Mech of the Week: Nova Cat

[Colt Ward]

I might have missed it . . . but did anyone mention if/where the Nova Cat would still be under construction?  Pretty sure I remember something about the Sharks trading for some quite a while ago, but . . .

[Pa Weasley]

Where might one find the review of the Cauldron-born? Great article by the way for a darn potent mech.

The entire Fan Article directory can be found here. But at the moment there's none available for the Cauldron-born. And thanks.

I might have missed it . . . but did anyone mention if/where the Nova Cat would still be under construction?  Pretty sure I remember something about the Sharks trading for some quite a while ago, but . . .

For what it's worth, the Nova Cat crops up in the RATs of FM: 3145 and ER:3145, though sparsely. Heck, I don't think we've had any verification that production continued after the Second Combine-Dominion War. Never mind whether it continued/restarted in the 3130s.

[Colt Ward]

I did remember it on the RATs.  The Sphinx, being designed as a Omni might be the best indicator we have at this time.  A lot of the 'Omni' producing parts would be in common- programmable gyro, Omni fittings, etc.

Might also be why the Nova Cats did not hurry over the Avalanche.

[Istal_Devalis]

The 'feathers' are the flashes of light from those Night Gyrs fitted with Laser Heat Sinks.

The Dark Age era falcon mechs are totem mechs.
I think people are really stretching their imaginations to see bird elements in the Night Gyr, just because they want to forcibly include them in the 'Totem Mech' category.
People really stretch the definition of 'Totem Mech' to begin with as is.

[SteelRaven]

A mech can be totem in name and status alone (the Timber Wolf never looked like a wolf, the Grizzle never looked like a bear, the Nova Cat never had cat ears, ect)

[Scotty]

The Timber Wolf, Grizzly, and Nova Cat were never totem 'Mechs in the modern definition of the term, and for all of the reasons you just mentioned.

[SteelRaven]

The Timber Wolf, Grizzly, and Nova Cat were never totem 'Mechs in the modern definition of the term, and for all of the reasons you just mentioned.

I think the modern term is kinda goofy, a mech should be judged on more than just appearance.
(that said, rule of cool trumps all :D )

[jklantern]

Hey, it may not be a "Totem" Mech, but to me it's still THE iconically Nova Cat Mech (although I'm sure plenty here would argue the Shadow Cat deserves the title).

[Pa Weasley]

Hey, it may not be a "Totem" Mech, but to me it's still THE iconically Nova Cat Mech (although I'm sure plenty here would argue the Shadow Cat deserves the title).

My personal preference demands that said honor goes to the Huntsman and I have an exert from page 61 of ER: 3052 to back me up.

the fast and potent Huntsman—perhaps the quintessential Nova Cat [I absolutely didn't delete the word "medium" here just to prove my point] ’Mech—

See, irrefutable proof.

Back to the "totally not a totem 'Mech at least per the 'it is a visual representation for that which it is named after' definition" Nova Cat.

[Istal_Devalis]

A mech can be totem in name and status alone (the Timber Wolf never looked like a wolf, the Grizzle never looked like a bear, the Nova Cat never had cat ears, ect)

...no. No it cant.

'Totem mech' is an In Universe term for mechs built using a specific design philosophy, incoporating design elements of the Clan's particular totem animal, often to the units detriment. It has nothing to do with the name of the design, and it has nothing to do with the status of the mech, either. In Universe, it was actually seen as a bit of a failure and we've only seen it brought back fairly recently, often for morale purposes.

As much as certain Clan fans like to use the term to denote equipment that is 'theirs', it's a misappropriation. The fact your faction uses it a lot doesnt make it a Totem mech. A unit having a symbolic name does not make it a Totem mech either. That's not to say a mech cant be symbolic to your clan for those reasons, but it doesnt make it a totem mech. For a modern example, it's like claiming the F-15 Eagle is a Totem Fighter for the US because its national bird is the bald eagle.

[cold1]

The entire Fan Article directory can be found here. But at the moment there's none available for the Cauldron-born. And thanks.
For what it's worth, the Nova Cat crops up in the RATs of FM: 3145 and ER:3145, though sparsely. Heck, I don't think we've had any verification that production continued after the Second Combine-Dominion War. Never mind whether it continued/restarted in the 3130s.

It appears to still be in production in the homeworlds last we saw them... pretty sure the Cobras have whatever is left of production (based on RATs).

[Alex Keller]

The Night Gyr has a prominent beak under the cockpit and feathers on its back. When painted accordingly, it looks like a bird. That's why I think of the Night Gyr as a totem mech. It's got bird features whereas most other clan omnis are strictly utilitarian.

[Arkansas Warrior]

The Night Gyr has a prominent beak under the cockpit and feathers on its back. When painted accordingly, it looks like a bird. That's why I think of the Night Gyr as a totem mech. It's got bird features whereas most other clan omnis are strictly utilitarian.

Since when?  I've never seen anything like that on any artwork or mini.

[SteelRaven]

Perhaps this is a argument better left for a Fan Article regarding the Night Gyr considering this thread is suppose to be about the Nova Cat. ;D

I do hope to see more Nova Cats in the future though after the last series of TRO's, we are more likely to see it's replacement.

[Dragon Cat]

Perhaps this is a argument better left for a Fan Article regarding the Night Gyr considering this thread is suppose to be about the Nova Cat. ;D

I do hope to see more Nova Cats in the future though after the last series of TRO's, we are more likely to see it's replacement.

Only see new ones if the Sea Fox has them in th Protectorate I guess it's more likely to see the "Spirit Cat" (shudders) replacement

[SteelRaven]

The continuation of the Nova Cat in one form or another would be a awesome tribute for the Clan that first created the beast. 

[WONC]

The continuation of the Nova Cat in one form or another would be a awesome tribute for the Clan that first created the beast.

So long as it's not the Dracs making it, I'm all for it. She's a nasty piece of Omni tech if ever there was one.

[cold1]

So long as it's not the Dracs making it, I'm all for it. She's a nasty piece of Omni tech if ever there was one.

Agreed, I'd like to see the Sea Foxes having acquired the plant and moved it.  Honestly the Nova Cat/Night Gyr cousins are not quite as good with the the new 5/8 clan omnis in the DA era.  They could both use a refresh of their own.

[SteelRaven]

So long as it's not the Dracs making it, I'm all for it. She's a nasty piece of Omni tech if ever there was one.

Be a little ironic if the 'Bears made one to kill Dracs ;)

[Diablo48]

Be a little ironic if the 'Bears made one to kill Dracs ;)

Hm, that makes me wonder if the Bears could have wound up with the production line.  It must have been fairly close to the border so I am wondering if we might have been able to grab it at some point.

[jklantern]

Hm, that makes me wonder if the Bears could have wound up with the production line.  It must have been fairly close to the border so I am wondering if we might have been able to grab it at some point.

While it wouldn't be my first choice of where the Nova Cat would end up, I'd kinda be okay with it.

I remember back when I still had a copy of FM: Warden Clans, on the cover was a Nova Cat in Ghost Bear colors fighting a bunch of Elementals (or something like that, anyway), and it always bugged me.  "DAMMIT THE TRO SAYS THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOVA CATS ARE NOVA CATS!"*  So this would retroactively justify it in my mind.

*Yes, I know, salvage, ToPs, Clan-onomics, just let me have this, okay?

[Diablo48]

While it wouldn't be my first choice of where the Nova Cat would end up, I'd kinda be okay with it.

I remember back when I still had a copy of FM: Warden Clans, on the cover was a Nova Cat in Ghost Bear colors fighting a bunch of Elementals (or something like that, anyway), and it always bugged me.  "DAMMIT THE TRO SAYS THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOVA CATS ARE NOVA CATS!"*  So this would retroactively justify it in my mind.

*Yes, I know, salvage, ToPs, Clan-onomics, just let me have this, okay?

I know what you mean, although the Nova Cat was fairly common among the Bears.  Probably because the Combine decided to grind the Cats to death against the Dominion. :P

[SteelRaven]

While it wouldn't be my first choice of where the Nova Cat would end up, I'd kinda be okay with it.

I remember back when I still had a copy of FM: Warden Clans, on the cover was a Nova Cat in Ghost Bear colors fighting a bunch of Elementals (or something like that, anyway), and it always bugged me.  "DAMMIT THE TRO SAYS THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOVA CATS ARE NOVA CATS!"*  So this would retroactively justify it in my mind.

*Yes, I know, salvage, ToPs, Clan-onomics, just let me have this, okay?

Original fluff stated that the Timber Wolf was rarly seen in numbers outside of Can Wolf yet ever Clan seem to have plenty to use whilke terrizing the IS ;D

[Istal_Devalis]

While it wouldn't be my first choice of where the Nova Cat would end up, I'd kinda be okay with it.

I remember back when I still had a copy of FM: Warden Clans, on the cover was a Nova Cat in Ghost Bear colors fighting a bunch of Elementals (or something like that, anyway), and it always bugged me.  "DAMMIT THE TRO SAYS THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOVA CATS ARE NOVA CATS!"*  So this would retroactively justify it in my mind.

*Yes, I know, salvage, ToPs, Clan-onomics, just let me have this, okay?

Thinking about it, it always used to bug me that we never saw color artwork of a Nova Cat in Nova Cat colors.