Kirby's Battlemech Compendium - Episode 4 Stalker | Battletopia Stories

[@HeadHunterSix]

I absolutely LOVE the Disney analogy for the devastation of the Succession Wars.

[@peripherypaint6361]

Thank you!

[@battletopia]

Yeah Kirby has a way with words! Thanks for tuning in

[@harbingerx7793]

Ahhh, the mighty Stalker! And it's loyal, emotional support Locust. Lol And congrats on the new baby!

[@Haldrahir]

I've played with and against the Stalker on the tabletop many times over decades and it always is a beast. My most memorable moment is in playing against a Stalker -3Fk during a MechWarrior RPG campaign. It was the ride of the big bad we had been fighting/hunting for a half dozen worlds and many weekends of gameplay. It took down every one of the players including some of our NPC tank support and only died when an attack run from our lone ASF player managed to hit the head with a single 1point damage grouping from the LRMS of their ancient Zero ASF and knocked them out with a failed 3+ sav. Everyone cheered and had a great laugh even though our entire unit was smashed.

[@battletopia]

Thanks for listening! Man I love this 'mech, and I'm glad you do too. Everyone has a story about a stalker. Ooof sounds like a rough battle though, luckily saved by the dice gods.. who always do an anti Rick-roll and desert you on the 3 ups. But to take out a Stalker with a single LRM, that would be some tasty salvage. Please say you salvaged it?

[@Haldrahir]

@@battletopia Oh yes we certainly salvaged it. That said it was 'stolen goods' so in the end, some weekends later, we ransomed it back to a samurai family that it had been stolen from. None of our characters were fans of the Combine but we were in the hole financially and they paid in C-Bills and parts needed to get some of our Mechs back into action. That Stalker had really done a number on us.

[@battletopia]

Well atleast it paid for itself (literally)!

[@draygonsol7863]

Picked up the Stalker 3F for the first time in MW5 and was the first mech I didn't feel I needed to change its loadout and just upgraded what it had till the end game where I bumped the LRM10s to 15s but otherwise it remained unchanged besides the tack on systems. Its just such a solid mech.

[@battletopia]

The stalker, any variant of the stalker, is a workhorse! The 3F looks good, my only problem for tabletop would be single heat sinks. The limiter there really makes it a bracket firer and in case of emergency you can fire a second a large laser 🤣. Never tried it in MW5 but sounds like the trooper it is. A trooper that's a walking wall of armour and death

[@draygonsol7863]

@@battletopia The consistent pressure at all ranges also feels nice to know that no matter the range you can be effective. Its layout actually helped me learn heat management and using weapons in their best engagement ranges instead of just the usual weapons vomit I had been often trying todo. Its also got such a massive amount of potential dps specifically in the goldilocks zone where all it's weapons can hit the target, once in that range even an Atlas just withers and that is not even including ones squad mates being involved. Also that Marauder like profile of being able to wiggle just a bit of ones mech and spread all the damage from incoming fire. Not sure if that is a thing on the tabletop but I just know if I ever do get into that side of things the Stalker will be one I'll want to grab.

[@battletopia]

@draygonsol7863 sadly not in tabletop. Damage is applied from a D5 roll on a chart. The only thing you are able to do is attempt to orientate mech so most dameg comes in on left, right or front/rear sides. Even then the table has a chance of damage hitting the opposite side. You should try the tabletop, it getting very popular now and most things are readily available (depending on country). Plus the models looks great now with the CGL plastics. It's a great mech dude, can't deny ir

[@VallornDeathblade]

I run a 7D with 3 LPLs and 6ERMLs. Last night I managed to outduel a King Crab at close range with it. The thing just burns clear through whatever you put in front of it since it can alpha twice with those 9 lasers, and if you can juggle the lasers you can have solid sustain..

[@battletopia]

Thanks for listening! Jeez, that's alot of fire power. Plus to bring down a crab is pretty impressive, they are tough nuts to crack. I do however take umbridge at your desecration of the amazing 7D and removing its ERPPC but I suppose I can let you off with the Large Pulses. Clan or Inner Sphere tech on it?

[@VallornDeathblade]

​@@battletopia Inner sphere. And yes, the large pulses are absolutely the real showstoppers on the mech, the ER mediums are just about in the same range bracket so they play nicely together.

[@battletopia]

Nice mix! Nice 'mech thanks for sharing

[@chaosbringer9007]

Love the production work in this video! Hope more people see this video because it deserves to be seen! Also I nominate the catapult for the next compendium, the stalker's smaller equally angry sibling.

[@battletopia]

Thanks for watching, please feel free to share around. I like the catapult! I like the catapult even more though after they strapped PPCs to it. It's been added to the list

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

I'd love to hear an episode on the Wolfhound. Great episode BTW.

[@battletopia]

Thanks for listening buddy! I've put a word in with Professor Kirby. We're both bit busy in real life but it's on the list dude.

[@Kuhesgewehr]

I stood at Tukayyid in a Stalker in MW2 Mercs. IIRC I had ripped out one Large laser and a LRM-10 for more heatsinks and armor, then put in a PPC in their place. It was a trusty warhorse I named Cheval.

[@peripherypaint6361]

Remember Tukayyid!

[@battletopia]

You had me at Tukayyid dude! But then it gets better with PPC's so I love Cheval and hopefully he did you true and stood firm against the filthy clanners!

[@battletopia]

Always remember!

[@digitaldynamic3476]

The Stalker with ECM in MW5 is ABSOLUTELY a favorite of mine 🥰 I typically drop it in a Lance of Ravens because I find it hilarious 🤣

[@battletopia]

Never thought of that combo. I imagine the stalker takes alot of punishment if the Ravens aren't on point

[@digitaldynamic3476]

@@battletopiaThey move as a close flock with the ravens moving as slowly as possible to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses 😁 Maxes for a doozy of a surprise 😂

[@battletopia]

@@digitaldynamic3476 nice! Will try it next opportunity I get

[@Magikarp-4ever]

@digitaldynamic3476 yeah the Stalker 3FB is that one, it's a fucking monster outright

[@R17inator]

The blimp-like appearance of the Stalker makes me want to see one painted with the same colors and iconic shark face of the Kirov airship.

[@philips.5563]

I did an inferno-srm I called the STK-H1ND3NB3RG. Amazingly fun.

[@battletopia]

Yes! That would be awesome...

[@shawnarmitage7955]

God, guns, and Battletech. Letting Comstar know we like your stuff

[@battletopia]

Thank you for tuning! Praise Blake!

[@JosephHeller-el8zo]

There’s a version of the Stalker STK-3F that swaps out the LRM 10’s for two more SRM 6’s. Named “Jagawen” after the Kurita general that piloted it. Its close range firepower is devastating and is an absolute beast in urban combat.

[@battletopia]

Thanks for tuning in. I love brawling with these guys, the more SRM's the better as far as I concerned

[@harvestblades]

Never imagined I would hear a reference to Cotton Eyed Joe in BT Biden. Interesting vid on a classic assault mech.

[@battletopia]

Thanks. Kirby, the writer is fantastic at putting this stuff together and has a way better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. Plus the Stalker is one of my favourite all time 'mechs. If it wasn't for copy right strikes this video would have been a 20min remix of Cotton Eye Joe on loop!

[@kevinmitchell8626]

I learned something related to real life too?!?! Thanks for the video :)

[@battletopia]

Thanks for listening! Glad we could help further your education 😂

[@jamesripley8031]

Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start The Fire for, of course, the Firestarter!

[@battletopia]

Thanks for tuning in dude! What a classic tune that is, light and airy too just like the firestarter. I'd go Prodigy firestarter for that one, tenacious little bugger that just keeps moving (to ensure it stays alive!)

[@rodzilla6425]

Stalker is a beast for sure. Didn't know the origins were so muddied though. Interesting to know. I'll tell ya this; those things ALWAYS take a beating in MW5. frikkin sniper turtles.

[@battletopia]

Thanks for tuning in. What a great name. Sniper turtles! Stealing that one 😂

[@louiswilkins9624]

Congratulations

[@battletopia]

Thanks for tuning in! Kirby's a lucky man

[@jamesripley8031]

Such a solid ‘mech!

[@battletopia]

It s trooper 'mech dude!

[@HeadHunterSix]

Congratulations on your new arrival Kirby! Loving these videos. Also, if I recall, you did a Liao lance for Shrapnel, right? I recall seeing Nicolai Malthus' Summoner-M in that video. Where can a guy who doesn't have a printer get a physical model of that? I've been looking everywhere. I don't want to buy the STL just to pay again to have it printed - and getting my own printer is not something that's financially or logistically feasible.

[@Magikarp-4ever]

No, everyone is familiar with the BUSINESS end of the stalker

[@battletopia]

Thanks for listening! As they should be, its a fearsome beast not matter the variant you take

[@patrykkaminski9747]

I have story with Stalker when playing megameka with my friend we decided to make quic duel at the end of the day so i took Stalker variant with 2 ERPPC and 2 Streek SRM 4 and he chosen Flashman with 2 Hevy PPC BV was similar and we wanted it to be fast so we decided to make it the slug fest no cover no trees only guns and movment so on 2nd turn i hit his hed with ERPPC and he is cursing my luck for it no he will hit less on 3erd we are starting to enter short range and i use SSRM 4 becose why not and ... one missel hits the head and kills Flashman dead and my friend curses my luck becose in every bigger gamę we both play i get on of his mechs killed by head shot so he is now to worried of my luck to play stan agents me

[@battletopia]

Thanks for listening! Love this story. It's a lean mean head hunting machine! Congrats on being one of the lucky head hunters dude, if the dice gods favour me I get maybe one every few games. You cannot go wrong with a stalker and ERPPC's can you!

[@patrykkaminski9747]

@@battletopia i played spmthing like 6 game in megameka agents this friend and most of them we called my close win or draw becose we havent time to end them but i have spmthing like 3 or 4 hed hits in my battletech career

[@battletopia]

@@patrykkaminski9747 that's not too bad an average! New call sign for you "headhunter"

[@horriblypink]

I stopped taking the video seriously when I realized the MWO Stalker design has a [ I _ I ] Face on its nose cone

[@battletopia]

Its even worse if you look at the old school Stalker. I won't sully the chat section but lets just say its a plug for an orifice and you can't unsee it!

[@horriblypink]

@@battletopia If you think the Stalker is bad wait until you see half the Battletech Jump ships 🤣 there all phallic shaped like some one was trying to have a competition of who's was bigger

[@philips.5563]

I would be happy for Disney to be reduced to unclear memories of Marvin the Mouse and the knowledge that there once was more.

[@battletopia]

Thanks for tuning in, ah man Marvin the Martian is brilliant!