My Life In Fandom: Tex Talks The Rifleman

Those mad lads at the Black Pants Legion finally dropped their next BattleTech video, and it's about the Rifleman.

As with the previous video about the Mackie, this is a long and lore-filled video that takes a while to get to actually profiling the subject, but you won't care because Tex's smooth delivery coupled with their use of art assets will have your attention. There's some overlap with the previous video, acknowledged as such, in the historical recap that led to the Rifleman's development but it's needed to put said development into context.

(TLDR: People wants more and different 'Mechs. This lead to rapid role specialization, which means rapid design variation, and the Rifleman took up the anti-air/fire support role and design flaws ensure that it runs hot when going all guns blazing.)

It's unfortunate that the rules don't back up all this lore without using options that most players don't even recall to exist. The rules make the Rifleman out to be a terrible 'Mech in the default 3025 setting, and other eras don't let up on this much (aside from the Clan-specific IIC model, which still is flawed). That Tex and the gang sell this 'Mech is testament to their ability to sell this game. (Cut them a check, Catalyst Game Labs.)

And yes, they will be back with one of my favorites: The Marauder.