"In combat it was in a holding action until reinforcements arrive." *Me running around rocks while annoying a Centurion until my allies arrive to save me* I feel so called out. But yay, Locust lore!
And it is _fast._ If all else fails, just run around and distract the enemy so that your teammates can wreck them. Be sure to yell "WHEEEEE" until someone inevitably takes out your legs.
One of the most fun fights I had in the old mech warrior 4 was fighting assault mechs in this flimsy looking road runner, shooting their legs from under them when their torso spin just couldn't keep up with the nimble locust running circles around them to stab them in the back...
Hello Grimdark. Way back 'in the day' (1984), I bought the original 2nd edition Battletech Box Set, and quickly followed with all the tech manuals as they were produced. By 2000, I had lost it all due to a fire. But from between 1984 and 2000, I played extensively at a local gaming shop, and at one time owned as many as 100 mech figurines for use on the tabletop. When the 3050 expansion was released, I continued my modifications of Mechs because I felt some were flawed in their designs, and I noted some incorrect math in the listed Mech designs listed in the various Tech Manuals. Before 3050, I limited myself to doing things like swapping out the Awesome's three PPCs for three Large Lasers, which resulted in a more efficient design that would not overheat as often or as fast. Other design changes were easier. Like stripping off the MG's and ammo from a Locust, and replacing with 2 additional Medium Lasers and a ton of armor. But, when 3050 arrived, I delved deeply into new designs. Creating such efficient Mechs that my play group 'banned' most of them as 'unfair', even though they were 'legal' according to the Mech Design Rules. One such example was my Locust. The Locust - LCT-XM10X. The LCT-XM10X was designed and built by a private corporation (the Janus Corporation), built by the 'Lost Lions' Mercenary Company after the Company ran afoul of both Davion and Liao Political shenanigans. The Company, numbering upwards of a Regimental Combat Team at that time, raided both previous employer's planets and stripped enough from several raids to transport all that was needed to build a Light Mech Factory out in the deep rim-ward Periphery. Jason Starr Butler, the current Commander of the 'Company' moved it's assets to an unknown Ice World on the primary planet of a smallish G-8 Star System that did not even have a Catalog Number. The Company records only listed the star as 'Styx', and it's planet as 'Hades'. Astronomical data was only held by very few crew members of each Jump Ship, and only on hard coded Memory Blocks. DNA matching was required, in addition to specific wording code phrases, to unlock the data without immediate erasure of the block. Deep under the miles thick icy surface of Hades, the Company's engineers burrowed out huge caverns for living spaces, work spaces, and the Factory they constructed from the parts they had salvaged as their overdue pay from their previous employers. Resources were located and Mines sunk, but camouflage was uppermost on the Company's minds, so that after a Mine was built, tunnels were bored through the rock to link to previous tunnels and mag-lev rail lines were installed. Once a mag-lev line was finished, the bore through the miles thick ice was 'sealed' by the simple expedient of melting the ice from the bottom up and letting it re-freeze. Finishing the top with ice mined from other locations that was melted and poured to re-freeze to cap off the resulting 'hollow' in the landscape. The vertical tunnels were often bored at angles upon flat spots near ice peaks on the landscape so that the re-frozen ice would not look out of place upon the planetary surface. Natural cracks in the icy crust of the world of Hades were used as entrance and exit points to the various bases and manufacturing facilities, and even emergency escape routes for the many personnel and their dependents. All told, by 3370, the planetary population of Hades had expanded to over 14 million. By 3065, the now renamed 'Ghost Lions' returned to the Inner Sphere and took contracts doing Mercenary work again. But this time, they kept several Jump and Drop Ships in any system they operated in, and closely monitored their employer's actions. The Ghost Lions attacks were unique, and they had a 'signature' style of battle. Instead of the hodgepodge of Mechs most Mercs employed, the used relatively few designs, and all were unique in some manner. A prime example being the Locust LCT-XM10X, which they fielded in large numbers. Also their contracts always specified that they would be paid in either Los-Tech, New Tech, Mech Factory Equipment, or hard to obtain and rare elements needed in Mech Construction. Locust LCT-XM10X: 20 tons. Endo-Steel internal structure. 200 XL Engine. Standard Gyro. Triple Strength Myomer. Standard Cockpit. 10 Double Strength Heat Sinks (IS), Eight of which were located inside the Engine. 4.5 tons of Ferro-Fiberous Armor (allowing full armor to ALL locations). One ER Large Laser. The LCT-XM10X was specially designed to be compactly crated and moved. As such, the legs were removed and composed of three parts (foot, lower leg and knee, upper leg and hip). The ER Lrg Laser was also designed to be removed for more compact packing into the same 'crate' the rest of the Mech resided in. Total time to 'un-crate, assemble, tune, and prep an XM10X was under 2 hours, given the use of a Mech Maintenance scaffold, or Mech Bay found inside all Drop Ships. The Mech Bays of all Ghost Lion Drop Ships were designed to 'stack' two Locusts within them to be worked upon as the Mech 'squatted' in the limited space. Since Locusts were so small, this resulted in more than enough space for two to be worked upon at the same time, since large assault mechs would take up an entire bay unto themselves. The 'signature' attack pattern of the Ghost Lions was simplicity itself. 'Swarm' the foe with dozens of extremely fast targets they had little chance to hit, while maneuvering as many as possible into the rear arc of fire of their target to pierce the relatively thin armoring found there. In tabletop game play, the LCT-XM10X cost 1.35 times as much as a standard Locust from 3025. And in general play, one could filed 15 to 20 for the cost of a single lance of heavy mechs, and upwards of 30 or more, for the cost of a full 'star' of Clan Assault Mechs. Needless to say really, the light fast mechs, moving a 10-15-0 and 11-17-0 speeds, usually out maneuvered the 'Thunderfoot' mechs and succeeded in getting upwards of half the total fielded, or more, into an opponent's rear arcs at long to medium ranges, where the slower mechs could not generate enough penalties against being hit to stop from being cored from the rear. Meanwhile, the Locusts would speed across the battlefield, never moving at less than a full run, and use both the long range of their weapon and the simply astounding penalty against being hit to keep them safe in combat. Yes, a few Locusts were 'destroyed' in every combat, but losing 5 or 6 locusts for the cost of 4 to 6 heavies, or a full lance of assault mechs was worth the costs. In fact, it was very profitable. The Locust XM10X featured a set of controls in the cockpit to 'turn on, and turn off' heat sinks to keep the TSM active, and could be automated in a manner that if the Laser was fired, and the Mech run at top speed, the mech always stayed at the optimum 8 heat needed to keep TSM active and functional. In terms of game-play... my playing group started out using tonnages to keep things 'balanced' between players in battle. But my flooding the field with standard locusts, redesigned to have 3 med lasers, made them ponder their decision. The introduction of the XM10X tilted things to where they began to use C-Bill costs, which just let me field MORE Mechs. Then they tried 'Combat Value' and even there, I could field enough of my locust designs to swamp them... so, they 'banned' the mech. This happened over and over, over the years, and I got quite the 'rep' for Mech Designing. And also the largest 'stable' of un-usable Mech designs. I know this posting has gone on very long, and I appreciate if you have reached this ending. Please continue to make your videos. Just my thoughts and memories, speaking Frank-ly
Excellent post. I’ve taken screenshots to preserve this fantastic story. I’d love to hear more about your designs and their backstories. Would you oblige me when you have some free time?
i cant believe i clicked on a video for a frikkin locust lol. oh well, a mechs a mech. great video as always. back in the day i had a custom made t-shirt silkscreened for battletech. on the fron it has a locust and says "i like light mechs" on the back its got an atlas with a locust leg sticking out from under one of its feet, and says "because theyre fun to step on."
hey I know that a comment on a vid 3 years old holds little bearing upon you GrimDark but thanks for looking at it if you have, the locust is my favorite mech and I'm so glad that your have had a video on it. Hoping you have a grand rest of your day -A cup of clueless coffee
I'm not so sure about that. A sci-fi movie with giant robots fighting across a dystopian universe doesn't exactly scream mass appeal. Look what happened with Pacific Rim. Giant robots fighting monsters in a regular Earth setting and still it didn't do too well.
@@GrimDarkNarrator I agree that it didn't do well, but I did say a GOOD movie😁! Think "Game of Thrones" in the 31st century!!!!! Besides, I would hesitate to put PR in the same category as BT. PR, with it's multi pilot concepts and it's easy oversized bots fighting against monsters reminded me more of Voltron.
I used to play MWO several years ago. I had a pretty good amount of Mechs, and would play different ones, but I always considered myself a Locust Pilot. The speed, fragility, and all the legs and backs I dismantled ducking in and out of cover and even occasionally successfully dodging incoming fire were like a drug. I even lead a squad for a short time. We were primarily a light/medium squad that would scout, call targets for LRMs and wolf pack stragglers. I can't play MWO anymore. It is too addictive.
Give a locust MASC, AND guardian ECM suit it's and excellent spotter. In its original incarnation its a pretty good anti infantry mech. If you are using 3rd edition FASA rules, the machine guns are variable damage against ground troops! What I don't like about the original locust is the cockpit being off to one side, having the pilot and the tech seat side by side.... Like a car!
Due, it gets even worse using updated tech... Ferro, Endo, XL engine, frees up enough tonnage to totally armor the Mech, AND add about 4 more MGs as well... SIX MGs firing on the poor 'doughboys'?? yeah... splatter.
I like the 1E variant, the Clan 1V-C variant, and the various M variants. If I'm playing a company level game I'll usually have a couple of Locusts in my recon lance.
3025 tech: three ML, take off the MGs and ammo. If you want the AI ability, 2xML and 1xFlamer. 3050: I'm not a fan of XL engines, especially inner sphere models because of their frailty. Usually ES but not FF armor because you don't get enough of a benefit for the added cost, bulk, and complication. Unless it's Clantech, then it's debatable. With ES, you can do 2xML and 1xSL/ERSL + BAP/ECM. Or, 3xML + TAG.
The LCT-1V2 has the medium laser and 4x10 round rocket pods. It is an amazingly rude awakening running a swarm of these little bastards out and gutting an assault from a rear volley. Its usually enough to strip the armor and get a crit or two, if you dont manage to down it pull back and let your dozen buddies have a go.
In the original Mechwarrior game (the ORIGINAL, with VGA graphics), I managed to take down a Battlemaster with a Locust once. It was probably a game glitch, but on a mission to defend a facility I zipped out to find my target only for it to ignore me completely. Well, if that beast wasn't going to dignify me with a response then who was I to complain? I slowed down, maneuvered into its rear arc, and plinked the heck out of its rear armor with my machineguns. Fortunately the armor ran out before it reached the target I was defending.
Mechs like the Locust always make me wonder how Battletech deals with the economic anachronism that is a 4-unit lance. You're gonna suffer massively under the "Battleship" principle that you're in some super expensive piece of equipment and those smaller, more agile, quicker mechs are fielding the same forms of weaponry (just less). Why hasn't the inner sphere just devolved into things like mass Locusts, Urbanmechs, and even protomechs is beyond me. Swarm tactics work REALLY well, especially if all you lose is a few cheap mechs to their Timberwolf...
If ur into video games I’d love to see some mechwarrior 5 mercenaries hero mechs as well as a little lore on the video games antagonists, if u can get much. I started with battle tech because I’m not much of a pvp gamer but I love mechwarrior 5.
The least squishy of the 20 Tom bugs! I had a feeling this ugly thing would be showing its mug soon lol. I have owned several. I currently have one. They beat wasp and stinger for speed and preform best when you can get them to full run on the table turning as little as possible. I like the lrm versions backing up my light lances because it keeps up with assassin and spiders so well and can pop mine fields in a pinch. As for performance over all, against infantry it's great, makes a mess of them. Battle armor is not too bad either as long as you stand off and avoid getting tied up. Airspace fighters of any type will straight own a locust, even the lightest armed guys can kill in a single strafe run. Against other light mechs, the 20t and some slightly heavier guys like a spider have to worry but a commando or panther will win. Above that you are done. I have seen a pair of them take down a charger assault mech but only the one varient with small lasers, but It took FOREVER!!! and one of them got too close and died to a punch which would have destroyed all it's armor anyway. I would hesitate to run a locust against any vehicle with a turret, any speed advantage or range ability... Basically no matter how fast you go dice catch up to you eventually and in 10 turns any hit above medium laser or ANYTHING that hurts your speed means you GTFO or you die. You have to stay over 110kph or 11hex movement on the table and use as much cover as you can and block line of sight when you don't have the absolute advantage or you will lose your locust every time. Add to it's light weapons packages it doesn't really make a battlefield hazard to medium mechs unless in numbers. I will use it against green players to draw attention, distractions and make them waste ammo in the hard to hit machine it screen short range slower sluggers like a commando or hunchback to get them closer to the enemy it spoil flanking manuvers on them. They make good ammo sinks and meat Shields for better equipped mechs and in games where scouting out chasing really counts, not typical table top play, they excel! GDN, if you cite sources new people interested in getting into battletech might have an idea where to start. Just a suggestion. Otherwise, another outstanding video do not stop!
I did see the possibilities early on with the original 3025 Locust... then went out and made it more lethal using updated tech from 3050 and 3055. (see my above posting) There is nothing like a swarm of Locusts to make your foe sweat copiously.
...If you have not come across a Locust, then you have not seen the battlefield! Numerous variants abound (my own replaced the Medium Laser in the CT with a Flamer, & replaced the arm-mounted Machine Guns with Medium Lasers--being able to flip its arms to shoot targets behind it made this variant a fair brawler).
Howdy. Ever play the Mech Commander 2? I would superbly recommend it if not. Just for the extra mech fun, also so very advanced for the time! I never really played the original MC, though. Also, while I get what you mean for the Lore, but amazing to think that and at least Black Knight & MW 4 Mercs were in the middle of the lifespan of Battletech. Cheers!
If I remember correctly, from one of the battletech books, a mercenary company would use a bunch of locust to swarm the enemy while others would hit at long range. This confusion would cause the enemy to lose track of their targets and even end up, in a few cases, firing on their own mechs. If used in this manner, hit and run, a bunch of locust could even take down an assault team.
I've used the swarm tactic to my advantage quite often. Often enough that my old Playing Group banned me from using Locusts of ANY kind in massed numbers.
The next one is gonna indeed be a medium mech, but its gonna be the Shadow Hawk. I thought I'd present one from each class with a popular and common model from each first.
These little guys are very fast and annoying, but easy to swat with their thin armor. I like the latest artwork, as the cockpit's location is in a more logical position.
I've personally made a variation that carried the MML3 in each arm, or different variation of the rocket launchers. You want to talk about surprising some people. Also are the fascinating tale if you could talk about the Battle Mech known as The Tempest. It's a 65 tonner.
Couple years late but he’s right. I play MW5 mercenary’s and ever planet capable of selling mechs has a locust or two. I never used it due to the game giving me a 50t Centurion from the get.
That one isn't over yet. Recorded two episodes yesterday and will be uploading again soon. I estimate maybe 5 episodes until that campaign is actually over.
Grim you do a great job on battletech and Warhammer 40k thank you for all you do . battletech actually has more lore than wh40k . keep up the good work .👍👍
Also, if you want good models and also have a great game, get Battle tech off steam or GOG. The models from MWO are in it plus will give extra info on some of the varients. Plus if you mod it from Nexus, the mech mods from there are also using MWO models. The game in question is made by hairbrain schemes which is headed by the creator of the BT universe.
MWO wont teach you much about the mechs, its a purely mech on mech combat game in the vein of world of tanks. The upcoming mechwarrior 5, mechwarrior living legends mod, and battle tech, are some what better representations of how mechs functioned in lore albeit each only providing a limited view into this. Classic table top battle tech, particularly games implementing combined arms is still the best way to learn about mech functionality and uses.
You think that’s fast? Someone built a 425 kph (with MASC/supercharger engaged) locust in MW5 using clantech. Look up “Video of speed-demon Locust - 5.6M bills in less than 4 minutes” on reddit. I tried to link it, but my comment got nuked.
My table top clan 100 Ton command mech fielded 5 large pulse lasers. & utilized a targeting computer to enhance that accuracy even more ...along with 16 additional double heat sinks to keep firing while at flank speed.....when not surgically dissecting the arms legs and torsos of medium, heavy or assault mechs of free birth scum I found it v extremely satisfactory to vaporized these tiny back stabbing pests whenever possible... Speed. Ha..my enhanced imaging rendered long range engagements as if they were standing in front of me which nullified most of what these things lived by...speed......partial cover behind heavy woods prone while acting as a spotter ....not for long... I laugh at your cowardly tactics and blow off your limbs too....mwaha ha ha
@@GrimDarkNarrator OK great, I missed that and I stand corrected. But it's still plagiarism if you're reading the article almost verbatim, unless sarna.net granted you permission to do this. Is that the case?
