This, is Jade Falcon
(http://www.jeremyriad.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/airbrushed-pigeons-5.jpg)
I AM JADE FALCON!
I AM JADE FALCON!
Just checking in to see how things are going. We're going to need a pelt over the mantle, BTW. Wolf, Coyote, either will do.
For the record, and on the advice of a trusted friend, I've decided to associate my Falcon persona with the Buhallin Bloodname. No bloodnamed character yet, unlike my Anson "Unreasoning" Furey Smoke Jaguar, or Troll Cage of the Ice Hellions ...
This, is Jade Falcon
(http://www.jeremyriad.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/airbrushed-pigeons-5.jpg)
I always wondered what the policy was for posting customized items. I have a JF travel coffee mug that has thus far confused my coworkers.
This, is Jade Falcon
(http://www.jeremyriad.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/airbrushed-pigeons-5.jpg)
Seems pretty amusing until you realize that, due to the efforts of Jade Falcon scientists, they're actually 40' tall and carnivorous. O0
(http://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii627/jlocke0081/JC.jpg)
Fixed that for you.
This is only Thread II? Yes, harder falconing is necessary.
So fighting over the carcass of another clan victory? :P
No, we came to eat the Wolf, leaving the carcass for the Snow Raven fluttering away in fear, because we're Clan Jade Falcon and we make everything at least twice as hard as it has to be.
That's how Elizabeth Hazen did it, that's how Clan Jade Falcon does it, and it's worked out pretty well so far.
I'm...honestly not sure. I'd ask an admin like Worktroll or God and Davion first, to be sure.
Worktroll said no dice(pun not intended, but it works so well, doesn't it?)since I received them in a trade, but if I had made them myself, all would be kosher.
Using the remains of our last kill to attract the carrion-eaters for easy despatch, I would say. Quiaff?
Using the remains of our last kill to attract the carrion-eaters for easy despatch, I would say. Quiaff?
Brothers and sisters, I remain amused at how important it is to the lesser Clans to hang around our haunt. You'd think they had better things to do, than to spend their days apipng their betters ... perhaps they cover their embarrasment by trying to taunt us, while hoping secretly that some of our awesomeness will rub off on them by association, quiaff?
Heh. Snow Ravens are awesome, we use white hats and black hats interchangeably (a good thing because it's COLD).
But yes, we don't want to go to the Hall. 'Tis a silly place.
On a relevant note, anyone read 'Sorrow of Eden' yet? Insert shameless plug here O:-)
Okay, let's go green for a bit - for Falcons, who would buy into the Mongol doctrine?
I confess my (OC) previous allegiances to the Smoke Jaguars and Ice Hellions, so for me (OC) it is a logical extension. IC, in that era, I see it as being (in most cases) a reaction to the way the universe - including Spheroids and other Clans - failed to play "fair" by Falcon interpretation of honour and behaviour. So that eventually all that frustration comes out as "Okay, play it your way. No. More. Mister. Nice. Guy."
So I would be there behind Malvina. How speak you, trothkin?
Also, Malvina is not really Jade Falcon. Her goal of destroying mankind means that she is just using the Jade Falcons.
for Falcons, who would buy into the Mongol doctrine?Maybe it's a little obvious but I am 100% Mongol.
In the long term, there shouldn't be any reason this sort of behavior is sustainable.By "this behavior" do you mean the Mongol Doctrine or crashing space ships into planets? I admit, this is a rhetorical question -- posed because there is such a bad habit around here of demeaning Malvina and the Mongols.
I would like to see a modified Mongol doctrine. Or in other words, maintain the trial system when engaging other clans, but not when fighting barbarians.Trouble is, Fighting other clans is sometimes the same thing as fighting barbarians.
Also, Malvina is not really Jade Falcon.Denial won't help. Actually, those three words neatly sum up the Mongol movement vis-a-vis Clan history up to 3145.
Malthus created a real problem.Beckett was one of those pathetic Falcons that want to rule as puppeteers but are actually out of touch. Truth be told, Malvina is riding the crest of history. Beckett's machinations and her own steel will contribute of course but the important thing is she has tapped into a deep truth about CJF's history and current position.
By "this behavior" do you mean the Mongol Doctrine or crashing space ships into planets? I admit, this is a rhetorical question -- posed because there is such a bad habit around here of demeaning Malvina and the Mongols.
The whole barbarian is just another level of questionable activities, because are they being civilized when they orbital bombard and chemically assault planets?The question is not whether CJF can afford to be civilized -- that question has been definitively settled. The answer is no.
Gah! It was a crippled ship! People act like she signed the Emerald Talon up for lawn dart duty on a whim.I totally agree.
when is she going to declare a Trial of Possession for the Clan name of 'Wolf'?Wow right for the jugular. ;D
By "this behavior" do you mean the Mongol Doctrine or crashing space ships into planets? I admit, this is a rhetorical question -- posed because there is such a bad habit around here of demeaning Malvina and the Mongols.
As much as I'm not a fan of the Falcons (Kael Pershaw excepted, as he is basically the coolest thing in the franchise), I am enjoying this "we're taking the gloves off" stage of the Falcons. It is interesting, and it does bring in a lot of interesting discussion.
They reached that stage during the Jihad. Malvina is going beyond that stage towards Amaris level conduct. Pretty soon the Falcons will have hostages leading the way as they advance on enemy positions.
The Mongol Falcons (aka Insanity Falcons, fair enough ;) ) have the whole concentration of focus I liked about the early Jaguars. Might is right, and if it isn't enough, use more.
And IMHO, it is very Clan to want to live fast, defeat many,hear the lamentation of their families, die young, and leave a trail of devastated planets behind you. None of this caring-sharing Warden business.
Sure you are not an Ice Hellion, Archangel? :D Sometimes you just need to take time tosmell the roseslisten to the lamentations of the defeated. Just to remind yourself of what losers look like O0
We KNOW what losers look like. We took a whole bunch of worlds from them in 3049-52.
The Lyrans aren't losers. They're...winning impaired.
Sure you are not an Ice Hellion, Archangel? :D Sometimes you just need to take time tosmell the roseslisten to the lamentations of the defeated. Just to remind yourself of what losers look like O0
The Lyrans aren't losers. They're...winning impaired.
If my sig bar weren't full already... ;D
I admit a certain level of disspointment on hearing that the Full Moon had been sold for scrap. I was hoping the Falcons had blown it up instead.
The Jade Falcons have already suffered two big setbacks at Tharkad and Hesperus II. Combined with her other "activities", those defeats along with her other actions have cost her the support of her cannon fodder...err...allies, Clan Hell's Horses.
As the chief proponent of ablative reconnaisance ("Send out the cheap VTOLs, then where you see smoke from burning wreckage you know where the enemy is"), I wholeheartedly endorsed Malvina's use of ablative allies.
Fletch, throw yourself between me and those gauss rounds again, if you please?
Nice knowing ya, Fletch!
(Also, can the phrase "ablative allies" show up in a canon work somewhere? Because it's REALLY awesome!)
Why did I pick a Hellbringer ...
Why WOULDN'T you pick a Hellbringer?
I've never understood the hate for the Prime. It's a fast pair of headcappers that are boosted by a TarComp and Probe, and protected by ECM and AMS. What's not to love? Okay, you have to maintain your fire discipline to avoid melting, but that just serves to drive down the BV! :)
The loki. For when you absolutely positively need something to blame your lose on.
Thor D.
Okay, here's another discussion. As proud and true Falcons, what is your emotional favourite 'Mech in a weight class, and why?
For the heavies, give me a Summoner C. This is my boom stick. Okay, I'm not the most tactically sound player - "hey diddle diddle, straight down the middle" is my forte - and this 'Mech plays to that. Enough mobility and armour to get into trouble, and a large gun to get me out of it. Let us face it, Trothkin, the Summoner C is what the Lyrans would like to have in their recon lances, quiaff?
Not a Falcon, but there are a whole ton of Falcon Mechs I love (most of them for aesthetic reasons, but hey!)
Summoner, Mad Dog, Hellbringer, Turkina, Kit Fox...all mechs that I love!
My favourite:
(http://www.quirkyscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Explosion-Image-by-US-Department-of-Defense.jpg)
Of course you like the Hellbringer, the Horses invented the damn thing.
My favourite:
Of course you like the Hellbringer, the Horses invented the damn thing.
from a writers point of view, the Wolves and the Falcons have been at each others throats for a long time...post golden century and more 3000 AD plus ? (feel free to correct), fast forward to 3145 AD plus in timeline, the evolution of both factions, including massive territory shifts and gains since the start of the Clan Invasion (IE Wolf Empire, "Malvina's OZ" expansion, seems to be setting the two up for a massive show down...almost as, it started with those two, and it will "end" with those two
I mentioned this elsewhere, but I still want to see this.
1) wolves take terra
2) Malvina throws a hissy and employs a scorched earth policy on terra rendering the planet uninhabitable. For the first time in man's history, the umbilical cord is cut.
3) Someone in the falcons decides enough is enough and she's taken out. Further power struggles are cut short as the falcons find themselves on the defensive from almost everyone.
4) Falcons lose some territory (mostly from the upper end of the map), but survives. With so many major factions already in all out war the most they can really do is throw token forces at the falcons.
In the more distant future with earth no longer in the picture, people start looking outward. Maybe a few start wondering why we haven't heard anything from the home world clans in awhile. The inner sphere still sees it's share of large conflicts while the outer sphere sees a lance of mechs holding whole planet colony.
On the whole, I'm a fan of more "Exploration" based scenarios. The only trouble is, if you go in certain directions, you don't run into anyone to fight with your big stompy robots!
You might not have anyone to fight when you first find the planet, but you will once others find out you have it.
Falcon: "Neg! I SHALL TURN PLANET BACON BROWN, CRISPY, AND DELICIOUS FOR THE GLORY OF THE FALCONS!"
So I'm considering adding a Clan as a part of my collection, I want to pick a favorite and I already have one bird-related faction as my main.
Green Pigeons, sell me on your clan. What makes you love it so? To me, from what I know of them, the Falcons seem like the quintessential clan: strong warriors, proactive crusader mindset, and set up to fight Lyrans all day, 'err day.
Except they're generally not the best at everything, usually falling into the "second or third best" category giving them a massive chip on their shoulder. They're also proof that you can excel despite the Way of the Clans rather than by ignoring or flouting it. The tactics and ideas that made Aidan Pryde a standout are sort of SOP among the Wolves, but he did it without ever bypassing, betraying or ignoring the rules like Ulric, Phelan or Natasha. The Falcons are cunning merchants without having to resort to the "Warrior/Merchant" mindset of the Sharks/Foxes. They've conquered and rule an invasion corridor without having to fall back on the appeasement and assimilation tactics of the Ghost Bears, Snow Ravens or Nova Cats.
To be Jade Falcon is to realize that you will always have to work twice as hard to get half the respect that other Clans get, yet being mostly okay with that because you know you haven't betrayed the Founder's vision or ideals like the rest of your dezgra brethren.
And whine incessantly when you don't get your way.
I'm basing this off the entry in FM: Crusader Clans. Seriously, the Falcons come off as SO whiny in that. It felt like every other line was "but...but...IT'S NOT FAIR!"
(Ah well, you guys at least have Kael Pershaw. Who is the BEST character.)
While I said that you have to be okay with it, I never said that you had to LIKE it or be quiet about it. We definitely want everyone to know how put upon we are and how very tired we are of carrying the rest of your sorry carcasses... ::)
Except they're generally not the best at everything, usually falling into the "second or third best" category giving them a massive chip on their shoulder. They're also proof that you can excel despite the Way of the Clans rather than by ignoring or flouting it. The tactics and ideas that made Aidan Pryde a standout are sort of SOP among the Wolves, but he did it without ever bypassing, betraying or ignoring the rules like Ulric, Phelan or Natasha. The Falcons are cunning merchants without having to resort to the "Warrior/Merchant" mindset of the Sharks/Foxes. They've conquered and rule an invasion corridor without having to fall back on the appeasement and assimilation tactics of the Ghost Bears, Snow Ravens or Nova Cats.
To be Jade Falcon is to realize that you will always have to work twice as hard to get half the respect that other Clans get, yet being mostly okay with that because you know you haven't betrayed the Founder's vision or ideals like the rest of your dezgra brethren.
Sharkfox: "I CHALLENGE YOU TO A TRIAL OF POSSESSION FOR THE BACON PLANET!"
Kael Pershaw. The only clanner to win what was agreed to be an unarmed battle in a circle of equals by shooting his opponent and getting away with it.
Kael Pershaw. The only clanner to win what was agreed to be an unarmed battle in a circle of equals by shooting his opponent and getting away with it.
Clan Jade Falcon: The One Australian Man that Nick Kerensky Delegated Everything To.
(Bonus points to people who get that).
Okay, here's another discussion. As proud and true Falcons, what is your emotional favourite 'Mech in a weight class, and why?
Green Pigeons, sell me on your clan.
Falcons are the bad guys done right, much like House Kurita in late '80. Not space nazi type like Blakists, or Jaguars, that were designed basically to get their asses kicked.
Don't know that the Horses will be around to deliver.
...frankly I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Adders or Lions or whatever, oh my!
No, the doom of the Falcons is, and will always be ... the Falcons.
But how many petty civil wars can you guys have? Talk about story recycling... :P
Face it, only a Falcon is good enough to oppose a Falcon.
(We only did the Lyrans so that the fledgelings got an easy start ...)
Well the Falcons are rapidly being turned into a faction meant to get its ass kicked with their extremist Mongol Doctrine. Devastating several planets on their way to launching their assault on Hesperus II simply because they (I should say she) was furious in the way the Battle of Tharkad turned out because of Wolf intervention? They are being set up to either be redeemed or destroyed.
Seriously, who's left?
I believe we deserve more than just that. :( And it would be "let's unite against the Mordor" thing all over again.
And I totally agree: the only faction that should end Falcon story is themselves. Wolves are curently busy beeing ilClan, Bears are enjoying their dominium, Lyrans can't find their ass with both hands without Davions help (and Davions are screwed), home clans will be too scared beeing IS tainted by the Falcon warrior gaze. Seriously, who's left?
"I DON'T NEED SAFETY GLOVES BECAUSE I'M HOMER SIMPSON!"
Question for anyone who has the Falcon Phonebook...I think there might be two in there somewhere but...
Do you recall what unit (or even jsut what Galaxy) the Atlas II was in? I know there was one, I just don't remember where.
Yeah, y'know, I just got no idea why they don't make books with this level of detail anymore!
Two main reasons probably: costs of producing it outweighs the expected profits (same reason they will stop releasing faction specific sourcebooks) and its a pain to go into such detail only to have the effort be deemed outdated with the next major conflict or next TRO release not to mention people nitpicking how this mech doesn't belong in that type of star, that mech variant is wrong for the star, why does that warrior have a bloodname while that one doesn't, etc.
(I was joking. Going into that level of detail on all the myriad factions and units we've got these days would be insane)
Okay, let's go green for a bit - for Falcons, who would buy into the Mongol doctrine?I have a strained relationship with the Mongol Doctrine. I see its effectiveness but to use it on other Clans and your own Clansmen especially is...unsavory. Honorless dogs can taste and see that the Mongol Doctrine is bitter. An honorable opponent should be accorded Zellbrigen as befits tradition and skill.
Okay, here's another discussion. As proud and true Falcons, what is your emotional favourite 'Mech in a weight class, and why?
Catching up on the thread:
I have a strained relationship with the Mongol Doctrine. I see its effectiveness but to use it on other Clans and your own Clansmen especially is...unsavory. Honorless dogs can taste and see that the Mongol Doctrine is bitter. An honorable opponent should be accorded Zellbrigen as befits tradition and skill.
The rime stoats
Quick question, what equipment are the Falcons producing in 3050?
I have got a rough list but figured I would ask on here to check I had not missed anything.
I've been listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast on the (historical) Mongols and it's been interesting to compare their exploits with the Falcons under Malvina.
I had written up a little bit on Malvina before - but I found more similarities to Timur than Genghis.
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/novel-and-sourcebook-reviews/bonfire-of-worlds-a-comparison-of-malvina-and-timur/(http://members.shaw.ca/letts/comp.jpg)
Merciless villain, peasant, ignorant
Of lawful arms or martial discipline!
Pillage and murder are his usual trades:
The slave usurps the glorious name of war.
— Tamburliane the Great, 1.IV.i (Marlowe)
Early in his career Timur gained the wounds that gave him the name Timur-i Lenk—Timur the Lame; two arrow wounds to his right arm and right leg. He lost the use of his elbow as well as losing his fourth and fifth fingers. His hip seized, causing his leg to remain rigid and forever shorter than the left. Biographers such as the 14th century’s Ahmad ibn Arabshah state that Timur became a vengeful monster after these crippling wounds.
Malvina Hazen also suffered grievous, life-altering injuries to the very same limbs—her right arm and right leg. After a defeat by Republic forces on Skye in 3134 her injured leg, arm and eye were replaced with cybernetic prosthetics. Like Timur, Malvina—already vicious and somewhat unhinged—turned into a sadistic fiend after suffering her injuries.--------------------
Near Tashkent in 1365 the forces of Timur and Husayn met an invading force led by the former governor of Mawarannahr, Ilyas Khoja. During the battle a terrific storm began and the battlefield turned to thick mud. Pressing hard in the mired and confused battle, Timur seized the upper hand and signaled for Husayn—nominally his commander—to bring forward his men and finish the enemy. Yet Husayn held back. The Moghul forces rushed to take advantage of this fatal mistake and swarmed through, cutting men down on all sides. Ten thousand were killed. Timur and Husayn fled the battlefield and across the Amu Darya. It was an ignominious ending, to say the least.
For Timur, who had ambitions on a scale far beyond this small theatre of war, this battle sowed the seeds of doubt into his alliance with Husayn. How reliable was a man who refused to fight alongside his partner in battle when the fighting was at its most critical? In Timur’s mind, he had been betrayed.
The situation was similar—or so Malvina felt—for the Falcon desant. The three Falcon Galaxies had gained numerous victories and an invaluable foothold in Republic space. However, Khan Jana Pryde held the Falcon touman back. Requests for resupply were ‘essentially unanswered’. Requests for much-needed reinforcements and replacements were met with a trickle of dregs and solahma. Malvina questioned Jana’s ability to lead the Clan and her motives for sending the desant deep into enemy territory.--------------------
The alliance between Timur and Husayn had been sealed with the marriage of Timur to Husayn’s sister Aljas. Her death around this time, which represented the final severance of family ties, now looked like a harbinger of destiny.
This was somewhat mirrored by Malvina’s situation. Her brother Aleksandr’s death at the time of the perceived betrayal removed the only thing grounding her as a Clan warrior. In her mind, this also signified a final severance from Jana’s Jade Falcon proper and represented a harbinger of destiny.--------------------
In 1370 Timur rode south over the Amu Darya, his sights set on removing the last obstacle to supreme power in Southern Mawarannahr; Husayn. After a long fight, his former ally was defeated and executed. In deference to the traditions of Genghis Khan, by which only a man of royal blood could aspire to supreme command, Timur installed a puppet Chagatai Khan, Suyurghatmish, as nominal ruler. This was no more than a formality. All knew that power lay with Timur alone. Ahmad ibn Arabshah recorded: ‘Under his sway were ruler and subject alike … and the Khan was in his bondage, like a centipede in the mud …’
The realities of this power sharing arrangement were underlined in a dramatic ceremony of enthronement where Timur crowned himself imperial ruler of Chagatai.
Additionally, one of the more important spoils gained by Timur was Saray Mulk-Khanum, the wife of Husayn, who he now made his own. Daughter of Qazan, the last Chagatai Khan of Mawarannahr, she was also a princess of the Genghis line. Taking her as his wife bolstered Timur’s legitimacy. From this point on, he styled himself Timur Gurgan (son-in-law) of the Great Khan.
Malvina performed a similar feat, defeating and slaying Jana Pryde in personal combat. She installed her fellow Galaxy Commander and advisor, Beckett Malthus, as Khan of Clan Jade Falcon. As with the Chagatai, all knew who held the reins of power despite the title. Here Beckett was very much the ‘Khan in bondage, like a centipede in the mud …’
Malvina also gave herself a title for her new position, also in homage to the past; Chingis Khan, Emperor of all Mankind.--------------------
Timur’s name has gone down in history and legend as a synonym for cruelty. His string of constant battlefield successes and almost inevitable massacres that followed are the hallmark of his legacy in most of the world.
This is in somewhat of a contrast to his ancestors. Whereas Genghis and his sons also indulged in massacres, these were usually carried out dispassionately and with a coldly calculated purpose—to terrorize foes into submission. Timur’s massacres were more frequent, more obviously sadistic and often served no apparent purpose.
Historian John Joseph Saunders wrote succinctly: ‘Till the advent of Hitler, Timur stood forth in history as the supreme example of soulless and unproductive militarism’.
Malvina, as we are all aware, is certainly in this league of cruelty. Like Timur, her savage massacres greatly exceeding in number and in viciousness those contributed by her predecessors.
Graveyard contains:
Jump Platoon (Rifle) (Princess)
Gunnery Skill : Joe Lazo [4] ( 6 hit(s) )
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Eyrie (Standard) (Weirdo)
...
Partisan Heavy Tank (AC2) (Princess)
Driver : Gabriella Caruso [4/5]
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Eyrie (Standard) (Weirdo)
Orion ON1-M (Princess)
Pilot : Pavlushshenka Konarski [4/5] ( 3 hit(s) )
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Eyrie (Standard) (Weirdo)
AC/2 Carrier (Princess)
Driver : Tom Hami [4/5]
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Eyrie (Standard) (Weirdo)
Motorized Platoon (LRM) (Princess)
Gunnery Skill : Nagore Kotsiopoulos [4] ( 6 hit(s) )
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Eyrie (Standard) (Weirdo)
...
The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:
Mauler MAL-C (Princess)
Pilot : Sharon Mncio [4/5] ( 6 hit(s) )
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Eyrie (Standard) (Weirdo)
Malvina's little play time is over, time for tradition to kill her off, (before she endangers the very Clan) <cringes>
In a MM game this morning, I had an Eyrie trash a fresh Tundra Wolf in one round. The little monster jumped behind it and managed to set off its ammo as well as landing a head hit. The Tundra's pilot was knocked out and never woke up.
I still kicked it to be sure
Even if it dies from it, give it a swift kick anyway. It's a Wolf, it deserves a little extra love-tap. ^-^
Sweet! I pronounce them both correctly. ;) Time to reward myself with some cold pizza.
If you want a bit of colour (and your warriors to hate you), thrown in a captured Battle Cobra or Crossbow. The former is actually not too bad, and the latter... uh... well... there's an APGR configuration I kind of like? Maybe?
The Rifleman C 2 is a Heavy that thinks it's a LAM.
"I BELIEVE I CAN FLYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
The map of the Kerensky Cluster in Operation Klondike has Ironhold, and is for the year 2821 (so, during the operation, duh).
fellow Falcons, I call upon you for a quick historical reference O0 just to make sure
After the beginning of the Pentagon Worlds Civil War, where Nicholas and the 800 relocated to Strana Mechty to re-arm, the Kerensky Cluster was then preliminarily settled, quiaff ?
Basically for my swtor guild CJF cross over / spin off / conversion, our first RP event is about the Founders of our Clan...
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/challenges-and-gatherings/clan-jade-falcon-(swtor)/ (latest pic can be found at the bottom)
The Clans were founded, in CJF's case, Ironhold HQ and colony was set up...before the retaking of the Pentagon was complete or after it ? IE: The Clans were created on Strana Mechty, armed, then hit the Pentagon, then peace and spoils of war, then each Clan got its homeworld ? Also, the first ship to Ironhold, what was that called, reference the Mechwarrior 2 openning video
Thanks O0
Or prior to Operation Klondike.
Falcons played such a minor role in Jihad storyline. Even Free worlds league had more attention and that speaks for itself. :(
When you factor the WoR into the overall Jihad story then their part is a lot bigger
Also, 'even the Free Worlds League' playing a bigger part? Since the Word had so much of their power based within the League, one could argue that no other nation had a bigger part in the Jihad, beyond the Protectorate themselves. So... yeah, not a surprise.
(As Deadborder notes though, they played a hefty part in the Wars of Reaving going on at the same time, so the relative quiet from the Falcons and Wolves is a little more understandable- they had Horses, Hellions, Society, and all kinds of other problems going on. Screw the fanatics.)
I gotta say, I loved me the Falcon Parts of WoR. Then again, I loved MOST of WoR.
One quick question: did Falcons invaded any of Rasalhague worlds during the first wave of revival?
I gotta say, I loved me the Falcon Parts of WoR. Then again, I loved MOST of WoR.
Kael Pershaw. Say no more!
No; their corridor was purely Lyran worlds.
The Wolves invasion corridor was both Lyran and Rasalhauge worlds. Similarly, the Bears took both Rasalhauge and Combine words.
Okay, some fluff-based advice.
I'm working on some Falcon formations mini-wise. Currently I have a Star's worth of omnis and working on a Star's worth of IIC second-liners, plus about 2 stars of BA, in Delta colours. Would it be likely to see the Omnis & IICs in the same Binary/Trinary? Would the BA be in the same Binary/Trinary as the Omnis>
Second, I have the makings of a Star of heavy/assault 'Mechs of other Clan's signature designs (things like the Kodiak, Ebon Jaguar, Koraken) plus some other choices along these lines. At the moment the Kodiam and Ebon Jaguar are in Mu colours. Does this seem reasonable? Post Refusal War, I can't see the Clan ignoring such Isorla, but would they be seen as prestige due to the weight & capability of the designs, or for assignment to second-string pilots?
Lastly, speak to me of Omega galaxy. I reckon I can do a nice paintjob on them pretty straightforwardly - prime black, drybrush metallic, then green ink the upper torso. Detail & bloody feet, done. Why do Omega choose to flaunt their superiority over the Vipers - where did that all come from? And would my captured assaults fit better in Omega, than Mu?
Opinions eagerly sought, trothkin!
Negative, FRR worlds Quarrell and Jabuka were taken by the Falcons before Tukayyid.
‘She actively hates the Jesses. Almost as much as she despises the coterie of high-ranked scientists and technicians who really run Sudeten and the touman—and by extension, Clan Jade Falcon.’’
To Rorion’s look of outright disbelief she said, ‘‘You don’t think warriors would stoop to such mundane tasks as administering an army, or an empire, do you? But leave it. Julia Buhalin is intelligent and formidable. And she hates readily and well. You would do well to be wary of her, Merchant Prince.’’
Metallic, masculine. It struck von Texeira’s ears as dispassionate, yet ringing with that certain superciliousness he had come to associate with senior members of Sudeten’s scientist caste, who Senna said did the real work of running the world—and the Clan.
It was not only members of the ‘‘moderate’’ Jess faction that Julia Buhalin sent security teams, augmented by trusted Slip warriors, to arrest. She also availed herself of the opportunity to troll in certain ranking scientists and technicians who, in her opinion, exercised altogether too much power over Clan affairs.
ulia Buhalin was constitutionally incapable of truly comprehending Malvina Hazen’s most recent proclamations. Otherwise she would never have acceded to the exalted rank of loremaster. It did not occur to her that, by arresting the very scientists and technicians who actually ran Clan Jade Falcon, she might be removing the cooling rods that regulated a potentially disastrous reaction.
I know the Falcons fought Wolves, Hellions, and Lyrans during the Jihad period. Did they ever fight the Blakists?
They appear to have had an uneasy truce-of-convenience with the Ghost Bears - correct?
I'm leaning towards them being moved from the Homeworlds following the Hellion Incursion to reinforce the Clan in the Inner Sphere. That then makes the Wolves the likely opponents who trashed them, hopefully with them giving as good as they got.
Does this warrior-mysticism bleed through into the fiction or the Battletech background at all?
The other question is about the conservative nature of the Clan. By 3080, it seems that they are the last major Clan faction that still abides by the Crusader mentality (the Great Refusal and the Wars of Reaving having made both Crusader and Warden camps largely irrelevant). Even the Malvina Hazen period doesn't see the Falcons subscribing to Aggressor or Bastion politics, precisely speaking. After decades, it seems that CJF is the only old-style clan left in existence (with old style Trueblood warrior dominating the clan culture, honour bound and traditional society). So, is this true? Has Clan Jade Falcon remained the most "the same" of all the Clans?
The only prophecy that the Falcons concern themselves with is that Nicholas Kerensky prophesized that the Clans would return to the Inner Sphere and re-establish the Star League.
Aggressor/Bastion politics is limited to the Homeworld Clans. They have fought the hardest to remain true to their old traditions but since the Blackout, Malvina's battlefield success (not to mention the destruction of most oppostion) has led much of the Clan to support her extremist stance with traditionalists being sidelined for the most part.
In that game, they had a clear mystical bent, referencing prophecies and visions that saw into the future and confirmed the Falcon's Crusader mission to conquer Terra and reunite the Star League. Does this warrior-mysticism bleed through into the fiction or the Battletech background at all?
Has Clan Jade Falcon remained the most "the same" of all the Clans?
They are getting more and more excepting of freebirths though.
I think it's fair to say that the Falcons stayed truest to the original Crusader belief set. I see Malvina's adaptation of the Mongol philosophy to be the ultimate expression of all the frustration that this approach produced. "So you will not play by our rules after decades of beatings and punishments!! Well then, reap the hurricane!!!"
Close it down, we have the single best summation of Clan Jade Falcon we're ever going to get here. Thanks for visiting, folks!
If I had the artistic talent, I'd be colouring those (left to right)
Wolf
Nova Cat
(back) Smoke Jaguar
Snow Raven
(front) Ghost Bear
Jade Falcon
(bottom) Blood Spirit ..
I would think that after the Pryde debacle (Aidan and Diana both) the Falcons would have soften a bit toward freebirths.
You did a good job with this. I hate that the Ravens are Daffy, but you did a really good job.
bide bide wait a minute i see what you di di di, implied there!
I hereby declare my intention to field two complete trinaries of Delta Galaxy minis. One 'Mechs, one battle armour.
How does it compare with (for example) one of the DA Gnome bases you have?
Thanks!
Now JHB has managed to inveigle me into moving the Cs into a Solahma unit, I'll be replacing them with two Novas, two Kit Foxes, and a Loki. The first four are all CityTech plastics, so modding them will cover the inherent flaws.
I'll only need to move a star of BA with transports - a point of Anhurs and something else ought to do.
So the Jade Falcons will go into the new era in a bloodbath.
No idea if the Anhur is any good as a mini- it's a right bastard of a nasty aircraft, but as a mini I'll defer to others. (Still sad that we only got the one of them in MWDA, it was a good sculpt there, but now it's a bitch to get your hands on them)
I've peered into the philosophies, governmental systems, social structures, military doctrines, economic programs and religions of the Spheroids and have come to the conclusion that Clan society is the best. Perhaps not the most free, but frequently the most just, scientific, efficient and (shockingly) the most peaceful and stable. Anyone else come to similar conclusions?
On another note, I think one of my issues with Malvina (other than my staunch traditionalism and conservatism) is that we just don't have any other major Falcons to look up to in the Dark Ages. Simply put, there isn't yet enough writing, game material or background stories to give us other options to idealize. Malvina is OK, but I'd like a little choice (something like the richness of dramatis personae found in the Clan Invasion years).
So, one last thought/question. Have the rest of the Falcons (other than Malvina's coterie) become content to just occupy their corridor, satisfied that they have liberated some of the Inner Sphere in Kerensky's vision? Are they increasingly calling it "home" instead of "invasion corridor"? Are they entering into Inner Sphere politics, or keeping themselves (and their original objective of sacred Terra) aloof from the Sphiroids?
You should read Flight of the Falcon, Blood of The Ilse, and A Rending of Falcons. Those will give you the complete picture of what the Falcons have been up to in the early Dark Age and preceding years. But, the short answer is, they invaded Skye and have been rampaging across Lyran space as well. The Jade Falcon OZ is "home" since the events of the Wars of Reaving. They are still hard on their civilian population and have transformed several Lyran worlds in their image.
Ahh, it's nice to know that the Falcons are still punching waaaay above their weight class. How many worlds are in the Jade Falcon territory... 50? And the Lyran Commonwealth is something like 350 or more?
Depends on how you look at it. I'm personally not all that fond of militarist societies, or caste systems, and find the idea of eugenics a dangerously romanticized pseudo science. But, as far as the Falcons are concerned, I like them because at least if you're going to be the product of an artificial society founded by a power hungry despot, you might as well do that to the best of your ability. For that reason the Falcons are always close to my heart. Where others buckle, they proceed.
Ahh, it's nice to know that the Falcons are still punching waaaay above their weight class. How many worlds are in the Jade Falcon territory... 50? And the Lyran Commonwealth is something like 350 or more?
I've never understood why people always say falcon's are hard against conquered civilians. Everything I've ever read said the Falcons tended to just plant their flag, tell the populous to carry on, and then move on to the next planet. A couple even referenced the planets' economies improving under Falcon rule.
Depends on how you look at it. I'm personally not all that fond of militarist societies, or caste systems, and find the idea of eugenics a dangerously romanticized pseudo science. But, as far as the Falcons are concerned, I like them because at least if you're going to be the product of an artificial society founded by a power hungry despot, you might as well do that to the best of your ability. For that reason the Falcons are always close to my heart. Where others buckle, they proceed.
I've never understood why people always say falcon's are hard against conquered civilians. Everything I've ever read said the Falcons tended to just plant their flag, tell the populous to carry on, and then move on to the next planet. A couple even referenced the planets' economies improving under Falcon rule.
Cargo and utility vehicles made up the bulk of traffic. Pedestrians throned the sidewalks. Clan Jade Falcon discouraged private vehicles almost as vigorously as they did firearms. The foot traffic walked rapidly; their masters discouraged dawdling by Clan laborers and locals alike. They kept their gazes down, lest they be deemed to challenge some passing warrior, which would have swift, and fatal results.
I remember in wars of reaving one clan(blood spirits?) tried to carve out the Falcon OZ from behind. The didn't leave behind enough garrison forces after taking some planets because they assumed that after so many years the people would be used to clan rule. They didn't realize the Falcons tended to use a hands off approach. As a result, the few groups that were actually interested in ousting the clans from the start ended up finally getting enough support to cause problems for the new occupying clan.
At the very least, Malvina could attempt a trial of refusal. Imagine her becoming ilKhan. :D
I said something to this affect somewhere in this forum sometime ago. Best way to solve the wolf/falcon fued is combat.Kinda like how the Wolf/Falcon fued was solved by combat in 3057. I'm sure it will always be an issue until one side is absorbed or annihilated. Falcons under a Wolf ilClan will be disruptive if allowed any sort of identity, and I would expect the same from the Wolves if the situation were reversed.
What you need for peace between the Falcons and Wolves are Khans who enjoy sexytime together like Vlad and Marthe did.
What you need for peace between the Falcons and Wolves are Khans who enjoy sexytime together like Vlad and Marthe did.
Isn't the inner sphere exactly the same? :)
Isn't the inner sphere exactly the same? :)
Common ground. Mystifying.Not sure if I'd call it common ground, more like humanity's ability to rationalize any situation into a good boink being one aspect of human nature that Nutbar Nikky was unable to expunge.
Do we have any records of Kappa Galaxy fighting any Wolves lately? I recently got ahold of a DA Carnivore to go with my metal ones, and the size comparison is pretty good. Owing to the obvious differences, I want to portray the plastic tank as one captured in battle, and given slapdash Falcon-y colors over whatever paint scheme it originally had.You have a couple of options. First, the TRO entry says the HAG version was mad available for sale to the Falcons. Second, a third version was made for sale to the Lyrans and Exiles. FM3145 mentions Kappa has been fighting the Exiles a lot. Lastly, since the Carnivore came in TRO 3085, there could have been plenty of salvage that would be passed down to Kappa from the front-line galaxies recently as the other galaxies got more mechs
FM3145 mentions Kappa has been fighting the Exiles a lot.
Most of the fleet are Agies and Black Lion class cruisers. So "oldie but a goodie"
Wait, Malvina hit Arc Royal with orbital bombardments after declaring the Exiled Wolves dezgra?
Help an old solahma warrior out here ... in the MW:DA line, the Falcon minis are amazingly attractive in a dark metallic-grey base, with either medium green or jade green highlights.
Does anyone have any idea what galaxy/galaxies the minis represent? I'm starting to buy some BT-scale dark age Falcons for my Mongol Horde, and wanted to know if this had been canonised at some point.
Thanks!
Leading from there ... what is your favourite Galaxy?
cherry blossoms etc ;)
Someone so needs to paint 15 mechs in Japanese Rugby colours...
Leading from there ... what is your favourite Galaxy?
Does it say anywhere where Malvina and Alek's sibko was based and which training school they went to ? Eg Blackjacks?
So we still don't knowmuch about the fall of Arc-Royal, beyond the apparent and well-deserved dearh of the Exiles. However, AR is home to a lot of manufacturing goodies, and I was wondering if there were any that Falcon players would enjoy getting their hands on. Assuming they're not reduced to so much radioactive rubble, that is.
Here's a few that strike me as fun
Arctic Wolf II - this isn't a bad little Omni, and its speed would work decently with Falcon light stars. Plus it jumps so you can DFA people, which is allways a plus.
Hellstar is not nice - the Falcons allready use this beast, but having a production line for it would be great.
Isgrem - again, the Falcons use this, but presumably in limited, what they can get numbers. It's a beast, and would definitely fit the current Falcon approach. Plus as a bonus, it's the good version, not the flying deathtraps the Empire use
Jagatai and Avar - because being able to produce your own Omnifighters is good
Oh man, they might even pick up Cuchulainns, right? The idea of Falcon Cuchulainns is terrifying and thrilling in all kinds of ways, although it would break their whole not-giving-a-shit-about-fire theme for their battle armor.
So we still don't knowmuch about the fall of Arc-Royal, beyond the apparent and well-deserved dearh of the Exiles. However, AR is home to a lot of manufacturing goodies, and I was wondering if there were any that Falcon players would enjoy getting their hands on. Assuming they're not reduced to so much radioactive rubble, that is.I am voting ash myself. There are only a few not duplicated elsewhere.
Here's a few that strike me as fun
Arctic Wolf II - this isn't a bad little Omni, and its speed would work decently with Falcon light stars. Plus it jumps so you can DFA people, which is allways a plus.
Hellstar is not nice - the Falcons allready use this beast, but having a production line for it would be great.
Isgrem - again, the Falcons use this, but presumably in limited, what they can get numbers. It's a beast, and would definitely fit the current Falcon approach. Plus as a bonus, it's the good version, not the flying deathtraps the Empire use
Jagatai and Avar - because being able to produce your own Omnifighters is good
If we get a battle armor called Malvina, I want to use them as ammunition in orbital strikes. :D
How come people like Jade Falcons? A lot of people seem to really identify with them...
Why are you guys into Jade Falcons?
Because I hate all of the Clans, with no exception. Soulless morons, and that's their good days.
But sometimes you just wanna play Clan. So I decided that if I'm going to play a bastard, I might as well play THE bastard. The Smoke Jaguars are dead and thus don't get the latest toys, the Falcons are the worst of what's left so...there you go. :)
And they have plenty of flaws. Ooohhhh boy, do they have flaws O0O0
They are an interesting mix too. They're the purest clan and yet the most progressive. They are what they are and they don't apologize to anyone(or any clan) for it. Sure if there's an uprising on a planet they'll practically scorch the place to quell it, but when the populace is willing to play ball the falcons will more or less let them go on with their lives uninterrupted.
Were you previously a jaguar?
Were you previously a jaguar?
How come people like Jade Falcons? A lot of people seem to really identify with them...
Why are you guys into Jade Falcons?
Boiled down, being a Falcon means never having to say you're sorry; you can make them be sorry.
I started off liking the Wolves for their pragmatism but they were so...vanilla. After losing repeatedly to another player who chose the Wolves ahead of me while I played the Falcons, I became determined to beat him as a Falcon and eventually began to dominate him (Learning to play the Falcon Trinity of Kit Fox, Hellbringer, and Summoner took some time as they tend to be oriented to finesse rather than brawling; the learning curve can be pretty steep).
As I examined the Falcon Clan closely, I saw their drive to be the best and promptly liked it. Consistently, you can/could find them within the top 5 of any combat arm rated against their peers. The Falcons often have to work twice as hard for half the glory. Some of this is due to their many flaws and blowhard, conservative ways. Despite being conservative they can be flexible when it's called for. Even so they're far from perfect (as some Wolf players I've run across claim for themselves), work hard to be the best, and aren't afraid to trumpet their power. If you war with them, you will know you were in a heckuva fight. The boasting isn't empty. Because of sound leadership and military prowess, they became one of the most powerful Clans. They have a great selection of war machines for beating your enemy into a pulp. Which they should stay as if they know what's good for them.
They are FUN to roleplay. You can say and do things that would often cause the death of other characters if they did them. You get away with it because you are a JADE FALCON. It's expected that you'll say outrageous things. Just be ready to back them up. Some of the best satisfaction I've had ATOWing is somehow managing to make a roll that I shouldn't have and winning some action to verify some boastful thing I said.
Boiled down, being a Falcon means never having to say you're sorry; you can make them be sorry.
Boiled down, being a Falcon means never having to say you're sorry; you can make them be sorry.
I think that it's really interesting.
Wolf players it's a lot more idealistic. I'd go so far as to say that a Wolf Players ideal self is a clan wolf warrior. This sort of moral tribal soldier. It's incredibly associative. They really identify with it.
Falcon players seem to be disassociative. A sort of, "Sometimes I want to be a bastard." Sort of thing.
Alternatively Sea Fox players as far as I can tell are just a bunch of dudes with Liberal Arts degrees. (That's not actually true. I'm shooting for applied sciences, I know one professor and one chef.)
Anyways. I'm still interested. Was just kind of curious because of the, "Are we the baddies?" Aspect of it.
I’m an “idealistic” Falcon. I’ve never seen the Falcons as bad guys. They are just another faction that wants to subjugate the IS and reform the Star League in their image – the same thing all the Great Houses want to do. In fact I always saw the clan invasion as the overnight creation of a new successor state – nothing more.
What I like about them over other clans, is that they are open about what they are trying to do. I also really like the honor aspect. Too often in pop culture success is equated with abandoning honor. The Jade Falcons get to be honorable and successful (till the DA when they become a bit cliche).
Here’s how we see the universe. We are a faction that needs to liberate the IS from the Great Houses because they deliberately destroyed the greatest civilization in human history to satisfy their greed. Indeed, conquest by the clans is liberation. Among the clans we need to be/are leaders because we have never strayed from the Kerensky way (I’m looking at you Wolves).
Any other Falcons get a good laugh out of JadeHellbringer being the one to lock the the wolf thread? ;D
And on page 49. >:D
I’m an “idealistic” Falcon. I’ve never seen the Falcons as bad guys. They are just another faction that wants to subjugate the IS and reform the Star League in their image – the same thing all the Great Houses want to do. In fact I always saw the clan invasion as the overnight creation of a new successor state – nothing more.
What I like about them over other clans, is that they are open about what they are trying to do. I also really like the honor aspect. Too often in pop culture success is equated with abandoning honor. The Jade Falcons get to be honorable and successful (till the DA when they become a bit cliche).
Here’s how we see the universe. We are a faction that needs to liberate the IS from the Great Houses because they deliberately destroyed the greatest civilization in human history to satisfy their greed. Indeed, conquest by the clans is liberation. Among the clans we need to be/are leaders because we have never strayed from the Kerensky way (I’m looking at you Wolves).
There's not a word in this post I disagree with. Well put, sir!
Which era?
So what's the best composition for a Falcon front line Cluster.
So what's the best composition for a Falcon front line Cluster.All the rage in existence.
(Dark Age, add talons. And some black eyeliner.)
All the rage in existence.
(Dark Age, add talons. And some black eyeliner.)
Don't forget the warship.
Be cheaper if you guys dropped rocks.
Any other Falcons get a good laugh out of JadeHellbringer being the one to lock the the wolf thread? ;D
And on page 49. >:D
A new thread had started, that one was going to need to be locked in the next few posts anyway... my joke in there aside, don't EVER go thinking I lock threads because of some silly faction bias. I'd just as easily lock this one or any other thread on the forums if they reach Page 50, and have on many occasions.
There's a thousand and one good reasons to poke fun at the Wolves and their fans. My mod duties aren't one of them.
So by 3145 we are probably seeing a front line cluster composition of:-Don't forget, Malvina has been heavily influenced by the horses and has been recruiting from even civilians. It's quite possible the falcons are still going combined arms.
Command Star
3 Mech Trianaries
Battle Armour Trinary
AeroFighter Trinary
As we did in the 3050's
We know the Falcons have been buying Carnivores from the Wolves, so I'm guessing they still have some use for tanks other that transports.
I had been aware of Battletech for many years, but Mechwarrior 2 is what really got me into it. CJF had vision and captured the imagination: https://youtu.be/rEf7r314_cQ
For me, it was the intro that got my attention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7_rSyRD8XM
So amazing.
If I would not dislike the clans so much, I might think about being a Falcon just because of that intro.
How come people like Jade Falcons? A lot of people seem to really identify with them...
Why are you guys into Jade Falcons?
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1768639/1S.jpg)
Made my interpretation of the insignia for the 1st Falcon Strikers Cluster; 'a peregrine in full pursuit of a larger flying reptile'.
I really wanted to do it in colour but I couldn't get the shapes to look right on the falcon (dark ash blue body top and whitish undersides).
No other outcome would discredit the Mongol philosophy.
Anyone wanna start a betting pool on how Malvina kicks the bucket?
Myself, I'm going for dying at the hands of a Hogarth due to a combination of her own paranoia and insanity, as well as the Hogarth's sheer incompetence setting off a domino-chain of events that outside observers (read: us) find hilarious.
Anyone wanna start a betting pool on how Malvina kicks the bucket?
I have said it before and I will say it again; under the foot/tread of a CHH QuadVee.
Ok, took a stab at colour since you believed in me Von Jankmon ...
I'm hoping for a curveball via Malvina's "pet". I'd hate to see something like that through a game book though. I want to read that story in a novel.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1768639/1S_colour.jpg)
Ok, took a stab at colour since you believed in me Von Jankmon ...
I'll take 'shivved in the back by Cinthy just before her greatest triumph'. That kid is just too... weird. Either she's the tool of Malvina's demise, or will someday rise up as the kind of monster that even Malvina would find horrifying.
I'll take 'shivved in the back by Cinthy just before her greatest triumph'. That kid is just too... weird. Either she's the tool of Malvina's demise, or will someday rise up as the kind of monster that even Malvina would find horrifying.
The Night Gyr is an incredible walking pile of guns.....
... its on their RAT ...
Which RAT? I only have one and it's not there.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1768639/1S_colour.jpg)
Ok, took a stab at colour since you believed in me Von Jankmon ...
The Falcons still use the Night Gyr in the Dark Ages; its on their RAT and at least one appeared in a novel. They're far from extinct, but probably would be uncommon.
Maybe I’m too much of a traditionalist, but I’m not excited about interface armor of any kind – including EI. Clan superiority should come from the breeding program not technology. I’m not opposed to new tech, but it shouldn’t be the source of clan power.
Falcons !!
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1768639/305A_colour2.jpg)
I decided to take a look at Sarna to see if Roman Mattlov himself might actually appear in fiction anywhere, and discovered in the process that FM: Crusader Clans apparently cites Mattlov as an Elemental-exclusive Bloodname post-REVIVAL, while Roman Mattlov is assuredly a 'MechWarrior in Ter Roshak's recollections.
I figure the simplest explanation would be that the Mattlov name became Elemental-exclusive between the spawning of Roman's sibko and the end of REVIVAL, with its last MechWarrior Bloodrights falling inactive? That seems a bit strange to me, but I suppose it could have been a result of the Clan's casualties during the invasion. Do you know of anything firmer than supposition that might be used to back that up?
Now if I only knew what IS faction might deploy Company-sized formations of Ghosts...
I imagine the vehicle duel to be conducted in vehicles that are one man operated.
I'm toying with a fanfic... could anyone point me toward the most boring place a Jade Falcon Provisional Garrison Cluster could be posted in the spring or early summer of 3050, after REVIVAL had begun but before the ilKhan allowed PGCs to be used to garrison IS worlds? Were any CJF PGCs present in the Deep Periphery at that point (and thus potentially posted to an uninhabited rock just serving as a waystation), or would they have all been back in the Homeworlds somewhere?
Do we know where the Falcons manufacture the Jade Hawk?
Thought I read somewhere that they don't anymore since the sea foxes got a hold of the plans.There's two versions, the IS/mixed-tech ones (JHK-03, -04) that are made by DOA on Galatea. The full Clan versions, the Jade Hawk, 2, & 3, are the ones made by the Falcons and I don't know of any specific factory location.
There's two versions, the IS/mixed-tech ones (JHK-03, -04) that are made by DOA on Galatea. The full Clan versions, the Jade Hawk, 2, & 3, are the ones made by the Falcons and I don't know of any specific factory location.
Given that the Jade Hawk was available to the Falcons before the desant ...
Desant was 3134, date I have for the Jade Hawk is 3136.
It's possible this never became canon. I knew a friend of a friend that worked for wizkids so from time to time I'd get to hear bits of background stories and unreleased stuff. Some got published some didn't. Been so long I can't keep which is which straight anymore. This explanation was the intent at the beginning though.
All of the other 'revitalization' mechs (Eyrie, Gyrfalcon, Shrike) are very common in both books. Any thoughts on why the Jade Hawk was downgraded on the newer RATs so much?
Thing is the Jade hawk's a bit of a turkey, sure it looks amazing but weapons wise...its useless outside all but the shortest ranges.
Do you think it's too much of a stretch to assume, based on that stuff you listed, that Talon Clusters are heavy/assault-weight Clusters, akin to the Mechanized Assault Clusters of the Hell's Horses?
This is an EXTREMELY dangerous design- it just needs to be used properly. This isn't a do-everything design the way some designs are, it isn't able to engage at any range with tools for every job the way a Mad Cat can. But in its roles, there's genuinely few designs that can compare to it- or survive long against one.O0
MALVINA GETS RESULTS
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1768639/mal_res.jpg)
"I am mad as hell, and I am not going to take any more!"
Alright, I've found at least some partial answers to my question about Cluster types earlier. Three of the Cluster types are described briefly in the various Galaxy write-ups in FM: 3145.
Talon Clusters are "heavy."
Jaegers are "fast-moving."
Hussars are "lightweight."
That still leaves Dragoons, Velites and Striker Clusters. Anyone have any theories as to what those might be?
MALVINA GETS RESULTS
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1768639/mal_res.jpg)
I found something interesting in FM: Crusader Clans: going by the writeup of JF Sigma Galaxy, it looks like Dragoon Clusters are Clusters built around a core of veteran warriors, and then bulked out to to Cluster size with green warriors and abtakha. So Dragoon Clusters are organized around the personnel end of things, rather than the equipment end of things, apparently.
Besides, it hardly matters what actual mass a Falcon force is; all their 'Mechs are heavies at heart.
That still leaves Dragoons, Velites and Striker Clusters. Anyone have any theories as to what those might be?
I find this thread title acceptable.
*Gets kicked out for Foxing too much.*
Have you seen how hard the Falcons are Falconing during the dark age? It's practically our happy fun time!
Have you seen how hard the Falcons are Falconing during the dark age? It's practically our happy fun time!
HUARGH! Lol but in all seriousness, its one of the major reasons I can't get into Dark Age.
I'm not sure I understand the point. Do you not like when the Falcons are being Falcons? ??? Dark Age is great for Falcon players. We're the batshit crazy ones again. :D It's like the Invasion all over again, except now we don't have to compete with those stupid Jags over who's the craziest.
The 2 dimensional D&D alignment axes have clear problems being applied into Battletech (and that BattleTech isn't D&D isn't even the biggest problem) but I'm about to use them because they are a frame of reference I feel most of us will have common knowledge of, even if different perceptions....
The Invasion Era Falcons were Lawful Neutral. Staunchly traditional and sticklers for adherence to points of honor. Being a Jade Falcon was kind of like getting to be a Paladin without having to be Good. To use yet another cross-game analogy, I think an excellent analogue for the Jade Falcon mindset at invasion are the Iron Kingdom's Knights Exemplar.
As of the Dark Age, well that alignment has clearly shifted. You might say as far as Chaotic Evil, but I'd stick it to Lawful Evil still. However you define D&D's alignments, in the Dark Age it's the same Jade Falcons as before, but in their eyes "the kiddie gloves have come off".
I love analogies. Here's yet another one: the Jade Falcons are solid Heels. I don't follow "pro" wrestling like I did as a kid, so I can't speak to which wrestler the Falcons were like then and now, but to appreciate the Falcons you really do have to be able to appreciate rooting for a Heel. Maybe it was less obvious in the earlier eras than it is now.
Hah... I don't get how an old Falcon player can dig whats going on in the Dark Age. The Jade Falcons would -never- use WMD's in the way they did, they had to shoe horn that crap in like how they shoe horned WoB and such in, its utterly ridiculous, regardless what some say about the Falcons they are an extremely progressive traditionalist Clan which was revolted at the Smoke Jag's treatment of civilians, and at the nuke's that went off over the Snow Raven capitals.
They've been one of the staunchest anti-WMD and civilian casualty clans from the get-go, only briefly looking the other way when it came the Smoke Jaguars as the falcons knew they could use Osis and Showers to launch operation Revival. Even Crichell found a lot of distaste in the methods of Chistu and allowed Clan Wolf to exist, albeit as a new clan... Which he was betrayed in.
So I really don't know where you are getting Jade Falcons were ever the crazy ones, one of the most liberal Crusader clans towards civilians, officiated FreeBorn ranks all the way up to Khan (despite there not being a FreeBorn Khan, the regalia exists), the first blood named FreeBorn Khan, the most effective an actually real Clan Watch of all the clans... Not only that but they could have pulled a Steel Viper/Hells Horses/Nova Cat/Blood Spirit/Burrock/etc move during the Coventry campaign and stuck that fight out while they lost worlds to a backstriking Clan Wolf. Marthe actually went hte diplomatic route and in true Falcon Form, got shit done.
The Dark Age "material"... Yeah, yeah I read it. People cheering and that are fans of the Falcons post Jihad, I have a hard time believing they were fans of the actual Clan Jade Falcon. At this point Catalyst could kill them off and I wouldn't care, likely not even hear about it. They aren't in any way the faction they actually were or should logically be, even the Fed Suns were changed for change sake, the majority of Dark Age just, its pedantic.
But yeah, I can get behind the "A paladin without having to be good." The schism was just, it was more of a framing and story device, it could have hit any faction but they randomly drew Jade Falcon, the history just was disconnected because even if they went full out that would mean a large conventional assault with MAYBE orbital strikes on military targets. To go from the faith neutral paladin, to the fricken devil AKA WoB, well, just like the WoB it was another case of "add water to progress story."
Wow. Tell us how you really feel.
In the homeworlds, there may have been some truth to this, but times have changed. I wouldn't say the Falcons were 'revolted' by the Jags treatment of their civilians, if they had been, they would have launched a trial against the Jaguars. That never happened. As for the nukes against the Raven capitals... it was just one when the Wolverines did the deed, everyone was 'revolted' not just the Falcons.
I've seen no evidence that the Falcon's were the 'staunchest anti-WMD' Clans. They followed Kerensky's rules, period. Crichell's only problem with Chistu was that Chistu wanted to take Crichell's place. He applauded his methods.
This is very confused. True, the Falcon's were never really the 'crazy ones.' The Falcons largely ignored their civilians, letting their merchants prosper, so I suppose that could be 'liberal.' Freeborns were reluctantly allowed into the touman in small numbers. Diana Pryde is the only known freeborn Falcon to win a bloodname, and she never moved beyond Star Colonel. Agreed, they do have the most effective Watch. Marthe pulled back because she wanted to preserve the touman, but had virtually any of her subordinates been in charge, including Samantha Clees, Coventry would have been a disaster.
You know, people worked hard on that "material" you so casually put down. Many fans seem to be on board with the Falcon's current path. The more progressive fans are waiting for Malvina's fall, so that the Clan can resume it's more traditional role. Things change. We don't always like said change. If you don't approve of the new, 'pedantic (really? overly meticulous?)' direction of the setting, don't buy the newer products and play in your own, homegrown AU.
Here's the problem. The most logical outcome of the Clan system IS a monster such as Malvina. The Falcon's just got there first. History plays a role too. The Crusader beliefs can reasonably lead to the Mongol beliefs espoused by Malvina. But the thing to remember is that Marthe Pryde as Khan was an anomaly, not the rule.
But ultimately, yes, somebody has to be the 'bad guy.'
Reading the last couple posts has left me a bit confused at the opposed opinions on what the proper Falcon behavior is supposed. Jade Falcons have been becoming an increasingly important part of the stuff I've been writing on the side, and I'd like to get their portrayal as "right" as possible, but it's a bit difficult if people disagree on what direction the right portrayal is supposed to take.
That behavior is only characteristic of Dark Age Falcons though, if I'm following correctly, no? The stuff I'm writing spans roughly between 3040 to 3070 currently, with plans to expend to the 3080s, but my knowledge of the Jihad and subsequent eras is lacking, so I'll be focusing most of my efforts on the first segment and Pre-Jihad Falcons will be featured for the most part. That would be the "Old Lore" you mention, right?
I bet if you sold a work of fiction in 1913 Germany that detailed exactly all the actions of their country in just 30 years they would laugh at such implausibility.
Every time I see someone complain about the direction the fiction is taking making no sense, I'm reminded of this very old post.
The situation of Malvina is just a joke, in such a progressive traditionalist clan, someone would have challenged her... But there were NO takers. The entire clan just seemed okay with what was going on.
I also see the Mongol doctrine as a rebound from generations of trying to impose Clan Warrior ethics on Spheroids who simply don't play by those rules. It's very much an "All right, no mor mister nice Clanner!" response - they tried being honorable. Now, you get one chance; after that, the Mongols are entirely happy to accept the peace of ashes.
Valaska, there are so many incorrect things about what you're saying, I don't even know where to start. Instead I'll simply say this: perhaps instead of relying on second- or third-hand accounts of the Jihad and Dark Age material, you could try actually reading it yourself so that you understand the series of events that led to the Mongols and Malvina's rise (check out stuff like the novels Flight of the Falcon and A Rending of Falcons, along with the various Jihad sourebooks and 3145 material). Who knows? You might even like it. As it stands, though, you're like a guy that blunders into a conversation about a TV show you've never watched, but have heard other people talk shit about, and declaring that it's dumb and unbelievable.
Valaska, there are so many incorrect things about what you're saying, I don't even know where to start. Instead I'll simply say this: perhaps instead of relying on second- or third-hand accounts of the Jihad and Dark Age material, you could try actually reading it yourself so that you understand the series of events that led to the Mongols and Malvina's rise (check out stuff like the novels Flight of the Falcon and A Rending of Falcons, along with the various Jihad sourebooks and 3145 material). Who knows? You might even like it. As it stands, though, you're like a guy that blunders into a conversation about a TV show you've never watched, but have heard other people talk shit about, and declaring that it's dumb and unbelievable.
The Clan system regularly creates these monsters. The Wolves had Marcos Radick, who was butchering civilians throughout Revival under Ulric's watch, and afterwards under the command of the two Spheroid Wolf Khans. Yet politics within the Wolf Clan blocked him from gaining power, so he killed dozens instead of thousands or tens of thousands. But when someone like Brett Andrews or Malvina Hazen actually do gain power...0
And lets remember that as brilliant as Marthe Pryde was about keeping her warriors directed at external threats instead of fighting among themselves, she still ordered mass killings of lower caste civilians during the Society uprising in the 3070s.
I'm sure if there was a large market for a 400-page volume 'Malvina Hazen and the Rise of the Mongol Doctrine in Clan Jade Falcon' there are some historically-minded writers at Catalyst that would love to tackle it.
But we gotta get to the action. And one thing Malvina does is bring the action.
I think you should read the Falcon Dark Age books again.
Every time I see someone complain about the direction the fiction is taking making no sense, I'm reminded of this very old post.
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=31591.0
One thing you have to understand about Malvina is that she's the ultimate expression of Might Makes Right. And the Clans are all about Might Makes Right. Don't like the work assignments? Challenge your superior to a fight, and if you beat him up enough, you win and you're right and the assignments change. Don't like your Star Commander's leadership? Fight him, and if you win, you're in charge. Want a factory or piece of land or something? Challenge the owners to a fight, and if you win, its yours.
Malvina is the ultimate expression of the Clan ideal, "Might is Right." If Clanners don't like what she's doing, then they have the right to try to stop her. If they can, then she's wrong and they're right. But so far she wins and thus, she's Right. Her direction is the Clan's direction.
And lets face it, trying to argue that the 3145 Falcons are wrong because it doesn't match with the 3050 fluff of them is pretty hinky in the first place. They've gone through the Jihad, been ejected from the Homeworlds due to the War of Reaving and the Society conflict and the enforced peace of Stone. That's 20 generations of change that the Falcons have gone through.
Marthe Pride didn't mass kill lower caste civilians, they killed Society agents.
There were ... no civilians caught in the killings ...
The worst she did was order the deaths of a few sphere scientists who had extensive contact with the society, who almost always turned out to be a part of or connected to the society.
"All right, no mor mister nice Clanner!"
Did you ever read Wars of Reaving?
Malvina isn't fighting a trial every thirty minutes because after she brutally killed the former Khan in a trial she systematically purged the entire Falcon touman of disloyal Warriors or those she thought would revolt or trial against her.
She is not stupid. She's ruthless, cruel, intelligent, well-equipped, and very, very angry.
Sorry Valaska I must agree with Kojak - it's obvious that you either haven't read the books in question, have forgotten all the pertinent information or are distorting in your head what was written in the books.
(Wars of Reaving, Flight of the Falcon, Blood of the Isle, Rending of Falcons, Bonfire of Worlds, Field Manual 3145)
... the destruction of a dome city containing 14 million civilian hostages ...
Alright, I opened up my copy of the Wars of Reaving to the part where Étienne starts rebelling. Saw a few things worth sharing.
Our first atrocity happens on Parakolia: Khan Marthe Pryde orders the destruction of a dome city containing 14 million civilian hostages, all because certain inhabitants *could* be carrying an airborne virus. (p.100, WoR)
The eradication of the Scientist Caste, and how many scientists were killed regardless of any actual proof, gets detailed on p. 103. The Society might have been an issue, but you have to wonder how many innocent people got caught in the crossfire.
Then page 108 talks about how the Watch was given full reign to kill anyone suspected of being an intelligence agent, "regardless of affiliation of pleas of innocence", and how "a brutal crackdown on intellectuals and media...cut a bloody swath".
Etc. etc.
So. The Falcons originally gave their civilians certain liberties when compared to other Clans, liberties that a core of scientists fully exploited. The Falcons tried cracking down on the scientists, but that earned them the ire of their "new" majoritarily spheroid civilians. Obviously the Falcons couldn't allow that, so the Watch started offing those civilians as well. Then things started spiraling out of control until you have Khans getting assassinated and units like the Sokar getting built.
And that, right there, is how you go from being a "traditional" Clan that treats its lower castemen well, to a paranoid Clan that will do anything to keep the ruling caste in power. An evolution into their Dark Age selves comes to no surprise from that point on.
And let's not forget the signature infantry unit for the Falcons in TRO3085 were anti-infantry cops (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/599/clan-anti-infantry-clan-jade-falcon-police). They sync up nicely with the Sokar.
Interesting...I've been slowly putting together a collection of third-line Falcon units to run as a Watch group meant to be used against civilian riots, insurrections, and pirates, and your description makes it sound like an Onager could work well here. It would provide a Big and Scary for intimidation purposes, and it sounds like that weapons load would be good against armored and unarmored units alike.
Interesting...I've been slowly putting together a collection of third-line Falcon units to run as a Watch group meant to be used against civilian riots, insurrections, and pirates, and your description makes it sound like an Onager could work well here. It would provide a Big and Scary for intimidation purposes, and it sounds like that weapons load would be good against armored and unarmored units alike.
So I'm finally reading TRO 3150. The Roadrunner was... the Emerald Harrier?! That's extremely interesting to me. Can you imagine early Falcon warriors being told that they'll be piloting a 15 ton deathtrap? Not what you expect, though I suppose the post-Culling times were desperate enough to warrant it.It's also in XTRO:Republic I, where you find out it was used in more than just the post-culling era.
So I'm finally reading TRO 3150. The Roadrunner was... the Emerald Harrier?! That's extremely interesting to me. Can you imagine early Falcon warriors being told that they'll be piloting a 15 ton deathtrap? Not what you expect, though I suppose the post-Culling times were desperate enough to warrant it.
Of course not! True Falcons choose the 65-ton deathtrap of the Hellbringer!
(More seriously, I'm guessing the early Falcons went through a period of teenage experimentation. While some might find solace in necrosia, and while the Jaguars were becoming addicted to moustache wax [all the better for moustache twirling], the Falcons tried Hellion-like speed freakery. Unlike the Hellions, the Falcons came out of that rebellious phase - after all, you couldn't mount enough weapons on light 'Mechs to be worthwhile ;) )
Refutement, exhibit A:
;)
Structurally badass, but the paint job looks like that bird just took a most hideous dump. ;D
I just had an epiphany, that I think my fellow Falcons might be well able to make use of, given some of our preferred Omnis.
There are no hot-running flashbulbs. There are only players who don't know/forget the following two facts:
1: TacOps, page 102. You can dial down the output of almost any energy weapon, with heat output also going down at a 1/1 damage/heat ratio.
2: Most Clan energy weapons have damage potential to spare.
A Hellbringer Prime that only cares about movement heat at long range, while slamming out twin 13-point bolts until the cows come home, a Warhawk Prime that can alternate between triple 13-point shots or quad 10-pointers...a Nova that's putting out twelve 5-pointers every round...I think you can see where this is going. ^-^
Bah! True followers of Turkina know that it is Falcon Skill that has kept us at the pinnacle of Clan Society, and part of skill is knowing how all the buttons in your mech work! Those who know only how to set the throttle to full and mash the alpha strike button belong with the Jaguars.
However, all your opponent needs to do is say "Nope, don't agree to this optional rule."
However, all your opponent needs to do is say "Nope, don't agree to this optional rule."
Weirdo, I challenge your un-Falcon-like approach. We do not shy away from the heat of battle! We are Jade Falcon - Falcon Sight sees the advantage of heavier firepower, while Falcon Sweat cools our mighty tactical intellects. We do not shy from burns and death in battle! We do not pretend - like our Care Bear brethren - to embrace coldness, sloth, and inaction! Falcon Talons tear like fiery swords, matching the heat of our cockpits!
Who is with me, brethren and sistren of the Turkina!
Don't Falcon harder or Falcon smarter. Falcon both!
I feel like this is a good Falcon motto, actually. The way I started to grow to...well, tolerate the Falcons was through the lens that they are the "Frank Grimes" of the Clan. Nobody works as hard to be the smartest and the best of the Clans as the Falcons do.
Remember trothkin, that SRM Carrier may be crewed by freeborn degenerate surats who can barely grunt the requisite screeching, but they are still Jade Falcons, and thus inherently superior to any mechwarriors from other Clans, much less a spheroid realm!
Remember trothkin, that SRM Carrier may be crewed by freeborn degenerate surats who can barely grunt the requisite screeching, but they are still Jade Falcons, and thus inherently superior to any mechwarriors from other Clans, much less a spheroid realm!
Hueys and Urbie IICs - point-matches made in heaven!
Exactly! On that note, I need to see if I can find more surprisingly useful utter crap I can populate my second-line stuff with.
Exactly. Now if you can find any evidence that the Falcons actually kept any Peregrine VTOLs they captured... ^-^
Wait, I've got it! Utter crap compared to any true Clan unit, cheap enough to be obtained by the Kappas, just barely effective enough that it might earn its Work Credits back in one less battle than it will likely survive...Barouche! (http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/3793/barouche-military-transport-standard) ;DLooks good for strategic campaigns where it can carry a Star of Ironholds, but it can't deploy them in combat
Sure it can. You just have to be really careful, and they'll likely have to travel the last bit under their own power.Ok, you got me there. But what caught my eye is pg 64 & 106 of Alpha Strike. It has a CT25. The CT text says any cargo is deployed using the "Units as Cargo" rules from pg 64. That section says it can only unload 1 unit per turn (so a single point of BA) and that unit is only combat ready after 30 turns.
Remember, "Can't" and "It's a Bad Idea" are two very different things. :)
Check the errata. CT and IT are freely interchangeable at the start of any game. :)Well, I definitely missed that one. [face palm]
Remember when I first saw that the coolant trucks had CT8, my first thought was to load them up with battle armor and have them burst out Kool-Aid style.
Dunno if this has come up before, but is there anything to suggest the Falcons used captured IS battle armor? I'm vaguely aware of the GD Surat, but I was thinking the Sloth fits the "bad idea" mold, and might spark trials of refusal by those assigned to use it.
I wonder what the cubic volume of a half-ton bay is. In truly bad weather, it might be big enough to cram your sleeping bag instead of sleeping outside.It's at least 494,000cm^3, because that's the requisite volume for 500 kilos of quality beer.
Onager | --> | Shrike |
Flamberge | --> | Jade Hawk |
Shadow Cat II | --> | Gyrfalcon |
Night Hawk? | --> | Eyrie |
Was trying to solve a little mystery and think I might have a plausible theory ...
Onager --> Shrike Flamberge --> Jade Hawk Shadow Cat II --> Gyrfalcon Night Hawk? --> Eyrie
Personally, I think the Eyrie was an attempt to fix the Erinyes. It was clearly successful, but I imagine that playing a documentary about the Reaving era was a powerful motivator.
The funniest part of the Rifleman -> Gyrfalcon comparison is that the Gyrfalcon is also like 50% tougher thanks to its Reflective armor. Literally better in every single way.
I think your 'standard' is about two Trinaries short ...
Just for strategic mobility reasons, I'd say go Broadsword, Sassanid, Titan, trip Union-Cs. You can run it off of a couple of Invaders or Tramps, or a Star Lord.
The Sassinid entry indicates the Falcons don't have a lot of that particular ship - so I imagine the implication there is that the Falcon versions of their Unions/Overlords have 'Mech bays converted to Elemental areas?
I also suppose it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to think of a lot of those Unions described in JFSB were actually Sassinids... seeing as a) FASA hadn't invented it yet and b) perhaps ComStar didn't recognize them as a different vessel at that early stage.
So my wife gave me a Titanium Series First Order Stormtrooper Transport for Valentine's, and while I have no interest in it as a Star Wars bit, it is of a good size to use in Battletech, and might look good in green. What's a good orbit-to-surface assault shuttle the Falcons might use for rapid deployment of Elementals?
(Canon designs only, of course)
Forgetting not the mighty UrbanMech IIC ...Bets anyone?
As of the 3080s, the Falcons produce:
Locust IIc
Rifleman IIc
Thunderbolt IIc (deployed for protoype/evaluation purposes and doesn't appear to have gained much traction)
Marauder IIc
Jade Falcon Forever!
Falcons! The voices from the Remembrance call to us!
What is the state of the Jade Falcon vision and philosophy after 3081? I realize the material and political state of the Clan... they had been halted at Tukayyid, caught up in pointless infighting with Clan Wolf and Diamond Shark in the interim period, humiliated by the failures of the lesser clans during the Great Refusal and Operation Bulldog and denied coming any closer than the moon to the jewel Terra during the Jihad.
Materially, the Clan is depleted to the point that any major operations are impossible. Politically, they have been able to keep their slice on the Inner Sphere and settle in to running those worlds.
But the Crusader philosophy and the great vision of the ancestors in the Remembrance seems to have hit an insurmountable obstacle. The entire raison d'être of invading the Inner Sphere was to take back that which rightfully belongs to us... that shining jewel Terra. So how has this vision and creed evolved with the historical events since 3050? Have the Falcons been forced to reinterpret their scriptures? Did they start to accept "Terra" as being a metaphor for simply returning to the Inner Sphere more generally? Most invasion clans have disintegrated and reintegrated into the Inner Sphere (Ghost Bear, Wolf in Exile, Goliath Scorpion, Snow Raven, Nova Cat)... they mix bloodlines with freebirth and share power, taking up their customs and forgetting the Way of the Clans. The disappointments of the Clan Invasion have been so destructive and demoralizing that these Clans completely lost any reason to continue existing in the traditional, corporate way, and they have evolved and diffused into their host cultures and societies.
In truth, only Jade Falcon remain on the pure path... but what does it mean now that the original goal is beyond reach?
For the sake of the argument, let's leave out the 3145 Jade Falcon situation and Malvina Hazen (I am not sure that she really is a revival of the Crusader mission, anyway... she champions "win at any cost" but lacks the spiritual foundations of the Crusader way).
OOC: Looking at the (end) Classic era 3080 AD, my two cents is that "Terra" is a metaphor now, and the Way of the Clans, is the key now, developing and enriching base Clan Society, centering around new permanent "dominions" in the Inner Sphere, not merely a "Occupation Zone" (more like, for the Falcons to fully move in, so to speak) keep the Eugenics Programme in its entirety, but also integrate conquered worlds populations to be contributing to society, just do not change the government like the bears, then anything Clan, slowing starts to get diluted and will wither away
However, we get the reader's view into her innermost thoughts, so we know that she's an omnicidal maniac who is just using the Falcons towards her own goals. I don't see that ending well for the Jade Falcons, with the Clan either destroyed or neutered.
Or suffering yet another internal conflict to remove her.
Or suffering yet another internal conflict...
I proposed an ending for Malvina many moons ago at a developers session. No idea if that's still in consideration or not....
According to FM:3145 Turkina Keshik is 100% Omni, same for the Raptor Keshik (Malvina's command Keshik). Those are the only two Keshiks in the Clan, but the Clusters of the Galaxy Commanders of Gamma, Epsilon, and Delta Galaxies are also 100% Omni. The rest are half or less Omni, Vau 43%, Zeta 50%, Omega 42%, Kappa 15%, Rho 25%, Iota 20%, and Lambda is Omni-less.
Wow, really? All this time I thought she was riding a Shrike 3, but that's incompatible with those figures. How many of those Omnis did the Falcons buy from the Sea Foxes?Malvina herself may be piloting a Shrike, with the rest of the unit in Omnis. No idea how many omnis needed to be bought/traded for, but they also likely have some that are leftovers or salvage from combat with other Clans. And in this era of scarcity, most Clans seem to be hording their Omnis in their premier units. Just because a non-omni is a good design doesn't mean that stereotypical Clan warrior doesn't want an Omni. It just means he or she will be less pissed off to not have an Omni.
Malvina herself may be piloting a Shrike, with the rest of the unit in Omnis. No idea how many omnis needed to be bought/traded for, but they also likely have some that are leftovers or salvage from combat with other Clans. And in this era of scarcity, most Clans seem to be hording their Omnis in their premier units. Just because a non-omni is a good design doesn't mean that stereotypical Clan warrior doesn't want an Omni. It just means he or she will be less pissed off to not have an Omni.
When were those percentages published? Potentially before the developers put out the Falcon totem line.
Given the prestige involved, I'd be prepared to head-canon treating the totem designs as equivalent to omnis for that purpose. "Look, you can have this old Mad Dog, or this Gyrfalcon. What do you want?"
When were those percentages published? Potentially before the developers put out the Falcon totem line.
Given the prestige involved, I'd be prepared to head-canon treating the totem designs as equivalent to omnis for that purpose. "Look, you can have this old Mad Dog, or this Gyrfalcon. What do you want?"
When were those percentages published? Potentially before the developers put out the Falcon totem line.
Given the prestige involved, I'd be prepared to head-canon treating the totem designs as equivalent to omnis for that purpose. "Look, you can have this old Mad Dog, or this Gyrfalcon. What do you want?"
That seems unlikely, that the Keshik wouldn't use ANY of the new 'totem' designs at least. I'd bet on that being incorrect, but I'll have to check when I get home and see if there's any mention other than Malvina of Eyries and such serving in Keshik roles.Well, one of the notable pilots for the Eyrie, Lyza Helmar, is said to be a part of the Raptor Keshik.
Shrike 3
Especially since most of their totem units are great 'Mechs.
Increasingly, "Omni %" strikes me as a terrible way to describe a unit in general, let alone as an expression of quality of equipment. Equipment Ratings A/B/C/D/etc. with different RAT mods for each strikes me as a much better way of handling it.
Omni-flexibility comes at a cost though. More a logistical one as if you want to have various configs for the world you're dropping on its more cargo space taken up and most DropShips have pathetic amounts of cargo. And then its a case of "Okay do we pack a gauss rifle for the battle on the plains we want to fight...or do we pack some ammo for the AC-20's for the city we'll need to fight in.
So how is the fiction coming of CJF post 3145 ? I am looking for any data, no matter how small, or even a summarised update from members on how my beloved Clan is going, and up to date official IS map would be good. Also how are sourcebooks coming ?
Omni % hails from when Omnis were the kings of the battlefield. Part of that fact is due to being able to reconfigure your mech due to battlefield conditions. (Remember that Omni reconfiguration goes way beyond the stock models, they are just the most regular used models which pods are preconfigured for).
Planning a long campaign where resupply might be hard? Change to energy weapons only.
Extra hot planet? Change to heat-efficicient weapons.
Cold planet? Pack some extra lasers (as Phelan did in Bred for War) to exploit the extra cooling.
Urban assault? Pack short range heavy hitting weapons.
Sniping trip? Reconfigure for long range weaponry.
And so forth.
While a standard Mech might be better individually in a normal short fight - how does it stand up for a various prolonged campaigns in differing conditions and situations?
But face it - being able to reuse the same Omni models over and over doesn't sell TROs which is why you get totem mechs... Even if Clan doctrine is built around the Omni... But try telling marketing people that. :P
Øystein
Who came up with those %s along with TPTB.
I just had a look at the Shrike 3 and ye gods that thing is a terrifying heat hog. Even if you add 4 tons of heatsinks its a monster, 54 heat before moving if you look at the alpha button from the energy weapons alone.
You'd think that Malvina would choose a more efficient weapon mix rather than the 3 which just slaps a pair of ER Peepers on and sets the atmosphere on fire if you press the big red Alpha button. But then again this is Malvina Hazen we're talking about here. The word 'balanced' or 'efficient' or 'sane' most certinally need not apply.
I was surprised as well- the novels gave me the impression she had medium lasers in the shoulder mounts, not larges, which means saving a lot of weight for heat sinks if you go that route and makes for a pretty good Mech (basically base it off the Shrike 2 rather than the 1). That it has the larges ruins what could otherwise be a good Mech- it can't use the long-range energy weapon battery together, which means you'll likely never use the lasers, so why bother having them to begin with?I vaguely remember thinking she started with the UAC/10 version as well (Shrike 2) and then she just went with ERPPCs when the arm got whacked off at one point in the novels. The only problem is if you just pack in the heat sinks you end up without any crit space, but 4 free tons. You could dump that into armoring various components, at least that doesn't need extra crit space.
VERY disappointed in that one. The standard Shrike is kind of fun, the 2 is okay, and the 3 is just shy of unusable.
I vaguely remember thinking she started with the UAC/10 version as well (Shrike 2) and then she just went with ERPPCs when the arm got whacked off at one point in the novels. The only problem is if you just pack in the heat sinks you end up without any crit space, but 4 free tons. You could dump that into armoring various components, at least that doesn't need extra crit space.
I vaguely remember thinking she started with the UAC/10 version as well (Shrike 2) and then she just went with ERPPCs when the arm got whacked off at one point in the novels. The only problem is if you just pack in the heat sinks you end up without any crit space, but 4 free tons. You could dump that into armoring various components, at least that doesn't need extra crit space.
Yes, but that should already be figured in with the Clan organisations and their transport assets (there is a reason these have never been codified) and as such already factored in.
Look at how Phelan Ward - while being on the run during the CJF/CW War in 3057-58, was able to reconfigure several Galaxies to pure energy weapons for the assault on the CJF forces on a arctic world. Which means he had the supplies with him as part of the regular Galaxy transport makeup.
Øystein
Hmmm. Four tons... tempted to play with IJJs, combined with the partial wing though I'm not sure how that works out. I like the armored component idea though- as often as Black Rose takes a pummeling, a bit of extra protection on important bits like the gyro and noodle aren't bad ideas.Unfortunately if you try to go with IJJ, to get a useful number of them (6) is gonna cost you 16 tons (8 to switch from JJ to IJJ, and 8 for the two extra ones). Granted at that point you've got twin ERPPCs, twin ERMLs, and an LRM10 jumping 7 hexes in a 95-tonner, but you had to ditch the UAC-10s, ammo, and targeting computer to get there. And you only sink 25 heat.
*sigh* Malvina, man... setting up the Clan for annihilation AND her Mech sucks. Screw you, lady. ;D
(I'll post it later in the design forum, but some tinkering with the Shrike 1 saw the Ultras go out in favor of a Gauss rifle, the LRM for a couple of SRM racks, a flamer added, etc., and to my surprise it became an Executioner Prime With Added Scariness. It's a blast- I may never use another assault Mech. ;) )
Maybe yes, maybe no. First, all the galaxies participating were reorganized prior to the Trial so regular doesn't really apply (Phelan took Natasha's Alpha Galaxy including her 13th Wolf Guards and Ulric's Golden Keshik which was expanded to a full Cluster, etc). Second, the timetable of Ulric's plan didn't leave room for the Wolves to take time off to get resupplied from the Wolf OZ after each battle. And third, Ulric's plan was for Phelan's forces to eventually make a break for the Lyran border and go into permanent exile which would cut him off from getting reliable supply shipments from the Homeworlds so it makes sense that he would bring more supplies than 'normal'.What Øystein is saying is that if you know you're going to fighting on planet X, you take enough supplies to fight effectively in any terrain there, or be prepared to fight in sub-optimal conditions. If that means taking an extra supply dropship or two, you plan that before even departing so you have what you need.
The only additional supplies they were able to bring is what the Potemkin-class Full Moon would be bringing (along with everything else it was transporting from the Homeworlds-lower caste, sibkos, a copy of the Clans' genetic legacies, etc). It wouldn't be until 3061 that the Exiled Wolves would be able to start manufacturing new Clan-tech after capturing manufacturing equipment from the Ghost Bears on Utrecht in late 3060 (It takes time to get back and set up so I reckon 3061 at best).
The best ERPPC Shrike I've been able to come up with replaced the ERLLs with Plasma Cannons. Maybe the LRMs as well; it's been a while since I've looked at it.
It ended up being a little more capable against conventional units, which is something the Shrike always had an issue with. Plus, setting fires to give Falcon BA cover is always fun.
Tact? We are Falcons! For us, tact is shooting someone and scorning their corpse, as opposed to scorning then and then shooting them.
AE scorn?
Good lord, the Falcons have rediscovered the internet! :o
At least we don't have to worry about them going on Twitter. No true Falcon can type out "SCREEE!!!" and keep it under 140 characters.
Smoke Jaguars make a useful proxy for Kzinti O0I stand entirely and pleasantly corrected. Damn, now I need a Jag unit.
At least we don't have to worry about them going on Twitter. No true Falcon can type out "SCREEE!!!" and keep it under 140 characters.
Now we just need to find some taciturn Falcons. :)
Now we just need to find some taciturn Falcons. :)
"Taciturn? We are Jade Falcon- we cannot even SPELL that."
Who needs to spell when you can count? #clanbankers
"...yeah, we should work on learning that better, too. All the old learning guides we have are from the Smoke Jaguars, and it mostly teaches how to tally up casualty statistics."
I always thought you guys learned how to count from the owl in the tootsiepop commercial. How many scientists does it take to get to the center of a society? *bang* one *bang* two *explosion* Three!!
Well, have successfully completed a proof of concept for Epsilon Galaxy scheme.
The Grand Plan includes a Cluster: 1st Falcon Jagers
- Trinary (Omnis, Second-Lines, and BA)
- Binary (heavy vees, recon vees)
- Trinary (two Stars of BA, star of transport vehicles)
Mix of metal and plastic. As there is no longer any spare space on my shelves, they'll no doubt have to Trial for room ...
I am behind on the lore and just now getting caught up. Was it ever revealed who or what killed Marthe Pryde?
Check out Wars of Reaving. The bombers allegedly had ties to Loki.
Which, it's important to note, is a reference to the terrorist organization and NOT to the Omnimech, though both are known to cause unfortunate and messy explosions when Jade Falcon commanders least want to see them.
So..the mall food court?
"SAVASHRI! My food is cold! I declare a Trial of Grievance against this 'Panda Express'. With what forces will you defend?"
"Ah... well... er... orange chicken?"
"Fool, I have heard this epithet a thousand times. And it's supposed to be GREEN chicken. Prepare yourself."
Pics when you're done or it didn't really happen.
The problem is stopping me from posting pics, quiaff?
Nope. Got to finish my Heavy Hell Raisers & post them, then Falcon Power!
Which, it's important to note, is a reference to the terrorist organization and NOT to the Omnimech, though both are known to cause unfortunate and messy explosions when Jade Falcon commanders least want to see them.
I'm always in favor of the Flamberge.
Shrikes are known for their habit of catching insects and small vertebrates and impaling their bodies on thorns, the spikes on barbed-wire fences, or any available sharp point. This helps them to tear the flesh into smaller, more conveniently-sized fragments, and serves as a cache so that the shrike can return to the uneaten portions at a later time. This same behaviour of impaling insects serves as an adaptation to eating the toxic lubber grasshopper, Romalea microptera. The bird waits for 1–2 days for the toxins within the grasshopper to degrade, then they can eat it.
Shrikes are territorial, and these territories are defended from other pairs. In migratory species a breeding territory is defended in the breeding grounds and a smaller feeding territory is established during migration and in the wintering grounds. Where several species of shrike exist together, competition for territories can be intense.
Shrikes make regular use of exposed perch sites, where they adopt a conspicuous upright stance. These sites are used in order to watch for prey items and to advertise their presence to rivals.
I've been away from CBT for about four years. Anything happen in the meantime to my beloved CJF?
I've been away from CBT for about four years. Anything happen in the meantime to my beloved CJF?
Well... we tried taking Tharkad. It didn't go great.
Malvina has been getting rid of people opposed to her, nothing new there...So. Nothing then. Welp, happy to hear Malvina is still in charge.
I want to add that Slowki Prime is a fantastic pocket assault. But you'll never use it because Slowki B is far less efficient but infinitely more hillarious.
I want to add that Slowki Prime is a fantastic pocket assault. But you'll never use it because Slowki B is far less efficient but infinitely more hillarious.
Anything but. With their range and its mobility, its capacity to skeet-shoot/plink hovers and VTOLs is amazing
That's why it's the world's most annoying thing
I come down about the same way on the medium lasers on the Avatar. I can see the point on the Flamberge, too. It just annoys me more than on the Avatar for whatever reason.
Of worth to mention: In 3146 the Falcons put Arc-Royal to the torch. That's a thing that happened.
WHo says we can't have nice things?
Pity they missed the next Empress Davion, but.
"Long ago, in a distant Successor State, I, Turkina, the batshit-crazy master of combat, unleashed an unspeakable invasion! But, a foolish colonel, wielding a magic deep-fryer and mustache, stepped forth to oppose me..."
Running a star of frontline veteran 3150 Falcons (Shrike, Gyrfalcon, Jade Hawk, Eyrie, and Flamberge) along with a support Star of artillery, vehicles, and a Loki II-B on Megamek. Opponent is using regular skill IS tech, randomly selected, 1.5 my BV, using plenty of combined arms. It's heinous.
The Loki II-B just dropped a Long Tom shell into a grove of trees that I saw contained a mechanized infantry platoon and a Panther. Suck it! Well... the damage output screen was FOUR SCREENS long for determining what happened- I caught six infantry platoons, two battle armor squads, the Panther, and a Schrek in the blast, killing all but the Schrek (Panther took an ammo crit).
I've been laughing for five minutes straight. The Hel-B just committed a war crime. ;D
Turning point of the game: During a base-contact six-Mech fracas, the mostly-healthy Warhawk caused eventually-fatal damage to the Hel, but the Shrike hit it in the head from directly behind with an Ultra/10 shot AND a medium laser. What had been the centerpiece of the Viper pincer attack ended up instead dying suddenly, surprisingly, and (to our amusement) due to my opponent predicting that after the cannon hit 'no way you do that twice'...I didn't think you were allowed to have that sort of luck...? ;) Sounds like a great game, in any event.
Hypothetical question: do you think the Alpha Galaxy of 3145's time would be in the same colors as their fore bearers in the Jihad (and thus conveniently represented on CSO)?
Who is here hanging out, just ready to become ilClan?
So any bets on how long before Stephanie Chistu and Noritomo Helmer are the Khan and saKhan?
We did have clan Jade Wolf briefly ... clan Brown Falcon?
No love for the Viking IIC?
Or Cuchulainn BA - imagine a Cuchulainn(mixed tech)?
Don't get me wrong, I love the Viking IIC more every time I use it, but it's way too slow to be a proper Falcon 'Mech. Maybe if it had jump jets...
...isn't the Cuchulainn already mixtech?
Sounds falcon. Nice mech you got there..be a shame if someone designed it for war crimes.
I hope she's not very good. It would honor the Clan for her to show such disdain for a profession that involves lying for the benefit of the lower castes.NOt from what Isaw. She was in the last two minutes or so of the movie and the character was a bubble-headed blonde.
[snip] was a bubble-headed blonde.
NOt from what Isaw. She was in the last two minutes or so of the movie and the character was a bubble-headed blonde.She's not bad on the eyes:
If any Falcons are interested, I posted a Combat Manual Lite for Jade Falcon in the Fan Rules forum. I could really use some JF fans to loom it over.
If any Falcons are interested, I posted a Combat Manual Lite for Jade Falcon in the Fan Rules forum. I could really use some JF fans to loom it over.
Do you have a link? Been looking but couldn't find it.
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=63772.120
Was Joanna's bloodhouse ever mentioned?
Was Joanna's bloodhouse ever mentioned?Because of her ability to drink, her bloodhouse is probably Buhallin.
Eyries are good skirmishers. Very good vehicle hunters, with large numbers of small weapons to immobilize and Talons to exploit range 0 physical attacks where vehicles are incapable of responding. Jump 7 is very hard to hit; use it.
Gyrfalcons are the Rifleman 3N on four kinds of steroids, speed, and cocaine. They can run or jump for a +4 to hit depending on what you need your attacker mod to be, they have an armament very similar to that of a Rifleman (except obviously Clan, which means your ideal engagement range is 25 hexes not 10), and it has Reflective armor so the usually natural predator of fast jumpy things (pulse lasers) are almost totally useless.
Shrikes are... fast for Assaults (5 hexes). I personally enjoy the one with the Ultra/10, but the 2 column for clusters is just a little bit too unreliable for the twin Ultra/5 version to be very good. I love the whole look, but you can make the argument that it's not very good.
Who's Raptor Keshik again? Which Galaxy?
I did manage to resolve that Gyrfalcon Galaxy is just the DA-era name for Delta; they abandoned the green & yellow trim for metallic with green trim.
I realize that Keshiks are fluid, almost ad-hoc units. But does Turkina Keshik st exist in DA? Or was it desolved when Raptor Keshik was formed?
I realize that Keshiks are fluid, almost ad-hoc units. But does Turkina Keshik st exist in DA? Or was it desolved when Raptor Keshik was formed?
The Jade Falcons have only ever had one or two Keshiks, right? I know some Clans have more.
Yeah, some clans have a keshik per galaxy, but the Falcons only ever had one until the advent of the Raptor Keshik.
Has Raptor Keshik's color scheme ever been described in any novels? "The Anvil" mentioned pro-Mongol Falcons wear black uniforms and ER:3145 shows Raptor's logo is the Eye of Horus, but I've not seen mention of 'Mech colors.
What I've realized: I like the Falcons. They represent the heart of the Clans, to me; not the best of the Clans, necessarily, but the most important parts. Not the Jaguars' hamfisted heavyweights and their scream and leap philosophy, not the Wolves' scheming practicality, not the Bears'... whatever the Bears have. The Falcons embody the base essence of a Clan warrior: speed, fury, skill and pride; and their refusal to compromise their honour codes and beliefs even when everyone around them is cheating their honourless asses off really endears me to them, because they realize that that means they have to work twice as hard and be twice as good as everybody else, and they believe they can pull it off.
But eight rounds.... for a BOOM cannon if hit!
Loose that arm, your fallback weapons are a pair of ER Mediums...
Sure that built-in CASE will protect you, but a lucky hit robs you...
TT
It would be totally in Falcon character to not fully trust what a bunch of Wolf-lead scouts were telling them.
It would be totally in Falcon character to not fully trust what a bunch of Wolf-lead scouts were telling them.
That was a weird midnight question on a phone. Finally got to my PC to check FM3145.... aand there's no Falcon Guards listed under any Galaxy among Jade Falcon forces.
Guess they're dead and buried.
Anyway, still wondering about their paint schemes. Per Camospecs, Gamma Galaxy uses appropriate camo with jade trim, and since Falcon Guards aren't noted anywhere specifically, i assume they use the same?
The Falcons didn't actually gain any ships, it's that Snow Raven ships were folded into the Falcon command chain. All the Falcon Aegoi in the sourcebooks were already Falcon ships before this. I swear, if Di Tron Industries still exists in any form in the modern era, those two Clans are their greatest advertisements.their only intact shipyard branch became Ioto Industries. producer of the Commonwealth class during the succession wars, and the Fox and Molnjir class warships post-invasion.
Just curious here, do you prefer the current (3053-3075 ish) deployment of front-line and second-line clusters in the same galaxy, or do your prefer the galaxy's units to be all front-line or all second-line?
I want to see Malvina tear Alaric Wolf's body out of his cockpit on Terra's blood-soaked sands and cry out in victory.YES YES YES
Malvina is a traitor, not a proper Falcon at all.
Malvina represents the penultimate development of CJF and the clans generally.
The ultimate development of the Clans would be them being reabsorbed into Inner Sphere society.
If Malvina becomes ilKhan, the most likely outcome is the Clans (including her CJF opponents) simply moving the goalposts, so to speak.
If your metric for understanding the Clans is “purity” everything since the return has been “devolution.”
We know her daughter/pet has a knife now. That would be an interesting plot twist.
Yeah what an utter fizzle that would be.
Comparing Cynthy to a stage prop seems appropriate. By the same token, she could easily be a red herring.
My heart tells me that Cynthy has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Malvina may rule the fate of many - hers not least.
Others above seem to suggest something closer to BT’s Grima Wormtongue
snip
Yep, and that's exactly why her death is guaranteed from a narrative viewpoint.Well, there's a chance someone deposes Malvina and the Falcons then become the IlClan. But that does seem a smidgen unlikely.
I'd also argue that her ruling the Falcons is also a guarantee that the ilClan will not be Clan Jade Falcon.
Devlin Stone is playing a kingmaker at the moment and has picked someone to ally the Republic with, and it doesn't seem likely he'd pick even traditional Falcons.
Really, IMO, there's only one option, and that's Alaric Whatever-his-last-name-is-at-the-moment and the Wolves.To be honest, i've started having slight doubts about that. I suspect there might be someone else and Alaric comes contesting this choice.
Really, IMO, there's only one option, and that's Alaric Whatever-his-last-name-is-at-the-moment and the Wolves.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: if the Wolves become ilClan, Alaric's tenure as ilKhan will last approximately as long as Elias Crichell's, and then he'll be replaced swiftly and violently by the new ilKhan, Anastasia Kerensky.I'd imagine Alaric is actually smart enough to be aware of this possibility...
I've said it before and I'll say it again: if the Wolves become ilClan, Alaric's tenure as ilKhan will last approximately as long as Elias Crichell's, and then he'll be replaced swiftly and violently by the new ilKhan, Anastasia Kerensky.
I was left with the impression that she's now loyal to him. Besides, power never really seemed to be her goal.And if it were, her past with herself proved that she was not ready to handle it.
The early Succession Wars, the Jihad, and the Wars of Reaving were the result of Malvina-like thinking.In other words, history demonstrates that Malvina-like thinking is the rule rather than the exception; at least according to your account.
Would be cool to see where the story goes with Terra becoming a worthless hunk of rock.That%u2019s exactly what Terra would become, symbolically, if Malvina conquered it; I mean, regardless of her actually devastating the planet. Malvina %u201Dwinning%u201D would be so fundamentally unpalatable to Clan Society that it would have to quit the game altogether (as I said above, moving the goalposts). Through everything, the Clans have held on to the Hidden Hope myth, in one form or another, and that, and the IS equivalent myth, would take a body blow from which it probably could not recover if Malvina was able to make a serious claim that she turned out to be The Chosen One.
That%u2019s exactly what Terra would become, symbolically, if Malvina conquered it; I mean, regardless of her actually devastating the planet. Malvina %u201Cwinning%u201D would be so fundamentally unpalatable to Clan Society that it would have to quit the game altogether (as I said above, moving the goalposts). Through everything, the Clans have held on to the Hidden Hope myth, in one form or another, and that, and the IS equivalent myth, would take a body blow from which it probably could not recover if Malvina was able to make a serious claim that she turned out to be The Chosen One.
If Devlin really gets to decide this. the question becomes why not just hand over the keys now? Unless the Third Republic was always a shell game with the real point being that Star League is never, ever getting back together.
... which I think might be part of the problem. Cynthy’s just not much of a character in her own right and so we can’t easily think of anything to justify her existence other than (somehow) killing Malvina. The reason that would indeed be a fizzle is because Malvina is a well drawn character of significant narrative import (whether you like her or not) and disposing of her via Cynthy has no sense of proportion.
Then the writers realize that everybody caught on too soon and dropped that plotline, letting all the Arthur Steiner-Davion setup fizzle out.
Good point. Was it due to people catching on too quickly, though, or a conscious effort on behalf of the writers to move the narrative arc away from yet another "Steiner-Davion saves the day" story line?
Why would you need to convert?
I forget, can LB-X cannons use the TacOps double-fire rules, or is it just standard ACs?
I have, used a Grand Summoner -C with a Loki Mk. II -A supported with double points of Nacon supporting a single point of Demo C's.
Lost against some Wolves that ran a Nova against me, mostly Warwolf -C ( 3 total ), a Skinwalker-B and a Shadow Cat II 2. They had 3 points of Cuchulainn and a pair of ancient ER Micro armed Toad units.
It was a double blind city fight...
TT
Bryan Young just posted the cover to his new CJF novel, Honor's Gauntlet on reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/battletech/comments/hb2psn/the_cover_to_my_battletech_book_honors_gauntlet/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/battletech/comments/hb2psn/the_cover_to_my_battletech_book_honors_gauntlet/)
Bryan Young just posted the cover to his new CJF novel, Honor's Gauntlet on reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/battletech/comments/hb2psn/the_cover_to_my_battletech_book_honors_gauntlet/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/battletech/comments/hb2psn/the_cover_to_my_battletech_book_honors_gauntlet/)
Looking at the sorts of vehicles the Jade Falcons produce themselves or purchase from the Sea Foxes and their roles. It seems like, except for possibly the Horde Clusters, vehicles are used primarily in combat support roles to free up Mechs for direct combat.
Nacons, Kites, and Balacs are used for scouting and spotting.
Oros and Pikes are used for AA defense.
Indras, APCs, Cardinals, and Kus are used for infantry transport and support.
Hadurs, Indras, Gurzils, Huitzilopochtlis, SM2s, and Snipers are used for artillery and fire support.
Skandas, Chalchiutotolins, Sokars, and Demolishers are used for garrison duty and urban warfare.
Also, VTOLs seem fairly common with Donars, Skadis, Hawk Moths, and Cardinals all in use.
Oh, and look, more Falcon hardware coming this Friday!
I think those are actually IS only. Much like S-G LRMs, you have to customize the ammo before you can shove it through a Clan launcher.
The NARC carrier then moves forward, tags the offender with a pod...and retribution is swift.
Thoughts?
I’ve had similar thoughts about the Nova CEWS. The surviving Homeworlds Clans should have adopted the technology on their mechs, not relegated it to Stone Lion vehicles. In honorable trials within and between Homeworlds Clans, the Nova CEWS are turned off. In blackout assaults against Tainted opponents, the gloves come off and the Nova CEWS are turned on.
I'd guess Abbadon Black base, drybrushed Leadbelcher, then the modern equivalent of Goblin Green or Snot Green for the contrast panels. How I intend to do mine.
Epsilon is the choice for people who want to do Delta, but fear yellow.
Now I'd do Delta with Citadel yellow contrast over light grey for the contrast panels.
Is not tacky! You just need to use a few goes with a dry brush.
Given:
- That the Falcons were at one point collaborators on the Savage Wolf with the Foxes, and possessed non-omni, ferro fibrous skinned early Mad Cat Mk IV's
- That Aiden Pryde is reffered to as the Jade Phoenix and is a notable Timber Wolf Pilot
- That the Jade Hawk was originally slated to be an Omni, but produced as a static mech
if we might not be seeing the Jade Phoenix as a Heavy Omnimech, a Falcon answer to the Timber Wolf.
Alternately, if it's not that, I'm betting some sort of vicious assault omni to deal with all the chonk that the Lyrans and Wolves and Horses can bring to play. Something more prestigious than a Shrike, newer than a Turkina.
...edgy teen writing a fan fiction unit...
Be honest. Can you name *any* facet of the Clans that doesn't fit into this category, especially anything written prior to 2000 or so?
Epsilon is my go-to Falcon scheme as well because it's easy to paint. Though I have considered experimenting with some of the DA-style schemes
I believe so.
Pour out a Fusionnaire, trothkin - the Summoner is no longer a Jade Falcon staple, and now only produced by the Horses. :'(
I believe so.
Pour out a Fusionnaire, trothkin - the Summoner is no longer a Jade Falcon staple, and now only produced by the Horses. :'(
We're Jade Falcons. We shoot change. >:Dand subsume it to your will.
I'm hoping for a fast assault, something along the lines of an updated, Falconlier Executioner or Gargoyle. We've got plenty of slow heavy hitters, I want something that can keep up with our Grand Summoners as well as our plethora of older fast Omnis.
Depends if you can pod mount talons.
I'm hoping for a fast assault, something along the lines of an updated, Falconlier Executioner or Gargoyle. We've got plenty of slow heavy hitters, I want something that can keep up with our Grand Summoners as well as our plethora of older fast Omnis.
Well I say it's about time Summoner is no longer Jade Falcon staple. It was so long Jade Falcon staple that it made no sense.
Uh, what exactly do you call a Shrike, if it's not something that fits all of these criteria?
If so, I think that's a sad degeneration. There is a reason people keep going back to 3025 and 3050.
Classic designs > wing shard nonsense et al.
We still make Hellbringers, quiaff? ???
The Hierofalcon is a very good Omni. I'm pretty sure it's the first outright Omni with a Partial Wing?
Not the Omni. Like the Cougar, all the winged Flamberges are non-Omni variants.
You're trying to be silly, aren't you...That's Kit's default operating mode
You're trying to be silly, aren't you...
Partial Partial Wings have all the coolness of the real thing, like snazzy art, but none of the crunch.
So the emphasis was on "trying". Gotcha.
Come think of it just like Summoner looks like Omni version of Thunderbolt, Hellbringer looks like Omni version of Warhammer. That must had been intentional design choice.A Warhammer from the front, an Archer from the side.
Michael Hiner, a Griffin notable Mechwarrior in the Recognition Guide vol. I, is listed in the database. As is Alishay Glass and Jan (Muller). And Nathaniel Carlson and Daniel Daley and.. I'm going to stop checking now :).
By the way, talking about Pryde. Are they any known characters that were created from Aidan Pryde's genes? Of course they wouldn't have Pryde bloodname because as we all know it's gene mother's bloodname that they are allowed to fight over.
... you mean besides Diana Pryde?
By the way, talking about Pryde. Are they any known characters that were created from Aidan Pryde's genes? Of course they wouldn't have Pryde bloodname because as we all know it's gene mother's bloodname that they are allowed to fight over.
It would surely be interesting if they gave Archer Pryde Jade Phoenix because it's brand new mech. Sure I could see him get some other mech instead but still.The 'gene mother' can be a male warrior. The term simply denotes whose genes were inserted into the egg cell. That part of the process is I believe possible even with today's tech.
By the way, talking about Pryde. Are they any known characters that were created from Aidan Pryde's genes? Of course they wouldn't have Pryde bloodname because as we all know it's gene mother's bloodname that they are allowed to fight over.
Ah I see. I didn't know about that but that is very interesting. I quess they need to do that time to time.That's how the Wolf-Coyote sharing of Kufahl and Kerensky genes work in honor of Dana's and Andrey's relationship. The 'Yotes have to use the Kerensky genes as genefather, while the Wolves have to use Kufahl as the genefather. So that way they don't have to worry about another Clan taking up some of the limited slots allotted to each Bloodhouse.
Wolves: "We're the IlClan!"
Other IS clans: "So what?"
Wolves: "We're the IlClan!"
Other IS clans: "So what?"
Other IS Clans: and greatly weakened by your conquest. Your time as IlClan will be ... short.
I'm on board with the Mongol philosophy, insofar as I totally get "I'm mad as hell and not taking any more!"
But Malvina can eat a lithobraking WarShip.
I can see why so many Falcons are willing to follow nutcase that is Malvina Hazen and her version of Mongol Doctrine but I am not so sure that it's good thing on long run. Sure there is some logic behind Falcons adopting it but it only makes everyone our enemies. It does reflect Jihad and how Wobbies did things during it.
Better to be shackled to Wolves than free of our honor.
I'm starting to think that our best case scenario isn't to become the IlClan - it is to be the IlClan's conscience.
No, really, stop laughing.
I think the best outcome for the Clan is to cast off Malvina and her doctrine, then ally themselves to the new IlKhan and become the force that guides them, reminding them always of the Honor Road and the Clan Way, in a similar manner as Ulric's Wolves sought to moderate REVIVAL not by fighting it, but by being a part of it.
The snippets of information we have that imply a Roshak is the Loremaster to a new Star League gives me hope that this might actually happen.
Jade Falcon for LoreClan!
Better to be shackled to Wolves than free of our honor.
I'm starting to think that our best case scenario isn't to become the IlClan - it is to be the IlClan's conscience.
No, really, stop laughing.
I think the best outcome for the Clan is to cast off Malvina and her doctrine, then ally themselves to the new IlKhan and become the force that guides them, reminding them always of the Honor Road and the Clan Way, in a similar manner as Ulric's Wolves sought to moderate REVIVAL not by fighting it, but by being a part of it.
The snippets of information we have that imply a Roshak is the Loremaster to a new Star League gives me hope that this might actually happen.
Jade Falcon for LoreClan!
In my opinion (which no one asked for), the Falcons should lose out to the Wolves but Malvina isn't killed or removed from power. Rather, when presented with the ilClan she would reluctantly admit that her doctrine was wrong, otherwise she would have won. She then leads the Falcons as the ardent supporters of a new Star League led by ilClan Wolf.
...deep hypocrisy in Clan psychology.
It is convenient to personalize the issue, substituting Malvina for the circumstances and structures that produced, developed, and enabled her. After all, Malvina is just a mortal: what if solving our problems was as simple as one person dying?
Transformation is a special challenge for CJF. Not just in political terms but also psychologically Malvina represents the only chance CJF has to cross that threshold, or else perish into stagnation and diminishment.
In my opinion (which no one asked for), the Falcons should lose out to the Wolves but Malvina isn't killed or removed from power. Rather, when presented with the ilClan she would reluctantly admit that her doctrine was wrong, otherwise she would have won. She then leads the Falcons as the ardent supporters of a new Star League led by ilClan Wolf.
The only way that “everything goes back to normal” in the wake of Malvina’s death is if ... the writer completely goofs the fiction. Malvina is (a) who she is and (b) came to power for reasons that run deep in CJF history/culture/psychology, going back to the time of Elizabeth Hazen.
It goes back to when Nicholas permanently imprinted an inferiority complex on CJF by joining Clan Wolf and CJF’s responed to this crisis with brutal internal suppression in the name of absolute loyalty and honor. The Culling is eerily echoed by Malvina’s own approach to CJF politics, except the external referent is no longer Nicholas’s vision of glorious Clan society but rather the savagery of the Dark Age.
Another item many CJF fans have to take into consideration is how easy you had it. During the invasion you had fewer terrorist acts, every attack against the Lyrans were always successful, and despite the Society uprising you never had a fundamental shift in your attitude. In short you can be compared to the Federated Commonwealth before Katherine where you can do no wrong. I am not trying to say you deserve Malvina but remember every faction has had its share of insane/mentally unstable leaders and I find most Falcon warriors in fiction to be more lenient than what the sourcebooks suggest.
I can't tell if you're trolling or not, but I'm going to assume not. The Falcons did not have it so easy during the Invasion. They lost Twycross and their flagship Cluster, Black Earth, Somerset for a little while, and Pandora. Were it not for the failure at Luthien, the Falcons would have easily lost the most of the Invaders. They were antagonists in several Stackpole novels, which is always a fun position to be in I can assure you as a Jaguar player, and while the Jade Phoenix books did much to balance that equation, it was still fairly stacked against. In less than a year they went from one of the mightiest Clans to one of the sorriest, and won the Refusal War only because Ulric sent a large part of his Touman off to survive in the IS instead of seeing the fight through to the very end. Marthe had to eat crow at Coventry when some IS princeling offered her Hegira and she was forced to accept to save most of what was left of her Touman. The whole Viper War thing is absolutely a godsend from the TPTB, but they made minimal gains during the FCCW Incursion thanks to Archer Christifori and his band of merry men. The Society initially ate their lunch during the Jihad and saw a complete caste Annihilated as a result. The DA has seen the Falcons rise and the Lyrans fall, but I am 99% certain there is a karmic backlash coming with the ilClan book.
I’m not trying to be trolling. Yes the Jade Falcons have had setbacks and remember they did come out better during the Operation Audacity and gained many planets including Blair Atholl to let their newer members blood themselves against Lyran troops which was one reason for the incursion. There was a system that even refused Christofris forces which I always found odd. Also after they repulsed the Vipers they were met with cheers not jeers from the planets they took back.
I have to say one issue I have with the Jade Falcons is the tendency to look down on freebirths as part of their culture and there seems to be no noticeable repercussions on their society.
Thanks for your input I will watch what I say in the future.
I just couldn't tell if you were intentionally trying to yank on Falcon chains or not. If one of the red BattleMasters tell you to watch what you say, by all means listen. If I do it, you can in all confidence tell me where to stick that sentiment. It's all good.
From the limited literature after the Wars of Reaving I felt there was still tension and some resistance in letting freeborn scientists work for the Jade Falcons more sensitive projects. I have to say one issue I have with the Jade Falcons is the tendency to look down on freebirths as part of their culture and there seems to be no noticeable repercussions on their society.
The freeborns with bloodnames isn't unique to the Falcons, but it's not common either. Obviously there's Phelan with the Wolves. And Ragnar with the Bears although instead of him claiming an existing name, his has become a new bloodname.
You also made a comment about the Jade Falcons never have had to make a fundamental shift in attitude. That's the strength of the Jade Falcons. The Falcons are a strong clan with strong beliefs in what they are doing. They have never stopped in their goal of taking Terra and have kept moving towards it despite all the challenges that they have gone through. There has never been a moment of questioning what they are doing, there is looking at the situation and seeing what needs to be done to keep moving forward.
But is the Mongol Doctrine really a kind of psychotic break or is it the sudden explosion of all that repressed temptation to consciously change to better adapt to the grim realities of endless, ever more devastating warfare in the Inner Sphere?
There's also that Malvina's actions are likely to cause everyone else to unite against the Falcons. Didn't end well for the Jaguars...
There's also that Malvina's actions are likely to cause everyone else to unite against the Falcons. Didn't end well for the Jaguars...
Disagree. My reading of it is the Falcon's continue on their descent is because Malvina still controls that course. Even on the final drive to Terra, her orders were followed only with great reluctance because the end of being ilClan justified the means. When that ends evaporates, so too will the hold of Malvina's brand of Mongol philosophy over the Falcons. When you're sick, you take your medicine not because you like the taste, but because it has to be done. She's the Asa Taney or Raina Montose of the 32nd Century, and there's only one cure to a sickness that deeply-rooted.
Speaking of the Jaguars--any chance that the Fidelis under Paul Moon would also meet with Malvina and offer their services to them, instead of just the Wolves?
There's also that Malvina's actions are likely to cause everyone else to unite against the Falcons. Didn't end well for the Jaguars...
The main problem is if anyone kills Malvina they are faced with a potential inner conflict which would waste the limited resources they have. Like the Wolf Empire they also must recognize that their forces are pretty even. However if Malvina dies by other means they also have plausible deniability on the effectiveness of the Mongol Doctrine.
You also have to consider with the “might makes right” policy some believe “you only kick a person when they are down”.
Trothkin can I be honest with you? I'm starting to dread the ilClan book. I'm not sure I see any way it could be anyone other than the freakin' Wolves taking the title.
Does anyone know of a canon support vehicle available to the Falcons, that can carry a 70-ton load faster than 3/5 on roads?
here's what's really going to happen.At least Malvina works for her wins. I like the Falcons where they are at the moment. They are easy to write for. Easy motivations, easy strategic and tactical explanations. And by extension the Horses who are primarily animated by the Falcons actions. Not like the Dominion and 3/5 of the Sea Foxes who do nothing and whose motivations are unknown.
The Falcons have been handed the "Villain Ball" with Malvina, because for this 'war' to be exciting and follow the formula, there has to be one outright villain-bag-o'-nuts in the mix and it's not the Ghost Bears, Wolves (because they made Alaric a Davion), or Sea Foxes.
1. Their leadership either goes insane on screen, or loses it off screen.
2. the insanity in question usually revolves around some form of 'dirty dealing' and 'highlight: Ruthless/honorless!' (We first saw this with the CapCon prior to Succession war 4, but retroactively re-read the historicals around Wolf's Dragoons published in the 2000s. Duncan Marik in particular. in Battletech, your leader goes nuts, you will be destroyed by the heroes.) We saw it again with the Smoked kitties, and then again with Jihad (Jihad harder!!), War of Reaving, and now, ilClan.
In all fairness, the Battletech Dynasties have remarkably little insanity/villainous ruthlessness and it's pretty hard to rule an empire when you've got serious mental health issues*.
*Not that Battletech handles mental health particularly well.
So are we ignoring Yori Kurita for this bit of narrative pigeonholing or....?
you know, cold, methodical and determined instead of nihilistic psychotics who eventually lose by possessing the idiot ball.
So are we ignoring Yori Kurita for this bit of narrative pigeonholing or....?
So you're explicitly using those terms reductively to stuff characters into neat categories. Cool.
The franchise has certain specific tropes it tends to follow, identifying those isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be if the pattern hits a point of repetition where it becomes too predictable, or where a whole faction goes through a radical change solely in order to conform to those tropes. In the case with Jade Falcon, depth was removed and progress/development undone to shift the faction back into the cardboard two-dimensional villain role needed for a spectacular victory for Clan Wolf.
Cannonshop, you make some strong points and I especially relate to your disappointment about how it looks like things are poised to work out with the Evil Jade Falcons laid low by the Heroic Wolf Empire. (Although we have been told not to expect the expected.) But I am not convinced that Malvina’s rise to power was out of the blue or represents a diminishment of depth for CJF. At the core of CJF psychology is a toxic dynamic of violent, resentful ambition and repressive conservatism. The other ICs have all gradually come to terms with the way they have developed since the Invasion era (becoming empires, dominions, alliances, etc.). For CJF, all the bottled up anxiety about change exploded in the Mongol movement, personified by Malvina. CJF is in crisis.
Nonetheless, the way the narrative has been structured leaves us precious little hope that Malvina can be anything but a villainous psychopath who must be put down, leaving behind Good Guy Jade Falcons forced to accept (at best) their traditional First Place Loser result.
I totally agree with this. Signs are there that that's direction that they are taking story. All just so that Wolves can have bad guy to triumph over. This is something that also bothers me. Why is BT currently stuck with good vs. evil when there was ones time that things were far more morally grey. I mean other than it being narrative short cut and way to force people cheer for certain faction over another faction.
I am at a loss how anyone can see the inbred-led, backstabbing, opportunistic Wolf Empire as good guy. These are not the early-invasion, caste-liberal, freebirth-loving goody-two-shoes Wolves but rather the spiritual if not actual children of Vlad the Crusader. No, a Wolf win over the Falcons is at most the insane despot losing to the inbred despot. But good guy? Nope.
If they needed a good-guy triumph over the Falcons, either Julian Davion or, better yet, back-from-the-dead Victor Ian "I beheaded a Clan ilKhan like it was Tuesday" Steiner-Davion himself would have to do the deed.
A Falcon redemption would be neat, but it's not gonna happen-there's no strong Jade Falcon personality expressing doubts about Malvina and showing viability, which is what would be necessary, no conservative voice to argue against her rampant nihilism and runaway waste either.
which we'd have by now, if there were a redemption arc in the offing.
Isn't Stephanie Chistu exactly that?
Isn't Stephanie Chistu exactly that?
Those pointing to the TRO Jihad Intro praising the Smoke Jaguar ilKhans as proof that the Fidelis might join the Jade Falcons as a hybrid IlClan are forgetting that the Fidelis were founded by Trent and Paul Moon, who after the Smoke Jaguar annihilation see Lincoln Osis and Leo Showers as representative of everything wrong with Smoke Jaguar society, culture, and politics. The Fidelis were essentially founded in complete opposition to everything Showers and Osis represented to Moon and Trent. So unless the Fidelis change a great deal in a relatively short amount of time I would say that the Fidelis are the last people who are going to have any sort of positive opinion of Showers and Osis.
Those wise, if flawed, leaders of the Jaguars and the righteous Falcons foresaw the true threat...
Stuff like that is why my personal prediction is a Wolf IlClan, but with a purified Jade Falcon acting as a sort of Keeper of Clan Honor, to borrow a Kuritan title.
Basically, the Wolves may become IlClan, but with the Falcons as the ilLoremasters, and by ghu I hope they get a better title than that.
Those pointing to the TRO Jihad Intro praising the Smoke Jaguar ilKhans as proof that the Fidelis might join the Jade Falcons as a hybrid IlClan are forgetting that the Fidelis were founded by Trent and Paul Moon, who after the Smoke Jaguar annihilation see Lincoln Osis and Leo Showers as representative of everything wrong with Smoke Jaguar society, culture, and politics. The Fidelis were essentially founded in complete opposition to everything Showers and Osis represented to Moon and Trent. So unless the Fidelis change a great deal in a relatively short amount of time I would say that the Fidelis are the last people who are going to have any sort of positive opinion of Showers and Osis.
The Great Betrayal was a pivotal moment for our people. We had been betrayed and left for dead by those who were our blood. They forgot us, but we refused to die. The Custos ensured our survival. He led us down the road to our home.
This quote on Sarna from Surrender your Dreams really goes along with your point though.
It should also be noted that the Fidelis surrendered New Earth to the Wolves without firing a shot. Interesting!
It also mentions on Sarna that the Fidelis 'displayed an extreme animosity towards Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf.' This throws a big wrench into the joint ilClan idea.
It also mentions on Sarna that the Fidelis 'displayed an extreme animosity towards Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf.' This throws a big wrench into the joint ilClan idea.
The Fidelis are going to the a wild card when it comes to the ilClan. While Moon and Trent founded them, Trent was dead before they were founded. Moon was determined to lead the surviving Jaguars down a new path, that is certain. But he and the new Fidelis served under Showers and Osis so it's possible that there is some nastalgia for them that grew over the nearly two hundred years since thier death and the writing of the TRO intro.
This quote on Sarna from Surrender your Dreams really goes along with your point though.
It should also be noted that the Fidelis surrendered New Earth to the Wolves without firing a shot. Interesting!
It also mentions on Sarna that the Fidelis 'displayed an extreme animosity towards Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf.' This throws a big wrench into the joint ilClan idea.
Agreed on many counts. I'm left thinking thus: I don't know what role the Fidelis might play in the battle for Terra, but I'm willing to bet a freshly painted mini that they 100% are a factor in the outcome. I don't know how big a factor, but they will not sit this one out.
I'd say the Black Hawk is the most Falcon-feeling medium.
Shadow Cats debut in 3003, which means they damn well should have been pretty widely available by REVIVAL. They just happen to RL post-date the phonebooks.
As for the Falcons, perhaps the Battle Cobra? It would certainly do the job of adding a little more oomph to a formation of Ullers. And they'd certainly have plenty after all their clashes with the Vipers.
Sometimes militaries have holes in them that make little sense to outsiders.
I would guess that the Sharks preferred the Grendel, and the Wolves the Fenris.
As for the Falcons, perhaps the Battle Cobra? It would certainly do the job of adding a little more oomph to a formation of Ullers. And they'd certainly have plenty after all their clashes with the Vipers.
The Hellbringer is the perfect mech.
The electronics of a light. The armor of a medium. The chassis of a heavy. Finally, if you customize it, the firepower of an assault.
What more could you ask for?
Interesting, I'd missed those data points.I quickly ran through the book, so I might have miscounted a bit. The most frequent medium Omni was the Ice Ferret.
I definitely agree that the Shadow Cat seems right up their alley, what with its combination of good speed and maneuverability combined with solid firepower. How old is the Shadow Cat? Would it be widespread at the beginning of REVIVAL or just before?
I'm starting to wonder if the early 31st-century Falcons might have had low numbers of mediums altogether, instead throwing lots of Ullers at most problems, with heavy mechs (or the odd captured medium) to stiffen up those formations.
One of these days, I'll go through the Jade Falcon Phonebook, and run the averages of each chassis in there. Quick skims certainly seem to imply that Ullers form the bulk of several Clusters.
One thing I noticed is the Falcons tended to use lights & heavies waaaay more than mediums.
One thing I noticed is the Falcons tended to use lights & heavies waaaay more than mediums. There were plenty of stars that had 3-4 Heavies and 2-1 Lights (most often Kit Foxes)
Which kinda makes sense, the Fenris (I prefer that name) is basically exclusive to the Wolves or Hellions and the other Clans seem to largely ignore it at least cannonically. The Viper/Dragonfly's seemingly something the Bears love and the Stormcrow for all its power isn't that common. And we know the Falcons basically spam Summoners and Hellbringers as well as Kit Fox's like its going out of fashion. They'd probably use a Hellbringer whereas other Clans might use a Stormcrow.
That's kind of what I was getting at. No one will bat an eye at any Original 16 Omni showing up in any Clan
But yet if you paint a Mad Cat in anything but Wolf colours the Wolf fanboys will explode
I don't see a downside.
Definitely doing a Timber Wolf in CSJ colors, just because I like the Jaguar spots pattern.
But yet if you paint a Mad Cat in anything but Wolf colours the Wolf fanboys will explode
You mean an NHAG.
That N is very important ;D
After reading Children of Kerensky, I basically gave up hope of the Jade Falcons winning and excepted that Hour of the Wolf is just going to be another session in Clan Wolf can do no wrong fiat bus fiction. The Jade Falcons are just there to be the mustache twirling bad guys that look silly and can't do anything right or smart. I never really expected to dislike a character more then Phelan Kell but Alaric is just about there.
After reading Children of Kerensky, I basically gave up hope of the Jade Falcons winning and excepted that Hour of the Wolf is just going to be another session in Clan Wolf can do no wrong fiat bus fiction. The Jade Falcons are just there to be the mustache twirling bad guys that look silly and can't do anything right or smart. I never really expected to dislike a character more then Phelan Kell but Alaric is just about there.
If we Falcons are going out, let us do so in the biggest, most casualty-ridden blaze of angst possible! "Better to burn out, than to fade away!" quoth Star Captain Kurgan ;)
I don't mind if the Falcons die, so long as it's a good death. Y'know, kicking, screaming, and more kicking.
I'm primarily a FWL fan. Faction death is just something you take in stride, and wait.
Agreed. We have seen faction death before. It's not always permanent.
I don't mind if the Falcons die, so long as it's a good death. Y'know, kicking, screaming, and more kicking.
I'm primarily a FWL fan. Faction death is just something you take in stride, and wait.
And may Malvina Hazel die in her bed and not in a battle (the most dishonourable curse I can think of).
Ghengis Khan died in bed, and his final command to his army was to burn a rebellious province to the ground, which they did. A Malvina bed-death might result in similar orders for Terra.
Ghengis Khan died in bed, and his final command to his army was to burn a rebellious province to the ground, which they did. A Malvina bed-death might result in similar orders for Terra.This would not be a bad thing.
Ghengis Khan died in bed, and his final command to his army was to burn a rebellious province to the ground, which they did. A Malvina bed-death might result in similar orders for Terra.
I'm wondering - Absorption. Don't we see Falcon bloodnames in some of the "future" intros in some recent work?
Does it happen from a genuine Trial, is it a rejection of Malvina, or is it ham-handed? Time will tell.
Or not! Let's take another sip of that export-quality Necrosia and see what happens :)
I am Alaric, Khan of the Wolves, Defender of the Legacy of Kerensky. This is Tassa, my fearless friend.
Fabulous secret powers were revealed to me the day I held aloft my genetic codex and said "By the power of Steiner-Davion, I have the power!"
Tassa became the mighty Anastasia, and I became Alaric Ward, the most powerful man in the universe!
Together we defend Terra from the evil forces of Malvina.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ5LpwO-An4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ5LpwO-An4)
TT
We've falconed so hard we've made it to the 51st page. I'll make us a new nest.
51 pages? I think you're 8 pages early.That's weird. When I signed in this yesterday and this morning it shows the thread at 51 pages. Something's off here and I'm not sure what it is.
Even as we're just hours away from what has every appearance of being Clan Wolf's ultimate triumph, I steel my heart for what is to come as I take solace in all the stories already told that has brought us to this point. Even if it ends as we know it in the next 36-48 hours, no one could ever say the tale of Clan Jade Falcon wasn't a glorious one, hopefully to the end. And if somehow, some way a book entitled "The Hour of the Wolf" that has been built up in other products as it has doesn't end in Wolf victory, well, everybody else better get set to kiss some Falcon rings. ;D
Spoiler alert:
Think of the most boring, bland and predictable outcome you can. That's what happens.
Hey can we please keep discussion of the book to the thread for the book until it's been out for longer than a few hours?
By all means, talk. Just hit anything juicy with a set of spoiler tags.
Sadly, all speculation about the future is only suitable for the thread up in general where it's mostly black bar of spoiler.
So...how 'bout those ER Small Lasers, eh?
So is it now OK to post about Hour of the Wolf or ... ?
If you want to discuss the book, take it to the book thread. They made that very clear in the coming releases thread and eventually straight up locked the thread.
So as a Jade Falcon, were you satisfied with the mechs that were assigned to the Falcons in the 3050 invasion - Kit Fox, Hellbringer, and Summoner.? (I don't think we truly had a medium or assault mech that you would identify as a Falcon and yes I understand all of the mechs were available.
I enjoyed the mechs given to us. None are too powerful like the Timberwolf and if you were allowed to customize the mech I think the Hellbringer gave you some nice options.
How do you balance that with situations that call for big assault machines like the Masakari or Turkina?
Thoughts on the Loki M? Lethal killer, or a crutch to be disdained by those seeking the glory?
Thoughts on the Loki M? Lethal killer, or a crutch to be disdained by those seeking the glory?
Thoughts on the Loki M? Lethal killer, or a crutch to be disdained by those seeking the glory?
What kind of Mechs were "Sibko Cluster" fielding on Coventry? It seems sort of wasteful to give kiddies Omnis, but then again they do for normal Trials of Position...
Yes, considering Coventry was right after the Refusal War, and that the Jade Falcons had just received a bumper crop of Trueborn, the Falcons likely had more pilots than Omnis. So they probably had to equip many of them with second-line machines. Considering many of those second-line machines were common CJF garrison Mechs like Howlers, Incubuses, Horned Owls, and Conjurers all the Pulse Lasers probably helped the newbies more than many OmniMechs would have. It also seems one of the first targets the CJF sent their trainees after was the Coventry Military Academy so they were facing opponents likely even less experienced than they were in their first battle.
The Eyrie clusters that appeared in the Battle of Coventry sourcebook had Falconers in omnis leading pilots in mostly second line mechs. Trueborn sibkos are the future of the clan so it does seem a little odd to put them in second line mechs. It might be the timing of this event that puts them in second line mechs. Maybe there wasn't enough omnis to go around.
As a newly returned player I'm toying with the idea of getting into the mini side of the game once more. The current storyline has given me the desire to paint up some clan mechs - for the first time in almost two decades! And what better clan to pick than the clan-iest of clans!
I already have my eyes on some minis (Flamberge, Summoner or Grand Summoner, maybe a Gyrfalcon?) But I'm not yet decided on what paint scheme(s) to choice. So I was wondering, what are your favorite Falcon units? And why?
I like the Falcon schemes I can paint :)
Very true. A Star of Ion Raptors and Heirofalcons means you get to deploy a solid BA force just about anywhere you want in most battlefields, in the first couple turns of the game.
What are our preferred mechanizable main combat suits in this era, anyway? Classic Toads and Rabids?
Great question, sarna doesn't know the answer. If it's an error, it needs to go in the MUL thread, otherwise I'm inclined to take it at face value and think the answer is "no one, but there were a metric shit load of these things made and they're still everywhere".
Very true. A Star of Ion Raptors and Heirofalcons means you get to deploy a solid BA force just about anywhere you want in most battlefields, in the first couple turns of the game.
What are our preferred mechanizable main combat suits in this era, anyway? Classic Toads and Rabids?
What are our preferred mechanizable main combat suits in this era, anyway? Classic Toads and Rabids?
Coronas?! Who builds them post-Reaving?
Jade Falcon Guards use camo, right? Being part of the Gamma Galaxy which mostly uses camo schemes.Yes, as a part of Gamma Galaxy they paint their Mechs in camo suitable for the environment they are fighting in. Also, all Gamma Galaxy Mechs have Jade green trim except for the 9th Talon, which trims their Mechs in blue.
Pondering on how i'd finalize my KS Clan miniature forces. Since i'm pretty sure i want to paint them with Finnish Defence Force vehicle camo (three-tone green-green-black), they'd work nicely as Jade Falcon Guards. Not to mention i got lucky and got Timber Wolf Pryde.
Coronas?! Who builds them post-Reaving?
In regards to the hierofalcon do you all think they were all sent to desant galaxies or also served in the rear guard lesser galaxies? MUL has it starting production in 3148 so not a lot of time to spread.I'd think the Keshiks got first dibs on them, then Gamma and other frontline Galaxies on the Lyran front. The impression I got from FM3145 is that Alpha under Noritomo Helmer was kind of a dumping ground for non-Mongols. Also, Zeta while given some consideration due to their connection with Aleks Hazen weren't really treated like a frontline formation, even their nominally frontline Clusters, after all you have Archer Pryde of Zeta Galaxy mostly pulling garrison duty in Honor's Gauntlet. Up until Malvina Hazen found out that Clan Wolf was one jump from Terra the Lyran Commonwealth was the priority for the Jade Falcons with Stephanie Chistu fighting for Coventry in 3148, and Malvina about to invade Donegal.
I'd think the Keshiks got first dibs on them, then Gamma and other frontline Galaxies on the Lyran front. The impression I got from FM3145 is that Alpha under Noritomo Helmer was kind of a dumping ground for non-Mongols. Also, Zeta while given some consideration due to their connection with Aleks Hazen weren't really treated like a frontline formation, even their nominally frontline Clusters, after all you have Archer Pryde of Zeta Galaxy mostly pulling garrison duty in Honor's Gauntlet. Up until Malvina Hazen found out that Clan Wolf was one jump from Terra the Lyran Commonwealth was the priority for the Jade Falcons with Stephanie Chistu fighting for Coventry in 3148, and Malvina about to invade Donegal.
So, as the new Jade Watch, do the green turkeys get a tartan?
Around a cluster worth of warriors left on Terra, do we think that Malvina turned the Iron Wombs to speedy bake and there is a new generation of Falcons going to spring out of the woodwork?
I thought she even stripped the older sibkin to bring them up for terra? If so it’ll be 2-5 years before you can get reliable sibkos through. And even the older ones will have to be reprogrammed to remove the mongolness.
Not to mention the CHH taking all the Falcon territory could derail any chances of rebuilding their touman.
What do you think about the Jade Hawk?Lovely aesthetic, fun concept. But problematic.
Black. Malvina approved!
Okay, here's a weird hypothetical question: You are wealthy or lucky enough to own a high-end sports car, and because you are Ultimate Jade Falcon Fan, you get the exterior painted in the colors of Iota Galaxy(green with ivory and silver trim). My question is...what do you do with the interior?
In the past, Chistu or Critchell had increased the size of sibkos coming out around the time of Tukayyid. Marthe Pryde's Coventry campaign was her blooding that generation. I wonder if Malvina had thought to do the same. Even if she was unbalanced, she seemed fairly bright.In the Shrapnel#1 story Wars and Rumors, which takes place in 3149, the Jade Falcons are shown raiding one of the worlds of the Galatean Defense League for the express purpose of blooding new sibkos.
Guess we'll see.
I am looking for assistance, trothkin!
While there is no excuse required for Jade Falcons to fight Smoke Jaguars, were there any such clashes in the Invasion or FCCE era? I am preparing for a game, and like to make up some close- to-canon background for the game.
Any help received with thanks!
Some great ideas there, folks!
It'll be the second game of Alpha Strike for two of the players, so I don't want to make it too complex. So ... zellbringen. Not "normal" style. There'll be two stars each side. For the sake of argument, options include
- Each Star picks one enemy Star, and fights that until all gone, before it can engage the other. But you can opt for 'grand melee' if you want. But what honourable Clan warrior would do that? ::)
- Assume each side thinks the other is dishonorable, and free-for-all.
I like the sound of the first option better; thoughts?
Considering how traditional both clans are I would say one on one however if one of the units uses either an opponent or ally as a shield (someone standing between two units who have engaged in zellbrigen) then “grand melee”.
Okay, here's a weird hypothetical question: You are wealthy or lucky enough to own a high-end sports car, and because you are Ultimate Jade Falcon Fan, you get the exterior painted in the colors of Iota Galaxy(green with ivory and silver trim). My question is...what do you do with the interior?Remove all modern luxuries of course.
Okay, here's a weird hypothetical question: You are wealthy or lucky enough to own a high-end sports car, and because you are Ultimate Jade Falcon Fan, you get the exterior painted in the colors of Iota Galaxy(green with ivory and silver trim). My question is...what do you do with the interior?
A few years ago, I almost bought a Ford Falcon so I could paint it jade & be able to say I rode a Jade Falcon from time-to-time.
So as a someone who didn't read HotW, but has gone through IlClan: The Falcons are currently down to a single Cluster or so in total, the Mongol Doctrine is pretty much dead, and Stephanie Chistu is in charge? And we're the new Black Watch, soon to have ties with Northwind through Tara Fluidsurname? Did I miss anything?
The Falcons also retained, if not in useful repair at the moment, two Black Lions, a Cameron, and a Fredasa as a WarShip fleet. At full strength those would put them solidly in Top 5 most powerful black-water navies in the Sphere, still. I'm hoping that particular detail doesn't disappear into the background during the rebuild.
I will be absolutely livid if Falcon paint schemes going forward include Tartan, though. Something simple, please.
The tricky part is holding onto the Butler system and it's ship yards. Tamar Rising is going to be an interesting book for the Jade Falcons. Based on what the Horses are doing in ilClan, they appear to be preparing to take Falcon worlds leading to Terra. Let's hoping that they don't go after the heart of the Falcon OZ. Worlds like Sudeten, Butler, and Alyina need to stay in Falcon possession.
In CoK, it was stated the the Emerald Talon II, a Nightlord battleship, is under construction. If that doesn't make you wet your pants, you must not like warships. The fact that the Falcons are building a warship is huge! Then that warship is a Nightlord makes it even more huge.I think it is a question of who gets it the renewed Tamar Pact or the Clan Hells Horses. I don’t think there is enough Falcon Warriors in the OZ to make a cluster. Considering one planet had two warriors protecting it in 3150 just before the CHH was pushing towards Terra may support my theory.
The tricky part is holding onto the Butler system and it's ship yards. Tamar Rising is going to be an interesting book for the Jade Falcons. Based on what the Horses are doing in ilClan, they appear to be preparing to take Falcon worlds leading to Terra. Let's hoping that they don't go after the heart of the Falcon OZ. Worlds like Sudeten, Butler, and Alyina need to stay in Falcon possession.
In CoK, it was stated the the Emerald Talon II, a Nightlord battleship...
They exist as the honor guard of Clan Wolf now, right?
Is there such a thing as "Falcon Possession?"
They exist as the honor guard of Clan Wolf now, right?
I guess phrasing in Ilclan makes that a bit different. They say the clan will go on. After reading Hour of the Wolf I was under the impression that they're like the Smoke Jaguars now. Not like... a territory holding clan.
Tamar Rising even says, "Events in the former Jade Falcon Occupation Zone."
Until I read about it in a published novel or sourcebook, everything the Jade Falcons possessed going into Terra is still in their possession. There has been an abundance of speculating that the Lyrans and Horses are just going to roll over the JF OZ. It's probably going to happen to some extent. We have yet to see what is going to happen.
Are the Jade Falcons just a Wolf honor guard now? That's your way of looking at it. A rather simple way of looking at it. But the Jade Falcon story is far from over and isn't going to be easy. They are now the Royal Black Watch. The elite of the new ilClan SLDF for which other units are to be measured against. Then there is the Tara Campbell/Jade Falcon story line. I think the Falcons will have a big part of the new story. The pieces are there.
As for events in the former Jade Falcon OZ in Tamar Rising, we will see what happens...
The Merchant Queen of Alyina?
An interesting tidbit that appeared in the interview with Ray Arrastia on Sarna today...
Take note that the Hierofalcon, Ion Sparrow, and Jade Pheonix are all produced on Alyina
Clan Jade Falcon III-D: Defeated, Declawed, Depressed
You can thank Malvina for that.No, we can all thank the safest, most boring, most telegraphed plot beats for that. (For which I don’t necessarily blame BLP, to be sure.)
Clan Jade Falcon: Admittedly, We Falconed a Little Too HardI like this one. :thumbsup:
Clan Jade Falcon: Admittedly, We Falconed a Little Too Hard
I like this one. :thumbsup:
That's a good one. It admits mistakes were made, but doesn't out right admit we lost to the puppies.
True. A lot of this would have been avoided if someone had Falconed Malvina with properly big guns.
A lot of this would have been avoided if someone had Falconed Malvina with properly big guns.The main thing that would have been avoided in that case is CJF even having a shot at Terra.
The main thing that would have been avoided in that case is CJF even having a shot at Terra.
Unlike most other factions the Falcons are also in a state of major transition. Their future is uncertain, yes Alaric said they what they would be but he or even the next Khan might change their mind. There is also the question of the Jade Falcons outside of Terra will they be absorbed by the various faction vying for control of the northern part of the Lyran Commonwealth. Will some go rogue or even (gasp) (whispering) mercenary.
Yeah, Malvina got us to Terra and had the Wolves not cheated in the end, there's a very real chance we'd have won.
Clan Jade Falcon: Admittedly, We Falconed a Little Too Hard
Jade Falcon - Survivors of the Great Cull
Would not be presented as politically based, but the gene-parent's combat record would be considered. For example, I imagine that Malvina's giftake gets incinerated ASAP, as while gifted in combat, she led her Clan to disaster.
Again?!? :o
And that's coming from a Free Worlds League player!
As a new Falcon elstar, I hope your isorla search becomes nathaculor for you!
Couldn't find the terms elstar or nathaculor on Sarna. I know isola is the spoils of war.