The Mercenary Guide to BattleTech - Marauder

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Hey Commander! If you liked what you saw why not join our Discord for exclusive bonus content, campaign updates, and channel alerts!

[@franksmedley7372]

What is the discord ID??

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

@@franksmedley7372 should be in the channel's "About" tab!

[@franksmedley7372]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed : I am not sure what that means, but I think it is a compliment, so Thank You. I am 'merely' an old warrior. One that has a bit more experience playing the game we all love, and who has survived RL experiences that would have left others crippled and-or demoralized. As an Elton John song says: I'm still standing.

[@Kitkat-986]

I checked your channel info page, I don't see a link to your discord channel

[@franksmedley7372]

@@Kitkat-986 : That is because I do not have a 'channel'. Just my normal account, like everyone else. All my postings are based upon decades of experiences, or the result of tinkering away with Mech designs.

[@thestabbybrit4798]

My Mercs typically run an inverted Davion build - a large and medium laser in each arm, and a PPC in the torso. The armour is increased to 13.5 tons, and the weapon combination allows for heat neutral sniping at range, followed by a hefty, yet manageable close range punch.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Damn! That doesn't sound too bad! I'd probably try running that if it were put in front of me as an option!

[@Orcimedes]

That's kindof like a lower tech 5L (a 3067 Liao variant). As an upside it also doesn't have a heat profile that makes you cry.

[@franksmedley7372]

Hello Stabby: I've run that version of the Marauder myself, many times. It is, indeed, well worth the investment to 'convert'. From a strictly monetary viewpoint as to maintenance, the 'inverted' Marauder is 'worth its costs' and still valuable in the field.

[@baker90338]

I’d do something similar with the 3m, mainly to keep a lower repair time, and because it’s mostly the same.

[@dwwolf4636]

Basically a Black Knight.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Thank You Commanders for helping point out errors! I'll be working on setting things up so we reduce typos and things I missed going forward!

[@Xeno426]

So, funny thing. The Marauder design was among the first mechs to come out of the original 1984 Battledroids box set. Under those rules, the Marauder's AC/5 ammo vulnerability was much less an issue because "crit free" heat sinks just weren't a thing; every single heat sink had to be given crit space, even weight free ones and the 10 heat sinks that come with the fusion engine. This put a bunch of HS in the side torsos with the ammo, providing a crit buffer. The update to BattleTech 2nd Edition a couple years later changed the engine heat sink rules, and this removed all the crit padding the ammo used to have. On another tangential topic, in Battledroids there were no other autocannons besides the AC/5, and that was just called "Autocannon" in the game.

[@AccessAccess]

If I recall Battledroids everything was a bit different. SRMs made less heat, you could have as many jump jets as you wanted, and as much armor as you wanted.

[@HalIOfFamer]

​@@AccessAccessI kinda like the armor thing. Although armor is a little too efficient so maybe it's good that it's limited.

[@Deusorum]

One criticism of the build: the MAD-3D Marauder has 2 heatsinks in the LT. You drop one of those heat sinks, and move the other to the RT with the Large Laser. But this is a problem! The reason why: with nothing to crit in the LT, any crit scored there will transfer to the CT. So, penetrating hits on the LT might crit out the engine, gyro, etc. By keeping the heat sink in the LT, you can at least absorb one crit and avoid potential engine or gyro damage from a LT hit. Obviously, the armor you added makes those penetrating hits less likely, especially with the Narrow / Low Profile quirk, but when something gets through... look out!

[@franksmedley7372]

Hello Nerdy Again, you've nailed another of my 'refits' to the original Mechs in the 1984 version of the Battletech Game. I will only point out ONE 'minor' issue with your proposed design. This escaped me at the time that I 'improved' the Marauder in the manner you've done. The 'issue' is the Right Torso mounting of the Large Laser. There is no reason to mount it there, other than the fact that the original's AC would not fit anywhere else. With the Large Laser, though, you have only 2 critical spaces for the weapon's 'bulk'. This allows one to shift the laser up on top of the Mech's carapace and into a 'Center Torso' location, instead of Side Torso. Doing this not only balances the Mech's symmetry, but also has the benefit of allowing one to lose both arms and still have a weapon available. In addition, the Large Laser is actually in the location that all the artworks depict it. To maintain that Symmetry, one can move the 2 heat sinks from the Center Torso. One going to the Left Torso, and one into the Head of the Mech. I definitely would NOT advocate moving the Leg mounted heat sinks, ever. The benefit from walking through, or standing in water, or some other cooling liquid, is too potent to ignore. Oh, from personal experience, shifting the Large Laser can have other effects in the game... Like the look on your opponent's face when they have concentrated their fire upon your Right Torso, expecting to put that AC, or Large Laser, out of action... only to find that it is Center Torso located. Ah, the yelps of indignation and frustration can be quite the morale booster. So far as I know, there is NO reason NOT to move the Large Laser. The Right Torso location is 'traditional', but so far as I am able to see, not dictated by anything other than the fact that the AC wouldn't fit anywhere else. Just a few thoughts.

[@sim.frischh9781]

Ah yes, the Marauder. Bishop Steiner and i had a long comment exchange over the stupidity of rear-bend knees, as they are anatomically wrong, someone confused the heel of birds for their knee, not knowing that birds have their knees hidden under their plummage or even inside their bodies like Penguin while running on their toes. Yet we both love the Marauder as an iconic mech going back to the very start of the franchise. Nice mod you thought up there, Otto!

[@goldcharizard]

I started in the clans so i was spoiled with the timberwolf/madcat. But after playing innersphere for a long time the marauder is my go to. I will gladly salvage one if i can get my hands on it.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Oh yeah, it must have been a pain to reverse back into IS 3025 stuff. But hey, at least you get numbers!

[@cavalryscout9519]

I'm a fan of imbalanced mech designs, so the base Marauder is one of my favorites. It takes a bit of rhythm to employ well, but a bit of forethought about when to overheat and by how much does a lot to increase it's firepower. Generally the only modification I would make is swapping the ammo over to the right torso with the AC/5. The Marauder also REALLY benefits from incremental upgrades as LosTech starts to reappear later in the Succession Wars, even without anything as extreme as the full 3050 conversions. Because it's limited by heat but has good armor and a huge amount of tonnage dedicated to weapons, it's easy and cheap to upgrade into something much more powerful. An upgrade to double heatsinks alone is enough to make a stock 3R competitive with 3050 designs.

[@robertbodov912]

Ah, the venerable Marauder. One of my favourite murder-chickens in the setting)

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Lol, it's a fan favorite for sure! 🐔🐔🐔

[@paralykeet-]

Fantastic appraisal of the Marauder. I love that it can walk, but not run at times to fight. The technical analysis is wonderful. Thank you. It's a fair appraisal of a great classic.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@EinsteinTheGreen]

My favorite Marauder build was stumbled upon many years ago during a mercenary campaign series. After taking 3 critical hits to the AC/5 and not being able to find parts for the repair, my techs ended up pulling the wreckage out and replacing it with 4 medium lasers we did have. Added 4 single heat sinks on the opposite torso, and a ton of armor as well. After I figured out I really liked it I rebalanced it to 2 mediums and 2 heat sinks in each torso.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Nice nice yeah that'll work!

[@deathwatch1169]

Ah yes a beloved fan fav despite the pain of grabbing such a mech. I haven't been able to use it much myself but I do enjoy it and just like your refit I prefer to turn it into an energy only weapons platform. I also preferred using it for its designated role as a sniper within my lance. Stripping critical armor to allow my brawler to decimatem and move onto the next target to soften up for them

[@alexanderilthari9328]

The marauder is generally a quite solid mech for punching against enemy armor, if you don’t have an awesome. If you can manage to get it paired with a good missile boat to exploit the holes you punch, the pair is utterly lethal, though there are other good mechs for this, the Awesome obviously, but also the Warhammer 6D, but when those are what you say it’s surpassed by, that’s high praise. Small wonder the clans built the madcat.

[@kumarsalib722]

Your custom is a 3D with one heat sink dropped for 1 ton of armor. Somehow you gained an extra ton of armor. The 3D is my favorite of the succession wars tech. Another good variant is 1 PPC, 2 LL, 2 ML.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Friggggggggggggggg. Thanks for the catch! I've written a correction in the description.

[@Ripster40]

One of the things I found out when I started maining a Marauder 3R in my main lance is that bodies of water is its friends not only are you getting a huge boost in heat management but the partial cover bonus is a godsend.

[@MutantHeadcrab]

Was on a jumpship once that had a "museum of oddities." Claimed they had proof of "the Canopian Giant," a man as big as a mech who (somehow) piloted a Marauder. Turned out to be a picture of one of those giant novelty skeletons next to a mech and it wasn't even a Marauder, it was an Urbanmech.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

D:

[@HouseDavieMerc]

The MAD-3D is my command mech of choice since Battledroids around 1984 . After seeing the MAD-3R and being allowed to mod it according to the rules , I immediately stripped of the AC/5 for a large laser and heat sinks .This was LONG before the canon MAD-3D was ever released in TRO 3025 . Your mod of removing a heat sink to add 16 armor is an excellent mod . Heat can be shed . Damage can not .

[@SSGTWinters]

once again fanatic brief well done Senior mech tech Uchiumi Keep comin and have yourself another beer on the company tab.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Thank you sir! I do enjoy my Guinness! o7

[@SSGTWinters]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed and you have good taste? make it a tripe.

[@andrewszigeti2174]

Basically a Marauder -3D that trades one heat sink for a ton of armor then. My first reaction to the Hadouken (and the MAD-3D before it) was 'You've taken a 'Mech infamous for it's heat load and made it run even hotter." It only struck me just now that you've given it three distinct weapon combos dependent on range. Long-range, twin PPCs generate minimal excess heat. Once you get inside the range of the LL, you can alternate twin PPCs with PPC/LL to keep heat down.. Then at closer ranges you switch to LL/MLs and have more freedom to maneuver without overheating, and significantly better close-range firepower than the -3R model. Generally I don't think trading heat sinks for armor is a good trade... but here I think it works because you can alternate the mid-range weapons suite for better heat management and not really miss that one heat sink. Nice job.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Yep you got it! Using Succession War tech that was the best I could come up with. The 3D is pretty close to as good as it gets for a Marauder in 3025 imo. Just some tweaks You're correct about how to pilot it! You also have a better accuracy with the the LL if something ever does close with you. The armor increase is also good here because the Narrow Low profile quirk will multiply the value of your armor. Thanks! My editor and I worked pretty hard on it!

[@andrewszigeti2174]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed Yeah, I'm an old veteran from the Succession Wars. So many young 'MechWarriors are spoiled by their double heat sinks, they don't really understand proper heat management. Back in the day when we were fighting dinosaurs with our BattleDroids (;D), heat management was life itself.

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

A classic and reliable Mech design!

[@devinnie7572]

Marauder is my favorite heavy mech and always has been, but the heat issues are a legitimate concern. That is why I prefer the MAD-3M design that replaces the PPC's with large lasers and uses the weight savings to add 4 extra heat sinks. The alpha strike and range are slightly reduced but the ability to sustain firepower is much better when your net heat production is 8 heat per turn less.

[@gruberjens4354]

Nice analysis... We will remember it on the battlefield 😉

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Hope it comes in handy Commander!

[@arrgylerawrgyle3784]

Yay! One of my more favorite mechs, but yes, I do agree it probably should get down ranked with the ammo 💥 problems and high heat load. This is why I really do prefer the marik variant. Exchange PPCs for LL and add 4 heat sinks to pad the LT ammo bin. Not as punchy and a little less range.. but you won't be suffering after you throw a punch.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

yeah, the Marik Variant doesn't seem too bad! Thanks for letting me know about the issues yesterday btw. If I have some time this or next I'll spreadsheet your question on having 2x PPCs and 2x Large Lasers. :)

[@budthespud3226]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed The Federated variant is solid, no worries about ammo dependency/explosion, so it can throw in fights longer. But I personally prefer Free World variant myself, those PPC's can be expensive to replace when you lose an arm, and I just love having my Dakka.

[@franksmedley7372]

@@budthespud3226 I tend to agree about the costs to replace PPCs. Especially if you are a 'struggling' Mercenary Commander. I would still field the PPC armed version in any case, but I would have the replacement Large Lasers available for a 'field refit', if needed, or highly desired. Stripping off the PPCs does 'improve' heat management, like you postulated, especially with the addition of more heat sinks, as you've said. Also, those PPCs would make fine replacement weapons for such things as Vindicators and Panthers. And finally, Lasers are just 'easier' to obtain, and cheaper in C-Bill costs for both procurement, and maintenance (a not so insignificant factor for a Mercenary Commander's consideration).

[@budthespud3226]

@@franksmedley7372 Agreed, it's a better option from a logistical standpoint.

[@zahreel3103]

One of my favorite mechs. Thank you, great video!

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@nemamiah7832]

The effectiveness of MAD goes up and down depending on the optional rules that you use. With zero optional rules and just base core rules, I'd probably take a WHM instead. With Quirks, Glancing Blows/Direct Blows, optional damage reduction from the Woods, instead of To-Hit mods, MAD will reliably shrug off hits from PPCs and AC/10s barely suffering ANY damage. Especially against Mechs that can't afford standing still or have sub-par pilots. It's the ultimate "noob killer" at that point, eating Regular Pilots for breakfast with 8s to hit at best (with both shooters standing still) and high chance of dealing, like... 1 damage? From a PPC hit?

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Daaanngg I don't use that many optional rules. Just the Quirks atm. Sounds crazy!

[@nemamiah7832]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed There's nothing funnier than getting hit in the Head with AC/20 and be like "Ouch. That's 3 damage. Don't do that! That hurts!" It rattles the pilot a little bit, just a little bit, but you know. A concussion here, concussion there, you just replace them when they lose the ability to form coherent sentence, no big deal. Don't worry about it. Though I rarely do all of the optional rules. It can get really annoying, really granular and with extreme high survivability of the mechs. Which, actually, helps a lot for Light Mechs. Locust that zips around and hides in woods can be extremely annoying to deal with. You normally pray for one lucky hit with 10s to hit or smth on your scary big gun, but now it just scratches the paint.

[@kazekamiha]

Maybe one of the best Heavies, ever. Surprisingly flexible and reliable. That said it's a design that *really* needs Double Heat Sinks. I use a Marauder II in MW5. ER PPC, twin PPCs and twin Medium lasers. A bit hot but it has PUNCH.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

yeah for sure. It's one of the mechs that really pop off once the doubles become available.

[@kazekamiha]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed I mean the default setting has twin PPCs, it doesn't run cool. Might be half the reason for the AC5; to keep up fire while it cools off

[@SimonAshworthWood]

The next time I play the Battletech computer game, I’ll be trying a Marauder combination of 1x torso mounted UAC10 (with some +s for reduced weight, etc.) & various lasers on the arms.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Good luck Commander! o7

[@Kattbirb]

Unfortunately, Marauders are at such a premium that obtaining one intact is quite difficult. In our next deployment, we will simply have to make do with a platoon of Schrek PPC Carriers to provide overwatch for our Mech elements.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Heh heh heh, that seems like it would work too!

[@willdavis3802]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed 8 different plants in the Inner Sphere were producing Marauders in 3025.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

@@willdavis3802 source?

[@GliderBane]

I love both the 3R and the much maligned 3L, but I have an interesting custom build. Remove one PPC, move the medium laser from that arm to the torso to help crit pad the AC ammo. Add a hatchet and more armor. This reduces it's long range punch, but greatly eases heat issues and creates an area denial effect. No one wants to get in hatchet range of this thing.

[@supersaiyanmag-mattchad3389]

In my Mech 5 Career I used an UAC5 instead of the AC5 and dropped the Medium lasers to Small. It would be different on the tabletop game but thought I'd share since I found this highly effective, I could pop the UAC5 above a hill and get excellent damage off and stay hidden. Smashing things with 2 PPCs is always strong and combined with the UAC5 not a lot of mechs could stand up to that kind of punishment. I'm considering dropping the Small lasers for either an extra ton of ammo or another heatsink just because I don't even get a chance to use them or Jump jets, they would be an amazing addition for maneuverability, they're also always fun to use ^_^

[@matthewneuendorf5763]

I'm really tempted to swap the AC5 for an AC2 with a ton of flak ammo (specifically for extreme range point defense) and put the extra weight toward heat sinks. This should let you fire the PPCs more often, hopefully making up for the utter uselessness of the AC2 for 'mech combat, while giving it an unmatched (until very late) anti-aero capability should you encounter any ASFs or VTOLs.

[@ELPMCFlashFrame]

You've got a great way of breaking this down though I'd actually like to address your concept of how firing the weapons should play out with the 3R. Please note this isn't really a critique as much as I think it's simply viewing things in a slightly different way, for those curious, Otto's breakdown of the 3R is pretty much on point, my only point of contention is how you discuss firing off the weaponry. Personally I view that we should be firing 1ppc 1AC5 +/- Mlas if in range every turn. This gives you Gauss level damage potential or more with every round of fire, while not perfect, and potentially spreading the damage over what a gauss could do, that spread will add up over the course of a fight [and of course, firing 2ppc's when needed is absolutely important] But by doing this, you will always keep the heat of the mech in check even in hotter environments, you're firing off 15 damage+ a round of combat, and assuming you keep the AC5 side operational, you'll almost always have 15 damage shots at your disposal thoughout the lifespan of the mech unless disarmed.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Thanks for your comment! I do think your suggestion is valid if you want to keep heat down in a hot environment! I think generally pilots should be firing off as many PPCs as possible to open a hole into enemy armor before swapping to something more efficient though. I do think firing PPC + AC/5 + 2 MLas would be good later in the battle though!

[@thepiratemongoose8965]

If you value mobility (as I do) you can swap out the PPCs for LLS and add jump jets. You lose a little damage, but it runs cooler and you can reposition more easily. Starting from your proposed variant we could jump full distance and still fire a pair of large lasers for one point of heat buildup

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Yep! JJs seem pretty good on a Marauder!

[@franksmedley7372]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed : Not to mention the confusion of the 'Enemy' when you field several Marauder variants (most of the mentioned in the comments here). The look of incredulity on the face of your foe when one jumps is often very amusing to see, as the rest advance, laying down sheets of PPC and Laser fire.

[@barondiamondo6676]

Yeah! Marauder! Love Maric version, good balance

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Yeah lots of people like the M variant! It seems pretty decent!

[@vencaS81]

I realy like that first picture of Marauder with tiny front window. New huge cocpits on last invision of this mech doesn't make much sense to me.. In Grey Death books I read as first thing about Battletech, they descibe the mech as heavily armored, with small window under heavy armor in front and used only for emergency view from the mech. Primary is done by picture from sensors all over the mech displayed on the neurohelmet visor. Grayson was lucky to hit that tiny window with missile and disable that mech. Now imagine same scenario wirh that huge cocpit in 1/3 of the mech front section.. you can "blast that thing from orbit" so to say. Just my thoughts about it.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Oh interesting! Yeah I think smaller cockpits are better if it was realistic, but I feel the painters really like the cockpit since they can do like jeweling effects and stuff on it. It also is a focal point for the video game minis. But still I agree, too big and it gets a little ridiculous!

[@taelketal]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed It also changes the original look to be less like the "unseen" origin it shares with the Valkyrie.

[@jameswright2623]

Dance little jelly man dance. I love the Marauder and Marauder II. They are my favorite mechs in their respective classes. I love everything about the marauder from its weapons to its style and distinctive stride. Which is reminiscent of a predator searching for its prey. If Clint Eastwood was a mech he would be a Marauder. Fun fact: Star League bought the first production line of the Marauder. It was actually illegal to own one outside of the Star League military for a time. Truly a premium mech. The Marauder isn't the best mech in its class but you can't go wrong with one.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

UH! Yeah we ran out of patience! 🤘 Glad you enjoyed it James! It's a super iconic mech of the franchise. 100% Clint would be a Marauder pilot, the mech was a favorite ride of the legendary Gunslingers back in the Star League days. And yeah, the MAD isn't perfect but you can't really complain if you have one!

[@jameswright2623]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed I look forward to seeing your next video and it goes without saying you guys do great work!

[@PrudentMantis]

My personal Marauder Refit is very similar to yours, but yoinks the LL for a four-pack of MLs (fluffed as ripped from a totalled Hunchie's hunch) to be able to have the armour and sinks yours has without going overweight (lol). Loses the close-in holepuncher, but in exchange has an absolute PLETHORA of brawling potential that it can fire on a run for only +1 heat.

[@derekburge5294]

"-by prying it from their cold, dead fingers." Yeah, so SOP then. Can't remember if it was in the hands of a Taurian or a drac, but ran into one custom MAD that I loved... Dude took a 3r and swapped the AC5 for an LRM15 and two tons of ammo. Although the heat management was horrendous, it was a monster at range.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Heh :^). LRM build might have merit!

[@Folfca]

Yay! Favorite mech and decent refit.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Ayy thanks for commenting Arlah! Glad you enjoyed!

[@ianshaliczer]

Even all the way into the IlClan Era, I swear by the MAD-2R. It’s damn near the perfect ‘Mech.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

:)

[@TheAchilles26]

Tbf, the IlClan Era is basically recovering the techbase that produced the MAD-2R

[@DozenDeuce]

My favorite Marauder was removing the AC5+ammo, adding 2 tons of armor (184>216) & 7 heat sinks (16>23). Then I could fire 2 PPCs & 1 ML with no heat

[@richardstephens3327]

Another mod you might look at for this mech is to remove the torso hard point entirely and use the weight for additional heatsinks. This allows you to alpha strike every round with out building up any heat at all. Or using a little of that weight for some Jump Jets, improving your movement while still increasing your heat dispersion.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Ye! I did take a look at essentially just removing the AC/5 for Jump Jets and heat sinks to get a mobile Command Mech. It's possible, but I feel the torso gun is what made it iconic. It's one of those mechs that really blossoms once the timeline starts moving forward!

[@DzinkyDzink]

Here come the big guys!

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Oh Lawd they comin'!

[@AccessAccess]

In truth many worlds and areas within those worlds are nonstandard. As far as temperature it's far more common to have a world that is colder or hotter than normal than terra-like. So the stock Marauder does a good job on colder worlds or other areas where overheating is less of a problem. Personally I always preferred the Warhammer which has a similar dual-PPC setup useful at range, but is far more versatile in roles than a marauder (with decent close-range fighting abilities).

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Yeah! Very true about the temperature of worlds varying. The AC/5 would help quite a bit there. I agree thee Warhammer is quite nice! Hopefully I can make a video soon about it. :) Thanks for taking the time to write!

[@danielvandersall6756]

I personally like to shave some weight off with XL Engine and Endo Steel, then replace the AC/5 with a RAC/5. Still have the PPCs for ranged damage, but the RAC makes it a very bad idea to close. A pair of SRM 6s is not a bad idea instead of the RAC too.

[@HeadHunterSix]

Marauder is perhaps the only 75-tonner I'd rather take than the Orion. It makes a wonderful head-hunter (see what I did there?) in HBS and I'll often upgrade the main gun just for that purpose. Lots of choice salvage that way!

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Heh, it runs a bit hot to be very good imo! But it's not terrible

[@TheAchilles26]

Black Knight can be a solid 75 tonner as well

[@JediKnight_Revan619]

I love this mech in Macross/Robotech

[@shayminthedoctor9663]

One of my favorite IS heavies of all time

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Yeah! It's pretty great!

[@Spartaner251]

how did you got two tons of armor on a MAD-3D while dropping only one heat sink? i like the 3D very much since the lasers allow for close range shooting and moving while the PPC cover the range.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Aww heck, is there another error? D: Should be the 3D with -1 heatsink but +1 armor.

[@Spartaner251]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed only the armor value in tons on the slide at 6:19 says 13.5t armor instead of 12.5 like the 200 points of armor say.

[@shadekerensky3691]

Can't wait till you do a Lancelot video, even as the 25-02, it's still a fun 'Mech. Also the 3D is the best Marauder.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

I have a Lancelot mech! Not sure if I'll cover it anytime soon but it seems neat!

[@shadekerensky3691]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed lol Shame, but yeah, it's honestly my favorite Heavy 'Mech of all-time especially the LNC25-01 with that 97.2 km/h top speed.

[@ero9841]

Not bad alternative to the davion version nice right up. Biggest down side of the murader I've seen is simply everyone knows how to fight against them. On builds I always loves swaping the ac5 to ac2 then place the ammo and gun center line in the torso.then add 2 small laser and heatsinks. Gives little longer poke and anti air options and little more defensive at close.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Ahh interesting variant there! Not sure if I'd drop to an AC/2 since my games are only mechs at the moment, but might work!

[@ero9841]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed it's just a small side grade tbh.

[@weaselwolf]

The Marauder is a beautiful mech but it only really comes into its own when it's got double heat sinks

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

For sure for sure. The Star League 2D looked insane!

[@gabrielnguyen5580]

was just reading some of the weapon profiles. why are gauss rifles so damn good. like i thought ac20s were nuts but omg

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Heh heh heh, I was just looking at one last night

[@willdavis3802]

You have successfully made a MAD-3D, but with one heat sink changed for one ton of armor. Well done, you copied your Charger that made it into a Catapult variant. You're the best copy/paste slime around.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Thanks! No need to come up with ground breaking new variants in my opinion. Sometimes we just need to tune things up a bit to optimize!

[@lukedudley5030]

Another good overview of a classic mech :-) isn't the ammo in the center torso? I'm sure I killed one with a lucky hit from a valkyrie once :-) thats partly why I don't trust it myself once bitten and all that :-)

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Mmh MegaMekLab shows ammo in the 3R is in the left torso Commander! o7

[@lukedudley5030]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed it does maybe its an older model it record sheet I'm thinking about lol...o7 sure you're not an elite player :-)

[@lexington476]

Show idea, how about the Hermes and Hermes II? Especially the Hermes II, that had to be used by mercs a lot 😎.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Hey Lexington, It's been a while! I think the Hermes II will probably be featured in the Tier List video but not its own video. I'll probably be hitting the more popular mechs for the time being to draw more people into the hobby!

[@shanehorvath7670]

Best Mech Ever

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

yeet!

[@ActAppaIled]

Yes, the classic!

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Yeet yeet yeet!

[@darkspire91]

Isn't the refit just the 3M variant from the Free Worlds League?

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

It's the 3D with 1 fewer heatsink but an additional ton of armor!

[@GraniteGhost778]

Wait, isn't your refit just a Marauder 3D? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds identical.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

It's pretty much the Marauder 3D with one less heat sink and one more ton of armor. Spreadsheet analysis showed 19 heat sinks was optimal.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Well, more optimal I should say. There could be a better build out there I haven't found yet.

[@maube8007]

The AC goes in the centre torso. If it's mounted in the right-torso it's not a Marauder. Fight me.

[@StigmaNYC]

I hope you go over the Warhammer soon!

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

I've played for 15 years! Taking a break now and don't think I'll go back considering the costs and stuff but I still have the armies!

[@kengou]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed I think maybe the OP was asking about the Warhammer mech

[@StigmaNYC]

@@kengou Its fine. 😆

[@Lesbian.Monster.Hunter]

I usually make it into a battlefield ninja with a lb10x on top, 4 medium lasers and an s-srm6 with endo chassis, nss armor and an ecm with tss, it's very expensive but it's a nasty surprise when it sneaks up on you while you deal with a battlemaster with a blackknight bodyguard

[@nexusofice9135]

I love AC weapons but HATE the ammo explosions that come with an ammo hit. All energy makes sense when having to deal with enemies that are looking for that ammo crit.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Yep, for sure for sure. The ammo explosion risk is a huge issue and one of the reasons I don't like them in 3025!

[@rmcdudmk212]

The Marauder is the best mech 👍

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

:)

[@noanswer1864]

I like it with a pair of Snub nosed PPCs, a pair of medium lasers, and an AC20. Can I engage a target at all ranges? No. But you better kill me before I get over there, or your front line is going to start resembling a front-crater.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

lol

[@noanswer1864]

@Nerdy Overanalyzed I might add, that even if you are playing in a game year that will let you do it, save the SnAC antics for Mechwarrior. Please don't try it on the tabletop. Unless you are running a 0/0 pilot for some insane reason, they'll never be able to land shots like you can when you are direct control of the sticks. Super fun in MWO and MW5 though.

[@onethousandmuffins6842]

Standard/LBX autocannons to me don’t start becoming viable until the AC-10 or 20, beyond that you gotta grab ultras or rotaries

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Ye, the Succession War autocannons just seem super underwhelming!

[@TheAchilles26]

I find AC5s viable if you can take advantage of their range, as long as the enemy doesn't have an overwhelming advantage in terms of number of PPCs. Heck, I've even seen the much maligned AC2 put in surprisingly good work crit fishing from a distance after a brawler stripped the target's armor. An ammo explosion is just as deadly triggered by an AC2 as by an AC20 or Gauss

[@Funkin_Disher]

You will never get me to part with my reversed 3R 'Damaurer' variant, medium laser and AC/5 in each arm and a PPC in the torso. Throws away some heatsinks for ammo and armor and is still cooler running

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Danngg that's a refit! You like the dakka huh?

[@TheAchilles26]

Sounds like a Nightstar reverse engineered back down to Marauder tonnage

[@AnonymousUser-u5n]

please subscribe for more 😭

[@spamuraigranatabru1149]

Succesion wars period, I would probably be using a Partisan tank in that role as mechs are too rare and expensive. If the fight goes well, I saved money, goes poor, can afford a replacement.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Hue

[@spamuraigranatabru1149]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed Hello, I like tanks. Ever since my friend intoduced me to MWO they have been my thing as I learnt more about the hobby.

[@ANIMOUS8]

I'm confused you indicate that it's an impossible to recreate design and don't list where it's manufactured but my research shows it's manufactured in a few worlds still in multiple successor states.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Hmm interesting. What 3025 source are you using? Marauder-3R entry in TRO 3025 in reference to its armor states "...the secret of its manufacture has been lost" suggesting that new mechs cannot be produced (if the armor cannot be made then the mech cannot). There also do not appear to be any entries on Sarna that confirm the mech was still produced in 3025.

[@ANIMOUS8]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed why would the mech not be able to be manufactured just because ferro fibrous armor can no longer be made? It even says in the same paragraph that as the armor is damaged it is replaced with conventional armor. Sarna lists several manufacturers. If you go to each one you'll see what planets still have manufacturing facilities. It will also cite the sourcebook that the info comes from. For example it lists Bowie industries, planet Carlisle as a manufacturing center and sources the House Steiner book page 123. I just confirmed by looking up that book and it does say that the Marauder is manufactured there. Sarna lists 11 different companies that produce the Marauder and just spending the last few minutes going over 6 of them, I was able to verify 5 different plants that produce the Marauder. Looks like house Steiner, Liao, Davion, Canopus and Taurians all have plants that produce the Marauder in at least limited numbers. The FWL might also produce it, I'm just not sure on the timing. There's mention of a plant as of 3016 but it was upgraded in capacity in 3050. I'm not sure when the Marauder started to be produced as I don't own the source books cited. With that many production sources, I'm surprised the Marauder isn't listed as ubiquitous.

[@elijahsnow3119]

Or you can swap for double heatsinks and a gauss rifle :3

[@StigmaNYC]

Yeah the AC5 has to go and I might play it in my 2750 campaign although it’s not ubiquitous, which is a requirement, it’s used a lot during this era. Raising the heat sinks to 19 would help. Great video!

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video. Research suggested19 heat sinks should be the proper amount (or at least really close it) for tabletop.

[@DS-wl5pk]

Did I just get mechsplained by a mfn orange dew drop?

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Well ACTUALLY....... :^)

[@DS-wl5pk]

All jokes btw, wasn’t being mean, I just got recommended this and thought the setup was amusing. All great info btw, good work!

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

@@DS-wl5pk Yeyeye, I got that you were joking lol. Was just playing into your joke. Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed. :)

[@arrgylerawrgyle3784]

Yes, yes you did. Now your gonna like it too ...

[@Anjin-qg3ie]

I like to think of him as a drop of orange juice. Or a single drop of expensive paint. Lol😂

[@matthewmarek1467]

Hadouken is a solidly built mech and just the kind of minor tweaking to a Davion design I'm apt to make. It's pretty hard to figure out how to really change a Marauder in a unique way without turning it into a Black Knight. Maybe an AC10 and 2 large lasers? It'd become a decent midrange hole puncher if you could manage the heat and were ok with possibly losing the medium lasers.

[@TheAchilles26]

I've had a Marauder with an AC10 and 2 Large Lasers do pretty good work in HBS. Haven't actually tried it on tabletop. Someone else in the comments suggested an inverted 3D that seems like a good idea (2 LL and 1 PPC instead of 2 PPCs and an LL). I've also been thinking of trying 4 MLs and an AC10 or even AC20

[@ihaveacookie4226]

To this day I still have not gotten my MAD-2R

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

You gotta go back to the Star League for that one! It's an absolute monster!

[@ihaveacookie4226]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed I'll steal one from a museum

[@ihaveacookie4226]

Since comstar won't pony one up for me

[@mobiusZero2]

Ok slime a.i. support, I can use it for sniper

[@fargoretro]

Ayy!

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

AYYYYYY!

[@Taurox220]

The fact that a mech with 2 ppcs can become cooler by replacing its AC 5 with a large laser just shows how garbage the AC5 is

[@frankb3347]

Best way to modify a Marauder is to downgrade the PPCs to Large Laser and replace the AC/5 with LRM packs. Turning it into a sort of Marauder/Catapult hybrid. I call this variant the Cheshire because it's a crazy cat.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

LRMs? Someone else mentioned that too. Seems like it might work!

[@zigzera7757]

Did they really get permission from gm just for lore?

[@da_BemBem]

You made a 3D lol

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Pretty much! A bit tweaked but essentially the 3D!

[@da_BemBem]

@@nerdyOveranalyzed hey! If it works, it's worth using! And this definitely works.

[@EricVulgaris]

This mech (3R) consistently lets me down on the tabletop. This thing is the definition of a B heavy mech. You're typically shooting a single PPC and AC5 hitting on like 10s+ early on walking. Anytime you're hitting on 8s or less you're firing both your PPCs and you're overheating like crazy. You have a window of 2 turns before this mech just becomes a 75T space heater in the crucial battle rounds. No thanks. Warhammer outclasses this thing in every way.

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Break up with the 3R and try the AWS-8Q. She's hot the prettiest girl of the bunch but she's got it where it counts. :3

[@nerdyOveranalyzed]

Or yeah the Warhammer ain't bad either. xD