"Well they did... they finally did it ... they blew it up... they blew it [my wallet] all to hell." - Cattra Kell @ Work on Phoenix Day, P-Day. Well its out. Project Phoenix is here. If you are not aware of what Project Phoenix is, please click [HERE] & [FAQ] to get more information. More or less - 4 unseen Mechs (the Locust, Shadow Hawk, Thunder Bolt, and Battlemaster) have been announced for pre-order in four packages. I plan on taking the next little bit over a few weeks, like I do with new released mechs, to take a look at what the mech is like and potential variants. This week lets take a look at the Battlemaster. The Battlemaster was introduced in 2633 by Hollis Incorporated, the same company and factory that also did the Highlander before the Second Succession War. The Battlemaster weighs in at 85 tons at for its time it was one of the heaviest mechs on the battlefield only second to the 90 ton Highlander (2592). Lets talk about variants. Since we are going to relate this to MWO I am going to cut out any variants which are after 3050. This leaves us with 12 possible variants of the Battlemaster if you remove the doubles. Lets look at these variants: Battlemaster-1G (BLR-1G) made in 2633. The OG of Battlemasters. 85 Tons Engine: 340 Standard @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No Weapons: 1 PPC, 6 Medium Lasers, 2 Machine Guns, 1 SRM-6 Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 7 Energy, 2 Ballistic, 1 Missile Battlemaster-1Gb (BLR-1Gb) made in 2760. (Terran Hegemony-based SLDF Royals) 85 Tons Engine: 340 Standard @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No Upgrades: Double Heat Sinks, Endo Steel Weapons: 2 ER PPCs, 1 Large Pulse Laser, 4 Medium Lasers Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 7 Energy Battlemaster-1Gbc (BLR-1Gbc) made in 2763. 85 Tons Engine: 340 Standard @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No Upgrades: Double Heat Sinks, Endo Steel, Command Console. Weapons: 2 ER PPCs, 1 Large Pulse Laser, 4 Medium Lasers Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 7 Energy Battlemaster-1Gc (BLR-1Gc) made in 2763. 85 Tons Engine: 340 Standard @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No Upgrades: Double Heat Sinks, Command Console. Weapons: 1 PPC, 6 Medium Lasers, 1 SRM-6 Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 7 Energy, 1 Missile Battlemaster-1G-DC (BLR-1G-DC) made in 2855. (also maybe the BLR-1GD, Produced by the Federated Suns during the Star League Era) 85 Tons Engine: 340 Standard @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No Upgrades: Double Heat Sinks, Command Console. Weapons: 1 PPC, 6 Medium Pulse Lasers, 1 SRM-6 Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 7 Energy, 1 Missile Battlemaster-1D (BLR-1D) made in 2867. 85 Tons Engine: 340 Standard @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No[size=78%].[size=1em] Weapons: 1 PPC, 4 Medium Lasers, 2 Machine guns Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 5 Energy, 2 Ballistic Battlemaster-2C (BLR-2C) made in 2925. 85 Tons Engine: 340 Standard @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No. Upgrades: Command Console, BAP, AMS. Weapons: 2 Large Lasers, 6 Medium Lasers, 1 SRM-6 Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 8 Energy, 1 Missile [size=1em]Battlemaster-1S(BLR-1S) made in 3025. 85 Tons Engine: 340 Standard @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No. Weapons: 2 SRM-2s, 1 LRM 15, 1 LRM 5, 4 Medium lasers Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 4 Missile, 4 Energy Battlemaster-3M (BLR-3m) made in 3049. 85 Tons Engine: 340 Standard @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No. Upgrade: Double Heat Sinks, CASE Weapons: 1 ER PPC, 6 Medium Lasers, 1 Machine Gun, 1 SRM-6 Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 7 Energy, 1 Ballistic, 1 Missile Battlemaster-3S (BLR-3S) made in 3050. 85 Tons Engine: 340 XL @ 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: No. Weapons: 1 LRM-20, 6 Medium Pulse Lasers, 1 SRM-6 Hardpoints Confirmed from TRO: 6 Energy, 2 Missiles Cattra's predictions for 3 variants in the game? BLR-1G, BLR-1S, BLR-1D Make sure to tune in next time when we review another mech in Project Phoenix! Keep your reactors nominal Mechwarriors, - Cattra Kell
I always see "2 MGs and they have been stripped for more X". Does anybody know where the ballistic slots are?
supposedly: BLR-1G Battlemaster hardpoints. RA: 1 PPC (1 energy) RT: 3 Medium Lasers (3 energy) LT: 3 Medium Lasers, 1 SRM 6 (3 energy, 1 missile) LA: 2 Machineguns. (2 ballistic) http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/123866-reseen-mechs-will-they-ever-make-an-appearance/page__st__60
I'm still not sure about the BM...with no JJ option, I'm only looking at 1 mech with JJ, I think... Who am I kidding, I'll probably buy it anyway. hear:
VERY interested in the BLR-1S Can support with LRM, can defend with SSRM, or can possible brawl with SRM. All together with energy backup? Speed comparable to the AWS-PB?! Sounds like a blast to me
Already got my Overlord package ordered! As much as I relish old schooling it in my T-bolt, I want me some Battlemaaster. I see the 1G in my future, A gauss and 5 or 6 LL....and enough go-go to get away and cool off a bit, especially as it has 2 module slots to start so 3 when mastered? Hmm Coolshot 9x9, Advanced sensors and seismic probe,,,oh yeah gonna be a hot time....How can you not love this thing, I will ditch the Locusts undriven, but the SH and T-bolt are solid chassis'. But the BM is the prize here.
The hardpoints on the Battlemaster put the current mechs to shame. Why are they suddenly deciding to release an excellent mech after all this time? I know the game "launches" in September, but does anyone know if they have said "Clan mechs will be available to players in September"? The Battlemaster would be a lot less attractive if we could be stomping around in a Daishi by the time it comes out. [Edit: A google search turned up an article where Bryan basically says no Clan mechs until 6-9 months after launch. So.. somewhere between March and June 2014? Coincidentally, this gives them lots of time to milk the Inner Sphere mechs.. Nah, I'm just being cynical, aren't I? http://www.warcry.com/news/view/123...-Lance-Command-and-Adds-Clans-After-Release.2 End Edit.]
Yeah, looking forward to piloting one of these. I'd like to see the 3S variant make it in game. It seems to be the one chassis that offers any real difference in hardpoints to the Phoenix variant.Though it does/would cover a similar niche to the LRM-equipped Awesome (8M?)
Just wondering... Does it mean that when the game Hard Launches there will be an influx of n00bs? If so e will have to organize a welcome party for them! I will ready my SRM and SPLas.
