Tried taking on a pair of these and some APCs with a Griffin and Wolverine in MegaMek, thinking the similar battle value would lead to an even fight. Oh was I wrong. Even when immobilized, these things throw out a lot of firepower, and before long both mechs were collapsed under weight of fire. Learned to never underestimate vehicles that day.
The best main battle tank before Clan Invasion. Sure, Patton has more armor, but Manticore has more range and firepower to immobilize and cripple Patton first.
@@andreasell1830 Short range. Useful in urban maps, much less so in open terrain where Rommel can get immobilized before it even gets into AC/20 range.
@@jjsheets330 Slow and short range. Bad combination, and very bad in Open Terrain type maps. Few times I have used Von Luckner, it got immobilized before doing any significant damage in return. Useful in urban maps alongside with Demolisher and SRM Carrier. Otherwise a bodyguard for LRM Carrier and the like.
@@mattikuokkanen You should put it in defilade and pepper ranges targets with the LRMs until they try to close, meanwhile your "hammer vehicles" like Saladins are providing hard to hit targets up close. Most tanks are vastly for defense, their limited movement, draconian hit table and terrain restrictions dictate how they should be used and that's never "out in the open".
the first tank in MW5 that I ran into that was half the size of a locust and then mauled the AI hunchback... it taught me that sometimes stepping on tanks will damage you less then the tank itself
Tanks in battletech are incredible as long as you do a couple of things. 1. Have a plan for how to use them 2. Stick to the plan 3. Dont let tanks get isolated from supporting forces. 4. Based on #3 its usually smart to take multiple tanks and use them in a formation. 5. If the tank has a turret it is a mobile strong point that simply hasnt been immobilized yet. 6. Want to scare your opponent? Drive your tanks as a group. Nothing scares people more than massed firepower moving as a group that appears to be organized. 6k bv game? Take 6 of these bad boys. Run them literally in a tight formation around the board. Whenever one of them gets hit or slows down due to motive damage just treat that as your first gun emplacement and pivot off of it. Ive literally chased a mech around a hill and back into the tank he had stopped. One aspect of this kind of play is you can literally run one tank at flank and have several others slow down or even stop for better shots. Dont be afraid to alternate having a portion of the force go stationary and a portion go flank speed every turn. Your opponent has to choose between being receiving shots from a stationary target or they have to push their tmm up and find the other tanks are right on top of them. If your opponent screws up even slightly you can have a lot of firepower pointed at a single mech. in that 6k bv game your opponent is either outnumbered or he brought 6 centurions. Would you rather have 6 manticores or 6 centurions? Provided you keep the manticores together I bet the manticores will win that fight. All that firepower focused on 1 target will likely devastate a centurion. You might lose a manticore, but its quite likely the manticore survives but with major motive damage. That isnt a small difference.
The Manticore is one of the most standard tanks across the inner sphere. Rugged, solid design. I'm not a fan of tanks with energy weapons, but its really hard to argue the Manticore isn't worth the extra cost. A Manticore is a dangerous machine, and should be a priority target for any mech over other mechs.
Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries, a campaign mission had my employers let me borrow a Stalker for one run, but a Manticore tank was one of the first things encountered in that, and drilled in my head that these things are a real hazard to face.
I think latest Abrams have it at 70. Say, as someone whose exposure to Battletech is in the video games, how come it still has a crew of 4? I mean its weapons are autoloaded. Is the extra guy a weapons operator like in the planned KF51 Panther or Abrams X?
@@shaider1982 The heaviest possible variant (M1A2 SEP v3) can reach 73.6 short tons, which is "just" 66.8 metric tons. As far I know (assume) the 4 guy is responsible for the rockets.
Possibly the premiere Main Battle Tank of the Succession Wars, a threat to pretty much every foe it can face. It doesn't need ambushes or dirty tricks to be a threat, it just rumbles up the middle of the map and makes enemies disappear.
I have a serious soft spot for a lot of the combat vehicles of Battletech, and the tanks specifically. Battlemechs are awesome of course, but it's neat to see futuristic technology applied to more familiar platforms. The Manticore is definitely up there in terms of the tanks I like, and it's only fitting that it'd be one of the first you covered :D (and the Capellan fanboy in me would very much like a video on the Po, which is a fascinating vehicle both in-universe and outside of it)
A tough, well-armed and armored foe that can make even experienced mechwarriors break out in a sweat. Definitely a solid addition to any force list, for a fraction of the c-bill and BV cost. It's enough of a well rounded fighter to excel in most situations, so it's well worth bringing to a fight.
The excerpt out of the Techmanual on how mech pilots who underestimate tanks are dead pilots is so good and this tank is a big motivator of that argument. Great write up, can't wait to see what you've got to say on the Schrek i.e. the budget Awesome.
Reminds me of one of the first battles on Tukayyid where the clan force was lured into a swamp and then swarmed with Savannah masters who tore them apart for the mechs to clean up.
This tank is in Living Legends 2 since the game uses totally different weapon and weight balancing I can see alot of crazy variants of this made by the devs. There is already a Locust with 6 HMG and an ATM-3 HE launcher, A commando with a LPL and 6 MG that have a range of 1600m though they do very little damage at that distance.
@@Kyoptic There hasn't been any updates that I've seen since april of last year. Critical Rocket on youtube has some videos on it, but I kinda suspect it is an abandoned project at this point.
@@indignantlamentation6307 Ah that's a shame, I was hyped for it but had heard they moved away from the MW5 engine to something else totally independent. Would be a massive shame if they're not going forwards with that. Ah well...
With all the hype about Battlemechs inside and outside the lore, one should not forget that a battalion or even a division of battle tanks can teach even the heaviest Battlemechs the horror, and are definitely not an easy opponent. ^^
Yeah, the Manticore is damn near perfect right out the gate, personally tend to replace the ML with armor, and perhaps a ton of Infernos if I'm concerned about infantry.
I replaced the medlas with an MG to deal with Infantry, the Manticore's only real weak point. The weight savings from the heatsinks allows adding an Inferno ton to the SRMs, a Thunder ton to the LRMs, and a bit more armor.
@@amw5288 The Demolisher is a rare tank that can brawl effectively. Stay at long range for its ACs and keep hammering at it. Eventually you'll get an ammo crit or mobility kill on the treads. Do NOT try jousting against it down a city street!
@@MultiKbarry The Demolisher is still dangerous in the open, because no one in their right mind wants to exchange punches with it at close range! In coordination with units armed with long-range weapons, a Demolisher can push enemy units backwards, even to the map's edge.
This little monster is one of those non-Battlemech units that I weigh with particularly high priority when commanding lances in MW5, even with other players standing in for AI. Partisans, Pattons, and Demolishers as well. I've seen what neglecting a single Scorpion can do, weakening armor from long range and even sniping lancemates after rough engagements. They're easy enough to squish, provided my Indirect Fire Support 'mech is available, if not my scout / rapid response 'mech. A Manticore, however? That thing will have the full weight of my lance dropped on it, if possible. LRM barrages, Autocannon shelling, glassing by lasers... EVERYTHING. Whatever removes it from the field as quickly as my forces can handle, even if it means I have to crush it under the foot of my Atlas. From my perspective, though it may not be as tough as Battlemechs of the same weight, it still fields enough firepower and durability to warrant immediate elimination should they appear as part of a hostile force. In short, I respect it, unlike some commanders who'll leave it be just because a bigger, more obvious machine is stomping around.
I go after anything that isn't a mech in MW5. Turrets, tanks, missle carriors, Warriors, etc. The bigger the tank, the higher up on the priority list. The dumbass lancemates us only go after them.if it's a first contact isolated incident. But it sure sucks ass when your doing a raid or something and all hell breaks lose. You're getting attacked on all sides by mechs, turrets and tanks. But then you realize it's an ungodly ridiculous number of tanks every where. Good times
Ah, the Manticore, mainstay of my armor companies and bane of overconfident mechwarriors who disregard the "lowly tankers". P.s. not sold on the upgrades. Sure, the 3060 version might have some merit, but what does it cost, compared to the original one? Because, since meat is cheap, if I can get three standard Maties for the price of two upgraded ones, I'll take the three "old" ones every single time.
Honestly, when you made the "Vehicles" video. i was really disappointed it wasnt an hour long covering a few of the most popular vehicles like Manticores / Shreks, i was really hoping you would make full videos covering the history of a few of these. Half the reason i play HBS BTA3062 is for the tanks, they really cannot be underestimated. Alacorns savage anything with its Triple Guass rifles at range, Manticores anchor the middle line, with Devastators being the ultimate vehicular stopgap. I appreciate this video very much.
I mentioned in the vehicle videos all the planned videos to come though! lol I'm not covering all of them. It'd take too long and there are other things I've gotta cover. But there is another 5 vehicle specific videos coming. Later on, there may be more. The Demolisher is up next. :)
@@BigRed40TECH LMAO, i must have missed that then, my apologies. i generally have your videos going on while im painting / playing games. bless your fucking soul you great man, i will be eagerly awaiting them :). as always thanks for all your great content!
The manticore was one of my favourite tanks since i began collecting battletech minis, together with the von luckner tank and the shreck ppc carrier. They make a pretty good team
One of the patron saints of the infantryman from the sldf to 3050 and beyond. It, alongside its kin, whether distant cousins or sisters forged in the same factory, the srm carrier, the demolisher, the Patton, the partisan, and many more... You see one of these multitude of AFVs, respect them. Their design has been terrifying mech jocks and mech techs for good reason for centuries.
ill never forget the first time i came across a manticore in MW5 i kept shooting it and it wouldnt die it managed to shoot me 3 full times with everything it had before i stepped on it out of fear lol
@@BigRed40TECH oh Red, we Von Luckner lovers (Von Lucknites?) already have at least 4 in pew-pew-pewter. I got to run one for the first time against your buddies, Waco's Rangers. After removing the leg of a Wolverine then head clipping an Orion in my first test drive, it was love at first fight. When a tank regularly claims mech salvage, that's a successful design.
Anybody remember mech assault 2 lone wolf, when you could hop in and out of mechs AND Tanks? I loved that game. Wish we got a remake or a remastered version today.
Hello Red. The Manticore tank has always been a 'staple' of combined arms in Battletech, going at least as far back as the original boxed set from 1984. I literally, cannot count the number of times I've seen someone using Manticores in their formations. I did as well. Something this useful is hard to resist using when it is so affordable and tactically flexible. Even those Players that would cram a Shrek, or LRM Carrier into their combat force, often added one or two Manticores as well. And yes, even here, I got called out for 'cheating' using tanks. Mind you, this was the early days of Battle Values, so my memories are not valid with today's BV system. But, I remember a Player that spurned tanks of any sort, in favor of his beloved Mechs. Myself? I fielded only a single Lance against him... A Lance comprised of 2 Assaults and 2 Heavies. The rest of my force was tanks of one sort or another. Given the BV allotted, I was able to field (if memory serves me, now almost 40 years ago) something like 10 Tanks. 6 of them being Manticores. I also was able to field over a dozen Savannah Masters as well. I was able to 'hide' my forces in heavy woods to either side of the main axis of attack. The only 'targets' the foe saw, were the Heavies and the Assaults, maneuvering around in Light Woods ahead of them. When the Enemy closed and began firing upon my Lance, I withdrew them into Heavy Woods for more cover bonuses, and waited for the foe to close the distance some more. When the Enemy Player advanced, my entire force 'pounced' upon his formation. The Tanks breaking cover to the edges of the forests and firing at medium to short ranges into the flanking Mechs of his formation. The Lance returning fire from the Heavy Woods and only being affected by the Light Woods in front of them. This resulted in the Enemy being unable to fire upon the Lance, due to 2 Light Woods and the Heavy Woods the Lance was standing in (total of a +4 penalty to-hit). And finally, what caused the outraged screech from my opponent... The 14 or 15 Savannah Master hover tanks roaring around the flanks to perform back strikes against any and all targets they could fire upon reliably at top speed. To say the Enemy's force 'melted' under the 360 degree firepower of my forces would only be a slight dramatization. Yes, I lost all four Mechs of the Lance, due to the Enemy closing until they could see them clearly, and pouring on the firepower of multiple Mechs into each one, But in the end, my Tanks and the lowly Savannah Masters, ruled the battlefield. Only one Mech made it out of the 'pocket' to flee off-board. And that was a heavily damaged Phoenix Hawk. Most of the opponent's force were killed by Manticores, Shreks, and the Savannah Masters. Even though he screamed 'Cheater!' at me, he did learn in the end. Forever thereafter, he was very cautious about being flanked from the woods. Not that it helped that much... in later battles, I paid for 'off the board' Artillery to pound him with... Then Air Strikes by Aerospace Fighters... And when he DEMANDED a City Battle... Well, let's just say I used the old 'Soviet Method' upon him, and leave it at that. Oh, and I should mention, I also hit him with the Locust Swarm once or twice as well. Yeah, I AM that Evil.
I love to use this tank in my campaign games. That PPC is no joke. Use a few of these and/or some of its 3060 babies, the Myrmidon, and watch them rip through most things that they face for a fraction of the cost of battlemechs.
Pretty sure the Manitcore is going to be a vehicle in the backer, as 1) You yourself pointed out how common it is in lore and how effective it is and 2) It is in ilClan Vol 31, and from what I can tell, all the mechs, with early Clan invasion counterparts, in the earlier selection that did not get in the Clan Invasion Kickstarter are appearing in the new Kickstarter. I would say outlook is likely, though not certain.
Sinking four tons into a backup medlas is the only weakness this thing has. You can get a big SRM and a ton more ammo or a bunch of armor for that. If something is so frequently in under the PPC's minimum range that you run out of SRMs you fucked up somewhere along the way.
Also, If I could give it a Quirk, I would give it the "Easy Repair" Quirk, at least for it's first Version. Not because it really IS Easy to Repair, but because of the Case that it was build only with Standard Technology, so Replacement Parts are easy to find and to get for it. Also... I think I would like to have the Ability, in the next MW Game, to drive Tanks too, and to place them in a Secondary Support Lance with a specific role, like Mech Hunter, Scout or Second / Third Line Artillerie. I think that would give the next game some interesting tactical options... and damn, I like to drive that Tank! :D
I tend to drop them in Mercenaries videos. These tank vids are being made because of the upcoming Mercenaries Kickstarter, so I figured I'd add in the Unther quotes :D
Weapons for every range, including indirect fire. The only thing it is missing is a C3 Slave. Indirect fire is the best type of weapon system for vehicles as it gives them the ability to fully leverage their size behind available cover. Defense in depth with pre-made tank trenches!
It's an old favorite from back in the day. The tank first made its debut in 1st edition Mechwarrior RPG. The Medium Laser was rear mounted originally, giving the tank its name. (Almost like the designers knew that a light mech would try a runaround attack while the PPC was engaging another target.) It was tall for its size, which would be a decisive feature if battlemechs weren't involved. Current version is shorter, basically Abrams/Challenger + LRM height. I had a lance of Manticores in my old merc unit's Assault Company, versatile in attack and defense. (A 3074 model with three 3060 types would make a mighty lance though!) I do agree, tanks shouldn't brawl unless they are fast movers. Tanks that let mechs get too close get kicked, DFA'd, shot up with multiple MLs, or hacked with melee weapons.
Personally, I'd refit one of these things by taking the SRM6 out, use the weight saved to upgrade the LRM10 to an LRM15, convert the SRM ammo over to LRM ammo, and add an extra ton of it. Convert the MLaser to a pair of SLasers for dealing with infantry. Generalizing for a vehicle like this doesn't help it, IMO. It's also a bad idea to want to get in close, because it's too easy for a mech to kill a tank if they're in close quarters, so the SRM needs to go. Further, having only one missile ammo type to worry about eases logistics, making supplying the vehicle easier. Trade the MLaser for a pair of Slasers so that you have an option for anti-infantry, especially since you don't want to be within the 270 meter range for actually effectively using said Mlaser anyway since, again, that puts you dangerously close to being in stomping distance. Definitely nice since for the cost of one archer, you'd get two of these with some c-bills leftover that could go toward support. Yeah, you're losing 10 missile pods, but the two PPCs more than make up for it.
They're good, but the main thing I remember about them is their original artwork. It was depicted as a 3-tracked tank with a rotating hull, with two tracks up front, and one track in the centerline rear. Rule of Cool and all that. It looked futuristic. In reality having three tracks would make it unstable (ever wonder why 3-wheeler ATV's are extinct, but 4-wheeler ATV's are still sold?). It also means that you are 33.3% more likely to hit a land mine, and a rougher ride as there is now a 3rd point of contact to drive over something and rock the hull. A rotating hull is OK-ish. They've been tried in real life too, but deemed not worth the effort. If you don't know, this is when the vehicle is more turret than hull. The crew, the engine, the gun, and almost all of the machinery and weapons are in a big turret sitting on essentially just a small box that connects it to the tracks. It was mostly done to have an autoloader for the gun. Now, in BattleTech, the Manticore works just fine as none of those elements matters in the game rules.
I hope you don't overlook hovercraft. I hope to see one named Hovertank in early Record Sheets and its derivatives like LTV4. MegaMek has a variant of the original Hovertank with fusion engine and speed 9/14
The 3074 varient feels like it would be better rounded out with a hull mounted medium laser of some sort. That would give it lineage with the original models, and that secondary weapon system is ususlaly a good thing to have. The MML concept is great, so dispensing with two seperate launchers makes plenty sense, but an anti-infantry/light armor system would help it out.
I made a varient of this tank with some clan tech. Mainly the 9.5 tons of Clan Ferro Fibrous= LS & RS: 30 / RR:20 / FR:50 / TU:52 spread and ER PPC. I follow it up with 2 MML9's with a Ton of LRM and Ton of SRM Ammo. Movement is a IS XL engine with a Base: 5 and Flank: 8 all for the cost of 9,131,200 C-bills. I set a rule for myself that all ground unit must cost less than 10 million. I was thinking of dropping the engine or some armor for more equipment but I thought simplisticity was the best way to go. Though was thinking adding a tag and Targeting Comp. To make it even more deadly.
A lot of the vehicles of Battletech are pretty good, but I get the feeling only Iron Wind Metals makes minis for them at all. Which is a bit of a problem when you live in Okinawa and they don't want to ship here.
As in the mechs in them? Eventually. Am I going to make a news video on them? I wasn't overly thrilled with the packs, and felt it was best to not be unimpressed by them in a news video tbh.
Completely unrelated but I figured you’d be a good person to come to, should you see this comment. I’m getting into the BattleTech tabletop with a couple friends and I’ve got the new beginner box, the “Total Warfare” book, the BattleMech manual, and 5 boxes of mechs (I’ve been a fan bit of BattleTech since I was a little kid and found Mech Assault, naturally I’m drawn to the Wolf’s Dragoons). Anyway I keep hearing talk of “Advanced” rules and “Quirks” certain mechs have, as well ass custom mechs in the style of the MechWarrior video games (which I also love). I’ve been into 40k for a while so I’m no stranger to tabletop war games, but even still it’s all a bit disorienting. What would you recommend doing as a beginner in this game specifically? (Not to gloat but I’m currently undefeated 3-0 against my friends in the simple version of the rules in the beginner box, go me.)
I hope for some videos about clan tanks and Vtol (maybe infantry) i know clan are more focusing about mech and elementals but me as huge fan of clan hell's horses i hope for this.
It be cool if it had the medium laser be coaxial, but it has good firepower, also why exactly do mechs generate heat from non energy weapons while tanks don't
Gameplay wise I thought vehicles don't actually track heat even when they end up in an environment that would render their 1-1 heatskink ratio invalid, they just immediately take mobility penalties right?
@@BigRed40TECH I know but I thought they don't activelly track it even then. Like if they're in vacuum or volcanic and then their sinks wouldn't be enough for their weapons you don't actually start tracking it like in a mech, you just take movement penalties but can still shoot.
We used some armor in our table top games, Manticore, Demolisher, Hetzer, (there was a German wheeled assault gun in ww2 called the Hertzer... but I assume that's just a coincidence) and the schrek ppc carrier. It was a useful alternative to just mech battles...
I can't help but think of an upgrade to the 3055 version for merc units with access to plentiful clan salvage/tech. Strip the large pulse laser and SRM2, slot in a pair of clan ER large lasers, swap out the sinks for doubles (IS or clan), drop a sink and put the rest of the tonnage into extra armor.
Good evening Big Red. Awesome review of the Manticore. Recently, I took a company of Manticore with a lance of mechs And several squads of battle armor raid on a Liao factory. Mission was a success thanks to the Lrms and Srms. Just asking your thoughts: how would the Manticore match up against a Zhukov or a Liao Po?
The original Manticore is a beast on the tabletop. I had to play against a lance of them with battlemech support. Needless to say, I had to withdraw and all the Manticores were still alive. I got lots of motive hits but they were in positions so they didn't have to worry about maneuvering. It really made me appreciate some of the vehicles in the game.
Tried taking on a pair of these and some APCs with a Griffin and Wolverine in MegaMek, thinking the similar battle value would lead to an even fight. Oh was I wrong. Even when immobilized, these things throw out a lot of firepower, and before long both mechs were collapsed under weight of fire. Learned to never underestimate vehicles that day.
Fear the vehicles muh dude! They're no joke.
Now I want to make an all Manticore merc group for a Megamek campaign, maybe with infantry support.
The best main battle tank before Clan Invasion. Sure, Patton has more armor, but Manticore has more range and firepower to immobilize and cripple Patton first.
Ah the rommel
Don’t forget about the Von Luckner
@@andreasell1830 Short range. Useful in urban maps, much less so in open terrain where Rommel can get immobilized before it even gets into AC/20 range.
@@jjsheets330 Slow and short range. Bad combination, and very bad in Open Terrain type maps. Few times I have used Von Luckner, it got immobilized before doing any significant damage in return. Useful in urban maps alongside with Demolisher and SRM Carrier. Otherwise a bodyguard for LRM Carrier and the like.
@@mattikuokkanen You should put it in defilade and pepper ranges targets with the LRMs until they try to close, meanwhile your "hammer vehicles" like Saladins are providing hard to hit targets up close. Most tanks are vastly for defense, their limited movement, draconian hit table and terrain restrictions dictate how they should be used and that's never "out in the open".
the first tank in MW5 that I ran into that was half the size of a locust and then mauled the AI hunchback... it taught me that sometimes stepping on tanks will damage you less then the tank itself
Tanks in battletech are incredible as long as you do a couple of things.
1. Have a plan for how to use them
2. Stick to the plan
3. Dont let tanks get isolated from supporting forces.
4. Based on #3 its usually smart to take multiple tanks and use them in a formation.
5. If the tank has a turret it is a mobile strong point that simply hasnt been immobilized yet.
6. Want to scare your opponent? Drive your tanks as a group. Nothing scares people more than massed firepower moving as a group that appears to be organized.
6k bv game? Take 6 of these bad boys. Run them literally in a tight formation around the board. Whenever one of them gets hit or slows down due to motive damage just treat that as your first gun emplacement and pivot off of it. Ive literally chased a mech around a hill and back into the tank he had stopped. One aspect of this kind of play is you can literally run one tank at flank and have several others slow down or even stop for better shots. Dont be afraid to alternate having a portion of the force go stationary and a portion go flank speed every turn. Your opponent has to choose between being receiving shots from a stationary target or they have to push their tmm up and find the other tanks are right on top of them.
If your opponent screws up even slightly you can have a lot of firepower pointed at a single mech. in that 6k bv game your opponent is either outnumbered or he brought 6 centurions. Would you rather have 6 manticores or 6 centurions? Provided you keep the manticores together I bet the manticores will win that fight. All that firepower focused on 1 target will likely devastate a centurion. You might lose a manticore, but its quite likely the manticore survives but with major motive damage. That isnt a small difference.
The Manticore is one of the most standard tanks across the inner sphere. Rugged, solid design. I'm not a fan of tanks with energy weapons, but its really hard to argue the Manticore isn't worth the extra cost. A Manticore is a dangerous machine, and should be a priority target for any mech over other mechs.
The Manticore is what happens when you make a Heavy Mech into an MBT and man, I love it for it
The "Parti-Kill Heavy Cannon" is one of the worst puns of Battletech... its at the same level as the J.Edgar....
Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries, a campaign mission had my employers let me borrow a Stalker for one run, but a Manticore tank was one of the first things encountered in that, and drilled in my head that these things are a real hazard to face.
For the perspective: A modern main battle tank, like the Leopard 2 or the Abrams, weighs about 62 metric tons.
I would rate its main gun as a heavy rifle at most, though
I think latest Abrams have it at 70. Say, as someone whose exposure to Battletech is in the video games, how come it still has a crew of 4? I mean its weapons are autoloaded. Is the extra guy a weapons operator like in the planned KF51 Panther or Abrams X?
@@shaider1982 The heaviest possible variant (M1A2 SEP v3) can reach 73.6 short tons, which is "just" 66.8 metric tons.
As far I know (assume) the 4 guy is responsible for the rockets.
@shaider1982 assume its gunner and commander in turret, could have two drivers in hull with one focused on electronics similar to gen 4 tanks
@@devilin100 hmm, I guess.
Possibly the premiere Main Battle Tank of the Succession Wars, a threat to pretty much every foe it can face. It doesn't need ambushes or dirty tricks to be a threat, it just rumbles up the middle of the map and makes enemies disappear.
If only we could drive and use these beautiful beasts in MW5.
Merctech V3's around the corner.
I have a serious soft spot for a lot of the combat vehicles of Battletech, and the tanks specifically. Battlemechs are awesome of course, but it's neat to see futuristic technology applied to more familiar platforms. The Manticore is definitely up there in terms of the tanks I like, and it's only fitting that it'd be one of the first you covered :D
(and the Capellan fanboy in me would very much like a video on the Po, which is a fascinating vehicle both in-universe and outside of it)
One of the first tanks I bought for Battletech back in the Ralpartha days.
The sculpt still holds up
Me too.
I am not crazy about ralralpartha.those super glue sucks.i rather new plastic.i am happy they're making it.
A tough, well-armed and armored foe that can make even experienced mechwarriors break out in a sweat. Definitely a solid addition to any force list, for a fraction of the c-bill and BV cost. It's enough of a well rounded fighter to excel in most situations, so it's well worth bringing to a fight.
The excerpt out of the Techmanual on how mech pilots who underestimate tanks are dead pilots is so good and this tank is a big motivator of that argument. Great write up, can't wait to see what you've got to say on the Schrek i.e. the budget Awesome.
Reminds me of one of the first battles on Tukayyid where the clan force was lured into a swamp and then swarmed with Savannah masters who tore them apart for the mechs to clean up.
Heavy CVs are consistently my favorites.
Finest tank in the Inner Sphere!
Doesn't have three gauss rifles and most importantly, gauss ammo to dump. 8/10 is the best I can do.
False. The patton/rommel is king
I mostly just like the design
@@alexmccutcheon10 that's a funny way of spelling sherik PPC carrier
Say that again to the Gurteltier.
Manticore. Every time I see these things in my radar ping they immediately become primary targets.
Big Red 40K: inspired by this famous beast!
Technicorp Marketing team: "I don't know... how about we name it...Manticore?" "Meh, good enough."
This tank is in Living Legends 2 since the game uses totally different weapon and weight balancing I can see alot of crazy variants of this made by the devs.
There is already a Locust with 6 HMG and an ATM-3 HE launcher, A commando with a LPL and 6 MG that have a range of 1600m though they do very little damage at that distance.
Is LL2 out yet? I need to find a link!
@@Kyoptic There hasn't been any updates that I've seen since april of last year. Critical Rocket on youtube has some videos on it, but I kinda suspect it is an abandoned project at this point.
@@indignantlamentation6307 Ah that's a shame, I was hyped for it but had heard they moved away from the MW5 engine to something else totally independent. Would be a massive shame if they're not going forwards with that. Ah well...
With all the hype about Battlemechs inside and outside the lore, one should not forget that a battalion or even a division of battle tanks can teach even the heaviest Battlemechs the horror, and are definitely not an easy opponent. ^^
Man....formations of these haunt my nightmares in MW5
Yeah, the Manticore is damn near perfect right out the gate, personally tend to replace the ML with armor, and perhaps a ton of Infernos if I'm concerned about infantry.
Sinking four tons into a backup medlas is the only weakness tbis thing has. You can get a big SRM and a ton more ammo, or a bunch of armor for that.
I replaced the medlas with an MG to deal with Infantry, the Manticore's only real weak point. The weight savings from the heatsinks allows adding an Inferno ton to the SRMs, a Thunder ton to the LRMs, and a bit more armor.
this thing is the only armored vehicle I actually consider a threat in mechwarrior.
Was about to say a missile carrier, but remembered you said "armored"
Not the Demolisher?
@@amw5288 The Demolisher is a rare tank that can brawl effectively. Stay at long range for its ACs and keep hammering at it. Eventually you'll get an ammo crit or mobility kill on the treads. Do NOT try jousting against it down a city street!
@@observationsfromthebunker9639 Why would a Demo ever fight in the open?
@@MultiKbarry The Demolisher is still dangerous in the open, because no one in their right mind wants to exchange punches with it at close range! In coordination with units armed with long-range weapons, a Demolisher can push enemy units backwards, even to the map's edge.
I love the tanks in the battle tech verse. They don't get nearly enough attention. Keep these videos coming sir!
This little monster is one of those non-Battlemech units that I weigh with particularly high priority when commanding lances in MW5, even with other players standing in for AI. Partisans, Pattons, and Demolishers as well. I've seen what neglecting a single Scorpion can do, weakening armor from long range and even sniping lancemates after rough engagements. They're easy enough to squish, provided my Indirect Fire Support 'mech is available, if not my scout / rapid response 'mech.
A Manticore, however? That thing will have the full weight of my lance dropped on it, if possible. LRM barrages, Autocannon shelling, glassing by lasers... EVERYTHING. Whatever removes it from the field as quickly as my forces can handle, even if it means I have to crush it under the foot of my Atlas. From my perspective, though it may not be as tough as Battlemechs of the same weight, it still fields enough firepower and durability to warrant immediate elimination should they appear as part of a hostile force.
In short, I respect it, unlike some commanders who'll leave it be just because a bigger, more obvious machine is stomping around.
I go after anything that isn't a mech in MW5. Turrets, tanks, missle carriors, Warriors, etc. The bigger the tank, the higher up on the priority list. The dumbass lancemates us only go after them.if it's a first contact isolated incident.
But it sure sucks ass when your doing a raid or something and all hell breaks lose. You're getting attacked on all sides by mechs, turrets and tanks. But then you realize it's an ungodly ridiculous number of tanks every where. Good times
Ah, the Manticore, mainstay of my armor companies and bane of overconfident mechwarriors who disregard the "lowly tankers".
P.s. not sold on the upgrades. Sure, the 3060 version might have some merit, but what does it cost, compared to the original one?
Because, since meat is cheap, if I can get three standard Maties for the price of two upgraded ones, I'll take the three "old" ones every single time.
Honestly, when you made the "Vehicles" video. i was really disappointed it wasnt an hour long covering a few of the most popular vehicles like Manticores / Shreks, i was really hoping you would make full videos covering the history of a few of these.
Half the reason i play HBS BTA3062 is for the tanks, they really cannot be underestimated. Alacorns savage anything with its Triple Guass rifles at range, Manticores anchor the middle line, with Devastators being the ultimate vehicular stopgap.
I appreciate this video very much.
I mentioned in the vehicle videos all the planned videos to come though! lol
I'm not covering all of them. It'd take too long and there are other things I've gotta cover. But there is another 5 vehicle specific videos coming. Later on, there may be more.
The Demolisher is up next. :)
@@BigRed40TECH LMAO, i must have missed that then, my apologies. i generally have your videos going on while im painting / playing games.
bless your fucking soul you great man, i will be eagerly awaiting them :). as always thanks for all your great content!
Great video, loving videos showing the setting outside the mechs
This is for the upcoming Kickstarter. I'm not associated, but I'm hyped for it, so I'm promoting it. :)
Just kitbashed some Manticores out of some 1/285th scale M60 tanks, can't wait to use them on the tabletop!
While tanks are no longer the most feared things in BattleTech, they still can prove a troublesome rookie or foolhardy mech pilots.
I would love more vehicle videos. And that vehicles have their own play list. Great video.
After I do a couple vehicles in the future, I'll make a playlist for them.
one of the most iconic tanks in CBT
The manticore was one of my favourite tanks since i began collecting battletech minis, together with the von luckner tank and the shreck ppc carrier. They make a pretty good team
This man needs more subs. He deserves every one!
One of the patron saints of the infantryman from the sldf to 3050 and beyond. It, alongside its kin, whether distant cousins or sisters forged in the same factory, the srm carrier, the demolisher, the Patton, the partisan, and many more... You see one of these multitude of AFVs, respect them. Their design has been terrifying mech jocks and mech techs for good reason for centuries.
Tanks, roll out. They can be used as swarm tactics to surround mechs.
I love this tank. After over 10 years of playing I got my first game win in a Manticore.
Finally getting around to watching more of your videos red, just had a busy 2023 so far. But anyway great work as always!
I love the Manticore. I am really looking forward to giving it a spin when the models are out.
ill never forget the first time i came across a manticore in MW5 i kept shooting it and it wouldnt die it managed to shoot me 3 full times with everything it had before i stepped on it out of fear lol
Ooooh so this is why the Hell's Horses tread-heads wanted in on the invasion! Nostalgia!
The Manticore is a fine tank but I prefer the Von Lukner Heavy Tank. It carries an AC20.
Good Luckner getting a plastic mini for that one anytime soon :P
@@BigRed40TECH Life finds a way, or a proxy
@@BigRed40TECH oh Red, we Von Luckner lovers (Von Lucknites?) already have at least 4 in pew-pew-pewter. I got to run one for the first time against your buddies, Waco's Rangers. After removing the leg of a Wolverine then head clipping an Orion in my first test drive, it was love at first fight. When a tank regularly claims mech salvage, that's a successful design.
Finally vehicles! Thx Red!
I didn't think it was so heavy!
Alright, lets go tanks!!!!
I wish I could use this in MW5
Awe the wisdom of Dead Eye lol
I love this tank. Whenever I have to fight against one, I know my repair bill is going to be expensive.
Love it from mechwarrior book till now
Anybody remember mech assault 2 lone wolf, when you could hop in and out of mechs AND Tanks? I loved that game. Wish we got a remake or a remastered version today.
Hello Red.
The Manticore tank has always been a 'staple' of combined arms in Battletech, going at least as far back as the original boxed set from 1984.
I literally, cannot count the number of times I've seen someone using Manticores in their formations. I did as well. Something this useful is hard to resist using when it is so affordable and tactically flexible.
Even those Players that would cram a Shrek, or LRM Carrier into their combat force, often added one or two Manticores as well.
And yes, even here, I got called out for 'cheating' using tanks. Mind you, this was the early days of Battle Values, so my memories are not valid with today's BV system. But, I remember a Player that spurned tanks of any sort, in favor of his beloved Mechs. Myself? I fielded only a single Lance against him... A Lance comprised of 2 Assaults and 2 Heavies. The rest of my force was tanks of one sort or another. Given the BV allotted, I was able to field (if memory serves me, now almost 40 years ago) something like 10 Tanks. 6 of them being Manticores. I also was able to field over a dozen Savannah Masters as well.
I was able to 'hide' my forces in heavy woods to either side of the main axis of attack. The only 'targets' the foe saw, were the Heavies and the Assaults, maneuvering around in Light Woods ahead of them. When the Enemy closed and began firing upon my Lance, I withdrew them into Heavy Woods for more cover bonuses, and waited for the foe to close the distance some more.
When the Enemy Player advanced, my entire force 'pounced' upon his formation. The Tanks breaking cover to the edges of the forests and firing at medium to short ranges into the flanking Mechs of his formation. The Lance returning fire from the Heavy Woods and only being affected by the Light Woods in front of them. This resulted in the Enemy being unable to fire upon the Lance, due to 2 Light Woods and the Heavy Woods the Lance was standing in (total of a +4 penalty to-hit). And finally, what caused the outraged screech from my opponent... The 14 or 15 Savannah Master hover tanks roaring around the flanks to perform back strikes against any and all targets they could fire upon reliably at top speed.
To say the Enemy's force 'melted' under the 360 degree firepower of my forces would only be a slight dramatization. Yes, I lost all four Mechs of the Lance, due to the Enemy closing until they could see them clearly, and pouring on the firepower of multiple Mechs into each one, But in the end, my Tanks and the lowly Savannah Masters, ruled the battlefield. Only one Mech made it out of the 'pocket' to flee off-board. And that was a heavily damaged Phoenix Hawk. Most of the opponent's force were killed by Manticores, Shreks, and the Savannah Masters.
Even though he screamed 'Cheater!' at me, he did learn in the end. Forever thereafter, he was very cautious about being flanked from the woods. Not that it helped that much... in later battles, I paid for 'off the board' Artillery to pound him with... Then Air Strikes by Aerospace Fighters... And when he DEMANDED a City Battle... Well, let's just say I used the old 'Soviet Method' upon him, and leave it at that.
Oh, and I should mention, I also hit him with the Locust Swarm once or twice as well. Yeah, I AM that Evil.
I love to use this tank in my campaign games. That PPC is no joke. Use a few of these and/or some of its 3060 babies, the Myrmidon, and watch them rip through most things that they face for a fraction of the cost of battlemechs.
Pretty sure the Manitcore is going to be a vehicle in the backer, as 1) You yourself pointed out how common it is in lore and how effective it is and 2) It is in ilClan Vol 31, and from what I can tell, all the mechs, with early Clan invasion counterparts, in the earlier selection that did not get in the Clan Invasion Kickstarter are appearing in the new Kickstarter. I would say outlook is likely, though not certain.
My Stock Refit (is stupid good).
-3 Heat Sinks.
-1 Medium Laser.
+4 Tons Armour.
Alt Config.
+Above
-SRM-6.
-LRM-10.
+SRM-4 x4.
+Replace Ammo (2 Tons SRM-4).
Sinking four tons into a backup medlas is the only weakness this thing has. You can get a big SRM and a ton more ammo or a bunch of armor for that.
If something is so frequently in under the PPC's minimum range that you run out of SRMs you fucked up somewhere along the way.
Replacing the ML with a SRM 6 and 1 ton of ammo gives it more flexibility and firepower.
Also, If I could give it a Quirk, I would give it the "Easy Repair" Quirk, at least for it's first Version.
Not because it really IS Easy to Repair, but because of the Case that it was build only with Standard Technology, so Replacement Parts are easy to find and to get for it.
Also... I think I would like to have the Ability, in the next MW Game, to drive Tanks too, and to place them in a Secondary Support Lance with a specific role, like Mech Hunter, Scout or Second / Third Line Artillerie.
I think that would give the next game some interesting tactical options... and damn, I like to drive that Tank! :D
Loving all the quotes from good ol' Sergeant "Dead-Eye" Unther you've been sprinkling in your vids lately ^^
I tend to drop them in Mercenaries videos. These tank vids are being made because of the upcoming Mercenaries Kickstarter, so I figured I'd add in the Unther quotes :D
One does not realize how powerful a mech is, until they have deployed tanks to fight them.
Pretty sure the only controversy is no free sabaton album with purchase.
How is it controversial? I'd buy 10 knowing I'm not getting one :P
The Manticore is good, but I'm a huge fan of the Von Luckner as a MBT.
Weapons for every range, including indirect fire. The only thing it is missing is a C3 Slave. Indirect fire is the best type of weapon system for vehicles as it gives them the ability to fully leverage their size behind available cover. Defense in depth with pre-made tank trenches!
Amazing work sir! Wonderfully done!
It's an old favorite from back in the day. The tank first made its debut in 1st edition Mechwarrior RPG. The Medium Laser was rear mounted originally, giving the tank its name. (Almost like the designers knew that a light mech would try a runaround attack while the PPC was engaging another target.) It was tall for its size, which would be a decisive feature if battlemechs weren't involved. Current version is shorter, basically Abrams/Challenger + LRM height. I had a lance of Manticores in my old merc unit's Assault Company, versatile in attack and defense. (A 3074 model with three 3060 types would make a mighty lance though!) I do agree, tanks shouldn't brawl unless they are fast movers. Tanks that let mechs get too close get kicked, DFA'd, shot up with multiple MLs, or hacked with melee weapons.
i remember this from mechassault, along with the railcannon tank
Personally, I'd refit one of these things by taking the SRM6 out, use the weight saved to upgrade the LRM10 to an LRM15, convert the SRM ammo over to LRM ammo, and add an extra ton of it. Convert the MLaser to a pair of SLasers for dealing with infantry.
Generalizing for a vehicle like this doesn't help it, IMO. It's also a bad idea to want to get in close, because it's too easy for a mech to kill a tank if they're in close quarters, so the SRM needs to go. Further, having only one missile ammo type to worry about eases logistics, making supplying the vehicle easier. Trade the MLaser for a pair of Slasers so that you have an option for anti-infantry, especially since you don't want to be within the 270 meter range for actually effectively using said Mlaser anyway since, again, that puts you dangerously close to being in stomping distance.
Definitely nice since for the cost of one archer, you'd get two of these with some c-bills leftover that could go toward support. Yeah, you're losing 10 missile pods, but the two PPCs more than make up for it.
They're good, but the main thing I remember about them is their original artwork. It was depicted as a 3-tracked tank with a rotating hull, with two tracks up front, and one track in the centerline rear. Rule of Cool and all that. It looked futuristic. In reality having three tracks would make it unstable (ever wonder why 3-wheeler ATV's are extinct, but 4-wheeler ATV's are still sold?). It also means that you are 33.3% more likely to hit a land mine, and a rougher ride as there is now a 3rd point of contact to drive over something and rock the hull.
A rotating hull is OK-ish. They've been tried in real life too, but deemed not worth the effort. If you don't know, this is when the vehicle is more turret than hull. The crew, the engine, the gun, and almost all of the machinery and weapons are in a big turret sitting on essentially just a small box that connects it to the tracks. It was mostly done to have an autoloader for the gun.
Now, in BattleTech, the Manticore works just fine as none of those elements matters in the game rules.
I hope you don't overlook hovercraft. I hope to see one named Hovertank in early Record Sheets and its derivatives like LTV4. MegaMek has a variant of the original Hovertank with fusion engine and speed 9/14
I'm going to be covering the Pegasus for this series.
The Kanga is the coolest hovertank in Battletech, hands down.
The 3074 varient feels like it would be better rounded out with a hull mounted medium laser of some sort. That would give it lineage with the original models, and that secondary weapon system is ususlaly a good thing to have. The MML concept is great, so dispensing with two seperate launchers makes plenty sense, but an anti-infantry/light armor system would help it out.
Where would you get the four tons needed to add a ML to that model?
another exelent video as always Big Red now I want the vehicle pack even more 😣
I need those vehicles O.O
Combination MBT and MRLS system.
God this tank is such a pain in the ass to kill in mechwarrior 5 lol
Gotta admit, I preferred (and prefer) the Bulldog. Can’t even explain why, I just liked it’s look in TR 3026.
Manticore, Striker and Pegasus OH MY
I made a varient of this tank with some clan tech. Mainly the 9.5 tons of Clan Ferro Fibrous= LS & RS: 30 / RR:20 / FR:50 / TU:52 spread and ER PPC. I follow it up with 2 MML9's with a Ton of LRM and Ton of SRM Ammo. Movement is a IS XL engine with a Base: 5 and Flank: 8 all for the cost of 9,131,200 C-bills. I set a rule for myself that all ground unit must cost less than 10 million. I was thinking of dropping the engine or some armor for more equipment but I thought simplisticity was the best way to go. Though was thinking adding a tag and Targeting Comp. To make it even more deadly.
A lot of the vehicles of Battletech are pretty good, but I get the feeling only Iron Wind Metals makes minis for them at all. Which is a bit of a problem when you live in Okinawa and they don't want to ship here.
Psst. The new Kickstarter has vehicles :D
Its coming March 23rd :D
It looks like a bradley fighting vehicle, with a larger turret.
Tanks can use missiles and cannons without heating?
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Ridiculous that there was no Manticore with ER PPC / ER Medium Laser.
SO, basic tank for basic needs. Nice
ALso, would it make tanks op if they also had turret side and rear sections?
Probably lol
Are you going to cover Proliferation Pack and Snord’s Irregulars Assault Lance?
As in the mechs in them? Eventually.
Am I going to make a news video on them? I wasn't overly thrilled with the packs, and felt it was best to not be unimpressed by them in a news video tbh.
Completely unrelated but I figured you’d be a good person to come to, should you see this comment. I’m getting into the BattleTech tabletop with a couple friends and I’ve got the new beginner box, the “Total Warfare” book, the BattleMech manual, and 5 boxes of mechs (I’ve been a fan bit of BattleTech since I was a little kid and found Mech Assault, naturally I’m drawn to the Wolf’s Dragoons).
Anyway I keep hearing talk of “Advanced” rules and “Quirks” certain mechs have, as well ass custom mechs in the style of the MechWarrior video games (which I also love). I’ve been into 40k for a while so I’m no stranger to tabletop war games, but even still it’s all a bit disorienting.
What would you recommend doing as a beginner in this game specifically?
(Not to gloat but I’m currently undefeated 3-0 against my friends in the simple version of the rules in the beginner box, go me.)
Hey Brock!
I'm not sure I'll be able to do that at this point, the video slate is enormous.
I recently bought MBT. It looks interesting, but nothing like Classic Battletech.
I hope for some videos about clan tanks and Vtol (maybe infantry) i know clan are more focusing about mech and elementals but me as huge fan of clan hell's horses i hope for this.
Maybe one day, but its not planned at this time.
It be cool if it had the medium laser be coaxial, but it has good firepower, also why exactly do mechs generate heat from non energy weapons while tanks don't
I wonder if the stats cover the gun depression and elevation. Or turret traverse and hull traverse.
A great demonstration why tanks are better than mechs. Myjomers are the only thing making mechs viable.
Gameplay wise I thought vehicles don't actually track heat even when they end up in an environment that would render their 1-1 heatskink ratio invalid, they just immediately take mobility penalties right?
They don't track ballistic heat, or missile heat, but they must have the sinks to cover their energy weapons.
@@BigRed40TECH I know but I thought they don't activelly track it even then. Like if they're in vacuum or volcanic and then their sinks wouldn't be enough for their weapons you don't actually start tracking it like in a mech, you just take movement penalties but can still shoot.
Panzer Vor!
do the clanners not have a manticore?
I don't think so.
The closest thing armaments and weight wise is Enyo.
Manticore is 40k Baneblade's big meth addict brother with anger isdues, who was just released from a prison.
Yep! and then someone would roll up a Demolisher and take everyone candy-suckers.
Homo,Homini,Hominus, is the better known version of this quote.(Man's Inhumanity to Man).
Give me 4 manticores, 4 Saladin, 2 Demolishers and 2 Sturmfeurs and I will show you how to fend off any mech force of equal battle value.
A shame the lostech version isnsuch a dog.
I hate Manticore & Partisan. They are annoying and can be deadly.
We used some armor in our table top games, Manticore, Demolisher, Hetzer, (there was a German wheeled assault gun in ww2 called the Hertzer... but I assume that's just a coincidence) and the schrek ppc carrier. It was a useful alternative to just mech battles...
I can't help but think of an upgrade to the 3055 version for merc units with access to plentiful clan salvage/tech. Strip the large pulse laser and SRM2, slot in a pair of clan ER large lasers, swap out the sinks for doubles (IS or clan), drop a sink and put the rest of the tonnage into extra armor.
Manticore.
Something for everyone! ❤️
Good evening Big Red. Awesome review of the Manticore. Recently, I took a company of Manticore with a lance of mechs And several squads of battle armor raid on a Liao factory. Mission was a success thanks to the Lrms and Srms.
Just asking your thoughts: how would the Manticore match up against a Zhukov or a Liao Po?
The original Manticore is a beast on the tabletop. I had to play against a lance of them with battlemech support. Needless to say, I had to withdraw and all the Manticores were still alive. I got lots of motive hits but they were in positions so they didn't have to worry about maneuvering. It really made me appreciate some of the vehicles in the game.