Unseen

The Unseen is a term used for some of the first BattleMech designs from the original game. These designs, longtime favorites of BattleTech fans, were based on mecha found in the Japanese anime series' Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Fang of the Sun Dougram and Crusher Joe.

Legal difficulties prohibited FASA from displaying any more pictures depicting these 'Mechs, although they were often freely mentioned in novels and books, and their rules remained legal. Thus, these 'Mechs remained unseen until the publication of Technical Readout: Project Phoenix, which presented "redesigns", allowing them to be used freely once again.

On 24 June, 2009, it was announced that Catalyst Game Labs had secured the permissions needed to utilize the original "unseen" artwork for these designs again.

On 25 June, 2013, Piranha Games announced four "unseen" 'Mechs to be included in MechWarrior Online: The Locust, Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt, Battlemaster, and as of 29 August, 2013 in what is dubbed as the "Saber Package", the Griffin, and the Wolverine. The designs more closely resemble their original artwork than the "Reseen" re-designs.

Shortly after the return of the "unseen" BattleMechs was announced, the BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction PDF was pulled from circulation. Managing editor Randall Bills made a statement on Catalyst Game Labs' website on August 10th, 2009 explaining the move. An error was made in negotiating the distribution rights for some of the images. Twelve Unseen images, those originating from Macross, were again pulled from circulation and will remain unseen, due to their exclusive distribution rights (within the United States) belonging to another company (Harmony Gold). Whether or not these images will be licensed or purchased in the future remains to be seen. The tone of the article was doubtful.

The Unseen 'Mechs, and their origins, are:

From Crusher Joe

• Ostall

Locust :Reseen as of Record Sheets: Operation Klondike

Locust IIC

• Siren

Corsair AeroSpace Fighter :Reseen as of Record Sheets: Operation Klondike

• Harpy

Samurai AerosSpace Fighter

• Mix of Siren and Harpy

Sparrowhawk AeroSpace Fighter

• Galleon Tank

Galleon Tank

• Minerva

Leopard DropShip

From Macross

• VF-1 Valkyrie
  

This 'Mech from the Super Dimension Fortress Macross series normally transformed into the three combat modes recognized in BattleTech by Land Air 'Mechs. Within the BattleTech game this one vehicle was split into distinct non-transformable 'Mechs models and LAM models. The LAMs, true to their artistic origin, could transform into aerospace fighter, hybrid, and 'Mech mode.

Stinger VF-1A

Stinger LAM - LAM model of above, illustrated in LAM or Hybrid mode

Wasp VF-1S

Wasp LAM - LAM model of above illustrated in LAM or Hybrid mode

Super Wasp

Valkyrie VF-1S

Phoenix Hawk - VF-1S with FAST Packs

Phoenix Hawk IIC - VF-1S :Reseen under a new agreement

Phoenix Hawk LAM - LAM model of above illustrated in LAM or Hybrid mode

Crusader - Armored VF-1A,

Falcon :Reseen as of Record Sheets: Operation Klondike (From BattleDroids)

Firebee (From BattleDroids)

Hornet (From BattleDroids)

• Zentraedi "Regult" Tactical Battle Pod

Ostroc :Reseen as of Historical Turning Points: Misery

Ostsol

Ostscout - Regult Scout Pod

• HWR-00-Mk. II Monster Heavy Weight Destroid

Behemoth

• MBR-07-Mk II Spartan Main Battle Destroid

Archer

• MBR-04-Mk VI Tomahawk Main Battle Destroid

Warhammer

Warhammer IIC :Reseen under a new agreement

• MBR-04-Mk X Defender Anti-Aircraft Defense Destroid

Rifleman

Rifleman IIC :Reseen under a new agreement

• SDR-04-Mk XII Phalanx Space Defense Destroid

Longbow

• Zentraedi "Glaug" Officer's Battle Pod

Marauder

Marauder II

Marauder IIC :Reseen under a new agreement

From Dougram

• Dougram

Shadow Hawk :Reseen as of Record Sheets: Operation Klondike

Shadow Hawk IIC :Reseen under a new agreement

• H8 Roundfacer

Griffin :Reseen as of Record Sheets: Operation Klondike

Griffin IIC :Reseen under a new agreement

• F35C Blizzard Gunner

Scorpion

• T10B Blockhead

Wolverine

• F4X Ironfoot

Thunderbolt :Reseen as of Record Sheets: Operation Klondike and Historical Turning Points: Galtor

• F44A Crab Gunner

Goliath

• HT128 Bigfoot

Battlemaster

Battlemaster IIC :Reseen under a new agreement

From Victor Musical Industries

These have been temporary Unseen, until becoming Reseen.

Conjurer (Hellhound)

Glass Spider (Galahad)

Howler (Baboon)

Bane (Kraken)

Vapor Eagle (Goshawk)

Black Python (Viper)

Stone Rhino (Behemoth)

Incubus (Vixen)

Raijin

Grand Crusader

Nexus