BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Game Systems => General BattleTech Discussion => Topic started by: martian on 26 January 2013, 13:23:52
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BattleChat - 26. I. 2013
(first part)
+++ martian set to mode +x
Home of the Official BattleChats! - Next Chat scheduled for 12 PM (Eastern) on Saturday, 26 January 2013
Topic set by Habeas2 on Tue Jan 15 2013 09:44:28 GMT+0100
<martian>: Hello.
<Mimo>: hi
+++ ChanServ has given op to Habeas2
+++ ChanServ has given admin to Habeas2
<Weirdo>: I'm sure you're all wondering why I gathered you here today...
<martian>: Yes, we are ...
<martian>: ... so tell us.
<Habeas2>: We are gathered here today to bid farewell to the WarShip...
<Weirdo>: Alright gentlemen, everything we've planned, everything we've worked for, it's all come down to one question: How do we kill the Burger King?
<Habeas2>: It was a troubled concept in the BattleTech setting, at once all-powerful, yet horribly nerfed.....
<Habeas2>: After decades of trying to make a go of it, someone finally came along to put the failed notion out of its misery
<Habeas2>: And we are all better for it, though (some of us) we mourn its loss....
<Habeas2>: Amen.
<Habeas2>: That said.....
<Habeas2>: Welcome to the first Live BattleChat of 2013
<Habeas2>: I'm your host. I'm not logging. And we have an hour. Be nice or I boot you out. Yadda yadda yadda.
<martian>: I will save the log.
<Habeas2>: We are now ready to to your questions. Don't everybody speak at once.
<wolfhound_88>: can you give us any hints about the great stuff due out this quarter?
<Drufause>: any eta on the first wave of dark age source books
<Gravedigger>: Hey folks
<Mimo>: what can you tell us about record sheets 3057, when will they appear?
<wolfhound_88>: is there any news about when we might expect fark age books?
<wolfhound_88>: dark age books
<Habeas2>: Wolfhound_88 - This quarter? Well, as you know, we hate offering up dates, even estimated ones, because we (okay, *I*) have a tendency to fall horribly behind our own schedules. (Yes; we're always looking into ways to fix that, because nobody is more frustrated about this tendency than we are, but that's another saga.)....
<Habeas2>: Wolfhound_88 - That said, expect the second half of the Liberation of Terra Historical to come out soon, followed by Era Report: 3145. Additional PDF products supporting both eras are also expected to come out as well.
<Habeas2>: Drufause - As noted with Wolfhound_88's response, the answer is "soon"
<martian>: Any progress with BV3? When can we expect it in broad use?
<Drufause>: many of us are waiting to find out if the Lyran Alliance becomes the wolf alliance of falcon alliance
<Habeas2>: Mimo - Not for a while yet. Due to technical issues, producing Record Sheet books is a far slower process than we'd like it to be, and it is doubly (maybe even triply) so when the subject includes (or, in the case of 3057, is dominated by) large spacecraft of any kind.
<Habeas2>: Wolfhound_88 - See earlier response re: Dark Age books.
<Weirdo>: Speaking of this chat's primary topic, can you give us any hints as to what the next product to contain WarShip stats(fully functional or otherwise) will be?
<Drufause>: Is the man called Devlin Stone actually dead in 3145
<Trboturtle>: Are the Blitzkriegs still on track?
<Habeas2>: Martian - At this time, we are hoping to give BV2 one last chance by compiling and reproducing the entire system with errata folded in. BV3 still remains a possibility in the future, and I still have the proposals lined up, but nobody should be fearing its imminent release at this time.
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Neither. It became the Lyran Commonwealth.
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - Liberation of Terra, Volume 2
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Heh. You'll see.
<Weirdo>: Woohoo!
<Garydee>: Any chance we'll see another sneak peak of 3250 this April Fools?
<Habeas2>: Trboturtle - We hope to continue the Blitzkrieg novellas in the future. That's all I can say right now.
<martian>: How many XTROrimitives are due to be published? One, two?
<Drufause>: are you looking forward to having your writers try to create slug fests between Jupiter's and Dire Wolfs
<Habeas2>: Garydee - I dunno. The discussions of 3250 have taken on a life of their own, and some of the backlash was bad enough that I'm no longer allowing myself to say a thing about it publicly. At this time, there's not even really a game plan for our April Fun project...or, rather, there WAS one, and we all plum forgot it!
<Weirdo>: What upcoming product are you most excited about?
<Habeas2>: Martian - A total of five Primitives XTRos were planned out. I think we've published... 3 so far? So that means two more to go.
<martian>: Thanks.
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Sure am.
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - All of them.
<Drufause>: are you going to let your writers touch VSD/Marik or VSD/Kurita prodigy in the plot
<LordHarlock>: What were sales of the Objectives series like? And what made the series hard to work on?
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Only if it's plot-relevant.
<Drufause>: Are the Black Dragons hiding the truth behind the blackout
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - BattleTech has, right now, 28 years of continuity to slog through--so much so that I have had to start assigning volunteers to just tracking data points like where the factories are, who is building what, where the various regiments are, and so forth. At one point, we needed 100 fact-checkers--and even still the production process would slow down because errors would still get through. No matter how much an expert
<Hammer>: Whats the next Beta Test Part of IO we'll see?
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - The process was so laborious that, unfortunately, the writer whose brainchild it was, and who was tasked with basically overseeing much of the work for me, burned out mid-way into the process, forcing a lot of the work to be reassigned. Add to this the fact that, even at its best, the Objectives series would have presented just a snapshot of one point in BattleTech history, and, well....
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - ....the fact is, it was too much work, for too little gain.
<Habeas2>: Drufause - No
<Habeas2>: Hammer - I am not 100% sure, but I think Alternate Era rules may be in the pipeline eventually. Trouble is, there's a LOT of stuf still working its way into that chapter, some of which I really should be writing myself (like the QuadVee construction examples....)
<Drufause>: Is there anything more to the facility the Jade Falcons destroyed on Tomans
<LordHarlock>: As the old saying goes, you have to judge the pluses and minuses. Though I'm shocked about the hundred volunteers since I thought it was closer to fifty, I did enjoy the Objectives series. It's like will probably never be seen again from the sound of it. Sigh.
<Drufause>: I know I loved the Objectives Series as well gives lots of quick data for GM's to plan role playing
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Which one and when?
<Hammer>: Is the hope to still have IO (Understanding that all things are fluid and dates can change suddenly)?
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - Honestly, the number of volunteers has diminished over time. Let's not forget that except for me, just about everyone we rely on to deliver BattleTech product has something else they should be doing with their life (sometimes even multiple somethings).
<Drufause>: I dont want to out the plot for those that have not read but it is in the battlecorps story 'A wolf in the eyrie' by Philip A lee
<Habeas2>: Hammer - Um, if you're asking whether we plan to cancel IO or something, I assure you, if you hear me say anything like that, I'm just venting. IO's not getting canceled.
<Drufause>: they thought they found iron wombs garded by an unkown merc unit at a hidden base but due to destruction it was inconclusive
<LordHarlock>: Will the Star Adders ever create a warrior genome for the sole purpose of creating "Cunning Plans?"
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Oh. In that case, I don't know.
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - No
<Hammer>: Thanks for the update. I'll hope for Gen Con then
<Weirdo>: Are there any plans to bring the cartoon back, possibly to prime time?
<Aokarasu>: Oh, God, I hope not
<Drufause>: you mean the hit show 'Nashville' is not about Battletech?
<LordHarlock>: Will there be more hints to types of entertainment in the Inner Sphere?
<lost-my-mind>: Don't tempt me, I'm good at making stuff up.
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - Not from us, no. But then, the cartoon would fall under someone else's license, I imagine. We just make books.
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - Like what, exactly? The odds are,if you can imagine a form of entertainment, and itstechnologically feasible in the BT setting, it probably exists somewhere.
<lost-my-mind>: oops, sorry
<martian>: Have you thought about printing simple map sheets, similar to old map packs?
<Habeas2>: Martian - Yes. Yes we have.
<martian>: And with what result?
<Hammer>: I remember some mention of PDF adventures for ATOW are they still being considered?
<Habeas2>: Martian - Cost-wise, printing mapsheets is now kind of prohibitive, but we are looking into the possibility of PDF publication, so folks can download and print their own mapsheets.
<Habeas2>: Hammer - Yes. In fact, two are already written. We just need to evaluate te budgets and other technical issues about them.
<Aokarasu>: Is there a process that allows a community member to volunteer for playtesting, kinda like signing up for a beta test?
<martian>: Will Duane Loose do some artwork for CGL again? I'm kinda missing his illustrations.
<Habeas2>: Aokarasu - Not at present. In fact, we recently had to cull the review teams to a more manageable size.
<Habeas2>: Martian - That's up to Duane.
<Aokarasu>: Ah, okay
<Weirdo>: Will any soon-upcoming products give us a paint scheme for the Rim Worlds Republic/Amaris Empire WarShip fleet?
<LordHarlock>: Do any of the Clans have renditions of Shakespeare?
<mib_cgpt02>: Anything on novels?
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - Nothing I can think of.
<Weirdo>: Sad Zug wants to paint OPFOR for SLDF...
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - The Clans aren't exactly known for their literary bent.
<Habeas2>: Mib_cgpt02 - Nope
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - I'm sure the folks at CSO will eventually get around to something.
<martian>: What about the Intro Box set with reworked miniatures? Can you tell us "rough estimate" when it will be out?
<Habeas2>: Martian - No. Sorry.
<mib_cgpt02>: How is the year looking, product-wise?
<Habeas2>: Mib_cgpt02 - If i can just wrestle the schedule to the point where everything we're planning actually happens on time, we have a good 10 print products for this year.
<mib_cgpt02>: great!
<mib_4cpwus>: Since I just logged on, busy working, anything exciting or new come up or should i what for the log on the forums
<LordHarlock>: Will the FSS Golden Lion's class be identified in Field Report: AFFS 2765?
<Habeas2>: Mib_4cpwus - The nearest two products I dare to mention are the second volume of the Liberation of Terra Historical and Era Report:3145.
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - Not sure. We plan to reveal what ships the fleet has overall, but name-by-name breakdown is a bit much.
<Gaiiten>: Given the next era (3250), is the development progressing well and as you planned?
<mib_4cpwus>: Will TRO 3145 be coming out this year?
<Habeas2>: Giiten - I will not discuss the next era at this time, sorry.
<Habeas2>: Mib_4cpwus - Yes, if the schedule holds.
<Gaiiten>: Is ok
<martian>: Will Record Sheets for TRO 3145 be out at the moment Technical readout is published? So we won't have to wait for months for canon record sheets?
<Gaiiten>: A question to kickstarting. have you considered to start at least one project using it?
<Habeas2>: Martian - Maybe
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Considered, but for now, we're not planning to use Kickstarter for any BattleTech book projects.
<Gaiiten>: Another of your maybe-consideration: an XTRO Warships?
<Lance>: *shudders*
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - No
<martian>: I am asking because TRO Prototypes is from 2011 and we got RS volume for primary variants only (after months of waiting).
<Habeas2>: Martian - *sigh* The fact is, we do not have reliable software to produce Record Sheets any more. HeavyMetal is hopelessly out of date, and the relentless surge of new tech items and revisions has made it difficult for any third party (most of whom are hobbyists and volunteers doing so without any form of compensation or official sanction) to keep up either. Many RS must now be made by hand, and we have precious few bodies who c
<Habeas2>: all off, print RS books cost us more to produce than they earn us in cashflow, so they drop to lower priority.
<Habeas2>: Martian - I'm sorry to make this about dollars and cents, but that's how RS wind up taking so long: They simply cost more than they make, and the effort involved is still too high to make them cheaper. There is no magic bullet solution to this.
<Gaiiten>: Too bad. There are still some designs being not specified (as the first warships factions made mentioned in Strat Ops, pages 14-17).
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Pre-Age of War stuff will likely remain unstatted for a good long time to come, really. We don't want to encourage people to play in that period.
<Gaiiten>: Oh, why not? I have to say, given my experience, games set in this era are refreshing.
<Gaiiten>: And some of the warship in StratOps are Clan designs made in the Golden Century.
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Because the closer you get to the real-world "modern" age, the less like BattleTech the setting gets. We are not interested in trying to stat the present day (or anything before the present day), and there is nothing terribly interesting to us about the pre-Age of War period. And, frankly, the continuity issues and the "how did modern tech evolve into BattleTech" questions it would create would actually cost more effor
<Habeas2>: Oh! I lost track of time!
<Habeas2>: Final questions, everyone!
<Habeas2>: Nothing? Really?
<Gaiiten>: Can we hope for a product dealing with the Homeclans this year?
Home of the Official BattleChats! - Next Chat scheduled for 8 PM (Eastern) on Saturday, 26 January 2013
Topic set by Habeas2 on Sat Jan 26 2013 19:18:21 GMT+0100
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Nope!
<mib_z3a8if>: How's the weather up there?
<Cateran>: I had a question yesterday, but can't remember it today
<Habeas2>: Mib_z3a8if - Cold.
<Gaiiten>: Short and clear Thank you.
<Habeas2>: Cateran - Well, you have less than 7 hours to remember before tonight's chat.
<Cateran>: I'll try.
<Habeas2>: Thanks for coming, everyone! See you at 8!
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Uh.
Totally missed the fact that there was a Battlechat.
Dammit.
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I almost to late remembered so I could enjoy Herb with my questions only for 15 minutes.
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Uh.
Totally missed the fact that there was a Battlechat.
Dammit.
It was fairly standard BattleChat, no bombs falling ...
At least we know we can expect Era Report:3145, hopefully soon.
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And LoT 2. O0
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Silly question, but where do the battlechats take place?
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No home clan book this year??? So the Ilclan book comes out in 2014 then? ;D
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Silly question, but where do the battlechats take place?
You can find all required information here (http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,26155.0.html).
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Missing another one. Thank you for posing this to the blogs.
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You can find all required information here (http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,26155.0.html).
Ah! Thank you!
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Whoops forgot about this. I missed the afternoon showing and don't know if I can make the evening.
Would anyone mind asking some questions for me?
"What is the next planned Hex Pack"
"It was mentioned that HMP is out of date, do the devs use or have they considered using Solaris Skunk Werks for getting the mech sheets done quickly at least?)"
"are there any planned XTROs to cover the clans pre-invasion?"
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Will try to remember
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GAH missed it!
Well at least IO is still being made and the Record Sheet problem turned out pretty much like most of us guessed. :-\
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I wonder if anything new will be learned in the second Chat. I'm excited that Era Report: 3145 and TRO:3145 is coming this years.
I hope someone asks what the next XTRO is going to be.
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Will also try to remember that one ;)
Oh and yes: I will log this time and sort the whole thing, as usual :)
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<wolfhound_88>: can you give us any hints about the great stuff due out this quarter?
<Habeas2>: Wolfhound_88 - That said, expect the second half of the Liberation of Terra Historical to come out soon, followed by Era Report: 3145. Additional PDF products supporting both eras are also expected to come out as well.
<Habeas2>: Wolfhound_88 - That said, expect the second half of the Liberation of Terra Historical to come out soon, followed by Era Report: 3145. Additional PDF products supporting both eras are also expected to come out as well.
<Drufause>: any eta on the first wave of dark age source books
<Habeas2>: Drufause - As noted with Wolfhound_88's response, the answer is "soon"
<Mimo>: what can you tell us about record sheets 3057, when will they appear?
<Habeas2>: Mimo - Not for a while yet. Due to technical issues, producing Record Sheet books is a far slower process than we'd like it to be, and it is doubly (maybe even triply) so when the subject includes (or, in the case of 3057, is dominated by) large spacecraft of any kind.
<martian>: Any progress with BV3? When can we expect it in broad use?
<Habeas2>: Martian - At this time, we are hoping to give BV2 one last chance by compiling and reproducing the entire system with errata folded in. BV3 still remains a possibility in the future, and I still have the proposals lined up, but nobody should be fearing its imminent release at this time.
<Drufause>: many of us are waiting to find out if the Lyran Alliance becomes the wolf alliance of falcon alliance
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Neither. It became the Lyran Commonwealth.
<Weirdo>: Speaking of this chat's primary topic, can you give us any hints as to what the next product to contain WarShip stats(fully functional or otherwise) will be?
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - Liberation of Terra, Volume 2
<Drufause>: Is the man called Devlin Stone actually dead in 3145
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Heh. You'll see.
<Trboturtle>: Are the Blitzkriegs still on track?
<Habeas2>: Trboturtle - We hope to continue the Blitzkrieg novellas in the future. That's all I can say right now.
<Garydee>: Any chance we'll see another sneak peak of 3250 this April Fools?
<Habeas2>: Garydee - I dunno. The discussions of 3250 have taken on a life of their own, and some of the backlash was bad enough that I'm no longer allowing myself to say a thing about it publicly. At this time, there's not even really a game plan for our April Fun project...or, rather, there WAS one, and we all plum forgot it!
<martian>: How many XTROrimitives are due to be published? One, two?
<Habeas2>: Martian - A total of five Primitives XTRos were planned out. I think we've published... 3 so far? So that means two more to go.
<Drufause>: are you looking forward to having your writers try to create slug fests between Jupiter's and Dire Wolfs
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Sure am.
<Weirdo>: What upcoming product are you most excited about?
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - All of them.
<LordHarlock>: What were sales of the Objectives series like? And what made the series hard to work on?
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - BattleTech has, right now, 28 years of continuity to slog through--so much so that I have had to start assigning volunteers to just tracking data points like where the factories are, who is building what, where the various regiments are, and so forth. At one point, we needed 100 fact-checkers--and even still the production process would slow down because errors would still get through. No matter how much an expert
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - The process was so laborious that, unfortunately, the writer whose brainchild it was, and who was tasked with basically overseeing much of the work for me, burned out mid-way into the process, forcing a lot of the work to be reassigned. Add to this the fact that, even at its best, the Objectives series would have presented just a snapshot of one point in BattleTech history, and, well....
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - ....the fact is, it was too much work, for too little gain.
<Drufause>: Are the Black Dragons hiding the truth behind the blackout
<Habeas2>: Drufause - No
<Hammer>: Whats the next Beta Test Part of IO we'll see?
<Habeas2>: Hammer - I am not 100% sure, but I think Alternate Era rules may be in the pipeline eventually. Trouble is, there's a LOT of stuf still working its way into that chapter, some of which I really should be writing myself (like the QuadVee construction examples....)
<Drufause>: Is there anything more to the facility the Jade Falcons destroyed on Tomans
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Which one and when?
<LordHarlock>: As the old saying goes, you have to judge the pluses and minuses. Though I'm shocked about the hundred volunteers since I thought it was closer to fifty, I did enjoy the Objectives series. It's like will probably never be seen again from the sound of it. Sigh.
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - Honestly, the number of volunteers has diminished over time. Let's not forget that except for me,
just about everyone we rely on to deliver BattleTech product has something else they should be doing with their life (sometimes even multiple somethings).
<Hammer>: Is the hope to still have IO (Understanding that all things are fluid and dates can change suddenly)?
<Habeas2>: Hammer - Um, if you're asking whether we plan to cancel IO or something, I assure you, if you hear me say anything like that, I'm just venting. IO's not getting canceled.
<Drufause>: I dont want to out the plot for those that have not read but it is in the battlecorps story 'A wolf in the eyrie' by Philip A lee
<Drufause>: they thought they found iron wombs garded by an unkown merc unit at a hidden base but due to destruction it was inconclusive
<Habeas2>: Drufause - Oh. In that case, I don't know.
<LordHarlock>: Will the Star Adders ever create a warrior genome for the sole purpose of creating "Cunning Plans?"
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - No
<Weirdo>: Are there any plans to bring the cartoon back, possibly to prime time?
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - Not from us, no. But then, the cartoon would fall under someone else's license, I imagine. We just make
books.
<LordHarlock>: Will there be more hints to types of entertainment in the Inner Sphere?
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - Like what, exactly? The odds are,if you can imagine a form of entertainment, and itstechnologically feasible in the BT setting, it probably exists somewhere.
<martian>: Have you thought about printing simple map sheets, similar to old map packs?
<Habeas2>: Martian - Yes. Yes we have.
<martian>: And with what result?
<Habeas2>: Martian - Cost-wise, printing mapsheets is now kind of prohibitive, but we are looking into the possibility of PDF publication, so folks can download and print their own mapsheets.
<Hammer>: I remember some mention of PDF adventures for ATOW are they still being considered?
<Habeas2>: Hammer - Yes. In fact, two are already written. We just need to evaluate te budgets and other technical issues about them.
<Aokarasu>: Is there a process that allows a community member to volunteer for playtesting, kinda like signing up for a beta test?
<Habeas2>: Aokarasu - Not at present. In fact, we recently had to cull the review teams to a more manageable size.
<martian>: Will Duane Loose do some artwork for CGL again? I'm kinda missing his illustrations.
<Habeas2>: Martian - That's up to Duane.
<Weirdo>: Will any soon-upcoming products give us a paint scheme for the Rim Worlds Republic/Amaris Empire WarShip fleet?
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - Nothing I can think of.
<LordHarlock>: Do any of the Clans have renditions of Shakespeare?
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - The Clans aren't exactly known for their literary bent.
<mib_cgpt02>: Anything on novels?
<Habeas2>: Mib_cgpt02 - Nope
<Weirdo>: Sad Zug wants to paint OPFOR for SLDF...
<Habeas2>: Weirdo - I'm sure the folks at CSO will eventually get around to something.
<martian>: What about the Intro Box set with reworked miniatures? Can you tell us "rough estimate" when it will be out?
<Habeas2>: Martian - No. Sorry.
<mib_cgpt02>: How is the year looking, product-wise?
<Habeas2>: Mib_cgpt02 - If i can just wrestle the schedule to the point where everything we're planning actually happens on time, we have a good 10 print products for this year.
<mib_4cpwus>: Since I just logged on, busy working, anything exciting or new come up or should i what for the log on the forums
<Habeas2>: Mib_4cpwus - The nearest two products I dare to mention are the second volume of the Liberation of Terra Historical and Era Report:3145.
<LordHarlock>: Will the FSS Golden Lion's class be identified in Field Report: AFFS 2765?
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - Not sure. We plan to reveal what ships the fleet has overall, but name-by-name breakdown is a bit much.
<Gaiiten>: Given the next era (3250), is the development progressing well and as you planned?
<Habeas2>: Giiten - I will not discuss the next era at this time, sorry.
<mib_4cpwus>: Will TRO 3145 be coming out this year?
<Habeas2>: Mib_4cpwus - Yes, if the schedule holds.
<martian>: Will Record Sheets for TRO 3145 be out at the moment Technical readout is published? So we won't have to wait for months for canon record sheets?
<Habeas2>: Martian - Maybe
<Gaiiten>: A question to kickstarting. have you considered to start at least one project using it?
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Considered, but for now, we're not planning to use Kickstarter for any BattleTech book projects.
<Gaiiten>: Another of your maybe-consideration: an XTRO Warships?
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - No
<martian>: I am asking because TRO Prototypes is from 2011 and we got RS volume for primary variants only (after months of waiting).
<Habeas2>: Martian - *sigh* The fact is, we do not have reliable software to produce Record Sheets any more. HeavyMetal is hopelessly out of date, and the relentless surge of new tech items and revisions has made it difficult for any third party (most of whom are hobbyists and volunteers doing so without any form of compensation or official sanction) to keep up either. Many RS must now be made by hand, and we have precious few bodies who c
<Habeas2>: all off, print RS books cost us more to produce than they earn us in cashflow, so they drop to lower priority.
<Habeas2>: Martian - I'm sorry to make this about dollars and cents, but that's how RS wind up taking so long: They simply cost more than they make, and the effort involved is still too high to make them cheaper. There is no magic bullet solution to this.
<Gaiiten>: Too bad. There are still some designs being not specified (as the first warships factions made mentioned in Strat Ops, pages 14-17).
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Pre-Age of War stuff will likely remain unstatted for a good long time to come, really. We don't want to encourage people to play in that period.
<Gaiiten>: Oh, why not? I have to say, given my experience, games set in this era are refreshing.
<Gaiiten>: And some of the warship in StratOps are Clan designs made in the Golden Century.
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Because the closer you get to the real-world "modern" age, the less like BattleTech the setting gets. We are not interested in trying to stat the present day (or anything before the present day), and there is nothing terribly interesting to us about the pre-Age of War period. And, frankly, the continuity issues and the "how did modern tech evolve into BattleTech" questions it would create would actually cost more effor
<Gaiiten>: Can we hope for a product dealing with the Homeclans this year?
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Nope!
<mib_z3a8if>: How's the weather up there?
<Habeas2>: Mib_z3a8if - Cold.
<Cateran>: I had a question yesterday, but can't remember it today
<Habeas2>: Cateran - Well, you have less than 7 hours to remember before tonight's chat.
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I love hearing about more Warship stuff, thanks Weirdo for asking those questions.
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I love hearing about more Warship stuff, thanks Weirdo for asking those questions.
+1
Just finished undercoating a pair of Pintos and a Quixote. The more Warship related stuff, the better O0
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Next chat is starting now...
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Greetings:
[02:01] <@Habeas2> Hi.
[02:01] <Steve_Restless> evenin.
[02:01] <DarkISI> Hi Herb
[02:01] <Speck> Hello
[02:01] <@Habeas2> Welcome to the second chat of the first Live BattleChat day of 2013.
[02:01] <bigal> good evening
[02:01] <@Habeas2> Rules remains the same> Be nice or be kicked. Give everyone a chance to speak. Log at your own recognizance. Have fun.
[02:02] <@Habeas2> Floor's open, Fire when ready.
[02:02] <Nerroth> Hello, and happy new year.
XTROs:
[02:03] <Kamas> I have been ordered by Kit to find out - what can you tell us about the sales figures for XTRO: Kendoggles?
[02:13] <DarkISI> next one from the forums:
[02:13] <DarkISI> Are there any planned XTROs to cover the clans pre-invasion?
[02:14] <@Habeas2> DarkISI - Not at this time.
[02:15] <DarkISI> Final forums question:
[02:15] <DarkISI> What's the next XTRO going to be?
[02:16] <@Habeas2> DarkISI - Currently, it's a toss-up between Primitives IV and Gunslingers.
[02:25] <bigal> Will there be any one hit wonders or small production of mechs, BA, vechiles, and aircraft in up coming XTROs? Example "Schwerer Gustav
[02:27] <@Habeas2> Bigal - Most of them are just that.
[02:45] <Sarcasmo> Any plans for an XTRO type armed industrial mechs
[02:46] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - Not really.
[02:46] <Sarcasmo> Will those item be covered in a more...mainstream publication?
[02:51] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - Various sources have already toughed on this. The latest is the PDF-exclusive revision of TRO: Vehicle Annex
[02:53] <Sarcasmo> Understood. I was wondering if we'd get something with a more in-depth write up, with maybe some art
[02:54] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - Art costs. Writing costs. When we perceive fan interest is low, we seriously debate how to present information in its least costly way possible. If that means you just get a Record Sheet or a paragraph of text on the subject, then that's how it works.
Hex Packs:
[02:05] <DarkISI> First of the questions I promised to ask:
[02:05] <DarkISI> What is the next planned Hex Pack?
[02:06] <@Habeas2> XotL - Presently, I believe our next Hex Pack is actually a suport product for Tactical Operations.
Map Tiles:
[03:14] <Circinus_Enquirer> Speaking of the maptiles - any chance of getting one with tiles for gun emplacements and ferrocrete walls so we can convert any map into a Castle Brian?
[03:15] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - It's possible.
Record Sheets:
[02:07] <DarkISI> next forums question
[02:07] <DarkISI> It was mentioned that HMP is out of date, do the devs use or have they considered using Solaris Skunk Werks for getting the mech sheets done quickly at least?)
[02:11] <@Habeas2> DarkISI - Frankly, we are using many independently-made software systems to try and make up for the loss of Heavy Metal as a viable product, but none of the fan-made software systems truly addresses all of our needs at thistime.
TRO VA, revised
[02:19] <Damage> Any hop for a TRO VA record sheet book?
[02:20] <@Habeas2> Damage - Given the difficulties in producing Record Sheets, the chances are rather low.
3250:
[02:02] <Steve_Restless> I know the revelation of 3250 has raised quite a clamor(And I think this might calm some of it down), but i was wondering if you would please clarify whether 20 weapons means that in current weapon count, an AC/2, AC/5, AC/10 and AC/20 would be 4 weapons, or one weapon (Autocannon)?
[02:03] <@Habeas2> Steve_Restles - I am afraid that I cannot speak to future plans beyond the Dark Age setting.
ePub Schedule:
[02:02] <Hersh67> 12I saw that LoT2 is underway and you have a 10 product print schedule. What is the epub schedule looking like?
Misjump/Pseudotech:
[02:03] <Nerroth> Has there been any further thought on the Misjump and PseudoTech PDF ideas as of late?
[02:05] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - Clarify. Where did I mention those previously
[02:05] <@Habeas2> ?
[02:06] <Nerroth> In one of last year's BattleChats, you mentioned both as potential avenues for exploring places off the beaten path, such as Kaetetôã and Far Country.
[02:09] <Nerroth> MisJumps and PseutoTech were menioned in one of the October 2012 BattleChats: http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,23997.msg536418/topicseen.html#msg536418
[02:14] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - At this ime, I have some very solid pitches in for Misjumps, and the first PseudoTech book has been written.
[02:14] <Nerroth> I see, thanks. Can it be said if any of them refer to Far Country, or is that still under wraps for the time being?
[02:15] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - No serious pitches for either product covering the Tetaetae have been made yet.
BV:
[02:06] <Damage> Any new news on the revamping of BV?
[02:08] <@Habeas2> Damage - In the near term a compiled errata for BV2 will be released as part of an upcoming product. Any all-new BV systems will have to wait until the next edition of BattleTech (whenever that occurs)
[02:08] <Kamas> Will the BV2 errata include all units including aero?
[02:09] <Kamas> As in, will there be a table listing the values for existing units, perhaps.
[02:13] <@Habeas2> Kamas - Maybe
[02:13] <@Habeas2> Kamas - Getting BV for existing units will be the MUL's job.
Upcoming products:
[02:06] <bigal> Can you list the ten products that you maybe able to print this year?
[02:09] <@Habeas2> Bigal - I'll list some of them: Historical: Liberation of Terra Vol. 2, Handbook: House Kurita, Era Report: 3145, Field Manual: 3145, Technical Readout: 3145, BattleCorps Anthology #4: Fire for Effect, and Alpha Strike
[02:31] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Which is the next product to most likely come out?
[02:32] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Maybe Historical: Liberation of Terra Vol. 2
Interstellar Operations:
[02:06] <Circinus_Enquirer> Mr. Habeas! Mr. Habeas! Can you comment on whether the Alternate Eras for Interstellar Operations might include game rules for the effects of the "Fortress Republic" jump-blocking technology in Grand Strategic level games?
Risk Items:
[02:07] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Will RISK items still exist in the dark age or will they be retconned out?
[02:10] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - They are not being retconned, per se, but they may be only rumored tech.
Timber Wolf:
[02:08] <Steve_Restless> can you shed some out-of-character light on the tough treatment the Timber Wolf omnimech seems to be recieving as of late?
<@Habeas2> Steve_Restless - We have more than enough Timber Wolves now. At last check, in fact, I think we now have maybe 6 chassis that all claim to be Timber Wolf/Mad Cat designs. After a while, older models will simply have to retire.
Design philosophy:
[02:15] <Kamas> For the future, will BattleMech development follow an Old is the New New/Project Phoenix mindset of dramatic upgrades and rebuilds to current designs, or is the intent for more brand new designs?
[02:17] <@Habeas2> Kamas - All I can say is that the next TRO will feature a total of 200 units, many of them designs introduced for Dark Age before the Click Dial game was retired, coupled with some all-new units. Stats are still being generated for these.
IlClan:
[02:16] <Steve_Restless> Is the ilClan Book planned as a part of the 3145 era, or the 3250 era?
[02:18] <@Habeas2> Steve_Restless - The ilClan book is set at the tail end of the Dark Age period. I cannot discuss post-Dark Age material at this time. People get too nervous.
Fall From Grace
[02:16] <Circinus_Enquirer> I've recently been re-reading and greatly enjoying Chris Hartford's BatteCorps "Fall From Grace" serial. What are the prospects of seeing such novel-length serials in the future?
[02:19] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - Novel-length serials via BattleCorps are always a possibility, but they are something that can only be handled by our top writers, because it kind of sucks to get part-way into the series, only to have the writer flake out on you.
Periphery:
[02:19] <Nerroth> While the coreward sector of the Deep Periphery is under an information blackout for the time being, is the same true for the three "new" sectors detailed in ISP3? As in, could any of the 3145 works provide update for the spinward, rimward, or anti-spinward sectors; or are they no-shows for a good while yet?
[02:22] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - Most of those regions are occupied by rather tiny and ultimately inconsequentil realms. They have no significant military forces or factory production, and do not interact with many (or, in some cases, ANY) outsiders. This makes them something of a storyline dead-end, presented for flavor only.
[03:30] <Maelwys> Are there plans to detail the Periphery rising at all?
[03:31] <@Habeas2> Maelwys - Who rising?
[03:32] <@Habeas2> Maelwys - You mean the one that preceded the Amaris Crisis? Nope.
Protégé:
[02:17] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Will the Protégé play an important roll in the 3145 era?
[02:20] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - The what? I saw a bunch of bizarre characters here.
[02:20] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> *the protege, accents don't work well i guess
Arthur Steiner-Davion:
[02:23] <Kamas> Have we already seen what happened to Arthur Steiner-Davion without realizing it, or has he been set on the back burner for the 3145 era?
‘Mech Manufacturers:
[02:24] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Are mechs such as the Exhumer, Gravedigger, Cadaver and Mortis made by the same manufacturer, or is the IS going goth?
[02:26] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Looking at the list, it's a pan-Sphere phenomenon
[02:52] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> There seem to be a lot of mechs being made be unknown, new or mysterious companies in the DA. Is this a conspiracy? :O
[02:53] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Yes. A conspiracy of writers adding more details to a previously under-written segment of history that everyone already complained was "pre-spoiled"
3145:
[02:25] <Nerroth> Can it be said yet whose point of view the 3145 source books will be written from?
[02:27] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - The Republic.
[02:26] <Circinus_Enquirer> What factions/forces are planned to be detailed in the 3145 books? Will it just be the major Houses/Clans, or will the factionettes get summaries? What about the rebel Senatorial forces that made it off Terra - still an active faction?
[02:28] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - All Great House factions, all major Periphery factions, all Inner Sphere Clan factions, and the most prominent mercenary groups. Not covered: Minor Periphery, Deep Periphery, or Homeworld Clans.
[02:28] <Nerroth> So, will FM:3145 give an accurate account of the present state of the RAF within the boundaries of the Fortress?
[02:29] <@Habeas2> Nerroth – Yup
[02:30] <Nerroth> So, will there be details showing how the Republic has been able to maintain intel on the goings on of the Inner Sphere beyond the walls of the Fortress? (As in, can HPG and black box comms from outside of the Fortress be sent back in?)
[02:32] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - Maybe. But, to be honest, details are killing us, so we may stop giving too many of those. Do you realize how demoralizing it is to my writers when they work hard under a strict deadline and risk getting reassigned at the last minute, only to have their carefully laid story disputed by the first fanboy who picks up the PDF?
3145/Map:
[03:22] <Nerroth> One thing I was wondering about the 3145 maps we're due to get; is there any particular method they'll use to show which worlds still have functioning HPGs, and which are in the dark?
[03:22] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - No such thing is presently planned.
Mysteries:
[02:26] <Trboturtle2> There has been a few complaints that there are a lot of mysteries (Green Ghosts, Clan Wolverine, the missing WOB planets, ect) Are there any plans to clear some of these mysteries up?
[02:28] <@Habeas2> Trboturtle2 - Only when we feel like it. And, honestly, we don't.
Minnesota Tribe:
[02:54] <Circinus_Enquirer> Mr. Habeas! Mr. Habeas! My team just stumbled across a major cache of Minnesota Tribe artifacts! Can Catalyst comment on the large force of Spectral omnifighters now deorbiting and burning for our position? (That and how come more archeologists and groupies tracking the Minnesota Tribe don't get similarly bushwacked?)
[02:54] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - Peace of Blake be with you.
White Out:
[02:29] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Is there a devious plan behind why the 6 (known) HPGs survived the white-out while the rest did not, or is it pure luck?
[02:29] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Pure luck
Praise for the writers:
[02:33] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> The writers are awesome. I love them.
Christopher Marik:
[02:36] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> How can the inner sphere handle the amount of badassery condensed into Christopher Marik?
[02:36] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Same way it put up with Victor Steiner-Davion and Hanse before him
Era Digests:
[02:37] <Nerroth> It has been said that an Era Digest is planned to cover the first years of the Dark Age (with the proto-factions from the clicky game). Would the Dark Age pre-3145 have any other stories that could get similar treatment, or will the Era Report be good enough a venue?
[02:38] <Nerroth> Say, for example, when it comes to detailing the re-emergence of the Free Worlds League.
[02:38] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - I am not sure exactly what you're asking there.
[02:40] <Nerroth> To put it another way, will the rebirth of the FWL be covered in detail in one of the 3145 books already on the production schedule, or could it perhaps be a topic that a future PDF file could focus on exclusively?
[02:41] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - It would be covered in the 3145 ER and FM.
[02:41] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - SOlo-faction print products have proven to be more costly to produce, so we aren't going to do so many of them from now on.
Federated Suns:
[02:37] <drufause> have you decided how many worlds the FS are going to loose to CC and DC due to the leader being insane
[02:39] <@Habeas2> Drufause - Sort of.
TRO Submission:
[02:38] <Kamas> Will there ever be another submission request for future TROs like the one for Battlecorps members for (I think) 3085?
[02:39] <@Habeas2> Kamas - No. Sorry.
Omni technology:
[02:38] <Vition> omnimechs and omnifighters, are these gradually going the way of the dodo?
[02:39] <@Habeas2> Vition - No.
Fake Thomas Marik:
[02:38] <Circinus_Enquirer> Any chance that the Fake Thomas Marik is actually a real Marik, descended from the illegitimate child of Rhean Marik and Zane Davion?
[02:39] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - No.
Novels:
[02:39] <Steve_Restless> Are there any details about things being held back, with the hopes that they will some day be covered in novel format?
[02:40] <@Habeas2> Steve_Restless - We are currently operating under the presumption that there will be no novels any time soon, so nothing is being held back for the sake of novel presentation.
Preferred Question:
[02:41] <Steve_Restless> What, if any, is the question you wish that we would ask you?
[02:42] <@Habeas2> Steve_Restless - When you ask it, you'll know.
Era Report:
[02:41] <Kamas> How many pages is the Era Report looking to be, just as far as a rough guess?
[02:43] <@Habeas2> Kamas - It was specced for 160 pages.
Filtvelt:
[02:41] <Sarcasmo> Does Filtvelt go out in a bang or in a whimper?
[02:43] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - .... That is beyond the present Dark Age.
Clan Protectorate:
[02:44] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Is the Clan Protectorate here to stay?
[02:45] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - .... That is beyond the present Dark Age
Succession Wars:
[02:44] <Circinus_Enquirer> I enjoyed the XTRO Succession Wars Prototypes. Are there plans for Era Reports/Digests for 1st SW, 2nd SW, 3rd SW, and/or Outer Reaches Rebellion?
[02:46] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - Yes, Yes, Yes, and No.
[03:05] <Xotl> Has it been decided what direction the Third Succession War era product will take? There's been mention of an Era Report at times, and an Era Digest at others.
[03:07] <@Habeas2> Xotl - Undecided, but likely an Era Report.
Exodus:
[02:45] <Nerroth> One last question for now. There has been a lot of debate on the question of Alexandr Kerensky's choice to launch the Exodus, rather than stay and try to defend the Hegemony. Will the second Liberation of Terra volume shed more light on this fateful choice; and what (little) there was in the Hegemony left to try and rebuild?
[02:49] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - ....somewhat.
Liberation of Terra:
[02:46] <drufause> I know this has not even been hinted at so sorry if its a bomb. If the Liberation of Terra books series are successful enough will us grongards get something like a short historical series for the 1st succession war so we can see the first set of mass WMD's that were thrown
[02:49] <@Habeas2> Drufause - Yes.
Andery Kerensky:
[02:49] <Circinus_Enquirer> Are there any plans to release fiction covering the fate of Andery Kerensky - either through translation/adaptation of the remaining ClanGrunder books, or with new fiction covering that period and those characters?
[02:50] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - Whenever Randall gets around to it.
Rules:
[02:54] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Are there plans on revamping or redoing certain rules in time for the DA?
[02:55] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Are you looking for something specific, or shall I give you a very vague answer?
[02:56] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> err - let's go with the vague
[02:57] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Relevant rules and technologies from the Dark Age are being adapted for the classic TW-style game as we speak.
Fan Interest:
[02:56] <Circinus_Enquirer> Where is fan interest generally highest? (You mention that you deprioritize areas that lack such interest, so according to your data, what is the fanbase clamoring for most?)
[02:58] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - Apparently, they want to play Shadowrun more these days....
Post Dark Age/Writing:
[02:58] <Sarcasmo> What's the most difficult part of writing for the post-DA era?
[02:59] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - Honestly? Not being able to talk about it without inciting panic.
[03:01] <Sarcasmo> What do you LIKE about writing for the post DA weal.
[03:01] <Sarcasmo> era. wow, that was horrible spelling.
[03:02] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - Having a say in it.
Movie Rights:
[02:59] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Who does have the film rights to this setting?
[03:00] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi – Topps
Mercenaries post Dark Age:
[03:01] <drufause> Seriously though now that Dark Age appears to be returning to Inner Sphere war as the common way of life will we get more Mercenary type forces
[03:02] <@Habeas2> Drufause - ..... That information is post-Dark Age, and I cannot discuss that.
Republic of the Sphere:
[03:02] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Why is the RotS evil?
[03:03] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - They're not.
Faction Writing:
[03:05] <Sarcasmo> what's the hardest faction(s) to wrote for?
[03:06] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - Freee Worlds League.
Sales Figures:
[03:06] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Has there been an increase in sales/customers with the appearance of MW:O and MW:T?
[03:08] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Not really. Computer/video games do not have a serious impact on the tabletop game market that we have seen.
Miniatures:
[03:07] <Nerroth> In terms of miniatures, do you know if any of the current (or pending) minis are designed using 3D models, or are crafted by hand?
[03:08] <DarkISI> Nerroth: The upcoming Spectral LAMs use 3D printing from 3D CAD drawings
[03:08] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - We produce books, not minis. IWM representatives would be a better ource for such answers
[03:09] <Nerroth> Cool. Would the models then be available for BT artists to use in future book art? (As a point of comparison, some of the new 3D models used for ADB/Mongoose's Starline 2500 minis has been usable for book artists.)
Product Piracy:
[03:10] <Circinus_Enquirer> How much of a concern is piracy for your products and output? (More the type of having your PDF's posted to filesharing sites than having the cargo ships carrying the crates of maptiles hijacked by Somali privateers)
[03:10] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - It is a concern, but not exactly an overwhelming one.
Inspiration:
[03:11] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> What was your largest sci-fi inspiration growing up?
[03:12] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Star Wars
[03:13] <DarkISI> Wonder how many SciFi Writers would actually answer Star Wars to this question
[03:13] <DarkISI> I gues: Quite a lot :)
[03:15] <@Habeas2> DarkISI - Well, he speified childhood. WHen I was in elementary school, Star Wars was the rage. Star Trek was a close second. The big robots came later.
[03:15] <Nerroth> Speaking of big robots, have you been following Transformers: Prime; and if so, how do you rate the series?
[03:18] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - Yes, and I like it. I still feel Animated was the best, though. It had some well-thought out plots, good dialogue, didn't take itself too seriously, and gave nods to G1 every chance it had.
Cats:
[03:12] <Sarcasmo> How are the cats doing, Herb?
[03:13] <Hersh67> Cats are letting him give us an extra half hour. Guess they're either doing good or are on nip!
[03:14] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - The cats are doing fine. Oscar is presently invading my parents' home, so he can vex his cousin Oliver.
What-If Product:
[03:15] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Which product would you like to publish the most, but cannot due to a lack of interest on our behalf?
[03:17] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Hmmmmmmm. Anything that would take the entire core rulebook series and simplify it to one book, incidentally removing construction rules while we're at it.
[03:23] <Sarcasmo> Biggest thing you wish you could change about the franchise?
[03:25] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - I wish the gameplay could be simplified, perhaps abstracted, keeping the focus on the ground war and 'Mechs, and enabling players to enjoy quickly resolved battles involving large forces with enough time left over for dinner and sleep before going back to work the next day.
[03:25] <Sarcasmo> Oh, so like quick strike
[03:28] <@Habeas2> Sarcasmo - ;)
Circinus Federation:
[03:18] <Circinus_Enquirer> When the Circinus Federation was masquerading as peaceful farmers, did it have a different flag? (Spiked ring and skull = not terribly subtle re: "we be pirates") There was some sort of abstract planet and arrow thing as a watermark in MW 1st Edition.
[03:19] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Federation - The original CF flag was a skull superimposed on three bones arranged in a Y-shape. Subtle never worked for them.
Dice:
[03:20] <Trboturtle2> Anything new on the con dice matter?
[03:20] <@Habeas2> Trboturtle2 - We'll likely have dice for the cons. And that's it.
[03:21] <Trboturtle2> Hopefully a lot more than last year....
[03:22] <@Habeas2> Well, remember that CGL hits more than one con. IIRC, a lot of dice were bought up before we even made it to GenCon
T-Shirts:
[03:23] <Trboturtle2> Any new T-shirts planned?
[03:26] <@Habeas2> Trboturtle2 - T-Shirts are a con-exclusive item, and usually decided by art department, rather than line development.
Pride of Davion
[03:23] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Is the Pride of Davion important at all?
[03:24] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - To the Davions, maybe
Dark Age:
[03:25] <Nerroth> It's somewhat ironic that the Dark Age has been lying in wait from a BT perspective for a long time, but is now being talked about in light of the looing ilClan/3250 business. Do you still fee lthat the Dark Age will get its fair turn at the wheel, or is there a risk that people will be looking past it to the next gret leap forward?
[03:28] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - Since the great leap forward has pretty much been revised away (something about trying to offset panic or something) I think the Dark Age will get its fair turn, yes.
Planet Traps:
[03:28] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> In the "Levlin's List" download the wobbies use talk about "odd jumpships and Planet Traps". What's a Planet Trap? Anything important?
[03:29] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - Nope.
Hidden Planets:
[03:31] <drufause> Was Planet Sterilization just a cover for the WOB to make more hidden
[03:32] <@Habeas2> Drufause - Nope
Rim Collection:
[03:32] <Nerroth> Will the Rim Collection ever get its own flag?
[03:33] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - ..... That information lies in the post-Dark Age setting, and cannot be discussed at this time.
This year:
[03:30] <MITSUBISHI_AUTO_RACER_VROOM_VR> Herb: Do you have any parting comments to get us pumped about the upcoming year?
[03:31] <@Habeas2> Mitsubishi - There's a lot of great stuff coming. You really don't want to be missing any of it....
-
Timber Wolf:
[02:08] <Steve_Restless> can you shed some out-of-character light on the tough treatment the Timber Wolf omnimech seems to be recieving as of late?
[02:22] <@Habeas2> Steve_Restless - Can't say.
Actually, I got a reply on that. I dont know what the "can't say" was to.
<@Habeas2> Steve_Restless - We have more than enough Timber Wolves now. At last check, in fact, I think we now have maybe 6 chassis that all claim to be Timber Wolf/Mad Cat designs. After a while, older models will simply have to retire.
-
Fixed.
Thank you :)
-
Misjump/Pseudotech:
[02:03] <Nerroth> Has there been any further thought on the Misjump and PseudoTech PDF ideas as of late?
[02:05] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - Clarify. Where did I mention those previously
[02:05] <@Habeas2> ?
[02:06] <Nerroth> In one of last year's BattleChats, you mentioned both as potential avenues for exploring places off the beaten path, such as Kaetetôã and Far Country.
[02:09] <Nerroth> MisJumps and PseutoTech were menioned in one of the October 2012 BattleChats: http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,23997.msg536418/topicseen.html#msg536418
[02:14] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - At this ime, I have some very solid pitches in for Misjumps, and the first PseudoTech book has been written.
[02:14] <Nerroth> I see, thanks. Can it be said if any of them refer to Far Country, or is that still under wraps for the time being?
I should note that a follow-on comment stated as as of yet, no serious proposal covering the Tetatae has been submitted for either series.
(Here's hoping they'll get a look-in eventually.)
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Fixed.
Thank you :)
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No problem.
I'm glad to see that the Republic is the reference point for the 3145 books, and that we'll get to see what state the RAF will have worked itself into behind the Fortress walls by that time.
(Especially in terms of how their order of battle compares to those of the Wolf Empire and Jade Falcon forces brushing up against the "outside".)
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The SSW answer obviously begs another question, what does it lack?
I hope somebody reminds Herb that the ideal way to handle a universe with mystery is that to ask a new question you must answer an old one
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The SSW answer obviously begs another question, what does it lack?
I hope somebody reminds Herb that the ideal way to handle a universe with mystery is that to ask a new question you must answer an old one
Warships and Support Vehicles?
And Protomechs and Battle Armor?
And Aerospace Fighters and DropShips/Small Craft?
No RS is being held up by anything SSW would fix.
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Dark Age:
[03:25] <Nerroth> It's somewhat ironic that the Dark Age has been lying in wait from a BT perspective for a long time, but is now being talked about in light of the looing ilClan/3250 business. Do you still fee lthat the Dark Age will get its fair turn at the wheel, or is there a risk that people will be looking past it to the next gret leap forward?
[03:28] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - Since the great leap forward has pretty much been revised away (something about trying to offset panic or something) I think the Dark Age will get its fair turn, yes.
GAH! I hope that the revising won't take too long, it sounded exciting.
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Dark Age:
[03:25] <Nerroth> It's somewhat ironic that the Dark Age has been lying in wait from a BT perspective for a long time, but is now being talked about in light of the looing ilClan/3250 business. Do you still fee lthat the Dark Age will get its fair turn at the wheel, or is there a risk that people will be looking past it to the next gret leap forward?
[03:28] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - Since the great leap forward has pretty much been revised away (something about trying to offset panic or something) I think the Dark Age will get its fair turn, yes.
That's got me ticked. I was really looking forward to the leap forward with the game getting a breath of fresh air and it gets whacked because of all of the whining. "Oh noes it's something new, let's all panic now". Oh, well. I do like the Dark Ages so it won't be a complete loss.
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Warships and Support Vehicles?
And Protomechs and Battle Armor?
And Aerospace Fighters and DropShips/Small Craft?
No RS is being held up by anything SSW would fix.
Thanks for pointing that out but it should at least speed up 'Mechs and most vehicles and those tend to make up the bulk of most TRO's, so it should save some time and
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Thanks for pointing that out but it should at least speed up 'Mechs and most vehicles and those tend to make up the bulk of most TRO's, so it should save some time and
Herb said that they use them, what more do you want. It's not like they're stalling them intentionally to get a rise out of you.
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Dark Age:
[03:25] <Nerroth> It's somewhat ironic that the Dark Age has been lying in wait from a BT perspective for a long time, but is now being talked about in light of the looing ilClan/3250 business. Do you still fee lthat the Dark Age will get its fair turn at the wheel, or is there a risk that people will be looking past it to the next gret leap forward?
[03:28] <@Habeas2> Nerroth - Since the great leap forward has pretty much been revised away (something about trying to offset panic or something) I think the Dark Age will get its fair turn, yes.
That's got me ticked. I was really looking forward to the leap forward with the game getting a breath of fresh air and it gets whacked because of all of the whining. "Oh noes it's something new, let's all panic now". Oh, well. I do like the Dark Ages so it won't be a complete loss.
It's more of a "we're just going to stop talking about it because everyone is panicking over nothing". I think the leap is still going to happen, and one way or another we still get a breath of fresh air into BattleTech. Heck, a good part of 3145 is going to be pretty much brand-spanking-new (what with the ilClan and all), I really think they just want us to focus on the now instead of spazzing out over minor things that could easily change.
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It's more of a "we're just going to stop talking about it because everyone is panicking over nothing". I think the leap is still going to happen, and one way or another we still get a breath of fresh air into BattleTech. Heck, a good part of 3145 is going to be pretty much brand-spanking-new (what with the ilClan and all), I really think they just want us to focus on the now instead of spazzing out over minor things that could easily change.
"Since the great leap forward has pretty much been revised away (something about trying to offset panic or something) I think the Dark Age will get its fair turn, yes."
I don't know. It sounds like it's been totally thrown out. However, Herb tends to say a lot of things he doesn't mean when he's irritated.
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"Since the great leap forward has pretty much been revised away (something about trying to offset panic or something) I think the Dark Age will get its fair turn, yes."
I don't know. It sounds like it's been totally thrown out. However, Herb tends to say a lot of things he doesn't mean when he's irritated.
It's all speculation on our behalves anyway. Honestly, I think I prefer things like this. We already know that there's going to be a future to battletech, it's guaranteed unless something terrible like battletech getting the chop happens. The only difference now is that the writers have a heck of a lot more creative flexibility. If the super-awesome-great idea they had about 3250 turns out to be kinda meh, well, no worries! They can change it without having the fans get up in arms because we didn't have any expectations.
It also cuts down on the number of "This is the worst idea ever, how dare they ruin the franchise like this, I'm quitting Battletech rabble rabble" posts on the forums, which is awesome.
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Herb said that they use them, what more do you want. It's not like they're stalling them intentionally to get a rise out of you.
SSW was used for RS:3060U and RS:3067U at the very least.
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SSW was used for RS:3060U and RS:3067U at the very least.
It's written in the transcript that they use many fan-made software systems. IIRC Herb said in the chat that a few of the things that are slowing them down are warships, dropships and the like. On top of other issues. I'm not sure if you can tell, but I didn't log the chat T_T;
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The Leap Forward is probably still being planned out and what few details we were given caused a blind panic on both storyline and gameplay changes. Honestly, a good hunk of the forum paniced when it was announced. I have actually begun to like the idea of a big leap forward storyline wise, I just hope they leave gameplay alone. It doesn't need to be simpler, I like it for the complexity. The only great sadness I see is the lack of warship love.
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SSW was used for RS:3060U and RS:3067U at the very least.
I don't believe that is correct.
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I know that there was plans to update SSW for armor at one time and bits of it can still be found in the files. Anyone know if that's still coming?
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SSW now support (had has for several months) through a companion program called Solaris Armor Werks
Herb said they used some fan made programs, not that they used SSW, make of that what you will
It sounds the Heavy Metal programs are only mentioned in the books because the license they're under
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I wish that TPTB would spend more resources on a good Design program for BT. It makes the game so much more fun to me.
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What's this about "inciting panic" with any mention of post Dark Age fiction? I'm all for progress!!! Keep up the good work Herb!
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I wish that TPTB would spend more resources on a good Design program for BT. It makes the game so much more fun to me.
Catalyst has no rights to create any computer program for BT. All the electronic rights for BT are held by Microsoft.
That's a discussion for a separate thread.
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[02:06] <bigal> Can you list the ten products that you maybe able to print this year?
[02:09] <@Habeas2> Bigal - I'll list some of them: [snip] and Alpha Strike
I don't remember this one being mentioned previously. Any word on this?
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I don't remember this one being mentioned previously. Any word on this?
Nope, no additional information was given.
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I don't believe that is correct.
Ah, damn. I meant MegaMek Lab rather than SSW. Ignore me.
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Catalyst has no rights to create any computer program for BT. All the electronic rights for BT are held by Microsoft.
That's a discussion for a separate thread.
Ok just wondering, I thought BT had something to do with those programs.
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[02:26] <Circinus_Enquirer> What factions/forces are planned to be detailed in the 3145 books? Will it just be the major Houses/Clans, or will the factionettes get summaries? What about the rebel Senatorial forces that made it off Terra - still an active faction?
[02:28] <@Habeas2> Circinus_Enquirer - All Great House factions, all major Periphery factions, all Inner Sphere Clan factions, and the most prominent mercenary groups. Not covered: Minor Periphery, Deep Periphery, or Homeworld Clans.
BU UH.... :'( :'( But But, i want to know if Randis use their hidden fleet to conquer the Inner Sphere! ;D
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Thanks for asking my questions DarkISI
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Pity to hear they won't be making an XTRO Golden Cenury. Could be some freaky stuff there.
I just realized I forgot to ask if they are currently planning on having ALL unseens eventually get alternate pre Phoenix images in the XTROs. Save that for next time.
Catalyst has no rights to create any computer program for BT. All the electronic rights for BT are held by Microsoft.
That's a discussion for a separate thread.
I thought that just related to video games.
My confusion is as to how much work they have to do on a sheet. I would have thought much of the work would already have to be done already when they do the stat sheet in the TRO to ensure they have statted a legal unit.
Interesting to hear the next Hex pack will mesh with TO, though that doesn't surprise me too much since TO contains stuff like swamps and jungles, deserts, dunes.
Now that someone mentions it, Hex Pack: Castles Brian, would be awesome; though anything with gun turrets would be nice. It is interesting to note that last time around, Herb said no when asked if there were plans to make Hex Packs using TO terrain rules (he mentioned how most of it was modifications to existing terrain types).
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BU UH.... :'( :'( But But, i want to know if Randis use their hidden fleet to conquer the Inner Sphere! ;D
Still no mention of the homeclans in the 3145 books. Does that include the Ilclan book?
Wants info... please don't make us wait 5 years again (or however long).
Aaarrrrrrgggghh. Sorry I'm half nuts because my power has been on and off all weekend and I've been at my mom's house with a teething baby. @p? @p? @p?
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It's a fair bet that the IlClan book will resolve the Wolf/Jade Falcon plotlines from A Bonfire of Worlds rather than reintroduce the Homeworld Clans.
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We will see.
There are still so many storeis for Dark Age to be told, that we will not have to lament about a lack of good stories, new units and new tech.
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Well if the timeline from previous battlechats is accurate by this time next year we should know the answers to all the questions.
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I don't remember this one being mentioned previously. Any word on this?
Nope. Consider it a teaser.
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Hello,
Oh, joy! I'm in trouble again....
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
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Thank you for asking the what the next XTRO Question, DarkISI!
My comments: Why heck does Herb sound so depressed when he answering the questions??? Also, The comment saying the players wanting the play Shadowrun through me off abit.
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Not to worry Herb. We wouldn't be able to recognize you any other way! Nuke on man, nuke on!
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Thank you for asking the what the next XTRO Question, DarkISI!
My comments: Why heck does Herb sound so depressed when he answering the questions??? Also, The comment saying the players wanting the play Shadowrun through me off abit.
It might be because of how panicky the forum gets whenever he mentions anything the slightest bit interesting.
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It might be because of how panicky the forum gets whenever he mentions anything the slightest bit interesting.
If that is the case, maybe they should ignore us and just look what sale figures look like.
People will always talk, type on impulse. I support these guys and I like alot they do, but i don't like everything that comes out or some of the aims.
Charging forward and not letting mass being (insert your own words)s get to them. I'm sure that it isn't so. It must be alot pressure & stress to try please player base. Sometimes I wonder if the internet hurts things too much sometimes.
Well anyways, good news on products coming out. I hope they come in soon! (..looks getting second job to afford more BT...)
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I note with keen interest that Herb specifically only said they have no plans for Kickstarters relating to a Battletech book project... those who were wondering about a box set kickstarter may be in luck! ;D
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It might be because of how panicky the forum gets whenever he mentions anything the slightest bit interesting.
Speaking personally, I'd be a lot less prone to panic, if we got fewer teases, and more information.
If I get more info, and its a change that I like, I'll be excited, and really eager for it to happen.
if I get more info and its a change that I don't like, I'll gripe, and groan, and wander off to focus on some other property. like, go back to my Super Robot Wars obsession, or try another game.
Its the lack of information that causes angst and panic. I'm tired of losing bits of the universe that I'm fond of, and if the plan is for dramatic enough changes, I'd rather know sooner, than later, so I can cut my losses and go. and if the plan isn't the sort of changes I dread, then I'd love to know more of what I can expect.
But I'm pretty heavily invested in the setting. Battletech is one of my favorite things ever. I'd hate to see it change too much when they've got so much about it right. At some point, it stops being battletech, stops resembling the thing I love. Just look at... almost all of the computer adapatations that weren't Mech2 and Mech3. They reinvented the whole damn thing, and I loathe them. Turns my guts to icewater to think that the same thing could happen to the tabletop game.
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Frankly, I don't mind new storylines and such that we get as we go into new eras. I hear people go on about how X era ruined Battletech, but I'm fine rolling with it and just ignoring storylines I don't like.
I can use the units in an era without roleplaying a story, and if I want to roleplay, I am going to pick a story I like.
I'd only be worried if they say they are replacing the rules with something completely different. I have heard mention of new weapons and some streamlined rules for post dark age, but I haven't heard anything about them replacing the rules entirely, and I am do not believe this is them obsoleting current rules as much as adding a new option.
I do have to say, the comment on replacing the entire set of rulebooks with a single book and removing construction rules makes if Herb had his way me a sad panda . I'm pretty sure Herb would mysteriously disappear if he tried it, though. We love our construction rules, and the advanced stuff in the other books can be very nice to have.
Now, if we had a small book on QuickStrike rules on hexes released on it's own; that would be cool. It's nice and fast, though if some of the posts I have seen in its section are anything to go by, there's spots it could use some revising with regards to aersospace and combined arms.
I'm in trouble again....
With whom? THe panic this month has been less mass than it was when the post dark age stuff first came up
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But I'm pretty heavily invested in the setting. Battletech is one of my favorite things ever. I'd hate to see it change too much when they've got so much about it right. At some point, it stops being battletech, stops resembling the thing I love. Just look at... almost all of the computer adapatations that weren't Mech2 and Mech3. They reinvented the whole damn thing, and I loathe them. Turns my guts to icewater to think that the same thing could happen to the tabletop game.
A agree with somewhat, like you this is my favorite tabletop game and i've invested alot into it too. Emotionally and material wise. When i really got into the franchise, the MWDA came online started bring in new avenue of game play. Changing fabric which was known as big-mech pounding game with detail combat verses a quick, fast and agruably abstract system of play.
Video games did seem to offer differient view of the universe, changing things. However, i don't think that case here.
I worry with game play becomes abstract then it will stop being battletech. I like seeing head shots happening for instance, Quickstrike card system okay, but it leaves me hollow.
I'm confident that TPTB will won't change BT to point where it doesn't resemble BT. Only thing is we have big problem right now. Producing units is canonlly only produced by hand, which is hard work specially if you consider insanity large Aerospace units pose to people making them. TPTB may not have a choice, but to change it so its not as insanely difficult to make new units for the game. I hope they resolve those problems and keeping the game being crippled by fact its not easy to make units in first place.
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I think that ultimately, what Quick Strike and/or BattleForce might need is the chance to breathe outside of the core BattleTech ruleset, the way that Federation Commander does relative to Star Fleet Battles.
There are plenty of SFB loyalists who don't care for any other SFU-related space combat game, but that hasn't stopped FC from establishing its own fanbase (which only partly overlaps with that of SFB), or from newer titles like the SFU adaptation of Starmada, or A Call to Arms: Star Fleet, from further adding their respective circles to the broader Venn diagram of Star Fleet Universe gamers.
Perhaps that could be where the 3250 box set can find its niche, as has been suggested already. No-one is going to stop "classic" BT players from using those minis in the core game engine, presumably in tandem with some sort of technical readout set in that post-Dark Age era. But, the intent of the box set in and of itself would be to help encourage the more streamlined ruleset.
But then, it might be flowing against the current in that regard. When Federation Commander was being developed, ADB went to great lengths to treat the game as its own thing, not just as "SFB lite". From the outset, FC has been intended to stand on its own merits, and not merely act as a sub-set of another rule system. (Certain tricks a player can get away with in SFB will get you killed in FC, and vice versa.) SFB is still the senior SFU game, but FC is no less valid a title.
Quick Strike might need a similar effort to present and promote it on its own terms before it can escape the connotation of being an optional set of rules buried in one of the rulebooks for the "real" game.
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I thought that just related to video games.
Nope. FASA sold *ALL* electronic rights to BT to Microsoft. For example, Rick Raisley had to license from Microsoft to be able to create and sell the Heavy Metal suite.
My confusion is as to how much work they have to do on a sheet. I would have thought much of the work would already have to be done already when they do the stat sheet in the TRO to ensure they have statted a legal unit.
Creating the stats isn't the problem. Creating the physical sheet is the problem.
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Hello,
Creating the stats isn't the problem. Creating the physical sheet is the problem.
No, creating stats is a problem too, especially for anything that's not a 'Mech--many times over if that something weighs more than 200 tons.
And, please, folks, I specifically avoided discussing anything post-Dark Age in the chats. I want it remembered, for the record, that I said absolutely NOTHING about post-Dark Age products in the chats. I did not even mention a year beyond 3145 in either chat, except to note that I would not discuss said years. I was EXTREMELY careful about that for a reason!
SO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!
Likewise, before anyone says a damned thing about my comment where I proposed replacing the entire core book line with a single rulebook sans construction rules, remember that the freaking question was "What product would you like to publish most, but cannot because of fan interest?". That means simplifying BattleTech back to a single rulebook is OFF the table, not ON it!
YOUR BATTLETECH ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE!
Please stop trying to get me in more trouble, and we can keep having these chats. Panic, and you lose them. I wish I was kidding about that.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
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Hello,
No, creating stats is a problem too, especially for anything that's not a 'Mech--many times over if that something weighs more than 200 tons.
Sorry, Herb. I was referring to things like 'Mechs, BA, vehicles, etc. Apologies for not making that clear.
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The really hard ones are the 'Mechs that turn into fists and fly around and punch stuff. So hard that Herb won't even let me write rules for them, even!
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The really hard ones are the 'Mechs that turn into fists and fly around and punch stuff. So hard that Herb won't even let me write rules for them, even!
Well, Z's not a Real-Robot type. It's a Super Robot. You'd need a completely different ruleset for that. >_>
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Well, Z's not a Real-Robot type. It's a Super Robot. You'd need a completely different ruleset for that. >_>
Oh, we're gettin' there, all right. Today the 4th Capellan Defense Force's Point-Blank Attack, tomorrow the DRILL 'MECH.
(Not to mention the fiat-heavy broken-as-heck super attack the fourth Hastati have...)
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Oh, we're gettin' there, all right. Today the 4th Capellan Defense Force's Point-Blank Attack, tomorrow the DRILL 'MECH.
Oh, you mean this guy!
(http://media.trollandtoad.com/products/pictures/136256.jpg)
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I think AlphaStrike is something some people have been asking for for a while, consolidated QuickStrike rules
The Shadowrun thing is probably about Shadowrun stuff selling better
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Creating the stats isn't the problem. Creating the physical sheet is the problem.
I'm wondering if you would be able to go into detail as to what that entails.
If I need to make a sheet, I grab a blank one and copy down exactly what the TRO entry says, which doesn't take all that long.
Do you not stat alternate variants when you write up the alternate variants paragraph, or is there some other issue that comes into play?
I can't understand what takes so long unless you don't actually know what the unit is until you finish its sheet, but that's mostly because I don't understand what goes into a Record Sheet product behind the scenes.
And, please, folks, I specifically avoided discussing anything post-Dark Age in the chats. I want it remembered, for the record, that I said absolutely NOTHING about post-Dark Age products in the chats. I did not even mention a year beyond 3145 in either chat, except to note that I would not discuss said years. I was EXTREMELY careful about that for a reason!
SO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!
Does that mean we aren't getting a 33rd century boxed set?
You're right though, you haven't really said too much; most of this stuff is fan speculation creating boogeymen created in the vacuum created by you mentioning the era and not telling us anything about it. Fans are silly like that; wanting to know more about everything and stuff like that.
I for one am ready for whatever comes our way.
Likewise, before anyone says a damned thing about my comment where I proposed replacing the entire core book line with a single rulebook sans construction rules, remember that the freaking question was "What product would you like to publish most, but cannot because of fan interest?". That means simplifying BattleTech back to a single rulebook is OFF the table, not ON it!
YOUR BATTLETECH ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE!
Please stop trying to get me in more trouble, and we can keep having these chats. Panic, and you lose them. I wish I was kidding about that.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
Oh I'm not worried at all, I'm certain BT will be here in more or less the same form, for many more years to come. I know you never said anything about wanting to replace everything. I was just taken by surprise by the comment that you would like to streamline everything into a single rulebook, which given what the books besides TW consist of, somewhat equates to 'death to optional advanced rules' (as it would take quite some effort to smash all those books into one depending on which ones we are counting, and would require some trimming), and that makes me wonder why you don't like advanced rules as much as some of us do (though I do agree with the warship assessment, having read the construction rules for large craft, they scare me too).
I'm probably reading too much into it, and don't mean to cause you undue stress.
Gimme a new TRO to chew on, that'll shut me up :P
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Oh, you mean this guy!
(http://media.trollandtoad.com/products/pictures/136256.jpg)
When rolling on the punch table, a result of 6 indicates that a cavity was repaired.
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When rolling on the punch table, a result of 6 indicates that a cavity was repaired.
Lol
Will novocaine reduce pilot damage when struck by one of those?
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Lol
Will novocaine reduce pilot damage when struck by one of those?
No, but whatever drugs Kit takes before posting such responses does.
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When rolling on the punch table, a result of 6 indicates that a cavity was repaired.
Does this include the fluid gun to fill that cavity to complete the repair?
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Likewise, before anyone says a damned thing about my comment where I proposed replacing the entire core book line with a single rulebook sans construction rules, remember that the freaking question was "What product would you like to publish most, but cannot because of fan interest?". That means simplifying BattleTech back to a single rulebook is OFF the table, not ON it!
Actually Herb, as long as you stick to Tournament Legal that's pretty much the current state of the game, apart from the games rules section in each items construction details box in Tech Manual, which normally covers the rules regarding the equipments operation (like does it still work when the pilot is unconsciousness)
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Hello,
Does that mean we aren't getting a 33rd century boxed set?
I am afraid we cannot discuss that at this time.
Oh I'm not worried at all, I'm certain BT will be here in more or less the same form, for many more years to come. I know you never said anything about wanting to replace everything. I was just taken by surprise by the comment that you would like to streamline everything into a single rulebook, which given what the books besides TW consist of, somewhat equates to 'death to optional advanced rules' (as it would take quite some effort to smash all those books into one depending on which ones we are counting, and would require some trimming), and that makes me wonder why you don't like advanced rules as much as some of us do (though I do agree with the warship assessment, having read the construction rules for large craft, they scare me too).
Because these days, a great many people have a great many other things to do with their time. I love BattleTech, but even I couldn't play it 24/7, and more options and more complexity, to me, means way less fun. I actually am rather slow at math. It takes me a while to add up modifiers for a simple weapon attack, and my brain just about seizes up when someone talks about Ghost Targets. Meanwhile our construction processes for some units have grown so complicated that even with software, no three people can seem to get the same numbers to work out from the same basic stats. That's not "fun" to me; that's argument fodder. And while the older vets of the game may see it as part of the charm, I can only guess what it does for potential players looking for a fun new tabletop system to get into.
But again, that's not something the fan base has demonstrated a real desire for, so don't worry.
Thank you,
- Herbert Beas
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YOUR BATTLETECH ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE!
Please stop trying to get me in more trouble, and we can keep having these chats. Panic, and you lose them. I wish I was kidding about that.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
<Kicks a can down the alley> Nuts. BattleTech isn't going anywhere. Herb said... Nuts. [Just kidding Herb, remember: anything you say can be misquoted and used against you in the court of public opinion...]
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Hello,
When I lose my job because of public opinion, I'll be sure and remember that... :P
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
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Don't worry Herb. We still bow to the will of the kittys and their nukes so your popularity will remain high as long as they have a paw on the big red button.
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Hello,
The cats won't be the ones firing me.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
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Because these days, a great many people have a great many other things to do with their time. I love BattleTech, but even I couldn't play it 24/7, and more options and more complexity, to me, means way less fun. I actually am rather slow at math. It takes me a while to add up modifiers for a simple weapon attack, and my brain just about seizes up when someone talks about Ghost Targets. Meanwhile our construction processes for some units have grown so complicated that even with software, no three people can seem to get the same numbers to work out from the same basic stats. That's not "fun" to me; that's argument fodder. And while the older vets of the game may see it as part of the charm, I can only guess what it does for potential players looking for a fun new tabletop system to get into.
Can't say I disagree with that assesment.
I'm numbers guy, so modifiers don't bother me too much (aside from the fact that I often forget what applies), but from games our local demo agent has run, I can see how the complexity causes game length problems, with around 6 players running 2-4 units each we were lucky if a round took less than an hour and a half to complete, and we were always calling the game for time. At the same time, I like having the extra options for smaller, quicker games (and more importantly for me, the option of a higher level of detail for role-playing) My favorite stuff is things like the expanded crit rules, and ECCM and floating crits are things I can't live without.
Now double blind, that's great for megameck, but the only way I can think to make it work in person is with small number of forces where the GM is running one of them.
If you were to give us something between quick strike (the over-simplicity has some downsides since we do like blowing the arms and legs of mechs, and it wouldn't be BT without the occasional AC-20 to the face) and total warfare, (which sometimes takes a while), I'd be the first in line to buy it.
Hello,
When I lose my job because of public opinion, I'll be sure and remember that... :P
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
They wouldn't *gasp* dream of taking your finger off the big red button, would they?
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Hello,
I'm numbers guy, so modifiers don't bother me too much (aside from the fact that I often forget what applies), but from games our local demo agent has run, I can see how the complexity causes game length problems, with around 6 players running 2-4 units each we were lucky if a round took less than an hour and a half to complete, and we were always calling the game for time. At the same time, I like having the extra options for smaller, quicker games (and more importantly for me, the option of a higher level of detail for role-playing) My favorite stuff is things like the expanded crit rules, and ECCM and floating crits are things I can't live without.
A few modifiers are fine, but honestly, one thing that makes it hard for me is that my ears and eyes don't switch off when I have to math out my modifiers. I can add a few things, but you'll actually see me tapping the table or counting on my fingers to keep it in my head when other people are talking or doing things around me. (Side note: I used to get in trouble with my wife for being unable to keep my eyes on her in a restaurant, because every motion or TV screen distracted me.... I'll note that she felt her addiction to that Blackberry of hers was completely normal and in no way comparable. Fortunately, we no longer have that problem, since we're divorced.)
I learned BattleTech one rule at a time, back in the days of the BattleTech Compendium, when virtually all needed rules were in that one book, and extra stuff came along in the form of Tac Handbook, MaxTech, and the 2nd Edition MechWarrior RPG. The books spaced relatively far apart, and they didn't have nearly so many weapon options. But then BattleTech had something of an arms-and-rules race around the late 1990s. People loved fun options, and who could blame them? But, as I noticed when reworking the RPG to make AToW, it had all reached a point where rules were starting to fill pages instead of paragraphs. The dichotomy of the 3rd Edition RPG even managed to force several new innovations to come with two distinct sets of rules due to the different dice mechanics and such involved. Somewhere in the 2000s, I got lost in it myself, and one shining example was a GenCon where someone quoted me asking aloud "how does Stealth Armor work again?"
The scary part? I authored many of these rules myself!
Pro-tip: Beating the Line Developer of BattleTech these days is a freaking cake walk if you use anything made after 3058. I have no idea how to effectively use any EW gear any more, so I've stopped trying.
They wouldn't *gasp* dream of taking your finger off the big red button, would they?
If I represent a danger to the line by causing too many panics or making too many bad decisions? Oh hell yeah! Nobody's irreplaceable.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
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Oh, you mean this guy!
(http://media.trollandtoad.com/products/pictures/136256.jpg)
Ohhhh Crap. Big Daddy's here.
Look man, I wasn't anywhere NEAR the Little Sister! Honest! I promise! It was all those dirty Lyrans!
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Hello,
I am afraid we cannot discuss that at this time.
Because these days, a great many people have a great many other things to do with their time. I love BattleTech, but even I couldn't play it 24/7, and more options and more complexity, to me, means way less fun. I actually am rather slow at math. It takes me a while to add up modifiers for a simple weapon attack, and my brain just about seizes up when someone talks about Ghost Targets. Meanwhile our construction processes for some units have grown so complicated that even with software, no three people can seem to get the same numbers to work out from the same basic stats. That's not "fun" to me; that's argument fodder. And while the older vets of the game may see it as part of the charm, I can only guess what it does for potential players looking for a fun new tabletop system to get into.
But again, that's not something the fan base has demonstrated a real desire for, so don't worry.
Thank you,
- Herbert Beas
Herb,
Thanks for that post. I think I really understand where you are coming from much better now. Also, if the line developer has trouble doing the math for a simple attack, then I don't feel so bad. Because it takes me 30 seconds and notepad to add to 9 half the time.
Generally, the surefire way to not grow anything is to cater to purists. But the problem is, when you don't you aggravate your "base". It's a double edged sword. Good luck.
You have my full support!
-
Oh, you mean this guy!
(http://media.trollandtoad.com/products/pictures/136256.jpg)
Gurren Laggan!
We get this mech and a Geshtalt battle armor to COMBINE and create the greatest Solaris fighter ever!
I'm just hoping for more Quick Strike stuff down the line, regardless of Eras. It is so much fun. :)
I created a fun experiment with my group and played out a First Strike! scenario with Quick Strike stuff.
We were able to play it two times and still have enough time to wonder if we should grinder out the rest of the day or just chat and joke around.
Normally the TW scale would have lasted the full 6 hours we play.
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Hello,
When I lose my job because of public opinion, I'll be sure and remember that... :P
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
What??? Battletech is better than ever right now.
You guys are churning out kick ass stuff by the truckload. I think public opinion is very much on your side.
Change is inevitable. The story has to move forward. Grognards need to lighten up. People hated the clans when they came and now they are a major part of the BTU. If you're stuck in 3025 fine stay there but don't hate on the majority of us interested in seeing the story progress.
And please don't hate on the devs and writers... the story might not be what you want but they work really hard on it, and to be quite honest most of us couldn't even do close to the work they do.
Rant over, be nice to Herb because he keeps the Big stompy robots marching. (and he has all te nukes)
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In the second BattleChat, around 2:15 to 2:17 mark, Habaes2 describe the next "TRO" will have 200 units of known equipment from the Dark Age and some unknown ones too. Will that make the next "TRO" 400 pages long?
The reason why I ask is in previous BattleChats Hebaes2 said that "TRO" will be smaller than TRO "3085" size.
It will not bother me at all if the next "TRO" is big, I enjoy them very much.
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When rolling on the punch table, a result of 6 indicates that a cavity was repaired.
Bahahahaha!!!
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Oh, you mean this guy!
(http://media.trollandtoad.com/products/pictures/136256.jpg)
When rolling on the punch table, a result of 6 indicates that a cavity was repaired.
Ohhhh Crap. Big Daddy's here.
Look man, I wasn't anywhere NEAR the Little Sister! Honest! I promise! It was all those dirty Lyrans!
Gurren Laggan!
We get this mech and a Geshtalt battle armor to COMBINE and create the greatest Solaris fighter ever!
You guys are the best ever.
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Gurren Laggan!
We get this mech and a Geshtalt battle armor to COMBINE and create the greatest Solaris fighter ever!
Seriosly, awesome idea. Truly awesome.
I'm actually a horrible numbers person which should make me a horrible teacher, yet people keep asking me to teach them how. Its sad how many checkmarks I end up with every game covering my recordsheets as I try to keep up with the modifiers. But thats why I love the game! I don't play it because it is easy, I play Battletech because it is hard. :)
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Someone needs to paint a face on a Ravager's torso, then stick it on top of this guy.
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Two thoughts:
<LordHarlock>: Will the FSS Golden Lion's class be identified in Field Report: AFFS 2765?
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - Not sure. We plan to reveal what ships the fleet has overall, but name-by-name breakdown is a bit much.
--One would think that given that the GL was the Suns flagship, they would ID the class...also, do you think they mean to ID all of the classes used or maybe give us the number of hulls in each class?
<Gaiiten>: Too bad. There are still some designs being not specified (as the first warships factions made mentioned in Strat Ops, pages 14-17).
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Pre-Age of War stuff will likely remain unstatted for a good long time to come, really. We don't want to encourage people to play in that period.
<Gaiiten>: Oh, why not? I have to say, given my experience, games set in this era are refreshing.
<Gaiiten>: And some of the warship in StratOps are Clan designs made in the Golden Century.
<Habeas2>: Gaiiten - Because the closer you get to the real-world "modern" age, the less like BattleTech the setting gets. We are not interested in trying to stat the present day (or anything before the present day), and there is nothing terribly interesting to us about the pre-Age of War period. And, frankly, the continuity issues and the "how did modern tech evolve into BattleTech" questions it would create would actually cost more effort.
-- I don't get this, we already have ships from the 2300slike the Du Shi Wang, Winchester, Monsoon and so on, to say nothing of the Dreadnought herself. These ships are still in service during the AoW and even I the SW era, so keep us in the dark? I'm a firm believer that you don't tease a class/unit without the stats to back it up. (In my own writing universe, I have started out the full family tree of the navy, from the pre FTL gunships, through the prototypes and each class that succeeded it along with their production period and service lifespan, complete with numbers for each decade)
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In the second BattleChat, around 2:15 to 2:17 mark, Habaes2 describe the next "TRO" will have 200 units of known equipment from the Dark Age and some unknown ones too. Will that make the next "TRO" 400 pages long?
The reason why I ask is in previous BattleChats Hebaes2 said that "TRO" will be smaller than TRO "3085" size.
It will not bother me at all if the next "TRO" is big, I enjoy them very much.
TRO:3085 has 305 'Mechs alone according to the MUL
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Any idea how many of those are in the ONN section?
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ONN is
BattleMech 81
Combat Vehicle 30
Aerospace 1
Infantry 22
Project Phoenix is BattleMech 282
And the Cutting edge is
BattleMech 155
Combat Vehicle 84
Aerospace 19
Infantry 77
IndustrialMech 7
Support Vehicle 12
Note that the MUL doesn't group BA separately from Infantry
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TRO:3085 has 305 'Mechs alone according to the MUL
That may be the case if you include all the variants mentioned, but the actual TRO has a few more than 150 different units (not only battlemechs) and the supplemental has another ~25. I'm hoping TRO 3145 has 200+ new units.
Now, one way they could do that with a more realistic page count (200-250) is to use 1 page unit that are mostly upgrades to older 'Mechs, similar to what was done for the PP 'Mechs in TRO 3039.
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Hmm speaking of which, I wonder if CGL will end up doing any more supplimentals.
I know TOR:3085S was because they had a glut of new designs and wasn't entirely intentional, but More designs is always great, and I have zero problem with PDF products (in fact, I prefer them)
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I think AlphaStrike is something some people have been asking for for a while, consolidated QuickStrike rules
The Shadowrun thing is probably about Shadowrun stuff selling better
It should sell better, it's an RPG. This requires no additional investment after buying the core rulebook(s). Plus, it probably has at least twice (if not more) the buying fanbase as BT.
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Hmm speaking of which, I wonder if CGL will end up doing any more supplimentals.
I know TOR:3085S was because they had a glut of new designs and wasn't entirely intentional, but More designs is always great, and I have zero problem with PDF products (in fact, I prefer them)
I'm actually looking for fewer designs. any military would look to streamline the number of it's available weapons and machines of war so as not to overburden logisitcal infrastructure. The way I look at it none of the great houses should have more than a dozen mech chassis, fewer if you're using omnis. Lesser powers, shouldn't have more than 4-6 chassis. there are hundreds of Mech chassis out there now, with better than 2000 variants/configurations all total. I believe it's time to cull the herd, not add more to it.
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I do agree older chassis need phased out in a bad way (this especially includes mechs like the Unseen and the Invasion era clan Omnis, despite them being popular chassis), but they are going to need to be replaced with new designs.
I would say, though, I really want to see some new omni chassis, aside from the Celestials, the IS doesn't have a whole lot of good omnimechs, and the good ones are spread out among the major powers so each one doesn't have a good omni in more than 2 weight classes. Now I did see what they did with the Bolla; I would go for ROTS Celestials, swap C3I for C3S and give them standard cockpits, and we're good to go. Beyond that, most IS omnivehicles are tracked vehicles or infantry carriers, there are no omni VTOLs, and the IS has few omnifighters.
Now, the sheer volume of designs in any one TRO isn't all that bad; with all the powers covered, there's only a few designs per faction, which is just right, though the Invasion and Civil War periods having TROs less than 5 years apart did make for a huge influx of designs all at the same time, the next TRO is going to be a fraily decent period of time after Prototypes (which was about 3090)
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I just realized I forgot to ask if they are currently planning on having ALL unseens eventually get alternate pre Phoenix images in the XTROs. Save that for next time.
I don't know why it will be any different than every other time the question is asked. I'll give you a preview: NO.
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I do agree older chassis need phased out in a bad way (this especially includes mechs like the Unseen and the Invasion era clan Omnis, despite them being popular chassis), but they are going to need to be replaced with new designs.
I would say, though, I really want to see some new omni chassis, aside from the Celestials, the IS doesn't have a whole lot of good omnimechs, and the good ones are spread out among the major powers so each one doesn't have a good omni in more than 2 weight classes. Now I did see what they did with the Bolla; I would go for ROTS Celestials, swap C3I for C3S and give them standard cockpits, and we're good to go. Beyond that, most IS omnivehicles are tracked vehicles or infantry carriers, there are no omni VTOLs, and the IS has few omnifighters.
Now, the sheer volume of designs in any one TRO isn't all that bad; with all the powers covered, there's only a few designs per faction, which is just right, though the Invasion and Civil War periods having TROs less than 5 years apart did make for a huge influx of designs all at the same time, the next TRO is going to be a fraily decent period of time after Prototypes (which was about 3090)
Please explain why it makes sense to phase out the Clan Invasion era chassis. There are IS designs that have persisted for centuries.
Why would they have to phase out omnimechs that are supposed to be the most adaptable machines in the game? Not only that, they are also incredibly popular. Why wouldn't they reinvest in what works as opposed to reinventing a better mouse trap?
If anything they should be phasing out old obsolete variants because the weapons have become obsolete. This just does not compute.
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I'm actually looking for fewer designs. any military would look to streamline the number of it's available weapons and machines of war so as not to overburden logisitcal infrastructure. The way I look at it none of the great houses should have more than a dozen mech chassis, fewer if you're using omnis. Lesser powers, shouldn't have more than 4-6 chassis. there are hundreds of Mech chassis out there now, with better than 2000 variants/configurations all total. I believe it's time to cull the herd, not add more to it.
This is the only argument that makes sense to me. But that would lend greater credence to the continuation of omnis since they are so flexible and armament and materiel is common amongst the different chassis.
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Please explain why it makes sense to phase out the Clan Invasion era chassis. There are IS designs that have persisted for centuries.
Why would they have to phase out omnimechs that are supposed to be the most adaptable machines in the game? Not only that, they are also incredibly popular. Why wouldn't they reinvest in what works as opposed to reinventing a better mouse trap?
Because your artistic sensibilities, preferences, and even logic do not belong in Catalyst's new version of the Dark Age. ^-^
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Please explain why it makes sense to phase out the Clan Invasion era chassis. There are IS designs that have persisted for centuries.
Why would they have to phase out omnimechs that are supposed to be the most adaptable machines in the game? Not only that, they are also incredibly popular. Why wouldn't they reinvest in what works as opposed to reinventing a better mouse trap?
If anything they should be phasing out old obsolete variants because the weapons have become obsolete. This just does not compute.
Most of those IS designs existed for centuries, because the Successor States couldn't be picky. Once they started recovering tech, those chassis should have been dropped since they are old and outdated. Also, I consider the Ressens to be (in universe) completely brand new mechs that just use the old names for marketing reasons, so that doesn't count towards those designs lasting past the clan invasion.
Old equipment gets replaced. The old omnis should become obsolete, because we should be getting new omnis that are capable of doing the old mech's jobs as well or better.
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Most of those IS designs existed for centuries, because the Successor States couldn't be picky. Once they started recovering tech, those chassis should have been dropped since they are old and outdated. Also, I consider the Ressens to be (in universe) completely brand new mechs that just use the old names for marketing reasons, so that doesn't count towards those designs lasting past the clan invasion.
Old equipment gets replaced. The old omnis should become obsolete, because we should be getting new omnis that are capable of doing the old mech's jobs as well or better.
Actually, some of the Reseen are specifically noted as being retrofits of the old chassis; the Griffin comes immediately to mind. Of course, that's also the Reseen that I think looks the most like the Unseen original.
Beyond that, I agree. The Succession Wars era was a time of technological loss (in the IS) and stagnation (in the Clans). What's neat is that the game universe basically starts as the SW era dark age was ending.
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Likewise, before anyone says a damned thing about my comment where I proposed replacing the entire core book line with a single rulebook sans construction rules, remember that the freaking question was "What product would you like to publish most, but cannot because of fan interest?". That means simplifying BattleTech back to a single rulebook is OFF the table, not ON it!
YOUR BATTLETECH ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE!
Please stop trying to get me in more trouble, and we can keep having these chats. Panic, and you lose them. I wish I was kidding about that.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
Oh, I read that as you wanted a back-breaking tome that combined all the final books of the core rulebook set into one volume, something that would be roughly 1000 pages (that doesn't include TechManual and subtracts an approximate amount for other construction rules).
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TRO VA, revised
[02:19] <Damage> Any hop for a TRO VA record sheet book?
[02:20] <@Habeas2> Damage - Given the difficulties in producing Record Sheets, the chances are rather low.
That's a bit of a problem since an important section of the book is new variants that are presented in a very abbreviated format.
For example I would really like to use the new PA(L)s and without a RS book it will never happen.
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TRO VA, revised
[02:19] <Damage> Any hop for a TRO VA record sheet book?
[02:20] <@Habeas2> Damage - Given the difficulties in producing Record Sheets, the chances are rather low.
That's a bit of a problem since an important section of the book is new variants that are presented in a very abbreviated format.
For example I would really like to use the new PA(L)s and without a RS book it will never happen.
Considering there are variants of actual main-line 'Mechs from TRO Prototypes that are even more important that also don't have a record sheet, you might say your problem is a bit smaller than other peoples' problems.
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The old omnis should become obsolete, because we should be getting new omnis that are capable of doing the old mech's jobs as well or better.
"Obsolescence" where the Timber Wolf is replaced by a mech thats virtually identical to it, really doesnt make any sense to me. Why's the timber wolf going away? its old and obsolete. But, somehow, the savage wolf (which, unless its revealed to have FerroLam armor or something) which is virtually identical ISNT?
The only way you could really make an omnimech functionally obsolete (as opposed to declared-obsolete) would be to introduce a weapons system that is somehow incompatible with the old omnis, or new armor/structure/reactor options that surpass the existing base chassis. Otherwise its just this unsatisfying declaration that a perfectly functional mech is "obsolete" because we want to sell more TROs. I don't buy it. its not internally consistent. I wish we'd get fluff that actually reflects the behavior of the unit in action, rather than this dissonance between what they say about a mech, and how the mech performs.
Mind you, I'd love more armor options. Weapons have moved by leaps and bounds, but armor has lagged behind. The best way to usher in an era of new equipment would be to add some new defensive options that raises the bar, and gives us a reason to leave otherwise good machines behind.
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Because your artistic sensibilities, preferences, and even logic do not belong in Catalyst's new version of the Dark Age. ^-^
I guess that's too bad. Hopefully the new version is better than the last.
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This is pretty much what I am thinking. I have hard time accepting that an era of technological innovation will accompany an era called the "Dark Age". It seems like if you wanted to upgrade existing designs, some of the most popular designs in the history of the game, you would just give them better weapons, better components etc.
"Obsolescence" where the Timber Wolf is replaced by a mech thats virtually identical to it, really doesnt make any sense to me. Why's the timber wolf going away? its old and obsolete. But, somehow, the savage wolf (which, unless its revealed to have FerroLam armor or something) which is virtually identical ISNT?
The only way you could really make an omnimech functionally obsolete (as opposed to declared-obsolete) would be to introduce a weapons system that is somehow incompatible with the old omnis, or new armor/structure/reactor options that surpass the existing base chassis. Otherwise its just this unsatisfying declaration that a perfectly functional mech is "obsolete" because we want to sell more TROs. I don't buy it. its not internally consistent. I wish we'd get fluff that actually reflects the behavior of the unit in action, rather than this dissonance between what they say about a mech, and how the mech performs.
Mind you, I'd love more armor options. Weapons have moved by leaps and bounds, but armor has lagged behind. The best way to usher in an era of new equipment would be to add some new defensive options that raises the bar, and gives us a reason to leave otherwise good machines behind.
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I have hard time accepting that an era of technological innovation will accompany an era called the "Dark Age".
Your problem is in not understanding what "Dark Age" means in this context.
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It's because the HPGs have "gone dark" right?
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It's because the HPGs have "gone dark" right?
Question from the peanut gallery - is it ALL the HPGs or just the ones within the Republic's 10 bite-sized-morsels?
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Question from the peanut gallery - is it ALL the HPGs or just the ones within the Republic's 10 bite-sized-morsels?
90% of ALL HPGs.
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Your problem is in not understanding what "Dark Age" means in this context.
Ok, so 90% of the HPGs are down. This is a bad thing for a lot of reasons, but tech development is still humming along nicely? I guess that makes sense and is plausible. Sort of.
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-- I don't get this, we already have ships from the 2300slike the Du Shi Wang, Winchester, Monsoon and so on, to say nothing of the Dreadnought herself. These ships are still in service during the AoW and even I the SW era, so keep us in the dark? I'm a firm believer that you don't tease a class/unit without the stats to back it up. (In my own writing universe, I have started out the full family tree of the navy, from the pre FTL gunships, through the prototypes and each class that succeeded it along with their production period and service lifespan, complete with numbers for each decade)
I think problem is resources for the TPTB. Right now, they have no easy way to generate stats for regular 'Mech unit. Nevermind Aerospace units, including Warships. I'm completely agreement with you that Warships need to be stated out and frankly their types/classes expanded. However, aside fact their not able to make Warships stats, the TPTB give the impression that they unbalance the game universe that focuses on ground combat. What sad to say we can't have it all.
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90% of ALL HPGs.
80%
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Ok, so 90% of the HPGs are down. This is a bad thing for a lot of reasons, but tech development is still humming along nicely? I guess that makes sense and is plausible. Sort of.
Why wouldn't it be plausible? If you've already got research going and your tech levels are advancing normally, the phone system going out isn't going to have that big an effect. At least, not for a while.
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Why wouldn't it be plausible? If you've already got research going and your tech levels are advancing normally, the phone system going out isn't going to have that big an effect. At least, not for a while.
Yeah, I guess not being able to exchange information as easily wouldn't have much of an affect on technological development.
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Totally plausible. Especially since most tech development occurs in isolated pockets like nais
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And sending a new batch of technical manuals and recipes out with the next Pony Express ship is doable. It might slow proliferation of new technology, but the HPG failures don't directly affect development since that tends to be single-world specific, and individually they're not harmed by the Blackout itself.
Side effects, politics, wars, and such...yeah, true, but that's outside the point.
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I would be hesitant to think the Successor states ever used HPGs to share notes on new tech developments in the first place.
The network is controlled by a third party, and every third party who has taken control of the network so far, has had a thing for spying and data manipulation.
If you don't use a system that much, it's failure won't affect you much.
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I would be hesitant to think the Successor states ever used HPGs to share notes on new tech developments in the first place.
The network is controlled by a third party, and every third party who has taken control of the network so far, has had a thing for spying and data manipulation.
If you don't use a system that much, it's failure won't affect you much.
If it's telephone or steamer ship, use the telephone. Nothing says you can't use your own codes to send information that way; Ma Bell doesn't know what's being said between a couple STE phones even when it's over their lines. Treat Cornstar the same, and you're good to go.
Or so you think.
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<LordHarlock>: Will the Star Adders ever create a warrior genome for the sole purpose of creating "Cunning Plans?"
<Habeas2>: LordHarlock - No
All hope is gone, BattleTech is dead to me now.
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All hope is gone, BattleTech is dead to me now.
How many other Clans survived the WoR in one way or another that we know about?
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:-[ darn! There goes my plan for a John "Hannibal" Smith genome ^-^ ! A Bloodname of Hannibal would be awesome ;) !
??? ::) :D
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Clan Coyote claims a Smith bloodname, and Hannibal is not at all a bad name for a Clan warrior.
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Every victory would have to have the phrase "I love it when a plan comes together" spoken just to keep the name. ;D
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90% of ALL HPGs.
In the IS? Or ... ;)
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Everywhere, because last time (I think it was last time anyway) people where saying that as a result of the virus that disabled most HPG's hyperspace in the area around HPG's disabled that way is changed and that even if you brought a new HPG from, say the Clan Homeworlds, it wouldn't work
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Didn't the homeworld Clans cut off ALL communication after WoR?
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Didn't the homeworld Clans cut off ALL communication after WoR?
Technically speaking, it was Clan Star Adder that cut the communications, and properly others too. Don't want those tainted "Somerset Strikers" reruns ruining the youth of the Clans. ;D The Best fluff in WoR!
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Didn't the homeworld Clans cut off ALL communication after WoR?
Yes, so it is possible that their HPGs are perfectly fine. Or they also suffer from the same problems... we simply don't know.
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"Obsolescence" where the Timber Wolf is replaced by a mech thats virtually identical to it, really doesnt make any sense to me. Why's the timber wolf going away? its old and obsolete. But, somehow, the savage wolf (which, unless its revealed to have FerroLam armor or something) which is virtually identical ISNT?
Because they can produce the Savage Wolf, but have issues producing the Timber Wolf in the same numbers? We see a lot of designs that incorporate massive cosmetic changes because of the switch to Inner Sphere only resources, as well as fluff detailing how they've had to adapt designs because of this. If the eventual Savage Wolf ends up being a complete clone of the Timber Wolf (Which I doubt), would it make you feel better to cross out 'Savage Wolf' and write 'Timber Wolf, Improved' across the top? The Savage Wolf does list several improvements over the Timber Wolf (Better protected hip, etc) that dont translate into the board game to well.
This is ignoring whatever it is that makes an Omnimech loose its Omni'ness if you modify the base chassis. If tossing in a Small Cockpit means the Timber Wolf can no longer swap pods about, why not toss in a bunch of other modifications aswell? And if the end results look significantly different, you can market it as a 'new' machine.
Why would they have to phase out omnimechs that are supposed to be the most adaptable machines in the game? Not only that, they are also incredibly popular. Why wouldn't they reinvest in what works as opposed to reinventing a better mouse trap?
In a lot of cases? They did. Notice the Jade Falcons still have the Summoner in spades, while the Ghost Bears have the Mad Dog. We DO see what seems to be efforts to update them, but how much so we havent been told.
Yeah, I guess not being able to exchange information as easily wouldn't have much of an affect on technological development.
You realise that there was a good span of around 40 years between the Jihad and when the HPG net went dark, right? A lot of the Dark Age tech development likely started during that time. We just didnt see many results until the designs incorporating that stuff started being mass produced because of the crisis.
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Because they can produce the Savage Wolf, but have issues producing the Timber Wolf in the same numbers? We see a lot of designs that incorporate massive cosmetic changes because of the switch to Inner Sphere only resources, as well as fluff detailing how they've had to adapt designs because of this. If the eventual Savage Wolf ends up being a complete clone of the Timber Wolf (Which I doubt), would it make you feel better to cross out 'Savage Wolf' and write 'Timber Wolf, Improved' across the top? The Savage Wolf does list several improvements over the Timber Wolf (Better protected hip, etc) that dont translate into the board game to well.
I'd feel better if the wolves kept the timber wolf in production, and I'd feel better if the excuse of "obsolescence" had some kind of in-game representation. Stating that a unit is obsolete, when its virtually identical to a mech in production, seems inconsistent to me. Even if the Savage Wolf had an optional quirk or two that reflected these improvements, it'd be easier to take. But I think, that its being produced at all, is a sign that the Timber Wolf is a design worth preserving.
This is ignoring whatever it is that makes an Omnimech loose its Omni'ness if you modify the base chassis. If tossing in a Small Cockpit means the Timber Wolf can no longer swap pods about, why not toss in a bunch of other modifications aswell? And if the end results look significantly different, you can market it as a 'new' machine.
Not really. Theres a difference between modifying already-built omnimechs (although, if I had to make a list of things that make NO sense, the "Modifying the non-modular parts of an omnimech makes it stop being modular" rule would be at the top of my list.) and modifying the plans and producing a new omnimech based on those plans. Giving the Savage Wolf some difference to the base frame that makes it a superior design, like FerroLam armor, or a different reactor, while retaining the same pod space would differentiate the mech from the timber wolf, and give some justification to the design supplanting the timber wolf.
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Technically speaking, it was Clan Star Adder that cut the communications, and properly others too. Don't want those tainted "Somerset Strikers" reruns ruining the youth of the Clans. ;D The Best fluff in WoR!
It was the most interesting fluff since I still have no idea what exactly if any types of dramas the Clans produce. The only description of any Clan entertainment was the Smoke Jaguars on Huntress watching Trial Results on a trivid. Plus, I guess that any trivid productions that the Clans have is in fact bootleg. Also considering my questioning of Herb on Saturday morning points me to assume that Clanners don't put on productions of Shakespear in the Park on their worlds. Which is a shame since I figure that young Clanners would probably enjoy "Titus Andronicus" and "Coriolanus."
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Clan Jade Falcon actually ran a broadcast system. It offered four channels: for the laborer masses, exhortations and simple melodramas on the virtue of patient service; technical education and military dramas for technicians; advanced education, scientific news and impenetrable science fiction for the scientists; and for the warriors, lurid adventure yarns, for the most part incredibly cheesy thirty-year-old Liao and Kurita costume melodramas with plenty of wire-work swordplay. The crèches, von Texeira and Rorion understood, had their own internal systems, combining music, pedagogy and cultural indoctrination as part of the Clan‟s program of relentlessly meddling in every aspect of its members' existence.
I'd imagine most Clans (at least those in the IS) have something similar.
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Hello,
At least it's not reality programming...
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
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Hello,
At least it's not reality programming...
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
Is it a bad thing that I'm now thinking about including a reference to Clan reality TV in my next writing assignment? :D
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Technically, reality programming might be good for laborer castes to keep them in line; then again, they might just be filming labor caste members for the simple melodramas to save resources through creative editing. ;)
Though I had forgotten about the Rendering of Falcons mentioning it (Victor Milan strikes again), I have to agree with Roosterboy about the Inner Sphere Clans having some form of entertainment industry especially by the Dark Ages. In the case of the Jade Falcons, they probably received former Lyran entertainment industry facilities and had to do something with them. Housing probably didn't work considering the nature of studios, and media probably helped get the population under control after the Society uprising of the 3070s and integrating former Lyrans to the caste system in general.
Though I still have doubts about Shakespeare especially in the Homeworld Clans.
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Hello,
Technically, reality programming might be good for laborer castes to keep them in line; then again, they might just be filming labor caste members for the simple melodramas to save resources through creative editing. ;)
Summary executions and public humiliation are common staples of the Clan system of jurisprudence. Keeping the laborers in line hardly requires edited "reality" demonstrating the worst qualities in humankind.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
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Summary executions and public humiliation are common staples of the Clan system of jurisprudence. Keeping the laborers in line hardly requires edited "reality" demonstrating the worst qualities in humankind.
One wonders what the ratings would be like among Clan warriors, though. Something like Cops but with 'Mechs.
-
Hello,
At least it's not reality programming...
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
This is a sign that a society is beyond redemption and must be annhialated!
-
Hello,
Summary executions and public humiliation are common staples of the Clan system of jurisprudence. Keeping the laborers in line hardly requires edited "reality" demonstrating the worst qualities in humankind.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
[Starship Troopers]
voice over: A murderer was captured and sentenced today...
Judge: guilty!
Voice over: Execution live tonight......Would you like to know more?
[/Starship Troopers]
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Though I still have doubts about Shakespeare especially in the Homeworld Clans.
I bet they put on elaborate stage plays drawn from The Remembrance. The Laborers build the sets, the Merchants sew the costumes, the Technicians run the AV equipment, the Scientists do the choreography and the non-Bloodnamed Warriors perform for the amusement of their betters.
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I shudder at what a scientist choreographer might think up...
"I cannot perform this dance! It is physically impossible!"
"Not according to last week's Trial of Muscle Extension..."
"That was performed in the lab! On a chicken tender!"
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I seem to recall something about a children's cartoon starring totem animals in Warriors of Kerensky...
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I seem to recall something about a children's cartoon starring totem animals in Warriors of Kerensky...
"The Adventures of Clan Spaniel"?
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I bet they put on elaborate stage plays drawn from The Remembrance. The Laborers build the sets, the Merchants sew the costumes, the Technicians run the AV equipment, the Scientists do the choreography and the non-Bloodnamed Warriors perform for the amusement of their betters.
I shudder to think of the trials of possession for the lead roles.
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Though I still have doubts about Shakespeare especially in the Homeworld Clans.
Do you bite your thumb at me, surat? I demand a Trial of Grievance!
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I imagine their version of 'Survivor' is far more entertaining than ours.
And 'Star Trek', some sci-fi epic with a ship crewed by all of the clans exploring the galaxy together. Beaming down to strange new worlds where the Wolverine security guard inevitably gets killed. The valiant Raven captain coupling with a different alien each week. The Smoke Jaguar weapons officer 'accidentally' hitting the fire button each week and bombarding the new alien planet. "Leo, you did it again!" "Ooops. Sorry."
And signals from space. They are about the right distance to be recieving the good episodes of 'Dr. Who' with Tom Baker. Many warriors go into battle wearing only a 20' long scarf wrapped around them. O0
Meow Liao
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That could actually be interesting: A television station on a planet a few light centuries away setting up a radio telescope to receive old earth broadcasts.
-
Hello,
At least it's not reality programming...
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
Sibkos would be perfect settings for Big Brother.....
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I imagine their version of 'Survivor' is far more entertaining than ours.
And 'Star Trek', some sci-fi epic with a ship crewed by all of the clans exploring the galaxy together. Beaming down to strange new worlds where the Wolverine security guard inevitably gets killed. The valiant Raven captain coupling with a different alien each week. The Smoke Jaguar weapons officer 'accidentally' hitting the fire button each week and bombarding the new alien planet. "Leo, you did it again!" "Ooops. Sorry."
And signals from space. They are about the right distance to be recieving the good episodes of 'Dr. Who' with Tom Baker. Many warriors go into battle wearing only a 20' long scarf wrapped around them. O0
Meow Liao
No Wolverine security guard getting killed each week, remember the Wolverine's are the not-named Clan, it's doubtful that most people in Clan space (at least in the lower castes) know the name of the not-named-Clan, IF they know that such a thing exists
Also I'd say the weapons officer would be an Elemental so that the Worf Effect can be in play
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That could actually be interesting: A television station on a planet a few light centuries away setting up a radio telescope to receive old earth broadcasts.
So Operation Revival is simply a bunch of yahoos wanting more episodes of Single Female Lawyer?
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Great,Clanner Star Trek.
What's next?Mecha Musume Anime?
Starting Timberwolf-chan?
-
Hello,
This is a sign that a society is beyond redemption and must be annhialated!
I agree. I have always felt that humanity would be great if it weren't for the people.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
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Though I still have doubts about Shakespeare especially in the Homeworld Clans.
Mechwarrior Hamlet is confronted by the Ghost of Kerensky over the Widowmakers and thus a Trial of Annihlation ensues on stage.
Very intersting, then the Wars of Reaving must be a musical!
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Mechwarrior Hamlet is confronted by the Ghost of Kerensky over the Widowmakers and thus a Trial of Annihlation ensues on stage.
Very intersting, then the Wars of Reaving must be a musical!
Rather a surprise symphony (Joseph Haydn).
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The Remembrance as a play is an interesting idea, though I think it'd be more of a literal "reading" poetry style rather than something more interpretive and expanding upon. However, this also leads me to the idea of BRIAN BLESSED!! as a Jade Falcon giving a DRAMATIC READING!! of the Remembrance...
I shudder at what a scientist choreographer might think up...
"I cannot perform this dance! It is physically impossible!"
"Not according to last week's Trial of Muscle Extension..."
"That was performed in the lab! On a chicken tender!"
"We can dance if we want to/If we don't nobody will"
What's Next?Timberwolf-chan?
Be neither flippant nor verbose with your fears. (http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/collections/132440947#/d2yqf92)
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What's next?Mecha Musume Anime?
Starting Timberwolf-chan?
I'd watch it. I bet it'd be really popular in the Draconis Combine.
They probably dont even complain about the lack of pants.
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Very intersting, then the Wars of Reaving must be a musical!
<singing>Springtime for Adders... on Mechty...</singing>
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<singing>Springtime for Adders... on Mechty...</singing>
Hey! Your job is to stop the madness, not help them. [AAAH]
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<singing>Springtime for Adders... on Mechty...</singing>
Don't be stupid, get right with it
Come and join Clan Blood Spirit!
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Don't be stupid, get right with it
Come and join Clan Blood Spirit!
Better Clan Star Spirit / Blood Adder ;)
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I'd feel better if the wolves kept the timber wolf in production, and I'd feel better if the excuse of "obsolescence" had some kind of in-game representation. Stating that a unit is obsolete, when its virtually identical to a mech in production, seems inconsistent to me. Even if the Savage Wolf had an optional quirk or two that reflected these improvements, it'd be easier to take. But I think, that its being produced at all, is a sign that the Timber Wolf is a design worth preserving.
Not really. Theres a difference between modifying already-built omnimechs (although, if I had to make a list of things that make NO sense, the "Modifying the non-modular parts of an omnimech makes it stop being modular" rule would be at the top of my list.) and modifying the plans and producing a new omnimech based on those plans. Giving the Savage Wolf some difference to the base frame that makes it a superior design, like FerroLam armor, or a different reactor, while retaining the same pod space would differentiate the mech from the timber wolf, and give some justification to the design supplanting the timber wolf.
For one, the Savage Wolf (as seen in RS from GenCon) featured a different layout of the Endo/Ferro crits which allows you to mount a full 8IJJ now, where as the Timber Wolf only has room for 6. I realize this is some of what you're talking about (not being able to move fixed crits), but I at least see it as related to the physical structure of the Omni, support beams and such.
Second, the Savage Wolf is a Sea Fox design. They found a way to make their own version without getting the Wolves so PO'd that they punished them for it. Maybe the Wolves worked out a licensing deal of some kind, they give the Foxes permission to make a modified version in return for some percentage of the production.
Also, Alaric is seen piloting a Timber Wolf in one of the MWDA novels, while in later ones he's piloting a Savage Wolf. So it is still in service, but maybe Alaric wanted the new version for some specific reason.
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<singing>Springtime for Adders... on Mechty...</singing>
Dammit CT, I was saving a Springtime for Kerensky gag in the Demolisher article!
Also, Alaric is seen piloting a Timber Wolf in one of the MWDA novels, while in later ones he's piloting a Savage Wolf. So it is still in service, but maybe Alaric wanted the new version for some specific reason.
Savage Wolf is a mad pimpin' ride. Best looking of all the MADs, and I say this as a huge fan of the II-E.
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<singing>Springtime for Adders... on Mechty...</singing>
More like West Side Story, but yes!
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There's still a Timby plant on Strana Mechty right???
Don't see mention of it being burned, raised, bombed, nuked, gassed, or otherwise undone in WoR.
So there's a glimmer of hope for you clan purists.
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For one, the Savage Wolf (as seen in RS from GenCon) featured a different layout of the Endo/Ferro crits which allows you to mount a full 8IJJ now, where as the Timber Wolf only has room for 6. I realize this is some of what you're talking about (not being able to move fixed crits), but I at least see it as related to the physical structure of the Omni, support beams and such.
Also consider that all of those omni chassis with fixed jump jets can't make use of IJJs
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Also consider that all of those omni chassis with fixed jump jets can't make use of IJJs
Yet for some reason the Summoner is produced by the IS Clans yet the TW isn't
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Don't be stupid, get right with it
Come and join Clan Blood Spirit!
At the 2011 GenCon Steel Viper vs. Blood Spirit event, I opened it up with a cheerleader-style "Who's got...Blood Speeeeeer-it? C'mon, let's heeeeeeeeear it!" This was met by stunned silence and a stern warning from the Catalyst Agent running the event to "never do that again!"
:D
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Yet for some reason the Summoner is produced by the IS Clans yet the TW isn't
I'm sure if the Wolves had gotten the flank into a more industrialized part of space the situation would be reversed.
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I'm sure if the Wolves had gotten the flank into a more industrialized part of space the situation would be reversed.
I hear the Free Worlds League isn't using theirs.
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I seem to recall something about a children's cartoon starring totem animals in Warriors of Kerensky...
I would PAY to see that!!!
-
Hello,
I agree. I have always felt that humanity would be great if it weren't for the people.
Thanks,
- Herbert Beas
I work as a team leader in a public library...If I didn't have to deal with patrons, it would be a wonderful, peaceful time...
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I give daily praise to the Lords of Pantslessness that the only customer interaction I have is usually over the phone...
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Ah ticket system with managers who talk with clients.
I get the comforting, silent, and emotionless message in text form and I'm fine with this.
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I work in a factory, the only time I see a customer is when I go to the food store and walk through the soup aisle.
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Yet for some reason the Summoner is produced by the IS Clans yet the TW isn't
And the assumption that the Jade Falcons didnt make any changes to the Summoner is because...?
*Glancing at some DA era Summoners*
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And the assumption that the Jade Falcons didnt make any changes to the Summoner is because...?
*Glancing at some DA era Summoners*
Cause those people making the assumptions didn't read the MWDA unique pilot dossiers. MWDA had Summoners as far back as the 2nd set, Fire For Effect, and both of the unique Summoners in there use an XL engine, Ferro armor and an Endo chassis. (For those that don't know, the TRO3050 Summoner's have standard IS), so there's at least one change, not to mention the omni variants.
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I work in a factory, the only time I see a customer is when I go to the food store and walk through the soup aisle.
I have the title "Startegic Account Manager" all I do is deal with customers... and typically someone important (or who thinks they are important). People typically have low understanding of what good or service you are providing in relation to your knowledge (cuz you work there). It's best to try and educate them. Several of them will listen, some will lack the intelligence to understand, some will lack the emotional restraint to listen. On the whole I find most people are capable of stopping and being educated on the topic.
I truly feel for Herb in the Battlechats. The guy is enthusiastic about Battletech. I'm sure he'd love to let some of his evil plans slip and blow our minds or tease us into a frenzy. The reality is we're entering uncharted territory and the cat remains in the bag (or the cats keep Herb in the bag) for the right reasons.
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Marketing is a tricky thing, telling people the right at the right time to get the most positive feedback and the customer`s attention.
I think Herb (and other of TPTB) were surprised (maybe even shocked) about some reactions/feedback they got from some people. Even given the sparse info they told us.
We do not know what internal backlash was there and if plans/schedules had to be changed / modified.
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Actually I think TPTB want a clean slate storline wise to play with. They inherited the current storyline and have doen a wondeful job of working with it with all its myriad problems. What scares me more than anything is changes to gameplay, I can live with storyline changes, just not the gameplay. I stopped playing some games because of that very issue.
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Maybe they think they were to open while interacting with the audience. Afraid of telling us too much, but because they did only tell us minor fragments what could be come they have started a rumor mill perpetuum mobile of such a dimension they never intended to do.
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Cause those people making the assumptions didn't read the MWDA unique pilot dossiers. MWDA had Summoners as far back as the 2nd set, Fire For Effect, and both of the unique Summoners in there use an XL engine, Ferro armor and an Endo chassis. (For those that don't know, the TRO3050 Summoner's have standard IS), so there's at least one change, not to mention the omni variants.
That's what I was getting at yes. I was just trying to be a bit more subtle about it. :D That said, the standard caveat applies. TPTB said a lot of those dossiers are going to end up customs and one offs, so I suppose those could all be Jade Falcon fooling around, but it's a consistant upgrade when we do get stats on it. Still, it shows at least an attempt to improve on the base chassis.
We see the same thing happen with the Mad Dog.
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That's what I was getting at yes. I was just trying to be a bit more subtle about it. :D That said, the standard caveat applies. TPTB said a lot of those dossiers are going to end up customs and one offs, so I suppose those could all be Jade Falcon fooling around, but it's a consistant upgrade when we do get stats on it. Still, it shows at least an attempt to improve on the base chassis.
We see the same thing happen with the Mad Dog.
Well the Mad Dog I think they might actually be using to get up to the 4th version for the Vulture Mk. IV unlike the Mad Cat Mk IV which had totally different variants.
The different Summoners could be one-offs (or in this case 4-offs since all 4 uniques with dossiers all add Endo).
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I think endo and ferro upgrades make sense. It seems like if the Falcons were going to pay for OmniMechs anyway, they'd just build Flamberges unless the Summoner chassis saw some improvements.
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The different Summoners could be one-offs (or in this case 4-offs since all 4 uniques with dossiers all add Endo).
Yeah, but did you notice it's the exact SAME endosteel type (Olivetti T4) ? Ditto the consistant use of Compound Beta FF instead of J63-3E. That says 'Consistant Refit' to me, rather then a series of one offs. Whether they're still Omnis though, or if this warrants a different class or way of distinguishing them...
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Cause those people making the assumptions didn't read the MWDA unique pilot dossiers. MWDA had Summoners as far back as the 2nd set, Fire For Effect, and both of the unique Summoners in there use an XL engine, Ferro armor and an Endo chassis. (For those that don't know, the TRO3050 Summoner's have standard IS), so there's at least one change, not to mention the omni variants.
That's not a Summoner, that's a Mad Cat
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Yeah, but did you notice it's the exact SAME endosteel type (Olivetti T4) ? Ditto the consistant use of Compound Beta FF instead of J63-3E. That says 'Consistant Refit' to me, rather then a series of one offs. Whether they're still Omnis though, or if this warrants a different class or way of distinguishing them...
Yeah, I agree that it's essentially a new version, but it's up to Herb, et al to decide how they want to address it. The switch to endo saves 3.5 tons, 2 of which can be dumped into the armor to max it out. The extra tonnage can go to weapons, ammo, & equipment. Or keep the armor the same and you've got 3.5 tons of extra stuff.
That's not a Summoner, that's a Mad Cat
A Mad Cat on a diet, with 5 fixed JJ.
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A Mad Cat on a diet, with 5 fixed JJ.
Yes, it's a very bad design, less armor, less pod space and less flexibility and one less engine HS (meaning that you have to pod mount another one to bring up the count), really when you look at it the Summoner exists to fill out the original Clan 'Mech roster, not because it does something different. JJ's also seem to be an excuse not to make a good 'Mech
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So don't use it.
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That's not a Summoner, that's a Mad Cat
The Jade Falcons didnt use the Mad Cat. They used the Summoner. Why would they produce the Mad Cat when they traditionally used the Summoner?
And you're kind of missing the point here. We've seen evidence that the Jade Falcons modified the Summoner in at least some cases, actively trying to improve upon it. So why are you assuming they kept the fixed Jump Jets?
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Actually I think TPTB want a clean slate storline wise to play with.
Good Stories with Big Booms - Bring It On!
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Maybe they think they were to open while interacting with the audience. Afraid of telling us too much, but because they did only tell us minor fragments what could be come they have started a rumor mill perpetuum mobile of such a dimension they never intended to do.
I get the impression that they want to be open with fans and tell us stuff, but at the same time, they have enacted a lot of strict internal rules governing what they say. (Often for good reasons) The result seems to be that most questions get a vague response at best, or no answer, at worst. The fan base then runs wild speculating on whatever crumbs slip through.
I'm not sure how to fix that, given that there are different problems with increased openness, but I am not surprised that the fans are so quick to fill in the gaps in the absence of any real information.
Mostly, I try to sit back and relax and see what actually happens.
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Oh I love the logic on the Timber Wolf. "Well, the newer models are new so... the older father gets retired!"
Despite the fact that the original Timber Wolf is man enough to take on any member of its family and wreck them. ::)
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Oh I love the logic on the Timber Wolf. "Well, the newer models are new so... the older father gets retired!"
Despite the fact that the original Timber Wolf is man enough to take on any member of its family and wreck them. ::)
You're talking about a group of people who routinely consider anyone older then 30 as over the hill and fit only to be tossed into suicide missions.
It makes perfect sense for them to abandon the old over the new.
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The Clans have never had a problem abandoning older mechs for newer ones, look at the Woodsman. Once the newer Omnimechs were debuted the Woodsman went into the scrapheap. So replacing a "Old" Timber Wolf with a "New" Timber Wolf IV or whatever number floats your boat isn't a problem for a Clan Mechwarrior. They also don't own there own mechs, so replacing a old mech with a new one doesn't even have a emotional attachment either.
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Oh I love the logic on the Timber Wolf. "Well, the newer models are new so... the older father gets retired!"
Despite the fact that the original Timber Wolf is man enough to take on any member of its family and wreck them. ::)
Considering there are now Mad Cats that can flank faster, put more firepower downrange, take more punishment (twice as much!), or jump higher, I'd say the Teambar Whorf is only man enough in your own heart. And by heart I meant rose-colored nostalgia glasses.
The Clans have never had a problem abandoning older mechs for newer ones, look at the Woodsman. Once the newer Omnimechs were debuted the Woodsman went into the scrapheap. So replacing a "Old" Timber Wolf with a "New" Timber Wolf IV or whatever number floats your boat isn't a problem for a Clan Mechwarrior. They also don't own there own mechs, so replacing a old mech with a new one doesn't even have a emotional attachment either.
Didn't we have that one argument on these forums recently where some people were sad that the Woodsman was dropped because they believe it was better?
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Don't remember the argument and the Clans have never had a problem with dropping a good design because it was old. If they didn't there would be plenty of Star League era mechs still in use and a lot fewer Omnimechs running around.