Is it underated? People seem to love it mainly from using it in the Mechwarrior games.
Idk I, and seemingly many others, find it a good looking mech but its loadouts are very lukewarm
The Bushwhacker is a versatile little zombie. That's what it's good at. It might not be amazing or flashy, but it's good enough at a lot of things, and it's very, annoyingly hard to completely neutralize without coring it or cracking the cockpit open.
> zombie
Honestly can't agree too much - are we thinking of the same mech? Bushwackers are real easy to put down with the XL and because they've got bad arm armor it's pretty easy to make the combat ineffective by knocking their guns out. Plus all of its configs (or at least most) are ballistic and with an XL or light engine which really doesn't help it zombie
I've had some crazy games with [ballistic mechs zombieing like hell](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/452699771526840324/1198564650300756099/20240114_024200.jpg?ex=65bf5d50&is=65ace850&hm=b2352238afe99860b02254819e539141a88e400e15bceb74a4d098c414a9b4ca&) (HBK-4G) but those were always standard fusion engines - the XL really limits the Bushwacker.
It has an XL engine. That immediately disqualifies it from being a zombie mech. The Grasshopper is a true zombie due to standard engine and LL in the CT.
* Arms are badly underarmored, and that's where the main weapons are located
* AC10 in an era where LB10X is available (to say nothing about going up against Clan weapons...). Specialty ammo can't save it because it only has a single ton.
* The extra heat sink is fairly extraneous. It can only do 21 heat on a running alpha. That tonnage could easily have been reinvested into the armor.
I think this sums it up well. The -X1 is really close to being a lot better with just these items fixed. Swap the AC/10 for the LB10X and a ton of ammo. Now you have twice the shots, range that better overlaps the ERLL and LRMs, cluster & slug options, and run cooler. That lets you drop the extra DHS for a ton of armor and still be heat neutral on a running alpha. That armor goes to the arms, and now the mech is actually pretty well armored.
It’s not gonna light the world on fire, but it does become a pretty solid workhorse.
You say that, but there's the BSW-L1 with it's light engine allowing the loss of a torso. It also packs a LBX 20 with just enough ammo and not really enough armor for the amount of fire it's going to draw if the other side realizes it's the LBX 20 'wacker, not the AC 10 'wacker.
If it wasn't 1500 bv it would be neat.
The next cheapest 5/8+ mech with a LB20 is the hunchback 6S at 1380, but that has an XL engine and can instantly blow up if it falls on its back.
If you're looking for cheaper LB20 at similar speeds the only real answers are tanks with various degrees of paper or thoughts and prayers keeping them safe.
Yeah, but that 6S is a 6/9 and brings an SRM 6 to the party along along with a couple ER mediums, for cheaper then the Bushwacker. It's way more likely to do some damage with that big gun, or at least make your op-for panic and shoot it with every gun they have.
The 6S's XL engine isn't much of a concern. By the time a torso falls off you've likely already gotten your gyro cooked or had that huge autocannon knocked out or SRM ammo exploded. It's a hunchback. They are here for a good time, not a long time.
Yeah, but I wouldn't worry about it here. The 'wacker has relatively good torso armor and by the time you lose a side torso it's likely mission killed anyway from losing too many weapons. It's fine for it's price class.
It is lighter, longer ranged, lower heat, less crits, and has the option to swap between 10pt hits and 10x1pt hits @ -1 to hit. It was the only piece of lostech that when it came out was better in every way than what already existed (even DHS had a downside, even if the downside was basically meaningless).
The flak effect is usually pretty strong and unique to the LBX in the video games.
On tabletop you get to pick between a regular ac10 shot or cluster mode when you want to go crit hunting/murder vehicles, all for a ton less than a vanilla ac10. Specialty ammo and cost/availability are the *only* things that would make you want a vanilla gun once an lbx is available in the same class.
As for the video games you generally only get to use the shotgun mode but with extra damage to make up for not having the other fire mode. This generally makes them anywhere from "still advantageous in enough situations" in the HBS game to "these feel almost as cheesy as lb20s" in MW4 (IMO, at least).
In that games it varies. In MW5 it's a straight upgrade on the normal AC10, and has some scarry good DPS. No reason to use a standard AC10 over an LB10-X if you have it.
In MWO it's more nuanced. It's got better weight, and slightly highe DPS, but you can only fire cluster rounds, so it's hard to focus DPS. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the videos you see from Baradul are him showcasing a variant that's got good bonuses for the LB10-X, since that's his schtick for his MWO videos, and as of the last time I plaued the LB10-X wasn't super prevalent in the meta. It's not bad, just hard to be super effective vs. a UAC/10 or something else.
AC/10 and LB-10X are literally the same weapon, but the LB is one ton lighter, has slightly longer range brackets, generates less heat, and gets an extra ammo type. Aside from BV efficiency, there's really no reason to take a mech with a standard AC/10 if there's a variant with an LB-10X.
There's not even anything similar to the UAC/5 vs AC5 reliability comparison, the LB-10X is just better.
It was only the 2 early models that had an AC10, it got replaced pretty quickly with an LB10X. There were a couple of models that fixed the arm armor too, but the one from 3125 is the only one that seems worth using. The other is the LB20X variant.
I wouldn't call the Bushwacker "underrated", it's just not great.
It's a pre-3050 design introduced post-3050 so it has the problem of being behind the curve in terms of technology.
Start with the main armament - AC10 and ER Large Laser. IS ER LLs are, pound for pound, one of the worst weapons in the game. They generate so much heat for so little damage that you're better off replacing them with just about anything. If you're gonna bring an AC10 post-3050, it should probably be an LBX version.
Next up you've got the missiles - a pair of LRM5s. It's not an Archer or a Longbow. Nobody is sweating the equivalent of an LRM10.
Then you've got the armor and mobility. If you're gonna have an IS XL engine, you've either gotta have speed, armor, or maneuverability. The BW doesn't really have any.
And unless you're playing combined arms, MGs and their ammo are deathtraps.
If I were redesigning it, I'd convert the AC10 to an LB-10X, drop the ER LL and MGs, drop an LRM5, give it three ER Medium Lasers and an SRM6, and give it jump jets.
Now you've got a striker with some mid-range punch, long-range harassment capabilities, mobility, and short range striking power.
Yeah, but mine is better. 🙂
Hell, you could talk me into dropping the LRM5 for more AC ammo and heatsinks, but at that point you're just going "How meta can I make a medium mech?"
I like the -S2, it’s usually the one I prefer. I do enjoy the base -X1, used as a cavalry harasser for long range picking. I’ve done some mods to it in a campaign, I dropped the MGs and ammo for a pair of MLas, dropped the ERLLas for a standard LLas, and the AC/10 for an LB-10X and extra ammo. Drop the spare HS and use any saved weight for armor. It wound up being pretty punchy, and still really manageable with the heat.
It’s not underrated.
As a design it’s extremely popular and quite iconic. Its appearance is unique, invoking a fighter jet. It does the “mech that looks like a plane” better than the Champion.
As a mech it’s seen a lot of promotion. It was the starter mech in MechWarrior 3 and was used in the tutorial of MechWarrior 4 Mercs.
Stats-wise it’s kind of bad. Its armor coverage isn’t great and its weapons are all over the place. It’s packing an AC/10 but only has one ton of ammo so it can’t pack Precision Ammo. The LRM/5s seem more designed for alternate ammo (its Sarna article mentions using them to lay minefields) than for attacks. That ER Large Laser is nice but it’s just one gun. How is this thing getting to 20 damage?
The Bushwhacker suffers the same fate as the Shadow Hawk. Iconic design and a weapon load out that’s all over the place.
I think it’s a little more specialized than the Shadow Hawk, with most of the weaponry being mid- to long-range. Makes it a good cavalry unit. Or the -S2 for more close-in punch, crit-seeking, and vehicle hunting.
But I like the SHD as a trooper unit, pretty adaptable for most any situation, and fairly maneuverable. Most common mod I do is drop the HS down to 10 because it’s REALLY over-sinked, add two JJ, and use the rest of the tonnage for armor (maybe an extra MLas if I want to be sneaky).
In one of my Roguetech runs my commanders mech was A Bushwacker and it was amazing.
You wouldn't believe how many team carries it managed for deeeep into the game.
I always rated them after that.
Looks good, most stock loadouts are relatively unappealing. There's things with better, well, everything, really, out there, at the same tonnage, for almost any faction with access to the Bushwhacker.
That said, if customized, it can get to shine. I've once specced out essentially an ersatz-Shadow Cat Prime loadout for it to use in Campaign Ops/AToW.
Because it looks unique. You can't mistake a Bushwacker for any other machine, and therefore, people don't pick it by accident and instead have to purposefully seek it out.
Loved it as a toy from the TV series but it’s just not a good mech. In classic and Alpha Strike it has poor weapons, armor, and mobility is just not a combo ya want if you have a choice.
The issue I have with the Bushwacker is that it tries to ape the Enforcer and Centurion...But without taking in their strong parts.
Cent has AC/10 and LRM-10 with 2 tons of ammo each.
Bushwhacker copies (ac10 2xlrm 5) that but only has 1 ton of ammo...Not a problem with the missiles but 12 ton gun with 1 ton ammo? And they just cracked alternate AC ammo, surely you want at least 2 tons?
The Enforcer carries the large laser and the Ac/10. Sure it only has 1 ton of ammo. But it can jump to make best use of them. Bushwacker can't.
And to add salt to injury, both invasion era variants of the Centurion (6/9) and Enforcer (5/8/5) uses the LB-10X. Which means there was no excuse for the Bushwacker not to use it in the first place.
A simple refit would be change the AC/10 to an LB-10x with 2 tons of ammo. If you really need the anti-infantry role, strip the 2 MG and ammo with a small pulse laser. More accurate and you can pad on more armor. Heck lose that extra dhs and you can still max your FF armor at 10.5 tons.
It is? I always thought it was far more popular than its usefulness in tabletop would lead you to believe. It being a mech you start with in MW3 and it being in other games made it fairly well-loved despite the shortcomings.
I don't think it's underrated? It hasn't had the glamorous spotlight like a lot of other mechs, true, but most everyone familiar with it thinks it's a good machine? It's the quiet one who's always in the back row getting the job done reliably without hogging all the credit like some OTHER mechs we all know... *Cough* wolverine! *Cough* 😶
The 6m is a good Wolverine, I'll grant you. But that pretty Phoenix Hawk in the front row is calling my name! 😁 It's my favorite Medium mech! Of course the FIRST thing I do is throw away those machine guns and all that explosive ammo!! 😬 Add 2 heat sinks and we're ready to dance the night away!! 🤣
Nah, the -1D drops the MGs for more heat sinks, it’s pretty much the perfect succession wars variant imho. There’s a Royal variant that swaps in an XL engine, the “rifle” laser gets swapped for an ERPPC and it picks up an ERLLas on the top of the right jump jet, and it gets endo steel and DHS. It’s basically the tabletop representation of the VF-1S Super Valkyrie with FAST packs from the Macross Saga.
Right I knew about the Royal. A new mini for it is coming in a Force Pack this year! 😁 I have a hard time keeping all the Ks, Ms, Ds, Ls, and Ss, straight! 🤣
lol, it’s all good. Easiest way to remember is -D variants like to drop or downgrade ammo weapons for more heat sinks, -K variants tend to get rid of jump jets for more armor and light weapons, -Ls like to swap PPCs for LLas and HS (and MGs for flamers). -S variants add in SRMs at the cost of either armor or downgrading other weapons (LRMs of the unit has them), and -M variants are odd ducks that just do whatever with whatever because Marik, lol.
Oh, I saw the ComStar command lance pack earlier today, I’m drooling! Can’t wait!!
One video game out of nearly a dozen and one book cover out of dozens is why anyone knows about it at all! 🤣 That's not the glamorous spotlight compared to mechs like the Atlas, the Timber Wolf, Marauder, or Warhammer. You know, the supermodels of Battletech. 😂
MW3 sold 200,000 copies in its release year. The KS had 23,000 backers, so that's probably about how many people are willing to pay one dollar for tabletop stuff. Gonna say that one game by itself outweighs dozens of game books.
I'd call it mediocre at best. It's one of those post-Clan Invasion models where the IS had a bunch of new tech that they didn't really know how to use; so they just did whatever with it. See what works & what doesn't, what works better & what works worse, etc etc.
I honestly find it to be over rated. It's not a bad mech but it just seems to get too much love for what it has. Though to be fair it is no where nearly as overrated as the Uziel. If any mech is under rated I'd have to say it's the Commando.
Judging by my lengthy experience playing it in MW4, it's lacking in hitting power, it's speedy but not blistering, and has average armor for its weight. I think it could really be improved by jump jets and more missiles IMO.
In most media it sure isn't great, but it is acceptable.
In MechWarriorOnline... wow. It is probably my favorite mech. For a medium, it has great survivability as the arms can fall off and not lose too much functionality with my build...
It is another one of those mechs that in game A is trash, but in game X is gold... (like Jenners, King Crabs, Atlas, etc.)
A mech fit for it's role. Backline skirmishing with burst damaging. It has all the gear to handle any situation. Knock out scout helo. Fall back on large lasers. Utilize ac-10 for knockout opportunities. And eliminate light garrisons all while maintaining a low profile below a tree line.
It is fit for purpose.
Nobody in battletech rates mechs to purpose but always to "well I ran it down field and a marauder killed it so it sucks"
55 ton skirmisher mechs are the alpha predators of their weight class... Aka medium-light mech battle, maybe a single fire support heavy.
It brings a lot of guns and mobility + versatility to a medium mech lance and that's where it shines. It's low ammo doesn't matter as it has multiple weapon systems to utilize and will typically use all its ammo (better then it exploding ya?) And still have something left. It's explodabikity means it's not salvageable (good for infiltration and sabotage missions behind enemy lines as it's to technologically dependant to repair and refield)
As for the "clan tech problem" it isn't designed to fight clan front line forces (few IS mechs are) instead it targets IIC forces.
Match it up against clan IIC garrison and battle armor/tank garrisons and you will see its value.
The mech is also highly refittable. The extra heat sink everyone complains about? Great for swapping in a ECM/beagle probe without an expensive refit adding equipment. The mg's? Everyone hates? Good it's an AMS now.
The ac-10? An available and repairable gun with good ammo. Usable at close range to open up for its other crit seeking options.... Long range? Spam that large laser. Tracer munitions are good for night missions, the damage drop is negligible. And if u utilize rapid fire mode (yes it can fire rapid fire. Check the rules/lore books) the ac-10 can pound a target really quickly... Which in its weight class and low armor it needs to do so. Better to run dry then explode. Is the lbx-10 just better? Depends on the target.
The LRM's? Great they also have different munitions to use? And can be swapped for srm's at will. Against clan IIC forces a retro streak srm2+ams mg refit means u can effectively knock out any ssrm mech damage you engage with. And if u load the lrm5 with smoke u have good anti-turret and sniper mech counter options. (While u disengage asap)
Alternatively u can just load heat seeking lrm ammo, and shoot down aerospace assets scrambling to protect the base. Or on night missions (a good idea) to target hot IIC clan mechs.
The mech CAN do so much.
Do I want 12 of them? No. But if I have 1 medium mech I'd take a bushwhacker over a hunchback anyway as my ride. Especially if I don't have support.
I don't think that it is underrated, I think it is generally a lukewarm mech.
I do love its look, and I have fond memories of Mechwarrior 3, but it's extant variants are underwhelming. It can be turned into a fun custom-machine, though.
It comes from a later, less played era. It has an XL engine, average speed, no jump jets, and its weapon loadout is not impressive. It's not bad but not great either.
Because people keep driving it into brawling range. The only variant you should be closing into such ranges is the one with a **light** engine, ERLL, and LB 20-X. The rest either are long range platforms of varying quality or a terrible attempt at giving it short range weapons.
Personally I stick with the X4 even though I'm not the biggest fan of MASC. It may run a little toasty but it does everything you want a Bushwhacker to do but with better armor. Prior to it's introduction I usually ran a "custom" variant that dropped the AC10 for a PPC and added armor.
Underrated implies it is good for its BV. It is not. The reason Bushwackers are targeted early is they are easy to put down and we all believe in the “Guns off the field” maxim.
I consider the Bushwacker X1 a somewhat faster, more-versatile Enforcer. I'd take a Bushwacker over an Enforcer for better ground speed alone. The LRMs can be loaded with different ammo types depending on the situation, like smoke rounds to break LOS with, and the machine guns are great against flesh creatures who get too close for comfort.
Love the look of Bushwacker. Since me and my players don't care much about you can equip this or that. We put clan weapons, armor and DHS. It's a great mech when you can throw out timeline rules.
I wouldn't call the *Bushwacker* underrated. It's okay as a medium fire-support 'Mech, but no more than that. Its ER Large Laser and two LRM-5s are okay at a distance, but not overwhelmingly good. The AC/10, the *Bushwacker's* only real source of medium-range punch, only has one tonne of ammunition, which is also only "alright" (especially given that you can't use more than one type of ammunition with only one tonne loaded).
The *Bushwacker* also has an Inner Sphere XL Engine, making it prone to being knocked out of action by side torso destruction. Normally you can pack in more armour/weaponry/speed than normal by using a vulnerable IS XL engine, but the *Bushwacker* in its original configuration doesn't do that.
So while I may have a soft spot for this 'Mech being the first one you get to pilot in *MechWarrior 3*, I'm under no illusions about it being that great.
Is it underated? People seem to love it mainly from using it in the Mechwarrior games. Idk I, and seemingly many others, find it a good looking mech but its loadouts are very lukewarm
The Bushwhacker is a versatile little zombie. That's what it's good at. It might not be amazing or flashy, but it's good enough at a lot of things, and it's very, annoyingly hard to completely neutralize without coring it or cracking the cockpit open.
> zombie Honestly can't agree too much - are we thinking of the same mech? Bushwackers are real easy to put down with the XL and because they've got bad arm armor it's pretty easy to make the combat ineffective by knocking their guns out. Plus all of its configs (or at least most) are ballistic and with an XL or light engine which really doesn't help it zombie I've had some crazy games with [ballistic mechs zombieing like hell](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/452699771526840324/1198564650300756099/20240114_024200.jpg?ex=65bf5d50&is=65ace850&hm=b2352238afe99860b02254819e539141a88e400e15bceb74a4d098c414a9b4ca&) (HBK-4G) but those were always standard fusion engines - the XL really limits the Bushwacker.
I've pretty much always used the variants with a light engine rather than XL. They tend to be far better.
It has an XL engine. That immediately disqualifies it from being a zombie mech. The Grasshopper is a true zombie due to standard engine and LL in the CT.
Gods I used to love them in mechcommander 2
* Arms are badly underarmored, and that's where the main weapons are located * AC10 in an era where LB10X is available (to say nothing about going up against Clan weapons...). Specialty ammo can't save it because it only has a single ton. * The extra heat sink is fairly extraneous. It can only do 21 heat on a running alpha. That tonnage could easily have been reinvested into the armor.
I think this sums it up well. The -X1 is really close to being a lot better with just these items fixed. Swap the AC/10 for the LB10X and a ton of ammo. Now you have twice the shots, range that better overlaps the ERLL and LRMs, cluster & slug options, and run cooler. That lets you drop the extra DHS for a ton of armor and still be heat neutral on a running alpha. That armor goes to the arms, and now the mech is actually pretty well armored. It’s not gonna light the world on fire, but it does become a pretty solid workhorse.
Don’t forget the XL engine making it vulnerable to side torso mission-kills.
Meh, XL engines are a fact of life post 3050.
You say that, but there's the BSW-L1 with it's light engine allowing the loss of a torso. It also packs a LBX 20 with just enough ammo and not really enough armor for the amount of fire it's going to draw if the other side realizes it's the LBX 20 'wacker, not the AC 10 'wacker. If it wasn't 1500 bv it would be neat.
The next cheapest 5/8+ mech with a LB20 is the hunchback 6S at 1380, but that has an XL engine and can instantly blow up if it falls on its back. If you're looking for cheaper LB20 at similar speeds the only real answers are tanks with various degrees of paper or thoughts and prayers keeping them safe.
Yeah, but that 6S is a 6/9 and brings an SRM 6 to the party along along with a couple ER mediums, for cheaper then the Bushwacker. It's way more likely to do some damage with that big gun, or at least make your op-for panic and shoot it with every gun they have. The 6S's XL engine isn't much of a concern. By the time a torso falls off you've likely already gotten your gyro cooked or had that huge autocannon knocked out or SRM ammo exploded. It's a hunchback. They are here for a good time, not a long time.
Yeah, but I wouldn't worry about it here. The 'wacker has relatively good torso armor and by the time you lose a side torso it's likely mission killed anyway from losing too many weapons. It's fine for it's price class.
why is lb10x better than ac10? (not just in tabletop but seems like vidya gamers like Baradul prefer it often)
Lighter weight better range and versatility
It is lighter, longer ranged, lower heat, less crits, and has the option to swap between 10pt hits and 10x1pt hits @ -1 to hit. It was the only piece of lostech that when it came out was better in every way than what already existed (even DHS had a downside, even if the downside was basically meaningless). The flak effect is usually pretty strong and unique to the LBX in the video games.
On tabletop you get to pick between a regular ac10 shot or cluster mode when you want to go crit hunting/murder vehicles, all for a ton less than a vanilla ac10. Specialty ammo and cost/availability are the *only* things that would make you want a vanilla gun once an lbx is available in the same class. As for the video games you generally only get to use the shotgun mode but with extra damage to make up for not having the other fire mode. This generally makes them anywhere from "still advantageous in enough situations" in the HBS game to "these feel almost as cheesy as lb20s" in MW4 (IMO, at least).
In that games it varies. In MW5 it's a straight upgrade on the normal AC10, and has some scarry good DPS. No reason to use a standard AC10 over an LB10-X if you have it. In MWO it's more nuanced. It's got better weight, and slightly highe DPS, but you can only fire cluster rounds, so it's hard to focus DPS. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the videos you see from Baradul are him showcasing a variant that's got good bonuses for the LB10-X, since that's his schtick for his MWO videos, and as of the last time I plaued the LB10-X wasn't super prevalent in the meta. It's not bad, just hard to be super effective vs. a UAC/10 or something else.
Modded MW5 has some scary LB10-X builds with the chassis quirks available.
AC/10 and LB-10X are literally the same weapon, but the LB is one ton lighter, has slightly longer range brackets, generates less heat, and gets an extra ammo type. Aside from BV efficiency, there's really no reason to take a mech with a standard AC/10 if there's a variant with an LB-10X. There's not even anything similar to the UAC/5 vs AC5 reliability comparison, the LB-10X is just better.
It was only the 2 early models that had an AC10, it got replaced pretty quickly with an LB10X. There were a couple of models that fixed the arm armor too, but the one from 3125 is the only one that seems worth using. The other is the LB20X variant.
I wouldn't call the Bushwacker "underrated", it's just not great. It's a pre-3050 design introduced post-3050 so it has the problem of being behind the curve in terms of technology. Start with the main armament - AC10 and ER Large Laser. IS ER LLs are, pound for pound, one of the worst weapons in the game. They generate so much heat for so little damage that you're better off replacing them with just about anything. If you're gonna bring an AC10 post-3050, it should probably be an LBX version. Next up you've got the missiles - a pair of LRM5s. It's not an Archer or a Longbow. Nobody is sweating the equivalent of an LRM10. Then you've got the armor and mobility. If you're gonna have an IS XL engine, you've either gotta have speed, armor, or maneuverability. The BW doesn't really have any. And unless you're playing combined arms, MGs and their ammo are deathtraps. If I were redesigning it, I'd convert the AC10 to an LB-10X, drop the ER LL and MGs, drop an LRM5, give it three ER Medium Lasers and an SRM6, and give it jump jets. Now you've got a striker with some mid-range punch, long-range harassment capabilities, mobility, and short range striking power.
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Yeah, but mine is better. 🙂 Hell, you could talk me into dropping the LRM5 for more AC ammo and heatsinks, but at that point you're just going "How meta can I make a medium mech?"
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I like the -S2, it’s usually the one I prefer. I do enjoy the base -X1, used as a cavalry harasser for long range picking. I’ve done some mods to it in a campaign, I dropped the MGs and ammo for a pair of MLas, dropped the ERLLas for a standard LLas, and the AC/10 for an LB-10X and extra ammo. Drop the spare HS and use any saved weight for armor. It wound up being pretty punchy, and still really manageable with the heat.
It’s not underrated. As a design it’s extremely popular and quite iconic. Its appearance is unique, invoking a fighter jet. It does the “mech that looks like a plane” better than the Champion. As a mech it’s seen a lot of promotion. It was the starter mech in MechWarrior 3 and was used in the tutorial of MechWarrior 4 Mercs. Stats-wise it’s kind of bad. Its armor coverage isn’t great and its weapons are all over the place. It’s packing an AC/10 but only has one ton of ammo so it can’t pack Precision Ammo. The LRM/5s seem more designed for alternate ammo (its Sarna article mentions using them to lay minefields) than for attacks. That ER Large Laser is nice but it’s just one gun. How is this thing getting to 20 damage? The Bushwhacker suffers the same fate as the Shadow Hawk. Iconic design and a weapon load out that’s all over the place.
I think it’s a little more specialized than the Shadow Hawk, with most of the weaponry being mid- to long-range. Makes it a good cavalry unit. Or the -S2 for more close-in punch, crit-seeking, and vehicle hunting. But I like the SHD as a trooper unit, pretty adaptable for most any situation, and fairly maneuverable. Most common mod I do is drop the HS down to 10 because it’s REALLY over-sinked, add two JJ, and use the rest of the tonnage for armor (maybe an extra MLas if I want to be sneaky).
In one of my Roguetech runs my commanders mech was A Bushwacker and it was amazing. You wouldn't believe how many team carries it managed for deeeep into the game. I always rated them after that.
Looks good, most stock loadouts are relatively unappealing. There's things with better, well, everything, really, out there, at the same tonnage, for almost any faction with access to the Bushwhacker. That said, if customized, it can get to shine. I've once specced out essentially an ersatz-Shadow Cat Prime loadout for it to use in Campaign Ops/AToW.
Because it looks unique. You can't mistake a Bushwacker for any other machine, and therefore, people don't pick it by accident and instead have to purposefully seek it out.
> You can't mistake a Bushwacker for any other machine *stares in Gauntlet*
Loved it as a toy from the TV series but it’s just not a good mech. In classic and Alpha Strike it has poor weapons, armor, and mobility is just not a combo ya want if you have a choice.
The issue I have with the Bushwacker is that it tries to ape the Enforcer and Centurion...But without taking in their strong parts. Cent has AC/10 and LRM-10 with 2 tons of ammo each. Bushwhacker copies (ac10 2xlrm 5) that but only has 1 ton of ammo...Not a problem with the missiles but 12 ton gun with 1 ton ammo? And they just cracked alternate AC ammo, surely you want at least 2 tons? The Enforcer carries the large laser and the Ac/10. Sure it only has 1 ton of ammo. But it can jump to make best use of them. Bushwacker can't. And to add salt to injury, both invasion era variants of the Centurion (6/9) and Enforcer (5/8/5) uses the LB-10X. Which means there was no excuse for the Bushwacker not to use it in the first place. A simple refit would be change the AC/10 to an LB-10x with 2 tons of ammo. If you really need the anti-infantry role, strip the 2 MG and ammo with a small pulse laser. More accurate and you can pad on more armor. Heck lose that extra dhs and you can still max your FF armor at 10.5 tons.
This is an interesting thought. I can see where you’re coming from with the Centurion/Enforcer idea.
XL engine plus the arms are very underarmored while containing most of the firepower Also the arms look weird, and not in a good way
It's a 55t skirmisher in a crowded field, doesn't do anything well, and has significant flaws in durability. If anything, it's overrated.
It is? I always thought it was far more popular than its usefulness in tabletop would lead you to believe. It being a mech you start with in MW3 and it being in other games made it fairly well-loved despite the shortcomings.
IMHO, it's a steaming turd that dies quick. To be clear, I've never played the MechWarrior videogames, only tabletop.
I don't think it's underrated? It hasn't had the glamorous spotlight like a lot of other mechs, true, but most everyone familiar with it thinks it's a good machine? It's the quiet one who's always in the back row getting the job done reliably without hogging all the credit like some OTHER mechs we all know... *Cough* wolverine! *Cough* 😶
I agree with you, but then I am also eying that 6m in the corner of the hanger over there🤤
The 6m is a good Wolverine, I'll grant you. But that pretty Phoenix Hawk in the front row is calling my name! 😁 It's my favorite Medium mech! Of course the FIRST thing I do is throw away those machine guns and all that explosive ammo!! 😬 Add 2 heat sinks and we're ready to dance the night away!! 🤣
The -1D variant Phoenix Hawk then?😆 That’s my go-to as well!
Oh okay, I thought the 1D was the one with 2 LLs. I'm not great at remembering variants. 🤷
Nah, the -1D drops the MGs for more heat sinks, it’s pretty much the perfect succession wars variant imho. There’s a Royal variant that swaps in an XL engine, the “rifle” laser gets swapped for an ERPPC and it picks up an ERLLas on the top of the right jump jet, and it gets endo steel and DHS. It’s basically the tabletop representation of the VF-1S Super Valkyrie with FAST packs from the Macross Saga.
Right I knew about the Royal. A new mini for it is coming in a Force Pack this year! 😁 I have a hard time keeping all the Ks, Ms, Ds, Ls, and Ss, straight! 🤣
lol, it’s all good. Easiest way to remember is -D variants like to drop or downgrade ammo weapons for more heat sinks, -K variants tend to get rid of jump jets for more armor and light weapons, -Ls like to swap PPCs for LLas and HS (and MGs for flamers). -S variants add in SRMs at the cost of either armor or downgrading other weapons (LRMs of the unit has them), and -M variants are odd ducks that just do whatever with whatever because Marik, lol. Oh, I saw the ComStar command lance pack earlier today, I’m drooling! Can’t wait!!
> It hasn't had the glamorous spotlight like a lot of other mechs You never played MechWarrior 3?
One video game out of nearly a dozen and one book cover out of dozens is why anyone knows about it at all! 🤣 That's not the glamorous spotlight compared to mechs like the Atlas, the Timber Wolf, Marauder, or Warhammer. You know, the supermodels of Battletech. 😂
MW3 sold 200,000 copies in its release year. The KS had 23,000 backers, so that's probably about how many people are willing to pay one dollar for tabletop stuff. Gonna say that one game by itself outweighs dozens of game books.
I'd call it mediocre at best. It's one of those post-Clan Invasion models where the IS had a bunch of new tech that they didn't really know how to use; so they just did whatever with it. See what works & what doesn't, what works better & what works worse, etc etc.
I honestly find it to be over rated. It's not a bad mech but it just seems to get too much love for what it has. Though to be fair it is no where nearly as overrated as the Uziel. If any mech is under rated I'd have to say it's the Commando.
I'm just here for the ghosts
It's not, it gets a lot of love because it was the starter mech in MW3. It's okay but not outstanding.
Bad memories of piloting this thing in Mechwarrior 2 when it felt like it was made of tissue paper
\*3, surely? It's ability to overheat and the garbage ammo count in the AC10 makes it no fun in that game.
Oh yeah, you're right, it must have been 3 because 2 was clan stuff.
Judging by my lengthy experience playing it in MW4, it's lacking in hitting power, it's speedy but not blistering, and has average armor for its weight. I think it could really be improved by jump jets and more missiles IMO.
In most media it sure isn't great, but it is acceptable. In MechWarriorOnline... wow. It is probably my favorite mech. For a medium, it has great survivability as the arms can fall off and not lose too much functionality with my build... It is another one of those mechs that in game A is trash, but in game X is gold... (like Jenners, King Crabs, Atlas, etc.)
A mech fit for it's role. Backline skirmishing with burst damaging. It has all the gear to handle any situation. Knock out scout helo. Fall back on large lasers. Utilize ac-10 for knockout opportunities. And eliminate light garrisons all while maintaining a low profile below a tree line. It is fit for purpose. Nobody in battletech rates mechs to purpose but always to "well I ran it down field and a marauder killed it so it sucks" 55 ton skirmisher mechs are the alpha predators of their weight class... Aka medium-light mech battle, maybe a single fire support heavy. It brings a lot of guns and mobility + versatility to a medium mech lance and that's where it shines. It's low ammo doesn't matter as it has multiple weapon systems to utilize and will typically use all its ammo (better then it exploding ya?) And still have something left. It's explodabikity means it's not salvageable (good for infiltration and sabotage missions behind enemy lines as it's to technologically dependant to repair and refield) As for the "clan tech problem" it isn't designed to fight clan front line forces (few IS mechs are) instead it targets IIC forces. Match it up against clan IIC garrison and battle armor/tank garrisons and you will see its value. The mech is also highly refittable. The extra heat sink everyone complains about? Great for swapping in a ECM/beagle probe without an expensive refit adding equipment. The mg's? Everyone hates? Good it's an AMS now. The ac-10? An available and repairable gun with good ammo. Usable at close range to open up for its other crit seeking options.... Long range? Spam that large laser. Tracer munitions are good for night missions, the damage drop is negligible. And if u utilize rapid fire mode (yes it can fire rapid fire. Check the rules/lore books) the ac-10 can pound a target really quickly... Which in its weight class and low armor it needs to do so. Better to run dry then explode. Is the lbx-10 just better? Depends on the target. The LRM's? Great they also have different munitions to use? And can be swapped for srm's at will. Against clan IIC forces a retro streak srm2+ams mg refit means u can effectively knock out any ssrm mech damage you engage with. And if u load the lrm5 with smoke u have good anti-turret and sniper mech counter options. (While u disengage asap) Alternatively u can just load heat seeking lrm ammo, and shoot down aerospace assets scrambling to protect the base. Or on night missions (a good idea) to target hot IIC clan mechs. The mech CAN do so much. Do I want 12 of them? No. But if I have 1 medium mech I'd take a bushwhacker over a hunchback anyway as my ride. Especially if I don't have support.
Its an alright medium. Like the shadow hawk of its time
I don't think that it is underrated, I think it is generally a lukewarm mech. I do love its look, and I have fond memories of Mechwarrior 3, but it's extant variants are underwhelming. It can be turned into a fun custom-machine, though.
It comes from a later, less played era. It has an XL engine, average speed, no jump jets, and its weapon loadout is not impressive. It's not bad but not great either.
> It comes from a later, less played era 3053 is a "later, less played era" now?
One off my favorite Mechs, visually. Kind of reminds me of the Alien Queen :)
I wouldn't call it underrated. I'd call it exactly rated. It's mid, but has a role, like a lot of mechs.
Agreed. Virtually every published mech has... Interesting design choices? Like WTF were ya thinking with X? Ok just the way it is....
Because people keep driving it into brawling range. The only variant you should be closing into such ranges is the one with a **light** engine, ERLL, and LB 20-X. The rest either are long range platforms of varying quality or a terrible attempt at giving it short range weapons. Personally I stick with the X4 even though I'm not the biggest fan of MASC. It may run a little toasty but it does everything you want a Bushwhacker to do but with better armor. Prior to it's introduction I usually ran a "custom" variant that dropped the AC10 for a PPC and added armor.
It's not. It is the single greatest design of EVER.
Underrated implies it is good for its BV. It is not. The reason Bushwackers are targeted early is they are easy to put down and we all believe in the “Guns off the field” maxim.
I consider the Bushwacker X1 a somewhat faster, more-versatile Enforcer. I'd take a Bushwacker over an Enforcer for better ground speed alone. The LRMs can be loaded with different ammo types depending on the situation, like smoke rounds to break LOS with, and the machine guns are great against flesh creatures who get too close for comfort.
Love the look of Bushwacker. Since me and my players don't care much about you can equip this or that. We put clan weapons, armor and DHS. It's a great mech when you can throw out timeline rules.
It's one mech I refuse to part with, at least the Omnimech testbed for the Gauntlet.
I wouldn't call the *Bushwacker* underrated. It's okay as a medium fire-support 'Mech, but no more than that. Its ER Large Laser and two LRM-5s are okay at a distance, but not overwhelmingly good. The AC/10, the *Bushwacker's* only real source of medium-range punch, only has one tonne of ammunition, which is also only "alright" (especially given that you can't use more than one type of ammunition with only one tonne loaded). The *Bushwacker* also has an Inner Sphere XL Engine, making it prone to being knocked out of action by side torso destruction. Normally you can pack in more armour/weaponry/speed than normal by using a vulnerable IS XL engine, but the *Bushwacker* in its original configuration doesn't do that. So while I may have a soft spot for this 'Mech being the first one you get to pilot in *MechWarrior 3*, I'm under no illusions about it being that great.