Slightly Early Mech of the Week - Eyrie.

[Weirdo]

Here's a question: How on earth do you pronounce this mech's name? Is it "ee-ree", "eye-ree", other?

[marauder648]

I pronounce it ee-ree, I could see an argument for Air-ee too.

[Rince Wind]

According to this site it is ee-rie.

[Ruger]

Here's a question: How on earth do you pronounce this mech's name? Is it "ee-ree", "eye-ree", other?

Here’s another question: why is this named after a bird’s nest rather than a bird?

I myself mostly pronounce it as ear-ree, but after noting the above, that may have to change.

Ruger

[Natasha Kerensky]

Here’s another question: why is this named after a bird’s nest rather than a bird?

I had a similar thought.  The nesting site name would imply that the Eyrie is a training mech, but it’s a strange design for a trainer.

The JF sourcebook had “Eyrie” sibko or training clusters like the Jade Eyrie Cluster and Peregrine Eyrie Clusters.  Later there’s a Jade Falcon Eyrie Cluster.

But there’s also “Eyrie” stars, which as defined as mixed-weight units, not as training units.

Thus the term “Eyrie” does not seem to be limited to training functions (but it probably should be).

[Empyrus]

While i'm inclined to think it is just a Falcon brainfart, them really liking anything related to falcons and hawks, could the Eyrie be seen as some kind of building block unit in organizations and tactics?
Like Eyries pinning down or harassing targets before other units come and destroy them.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Isn't that what they did with the Fire Falcon and Black Lanner?

[Weirdo]

I could see a similar team with the Gyrfalcon. Gyrfalcon pins them down from range, giving the Eyrie cover to get close and rip things apart.

Replace Gyrfalcon with Shrike and/or replace Eyrie with Jade Hawk, depending on situation and taste.

[Scotty]

I could see a similar team with the Gyrfalcon. Gyrfalcon pins them down from range, giving the Eyrie cover to get close and rip things apart.

Replace Gyrfalcon with Shrike and/or replace Eyrie with Jade Hawk, depending on situation and taste.

All four anchored with a more traditional beatstick (Hel Prime or Grand Summoner B fit the bill for the timeframe) makes a wickedly dangerous Star that can and will ****** up any target at any range.

[wantec]

Are there any canon Bear (or Wolf) mechs with claws yet?

Yes, though it wasn't designed by the Wolves, the Violator is listed in the MUL as used by the Wolves and has a Wolf notable pilot.

I don't think the Eyrie is a zell 'Mech. That is, if you're engaging Eyries, you can be sure their companions are shooting at you as well.
So the Eyrie's lack of range may not be an issue since it can approach targets quickly while friendlies cover that approach.

Or since the Dark Age has greater emphasis on combined arms, even among the Clans (partially by necessity), and Clan conventional vehicles have never really taken part in zell, the Eyrie maybe supported by those, such as the Falcons' Gurzil.

I agree on this. i think the Eyrie is the annoying target jumping around at medium range annoying you with standard ATM rounds and ERMLs while something bigger & better armed is firing from range. Once enough holes are opened up it bounces in for the kill.

I could see a similar team with the Gyrfalcon. Gyrfalcon pins them down from range, giving the Eyrie cover to get close and rip things apart.

Replace Gyrfalcon with Shrike and/or replace Eyrie with Jade Hawk, depending on situation and taste.

Just like this. Except I would split my pairs as Shrike-Eyrie and Gyrfalcon-Jade Hawk. Most units set up to take on an assault 'Mech can't handle a jumpy light one so well. And the other pair is more durable than a Gyrfalcon-Eyrie pairing.

[Empyrus]

Yes, though it wasn't designed by the Wolves, the Violator is listed in the MUL as used by the Wolves and has a Wolf notable pilot.

What, that thing has a claw?
I never noticed, i always got hung up on it looking ugly and having that ****** mining drill.
The MRM-10s aren't helping any...

[Natasha Kerensky]

I could see a similar team with the Gyrfalcon. Gyrfalcon pins them down from range, giving the Eyrie cover to get close and rip things apart.

I wish the roles were reversed.  They have nearly the same mobility (and exact same jump).  But lights are more vulnerable than mediums in melee.  I’d rather put the mid- to short-range loadout and talons on the Gyrfalcon and put the long-range loadout on the Eyrie.

But then the Eyrie would look like a Fire Falcon B, so maybe not.

Yes, though it wasn't designed by the Wolves, the Violator is listed in the MUL as used by the Wolves and has a Wolf notable pilot.

Thanks much.  Gives me a fluff excuse to put claws on my homegrown Wolf Omni configurations.

[Scotty]

The Gyrfalcon's combination of range, speed, and reflective armor make it a harrasser par excellence.  I wouldn't want to give up any piece of that for close range weapons, higher tonnage for melee or not.

[Weirdo]

But lights are more vulnerable than mediums in melee.

I wonder if that's the point. Clan society has undergone some radical shifts lately, but they're still a society that emphasizes personal glory as a career goal. Taking a light mech into melee range with a larger opponent, dealing heavy damage, and living to drunkedly brag about it later certainly seems like a good way to show you've got the kind of chutzpah superiors look for when handing out Bloodname nominations.

[Colt Ward]

The Gyrfalcon's combination of range, speed, and reflective armor make it a harrasser par excellence.  I wouldn't want to give up any piece of that for close range weapons, higher tonnage for melee or not.

Yeah, to be honest if I was a Crusader Wolf with any standing I would have challenged someone who had a Gyrfalcon 1 or even 2 if I was not in a unit I would have a Omni.  Besides, I do not think they have anything built Jihad or later that matches up to the Gyrfalcon until the Stormcrow III.

How does the Eyrie compare to a mech it was going to face frequently- especially when Mad Mal pushed her offensives, the Arctic Wolf II?

[Scotty]

I'd feel pretty confident.  Same speeds means that once the fight closes it stays that way, but the Eyrie actually has damn near the same armor and superior physical ability, with more of more accurate weapons.

Let's also not forget the massive boon Talons are against vehicles; they're helpless at range zero.

[Wrangler]

Are there any canon Bear (or Wolf) mechs with claws yet?

Ghost Bears don't use claws...but they use Retractable Blades.  Mainly found on the Karhu Heavy OmniMech's Prime and C Configurations.

[Colt Ward]

Ghost Bears don't use claws...but they use Retractable Blades.  Mainly found on the Karhu Heavy OmniMech's Prime and C Configurations.

Which are more apt than the talons.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Ghost Bears don't use claws...but they use Retractable Blades.  Mainly found on the Karhu Heavy OmniMech's Prime and C Configurations.

They also use axes.

[Natasha Kerensky]

The Gyrfalcon's combination of range, speed, and reflective armor make it a harrasser par excellence.

No doubt.  But I think we can get all that, minus the LB 2-Xs, on the Eyrie.  I’d trade the LB 2-Xs for a medium melee mech that can take more of a beating.

(Of course, they’d both be better as mediums, but that’s besides the point.)

Ghost Bears don't use claws...but they use Retractable Blades.  Mainly found on the Karhu Heavy OmniMech's Prime and C Configurations.

Yeah, but those are still a step or so removed from actual claws.  It’s something, but I’ve long waited for clear, canon precedent for claws on Bear and Wolf mechs.  (Or Nova Cats and their descendants, for that matter.)  Looks like we sorta have it for the Wolves via the Violator.

They also use axes.

The Rasalhagian Bears do, but less so the Clanner Bears (if at all).

It’s ironic because the emphasis on personal trials among the Clans would really seem to favor a close-range, melee-heavy style of combat.  We’re starting to get some of that with the Eyrie, Karhu, Skinwalker, etc.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

The Rasalhagian Bears do, but less so the Clanner Bears (if at all).

By the Dark Age, there isn't much of a difference.

[Natasha Kerensky]

By the Dark Age, there isn't much of a difference.

The Rasalhagian unit names (Tyr, Gunzburg, Drakon, Hussars, Freeman, Kavalleri) and blood names (Magnusson, Stole, Wallan, Oygard, Larsdottr, Svan, etc.) seem to be concentrated in Rasalhague, Tundra, Taiga, and Polar Galaxies in FM3145.  FWIW...

[wantec]

What, that thing has a claw?
I never noticed, i always got hung up on it looking ugly and having that ****** mining drill.
The MRM-10s aren't helping any...

I was really hoping it'd be decent, considering the MWDA wasn't bad. And the pilot card for that figure specifically mentioned MRMs. My own head canon is she used a Lobo at some point, got it shot out from under her and this was the closest replacement available. I would love a Clan version with ATMs and maybe lasers or another claw for the drill, but that's getting off-topic.


Back to the Eyrie, the talons bump the damage from a DFA up from 11 to 17, which means 4 rolls on the punch table, a 2/3rds chance for a head hit.

[Wrangler]

I think Eyrie is bit odd ball. I think it's under armed for frontline machine.
Scout Mech, i can see it being a contender for that role. 

I've not really had a lot experiences with the Talons, but i'm glad CGL / FanPro beefed it's ability to inflict damage.   

However, i could certainly see that it may not been a feather-weight when it was used in the MWDA Game system.  I thought they were armless (they look like it) bits, or a baby ‎form King Ghidorah monster (minus its two other heads).

[Colt Ward]

The talons I think also make sense for the combined arms environment of the 3100s.  With the damage to vehicles by being in the same hex as well as its micros for infantry and ATMs to go after another tank it can disrupt a enemy armor or mechanized formation . . . and it makes sense in Clan logic to task a light to it- why waste a heavier machine on the dezgra vehicles?  While the Falcons may be using vehicles, and to be fair (gag, not something I am used to saying with her name) Malvina has not shown the anti-vehicle bias that you can suppose was exhibited by earlier Falcon leadership who developed the design.  Its not like they became Horses after all.