The Lion Roars

 Posted on July 13, 2023  |   3 min  |   485 words  |   DP9 Contributors

Lion Mountaineering Gear

The Lion was rolled after the Interpolar War as a heavy strike gear. The overall design is larger than most gears of its class while also retaining a higher degree of dexterity than models such as the Grizzly. The purpose of this design is to offer an intermediary assault unit to Northern armies. The design team mounted a variety of handheld weapons, backed up by long range artillery rockets. The gear was provided with climbing equipment as well to ensure good operational mobility in the northern hemisphere.The Lion was praised by commanders everywhere for its engineered feats not previously available. But many pilots viewed it as being less versatile. Detractors pointed to its lower overall speed and performance compared to a Jaguar while simultaneously having a more limited weapon suite compared to fire support gears.Ultimately, commanders everywhere were impressed enough to push for more Lions and the production skyrocketed. In the turbulent second CEF invasion of Terra Nova, the Lion proved the northern commanders right. Its unique weapon loadout combined with its advanced integrated targeting computer demonstrated success as they went toe to toe with CEF frames. Its ability to traverse mountains and leverage its heavy fire on the enemy has proven invaluable on the UMF frontlines around Lyonesse. The pilots who’ve lived to tell their story explain a new respect for the beast.Northco has taken notice and even expanded the line, adding more weapon packages to its catalog. Commanders in the North have been begging for a command unit and they now come with Thunder and SECCOM upgrades similar to the Jaguar.

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Categories: blitz rpg hobby  Tags: HGB3.1 

Paratrooper Squads

 Posted on June 1, 2023  |   4 min  |   763 words  |   DP9 Contributors

Northern Paratroopers

The events of the Polar War caused the involved nations to reconsider many aspects of their military doctrine and organization. Some military thinkers pushed the idea that airborne forces need to be expanded beyond simple paratrooper operations. Opponents of this theory argued that the type of static warfare that such a unit would be suited for is not common enough on Terra Nova to justify its existence. The events of the CEF invasion however caused this to be revisited. Much more static, perpetual contact situations formed across the planet. This broke with the more fluid style of warfare seen in previous conflicts.Traditional paratrooper units still retain their function as large scale assault forces that can strike deep in enemy lines. They are equipped to handle any foe and hold onto territory until reinforcements arrive. This type of massed assault is not suited to breaking a defensive line however and several nations on Terra Nova have developed a solution to that.

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Categories: blitz  Tags: HGB3.1 

Unit of Renown - The Blue Angels

 Posted on May 11, 2023  |   4 min  |   656 words  |   DP9 Contributors

The 18th Heavy Gear Regiment of the NAF, known as the Blue Angels, are the ideal Norlight military regiment. Only the best of the NAF are considered for service in the Blue Angels, and even they have to make it through a grueling admission process that tests their skills and their faith. Each section has an attached Revisionist chaplain, responsible for the spiritual health and well-being of the men they serve with. The regiment holds daily services, and the chaplains take an active role in the discipline and promotions process.

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Categories: Background Blitz  Tags: Unit of Renown HGB 3.1 

Northern Metal Cats Sprint into Action

 Posted on April 13, 2023  |   3 min  |   503 words  |   DP9 Contributors

HACS-01LG-MP METAL CAT

Red Cat Cheetah

Shaian’s main claim to fame is the Cheetah, an insanely nimble but incredibly expensive recon gear that is so capable that it outshines every opponent in its class. This however led to a problem, a gear that is expensive to make and maintain and serves mainly as a dedicated EW platform is not always in high demand. Simple economics dictated that in order to survive Shaian would need something closer to the baseline.

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Categories: blitz rpg hobby  Tags: HGB3.1 HG RPG 4e 

Bearhunters Bear Arms

 Posted on March 22, 2023  |   2 min  |   403 words  |   DP9 Contributors

HACS-01MG-FU/A BEARHUNTER

Ever since the arrival of the Armored Hunter, the armorers of the 33rd HG regiment had been trying to tackle the problem of the high pilot casualty rate. Their Armored Hunters were performing poorly, and more than one mission was scrubbed because of “sudden equipment failure.” Most officers just shrugged; relieved at not having to send men out to die in underpowered tin cans, they just grabbed the nearest requisition sheet and tried to get new machines for the umpteenth time. The Armored Hunter was just far too heavy for its S-V950B engine. The powerplant performed well with the recalibrated actuators, but just could not provide enough power for fast, agile move- ments. Without the extra power, the Armored Hunter was a suicidal machine to pilot, so slow that it could be picked off by enemy Gears despite increased armor and could barely mount a counter-attack. As is often the case with military design flaws, the solution to the problem was discovered by coincidence and in the field.

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Categories: Blitz  Tags: Updates HGB 3.1 

Armored Hunter Assault!

 Posted on March 16, 2023  |   2 min  |   417 words  |   DP9 Contributors

HACS-01MG-FU ARMORED HUNTER

The “Full Armor” Hunter, also known as “the armored can,” is one of the rarest Hunter variants of all. The FU program was an attempt to create a new type of Hunter that would be able to survive anything short of the firepower of a tank. Although the resulting armored shell was fairly impervious to Gear-class weaponry, the machine proved to be about as agile as the average herding springer. Its poor perform- ance was a reflection of the extreme weight of its armor. The torso and lower legs were covered with plating that almost doubled in thickness, compared to the old Hunter plates. Both shoulders and generator housings received armored covers, and the skirts were elongated and thickened. A cast metal “helmet” was fitted on the head. The resulting machine was well protected, but it could barely move about. In recalibrating the actuators to support the higher load, the engineers were forced to slow them down to provide the required torque, severely hampering performances. The weapons were also traded for armored versions, namely the M226 armored autocannon and the RP-109A Iron Pepperbox.

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Categories: Blitz  Tags: Extended Content 

Building the Spearhead Tiger

 Posted on February 28, 2023  |   1 min  |   169 words  |   DP9 Contributors

Building your own Spearhead Tiger is thankfully very straight forward! All you need is a Tiger, and the Spearhead Parts Sprue from the DP9 web store.

Start by building the body of your Tiger as normal, with the usual legs, torso, backpack, medium rocket pack and arms. For the HAC arm, you’ll need to clip the Tiger’s hand off, or clip off the hand attached to the HAC part, then attach. Next attach the Satellite Uplink pod from the Spearhead Parts onto the shoulder opposite of the rocket pack. Finally, use the head part from the Spearhead Parts and you’re all finished!

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Categories: Hobby  Tags: Tiger 

The Spearhead Tiger's got Claws

 Posted on February 23, 2023  |   3 min  |   530 words  |   DP9 Contributors

HACS-08MG-D SPEARHEAD TIGER

The Spearhead Tiger was a development based on the successful HACS-01MG-C/A Spearhead, also known as the Spearhead Hunter. Original plans for additional Spearhead inspired designs called for augmenting the Jaguar but the Tiger was selected after Operation Icarus concluded. CEF actions during Icarus caused significant damage to UMF and Northco facilities which forced Northco to prioritize production efforts. The Jaguar production lines were stretched thin, and a flurry of new orders in preparation for the looming invasion consumed nearly a decade of future production runs. Instead of diverting Jaguars, Northco opted to change its plans for a future Spearhead design by using the Tiger instead of the Jaguar. Tiger, being an older design, already had plenty of inventory and Northco quickly implemented a Spearhead style package. The result was the Spearhead Tiger, an advanced command unit for commanders desiring a bit more durability.

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Categories: blitz rpg background  Tags: HGB3.1 

Edward Scott, Sergeant Major

 Posted on January 19, 2023  |   4 min  |   740 words  |   DP9 Contributors

Astute students of the events surrounding the Polar War will recognize the name Edward Scott. Scott served as the regimental duelist for the 67th “Harvest Wind” Gear regiment of the Northern Guard during the Polar War. The most notable actions he participated in surrounded the naval duel between the CNCS’s Vigilance and the AST’s Draco which resulted in the surrender of the latter after a duel between Scott and the traitorous Jennifer Brockton. Despite his actions Scott became a pariah to those outside his regiment. Events during the battle with the Draco saw Scott engage his regimental commander in an honor duel and kill him which forever stained his reputation. After the Polar War Scott would remain with the Northern Guard where he would serve as an instructor for young gear pilots. With the looming threat of a new invasion, Scott was recalled to the 67th for active duty where he quickly regained his position as Duelist. He would participate in the devastating Battle of Sorrento which would exhaust the Northern Guard as an offensive military force. While sifting through regimental records during the Sorrento operations, Scott learned of a secret that had been kept from him surrounding the events of Vigilance - Draco battle relating to the the Southern operative using the name Jennifer Brockton. When recovery crews salvaged the wreck of his opponent’s machine after the battle there were no remains in the cockpit.

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Categories: blitz rpg  Tags: HGB3.1 HG RPG 4e Special Character 

Building the Hunter Commando Variants

 Posted on January 3, 2023  |   2 min  |   345 words  |   DP9 Contributors

We now have two additional Hunter Commandos to play with, and thankfully they’re both pretty easy to make.

The Hunter Commando Storm is simply made from a regular Hunter Commando, with a Light Autocannon and a Light Guided Mortar attached to the backpack. You probably have ample numbers of LACs around, and maybe an extra LGM too.

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Categories: Blitz Hobby  Tags: Hunter