Welcome to the Nebula California

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Welcome to the Nebula California
Product information
Type	Sourcebook/Plotbook (April Fools joke)
Development	Ben Rome
Primary writing	Herb A. Beas II Paul Sjardijn
Pages	74
Cover Artwork	Matt Cross, David Kerber
Interior Artwork	Matt Cross, David Kerber
Publication information
Publisher	Catalyst Game Labs
Product code	E-CAT35APR23
First published	1 April 2015
MSRP	(free)
Content
Era	Dark Age
Timeline	3105
Series	April Fools releases

Welcome to the Nebula California is a humorous sourcebook and plot book, released as a free 2015 April Fools product.

The sourcebook is done in the style of an Interstellar Expeditions report on the rimward region of space known as the California Nebula. The report details several inhabited worlds that are incredible different (to the BattleTech universe) civilizations. However, the expedition also faces the inability to return to the Inner Sphere.

The sourcebook provides regional data, character creation rules, record sheets, Alpha Strike Cards, weapons/equipment rules, and units customized for this non-canon adventure.

Official Product Description

“

I Think I Feel a Song Coming On! ComStar lied! (We know: Big shock!) They said they checked out this distant rimward nebula, which ancient charts called “California” for some reason. Perhaps because someone in IE’s corporate mish­mash of a leadership didn’t trust them—or more likely because they forgot that there even was a report from the Explorer Corps—the loose confederation of explorers, prospectors, and dig gypsies who make up Interstellar Expeditions thought they’d check it out again... Contrary to an unremarkable (and uninhabited) region of stars surrounded by the dusty shell of a millions­-year-­old explosion, IE’s expedition to the California Nebula has made some startling discoveries! Welcome to the Nebula California (AKA Explorer’s Report: California Nebula) offers a few new venues for off­beat BattleTech adventures far from the hustle, bustle, and yet predictable chaos of the Dark Age­ era Inner Sphere. Here, far from known civilizations (and from HPGs!), are worlds, societies, and technologies unlike any seen back home! Special rules, back-stories,and yes, even record sheets, are included for a host of new (and hopefully unique) ...things, ready for play in your (really) advanced BattleTech and A Time of War games.

”

Content

• Explorers Report: California Nebula — Page 01
• Monsters of Iron and Fire (Short Story) — Page 03
• The Forgotten Kingdoms of Toreel — Page 07
• The Star Empire — Page 10

  Technical Specs - T-Fighter

  Technical Specs - X-Fighter

  Technical Specs - Scout Walker

  Technical Specs - Assault Transport

• Drones of Syberia — Page 13

Selected Syberian Drone Units

• Seeker-Class Fighter Mech

  Sounder-Class Wheeled Mech

  Beetle-Class Wheeled Mech

  Grimdark-Class Bestial Mech

  Tankus-Class Tracked Mech

  Leader-Class Wheeled Mech

• The Superior Humans of "Earth" — Page 19

  Circulus Oculus

  Irapuman

  Jane Grey

  Magnetman

  Scalawag

  Skunk Bear

  Spider-Lad

  Upariman

• Conclusions — Page 24
• Rules Annex — Page 25

  Castles and Critters / Roadfinder

  Force Gets Disturbed

  Till Are Won

  Earth's Haughtiest Heroes

• Record Sheets — Page 55
• Alpha Strike Data Cards — Page 66

Summarized Technical Specifications: Star Empire and People's Rebellion

• T-Fighter: The very embodiment of the phrase "Quantity over Quality", this 8-Ton Aerospace Fighter is powered by a 10-rated Fusion Engine (giving a meager 2.5G acceleration factor), "protected" by 500 kilograms of titanium plating (BAR 5), and armed with two Laser Cannons.
• X-Fighter: The People's Rebellion's favorite 30-Ton Aerospace Fighter features a 30-rated Fusion Engine (2.5G), 2 tons of titanium plating, four Laser Cannons, two Proton Torpedo Launchers with 3 shots each, and a Fighter-scale Deflector Shield. A variant exists which trades each Laser Cannon for an Inner Sphere Medium Laser, or tries to anyway.
• Scout Walker: 12-ton Scout Mech, equipped with a 75-rated Fuel Cell (giving it a top speed of 86 km/h), a Dual Small Blaster Cannon, a single Large Blaster Cannon, one Vehicular Grenade Launcher and 1.5 tons of Standard Armor.
• Assault Walker: 120-ton Superheavy QuadMech, functioning as a troop transport. It is protected by 7 tons of Industrial Armor, carries a pair of Laser Cannons and a pair of Large Blaster Cannons, has two infantry compartments (each of which can house 21 troops), and a 1-ton cargo bay which houses 5 hover bikes. A 360-rated Fusion Engine gives it a maximum speed of 54 km/h, giving the troops on board a quite uncomfortable and often deadly ride.

Notes

As an April Fools product, this PDF is explicitly considered non-canonical. The book also serves as parody book, with a number of references to favorite science fiction genres and franchises. The name of the product is a nod to the song "Hotel California" by the rock band, the Eagles.

Included in the book are sections which parody Dungeons and Dragons, Transformers, Star Wars, and both the Marvel and DC super hero universes.