Author Topic: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer  (Read 13518 times)

Cubby

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Catalyst Game Labs Announces Executive Editor, New BattleTech and Leviathans Line Developers

Lake Stevens, WA (Sept. 12, 2019) – Catalyst Game Labs announced today the appointments of a new Executive Editor and new line developers for BattleTech and Leviathans, building on the momentum of the company’s recent success with the BattleTech: Clan Invasion Kickstarter campaign.

As new BattleTech and Shadowrun fiction bursts forth, John Helfers will move into a full-time role as Catalyst’s Executive Editor, charged with continuing his reinvigoration and growth of fiction across both universes and other Catalyst properties.

“From the beginning of my career at Catalyst Game Labs, we've always been working toward the goal to rebuild both the BattleTech and Shadowrun fiction lines, both by bringing the older books back into print and creating new stories in these great worlds,” Helfers said. “I’m thrilled to be expanding my role with Catalyst to make the fiction lines what I had envisioned them to be when I first came on board, and expanding them to reach as many readers as possible.”

Ray Arrastia, previously the BattleTech Assistant Line Developer, will step into the role of BattleTech Line Developer. He takes over the position from Brent Evans, who will remain Catalyst’s Senior Art Director and continue to oversee art and design across the company’s full range of gaming products. The position of BattleTech Assistant Line Developer will remain vacant at this time.

A versatile graphic designer, production manager and game developer, Arrastia is also a co-founder of CamoSpecs, a community of elite artists whose talents have graced BattleTech miniatures since 2003.

BattleTech has been a major part of my life, and I hope to direct the line with the same love and enthusiasm that I have for the game and universe as all the past Line Developers have had,” Arrastia said. “I'm honored to take the helm and am excited for what the future holds for all of us BattleTech fans."

Finally, the upcoming relaunch of Leviathans has a new captain at the helm, with the selection of Bryn Bills as Line Developer. Bills will steer the Kickstarter campaign for Leviathans: The Great War, launching summer 2020.

“In many ways, Bryn was the unsung hero of the initial Leviathans,” said Catalyst Game Labs Managing Director Randall N. Bills. “Even at 14 and 15 he was frightfully good at tearing game designs down and figuring out the problems and potential solutions. And his enthusiasm for Leviathans always matched my own and often exceeded it, as he kept the ships afloat several times during those dark days of Free Taiwan.”

Explore Catalyst’s innovative games at store.catalystgamelabs.com. BattleTech is produced by Catalyst Game Labs under license from The Topps Company, Inc. For more information, please visit bg.BattleTech.com. Stay up to date on the return of Leviathans at www.monstersinthesky.com.


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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #2 on: 13 September 2019, 12:12:03 »
Wooo!!! Ray Arrastia! Couldn't happen to a nicer dude.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #3 on: 13 September 2019, 12:24:51 »
Great news, keep the story going and the players more.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #4 on: 13 September 2019, 12:41:14 »
Interesting to hear the news but . . .

where did that Commando art come from?  Is that a VTOL attacking it with green-tinged explosions?
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #5 on: 13 September 2019, 12:41:26 »
Quote
"...both by bringing the older books back into print and creating new stories in these great worlds,"

Yessss.

Congrats, and good luck.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #6 on: 13 September 2019, 12:50:38 »
Interesting to hear the news but . . .

where did that Commando art come from?  Is that a VTOL attacking it with green-tinged explosions?

Art will be in MechWarrior: Destiny.

I'm assuming it's a VTOL, no neurohelmet.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #7 on: 13 September 2019, 13:06:45 »
I for one welcome our new BattleTech overlord!  :thumbsup:
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #8 on: 13 September 2019, 13:50:43 »
Congrats Ray!
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #9 on: 13 September 2019, 13:53:45 »
I for one welcome our new BattleTech overlord!  :thumbsup:

And as a trusted moderator, I can identify dissidents who can be put to work in the salt mines.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #10 on: 13 September 2019, 14:27:51 »
And as a trusted moderator, I can identify dissidents who can be put to work in the salt mines.

As an admin,  I can throw disloyal moderators to the mines too.

 >:D
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #11 on: 13 September 2019, 14:51:39 »
Congratulations, Ray!

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #12 on: 13 September 2019, 15:47:22 »
And as a trusted moderator, I can identify dissidents who can be put to work in the salt mines.

are there any untrusted moderators?

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #13 on: 13 September 2019, 15:50:04 »
are there any untrusted moderators?

*raises hand?*
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #14 on: 13 September 2019, 15:53:01 »
Cubby, when are they going to start paying you for your outstanding work?  ???

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #15 on: 13 September 2019, 15:55:32 »
are there any untrusted moderators?

You're not cleared for that information.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #16 on: 13 September 2019, 16:19:15 »
You're not cleared for that information.

And its treasonous to even suggest that there could be untrusted moderators. Assume the position for processing, treacherous scum!
The solution is just ignore Paul.

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #17 on: 13 September 2019, 16:51:19 »
And its treasonous to even suggest that there could be untrusted moderators. Assume the position for processing, treacherous scum!

Please proceed to the nearest termination booth, citizens!  And on the way, enjoy a bouncy bubble beverage
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #18 on: 13 September 2019, 18:14:42 »
Congratulations Ray :)
Soooo ... where can I sign up as Assistant LD?  :D ;D :))
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #19 on: 13 September 2019, 18:17:46 »
Congratulations Ray!

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #20 on: 13 September 2019, 18:29:32 »
Cubby, when are they going to start paying you for your outstanding work?  ???

There was probably sufficient dragon piss left over from cons to pay in kind  :))

And its treasonous to even suggest that there could be untrusted moderators. Assume the position for processing, treacherous scum!

I’m already in the salt mines any processing will be a blessing

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #21 on: 14 September 2019, 00:47:09 »
where did that Commando art come from?  Is that a VTOL attacking it with green-tinged explosions?
:o
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #22 on: 14 September 2019, 00:53:05 »
Huzzah and congratulations!
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #23 on: 14 September 2019, 09:16:23 »
Congrats to Ray, John, and Bryn! Hard working fellow getting their just rewards!

Question. Changing of the guard of the Battletech line dev, will there be a change of directions on how the franchise is being developed? When Brent was the line director he had said that the direction of the game was going to focus on fiction and making more action especially in the source books. Is there going to be a change in direction from that?
« Last Edit: 14 September 2019, 22:44:18 by Wrangler »
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #24 on: 14 September 2019, 09:54:29 »
Ray’s promotion will finally remove the roadblocks to realize his dream of implementing btu fiction written to be performed as avant-garde atonal hip hop opera

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #25 on: 14 September 2019, 10:19:07 »
In Klingon.
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #26 on: 14 September 2019, 10:24:51 »
Thanks everyone.

When Brent was the line director she had said that the direction of the game was going to focus on fiction and making more action especially in the source books. Is there going to be a change in direction from that?
Not to my knowledge, and John’s promotion to full time Executive Editor should illustrate that’s not the case.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #27 on: 14 September 2019, 10:31:23 »
All hail our new overlord! :bow:

Now get back to work Ray :whip: :beatdown:

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #28 on: 14 September 2019, 11:11:34 »
Thanks everyone.
Not to my knowledge, and John’s promotion to full time Executive Editor should illustrate that’s not the case.

*ahem* Combat Manuals?  8)

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #29 on: 14 September 2019, 12:19:52 »
Oh, yes - a belated Congratulations to Ray!
Truth be told, I don't see much if anything changing here though. Brent's still the art director and with the Kickstarter I think that's one hell of a hat to wear in and of itself, and probably why he's not the LD anymore.
Meanwhile Ray has been very present on the forums already in his Assistant LD days, so from a fan/forumite perspective he was already doing a terrific fanbase communication part anyways. Not sure how promoting him from ALD to full LD will change anything behind the scenes.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #30 on: 14 September 2019, 13:01:09 »
Good news indeed!
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #31 on: 14 September 2019, 14:54:08 »


Yet again...for the 3rd time...congrats bud! May the universe thrive under your demented reign!
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #32 on: 14 September 2019, 19:39:55 »
Congrats on the job moves folks! 

This is an exciting time for Battletech.  While there's been plenty of great products the last 15 years, I'd say that this appears to be a sort of renaissance being kicked off (KS+new fiction+POD+games+etc), and I've been very excited at the new products - keep it up!  Especially the new fiction! 


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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #33 on: 14 September 2019, 21:53:57 »
So Ray, now you are BT Line Developer does that mean Sartris can now be officially nominated to be BT Assistant Line Developer JG  ;D? 

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #34 on: 14 September 2019, 22:06:06 »
congrats Ray :thumbsup:

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #35 on: 14 September 2019, 22:08:10 »
So Ray, now you are BT Line Developer does that mean Sartris can now be officially nominated to be BT Assistant Line Developer JG  ;D? 

i can think of few tasks i would be less well suited for. unless your goal was to bankrupt the entire IP

ideally you stick me in some kind of enclosure with food and water and hopefully every six months or so i come up with an idea someone else can execute

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #36 on: 14 September 2019, 22:16:27 »
How would they execute the ideas?  Firing squad?
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #37 on: 14 September 2019, 22:20:36 »
if you've seen my ideas on the fan rules forum, that's probably too kind

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #38 on: 15 September 2019, 07:40:27 »
Congratulations to Ray and everybody else at CGL. :)
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #39 on: 15 September 2019, 17:53:02 »
Cubby, when are they going to start paying you for your outstanding work?  ???

They are. We're good.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #40 on: 15 September 2019, 18:23:09 »
Awesome, congrats!  :thumbsup:

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #41 on: 16 September 2019, 00:17:12 »
Fantastic news! Congratulations to John, Ray, and Bryn. Brent can go back to staring at pretty pictures full-time now!

John obviously has lots to do with all the Kickstarter fiction that was promised as well as work that was planned before the kick-pocalypse, but how much is Ray going to be devoted to Kickstarter land? As line dev, is he now the one shepherding all the KS work forward sine it is technically a BT Kickstarter? Is there room for anything else in the next 12 months, or is the KS pretty much sucking all the air out of the proverbial room? While I would like to see IlClan get back on track, I wouldn’t at all be surprised to hear that it will be delayed even more.

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #42 on: 16 September 2019, 08:44:47 »
The KS will not all be dumped on Ray. The scope of the project and its importance to CGL as a company will continue to be a combined lift between BT-specific people (including Ray) and management.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #43 on: 16 September 2019, 13:56:28 »
I’m not contradicting Cubby, but to clarify: there are specific products we have lined up for release in the next six months or so—that includes everything in the KS—and for the next few months those will have to be my focus. This does not include ilClan.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #44 on: 16 September 2019, 16:25:44 »
Late to the party but Congrats Ray!
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #45 on: 18 September 2019, 01:24:04 »
where did that Commando art come from?  Is that a VTOL attacking it with green-tinged explosions?
:o
That's the cover of one of the German novels! Erster Kontrakt
Should we read some great news into that?
More German novel covers in the MW:Destiny preview. The plot thickens...
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #46 on: 18 September 2019, 07:11:29 »
:o
That's the cover of one of the German novels! Erster Kontrakt
Should we read some great news into that?
More German novel covers in the MW:Destiny preview. The plot thickens...

Personally, I'm of the opinion that Catalyst is using them because the US playerbase generally is unaware of the look of the German novel line, aka we've never seen the covers before, unless we deep-dive Sarna. This is also in line with their recent reuse of older art on reprinted core rulebooks (Total Warfare, TechManual, etc.).
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #47 on: 18 September 2019, 07:51:45 »
Depends on the rights to the images. Both images are from Ulisses era novels. If Ulisses' contract stipulates that Topps or CGL become owners of the cover art then you may be right. If not, the question is how CGL got the images and why they obtained the rights.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #48 on: 18 September 2019, 07:56:19 »
the question is how CGL got the images.


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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #49 on: 18 September 2019, 08:49:13 »
:o
That's the cover of one of the German novels! Erster Kontrakt
Should we read some great news into that?
More German novel covers in the MW:Destiny preview. The plot thickens...
There's nothing to read into.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that Catalyst is using them because the US playerbase generally is unaware of the look of the German novel line, aka we've never seen the covers before, unless we deep-dive Sarna. This is also in line with their recent reuse of older art on reprinted core rulebooks (Total Warfare, TechManual, etc.).
It's that simple I'm afraid.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #50 on: 18 September 2019, 08:56:56 »
Leviathans?

Leviathans!!!!


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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #51 on: 18 September 2019, 10:19:56 »
Leviathans?

Leviathans!!!!

Have a great war! :)
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #52 on: 18 September 2019, 14:58:57 »
I’m not contradicting Cubby, but to clarify: there are specific products we have lined up for release in the next six months or so—that includes everything in the KS—and for the next few months those will have to be my focus. This does not include ilClan.

Thanks for the info. I find myself at a loss for the right word to describe my sense of both excitement and disappointment all at the same time. However, I can at least say that, proportionally speaking, the excitement is a much higher percentage than the disappointment! Put another way, I believe all the KS stuff is more than capable of filling the IlClan-shaped hole in my heart  :)

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #53 on: 18 September 2019, 15:07:22 »
I’m not contradicting Cubby, but to clarify: there are specific products we have lined up for release in the next six months or so—that includes everything in the KS—and for the next few months those will have to be my focus. This does not include ilClan.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #54 on: 18 September 2019, 15:57:31 »
Well, the KS has a March 2020 delivery goal . . . not sure how that is really surprising news, especially since that still gives you 4 or 5 months to Origins/GenCon which is typically when they like to demo big books like ilClan.

Besides, I support having more fiction come out to drive the universe then just signposting sourcebooks along the way- and we are getting more fiction with the KS.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #55 on: 20 September 2019, 03:05:38 »
Have a great war! :)

Oh, I plan to.

The question is, are there any photos of the games at Gencon?

[Excuse me for posting this on the Battletech site, the Leviathans one isn't back yet.]

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #56 on: 20 September 2019, 04:31:03 »
Oh, I plan to.

The question is, are there any photos of the games at Gencon?

[Excuse me for posting this on the Battletech site, the Leviathans one isn't back yet.]

There's no forum on there yet, but.... https://monstersinthesky.com
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #57 on: 20 September 2019, 06:07:52 »
There's nothing to read into.
It's that simple I'm afraid.

Wow. Talk about shooting in the dark...
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #58 on: 20 September 2019, 07:26:20 »
There's no forum on there yet, but.... https://monstersinthesky.com

Indeed, which is where I found out that games had taken place at Gencon.

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #59 on: 20 September 2019, 09:39:00 »
We in the mod staff know that people come here to have fun and goof around, but this is the Battletech fandom, where even the wildest comments quickly spread and get accepted as the gospel truth. We know no harm was meant by this, but in the future:

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #60 on: 20 September 2019, 13:07:01 »
To be clear, since some people are not sure, iClan is in no way cancelled. So that conversation can be dropped.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #61 on: 20 September 2019, 15:36:15 »
Thanks everyone.
Not to my knowledge, and John’s promotion to full time Executive Editor should illustrate that’s not the case.

Congrats Ray!
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #62 on: 20 September 2019, 16:16:46 »
So, now that BattleTech is Ray's Place, I've got a few burning questions:

1. Do you want to kill off any factions? Would you let Helfers kill any off if he asked to?
2. Anything in particular you would like to do with the game rules, or are you generally OK with the rules/rulebooks as they stand?
3. What is your favorite color?
4. If you could convince management to green-light one more Combat Manual, which one would it be?
5. Which item that will be produced as part of the Kickstarter are you personally the most interested in.

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #63 on: 20 September 2019, 19:22:09 »
1. Do you want to kill off any factions? Would you let Helfers kill any off if he asked to?

Like in Demolition Man all factions are now Taco Bell

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #64 on: 20 September 2019, 19:55:08 »
And there's no salt.
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #65 on: 21 September 2019, 00:03:58 »
Like in Demolition Man all factions are now Taco Bell

You realize now someone's going to paint up a 'Mech in Taco Bell colors.......

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #66 on: 21 September 2019, 07:53:29 »
You realize now someone's going to paint up a 'Mech in Taco Bell colors.......

Craig

I generally refuse to take responsibility for my actions so I’m good with that outcome  :))

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #67 on: 27 September 2019, 10:21:38 »
Congratulations to everyone promoted! I wish you all success in making more BT stuff for us to spend money on! (ATOW 2E, Combat Manuals, Natasha Pillows, Timber Wolf Plushies, LAMS, and more POD goodies!) ;)

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #68 on: 29 September 2019, 09:10:25 »
...Natasha Pillows...

While I admit to being intrigued...I think I might be intimidated to hug that one!

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #69 on: 04 October 2019, 07:53:45 »
While I admit to being intrigued...I think I might be intimidated to hug that one!

If she's interested, she'll hug you.
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