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BATTLETECH: The Cataphract

Big Red-40TECH

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Necessity is the mother of all invention.

In #Battletech and #Mechwarrior, #HouseLiao, the #CapellanConfederation, was placed into such a circumstance during the latter #SuccessionWars, thanks to the efforts of their neighbours, particularly the #FreeWorldsLeague and #FederatedSuns.

The result of this is a heavy #Battlemech that performs exceptionally well, and would become a symbol for the #CCAF.

It would participate in every battle after the #4thSuccessionWar, the #Cataphract is impossible to ignore in the setting. Let's dive into this video, and find out why.

#InnerSphere #ClanInvasion #Ilclan #DarkAge #WordofBlake #StIvesCompact #FederatedCommonwealth #LyranCommonwealth #HouseSteiner #HouseDavion #HanseDavion

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Note: I am not associated with the Battletech / Mechwarrior IP, and create this under fair-use. Ownership of the Battletech IP resides with several companies at this time. I support all official releases.

20 Comments

@jasonashman9534 3 years ago

I always loved the Cataphract/Raven story arc, both because it really is the peak of "strategic wartime logistical storytelling" in the IP, and because someone was cruel enough to write in the FC takeover of the factory, which is very harsh, something that would definitely happen in a "non-fiction" battlespace, and is a gut-punch seldom written in Sci-fi lines.

@Chromevod 3 years ago

Necessity is the mother of invention, and what a fine invention it is.

@polaris88 3 years ago (edited)

Always liked the look of the cataphract and cappie mechs don't get enough love sometimes

@mojoforthewin3069 3 years ago

I’m not a big fan of the Confederation, but the Cataphract makes me understand those who are. The Capellans took a pretty much nonfunctional industrial base and a mountain of spare parts and managed to cobble together one of the era’s best mechs from sheer ingenuity.

@sharlin648 3 years ago

Its a perfectly capable 'Mech, its a good mix of weapons, its tough, and is a very good, very solid trooper, one that's had a LOT of life added to it with refits over the centuries.

@ArexusGalia 3 years ago (edited)

I just love this mech because it captures the Capellan's resourcefulness in the face of crippling setbacks. It's ugly, but it works. Beauty is no concern when survival is at stake. For the Chancellor and the Confederation! :_BRBCap::_BRBCap::_BRBCap::_BRBCap::_BRBCap::_BRBCap:

@anexistanthuman2435 3 years ago

The cataphract is honestly one of the most impressive mechs of 3025. It’s honestly on par with a warhammer or marauder and unlike them, it is made with what amounts to spare parts that the capellan confederation had little use for anyway. (What is the ccaf gonna do with marauder parts?) Glory to liao!

@Gigas0101 3 years ago

The Cataphract is what made the Capellans my favourite faction. I like how the mech was built up, alongside the Raven, as the first new designs in ages, how surprisingly well rounded the design was, and how the Federated Suns immediately stole the production facility for this thing to prevent the Capellans losing their technologically inferior underdog status.

Loved this thing in MWO and MW5, hope to grab a model and try it on the tabletop soon. Thanks for another top notch video!

@WolfHreda 2 years ago

As much as I'm not a huge fan of the Capellans, they sure know how to work with what they've got, and sometimes less.

@mrbigglezworth42 3 years ago

Imagine being one of the few nations to produce new mech designs…only to have its only factory taken from you within the same year production starts. Being a Capellan sucks, but that’s your lot in life as a Capellan.

@leeroyjenkins7325 3 years ago (edited)

One of my favourite 'Mechs looks-wise. His clone/descendant "Caesar" is an interesting design too.

@michaelallen3894 3 years ago

I love the Cataphract. I play the Capellan Confederation and mostly the Death Commandos. Thank you Red for putting out this great video!!

@YesNoMaybeOkSure 3 years ago (edited)

The FedSuns must have appreciated the Cataphract because they made their own homegrown version - The Caesar. I mean sure the Caesar was primarily a front to cover development of the Axman, but it worked out well enough that they kept producing it into at least the Jihad.

@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285 1 year ago

Not sure why I didn't mention this earlier, but the Cataphract is ~even given the relative circumstances of it's design~ a legitimately dangerously heavy; it has the armor and fire power to push out solid damage at intermediate range and respectable in short range. Definitley one of the better heavy introtech mechs.

@Ephigy17 3 years ago

I've always loved that Death Commandos colour scheme on the 'phract.

@TheStraycat74 3 years ago

Butthead: heh, heh heh, heh, Nice Ract...
Bevis: I am Cornholio, I need CATAPHRACT for my bunghole!

@gary9346 3 years ago

FOR THE REPUBLIC!

@CRAZYUNCLE117 3 years ago

It's alive, It's ALIVE!!

@BlueberryFruitshake 3 years ago

PPC, AC10, medium lasers and enough armor and heatsinks to keep it in the fight. What more could you want from a 3025 frontline heavy.
Compare it to the other heavyweight long range 2x10 damage lobbers (Warhammer & Marauder) this thing isn't an overheating mess as it will happily pump out 10 rounds of sustained fire. By the time the ammo's run out either you or your enemy should be dead, but if you really care you can drop a heatsink or ton of armor to add another bin of boom.