BattleTech: Star League Command Lance

Today we take a look at the Star League Command Lance from Catalyst Game Labs, breaking down the force pack from the minis to the unit cards, pilot cards, and even the color used as the SLDF OD Green on the pre-painted Orion.
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00:00 - Opening
01:44 - Phoenix Hawk
08:40 - Thunder Hawk
17:10 - Atlas II
30:12 - Orion
41:00 - Reproducing the SLDF OD Green pre-paint color
44:03 - Random Thoughts
45:32 - Obligatory Patreon Plug, Patron and Sponsor Thanks
47:03 - End Credits
#battletech #catalystgamelabs #alphastrike

[@The_Other_Horror]

Thanks for the close ups of the new models. So many mold lines on that Atlas II!

[@Unicorn_Company]

To be fair, it's not the worst I have seen by far

[@HouseMasterPoDing]

Great review! I will get this box eventually. Good to see you putting out content! :)

[@Xydarc]

Can't wait to get my lance!

[@ThelemicPotter]

I generally don't like the Phoenix Hawk, but that's a super dynamic pose and decent fits.

[@Unicorn_Company]

Im generally not a Phoenix Hawk fan myself, but they did pretty good on this one, especially considering they had to incorporate the side torso gun somehow.

[@matthewpena3932]

I believe in the lore auto cannons are class sizes are just a range of weapons that does that damage output from various companies. This could be a single cannon or a multi barrel cannon.

[@Unicorn_Company]

I understand that, looking at the visual language they have been using though, the waters have been pretty muddy when it comes to autocannons, as even in this more standardized system of minis, it seems to be the only thing that keeps changing.
Overall though it is more of a personal preference thing over a matter of function.

[@catoblepasomega]

I'm very impressed with how much cleaner the sculpts have been getting. That being said, not to thrilled with the phoenix hawk. It looks like they just deleted the top half of the right jump jet to get the shoulder weapon to fit instead of redesigning it, and even so the back half of the gun seems to be 'clipping' through the jump jet in a way that's very hard for me to ignore.
Love the Thunder Hawk and Atlas II though, and I'll probably get this box at point, but the Phoenix hawk seems like a rather uncharacteristically low-effort modification of the original digital sculpt.

[@Unicorn_Company]

If you look at the back of the gun, it looks like they integrated a set of vents just below what looks like a joint to allow the gun to swivel or to raise like the old Shadow Hawk stowage position for the autocannon

[@fmailaender]

​@@Unicorn_Companyas far as I was told (i always might be wrong) That is an Hommage to the YF-1S/A Super Valkery from the Macross Series.
I personally think that is cool but also bold, because the Macross Designs were the whole entry point for the Harmony Gold desaster. I think Harmony Gold is no longer allowed to file any claims because of that licenses but I personally would be a coward and wouldn't risk it.

[@gundamzeta3447]

Remember the design is taken from Macross, this is the VF-1S Strike Valkyrie from Macross Do You Remember Love. The back packs are part thrusters and part missile pods. The Strike is a Super Valkyrie but they remove one of these missile pods and replace it with a double barreled beam cannon. That is what this phenix hawk is based off. Also note BT turned the missiles into intakes and the reason why Macross doesn’t have intakes is because these are rockets as they are used exclusively in space. The standard Valkyrie which is used in atmosphere is what BT calls the Wasp and in Macross rockets are detachable so a Valkyrie, Super Valk and Strike Valk are the same it’s just what modular components are added on the back. So a phenix hawk and a Wasp in BT are in theory the same mech but the PH has jump jets.

[@mathewkelly9968]

Just one of these for me , the Atlas II and Thunder Hawk are too niche to need more than one of . I plan to leave the Orion as is for display purposes

[@Unicorn_Company]

If you play Alpha Strike, you might be surprised to find out that there is a monster of a fire support version of the Thunderhawk the TDK-7Z that puts the longbow to shame
www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Card/9581?skill=4