BattleTech
- Thread starter Nerroth
- Start date
Out of curiosity, has anyone ever looked at the Empires Aflame adventure module? Basically an interesting "what if" variant of the BT timeline in which the Exodus never occurred, because General Kerensky was assassinated before he could fully organize it. The SLDF chose to stay behind and try to resurrect the Hegemony, so no Clans and no ComStar. Among other changes. 
I doubt it would ever happen, but I would very much like to see a "full" sourcebook which delved into the Empires Aflame setting in greater detail.
As it happens, a number of the upcoming force packs are going to be useful in that alternate universe. There is set to be a Level II pack of Celestial OmniMechs, as well as a plastic kit for the Ares superheavy tripod; both types of unit are noted as entering service with the TSDF in the late-31st and mid-32nd centuries respectively.
As it happens, a number of the upcoming force packs are going to be useful in that alternate universe. There is set to be a Level II pack of Celestial OmniMechs, as well as a plastic kit for the Ares superheavy tripod; both types of unit are noted as entering service with the TSDF in the late-31st and mid-32nd centuries respectively.
BattleTech Universe, the introductory sourcebook mentioned as being in development earlier in this thread, has recently been made available as a PDF. Meanwhile, print copies of this volume are reportedly making their way to various FLGSs.
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This 280-page book - which is in full colour, and which is generously illustrated with art both old and new - is broadly divided into two parts.
The first part provides a broad overview of the future-of-the-80s history of BattleTech, from the dawn of JumpShip travel through to the onset of the current era of the ilClan.
The second part provides an overview of those factions which have persisted, in one form or another, through to the early 3150s: the five Successor States; the Clans; the major Periphery realms; and the most (in)famous mercenary regiments.
A series of asides take a closer look at certain BattleTechnologies (such as BattleMechs, Elemental suits, and neurohelmets) and other details along the way.
While no fewer than 13 maps depict the ebb and flow of borders across the Inner Sphere and near Periphery, covering a range of dates from 2765 through to 3151.
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Personally, I do admit that there are a few details here and there which aren't covered that would have been "nice-to-haves", but nothing deal-breaking by any stretch of the imagination.
Well, there is one major thing: this book does not offer an index of reference works - sourcebooks, novels, etc. - through which those finished with reading this volume could refer to, so as to delve more deeply into the universe.
And, to be clear, there are no actual rules in this book. Indeed, the goal here is to provide a rules-agnostic way of helping those getting into the setting for the first time, or perhaps those who might find themselves returning after an extended absence, get caught up with things.
Even so, I would strongly recommend anyone who might find themselves in either category to give this book a try.
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This 280-page book - which is in full colour, and which is generously illustrated with art both old and new - is broadly divided into two parts.
The first part provides a broad overview of the future-of-the-80s history of BattleTech, from the dawn of JumpShip travel through to the onset of the current era of the ilClan.
The second part provides an overview of those factions which have persisted, in one form or another, through to the early 3150s: the five Successor States; the Clans; the major Periphery realms; and the most (in)famous mercenary regiments.
A series of asides take a closer look at certain BattleTechnologies (such as BattleMechs, Elemental suits, and neurohelmets) and other details along the way.
While no fewer than 13 maps depict the ebb and flow of borders across the Inner Sphere and near Periphery, covering a range of dates from 2765 through to 3151.
-----
Personally, I do admit that there are a few details here and there which aren't covered that would have been "nice-to-haves", but nothing deal-breaking by any stretch of the imagination.
Well, there is one major thing: this book does not offer an index of reference works - sourcebooks, novels, etc. - through which those finished with reading this volume could refer to, so as to delve more deeply into the universe.
And, to be clear, there are no actual rules in this book. Indeed, the goal here is to provide a rules-agnostic way of helping those getting into the setting for the first time, or perhaps those who might find themselves returning after an extended absence, get caught up with things.
Even so, I would strongly recommend anyone who might find themselves in either category to give this book a try.
Mechwarrior 5: Clans is coming out this week on the 17th, almost forgot about it.
Too bad my weekend is completely booked but even worse is i have to play Smoke Jaguars!
I just hope they will unlock other Clans soon by DLC and fingers massively crossed they'll release the Battle of Tukayyid at some point, i am so itching to play this.
Too bad my weekend is completely booked but even worse is i have to play Smoke Jaguars!
I just hope they will unlock other Clans soon by DLC and fingers massively crossed they'll release the Battle of Tukayyid at some point, i am so itching to play this.
Operation Revival!
And is that the bombing of Edo they have shown??? If so.. damn
God that looks amazing.
My predictions, rampant speculation ahead:
I bet we're going to see Jayden and his star, being fresh-faced Jaguar warriors, straining at some of the brutality of the Smoke Jaguars and Galaxy Commander Perez in particular. I think not only will we see the bombing of Edo but we're going to have a significant role in enabling it, and in the aftermath we'll have the chance to make the one main narrative decision in the game.
There's a glimpse of a mustached Wolf's Dragoons officer that kiiind of looks like Jaime Wolf but too young for the Clan Invasion - I bet it's Mackenzie Wolf. And the elderly woman that appears for a moment and says "We could use more skilled warriors" - could that be Natasha Kerensky?
I wonder if we're going to be presented with a branching story right after the bombing of Turtle Bay. Jayden and the Star will be able to stick with the Jaguars or be taken as bondsmen or straight-up defect, and wind up with the Dragoons. Maybe at Wolcott? And then we'll play the Battle of Luthien either with the Jaguars or the Dragoons. Perhaps if we defect, one of the Star won't do it so we'll have a lance?
There's a glimpse of a mustached Wolf's Dragoons officer that kiiind of looks like Jaime Wolf but too young for the Clan Invasion - I bet it's Mackenzie Wolf. And the elderly woman that appears for a moment and says "We could use more skilled warriors" - could that be Natasha Kerensky?
I wonder if we're going to be presented with a branching story right after the bombing of Turtle Bay. Jayden and the Star will be able to stick with the Jaguars or be taken as bondsmen or straight-up defect, and wind up with the Dragoons. Maybe at Wolcott? And then we'll play the Battle of Luthien either with the Jaguars or the Dragoons. Perhaps if we defect, one of the Star won't do it so we'll have a lance?
I've played the opening tutorial now and the first mission of the proper campaign. The game feels so good, even though it's a little bit of a strain on my PC. Similar to MW5 Mercs but... slicker, sleeker, just more advanced in general.
Most of all though, the cinematics are *so* good for a Mechwarrior game. And they're packed with so much lore that checks out with everything on the Sarna wiki, it's crazy. The dialogue is working really well too. Quiaff, Quineg, no contractions (except Liam), intentionally-stilted speech by Jayden and the rest - it feels just alien enough. And the music/soundscape is both an obvious callback to Mechwarrior 2 and also doing its own thing - instead of the rock/heavy metal of Mercenaries, it sounds alien and mysterious, with shades of Hans Zimmer's Dune in the best way.
Can't wait to play more!
Agreed.
Turtle Bay is a given because i'm 99% sure it was shown in parts in the launch trailer and the game keeps close to the lore. The cutscenes, chief amongst them Leo Showers informing the Khan's about Outbound Light and starting Operation Revival, are amazing.
It's all there too - being able to tinker with your Mechs, a little strategy part in requesting/assigning Techs and Scientists but the Mech Combat is awesome as always. PPC shots look a little weird though.
One drawback i have is that it is bugged, i have played a couple of regular missions now and the game crashed hard 3 times already, once during my Trial of Position which meant i had to redo it
Turtle Bay is a given because i'm 99% sure it was shown in parts in the launch trailer and the game keeps close to the lore. The cutscenes, chief amongst them Leo Showers informing the Khan's about Outbound Light and starting Operation Revival, are amazing.
It's all there too - being able to tinker with your Mechs, a little strategy part in requesting/assigning Techs and Scientists but the Mech Combat is awesome as always. PPC shots look a little weird though.
One drawback i have is that it is bugged, i have played a couple of regular missions now and the game crashed hard 3 times already, once during my Trial of Position which meant i had to redo it
( laughed out loud though when my 3rd Opponent with a Timber Wolf barged in and the game just assumed i'm in no position to defeat him and just ends the trial )
)
I got my physical copy and have read through some of it. I think it's pretty decent in terms of catching newer players up on the basics of the timeline and the factions, although with the former being so long and there being so many of the latter it means there's a lot of ground to cover.
I did find it interesting that Clan Stone Lion doesn't get much of a mention, since they're the smallest Home Clan, and the others still in the homeworlds (the Star Adders, Cloud Cobras, and Coyotes) are grouped as "lost" Clans alongside those who were destroyed or absorbed over time, like the Mongooses and the Steel Vipers.And I kind of get that, given that the Wars of Reaving resulted in the Home Clans cutting themselves off from the "taint" of the Inner Sphere and the Adders have been doing their best to keep the borders closed. But in some ways it also feels weird, since these Clans are still active. Just not in the Inner Sphere where the main story focus is.
I still need to read through more of mine, though.
I got my physical copy and have read through some of it. I think it's pretty decent in terms of catching newer players up on the basics of the timeline and the factions, although with the former being so long and there being so many of the latter it means there's a lot of ground to cover.
And I kind of get that, given that the Wars of Reaving resulted in the Home Clans cutting themselves off from the "taint" of the Inner Sphere and the Adders have been doing their best to keep the borders closed. But in some ways it also feels weird, since these Clans are still active. Just not in the Inner Sphere where the main story focus is.
I still need to read through more of mine, though.
There is a channel on YT that is dedicated solely to the background of BT and it really goes maximum in depth - 91 videos and several hours. That is true dedication to the universe
As to the current game MW5 Clans - it's awesome though my PC is unmistakenly and finally showing its age
When there's heavy action it really drops down and i have already reduced the settings. Oh well, it's just one game and not yet a reason to do a total upgrade.The game itself:
It's really good but kind of drags on after Turtle Bay and the bombing of Edo. It's a bit of grinding collecting XP to level your warriors and yourself, collecting honor to unlock new Mechs and researching weapons and better systems.
I was spoiled before because uncharacteristically i watched some live streams of people who were ahead storywise, so i knew what was about to happen to the characters. Right before the Battle of Luthien, which is the last campaign of the game, the game is constantly pushing you gently towards being a Warden but you can still make a choice.
I chose the Warden storyline because i could jump ship from the Smoke Jaguars to the Wolfs Dragoons and defend Luthien - something i appreciated since i am a Kurita player in the tabletop game I would have also played Wolfs Dragoons but everybody and their grandma is playing the Dragoons and i wanted something different. Would have preferred to play Ghost Bears because i have them as my Clan force but maybe they'll unlock other Clans with future DLCs.
I was spoiled before because uncharacteristically i watched some live streams of people who were ahead storywise, so i knew what was about to happen to the characters. Right before the Battle of Luthien, which is the last campaign of the game, the game is constantly pushing you gently towards being a Warden but you can still make a choice.
I chose the Warden storyline because i could jump ship from the Smoke Jaguars to the Wolfs Dragoons and defend Luthien - something i appreciated since i am a Kurita player in the tabletop game
I would have also played Wolfs Dragoons but everybody and their grandma is playing the Dragoons and i wanted something different. Would have preferred to play Ghost Bears because i have them as my Clan force but maybe they'll unlock other Clans with future DLCs.
Do you mean Grimdark Narrator? I've seen some of his videos and it's highly in depth, plus stuff from other series as well.
His channel is named Sven van der Plank - https://www.youtube.com/@SvenVanDerPlank
He does more than just BT but this seems to be his main focus. As i said impressive - i don't know if i ever been such a fan of anything to devote dozens or hundreds of hours producing stuff for it ( if you discount painting miniatures and gaming, but that's a different thing).
Finished the campaign today, it's a really good game and they are not very subtle in hinting at follow up campaigns. It is rich grounds though with the whole Clan Invasion story though - major battles all over, Tukayyid ( pretty please for the xth-time
) and finally Operation Bulldog and Serpent. That is material for the next 5 years of DLCs easy.
It's really good but kind of drags on after Turtle Bay and the bombing of Edo. It's a bit of grinding collecting XP to level your warriors and yourself, collecting honor to unlock new Mechs and researching weapons and better systems.
I was spoiled before because uncharacteristically i watched some live streams of people who were ahead storywise, so i knew what was about to happen to the characters. Right before the Battle of Luthien, which is the last campaign of the game, the game is constantly pushing you gently towards being a Warden but you can still make a choice.
I chose the Warden storyline because i could jump ship from the Smoke Jaguars to the Wolfs Dragoons and defend Luthien - something i appreciated since i am a Kurita player in the tabletop game
I'm surprised you said you think it drags on after Turtle Bay/Edo. I thought that would be one of the most climactic points - and it was! - but I thought the story just kept getting better.
I haven't finished yet, just got to Luthien, but I thought what happened to Liam on Courchevel, the failed Trial of Grievance, and then showing the Battle of Radstadt and Tyra Miraborg's sacrifice was fantastic. And then fast-forwarding to show how Liam's death has affected everybody, especially Mia, was really good.
I chose the Warden path at the end of Corcheval II as well, but I have to say I was surprised by how effective Mia's pleading with Jayden to stay with her was. I was genuinely considering going the other way? I really feel like they did a good job of showing this young group shaping and being shaped by each other, and then falling apart as the war raged on. I predict that one of the final confrontations in the game will be with Mia herself (or Ezra if you stick with the Jags), but the bond felt genuinely broken.
I haven't finished yet, just got to Luthien, but I thought what happened to Liam on Courchevel, the failed Trial of Grievance, and then showing the Battle of Radstadt and Tyra Miraborg's sacrifice was fantastic. And then fast-forwarding to show how Liam's death has affected everybody, especially Mia, was really good.
I chose the Warden path at the end of Corcheval II as well, but I have to say I was surprised by how effective Mia's pleading with Jayden to stay with her was. I was genuinely considering going the other way? I really feel like they did a good job of showing this young group shaping and being shaped by each other, and then falling apart as the war raged on. I predict that one of the final confrontations in the game will be with Mia herself (or Ezra if you stick with the Jags), but the bond felt genuinely broken.
It dragged on for me because Courchevel had the most missions i think and not every was story related, so it felt like grinding to me. Losing Liam was a blow as i came to like him.
Overall the story was really good. Since it became known that you will play Smoke Jaguar, the quintessential Clan villains, i suspected the story might develop in a way that would make up for the player being part of that Clan but i liked that the game still gave you the choice which way you would go.
Seeing Tyra making that historic sarifice run and knowing what happens on the Dire Wolf at the same time by reading the novels was such a treat.
I absolutely loved taking on Perez - i did it really unsubtle like a Sledgehammer and modified my Daishi before with as many medium Pulse Lasers as it would fit and crammed the rest full of heat sinks and used every remaining slot for armor. Ran straight at him guns blazing and took out that son of a bitch!
I have watched the cutscenes for the Mia/Crusader story choice on Youtube and it's well done too. In the end you have to kill Ezra as a traitor and you do it but the cut scene at the end ( a mirror to Mia dying) was really good, especially the reaction of Jayden after it's done. The voice actors really went all in there.
Now the wait begins for the DLCs, wonder what they have in store to keep the game alive. Luthien was a big point storywise and it's immediately followed by Tukayyid, which i can't wait for.
I'd love to see the gang back in the story but it would need some serious lore bending to have them be on Tukayyid as it's only ComStar vs The Clans and Wolfs Dragoons were not part of that battle. I could look the other way if for some convoluted reason Jayden and his Star get transferred or loaned to ComStar, i just want to fight on Tukayyid.
Overall the story was really good. Since it became known that you will play Smoke Jaguar, the quintessential Clan villains, i suspected the story might develop in a way that would make up for the player being part of that Clan but i liked that the game still gave you the choice which way you would go.
Seeing Tyra making that historic sarifice run and knowing what happens on the Dire Wolf at the same time by reading the novels was such a treat.
I absolutely loved taking on Perez - i did it really unsubtle like a Sledgehammer and modified my Daishi before with as many medium Pulse Lasers as it would fit and crammed the rest full of heat sinks and used every remaining slot for armor. Ran straight at him guns blazing and took out that son of a bitch!
I have watched the cutscenes for the Mia/Crusader story choice on Youtube and it's well done too. In the end you have to kill Ezra as a traitor and you do it but the cut scene at the end ( a mirror to Mia dying) was really good, especially the reaction of Jayden after it's done. The voice actors really went all in there.
Now the wait begins for the DLCs, wonder what they have in store to keep the game alive. Luthien was a big point storywise and it's immediately followed by Tukayyid, which i can't wait for.
I'd love to see the gang back in the story but it would need some serious lore bending to have them be on Tukayyid as it's only ComStar vs The Clans and Wolfs Dragoons were not part of that battle. I could look the other way if for some convoluted reason Jayden and his Star get transferred or loaned to ComStar, i just want to fight on Tukayyid.
His channel is named Sven van der Plank - https://www.youtube.com/@SvenVanDerPlank
He does more than just BT but this seems to be his main focus. As i said impressive - i don't know if i ever been such a fan of anything to devote dozens or hundreds of hours producing stuff for it ( if you discount painting miniatures and gaming, but that's a different thing).
Finished the campaign today, it's a really good game and they are not very subtle in hinting at follow up campaigns. It is rich grounds though with the whole Clan Invasion story though - major battles all over, Tukayyid ( pretty please for the xth-time
I'll have to check the channel out.
IlKhan's Eyes Only, the fourth major "post-IlClan" sourcebook, was made available earlier today.
This book takes a closer look at Terra and its environs in the immediate aftermath of the IlClan Trial, as well as providing a brief overview on events elsewhere in known space from the perspective of the IlClan Watch intelligence agency.
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As a companion to this, the novel Trial of Birthright was recently made available; this story is set on Terra itself, and overlaps with the first half (or so) of the story to be told on Sol III during the events outlined in IKEO.
Plus, later this month, a new novel called Voidbreaker is set to follow up on a key point of investigation: Clan Sea Fox's attempts to "fix" the HPG network across the Inner Sphere and near Periphery.
Fortunately for fans of the Scorpion Empire, Clan Goliath Scorpion's HPGs were unaffected by the Blackout, so don't need any help in that regard...
This book takes a closer look at Terra and its environs in the immediate aftermath of the IlClan Trial, as well as providing a brief overview on events elsewhere in known space from the perspective of the IlClan Watch intelligence agency.
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As a companion to this, the novel Trial of Birthright was recently made available; this story is set on Terra itself, and overlaps with the first half (or so) of the story to be told on Sol III during the events outlined in IKEO.
Plus, later this month, a new novel called Voidbreaker is set to follow up on a key point of investigation: Clan Sea Fox's attempts to "fix" the HPG network across the Inner Sphere and near Periphery.
Fortunately for fans of the Scorpion Empire, Clan Goliath Scorpion's HPGs were unaffected by the Blackout, so don't need any help in that regard...
While trying to avoid spoilers, I would say that I found it better to read Trial of Birthright before reading IlKhan's Eyes Only - if only to make one of the key developments on Terra that is noted in the latter more solidly presented.
Meanwhile, while again trying to avoid spoilers, the events covered in Voidbreaker are not necessarily reflected in IlKEO directly. Rather, they take place mostly in parallel - though they do dovetail with a few of the hints dropped in other IlClan-Era sourcebooks like Tamar Rising.
Meanwhile, while again trying to avoid spoilers, the events covered in Voidbreaker are not necessarily reflected in IlKEO directly. Rather, they take place mostly in parallel - though they do dovetail with a few of the hints dropped in other IlClan-Era sourcebooks like Tamar Rising.
