Welcome to the Nebula California

Welcome to the Nebula California
Product information
Type	Sourcebook/Plotbook (April Fools)
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
Followed by	Plenty of Room in the Nebula California

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 (by BattleTech universe standards) 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 noncanon 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
• Monsters of Iron and Fire (short story)
• The Forgotten Kingdoms of Toreel
• The Star Empire

  Technical Specs - T-Fighter

  Technical Specs - X-Fighter

  Technical Specs - Scout Walker

  Technical Specs - Assault Transport

• Drones of Syberia

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"

  Circulus Oculus

  Irapuman

  Jane Grey

  Magnetman

  Scalawag

  Skunk Bear

  Spider-Lad

  Upariman

• Conclusions
• Rules Annex

  Castles and Critters / Roadfinder

  Force Gets Disturbed

  Till Are Won

  Earth's Haughtiest Heroes

• Record Sheets
• Alpha Strike Data Cards

Notes

• Unlike some other an April Fools or Haloween publications, this product is explicitly considered noncanonical. It also serves as parody book, with a number of references to other popular science fiction genres and franchises. The name of the product is a nod to the song "Hotel California" by the rock band, the Eagles.
• Drone rules in Welcome to and Plenty of Room in the Nebula California served as tests for/precursors to the Automata rules in the canonical Ghosts of Obeedah.