Clan Nova Cat - Zombie Catgirl Extravaganza

[Tyler Jorgensson]

Without spoilers (curse those tags not working) I enjoyed it. It gave a better description of some events in Marik space in the new era as well as a bit of additional backstory on characters, factions etc. you do get a decent look at the Protectorate as well which is nice. 

I’ll ditto what Shin said about the ending.

[Spirit Cat Refugee]

I'd just finished re-reading "Hunting Season" a few days before my PoD copy arrived, so my brain was still fresh in "Marik mode." Definitely enjoyed this and seeing the effects of the ilClan trial on the Clan Protectorate made for a solid read. The ending was kinda concerning to me for some reasons so really can't wait to read IKEO soon.

The ending I believe leads right into the meeting between Rikkard, Petr, and Julietta at the beginning of Empire Alone if I'm not mistaken. So we already know what it entails.

[parable]

Don't mind me, just letting everyone know that my Nova Cat ceremonial outfit now has its headpiece prototype, in the Fan Art board.

[Istal_Devalis]

Been watching MW5 Cut scenes (Cause my computer cant actually PLAY it), and there's a fun little bit with Clan Nova Cat issuing a Batchall when they enter the invasion. Nice to see our emblem out there in the wild. Their version of the 4th Nova Cat Guard emblem is particularly hilarious, too.

[cmerwin]

Been watching MW5 Cut scenes (Cause my computer cant actually PLAY it), and there's a fun little bit with Clan Nova Cat issuing a Batchall when they enter the invasion. Nice to see our emblem out there in the wild. Their version of the 4th Nova Cat Guard emblem is particularly hilarious, too.

Ooohhhh, I haven't gotten to that one yet (I'm still on Turtle Bay missions), that's exciting! Do you know which cut scene it is?

I would love for Nova Cat mod content to come out. I have to say, I absolutely LOVE this game. Sven van der Plank has been doing some cool YouTube play along videos and you can tell the excitement in his voice as he is seeing lore bits for the first time. It's exactly how I feel. Seeing the images of the Warships, the Broadswords flying in, it's awesome!

Also, that 4th Nova Cat Guards is hilarious! Not quite how I imagined it.

[Alan Grant]

I've seen them numbered, I believe it is Cutscene 30. I've seen it labeled/named Trial of Possession but I can't recall right now if that's a formal name for it. It might be.

I'm reluctant to say more, 'cause spoilers. But you can plug "Mechwarrior 5: Clans Nova Cat" into a YouTube search and find the relevant cutscene and its associated game-engine cutscene. Or even find recorded playthroughs of the entire mission.

Fair warning though. Within that mission is actually a big plot turning point (it's not really about the Nova Cats, it's about some stuff between the story's main characters, the Cats just happen to be present as it plays out).

That use of the 4th Guards emblem is part of the mission briefing at the holotable.

[cmerwin]

I've seen them numbered, I believe it is Cutscene 30. I've seen it labeled/named Trial of Possession but I can't recall right now if that's a formal name for it. It might be.

I'm reluctant to say more, 'cause spoilers. But you can plug "Mechwarrior 5: Clans Nova Cat" into a YouTube search and find the relevant cutscene and its associated game-engine cutscene. Or even find recorded playthroughs of the entire mission.

Fair warning though. Within that mission is actually a big plot turning point (it's not really about the Nova Cats, it's about some stuff between the story's main characters, the Cats just happen to be present as it plays out).

That use of the 4th Guards emblem is part of the mission briefing at the holotable.

Awesome! Thank you!

Psyched to get there. I assumed it's closer to Luthien/during Wave 5.
Thanks for the spoilers, excited to catch up.

[parable]

Been watching MW5 Cut scenes (Cause my computer cant actually PLAY it), and there's a fun little bit with Clan Nova Cat issuing a Batchall when they enter the invasion. Nice to see our emblem out there in the wild. Their version of the 4th Nova Cat Guard emblem is particularly hilarious, too.

They really took losing a star of 'Mechs to Elementals hard, didn't they?

[cmerwin]

Don't mind me, just letting everyone know that my Nova Cat ceremonial outfit now has its headpiece prototype, in the Fan Art board.

Also just wanted to plug trothkin Parable's ceremonial mask. For a "draft" it is pretty sweet. Excited to see the whole ensemble!

[Istal_Devalis]

They really took losing a star of 'Mechs to Elementals hard, didn't they?

Being a Clanner means holding a book of grudges that rivals the Dwarves. :D

[Spirit Cat Refugee]

Looks like we're getting some Nova Cat/Spirit Cat fiction in the next Shrapnel :)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLQSMCQ7?&linkCode=sl1&tag=usstore032-20&linkId=eb819f40f0d85b213dd601745535ace5&language=de_DE&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&fbclid=IwY2xjawGTRrJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQll3yunjSAeIgmJ1Trgy4DpB7IiJ3CBbdyZyf3cPSn6wlPUZO9ZtqbAGQ_aem_RuNBh9eLT1zrBn-PV6SuSQ

[cmerwin]

Looks like we're getting some Nova Cat/Spirit Cat fiction in the next Shrapnel :)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLQSMCQ7?&linkCode=sl1&tag=usstore032-20&linkId=eb819f40f0d85b213dd601745535ace5&language=de_DE&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&fbclid=IwY2xjawGTRrJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQll3yunjSAeIgmJ1Trgy4DpB7IiJ3CBbdyZyf3cPSn6wlPUZO9ZtqbAGQ_aem_RuNBh9eLT1zrBn-PV6SuSQ

Nice!

"After suffering a bitter defeat, a contingent of Spirit Cats seeks to atone for their failure by retrieving a ’Mech of vital importance to their people..."

Hmmmmm..a Windigo? A Thug? A Vision Quest? Something else?

[Geg]

Letter of the Law painted a very independent Nova Cat Cluster. A force that Spirit Cat Skeptical and very distinct from the Sea Foxes.

[cmerwin]

Letter of the Law painted a very independent Nova Cat Cluster. A force that Spirit Cat Skeptical and very distinct from the Sea Foxes.

Yeah, I liked the character of the Nova Cat commander, Star Colonel Janus and the Star Captain coregn, although we didn't get a whole lot of the Nova Cats personality or what their relationship is with the Spirit Cats.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

It sounded like the relationship wasn't great.

[cmerwin]

The Nova Cat Alpha Galaxy velcro patches I had made up are in and they look pretty sweet. I've got a few set aside for folk, but more than enough. If any Nova Cats want one, let me know. I'm not asking any money (although if you throw a few bucks my way, I won't complain), just asking the cost of shipping.


Image attached.



DM me if interested. I'll stop posting here so as not to take up bandwidth.

[tassa_kay]

I'll stop posting here so as not to take up bandwidth.

Pfft, that's what the Nova Cat thread is for! I like seeing these posted! :D

[Dragon Cat]

They really took losing a star of 'Mechs to Elementals hard, didn't they?

I love that they never let go of that grudge it's just amusing that one battle shapes the galaxy's identity

[cmerwin]

Pfft, that's what the Nova Cat thread is for! I like seeing these posted! :D

Awww, thanks. I very nearly posted all emojis until I remembered how you feel about emojis. So I'll just say, I'm grateful you're here to help keep us/me honest.

[cmerwin]

Trothkin, I have had a vision that Big Red 40k has a powerful message about our Clan.
My vision will come to pass....{consults cat nip}...sometime tomorrow! Seyla!

This looks like it should be outstanding. The video is here: https://youtu.be/6Zcl1YCqdU4?si=VIB260AYhjrOJgtA


And Big Red 40K left a teaser on Instagram. (I can't drop the url because the forum keeps breaking it for some reason.)

[cmerwin]

I just finished Big Red 40k's video on the Nova Cat and it's fantastic. Covers a lot of really excellent history with a very fair and balanced look at our Clan. Highly recommended!

[Spirit Cat Refugee]

I just finished Big Red 40k's video on the Nova Cat and it's fantastic. Covers a lot of really excellent history with a very fair and balanced look at our Clan. Highly recommended!

I watched it as well, great video, learned some new things. A minor mistake or two in the Dark Age but then again, Dark Age lore is pretty unorganized.

[Istal_Devalis]

I've been in a bit of a mech building kick lately, although it's been forever since I've played. And this got me thinking. We all know that the Sphinx was originally meant to be an Omnimech. I've been trying to make a go at making an Omni version of the thing, but...well. I cant help feeling you could just take a Timber Wolf and make a custom config for the thing. If I had to guess, this is the REAL reason they nver made an actual omni, there's just to many mechs in that 75 weight range, and we already have the Timber Wolf.

Has anyone else given it a shot, and what did you do to make it stand out?

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Well, vs a Timby it's got standard armor rather than ferro, so that gives it more internal space to work with.  The other thing that can be done is avoiding the fixed external heat sinks that FASA liked to cram onto most 3050 omnis.  At that point, you've got interior room that the Timby can't match so you can build things like the canon flashbulb or a loadout centered around a crit-intensive weapon like an Arrow IV, HAG 40, or improved Heavy Gauss Rifle.

[Tyler Jorgensson]

Did you just compare the Sphinx to a Timber Wolf??? In the Nova Cat thread???? With the Nova Cat existing????

lol

Honestly it’s a Standard Nova Cat with a bigger engine.

[Istal_Devalis]

Nova Cat Omni is a pocket assault, different role from the Sphinx or Timber Wolf. That 4/6 speed changes things around quite a bit. I compared the Sphinx to the Timber Wolf as they have the same speed profile (and same engine).

I dont think the Nova Cat has the speed to effectively use a ERML battery as well as the Sphinx (or even Timber Wolf) could do.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Yeah, the Nova Cat is a good mech but it absolutely can't infight the way the Sphinx can.

[Tyler Jorgensson]

That’s why they invented MASC and Superchargers lol!

And if it wasn’t 3am I’d be on MML to show you a design: Alas that will wait for tomorrow.

But I just would never compare a Timber Wolf to a flashbulb mech like the Sphinx. Sure they’re in the same speed bracket but so is the Bushwacker and Barghest. Yes the Nova Cat is slower but same type load out could be replicated. I’d consider the Sphinx an uptonnaged Nova (aka Black Hawk) even, but never a Timber Wolf (or any of its variants).

Hell And just to be silly…. There IS the Stone Rhino 7 which I would compare to the Sphinx over the Timby.

[parable]

Istal Devalis is right.  Despite their chassis and tonnages being similar, a lot of a 'mech's role is down to provenance.  The Nova Cat was a Clan Black Knight: ranged energy at a distance, not helpless up close.  The Timber Wolf was a battleline unit: does anything at any time because it has built-in range brackets.  Both of them can also be swapped out easily on-the-go.  The Sphinx is a sign of IS 'contamination,' as it were.  I've used it (caveat: MegaMek only) to great effect running at enemy 'mechs and pummeling them while melting their candy coating.  An Omni can have multiple roles: you could build a Timbie as a close-up laser light show, but especially in-universe, you can't really turn a rugged brawler standard into a do-anything take-all-comers Clanbomination.  Hope this was comprehensible, I've had a long day.

[Spirit Cat Refugee]

Shrapnel 19 is now available for purchase via PDF or DTF.

https://www.amazon.com/BattleTech-Shrapnel-Issue-Official-Magazine-ebook/dp/B0DLQSMCQ7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Hope everyone enjoys the Spirit Cat story. I wrote it  .