Battletech: Recognition Guide: Ilclan Volume 13
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RECOGNITION GUIDE: ILCLAN VOLUME 13 STAR SUCCESSION CLAN LEAGUE WARS INVASION CIVIL WAR JIHAD DARK AGE ILCLAN SampleCATALYST GAME LABS file INTRODUCTION 3 RECOGNITION GUIDE: ILCLAN VOL. 13 SAFACTOR, Words which once seemed impossible now seem inevitable: the ilClan is nigh. The turbulence of the last two decades has brought several of our fellow Clans to Terra’s doorstep, to say nothing of the Inner Sphere powers which gaze upon humanity’s birthplace with hungry eyes. But we know our people, we know their aggression. One of them will move to take Terra first and claim the mantle of ilClan, however briefly. If they intend to hold it, however, they will need new hardware—and, as ever, we stand ready to deliver. For a price. Contained within these volumes is that hardware. It is an intriguing combination of all-new BattleMech designs and retrofits of existing Inner Sphere and Clan designs with weapons and equipment suitable for modern combat. All are in our inventories or otherwise obtainable, and I have instructed all Merchant Caste personnel under my command above the rank of Point Merchant to familiarize themselves with the contents of these reports and be ready to negotiate terms for any merchandise herein. I hope you will assist me, “old friend,” with their distribution across all Khanates. The wheel of power is poised to spin once more, but we must be the axle on which it revolves. Who winds up atop that wheel, and who is crushed beneath it, matters little as long as we profit from each turn. —Merchant Colonel Reece, aboard CSF Atlantean, Skate Khanate, 14 November 3150 Welcome to Recognition Guide: ilClan, a supplement offering players exciting new ’Mech variants rooted in the closing days of the Dark Age era and the transition to the ilClan era. Inside, you’ll discover a mix of all-new ’Mechs only recently seen on battlefields of the Inner Sphere, alongside modern refits of long-existing and much- loved units. Each volume of Recognition Guide: ilClan includes full, Technical Readout-style entries on new ’Mechs or significant rebuilds of existing designs; a selection of brief write- ups on existing variants; notable pilots for each ’Mech, and record sheets for immediate game use. Special attention has been given to ’Mechs which were redesigned as part of the BattleTech: Clan Invasion Kickstarter, to ensure that these brand-new miniatures have a place in games set in the Dark Age. Many of these units have torn apart battlefields of the Inner Sphere for hundreds of years. With these guides, they will continue to do so for hundreds more. CREDITS FIND US ONLINE Project Development: Johannes Heidler Record Sheets: Dave Nawton, Carl Spain, Matt Wilsbacher Development Assistance: Aaron Cahall, Chris Wheeler [email protected] BattleTech Line Developer: Ray Arrastia Proofers, Core Fact Checkers, and Unit Design: Ray Arrastia, (e-mail address for any BattleTech questions) Assistant Line Developer: Aaron Cahall Étienne Charron-Willard, Matt Cross, Joshua Franklin, http://bg.battletech.com/ Writing: Étienne Charron-Willard, Joshua Perian, Luke Robertson, William Gauthier, Keith Hann, Mike Miller, Joshua Perian, (official BattleTech web pages) Eric Salzman, Lance Scarinci, Paul Sjardijn Luke Robertson, Eric Salzman, Lance Scarinci, Matt Wilsbacher http://www.CatalystGameLabs.com BattleTech Line Editor: Aaron Cahall (Catalyst web pages) Editing: Geoff ‘Doc’ Swift Additional Fact Checkers: Brent Evans, Stephan Frabartolo http://www.store.catalystgamelabs.com (online ordering) Production Staff Special Thanks: To the BatteTech developers and production staff Art Director: Anthony Scroggins —to Aaron, whose planning and insight kept me on track; to Published by Catalyst Game Labs, Assistant Art Director: Ray Arrastia Anthony, who was so gracious in accommodating this project an imprint of InMediaRes Productions, LLC. Cover Design and Layout: David A. Kerber wherever possible; to Dak, the unsung hero who does so very 7108 S. Pheasant Ridge Dr. • Spokane, WA 99224 Illustrations: Alan Blackwell, Matt Plog, Anthony Scroggins much more than “Layout;” and to Ray, again, for being there at every step of the way. 35TR113 Under License From ® ©2021 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Recognition Guide: IlClan, BattleTech, ’Mech, BattleMech, MechWarrior and Topps logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Copyright Owner, nor be Sampleotherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published. Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game Labs logo are trademarksfile of InMediaRes Productions, LLC. STINGER 4 are encouraged to gather data and run, preferably to a halt until this latest round was settled. The Regulars light ’MECH into places that a heavier, less maneuverable enemy surrendered Clovis in 3150, leaving the feud unresolved. cannot follow. In addition to pushing for reassignment to a unit with a greater chance of engaging the First Avalon, Benton BATTLE HISTORY is petitioning to have his Stinger upgraded to Clan A student of the infamous Mercer Ravannion, Tai-i standards, to give him the edge when he again faces Marge Sippers improved upon her mentor’s tactics Remaldi’s Locust. by deploying heavier Jenners alongside Stingers and The shell of a weathered Stinger stands in the Wasps. In 3042, Sippers led a raid on Kelenfold against cemetery of St. Cyril’s Last House of Worship on Amity. a Kelenfold TMM supply depot, and to test out her The faded name on the headstone beneath it reads interpretation of the “Charge of the Horde.” Inserted Worthington, but who that was is lost to time. The at night, her highly maneuverable force crossed one ’Mech is notable for weeping a substance resembling hundred kilometers of rough terrain to attack the blood from the corners of its ferroglass view port. No MechWarrior ever hoped to pilot a Stinger, Lyran base from an unexpected direction. Caught flat- Tests reveal this fluid to be a natural byproduct of the but as a contender for history’s most prolific footed, the Lyrans only managed to scramble one lance degradation of an ancient machine, but that has not BattleMech, a plurality of MechWarriors have been of defenders. Unfortunately, it was an assault lance; a stopped pilgrims from laying flowers at its feet, to pray unwillingly jammed into its cramped cockpit. An Banshee, a Striker, and two Zeuses met Sippers’s company for sons and daughters missing in action. Legend holds estimated 200,000 Stingers were built before the of light ’Mechs. Undeterred, Sippers ordered her Jenners that the Stinger first wept on 12 August 2781, the day fall of the Star League, with production continuing to encircle the Lyrans and blast their vulnerable rear the council lords officially dissolved the Star League. unabated through the Succession Wars. By the armor, while the Stingers and Wasps attacked the depot. time of Operation Revival, a mere 5,000 remained. The Stingers were particularly effective at scattering VARIANTS These numbers remind us that wars of our time are enemy personnel with their machine guns before Inexpensive and easy to build, the benchmark STG-5M schoolyard scuffles compared to the early Succession gathering up ammo crates to tote home. In moments, has remained in production since 3050, only seeing a Wars. As armies march on, the Clan Way must guard the depot went up in flames. The Stinger MechWarriors simple upgrade that swaps its weaponry and heat sinks against repeating the brutality of the past. On every then tried to aid the Jenners, initially faring well, though for modern equivalents. These STG-6M Stingers have field where BattleMechs stride, the humble Stinger two Stingers were lost to the Zeuses’ rear-firing lasers. filtered to every unit in Marik space. will be there, fulfilling its role without glory, without Sippers called for a retreat with two enemy ’Mechs still Several G-series chassis are produced across the praise, and often without coming home. standing. Though the raid achieved its objectives, the Sphere, with the most common being the Royal STG- loss of half her company earned Sippers a reprimand 3Gb, built alongside other models at Earthwerks’s CAPABILITIES and generated further derision of horde tactics. Calloway factory. Bergan’s STG-4G and STG-5G were Since its birth at the dawn of the BattleMech age, the In 3147, the world of Clovis became the birthplace early attempts to increase the Stinger’s speed and Stinger has scouted for every known military force. of a MechWarrior feud to rival the most infamous of hitting power, but their heavier weaponry encouraged Every unglamorous job goes to the Stinger, from guard the Succession Wars. Erik Sandoval-Groell’s Operation pilots to neglect their scouting roles for more direct and sentry duty, to long patrols, to helping salvage Perceval left a battalion of the First Avalon Hussars combat, resulting in unacceptable losses. crews with its fine-tuned hand actuators. Earthwerks’s stranded on planet, and in the ensuing three-year The Stinger Cs emerging from the Wolf Empire’s latest STG-6R boosts its speed to a level comparable guerrilla campaign, Chu-i Reginald Benton of the Forty- Keystone factory mirror those of the early Clans. Initially with the Ostscout, but does nothing to upgrade Fifth Benjamin Regulars clashed with Leftenant Anselm developed by the Hell’s Horses as a training unit, other its antiquated sensor array. Though adequate, the Remaldi numerous times. Benton’s Stinger, the Tangerine Clans found the Stinger to be a competent fighter, Dynatec 990 is retained more for low cost and ease Ghost, took more damage from Remaldi than from any especially useful when Trials did not necessitate wasting of manufacture than for effectiveness.