Technical
Readout: L E G E N D S
Introduction - Disclaimer - Page
History - Other Online TRs - MISSING information / NO
DATA - Return to Cover Page
Light Mechs - Medium
Mechs - Heavy Mechs - Assault Mechs - PC Game
Mechs - Non-Mech Page - Equipment
Technical Readout: Legends is designed, conceived, and maintained to provide complete access to four distinct types of mechs (note that where I say "mechs", I also include fighters, vehicles, etc., plus weapons and equipment). These four types, and the justifications for including them, are detailed below.
1. Official but abandoned FASA mechs. These mechs were published FASA mech designs that, for one reason or another, were never republished or redistributed. Many were unique mechs, but some were production models from major industrial concerns. They appeared in scenario packs, sourcebooks, adventures, and cancelled product lines. I include them because they represent FASA-approved designs that can still find use in play. Where full descriptive text and official artwork are available, I include them. NOTE: Though these mechs were once published, and some even had their own Record Sheets, none of them are legal for official Tournament play (yes, I asked FASA's own Randall Bills) unless otherwise noted. Noted on the tables as: FASA
2. Apocryphal FASA mechs. These nearly-ficticious units were designed by FASA staff but were never released to the general public. From various sources they made their way into BattleTech archives, and I reprint them here. Some are more complete or official than others. Some were to be included in products that never made it to press, some were cut from published works, and others just slipped secretly out of FASA's doors. No official artwork or text for these mechs exists, but where appropriate, I have included modified versions of art from the mechs they represent. Noted on the tables as: Apoc
3. Fluff-text mechs. Many times a mech variant will be described in the fluff text of a published design, but no record sheet for the mentioned mech will ever be offered. Where sufficient text exists to attempt a recreation, I have done so, including artwork modified from standard mech pictures. This category includes the few mechs well-described enough in BattleTech novels and stories to attempt a recreation. I include with these mechs only the fluff text relevant to the unpublished variant in question, or the relevant passages from the original novel. Noted on the tables as: Fluff
4. Mechs from BattleTech PC games. Some wondered why I would include these often-maligned designs, but my answer is simple: on the bottom of the boxes is a small stamp that reads "Offical Product of the FASA BattleTech Universe". Many other PC Game-only mechs exist, but they are of dubious use and origin (and legality), and I have chosen to exclude them, offering here only those complete and logical enough to be of interest to the average BattleTech player. Note also that these are only the PC-unique variants; I have not added the PC mechs that appeared, even under different names, as variants in Record Sheets or Technical Readouts, nor have I added mechs whose sole difference from Record Sheet variants was the absence of heat sinks (from the MW2 series' Mech Lab bugs) or mechs whose only difference from Record Sheet versions is rear-facing weapons changed to forward-firing. No official (printed) artwork or text for these mechs exists, but where appropriate, I have included modified versions of art from the mechs they represent. Appearing on their own page.
Where available, I include with the individual mech descriptions pictures of the sources from which the mechs are drawn, plus any supportive artwork such as unit insignias and pilot pictures. Note the listings under ACTUATORS: only arm actuators present are listed; Shoulder and Upper Arm are not included. For example, ACTUATORS: RA RH LA would translate as Right Lower Arm, Right Hand, Left Lower Arm intact, Left Hand missing. Quads assume that all actuators are present, and all mechs with physical weapons have all actuators in the arm with the hatchet/claw/mace/etc.
If you have questions, comments, or contributions, feel free to email Matt McLaine at lethe99@hotmail.com.