What you are looking forward to seeing in the new era

[Col Toda]

The end of which in which Inner Sphere tech becomes Clan spec and no longer need to track the differences

[Agathos]

Yeah, weren't the HW Clans supposed to be testing themselves against the Imperio every now and then for decades already?

Sometime in the 3090s, the Goliath Scorpions eliminated the last Clan Watch agents in their territory (or those agents got better at staying under cover). Since then, Scorpions have had no contact with the Homeworld Clans.

[Weirdo]

Assuming they haven't wiped themselves out, one presumes the Bastions are in control over there.

[Church14]

Turning the HPG grid back on, now run by Clan Sea Fox and the Scorpion Imperio.

I want to see an HPG network war. Not destructive to the network, but a long term (mostly) low intensity throw down where someone challenges Sea Foxes for control of it. I think the odds of this are near zero, but I’d love to see it

[Alex Keller]

I want to know what happened to all the Shadow Divisions and other zealot WoB forces that "disappeared" at the end of the Jihad.  We know that in June of 3095, they made an appearance over McEvedy's folly to annihilate an Interstellar Expeditions archaeological expedition.  We know there are several "hidden" worlds within the Inner Sphere that are capable of supporting advanced industry.  We know that the WoB had some role in the HPG blackout.

Why?  What will they do next?  That's what I'm looking forward to seeing.

[GuyIncognito]

Homeworld Clans probably have to rediscover spaceflight before becoming relevant again.

[Mendrugo]

We know that in June of 3095, they made an appearance over McEvedy's Folly to annihilate an Interstellar Expeditions archaeological expedition.

Not McEvedy's Folly - about a jump coreward from there.

[Templar87]

For people to finally stop mindlessly trusting the Capellans despite their continuous mass slaughters and dealing in absurdly blatant bad faith with everyone (and that includes that utterly wretched betrayer and murderess, Danai Liao).

Related to that; Julian Davion retakes Chesterton, with no quarter offered to the CCAF occupiers.

[Mendrugo]

Look into this swirling circle...

We are your friends...

You want to become a servitor...

He who sits astride the golden throne of Sian is a living god, and the cosmos rotates according to his divine will...

[Mendrugo]

Things I'd like to see:
- More development of mercenary operations, including: why is the new MRBC so pro-employer? How does that affect units on a day-to-day basis? Is there any support for re-creating the Mercenaries Guild that ComStar sabotaged and destroyed in 2960? Now that some Clans are hiring mercs, how does payment work, since the work credit and kerensky currencies aren't readily convertible with H-bills.  Do mercs get paid in isorla gear?

- A deeper exploration of what the Black Dragons became after the Second Ghost Bear/Combine war.  We have a reference from the MWDA lore that referred to them as "pirates" in the 3120s.  Interesting to see the culture clash between them, the New Oberon Confederation and Von Strang's World rabble, and the elite but amoral mercenaries Ricol recruited during his time as a mercenary freelancer in the central systems.  It's a dangerous coalition, but one whose membership has widely varying end goals, so it'll be fun to see if Ricol can keep them bound together and pointed the same direction, rather than having his coalition fratricidally devour itself.

- I'd like to see fiction with more exploration of the internal operations and deliberations of the Free Guilds, what they think of the "prophecy" that the ilClan announcement makes them part of the winning team, and whether Alaric agrees with those terms.

- The fiction showing the POV action for the Tamar Pact, Vesper March, and remnant Jade Falcons has been great.  Hoping for similar tales with Hell's Horses, Arc Royal Liberty Coalition, Alyina Mercantile League, and Malthus Confederation POVs. 

- Perhaps some exploration of the Hell's Horses ties with the Anodyne Cross Militia (semi-canonized through MWDA tie-in pilot cards).

- A more detailed writeup and exploration of the Rim Territories - leadership, goals, explanations for how they've been so successful, culture.

- Hoping all the introductory fiction with the Hinterlands factions then builds to a multi-faction scrum as they all battle for control of the unaligned worlds in the middle and start to push up against each other's borders.

[Iron Grenadier]

The complete destruction of all house's and bloodlines, with a handful of worlds uniting behind new leaders all across the Inner Sphere.

Basically Chaos March x100.

[Lanceman]

The plot actually moving forward...

They've been doing good no doubt, but those years between Shattered Fortress and ilClan still sting.

[Orwell84]

For people to finally stop mindlessly trusting the Capellans despite their continuous mass slaughters and dealing in absurdly blatant bad faith with everyone (and that includes that utterly wretched betrayer and murderess, Danai Liao).

Related to that; Julian Davion retakes Chesterton, with no quarter offered to the CCAF occupiers.

Seconded. Be wonderfully ironic justice if Julian ordered collaborators and the most fanatically true believer Capellan prisoners sentenced to ten years doing servitor caste-type hard labour for the “crime” of opposing the glorious Davion destiny (i.e. just defending their homeworld).

Things I'd like to see:
- A deeper exploration of what the Black Dragons became after the Second Ghost Bear/Combine war.  We have a reference from the MWDA lore that referred to them as "pirates" in the 3120s.  Interesting to see the culture clash between them, the New Oberon Confederation and Von Strang's World rabble, and the elite but amoral mercenaries Ricol recruited during his time as a mercenary freelancer in the central systems.  It's a dangerous coalition, but one whose membership has widely varying end goals, so it'll be fun to see if Ricol can keep them bound together and pointed the same direction, rather than having his coalition fratricidally devour itself.

- I'd like to see fiction with more exploration of the internal operations and deliberations of the Free Guilds, what they think of the "prophecy" that the ilClan announcement makes them part of the winning team, and whether Alaric agrees with those terms.

- The fiction showing the POV action for the Tamar Pact, Vesper March, and remnant Jade Falcons has been great.  Hoping for similar tales with Hell's Horses, Arc Royal Liberty Coalition, Alyina Mercantile League, and Malthus Confederation POVs. 

- A more detailed writeup and exploration of the Rim Territories - leadership, goals, explanations for how they've been so successful, culture.

Same with the above.

- I would have like to have Toranaga and co-conspirators revealed as Black Dragons themselves. Given the BD’s interest in Franklin Sakamoto’s branch (in Dawn of the Jihad) it would actually make a nice if sad story twist to learn that the BD’s ultimately won.

- you’ll get your wish with the Hell’s Horses, fiction wise. Cubby confirmed that in the upcoming releases thread. Hopefully we’ll also get some fiction set in the AML. I’m always interested in learning more about the other 99% of Clanners.

- Ditto re the Rim Territories. Is it nothing other than a successful pirate racket or is there something more interesting about it?

[Orwell84]

The plot actually moving forward...

They've been doing good no doubt, but those years between Shattered Fortress and ilClan still sting.

I feel your pain. I recall reading Shattered Fortress with great excitement in one sitting… and then a real downer when it ended on a cliffhanger that I feared wouldn’t be resolved for another year at least. Not even a reveal of the Blackout to sweeten that pill 

No matter, spilt bovine lactose now. Things are definitely looking up now.

[Ramseti]

For people to finally stop mindlessly trusting the Capellans despite their continuous mass slaughters and dealing in absurdly blatant bad faith with everyone (and that includes that utterly wretched betrayer and murderess, Danai Liao).

Related to that; Julian Davion retakes Chesterton, with no quarter offered to the CCAF occupiers.

Looking forward to? Hopefully getting New Avalon back after 4 years IRL since Shattered Fortress (or 9 if you count the limbo it was left in from FM 3145).

Dream list: I'd love to see the FS finally use the same horrible tactics that are constantly used against them. Like, their forces can only take so much from the CC and DC before something just snaps in their collective psyche. Maybe the sheer change in attitude/doctrine is enough to shock the DC forces into a rout, allowing for horrendous casualties on their trip back home that rival the losses at Palmyra.

Also, want the RasDom to finally smack the DC forces around. That border has been relatively static, and even when there was war nothing really changed at the end of the day. Remind the DC that they do have more than just one enemy to account for.

Similarly, the CC to break themselves against Terra, while also breaking the Wolves and Alaric.

Seeing Luthien (and Sian, tbh) torn apart like New Avalon would be pretty cool as well. Public executions, monuments and important buildings torn down, yadda yadda. Bring their party style back home to them.

Oh, and more Goliath Scorpions doing Goliath Scorpion stuff.

[SteelRaven]

I'm looking forward to at least a 4 way battle between the Il Clan, FWL, DC and CC.

The FS may focus on retaking worlds or end up in bad enough state, choose to recognizes the Clans on Terra so they are not fighting a 3 front war.

Lyrans have been bloodied enough, they may simple turn their focus on the break away states while the FWL keeps push the Wolf empire but I wouldn't rule out the LC finally going back on the offensive... though it will be messy if they bump into any FWL forces while 'liberating' worlds. Operation Hammerfall was what lead to this mess and I doubt the FWL will let the LC forget any time soon.   

I too am waiting to see what the Domain does next but I think it's in there 'ambush predator' nature to keep us waiting and guessing. With all the new CGB toys we are seeing, it's only a matter of time before we see them start tearing into someone.

[nova_dew]

Looking forward to? Hopefully getting New Avalon back after 4 years IRL since Shattered Fortress (or 9 if you count the limbo it was left in from FM 3145).

Dream list: I'd love to see the FS finally use the same horrible tactics that are constantly used against them. Like, their forces can only take so much from the CC and DC before something just snaps in their collective psyche. Maybe the sheer change in attitude/doctrine is enough to shock the DC forces into a rout, allowing for horrendous casualties on their trip back home that rival the losses at Palmyra.

Also, want the RasDom to finally smack the DC forces around. That border has been relatively static, and even when there was war nothing really changed at the end of the day. Remind the DC that they do have more than just one enemy to account for.

Similarly, the CC to break themselves against Terra, while also breaking the Wolves and Alaric.

Seeing Luthien (and Sian, tbh) torn apart like New Avalon would be pretty cool as well. Public executions, monuments and important buildings torn down, yadda yadda. Bring their party style back home to them.

Oh, and more Goliath Scorpions doing Goliath Scorpion stuff.

Considering someone has a nice run at Sian and is married to a Liao who is happy to just watch as her brother hurts and bleeds....

[Jal Phoenix]

Stats for the Black Marauder

That's something that I don't think will or should be published. I made stats for it to use when writing, but putting them out there would take away the mystique. That 'Mech is supposed to be a bogeyman, not something you can quantify and put on paper. The point of it is that you don't know what it can do, and it WILL surprise and horrify you with feats that seem impossible. If you understand what it can do and how it does it, then the mystery is gone. Why would I even want to do that?

There are clues to its capabilities in the stories. Wolf Pelts and Raven feathers is as close to an origin story as I'm going to give, and there are many things a careful reader will pick up on. In fact, I'm a bit disappointed that there's been no discussion anywhere about it, for all that people keep asking.

[Weirdo]

I caught what you were aiming at with that, I think. At least partially.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

That's something that I don't think will or should be published. I made stats for it to use when writing, but putting them out there would take away the mystique. That 'Mech is supposed to be a bogeyman, not something you can quantify and put on paper. The point of it is that you don't know what it can do, and it WILL surprise and horrify you with feats that seem impossible. If you understand what it can do and how it does it, then the mystery is gone. Why would I even want to do that?

There are clues to its capabilities in the stories. Wolf Pelts and Raven feathers is as close to an origin story as I'm going to give, and there are many things a careful reader will pick up on. In fact, I'm a bit disappointed that there's been no discussion anywhere about it, for all that people keep asking.

I'm pretty sure I picked up the hints you left (or I wildly misunderstood them and reached the wrong conclusion).

[pokefan548]

Even better, everyone will get an up to date look at the state of the Inner Sphere and say, "what the f....?"

"Chancellor, the Sea Foxes have repaired our HPG network, per the contract!"
"Excellent, let us see what we have missed."
Twelve hours later
"Turn them off."
"Pardon me, Chancellor?"
"TURN THE SPACE PHONES OFF!"

[jgodwin17]

I'm looking forward to at least a 4 way battle between the Il Clan, FWL, DC and CC.

The FS may focus on retaking worlds or end up in bad enough state, choose to recognizes the Clans on Terra so they are not fighting a 3 front war.

Lyrans have been bloodied enough, they may simple turn their focus on the break away states while the FWL keeps push the Wolf empire but I wouldn't rule out the LC finally going back on the offensive... though it will be messy if they bump into any FWL forces while 'liberating' worlds. Operation Hammerfall was what lead to this mess and I doubt the FWL will let the LC forget any time soon.   

I too am waiting to see what the Domain does next but I think it's in there 'ambush predator' nature to keep us waiting and guessing. With all the new CGB toys we are seeing, it's only a matter of time before we see them start tearing into someone.

Forgot the Lyrans worrying about their break away states, I'd love to see them liberate ALL of the now basically empty Jade Falcon OZ and wipe out any trace of any Falcon there.

Also FWL crushing the Wolf Empire.

I'd love to get more stuff about the Raven Alliance, The Scorpion Empire, Hell's Horses, etc.....but I'm so tired of the clan part of the narrative really just being the "Wolf/Falcon" half of the narrative with the rest of the clans getting a few lines here or there.

[Ogra_Chief]

The Eve of the War No one would have believed in the last years of the thirty-second century that this Inner Sphere was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water… just kidding


-The destruction of the all the original Invading Clans.

-Preferably with a humiliating end to Clan Wolf via bacteria death. As it turns out; the Clan Wolf had no resistance to the modern Terran bacteria in our atmosphere to which we have long since become immune. Once they had breathed our air, germs, which no longer affect us, began to kill them. The end came swiftly. All over Terra, their machines began to stop and fall. After all the Houses could do had failed, the Clans were destroyed and humanity was saved by the littlest things which God and His wisdom had put upon this Earth.

-Followed thereafter by the Wolf’s Dragoons being summarily branded enemies of the Inner Sphere and driven into the periphery to die ingloriously and off page with a side of fava beans.

-A rendering of the ferro-steel plot armor surrounding the Draconis Combine gutted and broken by the invading Homeworld Clans, resulting in a rump state eventually absorbed by the Federated Suns.

-The Homeworld Clans, with their combined strength, ending this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy. Instituting the Rule of Two. Using Binary organizations for Clan Formations moving forward. Being proper arrogant psychopaths with delusions of grandeur.

-The return of the Rim Worlds Republic and the Amaris line. Now with maximum evil.

-Space colorization. Proper Navies. I want to run my mech across a cruiser as it guns blaze wildly at enemy ships while my lance desperately defends against Aerospace Fighters, LAMs and dropping mechs… “Prepare to repel boarders!” I can even take swords now.

-I want the Word of Blake back for Christmas. Being proper arrogant psychopaths with delusions of grandeur. Now with even better LAMs and drone tech.

-The return of COMSTAR now with maximum good.

-A coherent story line moving forward that does not involve hobbling the Great Houses for reasons (reads Clans).


--An official mech construction app.

[Kerfuffin(925)]

a RasDom that is unified in how its written, if not politically

[Tallgiraffe]

Personally I would want some return of comstar/the Blessed Order, since I want to use those mechs and stuff in the new Era. If they can bring Smoke Jaguar Back, The Blessed Order isn't too far fetched. I know they had them in a book recently, but I heard it was a one off thing which kinda makes me upset. A secret subterfuge war between the Blessed Order and Sea Fox would be cool to have trying to wrestle control of the HPG Network.

[nova_dew]

-The Homeworld Clans, with their combined strength, ending this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy. Instituting the Rule of Two. Using Binary organizations for Clan Formations moving forward. Being proper arrogant psychopaths with delusions of grandeur.

"I bid the 1000111101011101 against your 1000111101011100", "you have fallen into my trap the 1000111101011100, is the logical and of the 1101111101011111 and the  1010111111111100!"

[Templar87]

Seconded. Be wonderfully ironic justice if Julian ordered collaborators and the most fanatically true believer Capellan prisoners sentenced to ten years doing servitor caste-type hard labour for the “crime” of opposing the glorious Davion destiny (i.e. just defending their homeworld).

Well, I can certainly see doing that with POWs - assuming there are many, considering both the generally fanatical level of CCAF resistance, and a marked reluctance on the part of the AFFS to take prisoners beyond the needs of tactical intelligence, given the CCAF's behaviour - but I don't think that introducing, "The Servitor Caste - Federated Suns Edition!" is a good idea.

Dream list: I'd love to see the FS finally use the same horrible tactics that are constantly used against them. Like, their forces can only take so much from the CC and DC before something just snaps in their collective psyche. Maybe the sheer change in attitude/doctrine is enough to shock the DC forces into a rout, allowing for horrendous casualties on their trip back home that rival the losses at Palmyra.

This I don't really want, at least as expressed. No quarter for DCMS or CCAF units, yes (while offering the full honours of war to MAF ones - since, to the best of my knowledge, those Canopian units engaged with AFFS and RAF ones have been on markedly better behaviour than Capellan troops, and it's one more wedge to drive into the Capellan-Canopian alliance), but I really don't want the AFFS to sink to the level of burning children alive because what amounts to "lol Inferno gel sticks to kids"*.




* I kid thee not. Quoting from TRO 3150's entry for the Calliope;

Sao-shao Herman Shelton: Sao-shao Shelton of the First McCarron's Armored Cavalry committed one of many atrocities in the Confederation's attempt to hold New Syrtis from Julian Davion's counterattack. Shelton's lance was ordered to create a diversion so that some of the Fourth MAC's forces in the Cave could escape the attackers. Shelton's choice was to set fire to an internment camp on the outskirts of Saso, the planetary capital. Seven thousand children, held hostage to force their parents to capitulate to the occupation force, were immolated in the blaze. A large bounty is open for Shelton, dead or alive.

[Church14]

…
-The destruction of the all the original Invading Clans.

-Preferably with a humiliating end to Clan Wolf via bacteria death. As it turns out; the Clan Wolf had no resistance to the modern Terran bacteria in our atmosphere to which we have long since become immune. Once they had breathed our air, germs, which no longer affect us, began to kill them. The end came swiftly. All over Terra, their machines began to stop and fall. After all the Houses could do had failed, the Clans were destroyed and humanity was saved by the littlest things which God and His wisdom had put upon this Earth.

-A coherent story line moving forward that does not involve hobbling the Great Houses for reasons (reads Clans).
…

Having gotten to watch every faction I’ve preferred to play get wiped out, and most recently during the dumpster fire that was HotW, I don’t want to see another faction mulched ‘just because.’ If a faction dies, it should be because of their own sins and mistakes, not because they were in the way of the faction with the most plot armor.

I wouldn’t complain if Wolf gets wiped out - factions can be killed - but it needs to be because of their own actions. Alaric put himself in an untenable position while abandoning those who relied on him. He wore his forces down too far. Something like having the remains of the Empire abandon him back, become a FWL member, and deny him safe harbor when he loses Terra would be an appropriate end. But “Wolves die to the cold,” or “Alaric dies in the most undignified way possible,” or “Alaric gets headcapped by a resistance Urbanmech” kind of ideas like I’ve seen on here aren’t good ways to treat a faction.

RotS fans deserved better than what they got and Wolf fans deserve better than these suggestions.

Gets off soapbox

[pokefan548]

Having gotten to watch every faction I’ve preferred to play get wiped out, and most recently during the dumpster fire that was HotW, I don’t want to see another faction mulched ‘just because.’ If a faction dies, it should be because of their own sins and mistakes, not because they were in the way of the faction with the most plot armor.

I wouldn’t complain if Wolf gets wiped out - factions can be killed - but it needs to be because of their own actions. Alaric put himself in an untenable position while abandoning those who relied on him. He wore his forces down too far. Something like having the remains of the Empire abandon him back, become a FWL member, and deny him safe harbor when he loses Terra would be an appropriate end. But “Wolves die to the cold,” or “Alaric dies in the most undignified way possible,” or “Alaric gets headcapped by a resistance Urbanmech” kind of ideas like I’ve seen on here aren’t good ways to treat a faction.

RotS fans deserved better than what they got and Wolf fans deserve better than these suggestions.

Gets off soapbox

This. Let's please not fight plot armor with plot armor. The Wolves have plenty of paths forward that lead to failure, let it happen naturally.

I too would rather not see Alaric's bid for ilClanship pay off in the long run, but I'd rather not have them just get yeeted by a sudden deus ex machina.

[nova_dew]

Having gotten to watch every faction I’ve preferred to play get wiped out, and most recently during the dumpster fire that was HotW, I don’t want to see another faction mulched ‘just because.’ If a faction dies, it should be because of their own sins and mistakes, not because they were in the way of the faction with the most plot armor.

I wouldn’t complain if Wolf gets wiped out - factions can be killed - but it needs to be because of their own actions. Alaric put himself in an untenable position while abandoning those who relied on him. He wore his forces down too far. Something like having the remains of the Empire abandon him back, become a FWL member, and deny him safe harbor when he loses Terra would be an appropriate end. But “Wolves die to the cold,” or “Alaric dies in the most undignified way possible,” or “Alaric gets headcapped by a resistance Urbanmech” kind of ideas like I’ve seen on here aren’t good ways to treat a faction.

RotS fans deserved better than what they got and Wolf fans deserve better than these suggestions.

Gets off soapbox

While I'm not too hot on an entire faction going away due to silly and plot armour, for Alaric it could be somewhat poetic that someone who blazed such a bright trail up, is brought down by something everyday and mundane a "no matter your power and how well you seek to protect yourself, nothing can protect you from slipping in the shower" tale and you have the Horses building up and stoking the fires of hatred and when they reach Terra, some random admin guy has to tell the Horses Khan "Sorry guv he's dead, wouldn't believe it, slipped in the shower like, thought he was invincible and disabled the safeties on the shower gel dispenser, next minute whooosh and he was over and and gone, never felt a thing, sudds everywhere", satisfying not really but not everything has to be epic battles and duals to the death between hero's and sometimes a a slippery shower is what ends it not with a bang but with a facepalm.