Why do we Love the Dragon?

[@WarhawkTalon]

The Dragon; the mech that allowed Kurita to get away with their "No Meduims, only Lights and Heavies" approach. They just did it by having a small, fast Heavy that got outgunned by their own Light mechs.

[@TheExard3k]

Comparison to the Jenner is valid, although that thing is seriously overgunned and underarmored. But the Panther is solid except the Dragon can outrun ti. As a Kurita Fanboy I'd still take a Shadow Hawk or Quickdraw over a Dragon every day. Dragon never had any appeal.

[@Arbaaltheundefeated]

@@TheExard3k That's saying a lot, considering how incredibly unremarkable in any way that the Shadow Hawk is

[@weaselwolf]

The dragon has two of my favorite quirks: Low profile and extended torso twist... Though the extended torso twist makes the traditional rear mounted weapons even more of a freaking waste

[@discipleofsound4565]

I have a special Dragon equipped with 2 plasma cannons and 3 ER flamers, with the left arm free for punching. I call it "The Burninator".

[@MechanicalFrog]

Approved.

[@gkeaton9755]

use one with one plasma rifle, 3 x pulse mediums, a streak 6. also a sneaky-sneak ecm

[@csmead209]

I dub this model the Beavis.

[@starsiegeplayer]

Fire breathing dragon 🐉

[@RedDuke03]

Trogdor? Is that you?

[@survivalisttim]

First comment, I have been advised to say the dragon is amazing and Davion could never invent something as good…

[@MechanicalFrog]

The Dragon approves of this comment.

[@drewgilbertson]

I say sir! I demand satisfaction! Me and my Centurion will see you at dawn.

[@decepticonpecock]

​@@drewgilbertson I'll see how long it takes your dogwater luxor AC/10 to jam.

[@Zippercdrr]

Solve this on Solarus

[@androssthered1157]

Booooooooooooo 😂

[@georgesulea]

The Dragon is a classic, but there's a part of me that thinks this creature looks like a Thug with its bra stuffed with LRMs...

[@MechanicalFrog]

Scandalous.

[@Vulpine407]

I cannot get that image out of my mind now.

[@georgesulea]

@@Vulpine407 Mission; accomplished.

[@graveyard1979]

@georgesulea I prefer to see it as a dadbody samurai. Honor the Dragon or suffer its beer gut.

[@bthsr7113]

@@graveyard1979 HAHAHAHA Oh I love this!

[@indignantlamentation6307]

Fun fact: You can slam an AC10 and an SRM6 into this beast in TT with one ton of ammo each if you rip out the LRM10, AC5 and their respective ammo bins!

[@andrewszigeti2174]

Now THAT sounds pretty scary at mid to close range.

[@ncemt]

@@indignantlamentation6307 I want to try this one.

[@seb2750]

@@indignantlamentation6307 I prefer the PPC variant better. AC ammo runs out too fast in a lance battle :(

[@TwinMcQuerns]

Ppc, lrm5, 4 medium lasers, 2 extra tons of armor, 3 extra heat sinks. It will dance til the music stops.

[@StreakedSilver]

What?! No plasma rifle in the Dragon MF? Shocked! SHOCKED i tell you!

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

Truly it is a strange day😊

[@robertbensch7748]

I just realized how the dragon is the zeus' small brother in some miniature versions. Those shoulders / torso sections look almost interchangeable

[@mbr5742]

Well it is a Kurita unit and the DCMS did get their Sake Bowls kicked into the Sushi by the early model Zeus. So it is to be expected that they did an Origami variant using rice paper and bamboo

[@rjlarose5271]

I'd also say the Dragon is also the big brother of the Centurion.

[@DiggingForFacts]

The 'mech whose looks (particularly the PGI/Iglesias design) got me into Battletech. I'll always have a soft spot for that chunky nose.

[@squizzlor]

Dude Iglesias dragon is so good, love Flying Debris and His dragon is a sex symbol I still need a statute of. Once I realized its engine size was a 5/8 my fascination grew.

[@StarlightSocialist]

Boop the snoot!

[@SinnerBeta]

There's a charm to fast heavy mechs, often too lightly armed to fight their own kind but good at bullying lights. There are exceptions but often they're so bad they're cool.

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

I said this elsewhere, but I feel like a lot of the first fast heavies feel like overweight cousins to the Griffin, Shadow Hawk, and Wolverine. Same movement profile (though not always with jump jets) and similar weapons loadouts, and arguably the same armor levels. Just bigger.

[@mbr5742]

The problem is that in the 3025 time frame the GRF series can outgun the mech at long range (PPC vs AC) and some variants like the GRF-1S basically turn the Dragon into a "male prison girl friend" in anything but wide open territory

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

@@mbr5742 But on the flipside, the dragon can sustain it's long range firepower while the griffin has to take breaks to keep from overheating. And even if the terrain is crowded or rough, every second the Griffin isn't backpedaling is a second that the Dragon get's closer.

[@mbr5742]

@@strcmdrbookwyrm If the terrain is crowded you use the -S variant laserboat

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

@@mbr5742 At that point, the dragon can just choose not to close because it can outgun you at long range. I don't think that the dragon is any better or worse than either model of griffin. In a one-v-one, the better pilot is going to win.

[@Slythis1985]

The Dragon suffers from what I call the "Battlecruiser Problem." It weighs as much as a heavy mech, it costs as much as a heavy mech and it's shaped like a heavy mech but you can't use it like one. That said, in the context of the Late Succession Wars when battlefields were dominated by Wasps and Stingers the Dragon is an unholy terror by virtue of being too fast to easily disengage from.

[@krishonk7754]

I kept waiting for the moment when the Combine realized that an AC/10 would better fit the mech's usage and it never happened.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

I kept sighing when the 2Y wasn't immediately picked up to replace the 1C and 1N as being an actually effective Cavalry Mech.

[@decepticonpecock]

The Dragon is one of those mechs that doesn't really wow people in most one off games, but the combination of mobility and armor saves on repairs in the long run. I'd certainly trade a stock Shadow Hawk for one if it came down to it.

[@thecuriousanthropologist]

I mean, that was kinda the point of it - replace the Shadow Hawk.

[@WarhawkTalon]

@@thecuriousanthropologist Replace the prototype Shadow Hawk that had bad production quality. I'm with the SLDF on this one, I'll happily take a SHD-2H over a DRG-1N. Certainly don't hate the Dragon though, it's just a preferance.

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

Honestly, I think the dragon would benefit from a slight tweak to make it more like the shadow hawk. Mainly by splitting it's LRM 10 into a LRM5 and SRMS of your choice. (You could do SRM6, but I prefer SRM 4 so I can put both launchers in the CT). Shadow Hawk might still be somewhat superior thanks to Jump Jets, but I think they'd end up performing similarly.

[@WarhawkTalon]

@@strcmdrbookwyrm While I prefer the SHD due to it's jumpjets, I do appreciate the DRG not splitting it's focus between LRMs and SRMs. The DRG's weapons let it fight at longer range well, and when it get's close its weight and armour help a great deal. Plus, the way it wants to close the distance is usually with an actual charge attack, making good use of its wieght and speed. The SHD makes use of the split focus of its missiles because it needs the extra punch at close range to supplement its melee, but it still wants to contribute to shelling infantry positions from outside LoS.

[@mbr5742]

Otoh a stock GRF-1N is superior on long/medium range and in less than fully open territory. And yes, that is a GRF-1S that just jumped over the building block. And yes, those are 18 points of laser love coming up your rear end...

[@Yacovo]

Combine reacting to potential Dragon buyers in the beginning: "Please buy our mech." Combine reacting to potential Dragon buyers now: "How dare you try to buy our mech!" Thanks for the video.

[@BlUsKrEEm]

Dragons feel like an Age of War design that never retired.

[@thorshammer8033]

The one we used in the campaign against the Jags was ERPPC, Streak 6, 3 Mediums, C3 Slave, and MASC. Moving 12 hexes made a great heavy striker.

[@Bomfunker91]

Because the strength of the dragon is the people. They are the dragon, and the dragon is them. Honor the dragon.

[@MechanicalFrog]

This pleases the Dragon.

[@bthsr7113]

Oh wait, you're serious, let me laugh even harder!

[@Sierra026]

Why do we love the Dragon? Because like the Draconis Combine, it is fast, stylish, and emblematic of the namesake. It is quick in its feet and can rain down fire upon its victims, before swooping down to crush them in its mighty jaws or beneath its feet. The Dragon demands nothing less.

[@Xavis0]

I love the DRG-1G, though that is a Grand Dragon. It's a great mech available late 3rd succession war forward (3024). It doesn't get the double heat sinks of the later 5K, but it does get the PPC and a non-XL engine.

[@spencerjones841]

RIP the gladiator taken from us because the dracs couldn't be bothered to fix it after a single battlefield defeat. Which has shown by the albeit rare introtech gladiator was exceedingly foolish

[@MechanicalFrog]

Insecure Dragon is insecure.

[@PlagueOfUnicorns]

The Dragon has grown on me. I Don't have a mini that I've used for Alpha Strike, but every time I've pressed on into service in MW5 or HBS Battletech, it's performed beyond what it's stats suggest it should.

[@aylamaiia]

MW5, AC-10 Burst, 3 SBMLs, and a SRM6 was very fun

[@Fryepod3628]

Mech Frog explaining the Dragon is going to be my WoWW Legends OST for this afternoon ☕️

[@MechanicalFrog]

This is the way.

[@nemo35383]

We on New Avalon have learned to love the Dragon in all its forms. We love it so much...

[@havoc3742]

Blink twice if you're under duress.

[@mbr5742]

Nice mobile set of spare parts for those cradle robbing AC lovers ;)

[@nemo35383]

@@havoc3742 *Blink* Everything is fine here, now. How are you? *Blink*

[@ambientlight3876]

This machine is one of my top 10 'most tinkered with' 'mechs.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It has potential unrealized by official variants.

[@Ihasanart]

The most important aspect of the Dragon is that protruding snout, so you can go bowling with it. Great for traumatising many a PGI developer.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Truth.

[@davidboothe9620]

During a session of MechWarrior RPG one of my pilots drove a dragon that had a flamer in its CT. He was fond of charging opponents using his loud speaker growling and roaring like a barbarian using his flamer. He and his flamer dragon made it to week 49 of a 52 week campaign.

[@drywallisdeluxe]

Hearing "AC/2," "AC/5," etc. and doing a double take XD Through my HBS Battletech playthrough I vividly remember ripping out the LRMs entirely and shoving an AC/20 in that right arm, charging forward to beat the face off of anything that so much as looked at it funny.

[@MechanicalFrog]

AC/2 - Pew pew .... plink plink...

[@decepticonpecock]

very honorable, your actions are approved.

[@BryansVideoDump]

The Dragon is great if you can modify it. But most of it's base models are... Yeah

[@duongquan4986]

I read a guide somewhere on steam that Dragon are bad 'mech, so I'm just blown that one DGN in the main story mission to bits and didn't bother with the salvage.

[@decepticonpecock]

@@duongquan4986 your fault for passing up the late game upgrade to the shadow hawk.

[@jasonfarley9025]

All things considered, it's surprising that the Dragon doesn't have a more "war crimes R us" version

[@Evinthal84]

That lego dragon at the beginning of the video is perfect!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Frank Duarte does great work.

[@chrisi4536]

The Dragon is like the Toyota 4 Runner or Tacoma….never going out of style no matter how old it is and still getting the job done.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Sometimes you win just by showing up.

[@theprinceovercameall]

I’ve always thought that the point of the Dragon’s speed plus ranged weapons was to kite the enemy and avoid close range engagement.

[@Iknowtoomuchable]

Imagine having only an AC/5 on a heavy mech. This post brought to you by the Davion gang.

[@bthsr7113]

Now, if you have 2, 3 or 4, then that's fun.

[@crazymanmot]

What we love about the dragon: its cheap for the fire power it brings.

[@scytheseven9173]

It's not perfect, but I'm a big fan of the 3024 Grand Dragon DRG-1G, which is similar to the 3050 version but with a standard PPC, standard 300 fusion engine, and 12 single heat sinks. It can run a bit hot, but I think is overall a huge step up from the 1N.

[@Zeeke01]

The Dragon, due to a friend always having to have at least one in the games I play... I dubbed thee, my whipping boy, because Kerensky knows how many Dragons I put down... Like definitely one of the top contenders.

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

How many were to ammo explosions? That's usually what happens to dragons I play against.

[@Zeeke01]

@@strcmdrbookwyrm the majority exploded in a lovely blaze of glory

[@juangalton999]

I never thought I would get into the Dragon until I made an absolutrly broken 110kph monster variant with YAML mods in MW5. It will run down every medium and light mech it comes across and is more than capable of holding its own against Heavies and Assaults with hit-and-run tactics. DON'T treat it like a heavy; instead treat it like a bulked up medium (ala Centurion MK2) and you'll do fine.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

Speed AND Armor quirks on the Hero Dragons are batsqueak insane in YAML. I have so many omni-brawler Dragon configs it's crazy, and I love them all.

[@juangalton999]

@atmosdwagon4656 Agreed. It's a fun chassis. I'm currently running a DRG-FANG build with an AC/5 RF and PPC-X with almost maxed out weapon cool down. It's like pairing a chain gun with a super beastly shotgun. Also if you ever get your hands on it, the Zeus-SK (Skokomish) is another monster with YAML

[@atmosdwagon4656]

@@juangalton999 The PPC-X is king if you can keep the heat under control, because high grade variants of it have base cooldown times under 3 seconds. Basically, it's an LB/10-X in energy configuration, and it's best on mechs like the Dragon who can keep pace with most targets to control the range.

[@juangalton999]

@atmosdwagon4656 Agreed. Love it. It's nasty on medium and light mechs too. Especially paired with a few flamers to shut down some heavies. But yeah, that heat creep is no joke.

[@madmarauder9925]

The Dragon has always been a chubby medium to me lol

[@elchjol2777]

The Dragon,one of my favorite bits of salvage. The DCMS is quite a good source of 'slightly' used parts for me. Got one Grand dragon with two ER Large Lasers, two ER Mediums and a MRM-10 with FF-armor and DHS. Fun but a bit spicy at times and more survivable due to not using the XL engine. Has a nice big Lyran fist painted on it to boot.

[@rotwang2000]

I made a unit that had lances with a Heavy Mech, a Dragon, a Panther and a Jenner. The heavy mech advances, backed up by the Panther. The Dragon flanks while the Jenner moves in for the fast kill.

[@FrozenThrog]

I like the Apocryphal DRG-SDW from MW5. It comes with a nice hole punch and a way to twist the knife on top of being very fast. The only drawback would be the XL engine. Did not matter that much for me in the game though.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

The armor quirks make the Sidewinder much easier to justify the XL Engine. Especially if you play with a Mech Lab mod that lets you actually configure your mechs like a proper MW game instead of the watered down whatever that vanilla MW5 has.

[@FrozenThrog]

@@atmosdwagon4656 Oh right. The hero mechs have additional buffs. Forgot that.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

@@FrozenThrog Don't forget the Sidewinder comes with MASC stock! MASC + AC/20 on a mech that can already move as fast as most mediums is a real nasty customer. (it's like a Hunchback 4G that can reliably get into firing range)

[@FrozenThrog]

@@atmosdwagon4656 The MASC is great. A fast hunchback with a bonus SRM6.

[@mistformsquirrel]

Ah the Dragon. One of the mechs that I think is kind of the gold standard of what a Battlemech is. It's kind of a platonic ideal of a Mech in terms of form and function. Generalist, effective, simple but stylish. Also it has a cool name, which counts for a lot.

[@JohnDoe-oh7gf]

As MWO by Piranha was launched I developed a love for IS and the Dragon was there at the begining of it all. A rugged chassi in the game, its still one of my favorite ride. This translated to tabletop and its never gonna change. Even the old art and recent catalyst look is nice to look at. Cheers

[@BlUsKrEEm]

Back in the day dureing 3rd and 4th ed we used to say the Dragon was the tax you laid for having both the Jenner and Panther as options a Kuritan.

[@lexington476]

9:59 see, never underestimate the value of that rear medium laser 🙂. They probably do a really put that line in the novel just to show that rear weapons were useful 😎.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Pew pew...

[@mikefenton5961]

I love the Dragon II, not for what it does on the tabletop but because it represents exactly where IS militaries should go as they got their hands on Arrow IV. Tag and Arrow IV missiles would be devastating on the battlefield. It doesn't translate to a fun table top game, but it would win wars and negate nearly every clan advantage.

[@CanuckWolfman]

Good news! After getting drafted in the Panther video, I made friends with some nice men with awesome tattoos who helped me get out of the DCMS. They say they can get me to Outreach so long as I do some work for them along the way. Just... don't ask what happened to my pinkie. It was a simple mistake.

[@Tempest_Murder]

I love the dragon's lore, design aesthetics, and even some of the later loadouts... but I will NEVER let one of those goobers join my lance.

[@mbr5742]

The base model Dragon is basically a WW1 era british battlecruiser with legs. It looks cool, it is really fast and it makes an impressive boooom when hit with something that punches through the armor. Wonder if a DCMS officer ever commented on a Long Tom battery opening up "Looks like another one of our Dragons exploding"

[@andyeaton1736]

Can we start calling them emotional support rear firing medium lasers yet? So many 3025 designs with one or two of them, everyone very worried about rear attacks.

[@mbr5742]

Next up: An Ireland borne ex cav officer talking about properly adjusting your myomer bundles...

[@bthsr7113]

Getting backstabbed is a big concern, but outside of tabletop, I always question the practicality of tail guns that require the lone pilot to multitask. Now, putting them on multicrew mechs, that MIGHT be valid. But even then, the more mobile the mech, the less sense it makes. I kind of see it on an Atlas given the movement (despite again, requiring a single pilot to multitask targets), but on a quick Dragon, Wolfhound, or Flea, it makes no sense.

[@jeffersonian000]

My favorite field refit of the standard DRG-1N is to swap the AC and its ammo for a PPC and 2 heat sinks, swap the LRM10 for 3 LRM5’s, and move the rear ML to the left arm. Greater survivability, better damage, better heat management. The fact the DRG-1G does most of this warms my heart.

[@GorefatherXII]

I fell in love with the Dragon in MWO. I would run a pair of LPPCs in the arms, SnPPCs in the shoulders, and an SRM6 in the torso. It runs hot and you have to be careful when cycling the PPCs but praise the Coordinator that beauty can brawl.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

^This guy gets it. SN PPCs and MRM-10s are proper Dragon-fare. The Hero variant, Flame, has an absolutely phenomenal shoulder-canon for poking while keeping both arms ready for brawling.

[@wallman9585]

This honors the dragon

[@MechanicalFrog]

Dragon sufficiently honored.

[@scytheseven9173]

hopefully Luthien keeps making the Dragon 7N as a ploy to sell more of their Ballistic-Reinforced Armor

[@LeuvahkTrigger]

Aaaah, the Dragon. Shes a top heavy girl, with a strong back, and a mean right hook, who'll have your back through thick and thin. Just make sure to maintain those hip actuators from time to time, to keep her moving steady. Im not apologizing.

[@shdwmav]

The Dragon isn't my favorite mech, but it will always have a soft spot in my heart thanks to the early collision enabled days of the MechWarrior: Online Beta when Dragon bowling was a thing.

[@jasonfarley9025]

Love the Dragon? With the chest torn open, and the blast of a reactor breach pouring out... perhaps.

[@imglidinhere]

I think the best way to fix the main production model (DRG-1N) is thus: (Pre-Helm Memory Core refit idea at least) Swap the LRM10 for an SRM6 with 1 ton of ammo Swap the AC-5 for an AC-10 with 2 tons of ammo Flip the rear-facing laser to face forward (if possible) Add a single heatsink. If my math serves me right, that should remedy enough of the issues of firepower and give it just as much sustain as one would require from a mech built on movement and, let's not forget, the ability to reliably punch the crap out of something. _That battlefist wasn't installed for no reason!_ :D

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

I think I'd go with something similar, though maybe not as extreme. I like the SRM6 swap, though the only change I'd make to the AC-5 is remove one ton of ammo. I like having the long range option, plus it still can hit at short range when everything else is at medium. With the now free tonnage, I'd add a medium laser to the right torso, two heat sinks, and give that last ton to armor. I'm neutral about flipping the rear laser, though doing so will give this refit a punch equal to yours. The only issue is that even with one more heat sink it's going to run noticeably hotter.

[@imasspeons]

I'd much rather kick than throw a single 60t punch. Two punches might be a different story.

[@mbr5742]

Or just copy the ZEUS 6T and swap the AC+Ammo for a PPC+three heat sinks. The Mech is not that well armored and some 50 and 55t "Brawler mechs/variants" are quite capabel of killing it if it gets to close (Enforcer has that 18PT punch, GRF-1S also has it and similar armor/better mobility than the Dragon, Crab can do it with a 23PT laser punch)

[@egaroadkill8701]

Always enjoyed the Dragon and Grand Dragon. I do like the twist on it in Mechwarrior online with the DRG-Flame. Mine's one of my favorite brawlers. Sneaky, fast as all get out with the high, shoulder mounted AC20, and four followup medium pulse lasers.

[@johnb.2107]

What an absolute treat for this to come out today.

[@madcat3525]

Great video on the Dragon. I hope. In the future you would do a video on the Starslayer. Looking forward to more videos.

[@nexusofice9135]

My favorite beer belly sporting mech!

[@mistformsquirrel]

I just want to say - the Inferno launcher for the MF version is an inspired choice. Excellent

[@RyanWater-jk1sb]

another fun and informative video keep up the great work

[@scytheseven9173]

I like the MF Dragon, though I think it could have benefitted from using a Clan ER Medium Laser and SRM-6 instead of a Medium Pulse Laser and SRM-2

[@Sinnersaix]

Poor Froggy, old Age finaly caught up, so many Weapon location Mistakes. *loads shotgun* you had a good run, time to look at the Flowers =)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Huh?

[@Sinnersaix]

@@MechanicalFrog All said correctly yet some minor Mistakes in the Visuals: Dragon-2Y Flamer has no Location for the Flamer. 11:45 , Dragon-5N i am pretty sure the ML is in the left arm not in the CT 12:10 , Dragon-5Nr should have its AC in the rigth Arm 15:40 , Daron II - 11k as i take my info from Meklab...the Arrow should be spread into the LT not the RT 18:30 , Dragon II - 11R i guess Clan and Center Torso dont mix ^^ you forgot to write in CT for the Arrow 20:50. MF is just weird having the ML and SRM in the RT but i understand the Argument for Crit-Puffers.

[@chrissegee]

100% love the MF version , anything with the best weapon in the game makes me a happy Ocean Puppy.

[@wolfyhalfmoon819]

The dragon always felt like the most underwhelming heavy I've ever used. It definitely had potential, just never could find it.

[@taylorgrantallan]

I spent the evening yesterday looking for this video and was going to write a request today. Seems i have no more need 🎉🎉

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hope you like it!

[@levkamenev3904]

Now I want a Dragon II MF miniature, lol.

[@hmad898]

the grand dragon 5K is a really fun unit and has always done well for me. its low/narrow profile and fast movement makes it surprisingly beefy, and the guns are pretty decent. i just sprint circles around people and keep some distance

[@lexington476]

Just in time for lunch 👍.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hope you enjoy

[@aelreth-]

The dragon would make a decent auxillary or ad-hoc element for any garrison under threat in the current era. The Combine has plenty of them to run into the ground.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Quite right.

[@mbr5742]

As a garrisson mech I would prefer an energy based main weapon. Allows for more range time with at least the primary guns. A laser type because chances are the fight is in/near cities and minimum range can be a problem

[@randomnetsurfer]

- Love the intro music - Love the Dragon! #60tonMechsShouldntJump - I didn't know about the 2Y variant. Nice! - Interesting use of the LB10X on the MF... not sure about the SRM2 but to each their own. :)

[@z3r0_35]

I do think the OG Dragon has its place alongside the Grand Dragon, since there are some advantages offered by having an autocannon as your primary damage dealer. In fact I would imagine the Dragon and Grand Dragon would be best deployed in tandem, with the Grand Dragon laying down long range fire support with ER PPCs and such while the Dragon closes into brawling range. Future variants, imho, really need to lean into this with lots of close-range weaponry like heavy autocannons, SRMs, and pulse lasers, while the Grand Dragon can keep the more long-range oriented armament typically associated with it. I did come up with a refit for Post-FedCom gameplay which basically takes the 1N loadout and modernizes it. It utilizes a light fusion engine and endo-steel to save weight, and has double heat sinks and light ferro-fibrous armor. The primary weapon is an LB 10-X, which has the same range profile as the old AC/5 (while being twice as powerful), and with three tons of ammo - two regular and one cluster by default - one can afford to spray and pray a bit. This is backed up by twin Artemis IV-equipped MML-5s with two tons of ammo and twin ER medium lasers in the left arm and left torso (but unlike the 1N both of these face forward). All ammo is stored in the right side of the torso with CASE, losing that side will still leave you with the lasers so you're not going to be completely out of the fight even if the ammo goes up.

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

I came up with a similar idea for a post Civil War Dragon, albeit I didn't go quite as far because I wanted it to be affordable. I started on a similar vein, mainly the LFE (Light Fusion Engine), Double Heat Sinks, and MMLs. However, instead of the dual MML 5s I chose a single MML 7 in the left torso. Instead of the LB-10X, my choice was a Light Gauss Rifle with two tons of ammo. I originally had only one in the arm, but just realized that I have more tonnage to work with than I thought, so it gets two. All ammo goes in the right torso, and is protected by CASE II. Lastly for the weapons, I also had two ER Medium Lasers (Though I cant tell if yours has two or four), one in the left arm and one in the left torso (front). Capping it all off, I gave this Dragon Ferro-Fibrous armor to effectively grant it another ton of armor. Is it any better than your design? Probably not. I think the only true advantage mine has is that my reluctance to add more bells and whistles renders it somewhat cheaper. It also can hit from further, though it's counterbalanced by having some minimum range issues. If I were to modify my design using feedback from yours, I'd definitely drop the Light Gauss to get the double MML5s+Artimis. In place of the Gauss I'd put a Light AC5 (with one ton of ammo), mainly to save some weight without having to use Endo-Steel. I'd also add another ER Medium, a double heat sink, and a half ton of armor.

[@wraith7989]

The first sign that your design team needs to be fired is if they put an AC 5 on the mech.

[@fuzztsimmers3415]

Why lol

[@chrisrice7844]

Oh boy... Got some bad news for you Frog as the the grand dragon did not start life in the 3040's. Small production runs of it using the base chassis layout while using a standard PPC and with some other small modifications were fielded in the war of 3039.

[@iFallenAtlantis]

DRG-1G is one of my favorite succession wars heavies

[@takogonikanetniukogo]

Dragon do have one huge advantage on its side - if you playing lance, you can put a 5/8 decently armored 60 tonner for a prace barely more than a 1k BV. And I bet it is going to overperform its price tag

[@calumdeighton]

I like the Gladiator. The later fixed models I should say. I don't know quite why. I like it's jumpjets & it's PPC is always a win for me. Something about its bulky shape just draws me to it. Also its T-shaped visor is also a big win. The Dragon is interesting. I like it's speed but I don't quite sync with the thing like I do with other Mechs.

[@blktom]

The DC looking at the Centurion and saying 'Hold my beer...'

[@atmosdwagon4656]

Not Centurion; Shadow Hawk. Not even the good Shadow Hawk variants either; but the 2D. ...Yeah.

[@blktom]

@@atmosdwagon4656 Well, compare them. Cent has a AC 10, LRM 10, and 2 Medium Lasers (front and back facing) at 50 tons with a 4/6 speed. Honestly, nearly identical firepower except for the bigger AC. The Cent is slower, 10 tons lighter, but has better weaponry and only 1.5 tons less armor. Which would you honestly rather have? That is the real problem with the Dragon... you have /several/ mechs 5 to 10 tons lighter that have way more of a impact on the battlefield... all because of a slight speed boost. It is the Charger/Banshee of the Heavy class. The Dragon would be a seriously improved mech if it was a 4/6 with that extra tonnage going to weapons, armor, and cooling.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

@@blktom You missed my point; the Dragon is the basis for comparison here because it was made specifically to replace the Shadow Hawk. What were the weaknesses of the average (factory standard) Shadow Hawk? Oh, right, a mediocre offense due to its eclectic smattering of mainly ammo-based weapons and mediocre armor. What are the Dragon's problems? Eclectic, ammo-based weaponry that has little focus. Hell, they have the same ground movement profile. Dragon had to sacrifice Jump Jets,, but it's otherwise identical.

[@ObiwanNekody]

A most excellent mech for improving your ability to hit a moving target.

[@ITDonker01]

So much honor, so much wow for the Dragon.

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

The Dragon is one tough mech. The Grand Dragon is even better.

[@graveyard1979]

My 3025 introtech refit is entirely rearmed to 1xPPC, 2 x Med Las, 2x Flamer and the rest of the spare tonnage goes to single heat sinks. Granted, it's underarmed for the weight and it will run hot if all weapons are fired, but in this period a 60 ton runner than doesn't blow up because it was hit through armor is a value on its own. Flamers are there only for anti-infantry warcrimes anyway. It's a Kurita 'Mech after all, got to keep the tradition going. Honor the Dragon by burning people alive et all.

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

I think this could actually be pretty threatening if the flamers are in the torsos, as you could then use them the same turn you are in melee. Most introtech mechs are undersinked, so the added heat from the flamers would limit their ability to fight back. Just be sure to try and keep them from punching back. XD

[@graveyard1979]

@strcmdrbookwyrm They are both in central torso. Another variant trades PPC for large laser, one more medium one and one sink more. This one can run really hot, but a pure laser boat has no ammo to explode anyway. They are used in lances of two PPC and two large laser ones.

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

@@graveyard1979 Good thinking! I like them!

[@sebastiang.5032]

I love to field the Grand Dragon 7K... it's a beauty. 🐉

[@jamesbeard5513]

The main advantage of the Dragon is that there are so many. Its high speed and weight give it a tactical advantage against both against the top heavy Lyrans and the lighter and medium dominate designs in the FedSuns, even outpacing some of the Suns standard mediums like the Centurion, which outgunned the Dragon but had 1/4 less the Dragon's top speed and 1.5 tons less armor. All in all, it was a good enough mech during the Succession Wars, but it being replaced by the faster and more powerful Grand Dragon is understandable, as lighter designs can brawl just as effectively as the Dragon with a lower overall cost and it was getting a bit too slow for the modern battlefield and its lack of firepower showed. Still surprised there was no Light Engine variant. Odd.

[@mbr5742]

Are the Lyrans that top heavy? They have the GRF-1S variant (Similar speed, similar armor, JJ and better at close range) as a medium bodyguard for their heavies. And the Commando Heavy battle armor to warn against incoming "Newts with Attitude"

[@Kaiju-Driver]

A quality video as always. :)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ncemt]

My DRG-1N1 only drops a ton of AC and LRM ammo for 2 extra tons of armor. It also faces the rear laser forward.

[@ZacharyChristy-Aronson-wg5ki]

I appreciated the grand dragon and dragon two love.

[@dwwolf4636]

3025 refit. -lrm10 + SRM4 + LRM 5. -AC5 + PPC +3 HS. Very flat damage profile. Less ammo dependant. Better able to breach armor and take advantage of it. Better brawling. Possibly exchange the ppc for a extra ML and HS. Somehow it feels like a Merlin now.

[@ero9841]

My favorite heavy mech. 5/8 for life.

[@135forte]

Now I am even more confused about the hand thing if the books gave them a fist and the record sheet didn't.

[@Akaikabe]

Gotta agree, great little brawler if you take the time to shift it to close range weapons

[@keebbles]

Endo and light FF Drop ac5 add 2 light ppc in RA CT drop LRM10 swap to 2 LRM5s for redundancy and weight savings. And ability to target separately. LA gets 2 med pulses Saving goes into LT Ams and 1 ton ammo. And +6 heat sinks. Head and RT/LT rear each get a flamer. Sensors and FCS upgraded to SLIC and predator. LT also gets ECM, and probe is placed in RA. Remaining tonnage can be armor or 2 more hs. My model has rear flamers angling up and out so as to portray fiery wings. Later went to mml5 x2 and acid/infernos and swarm lrms. Put cap + case in RA for snubbie vs the 2 light ppcs Never really went for MASK, though. Failure or risk averse - pick any two. 😊

[@FuelDropforthewin]

In MW5 I upgraded to an AC 10 burst and swapped the LRM 10 with an LRM 5. The LRM is good enough for AA duties, and the AC 10 packs enough punch to actually matter. Now that I have an archer to handle AA I am thinking of switching to SRMs.

[@FuelDropforthewin]

To expand on this: the problem with the Dragon is that it's a chassis that sacrifices a lot for speed and durability, ideal for a brawler mech who gets in your face fast and stays in your face. Then you give it a generalist weapon set that means it hasn't got the punch for brawling while ALSO not having the long range firepower to be a skirmisher. Spec into a short range focus with a big gun and some SRMs and you will find it a lot more potent than default.

[@FuelDropforthewin]

And follow-up: switching the LRM for an SRM was absolutely the right call. Fast, pretty tanky, able to get in your face and pummel you. If you're gonna have that extra speed, might as well use it to force engagements right?

[@Richy0326]

It's possible to recreate the 2Y in HBS Battletech, and it works quite well.

[@Axzealot]

Im actually a bit sad that the Dragon doesnt have a ppc on its base build. For a ppc fanatic faction its really weird.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It is a bit odd.

[@tidusklein3387]

One of my favorite builds in MWO, was a 5N (i think its been forever) With 3 UAC2'S in the fat right hand an SRM 6 (or a rocket 10-15, depending on how cheeky your feeling) And 2 back up medium lasers. The amount of annoying dakka that thing could lay down on chain fire with the UAC2's would make orks proud. And no one expects the dragon missing its funny right arm rushing you to have a rocket 15 in the chest, got quite a few BS kills with that before.

[@Tyrannmon]

Hay mechanical frog . Keep up the great work . Also when’s the next tank episode going to be ?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you. The next tank is on the list. "Soon..."

[@lexington476]

14:20 I like the camouflage on this model, is there a bigger version of this image or where might I find it online?

[@MechanicalFrog]

The Magma camo or the one in the smaller screen?

[@lexington476]

​​@@MechanicalFrog the Dragon on the main screen. Looks like Autumn camouflage, red and yellow.

[@jiiaga5017]

5n should have went with an lbx instead of the ultra, kept 2 forward firing energy weapons in the torso (medium + small?), downgrade lrm ammo to 1.5 t, it can function as support and then close to throw hands. maybe shift ammo to 1 torso to save a case, add extra half ton to armor. It would really love a field upgrade to ferro fibrous if available.