Difference between revisions of "Totem BattleMech"
 
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==Definition==
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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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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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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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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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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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The use of a Totem Mech isn't limited to the Clans however. Many examples exist in the [[Inner Sphere]] as well. For example the ''[[JagerMech III]]'' was a part of the "Redesign for Davion Pride" project. 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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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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==Notable Examples==
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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]
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Many totem 'Mechs are named after their clan, such as the ''[[Nova Cat (OmniMech)]]''. However, a great many more are designed to 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.
 
  
 
==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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* ''[[Blood Kite]]'' - [[Clan Blood Spirit]] assault totem 'Mech.
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* ''[[Rabid Coyote]]'' - Medium Totem BattleMech for [[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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* ''[[Ebon Jaguar (Cauldron-Born)|Ebon Jaguar]]'' - Also known as the "Cauldron-Born", a Heavy totem 'Mech for [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]].
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====Clan Jade Falcon====
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* ''[[Eyrie]]'' - Light totem 'Mech for the revival of Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Eyrie]]'' - Light totem BattleMech for the revival of Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Fire Scorpion]]'' - [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]] heavy class.
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* ''[[Gyrfalcon]]'' - Medium totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Grizzly]]'' - [[Clan Ghost Bear]] totem second-line Heavy 'Mech.
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* ''[[Jade Phoenix]]'' - Assault totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Gyrfalcon]]'' - Medium totem 'Mech for Clan Jade Falcon.
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* ''[[Shrike]]'' - Assault 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 Hawk]]'' - Heavy totem BattleMech for Clan Jade Falcon.
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====Clan Goliath Scorpion====
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* ''[[Kodiak]]'' - Totem BattleMech for Clan Ghost Bear.
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* ''[[Fire Scorpion]]'' - [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]] heavy BattleMech.
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* ''[[Mandrill]]'' - [[Clan Fire Mandrill]]'s Totem Light 'Mech, the first Totem 'Mech to be produced.
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* ''[[Nova Cat (OmniMech)|Nova Cat]]'' - [[Clan Nova Cat]]'s premier heavy 'Mech.
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====Clan Fire Mandrill====
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* ''[[Scylla]]'' - Totem Assault 'Mech for [[Clan Steel Viper]].
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* ''[[Mandrill]]'' - [[Clan Fire Mandrill]] light totem BattleMech, the first Totem 'Mech to be produced.
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* ''[[Shadow Cat]]'' - Clan Nova Cat main medium totem OmniMech.
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* ''[[Howler (Baboon)|Howler]]'' - Light totem BattleMech for Clan Fire Mandrill
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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 Ghost Bear====
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* ''[[Tiburon]]'' - [[Clan Sea Fox]] light totem BattleMech.
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* ''[[Kodiak]]'' - Totem BattleMech for [[Clan Ghost Bear]].
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* ''[[Tundra Wolf]]'' - Late [[Jihad]]-period [[Clan Wolf]] heavy totem 'Mech.
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* ''[[Turkina]]'' - Older assault class totem BattleMech design from Clan Jade Falcon.
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====Clan Wolf====
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* ''[[Warwolf]]'' - Clan Wolf's heavy companion to the ''Wulfen''.
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* ''[[Warwolf]]'' - Heavy Totem OmniMech for [[Clan Wolf]].
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* ''[[Wulfen]]'' - Clan Wolf's light totem BattleMech.
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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]

Retrieved from "https://www.sarna.net/wiki/index.php?title=Totem_BattleMech&oldid=1073113"