Catalyst Announces New Kickstarter To Bring Clan Invasion To New Box Sets

Timber Wolf

It looks like the new box sets Catalyst released earlier this year (technically last year, but they got a little held up) sold pretty well. So well, in fact, that not even six months later Catalyst is planning a big expansion. And there’s only one thing that could make an even bigger splash than the arrival of the new box sets.

Clan-Invasion-box-render

Is it the Clans? It’s the Clans, isn’t it? It’s totally the Clans.

Yes, the Clan Invasion is about to come to BattleTech: A Game Of Armored Combat. Only it won’t be coming in the same way the box did. Catalyst will be paying for BattleTech’s first expansion by crowdfunding it on Kickstarter, which is another first for the BattleTech board game.

As you’d expect, the Clan Invasion will add brand new Clan ‘Mech models redesigned in the same awesome way as with the original box set’s minis. According to Catalyst’s recent update, the new ‘Mechs will hold “to the spirit of their original design while embracing a modern aesthetic.”

So what do we know so far? First, there will be the core Clan Invasion expansion, which will include 5 new minis, one of which is the iconic Timber Wolf (or Mad Cat, if you’re a Spheroid). This expansion will also contain added documentation for the new Clan tech, new maps, “and more.” 

courtesy of Catalyst Games

Next will be two smaller Clan expansion packs modeled after a Clan star. The Command Star Expansion was pictured on Catalyst’s page and looks to include a Summoner (Thor), Shadow Cat, Mist Lynx (Koshi), Dire Wolf (Daishi), and Stormcrow (Ryoken). The Attack Star Expansion wasn’t pictured, but we’re told it contains a Warhawk (Masakari) and a Nova Cat, as well as three more.

That leaves a lot of Invasion-era ‘Mechs unaccounted for. Off the top of my head, there’s the Fire Moth (Dasher), Kit Fox (Uller), Nova (Black Hawk), Viper (Dragonfly), Mad Dog (Vulture), Hellbringer (Loki), Ice Ferret (Fenris), Gargoyle (Man O’ War), and Executioner (Gladiator), which conveniently would slot into the 9 Clan ‘Mechs still to be confirmed in the Clan expansion.

courtesy of Catalyst Games

As much as people will be excited for the Clans, we know they’ll be equally excited (if not more excited) to see more Unseen ‘Mechs return to BattleTech. Two Inner Sphere lances will feature lost designs, with the Command Lance shown to include the Marauder, Archer, Valkyrie, and Stinger, while the Attack Lance is said to have the Phoenix Hawk and Warhammer.

Still no sign of the Rifleman, but maybe it’ll be one of the other two chassis in the Attack Lance.

The Kickstarter starts on July 17th, and will include stretch goals for even more Inner Sphere and Clan ‘Mechs. There will also be other stuff, such as “exciting new BattleTech merchandise, the latest rulebooks, sourcebooks, boxed sets, and more!” As expected, details are scant on what will fit where, but you can expect to find out more (and likely discover the full roster of ‘Mech designs) once the Kickstarter begins next month.

For more details, check out Catalyst’s webpage here.

And as always, MechWarrior: Stay Syrupy.

stay syrupy

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About Sean

Hooked on BattleTech at an early age, Sean honestly can't remember whether it was the cartoon, the serial novels or the short-lived TCG that did him in. Whatever it was, his passion for giant shooty robots never died, so now he writes about the latest and greatest in 'Mech related news.

5 thoughts on “Catalyst Announces New Kickstarter To Bring Clan Invasion To New Box Sets

  1. Henning Boessler

    On the Patreon page of Anthony Scroggins, who designed the mechs, there are also picts of a Nova, Executioner, Rifleman an Wasp Mechs. So, hopefully, these will be included as well in some of the packs in the Kickstarter.

    Reply
  2. Wick

    I rather wish the Mist Lynx was scaled better. It looks much too large in comparison to the Stormcrow and Summoner.

    I like how the Command Star is almost Smoke Jaguar-ish. I only wish they’d have swapped out the Summoner for a Mad Dog, and instead used the Summoner in a Jade Falcon-ish Attack Star to give two opposing views of the invading Clans (one each of the Draconis and FedCom perspectives.) This would have worked out well since if the Inner Sphere Command Lance passes for FedCom and the Battle Lance has two very popular DCMS mechs already between the Phoenix Hawk and Warhammer (adding a Jenner or Panther would seal it)

    Any word on pricing or if arms move and torsos swivel?

    Reply
    1. Geont

      Ad pricing you have to wait for July 17th as there weren’t any info about it posted.
      Ad actual minis I expect the same quality as in case of Begginner Box and AGoAC Box so no moveable parts (although some minis were multiparts and if the glue was very thin then it could be done). I don’t expect sprues of minis as these are intended to sell as one-piece for easy use by new players and in line with boardgame design.

      Reply
    2. Daniel Cooney

      They make a box full of new style Smoke Jaguar mechs but we have no new Dragon, Panther, or Jenner mechs to match them against? Catalyst what are you doing to us!

      Reply
  3. Daniel Cooney

    I’m looking forward to the new releases, but I wish they’d developed the 3rd Succession War era mechs before moving on to the Clans. Hopefully they will make variants like Ironwind Metals special edition Shadowhawk-2K. I’d love to see specific minis for the Wolverine-6M or the Griffin-1S done in the new style. Perhaps in House lance box, I want a Dervish sized to match the other 55 ton mechs.

    Reply

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