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BattleTech Game Universe => The Periphery => Topic started by: Niopsian on 26 January 2011, 17:14:51

Title: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 26 January 2011, 17:14:51
A thread for all three of us Niops fans, and the legion of Marian Hegemony partisans that keep wanting to pick a fight. ;)

So, JHS: Terra. Unrest and coup attempts and nukes. Oh my.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 26 January 2011, 17:34:23
...Gio, is that you?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 26 January 2011, 17:40:20
...Gio, is that you?

No, I'm the other Niops fan.

Well, the OTHER other Niops fan. ;)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daishi411 on 26 January 2011, 17:41:39
i've been a niopsian fan almost since i started playing the game, i've just never had an outlet to express it
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 26 January 2011, 17:43:00
...Gio, is that you?

No, I'm the other Niops fan.

Well, the OTHER other Niops fan. ;)

Okay... so... Hunter?  I already saw Chanman, and I'm here, obviously.  I'm really not recalling a lot of us...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: AirmanR on 26 January 2011, 18:03:19
Does Niops have battlemech production? I've always wondered about that, and if so what do they produce? I know they have like three planets in one system correct?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 26 January 2011, 18:07:14
Yes, but the population's low.  They really don't build that much canonically.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 26 January 2011, 18:28:51
Does Niops have battlemech production? I've always wondered about that, and if so what do they produce? I know they have like three planets in one system correct?

In 3064 (when FM: Periphery was published) Niops had a population of 19,200,000 spread across three worlds. The bulk of that population lives on Niops VII. The Association has no true mech production facilities, but can build any of the designs they field natively by hand. This means a handful of additional units per year, so it would be extremely difficult to make up losses this way if they were to engage in a protracted campaign.

We've never actually been told what units they have, to my knowledge, but a reasonable guess would be older Terran Hegemony/Star League era designs (Non Royal versions, I would think). I like to think anything manufactured before about 2700 is fair game. Beyond that, you start getting into the Periphery troubles and the Amaris Civil War and it doesn't make sense to send cutting edge equipment to garrison a science outpost.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 26 January 2011, 18:33:43
We know they're building Nighthawks from TRO3075.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: avon1985 on 26 January 2011, 18:45:10
I think they can build any SL mech and vehicles.  They are all built one at a time and slowly at that.  They also build the Nighthawk BA. 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Lore on 26 January 2011, 19:45:15
...Gio, is that you?

No, I'm the other Niops fan.

Well, the OTHER other Niops fan. ;)

Okay... so... Hunter?  I already saw Chanman, and I'm here, obviously.  I'm really not recalling a lot of us...

His signature offers something of a hint as to his identity.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Lore on 26 January 2011, 19:46:11
I'm inclined toward Niops, also. It's largely the only Periphery faction I've much interest in these days. In fact, most days.

Count me in.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 26 January 2011, 23:29:46
I should admit that my view of Niops was incurably warped by chanman and Gio's weirdness collective in FGC3062.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 26 January 2011, 23:34:41
I love the idea of Niops, but it's just so small I don't see enough opportunity to do much, so I'm mostly a Space Roman when it comes to the Periphery.  I wonder if I could make a Niops-originating-and-based merc unit work.  Hmmmm.....
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 26 January 2011, 23:36:52
There was one involved in the mess on Niops in JHS:Terra, I think.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: greatsarcasmo on 26 January 2011, 23:53:13
I love the concept of Niops. They and the Romans in SPACEEEE! Are my favorite outsider factions.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 29 January 2011, 15:44:11
I must admit a grudging respect for Niops. They are the lone village of Gauls standing up to RomanMarian domination.

Ils sont fous, cest Marianes! ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Lord Harlock on 29 January 2011, 18:05:32
I should admit that my view of Niops was incurably warped by chanman and Gio's weirdness collective in FGC3062.

Ah the Cylon and Sphinx hued Niops with just a hint of Ghost in the Shell and Neon Genesis Evangelion for flavor, I miss it. Plus, I never got to get the sub plot going with a secret war between it and my version of the New Avalon Catholic Church where the Pope was the Master (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_%28Doctor_Who%29). Okay, he just looks like Derek Jacobi, and trust me, I laughed after I saw the King's Speech because of it.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 29 January 2011, 18:14:56
I got the opportunity to reread some of the fluff recently.  I like where the THAC was going in turn 37 with some of us trying to elect Apollyon as the Director-General.  Kind of wish we'd pulled it off.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: snakespinner on 29 January 2011, 18:31:41
Apollyon as DG. Now that would have been interesting.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 02 February 2011, 09:31:43
Why am I so terrifyingly glad I ran screaming from that game.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 02 February 2011, 10:12:40
The fact that, for a little while, the CPS could basically run the Star League off a cliff if they choose to?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Hellfire on 05 February 2011, 12:25:01
+1 Niops fan

They've got a cool gray bastion of light in darkness shtick going.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 08 February 2011, 16:28:17
Oh they got a lot of light in the last Jihad book.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 08 February 2011, 16:52:46
Oh they got a lot of light in the last Jihad book.

Were you involved in that little pyrotechnics display?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 08 February 2011, 17:32:30
Were you involved in that little pyrotechnics display?

I'm taking the Vth.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ceorl on 13 February 2011, 13:17:56
Anyone mind telling me what happened to Niops in the last Jihad book? I know there was a civil war but that's about it. If this a violation of any copyrights please let me know. I did not see anything in the user agreement which stated this kind of question was improper. 

The reason I ask is because I'm working on a Niops fan-fic set before the last Jihad book and want to be accurate towards where the nation was heading.  I'm also cheap, both as a preference and necessity, and unwilling to shell out $20 just to read what probably amounts to a paragraph of material.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 13 February 2011, 15:07:31
Can't say it makes me happy to have spent hours working on writing good material and you want to have it without paying for it.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ceorl on 13 February 2011, 15:17:41
Not trying to be offensive, like I said I tried to research everything I could before I posted here.  All I wanted was a brief synopsis for reference purposes.  Whenever I need detailed information I purchase a legitimate copy; such as my Handbook on House Steiner.  However Niops, as a small faction, is often paired with larger works making it difficult to discover where and what information is contained within.  I'll muddle through without.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ShockaTime on 13 February 2011, 16:04:19
JHS: Terra is the most recent i believe. Basically they elected a new director, got nuked which killed said director and the chairperson as well as a bunch of other guests. a captain in the NAM is accused of planting the bomb, and is subsequently busted out of prison by mercs and fighting breaks out between the two. now they have to re-build.

I highly recommend buying the book it's really good and I probably missed some stuff.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ceorl on 13 February 2011, 16:43:33
Thanks ShockaTime

I just wanted to make sure that my story ran at least roughly parallel to official BT timeline and I didn't end up going down a totally different road than if what actually happened.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ShockaTime on 13 February 2011, 17:36:33
Thanks ShockaTime

I just wanted to make sure that my story ran at least roughly parallel to official BT timeline and I didn't end up going down a totally different road than if what actually happened.

yeah no problem.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ShockaTime on 13 February 2011, 18:26:36
I see big brother has wiped clean what Daishi had posted earlier. a real shame since what he was saying was 100% correct. just disappointing.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 13 February 2011, 23:25:24
I'd disagree there.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ruger on 13 February 2011, 23:49:01
I would suggest everyone move back to the original topic.

Thank you,

Ruger
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ShockaTime on 13 February 2011, 23:57:37
I'd disagree there.

you'd be wrong then.

Back on topic, does the association produce any mechs, last i heard they had the ability to produce Nighhawk PaLs, adn they have access to Star League stuff (based on their unit ability), but do they have any production capability? Also does anyone know if there is a colour scheme listed anywhere (I know camospecs doesn't have one up but i figure maybe they just haven't gotten around to painting one)?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 14 February 2011, 00:06:56
Back on topic, does the association produce any mechs, last i heard they had the ability to produce Nighhawk PaLs, adn they have access to Star League stuff (based on their unit ability), but do they have any production capability?

There's a good recap here (http://www.classicbattletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,375.msg4202.html#msg4202).
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ShockaTime on 14 February 2011, 00:22:11
???
I didn't think what i said was particularly confusing.

In 3064 (when FM: Periphery was published) Niops had a population of 19,200,000 spread across three worlds. The bulk of that population lives on Niops VII. The Association has no true mech production facilities, but can build any of the designs they field natively by hand. This means a handful of additional units per year, so it would be extremely difficult to make up losses this way if they were to engage in a protracted campaign.

We've never actually been told what units they have, to my knowledge, but a reasonable guess would be older Terran Hegemony/Star League era designs (Non Royal versions, I would think). I like to think anything manufactured before about 2700 is fair game. Beyond that, you start getting into the Periphery troubles and the Amaris Civil War and it doesn't make sense to send cutting edge equipment to garrison a science outpost.

whoa, wait. this is information from a source book. why didn't you freak out when this info was posted, but you did when Ceorl asked for info from a source book? now I'm confused :-\
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 14 February 2011, 07:33:59
The difference is that Ceorl basically said "I'm not going to buy the book, someone tell me what it says because I'm cheap!" as opposed to someone volunteering information in response to a question.  In addition, the book that came out of is out of print.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ShockaTime on 14 February 2011, 12:02:23
The difference is that Ceorl basically said "I'm not going to buy the book, someone tell me what it says because I'm cheap!" as opposed to someone volunteering information in response to a question.  In addition, the book that came out of is out of print.

I honestly think that it was a perfectly reasonable request. all he wanted was a small bit of info, and in this case an incredibly small fraction of the info that was in the book, and not worth playing 20 dollars for if that's all he wanted. plus this probably would have ended up on sarna or somewhere on the boards at some point as it always does. as for availability of FM:P firstly battlecorp has been putting these up as pdfs recently, and it's not exactly the most uncommon book to come by, i paid 10 bucks for my copy :-\
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 14 February 2011, 12:17:08
The way that request was phrased didn't come across terribly nicely.  In any case, I'm pretty sure discussion of board policies goes somewhere else.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ruger on 14 February 2011, 12:50:21
Indeed...and that place is not on these boards.

This thread will be locked if this train of discussion is continued.

Ruger

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ShadowRaven on 14 February 2011, 12:51:23
Tir na Niops all the way!

So, does anyone know if the guys at Niops are building and exporting Nighthawks, or just manufactureing. What about the corisponding Mauser combat rifle system? None of the books I have on hand says anything about wither that I have been able to find. I'm kinda curious, as I would like to maybe outfit a squad of my mercs with the Nighthawk
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 14 February 2011, 12:54:40
So, does anyone know if the guys at Niops are building and exporting Nighthawks, or just manufactureing. What about the corisponding Mauser combat rifle system? None of the books I have on hand says anything about wither that I have been able to find. I'm kinda curious, as I would like to maybe outfit a squad of my mercs with the Nighthawk

All I'm aware of is what's in TRO3075 with them building them for defense.  Between the way the place is going confrontational and the stated goal of beating off raids, I doubt they're exporting.  As for the Mausers, I don't know one way or the other.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ShadowRaven on 14 February 2011, 13:08:27
Well. That's a bit of a bummer, an somewhat expected one I admit, but a bummer all the same. Guess I will have to look for other comercially avaliable PA/L suits and see if I can't make them work for me
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 14 February 2011, 13:19:00
There's several different commercially sold PA/L suits in TROVA.  The Smoothdavid and Smoothgoliath suits on page 196 are probably the most appropriate.

EDIT: By appropriate, I mean suitable for the use - the others are all salvage, loader, mining, or rescue designs, generally without armored gloves.  The Smoothdavid and Smoothgoliath lack the stealth of the Nighthawk, though.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 April 2011, 08:10:34
I had no idea there was a Niops thread, should have figured there was one tho.
 This is another faction i need to read up on.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 18 April 2011, 08:22:32
There was a 'faction thread' spree not too long after the boards rebooted, I'm pretty sure most everything is here, though many don't really have much going on.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arthinas on 18 April 2011, 11:06:11
I figure this is the best place to ask. Has there ever been any info on the Niops Association Militia's colour scheme or rank structure? And for that matter, does Niops have an intelligence agency that anyone knows of?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 April 2011, 11:11:52
I plan on doing some Niops digging today after work
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 18 April 2011, 12:35:33
I figure this is the best place to ask. Has there ever been any info on the Niops Association Militia's colour scheme or rank structure? And for that matter, does Niops have an intelligence agency that anyone knows of?

Filed Manual: Periphery is probably the place to look, but I don't know that Niops is important enough to have gotten that sort of attention there.  They almost certainly have somebody performing intelligence functions, though.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 April 2011, 12:38:47
As far as paint schemes go...i doubt you would go wrong with the old SL ODgreen, desert tan or the like.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 18 April 2011, 13:36:29
They've used a lot of mercenary forces, iirc, as well as being out of the way. I doubt they have need of a parade scheme.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 April 2011, 14:12:07
They've used a lot of mercenary forces, iirc, as well as being out of the way. I doubt they have need of a parade scheme.

 I'm looking for an official answer to that Kit  ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 18 April 2011, 15:34:16
I figure this is the best place to ask. Has there ever been any info on the Niops Association Militia's colour scheme or rank structure? And for that matter, does Niops have an intelligence agency that anyone knows of?

Check FM: Periphery - I think it mentions using either a flat gray or SLDF olive drab default scheme. As for intel, I know I've used a Niops Intelligence Directorate in some of my stuff, but I can't recall if I pulled that from any canon sources or not. Probably not, since there's only 3 or 4 of them.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 18 April 2011, 19:41:40
Well, to my surprise there's nothing on CamoSpecs.  To me that suggests there isn't a canon scheme.  As long as CamoSpecs has been around, there's very little they don't have an example of.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ian Sharpe on 18 April 2011, 20:01:07
Love the old Niops gameshow reruns. ;)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: greatsarcasmo on 18 April 2011, 20:33:48
SL Olive drab makes sense here, as they are an old SLDF colony...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arthinas on 18 April 2011, 20:52:06
Oh, I figured they probably just run with good old fashioned SLDF olive drab, but without anything in the Periphery field manual and no examples on CamoSpecs, I thought I just might have missed something.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 April 2011, 20:53:10
SL Olive drab makes sense here, as they are an old SLDF colony...

 Science outpost if memory serves
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 18 April 2011, 21:03:20
To clarify, Niops is not a science outpost. It's a Science!! outpost. :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 18 April 2011, 21:05:12
Exactly.  It's not an Army post, they may well have chosen a scheme that had nothing to do with the Regular Army.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 19 April 2011, 00:54:05
To clarify, Niops is not a science outpost. It's a Science!! outpost. :D

 OUCH! Be careful, you blinded me with that.

I apologise but if i didn't do that someone else would have...just too easy.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 05 May 2011, 03:17:19
...Gio, is that you?

Is now.  I'm back, baby, and I found my thread. :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 05 May 2011, 03:31:07
I figure this is the best place to ask. Has there ever been any info on the Niops Association Militia's colour scheme or rank structure? And for that matter, does Niops have an intelligence agency that anyone knows of?

Uniforms, rank structure, and color schemes seem to be based on SLDF regular units, near as I can tell/recall.

To clarify, Niops is not a science outpost. It's a Science!! outpost. :D

OMG, this!  [rockon] [applause]

We've never actually been told what units they have, to my knowledge, but a reasonable guess would be older Terran Hegemony/Star League era designs (Non Royal versions, I would think). I like to think anything manufactured before about 2700 is fair game. Beyond that, you start getting into the Periphery troubles and the Amaris Civil War and it doesn't make sense to send cutting edge equipment to garrison a science outpost.

The Black Knight and Burke Heavy tank are both specifically mentioned by name in FM:P.  I believe the Highlander was, as well.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 05 May 2011, 06:01:20
Is now.  I'm back, baby, and I found my thread. :)

Glad to see you back.

The Black Knight and Burke Heavy tank are both specifically mentioned by name in FM:P.  I believe the Highlander was, as well.

The Black Knight, sure, but the Burke needs to die a horrible, flaming death.  Fortunately, enemy fire usually takes care of that. #P
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 05 May 2011, 14:02:10
Yay, Gio's back! Let the Science! continue!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 06 May 2011, 14:09:56
Yay, Gio's back! Let the Science! continue!

Think of all the testing! Weighted Companion Cubes for everyone!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Doug Glendower on 06 May 2011, 14:18:26
Well, to my surprise there's nothing on CamoSpecs.  To me that suggests there isn't a canon scheme.  As long as CamoSpecs has been around, there's very little they don't have an example of.
Ahem.

http://battletech.cavaliercavalry.com/mrarchive020.shtml (http://battletech.cavaliercavalry.com/mrarchive020.shtml) - "eBay, A Comstar Company" will give you a wonderful depiction of the Niopian canon parade scheme. :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 06 May 2011, 17:55:40
nice lol. They even have that NIB smell.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Rainbow 6 on 11 May 2011, 04:37:07
Its a smell you just can't beat.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ceorl on 11 May 2011, 16:52:03
Here's a question for other fanboys: Any guesses as to the size of Niops' original scientific mission?

With 13 million people (as of 3025) I'm trying to guess the percentage that could claim decendance from the original science teams.  I would think the overwhelming percentage of people are descended from Capellan refugees.  Even with three settled planets at the start for a generational research project, I can't imagine the original communities being more than several hundred strong each.     
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Lore on 11 May 2011, 21:18:09
Yay, Gio's back! Let the Science! continue!

I really think we need game-rules for Science!, as I'm thinking of running a Niops Association-based campaign series in the coming months.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 11 May 2011, 21:59:54
For Science!, just grab every bit of equipment and whatnot possible from every semi-canon sourcebook like Interstellar Players, or even completely non-canon ones like Best Ever!, and assume it's all real. Who wants to form an alliance of the Genecaste and Belters(secretly backed by the Illuminati), and fight off the threat of hyperspace squids and their touched-in-the-head minions, the Manei Domini Blood Mages? :D

Combine that with prolific use of every bit of tech in TacOps that never really gets used, and from there I think you just might end up with Science!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 11 May 2011, 22:12:09
That sounds about right. It sounds like a lot of fun too.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 11 May 2011, 22:14:31
Just remember this: For an evil scientist's lair, look no further than a mobile structure. Think of everything you can put on any kind of structure, and cackle. }:)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 May 2011, 22:32:07
Oh how I wish cell phones could quote.  Moble structures as bases just gave me loads of awesome ideas for Science!, but also reminded me of the old Varxis MUSH from, oh, '95?  '96?  Factions were basically based in giant Jawa-like sand crawlers.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 May 2011, 22:40:42
Hmm, I wonder....could Niops build a revamped Aquilla to go after the Giant Hyperspace Squids?  They make tasty bait, after all. ;)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ceorl on 11 May 2011, 22:48:52
I know folks are enjoying the Science!!! (TM) aspect, but I've been thinking that demographics paint Niops as Sian writ small.  After several hundred years where the population is overwhelmingly semi-literate Capellans farmers, and the inevitable cross-social relationships and children, most of the Star League influence, represented by the very very small scientific minority population, will have been subsumed, or at the very least integrated with, Chinese mythos of the vastly more numerous Capellan refugees. 

I know they were supposed to have "bargained away their freedoms" (whatever that vague phrase means) but that statement reinforces the argument for a Capellan culture given pre-existing Capellan tendency for a strict hierarchy and centralized government that could, arguably, have prompted the agreement in the first place.  By 3070, Niops would have over 20 million people whose isolated cultural facet is overwhelming Chinese.  The scientists are the conquering Mongols subsumed into Chinese culture; even though the more numerous Capellans were the ones to invade Niops in BT.

So Science!! (TM) should be 科学!! (TM)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 11 May 2011, 22:53:50
So Niops is a system of multiple habitable worlds(and thus heavy intersystem traffic), on the frontier of human space, with heavy chinese influences? 8)

Hmm, I wonder....could Niops build a revamped Aquilla to go after the Giant Hyperspace Squids?  They make tasty bait, after all. ;)

Call it the NSS Salt Shaker.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Lore on 11 May 2011, 22:58:14
For Science!, just grab every bit of equipment and whatnot possible from every semi-canon sourcebook like Interstellar Players, or even completely non-canon ones like Best Ever!, and assume it's all real. Who wants to form an alliance of the Genecaste and Belters(secretly backed by the Illuminati), and fight off the threat of hyperspace squids and their touched-in-the-head minions, the Manei Domini Blood Mages? :D

Combine that with prolific use of every bit of tech in TacOps that never really gets used, and from there I think you just might end up with Science!

Which would suitably combine with my idea about basing a Weaponer of Qward [from Green Lantern] on Niops.

Just remember this: For an evil scientist's lair, look no further than a mobile structure. Think of everything you can put on any kind of structure, and cackle. }:)

Ooooh! Niops-owned hyperspace fortress-libraries.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 11 May 2011, 22:59:33
The decendants of the scientists are ruling with an iron fist. They keep their power by keeping the cappie refugees ignorant. They don't allow them to have an education unless they can pay for it or win a game show by answering insanely obscure questions where if they don't answer correctly they get eectro shock...oh yea. So the fees are always too high. Once again its very Orwellian. Down with big brother anyone?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 11 May 2011, 23:00:16
I know folks are enjoying the Science!!! (TM) aspect, but I've been thinking that demographics paint Niops as Sian writ small.  After several hundred years where the population is overwhelmingly semi-literate Capellans farmers, and the inevitable cross-social relationships and children, most of the Star League influence, represented by the very very small scientific minority population, will have been subsumed, or at the very least integrated with, Chinese mythos of the vastly more numerous Capellan refugees. 

I know they were supposed to have "bargained away their freedoms" (whatever that vague phrase means) but that statement reinforces the argument for a Capellan culture given pre-existing Capellan tendency for a strict hierarchy and centralized government that could, arguably, have prompted the agreement in the first place.  By 3070, Niops would have over 20 million people whose isolated cultural facet is overwhelming Chinese.  The scientists are the conquering Mongols subsumed into Chinese culture; even though the more numerous Capellans were the ones to invade Niops in BT.

So Science!! (TM) should be 科学!! (TM)
I don't know, The Conquistadores significantly altered preexisting South American culture, didn't they?  Few native Nahuatl speakers left, last I checked.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ceorl on 12 May 2011, 00:10:12
Well I created a long post with some very weak math in support.  But my MBA training wouldn't let me make a theory based upon a basic annual growth formula with the starting figure for each year.  So I went back and used the Compound Annual Growth Rate formula to measure the growth rate of the original Star League Colonists, 50,000 (which I found searching the net), from 2750 to 3025 (275 years) assuming an annual growth rate of 1.6%: bout the half the difference between the highest and lowest points of human population growth on Earth. 

V(Tn) = V(To) x ((1 + CAGR) x n) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compound_annual_growth_rate)

50,000 x ((1 + .016) * 275) = 13,970,000

So my original assumption, that Capellans accounted for the majority of Niops population is probably wrong; although a statistician would have a better idea.  Niops population growth rate is pretty consistent with the projected population from the SL colonists meaning Niops would have a heavy SL cultural slant.

Although Weirdo I would point out that for most of its history, Niops was isolationist leaving the two primary cultural influences as Star League and Capellan.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 12 May 2011, 09:02:45
Quote
We are the priests
Of the temples of syrinx
Our great computers
Fill the hollowed halls
We are the priests
Of the temples of syrinx
All the gifts of life
Are held within our walls

I need to get to writing The wacky misadventures of Gorky Zubok
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 12 May 2011, 09:07:49
I need to get to writing The wacky misadventures of Gorky Zubok

I'll be looking forward to seeing him make a reappearance!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 12 May 2011, 09:10:17
That works for the Wobbies & the techpriests of mars also. Nice quote !
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 12 May 2011, 09:56:39
I know they were supposed to have "bargained away their freedoms" (whatever that vague phrase means) but that statement reinforces the argument for a Capellan culture given pre-existing Capellan tendency for a strict hierarchy and centralized government that could, arguably, have prompted the agreement in the first place.  By 3070, Niops would have over 20 million people whose isolated cultural facet is overwhelming Chinese.  The scientists are the conquering Mongols subsumed into Chinese culture; even though the more numerous Capellans were the ones to invade Niops in BT.
So Science!! (TM) should be 科学!! (TM)

 Just a question. The book mention "capellan reffuges" or "chinese capellan refugges"? Capella is not the same as chinese, as you have a lot of ethnicies in the COnfederation (heck, there was argentinians IIRC, in Buenos Aires).
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Ceorl on 12 May 2011, 10:13:00
Well my original hypothesis was wrong, but still in BT: Capellan = Chinese, Draconis = Japanese, Lyran = German, FRR = Swedes, FS = English, FWL = closest to polygot.  If you don't have information saying otherwise, I always fall back on the basic stereotype because, although the source books try and lay out multiple ethnicities, the first major story about argentinian Capellans I read will be the first. 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 12 May 2011, 11:26:33
I believe the second highest % of people in the CC speak Russian or of Russian descent
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 12 May 2011, 11:34:27
I believe the second highest % of people in the CC speak Russian or of Russian descent

Well, English is probably language number 2, being the language for most of humanity in the 31st century.
As for the Russian cultural heritage, probably until 3025 when the Tikinov district was relocated to another nation.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 12 May 2011, 12:56:44
Quote from: Col.Hengist
That works for the Wobbies & the techpriests of mars also. Nice quote !

Oh you have no idea... ^_^

It's from Rush's concept album 2112, and, yeah, it definitely fits the WoB, and Niops, especially in the Succession Wars era, where they seem to have gone through a WoBbish phase.  Here's the full lyrics and prelude to the song:

Quote from: Rush

And the meek shall inherit the earth...

[II. Temples of Syrinx]

...'The massive grey walls of the Temples rise from the heart of every Federation city. I
have always been awed by them, to think that every single facet of every life is regulated
and directed from within! Our books, our music, our work and play are all looked after by
the benevolent wisdom of the priests...'

We've taken care of everything
The words you read, the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes
It's one for all and all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why

We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls

Look around at this world we've made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the Brotherhood of Man
Oh, what a nice, contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand

We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 12 May 2011, 20:11:17
 Hehe, trust me, i know rush. You don't grow up in the 70's and 80's and not know Getty, Neil and Alex  ;) but thanks man.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 May 2011, 11:54:39
Figured I'd make sure.  I keep running into people who *don't*.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Stormcrow on 13 May 2011, 12:16:28
Figured I'd make sure.  I keep running into people who *don't*.
I refer to those people as 'heathens'
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 13 May 2011, 12:21:25
Rush is probably the greatest prog rock band ever. As we are speaking Thom Sawyer is playing over the radio. Because of Rush i started playing D&D and that space game TSR had. Lots of mideval fantacy and scifi stuff in their songs.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 15 May 2011, 16:43:36
I need to get to writing The wacky misadventures of Gorky Zubok

nah, Niops is more:
Quote
This was a triumph!
I'm making a note here:
"HUGE SUCCESS!!"

It's hard to overstate
my satisfaction.

Aperture Science:
We do what we must
because we can.

For the good of all of us.
Except the ones who are dead.

But there's no sense crying
over every mistake.
You just keep on trying
till you run out of cake.
And the science gets done.
And you make a neat gun
for the people who are
still alive.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 May 2011, 19:57:48
It can't be both, with Weird Science thrown in, too?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 16 May 2011, 21:21:20
It pretty much was if I recall the Niops side of FGC3062 correctly.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Caturix on 13 June 2011, 11:02:46
What is known about Niops planetary systems ? I mean, moons (inhabitable or not), continents, plants and fauna, satellites, jump points, atmosphere, climate, ...
Is there a place, a book where I can read about those things ?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 13 June 2011, 12:26:28
I think the best reference is Field Manual: Periphery but I'm not sure.  Sarna probably has some information, too.  That said, it's unlikely you'll find all the information you're looking for.

However, I will note that jump points are a function of star type, planetary size, and orbital mechanics.  Since we rarely have the full data on stellar systems, calculating all the possible transient points is impossible and falls under the heading of GM's discretion in most cases.  We do normally have star type.  Given that, the chart in Strategic Operations will give you the proximity point distance.  The zenith and nadir 'points' are simply special case proximity points that are customarily used.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 13 June 2011, 12:33:48
I'm away from my books but I recall something somewhere saying that of the three, Niops VII is the most habitable and Niops VI is kind of cold. Most of the industry is also located on VI, as it was the main target of the ill-fated Marian raid.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Caturix on 13 June 2011, 15:23:55
Thank you for the fast reply.

What about Niops I, Niops II, Niops III, and Niops IV ??
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 13 June 2011, 16:10:10
Thank you for the fast reply.

What about Niops I, Niops II, Niops III, and Niops IV ??

I don't believe anything has ever been said.

Anything beyond Niops VII is fanon, so disregard scurrilous rumors about Niops IX.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: BrokenMnemonic on 14 June 2011, 02:26:33
What is known about Niops planetary systems ? I mean, moons (inhabitable or not), continents, plants and fauna, satellites, jump points, atmosphere, climate, ...
Is there a place, a book where I can read about those things ?
I only have an electronic copy of the first edition Periphery sourcebook at work, so I can't check this against the second edition or the Periphery Field Manual, but this is what was detailed about the Niops system in the first edition Periphery sourcebook. The Niops Association only gets four paragraphs of text for backgrond in the book, plus a sidebar for flavour that reads a lot like one of the tv programmes advertised in the movie "The Running Man" so the culture of the Association has been amended/altered/updated pretty significantly over time, but I don't think that the physical structure of the system itself has been altered.

Quote
World Name: Niops VII
Star Type: M5V
Position in System: 7
Time to Jump Point: 2.44 days
Recharging Station: None
Political Ruler: High Associator Brandex Da-Ri
ComStar Facility Class: None
ComStar Representative: None
Population: 13,245,000
Percentage and Level of Native Life: 30%, Fish

Description: The capital of the Niops Association is a cold, temperate planet with abundant aquatic life and fresh water sources.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 14 June 2011, 08:33:09
I don't believe anything has ever been said.

Anything beyond Niops VII is fanon, so disregard scurrilous rumors about Niops IX.

 Be warry of the creature from planet IX!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 14 June 2011, 09:09:35
Be warry of the creature from planet IX!

"Many machines on Ix. New machines."  ;)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 14 June 2011, 09:54:49
"Many machines on Ix. New machines."  ;)


OMG that quote was SOOOO much better than mine!  [notworthy]

 A Dune quote i SHOULD have thought of. I was thinking WAY too small. Bravo.  [applause]
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Caturix on 14 June 2011, 16:54:49
Thanks a lot, guys :) !
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 10 July 2011, 20:15:59
Okay, so are the educated a minority?  Or is the technical education among the Niopsian better than the rest of the IS excepting ComStar/Word?  If they kept their technical base . . . do they have more automated worlds than the Inner Sphere?  IE, a high percentage of farms run with AgroMechs instead of simpler tractors?  Robotic factories?- which seems to run contrary to the Nighthawk fluff.

Oh yeah, how friendly are they to mercs/foreigners?  Especially with the politcal unrest that mercs seemed to be involved in.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 11 July 2011, 11:55:36
Okay, so are the educated a minority?  Or is the technical education among the Niopsian better than the rest of the IS excepting ComStar/Word?  If they kept their technical base . . . do they have more automated worlds than the Inner Sphere?  IE, a high percentage of farms run with AgroMechs instead of simpler tractors?  Robotic factories?- which seems to run contrary to the Nighthawk fluff.

Oh yeah, how friendly are they to mercs/foreigners?  Especially with the politcal unrest that mercs seemed to be involved in.

The "native" population was highly educated and enjoyed a full, SL era technical culture. The descendants of the Capellan refugees that arrived during the 2nd Succession War received a more vocational education and opportunities to advance beyond the glass ceiling this imposed were rare up until the late 3050s or so.

One of the Mercs books says something about the industries on Niops VI being heavily automated, but most of the defense/military stuff is done by hand.

As for Merc relations, the Jihad years have not been good ones - the Black Heart Roses' arrival on Niops ended up causing a lot of damage, long term. (Up to and including a coup attempt/political assassination.)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 September 2011, 01:42:47
So, anyone else depressed over the news about Niops from Field Report Periphery?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Stormcrow on 07 September 2011, 10:45:30
What news? I don't recall anything spectacular happening in their corner of the 'verse
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 September 2011, 13:38:25
Word of Blake invasion. By October 3079, the Niops Association Militia is at 1/3 strength, holed up on Niops V, and conducting a guerrilla war, with the Wobbies in control of Niops VI and VII.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 07 September 2011, 13:45:52
The wobbies will never get IX.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 07 September 2011, 13:48:22
Word of Blake invasion. By October 3079, the Niops Association Militia is at 1/3 strength, holed up on Niops V, and conducting a guerrilla war, with the Wobbies in control of Niops VI and VII.

Invasion isn't the worst of it. The nuking of Niops VII and the destruction of the Projects Workshop undoes centuries of slow, steady progress. Unless they manage to use the relative peaceful period between the end of the Jihad and 3150 to build a more modern defense industry the Association is going to be in a world of hurt when their neighbors start getting adventurous again.

The wobbies will never get IX.

IX would get them. Well, as soon as the planet mover engines are online. }:)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 September 2011, 14:02:01
We don't know that all the Workshops are toast - aren't they split between Niops V and VI?

Also, when the hell did Niops VII get nuked?!?!?!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 07 September 2011, 14:17:13
We don't know that all the Workshops are toast - aren't they split between Niops V and VI?

Also, when the hell did Niops VII get nuked?!?!?!

It's in Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, of all places.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 September 2011, 14:29:05
Ah, haven't picked that up yet - bad losses, I take it?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 07 September 2011, 15:24:09
Ah, haven't picked that up yet - bad losses, I take it?

It's all second hand information - a possible civil war interrupted by invasion, a nuke going off in the capital, a total cessation of communications with the outside.

Hopefully Final Reckoning will provide more info. If there was a Blakist presence in large numbers in '79 then it's a miracle the Regulans didn't swing by and just carpet bomb the system "just to be sure".
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 September 2011, 15:27:08
It's all second hand information - a possible civil war interrupted by invasion, a nuke going off in the capital, a total cessation of communications with the outside.

Hopefully Final Reckoning will provide more info. If there was a Blakist presence in large numbers in '79 then it's a miracle the Regulans didn't swing by and just carpet bomb the system "just to be sure".

Well, I suppose we can take comfort that the Niops (which my TouchPad spellchecker wants to change to Hoops) Association is still on the MWDA map...with all three worlds (the hidden colony on IX not included).
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 07 September 2011, 15:35:59
Well, I suppose we can take comfort that the Niops (which my TouchPad spellchecker wants to change to Hoops) Association is still on the MWDA map...with all three worlds (the hidden colony on IX not included).

Indeed! Although the information from the Touring the Stars entry was so similar to the 3067 data that many of us (ok, me) assumed that nothing must have happened in the intervening years.

Whoops. #P
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Caturix on 07 September 2011, 18:18:20
And what about Niops I, II, III, IV and VIII ??
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 07 September 2011, 18:21:12
And what about Niops I, II, III, IV and VIII ??

Probably like Sol I, II, V, VII and VIIII.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 07 September 2011, 18:25:06
WoB vs. Niops: Mac vs. PC enters a new and frightening phase... 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 08 September 2011, 00:14:16
WoB vs. Niops: Mac vs. PC enters a new and frightening phase...

Oh, come on! You know Hoops is the one place in the galaxy that still runs webOS...well, besides my house.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 08 September 2011, 01:36:09
Oh, come on! You know Hoops is the one place in the galaxy that still runs webOS...well, besides my house.

The Dark Age blackout was actually caused by the Niops HPG rolling out a P2P-distributed patch that had the unfortunate side effect of completely bricking HPG whose operators had neglected to keep their systems up to date.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 08 September 2011, 08:50:37
Sol VIIII
:'(
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 08 September 2011, 10:59:16
:'(

Buck up! In BattleTech, it's still a planet.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Doug Glendower on 08 September 2011, 14:02:36
I heard that to power the Super Shield, Levin demoted it permently... PRAXIS STYLE!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 08 September 2011, 15:43:23
Buck up! In BattleTech, it's still a planet.

Now you have me wondering if the Belters consider Ceres and Eris to be planets. 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: verybad on 09 September 2011, 15:32:28
I must admit a grudging respect for Niops. They are the lone village of Gauls standing up to RomanMarian domination.

Ils sont fous, cest Marianes! ;D

Decimate villa!
Barbarus fossor!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 09 September 2011, 23:06:11
yes, well...Vercingetorix was still strangled at the triumph.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: verybad on 09 September 2011, 23:43:11
Welcome to Niops, check out our new OS!
(http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7831/billgateswithmasterchie.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/225/billgateswithmasterchie.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 10 September 2011, 10:54:40
Welcome to Niops, check out our new OS!
(http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7831/billgateswithmasterchie.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/225/billgateswithmasterchie.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Yes, the SPARTAN-II project is definitely one of the things that is not being developed in the secret facility that does not exist on Niops IX. :-X
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 10 September 2011, 11:43:28
Correct, if it was on IX it would be a mentat cyborg.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 September 2011, 18:00:21
OK, so is anyone else confuses by the Word of Blake invasion of Niops?  Chanman and I were planning out the Niops fanfic we're working on, and found some...oddities.

First, Niops is small time. We might not want to admit it, but we all know it.  Industrial capacity?  Sure, they have some small capacity to build SLDF military hardware, but certainly not enough to significantly affect the Blakist war effort.

Field Report Periphery mentions that Niops got invaded because the Word of Blake could take advantage of their internal unrest (over for nearly a year, though, wasn't it?) and also to gain access to their mineral resources.  However, chanman and I both recall reading that Niops is mineral poor, having depleted most of their mineral resources.

So, why the heck did the Word of Blake not only invade Niops, but go so far as to use nukes, but invade with a small enough force that, after two years, the Niops Associated Militia still held Niops V?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 29 September 2011, 22:50:44
first foundation under the mule trying to stop the 2nd foundation from surviving to the proper time?  ;) 8)

more seriously, perhaps it has to do with some of niops' oddities. why did a tiny pure science research outpost get several regiments of star league military hardware for guards? hell, they even had Nighthawk's which were classified at "read about then shoot yourself after" levels even for the Terran Hegemony's upper commands.
why did they have a techno-religious society when comstar first contacted them, but a more normal one when relations became more normalized with the IS? what kind of science data is worth the cost of several regements of top of the line battlemechs? etc.


a shot in the dark (and parhaps an interesting plot idea for fanfic), perhaps Niops really was something of a 'Seldon Foundation". set up in an out of the way place where it would be safe from political fallout, with a fairly pluasible cover. set up with massive databanks of info about everything, and staffed with eggheads to ensure that the knowledge can be preserved and maybe improved over time. then assigned a heavy guard (for it's size) citing issues with the nearby RWR and other periphery powers as a cover.

all as a "timecapsule" in case the worst comes to past and the IS fights the 'final war'.

heck, you could even attribute it to Jerome Blake before he became leader of comstar.. certainly the idea fits his fears about the IS that the word of blake perverted into their plan of "let them fal lto the stone age so we can swoop in as rescueing angels" though the timing of the founding of niops would imply some longevity medical tech being involved..
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 29 September 2011, 23:07:57
Moreover, we don't have hard confirmation yet that it is Word of Blake. They're the most likely culprits, to be sure, but all the sources seem awfully non-specific.

Unless I'm forgetting something.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 October 2011, 17:15:09
OK, here's a weird one, for the fanfic I'm working on:

We know in the early 3060s, the Niops Association has a population of around 20 million spread across three planets in the same red dwarf star system.  The planets are close enough, in fact, that aerospace fighters can stage between each planet in less than a day with minimal drop tanks.  It's also, IIRC, less than 3 days to their jump point.

So, we know some level of interplanetary travel has to happen - if not, how'd they settle all three worlds?  Cargo and people travel back and forth between the three planets.

Additionally, the Niops Association Militia has four "regiments" which each consisited of a 'Mech/armor battalion and two infantry battalions, which have to shuffle troops between the three planets, as well as a single (in 3062 or so) aerospace fighter wing.  Over the run-up to the Jihad, they also funded another battalion (IIRC) of armor/'Mechs via "astronomical research data".  After the Jihad began, they also started producing Nighthawk PA(L) suits.  So, they've certainly got high-tech production, but it's always been characterized as being very slow, and often practically hand-built.

During the Jihad, occasional reports from JumpShips come in to tell about the invasion of Niops after their HPGs go silent.  It's not clear whether these were JumpShips visiting Niops or, initially, escapees, though.

Given that this isn't the FGC'62, where Niops could produce JumpShips without too much difficulty, were gearing up to produce the Tracker class, and had the blueprints to the Newgrange but absolutely no hope of ever building them, I'm trying to figure out what a more realistic picture of Niops merchant and military shipping might have looked like at the start of the invasion by the Word of Blake.  What their shipbuilding industry might look like would be an added bonus.

So, how big a civilian DropShip fleet would Niops realistically?  As for designs, I figure the Danais is a possibility, though they seem to have gotten better gear than the average Periphery state (since they were directly colonized by the "Star League"), so something like the Buccaneer or Mule may be more likely.  I'm not aware of too many passenger liners, just the Monarch and, IIRC, Princess.

I'm assuming Niops can't move their entire military at one time, which makes sense, since they had little need to do so.  Figure shipping to move maybe a quarter of that - around one combined arms battalion and two battalions of infantry at most?  Thoughts?

Lastly, what do you think their FTL transportation assets probably look like?

My end goal in all of this is not only to try to round out my mental picture of what the Niops Association looks like, but also to figure out what realistically could have escaped at the start of the invasion - yes, chanman and I had the idea of a "ragtag" fleet led by some military ship escorting a wacky bunch of transhumanists looking to start over somewhere else.

Ideas, comments, suggestions, mockery, derision?  ???
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 11 October 2011, 18:23:29
As a colony, they may not have been allocated FTL transportation, expecting that they would be receiving regular visits from SLDF or SL civilian transports. (This might also help explain why once contact was lost they didn't hop over to the nearest FWL system and see what was up.)

The first opportunity to acquire JumpShips might have been when the Capellan refugees stumbled across the system. If that's the case, I'm thinking a handful of Scout or Merchant class ships, with only the bare minimum of infrastructure bootstrapped into production to keep them serviced.

You're right about the intra-system traffic angle, though. The Niops system should be buzzing with DropShips, and there should be enough demand and industry to produce some local knockoff designs. (What was the predecessor to the Union? The Lion?)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 11 October 2011, 18:28:21
How widely know are the Niops worlds?  I am considering changing my mercs future home destination to one of these worlds, but the whole bit about the mercs participating in a coup attempt might make it uncomfortable.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Terminax on 11 October 2011, 20:46:39
One of my pet theories is that Niops was a cover for a Special Armed Services base, hence why they had enough data (and probably examples) of the Nighthawk BAs. Given they basically hand-tooled their high end gear, they had to have some equipment on hand to copy in addition to the mechanics/basic technical guides.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 October 2011, 21:27:29
How widely know are the Niops worlds?  I am considering changing my mercs future home destination to one of these worlds, but the whole bit about the mercs participating in a coup attempt might make it uncomfortable.

Around the Periphery edge of FWL space, relatively well known - at least, well enough to send multiple groups out to make sure everything was OK there.  They're well-known to ComStar/WoB, and merited multiple VIP mentions in-character: Lear, for example, mentioned them in reports to Stone.

One of my pet theories is that Niops was a cover for a Special Armed Services base, hence why they had enough data (and probably examples) of the Nighthawk BAs. Given they basically hand-tooled their high end gear, they had to have some equipment on hand to copy in addition to the mechanics/basic technical guides.

Possible.  I also tend to suspect they were a major Star League data repository, with something akin to the Helm or New Dallas Cores.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 12 October 2011, 01:37:40
As a colony, they may not have been allocated FTL transportation, expecting that they would be receiving regular visits from SLDF or SL civilian transports. (This might also help explain why once contact was lost they didn't hop over to the nearest FWL system and see what was up.)

The first opportunity to acquire JumpShips might have been when the Capellan refugees stumbled across the system. If that's the case, I'm thinking a handful of Scout or Merchant class ships, with only the bare minimum of infrastructure bootstrapped into production to keep them serviced.

Sounds about right.  Capacity to support, if not construct, JumpShips.

Quote
You're right about the intra-system traffic angle, though. The Niops system should be buzzing with DropShips, and there should be enough demand and industry to produce some local knockoff designs. (What was the predecessor to the Union? The Lion?)

Lion and Confederate.  The former carried eight 'Mechs and a company of light vehicles, the latter either four 'Mechs and two ASF or six 'Mechs.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 12 October 2011, 08:53:11
I wonder if a large portion of the in-system civilian traffic(and maybe a bit of military) isn't done with Dropships, but long-range shuttles?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 12 October 2011, 10:31:25
The only real problem I have with NIOPS being a memory core planet is if it were they should have been able to build battlemech factories from specs left in the core.
Problem 1) no labor to build it.
Solution is they had all the cappy refugees.

Problem 2) maybe the weren't in the core.
Solution they're pretty bright,even the MH is building primitives in factories and they have been around a lot less time and with less knowledgeable people.

Altho in my opinion i also believe they were a military/covert ops/something sneeky and fun place.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 12 October 2011, 19:10:58
I wonder if a large portion of the in-system civilian traffic(and maybe a bit of military) isn't done with Dropships, but long-range shuttles?

Plausible, but you get some scales of economy with dropships - fewer trips, oversized cargos, fewer pilots and traffic. Or, why I see a lot of 53 and 48 foot trailers at work even though most of the shipping depots we receive shipments from are inside the city and perfectly doable with 5 tons or pup trailers.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 12 October 2011, 19:22:42
True. I just figure that smaller craft give a lot of flexibility, especially when you're a small-time merchant. Military-wise, I bet there's certain situations when a light tank and a squad or two of infantry will do, and given how few DropShips they must have, a DropShuttle will probably do just fine.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 12 October 2011, 21:52:21
It's a cast-iron bitch to find infantry movers from the 27th Century that don't haul a bunch of other stuff: if Niops could move a sizeable portion of their infantry on standard DropShips, their spacelift for 'Mechs and vehicles would be utter overkill.  Figure Niops probably uses a lot of landing craft and the SLDF predecessor of the Battle Taxi to move infantry.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 28 October 2011, 01:15:31
If Niops hand builds their weapons anyway . . . would it really be that much more of a stretch for them to build Clan spec weapons?

What about repairing warships that come calling?  How much deep space infrastructure do you think they might have?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 28 October 2011, 01:51:58
If Niops hand builds their weapons anyway . . . would it really be that much more of a stretch for them to build Clan spec weapons?
Yes. They were hand building automobiles in 1905, that doesn't mean they were close to making Deloreans.

Quote
What about repairing warships that come calling?  How much deep space infrastructure do you think they might have?

Not much, they don't seem to be building any spacecraft.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 October 2011, 01:57:26
Not much, they don't seem to be building any spacecraft.

How did they settle the other two worlds in the system without any spacecraft production?

Note, I'm not saying they could refurb WarShips, but they hadn't started on all three worlds, just Niops VII, and FM:P implies they were building ASFs the same way they were building their 'Mechs.  I figure they have to have some kind of aerospace industry in place, or I can't see how they could maintain interplanetary trade and government throughout the Succession Wars.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 28 October 2011, 02:00:52
They just need some DropShips and shuttles. It's not like they were exporting much.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 05 November 2011, 22:51:12
110 Things SPC Skippy of the Niops Association Militia has been warned about or is no longer allowed to do:

1) I will not convince the Highlander pilots to play hopscotch
2) "Blood for the Blood God" is not an acceptable battlecry
3) In space, no one can hear me scream. Unless my mic is on
4) I will not install a plank at the airlock
5) When we space pirates, we are not making them 'walk the plank'
6) I will not sign up for a foreign Military Intelligence posting to 'bang new and exotic space hookers'
7) Even if those are Colonel Zubok's exact words
8) Upon reaching space, I am not to exclaim "My god, it's full of stars!"
9) I am not a Colonial Marine
10) I am not a Space Marine

11) I am not an Imperial Stormtrooper
12) I am not a Mandolarian bounty hunter
13) The Mauser 960 Assault System is not a Lasgun
14) The Mauser 960 Assault System is not a Blaster Rifle
15) The Mauser 960 Assault System is not a Ray gun
16) The Mauser 960 Assault System is not a Phaser
17) The Mauser 960 Assault System is not a Disruptor
18) Butt-stroking is not the Mauser 960 Assault System's 'stun mode'
19) I may not make 'pew-pew' sounds with my mouth at the range
20) I may not make 'pew-pew' sounds with my mouth in combat

21) I may not make 'pew-pew' sounds with any other bodily sounds, ever
22) The Mauser 960 Assault System's grenade launcher is not "My little friend"
23) In fact, I am not to refer to it as anything but a Mauser 960
24) MREs are not Soylent Green
25) MREs are not 'people'
26) I may neither confirm nor deny that Soylent Green is people
27) Riot Control compounds are not authorized for use as personal entertainment
28) I am to report damaged Riot Control compound containers for repair
29) Damaged RC compound containers are not, in fact, a good time in the old town tonight
30) Killing a pirate with a pyronetic weapon may not be referred to as "My hot date tonight"

31) The first rule of Military Intelligence is we don't talk about Military Intelligence
32) The second rule of Military Intelligence is that no one will believe me anyway
33) Colonel Zubok is never lacking for test subjects
34) When Colonel Zubok asks me if I like ice cream, he isn't actually about to give me ice cream
35) The Nighthawk is Powered Armour (Light). It is not: Carapace Armour, Space Marine Powered Armour, Mjolnir Combat Armour, Anorexic Battle Armour, a Combat Skin, and it is not made by Mandolarians
36) Aerospace fighters are not starfighters
37) ASFs do not carry Proton Torpedos
38) I will not tell pilots to "Use the Force"
39) ASF pilots do not train in Beggar's Canyon
40) Manportable SRMs are not Bazookas

41) I may not teabag slain enemies
42) I may not teabag prisoners
43) I may not teabag my chain of command
44) I may not teabag my subordinates
45) I may teabag other consenting adults, but I am not to speak about it. Ever.
46) My subordinates are not henchmen
47) I am not allowed to exclaim "That's no moon!" upon seeing anything in space
48) I will not sell my water purification tablets to the locals as "Lostec male enhancement pills"
49) I will not tell the locals that I am equipped with Lostec marital abilities
50) Tribbles are a strictly controlled biological weapon. Plush tribbles are not funny

51) Clanners are not the Clone Army of the Old Republic
52) Clanners are not 'easy' even if they are
53) Clanners are not a cheap date, even if they are
54) Clanners are not my 'friends with benefits' even if they are
55) Signals is not staffed by deckers, and they do not cut ICE
56) I am to stop calling Syrinx, Siri
57) I am to stop calling Syrinx, Wintermute
58) I am to stop calling Syrinx, Neuromancer
59) I am to stop calling Syrinx, HAL
60) I am to stop calling Syrinx, Cortana

61) The shipboard computer system does not have a sense of humour
62) The base computer system does not have a sense of humour
63) My Commanding Officer does not have a sense of humour
64) No Sergeant-Major, ever, has had a sense of humour
65) Sergeant-Majors do not have their sense of humour surgically removed upon promotion
66) Lady Gaga's "Born this Way" may not be used to explain why sergeant-majors do not have a sense of humour
67) I will not understand Syrinx's sense of humour
68) I won't want to understand Colonel Zubok's sense of humour
69) I may not play strip poker with any relative of any officer or senior NCO
70) I may not make demotivator recruitment posters

71) The first Star League is not the Old Republic
72) The second Star League is not the New Republic
73) The third Star League is not the New Republic
74) The third Star League is not the Evil Empire
75) The first Star League is not the Evil Empire
76) Niops Association is not the Imperial Remnants
77) The Coalition of Periphery States is not the Rebel Alliance
78) Spacers are not 'born shaved'
79) Eating an 'all-you-can-eat' restaurant out of food does not qualify me for a medal
80) We are no longer allowed to patronize buffets

81) My tour of duty on Luxen was not a "whirlwind of recreational pharmaceuticals and curious co-eds"
82) My sordid affairs may not be immortalized in song
83) My sordid affairs may not be immortalized in video
84) My tour of duty may not be summarized as "Bad Romance"
85) I will stop telling lurid stories about the Canopian locals to new arrivals. Especially if they are true
86) Just because the Lyran exchange officer is my CO does not make him 'mein Fuhrer'
87) Niops Territorial Militias are not Wolverine units
88) Clanners don't bend that way
89) Clanners do not have: Duct Tape IIC, Condoms IIC, MREs IIC, or Morphine IIC and I should stop asking them for it
90) The only thing that Colonel Zubok's sidearm is compensating for is the advancement in personal armour

91) I may not beg the ship captain to "Nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure"
92) When dealing with underground facilities, nuking it from orbit is not a sure thing
93) Nukes are not party favours, and I should stop asking for some from the Taurians
94) I am not to apologize profusely to Taurians about eating their kindred spirits at the mess dinner
95) Bioengineering 612 will not teach me how to crossbreed Jade Falcons and the domestic turkey
96) The cybernetics department is not the Adeptus Mechalnicus, despite anything they may have told me to the contrary
97) The NAM communications network is not Skynet
98) Niops does not field assassin droids
99) "Hey, y'all watch this!" is not considered adequate notification prior to conducting unauthorized experiments with government owned equipment
100) My APC is not a monster truck

101) When playing hearts, I may not literally shoot the moon
102) Duct tape is not Lostech
103) Duct tape is not 'Self-adhesive armour'
104) If the motor pool asks me to grab them headlight fluid, I will not give them a bottle of urine in return
105) A bottle of urine is the wrong answer to everything except a drug test
106) I can not get a second-hand high by hanging around the riot control troops
107) I am not to create authentic defrutum for the Marians
108) Lyran Battle Armour do not belong to the organization Kerberos
109) I will not convince the Goliath Scorpions to turn the Remembrance into an anime OVA
110) I will not sell the Goliath Scorpions brown acid or, for that matter, any sort of psychoactive substance

(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z335/HikageMaru/Battletech/Niops-Comptuers.png)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: snakespinner on 06 November 2011, 01:57:53
Oh i think i just swallowed something i should not have. ;D
Now i know how to make a profit from those water purification tablets. }:)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 06 November 2011, 10:15:09
I just shot coffee out my nose...you owe me a new nose  ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: jklantern on 06 November 2011, 10:17:43
Ah, Skippy's List.  We salute you.   [rockon]

Actually, I have a friend who goes by the name Skippy who did a stint in the Navy with tons of stories involving crazy shenanigans.  He is, however, not THE Skippy.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Hunter on 15 December 2011, 13:30:15
How widely know are the Niops worlds?  I am considering changing my mercs future home destination to one of these worlds, but the whole bit about the mercs participating in a coup attempt might make it uncomfortable.

A bit late, but I haven't been on the 'net lately. In any case they're widely known, but the timeframe is fairly key.

Pre-3050, they had a simple policy regarding intruders: If we don't like you, our aerospace wing (!!!) will convert you to high-purity metal deposits on an uninhabited rock. And unless there's a damned good reason otherwise, we probably don't like you. BTW, have you seen our awesome game shows?

3050-3060: Fire sale, Star League-quality research data! Discounts possible in exchange for large amounts of military hardware!

3060-3065: This is a scary, scary universe. Thankfully we've bolstered our defense with mercs and lots of extra gear, and get to watch the crazy from over here.

3065-30??: Damnit. At least it can't any worse... okay, I was wrong. At least now it can't get any... oh fer cryin' out loud.

30??-3130's: Okay, that sucked. Focus on the homeland, screw all the rest of you. (tentative)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 15 December 2011, 16:01:14
Quote from: Hunter
3065-30??: Damnit. At least it can't any worse... okay, I was wrong. At least now it can't get any... oh fer cryin' out loud.

30??-3130's: Okay, that sucked. Focus on the homeland, screw all the rest of you. (tentative)

Welcome back, dude!

That does remind me, though: I found the original INN Touring the Stars article archived.

 http://darkagepress.com/INN-TTSVolumeXLVIII.html

Quote
Wedged between the Hegemony and the Rim Commonality of the former Free Worlds League another tiny realm, a three-planet alliance known as the Niops Association, is located. Founded as a Star League–era astronomical research base, these worlds grew into a microstate after an influx of refugees from the Succession Wars arrived, and have lived in relative peace and isolation under the rule of noble intellectuals, descended from the original researchers.

What does that tell us?  Sounds suspiciously like the intellectuals are back in firm control.  A couple possibilities:

1.  The Niops Civil War was a reactionary act by hardliners of the old power structure fighting the new one, and winning.

2.  The Niops Civil War could have been the underclass rebelling outright against the upper class, and losing.

3.  Blame outsiders.  The Black Heart Roses make a power grab, along with a discontented lower-ranked officer, and fail.  The local balance of power is thrown out of whack.  The Blakists try to step in and take over, using local manufacturing to replenish their losses.  They eventually lose, though not until the NAM is nearly wiped out.

What do we know for sure?  Niops beat the Blakists, which means it couldn't have been a full-scale invasion.  Stone's coalition didn't help Niops any more than they participated in action against Circinus, and the Regulans didn't wipe Niops off the map.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 15 December 2011, 21:44:40
And you trade in your Nighthawks for . . . Asura?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 December 2011, 03:14:50
And you trade in your Nighthawks for . . . Asura?

I am intrigued by your suggestion, and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

(Fun fact: prior to the release of Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, the FC62 GMs had planned to make Niops a toned-down version of the Manei Domini)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 16 December 2011, 19:41:44
110 Things SPC Skippy of the Niops Association Militia has been warned about or is no longer allowed to do:

more:

111) Niops is not the 2nd Foundation
112) Comstar is not the 1st Foundation
113) The WoB's 'Master' might be a jackass, but he is not the Mule.
114) Our Battlemechs cannot form voltron
115) Appropriate response to orders is "sir yes sir", not "on the bounce!"
116) "On the Bounce" is not appropriate response in the Nighthawk units either.
117) Nighthawk suits cannot be armed with Davy Crockett's, so i should stop trying.
118) The Burke Tank is not a MKIV Bolo, and i am to stop referring to it as such.
119) When asked why my unit led a suicidal charge, "For the Honor of the Regiment" is not a proper response

and i edited the original list (i switched a few around order wise because i though it produced a funnier effect), here is the text file..
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 16 December 2011, 22:08:15
Hmm, only one on that list I missed . . .

But 'On the Bounce!' is a great answer.

120)  When asked about his unit, Skippy is not to answer 'Everyone fights.'
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: avon1985 on 16 December 2011, 22:32:32
Love the list!  laughed my butt off!  thanks I  needed the laugh!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 January 2012, 14:52:52
Having read the important (ie. Niops-related) parts of Field Manual 3085, all I can say is....ouch. :(
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 June 2012, 21:47:10
So, has there been anything new Niops-related since FM3085?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 05 June 2012, 00:34:12
So . . . a question for the Niops folks . . . we know the FWL proto-states keep some warships active, but not all the proto-states kept facilities for keeping them online.

Would Niops be a good place to get some of the vital parts hand repaired?  or replaced?  I realize the cost would likely be multiple (x4?) more than the original part.  It would mean not being dependent on another proto-state which is more likely to be an enemy.

Btw, how soon in the Jihad did Niops get wrecked?  Would it have been a good place to go fishing for a contract for a merc?

Btw, by the MWDA timeframe, we know Niops has ended its isolation . . . or at least have regular contact with the Rim Commonality.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: BrokenMnemonic on 05 June 2012, 04:54:42
Btw, how soon in the Jihad did Niops get wrecked?  Would it have been a good place to go fishing for a contract for a merc?
The Niops ruling council got bombed in November 3075, with Brigadier Fallon of the NAM declaring martial law soon after. The battles between the Black Heart Roses and the NAM took place in early 3076, with the Black Heart Roses apparently being destroyed in February 3076. In mid-3077, one of the Niops planets tried to put the capital world under an embargo to get martial law lifted, as the Chairperson who survived the bombing had woken up in December 3076. Fallon started redeploying NAM forces to break the embargo, only for the Association to be hit by Marian raiders in August 3077. The Marians sacked Niops V, and Niops VI promptly invaded Niops VII in September trying to depose Fallon, only to end up in a stalemate.

Whatever was happening on Niops VII in late 3077, the Free Worlds League force that left Romita to recover FWL delegates from Niops in February 3078 vanished along with the delegates.

That's the last of the detail in the Jihad books. Field Report: Periphery talks about Niops having been invaded by the Blakists by 3079, beating the NAM on two out of three worlds and the Association apparently "ceasing to exist". Field Manual: 3085 then has the NAM commander trying to rebuild what's left of the association after a Blakist nuclear bombardment, with a comment that the Association had only just begun to recover.

So, it looks as if problems for the Association started in 3075, got worse in 3076/3077, and then the Association got absolutely hammered sometime around 3079 through the early 3080s.

Jihad: Final Reckoning does mention that when Niops VI invaded Niops VII in late 3077, they did so using contracted mercenary forces to augment their own, so there would've been contracts available then. Of course, it follows that the imminent future involves a stalemated war against the NAM, followed by a beating on two out of three worlds from the Blakists, followed by a swift nuking.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 11 June 2012, 14:09:50
Other things about FM 3085, the main academy was destroyed but the militia centers still exist.  There's two 'Mech battalions in total, but there's very little to protect and Niops is easy pickings.  The "vast resources" are still there, even if the mining equipment's been beat back, so even if the factories are trashed they still have plenty to show up for - or simply conquer and rebuild.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Redfaction on 13 June 2012, 11:59:53
I love the attention Niops is getting!  O0 I have always thought they were an interesting little side note, especially now that I see what they have in military affairs, along with delicious campaign information.
Quote from: ANS Kamas P81 l
l
ink=topic=375.msg449306#msg449306 date=1339441790
Other things about FM 3085, the main academy was destroyed but the militia centers still exist.  There's two 'Mech battalions in total, but there's very little to protect and Niops is easy pickings.  The "vast resources" are still there, even if the mining equipment's been beat back, so even if the factories are trashed they still have plenty to show up for - or simply conquer and rebuild.

Though, mind you, if anywhere is a microcosm for the Jihad at large, it would be poor old Niops here  :o I legitimatly feel for these guys, all they want is to be left alone. Then the Marians Invade, get pushed back (I assume they left when the Jihad got to their borders) and the WoBies invade, trash, and nuke the place when the other guys leave.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 13 June 2012, 13:15:10
It seems that Niops spent the Jihad playing the part of the knitting circle housed between the rowdy frat house and the Hell's Angels chapter...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 13 June 2012, 15:54:28
I look at the Jihad years as an unfortunately painful recalibration. Given the general devastation and the slowness of post-Jihad reconstruction, Niops' modest production would have outpaced some of the major Periphery states - and probably more than a few Inner Sphere factions as well.

Awesome as it is, Niops is a boutique faction, so it required some...adjusting.

And you can't complain about nothing ever happening to your faction and then turn around and complain about the things happening to your faction. (Well, you can, but it's probably not very polite. Or smart. #P)

Touring the Stars makes it sound like not much happens from 3085 through the 3130s, so there is some time to rebuild. I think Niops would make an excellent catspaw for a Cold War type scenario between the Marians and the Canopians. It's still too much trouble to try to conquer outright, but much more vulnerable to raiding than before, meaning future leaders have to be much more circumspect when dealing with the Caesar and may be open to relying on covert aid from the Ebon Magistrate.

A good place for A Time of War campaign! O0
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 June 2012, 16:48:51
I look at the Jihad years as an unfortunately painful recalibration. Given the general devastation and the slowness of post-Jihad reconstruction, Niops' modest production would have outpaced some of the major Periphery states - and probably more than a few Inner Sphere factions as well.

Awesome as it is, Niops is a boutique faction, so it required some...adjusting.

True, I suppose.  Annoying, but true.  It does remove some of the uniqueness of the faction, though: they're supposed to be the ridiculously small faction whose technical expertise, military and production are higher than the norm for their size.

Quote
And you can't complain about nothing ever happening to your faction and then turn around and complain about the things happening to your faction. (Well, you can, but it's probably not very polite. Or smart. #P)

Well, you can, depending on how you complain.  I can see the Word of Blake late in the Jihad invading Niops:  even with the loss of the Workshops, they remain a good source of spare parts and technical experts to repair Star League era military hardware, and as a former Star League colony that does not appear to have bought into the Inner Sphere's refeudalization, they may arguably be sympathetic with the Word of Blake point of view.  That, in the end, the battered Niops Association Militia was able to fight off the Blakists without outside help implies that whatever force attacked Niops could not have been very large: the widespread use of nukes on Niops VII even backs up the idea of a desperate Word of Blake Militia unit.

It's the Niops Civil War I'm a little iffy on:  there's not much indicative of this in the canon and, as of November 3075, Rayanne Nellis had been the Director of the Niops Association for at least, what, 10-13 years (Was FM:Periphery set in 3062 or 3065?).  That the 3074-3075 election was as acrimonious as described seems...odd - why was it?  There didn't seem to be much cause for it, and the reports never went into the reason.

The Black Heart Roses and a NAM Captain trying to stage a coup?  OK, maybe.  From there, though, it just gets weird: with only one surviving chairperson, and him having just got out of a year-long coma, I can see why Fallon kept martial law up a bit longer.  To immediately go into embargoes between the planets and then civil war is odd as heck, too.

Quote
Touring the Stars makes it sound like not much happens from 3085 through the 3130s, so there is some time to rebuild. I think Niops would make an excellent catspaw for a Cold War type scenario between the Marians and the Canopians. It's still too much trouble to try to conquer outright, but much more vulnerable to raiding than before, meaning future leaders have to be much more circumspect when dealing with the Caesar and may be open to relying on covert aid from the Ebon Magistrate.

A good place for A Time of War campaign! O0

Indeed.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 13 July 2012, 10:38:29
Interesting tidbit in FM:SLDF -

Quote
To cover other shortfalls, Van Coevorden has resorted to diplomacy with the Illyrian Palatinate and the fledgling Niops Association.
In exchange for military aid, these minor Periphery states offer what little support they can. Officially, such agreements fall outside SLDF
jurisdiction, but thus far Regular Army Command has chosen to turn a blind eye to the arrangement.

I wouldn't have thought the Niops Association name would be in use before the fall of the Star League, as the settlements would have been territories of the Star League proper.

Perhaps even that early on there was already a clear distinction between the science mission and the civilian settlers?

Also, does the military aid offered by the SLDF XXXIV Corps maybe explain where Niops got some of the technical information it used to build the NAM in later centuries?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 July 2012, 10:42:09
Grr...do not have book yet, and buying may cut too far into Comic Con budget, but...need more information!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 13 July 2012, 10:45:41
Grr...do not have book yet, and buying may cut too far into Comic Con budget, but...need more information!

Unfortunately that is all there is. And I really wasn't expecting even that.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 July 2012, 16:29:59
What's the background on the XXXIV Corps?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 13 July 2012, 16:49:50
I wouldn't have thought the Niops Association name would be in use before the fall of the Star League, as the settlements would have been territories of the Star League proper.
Niops Association sounds almost like a corporate name funding the whole thing, maybe it was something like that.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 July 2012, 16:54:44
Given that their government consists of Chairpersons and a Director, that makes sense: with Niops having been a colony dedicated to astronomical research of red dwarf stars, the "Niops Association" may have started as an NGO organized by various universities, with the chairpersons each heading a department originally, and the director overseeing operations.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 13 July 2012, 19:29:49
Given that their government consists of Chairpersons and a Director, that makes sense: with Niops having been a colony dedicated to astronomical research of red dwarf stars, the "Niops Association" may have started as an NGO organized by various universities, with the chairpersons each heading a department originally, and the director overseeing operations.

I was going to say that it sounds equally academic. It could be that by the 25th century the endowments for premier schools were absolutely astronomical? (Ba-dum-pshhhhh)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Samhain21 on 15 August 2012, 23:23:33
Would the Niops trade... "Stripped down" Star League-model stuff to other Periphery neighbors, for like... Harvesting combines, or whatnot? Something along the lines of, "We need those parts to keep our agriculture running. Here is a CRB-20 for your support."?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 16 August 2012, 01:02:22
Well, we know by the 3130s they were trading with Regulus and the Rim Commonality, what is not quite specified.  Might be the best fix-it shop in that area for Jumpships and Dropships, but the hand built parts are going to cost you?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Samhain21 on 16 August 2012, 11:36:36
Sorry, I should've specified... I was thinking around the 3020-3030 era.

Has Niops struck you as strictly isolationist? Or would you occasionally find, like, an old, but well-kept Confederate dropship land on your Periphery world, looking to trade once in awhile...?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 16 August 2012, 11:42:41
Sorry, I should've specified... I was thinking around the 3020-3030 era.

Has Niops struck you as strictly isolationist? Or would you occasionally find, like, an old, but well-kept Confederate dropship land on your Periphery world, looking to trade once in awhile...?

They were isolationist for the longest time.  If word got out about their technology, they would become the target of every Great House and Periphery state seeking to gain their secrets for themselves.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: snewsom2997 on 16 August 2012, 11:48:04
Sorry, I should've specified... I was thinking around the 3020-3030 era.

Has Niops struck you as strictly isolationist? Or would you occasionally find, like, an old, but well-kept Confederate dropship land on your Periphery world, looking to trade once in awhile...?


Confederate no, Buccaneer or Mule yes. Dropping comabt troops for a trade deal, may not yield the best trade deal, not in the long run anyway.
Now under the guise of some type of colonial marshal or knights errant, who generally keep the peace, that might be an angle to pursue, but it would have to be a solid effort at doing it, you cannot just pop in once in a while, and play cop, you would have to be pretty regular at it to get the respect, that would open up further trading.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Samhain21 on 16 August 2012, 12:26:34
As to the Confederate thing... Heh... That is really the only dropship I know off the top of my head that was used by the Star League... So I ran with it... Yoinks.

If they're predominantly isolationist, would they operate under something akin to the Scorpion Seekers, or Snord's Irregulars... ie, the acquisition, taking, and holding onto Star League technology? Or would that be very out of character? Or would they be more concerned with their Own little corner of Star League advanced technology?

Concerning their later activities in the wider galaxy, does the Major Periphery States book have a good write up of them? Or should I check oneof the Jihad books?...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Terminax on 16 August 2012, 13:04:26
Niops "magic workshop" was announced as destroyed during the Jihad. Likely what they end up trading in the future is their still not insignificant mineral wealth. I don't think their construction capacity was all that tremendous, essentially providing only for their needs and the exceedingly rare trade.

Mind you, I'm partial to the idea that Niops was the source of the Magistracy's infusions of mysterious tech like the shiny Dictators and some other odd things that fell into the Magistracy's hands over the years. But I've got no evidence that it's true. Could be the work of some yet unseen deep periphery nation we don't know about yet.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 16 August 2012, 13:07:23
Mind you, I'm partial to the idea that Niops was the source of the Magistracy's infusions of mysterious tech like the shiny Dictators and some other odd things that fell into the Magistracy's hands over the years.

Y'know, I never thought about that, I rather like it! Even if they're not building them, they could sell the plans to Canopus in exchange for food and/or medical aid(which they probably really need right now). I don't recall the Dictator being particularly advanced, so they may not be too hard to build.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: snewsom2997 on 16 August 2012, 13:26:45
Mind you, I'm partial to the idea that Niops was the source of the Magistracy's infusions of mysterious tech like the shiny Dictators and some other odd things that fell into the Magistracy's hands over the years. But I've got no evidence that it's true. Could be the work of some yet unseen deep periphery nation we don't know about yet.

I am thinking some lost RWR or SL shipyard or storehouse on those.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: snewsom2997 on 16 August 2012, 13:32:38
If they're predominantly isolationist, would they operate under something akin to the Scorpion Seekers, or Snord's Irregulars... ie, the acquisition, taking, and holding onto Star League technology? Or would that be very out of character? Or would they be more concerned with their Own little corner of Star League advanced technology?

Concerning their later activities in the wider galaxy, does the Major Periphery States book have a good write up of them? Or should I check oneof the Jihad books?...
I don't see them doing much of anything other than repair the damage of the Jihad, I never really got the space archeologist vibe from them.

Before the Jihad, i get them as isolationist, after the Jihad, they have to trade with the outside for tech, for what and with what I don't know, with their workshops destroyed, I cannot see them as having much technology to trade. If I remember correctly they had internal problems, a 2 class system, along TH (Educators Scientists)/House (Laborers Technicians) lines. The old guard didn't like to get their hands dirty, so during the SW they used the people fleeing the wars as laborers. After the Jihad, the lines may have gone away, but now they are just a backwater like the rest of the periphery. My Opinion anyway.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 22 August 2012, 16:27:07
I don't see them doing much of anything other than repair the damage of the Jihad, I never really got the space archeologist vibe from them.

Before the Jihad, i get them as isolationist, after the Jihad, they have to trade with the outside for tech, for what and with what I don't know, with their workshops destroyed, I cannot see them as having much technology to trade. If I remember correctly they had internal problems, a 2 class system, along TH (Educators Scientists)/House (Laborers Technicians) lines. The old guard didn't like to get their hands dirty, so during the SW they used the people fleeing the wars as laborers. After the Jihad, the lines may have gone away, but now they are just a backwater like the rest of the periphery. My Opinion anyway.

I like the idea of Niops becoming a marshaling point for Interstellar Expeditions missions into the Rimward/Spinward Deep Periphery. It keeps it relevant for the short term and provides a good amount of traffic in and out of the system for trade - which they can use to rebuild infrastructure and/or hire additional defenders.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 22 August 2012, 18:14:24
Are the telescopes still intact?  If they are, that's a further continued source of revenue - stellar data and observations can be darned useful for a company like IE.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 28 August 2012, 03:58:06
The only question is how paranoid are they after the Jihad?  With Blakist forces masquerading as friendly forces during (and after) the Jihad how welcoming are they going to be to outsiders?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 28 August 2012, 10:34:33
The only question is how paranoid are they after the Jihad?  With Blakist forces masquerading as friendly forces during (and after) the Jihad how welcoming are they going to be to outsiders?

I think long term their desire would be to build up the Association Militia to pre-Jihad strength or higher, along with more robust production capabilities. Short term, however, things are very precarious - the only thing saving them from being overrun by the Hegemony at the moment is the fact that Alphard is likely still a bigger mess than Niops VII.

That's why I like the idea of a partnership with IE - the Niops government can profit off of units and ships signing on with IE for expeditions and act as a clearing house world if any of those expeditions make contact with uncharted Periphery worlds or powers open to trade. If they play their cards right, as the Great Houses slowly pare down the number of available mercenary contracts Niops could pick up some of the slack as a mini Hiring Hall world. Of course, they run the risk of someone attempting to pull off an Outreach style sub rosa sneak attack but the factors that led to that happening in the first place would be hard to duplicate.

Meanwhile, with the loss of so much military and industrial power the Niops government has to relearn the art of maintaining a regional balance of power - from a far less advantageous position than it is used to. And perhaps with lingering internal strife, as well.

Really, I think Niops makes for an ideal post-Jihad campaign setting - it provides a little something for everyone. (Ok, maybe not Homeworld Clan fans...)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 18 September 2012, 21:24:49
I'd say they used Trojans and Danais for trade.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 26 November 2012, 23:49:03
[delurk]
Hey, kids, anything new with Niops?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 27 November 2012, 10:47:57
[delurk]
Hey, kids, anything new with Niops?

 I've just folded space from IX. Many new machines on IX.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 27 November 2012, 14:16:31
I was sad to see that my hopes of an Niops/IE partnership were not to be. I don't think there was a single Niops reference in ISP3. :'(
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 27 November 2012, 16:23:05
I was sad to see that my hopes of an Niops/IE partnership were not to be. I don't think there was a single Niops reference in ISP3. :'(

Hari Seldon's image probably appeared in the First Vault to warn them away from it.  :P
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 November 2012, 20:32:01
Quote from: Niopsian
I was sad to see that my hopes of an Niops/IE partnership were not to be. I don't think there was a single Niops reference in ISP3. :'(

Just a passing reference to a similar colony past Canopian space.  Don't remember more: just got ISP3, then the latest Dresden Files novel, which totally coopted ISP3 reading time.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 28 November 2012, 20:44:45
Don't remember more: just got ISP3, then the latest Dresden Files novel, which totally coopted ISP3 reading time.
People these days...no sense of priority...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 November 2012, 22:21:13
Dude, new Dresden Files novel!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 28 November 2012, 23:36:46
I'll admit to having not read any of them.

But...dude! ISP3!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 29 November 2012, 01:15:51
All I wanted for them was to become space Switzerland. With Nukes. That's not much, right?   :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Sharpnel on 29 November 2012, 02:34:38
Dude, new Dresden Files novel!
What he said. And shame on you Weirdo for not reading them
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 29 November 2012, 19:35:45
I loved the tv show. Haven't read the books or played the game.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 30 November 2012, 00:05:02
I loved the tv show. Haven't read the books or played the game.

Dude, it's called Battletech and its like metal crack only higher based. You got these 4 story tall walking robots with missiles, lasers and cannons and stuff.  ;)

TT

Oh and you get to go all stompy on things as well... O0
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 30 November 2012, 10:50:24
What he said. And shame on you Weirdo for not reading them

I've barely know they exist, much less anything that would convince me to go out and buy any of them.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Terminax on 30 November 2012, 11:15:48
Nothing new on Niops in ISP3 sadly.

In my ongoing 3030-ish ATOW campaign, my intrepid players are the bodyguards for an agent of the Oberon Confederation trying to broker a secret deal with the Niops Association. One of the player characters is freelancing on the side to the LIC and is trying to discover what the actual deal is about. Unfortunately for all of them, the MIM, ROM and SAFE are also aware something is going on and are all acting in some fashion against the players team. Add in that the players in the last session were tempted by two separate potentional defectors... one who's bait by Niops folks against the deal with Oberon and the other which is the genuine article. Talk about a snake pit eh?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Dark_Falcon on 02 December 2012, 19:13:33
Nothing new on Niops in ISP3 sadly.

In my ongoing 3030-ish ATOW campaign, my intrepid players are the bodyguards for an agent of the Oberon Confederation trying to broker a secret deal with the Niops Association. One of the player characters is freelancing on the side to the LIC and is trying to discover what the actual deal is about. Unfortunately for all of them, the MIM, ROM and SAFE are also aware something is going on and are all acting in some fashion against the players team. Add in that the players in the last session were tempted by two separate potentional defectors... one who's bait by Niops folks against the deal with Oberon and the other which is the genuine article. Talk about a snake pit eh?

ISP3 is about largely unknown or neglected periphery planets.  The Niops system, though it got hammered, is still viable and has gotten its share of coverage already.  What Niops might want to do, though, is to buy itself a Jumpship in a few years and go to one of those Canopian Waste worlds and offer its few thousand people the chance to immigrate to Niops.  Done right, it could provide some needed population growth that might help Niops recover.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 02 December 2012, 21:08:38
Do you know what happened to the last bunch of immigrants that landed on their shores?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Dark_Falcon on 02 December 2012, 22:10:34
Do you know what happened to the last bunch of immigrants that landed on their shores?

Yes, I do.  But they also know how badly their own behavior hurt themselves.  It is not written in stone that history must repeat itself.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: CanopusIV on 10 January 2013, 17:21:00
I remember reading in a Jihad book that the armed forces had to deal with a rampaging mercenary group after its infantry contingent broke the commander out of a Niops prison.  They said the damage done by the Black Heart Roses mercenary group did horrible damage, but not if that limited their ability to produce equipment or battlemechs.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 10 January 2013, 17:28:30
I think it was the WoB that crippled their production.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 10 January 2013, 21:27:06
Hmm, haven't the Black Hearts reputation taken a beating since mid 60s?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: CanopusIV on 10 January 2013, 22:47:44
Hmm, haven't the Black Hearts reputation taken a beating since mid 60s?

Well, they took a literal beating and are now removed from the payrolls I think.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 11 January 2013, 00:29:29
Most of the damage done to the Niops Association was done during the internal troubles (riots, etc), raiding by outside forces and then the Blakists directly.  The fighting between the Black Heart Roses and the Niops military was more limited (in terms of how large an area the fighting occurred in not necessarily the brutality thereof).

The Black Heart Roses were destroyed when their DropShip exploded enroute to the jump point after they were forced to leave the Niops Association.  A couple members might have survived if they split off prior to the DropShip taking off (such as those who might have helped Alicia Carmichael escape), which is what started the fighting between the Niops Association and the mercenaries in the first place.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Vanadius on 11 January 2013, 16:39:53
Why did the Wobbies start nuking the Niops Association?

What are theu retaliating for?  Being researchers not under the Wobbie umbrella?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 11 January 2013, 16:42:53
Yea, not joining the WoB who believe they're the inheritors of the SL
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Vanadius on 11 January 2013, 16:52:07
Yea, not joining the WoB who believe they're the inheritors of the SL

That just seems weird to me.  In 3079 it appears that the Wobbies had already lost Terra, and retreated to Circinus.  That's still a full 94 days of transit time to get to Niops to nuke it.


Why waste all that time to smack an uninvolved party when they're already losing the war for survival?

I know it is the Wobbies, and they were used to plaster a HUGE hole in the Timeline, but some of it just seems so weird.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 11 January 2013, 16:57:09
I never said they nuked it. I don't know that for sure. Remember tho... they wanted to do the same thing old C* did. Keep people in the dark ages with low tech so they could be saviors.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Vanadius on 11 January 2013, 17:00:38
I never said they nuked it.
Oh I know.  I'm referencing Sarna there.  Not saying you were wrong in any way,  just that the timeline seems weird to me as I'm researching.  It seems more like the writers wanted to cut off the potential for future advancements in the periphery by knocking down Niops.
I don't know that for sure. Remember tho... they wanted to do the same thing old C* did. Keep people in the dark ages with low tech so they could be saviors.

Yeah.  Zealots will be zealots, even when it makes no sense.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: tapdancingbeavers on 11 January 2013, 19:52:36
Quote
That just seems weird to me.  In 3079 it appears that the Wobbies had already lost Terra, and retreated to Circinus.  That's still a full 94 days of transit time to get to Niops to nuke it.


Why waste all that time to smack an uninvolved party when they're already losing the war for survival?

It could have been a sleeper cell rather than the WoB traveling all that distance at that particular time.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: 97jedi on 11 January 2013, 21:12:53
FM3085 page 133 settles whether NIOPS was nuked by the WoB or not.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 January 2013, 22:07:36
That just seems weird to me.  In 3079 it appears that the Wobbies had already lost Terra, and retreated to Circinus.  That's still a full 94 days of transit time to get to Niops to nuke it.


Why waste all that time to smack an uninvolved party when they're already losing the war for survival?

I know it is the Wobbies, and they were used to plaster a HUGE hole in the Timeline, but some of it just seems so weird.

The Word of Blake actually sent a force to invade the Niops Association.  Field Report Periphery touches a bit on the Wobbies motivation, but I suspect they were also looking for easy caches of Star League tech repair parts for their forces, as well, and perhaps another base of operations besides Circinus where they could affect repairs to their forces.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: cavalier1645 on 24 January 2013, 08:22:02
FM3085 page 133 settles whether NIOPS was nuked by the WoB or not.

Well at least they survived and are rebuilding. I rather like Niops, a descendant of the Star League gets a thumbs up in my opinion (Well unless your the clans. :) )
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 24 January 2013, 12:57:08
Yup. The Dark Age source material made it clear Niops survived at least through the last novel, though hinted that the social stratification may have been making a reappearance.  Where Niops will end up post 3145, though, is anyone's guess.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 24 January 2013, 19:45:03
Niops, Herb's summerhome... or is that Outrech?

TT

 :))
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Death by Zeus on 25 January 2013, 01:40:22
Wouldn't you get a better tan on Outreach?  :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 25 January 2013, 11:45:24
Yup. The Dark Age source material made it clear Niops survived at least through the last novel, though hinted that the social stratification may have been making a reappearance.  Where Niops will end up post 3145, though, is anyone's guess.

 Part of the Marian Hegemony...  ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 25 January 2013, 12:07:49
Part of the Marian Hegemony...  ;D
[stupid]
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 25 January 2013, 12:51:49
Part of the Marian Hegemony...  ;D

Heh. Unlikely.

Seriously, though, the Marians had ample opportunity to do so after the Jihad and during the Republic era but didn't.  Post-Jihad, Niops would have been down to less than two companies of 'Mech and vehicles, a squadron of ASF, and maybe a battalion of infantry (ie. 10% of their pre-Jihad strength), appear to have lost production of one version of the Nighthawk to the Marians (the XXI is not on the master unit list for the Marians during the Jihad, but the XXII is), have lost most of their military production, and had their capitol nuked.

Given all that, why didn't the Marians conquer Niops in the near five decades between the end of the Jihad and kickoff of the Dark Age?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: cavalier1645 on 25 January 2013, 13:35:40
Heh. Unlikely.

Seriously, though, the Marians had ample opportunity to do so after the Jihad and during the Republic era but didn't.  Post-Jihad, Niops would have been down to less than two companies of 'Mech and vehicles, a squadron of ASF, and maybe a battalion of infantry (ie. 10% of their pre-Jihad strength), appear to have lost production of one version of the Nighthawk to the Marians (the XXI is not on the master unit list for the Marians during the Jihad, but the XXII is), have lost most of their military production, and had their capitol nuked.

Given all that, why didn't the Marians conquer Niops in the near five decades between the end of the Jihad and kickoff of the Dark Age?

Mostly the Marian Hegemony was to busy recovering from the Jihad just like everyone else.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Stormcrow on 25 January 2013, 14:04:33
nm, previous poster said what I was going to say
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 25 January 2013, 14:37:46
Add to that there were plenty of former FWL worlds just waiting to be seized by the Marian Hegemony.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 25 January 2013, 15:08:56
The MH is being talked about way more these days than it was back then. The writers probably didn't think about adding all that stuff in because when the DA novels were being written the MH was still just a backwater bandit/pirate state.

 I believe if those same DA novels were being written now, with the information we have now about the MH, things would have turned out different. We did expand in this time period also.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: CanopusIV on 25 January 2013, 16:25:09
Well, I also suspect there's a lot of regional powers who don't want the Hegemony to take the Niops.  They still possess the technology and the means to build BattleMechs and other advanced military hardware even if it's damaged.  I doubt many former League powers would want the Marians taking Niops and turning it into a refit/resupply depot for their expansion into former League territories.

If I had to guess, I would think Niops still possesses valuable regional allies who supply them with support in both politics and industry.  In many ways, they represent a valuable buffer state that few want to see fall by the wayside.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 25 January 2013, 16:55:49
The common assumption that the Marian's conquered former FWL systems has no basis in fact, as far as I know.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 25 January 2013, 18:40:30
The common assumption that the Marian's conquered former FWL systems has no basis in fact, as far as I know.
Huntington, Landfall, and Hazeldean disagrees with your theories, unless something's wrong with my 3063 or 3130 maps.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 25 January 2013, 20:21:34
Well, I also suspect there's a lot of regional powers who don't want the Hegemony to take the Niops.

Since Niops has diplomatic ties with the Regulans and Rim Commonality- which we know since the Regulans tried to use Niops to isolate the Rim Commonality.  I imagine the MoC would oppose it too.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 25 January 2013, 20:34:00
Huntington, Landfall, and Hazeldean disagrees with your theories, unless something's wrong with my 3063 or 3130 maps.
Do you maps tell how they came to be part of the Hegemony? Because there are other ways besides conquest.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: cavalier1645 on 25 January 2013, 20:36:56
Do you maps tell how they came to be part of the Hegemony? Because there are other ways besides conquest.

Yeah can't see the FWL letting their worlds staying under Marian rule once they get their act together. :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 25 January 2013, 21:11:46
...once they get their act together. :)

Last I heard, this was very much still in progress.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: CanopusIV on 26 January 2013, 00:22:43
Last I heard, this was very much still in progress.

True, but the Hegemony doesn't have an easily attainable long-term future ahead of it.  Once the League reforms, my guess is they'd pay more attention to the East, since in the Dark Ages the Magistracy loses Thraxa and Vixen.  They've always assaulted Thraxa so it would seem a likely target for expansion.  The Thraxans however, would NOT be happy with this plan.

As for the Niops, I suspect they'll always be a minor power.  Apart from their three planets, there's little than can do to expand.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 26 January 2013, 00:36:22
Do you maps tell how they came to be part of the Hegemony? Because there are other ways besides conquest.
Fair enough.  I have a hard time seeing anyone from that neighborhood of FWL space just inviting the Marians in (since last I checked they were still considered barely-legitimized pirates by mos of their neighbors), but it's true that the map doesn't rule out peaceful transfer of power.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 26 January 2013, 02:53:12
As for the Niops, I suspect they'll always be a minor power.  Apart from their three planets, there's little than can do to expand.

Dunno about you, but I'm fine with that, so long as they keep what's made them unique.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 26 January 2013, 10:33:10
Fair enough.  I have a hard time seeing anyone from that neighborhood of FWL space just inviting the Marians in (since last I checked they were still considered barely-legitimized pirates by mos of their neighbors), but it's true that the map doesn't rule out peaceful transfer of power.

Heh, I guess there's always the chance they got together conquered the Hegemony and put up their own puppet Caesar.  ;)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 26 January 2013, 11:09:02
Heh, I guess there's always the chance they got together conquered the Hegemony and put up their own puppet Caesar.  ;)

Actually the Niops replaces the Caesar with a clone who rules according to their wishes.   >:D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: CanopusIV on 26 January 2013, 16:01:48
Well, Niops is certainly in a position where it must adapt or die in a lot of respects.  I really like their history in how they were once a Star League research outpost and thus were able to wield better than average equipment during the Succession Wars, but post-Jihad it seems like they've lost a lot of their previous advantages.

On the plus side, post-war reconstruction always replaces out of date and obsolete infrastructure and equipment.  If the Niops Association can get their hands on some good tech, they could easily retrofit and rebuild their factories and become a sturdier target against the denizens of the Periphery.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 28 January 2013, 05:23:54
Well, Niops is certainly in a position where it must adapt or die in a lot of respects.  I really like their history in how they were once a Star League research outpost and thus were able to wield better than average equipment during the Succession Wars, but post-Jihad it seems like they've lost a lot of their previous advantages.

On the plus side, post-war reconstruction always replaces out of date and obsolete infrastructure and equipment.  If the Niops Association can get their hands on some good tech, they could easily retrofit and rebuild their factories and become a sturdier target against the denizens of the Periphery.

Unfortunately the devastation of the Jihad may have permanently destroyed their ability to fully recover.  With their government, most of their military destroyed and most of their industry damaged/destroyed, they are unlikely to recover any time in the near future.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 28 January 2013, 18:36:02
I'm pretty sure that a few blackmarketiers will get their pockets full, but the majority still pay taxes, send supplies up the chain like always and collect pay, likely a bit less than usual due to the " War Effect ". But I believe they pull thru.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 29 January 2013, 11:28:05
Unfortunately the devastation of the Jihad may have permanently destroyed their ability to fully recover.  With their government, most of their military destroyed and most of their industry damaged/destroyed, they are unlikely to recover any time in the near future.

 I thought NIOPS didn't have actual factories like the rest of the IS. They hand built mechs in garages. If that's so then their production should go back to what it was fairly easy..
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: cavalier1645 on 29 January 2013, 14:34:06
I thought NIOPS didn't have actual factories like the rest of the IS. They hand built mechs in garages. If that's so then their production should go back to what it was fairly easy..

Actually I though all there mechs and equipment was old SL stuff left by the SLDF. I don't think they have anyway to rebuild what they had.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Weirdo on 29 January 2013, 14:39:07
Can't remember the exact source(FM:Periphery?), but Niops is explicitly described as hand-building SL 'mechs from plans in their databases.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 29 January 2013, 14:54:25
Can't remember the exact source(FM:Periphery?), but Niops is explicitly described as hand-building SL 'mechs from plans in their databases.

Thanks to Field Report: Periphery, we know that the Niops Association Project Workshop is - well, was - a canon facility.

And so long as the databases weren't all destroyed, the potential for resuming one-off construction of documented designs is still there. The NAM may yet rise again, just in time for 3145...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Lord Harlock on 29 January 2013, 18:01:29
Look at it this way, Niops is out of the way, and it's possible the Clans if the ilClan takes over Terra. And over a couple of centuries, it slowly build an Empire for Science just in time by the time of the next great leap forward.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Doug Glendower on 29 January 2013, 19:22:26
They're all in crates which they never open. It'd ruin their collectable status if they weren't new in box.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 January 2013, 19:58:27
LOL
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 29 January 2013, 21:53:33
I thought NIOPS didn't have actual factories like the rest of the IS. They hand built mechs in garages. If that's so then their production should go back to what it was fairly easy..

They did't have factories like the rest of the IS that churned out hundreds of Mechs but they had mines, smelters, workshops and assembly bays.  All of which is part of their INDUSTRY and many of which got damaged/destroyed in the fighting.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Stormcrow on 30 January 2013, 01:11:32
Can't remember the exact source(FM:Periphery?), but Niops is explicitly described as hand-building SL 'mechs from plans in their databases.
Yu stll need factories for the bits and pieces that make up a 'Mech, whether it's a fusion engine or a stem bolt.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 30 January 2013, 01:36:15
Define: Mill Lathes and Dyes using molds that are hand spurned?

In a garage using a Windmill generator for power source...

Making a prescious handmade part. Now add all the parts up to make a Strut support for a knee joint, elbow joint, wrist joint.....

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 30 January 2013, 12:25:14
They did't have factories like the rest of the IS that churned out hundreds of Mechs but they had mines, smelters, workshops and assembly bays.  All of which is part of their INDUSTRY and many of which got damaged/destroyed in the fighting.

 Never said they didn't.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 15 February 2013, 01:16:01
hoody hoo!

Niopsian Segway Infantry Ahoy! (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20130215)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 15 February 2013, 02:25:28
hoody hoo!

Niopsian Segway Infantry Ahoy! (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20130215)

This makes me want to buy a Segway and fit guns.

(though fitting guns would probably be easier for everyone involved on a Segway Centaur (http://www.segway.cz/products/centaur/index.html))
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 15 February 2013, 02:56:57
This makes me want to buy a Segway and fit guns.

(though fitting guns would probably be easier for everyone involved on a Segway Centaur (http://www.segway.cz/products/centaur/index.html))
'not yet ready to become a product"? it's a 4-wheeler/quadbike (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quad_bike). they actually pre-date cars.. how the heck is it "not ready to become a product"?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 16 February 2013, 16:51:39
'not yet ready to become a product"? it's a 4-wheeler/quadbike (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quad_bike). they actually pre-date cars.. how the heck is it "not ready to become a product"?

They are still talking and not yet ready to take our money? ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Dark_Falcon on 16 February 2013, 17:53:08
They did't have factories like the rest of the IS that churned out hundreds of Mechs but they had mines, smelters, workshops and assembly bays.  All of which is part of their INDUSTRY and many of which got damaged/destroyed in the fighting.

True, but as of 3085 they had repaired enough to field two full Mech battalions and at least double that number of armor and infantry units.  That's at least 2 combined arms regiments right there, and those regiments are considerably higher-tech than the Marian Legions.
Which is the main reason the Hegemony does not move on the association: It would require more force than the Hegemony can spare to conquer.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 16 February 2013, 22:42:53
True, but as of 3085 they had repaired enough to field two full Mech battalions and at least double that number of armor and infantry units.

Nearly two Mech battalions and their aerospace regiment has been decimated.  As of 3085, it fields only two fighter squadrons.  It is unclear whether the rebuilt Mech forces are newly built or simply salvaged and repaired Mechs.  (I wasn't aware that they fielded armor in any significant quantities.)

Quote
That's at least 2 combined arms regiments right there, and those regiments are considerably higher-tech than the Marian Legions.

Barely 2 combined arm regiments that are spread across three planets and while (maybe) fielding higher tech than the average Marian Legion, some of the more prestigious Marian Legions field more advanced tech.  Both the I and II Marian Legions are approximately 70% upgraded and have an A rating while the Niops Militia is only 22% upgraded with a D rating.

Quote
Which is the main reason the Hegemony does not move on the association: It would require more force than the Hegemony can spare to conquer.

Not really.  The main reason is that the Hegemony sees richer spoils available along the (former) FWL periphery border that are less defended (or at least so they assumed).  They did encounter some difficulties on San Nicholas.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: cavalier1645 on 16 February 2013, 23:36:10

Not really.  The main reason is that the Hegemony sees richer spoils available along the (former) FWL periphery border that are less defended (or at least so they assumed).  They did encounter some difficulties on San Nicholas.

Well with the reunification of FWL, is taking old league worlds really good idea for the MH? I mean even weaken as it is the FWL is a bit more for the MH to take on.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 17 February 2013, 01:04:40
Well with the reunification of FWL, is taking old league worlds really good idea for the MH? I mean even weaken as it is the FWL is a bit more for the MH to take on.
The FWL isn't weakened, it's gone.  None of the remnant states are going to attacks the Hegemony for picking up a few independent worlds, they're too busy fighting each other, or fighting for survival against encroaching foreign powers.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 17 February 2013, 03:10:57
The FWL isn't weakened, it's gone.  None of the remnant states are going to attacks the Hegemony for picking up a few independent worlds, they're too busy fighting each other, or fighting for survival against encroaching foreign powers.

I believe cavalier1685 is talking about the reunification of the FWL under Captain Jessica Halas-Hughes Marik (talk about a mouthful) in 3139.  Which, of course, is more than half a century after the post-Jihad time period we were discussing.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: cavalier1645 on 18 February 2013, 05:27:20
I believe cavalier1685 is talking about the reunification of the FWL under Captain Jessica Halas-Hughes Marik (talk about a mouthful) in 3139.  Which, of course, is more than half a century after the post-Jihad time period we were discussing.

Yes I am didn't know what time period your discussing my bad :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 February 2013, 11:38:33
Thatsnot happening for a long time. Rhere are no psychics in the game so they can't look 60 years in the future to see that the FWL gets back togerher. They're doing what is good for what they forsee for their future.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 April 2013, 01:22:11
So, now that Era Report 3145 has not only confirmed that Niops has lost any battlearmor/PA(L) production facilities, and has assigned them the Periphery RAT with a -1 modifier (same as the other little Periphery powers), anyone care to speculate on what kind of production, and what likely designs, Niops has been able to recover by the 3130s-3145 range?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 16 April 2013, 01:51:37
Bubbamechs. All Bubbamechs All the time.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Cik on 17 April 2013, 00:59:29
hi guys, what's a niops association?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 17 April 2013, 07:19:48
hi guys, what's a niops association?

This. (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=niops+association&l=1)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: tapdancingbeavers on 17 April 2013, 07:30:15
That looks rather like a google, not a niops! :P

(They both sound like fantastical creatures though.)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Death by Zeus on 17 April 2013, 15:35:28
 ;D Kit....smartass...... ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 17 April 2013, 18:58:45
Hey he's a writer, give him some slack. So he took the hard way out.

TT  O0
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 17 April 2013, 20:57:28
hi guys, what's a niops association?

In no particular non-canon order...

(http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080316171723/stargate/images/3/36/Colonel_O'Neill.jpg)(http://static.mwomercs.com/img/gallery/7D1ACB881607C7E8F801D848CC3E2409.jpg)(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/SHODAN_hires.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a0/Cc_kane_shot.jpg/256px-Cc_kane_shot.jpg)(http://www.wallsonline.org/wallpapers/2012/12/Elf-girl-and-pigeons--485x728.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z335/HikageMaru/Battletech/Niops-Comptuers.png)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 17 April 2013, 21:07:30
I never really saw us as NOD... ???

Crazy Tesla Coil wielding Red Alert Soviets, maybe. ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 17 April 2013, 21:20:03
I never really saw us as NOD... ???

Crazy Tesla Coil wielding Red Alert Soviets, maybe. ;D

He's a reasonable visual stand-in for Col Gorky Zubok. Although I suppose there's also Yuri (http://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/16991-command-conquer-red-alert-2-windows-screenshot-yuri-and-his.jpg)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 17 April 2013, 21:26:36
...wow. It just occurred to me that I was still working at my last job when FGC-verse was, like, active and well-known. That was, what, 2009? 2010?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 17 April 2013, 21:39:51
...wow. It just occurred to me that I was still working at my last job when FGC-verse was, like, active and well-known. That was, what, 2009? 2010?

Yes. I was doing my technical writing cert at the time, so that is the correct time frame.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 17 April 2013, 21:51:00
This. (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=niops+association&l=1)

i find it funny this thread is the 2nd result on that search. there really isn't much on niops is there?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 17 April 2013, 22:36:54
i find it funny this thread is the 2nd result on that search. there really isn't much on niops is there?

Pretty fringy even for BattleTech.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 18 April 2013, 08:41:06
Pretty fringy even for BattleTech.

What we lack in numbers we make up for with obnoxiousness, er, enthusiasm.

Yeah, that's it.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 18 April 2013, 11:29:04
Hey, what other faction has elves in UrbanMechs?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 April 2013, 15:24:02
Hey, what other faction has elves in UrbanMechs?

 The Jarn folk?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Nerroth on 18 April 2013, 16:07:38
The JàrnFòlk have no BattleMechs.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 18 April 2013, 16:09:16
I thought they were Space Vikings, too.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 18 April 2013, 18:41:15
What we lack in numbers we make up for with obnoxiousness, er, enthusiasm.

Yeah, that's it.
That's obniopsiousness.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 18 April 2013, 18:44:43
I thought they were Space Vikings, too.
Well, elves do come from pretty much the same Northern European over-culture as the Vikings.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 18 April 2013, 19:42:21
So, now that Era Report 3145 has not only confirmed that Niops has lost any battlearmor/PA(L) production facilities, and has assigned them the Periphery RAT with a -1 modifier (same as the other little Periphery powers), anyone care to speculate on what kind of production, and what likely designs, Niops has been able to recover by the 3130s-3145 range?

i'd love to speculate.. but i don't have the Periphery RAT's with which to base my speculations on. :(

i would imagine that Niops is now limited to whatever they can buy/steal/salvage the same way other small periphery nations are, though i would hope that the remains of their once mighty workshops could at least be up to the task of building spare parts.


hmm.. we know in the past Niops could build copies of SLDF mechs. even after their workshop based industry got damaged so badly, why couldn't they be able to produce mechs still, just at a less complex tech level? they should be able to build Primitives at the very least. those should require less resources and less work to build than SLDF level stuff.
something on par with a Primative TDR-1C Thunderbolt should be easily within their reach.

i would hope however that they still have some SLDF tech units tooling around to provide backbone to their forces..
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 18 April 2013, 20:08:59
I can see them producing a SLDF Royal every 6 months or so, by hand. With another 3 micro-factories producing 3 more non-SLDF tech.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 19 April 2013, 14:46:52
The JàrnFòlk have no BattleMechs.

 Wow... it was a joke...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Nerroth on 20 May 2013, 19:05:09
One thing I picked up on from earlier in the thread is the issue of the Capellan refugees' ethnicity/culture.

According to the AToW data in ER:3145, the secondary languages listed are Arabic, Bulgarian, and Urdu. I'm not sure if there's a similar entry for the Association in FM:3085, however.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: hpackrat on 22 June 2013, 03:01:37
Out of curiosity, how close is the Niops Association from Novo Franklin? The fluff says that its only a few light years away & within easy reach. That implies that they're within one or two jumps of each other. Would that mean Novo Franklin is close to the FWL border?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: tapdancingbeavers on 22 June 2013, 03:40:10
Out of curiosity, how close is the Niops Association from Novo Franklin? The fluff says that its only a few light years away & within easy reach. That implies that they're within one or two jumps of each other. Would that mean Novo Franklin is close to the FWL border?

Novo Franklin and Niops are on opposite sides of the inner sphere, Niops is on the FWL side and Franklin on the Outworlds Alliance/Draconis Combine side.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: hpackrat on 22 June 2013, 05:11:35
Novo Franklin and Niops are on opposite sides of the inner sphere, Niops is on the FWL side and Franklin on the Outworlds Alliance/Draconis Combine side.

I am aware that on a 2D map, Niops & Novo Franklin are on opposite sides but the fluff still says that they're within easy reach of each other. Is it possible that under a 3D map, the two systems are closer than they seem?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: BrokenMnemonic on 22 June 2013, 05:16:14
I am aware that on a 2D map, Niops & Novo Franklin are on opposite sides but the fluff still says that they're within easy reach of each other. Is it possible that under a 3D map, the two systems are closer than they seem?
Not really. Which fluff are you looking at?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 22 June 2013, 09:44:13
That's weird, because I'm pretty sure Novo Franklin is over by the Outworlds.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Nerroth on 22 June 2013, 10:46:20
Perhaps you're thinking of Astrokaszy (http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Astrokaszy)?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: tapdancingbeavers on 22 June 2013, 19:35:52
Quote
I am aware that on a 2D map, Niops & Novo Franklin are on opposite sides but the fluff still says that they're within easy reach of each other. Is it possible that under a 3D map, the two systems are closer than they seem?

What background says that?  I can't see how changing to a 3-D map is going to bring the systems closer since all you are doing is adding an extra axis, if anything that is going to make them further apart.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: hpackrat on 23 June 2013, 23:02:05
Field Manual: Periphery 10982 pg-108 "The Niops Association is just a few light years distant, however, and several of Novo Franklin's city-states actively trade with the tiny power, assuring that resources needed to keep the world and its society functioning are present."

This statement pretty much states that Niops & Novo Franklin are near enough for there to be active trading between the two systems.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: tapdancingbeavers on 23 June 2013, 23:10:37
That statement is wrong then, even in Periphery 1st edition the two locations were on opposite sides of the inner sphere; maybe they meant another planet rather than Niops or it's just a case of mistaken location but there's no way the two places could be said to be just a few light years apart.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 11 September 2013, 16:58:11
So, FM3145...

Spoilers Abound.

The national government was apparently unable to get its act together until 3097, so it really was a miracle the Space Romans didn't pick us off before then. The new government sounds kind of weak, to be honest, propped up by The Republic (well, until they went away) and Interstellar Expeditions (who now funds nearly half of the NAM's yearly budget). It also seems that the Jihad has reinforced the populations' isolationist streak - not to the point of closed borders, because Niops is more reliant on trade now than ever, but I imagine there's definitely a much stronger anti-foreigner atmosphere than pre-Jihad. Also, it seems like there's growing planetary rivalry between V, VI and VII

The IE thing makes me semi-happy, because, to quote myself:

Quote from: Niopsian
I like the idea of Niops becoming a marshaling point for Interstellar Expeditions missions into the Rimward/Spinward Deep Periphery. It keeps it relevant for the short term and provides a good amount of traffic in and out of the system for trade - which they can use to rebuild infrastructure and/or hire additional defenders.

I'd be happier if it didn't mean we're mostly a banana republic now but I'm so rarely right I'll settle for half a loaf.

The Project Workshop is still gone. Goodbye, hand built 'Mechs of awesomeness. We do have a military academy now, so there's that.

All in all, I'm kind of bummed. I mean, I realize Niops is never going to shake the pillars of the universe or anything, but I will admit I was hoping for more. I'm not asking to be the Canopians, just better than the Fronc Reaches.  :P
[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 September 2013, 18:29:48
Ye gods...can't pick up my copy till late tonight, but sounds like something I need to get.

So, with the workshops gone, what the heck is the Militia fielding?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 11 September 2013, 18:50:26
Ye gods...can't pick up my copy till late tonight, but sounds like something I need to get.

So, with the workshops gone, what the heck is the Militia fielding?

Whatever it can pick up in trade with the Rim Commonality, the Regulans, the Magistracy and - get this - the Marians.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 September 2013, 18:59:26
Quote from: Niopsian
Whatever it can pick up in trade with the Rim Commonality, the Regulans, the Magistracy and - get this - the Marians.

Say what now? The Marians?  Seriously?  I can see the others, but that makes the kind of sense that doesn't.

So. Banana republic for IE and the RotS, complete loss of domestic production...wow. Niops really took it in the shorts.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 11 September 2013, 19:43:34
IIRC it said they barely have any PA(L)s anymore, and the ones they have are basically stuck guarding important things where they hopefully won't get destroyed, maybe.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 11 September 2013, 21:40:50
IIRC it said they barely have any PA(L)s anymore, and the ones they have are basically stuck guarding important things where they hopefully won't get destroyed, maybe.

Specifically, they're all on Niops VII protecting "government facilities". From whom, I wonder? Disgruntled civilians from Niops V and VI?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 September 2013, 22:36:47
Well, that's a depressing thought.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 12 September 2013, 01:32:43
IIRC it said they barely have any PA(L)s anymore, and the ones they have are basically stuck guarding important things where they hopefully won't get destroyed, maybe.

OK, picked it up and read through it tonight.  I found that section on the NAM especially odd:


"The one bright spot in an otherwise bleak recent history has been the formal addition of infantry forces to the NAM in both unarmored and battle armor alike."


1.  Wasn't it always?
2.  With an equipment rating of D, which would  preclude availability of BA, how does that work?  Just the token Nighthawks?

"The NAM currently has four squads of the ancient Nighthawk Mk XXI power armor— representing all of the suits left in active service today. These assets are used exclusively to protect the government facilities on  Niops VII."

That makes it sound like Niops is the only nation still actively fielding the Nighthawk XXI, but it's still on the Lyrannd Republic lists.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 12 September 2013, 01:50:18
I read it as those 4 squads being all the BA (or at least all the Nighthawks) left in Niops service.   As you mentioned, with an ER of D, they shouldn't have BA at all
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 12 September 2013, 07:48:29
I read it as those 4 squads being all the BA (or at least all the Nighthawks) left in Niops service.   As you mentioned, with an ER of D, they shouldn't have BA at all

No, that means they shouldn't use the BA RATs at all.  I'm also not especially inclined to take FM3145's statement that minor Periphery factions completely lack access to BA at face value.  Among other things, Niops is importing from the Marians.  One of the Hegemony's major military exports for years has been the Ravager.  Then there's the part where the book itself goes out of its way to mention they still have a handful of Nighthawks.  I take that remark more as guidance and an instruction on how to use the RATs.

As far as force availability goes where the MUL is concerned, Niops actually has access to everything on the Periphery General list, or it will once we get the full Dark Age era lists out.  We expect players to use their own discretion, creativity, and preferences to guide them when they use the MUL and that goes double for factions that are too small to be tracked at that level.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 12 September 2013, 08:32:03
No, that means they shouldn't use the BA RATs at all.  I'm also not especially inclined to take FM3145's statement that minor Periphery factions completely lack access to BA at face value.  Among other things, Niops is importing from the Marians.  One of the Hegemony's major military exports for years has been the Ravager.  Then there's the part where the book itself goes out of its way to mention they still have a handful of Nighthawks.  I take that remark more as guidance and an instruction on how to use the RATs.

As far as force availability goes where the MUL is concerned, Niops actually has access to everything on the Periphery General list, or it will once we get the full Dark Age era lists out.  We expect players to use their own discretion, creativity, and preferences to guide them when they use the MUL and that goes double for factions that are too small to be tracked at that level.

Bubbamechs it is.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 12 September 2013, 08:35:08
Send Nyops may make instruction to Collegium Caelum bellorum or Collegue for Mechwarrior and Aerospace Fighter, maybe BA Pilot
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 12 September 2013, 16:07:14
The option of the Theseus or Asterion (cannot remember which) also exists since it is being exported and the neighboring Canopus also sells the Amazon.  Niops makes a good stop on the trade route from the Magistrix to the Rim Commonality (via Astrokrazy) or the Hegemony.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 12 September 2013, 17:39:59
I'd also include all the 3025-era list as well, as such tech is low enough to be assumed eiter built or salvaged.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 September 2013, 02:31:49
Know what I'd love to see them buy?  Marauder battlesuits off the Marians, and MAD-3Ms off the FWL states or MAD-3D milsurp off the Lyrans.

Marauders carrying Marauders. :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 13 September 2013, 16:05:45
...and the neighboring Canopus also sells the Amazon.

Considering that the Amazon didn't proliferate to the Capellans until the Dark Age, I rather doubt they're selling them the way you're implying.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 13 September 2013, 19:01:44
Which happened in 3132 . . . so a bit over twelve years to sell a few to a neighboring trade partner & minor faction who also just happens to be a minor block to the Hegemony.  Or given as part of a diplomatic initiative from Canopus.

I am not suggesting battalions of the design, but rather maybe a squad or two.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Moonsword on 14 September 2013, 05:37:54
And I'm suggesting that the Canopians probably aren't spreading the design around that way, especially when they have the Theseus handy to offer in large numbers.

If it works for your game, fine, but "sell" is not the verb I'd use to describe how Canopus is handling the Amazon.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 17 September 2013, 18:07:51
Know what I'd love to see them buy?  Marauder battlesuits off the Marians, and MAD-3Ms off the FWL states or MAD-3D milsurp off the Lyrans.

Marauders carrying Marauders. :)

Heh... I thought something alike.

But instead of MAD-3D or -3M, I'd go more: Maurader MAD-9S.

ECM and Probe with TAG(Light).

Good Niopian armor: Testudos and Heavy LRM Carriesr supported by Gladius and Light SRM Carriers.

TT  >:D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 17 September 2013, 19:44:33
Wow, that would be nasty. So much so, I have to wonder if the Marians would sell them to Niops then.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 17 September 2013, 19:47:16
Meanwhile, chanman has figured out the first 'Mech Niops will put back into production with their degraded industrial infrastructure: the Hicklander.

http://btechunits.com/index.php?topic=320.0
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 17 September 2013, 19:48:45
Wow, that would be nasty. So much so, I have to wonder if the Marians would sell them to Niops then.

Hint: Third-party trading.  [legal]

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 17 September 2013, 20:18:16
I bet they would.  The new Caesar seems to be big on spreading goodwill and Marian culture rather than raiding and pillaging.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 25 September 2013, 22:51:35
Well, if you need something I'm sure it would ne easier if we wete just one big happy family  O:-)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 26 September 2013, 11:37:33
Yeah seriously Niops doesn't look good getting weaker after the Jihad while their neighbours get stronger and stronger.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 27 September 2013, 12:23:45
Yeah seriously Niops doesn't look good getting weaker after the Jihad while their neighbours get stronger and stronger.

At this stage, if I were a leader in the NA government in 3145 I'd start taking a good, hard look at petitioning the FWL for admittance.

That, or lobby Clan Sea Fox really, really hard in hopes of getting adopted as a clearinghouse/depot world.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 27 September 2013, 12:44:31
That is if the NA does not become a banana republic for the Marians... >:D #P
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 27 September 2013, 14:00:51
They already basically are a banana republic for Interstellar Expeditions, who go a huge way towards keeping Niops afloat.  Don't be surprised to see that trend either continued or formalized.

IE is the new Explorer Corps and Niops may well be the new Columbus Base.  Not sure I have a problem with this.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 27 September 2013, 16:46:18
They already basically are a banana republic for Interstellar Expeditions, who go a huge way towards keeping Niops afloat.  Don't be surprised to see that trend either continued or formalized.

IE is the new Explorer Corps and Niops may well be the new Columbus Base.  Not sure I have a problem with this.

I'm not confident that IE has the resources to keep all of the rowdy neighbors at bay, though. If I'm going to have house guests for the long term I want ones that will give the Space Romans significant pause.

Although, if we rack up enough outside 'partners' contributing to our defense, we really could become the Babylon 5 of the Inner Sphere.  ;)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 27 September 2013, 18:05:15
I'm not confident that IE has the resources to keep all of the rowdy neighbors at bay, though. If I'm going to have house guests for the long term I want ones that will give the Space Romans significant pause.

Although, if we rack up enough outside 'partners' contributing to our defense, we really could become the Babylon 5 of the Inner Sphere.  ;)

If I recall correctly, Interstellar Expeditions makes up half of Niops' current governmental budget, which means that, while they may not have direct resources, in terms of factories and the like, to supply Niops, they are the ones bankrolling Niops buying from the open market, where their status as an actual legitimate government will help.  Niops also, despite their small size, has a bevy of warm bodies to supply, from scientists to techs to grunt infantrymen to guard IE's scientists and techs.

I also suspect Interstellar Expeditions has deeper pockets than most people realize.  They have numerous DropShips and JumpShips they operate (though it looks like they often pay for commercial ship operators on the open market to work for them), and fielded their own Bug-Eye class, before that ship's untimely demise.  I seriously need to reread ISP3 to see where their funding comes from.

As for invasion by their neighbors, I don't see it at this point: any internal unrest on Niops isn't spilling over to its neighbors, and the major items of value they had, the Workshops and their scientific knowledge, was either lost to the Marians during the Jihad, nuked by the Blakists, destroyed during their own civil war, or is still being sold cheaply enough on the open market.  There's no longer any incentive to invade Niops.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 27 September 2013, 22:49:29
If anything the Niopsians hate the FWL more than any other realm, so they would never petition it for admittance.

Gio, which WarShip is that in your pic?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 27 September 2013, 23:04:18
Not Automated jumpship the TRO  Boondocks?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 27 September 2013, 23:08:00
Nope. The only ship in Bookdocks was the Cloud Ten Airship.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Stormcrow on 27 September 2013, 23:17:21
If anything the Niopsians hate the FWL more than any other realm, so they would never petition it for admittance.

Gio, which WarShip is that in your pic?
I thought it was the Dreadnought, but I'm wrong
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 27 September 2013, 23:19:38
Its the Bright Star Auto Scout, from XTRO: Boondongles.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 27 September 2013, 23:28:53
Oh. Thanks, Baldur Mekorig. Looks like Andromeda's Slipscout finally migrated over to BT.

Sorry Adacas. You were right O0
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 September 2013, 01:10:42
Its the Bright Star Auto Scout, from XTRO: Boondongles.

Yup.  My current running  joke. Since Boondoggles came out is that the the Bright Star ended up the Syrinx AI from FGC Niops.  Also, I just think the idea of the ship is cooler than hell, And would be tickled pink if it's still in operation somewhere in canon. 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 28 September 2013, 19:16:36
looks a bit like a Cylon Tanker from BSG actually..
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 28 September 2013, 19:56:05
I think Niops will stay independent as it holds a place between Canopus, the Hegemony and FWL . . . Regulans and Anduriens might also have an interest in it staying independent.  So yeah, the B5 link does somewhat extend- it should be a great RPG playground due to that nature.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 28 September 2013, 23:04:07
looks a bit like a Cylon Tanker from BSG actually..

I was thinking it looks more like an older Battlestar. Without the flight pods.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 October 2013, 18:42:02
For kicks, and inspired by Bergie, I looked at the Random Allocation Tables from Field Manual 3145, took into account NAM's D-rating, and looked at what the most common vehicles for each class were.

Figuring a roll of 7 is your most likely outcome on 2d6, with 6 and 8 being the next two most common numbers, you end up with something like this:

Light 'Mechs (+2 on roll)
7 = LTD-1 Brigand (What.)
6 = COM-4H Commando (Marian surplus)
8 = STG-5R Stinger (Thanks, Taurians!)
Notes:The complete lack of UrbanMechs on the Periphery General light 'Mech list will make the elves of Tir na Niops very sad.

Medium 'Mechs (+2 on roll)
7 = PXH-4W Phoenix Hawk (WoB Salvage?)
6 = CN9-Ar Centurion (Marians again?)
8 = KW1-LH2 Lineholder (Hmm...Republic sales?)

Heavy 'Mechs (+2 roll)
7 = TDR-9T Thunderbolt (Taurians again)
6 = ARC-6W Archer (Marian rocket launcher boat)
8 = KSC-5MC Koschei (Magistracy?)

Assault 'Mechs (+2 roll)
7 = AWS-9Q Awesome (nice!)
6 = STK-5M Stalker (FWL states)
8 = VTR-9K Victor (Hmm...)

Light Vehicles (+1 roll)
7 = Hunter
6 = Scorpion
8 = Tamerlane

Medium Vehicles (+1 roll)
7 = Light SRM Carrier
6 = Vedette
8 = JES I

Heavy Vehicles (+1 roll)
7 = Manticore
6 = Pike
8 = LRM Carrier

Assault Vehicles (+1 roll)
7 = Behemoth (Go big or go home)
6 = Demolisher
8 = Demolisher (Gauss)

Light Aerospace Fighters (+1 roll)
7 = TR-7 Thrush (pulled out of a warehouse, either in Niops or the Magistracy)
6 = SB-27 Sabre (everyone seems to have these)
8 = SYD-Z1 Seydlitz (Lyran castoffs)

Medium Aerospace Fighters (+1 roll)
7 = F-90 Stingray (FWL surplus)
6 = SL-17 Shilone (say what?)
8 = LTN-G15 Lightning (another dirt common fighter)

Heavy Aerospace Fighters (+1 roll)
7 = TR-13 Transgressor (More Magistracy surplus?  Good fighter though)
6 = SL-15 Slayer (back to chanman and my FGC joke about the ease of making the airframe)
8 = EGL-R6 Eagle (FWL surplus?)

DropShips (+1 roll)
7 = Leopard CV (our new capital warships!)
6 = Triumph (gotta move those combined arms units somehow)
8 = Danais (dirt common commercial ship, and probably the most common Niops dropper - these probably represent civvie DropShips hired out by NAM to supplement the above ships)

Currently, NAM's got a single regiment of 'Mechs at 85% strength.  Given that BattleMechs aren't their primary militia asset, it's entirely possible that Niops is close to pushing three regiments of mainly infantry supported by vehicles on top of that.  Their aero assets probably aren't as impressive as the 54 fighters of their old aero regiment.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 04 October 2013, 21:20:20
I'd give them some old Czar / Black Eagle and Drost IIA's for comfort. Fluff has them still floating around out there.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 05 October 2013, 09:22:52
Quote
6 = ARC-6W Archer (Marian rocket launcher boat)

One could think that abomination is Marian, but sadly, it is Taurian. :P :-\
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 05 October 2013, 09:49:31
If the Archer-6W is Taurus model, in terms Nyops Shilone could maybe buy some of the remaining production of the Marian Hegemony Hadrian Plant in Pompeii, the model 3050 manufactured under license from the Outworlds Alliance
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 06 October 2013, 09:38:50
Crazy question: What would IE roll on as a Sphere-wide corporation if it just started buying equipment and gifting it to the militia? Would they use the Mercs RAT?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Rainbow 6 on 06 October 2013, 09:43:05
I would assume so as they would be the same designs being sold to corporations.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 07 October 2013, 02:35:29
As for the Victor . . . the -9K is fluffed as being the same as the -9D which was built in a lot of the Chaos March and SIC . . . so Capellan and Canopian surplus?

Given what seem to be good relations with the Rim Commonality and the Marians, it might be that both sides are trying to buy favor.  Of course the Regulans are trying to influence Niops as well . . .
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Lord Harlock on 07 October 2013, 16:21:29
Yup.  My current running  joke. Since Boondoggles came out is that the the Bright Star ended up the Syrinx AI from FGC Niops.  Also, I just think the idea of the ship is cooler than hell, And would be tickled pink if it's still in operation somewhere in canon.

Ah memories, I really did want to spin off the New Avalon Catholic Church to secretly battle FGC Niops's Transhumanist.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 October 2013, 14:51:57
So, I was thinking, which, as you all know  is almost as dangerous as letting chanman think.

As of 3145, Niops has an 85% strength BattleMech regiment, and 'Mechs are considered to be secondary to infantry and vehicles.  Presumably, it's like the pre-Jihad days, where Niops fields three to four infantry regiments, most likely with the 'Mechs split between regiments.  No exact mention of infantry, vehicle or fighter strength had been made.

So, by 3145, Niops is slowly getting their crap back together.  Eventually, they'll either rebuild a Workshop or two, or perhaps a whole factory.  It may be some time before you can produce any variety or designs at that point.

So, your goal: choose one to three designs to fill out the NAM. They could be 'Mechs, fighters, battlearmor or vehicles, or even small craft.  While Niops may not have lost technical expertise, lower tech will be easier to get production running on.

What would you build?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 October 2013, 17:27:19
My own thoughts on what to build:

1. Keep it as simple as possible, by minimizing the number of parts you need, especially big ticket items like fusion engines.

2.  Don't go with three 'Mechs, but diversify: build a trooper 'Mech, infantry support vehicle and interceptor/anti-DropShip fighter.

Possibilities:

CRB-27b Crab
-- Very solid trooper, strong SLDF theme, but does Niops have the blueprints?
Black Wasp robotic aerospace fighter
-- Uses the same size engine as the Royal Crab, also uses double heat sinks, uses ERLLs, as does the Crab.
-- Difficulty: does Niops have the blueprints? Can you trust them as your frontline ASF?
Vehicle: ??? (I can't find anything using a 250 fusion)

Corsair
-- Old SLDF bird, solid design, basic in the extreme, yet decent versatility.
Swayback or Centurion AL
-- Both use the same engine, while the CN9-AL uses a LL backed by MLs.
-- Pity there's no LL/ML Swayback.
Chaparral Tank
-- Same engine, and gives your infantry mobile Arrow IV support.

Wilder ideas:
SHD-X2 Shadow Hawk LAMs
-- Two for one!
-- Crappy trooper 'Mech meets crappy aerospace fighter!

WSP-100 Wasp LAM
-- Davy Crocketts for everyone!
-- One for you, and one for you, and one for you!

UrbanMechs
-- Let's make the elves of Tir Na Niops happy!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 16 October 2013, 18:07:43
Let us rule out what you do not need in a mech or vehicle, which might be a way to go . . .

I would also say the vehicle does not have to use a SFE, but might be preferable with ICE- after all they are the defenders and are not as worried about the logistics which is why you use a SFE.  With that said . . . I think a LBX armed Po (which could be swapped with a LGR if they could get the prints) or a LBX armed Zhukov would be the best heavy armor option.  The armor should be the anvil for the mech's hammer to pound people against.

I like the Crab and heartily endorse its production.  But the other end of the mech question is . . . what are they/could they be getting off the Marians, Rim Commonality, Canopians (perhaps Anduriens?) and Regulans?  Vehicles would be sort of the same but to a lesser extent.  Also do not forget the pre-3140s independent FWL worlds like Kendall and Westover- decent mechs, light armor and aero.

No ML Swayback?  Have you forgotten the awesome HBK-4P?  I grant it will not have the range to engage anything but . . .
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 October 2013, 18:27:38
Niops already gets a metric crapton from their neighbors:  at the end of the Jihad, the Niops Association Militia was at around 10% strength, and as of 3145, they have an 85% strength 'Mech regiment on top of their mainly infantry/vehicle militia.  With no more Workshops, either techs were excellent at battlefield salvage, or nearly everything they currently field was imported.

For Niops, which prided itself on self-sufficiency, that's a frightening concept.  I have no doubt that they will eventually want to restart local production of military hardware, but suspect that they're going to be limited in the number of lines they can produce, and I suspect that whatever it is, it will be something Interstellar Expeditions will also find useful.

And, yeah, I remember the HBK-4P, and am quite fond of it. I was referring more to a Hunchback with large lasers (they all have MLs), so it could share weapons with the Corsair: I suspect that whatever Niops fields, they'll reuse parts whenever and wherever they can.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 16 October 2013, 18:58:13
Hmm...

Weapon Carrier, either of the three.
Wyvern-5Nsi, same engine.
Seydlitz-21b, non-cannon version : ERL, DHS, FA armor, also same engine.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 16 October 2013, 19:04:58
That 4P hunchy may not have rande but its a nasty city fighter. The only thing its really missing is JJ's.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 October 2013, 19:42:47
Hmm...

Weapon Carrier, either of the three.
Wyvern-5Nsi, same engine.
Seydlitz-21b, non-cannon version : ERL, DHS, FA armor, also same engine.

TT

Remind me to reread Liberation of Terra 2 when I get home tonight.

Also, if extended range lasers and the carriers Ferro armor end up being an issue (the Wyvern uses standard armor, even on the 5sl, right?), and if wanting to stick to canon designs, the original Wyvern and Seydlitz, along with the LB-2X Carrier, could work.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 17 October 2013, 08:52:45
First, what sort of tech level are you limiting the NAM to for self-sufficient production? Succession Wars-era cheap & easy like the Filtvelt Coalition or a slow climb back to Royal tech like previous?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 17 October 2013, 08:54:49
Quietly Nyops can build the LBX-2 Carrier, I think Hadrian Industries is manufactured or versions of CA-2 Carrier in Pompey, in terms of models that build the gallery is very extensive model can build some Star League or rescue some of the early Nucleo or older models of the New Dallas
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 17 October 2013, 12:07:05
First, what sort of tech level are you limiting the NAM to for self-sufficient production? Succession Wars-era cheap & easy like the Filtvelt Coalition or a slow climb back to Royal tech like previous?

That is inherent in the question, actually: what could Niops build back up to in a reasonable timeframe?

In the old days, Niops was relatively high-tech, but production rates were extremely slow.  I'd operate under the assumption that the more advanced the technology in the combat units they produce, the longer it will take.

We don't know the level of civilian casualties suffered during their civil war or the Word of Bake invasion but, in the latter, nukes got lobbed around on their capital world.  They may be well below the old number of 19 million, perhaps as low as the 12 million I'd read about for current Randis or New St. Andrews.  Both of them started with either industrial or primitive level tech, but, then, neither really had any manufacturing history, either, which Niops did.

In the end, figuring out what tech base is as much an issue as figuring out what units fit your new doctrine.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 17 October 2013, 12:39:56
That is inherent in the question, actually: what could Niops build back up to in a reasonable timeframe?

In the old days, Niops was relatively high-tech, but production rates were extremely slow.  I'd operate under the assumption that the more advanced the technology in the combat units they produce, the longer it will take.

We don't know the level of civilian casualties suffered during their civil war or the Word of Bake invasion but, in the latter, nukes got lobbed around on their capital world.  They may be well below the old number of 19 million, perhaps as low as the 12 million I'd read about for current Randis or New St. Andrews.  Both of them started with either industrial or primitive level tech, but, then, neither really had any manufacturing history, either, which Niops did.

In the end, figuring out what tech base is as much an issue as figuring out what units fit your new doctrine.

For an initial manufacturing venture, I think I'd look at something like a RetroTech security 'Mech. Something around the 15 - 25 ton range.

There's two reasons for this. First, sticking to RetroTech means that all the parts and pieces should be able to be produced locally, which means it's a road map to building a production pipeline for more state of the art hardware later. And it's a simple enough design that it should allow for greater production than one unit per semester.  ;)

Secondly, given the undercurrent of unrest and dissatisfaction with the Niops VII government, it gives said government expanded security and crowd control capabilities.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 17 October 2013, 13:20:09

 given the undercurrent of unrest and dissatisfaction with the Niops VII government, it gives said government expanded security and crowd control capabilities.


And for that we are good neighbors of the Marian Hegemony?, to spare the population let us relocate the slave, no no no such word, Workers at low budget, better not let us we take them to be divided into 8 or 9 colonies different
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 17 October 2013, 15:02:12
For an initial manufacturing venture, I think I'd look at something like a RetroTech security 'Mech. Something around the 15 - 25 ton range.

There's two reasons for this. First, sticking to RetroTech means that all the parts and pieces should be able to be produced locally, which means it's a road map to building a production pipeline for more state of the art hardware later. And it's a simple enough design that it should allow for greater production than one unit per semester.  ;)

Secondly, given the undercurrent of unrest and dissatisfaction with the Niops VII government, it gives said government expanded security and crowd control capabilities.

It's a bit outside your mass range, but the Rock Hound and ita variants may be a good choice, especially given the Niops relationship with Interatellar Expeditions.  Specifically, Niops could make good use of hordes of Space Hounds for germanium mining, and they could double as local defense and exploration 'Mechs.  Eventually you could also use that 160 fusion engine with Locusts, and I'm sure some ASF uses it.

I'm also fond of the primitive WSP-1, which is a decent primitive scout/light combat 'Mech, which would lead to the WSP-1A, which could load specialty SRMs, like tear gas rounds.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 17 October 2013, 16:18:05
It's a bit outside your mass range, but the Rock Hound and ita variants may be a good choice, especially given the Niops relationship with Interatellar Expeditions.  Specifically, Niops could make good use of hordes of Space Hounds for germanium mining, and they could double as local defense and exploration 'Mechs.  Eventually you could also use that 160 fusion engine with Locusts, and I'm sure some ASF uses it.

I'm also fond of the primitive WSP-1, which is a decent primitive scout/light combat 'Mech, which would lead to the WSP-1A, which could load specialty SRMs, like tear gas rounds.

I'm drawing a blank here. Which book has the stats?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 17 October 2013, 16:30:20
Handbook Major Periphery States for the Rockhound.  XTRO Primitives Volume 2 for the WSP-1 - think it also has the primitive Banshee.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 18 October 2013, 09:20:20
Then to answer the production question I will split it for each of the 3 choices as well as taking Niops current and possible future tech levels into consideration:

Aerospace - This is essential for system defense, so one of the 3 choices must be a fighter. Lowtech AND hightech choice: Lightning. The AC/20 and MLs make it good warning for any incoming hostile ships or strafing in support of ground troops. When Niops reclaims SL tech level, the Royal Lightning receives a massive boost in range and accuracy. It is also bog standard, easy to maintain and not a faction-specific restricted unit.

Battlesuit - Tanks might be easier to produce and replace, but battlesuits are more versatile and for population control. I think the Fa Shih is the ideal choice for Niops. Not only is it lower on the tech level than the later generation suits, the mines allow it to do a lot of damage to invaders and the modular weapons make it versatile for population control/defense/offense. It's low armor would be murder in IS combat, but 7 pts is very good against the most common weapons fielded by Periphery opponents, especially MLs. However, I suggested this battlesuit almost because of its most useful feature, Mag Clamps, which brings us to the third choice of unit for production:

Mech - Enforcer. While it may lack indirect fire capability it has jump jets and is a good all-round 'Mech. The basic Enforcer is good for lowtech production, but if Niops upgrades to SL tech levels again the Enforcer has some good variants from the -5D and III lines. The most important thing is the mobility allows it to ferry the Mag Clamp Fa Shihs around the battlefield while allowing the Niops military to operate fully integrated among all 3 suggested units and eliminating most terrain restrictions that would limit a tank force.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 18 October 2013, 13:43:21
Side Note:  Turns out the Space Hound drops both SRM-4s from its Rock Hound progenitor, and replaces them with a single small laser.  The rest of the mass is eaten by environmental sealing, a ton of cargo, and fuel for the jump jet.

Then to answer the production question I will split it for each of the 3 choices as well as taking Niops current and possible future tech levels into consideration:

Aerospace - This is essential for system defense, so one of the 3 choices must be a fighter. Lowtech AND hightech choice: Lightning. The AC/20 and MLs make it good warning for any incoming hostile ships or strafing in support of ground troops. When Niops reclaims SL tech level, the Royal Lightning receives a massive boost in range and accuracy. It is also bog standard, easy to maintain and not a faction-specific restricted unit.

Damn, that's a good choice:  it's also got a primitive AC/10 version if they need to ramp up to intro tech.

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Battlesuit - Tanks might be easier to produce and replace, but battlesuits are more versatile and for population control. I think the Fa Shih is the ideal choice for Niops. Not only is it lower on the tech level than the later generation suits, the mines allow it to do a lot of damage to invaders and the modular weapons make it versatile for population control/defense/offense. It's low armor would be murder in IS combat, but 7 pts is very good against the most common weapons fielded by Periphery opponents, especially MLs. However, I suggested this battlesuit almost because of its most useful feature, Mag Clamps, which brings us to the third choice of unit for production:

This one's interesting, and would be ideal...but would the Magistracy or Capellans be willing to part with the blueprints?  MUL lists them as Cappie only, though they're on the RAT for the Magistracy as of 3145, so I'm sure they have the plans by then.  But, while they're old, they're also very xin sheng, so I don't know if they'd give Niops the plans.

Also...that xin sheng is a double-edged sword.  It might be a useful symbol to bolster the underclass of Capellan descent on Niops, but may also flare up pro-Capellan (thus anti-Niops) sentiment.

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Mech - Enforcer. While it may lack indirect fire capability it has jump jets and is a good all-round 'Mech. The basic Enforcer is good for lowtech production, but if Niops upgrades to SL tech levels again the Enforcer has some good variants from the -5D and III lines. The most important thing is the mobility allows it to ferry the Mag Clamp Fa Shihs around the battlefield while allowing the Niops military to operate fully integrated among all 3 suggested units and eliminating most terrain restrictions that would limit a tank force.

I agree a 50-ton 4/6/4 'Mech that shares the 200-rating engine from the Lightning would be perfect.  I'm worried about whether or not Niops could get the plans, though.  Pity we never saw the original SLDF version (which was unbuilt blueprints) with twin medium lasers instead of the single large laser.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 18 October 2013, 17:15:13
I'd go for a bit heavier lineup, maybe it's the Coyote in me coming out.

ASF: Rapier.  A great old SLDF standby, with a Royal version if they advance the tech along
BA: I'd go for the Infilitartor II (Magnetic).  It may not have soe of the functionality of the Fa Shih, and has slightly less armor, but the Stealth, ECM, and MagShot are a great combo with many advantages over the Fa Shih in other areas.
Mech: If you're wanting engine commonality with the ASF, you have to take a 4/6 85 tonner.  So I'd take the BattleMaster.  It's got tons of variants to choose from, a gun for every situation, from MGs to a PPC, an SRM-6 with 2 tons of ammo for fun with different loads, etc etc.  Even a couple of Royal variant if you progress that far.  That said, I'd forget about engine commonality and go for a Black Knight, myself.  I'm big on durable flashbulbs. No ammo, standard engine, several variants to choose from including a Royal, god speed, a good mech for commanders, battlefists for additional utility off the battlefield, and it's not an assault mech, which is probably a selling point as far as resource-intensiveness goes.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Doug Glendower on 18 October 2013, 18:04:57
Crab? Starslayer.

There is almost no military situation in Battletech that cannot be solved with the application of more Starslayer. Niops can just get the blueprints from Blue Star in a black bag job. :P
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 18 October 2013, 18:09:43
Actually, the Black Knight is an interesting choice: Niops used to build them, and there are multiple tech levels available, including an intro tech one.

For commonality, there's the Eagle, a LL/ML boat with the same engine, that comes in primitive, intro and standard flavors, the latter of which includes a Royal.

It would be absolutely hilarious to see Niops make their own retrotech Black Knight design to go with the Eagle as they rebuild their tech base.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 18 October 2013, 22:42:26
Damn, that's a good choice:  it's also got a primitive AC/10 version if they need to ramp up to intro tech.

Exactly. Too bad specialty ammo cant be used in aero fights.

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This one's interesting, and would be ideal...but would the Magistracy or Capellans be willing to part with the blueprints?  MUL lists them as Cappie only, though they're on the RAT for the Magistracy as of 3145, so I'm sure they have the plans by then.  But, while they're old, they're also very xin sheng, so I don't know if they'd give Niops the plans.

Also...that xin sheng is a double-edged sword.  It might be a useful symbol to bolster the underclass of Capellan descent on Niops, but may also flare up pro-Capellan (thus anti-Niops) sentiment.

Just capture a few Fa Shih/buy them in the black market and reverse-engineer them. As for the name, they can just change it to Invoker or something to avoid the nationalist connotations.

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I agree a 50-ton 4/6/4 'Mech that shares the 200-rating engine from the Lightning would be perfect.  I'm worried about whether or not Niops could get the plans, though.  Pity we never saw the original SLDF version (which was unbuilt blueprints) with twin medium lasers instead of the single large laser.

You make a good point with the engine commonality. Niops should be able to license the plans. Afterall the Marians could get access to the Centurion plans. I thought the original SLDF version turned out to be the Enfield?

As a note, I deliberately avoided heavier designs because of the added logistical burden(which I don't think a nation like Niops can handle efficiently if their entire army becomes heavyweight) as well as the slower rate of production that could hamper replacing battlefield losses. Afterall, Niops is not looking for conquest. What they want is sufficient numbers and strength to act as a strong deterrent to would-be invaders/raiders that would make them go elsewhere for easier pickings.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 19 October 2013, 01:22:47
Exactly. Too bad specialty ammo cant be used in aero fights.

I'm trying to remember if we opened that up to discussion for TacOps/StratOps, or just proceeded to run screaming into the hills of Montana to hide in a cabin if anyone even mentioned the concept.

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Just capture a few Fa Shih/buy them in the black market and reverse-engineer them. As for the name, they can just change it to Invoker or something to avoid the nationalist connotations.

I wonder...would that work for the Kanazuchi?

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You make a good point with the engine commonality. Niops should be able to license the plans. Afterall the Marians could get access to the Centurion plans. I thought the original SLDF version turned out to be the Enfield?

Nope.  Different beasties.  The Enforcer blueprints were found in 2777, and put into production.  The Enfield was found in 2870, and couldn't be produced for much later.  There were strong similarities, though.

As for standardization, it does have a downside: you run the risk of production bottlenecks if there's a problem with any one component.  Take the Black Knight/Eagle combo.  Both use the 300 Vlar, both use standard armor and heat sinks, both use large and medium lasers, and there's even a Marik version of the dumbed-down BL7-KNT that swaps the PPC out for another large laser.

What happens if the fusion plant gets damaged in a raid?  Or the large laser plant?

One answer might be that it might be better to put one production group on each planet:  one fusion engine, one ASF/'Mech/vehicle produced that use it.  While that means dividing up your forces, you have to do that to garrison each world anyway.

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As a note, I deliberately avoided heavier designs because of the added logistical burden(which I don't think a nation like Niops can handle efficiently if their entire army becomes heavyweight) as well as the slower rate of production that could hamper replacing battlefield losses. Afterall, Niops is not looking for conquest. What they want is sufficient numbers and strength to act as a strong deterrent to would-be invaders/raiders that would make them go elsewhere for easier pickings.

Yep, pretty much.  The biggest problem Niops has is that, even at Star League tech levels, the rest of the Inner Sphere has long since surpassed their tech base.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 19 October 2013, 01:25:11
Crab? Starslayer.

There is almost no military situation in Battletech that cannot be solved with the application of more Starslayer. Niops can just get the blueprints from Blue Star in a black bag job. :P

Few are the problems that cannot be solved by suitable application of multiple Starslayers.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 19 October 2013, 03:52:08
I'm trying to remember if we opened that up to discussion for TacOps/StratOps, or just proceeded to run screaming into the hills of Montana to hide in a cabin if anyone even mentioned the concept.

It would be the only way to save the ACs from irrelevancy in fighter combat...

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I wonder...would that work for the Kanazuchi?

Yes it would. Afterall the Germans just took those Czech tanks from Sudetenland and changed them to Panzer 35/38(t).

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Nope.  Different beasties.  The Enforcer blueprints were found in 2777, and put into production.  The Enfield was found in 2870, and couldn't be produced for much later.  There were strong similarities, though.

As for standardization, it does have a downside: you run the risk of production bottlenecks if there's a problem with any one component.  Take the Black Knight/Eagle combo.  Both use the 300 Vlar, both use standard armor and heat sinks, both use large and medium lasers, and there's even a Marik version of the dumbed-down BL7-KNT that swaps the PPC out for another large laser.

What happens if the fusion plant gets damaged in a raid?  Or the large laser plant?

One answer might be that it might be better to put one production group on each planet:  one fusion engine, one ASF/'Mech/vehicle produced that use it.  While that means dividing up your forces, you have to do that to garrison each world anyway.

I see. I wouldn't worry about the original Enforcer anyways, with all the great variants.

But I think the benefits of standardization far outweighs diversification for a beginner army. Field repairs and training the techs are made easier. Of course, once Niops becomes sufficiently advanced again, diversification would be a good thing.

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Yep, pretty much.  The biggest problem Niops has is that, even at Star League tech levels, the rest of the Inner Sphere has long since surpassed their tech base.

It's alright. They can always buy Savage Wolves or Mad Dog IVs from the Sea Foxes if they wanna get serious ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: serack on 19 October 2013, 06:08:33
so your not thinking of building the battlearmor they had been building up to the jihad times?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 19 October 2013, 08:34:56
Nope...it would be nice as a supplement to the Fa Shih but I don't see them doing much good on their own...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 19 October 2013, 09:18:49
so your not thinking of building the battlearmor they had been building up to the jihad times?

Unless they can field enough Nighthawks for every infantryman, the suit is just too underperforming for the 3145 battlefield.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 19 October 2013, 10:44:18
Yup. A PA(L) can only do so much...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 19 October 2013, 15:48:43
You can always buy bucket-armor (Ravager) or Marauders in the weapons market, if not from the MH, from the TC.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 19 October 2013, 16:45:14
Well, yeah, we could buy lots of stuff. Until someone decides they want to stop selling it.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 19 October 2013, 17:44:24
Well, yeah, we could buy lots of stuff. Until someone decides they want to stop selling it.

Heck, i think you could produce the ISBA, it is so old and distribuited that i think that, with some help from IE, you could get the schematics.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 19 October 2013, 22:46:44
Might as well get the Amazon if you want the ISBA. I don't see the Canopians saying no to Niops about it
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 19 October 2013, 23:29:08
Isn't that one of their prime local designs, though?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 19 October 2013, 23:37:19
Yup. But analyzing this from the Canopian perspective, granting Niops an Amazon production license would:

a) pump more cash in the Canopians' famous "money goes" economy
b) prop up a faction in the area to restrict neoLeague & Marian influence
c) the fact that Niops has no expansionist desires would prevent any blowback of this policy
d) improve Niops-Canopian relations and open up more trade/scientific exchanges

The way I see it(from a Canopian perspective), this is a win-win situation
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 21 October 2013, 17:48:37
Good point on the Magistracy.  You can even argue there are benefits to Niops having a large population of Capellan-descended citizens, though, again, that opens up other cans of worms depending on what the 3145 era balance of power is between the upper and lower classes.

You know, if Niops does begin local production of the Space Hound to support their germanium mining efforts and supply Interstellar Expeditions, they could also put that fusion plant to use on another design: the Mercury.  That'd give them a scout unit with an old-school SLDF feel.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 21 October 2013, 17:59:11
Mercury
Whitworth
Rotudra
Locust

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 21 October 2013, 18:14:19
Mercury

8/12, needs MASC and Ferro for the advanced version, but the -98 is available as an intro tech version.
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Whitworth

Oddly enough, this isn't bad as a basic trooper, though it's perhaps better as fire support.

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Rotudra

Ah, yes, the fusion-powered Porsche 928 that masses as much as an IFV
 This design could only come from SLDF procurement. ;)

 
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Locust

TT

Another old favorite. :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 21 October 2013, 18:48:15
I see. I wouldn't worry about the original Enforcer anyways, with all the great variants.

But I think the benefits of standardization far outweighs diversification for a beginner army. Field repairs and training the techs are made easier. Of course, once Niops becomes sufficiently advanced again, diversification would be a good thing.

Another benefit of the 200-rating fusion engines on the Lightning ASF & Enforcer (or Centurion, or Hunchback), is that it opens the door to two vehicles to support your armor and infantry corps, which Niops is placing more emphasis on these days, anyway:  the Chaparral, with its Arrow IV launcher to provide the NAM with some artillery...and the Myrmidon, which I'd completely forgotten existed, since I haven't seen my copy of TR3060 in ages (I'd never replaced the dead tree version with a PDF).  At 40 tons, moving 5/8, with a PPC and SRM-6, and 9 tons of armor, it's a decent choice to use as a main battle tank for Niops.

Maybe Lightnings, Myrmidons and Chaparrals, backed by Whitworths and Mercurys/Locusts, with Space Hounds going to keep the mines open and sales to Interstellar Expeditions.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 21 October 2013, 21:10:20
Ah, yes, the fusion-powered Porsche 928 that masses as much as an IFV
 This design could only come from SLDF procurement. ;)

You'd figure the fact that the 'sports car' is throwing up rooster tails of pavement and turning like a cement truck would give it away, eh?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 21 October 2013, 21:23:25
Sarissa as well, 200 GM.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 22 October 2013, 09:50:20
Good point on the Magistracy.  You can even argue there are benefits to Niops having a large population of Capellan-descended citizens, though, again, that opens up other cans of worms depending on what the 3145 era balance of power is between the upper and lower classes.

Yeah, you probably don't want the Capellans to add Niops to their list of "ancestral worlds to reclaim".

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Ah, yes, the fusion-powered Porsche 928 that masses as much as an IFV
 This design could only come from SLDF procurement. ;)

I always wondered how such a car could get past weight sensors or something to be a spy car.

Another benefit of the 200-rating fusion engines on the Lightning ASF & Enforcer (or Centurion, or Hunchback), is that it opens the door to two vehicles to support your armor and infantry corps, which Niops is placing more emphasis on these days, anyway:  the Chaparral, with its Arrow IV launcher to provide the NAM with some artillery...and the Myrmidon, which I'd completely forgotten existed, since I haven't seen my copy of TR3060 in ages (I'd never replaced the dead tree version with a PDF).  At 40 tons, moving 5/8, with a PPC and SRM-6, and 9 tons of armor, it's a decent choice to use as a main battle tank for Niops.

Maybe Lightnings, Myrmidons and Chaparrals, backed by Whitworths and Mercurys/Locusts, with Space Hounds going to keep the mines open and sales to Interstellar Expeditions.

All very good choices. Especially Chaparral and Myrmidon. Mercury...too undergunned. Better go for the Locusts.

I wonder if they put their effort on military tech instead of astronomy, would the Niops eggheads be able to figure out Clantech-level infrastructure/production? All that Star League-level knowledge and education has to give an edge...and there was no mention of the Blakists targeting any Niops academics during their occupation
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 22 October 2013, 10:10:17
Yeah, you probably don't want the Capellans to add Niops to their list of "ancestral worlds to reclaim".

I honestly don't think Xin Sheng would work well on Niops' Capellan refugee descendents. I've come to imagine them as being more Tikonov Commonality based for some reason, so the overtly Han-centric cultural overtones in Xin Sheng really wouldn't appeal, and at this point all they know about the Confederation is that it was someplace great-grandma and great-grandpa really didn't want to be anymore.

But I can definitely see God Empress Ilsa Centrella-Liao wanting to exert her influence, since it is relatively near her ever-expanding realm... ;)

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All very good choices. Especially Chaparral and Myrmidon. Mercury...too undergunned. Better go for the Locusts.

I have a sentimental attachment to the Locust as it was the first mini I ever acquired.

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I wonder if they put their effort on military tech instead of astronomy, would the Niops eggheads be able to figure out Clantech-level infrastructure/production? All that Star League-level knowledge and education has to give an edge...and there was no mention of the Blakists targeting any Niops academics during their occupation

The Blakists were mostly after minerals and usable materials, which would mean Niops V. The nuke that went off in the capital would likely have done considerable damage to the main research facilities, as they grew up around the initial colony on Niops VII (or vice versa, actually).

But one would think that Niops might be able to do some interesting things with lasers, what with their expertise with optics.  :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Stormcrow on 22 October 2013, 10:40:11
Yeah, you probably don't want the Capellans to add Niops to their list of "ancestral worlds to reclaim".

I always wondered how such a car could get past weight sensors or something to be a spy car.

All very good choices. Especially Chaparral and Myrmidon. Mercury...too undergunned. Better go for the Locusts.

I wonder if they put their effort on military tech instead of astronomy, would the Niops eggheads be able to figure out Clantech-level infrastructure/production? All that Star League-level knowledge and education has to give an edge...and there was no mention of the Blakists targeting any Niops academics during their occupation
Intro-Tech Mercury is armed just as well as any Intro-tech Locust, so there's not much to argue against it
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 22 October 2013, 11:22:31
Sarissa as well, 200 GM.

TT

Pretty solidly a Regulan/FWL design, and I don't see Niops asking for blueprints.

You'd figure the fact that the 'sports car' is throwing up rooster tails of pavement and turning like a cement truck would give it away, eh?

Yup.  Real 928s can still do rooster tails of pavement, but they turn on a dime.

Intro-Tech Mercury is armed just as well as any Intro-tech Locust, so there's not much to argue against it

Indeed, and it has hands.  Armor placement is a bit wonky, though.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 22 October 2013, 12:13:32
Yeah, you probably don't want the Capellans to add Niops to their list of "ancestral worlds to reclaim".

Especially given so many of their citizens' ancestors ran screaming from the Capellan Confederation in the first place?

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I always wondered how such a car could get past weight sensors or something to be a spy car.

Weight of the safety gear mandated by the Star League Highway Transportation Safety Administration to all cars.


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All very good choices. Especially Chaparral and Myrmidon. Mercury...too undergunned. Better go for the Locusts.

I wonder if they put their effort on military tech instead of astronomy, would the Niops eggheads be able to figure out Clantech-level infrastructure/production? All that Star League-level knowledge and education has to give an edge...and there was no mention of the Blakists targeting any Niops academics during their occupation

Some of it?  Possibly.  That doesn't mesm they'd have the industrial refinement to build any of it... and they certainly wouldn't want to advertise the fact if they could.

I honestly don't think Xin Sheng would work well on Niops' Capellan refugee descendents. I've come to imagine them as being more Tikonov Commonality based for some reason, so the overtly Han-centric cultural overtones in Xin Sheng really wouldn't appeal, and at this point all they know about the Confederation is that it was someplace great-grandma and great-grandpa really didn't want to be anymore.

But I can definitely see God Empress Ilsa Centrella-Liao wanting to exert her influence, since it is relatively near her ever-expanding realm... ;)

So, more Russian than Chinese?

And, yeah, attracting the attention of any of the nationalistic expansionistic groups would be... bad for Niops.

Quote
I have a sentimental attachment to the Locust as it was the first mini I ever acquired.

Mine was the Phoenix Hawk. :)

The reason I suggested the Mercury over the Locust is threefold:

1.  While the SLDF used Locusts, so did everyone else.  The Mercury was a rarer bird, and one the Militia may consider superior to the Locust, since it was originally slated to be its replacement.  Even a lowtech -98 may be seen as superior.

2.  The Mercury has hands, which makes it useful for combat engineering tasks.  In a way, it can replace Wasps and Stingers because of this, as well, despite the lack of jump jets, especially because of:

3.  With its modular weapons and equipment, it's one step shy of being a true OmniMech, and the fluff for the MCY-99 implies ComStar and WoB largely used it like one.  I can't see it as being far off from turning into a true Omni, which would make for a neat homegrown Niops design.

Quote
The Blakists were mostly after minerals and usable materials, which would mean Niops V. The nuke that went off in the capital would likely have done considerable damage to the main research facilities, as they grew up around the initial colony on Niops VII (or vice versa, actually).

But one would think that Niops might be able to do some interesting things with lasers, what with their expertise with optics.  :)

Which is a good point, actually.  It also makes me wonder how Niops could pray its knowledge elf radio telescopes to battlefield usage, and what other scientific research Niops does:  particle physics, for example?

Also, was most of the mining on Niops V?  I've seen conflicting sources on Workshop locations (or, more likely, they had Workshops on both V and VI at minimum), but the only clear indicator I've seen of locations for mining was the space mining they're doing with Interstellar Operations.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 22 October 2013, 18:35:11
See I'd still make due with Wyvern-5Nsl and Thug-11Eb.

Better to have good ol' fashion SL-era for support.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 22 October 2013, 22:22:17
See I'd still make due with Wyvern-5Nsl and Thug-11Eb.

Better to have good ol' fashion SL-era for support.

TT

Yep, it's great...if you can build them.  With Niops having to rebuild the workshops from scratch, odds are they're not going to immediately going to be able to jump to building SLDF Royal BattleMechs.  In fact, unless we've got confirmation that they had, at one point, built the Rapier or Ironsides, we can't even be sure pre-Jihad that Niops could build double heat sinks: they weren't necessary for the Black Knight or Highlander.

Anyone got Field Manual Periphery handy?  That had the most detailed writeup on Niops designs in use by NAM, and I can't find my dead tree copy.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 23 October 2013, 05:41:15
I honestly don't think Xin Sheng would work well on Niops' Capellan refugee descendents. I've come to imagine them as being more Tikonov Commonality based for some reason, so the overtly Han-centric cultural overtones in Xin Sheng really wouldn't appeal, and at this point all they know about the Confederation is that it was someplace great-grandma and great-grandpa really didn't want to be anymore.

Russian eh? I have no idea how to make of that...seems a bit far for the Russians to journey seeing as they are concentrated in the Tikonov region

Quote
Especially given so many of their citizens' ancestors ran screaming from the Capellan Confederation in the first place?

Well, there's that second-class treatment and the Xin Sheng stuff to rile them up..

Quote
Indeed, and it has hands.  Armor placement is a bit wonky, though.

I suggested the Locust because it has a lot of low-tech varieties like the RL version -1V2 and there would be plenty of spare parts to repair it with either from native sources or enemy salvage.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 23 October 2013, 06:52:50
. . . we can't even be sure pre-Jihad that Niops could build double heat sinks: they weren't necessary for the Black Knight or Highlander.

 . . . the Royal does . . . which I would be inclined to say they have considering the Nighthawk.  Even then, they are a bunch of eggheads, they should have been able to do the math for the efficiency increase.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 23 October 2013, 08:55:38
Yep, it's great...if you can build them.  With Niops having to rebuild the workshops from scratch, odds are they're not going to immediately going to be able to jump to building SLDF Royal BattleMechs.  In fact, unless we've got confirmation that they had, at one point, built the Rapier or Ironsides, we can't even be sure pre-Jihad that Niops could build double heat sinks: they weren't necessary for the Black Knight or Highlander.

Anyone got Field Manual Periphery handy?  That had the most detailed writeup on Niops designs in use by NAM, and I can't find my dead tree copy.

It only mentions the Highlander, Black Knight and Burke by name. But in the rules annex it does say that the NAM rolls on the ComStar column in the BMR Inner Sphere table.

Oh, for the Halcyon days of 2001! ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 23 October 2013, 08:57:00
Oh, for the Halcyon days of 2001! ;D

Everybody but the Cappies, Canopians and Dracs would be saying that ;)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 23 October 2013, 12:07:07
It only mentions the Highlander, Black Knight and Burke by name. But in the rules annex it does say that the NAM rolls on the ComStar column in the BMR Inner Sphere table.

Oh, for the Halcyon days of 2001! ;D

Well, then, once upon a time, I'd wager double hear sinks and XL engines were within the reach of the Workshops.  And, yeah, talk about a downward spiral...

Everybody but the Cappies, Canopians and Dracs would be saying that ;)

Which is why I suspect our little intellectual exercise here won't go far if and when the Powers That Be decide Niops begins manufacturing military hardware again.

If we're lucky, we'll start up production of the BNC-1E, or manage to buy the surplus tooling for the MSK-5S Mackie (the PPC + LL + AC/5 prototype one) the Lyrans used during the Jihad then mothballed afterwards.

If not... well, it's a toss-up between the WSP-1 or the SHD-1R, I'd wager.  Good thing people are still selling us 'Mechs right now, eh?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 24 October 2013, 09:57:03
Hopefully its stuff like the Stalker II that's bought instead of fancy units like Quasimodo. The Stalker II can run solo against a company of pirates >:D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 24 October 2013, 10:37:38
Lol . . . plant that assault mech with the most likely raider targets and let them drive themselves upon your swords.

That said, I still favor building the Royal Crab with some heavy or assault tracked armor for lines.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 24 October 2013, 11:11:33
Lol . . . plant that assault mech with the most likely raider targets and let them drive themselves upon your swords.

That said, I still favor building the Royal Crab with some heavy or assault tracked armor for lines.

Agreed.  The Royal Crab is just about perfect.

Unfortunately, that probably means Niops will either end up building the SHD-1R Shadow Hawk with its AC/5 of Doom for local defense, or perhaps Patron MilitiaMechs.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 25 October 2013, 09:22:11
At least the AC5 has alternate munitions for use.. the Patron has no such redeemable feature
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 25 October 2013, 11:54:11
At least the AC5 has alternate munitions for use.. the Patron has no such redeemable feature

Yup.

I find it funny that Niops has appeared to have abandoned the idea of domestic production of major military hardware, one of the things that made them unique among the various tiny Periphery factions, at the same time both Randis and New St. Andrews have initiated theirs, then continued to expand in terms of both number and quality of designs.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 26 October 2013, 04:30:48
Perhaps they were that exhausted after the Jihad....it was their version of the Succession Wars that almost bombed them back to the Stone Age?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 28 October 2013, 10:13:09
or perhaps some of the tools and equipment found in the shops was still unrecovered Lostech, and they got damaged/destroyed to the point they can't really make the parts they need any more. 
Niops had the problem of not really having an infrastructure.. if they lost their star league era tools, they have little to fall back on. in order to do domestic production again, they'd have to build an infrastrucuture from virtually the ground up.. they'd have to get the tools that build the tools that build the tools.

and if some of their old success was due to having special tools no one else did.. well they might never recover their old abilities. and it doesn't help they are one system with limited resources and no real profitable exports. (the scientific data they'd collected over centuries being an exception.. but that was certainly a one time thing.)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 28 October 2013, 10:21:49
A Nyops has left the baggage of knowledge of star systems not visited by its neighbors, might get some resources for negotiating these systems manufactured by little, clear that the data should checked after the state informed and receive the data might not display according to these systems but could start with that
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 October 2013, 16:12:17
or perhaps some of the tools and equipment found in the shops was still unrecovered Lostech, and they got damaged/destroyed to the point they can't really make the parts they need any more. 
Niops had the problem of not really having an infrastructure.. if they lost their star league era tools, they have little to fall back on. in order to do domestic production again, they'd have to build an infrastrucuture from virtually the ground up.. they'd have to get the tools that build the tools that build the tools.

and if some of their old success was due to having special tools no one else did.. well they might never recover their old abilities. and it doesn't help they are one system with limited resources and no real profitable exports. (the scientific data they'd collected over centuries being an exception.. but that was certainly a one time thing.)

I'm not sure they're not still selling scientific research, though the Niops government does have half its income coming from germanium mining at this point. Also, they had the funds to round out 'Mech regiment (well, 85% of one), plus their infantry/vehicle regiments (which are still the majority of NAM).

As of Field Manual 3085, the Militia was down to two battalions of 'Mechs (one scattered one that survived the Blakist invasion, and one presumably rebuilt from salvage), and two aerospace squadrons.  That would have given them around 72 'Mechs and 12 fighters.  The 85% strength figure in Field Manual 3145 implies 92 'Mechs, if no command company is attached, or 102 if it is, so assuming no attrition of 'Mechs between 3085 and 3145, Niops only bought between 18 and 30 'Mechs.  Not as much as I thought, actually.

One interesting thing to consider is that 'Mech losses for Niops were around 75%, and aerospace losses around 78%.  Considering they fielded four regiments (one battalion of 'Mechs per regiment, the rest infantry and vehicles) of ground forces, then less than a company of non-'Mech forces survived the Blakist invasion.  Those limited numbers of Nighthawks guarding Niops VII's governmental buildings?  Yeah, their original wearers might have been the only infantry to make it through the invasion.  In light of that, I find it puzzling that Niops is focusing on infantry and vehicles, given how badly they took it in the shorts.

But, yes, I expect that, if Niops does start building new 'Mechs, they'll either have to buy the whole production line and tooling lock, stock and barrel, and may still have to start with Primitives, simply because their lower tech base requires less high-tech tooling and production.  Buying the MSK-5S Mackie line from the Lyrans may be very attractive, then.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 28 October 2013, 19:20:29
well, my point is that scientific research is hardly a big money item.. odds are the reason they got so much that first time was because it was several centuries in one package.. year by year sales as they go on isn't likely to bring as much in. maybe enough to do upkeep on what they have but not really enough to rebuild a whole infrastructure.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 28 October 2013, 19:46:47
To rebuild infrastructure, or build almost from scratch requires an inverter ... maybe Interstellar Expeditions interested in investing in some minor factory for making or repairing vehicles and mechs, may seem small but it's a start.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 October 2013, 21:04:25
I can almost guarantee that Interstellar Expeditions could use more Rock Hounds: they're one if the major backers of the design.  And Niops could certainly use its variant, the Space Hound, for its own asteroid mining.  Given how in bed Niops is with Interstellar Expeditions these days, that would be a likely production line.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 28 October 2013, 21:22:46
Besides a ship dropship for asteroid mining could serve not only Nyops , but finding buyers in both the Marian Hegemony and beyond, I think that both ATC , as Marian Arms have their own subsidiaries in charge of mining and mining I can assure you asteroidal is something they do and seek to expand , following the edicts of extension of exploitation of the late Cesar Cassius
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 29 October 2013, 09:41:05
Perhaps Niops is focusing on infantry and armor because they have no other choice financially and industrially? They are a 3-planet system and their meager income does have to feed all those mouths. Military budgets have never taken up the majority slice of a country's budget, and Niops wasn't that militaristic to begin with.

That said, what was the production rate of the Nighthawks like when Niops was building them in the 3060s? Was a total force strength of the armors given in an SB?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 09:51:33
It would be interesting to Nyops first focalize on what more can be produced,  armor  and Battlearmor, the DropShip for commercial operation of mining Nyops can serve both for export and export as extra income is money. As I said above again, the Government of Nyops would have to open the possibility to migrate to other states in the periphery to the mass population that complicates life. The problem is if the technicians want to migrate for a job offer better pay.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 29 October 2013, 09:53:41
That's a real possibility. Look at the Taurians and their post-Jihad brain drain. Niops had it the same or worse as the Taurians, and could've experienced their own brain drain.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 10:02:08
It is possible, could agree with the Marian Hegemony or whoever it a controlled immigration (and incidentally the Marian Hegemony sends them to establish colonies along with other citizens of the Hegemony ) , in terms of technical flee a way that would not agree with peripheral nations scientific exchange program so the technicians and scientists from Nyops see other things and when returning home may apply . the risk that is great if , but only Nyops is going to look to Cuba at any time Marian  Hegemony and  Rim Comonality and we will look Miami or the Florida Keys receive refugees escaped
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 29 October 2013, 10:07:33
The Hegemony would benefit from this kind of program far more than Niops though...it's like the refugee Byzantine scholars helping to start the Renaissance when they fled to Italy after the Fall of Constantinople.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 10:15:55
The Hegemony would benefit from this kind of program far more than Niops though...it's like the refugee Byzantine scholars helping to start the Renaissance when they fled to Italy after the Fall of Constantinople.

It's a possibility, maybe both Nyops as Marian Hegemony or another state will benefit from this exchange but Nyops would receive in exchange decompression some social and some autochthonous production lines for defense
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 29 October 2013, 10:59:58
But it also depends on the nature of IE's relationship with Niops. If it's some kind of corporate state like Irian, I doubt those scholars want to go back to an exploited home and I don't know if IE will accept Marian aid to Niops.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 11:10:15
But it also depends on the nature of IE's relationship with Niops. If it's some kind of corporate state like Irian, I doubt those scholars want to go back to an exploited home and I don't know if IE will accept Marian aid to Niops.

That is another issue IE friendship never showed any by Marian Hegemony could curry favor with the Marians bringing a pair of coordinates systems that are not busy living near our borders, but we dodge ostensibly have a base in New St Andrews and one in Nyops. Bone could be more easily easily spare the Marian Hegemony, but seems to want to exploit small states
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 October 2013, 11:48:57
But it also depends on the nature of IE's relationship with Niops. If it's some kind of corporate state like Irian, I doubt those scholars want to go back to an exploited home and I don't know if IE will accept Marian aid to Niops.

Considering the Niops brain drain would have most likely been caused by the Marian raiding and looting of the Niops V Workshop (where the Nighthawk was produced), along with the capture of personnel there... after which the Marianas began producing the Ravaged, their first homegrown battlearmor design?

Personally, it makes little sense to me for Niops to want to get buddy-buddy with a nation that looted them and took their citizens for slaves.

Perhaps Niops is focusing on infantry and armor because they have no other choice financially and industrially? They are a 3-planet system and their meager income does have to feed all those mouths. Military budgets have never taken up the majority slice of a country's budget, and Niops wasn't that militaristic to begin with.

That said, what was the production rate of the Nighthawks like when Niops was building them in the 3060s? Was a total force strength of the armors given in an SB?

The production rate was never spelled out.  The main mention comes from Tech Readout 3075, which spelled out that they were built in Niops Project Workshop III on Niops V, that they were built out of concern regarding the belligerence of neighboring Periphery states, that they built both the XXI and XXII, and that a "swarm" of Nighthawks took down a Marian Starslayer and caused the rest of the raiders to break and run.

Jihad Hotspots 3072 talks briefly about the raid, and describes the Workshop there as being an automated plant that produced military hardware then stored in warehouses, and that the initial Marian raid was seeking to loot the warehouses.

I've not been able to find the sourcebook detailing the successful follow-up Marian raid, though.  JHS3076 details the Niops Civil War, Field Report Periphery reports the Workshops destroyed, and NAM holding out against the Blakists on Niops V, with Jihad Final Reckoning detailing the damage a bit more.  Don't have time to look farther, though, right now.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 12:08:30
Considering the Niops brain drain would have most likely been caused by the Marian raiding and looting of the Niops V Workshop (where the Nighthawk was produced), along with the capture of personnel there... after which the Marianas began producing the Ravaged, their first homegrown battlearmor design?

Personally, it makes little sense to me for Niops to want to get buddy-buddy with a nation that looted them and took their citizens for slaves.

What the Incursion of 3072 was made by the Legio VI and was where Nyops use in combat for the first time in a significant number of Nighthawk, the Next incursion Marian was passed in 3079 and I think the background of the Ravager says that built a scientist and his team who were looking for work and were refugees from Irian, so I think in that at least we had nothing to do
Even the plant d layback of the Marian Hegemony was half-finished or finished and was a research facility of BattleArmor that had built in Horatius WOB. After his expulsion by Julius the plant remained closed and guarded by the MHAF until Marian Arms Inc and this group of scientists from Irian put to work and built the Ravager and then the Marauder
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 October 2013, 12:13:04
And how does that change the fact that the Marians raided the Workshops on Niops V, looted them, possibly burned down whatever they couldn't move, and grabbed whatever scientists and techs they could find?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 12:26:18
And how does that change the fact that the Marians raided the Workshops on Niops V, looted them, possibly burned down whatever they couldn't move, and grabbed whatever scientists and techs they could find?

Humm that book says that? What I lei from the incursion of 3072 says that took ifnormacion and some equipment but not people, what you mention this not will have been WOB? When and make the next incursion MHAF had no defenses and plundered there if that consciousness, has been almost 60 or 65 years of that incursion to the current timeline, if the Marian Hegemony change of attitude to some of its neighbors not Nyops could also think? After all I think there are also Nyops students in the new Collegium  bellorum
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 October 2013, 13:02:53
Humm that book says that? What I lei from the incursion of 3072 says that took ifnormacion and some equipment but not people, what you mention this not will have been WOB? When and make the next incursion MHAF had no defenses and plundered there if that consciousness, has been almost 60 or 65 years of that incursion to the current timeline, if the Marian Hegemony change of attitude to some of its neighbors not Nyops could also think? After all I think there are also Nyops students in the new Collegium  bellorum

Jihad Final Reckoning, page 57.  Exact date was August 19, 3077.

And, given that Niops has protesters outside the unstaffed Republic embassy, and are paranoid about their
FWL*, why in the name of Cthulhu would they be any less paranoid about the Marians?  Isolationism and paranoia is the name of the game in Niops these days, and I suspect the only reason Interstellar Expeditions is tolerated is because they're a scientific-minded non-governmental organization, and thus the lesser of all evils.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 15:40:33
Jihad Final Reckoning, page 57.  Exact date was August 19, 3077.

And, given that Niops has protesters outside the unstaffed Republic embassy, and are paranoid about their
FWL*, why in the name of Cthulhu would they be any less paranoid about the Marians?  Isolationism and paranoia is the name of the game in Niops these days, and I suspect the only reason Interstellar Expeditions is tolerated is because they're a scientific-minded non-governmental organization, and thus the lesser of all evils.

As you put that is in 3077, I wonder if in 3145 famine, internal revolts and the lack of prospects have made them more open-minded
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 October 2013, 17:11:33
As you put that is in 3077, I wonder if in 3145 famine, internal revolts and the lack of prospects have made them more open-minded

Actually, Niops being unwelcoming to outsiders, and protesting outside the Republic embassy, the only actual embassy in the Niops Association, is as late as 3145, per page 187 of Field Manual 3145.  The most contact with outsiders is clearly stated to be Interstellar Expeditions.

The only mention of relations between the Niops Association and the Marian Hegemony as of 3145 is that Niops must import military hardware from the Marians, Lyrans and former FWL states.  Given that Niops is simultaneously paranoid about an FWL invasion, that does not indicate that Niops has good, peaceful relations with either the Marians or the FWL states.

Further, there is no mention of Niops Association citizens at the Marian academy.  Instead, there is emphasis on Niops opening the Central Military School on Niops VII.

In fact, to quote page 199 of Field Manual 3145:

Quote
The NAM has seen little growth or change in its BattleMech forces since the end of the Jihad. With the failure of the Niops central government, and the predations of the Marian Hegemony, any combat experience gained by the Association’s Militia was lost through sheer attrition. The one bright spot in an otherwise bleak recent history has been the formal addition of infantry forces to the NAM in both unarmored and battle armor alike. The NAM currently has four squads of the ancient Nighthawk Mk XXI power armor— representing all of the suits left in active service today. These assets are used exclusively to protect the government facilities on  Niops VII.

I don't see how that situation would make anyone in the Niops Association feel warm and fuzzy towards the Marian Hegemony.  Feel heartburn?  Sure.  Warm and fuzzy?  Doubt it.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 17:18:50
Actually, Niops being unwelcoming to outsiders, and protesting outside the Republic embassy, the only actual embassy in the Niops Association, is as late as 3145, per page 187 of Field Manual 3145.  The most contact with outsiders is clearly stated to be Interstellar Expeditions.

The only mention of relations between the Niops Association and the Marian Hegemony as of 3145 is that Niops must import military hardware from the Marians, Lyrans and former FWL states.  Given that Niops is simultaneously paranoid about an FWL invasion, that does not indicate that Niops has good, peaceful relations with either the Marians or the FWL states.

Further, there is no mention of Niops Association citizens at the Marian academy.  Instead, there is emphasis on Niops opening the Central Military School on Niops VII.

In fact, to quote page 199 of Field Manual 3145:

I don't see how that situation would make anyone in the Niops Association feel warm and fuzzy towards the Marian Hegemony.  Feel heartburn?  Sure.  Warm and fuzzy?  Doubt it.

Well, well the move to the isolated Stay right category and join pieces when it explodes all for the social situation, and continue selling them what they want to buy clear
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 October 2013, 17:25:13
...huh?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 17:27:31
One way to say, leave them alone with their problems, if they want to purchase something while there is no problem with having to pay
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 October 2013, 17:29:27
Ah.  At this point, for the most part, being left alone would probably suit Niops just fine.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 29 October 2013, 17:37:43
I doubt if left alone too strategic position, if at least nyops sell us the location of some system living near our border into the deep periphery, perhaps the Marian Hegemony government could talk to the ATC, now they are on a expansion throughout the area maybe want to put a factory there
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 30 October 2013, 09:26:32
I got the impression that the Marian Battle Armor program got its start because of the Irian refugees. Looting the warehouses and making off with Nighthawks is one thing, but as pointed out the Nighthawk factory was automated so any captive techs or scientists would be of little use. The most important point is the Nighthawk is a PA(L) with cutting edge armor on the lowest end of the weight classes while what eventually emerged from the Marian effort was a basic armor on the heaviest end of the weight class with none of the features of a Nighthawk.

I seriously doubt the Marians actually gained any know-how from the raid.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 30 October 2013, 09:32:55
It's what I was commenting, armor developed by the Marian Hegemony in Horatius are Assault and Heavy armor, nothing as stylized as the Nighthawk, recently in the years of 3099 onwards we will see if they do something like the ATC in Illyria but I think I own designs anything that comes from the Raid
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 30 October 2013, 09:51:03
Sorry, should have quoted your post. Yup, agreed.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 30 October 2013, 10:08:38
I got the impression that the Marian Battle Armor program got its start because of the Irian refugees. Looting the warehouses and making off with Nighthawks is one thing, but as pointed out the Nighthawk factory was automated so any captive techs or scientists would be of little use. The most important point is the Nighthawk is a PA(L) with cutting edge armor on the lowest end of the weight classes while what eventually emerged from the Marian effort was a basic armor on the heaviest end of the weight class with none of the features of a Nighthawk.

I seriously doubt the Marians actually gained any know-how from the raid.

I can see that.

That said, I still can't see Niops being terribly friendly towards the Marians.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 30 October 2013, 10:32:54
Sorry, should have quoted your post. Yup, agreed.

No problem you do not get angry for not being cited jajajajaajaj

I can see that.

That said, I still can't see Niops being terribly friendly towards the Marians.

Neither reason nor too permanent than a "little" more friendly, isolation apart from nature

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 30 October 2013, 10:53:31
I can see that.

That said, I still can't see Niops being terribly friendly towards the Marians.

It's still a step up compared to the hostility towards Leaguers.

No problem you do not get angry for not being cited jajajajaajaj

Great O0

Neither reason nor too permanent than a "little" more friendly, isolation apart from nature

Agreed. If one has been isolated for so long, they can't help but being xenophobic towards others, especially after suffering many raids from the Hegemony. Still, the trade ties should smooth relations somewhat
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 30 October 2013, 12:44:55
Xenophobia is probably higher than it's been in centuries in Niops these days.  Acts of violence towards FWL refugees back in the 3080s is a good sign of that, as are the protests outside the Republic embassy.

But, no, it also isn't surprising.  Other than the occasional raid attempt by dump pirates or bandits that undoubtedly ended horribly, Niops' history had been relatively peaceful.  Even the Capellan refugee absorption was relatively peaceful.

Then you have an influx of FWL refugees, a failed raid by the Marians, a coup attempt backed by a foreign merc unit, a successful Marian raid, a civil war, an invasion and nukings by the Word of Blake, an imposed embassy and attempt (likely) at a banana republic by the Rim Commonality, the Republic deciding to plant an embassy (which may have actually gotten the Rim Commonality to finally leave), and enough unrest during all this that it's nearly 15 years before you have elections again.

Is it any wonder they're paranoid?  Throw in a suspicious shift in Marian policy from raiding and conquoring to "no, really, we want to be your friend" and the FWL getting the band back together...

Actually, know who Niops would probably get along great with?  The Regulans.  Aren't they keeping independent from the nuFWL, and still having their hate on for the Blakists?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 30 October 2013, 12:51:33
I can see that.

That said, I still can't see Niops being terribly friendly towards the Marians.

 From what i readed in the FM 3145, Niops is surely the influence and espionage battleground between the new-FWL, the Regulans, Marians and Canopus, all side trying to influence the goverment and hampering the efforts of the others.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 30 October 2013, 12:56:08
Actually, Niops would not be too friendly towards Lester's crew and rather more to the FWL.  Check the Rim Commonality arc of the last novels.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 30 October 2013, 13:31:12
The thing about Space Rome is that they are willing to use the carrot or the stick (though it can largely depend on the Caesar).  Sean tried to force the Lothian League into the MH.  Julius won them over by granting them places in the Senate, Marian Citizenship, and a three-year exemption from conscription (as well as largely leaving the existing leadership, to include Elena Logan, in charge).  Unification with the Hegemony would provide the industrial and military might to get Niops back on its feet and keep their people safe, and if they played their cards right Ignatius would probably let them keep running themselves and have voices in the Senate as well.  Not that I expect Niops to consider the loss of complete self-government to be worth the trade.  At least, not the powerful in Niops.  Some of the former refugee underclass might see becoming Marian plebeians as a step up.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 30 October 2013, 13:32:10
Xenophobia is probably higher than it's been in centuries in Niops these days.  Acts of violence towards FWL refugees back in the 3080s is a good sign of that, as are the protests outside the Republic embassy.

But, no, it also isn't surprising.  Other than the occasional raid attempt by dump pirates or bandits that undoubtedly ended horribly, Niops' history had been relatively peaceful.  Even the Capellan refugee absorption was relatively peaceful.

Then you have an influx of FWL refugees, a failed raid by the Marians, a coup attempt backed by a foreign merc unit, a successful Marian raid, a civil war, an invasion and nukings by the Word of Blake, an imposed embassy and attempt (likely) at a banana republic by the Rim Commonality, the Republic deciding to plant an embassy (which may have actually gotten the Rim Commonality to finally leave), and enough unrest during all this that it's nearly 15 years before you have elections again.

Is it any wonder they're paranoid?  Throw in a suspicious shift in Marian policy from raiding and conquoring to "no, really, we want to be your friend" and the FWL getting the band back together...

Actually, know who Niops would probably get along great with?  The Regulans.  Aren't they keeping independent from the nuFWL, and still having their hate on for the Blakists?

A Jihad question ended when in 3090? or 3085? And we are in 3145? Not like almost 60 years since the Bombings of WOB? I think too much time has passed to walk even wary of things that happened before that time.
If we were all so we'd be checking Marians all visitors to Alphard by neutron bombing? And ilyrianos rebels, supported by wob first and then by the FWL we do run all Ilyrians? We have enemies if we are waiting for your visit and clear this, but seeing everyone as the enemy as a society do not think it ends well for Nyops


From what i readed in the FM 3145, Niops is surely the influence and espionage battleground between the new-FWL, the Regulans, Marians and Canopus, all side trying to influence the goverment and hampering the efforts of the others.

Exactly Nyops at this time for the issue of espionage seems Panama in the 80



Actually, Niops would not be too friendly towards Lester's crew and rather more to the FWL.  Check the Rim Commonality arc of the last novels.

I know that novel, as it is called?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 30 October 2013, 13:33:36
Quote from: Colt Ward
Actually, Niops would not be too friendly towards Lester's crew and rather more to the FWL.  Check the Rim Commonality arc of the last novels.

Which novels and are they available as eBooks?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 30 October 2013, 13:34:50
The thing about Space Rome is that they are willing to use the carrot or the stick (though it can largely depend on the Caesar).  Sean tried to force the Lothian League into the MH.  Julius won them over by granting them places in the Senate, Marian Citizenship, and a three-year exemption from conscription (as well as largely leaving the existing leadership, to include Elena Logan, in charge).  Unification with the Hegemony would provide the industrial and military might to get Niops back on its feet and keep their people safe, and if they played their cards right Ignatius would probably let them keep running themselves and have voices in the Senate as well.  Not that I expect Niops to consider the loss of complete self-government to be worth the trade.  At least, not the powerful in Niops.  Some of the former refugee underclass might see becoming Marian plebeians as a step up.


A gradual integration as commonwealth nor despise serious thing, as the theme of paranoia and hatred of everything foreign surely would bring problems and probably some attempt at rebellion
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 30 October 2013, 14:34:37
Yes, they are available on Amazon, which is where I got the FWL arc from.  Summary is . . . Rim Commonality has a decent relationship with Niops.  Quite a bit of trade in fact.  Niops handed over a intel document to the Rim Commonality government asking if it was true.  The document was a carefully prepared yet detailed plan to invade Niops.  Rim found out it was a Regulan plot to isolate the Commonality from their neighbors- Marians, Niops, Westover, other FWL independent worlds.

Lester misread Niops, which let the Rim Commonality know about the plot.  Sort of backfired on the Regulans.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 30 October 2013, 14:36:59
I have a novel to read. Which one was this?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 30 October 2013, 14:39:32
Not too sure . . . and seriously, it was about two or three pages.  It was part of the issue of pulling Westover into the Rim Commonality before the FWL reformed.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 30 October 2013, 14:44:33
IIRC, it was in To Ride the Chimera . I will check when i get back home.

Edit: Yeap, chapter 25, Regulus was making a very good propaganda campaign on the worlds between them and the Rim Collection, including Niops VII and Westover. Aparently Lester did not count in the honesty (or naivety) of the Niopsians, who simply asked the Rimmers if what Regulus was saying.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 30 October 2013, 14:45:51
IIRC, it was in To Ride the Chimera . I will check when i get back home.

Ah, Okay thanks for the tip
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 31 October 2013, 09:19:30
I can see that happening with the Regulans. The Rim Commonality is easily the weaker(or weakest) part of the neoFWL and also the most isolated. I'm surprised it hasn't been annexed back into Regulan territory by 3145 with the neoFWL distracted by the Canopian-Andurien-Capellan raids.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 31 October 2013, 09:40:02
I can see that happening with the Regulans. The Rim Commonality is easily the weaker(or weakest) part of the neoFWL and also the most isolated. I'm surprised it hasn't been annexed back into Regulan territory by 3145 with the neoFWL distracted by the Canopian-Andurien-Capellan raids.

At the moment I think are most looking Regulans its border with Wolf Empire than anything, independent worlds have been annexing estimate only and must be preparing something for the Rim Commonality, regarding Nyops not change their policy but if they do be advisable before any bidder is impatient
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 31 October 2013, 10:06:48
The Regulans tried to annex the Rim Commonality either at the end of the Jihad or just after it.  The Rim said, no and had the military force to back it up . . . perhaps some help from the Marik Protectors next door too.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 31 October 2013, 10:52:52
At the moment I think are most looking Regulans its border with Wolf Empire than anything, independent worlds have been annexing estimate only and must be preparing something for the Rim Commonality, regarding Nyops not change their policy but if they do be advisable before any bidder is impatient

The Wolves have bigger fish to fry, namely Terra. The Regulans can safely assume that flank is covered as they gun for the Commonality.

The Regulans tried to annex the Rim Commonality either at the end of the Jihad or just after it.  The Rim said, no and had the military force to back it up . . . perhaps some help from the Marik Protectors next door too.

The Regulan Hussars at the end of the Jihad was a force of elite warriors and ramshackle machines. The RSMC of 3145 can roll over the Commonality anytime and claim its factories for itself, especially with Andurien, Canopus and the Hegemony putting pressure with raids on its borders.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 01 November 2013, 02:19:29
The Regulan Hussars at the end of the Jihad was a force of elite warriors and ramshackle machines. The RSMC of 3145 can roll over the Commonality anytime and claim its factories for itself, especially with Andurien, Canopus and the Hegemony putting pressure with raids on its borders.

The problem is that the Capellans aren't interested in a war with the nuFWL (at least not yet).  They are still focused on expanding further into the Capellan March.  While they have the forces to defend against raids, if the nuFWL decides to launch a concentrated push, they would have to redeploy troops currently deployed against the AFFS.

While the RSMC has a lot of units, they are of varying strengths and quality.  Many of them are incapable of joining an offensive whether because they are still in the process of forming (or rebuilding after suffering combat losses, such as the Fourth) and not combat ready or simply cannot be moved without causing more problems such as guarding a vital world or facility.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 01 November 2013, 08:48:48
I did not say the Capellans. I did not even say that they would  need to invade. Just raiding and pressuring the Commonality is enough for the Regulans to roll in and sweep them clean.  You are also giving the neoFWL too much credit. They are currently surrounded in every direction and all borders can erupt into major wars at any time. If they pushed against the Confederation, that's just inviting the Wolves to come in and tear off another chunk of neoLeague territory again.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 01 November 2013, 14:55:55
Except Alaric has peace with them and has shown an interest in sticking to the peace.  The Wolf Empire does not have one with the Lyrans as any Herperian can tell you.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 01 November 2013, 15:11:10
I did not say the Capellans. I did not even say that they would  need to invade. Just raiding and pressuring the Commonality is enough for the Regulans to roll in and sweep them clean.  You are also giving the neoFWL too much credit. They are currently surrounded in every direction and all borders can erupt into major wars at any time. If they pushed against the Confederation, that's just inviting the Wolves to come in and tear off another chunk of neoLeague territory again.

The Regulans were pushed off several worlds and the FWL was born despite being under pressure by Capellan and Andurien raiders.  Raids alone aren't going to be enough to keep the FWL's attention.

With the Regulans surrounded on three sides by the FWL, they wouldn't have the forces available to invade the Rim Commonality without opening the Principality to invasion.  Unfortunately for the Regulans, they apparently no longer have any warships to call upon and they also lost the main academy.

The Wolves also have plenty hunting grounds among the the remains of the Lyran Commonwealth.  Not to mention they are still playing the centuries old one-upmanship game with the Falcons.  Seizing Hesperus II and Tharkad (perhaps even Galatea) is of prime interest to the Wolves if only to show off and further humiliate the Falcons.  With their non-aggression pact with the FWL securing one border, they are not likely to move against them in force for now especially with the unpredictable Malvina Hazen in charge of the Falcons.  Although with these new Wolves you never know what to expect.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 01 November 2013, 21:05:28
We're just assuming a lot here. Let's just agree to disagree.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Terminax on 06 March 2014, 09:59:19
Looking at starting a new ATOW campaign in the Niops Association... I have some measly data on Niops VII, but next to nothing on Niops V and VI... I've already looked at the standard places (Sarna and PDFs) - anyone have any clue to what kind of climates/atmosphere's they have?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 06 March 2014, 15:53:12
Nope. Niops VII is the only one we have detailed info on, and even then it's limited.

Niops VII was settled first, so presumably it's the most earthlike.  Expect Niops V and VI to be warmer than VII, and more marginal.  Most likely, they're tidally locked worlds.  Also, red dwarf stars give off light mostly in the IR range, so expect them to be fairly dim worlds with a definite reddish cast.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 06 March 2014, 17:43:39
Actually, it's worse than I thought.

For kicks, I tried running Niops through the beta version of the Solar System creation rules.  It's a mess.

Niops is an M5V red dwarf, with a mass only 20% that of Sol, our sun.  Luminosity is a low .624% that of our Sun.  Yeah...

So, orbital positions!  Using the rules, which are pretty good about getting the science fight, the closest stable orbital slot is around 0.08 AU from the star.  The next one out is 0.14 AU.  The habitability zone for an M5V is from 0.049 to .101 AU.   Shoving seven planets close enough to Niops to get numbers 5-7 in the habitability zone is not feasible.

Options:

1.  Use a gas giant for that first planet in the zone.  The gas giant's moons are inhabited, including some the size of standard terrestrial planets.  Technically feasible, but nomenclature is wrong: the gas giant would be Niops I, and its moons Niops I a through Niops Ig (ie. Niops V = Niops Ie, Niops VI = Niops If, and Niops VII. = Niops Ig).

2.  Asteroid belt.  Niops I through VII are dwarf planets.  Gravity and atmospheres become issues.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Terminax on 06 March 2014, 22:12:05
Or don't worry about silly things like science at all :D

I'm working Niops VII as a smaller, colder version of Earth, Niops VI as a warmer, dry world with enough water resources (after purification) to allow for agriculture. Also has Mining. Niops V being warmer yet with significant volcanic activity. It's only barely habitable and mainly done so for the easy access to minerals.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 06 March 2014, 22:16:23
Or don't worry about silly things like science at all :D

It's Niops. If you're not worrying about Science!, you're doing it wrong. ;)


Quote
I'm working Niops VII as a smaller, colder version of Earth, Niops VI as a warmer, dry world with enough water resources (after purification) to allow for agriculture. Also has Mining. Niops V being warmer yet with significant volcanic activity. It's only barely habitable and mainly done so for the easy access to minerals.

Sounds reasonable.  And the Niops system has an asteroid belt somewhere, too, based on the canon asteroid mining efforts.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Decoy on 06 March 2014, 22:30:24
Actually, it's worse than I thought.

For kicks, I tried running Niops through the beta version of the Solar System creation rules.  It's a mess.

Niops is an M5V red dwarf, with a mass only 20% that of Sol, our sun.  Luminosity is a low .624% that of our Sun.  Yeah...

So, orbital positions!  Using the rules, which are pretty good about getting the science fight, the closest stable orbital slot is around 0.08 AU from the star.  The next one out is 0.14 AU.  The habitability zone for an M5V is from 0.049 to .101 AU.   Shoving seven planets close enough to Niops to get numbers 5-7 in the habitability zone is not feasible.

Options:

1.  Use a gas giant for that first planet in the zone.  The gas giant's moons are inhabited, including some the size of standard terrestrial planets.  Technically feasible, but nomenclature is wrong: the gas giant would be Niops I, and its moons Niops I a through Niops Ig (ie. Niops V = Niops Ie, Niops VI = Niops If, and Niops VII. = Niops Ig).

2.  Asteroid belt.  Niops I through VII are dwarf planets.  Gravity and atmospheres become issues.

Option 3 would be to use brown dwarves in the outer rings to daisy chain habitability further out.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 06 March 2014, 23:50:20
Actually, it's worse than I thought.

For kicks, I tried running Niops through the beta version of the Solar System creation rules.  It's a mess.

Niops is an M5V red dwarf, with a mass only 20% that of Sol, our sun.  Luminosity is a low .624% that of our Sun.  Yeah...

So, orbital positions!  Using the rules, which are pretty good about getting the science fight, the closest stable orbital slot is around 0.08 AU from the star.  The next one out is 0.14 AU.  The habitability zone for an M5V is from 0.049 to .101 AU.   Shoving seven planets close enough to Niops to get numbers 5-7 in the habitability zone is not feasible.

Options:

1.  Use a gas giant for that first planet in the zone.  The gas giant's moons are inhabited, including some the size of standard terrestrial planets.  Technically feasible, but nomenclature is wrong: the gas giant would be Niops I, and its moons Niops I a through Niops Ig (ie. Niops V = Niops Ie, Niops VI = Niops If, and Niops VII. = Niops Ig).

2.  Asteroid belt.  Niops I through VII are dwarf planets.  Gravity and atmospheres become issues.
I'd go with option one, with the colonists using the wrong nomenclature because they said so.  It'd hardly be the weirdest thing ever in BT.  Maybe say something along the lines of "we thought it would make the system sound more menacing if they thought these were planets."  Or something.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 11 March 2014, 15:27:33
Why not make Niops I & II and Niops III & IV two pairs of double planets? You retain the naming conventions and get to shove V - VII that much closer to the star.

Unlikely? Probably. Unpossible? I don't know.

Unabashedly awesome? Yes.

EDIT/ADDITION:

Something that has always seemed odd to me is that Niops (as far as I know) is the only multi-world system that gets one dot on the map for each inhabited planet, whereas places like Talon/Wernke or Odessa/Gabriel only get a single dot. Niops was placed where it was because it was supposed to be focusing on stellar evolution - is there any evidence that maybe it's a multiple star star system?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Gravedigger on 12 March 2014, 05:16:11
The Mica system is also multiple dots for a single system.

Aaron "Gravedigger" Pollyea
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 23 April 2014, 23:52:01
I know this discussion was a few pages back . . . but was it ever determined what type of Royal mechs were produced for Niops?  What about armor?  I know they had SL-era body armor and individual weapons along with Nighthawks for the elite infantry . . . by the time of MWDA only a few squads of suits are left . . . right?

Looking for a bit of a set up for a merc unit . . . Sons of Korhal.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 24 April 2014, 01:11:24
I know this discussion was a few pages back . . . but was it ever determined what type of Royal mechs were produced for Niops?  What about armor?  I know they had SL-era body armor and individual weapons along with Nighthawks for the elite infantry . . . by the time of MWDA only a few squads of suits are left . . . right?

Looking for a bit of a set up for a merc unit . . . Sons of Korhal.

They never spelled it out, unfortunately.  Only four actual unit types have been specified by name for Niops:  the Black Knight, the Highlander, the Burke tank and the Nighthawk XXI and XXII.  Their aerospace arm was stated to be the equivalent of their BattleMech arm:  on the heavy side and full of Star League designs.  For 'Mechs, vehicles and aero, they used to roll on the ComStar tables before everything went to hell in a handbasket.  Their infantry was never expressly spelled out to be equipped like the old SLDF infantry, but the implication was there based on their other equipment.

By 3145, Niops reportedly has four squads of Nighthawks guarding the governmental facilities on Niops VII.  Their main military academy (yes, it's described as "main") is the Central Military School on Niops VII, which has a highly active training program for infantry, an active vehicle training program, and an underfunded MechWarrior program.

Their current forces also state the "one bright spot in an otherwise bleak recent history has been the formal addition of infantry forces to the NAM in both unarmored and battlearmor alike."  That implies some use of battlearmor beyond just the Nighthawk, and perhaps also indicates that the Niops Association is placing greater credence in battlearmor than in BattleMechs these days.  Field Manual 3145 is a bit sparse in describing the NAM's composition, mentioning they have a single BattleMech regiment at 85% strength, with a D tech rating on the RAT tables.  There's no mention of their current aerospace asset strength, but at their peak pre-Jihad, they had a full wing of 54 aerospace fighters.  Niops now use the Periphery table, rather than the Republic table.  It's probably a safe bet that, with their Workshops not having been rebuilt, much of what they currently field consists of whatever techs have been been able to salvage of old NAM units and the invading Word of Blake units, with imports taking care of the rest.

With that said...Niops might be a bit of an unfriendly environment for mercenaries.  It was, after all, a merc unit that set the ball rolling in their civil war with a coup attempt.  Your best bet would be if your merc unit was signed on with Interstellar Expeditions, whom Niops is in tight with (their joint asteroid mining project, Niops Mining, is currently the largest industry in the Niops system).
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 24 April 2014, 01:30:44
Oh I remember and understand that . . . I know we discussed various units that would make sense at one point- I think the Chameleon and Guillotine make sense, perhaps the Crockett because a trainer as well.  The Guillotine was around so long and the standard for the SLDF it sounds reasonable IMO.

If you played SC, I was sort of thinking for backstory on a bunch of conventional force mercs to be led by Arcturus Mengsk, born on V or VI to 4SW Free Tikonov refugees.  Sort of slide that whole backstory with Niops council being the Confederation . . . and Mengsk supported by the Blakists to return in the mid '70s when they were savaged.  Just like they used Waco to take it to the Dragoons.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 24 April 2014, 01:41:13
They never spelled it out, unfortunately.  Only four actual unit types have been specified by name for Niops:  the Black Knight, the Highlander, the Burke tank and the Nighthawk XXI and XXII.  Their aerospace arm was stated to be the equivalent of their BattleMech arm:  on the heavy side and full of Star League designs.  For 'Mechs, vehicles and aero, they used to roll on the ComStar tables before everything went to hell in a handbasket.  Their infantry was never expressly spelled out to be equipped like the old SLDF infantry, but the implication was there based on their other equipment.

By 3145, Niops reportedly has four squads of Nighthawks guarding the governmental facilities on Niops VII.  Their main military academy (yes, it's described as "main") is the Central Military School on Niops VII, which has a highly active training program for infantry, an active vehicle training program, and an underfunded MechWarrior program.

Their current forces also state the "one bright spot in an otherwise bleak recent history has been the formal addition of infantry forces to the NAM in both unarmored and battlearmor alike."  That implies some use of battlearmor beyond just the Nighthawk, and perhaps also indicates that the Niops Association is placing greater credence in battlearmor than in BattleMechs these days.  Field Manual 3145 is a bit sparse in describing the NAM's composition, mentioning they have a single BattleMech regiment at 85% strength, with a D tech rating on the RAT tables.  There's no mention of their current aerospace asset strength, but at their peak pre-Jihad, they had a full wing of 54 aerospace fighters.  Niops now use the Periphery table, rather than the Republic table.  It's probably a safe bet that, with their Workshops not having been rebuilt, much of what they currently field consists of whatever techs have been been able to salvage of old NAM units and the invading Word of Blake units, with imports taking care of the rest.

With that said...Niops might be a bit of an unfriendly environment for mercenaries.  It was, after all, a merc unit that set the ball rolling in their civil war with a coup attempt.  Your best bet would be if your merc unit was signed on with Interstellar Expeditions, whom Niops is in tight with (their joint asteroid mining project, Niops Mining, is currently the largest industry in the Niops system).
I though I remembered L. Jamison Fallon being a notable pilot or something.  Ahab, maybe.  Or am I remembering something from FGC '62?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 24 April 2014, 01:52:54
I though I remembered L. Jamison Fallon being a notable pilot or something.  Ahab, maybe.  Or am I remembering something from FGC '62?

That was me in the FGC '62, before I switched to a Royal Rapier.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 24 April 2014, 16:32:57
CW: My interpretation of a NAM roster, grain of salt style.

Aero:
Titan CV
Confederate
DroST IIa
Jumbo
Lion

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 25 April 2014, 00:27:47
They have shipyards capable of building those SLDF ships? I thought only the smaller units like Mechs, armor, PA(Ls) and ASFs were made in Niops
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 25 April 2014, 00:44:29
CW: My interpretation of a NAM roster, grain of salt style.

Aero:
Titan CV
Confederate
DroST IIa
Jumbo
Lion

TT

The Drost IIA? Suddenly, I'm picturing Niops as Firefly.

The Titan, amusingly, started out as the main assault ship for FGC '62 Niops, with three of them, one for each fighter wing.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 25 April 2014, 02:25:34
Drost IIa looks more like the mobile infantry dropships they used in starship troopers isnt it?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 26 April 2014, 18:35:31
@Ark: Let's think about this... everything I listed was standard for SLDF at the time. Much of this would not have drawn attention to Niops. The Mule, Condor and Fury would be the next logical step. The Leopard, Union and Overlord would be to new, being replaced on a ship by ship basis for more prestige units. Hell I can see the old Manatee and Dictator droppers being regulated to Militia units at this time, before they get replaced themselves. Also they don't have to build them in shipyards, hand build them is better. Part broken, lathe up a dozen, backups and such.  O:-)

@Gio: Why not? The thousands of DroST IIa's out there, fluff has them still being used today even in the, then current timeline. Wouldn't be surprised to see a DroST IIa being used in 3145. * grins * Anyone up to making a Dark Age DroST IIa with the advert new tech?  ;)

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 26 April 2014, 23:42:18
Alright...that makes sense. DropShip yards wouldn't be a stretch. Niops has germanium mines, so do they have JumpShip-capable yards?

I was thinking since their pre-Jihad doctrine of quality over quantity(as exemplified by hand-building Royal units one-by-one) would make the Colossus and Lee DropShips attractive to them. 1 of those bad boys permanently attached to each battalion, creating 6 rapid-response units ideal for their intra-system defensive doctrine. They had the tech to keep the DropShips in maintenance and it would quickly make pirates look elsewhere for raid targets.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 27 April 2014, 21:20:35
For a game, in y'all's estimation what SLDF gear might Niops have had access to?  Everything that's confirmed, plus whatever y'all think they could have had (feel free to state your thought on how (un)likely a certain possible design is).
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 April 2014, 00:29:58
For a game, in y'all's estimation what SLDF gear might Niops have had access to?  Everything that's confirmed, plus whatever y'all think they could have had (feel free to state your thought on how (un)likely a certain possible design is).

Confirmed:  Black Knight, Highlander, Burke, Nighthawk XXI and XXII.

Theorized:  I can't find my PDF for Field Manual SLDF, but Niopsian pointed out the link between Niops and the XXXIV Corps (http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,375.msg470299.html#msg470299).  Look at what part of the XXXIV that Van Coevorden was part/in command of, and use that as a starting point.

According to the SLSB, the 187th Royal Striker Regiment was part of the XXXIV Corps, and could have been a source of Royal units, including the Nighthawk.  The SLSB also lists the 187th as having originally been part of the FWL Region (which Niops was on the border with), and having been moved to "an undisclosed area of the Periphery" during the Periphery Uprising.  Note also that the 9999th Mechanized Infantry Regiment was the only part of the XXXIV Corps described as surviving through Operation Liberation.

Keeping that in mind, not every single person needs to die in a unit for the unit to be destroyed/disbanded.  It's entirely possible that survivors from the XXXIV ended up deciding that moving to Niops, taking their military hardware with them, was better than Exodus or serving a House Lord.  Hell, Kerensky would have probably preferred that they do that than serve a House - at least Niops was "family", so to speak.

The next spot I'd look would be Era Report 2750, at the RATs for the Star League/Terran Hegemony.  Another possible source of gear was the Star League Expeditionary Brigade, which was disbanded after Simon Cameron's death and not reformed.  I could see some of their personnel and gear kicked towards colonies like Niops, especially as the brigade had attached non-combatant astronomy and geology teams.  Sadly, it wouldn't include the SLS Pioneer.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 28 April 2014, 00:38:36
I would honestly say look at the oldest equipment the SLDF fielded- perhaps back to plain old Hegemony days.

You want to throw a fun twist, they take in refugees . . . where could a Star League top scientist trying to avoid the post-Kerensky Exodus Houses' Op Paperclip find the best refuge?  where would what he/she bring be most valued?

Hm, fun SL-era RP . . . House-style Operation Paperclip redeaux.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 28 April 2014, 11:09:55
Confirmed:  Black Knight, Highlander, Burke, Nighthawk XXI and XXII.

Theorized:  I can't find my PDF for Field Manual SLDF, but Niopsian pointed out the link between Niops and the XXXIV Corps (http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,375.msg470299.html#msg470299).  Look at what part of the XXXIV that Van Coevorden was part/in command of, and use that as a starting point.

According to the SLSB, the 187th Royal Striker Regiment was part of the XXXIV Corps, and could have been a source of Royal units, including the Nighthawk.  The SLSB also lists the 187th as having originally been part of the FWL Region (which Niops was on the border with), and having been moved to "an undisclosed area of the Periphery" during the Periphery Uprising.  Note also that the 9999th Mechanized Infantry Regiment was the only part of the XXXIV Corps described as surviving through Operation Liberation.

Keeping that in mind, not every single person needs to die in a unit for the unit to be destroyed/disbanded.  It's entirely possible that survivors from the XXXIV ended up deciding that moving to Niops, taking their military hardware with them, was better than Exodus or serving a House Lord.  Hell, Kerensky would have probably preferred that they do that than serve a House - at least Niops was "family", so to speak.

The next spot I'd look would be Era Report 2750, at the RATs for the Star League/Terran Hegemony.  Another possible source of gear was the Star League Expeditionary Brigade, which was disbanded after Simon Cameron's death and not reformed.  I could see some of their personnel and gear kicked towards colonies like Niops, especially as the brigade had attached non-combatant astronomy and geology teams.  Sadly, it wouldn't include the SLS Pioneer.
IIRC earlier fluff suggests that Niops was in the dark about the Amaris crisis until the Capellan refugees dropped in on them, so I doubt they'd have any Liberation survivors that declined to join the Exodus.  Good info on the XXXIV Corps though.  I'd done a ctrl+f on my pdf of FM SLDF and couldn't find a mention of Niops, so didn't know where to look in there.  Thanks for that.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 28 April 2014, 18:38:06
And what did these " Capellan refugees " bring in ways of equipment themselves, that maybe ued by the Niopians?

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 April 2014, 21:05:48
Actually, while it's clear they didn't know about the Succession Wars, it isn't at all clear they didn't know about the Exodus, and strikes me as unlikely they didn't know about the Civil War, given their cadre units were most likely ordered to pull out during this time.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 28 April 2014, 21:53:23
Actually, while it's clear they didn't know about the Succession Wars, it isn't at all clear they didn't know about the Exodus, and strikes me as unlikely they didn't know about the Civil War, given their cadre units were most likely ordered to pull out during this time.
I'm not sure where IS Atlas get their fluff on Niops, but I know a lot of what they have is simply copied verbatim from sourcebooks.  At any rate, their article on Niops VII (link (http://isatlas.teamspam.net/planet-detail.php?planet=6476710)) suggests that the Colony didn't learn of the Amaris Civil War until the Capellan Refugees arrived.








And what did these " Capellan refugees " bring in ways of equipment themselves, that maybe ued by the Niopians?

TT
Little if anything, they were mostly unskilled laborers who were put to work on farms or in factories by their technocratic overlords.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 April 2014, 00:35:34
I'm not sure where IS Atlas get their fluff on Niops, but I know a lot of what they have is simply copied verbatim from sourcebooks.  At any rate, their article on Niops VII (link (http://isatlas.teamspam.net/planet-detail.php?planet=6476710)) suggests that the Colony didn't learn of the Amaris Civil War until the Capellan Refugees arrived.

That's not loading for me.  Unfortunately, I can't find my old copy of the original Periphery book or Field Manual Periphery on PDF.  I found my PDF for Field Manual SLDF, though, and it looks like the 62nd Mechanized Infantry Division was the unit closest to Niops.

Quote
Little if anything, they were mostly unskilled laborers who were put to work on farms or in factories by their technocratic overlords.

FTL transport assets that were probably beat to hell would be my guess.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 29 April 2014, 00:42:45
I want to be careful about copying and pasting too much, as I got a ban not so long ago for copying too much of one of IS Atlas's entries, but I think one sentence is plenty small enough to be ok:
Quote
One large group of Capellan refugees changed upon the Niops system, bringing with them word of the Amaris Civil War and the subsequent First Succession War.


I think "changed" should be "chanced", but nonetheless.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 April 2014, 00:53:15
I want to be careful about copying and pasting too much, as I got a ban not so long ago for copying too much of one of IS Atlas's entries, but I think one sentence is plenty small enough to be ok:

I think "changed" should be "chanced", but nonetheless.

I'd be curious as to their source, since I recall FM: Periphery mentioning the Succession Wars, but not the Amaris Coup.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 29 April 2014, 00:57:57
I've got my copy of FM:P in my lap ATM and you're correct.






Edit: Wait, that's what it says in the Force Brief on page 120, but he quote seems to be taken directly from page 111, in the more general faction writeup.  In fact, they seem to have copied that entire writeup for their entry on Niops VII.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 April 2014, 01:01:49
I've got my copy of FM:P in my lap ATM and you're correct.

Found my dead tree copy of FASA's older Periphery sourcebook, and it mentions that Niops was cut off from the Inner Sphere by the Amaris Coup.  I'd take that to mean, then, that they knew the Civil War happened, but had no idea about the SLDF Exodus or the Succession Wars until the Capellan refugees arrived.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 29 April 2014, 01:02:31
See my edit above.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 April 2014, 01:14:19
See my edit above.

That doesn't make any sense, though, especially given that recent publications have implied that they were still tied to the Star League and in regular contact, from FM: SLDF indicating there was active trade going on there with the XXXIV Corps, or Era Report 2750, which briefly described them as closely tied to the Star League.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 12 June 2014, 10:52:26
Newer publications always trump old...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 July 2014, 14:47:11
Had one or those funny realizations today, after reading this article:

http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/07/two-of-the-exoplanets-closest-to-earth-dont-actually-exist/

If you look at the earlier illustration of the Gliese 581 system, you'll note that the letters assigned to each planet are not in order of their proximity to their star, but order they were discovered.  I suspect the same may be true for Niops, which would explain how they get three worlds into their narrow habitability zone, that are numbered 5, 6 and 7.  That's just the order they were found in, not their order of proximity from their star.

Should make working out the details of the system way easier under the star system creation rules.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 11 July 2014, 16:00:23
That doesn't make any sense, though, especially given that recent publications have implied that they were still tied to the Star League and in regular contact, from FM: SLDF indicating there was active trade going on there with the XXXIV Corps, or Era Report 2750, which briefly described them as closely tied to the Star League.

maybe they were cutoff from the star league proper with the coup.. but they had a connection to the SLDF that was seperate from the star league's government?

where was XXXIV corps stationed? maybe they just retained a local connection but lost contact with anyone in the hegemony..
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 11 July 2014, 18:02:42
That doesn't make any sense, though, especially given that recent publications have implied that they were still tied to the Star League and in regular contact, from FM: SLDF indicating there was active trade going on there with the XXXIV Corps, or Era Report 2750, which briefly described them as closely tied to the Star League.

More importantly FM:SLDF implies that the Niops Association already existed as an independent Periphery state before the Amaris Coup.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: snakespinner on 11 July 2014, 18:07:33
The XXXIV corp was located in the FWL district 2, HQ was in Chalouba.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 July 2014, 18:18:17
More importantly FM:SLDF implies that the Niops Association already existed as an independent Periphery state before the Amaris Coup.

Which is also exceedingly odd.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 11 July 2014, 18:27:43
Could just be the support settlements for the science stuff were founded as an incorporated venture, like how a lot of real world colonies were bankrolled.. that would give it a pseudo government right from the start. One made of investors and corporate reps. That would seem to fit the older fluff, iirc.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 12 July 2014, 00:21:53
Could just be the support settlements for the science stuff were founded as an incorporated venture, like how a lot of real world colonies were bankrolled.. that would give it a pseudo government right from the start. One made of investors and corporate reps. That would seem to fit the older fluff, iirc.

Extremely unlikely, more likely the writer forgot (if not outright ignored) the older fluff when they wrote them in.  None of the real world colonies were meant to be independent of the parent state.  Most importantly large corporations hate when their employees try to rule themselves.   ;)  They might get the crazy idea that they no longer need their superiors who bankrolled the operation.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 12 July 2014, 01:36:45
Actually it wouldn't be big companies. In old style colonization the group wanting to set up the colony set up a corprate entity of their own, then encourage individuals to invest in it to prove funding, with each investor getting a share of any profits. Often the biggest investors did so for idealistic rather than economic reasons though, and the first colonists were usually investors as well. The colony/company would recruit colonists, buy supplies, charter transport, etc. This is how most of the major European colonies were founded. Especially the french and British ones.the approaching it like a business also meant that if a colony needed more colonists, or trained specialists, or more supplies, etc. It could just send a few reprasentitives back and hire/buy what it needs, making bookkeeping and logistics simpler.

So niops wouldn't be some branch of a big corporation, it would something like 'Niops association LLC', with a board of directors from with the colony itself. Most of the investors would also be colonists, with a few big investors elsewhere they'd have to satisfy in a given time. I'd imagine that in niops case the big investors would have been scientific organizations willing to invest funds in return for the data niops collects.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 12 July 2014, 07:11:19
Scientific organizations don't set up entire colonies on their own.  Certainly not in the size to be able to generate trade with outsiders then not realize for more than six decades that something may be wrong after all contact with the rest of the universe breaks off.

You are pretty far from the old canon origins in FM: Periphery which clearly states that the Niops Association was founded by the Star League Astronomical Office to study stellar evolution.  It was founded 23 years (2741) before FM:SLDF (2764) was put together, yet somehow a secret, self-sufficient research colony founded to study stellar evolution grew enough to not only declare its independence and reorganize itself as an independent periphery state but also be able to produce an excess amount of supplies to make a dent in a SLDF Corps' material shortfall?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 12 July 2014, 13:56:19
Your right.. scientific organization's don't set up colonies. They set up up outposts. Couple hundred people tops with a bunch of automated science gear.
So why did niops get a full blown colony complete with industry? Your argument against my suggestion is a bigger argument against your own stance.

Because I'm not saying the scientific organization did it. Because I'm saying that when the SLAO set up the niops outpost, entrepenuers in positions aware of it saw a possibility, and set up an business venture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartered_company) seperate from the SLAO, to found a full blown colony. That the colony and the SLAO research outpost started as separate entities, that just shared the same location.

The difficult issue is what a niops colony venture might be able to produce profit on or promise they can make profit from when getting investors, but if you figure the colony venture focused on science not under the SLAO plan, and sold the idea of it as being an isolated self sufficient think tank it it starts to explain a lot about niops in later times.. would also explain some of the industry.. it was to help produce specialized hardware needed to test exotic scientific ideas.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 12 July 2014, 16:56:14
Your right.. scientific organization's don't set up colonies. They set up up outposts. Couple hundred people tops with a bunch of automated science gear.
So why did niops get a full blown colony complete with industry? Your argument against my suggestion is a bigger argument against your own stance.

Well apparently you don't know what my stance is.  My stance has been that the new retcon is not in keeping with the original fluff of the Niops Association whereas you are looking for a way that the chances are still in keeping with the original fluff.

Could just be the support settlements for the science stuff were founded as an incorporated venture, like how a lot of real world colonies were bankrolled.. that would give it a pseudo government right from the start. One made of investors and corporate reps. That would seem to fit the older fluff, iirc.

Quote
Because I'm not saying the scientific organization did it. Because I'm saying that when the SLAO set up the niops outpost, entrepenuers in positions aware of it saw a possibility, and set up an business venture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartered_company) seperate from the SLAO, to found a full blown colony. That the colony and the SLAO research outpost started as separate entities, that just shared the same location.

Even the addition of outside parties to the original fluff would not lead the colony to becoming a "minor Periphery state."  The original fluff also clearly states that at the time of the arrival of the Capellan refugees Niops was still only an astronomical research station (FM:P, p 120).  According to the original fluff, the Niops Association dropped off the Inner Sphere radar and lost all contact with the Inner Sphere which the involvement of other parties and trade ties with the Inner Sphere would have made much more difficult.  Not only do you have the outside parties including scientific groups (and related institutions) that would have been aware of the existence of Niops, but you have the JumpShips/DropShips who facilitated the establishment of the additional group and the Star League from the SL's Department of Communications adding their HPG to the Communications Network to facilitate trade negotiations to the Star League establishing an embassy of sorts to help facilitate political negotiations.  Finally, your proposal would mean that the government and social strata would have already been established prior to the fall of the Star League while the original fluff clearly states that this happened after the Capellan refugees arrived (p111).

There are simply too many inconsistencies to reconcile the two without have to resort to making one excuse after another (which you are apparently doing).  Therefore the retcon FM:SLDF is inconsistent with the original fluff.

This was Øystein's response to:

Personally I find the retconning surrounding the Niops Associations' origins.  Originally it was an isolated scientific outpost that missed the Amaris Coup that didn't become an independent state until after the Succession Wars began.  Now its supposed to have been a fledgling Periphery State before the fall of the Star League (per FM:SLDF)?
Huh?

Niops is on the map because they were settled by then. This is nothing new. You'll note that there is no legend with the name "Niops Association" with it. This is because, as you correctly say, the NA didn't get founded until later. But the world were settled by the 2750s. And all settled worlds of Great House are shown on maps.

Øystein

Niops was founded prior to the fall of the Star League, but the Niops Association wasn't founded until after the fall of the Star League.  His response pretty much sums up mine when I first read the section in FM: SLDF: "Huh?".
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 January 2015, 21:20:18
OK, so, things have been quiet in the Niops thread lately, and after seeing the Marian thread recently talking about what designs the Hegemony should produce, I revisited the idea for Niops: if and when Niops rebuilds their local military hardware manufacturing, what should they look into building?

Because Niops' industry has been beaten down to almost nothing, I decided to exclusively look at two tech bases: Primitive and Intro tech.  For the most part, I'm sticking to designs that Niops would either have likely have access to as a former Star League colony, or that are readily-available and common in the Periphery.  I've also tried to find as much overlap with fusion engines as possible, to cut down on the number of production lines they'd need, and prefer to minimize the number of weapons types that need to be manufactured, maintained, and fed as well.  I've also stuck exclusively to stock, canon designs

So, let's start with Intro Tech, shall we?  We know, from canon, that Niops expressly produced three named designs: the Black Knight, the Highlander and the Burke.

The Burke gives us a 150-rating engine, but uses ferro fibrous armor, so it's actually outside my criteria.  Should Niops continue to be able to produce its engines and PPCs, though, you can get the SPD-502 Spad, and that same engine could get you introtech Commandos like the COM-2D - according to the MUL, it's Periphery General in the early Republic era, so that's feasible.  The FFL-4A Firefly, an intro tech version of an old Star League design, would be another possibility.  The problem, of course, is there's almost no weapons commonality between the three designs.

The 270-rating engine opens up a few more doors.  first, you can keep intro-tech Highlanders, like the HGN-733P, in production, and also get the intro tech Phoenix Hawk, Hussar, Tomahawk and Ahab available to you.  I could not, however, find any intro tech vehicles that used the 270 standard fusion, and the AHB-X and Highlander also use a crapload of different weapons.  There is good overlap between the PXH-1 Phoenix Hawk and THK-33 Tomahawk, though, as well as with the HSR-300-D Hussar.

The 300 Vlar opens up huge numbers of doors.  You've got two intro-tech versions of the Black Knight (one with a PPC, LLs, MLs, and an SL, and the other with just LLs, MLs and SLs), the Marauder, the Orion, Atlas, intro-tech Mackie, intro-tech King Crab, intro-tech Champion, the Ostsol, the Chameleon, the Eagle, the Stuka, the Thunderbird and, for a tank, the Merkava Mk VIII.  If you've got the 300-rating engine, you're golden for frontline combatants.

Another one I looked into was the Vlar 160, which is used by the AM-PRM-SH1 Space Hound ProspectorMech, something I could see Niops and Interstellar Expeditions working together to build a production line for to aid in mining asteroids for germanium.  It's only got a single small laser, but the Vlar 160 was also used on the Whitworth, Locust and intro-tech Mercury.  The Locust and Mercury both have all-energy configs, which would cut down on logistics, too.

With the 300, the 270 and the 160, your best bet would probably be to build the following:

MCY-98 Mercury
Space Hound
PXH-1 Phoenix Hawk
BL-7-KNT Black Knight
Merkava Mk VIII tank
HGN-733P Highlander
Eagle ASF
AHB-X Ahab ASF

That puts your recon and your industrial 'Mech using one engine, your medium strike 'Mech, mainline BattleMech and main battle tank using another, and assault 'Mech and anti-ship ASF using the third.  It also gives you redundancy should there be an issue with one of those engine production lines.  There's overlap between the weapons production, too.  If you can't produce one of the three engines, you've got other solid options, as well.

Now, here's the tricky part:  what if they're stuck at a Primitive tech base for a while?

If that's the case, you're going to want to have as much overlap as possible, again, but this time you're starting from scratch.  Worse, exactly one of your old engines, the 270-rating, is used by a primitive design (the primitive EGL-R1 Eagle).  Ideally, assuming you'll be able to use these same fusion engines later down the road for intro or standard tech designs (see my rules board question), you'll not only want to maximize the number of designs you can use now, but also want to maximize your upgrade paths.  Vehicles, if you're this bad off, are probably going to be based on older primitive support vehicle tech, which don't use the same engines, sadly.

This, in the end, boils down into five engines: the 180-rating, the 220-rating, the 240-rating, the 255-rating and the 360-rating.

With the 180-rating, out the door, you could build the primitive Lightning and Helepolis, which gives you a useful aerospace fighter and an artillery 'Mech.  Your upgrade path to intro tech gains you 'Mechs like the Javelin and Blackjack, but also the intro-tech Wyvern and, when you eventually get back to your original tech base, the SLDF Wyvern and Galahad.  I've not, though, been able to find any intro-tech fighters or vehicles that use this engine.

The 220-rating may seem odd at first, but it gives you the original Kyudo, the Star Dagger ASF, and the primitive Centurion ASF.  Your upgrade paths here are weird: you end up replacing the Star Dagger or Centurion ASF with the SB-27 Sabre, and gain the ability to produce the intro-tech versions of the Prowler explorer vehicle, a unit that was highly popular with Explorer Corps, and one that Interstellar Expeditions might like, but which could also double as a decent infantry carrier for the Militia.

The 240-rating engine is, of course, a popular engine at the intro-tech level.  For primitive tech, it may only get you the SHD-1R Shadow Hawk and RFL-1N Rifleman, but moving up to intro tech your upgrade path gets you the RFL-3N and RFL-3C Rifleman, the various intro-tech Merlins, the intro-tech Lancelot, and the F-90 Stingray.

The 255-rating gives you an interesting starting point: the retrotech SPR-DH Sparrowhawk, with its MLs and ERSLs, and the ancient BKX-1X Battleaxe, with its large lasers, LRM-5s and SRM-6.  When you finally get an intro tech base back, you also get the Stalker, which everyone loves, the dumbed-down Crockett, the Longbow 7Q, and two useful vehicles once you can produce standard/Star League tech: the Thor and the Glory.

Lastly, there's the 360-rating engine.  This, of course, gives you the prototype Mackie 5S with its PPC, LL and AC/5, the production Mackie 6S with its PPC, twin MLs and AC/10, and, importantly, the primitive HMR-HA Hammerhead with its twin MLs.  Upgrading from here, though, is weird, because the only thing I could find that uses the same engine was the Cyclops - a decent enough 'Mech, but still kind of limiting.

If you're stuck at this level, then you should probably stick to two engines, at which point I'd say your best bet is to either do the 220 or the 240, and the 255 or the 360, depending on which plans you can get.

The 220-rating and 240-rating are both pretty safe options, since the primitive Kyudo, Star Dagger, Shadow Hawk and Rifleman were all Terran Hegemony designs, as was the Prowler.  You're probably going to be able to get the Sabre, too, without much difficulty.  The Shadow Hawk or Kyudo would give you a solid trooper, as well.

The 255-rating is tricky:  both primitive designs that use this engine are foreign, and may be hard to get ahold of.  With the 360-rating, though, you've got two solid Terran Hegemony primitive designs, which would serve well in the NAM: the primitive Hammerhead is quick enough and has solid enough armor to fulfill the role of general-purpose fighter, and the Mackie, despite being primitive, is a solid assault.

In the end, I'd probably say build production lines for the 240 and 360 fusion engines, then start building the following designs:

SHD-1R Shadow Hawk
RFL-1N Rifleman
MSK-5S Mackie
HMR-HA Hammerhead

That requires you to build the PPC, the large laser, the AC/5, and the medium laser.  Your Mackie and Shadow Hawk share AC/5s, your Hammerhead, Rifleman and Mackie share large lasers, the Shadow Hawk and Rifleman share medium lasers, and the only odd duck out is the PPC on the Mackie, but you're still building only a limited number of 'Mechs, getting you a trooper, a fire support 'Mech, an assault 'Mech, and a general-purpose fighter, and your forces still have a distinct Star League feel, even if it's a retro one.

(I've attached the spreadsheet I used to work all this up, BTW.)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Saint on 18 January 2015, 09:24:35
Nice work, while I see the logic I think they would also need to factor in other points.

1. Who are your likely opponents. Marian's may raid but have lost interest in an invasion, FWL is busy but may still do a recon in force, Pirates will be the biggest problem.

2. My take on Niops is that they are still healing from bitter internal stresses. A mech with M Guns and SRM's will help with civil unrest (also good for anti infantry)

3. Any design picked needs to give them the best bang for the buck. It will need to be multi roll, have decent armor, and some what heat efficient to compete with modern designs.

My pick would be the Battleaxe 1X. It has LRM's for fire support , Large Lasers for hole punching, SRM and MGuns for infantry and crit seeking, it's armor allows it to take some damage before falling back, but most importantly to me it has enough Heat Sinks to fire both Large Lasers while running or adding one to it's close up fire without overheating.

Ostwar would be my second choice (better armor and good heat dissipation ) and a TBolt my third (armor and hands).

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 January 2015, 09:32:43
Why not use FF amor? According to the dark age novels farmers can just make ff armor in their back shed.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 18 January 2015, 10:40:36
What the heck novel was that in? That seems off - if it was that easy, I'd have expected to see it during the Succession Wars. ???

Also, with the loss of the workshops, Niops lost production capacity for all their old hardware, and are basically starting over from scratch.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 18 January 2015, 13:59:56
Humm, I agree with the analysis of these would be good designs Saint pàra Nyops concerning mechs, ASF as I believe the Eagle would not be out of their way in Peripheral RATS abounds Seydlytz the same thing. As for the shield recalls that the Marian Hegemony have Ferrofibrous / case and advanced armor for battlearmor so I do not think the armor Ferrofibrous this out of range or in small quantities or by importing the Marian Hegemony or Rim commonality
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 January 2015, 14:16:42
The very first DA novel. The one with the mining mechs. All my books are packed away from the move.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Terminax on 18 January 2015, 14:24:32
I'd start from scratch myself. A simple wheeled apc & light tank design.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 18 January 2015, 14:26:43
Not sure it was FF armor, and it was a later book- Patriot's Stand.  They also bought offworld equipment to make the more advanced armor.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 18 January 2015, 14:38:50
That's the one. I don't remember them getting off world equipment to make it. I remember them going off world to try to hire merc... The same ones that attacked their planet. Either way, it still seemed easy for them to make it.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 18 January 2015, 21:48:26
They bought a bunch of rusting gear with the individual pros they hired, basically set up a advanced machine shop and made the FF armor using mechanical processes to create the 'sandwhich' layers.

Gio, what about trying to get a connection to Randis and make Hawkwolfs?  Something modern . . . the other thing would be, what are their neighbors making that they could sell overruns of parts to?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 18 January 2015, 22:43:16
Primitive HawkWolfs use a 290-rating engine, which, as far as I can tell, is only used by the primitive HawkWolf, the primitive Vulcan ASF, and the primitive Griffin.

Of course, Randis seems to have resolved the issue about building a different fusion engine...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 19 January 2015, 13:13:40
About making Hawkwolfs in Niops....i can see the Hope Industrial Works selling both the primitive or/and the advanced Hawkwolf to Niops, but sharing the schematics is a little harder. If you read between the lines, i do not know how much control the HIW and/or the Knights of Randis have over the design and production of the Hawkwolf.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 29 January 2015, 21:08:36
About making Hawkwolfs in Niops....i can see the Hope Industrial Works selling both the primitive or/and the advanced Hawkwolf to Niops, but sharing the schematics is a little harder.
Trade an embassy and land for an enclave for putting a factory on said enclave and selling Hawkwolves at market value.

What about Marshals from the Canopians?  They're not far off, don't seem to be interested in taking over the Association, and the thing's built to be a decent police Mech.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 30 January 2015, 00:47:49
Trade an embassy and land for an enclave for putting a factory on said enclave and selling Hawkwolves at market value.

The only difficulty with that is that another embassy probably won't fly on Niops. I mean, the Republic embassy is empty, and there are still protesters outside.

That said, Randis is a lot smaller than the Republic, and probably nowhere near as much of a busybody.

Quote
What about Marshals from the Canopians?  They're not far off, don't seem to be interested in taking over the Association, and the thing's built to be a decent police Mech.

That's not a bad choice at all, actually.  Certainly one of the more distinct Griffin variants out there.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: BrokenMnemonic on 30 January 2015, 06:25:21
One of the problems with trading with Randis is that the Brotherhood are basically a thousand light years away. Well, 998, if I got my numbers right. That's a long way to do much of anything.

For the purposes of comparison, New St. Andrews is about 210 light years away. Why not trade for their armed industrial 'Mech and develop a more modern design from it?

Alternatively, the Rim Collection is about 500 light years away, and they're churning out autocannons from Able's Hunting Arms, Ltd as well as a few basic 'Mech designs...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 30 January 2015, 11:25:39
You could always trade with us Marians... ::)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 30 January 2015, 11:33:13
Trade isn't the same as rebuilding their local infrastructure, and I have doubts Niops would invite the Marians to build a local factory.  Past interactions between Marians and Niopians on Niops worlds were occasionally... acrimonious.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 30 January 2015, 11:43:36
In the past I could that relations have been hostile takeovers, but maybe if we provide some systems inhabited they may have in their base of astronomical data could get to convince the ATC or hadrian who are interested in investment that clear type with some commitment of production go to the Marian hegemony
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 30 January 2015, 11:55:54
One of the problems with trading with Randis is that the Brotherhood are basically a thousand light years away. Well, 998, if I got my numbers right. That's a long way to do much of anything.

For the purposes of comparison, New St. Andrews is about 210 light years away. Why not trade for their armed industrial 'Mech and develop a more modern design from it?

Alternatively, the Rim Collection is about 500 light years away, and they're churning out autocannons from Able's Hunting Arms, Ltd as well as a few basic 'Mech designs...
If you're planning to make a trip to New St. Andrews, make sure you're friendly with the Marians, and do watch out for pirates as you pass the former Circinian worlds.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: BrokenMnemonic on 30 January 2015, 12:46:50
If you're planning to make a trip to New St. Andrews, make sure you're friendly with the Marians, and do watch out for pirates as you pass the former Circinian worlds.
There are pirates everywhere, and I suspect the local former FWL systems have no problems with trade running through their worlds if it's not supplying the Marians. Or are you happier going through the Canopians, Capellans, Taurians and FedSuns systems to get to Randis, assuming you don't run into pirates from Tortuga or the Badlands Cluster on the way? Assuming that the Regulans don't decide you're pirates anyway.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 30 January 2015, 12:50:17
180 SFE- Turhan tank, LB-X Carrier ( AC/20 variant),

Cooper-19 - Securitymech which is a direct lead to Commando

Defender - CF - ICE
Angel - CF - Fusion 100
Meteor - CF - Fusion Atmo-225

LTV-Hovertank - ICE
AC/2 Carrier - ICE ( Primative-4 or Standard-5 )
LRM / SRM Carrier - ICE ( Primative or Standard )
Maultier - ICE ( Basic )
T-12 Tiger tank - ICE
Marsden II tank - ICE ( Primative to II-A )

Small list...

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 30 January 2015, 12:58:40
The Marian Hegemony is closer to a space jump and even the capital is as close and where the political leadership and the headquarters of two companies with whom to negotiate
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 30 January 2015, 13:43:19
The Marian Hegemony is closer to a space jump and even the capital is as close and where the political leadership and the headquarters of two companies with whom to negotiate

I'm still not clear on why you would think that the Niops Association, where they have "foreigners go home!" protesters outside an empty Republic of the Sphere embassy, would warmly welcome having the Marian Hegemony, who have attacked them multiple times, build permanent infrastructure in Niops, especially considering they're competitors in germanium mining.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 30 January 2015, 14:05:07
I'm still not clear on why you would think that the Niops Association, where they have "foreigners go home!" protesters outside an empty Republic of the Sphere embassy, would warmly welcome having the Marian Hegemony, who have attacked them multiple times, build permanent infrastructure in Niops, especially considering they're competitors in germanium mining.

Ehh, I'll give you an option ...., competitors? I doubt very much germanium we do not have a mine in a system, but mines in several systems

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 30 January 2015, 15:27:31
There are pirates everywhere, and I suspect the local former FWL systems have no problems with trade running through their worlds if it's not supplying the Marians. Or are you happier going through the Canopians, Capellans, Taurians and FedSuns systems to get to Randis, assuming you don't run into pirates from Tortuga or the Badlands Cluster on the way? Assuming that the Regulans don't decide you're pirates anyway.
Sure, but the Circinians were the biggest, baddest Bandit Kingdom.  Best to avoid the area if at all possible, which means either traversing the MH, or taking a lengthy detour around them on the Rimward side, or all the way through the LC if you prefer a Coreward route.

As for Randis, What kind of strange route are you using?  The most direct route doesn't take you through Regulan or Canopian space, and you should be able to avoid Andurien, CC, FS, TC, or NCR territory with only a short detour.  At least, as long as you only need to avoid one.  If you need to avoid mthe FS and TC, for example, it's a much more significant detour.  But by no means should you have to go through MoC, CC, TC, FS, and Regulan space.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Archangel on 30 January 2015, 18:50:03
The biggest issue the Niops Association has is that they have little to offer in trade and would likely have to rely on the willingness of their trading partner(s) to help them out.  Not to mention their partner(s) would have to have the extra resources available to help them out.  Another considerations is that even at their height the Niops Association's ability to manufacture military equipment was limited so a trading partner would likely have to assistance with that as well.  A final consideration is that even before the Jihad the Niops Association didn't have a large JumpShip fleet.  What few they had were leftover from when refugees fleeing the Succession Wars settled on one of the Niops' worlds and were likely hit by the Blakists during their attack.  The few that were left over after that (that are still jump capable) are likely tied up transporting DropShips between the three systems.

Republic of the Sphere - Despite their disarmament policy, the Republic should have been willing to help the Niops Association establish at least a capable defense force. (Before the Blackout of course)

Regulan Fiefs - The Regulans know the feeling of have their homeworld devastated by the Blakists and have no love for either the Rim Commonality (if I recall they forced the Niops Association to permit them to establish an embassy on Niops) or the Free Worlds League so they might be willing to help although they probably would require that the Niops Association allow them to establish a forward staging base from which they could launch raids into the Rim Commonality and (later) the Free Worlds League.

Magistracy of Canopus - The Magistracy has no love for the Marion Hegemony so establishing a roadblock in to hinder Marian expansion would make sense.  With them might come some Capellan aid as well.

Duchy of Andurien - They know the feeling of being pressured by their neighbors so they might be willing to provide some assistance especially if it hinders Marian expansion into the former FWL territory.  After all if the Marians get too close, they might start expanding their raiding expeditions into Andurien territory (if they haven't done so already).

Randis - While they would probably be willing to help, they are too far away and their resources are too limited to be able to assist the Niops Association.

Fronc Reaches - They would certainly be willing to help but lack the resources to help beyond perhaps providing some instructors.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Col.Hengist on 01 February 2015, 16:04:25
I wouldn't worry too much about jump ships and the like. I've just folded space from IX. There are many new machines on UX.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 22 February 2017, 14:38:07
Thread Necromancy!

So, for any of you wondering how the orbital mechanics of Niops work, wonder no longer: we found them, only 40 light-years away:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/02/nearby-system-has-7-earth-sized-planets-several-in-the-habitable-zone/

Let's look at the similarities:

1. Red dwarf star (M8V instead of M5V, but close enough)
2. Seven planets close to Earth's mass, with the last three being clearly in the world's habitable zone.

I mean, holy crap, could this any more perfectly resemble Niops?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: MarikMilitaMan on 22 February 2017, 14:52:13
Thread Necromancy!

So, for any of you wondering how the orbital mechanics of Niops work, wonder no longer: we found them, only 40 light-years away:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/02/nearby-system-has-7-earth-sized-planets-several-in-the-habitable-zone/

Let's look at the similarities:

1. Red dwarf star (M8V instead of M5V, but close enough)
2. Seven planets close to Earth's mass, with the last three being clearly in the world's habitable zone.

I mean, holy crap, could this any more perfectly resemble Niops?

Just saw this on the news, its incredibly close.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 22 February 2017, 15:31:21
Just saw this on the news, its incredibly close.

For those playing the home game:

Niops
Spectral Class: M5V
Time to Jump Point (at 1G with midpoint turnover): 2.45 days
Proximity Point Distance: 0.11 billion km (0.7353 AU)
Recharge Time: 206 hours
Approx. mass: 14% of Sol
Approx. Radius: 20% of Sol

TRAPPIST-1
Spectral Class: M8V
Time to Jump Point (at 1G with midpoint turnover): 2.09 days
Proximity Point Distance: 0.08 billion km (0.5348 AU)
Recharge Time:  209 hours
Approx. Mass: 8% of Sol
Approx. Radius: 11% of Sol

So, yes, TRAPPIST-1 is  around 57% the mass and diameter of our fictional Niops, but it's close enough that you could easily swap it out to little to no effect in your own game, as well as rough descriptions of what each world may be like.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 23 February 2017, 02:18:27
What about TRAPPIST-1's position in relation to Earth? Rimward-Anti-Spinward?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 23 February 2017, 14:30:20
What about TRAPPIST-1's position in relation to Earth? Rimward-Anti-Spinward?

Opposite direction from Niops, amusingly.

Because Battletech's star map is 2D and takes liberties with reality, it takes a little extrapolation, but it's in the same ballpark direction as Markab and Fomalhaut, 40 LY from Earth.  So, figure TRAPPIST-1 is somewhere in the area between Styx, Nirasaki and Northwind.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 24 February 2017, 08:48:43
Thanks  O0 Wow, that's pretty close by in BT terms. Niops is a few hundred LY away.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 27 February 2017, 21:02:36
Wonder if there any Timeshares are out for this yet?

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 05 June 2018, 17:27:43
OK, hopefully playing my first Alpha Strike game next month, and looking to do a Niops-themed company for it.  Limit is 500 PV, and I was looking at:

2 HGN-732 Highlanders
2 UM-R60 UrbanMechs
4 BLR-1G BattleMasters
4 SHD-2H Shadow Hawks

Everyone is at a skill level of 3, which was recommended to speed up the game.

Thoughts, ideas, comments, suggestions?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 05 June 2018, 17:28:16
(last proposed lance for the game)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 05 June 2018, 18:16:44
Been looking around... Crockett-1 and -1b have same profile as Highlander-732, just way better stats... only -2 and +5 PV respectfully...

The -1b is a Royal, and we know they do build SLDF mechs, Royal possible.

4, 4, 3 or 5, 5, 4 vs. your 3, 4, 3...

Now if you jump to a -732b it gives you 67 PV...

Everything you have listed, minus a single Urbanmech, leaving you 2 PV left. Higlander-732b and Crockett-1b... 5, 6, 4 and 5, 5, 4 damage, plus the rest.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 05 June 2018, 19:04:07
Been looking around... Crockett-1 and -1b have same profile as Highlander-732, just way better stats... only -2 and +5 PV respectfully...

The -1b is a Royal, and we know they do build SLDF mechs, Royal possible.

4, 4, 3 or 5, 5, 4 vs. your 3, 4, 3...

Now if you jump to a -732b it gives you 67 PV...

Everything you have listed, minus a single Urbanmech, leaving you 2 PV left. Higlander-732b and Crockett-1b... 5, 6, 4 and 5, 5, 4 damage, plus the rest.

TT

Hmm, I'll have to see if I can dig up my Crockett mini.  That's got possibilities.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 05 June 2018, 20:06:16
Would you run with BA?

Meaning a triple Nighthawk (P)ALs, one XXI and two XXII.

2 PV XXI
7 PV XXII
7 PV XXII

All 6"J and the XXI has LECM, the others have 1, 0, 0.

Would mean losing the Urbie, but you could swing it. A pair of Powerhouses anchoring with the SHawks running Recon with your BMasters dictating the field.

Thoughts GB?

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 06 June 2018, 02:48:34
Would you run with BA?

Meaning a triple Nighthawk (P)ALs, one XXI and two XXII.

2 PV XXI
7 PV XXII
7 PV XXII

All 6"J and the XXI has LECM, the others have 1, 0, 0.

Would mean losing the Urbie, but you could swing it. A pair of Powerhouses anchoring with the SHawks running Recon with your BMasters dictating the field.

Thoughts GB?

TT


I would have to buy some BA minis. I have 2-3 Kanazuchi, 1 Sloth, 1 Nighthawk, and 1 Marauder.  Those are individual suits.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 01 July 2018, 23:29:50
Whens the game Gio?

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 02 July 2018, 01:56:30
July 14. So have a bit of time yet.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 January 2019, 17:35:45
So, haven't had a chance to pick it up yet, and debating between now and next payday, but does anyone know if Niops gets a mention in Shattered Fortress?  I know there's some Marian activity there, so it had me wondering.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 16 January 2019, 17:54:27
Not one that I recall . . . but to be fair, most of it is focused FS/CC/Rep with a dash of Drac, Wolf & Falcon.

Disappointing in that regard since MWDA left a lot of great League based storylines- to include the Regulan's trying to pit Niops against the Rim Commonality.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 01 February 2021, 17:16:41
Bit behind on my 2020 releases, and it's been a couple years.  Anything in the recent source books or Recognition Guides for Niops?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 01 February 2021, 20:00:34
Nope. Only the Alliance(Clan), Taurians and Canopus are prominently mentioned in recent products.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 02 February 2021, 10:03:03
Aurigans, Scorpions, and pirates also got some mention.  IIRC Niops hand built Black Knights, with that mech now out in RecGuides I do not expect them to get a reference.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 02 February 2021, 23:53:45
Aurigans are just a nod to the game since it's already a fallen state. Scorpions are still Clan, not Periphery.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 03 February 2021, 00:28:52
We do not know about the Aurigans for sure . . . think the Hansa got a shout out too.  And the Scorp nod was to a freebirth IIRC.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 03 February 2021, 01:01:39
Aurigans, Scorpions, and pirates also got some mention.  IIRC Niops hand built Black Knights, with that mech now out in RecGuides I do not expect them to get a reference.

They used to build those and Highlanders, but the ability to do so was lost during the Jihad between the raids and destruction of the Project Workshops by first the Marians and then the Word of Blake.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 03 February 2021, 02:47:28
In effect making Niops of the Dark Age like a hermit state. It's uncertain whether they can even build Nighthawks now
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Metallgewitter on 18 February 2021, 13:04:21
In effect making Niops of the Dark Age like a hermit state. It's uncertain whether they can even build Nighthawks now

I think the only industry Niops has left is mining which is run by Interstellar Expeditions. In FM 3145 it is stated that the workshops were abandoned. Best guess: Niops can only produce ammo for it's military hardware.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: pat_hdx on 08 March 2021, 12:05:53
I think the only industry Niops has left is mining which is run by Interstellar Expeditions. In FM 3145 it is stated that the workshops were abandoned. Best guess: Niops can only produce ammo for it's military hardware.

I hope the next time they make it into the lore, they have recovered a lot of their capabilities. I didn't have a problem with all the chaos that happened in Niops because it was part of creating adventure hooks for the region in the early post Jihad era. But having Niops stay down forever turns it from something unique and fun... to just any other run of the mill down on their luck periphery mini-nation.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 08 March 2021, 23:50:14
If they don't recover, then they will die off
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 09 March 2021, 02:08:55
Their intellectuals were the ones that created their prosperity. If most of them were nuked in the Jihad, Niops would stay down for a very long time
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: pat_hdx on 09 March 2021, 13:12:15
I guess I very much look at it from an out of Universe perspective.

Since details are slim, the developers can chose how well Niops recovers or overcomes their challanges. I know Ray wants to simplify the faction situation. Which is understandable, but If you are gonna kill it, then kill it like Circinius and put it out of its misery, but if they are going to keep it on the map, it should be something more than a has been rando periphery state.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 09 March 2021, 15:49:59
Well, there's one Niops Kickstarter character in the ilClan era so maybe we'll get killed off on-screen in a sufficiently glorious fashion.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 10 March 2021, 01:51:00
Niops will probably become Canopian or neoFWL chow
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 March 2021, 03:02:52
I guess I very much look at it from an out of Universe perspective.

Since details are slim, the developers can chose how well Niops recovers or overcomes their challanges. I know Ray wants to simplify the faction situation. Which is understandable, but If you are gonna kill it, then kill it like Circinius and put it out of its misery, but if they are going to keep it on the map, it should be something more than a has been rando periphery state.

I suspect, given the ties with Interstellar Expeditions in the late Republic and the Dark Age era, that the next time we'll really hear anything in detail from Niops will probably come around the same time we hear more from them, ie. in a product along the lines of the Interstellar Players sourcebooks, or maybe even a Touring the Stars from the perspective of a joint ISP/Niops expedition to a lost world.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 11 March 2021, 01:57:56
IE will probably be folded into a new SLDF Explorer Corps. Alaric will not allow it to continue its independence.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 11 March 2021, 11:29:27
IE will probably be folded into a new SLDF Explorer Corps. Alaric will not allow it to continue its independence.

I honestly don't think he'll care. The only thing outside of the Inner Sphere he might be interested in is the Homeworlds, and he already knows where those are and he also knows it's not worth poking at them. Anything else outside of the Inner Sphere falls way, way down the list of things to be concerned about.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 12 March 2021, 09:16:38
As he's so conscious about resurrecting the Star League, he will clamp down on powerful independents like IE and the Great Houses. Besides, IE being an NGO superpower in a universe like BT is IMHO unrealistic.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: pat_hdx on 12 March 2021, 19:02:12
As he's so conscious about resurrecting the Star League, he will clamp down on powerful independents like IE and the Great Houses. Besides, IE being an NGO superpower in a universe like BT is IMHO unrealistic.

Aren't most of IE's assets bordering the periphery?  Isn't there princiapl HQ in Lyran Space? Even if Alaric can get to some of the leadership, big chunks of IE can simply choose to break of and operate in practice independently if they feel their central leadership has a gun to their heads.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 13 March 2021, 04:59:56
I don't think they will get away with this as the Lyrans will not risk Alaric's wrath just to harbour a powerful independent organization.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 March 2021, 17:59:10
Do we see any indications that the Wolves will, somehow, do what the Word of Blake couldn't even do with WMD and bring all the Houses to heel?

Is there any indication that, even if the Houses willingly join a third Star League run by Alaric and his Wolves, they'll willingly suborn their science, research and educational systems to the Clan caste system?

Both of those seem like a stretch, and either would be required for the universities and independent Periphery powers that back Interstellar Expeditions to suborn them completely.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Kerfuffin(925) on 13 March 2021, 19:42:47
Do we see any indications that the Wolves will, somehow, do what the Word of Blake couldn't even do with WMD and bring all the Houses to heel?

Is there any indication that, even if the Houses willingly join a third Star League run by Alaric and his Wolves, they'll willingly suborn their science, research and educational systems to the Clan caste system?

Both of those seem like a stretch, and either would be required for the universities and independent Periphery powers that back Interstellar Expeditions to suborn them completely.

Other than them being the favorites no real indication. There seems to have been a fair amount of trepidation from some factions in doing something to anger them from Hour of the Wolf.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 15 March 2021, 02:15:25
Do we see any indications that the Wolves will, somehow, do what the Word of Blake couldn't even do with WMD and bring all the Houses to heel?

Is there any indication that, even if the Houses willingly join a third Star League run by Alaric and his Wolves, they'll willingly suborn their science, research and educational systems to the Clan caste system?

Both of those seem like a stretch, and either would be required for the universities and independent Periphery powers that back Interstellar Expeditions to suborn them completely.

From Hour of The Wolf, Stone hardened Alaric's idealism by implying he would have to force every other faction to submit for his Clan-dominated Star League to work. After he's done with the Hell's Horses, Liao, Kurita and any other stubborn Great House, he'll be looking at the Periphery, Homeworlds and strong independents like IE.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 15 March 2021, 18:33:03
That's assuming he's successful in doing what literally nobody else has been able to do in the history of the Battletech universe, though, and conquoring everyone else. That seems...unlikely.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 15 March 2021, 22:17:22
That's assuming he's successful in doing what literally nobody else has been able to do in the history of the Battletech universe, though, and conquoring everyone else. That seems...unlikely.

I think we are going a little off-topic here, But, i think Alaric have a good chance of, while not "conquering" the whole IS and Periphery, putting a good deal of it under its authority.  From the last part of Hour of the Wolf, have a LOT of negotiation with the Ravens, Bears and Sharks, but if he manages to get those in-line, i think he had a hood chance of putting down the three most direct threats to his rulership, the CC-MoC, the DC and CHH. I think the first one going down will be the CHH, and the DC is both at the brink of logistical exhaustation and a brewing Civil War. So the main fight will be against the CC. At this point neither the LC (in a sorry state), the FS (in a worse state i think) nor the FWL (still getting on their feets and with some Shark and NC influence there) can face Alaric, not even the 3 togheter.

Now trying to get back on-topic. Will Alaric as the IlKhan, be able to subjugate both IE and Niops to the will of his new Star League? Probably. But not in the short run. Not even in the middle run.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 16 March 2021, 02:19:37
I think we are going a little off-topic here, But, i think Alaric have a good chance of, while not "conquering" the whole IS and Periphery, putting a good deal of it under its authority.  From the last part of Hour of the Wolf, have a LOT of negotiation with the Ravens, Bears and Sharks, but if he manages to get those in-line, i think he had a hood chance of putting down the three most direct threats to his rulership, the CC-MoC, the DC and CHH. I think the first one going down will be the CHH, and the DC is both at the brink of logistical exhaustation and a brewing Civil War. So the main fight will be against the CC. At this point neither the LC (in a sorry state), the FS (in a worse state i think) nor the FWL (still getting on their feets and with some Shark and NC influence there) can face Alaric, not even the 3 togheter.

Now trying to get back on-topic. Will Alaric as the IlKhan, be able to subjugate both IE and Niops to the will of his new Star League? Probably. But not in the short run. Not even in the middle run.

As some products have shown a 3250 Star League context, in the long run he will be able to subdue the Inner Sphere and Periphery. The Homeworlds too, but that's going off topic.

Hell's Horses are acting like the pre-3067 Ice Hellions and looking at a losing proposition against the Wolves & Falcons.

The Combine is incredibly overstretched and surrounded by hostile neighbours(Bears, Ravens, Suns) who will make them lose if they really coordinate an assault.

Liao-MoC-Andurien is the only credible threat against Alaric, but even then, he can envelop this bloc with neoFWL, Marian, FS and Taurian help.

Steiner is looking at a long recovery but that is also highly uncertain because Alaric has claims on both LC and FS. By staying neutral and acting in the best interests of his realm, Davion is likely to ally with/submit to Alaric and go along with whatever offensive aimed at Kurita and Liao.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Metallgewitter on 16 March 2021, 08:59:02
Steiner is looking at a long recovery but that is also highly uncertain because Alaric has claims on both LC and FS. By staying neutral and acting in the best interests of his realm, Davion is likely to ally with/submit to Alaric and go along with whatever offensive aimed at Kurita and Liao.

Could Alaric even get the Steiner throne? He is basically the son of Katherine Steiner-Davion and she and her children are barred from ever sitting on the thron eof the Commenwealth or suns.
And would alaric look at the Periphery? The Alliance might join due to being led by a Clan. The Concordat might just say "Oh it's tuesday again" and ready the nukes. The Magistracy is allied with House Liao so most likely a big No.
Niops? Is Niops even worth the trouble? During the later days of the League they left the Ilyrian Palatinate alone so I would assume that alric would leave the small statelets to their own devices.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 17 March 2021, 04:29:34
Trillian's image has gotten a hammering and Alaric can just enforce his claim. The Concordat can go either way.

Niops will probably be left alone unless they voluntarily join.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 17 March 2021, 08:00:53
Niops will probably be left alone unless they voluntarily join.

I'll buy that for a dollar!

I mean they could rebuild quietly as the have before...

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 17 March 2021, 08:53:42
They only militarized during the 3050s and 3060s though. One can say the current state of Niops is a return to the pre-militarization era and it's a blessing in disguise because it makes Niops less attractive to prospective invaders.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 17 March 2021, 09:24:08
They only militarized during the 3050s and 3060s though. One can say the current state of Niops is a return to the pre-militarization era and it's a blessing in disguise because it makes Niops less attractive to prospective invaders.

Space Romans don't care what you have. Space Romans only care that you're nearby and not theirs. The only thing keeping the Space Romans away pre-3050 was NAM aerospace superiority. The only thing keeping them away now is IE and RoTS support. A native buildup is not only a good idea, it's essential. That or becoming a puppet looking for help from the FWL or Magistracy.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 17 March 2021, 09:25:42
IIRC, Niops had at least a good relation with the Rim Commonality. At least they shared some info as showed in "To ride the Chimera".
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 17 March 2021, 09:32:19
IIRC, Niops had at least a good relation with the Rim Commonality. At least they shared some info as showed in "To ride the Chimera".

Common cause with the Rim Commonality makes a lot of sense, actually, given that they are actively fighting the Marians. The only danger is getting drawn too far into internal Marik politics, but that may be a risk that has to be taken.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 May 2021, 20:31:38
Well, there's one Niops Kickstarter character in the ilClan era so maybe we'll get killed off on-screen in a sufficiently glorious fashion.

I'm not a Kickstarter backer, so I didn't see this.  Could you provide a synopsis?

Space Romans don't care what you have. Space Romans only care that you're nearby and not theirs. The only thing keeping the Space Romans away pre-3050 was NAM aerospace superiority. The only thing keeping them away now is IE and RoTS support. A native buildup is not only a good idea, it's essential. That or becoming a puppet looking for help from the FWL or Magistracy.

Which brings up the interesting question...

We know Niops has a militia in 3145.  They even have a military academy.  What they reportedly lack are the old Project Workshops.

Say you're in charge of military procurement for the Niops Association.  You know the new germanium mining operations in the belt of the Niops system could attract some attention.  Your goal, then, is to restore some degree of self-sufficiency to the Niops Association in terms of military hardware production and procurement.

What military hardware lines do you try to obtain production for?  For simplicity's sake, let's stick to canon designs, and ones that other parties are likely to be willing to part with (say, because they're lower tech) or ones you can scrape together from thr ruins of the workshop.  Thoughts?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 10 May 2021, 21:39:52
if you are looking to get production lines, you probably won't have a lot of options. odds are you could obtain tooling and plans for some of the conventional vehicles (especially the succession wars versions of common platforms) but as far as mechs go your odds are low of finding anything.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 10 May 2021, 21:43:26
My thoughts look at designs it should be easy to gain plans for as well as upgrades:
Sabre aerospace
Stinger/Wasp Mech
Wolverine/Griffin Mech for a trooper mech
Goblin tank and look at Daryk designs for a family of units
Either Gray Death BA or Cavalier BA suits
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 May 2021, 22:53:56
if you are looking to get production lines, you probably won't have a lot of options. odds are you could obtain tooling and plans for some of the conventional vehicles (especially the succession wars versions of common platforms) but as far as mechs go your odds are low of finding anything.

I figure the best bet would be to restore damaged infrastructure that's already there, but that may not be possible, and we're highly limited about how much we know about what Niops actually built.  I believe only four designs were ever expressly named: the Nighthawk PA(L), the Black Knight, the Highlander and the Burke.

In terms of tooling availability, their best bet on the open market would probably be remaining Primitive/RetroTech lines from manufacturers who upgraded or are upgrading those production lines, or some sort of armed IndustrialMech.  In a lot of ways, Niops is in a similar boat to New St. Andrews or Randis when they started manufacturing their own 'Mechs, though they might have the advantage of having some tooling still laying around.

My thoughts look at designs it should be easy to gain plans for as well as upgrades:
Sabre aerospace

Probably not a bad choice for an all-around interceptor, and it comes in a variety of tech bases, including Primitive, if that ends up being the best they could manage for a while.

Quote
Stinger/Wasp Mech
Wolverine/Griffin Mech for a trooper mech

Same tech base argument applies here, too.

That said, if they recover enough for Intro tech, though, I wonder if some version of the Phoenix Hawk to fill both roles might be better.  We know that, at one time, Niops did produce 270-rating engines, too.  Alternatively, the Chameleon could maybe serve in a similar role, and could also function as a trainer 'Mech in their academy, and also uses a 300-rating engine, like their old Black Knights used to.

Failing that...there's always the Quasit.  ;D

Quote
Goblin tank and look at Daryk designs for a family of units
Either Gray Death BA or Cavalier BA suits

Goblins are a solid choice.  As for the BA, I'd almost rather see them keep the Nighthawks in production, if only for continuity with pre-Jihad Niops.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 11 May 2021, 00:38:50
I was not that they could build the nighthawk stealth armor easy anymore..
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 11 May 2021, 01:26:57
An-2s loaded down with RL-10s
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 May 2021, 02:09:03
I was not that they could build the nighthawk stealth armor easy anymore..

I'm looking for the part discussing it, which is taking some digging.  Of course, I also discovered the secondary languages for Niops, per Era Report 3145, are Arabic, Bulgarian and Urdu.

Field Manual 3145 mentions the Project Workshops not being rebuilt and that Niops "must rely on imports from the Marian Hegemony, former Free Worlds League states, and the Lyran Commonwealth".  Which is a thing.  Also, it mentions the Niops Citizens Militia, which is also interesting, considering elsewhere it's the Niops Association Militia

Ah, there it is.  Page 199 of Field Manual 3145.  Where, again, it's NAM (Niops Association Militia) and not the Niops Citizens Militia.

Quote from: Field Manual 3145, Pg. 199
The one bright spot in an otherwise bleak recent history has been the formal addition of infantry forces to the
NAM in both unarmored and battle armor alike. The NAM currently has four squads of the ancient Nighthawk Mk XXI power armor—representing all of the suits left in active service today. These assets are used exclusively to protect the government facilities on Niops VII.

So, since the MUL lists the Nighthawk as being used by a number of powers in the Dark Age, I'm gonna assume that those four squads of suits are all the active suits in the Niops Association.  I'm also not clear if that represents the totality of the NAM infantry forces in battle armor, and the chart later on in the book only clearly spells out their BattleMech strength (1 regiment), as well as listing the Militia as a whole at 85% strength.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 11 May 2021, 03:01:38
1 regiment of Mechs is a good number to deter any raiders, especially if it is 1/3 Star League Mechs and 2/3 Retro or intro Mechs. Since they buy from the Hegemony, Lyrans and former FWL, for Retrotech, the Centurion, Sarissa, Ostwar, Patron and Arbiter will be common.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Sharpnel on 11 May 2021, 03:11:54
An-2s loaded down with RL-10s
I like the cut of your jib.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 May 2021, 03:43:56
1 regiment of Mechs is a good number to deter any raiders, especially if it is 1/3 Star League Mechs and 2/3 Retro or intro Mechs. Since they buy from the Hegemony, Lyrans and former FWL, for Retrotech, the Centurion, Sarissa, Ostwar, Patron and Arbiter will be common.

Right.  Which certainly is an answer to what they're probably doing in canon: salvaging their own crap, stripping Blakist salvage for parts, and buying from my neighbors.  My question was more in terms of if you're trying to restore some domestic production, what do you build?

Also, the problem with one regiment at 85% strength is that they've got three planets to defend, not one.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Elmoth on 11 May 2021, 05:28:34
Also, the problem with one regiment at 85% strength is that they've got three planets to defend, not one.

This. It is 2 companies or a batallion per planet, not a regiment. Niops woud do well having a VERY strong naval arm, or ASF force.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: tapdancingbeavers on 11 May 2021, 05:40:05
This. It is 2 companies or a batallion per planet, not a regiment. Niops woud do well having a VERY strong naval arm, or ASF force.

With the Outworlds Alliance being Clan now I think that would be an interesting direction to take Niops; a lower tech, scrappy ASF nation.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 11 May 2021, 07:58:42
Right.  Which certainly is an answer to what they're probably doing in canon: salvaging their own crap, stripping Blakist salvage for parts, and buying from my neighbors.  My question was more in terms of if you're trying to restore some domestic production, what do you build?
Oops sorry. Any of the SLDF Mechs from TRO3050U or the Royals would be fine if they still retain the data. Perhaps licensing the Orion from the neoFWL for a solid heavy.

Royal P-Hawk for a mobile generalist.

Quote
Also, the problem with one regiment at 85% strength is that they've got three planets to defend, not one.

As others pointed out, they need a strong aero complement. If they don't, a short-term solution would be loaning DropShips from IE.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 11 May 2021, 11:02:06
I'm not a Kickstarter backer, so I didn't see this.  Could you provide a synopsis?

Tis me!

Name: Alexander Elias Temper
Profession: Businessman/Merc Owner

Pithy Quote: "It doesn't take a genius to realize that the Space Romans are coming for us eventually. Fortunately for us, I AM a genius, and I have a plan."

Yeah, he's a bit of a jerk, but hopefully of the Tony Stark variety.  ;)

Quote
Which brings up the interesting question...

We know Niops has a militia in 3145.  They even have a military academy.  What they reportedly lack are the old Project Workshops.

Say you're in charge of military procurement for the Niops Association.  You know the new germanium mining operations in the belt of the Niops system could attract some attention.  Your goal, then, is to restore some degree of self-sufficiency to the Niops Association in terms of military hardware production and procurement.

What military hardware lines do you try to obtain production for?  For simplicity's sake, let's stick to canon designs, and ones that other parties are likely to be willing to part with (say, because they're lower tech) or ones you can scrape together from thr ruins of the workshop.  Thoughts?

I'd lean heavily into the partnership with IE and start with an effort to restore the Association Militia's Aerospace arm and build new orbital facilities dedicated to servicing JumpShips and DropShips. Make Niops the go-to system for IE's Anti-Spinward exploration. Strike a deal for IE to front the initial cost for mercenaries to defend the burgeoning orbital repair facilities and spend precious national funds on hiring techs, astechs and engineers to come help salvage the Project Workshops and/or start teaching the new graduating classes how to build the tools to build the lines to produce level 1 tech base 'Mechs. Focus on three chassis (heavy scout, workman medium, closeup heavy/assault) and focus on getting back up to the goal of one new 'Mech per semester. Save the Star League era designs for later, once we've got the basics up and running.

By the end of first ten years we have a company's worth of new local 'Mech production, a NAM augmented by IE fronted mercenaries and the potential of becoming a rest and refit site for Mercs joining or leaving IE contracts, further bolstering the system's defenses.

Long term, I would leverage that expanded aerospace maintenance capability to start working on a home-produced Dropship design intended for PWS duties. It's goal isn't to destroy, necessarily, but to so shred incoming enemy Dropships so that anything that does make it planetside has been streaming atmosphere and bodies all the way in-system.

But, yeah, I'd go aerospace heavy to start.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 11 May 2021, 12:58:00
I'd lean heavily into the partnership with IE and start with an effort to restore the Association Militia's Aerospace arm and build new orbital facilities dedicated to servicing JumpShips and DropShips. Make Niops the go-to system for IE's Anti-Spinward exploration. Strike a deal for IE to front the initial cost for mercenaries to defend the burgeoning orbital repair facilities and spend precious national funds on hiring techs, astechs and engineers to come help salvage the Project Workshops and/or start teaching the new graduating classes how to build the tools to build the lines to produce level 1 tech base 'Mechs. Focus on three chassis (heavy scout, workman medium, closeup heavy/assault) and focus on getting back up to the goal of one new 'Mech per semester. Save the Star League era designs for later, once we've got the basics up and running.

By the end of first ten years we have a company's worth of new local 'Mech production, a NAM augmented by IE fronted mercenaries and the potential of becoming a rest and refit site for Mercs joining or leaving IE contracts, further bolstering the system's defenses.

Long term, I would leverage that expanded aerospace maintenance capability to start working on a home-produced Dropship design intended for PWS duties. It's goal isn't to destroy, necessarily, but to so shred incoming enemy Dropships so that anything that does make it planetside has been streaming atmosphere and bodies all the way in-system.

But, yeah, I'd go aerospace heavy to start.

Here is something I was wondering about honestly . . . they should have the knowledge base to do a lot while they may lack the infrastructure or the population to turn things out.

But why not buy retromechs that are build on standard engines, gyro, and structure?  They make a solid foundation.

Primitive Cockpit?  Primitive Armor?  Single Heat Sinks?  Standard Weapons?  All of that can be improved and with a smaller infrastructure footprint- particularly if you are buying weapons or DHS from Rim Commonality, Marians, Kendall, and Magistry of Canopus?  New production arrives with such chassis, strip the armor (hey, used it in fixed fortifications), heat sinks and head/cockpit to get a improved design from the base.

Bluntly I think some of those Retro producers should have been doing this after the Jihad, sell the low-tech designs to mercs and militias.  One of the selling points is after-market modification . . . and hey, we have plans w/instructional videos & manuals . . . even kits we can sell you!  Mercs could have bought them to bulk with the later intention of upgrading  . . . AC/5s & SHS to LB-10X & DHS FREX.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 11 May 2021, 19:45:31
working on the idea of picking up a design that manufacturers are dropping post-jihad..

perhaps the MN2-A Sarissa? getting it from the regulans might be tricky politically but the mech can be built on an industrialmech line while still having modern engine, armor, and cockpit (prettym uch only the chassis is still primitive)
https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Sarissa
plus its mostly energy loadout so would reduce logistics (and you could easily work up a variant dropping the MG)

and a 4/6 50t medium with a headcapper laser would fair well against the 4/6 50t medium with an LB10X the Marian's would be relying on (their CN9-H Centurions)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 May 2021, 19:48:15
Tis me!

Name: Alexander Elias Temper
Profession: Businessman/Merc Owner

Pithy Quote: "It doesn't take a genius to realize that the Space Romans are coming for us eventually. Fortunately for us, I AM a genius, and I have a plan."

Yeah, he's a bit of a jerk, but hopefully of the Tony Stark variety.  ;)

This is why I should have backed the Kickstarter.

Quote
I'd lean heavily into the partnership with IE and start with an effort to restore the Association Militia's Aerospace arm and build new orbital facilities dedicated to servicing JumpShips and DropShips. Make Niops the go-to system for IE's Anti-Spinward exploration. Strike a deal for IE to front the initial cost for mercenaries to defend the burgeoning orbital repair facilities and spend precious national funds on hiring techs, astechs and engineers to come help salvage the Project Workshops and/or start teaching the new graduating classes how to build the tools to build the lines to produce level 1 tech base 'Mechs. Focus on three chassis (heavy scout, workman medium, closeup heavy/assault) and focus on getting back up to the goal of one new 'Mech per semester. Save the Star League era designs for later, once we've got the basics up and running.

Most of this sounds good, although I'm worried about how well Niops would take to the idea of mercenaries, given their history with mercs.  That said, if they were willing to buy military hardware from the Marian Hegemony, they might be willing to hire mercenaries, too.

Beyond that, I ave to hand it to whichever author thought of pairing the Niops Association with Interstellar Expeditions.  Really, it's a brilliant choice, given the obvious synergies between the two.

What's funny is, if you're going for IntroTech, there are three obvious 'Mechs you could use fo those roles that're still Star League themed:

Heavy Scout/Trainer:  TRC-4B Chameleon
Trooper: CRB-20 Crab
Heavy/Assault: Your choice of BL-7-KNT/BL-7-KNT-L Black Knight or HGN-733P Highlander.

Quote
By the end of first ten years we have a company's worth of new local 'Mech production, a NAM augmented by IE fronted mercenaries and the potential of becoming a rest and refit site for Mercs joining or leaving IE contracts, further bolstering the system's defenses.

Long term, I would leverage that expanded aerospace maintenance capability to start working on a home-produced Dropship design intended for PWS duties. It's goal isn't to destroy, necessarily, but to so shred incoming enemy Dropships so that anything that does make it planetside has been streaming atmosphere and bodies all the way in-system.

But, yeah, I'd go aerospace heavy to start.

I wonder if they've got blueprints for the old Star League era Mule Q-Ship conversion (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4686/mule-star-league-pocket-warship).
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 May 2021, 19:57:58
working on the idea of picking up a design that manufacturers are dropping post-jihad..

perhaps the MN2-A Sarissa? getting it from the regulans might be tricky politically but the mech can be built on an industrialmech line while still having modern engine, armor, and cockpit (prettym uch only the chassis is still primitive)
https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Sarissa
plus its mostly energy loadout so would reduce logistics (and you could easily work up a variant dropping the MG)

and a 4/6 50t medium with a headcapper laser would fair well against the 4/6 50t medium with an LB10X the Marian's would be relying on (their CN9-H Centurions)

Isn't the Sarissa the super Regulan pride 'Mech, though?  I mean, I know they got folded back into the FWL, basically at gunpoint, but I'm not sure we wouldn't end up seeing another Gladiator/Von Rohrs, where the design basically dies off because of politics.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 May 2021, 20:10:10
An-2s loaded down with RL-10s

This is entirely your fault. (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/non-combat-vehicles/antonov-an-2-rl10/)

I like the cut of your jib.

And you.  Don't encourage him.  Or me.  >:D

Edit: That said, the equivalent of doing this with canon designs is the Karnov, which comes in a variety of versions, including the Periphery rocket launcher variety, the Thumper artillery variety, the AC/20 variety, the...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 11 May 2021, 20:37:13
This is entirely your fault. (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/non-combat-vehicles/antonov-an-2-rl10/)

And you.  Don't encourage him.  Or me.  >:D

Edit: That said, the equivalent of doing this with canon designs is the Karnov, which comes in a variety of versions, including the Periphery rocket launcher variety, the Thumper artillery variety, the AC/20 variety, the...

Hear me out: You make the An-2 a convertible (it's not a monocoque airframe) with a big roof hatch. Then instead of mounting weapons, you give some sturdy handholds and a big ol' gyroscope. And you just have a BA inside that stands up to launch attacks with BA-scale weapons! It's like some twisted future drive-by shooting!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 11 May 2021, 20:59:15
Isn't the Sarissa the super Regulan pride 'Mech, though?  I mean, I know they got folded back into the FWL, basically at gunpoint, but I'm not sure we wouldn't end up seeing another Gladiator/Von Rohrs, where the design basically dies off because of politics.
as i understand it, the Sarissa was ressurected as a stopgap design during the Jihad to make up for insufficient production of regular battlmechs, since the Sarissa could be thrown together using Industrialmech lines. which is basically what the design was originally created to do back in the age of war (to make up for slow production of the Mackie and icarus)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 11 May 2021, 21:28:50
OK, hear me out here...

Niops had their own little civil war, then a short war against the Marians, then a short brutal war against the Word of Blake, then took their time getting their crap together over the next five or six decades, right?  But, hey, they're all united now, and they're working with Interstellar Expeditions, and spending more time in space than ever before.  They may have lost their workshops, but they've got access to a variety of technical data, and while they'll probably build out plenty of conventional forces, having a ready space force and BattleMech force are both rather important.

Three relatively ubiquitous intro-tech BattleMech designs that could still see a great deal of utility in the 3140s are the following:

RFL-series Rifleman: The RFL-1N was reintroduced during the Jihad era, and while it's mainly pirates using it during the 3130s and later per the MUL, it should be possible to get ahold of that tooling.  The RFL-3N, meanwhile, is still out there, and even on the Periphery General list per the MUL, so getting a production license form Kallon may be possible.

ARC-series Archer:  The ARC-1A primitive version got reintroduced during the Jihad, too, and while it appears to have fallen off in terms of production, it may be possible to get the tooling.  The ARC-2R Archer is also out there still, and on the MUL for the Periphery General.  It might be possible to get tooling for that, too.

WHM-series Warhammer:  No primitive version, but the WHM-6R is common as dirt, and still on the Periphery MUL list.  You may be able to start building that, too, if you can get a license and tooling.

For a scout design, Niops could standardize on a design that could doble both as a scout 'Mech and an aerospace fighter, and go with one of the following:

WSP-1## series Wasp LAM
STG-A#series Stinger LAM
PHX-HK# series Phoenix Hawk LAM

Since these would be fielded by a united Niops Association, and quite often in space, either supporting the asteroid mining or otherwise, you could even shuffle them into a new division of the Niops Association Militia, the United Niops Space Army, or UN Spacy for short.  ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 12 May 2021, 03:58:24
Then build an SDF-1 from a WarShip hulk to house the LAMs. Those are plentiful from the Jihad ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Sharpnel on 12 May 2021, 04:09:38
Preferably on a Thera-based hull
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 12 May 2021, 06:31:12
216 LAMs would be ruinous to maintain, but imagine those transforming fighters on parade every year :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 12 May 2021, 11:48:51
This is why I should have backed the Kickstarter.

At least you'll have a face to blame when I'm single-handedly responsible for dragging the faction down in flames.

Quote

Most of this sounds good, although I'm worried about how well Niops would take to the idea of mercenaries, given their history with mercs.  That said, if they were willing to buy military hardware from the Marian Hegemony, they might be willing to hire mercenaries, too.


The Black Heart Roses drama might have soured the government on mercenaries but it apparently didn't keep the rebels on Niops VI from contracting help for their actions against Niops VII. I don't think we'd see anything like the Rasalhague reaction to 'Mercs, post founding of the FRR, but I guess it's possible. Certainly the xenophobia seems to have stuck around for a while.

Quote


Beyond that, I ave to hand it to whichever author thought of pairing the Niops Association with Interstellar Expeditions.  Really, it's a brilliant choice, given the obvious synergies between the two.

What's funny is, if you're going for IntroTech, there are three obvious 'Mechs you could use fo those roles that're still Star League themed:

Heavy Scout/Trainer:  TRC-4B Chameleon
Trooper: CRB-20 Crab
Heavy/Assault: Your choice of BL-7-KNT/BL-7-KNT-L Black Knight or HGN-733P Highlander.

I wonder if they've got blueprints for the old Star League era Mule Q-Ship conversion (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4686/mule-star-league-pocket-warship).

Those are great choices.

Here is something I was wondering about honestly . . . they should have the knowledge base to do a lot while they may lack the infrastructure or the population to turn things out.

But why not buy retromechs that are build on standard engines, gyro, and structure?  They make a solid foundation.

Primitive Cockpit?  Primitive Armor?  Single Heat Sinks?  Standard Weapons?  All of that can be improved and with a smaller infrastructure footprint- particularly if you are buying weapons or DHS from Rim Commonality, Marians, Kendall, and Magistry of Canopus?  New production arrives with such chassis, strip the armor (hey, used it in fixed fortifications), heat sinks and head/cockpit to get a improved design from the base.

Bluntly I think some of those Retro producers should have been doing this after the Jihad, sell the low-tech designs to mercs and militias.  One of the selling points is after-market modification . . . and hey, we have plans w/instructional videos & manuals . . . even kits we can sell you!  Mercs could have bought them to bulk with the later intention of upgrading  . . . AC/5s & SHS to LB-10X & DHS FREX.

This is also a really great idea. The only downside I could see is the 3150 Niops government being able to scrape up the cash to do so. The original buildup was funded by the sale of centuries worth of astronomical data, which I imagine was a one-time source of revenue. There are the joint-venture germanium prospects, but would that be enough to fund an import based buildup?

Maybe some trades could be arranged? License out the specs for the Nighthawk XXII armor in exchange for favorable purchasing conditions on the buyer's 'Mech production lines?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 12 May 2021, 11:57:15
An-2s loaded down with RL-10s
;D ;D 8)
For a scout design, Niops could standardize on a design that could doble both as a scout 'Mech and an aerospace fighter, and go with one of the following:

WSP-1## series Wasp LAM
STG-A#series Stinger LAM
PHX-HK# series Phoenix Hawk LAM

Since these would be fielded by a united Niops Association, and quite often in space, either supporting the asteroid mining or otherwise, you could even shuffle them into a new division of the Niops Association Militia, the United Niops Space Army, or UN Spacy for short.  ;D
Well my suggestion was for a Stinger/Wasp mech..  but if you can build LAMs count me in.  :beer:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 12 May 2021, 14:34:12
This is also a really great idea. The only downside I could see is the 3150 Niops government being able to scrape up the cash to do so. The original buildup was funded by the sale of centuries worth of astronomical data, which I imagine was a one-time source of revenue. There are the joint-venture germanium prospects, but would that be enough to fund an import based buildup?

Maybe some trades could be arranged? License out the specs for the Nighthawk XXII armor in exchange for favorable purchasing conditions on the buyer's 'Mech production lines?

Which is why I suggested buying a primitive with 'good bones' . . . and it can be done on a 'as able' basis.  Really the time to do that would have been during the retirement of those primitive chassis.

Now in 3150?  One of Niops most lucrative opportunites is just not up to creating much revenue- as a good crossroads for trade between MoC & Rim/FWL.  Unless you want to theorize as a 'neutral' port it could have a lot of actors from each side setting up gray trade deals/actions through Niops.  SAFE vs Ebon Magistrate on Niops . . . with some Marians thrown in, think of all those WWII setting novels replaying Casablanca or even a Berlin Warning type RP plot.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 12 May 2021, 15:47:54
Which is why I suggested buying a primitive with 'good bones' . . . and it can be done on a 'as able' basis.  Really the time to do that would have been during the retirement of those primitive chassis.

Toyota Hilux? Toyota Hilux!

Quote
Now in 3150?  One of Niops most lucrative opportunites is just not up to creating much revenue- as a good crossroads for trade between MoC & Rim/FWL.  Unless you want to theorize as a 'neutral' port it could have a lot of actors from each side setting up gray trade deals/actions through Niops.  SAFE vs Ebon Magistrate on Niops . . . with some Marians thrown in, think of all those WWII setting novels replaying Casablanca or even a Berlin Warning type RP plot.

Those kinds of places only survive for as long as it's convenient for all their neighbours. Once they're not, they're often easily shut down.

But since we're on the topic... bizzaro Periphery Solaris crossed with wacky game shows?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 12 May 2021, 16:19:03
Toyota Hilux? Toyota Hilux!

Those kinds of places only survive for as long as it's convenient for all their neighbours. Once they're not, they're often easily shut down.

But since we're on the topic... bizzaro Periphery Solaris crossed with wacky game shows?

Lol, if you want to . . . basically thinking of designs like the Rook, which had a standard engine, not sure on structure, but primitive armor and basic weapons.  Later releases had standard armor which allowed a larger engine & more heatsinks or the upgrade kit that gave the primitive hybrid advanced weapons.  The Gladiator 1R had a lot of production start up in the Jihad, cannot find if the engine or structure was primitive, if not it would be a candidate.

Regarding a neutral port . . . yeah, if both sides were at peace they could have legimate trade between the MoC and Rim Commonality & more periphery regions of the League along with the MH.  The more Terra-ward portions of the League would just trade going through the non-aligned systems & Andurien.  Trade would still happen when they were belligerent there would just be a increase of cost due to needing more middlemen on Niops to facilitate (We have no idea how those Irian DHS ended up in the Magistry!  We sold them to a end user on Niops who wanted them to refurbish some salvage). 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 12 May 2021, 18:44:09
Heavy Industrial Armor equals BAR10 aka Mech scale Plate Armor.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 May 2021, 19:28:44
Y'now, it's not a stock design, but Niops could always try building one of their old designs as an Industrial-tech MilitiaMech.  Like, oh, the Highlander (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battlemechs/recognition-guide-challenge/msg1723928/#msg1723928)  ;D

On a more serious note from something chanman and I had been talking about on earlier (since building capital missiles with 'Mech drop pods as a warhead might be a bit much), Niops could also license the subcapital-armed version of the Triton missile submarine (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Triton_Missile_Submarine) from the Draconis Combine as an aerospace defense supplement.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 13 May 2021, 19:43:34
do the niopsian worlds even have much in the way of surface water?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 13 May 2021, 20:32:09
They could also buy Kalki launchers from the Suns.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 May 2021, 21:18:25
do the niopsian worlds even have much in the way of surface water?

On Niops VII at least, the highest native life forms are described as "fish".

They could also buy Kalki launchers from the Suns.

Can't do surface-to-orbit fire, unlike the version of the Triton packing Piranha launchers.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 13 May 2021, 21:46:05
do the niopsian worlds even have much in the way of surface water?

You're right. Land battleships/subterranean monoliths with orbital weapons would be way more anime
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 13 May 2021, 22:20:26
Niops would totally be awesome in 31XX...

Leviathan Airship battles...

IndyMech combatants...

Massive use of Mass Drivers from Ground base facilities...

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 14 May 2021, 23:28:35
OMG.  After jokingly posting an industrial Highlander (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battlemechs/recognition-guide-challenge/msg1723928/#msg1723928), I bought Technical Readout: Irregulars, and discovered the FLN-366 St. Florian FireMech (http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5118/st-florian-fln-366-firemech) and also its FLN-366-M armed MOD variant (http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/7826/st-florian-fln-366-m-firemech-mod).

So, that's a thing that exists.  And Niops used to build Highlanders.  They may be able to put a variant of that in production.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 15 May 2021, 00:15:07
OMG.  After jokingly posting an industrial Highlander (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battlemechs/recognition-guide-challenge/msg1723928/#msg1723928), I bought Technical Readout: Irregulars, and discovered the FLN-366 St. Florian FireMech (http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5118/st-florian-fln-366-firemech) and also its FLN-366-M armed MOD variant (http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/7826/st-florian-fln-366-m-firemech-mod).

So, that's a thing that exists.  And Niops used to build Highlanders.  They may be able to put a variant of that in production.

Right, but there needs to be at least one version powered by an ICE engine. Because ICE engines burn hydrocarbons and ethanol is a hydrocarbon, and whisky has ethanol (especially the raw undiluted distillate). And what the world needs is whisky-powered Highlanders chugging spirits straight from their fuel casks. Or something.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 15 May 2021, 00:18:46
Your wanting Fluid and Sprayer guns on those Highlanders...

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 15 May 2021, 00:24:24
Whiskey for everyone!

Edit: I have a design.  I just need fluff.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 19 May 2021, 23:25:57
OK, I've been digging into various designs, looking for parts overlap, and I have some ideas on what Niops could start producing if they manage to rebuild their Workshops.  I'm sticking only to canon designs here, for simplicity's sake.  I'm also sticking only to fusion-powered designs.  ICE or fuel-cell vehicles rapidly add enough options that this becomes madness to a level I cannot currently contemplate, and we don't have any direct knowledge of canon designs that Niops built using these engines.

First off, knowing that Niops used to build the Highlander, the Black Knight and the Burke tank, we know then that they built three types of fusion engines, all with single heat sinks: the Vlar 300 (Black Knight), the GM 270 (Highlander), and the GM 150 (Burke).  Any designs I'm looking at, then, will be based around one of these three engines, operating under the assumption that, with outside tooling assistance, they can get one of these three engines back into production.

Option one is they get back to a construction level where they can build either standard Industrial or Primitive BattleMech/Aerospace level designs.  This isn't ideal, but it's workable, and it might only be interim until something better can be done.  Under this scenario, Niops focuses on getting the GM 270 engine back into production.  At Industrial/Primitive level, this gives them the option to build the following:

GM 270 Primitive/Industrial Designs

The St. Florian can then, in turn, be turned into the MOD version if they can get access to heavy flamers and plasma rifles.  It's still a good option to have around because it would build experience back towards eventually restoring Highlander production and, failing that, for your own home games, you've got a platform you can build a Highlander MilitiaMech (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battlemechs/recognition-guide-challenge/msg1723928/#msg1723928) on.  With the Orion's AC/10, I'm assuming at this point that Niopian AC/10s are substandard, equivalent to the Prototype AC/10s carried by the canon design.

If you can't build any more advanced BattleMechs

A more Introtech-level industrial base allows you more options, obviously.  Looking at each of the engine types Niops was known to build, and sticking more or less to Intro tech, we get the following options

GM 150 Engine Designs

So, let's look at each of these in turn:

The Spad is an all-around decent, if not spectacular, light fighter, with impressive armor for its size and a solid punch in the form of that PPC.  It also has the benefit of being a pre-OmniFighter, which the Ravens ended up turning into a true OmniFighter in the form of the Issedone, sacrificing two points of armor from each location, but picking up 9 tons of pod space in the process.  Amusingly, the Issedone is on the Periphery General list for the Dark Age in the MUL, because the Raven Alliance has begun building them for export.  If you begin building domestic Spads, you build up the capacity to eventually do something similar yourself, though you might be importing weapons from the Sea Foxes.

The Burke defense tank is a design you used to build.  Perhaps you can do so again, and with three PPCs and an LRM-10, it hits hard, even if it's slow and a bit thinly armored.  As well, this has a Golden Century upgrade, the Kokou defense tank, which is on the Sea Fox and the Mercenary lists for the Dark Age in the MUL.  You may be able to leverage this as well.

Now, here's where we get weird: the WSP-100 and WSP-100A are, in general, not that advanced, despite being Mk I LAMs.  No double heat sinks here, and the most advanced weapon is the one-shot SRM-2 on the WSP-100.  The standard WSP-100 could make a light bomb truck, and can pack up to 5 RL10s in that bomb bay.  The WSP-105, while only packing 4 tons of armor, could function well as a light trooper 'Mech, thanks to its medium laser and LRM-10, which brings us to...

The VLK-QA Valkyrie.  This was supposed to be the non-LAM version of the WSP-100A.  You may well have enough technical information to reverse-engineer the design yourself, along with the possibility of licensing from the Federated Suns, to put your own Valkyries into production, making this a good option if you're not wanting to put LAMs on your table.


GM 270 Engine Designs

Starting with the Highlanders, the HGN-733 leverages the AC/10s you may have built for your primitive Orions.  Failing that, if you went with the 150-rating engine as an option, you can share the PPC production line with the Spad.  Either of them use the LRM-20 and SRM-6, which the intro-tech Ahab uses as well.  The drawback is that the Highlander has a large variety of weapons you'd need to put into production, but these are all weapons you used to build once upon a time, so it's possible.  It's just work, time, and money, right?

Speaking of the Ahab, let's jump to that for a moment.  In a lot of ways, it's a flying Highlander, though obviously it's using large lasers as well.  That said, it's a solid, thematic choice for the Niops Association, and was always one of the designs I assumed they built.

The Tomahawk selected here is an intro-tech version that packs twin large lasers and a single small laser.  It's slightly faster than the Spad, has a bit more armor, and hits a bit harder, but it's also a bit more expensive, too, and those 270-rating engines might be better served elsewhere, like on your Highlanders or Ahabs.

The 270-rating engine also gives you some options for lighter 'Mech elements, in the form of the Hermes, a fast-moving light 'Mech with either a medium laser and flamer or twin medium lasers for armament.  These are thin-skinned, though, and neither hits particularly hard.

A better option for a lighter element that can double as both scout and trooper is the Phoenix Hawk.  During the Star League era, you had the SLDF Regulars using both the PHX-1, which gives you the option of machine guns to stave off infantry attacks, or the slightly more advanced PXH-2, which drops the MGs for an ECM suite and a much-needed 2 points of head armor, as well as 3 more points to each leg, though that's obviously subject to availability of the more sophisticated electronics of the ECM suite.


Vlar 300 Engine Designs

Here, once again, you used to build Black Knights.  In theory, you could once again, and the BL-7-KNT is an intro-tech level one, packing PPCs, large lasers, medium lasers and small lasers we're seeing in use elsewhere, and there's no ammo dependence to worry about.  If you want to leave the PPCs elsewhere, you could switch to the BL-7-KNT-L, which swaps that PPC for another large laser and two more heat sinks, which may well be the better choice, anyway.

If you went the primitive Orion route earlier, you could also switch your mainline heavy trooper to the Orion.  You're already producing the SRM-4 you used on the primitive, and there's still some overlap with other options here, too, depending on which Highlander you've reintroduced, and which Orion you're looking at: the ON1-K and ON1-V both use LRM-15s you're not using anywhere else, and while the ON-1VA is always an option, an AC/10, 2 SRM-4s and 2 medium lasers seems a bit underwhelming on a 75-ton 'Mech.

You've also got an option here to use instead of the Phoenix Hawk for a medium trooper: the TRC-4B Chameleon. Armor's lighter at only 6 tons, but it packs the same large laser, twin medium lasers and twin machine guns on a 6/9/6 medium as the PXH, but then throws on four small lasers.  It also has a reputation as one of the best training 'Mechs in the Inner Sphere and, given the number of scrubs you've got going to your new military academy, shoving them in Chameleons, then transferring them out into their units in those same 'Mechs to build their experience up strikes me as a pretty solid idea.

Another thing this engine gives you the option for is a main battle tank, the Merkava Mk VIII.  At 4/6 movement and protected by 10 tons of armor, it's not a bad option, except, of course, it's got an AC/5 you're not using anywhere else, backed by an LRM-15 and SRM-4 you may or may not be using on Orions, and machine guns for anti-infantry work.  Still, worth considering.

The 300-rating engine also gives you a couple of common aerospace fighters as options, and by "common" I basically mean "generic": there's the EGL-R6 Eagle, with its banks of large and medium lasers, and the Thunderbird, which packs LRM-20s, large lasers and medium lasers.

OK, so, let's put it all together then:

If all you can do for the moment is build IndustrialMech or Primitive BattleMech level tech, focus on getting that GM 270 back into production, build the ON1-H as your mainline trooper, the Eagle R4 as your aerospace fighter, and see about getting a license for the St. Florian to either build towards your own "Highlander-esque" MilitiaMech or the FireMech MOD to supplement your Orions.

If you can *only* manage the 150-rating engine, build Spads, Burkes, and, and either Valkyries or Wasp LAMs.  If you're feeling very adventurous, build both Valyries and the two Wasp LAMs.  And, truthfully, while this isn't an ideal position, it isn't a hopeless one, either.  Spads give you a decent fighter, Burkes are just what it says on the tin, a "defense tank", and you could do worse for a light 'Mech than a WSP-100A or Valkyrie.

If you can *only* manage the 270-rating engine, well, congrats, you've got Highlanders, backed by Phoenix Hawks on the ground, with Tomahawks and Ahabs in the air.  You don't get synergy with a vehicle design this way, sadly, but maybe you can get an ICE-based vehicle going, recover another engine type later, or you'll just have to buy those on the open market.

If you can *only* manage the 300-rating engine, you've got the option of the Black Knight, the Orion or both for your mainline BattleMech, you've got the Chameleon for scout/skirmisher/trainer, Merkava as a tank, and your choice of two heavier aerospace fighters.

Meanwhile, if you can recover the 150 and 270 GM engines, my recommendation would be:  Spad and Ahab for aerospace fighters, Burke for your tank, Highlander for your big 'Mech, and the Wasp LAM/Valkyrie for your lighter 'Mech.  Why?  Because you're not taking 270 engines away from your Highlander production to produce lighter 'Mechs or fighters.  Those 270s are best served in heavier units.

Got 150 and 300 rating engines?  Burkes and Merkavas for your tankers, with the 3-large-laser Black Knight as your heavy 'Mech.  Spads and Eagles for your aerospace fighters.  Build Chameleons as trainers and lighter units.  Fill out your lighter roles with your choice of Valkyries or Wasp LAMs, depending on preference.

Have you pulled off a minor miracle and gotten all three engines back into production?  Congratulations!  Here's my suggestions on what to build:

150-rating: Spads, Burkes, your choice of Valkyrie or Wasp LAM
270-rating: Highlanders and Ahabs
300-rating: Merkavas, Chameleons and your choice of Black Knight or Orion.  Personally, I'd go with the Black Knight, and save the LRM-15s and SRM-4s for the Merkavas.  If you stick with the BL-7-KNT-L, you also save PPCs for the Spads and Highlanders (in the form of the 733P), and get better dissipation to boot.

So.  Yeah.  Thank you for coming to my TED Talk?  Thoughts, ideas, comments, suggestions, expressions of disbelief at how much time I had to have spent sorting through all this?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 20 May 2021, 00:27:28
You do know that Heavy Industrial Armor is Standard Plate @ 16 points per ton aka BAR 10.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 20 May 2021, 00:32:32
You do know that Heavy Industrial Armor is Standard Plate @ 16 points per ton aka BAR 10.

TT

I do.  However, while it's functionally the same, the entries for the IndustrialMech designs that use it expressly call it out as "heavy industrial" armor.  My guess is it doesn't have the same degree of sensor webs through the armor to register damage as more conventional standard BattleMech armor does.

No other thoughts?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Elmoth on 20 May 2021, 03:10:08
You know that you have dedicated more thought to production realities and derivatives than any official book has, right?

In the setting the capacity to produce or not produce something is just random, with no consideration for production synergies or past capabilities.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 20 May 2021, 05:21:05
Very true. Production capabilities appear out of hammerspace.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 20 May 2021, 21:46:06
while i can accept them being able to ressurect production facilities, i highly doubt that they would be producing LAMs. as cool at that would be otherwise. if they weren't making them before the destruction of the project workshops, they  almost certainly would lack the ability to set up production of them in the 3100's. there just isn't any tooling to copy left, and the amount of work to recreate the technology practically from scratch would be much much greater than that needed to just start producing a normal mech.

i do hope that LAMs make a comeback but the only group i could plausibly believe as having the ability to reinvent the tech would be Clan Hells Horses (since they did develop the quadvee), or perhaps Snow Raven (using quadvee tech trialed from the HH's to redevelop them..)
(though i hold out hope that the rediscovery of a Harvard company facility on Epislon Eridani by Kressly Technologies [DA:republic worlds pg238] might mean some data on the star league LAMs exists and could allow rediscovery)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 20 May 2021, 23:14:56
What about pursuing a trade agreement with the Canopians to import Penthesileas? It shares the Vlar 300 fusion engine - might give local engineers an additional opportunity to develop some local knockoffs. Not to mention the DHS and ER energy weapons. (I still say Niops should get a bonus to lasers - all that optical experience with the telescopes 😁 )
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 20 May 2021, 23:34:32
while i can accept them being able to ressurect production facilities, i highly doubt that they would be producing LAMs. as cool at that would be otherwise. if they weren't making them before the destruction of the project workshops, they  almost certainly would lack the ability to set up production of them in the 3100's. there just isn't any tooling to copy left, and the amount of work to recreate the technology practically from scratch would be much much greater than that needed to just start producing a normal mech.

i do hope that LAMs make a comeback but the only group i could plausibly believe as having the ability to reinvent the tech would be Clan Hells Horses (since they did develop the quadvee), or perhaps Snow Raven (using quadvee tech trialed from the HH's to redevelop them..)
(though i hold out hope that the rediscovery of a Harvard company facility on Epislon Eridani by Kressly Technologies [DA:republic worlds pg238] might mean some data on the star league LAMs exists and could allow rediscovery)

I put LAMs on my list for their Star League origins, because I'm a LAM fan, and because the Wasp LAM Mk. I shared the same fusion engine as the Burke.  Building Wasp LAMs in 3150 would be a uniquely Niopian thing, and the idea of rebuilding the Militia out of Burke defense tanks, Wasp LAMs and Spad ASFs is absolutely hilarious, but quite possibly viable.  The WSP-100A also makes for a less-efficient LAM version of the Valkyrie, and a kind of semi-adequate light trooper.

Obviously, YMMV with LAMs in general, and the Valkyrie would be a unique twist as an alternative at the same mass, given that it was ordered for the Star League, but didn't see service until the Star League fell.

What about pursuing a trade agreement with the Canopians to import Penthesileas? It shares the Vlar 300 fusion engine - might give local engineers an additional opportunity to develop some local knockoffs. Not to mention the DHS and ER energy weapons. (I still say Niops should get a bonus to lasers - all that optical experience with the telescopes 😁 )

Setting aside that it's got a face for radio, yeah, importation opens up a lot of options, and the 300-rating engine is astoundingly common.  The 270-rating engine isn't that far behind, either.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 21 May 2021, 08:29:56
Setting aside that it's got a face for radio, yeah, importation opens up a lot of options, and the 300-rating engine is astoundingly common.  The 270-rating engine isn't that far behind, either.

Other thought was Son Hoa. It's somehow still independent in 3150 and has (or had) a major StarCorps Industries facility. I know it got pummeled during the Jihad, but there was still some stuff being produced after. And the route to Niops is more or less safe if you arc through the FWL.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 21 May 2021, 17:36:10
Other thought was Son Hoa. It's somehow still independent in 3150 and has (or had) a major StarCorps Industries facility. I know it got pummeled during the Jihad, but there was still some stuff being produced after. And the route to Niops is more or less safe if you arc through the FWL.

Yeah, one of the things they started building?  The St. Florian FireMech.  ;D  They also transitioned first to the HGN-734, then most recently the HGN-740 Highlander, which is just a mean 'Mech.

Son Hoa would also be a good source to buy Hermit Crabs from, which is a pretty solid light 'Mech in all its forms, gets sold for export pretty heavily, and is on the Periphery General list.  Sarna's also got them down as making the WHM-8D and WHM-9S variants of the Warhammer, and while they're both ugly as sin, the WHM-8D is pretty solid, and probably cheaper than the light engine driven WHM-9S.  They also make the WGT-2SC Wight, which are weird mutant Panthers, but still pretty solid.

Personally, I wouldn't mind the idea of Niops having to import most of their military hardware.  They don't have a huge population, so it kind of makes sense.  But I'd still like to see them produce at least a modicum of equipment domestically again, even if nowhere to their old level, just to give them some independence and security, and to put them on some degree of parity with other small Periphery factions like New St. Andrews and Randis.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 26 May 2021, 09:57:04
Another candidate for new construction: the late, unlamented LDT-1 Brigand.

At 25 tons it makes for a good "my first 'Mech" design. The base model uses a 150 rating fusion engine, which will help with hoped for down the line construction projects. The base model uses ER and pulse medium lasers but a 3066 variant drops the pulse lasers in favor of easier to acquire standard mediums. It's a little light in the armor department (especially in the rear arc) but a slight modification to the weapons loadout could patch that over.

Best part, no licensing issues or contract negotiations required to revive the design, as "Vengeance Industries" probably isn't in a position to file suit. Change up the molding, give it a suitably Niops-like name (I'm partial to calling it the PRC-1 Proctor, myself) and you've got a good but not great light unit that ought to be producible in the Association at the old Project Workshops rate of one or two per semester.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 26 May 2021, 10:15:39
Another candidate for new construction: the late, unlamented LDT-1 Brigand.

At 25 tons it makes for a good "my first 'Mech" design. The base model uses a 150 rating fusion engine, which will help with hoped for down the line construction projects. The base model uses ER and pulse medium lasers but a 3066 variant drops the pulse lasers in favor of easier to acquire standard mediums. It's a little light in the armor department (especially in the rear arc) but a slight modification to the weapons loadout could patch that over.

Best part, no licensing issues or contract negotiations required to revive the design, as "Vengeance Industries" probably isn't in a position to file suit. Change up the molding, give it a suitably Niops-like name (I'm partial to calling it the PRC-1 Proctor, myself) and you've got a good but not great light unit that ought to be producible in the Association at the old Project Workshops rate of one or two per semester.

Thoughts?

Taking in count that it was actually build in ramshack depots and sweatshop factories in the Pirate cluster and Tortuga made from contraband, i can not see why Niops can do it too.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 27 May 2021, 01:57:47
Huh, I was looking at the Periphery General list in the MUL, then I noticed something: the Niops Association technically isn't included in the list of factions for Periphery General:

http://masterunitlist.info/Faction/Details/57

Quote from: Masterunitlist
Dark Age: Calderon Protectorate, Filtvelt Coalition, Magistracy of Canopus, Marian Hegemony, Pirates, and Taurian Concordat.

It says it's for units "available to all tracked Periphery factions" but Niops, evidently, isn't tracked.  Randis and New St. Andrews are in a similar boat.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 27 May 2021, 09:27:13
As far as i know, faction too small to have a particular list, just ise the Periphery General list.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 27 May 2021, 20:53:45
Because why not, I've opened up a couple threads for custom Niopian designs:

Niops Project Workshops: ENG 201 ('Mech Engineering) (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battlemechs/niops-project-workshops-engineering-201-mech-engineering-niops-university/)

Niops project Workshops: ENG 202-204 (Aerospace Engineering) (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/aerospace/niops-project-workshops-eng-202-204-aerospace-engineering-niops-university/)

I haven't opened threads for combat vehicles, non-combat vehicles and battlearmor yet, but would also be happy to do so.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 30 May 2021, 22:38:31
Field Manual 3145 even states that the Militia imports a lot from foreign states like the Marian Hegemony and the Calderon Protectorate.  That's why they have a D availability rating on the 3145 RATs.  I could see the Workshop offering what remaining expertise they have to the MH and larger powers to help in building new designs, if they ever got it working again.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 31 May 2021, 02:00:31
Sure you don't mean Canopus?  The Marians are the state that they're needing a military to defend against
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 31 May 2021, 04:46:01
Sure you don't mean Canopus?  The Marians are the state that they're needing a military to defend against

And yet, Field Manual 3145 does in fact indicate Niops has bad to buy military hardware from the Marian Hegemony among others.  And, yes, that would mean the Marians are literally selling Niops the weapons Niops would be using to defend themselves against the Marians.

Of course, the Marians already took what they wanted from Niops, and they have their own germanium deposits, and are undoubtedly confident they can just roll over what’s left of the Niops Association Militia should they so choose, which just magnifies the indignity of it.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 31 May 2021, 05:23:49
I'm WAY late to this party, but thanks to DOC_Agren for the mention!  :thumbsup:

Here's the link to my Goblin variants (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/combat-vehicles/the-hobgoblin-a-dirtbag-militia-design/) (and the planetary militia (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/non-canon-units/glenmora-planetary-militia-post-4th-sw/) I built them for).  I also did a specific Goblin chassis for Gio (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/combat-vehicles/proposed-goblin-chassis-for-gio-s-niops-idea/) at one point, and there are others listed in my sig block with an SLDF flavor.

As for BA, I did a couple of variants of the Nighthawk, one of which might address the concern about the inability to build the ECM suite: https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battle-armor/nighthawk-mk-xxvxxvi-pa(l)/
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 31 May 2021, 14:38:19
And yet, Field Manual 3145 does in fact indicate Niops has bad to buy military hardware from the Marian Hegemony among others.  And, yes, that would mean the Marians are literally selling Niops the weapons Niops would be using to defend themselves against the Marians.

Of course, the Marians already took what they wanted from Niops, and they have their own germanium deposits, and are undoubtedly confident they can just roll over what’s left of the Niops Association Militia should they so choose, which just magnifies the indignity of i
t.

What most Marians fans in this forum read about those parts (but looks like the Devs are taking another path there) is that the MH was having a "soft-hand diplomacy" with the independant worlds around them, including Niops. This usually involved selling them surplus (and new) equipment, and trade deals, so in this way they can have those planets in their "sphere of influence".
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 31 May 2021, 15:23:39
I'm WAY late to this party, but thanks to DOC_Agren for the mention!  :thumbsup:

Here's the link to my Goblin variants (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/combat-vehicles/the-hobgoblin-a-dirtbag-militia-design/) (and the planetary militia (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/non-canon-units/glenmora-planetary-militia-post-4th-sw/) I built them for).  I also did a specific Goblin chassis for Gio (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/combat-vehicles/proposed-goblin-chassis-for-gio-s-niops-idea/) at one point, and there are others listed in my sig block with an SLDF flavor.

As for BA, I did a couple of variants of the Nighthawk, one of which might address the concern about the inability to build the ECM suite: https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battle-armor/nighthawk-mk-xxvxxvi-pa(l)/

I had honesty forgotten not just about the Goblins, but my own Wasps, too.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 31 May 2021, 15:25:42
What most Marians fans in this forum read about those parts (but looks like the Devs are taking another path there) is that the MH was having a "soft-hand diplomacy" with the independant worlds around them, including Niops. This usually involved selling them surplus (and new) equipment, and trade deals, so in this way they can have those planets in their "sphere of influence".

“Here, let me sell you a handful of crap weapons we helped develop with tooling and industrial expertise we stole from you and deprived you of when we attacked you while you were minding your own business” is usually a poor way to make friends.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 31 May 2021, 17:32:44
“Here, let me sell you a handful of crap weapons we helped develop with tooling and industrial expertise we stole from you and deprived you of when we attacked you while you were minding your own business” is usually a poor way to make friends.

I dont think the Marians developed the shitty primitive Centurion with stolen Niops. And either way, the Niopsians, and what its left of their goverment are in the crap since the end of the Jihad. And in hard times, beggars cant be choosers. You use what you can get. And if the slimy Marian trader is offering some very needed mech forces cheaply, even if it are primitives, you take the offer. Its that, or not having anyhting to defend yourself of the pirate lurking among the stars.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 01 June 2021, 17:41:38
One options for arming up the militia might be to make purchases from the Bermuda Combat Systems (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Bermuda_Combat_Systems) in the  magistracy. Primitive Toro's, Wasp's, and Shadow Hawks might not be much but they'd be easy to maintain. And who knows, if the company stopped making primitive mechs at some point after the jihad, perhaps their tooling could be purchased.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 02 June 2021, 01:50:34
One options for arming up the militia might be to make purchases from the Bermuda Combat Systems (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Bermuda_Combat_Systems) in the  magistracy. Primitive Toro's, Wasp's, and Shadow Hawks might not be much but they'd be easy to maintain. And who knows, if the company stopped making primitive mechs at some point after the jihad, perhaps their tooling could be purchased.

Good call.

Bermuda still appears to be making the Toro, but the SHD-1R and WSP-1 both drop to the Extinct category in the Dark Age per the MUL.  I know the Rim Commonality worked with Majesty Metals to improve their SHD-1R line to produce the SHD-4H, and later both produced the SHD-7H.  The 7H ends up on the Periphery General list, but the 4H looks like the Magistracy and some Inner Sphere customers (FWL, DC).  I’d wager that Bermuda switched production to the SHD-4H then, with Majesty producing the SHD-7H.  The Bermuda production like probably got updated to produce a newer Wasp, too.

Both upgrades would potentially leave sufficient tooling to garage build the SHD-1R and WSP-1 on Niops.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 02 June 2021, 08:35:38
Both upgrades would potentially leave sufficient tooling to garage build the SHD-1R and WSP-1 on Niops.

Personally i think that if the RC, New St. Andrews and Randis were able to build Retrotech facilities, even in their present state Niops should be able to do the same. Not in an industrial scale, but enough to fill the gaping holes in their defensive forces. And i dont mean only mech, ASFs and Vees too.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 02 June 2021, 17:18:14
Sure, though those sites can probably only boast low rate production at best. Probably just "optimized" and streamlined garage style production. Not true assembly line high rate stuff. Still, low rate production was the standard for the late succession wars and it worked out.
But the big hurdle would be less the facilities and mostly the tooling to make a design. Creating a new design is possible but takes a lot longer. Buying or liscencing the tooling and plans for an existing design speeds up the process of getting production started. You aren't having to set the whole production process from raw materials to finished product up from scratch, you have an existing template and parts list to work with.

The shadow hawk, and wasp primitives also have some good "expansion" potential using open market weaponry and systems. An ERML on a WSP-1 for example. Or switching the AC5 of the primitive SHD for an LBX, LAC, or even an LL and some missiles.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 02 June 2021, 18:10:09
Sure, though those sites can probably only boast low rate production at best. Probably just "optimized" and streamlined garage style production. Not true assembly line high rate stuff. Still, low rate production was the standard for the late succession wars and it worked out.
But the big hurdle would be less the facilities and mostly the tooling to make a design. Creating a new design is possible but takes a lot longer. Buying or liscencing the tooling and plans for an existing design speeds up the process of getting production started. You aren't having to set the whole production process from raw materials to finished product up from scratch, you have an existing template and parts list to work with.

Which, depending upon how you read it, was probably how Niops was building crap in the first place.

Quote
The shadow hawk, and wasp primitives also have some good "expansion" potential using open market weaponry and systems. An ERML on a WSP-1 for example. Or switching the AC5 of the primitive SHD for an LBX, LAC, or even an LL and some missiles.

Yep.  An ERML would be a significant upgrade on the WSP-1, and swapping the SHD-1R to an ERML in the arm and a PPC with another 2 single heat sinks would be extremely easy, and even take up the exact same number of critical locations as the AC/5 and ton of ammo.  Both would be solid choices for restablishing domestic production again.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 03 June 2021, 01:34:23
Hey, do we know who built the primitive Archer during the period from the Jihad to the late Republic era?  That is also a design that drop to extinct on the MUL during the Dark Age era, implying somebody upgraded to a more regular production version, but I haven’t been able to figure out who made it.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Niopsian on 04 June 2021, 12:40:16
Hey, do we know who built the primitive Archer during the period from the Jihad to the late Republic era?  That is also a design that drop to extinct on the MUL during the Dark Age era, implying somebody upgraded to a more regular production version, but I haven’t been able to figure out who made it.

I couldn't find anything on the Jihad-era primitive Archer but my sleuthing on Sarna did come up with an interesting avenue to explore.

Diplass Battlemechs was a RWR manufacturer that became wholly owned by House Amaris following the end of the Reunification War. Amaris poured lots of funds into establishing multiple production lines across the Republic. One of those lines was located on Erdvynn, a world relatively close to Niops. The Erdvynn plant produced Archers and Firestarters.

The planet itself was never grabbed after the fall of the Rim Worlds. It disappeared off the maps sometime between 2822 and 2864. There's no indication that the planet was sacked prior to disappearing off the charts, meaning something of the Diplass facilities may still be salvageable.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 04 June 2021, 13:59:10
nice. so we have a source of factory equipment that could be salvaged (likely easily supplemented with the remaining PLAN workshop bits and open market manufacturing gear) that would enable at least low volume production of mechs. by using primitive and/or armed industrial designs you could maximize the output since those are less difficult to produce.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Turaglas on 04 June 2021, 14:18:31
How is the Niops recovery going?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 04 June 2021, 15:11:23
How is the Niops recovery going?
404: source material not found
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 June 2021, 15:16:46
How is the Niops recovery going?

Ask the Writers (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/ask-the-writers/).  ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 June 2021, 15:31:40
I couldn't find anything on the Jihad-era primitive Archer but my sleuthing on Sarna did come up with an interesting avenue to explore.

Diplass Battlemechs was a RWR manufacturer that became wholly owned by House Amaris following the end of the Reunification War. Amaris poured lots of funds into establishing multiple production lines across the Republic. One of those lines was located on Erdvynn, a world relatively close to Niops. The Erdvynn plant produced Archers and Firestarters.

The planet itself was never grabbed after the fall of the Rim Worlds. It disappeared off the maps sometime between 2822 and 2864. There's no indication that the planet was sacked prior to disappearing off the charts, meaning something of the Diplass facilities may still be salvageable.

Interesting.  What's weird though is that's even closer to the Lyran border, and on the other side of Circinus, which makes it odd that neither of those powers wouldn't have scavenged the production there.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 04 June 2021, 15:34:13
Ask the Writers (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/ask-the-writers/).  ;D

More like Re-covered-in bad times  :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 04 June 2021, 17:19:08
I couldn't find anything on the Jihad-era primitive Archer but my sleuthing on Sarna did come up with an interesting avenue to explore.

Retrotech (shotdown by 3079)
Xinyang - New Samarkand Metals - Archer
Arcturus - Arcturan Arms Refit Facility - Archer

Only places making the Retrotech Archer i could find.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 June 2021, 18:20:13
Retrotech (shotdown by 3079)
Xinyang - New Samarkand Metals - Archer
Arcturus - Arcturan Arms Refit Facility - Archer

Only places making the Retrotech Archer i could find.

Arcturus is in Falcon hands in 3145, right?  So they're out.  New Samarkand Metals may still have the tooling available, though, at Xinyang, since the plant is shut down, and it's not like the Draconis Combine has never licensed production of their designs elsewhere - just look at Wakazashi Enterprises and the Slayer.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 04 June 2021, 18:53:59
so we have the potential for the creation of a factory (possibly with more than one line) and at least 3 primitive mechs and a couple industrial militia-mechs as options
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 June 2021, 20:08:00
so we have the potential for the creation of a factory (possibly with more than one line) and at least 3 primitive mechs and a couple industrial militia-mechs as options

Likely potential sources of tooling to restart domestic military production:

Licensing from StarCorps of Son Hoa

Purchasing Tooling from Bermuda Combat Systems of Booker

Salvaging Tooling from Diplass Battlemechs on Erdvynn

The reason I'm guessing the FS9-A here is because it was available, including to the Rim Worlds, through the Succession Wars, briefly available to the Lyrans in the early Succession Wars, then dropped off to extinction.  If Diplass made the earlier Firestarter and never fully transitioned over to the new FS9-H, that might explain why that variant both lingered into the early Succession Wars, and also why it then dropped out of existence.

Licensing Design & Tooling from New Samarkand Metals of Xinyang

Licensing from Wakazashi Enterprises

Crest Foundries, Raven Alliance

The Ravens are building the Issedone here, which is just a fully-Omni Spad, and they're selling them on the open market to the Periphery.  The Sea Foxes are also building the design, and selling it to mercs.  it's possible Niops could either get a license for the design, minus Clan weapons or, alternatively, get a license to build the original Spad.

Restoration of Original Domestic Production

Did I miss anything?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 05 June 2021, 00:48:04
I would look at the Sabre Aerospace fighter, license not an issue..  they might have the plans somewhere
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 June 2021, 17:28:46
I'm seeing rumblings about possibly getting the local Alpha Strike game series (or even Total Warfare) going again, and I was rumbling around ideas for a Niops Militia force circa 3145-3150 based on some of the ideas we've talked about in this thread.  How's this look?

Niops Militia Company

'Mech Lance - 55 PV

Vehicle Support Lance - 26 PV

Infantry Platoon - 18 PV[/li]

Total PV: 99

From there, I just adjust by fielding the number of companies needed based on the PV for the game.  If I want to even it out a bit, i could always drop the Motorized Infantry for something equivalent to the Motorized XCT Infantry Explorer Corps Hostile Environment Recon units, which are 9 PV, and bump the Nighthawks to skill 3, which makes them 10 PV, for an even 100 PV.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 07 June 2021, 17:37:23
The infantry should be mounted in proper APCs.  That might mean foot infantry to keep the PV (whatever that is) even, but it's worth it, and Sniper Rifles will increase their usefulness.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 June 2021, 18:24:40
The infantry should be mounted in proper APCs.  That might mean foot infantry to keep the PV (whatever that is) even, but it's worth it, and Sniper Rifles will increase their usefulness.

So for each ton of your infantry platoon you'd need one regular APC, since those carry a 1 ton infantry bay, right?  OK, let me work on that for a bit.

Meanwhile, a couple other NAM companies that may work, since these don't include infantry.  The first, hilariously, is a lance of WSP-1 Wasps, backing up two lances of CON-7M Carbine MODs (or CON-1 (RL) Carbines, same thing in this case), which comes out to a hilarious 100 PV.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 June 2021, 18:25:03
The second company is a bit beefier, with a lance of SHD-1R Shadow Hawks, another lance of Burke defense tanks, supplemented by two Scorpion (LRM) tanks and two Hetzer assault guns, all for 250 PV.  If you prefer, the third lance has to come up to 58 points, so you could also swap for 2 Light SRM Carriers (16 pts each) and 2 Scorpion (SRM) Tanks (13 pts each) for close-in defense of the Burkes if you prefer, or a pair of Pikes backed by standard Scorpions (18 PV and 11 PV, respectively), all on the Periphery General list, if you prefer.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 07 June 2021, 18:28:00
Heavy APCs are FAR more efficient... 2 platoons in a 20 ton vehicle.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 June 2021, 20:52:23
Heavy APCs are FAR more efficient... 2 platoons in a 20 ton vehicle.

Interesting.  And, with a 3-ton bay for the Heavy Tracked APC (LRM), you could carry a PA(L) squad, too, technically.

So...


Skills: 4 across the board
Total PV: 150 (can't attach PDF, it's 979 kb)

So, any other thoughts on this madness?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 07 June 2021, 20:54:26
Interesting.  And, with a 3-ton bay for the Heavy Tracked APC (LRM), you could carry a PA(L) squad, too, technically.

So...

  • 4 Heavy Tracked APC (Standard)
  • 2 Heavy Tracked APC (LRM)
  • 2 Heavy Tracked APC (SRM)
  • 8 Foot Laser Platoons
  • 4 Nighthawk XXII PA(L) Squads

Skills: 4 across the board
Total PV: 150 (can't attach PDF, it's 979 kb)

So, any other thoughts on this madness?

A Nighthawk squad in AS is CAR4.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 07 June 2021, 21:55:10
A Nighthawk squad in AS is CAR4.

Ugh.  OK, fine, let's try this.


Total PV: 200
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 08 June 2021, 14:37:54
threw together some Niopian vehicles using a cheap easily copied hull.. the Scorpion tank.
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/combat-vehicles/niops-militia-scorpion-support-tank/

Missile Support, APC/Recon, and Light Tank off a single base hull.

someone with better BA building skills should tackle the PAL suits, though i'd expect they'd be comparable to the old Comstar Tornado suit (basically a Nighthawk suit without the stealth features) i would presume something like the G12 or G13 variants of the Tornado, which were in production and use by the ROTS (G12, G13) and the FWL (G12), so should be obtainable either in purchase or via licensed production.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 08 June 2021, 16:55:34
Scorpions are pretty cheap when built as Combat Vehicles... not sure why you'd go that route...

As for PA(L), I have a couple of designs linked in my sig block (and previously mentioned)...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 08 June 2021, 18:56:13
bringing them in line with niops's special conditions.. after all, the system isn't exactly a garden spot. many of its worlds are only barely habitable, and it has a bunch of stuff on unihabitable bodies.

and yes scorpions are cheap.. they are also super common and built by lots of places. so getting them is easy. plus they're basic in design, which would make reverse engineering the hull for local production easy.

the rest was just adapting them. fuel cell engine so they aren't reliant on atmosphere. environmental sealing so they can be used on the less habitable worlds in the system, or even on moons/dwarf planets to guard mines and other sites that don't warrant a mech garrison. cheaper production also means that you can build a fair number of them and can afford to spread them out like that. their main goal would be to tie up an enemy long enough for the mech and fighter forces to respond. their low cost and simplicity of manufacture also means they make a good "starting" unit for an army, one that can be replaced later on with bigger tougher units once the industrial base catches up.

the weapons were picked for commonality with the mech construction.. which would minimize the amount of import or manufacture needed, plus make spare parts easier.

using the single hull for multiple variants also makes sense.. the Support tank and light tank variants would almost entirely just be a case of mounting a different turret on the same chassis. the APV variant requires more reworking of the hull, but it still shares most of the important bits. so you only need to maintain one pool of spare parts for all the variants, with only a small amount of specialist parts.

plus at 25 tons you can fit them into small craft for easier relocations between outposts.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 08 June 2021, 19:16:14
I did a fusion powered Scorpion (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/combat-vehicles/yet-another-ppc-scorpion/) once...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 09 June 2021, 16:09:06
Crest Foundries, Raven Alliance
  • Spad
  • Issedone

The Ravens are building the Issedone here, which is just a fully-Omni Spad, and they're selling them on the open market to the Periphery.  The Sea Foxes are also building the design, and selling it to mercs.  it's possible Niops could either get a license for the design, minus Clan weapons or, alternatively, get a license to build the original Spad.


Dont know about the Spad, but the Issedone is beign done by the Sea Foxes in Twycross (DS Aero Assembly Site Rho). The Crast Foundries mentioned in the TRO:Golden Century was in Lum, back in the HW.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 08 June 2022, 16:24:45
Huh.  So the beta version of the Master Unit List listings for the ilClan era are out, including for Periphery General.  I'm curious to what we could put together, than, for a Niops-themed TO&E.  Figure the majority of these are going to be external acquisitions.

Aerospace

Since this is what keeps invaders from making landfall in the first place, it's kind of important. 

Light ASF: All versions of the Issedone are available to Periphery General, thanks, as @Baldure Mekorig pointed out, the Raven Alliance and Sea Foxes selling the design on the open market.  At 7/11 it's not the quickest ASF on the market, but it's a versatile one.

Medium ASF: Not sure I'd bother, but I'm open to suggestions.  If you like Vipers, the Corsair's available, otherwise the Hellcat 213 is a thematic choice.

Heavy ASF: Uh, oddly enough, the SL-15 Slayer is now on the Periphery General list.  This is still a pretty impressive heavy dogfighter and bomb truck.

Carrier DropShips: Only options here are the Leopard CV and the Vengeance.

Assault DropShips:  If you're looking to stick to the THAF/SLDF hand-me-down theme, your options are the Intruder or Achilles.

'Mech Transports:  The usual suspects, though I find it interesting the Fortress now makes the Periphery General list.  That's handy.


BattleMechs

Light 'Mech Options:

Medium 'Mech Options

Heavy 'Mech Options

Assault 'Mech Options

Battlearmor/PA(L) Options

For Vehicles, I'm going to open it up to everyone else, since I'm less knowledgeable here.  I will not the Prowler has multiple versions available, though.[/list]
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 08 June 2022, 18:33:14
Pikes are probably available from the Magistracy...  ^-^
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 08 June 2022, 22:00:23
the Fortress is now that available?

Slayer makes a nice heavy

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 14 June 2022, 02:15:05
the Fortress is now that available?

It is indeed (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4179/fortress-2613), at least in its 2613 form.  So are the Vengeance (2682) (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5342/vengeance-2682) and Excalibur (2786) (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4141/excalibur-2786).  I was pretty surprised myself.

Quote
Slayer makes a nice heavy

It does indeed.  Between its appearance and performance, the Slayer's definitely my favorite heavy aerospace fighter, and seeing this hit the Periphery General list makes me just squee with joy.

Pikes are probably available from the Magistracy...  ^-^

Standard model's on the Periphery General list and, while three AC/2s do less damage than one PPC, the Pike's got more armor and is faster than a Burke.

The most Niops-themed choice on the vehicle list, though, would probably be the Prowler, which is on the Periphery General list in ECM, Sealed, Sucession Wars, Support and Standard versions.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 14 June 2022, 03:21:15
Agreed on the Prowler!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 14 June 2022, 15:14:06
What again on the Niopian Origins?

And if your confused about my question, here's this:

Quote
It is indeed, at least in its 2613 form.  So are the Vengeance (2682) and Excalibur (2786).  I was pretty surprised myself.
Just what made them special... Isn't fluff stated somewhere that they had Royal Division equipment?

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 14 June 2022, 15:28:52
What again on the Niopian Origins?

And if your confused about my question, here's this:
Just what made them special... Isn't fluff stated somewhere that they had Royal Division equipment?

TT

It was more my surprise to see them on the Periphery General list at all, and it turns out the Fortress has always been there.

That struck me as odd, because the Fortress is supposed to be rare, with only handfuls built, older ships hard to maintain, and the fiction tends to show Fortresses as carefully, jealously horded by Houses.

Ditto the Vengeance: it gets added to the Periphery General list in the Late Succession Wars era, which TR3057R describes as mainly being House-controlled, with a few independent and mercenary ships as the exceptions.  Excaliburs are supposed to be similarly rare.

As for the Niops Militia using Royal Division equipment, it's never clearly established outside their use of Nighthawk XXI and XXII suits, which clearly were Royal Division equipment.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Colt Ward on 14 June 2022, 16:21:55
The tech retcon had those ships start being built again, so IMO all they are doing is saying they may have propagated that far . . . and to end up on the MUL for a faction, it could mean that at least 2 of a unit have showed up.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Sartris on 14 June 2022, 16:35:32
The tech retcon had those ships start being built again, so IMO all they are doing is saying they may have propagated that far . . . and to end up on the MUL for a faction, it could mean that at least 2 of a unit have showed up.

correct
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 14 June 2022, 16:44:48
It is indeed (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4179/fortress-2613), at least in its 2613 form.  So are the Vengeance (2682) (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5342/vengeance-2682) and Excalibur (2786) (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4141/excalibur-2786).  I was pretty surprised myself.
I'm still shocked, they were always fluffed as RARE as He11...   here Fortress Fortress..  Lets land and shell some Long Tom on our enemies!!!

Quote
It does indeed.  Between its appearance and performance, the Slayer's definitely my favorite heavy aerospace fighter, and seeing this hit the Periphery General list makes me just squee with joy.
I have to be honest Cannonshop has greatly effected my view of them..  used be my go to bird was the Thunderbird, still would be as harder as a merc from Lryan to get enough Slayers

Quote
The most Niops-themed choice on the vehicle list, though, would probably be the Prowler, which is on the Periphery General list in ECM, Sealed, Sucession Wars, Support and Standard versions.
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 14 June 2022, 17:26:42
Pinard builds T-Birds...  8)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 14 June 2022, 20:40:16
Pinard builds T-Birds...  8)
yes I was talking about getting Slayers and the only "legal" source is from the DC.  T-Birds can be bought TC, MoC, FS.  So you can get multiple resupply sources
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 14 June 2022, 21:02:57
The Slayer is a Draconis Combine heavy fighter designed before the fall of the Star League.

Wakazashi planned to move its plants to the Periphery so that they could avoid being damaged in the ensuing carnage.

And as such, why wouldn't the SL have access to it? The data plans could have been in cold storage much like the Monolith C was with the clans.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 14 June 2022, 21:23:03
The Slayer is a Draconis Combine heavy fighter designed before the fall of the Star League.

Wakazashi planned to move its plants to the Periphery so that they could avoid being damaged in the ensuing carnage.

And as such, why wouldn't the SL have access to it? The data plans could have been in cold storage much like the Monolith C was with the clans.

TT
I have no problem with SL/Clans having access to design..  Just as a 3025 to 3060 merc it harder to come by outside the DC where the plants are
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Hotpoint on 04 January 2023, 05:11:23
Hi All,

I've been working on a re-boot of my "Revenge of the Nerds" BT Fanfic (I realised I could do a lot better with the setting) and as part of that I decided to flesh out the Niops system a bit.

Taking the real-life TRAPPIST-1 system as a base I shuffled some of the planets around to come up with what I hope is a reasonable guess at what the Niops system is like (the two dwarf planets are my own invention but it is canon that Niops has an asteroid belt).

You could actually fit the entire planetary system inside the orbit of Mercury in our own solar system because Niops is so much smaller than Terra.

The Goldilocks Zone (not too hot or too cold) for TRAPPIST is actually the 4th, 5th and 6th planets out from the star, but TRAPPIST is an M8V Red Dwarf whereas Niops is a hotter and larger M5V so having Niops V, VI and VII as the inhabitable ones isn't a stretch.

Even though it's only a Red Dwarf Niops I, II and III orbit so close to it that they're hot as hell, whereas Niops IV is a lot like Venus (very thick toxic atmosphere).

Again because they orbit so close to the star all the planets in the system except Niops VII are tidally locked (Niops VII will be too eventually). That helps explain why the coldest of the three inhabitable planets of the system is the one most people live on (the weather on a tidally locked planet with an ocean and an atmosphere would be absolutely diabolical).

Take a look and feel free to use this yourselves.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/922/JrbcW2.jpg)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 January 2023, 05:18:50
Hi All,

I've been working on a re-boot of my "Revenge of the Nerds" BT Fanfic (I realised I could do a lot better with the setting) and as part of that I decided to flesh out the Niops system a bit.

Taking the real-life TRAPPIST-1 system as a base I shuffled some of the planets around to come up with what I hope is a reasonable guess at what the Niops system is like (the two dwarf planets are my own invention but it is canon that Niops has an asteroid belt).

You could actually fit the entire planetary system inside the orbit of Mercury in our own solar system because Niops is so much smaller than Terra.

The Goldilocks Zone (not too hot or too cold) for TRAPPIST is actually the 4th, 5th and 6th planets out from the star, but TRAPPIST is an M8V Red Dwarf whereas Niops is a hotter and larger M5V so having Niops V, VI and VII as the inhabitable ones isn't a stretch.

Even though it's only a Red Dwarf Niops I, II and III orbit so close to it that they're hot as hell, whereas Niops IV is a lot like Venus (very thick toxic atmosphere).

Again because they orbit so close to the star all the planets in the system except Niops VII are tidally locked (Niops VII will be too eventually). That helps explain why the coldest of the three inhabitable planets of the system is the one most people live on (the weather on a tidally locked planet with an ocean and an atmosphere would be absolutely diabolical).

Take a look and feel free to use this yourselves.

Thank you so much.  In fact, if you have that in higher resolution, I'd seriously appreciate it.

That's pretty close to what I was thinking, too, with using TRAPPIST as a base due to how similar they are, especially since my other choice, Kerbin from Kerbal Space Program, wouldn't really work.

In my own stories, I have a hidden cache and shipyard on Niops IX, one of the dwarf planets out farther than Niops VII.  I went with that since it mirrors Ix in the Dune stories.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Hotpoint on 04 January 2023, 05:44:05
Thank you so much.  In fact, if you have that in higher resolution, I'd seriously appreciate it.

Here you go (I just realised I uploaded an older version and corrected it in both posts).

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/6750/JrbcW2.jpg)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 04 January 2023, 07:52:26
All planets being tidally locked is going to make the weather interesting. 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Hotpoint on 04 January 2023, 08:18:09
All planets being tidally locked is going to make the weather interesting.

Yep. The atmosphere and oceans on the warm side of the planet are going to be constantly trying to transfer heat to the cold side (thermodynamics writ large). Expect some serious winds, and constant rainfall at the point the warm damp air meets the cold which resembles a waterfall more than it does a thunderstorm!

It does nicely explain the population of Niops generally choosing to live on the coldest planet of the three available though (they're all inhabitable but only VII is hospitable, just wrap up warm when you go outside).
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 04 January 2023, 18:04:05
Awesome, thanks for sharing this!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Hotpoint on 07 January 2023, 10:48:07
Just as a follow-up to my planetary chart for Niops above, this is how the sky would likely look on Niops VII (it's actually an artists rendering of what the sky of exoplanet Kepler-1649c would look like, but Kepler 1649 is an M5V Red Dwarf like Niops and 1649c orbits about the same distance out as Niops VII does its own star).

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/924/lQxKyL.jpg)

Niops is a lot smaller than Sol, but its planets orbit much, much closer than we do so it still looks pretty large in the sky.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor takes warning.

Red sky all the damn time, you're living under an M Class Star.  :))
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 07 January 2023, 11:01:02
Nice pic!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 20 January 2023, 11:42:52
(https://i.postimg.cc/j5c59jqy/PXL-20230120-045847271.jpg)

Hi there, long time reader, first time poster.

I thought you might be interested in my interpretation of a Niops Association Militia formation as well as its paint job.

At your inspiration from the shuttlecraft from the original Star Trek series. Dark gray underbelly with a lighter gray top but instead of the red stripes I use blue as per Canon.

As for my Mech choices that was trickier. All I knew is Niops used the Highlander, Black Knight, Nighthawk armor, and Burke tank. Choosing what other mechs they might feel was difficult. In the end I chose fancy star league era rides that were very hard to find in the periphery. I figure, judge by what we already knew they had, that they want the very best, even if it was a tad impractical or implausible to have it.

The Highlander and the Black Knight are obvious choices since they are Canon. I chose the Sentinel because I thought it was a cheap and quirky option that would be reasonable to add into a far off militia. The Wolverine I threw in just because it's a common design (that and I felt Comstar Mechs were limited in the medium options).

Trying to decide on a scout was difficult. I could just give them a wasp or a stinger and called it a day, but knowing how much niops tend to go towards fancier rides I decide to go all out and just get a Mongoose. The Mercury was just to flesh out my options.

I hope you all like what I have to give and I hope I can contribute to this discussion further.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 20 January 2023, 14:54:47
Dude, that's a hell of a first post.   :thumbsup:

Love the inclusion of the Sentinel - I'd passed over looking at the design, just because it looked so damned goofy, but the new one is absolutely glorious-looking, and you're right that it's a good, quirky unit that makes a decent medium trooper.  The Mongoose and Mercury are also great choices: I still wish there was a 20-ton Omni version of the Mercury.

Paint job looks fantastic, taking what's known from canon and really adding to it with the darker grey lower half.  It looks great!  It's always cool to see other (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/miniatures/niops-association-militia/) interpretations of more obscure (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/miniatures/terrasec-niops-kitbashes-mackie-9h-rifleman-2n-royal-shadowhawk-sentinel/) paint schemes that have descriptions without depictions, and see how they all differ and are yet really similar.,
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 21 January 2023, 14:54:40
'Benny's Blitzers' 1st Reinforced Lance (lvl II) of the Territorial Guard, Niops Association Militia, based out of Chapterhouse, Niops V.

Circa, 3150's.

The devastation brought upon by the Word of Blake in the 3080s, Marian raiders, and the political chaos afterwards, reduced the NAM's Star League era battlemech army to the equivalent of one regiment... divided among three inhabited planets. The degradation also reached NAMs aerospace corp, meaning they could be relied on less, making a mech engagement more likely. The loss of all but one of the Niops Project Workshops meant the once formidable force was without the proper means of replenishment or replacement, self-sufficient but hardly enough to keep up with demand. Resources were exhausted. Political will to rebuild the armed forces was practically non-existent. The diplomatic front was equally dire, with their only friend in the Terran Republic of the Sphere collapsing, Interstellar Expeditions losing interest, a warring Free Worlds League at their doorstep, the Marian Hegemony looming over as a threat, and now the Magistracity of Canopus on the war path, with Niops straight in their path.

By the ilClan era, the Niops Association Militia was in a sorry state. But this was not the poorly experienced and naive armed forces from the days of Alicia Carmichael, devastated by the Marians and the Word of Blake. This new force, despite the odds, we're learning from the past, and motivated by one mantra.

"Never Again."

They adapted the Level II squadron formation, yet deployed in the standard Inner Sphere Lance during battle, selecting suitable mechs within the reinforced lance depending on mission requirements. If the mission required even more firepower, all six mechs could be deployed. The pilots cross-trained in different formation configurations and mission requirements to create a flexible battle formation that made use of their limited resources. They were still hamstrung by their ancient and increasingly rare war machines, top-of-the-line in their day but now worn and kept together by luck and by the tireless efforts of the Niops Projects Workshop. However, it doesn't stop the overworked and underappreciated cadre of MechWarrior pilots in the NAM from slowly getting better, and even innovating.

Time will tell if their new ideas will work within the practical application of actual warfare, but so far the simulations are promising.

Benny's Blitzers makes do with what they have, tending to ancient mechs who've survived, despite the odds, the devastation and reconstruction of their nation. So far it is a battle Lance formation, but once the applicable Mex are made available, Benny's Blitzers will transition to a Heavy Cavalry Lance to better respond to pirate raids.

As the horns of war are heard near the lone periphery nation, Niops is more than aware that time is not on their side. It's the hope of a few to awaken the many so that the last vestige of Star League glory may yet still survive.

The Mechs:
-'Ol' Reliable', a Highlander HGN-732 originally from the SLDF garrison. Piloted by Capt. Benjamin 'Benny' O'Halloran)
-'Ali's Revenge', a Black Knight modified to BL-9-KNT standards after studying captured destroyed examples during the Word of Blake invasion. Piloted by Lieutenant Sg. Cynthia Carmichael, descended from the arch-traitor Alicia's cousin.
-a Wolverine WVR-6R, one of a few imports brought in during an attempt to standardize NAM mechs with more common models found throughout the periphery. It's yet to earn its name. Piloted by Sergeant Lynn Chen 
-'Stump', a Sentinel STN-3L, there's plenty of these quirky and unpopular machines in the NAM inventory. Piloted by Corporal Leif Nellis.
-'Speedy', one of the few Mercury MCY-99's left in NAM service. It's pilot, Corporal Harminder Singh Kaur, doesn't want to give her up when (or if they ever) replace his unit with the much more economical Locust.
- a recently refurbished Mongoose MON-66. These machines are considered 'cherry' assignments for a graduate straight out of the Niops Military Academy. Piloted by Private Alphonse Li
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 21 January 2023, 15:14:07
They should have imported a WVR-6M from the fractious Mariks.  That's a 3025 machine that can hold its own years down the road...  ^-^
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 21 January 2023, 17:23:48
They should have imported a WVR-6M from the fractious Mariks.  That's a 3025 machine that can hold its own years down the road...  ^-^

It's a heck of a 'Mech, but one hilarious use of a WVR-6R would be to load the AC/5's ammo bin with flak ammo, allowing it to function as your air defense 'Mech.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 21 January 2023, 17:29:03
I think that would be a better use of the Sentinel, actually...  8)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 21 January 2023, 18:12:20
My takeaway was that Niops likes their mechs weird and rare.

I don't think any of it aside from what's already established is really able to be set in stone.

But these are some of my closest guesses I can make to plausible mechs.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 21 January 2023, 18:22:37
I think that would be a better use of the Sentinel, actually...  8)

The STL-3L is running an Ultra/5, so no flak ammo available.

My takeaway was that Niops likes their mechs weird and rare.

I don't think any of it aside from what's already established is really able to be set in stone.

But these are some of my closest guesses I can make to plausible mechs.

Sounds plausible, and anything that makes Niops weirder works for me. :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 21 January 2023, 18:54:49
The UAC has a slightly longer range, and thus might still be more useful in that role...  ^-^
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 23 January 2023, 20:35:37
So, with, what, two new Recognition Guides left to go, think there will be any blurbs mentioning the Niops Association as fielding a particular unit?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 23 January 2023, 20:41:04
Best of luck with that!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 27 January 2023, 05:07:17
Decided to try my hand at a Niops paint scheme on a Gunpla GM (HGUC-040 Cold Climates GM for those wondering)

(https://imgur.com/ahgZsL8.jpg)(https://imgur.com/HdhSyzq.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/uZLTczQ.jpg)(https://imgur.com/y14henU.jpg)

Notes:

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 28 January 2023, 10:31:38
It's a great paint scheme nonetheless. This GM even has that unique Sten SMG that makes it stand out
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 30 January 2023, 12:22:41
They should have imported a WVR-6M from the fractious Mariks.  That's a 3025 machine that can hold its own years down the road...  ^-^

I think Niops stopped trusting them after the Mariks after the Jihad. Not sure whether the FWL relief force and delegates died by the Word of Blake or just plain Niops 'effery, but it's soured relations since.


Getting anything from Marik territory might be a bit of a hard sell.

But during the 4th succession war era? Maybe. But then again they were at their peak and had a buttload of Star League era mechs. The need might not have been there.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 30 January 2023, 19:40:59
Good points, but I stick with the WVR-6M... it's a beast...

That said, welcome to the board!  The "prove you're human" nonsense ends after 10 posts. :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 30 January 2023, 20:30:49
Good points, but I stick with the WVR-6M... it's a beast...

That said, welcome to the board!  The "prove you're human" nonsense ends after 10 posts. :)

Man, it's been over 3000 posts, and I'm no longer sure I'm human!  :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 30 January 2023, 20:38:32
Tell me about it...  ::)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 30 January 2023, 21:05:21
Man, it's been over 3000 posts, and I'm not longer sure I'm human!  :D
I am because the voices told me so   :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 31 January 2023, 02:11:06
I am a Cyborg...

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 31 January 2023, 05:35:53
Meanwhile, I'm an angry ghost in the machine.

I was thinking of logistics of running an army, and standardizatoin.  Niops, as we know, is in pretty dire straits by the Dark age and beginning of the ilClan era, at least in terms of what they're able to produce at home.  For their own sake, that's something they're eventually going to want to remediate.  So I thought I'd come up with a list of canon designs that, whenever possible, stick to the Periphery General list for the ilClan era or, failing that, are linked to Niops' past or their current association with Interstellar Expeditions.

Let's start with the four named designs Niops once produced:

Burke Heavy Tank (150 standard fusion)
Black Knight (300 standard fusion)
Highlander (270 standard fusion)
Nighthawk PA(L) suits

So...the Black Knight and the Burke aren't on the Periphery General list, but the HGN-740 Highlander, produced nearby on Son Hoa, is.  That's something Niops might be able to import, and have enough domestic production left to maintain.  It's a bit expensive at 9.9 million C-Bills though, and fairly advanced compared to the old Highlander, but you know what isn't?  The FLN-366-M St. Florian FireMech MOD.  True, it's not on the Periphery General list, but it is on the Mercenary and Pirate lists, so close enough in my book, and should be far more within the realms of what Niops can maintain.  They might even be able to get a license to produce the St. Florian domestically.

The Burke isn't on too many lists these days, either.  Its 150-rating engine is shared by two designs that might prove useful, though: the benerable Spad aerospace fighter, and the issedone OmniFighter based upon it.  And, hey Bim, guess what?  The Issedone and its configs are on the Periphery General list, 'cause the Sea Foxes gotta make that dollar.

Speaking of the Burke, the Kokou Defense Tank isn't on the Periphery General list, either, but the Sea Foxes are, in fact selling it, and the Magistracy and Taurians are among the buyers.  It's 5 tons lighter and uses a smaller 140-rating engine, though, which doesn't match up to the Issedone, sadly.  But it's similar enough to the Burke that surviving tooling might be able to build maintenance parts needed to keep them running, even if you're not building the tanks anew.

Which brings me to my next item: the Black Knight isn't on the Periphery General list.  Know where the BL-6-KNT is in the ilClan era?  The Marian Hegemony and Pirate lists, and that's it.  The dumbed-down IntroTech models are extinct.  At this point, I'd argue that the production for the Black Knight and its 300-rating engine is lost to Niops, having been taken lock, stock and barrel by the Marians during the Jihad.

So, what to do?

Well, as discussed previously in the thread, the Prowler Multi-Terrain Vehicle would be handy for both the Militia and for Interstellar Expeditions and, conveniently, comes in multiple variants on the Periphery General list.  You've got the original, ECM and Sealed versions, which pack an LRM-10 and MPLs, while the dumbed-down Succession Wars and Support versions switch to standard MLs, and double as cargo and troop carriers.  Congratulations, we've got a decent 55-ton medium tank and infantry fighting vehicle.

The Prowler uses a 220-rating fusion engine, which isn't terribly common, but it's not completely uncommon.  Know what else uses a 220?  The Cyrano, a Star League era attack VTOL that Niops could well have the blueprints for.  And, hey, that's on the Periphery General list too!  So, now we've got domestic production of a medium tank and an attack VTOL, with importation and domestic support of a heavy tank and assault MilitiaMech.

The 220-rating engine gives us access to a couple BattleMechs, though, too.  The Marshall, that 55-ton Griffin variant which seems perfect for a militia garrison, and is on the Periphery General list.  I suspect either getting a license to build them or importing them directly should be within the realm of possibility.

I said "'Mechs" though, and there is another that's weird enough for Niops while using the same engine: the SHD-X2 Shadow Hawk LAM.  There's no AirMech mode here, but in 'Mech mode you've got a 4/6/4 version of the Shadow Hawk with DHS that swaps its AC/5 for an ERLL, and has the option of carrying four RL-10 pods, still usable in 'Mech mode, in its bomb bay.  As an aerospace fighter, it might not be able to carry the larger bombs or missiles, but it's still able to function as a light bomb truck, or can pack a variety of missiles.

The Periphery General options for a 150-rating BattleMech aren't as thematically compatible with Niops, unfortunately, consisting of the Commando and, well, that's it.  There are, however, two 'Mech designs that are 30 tons, use a 150-rating standard engine, and conveniently an LRM-10: the Valkyrie (in its VLK-QA and VLK-QD forms), and the WSP-100A Wasp LAM, which makes sense, since the Valkyrie was the non-LAM version of the WSP-100A.  Like LAMs?  Feel free to throw them into your mix.  Don't like 'em?  Say Niops recovered the plans for the Valkyrie, or licensed production.

You may also be saying, "Hey, Gio, you know the PXH-1 Phoenix Hawk used a 270-rating engine".  Yep, that's true.  So did the Ahab (and the AHB-X is conveniently Intro tech).  Those also make potential options for BattleMechs you could field.  They're not on the Periphery General list, though, and I'm mostly trying to stick to it.

One thing not mentioned so far, though: infantry and their support.  Well, it turns out you can do a lot with the 100-rating ICE engine.  For example:

Heavy Wheeled APC and derivatives
Heavy Tracked APC and derivatives
Scorpion Light Tank (in standard, LRM, MRM, SRM and ML flavors)
Marten Scout VTOL (including Infantry Transport version)

Those are all on the Periphery General list.  Not on the list is the Cobra VTOL (2317 flavor) which, it's admittedly a bit of a stretch to call it a 100 ICE, but that's how MegaMekLab is labeling it.  For additional infantry options, it's tempting to include a smattering of Nighthawk PA(L) suits, but if you prefer, the Groundhog and the Salrilla both show up on the Periphery General list, and can represent homegrown dumbed-down versions of the Nighthawk, much like the Tornado PA(L) was supposed to be.  For more conventional troops, I have no idea why standard foot infantry aren't on the Periphery General list, so I'd ignore that, and go with basic foot infantry with laser rifles.

OK, so where's that put us, sticking first with things on the MUL list or knockdowns of old Niops designs?


For a little more far afield we have:

So, again, this isn't looking at anything with custom designs, just canon units.  Thoughts?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 31 January 2023, 11:37:22
Meanwhile, I'm an angry ghost in the machine.

...but the HGN-740 Highlander, produced nearby on Son Hoa, is.  That's something Niops might be able to import, and have enough domestic production left to maintain.

I agree with you on that. To a point. Son Hoa also lost a lot of production capability after the Jihad. Not sure if it ever got back to 100% by ilClan era.

But I am toying over a fanfic about a Niopian purchasing agent looking over the factory ruins for some fabrication tools and machinery so they can fix their own Highlanders better.

Quote
The Burke isn't on too many lists these days, either.  Its 150-rating engine is shared by two designs that might prove useful, though: the benerable Spad aerospace fighter, and the issedone OmniFighter based upon it.  And, hey Bim, guess what?  The Issedone and its configs are on the Periphery General list, 'cause the Sea Foxes gotta make that dollar.

I figured the Spad and the Stuka were the most likely candidates for their aerospace wing. Why? Because they only want the very best... even at the expense of practicality. Or at least that's the impression I got.

That and the Niops Project Workshops, unique to their star nation and definitely looking like Lostech, seem to fabricate whatever they need. Just... in slow, limited quantities, so I don't think it's a matter of components. Just a matter of production bottlenecks. And, you know... losing multiple workshops.

Why I say this? Because of a quote about the Nighthawks being built at Niops Project Workshop III. Implies multiple fabrication workshops. How many are left? Who knows. Maybe it's the last one. And maybe they do, or do not, have the ability to make more of them. Or maybe it can only do small scale stuff like the Nighthawk. Too many what-ifs.

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Which brings me to my next item: the Black Knight isn't on the Periphery General list.  Know where the BL-6-KNT is in the ilClan era?  The Marian Hegemony and Pirate lists, and that's it.  The dumbed-down IntroTech models are extinct.  At this point, I'd argue that the production for the Black Knight and its 300-rating engine is lost to Niops, having been taken lock, stock and barrel by the Marians during the Jihad.

I think that's possible, or just slowed down to parts only.

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The Periphery General options for a 150-rating BattleMech aren't as thematically compatible with Niops, unfortunately, consisting of the Commando and, well, that's it.  There are, however, two 'Mech designs that are 30 tons, use a 150-rating standard engine, and conveniently an LRM-10: the Valkyrie (in its VLK-QA and VLK-QD forms), and the WSP-100A Wasp LAM, which makes sense, since the Valkyrie was the non-LAM version of the WSP-100A.  Like LAMs?  Feel free to throw them into your mix.  Don't like 'em?  Say Niops recovered the plans for the Valkyrie, or licensed production.

The Valkyrie was a design too new or too localized to one of the inner sphere powers for me to consider putting it in the Niops Association Militia (I tried to keep designs that were Star League, pre-Amaris Civil War). But after ilClan, yeah, why not! And you also mentioned the Wasp. That'd be an easy one to recreate as well.
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OK, so where's that put us, sticking first with things on the MUL list or knockdowns of old Niops designs?

I think you did a better job than I did.

I'd also like to consider what they could possibly import mechs by the ilClan era. Which might be difficult considering their scientific data's already been either nuked or sold to interested parties since the Jihad, their resources are exhausted, they're isolationists with little political will to make friends, and aren't exactly doing a lot of trading.

However, my top candidates would be the Magistracity of Canopus. It's a long shot, but it's the only neighbour who they either don't want to kick off their planet, or wants their planet for themselves. Especially since the Terran Republic of the Sphere collapsed.

Though that also raises another possibility. Terran Republic remnants somehow showing up? I've heard of stranger.

I also thought of what they could have remaining.

I already speculated with my lance that the Mongoose, Mercury, Sentinel, and Wolverine 6R are within the realm of possibility. They're pre-Amaris civil war designs that could have reasonably been in a Star League garrison. Especially one as fancy as Niops. How or why they got the fancy designs? Who knows... maybe someone just likes getting the mech equivalent of Porsches. Or maybe it was all part of the Master Plan...

But I also speculate that the Exterminator and the Crusader could be added, but they're a long stretch. The Exterminator was a very specialized and complex mech, while the standard Crusader of that era was only 20 years old (brand new by Star League standards). Still, I might paint them up anyways.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 31 January 2023, 19:19:26
The Exterminator requires a HUGE (and EXPENSIVE) engine...  :-\
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 31 January 2023, 19:23:54
Or maybe Niops has adopted by moving wholesale to algae-created biodiesel in ICE battlemechs. Bubbamechs!  :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 31 January 2023, 19:52:43
The Exterminator requires a HUGE (and EXPENSIVE) engine...  :-\

The EXT-4A Exterminator is not too bad, running a 325-rating standard engine, which is in the same ballpark as the 320-rating used in 'Mechs like the Goliath, the 4/6 Chargers/Hatamotos, or the Slayer ASF, and the EXT-4A has a reasonable price tag of only 6,537,272 C-Bills.  That's about 34% more money than the IntroTech 55-tonners like the Wolverine, which it was meant to supplement/replace, and it's a little meaner at range.  Yes, it's long-since been put out of production, but that just means the tooling might be able to be obtained from the FWL.

Engines, though...there's not a lot that uses the 325-rating standard engine, because there aren't man IntroTech 5/8 65-tonners.  About the best argument you could make would be to get a license for domestic production of the SL-15 Slayer (on the MUL for the Periphery), and say the engines that aren't quite up to the power output of a 325 are instead repurposed into engines for the Slayers.  The 320 would also open up the door to the Fury tank, an SLDF classic, and other common 4/6 80-tonners like the Thug or Goliath (the GOL-2H is on the Periphery General MUL).

Or maybe Niops has adopted by moving wholesale to algae-created biodiesel in ICE battlemechs. Bubbamechs!  :D

Well, if we're talking custom designs, sure.  Although...the SKU-181 Sokuryo SurveyMech uses the same 100-rating ICE as the heavy APCs.  It's a Draconis Combine exclusive in the MUL, though.  Two of the CattleMaster variants use that engine, too, and they are on the MUL for the Periphery, as is the CPK-65 Copper.

Y'now...it'd also be funny as hell to see Niops using 10-ton Exo HaulerMechs in the protomech/votom/heavy gears/battlearmor alternative role...  ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 31 January 2023, 21:38:24
Son Hoa got better, and Star Corps is selling Highlanders to anyone who can afford them.  The Marians have access to the 732, the 732b, and the 740.  The 732 isn't very tech heavy other then the Gauss Rifle and the Ferro-Fibrous, and even the Niopsians should be able to support those.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 31 January 2023, 23:08:42
i've generally assumed that if you can build one rating of engine, you can probably build ones at least 10 rating points larger or smaller just by tweaking the hardware design some. so if there isn't any good options using a 150, check the 140, 145, 155, and 160 ratings.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 01 February 2023, 18:33:52
i've generally assumed that if you can build one rating of engine, you can probably build ones at least 10 rating points larger or smaller just by tweaking the hardware design some. so if there isn't any good options using a 150, check the 140, 145, 155, and 160 ratings.

Treating it that way opens up a metric crapton of designs.  For example, just looking at the Periphery General MUL for the ilClan era, and just Star League era 'Mechs, to keep that Niopan flavor, we would add the following:

LCT-1V Locust
WHM-6R Warhammer
WHM-6Rb Royal Warhammer
ARC-2R Archer
CRD-2R Crusader
SHD-2H Shadow Hawk
GRF-1N Griffin

And of course that doesn't count stuff that's more modern, like:

WSP-3P Wasp
PNT-10KA Panther
GRF-3N Griffin
ARC-4M/-4M2/-6W Archers
WHM-7M Warhammer
J. Edgar Hovertank
SL-17 Shilone
Karnov (3055)

Then there's the stuff that's not on the Periphery list, but is historically SLDF, ranging from the Mercury and Rotunda (160 LTV) to the Ironsides (260 fusion) and Swift (275 fusion) aerospace fighters.

I mean, seriously, you could build a viable defensive force around 150-rating (+- 10) engines on the cheap with:

Burke/Kokou Heavy Defense Tanks
Issedone Aerospace/Omni Fighters
PNT-10KA Panthers (general trooper 'Mech)
WSP-3P Wasp, MCY-98 Mercury or LCE-1E Locust (fast scout 'Mech)
J. Edgar Hovertank (fast hovertank)
Rotunda scout cars

It's hardly ideal, no, but it's doable, and would form a core of local production while you import bigger designs and rebuild your domestic capacity.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 01 February 2023, 19:22:41
If you can build a Griffin, you can build a Wolverine...  ^-^
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 01 February 2023, 19:48:41
If you can build a Griffin, you can build a Wolverine...  ^-^

You know, you'd think that, but somehow the only Wolverine that ends up on the Periphery General list in the ilClan era is the WVR-9R Wolverine, which uses a 275 XL engine, and I've been trying as much as possible to stick to the Periphery General list.

In fact, just a quick perusal in MegaMekLab shows the only Standard-tech or above Wolverine with a standard fusion plant is the WVR-7H Wolverine II, which admittedly I didn't think of but is also not on the Periphery General list, instead confined to the Capellan, Fed Suns and Merc lists in the ilClan era.  And, given the mention in the Recognition Guide, I'm not even sure standard engine Wolverines are still being built anywhere anymore.

Which is what makes things weird on the Shadow Hawk on the Periphery MUL, too.  There's four Shadow Hawks there in the ilClan era: the SHD-2H, the SHD-5M, the SHD-5R and SHD-7M, and the SHD-2H is the only one there that uses a standard engine.  It's not that there isn't a current Shadow Hawk that with a standard engine, since Recognition Guide 12 gives us the SHD-6D, but that's a Fed Suns exclusive.  The SHD-2Hb and SHD-4H are both around, but not widespread.  They are common enough in Niops' corner of space that they should be able to get in on that action, though.

So, yeah, throwing out my self-imposed requirements to stick to the Periphery MUL as much as possible, I'd add in the SHD-2Hb Royal Shadow Hawk and WVR-7H Wolverine II as options, though I honestly like the new Griffin 3M more than the older Royal Griffins.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 01 February 2023, 19:51:59
6Ms are gone? ???
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 01 February 2023, 20:47:57
6Ms are gone? ???

Not at all.  They're just only listed as available to two factions in in the ilClan era: to the Marian Hegemony and to Pirates.  And I repeat myself. ;)

WVR-6R isn't in much better position, showing up on Mercenary, Pirate and Scorpion Empire list (that last one's...interesting).

Know what has a similar issue?  The bog-standard PXH-1 Phoenix Hawk: Filtvelt Coalition, Marian Hegemony, Scorpion Empire, and Mercenary.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 01 February 2023, 20:52:33
Weird, but thanks for following up!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 01 February 2023, 21:10:39
Weird, but thanks for following up!  :thumbsup:

No problem.  :thumbsup:

In other madness, for you Alpha Strike players, the following force:


...works out to 300 PV when all units have 4 skill.  So, if you're playing a 600-point game, take that twice.  >:D

For a 450-point game, the above plus 4 WHM-6Rb Warhammers would be 452 points, or you could do 2 CRD-2R and 2 WHM-6Rb and be at 450 points exactly.[/list]
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 02 February 2023, 14:55:57
Treating it that way opens up a metric crapton of designs.

What would also open up a metric crapton of designs is getting more than just the Highlander and Black Knight as confirmed canon mechs.

I might know a guy who may have the answer. Some of his material made it to the 3145 book. I'll ask him. Worst case scenario, I get a no. We're no worse off than before, which correct me if I'm wrong, was 'just go with Comstar's list' on the old Battletech force generator charts.

But I totally agree with the Warhammer showing up. That's a pretty common, effective, and easy to build design. I also think it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility to have Archers and Rifleman mechs either, but that would be another thing altogether.

Update: He said he'll take a look for the notes since it has been awhile. But who knows, maybe this potential source could crack this cold case.

But I do have a tidbit for you, but one you all probably sussed out yourselves. He did make mention in the past that Niops was hit by the Word of Blake because of their advanced technology. And you know how Comstar/WoB feels about people who have all the nice toys...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 03 February 2023, 16:08:54
So, it turns out I'm gonna have the opportunity to put together a Niops force for Alpha Strike sooner than I thought.  One of the local groups is doing an escalation league (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/challenges-and-gatherings/san-diego-alpha-strike-association/msg1905670/#msg1905670), where I need to start with a 200-point force using Alpha Strike formation rules, using one era/faction list off the MUL.  Choosing Star League Regular from the Star League era, here's what I came up with:

Command Lance - 138 pts

This lance actually qualifies as either a Command Lance or a Fire Lance.

Support Lance - 62 pts

Look viable?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 03 February 2023, 17:51:16
Panther 8Z and 9R are pre-Amaris Civil War, so I don't see why not.

Looks like the force you have will definitely have to fight from a distance. Careful! Mobility and speed, I find, has increased importance in Alpha Strike.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 04 February 2023, 13:55:09
Today on 'What the Hell is That Doing on Niops?'...

(https://i.postimg.cc/NFV73vZM/PXL-20230204-165502982.jpg)

"Captain. No, Benny, this has got to be the most absurd request you've ever made."

The statement, delivered by Brigadier General Francis Cho, struck Captain Benjamin O'Halloran as less carrying the authority of the chief of the Niops Association Militia, and more of the incredulity of a street vendor. One being unironically low-balled by Halloran like a spendthrift unaware of the astronomical market value of item whom he set his sights, nor of General Cho's severe reluctance to sell.

If O'Halloran was being fair, and in this delicate round of negotiations he admitted he wouldn't be, his request was a ridiculous one.

His request was found in the Niops Engineering Institute's storage facility in Chapterhouse. It's lumbering and curved form, obscured by semi-opaque long-term protective storage coverings, loomed over the captain and his general as they did their horse trading.

Benny stated his case with zeal. "General, the High Associator's asking us to cover with an entire battalion what we used to do with a regiment. For that we need mobility, and she's perfect for the role. We've got nothing faster in her weight class, hell, she's faster than some of our medium mechs! I need her in our cavalry lance, otherwise we won't have a proper first response to any raiding parties. I must have her."

"Be realistic." General Cho's voice strained. "Back in the SLDF days a regiment was lucky to have one of these, and they were regular army units. Somehow, we got three of 'em, one we lost taking on the Black Heart Roses, and the other destroyed in a Marian raid not long after."

"I'm aware she's the last one in our inventory..."

"No, you're not. Our project workshop can fabricate almost any part you can think of, the operational word being almost. There's a lot of parts we can't recreate on that lemon, including the stealth armor.  It's why we have her stored here for study, because once she's gone she's gone for good. I can't let you have her."

"Sir, if we don't use her we'll be gone for good." Benny's eyes passed over the lostech in the warehouse, all under tarp, all of it some of the last of its kind anywhere in Niops, representing a cache of invaluable Star League-era technology any Periphery power would invade over. "We tried to save our resources before, and all it did was make a nice convenient target for the Wobbies to drop a nuke. The raids are getting worse, Sir. And if the reports from Intelligence and Interstellar Expeditions are to be believed, things are only starting to heat up outside our system."

"Which is all the more reason to make the most efficient use of..."

"The Marians are failing in the Free Worlds League, and once they divest themselves from that conflict they'll be looking to punch downwards. That's us."

"We've always been able to handle the Marians..."

"And they managed to tick off the Canopians, and when they retaliate we'll be in the middle."

He saw the point land on General Cho, his face turned from aggrieved to serious.

Captain O'Halloran brought the point home. "Sir, the Wobbies almost brought down our nation. If we don't use everything at our disposal this conflict could finish the job. I don't know about you, but when I said 'never again' I meant it. Please, approve my request to transfer the Exterminator to my company."

General Cho looked up at the stored mech with a pained expression. Exhaling deeply, he drew an electronic pad out of his field jacket, brought up the requisition order, and presented it to Captain O'Halloran. The general looked away while Benny pressed his thumb on the scanner, completing the transaction. An exchange of salutes followed, finalizing the deal.

"Just two things." The authority and edge in General Cho's voice returned as he pocketed the pad. "First, I don't want you driving her. You're needed to command, not to go tearing around in your new toy."

Captain O'Halloran felt a twinge of disappointment. He knew the Exterminator didn't have command modules, but it didn't stop him from hoping. "Okay, then who?" He asked. Maybe he could convince her new pilot to take her for a spin.

"Lieutenant Carmichael."

Benny's eyebrows raised. "Interesting choice."

"I know she's an outstanding mechwarrior, despite her... problematic family name. Which is why when you first made the request the High Associator had this to say... she breaks it, she buys it."

Benny grumbled, "So she's right, you do all have it out for her."

Cho responded, "Actually, it's the current administration that has it out for her, or more specifically her family. Now she can either see it as being set up for failure or as an opportunity to distinguish herself and put all her critics to rest. Her choice."

"Not much of an opportunity when you're making 80k a year and you're on the hook for a 15 million C-Bill battlemech."

"I'm well aware our paygrades, Captain. It's the best offer either of you is going to get. Take it, and enjoy your new mech."



The Exterminator. Not sure where in the Master Plan this fit. Come to think of it, a lot of the choices for N.A.M.'s mech inventory leaves one scratching their heads. And nothing's more strange than picking a specialized headhunter mech with a history of parts availability and maintenance related issues and putting it in a backwater Periphery militia. Still, it speaks of the supposed importance the Star League put into Niops, perhaps as a stepping stone for future expansion or as a possible reaction force to the dangers of the Periphery itself. Or maybe it was the Master Plan all along, bringing the best in Star League lostech to this far-flung outpost, giving the old empire a chance to survive, if just as a remnant.

Either way, the Niops Association Militia got three Exterminators before the Amaris Civil War. Though they did their best to keep these rare machines in working order, attrition and battle losses made it so that only one remains, placed in storage for study in case one day the Niops Association somehow restored their technological and industrial capacities.

Post Dark-Age, however, played Niops' hand, where creative solutions were needed and it was 'use-it-or-lose-it'. The Exterminator was pressed back into service, under an objecting Lieutenant Cynthia Carmichael, and included into a Cavalry Lance, with a primary mission of being the first response to pirate raids and potential invasions, a faster unit to skirmish and buy time while heavier units could move in.

So far, the concept has yet to be tested, but when it happens the Last Exterminator on Niops will be at the forefront.

NOTE: This is pure speculation only, canon-compatible, but not meant to be canon.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 04 February 2023, 14:43:29
And once again on 'What the Hell is That Doing on Niops?'...

(https://i.postimg.cc/630fW11r/PXL-20230204-165518640.jpg)

Some time in the 2760's...

He'd been getting some strange acquisitions as of late.

Chief Warrant Officer Llewellyn O'Halloran transferred from the SLDF to the NAM believing it would be a cushy assignment. Sure, the weather was cold on this remote scientific outpost and there wasn't much to do for a mechtech but count the mechs, do routine maintenance, and do a little ice fishing afterwards, but as far as Periphery assignments went it wasn't a bad one. There were very few pirates and those few that came by ran whimpering when they found out how heavily armed the star system really was. An empire of nerds, strapped with some of the best the SLDF had to offer. Which made logging and cataloging the various pieces of military hardware coming into Chapterhouse to be fascinating at best.

The usual tried-and-true militia designs came in, and then there were some of the more exotic choices. Highlander assault mechs, Black Knight heavies, Burke Defence Tanks. Spads and Stukas by the jumpship-full. He even once saw a trio of Exterminators pass through his depot before being sent off to the militia proving grounds. All for a small scientific outpost? Was their research so valuable it needed a literal army to protect it?

Then one day the dropship brought in an incredible sight.

A whole company of the latest Crusader Heavy mechs, all lined up on flat travel skids and parked in his motor pool.

He was expecting the venerable Archer, not these massively armed mostrosities. They were much better proportioned than their predecessors, with missile launchers mostly situated in clusters on the arms like bulging extensors, giving the mech a muscular, yet evenly proportioned structure. They packed short range missile launchers on the hips, in modules like belt packs. And from the spec sheet, he saw it carried medium anti-mech lasers and machine guns for anti-infantry.

These weren't just fire support mechs, dedicated platforms like the Archer or Catapult, he surmised. It was a something a little more versatile. A missile boat more built for counter-insurgency or anti-pirate operations than anything else.

Still, it struck him as a perculiar choice. Not just because the armament. Crusaders of this model were only a little over a decades old, practically cutting-edge as far as SLDF procurement went. And these machines, in their brilliant white on grey on blue color scheme, looked fresh off the factory floor, not second-hand junk like the load of Sentinels they got several months ago.

This was on another level all together, like the Highlanders, or the load of Mongoose light mechs they received last week.

As far as 'Lou' was concerned, it was the Star League's dime to spend, foolish or not. He was just here to collect a paycheck. And if he got to see and work on equipment that normally went to front-line units, all the better. He liked spotting strange and wonderful designs. It was part of what made him become a mechtech. And these people clearly wanted the very best.

Or as one ancient flatvid quoted, 'Spared no expense'.


And when you're talking about people who speak of a 'Master Plan' with religious zeal, it was best to count the mechs and not get them started.


The Master Plan the very best, and they get the very best, practicality be damned.

But the Crusader isn't such a bad choice. By the time of the CRD-3R's introduction it's only about a decade or so before the Amaris Civil War so when the Crusader was introduced to the NAM it would have been practically brand new. And as one of the most widely produced models of mech, there would be plenty of them.

And she would be great for pirate interdictions. Sacrificing LRM20s for LRM15's to pack in some anti-infantry punch increased her versatility, making her a welcome addition to the NAM for centuries. It's acquitted itself well in action through the NAM's history, from pirate raids to Marian invasions to even clashes with mercenary forces and the Word of Blake. The Crusader is always there to bring the rain.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 04 February 2023, 15:35:08
Nice!  But I think you meant extensors, not triceps for the Crusader...  ^-^
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 04 February 2023, 15:45:15
Nice!  But I think you meant extensors, not triceps for the Crusader...  ^-^

That you are. Corrected.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 February 2023, 16:10:53
I've always really dug the Exterminator, especially the Introtech version for its era, which I know is probably a bit irrational, but it is what it is.

I want to love the Crusader, and the CASE fittings on the CRD-2R help a lot, but the side torso bombs of the standard Crusader always worried me.  Whenever I used one, I try to drain those side torsos of LRM ammo as quickly as possible.  The other half of the problem is the SRMs in the legs and the medium lasers in the arms: you get into a situation where you're hesitant to use punches or kicks, because either way you won't be able to use some of those weapons.

That said...I really like the CRD-3L.  I'm mildly irritated the MUL limits it to the Capellans, when TR3025 and TR3039 both described it as "based on a Star League variant used for raiding and reconnaissance," yet we don't get any other jumping Crusaders prior to the 3050s.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 04 February 2023, 16:51:49
Benny stated his case with zeal. "General, the High Associator's asking us to cover with an entire regiment what we used to do with a battalion. For that we need mobility, and she's perfect for the role. We've got nothing faster in her weight class, hell, she's faster than some of our medium mechs! I need her in our cavalry lance, otherwise we won't have a proper first response to any raiding parties. I must have her."

I think you've got that reversed. Battalions are generally a smaller organizational unit than regiments  :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 04 February 2023, 17:09:55
Yeah that's on me, and I corrected it.

Next I'm thinking the Flashman, Phoenix Hawk, and the Thug.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: truetanker on 06 February 2023, 01:48:53
If your doing the Thug, the Wyvern was also made by Maltex Corporation.

TT
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 06 February 2023, 10:42:55

I want to love the Crusader, and the CASE fittings on the CRD-2R help a lot, but the side torso bombs of the standard Crusader always worried me.  Whenever I used one, I try to drain those side torsos of LRM ammo as quickly as possible.  The other half of the problem is the SRMs in the legs and the medium lasers in the arms: you get into a situation where you're hesitant to use punches or kicks, because either way you won't be able to use some of those weapons.

If I could get away with using the 2R version I totally would. I don't see why it can't be outside of their level technical expertise. It's just that the 2R is more commonly associated with Royal units.

Otherwise I'll just have to get used to the idea of having it's torso yeeted into outer space like a Russian tank turret. 😝

If your doing the Thug, the Wyvern was also made by Maltex Corporation.

TT

That's a design that could use a CGL update.

ALSO TO ADD: My 'source', if they had a choice to make a certain mech part of the NAM, would choose the Spector. Kind of like a mini-Exterminator from what I gather.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 06 February 2023, 13:53:42
If I could get away with using the 2R version I totally would. I don't see why it can't be outside of their level technical expertise. It's just that the 2R is more commonly associated with Royal units.

Otherwise I'll just have to get used to the idea of having it's torso yeeted into outer space like a Russian tank turret. 😝

The CRD-2R actually shows up on three lists in the Star League era, thanks to being on the "Star League General" list:

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 06 February 2023, 14:12:31
Then imma gonna use it! *LOL*

Also, keep in mind that the Spector is in no way an official confirmation.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 06 February 2023, 18:48:33
I still maintain the Spector deserved a Succession Wars downgrade (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battlemechs/spector-succession-wars-downgrade/)...  8)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 06 February 2023, 19:24:47
I still maintain the Spector deserved a Succession Wars downgrade (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battlemechs/spector-succession-wars-downgrade/)...  8)

I wouldn't mind, though it would almost make the Wolfhound pointless, depending on how you did it (I'm in favor of keeping the large laser and reducing the speed).
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 06 February 2023, 20:15:45
I feel like this video on Soviet green applies to SLDF Olive-Drab  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHFWcC3DQnY
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 09 February 2023, 20:42:53
I was today years old when I learned about the Spirit Walker (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/miniatures/spirit-walker-prime/).  Think Niops could set up a joint production facility with the Sea Foxes to sell it across the Periphery?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 09 February 2023, 21:55:32
 :thumbsup:
nice design
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 10 February 2023, 01:47:11
might want to fix your link, it has an extra / that is preventing the link from working right.
and i had to check sarna to verify it wasn't some fan thing.. it's real. huh. (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Spirit_Walker)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 February 2023, 02:20:27
might want to fix your link, it has an extra / that is preventing the link from working right.
and i had to check sarna to verify it wasn't some fan thing.. it's real. huh. (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Spirit_Walker)

Yeah, it's weird.  The MUL has it available to Clan Wolf as Unique in the Early Republic/Late Republic/Dark Age era, and extinct in the ilClan era, but it starts out pretty widely available before slowly winding down.  I could see the Sea Foxes dusting that off with Niops and selling it to other factions.

Actually, wouldn't it be hilarious to have the NAM forces eventually built around the Kokou Defense Tank, Spirit Walker Omni, Issedone OmniFighter and Nighthawk PA(L)s for good measure?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 10 February 2023, 19:27:27
would the seafoxes have the plans for it though? if they did i could see them selling the plans to RSW (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Robinson_Standard_BattleWorks) or KIC (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Kong_Interstellar_Corporation), who would find an omnimech version of a mech they already build easy enough to switch production to.(especially KIC, which iirc already had a pretty good relationship with the sharkfoxes, thanks to the BL-18-KNT production.)

if they don't though, they'd have to redevelop it. which might be too much work for limited return. though perhaps they could give KIC some data on the homeworld machine, resulting in a IS tech omni black knight.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 24 February 2023, 15:53:17
Ran into an interesting problem in trying to use the MUL to determine forces for factions they don't actively track, including Niops: the IS General and Periphery General lists aren't fully inclusive of all general items.  It's talked about in the following two posts:

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/errata/master-unit-list-mul-feedback-thread-iii-read-the-first-post/msg1912339/#msg1912339

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/errata/master-unit-list-mul-feedback-thread-iii-read-the-first-post/msg1912349/#msg1912349

and to a lesser degree here:

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/errata/master-unit-list-mul-feedback-thread-iii-read-the-first-post/msg1912442/#msg1912442

To summarize: some units on the MUL like, say, your typical 28-person or 21-person infantry platoons are not on the Periphery General list, because factions like the Taurian Concordat and Marian Hegemony use non-standard sizes for their units.  So any units not specifically shared across all Periphery factions, including ones that use non-standard unit sizes, won't show up on the Periphery General list at all.

The difficulty: the Periphery General list only tracks units that all Periphery factions tracked by the MUL use, and Niops, along with other small Periphery factions like New St. Andrews and Randis aren't tracked.  Thus, there are significant gaps in some areas of the list if you're playing one of these factions, notably in areas like infantry: if you don't like Tariq-mounted infantry, you're out of luck - the exoskeleton suits like the Groundhog that show up on the Periphery General MUL are for the base suit, not for the suit equipped into squads of any particular number.

This shows up in other ways too, though.  What's New St. Andrews without the Arbiter?  Out of luck, because the Arbiter is only on the Inner Sphere General list.  Randis has the Periphery General's HWK-3F HawkWolf, but gets denied their HWK-4F upgrade, because the MUL only has that down for the Taurians, Calderon Protectorate and Fitvelt - it's not on the Periphery General list.

Why does it matter?  Because just like some games prohibit custom 'Mechs or other units, some games require you to take units that are specific to your faction list on the MUL, and because they're not actually tracked, you can't get a really accurate list of what those factions use from the MUL.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 24 February 2023, 18:08:16
Uh... Non-tracked factions aren't... tracked? ???

I agree it makes it hard when playing with strangers, but anyone familiar with your work should be willing to accept what you've built.  It's completely reasonable in my opinion... :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 24 February 2023, 19:08:38
This shows up in other ways too, though.  What's New St. Andrews without the Arbiter?  Out of luck, because the Arbiter is only on the Inner Sphere General list.  Randis has the Periphery General's HWK-3F HawkWolf, but gets denied their HWK-4F upgrade, because the MUL only has that down for the Taurians, Calderon Protectorate and Fitvelt - it's not on the Periphery General list.

Why does it matter?  Because just like some games prohibit custom 'Mechs or other units, some games require you to take units that are specific to your faction list on the MUL, and because they're not actually tracked, you can't get a really accurate list of what those factions use from the MUL.

Welcome to the Small Periphery facion (SPF) actuality!

Honestly, when i create a force of those factions for a regulated game, i just talk with my play group. Example: The Scorpions having Infiltrador Mk II and Longinus Magnetic.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 24 February 2023, 19:25:48
Uh... Non-tracked factions aren't... tracked? ???

I agree it makes it hard when playing with strangers, but anyone familiar with your work should be willing to accept what you've built.  It's completely reasonable in my opinion... :)

Oh, I get that the non-tracked factions aren’t tracked.  I figured the whole purpose of an IS General list or Periphery General list was to include not only all the tracked factions, but as an umbrella for any of the factions in those regions that weren’t otherwise covered, and it’s not.  At all. 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 24 February 2023, 19:33:50
Agreed!  The scope of the rules is FAR beyond what's tracked in the MUL.  Just like our imaginations...  ^-^
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Sartris on 24 February 2023, 21:13:45
Adding micro periphery nations to the general lists would make them so small that they would barely exist. Find the overlap between niops, randis, mica majority, and various pirate state polities. Take away from that what the taurians and canopians don’t use any more. Then make sure those lists aren’t bigger than the militaries they cover. It’s not a practical exercise for us
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 24 February 2023, 21:15:21
To be clear, I'm not advocating to drive the MUL team insane with minutia.  I'm just trying to point out that the MUL is a point of departure, not a destination...  8)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 24 February 2023, 21:40:03
Adding micro periphery nations to the general lists would make them so small that they would barely exist. Find the overlap between niops, randis, mica majority, and various pirate state polities. Take away from that what the taurians and canopians don’t use any more. Then make sure those lists aren’t bigger than the militaries they cover. It’s not a practical exercise for us

Yeah, to be clear, I'm not advocating the MUL add those factions to the list, either.  I get why they're not there.  My point was more that the MUL is a less useful tool than I initially thought for selecting units for these factions, because the term "General" when it comes to the IS/Periphery/Clan General lists, because it's not a generic catch-all for the entire region, just the tracked factions in that region.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 25 February 2023, 09:41:46
To be clear, I'm not advocating to drive the MUL team insane with minutia.  I'm just trying to point out that the MUL is a point of departure, not a destination...  8)

Agree. I drive insane the MUL team with another type of minutia.  ;D

Personally, i think the minor factions is best to use the old FM rules of "Use X RAT, plus another Y RAT" and so on.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 25 February 2023, 13:33:24
I think that following the idea of Baldur Mekorig, each one of those Factions could add Mechs/Tanks/ASF from the closest factions or with which they could have more interaction.

Nyops: Marik/Marian/Pirates
New St Andrews Pirates/Marian/Lothian/ maybe Lyran
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 25 February 2023, 22:32:28
Field Manual Periphery and Updates RATs aren't a bad way to go either, since they contain tables for the smaller powers along with the general Periphery ones from 3085 and 3145.  I use all four along with the general Periphery MUL along with logical imports from the IS general MUL when I'm building smaller power lists for the Periphery in the Dark Age or the ilClan era.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 28 February 2023, 12:56:15
Field Manual Periphery and Updates RATs aren't a bad way to go either, since they contain tables for the smaller powers along with the general Periphery ones from 3085 and 3145.  I use all four along with the general Periphery MUL along with logical imports from the IS general MUL when I'm building smaller power lists for the Periphery in the Dark Age or the ilClan era.

For earlier lists, and perhaps what they could still have left, there's always the Comstar list from the old core rulebook. That's what I went with when making my NAM formations.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 28 February 2023, 20:11:01
Liberation of Terra 1 and 2 Star Leauge Regular Army RATs could also work for earlier times.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 28 February 2023, 20:13:24
This is true!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 02 March 2023, 13:30:00
Liberation of Terra 1 and 2 Star Leauge Regular Army RATs could also work for earlier times.

YES!

Even in the ilClan era there has to be some remnants of those Star League era mechs remaining. That's the leading premise I go with when speculating what would be in the NAM. Anything before the Amaris Civil War.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 04 March 2023, 17:33:01
It's also important to note that many of the SLDF units are still in production by IS/Periphery powers, or available from Inner Sphere cast offs (especially Word of Blake and Circinus Federation leftovers salvaged by various powers.)


For Mechs
Atlas II
Atlas 7D
Devastator 2S
King Crab 000Rb
Nightstar 9J
Highlander 732
Highlander 732b
Emperor 6A
Stalker 3Fb
Stalker 3F
Longbow 7Q
Longbow 0W
Longbow 0W2
Longbow 8C
Battlemaster 1Gb
Battlemaster 1Gc
Battlemaster 1Gbc
Victor 9B
Orion 1K
Marauder 2R
Marauder 3R
Black Knight 6L-KNT
Black Knight 6b-KNT
Warhammer 6R
Warhammer 6Rb
Warhammer 7A
Excalibur B2b
Archer 2R
Archer 2Rb
Thunderbolt 5S
Thunderbolt 5b
Crusader 2R
Crusader 3R
Cestus 6Y
Bombardier 12D (though some of us still ask why)
Ostroc 2Cb (This has become the most common refit for the Ostroc. Everyone has access to this thing.)
Rifleman 3N
Galahad 2D
Wolverine II 7H
Wolverine 6R
Shadow Hawk 2H-rb
Shadow Hawk 2H
Lynx 9Q
Kintaro 19b
Griffin 2N
Griffin 1N
Dervish 6M
Trebuchet 3C
Hunchback 4G
Crab 27b
Chameleon TRC 4B
Wyvern 5N
Phoenix Hawk 1r
Phoenix Hawk 1rb
Phoenix Hawk 1rc
Vulcan 5T
Vulcan 2T
Sentinel 3S
Clint 2-3T
Talon 5W
Panther 9R
Night Hawk NTK 2Q
Firestarter 9H
Spider 5V
Javelin 10N
Javelin 10A
Wasp 1A
Stinger 3Rb
Stinger 3R
Stinger 3G
Locust 1V
Locust 1Vb










 






Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 06 March 2023, 23:00:33
It's also important to note that many of the SLDF units are still in production by IS/Periphery powers, or available from Inner Sphere cast offs (especially Word of Blake and Circinus Federation leftovers salvaged by various powers.)


That's actually a really good point, and the two named Niops Militia 'Mechs are certainly on the list.  And while they may not be able to build more 'Mechs at the moment, they may have enough industry left to build wear-and-tear maintenance components.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 08 March 2023, 11:26:09
That's actually a really good point, and the two named Niops Militia 'Mechs are certainly on the list.  And while they may not be able to build more 'Mechs at the moment, they may have enough industry left to build wear-and-tear maintenance components.

I wonder... can they still build Nighthawks in the ilClan era?

And I wonder what the true capabilities of the Niops Projects Workshop really are?

I'll see if I can get some answers from my source.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 08 March 2023, 12:41:29
Last Field Manual I saw was saying the Workshops hadn’t been rebuilt yet, and they were down to 16 Nighthawk suits.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 March 2023, 04:15:14
So, I'm getting closer to the Alpha Strike game where I'm running a Niops Association force, and therefore painting up minis to get ready:

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/miniatures/niops-association-militia/msg1916840/#new

The way the game works is our initial force is 200 points.  From there, we can bring in an additional 50 points every month thereafter as reinforcements.  At start, we're only allowed to have no more than two of any one 'Mech or tank, and all units need to be off a single era/faction list on the MUL (I went with Terran Hegemony during the Star League era).

So, I've built out three lances right now, sticking to the formation rules and, most importantly, minis I have in the right paint scheme or could scramble to paint.  All units are skill 4.

Battle Lance (Command Lance?):132 points
2 x Highlander HGN-732 (Sniper)
2 x Panther PNT-9R (Sniper)

Medium Battle Lance (Command Lance?): 127 points
Thunderbolt TDR-5S
Shadow Hawk SHD-2H
Griffin GRF-1N
Wolverine WVR-6R

Scout Lance: 68-72 points
Phoenix Hawk PXH-1 or PXH-2
2 x Wasp WSP-1A
Stinger STG-3G

Part of me wants to start with the Highlanders and Panthers, but I'm thinking it might be better to run with the Medium Battle Lance to start with.  Then I can bring in a Highlander a month (they're 47 points) as reinforcements, with the two Panthers paired up with an Urbie on another month.

Any recommendations?  I'm still relatively new to Alpha Strike, so I don't entirely know how well these will work out.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 10 March 2023, 04:37:54
I'd go with an SE T-Bolt, personally...  8)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 March 2023, 05:51:57
I'd go with an SE T-Bolt, personally...  8)

Built too late, and isn't on the Terran Hegemony MUL list.  I could take it, but for this particular game, I'd have to throw out any MUL list from before 2901 when the 5SE debuted, and even if I went with a later SE, I'd have to throw out playing Niops, and go with the Mercenary MUL list for whatever era I chose.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 10 March 2023, 14:57:16
So, I'm getting closer to the Alpha Strike game where I'm running a Niops Association force, and therefore painting up minis to get ready:

Any recommendations?  I'm still relatively new to Alpha Strike, so I don't entirely know how well these will work out.

My experience is limited, but the few games I have played gave me the impression that mobility is important, more important than even in Classic Battletech. That, and it's damn hard to hit anything, even with a default skill of 4! As to why, see mobility. *LOL*

My interpretation of Niops mechs leans more heavily towards SLDF and ComStar designs, so my force composition is a tad different. But one thing that's left an impression on me is the effectiveness of Cavalry. Here's my lance (experimental, yet to be tested).

B Company, NAM Territorial Defence Force (Chapterhouse), 'Benny's Blitzers'
Cavalry Lance (116pv)

The trick is to keep a somewhat uniform movement speed so you don't find units lagging behind. And the more speed you can wring out of that lance the better! And, of course, if you find you need more armor or firepower you can still get away with using mechs with a 10" movement like the Wolverine.

Also, feel free to look into Royal Variants. Who knows if Niops got them, but if anyone could...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 10 March 2023, 17:50:01
Built too late, and isn't on the Terran Hegemony MUL list.  I could take it, but for this particular game, I'd have to throw out any MUL list from before 2901 when the 5SE debuted, and even if I went with a later SE, I'd have to throw out playing Niops, and go with the Mercenary MUL list for whatever era I chose.
Well, I tried to get that lance to be all jump capable...  8)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 March 2023, 18:40:29
Well, I tried to get that lance to be all jump capable...  8)

I've got an EXT-4D I can swap in to replace the Thunderbolt.  Right now it's primered white, so it should be easy enough to finish painting, and the EXT-4D is only 1 point more than the TDR-5S.  I'm at 199 right now with that lance and the Macross Recon lance, so I should be good to go.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 10 March 2023, 19:01:39
I've got an EXT-4D I can swap in to replace the Thunderbolt.  Right now it's primered white, so it should be easy enough to finish painting, and the EXT-4D is only 1 point more than the TDR-5S.  I'm at 199 right now with that lance and the Macross Recon lance, so I should be good to go.

Fair warning: The Exterminator's better at an ambush role. It really is a glass cannon. But hey, it's one of the fastest heavies, and I find Alpha Strike is more forgiving with less than ideal designs.

Well, I tried to get that lance to be all jump capable...  8)

When I get back home I'll see what other mechs can do 10"j or 12"j that will fit Niops' criteria. Maybe I'll find some other solutions?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 March 2023, 19:17:40
Worst-case scenario I could throw in another 55-tonner like a Griffin or Shadow Hawk.

I might even try to build a lance out of GRF-1A and SHD-1R primitive Griffins and Shadow Hawks on the cheap, since they're 25 and 22 points respectively, and they're on the THAF list for the Star League era, presumably representing backwater militia 'Mechs.  Two of each would put me at only 94 points.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 10 March 2023, 19:28:27
An Exterminator would be awesome in that lance!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 13 March 2023, 10:55:13
And you know, with some of these Comstar and SLDF designs, I could probably make a Heavy Cavalry/Striker lance that could potentially be fielded by Niops too. I need three heavy mechs as a minimum, and a minimum movement of 8 inches. But I think I can get away with using 10" movement mechs. I know! I'll center it around the Flashman!

Time to make some Niops Association Militia doctrine...

Update: Also just realized the Lancelot LNC25-01 is also a 12" movement mech... and I have two of them! Pair them with my Exterminator and a Phoenix Hawk and I have a heavy striker lance that moves at 12". Holy smokes! Problem is the Lancelot is even more fragile than the Exterminator...

But for a more durable lance moving at 10" I could do a Flashman, Ostroc or Ostsol, and a Wolverine. I may have to double-up on a certain model, and the Ostrok and Ostsol aren't yet available through CGL, but there's potential...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 13 March 2023, 15:58:25
And you know, with some of these Comstar and SLDF designs, I could probably make a Heavy Cavalry/Striker lance that could potentially be fielded by Niops too. I need three heavy mechs as a minimum, and a minimum movement of 8 inches. But I think I can get away with using 10" movement mechs. I know! I'll center it around the Flashman!

Time to make some Niops Association Militia doctrine...

I'm realizing I shot myself in the foot in this game by going with the Terran Hegemony list, because it precludes the Nighthawks and the King Crab - I have two King Crab minis sitting on top of my old PC, and those two plus two Highlanders makes for a 200-point force.

In terms of doctrine, the canon designs we're originally given for Niops (Black Knight, Highlander, Burke Heavy Tank) makes their doctrine look like they lean on the side of slower defensive walls of 'Mechs and vehicles, rather than a fast mobile force.

That can't, however, be their entire force.  During the Jihad, when the Word of Blake drops nukes on Niops VI and VII, and the Militia is reduced to a single scattered battalion fighting a guerilla campaign based from Niops V.

You're not doing that in Burkes, Highlanders or Black Knights: they're simply too damn slow.  You're not doing that with ICE vehicles: you don't have the supply lines to do that.  So while the canon implies the opposite, there at least needs to be some kind of fast response/strike units on Niops that can fight guerilla campaigns, because that's exactly what happened.

Quote
Update: Also just realized the Lancelot LNC25-01 is also a 12" movement mech... and I have two of them! Pair them with my Exterminator and a Phoenix Hawk and I have a heavy striker lance that moves at 12". Holy smokes! Problem is the Lancelot is even more fragile than the Exterminator...

But for a more durable lance moving at 10" I could do a Flashman, Ostroc or Ostsol, and a Wolverine. I may have to double-up on a certain model, and the Ostrok and Ostsol aren't yet available through CGL, but there's potential...

Those are good choices.  Maybe I should run my fast-movers with an Exterminator at the head instead of a Thunderbolt.  It loses the Dougram-theme of that lance, but could work.  I could also double-up on a Wolverine, Griffin or Shadow Hawk, increase the skill of one of those 'Mechs and designate them a commander, and keep theme, too.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 13 March 2023, 16:16:32
I'll save the Highlander and the Black Knight for a battle line. I have a few mechs in mind for that too.

No Burkes available so far, unless I get them from Etsy or from Iron Winds.

I'm figuring a regular cavalry/striker lance that can double as recon, then a heavy cavalry lance to follow up, then either a battle lance or a fire support lance to bring the rain and take the pain.

Kind of like a Zulu bull and horns attack.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 13 March 2023, 17:46:34
If you're looking at Wolverines, perhaps I could interest you in the WVR-6M from a near neighbor...  ^-^
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 13 March 2023, 23:43:02
I have a Wolverine painted in my NAM color scheme. I'm not sure if they would have gotten their hands on a 6M but a 6R? Easy peasy.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 14 March 2023, 14:26:12
The -6M is a pretty easy mod job, you can even do it with a DS IIRC.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 14 March 2023, 17:49:51
I believe you are correct...  8)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 15 March 2023, 12:19:48
Today on 'What the Hell is That Doing on Niops... The Crockett CRK-5003-1

(https://i.postimg.cc/KjYXbzwR/Crockett.png)

*****
Some Time in the 3140's...
*****

It was the moment all the mechwarrior students at the Central Military School strove for.

Countless hours in the classroom, countless more in the study hall, and still more in the simulators. Shunning the easier tracks of the more highly regarded, not to mention better funded, Nighthawk infantry platoons. Turning their noses from the NAM's Aerospace Corp, where the academy's best were placed into Spads and Stukas before they could toss their mortarboards. There were easier tracks at the CMS. The mechwarrior track was underfunded and overlooked, the veritable red-headed stepchild of the NAM.

It was easy to see it's appeal when the latest batch of students were led past the lance of training mechs in the school's outdoor tarmac.

Cadet Alphonse Li looked up in awe at their looming form, struck by their sheer bulk, the symmetry of its slab-sided plates  and subtle curves, bristling with all sorts of strange weaponry. For training mechs he expected something simpler, maybe an industrial mech or a Locust, not an actual assault-grade mech.

"About time, huh 'Phonse?" An elbow jabbed Alphonse in the ribs, as much an unwelcome intrusion as the cocky voice behind it. Cadet Liam Chase, by the big stupid grin on his face, held none of Alphonse's reservation about piloting these giants. Liam stared up the giant mechs with a casual air of self-entitlement. "I was wondering when they were gonna let us pilot some real heavy metal."

Cadet Li sighed with more apprehension. "The NAM sure believe in tossing us into the deep end, huh?"

"Oh please!" Cadet Chase snorted. "Haven't you heard? They're Crocketts. Practically dummyproof, which should be a real bonus for you." He slapped Cadet Li on the shoulder, pleased at his own amusing remarks. "But for me, this is temporary. Once I qualify on this I'm going straight for the Highlander..."

The bawl of the instructor cut through the cadet's chatter. By trained reflex, the pivoted to their instructor and stood at attention to listen.

"Cadet Numbnuts here is partially correct." Instructor Zhang shot a withering glare at Cadet Chase, cowing the cocky aspiring mechwarrior before he returned his attention to the rest of the training lance. "What you see before you is the Crockett CRK DASH 5003 DASH ONE Assault Class Training Mech. Meant to teach scrubs like you the basics of piloting, formation movements, and weapons handling at nearly all ranges. She's tough enough to crash into the Commandant's office after a Frosh Week bender and still not scratch the paint, so you bumbling morons probably won't do much more than give her a few dents. Don't expect speed demons here, but they're so easy to handle even Numbnuts can drive her in a straight line blindfolded." He shot one last glare at Chase. "Which doesn't give you license to show off in these things! The Crockett is dummyproof, which is unfortunate 'cause you scrubs prove that God builds better dummies, so treat your assigned mech with respect, got it?!"

A chorus of 'Yes Sir!' from the training lance quickly replied.

"Good..." Instructor Zhang nodded his approval. "The following cadets will be assigned to their coorespending Crocketts as follows... Kirpisuu, you get The Proctor. Sandoval, I'm assigning you to The Dean. Li, you're going to The Professor. And as for you, Cadet Chase..." His pause, long and savored under the sweat of a nervous Cadet Chase, cut when he spoke the words with extra relish. "...you get The Invigilator. Cadets, to your mechs!"

The cadets, hit with the excitement, and in Chase's case confusion, were slow to react.

"Well?!" Instructor Zhang barked, "Act like you WANT to become mechwarriors! In the cockpits! Double time!"

The pilots ran to their respective Crocketts. Li found himself jogging stride for stride with a still confused Chase.

Chase muttered, "What's up Zhang's butt today?"

Li shook his head and chuckled. The worst kept secret of the lance was Chase, for all his attitude and self-confidence, was more style than substance. As a student he was middling. As a pilot in the simulators he was actually dead last, and always quick with the excuses as to why. Cadet Chase was a legend to be, but only in his mind. To everyone else he was just a big man with a big mouth. The same mouth that claimed to pilot anything on two legs and stop holding him back so he could get himself in a Highlander in record time, so what was the hold up?

No wonder he was Instructor Zhang's butt monkey.

"Whatever it is," Li said, keeping the more honest parts to himself, "he must have it out for you. He gave you The Invigilator."

"So?"

"So, it's the faulty one. Something always goes wrong with it at the worst possible times. Why do you think the older cadets call it 'The Washout Machine'?"

Cadet Li sprinted away towards his assigned mech. He'll let reality percolate in Cadet Chase's delusion-addled brain without any further assistance. He wanted to crawl into his mech and get piloting right away, relieved that he wasn't assigned the problem mech in the lance.

Still, he worried how he would handle The Invigilator, because everyone eventually had a turn.

He was relieved that he, unlike Cadet Chase, wasn't first.



The Crockett, an advanced training mech made too good and practical for its original purpose. This popular machine is easy to pilot and brings a versatile suite of weapons capable of engaging at a variety of ranges. Some critics will say its firepower is too spread out among the ranges, but that was not its purpose. It was supposed to teach prospective mechwarriors about range engagements, heat management, and weapons handling. It just so happens that its firepower is enough to take on a variety of tasks, at the expense of concentrating that firepower.

Still, the NAM knows the value of a good mech when it sees one and has fielded the Crockett as both a trainer and a frontline unit since its inception. It's served alongside the Highlander as a bodyguard mech in heavy assault and battle line formations. Though many were lost in conflicts with the Marian Hegemony, Black Heart Roses, and the Word of Blake, a few are still in service.

As of the ilClan era the largest formation of Crocketts are at the Central Military School, still serving as pilot trainers. As per their educational purpose, each has the name suitable for the task; The Proctor, The Dean, The Professor, and most notorious of all, The Invigilator.

The Invigilator actually has an incredible service record when repurposed for the frontlines during times of conflict. Lieutenant Tiffany Zhang became an Ace during 'The Troubles' (the period between the 3070's until the 3090's) by racking up multiple kills against the Marians and the Word of Blake. When well maintained and piloted by a real pro she's the best Crockett in the NAM fleet. What's unique is her instructor modifications, removed in wartime, but kept when training the next generation of mech pilots. An instructor can manipulate The Invigilator from the school's control tower to simulate damage and component failure, whether it's myomar muscle failure, broken circuitry, or power issues with its fusion plant. An instructor has to have a deft touch when it comes to simulating failures without putting the student's life or the mech at risk, but by the end of it they have a better idea of how a student handles an emergency. It's up to the student themselves whether to persevere in adversity, know when to bail out when the danger is too great, or keep their composure. Either way, 'The Washout Machine' separates the true mechwarriors from the wannabes.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 15 March 2023, 13:18:10
Sweet!  Nice accompanying story, and I dig your take on the camo spec.

Also, I've never been a fan of the old Crockett because, like the old Sentinel, the artwork and mini were, well, hideous.  That new mini is utterly gorgeous.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 15 March 2023, 14:42:45
Sweet!  Nice accompanying story, and I dig your take on the camo spec.

Also, I've never been a fan of the old Crockett because, like the old Sentinel, the artwork and mini were, well, hideous.  That new mini is utterly gorgeous.

TY! I love the new Crockett too. It was begging to be painted.

I am also almost done making a Flashman, a Phoenix Hawk, and a Thug. Once I figure out a good backstory for them I'll post 'em too!

The Lancelot, Rifleman, Archer, and Blackjack are also being considered.

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 15 March 2023, 16:46:59
Today on 'What the Hell is That Doing on Niops... The Crockett CRK-5003-1

Please sir, might you write some Fan Fiction about these poor unloved Cadets and their rides
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 15 March 2023, 17:56:12
Seconded!  Well done indeed!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 15 March 2023, 21:21:08
I would love a tale on Crocketts and perhaps some updated Chameleons being used in battle.  The later 7 and 8 variants of the Chameleon are excellent machines for both training and striker duties. Perhaps even add in some Merlins since everybody has them....
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 16 March 2023, 10:07:33
Please sir, might you write some Fan Fiction about these poor unloved Cadets and their rides

Some of these people I mention are going to be part of my ilClan era NAM Company, 'Benny's Blitzers'. You already saw Captain Benjamin O'Halloran try to get the Exterminator from his Battalion Commander. There's also mention of Lieutenant Cynthia Carmichael, a cousin of the infamous Alicia Carmichael. Alphonse Li is set to be a Mongoose pilot.

Poor Cadet Chase is too much of a sh*tbird to let graduate.

Or should I let him? Hmmm....
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 16 March 2023, 14:20:28
Some of these people I mention are going to be part of my ilClan era NAM Company, 'Benny's Blitzers'. You already saw Captain Benjamin O'Halloran try to get the Exterminator from his Battalion Commander. There's also mention of Lieutenant Cynthia Carmichael, a cousin of the infamous Alicia Carmichael. Alphonse Li is set to be a Mongoose pilot.

Poor Cadet Chase is too much of a sh*tbird to let graduate.

Or should I let him? Hmmm....

He's got the feeling of invulnerability you need to pilot a light VTOL or fast hovercraft on the battlefield  :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 16 March 2023, 15:41:08
He's got the feeling of invulnerability you need to pilot a light VTOL or fast hovercraft on the battlefield  :D

Just good enough to be hotdoggin' it on a fast vehicle, but not good enough to ride with the big mechs...

I like it.

I could either play the character as being bitter and resentful, denied the chance he feels entitled to, or he grows up and matures into one hell of a new model NAM infantry and vehicle commander. Both intrigue me.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 March 2023, 15:45:06
Just good enough to be hotdoggin' it on a fast vehicle, but not good enough to ride with the big mechs...

I like it.

I could either play the character as being bitter and resentful, denied the chance he feels entitled to, or he grows up and matures into one hell of a new model NAM infantry and vehicle commander. Both intrigue me.

Alternatively, he yearns to be a Highlander pilot.  Instead, he gets assigned to a Stinger/Locust/Mercury.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 16 March 2023, 15:48:42
Just good enough to be hotdoggin' it on a fast vehicle, but not good enough to ride with the big mechs...

I like it.

I could either play the character as being bitter and resentful, denied the chance he feels entitled to, or he grows up and matures into one hell of a new model NAM infantry and vehicle commander. Both intrigue me.

Well either that or the militia equivalent of a mallcop in a converted industrialmech  ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 March 2023, 15:51:16
Well either that or the militia equivalent of a mallcop in a converted industrialmech  ;D

I do have an older Urbie mini I'm painting up in Niops PD colors.  Gotta decide if it's "NPD", "N7PD", "NMPD" or how they'd be abbreviated.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 16 March 2023, 16:02:36
But then I wouldn't have a scout hoverjock named Chase...

Man, he will never live this down.  ;)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 16 March 2023, 17:53:58
Alternatively, he yearns to be a Highlander pilot.  Instead, he gets assigned to a Stinger/Locust/Mercury.
Too slow!  Savannah Master or go home!  :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 16 March 2023, 18:01:33
But then I wouldn't have a scout hoverjock named Chase...

Man, he will never live this down.  ;)

See it's an ironic name that he's assigned to something that really can't chase much of anything  :D

Long Tom driver?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 16 March 2023, 18:14:04
Burke Heavy Tanks are a canon Niops tank, and move a blazing 2/3.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 17 March 2023, 09:59:48
Burke Heavy Tanks are a canon Niops tank, and move a blazing 2/3.

And sadly only available through Iron Wind Miniatures. Or Etsy, but I'm not satisfied with any of the 3D print models. And Mercenaries isn't releasing one.

Not sure if I should hold off on making a lance of tanks, but they would make a good direct fire/battle line option.

I also plan on getting some Nighthawks, but I don't know how many I should get, how many to put on each hex, and what I should get for transport options (ground, air mobile, tracked, hover?).

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 17 March 2023, 17:27:14
Hover or air mobile, definitely...  8)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 18 March 2023, 03:12:20
Hover or air mobile, definitely...  8)

Cobra VTOLs?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 18 March 2023, 03:14:51
Well, a stock Ferret can carry two, and an easy mod could get it up to four...  ^-^
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 20 March 2023, 16:17:44
Today on 'What the Hell is That Doing on Niops...'

(https://i.postimg.cc/L4qgH1zd/Flashman.png)


*****
Niops V, 'The Barrens' Mountain Range, 120 Kilometres from Chapterhouse
Some Time in 3080 during the height of The Troubles...
*****

"Thank you Khristoffer."

Colonel Eugene Thorpe took his hands off the dimly-lit tactical display table to accept Captain Kristoffer Engelbert's offer of a steaming cup of Caffix. The Ersatz coffee had the off flavor of artificial sweetners and chemical interpretations of how the real thing should taste, but it brought warmth to his core and to his gloved, chilled hands. In the cold and deep snow in the arboreal forests of The Barrens, small comforts and rank weren't the only things dispensed with in the face of reality.

Somtimes it was more important things, such as food and ammunition, which the NAM company commander found in short supply. The months of fighting off Marian raiders and Wobbie death squads left his battalion without shell nor missile among his ammo-hungry mechs.

When Chapterhouse was nuked by the Wobbies the destruction took with it multiple Niops Project Workshops and vast warehouses full of war materiel. Not only were their means of self sufficiency destroyed, leaving no means of replacing their losses, their supplies were also scattered and buried under irradiated scrap.

But when recon found a munitions storage bunker on the ruin's outskirts, intact by virtue of its sturdy construction, he knew he had the answer. They needed to raid that bunker with everything they had left. But how when most of his mechs ammo bins were dry?

He had the answer, which he kept in mind as he gave to his Aide-de-Camp instructions. "After you've got a Caffix for yourself, I need you to get my lance leaders on the horn. First, Lieutenant Chen from first recon, he's got a few Mongoose and Wild Weasel P. Hawks we could use. Then I want Lieutenant Stepanchikov and his Flashman lance. I've got plans for them."

Captain Engelberg spoke with a note of skepticism.  "Sir, that the last of our reserves. We may not be able to spare them when the Wobbies hit our front."

"And we won't be able to hit them at all if all we got left in our mechs is harsh language." Colonel Thorpe soured. "Besides, there's something about their force distribution that I think we can exploit." He pointed to the tactical display map of Chapterhouse. "See how the Wobbies spread themselves out? I think it has something to do with those reinforcements Colonel Do saw on Niops VII. Our flyboys confirmed resonant heat signatures that could have only come from departing dropships."

Engelbert picked up on the inference quickly. "So they got their reinforcements from here."

"Robbing Peter to pay Paul." Colonel Thorpe replied. "And leaving Chapterhouse thin enough for us to bust through. Normally we wouldn't sustain a battle without ammunition, but a lance of Flashman mechs under Stepanchikov, with a little help from other non-ammunition dependent mechs, could hold the line long enough for us to load up. Then we can we can counterattack with our resupplied units and push the Wobbies out of our city."

Hunched over the display, Captain Engelbert swiped his finger to zoom into the battlezone. He spotted something on the map, and pointed to it with a sly grin. "It's not just a coincidence that there's also a huge MRE supply depot there as well?"

Colonel Thorpe looked down at the haggard, sallow reflection staring back at him from his cup of fake coffee.  When he looked back up, a semblance of his cheer and good humor returned.

"Why Captain, I'd never put the lives of the men and women under my command in danger just for the chance at a decent cup of coffee."

The Colonel flicked his cup in the direction of the command tent's entrance, spraying fake coffee across the trodden snow.

"Not when most the militia will fall all over themselves for the opportunity. Call Stepanchikov's Flashers first. Lock them in as the tip of the spear before anyone else volunteers."

Engelbert cracked an amused smile. "Yes Sir!"


*****

The way the Niops Association procured equipment was perplexing to say the least. They were acquiring, hoarding, and later building, some of the Star League's finest war machines. Their equipment was good enough for SLDF front line duty. Some of it wouldn't be out of place in a Royal regiment. All of it, and the expenses incurred, were enough to give any comptroller or finance minister an aneurysm on the spot. Why did a scientific outpost need such overwhelming firepower? Some would say it was pure Star League-era excess. Others would say it's part of a Master Plan...

Governmental bean-counters and political penny pinchers would say it's going too far and demand more financial accountability in the NAM procurement process.

Which is where the Flashman, and other flashbulb mechs like it, come in.

Sure, until the day scientists find out how to indirect fire with laser beams or efficiently cover entire grid squares with disco laser shows there's no danger of projectile weaponry being rendered obsolete. However, without the expense of ammunition, a flashbulb mech had more operational endurance and less operations costs per hour than most other mech designs. At least, in theory. In reality, a flashbulb mech had just as much, if not more, issues with maintenance and parts alone. Energy weapons, after all, are more complex and demand a lot of care and calibration compared to slugthrowers. It's a point missed on cheapskates when they see the savings from not buying any bullets.

Thankfully for the NAM the Flashman was the darling of mechwarrior pilots, mechanics, and accountants alike. It was fast, maneuverable, and incredibly tough. It could easily be repaired on the field, that is, if the rugged design needed repairs at all. It took to improvised repairs easily (hence why so many downgrades in the Inner Sphere). It could operate on the field as long as the pilot was willing. And it was cheap to operate, which left more in the Niopian budget for Science!

All these traits became a virtue once Niops was turned into a shooting gallery during The Twenty-Year Troubles. Without their famous Project Workshops the NAM had no way to resupply, no source for spares, and no hope of any outside assistance. When the gauss rounds ran dry on the Highlander and the missile bays of the Crusader spent their last, it was up to designs like the Flashman and the Black Knight to hold the line, then later take it back.

Such as the case of Operation Coffee Run, the re-capture of Chapterhouse on Niops V. Word of Blake forces, believing the army of Colonel Eugene Thorpe depleted and starved from months of guerilla warfare, redistributed forces to crush Colonel Do on Niops VII. This left the door open for an audacious attack by Stepanchikov's Flashers busted the frontline and secured supplies so the rest of the NAM forces could deliver a decisive blow at the Battle of The Barrens.

The Flashman in NAM service would repeat the same punishment for success as it did in the Inner Sphere, being whittled down by attrition and a lack of spare parts to a fraction of their numbers. Still, some Flashman mechs serve in the NAM during the ilClan era, a majority kept in their original FLS-8K configuration using scrap and spare parts salvaged from fallen units. Others are downgraded to the FLS-7K variant, at least until they find a way to resurrect the Niops Project Workshops.

The cash-strapped Niops Association Militia of the ilClan appreciates a flashbulb mech now more than ever. They may not bring the rain like a missile boat, or lower the boom like a Highlander's gauss rifle, but the Flashman will never let you down.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 20 March 2023, 16:39:56
The new Flashman art is great.  Was never really a fan of the old art, which looked too goofy.  That said, the FLS-7K was a great Introtech flashbulb.  Was less thrilled with XL-equipped versions.

Y'now, it does occur to me that, in the Dark Age/ilClan era, Niops' 'Mechs could undergo carcinization, revolving around the Hermit Crab as a light, the Crab as a meduum, and the King Crab as an assault.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 20 March 2023, 16:44:54
The new Flashman art is great.  Was never really a fan of the old art, which looked too goofy.  That said, the FLS-7K was a great Introtech flashbulb.  Was less thrilled with XL-equipped versions.

Y'now, it does occur to me that, in the Dark Age/ilClan era, Niops' 'Mechs could undergo carcinization, revolving around the Hermit Crab as a light, the Crab as a meduum, and the King Crab as an assault.

Thanks! And you know, I got crabs...

MECHS! CRAB MECHS! Ya filthy degenerates...

They're next to be painted up, but only because I needed some more assault and medium options. So expect some more soon, but then afterwards I'm gonna cool it.

Also, nice to throw in some references to Field Manual 3085. It really fleshes out Niops even more.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 20 March 2023, 17:14:39
Quote
Wild Weasel P. Hawks
  :drool:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 20 March 2023, 17:18:24
  :drool:

Seemed a fitting name for the PHX-2, since they got guardian ECM.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 20 March 2023, 17:48:17
Seemed a fitting name for the PHX-2, since they got guardian ECM.

Hmm, EF-111 Ravens became Sparkvaarks and EA-6B were Prowlers, and EA-18G became Growlers. Sparkhawks? Howlers?

On a related note, I wonder when someone will decide that the best nickname for the J-16D EW Flankers will be Spankers
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 20 March 2023, 18:30:30
Hmm, EF-111 Ravens became Sparkvaarks and EA-6B were Prowlers, and EA-18G became Growlers. Sparkhawks? Howlers?

On a related note, I wonder when someone will decide that the best nickname for the J-16D EW Flankers will be Spankers

Angry Birds.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 21 March 2023, 01:55:40
My interpretation of a GM Sniper II in Niops colours (grey and white with blue trim) with faux wood furniture on the sniper rifle to give it a bit more of a classic look.

Although it wasn't my intention, the final result bears a resemblance the US Army's infamous UCP pattern

(https://imgur.com/2cXNaDn.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/Pde7deC.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/SS5a3F0.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/kj7DO6S.jpg)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 21 March 2023, 02:51:45
That camo is gorgeous
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 21 March 2023, 03:17:47
And the rifle is sweet too!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 21 March 2023, 12:39:50
That GM sniper rifle does make me wonder something odd:  Sarna says the 1st edition Periphery sourcebook has the highest native life on Niops VII as being fish.  Trees were a mid to late Devonian development on Earth, so…would Niops even have trees, given their star’s low output?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 21 March 2023, 12:49:39
That GM sniper rifle does make me wonder something odd:  Sarna says the 1st edition Periphery sourcebook has the highest native life on Niops VII as being fish.  Trees were a mid to late Devonian development on Earth, so…would Niops even have trees, given their star’s low output?

In FGC, I think we did joke at one point that Niops trade deals needed to include oak so that they could age their brown spirits...

Do the other Niops planets have any native life at all?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 21 March 2023, 14:37:18
In FGC, I think we did joke at one point that Niops trade deals needed to include oak so that they could age their brown spirits...

Do the other Niops planets have any native life at all?

I don't know if it's mentioned anywhere.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 21 March 2023, 14:52:58
I don't know if it's mentioned anywhere.

I mean, native life other than nerds, of course
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 22 March 2023, 10:04:45
In FGC, I think we did joke at one point that Niops trade deals needed to include oak so that they could age their brown spirits...

Do the other Niops planets have any native life at all?

Not sure, but if it's Devonian Period then we're looking at the first primitive forests. That would be enough.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/devonian#:~:text=Toward%20the%20end%20of%20the,seed%20plants%20had%20also%20appeared. (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/devonian#:~:text=Toward%20the%20end%20of%20the,seed%20plants%20had%20also%20appeared.)

And it's a somewhat cold planet, so I don't see why they can't import some coniferous trees. Maybe there's extensive pine forests on Niops?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 22 March 2023, 10:17:15
Either how cold and overall sim they probably are, I don’t know that Terran trees may cut it.  It’d be interesting to see if trees are still a valid strategy around a red dwarf, but I’m no more a botanist than I am a steam locomotive.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 22 March 2023, 10:21:53
You'd be surprised what pine trees can survive in. I mean, I'm Canadian. I've seen what coniferous forests can survive in. But yes, I'd have to check to see if they could handle red suns without any genetic engineering.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 22 March 2023, 10:53:58
You'd be surprised what pine trees can survive in. I mean, I'm Canadian. I've seen what coniferous forests can survive in. But yes, I'd have to check to see if they could handle red suns without any genetic engineering.

The colours at least might be different to account for the different wavelengths of light they receive. Also, hoi from the coast!
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 22 March 2023, 12:25:02
The colours at least might be different to account for the different wavelengths of light they receive. Also, hoi from the coast!

Prairie boy, representing!

But yeah, I figure conifers are our best bet because they'll grow in cold conditions and in poor, rocky soil.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 22 March 2023, 13:03:37
Prairie boy, representing!

But yeah, I figure conifers are our best bet because they'll grow in cold conditions and in poor, rocky soil.

Back in Fan Grand Council, I think I had this discussion with @GiovanniBlasini about how SL-era genetic tweaks for adaptation might end up making the locals look more like anime characters. Larger iris/pupil for better light collection in the ambient light, some other adaptations for vitamin D generation in the local environment. An interesting question is whether those changes propagated through the Capellan refugee cohort, or if the genetic pool became thoroughly mingled, or only partially mingled with socio-economic and cultural self-selection leading to concentrations of genetic modifications or lack thereof concentrating in different groups.

The whole thing took a weird detour into (slighly) metahumans and (full-on) transhumanist weirdness at some point.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 22 March 2023, 13:59:22
Back in Fan Grand Council, I think I had this discussion with @GiovanniBlasini about how SL-era genetic tweaks for adaptation might end up making the locals look more like anime characters. Larger iris/pupil for better light collection in the ambient light, some other adaptations for vitamin D generation in the local environment. An interesting question is whether those changes propagated through the Capellan refugee cohort, or if the genetic pool became thoroughly mingled, or only partially mingled with socio-economic and cultural self-selection leading to concentrations of genetic modifications or lack thereof concentrating in different groups.

The whole thing took a weird detour into (slighly) metahumans and (full-on) transhumanist weirdness at some point.

Expecially since it'd be much easier to set your agriculture up in greenhouses (or just straight use aquaculture) and make sure every building's got Vitamin D lamps.

I'm a firm believer in Occam's Razor. Sometimes you don't need complex solutions, just simple ones.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 22 March 2023, 19:35:40
Back in Fan Grand Council, I think I had this discussion with @GiovanniBlasini about how SL-era genetic tweaks for adaptation might end up making the locals look more like anime characters. Larger iris/pupil for better light collection in the ambient light, some other adaptations for vitamin D generation in the local environment. An interesting question is whether those changes propagated through the Capellan refugee cohort, or if the genetic pool became thoroughly mingled, or only partially mingled with socio-economic and cultural self-selection leading to concentrations of genetic modifications or lack thereof concentrating in different groups.

The whole thing took a weird detour into (slighly) metahumans and (full-on) transhumanist weirdness at some point.
Fan council.. was fun.. Niops was basicly a few of my favorite anime..  the Major was head of Spec Ops I believe
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 22 March 2023, 21:45:07
Going back to the Fladhman without making this a fan design thread: You could easily tefut a 7K with DHS and ER lot stock lasers make an effective beam trooper wit.  Even the post Jihad Niops infrastructure could get them in modest amounts, especially by the Dark Ages.
It's similar to the lower tier Royal refits you see on things like the Marauder 2R or the Royal Ostroc. 

I can also see the Hawkwolf and the Longbow being good fits, as they're easy to maintain and have excellent throw waits for missiles. 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 24 March 2023, 11:40:21
My latest additions to the NAM:

(https://i.postimg.cc/brBc4BPp/PXL-20230324-050515212.jpg)

Making it the equivalent of a reinforced company... or three Comstar Level II's.

(https://i.postimg.cc/mZqnfMML/PXL-20230324-051719513.jpg)

I think that's enough for now, at least until I get my hands on some Burkes or some Nighthawks.

In the meantime should be plenty of fodder for 'What the Hell is That Doing on Niops' vignettes.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 24 March 2023, 11:51:40
That combination of really looks quite Lyran. But then, there are only so many colours humans can see after all, so similarities are inevitable :D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 24 March 2023, 12:55:14
That combination of really looks quite Lyran. But then, there are only so many colours humans can see after all, so similarities are inevitable :D

The details on Niops' paint scheme were pretty vague and open to interpretation. I did the best I could.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 24 March 2023, 14:19:32
The details on Niops' paint scheme were pretty vague and open to interpretation. I did the best I could.

It's not a complaint, they look good!  ;D

Besides, in the real world, almost all AFVs come in green, brown, grey and mixes of green, brown, grey, and black anyway   ^-^
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 24 March 2023, 18:37:15
My latest additions to the NAM:

Looking good.

Quote
I think that's enough for now, at least until I get my hands on some Burkes or some Nighthawks.

Funny that: I should be getting both from IWM in the mail today.  New plastic Black Knight just came and is already painted up.

Quote
In the meantime should be plenty of fodder for 'What the Hell is That Doing on Niops' vignettes.

Looking forward to the vignettes.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 March 2023, 19:24:44
So, some more of my recent Niops painted minis:

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/miniatures/niops-association-militia/msg1922348/#msg1922348
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 14 July 2023, 12:09:03
Took some new photos of the GM Sniper with the urban Niops camo

(https://preview.redd.it/qj7mgqbnwtbb1.jpg?width=898&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5acd5f27b4776c84c5474a7a0e2f8b3bc548beb5)
(https://preview.redd.it/hxdrptxnwtbb1.jpg?width=898&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8936d187862704f75bc27713504baac6c5d5471b)
(https://preview.redd.it/4hsu19cpwtbb1.jpg?width=898&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=690cd176558661a6604dfc62e92dd77d292fe9c8)
(https://preview.redd.it/j9pathqqwtbb1.jpg?width=898&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a8e272ee03e6074ae1c7c8d6fabf57b29891152)
(https://preview.redd.it/edcvtsjmwtbb1.jpg?width=898&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10320a9c12d0f5027fb8cc761dbd296ac53e9dce)
(https://preview.redd.it/qhvl894qwtbb1.jpg?width=898&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e5b179c4cf21705e3e8e9cbe7e71521691932eb)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 14 July 2023, 13:36:38
OK, that's cool.  I'm trying to decide what canon 'Mech it looks the most like, because all 'Mechs should have a heavy rifled cannon with a wooden stock in one arm, and a heavy shield in the other.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 14 July 2023, 15:42:30
OK, that's cool.  I'm trying to decide what canon 'Mech it looks the most like, because all 'Mechs should have a heavy rifled cannon with a wooden stock in one arm, and a heavy shield in the other.

Pack Hunter, but with the shoulder gun switched to hand-carried
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 15 July 2023, 03:58:18
Pack Hunter, but with the shoulder gun switched to hand-carried

I was thinking that or some form of mutant Clint.  That rifle's got a magazine at the bottom, right?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 15 July 2023, 04:15:16
I was thinking that or some form of mutant Clint.  That rifle's got a magazine at the bottom, right?

Small one, like a Carcano or Mosin, yeah
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 20 July 2023, 01:25:36
GM sniper II. not bad. shape wise it's got arms liek a wolverine, the legs and torso like a shadow hawk, and a head like a Commando.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 21 July 2023, 19:52:08
GM sniper II. not bad. shape wise it's got arms liek a wolverine, the legs and torso like a shadow hawk, and a head like a Commando.

Hmm, say 55 tons, 5/8/3, armor a mix of SHD and WVR, at 9.5 tons, with a medium shield, retractable blade, and a heavy rifle with a ton of ammo?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 22 July 2023, 21:43:33
you you can tweak the BM-G97-C "Jim Sniper" from my WIP Nebula California submission.. whenever i finish it and submit.
(though that one might show up in a design thread supplement instead)

 :evil: :evil:  cool :wink:
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 30 July 2023, 21:23:44
This is the HGUC RGM-79, #20, the cheap and cheerfulest GM of all. Maybe a bit too cheap and cheerful. The ankle guard came off, and I haven't checked to see if it's fixable.

Niops colours again for this one. With and without shield.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc8jwCQvJFV6Zzju0-mDn9jXNsIgW_-K8gfajL2PMV51y3_hUA6kWOUS95KFs0osPfScToT0qrFkTEwnLHtoyi9r1YN8xe5VdFXmwCHMltwiU__O3YFPyvenm3WST9fliGJIySiiP7ObGYn8b9zHfaQGSQ=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc9NE-mv1BpUAhkmVxwntA47gItFxdl8pI5kQ2dDrAWxGRUpYKm4ern2uO3sJWe_C1wGRZ4VMF96QgtLn555tnJAWZfQHqleLFsVE9AxbG9JJi8YmsbMgdfxP2rvpR9k7i5JVp2Xx_mEP_0sczsuzgN32w=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc_-0kK5aKugLjXXRTG2FZGaiBpNusQvGbABN8hewOVv5T9NNxdIwWNnoRXWrORUiuvovFxVBRKlevk246dNS8uNf6FY1y6y_PHsBkcmYOcdBZaeb4FaZDT8zu-iQVm5sVJ3twlB9M0B8VY16k9Kub-gpA=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc_2WbE8FyVRGsxW7m9gRnw1Bti58RfmEVtBz8-PlthvNwz3HBs5XsVTQrC7IbXMx4JyA-ymT1TNAp7s7GhT2BRiyXRlYxC321hslGl3Eg-QrZlBcR4YI4S5q-f0QLUrbUkHAKw5uYWFWwhM5nGsjpkYsg=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc9dXw6wsMSyQM0gyuy18oPQ4O1xUZXjuBBqsi-mFkJc3wNE5glMYFhg5u1isIbTUn2rcLeQArH8vDU6-v_sBeP_wvv1AIMgdRLOizX28h8aCkP9wpG5QovXxjvclekW4S4F00HL8QcX8pjkYpwm32_Vnw=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc_jAGmkFGHzoyp5CCbNW156tDWSKqyHvP9ad9lMfidu_xIK1nlmAnqdik2JJbbge76hGbX8dWcUWU3S181o78FF-ZHto3JzY8NqQGcpIcoPWHBoEdyN7-asNIPPqaDsIjPhmb07Vl9lkIhUHSY-GX_E1g=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc9bE0PSzjSxkpO9XuqATS3cMg2nEeWw85FqAlJkMWSqBb6-dfCKx7toBH6CcOAverPrRvAnUkb4B7pMyQn3w4Ea1tfcogAj4CySmtRnV4OaiVXkoIMGDVzUmAInhiis2lKOjvR07xyJ8Z1RXifcewmoRQ=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc_YO-1RSWTPUHkWiXlAJHISCFvxMqiAWp_po85_H9O_W1MVFSEUDTPjABoJb1eshgFVk6_qppiqtQ5qEGoIIy0zweGRqUUsEEVqc6wSGXJUI_WXEMs3hVxYxqHsX5V5v0WogakospjwXAxs2kwV6yvpIw=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 30 July 2023, 22:24:56
That came out great, and I’m really enjoying your take on NAM unit paint schemes.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 30 July 2023, 23:28:23
This is the HGUC RGM-79, #20, the cheap and cheerfulest GM of all. Maybe a bit too cheap and cheerful. The ankle guard came off, and I haven't checked to see if it's fixable.

Niops colours again for this one. With and without shield.
one i've been wanting to get.. though i really need to build one of the 4 kits i already have.. (HG OZ-06MS Leo, a HG Turn A Gundam, an older pre-HG MRC-F20 SUMO kit in silver, and a HGUC Rx-98-2)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 30 July 2023, 23:55:41
one i've been wanting to get.. though i really need to build one of the 4 kits i already have.. (HG OZ-06MS Leo, a HG Turn A Gundam, an older pre-HG MRC-F20 SUMO kit in silver, and a HGUC Rx-98-2)

My local Gunpla retailer just had stacks for them for a long time, so I bought a few. They're simple to build and not particularly well-articulated. I think the Cold Districts and Colony Command variants are very similar, but I prefer the Colony Command for its dual beam saber and curved shield giving it a bit of a Sniper vibe (minus the visor). The bullpup with the vertical magazine is also easier to pose with than the Cold Districts SMG.

The Leo has great articulation, although the immobile head is kinda funny.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 31 July 2023, 04:01:35
the one i want to get is the kit for the GM ground type from 8th MS team.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 31 July 2023, 06:06:50
So what 'Mechs does Niops produce at the Workshop?  I'm thinking of buying some Highlanders and building a company around them, and going with Niops as a faction for them. 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 31 July 2023, 08:50:24
the one i want to get is the kit for the GM ground type from 8th MS team.

Kit #202? That is a good one - actually the first Gunpla kit I built! I think it had a lot in common with the Ez8 and the BB Ground Gundam, especially with the arm articulation, but I much prefer the GM visors to the fiddly eye stickers of Gundam kits.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 31 July 2023, 16:46:24
So what 'Mechs does Niops produce at the Workshop?  I'm thinking of buying some Highlanders and building a company around them, and going with Niops as a faction for them.
All I've found on Sarna (so far) is Nighthawk PA(L).  No mention of 'mech production yet...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 31 July 2023, 19:34:48
So what 'Mechs does Niops produce at the Workshop?  I'm thinking of buying some Highlanders and building a company around them, and going with Niops as a faction for them.

Prior to their destruction, the only named designs mentioned as being produced by the Workshops are the Highlander, the Black Knight, the Burke Defense Tank, according to Field Manual: Periphery (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Field_Manual:_Periphery) - don't ask for an exact page number, because my paper copy is in storage.  There are implications that an SLDF heavy aerospace fighter was also produced, but the design was never named.  It was not stated that these were the only designs that the Workshops could produce, just that they're the only ones actually named.  Tech Readout 3075 also adds the Nighthawk PA(L) in a couple varieties, indicating that production started in 3071.  There are purportedly a total of 16 Nighthawks still in use in Niops in 3150, serving as security forces on Niops VII.

Note that, post-Jihad, the Workshops are destroyed and, as of Field Manual 3150, they had not been rebuilt, forcing the Niops Association Militia to use whatever units still survived, whatever Blakist designs they could presumably salvage, and what they could buy on the open market, so at that point, it's vastly open to interpretation.  Note that not even the Periphery General MUL list (http://masterunitlist.info/Faction/Details/57) is useful here, given that Niops is too small a faction to even be tracked there, and that list is more of a supplemental to the dedicated lists for the tracked individual Periphery factions.

Personally, the way I'm selecting forces for my local Alpha Strike league, where I'm playing a Niopian unit is to use the Terran Hegemony and SLDF General lists from the Star League era, to which I'd add the Periphery General list for any era after the Jihad - we're only allowed one list for our game, and the Terran Hegemony list gave me an interesting variety of units, ranging from a handful of Royals to a few Primitives.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 01 August 2023, 06:14:07
Well, making a lance of two Black Knights and two Highlanders is an option, but yeah I'd look at the Star League for units and go from there.

I just bought a buttload of Lyran 'Mechs, so I'll put the Niops buy on hold, but I think I can come up with a company for them.  Assault lance as mentioned above, plus a medium lance and a light lance of SLDF equipment.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 01 August 2023, 13:53:41
i tend to assume they had the ability to produce all sorts of SLDF units, and that their manufacturing labs were an outgrowth of their maintenance facilities for the garrison they were left. and that the black knights and highlanders were just the two designs they decided to focus on when they decided they needed to expand their mech forces.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 09 August 2023, 09:59:52
The original Periphery Sourcebook from FASA just shrugs and says, 'Just use the Comstar list.'

Though I think the SLDF general list is a safe bet. That's what I did for mine. 
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 09 August 2023, 18:34:35
True that! ;D
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 10 August 2023, 09:50:50
I also think there's potential to slip in SLDF Royal mechs... but that might be a little too OP.

However if you're facing Jihad or IlClan era stuff you may want that equalizer.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 13 August 2023, 17:57:43
The Dagger-L grunt suit from Gundam Seed painted up in... I dunno. Something vaguely Niops-inspired and weathered  :cheesy:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc_tqYV6eWjelm-FncJkPt08rOked_9yht0h5G1I8-mhO0xgwQTiZPqOTJepakCrUQ8BxdeKp9sTthxL5DwUo9FS7bGzuAL7s8BPryhjzmp93OG7Bg8bBlByyr9vpuT9W3oIcfdpkx19fhrZZ7BQQ-Z1BA=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc9zOwclQ5tOVzLNxeqfbv0hmS0opEPfFM1m_dN3GsnCgv743wLYabaSjNTdiXzzhkPwrl8-Ri-dG74qKyy6M5KvSDtOPISMqZxb8vvio3ouWwPr-wz1fltwidul63goEnYVzL2u1LaQJWezV1UY4mCa_Q=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc-IJLnXkRtUy9kyqcHDM9zRIzO6Jt-oElKcfetUZqBXW2nhNi2AGSxheuNjx6PAzVKTACq_B9OJMScpvSgN1zpGHmPCx2Lj2Ap7vKyS3Mhp3tvWPBhkH7bq_VxSvTTrrbUFueIWTvNxoZb0RI8ASAuztQ=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc8Z_lqBVcHXryMxkCl1CsmRMgWrWQThkRLrubjPtdNc3c1W25xU6y9mhkfvQumNVzbvBPlqlkR_gGyx3-lTXI8k-xTY8SK8T5p6fQyENvzSdgbEFDnXWGVz02Js74QAGSU_8bbl78Mt5eN2KHhSzyi9VQ=w898-h1198-s-no?authuser=0)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 13 August 2023, 18:17:30
Not bad at all! :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ANS Kamas P81 on 13 August 2023, 19:32:39
That is one skinny boi.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: ArkRoyalRavager on 14 August 2023, 03:16:37
It's an "OmniMech". Chanman can attach 6 different equipment packs to them if he has them.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 14 August 2023, 03:21:45
I also think there's potential to slip in SLDF Royal mechs... but that might be a little too OP.

However if you're facing Jihad or IlClan era stuff you may want that equalizer.
iirc there were a few royals that had made their way outside the royal units to the member states even before the star league fell, going by the MUL. like the warhammer WHM-6Rb, which in the MUL shows up as IS general in the "Star League (2571 - 2780)" category (as well as the expected "star league general" and Rimworlds-Terran corps)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 14 August 2023, 10:01:03
I was thinking more along the lines of... if Niops somehow got their hands on top-of-the-line Nighthawk power armor specs, then what other specs did they also have?

This might also be a stretch but when the Black Heart Roses were hired on it was Niops who refurbished their mech units. And they had some rare mechs, including Spartans. Couldn't do that without having some specs. So who knows what they had squirreled away in their databanks? The door is open.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Hotpoint on 14 August 2023, 13:51:48
I was thinking more along the lines of... if Niops somehow got their hands on top-of-the-line Nighthawk power armor specs, then what other specs did they also have?

If you want a broad 'somehow' then it's mentioned in Field Manual: SLDF that XXXIV Corps under Maj. Gen. Lijsbeth van Coevorden unofficially traded with Niops for supplies, mostly because she was having trouble getting them officially. One of the units attached to that corps was Royal (the 187th Royal Striker Regiment) so perhaps if she needed spares for their machines she asked Niops to make them in their high-tech Project Workshops.

Of course to make spares you need the blueprints and specs for Royal equipment... which would normally be out of the question to hand over, however Niops was a Terran Hegemony colony so would that be technically breaking any laws?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 14 August 2023, 18:00:37
Technically, certainly not!  Ask any lawyer... ;D

Also, I made a couple of SAS Nighthawk variants (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,7639.0.html)... ;)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: DOC_Agren on 15 August 2023, 12:38:50
I was thinking more along the lines of... if Niops somehow got their hands on top-of-the-line Nighthawk power armor specs, then what other specs did they also have?

So who knows what they had squirreled away in their databanks? The door is open.

I kinda think that they have at least the datafiles for most designs that were in current production when colony was setup.  Most likely to provide the ability to repair the defensive force assigned.   Then as
Field Manual: SLDF that XXXIV Corps under Maj. Gen. Lijsbeth van Coevorden unofficially traded with Niops for supplies, mostly because she was having trouble getting them officially. One of the units attached to that corps was Royal (the 187th Royal Striker Regiment) so perhaps if she needed spares for their machines she asked Niops to make them in their high-tech Project Workshops.
They got access to better designs datafiles, and honestly I can see them recruiting people who might have access to "datafiles".  And you never know what odd knowledge that scientist assigned to Niops might have brought with them.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: chanman on 15 August 2023, 13:02:39
That is one skinny boi.

The Dagger-L is supposed to be the Gundam Seed setting's equivalent of the GMs, but yeah, I'm not super sold. It's a newer design that has more articulation, but I find the joints kind of loose, and the proportions oddly skinny.

For newer grunt suits, I would recommend either the Leo from Gundam Wing, or the GM Ground from MS08th team
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 16 August 2023, 19:33:13
Also by the late 3070s/3080s, Royal units are popping up in places like the Taurian Concordat (Warhammer 6Rb, Thunderbolt-5Rb, eventually the Warhammer 7A), the various Free World Leauge governments (Royal Phoenix Hawk, Royal Locust,) and so on.  The Niops Workshops might not be up to manufacturing new Mechs, but they could refit older chassis into the Royal variants, or just upgrade existing stuff as Class C or D upgrades.  The Royal Ostroc comes to mind as a fairly cheap and easy design since it just adds Ferro-fibrous armor, DHS, and swaps the large lasers for ER versions along with replacing the SRM-4 with two Streak 2s.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 16 August 2023, 19:39:06
That sounds like nothing above a Class B refit to me... :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 17 August 2023, 22:08:20
Yup, and you could get the components extremely easily even in the Dark Age.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 27 December 2023, 20:37:33
So Recognition Guide 33 has now shipped, and, not surprisingly, Niops was not mentioned again, even in passing, unlike our Neo-Roman neighbors or some of the other minor factions.

Given that scenario, and some of the last discussions we had, pretend you're in charge of military industrial procurement for the Niops Association in 3155, the dawn of the ilClan era, with the task of rebuilding one or more of the Project Workshops or something similar, sufficient to cover some degree of domestic military production.  In cases where domestic production is insufficient to meet a specific requirement, the Niops Association will continue to import military hardware as needed, but this is both expensive and

As such, you've been tasked with obtaining sufficient tooling to produce one conventional vehicle, one 'Mech and one aerospace fighter, with the goals of having each cover as many roles as possible, for as little money as possible.

Obviously, the Niops Association Militia would be thrilled to have production of the Highlander, Black Knight, Burke and Nighthawk PA(L) restored, but given the difficulties in doing so over the past 75 years, they understand that doing so is most likely outside the Association's current reach, and that the budget may not allow for such prestigious, expensive designs, assuming anyone was willing to sell the tooling you're currently missing anyway.  Because tooling may be an issue, and logistics is a beast, sharing as many parts as possible between units is highly desirable.

So, with that in mind, what units would you recommend?

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Starfury on 27 December 2023, 22:56:50
Mech The Thunderbolt. It's tough, easy to modify, and almost everyone makes them. Spare parts are easy to come by, and you could get the plans for the 7M which uses basic Star Leauge tech (DHS, Ferro, CASE, ER Large Laser, Streak 2) from Marik on the cheap. It will do just about any role other then cavalry, and that can also be added with jump jets. Kick in Endo Steel for the 5rb Royal variant as a command unit, and you have a solid long amd short range trooper for any duty.

Aerospace fighter the Stingray. Also made by the friendly neighborhood purple eagle, the Stingray is an all energy weapons 60 ton fighter designed for dogfighting and strafing. It has several variants, is easy to support, and can be used as an all around generalist like the Thunderbolt.  The Stingray moves 6/9 and has 11.5 tons of armor.  You get a PPC, two larg3 lasers and two mediums. It's not flashy, but it's solid like the Thunderbolt

Vehicle-Assuming you want a core tank, I would go with the Bulldog. It's 60 tons, with an ICE, 2 SRM-4s and a Large Laser. The Bulldog moves 4/6, mounts 6.5 tons of armor, and is cheap at 606 BV. The Manticote may have more powerful weapons, amd the Goblin carries infantry, but the Bulldog keeps on coming. It has all sorts of weapons swaps from LB-5s to ER Large Lasers, and the Fuel Cell mod makes it tough enough for line or garrison duty.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 27 December 2023, 23:53:02
Like we previously discussed, I think the Goblin is the best choice for Niops... lots of variants, and can fit in a light cubicle.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 December 2023, 04:04:35
Mech The Thunderbolt. It's tough, easy to modify, and almost everyone makes them. Spare parts are easy to come by, and you could get the plans for the 7M which uses basic Star Leauge tech (DHS, Ferro, CASE, ER Large Laser, Streak 2) from Marik on the cheap. It will do just about any role other then cavalry, and that can also be added with jump jets. Kick in Endo Steel for the 5rb Royal variant as a command unit, and you have a solid long amd short range trooper for any duty.

The TDR-7M is certainly a solid design, but high-tech enough that I wonder how easy it would be to get the tooling needed.  Amusingly enough, though, the MUL lists it as being in use by mercenaries, the Marian Hegemony and the Magistracy as of the Dark Age era.

Amusingly, a vehicle that ends up pairing better with it due to the engine is the Patton, but if you can produce the Patton, do you really need the Thunderbolt?

Quote
Aerospace fighter the Stingray. Also made by the friendly neighborhood purple eagle, the Stingray is an all energy weapons 60 ton fighter designed for dogfighting and strafing. It has several variants, is easy to support, and can be used as an all around generalist like the Thunderbolt.  The Stingray moves 6/9 and has 11.5 tons of armor.  You get a PPC, two larg3 lasers and two mediums. It's not flashy, but it's solid like the Thunderbolt

Stingray's a solid design.  No disagreements there, other than there's not much parts synergy between the Thud and the Stingray.

With that said...where there is parts synergy with the Stingray is the Schrek PPC Carrier.  That uses the same engine, fits PPCs as its main gun, and would be a solid replacement for the Burke: it loses a bit of ranged damage compared to the Burke, but is faster and more durable.

For a 'Mech to use instead of the Thunderbolt, then, you've got the option of a medium trooper in the form of the Sentinel (3KA and 3KB sport a LL or PPC, respectively), or mass-producing the CLNT-2-3T Clint Denton (with its LL).  The LNC25-02 Lancelot downgrade uses the same basic weapons, too.

Quote
Vehicle-Assuming you want a core tank, I would go with the Bulldog. It's 60 tons, with an ICE, 2 SRM-4s and a Large Laser. The Bulldog moves 4/6, mounts 6.5 tons of armor, and is cheap at 606 BV. The Manticote may have more powerful weapons, amd the Goblin carries infantry, but the Bulldog keeps on coming. It has all sorts of weapons swaps from LB-5s to ER Large Lasers, and the Fuel Cell mod makes it tough enough for line or garrison duty.

The Manticore, OTOH, is based around a PPC and a 240-rating fusion engine, same as the Stingray, so it's got that going for it.  You're right though that there are a ton of variants for the Bulldog.  It just always weirds me out to see ICE-powered vehicles based around a large energy weapon for their main gun.

Like we previously discussed, I think the Goblin is the best choice for Niops... lots of variants, and can fit in a light cubicle.

I know the Goblin has at least one fusion version, fitted with an LPL as the main gun IIRC.

For both the Bulldog and the main production runs of the Goblin, given they're ICE vehicles (as are most of the standard APCs), I wonder how well that would work on the worlds in the Niops system.  We don't know about Niops V and VI, but the most advanced life forms on Niops VII are fish analogues, implying there wasn't much in the way of terrestrial lifeforms, which means you may also not have had the extensive plant biomass on land that would result in natural petroleum deposits.  With that said, if you've got enough methane, it doesn't matter, I suppose, and I suspect there are enough tidal forces on Niops V, VI and VII to keep them geogically-active, which might help as well.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 December 2023, 06:47:51
OK, taking a stab at my own question, what about:

Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 28 December 2023, 08:50:08
+1 for engine commonality... the last Goblin I made for you had a Fuel Cell Engine (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52975.0.html). :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 December 2023, 09:13:49
+1 for engine commonality... the last Goblin I made for you had a Fuel Cell Engine (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52975.0.html). :)

Customs open up a myriad of possibilities, but not all tables are keen on them. Such as my local Alpha Strike league.  Also, the Mods tend to want those on their own board sections.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 28 December 2023, 09:25:57
That's why I only pasted the link... ;)

Off the top of my head, I don't think I can improve on your engine commonality, but I'll keep working on it.  I agree a 50-ton vehicle (or less) would be ideal.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 December 2023, 16:51:57
That's why I only pasted the link... ;)

Off the top of my head, I don't think I can improve on your engine commonality, but I'll keep working on it.  I agree a 50-ton vehicle (or less) would be ideal.

Smaller, cheaper 'Mechs also make sense for a Niops whose Central Military School is focusing on armor and infantry, with an underfunded 'Mech program.

I thought briefly about returning to the Burke Defense Tank, with its 150-rating engine, and pairing it with either a Valkyrie, a WSP-100A Wasp LAM (what they based the Valkyrie on) or even a Panther, with its 140-rating engines being "detuned" 150 rating engines.  For an aerospace fighter, you'd have the Spad.  From there, the main IFV/tank would be something like a Goblin or Bulldog that runs on an ICE engine.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 December 2023, 11:23:54
Okay, sticking with stock units, what about:

Turhan tank/IFV
Seydlitz ASF
BJ-1DB Blackjack

All use standard armor, a GM 180 engine, and you only need large lasers, medium lasers and machine guns for weapons.  If you prefer, you could do the Fire Javelin instead of the Blackjack.

I looked for a canon light ‘Mech that used a 180-rating engine edit with a large laser but couldn’t dig one up.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 29 December 2023, 12:24:58
Javelins don't count?  What about Falcons?

And I'd stick with the Blackjack... heck, you might even consider keeping the AC/2 variant...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 December 2023, 12:49:16
Javelins don't count?  What about Falcons?

Went back and edited my original post: I’d meant canon 30-ton 6/9 ‘Mechs with a large laser.

With customs, it’d be easy: a slower Hussar with armor or a Falcon that drops the most of the secondary guns for a single large laser.

Quote
And I'd stick with the Blackjack... heck, you might even consider keeping the AC/2 variant...


Fair.  I was trying to minimize the number of weapons that needed to go into production.  Still, I considered the intro tech Wyvern instead of the Blackjack since it has hands, which could prove handy, and that has more guns.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 29 December 2023, 13:00:37
Hands make sense... it's a shame the other weapons on a Wyvern aren't well synergized.

Here's an idea, if you're willing to go with two 'mech chassis: Blackjack (either or both variants) and the OG Hermes... I think it has both hands...
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 December 2023, 13:30:56
Hands make sense... it's a shame the other weapons on a Wyvern aren't well synergized.

Here's an idea, if you're willing to go with two 'mech chassis: Blackjack (either or both variants) and the OG Hermes... I think it has both hands...

Hermes I uses a 270 engine and the Hermes II uses a 240.

With a 270, I'd probably rather go with the Phoenix Hawk as a trooper and hope to put the Highlander back in production some day.  For ASF, you could pair it with the Tomahawk pretty easily, just leaving you needing an IFV.

The 240 lacks an IFV, but gives you the Schrek as a Burke replacement, and a truly dizzying array of BattleMech options, ranging from the Sentinel (and the - 3K/3KA/3KB are nice) to the Awesome as options.  You also get the Stingray, or Hellcat or a various other fighters.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 29 December 2023, 13:46:56
Oh right... I was thinking the Hermes was 20 tons for some reason... sorry about that!  I'm pretty sure there's a Flea variant that uses a 180, but it wouldn't have hands.

Vehicle-wise, any chance of getting a license for the Badger?  THAT would be a perfect fit for Niops, I think... :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 29 December 2023, 15:18:56
Oh right... I was thinking the Hermes was 20 tons for some reason... sorry about that!  I'm pretty sure there's a Flea variant that uses a 180, but it wouldn't have hands.

Vehicle-wise, any chance of getting a license for the Badger?  THAT would be a perfect fit for Niops, I think... :)

According to Objectives: Federated Suns, when the Wobbies finished with Outlook again in 3075, Blackwell Industries ended up not being able to pay their bills, and got bought out by GM in 3079.  GM, in turn, announced they weren't going to produce any of Blackwell's designs, so the Badger has been out of production for decades as of the ilClan era.

With that said, if they could get the license, it'd certainly give the surviving Dragoons an added boost to ticking off Alaric Wolf.

Y'now, speaking of nerdy 'Mechs powered by 180-rating engines...there's always going Full Nerd and putting the STG-A5 Stinger LAM or WSP-105M Wasp LAMs back into production.  Both are 6/9/6 in 'Mech mode, with 5 tons of armor, and either 3 MLs or an ML and LRM-5, with the added benefits from AirMech mode and ASF mode.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 29 December 2023, 16:01:41
I love LAMs, so that sounds like a GREAT idea! :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 03 January 2024, 13:48:13
So Recognition Guide 33 has now shipped, and, not surprisingly, Niops was not mentioned again, even in passing, unlike our Neo-Roman neighbors or some of the other minor factions.

Given that scenario, and some of the last discussions we had, pretend you're in charge of military industrial procurement for the Niops Association in 3155, the dawn of the ilClan era, with the task of rebuilding one or more of the Project Workshops or something similar, sufficient to cover some degree of domestic military production.  In cases where domestic production is insufficient to meet a specific requirement, the Niops Association will continue to import military hardware as needed, but this is both expensive and

As such, you've been tasked with obtaining sufficient tooling to produce one conventional vehicle, one 'Mech and one aerospace fighter, with the goals of having each cover as many roles as possible, for as little money as possible.

Obviously, the Niops Association Militia would be thrilled to have production of the Highlander, Black Knight, Burke and Nighthawk PA(L) restored, but given the difficulties in doing so over the past 75 years, they understand that doing so is most likely outside the Association's current reach, and that the budget may not allow for such prestigious, expensive designs, assuming anyone was willing to sell the tooling you're currently missing anyway.  Because tooling may be an issue, and logistics is a beast, sharing as many parts as possible between units is highly desirable.

So, with that in mind, what units would you recommend?

I just had thoughts on that.

Son Hoa was, until it got trashed, a major production line of Highlander mechs. It's also a short distance from Niops. What if, and it's a huge hail mary, that Niops procurement agents went to Son Hoa and tried to acquire as much scrap from that thrashed production line as possible in order to help cobble together a new production line? And just imagine what other treasures they can scrape up from the Son Hoa factory.

Also, by 3135 Son Hoa's an independent world, no longer under the thumb of the Lyrans. That might make the planet more accessible to third parties.

I thought of writing a story about it. Have them make a shell company specializing in salvage as a front to funnel potential working parts back to Niops. It would make for an interesting espionage kind of adventure.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 03 January 2024, 15:09:23
I just had thoughts on that.

Son Hoa was, until it got trashed, a major production line of Highlander mechs. It's also a short distance from Niops. What if, and it's a huge hail mary, that Niops procurement agents went to Son Hoa and tried to acquire as much scrap from that thrashed production line as possible in order to help cobble together a new production line? And just imagine what other treasures they can scrape up from the Son Hoa factory.

Also, by 3135 Son Hoa's an independent world, no longer under the thumb of the Lyrans. That might make the planet more accessible to third parties.

I thought of writing a story about it. Have them make a shell company specializing in salvage as a front to funnel potential working parts back to Niops. It would make for an interesting espionage kind of adventure.

Son Hoa´s Starcorp facility is producing the Highlander, and a pletora of other mechs.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 03 January 2024, 15:28:38
Son Hoa´s Starcorp facility is producing the Highlander, and a pletora of other mechs.

The snag being 75% of it got trashed by the Word of Blake. But still, that's something to work off of.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Adacas on 03 January 2024, 16:11:01
The snag being 75% of it got trashed by the Word of Blake. But still, that's something to work off of.

In 3151 Starcorps has already rebuilt much of what was damaged and moved other production to Loxley I believe.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 03 January 2024, 17:37:14
Son Hoa´s Starcorp facility is producing the Highlander, and a pletora of other mechs.

In 3151 Starcorps has already rebuilt much of what was damaged and moved other production to Loxley I believe.

True.  Rec Guide 10 has Star Corps of Son Hoa producing both the Hermit Crab and the HGN-740 Highlander, the former of which are fantastic light 'Mechs, the latter of which is a beast of an assault 'Mech, so at the very least they've reopened their Highlander line and built a new line for the Hermit Crab.

I can't get Masterunitlist to load right now, but MegaMekLab shows 3115 for the HGN-740, and 3108 for the Hermit Crab variants.  Between the two, Son Hoa's local garrison must be fierce to face.  Heck, they even make the St. Florian FireMech, which is basically a civilian Highlander.

Neither of them are domestic production, but certainly the kind of 'Mechs Niops would be lining up to buy as budget permits.

I just had thoughts on that.

Son Hoa was, until it got trashed, a major production line of Highlander mechs. It's also a short distance from Niops. What if, and it's a huge hail mary, that Niops procurement agents went to Son Hoa and tried to acquire as much scrap from that thrashed production line as possible in order to help cobble together a new production line? And just imagine what other treasures they can scrape up from the Son Hoa factory.

Also, by 3135 Son Hoa's an independent world, no longer under the thumb of the Lyrans. That might make the planet more accessible to third parties.

I thought of writing a story about it. Have them make a shell company specializing in salvage as a front to funnel potential working parts back to Niops. It would make for an interesting espionage kind of adventure.

That would be pretty neat, actually.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Daryk on 03 January 2024, 18:19:12
Neat indeed! :)
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 28 January 2024, 02:43:16
what could make for an interesting Niops specific variant might be if they got the bits from the highlander production line.. and the line for the St. florian industrial mech? and then cobbled both together with any tooling left from the old workshops, and managed to produce a Primitive technology version Highlander?
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 28 January 2024, 03:28:22
what could make for an interesting Niops specific variant might be if they got the bits from the highlander production line.. and the line for the St. florian industrial mech? and then cobbled both together with any tooling left from the old workshops, and managed to produce a Primitive technology version Highlander?

A 2/3/2 Primitive Highlander would use a 220-rating engine, same as the Prowler Explorer Vehicle, and with maximum primitive armor would leave you with 41 tons available to really pile on the weaponry.

On a separate note, I had a thought on the "What MUL list should Niops players look to in the ilClan era?" question, for those sticking to canon units and playing games where MUL selection is important.

Go with the Pirate list.

The Pirate list is described on the MUL as "Equipment typically used by pirate bands and small bandit polities."  Niops may not be a bandit kingdom per se, but in terms of practicality, that's probably what they most closely resemble.

The Periphery General list, meanwhile, is listed as being for:


That's very specific.

Meanwhile, the Pirate list still has the BL-6-KNT, both the 732 and 740 models of the Highlander, plus a variety of Urbies and Panthers, and even the VLK-QA Valkyrie, for light troopers.  For vehicles there are Prowlers aplenty, and while you lose the Burke, you gain the Schrek, and the "OmniSpad" Issedone is available for aerospace fighters.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 28 January 2024, 04:51:22
A 2/3/2 Primitive Highlander would use a 220-rating engine, same as the Prowler Explorer Vehicle, and with maximum primitive armor would leave you with 41 tons available to really pile on the weaponry.
or you could stick to the 3/5/3 movement and give it weaponry closer to the succession war HGN-733 or HGN-733P. and iirc you can use standard armor with primitives?
playing around with megameklab, if you use a plasma rifle with 20 shots, an LRM20 with 12 shot, 2ML, and downgrade the SRM to a 4pack with 25 shots, you can fit 15.5 tons of standard armor and 12 SHS onto a 3/5/3 primitive chassis. or use a PPC for the arm gun and fit 13 shs
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: D-Rock on 20 February 2024, 11:51:17
I think I'll still stick to classic Star League Regulars mech list. It's a safe bet. It covers the basics and doesn't go into too-broke 'Royal' territory.

The Son Hoa heist story's on hold. I'm thinking now about the continuation of the Carmichael family. I'm guessing at this point Alicia Carmichael is the Niops equivalent of Benedict Arnold in their history books? I'd like to see someone in that clan redeem the family name.
Title: Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 20 February 2024, 15:56:40
or you could stick to the 3/5/3 movement and give it weaponry closer to the succession war HGN-733 or HGN-733P. and iirc you can use standard armor with primitives?
playing around with megameklab, if you use a plasma rifle with 20 shots, an LRM20 with 12 shot, 2ML, and downgrade the SRM to a 4pack with 25 shots, you can fit 15.5 tons of standard armor and 12 SHS onto a 3/5/3 primitive chassis. or use a PPC for the arm gun and fit 13 shs

MegaMekLab is being argumentative about fitting anything other than Primitive armor to a Primitive 'Mech, even set in 3145 with the "Inner Sphere Mixed" chassis option.  Looking at the errata for Interstellar Operations, it looks like the option to use non-primitive armor on Primitive units was dropped.

With that in mind, I did come up with something I spun up in a new thread (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=84094.0), using some of those suggestions, plus a couple tweaks.  Figure people can post their own ideas there if they like, without the mods getting irritated at us.

I think I'll still stick to classic Star League Regulars mech list. It's a safe bet. It covers the basics and doesn't go into too-broke 'Royal' territory.

For most of their time period, I think Star League General and/or Terran Hegemony works fine.  During the Jihad, with things in Niops getting, um..."spicy", there are options to mix it up a bit, though.


Quote
The Son Hoa heist story's on hold. I'm thinking now about the continuation of the Carmichael family. I'm guessing at this point Alicia Carmichael is the Niops equivalent of Benedict Arnold in their history books? I'd like to see someone in that clan redeem the family name.

That would be a neat idea for a story.