BATTLETECH: The Battlemaster

One of the true greats of #Battletech / #Mechwarrior, it was a really hard video to put together. But I had to stay true to the #Battlemaster and I had to stress what makes it such a loved machine, both in universe, and without. All of the #GreatHouses across the #InnerSphere use these mechs for a reason, even if they are mostly produced in the #FreeWorldsLeague and #LyranCommonWealth.
Come, join me today, as we talk about this legendary design.
One image was used by Spooky777, which is an official BLR image which he created. The rest come from sourcebooks, or the video games:
www.deviantart...
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Instagram: / big_red_40k
Discord: / discord
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#Battletech #Mechwarrior #HouseKurita #HouseDavion #HouseMarik #HouseSteiner #HouseLiao #Battlemech #SuccessionWars #Mechwarrior #Assault #AssaultMechs #AssaultBattlemechs #Zeus #CatalystGameLabs #CGL #StarLeague
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.

[@ChocorocK]

What sold me on it was when Hanse Davion used one to fend off an entire death commando strike team. Beating a mech to death with an arm fresh off its buddy deserves respect. Both for the machine and the pilot.

[@DIEGhostfish]

I mean he was still losing till Team Banzai showed up.

[@WolfHreda]

@@DIEGhostfish of course, but he survived.

[@cscrossman]

What is this reference from?

[@WolfHreda]

@@cscrossman what, the Hanse being a badass?

[@cscrossman]

@@WolfHreda Yes, precisely. I'm somewhat new to the novels and just finished up the series regarding the Grey Death Leigion. I'm wondering if the reference is from another novel.

[@brianhenry152]

While the Battlemaster has an impressive array of weapons at all ranges, it really shines as a Command Unit. It has the speed to keep up with heavy mechs, enough armor to shake off most enemy fire, and can plug holes in a defensive line or go brawl in mech fisticuffs. It can even grab objectives or downed friendly pilots in a pinch. Overall, this is a top pick for a mech Commander's ride.

[@WilliamSlayer]

Never regretted taking a Battlemaster onto the field! Such a good mech.

[@Demolitiondude]

Yes. The steiner murder hobo technique is still an option. As demonstrated by this Davion battlemaster.

[@stephenknizek2651]

My Davion merc regiment’s two assault mechs were a Cyclops for my Sergeant Major, and a Battlemaster for the Colonel. Not as powerful as other dedicated battle rigs, but it is still a darn sexy ‘mech. And when part of a merc unit’s appeal is in salesmanship and aesthetics, nothing beats a Battlemaster.

[@eddapultstab2078]

it's a status symbol that exudes competence.

[@randomnetsurfer]

It's right up with the Atlas in the "I Mean Business, and That Business is Stomping Your A** Flat" category.

[@Vanq17]

One of the sexiest mechs in the franchise. I just love how utilitarian it looks.

[@bigboi7817]

This thing never did me wrong in MW5. Take the MGs and ammo out and replace the PPC with a L Laser and heatsinks and max out the armour. Since they added melee it got even better.

[@clydecraft5642]

Ill take a thunderbolt

[@bigboi7817]

@@clydecraft5642 the hero thunderbolt is one of my favourite mechs

[@simonbarbeau145]

@@bigboi7817 the TOP DOG is badass

[@heavylokhust8158]

Oh HELL yeah it is I love running it with ai or my pals and they always get mad at me when I run up behind and take out the mech with the battle axe tho I actually take the medium lasers for Small pulse lasers and I just Wreck shit up and I’m pretty accurate so I can land shots where needed. Taking out arms legs heads with relative effectiveness and using the long range laser switch it out for PPC for hit and run from a distance to get that damage while I’m circling around to close the distance. Most missions this works well but if it’s a defense mission I go for my atlas and I’ll last the whole match I actually managed to solo a difficulty 70 assassination with the battlemaster

[@NeroLordofChaos]

I modded the hell out of it in merctech. RAC5 on the left arm, ER PPC/Large pulse laser (it was a mood thing) on the right, 4 medium pulse lasers in the torso and a clan SRM6. All of that serviced with clan heatsinks. I think that one had a clan 350 engine as well, so it moved with an unholy quickness. Things tended to die. _QUICKLY._

[@ianjankus8090]

I would love to see a breakdown on my favorite mech of all time. The Highlander! Such a cool chassis. Great work on the Battlemaster!

[@BigRed40TECH]

The Highlander will be covered once we hit the expanded 3025 roster.

[@ironboy3245]

The highlander is covered

[@Swoozman]

I just love the design of the battlemaster. People laugh at the jellybean cockpit. I like it.

[@juangalton999]

With the jellybean cockpit, it gives me old jet fighter vibes, like the F86 Sabre's canopy.

[@passgo8507]

The battlemaster was my first assault mech on the tabletop, and it made me realize how terrifying that weight class can be. In MW5, I throw pulse mediums and an ER ppc, as well as give my SRM’s streak. I find this is probably the optimal config, and it only costs me the machine guns (no lost sleep there)

[@Ghorum]

I love the Battlemaster. The cacophony of laser and SRM fire is perfect! Especially for the alcohol soaked piloting style that I usually employ. In MW5 it excels as a player mech when you are the sole assault mech amongst heavies and mediums.

[@captaingeneralconch]

Solid, reliable and does the task it was destined for ..... unlike another assault mech cough cough charger

[@EvilDMMk3]

Most mechs with a PPC and short range weapons have the short range weapons in case they get in close. The battlemaster has a PPC for while it waits to get in close.

[@stormcrow28]

I always love how it was intended to be the most fearsome unit in the Star Leauge, yet had already been bypsssed by the Highlander, the Emperor, the Pulverizer, the Stalker and the Thug 50 to 100 years before the Battlemaster's introduction. The mech's a solid brawler, but it needs the MGs removed, two heat sinks added, and all 6 lasers facing forward to be a real contender for for that title. The Battlemaster is a good commander's ride with a command console or C3 Master added, as the Kuritans, Comstar, Marik and Steiner found out. My personal favorite variant is the 4S from the Fedcom Civil War.

[@Taiko206]

My favorite Assault Mech, piloting one in my MW5 career

[@frankb3347]

Some people think it's weak because it doesn't have as much raw firepower as a Stalker or Atlas. While that is true those other Mechs are also very slow. Of all the classic Mechs it's simply the most powerful option available that doesn't sacrifice its speed for more weapons/armor.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Exactly, which is why it's also a decent command mech.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

Yeah, but it's outgunned by mechs 10 tons lighter than it. That's a bad trade unless you can get it into melee. I'd put an Orion vs this any day.

[@TheGreenKnight500]

Considering it has so many short range weapons, I guess it kind of has to be a little faster than those other assault mechs.

[@ohno8569]

Command console, er ppc, mml9, plus some med lasors... what more do you need? Edit... jump jets, but those are heavy at this weight.

[@dickc.normous6369]

Victor ftw! Speedy and can match the speed of a Mad Cat with a good engine. And of course all clan mechs are superior.

[@erikbjelke4411]

Frelling LOVE the BattleMaster. It's just gorgeous, and has a great mix of guns and capabilities. It's a fearsome warrior-prince of a 'Mech. You can snipe at long range with the PPC and stay out of trouble to direct your forces, wade in and bring your close-up firepower to bear while taking hits for your lancemates, or stop cold any attempts by headhunters to decapitate your unit. Honestly, my favorite 'Mech in the whole setting.

[@mathewkelly9968]

I'd say the MG ammo is the only downfall on this Mech . When running custom mechs I drop the MGs and ammo for a flamer and extra heat sink .

[@blue95kun]

I just ditch the MGs outright for more heat sinks or armour.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Lots of variants ditch the MG's.

[@bigboi7817]

My homies hate MGs on the battlemaster

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

Good choice.

[@treevenewson]

2 heat sinks

[@warhammertrash1626]

Just getting into the Battletech RPG with some friends, and I did a practice game with our GM for fun. It went on for hours, and he decided to let me pick my Mech early, (We did this randomly using repurposed Urbanmech boxes) and got the Battlemaster as my Mech. Safe to say, I'm very excited to give it a go!

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

I had the Ral Pathra Battlemaster miniature. Painted up as a jester. Truly a Freaky looking mech.

[@dathore]

I love the Battlemaster, great mech, amazing as a front line breaker, having all that armor and great CC capabilities, it pairs wonderfully with mechs like the Highlander or the Stalker, where it can attract enemy fire, while the more heavily armed mechs dish out the punishment, been running one next to my Atlas in the Battletech PC game, cleared out the final mission with one, never went down, not even once.

[@PopeMetallicus]

This one of thd Mechs I always hated the look of until the MWO redesign, now I think it's gorgeous

[@upandaljm]

One of my all time favorite mechs. I finally got one of the Big Foot models from the reprinted Revell kits. Great video!

[@ldroland]

Thanks!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you!

[@randomnetsurfer]

I was playing a mercenary company, and was myself piloting an upgraded BLM. I was in the thick of the fighting, when a bomber strafed me, dropping 4 100-pt bombs on my already damaged mech (I think 3 hit? don't remember exactly). In the end, I didn't have a single point of armour left on the front facing (not even on the head!) and didn't lose a single location. I was even able to fire back at, and destroy, the fighter that had bombed me (we didn't understand different initiative phases back then). From that moment on, the BLM has been one of my favourites.

[@kagetemplar]

An other master piece of a video. Your really giving the other battletech channels a real battle for viewers.

[@BigRed40TECH]

booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@TheGreatDayne1983]

It’s a Master of Battle! For Endurance, drop the SRM and machine guns, swap the ppc for a large laser and add heat sinks Point towards the enemy and just hold down the trigger!

[@TheGreenKnight500]

I actually did something similar in the Battletech video game. The damn thing was just running too hot and I wasn't using those machine guns. It still worked great even with the drop in firepower. All those weapons don't mean anything if you can't use them.

[@kennetth1389]

In our very first match, when the game was brand new. I took a shadow hawk against a battlemaster. We didn't yet understand the differences in mechs yet. I got clobbered. Next match was blr vs blr. That was a slugfest. In the original battletech box set, the blr was the only assault mech. If I remember correctly.

[@gbprime2353]

My gaming group always said that the Battlemaster was the most powerful Medium battlemech ever devised, it just inflated to 85 tons because of bureaucracy. =P

[@michaelkeha]

One of my personal favorite mechs amazing platform that you can do incredible things with

[@connorriggs1518]

This was one of the first mechs from battletech I actually read up on my self before Bear release a video and I really like it

[@treevenewson]

The BLR-4S is my favourite configuration. The small pulse lasers are an excellent replacement for the MGs.

[@Chris_Sizemore]

The base model Battlemaster is a very solid design. One of the best out of the original box set. Don't let anyone fool you with talk about this being a command mech: The Battlemaster is a brawler. The PPC is there to get the opposition to notice you, the rest of the weapons are dedicated to getting in close and finishing off any mech that got pounded by your lance while closing the distance. The Battlemaster is one of the few balanced assault mechs that performs well. It is "fast" for its mech class, which helps with the role of closing distance to use that short range weapon package. The heavy armor enables this mech to survive the firepower it will draw as it nears its effective range. It has enough heat sinks to let the pilot use the full firepower for a short time before needing to manage heat, which is good for a brawler design. The Battlemaster's weapons package is considered middling for an assault class. Considering that the Battlemaster has outstanding armor, being considered middling in both armaments and movement is actually rather exceptional. People want to compare the Battlemaster to an Atlas. 15 tons is nearly an entire class of mech above it. The Atlas set side by side with a Battlemaster would be the first mech to go down. Not because the Battlemaster is a heavier armored mech, but because it is a higher priority target. Anything with an AC 20 becomes a priority target and burned down before it can close to range. Even variants without the AC20 will get targeted over a Battlemaster. Lots of commanders will underestimate the performance of a Battlemaster and focus on higher damaging long range support mechs. Long range support mechs (especially mechs with heavy LRM packages) are great for stripping armor, but have a tough time taking out mechs. Brawlers like the Battlemaster can quickly take advantage of softened enemy mechs and finish what they started. Having a mix of engagement ranges in a unit is important ... until you get to the clan era.

[@baneblackguard584]

in MWO it absolutely sucks donkeyballz as a brawler. even against most heavy brawlers it's going to get F'ed up in MWO.

[@Chris_Sizemore]

@@baneblackguard584 MWO and the entire series of Mech Warrior games is a lot different than Battletech. Any game where you can aim directly at components to destroy them invalidates a lot of the build rules for Battletech. Like big cockpits all of a sudden become huge liabilities and strange designs where the cockpit is tucked into strange positions become an advantage. Also arms are very vulnerable to destruction in MW games, which shifts mechs that don't have arm mounted weapons into the spotlight. Machine guns are actually good in MWO. Battletech? Machine guns are an afterthought, not something people actually consider a selling point for a mech.

[@slchance8839]

well said. You reminded me of a secondary point: as a beginner in 1987(?) the original box set had only one assault class mech: the battlemaster. Knowing nothing about battletech, i learned real quick the advantanges of a unit like the BLR. At that time, with heat constraints, a single PPC was highly respectable (gauss rifle of its time) and 2 PPCs was a heat-spike exception to the rule. The first warhammer had BARELY enough sinks to fire both and run. The Marauder (16 singe HS)...not even. For it's time and compared ONLY to the other first box units, the batmat was unmatched in staying power and versatility.

[@baneblackguard584]

@@slchance8839 been a very long time since i had the opportunity to play table top battletech. yeah i know it's very different from the mechwarrior games. but even in table top when i started playing there were other assaults that you would use for brawling, like the Atlas. the last I lived near a shop that regularly did table top battletech sessions was like 98 or 99. all my figurines have sat in carriers since then (along with my warhammer fantasy battle stuff) So for the last 20 years Mechwarrior has been my exposure to that universe. tried playing the most recent top down battletech game but had problems with it crashing and when it wasn't crashing it just wasn't all that satisfying to me.

[@slchance8839]

@@baneblackguard584 Funny you said that: i played tabletop 4 days ago for the first time in almost 30 years. I flew all the way to Arizona to meet an online gaming buddy. Man, that was a real trip down memory lane. Great great experience. I dont think i'll get a chance to play tabletop again, if at all, unless I go see those guys. I dont want to. Tabletop comes with a crap ton of pain-in-the-ass logistical problems: like getting people to show up on time, smoke breaks, food breaks, kids in the background, wives hovering nearby, uncomfortable folding chairs, and aching back and neck from hunching over a clipboard. It was a nice vacation game, but i'm perfectly happy with the online version (Megamek) from the comfort of my own home.

[@salahal-din7564]

Battlemaster, Battlemaster, Battlemaster !!! What a great mech. Gonna buy another BLR 2C for my kurita force to run it stock. Thank you 😄

[@bigshaun808]

Always been my favorite mech. Best of the best for commanders

[@kylebarrie2887]

Have no had a chance to field this mech yet, looking forward to giving it a go :)

[@the_warpwny]

I have been enjoying these videos on my third shifts. I love all the lore and variant discussions. I am curious, are you going to e ever cover the post Jihad mechs too? There are several of them I love like the Crimson Hawk and Jupiter, but there are still a ton of just 3025 mechs to go through still.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'm covering 3025, then 3025 expanded (king Crab, Black Knight, ect), then 3039, then 3050. So, it'd be a while, but we will get there.

[@swallace7447]

I love the Battlemaster, it's my FAVORITE mech. It also has HANDS and will pound you into scrap if you think being at point blank will protect you.

[@eddapultstab2078]

the battlemaster is another "all around" battlemechs, it follows the the footsteps of the thunderbolt and shadowhawk where there base models are inefficient in a DPS perspective but pretty good on heat management/endurance departments. they also have weapons for every occasion and at all reasonable ranges which is important because you don't want glaringly exploitable weakness, *cough cough* charger. the chargers armament makes it a breakthrough mech for front line pilots but a overseer in a command role, as most commanders are often discouraged of endangering themselves in close combat or combat in general but has enough close range power to maul whoever is dumb enough to sneak attack it.

[@BigRed40TECH]

They've got sustain, rather than burst damage. :)

[@elchjol2777]

The first assault mech I got in MW 5 was a BLR-1D. Haven't used it in awhile but I think the load out was a laser light show of large and medium lasers backed up by a pair of light rifles or AC 2-BFs. Served well but was supplanted by my double LB 10-X AC Triple LRM 5-ST Victor that had ECM to boot.

[@jayive34]

The 1D doesn't have Missiles. So I put AC-2s on mine.

[@deezboyeed6764]

I had a gauss in the arm absoultely shreaded mechs.

[@Dracobyte]

You deserve way more views and subs!

[@TheMakumakumaku]

This is porbably my 2nd fave mech after the Black Knight

[@fedupN]

Liked the classic aesthetic of the thing in the 3025 era and loved its PPC, but it kinda faded in my eyes over time. Solid mech, simply prefer others more. Like, say, a Zeus, a Charger, or an Orion.

[@andydogdad4349]

Such a great video! This is such a good video just like your Victor video I'm inspired to paint up a battlemaster even tho i already have 2 painted Xp

[@BigRed40TECH]

The BLR's a vicious beast my dude. Not my favourite, but it's definitely noteworthy :)

[@anthonyvogel9328]

I always hate the battle Master when my clan mechs had to fight it. But when I fought in the inner sphere , I love it. I think battle Master is one of a hand full of mechs that can take on clan mechs one vs one.

[@michaelmills8205]

I've played around with pulling the MGs & Ammo, rear firing lasers and extra tonne of SRM ammo, and swapping the PPC for 2 LL and putting the rest of the mass into armour. It gives a solid boost to the medium range engagements while still running cool.

[@aker1993]

One thing the Battlemaster is one of the best of the class command mech next to the cyclops and the famed Atlas the variant of the Battlemaster is the Warlord using the chassis of the Battlemaster and its great for commanding a lance due to having improve communications.

[@raedien]

I love Battletech but far too many designs have these weapons installed right next to the arm joints that really throw off the realism they try to display. I love this series for taking the time to talk about their tonnage, the engine size, etc... and then these clearly massive arms are attached to a tiny actuator (or large actuator) that's given zero internal space to do it's job. Sure, maybe the emitter is small and the actual work is done elsewhere but when we "see" something like the Donal PPC in the Battlemaster's hand it isn't hard to relate it's size to what the lasers would require and scratch our heads at the mounting point for the arms vs the lasers vs the engine vs the gyro vs the armor.

[@thelordofcringe]

You do realize that battlemechs are mostly hollow? They aren't robots made of solid metal, they're made of Myomer. Cables that flex when powered. They don't have huge bulky machinery inside, they have huge bundles of cables more like muscles.

[@raedien]

@@thelordofcringe "Mostly Hollow" Engine, cockpit, ammo stores, physical weapons, armor, actual frame of the mech, myomer bundles, actuators, heat sinks... They have to go somewhere. I've been a fan of Battletech my whole life, but even if I wasn't, thus channel alone has shown official line work and cut away art that directly contradicts your statement. Yes, the frame of a mech is mostly hollow....and that frame is then filled with a given engine, electronic components, fitted with actuators, a massive gyro installed (otherwise it would do shit to balance a comparatively huge piece of machinery), the myomer bundles installed and powered, weapons mounted externally and internally, room for ammunition and CASE, (double?) Heat sinks, etc. I am fully aware how silly it is to debate the realism of what is inherently a flawed concept (battlemechs in general) but in-universe logic dictates that these components, despite being relatively light for their size, are huge. Otherwise you really are better off just paying for tanks.

[@JuergenGDB]

This is my favorite Assault Mech. I fear no Atlas while piloting this Monster.. it has enough weapon systems that you can build it for any type of engagement, but it is probably the most balanced in its firepower with standoff Long range firepower to the short-range barrage of hate. My other favorite is its little brother the Thunderbolt.

[@goodbodha]

My experience with battlemasters is a bit nuts. Ive never lost one over many years of classic. Ive had many of them take crippling damage and walk off the map. The trick is I treat my battlemasters as a guard for the other mechs in the lance. Want to scare a medium so he doesnt flank you? Keep your battlemaster on that side of the lance prepped to fight him. You aren't giving up a lot of long range firepower so it can be an effective trade. Meanwhile my other mechs which usually have more long range firepower can basically hang out and toss a lot of effective firepower down range. Your long range firepower isnt scary vs heavies and assaults, but against mediums and lights you will keep them at range for awhile. When they try to rush you they have to either get past your front arc or face all that medium range firepower. If they screw up and let you get into melee range you get to punch for effect. Imagine for a minute your opponent in a 6k fight is running a few heavies and 1 medium mech as his flanker. You could take a stock battlemaster, 1 warhammer stock, 1 archer, and 1 catapult (you would have points left so you could probably make the warhammer or the catapult pilots slightly better than 4/5). Line your forces up with the battlemaster facing off against the medium with the catapult next to him and then the warhammer and archer. You have a massive amount of long range firepower in that lance. You have enough to reasonably get 1 psr check a turn at longer ranges. Your opponent will likely have similar long range firepower and you just slug it out, OR they dont and now they have to push. If they want to push that medium has to get around a freaking battlemaster. He might have jump jets and be able to pull off the move, but that funny catapult is literally hanging out to cover the battlemaster. So player either risks it or you can keep trading shots at long range, or your opponent has to cross the field with the rest of his lance and then your battlemaster can take a few steps over and be in brawling range with what is likely to be really good armor. Every person Ive seen lose with a battlemaster has rushed it into close combat. They lay waste for a few turns but usually get pummeled by all the incoming fire. Sure they can take a lot of damage, but it isnt limitless.

[@TheStrayHALOMAN]

I like using this, an atlas II or Catapult K2 as my command mechs.

[@eduardor-o4884]

I just bought a battle master I'm mechwarrior mercenaries and at close range I couldn't use the full potential but from afar? The enemy mechs didn't stand a chance. It's a great mech.

[@philiphendersonjr1760]

Awesome video of one of my favorite mechs, thank you. Could you consider doing the "stolen Robotech" mechs? The Archer, Warhammer, Spartan, and Maurader?

[@BigRed40TECH]

They're all going to get covered eventually. Everything gets covered in order. :)

[@mdsx01]

Built one in MWO with 5 light ppcs. It had enough heatsinks that you could chain fire for an unceasing stream of ppc bolts.

[@Samuel-dw9mw]

The Battlemaster. Because you've always wanted to cook bacon in your cockpit but you don't have an oven.

[@Donkeyearsa]

My update for the battelmaster Endo steal internal structure 340 XL power plant 12 double heat Sinks XL Gyro 16.25 tons of standard armor Weapons Gauss rifle with three tons of ammo Light gauss rifle with two tons of ammo Extended range large laser And 7 standard medium Lasers At any range it's really deadly My favorite custom mech is the Atlas Destroyer mixed tech is enter sphere unless stated clan 95 tons IS 4.75 (clan) Engine 380 XL Heat Sinks double 15 Gyro XL Standard armor 18.25 tons Weapons Guass rifle with three tons of ammo Light gauss rifle with two tons of ammo Extended range large laser (clan) 5 medium Lasers 2 AMS with half ton of ammo This mech was spasificly designed to hunt down assault mechs at long range.

[@TroySeward]

Love this mech

[@nikkicoyotie8431]

it just occured to me how much the Battlemaster would vissually fit in the Starriors continuity

[@yourseatatthetable]

My personal Mech of choice.

[@hermes7587]

The Battlemaster is best used as a close range brawler. It has decent speed for it´s size and is very surviable due to the heavy armor and mostly energy based weapons. However, in a long range battle it is outmatched by many other heavy mechs. It needs to close quickly and bring it´s close range weapons and physical attacks to bear. It´s most dangerous in physical combat. Only very few heavy and assult Mechs have fully functional arms that can be used for punch and puch attacks. Kick and charge attacks are also very dangerous.

[@sardaukerlegion]

Always a pain to chose between Battlemaster for speed and Stalker for firepower. 🤔 In MWO/MW5 i usually use an ER LL instead of a PPC, and a LRM10 instead of the SRM6.

[@ChaosTicket]

The Battlemaster is perfect in its niche. Its a Bully-Mech. It rushes down anything too slow to evade it and goes full automatic with its close range weapons until the target it dead. In 3025 It works on anything short of an Atlas. The issue is thats all its good for. Its a poor battlefield mech. It has no long range weapons, no indirect fire from Long Range Missiles, low medium range firepower, no jump jets for mobility. There are other similar mechs to fulfill the combat role such as a Flashman, Thunderbolt, and so on. I like the BLR-1S model for at least having 20 Long Range Missiles so it has long range weapons now. It has plenty of upgrades 3050 onwards that fix this problem by giving long range weapons without losing its close range ones.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I feel bad for the BLR that tries to bully that Atlas. lol

[@blue95kun]

Don’t forget it’s unique ability to ditch it’s PPC at will for old fashioned mech fisticuffs. Just ask First Prince Hanse Davion. A very good all rounder Assault Mech I say! And this is coming from a man who loves the Highlander.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's a very popular mech for a reason. I do think some other Assault Mechs can whollop it, but that's not to say it's bad, it's incredible even. Just don't go picking a fight with an Atlas in it. lol

[@abigailcramer6514]

@@BigRed40TECH you CAN, just remember to use those long range weapons and maintain distance. Atlas is powerful but mostly short ranged in comparison.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@abigailcramer6514 Sure, but in stock 3025, the Atlas is one of, if not the best Assault mech, and performs a different role.

[@oscarcoastwilde]

@@BigRed40TECH With how the Battlemaster is meant to be a commander mech you'd have a few vehicles and infantry backing you up in that fight against the Atlas with the mercenary budget you saved not using one yourself I guess

[@eddapultstab2078]

​@@BigRed40TECH of all the assaults, the battlemaster is the only mech that can stand up to an atlas, especially in close combat. it has the disadvantage but it actually still the one with the best chance at winning, other than the king crab.

[@deaddragon1]

Big Red Battlemaster :)

[@wolfyhalfmoon819]

I always run a battle master weird. I remove the missiles and mgs for twin ac2s. Cus screw air targets in particular. Also good for picking off lights.

[@BigRed40TECH]

That is definitely a strange way to run it. I've never found use for AC2's myself, if I did that I'd likely swap out the SRM and MG's for an LRM package tbh.

[@wolfyhalfmoon819]

@@BigRed40TECH yah I find I do that a lot with my builds...anything that had mg's I try to fit in ac2s (or rac2s of mwo). There heavy and sacrifice alot of the mechs tonnage. But I'm a davion with auto cannon fever. 😂

[@haroldcarfrey4206]

The Battlemaster 4S is also a blakist era battlemaster is a command with a gauss rifle and some nasty close range firepower...Also the Battlemaster 3S tries to be long range with an LRM-20AIV but is too lightly armed for an assault

[@404cp]

Love my wubmaster is mwo. Drop all other weapons, put in double heatsinks and put as many med pulse lasers as the hard points will allow and then the biggest engine you can fit with the left over weight.

[@lukasz.adamski]

Nice mech. While you can get more raw firepower in it's weight class, it's speed leaves more space for errors and improvisation. Also it doesn't try to cook it's mechwarrior.

[@JumpingFlapjack]

The battlemaster is very impressive, but I still love mmer my good old Atlas DC-C in various small detail variations. Throughout all PC games^^.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Atlas is the King.

[@mcdiamond2463]

i once made a mad cat mk ii in solaris skunk werks. it had two er ppcs, two lrm 20s, 4 er medium lasers and a targeting computer i believe with plenty of armor. battle value was pretty high and i never tested it in-game but i imagine it would be one of the better loadouts to use

[@mcdiamond2463]

i also made a custom clan tech assault mech in ssw that weighed 85 tons, had a 340 xl engine with masc, 4 er ppcs, and a targeting computer. i remember the battle value like it was yesterday 3912

[@mcdiamond2463]

that second mech i made was called the monitor named after the civil war union navy warship. i imagined it would look like an 85 ton version of an atlas

[@Chromevod]

It's honestly not a mech I have much experience with. I know a lot of people love it, but it's never been one that stood out to me despite the hype.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's not my favourite, but it is a solid mech. I recommend trying one out one day :) It's got great sustain damage as it almost has 0 heat problem.

[@rashidabdul3215]

Oh so thats what the mech is on the cover box.

[@joshuaturnquist5538]

It's a fun mech, but the MG ammo is killer. Almost every battlemaster I have lost died of a MG ammo explosion. The optional rule to load less ammo before the game is necessary to stop the thing from going thermonuclear.

[@NonApplicable1983]

I wish it had battlefists, but it’s still a powerhouse up close.

[@lexington476]

Master and Commander on the far side of the Inner Sphere 🙂... Thank you thank you I'm here all week, be sure to tip your waitress 😎.

[@wavepool4501]

“So what it’s only got one PPC? Don’t be lame and go buy an Awesome; it’s not a master of battle!” - Discount Dan

[@oscarcoastwilde]

I think the Battlemaster is my favorite Assault

[@BigRed40TECH]

Not my favourite, but it's pretty damn solid. :)

[@stevens9625]

I think a Griffin and a Panther is a better use of 85 tons.

[@liljenborg2517]

The thing about the Battlemaster is that if you drop the tonnage to 75 (the 300 Vox engine is 9 tons lighter and the internal structure is one ton lighter - so you can keep everything else exactly the same) you get a warhammer with one less PPC and you actually see how under-armed it is for its weight class, how much damage output you loose for the speed. Yes, a Stalker or Awesome is slower, but they can put so much more hurt on a target.

[@JulianVR4]

BLR

[@lexington476]

The Battlemaster is a beast under 9 hexes. Outside of 9 it's no better than a Panther.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Not true. It's got over twice the armour of said Panther. lol

[@shannonthen2722]

the batamasta is OP, bro

[@perfectionnonpareil9678]

Favorite IS assault mech especially the 3M model. For Sphere I prefer Marik. And much prefer PGI remake.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Purple Bird Stronk.

[@fallingfloor6924]

You (WLF-1A Her brother (HBK-4P) Her dad (BL-7-KNT) They guy she tells you to not worry about (BLR-1G)

[@HalIOfFamer]

Can you make a video about why mechs multiple times the size of a tank are often lighter than said tank? It really doesn't make sense wy a QuickDraw is as heavy as an SRM carrier.

[@deezboyeed6764]

Its just sonething you don't think about tbh. Unlessyou want to say mechs use different tonnage system like how we have long and short tons

[@HalIOfFamer]

​@@deezboyeed6764 TLDR: they aren't actually that much "bigger" so I have found an actual answer since then. They actually aren't to the degree that they are portrayed in media. Mecha throughout the years have been artificialy enlarged. obviously mechs are made out of bulky but lighter material, that's why they are even possible in universe. So there is about 10-15% of their size. Another 10% is the fact that a tank is usually a box with a box on it, which is a lot more compact than the complex shapes of limbs, toros and head, this doesn't necessarily add volume, but it adds perceived size. And then finally, to sell digital media (and to a lesser extent box and cover art on books and box sets) the mechs are usually drawn a little too big. It just looks cooler. So for example comparing an Abrams tank to a dragon because they are of similar weight and they are both boxy and bulky. Abrams is 9.7 meters long, 3.7 meters wide and 2.8 meters tall with a clearance of .5 meter. The dragon is 14 meters tall, 5.5meters wide and 4 meters long(rough estimates found online not sure if true) Using the prerequisites and percentages of possible increased size this then makes them roughly 85-90% size comparable. But obviously the dragon would tower over the Abrams as it is good 11 meters taller than it. All this nerd shit to say, I wasn't high, I was just unwittingly lied to!

[@deezboyeed6764]

@@HalIOfFamer lol, man your commited and I respect that. You mirror many of my own thoughs on the subject nowardays, I hope you have good rest of day fam.

[@HalIOfFamer]

@@deezboyeed6764 well I just pressed the video and noticed I've left a comment here already. Didn't even remember watching it before.

[@deezboyeed6764]

@@HalIOfFamer thats fair fam, I do the same. Have good day

[@faithmcclosky4528]

The only problem I ever had with the Battlemaster is the silly rear firing laser. I don't think I ever like rear mount weapons. Move those puppies up front for a medium laser six-pack.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Would have brutal too. As it could have walked and fired all x6 medium lasers, and would have only gone 1 heat point over. No walking + Firing means they could have added the SRM to that too. Crazy.

[@michaelofmanitoba3844]

BLR-1G in MW5 has six mlasers facing the front. Fire in two groups of three and just headshot anything within 400m. I also particularly like the 1P variant with the BAP and guardian ECM mounted.

[@Ostenjager]

Probably my favorite 'mech, both visually and on the tabletop. I really do not like the MWO redesign though, the square canopy looks like garbage.

[@lukedudley5030]

I always thought this mech was misnamed lol, it isnt really a master of battle, its range isnt great with most its weapons up close n personal....I've seen so many of these get wasted before they can have any real impact on the battle :-) its a good mech but not one I'd choose if I'm honest, I just don't like all rounder assaults, too expensive for something a couple of mediums can do more effectively....I like the one with the c3 computer but then it has to stay out of the fight....great overview of a mech I've fought against a lot but rarely used myself :-)

[@LowlyMerkit]

I like to just remove the machine guns, and use that arm as a shield. This way i can bob and weave and outfight most assaults'.

[@michaelmorford3932]

The real question is.... Battlemaster or Zeus?

[@BigRed40TECH]

That's a hard question. I think the BLR is probably a bit better, but I may like the ZEU more. Ilclan designs though? That ZEU is hard to beat.

[@kafs1822]

LOUD DUBSTEP MUSIC INTENSIFYS

[@BigRed40TECH]

WUB WUB WUB!

[@skyvipers]

I always enjoyed the 4 (sometimes 5) large-pulse builds of the BattleMaster in MWO. WUB WUB Baby!

[@BigRed40TECH]

WuB WUB WUB WUB WUB!

[@OptimusJedi]

Drop the base on that “BattleMaster”, lol!

[@Ben-dv8xw]

Are you a fan of the black pants legion (aka tex talks)?

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'm subscribed to his channel, but I don't watch much anymore because I try to keep my own stuff from being influenced by others.

[@Ben-dv8xw]

@@BigRed40TECH Awesome . that makes sense. I love your channel great content. Battletech and war 40k the two best sci-fi universes.

[@brodypullishy932]

I must say, I'm not fond of CGL's 'undesigns' for most of the Dougram Unseen mechs. Feels like they're walking back on years of aesthetic development just for the sake of it.

[@BigRed40TECH]

How do you mean? Are you saying you preferred the Projext Phoenix Designs?

[@brodypullishy932]

@@BigRed40TECH They essentially just went back to the Dougram source material. The Dougram Mechs are very cool looking, but their battletech counterparts really came into their own over the years, whether it was the original TRO, the Phoenix Redesigns, or even the PGI Redesigns, all of them had their own take and breathed their own life into the designs. I would've rather CGL remade them in their own personal style, like they did with mechs like the Warhammer, rather than just fall back to what we have already seen in Fang of the Sun: Dougram, CGL's Griffin for example is damn near 1:1 with a Roundfacer, and their Battlemaster is the same for a Bigfoot. I often wonder what a truly redesigned Battlemaster or Griffin would look like. Thanks for replying by the way

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@brodypullishy932 Meh. I prefer the Catalyst stuff, by a lot, to Project Phoenix redesigns, and to the original TRO designs personally.

[@georgee9250]

It’s a trooper mech on steroids you can’t beat it.

[@BigRed40TECH]

That's objectively not true. Killing a BLR is hardly impossible lol

[@georgee9250]

@@BigRed40TECHI meant it figuratively lol

[@donaldcampbell3043]

I've never liked the Battlemaster. It's my 2nd lest favorite assault mech, after the Charger...

[@BigRed40TECH]

Really? Interesting. It's not my own top-tier mech per say, but I think its pretty solid overall.

[@donaldcampbell3043]

@@BigRed40TECH it looks good, and I liked the look of the double cockpit, but I preferred the punch of some of the bigger weapons on assault mechs with AC20s or other heavy hitting weapons. Being armed with just a single PPC for long ranged attacks seemed like a weakness compared to the hitting power of other assault mechs like the Awesome, Stalker, Zeus, Cyclops or Atlas. I'd even rather take a lighter mech like a Warhammer or Marauder over a Battlemaster because they had more punch...

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@donaldcampbell3043 Fair enough! I just think it does the job it's meant to reasonably well and has the heatsinks to not really worry about heat, it's always nice. Lower burst damage, but able to just keep going.

[@spartanx9293]

Am I the only one who doesn't like the bubble cockpit look

[@BigRed40TECH]

Yes. You are. How does it feel to be alone!? Kidding, a few folks don't like it, but I don't mind it personally. :)

[@baneblackguard584]

battlemaster was truly a master of the battlefield in the original Mechwarrior game. in MWO it's an "ok" assault mech. certainly isn't the one i'd choose as a commander in MW5, most assaults in MW5 are better than the Battlemaster. it got done dirty in the latest games. the hero version in MWO was originally the best ppc boat in the game, but they murdered it and now is one the worst mechs to put ppc's in. not a very good brawler, filling it with medium lasers is a mistake. best use is as a medium to long range harrasser.

[@Michael-cf9cj]

Unless something has changed since I stopped playing MWO, the most important aspect of any mech was weapon placement and how that affected playing that mech. The BLR was great when you could mount multiple large pulses or large lasers on its shoulders, but nothing was ever put in the arm. The Banshee was even more devastating this way, with five large pulses mounted up high. Other mechs had similar configurations if available and they were the best mechs out there. But in games like MW5 or table top Battletech, weapon placement was far less important.

[@baneblackguard584]

@@Michael-cf9cj in MWO the high mounts in the torso ARE really nice in the battlemaster, helps a TON when you are harassing at range with some terrain to work with, does nothing for you when brawling. the extremely broad torso sections and low armor really hurts the mechs ability to brawl. you can twist and twist and twist and it doesn't matter, those side torsos are so big that they are just about impossible to miss. it's got a massive profile despite being one of the lightest assault mechs.

[@Michael-cf9cj]

@@baneblackguard584 Maybe the game has changed since I played. That was years ago. That harassing at mid-range was, at least most matches, what decided the outcome. The team that could focus damage and either critically damage mechs at that range (remove weapons or make them not want to engage again) or just pop them entirely (pesky XL engines) won matches regardless of how good or bad the mechs would brawl.

[@CRAZYUNCLE117]

Talk this mech up all you want, but I keep it out of my inventory as much as possible. Without an exceptional pilot, every time I use it on tabletop (or hbs) this mech get crippled or worse. This mech has more chance of you losing your own pilot, due to the fact that is HAS to close the distance to be effective. Like I said, talk it up all you want but this massive oven shaped like a mech I garbage. Seriously, I just target it while it closes range, and it has lost half of its weapons before it can even engage.

[@BigRed40TECH]

In 3025 that's not been the experience I've seen. Lots of mechs are built like this and for this speed in that era.

[@warrennelson3737]

@@BigRed40TECH Also, if you are concentrating fire on it the Battlemasters Lance Mates are not taking that damage. It also has good closing speed for a mech its weight and with 3025 tech you don't have any big hitting weapons that can take it out at range in one shot outside of a Long Tom Artillery piece direct fired at it.

[@stephenknizek2651]

In eras before the Clan Invasion, anything heavy or assault was intimidating simply through the virtue of being a heavy or assault. Remember how intimidating the early novels treated the Marauder, in an area of space (and at the time before Helm) where most were lucky to have a medium.

[@CRAZYUNCLE117]

@@BigRed40TECH Then perhaps it is beyond its time.

[@CRAZYUNCLE117]

@@stephenknizek2651 I know that when the atlas was mad Kerenski said he wanted "fear to be our ally", but that doesn't work when you are out of the fight in a single alpha strike due to heat. Or if you take so long to get to the enemy in range of your weapons that everyone gets a free shot on you.