Author Topic: Our World in the BT Universe.  (Read 6511 times)

shield2099

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 174
Our World in the BT Universe.
« on: 16 September 2014, 16:23:50 »
How much of our Earth do you think is still around by the BT setting? By that I mean, we know the Great Pyramids at Giza are still standing they were seen in on the cover of a source book. What about the Great Wall of China? How did the monuments in Washington DC fare? Do you think Comstar/Word of Blake held ceremonies at Stonehenge? Would anyone wonder (or know) who the faces on Mount Rushmore are supposed to be? Is the Hoover Dam still supplying power to a futuristic Las Vegas? Does the Pope still lead the Catholic Church from the Vatican? Is the Eiffel Tower still in Paris? Does the Republic of the Sphere draw inspiration from preserved documents like The US Constitution, the UN (or Western Alliance) Charter, or Magna Carta? Did someone find a way to preserve the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or did it finally fall over? Do Holovid Stars still put their names in the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Those kinds of things.

Another question. Prior to the Fortress, how likely would it be for someone to visit Earth and see such sites? Not warriors or political leaders, but more common people like historians, wealthy merchants on vacation, pilgrims to Mecca (if BT Islam still requires that), or otherwise curious people with the means and wish to visit mankind’s cradle.

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40758
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #1 on: 16 September 2014, 16:29:09 »
Does the Pope still lead the Catholic Church from the Vatican?
Most of it, yes. Due to miscommunications during the rise of Amaris, there is a separate Catholic Church on New Avalon, with its own pope.
Quote
Is the Eiffel Tower still in Paris?
No. Per TRO: VA, it was sold and moved to Japan.
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

Peacemaker

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1215
  • Highest MUP Quotient on the forums.
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #2 on: 16 September 2014, 19:46:35 »
I don't have my novels with me right now, but I swear there was a reference in one of the Dark Age novels (Sword of Sedition, maybe?) to Eiffel Towers in Paris.

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40758
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #3 on: 16 September 2014, 22:44:54 »
Maybe it got moved back, and took Tokyo Tower with it?
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

jklantern

  • LAM of Shame
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3408
  • Designated Snack Officer of the Diamond Khanate
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #4 on: 16 September 2014, 23:20:35 »
It's clearly the France IIC project.vv :D
I'm not sure how long you've been around on the forums, though you have a thousand posts. Never take anything JKlantern says seriously unless it's about food.

Cyc

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2722
    • CycKath at DeviantArt
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #5 on: 16 September 2014, 23:23:20 »
Maybe it got moved back, and took Tokyo Tower with it?

It got shipped to Japan in 2289, plenty of time to move it back before the Dark Ages.

Couple of other real world places mentioned in the Star League sourcebook, Theodore Cameron for example said to have refurbished the Palace of Versailles shortly before he destroyed (and later bowing to public pressure, rebuild) the Alamo in July 2470.

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #6 on: 17 September 2014, 00:05:32 »
I don't have my novels with me right now, but I swear there was a reference in one of the Dark Age novels (Sword of Sedition, maybe?) to Eiffel Towers in Paris.

Pretty sure the Jihad Terra book features a black and white pix of Coalition tanks and infantry driving past it - reminiscent of those classic WWII photos of the liberation.

Maybe the French made a mark two version or something?


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

foxbat

  • Tunnel Rat
  • Global Moderator
  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3095
    • classicbattletech.fr
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #7 on: 17 September 2014, 02:50:01 »
Actually, since the Eiffel Tower was originally just as an exhibit for the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition, supposed to be dismantled right after it, it takes a lot of expensive work to keep it in good shape. I'd be really surprised if the original were still in place in a century without it. So, we could say the original one was left to decay, bought by an enthusiastic Tokyoite billionaire, while a new, more durable version was built in its place not to leave  such a glaring hole in the Paris skyline...  ;)
Hanse Davion is my shepherd.
We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender! Winston Churchill, June 1940

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #8 on: 17 September 2014, 02:55:49 »
I think this sounds about right - things are going to change slightly over a thousand year period. Factor in battle damage, mechs stomping through cities and outright WMD and warship attacks... It's not going to stay exactly the same.

That said, I'm still annoyed that my home suburb is reduced to rubble in the Blakists' final stand in Sydney (albeit, with a minor name Change in Total Chaos)!


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Deadborder

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7881
  • Technical Victory!
    • Elmer Studios Blog
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #9 on: 17 September 2014, 03:33:49 »
There's a picture of the Eiffel Tower in Paris in JHS: Terra. Returned? Replaced? Who knows.

JHS: Terra also explicitly mentions the Empire State Building and the Chrysler building as extant circa 3079. Finally, the British Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are visible on the cover of FM3085.

There's a mention of the Sydney Opera House in one of the MWDA Novels (Target of Opportunity, I think). Don't quote me on that.

The Vatican was destroyed by Amaris' troops, although some parts of the roof of the Sistine Chapel survived and were preserved by ComStar; circa 3028 they were on display in Hilton Head Island, though it's been a long time and I don't remember the full context. Amaris also destroyed or sacked numerous other religious sites across Terra during his occupation.
Author of BattleCorps stories Grand Theft Agro and Zero Signal



How to Draw MegaMek Icons the Deadborder Way. Over 9000 so far. Determination or madness?

Terrace

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1092
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #10 on: 17 September 2014, 08:19:19 »
What do we know about the Houston, Texas area? What battles were fought there and when? Who was involved?

Rtifs

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 554
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #11 on: 17 September 2014, 08:55:01 »
Wasn’t Houston nuked by Wobbies during Case White to get one of the places where Comstar had successfully established a base? 

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40758
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #12 on: 17 September 2014, 09:16:02 »
St. Louis was destroyed in that manner. Also, the D/FW area was HEAVILY nuked when the Coalition tried to use it as a staging ground during their invasion. I live in a glowing crater! O0

I don't remember exactly, but I would not be surprised to hear that Houston took heavy damage/was destroyed during the Jihad. Given the current industries based there, it makes sense that it would be a major strategic location for space traffic control and surface-to-orbit shipping. Such an aera is bound to take a pounding in the kinds of no-holds-barred fight that was the Jihad. Kinda surprised it survived the Amaris war, for that matter.
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

snewsom2997

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2187
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #13 on: 17 September 2014, 09:43:43 »
St. Louis was destroyed in that manner.

I live in a future crater as well.

Knightmare

  • BattleTech Developer
  • System Admin
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 553
  • Wrench'in it
    • BattleTech.com
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #14 on: 17 September 2014, 10:35:14 »
A good part of Vatican City also didn't survive the Star League Civil War, so Rome probably looks a little different circa 3145.

...and we know Hilton Head is a radioactive crater.
BeemerCon Summarized. Knightmare, end of turn: "How come none of my weapons fired?"
Look, dude, when you are a real mechwarrior you don't need to get all dressed up in cooling suits and cool helmets to work on your mech. You just strip down to your 1980s panties and crop top vest and start wrenchin' it.
Yen Lo Wang = David Lo Pan

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40758
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #15 on: 17 September 2014, 10:45:32 »
...and we know Hilton Head is a radioactive crater.

We're talking about how our world has changed over the course of Battletech history, not stayed the same. ;)
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

Nebfer

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1398
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #16 on: 17 September 2014, 14:41:13 »
How about Florida and Utah? What happened to them in the intervening years?

IIRC Florida still is used as a space port, well the cape still is that is. 

dwinter

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 189
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #17 on: 17 September 2014, 15:12:49 »
My personal favourite is a throw away line in TRO: 3039 under the Crockett heading where it references the town (Lampeter) in Wales where I did my degree.

Now considering that is a town with a population that is doubled when the students are in residence, I was really pleased to see it referred to.  After all, most people I speak to about it say "where?" when told about it.
Star Commander David Llywelyn, 9th Raven Striker Cluster "The Snow Hunters", 1st Nova, Alpha Galaxy

Lieutenant Robin Llywelyn, 2nd Mech Striker Company, 2nd Mech Regiment, 59th Jump Infantry Division, XXXVI Corp, Sixteenth Army

LightGuard

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 303
  • They called him Camouflage
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #18 on: 17 September 2014, 16:54:37 »
Since I live in the middle of Ethanol Country (Iowa), it's awful hard to imagine there being anything at all happening around my area through the end of Fortress Republic.

I mean, I'm at least two hours from any major metropolitan area that has been seen in game, more in the case of the really important ones (Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis), though I think local tractor titan John Deere got mentioned in a Tech Readout or Handbook recently, and it's pretty crap terrain if you're in anything that doesn't have jump jets thanks to the bluffs.

Thank Ghu I live in BFE, I guess? I dunno.
The Things I Do for Love...

Do not try to apply real-world logic to Battletech.  Naught lies there but madness and ruin. - moneylovingogre4hire

That's fine, then.  I've been waiting since 2014 or so, what's another year?  Time laughs at all things, but BattleTech laughs at time.  Then launches a trial of possession for it. - rebs

sillybrit

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3939
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #19 on: 17 September 2014, 17:52:34 »
I don't remember exactly, but I would not be surprised to hear that Houston took heavy damage/was destroyed during the Jihad.

A search for Houston in JHS:Terra didn't find anything, but I also checked HTP:LoT 2, which noted that there was heavy resistance by Amaris' forces to the Ninth Army's advance in the Houston area. So there's a possibility that Houston might have lost its industry during the Liberation.

Of note, Major General Lauren Hayes, commander of the 151st Royal BattleMech Division and later the leader of the forces who occupied Terra on behalf of ComStar in Operation Silver Shield, lost her right hand in the fight for Houston.

Knightmare

  • BattleTech Developer
  • System Admin
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 553
  • Wrench'in it
    • BattleTech.com
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #20 on: 17 September 2014, 17:54:08 »
How about Florida and Utah? What happened to them in the intervening years?

IIRC Florida still is used as a space port, well the cape still is that is.

I'm pretty sure Florida is still kicking it. Not too sure about Disney World, but most of the major cities should be around circa 3145. As for the Cape, not sure it's that necessary anymore. Every major city on the planet seems to have some sort of spaceport.
BeemerCon Summarized. Knightmare, end of turn: "How come none of my weapons fired?"
Look, dude, when you are a real mechwarrior you don't need to get all dressed up in cooling suits and cool helmets to work on your mech. You just strip down to your 1980s panties and crop top vest and start wrenchin' it.
Yen Lo Wang = David Lo Pan

Cyc

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2722
    • CycKath at DeviantArt
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #21 on: 17 September 2014, 18:50:56 »
At work, but doesn't Liberation of Terra mention that Balkonour is still kicking as one of the largest/major launch ports in the region?

ColBosch

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 8649
  • Legends Never Die
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #22 on: 17 September 2014, 19:23:54 »
I mentioned a university in London as still existing as of TR3085, in my fluff for the latest Griffon. I can't remember exactly which one offhand, though.
BattleTech is a huge house, it's not any one fan's or "type" of fans.  If you need to relieve yourself, use the bathroom not another BattleTech fan. - nckestrel
1st and 2nd Succession Wars are not happy times. - klarg1
Check my Ogre Flickr page! https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcLnb7v and https://flic.kr/s/aHsksV83ZP

Rtifs

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 554
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #23 on: 17 September 2014, 20:38:38 »
Houston was definitely nuked in Case White.  Read “The Shaded Light” in Battlecorps Anthology “Fire for Effect.”

PsihoKekec

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3089
  • Your spleen, give it to me!
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #24 on: 18 September 2014, 00:39:44 »
According JHS: Terra, Kremlin is still standing at the time of Coalition's landing.
Shoot first, laugh later.

Lazarus Jaguar

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2823
  • Stop! Hammer Time!
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #25 on: 18 September 2014, 05:14:14 »
Isnt the White Hkuse still there?  I seem to recall them mentioning it in the history section, about it and the monument erected in frontof it where the last US President was hanged.
You know, I love that every day in Japan is like a very peaceful game of RIFTs. - MadCapellan

around here, April Fools day is Serious! Business!

Deadborder

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7881
  • Technical Victory!
    • Elmer Studios Blog
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #26 on: 18 September 2014, 08:33:03 »
JHS Terra is ambiguous on the topic; it mentions the "White House Monument" but doesn't go into detail.
Author of BattleCorps stories Grand Theft Agro and Zero Signal



How to Draw MegaMek Icons the Deadborder Way. Over 9000 so far. Determination or madness?

Luriael

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 525
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #27 on: 18 September 2014, 09:08:05 »
I was pretty surprised that Quebec City held a Castle Brian. I guess they converted the Old City (which is a former French fort) into a Castle Brian and they ditched the tourist aspect of the city and it must have been pretty banged up in any of the thousand attempts at conquering Terra.
"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."
                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                               - Aleksandr Kerensky

False Son

  • BattleTech Volunteer
  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 6461
  • Kot Blini
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #28 on: 18 September 2014, 11:00:48 »
Does the Republic of the Sphere draw inspiration from preserved documents like The US Constitution, the UN (or Western Alliance) Charter, or Magna Carta?

They operate out of the Palace of Nations.  So, maybe.


Quote
pilgrims to Mecca (if BT Islam still requires that),

A major barrier to early space colonization by Muslim settlers.  Not sure how that was resolved.


The Alamo didn't make it.  Shouldn't have been hiding stolen bicycles in the basement.
TOYNBEE IDEA
IN MOViE `2001
RESURRECT DEAD
ON PLANET JUPITER


Destroy what destroys you

Dies Irae

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 768
Re: Our World in the BT Universe.
« Reply #29 on: 18 September 2014, 12:00:13 »
Well, the Battle For Terra during the Jihad revealed they built Castle Bryan in Singapore. Which made me laugh... because Bukit Timah hill is basically a mound with delusions of grandeur - then again not exactly many places to build a defence site give the size of this island.