Why Do We Love The Ion Sparrow?
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- Опубліковано 7 січ 2024
- Today, we look at the Ion Sparrow, one of the newest light mechs in BattleTech.
Ion Sparrow MF Record Sheet: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0w1zvf...
Resources: IlClan Sourcebook, Leviathon by Thomas Hobbes, IlClan Rec Guide 11, Clan Invasion TRO.
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 - Ігри
I love that in the story machine gun fire scares the republic mechs so much that they just can’t mech… truly a Jade Falcon story. 7/10 would have been an 8/10 but mechwarrior Tyco forgot to falcon shriek while leaping through the air.
Death by 8 MGs is not a way a light mech should go.
“Drive them back, mechwarrior. Your Chingus Khan demands it!”
Sent chills down my spine
Bad time to be a falcon.
That spread of SRMs (Sad Rain Missiles) hit me right in the eyes. Is Tyco ever going to report? She flew so high, so graceful, so true.
I don't think she made it.
@@MechanicalFrog Thanks for the after battle report. I will soldier on 🖖🏿
Kinda scary how far a 20 ton 'mech can jump.
I actually did a recent experiment to see how many jump jets could be put on a mech. The result was about 15... for a mech with a Clan XXL engine, and no weapons or armor.
@@A88mph weight class?
@@Primearch-GG 20 tons.
@@A88mph thanks, it was confusing because it sounded like you used a heavier mech.
Woosh... it just really wants to fly.
Excellent update on a surprisingly capable little 'Mech, usually a 20 tonner is a death sentence for the pilot on the modern Battletech battle but with the speed and agility and surprising punch, the Ion's more than capable of pecking your eyes out if you're not careful.
Stay fast. Stay out of sight until BAM. Bird attack.
I'd argue it's less of a death sentence outside IntroTech, since a lot of the earlier/later technologies allow you to trade critical slots for more tonnage.
Just pray the opposition didn't bring Thunder-Active Bombs.
The verisimilitude of our mechwarior's past, personally, actions along with higher commands orders and reactions make it sound so grounded and real.
And the emotional pacing is as perfect as a short story format allow.
The story was great.
Thanks a lot. I can't recall the last time I saw someone use Verisimilitude in a sentence.
Honestly, I'm a Light Mech specialist, having used the Locust 1E, Mist Lynx Prime, Cougar A, Adder A, and others to great success.
Yes, you're thinner than others, so your movements have to be more careful, but done right, you can disrupt an opponent's plans.
Heck, that Locust 1E has racked up.multiple kills, all bigger than itself, and kept a Rifleman and Catapult off guard for an entire fight, allowing my team mate to deal with the Atlas we were facing.
My opponents have shot all the head armor off it twice, and yet I bring her home every time. Thus my call sign "Droptop"
Love the short story! This really adds to the overview!
Glad you enjoyed it. :D
Normally I am a stickler for the proper Clan names for their mechs, but I have to admit: the name of Butcherbird sounds so badass.
The Butcherbird is a great name.
Something that is easy to overlook: as an OmniMech, the Ion Sparrow can be used to deliver elementals. Having a jump range of 10 and being so light, it is exceptionally good at carrying elementals through bad terrain to exactly where you don't want them, without blowing your BV budget. The damage on top of that is gravy. :)
Jumping makes it a little tricky because you can't deploy battle armor while jumping. You have to run for a turn, to deploy them.
Good point. I think I should have mentioned that.
I haven't used an Ion Sparrow yet but I'm looking forward to do so. It's a very good mech to team with the Fire Falcon and Black Lanner.
Definitely would work well in that team.
Another fabulous and favored design from the late DA/ilClan Jade Falcons and AML. Love it.
Loved hearing Tychos story again. Its the first video thag brought me here I have no plans on leaving anytime soon. Great content as always!
Thank you so much for the continued support. The nonsense must flow.
I love the Sparrow. Hands down my favourite ilClan unit. Something super neat about its overall design and loadouts.
Couldn't agree more!
thanks for the video!
loved the MechFrog variant and the short story, they were really good
Glad you enjoyed!
Not only do the Collectors add another wonderful MF mech to their ranks, we are treat to a data stream of the Ion Sparrow in actual combat. Her honor and bravery will live on among us.
It was a short but glorious life...
"Who shall see as god above all, a hero try or a sparrow fall" - EYE-ON-SPARROW
Ion, iron, whatever... :D
Though I do like this mech the story at the end convinced me to keep looking for a mexh to fill that 20 ton slot I currently don't have
Really enjoyed the story bit! Felt like an official short story
Glad you enjoyed it!
The Ion Sparrow is definitely one of my favorite designs. I based a 50-ton BattleMech with 330 meters of jump distance off it, named the “Glittergore”. As the name might imply, it also uses Reflective Armor. And to be extra cruel, it’s equipped with four Medium Pulse Lasers and a Targeting Computer.
I have yet to actually use this against anyone, and I probably won’t unless they’re using artillery, bombs, or something else reasonably capable of dealing with it.
Now that I think about it, this is actually pretty similar to the Ion Sparrow MF.
Great minds.
That story at the end though. 😮 Great work as always 👍
Also just checked been a member for over 8 months now. Feels like it's been only like 3
It's been a fun ride so far, I hope. Glad to have your support.
@@MechanicalFrog always. Keep on keeping on
Was I the only Battletech fan whose first thought after seeing the video title was "Why do we love the what?"
If I had to use one I would go for an Ion Sparrow D though the MF looks nice
We need a resolution to this story! Glorious failure or Glorious victory? Either way it is glorious.
Welp... The Falcons did end up taking Sao Paulo... so I guess it was victory. Doubt our mechwarrior friend made it though.
Great story to end this one. As someone else said, what a very Jade Falcon story. The only thing more Jade Falcon would be to kamikaze DFA into the biggest mech while falcon screeching over an open channel.
Burning through these at work - where is my Phoenix Hawk loadout? It's my favorite smedium mech (smedium: anything below 50 tons) 😅😅
This looks like a fun mech to pilot directly, assuming of course that we ever get jump jets that actually work more like they do in the tabletop than in MWO/MW5. (really slow and floaty)
It's an interesting concept, and one place where I could see Heavy Medium Lasers being very useful since weapon tonnage is at a premium. Personally, I like Configuration C since ER-Small lasers are quite powerful in MW5/MWO due to the separation between Damage-Per-Turn vs Damage-Per-Second; it'd be a god-tier backstabber mech for sure.
It's always interesting to get the MW5 perspective. Thank you!
Honestly, I like its nickname of Butcherbird more. It is a nice light mech and will likely be the favored scout mech of the Alynia Mercantile League, along with the Hierofalcon and Jade Phoenix. They may still make the Jupiter mech to sell, but the short term will probably earmark the 3 Omnis for the Alynia Militia before selling them off, if possible.
It is kind of difficult to make a variant with so much locked in equipment. Best I got is making a sniper variant with an ER Large Laser or a 'Nova-lite' putting in 4 ER Mediums for mid range reach, giving it +5 to heat if Alpha striking and jumping the full amount.
Finally, great short story.
As far as nicknames go, that's a pretty good one. Thanks for giving it a go.
Star Commander Hazen, mentioned in the fluff, is my kickstarter character.
:D Today is your day then!
i imagine some tanks practiced their skeet shooting with their autocannons on the Sparrows. Now where is my birdshot? Thanks for the video
LB-10x and a targeting computer. Kills birdies dead.
I feel the Ion Sparrow would benefit from a Steiner refit that would give it a pair of light AC/2s and tag system.
Definitely a neat little mech, it is nice to see more of the rec guide JF mechs!
Enjoyed the extra bit of fiction at tge end.
So glad you enjoyed.
Mechfrog should be required viewing in all schools.
We might learn a thing or two.
Really liked the added story! Excellent video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video, especially with the bit of fiction at the end.
I've decided I like the Ion Sparrow. It certainly shows the power of jump. If I remember my To-hit modifiers correctly 7+ distance is where your to-hit modifier is higher for enemies to hit you than for you to hit a target (all other things discounted). The Ion Sparrow can exceed that, which makes it quite scary if your opponent loves jumping.
I'm surprised there isn't a config that mounts just an ER Large Laser.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. Little comments like this make it all worthwhile.
An ER LL would be fun.
Gotta love this thing. I remember when I got some minis of it from you, and used the Prime look to create my own custom variant. Piloted by an OC MechWarrior of mine known as Nox, the Ion Sparrow F - as it is unofficially known - is visually similar to the Prime with almost the same loadout. It drops the two AP Gauss of the Prime and replaces them with a pair of Improved Heavy Small Lasers and a Targeting Computer. Originally, I had intended for it to also mount Triple Strength Myomer, but it needs 3 additoinal crits that can't be found right now (I was wanting to take advantage of the heat output of the iHeavy Lasers. MechWarrior Nox is a member of my Jade Eye Star, which is a part of Khan Jiyi Chisut's Jade Falcon Clan.
Sounds like a nasty little build.
I do like the ion Sparrow but I am completely hooked on my locust
It's all good.
Excellent video and story. I would like to field these on the table someday.
Thanks a lot. I hope more people are willing to try out these Dark Age and IlClan era mechs. There are some gems.
Great video never heard of this mech before. I also love the story you came up with it was great!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love the MF variant, love the wing, love the boing, love the fiction.
Pure gold, Frog.
Thanks a ton. Glad I could start your week off with some green bird.
@@MechanicalFrog Green bird best bird.
Hrm... Green frog also best frog. MAYBE green is just best?
Not gonna lie; I would like to see future additions to the Mechwarrior part of the Battletech franchise use more 'Mechs that take advantage of partial wing technology.
"You will always remember this as the day you almost caught the Star Captain's Sparrow!"
Fly my pretties... FLY!
This mech makes a fun sniper with a single ER Large laser as well. You take your single long ranged aimed shot then run before the enemy can even see where it came from, in true sniper fashion. Then redeploy and repeat. The mobility of the mech being put to very good use.
Gotta love a mobile light mech :-) not my era but love the partial wing system its really useful :-) cheers for another fun vid
Glad you enjoyed it. Maybe I can drag you into the newer eras some day. ;)
She committed the carnal sin in the end. Giving into hope too soon when facing overwhelming odds. If she had stayed focused, on hit-and-run on the lightmechs while delaying them. She might have survived. Though be it all ammo would be dry. If she had the heavy medium lasers that's 20 damage that would melt any IS Lightmech torsos and if they had XL's engines. She would have been victorious against the Light mechs but barely. I'm a firm believer. "When an enemy is not that very good. The fuckers can still get lucky." (You can quote me on that.) :)
I have played this mech on the tabletop and couldn't get them to work without having a lot of cover for them to shoot and scoot. The entire two-star just got obliterated by long-range Laser and MML Missile Turrets.
After looking back on the Defeat and the Mech. I would make a rework mech upgrade. Instead of 20 tons. I gave it 10 more tons making it a 30-ton mech. So I give to you Ion Sparrow II/OZ!
Cost: BV: 1,204 Cost: 6,331,000 C-bills
Movement: 7/11(14)/6 Engine: 210 XL Double Heat Sinks: 12 [27] Cockpit: Small Cockpit Gyro: Standard Gyro HEAT: 29/27
Internal: 51 (Endo-Steel) Armor: 86/105 (Ferro-Fibrous) 4.5 tons
Weapons:
6x AP Gauss Rifles 3 in the LA & RA with two tons of ammo (80shots) in the RT & LT
2x Heavy Medium Laser in the LT & RT
Equipment:
Partial Wing (Clan) (fixed LT&RT)
MASC (Clan) in the RT
Laser AMS (Clan) in the LT
All in all The mech is Heat neutral with only the L-AMS Tipping over the heat scale just a tad. With a Cruising Speed: of 75.6 kph and a Maximum Speed: of 151.2 kph. This new Speedy Bird is ready to discharge and feast. I'm interested to see what variants people would come up with an extra 10 tons to play with. :)
6 AP Gauss... you hate infantry even more than I do!
@@MechanicalFrog lol, not only that. But when you have 6x3 =18 damage for only 6 heat. You can Rek some medium and heavy mechs shit. ^_^ Followed by 20 more damage with Heavy Laser Burns. Both weapons using the same Range Bracket. An Alpha Strike to the back of a light, medium, and heavy mechs is a done deal. I like making mechs able to punch above the their weight class. When forced into the situation. That's why I like OmniMechs so much. They excel in that role.
So what's your build with the 30ton upgrade? AP Gauss Rifles and Plasma Rifles and Flamers? More JJ's? Kinda wish they would bring Plasma PPC into the game from the old Mech Assault consel games. :) I'm sure you would gush over that weapon. :P
The hits keep coming! Great video!! Thanks, Frog!
Thanks for giving it a shot.
Im late to the party but the butcherbird is prob my fav “new mech” and it being a falcon mech is a bonus :)
Great video! Looking forward to more videos.
Thanks for watching!
I hope MechWarrior Tyco pulled the eject handle. RIP
Hope so, though even then, I doubt the RAF were in the sparing mood.
I dream of a CGL box of plastic minis with all the neat winged Falcon Mechs... 🦜🦜🦜🦜
Some day soon, I hope.
As all the dumb spiders have taught me in MW5, I don't care if you can fly and say Goodbye to your legs now.
MW5 is pretty wonky with jump jets I think...
There's a local guy who likes his Ion Sparrows. They are hard to put down with a +5 to hit
Yeah they can be quite annoying.
Having fixed jump jets and Partial Wings hurts the Ion Sparrow's omnimech potential. Its almost entirely limited to either small energy weapons, or anti-infantry weapons. Its odd that none of its variants tries something like mounting Micro-Pulse Lasers. Thats one of those forgotten pieces of equipment that would actually be very useful.
Is it Flanderization that Clan Jade Falcon cannot stop making bird mechs? It used to be that one of their favorite mechs was the blocky Summoner.
Well, you get a new toy and you want to put it on everything...
loved that story mate
really nice to wake up to thanks mate
oh tagged ya on a twitter post with a pic of my dog atlas i hope you seen it
I did! Great doggo. Atlas the cat is being insane today because the quail are out in the yard.
thanks mate sounds like both of them get the zoomies bad@@MechanicalFrog
I think this little mech is actually a better design than the 35 ton Eyrie. I was surprised that there was no variants with a single ER LL, Single Heavy Large Laser, or 4 Heavy Medium Lasers.
I like the look of the IS much more than the Eyrie.
Sounds like a fun mech to pilot! Would love to try it out!
It should be quite fun.
I hope Tyco found peace.
Indeed.
If the vehicle-mounted battle armor equipment from Ghosts of Obeedah ever proliferates, it’ll be interesting to see how ‘Mechs like the Ion Sparrow take advantage. The inferior durability might be offset by the ability to avoid hits in the first place.
Interesting pondering. I do like that many of the DA and IlClan designs have some consideration for anti-infantry.
@@MechanicalFrog I do think the focus on anti-CI specifically is a bit dubious, since battle armor is superior in every way for anyone able to get it. And more importantly, using BattleMechs and Combat Vehicles for anti-infantry duties usually means getting dangerously close to said infantry.
The Ion Sparrow has a powerful anti-infantry option already, of course: it's an OmniMech that can jump ten hexes, and that means mechanized battle armor.
Love me the prime and C!
Fun ones.
I use 2 primes in my alpha strike games@@MechanicalFrog
Cue bird screech , need Jakalopes to counter
like the prime, very nice story. chilliing end
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
Great video. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
I'd be highly tempted to run 6 iHSL\3 iHML+TC or go full monty with 8 iHSL or 4 iHML. Ride and\or die.
Let's roll...
I want to run one with an active probe. ECM, TAG, and ER ML.
Operation Sneaky Sneak Ion Sparrow.
I ran a star of them once. I felt vaguely bad about it afterwards.
Bad enough not to do it again?
@@MechanicalFrognot even close, lol
great read as always frog
Thank you!
your very welcome@@MechanicalFrog
Think i might be a convert to Jade Falcon for just this mech, though still love my Ghost Bear and Capellans
Maybe the Ghost Bears can buy a few from the Mercantile League.
Never underestimate the little guy...
At least never underestimate the little guy with eight machine guns.
@@MechanicalFrog Yup, ask the Piranha:)
huh, it's surprising the Ion Sparrow would lose to a Parash 3, as the Parash 3 has an Interface Cockpit and Large Pulse Laser, giving it an effective -3 to hit with a weapon that would go internal anywhere but the center torso
I guess the Falcon was just that much better.
I do love the ion sparrow
It's a fun one.
More great fiction. Thanks for the story.
Glad you enjoyed it
Hello Frog.
I like the idea of the Ion Sparrow. Fast, maneuverable, and fairly armed for its size and mass. Is there somewhere I can get Mech sheets for it? Unfortunately, MegaMekLab does not list the Ion Sparrow, or, I just can't find it. I would like all four or five designs, as well as the MF design. I plan to test them on a tabletop if I can 'lay lands' on the specs.
sheets.flechs.net/ Flechs has them.
@@MechanicalFrog : Thanks!
Mech Frog had to do a laser vomit variant because config A took his favourite anti infantry role first.😂
No fair!
Yeah sure "fragile" right up until it has a +5 TMM jumping into light woods. *Shudder*.
Really should be a two Mpulse variant though. With 4 tons of pod space it feels like it's almost designed for it, and that would make it a wonderful wasp-hunter.
Can't hit what you can't see... :ninja:
You mean other than it being Jack Sparrow's favorite mech?
An important consideration. Is that why the cockpit smells like rum?
@@MechanicalFrog gotta use something to get rid of the leg cramps.
Partial Wings cannot be pod-mounted, so taking it off would require a full factory rebuild like with any fixed equipment. You can, however, take off pod-mounted jump jets if you really want a configuration to focus elsewhere.
Good thing to note for anyone who wants to tinker.
@@MechanicalFrog MegaMek initially didn't implement that correctly, and I opened an issue to fix it after realizing that. Then I had to submit fixes for the units (mainly the Ion Sparrow) that were suddenly invalid because they had pod-mounted Partial Wings.
I'm predicting an Ion Sparrow in Fox Patrol's near future, so this mech's gonna get more high profile.
That would be fun. I'd like to see a lot more mech variation in stories.
I don't think I'll ever play with il Clan mechs. Looking at my campaing its even doubtful we'll play clan at 3050, but I still enjoy your vids. Cheers
Interesting mech, didn´t know about this one. They keep redoing the old artworks while introducting new machines, it´s starting to get confusing even for me.
The MF variant is a nice take on pulses, but i would prefer 3 Clan ER medium lasers to the Targeting Computer, distance helps with not getting hit as well after all.
A fair compromise alt-energy build. The range would be nice.
@@MechanicalFrog I do like hitting things from afar, it tends to get yyou less return fire, though i´m by no means a sniper, mind you.
Mostly i like to stay out of the reange of a punch as well as those really big, heavy-hitting autocannons.
But with stuff like the HAGs, i´m pretty much out of luck anyways.
Are we sure about the placement of the cockpit? There's clearly a head on these things, but all the graphics seem to have the view screen in the center torso.
MechFrog's Painting rule #74: The cockpit is wherever I put it.
Fair enough. :)
@@MechanicalFrog
i think i have a brand new mech to play with! like the piranha and locust, this mech touches on so many of my favorite things to do with mechs. but this takes it to a whole new level. ill definetly be trying out the d and mf variants
edit: i loved the story afterwards. you captured the bloodlust and fun i have playing lights against numbers and heavier mechs as well.
I doubt she will win, but tyco will definetly earn a place in valhala
Thanks a lot for giving the vid a go and for the feedback on the little story.
The MF version reminds me there are two different types of laser players. Pulse + Target computer guys and idiots like me, the fool who would just jam a heavy large into the right arm and run around trying to tickle peoples bums. Is it consistent? No. Is it good? Probably not. Does it keep the guys with ammo in their torsos and no case awake at night in a cold sweat? You bet.
Alternatively, 12 light machine guns and a ton of ammo would be uh. Pretty funny.
Mini- Jumping Piranha
Standard algorithm engagement comment
Supportive response from creator.
Yeah, it's a nice little 'mech
It's a fun one. Thanks for giving the video a go!
Great video MF. For the MF variant - any thoughts to running the Reflective armor on this?
Maybe... I just know people are a bit wary on the special armors and try to stick to one special tech per MF.
Understood. It is also the cheesiest of the cheese, but for those high move mod mechs it makes SO much sense as pulse lasers are the primary weapon used to hunt them.@@MechanicalFrog
The Fire Falcon worked out symbiotic hunting relationship with the Black Lanner in the Clan Worlds then worked out a second deal with the Ion Sparrow in the Inner Sphere. What is the diplomacy skill level of the average Fire Falcon? 🤔🙄
Incredibly high, apparently. Smart bird.
Anybody know where you can pick up a miniature of this mech?
Where can I find miniatures of the Ion Sparrow?
There are no official models yet for the Ion Sparrow. Some might go through other channels for unofficial designs.
Not the fastest Smol Boy but Damn!! can it jump.
It just wants to fly.
Where can you get a Ion Sparrow mini?
I do not recall how I ended up with these files.
Thanks MF!
Thanks for coming by!
Is that a 3D print? If so, where can I get one?
I unfortunately do not remember where I found the file for them.
Poor Tyko, poor Sparrow...
RIP Falcon. caww...
R.I.P Tyco, she tried her heart out. I feel like I've heard this one before for some reason, is it from a diffrent video?
It is the edited and updated story from the original Ion Sparrow video.
@MechanicalFrog ahhh I thought I recognized it. It's always a pleasure to hear the short stories that you make for the mechs!
Commander sent her to her death bed...and had the gall to demand info after!!!😄😶😒🙄😬😔😳😥😡
Not a great time to be a Falcon.
Awe it's a lill cutie, dangerous as any clan jade falcon mech should be. May the spheroid barbarians fear this lights claws!!
"It's small but it's fierce!"
I take the wings off the Ion Sparrow to slap Aleksandr Kerensky. He deserves it for letting Stefan Amaris gain such influence over his ward Richard Cameron and destroy the Star League.
P.S. This is an expanded version of a previous story? Correct. I seem to remember it from much earlier on the channel.
The story was taken from the earlier Ion Sparrow video and edited with additional content.
I like the idea that the AML is selling these. I can't wait for these lill bastards to proliferate around the sphere.
Isn't it ionic, don't cha think?
I kept saying Iron Sparrow while recording. Now I can't stop saying it.
Light mechs are obsolete.
VTOLs can do the job of reconisence and they are expendable
I imagine that Stinger missiles have gotten pretty good by the 31st Century.
I dont, “Improved” tech in most cases is badly designed, and OP. Improved Jumpjets break a rule tjat should not shift max JJs, proportional to walk MP.
Partial wing is great as it only gives a little extra jump, and has lots of costs.
(Do wish the name was better, “partial wing” is a dumb name.
Jumpjet assistance system, or coolant system may be better for example”
Personaly dont like this mech, nor do I like for example any mech that features Masc and Supercharger in combination, which should be illegal
Thank you for not putting a Plasma Rifle in the Ion Sparrow. I know that took restraint.
I'd have to pull the Partial Wings and... like I said, that can't be done.
@@MechanicalFrog You can do a Plasma Cannon with 1 ton of ammo, but 10 shots for a weapon that doesn't damage mechs isn't ideal.
omg this is cute af! 😍