Author Topic: Question regarding "House Kurita. The Draconis Combine" 1987 sourcebook. (Read 5408 times)

eilif · « **on:** 13 February 2012, 09:25:40 »

Hey Folks,
I have a guy offering me one of these
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/House_Kurita_(The_Draconis_Combine)

I already have the "Field Manual: Draconis Combine". Would there be anything in the book he is offering that I don't already have.

Also, He's offering several others in this series. Would they have any information not contained in the "Field Manuals" or "Handbooks" series of books?

Lorcan Nagle · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 February 2012, 09:28:05 »

The Field manuals have very little crossover in data with the old house books. The Handbooks are much closer in tone and scope, but have better fact checking and maps from various eras instead of just 3025. Personally, I think the old house books are worth having.

MOrab46019 · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 February 2012, 09:50:41 »

The old House books cover their history from before the SL to the SL and then up to the third SW. Nice to have. Can get away without it with Field Man.

va_wanderer · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 February 2012, 10:38:01 »

The older books are also just plain huge by modern standards- it's a nice read that covers the origins of the Combine -> 3025ish. I used those things for an inexhaustible source of adventure info when I was running a Mechwarrior campaign- they're great for ideas/fluff/imagery.

TS_Hawk · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 February 2012, 11:54:55 »

Quote from: va_wanderer on 13 February 2012, 10:38:01

The older books are also just plain huge by modern standards- it's a nice read that covers the origins of the Combine -> 3025ish. I used those things for an inexhaustible source of adventure info when I was running a Mechwarrior campaign- they're great for ideas/fluff/imagery.

I have to agree with you on that. I picked up a used copy and it is very helpful.

eilif · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 February 2012, 13:51:34 »

Thanks folks!

How is the art in those books? I found the 1980's house books as free "text only" dowloads at Sarna and the BT site. I uploaded them to my kindle, and it's a good read but I do prefer paper books in general.

Good art, could definitely push me over the edge to get these.

Siberian-troll · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 February 2012, 13:55:54 »

Art in these books is very nice, and at least half of it in color.

Lorcan Nagle · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 February 2012, 14:11:18 »

The colour art tends to be quite nice in the housebooks, but the B&W stuff is highly variable.

Matti · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 February 2012, 14:17:08 »

Sourcebooks released in 1980's detail Successor States/Houses, mercenaries, and wars in and around year 3025. If you want to know who uses what 'Mechs and tanks at that time, those will provide answers along with TRO3039. Notable wars and campaigns are also mentioned. Entire books are devoted to some wars and campaigns: NAIS Fourth Succession War Military Atlas is still best source for Fourth Succession War (3028-3030) and Galtor Campaign (3025) makes good companion for newer Historical Turning Points: Galtor.

But if you don't play that era, then those books are little to no use.

Hersh67 · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 February 2012, 16:14:36 »

Quote from: Matti on 13 February 2012, 14:17:08

Sourcebooks released in 1980's detail Successor States/Houses, mercenaries, and wars in and around year 3025. If you
<much snipped>
But if you don't play that era, then those books are little to no use.

I won't go so far as to say little/no use. They add to the immersion factor. What is the history of the Combine? What's it like to live a day in the life of the Combine? Even if you are Rasalhaugian, your history is interwoven with the Combine (for better, or [largely] worse). Where are the prestige schools and what aren't? Granted, the succession of the FRR changed some of that, the Clans changed a bit more and the Jihad really changed things, but Sun Zhang is still Sun Zhang.

eilif · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 February 2012, 19:42:06 »

Quote from: Matti on 13 February 2012, 14:17:08

Sourcebooks released in 1980's detail Successor States/Houses, mercenaries, and wars in and around year 3025. If you want to know who uses what 'Mechs and tanks at that time, those will provide answers along with TRO3039. Notable wars and campaigns are also mentioned. Entire books are devoted to some wars and campaigns: NAIS Fourth Succession War Military Atlas is still best source for Fourth Succession War (3028-3030) and Galtor Campaign (3025) makes good companion for newer Historical Turning Points: Galtor.

Thanks, I may pick these up then, as it sounds like they'd be just the kind of background that I'm interested in. I've already got 2750, 3025 and 3026, so I'm pretty set for TRO's in that era.

Quote from: Matti on 13 February 2012, 14:17:08

But if you don't play that era, then those books are little to no use.

Truth is that I don't play any era, I just really like the fiction and background.

TS_Hawk · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 February 2012, 23:18:30 »

personally I think these books are a valued asset to the collection because of the background info they pertain. I need to get the rest for my collection.

as for the artwork its ok nothing really that great imo but to each their own.

Matti · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 February 2012, 15:05:18 »

Quote from: Hersh67 on 13 February 2012, 16:14:36

I won't go so far as to say little/no use. They add to the immersion factor. What is the history of the Combine? What's it like to live a day in the life of the Combine? Even if you are Rasalhaugian, your history is interwoven with the Combine (for better, or [largely] worse). Where are the prestige schools and what aren't?

Aren't those things also in Handbook: House Kurita?

Quote from: eilif on 13 February 2012, 19:42:06

Thanks, I may pick these up then, as it sounds like they'd be just the kind of background that I'm interested in. I've already got 2750, 3025 and 3026, so I'm pretty set for TRO's in that era.

Wasted money there. Great majority of units in those books are in TROs 3039 and 3050 Upgrade with less errors. Star League got dissolved in 27something, but TRO3025 (UNrevised) tells that BattleMaster entered Star League service in 28something. Newest TROs (3039, 3050 Upgrade, 3055 Upgrade, 3057 Revised Edition, 3058 Upgrade, 3060 Upgrade, 3067, 3075, and 3085) are much more consistent.

roosterboy · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 February 2012, 15:15:55 »

Quote from: Matti on 14 February 2012, 15:05:18

Aren't those things also in Handbook: House Kurita?

a) HBHK won't be out until (hopefully) later this year.

b) The Handbook series doesn't go into as much detail as the House books for the pre-Star League and early Succession Wars periods, as they also have to include histories post-3025.

Hersh67 · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 February 2012, 17:47:54 »

Thank you again, Roosterboy for backing me up. O0

The_head_of_Neal · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 February 2012, 00:38:05 »

Quote from: TS_Hawk on 13 February 2012, 23:18:30

personally I think these books are a valued asset to the collection because of the background info they pertain. I need to get the rest for my collection.

as for the artwork its ok nothing really that great imo but to each their own.

The artwork was the standard for it's time. The background info in these books are phenomenal. I wish I still had mine.

Medron Pryde · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 February 2012, 02:03:22 »

One thing I remember when fact checking the handbooks against the housebooks was that there was HEAVY summarization done in the handbooks.

A page of info in the housebook was a paragraph in the handbook, if it was even noted at all. Paragraphs were a single sentence.

In short, the housebooks are invaluable if you are a roleplayer, if you want to learn about the universe. If all you care about is the board game, they are basically useless. But if you enjoy the fluff, if you enjoy finding out what political situation caused the Kentares Massacre and the eventual failure of the DC invasion of the Federated Suns, you will LOVE the housebooks.

:)

The handbooks are cool, but they are a candle standing next to the flamethrower that is the house books when it comes to pure information. :)

Rorke · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 February 2012, 05:21:08 »

It's all about the history really. As a prior commentator noted, what a paragraph covers in the Hand Books
the House Book will usually devote a page or more to. For the devotee of the universes history they're
invaluable.

Mind you i'm an old sentimental type of chap, and my collection remains the jewel in the crown of my rather
large general collection.

eilif · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 February 2012, 11:41:07 »

Thanks again for all the advice folks. I'm a fluffhead, so I went ahead and bought the entire set, along with 25 + other sourcebooks. I'm going to be busy reading for quite a while now.

Quote from: Matti on 13 February 2012, 14:17:08

Entire books are devoted to some wars and campaigns: NAIS Fourth Succession War Military Atlas is still best source for Fourth Succession War (3028-3030)

I got the two atlases on the way as well. I'm very interested in seeing how they correspond and expand upon the other background.

Quote from: Matti on 14 February 2012, 15:05:18

Wasted money there. Great majority of units in those books are in TROs 3039 and 3050 Upgrade with less errors. Star League got dissolved in 27something, but TRO3025 (UNrevised) tells that BattleMaster entered Star League service in 28something. Newest TROs (3039, 3050 Upgrade, 3055 Upgrade, 3057 Revised Edition, 3058 Upgrade, 3060 Upgrade, 3067, 3075, and 3085) are much more consistent.

No doubt the current versions are more consistent/corrected, but I've had the originals for a very long time and didn't spend much on them. For a non-player like myself they do fine. Plus they have the unseen art that is so much a part of how I see the BT universe.

Matti · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 February 2012, 14:27:31 »

Quote from: eilif on 17 February 2012, 11:41:07

Plus they have the unseen art that is so much a part of how I see the BT universe.

Best reason to have original books in print. Those might get some interest from otaku nuts who don't know BattleTech yet. When I take my 3 print books with Unseens on them (The Periphery, Gray Death Legion, and Mercenary's Handbook) to meetings of local anime club, I say: "These books have mecha porn" :D

eilif · « **Reply #20 on:** 17 February 2012, 20:46:31 »

Quote from: Matti on 17 February 2012, 14:27:31

Those might get some interest from otaku nuts who don't know BattleTech yet. When I take my 3 print books with Unseens on them (The Periphery, Gray Death Legion, and Mercenary's Handbook) to meetings of local anime club, I say: "These books have mecha porn" :D

Mecha porn indeed!
It's nice to hear that someone appreciates them. It took me quite a few tries to unload the extra copy I had of 3025. It wasn't mint or anything, but it was intact and it ended up going for very little. Never going to let go of the one I have left though!

eilif · « **Reply #21 on:** 23 February 2012, 17:33:20 »

Just got my shippment of books. I only ended up with the Free world, Kurita and FedSuns house books (the others I thought were "house" books were field manuals), but they are great books nonetheless. Good Art -if a bit dated- with much in color, and just packed with background fluff!

If any one wants to see what the full versions are like, the download for the House Davion book at Sarna is full color (color plates are further into the book), minus only what I assume is art with "unseen" images.
http://cf.sarna.net/docs/products/house_books/house_davion.pdf
The the rest of the house books are black and white text-only.
http://www.sarna.net/files/docs/products/house_books/

Either way, it's awfully generous of the powers-that-be to make them avaialable to us for no charge!

Hotwire · « **Reply #22 on:** 23 February 2012, 19:02:46 »

Love the snipet in this book about the Dead Head cult hiding out in Brocchi's Cluster. 8)

Tai Dai Cultist · « **Reply #23 on:** 21 October 2017, 09:53:02 »

Quote from: Hotwire on 23 February 2012, 19:02:46

Love the snipet in this book about the Dead Head cult hiding out in Brocchi's Cluster. 8)

They are the basis for my forum name :)