Mechs Catalyst Should Reprint

battletech

Apr 26

Written By Tim

Battletech’s current renaissance is in large part thanks to Catalyst’s new miniature line. One weakness of that line, is some mechs are harder to get than others. Like many fans, I’ve collected a lot of the new ForcePacks and boxed sets. But there are some mechs that only show up in one product and are quite important to the universe. This is a wish list of mechs I want Catalyst to add to a new ForcePack in the future, if it’s a new variant, all the better. Rather then just list them I’ll talk about why I like each mech and why we deserve a new printing of it.

For some context and expectations, I’m making this list based on what I want, and that isn’t based in on-the-table statistics. I want iconic mech designs, and don’t much care about how good they are in Classic of Alpha Strike. The other thing that will feature heavily here is a bias toward mechs that were used in the Succession Wars/lostech era. This is one of the most important eras of BattleTech and mechs that can be used in it represent most nostalgic designs for many fans. Additionally, as mechs rarely go out of production these mechs continue to be used in the Clan Invasion, Jihad, and through the ilClan era. Whereas a mech introduced in the ilClan era will only be used then. These combine to make me want a lot of Archers, Stingers, Warhammers, and Griffins. Even a Mad Cat or Bushwacker can be used in more eras than a Jihad or ilClan era mech.

Jenner

Along with the Panther, the Jenner is one of the iconic Draconis Combine light mechs, being used all through the Succession Wars and after. For most of its history the Jenner has been exclusive to the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS). However, due to the centuries of war more than a handful will have ended up with Lyran, Davion, or Mercenary units. As with many mechs their factories were destroyed during the Succession Wars but they went on to be reopened by Theodore Kurita in 3048. Despite almost 200 years with no new units rolling off the production line so many had been produced they remained common in the DCMS.

The Jenner also has featured heavily in BattleTech video games. As a decently gunned Succession Wars light mech it’s in rare company. Visually it is a cool, unusual mech design. All the other mechs in the ForcePack have or are getting reprints, making this pack less appealing to double up on.

For a variant to be introduced in plastic I’d like to see the JR7-C2. It’s a Jihad-era design with a trio of MML-3s which can fire LRMs or SRMs making it a flexible harasser or decent short ranged combatant. Like many of the later Jenner variants it includes a C3 link though that is less relevant to the model and not always used on the tabletop.

Vindicator

The Vindicator is a borderline inclusion on this list, but what puts it over the top is the fact it comes in the Beginner Box. At $25 with just two mechs (the other the oft-printed Griffin) it’s hard to justify getting more than one of this mech.

Don’t let that undersell the Vindicator’s importance. The Vindicator was not introduced until after the first Succession War. However, from the second succession war through the late 3050s it was the defining mech of the Capellan Confederation. Cheap to produce, it is a medium mech that can perform most roles adequately. Built in massive numbers it was the focus of the limited Capellan industrial base for most of the Succession Wars. It was also a core part of the military of the St. Ives Compact while it existed.

With the improved state of the Confederation and advancing technology if gradually fell out of favor, however the massive number produced means it remains in use in the ilClan era. It is a notable mech for seeing very little service outside of the Confederation, though some mercenary and salvage use is to be expected.

The Vindicator has few variants as it was only produced and used by one major power. I’d like to see a custom variant, in a St. Ives Compact boxed set. The VND-1R St. Ives Blue changes the PPC for a Large Laser and upgrades the LRM rack. While not too visually distinct from the VND-1R a St. Ives box would be a lot of fun and a good way to highlight the short-lived power.

Mechwarrior Online marketing image, 2013

Hunchback

The fact that this only appears in the Inner Sphere Urban Lance is near criminal. While not one of BattleTech’s first designs, this is undoubtedly one of the most well known medium mechs in existence. Used extensively throughout the Inner Sphere across the centuries, the Hunchback is a mech that should get printed again and again.

Almost as old as the Star League, the Hunchback saw extensive use by Star League era forces. As the Succession Wars started many were still in service with production continuing through the centuries. Rediscovery of lostech lead to refits and the mech continued to see heavy use across the later eras of Battletech. The clans did not neglect the mech as their Hunchback IIC refit (available in the Clan Heavy Star) continues to see use as one of the most common second-line clan mechs.

The mech was often part of heavier lances where its AC/20 and slower speed let it fight alongside heavier mechs. It also saw extensive use in urban combat where its short range was not a disadvantage.

For the variant I’d like to see there is only one choice, the HBK-4P. Dropping th AC/20 for another 6 medium lasers this mech is designed to get into short range and light things up. Anyone who has played Mechwarrior Online for long enough has run into someone running this, and it’s a classic for a reason.

The only redeeming thing for the Hunchback in Catalyst’s minis line is the Inner Sphere Urban Lance also has the Raven and Victor which have not been reprinted. So when this pack is back in stock, pick up 2.

Centurion

The Centurion like the Hunchback is a very well known medium mech. It’s not as widely used, but it is very popular mech in the fandom and fiction. It technically was reprinted in the BattleTech Essentials boxed set. But as the model has the Yen-Lo-Wang’s distinctive claw, a reprint of a mass produced variant is needed.

The mech itself was a stable of the Succession Wars, primarily for House Davion. Production was interrupted between 2845 and 3012, but despite this it remained common in the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS). Any Federated Suns unit would do well to include a Centurion or two, and it’s relatively slow speed works well with the AFFS’s focus on heavy and medium mechs. When the Federated Commonwealth was formed this became a common mech in Lyran regiments as well and many remain in service on both sides of the realm after it split.

The mech features in many Battletech video games, being an early design in Mechwarrior Online and the aforementioned Yen-Lo-Wang was the first Hero mech added to the game. The Centurion is a common and welcome sight across Battletech’s properties.

As far as variants go, I’m not sure Catalyst needs to make a switch. The CN-9A and CN-9D are pretty dominant in the mech’s history, and a number of other variants look basically the same. If I were to pick a new variant I’d go with the CN9-Ar, it’s a bit more niche as a Jihad-era design, but it trades the autocannon for paired PPCs (one heavy, one light) and is a neat design. Another option would be the CN9-D5 which upgrades the base models to have a rotary autocannon, and these always look cool on Catalyst designs.

Crab

Noun: carcinization
The convergent evolution of decapod crustaceans from forms dissimilar to true crabs into similar

The ComStar Battle Level II pack contains three unique mechs, the Crab, Crockett, and Lancelot. And I have no beef with the other two but, look at the little guy, he’s adorable. BattleTech does not have as many digitigrade mechs (backwards leg joints) as it should, and the Crab is one of my favorites, it looks unlike most mechs in both legs and torso, and the arms have strong Clamps energy. The Crockett and Lancelot can be mistaken for a lot of other mechs, not so with the Crab.

The Crab was a common mech in the Star League era but the factory was lost in 2786. While they were common in the militaries of the great houses by the end of the Succession Wars only a handful were still in service. However, it was also a very common Comstar mech and production was restarted in the 3050s meaning the mech survives and is used into the ilClan era.

There are not a lot of variants of the Crab that are visually distinct from CR-27, but if I were to pick one it’d be the CRB-45, a Word of Blake Variant with three light PPCs and an ER Large Laser giving it a ton of firepower at medium to long range.

A Stormcrow in Clan Wolf colors set against a moon backdrop — Steve Venters’ Clan Wolf Stormcrow artwork for Battletechnology magazine issue #18, 1992
Scanned by artofbattletech.tumblr.com

Stormcrow (Ryoken)

The Stormcrow is a common Clan design. One of the original 3050 mechs, it has always had a prominent place in the fandom. With only one release this design is harder to get than it should be.

The mech was popular among the Smoke Jaguars, one of the most important invading clans. While less of a main character than Clans Jade Falcon and Wolf the Jaguars are key to the clan invasion storyline. The Smoke Jaguars faced the Draconis Combine early and often in the clan invasion. The Battle of Luthien was the most significant clan defeat until Tukayyid and saw Houses Kurita and Davion put aside their ancient enmity to defeat the Jaguars and Nova Cats. The Jaguars also were the key clan in the later stage of the invasion era with their destruction in Operation BULLDOG. More recently they’re the stars of Mechwarrior 5: Clans, and while that game only has 16 player mech options, the Stormcrow is one of them. The Jaguars are undoubtedly one of the most important clans in Battletech lore, and the Stormcrow was one of their signature mechs.

Catalyst does sell a premium Stormcrow-TC version of the mech, but I want another cheap option. I’d love to see the Stormcrow D, a missile boat variant of the mech, something we have few Clan models for.

The Stormcrow is well at home in any clan force and it would be my first choice of mech for a DCMS unit to have as salvage. Likewise, the Kell Hounds and Wolf’s Dragoons probably salvaged some at the Battle of Luthien.

Mechwarrior The Battletech Role Playing Game cover showing a mech shooting a vulture — A very beat up scan of the Mechwarrior Second Edition RPG cover, 1991

Mad Dog (Vulture)

The Mad Dog is an even more iconic mech than the Stormcrow. It’s featured on quite a few pieces of cover art and has been seen across Battletech media for decades. As with all the original clan mechs, this is used across all the clans, most commonly with Ghost Bear. The Avatar, one of the first Inner Sphere omnimechs was based in part on recovered Mad Dog technology from the Battle of Luthien. It also influenced the design of the Bushwacker.

The Mad Cat Prime with twin LRM-20s is one of the clan mechs that most relies on LRMs, however the clan way of warfare precludes relying exclusively on missiles and it has 4 pulse lasers in the arms. These all add up to a ton of fire power for a 60 ton mech which has helped make it a fan favorite.

For variants, the Mad Dog B would be my first choice, it keeps a similar look to the prime introduces asymmetry with 2 ER Large Lasers in one arm and 3 Medium Pulse Lasers in the other. The torso-mounted missiles look similar but one LRM-20 has been exchanged for 2 Stream SRM-6s.

The good news is the ForcePack it comes in, Clan Heavy Striker Star has 4 other clan mechs that have seen limited reprints. However with the Hellbringer and the Ice Ferret now set to be reprinted it’s only the Mad Dog and the Viper left stranded in the pack.

Zeus

This comes in the Inner Sphere Fire Lance, I think that’s a great box to buy more than once. It has four classic designs, none of which currently have a second printing (a Stalker is coming to the Barnes & Noble exclusive 21st Centari Lancers box later this year). I think the Zeus is the most deserving of the next mechs, it is one of the most iconic Steiner designs, and that is for a house known for its use of assault mechs.

The Zeus was introduced during the first Succession War, designed to be equally at home in heavy or assault lances it saw wide adoption due to its reliability. It was produced in large numbers and was one of the most common Lyran assault mechs during the Succession Wars, it also became popular in the Wolf’s Dragoons Zeta Battalion. The short-lived Federated Commonwealth didn’t do much to change the distribution of the mech, with Davion commanders not liking the classic Lyran design. Over the years many have ended up in the hands of mercenaries that worked for the Lyrans, and many Kurita and Marik units will have salvaged one.

The variant I’d like to see would be very similar to the ZEU-6T we have now but the Zeus often has a dual cockpit refit, something very rare in mechs. With Catalyst’s increased use of modular parts having a swappable head for the mech would be very cool, much like the recent Thunderbolt in the House Davion Heavy Battle Lance.

BattleMaster

The BattleMaster is one of oldest BattleTech mechs, based on the Dougram Soltic “Bigfoot” and introduced in 1985. The mech went from unseen to reseen and is now again a core part of the Succession Wars mech canon. This is the oldest design appearing on this list and well deserves another printing outside of the expensive A Game of Armored Combat boxed set.

The design of the BattleMaster was borrowed from the aforementioned anime property and it’s a classic. It’s one of the most humanoid looking mechs and the most distinctive trait is the large bubble cockpit. The Federated Suns would often use this to install a Dual Cockpit and between this and the mech’s statue and sensor suite it is a common command mech. On the mini itself, the large curved surface is a great palette for practicing and painting a cockpit gradient.

The BattleMaster was never a mass-produced mech. Production never stopped after its introduction in 2633, however as a complicated mech to produce production numbers were low. Due to the design’s popularity and the number of worlds producing it, it saw use across the Inner Sphere. It even saw use in second line Jade Falcon units after they captured the worlds where it was manufactured. Production of the mech slowed down but never stopped and it is still in use in the ilClan era.

The variant I’d like to see the BLR-4S, this is a 3062 design from the Federated Commonwealth and it adopts a Gauss Rifle along with a range of short range lasers and missiles. This design is a nice change of pace and makes sense for use in the FedCom Civil War though the ilClan era.

SM1 Tank Destroyer

The SM1 is unusual in Catalyst’s line of minis as it’s the only 2 miniatures that appears exclusively in one of the Legendary Mechwarrior boxes (the other being the Hel aka Loki Mk II). I’m going with the SM1 over the Hel as vehicles are typically deployed in full lances, or in the case of the SM1, full lances or stars.

The SM1 has a pretty interesting place in Battletech as it is a Clan Nova Cat design, but is largely produced in the Draconis Combine after the two powers joined forces in the early 3060s. This means the SM1 is fielded in both Nova Cat second line forces, as well as the DCMS. And it’s a fun design, a fast hovertank with most of its firepower in a single Ultra Autocannon/20.

I’d love to make a lance of these and am considering buying three more Legendary Mechwarrior II boxes to make that happen. Don’t make me do this Catalyst, just re-release it.

For variant, as this has only appeared as a single model in the one box and is a vehicle, I’d be happy to see the SM1 get a direct reprint. If Catalyst did want to introduce their first vehicle variant the SM3 would be the clear choice. It mounts a Gauss Rifle rather than AC/20 changing it from a short ranged hit and run craft to a long range sniper.