The History of the Northwind Highlanders - BattleTech Paint & Lore

[@FireGoliath]

When you hear bagpipes, if you are not sure they are on your side, run.

[@omegavulture8379]

*bagpipe intensifies

[@MechanicalFrog]

Bagpipes on every open channel at 250 db.

[@countryfriedminis]

Getting this deep lore alongside this fabulous paint work is such a treat. Damn this is some fine work today!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you!

[@diabloelmo]

You missed the single most important aspect of the manner in which the Highlanders make war - in lieu of comms jamming, they are known for blasting bagpipe music across the radio, swamping out all other radio signals! An excellent watch, and it's good to see my favourite merc unit get some love

[@MechanicalFrog]

A heart-wrenching oversight. Thank you for watching!

[@matthewmarek1467]

Wow, love this presentation format. I can't believe you did those paint jobs free hand; some immaculate looking mechs.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Ironclockwork]

*Triggers a random hostile encounter with Northwind Highlanders in Mechwarrior 5 for the first time* *No bagpipes blaring across the comms and no Scottish accents from the enemy pilots* "My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined."

[@MechanicalFrog]

The struggle is real.

[@777dragonborn]

The with disappointment with fighting the dracs. I figured they would go kamakazi screaming banzai when they start to crit .

[@jeffd7976]

This. Is. Incredible! Painting, storytelling drawn from so many sources. A tremendous amount of work went into this production & it shows. This is awesome. I've been playing since '89. My son & I have been watching your painting videos. Thank you SO much. Such an excellent writer, painter & narrator.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I am so glad you enjoyed it!

[@thecommuterzombie]

Fantastic summary and great paint scheme. Would love to see more videos in this series covering other units with a long history, not necessarily limited to merc companies either.

[@MechanicalFrog]

More in the works.

[@StigmaNYC]

When my favorite Battletech novel is Impetus of War and MechFrog briefly narrates 8:55 to 943🙏 Then you realize the actual battle coordinates from Impetus of war is in the Northwind Highlanders scenario pack called Scenario 12: System EC-EY-4189 and you can’t buy it!😭 I reread this book like I rewatch Empire Strikes Back. Thanks for the Lore MechFrog!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hopefully, CGL will get some of these older books out on PDF eventually.

[@ThugShakers4Christ]

Impetus for War was the first BattleTech novel I ever read. When I was stuck in group homes as a teen, I ended up reading dozens of them to help me get through the experience.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Wow, I'm glad that the novels could be a support in that tough situation. Thank you for sharing it. Keep holding the line, Mechwarrior.

[@ARescueToaster]

Cool paint job and great lore dump! I've never been a fan of the Highlanders, but I at least find them interesting

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank ya. Maybe the next merc group will be a fav?

[@ARescueToaster]

@@MechanicalFrog I'll be sure to check it out

[@harvestblades]

Great overview, I could have listened to a video twice as long. While my background w/ this universe goes back to MW1 & especially MW2 I never played the actually Battletech. I first learned & loved the Highlanders when I got into the Heroclix back innthe early 2000s as I bough a huge lot of Highlanders from Ebay so themn&bthe Wolf's Dragoons became my initial factions. My oldest son (23) is getting into BT & so am I & if he wasn't running the Highlanders after watching this video I likely would be. While innthe Grimdark of BT there really are no good guys (they are all human afterall) the Highlanders definitely come across as being some of the true good guys despite being a bunch of sell swords. Thanks for this video!

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. It's so cool to hear that people are getting their kids excited for BattleTech.

[@tmorton42]

Nice job on the mechs. Red and green are tough colors to avoid the Christmas look, well done.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks a lot. Yes Red and Green can be tough. Red and Yellow as well, as you can sometimes end up making something look like a McDonalds commercial.

[@the98themperoroftheholybri33]

Battletech highlanders: honourable, virtuous, trustworthy Historical highlanders: cattle rustlers

[@MechanicalFrog]

Never let history get in the way of a fun story. ;)

[@imjustajanitorbut2399]

I definitely think you captured the heart of the Highlanders in this paint scheme.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you! That's high praise.

[@Fryepod3628]

I didn't know they go back as far as revolt back on Terra, that really is quite the old. Learned something new quick. Great script! Got my daily dose of BT and saw an sweet warhammer (and others) get painted up.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hope it makes your Monday a good one.

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

This was a fantastic watch and I love your take on the paint scheme. I hope you do more of these for other units. I'd really love to see an episode for the First Kestrel Grenadiers.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you. If this does well we might see videos for the other box sets at least.

[@SRTifiable]

This is exactly what my morning needed while I sit and rework our shift schedule.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I hope it helps to make the day a good one.

[@SRTifiable]

@@MechanicalFrog Got all my fingers and toes. Every day is a good day, even the rough ones 😂 (Literally can’t say the same for some of my coworkers 😬)

[@MechanicalFrog]

@@SRTifiable Excellent.

[@MassofBiscuits]

@@SRTifiable do you still have all your fingers and toes?

[@SRTifiable]

@@MassofBiscuits So far so good! 🤣

[@Red-Pillz]

Killer paintjob. Informative lore video. Hell yeah!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank ya!

[@Bluehairedgirl89]

Thank you for all the work you put into this video! Seriously! This one is kind of special to me, I first really got into Battletech through the WizKids Dark Age novels and the first three I read were the ones about Tara Campbell and the Highlanders. They were my heroes and to this day my favorite mech is the Hatchetman because it was Tara’s, I even tried her haircut as described in the book. My first attempt to paint mechs was in Highlander colors. When they described what happen to her and the highlanders on Terra I literally threw the book across the room and almost walked away from Battletech. I got over it but it’s still a sore spot. But this was a really nice listen and I enjoyed it deeply!

[@MechanicalFrog]

I love hearing how people got started in the game. It really charges my batteries. I expect we haven't heard the last from the Highlanders in the IlClan era.

[@Bluehairedgirl89]

@@MechanicalFrog Yeap yeap, it’s always awesome to hear and I enjoy telling it. I certainly hope so.

[@rosegoldgod7630]

Nice tartan paint job! Very highlander!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@lexington476]

14:32 yep, got that sourcebook 😎. although I thought it came out way earlier than 2002.

[@lexington476]

Yeah, Sarna says it came out in 1997.

[@Commander_Nearsight]

That is a stunning paint scheme. I think I found myself a great new project to try!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks a lot! I hope your project works out.

[@kierdalemodels]

That was excellent. Educational, I love the old TV and the books, and you painting the lance as you talk about the unit is a great idea. Lovely work on the mech, too👍 And you avoided all use of bagpipes. Brave.😉

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you enjoyed it! I've been told that I brought great dishonor by leaving out the bagpipes... for shame.

[@kierdalemodels]

@@MechanicalFrog I believe redemption lies in the consumption of haggis. Much, much haggis.

[@MechanicalFrog]

@@kierdalemodels Hard pass.

[@kierdalemodels]

@@MechanicalFrog 😂 I believe that’s what your bowels would say, too.

[@MechanicalFrog]

@@kierdalemodels I promised Mrs.MechFrog that I'd quit discussing my bowels in the youtube comment section.

[@HondaWagovan]

The name Campbell, it makes me wonder if battletch ever touched Clan Campbell involvement in the Glencoe Massacre of 1692, and if they have something like the curse of the Campbell in the game lore? With how much FASA pulled from real world history and back ground for this impressive game.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I spent several days digging through Highlander stuff and didn't see anything concerning Glencoe.

[@whitefoxplays]

Great video as always sir!!!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks again! Have a great day!

[@el_switchblade]

Great video! Great paint scheme! Great message. :)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks a lot!

[@greysonjones5429]

Great Video! Please do more on the other Greta merc units

[@MechanicalFrog]

More to come!

[@RoyHobbs-f4v]

... fantastic video!

[@verysilentmouse]

Nice one

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks 🔥

[@flushmastercyclonis186]

Let's be honest, the biggest reasons most people are fans of the Highlanders are kilts, bagpipes, and funny accents. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but call it what it is.

[@charlesballiet7074]

when i see that paint scheme i think Christmas "Drop one this is **Merryment and cheer Lance**" still though nicly done and I really like how you did that jump smoke effect was that just a wash over light grey?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Now I have a Gauss Rifle... Ho...Ho...Ho... I did a black primer on the smoke, then zenythil with grey from the top, then a wash over it.

[@mathewkelly9968]

Almost as cool as Kelly's Bushrangers

[@MechanicalFrog]

Almost.

[@trikk9964]

... too good!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank ya!

[@schneecoraxx8689]

Talk about a loooooong and storied history. Are the highlanders the oldest merc unit?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Not sure if they're the oldest merc unit but definitely the oldest continual identity as a fighting force.

[@sharlin648]

An excellent (Black) Watch as always! :)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Have to respect the Black Watch.

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

Please do clan Snord.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's on the list.

[@justinarchibald3857]

There is some revionist history here. The Fourth succession war began in 3028 and ended in 3030. So in the middle of a war the Highlanders turned coat and left their area of responsibility to work for the side that was attacking the side they were working with? Yeah sounds like that would breach every mercenary contract clause.

[@MechanicalFrog]

If I made a mistake, I would not be surprised. However, I do strive for accuracy when I'm taking notes from the sourcebooks.

[@justinarchibald3857]

@@MechanicalFrog I am not blaming you. Often you find in sourcebooks that When something was done would not line up to the reasons something would have been done. The Highlanders are an example. I have always been confused by the amount of time the Highlanders were given the benefit of the doubt fo incredibly questionable things. Such as turning coat in the middle of an interstellar war, or in the middle of an interstellar war and somehow sidelining themselves and their 5 full regiments because of an interdiction that has at least two noted instances of not existing. I didn't mean to seem like I am holding you at fault, I was just pointing out that what the Highlanders say happened and what actually did are not really the same things.

[@MechanicalFrog]

@@justinarchibald3857 No problem. I'm glad people notice the little things. It'll keep me honest and it's fun to find little quirks in the lore.

[@justinarchibald3857]

@@MechanicalFrog It is the little things in Battletech that make the setting worth while. Where a Faction or Group may seem like the good guys at first glance when you get to the details you find out everyone is the bad guy because there is always a strong sense of self interest. I love it. Nice talking with you.

[@MechanicalFrog]

@@justinarchibald3857 Absolutely. Thanks again for watching!

[@a6mzeke1]

**bagpipes sound off**

[@MechanicalFrog]

At 200db.

[@RandyTandyy]

Go Highlanders!

[@nemo35383]

While I enjoy your videos very much, I must file a complaint. Painting the whole mech tartan, is unacceptable. You must suffer like the rest of us painting two small swatches on the right shoulder and right leg areas. By not doing so, you show too much intelligence. I object.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Want to take this outside and settle it like Capellans? 😜

[@Red-Pillz]

Yeah, I second that jealousy. I'd end up with so many layers of paint trying to pull that Tartan off, my mechs would look like waffle irons.

[@mathewkelly9968]

And haven't they sold out and joined the ilClan ? Boooo hiss if what I've read fully comes to pass

[@MechanicalFrog]

I don't know if sold out is a fair term. We'll see.