Why Do We Love The Rifleman?

Today, we look at the classic 3025 Rifleman and see what it has to offer.
Rifleman Legend Killer 2 Record Sheet: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/j82jpe...
Rifleman 1MF Record Sheet: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gi75i6...
References: 3025, 3039, 3050 TROs, BattleTech Legends, Project Phoenix TRO, House Davion Sourcebook, IlClan Rec Guide 8, Nova Combat Book: Rifleman.
Mercenary Star: The Grey Death Legion Book 2. Pg 96. William H. Keith
Warrior: Coupe pg 128-129. Michael A. Stackpole
Wolves on the Border pg 33. Robert N. Charrette
Close Quarters (pg.136) By: Victor Milán
“Story of the Legend-Killer” By. Randall Neil Bills
Thank you to Dwane Loose, Anthony Scroggins, Matt Plog, Bishop Steiner, Alan Blackwell, Chris Lowry, Dale Eadeh, Harri Kallio, Loston Wallace, and all the other BattleTech artists that have brought the IP to life through their amazing work.
BattleTech imagery and mech info remains the property of Topps.
Some imagery/video from Pixabay
#BattleTech #Mechwarrior #CatalystGameLabs #lore

[@derekburge5294]

"Okay, let me make sure I understand this right," the test pilot shouted as he slowly climbed out of the 5M's cockpit. "You added double heatsinks to help manage the heat." "Yes! It's a great addition!" the engineer called up from the ground level, his clipboard waving back and worth as though it would fan the words up the mechwarrior faster or something. "Yes, good, that's good." The pilot hesitated. "But I can't help but notice you installed an XL engine... In a machine that's already known for being vulnerable." Nod nod, went the engineer's head. "Had to save weight for the ultra autocannons! Doubles the firepower!" "But you didn't add more ammunition, so the ammo problem is worse now." That gave the tech pause. "Well, we did improve survivability! It has a whole extra ton of armor! And we installed CASE!" "Ammo explosions aren't exactly..." The pilot trailed off and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, better heat management, but worse ammo and XL engine. Fine. What's the pricetag?" "Ten million, give or take." "You *doubled* the pricetag?! When I get down there, I am going to end you!" Recording ends.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Salesman: *slaps the Rifleman 5M* We're going to get so many mechwarriors killed in this thing.

[@derekburge5294]

@@MechanicalFrog Mmm, that salesman's gonna need to roll a critical check.

[@Omniseed]

Try an RFL-5D with a 250LFE, twin heavy PPC and a half dozen vanilla small lasers, endo, max the armor and stuff it full of double heat sinks

[@DIEGhostfish]

​@@MechanicalFrogCaptured! Captured.

[@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey]

Because Chuck Conners was one hell of an actor.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I get this reference.

[@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey]

@@MechanicalFrog I'm actually about as old as this Western TV show. My dad watched the reruns every day back in the 70's. So I grew up with the Winchester spinning, from the hip shooting rancher and his son.

[@SulliMike23]

Who is Chuck Connors?

[@roshee5573]

Now that’s a name I’ve not heard of in years 😊

[@cliffg.4205]

I understood that reference.

[@Xydarc]

Classics never die, they just run out of ammo

[@MechanicalFrog]

Truth... *fades away*

[@SpaceMarine4040]

I love the rifleman for intruding into the enemy's chain of command and denying their requests for air support.

[@MechanicalFrog]

"no fun allowed" - Rifleman

[@bthsr7113]

@@MechanicalFrog No, just for the Rifleman's friendly bombers who don't have to worry about fighters intercepting them on attack runs.

[@dwwolf4636]

@@MechanicalFrog I've come to a very different re-interpretation of the Rifleman. Role : Firesupport/Anti-Air. Now it's origin is a dual heavy energy weapon medium mech. So if the intend is to add Long range fire support that also enables efficient Anti VTOL/Aerospace asset capabilities the only logical conclusion is to remove the AC/5s and to replace them with 2 LRM5s and a single ton of ammo for each removed AC/5. 2 LRM5s instead of a LRM10 guarantees 2 Hit-Location rolls to cheese VTOL and Aerospace asset vulnerabilities. And they do 6 dmg on average versus the 5 of AC/5. Ammo load is also increased by 20%. /Fun mode engaged: For all this allows for the installation of 15 Heatsinks total, and 9.5 tons of armor. It can employ the Large Lasers MUCH longer, it isn't as vulnerable ( though it still isn't a line mech) and is better in its firesupport/Anti air role and has better surviveabilty. Now if the object is to retain the Dakkadakka sticks, that's also possible, though not quite as efficient, you gain some versatility with special ammo types for the AC/5s. Remove the 2 LL, replace each one with a LRM-5 and 1 ton of ammo. 3 tons of ac/5 ammo and 9.5 tons of total armor.

[@clarkreamer4560]

On tabletop watched a Rifleman pilot charge to close range to finish off an immobile Firestarter. Dueling alpha strikes ended up with a dead Firestarter and a shut down Rifleman who exploded the next round due to a failed heat roll. There were several minutes of laughter followed by deep discussion over whether the Firestarter pilot got credit for a kill.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I do love a happy ending...

[@radwolf76]

"Why do we Love The Rifleman?" Chuck Connors spin-cocking after blasting off a dozen loads. (also the Armor Diagram is a welcome addition)

[@MechanicalFrog]

I knew I forgot to add something.

[@paulstanton6104]

Call me old school but I still like the Macross Defenser/Unseen design more. Something about staring down the business end of four big barrels makes this mech intimidating. Chuck Connors is pure legend.

[@MechanicalFrog]

This is fair. I do like the classic look as well.

[@jefffreese947]

Bonus points given for mentioning Chuck Connors!!!

[@Brigand231]

My favorite detail of the original Rifleman's appearance was that it had the same legs as the Warhammer.

[@ambientlight3876]

@@Brigand231 I actually (again) made a variant using recovered Star League tech with 4 ER Large Lasers as its only armament... Just for those who want a 4 barreled design...

[@MOrab46019]

Been awhile keeping weights in my head AC/5 and ammo same as Lg Laser with couple HS added?

[@Elrigger]

The tro 3025 rifleman is a tough mech to play on tabletop effectively. You really have to put yourself in the support role mindset to even have a chance at being successful.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Absolutely have to play it smart. No death charges.

[@Brigand231]

It may not be the most heat efficient design out there, but it can bring the pain when needed. I always thought it was so cool that the original Rifleman and Warhammer had the same legs.

[@DIEGhostfish]

The Legendkiller you present is incapble of GN's most famous kills: Bouncing Large Lasers off the mirrors of the Steiner arena.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah... you're going to have to take it up with Shelly in Human Resources.

[@garomcfbgdd3211]

Starring Chuck Connors! Edit: omg. I'm not the first to make that reference.

[@MechanicalFrog]

We are so old...

[@garomcfbgdd3211]

@@MechanicalFrog I'm not THAT old. ...I just have good taste in TV... .>

[@sebastiang.5032]

I have painted one of those bad boys, but I really want to paint the one I got from the Essentials box, too. Such a cool machine. Not the mightiest Mech under the sun, but it has style in droves.

[@cobalt968]

Robots with gun arms and radar dish parts are always cool!

[@MechanicalFrog]

It does have that swagger.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I can't find fault any fault in this statement.

[@michaeldenz5196]

The one I painted came from that Essentials box. It's pretty rad

[@g3lberV0g3l]

Still need to paint one for my mercenary company… well Batallion to be fair. But so many mechs. So little time

[@mdsx01]

In almost every varient that I've made over the years I drop the medium lasers. If you've got a threat in med laser range, it's better to use those ACs or large lasers to put it down quick.

[@Arnuld15Governator]

The ancestor of my favorite mech in the battletech franchise, the Rifleman IIC. It's decent in Mechwarrior 5 especially if you have a lance of team mates to distract the enemy while you pelt them down with fire support and suppression. Although personally I always grab a Jagermech on first availability, the IS Rifleman still holds a significant place in my mech collection. Sometimes mechs can have a rough start but at the time it was introduced it still serves it's purpose which tells everyone the significance of AA and fire support. It's ironically one of the few mechs I can see actually becoming a real thing in our universe as well due to the idea of a mobile AA platform being invaluable even in modern times.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Aff. Quite a few 3025 mechs didn't come into their own until that Helm Core upgrade.

[@jasonfarley9025]

Because it is the finest of 'mechs You may not like it But this is what peak Battlemech looks like

[@MechanicalFrog]

This is THE youtube comment. You may not like it, But this is what peak commentary looks like.

[@Finwolven]

My friends and I have a campaign going from way back in High School, in 1997 or so, that's still on-going. And my Rifleman RFL-3C has truly stood the test of time (and is now on her second MechWarrior), and multiple golden BB shots to engine criticals. She has withstood with no complaint a full salvo point-blank from an SRM carrier, and has become the Turret of The Lake after an APC let out a burst and critted her in the engine (we misread the rules back then to double the engine heatsink efficiency if a mech was in water). She's fought in the Solaris 7 Arenas, taking down a Marauder with a double killshot (one in the chest, one in the head), and faced down Solaris mobsters with sparkly anti-laser-armored mechs with the double bang of the trusty AC/10s. She's gone into battle with less than one full ammo bin when supplies got scarce, and has held back a horde of pirates with light mechs trying to raid a train we were protecting, taking down a record of three light mechs in one combat round (one with arms flipped shot, other with the front lasers, and the third one was dumb enough to be in base contact for a kick). She's now been finally dressed up with the upgrade set she deserved: Twin LB10X's, double heatsinks, a pair of ER Mediums and a couple of jump jets to get her to dance when the terrain is rocky. She is the Ol' Reliable. The Betsy. My First Love and the first battlemech to make tabletop CBT a fun experience for me.

[@MechanicalFrog]

That's one heck of a long campaign!

[@fix0the0spade]

I used to run (when allowed by the GM) a custom Rifleman that deleted the AC5s in favour of 4 extra Medium Lasers (2 in the arms + 2 more in the torso), 4 tons additional armour (11.5t, close to max for a 60ton mech) and 9 additional heatsinks. Even with 19 Heatsinks it's a bracketed weapon load, but 16 points at range and 30 points up close is extremely useful. Plus it had the benefit on no ammo and the persistence granted by heavy armour. It leaned heavily into the Rifleman's lack of running away ability and served me well on multiple campaigns, resupply's for wimps, now stand and face the enemy!

[@mistformsquirrel]

Ah, the Rifleman, one of my favorites

[@MechanicalFrog]

Nice. Glad today is your day, then.

[@wraith7989]

I loved seeing the Rifleman on the tabletop. Especially when I wasn’t the one using it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Clever...

[@Mofflin1]

I never leave home without one of these, probably my favourite heavy for rule of cool. Great vid as always Mechfrog.

[@calumdeighton]

The Rifleman. The mech you bring over the Jager. The Rifleman. The mech you shoot with to snipe aerospace jocks. The Rifleman. The eternal mech you want with you.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm glad it has its fans.

[@z3r0_35]

I once utilized a custom Rifleman that was actually quite amusing. It had a 300-rated light fusion engine to give it a 5/8 movement profile, endo-steel, and 10.5 tons of ferro-fibrous armor. What was it armed with? Four light PPCs and four medium X-pulse lasers, all linked to a targeting computer. The idea is that for most enemies you'd use the light PPCs, but if something gets close you just stand still and switch to the medium X-pulse lasers, all but guaranteeing you'll hit even the fastest enemies trying to get in your face.

[@michaeldenz5196]

I ran a 5D in a recent tabletop game. Being able to run and just tape down the triggers of the two ER PPCs made it a constant headache for my opponent who prioritized it over other heavier targets. It was fun, and though it was the great causality it knocked a lot of holes in my opponents mechs

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad to see it paying for itself in the suffering of other mechs.

[@michaeldenz5196]

@@MechanicalFrog I'm gonna try some of those other variants. I have like two others to paint, so one is definitely going to be 4th Crucis Lancers. So thanks for highlighting some

[@GojiKaichou]

With the AC/2s, it's a pretty effective "sky broom", but struggled hard with heat sinking issues that could turn pilots into toasted pop-tarts fairly quickly. I love how the Jaegermech was trying to be "The Rifleman 2 - electric boogaloo", but where it improved on a few things, it somehow managed to make everything worse.😂

[@elchjol2777]

In HBS's Battletech game I have a Rifleman that has two Snub PPCs/PPC-Xs/Shotgun PPCs (Whatever you want to call it), two medium lasers and two MGs with a large amount of extra armor added to it. Great brawler that had enemies come to it. It seems the AI in that game does not account for the loadout modifications when it tries to take it down thus they rush the mech as if it was a stock rifleman.

[@CanuckWolfman]

I've got a Rifleman variant I like that I call the RFL-4D1. The idea behind it is that it's a design dictated as much by budget as by doctrine. Its whole purpose is to be a relatively cheap way to get a lot of LosTech-equipped heavy 'Mechs into the field after the rediscovery of the Helm Memory Core. Simply put, it's an upgrade kit meant to be applied en masse to standard Riflemen bought from people who sold them off after buying the latest and greatest new design. The -4D1 swaps the autocannons for ER PPCs and downgrades the large lasers to mediums. Sixteen double heat sinks let it stay heat neutral while firing both PPCs at a full run. 11.5 tons of Ferro Fibrous armor makes it about as tough as a 60-tonner can be, and a TAG on the centerline means that brawling with it is probably a good way to get a face full of artillery. And all with a sticker price of 5,702,400 C-Bills. I also have a -4D2 variant that's supposed to be the production version of the above. It's built on an endo steel chassis, has 12.5 tons of standard armor, moves all four lasers to the left and right torsos, and mounts a pair of 40mm machine guns coaxially with the ER PPCs to remind infantry of the difference between concealment and cover. And, of course, it still has the TAG in case it wants to call for fire.

[@gregkun1]

I love the rifleman. I even did an in-lore Rifleman fix. A complete redesign by an upstart private mech company succeeded but due to cutthroat politics, everyone wanted to take it from them or eradicate it completely. As well as legal action for copyright infringement of the original Rifleman. The CEO easily beat it by renaming it to the Marksmen. lol but in the spirit of the topic, I made a Rifleman called The Infiltry Killer. Costs: BV: 2,325 Cost: 11,668,800 C-bills Movement: 5/8/4 Engine: Clan 300 XL, Clan Double Heat Sinks: 15 [30] Gyro: Standard Gyro Internal: 99 (Clan Endo-Steel) Armor: 201/201 (Clan Ferro-Fibrous) Weapons; 10 AP Gauss Rifle (Clan) 4 in LA&RA. 1 in LT&LA (4 tons of Ammo 160 shots) 4 Medium Pulse Lasers (Clan) 2 in the LT&RT 1 Anti-Missile System (Clan) in the CT (1 ton of ammo in the CT) Equipment: Targeting Computer [Clan] (Clan) in the RT Fluff Perk: Precision Weapons linked AMS. An AMS with a mechs Targeting Computer can be use to fire on other targets than just missiles and other mech weapon systems can be use in conjunction with or without AMS.

[@crabman3144]

I had a lancemate in Mechwarrior 5: Mercs running a Rifleman for a while, I forget which variant it was, probably a 3N. The questionable AI in that game meant that even though I tried to order the pilot to hang back and use his range to his advantage, he invariably ended up closing in to brawling range anyway. They always came back alive, but the mech usually returned missing one or both of its arms. This was before the Dragon's Gambit update that improved the AI. Might have been better if I was at the helm, but I was fairly comfortable at the controls of my Champion at the time. I believe the other two mechs in the lance were both Hunchbacks, one a classic 4G and the other a 4P.

[@MechanicalFrog]

In my current MW5 game, I'm running an up armored 3N with two AC/5s and 4 medium lasers.

[@haileysaint5443]

I have to confess, I'm a big fan of the classic RFL-3N in spite of its flaws. In MW5, I used a variation of it where I dropped the Large Lasers for another pair of Mediums, and used the tonnage to add in more AC ammo as well as armor and heat sinks. I recreated it in Mech Factory as the RFL-ISM. I do have another variant, though: the Rifleman C ISM. It uses all Clantech, of course. XL engine, endo steel structure, DHS, and Jump Jets (only 3, though). Its weapons are 2 LB-5X autocannons each with 2 tons of ammo, a pair each of ER Large and ER Medium Lasers. Have fun with that.

[@georgesulea]

Any day you can start out with a Mechfrog video is a good one; great stuff Sir! (BTW, the new profile pic stats with the armor and such are really nice too:)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad to hear it and for the feedback on the new stats look.

[@garomcfbgdd3211]

The head on armor profile is a frog's XD

[@anselmoffrisia2930]

Like the Goliath from Mission Force: Cyberstorm. That similarity was one of the earliest things I noticed when I started getting into Battletech. Interesting video. Thanks!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks a lot. Have a great day!

[@radwolf76]

See also Destroid Defender from Macross/Robotech.

[@philippauli8162]

​@radwolf76 you really can't...unsee it?

[@anselmoffrisia2930]

@@philippauli8162 yuk yuk yuk

[@scytheseven9173]

Thanks for the video! I'm a big fan of the MF variant, and I appreciate how you go up and down the timeline for your 'Mech videos, from the Age of War or Star League all the way to the ilClan era.

[@Geeko170]

Later era riflemans are nasty. They fix the armor problems and make the weapons even more dangerous. I’ve seen them be snipers, I’ve seen them be urban fighters, I’ve seen them be nasty brawlers. The Rifleman is a Swiss army knife of mechs.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It can be quite useful if deployed well.

[@michaeldenz5196]

Some of those later variants are crazy. I'm definitely going to use them more

[@fherot8200]

My wife went to LA and to some toy store where she found a model kit of the Destroid Defender years ago so no matter what mechs I like - the Rifleman will always be the one I have at home.

[@bartonbrevis3831]

Did one variant with the Ac/5's and Large lasers replaced with 4 AC/2's and a ton of ammo per pair. It was meant to better reflect the Defender ADR Mk X, from SDF Macross. It dropped some dps, but didn't have heat issues, and the original ton of AC ammo went to adding a ton of armor.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It would be quite the AA platform.

[@bartonbrevis3831]

And crit seeking fire support.

[@MOrab46019]

Might try that one with 4 LB-2X ACs IS and Clan. Just to see what it can do.

[@SteveVerstaka]

Because having a good firing lane and the damage to make anyone crossing it reconsider their choices is fantastic.

[@MechanicalFrog]

So long as the targets stay over there, things are fine. This is all fine.

[@HouseDavieMerc]

A Rifleman as part of a group means that any attempt at a back attack upon the unit may come at a price for the attacker. It was the first mech that could flip it's arms and fire all arm mounted weapons behind it. An early strategy for mobile combat was to place a Rifleman towards the center and Marauders/Warhammers towards the side of a moving formation. That allows a lot of firepower to focus towards the rear and discourages flanking units. It also keeps the Rifleman just a little further from enemies and puts higher priority targets closer. You can't normally fire all those big sticks at once but the ability to burst fire when you really need it is good to have. The 10 point hits from the 3C or 4D can really make opponents rethink going for back attacks. Yes the armor is paper thin but it has the BV of a line medium.

[@MechanicalFrog]

True that.

[@Caffeinated_Kitsune]

Thanks for unintentionally reminding me that I've still got a IIC that I have to finish painting. Solid vid as always.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I love the Rifleman IIC. Form and function.

[@legomech1946]

The IIC is such an amazing mech. My favorite Rifleman by far.

[@oracle427]

Back in the mid 90s there was a REAL TIME text based Battletech 3030 MUX that one logged into with their dial up modem. It faithfully followed the double blind boardgame rules with sensors and *all* unit types, ground, air, space. It was glorious! I had the "pleasure" of being assigned to a RFL-3N in my Kuritan unit, the 2nd Night Stalkers. This was after a period of piloting a Hermes. I dutifully trained and learned to fight in the Rifleman using the combat simulators in the base. I could put up a decent fight in favorable terrain. Eventually we were finally deployed to combat on some enemy planet. My first mission I was assigned to a patrol along with a Clint and a Saracen hovercraft. We were bounced at short range by a clever Mongoose and some medium mech while I was fording a level 1 river and a sitting duck. They landed enough hits to force a pilot skill check which I failed falling backwards. The damage from the fall penetrated the paper thin rear ct armor and flooded the ct disabling the mech. It wasn't even worth sending out a tow to try and recover it. The silver lining was that I was rescued and reassigned to a Warhammer. :)

[@MechanicalFrog]

I always wanted to try that MUX but never had the opportunity.

[@Ruggedtoaster]

I have a soft spot for the 6/8X variants of the rifleman, in my head it fills the AA roll in lightning companies that’s high speed over firepower leaves them vulnerable to things like enemy air support that can maintain contact with them. And the 8X is also a great spoiler for enemies that expect certain things from a rifleman like low speed and weak heat sinking.

[@theintern2960]

This brings up a question- the Rifleman Hybrid (Sneede) wasn't included here, ostensibly because it's only got parts of a Rifleman, but would you consider a video detailing some of the more famous FrankenMechs of the setting? Maybe even come up with a FrakenFrog of your own?

[@MechanicalFrog]

That sounds like a fun video idea.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

Ahh the Rifleman; aka, the Walking Bofors platform. Iconic visual design. A simple, intuitive, intended role. It's a mech that really stretches the idea of a "Fix-er-Upper" since the standard Rifleman 3N is a thinly armored EZ Bake Oven with a penchant for exploding violently. Though to be fair it's not the design's fault so much as it was FASA Corp doing all the drugs when statting out Autocannons; specifically, making the AC/2 and AC/5 weigh twice as much (unloaded) as they really ought to for their effect, all while posing a significant risk via ammo detonation. I run a number of refit designs, though my favorite (while keeping within the theme and intended role of the mech) is paired RAC/2s with a quartet of ER Small lasers as backup.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeh the Autocannons 2/5s really didn't get much love and the problem was compounded when DHS made lasers all that much better.

[@andrewszigeti2174]

Less 'love' and more 'respect anyone brave enough to take the 3N into battle...'

[@MechanicalFrog]

Just alphastrike and worry about the consequences later.

[@andrewszigeti2174]

@@MechanicalFrog This can be said about many 3025 mechs.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Very true.

[@ronmiller5968]

Just obtained my 3rd Rifleman today! This just makes the day all the more glorious getting a vid from MF thanks

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad to hear it! What's the painting plan for it?

[@michaelpfister1283]

This is one of my favorites, though I tend to run a variant of the -8D. Love the RAC-5s and JJs. And this is one of the few Phoenix redesigns I really like. They even kept the new cockpit style in the CGL resculpts / ilClan guide art. 🙂

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm with you. It's one of the only Phoenix Project re-imaginings that doesn't make me sad.

[@ericwollaston5654]

I have been loving your videos since getting back into battletech after backing the Mercenaries Kickstart last year. My 3025 (my current era) upgrade of the RFL in my unit moves the medium lasers to the arms, has one large laser in the CT, a small laser and 1 ton of AC5 ammo in each side torso, and lastly 3 more tons of armor. You do very good work! 😊

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you! Dropping one of the LL in order to improve everything else seems a common refit.

[@ericwollaston5654]

@@MechanicalFrog Until double heatsinks return, right? ✅️ It's like the Mechs were designed for the original battletech with the SLDF tech in mind, then backtracked to the "stone age" versions.

[@readwatchlisten2863]

I'm impressed with your release schedule. I like the new stats on screen when you run through all the variants. Very nice to see movement and armour along with weapons and heat sinks. Well done. I wanted to like the Rifleman, I do, but it doesn't do anything for me until the 6X. GJ.

[@MechanicalFrog]

This one was about 18 hours worth of work over three days. Always busy working on something.

[@azspartan5496]

I absolutely adore the base rifleman 2C, the 3 large pulse lasers are such a good armament that the inner sphere just can't match early clan invasion

[@atchman2]

I've always loved the looks of a Rifleman. However in our old MW roleplaying game, it was a suicide mech. Of course we played it with the 3025 variant.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah the 3N is a bit rough.

[@sharlin648]

The Rifleman's always been a fave, yes many of them have armour made of tissue paper and their interiors are made of cake and explodium but it is one of the iconic mechs of the setting, ya just gotta use it right!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Totally agreed. Now I want cake.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

You're right in saying the Rifleman has a lot of love from being in the OG 3025 gang. But like many from that group it just looks right! The squat body and the arms that are really just quad weapon mounts, it looks like a man o' war. Ironically, its Macross inspiration destroid was a fast scouting type with four big laser cannons. (I have no idea how to replicate that in BT design mode. 😅) I think there is also a certain amount of love in the Rifleman's history as a flak/sniper support 'mech pressed into the battle line. That has some IRL cachet which makes the TT wargamer smile. In terms of fictional Warhammer pilots being badass in their machines, well, I see it as those pilots mastering their machines and playing to their 'mech's strengths. If the Finnish Air Force could take modified Buffalos and hunt LAGG fighters with them, then there can be a RIfleman ace. Remember, it's the man, not the machine. Model description-wise, I'm good with what you said. WIth the various RIfleman mods, it's really just changing the type of guns on it, the role remains the same.

[@thunderK5]

I recently painted a plastic Rifleman from the Wolf's Dragoons set in Davion Guards colors to use it as a RFL-5D.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Nice! I hope it performs well for ya.

[@nukenuked5749]

after a 5 hour driving mate im glad theres a new video waiting for me to watch thanks frog

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@nukenuked5749]

all ways do mate 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊@@MechanicalFrog

[@michaelmoolick9419]

I love the Rifleman because it just seems to be the mech with a specific purpose most likely to be pressed into doing something you really shouldn't ask that mech to do. Then so much entertainment ensues.

[@MechanicalFrog]

All the fun in a 60 ton package. Can't ship it UPS though since it will probably catch fire.

[@h.a.9880]

I think the most thinly armored parts of the Rifleman are its legs, given that it's a second line fire support unit, standing behind cover and blasting long-range fire across the map is not the most versatile role on the battlefield, but it sure is a useful one. And besides, the Rifleman just looks super awesome.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It definitely has a great look to it. Gotta give credit where it is due.

[@h.a.9880]

@@MechanicalFrog I guess you could say the Mech is pretty cool, despite the low number of heatsinks. **badum** _tshhh_

[@hentaioverwhelming]

If every Battletech army was limited to only using the Rifleman as their deployable mech, we would be back to Napoleonic era tactics of using line infantry formations with mechs which is (ironically) where the Rifleman would probably shine

[@MechanicalFrog]

Slowly march toward the enemy in a line. Atlas: "Am I joke to you?"

[@hentaioverwhelming]

@@MechanicalFrog A Rifleman is still cheaper than an Atlas in most cases with the added benefit of truly reliving the Napoleonic era battles as more than just LARP-ing

[@WolfHreda]

My personal upgrade to the Rifleman is always: Double Heatsinks, LFE, CASE, an extra ton of ammo, and Ferro-Fibrous Armor for added protection using whatever weight is left from the engine switch and FF upgrade. Edit: I don't know who dreamed up the Legend Killer with jump jets, but I don't like it. It would make much more sense for Gray Noton, who I don't recall ever using jump jets, to replace the large lasers with a pair of mediums, and dump the 8 tons he saved into an extra ton of ammo, two heatsinks, and all the armor he can convince that thing to hold. And he'd probably distribute it evenly between the front and rear torsos, seeing his love of pulling the arm flip maneuver against unsuspecting opponents.

[@andreykuzmin4317]

Rifleman: A Jagermech, that actually works. I have a weaknes for BRRRRRT mechs, making their best grounded A-10 Warthog impression.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The need for BRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTT! is real and valid.

[@lukedudley5030]

Another great vid :-) we love the rifleman because it looks great, doesn't quite pack the punch of a jagermech but lasts longer in a fight :-) can't believe I said a rifleman out lasted another heavy mech with its low armour and vulnerable ammo bins but there you go :-)

[@freeranger00]

Standard Rifleman mechs often show up in the NPC opfors in my campaign. I've had two overheat when pressed in a bad situation and cook off their ammo, destroying the mech. The players don't like them because they tend to shoot up their mechs and they rarely get any salvage off of them, I am kind of fond of them, despite their obvious problems. So, my unit in our campaign wound up with a Rifleman, my refit was to take out a single LL and add a ton of ammo, two tons of armor, and two heat sinks. I never used that Rifleman in combat, trading it for a Merlin later, but I think that it would've served a bit better than the standard version.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I've seen the pulled single LL option before and it's workable as a temporary solution.

[@michaeldenz5196]

One of the interesting things about early Battletech was they thought ammo explosions from heat would happen more often based on how lasers used to work. Or that players would be way more aggressive

[@catboxvideo]

as with the others of the Fated Fourteen, it holds a place in my heart as being one of the first mechs i was exposed to... the white battletech rule book from all those years ago with the Missile Boys (archer/crusader), PPCrushers (warhammer/marauder), the Bugs (stinger/wasp/locust), Mafioso Fiftyfive (griffin/wolv/shadowhawk), Atalas bmaster and two of my all time favorites tbolt and phawk . the 14 originals that i used for ages before i got new material. I STILL have my first book in its White - soda and coffee stained glory- (C)1985 . They will also be the first ones I allow my little one to use when she starts table top. Start at the roots like your old dad did...none of the new fangled toys until you can pilot a model T . Then LBX was introduced I went with LBX 5s more ammo and kept it to the back for crit seeking. my main opposition decided to mess with me and told me we could each have a modded Rifleman doe an arena style duel - still only using hardware out of the first book. . Sooo I stripped the 3C loadout for: 2 ML AC20 (2 tns ammo) 1 tn armor retained the 2 ML 3 HS 4 JJ- he could not understand my choice of combat zones (heavy urban) until he came around a corner and I landed behind him and put an AC20 round in his CT(R) .. yes i am a dirty mech that believes finish a fight fast, get paid, go home. ahhh good times and great oldies... you did forget one Rifleman - the Amaris cv rifleman III i believe it was called. up tonnage gauss gauss gauss gauss and no movement... no real ammo, but if you can land what you have...

[@MechanicalFrog]

AC20?! you're an animal...

[@thethan302]

I love my rifleman 3C. I Bring it almost every time I play battletech. The trick is to not run it out there to brawl it out with heavier, tougher mechs… that’s stupid. Let it linger in the backline in cover and come out when distances close and mechs start taking heavy damage and armor gets blasted away. Use the mech to K.O. enemy mechs, protect it for a while and it’ll earn its keep. Few mechs stand up to twin AC/10s slamming into their back CT after all.

[@rotwang2000]

I still have those game booklets by Nova. Good fun !

[@MechanicalFrog]

They're neat!

[@Blade40688]

I've always questioned the medium lasers on the stock rifleman. seems like planning for failure while also knee capping yourself. strip both of them out, get an extra heatsink and ton of ammo

[@oldyeller1111]

Ah I love the RFL-5D. Had a game with friends who like Battletech but don't really engage with the setting beyond pickup matches. I laid out a bunch of record sheets and we all picked mechs - 3.5k bv total. One guy grabbed a RFL-5D, everyone else was using single heat sink mechs, and good lord that Rifleman dominated till it got backstabbed by a COM-4H that snuck up. The Rifleman isn't a mech I would field often, I'd just use the Blackjack instead, but it has a special place for being the OG gun arm mech and just a cool design.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Oh the 5D can definitely be a fun one. Silly Commando...

[@ogrehaslayers605]

One of the 21:04 OG mechs! I would always choose the good old 3-N for my team back in the day. Never did great woth it back then, lol. But DAMN did it look cool on ths map!!! Im now running through MW5 Mercenaries, on my PS4 and just got a 4D and upgraded it to nullify as much heat as i could, and gave it 4 ERLLs. Sounds crazy right? But i send in my squad to tangle with opponents and i head cap desirable targets from Jupiter. I salvage everything these days lol. Great video, Frog! Thank you! Was so excited to see this when i got off work this morning. 👍 Damn! That MF variant is very very nice!

[@MechanicalFrog]

I am currently running a 3N in MW5 with its two AC/5s and four medium lasers. the remaining weight spent on armor and heatsinks.

[@ogrehaslayers605]

@@MechanicalFrog yes! My 3N in MW5 has 2 UAC/5's and 4 MPL's. It's ok. But mostly, and I'm not joking, I use a literal mountain of King Crabs (I have 10) but when it's a head hunting mission, I've been taking in that 4D. So good!

[@jasonmorello1374]

I mean for MW gameplay, I can see going with LBX 5s with cluster only, and large laser/light ppcs, and maybe skipping on the jumps for armor, ammo, dbl heat sinks. Because of how some of the rules go, if you take most of the armor off a location, so that the follow up removing the final point has a multi hit component, like SRM and lbx cluster does, this wrecks things really well. I might go for medium pulses instead of the large if keeping jumps, so you can hit and fade better. The best hits you take are the ones that miss, so getting a better move would be worth sacrifices but only if it is at or above your opponent.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah the MW5 loadouts are a whole creature of their own since the autocannons are pretty darn good. I'm currently running a 3N with the two AC/5s and four medium lasers and it eats face.

[@enthusiasticgrog465]

Thank you Shoji Kawamori and Super Dimension Fortress Macross, the original source.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Good times...

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

Something not mentioned in the video that made the Rifleman a legendary anti-aircraft / long range support mech (that bizarrely does not affect it in tabletop) is the targeting system. A targeting system that even the Clans never improved upon.

[@joelaugustin6407]

Opening the right torso of my brothers 3C with my hunchback then missing that torso for four rounds while he continued to tear holes with those ac10s was an interesting and infuriating introduction to the Rifleman.

[@mgtowbylogic5592]

Need a MS variant. Stand for meat shield, replace the weapons in one arm for armor, stand sideways to the enemy.

[@MechanicalFrog]

That's what the Charger is for.

[@StreakedSilver]

Honestly its to pretty to hate, It really does well bringing the old Macross design forward and making it just work so well.

[@MechanicalFrog]

A face only a mecha-fan could love.

[@kierdalemodels]

Another great vid, MechFrog👍 Who doesn’t love the Rifleman? If not it’s abilities then it’s cool look😍 I like that you put in images from that old combat book too!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Right on. Those Nova book images are adorable so I had to use them.

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

Nice! I'm pretty partial to the Rifleman due to liking anything that vaguely resembles the blackjack in form or function. I really think this video did it justice. I'd like to propose an alternate Helm Memory Core refit. Instead of the UAC5s, I actually want to go the route of the ER Large Lasers. To make it work I'd pull the AC5s and slot in some AC2s to match the ERLL's range better (and having only one ton of ammo is less of an issue with AC2s). After installing double heat sinks, I'd add one more DHS and CASE (as well as moving the ammo to a side torso) and use the remaining 2.5 tons for armor. Overall less firepower but more range, consistency, and survivability.

[@imglidinhere]

The Rifleman is one mech I have never made work. It was always one of the models that had the same issue as things similar to mechs like the Cicada. By the time I had the technology to make it work, and I mean things like MechWarrior (yes I know it's not battletech, unless you play MercTech which uses normal BT armor values at least), there were always other machines and offerings that would benefit just as much from the upgrade, if not more. The all-clantech model was the only seriously interesting design for me. That said, the Rifleman was one of those few designs where the XL engine 100% made sense to mount. XL 240 with Ten double heatsinks largely fixes the mechs' problems, plus the saved weight lets you just... up-armor it and add another ton of ammo and you *should* be good.

[@davidboothe9620]

So one match I was blind gifted a rifleman. Under 3025 rules we went at each other. I did run dry on AC ammo quick. Lost my large lasers eventually as well. The old bird still got a kill being the zombie it is with the mediums. This and a ragged stinger were all I had left and won the match. I have a special place in my heart for the paper tiger.

[@jeremysaklad6703]

I knew you were going to go for Plasma Rifles. It’s a good choice: they have the potential to be utterly lethal against fighters, which can fall out of the sky at just 5 heat over the line.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Very useful... and fiery.... FIRE...FIRE!

[@EdmondHiggins]

First off that new armor diagram is an amazing addition, very cool. One of my first miniatures, this thing is iconic and is now SEEN again. I really wish I could have gotten one of the "Rifleboy" misprints. I seldom field one these days unless I know I am playing the local 'VTOL Guy', or teaching some intro tech.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks a lot. The new data UI view took some extra work but now that it's created, it should work well.

[@exiledzebra8740]

Love the Rifleman to bits! Thought you'll never catch me using early variants! Nor later ones, not cause I dont want to but the Free Worlds League don't have many of these bad boys to use x)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hmm... surely there's a solution for a good refit out there.

[@DIEGhostfish]

As far as Grogtech goes, I like the version dreamed up for one of the Marik princes, dropped the AC5s for 2s, since you don't need bigger to force a PSR on an aircraft. The free tonnage went to like a ton of armor and 3 heatsinks. Still not really enough to cycle the 2 LLs and run. Oh wait it cuts the mediums too. It can cycle the big guns.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Looks like you have it figured out.

[@Finwolven]

They made the perfect Rifleman, the -3C, and then started puttering around with the design with the Helm Core, and only got a decent upgrade at the -6X. And then they figured out RAC's, and put those on, and it became *smacks* nice

[@andrewamann2821]

For giggles, i fired up Mech Factory and decided to see what i could do with this platform... If you push the infrastructure a bit for weight (XL engine large enough for 10 heat sinks, endosteel, ferrofibrous armor...) and like Clan tech, you can fit 2 HAG 30s, with 5 tons of ammo between them, 4 ER medium lasers, and a TAG, with marginally better armor and move speed than the stock model.... For a shade over 12M C-bills. I might have to see about running this sometime...

[@Tempest_Murder]

The Rifleman is basically the Gary Oldman of Battle Mechs, under appreciated, flawed, but inarguably stoic and fulfils its designated role, while the Jaegermech is John C. Reily.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hah.

[@michealcormier2555]

I like the RFL-7X. I have the limited edition Iron Wind Model of it. I'm taking parts of it and putting them on a new classics version of it to give it a better modern looking aesthetic.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Oh sweet. I need to quit being stingy and do an IWM order one of these days.

[@user-rs4ti8td8v]

I came up with an Inner Sphere Rifleman 2 variant along the lines of the Marauder 2. 100 tons.3/5/0 movement. 18 heat sinks. 15 tons of armor arranged thusly: H-9 CT-40(15) LRT-24(10) LRA-30 LRL-24. PPC and AC 10's in each arm with a Medium Laser in each torso. 1 ton of autocannon ammo located in each torso surrounded by the Medium Laser and 3 heat sinks to reduce the chance of catastrophic ammo explosions. It beats the 3025 Marauder 2 and can contend with the Atlas in even ground open field simulations.

[@jake4753]

Fun video. Iconic Mech, I really enjoyed this one.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Chris-dz3rs]

My first heavy mech. Tricky to use ,works well as fire support though.

[@MechanicalFrog]

True that.

[@jasonfarley9025]

I am using a RFL-7N2 in the Chaos Campaign we are playing at our FLGS It is fantastic I have it attached to my fire Support Lance (Catapult, Archer, TAG Wasp and the Rifleman) but it often ends up as direct fire support for mixed combat groups The Light PPCs are new to me, and I have come to love them, especially paired with the LBX.

[@TAVAAR7]

If for no other reason, we wouldn't have the Rifleman iiC without, and that is reason enough. But also dakka dakka mech is just cool

[@MechanicalFrog]

Good point.

[@nono2645]

I love my personal variant 2 hag20s and 2 er medium lasers makes a Phenomenal fire support mech

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hope everyone else brought ear plugs.

[@Tatsu_of_Liao]

Classic Unseen ‘Mech! Thanks!!

[@MechanicalFrog]

You bet! Hope you enjoyed it!

[@thomasgilbert2266]

Rifleman’s a true mechwarrior classic

[@MechanicalFrog]

True that.

[@Sinnersaix]

My first ever own BT Model was a Metal Rifleman. I frenchdressed it in green thicc Revel Color. Years Later i found it in a Box and shortly after i stepped on it and co.pletly destroyed it. Threw it away, good times.

[@mogytamas2]

I regularly run a AC10 + PPC variant, 1 of each, armored up and 2 medlas for good measure. Extra heatsinks added if possible. If I can manage mixed tech or advanced equipment, I bring it up to an LB 10 + ER PPC, 4 medlas, XL engine, double sinking. I think it rocks

[@MechanicalFrog]

Sounds workable. I won't turn down the LB-10x.

[@mogytamas2]

@@MechanicalFrog very much so. Thank you for the great content! love your vids!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you for giving them a go. :D

[@shawnarmitage7955]

God, guns, and Battletech. I always thought that they needto increase the weight by 10 or 15 and put it into armor and heat sinks

[@MechanicalFrog]

It definitely suffers until better tech comes along.

[@ToastedWaffles_]

If we are gunna go for fire support refits i think a rifleman built around 2 light gauss rifles is where i would start. Perhaps a pair of light PPCs to go with them. The rifleman just wants steady direct fire weapons, it doesnt need to punch holes it just cuts through its target over time.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Those would be good options. Perhaps with a targeting computer to aid them in their mission.

[@thedocklighter]

I find myself nostalgic for the 3N and it's move/fire-run-move/fire-run turn cycles of combat. Until fielding one reminds me why I prefer any other but the 4D variant.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It physically hurts to have a bunch of weapons you can't fire each turn without melting.

[@TygerYasha]

Thanks for the pdf of Legend Killer 2! Gonna print it out and send it up against Yen Lo Wang. For reasons....

[@MechanicalFrog]

I want to know how this turns out.

[@TygerYasha]

@@MechanicalFrog I gave Gray 1/1 and Justin 1 gunnery/2 piloting. Yen Lo Wang was able to cripple the right arm early on Legend Killer, but jump jetting and armor seemed to make a difference, as Gray was able to blow off the left torso of his adversary, and then score a head shot for a pilot knockout for an amazing comeback win! I think there's barely 20 pips of armor left on Legend Killer, so both mechs will need some work before the rematch!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah best 2 out of 3.

[@chrissegee]

Love these mechs. I made two different variants one with twin lite ac 2 twin lite ac 5 and a pair of medium lasers, lite engine and double HS . Works great until i run out of ammo, my second one was more a joke config but in homage to MF i had to. 4 heavy large 2 heavy mediums standard engine and a massive 10 regular HS. I fired one alpha strike, missing everything and immediately blew up…. It was hilarious

[@MechanicalFrog]

Oh those heavy large lasers... *sigh*

[@michaelsudsysutherland5353]

BBBBRRRRTTTT.... DAKKA DAKKA DAKKKA! yeah, any fire support mech with that much firepower is sure to be beloved, even if it only fires once before blowing up!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Best make that one time count, then.