Whatever Happened to Bannson’s Raiders?

[Cubby]

He's safely dead...until the plot needs him to be otherwise or some writer gets nostalgic for him.

Only the first thing, not the second. And for my part, at least, I'd need a REAL good, story-driven reason to give the green-light to resurrecting him, either literally or figuratively (whichever might apply). "We can finally snip this loose thread" isn't good enough, "he was never done justice" isn't good enough.

I'm much more interested in creating new than trying to reclaim/fix old.

[BrianDavion]

Only the first thing, not the second. And for my part, at least, I'd need a REAL good, story-driven reason to give the green-light to resurrecting him, either literally or figuratively (whichever might apply). "We can finally snip this loose thread" isn't good enough, "he was never done justice" isn't good enough.

I'm much more interested in creating new than trying to reclaim/fix old.

I think in that regard he'd be more intreasting as a Martyr for a movement, perhaps a movement of untitled wealthy busniess class capellans pushing for greater rights and freedoms within the capcon. "the Bannason movement" a way to address the characters legacy while giving the capcon an intreasting new oppisition movement

[GreekFire]

Wouldn't really make sense for him to reappear in Capellan space at this stage. House Liao wants him dead. He no longer has (known) assets that he can rely on in the Successor State. Risking his life in the CapCon to stir things up also wouldn't mesh well with his previous motivations.

The key motivation he'd held---that we know of---was to become a noble (or Paladin, in the case of the Republic) to increase his power. With the collapse of the RotS and the successes of Clan Wolf, I'd instead see him making a meteoric rise through the ranks of the ilClan's merchant caste or the Free Guilds---if he was still alive on Terra during its fall, of course.

[Colt Ward]

Only the first thing, not the second. And for my part, at least, I'd need a REAL good, story-driven reason to give the green-light to resurrecting him, either literally or figuratively (whichever might apply). "We can finally snip this loose thread" isn't good enough, "he was never done justice" isn't good enough.

I'm much more interested in creating new than trying to reclaim/fix old.

Why?  He was a established character that was different than the normal archtype we get in BT- closest would be Uncle Chandi, but Chandi's position was related to his name no matter how talented he might have actually been in the story.  Even his running into a better schemer in Daoshen, since he did not read the fine print in the contract, does not diminish what he did or actions.  Having him pop back up somewhere trying to resurrect some form of an empire would be interesting.  Bannson's Raiders were one of the better factions to play in MWDA and while not as popular as the Spirit Cats or Dragon's Fury, I thought they had a decent following.

I mean, Brewer was scummier and he was kept.  What was wrong with Jacob the Hutt?

Where he pops up?  Best place I think would be somewhere in the League where he was trying to finagle a couple of worlds into forming a polity he could use to join the League to amass power.

[BrianDavion]

Wouldn't really make sense for him to reappear in Capellan space at this stage. House Liao wants him dead. He no longer has (known) assets that he can rely on in the Successor State. Risking his life in the CapCon to stir things up also wouldn't mesh well with his previous motivations.

The key motivation he'd held---that we know of---was to become a noble (or Paladin, in the case of the Republic) to increase his power. With the collapse of the RotS and the successes of Clan Wolf, I'd instead see him making a meteoric rise through the ranks of the ilClan's merchant caste or the Free Guilds---if he was still alive on Terra during its fall, of course.

I think you misunderstood what I said.
Martyr meaning "he's dead but he's held up as sort of a great hero" etc. that a movement sort of forms around the idea of.

[Weirdo]

"Profits of Bannson be with you..."

"Information is Acquisition."
-attributed to the Sainted Bannson, date unknown

[BrianDavion]

"Profits of Bannson be with you..."

"Information is Acquisition."
-attributed to the Sainted Bannson, date unknown

that wasn't my idea but I like it!

[glitterboy2098]

i'm now seeing them quoting the ferengiBannson rules of acquisition the way that scifi fans quote the 70 Maxims from schlock mercenary..

[DarkISI]

Why? [...]

Because his story has run its course. It would have been interesting to see unfold as it did, instead of always just getting second or third hand information, but Wizkidz didn't do that. And doing it now isn't really worth it.

[BrianDavion]

Because his story has run its course. It would have been interesting to see unfold as it did, instead of always just getting second or third hand information, but Wizkidz didn't do that. And doing it now isn't really worth it.

I never got Bannson anyway, if he wanted to buy a title he proably could have just moved to the Commonwealth and become Baron von whatever

[SteelRaven]

I never got Bannson anyway, if he wanted to buy a title he proably could have just moved to the Commonwealth and become Baron von whatever

It was never just the title. Bannson was already doing shady stuff before the Black Out to get what he wanted, he just made the mistake he had enough juice to carve out his own little empire during the Black Out only to find out he was a small fish swimming with the sharks. Type of guy who though he could get whatever he wanted one way or another only to end up with nothing in the end.
 

[BrianDavion]

It was never just the title. Bannson was already doing shady stuff before the Black Out to get what he wanted, he just made the mistake he had enough juice to carve out his own little empire during the Black Out only to find out he was a small fish swimming with the sharks. Type of guy who though he could get whatever he wanted one way or another only to end up with nothing in the end.

maybe but a biiiig part of whom he was was feeling like he "deserved" to be a noble etc. as I said just seemed odd as it's not like it would have been hard to get a title. sure maybe the republic wasn't selling but I garentee the lyrans would have happily handed him a landless title if he offered a big eneugh "donation" 

[Colt Ward]

Because his story has run its course. It would have been interesting to see unfold as it did, instead of always just getting second or third hand information, but Wizkidz didn't do that. And doing it now isn't really worth it.

Bannson was in the fiction however, and indirectly responsible for a lot of the events- heck, he outed Crow.  His forces were a lot of places and involved in a lot of things- heck they nearly had Tucker when he first popped up.

[SteelRaven]

maybe but a biiiig part of whom he was was feeling like he "deserved" to be a noble etc. as I said just seemed odd as it's not like it would have been hard to get a title. sure maybe the republic wasn't selling but I garentee the lyrans would have happily handed him a landless title if he offered a big eneugh "donation"

Everyone knew he was a doing shady stuff, that's why he could by a title. He would probably ended up dead even if there was no black out simply by pissing of the wrong person and having Loki or ISF make a accident happen.

[Mendrugo]

Imagine, though, if they’d gone the Tony Stark route.  Amass a team of uniquely talented individuals, equip them with his cutting edge technology, and make the case for privatizing the defense of the Republic.

Get him some Battle Armor in crimson and gold, and put his name on everything.

[Arkansas Warrior]

It was never just the title. Bannson was already doing shady stuff before the Black Out to get what he wanted, he just made the mistake he had enough juice to carve out his own little empire during the Black Out only to find out he was a small fish swimming with the sharks. Type of guy who though he could get whatever he wanted one way or another only to end up with nothing in the end.

Part of it is that he was way too thinly spread.  After Gray Monday, when the Republic started to crack up, he could’ve concentrated his assets on one world near the Lyran, FWL, or Suns border and petitioned for membership with himself as noble ruler, he could’ve made it.  He certainly had the strength to claim any one world.  But BUU, while present everywhere, didn’t have the concentration to dominate anywhere.

[Colt Ward]

Well, they did end up controlling worlds IIRC . . . but he also had forces stashed around to try to exert pressure or protect escape routes, like the ones that were going to try to grab Tucker.

He who defends everything, defends nothing.

Which was part of his problem, he thought he was the smartest guy in the room and because of his 'investments' would keep throwing resources at fights he should have walked away from.  Especially when interstellar communication crashed which wrecked his ability to command & control.

[SteelRaven]

Imagine, though, if they’d gone the Tony Stark route.  Amass a team of uniquely talented individuals, equip them with his cutting edge technology, and make the case for privatizing the defense of the Republic.

Get him some Battle Armor in crimson and gold, and put his name on everything.

Honestly, this would be another great story for a new Merc unit.

[BrianDavion]

Part of it is that he was way too thinly spread.  After Gray Monday, when the Republic started to crack up, he could’ve concentrated his assets on one world near the Lyran, FWL, or Suns border and petitioned for membership with himself as noble ruler, he could’ve made it.  He certainly had the strength to claim any one world.  But BUU, while present everywhere, didn’t have the concentration to dominate anywhere.

and when he DID choose a house to flee too he choose quite frankly the dumbest house he could have. had he gone to the LC, the FS or FWL he could have been quite comfortable, and likely even in the latter two purchased a title even if he didn't take a planet with him

[StCptMara]

Because his story has run its course. It would have been interesting to see unfold as it did, instead of always just getting second or third hand information, but Wizkidz didn't do that. And doing it now isn't really worth it.

Has it, though? We never did find out his actual, final fate. Only hints from third parties that could be wrong.
What happens when a man like him loses everything, and has to rebuild? Where would he go? What would he do?
How can he help or hinder the main characters in the current storyline? There is still potential for him, and, in BattleTech, unless you see the body, like Arthur Steiner-Davion, they are still around!

[Mendrugo]

and when he DID choose a house to flee too he choose quite frankly the dumbest house he could have. had he gone to the LC, the FS or FWL he could have been quite comfortable, and likely even in the latter two purchased a title even if he didn't take a planet with him

On a meta level, WizKids made it so most of the mini-factions had clear external links to Great Houses or Clans.  I think Bannson got paired with House Liao as a sort of leftover casserole.  (Not unlike their attempt to do the same for the Hell's Horses - inventing a mini faction for them to pair with - the Anodyne Cross Militia.)

[glitterboy2098]

In one sense the capellans were a reasonable choice for Bannson. Unlike all the other houses the capellans have a distinctly eligatarian approach to nobility. Citizenship is earned through service. And nobility also (in theory if not practice) is an earned status through service. While every other successor state goes in much more heavily for heredity nobility. As a non-noble who desired to become a noble, the capellans were, from the outside at least, an attractive option. And one that potentially would be more accepting of an outsider.

The problem of course is that capellan politics make the Byzantines and Ottomans look like peace loving amateurs, and how their system actually works in practice was very different than how it worked on paper.

[Colt Ward]

On a meta level, WizKids made it so most of the mini-factions had clear external links to Great Houses or Clans.  I think Bannson got paired with House Liao as a sort of leftover casserole.  (Not unlike their attempt to do the same for the Hell's Horses - inventing a mini faction for them to pair with - the Anodyne Cross Militia.)

Anodyne Cross Militia?  When did that come in?  The League had no faction, nor did the Bears and I would say the Horses though the initial release data insinuated their enclaves in the Republic went the same route as the Wolf & Nova Cat enclaves in taking their militias to be a rebel faction.  Which is why we got bloodnamed/abathka from those two backgrounds among the Steel Wolves and Spirit Cats- like Fiona Cooper, who left the Steel Wolves on Galatea when Anastasia did her diaspora.

[Atlas3060]

Anodyne Cross Militia?  When did that come in? 

I think that was a Mechassault group. Don't recall them in the Dark Age mini game setting itself though

[SteelRaven]

Might have been part of the Phantom War cross promotion.

[Colt Ward]

Considering the two Clan factions . . . Crusader Wolves based militias became Steel Wolves, the Nova Cat's galaxy took the galaxy moniker of being the Spirit Cats . . . but both of those were from the two galaxies that joined Stone.  Horses and Bears did not contribute full galaxies to the coalition that remained with the Republic?

But what might a Hell's Horses or Ghost Bear militia-turned-faction call themselves?  Inferno Stallions?  Hell Riders? . . . I mean, a Hell's Horses faction would really sound like a biker gang name.

As for the Ghost Bears?  Polar Predators?  Blizzard Bears?  The Pirta/Pincir (Blizzard in Eskimo)?  or better yet, Nanook (Bear)?

[Mendrugo]

Anodyne Cross Militia was the primary OpFor in MechAssault: Phantom War.  Their connection to the Horses also comes from there.  Fairly nonsensical, in the grander scheme of things, but the two main characters got MWDA pilot cards, so…kinda canon-ish?

[Colt Ward]

Well, the militias were allowed to each Clan population enclave . . . for the Steel Wolves, Prefect Kal Raddick combined the militias and formed his galaxy.  Kev Rosse did the same with his political position as IIRC Senator, gathering the Nova Cat enclave militias.  But the dossiers had some Horse & Bear enclave members who became parts of those two factions.

FREX-
Geoff Bekker, Ghost Bear trueborn who after he won his bloodname requested a Trial of Position to join the Raddick's new faction.

Kara Fletcher, Hell's Horses' Bloodnamed Elemental who was taken as a bondsmen by the Republic Nova Cats during a Trial they had with the Horses enclaves.  She quickly regained her warrior rank and rose until she was a part of Rosse's Shiva Keshik leading Kara's Scorchers- likely a BA/Inf Star, comprised of at least one point of Clan Infantry, a Purifier point, a Cavalier point, and some form of Clan Med BA- the Rache?  Flamer & 2 SRM2.

Probably others, just have to dip into the dossiers more but I recalled those two off the top of my head.  Besides the pilots, sometimes the equipment description will tell you the Steel Wolves/Spirit Cats/Swordsworn/Highlanders/Dragon's Fury/Bannson's Raider took X gear from a Clan militia.

What are those two names?  It would be interesting to see if they fleshed it out more.

[Mendrugo]

Dante Fierus and Vallen Brice

Dante Fierus
HBR-VP-H "Brimstone" Hellbringer
Dante Fierus is the acting commander of the Anodyne Cross Militia, which has been assigned to assist a Special Forces unit with the Lyran Commonwealth, of which Vallen Brice was one of three members. In addition, Fierus bargained for forces from Clan Hell's Horses, offering to help them capitalize on any success the Special Forces unit might have with its mission. Though Fierus is quick to lend his men to battle, he's quicker to be scarce when trouble arises, instead seeking to use the forces lent to him for his own personal gain.

Vallen Brice
AS7-D-A "Unsterblich" Atlas
A self-taught 'Mech mechanic, Brice has spent countless hours 'tinkering' as a hobbyist, upgrading and tuning the civilian-owned Mechs of her home planet, Arluna. Her unconventional methods gained her immediate Lyran military Warrant status as a Mech tech, but her unwillingness to work 'by the book' makes her a potential liability in the field. An unusually insightful colonel noted, however, that her deep understanding of Mechs and her unconventional approach to problem solving would make her a tremendous asset as a MechWarrior. And given the right opportunity, she might prove to be even more.

[Colt Ward]

Ok, AoD creations . . .

Interesting, because there was a freeborn Skye Elemental that was part of the planet's loyal forces when the Falcons came knocking.

I mean, I suppose they could be HH enclave over in that prefecture . . . though Arluna is near the Lyran periphery border a jump or two from the Falcons.  Ok, I actually read Sarna's mission write up . . . sounds like it is just a Periphery or Lyran militia, rather than something from the Republic.