"BattleMaster IIC" in MW2: Mandela Effect or Real?

[Akamia]

Okay, so I caught an editor on TVTropes today mentioning a "BattleMaster IIC" in the context of MechWarrior 2. I, too, remembered the BattleMaster being labeled as such in that game. However, I can find no sources mentioning a "BattleMaster IIC" even as an apocryphal design, and I haven't seen a screenshot of the BattleMaster in that game's Instant Action during 'Mech selection in over 15 years at this point. I remember quite vividly that trying to pilot the thing would crash the game, but that's not what this is about.

Was it really labeled the "BattleMaster IIC" in that game? I know it only ever showed up in use by Kell Hounds in the campaign, so I'm pretty sure it was just a regular BattleMaster in context, despite using Clan-spec weapons and equipment because that's all that particular game had. It and the Tarantula (IIRC, the only quad 'Mech to ever appear in a MechWarrior title) were that game's only Inner Sphere 'Mechs, I believe...

EDIT: The BattleMaster was one of two (three, if you count the Elemental battle armor, and the other one was the Tarantula) 'Mechs that weren't normally available to the player in any mode. If you need to know how to access this 'Mech in Instant Action, you need to name your MechWarrior "Enzo". Though trying to actually deploy in it will crash the game; the AI MechWarriors can use it just fine, though.

[Phantom000]

No, it wasn't marked IIC, but then again neither was the Rifleman, Marauder, Warhammer or Jenner, despite all being the Clan updates. Also, probably due to limits of the game engine, there is no distinction between Clan and IS weapons so basically, it might as well be a IIC. Same thing for the IS mechs in GBL, because again, there is no distinction between IS and Clan technology.

[Akamia]

Which version are you looking at?

I ask because I asked the topic question on Reddit and a commenter suggested it may vary by release. One commenter even linked a video of what I believe was the DOS version where all those ‘Mechs, including the BattleMaster, were indeed marked IIC.

Though I think canon nomenclature would suggest the BattleMaster of MW2 would be a BattleMaster C. I dunno.

[Phantom000]

Which version are you looking at?

I ask because I asked the topic question on Reddit and a commenter suggested it may vary by release. One commenter even linked a video of what I believe was the DOS version where all those ‘Mechs, including the BattleMaster, were indeed marked IIC.

Though I think canon nomenclature would suggest the BattleMaster of MW2 would be a BattleMaster C. I dunno.

I think it was the MS-DOS version. I remember the disk said 'Pentium Edition' but i've heard that was just the dos version with a label to show it was compatible with the new Pentium processors. That was the only version I ever played so if it changes i wouldn't know.

There was also the Titanium Edition which was supposed to be an improved version of all three games together. So that is when they might have changed it to the Battlemaster IIC. As i said; there are no IS weapons in MW2 but there are only 2 IS mechs, the Battlemaster and Tarantula. If your not too worried about lore, its easier to just label them IIC then have to write a bunch of code for just 2 mechs.

[beachhead1985]

I recall the old TRO Legends site had a BattleMaster IIC...Let me see if I can wayback it...

No joy.

It would have been in the PC Mechs file, which does not appear to have been archived. In addition; it is not among my saved files from the site.

Sorry.

[BATTLEMASTER]

I found the MW2 configs here:

https://www.oocities.org/timessquare/dome/6058/trl/battlemasteriic.htm

Code: [Select]

BattleMech Technical Readout
BattleMaster IIC AMechWarrior 2 BattleMaster IIC A

Mass: 85 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 340
Cruising Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    1 ERPPC
    1 Machine Gun
    6 ER Medium Laser
    1 SRM6
Manufacturer(s):
    Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown


Overview:

    MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries

    9.5 tons underweight.
    Not the MechForce BattleMaster IIC.

Type: BattleMaster IIC A
Technology Base: Clan Custom
Tonnage: 85


         
Equipment   Mass
Internal Structure: ES     4.5
Engine: 340     27.0
  Walking MP: 4
  Running MP: 6
  Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 18 [36]     8.0
Gyro:       4.0
Cockpit:       3.0
Armor Factor: 240 FF     12.5
    Internal Armor
    Structure Value
  Head: 3 9
  Center Torso: 27 40
  Center Torso (Rear):   11
  R/L Torso: 18 28
  R/L Torso (Rear):   8
  R/L Arm: 14 24
  R/L Leg: 18 26


BV : 1867 Cost : 9833984
Weapons and Ammo   Location Critical Heat Mass
ER Medium Laser   LT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   LT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   LT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   RT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   RT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   RT 1 5 1.0
SRM-6   LT 1 4 1.5
@SRM-6 (15)   LT 1 0 1.0
@SRM-6 (15)   CT 1 0 1.0
ER PPC   RA 2 15 6.0
Machine Gun   LA 1 0 0.3
@Machine Gun (200)   LT 1 0 1.0


ACTUATORS: missing RH LH
HEAT SINKS: 1LL 1RL 3RA
ENDO STEEL: 3LT 3RT 1CT
FERRO FIBROUS: 3LT 2RT 1RA 1LA

Return to TRL Assault Mechs page - Return to Top of Page - Battlemaster IIC A - B

BattleMech Technical Readout
BattleMaster IIC BMechWarrior 2 BattleMaster IIC B

Mass: 85 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 340
Cruising Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    10 Medium Pulse Laser
Manufacturer(s):
    Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown


Overview:

    MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries

    6 tons underweight.
    Not the MechForce BattleMaster IIC.

Type: BattleMaster IIC B
Technology Base: Clan Custom
Tonnage: 85


         
Equipment   Mass
Internal Structure: ES     4.5
Engine: 340     27.0
  Walking MP: 4
  Running MP: 6
  Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 18 [36]     8.0
Gyro:       4.0
Cockpit:       3.0
Armor Factor: 240 FF     12.5
    Internal Armor
    Structure Value
  Head: 3 9
  Center Torso: 27 40
  Center Torso (Rear):   11
  R/L Torso: 18 28
  R/L Torso (Rear):   8
  R/L Arm: 14 24
  R/L Leg: 18 26


BV : 2011 Cost : 9056984
Weapons and Ammo   Location Critical Heat Mass
Medium Pulse Laser   LA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   LA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   LT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   LT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   CT 1 4 2.0


ACTUATORS: missing RH LH
HEAT SINKS: 1LL 1RL 3RA
ENDO STEEL: 3LT 3RT 1CT
FERRO FIBROUS: 3LT 2RT 1RA 1LA
On an unrelated note, the Marauder IIC-B from MW2 and the Kodiak B from GBL have since been canonized.

[Akamia]

I found the MW2 configs here:

https://www.oocities.org/timessquare/dome/6058/trl/battlemasteriic.htm

Code: [Select]

BattleMech Technical Readout
BattleMaster IIC AMechWarrior 2 BattleMaster IIC A

Mass: 85 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 340
Cruising Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    1 ERPPC
    1 Machine Gun
    6 ER Medium Laser
    1 SRM6
Manufacturer(s):
    Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown


Overview:

    MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries

    9.5 tons underweight.
    Not the MechForce BattleMaster IIC.

Type: BattleMaster IIC A
Technology Base: Clan Custom
Tonnage: 85


         
Equipment   Mass
Internal Structure: ES     4.5
Engine: 340     27.0
  Walking MP: 4
  Running MP: 6
  Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 18 [36]     8.0
Gyro:       4.0
Cockpit:       3.0
Armor Factor: 240 FF     12.5
    Internal Armor
    Structure Value
  Head: 3 9
  Center Torso: 27 40
  Center Torso (Rear):   11
  R/L Torso: 18 28
  R/L Torso (Rear):   8
  R/L Arm: 14 24
  R/L Leg: 18 26


BV : 1867 Cost : 9833984
Weapons and Ammo   Location Critical Heat Mass
ER Medium Laser   LT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   LT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   LT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   RT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   RT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   RT 1 5 1.0
SRM-6   LT 1 4 1.5
@SRM-6 (15)   LT 1 0 1.0
@SRM-6 (15)   CT 1 0 1.0
ER PPC   RA 2 15 6.0
Machine Gun   LA 1 0 0.3
@Machine Gun (200)   LT 1 0 1.0


ACTUATORS: missing RH LH
HEAT SINKS: 1LL 1RL 3RA
ENDO STEEL: 3LT 3RT 1CT
FERRO FIBROUS: 3LT 2RT 1RA 1LA

Return to TRL Assault Mechs page - Return to Top of Page - Battlemaster IIC A - B

BattleMech Technical Readout
BattleMaster IIC BMechWarrior 2 BattleMaster IIC B

Mass: 85 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 340
Cruising Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    10 Medium Pulse Laser
Manufacturer(s):
    Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown


Overview:

    MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries

    6 tons underweight.
    Not the MechForce BattleMaster IIC.

Type: BattleMaster IIC B
Technology Base: Clan Custom
Tonnage: 85


         
Equipment   Mass
Internal Structure: ES     4.5
Engine: 340     27.0
  Walking MP: 4
  Running MP: 6
  Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 18 [36]     8.0
Gyro:       4.0
Cockpit:       3.0
Armor Factor: 240 FF     12.5
    Internal Armor
    Structure Value
  Head: 3 9
  Center Torso: 27 40
  Center Torso (Rear):   11
  R/L Torso: 18 28
  R/L Torso (Rear):   8
  R/L Arm: 14 24
  R/L Leg: 18 26


BV : 2011 Cost : 9056984
Weapons and Ammo   Location Critical Heat Mass
Medium Pulse Laser   LA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   LA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   LT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   LT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   CT 1 4 2.0


ACTUATORS: missing RH LH
HEAT SINKS: 1LL 1RL 3RA
ENDO STEEL: 3LT 3RT 1CT
FERRO FIBROUS: 3LT 2RT 1RA 1LA
On an unrelated note, the Marauder IIC-B from MW2 and the Kodiak B from GBL have since been canonized.

Fascinating... They’re both underweight ‘Mechs, according to this...

The A config is remarkably close to being a Clan version of the BLR-1G or 3M. Similarly, it’s also not that far removed from the canon BattleMaster C 3... None of those canon variants mention anything about Ferro-Fibrous armor being part of the design on Sarna, though. The 1G certainly didn’t have it.

I find the B design going all-in on Med Pulse Lasers somewhat amusing.

I think some edits to Sarna’s BattleMaster article might be in order; it is in need of an Apocryphal Variants section. ;D

[beachhead1985]

I found the MW2 configs here:

https://www.oocities.org/timessquare/dome/6058/trl/battlemasteriic.htm

Code: [Select]

BattleMech Technical Readout
BattleMaster IIC AMechWarrior 2 BattleMaster IIC A

Mass: 85 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 340
Cruising Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    1 ERPPC
    1 Machine Gun
    6 ER Medium Laser
    1 SRM6
Manufacturer(s):
    Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown


Overview:

    MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries

    9.5 tons underweight.
    Not the MechForce BattleMaster IIC.

Type: BattleMaster IIC A
Technology Base: Clan Custom
Tonnage: 85


         
Equipment   Mass
Internal Structure: ES     4.5
Engine: 340     27.0
  Walking MP: 4
  Running MP: 6
  Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 18 [36]     8.0
Gyro:       4.0
Cockpit:       3.0
Armor Factor: 240 FF     12.5
    Internal Armor
    Structure Value
  Head: 3 9
  Center Torso: 27 40
  Center Torso (Rear):   11
  R/L Torso: 18 28
  R/L Torso (Rear):   8
  R/L Arm: 14 24
  R/L Leg: 18 26


BV : 1867 Cost : 9833984
Weapons and Ammo   Location Critical Heat Mass
ER Medium Laser   LT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   LT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   LT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   RT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   RT 1 5 1.0
ER Medium Laser   RT 1 5 1.0
SRM-6   LT 1 4 1.5
@SRM-6 (15)   LT 1 0 1.0
@SRM-6 (15)   CT 1 0 1.0
ER PPC   RA 2 15 6.0
Machine Gun   LA 1 0 0.3
@Machine Gun (200)   LT 1 0 1.0


ACTUATORS: missing RH LH
HEAT SINKS: 1LL 1RL 3RA
ENDO STEEL: 3LT 3RT 1CT
FERRO FIBROUS: 3LT 2RT 1RA 1LA

Return to TRL Assault Mechs page - Return to Top of Page - Battlemaster IIC A - B

BattleMech Technical Readout
BattleMaster IIC BMechWarrior 2 BattleMaster IIC B

Mass: 85 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 340
Cruising Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    10 Medium Pulse Laser
Manufacturer(s):
    Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown


Overview:

    MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries

    6 tons underweight.
    Not the MechForce BattleMaster IIC.

Type: BattleMaster IIC B
Technology Base: Clan Custom
Tonnage: 85


         
Equipment   Mass
Internal Structure: ES     4.5
Engine: 340     27.0
  Walking MP: 4
  Running MP: 6
  Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 18 [36]     8.0
Gyro:       4.0
Cockpit:       3.0
Armor Factor: 240 FF     12.5
    Internal Armor
    Structure Value
  Head: 3 9
  Center Torso: 27 40
  Center Torso (Rear):   11
  R/L Torso: 18 28
  R/L Torso (Rear):   8
  R/L Arm: 14 24
  R/L Leg: 18 26


BV : 2011 Cost : 9056984
Weapons and Ammo   Location Critical Heat Mass
Medium Pulse Laser   LA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   LA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RA 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   LT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   LT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   RT 1 4 2.0
Medium Pulse Laser   CT 1 4 2.0


ACTUATORS: missing RH LH
HEAT SINKS: 1LL 1RL 3RA
ENDO STEEL: 3LT 3RT 1CT
FERRO FIBROUS: 3LT 2RT 1RA 1LA
On an unrelated note, the Marauder IIC-B from MW2 and the Kodiak B from GBL have since been canonized.

I give you max credit for finding this! Way to go!

I poked around and only a few of the pages would not load, so I was able to nearly complete my TRO: Legends files.

[Middcore]

I give you max credit for finding this! Way to go!

I poked around and only a few of the pages would not load, so I was able to nearly complete my TRO: Legends files.

God, I think I remember this site from my "previous life" in the 2000's and I'm pretty sure it was already old then. Funny to see apocryphal/speculation variants there that now have official versions, like the prototype Blackjack.

Major points to the author, whoever he/she was, for making actually-pretty-decent custom art for things like the hatchet-wielding Archer.  :thumbsup:

[Wrangler]

Isn't that classic BattleTech?  Generally the weight savings for refitted Inner Sphere 'Mechs were always underweight.