[BTECH] Tactical Handbook Mech Illustration

[Perry Lee]

A little question here, on the weapon stats page of the Tac Handbook,
there is a little windowbox illustration of a strange mech. I've never
seen or heard of that mech before, it's not in any Tech Readouts i've
ever seen or have, and it's design is like nothing i've ever seen. I and
my comrades have hypothesized that's its the much-maligned Biomech. It
looks quite biomechanical in appearance, with complicated hand
appendages, and bonelike protrusions. If anyone has ANY IDEA or if i am
in error, please post it here.

Quux

[Scopedog]

There's alot of 'mechs in there that don't exist... That's one of the
dumber-looking ones...

>
> Quux

[Robert Holland]

> A little question here, on the weapon stats page of the Tac Handbook,
> there is a little windowbox illustration of a strange mech. I've never
> seen or heard of that mech before, it's not in any Tech Readouts i've
> ever seen or have, and it's design is like nothing i've ever seen. I and
> my comrades have hypothesized that's its the much-maligned Biomech. It
> looks quite biomechanical in appearance, with complicated hand
> appendages, and bonelike protrusions. If anyone has ANY IDEA or if i am
> in error, please post it here.

Come to think of it, you're right--the shoulder joints especially look
organic, plus it has some sort of breather on the front of the head. It
appears to be an OmniBioMech, too--the one siluoetted behind it looks
similar, but with different weapons. Add in the fact that its left-arm
blade appears to be dripping blood and you've got a full-fledged enigma
on your hands. My best guess is that FASA turned their artists loose
with no instructions whatsoever (as per usual) and one of them actually
came up with something cool-looking (definitely NOT as per usual). Or
maybe it was supposed to be a Shadowrun picture? :)
--
| Robert Holland
\ | / a.k.a. Silverdrake
\/--/ \--\/ Co-writer/Artist, The Rare 'Mech Times
-< \ / >- http://www.cs.odu.edu/~ward_w/btech.html
\ /
|) (| "Reality is a crutch for those who can't handle
\_/ fantasy." --Marion Zimmer Bradley

[Simon H. Lee]

>on your hands. My best guess is that FASA turned their artists loose
>with no instructions whatsoever (as per usual) and one of them actually
>came up with something cool-looking (definitely NOT as per usual). Or
>maybe it was supposed to be a Shadowrun picture? :)

Hey, I like John Paul Lona's artwork :) His illos that have
recognizable 'Mechs are pretty good, right?

--
__ A L L D O N E! B Y E B Y E!
(__ * _ _ _ _
__)|| | |(_)| \ "Who monitors you?"

[Robert Holland]

> >on your hands. My best guess is that FASA turned their artists loose
> >with no instructions whatsoever (as per usual) and one of them actually
> >came up with something cool-looking (definitely NOT as per usual). Or
> >maybe it was supposed to be a Shadowrun picture? :)
>
> Hey, I like John Paul Lona's artwork :) His illos that have
> recognizable 'Mechs are pretty good, right?

Well, in general FASA's sourcebook illustrations are pretty inferior.
Flipping through the tac handbook, tho, and taking the time to search
out artist's initials, JPL's do seem to be better than average. I think
this is largely because he takes the time to shade his pictures, rather
than just scribbling solid black ink over everything like most of the
sourcebook artists.