kinda worried I'd break it. ;_;

[@ChaosTicket]

The Archer is a pretty good mech. Its flaws are few, with a large payload of missiles and plenty of armor. It has 2 rear mounted Medium Lasers when they could be better mounted in the front. Also it lacks sufficient ammunition and Heat Sinks. That said its so easy to upgrade with lostech and clantech. Improve the Heat Sinks, alter the missiles, improve the lasers(and mount them up front). In particular many models may reduce the LRMs for few missile tubes to add Short Range Missiles. Replacing both with Multi-Missile Launchers can combine these, such as having 4 MML-9s can turn the Archer, normally into a long range platform into a surprisingly capable short range combatant(36 SRMs+Medium lasers?). A clantech Archer could have 80 Long Range Missile Tubes if it wanted. The Archer Wolf model is practically a pocket Timber Wolf.

[@kylebarrie2887]

I normally get rid of 1 meduim lasers and add one ton of ammo as I find it makes the Archer go a bit further in terms of lasting in long range missile fire. It give it basically 2 more shots with each LRM launcher.

[@anthonyvogel9328]

Nice video. I do favor the archer a lot IS. With even the draw back of the archer. But a archer at long range can cover the last going in.

[@travislewis5058]

I like the 2k im a large laser fanboy and the lrms opean up the holes they make

[@emptank]

Trebuchet catapult archer longbow stalker: when you're LRMs must block out the sun.

[@mbr5742]

I always liked to run it in a 3+1 Lance either as the sole missile mech with 3 WHM 6D or the other way round 3 Archers and a beamboat bodyguard (the MAR 3M was one choice if only official mechs and variants, a MAR 3M without the AC and with extra armor)

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

The very first mech I ever played in table top.

[@Scudboy17]

The Archers only real weakness (other than heat) is its poor rear armor. In a long running tabletop battletech campaign there was an enemy archer used as a command vehicle and the moment I caught him off guard with a jump modified Warhammer and I ended up behind him he popped like an over filled balloon. The loss of his mech ended the campaign (the archer player was running the campaign) and almost ended in an IRL fight. The player would hang out at the edge of the map and when threatened would just back step off the map and end his involvement in the battle, so he kind of earned the battle where we ignored the objectives and went all out just to end him. It was totally worth it.

[@BigRed40TECH]

to be fair, most mechs have mediocre rear armour in Battletech.

[@Scudboy17]

@@BigRed40TECH Very true- but I seem to remember something about the Archer having less than normal. or maybe I'm just thinking of this particular Archer. It's been a while since I rolled the dice on the tabletop.

[@adfury]

Always fun in the early game and a real monster if you had a house rule that allowed you to continue a board past the defined play space. Though my favorite was to swap out the 4 med for 2 large lasers and find any pools of water I could. Gave you some long range pop once your bins ran dry. Or you could do 1 long range "death blossom" and pray to the dice gods that you would roll a miracle.

[@mattikuokkanen]

ARC-2S isn't a bad 'Mech. While ARC-2R seems to have more volume of fire, it has to reduce it from time to time to avoid overheating too much. Meanwhile ARC-2S can stand & deliver from both its LRM launchers till bins run dry. While having the same amount of LRM ammo, this means both of them can dish out near the same amount of LRM fire. After that, ARC-2S still has SRMs left. Having more armor & ammo than Crusader and Catapult, ARC-2S is a solid fire support 'Mech with decent back up weapons. ARC-2R can catch up with this by turning rear facing lasers to front.

[@Kuhesgewehr]

I like pulling the one LRM-20 and medium lasers and give it a LLAS and a LRM-15

[@CrymsonKyng]

The K series becomes much more viable with 3049(and later) upgrades. Double heat sinks and weight savings for case puts it far beyond most middle boats

[@ErinPalette]

An indirect fire mech, and yet also one that is weirdly good at brawling.

[@lukedudley5030]

A great missile boat :-) more armour and firepower potential than the catapult it's a mech that I feel needs to die when I'm against it....needs support but the archer is an awesome mech :-)

[@Stranglygreen]

Gota love 40 long range missiles

[@MrFleem]

I field a modded 2S that exchanges all the launchers for four SRM6 launchers and more armor. If you want to turn it into a brawler, go all in and leave the long range support to someone else.

[@Dariushellstrome]

Classic and Clan invasion, the Archer is a great mech, depending on terrain, CityTech maybe not otherwise I like 2 to 3 for company level engagements thanks

[@psychkosys]

First time I piloted a straight up Archer I got to range 6 and did an alpha strike. I failed my 3 + ammo explosion roll and that was that. 😅

[@njreiswig]

loved the music choice but felt like it was slightly too loud about halfway through., keep doing what you're doing love these videos

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thanks, will do! :)

[@paradoxhiso1531]

I ended up being a menace with an archer in a campaign, by giving it and a trebuchet sandblaster. I then always had a light mech as a spotter and would rain missile death from long range while the archer and trebuchet stayed behind cover almost always doing max damage with theyre missiles.

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

The Archer is the definition of "Do one thing well".

[@Demolitiondude]

archer designer: some maybe smarter than me. maybe. I like to see them outsmart bullet.

[@deepstrike9750]

So let me tell you a story I never really understood why so many people liked the Archer until I played it in MechWarrior it was like "Oh my God....i get it" Feeling piloting an archer add sandpapering mechs was a otherworldly experience

[@Barbaros357]

Excellent video and Jayden's art piece was a nice addition. However, I'd have liked to hear why it's been the command 'Mech of choice for all those famous mercenaries. What features lend the Archer to excel as a command unit?

[@BigRed40TECH]

It stays out of direct battle, but is able to lend support to troops that they are in command of. Keeping the commander close to the fornt line, but not *too* close to the front line.

[@Barbaros357]

@@BigRed40TECH This is my opinion as well and certainly a good consideration but it also has to do with its electronics and various 'command module' features that have not been explored in the lore. It does have the Command 'Mech quirk which encapsulates such features in game mechanics.

[@Cbabilon675]

I've actually made a devastating SRM version of an Archer you talking about brutal.

[@skythz]

Personally, I'm a big fan of the 2S. It has better heat management and is more multi-purpose. It's my preferred ride in any mech battle in the 3025 era.

[@timothymccormick5208]

Would you be willing to do a comparison video / explanation between similar comparable mechs... Such as the Archer vs the Catapult? Archer being 70t with the Catapult being 65t, in greater detail than the quick blurb you had here?

[@Mustangofold]

If FASA had made a bit more effort to balance the heat/weight/range/ammo of Missile systems and AC's I would get behind a LRM 20 support mech. However, going to 15's from 20's, adding 4JJ's, adding 1 HS, and 1 ton of ammo means you can get to advantageous positions with 20 volleys of LRMS instead of 12 with damage dropping by about 2-3 points per volley on average. And you can always put those (R) mounted ML's to more use as arm mounted, to make those getting into minimum range think about going elsewhere while still letting you torso twist and get an arm aimed backwards if you need to.

[@icemanplays7196]

In MW5, ARC-T is the ONLY mech that never leaves my lance. I have a pair of LRM 15 ART4s and additional cooling. It never fails me.

[@OptimusWombat]

If the ARC is good enough for Jaime Wolf _and_ Morgan Kell, it's good enough for me.

[@roberthill5549]

It is a sin to try to increase short range direct fire on this machine, or to bring it in close enough to need it. At the beginning of engagement, the Archer is devastating to any Lights that need to close in on your force. It can cripple or kill them rather quickly. Once the battle has been truly engaged, the Archer's role is to focus on any mech that has taken a fair bit of damage from front-line units. It has remarkable chances to find holes and make them much bigger. All in all, it's difficult to take an Archer down quickly at long range, but if you don't, it absolutely *will* tear you apart when you're already tangled up with another opponent. Keep a mid-range escort fairly close, to prevent sudden unopposed rushes, and an Archer can turn a tough engagement into a solid victory.

[@pmcollectorboy2929]

My Archer experience: "Yay! I get to rain death on the enemy!" *tinkers around* "Ah shit. That's not enough armor." *tinkers around* "Ah shit. That's too much heat." *tinkers around* "Ah shit. That's not enough ammo." *sticks an lrm15 and lrm10 on it* "Good enough."