Bombardier BMB-10D: Battlytics | Classic BattleTech Mech Review | Clan Invasion | DFA Wargaming

[@NRSGuardian]

The 12D is interesting in the way it shows SLDF procurement, and design priorities. It also shows the later SLDF focus on faster Mechs that focus on pilot skill to get the most out of them, which allows it to fit right in with Mechs like the Exterminator, Lancelot, and Excalibur. This trend also explains the Clans, which developed out of this later SLDF, focus on high speed, high risk/high reward, high pilot skill Mechs.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Love this! Makes sense.

[@Stormeris]

I like the Bombardier, even modelled one myself. Was hard to decide where i wanted to put the cockpit on, but decided to put it on the top of the torso, based on its CCG art.

[@Andrewlik]

Every Battletech channel has to face a challenge, a right of passage: The Urbanmech. It may not me now, may not be soon, but someday, the urbanmech will come

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Maybe sooner than you think…

[@steffangordon6444]

I tend to play narrative focused games, so I've always liked the Bombardier from a lore perspective. The 12D fits well with the specialization and relative logistical abundance of the original SLDF, and the 10D very much has the "any Mech will do" feel of the Succession wars. The main reason I like it, though, is that I used to used it as a Thunderbolt proxy for my main Mech in Mechwarrior 2 Mercenaries.

[@redbaronsnoopy2346]

The cheap true fire support mech. Needs lots of support to survive. Not meant to wade into combat, large battle & city support mech. Otherwise, it dies at distance too if all alone. Thanks for the video.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Thanks for watching!

[@sebastiang.5032]

The poor man's Archer? Let's go! :-D

[@hermes7587]

The Bombardier 10D was introduced as the replacement for the (then "unseen") Archer. Unfortunately the Bombardier is very bad at it´s job. A missile boat that runs out of ammo after six turns is a bad joke and the secondary weapons are not only useless but actually dangerous because of the additional ammo. If you are looking for a "mini-Archer", pick a Trebuchet, Catapult, Crusader or even a Whitworth but not this pile of junk.

[@subtlewhatssubtle]

The Bombardier is secretly one of my guilty pleasure BattleMechs. Not because it's good, but because you can clearly see what they were trying to do with it and how the good ship Combat Asset crashed into the FUBAR Peninsula. And that sort of lore just tickles me for some reason. The real question is, where exactly *is* its head located, though? I can't find any consensus on the matter.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Hahaha love all of this. We’ll have to wait for the resculpt to find the head!!

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

I always thought it was the little window slits near the top CT?

[@lukedudley5030]

Great analysis :-) this mech has actually served me well lol...I was given it as random heavy mech for a huge planet grab campaign against 3 other factions....it won me many fights, empty the bins and then bum rush the enemy to punch them to death :-) its not a great mech but can be used quite effectively if you apply your brain :-) we did allow battle field reloads at some point so I paired these with ammo trucks but the others said it was op when I did that so I had to stop lol

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

“OP Bombardier” is not something you hear often! Achievement unlocked!

[@lukedudley5030]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming lol :-) but yep I had 2 in one company and they would fire sequentially and take 2 turns to reload to start again....I protected them with a pair of Wolverines if I remember right :-) it was a interesting campaign that ended with me and one of the other factions deciding to split the planet in 2 between us as through treachery and determination we killed the other 2 :-)

[@magiceagle8086]

I don’t know why, probably you could buy it dirt cheap, but he love the damn thing after modifying it to solve some of the issues it had by dropping Srm 4 and the anti missile system for more ammunition and two medium lasers. Plus he moved armor around to make it more tanky in the front. Edit: I also remember that he goes into melee whenever a light mech gets to close.

[@gavincross2902]

OMG!!!! I love you guys!!!!!! I was hoping you would use the 12D. The SL design used XL engine, AMS and had CASE. Cheers. Yes, it is a sucky mech ammo wise but it was intended to operate close to resupply.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

For you!

[@Magermh]

Lover of using the Bombardier as a swarm missile carrier or thunder mine missiles. Using it to brake up formations of mechanized infantry or vehicles in support of Puma Assault Vehicles. It normally runs C3i systems in my formations. When running C3i I sometimes do not run fully connected networks but blocks of three units. So one Bombardier and two Puma's vehicles. I am a WoB player so not every ones cup of tea. Tip for the SRM-4. Run smoke rounds for heavy smoke and should make up for the lack of armor a-bit. Considering smoke is available in 3025 most players just want damage. But trying to hit this mech in heavy smoke behind cover like a level one hill is a full plus three. So the mech makes you play angles hard. Not a beginners mech or easy to use. Yep fire until your out of ammo and then walk off the map.

[@EnderPryde]

As an avowed Bombardier apologist, I must defend the much maligned design. Yes. The 12D and 10D are awful, and nobody should ever field them, but those other 3 variants are a bucket of fun, and fix almost all the issues in the machine, in one way or another. The 14C doubles its ammo capacity and adds C3i and and Artemis IV for improved accuracy and damage, while adding an ER Small for at least some longevity. The 14K swaps it up with 4 MML7's and 5 tons of ammo, so it's flexibility in how it gets deployed is wildly improved while also throwing a C3 slave in for good formation work (both as a surprise spotter with SRM ammo, or the sniper with the LRM ammo) And the 05B embraces the original intent to replace artillery... by *becoming artillery* , and sporting an Arrow IV on a 5/8 machine - one of the fastest artillery machines until the Kit Fox V enters the picture.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Your passion for this design has my respect!

[@uialion1740]

I think the only real saving grace for this thing is the battle value. For the same mass you could drop a Catapult that has some back-up firepower, or not be a Spheroid Freebirth and use an Ebon Jaguar-C for another ammo-dependent chassis and have way better longevity. Add five tons and rock an Archer or a Summoner-B and just overall see better survivability returns.

[@mathewkelly9968]

If you could park a J 27 ordnance carrier behind it and reload the LRM ammo itd be worth taking ....... maybe

[@matthewfullmer3035]

Yup. Its there, I guess. Back when I got my first TRO (3025 revised) I did not know what the Archer was. But I still recognised this mech was just not very good at what it said it was designed for. I don't recall, but did this one have one of those fun "SLDF corruption/industrial lobbying" type stories behind it?

[@brianhenry152]

Pretty sure IRL this was an attempt to get around the "Unseen" legal debacle with HG back in the day. There are just enough differences to make it distinct from the Archer, but it's easy to see enough similarities too. In the game though, this is definitely a second line unit that needs to be near to supply lines since it doesn't have enough ammo to stay in the fight for long. It runs pretty hot though, so maybe staggering fire with the LRM'20s can keep it fighting longer. Having only ammo based weapons is always a big gamble. Definitely something I would not normally field.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

*not normally = intentionally making bad life choices

[@carlwells9504]

Screaming for a field refit

[@CarlosSempereChen]

It feels like a mech designed to increase the value of Archer minis after the Unseens disappeared. I don’t understand FASA’s obsession with grossly under-ammo’d mechs when they wrote TRO: 2750 and some of the 3050s books. Glad to hear it isn’t too bad, but it’s no Archer.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Haha the ammo makes no sense. Each turn is supposed to be 10 seconds… so it can eat thru its ammo in like a minute.

[@rotwang2000]

My theory is that somebody at FASA liked the mini and told people to put it into the TRO 2750, while somebody else hated this Archer knockoff and hobbled it with the lore. It's not a great mech to begin with. It's fast, but lacks armour and endurance and can only shoot special missiles. The backup is better than bad breath or throwing insults, and the AM system is a neat concept that doesn't fly in BT. So you get a mech that is almost better as a melee brawler than as a fire support mech. A 70-ton mech making an 8 mp charge is pretty painful. You can get some mileage from Swarm and Thunder ammo, but if you play regularly people will quickly figure out ways to counter them by spreading out mechs and using jump jets. There is something quaint about the early mechs, many had klunky features or were tied to represent Macross or Dougram models. TRO 2750 is no exception, many were the same random weirdness with at least one bit of new tech thrown in. A few were good to inspired, the Bombardier is great in fluff, poor on the battlefield.

[@weaselwolf]

Man, the bombardier is such a mess. "What if we made a catapult, but worse?" Not like the Hollander... Now there's how you do a cheap fire support mech. Can't wait to see how the hollander stacks up

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

It could already be filmed and in the queue?

[@weaselwolf]

Pretty soon I'll have to think of a new mech to pester you about

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

You have some time still… but definitely queue it up.

[@Ichaerus]

Poor Aaron was looking like he was passing a kidney stone trying to come up with something good to say about the Bombadier. I think that it might be a good idea to use the "fire multiple rounds" optional rule(to function like baby Rotary Autocannons) when it comes to machine guns and any 'Mechs that mount them, to make use of the ammo and reduce the boom when the ammo blows. 6 turns of LRM spray usually, and then it has to run up and make use of the SRM-4 and machine gun. I was pulling an Aaron during this Battlytic, with the head-shake, the deadpan expression, and the "Mmmm...I do not like it..." The Battlytic was fine. The 'Mech itself, is not good. 😀

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

LOL

[@DevianID]

So if you needed to play this Bombardier, I see it as a high intensity front line fire support. Put it in harms way, alternating 2-1 shooting as you run in, and in a high intensity firefight with lots of hitting youll be happy to run out of ammo before dying. You want people shooting this mech instead of your trebuchet and archer behind it. Fire your LRM ammo as quick as heat will allow, dump the mgun ammo turn 1, and you only have to shield your right arm's srm ammo once your other bins go dry. Cheaper then a Archer, about as tough and shooty as an archer, and you arnt as sad when this on dies. As the frontline firesupport, all that rear armor isnt so bad, as you kinda want to draw the backstabbers to you instead of your lancemates. Then it transitions from LRM support to body blocker/kicker for the other LRM or sniper mechs in your formation. Id pair this mech with any of the cheap thin-skinned other LRM mechs, like the lrm15 Jagermech or aforementioned Trebuchet, and this Bombardier will use its 200 points of armor up keeping the rest safe.

[@Reverb154]

Give this thing LRM-15's, put another SRM-4 in the other arm, pull out the machine guns and ammo, and add more armor, please!

[@mathewkelly9968]

I think you'll find if the SRM ammo goes up unexpended that it does way more than 100 damage 100% more in fact

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Some days I am better at math than others LOL good catch!!

[@mathewkelly9968]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming 100 is as equally dead as 200 in your defence

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Haha fair!

[@shaneflickinger]

Thanks Mr. Aaron. I'm not sure how I feel about this mech. I guess it is kind of average, especially after seeing your numbers. However, since I pick my mech forces based off aesthetics most of the time and not their actual performance, this isn't a mech that I want to field. I never could stand the old artwork. It's "face" is very weird, like a creepy smiley face or something. Maybe this mech will benefit from the redesigns they are doing. Cheers sir!

[@mathewkelly9968]

Nobody : Same random DFA patreon : let's review one of the worst mechs ever the Bombardier

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

😆

[@JosephMitchell-zw3db]

I have 2 originals metal ones hope it dose great😊

[@Fenris86]

If Cranston Snord piloted one, can it truly be that bad? Turns out the answer is yes.

[@PhillyT1977]

Goodness. PMW made some great stl files for this and literally every variant is so bad that my prints just… exist.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Haha not even a slick design can help the Bombardier.

[@jonathanflounders4014]

DFA.....All Day!!!!

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

ALL DAY SON

[@krashkow]

Quick question: What Patreon tier is allowed to suggest Battlytics?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

If I put up polls, the $5 can vote. Elite patrons have more influence over the matter.

[@GhastlytheTinkerer]

I expected worse, but average efficiency is quite a bit better than I expected. I'd run it in flavorful lists.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Twin 20s is still nothing to scoff at but I wouldn’t have minded a few lasers instead of the SRM/MG!

[@plothos8380]

For sure, the catapult and archer have the better approach with the ML backup.

[@faithmcclosky4528]

Oh dear, the Bombardier. This mech is...unfortunate. Under-ammoed is bad enough by itself. Under heatsinked by itself is bad. A walking ammo explosion by itself is bad. Pack all three together on a slow heavy mech that doesn't even jump, and yeah, you've got yourself a walking deathtrap for it's pilot. I've struggled to try to like this guy, but the truth is, there's just nothing there.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

But would you take it over an Urbanmech?

[@faithmcclosky4528]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming No. There are so many wonderful things you can do with an Urbanmech that don't don't involve being a walking casket.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

3050 personal variant: drops MG and ammo, adds 1 ton of lrm ammo and case. Not nearly as terrible.

[@AMX0009]

But.....why?

[@tarron3237]

These videos are very interesting. However I simply can't shake off the feeling they're kinda out of place due to the BT system being so old, un-optimized and flawed. It's a bit overthinking. Once you start to analyze like that it highlights all the shortcomings, all the balance issues. Unfortunately, Battletech is best played with a healthy dose of inexperience and the joy of 'this is new and exciting'.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Maybe, maybe not. I think once you’ve been going for a bit, some of us want to know more!

[@stormcrow28]

Ah the Bombadier downgrade. A garbage version of an slightly average mech. Unfortunately, the Archer 4M or the Royal Archer easily outstrip both variants of the Bombadier, even with the 12D's higher speed and anti-missile system. 1 ton of ammo per LRM 15 or 20 is always an issue.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

To your point, the 12D was actually just as bad if I recall!

[@stormcrow28]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming Yup almost. Even the 2750 lovers can't defend that POS as an upgrade over the Archer, which is was designed to replace.