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Difference between revisions of "Totem BattleMech"
 
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==Definition==
 
==Definition==
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Totem [[BattleMech]]s represent a [[Clan]] or faction's spirit, concept or totem-animal on which they were founded. More common among the [[Clans]], particularly after [[Operation REVIVAL]] and in the later days of the [[Dark Age]], these BattleMech designs often devote more resources to aesthetic "frills" than many others; These "frills" are often anthropomorphic or zoomorphic in appearance.
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Totem [[BattleMech]]s are designed as an avatar of a [[Clan]]'s totem animal;<ref name="er62107">''Era Report: 3062'', p. 107: "Totem 'Mechs"</ref> in a wider sense, other factions have arguably adopted the concept to a degree.
  
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One example of the increased importance of the Totem 'Mech can be seen when these units are compared to the [[OmniMech]]s that regularly appeared in the Clan's front line Clusters. Those units, designed for brutal efficiency on the battlefield and quick production, lack all the special moldings, formed armor, and other design details used in the Totem 'Mechs.<ref name="er62107">''Era Report: 3062'', p. 107, "Totem 'Mechs"</ref>
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More common among the Clans, particularly after [[Operation REVIVAL]] and in the later days of the [[Dark Age]], these BattleMech designs typically devote more resources to aesthetic "frills". These "frills" are often anthropomorphic or zoomorphic in appearance.
  
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The use of a Totem Mech isn't limited to the Clans however. Many examples exist in the [[Inner Sphere]] as well. The ''[[Hatamoto-Chi]]'' of the [[Draconis Combine]] and the ''[[Yu Huang]]'' of the [[Capellan Confederation]] represent those realms' ''bushido'' ideal and ''Xin Sheng'' belief.<ref name="er62107"/>
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One example of the increased importance of the Totem 'Mech can be seen when these units are compared to the [[OmniMech]]s that regularly appeared in the Clan's front line Clusters. Those units, designed for brutal efficiency on the battlefield and quick production, lack all the special moldings, formed armor, and other design details used in the Totem 'Mechs.<ref name="er62107"/>
  
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Many 'Mechs are named after their clan, such as the ''[[Nova Cat (OmniMech)|Nova Cat]]'' or the ''[[JagerMech III]]'' was a part of the "Redesign for Davion Pride" project. However, this does not make the 'Mech a "Totem 'Mech". To be considered a as such a 'Mech is designed to visually resemble some part of the faction fielding them, such as the ''[[Eyrie]]'', ''[[Gyrfalcon]]'', ''[[Jade Hawk]]'', and ''[[Shrike]]'' of the [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcon]]'s 3130's revival BattleMech line, all of which resemble the clan's totem bird of prey with their talons, hawk-like head assemblies, and heat-dissipating wings. Others, like the [[Draconis Combine]] totem 'Mech ''[[Shiro (BattleMech)|Shiro]]'', which is symbolic of that faction's strong Japanese traditions and ''bushido'', are powerful figureheads for commanders to lead their forces from.
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Many 'Mechs are named after their Clan, such as the ''[[Nova Cat (OmniMech)|Nova Cat]]''. However, this does not make the 'Mech a "Totem 'Mech". To be considered as such a 'Mech is designed to visually resemble some part of the faction fielding them, such as the ''[[Eyrie]]'', ''[[Mandrill]]'', ''[[Kodiak]]'', and ''[[Fire Scorpion]]''.
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The question has also been answered by previous Line Developer Herb Beas on the [https://bg.battletech.com/forums/ask-the-lead-developers/totem-mechs/msg881929/#msg881929 Official Forums]
  
 
==List of Totem BattleMechs==
 
==List of Totem BattleMechs==
 
===Clan===
 
===Clan===
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* ''[[Arctic Wolf]]'' - [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] premier Medium totem 'Mech.
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====Clan Hell's Horses====
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* ''[[Balius]]'' - [[Clan Hell's Horses]] premier heavy quad totem 'Mech.
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* ''[[Balius]]'' - [[Clan Hell's Horses]] heavy quad totem OmniMech.
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* ''[[Battle Cobra]]'' - [[Clan Steel Viper]] medium [[OmniMech]], characterized by its fully arm-mounted weaponry.
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* ''[[Black Lanner]]'' - [[Clan Jade Falcon]] fast medium totem OmniMech.
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====Clan Coyote====
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* ''[[Cave Lion]]'' - [[Clan Spirit Cat]] Heavy totem 'Mech, designed to resemble the clan symbol's saber-toothed lion.
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* ''[[Rabid Coyote]]'' - Medium Totem BattleMech for [[Clan Coyote]].
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* ''[[Eyrie]]'' - Light totem 'Mech for the revival of Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Fire Scorpion]]'' - [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]] heavy class.
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====Clan Jade Falcon====
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* ''[[Grizzly]]'' - [[Clan Ghost Bear]] totem second-line Heavy 'Mech.
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* ''[[Eyrie]]'' - Light totem BattleMech for the revival of Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Gyrfalcon]]'' - Medium totem 'Mech for Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Gyrfalcon]]'' - Medium totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Hellion]]'' - [[Clan Ice Hellion]] Myst-Lynx-based Light totem OmniMech.
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* ''[[Jade Phoenix]]'' - Assault totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Jade Hawk]]'' - Heavy totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Shrike]]'' - Assault totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Kodiak]]'' - Totem BattleMech for Clan Ghost Bear.
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* ''[[Mandrill]]'' - [[Clan Fire Mandrill]]'s Totem Light 'Mech, the first Totem 'Mech to be produced.
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====Clan Goliath Scorpion====
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* ''[[Rabid Coyote]]'' - [[Clan Coyote]]'s Totem Medium 'Mech.
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* ''[[Fire Scorpion]]'' - [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]] heavy BattleMech.
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* ''[[Shrike]]'' - Assault class totem BattleMech, built by Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Thunder Stallion]]'' - Clan Hell's Horses Assault totem 'quad BattleMech.
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====Clan Fire Mandrill====
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* ''[[Tiburon]]'' - [[Clan Sea Fox]] light totem BattleMech.
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* ''[[Mandrill]]'' - [[Clan Fire Mandrill]] light totem BattleMech, the first Totem 'Mech to be produced.
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* ''[[Turkina]]'' - Older assault class totem BattleMech design from Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Howler (Baboon)|Howler]]'' - Light totem BattleMech for Clan Fire Mandrill
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* ''[[Warwolf]]'' - Clan Wolf's heavy companion to the ''Wulfen''.
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* ''[[Wulfen]]'' - Clan Wolf's light totem BattleMech.
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====Clan Ghost Bear====
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* ''[[Kodiak]]'' - Totem BattleMech for [[Clan Ghost Bear]].
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====Clan Wolf====
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* ''[[Warwolf]]'' - Heavy Totem OmniMech for [[Clan Wolf]].
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* ''[[Wulfen]]'' - Light Totem OmniMech for Clan Wolf.
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==Notes==
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* The ''[[Thunder Stallion]]'' was originally planned as a totem ’Mech but the totem aspect was deemphasized in favor of more combat capability.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3060'', p. 180: "Thunder Stallion"</ref>
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===Inner Sphere===
 
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* ''[[Eisenfaust]]'' - [[House Steiner]] totem medium 'Mech.
 
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* ''[[Hatamoto-Chi]]'' - Draconis Combine assault class totem 'Mech.
 
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* ''[[Hitotsune Kozo]]'' - Another Draconis Combine totem 'Mech, medium class.
 
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* ''[[Rokurokubi]]'' - Light class Draconis Combine totem 'Mech.
 
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* ''[[Shiro (BattleMech)|Shiro]]'' - Draconis Combine totem heavy BattleMech, created in the 3130's.
 
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* ''[[Yu Huang]]'' - Capellan Confederation Assault 'Mech.
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
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*''[[Era Report: 3062]]''
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* ''[[Era Report: 3062]]''
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* ''[[Technical Readout: 3060]]''
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[[Category:Miscellaneous]]
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[[Category:'Mech classifications]]

Latest revision as of 21:51, 4 May 2024

Definition[edit]

Totem BattleMechs are designed as an avatar of a Clan's totem animal;[1] in a wider sense, other factions have arguably adopted the concept to a degree.

More common among the Clans, particularly after Operation REVIVAL and in the later days of the Dark Age, these BattleMech designs typically devote more resources to aesthetic "frills". These "frills" are often anthropomorphic or zoomorphic in appearance.

One example of the increased importance of the Totem 'Mech can be seen when these units are compared to the OmniMechs that regularly appeared in the Clan's front line Clusters. Those units, designed for brutal efficiency on the battlefield and quick production, lack all the special moldings, formed armor, and other design details used in the Totem 'Mechs.[1]

Many 'Mechs are named after their Clan, such as the Nova Cat. However, this does not make the 'Mech a "Totem 'Mech". To be considered as such a 'Mech is designed to visually resemble some part of the faction fielding them, such as the Eyrie, Mandrill, Kodiak, and Fire Scorpion.

The question has also been answered by previous Line Developer Herb Beas on the Official Forums

List of Totem BattleMechs[edit]

Clan[edit]

Clan Hell's Horses[edit]

Clan Coyote[edit]

Clan Jade Falcon[edit]

  • Eyrie - Light totem BattleMech for the revival of Clan Jade Falcon.
  • Gyrfalcon - Medium totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.
  • Jade Phoenix - Assault totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.
  • Shrike - Assault totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.

Clan Goliath Scorpion[edit]

Clan Fire Mandrill[edit]

Clan Ghost Bear[edit]

Clan Wolf[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • The Thunder Stallion was originally planned as a totem ’Mech but the totem aspect was deemphasized in favor of more combat capability.[2]


References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Era Report: 3062, p. 107: "Totem 'Mechs"
  2. ↑ Technical Readout: 3060, p. 180: "Thunder Stallion"

Bibliography[edit]

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