That should read "Snord," not "Snort," I apologize to any Snord's Irregular fans out there.

I really appreciate how you look at more obscure 'Mechs instead of sticking to the Succession Wars classics, and how you go over their history and their performance in MegaMek. Are you going to cover the Dragon Fire?

The Maelstrom is a good example of what recovered tech can do when FASA stops intentionally designing poor mechs. It's fast, well armored, and hits hard with little to no heat build up. I pair them up with Marauder 5Ds, Dragon Fires, and Nightstars.

Three for four?! In Kerensky's name, the deals never end, quiaff?

I have the golden century and I don't even recall this mech. Thanks for covering fun mechs out there. I hope we have the Merlin on your list.

I just love some of those old SLDF designs they look more like high speed trains that grew limbs, not to mention that lovely 80's go fast asthetic like the numerals painted on the side

Respect, fielding your variant in MegaMek to test it out! Also I just today noticed ElementalFrog's mouth is moving during the video. You're not going VTuber, are you, Frog?

Thank you, Mechfrog, for always managing to put a smile on my face.

A solid 'Mech with some very feasible loadouts (And one not-so-feasible) and an interesting backstory, but sadly given little attention in the art department. One can only pray that these less-covered 'Mechs will one day get an artistic glowup.

Good video. Thanks for doing this one. The Maelstrom is a mech that I SHOULD like as it's a relative of the Marauder but there's a few things that make it not see table time for me. As a heavy mech it commits what I consider a sin that none of it's variants seem to fix. It packs 2 big guns-but both are different and have different range brackets. I prefer to have 2 big weapons with matching brackets that work well together when possible. It has the tonnage to pack 2 ER PPCs and be really awesome but now it feels like it has one gimped arm. The other is the artowork I think putting it on a diet and making it look more balanced while keeping some of it's look would be a big improvement.

I built a lance with this, a Marauder, a Marauder 2, and a Dragon Fire, modeled on the lead characters from Bubblegum Crisis OVA. I had the heavy brawler, EWO specialist, maneuvering ace, and the rounder who was also the lance commander. I don't remember the particulars (this was over 20 years ago), but it worked reasonably well for the cost.

Taking the 6K with inspiration from the 7K. Rationalizing clan weapons easier to aquire over electronics. Keeping the Guardian(IS), upgrade all weapons to clan spec. ERPPC, ERLL, 3 ERML. IS equip: XL, Endo, 20DHS, L-AMS & targeting computer (BV2 2836).

Honnestly, a smaller, faster Marauder speaks to my soul I can't explain why. But that this mech is just an obscure rare post-clan model is a tragedy. It should be an emblematic widespread mech straight from the golden age of the star league

I always appreciate how you know how much I love hitting buttons

I've always liked the Malestrom. The MF variant is a killer. Good job

Please continue covering these lesser-known mechs. I’ve seen it before but knew pretty much nothing about the Maelstrom👍

Personally I'd love the Wolfhound, it's not the most uncommon mech to see talked about but it is my absolute favorite.

The Maelstrom seems like a mech that would be perfect to get a light fusion engine. Downgrade to 5-7, add a supercharger, win. The Rakshasa is another mech that could have gotten a similar treatment?

First I wanted to say I absolutely LOVE the colors you put on the original art it looks super good on the Maelstroms hunched design! I like also like how you are shining light to mechs that aren't just the classics there are a ton of unique ones throughout each TRO and era that never even see the light of day either because of being overshadowed by popular ones or just having a whacked out appearance (not the Maelstrom it's a beautiful mech personally). I especially mean TRO: 3060 and some of the updated appearances of most of the TRO:3055 Upgrade. Most people won't buy them to use in a mercenary company or even include them in a campaign because the designs have a face a mother wouldn't even love, let alone the rest of the body. I hope I didn't go full crazy with the word wall I promise my new cybernetics I bought on clearance from the Myomer and Me kiosk aren't giving me more than three aneurysms monthly!!!!

looks like a clan take on the original crab mech design (out of universe I mean. the one that made it look like a horseshoe crab with claws instead of Mr. Lobster Man) I like the look

3058 was a good sourcebook, but the art in it was pretty haphazard. It had all manner of great vehicles and mechs in there, along with some which were kind of... strange, looking at you O-Bakemono. Strange but extremely destructive!

Another mech i don't think ive ever seen anyone discuss before! Nice! I didn't realize there were so many variants of this guy. I ran one once and i remember thinking i had rolled a weird, waste of a heavy mech... But then the thing was really good! Never used one again, because i didn't have a mini for it and i just kind of forgot about it. Other than as i looked through my TRO, and I'd always think "those things are pretty good."

It's like someone took one of those novelty-physics desk toys, blew it way up and made a war machine out of it. I personally prefer the Marauder and DragonFire over the Maelstrom, but I would not complain if issued one as a pilot. It's a fine machine that does its job quite well.

For a more bracket build maelstrom there are 2 options circa when it was reintroduced/introduced to the inne sphere in my opinion assuming endosteel is applied. In both instances the DHS count is reduced to 16 and the ER LL is replaced with a ER PPC. The difference is in the rest of weapons load out. In option 1 the load out is 9 mediums and the tag or 10 if the tag is deleted. In option 2 it'd 6 ER medium lasers and the TAG plus the Beagle Active Probe and Guardian ECM of the 6K

As much of a legend as Duane Loose I definitely prefer his early boxy designs over his later bendy designs. He always did have an odd eye for angles. For example the Victor art from 3025 has the head pointed away from the viewer so for the longest time I didn't realize that the "shield" on the back of the head wasn't a "visor" on the front. He's an incredible talent tho and my own mech artwork is inspired by his style more than anybody else's.

In the Maelstrom vs Dragonfire or Marauder debate, it seems it would depend on the role you have in mind for it. For deep raiding or fast striking of an enemy force, I would favor the Maelstrom over the other two designs. For a straight up fight, I would prefer the other two, though which depends on how hot the planet is and how close resupply is as well. All fun designs, though I understand the complaints about the 6E and 6K, the 7K is a surprise though as this is the first time I've heard of it and your MF variant is good against a variety of opponents. I would probably get the 7K and replace the X-Pulse Lasers with Clan Medium Pulse Lasers (greater range and punch with less heat) and be able to do volley fire by holding back with the Heavy Large every other turn, depending on the opponent and environment of course. With my luck, however, I would probably be paying the standard cost of 3 for the price of 6 at the Sea Fox market.

Love this video! Had forgotten about this mech.

My take on the Maelstrom I replace the IS endo steel IS XL Engine with the Clan Endo Steel, and the Clan XL. To give some savings all round. I kept the IS-DHS as a treat. Weapons: 2 ER-Large Palse Lasers in LA/RA, 3 Heavy MED Lasers in LA,CT, and RA, and AP Gauss Rifle in the Head and 1 ton of ammo stored in the LL. I still have .5 ton left over and no more slots. So when available Replace IS-DHS with Clan DHS freeing up slots and put and Light Active Probe to fill the .5ton. Heat is 50/46.

Great as always getting a look at the not so mainstream mech. One thing that confused me though was calling the downgrading of the ER PPC and ER LLas an "abomination" for reducing its damage/headcapping potential, don't IS PPCs/LLas do exactly the same damage as the ER variants?

The "no straight lines" era of Battletech art was a strange one. Nice to see you showing one without new art some love.

I took a stab at making an inner sphere tech version of your MF variant that doesn't go too far down the timeline. A prototype perhaps? Endo-Steel Frame Plasma Rifle (LA) 2 Tons of Ammo (LT) Snub-Nosed PPC (RA) 3 ER Medium Lasers (LT, CT, and RT respectively) 19 Double Heat Sinks (keeping it heat neutral even when Alpha Striking at full speed) That leaves 4 tons leftover which you can invest into a MASC (not as hard to get your hands on as a Supercharger) or a Targeting Computer. I keep going back and forth on which one to pick...

I've enjoyed the Maelstrom up until the IS XL getting hit, which occurs all to often. Love the MF variant. The plasma rifle is a favorite of mine, but I rarely get to use it. I might test this one out as its teamed up with a good load out in a fast heavy. Gotta love fast heavy's with reach.

I made a custom clan tech Maelstrom with 2 ER PPCs and 3 medium pulse lasers. I never got to play it, but I bet it would be a potent sniper that could still protect itself if lights tried to rush it.

I used to run one that removed the tAG and Small Laser the switched the Medium Pulse Lasers to Medium Lasers in order to add three JumpJets. I never was fond of C3 units so I would probably remove the Supercharger and C3 to add jump jets and maybe some more Heat sinks (I don't recall how much a 375 XL engine weighs and thus how much weight removing the Supercharger grants

I remember when this came out in the TRO, liked it then as now. Fairly well balanced with proper heat management. Can't ask more of your weapon of choice. Agreed some of the ahem, variants needed to killed before they came out. Otherwise this is a very cool (pun not intended) to run in a campaign.

4 light ppcs / 2 each arm. 3 MPL ECM & a TC. 2 A/B pods for legs 2 AP gauss in CT w 1 ton ammo each. 1 spl in head. Lose 2 DHS as no longer needed. Allows for 4 JJs or a Supercharger and extra armor.

Maelstrom miniature reminds me of a frog. Perfect for mech frog

Oh, that Atlas mini looks GREAT, love what you did with the glowy eyes! But i don´t like the look of the Maelstrom, to me, it looks like it has to bow down to this torso position because some moron installed the cockpit facing rearward. "Three for the price of four", yes, that´s what a Sea Fox sale looks like XD Decend MF version, i like it. Plasma Rifle is a NIGHTMARE to any infantrist. Even Armored Infantry is endangered by that weapon, i certainly would make a long way around any mech armed with it.

Great timing on the video. I lucked into getting a IWM mini of the Maelstorm (along with some other oddball mechs) for just a few bucks. Looking forward to fielding this in a lance in the future! My battletech buddy primarily prefers to play in the Clan Invasion or FedCom Civil War era so unfortunately the MTR-7K and MF variants likely won't see play at my table. What are your thoughts on the 5K vs 6E variants?

really hope you do the Falconer and lots of the 55 designs an under rated TRO

While it doesn't seem like a bad design, especially your MF variant, I have to say I'd prefer a Marauder over it.

the clan 2nd line mech grizzley from clan ghost bear would be interesting to see how you present it and its history

The snords are the best with that response

I think it’s a contender for5/8 speed heavies for striker or Calvary lances. My main problem with fielding it is that it usually competes against my Flashman for a spot in the lance. In the 3050s, I personally seem to do better with more shots from the flashman rather than accuracy the pulse lasers give you and in the dark age well I have mixed feelings about the reflective armor, but I cannot deny that the clan tech triple ER lasers and xl engine make the Flasman 10E a hard IS heavy to pass up. Though I will the maelstrom is probably best for forces designed around rapidly securing objectives or raiding.

Isn't the Night Star the last of the 'Star League Era'( 3058) Marauder variants? As for the 'Do I take a Marauder, Dragon Fire or Maelstrom' in game, kind of depends on your play style. If you like a fast Heavy with good punch, go for a Maelstrom. I've used all of them, and I kind of like the Marauders load out better. But that MF variant does look good.

Another oddball recommendation is the Cestus. I am curious on your thoughts of the IS 65t Heavy.

would love to see whatcha think about the Viking :3

Hmm, what if we were to take this another way.... let's say the lyrans using clan stealth armor from the spector lines, using 2 former WIE sourced clan er large lasers. And 2 clan medium pulse lasers. Building it around a is light engine, and and innersphere tag and ecm and we got a solid head hunter.

13:46 Froggy mminds, lol

Thanks again froggy, not long got into Mechs, was a deadicated Elder Scrolls fan untill I was talking into getting Mech Woror 5. thanks for being there for all the back ground in a humors format, my best to you and yours from the worlds worst speller. Leona

The Maelstrom's an odd duck, its largely forgotten by the players, is cursed with god aweful art and a terrible model yet its history is interesting in that its a development of the Marauder and on the table, its VERY fast for an IS heavy. Hopefully it gets a redesign and a new model instead of the dogs eggs we've got now in the future, its a 'Mech that needs some love! I assume you'll do the Dragon Fire at some point, a very hard hitting machine, also cursed with bad art and a bad model.

Ahh the Dragon Fire, not to be confused with the Dragonfire.

GM making a mech with a Ford engine would never happen. 😅 however it's a neat design. I like your colorized version.

Noice!

I love why we love x mech videos

Great neck from a great host,

Is there an "i" in "team" if you're the Word of Blake and use a C3i system?

It's a decent machine, but it feels somewhat cobbled together. To me, it's a MAD-3L, updated with lostech, and the 3L was always described as put together from spare parts. it's not a bad machine; it's a good, speedy heavy cav mech and raider. But it just never "felt" like a proper Marauder successor, and that's always biased my opinion towards it.

"Why do we love the Maelstrom?" Not for the original artwork, that's for sure.

Waiting for the Kodiak & Bruin

The Maelstrom is an odd one. Its more like a Warhammer than a Marauder. A lot of new generation 75ton units came out to replace them presumably because of the Harmony Gold issues. In addition to the Maelstrom, there was the Bandersnatch, Defiance, Dragonfire, Falconer, Penetrator, Thanatos, and maybe others. Personally I dont like the Maelstrom because its just really expensive without a clear focus. You could have lance of Lostech-upgraded Wolverines and Griffins. In terms of individual performance the Maelstrom isnt that good. It has a couple cannons and some close range lasers.

...because piloting a Marauder wasn't exclusive enough anymore, they gave it a new name and updated the tech so they could feel superior once again. Rhonda Snort? lol

still love the MF version

GM... Always making products we want.... And many we don't.

I got books otw😄

Maelstrom has T E A M in it .

we've used a redback, but it was underwhelming.

Great video, but not a mech I have any interest in ever fielding. Now the Balius though... if only I had such a video to help me better understand it's weaknesses...

GM? So it's the Chevy Lumina of battlemechs? Huh....

Boosted S-Unit? Really? (Yes, Really. The level of Insight for Real-World concerns... is remarkable and respectable)...

Looks similar to the Novas

You added ammo considerations to a good mech that does not have them. Bad Mech Frog.

Snort's Irregulars?

finally back to an era i prefer

this mech is horribly under-gunned for its tonnage.

Nice use of htop lol someone's knows Linux

Mattplog did a redesign of the maelstrom it look slick