Battletech - Also known as Trannytech

[Balr0g]

Not to mention the fact that they were selling Second line Mechs to the IS (Ha Otoko, Mad Cat Mk2). The Sharks state "Hey the warrior not the machine makes the result. and we will defend our deals by taken anyone on using only second line machines". The Falcons take them on and loose. The Sharks are shitposter with the balls to back up their talking

Oh and treatment of freeborns: the Blood Spirits and Star Adders (both Crusaders) also treat their freeborn well. The Spirits even treat their Freeborn warriors like Trueborn warriors. And the Adders have a so called Adjutant system which helps keeping a finger on the pulse of their civilians.

 

[Snekposter]

Not to mention the fact that they were selling Second line Mechs to the IS (Ha Otoko, Mad Cat Mk2). The Sharks state "Hey the warrior not the machine makes the result. and we will defend our deals by taken anyone on using only second line machines". The Falcons take them on and loose. The Sharks are shitposter with the balls to back up their talking

Best part is when all the Clans forgot about this little thing called "logistics" during the Clan Invasion, and all their garrison forces wound up desperate for supplies. Enter Clan Diamond Shark's Merchant Caste, soundly rejected by all "true" warriors for entering before their Clan's Warriors, but for those stuck on a backwater with unruly barbarians doing unruly barbarian things like fighting even they've lost, a literal lifesaver.

It really says a lot about how resilient Clan Sea Fox/Diamond Shark is that they bounced back from knockout blows over and over. Lose their totem animal? Screw it, we'll pick a new one. Get completely bodied on Tukayyid? Call in one of our best retired guys and give him carte blanche to rebuild the touman.

Best part is when he went form retiree to Star Colonel in a single Trial thanks to how the Sharks handled their reservist callups. See, unlike the rest of the Clans, their warriors actually get to call it quits when they're too old instead of getting sent to die as a solahma, so unlike most Clans they have an actual emergency reserve of manpower. Now, how its usually done is you can automatically join back up at your prior rank minus one, or choose to test out for your old one. Or if someone decides to challenge you to a Trial over the right to rejoin... you get to join at their rank. The dude in charge of all that got challenged by an angry Star Colonel pissed that a merchant of all Castes was organizing things, and ended up getting his ass handed to him by an old retiree. That of course was justification for him to rejoin at Star Colonel, since he had just defeated a Star Colonel in a trial.

As to the Blood Spirits, they're just weird and insular, and ended up getting Annihilated because nobody liked them. Turns out that being sympathetic to the Wolverines and their argument of "Nicholas Kerensky is a fucking dickhead." doesn't win you a lot of fans among the other Clans.

Also, Clan Blood Snow Raven is an interesting one. Insular, but they have WarShips and dedicated naval Bloodnames. Presumably given their fleet they would have to have a rather above-average view of the Scientists and Technicians. I mean, it ain't a Warrior's job to make sure those fusion drives don't overload.

 

[More AWS-8Q Than You]

Not to mention the fact that they were selling Second line Mechs to the IS (Ha Otoko, Mad Cat Mk2). The Sharks state "Hey the warrior not the machine makes the result. and we will defend our deals by taken anyone on using only second line machines". The Falcons take them on and loose. The Sharks are shitposter with the balls to back up their talking

Oh and treatment of freeborns: the Blood Spirits and Star Adders (both Crusaders) also treat their freeborn well. The Spirits even treat their Freeborn warriors like Trueborn warriors. And the Adders have a so called Adjutant system which helps keeping a finger on the pulse of their civilians.

As to the Blood Spirits, they're just weird and insular, and ended up getting Annihilated because nobody liked them. Turns out that being sympathetic to the Wolverines and their argument of "Nicholas Kerensky is a fucking dickhead." doesn't win you a lot of fans among the other Clans.

The Blood Spirits were my favorite Homeworld Clan, just because of their ethos of frugality. The Stooping Hawk is one of my favorite clan mechs.

 

[Corn Flakes]

I tend to play Ghost Bear, but I also really like the Sharks. Can't really go wrong with the Happy Merchant Clan. The closest the Clans ever got to common sense.

The Blood Spirits were my favorite Homeworld Clan, just because of their ethos of frugality. The Stooping Hawk is one of my favorite clan mechs.

Blood Kite for me. There's something charming about that thing. It's so uncompromisingly brutal. Just a goddamn box on legs, bristling with the most straightforward, all-bracket weapons the Clans have. Plus some SRM-4s for flavor. No subtlety, no elegance, no style, just an isolated Clan making do with what little resources they had.

 

[More AWS-8Q Than You]

I tend to play Ghost Bear, but I also really like the Sharks. Can't really go wrong with the Happy Merchant Clan. The closest the Clans ever got to common sense.


Blood Kite for me. There's something charming about that thing. It's so uncompromisingly brutal. Just a goddamn box on legs, bristling with the most straightforward, all-bracket weapons the Clans have. Plus some SRM-4s for flavor. No subtlety, no elegance, no style, just an isolated Clan making do with what little resources they had.

I think that's what it is. No pretense, just the way Clans are supposed to be, the pilot not the machine, no wasting resources when you don't have to, etc. They had character and the surviving Homeworld Clans don't have much of that.

 

[TFT-A9]

Blood Kite for me. There's something charming about that thing. It's so uncompromisingly brutal. Just a goddamn box on legs, bristling with the most straightforward, all-bracket weapons the Clans have. Plus some SRM-4s for flavor. No subtlety, no elegance, no style, just an isolated Clan making do with what little resources they had.

3 ERLL
3 LRM15
3 SRM4
3/5/3 movement

 

[Deepthoughts]

So if a nerd wanted to read up on Battletech lore, whats a good book to start with that doesn't read like a 12 year old who just hit puberty?

 

[TFT-A9]

So if a nerd wanted to read up on Battletech lore, whats a good book to start with that doesn't read like a 12 year old who just puberty?

I'd say steer away from anything involving the Black Thorns/Jeremiah Rose. And Far Country does not exist.

 

[Snekposter]

3 ERLL
3 LRM15
3 SRM4
3/5/3 movement

But five is right out. So you're never running in that 'Mech.
Also, not a Blood Spirit 'Mech, but since it was made to piss them off, dropping it here.
https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Blood_Asp
It was either that or the Deimos as my go-to in MW4 Mercs late-game (obviously I installed the MekPaks, who didn't?). I used the Blood Asp as a Hunchback IIC that didn't explode when looked at and the Deimos for general fire support. Six Clan UAC/2 is the closest you can get to BRRRRT in a MechWarrior game without having weapons that jam more reliably than the L85.

So if a nerd wanted to read up on Battletech lore, whats a good book to start with that doesn't read like a 12 year old who just hit puberty?

Michael A. Stackpole wrote a pair of trilogies. First one is the Warrior Trilogy (En Garde, Riposte, Coup) and its about the Fourth Succession War and covers the expected names and events that a newbie needs to learn about. Second is during the Clan Invasion (Lethal Heritage, Blood Legacy, Lost Destiny) and does the same thing. The first one gets a little weird at times due to how casually the Steiners are of swapping faces around for people (big red light is when a LOKI agent wishes he could be allowed to die with his actual face). If you've read any of his X-Wing stuff, its the same quality (or a bit better IMO due to the fact he focuses more on characters than in X-Wing), so they're good reads and they cover some pretty big events.

 

[Corn Flakes]

Michael A. Stackpole wrote a pair of trilogies. First one is the Warrior Trilogy (En Garde, Riposte, Coup) and its about the Fourth Succession War and covers the expected names and events that a newbie needs to learn about. Second is during the Clan Invasion (Lethal Heritage, Blood Legacy, Lost Destiny) and does the same thing. The first one gets a little weird at times due to how casually the Steiners are of swapping faces around for people (big red light is when a LOKI agent wishes he could be allowed to die with his actual face). If you've read any of his X-Wing stuff, its the same quality (or a bit better IMO due to the fact he focuses more on characters than in X-Wing), so they're good reads and they cover some pretty big events.

And just to address the meme, Michael Stackpole is infamous for writing 'mechs and their fusion engines detonating like mini-nukes (see: MechWarrior 4's 'mech explosions for a reasonable example). To the point everybody just calls it "Stackpoling".

In truth, it very rarely happens in-universe. With how BattleTech fusion engines are described, all that happens when you breach one is that air rushes into the reaction chamber, comes into contact with the superheated walls, and rushes back out as a gush of plasma. It looks impressive, but it's not going to damage anything other than the reactor itself. You can overload a reactor until it explodes, and under very specific circumstances it can detonate by itself, but it's not what Mr. Stackpole does.

All that said, I second those recommendations.

 

[TFT-A9]

And just to address the meme, Michael Stackpole is infamous for writing 'mechs and their fusion engines detonating like mini-nukes (see: MechWarrior 4's 'mech explosions for a reasonable example). To the point everybody just calls it "Stackpoling".

In truth, it very rarely happens in-universe. With how BattleTech fusion engines are described, all that happens when you breach one is that air rushes into the reaction chamber, comes into contact with the superheated walls, and rushes back out as a gush of plasma. It looks impressive, but it's not going to damage anything other than the reactor itself. You can overload a reactor until it explodes, and under very specific circumstances it can detonate by itself, but it's not what Mr. Stackpole does.

All that said, I second those recommendations.

Stackpoling as SCIENCE! tier physics is dumb but it fits into a game universe where MG ammo sitting in a bin is effectively equal to its weight in plastic explosives for destructive power

(seriously MG ammo cookoff damage is STUPID in BT)

 

[Snekposter]

Will point out that said plasma effect can and will scorch shit that's nearby due to being superheated plasma, even if it isn't said catastrophic Stackpole, so it isn't exactly all fun and games if a reactor does get holed.

EDIT: Apparently MG ammo has a kiloton-level yield given how much damage it does when it explodes, so you need to revise those numbers upward a little.

 

[TFT-A9]

Will point out that said plasma effect can and will scorch shit that's nearby due to being superheated plasma, even if it isn't said catastrophic Stackpole, so it isn't exactly all fun and games if a reactor does get holed.

Oh absolutely but you're talking at most some shrapnel damage and a fair amount of heat to anything in same hex/adjacent hexes perhaps, not a goddamn nuke

 

[Corn Flakes]

I've already sperged at length about MG ammo cook-offs in this thread so I'll spare further sperging.

Needless to say, I just started assuming that 'Mechs in Stackpole's universe come with a built-in 1-ton allotment of emergency MG ammo inside the engine casing, and that's what goes off when one of his 'Mechs go nuclear. Why? Call it an emergency engine ejection system. Someone thought that would be useful back when the Mackie was first designed and now they all come with one pre-installed as factory default. Blame General Motors or something.

 

[Snekposter]

You're not wrong, and I believe there's optional rules about infantry in adjacent hexes needing to roll for damage in case of breach because of that. Its not enough to harm anything heavier like a CV or even battle armor, but it is a thing. It was also in response to CF and not you, you posting right before I did, even before the notification about new posts could pop up.

And Stackpole did at least own up to that, going so far as to have it be a plot point in a short story he wrote for a compilation of various authors. Granted its set in modern Syria and not the Sphere, but its basically a pastiche of his various BT writings in an entertaining read that ends with the glow-in-the-darks getting egg on their faces. Forget the name of the story itself, but the book its part of is called "Armored!", and is all about well, armored infantry.

 

[Capsaicin Addict]

However, for all the jokes about Stackpole's exploding fusion engines, he does write a fair stick. I also recommend the Gray Death Legion trilogy (Decision at Thunder Rift, Mercenary's Star, The Price of Glory).

Wolves on the Border was my first BT novel and I rather liked it, as it was a good look into the Combine. It occurs before the 4th Succession War, so it kinda transpires around the same time as Stackpole's Warrior Trilogy.

While Far Country gets a lot of shit, at least it has the courtesy to occur 'off the grid' and it doesn't really affect the greater BT-verse. Ideal War, on the other hand, is widely reviled as one of the worst BT novels written.

The Camacho's Caballero's novels tend to be a bit over the top (looking at you, Cassie Suthorn) but Close Quarters, Hearts of Chaos, and Black Dragon are fun reads.

Loren Coleman took a lot of flak over the mess with Catalyst's finances (though I stand by my assertion it was more incompetence and less criminal). But full credit to Coleman for his House Hiritsu duology (Threads of Ambition, The Killing Fields) for making Capellans interesting.

 

[TFT-A9]

Blame General Motors or something.

Hey I love my Marauder and Blackjack

 

[Corn Flakes]

You're not wrong, and I believe there's optional rules about infantry in adjacent hexes needing to roll for damage in case of breach because of that. Its not enough to harm anything heavier like a CV or even battle armor, but it is a thing. It was also in response to CF and not you, you posting right before I did, even before the notification about new posts could pop up.

And Stackpole did at least own up to that, going so far as to have it be a plot point in a short story he wrote for a compilation of various authors. Granted its set in modern Syria and not the Sphere, but its basically a pastiche of his various BT writings in an entertaining read that ends with the glow-in-the-darks getting egg on their faces. Forget the name of the story itself, but the book its part of is called "Armored!", and is all about well, armored infantry.

I was replying to Zippocat as well (since he mentioned MG ammo detonations first) and I forgot to quote it.

Anyway, if you find that story again, please share the name here. I'm curious, and for all the shit I give Stackpole, I really like his stuff.

Hey I love my Marauder and Blackjack

My bad, the Mackie used a Hermes 360. So... blame Skobel Mechworks or something.

 

[TFT-A9]

I was replying to Zippocat as well (since he mentioned MG ammo detonations first) and I forgot to quote it.

Anyway, if you find that story again, please share the name here. I'm curious, and for all the shit I give Stackpole, I really like his stuff.


My bad, the Mackie used a Hermes 360. So... blame Skobel Mechworks or something.

Yeah fuck those guys

This message brought to you by GM with special thanks from Vlar.

GM - Fuck you, we make Marauders.

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

You're not wrong, and I believe there's optional rules about infantry in adjacent hexes needing to roll for damage in case of breach because of that. Its not enough to harm anything heavier like a CV or even battle armor, but it is a thing. It was also in response to CF and not you, you posting right before I did, even before the notification about new posts could pop up.

The optional rules for exploding fusion reactors actually give those things quite a hefty punch that also affects the surrounding hexes to a lesser degree. The damage depends on the engine rating, but this only happens when you take 4 engine hits in one turn and roll a check with a to-hit of like 9 or 10.