Author Topic: Ad Securitas Per Unitas: The Republic of the Sphere  (Read 125780 times)

Nerroth

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Ad Securitas Per Unitas: The Republic of the Sphere
« on: 23 May 2013, 14:14:01 »
First off, my apologies if I've missed a pre-existing thread for this.


With the kind of ups and downs which have been in play as of 3145, there's been a lot of talk generated by fans of various factions involved. Davion fans have been worrying about how they hold back the Red Green Show, Liao and Kurita loyalists are wondering when the other shoe is going to drop, everyone over on the anti-spinward side of the map is trying to work out what's going to hapen next, and the Homeworld Clan fans have been speculating on when, or even if, their favoured factions will join the fray. And so on and so forth.

But when it comes to the Republic of the Sphere itself, or its current division into the Fortress and the Remnant, there seems to be more talk around or about them than as them, if that makes sense. (To put it another way, many people seem to be talking about the fate of the Republic as it would potentially affect their chosen faction, but not in the sense of worrying about them as their own.)

And even looking back from the precipice of 3145, there are other venues in which the Republic has been, or will be, presented; such as Field Manual: 3085 and the upcoming Historical: Wars of the Republic Era. But to use the Capellan Crusades as an example, there seem to be more Capellan fans looking to see their side of events than Republic fans doing the same on their own side.


So, I guess my question is this; where are the fans of the Republic of the Sphere?


Even the Terran Hegemony has its fanbase, no doubt bolstered by the Star League Era books charting its rise and fall. But if there is any sort of sizeable fanbase on the boards for the Republic, despite (or, perhaps, because of?) the central role it plays from 3081 through (at least) 3145, it seems to be fairly quiet.

Or are the Republic fans out there simply holding their breath for the data in Field Manual: 3145 before really getting the discussion on "their" faction going?
« Last Edit: 24 May 2013, 17:15:33 by Nerroth »

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #1 on: 23 May 2013, 14:20:01 »
We watch.

We wait.

And until the time comes...

We hold the line.
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Adam Vagus

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #2 on: 23 May 2013, 14:23:33 »
'Hold the line using two of the most awesome looking 'Mechs of all time' you mean  8)

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #3 on: 23 May 2013, 14:24:32 »
I really want to be a Paladin.

I've always GM'd in Battletech. I've brought numerous players into the fold by making them roleplay as various factions until they find one they identify with. This works because I love each and every faction. (Almost. I don't know what Clan Burrock is and they've got a slug. luckily it doesn't matter anymore)

Clan Diamond Shark never impressed me. It wasn't until Operation Klondike that I realized that I might actually want to be that faction. Obviously, the totemic animal resemblance helps. But their policies being policies I actually agree with helped. Before that I'd have identified most with the Lyrans or the Wolves.

But that being said, I like Paladins alot. I like that the republic has that going for them. I do actually want to see them survive. I also have no idea what happens if Earth isn't owned by a neutral-ish faction that the other houses can't get at. I imagine it's going to be destroyed in short order?

But. I'm thinking about it. (About the Republic. Not destroying Earth.)
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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #4 on: 23 May 2013, 14:43:55 »
I've liked the RotS since the clickytech days. Considering my favorite faction has experienced a bit of a diaspora as of late, I wait with a thin veneer of patience for FM: 3145.

Jayof9s

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #5 on: 23 May 2013, 14:49:59 »
I'm sort of expecting the Republic to not last long. Which is unfortunate, I actually like the idea of having a 'central' faction holding Earth and the much abused old Terran Hegemony worlds. The problem is that any central border power has a border with all the houses (and now a few clans) and without a very strong military and/or lots of friends, it quickly become an untenable position.

So, despite expecting the Republic to collapse, I'm hoping it does not.

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #6 on: 23 May 2013, 14:54:44 »
So, I guess my question is this; where are the fans of the Republic of the Sphere?

We exist.  Problem is that it is still a young faction in terms of BT storyline time.  And, unlike the great houses, it is entirely possible the Republic goes poof or turns into something it was not before all of the black out shenanigans went down.


Quote
Even the Terran Hegemony has its fanbase, no doubt bolstered by the Star League Era books charting its rise and fall. But if there is any sort of sizeable fanbase on the boards for the Republic, despite (or, perhaps, because of?) the central role it plays from 3081 through (at least) 3145, it seems to be fairly quiet.

Or are the Republic fans out there simply holding their breath for the data in Field Manual: 3145 before really getting the discussion on "their" faction going?

ER3085 was very nice for putting in some details and describing some things like the Standing Guard that were previously(?) unmentioned.  But, it still comes off as something not unlike the FRR section of Field Manual Comstar.  Don't get too invested in the Republic.  There's a chance it is just a phase the Inner Sphere is going through.

I blame Surrender Your Dreams.  Until the Finis chapters and Fortress Republic are resolved we can only speculate.  But be prepared.  Stone's vision is going to live on.


I really want to be a Paladin.

I've always GM'd in Battletech. I've brought numerous players into the fold by making them roleplay as various factions until they find one they identify with. This works because I love each and every faction. (Almost. I don't know what Clan Burrock is and they've got a slug. luckily it doesn't matter anymore)

Clan Diamond Shark never impressed me. It wasn't until Operation Klondike that I realized that I might actually want to be that faction. Obviously, the totemic animal resemblance helps. But their policies being policies I actually agree with helped. Before that I'd have identified most with the Lyrans or the Wolves.

But that being said, I like Paladins alot. I like that the republic has that going for them. I do actually want to see them survive. I also have no idea what happens if Earth isn't owned by a neutral-ish faction that the other houses can't get at. I imagine it's going to be destroyed in short order?

But. I'm thinking about it. (About the Republic. Not destroying Earth.)

Even as a Republic fan I dislike the Paladins.  They have a sort of holier than thou thing going on, a largely blank slate in terms of where and when they can stick their noses, and a sort of old boy's club vibe.  Not that the Senate is any better.  I like Stone and his dream, just wish the Republic was organized more along the idealistic lines of it's inception.  But, that's ok.  The Republic being as faulty, conspiratorial and antidemocratic as it is puts it right at home in BT.


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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #7 on: 23 May 2013, 14:57:53 »
I'm sort of expecting the Republic to not last long. Which is unfortunate, I actually like the idea of having a 'central' faction holding Earth and the much abused old Terran Hegemony worlds. The problem is that any central border power has a border with all the houses (and now a few clans) and without a very strong military and/or lots of friends, it quickly become an untenable position.

So, despite expecting the Republic to collapse, I'm hoping it does not.

The bigger problem is that it is painfully obvious that we have seen it before, be it the Terran Hegemony, Star League, ComStar ownership, the Blake Protectorate and now the Republic. Always it's some technologically very advanced faction meddling in problems of other IS states overtly or covertly  etc. etc. Sometimes depicted as a white-hat faction, even when it does something nasty.

It's too boring, at least for me.

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #8 on: 23 May 2013, 18:14:31 »
Proud Republic fan, proud "Blue", here. I've been running a Megamek/lite roleplaying game set in the dark age era for some time now - initially following an Errant Lance post-Blackout, but now opening up to take in a lot of the action from Prefecture IV/V/VI.

I've been a fan of the Republic since Clickytech - they just resonated with me somehow


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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #9 on: 23 May 2013, 18:31:16 »
Sadly I can't get behind the RoTS, mostly due to the novels which showed a inefficent, doomed nation state attempting to head off its own destruction. On the other hand I do want to see them survive, if for no other reason to keep them pesky Liao's busy hating them. And I can't wait to see what toys there soon going to bring to the fight. Also I did like some of the characters themselves, they truly believed in Stones Kool Aid, and I cheered them on as they fought for it.
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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #10 on: 23 May 2013, 18:44:08 »
I've been a fan of the Republic for some time now. To me, it represents one of the things I like most about the Battletech Universe: Change. The Republic is something new, something different that hasn't existed before. Its an attempt to break the cycles of the Succession Wars and provide an alternative to the endless wars.

And, of course, there's the delightful levels of 'how far would you go to make this happen' that comes with it. The Republic did horrible things in order to build a utopia, an idea that I oft find to be intriguing.
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Kamose

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #11 on: 23 May 2013, 18:53:15 »
While playing ClickyTech, I was a bit of a Republic fan.  Frankly, though, I've never really had a chance to get behind them.  First, we had to wait through the eternally-long Jihad (which, despite knowing how it would end, they decided to explain in excruciating detail); then, by the time we got through the Dark Age, the Republic had already fallen for all intents and purposes (losing 90% of your planets will do that).  Frankly, I only had the time b/t FM:3085 and ER:3145 to get the details of them, and it is hard to get behind a pre-doomed faction.  I assume WoB fans must feel somewhat the same.  Given all the foreshadowing, and Herb's recent recanting of the epilogue of Surrender Your Dreams, I really don't see the point of getting behind them now.

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #12 on: 23 May 2013, 18:56:51 »
More like cousins with a common interest in liberating people from uncaring House Lords.  ;)
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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #13 on: 23 May 2013, 18:57:17 »
I'm a Republic fan (they're my preferred faction post-Jihad since my beloved Blakists are dead and gone), but like others have said they're a young faction and seem doomed to destruction, what with the upcoming ilClan and all.


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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #14 on: 23 May 2013, 19:08:07 »
We watch.

We wait.

And until the time comes...

We hold the line.

Well put sir!
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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #15 on: 24 May 2013, 05:47:47 »
The Republic is pretty much the only faction in BT that centred on Terra that I've liked. I certainly drank Stone's Kool Aid, and it was much more to my preference than that of McKenna, the Camerons, Amaris, or any ComBlake goon.

Of course, Earthers being Earthers, when the Fortress opens up I half expect whatever's in there to be just another megalomaniac that thinks the rest of human space owes Terra fealty.

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #16 on: 24 May 2013, 07:27:48 »
Of course, Earthers being Earthers, when the Fortress opens up I half expect whatever's in there to be just another megalomaniac that thinks the rest of human space owes Terra fealty.

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #17 on: 24 May 2013, 09:32:25 »
RotS fan here.  Loved them since clicktech and all the novels.  Currently putting together a reinforced lance that my player will be using a campaign as RotS forces on the cappy front.   :)

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #18 on: 24 May 2013, 09:52:47 »
The Republic is pretty much the only faction in BT that centred on Terra that I've liked. I certainly drank Stone's Kool Aid, and it was much more to my preference than that of McKenna, the Camerons, Amaris, or any ComBlake goon.

Of course, Earthers being Earthers, when the Fortress opens up I half expect whatever's in there to be just another megalomaniac that thinks the rest of human space owes Terra fealty.

The funny thing is that for the span of the novels, the Paladins and Exarchs are descended from non-Terran dynasties.  That's what I always liked.  It wasn't TH Redux, but it's own thing.  A grab bag of idealists from Kuritans, to Free Worlders to Clanners.  A shame the whole thing hasn't worked out so well.
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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #19 on: 24 May 2013, 09:57:21 »
The funny thing is that for the span of the novels, the Paladins and Exarchs are descended from non-Terran dynasties.  That's what I always liked.  It wasn't TH Redux, but it's own thing.  A grab bag of idealists from Kuritans, to Free Worlders to Clanners.  A shame the whole thing hasn't worked out so well.

It's a shame these forums don't have a "like" function...
Well said


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Nerroth

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #20 on: 24 May 2013, 11:35:13 »
So, would it be okay to re-purpose this thread as a place for the Republic's fanbase to hang out? Unless a separate thread would be better.

(I was thinking of adding "Ad Securitas Per Unitas" to the thread title, if that were to be the case.)

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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #21 on: 24 May 2013, 16:29:36 »
I say go for it, give the RoTS a home on the forums.
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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #22 on: 24 May 2013, 16:57:02 »
Hurray for nerroths republic house. May I be a paladin?
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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #23 on: 24 May 2013, 18:39:28 »
The funny thing is that for the span of the novels, the Paladins and Exarchs are descended from non-Terran dynasties.  That's what I always liked.  It wasn't TH Redux, but it's own thing.  A grab bag of idealists from Kuritans, to Free Worlders to Clanners.  A shame the whole thing hasn't worked out so well.

Interesting, since that was the very reason I turned away from the faction when I read up on them and learned about them from clickytech. To me it was a blatant attempt to cash into a new faction by adding a bit of everything from older ones. Add a few successor states heroes, Clan blood named warriors and people with well known names of mercs etc and you have your 'new' faction. However, I did like the idea of the Paladins and the Senate and the use of the different Roman names for military units like the Hastati. Plus, FM3085 did show more of the inner workings of the faction which I liked. I do hope something of the realm survives on but I am not holding out much hope right....
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Nerroth

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Re: Ad Securitas Per Unitas: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #24 on: 24 May 2013, 18:42:09 »
I say go for it, give the RoTS a home on the forums.

As the Shark/Foxes might say: Well bargained and done.

Hurray for nerroths republic house. May I be a paladin?

So long as you bring your own Savage Wolf. The Remnant's not made of stones, you know.

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Re: Ad Securitas Per Unitas: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #25 on: 24 May 2013, 19:06:29 »
What I rather like about the Republic and the dark age is that it allowed us to see all the factions that added to collective:
-the Senate Alliance
- the clan enclaves
- the various splinter factions
- the diehard Stoners

So in my current dark age campaign, I'm thinking of having my main character defect to the Swordsworn after Fortress Republic finds him stuck on the outside.

That sort of rich, interesting mixes is what makes the RoTS so fun


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Re: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #26 on: 25 May 2013, 20:55:05 »
The funny thing is that for the span of the novels, the Paladins and Exarchs are descended from non-Terran dynasties.  That's what I always liked.  It wasn't TH Redux, but it's own thing.  A grab bag of idealists from Kuritans, to Free Worlders to Clanners.  A shame the whole thing hasn't worked out so well.

Idealists protected by the equivalent of Star Trek's Section 31 ... I have to believe that the Remnant will survive in some form long enough to see the Republic roll back out of the fortress.

tapdancingbeavers

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Re: Ad Securitas Per Unitas: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #27 on: 25 May 2013, 21:40:06 »
Quote
Idealists protected by the equivalent of Star Trek's Section 31 ... I have to believe that the Remnant will survive in some form long enough to see the Republic roll back out of the fortress.

I'm hoping it survives long term in some form or another, even if it is just the remnant or based in that region if the RotS proper gets claimed by the ilClan.

SpaceCowboy1701

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Re: Ad Securitas Per Unitas: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #28 on: 26 May 2013, 08:56:41 »
I wonder if the Ghost Bears will continue to be Republic-friendly if / when Terra is lost, to the point of protecting whatever area is still claimed after the fact? If the oompa-loompas behind the Fortress can churn out enough "wonder weapons" like the tripods and magic hyperspace shields before Terra falls again, I would think they could hold onto at least a few worlds by virtue of making them too costly to take for the strategic return. I'm hoping the XTRO for the Republic will have some sufficiently weird wild stuff to compliment the 3145 TRO ...

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Re: Ad Securitas Per Unitas: The Republic of the Sphere
« Reply #29 on: 27 May 2013, 18:29:25 »
I'm just wondering what will become of the remnant once the fortress comes down...
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