Author Topic: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)  (Read 11882 times)

Firedrake

  • Corporal
  • *
  • Posts: 77
    • Battletech at tekeli-li
Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« on: 18 February 2012, 13:43:17 »
I have removed join/part and nick change messages, and changed the timezone to EST, but otherwise the log is as I received it.

Code: [Select]
12:03:09 Gaiiten I feel a mighty power is approaching ...
12:03:17 Chunga  RAN FELSNER!
12:04:19 Habeas2 MATT DAMON!
12:04:21 Nathan18        Good Morning
12:04:36 Nathan18        Has Battlechat started?
12:05:14 Habeas2 I am just getting here now; there was a slight delay
12:05:27 Habeas2 So....
12:05:42 Gaiiten It seems so. We just started a contest about who shall never be in BT universe again ...
12:05:59 Habeas2 Hello, and as always, welcome to another exciting monthly BattleChat. I blew off a visit to my dad in the hospital for this today, so make your questions good.
12:06:36 Habeas2 As always, I'm your primary host, but Jason Schmetzer of BattleCorps is here as well, and rumor has it that my assistant, Ben Rome will also join us in this chat today.
12:06:57 Habeas2 These chats run a minimum of one hour (I will likely tack an extra half to this one, though; I get so lonely)....
12:07:20 Gaiiten Bad news, that. I hope you father is well given circumstances if I may ask.
12:07:21 sarcasmo        Sad Herb makes me sad. And scared.
12:07:22 Habeas2 Remember to be respectful of others and keep questions brief and clear; I will answer in the order received.
12:07:57 Habeas2 Logging is not something I generally do here, so if you want a transcript of this chat, it's on you.
12:08:34 Habeas2 I retain the option to kick anyone who I feel is being improper (read: being a jerk, an ******, a dick, a troll). Don't test me on this. I can be mean.
12:09:13 Habeas2 That all said, hello, and welcome again to our fist Live BattleChat! of February 2012! You may proceed with the questions.... now.
12:09:17 Chunga  Are the epub short stories the future of batteltech fiction or is there still hope for print novels?
12:09:22 martian I would like to ask about "Interstellar Expeditions". Any movement in that direction? Exploring the Unknown?
12:10:39 Garydee Have you made a decision if TRO 3150 is coming this year?
12:11:21 Habeas2 Chunga - There is always going to be hope for print novels, but for now, that's where our fictive efforts will lie.
12:11:32 sarcasmo        How's fan reaction been to the Blitzkrieg novels?
12:11:38 Habeas2 Martian - Yes. There is movement.
12:11:49 J_Schmetzer     sarcasmo - minimal
12:12:07 Habeas2 Garydee - No, it is not. Due to a shift in the sourcebook focus for 2012, there is no TRO slated for this year (that isn't a reprint, anyway).
12:12:20 Firedrake       The obvious question, but: state of play for Interstellar Ops?
12:12:39 sarcasmo        Really?! After all the complaining about no longer fiction? Wow. I'm surprised.
12:12:47 Habeas2 Sarcasmo - Hard to guage at this moment, on account of me not reading any reviews. (Oh, I see Jason answered....)
12:13:48 J_Schmetzer     sarcasmo - it'll take time. I don't have any doubts that the program will be a success, but just because it's on the Internet doesn't mean it'll WIN THE INTERWEBZ in its first week.
12:13:55 Habeas2 Firedrake - Interstellar Ops is going about as swimmingly as one can expect for a core rulebook, which is to say... OMG, the rules! Holy crap, the rules are soooooo complicated! WHy on earth did we think this was a good idea!?
12:13:55 Gaiiten What about the WoR Supplemental? When can we expect the release?
12:14:10 sarcasmo        Can you gives us any clues to the project you and Randall we're so excited about the other day on FB and Twitter?
12:14:13 RanFelsner      If the epub fiction is our current source of BT fiction, how many will we see in any given timeframe?
12:14:40 Habeas2 Gaiiten - We hope for a release either in February or March, but I can always be wrong.
12:14:43 SLDF_Gunslinger Greetings!
12:14:55 Habeas2 Sarcasmo - Not until my pants dry off, no.
12:15:02 J_Schmetzer     RanFelsner - as all the release materials have said, we expect to publish monthly.
12:15:18 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - Yo!
12:15:36 sarcasmo        J_Schmetzer Good point. Still, after all the bit...err, complaining about the lack of fiction I would have thought fans would have been more excited.
12:15:47 Habeas2 RanFalsner - What Jason said, or until he has a catastrophic meltdown.
12:16:14 Habeas2 (probably as a result of editing a sourcebook)
12:16:14 sarcasmo        Habeas2 Not cool! :( We want to be exited too!
12:16:27 Gaiiten Can you tell us something more about the content of the Supplemental?
12:16:28 sarcasmo        *excited
12:16:40 RanFelsner      Sounds good, any fiction is welcome.
12:16:55 Habeas2 Sarcasmo - When we know enough to say more definitively, we'll tell you. I hate raising hopes on projects only to say (over and over) that it got frozen for yet another unanticipated reason
12:17:00 Habeas2 (Welcome, Ben)
12:17:04 J_Schmetzer     Luckily I am far less integral to Blitzkrieg. So if I do have a meltdown (re: Herb says "edit this...") it shouldn't matter too much.
12:17:27 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Ben Rome can answer that best. Ben, the question is about content of the WoR supplemental
12:17:40 sarcasmo        tis a good policy I suppose.
12:17:52 Habeas2 Jason - No, I don't see it quite that way...
12:18:51 SLDF_Gunslinger Will Historical: Liberation of Terra Vol I include RAT's for the SLDF and RWR forces? Or will this info be covered in other supplemental  products?
12:18:54 GhostBear       WoR Supplemental? Okay. Four Clan entries. Setting is a 3090 readiness report, on the cusp of the invasion. And some info on four now-dead Bandit groups.
12:19:16 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - Yes
12:20:07 GhostBear       The main thrust of the WoRS is a big RAT listing, and probably close to 25 record sheets.
12:20:21 SLDF_Gunslinger Excellent. Thanks!
12:20:27 faraday77       evening (or hello for those in other time zones)
12:20:33 martian What about "old" Unseens and "new" Unseens (from TRO 3055)? That's almost 50 'Mechs total. I have seen that at least Ostscout, Ostroc and Ostsol were pulled from Unseens list. Any change in positive direction?
12:20:52 Gaiiten Hmmm ... was Ghostbear serious or is he smiling due his first answer? If he is serious that would be great.
12:22:09 GhostBear       Gaiiten: Me? serious? When?
12:23:18 Habeas2 Martian - I am pursuing an option that may resolve the Unseen matter more definitively for the universe. It will, of course, not please all of the fan base, but we have dealt with this particular problem since the late 90s, and I think it's time we finally close it down for good. Remember, of course, your minis remain valid.
12:23:22 Gaiiten While destroying whole Clans? Or were you laughing all the time :)
12:24:14 martian With 2012 being year devoted to history, I can imagine that avoiding Unseens must be problematic at best. I have thought that at least units produced by Vicore Musical Industries were made directly for FASA?
12:24:40 SLDF_Gunslinger Will the Liberation of Terra Historical's contain an Era specific campaign system similar to WoR or will it simply provide generic Warchest system Tracks?
12:24:41 mib_ep2tdq      Ghostbear are we to expect any previews for WoRS?
12:24:49 trboturtle      How are the Bitzkrieg stories doing?
12:25:26 J_Schmetzer     trboturtle - no idea. I don't get the sales figures. Response is thus far limited. Will all work out in the long run (combining several earlier answers)
12:25:31 sarcasmo1       A longer question: IWM seems to take a new TRO and make mechs for it as SOP. However, does that also apply to the XTROs? Primarily the “Primitives” due to their coverage of the unseen issue, or are those mechs something that would have to be covered by “fan funding” or am I asking the wrong person?
12:25:37 GhostBear       mib_ep2tdq Maybe. My FT job is sucking life and soul at the moment AND placed a moratorium on "extraneous blogging" so...we'll see. 50/50 at this point, depending on what IT lets me get away with.
12:25:50 Habeas2 Martian - The Victor Musical Industries images were pulled as an added safety precaution. Fact is, when it comes to safeguarding against legal action, how much would you prefer we'd risk?
12:26:25 martian Thank You for answer.
12:26:29 trboturtle      So GB is working for Cousin It?
12:26:42 J_Schmetzer     How much to risk? I'm on so much medication right now my answer is "nut up or shut up." (there may have been a sneeze in the middle of typing that answer--you'll never know--it's a mystery)
12:26:51 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - The LoT Historicals follow standard Historical format, so there are no Tracks for the campaign; there are simply basic rules for scenarios in that setting.
12:27:06 Gaiiten Due the WoR and the new Protomech types introduced, I missed a Glider PM (or was the Svartalfa originally made by the Society).
12:27:22 SLDF_Gunslinger Excellent. Thank You!
12:27:34 Habeas2 Sarcasmo1 - No; unless we make a special case, XTR units are not generally being made by IWM
12:27:37 faraday77       question: what's the current state of affair concerning the old novels going epub?
12:27:39 trboturtle      JS, why all the medication?
12:27:41 GhostBear       SLDF_Gunslinger Trying to do a track-style system for LoT similar to WOR would be a nightmare. Too. much. data.
12:27:56 sarcasmo1       Habeas2 Thank you.
12:27:58 SLDF_Gunslinger Understandable...
12:28:48 Habeas2 Gaiiten - The Svartalfa derives from a Society design, but was not in itself built by the Society
12:29:17 mib_ep2tdq      Any new HTP  or  DATP coming up in the next couple of months?
12:29:22 Habeas2 Faraday77 - At this moment the epubs of old novels remains on hold .
12:29:51 J_Schmetzer     trboturtle - because I'm sick.
12:29:56 Habeas2 Mib_ep2tdq - That one's for Ben. ;)
12:29:59 trboturtle      ah
12:30:20 GhostBear       mib_ep2tdq Yes! I have HTP: Luzerne in the docks, and HTP: Towne, HTP: Antallos, and HTP something-or-other in varying stages of prep.
12:30:40 Gaiiten So we may get a Society-designed Glider PM in WORSup?
12:30:45 GhostBear       And then there's this print book that all chaotic, too...
12:31:02 SLDF_Gunslinger I know this has probably been covered in another BattleChat, but aside from the 2 Historicals, what other SL Era products can we hope for this year?
12:31:21 faraday77       herb: thanks
12:32:42 GhostBear       Gaiiten maybe. depends.
12:32:47 trboturtle      GB, you are making sure the right Craig is getting the writing credit for HTP: Towne, right? :D
12:33:09 GhostBear       trboturtle *facepalm* I blame Herb and too many Craigs for that one.
12:34:00 Garydee Can we expect to see the new TacOps errata fairly soon?
12:34:45 trboturtle2     That's what I get for traveling in that blue police box......
12:35:31 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - There wilkl likely only be one Historical this year, but we are also currently working on a Field Manual and an ERa Report set in the same period.
12:35:48 Klep    oooh
12:36:00 Klep    star league FM :D
12:36:13 SLDF_Gunslinger Excellent news! Thanks!
12:36:16 martian What kind of cooperation (if any) is between Catalyst and Personae Studios (MW:Tactical Command) or Infinite Game Publishing (MW:Tactics)? Or are they working on their own?
12:36:23 Habeas2 Trboturtle/GhostBear - *sigh*. WHICH Craig again?
12:36:37 trboturtle2     The one that's NOT me.....
12:36:39 Habeas2 Martian - ALl electronic renditions of BattleTech work on their own
12:36:58 SLDF_Gunslinger And, yes people, I am here to ask a ton of questions about the SL Era products. Like the handle isn't a dead giveaway :D
12:37:01 Habeas2 Trboturtle - And which one are YOU?
12:37:16 trboturtle2     I'm Reed
12:37:19 mib_ep2tdq      What is the progress on Handbook DC and TRO 3067?
12:37:23 Vandal  He's Reed, the other is Erne
12:37:45 Habeas2 Trboturtle - And you're, of course, referring to SotGAs in this public chat?
12:38:00 Habeas2 o.O
12:38:07 trboturtle2     I'm refering to emails....
12:38:12 GhostBear       mib_ep2tdq HBHK is in process.
12:39:39 Habeas2 Trboturtle2 - DERIVED FROM SOTGA!!!!!!!! >.< Anyway, yeah, Erne is now on my records as being the Towne guy. (And if you think I mix up my Craigs, see what happens with my Chrises!)
12:40:04 Klep    when i was in high school there were 3 erics in my social group
12:40:08 Klep    we decided to number them
12:40:29 Klep    it worked well!
12:40:31 GhostBear       I have 12 Chrises in my email contact list. And most of them are BT-related in some manner.
12:40:36 Habeas2 Mib_ep2tdq - Handbook: Kurita is going about as fast as I can expect from its writer };)  TRO 3067 is going fine for a reprint.
12:40:38 SLDF_Gunslinger Will we be seeing any new RWR specific unit designs in the SL Era Products this year?
12:40:42 sarcasmo        Just use last names. It'll be like HS gym all over again.
12:40:53 Gaiiten Something I very liked in the last TROs were the different infantry types. Will you include them in the upcoming SL era products? (During the SL there were so many very advanced, let alone the SLDF standard infantry kit).
12:40:57 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - Maybe. Not sure.
12:41:04 GhostBear       Habeas2 At least with this HBHK writer, it won't split into two books. ;)
12:41:18 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Not planned at this time.
12:41:35 trboturtle2     So, Randall isn't writing HBHK?
12:41:41 Habeas2 GhostBear - Great! Because we haven't split a Handbook yet!
12:42:00 Habeas2 Trboturtle2 - Not ALL of it, no
12:42:23 *       Habeas2 ponders a peanut butter bagel....
12:42:40 Klep    mmmm.... bagel
12:42:49 sarcasmo        Habeas2 should ponder bacon
12:42:59 trboturtle2     So, no threee volume set oon House Kurita? :D
12:43:09 GhostBear       Habeas2 Trboturtle2 if Randall overwrites, the entry story will be a novel instead of a short.
12:43:43 Habeas2 Trbotrutle2 - House Kurita's not even remotely that interesting.
12:45:33 sarcasmo        Snap!
12:46:33 SLDF_Gunslinger Will the Reagan SDS be covered in any detail in the Historical's? Will we get rules for it (ala the JHS:Terra drone decision tree rules, etc)?
12:47:00 Gaiiten Given the massive decimation of the capital warship fleets (and old designs) in the Jihad era, will new warship be built or does the future belong to the pocket warships and warships will be more like PWS- and aerospace carriers?
12:47:23 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - We thought about that, but then asked ourseles "who really cares about that whole SDS thing now?)
12:47:24 mib_ip9xn0      Sorry I am late. . .miss much?
12:47:46 Vandal  Just the end of the world
12:47:50 Habeas2 Gaiiten - In the future? You won't see as many WarShips, no.
12:48:03 SLDF_Gunslinger Hmm...I'll take that as a 'No' then
12:48:09 Habeas2 Mib_ip9xn0 - Only about 40 minutes of chat time.
12:48:50 mib_ip9xn0      Sorry. . .couldn't get to a computer until now. :(
12:49:50 Gaiiten But new warships will be built (in much smaller numbers)?
12:50:28 SLDF_Gunslinger Will we see any more Royal units to better flesh out the end of the SL Era? Or has that well run dry? ;)
12:50:41 martian I liked how we met Adept Edelle Kearny (from Fall of Terra) again in JHS. Or Galaxy Commander Russou Howell. Do you plan similar encounters in the future?
12:50:49 *       Habeas2 returns to the computer with his bagel
12:51:03 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - You can take it that way, but you'd be wrong.
12:51:14 SLDF_Gunslinger :D
12:51:28 SLDF_Gunslinger Excellent! Thanks!
12:51:42 Habeas2 Mib_ip9xn0 - DOn't apologize to us, but I hope you brought enough of whatever delayed you for everyone
12:52:28 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Maybe. If, you know, we ever work out how to build them so that three different design programs don't come up with three different tonnage discrepancies.
12:52:33 mib_ip9xn0      They frown on giving away family.
12:53:06 Habeas2 Martian - As we move forward, not as many; after all, we're preparing a move to the Dark Age once this Star League craze blows over...and that's a big jump
12:53:09 GhostBear       martian Maybe. that's part of the fun, bringing in side characters like that. Helps tie things together.
12:53:32 martian Exactly. Thanks.
12:53:38 Habeas2 Or, you know, what Ben said
12:53:43 Habeas2 :)
12:53:45 Klep    is the new Hogarth cut from the same mold as his more famous relative?
12:53:49 mib_ep2tdq      What is the next XTRO?
12:54:13 Habeas2 Mib_ip9xn0 - Uncertain. Could be Primitives 3, Gunslingers, Phantoms, Deep Periphery, of Succession Wars 1
12:54:28 GhostBear       Klep Heavens I hope not. The universe is big enough for only one Hogarth and his ego.
12:54:45 faraday77       oh please, not another Hogarth
12:55:19 *       Habeas2 shuts down the Hogarth factory
12:55:35 *       Habeas2 gets a VERY evil idea...
12:56:06 Klep    oh dear
12:56:07 SLDF_Gunslinger There's a shock... ;)
12:56:11 Klep    i'm sorry in advance everyone :P
12:56:21 sarcasmo        I love Hogarth!
12:56:28 mib_ep2tdq      Thanks
12:56:37 GhostBear       Habeas2 You know, i think I know what that idea is. *shudder*
12:56:58 Gaiiten Due the warship construction, what about calculating with pen and paper? Or does each factchecker come up with fifferent tonnages?
12:57:07 faraday77       the manei hogarthi? XD
12:57:27 DeJaVu  Greetings, mr Beas and all) when the situation with bc.com get better? Stories was more than a month.You are not an editor, but still ...
12:57:31 Habeas2 GhostBear - If you know, then I chose my assistant wisely. :)
12:57:52 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Pen and paper has let us down bad.
12:58:40 Klep    Gaiiten: i'm sure unit design is a long enough process with computer help. i've come up with stuff using p&p myself in the distant past and it's not something i'd want to do again
12:59:02 Habeas2 DejaVu - The lack of quality fiction on BattleCorps comes from a variety of causes, but perhaps the biggest is a dearth of quality writers. Jason isn't in the habit of passing crap along to the paying customer, and I stand by his standards.
12:59:46 SLDF_Gunslinger Will we be seeing any SL Era fiction from either BC or Blitzkreig release this year?
13:01:10 Gaiiten That the calculation is such a problem suprises me.  IMHO it is simple math and well explained in sourcebooks.
13:01:47 Klep    multiple people can all think that and still have different interpretations
13:02:00 Klep    what's clear to you as meaning one thing can be clear to another as meaning another thing
13:02:10 DeJaVu  I agree with you. It may be worth a monthly fee increase, but to make more great stories?
13:02:47 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - Jason will likely pick and choose any story that works for BC, so SL fiction is not out of the running there. The Blitzkreig series may see some SL-era fiction as well, but it really depends on what we can fit into its demanding schedule
13:03:46 SLDF_Gunslinger Gotcha. I loved 'The Last Full Measure' and would love to see more stuff like it...
13:03:51 Habeas2 Gaiiten - You'd be amazed at how many things got left to interpretation. Remember when HMAero defaulted to establishing spare parts and food storage automatically? That was never even a construction mandate.
13:04:20 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - .... Um, Last Full measure was Jihad era, wasn't it?
13:05:43 SLDF_Gunslinger Hmm.....I am only on my 2nd cup of coffee. I'm thinking of the story about the Gunslinger fighting on New Vandenburg at Fort Gorky. Anyway...
13:06:25 Habeas2 DeJaVu - I do not think we can justify a rate increase on BattleCorps if we cannot guarantee a solid flow of fiction. We're not getting few stories because people aren't being paid enough; we're getting them because continuity and editing standards are too high for just anyone to tell a tale with
13:07:43 Gaiiten You are right, however, that is a program we are easily trust in because it has been so comfortable. Given the "How to calculate a warship`s construction" you do have to calculate in certain steps, steps can easily compared to other person`s calculation and so mistakes can be found.
13:08:20 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Ah, but there's trust and then there's Herb's Trust. There's a reason Battle Value is on the chopping block now
13:08:32 Klep    also, unit construction isn't a linear process. it's iterative
13:08:55 DeJaVu  Will the light  clans-sourcebook in the post-jihad era?
13:09:12 Moonsword       And lack of computer support slows down the iterations.
13:09:19 Firedrake       Are you prepared to say anyting about what the replacement for BV2 will (or may) look like?
13:10:59 Habeas2 DeJaVu - I'm afraid I don't understand that question
13:11:23 Habeas2 Firedrake - It may look like this: ___________________________________________________________
13:11:49 Firedrake       A straight line! Truly, all my questions are answered! Praise Blake!
13:12:19 Habeas2 Firdrake - The point is, all options are on the table, including NO Battle Value system at all
13:13:03 Firedrake       Fair enough! (I'm a user mostly in a theoretical sense - IMHO "balanced" battles may be interesting, but are wildly unrealistic.)
13:13:15 DeJaVu  sorry( will be released Clans Inner Sphere-sourcebook after-jihad period?
13:13:18 mib_ip9x84      No balancing system?
13:13:44 Habeas2 Mib_ip9x84 - No Balancing System if it cannot be made simple and reliable.
13:14:19 Gaiiten Hmm, I think that is a challenge. Due the new BV, is the length of that straight line (in meters) the new BV?
13:14:29 Habeas2 DeJaVu - The universe does not end in 3085. There will be sourcebooks in the future that show us how the Clans and the Inner SPhere will evolve from here
13:14:54 *       Habeas2 looks at clock.
13:14:56 DeJaVu  thx, mr Beas
13:15:04 Firedrake       Seconded
13:15:10 Habeas2 BattleChat will end in 16 minutes
13:15:48 Gaiiten But the HomeClans will be hidden in the void for an undetermined peroid?
13:15:57 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Correct
13:16:13 mib_ip9xn0      And the Scorpion Empire?
13:16:25 Gaiiten My question to the new BV or to the HomeClans?
13:16:28 Klep    the scorpion empire is such a cool concept
13:16:41 GhostBear       mib_ip9xn0 same.
13:17:04 mib_ip9xn0      Hidden in the void.
13:17:25 GhostBear       mib_ip9xn0 yes.
13:17:36 Habeas2 Mib_ip9nx0 - What about the Scoprion EMpire? ;)
13:17:41 DeJaVu  Release paper books as far?
13:18:03 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Home Clans. I ignored your BV question
13:18:20 Habeas2 DeJaVu - Again, not sure I understand your question
13:20:35 SLDF_Gunslinger Will the FM:SLDF be written in the vein of the older FM's (FedSuns, etc)? Will we be getting writeups for specific Divisions, etc? Or will it not be going into that sort of detail?
13:21:24 DeJaVu  sorry( Any news regarding the new paper books publishing?
13:22:30 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - The SL era was a time of truly monstrous force sizes, so no, we're going to use an Updates-style approach that condenses the groupings better
13:22:52 Habeas2 DeJaVu - At this time, we are not printing novels. The Blitzkrieg series now underway is an e-reader format only.
13:23:02 Habeas2 8 minutes remaining
13:23:08 Gaiiten Given the vast number if SLDF divisions I think the most reasonable would be something like the summary of the Comguards armies and divisions old FM: Comstar. May the armies splitted in the Corps.
13:23:28 SLDF_Gunslinger Thanks for answering my question! You all have a great day....
13:24:50 Gaiiten Due the WOB, will we see what happened to Berith and the Opacus Venatori?
13:25:07 GhostBear       Gaiiten Maybe.
13:25:16 mib_ep2tdq      thanks again for Blitzkrieg series
13:26:21 Habeas2 Mib_ep2tdq - You're welcome!
13:26:25 Gaiiten Fine, Berith is a very interesting character and what he did in Final Reckoning was a thrilling story and track to play.
13:26:54 GhostBear       Gaiiten Oh don't get me wrong, I *want* to tell more of his story. I just have a lot on my plate for the moment.
13:27:35 Gaiiten I am patient :) BTW why did he hate the Clans so much?
13:28:23 Habeas2 Gaiiten - They said bad things about his mother
13:28:28 GhostBear       Gaiiten He's a Tukayyid vet. Isn't that enough?
13:28:34 Habeas2 2 minutes
13:29:43 Habeas2 1 minute
13:29:51 Gaiiten He was a professional soldier, so he knew what to expect in such a fight and did and suffered worse in the Jihad, did his attitude towards the Clans change?
13:30:36 GhostBear       Gaiiten Probably.
13:30:58 Gaiiten To the worse or to the better :)
13:31:00 Habeas2 gaiiten - DO remember that the Manei Domini were originally developed to annihiate the Clans. Undoubtedly, a good portion of Berith's attitudes toward the Clans since Tukayyid was further underscored in his DOmini indoctrination.
13:31:04 Klep    wasn't Tukayyid the first real combat for the vast majority of the ComGuard?
13:31:47 Habeas2 Klep - Yes.
13:32:05 Habeas2 Thank you for participating in this Catalyst Game Labs BattleTech Line Developer-aided Public Relations Activity!
13:32:10 Klep    so he could easily have been far more affected by the battle than an actual seasoned veteran would have been
13:32:14 *       Habeas2 has changed the topic to: Next Live BattleChat! - Saturday, (18 February 2012) at 8 PM (EDT)
13:32:27 Gaiiten Thank you!
13:32:28 Habeas2 Next chat scheduled for 8 PM (Eastern CIvilized Time)
13:32:34 Firedrake       Thanks!
13:32:50 Klep    thanks herb
13:34:56 martian Moonsword, can you save the Battlechat? I intended to, but my browser fell ...
13:35:17 Firedrake       I have a full log, where would you like it posted?
13:35:32 Moonsword       I wasn't here for the full thing.

Martius

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 1850
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #1 on: 18 February 2012, 14:04:57 »
Thanks!

Pa Weasley

  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5523
  • I am not this cute
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #2 on: 18 February 2012, 14:22:38 »
Thanks for logging and posting Firedrake. I was hopping for a few more teasers about the tweets earlier in the week. Still, XTRO: Succession Wars. Interesting possibilities there.

Fear Factory

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4070
  • Designing the Enemy
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #3 on: 18 February 2012, 14:30:54 »
Info on 4 dead bandit groups?   *fingers crossed* [drool]
The conflict is pure - The truth devised - The future secured - The enemy designed
Maj. Isaac "Litany" Van Houten, Lone Wolves, The Former 66th "Litany Against Fear" Company

Pa Weasley

  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5523
  • I am not this cute
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #4 on: 18 February 2012, 15:01:01 »
Saw that as well, though I'm always extremely skeptical about anything Ben posts after the "truth and lies" campaign on his blog leading up to WoR's release.  ;D Of course if it's real four "bandit groups" (and the damage they caused) could possibly go a long way toward explaining why we haven't heard a peep from the Homeworld Clans by 3130 ....

Or they discovered the cave with the brain slugs.

martian

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 8328
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #5 on: 18 February 2012, 15:21:16 »
Sorted out for easier reading. Thanks Firedrake for saving the chat.

Starring: Herb Beas
Also Starring: Ben Rome, Jason Schmetzer

12:09:17 Chunga  Are the epub short stories the future of batteltech fiction or is there still hope for print novels?
12:11:21 Habeas2 Chunga - There is always going to be hope for print novels, but for now, that's where our fictive efforts will lie.

12:09:22 martian I would like to ask about "Interstellar Expeditions". Any movement in that direction? Exploring the Unknown?
12:11:38 Habeas2 Martian - Yes. There is movement.

12:11:32 sarcasmo        How's fan reaction been to the Blitzkrieg novels?
12:11:49 J_Schmetzer     sarcasmo - minimal
12:12:39 sarcasmo        Really?! After all the complaining about no longer fiction? Wow. I'm surprised.
12:12:47 Habeas2 Sarcasmo - Hard to guage at this moment, on account of me not reading any reviews. (Oh, I see Jason answered....)
12:13:48 J_Schmetzer     sarcasmo - it'll take time. I don't have any doubts that the program will be a success, but just because it's on the Internet doesn't mean it'll WIN THE INTERWEBZ in its first week.
12:24:49 trboturtle      How are the Bitzkrieg stories doing?
12:25:26 J_Schmetzer     trboturtle - no idea. I don't get the sales figures. Response is thus far limited. Will all work out in the long run (combining several earlier answers)

12:10:39 Garydee Have you made a decision if TRO 3150 is coming this year?
12:12:07 Habeas2 Garydee - No, it is not. Due to a shift in the sourcebook focus for 2012, there is no TRO slated for this year (that isn't a reprint, anyway).

2:12:20 Firedrake       The obvious question, but: state of play for Interstellar Ops?
12:13:55 Habeas2 Firedrake - Interstellar Ops is going about as swimmingly as one can expect for a core rulebook, which is to say... OMG, the rules! Holy crap, the rules are soooooo complicated! WHy on earth did we think this was a good idea!?

12:13:55 Gaiiten What about the WoR Supplemental? When can we expect the release?
12:14:40 Habeas2 Gaiiten - We hope for a release either in February or March, but I can always be wrong.

12:14:10 sarcasmo        Can you gives us any clues to the project you and Randall we're so excited about the other day on FB and Twitter?
12:14:55 Habeas2 Sarcasmo - Not until my pants dry off, no.
12:15:36 sarcasmo        J_Schmetzer Good point. Still, after all the bit...err, complaining about the lack of fiction I would have thought fans would have been more excited.
12:15:47 Habeas2 RanFalsner - What Jason said, or until he has a catastrophic meltdown.
12:16:14 Habeas2 (probably as a result of editing a sourcebook)
12:16:14 sarcasmo        Habeas2 Not cool! :( We want to be exited too!
12:16:55 Habeas2 Sarcasmo - When we know enough to say more definitively, we'll tell you. I hate raising hopes on projects only to say (over and over) that it got frozen for yet another unanticipated reason
12:17:04 J_Schmetzer     Luckily I am far less integral to Blitzkrieg. So if I do have a meltdown (re: Herb says "edit this...") it shouldn't matter too much.
12:17:52 Habeas2 Jason - No, I don't see it quite that way...

12:14:13 RanFelsner      If the epub fiction is our current source of BT fiction, how many will we see in any given timeframe?
12:15:02 J_Schmetzer     RanFelsner - as all the release materials have said, we expect to publish monthly.


12:16:27 Gaiiten Can you tell us something more about the content of the Supplemental?
12:17:27 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Ben Rome can answer that best. Ben, the question is about content of the WoR supplemental
12:18:54 GhostBear       WoR Supplemental? Okay. Four Clan entries. Setting is a 3090 readiness report, on the cusp of the invasion. And some info on four now-dead Bandit groups.
12:20:07 GhostBear       The main thrust of the WoRS is a big RAT listing, and probably close to 25 record sheets.


12:18:51 SLDF_Gunslinger Will Historical: Liberation of Terra Vol I include RAT's for the SLDF and RWR forces? Or will this info be covered in other supplemental  products?
12:19:16 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - Yes
12:20:21 SLDF_Gunslinger Excellent. Thanks!
12:20:52 Gaiiten Hmmm ... was Ghostbear serious or is he smiling due his first answer? If he is serious that would be great.
12:22:09 GhostBear       Gaiiten: Me? serious? When?
12:23:22 Gaiiten While destroying whole Clans? Or were you laughing all the time :)
12:24:41 mib_ep2tdq      Ghostbear are we to expect any previews for WoRS?
12:25:37 GhostBear       mib_ep2tdq Maybe. My FT job is sucking life and soul at the moment AND placed a moratorium on "extraneous blogging" so...we'll see. 50/50 at this point, depending on what IT lets me get away with.


12:20:33 martian What about "old" Unseens and "new" Unseens (from TRO 3055)? That's almost 50 'Mechs total. I have seen that at least Ostscout, Ostroc and Ostsol were pulled from Unseens list. Any change in positive direction?
12:23:18 Habeas2 Martian - I am pursuing an option that may resolve the Unseen matter more definitively for the universe. It will, of course, not please all of the fan base, but we have dealt with this particular problem since the late 90s, and I think it's time we finally close it down for good. Remember, of course, your minis remain valid.
12:24:14 martian With 2012 being year devoted to history, I can imagine that avoiding Unseens must be problematic at best. I have thought that at least units produced by Vicore Musical Industries were made directly for FASA?
12:25:50 Habeas2 Martian - The Victor Musical Industries images were pulled as an added safety precaution. Fact is, when it comes to safeguarding against legal action, how much would you prefer we'd risk?
12:26:25 martian Thank You for answer.

12:24:40 SLDF_Gunslinger Will the Liberation of Terra Historical's contain an Era specific campaign system similar to WoR or will it simply provide generic Warchest system Tracks?
12:26:51 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - The LoT Historicals follow standard Historical format, so there are no Tracks for the campaign; there are simply basic rules for scenarios in that setting.
12:27:22 SLDF_Gunslinger Excellent. Thank You!
12:27:41 GhostBear       SLDF_Gunslinger Trying to do a track-style system for LoT similar to WOR would be a nightmare. Too. much. data.

12:25:31 sarcasmo1       A longer question: IWM seems to take a new TRO and make mechs for it as SOP. However, does that also apply to the XTROs? Primarily the “Primitives” due to their coverage of the unseen issue, or are those mechs something that would have to be covered by “fan funding” or am I asking the wrong person?
12:27:34 Habeas2 Sarcasmo1 - No; unless we make a special case, XTR units are not generally being made by IWM


12:27:06 Gaiiten Due the WoR and the new Protomech types introduced, I missed a Glider PM (or was the Svartalfa originally made by the Society).
12:28:48 Habeas2 Gaiiten - The Svartalfa derives from a Society design, but was not in itself built by the Society
12:30:40 Gaiiten So we may get a Society-designed Glider PM in WORSup?
12:32:42 GhostBear       Gaiiten maybe. depends.

12:27:37 faraday77       question: what's the current state of affair concerning the old novels going epub?
12:29:22 Habeas2 Faraday77 - At this moment the epubs of old novels remains on hold .
12:31:21 faraday77       herb: thanks


12:29:17 mib_ep2tdq      Any new HTP  or  DATP coming up in the next couple of months?
12:29:56 Habeas2 Mib_ep2tdq - That one's for Ben. ;)
12:30:20 GhostBear       mib_ep2tdq Yes! I have HTP: Luzerne in the docks, and HTP: Towne, HTP: Antallos, and HTP something-or-other in varying stages of prep.
12:30:45 GhostBear       And then there's this print book that all chaotic, too...

12:36:16 martian What kind of cooperation (if any) is between Catalyst and Personae Studios (MW:Tactical Command) or Infinite Game Publishing (MW:Tactics)? Or are they working on their own?
12:36:39 Habeas2 Martian - ALl electronic renditions of BattleTech work on their own


12:31:02 SLDF_Gunslinger I know this has probably been covered in another BattleChat, but aside from the 2 Historicals, what other SL Era products can we hope for this year?
12:35:31 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - There will likely only be one Historical this year, but we are also currently working on a Field Manual and an ERa Report set in the same period.
12:36:00 Klep    star league FM :D
12:36:13 SLDF_Gunslinger Excellent news! Thanks!


12:37:19 mib_ep2tdq      What is the progress on Handbook DC and TRO 3067?
12:38:12 GhostBear       mib_ep2tdq HBHK is in process.
12:40:36 Habeas2 Mib_ep2tdq - Handbook: Kurita is going about as fast as I can expect from its writer };)  TRO 3067 is going fine for a reprint.
12:41:04 GhostBear       Habeas2 At least with this HBHK writer, it won't split into two books. ;)

12:50:41 martian I liked how we met Adept Edelle Kearny (from Fall of Terra) again in JHS. Or Galaxy Commander Russou Howell. Do you plan similar encounters in the future?
12:53:06 Habeas2 Martian - As we move forward, not as many; after all, we're preparing a move to the Dark Age once this Star League craze blows over...and that's a big jump
12:53:09 GhostBear       martian Maybe. that's part of the fun, bringing in side characters like that. Helps tie things together.
12:53:32 martian Exactly. Thanks.
12:53:38 Habeas2 Or, you know, what Ben said
12:53:43 Habeas2 :)


12:34:00 Garydee Can we expect to see the new TacOps errata fairly soon?



12:36:58 SLDF_Gunslinger And, yes people, I am here to ask a ton of questions about the SL Era products. Like the handle isn't a dead giveaway :D
12:40:38 SLDF_Gunslinger Will we be seeing any new RWR specific unit designs in the SL Era Products this year?
12:40:57 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - Maybe. Not sure.
12:46:33 SLDF_Gunslinger Will the Reagan SDS be covered in any detail in the Historical's? Will we get rules for it (ala the JHS:Terra drone decision tree rules, etc)?
12:47:23 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - We thought about that, but then asked ourseles "who really cares about that whole SDS thing now?)
12:48:03 SLDF_Gunslinger Hmm...I'll take that as a 'No' then
12:50:28 SLDF_Gunslinger Will we see any more Royal units to better flesh out the end of the SL Era? Or has that well run dry? ;)
12:51:03 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - You can take it that way, but you'd be wrong.
12:51:28 SLDF_Gunslinger Excellent! Thanks!



12:40:53 Gaiiten Something I very liked in the last TROs were the different infantry types. Will you include them in the upcoming SL era products? (During the SL there were so many very advanced, let alone the SLDF standard infantry kit).
12:41:18 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Not planned at this time.

12:47:00 Gaiiten Given the massive decimation of the capital warship fleets (and old designs) in the Jihad era, will new warship be built or does the future belong to the pocket warships and warships will be more like PWS- and aerospace carriers?
12:47:50 Habeas2 Gaiiten - In the future? You won't see as many WarShips, no.
12:49:50 Gaiiten But new warships will be built (in much smaller numbers)?
12:52:28 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Maybe. If, you know, we ever work out how to build them so that three different design programs don't come up with three different tonnage discrepancies.
12:56:58 Gaiiten Due the warship construction, what about calculating with pen and paper? Or does each factchecker come up with fifferent tonnages?
12:57:52 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Pen and paper has let us down bad.
12:58:40 Klep    Gaiiten: i'm sure unit design is a long enough process with computer help. i've come up with stuff using p&p myself in the distant past and it's not something i'd want to do again
13:01:10 Gaiiten That the calculation is such a problem suprises me.  IMHO it is simple math and well explained in sourcebooks.
13:01:47 Klep    multiple people can all think that and still have different interpretations
13:02:00 Klep    what's clear to you as meaning one thing can be clear to another as meaning another thing
13:03:51 Habeas2 Gaiiten - You'd be amazed at how many things got left to interpretation. Remember when HMAero defaulted to establishing spare parts and food storage automatically? That was never even a construction mandate.
13:07:43 Gaiiten You are right, however, that is a program we are easily trust in because it has been so comfortable. Given the "How to calculate a warship`s construction" you do have to calculate in certain steps, steps can easily compared to other person`s calculation and so mistakes can be found.
13:08:20 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Ah, but there's trust and then there's Herb's Trust. There's a reason Battle Value is on the chopping block now
13:08:32 Klep    also, unit construction isn't a linear process. it's iterative
13:09:12 Moonsword       And lack of computer support slows down the iterations.

12:53:45 Klep    is the new Hogarth cut from the same mold as his more famous relative?
12:54:28 GhostBear       Klep Heavens I hope not. The universe is big enough for only one Hogarth and his ego.
12:54:45 faraday77       oh please, not another Hogarth
12:55:19 *       Habeas2 shuts down the Hogarth factory
12:55:35 *       Habeas2 gets a VERY evil idea...
12:56:06 Klep    oh dear
12:56:07 SLDF_Gunslinger There's a shock... ;)
12:56:11 Klep    i'm sorry in advance everyone :P
12:56:21 sarcasmo        I love Hogarth!
12:56:37 GhostBear       Habeas2 You know, i think I know what that idea is. *shudder*

12:53:49 mib_ep2tdq      What is the next XTRO?
12:54:13 Habeas2 Mib_ip9xn0 - Uncertain. Could be Primitives 3, Gunslingers, Phantoms, Deep Periphery, of Succession Wars 1
12:56:28 mib_ep2tdq      Thanks

12:57:27 DeJaVu  Greetings, mr Beas and all) when the situation with bc.com get better? Stories was more than a month.You are not an editor, but still ...
12:59:02 Habeas2 DejaVu - The lack of quality fiction on BattleCorps comes from a variety of causes, but perhaps the biggest is a dearth of quality writers. Jason isn't in the habit of passing crap along to the paying customer, and I stand by his standards.
13:02:10 DeJaVu  I agree with you. It may be worth a monthly fee increase, but to make more great stories?
13:06:25 Habeas2 DeJaVu - I do not think we can justify a rate increase on BattleCorps if we cannot guarantee a solid flow of fiction. We're not getting few stories because people aren't being paid enough; we're getting them because continuity and editing standards are too high for just anyone to tell a tale with
13:08:55 DeJaVu  Will the light  clans-sourcebook in the post-jihad era?
13:10:59 Habeas2 DeJaVu - I'm afraid I don't understand that question
13:13:15 DeJaVu  sorry( will be released Clans Inner Sphere-sourcebook after-jihad period?
13:14:29 Habeas2 DeJaVu - The universe does not end in 3085. There will be sourcebooks in the future that show us how the Clans and the Inner SPhere will evolve from here
13:14:56 DeJaVu  thx, mr Beas
13:17:41 DeJaVu  Release paper books as far?
13:18:20 Habeas2 DeJaVu - Again, not sure I understand your question
13:21:24 DeJaVu  sorry( Any news regarding the new paper books publishing?
13:22:52 Habeas2 DeJaVu - At this time, we are not printing novels. The Blitzkrieg series now underway is an e-reader format only.


12:59:46 SLDF_Gunslinger Will we be seeing any SL Era fiction from either BC or Blitzkreig release this year?
13:02:47 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - Jason will likely pick and choose any story that works for BC, so SL fiction is not out of the running there. The Blitzkreig series may see some SL-era fiction as well, but it really depends on what we can fit into its demanding schedule
13:03:46 SLDF_Gunslinger Gotcha. I loved 'The Last Full Measure' and would love to see more stuff like it...
13:04:20 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - .... Um, Last Full measure was Jihad era, wasn't it?
13:05:43 SLDF_Gunslinger Hmm.....I am only on my 2nd cup of coffee. I'm thinking of the story about the Gunslinger fighting on New Vandenburg at Fort Gorky. Anyway...



13:09:19 Firedrake       Are you prepared to say anyting about what the replacement for BV2 will (or may) look like?
13:11:23 Habeas2 Firedrake - It may look like this: ___________________________________________________________
13:11:49 Firedrake       A straight line! Truly, all my questions are answered! Praise Blake!
13:12:19 Habeas2 Firdrake - The point is, all options are on the table, including NO Battle Value system at all
13:13:03 Firedrake       Fair enough! (I'm a user mostly in a theoretical sense - IMHO "balanced" battles may be interesting, but are wildly unrealistic.)
13:13:18 mib_ip9x84      No balancing system?
13:13:44 Habeas2 Mib_ip9x84 - No Balancing System if it cannot be made simple and reliable.
13:14:19 Gaiiten Hmm, I think that is a challenge. Due the new BV, is the length of that straight line (in meters) the new BV?
13:15:04 Firedrake       Seconded


13:15:48 Gaiiten But the HomeClans will be hidden in the void for an undetermined peroid?
13:15:57 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Correct
13:16:13 mib_ip9xn0      And the Scorpion Empire?
13:16:25 Gaiiten My question to the new BV or to the HomeClans?
13:16:28 Klep    the scorpion empire is such a cool concept
13:16:41 GhostBear       mib_ip9xn0 same.
13:17:04 mib_ip9xn0      Hidden in the void.
13:17:25 GhostBear       mib_ip9xn0 yes.
13:17:36 Habeas2 Mib_ip9nx0 - What about the Scoprion EMpire? ;)
13:18:03 Habeas2 Gaiiten - Home Clans. I ignored your BV question

13:20:35 SLDF_Gunslinger Will the FM:SLDF be written in the vein of the older FM's (FedSuns, etc)? Will we be getting writeups for specific Divisions, etc? Or will it not be going into that sort of detail?
13:22:30 Habeas2 SLDF_Gunslinger - The SL era was a time of truly monstrous force sizes, so no, we're going to use an Updates-style approach that condenses the groupings better
13:23:08 Gaiiten Given the vast number if SLDF divisions I think the most reasonable would be something like the summary of the Comguards armies and divisions old FM: Comstar. May the armies splitted in the Corps.
13:23:28 SLDF_Gunslinger Thanks for answering my question! You all have a great day....


13:25:16 mib_ep2tdq      thanks again for Blitzkrieg series
13:26:21 Habeas2 Mib_ep2tdq - You're welcome!

13:24:50 Gaiiten Due the WOB, will we see what happened to Berith and the Opacus Venatori?
13:25:07 GhostBear       Gaiiten Maybe.
13:26:25 Gaiiten Fine, Berith is a very interesting character and what he did in Final Reckoning was a thrilling story and track to play.
13:26:54 GhostBear       Gaiiten Oh don't get me wrong, I *want* to tell more of his story. I just have a lot on my plate for the moment.
13:27:35 Gaiiten I am patient :) BTW why did he hate the Clans so much?
13:28:23 Habeas2 Gaiiten - They said bad things about his mother
13:28:28 GhostBear       Gaiiten He's a Tukayyid vet. Isn't that enough?
13:29:51 Gaiiten He was a professional soldier, so he knew what to expect in such a fight and did and suffered worse in the Jihad, did his attitude towards the Clans change?
13:30:36 GhostBear       Gaiiten Probably.
13:30:58 Gaiiten To the worse or to the better :)
13:31:00 Habeas2 gaiiten - DO remember that the Manei Domini were originally developed to annihiate the Clans. Undoubtedly, a good portion of Berith's attitudes toward the Clans since Tukayyid was further underscored in his DOmini indoctrination.
13:31:04 Klep    wasn't Tukayyid the first real combat for the vast majority of the ComGuard?
13:31:47 Habeas2 Klep - Yes.
13:32:05 Habeas2 Thank you for participating in this Catalyst Game Labs BattleTech Line Developer-aided Public Relations Activity!
13:32:10 Klep    so he could easily have been far more affected by the battle than an actual seasoned veteran would have been
13:32:14 *       Habeas2 has changed the topic to: Next Live BattleChat! - Saturday, (18 February 2012) at 8 PM (EDT)
13:32:27 Gaiiten Thank you!

Frabby

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4252
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #6 on: 18 February 2012, 16:00:32 »
The bit about the unseen makes me a bit... concerned.  :-\
Sarna.net BattleTechWiki Admin
Author of the BattleCorps stories Feather vs. Mountain, Rise and Shine, Proprietary, Trial of Faith & scenario Twins

Garydee

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 168
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #7 on: 18 February 2012, 16:18:27 »
Sorted out for easier reading. Thanks Firedrake for saving the chat.

Starring: Herb Beas
Also Starring: Ben Rome, Jason Schmetzer

12:34:00 Garydee Can we expect to see the new TacOps errata fairly soon?


Ah, he didn't answer my question. I'll ask again tonight.

Peacemaker

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1215
  • Highest MUP Quotient on the forums.
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #8 on: 18 February 2012, 16:22:53 »
Hey, Deep Periphery and Succession Wars XTROs! I hope Deep Periphery resembles RetroTech and Primitives in that it focuses on production models instead of prototypes.

Sartris

  • Codex Conditor
  • BattleTech Volunteer
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 19854
  • Cap’n-Generalissimost
    • Master Unit List
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #9 on: 18 February 2012, 16:24:46 »
The bit about the unseen makes me a bit... concerned.  :-\

I caught that vibe too.  It wasn't a "we remain optimistic that the issue can be resolved."... more of a "time to cut bait and make a hard decision."  The "your minis remain valid" line seems to indicate some sort of art retcon is probably inc.

You bought the box set and are ready to expand your bt experience. Now what? | Modern Sourcebook Index | FASA Sourcebook Index | Print on Demand Index
Equipment Reference Cards | DIY Pilot Cards | PaperTech Mech and Vehicle Counters

Quote
Interviewer: Since you’ve stopped making art, how do you spend your time?
Paul Chan Breathers: Oh, I’m a breather. I’m a respirateur. Isn’t that enough?

Frabby

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4252
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #10 on: 18 February 2012, 16:46:11 »
Hey, Deep Periphery and Succession Wars XTROs! I hope Deep Periphery resembles RetroTech and Primitives in that it focuses on production models instead of prototypes.
The Hansa was said to field 3025-tech homebrew designs. Used to be a playground for campaings involving non-standard 'Mechs... I'd be interested to see some canonical periphery critters. Same about the Umayyad Caliphate.

And an XTRO Succession Wars might be a good opportunity to clear up some quirks in canon like the Super Wasp/Super Griffin, the Marik 4x AC/5 Rifleman refit, the unnamed Liao UrbanMech variant with a MG, or fluff for the CGR-SB.
« Last Edit: 18 February 2012, 17:04:51 by Frabby »
Sarna.net BattleTechWiki Admin
Author of the BattleCorps stories Feather vs. Mountain, Rise and Shine, Proprietary, Trial of Faith & scenario Twins

Atlas3060

  • ugh this guy again
  • Global Moderator
  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9391
  • Just some rando
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #11 on: 18 February 2012, 19:06:47 »
Quote
12:13:55 Habeas2 Firedrake - Interstellar Ops is going about as swimmingly as one can expect for a core rulebook, which is to say... OMG, the rules! Holy crap, the rules are soooooo complicated! WHy on earth did we think this was a good idea!?
Okay I giggled, I'll admit. It reminded me of Jeff Dunham's joke with Walter comparing marriage to ice cream.
It's not about winning or losing, no it's all about how many chapters have you added to the rule books after your crazy antics.

mechwarriorgarya

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 371
  • Commanding man and machine since '94
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #12 on: 18 February 2012, 20:04:23 »
I caught that vibe too.  It wasn't a "we remain optimistic that the issue can be resolved."... more of a "time to cut bait and make a hard decision."  The "your minis remain valid" line seems to indicate some sort of art retcon is probably inc.

Art retcon seems to already happening with the primitive unseen. Only a few artistic alterations to the primitive art and you have reseen unseen.
At this point, getting the old unseen back is just not likely to happen from a legal perspective.
Given this much time has passed now, I would much rather have something rather than nothing.
One Species, One Realm - translation: Live by The League or Die by The League
Between the fall of the ancient Star League and the rise of the heirs of Steiner Davion there was an age undreamed of...

SteelRaven

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9597
  • Fight for something or Die for nothing
    • The Steel-Raven at DeviantArt
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #13 on: 18 February 2012, 20:08:55 »
Yeah, the new XTRO's seem to be a way to filling the unseen void with new variants. 
Battletech Art and Commissions
http://steel-raven.deviantart.com

Euphonium

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 1984
  • Look Ma, no Faction!
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #14 on: 18 February 2012, 20:30:40 »
Art retcon seems to already happening with the primitive unseen. Only a few artistic alterations to the primitive art and you have reseen unseen.
At this point, getting the old unseen back is just not likely to happen from a legal perspective.
Given this much time has passed now, I would much rather have something rather than nothing.

In that case, you might like this quote from the (currently ongoing) BattleChat:

Quote
<Habeas2>: Suralin - While I imagine this will create a firestorm, I am investigating the possibility of retconning the Unseen entirely.
>>>>[You're only jealous because the voices don't talk to you]<<<<

Fear Factory

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4070
  • Designing the Enemy
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #15 on: 18 February 2012, 20:43:18 »
It needs to be done.  They're like the x-girlfriend that just won't go away...
The conflict is pure - The truth devised - The future secured - The enemy designed
Maj. Isaac "Litany" Van Houten, Lone Wolves, The Former 66th "Litany Against Fear" Company

cold1

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4881
  • Goon
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #16 on: 18 February 2012, 20:48:52 »
Wait home clans on the cusp of invading what in 3090?


To the patient go the spoils

SteelRaven

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9597
  • Fight for something or Die for nothing
    • The Steel-Raven at DeviantArt
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #17 on: 18 February 2012, 20:59:32 »
It's not a 'must' but as more time goes by, the harder it becomes to acquire the unseen minis and books with the old art (even with the internet) :( damned if we do, damned if we don't.
Battletech Art and Commissions
http://steel-raven.deviantart.com

Fear Factory

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4070
  • Designing the Enemy
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #18 on: 18 February 2012, 21:06:49 »
It's just a big hassle.  Problem is a lot of us like the art.

That's enough of that though.  This topic comes up a lot AFAIK.
The conflict is pure - The truth devised - The future secured - The enemy designed
Maj. Isaac "Litany" Van Houten, Lone Wolves, The Former 66th "Litany Against Fear" Company

Euphonium

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 1984
  • Look Ma, no Faction!
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #19 on: 18 February 2012, 21:16:46 »
And I think that whatever the solution TPTB manage, it will keep coming up at least until all the old-timers have died/left the game.
>>>>[You're only jealous because the voices don't talk to you]<<<<

SteelRaven

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9597
  • Fight for something or Die for nothing
    • The Steel-Raven at DeviantArt
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #20 on: 18 February 2012, 21:23:01 »
And I think that whatever the solution TPTB manage, it will keep coming up at least until all the old-timers have died/left the game.
I'm having "Bring 'em back!" written on my tombstone ;)

I am looking forward to the XTRO SW1, 10 C-Bills we will see a Nuke tossing Urbie!
Battletech Art and Commissions
http://steel-raven.deviantart.com

cold1

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4881
  • Goon
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #21 on: 18 February 2012, 21:23:47 »
I personally think the new art for the unseen is awesome.  Change the art for good and anyone who has the old books or minis can relive the glory days all they want. 


To the patient go the spoils

Vallend

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 122
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #22 on: 18 February 2012, 21:33:52 »
I am in the new art for the unseen camp too. It will settle the on and off again debate over if we can use them or not. They could release a new TRO 3025 with the new artwork and I am sure it will be a strong seller, or just add the artwork to an new TRO 3039. It also means new miniatures for those who love to collect and paint them. Yes like many I will miss the unseen, but I will get some satisfaction in Harmony Gold USA not holding it over the Battletech worlds head.
All is fair in war and war. Honor is for the weak!

StCptMara

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 6555
  • Looking for new Adder skin boots
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #23 on: 18 February 2012, 21:44:18 »
I caught that vibe too.  It wasn't a "we remain optimistic that the issue can be resolved."... more of a "time to cut bait and make a hard decision."  The "your minis remain valid" line seems to indicate some sort of art retcon is probably inc.

Always felt that they should just put a line in somewhere that says something like "At various time periods, these 'mechs have had various
looks, and that all images of them are the most common seen by the writers of those Technical Readouts."
"Victory or Debt!"- The Battlecry of Mercenaries everywhere

"Greetings, Mechwarrior! You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against---Oops, wrong universe" - Unknown SLDF Recruiter

Reality and Battletech go hand in hand like a drug induced hallucination and engineering a fusion reactor ;-)

Dmon

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 629
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #24 on: 18 February 2012, 22:53:40 »
Have you seen the Thunderbolt 10M or the New WSP-1? After seeing those I actively want the Unseen to go away and die in a corner!

E. Icaza

  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1412
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #25 on: 18 February 2012, 22:56:36 »
[/shrug]  CBT isn't a WYSIWYG game, so I'm mostly fine with a retcon.  I love the look of the Unseen over the Reseen (with a very few exceptions), but it isn't a point I'd raise a fuss over.
The Clans: the Star League the Inner Sphere deserves, not the one it needs.

StCptMara

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 6555
  • Looking for new Adder skin boots
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #26 on: 18 February 2012, 23:09:11 »
[/shrug]  CBT isn't a WYSIWYG game, so I'm mostly fine with a retcon.  I love the look of the Unseen over the Reseen (with a very few exceptions), but it isn't a point I'd raise a fuss over.

Exactly. Considering we have two looks for the Mad Dog, both canon(thanks to WK), that have been explained by one is made in
Clan Space, the other is made in the Inner Sphere using Inner Sphere factories. Why cannot such an explanation be used for the
existence of the Unseen looks, with the new, Retconned in looks being those made in other factories?
"Victory or Debt!"- The Battlecry of Mercenaries everywhere

"Greetings, Mechwarrior! You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against---Oops, wrong universe" - Unknown SLDF Recruiter

Reality and Battletech go hand in hand like a drug induced hallucination and engineering a fusion reactor ;-)

SteelRaven

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9597
  • Fight for something or Die for nothing
    • The Steel-Raven at DeviantArt
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #27 on: 18 February 2012, 23:31:52 »
As long as it's done by the right artist, which brings us to;
XTRO SW1 [drool]
Battletech Art and Commissions
http://steel-raven.deviantart.com

Sid

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1357
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #28 on: 18 February 2012, 23:48:39 »
Exactly. Considering we have two looks for the Mad Dog, both canon(thanks to WK), that have been explained by one is made in
Clan Space, the other is made in the Inner Sphere using Inner Sphere factories. Why cannot such an explanation be used for the
existence of the Unseen looks, with the new, Retconned in looks being those made in other factories?

Or go further than that, and say "This is what the 'unseen' always looked like"

Doesn't change the fact that I have old copies with the originals, can google them- or go after recasts on eBay.

What it does, change, however- is what artwork and designs they can implement in future books and TROs.

As it stands, how many pieces of artwork in the upcoming Star League historicals will feature a Warhammer or Marauder.  (My bet is on none).

How many unseen will make an appearance in the mentioned XTRO: Succession Wars- again, I'm going to bet none. 

I've got the wallpaper from Final Reckoning that features the "Omega".  While I can see the 'Behemoth' inspiration from Battledroids, it's still a 'reseen', and looks fantastic.

Retcon them already- then we can have artwork and TRO entries for them that aren't just silhouettes.  People that remember the originals can still remember that way.

The only issue we'll then have is new players being browbeat by older players who scream in their faces "That isn't a Marauder, THIS is!" while he screams in his face and points to an old, battered and torn TRO :)
Formerly known as 'Phad'

tapdancingbeavers

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 265
Re: Battlechat 2012 February 18 (first)
« Reply #29 on: 18 February 2012, 23:54:44 »
Quote
Always felt that they should just put a line in somewhere that says something like "At various time periods, these 'mechs have had various
looks, and that all images of them are the most common seen by the writers of those Technical Readouts."

I agree and think something like this is a really good idea.  Is there any reason the unseen being the only/most common look can't just be retcon'ed?  TPTB may never be able show or mention the unseen again but mentioning how the same 'mech can have multiple looks seems a safe way of allowing the unseen to exist without ever showing them while being able to show art/produce minis of the old 'mechs again.