There is a mod for MW5 that adds the Wyvern and that design is a huge improvement. If Catalyst does give the Wyvern some love I hope they take inspiration from it.
Both the Wyvern and IIC are good for that playstyle where you just can 't be bothered doing much fancy stuff but their jump capability is really very good Just keep going forward and burn em down with some pretty fearsome firepower across all ranges.
Urban Hunter/Killer-Guerrilla fighter. Also went LPulse and 2 MdPulse. 8t Ferro, XL 5/8/4, 12DHS, 3 AP Gauss (2t A), LRM10 (1t A), Flamer, ActiveProbe, ECM. (BV2 1901) Stand up fighter - from prior build, drop ActiveProbe, swap ERPPC, 2 ER Md Lasers, 13DHS, Add Targeting computer (BV2 2328) - maybe swap ECM for L-AMS if more open terrain.
A Wyvern IIC dropping the MGs and some other bits for an AP Gauss might be the simplest option. Some maniac IS pilot cramming TSM in a IIC-2 would be an interesting option
The Wyvern IIC art is one of my favorites, especially of the early Plog pieces. But I'm compelled to point out that the shoulder actuators are blocked from elevating and pointing the forward too much by the chestplate and backplate hemming them in.
So the series is called "Why Do We Love the X?" Honestly with a LOT if these, for me it boils down to "Just look at it!". My first look at the Wyvern IIC was the CCG. That art has some serious "Just look at it!" energy. (Top right of this video at minute 1)
@@MechanicalFrog I really like the Plog design other than the arms being a little too close in under the chestpiece, having to move them farther out might also make it look a little less humanoid and hopefully be enough to sate you/
For once, I kind of like the Heavy Laser version; in a city fight, that accuracy penalty really dosen't hurt it too much. And the extra damage on a back strike might be the differance in winning and losing against a heavier mech.
Oh damn the thumbnail was bugging out to a later frame for me so I almost missed my favorite IIC, or at least my Favorite IIC that doesn't have a tonnage change.
I do find it funny that it took the *_Clans_* to actually give their urban combat mech anti-infantry gear. (At the time the Wyvern came out you couldn't shoot Inferno SRMs out of 6-shooter and even then only total suicidal psychopaths used them out of the SRM2s they were normally stuck with.
I didn't even know the Wyvern existed before this video so I'm thankful for being enlightened to it! I have a definite love of the second line and garrison Clan mechs you've been showcasing, where they're not all singing and all dancing, but are solid platforms that can really dish out the hurt. Keep up the great work ^^
Definitely preferred the Wyvern IIC art over the original, but always saw it as a solid design. As for my kind of design, I'd mix the first two with an ilClan era twist. The ER Large from the original and the ATM-9 from the 2, but with 3 tons of ammo. The old Heavy Mediums replaced with the Improved models, a Plasma Cannon in the center torso with one ton of ammo in the center torso, and a Light Active Probe for the head to seek out hidden targets. It uses FF armor in place of the original to get the tonnage free for the equipment while also allowing a couple of more points to the torso, but it doesn't need an XL (I always believed that garrison mechs should have standard engines so they are easier/cheaper to maintain, but I know there are some designs that are exceptions to that rule).
I've always had a soft spot for the Wyverns. It's a combination of the name and the design. It's Sleek ribbed body stood at odds to the normal chunky mechs. In Galaxy, the 🎶 Amazonian Space Pirates 🎶 started off with a rather large cache of them which they overhauled into their Signature "Turbo" model. Obviously they didn't have access to Space Mutant tech pre-invasion. (We 💚 wolverines ;-). Swapping the troublesome LRM10 for a more reliable LRM5 it uses the space to upgrade the engine allowing for a more mobile Variant. Usually with some minor tweaks to add a medium laser to compensate for lost damage potential. Sadly the art and the miniatures have been generally lacking for this once common sight in the Periphery. Luv to see a more sensible version of the limited edition variant that was made in the sphere with the twin SRMs (minus the second seat) for some good old fashioned double breasted "Missile Fire!" glam shots. Have Fun&Post Dangerous -Keelback Marketing Division -'Only ship in the Galaxy to come equipped with a soul 😇'
The wyvern is one of those mechs where i looked at it and its loadout and instantly knew its value. It's not the prettiest girl at the dance but she'll treat you right. the IIC is much the same. maybe a conjurer is more deadly, or vapor eagle more nimble the Wyvern IIC will still perform when you need it to.
@@MechanicalFrog Yeah, I so wish Clans would steal the Uziel design, give it a IIC treatment, and give it 5 to 15 more tons.(preferably up it to 65 ton to become a heavy/medium mech. That fits my style.) I even drew up a design for it. :)
The OG was less a multi-role and pretty firmly a trooper* with an urban focus. The IIC just adds some badly needed anti-infantry. *If you are willing to consider an 8-point LL an acceptable trooper main gun, some say it MUST have a 10-pointer.
I agree the graphics need work, but I like the man in armor look I see it as a more natural interface between the mech and the warrior within. Your MF build looks like fun, unless you are infantry heavy and opposing it. Those machine guns will be excellent crit seekers later in game once armor is scarce or breached as well.
The Wyvern and Wyvern IIC are solid performers. The IIC works well with other second line Clan mechs in the same weight class or even Omnis such as the Black Hawk. Excellent video as always.
Now I want one with nothing but LMG arrays after seeing those 9 in there... I need more, I need 12 LMG arrays... which are 4 LMG linked together as one weapon.
@@MechanicalFrogI miss the MechWarrior 4 hardpoint system. Each crit slot acted as it's own hardpoint. I could fill all the mechs in with around 20 of the light machine gun arrays.
So...just looking at the armament of the IIC...wow that's pretty much the armament of a Thunderbolt 5S. Less armor certainly but quite a toolbox of pain and flaming death. Great video as always Frog!
I'll be honest, I don't understand the people who look at the anti-infantry damage of 'Mech-scale burst weapons and think, "Not enough, we need a bunch of these to take on a platoon."
I think the new design of the wyvern for the IIC is very tasteful. It keeps the spirit of the old design while making it a bit cooler by adding some extra detail and changing some of the form of the mech.
The Wyvern IIC and its vanilla predecessor are a good indicator of just how many solid 'Mech lines in the world of Battletech need more focus and an art update. Battletech would be greatly enriched if more of the less-explored corners of its technical legacy were given proper official attention.
I think for the OG Wyvern I really like thr 3025 revised and 3039 art. Wyvern city from XTRO is okay, BUT i tend to like going either all in on the unearthly skinny of 3025 revised or the chunky of 3039, City splits the difference too much.
interesting mech that looks very solid, will have to check it out, i had dismissed it because i struggle with utilizing the 40/45 ton mechs. the MF version is actually my favorite here, as i find ATMs best with HE, so urban settings which fits the wyvern. i want to like the way the new wyvern looks (the old look bites) but as badly as i want the protrusions in the back to look cool all they ever seem to me is goofy. question for you. do you think there is a tonnage bracket that is just plain bad? or, perhaps if you want to be more granular, bad at certain roles?
The lower end of the medium bracket tends to suffer from the power of the 50-55s and the speed of the 30-35s. It's a middle ground that many find frustrating because you end up wanting one or the other.
I usually avoid the 40-45 ton range. It's felt cursed. But this one? Especially the MF variant? It's solid. And every once in a while, the man in armor aesthetic can work. (Just IMO). Also, so happy to hear it pronounced properly :p
I always enjoyed using this mech :-) it had the look of a child only its mother will love but it was fun to use...last kid picked for the team but decent when playing is another analogy lol...great vid of a decent upgrade.
The Succession Wars era IS Wyvern is a solid medium mech, as good as any other slower medium of the time. We definitely need updated artwork for it though, like you mention. Side note: it's pronounced "why-vern".
Straycat full clan tech 3050 rebuild of the 'original' wyvern. WVE-7A 45tons, 5/8/5, armor factor 152, 5t for XL + DHS, 2.25t endosteel, 8t ferofiberous, 2.5 jumpjets, 6tons cockpit and gyro (standard), 21.25 tons of podspace. PRIME: LPL in RA, LRM-10 in R/LT with a ton of ammo each, Streak 6 in R/LT with a ton of ammo each, two SPL in LA, 3 clan MG's LA with half ton of ammo between them (100 cased). ALT-Config A: ERLL in RA, LRM-10 in each R/LT with a ton of ammo each (12 each cased), Streak 6 in each R/LT with a ton of ammo (15 shots each cased), DHS in each R/LL, 0.25 tons of cargo in the head (just enough for an elemental inside the head) eventually I'll do IIC versions, but I have limited time as it is
Of course the MF variant has pulse lasers & I don't blame you. Now the 9 machine guns is that for a MG array or independent as I thought the mg array was something different or if you can choose to link or not.
@@MechanicalFrogthe problem is that it's slow and the heavy lasers give it both a short range and bad accuracy, and it lacks the heat sinks to take good advantage of them. It's not the worst in an urban environment but it could use a targeting computer.
A very well done vid indeed. The Wyvern IIC in terms of physical design could go the Artic Cheetah or Exterminator route aka just widening the leg stance to remove the "man in armor" suit. The mech itself is very good as a support mech in a star, after playing it on a few Solaris VII brawl matches, it's not good as a 1v1 without much cover. I'm personally not a fan on the Wyvern IIC2 due to the heavy lasers, I feel that just giving the base model pulse lasers and still going the ER flamer and machine gun array route could be fun, though it might be a bit to much like the original. Also thank you for touching on Clan Burrock, not many people know of or even talk about the clan (due to it having less lore than even clan Mongoose and Widowmaker, which is extremely disappointing for such an interesting clan name/animal and the whole "Clan Dark Caste" thing they had going for a while.)
I would like to know more about Burrock and their dealings with the Dark Caste. I know their attempt to distance themselves from it ended up getting them caught. Oh the ironing...
I like the man-in-armor legs personally. I just didn't like the "Man in a disco ball costume" of a lot of the original art. The modelers for 3062 and roguech etc tried to make it less humanoid (And more in like with the PGI look that HBS borrowed) and I really dislike the result.
I tried myself on a build in MegaMekLabs, going for a Clan XL 225, with 5 Jump Jets to achieve the magical 10 movement. Weapons are a Clan LPL, ATM12 with one ton of each ammo type and a Clan ER medium laser. Heat is 28 while it has 12 DHSs. Armor is maxed out Ferro (8 tons) and the design has passed the validation. One could go for an anti-infantry small pulse laser which also would reduce heat. About the looks of the design, i like the IIC but the old IS version just looks uninspired. Matt Plog´s take looks the best IMO.
@@MechanicalFrog Definintely. But i like your MF version as well, the speed aside. Hence my own version. I don´t like being slow, and while 84kph certainly doesn´t win many prices, it IS faster than most heavies and all assaults.
Not really fond of the look, but it also doesn't seem like a bad 'Mech. And your MF variant makes it better. And naturally enough I created my own version, lol. The Wyvern IIC ISM retains the standard fusion engine for survivability, but swaps the loadout for 4 Micro Pulse Lasers, an ATM-9/w 4 tons of ammo, and a Plasma Cannon/w 3 tons of ammo. The ATM ammo I split between 1 ton of Standard, one ton of ER, and 2 tons of HE, and all - including the launcher - in the left torso. The 4 Micro PLS are split between the right torso and left arm, with the Plasma Cannon and its ammo located in the right arm.
Hey there Frog. Oh, I hated the Wyvern IIC. One of the Playing Group, acting as 'Battle Master' for the month, fielded a pair of these Mechs along with three others as a Clan 'Star' for our Inner Sphere Mechs to take on. He chose the Wyvern as an 'easy' Mech to defeat... yeah, riiiight... didn't work out that way for us. Although we did take out the other Clan Mechs, the Wyverns were very hard to do the same, since if you got into their range, you were most likely 'screwed', due to the amount of firepower the Wyverns would produce. I never fielded any, myself. But after a hiatus of about 10 years, I got back into Battletech, and one of the results of a tabletop battle against the Clans was winning a 'Trial', which netted me a 'Star' of Wyverns, along with a fair sized supply cache of Clan parts, armor, and equipment. Playing around with the Wyvern's design, I hit upon a solution that 'felt right' to me. First, I stripped off the SRM and ammo, the flamer, and the pair of ER small lasers. I decided NOT to change anything else about the Mech's general design, like Endo, Ferro, Engine, etc. Just replacing weapons. What I came up with was this: With the weight savings from taking the above stuff out of the Wyvern, I was able to add 2 more Clan DSHS, 2 more ER Medium Lasers, and FOUR more Clan MGs. This works out to a Mech 'load out' as follows: 1 ER Large Laser, 1 LRM-10 (2 tons ammo) 4 ER Medium Lasers, and 6 Clan MGs (1 ton ammo). With a total of 14 Clan DSHS. If you look at it right, it is a fairly balanced Mech. One can fire off the ER Lrg Laser and the Clan LRM-10, AND jump, without exceeding the capacity of the heat sinks. For shorter ranges, One can fire off all four of the ER Med Lasers AND Jump, again, without exceeding the capacity of the heat sinks. And the half dozen Clan MGs are there for 'party favors' for those pesky Infantry that sometimes litter the battlefield, and cause annoyingly minor damage to Mechs attempting to fight other, more important, targets. I do not see the 4-6-4 movement profile as being 'too slow'. This Mech is almost 'purpose made' as a city fighting Mech. Or, as a Mech sent out to deal with 'minor' problems, from time to time. The ER Lrg Laser and Clan LRM-10 are enough to put serious dents into targets at fairly long ranges. And, they would do enough damage over time, as the Mech 'backpedals' to keep the range open, that most foes would be in serious 'hurt' by the time the Wyvern decides to close the range. Running, or Jumping, the 4 ER Med Lasers would do a lot of damage, on top of what was done by the longer ranged weaponry. And, to add insult to injury, the 6 Clan MGs would 'critical seek' when the range closes enough to do so, should the opponent's Mech not have already fallen down, or be destroyed. So, my version of the Wyvern, I labeled as the Wyvern IIC 6 (due to the six MGs it carries).
Change lrm 10 for 2 lrm 5s and move to right n left torso. Extra half ton specialty ammo in case. Srm 6 changed to 2 srm 4s one each side torso. Half tons of tandem and inferno feed the srms. 2 mdm pulse lasers moved down to CT. Which leads to obvious jokes. RA retain er lg laser. LA gets 4 AP gauss rifles in an array with extra ton ammo above internal 10. 2 Rear facing flamers which is useful in city fights to cover six from nasty infantry. It also adds to effect when pulsed during jumps . That they are mounted on upper rear legs also leads to jokes. I'd love to see a Wyvern with a PWS. Wyverns need wings. Also need a stinger. A rear facing weapon. Anyone want to tackle that one? A rear facing streak system might work. Or SPL or flamers as above.
(IMO) - These Wyverns seem to be channeling "Pacific Rim" pretty HARD...or maybe it's the other way around...? Either way, these mechs that look like they could have been built by aliens are growing on me. These vids have me wanting to try some different mechs that I've never looked at twice before. WELL DONE, Frog!
whenever i see one of these all range bracket mechs i end up ripping weapons for one range bracket out and slamming in parts to make them fit a more designated roll and increase its durability, looking at the 2c2 I'd drop the large heavy laser for two more heavy mediums, and two more double heat sinks you would still melt on an alpha strike but you wouldn't melt as badly.
Nine machine guns? What did the poor infantry do to you for you to use so many anti infantry weapons?! They've already drawn the short end of the stick having to fight giant robots, the poor sods...
The only reason why I don't like the Wyvern is that it's hideous. I mean, look at the design. Who did that? But the specs are good on paper. Pity on the weird look though.
The Wyvern is not a mech I really paid much attention to. But this vid has me taking another look at it. I like the MF variant, but 9MGs?!?! That might be bordering on a war crime.
"... classic 'mech designs in the 3025 Technical Readout" really threw me. This thing wasn't in TRO 3025 until they changed the book and rereleased it, replacing the Unseen with other designs, mostly from 2750, downgraded in tech to match the era.
@@MechanicalFrog BigRed reported that Catalyst is going to release Ilclan faction box sets in 2024-25 after the Kickstarter is fulfilled. Didn't know if you had any speculation about who we might see.
The boxes for Wolf and the Jade Falcons are pretty obviously going to be totem mechs. Similar for the Ghost Bears. As far as the Inner Sphere ones, it really depends on how much they're willing to dip into the Dark Age mechs. I'd like to see a Canopian and Taurian box
9 machine guns? I assume the flame is there to try to hide your war crimes. As an infantry fan, youre a monster. I did the same as you. I looked at the picture of the mech and just dismissed it. No MechWarrior in his right mind is riding into battle without first making sure he looks cool. Edit: correcting autocorrect
IIRC the classic Wyvern was max or near-max armor for its tonnage wasn't it? Is the IIC a little lighter on the armor you only called it fair for its weight.
Hmm... the Mechfrog Version looks not bad, but instead of 9 MGs, I would put in an LBX AC 2 with additional Ammo and / or Case for all Ammo Weapons. Also if possible and if there are some Tons left: some additional Double Heatsinks. This would give the Wyvern II C some more Flexibility in close to mid Firepower... and why use 9 MGs (9tons + ammo) if you can have a mech style shotgun that also can use 2 different kinds of ammo (Slag and solid) for one ton less and creates less heat per shot? (But maybe this comes from my antipathy against MGs on Mechs. xD )
Always found the wyvern so odd. Everything about it screams that it should be a perfectly fine and usable medium and yet people always overlook it. Heck, you even mentioned the mech they seem to usually overlook it FOR. For all the love that the Urbanmech gets without reason I often feel the base shadowhawk gets just as much. It's a good looking mech, but what a turd of a weapons load out. Fang of the sun my pasty Meowth booty.
@@fenny1578 The shadowhawk suffers from the AC5 being an absolute dog of a weapon suitable only to vehicles and maybe as the tertiary gun on the Marauder. Even Weisman agrees because he had the Harebrained Schemes people turn it into an AC-9 (And the 2 into a 5 and the 10 into a 12)
@@fenny1578 Yeah the "Physical-damage-driven Stability system replacing the Piloting Check Raw Damage Threshold, and the vastly increased ballistic damage went a long way to making Autocannons 10 and lower something you consider using on something other than cheap ICE vehicles. (Okay that's a bit unfair to the 10, it's actually a decent enough gun for when you can't quite cool another PPC or LL)
This puppy Is nearly a pocket heavy in any of its configurations. The heavy laser variant Is nearly as deadly as the Hunchback IIC all the while being cheaper and more flexible. By the way I agree on your assessment of the Wyvern's appearance. It's just plain ugly and not in a cool way.
@@MechanicalFrog I pray they just get Plog to make slight improvements to his already solid design, I dread to see Shimmy enthicken and boxify my poor lad.
Im not a fan of most of the man in armor mechs and i have to agree, this wyvern really doesnt do it for me. much prefer the more tanky ones, or creative. maybe the redesign can take inspiration from mythilogical wyverns somehow
The Wyvern and Wyvern IIC are both okay, but not really memorable. The Wyvern IIC is a little bit of everything, but not great at anything. I flat out don't like slow medium mechs, 45ton mechs, and certainly not both at the same time. Generally speaking I like optimized designs. If it was either faster medium or a more powerful 60-75ton heavy it would be okay. Instead its just a Low-cost garrison unit.
oh my, the bombadier in the pic looks so derpy but somewhat cute, wyvern seems based: not beautiful, nothing fancy, cando attitude....the IIc looks literally like its evil twin+crotch missiles, needs a mustache tho
There is a mod for MW5 that adds the Wyvern and that design is a huge improvement. If Catalyst does give the Wyvern some love I hope they take inspiration from it.
I have seen a few recent re-imaginings of it and they are encouraging. I think CGL will do it justice.
This is one of the big reasons I still love BT. The community involvement is awesome.
Absolutely.
its on the steam workshop right? I might get it because it gives me good vibes of something between the laser centurion and the large laser griffin
Should be.@@robrib2682
Both the Wyvern and IIC are good for that playstyle where you just can 't be bothered doing much fancy stuff but their jump capability is really very good
Just keep going forward and burn em down with some pretty fearsome firepower across all ranges.
"It just works."
Urban Hunter/Killer-Guerrilla fighter. Also went LPulse and 2 MdPulse. 8t Ferro, XL 5/8/4, 12DHS, 3 AP Gauss (2t A), LRM10 (1t A), Flamer, ActiveProbe, ECM. (BV2 1901)
Stand up fighter - from prior build, drop ActiveProbe, swap ERPPC, 2 ER Md Lasers, 13DHS, Add Targeting computer (BV2 2328) - maybe swap ECM for L-AMS if more open terrain.
Turning it into a nice hunter. Awesome.
A Wyvern IIC dropping the MGs and some other bits for an AP Gauss might be the simplest option. Some maniac IS pilot cramming TSM in a IIC-2 would be an interesting option
TSM on anything makes life more interesting.
The Wyvern IIC art is one of my favorites, especially of the early Plog pieces. But I'm compelled to point out that the shoulder actuators are blocked from elevating and pointing the forward too much by the chestplate and backplate hemming them in.
I remember finding this on Sarna and being taken aback at how nasty it could be.
It can pack quite the unexpected wallop.
The MF is *wild.* You've duct taped a Piranha onto your mech.
It needs a little baby harness on the front.
@MechanicalFrog the pirate atlas with polly the raven on its shoulder is a thing.
I can imagine that if salvaged by the IS forces or purchased from Sea Fox, someone is bound to give it a sword or axe.
Of course. I would expect no less.
.... Could myomer whips to delete infantry be made a thing?
@@bthsr7113 I'd hate to see what happens to the mech if you botch the attack rolls.
@@Damienx247 Eh, I doubt it would do any real damage to armor.... barring a 1/100 chance to hit a cockpit.
So the series is called "Why Do We Love the X?"
Honestly with a LOT if these, for me it boils down to "Just look at it!".
My first look at the Wyvern IIC was the CCG.
That art has some serious "Just look at it!" energy. (Top right of this video at minute 1)
I'm really looking forward to the CGL re-imagining of it for the IlClan era.
@@MechanicalFrog I really like the Plog design other than the arms being a little too close in under the chestpiece, having to move them farther out might also make it look a little less humanoid and hopefully be enough to sate you/
The Wyvern went from man-in-armor to man-IN-A-GUNDAM
Kablooey!
For once, I kind of like the Heavy Laser version; in a city fight, that accuracy penalty really dosen't hurt it too much. And the extra damage on a back strike might be the differance in winning and losing against a heavier mech.
In this case, they work with the mission of the mech. Would do for an extra heat sink or two though...
Oh damn the thumbnail was bugging out to a later frame for me so I almost missed my favorite IIC, or at least my Favorite IIC that doesn't have a tonnage change.
I do find it funny that it took the *_Clans_* to actually give their urban combat mech anti-infantry gear. (At the time the Wyvern came out you couldn't shoot Inferno SRMs out of 6-shooter and even then only total suicidal psychopaths used them out of the SRM2s they were normally stuck with.
I didn't even know the Wyvern existed before this video so I'm thankful for being enlightened to it! I have a definite love of the second line and garrison Clan mechs you've been showcasing, where they're not all singing and all dancing, but are solid platforms that can really dish out the hurt. Keep up the great work ^^
Will do. The mission to gradually introduce the BT community to mechs other than the big 12 continues.
Definitely preferred the Wyvern IIC art over the original, but always saw it as a solid design.
As for my kind of design, I'd mix the first two with an ilClan era twist. The ER Large from the original and the ATM-9 from the 2, but with 3 tons of ammo. The old Heavy Mediums replaced with the Improved models, a Plasma Cannon in the center torso with one ton of ammo in the center torso, and a Light Active Probe for the head to seek out hidden targets. It uses FF armor in place of the original to get the tonnage free for the equipment while also allowing a couple of more points to the torso, but it doesn't need an XL (I always believed that garrison mechs should have standard engines so they are easier/cheaper to maintain, but I know there are some designs that are exceptions to that rule).
I was tempted by the Plasma Cannon/Rifle... always am, but don't want to do it for every MF refit. :D
I've always had a soft spot for the Wyverns. It's a combination of the name and the design. It's Sleek ribbed body stood at odds to the normal chunky mechs.
In Galaxy, the 🎶 Amazonian Space Pirates 🎶 started off with a rather large cache of them which they overhauled into their Signature "Turbo" model. Obviously they didn't have access to Space Mutant tech pre-invasion. (We 💚 wolverines ;-).
Swapping the troublesome LRM10 for a more reliable LRM5 it uses the space to upgrade the engine allowing for a more mobile Variant. Usually with some minor tweaks to add a medium laser to compensate for lost damage potential.
Sadly the art and the miniatures have been generally lacking for this once common sight in the Periphery. Luv to see a more sensible version of the limited edition variant that was made in the sphere with the twin SRMs (minus the second seat) for some good old fashioned double breasted "Missile Fire!" glam shots.
Have Fun&Post Dangerous
-Keelback Marketing Division -'Only ship in the Galaxy to come equipped with a soul 😇'
Lovely! I'm so glad you got some use out of it.
The wyvern is one of those mechs where i looked at it and its loadout and instantly knew its value. It's not the prettiest girl at the dance but she'll treat you right. the IIC is much the same. maybe a conjurer is more deadly, or vapor eagle more nimble the Wyvern IIC will still perform when you need it to.
It definitely deserves some consideration.
I believe the 55 tons is the way to go with medium multi-role mech design. That being said I think I would go with Shadowcat II and/or Vapor Eagle.
Both are solid options. There are so many good Clan mediums, you have to look pretty hard for a bad one.
@@MechanicalFrog Yeah, I so wish Clans would steal the Uziel design, give it a IIC treatment, and give it 5 to 15 more tons.(preferably up it to 65 ton to become a heavy/medium mech. That fits my style.) I even drew up a design for it. :)
The OG was less a multi-role and pretty firmly a trooper* with an urban focus. The IIC just adds some badly needed anti-infantry.
*If you are willing to consider an 8-point LL an acceptable trooper main gun, some say it MUST have a 10-pointer.
Wyvern is one of my favorite mechs. Basically a better centurion and less weight. I would love to try out iic version as gaurd dog for a clan assualt.
rabid guard dog.
Base model could also be descried as a hotter, brawlier Vindicator.
I agree the graphics need work, but I like the man in armor look I see it as a more natural interface between the mech and the warrior within. Your MF build looks like fun, unless you are infantry heavy and opposing it. Those machine guns will be excellent crit seekers later in game once armor is scarce or breached as well.
I totally get that people like the look. It's just not for me and I can live with it. :D
I want to run the MF variant with the old Solaris IIV rules!
All the dakka.
The Wyvern and Wyvern IIC are solid performers. The IIC works well with other second line Clan mechs in the same weight class or even Omnis such as the Black Hawk. Excellent video as always.
While it will have trouble keeping up with the medium omni-mechs, it more than makes up for it with firepower when it arrives.
Now I want one with nothing but LMG arrays after seeing those 9 in there... I need more, I need 12 LMG arrays... which are 4 LMG linked together as one weapon.
Just carry nothing but MGs... all day... every day... for 100 years...
@@MechanicalFrogI miss the MechWarrior 4 hardpoint system. Each crit slot acted as it's own hardpoint.
I could fill all the mechs in with around 20 of the light machine gun arrays.
So...just looking at the armament of the IIC...wow that's pretty much the armament of a Thunderbolt 5S. Less armor certainly but quite a toolbox of pain and flaming death. Great video as always Frog!
It's a gem. Thanks a lot!
I'll be honest, I don't understand the people who look at the anti-infantry damage of 'Mech-scale burst weapons and think, "Not enough, we need a bunch of these to take on a platoon."
If a few are good, more are better, right?
I think the new design of the wyvern for the IIC is very tasteful. It keeps the spirit of the old design while making it a bit cooler by adding some extra detail and changing some of the form of the mech.
The Wyvern IIC and its vanilla predecessor are a good indicator of just how many solid 'Mech lines in the world of Battletech need more focus and an art update. Battletech would be greatly enriched if more of the less-explored corners of its technical legacy were given proper official attention.
Agreed 100%
The new art is really pretty amazing, and this mech really shows the difference. 😮
Also, you know, crotch missles and flamer! 😂
XTRO Gunslingers art by Matt Plog can be seen in the gallery on Sarna, and is what I was thinking of…
@@NikotheosFlamer is more belly button level. LRMs are codpiece yeah
I think for the OG Wyvern I really like thr 3025 revised and 3039 art. Wyvern city from XTRO is okay, BUT i tend to like going either all in on the unearthly skinny of 3025 revised or the chunky of 3039, City splits the difference too much.
I say that, but the IIC also splits the difference and I adore it.
interesting mech that looks very solid, will have to check it out, i had dismissed it because i struggle with utilizing the 40/45 ton mechs. the MF version is actually my favorite here, as i find ATMs best with HE, so urban settings which fits the wyvern. i want to like the way the new wyvern looks (the old look bites) but as badly as i want the protrusions in the back to look cool all they ever seem to me is goofy.
question for you. do you think there is a tonnage bracket that is just plain bad? or, perhaps if you want to be more granular, bad at certain roles?
The lower end of the medium bracket tends to suffer from the power of the 50-55s and the speed of the 30-35s. It's a middle ground that many find frustrating because you end up wanting one or the other.
@@MechanicalFrog A tricked out 45 like a Wyvern, Vindicator, or Pixie can be pretty good.
I usually avoid the 40-45 ton range. It's felt cursed. But this one? Especially the MF variant? It's solid. And every once in a while, the man in armor aesthetic can work. (Just IMO).
Also, so happy to hear it pronounced properly :p
I get yelled at no matter what with pronunciations.
I always enjoyed using this mech :-) it had the look of a child only its mother will love but it was fun to use...last kid picked for the team but decent when playing is another analogy lol...great vid of a decent upgrade.
Thanks for giving it a go. Have a great weekend!
The Succession Wars era IS Wyvern is a solid medium mech, as good as any other slower medium of the time. We definitely need updated artwork for it though, like you mention. Side note: it's pronounced "why-vern".
Life is full of little challenges.
I like how the Saint Ives version of the Vindicator is basically a Wyvern but trading some close range firepower for way more heatsinks.
@@DIEGhostfish True, good variant!
@@Linkous12 Yes, but if you want to be mean it's "The Wyvern for heat cowards"
Straycat full clan tech 3050 rebuild of the 'original' wyvern.
WVE-7A 45tons, 5/8/5, armor factor 152, 5t for XL + DHS, 2.25t endosteel, 8t ferofiberous, 2.5 jumpjets, 6tons cockpit and gyro (standard), 21.25 tons of podspace.
PRIME: LPL in RA, LRM-10 in R/LT with a ton of ammo each, Streak 6 in R/LT with a ton of ammo each, two SPL in LA, 3 clan MG's LA with half ton of ammo between them (100 cased).
ALT-Config A: ERLL in RA, LRM-10 in each R/LT with a ton of ammo each (12 each cased), Streak 6 in each R/LT with a ton of ammo (15 shots each cased), DHS in each R/LL, 0.25 tons of cargo in the head (just enough for an elemental inside the head)
eventually I'll do IIC versions, but I have limited time as it is
I hadn't really known much about the wyvern before, sounds like a solid mech.
hey look! its the useful urban mech! Inner Sphere: But it no look like trash can. Many C-bill, look weird, no like. Gib Trash Can.
*touches nose*
Another mech I knew very little about beyond it’s name. Thanks for the great vid👍
Thank you for giving it a go.
The non-IIC Wyvern does have a lot of bad art but it also has several really good pieces!
With more good stuff in the future.
@MechanicalFrog We will see, I am a certified shimmy hater for most of his designs, especially of lights and low-mediums, so I might be very cross.
I always liked the wyvern‘s corny looks. Unfortunately i can’t be bothered with a medium so slow, so i rarely use it…
It's not for everyone... :D
Of course the MF variant has pulse lasers & I don't blame you. Now the 9 machine guns is that for a MG array or independent as I thought the mg array was something different or if you can choose to link or not.
I really try to behave myself with the pulse lasers... I tend not to go with the array because the rules for it lose a lot of people.
Wow the IIC 2 seems pretty bad
Your variant is scary, like someone duct-taped a Piranha to a Wyvern IIC.
I hope we get new art for both Wyverns too.
I think it's pretty good for a 45 tonner. Not fast but with a punch.
@@MechanicalFrogthe problem is that it's slow and the heavy lasers give it both a short range and bad accuracy, and it lacks the heat sinks to take good advantage of them. It's not the worst in an urban environment but it could use a targeting computer.
A very well done vid indeed. The Wyvern IIC in terms of physical design could go the Artic Cheetah or Exterminator route aka just widening the leg stance to remove the "man in armor" suit. The mech itself is very good as a support mech in a star, after playing it on a few Solaris VII brawl matches, it's not good as a 1v1 without much cover. I'm personally not a fan on the Wyvern IIC2 due to the heavy lasers, I feel that just giving the base model pulse lasers and still going the ER flamer and machine gun array route could be fun, though it might be a bit to much like the original. Also thank you for touching on Clan Burrock, not many people know of or even talk about the clan (due to it having less lore than even clan Mongoose and Widowmaker, which is extremely disappointing for such an interesting clan name/animal and the whole "Clan Dark Caste" thing they had going for a while.)
I would like to know more about Burrock and their dealings with the Dark Caste. I know their attempt to distance themselves from it ended up getting them caught. Oh the ironing...
I like the man-in-armor legs personally. I just didn't like the "Man in a disco ball costume" of a lot of the original art. The modelers for 3062 and roguech etc tried to make it less humanoid (And more in like with the PGI look that HBS borrowed) and I really dislike the result.
I tried myself on a build in MegaMekLabs, going for a Clan XL 225, with 5 Jump Jets to achieve the magical 10 movement.
Weapons are a Clan LPL, ATM12 with one ton of each ammo type and a Clan ER medium laser. Heat is 28 while it has 12 DHSs.
Armor is maxed out Ferro (8 tons) and the design has passed the validation. One could go for an anti-infantry small pulse laser which also would reduce heat.
About the looks of the design, i like the IIC but the old IS version just looks uninspired. Matt Plog´s take looks the best IMO.
The slow running speed is definitely the mech's Achilles heel.
@@MechanicalFrog Definintely.
But i like your MF version as well, the speed aside. Hence my own version.
I don´t like being slow, and while 84kph certainly doesn´t win many prices, it IS faster than most heavies and all assaults.
Thank you for this one. I do like the Wyvern and its IIC counterpart. They aren't great, but they do what they are intended to do and they do so well.
Well said!
Not really fond of the look, but it also doesn't seem like a bad 'Mech. And your MF variant makes it better.
And naturally enough I created my own version, lol.
The Wyvern IIC ISM retains the standard fusion engine for survivability, but swaps the loadout for 4 Micro Pulse Lasers, an ATM-9/w 4 tons of ammo, and a Plasma Cannon/w 3 tons of ammo. The ATM ammo I split between 1 ton of Standard, one ton of ER, and 2 tons of HE, and all - including the launcher - in the left torso. The 4 Micro PLS are split between the right torso and left arm, with the Plasma Cannon and its ammo located in the right arm.
I'm not going to turn down a Plasma Cannon variant.
Hey there Frog.
Oh, I hated the Wyvern IIC. One of the Playing Group, acting as 'Battle Master' for the month, fielded a pair of these Mechs along with three others as a Clan 'Star' for our Inner Sphere Mechs to take on. He chose the Wyvern as an 'easy' Mech to defeat... yeah, riiiight... didn't work out that way for us.
Although we did take out the other Clan Mechs, the Wyverns were very hard to do the same, since if you got into their range, you were most likely 'screwed', due to the amount of firepower the Wyverns would produce.
I never fielded any, myself. But after a hiatus of about 10 years, I got back into Battletech, and one of the results of a tabletop battle against the Clans was winning a 'Trial', which netted me a 'Star' of Wyverns, along with a fair sized supply cache of Clan parts, armor, and equipment.
Playing around with the Wyvern's design, I hit upon a solution that 'felt right' to me.
First, I stripped off the SRM and ammo, the flamer, and the pair of ER small lasers. I decided NOT to change anything else about the Mech's general design, like Endo, Ferro, Engine, etc. Just replacing weapons.
What I came up with was this: With the weight savings from taking the above stuff out of the Wyvern, I was able to add 2 more Clan DSHS, 2 more ER Medium Lasers, and FOUR more Clan MGs.
This works out to a Mech 'load out' as follows: 1 ER Large Laser, 1 LRM-10 (2 tons ammo) 4 ER Medium Lasers, and 6 Clan MGs (1 ton ammo). With a total of 14 Clan DSHS.
If you look at it right, it is a fairly balanced Mech. One can fire off the ER Lrg Laser and the Clan LRM-10, AND jump, without exceeding the capacity of the heat sinks. For shorter ranges, One can fire off all four of the ER Med Lasers AND Jump, again, without exceeding the capacity of the heat sinks. And the half dozen Clan MGs are there for 'party favors' for those pesky Infantry that sometimes litter the battlefield, and cause annoyingly minor damage to Mechs attempting to fight other, more important, targets.
I do not see the 4-6-4 movement profile as being 'too slow'. This Mech is almost 'purpose made' as a city fighting Mech. Or, as a Mech sent out to deal with 'minor' problems, from time to time.
The ER Lrg Laser and Clan LRM-10 are enough to put serious dents into targets at fairly long ranges. And, they would do enough damage over time, as the Mech 'backpedals' to keep the range open, that most foes would be in serious 'hurt' by the time the Wyvern decides to close the range. Running, or Jumping, the 4 ER Med Lasers would do a lot of damage, on top of what was done by the longer ranged weaponry. And, to add insult to injury, the 6 Clan MGs would 'critical seek' when the range closes enough to do so, should the opponent's Mech not have already fallen down, or be destroyed.
So, my version of the Wyvern, I labeled as the Wyvern IIC 6 (due to the six MGs it carries).
It is the Urbanmech that the Urbanmech wishes it could be.
Change lrm 10 for 2 lrm 5s and move to right n left torso. Extra half ton specialty ammo in case.
Srm 6 changed to 2 srm 4s one each side torso. Half tons of tandem and inferno feed the srms.
2 mdm pulse lasers moved down to CT. Which leads to obvious jokes.
RA retain er lg laser.
LA gets 4 AP gauss rifles in an array with extra ton ammo above internal 10.
2 Rear facing flamers which is useful in city fights to cover six from nasty infantry.
It also adds to effect when pulsed during jumps . That they are mounted on upper rear legs also leads to jokes.
I'd love to see a Wyvern with a PWS. Wyverns need wings. Also need a stinger. A rear facing weapon.
Anyone want to tackle that one?
A rear facing streak system might work. Or SPL or flamers as above.
(IMO) - These Wyverns seem to be channeling "Pacific Rim" pretty HARD...or maybe it's the other way around...? Either way, these mechs that look like they could have been built by aliens are growing on me. These vids have me wanting to try some different mechs that I've never looked at twice before. WELL DONE, Frog!
Mission: Introduce players to cool mechs other than the big names.
Accomplished.
@@MechanicalFrog AGREED!!!
whenever i see one of these all range bracket mechs i end up ripping weapons for one range bracket out and slamming in parts to make them fit a more designated roll and increase its durability, looking at the 2c2 I'd drop the large heavy laser for two more heavy mediums, and two more double heat sinks you would still melt on an alpha strike but you wouldn't melt as badly.
"A slightly less horrifying hot box cockpit." Sweet... :D
ATM-6 in the arm instead of a traditional center or side torso slot? That feels...Wrong.
blasphemy, even...
Nine machine guns? What did the poor infantry do to you for you to use so many anti infantry weapons?! They've already drawn the short end of the stick having to fight giant robots, the poor sods...
Rapid onset lead poisoning.
@@MechanicalFrogas a former Infantryman in real life, I hate you and all of your darn machine guns! (And I thought Piranha's were bad)
I apologize for nothing.
@@MechanicalFrog At least they wern't AOE Flamers and AP Gauss rifles...
@@gregdomenico1891 AP Gauss to an infantryman just hit slightly farther away but they run out of ammo faster.
That backpack chimney, tho…😂
Toot toot... coming through!
Struck me as like an airliner boarding ramp.
The only reason why I don't like the Wyvern is that it's hideous. I mean, look at the design. Who did that?
But the specs are good on paper. Pity on the weird look though.
I have always loved it but we only had the watered down version it worked well tho
Hey frog, love the vids, my dad got me into battletech and ive kept going, could you please do a mad cat video sometime?
Thanks a lot. Glad to hear you're getting into the game. I will absolutely be doing the Timberwolf this year.
The Wyvern is not a mech I really paid much attention to. But this vid has me taking another look at it. I like the MF variant, but 9MGs?!?! That might be bordering on a war crime.
I wish I could have crammed on an even 10... I will try to do better in the future.
"... classic 'mech designs in the 3025 Technical Readout" really threw me. This thing wasn't in TRO 3025 until they changed the book and rereleased it, replacing the Unseen with other designs, mostly from 2750, downgraded in tech to match the era.
Yes, I was referring to the re-release. I also added 2750 to the screen to match the audio in order to prevent this situation.
Which ilclan mechanism do you think catalyst is going to do for each faction?
Which mechs, you mean?
@@MechanicalFrog BigRed reported that Catalyst is going to release Ilclan faction box sets in 2024-25 after the Kickstarter is fulfilled. Didn't know if you had any speculation about who we might see.
The boxes for Wolf and the Jade Falcons are pretty obviously going to be totem mechs. Similar for the Ghost Bears. As far as the Inner Sphere ones, it really depends on how much they're willing to dip into the Dark Age mechs. I'd like to see a Canopian and Taurian box
Gun, Calliope, Avalanche, Night Stalker, Hound, Mortis, Shiro, Juliano.
@@MechanicalFrog me too!
Just going to ask Mechanical Frog, do you know of any ways to get Clan Mechs and gear into Battletech2018 without total conversion mods?
No, I just use the BTAdvanced mod which isn't too rough to get going.
Another fine post!
Thanks so much for giving it a go.
9 machine guns? I assume the flame is there to try to hide your war crimes.
As an infantry fan, youre a monster.
I did the same as you. I looked at the picture of the mech and just dismissed it. No MechWarrior in his right mind is riding into battle without first making sure he looks cool.
Edit: correcting autocorrect
"It's only a war crime if you lose." - Malvina Hazen
Looks meaner than a HBK-IIC.
A little more balanced as a design.
IIRC the classic Wyvern was max or near-max armor for its tonnage wasn't it? Is the IIC a little lighter on the armor you only called it fair for its weight.
Yeah it's a bug on my part. going from 9.5 tons to 10 is only 1 additional armor point. I really shouldn't write scripts at midnight.
Hmm... the Mechfrog Version looks not bad, but instead of 9 MGs, I would put in an LBX AC 2 with additional Ammo and / or Case for all Ammo Weapons. Also if possible and if there are some Tons left: some additional Double Heatsinks.
This would give the Wyvern II C some more Flexibility in close to mid Firepower... and why use 9 MGs (9tons + ammo) if you can have a mech style shotgun that also can use 2 different kinds of ammo (Slag and solid) for one ton less and creates less heat per shot?
(But maybe this comes from my antipathy against MGs on Mechs. xD )
This may boil down to taste.
It;s clan remember. CASE is free (But CASE II is not)
The base wyvern is ugly, but the IIC and the City version are quite eye catching.
The angle on the IIC art is a bit wonky. I've seen a few new interpretations lately and CGL will out-perform. It'll look good.
@MechanicalFrog The only real issue on thr IIC is the arms and chestplate conflicting.
Yes, the old 3025 art was mediocre, though i love this IIC for all the "get off my lawn" firepower it has for almost all situations.
Absolutely.
Codpiece LRMs and a flamer bellybutton.
in a week or two you should be OVER 9000!!!!
At the current rate, by the middle of next week.
Always found the wyvern so odd. Everything about it screams that it should be a perfectly fine and usable medium and yet people always overlook it. Heck, you even mentioned the mech they seem to usually overlook it FOR.
For all the love that the Urbanmech gets without reason I often feel the base shadowhawk gets just as much. It's a good looking mech, but what a turd of a weapons load out.
Fang of the sun my pasty Meowth booty.
I would take a Wyvern over a Shadow Hawk any day.
@@MechanicalFrog Yeah, it's almost like an actual weapons loadout feels better than a wifflebat on legs.
@@fenny1578 The shadowhawk suffers from the AC5 being an absolute dog of a weapon suitable only to vehicles and maybe as the tertiary gun on the Marauder. Even Weisman agrees because he had the Harebrained Schemes people turn it into an AC-9 (And the 2 into a 5 and the 10 into a 12)
@@DIEGhostfish S'what happens when you do Medium laser damge for most of a HBK-4Ps weaponload of weight lmfao
@@fenny1578 Yeah the "Physical-damage-driven Stability system replacing the Piloting Check Raw Damage Threshold, and the vastly increased ballistic damage went a long way to making Autocannons 10 and lower something you consider using on something other than cheap ICE vehicles. (Okay that's a bit unfair to the 10, it's actually a decent enough gun for when you can't quite cool another PPC or LL)
This puppy Is nearly a pocket heavy in any of its configurations. The heavy laser variant Is nearly as deadly as the Hunchback IIC all the while being cheaper and more flexible. By the way I agree on your assessment of the Wyvern's appearance. It's just plain ugly and not in a cool way.
A little bird told me the CGL re-imagining is going to look really good.
@@MechanicalFrog I pray they just get Plog to make slight improvements to his already solid design, I dread to see Shimmy enthicken and boxify my poor lad.
Im not a fan of most of the man in armor mechs and i have to agree, this wyvern really doesnt do it for me. much prefer the more tanky ones, or creative. maybe the redesign can take inspiration from mythilogical wyverns somehow
Oh that might be interesting if it had a little hint of totem mech to it. Not enough to make it look like Dark Age mech but a little bit.
Dragon time?
You want a Dragon video?
@@MechanicalFrog Yeh. You did a Wyvern.
I can give you a firm maybe.
Nice to see that you and I had the same aesthetic hangup with the Wyvern. It's just... so ugly.
I'll get past it... some day.
The Wyvern and Wyvern IIC are both okay, but not really memorable. The Wyvern IIC is a little bit of everything, but not great at anything.
I flat out don't like slow medium mechs, 45ton mechs, and certainly not both at the same time. Generally speaking I like optimized designs.
If it was either faster medium or a more powerful 60-75ton heavy it would be okay. Instead its just a Low-cost garrison unit.
It's a tough crowd with so many good mediums out there. Clan and Inner Sphere.
I respect the design, but the Wyvern iic just doesn’t do anything for me aesthetically.
That's fair. I wait eagerly for the CGL re-envisoning.
oh my, the bombadier in the pic looks so derpy but somewhat cute, wyvern seems based: not beautiful, nothing fancy, cando attitude....the IIc looks literally like its evil twin+crotch missiles, needs a mustache tho
Little twirly mustache... maybe a top hat...
You know some pirate looter decorated their LRMs.