Author Topic: Mech de la Semana: El Matador  (Read 11333 times)

GreekFire

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Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« on: 04 October 2014, 07:31:33 »
Toréador, en garde! Toréador! Toréador! From TRO:3060



Many players, having seen the Matador's specs, will quickly dismiss it as a terrible 'Mech, completely useless on the clan battlefield. I wont lie, I thought the same when I first glanced at it. After all, it's a machine which has ER Mediums as its longest-ranged weapons, and when combined with a low ground speed and its mere 60 tons...well, its prospects didn't look too good. Even the name Matador, generally used interchangibly with bullfighter in English, does not inspire fear. In Spanish, however, a Matador de Toro is a Torero who performs the final highly-skilled act of killing the bull - while the word matador itself translates directly to killer. Let us look at the origins of this killer to better understand it.

First introduced in 2846, the Matador is a member of the first wave of clantech 'Mechs to enter production. Predating the OmniMech, Battle Armored infantry, or even certain staples such as the Griffin IIC, the Matador arrived in a period of transition. Clantech had just entered full production, and the grand majority of Star League technology was dropping out of it. It also appeared during one of the hardest times for Clan Steel Viper. A strict and purposeless Warrior caste caused its lower castes to grow agitated, continuously rebelling and forcing the clan to dedicate more troops towards putting them down. A standard engine, internal structure and armor suggest that Clan Steel Viper was having issues producing higher-tech components at the time as well.

- - -

The Matador features an incredibly wide weapons array. Two ER Medium Lasers and three Medium Pulse Lasers offer the greatest punch, with a Streak SRM-6 and a Streak SRM-4 rack offering back-up firepower. Two Small Pulse Lasers and four Machine Guns complete the package and give the Matador the ability to absolutely demolish infantry formations. Twelve double heat sinks encourage a selective and controlled use of firepower. The lot is propelled by a rather lackluster 4/6/4 movement profile, although having 95.5% of its theoretical maximum armor protecting the standard engine certainly makes closing with the enemy possible. This armor, laid out 30/9, 21/6, 16, 26 (CT, side torsos, arms, legs) could be better optimized, but offers a sturdy shell all the same.

As I touched upon before, this low speed and short-ranged firepower is difficult to use in modern Clan engagements. In 2846, though, this would have been different. Star League designs would have been more common due to the very low number of Clan machines available, with 'Mechs such as the Black Knight, Flashman, Champion and Guillotine filling out second-line (and perhaps certain front-line) formations. The three ER Mediums Lasers share the same range and nearly the same punch as an IS Large Laser, giving the Matador an intimidating presence against these 'Mechs while the remainder of its firepower would easily outrange and outgun most Star League-era back-up weaponry. The expansive anti-infantry weaponry would allow it to deal with the infantry Trinaries standard to many Clusters without a second thought (along with those rebellious Steel Viper civilians), and the large pulse array would tear apart lighter machines such as the Mongoose, Firefly C, Locust IIC, etc. No Clantech Heavy BattleMechs were yet able to outrun the Matador, making it in fact the most nimble Clantech Heavy built up to its 2846 introduction date.

This would come to change come the appearance of the OmniMech and the modern era. Heavies became quicker and longer ranged, relegating the Matador to second-line formations where it could take and hold a defensive posture. Its weaponry would thankfully still be effective even once Battle Armor appeared, but eventually a refit was deemed necessary. Appearing to come from the Jade Falcons, the Matador 2 would replace the ER Mediums with Heavy Mediums, drop the anti-infantry array for three AP Gauss Rifles, and replace the dual Streak racks with an ATM-9. A targeting computer increases the direct weaponry's accuracy, while 3 additional double heat sinks make this Matador a much cooler beast. The biggest sacrifice here is the loss of the two Small Pulse Lasers, meaning that this 'Mech no longer has horns. Terrible.

- - -

Using this 'Mech depends on the era. It can be used as a decent front-line machine for the few years it has before Omnis appear, but should probably be used more defensively later on unless you're expecting heavy conventional infantry opposition. The refit reduces ranged firepower, making it even less of a threat at a distance, but has one heck of a punch under range 9. Urban or very hilly regions look like the only place that might be a home for the Matador 2.

How to kill one? Outrange it. Aiming for one torso or another doesn't really do much good, considering how spread out its weaponry is, although hitting the Left Torso completely removes the ranged laser array and blasting through the right removes all of the ammo-fed weaponry. The Right Torso is also a good place to aim on the Matador, knocking out the AP Gausses and ATM in one go.


As always, you can find more information on the MUL: http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/2098/matador-standard
And some nice painted up models on camospecs: http://camospecs.com/MiniList.asp?Action=Detail&ID=59
« Last Edit: 05 October 2014, 11:33:20 by GreekFire »
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #1 on: 04 October 2014, 15:12:55 »
Good point about mech de la semana: El Matador. Well translated! O0

  I have never seen a Matador on the table, even in Spain. Despite the name, the looks of the miniature are terrible, not just terrible... I'm talking about Dragon Fire-terrible looks.  #P #P #P

 The stats are mediocre at best... it is slow and short ranged. A cavalry unit or an average clan mech will eat it for breakfast. It is a good mech against IS units thanks to the better weapons. Honestly, the ER Mediums and Medium Pulse Lasers can deal almost the same damage as an IS large laser and it has 5 of them. There are several flaws, like the dual SSRM racks and the MGs, that makes it more interesting. However, it is not better than the Hoplite C and the Ursus and it is more expensive in BV terms. This is a good reason to skip this mech.

  The Matador 2 is also a weird one, with heavy mediums (not the most loved weapon) and an ATM9... use an Ursus instead and you will have a better unit.
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #2 on: 04 October 2014, 15:20:56 »
  I have never seen a Matador on the table, even in Spain. Despite the name, the looks of the miniature are terrible, not just terrible... I'm talking about Dragon Fire-terrible looks.  #P #P #P

Completely true. I parted out my Matador years ago. Heck, even my Enfield is still intact, albeit unpainted. This is a dud mini.
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #3 on: 04 October 2014, 19:31:09 »
Come on, you could have mentioned it's tonnage.   ... somewhere.
That aside, never hear of this mech before.
At least a think so.
It looks kinda underwhelming.
Like something that probably would  have gained by being 5 tons ligher. Unoptimized, unfit for a modern battlefield, but I guess in it's day it was a pragmatic design that did it's job well.
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #4 on: 04 October 2014, 19:36:01 »
Its a great mech . . . as a bodyguard for fire support units, in forest/canyon/swamps, or in the urban setting.  Its a team player mech that does not fit in the modern Clan doctrine.

Only time I really had one work was on a swamp map . . . bouncing everywhere and using the MPLs to pound on things.

Never liked the looks much, slab of walking metal the horns kind of blah for me . . .
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #5 on: 04 October 2014, 19:59:13 »
Me dice el Matador, me están buscando.
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #6 on: 04 October 2014, 21:17:11 »
I've used this mech on a couple of occasions..... it is one of the better clan designs for urban fighting. I usually group it with a pair of Koshi's and use them to hunt urban units. It has the armor to take hits from most urban vehicles, like the Typhoon, is faster than an Urbanmech, and if you get to jump in on someone, at close range, you CAN seriously ruin their day.

Thing is, it's a niche role mech...... but having 5 pulse lasers, and a jump of 4 can really put the hurt on, if you get a chance to jump in behind someone. Just remember, you are not going to duel with any omni, and do well...... even light omnis will probably out range you...... but as a unit watching for enemy Commando lances, or other light IS units........ this is a decent bodyguard unit.

I do have to agree, though, the figurine was butt ugly.

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #7 on: 05 October 2014, 01:23:57 »
A great review of a certinally....different mech in the Clan inventory, never liked the look of it, its like a walking block of flats from the 60s and by todays standards its totally unsuited to clan warfare but your review makes this quirky machine make a LOT of sense :) Bravo!
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #8 on: 05 October 2014, 06:52:30 »
This is on of those mechs that's better in a game than it is on paper.  Yeah if you charge through open terrain with one you're going to die fruitlessly.   But in the right places with the right teammates it's a very good mech.

Want to spice up your Jihad or later mercs?   Give them one of these and say they got it from someone else that didn't want it for a sweet deal.  Then call your local Diamond Shark and drop 2 MPL's for a clan ERLL.  Now you have an effective and durable clan brick.


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GreekFire

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #9 on: 05 October 2014, 11:32:40 »
Come on, you could have mentioned it's tonnage.   ... somewhere.

Woops. Edited.  O0
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #10 on: 05 October 2014, 14:52:10 »
the Matador suffers design-wise, largely from being to simply done. it's a dirt-stupid looking slab of armor and guns. this isn't entirely bad, mind you (i'm sure plenty of captured worlds had riots that promptly stopped at the sight of this thing lumbering into view) but it's incredibly unimpressive.

it's a flat, bare torso with flat, bare legs and a flat, nearly non-existent cockpit area. the guns it has sit awkwardly at strange places on the 'mech like they were added late into the design of the thing and the arms look like their armor was added long after the structure had been built and hardpoints had been forgotten. apparently the clan that builds (built) it was struggling when they designed this, and i can believe it. from the looks of the thing they didn't have enough engineers on hand to meet deadlines.

(all of these problems are exacerbated considerably by the fact the model suffers from both a very unfortunate leg sculpt and several of the major details it has being poorly rendered, like the missile racks being cubed and the hands being too sunken into oversized arms. it's far from being the worst sculpt, and it's reparable if you put in the work but you're still left with a somewhat bland 'mech design at the end of it. sadly, even the sculptor couldn't get themselves to care about the 'mech.)
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #11 on: 05 October 2014, 15:27:41 »
As  long time Fire Mandrill player I have 2 minis of this odd heavy mech I got in trades. I have only used them once, I teamed 2 Matadors, 2 Mandrills and a Predator in a ad hoc star. I lost the game to an ELH player. The star of the game was the Predator, while the Matadors gave a good account for themselves as escorts for the Mandrills. They were good solid IS mech killers.

I don't think I would ever take them against another clanner. They just don't have the reach.

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #12 on: 05 October 2014, 15:30:21 »
You know...after staring at the pic for awhile...it really reminds of the Awesome. Especially in the torso area (minus the "horns" of course). Anyone else see it like that too?

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #13 on: 18 October 2014, 19:57:22 »
I originally didn't think much of it the El Matador.  Its was and isn't pretty 'Mech and technically rare for purposes of playing in the Inner Sphere.  On paper it's nice machine, but not very long reaching, but it's suppose to be street fighter.  I do wonder how often this 'Mech was used on normal game?  Aren't regular Infantry Trinary uncommon in Clan service or even used in Trials?  I think the Reaving is only modern era moment that would see infantry fielded against Clan uses when Rules of order broken down.
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GreekFire

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #14 on: 18 October 2014, 20:14:22 »
I originally didn't think much of it the El Matador.  Its was and isn't pretty 'Mech and technically rare for purposes of playing in the Inner Sphere.  On paper it's nice machine, but not very long reaching, but it's suppose to be street fighter.  I do wonder how often this 'Mech was used on normal game?  Aren't regular Infantry Trinary uncommon in Clan service or even used in Trials?  I think the Reaving is only modern era moment that would see infantry fielded against Clan uses when Rules of order broken down.

Regular infantry Trinaries are rare in the current eras. However, I do believe that they would have been much more common before the appearance of Battle Armor, back in the early days of the Clan. And that's really the only period when the Matador would do well, let alone excel. It might occasionally find some purpose in being a bodyguard or an urban brawler, but it is most definitely no longer a frontline 'mech.

And I'm not sure how many people will agree with me on this, but I kind of like the way the Matador looks. It gives off the functional, straight to the point, no funny business vibe that suits the Steel Vipers well. Well, except for those horns that remind me of Cell's tail from Dragonball Z. But yeah, the mini is horrific.
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #15 on: 22 October 2014, 06:49:18 »
Regular infantry Trinaries are rare in the current eras. However, I do believe that they would have been much more common before the appearance of Battle Armor, back in the early days of the Clan. And that's really the only period when the Matador would do well, let alone excel. It might occasionally find some purpose in being a bodyguard or an urban brawler, but it is most definitely no longer a frontline 'mech.

And I'm not sure how many people will agree with me on this, but I kind of like the way the Matador looks. It gives off the functional, straight to the point, no funny business vibe that suits the Steel Vipers well. Well, except for those horns that remind me of Cell's tail from Dragonball Z. But yeah, the mini is horrific.

I think it would make a good match with the Corvis for supporting vehicles and infantry-but the Corvis is also generally regarded as being obsolete. As for its appearance, looks like a precursor to the Gargoyle and Executioner.

cheers,

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #16 on: 22 October 2014, 07:36:02 »
This is one that is deceptive as on paper it's meh, but in play it works pretty well, especially under BV1 rules IIRC.  It has enough survivability to tie up larger 'mechs in duels and as long as you aren't play rolling maps, you can generally advance on someone to bring your weapons to bear.  I got laughed at in a team game in MegaMek once (we each had one 'mech and a BV cap... IIRC I had a 3/4 or 3/3 to most everyone else's 4/4 or 4/5.)  Long story short, as a team player, I had multiple opponents cursing the thing and teammates laughing.  It just soaked up so much damage and dished out enough to surprise people.

Is it a first choice?  No.  But if I was at an event and got dealt one, I wouldn't be sad!

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #17 on: 22 October 2014, 16:51:17 »
No.  But if I was at an event and got dealt one, I wouldn't be sad!

Until I looked at the mini, at least ... ;)
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #18 on: 22 October 2014, 17:32:40 »
Not sure I would get a mini . . . just stack three regular lego 2 dot bricks on top of each other and there is your mini.
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #19 on: 22 October 2014, 21:14:07 »
I like the miniature actually... a lot of potential for murals and such  :D

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #20 on: 22 October 2014, 21:48:57 »
IIRC, the original TR:3055 had the first mention of this 'Mech.  It was fluffed as a duelling 'Mech, wasn't it?  A bit slow for that IMO, especially when the now-defunct Steel Vipers also fielded highly mobile, profligate 'Mechs like the Vapor Eagle/Goshawk and Black Python/Viper.  The lack of jump jets also hurts its deployment as a city fighter, where its mostly short-range armament would otherwise be formidable.

cheers,

Gabe
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #21 on: 22 October 2014, 22:03:07 »
The Matador jumps . . . ?
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #22 on: 22 October 2014, 22:04:22 »
IIRC, the original TR:3055 had the first mention of this 'Mech.  It was fluffed as a duelling 'Mech, wasn't it?  A bit slow for that IMO, especially when the now-defunct Steel Vipers also fielded highly mobile, profligate 'Mechs like the Vapor Eagle/Goshawk and Black Python/Viper.  The lack of jump jets also hurts its deployment as a city fighter, where its mostly short-range armament would otherwise be formidable.

cheers,

Gabe

Apparently, that's an artifact of a draft edition.  The P-Hawk IIC was ORIGINALLY going to be called "The Matador", and have nothing to do with the P-Hawk.  Well, they changed it sometime during printing, without changing that little bit of fluff, so when TRO 3060 came out, FASA was like, "Oh Crap!  We never produced stats for this Mech for this Clan that is ACTUALLY IN THE INNER SPHERE AT THIS MOMENT CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP!"
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #23 on: 22 October 2014, 22:15:28 »
IIRC, the original TR:3055 had the first mention of this 'Mech.  It was fluffed as a duelling 'Mech, wasn't it?  A bit slow for that IMO, especially when the now-defunct Steel Vipers also fielded highly mobile, profligate 'Mechs like the Vapor Eagle/Goshawk and Black Python/Viper.  The lack of jump jets also hurts its deployment as a city fighter, where its mostly short-range armament would otherwise be formidable.

cheers,

Gabe

Yeah, the Matador is 4/6/4...

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #24 on: 23 October 2014, 08:20:32 »
Imagine a 'Mech that can run 10 hexes, can jump, has 3 MPLs, 2 ERMLs, and two Streak SRMs launchers. How's that sound? What if you add in a SFE? By swapping the SPLs, MGs, & MG ammo for MASC and a Supercharger, you can have all this.

The only bad part about a Matador is it's speed, and modern (or even early) Clan tech can fix this. Even with just MASC, you end up with a Tundra Wolf's ancestor. And that's even more true when you look at the Jade Falcon variant. All it needs is a little speed boost.

And for one last scarier idea, imagine the swap above for the Supercharger & MASC, then swap for FF armor and add a Nova CEWS. Wouldn't that have been a nasty surprise for the Clan warriors facing the Society? Almost like the Inner Sphere troops that saw the first Executioner jump.
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #25 on: 08 November 2017, 00:26:41 »
Toréador, en garde! Toréador! Toréador! From TRO:3060



Many players, having seen the Matador's specs, will quickly dismiss it as a terrible 'Mech, completely useless on the clan battlefield. I wont lie, I thought the same when I first glanced at it. After all, it's a machine which has ER Mediums as its longest-ranged weapons, and when combined with a low ground speed and its mere 60 tons...well, its prospects didn't look too good. Even the name Matador, generally used interchangibly with bullfighter in English, does not inspire fear. In Spanish, however, a Matador de Toro is a Torero who performs the final highly-skilled act of killing the bull - while the word matador itself translates directly to killer. Let us look at the origins of this killer to better understand it.

First introduced in 2846, the Matador is a member of the first wave of clantech 'Mechs to enter production. Predating the OmniMech, Battle Armored infantry, or even certain staples such as the Griffin IIC, the Matador arrived in a period of transition. Clantech had just entered full production, and the grand majority of Star League technology was dropping out of it. It also appeared during one of the hardest times for Clan Steel Viper. A strict and purposeless Warrior caste caused its lower castes to grow agitated, continuously rebelling and forcing the clan to dedicate more troops towards putting them down. A standard engine, internal structure and armor suggest that Clan Steel Viper was having issues producing higher-tech components at the time as well.

- - -

The Matador features an incredibly wide weapons array. Two ER Medium Lasers and three Medium Pulse Lasers offer the greatest punch, with a Streak SRM-6 and a Streak SRM-4 rack offering back-up firepower. Two Small Pulse Lasers and four Machine Guns complete the package and give the Matador the ability to absolutely demolish infantry formations. Twelve double heat sinks encourage a selective and controlled use of firepower. The lot is propelled by a rather lackluster 4/6/4 movement profile, although having 95.5% of its theoretical maximum armor protecting the standard engine certainly makes closing with the enemy possible. This armor, laid out 30/9, 21/6, 16, 26 (CT, side torsos, arms, legs) could be better optimized, but offers a sturdy shell all the same.

As I touched upon before, this low speed and short-ranged firepower is difficult to use in modern Clan engagements. In 2846, though, this would have been different. Star League designs would have been more common due to the very low number of Clan machines available, with 'Mechs such as the Black Knight, Flashman, Champion and Guillotine filling out second-line (and perhaps certain front-line) formations. The three ER Mediums Lasers share the same range and nearly the same punch as an IS Large Laser, giving the Matador an intimidating presence against these 'Mechs while the remainder of its firepower would easily outrange and outgun most Star League-era back-up weaponry. The expansive anti-infantry weaponry would allow it to deal with the infantry Trinaries standard to many Clusters without a second thought (along with those rebellious Steel Viper civilians), and the large pulse array would tear apart lighter machines such as the Mongoose, Firefly C, Locust IIC, etc. No Clantech Heavy BattleMechs were yet able to outrun the Matador, making it in fact the most nimble Clantech Heavy built up to its 2846 introduction date.

This would come to change come the appearance of the OmniMech and the modern era. Heavies became quicker and longer ranged, relegating the Matador to second-line formations where it could take and hold a defensive posture. Its weaponry would thankfully still be effective even once Battle Armor appeared, but eventually a refit was deemed necessary. Appearing to come from the Jade Falcons, the Matador 2 would replace the ER Mediums with Heavy Mediums, drop the anti-infantry array for three AP Gauss Rifles, and replace the dual Streak racks with an ATM-9. A targeting computer increases the direct weaponry's accuracy, while 3 additional double heat sinks make this Matador a much cooler beast. The biggest sacrifice here is the loss of the two Small Pulse Lasers, meaning that this 'Mech no longer has horns. Terrible.

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Using this 'Mech depends on the era. It can be used as a decent front-line machine for the few years it has before Omnis appear, but should probably be used more defensively later on unless you're expecting heavy conventional infantry opposition. The refit reduces ranged firepower, making it even less of a threat at a distance, but has one heck of a punch under range 9. Urban or very hilly regions look like the only place that might be a home for the Matador 2.

How to kill one? Outrange it. Aiming for one torso or another doesn't really do much good, considering how spread out its weaponry is, although hitting the Left Torso completely removes the ranged laser array and blasting through the right removes all of the ammo-fed weaponry. The Right Torso is also a good place to aim on the Matador, knocking out the AP Gausses and ATM in one go.


As always, you can find more information on the MUL: http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/2098/matador-standard
And some nice painted up models on camospecs: http://camospecs.com/MiniList.asp?Action=Detail&ID=59


Thank you for the write up I have often wondered about this mech

Giovanni Blasini

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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #26 on: 08 November 2017, 01:02:19 »
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #27 on: 08 November 2017, 01:24:48 »
  I have never seen a Matador on the table, even in Spain. Despite the name, the looks of the miniature are terrible, not just terrible... I'm talking about Dragon Fire-terrible looks.  #P #P #P

No, the Dragon Fire looks better.  This thing appears to be a pile of Lego bricks.
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #28 on: 08 November 2017, 10:24:44 »
I kinda want to get a mini of this and paint it up as ugly concrete apartment housing, complete with graffiti on the shins.

Then I want to plonk it down on a map with a decent amount of cover, paired with an Atlas C.
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Re: Mech de la Semana: El Matador
« Reply #29 on: 08 November 2017, 10:58:58 »
I kinda want to get a mini of this and paint it up as ugly concrete apartment housing, complete with graffiti on the shins.

Then I want to plonk it down on a map with a decent amount of cover, paired with an Atlas C.

Even that won't work. The artwork shows it as a big, blocky monster, but the mini... it's small, it's poorly-detailed, and it's not even standing upright- all one can do is put it in this weird walking-while-looking-down pose. It really might be the worst in the Battletech line- and the bar is set pretty low there to begin with. There's some great ones out there (Lament, Marauder II, Vulture, etc.), but this is definitely one of the low points.
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