BATTLETECH: The Gunslinger

[@BigRed40TECH]

Resources Post: The Art for the Thumbnail is fanart done by: www.deviantart.com/giorgioespinos Who gave his permission for its use in this video. Resources: Technical Readout 3055 (original): (No Link available) Technical Readout 3055 Upgrade: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-3055-upgrade-pdf-1 Recognition Guide 27: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-recognition-guide-ilclan-vol-27 You can get the Gunslinger in Plastic with the Northwind Highlander Mercenary Pack.

[@GrammarTron3000]

The Gunslinger: bringing the pain of the Inner Sphere's best weapons: Gauss rifles and medium lasers to those pesky Clanners that just can't seem to mind their own business.

[@marsar1775]

The Gauss Rifle being the IS most effective weapon against the clans is funny to me. Even in the future, when in doubt, smash it with a rock. caveman strats never fail! this rock is just a bit faster than before

[@tmiles7876]

Gauss Rifle, LRMs, PPC, Medium Laser. Good times.

[@kevinmitchell8626]

Red: "Inner sphere engineers started to try to find a way to defeat the attacking clans. And they would make --" Me: "The Rakshasa! 🎉"

[@BigRed40TECH]

Booooo lol

[@evanderbradley5900]

Woo Rakshasa! Woo!

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

I threw up a little.

[@heirofaniu]

Man. I actually like the Rakshasa...

[@Hazmathavok1222]

As a broke inner boy that wants a timber wolf....that will do 😅

[@Bomfunker91]

The base Gunslinger is a fascinating design. On the one hand, it feels streamlined and min-maxed with two gauss rifles, ECM and a bunch of lasers. On the other hand...Active Probe on a slow fire support unit, two out of three possible jump jets, no CASE anywhere in sight, uneven lasers and fire arcs...it's such an odd mech.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

Case is pretty moot; the rifles are the only reactive element and they're in the arms which are going to probably absorb the brunt of the explosion.

[@robrib2682]

its almost as if it was rushed out to deal with the bronze age barbarian warlords claiming that their tech base makes them more sophisticated then the societies that allow their old to retire :p Edit: yes I know he said that this thing happened after the clan invasion, but military equipment design can take longer then its production line is open

[@xerenkeldar]

Ahh the Gunslinger, such an icon of "Don't give the IS a reason to work together". To whom it may concern: BANG!

[@spartana1116]

Highlander: Who the hell are you? Gunslinger: Im you but better

[@KeystoneCarcajou]

weird way to spell Pillager, but whatever.

[@treevenewson]

HeresyI say.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

​@@KeystoneCarcajouPillager is king!

[@lokineko4178]

The Thunderhawk: Hold my beer fellas

[@treevenewson]

@@lokineko4178 Great 'Mech but not the same weight.

[@afitz34]

What's better than one Gauss Rifle? Two Gauss Rifles!

[@pikachufantastic]

4 gauss rifles is better then two

[@corranhuss]

One Gauss Rifle per Light, but 4 of them. This comment is brought to you by Hollander BZK-F3 enjoyers

[@bthsr7113]

But what about 5 Gauss Rifles?

[@pikachufantastic]

@@bthsr7113 son of a b I'm in let's go 99999999999999999999999999 gauss rifles. Infact let's make a mech out of gauss rifles.

[@bthsr7113]

@@pikachufantastic At that point you're talking about warship formations. Also, there are Heavy Naval Gauss weapons. i was referring to the Gausszilla Annihilator. 5 Gauss Rifles, 8 tons of ammo, 14 tons of armor, no backups. Personally prefer the C2, but if you want to make a monumental magnetic statement, 5 Gauss Rifles are hard to argue with

[@stormcrow28]

Excellent coverage of one of the best mechs from 3055, @BigRed40TECH. I do love how the Gunslinger is available to all Inner Sphere powers, the Filtvelt Coalition, and the Marian Hegemony by the Early Republic. Independence and Defiance must be raking in the cash selling them.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Depends on the variant. Not all of them. the 3ERD is a much more limited release.

[@skjfrd1238]

The Gunslinger is a cutie, I like how the old art for it almost gave it a dad bod. In a way, it made it look like a massively overgrown Elemental.

[@Chris_Sizemore]

When Starleague Era weapons were re-introduced to the Inner Sphere, the Houses concentrated on upgrading existing designs. Then slight modifications based on older designs. After the Clan Invasion the Gunslinger represents mech design focused on overcoming the technological gap between the Houses and the Clans. Whole new designs created with a clear enemy in mind.

[@daizeejoanslocker8043]

These invaders made one mistake... They attacked MY HOME PLANET!!!

[@manakoa3347]

Any tool designed to smoosh the clans is one destined for my toolbox… Great Work on the video Big Red!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thanks Mana Koa!

[@thedocklighter]

Upon seeing a Gunslinger ungainly jumping - tear-welling laughter. Upon seeing its weapons hammer & head-clip a lance mate - blood-draining silence.

[@andrewamann2821]

I wouldn't be too concerned about that pilot... I mean, yeah, the Gauss rifles leave a pretty nasty hole, but at least the medium laser follow-up could cauterize the wounds.

[@barryrudd3743]

Red, THANK YOU for this. I'm reminded of my childhood in the 90s, when the Gunslinger was my favored mech by far. I appreciate the warm fuzzies. This might be my favorite video you've done yet. Your conclusion is beautiful. Again--thank you.

[@Chromevod]

This one is absolutely a beauty. A strong, largely sensible loadout.

[@Reverb154]

United we stand.. divided we fall... And with that out of the way, I made three updates for the Gunslinger (one for each house that was involved with its creation). For the Draconis Combine: a Clan-tech ER PPC for each arm, with the Medium lasers upgraded to Inner Sphere ER versions, an Angel EMC Suite with Bloodhound Active Probe, all with an 340 XL engine with 18 Double Heat Sinks in total to (try to) keep this Mech cool. For the Commonwealth, each arm will get a Light Gauss Rifle with 1 ton of ammo and CASE II each, the Medium lasers are swapped for Re-engineered versions, an Angel EMC Suite with a Laser Anti-missile system and jump jet are in the center torso, and 15 Double heat sinks round up this one. For the Federated Suns, a Large Re-engineered laser in each arm, the medium lasers are swapped out for Light PPC's the engine is bumped up to a 340 XL with 18 Double heat sinks, each leg gets 2 jump jets, and a Laser Anti-missile system is added to the head.

[@Tada212]

I think the quote on Gauss Rifles in the TechManuel sums up my feelings on the Gunslinger aptly: This machine kills Clanners. I always love seeing cooperation projects between factions, and I think the Gunslinger is my favorite of the Spheroid projects in the Invasion-Era. Also dig that it looks like a cross between the Highlander and the Crockett

[@polaris88]

Love the gunslinger! Thanks red!

[@Kepora1]

On the 3ERD, remove the pulses from the legs to add 2 Double Heat Sinks. It can now run and fire both gauss rifles and all 4 ER Mediums while remaining heat neutral

[@freeranger00]

Great video, as always. I love the discussion of a mech designed to fight the Clans.

[@thegunslinger8806]

FINALLY! MY GOD DAMN NAME SAKE! If you fuck around in the battlefield! Sooner or later your gonna find out about *THE GUNSLINGER!*

[@IceSilent]

One of my favorites! The Gunslinger always struck me as the love child of a Highlander and an Awesome. Great showing as usual!

[@navbuoy]

Awesome mech. Couldn't afford one but was able to get my hands on a DragonFire and replaced the two mains with Clan Gauss Rifles and it has happily served my current Battletech campaign as a smaller poor man's Gunslinger.

[@solidshot7849]

Just painted my gunslinger last Friday, cant go wrong with some gauss. Though the later versions with C3 master computers are probably some of the best C3M options for their time

[@cobalt968]

It’s always nice to see the fruits of cooperation between the powers of the Inner Sphere, particularly when they manifest as battlemechs. The Gunslinger has several other mech-sized cousins that are all very solid products of collaboration between the Great Houses, such as the Omni-Firestarter and Omni-Blackjack. And maybe even the Chimera too, I guess?

[@BigRed40TECH]

Oh 100% there are others too, but this was really the first.

[@cobalt968]

@@BigRed40TECH for sure! The Gunslinger was the trailblazer. The fact that it packed two Gauss rifles was also great.

[@bruenor316]

Just ran a -1ERD variant today, and DAYUM does that thing slaps Clanners; lost the fight, but hooboy was it fun

[@77professional]

Just imagine removing the less optimal systems and giving it stealth armor.

[@jefferynelson]

how about a video about the J 27 Ordnance Carrier ?

[@BigRed40TECH]

No. lol

[@bigkahuna1510]

Yessss, I love this as one of my go to Kuritan C3 masters, its pretty damn good at its job.

[@harvestblades]

A mech I knew very little about, & now I need four!

[@arcangellord5372]

gunslinger taking down mechs at high noon

[@Balevolt]

Boy I'd love to see a what if the Clans showed up 25 years later scenario

[@KeybladeMaster9913]

As I just got into them, and BattleTech in general, this is one of the designs I want to see brought to the video games

[@merkarion7883]

Nice drawing of the Mech...I chnged the Engine of my Gunslinger to a Light Engine and put a third Jumpjet into it...nice Mashine

[@HalIOfFamer]

How? It already uses an XL. a light weighs more than XL.

[@merkarion7883]

@@HalIOfFamer IS XL-Engine changing to a Light Engine, ECM and Beagle Probe come out, Armor changing from Standard to Ferro-Fibrious. It is enough to add one Jumpjet (the Mech has than 3/5/3). You may now be able to raise the Armor a bit.

[@ilikepasta-2584]

Thanks for the video! Was a fun watch

[@dietplain7542]

What a great video! Really great artwork :)

[@chancecleavelin4834]

I have an interesting relationship with the Gunslinger. When I started in the tabletop a few years back, I became obsessed with Rasalhague its history, so my intro to the Gunslinger was from their lore, which curiously doesn't mention its Fedcom/Drac roots, but instead as a gift from Comstar to maintain the line at Tukayid. I ran Awesomes as proxies, and had to guiltily not play them until later eras when it was less of a "Rasalhague" mech due to how my playgroup viewed Gauss as OP, let alone 2. Didn't learn until about a month before this video of its true roots 😂.

[@nikoclesceri2267]

I'm guessing your playgroup play a lot of clans

[@chancecleavelin4834]

@nikoclesceri2267 I'd say it was a half/half split, though the main complainer was a Clanner purist. So yeah, a little bias of not wanting their precious technology gap bridged by a head-shot at F-you ranges.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

The thing with the GS, is that while I can't fault it's combat abilities, it does fall prey to the problem that a lot of late 3050 mech's had; stuff a gauss rifle on it and if you have the tonnage put another one on it. Which don't get me wrong is effective... but it also led to mech's being very samey.

[@Doomer1984]

Excellent vid big red Thanks

[@scytheseven9173]

Thanks for the video!

[@BigRed40TECH]

You're welcome!

[@dzeclectic2327]

Haven't seen a video of yours in a little bit. Good as always.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Next up will be a couple weeks away, but I'm working on QUADs.

[@andyeaton1736]

Gauss Rifle and LB-10X are two of the IS weapons that fairly closely match up to their Clan counterparts. Too bad the IS hasn’t made much more technological advances in energy weapons over the decades. IS ER PPC has the same range but missing that 5 extra head clipping damage.

[@jeffsmith5436]

And YOU get a gauss slug, and YOU get a gauss slug, and YOU get a gauss slug too!!! Oh, and some laser fire as well just to add insult to fatal injury…

[@itche994]

great video. Thank you

[@BigRed40TECH]

Glad you liked it!

[@stormsurge2103]

Why is almost nobody talking about the butt lasers? I mean, when a mech tries to backstab this thing does something like this happen? Mad Dog:”Run! The full moon is out!” Fire Moth:”Wait, where did my arm go?”

[@fistan5447]

12:50 Damn, that Grey Death Legion Zeus looks like fire. Cant find the artwork anywhere though. Wanna make it my wallpaper!

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's inside one of the sourcebooks atm. Though I think it's also on Spooky's website.

[@fistan5447]

@@BigRed40TECH yeah, found it thanks! I guess google really became pos if it cant even search in deviantart.

[@jgodwin17]

Great job! This is one of my favorite mechs of its era and the video lives up to the mech! I'm hoping one day you get around to doing a video on the Merlin, I feel that one is often missed when talking about 3025 era mechs and has a really interesting backstory.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Dunno when the Merlin will get covered. Some day maybe. lol

[@jgodwin17]

@@BigRed40TECH no worries, there are mountains of stuff to cover in Battletech, lol. I just think the Merlin has a pretty cool backstory, and I like big Vindicators, haha. Really looking forward to your piece on the Waco Rangers, another part of BT I always found to have an interesting background. Keep up the great work!

[@eezaak21]

Great video.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Spartaner251]

I really liked it when i was reading through the TRO for the first time, and it was one of the better looking mechs.

[@swiftmatic]

@18:49, Thats the 5 Fs of ground combat: Find 'em Fix 'em Flank 'em Fight 'em & Finish 'em

[@ambientlight3876]

I'm a but surprised that the Gunslinger didn't inspire some cost cutting equipment. I created a variant using all I.S. equipment and a standard 255 Fusion engine.. It mounts 11 double heatsinks, 15 tons of standard plate, Case II on both torsos and 3 jump jets. It also mounts twin Guass Rifles, 6 tons of ammo, 4 ER medium lasers as two ER small lasers replacing the medium pulse lasers. Sure it's not flashy, and the Internal structure construction can be a bit tricky, but it's cheaper and in some ways has superior battlefield endurance.

[@Kaiju-Driver]

I look forward to playing this one on the tabletop.

[@gary9346]

8:40 I thought their mistake was ATTACKING MY HOME PLANET

[@BigRed40TECH]

Someone found the reference! lol

[@gary9346]

​@@BigRed40TECHAWRIGHT!

[@TroySeward]

Nice job cool mech.

[@JustinPivinski-cm2rh]

Really like the gunslinger. Was first introduced to it when I piloted it at a catalyst premier tukayyid event at adepticon a couple years ago. Just finished cleaning my plastic model making it perfect cause I want it to be part of my camo specs initial submission

[@RyeFields]

Dueling MechWarriors and notching those gauss rifles from the beginning

[@farkalwindwalker8325]

Im so happy to finally make it to one of these!

[@malusignatius]

What's better than a Gauss Rifle? 2 Gauss Rifles, of course.

[@IronSuns]

Thunderhawk 7X and the gunslinger gotta be some of my personal favorites. My Lance would be A thunderhawk 7X, Gunslinger, Banshee 3S and Mauler.

[@Soulfruit260]

“Aww jeez Billy, your dad lets you have TWO Gauss rifles??”

[@ero9841]

I can't get over the fact that this mech looks like it was designed to make life easy for elementals

[@gearstark2479]

I’ve always found the Gunslinger interesting, three house working (two of which had bad blood with the third) to make a weapon to fight the Clans. It makes me wonder if the FedCom had survived, Victor became First Archon, and Omi had not been assassinated; what the Inner Sphere could have been like if they could pull something like this off. Granted of course there still be serious internal problems, but hey who knows…

[@MegaduceFlare]

Kinda surprised there wasn't a "budget" variant that drops one of the rifles for an ER PPC, a standard 255, another jump jet, and maybe a heat sink or two if you drop some goose ammo. Sure, you lose a bit of punch at range, and open up the possibility of overheating, but not having to deal with IS XL engine death might be worth it. So no getting to the Grand Titan this year?

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'm sadly just not gonna focus on mechs that don't have updated art. Whenever I have, those videos just don't do well. :(

[@MegaduceFlare]

You gotta do what you gotta do. As much as I love TRO 3055, there are some... funky designs in it. Though you could pretty much say that about any Tech Readout. Admittedly, I'm rather surprised the Purple Bird "New Coke Atlas" hasn't gotten updated art yet.

[@sim.frischh9781]

Only found out about the new artwork today in your video, Harri Kalio´s take looks fantastic IMO, finally the mech has properly dimensioned legs. He also added tons of details to pretty much all parts, some make more sense than others. But i like it. The Gauss Rifle should be a Coil Gun, because it´s named literally after the man how created the fundamental idea for what later became the Coil gun, AKA the Gauss gun. Carl Friedrich Gauß (that´s a "sharp s", you can simply write him with "ss") was a german scientist living from 1777 to 1855. Doesn´t BT have railguns too, just as ship weapons?

[@thomasrose4523]

In a way, the Gunslinger (as described in Necessity) could be likened to the A10 Warthog of Battlemechs. A similar argument could be made for the Hollander II (as seen in MechCommander.)

[@biancamitchell-x3f]

I like it thanks

[@jamesmortimer4016]

Hearing you talk about the battlemech development by the captian accord post 4th succsesion war made me wonder, did the capellans ever design their own assualt mech? I mean designing something new and building a factory arround that design worked well for the cataphract

[@BigRed40TECH]

They do in the latter years definitely do. I'll be covering a mech they use frequently too, in the Emperor, which is an assault. Also, the CCAF uses the Highlander a lot too.

[@jamesmortimer4016]

​@@BigRed40TECH Is the emperor actually designed by star corps capellan branch?

[@kathilmechworks4895]

Its a mech I hadn't used forever even though I do use Gauss monsters like Devastator and the Nightstar. The gunslingers armor is alright, but not as good as those two. I started using the C3 variant as the two fedcom states don't have anything like the Naganata or Tai sho. I used sup par Avatar and Templar variants generally as my master then I discovered this. It really doesn't loose much compared its prime or later variants and makes for a very good command mech even if it doesn't have great perks for it. Very much a mech I've learned to like.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's also not as heavy as those 2. lol

[@kathilmechworks4895]

@@BigRed40TECH It isn't, but it does fill the same role as the other two. I realize relatively cheap for what it is where as the Devastator is very expensive for a IS assault yet have watched my Devastator survive things a gunslinger wouldn't. I am saying for me the mech was an acquired taste and found a niche for me to use.

[@lexington476]

Video request, how about an episode on the Akuma BattleMech?

[@smokey_mcbong]

LOL. I heard 2 sentences referencing the Battletech cartoon Red. Nice touch.

[@demonslayer6267]

a mech so cool it comes with an integrated pair ballistic goggles

[@AnchorJG]

I had this on in the background while i did dailies until the gaffe at 20:46 . Don't worry, Big red, we know what you meant.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The internal structure does weight 8.5-tons.

[@AnchorJG]

@@BigRed40TECH Well shoot, that's what i get for not paying attention.

[@spotH3D]

Among the best C3Master mechs, best one available to mercs.

[@ChaosTicket]

Sorry if I already posted about this, but I found out about the Gunslinger after similar anti-Clan mechs loaded with Gauss Rifles. I think its good, but I also know about a whole assortment. The triad of Cerberus, Gunslinger, Pillager jump mechs are a bit too similar for my tastes. The Gunslinger is kind of the middle-child between the faster Cerberus and tougher Pillager. The only real design flaw with the idea is that the heavy dependency on Gauss Rifles. Thankfully they do carry a LOT of ammo, but of the three only the Pillager has an alternate big gun and thats just a single Large Laser. If the Gunslinger had an ER PPC that would be great.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's really the first of its kind, in terms of mechs published for the setting. It's more other mechs are similar to it. lol

[@bryantm2021]

been wanting to run this one for a while but whenever i build a list with a gauss assault i always find myself grabbing the nightstar

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's a fun mech! But as far as gauss-boats are concerned, there are just a ton of them. lol

[@aytakk]

Does anyone else call the 3 variants the Gun Nerd, Gun Turd and Gun Bird? A great mech but the technical designation is kinda funny like that.

[@robertreid9256]

I thought there was a version with two Heavy Gauss Rifles

[@BigRed40TECH]

Heavy Gauss can't go in the arms.

[@wraith7989]

It has 2 Gauss rifles. What’s not to love?

[@bthsr7113]

Been rewatching the cartoon have you?

[@BigRed40TECH]

No, I can't stand it, but I know some people love the easter eggs lol

[@bthsr7113]

@@BigRed40TECH I think for what it is and its contemporaries, it's not too bad. Though if it bothers you so, you shouldn't bring it up or reference it just for clicks.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I thought it was amusing to do. But if your wondering if I like the cartoon- No, I do not. lol

[@SamSam-qh1os]

Did they retcon the original fluff? I though it was a Star league era rediscovered chassis that was that was built specifically for Gunslinger program that it got its name from.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Nope. Backstory I described is out of the original TRO 3055. Your thinking of another Mech. :)

[@SamSam-qh1os]

@@BigRed40TECH Must be thinking of another mech, then. It just seems so apropos and would be good at ending duels quickly.

[@SMAXZO]

"However, they made one big mistake" Here it comes.. "They attacked-" HERE IT IS.. "too broad of a front"A Awww...

[@UkiSan-n8q]

The failing house mech designs were because Comstar was sabotaging development... just as Comstar was selling out the House Lord's by giving the Clans house mech and mercenaries mech types, names numbers, where they were stationed, supply depos. Comstar gave up everything on a silver platter

[@BigRed40TECH]

Praise Blake! XD

[@ragnarbaron6090]

Devastator, emperor, and pillager work like to have a word

[@BigRed40TECH]

About what? XD

[@l0rf]

It seems that whenever a gunslinger of any form is involved, history holds its breath.

[@iller3]

this mech appears to uphold the long lost tradition of ornamental codpieces ... or maybe that's just a natural development associated with waving around two big irons all the time?

[@hardcorepoetic]

I'm actually rather sad that there will be no more 3055 mechs this year. I'd love to see breakdowns of the Wraith, Scarabus, Cerberus, and definitely the Berserker. I hope these can surface in the future.

[@BigRed40TECH]

If it doesn't have new art, people don't tend to look at it.

[@psychkosys]

Not my kind of Mech but still...great job on the history, Red.

[@bthsr7113]

It's a neat design, though the base's plethora of standard lasers really highlights it as a mech born in changing times.

[@Primearch-GG]

Red, you have a typo in the GUN-1ERD's Offence infocard: it says that it has 15 rounds of ammo instead of 16 rounds, a ton of Gauss ammo has 8 shots, not 7.5. I hope I helped 😘

[@BigRed40TECH]

It doesn't, once the video's live a small typo can't be fixed. Somehow, I'll survive knowing its there. lol

[@randyslater199]

Funny I have this in my BTA game and made the GUN-3ERD without knowing it

[@ZontarDow]

Comstar: "We want a second Star League" Also Comstar: *sides against the Federated Commonwealth* Also also Comstar: *commits a jihad because the Federated Commonwealth collapsed*

[@BigRed40TECH]

Praise Blake.

[@MechanicalFrog]

No bully Clans

[@IamHattman]

It's not bullying. They just hadn't paid their phone bill in a very long time.

[@BigRed40TECH]

More BUlly Clans!

[@ChaosTicket]

The Gunslinger is one of the many mechs that came from splatbooks *after* the Clan Invasion and FASA apparently realized they broke the game. So all these "new" old mech came out with Gauss Rifles to even the playing field somewhat between the Inner Sphere and Clans. Cerberus, Devastator, Dragon Fire, Excalibur, Falconer, Gunslinger, Hollander, Huron Warrior, Nightstar, Pillager, Thunder Hawk, War Dog, and most of the came in Technical Readout: 3055. I like and dislike this era because so many of them are very similar. These mechs were made before the likes of Light PPCs and ER Medium Lasers came out, so while they have these big gauss rifles, theyre backed up by assorted wimpy short range weapons.

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Gunslinger and Cereberus were the first to do it at least. It got real tired in 3058.

[@xensoldier]

The PEWPEWSLINGER

[@ColonelEviscerator]

One thing I've grown to hate about Battletech is how you can predict future prospects of factions based on who the owners are fans of instead of through logic.

[@BigRed40TECH]

All those Clan Wolf victories were hard won I tell you! :P

[@Arvyn992]

The GunSlinger is a interesting designed Mech but it's head kind of looks like the HighLander's head to me

[@KMCA779]

Every time I hear lore past jihad era I want to cry. Not that I'm a fan of the lore for the Jihad era but at least it mostly makes sense, minus the handwave of where Comstar got the sheer numbers to throw around not just the Wobbies but the 2(?) other factions that split away from them.

[@andrewamann2821]

On one hand, the fracturing of Comstar seems kind of contrived, but, if you think about it, the numbers kinda make sense. They had the time, relatively unmolested, and the footprint, as the HPG network is widespread across the galaxy, so centralizing techs makes little sense, to develop the numbers required for such an evolution. People breed, after all, and how better to carry on a secretive, closed religion, or shady intelligence gathering group, than by heredity, ensuring loyalty through the bonds of family?

[@chrisb3585]

So the Great Houses first indigenously developed counter to the Clan Omnimech is essentially a more expensive Warhammer IIC... (Sorry couldn't resist.)

[@treevenewson]

No 'Mech is perfect, but it's pretty damn close.