Nightstar NSR-9FC: Battlytics | Classic BattleTech Mech Review | Clan Invasion | DFA Wargaming

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I didn't know anything about the nightstar until the kickstarter either. I did my research on it before the models arrived and... yeah, it went straight to my new favourite mech list. Need to get one to the table before I'm sure if it will stay on my permanent favourite mech list but your battlelitics are encouraging.

Why take lbx 10's when you can have gauss rifles.

Not the variant I expected to see tested. But it did far better than I expected. I always was seduced by throwing 40 points of damage out past 20 hexes and never gave the FC a serious look. I wonder if the standard medium lasers are a hidden leg up for the FC over the J? Extra total damage at a longer range with heat not really mattering? The FC would probably be a great candidate for a tweak upgrade to ER mediums, too.
Regardless, they are both tough monsters, indeed!

I love a "Classic" Battlytics video.

Back from my trip to Maryland, so it's time to start watching some Battletech videos again! Very impressive mech, but then again if it's based off the Marauder how bad can it really be? Thanks Mr. Aaron!

Love me some Nightstar. That thing is a beast is any variant.

Since when do ER PPCs have min range? Thats not to my knowledge of Inner Sphere ER PPCs because ER-PPC are a star league tech, and they're min range 0 according to my copy of tech manual which is the book I have handy

Are you thinking Heavy PPC? They're min range the same min range as Lights and regular PPC

I preferred the LBx version over the Gauss, but I play lots of combined arms. The lbx for anti vee/flyer, the speed to not get boxed in, and the lower BV cost so you can actually afford it compared to the very pricy Gauss. In BV, the 56 gauss shots on the 9C (in games that last 10-12 turns) is a big efficiency loss. Id love to see the comparison, as I think the LBX version performs better when averaged by BV.

Enjoyed the Battlytic, as always. Something I've thought of though. Maybe add a 10 second closeup turntable view of what the miniature looks like, even fresh out of the box and unpainted. Perhaps it will draw eyes to not only your Battlytic, but also drum up interest for anyone who might want to pick up the 'Mech for their lance, or Level II, or even as isorla for a Clan unit? Or have Thom, with his finely maintained facial hair showcase it like those jewelry shopping channels, before rolling into the analysis?

Gauss Rifles are nice, same with energy weapons, but the real romance is the boom of an autocannon. And the shotgun LB-X line is true love.

Do you believe it would have been better to pull the ammo out of the LT, and put it in the legs, or spread a ton to each arm? I am looking at the 'Mech, and four tons of party poppers next to an XL engine seems like a prank to inflict on the pilot of such a 'Mech. Maybe downgrade the ER-PPC to an ER Medium, and just stuff the side torsos with heat sinks to "cheeseball" the sides and cover the engine? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts, guys.

The Nightstar is a beast no matter the variant! I tend to prefer the 9J with the Gauss Rifles, but the extra speed on this one is really nice!

Holy crap! I didn't expect it to perform so well! This is a great mech! I loved the default config with the dual Gauss Rifles and Medium PLasers and the PPCs... This seems like an excellent variant to keep the enemy guessing

It may be a Star League/FedSuns design but I actually get Free World vibes from it (over-engined fast assaults like the Cerberus, Albatross or Grand Titan). I do love this version because I'm a huge fan of LB-X guns, and this thing can chew you up with slugs and the ppc, then sandblast you with the Clusters and medium lasers.

The Nightstar is my mercenary company’s command mech

Considering how common 4/6 Assault Mechs, like the Victor, Zeus, Battlemaster, and Banshee 5S, are in the FedCom inventory it makes sense that they would be willing to trade a little bit of firepower for the extra speed to allow a Mech like the Nightstar to keep up with the rest of the AFFC's 4/6 Assaults. Also, The 9FC like the Banshee 5S show that Inner Sphere XL engines are best used to increase the speed of an already well-armed and armored Mech. Most Mechs however use IS XL engines to add more firepower, without increasing survivability, which just means they get quickly focused down and don't get to use all that added firepower.

Fear the strong hand!

Great analysis :-) a great assault if you can afford one always deadly :-)

Love the nightstar!

It's amazing how that small speed bump really adds true utility to the weapon profile. That combo combined with armor coverage has me SOLD. Those 3/5 assaults are always anxiety on legs with so much worry about ever getting their guns into play.

I had thought that the standard version had dual gauss rifles and 2 large lasers

Great vid as awlays. I'm really glad that you analysed this variant....i think its often overlooked due the the "Dual Gauss Effect".
I find this one a lot more interesting for the cost....theres PLENTY of mechs from this era onwards with dual Gauss, this one has some unique niches.

Nightstar

Ill take a dozen

Love the breakdown, but there's one tiny note of contention: The 9FC is a 5/8/0. The speed you showed in the report is for the 9J which has a 54 km/h speed compared to the 9FC's 64 km/h with the up-sized engine, going from a 285 rating to a 380.

Good mech weapons hard points are odd, definitely can tell it an early design. I'd like to think Gen Kerenski took a few on the exodus that later inspired some clan omni mechs.

Great job again. Tabletop it is a bad ass Mech. You try to sell it with cool lore but not buying. As both a GM and just player I see I and think Min/Max munch.

I wached the video playing with my 30+ year old nightstar model I painted as a teenager.

IS ER PPCs have no minimum

Finally can get Catalysts new models here in Australia , got this mech as a side effect of having to have a Cataphract for my Capellan heart . Took this in a game as an afterthought vs Clanners mainly to chew up BV and was amazed by its ability to trade with a Dire Wolf somehow and then finish it with a heap a criticals from shotgunning with the LB Xs

Hmmm not quite sure, but I think the ER PPC has no minimum range. Thanks for the vid. Favorite chassis with the Marauder.

Nightstar?! Hmm…need!

Great work DFA - I have loved the Nightstar sculpt, my preference has always been the 9J, but good to know that there are other good options.

I've mostly dismissed this variant as "the one that isn't a dual gauss monster", but it seems it's actually a lot better than I was thinking.

The Nightstar, lookswise, is kind of a mix between my two favorite 'mechs, the Marauder and the Ebon Jaguar. And the new sculpt actually looks as badass as its backstory.

The original NSR-9J is a better mech. Dual gauss rifles in the arms and no explosive ammo.

This is my favorite mech of all time. I personally like the gauss verson. I'm so happy I found you guys. Getting me back into the hobby cheers

Back in the day, before computer programs crunched the numbers.
The odd tonnage mechs (25-95), always felt to have the edge when home made variants went at it.
The design math simply worked better.

I think tex put it best, "the vengeful ghost of star league"

I generally have no more then maximum 6 points of armor on all 3 rear torso slots as the only expected enemy that would fire on mech would be a light or medium scout mech at a distance of around 5-7(150-210 m) hexes away that's wielding no more then a couple medium lasers at best but usually just 1 and a projected green to regular experienced pilot with average or worst gunnery skill and. I'll take the chance they aren't rolling a 9 or better just to deal that 5 damage points or into the torsos at all..... But if said pilot is of veteran or elite status and penetration into the soft rear arc occurs.....its going be 1 less pilot of veteran/elite status to worry about when a torso twist from 1 or more mechs upon following turn has several large weapons unloading on them which would remove any further issues of that nature for the moment....

I loved playing this Mech in MWO and MW5. I just ordered this model from Amazon for my table top mercenary company.

Check out teraflame’s MW5 Nightstar in his “Dive Into the Firework” video. That thing is a monster.

Happy to see my favorite mech getting some attention!

The nightstar the SLDF's vengeful headhunter

Do the Cattlemaster!

Awesome mech but I haaaaaate the goofy little hands it has

NSR-9J is the best Inner Sphere Assault ever designed... it's ridiculous

'If the Marauder was the tip of the Star Leagues sword, then the Nightstar was the Star Leagues angry fist!'

One of my favorite inner sphere mechs for sure.

My favorite mech of all time is the Warhawk I was reading a story on it and the character was Jeremiah Rose and when he was facing a Big Mac he shot four ppc's aimed at the cockpit Chuck the first guy out in the alpha strike from men I was sold out on this neck and I would tell somebody when you absolutely positively got to take out your adversary with one alpha strike the war hawk is your neck and what I would do with that Mac is I would remove the lrms and replace them with heat sinks is it has an excellent targeting computer at 4 ppc's