-UK Variants...

[NuclearBuddha]

...such as the WVR-8K-UK.  Are these canonical units?  If so, what is their source?

[Rael]

They're from Mechforce UK, and are non-canon.

[NuclearBuddha]

Thank you!

[John_Hawk]

Next question -- what are the TF variants from?  :)

[DarkISI]

Tech Factory

[Diamondshark]

Are any of them (TF, UK, Batchall, etc.) cannon, or even apocryphal?

[NuclearBuddha]

Are any of them (TF, UK, Batchall, etc.) cannon, or even apocryphal?

-UK apparently isn't, so a good assumption would be that none are.

[DarkISI]

-UK apparently isn't, so a good assumption would be that none are.

That's correct. All these units are unofficial and located in the unofficials.zip file. If you delete this file, MM will be down to official/canon units only.

BTW: It's canon, not cannon. The thing with one n means it belongs in the official BTU, the thing with two n is what you use to shoot your neighbor's cat with ;)

[Diamondshark]

BTW: It's canon, not cannon. The thing with one n means it belongs in the official BTU, the thing with two n is what you use to shoot your neighbor's cat with ;)

Yes, I know, it was a typo I didn't catch until I saw the reply.  But thank you for reminding me.

[Frabby]

All these units are unofficial and located in the unofficials.zip file. If you delete this file, MM will be down to official/canon units only.

Actually, I'd say they are apocryphal - MechForce UK was a licensed organisation, after all, with permission by FASA to publish BT material. Even if FASA wouldn't accept these publications as canonical, they were produced under a valid license and that still makes them 'official' and somewhat less Fanon that others. Knowing the original MFUK charter might help in shedding some light on this issue.
There's also the fact that several MFUK 'Mechs had miniatures made for them.

(Mind you, I am not trying to argue that the MFUK 'Mechs should be regarded as Canon - but they are more than simply fan-made stuff.)

[Stahlseele]

the MFUK Mechs are Min/Maxed all to hell and back . .

[Rael]

Their IS mechs are OK, but most of the Clan ones are either really crazy (cool) or really munchy (bleh).

Regarding their canonicity, I don't think trying to determine different grades of fanon/unofficial is something that will work well.

[Frabby]

Regarding their canonicity, I don't think trying to determine different grades of fanon/unofficial is something that will work well.

I was going by the Sarna BTW approach, which has 3 possible attributes:
- Canonical (as per Herb's definition);
- Apocryphal (produced by an official source but not canonical)
- Non-canon (fanon, fan-fiction)
Seems to work fairly well.

Apocrypha technically fall under Non-canon, but as a matter of fact there are different grades of apocrypha.

Some apocrypha used to be proper canon (BattleTechnology, StarDate, Update flyers), some are treated as near-canon even by TPTB (Crescent Hawks, MechWarrior and MechCommander computer games).

Some fall in the middle ground - original German products that were never translated/published in English (a batch of novels and some original FanPro products), BattleDroids 'Mechs like the Ostroc mk2 that weren't carried over to BattleTech 2nd Edition.

And some fall towards the low end of the ladder - like MechForce UK and Germany publicatons that didn't go through any checking or approval process on FASA's/FanPro's side.

[Headshot]

While TPTB may "borrow" bits and pieces from them sometimes (i think the plasma weapons were theirs?), in general MFUK will never, ever be canon, and for one simple reason: RAC/20  :D

[Grave]

While TPTB may "borrow" bits and pieces from them sometimes (i think the plasma weapons were theirs?), in general MFUK will never, ever be canon, and for one simple reason: RAC/20  :D

jaysus.  :o

[SteveRestless]

Thats nothin. I hammered out stats for a (Nigh Useless) RAC/30 along with a bunch of other crazy autocannons once. you needed something like 3 tons of ammo just to fire a single full burst.