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BattleTech Player Boards => Non-Canon Units => Topic started by: Daryk on 01 April 2017, 08:40:19

Title: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 01 April 2017, 08:40:19: Liam's Ghost's Building a mech force for a petty lord (http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=56875.0) thread got me thinking. The mech part of the idea was simple for me (two Griffins, two Wolverines). What I found most intriguing was the auxiliary forces the mechs are intended to support. Liam described them thus:
Quote
Your personal forces consist of roughly a company of infantry (foot, motorized, or wheeled mechanized, limited to portable machineguns, recoilless rifles, LAWs/VLAWs, and grenades for support weapons), a collection of repurposed civilian vehicles, a small group of Guardian-B conventional fighters, your fortified castle (complete with gun emplacements and a couple sniper pieces), and the Battlemechs that justify your claim to power.

First off for the putative "Barony of Trent", the infantry. Being this is a periphery world, I'm inclined to use the Taurian model of ten-trooper squads. This reduces the number of support weapons required, and provides the extra bodies needed for riot control. "Roughly a company" sounds like four platoons to me, so I'm going with four foot platoons of 30 troopers each.

First Platoon: Auto Rifles and 2 Portable Machine Guns per squad for the "Heavy Burst" special
Second Platoon: Auto Rifles and 2 Suns Killer Sniper Rifles per squad for 5/10/15 hex range
Third Platoon: Auto Rifles and 1 Automatic Grenade Launcher per squad for mobility and increased damage
Fourth Platoon: Auto Rifles and LAW Rockets for everyone for mobility and the one-shot kill

For rides, I'm looking at converted trucks as outlined below for individual squad transport:
Code: [Select]
Truck APC 3,750 kg Total 777 kg Chassis (Wheeled, Off-Road, TL C) 544 kg Engine (ICE, 5/8) 225 kg Crew Seats (3 Crew: Driver/Gunners) 1,000 kg Infantry Compartment (one squad of 10 plus gear) 440 kg Armor (11 points of TL C BAR 5, 3/3/3/2) 500 kg Roof Rack RL-10 (forward facing) 25 kg Basic Fire Control for the RL-10 (+1 to hit) 12 kg Portable Machine Gun (forward facing) 1 kg Basic Fire Control for the Portable Machine Gun (+1 to hit) 30 kg Ammunition for the Portable Machine Gun (50 bursts) 130 kg Cargo 66 kg fuel (1,200 km range)12 of those will carry the entire infantry company.

For scouting duties, I think a company of converted 4WD jeeps will do the trick:
Code: [Select]
Scout Jeep 1,000 kg total 207 Chassis (Wheeled, Off-Road, TL C) 425 kg Engine (ICE, 9/14) 150 kg Seats (2 Crew: Driver/Gunner) 2 kg Turret 96 kg Armor (6 points TL C BAR 2: 1 per facing, 2 on the turret) 12 kg Portable Machine Gun 1 kg Basic Fire Control (+1 to hit) 15 kg Ammunition (25 bursts) 7 kg Cargo 85 kg Fuel (2,000 km range)
And last but not least, a company of rocket trucks converted from flat beds.
Code: [Select]
Rocket Truck 4,999 Total 1,035 Chassis (Wheeled, Off-Road, TL C) 725 kg Engine (ICE, 5/8) 225 kg Seats (3 Crew: Driver/Gunners) 520 kg Armor (13 points of TL C BAR 5, 5/3/3/2) 2,000 kg 4 RL-10s 100 kg Basic Fire Control (+1 to hit) 12 kg Portable Machine Gun 1 kg Basic Fire Control (+1 to hit) 36 kg Ammunition (60 bursts) 200 kg External Cargo 145 kg Fuel (2,000 km range)
A pair of utility helicopters to move the Baron around his hold quickly. Can strap a squad to benches on the outside like a Little Bird if pressed (with reduced speed).
Code: [Select]
1,000 kg Total 230 kg Chassis 80 kg 5 points BAR 2 armor (1 per location) 500 kg Engine (11/17, ICE, TL C) 150 kg 2x Seats 40 kg Fuel
All together, it's a company of infantry, a company of "APCs", a company each of jeeps and rocket trucks, a lance of 'mechs, and a short squadron of 4 Guardian-Bs supported by two Boomerangs and two utility helicopters. Not a bad battalion overall to defend fixed fortifications that include two Snipers.

EDIT: Corrected design information (thanks to gomiville!) and added forces per Liam.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 01 April 2017, 10:47:16: I like this handy little periphery force
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: gomiville on 01 April 2017, 14:03:23: Great little, low-tech force. O0

Just an optional thing, but you might want to bump the mass of the van to allow some cargo for the onboard troops.

The seats in SVs are 75kg, but an foot infantry grunt (not anti-mech trained) is 85kg. I always figured fully equipped infantry require a little more than just a seat, to fit in their weapon, a ruck, etc. So, for every 75kg seat, include 10kg cargo for their kit.

Your van is coming out 2kg over, for me (501kg engine, 36kg fuel), but that's probably just rounding error. But if you include cargo:
Code: [Select]
3610kg Small Wheeled SV, Tech C Chassis (Tech C, Off-Road, ): 748kg Engine (5/8, Tech C ICE): 524kg Fuel (700km range): 37kg Armor (20pts Tech C BAR 5): 800kg Seating (12, 2 crew, 10 troops): 900kg Cargo (10kg/troop, +1kg): 101kg RL10 (Forward, no fire control, +2 to hit): 500kg Cost: 25,516cb
The civilian vehicle it could have been modified from could have been this:
Code: [Select]
3610kg Small Wheeled SV, Tech C Chassis (Tech C, Off-Road, ): 748kg Engine (5/8, Tech C ICE): 524kg Fuel (700km range): 37kg Armor (8pts Tech C BAR 2): 128kg Seating (2 crew): 150kg Cargo: 2023kg Cost: 5,563cbNice basic truck, carrying 2 tons. Probably have a few of these in the baron's motor pool, hauling ammo, etc. It could also haul 20 troops packed into the back, for basic transportation or the most efficient way to haul guys around for riot control.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 01 April 2017, 15:01:30: Thanks! I don't normally build SVs, so I'm not surprised I made a mistake. To provide just a bit more margin, I'll go with:
Code: [Select]
Step Van 3,750 kg Total 777 kg Chassis (Wheeled, Off Road, TL C) 544 kg Engine (TL C, ICE, 5/8) 150 kg Crew Seats (2, Driver and Gunner) 850 kg Infantry Compartment (10 Foot Troops) 800 kg 20 TL C BAR 5 Armor (5 per facing) 500 kg Roof Rack RL-10 (forward facing, no fire control (+2 to hit)) 54 kg Fuel (1,000 km range) 75 kg Jump Seat/Extra Cargo
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 01 April 2017, 15:58:28: Which is why I went for the Wheeled APC and Jeep.

I mean, what's an Armored Car but a civilian APC, that's wheeled. Arm them with Portable MGs, a pair of SRMs or even a five-tube LRM auncher. The Jeep is a civie job similarly armed, just no LRM tubes. And I also took the liberty of buying a pair of lances of AC/10 Hetzers, swapping four of them for Armored Transports by stripping the cannon and ammo out. One has SRMs, it's used as a nasty surprise with the other four AC/10's.

Another pair of Scorpion Lances with equal SRM and LRM thrown in, having the Deleon 5 repurposed for my Infantry to use as Feild Guns. And of course the Infantry themselves:

3x 10-Trooper Guppy Squad:
8x AutoRifle and Bayonet
1x Portable MG and Bayonet
1x AutoRifle and Paramedic

I just realised I have a " small " group of Guardian-B's... that's what? Four or less? A Triple maybe...?

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 01 April 2017, 16:10:14: You'd have to ask Liam's Ghost about how many Guardians is a "small" number, but he did explicitly say combat vehicles are right out for the Barons. Only the Duke has those...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 02 April 2017, 04:51:31: Around four Guardians. Maybe also a few boomerangs.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 04:53:49: Four and a few Boomerangs... cool! Thanks Liam!

Also, I just noticed that pesky "maximum armor factor" table for support vehicles... I'll be editing accordingly shortly.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 05:33:40: Corrections to all three vehicles:
Code: [Select]
Step Van 3,750 kg Total 777 kg Chassis (Wheeled, Off-Road, TL C) 544 kg Engine (ICE, 5/8) 225 kg Crew Seats (3 Crew: Driver/Gunners) 1,000 kg Infantry Compartment (one squad of 10) 320 kg Armor (8 points of TL C BAR 5, 2 per facing) 500 kg Roof Rack RL-10 (forward facing) 25 kg Basic Fire Control for the RL-10 (+1 to hit) 12 kg Portable Machine Gun (forward facing) 1 kg Basic Fire Control for the Portable Machine Gun (+1 to hit) 30 kg Ammunition for the Portable Machine Gun (50 bursts) 250 kg Cargo (could be Paramedic Equipment) 66 kg fuel (1,200 km range)
Code: [Select]
Scout Jeep 1,000 kg total 207 Chassis (Wheeled, Off-Road, TL C) 425 kg Engine (ICE, 9/14) 150 kg Seats (2 Crew: Driver/Gunner) 2 kg Turret 80 kg Armor (5 points TL C BAR 2: 1 per facing) 12 kg Portable Machine Gun 1 kg Basic Fire Control (+1 to hit) 15 kg Ammunition (25 bursts) 23 kg Cargo 85 kg Fuel (2,000 km range)
Code: [Select]
Rocket Truck 4,999 Total 1,035 Chassis (Wheeled, Off-Road, TL C) 725 kg Engine (ICE, 5/8) 450 kg Seats (6 Crew: Driver/Gunners) 360 kg Armor (9 points of TL C BAR 5, 3/2/2/2) 2,000 kg 4 RL-10s 100 kg Basic Fire Control (+1 to hit) 12 kg Portable Machine Gun 1 kg Basic Fire Control (+1 to hit) 30 kg Ammunition (50 bursts) 200 kg Cargo 86 kg Fuel (1,200 km range)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 02 April 2017, 10:36:07: suggested visuals (if you want them)

for the armored vans/APC, i actually went with the Unimog (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unimog), a fairly common and popular german built truck in the less developed parts of the world

a "normal" Unimog (they are highly adaptable) look something like this:
(http://orig07.deviantart.net/72fe/f/2011/012/b/c/unimog_u5000_pixelcar_by_scottahemi-d371ecy.png)

but some police forces and military's have ordered light armored models, like this one:
(http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachments/unimog/338962d1288070313-police-car-pusher-bumper-large-4.jpeg)

for the Scout Car, the Panhard VBL lept to mind. this is another fairly common vehicle (french this time), classified as an armored car but really just an armored recon jeep.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9d/5d/4b/9d5d4bb719a55f9cedbcc7dd79aeb873.jpg)

for the rocket truck, the numerous variants of the Russian BM-21 Grad MLRS would fit best. for this, i'd say the WR-40 Langusta created by the Polish (a Grad rocket system on a newer truck) might fit well:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/WR-40_Langusta%2C_MSPO_2007.JPG)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 11:48:42: Very nice! I think the Panhard might look a little too much like a "combat vehicle" for Liam's purposes, though...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 02 April 2017, 12:38:55: I think they are alright a combat vehicle would be a lot bigger and more enclosed

It's hard to think of size but I always see true combat vehicles as big brutish vehicles while these are more utilitarian
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 02 April 2017, 12:46:55: Quote from: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 11:48:42
Very nice! I think the Panhard might look a little too much like a "combat vehicle" for Liam's purposes, though...

As long as mechanically it's a support vehicle, it's good. A guy can do wonders to the look of an SUV with bolt on armor panels, and the Barons can't just rely on their mechs to intimidate the peasants.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 13:04:53: Cool... The Panhard does look pretty intimidating with that Ma Deuce up there, though I think a "Portable Machine Gun" is closer to an M60 (with the M2 being the "Support Machine Gun" and the M240 being the "Semi-Portable"; I have a whole thread on that around here somewhere...).
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 02 April 2017, 13:42:05: unfortunately all the images of Panhard VBL's with anything lighter were terrible images (and don't have the turret specified in your stats)

considering that the support MG is equal to a mech MG by the rules, and mech MG's are usually fluffed as ranging from .50cal Gatlings all the way up to 20mm Gatlings, i think a bit of fudge factor can be applied.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 14:31:57: I thought the Support MG was equal to the 'mech-scale Light MG? It's got the 2/4/6 range and does only 1 point of TW damage, after all...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 02 April 2017, 14:46:37: Quote from: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 14:31:57
I thought the Support MG was equal to the 'mech-scale Light MG? It's got the 2/4/6 range and does only 1 point of TW damage, after all...

The weapons equivalence dates back to the old days of battletech before light machineguns. It never fit great.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 14:50:13: Hmmm... I wonder if back in the old days they were figuring two infantry MGs (per squad) was equivalent to a 'mech machine gun. That would at least account for the damage.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 02 April 2017, 15:06:07: Hey, are any of the support vehicles in, say, TRO:VA available in MegaMek/MekHQ?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 19:43:53: Inspired by Tegyrius' excellent write up of the Barony of Greenfan, here's a bit more on the Barony of Trent.

The Barony of Trent is one of the smallest holdings on Foxhaven, being little more than a suburb of the Duke's own hold. A significant number of the residents commute via the excellent road network into the planetary capital every day from the outlying "bedroom communities". Trenton itself hosts a modest light vehicle factory that employs a majority of the residents that don't commute on its several production lines. Between the half dozen outlying settlements and Trenton are rolling hills given over to cattle ranches owned by the Baron's closest supporters. This carefully managed greenspace is why the Baron's troops use vehicles with reinforced suspension for off-road use despite the extensive road network that links the various communities.

The Baron's "castle" is centered on the plateau above Trenton that was used as a secondary landing site by the refugees fleeing the Succession Wars when the spaceport at the capital overflowed. The resulting half dozen craters have since been connected by deep trenches, and filled by a century's worth of carefully husbanded rainfall. Discarded shipping containers from the landing were filled with concrete and now form a wall connecting the dedicated fortifications at the six corners.

Inside the "castle", the majority of the space is given over to parking for the Baron's forces, including a robust engineering unit, and a short landing strip for four Guardian-B fighters and two Boomerang spotter planes. A pair of light utility helicopters share a corner of the hangar, and ensure the Baron is always the first to respond to a summons from the Duke.

On the opposite side of the complex from the air strip, the four huge 'mech bays house the Baron's base of power: the two Wolverines and two Griffins originally led by his ancestor. Given their ammunition requirements, it's little wonder Trent has always been one of the Duke's most loyal supporters. Baron Trent has managed to maintain four simulator pods in working condition, thus helping his lance train as a team, though the personal dynamics make this something of a challenge.

Baron Karl Trent pilots Antikythera, his well preserved Wolverine, with pride and skill. It retains its original electronics (Command Mech and Improved Comms quirks), but fortunately its jump jets have long been replaced with more reliable models than the troublesome Northrup 12000s (no Difficult to Maintain quirk, but retains Cramped Cockpit). In his 40s, the Baron has six children, all of whom are in training to run various parts of the human machinery that makes the Barony run.

Dame Jessica Ewing pilots the Barony's other Wolverine (a WVR-6M model), Red. Her grandparents had to surrender some of Red's precious original electronics to keep the Baron's machine running (does not have Command Mech quirk, but retains Improved Comms), but as a result, her cockpit is much roomier than his (does not have Cramped Cockpit quirk). Relatively young when wounds sidelined her mother, Dame Jessica is a cautious combatant who prefers to keep her distance (Range Master (Long) SPA), something that troubles the Baron. Now in her late 30s, she is under some pressure to produce an heir before it's too late, though her propensity to keep her distance seems to extend to her personal relationships as well. She spends as little time as possible at the castle, mostly to avoid Sir Eric, but also because she prefers the solitude of her ranch.

Old enough to be the Baron's mother, Dame Margaret Lawrence is maintaining a friendly rivalry with Sir Alistair Mackenzie-Morse to see who can stay in the cockpit longer. This of course troubles her children, all of whom are more than competent, but are only allowed to pilot her Griffin, Parthian, when she allows it. In light of this, the Baron has arranged for Parthian to be the "ready" 'mech at the castle, so there's more opportunity than one might otherwise expect. Dame Margaret spends most of her time running her ranch with the same iron determination that has kept her at the controls of Parthian all these years.

Sir Eric Hamilton is an old friend of the Baron, and trained alongside him for years in his family's Griffin, Rover. He's an outstanding pilot, and particularly adept with firing and jumping (Jumping Jack SPA). He recently gave up pursuit of Dame Jessica, and is now courting one of Dame Margaret's daughters. It seems to be going better than his previous effort, but that set a fairly low bar. Fortunately, Dame Margaret appears to approve. At the moment, Sir Eric is dividing time not spent at the castle between his own ranch and Dame Margaret's.

Dame Emily Borden leads the Baron's air wing, and is equally skilled behind the controls of all three air frames. Her children are still too young to fly, but she fortunately has a number of cousins who are trained, as the planet's air forces are not known for their high survival rates. Her siblings run the family's two parts factories, which feed the Baron's vehicle plant in Trenton.

Captain Sir Charles Morris commands the Baron's household troops while his wife runs their extensive ranch. His oldest daughter, Mary, is a platoon commander and eager to fill her father's shoes when he finally retires. The Morris family is the only non-MechWarrior clan to hold a ranch.

Dame Heather Falls runs the Baron's motor pool with the help of a wide network of children, cousins and siblings. Various relatives drive the troop transports, scout jeeps, rocket trucks and engineering vehicles, while others turn the wrenches that keep them all running. The Falls family owns several service companies that support the Baron's plant in Trenton, and seem to make a more than decent living at it.

The six outlying communities are: Ewing, Lawrenceville, Hamilton, Bordentown, Morrisville, and Fallsington.

Utility Helicopters (if approved by Liam):
Code: [Select]
1,000 kg Total 230 kg Chassis 80 kg 5 points BAR 2 armor (1 per location) 500 kg Engine (11/17, ICE, TL C) 150 kg 2x Seats 40 kg Fuel
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Tegyrius on 02 April 2017, 20:32:17: Awesome!

I see you taunting me with your excellent road network. :)

I very much like the idea of having an "alert-five" Mech at the castle, particularly for a holding that's so close to the Duke's own. Also, the Lawrence/Mackenzie-Morse rivalry makes me grin.

Really digging on the motor pool being an extended family affair, too. That, and the attendant knighthood for the family head, both make sense in a setting like this, where the conventional forces really are the backbone of most conflict and a vital part of daily operations.

This is rapidly turning into a pocket setting that could be viable for anything from one-on-one duels (perhaps to first breach rather than to destruction) to full-up Alpha Strike battalion-scale battles to a nasty political AToW campaign. This is a place where a lance action really can tip the political balance of a planet.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 April 2017, 20:51:30: Thanks! I hope Liam likes it too... ::)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: imperator on 03 April 2017, 04:40:54: I'm so stealing this for my against the Bot campaign!! Foxhaven can be the North Continent with the south made up with weaker Mech units, but stronger infantry/cavalry, more vehicles, and Some TRO 1945 panzer companies action for the remaining vehicles. No fighters except for 1940s german stuff and not many of those in the south. It's already divolved into a Barony war plus pirate attack, with the ever increasing border skirmishes with tribal gangs in Technicals and primitive tanks( Mostly motorized and mechanized bolt action rifle infantry with Grenade launchers, but throw in a few TRO 1945 British and american tanks. Just for fun)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 03 April 2017, 18:27:39: So now we have the Barony of Trent, the Barony of Greenfan, and the Barony of Barony of Ouachita. This is going well.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 03 April 2017, 18:55:48: Sweet, thanks Liam! O0

Perhaps we should ask the mods to merge the threads down here...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Sharpnel on 03 April 2017, 19:36:25: Quote from: Liam's Ghost on 03 April 2017, 18:27:39
So now we have the Barony of Trent, the Barony of Greenfan, and the Barony of Barony of Ouachita. This is going well.
The Barony of Torrealba, as well, ruled by the Right Honorabla Graciela Cisneros, the Lady of the Morning Sun and Mistress of the Sunrise Tower.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 03 April 2017, 21:24:32: guess i should throw together one too.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 03 April 2017, 22:54:39: I still need to throw together the fourteenth Baron and the grand duke's holdings. I'm claiming sickness and not the time I wasted today playing card games and minecraft.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Tyler Jorgensson on 04 April 2017, 00:36:35: Now I guess I have something to keep me occupied in class rather than actually paying attention to a college 100 level intro class.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 April 2017, 10:50:38: Just to make sure I'm clear, Foxhaven has at least one moon, right?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 04 April 2017, 17:13:01: how old is the current Ducal line? are we looking at a Duke that only recently (within the last few generations) obtained power, or is it something that has stood for most of the planet's history?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 04 April 2017, 18:34:38: Quote from: glitterboy2098 on 04 April 2017, 17:13:01
how old is the current Ducal line? are we looking at a Duke that only recently (within the last few generations) obtained power, or is it something that has stood for most of the planet's history?

The current political structure has existed since roughly the late first succession war. Before refugees and defectors from the Successor States started coming in, the planet was occupied by small groups of subsistence level farmers with no real organization or government. The Ducal line has basically been in power since Dukes and Barons started being a thing onworld. The Ducal line got to become the ducal line, however, primarily because it managed to occupy and defend infrastructure left over from Stephan Amaris' hidden army. The recovered maintenance and repair equipment, plus a few industrial fusion plants, gave them a huge head start.

Quote from: Giovanni Blasini on 04 April 2017, 10:50:38
Just to make sure I'm clear, Foxhaven has at least one moon, right?

Nine of them from my notes.

Star Type: MV0
Charge Time: 201 Hours
Transit Time: 3.14 Days
Mass: 0.5 solar masses
Luminosity: 0.125
Radius: 0.55
Life Zone: 0.132-0.263 AU (0.131 AU)

Foxhaven
Distance: 0.2 AU
Type: Terrestrial
Diameter: 9500 km
Avg Density: 5.84 g/cm3
Day Length: 24 hours
Surface Gravity: 0.79
Escape Velocity: 8.84 km/sec
Year: 46.169 days
Satellites: 9 Small
Atmospheric Pressure: Low (Breathable)
Surface Water: 40%
Equatorial Temperature: 23.85 C
Highest Native Life: Mammals
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 04 April 2017, 18:38:05: Any habitable?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 April 2017, 18:45:44: Habitability is relative, and that works for my purposes. Names chosen for the moons yet? I'm thinking a Barony that controls one or more moons.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 04 April 2017, 18:47:49: Quote from: Dragon Cat on 04 April 2017, 18:38:05
Any habitable?

Not naturally, they're too small to hold an atmosphere of any kind.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 04 April 2017, 18:53:02: Since there's nine, any objections to using the Muses as names, and how many could would work for one Barony's territory?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 04 April 2017, 19:00:24: Quote from: Liam's Ghost on 04 April 2017, 18:34:38
The current political structure has existed since roughly the late first succession war. Before refugees and defectors from the Successor States started coming in, the planet was occupied by small groups of subsistence level farmers with no real organization or government. The Ducal line has basically been in power since Dukes and Barons started being a thing onworld. The Ducal line got to become the ducal line, however, primarily because it managed to occupy and defend infrastructure left over from Stephan Amaris' hidden army. The recovered maintenance and repair equipment, plus a few industrial fusion plants, gave them a huge head start.

ok so about 10-12 generations. fairly long established.
i'd had an idea for mine, regarding motivations for secretive plots they were involved in. but since the Ducal line is so well established, "we used to rule this place" won't work. might go with "we used to be much more important" instead.. or maybe "we should have ruled this place", with a scenario similar to Henry V scene II..debates over legal succession is always a good driver of drama. in feudal systems. :)

Quote from: Giovanni Blasini on 04 April 2017, 18:53:02
Since there's nine, any objections to using the Muses as names, and how many could would work for one Barony's territory?

so Calliope, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Urania?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 04 April 2017, 19:14:12: You guys can have your Barons and Baronesses... I'll make mine a Baronet!

Having worked for the Grand Duke's father for years, Baronet Xu Von Strong paid for his Barony through sweat and hard labor. During the early years the Barony was considered the smallest ever formed. But since his daughter Pepper was born, the other Baronies surrounding him have given his a few extra hectares each as a present. Castle Von Strong sits on the top of a cliff overlooking the bluffs and reaches of the Barony below. Having mostly rough terrain to settle, the populace enjoy farming, sheep herding and small timber tracts. Current population is forty-four thousand souls and counting. Castle Von Strong uses natural defenses and manmade Gun Emplacements surrounding the grounds. Plans were made to increase the local garrison to include locally produced vehicles and make use of public garages to further increase the armored forces.

Every school has an enlistment center and citizens are encouraged to participate in physical training and qualify for first-aid and small arms. Prisons tend to be the exception, but the Baronet has made plans of allowing prisoners to get a reduced sentence if they serve half or more of their time in the military. Military law is severely harsh as any infraction might lead to the death sentence or worse. Basic training is taught early and drilled into the children with more advanced skills later on. It is common to have endurance and shooting contests every year on Founding Day and lasting for a week after that.

Now in his late 100's, he's looking to see his firebrand daughter take the ropes and settle down. Not much of a family type yet, Pepper Von Strong has spurned the looks and favors of the other Baronies sons so far. Now in her late 30's, she pilots her fathers old Stalker-4P with pride. Her father knew he couldn't stop her from terrorizing the neighborhood, so he enlisted his Master-at-Arms fraternal twins, Bobbi and Tomi, who happen to pilot the Wyvern-6N's with ease. Pepper's cousin, Ted E. Bar, who is known far and wide as a lady's man and just turned 62 last week, pilots the Firestarter-9H. His son Johnny Bar pilots his Stinger-3G along side of his dad when they go out on patrol.

Currently the unit is conducting a recon raid on Tyler Jorgensson's Barony for practice and publicity purposes. After all, Barony Von Strong is the smallest, but not the weakest. The Baronet has sent a strongly worded recall for Ms. Pepper to return for reassignment and other duties pertaining to her actions. Daddy's little girl is in hot water, and cooler heads must avail.

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 05 April 2017, 09:56:06: Quote from: glitterboy2098 on 04 April 2017, 19:00:24
so Calliope, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Urania?

Yep. I'm currently working on the Barony of Urania, led by the Sixth Baroness of Urania, Lucretia Morrison the Sixth (yes, there's an easter egg/joke on the baroness' name).
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 05 April 2017, 10:06:20: Quote from: truetanker on 04 April 2017, 19:14:12
Now in his late 100's, he's looking to see his firebrand daughter take the ropes and settle down. Not much of a family type yet, Pepper Von Strong has spurned the looks and favors of the other Baronies sons so far. Now in her late 30's, she pilots her fathers old Stalker-4P with pride. Her father knew he couldn't stop her from terrorizing the neighborhood, so he enlisted his Master-at-Arms fraternal twins, Bobbi and Tomi, who happen to pilot the Wyvern-6N's with ease. Pepper's cousin, Ted E. Bar, who is known far and wide as a lady's man and just turned 62 last week, pilots the Firestarter-9H. His son Johnny Bar pilots his Stinger-3G along side of his dad when they go out on patrol.

given it is a periphery world with limited tech advancement, i'm not sure that they'd have access to the kind of medical knowledge and infrastructure to enable people to be so active at over 100.

i'd honestly suggest knocking about 20 years off the ages you list there.. the elder Bar thus being 42 (still fairly close to their prime) while the Baron would thus be in his 80's.. elderly in a near 20th century level medical technology base, but could still have his mental facilities.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 05 April 2017, 13:49:13: North Point
The northern most Barony, North Point is a cold mountainous land with extensive old growth forests. While not a very populous territory, its focus on logging and cellulosic ethanol fuel production has made it a rather prosperous one. Much of the Barony's population inhabit the capitol city of Kirkwall, alongside much of its industry. Castle Kirkwall, in the center of the city, is the ancestral home to the Mac Néill family, one of the older ruling families of Foxhaven. The North Point logging concerns, all owned in part by the Mac Néill family, have also made it one of the largest concentrations of Industrialmechs on the world, with North Point being the main purchaser of Crosscut Forestry mechs.

While Jabir Mac Néill is the legal Baron, the true power in North Point is his Grand Mother, Dania Mac Néill, who despite her advanced age manages the Mac Néill clan with an iron grip. It is through her that the Mac Néill clan (and by extension, all North Point) have become so heavily involved in Foxhaven's byzantine political affairs. Dania Mac Néill had been, in her distant youth, the wife to the brother of one of the previous Dukes. After that duke's death, succession passed to his illegitimate son, rather than to her husband, as tradition would hold given the son's legal status. Dania Mac Néill has never forgiving this slight, and has spent much of her life in schemes to discredit and eventually depose the current Ducal line in favor of her own descendants. To this end she has manipulated many of the other barons to create rivalries and undermine the Dukes control. Always through intermediaries and subtle actions however, to hide the Mac Néill clan's involvement.

Militarily North Point practices a mandatory period of military service for all, allowing it to maintain a per capita military force as large as the other baronies, despite its smaller population. Its military tends towards smaller formations (5 man squads, 5 squads per platoon), and makes extensive use of offroad and rotary wing vehicles to maximize mobility in the mountains and forests. North Point only possesses five battlemechs, of which only four see regular use.

the WHR-6R Warhammer is the property of Jabir Mac Néill, which he pilots with fair skill, on those occasions when he takes the field. Dating back to the time of the Star League, it has been lovingly maintained and fights with no sign of its multi-century age. Supporting the north point militia forces are; One Griffin GRF-1N piloted by Lt. Karl Akselsen, a Dervish DV-6M piloted by Sgt. Hugo Ingersson, and two Stinger STG-1R's* piloted by Thomas Kempf and Azar Dahl. All four are of offworld mercenaries hired by Dania Mac Néill, although the mech's themselves have been part of the North Point Barony for generations. (*The Stingers have been modified, removing half their machinegun ammunition capacity to upgrade one machinegun to a Flamer.) Currently unknown to the Duke, North Point has assembled refit kits to convert several of its Crosscut Forestry Mech's into armed variations (roughly comparable to the Crosscut RL and Crosscut ED-X2 (Flamer).), against the day when they will be required for war.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 05 April 2017, 14:05:47: Since I'm not sure which thread to put this in.

Barony of Urania

One of the larger baronies by land area but certainly the smallest by population, the Barony of Urania is not technically on the world of Foxhaven at all, but on one of her nine moons, Urania.

Established after the colonization of Foxhaven for the purposes of mining Foxhaven's moons for rare elements, and for serving as an early-warning post against possible invaders. The first Baroness of Urania, Lucretia Morrison the First, was a former Major and Land-Air 'Mech pilot in the SLDF Army, who refused to join Kerensky's Exodus, and was joined by a handful of fellow LAM pilots. Arriving in Foxhaven with a dilapidated Danais class DropShip, the Grand Duke of Foxhaven granted Morrison a Barony in exchange for her and her group's expertise in space and microgravity operations.

Today, the Barony is led by Lucretia the VI, the Ninth Baroness of Urania. Of their original six Land-Air 'Mechs, only three remain functional: two STG-A5 Stinger LAMs and one WSP-100 Wasp LAM. The Danais itself has not flown in over a century, instead serving as the central fixture of the Barony's operations, with two shuttles serving as transports between the Barony and the planet of Foxhaven itself. Precious few vehicles have proven adept at being modified to work in the harsh airless environment of the moon, so Urania's defensive forces rely almost entirely upon spacesuited infantry, the three functional LAMs, and two BattleMechs: a STG-3G Stinger and WSP-1A Wasp. The Barony of Urania also posseses a handful of sealed IndustrialMechs to assist in mining operations, but while rumors abound that the Barony has converted one or two to at least partially-armed configurations, Lucretia the IX has denied this emphatically.

While the Barony's primary landholdings are all on Urania, they do keep a private residence and warehouses adjoining Foxhaven's sole spaceport, where Lucretia's heir apparrent, Drusilla, resides. The bulk of the Barony's conventional vehicle forces, as well as their conventional fighters, can be found here, as well as Drusilla's WSP-1A Wasp.

Lucretia herself, much like her ancestor, pilots the Barony's WSP-100 Wasp. While she does, on occasion, accompany her Barony's two Stinger LAMs on patrols, due to the lower thrust of her LAM, she more often flies on private business, or accompanies the Grand Duke in his SHD-X2 Shadow Hawk LAM, serving as his wingman. As with the rumors of armed IndustrialMechs, spokespersons for both the Baroness and Grand Duke call any rumors of any romantic relationship between the two completely preposterous imaginings of gossip reporters, and that training together in two similarly-performing LAMs is sound tactical and strategic doctrine.

Barony Land-Air 'Mechs and BattleMechs are all painted jet black, regardless of the environments they are operating in. Barony infantry wear combat uniforms or space suits of a camoflage suitable for the enviroment, usually either urban camoflage for those serving on Foxhaven near the spaceport, or a blend of greys, white and black that blend into the Uranian regolith and break up the pattern of their suits.

Notable Mechwarriors:

Lucretia Morrison the VI, the Ninth Baroness of Urania: WSP-100 Wasp LAM
Known in Foxhaven gossip circles for the unusual fashion sense traditional for the Baronesses of Urania, Baroness Lucretia is the sixth baroness to be named after Major Lucretia Morrison, the founder of the Barony, and the latest to pilot the Major's ancient WSP-100 Wasp LAM. Her strong resemblence to her progenitor, as well as her family's isolation on Urania, merely add fuel to the fires of the gossip reporters, which her occasional proximity to the Grand Duke when both are in their LAMs does not help. While Lucretia is in her fifties, you would not know it by looking at her, appearing to be nearly the same age as her two daughters.

Dame Darla Morrison, Heir Apparrent to the Barony of Urania: STG-A5 Stinger LAM
The eldest child of Lucretia Morrison, Darla Morrison is, in many ways, the opposite of her mother. While her mother is reserved and cautious, Darla is gregarious and aggressive, both in the cockpit and out. Sharing the same complexion as her mother, but the blonde hair of her late father, the 23-year-old Darla pilots one of the Barony's two STG-A5 Stinger LAMs. An aggressive, skilled pilot, her abilities in fighter mode outstripe those in 'Mech mode, where her skills as a mechwarrior are average. This is not surprising, though, given Darla drills regularly to prepare against potential pirate raids. Much to her chagrin, her mother has insisted that Darla spend more time on the social circuit than the past, though Darla has adapted to her new social role with aplomb.

Dame Drusilla Morrison: WSP-1A Wasp
Drusilla is the somewhat scatterbrained younger daughter of Baroness Lucretia. Unlike her mother, who lives on Urania, Drusilla has lived planetside the majority of her life, and currently guards their smaller lands near the spaceport on Foxhaven with the meager ground forces of the Barony. Personable, but unfocused, Drusilla would be a poor choice to lead the Barony, and it's widely believed that she lives planetside more to keep her and the residents of Urania safe from any potential accidents in Urania's harsh environment than out of any strong concern for their miniscule holdings on Foxhaven. Traditionally, however, one of the chidren of the Baroness has always lived on Foxhaven, ostensibly to keep one potential heir out of the harsh environment of space, but many suspect that this residence serves more to ensure the Barony complies with the Grand Duke's rule, keeping one potential heir a "guest" (hostage) against incursion, which could also cut off the Barony from much-needed terrestrial supplies they cannot produce on their own.

Sir William Marsters: STG-3G Stinger
The mechwarrior assigned to guard the static facilities of the Barony of Urania, Sir Marsters is a skilled warrior in a difficult environment and unfortunate situation. Commanding the sole BattleMech on Urania, with little more than spacesuited infantry to guard their ground forces there, Sir William would be hard pressed to defend against any forces that manage to land on Urania, and therefore relies heavily upon the Barony's two LAMs to prevent that from ever occurring. Sir William is smitten with Dame Drusilla, though the two rarely cross paths, making it unlikely anything will come of his romantic interest, despite their mutual attraction.

Dame Johnette Jenius: STG-A5 Stinger LAM
Like Sir Williams, Dame Johnette is a decendant of one of the original SLDF Army officers who accompanied Major Morrison to Foxhaven. Dame Johnette pilots the other Stinger LAM in the Barony's meager 'Mech forces, serving as wingman to Dame Darla.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 05 April 2017, 17:43:59: People are posting in both places... the advantage down here is you can post designs. I already suggested to Liam that we ask the mods to merge the threads down here, and it's ultimately his call.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 05 April 2017, 22:32:30: Sorry, been sick and distracted today.

We should probably keep/move the actual writeups to this thread in line with Forum conventions. If I'd known how fantastically it would have caught on, I probably would have started it here. :D

I need to count up how many writeups we've managed to accumulate.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 05 April 2017, 22:57:44: Hoping my space vampire barony isn't too screwball to work?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 06 April 2017, 17:54:50: Quote from: glitterboy2098 on 05 April 2017, 10:06:20
given it is a periphery world with limited tech advancement, i'm not sure that they'd have access to the kind of medical knowledge and infrastructure to enable people to be so active at over 100.

i'd honestly suggest knocking about 20 years off the ages you list there.. the elder Bar thus being 42 (still fairly close to their prime) while the Baron would thus be in his 80's.. elderly in a near 20th century level medical technology base, but could still have his mental facilities.

Real Life: I just found out that one of my customers has passed away after eleven years attending my restaurant. He used to come over to have his dinner before attendeing the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, he was 109 years old. In his honor the ISO has named his chair he sat in for 63 years after him. He will be missed.

In my defense, Baronet Xi is 108 and he'll probable die sooner than you think.

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 07 April 2017, 03:01:10: For actual write ups (not just 'mech forces), I see:

Greenfan (Tegyrius)
Trent (Daryk)
Ouachita (Arkansas Warrior)
Okro (Vegam Ranger)
Port Royale (Colt Ward)
Torrealba (Sharpnel)
Urania (Giovanni Blasini)
North Point (glitterboy2098)
Von Strong (truetanker)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 07 April 2017, 10:33:24: Repost:

Barony of Ouachita- The barony is mostly rural, with agriculture and timber industries predominating, though some small-scale mining goes on, mostly for bauxite, novaculite, and industrial-grade diamonds. A few wealthier gentleman farmers and loggers own IndustrialMechs, but they’re rare, and essentially unheard of outside of noble estates. In the equatorial reaches of the barony there is a vast swamp where locals make their living selling the meat and hides of “swamp dragons”, a local variant of Terran alligator that is rumored to grow over thirty feet long. Outside of the major cities, the transportation network in Ouachita is very primitive; while some rail lines exist, most ‘roads’ are merely well-mowed trails of grass perhaps 100 meters wide and often hundreds of kilometers long. Most locals use all-terrain vehicles or, for those who can afford it, hovercraft to traverse the wilderness between cities.The barony is also unusual in that most inherited nobility are not mechwarriors; the Baronial family controls three the barony’s five mechs and loans them out for set terms. The competition to get these slots when they open up is fierce indeed (mos aspirants will have trained for years on family IndustrialMechs while waiting for a slot to open up), and the periodic centerpiece of local political wrangling. Even within their own family, the Baronial mech is typically given to the candidate most capable of fulfilling all baronial roles, both military and political, rather than any sort of strict primogeniture. In this way, the current baron succeeded over the claims of two older cousins.The baronial castle is actually centered on an ancient dropship, which irreparably damaged its thrusters ages ago during the early colonization of Foxhaven. It sits on an island in the middle of a dammed portion of the Barony of Ouachita’s namesake river. Built up around the ship itself are a complex of walls, turrets, and so on, while barracks and repair facilities are located within the ancient ship’s cavernous bays. Its still-operable fusion reactor is the primary source of power for the capital of Rock Lake, built on the shore of the lake that surrounds the island. Rock Lake has about hundred thousand or so residents, and is surpassed within the barony only by Graceland, the barony’s seaport trading hub that sprawls across a chain of islands situated near the mouth of the Ouachita River.
Baron Cameron Leonard is fairly young, in his early thirties, having succeeded to the barony on the death of his spinster aunt and several of her retinue in a plane crash five years ago. He is aound 1.75m tall and somewhat stockily built, like most of the baronial line (his mother’s family), with light brown hair and beard cut short enough not to get in the way while piloting. An average pilot, and only slightly better gunner, his tactical skills far outstrip his other martial abilities. Outside of the cockpit, he is noted for being an avid distance runner, but even moreso for his bookishness. He owns an extensive library of books on subjects ranging from history, law, and military tactics, to tomes on philosophy, theology, and astrophysics. Never the most tactful of men, Baron Leonard is considered uncouth even by the standards of his notably provincial subjects. Indeed, the Baron should be the most eligible bachelor in the barony, but his inelegant manner, distaste for formality, and rather introverted nature have combined to stymie any efforts at courtship. Local gossip columns nevertheless continually link him to any number of women, including several of his household retinue. Before his assent to the barony, he had spent nearly his entire life in school, achieving a Master’s in Military History and Juris Doctorate before his twenty-fifth birthday. He pilots his family’s age-old WHM-6D Warhammer “Jane”. One of his first commands as baron was that the mech be refit from the 6L “Hot Hammer” configuration his aunt preferred to the 6D configuration as soon as possible (which turned out to be when the relevant parts were salvaged from pirate mechs after a raid seven months later).
Sir Timothy Christopherson-“Tiny” Tim Christopherson is the most recent addition to the Baron’s bodyguard. Barely 18, he won the right to pilot one of the baron’s auxiliary machines scant months ago. A small man with blue eyes and a head full of dark hair, Tim stands barely 1.62 meters and weighs only around 50 kilos. The young mechwarrior is, if anything, even more introverted and bookish than his baron, and an average mechwarrior at best. Indeed, many wonder how he got the spot at all. Court gossip is that his recently-widowed mother, the baronial librarian, won her son’s spot through with feminine charms. For his part, the baron maintains that while Ms. Christopherson is a friend, Sir Tim won the seat on his own merits, and claims to see much of himself in the young man. Whatever the case, the two are rarely found apart on the battlefield. Sir Christopherson pilots the baron’s BJ-1 Blackjack “Betsy”, which he keeps loaded with flak ammunition to defend his liege from aerial threats.
Lady Karmyn Kelly pilots the Baron’s third mech, a HBK-4G Hunchback named “Dianna”. The Kellys are deeply entrenched in the Ouachita court, with close relationships to the Barons going back decades, but they lost their family mech generations ago. Karmyn defeated all comers (including one of her own cousins) for the right to follow her father as pilot of the baron’s Hunchback upon Baronet Kelly’s promotion to Finance Minister five years ago. In fact, her family has piloted the Hunchback as the baron’s bodyguard for close to fifty years, and some expect it to be formally turned over to them in the near future. A tall woman, she stands 1.85 meters and is built like the proverbial brick outhouse, with grey eyes and a long, platinum-blonde pony tail that hangs to her waist. She is widely regarded as the best mechwarrior in his retinue. When off duty, it is common to find her spending her free time at the gym, on her family’s hunting preserve, or playing any of several sports with local amateur teams. Whether in the cockpit or out, she maintains a quiet, stony demeanor, ever the bodyguard. While Baron Leonard has tried many times to get her to lighten up and relax a bit, she insists on cold professionalism when in his company, even if technically off duty, and relaxes only around her extensive family or her close friends, such as Lady Taylynn Wright, another of the baron’s mechwarriors. Court gossip says this is due to some unspecified grudge against him that only her professionalism allows her to overcome. Alternatively, others put it down to spurned advances, though which of them was interested and which not varies by the telling.
Lady Laurel Lee is the Baron's second, and a childhood friend of his, who was his cadet lance commander at the Ouachita Military Academy. She exudes an air of quiet competence, and the baron readily acknowledges her as a superior mechwarrior in all respects, and defers to her expertise in all matters of recon and scouting. Physically, Lady Lee is an almost entirely unremarkable woman, of average height and build, with brown hair and eyes, and an uncanny ability to blend into any crowd-an ability she has used to foil at least one attempt on the baron’s life. She pilots her family’s mech expertly, and is an almost preternaturally accurate gunner. When not in the cockpit, Lady Lee enjoys hiking the mountains of the Barony’s Central Range and participating in marksmanship competitions, with weapons ranging from pistols to longbows to her mech’s large laser. Her mech “Old Blue” is a MON-68 Mongoose that has been in her family since the planet was colonized, named for its blued-steel coloration. It has been repaired and refit more than once since arriving on Foxhaven, and was modified to the MON-68 configuration several decades ago.
Lady Taylynn Wright is the eldest daughter of Baronet Marcus Wright, the Commandant of Ouachita Military Academy, and under whom every mechwarrior in the unit studied at one time or another. Only after she graduated did her father relinquish his place as the Baron’s second to devote his full energy to the academy. With her dark hair and entrancing blue eyes, she is already the darling of the court, despite being new to the court and only in her mid-twenties. Baron Leonard gladly allows her to be the unit’s public face, since it allows him to retreat to the peace of his library a little more often. While Taylynn inherited her family mech on her father’s retirement, she claims that her younger sister Ashlynn, a cadet at the Ouachita Military Academy, is a superior pilot and will likely soon replace her. Court gossip is that this is because she hopes to marry the baron and retire from military service. Outside the cockpit, she is most often found overseeing her family’s extensive agricultural and timber holdings (where she first learned to pilot a mech, driving her own Crosscut LoggerMech by her twelfth birthday) or playing one sport or another with her best friend Karmyn. Her mech is a Javelin, modified at some point in the past into the JVN-10F Fire Javelin configuration, and is named “James”. Generally speaking, I'd expect the unit's tactics revolve around the lights acting as the hammer to the baron's anvil, either driving enemies into the other three, or flanking enemies that have already been engaged. The Whammy is used for direct firesupport with the Blackjack nearby screening flyers and hitting anything that closes with MLs, while the Hunchback moves forward and keeps enemies from closing with the Baron.

Ok, this is really annoying. Does anyone else know why the [ / size ] and [ / font ] etc things pop in when you copy & paste from one part of the site to another? Also why there's grey background on the words I'm typing into the box right now, that disappears (or is at least invisible) when I hit post?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 07 April 2017, 17:05:58: The easiest way I've found to copy and paste formatting is to hit "reply with quote" in the other thread, then copy the quoted text (deleting the quote tags).
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 07 April 2017, 18:29:15: I've been giving it some thought, and I'm leaning toward the air wing supporting the Baron of Trent maintaining proficiency by flying the Boomerangs on traffic patrol every day... :D
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 08 April 2017, 00:36:57: Gonna offer some brief writeups concerning nearby habitable world, mostly from the point of view of the merchants looking for something exploitable on them. Here's the first (and yes, the Jeweled Crab is quite shiny (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93lrosBEW-Q)).

Harding 937 (Moana/Persistence)

The most populous of Foxhaven's immediate neighbors, the Harding 937 system contains a single habitable, almost completely water covered planet home to two distinct civilizations separated by the virtually unlivable heat of the equatorial regions. The denizens of the northern hemisphere, who call the planet Moana ("Sea") are the more numerous and sophisticated, numbering several million scattered across numerous island chains throughout the hemisphere. With only one significant, technologically oriented population center (the so called home island of Papa), the vast majority of the population lives a quiet, primitive life with virtually no modern technology or significant military strength. This is by necessity rather than choice, as resources, space, and transportation are all insufficient to allow for significant development of the various island chains or to support any sort of standing military.

The inhabitants of the southern hemisphere, who refer to the world as Persistence, number no more than a few hundred thousand and lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle among the even more sparse island chains found in the south. Scarce resources often forces southern tribes to resort to raiding, even crossing the inhospitable equator to attack northern islands. Though they lack in every conceivable resource, they make up for this with surprising ingenuity. Because contact between these two disparate civilizations is both extremely intermittent and also almost exclusively violent, each tends to view the other more in terms of mythology and legends, with Northerners viewing the Southerners as little more than bloodthirsty savages, while Southerners view the Northerners as lazy invaders claiming the "good lands" of the Northern Hemisphere for themselves.

Baron Gideon Yas claims exclusive rights to trade with the locals, with his jumpship making regular visits. With few of the traditional commodities available, the World's sole export is the famous Jewelled Crab, with a few dozen harvested and shipped back to Foxhaven every two stellar cycles. Because their meat is highly perishable, and because they cannot survive outside of a high oxygen atmosphere, the Jewelled Crab has to be transported live in specialized pressurized compartments which greatly limits capacity. On top of this, the locals heavily restrict harvesting of the dangerous creatures as a matter of public safety. Because of the restricted supply and difficulty in transport, the meat of the Jewelled crab is a luxury available to only the elite of Foxhaven society, and regularly commands a higher price per gram than most precious metals. The beautiful crystalline deposites that cover a mature crab's shell are usually more obtainable, but only marginally.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 08 April 2017, 07:31:40: I'm liking this image for Dame Margaret:
(http://www.aveleyman.com/Gallery/ActorsB/1055.gif)

Hmmm... seems that link died... Let's try this one of Patience from Firefly:
(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/firefly/images/1/16/Patience.jpg/)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Vegam Ranger on 08 April 2017, 08:10:13: Reposting it here

Barony of Okro

The Barony of Okro is the youngest of the 13 Baronies of Foxhaven. Founded nearly a century ago after the arrival of a small mercenary band called Esha's Raiders crashed on the planet. Upon approaching the planet, the unit's Union had been mistaken for a pirate vessel and shot down by the Grand Duke's own Shadow Hawk LAM, or so the official story goes. After a short but tense stand-off, Esha Yogesh and the four other Mechwarriors lucky enough to walk away from the crash with their 'Mechs mostly intact came to an agreement with the Grand Duke, that would leave the crashed Dropship and the destroyed 'Mechs within the wreckage for the Grand Duke to salvage. In return, the stranded mercenaries would be granted a place within the local power structure.
Behind the back of Baron Rameschandra and his subordinates, several among the older nobility doubt the mercenary background of Esha Yogesh and her retinue, believing them to be in fact former pirates.

Esha Yogesh was granted the title of Baroness and given a vast, but arid Okro region in the interior of the main continent as a fiefdom. A land dominated by mountains, savannah and deserts, Okro had long been home to the Messengers, a millennial sect who openly defied the planetary government and had feld the lands of the Grand Duke and his Barons to live according to their beliefs. Settling in an apparently worthless region, the ducal government had decided any potential conquest of the Okro region as too costly. The unclaimed land was seen as a perfect fiefdom to give to the new baroness and the conquest of the Messengers was made part of the deal between Yogesh and her new liege. Unsurprisingly, the former mercenaries' 'Mechs allowed them to swiftly conquer the few towns the Messengers had founded. The semi-nomadic majority of the sect's members, however, were not so easily subdued and took to the hills. They continue to resist the barony's rule to this day, fighting a decades long guerilla war against the new rulers of the land.

Following her conquest of Okro, Baroness Esha took to developing her new home. A dam was constructed, impounding the Okro river, thus allowing for the irrigation of the Okro Valley and providing electricity to the newly founded city of Eshapolis downstream. The construction of the dam was repeatedly sabotaged by Messenger guerilla fighters, necessitating the construction of Castle Yogesh on the hills overlooking the construction site. When the dam was finally completed eleven years after the initial conquest, the barony was deeply indebted to the Grand Duke. In dire need for further credits to continue her construction plans and fight the war against the Messengers, Baroness Esha was forced to lease her knight Sir Reginald Romero and his Shadow Hawk to the Grand Duke for twenty years. Sir Reginald was less than thrilled to be pawned off for his commander's ambitions and retained a grudge against Yogesh for the rest of his life. After returning home, Sir Reginald tried to stage a coup against the Baroness, only to find himself isolated by his fellow Mechwarriors. Desperate and only with his estranged daughter begrudgingly supporting him, Sir Reginald is said to have an epiphany and turned to the Messengers for refuge. Since then, the Romero's Shadow Hawk has been the bane of the barony's forces, attacking convoys and outlying farms. The last attack lies a few years back and there's hoping that the renegade 'Mech has finally broken down from lack of maintenance.

In the end, her gamble paid off. The Okro valley was turned into a verdant garden, reducing the necessity for importing food from the other baronies and drawing settlers to Eshapolis and the surrounding lands. In recent years, geological surveys have discovered large silver and copper deposits in the highlands along the Greenwater river.

The Nobility

RFL-3N Rifleman - Baron Rameshchandra Yogesh

Grandson to Esha Yogesh, the founder of the barony, Baron Rameshchandra Yogesh is a man in his forties. As ruler of one of the poorest baronies, his struggle for a balanced budget is every bit as fierce as the fight against the rebellious millenial sect hiding in the hills. He and his husband live at Castle Yogesh, though they maintain a house in Eshapolis. Next in line of succession is his sister Greta and her four children.

HBK-4J Hunchback - Sir Aristotle Taylor

Stationed in Castle Yogesh alongside the baron himself, Sir Aristotle Taylor serves as bodyguard to Baron Rameshchandra on the battlefield and

GLT-4L Guillotine - Baronetess Isis Turnau

The only living 'Mechwarrior to have trained under Baroness Esha Yogesh, Isis Turnau is among the most experienced pilots on Foxhaven. Now almost sixty five years of age, she spends less and less time in the cockpit of her family's Guillotine. Her son Simon has taken over much of the family's responsebilities on the battlefield, while Baronetess Isis focusses on her role as governor of Eshapolis.

WSP-1A Wasp - Sir Yurik Cen

A stocky man of thirty six, Sir Yurik pilots one of the two Wasps of the barony. The light 'Mechs are the backbone of the barony's fight against the rebel forces.

WSP-1A Wasp - Dame Lola Clavidio

Dame Lola Clavidio inherited her 'Mech five years ago, when her older brother died during a raid on a Messenger stronghold.

Dame Seong-Eun Kim, the Air Knight

Descendent in direct line from the pilot of the Union that brought the ancestors of the ruling family to Foxhaven, Dame Seong-Eun is in charge of the barony's air force. Two of her cousins have also found their way into the pilot seats of the Guardians under her command, while her oldest daughter has recently started training on one of the two Boomerang scout planes. As the only member of nobility not trained as a 'Mechwarrior, she has been dubbed the Air Knight.

Places of Interest

Castle Yogesh

The stronghold overlooking Prosperity Dam is the seat of House Yogesh and the knightly houses of Taylor and Kim. It also houses the only facilities capable over performing more than basic maintenance on BattleMechs. Two of the barony's 'Mechforce and the entire air force are stationed here.

Eshapolis

Nearly 100 kilometers downstream from Castle Yogesh lies Eshapolis, the only closest any settlement in the Barony of Okro cames to being a city. With nearly forty thousand residents, Eshapolis is the economic and cultural center of the Okro valley. What little industry the barony has can be found here. The remoteness of the barony, the low level insurgency targeting the overland connection to the rest of the planet and the already high debt to the ducal government has led the barony to promote self-sufficiency where ever possible.

Highway House

Build to protect the main route connecting the heartland of the barony with the outside world, Highway House is little more than a bunker. It houses an impromptu maintenance facility for the WSP-1A Wasp of House Cen and the extended family of Sir Yurik. Highway House is both a save haven for any traveller along the savannah road and the only toll station of the barony.

Greenwater Hill

Greenwater Hill is the most recently constructed stronghold. Originally intended as a forward post in the fight against the Messenger rebels, the discover of large silver and copper deposits in the surrounding lands has given the wayward firebase a new importance. While Dame Lola Clavidio continues to hunt down the rebels, plans are drawn up in Castle Yogesh for the exploitation of the new wealth. Perhaps Greenwater Hill will be the key to prosperity for the Barony of Okro.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Vegam Ranger on 08 April 2017, 08:39:18: Carabao Infantry Mobility Vehicle

(http://www.armourbook.com/uploads/forum/posts/thumbs/1231927485_unicornsri022yf.jpg)
Overview
The Carabao is a series of armored infantry mobility vehicles built in the Barony of Okro. Lacking a domestic automobile industry capable of producing such a vehicle from the ground up, the Carabao is instead based upon a commercial truck chassis imported from the ducal holds and modified for the needs of the barony. As all modifications are done by hand in one of several small garages, no two Carabaos are exactly the same. All share a strengthened chassis able to support the nearly one ton of armor protecting the driver's cabin and passenger compartment. For increased protection against land mines, an all too common weapon used by the local insurgency, the passengers are protected by a v-shaped armored hull. The engine has been modified as well, allowing for a wide variety of fuels to be used. Lacking a domestic source of petrochemicals, locally produced ethanol is usually used as fuel for the barony's forces.

Stats
Code: [Select]
Carabao Total weight: 8 tons Chassis weight (Wheeled; Off road): 2.5 tons Engine weight: 2.5 tons Fuel: 0.5 tons (Ethanol / 1300 km) Speed: 4/6 Armor: 1 ton (BAR 5; 5 points in every location) Infantry Compartment: 1 ton Cargo: 0.5 tons
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 08 April 2017, 14:45:05: Adding a bit of detail:
Code: [Select]
Barony Author # of 'mechs Resources Greenfan Tegyrius 4 Agriculture (Fruit, Grain) Trent Daryk 4 Agriculture (Cattle), Light Vehicle Manufacturing Ouachita Arkansas Warrior 5 Agriculture, Timber, Mining Okro Vegam Ranger 5 Mining (Silver, Copper), Insurgents Port Royale Colt Ward 5 2 Large Ports, Shipping Torrealba Sharpnel 4 Agriculture (Sheep, Cattle), Mining (Bauxite, Copper, Gold), Small Electronics, Household Appliances Urania Giovanni Blasini 5 Rare Elements North Point glitterboy2098 5 Timber, Ethanol Fuel Von Strong truetanker 5 Agriculture (Sheep), Timber
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 08 April 2017, 16:32:18: North Point also makes Fuel.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 08 April 2017, 16:36:59: Fixed, thanks! If anyone sees anything else I missed, please let me know.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 08 April 2017, 17:24:29: I love how you list Insurgents as one of Okro's resources.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 08 April 2017, 17:26:36: Well, they DO have a 'mech of their own... ;D
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 08 April 2017, 18:00:03: Since Trent makes light vehicles (<5 tons), would the Duke let them get away with having more vehicles? I was thinking of upping the Barony's forces to a company each of jeeps and rocket trucks (i.e., 16 more vehicles total, 8 of each).
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 08 April 2017, 18:01:19: That reminds me, I need to stat up the environmentally sealed IndustrialMechs, support vehicles and infantry for Urania.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 08 April 2017, 18:14:19: Cool... I'm keen to see what you put together. If they're less than five tons, Trent will probably have a production line just for you... :)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 08 April 2017, 21:36:54: Quote from: Daryk on 08 April 2017, 18:14:19
Cool... I'm keen to see what you put together. If they're less than five tons, Trent will probably have a production line just for you... :)

Ever seen the Lunar Rover? ;)

Code: [Select]
Motorized Platoon (XCT Laser) IS advanced BV: 137 Cost: 3,883,031.91 C-bills Movement: 3/3 Men: 28 (7/4) Armor: 2.0 (Spacesuit) Primary Weapon: Laser Rifle Secondary Weapon: SRM Launcher (Std, Two-Shot) (1) Damage per trooper: 0.403 Weapon Loc Heat ---------------------------------------- Laser Rifle MEN 0 Swarm Mek MEN 0 Stop Swarm Attack MEN 0 Leg Attack MEN 0 Equipment Loc ---------------------------------- Environment Suit, Marine MEN
Also, two versions of the Patron, sealed for use in space mining operations.

First, the straight loader:

Code: [Select]
Patron LoaderMech (Sealed) IS TW non-box set 15 tons BV: 73 Cost: 612,021 C-bills Movement: 2/3 Engine: 30 Fuel Cell BAR Rating: 5 Heat Sinks: 1 Cockpit: Industrial Cockpit Gyro: Standard Gyro Internal: 26 Industrial Armor: 24/55 Commercial Internal Armor -------------------------------------- Center Torso 5 3 Center Torso (rear) 2 Right Torso 4 2 Right Torso (rear) 2 Left Torso 4 2 Left Torso (rear) 2 Right Arm 2 2 Left Arm 2 2 Right Leg 3 2 Left Leg 3 2 Equipment Loc ---------------------------------- Industrial None Commercial None Environmental Sealing LL Mounted Searchlight LT Lift Hoist RT Cargo (0.5 tons) CT
Dropped to commercial armor to make room for environmental sealing.

Second, the miner:

Code: [Select]
Patron LoaderMech (Sealed Mining) IS TW non-box set 15 tons BV: 77 Cost: 569,276 C-bills Movement: 2/3 Engine: 30 Fuel Cell BAR Rating: 5 Heat Sinks: 1 Cockpit: Industrial Cockpit Gyro: Standard Gyro Internal: 26 Industrial Armor: 24/55 Commercial Internal Armor -------------------------------------- Center Torso 5 3 Center Torso (rear) 2 Right Torso 4 2 Right Torso (rear) 2 Left Torso 4 2 Left Torso (rear) 2 Right Arm 2 2 Left Arm 2 2 Right Leg 3 2 Left Leg 3 2 Equipment Loc ---------------------------------- Industrial None Commercial None Environmental Sealing LL Mining Drill RA Mounted Searchlight LT Cargo (0.5 tons) CT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 08 April 2017, 23:09:44: Quote from: Daryk on 08 April 2017, 18:00:03
Since Trent makes light vehicles (<5 tons), would the Duke let them get away with having more vehicles? I was thinking of upping the Barony's forces to a company each of jeeps and rocket trucks (i.e., 16 more vehicles total, 8 of each).

I don't imagine it would be a problem.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 09 April 2017, 04:57:12: Excellent, thanks! Also, I'm working up Baron Trent in AToW. It looks like I'll need to bend the rules a little to afford both the Title (+6) and Property (+6) that goes along with it. I fortuitously picked six kids early on (-12 for Dependents), exactly balancing out with the minor complication of exceeding the "bought XP" limit (of -5 TP). Paying for Battalion Commander rank also hurt, but I think is appropriate.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 09 April 2017, 11:11:39: How extensive would the mech repair facilities of the barons be? I'm considering working up a Forestry Mech refit, that North Point worked up in secret.

Also, are there any programs for making the support vehicles?
And the custom infantry?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 09 April 2017, 12:37:45: I did the support vehicles by hand, but I think there's a spreadsheet somewhere on the boards...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 09 April 2017, 14:30:53: I see we have roads and airstrips, but I'm noticing the lack of Rails here!

So Daryl, I'm starting a train!

The Von Strong Express runs regularly scheduled stops at every Barony from the northern most to the coast line. No questions asked all subject to the Ducal's terms. While this allows much cargo to be transferred without incident, occasionally the train may suffer a set back due to political debates, like civil strife. Huhtamaki Foodservices are a major supply company located on the Grand Duke's Barony. Supplying foodstuffs, light medical and caffeinated smokes for the fine aficionados. Also located here is Foxhaven Breweries, home to the Brown Liquor in a Can! label, a fine light malted beer made with roasted treenut, 8% alcohol content per can. Also produced is a sweet Merlot produced by the fruits of Greenfan Barony, pars well with the Jewelled Crab.

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 09 April 2017, 14:59:06: Excellent! I figure it parallels the F1 roadway connecting the Duke's hold to Trent, and on to the north.

The T1 is the primary ring road around Trent, connecting all of the Barony's outlying communities to the F1 in two places (north and south). The T2 dissects the circle running east-west, and crosses the F1 in Trenton itself.

Road maintenance consumes quite a bit of the Barony's resources, but provides jobs to a not insignificant number of residents. The Baron maintains a paving capability as the greater part (2/3s) of his Engineering company. It maintains proficiency by working on the roads around the "castle".

1st Trenton Engineers:
4 Engineering Vehicles (one stock (back hoe and lift hoist), one with a pile driver, one with a rock cutter and mining drill, and one with a bulldozer, chainsaw, and light bridging capability)
8 vehicles to support paving operations (miller, bulldozer, earth mover, grader, paver, compactor, and two dump trucks with trailers to move the others)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Siegfried Marcus on 09 April 2017, 15:52:36: Barony of New Uttarak

New Uttarak's rugged terrain promotes an independent mindset despite it being in the midst of others' lands. The economy is based on mining and forestry, but there are pockets of farmland in the valleys. The region is large, but sparsely populated. The land is ruled by the Apte family which has cultivated a reputation for fiercely upholding their autonomy while opposing any baron who seeks to increase his power relative to the others. The Apte's believe that they enjoy greater independence as a matter of legal privilege, and can lecture extensively on the historical precedent of their status. Of greater practical effect, New Uttarak's geography limits the value of the Grand Dukes combat vehicles. Nevertheless, the autonomy of the Aptes is fairly limited in practice, not least because their constant declarations have led to resentment among the other barons.

Baron Kiaan Apte
Now in his late 70s, Kiaan was once a fairly good Mechwarrior. He still sometimes climbs into his Grasshopper "Mountain King." Subordinates and visitors are encouraged to mistake the name of the mech as Kiaan's own title. It is his greatest disappointment in life that none of his offspring are worthy to pilot it. Kiaan has tried to impress on the Grand Baron that his forces are best used as an independent command to exploit terrain and harass or flank any invader.

Mechwarriors:

Lady Maria Apte - GHR-5H "Mountain King"
Maria was recruited from off-world to marry Kiaan's eldest grandson and join house Apte. Her ability to pilot a Grasshopper and her willingness to disown her first child (the deceased father's family was paid off to take him) were the main considerations. She is now in her mid 30s with one child in the Apte line.

Horace Bao - WVE-6N "Royal Squire"
Horace is a family retainer who has inherited his duties from his mother who suffered serious injury after landing the mech on a ledge that gave way. Horace is a solid gunner, but his piloting lacks confidence. In combat his role is to provide backup to the Mountain King.

James Grace - PXH-1 "Prospector"
The Phoenix Hawk is considered ideal for long patrols in the Baron's extensive lands. James is an experienced pilot and New Uttarak native who often operates alone and has the mountain man look to match his duties. As part of a lance, James acts as scout.

Tyrone Pan - STG-A5 (LAM) "Overseer"
Tyrone is a former ASF pilot, brought in to handle house Apte's lone LAM. Tyrone rarely fights as part of a lance. Instead he is expected to join forces with the planet's other air assets in the event of an attack. Kiaan considers this contribution to make up for his reluctance to send any other forces outside his lands. The LAM is also used as rapid response force where just having a mech in time is all that is needed. Many escalating disputes within New Uttarak have been squelched by the timely arrival of the Overseer.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 09 April 2017, 17:23:33: I would like to make another NPC barony that others can have a dispute with, Pirate Barony of Oto Islands.

( Since 40% of this land has water, thinking level 3 depth for the most part if playing tabletop for severe shallow waters and level 2 in more common areas. ) Why not use your Sailing rules you've made Liam? Get some wood on wood action with minor steel boats, say no bigger than Type C as the " super versions" with Type B being more common size in both container and battleship.

Pirates of Oto Barony:
Both East and West hate each other and would love to take over, but they're direct cousins to the Grand Duke himself. And as such, would have their collective butts handed to them by his lordship. So they prey on passing ships of the other Baronies and send a good quarter of it on to the dukes' private coffers as payment to look the other way. As a Galapagos Island chain, their exact bases are well hidden. Only working together to protect their homelands and such, they rather not see eye to eye as both claim ownership of the islands.

East Oto:
2x Atlas-7RS
1x Stinger-3G

West Oto:
Awesome-8T
Awesome-8T
3x Stinger-3G

They have a large wooden fleet of Skiffs, Single and Double sail sailing ships, and recently they have begun upgrading their ships with heavy armor over wooden hulls, a true Ironclad. Simple ICE engines are also being put to use, ( think early Steampunk-era ) with rumors of a Type C craft being built using captured " Salvage " to increase their presence.

Native foods include tropical fruits, small shellfish, Foxhaven Salmon: a type of largish Tuna-like fish found off the chain in warm water and the Oto-Squidd: another edible type of purple colored seven armed Cephalopod that has a nasty habit of squirting a greenish-red ink when startled. On the few volcanic islands, natural metal deposits can be found. Aquaculture is another way of farming, but underwater producing the same quantity as farms at Greenfan annually. Try as they might the Jewelled Crab doesn't survive well, even in correct atmosphere.

( I really hope you guys would see such as a thing as a nuisance, but a necessary evil... And fun to have! )

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 09 April 2017, 19:24:09: Assuming anyone can enter how about this one something a little different. The exact weapons manufactured is intentionally vague (I was thinking small SRM and LRM launchers, the laser family Small, Medium Large as well as conventional guns)

Middleton Manufacturing (Barony of Middleton)

The Middleton family are one of the oldest in the system they’ve been at the heart of trading on the planet thanks to their arms factory which provides various weapons to the planetary Duke and all of the Barons for a fair price. Unfortunately over the years the factory has failed to attract MechWarriors to its defence leading to the family being forced to contract out to the Barons for their defence this has led to some debts and in some cases “free” weapons being handed out to customers.

Things have changed since the return of Lucas Middleton to the system after leaving eight years ago intent on seeking adventure and fame in the Inner Sphere. By all accounts Lucas found much adventure fighting either for or against House Davion (exact details are hazy on what he actually did – more below) gaining not only a BattleMech for himself but the loyalty of three other MechWarriors. With Lucas returning Middleton Manufacturing now has its own defence force of BattleMechs which has put several noses out as Barons who were looking at easy money and cheap weapons are now finding their services not needed and weapons now being charged at full price.

While technically not a Baron Harold Middleton, Lucas’ father, owns the Manufacturing plant and the ground under it as his father did and his father before him. The factory is built to be defensible, although it is not as well fortified as a purpose built castle, Lucas styles himself as a MechWarrior Knight ready to duel any who challenge him but his father and younger sister instead continue to preach on about the neutrality of the factory and their wiliness to serve any of the planetary forces on the planet.

Harold Middleton, 72, CEO Middleton Manufacturing
Has worked at the factory since he was old enough to pick up the tools needed for the job and has the scars to prove it, on his right hand Harold only has two fingers and a thumb having lost the others in accidents on the factory floor. He is uncomfortable with his new position as a Baron and has gone to great lengths to continue to promote his factory’s neutrality. While proud of his son and his accomplishments in the Inner Sphere Harold actually sees Lucas’ younger sister Elle as the heir to his factory.

Elle Middleton, 27, CFO Middleton Manufacturing
Lucas’ younger sister and the Chief Financial officer of the company, across the system she is known to be a shrewd negotiator and someone very dedicated to her father and his legacy. With Lucas return she is finding it hard to cope with her brother’s immediate fame, her father’s new position as a Baron and her brother’s intention on succeeding their father.

Lucas Middleton, 33, Enforcer ENF-4R (50 tons)
Lucas is by all accounts an accomplished MechWarrior he fights extremely well as part of a lance and his lance mates are personally loyal to him. Where Lucas got his BattleMech, and his Lance’s loyalty, his been wildly speculated with some claiming that Lucas was actually enrolled with House Davion’s military and has gone AWOL with his BattleMechs. The truth is more benign however as John Petrie, one of Lucas MechWarriors, was in a bar and appears to have let the cat out of the bag. It appears that Lucas unit was part of a larger mercenary unit that was crushed during one of the Succession Lords petty battles. Lucas was in command of an ammunition dump and had gathered up nearly 1,000 tons worth of salvage during the fighting for control of the planet. Instead of fighting Lucas traded the ammunition dump and the salvage for transport off the planet saving the lance. They then formed their own unit and fought in at least two further battles together before returning to Lucas home on hearing that his mother had died.

John Petrie, 42, Phoenix Hawk PHX-1D (45 tons)
Lucas’ second in command a veteran of several battles but one that is ready to hang up his MechWarrior boots and walk away. His wife and two young children have come with him to the system looking to start a new life for themselves away from war. He has already had an argument with Lucas over the younger pilot’s wiliness to pick fights while Harold Middleton wishes for neutrality.

Camilla Daum, 32, Witworth WTH-1 (40 tons)
Shell-shocked, or a more modern term PTSD, sufferer is the best way to describe Camilla. While an accomplished MechWarrior the battles their lance has been through has taken its toll on Camilla. While willing to join her lance mates on manoeuvres she is rarely seen in the Mechbay alone.

Megan Perry, 22, Wasp WSP-1D (20 tons)
Daughter of one of Lucas former lance mates who chose to retire the minute he stepped on the planet. The Wasp she pilots has been in her family for several generations and Megan plans on making sure she lives up to its history. She is Lucas’ strongest supporter and many believe she has a personal interest in her commander.

Luciano McDonald, 28, Wasp WSP-1A (20 tons)
A native of the Lyran Commonwealth how Luciano joined Lucas team in the Federated Suns is unknown. He like Megan is a strong supporter of Lucas and has already been involved in two bar brawls following comments that the Lance were AWOL from the AFFS.

Chris Rellah, 53, Stinger STG-3R (20 tons)
Oldest warrior of the extended lance Chris is reportedly ready to retire and looking for someone to take over as pilot of his old Stinger. A veteran of many battles Chris saw Lucas trip home like the others from their unit, a way to disappear quietly with some of his life intact. He like John Petrie is happy to remain neutral but unlike Camilla he is seen in the Mechbay daily.

Sarah Lyons, 19, Commando COM-3A (25 tons)
The unit's newest recruit straight from Middleton Manufacturing's Security Forces Sarah Lyons is the daughter of one of Harold Middleton's closest supporters. When one of Lucas' MechWarriors chose to retire Harold supported her admission to Lucas' unit. Despite Harold's support Sarah is a larger supporter of Lucas' ideas rather than Harold's stance of neutrality.

Note – unlike other Barons the Middletons do not have a large amount of converted military vehicles instead they have several saloon cars, panel vans, transport trucks and off road transports to support their business. Many of these could be modified into combat vehicles but that is a path that Harold and Elle Middleton have so far avoided. A large security force armed with anti-Mech weapons are employed to defend the factory as are two unarmed LoaderMechs while like the vehicles are unlikely to be armed as long as Harold and Elle remain in charge of the company.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 09 April 2017, 21:36:43: Quote from: truetanker on 09 April 2017, 14:30:53
I see we have roads and airstrips, but I'm noticing the lack of Rails here!

So Daryl, I'm starting a train!

The Von Strong Express runs regularly scheduled stops at every Barony from the northern most to the coast line. No questions asked all subject to the Ducal's terms. While this allows much cargo to be transferred without incident, occasionally the train may suffer a set back due to political debates, like civil strife. Huhtamaki Foodservices are a major supply company located on the Grand Duke's Barony. Supplying foodstuffs, light medical and caffeinated smokes for the fine aficionados. Also located here is Foxhaven Breweries, home to the Brown Liquor in a Can! label, a fine light malted beer made with roasted treenut, 8% alcohol content per can. Also produced is a sweet Merlot produced by the fruits of Greenfan Barony, pars well with the Jewelled Crab.

TT
Wait, there's a brewery on the train? ;D

Also, I mentioned Ouachita having some limited railways. Feel free to pass through, probably toward the eastern coast, where the terrain is better for railways. Probably passing through/near the major seaport of Graceland and the Ouachita river delta where it's situated.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 09 April 2017, 22:33:06: Dragon Cat, aren't you missing about 25 tons?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 09 April 2017, 23:02:39: i figured that major transportation links would be something better suited for the person organizing the campaign.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 10 April 2017, 05:12:37: Quote from: Giovanni Blasini on 09 April 2017, 22:33:06
Dragon Cat, aren't you missing about 25 tons?

Yeah I know I was tempted to replace the Witworth with a Catapult or add another stinger to make up the bug lance
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 10 April 2017, 11:39:01: Could throw in a Commando or Intro tech Mongoose.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 10 April 2017, 14:31:20: One Commando has been recruited
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 10 April 2017, 17:04:11: Quote from: Dragon Cat on 10 April 2017, 14:31:20
One Commando has been recruited
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/glitterboy2098/games/battletech/lootbag%20commando_zpsqdc0alak.png)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 10 April 2017, 17:18:17: Lootbag Commando FTW! :D
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 12 April 2017, 20:24:26: What's the Currency called here?

Just wondering...

Ducal Bucks? Foxhaven Pound? I can see the Jewelled Crab being on the second most expensive one, after the Duke of Foxhaven emblem.

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 14 April 2017, 19:14:44: A couple more neighbors.

Serenity

The most distant independent system our trading ships have regularly traveled to, Serenity is a former Taurian world abandoned by the Concordat during the early Succession Wars. Though the locals were able to trade gold for manufactured goods, the primary value of the world to us was as a meeting place with merchants from the Taurian Concordat, which regularly visited the planet bringing medical and technical aid. Rumors of a lostech cache on the planet in the 3020s led to a military clash between forces of the Taurian Concordat, Capellan Confederation, and Federated Suns, in the process wiping out the local monarchy and causing significant damage to the world's only major settlement. The political chaos and attempts to rebuild gutted the local economy, though the killing blow only landed in the late 3030s when the gold mines ran dry. Citing a humanitarian crisis, the Taurian Concordat relocated the majority of the population to the nearby new colony of Orkney. Our last visit to the planet found nothing but a few hundred struggling settlers, three hundred of which were allowed to resettle on Foxhaven in exchange for long term labor contracts in the Grand Duke's Landhold.

Tybalt's Farm

Not habitable in any traditional sense, the planet of Tybalt's Farm is covered with a thick, highly toxic atmosphere that has prevented the development of anything but the most basic of invertebrate life. Human habitation is limited to a single domed settlement, originally a long term Star League observation station set up to monitor star formation in the Perseus Cloud and distant California Nebula. The settlement is small, numbering only a few thousand, and is dependent entirely on the technology of the heavily automated, advanced facility they call home. By necessity, this means the settlement is home to a wide cross section of highly skilled engineers, trained using the base's extensive computer databases to keep the place running.

We export primarily raw materials and natural grown food to Tybalt's Farm (the locals otherwise subside on artificial protein supplements synthesized locally). In exchange, the locals are able to produce a wide variety of medications and recreational chemicals at relatively low cost. On occasion, we have also coaxed some of the highly trained engineers onworld to resettle on Foxhaven.

Quote from: truetanker on 12 April 2017, 20:24:26
What's the Currency called here?

I'm currently leaning towards the Pound, Shilling, Pence and half Pence. With the shilling being roughly comparable to a C-Bill. Individual baronies might pay their subjects in "work scrip" though.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 16 April 2017, 17:20:00: Since we've had a few additions, I've updated the table:

Code: [Select]
Barony Author # of 'mechs Resources Greenfan Tegyrius 4 Agriculture (Fruit, Grain) Trent Daryk 4 Agriculture (Cattle), Light Vehicle Manufacturing Ouachita Arkansas Warrior 5 Agriculture, Timber, Mining Okro Vegam Ranger 5 Mining (Silver, Copper), Insurgents Port Royale Colt Ward 5 2 Large Ports, Shipping Torrealba Sharpnel 4 Agriculture (Sheep, Cattle), Mining (Bauxite, Copper, Gold), Small Electronics, Household Appliances Urania Giovanni Blasini 5 Rare Elements North Point glitterboy2098 5 Timber, Ethanol Fuel Von Strong truetanker 5 Agriculture (Sheep), Timber New Uttarak Siegfried Marcus 4 Mining, Timber, Agriculture Middleton Dragon Cat 7 Weapons Manufacturing Oto (East/West) truetanker 3/5 Aquaculture, Pirates (pending approval from Liam)
If truetanker's two pirate Baronies are approved, that takes us to 13, leaving only the Duke's hold and the "14th" Barony Liam said he'd provide.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 16 April 2017, 17:47:16: The''re a single Barony but have a much larger size due to having more island mass. Also they hate each other with a passion, only joining up in defense. Both claim the lordship!

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 16 April 2017, 17:53:45: I thought they would count as two since they each have 220 tons of 'mechs...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 16 April 2017, 18:17:56: I'm inclined to either count them as two baronies or mandate a reduction of mechs for each. Can't have Barons grasping above their station and all that...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 18 April 2017, 02:32:47: given they are pirates, you could run them as not part of the official baronies. give their mechs unrepaired damage and various negative quirks to reflect poor maintenance. and have them use a mishmash of other vehicles and infantry in raids on occasional the baronies proper. would give the players in the campaign something to fight other than each other at times, and give an interesting outside force that could be recruited (for a time) in whatever schemes the barons cook up.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 18 April 2017, 04:16:56: The first part of the writeup concerning the Grand Duke. There's more to come.

House Isaren

Yiris Isaren was not the sort of person one expects to become the ruler of a planet, at least not outside of a low budget holodrama. When he began seeking out the adventurous, unlucky, and desperate to join him in founding a new state in the depths of the Periphery, he was nothing more than a man with an assumed name, no past, a pile of gold from unspecified sources, and a silver tongue to make people forget all that other stuff. He was a talented orator, practically a demagogue who painted a picture of a life of peace, comfort, and prosperity beyond the reach of the Great Houses.

And people bought it. Some out of a naive faith, others playing an angle to enrich themselves, but most out of a hope they could find somewhere where humanity wasn't trying to destroy itself. More than a few figured that, with the Early Succession Wars raging, even if they ended up as subsistence farmers in the middle of nowhere, they'd be ahead of the game.

Instead, Yiris Isaren led his followers to Foxhaven, a planet on nobody's charts over two hundred light years from the borders of regular civilization. And, well, nobody really knew how to react when it turned out to be everything he promised. Foxhaven was rich in life and ripe for colonization, a little arid overall, but with a comfortable climate and plentiful space to settle. Isaren's prescience continued when he claimed a site for his personal landhold, and almost immediately uncovered vast warehouses leftover from Stephan Amaris' hidden army. Though little military equipment was found, the abandoned maintenance works, power generators, and civilian support equipment allowed Isaren to build an impressive hold very quickly, as well as buy enough loyal supporters to protect it. Within a couple of years, Yiris Isaren had proclaimed himself Grand Duke of the Free Duchy of Foxhaven and parceled out substantial landholds to his closest supporters, forming the basis for the system that governs the planet to this day. Those who opposed him, as well as those who claimed there was an obvious, sinister reason Isaren just happened to know how to find a lost base of the Rim Worlds Republic, gradually fell silent as the colony prospered under the rule of the new Grand Duke and his Barons.

House Isaren has ruled Foxhaven to this day, though their rule is far from absolute. Successive Grand Dukes have had to play an at times delicate balancing act to maintain the loyalty of their Barons, the happiness of their subjects, and the fortunes of their own House. Insurrections, internal squabbling, even outright revolts have been a regular fixture of Foxhaven politics since the beginning, and if things have changed, it may only be in intensity, as the relatively weak hand of Grand Duke Alexander Isaren has allowed his adversaries to gather unprecedented amounts of strength.

Lands:

Strictly speaking, all of the land of Foxhaven not already granted to another landholder is the property of the Grand Duke. That being said, only a small fraction of that is actually inhabited, productive territory. The bulk of the Grand Duke's population inhabit cities and towns dotting the Ramsay River Valley, the most densely populated region on the planet. Small farms dot the countryside further inland, thinning out to isolated mining communities as the land shifts from rolling plains to rugged badlands. The Frobisher Hills region shows an abrupt increase in population, though not so much livability as the preponderance of coal mines, Hydrocarbon Reprocessing Plants, and their associated waste storage centers creates a filthy, foul smelling environment even as they serve as home to some of the richest Common families on the planet. Beyond that, there is little official population. The occasional Prospector or Homesteader might be found among the badlands or other untamed territories, but for the most part, the only humans that call these lands home are outlaws, bandits, and others who have every reason to want to disappear. Though the government insists such claims are highly exaggerated, it is often claimed that entire functioning outlaw communities can be found beyond the boundaries of "civilized" Foxhaven.

The core of House Isaren's economic power comes from heavy manufacturing, with production of all manner of goods underway in industrial complexes set up along the Ramsay River. This included production of critical military technologies such as advanced combat vehicles and aircraft, as well as critical components for battlemech and industrialmech construction. These industries are primarily fed by raw materials drawn from the various Baronies, though these sources are suplemented from mining concerns strung along the edges of the arid badlands. Fuel is another major industry for House Isaren, with the Reproccessing Plants of Frobisher Hills able to process coal, oil, waste plastic, and many other forms of organic waste into usable fuel. Though inefficient and painfully dirty relative to the ethanol fuel produced by the Barony of Northpoint, shear volume allows Frobisher Hills to hold control over the bulk of the industry, even though Northpoint fuel is generally preferred by consumers.

House Isaren has surprisingly little direct control over transportation, even when it pertains to the entire planet. None of the Grand Duke's settled territories allow for sea access, and Cyrus Isaren chose to privatize the rail network in the late 30th century as a concession to the Baronies after his unbelievable corruption nearly led to a general revolt. Large scale air travel is still an industry in which House Isaren remains a firm grip, but the relatively sparse population of the planet and rather small populated area makes this something of a niche industry.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 19 April 2017, 04:47:41: The writeup continues

SIDEBAR: Who was Yiris Isaren?

Even his most naive follower knew that Yiris Isaren was running from an unknown past when he launched the colonization of Foxhaven. His name couldn't be found in any records available for casual research, and he was studiously ambiguous about just where he got the substantial sums of gold he used to bankroll the expedition. He claimed Persian ancestry and arguably looked the part, but appearance is easy to change, and those looks never really carried forward in his descendants. He spoke English, Farsi, Russian, and Amharic fluently, which doesn't really narrow it down. And even if one could nail down his biological ancestry, it would hardly tell you anything given how heavily mankind has intermingled since they left Terra.

The closest thing to a clue to his origins comes from the colonization of Foxhaven itself. According to captains and navigators from the original expedition, Isaren knew exactly where he was going, and he clearly knew where to establish his personal landhold, right on top of a hidden Rim Worlds base left over from the Periphery Uprising. His reaction might tell us more as well. Far from being overjoyed at the windfall of industrial equipment, his closest supporters report that he seemed almost disappointed that there wasn't more in the cache, with offhand comments suggesting he was expecting a significant military stockpile.

Yiris Isaren's foreknowledge of the Cache clearly narrows his origins down, but there are still many options to choose from. Could he have been a former Rim Worlds official? A periphery revolutionary involved heavily in the Secret Armies? Possibly an SLDF deserter who got the location from a prisoner of war? Petabytes could be wasted speculating, and with Yiris Isaren long dead, no definitive answer is likely to be ever found.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 24 June 2017, 14:53:03: House Fuchida

Relative new arrivals on Foxhaven House Fuchida were disenfranchised members of the DCMS who came to the deep periphery looking for easy prey where they could establish themselves as a new power far from the horrors of the Succession Wars. Foxhaven however proved to be more of an opponent than they had planned on and their Dropship was shot down and their Jumpship chased off never to be seen again.

With little choice the survivors established themselves around the remains of their dropship. This though has probably given them the greatest asset to maintain a level of independence from the Grand Duke. Through great effort one of the mech cubicles was returned to operation giving House Fuchida a very limited ability to sustain themselves.

As a joke one of the survivors declared the crashed dropship to be Fujiyama because it was now the highest peak in the valley that the survivors now found themselves in. The name stuck for the settlement that grew up around the site.

This small boon was enough though to draw the attention of several of the other houses and despite having an initial formidable military the single repair bay meant that despite their efforts they are now little better off than their neighbors and having to now rely on small numbers of well trained infantry and a lance of mechs. This has forced the leadership to adjust their ambitions about conquest over the generations.

While their conflicts have left them at something of a disadvantage against the other Baronies the better working condition of their mechs and stockpile of salvaged parts from mechs they cannot return to service has allowed them some edge in combat. However their shortage of mechs does mean they have trouble training new mechwarriors if something should befall their existing warriors.

Economically House Fuchida has never had much of a chance to establish themselves as anything more than farmers and as an alternate source of electrical power thanks to the fusion engines salvaged from the mechs they could not return to service.

Unlike most other dynasties House Fuchida is a matralinear house. Power is passed to the eldest daughter. Though on a societal level perhaps the biggest problem facing them is as typical of those from the Combine is they are largely xenophobic. Marriage and interbreeding with outsiders is extremely rare but there were enough survivors from the Dropship and progressively minded individuals that inbreeding is only becoming an issue for the most staunch families of this small house.

Daimyo Fuchida Yurika as the current leader of the house is probably the most formidable leader the House of Fuchida has had in generations. Quiet and reserved she prefers to allow those around her to exhaust themselves on their own agendas while she works behind the scenes. This has allowed her to spring some nasty surprises on those that under estimate her due to her small and frail looking frame. Though her physical condition does make it extremely ill advised for her to actually go into the field with her forces she does have a keen military mind that she does utilize to command from the family stronghold.

Chu-i Fuchida "Aoikami" Nanako QKD-4G Quickdraw(modified) Gunnery 3 Piloting 3 Dodge SPA and Jumping Jack SPA
Nanako is the eldest daughter and heir to the house. A capable mechwarrior she is an expert at hit and fade tactics and thanks to the three tone blue paint scheme on her Quickdraw she is known as the Blue Spirit. While she is not as much of an administrator as her mother she is more pragmatic so few worry about the future of the house when she takes over. A small modification was made to Nanako's Quickdraw to face the rear facing lasers forward instead.

Gunsho Kondo Tamadake SHD-2K Sahdow Hawk Gunnery 3 Piloting 4
It is no secret that Tamadake and Nanako are likely to be married soon as the two have been involved romantically for some time now. This has never interfered with their combat performance though as both are extremely professional in combat. Perhaps his greatest strength is in his ability to train and motivate the warriors around him.

Go-cho Heather Neiman PNT-9R Panther Gunnery 4(specialized Energy) Piloting 4
Heather's family is from the Rassalhague district originally but were never all that invested in achieving independence. Instead they jumped at the chance to get away from the Succession Wars. The Neiman family is held in high regard by House Fuchida as they have been one of the most faithful families and they have always contributed mechwarriors that would achieve great renown. Heather herself is still rather young and thus coming into her own trying to live up to her family's legacy but has already shown signs of the family talent for being great warriors. Perhaps her greatest weakness though is her great beauty and how easily she does get distracted by matters of the heart. Many worry that she may be wooed away from her post by some noble looking for a wife and with the shortage of trained warriors to take her place House Fuchida could be in a very dangerous position indeed.

Hojuhei Kazayua Rei JR7-D Jenner Gunnery 6 Piloting 6 Natural Aptitude Gunnery
Rei is still very much in training to become a mechwarrior but her marksmanship is already impressive.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 24 June 2017, 15:26:51: Interesting... do they serve the Duke at all? And why did you go 35 tons short?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 24 June 2017, 16:41:53: I imagine their relationship with the Grand Duke in particular would be "interesting". They may be the most militarily independent but I see their situation being more economically dependent as they have little to no actual manufacturing capability. So there were probably times they made some serious pushes to be the new government but with such limited ability to replace their losses they've been made to toe the line.

And went short because I felt it a bit fair since I gave them the mech cubicle. Even if their supplies are limited the ability to repair at all gives them a huge strategic boost.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 24 June 2017, 18:00:25: Makes sense... thanks! O0
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 15 September 2017, 15:01:43: So what's new going on I Foxhaven now?

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 05 April 2020, 07:04:16: It's been a while, but Liam made a remark in another thread (http://) about the possibility of civil war on Foxhaven…

Trent will 100% declare for the Duke, and may even be where he is taking refuge from his Household Guard (I KNEW those light helos would come in handy)... 8)

If the Duke did need extraction, I think Dame Emily Borden would have flown the lead Little Bird, and Lieutenant Mary Morris would have led the infantry squad (leaving enough room for the Duke and his family/bodyguard(s) on the other helo). The Guardians would have flown CAP, with that day's traffic patrol Boomerang revectored to provide overwatch. The "ready" Griffin would have immediately started heading for the capital, while the Baron would follow with the rest of the lance. The Barony would otherwise be on full alert.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Sharpnel on 05 April 2020, 07:13:53: Baronesa Graciela Cisneros of Torrealba will side with her distant cousin, the Grand Duke in the coming civil war. She and her five Mechs will most gloriously pound the rebel scum into human sludge.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 05 April 2020, 08:03:06: That's two of us! Huzzah! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 05 April 2020, 10:51:46: House Fuchida officially has no side.

Unofficially they will quietly watch for their opportunity to gain more power for themselves.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 05 April 2020, 11:16:23: That's the spirit of feudal politics right there! ;D
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 05 April 2020, 13:31:55: Middleton Manufacturing (Barony of Middleton) will side with those who pay for their goods.

The defenders are personally loyal to the family namely Lucas because they fought together off world but none of them have much interest in world conquest they've seen bigger battles.

If it comes to a fight they'll defend themselves and the plant otherwise it's down to paycheck which side Middleton sides with if any
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 05 April 2020, 15:17:00: All right, that's two for the Duke, and two neutrals... looking good for the old boy... ^-^
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 05 April 2020, 17:25:21: Barony of Urania has two important things to consider:

1. The Baroness is literally the Grand Duke's wingman.

2. They live on an airless moon and are too small to be fully self-sufficient.

They're in a tough position. Assume if the Grand Duke is alive, the Baroness will probably support him, but not at the expense of losing access to critical supplies, like food and medical supplies.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 05 April 2020, 18:30:42: Trent has a landing field, so the LAMs at least can ground there...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 06 April 2020, 15:02:59: I'm not in much shape to do detailed writeups, but I will add that Baron Gideon Yas, which owns the jumpships that bring delicious Jeweled Crab to the tables of Foxhaven's ruling elite, has declared that court politics are beneath him, however he has made contact with friends on Heroditus to supply weapons and mercenaries to interested parties.

At the point of the coup, money will have already changed hands between Yas and the conspirators, so they will be acting with the support of the kind of low rent freelancers and small units you find on Heroditus.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 06 April 2020, 18:46:58: Oh ho! An opportunity for Urania if the Duke prevails... ^-^
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Tyler Jorgensson on 06 April 2020, 19:32:31: Forgot about this... I had an area written up (somewhere) and I don't think I ever submitted it. Which heading back thru my post log I didn't. If you still want it I got it lying around.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 13 April 2020, 23:32:50: The Von Strong's support the Duke, after all he is family, sort of...

Baronet Xu Von Strong has died recently at 111 years of age, he is remembered by his daughter, Pepper Von Strong, who if those that remember, was a firebrand of a childhood.

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 17 April 2020, 18:21:23: Now taking submissions for mercenaries and hired guns who will be employed by the Coup plotters. I'm looking for around two mech companies total, but individual submissions should be limited to no more than a lance (or as small as a single warrior).

Their quality consists of the type of warriors you'd find in the periphery in the mid to late 3050s who can't score a contract with the major periphery powers and are willing to overthrow a government for the promise of wealth and land of their own.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 17 April 2020, 18:25:01: Hmmm... I'll have to think on that a bit to see what I can come up with.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 April 2020, 18:41:15: Interesting idea... which side of the Periphery again? It's been a while...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: kindalas on 18 April 2020, 00:03:53: Quote from: Liam's Ghost on 17 April 2020, 18:21:23
Now taking submissions for mercenaries and hired guns who will be employed by the Coup plotters. I'm looking for around two mech companies total, but individual submissions should be limited to no more than a lance (or as small as a single warrior).

Their quality consists of the type of warriors you'd find in the periphery in the mid to late 3050s who can't score a contract with the major periphery powers and are willing to overthrow a government for the promise of wealth and land of their own.

I'll throw a unit into the ring.

Do you have a preference for stock mech models?

Or are you okay with minor variants with a few pieces of new tech.

Like CASE and Prototype Freezers?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 18 April 2020, 02:55:36: if the Duke dies, the Mac Néill clan (meaning Dania Mac Néill) will immediately place claim to the Duchy for Jabir Mac Néill based on their relation to the royal family line, and the fact that they can claim the current line is illegitimate.
They will also start calling in any deals and favors they have to get support for their claim. even if it means paying for the support of the more mercenary minded baronies.

In addition they will immediately begin refitting as many Crosscut Industrial mechs as they can spare to this configuration, mostly by the experience of removing the lift hoist and chainsaw arm and then adding in the new equipment using prepared hardware kits. (they have been planning for this eventuality for some time)

Code: [Select]
Crosscut NorthPoint ED-X2NP ForestryMech MOD Mass: 30 tons Chassis: Industrial Industrial Biped Power Plant: 90 ICE Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph Maximum Speed: 54 kph Armor: Industrial Armament: 1 Machine Gun 1 LRM 10 Communication System: Unknown Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown Introduction Year: [TBD] Tech Rating/Availability: D/F-X-X-X Cost: 856,130 C-bills Type: Crosscut NorthPoint Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard) Tonnage: 30 Battle Value: 277 Equipment Mass Internal Structure Industrial 6 Engine 90 ICE 6 Walking MP: 3 Running MP: 5 Jumping MP: 0 Heat Sink: 2 2 Gyro: 1 Cockpit: 3 Armor Factor (Industrial ): 42 4 Location Internal Structure Armor Value Head 3 4 Center Torso 10 5 Center Torso (rear) 3 R/L Torso 7 5 R/L Torso (rear) 3 R/L Arm 5 3 R/L Leg 7 4 Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage Half Machine Gun Ammo (100) CT 1 0.5 Machine Gun CT 1 0.5 LRM 10 Ammo (12) RA 1 1 LRM 10 RA 2 5(basically mounting the MG and ammo into the existing cargo bay, installing the three heatsinks into the mounts the engine didn't fill when stock, and then bolting a pre-assembled missile pod on instead of the chainsaw)
the refit is not pretty, it runs pretty hot, and without any sort of advanced targeting hardware it isn't very accurate, but it'll give their militia some additional fire support. i leave it up to Liam's Ghost as to how many they actually can convert before physical hostilities break out.

may i suggest making a list of who is on what side? also can we get Liam's Ghost in here to actually outline a specific scenario? this might make an interesting Megamek campaign
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 18 April 2020, 07:21:57: Winger's Stingers

Steve Winger is a Davion deserter who fled rather than ship out for the clan front. Absconding with his 'mech and an armful of loot, he was able to assemble a lance of like-minded MechWarriors and their pooled resources enabled them to hire a Heavy Wheeled APC as a "recovery vehicle" that could also carry all their support personnel. Unfortunately, no one was hiring a lance of Stingers until a contract showed up promising huge rewards. How hard could it be to put down some disunited planetary militia? It sounded almost too good to be true...

Steve Winger: STG-3G, 3/3
Alice Jones: STG-3R, less half a ton of MG ammo, plus armor, 4/3
John Wells: STG-3R, less half a ton of MG ammo, plus Recon Camera, 3/4
Will Jackson: STG-3R, less half a ton of MG ammo, plus cargo space, 4/3

Heavy Wheeled APC (w/1 set of Paramedic Gear), 1 platoon of 30 infantry/AsTechs, 5 Techs, Medical Team (Doc + 4 Medics), Admin Team (Lawyer + 3 "Admin Assistants")

50 PAX total
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 18 April 2020, 07:30:58: Ivar Magnusson was cashiered from his last mercenary unit for "excessive brutality". It wasn't his fault he was assigned to do crowd control in a Firestarter! What did they expect, really? With that on his record, he'd been living on savings for almost a year when a Periphery contract came up, and the hiring agent didn't even bother to read past "Firestarter" on his sheet. That's not a bad sign, right? Right??

Ivar Magnusson: FS9-H, 3/3
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Sir Chaos on 18 April 2020, 08:23:37: Brandon "Chopper" Calloway

A former Solaris VII fighter, Chopper´s promising (or so he said) arena career was cut short when his ´Mech´s hatchet cut short the life an opponent that had already been judged defeated by the referees. He left Solaris VII with his ´Mech, also named Chopper, and headed first to Galatea, and then to the Periphery when a promising contract came up.

Piloting 3, Gunnery 4

Mech: "Chopper", a (as he calls it) Hatchethawk; take a PXH-1 Phoenix Hawk, remove the machine guns and ammo and left arm medium laser, and install a hatchet taken from a Hatchetman in their place.

Warning: "Chopper" Calloway does not play well with others.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 18 April 2020, 08:59:26: As requested, I'm adding a column to the table for Loyalty. Blanks are undeclared, and yes, I realize some I've labeled as "Neutral" have more nuanced positions than that.

Code: [Select]
Barony Author # of 'mechs Loyalty Resources Greenfan Tegyrius 4 Agriculture (Fruit, Grain) Trent Daryk 4 Duke Agriculture (Cattle), Light Vehicle Manufacturing Ouachita Arkansas Warrior 5 Agriculture, Timber, Mining Okro Vegam Ranger 5 Mining (Silver, Copper), Insurgents Port Royale Colt Ward 5 2 Large Ports, Shipping Torrealba Sharpnel 4 Duke Agriculture (Sheep, Cattle), Mining (Bauxite, Copper, Gold), Small Electronics, Household Appliances Urania Giovanni Blasini 5 Duke Rare Elements North Point glitterboy2098 5 Neutral Timber, Ethanol Fuel Von Strong truetanker 5 Duke Agriculture (Sheep), Timber New Uttarak Siegfried Marcus 4 Mining, Timber, Agriculture Middleton Dragon Cat 7 Neutral Weapons Manufacturing Fujiyama monbvol 4 Neutral Functioning 'mech cubicle Duke's Hold Liam ? Rebels Capitol 14th Barony Liam 0 Rebels Jumpship
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 20 April 2020, 14:48:01: Okay gave myself an idea for mercs but I'll have to go back and read some stuff to work up the fluff for them.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 20 April 2020, 18:05:56: We've got a lance and a half so far... the more the merrier! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 20 April 2020, 19:22:27: Just trying to decide right now if I should keep with the tanks I gave them, which are custom designs that are a bit high tech but I'm working up a twist to make that actually a downside for them in the current situation, or go a different direction.

Hell with it I'll keep with it.

The story of the 4th Panzer Grenadiers begins with Able Motorized Systems. Able Motorized Systems was a civilian tractor manufacturing company that barely survived the Succession Wars intact. With the recovery of the Helm Core and their mostly intact manufacturing plant they were given several grants and government assistance to convert into a military production plant. Part of this was an obscure set of blue prints for what was obviously meant to be a competitor for the Scorpion and Vedette designated Mechanized Project 4.

Able Motorized Systems put this unit into production and to help confront the juggernaught that was Quickcell's marketing department they heavily invested in creating the 4th Panzer Grenadiers mercenary unit as their own advertising piece late in the 3040s.

The 4th Panzer Grenadiers wound up a mixed battalion using the new M4 Amos and field gun infantry in tandem. Their initial record was surprising for a purely conventional unit.

Then 3050 rolled around. Able Motorized Systems gave the 4th Panzer Grenadiers the brand new A1 model that incorporated recovered technology with the intention of sending the 4th Panzer Grenadiers into the Clan meat grinder. Learning of this the entire unit mutinied, Dropship, Jumpship, and all the new technology suddenly went rogue.

The sheer career suicide of this move forced the 4th Panzer Grenadiers to go far afield to look for work and presents them with a new problem. With all this advanced technology and no way to replace it any losses they take will be very difficult to replace.

Well two really. The Dropship and Jumpship crews are not entirely thrilled at having to work in the area, fearing pirate attacks that they cannot repel as the unit has no ASF assets to protect either vessel.

Unit Composition:

12 M4A1 Amos tanks(can be found here (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=69047.0))
6 Platoons LB-10X Field Gunners
Full support staff

Overall unit rating is Regular but given their recent past they are Questionable at best, especially their transport assets.

CO: Kennet McPhall
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 20 April 2020, 19:29:08: Wow... a full battalion of advanced tech conventional support... Baron Trent is going to be wondering how much they've been paid...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 20 April 2020, 20:00:54: The nasty thing about combat vehicles is that once they are taken out there isn't usually a lot left to salvage and it is a battalion of light vehicles. Which I probably should have pointed out.

All in all I do feel like any benefits the advanced tech bring are heavily outweighed by the lack of steady replacements though.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 20 April 2020, 20:02:03: Yeah, but any salvaged weapons are going to be TOTALLY worth the effort...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 20 April 2020, 20:11:32: I'll admit it is a conundrum.

Any salvage or captured gear/techs are going to be a boon, a temporary boon yes, but still a boon.

But if I roll them over to a more tech parity version of the Amos instead then they gain access to spare parts and ammunition and that probably would make them more decisive in the conflict as the 4th would be a lot bolder in engaging opponents because they can replace losses long term.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 20 April 2020, 20:55:52: Another submission

Deathstalker Flight

These six F-77 Deathstalker fighters are a mystery originally built in the FWL these craft were an experimental model before the Stingray went into production. History states that the craft never saw combat but that is clearly not the case with these aircraft.

They arrived in system onboard a beat up Leopard CV and offered protection to the 4th Panzer Grenadiers JumpShip.

Each fighter has been modified carrying a smaller forward auto cannon, no ER lasers standard large lasers replace them, double rear lasers and additional armour

CO Malcolm Hgrant - it's a silent "g" according to Hgrant. Stories on where he acquired the fighters range from they were left behind on a museum tour, we acquired them from a warehouse demolition project to who's asking?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Tyler Jorgensson on 20 April 2020, 22:03:28: Three mechs arrive silently by Dropship to the rebel positions sometime before dawn. Two Grasshoppers exit the bay of the small ship followed by a beast of an assault mech: an Awesome. All three are painted jet black with a single red stripe running from their right 'eye' to their leg. Captain Janna Sokolov, formerly of the LCAF descends the ladder dressed in what can only be described as barbarian leathers over her cooling vest: a wolf-skin pelt draped across both shoulders, arms, and her head. Her two Lieutenants, LT. Brenna Moroz and Astrid Toffsdotter, descend from their own machines followed by several squads of light infantry riding utility vehicles. The Iron Wolves have been paid by the rebel leadership to break the opposition with their heavier machines and in return Captain Sokolov wishes to form her own barony on the planet. Little do the rebels know of her former career only that her command was wiped out in a raid by pirates years ago. In revenge she burned their raiding base to a crisp... along with the hundreds of civilians there. Taking the charred husk as her own throne she was deposed after only a year of raiding by other pirate groups and since then has kept on the move going from less than legal mercenary work to out right pirating.

AWS-8Q Captain Janna Sokolov 4/2
GRH-5H LT. Brenna Moroz 3/4
GRH-5H LT, Astrid Toffsdotter 4/4

Six squads of 'security' infantry … may or may not be a bit evil.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: DOC_Agren on 20 April 2020, 23:48:04: If I may a merc looking for employment
Andrew "Orge" Hirson
Andrew is 1 of the most social misfit you will ever met. He has a face only his mom could love, if he could find her was left at an church when he was young, and his social skills are none existance. But put him into a combat situation and there is no one you rather have covering your six.
Carries 14mm Hand Cannon that he has used to shoot at small mechs with and carries a Kukri that he says if pulls someone will bleed.
Here is the "Most safe photo of Orge at a Officers Club", just before he was asked to leave. 8 MPs later he finally left, but well the MPs were not happy and most endup in the medbay, and Andrew in the Brig.
(https://i9.lisimg.com/3542049/280full.jpg)
Current owner of a TDR-5SE known as Thunder the Barbarian
He has been a lance leader more then once, only to loose the command when combat ends and his social skills come to into play.
He is looking contract that plays to his skills, but also offers a good place to party when possible

He is what happens when someone playing MW2 min/maxed the PC ;D
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 21 April 2020, 17:20:09: Yikes! What have those idiots done...

BTW, Liam... did you want me to poke the remaining Barons?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 21 April 2020, 17:43:15: Myomer Monkey
(https://bg.battletech.com/forums/user-avatars/avatar_36_1424625700.png)

Owner and operators, Aaron K and Richard R, like it fast and loud but slow and low is the name of the game when these two grease monkeys get excited when they have an axle to grind. Operating a lone Heavy battlemech recovery vehicle with an even older successor war era's Paramour mobile repair alongside a Platoon of infantry out fitted with standard Auto-Rifles and such.

When you need a lift, give them a call, they'll be happy to help, for a price.

TT

( Sorry boilerman, your avatar is too cool to not pass up! )
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 23 April 2020, 03:52:44: Just to refresh my memory, what's the year, and Foxhaven is out past MoC, Aurigan and Taurian space, right? Like, how far from the California Nebula?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 23 April 2020, 09:03:19: I actually looked this up and Liam's said that it's about 3050's to 3060s but as for where I'm not sure about that myself.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Sharpnel on 23 April 2020, 10:01:55: I never posted this in this thread. It was in the original thread (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=56875.msg1311717#msg1311717).

Barony of Torrealba

Torrealba is the easternmost barony and, thus, sees the rising of the Sun first everyday. In terms of population it is one of the larger baronies with just over 100,000 citizens within its borders. Torrealba's economy is based on the copper, bauxite and gold mines that dot the region, along with sheep and cattle ranching. The Cisneros family have been loyal followers of the Grand Duke's family since they landed on Foxhaven with them. So much so that the Baronesa Graciela is the Grand Duke's fourth cousin, twice removed. Graciela Cisneros has ruled these lands for the past eleven years since her father's untimely death due to the machinations of her deceased Uncle and his eldest son. Torrealba is the leading supplier of most small electronics and household appliances. The mines still rely on manual labor as they are only a small handful of Mining Mechs on planet. The barony maintains English and Spanish as its two official languages. Their two main issues of concern are controlling the more dangerous fauna that wonder across their borders and the wildcat miners outside her borders who are smuggling the toils of their felonious labors through her territory.

Baronesa Graciela Cisneros: Her ladyship pilots her family's Wolverine-6M, named El Gato Peligroso, which was brought to this planet by her many times great-grandfather. Trained by her father and her Master-at-Arms, she is quite the skilled warrior and tactician. She is currently unmarried and plans to stay that way as she cannot bear children due to her being born without ovaries. She has designated her younger brother, Aladio, as her heir with consent from the Baronial Council of Alcaldes and the Grand Duke. She has already made plans to abdicate her title on her 50th birthday.

Caballero Roberto Villalobos, Master-at-Arms: Roberto serves as the Master-at-Arms and oversees the defensive forces of the Barony as well as the police and border guards. He pilots a jump-capable Thunderbolt nicknamed El Cid and is the Baronesa's bodyguard when out in the field. Though fifteen years her senior, he is also serves as her lover, knowing full well that she will not marry and cannot bear any children. Some would call this scandalous, but not within his or her earshot.

VND-1R Vindicator - Caballero Alfonso Montoya
JVN-10F Javelin - Caballero Osvaldo Mejias
WSP-1D - Dama Rivka Liebowitz

Capitan Karl-Otto Maurus - Commander, Torrealban Guardia de Infantería
Capitan Akane Setsuna - Commander, Torrealban Fuerza Aerea
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 23 April 2020, 19:18:09: Thanks for the cross-post! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 23 April 2020, 20:11:28: To finally get some questions answered,

The year is 3057.

Foxhaven's location is rimward of the Taurian Concordat. The closest canon system would be Farhome (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Farhome), which itself would be around thirty light years further rimward past Foxhaven, which would place Foxhaven itself about sixty lightyears from the closest Taurian world (Erod's escape). The California Nebula would be a significant distance away still.

I don't mind a degree of customization among submitted mercenaries, as long as one doesn't go too overboard. I think there's a good argument to be made that customization would probably be more common among the lower rung of mercenaries in the periphery, just because they won't always be able to get stock parts and will have to make do.

Likewise, I don't have a problem with advanced technology, as long as it's in moderation. The inability to get replacement parts in the wilds of the Periphery is a pretty good counter all on its own. I'd even look the other way on a couple clan mechs showing up, if you can sell it with some good fluff (renegade clansmen was a suggested plothook in the second periphery sourcebook after all, and the replacement part problem is sooo much worse for clan technology).
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 23 April 2020, 20:22:20: Sounds like Winger's Stingers are within bounds, then...

Did you want me to ping the other Barons via PM?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 24 April 2020, 18:59:08: I just happened to see that this thread is active again.

Ahem. That is to say, The Barony of Ouachita is a bit insular, news travels slowly sometimes, and Baron Leonard has been away on his honeymoon. As a general rule, he's supportive of strengthening Foxhaven, to include limited colonization. But he'll stop short of militarily supporting a coup. The Duke is the Duke. Political wrangling to twist his arm or even force abdication is one thing, deposing him militarily is another. That might given lesser nobles ideas, you know? He's not quite the sort to consciously walk a tightrope and play both sides against the other for his own benefit, but in this case he does have enough of a foot in both camps that he'll wait to commit until it looks like one side has the clear upper hand. Things to take care of at home, a new lancemate that needs some seasoning, and a spot of light unrest in the hills. You know the moonshiners, never wanting to pay the tax on booze. And now they've got technicals and the odd IndustrialMech. Oh and they were definitely supporting...uh, who's on the losing side again?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 24 April 2020, 19:12:40: Right! Another one for the Neutral pile... 8)

Code: [Select]
Barony Author # of 'mechs Loyalty Resources Greenfan Tegyrius 4 Agriculture (Fruit, Grain) Trent Daryk 4 Duke Agriculture (Cattle), Light Vehicle Manufacturing Ouachita Arkansas Warrior 5 Neutral Agriculture, Timber, Mining Okro Vegam Ranger 5 Mining (Silver, Copper), Insurgents Port Royale Colt Ward 5 2 Large Ports, Shipping Torrealba Sharpnel 4 Duke Agriculture (Sheep, Cattle), Mining (Bauxite, Copper, Gold), Small Electronics, Household Appliances Urania Giovanni Blasini 5 Duke Rare Elements North Point glitterboy2098 5 Neutral Timber, Ethanol Fuel Von Strong truetanker 5 Duke Agriculture (Sheep), Timber New Uttarak Siegfried Marcus 4 Mining, Timber, Agriculture Middleton Dragon Cat 7 Neutral Weapons Manufacturing Fujiyama monbvol 4 Neutral Functioning 'mech cubicle Duke's Hold Liam ? Rebels Capitol 14th Barony Liam 0 Rebels Jumpship
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 24 April 2020, 19:44:22: I take it we can send in a lance of ~~ne'er-do-wells~~ mercs even if we've already got a barony?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 24 April 2020, 19:48:58: Most other people have (and some of us more than once), so... yeah, why not? :thumbsup:

I'll say we definitely don't need any more murder hobos, though... Assault 'mechs are nothing but BAD NEWS for us locals...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 24 April 2020, 23:35:57: not a lot of Rebels in that listing.. i think it would help if we knew the circumstances around the rebellion?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 25 April 2020, 00:24:55: Thorfinn’s Varangians
The Varangians are a group of Rasalhagian deserters. The field three mechs: a Hachetman-3F, and Panther-C, and a Vindicator-1AA, as well as two Maxim hovertanks with infantry. The unit specializes in sudden raids from unexpected directions, striking, loading up with loot, and disappearing before defenses can muster. Somewhat paradoxically, the unit’s mechwarriors put a heavy emphasis on individual honor, and will often engage in one-on-one duels with enemy units when the situation permits. All bets are off against any and all clanners, though; they attack with berserk ferocity and refuse to take prisoners against Kerensky’s children, even firing at downed mechs, just to be sure (though, since they refuse to take contracts anywhere near clan space, the unit has rarely faced a clanner in the field). The unit is formed from remnants of planetary militia that were broken by Clan Wolf. Because they fled their post before fighting ceased, they were officially branded as deserters and barred from re-entering Rasalhague space. Many in the unit are ashamed of that flight, but contend that the clans were simply unstoppable, and that the only other choice was death. Fearing that their former government will send bounty hunters after them (to recover their equipment, if not return them to stand trial) the unit fled to the rimward periphery, where they’ve lurked in the shadows ever since. Even so, the unit maintains some semblance of professionalism, trying to recoup what honor they can through honorable conduct.

Kapten Thorfinn “Skullsplitter” Haraldson-The pilot of the unit’s Hachetman, Thorfinn was a kapten in the Kungsarme. While he fought valiantly against the Wolves, his unit was shattered, their world lost to the clan juggernaut. Once the battle’s outcome was clear, he gathered what troops he could and fled in a civilian dropship. Thorfinn strongly emphasizes his unit’s Scandinavian heritage, mandating (for example) the use of Swedish for all in-unit communications, from battlefield transmissions to internal supply paperwork. He also encourages all of his soldiers to carry an axe whenever possible. Thorfinn himself is almost an archetypal trivid Viking, heavily muscled and tattooed, with long, braided hair and beard. This is, however, a conscious façade. He was born Thorfinn Takeda, the son of a mixed marriage between a local Rasalhagian and a Kurita soldier, in the years just before Rasalhague gained independence. His father left with the Dragon when he was a toddler, leaving his wife and son behind. When Thorfinn came of age, he changed his name to honor the maternal grandfather who was his primary male influence growing up, and has consciously eschewed his biological father’s culture ever since. (OOC: as you might guess from the nickname, he aims high a lot with the hatchet. Especially against clanners. Guy seems to have turned his cultural issues with Kuritans on clanners instead. Maybe that's Fujiwara's influence.)

Lojtnant Magnus “Skald” Sigurdson-Magnus pilots the Varangians’ Panther. Magnus was a young Lojtnant in Thorfinn’s company, one of a bare handful to survive the onslaught of the Wolves. Unlike Thorfinn, Magnus is purely Rasalhagian, a fact he is very proud of. He is one of the best-educated of the group, speaking not just Swedish but also Old Norse, and often quotes ancient Skaldic poetry before, or even during battle. In his spare time, he writes his own, focusing on the exploits of his unit. Dark allusions to the ravenous and unstoppable wolves of Ragnarok can sometimes be found in his tales. Thinner and shorter than his CO, he looks the part of the academic, glasses and all. Few are surprised to learn that he serves as the unit’s intelligence officer and assists his CO in operations planning. (OOC: Seems like the nice guy in the unit, doesn't he? But who knows what dark deeds an Intel Officer might have in his background. Maybe he's a Mimir mole. Maybe he's the unit "enhanced interrogation" specialist. Up to you.)

Chu-i Hikaru “Bushi” Fujiwara-Chu-i Fujiwara pilots a VND-1AA “Avenging Angel” Vindicator. Most would say that Fujiwara suffered heavy discrimination in the Rasalhague Republic, despite the fact that her parents, retired Combine administrators, advocated for the fledgling Republic and even came out of retirement to serve the young nation. She simply smiles and says that challenges are welcome, as they give her more chances to prove that she is a true warrior. Nevertheless, she didn’t hesitate to flee Rasalhague space with the rest of the unit. In the Varangians, she has bought (sometimes grudging) respect and acceptance by her skill at arms, and is acknowledged as the Varangians best mechwarrior. She has to be, given the substandard mech she has piloted since her Kungsarme days. Uniquely among the Varangians, she carries a samurai’s daisho and wears more traditionally Kurita combat gear. Fujiwara serves as Kapten Haraldson’s adjutant and logistics officer. While all acknowledge her skill, some in the unit still whisper that she has…other ways of influencing the Kapten. No one says it in her hearing though. She killed the last one who did. (OOC: Seems unlikely, given the Kapten's cultural hang-ups. But maybe that's just the cover they need. Or maybe she's involved with Sigurdson. Or both. Or neither. Up to you.)

Lojtnant “Old” Erik Ikeda-Lojtnant Ikeda commands the Varangians’ support forces from the cupola of his Maxim hovertank. His forces are primarily used for base defense, to screen the Varangians mech units from enemy infantry attack, or to loot enemy objectives. Much of Ikeda’s time outside of combat is taken up overseeing the unit’s technical staff and base security. “Old Erik” as he is affectionately known by the men and women under his command, was a schoolteacher and reservist in the Kungsarme, called up with his unit to face the clans. Watching the men and women under his command, many of whom he’d known since childhood, die in droves nearly broke the man. Only with difficulty did Kapten Harladson convince his old teacher to keep commanding troops instead of drinking himself to death. Having known Haraldson since childhood, Ikeda is the only man in the unit who knows of the Kapten’s true ancestry. (OOC: who knows how long he can keep it up before the nightmares drive him back to the bottle. Maybe they already have and he's just gotten better at hiding it.)

Fanjunkare Olaf “Ice” Berg-Fanjunkare Berg is the senior NCO of the Varangians. A white-haired giant of a man, Fanjunkare Berg is older than any other unit member (save Lojtnant Ikeda), and bigger than almost any of them. Berg sees he men and women under his command as his children, to be taught, looked after, and disciplined as the circumstances require. Like Lojtnant Ikeda, he has known many of them for years; he was a drill instructor when not serving as an infantry sergeant, and trained many of them himself. He personally oversees any punishment meted out by the unit’s officers, and seems to take rule-breaking as an affront to his personal honor; as he constantly tells his troopers, “I trained you better than that.” Even though he is well past 50, Berg still leads morning PT for the unit every single day, and is the unit’s acknowledge expert in hand to hand combat (as well as being extremely skilled with his mighty Danish axe). (OOC: Or maybe the Sergeant-Major is the Mimir plant. Who would suspect him? Also, who knows what lengths he might already have gone to to protect the unit's rep. Funny how he's the only one who punishes unit members; his troopers never get convicted of anything related to off-base carousing. It's like witnesses turn up dead or something. Maybe. If you want.)

I tried to leave enough vague for Liam to adjust as he feels necessary, while fleshing out enough detail to make them interesting. I also consciously tried to give their mech choices a Rasalhagian flavor, while remaining substandard (Rasalhague's access to the "Avenging Angel" Vindicator was icing on the cake). I know I'm stretching the definition of a lance, but who cares about conventionals, right? I'm sure the Maxims aren't quite full of infantry (exactly how full is up to Liam, of course). Heck, if you need to make it one Maxim with a couple of squads, I totally get it. Also tried to give them reason to be out in the dark without making them straight-up bandits. But maybe they just hide it better...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 25 April 2020, 01:38:11: Quote from: glitterboy2098 on 24 April 2020, 23:35:57
not a lot of Rebels in that listing.. i think it would help if we knew the circumstances around the rebellion?

*nod*

It seems really one sided in favor of the current Duke.

Honestly I think it'd be really helpful if a planetary map showing where each Barony was so I could plan out House Fuchida's play in the current crises.

And I suppose I could roll the 4th Panzer Grenadiers over to having standard AC-10 field gunners and the less tech advanced M4 Amos variant for the bulk of their forces. Might give the Lance Commanders the LB-10X variants though. Going rogue instead of going into the meat grinder that is the Clan front is still plenty of motivation.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 25 April 2020, 08:09:18: The mercenary forces are already scarier than the sum of what the Barons can muster.

And honestly, there are just as many neutrals as loyalists. This shouldn't be surprising: the existing power structure favors the Barons, so they're pretty likely to support it.

I'm going to shoot Tegyrius, Vegam Ranger, Colt Ward, and Siegfried Marcus a PM to see if I can get declarations from them.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 25 April 2020, 08:29:04: OK, PM has been sent (and I Bcc'd you, Liam).

Arkansas Warrior: Love those Varangians! :thumbsup:

They might be who Ivar Magnusson gets attached to, OR they were the unit he was cashiered from... ^-^
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 25 April 2020, 19:09:23: What about the Pirate brothers I created back when?

Definitely not supportive!

And now my mercs I've hired for Baronet Von Strong:

Standard cargo and passenger fees was all that was needed to transport close to three hundred tons that lead Pi Enterprises to Foxhaven. While their unit looks shabby in their bleached bone white colors, the unit has a certain bit of jamais insouciant, or never carefree attitude. What with their Paramour and Heavy APC and a Squad of HeavyHauler Exoskeletons for standard repairs. Their following mechs are :

Firestarer- FS9-H modified into a Mirage variant
Cicadia- CDA-2A modified into the -2B variant
Cicadia- CDA-2A also modified into the -2B variant
Ostscout- OTT-J
Jenner- JR7-D
Jenner- JR7-D

Force Commander Pi is an ex-FWL soldier currently on the run for misappropriating supplies while on duty. His mech is known as ' Sparky ' for obvious reasons.

Sergeant Major Li and Talon Sergeant Yang of the Capellan armed forces command both the Cicadia enjoying the feel of the wind as they cruise at better than 100kph!

Staff Sergeant Howard of the Lyran Commonwealth pilots the only Ostscout in the unit, preferring to stay behind the Capellans as they race around the field.

Lance Corporal Yamamoto and Private Hina, both hailing from the Draconis Combine, are an odd pair to be sure, he's close to 60 while she's only 19. Weird part is they have a child together, Daiki.

( Note: The above modifications are legal, as the two Cicadia and single Firestarter shared the same weapons removed or added! Hence the HeavyHaulers and Paramour... )

(( GM NOTE: Long term Comstar surveillance team Delta-Nine sent to FoxHaven to check reports of insurgencies. Von Strong does not have connections to this other than " hiring " them. ))

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 25 April 2020, 19:20:18: I thought Liam disapproved of them? ???
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 26 April 2020, 01:54:47: So, for mercs...I'm gonna take a guess that a lance of four Beetle wheeled AutoMechs would probably be out of the question?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 26 April 2020, 02:01:58: Quote from: Giovanni Blasini on 26 April 2020, 01:54:47
So, for mercs...I'm gonna take a guess that a lance of four Beetle wheeled AutoMechs would probably be out of the question?
given you can't ever escape Nebula California?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 26 April 2020, 02:10:25: Quote from: Giovanni Blasini on 26 April 2020, 01:54:47
So, for mercs...I'm gonna take a guess that a lance of four Beetle wheeled AutoMechs would probably be out of the question?

Yeah, probably a bit much. :P

Quote from: Daryk on 25 April 2020, 19:20:18
I thought Liam disapproved of them? ???

I... uh... don't recall?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 26 April 2020, 06:09:24: That was the pair with 220 tons of 'mechs each in one "Barony".
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 27 April 2020, 03:20:53: Quote from: Daryk on 26 April 2020, 06:09:24
That was the pair with 220 tons of 'mechs each in one "Barony".

Okay, that sounds familiar. I think I decided that they could go in as long as the total tonnage of their combined mech forces was reduced to the limit.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 27 April 2020, 17:29:24: I remember you saying that... I don't remember the tonnage being cut down, so I took them off the list to keep the count of Baronies at 13.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 27 April 2020, 21:23:31: Quote from: truetanker on 09 April 2017, 17:23:33
I would like to make another NPC barony that others can have a dispute with, Pirate Barony of Oto Islands.

( Since 40% of this land has water, thinking level 3 depth for the most part if playing tabletop for severe shallow waters and level 2 in more common areas. ) Why not use your Sailing rules you've made Liam? Get some wood on wood action with minor steel boats, say no bigger than Type C as the " super versions" with Type B being more common size in both container and battleship.

Pirates of Oto Barony:
Both East and West hate each other and would love to take over, but they're direct cousins to the Grand Duke himself. And as such, would have their collective butts handed to them by his lordship. So they prey on passing ships of the other Baronies and send a good quarter of it on to the dukes' private coffers as payment to look the other way. As a Galapagos Island chain, their exact bases are well hidden. Only working together to protect their homelands and such, they rather not see eye to eye as both claim ownership of the islands.

East Oto:
2x Thunderbolt-5S

West Oto:
2x Javelin-10N
1x Javelin-10F

They have a large wooden fleet of Skiffs, Single and Double sail sailing ships, and recently they have begun upgrading their ships with heavy armor over wooden hulls, a true Ironclad. Simple ICE engines are also being put to use, ( think early Steampunk-era ) with rumors of a Type C craft being built using captured " Salvage " to increase their presence.

Native foods include tropical fruits, small shellfish, Foxhaven Salmon: a type of largish Tuna-like fish found off the chain in warm water and the Oto-Squidd: another edible type of purple colored seven armed Cephalopod that has a nasty habit of squirting a greenish-red ink when startled. On the few volcanic islands, natural metal deposits can be found. Aquaculture is another way of farming, but underwater producing the same quantity as farms at Greenfan annually. Try as they might the Jewelled Crab doesn't survive well, even in correct atmosphere.

( I really hope you guys would see such as a thing as a nuisance, but a necessary evil... And fun to have! )

UPDATED: Both sides have a total of 220 tons combined.

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 28 April 2020, 02:56:55: So... a 15th Barony? And do they declare for the Duke, or side with the rebels? ???
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 28 April 2020, 13:02:24: I have no problem with going one over the original barony count in this case, as I imagine we won't suddenly get a flood of new submissions for barons.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 28 April 2020, 13:37:05: They claim a barony, but aren't one officially.

Also their against him, and constantly each other, but will band together to take down anyone.

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 28 April 2020, 18:14:13: OK... I'll add them back to the table. Are they "neutral", or for/against?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 28 April 2020, 19:31:19: Quote from: Daryk on 28 April 2020, 18:14:13
OK... I'll add them back to the table. Are they "neutral", or for/against?
Quote from: truetanker on 28 April 2020, 13:37:05
Also their against him, and constantly each other, but will band together to take down anyone.

Hope this answers the question.

:)

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 28 April 2020, 19:45:15: It didn't, which is why I asked... If they're rebels, I'll note that...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 28 April 2020, 19:52:21: Not chase the fox into bushes...

Their Pi-rates...

Of course there rebels... even among themselves.

Ye-arrrh... >:D

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 28 April 2020, 19:53:02: Rog... table will be updated shortly...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 28 April 2020, 19:57:24: Updated to add back the "Pirate Barony" (Oto):
Code: [Select]
Barony Author # of 'mechs Loyalty Resources Greenfan Tegyrius 4 Agriculture (Fruit, Grain) Trent Daryk 4 Duke Agriculture (Cattle), Light Vehicle Manufacturing Ouachita Arkansas Warrior 5 Neutral Agriculture, Timber, Mining Okro Vegam Ranger 5 Mining (Silver, Copper), Insurgents Port Royale Colt Ward 5 2 Large Ports, Shipping Torrealba Sharpnel 4 Duke Agriculture (Sheep, Cattle), Mining (Bauxite, Copper, Gold), Small Electronics, Household Appliances Urania Giovanni Blasini 5 Duke Rare Elements North Point glitterboy2098 5 Neutral Timber, Ethanol Fuel Von Strong truetanker 5 Duke Agriculture (Sheep), Timber New Uttarak Siegfried Marcus 4 Mining, Timber, Agriculture Middleton Dragon Cat 7 Neutral Weapons Manufacturing Fujiyama monbvol 4 Neutral Functioning 'mech cubicle Duke's Hold Liam ? Rebels Capitol 14th Barony Liam 0 Rebels Jumpship Oto (East/West) truetanker 2/3 Rebels Aquaculture, Pirates
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Tyler Jorgensson on 29 April 2020, 00:24:52: Basically the Rebels have hired two short battalions: 24 Mechs, and a combined vehicle infantry battalion, along with six fighters for support.

That's a mean force coming in. I doubt half of the mercs would work well with each other but... damn
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: DOC_Agren on 29 April 2020, 01:53:20: Well the Merc I put up is looking for employment
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 29 April 2020, 02:20:55: Quote from: Tyler Jorgensson on 29 April 2020, 00:24:52
Basically the Rebels have hired two short battalions: 24 Mechs, and a combined vehicle infantry battalion, along with six fighters for support.

That's a mean force coming in. I doubt half of the mercs would work well with each other but... damn

I know I didn't stipulate which side hired my submission and nothing is preventing the Duke from hiring them. I'm reasonably certain other mercenary submissions are likewise not yet committed to one side or the other and thus the Duke can also hire them.

In fact House Fuchida will not be retaining the services of any Mercenaries at all at this time.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 29 April 2020, 03:00:07: I'm less sure about that, though the loyalists might be able to hire some of the mercs away once they're on planet. The 13th Barony having thrown in with the rebels makes it kind of hard to get anyone else to Foxhaven.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 29 April 2020, 03:15:01: Clarification: The thirteenth Barony (House Yas) hasn't thrown in with the rebels. Instead they've chosen the path of cheerfully amoral neutrality, and will gleefully transport weapons and mercenaries for whichever side can pay. Since they control the means of offworld contact, they figure they can play both sides until one gets a definite advantage, at which point they can pledge support to the winning side.

The rebels, since they knew when they were going to launch their coup, simply made arrangements first. House Yas totally pleads ignorance of the plotter's plans for all these mercenaries, and besides, what are you going to do, not make use of the only source of outside equipment and reinforcements? ;D
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 29 April 2020, 03:18:18: Ah, ok... gimme a minute to update the table...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 29 April 2020, 03:19:25: As clarified by Liam:
Code: [Select]
Barony Author # of 'mechs Loyalty Resources Greenfan Tegyrius 4 Agriculture (Fruit, Grain) Trent Daryk 4 Duke Agriculture (Cattle), Light Vehicle Manufacturing Ouachita Arkansas Warrior 5 Neutral Agriculture, Timber, Mining Okro Vegam Ranger 5 Mining (Silver, Copper), Insurgents Port Royale Colt Ward 5 2 Large Ports, Shipping Torrealba Sharpnel 4 Duke Agriculture (Sheep, Cattle), Mining (Bauxite, Copper, Gold), Small Electronics, Household Appliances Urania Giovanni Blasini 5 Duke Rare Elements North Point glitterboy2098 5 Neutral Timber, Ethanol Fuel Von Strong truetanker 5 Duke Agriculture (Sheep), Timber New Uttarak Siegfried Marcus 4 Mining, Timber, Agriculture Middleton Dragon Cat 7 Neutral Weapons Manufacturing Fujiyama monbvol 4 Neutral Functioning 'mech cubicle Duke's Hold Liam ? Rebels Capitol 13th Barony Liam 0 Neutral Jumpship Oto (East/West) truetanker 2/3 Rebels Aquaculture, Pirates
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 30 April 2020, 10:38:27: Port Royale's answer will be coming tonight but before then . . . btw, they have 6 mechs in the original write up with a pair of UrbanMechs not being directly assigned to anyone but rather a roster of rotating wannabes. I could not find a topic announcing the rebellion, so please link it too.

First off- who are the rebels plot hooks?
How about none of the barons know specifically? But SOMEONE is stirring up the rabble, and SOMEONE is putting out feelers that have headhunters and advance parties for mercs showing up in the spaceport bar . . . even traveling to major cities. Different barons' intel sources also start hearing about large warehouses being put on long term contract, hotels being bought out for future reservations, ICE fuel stocks being bought up . . . all indications SOMEONE is preparing for business while the common folks get bent out of shape.

'57 makes it when the folks wearing robes start making waves . . . I would also point out that the exiled heirs of 'Port' were in the merc trade some time back, and probably (ha!) carry a grievance against the Grand Duke for . . . you know that whole execution thing.

As for mercs appearing on planet . . .

The Roughnecks- Regular/Questionable(very!)
Mech Lance
(4/4) Quasit
(4/4) Quasit
(4/3) ForestryMech MOD (AC/2, seen in RS MWDA p34- may substitute Rifle for AC)
(4/3) MiningMech MOD (2 SRM4, 2 MGs, Rock Cutter- RS MWDA p35)

Heavy Infantry Platoon-
Vargr APC LRM Tank (Arano p72)
Inferno SRM Foot Platoon- maybe use irregulars rules from Op Klondike?

First Rifle Platoon-
Sleipnir APC SRM Tank (Arano p71)
Rifle Foot Platoon

Second Rifle Platoon-
Sleipnir APC Tank (Arano p71)
Rifle Foot Platoon

Heavy Weapons Platoon
3 Medium Rifle Squads- unable to move, towed behind each APC and set up on the battlefield or in fixed positions. Each squad rides in the APC then removes towed gun when in position.

Operating out of Herotitus, the Roughnecks are really bullies for hire with rumors they have appeared on Tortuga and Antallos from time to time. They are blacklisted from Randis though what caused such a action has not been disclosed. While their line combat skills (and impact) are marginal, they do excel in keeping the populace in line. For example, the infantry kit each soldier is required to keep has both a standard medium caliber semi-auto rifle and a stun baton but the soldiers are more experienced with the stun baton than they are with their rifles. The four 'mechs,' armored vehicles, and towed field guns often times give the impression of being a capable military force to the uninitiated. The Roughnecks rarely have long term contracts- or even extensions on initial contracts- in part due to frequently being used to quell civil unrest. When its tamped down, employers usually find it best to pay them off so their people's new object of resentment leaves. For the last four years they have been able to resupply from a Mechdur company which has managed to keep their equipment in better working order than might be expected for a periphery unit of their nature.

When the Roughnecks have a contract with a planetary ruling body they typically include in their contracts a clause that allows them to recruit out of the planet's prison system. A candidate selected for the Roughnecks recruitment is released to the unit on the usual condition the candidate is exiled upon completion of the contract or unless a new one is negotiated. Usually these men and women are written off by the local law, and when some of them end up dead from the indoctrination/training of the Roughnecks its never considered murder by the local law enforcement. More than half the candidates do not make it through the selection training process, some die while most are returned to their prison cells for violation of the training regulations the candidate agreed to upon their release.

Aside from this rather unique recruitment method, the Roughnecks do practice a more conventional recruiting and training method when between contracts on Herotitus. Rumors are however, to be a part of the unit you have to be a wanted criminal of certain standing.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 30 April 2020, 16:39:20: As requested, the current flurry of activity started here: https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=68806.0

You have to read closely to see the first mention, but with just a little prompting (::)), Liam was running with it...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 30 April 2020, 16:54:21: Ah . . . the question though, is who runs the Guard? In Foxhaven sort of set up, its going to be a family member . . . which means its someone with a 'legitimate (which means can your butt be the last one on it)' shot at the throne. I might have to ponder this with my other musings posted earlier . . . good drive home mental exercise.

. . . paging shade of Herr Goebbels . . .
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 30 April 2020, 17:55:54: Liam hasn't revealed that yet, but I'm sure any pretender won't have a stronger claim than any other... ^-^

Baron Trent is still pinning his hopes on rescuing the Duke or at least his children... O:-)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Tegyrius on 01 May 2020, 19:59:42: Bulk grain carriers with Adamsport or Nemea registries are ubiquitous across the waters of Adams Gulf. Relatively-smaller cargo vessels are less common, but only by comparison. On a world where over half the major industries are the fiefdoms of noble families, no one bats an eye at ships flying the Greenfan flag.

FV Sheridan Cay has been moored off the Kerengrad harbor for two weeks. She's one of the latter freighters, optimized for standard intermodal shipping containers, and she's thrice the age of her eldest crewmember. That age has been wearing on her as of late, and any corporate owner would be losing his mind at the thought of the missed cargoes and penalty fees she's accruing. Presumably, Baroness Greenfan is of sufficiently fabulous wealth to be less concerned, so she's idled in port awaiting replacement parts for a failed radar. Her crew - along with a handful of passengers who'd chosen frugal sloth over more expensive speed - has long since disembarked, leaving only a disgruntled anchor watch that responds to hails with the bare minimum of courtesy. It's not an attitude calculated to elicit any voluntary aid from the local authorities - or the off-world mercenaries now providing "security" in and around Kerengrad.

Thus, no one is paying particular attention when, under a new moon and light drizzle, Sheridan Cay's aft crane starts shifting containers to port. A list develops. The list is shortly corrected when almost a hundred tons of mass goes over the rail, setting the ship to rocking and raising a brief spout higher than her superstructure. The noise from that gets the attention of a pair of mercs walking a dockside sentry route, but they're dry-world boys, and their low-light gear is useless in the local weather anyway. To them, a harbor is a confusing maze of industrial metal, arc-lamp glare, and smudge-edged shadows. They don't call it in.

It's their last misjudgment. The muffled hammer of suppressed submachine guns barely registers against the constant roar of cargo handling. A minute later, the sentries make two much smaller splashes when it's their turn to go into the water.

Down by the shipyard, the water off the slipway begins to ripple as something surfaces beneath it. To a couple of third-shift workers taking a late meal break, it's the echo of half-remembered mariners' tales: a monster from the benthic depths come to reap a bloody harvest on the land.

They're not entirely wrong.

A long, gleaming snout broaches first and pauses, lurking in crocodilian fashion. A minute passes. From the shadow of a dry-docked trawler, a green light pulses. The mass beneath the water moves forward, striding up the slipway. As more of its form surfaces, protective shrouds retract from paired heavy lasers. Dirty water sluices off Pathfinder's armor as Dame Janelle Adams takes point for the Greenfan intervention forces, beginning the redemption of her family's name.

Another figure follows the Crab ashore, this one vaguely humanoid in a style that suggests emaciation and serial murder. The Wyvern breaks north as Pathfinder turns south, heading toward the grain elevators and railhead. As it moves, a quartet of civilian light trucks forms up on its heels. In the two weeks since they made port, Sir Dominik Sokolsky's old platoon-mates have prepared the ground well for this battle. Now they follow his Red Hussar as he moves to cover his liege-lady's disembarkation.

Another Greenfan ship is in Kerengrad, too. FV Amber Dream rides low with a full cargo of Faith Delta wheat, ready for unloading in the morning. Now she rocks as her hatch covers swing wide and her cargo shifts. Tons of granules cascade from two more BattleMechs as they come erect from under the enshrouding grain.

Always leading the way before his baroness, Sir Alistair Mackenzie-Morse fires Valravn's jump jets. The hold's automatic fire suppression systems (tested well in advance of using this tactic in the field - Sir Alistair holds the value of planning in high regard) kick in to smother the flames as seventy tons of Grasshopper touches down on shore with a ringing crash.

A moment later, after the heavy's sensors verify the scouts' reports, Lady Sofia Antunez lofts Tisiphone to a much lighter landing. Though radio makes the gesture unnecessary, the Wolverine lifts its GM Whirlwind to point toward the distant mercenary encampment which is just starting to query its now-absent sentries about the unusual din from the harbor.

Baroness Greenfan has declared her support for the Grand Duke.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 01 May 2020, 21:21:27: Nice piece of work
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 01 May 2020, 22:52:18: Yes . . . did we ever get a planetary map?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 02 May 2020, 00:36:46: What is this? I don't know, but I wanna get in on it.

Here is my submission based on the bits I've read in the thread.

Quote
Barony of Houndshire   Founded by Derrick McMasters at the beginning of the 3rd SW
   Derrick was a Leutnant-Colonel in the 7th Donegal Guards who convinced several members to retire with him & take their families away from the wars.
   After arriving met with the Grand Duke & traded service, loyalty, technical expertise, & access to the dropship, for title & land with resources to develop.

Sir Reymus McMasters   Great x4, Grandson of Derrick McMasters & current Baron of Houndshire

Lyran/Skye family   Left the LyrCom after the peace talks of 2864 failed at the end of the 2SW.
   Arrived with a Dropship & several weapons masters, engineers, & technicians
   Late arrivals to the Duchy, they lack the long-term history & prestige of some of the families but make up for it in the skills they brought with them & have passed down for over a century.


Barony Resources   Iron Mine - Foot of the McDowell Mtns
   Steel Fabrication Factory - Small Arms, Blades, Vehicle Parts, Farming Tools.
   Fresh Water River Lethe
   Rice, Vegetables, Poultry, & Pork


Houndshire Rangers   Military Forces of Houndshire, descendants of 7th Donegal Guard families, short battalion.

Mech Command Lance

Griffin-1S   Baron Reymus McMasters (G4/P3)
(Good MechWarrior with talent for Tactics & Logistics)
In long standing tradition has declared support for the Grand Duke.
Has begun crafting contingency plans for defense of the land hold as well as possible rapid strikes from dropship deployment to remove key enemies.

GrassHopper-5H   Knight Darian Sterling (G3/P4)
(Lance 2nd in command on paper, because Aunt Iris loves to run her mech solo, but defers to her experience when she decides to speak.
Longtime friend of Reymus, loves to use physical attacks, his wife is in charge of rice patties farming.)

Firestarter-6A   Knight Iris Buckenheimer (G3/P5)
(Aunt of Reymus, Fraternal Twin to John, who took over piloting the Buckenheimer family Firestarter from her deceased husband, Robert, when he died 10 years ago.
She is now nearing retirement, & will pass on mech to her son Grant who works as a mech tech & back up pilot)

Stinger-LAM-A5   Knight Maxine Fowler (G4/P4 + AG6/AP5)
(Skilled as a pilot, was dancer/gymnast/swimmer in youth, 3rd Cousin to Darian, dating Reymus, her family runs the animal farm.)


Castellan-Marshall: Sir John McMasters
(Father of Reymus who can not pilot family mech due to injuries, stepped down but still runs castle defense operations because retirement would kill him.)

Captain Tom Miller - Skilled in Airborne insertions & regularly uses the Cobra for low altitude practice drops to qualify all infantry in paratrooper training.

Infantry Company - Specialties
1st Platoon - House Guard   Foot - 30 Platoon (10x3) - 24 Auto Rifles, 6 Laser Rifles (4/5)
2nd Platoon - House Guard   Foot - 30 Platoon (10x3) - 24 Auto Rifles, 6 Laser Rifles (4/5)
3rd Platoon - Recon   Motorized - 30 Platoon (10x3) - 24 Auto Rifles, 6 Laser Rifles (4/x)
4th Platoon - Heavy Weapons   Wheeled Mechanized - 30 Platoon (10x3) - 24 Auto Rifles, 6 Portable MGs (4/x)

Captain/Senior Technician: Scott Myers (Father runs the Steel Factory)

Vehicle Company   (Consider these substitutes for similar Support Class vehicles in stats)
1st Platoon - HQ Platoon   Cobra (Original), Buffalo, Engineering Vehicle, Recovery Vehicle
2nd Platoon - Patrol Platoon   Wheeled APC (MG) x4
3rd Platoon - Support Platoon   Flatbed Truck (LRM) x4

Leopard Class Dropship   Hound's Tooth (ASF Removed for Infantry/Cargo space)
- Captain Jessie Sparrow-McMasters (Descendant of the original Captain of the Hound's Tooth, Jacob Oscar Sparrow, Ex-Wife of John, Mother of Reymus. (3/3)
- Trained Reymus's younger sister, Renee McMasters-O'Hera, to pilot the Dropship when she retires. (4/4)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 May 2020, 06:45:46: Tegyrius: AWESOME as always! :thumbsup:

Hellraiser: Liam had put some pretty serious restrictions on support forces (limited choices for infantry weapons, no combat vehicles, et al.). You'll probably need to make some adjustments. I'll create a line for you in the table, though.

Colt: What should I put down for Port Royale?

Code: [Select]
Barony Author # of 'mechs Loyalty Resources Greenfan Tegyrius 4 Duke Agriculture (Fruit, Grain) Trent Daryk 4 Duke Agriculture (Cattle), Light Vehicle Manufacturing Ouachita Arkansas Warrior 5 Neutral Agriculture, Timber, Mining Okro Vegam Ranger 5 Mining (Silver, Copper), Insurgents Port Royale Colt Ward 5 2 Large Ports, Shipping Torrealba Sharpnel 4 Duke Agriculture (Sheep, Cattle), Mining (Bauxite, Copper, Gold), Small Electronics, Household Appliances Urania Giovanni Blasini 5 Duke Rare Elements North Point glitterboy2098 5 Neutral Timber, Ethanol Fuel Von Strong truetanker 5 Duke Agriculture (Sheep), Timber New Uttarak Siegfried Marcus 4 Mining, Timber, Agriculture Middleton Dragon Cat 7 Neutral Weapons Manufacturing Fujiyama monbvol 4 Neutral Functioning 'mech cubicle Duke's Hold Liam ? Rebels Capitol 13th Barony Liam 0 Neutral Jumpship Oto (East/West) truetanker 2/3 Rebels Aquaculture, Pirates Houndshire Hellraiser 4 Duke Iron, Steel Fabrication, Rice, Vegetables, Poultry, Pork
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 02 May 2020, 11:40:21: Quote from: Daryk on 02 May 2020, 06:45:46
Liam had put some pretty serious restrictions on support forces (limited choices for infantry weapons, no combat vehicles, et al.). You'll probably need to make some adjustments. I'll create a line for you in the table, though.

I saw that but didn't have the time to create proper support vehicles, so I picked the gimpiest things I could find on sarna quick that were close.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 May 2020, 12:38:16: I think the Laser Rifles and Support MGs are also out...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 02 May 2020, 16:09:12: Ah, I misread what MG it was that is allowed. I'll change them to Portable MGs

And I took the term "Support Weapons" to be limits on the actual "Support" class of weapon, IE "Large/Heavy/Crewed", not the "support slot" of weapon.

The way it reads on PG.1 is there was no limit listed for "Personal Weapons", so I used the Laser Rifles in a Designated Marksman role.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 02 May 2020, 16:12:09: I use Inteks for that in my own games, but I took Liam's restrictions to prohibit that. Up to him to say if we could get enough of those to equip our troops...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 04 May 2020, 04:19:40: Quote from: Colt Ward on 01 May 2020, 22:52:18
Yes . . . did we ever get a planetary map?

Based on what everyone's said until now how about this as a basis for a map?

I don't think I've missed much but if there is anything specific that needs added I'll happily add it
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 04 May 2020, 07:37:18: I'm having a day where this idea was in my head and I wanted to give it a go. It's a fiction piece but I'm posting here as it's intended as a one-shot (unless anyone fancies more then I'll post in Fan Fiction) from my corner of Foxhaven. (if you guys are going another direction feel free I just felt like it)

Foxhaven – Calm before the storm

The settlement was a hive of activity as pallets of equipment were moved from one part of the factory to another by members of staff with pallet movers, onto delivery vehicles by the factories two LoaderMechs and onto the waiting cargo ship, the MV Aleksandr Petrov, which had been brought into fill orders. Middleton Manufacturing had never been so busy than it had become in the last few months as the various Barons of Foxhaven had increased their weapon orders as more mercenary forces appeared on the planet; there was something in the air and many people were worried.

With the profits the company had made in the last few months they had bought two brand-new Crosscut ForestryMechs from North Point which had been used to clear the ground around their new secondary manufacturing plant which was deep in Obskaya Forest. They’d also helped complete a new line of the Foxhaven Railway Line linking the towns of Jamestown and Redpath to the route which Harold Middleton had agreed to support, and defend, in exchange for the additional supplies being brough in to support the increased weapons manufacturing and the construction of a second weapons plant. They had also invested in more than a dozen vehicles from Trent in the last few months to help defend the plant here, the two towns and the new plant. This had all kept Harold’s son Lucas extra busy, not piloting a BattleMech but helping run the company. His father and head of the family Harold Middleton was 75 years old; he was passed retirement but still clinging to the reins of leadership while Lucas sister Elle ran the company but with the increased operations and defence agreements with Jamestown and Redpath Lucas was being more and more brought in.

“No, No, No!” Lucas shouted from the factory floor at the set of workers. Unlike his forest camouflage coloured battle dress uniform he wore a blue set of overalls, a hi-viz vest and yellow hat at he stood on the factory floor. “The SRMs are going to Okro that means they go on the lorries not with the lasers to Port Royale!” He shouted pointing at two different shipments. “If we want to keep these contracts then we need to get things right.” He said walking off as the workers began to rearrange the weapons shipments his earpiece beeped “go ahead!” He shouted over the noise of the passing LoaderMech which was laden with boxes bound for North Point.

“Lucas, the Dracs are an hour out” Margaret Foster his operations officer reported “John and Sarah are deployed as agreed.”

“Great, we’re about three hours from completing the shipment.” He grumbled “fine we’ll play nice with Fuchida. Mags, have the others get to their Mechs and begin prep, and inform my father and my sister.”

“About that, Camilla and Elle are not back from MP-2 yet” she said naming his sister and one of his MechWarriors. The two of them had become involved in a relationship a few months ago and they currently seemed inseparable where one went the other normally wasn’t far away. It was good for both of them Camilla, she still struggled with what had happened in the Inner Sphere, and Elle needed more than work in her life.

“Fine, I’ll play nice with Nanako” he grumbled “have Ismail take Agatha and remind him that he doesn’t fire unless I say so.” He said naming Camilla's Witworth.

“He’ll be ready and informed”

An hour passed and the five BattleMechs of Lucas’ extended lance were waiting outside the plant with several armed vehicles waiting for House Fuchida. As they waited two Mechs approached a Quickdraw and a Panther both painted along the same lines as the others employed by Fuchida. “Mags, go encrypted to John, I have two of Fuchida’s four Mechs approaching, tell him to keep his eyes and ears open.”

“I’m sure he is watching and listening” Margret replied dryly but he knew she’d pass the message. As the two Mechs approached he sized them up the Quickdraw was heavier than anything he had but it was massively out massed by his Mechs and the defences around the plant. The Panther had a nasty particle cannon on one arm which made it dangerous but it was too slow to be a real threat. He quietly designated the Quickdraw as primary and the Panther as secondary he knew his own Enforcer would be Fuchida’s primary target if things went south. He swapped his communications to a general channel “Welcome to Middleton Manufacturing forces of House Fuchida” he said.

“Domo arigatou, I am Chu-i Fuchida Nanako of House Fuchida. We are here for our weapons shipment.” The Quickdraw said Lucas had not spoken to the pilot before but appreciated her straight to the point approach.

“The shipment will be ready in a couple of hours…” Lucas began but was cut off as suddenly the Panther leapt into the air jumping backwards avoiding several shoulder launched missiles. The Quickdraw and Lucas Mechs all turned their guns on the forest floor from there the missiles had come from.

“You ambush us! What the hell is this?” Fuchida demanded the Quickdraw’s guns quickly turning back onto Lucas’ BattleMech "we came here for trade."

“If I wanted you dead you would be, I have a lot more guns than you do calm the hell down!" Lucas shouted back “We are ready to deal with you; dead customers don’t pay bills!” Lucas said angrily looking back at the Quickdraw “that was not us!” He said “I have two BattleMechs out there on patrol, all of my other forces are defending this plant!” He said holding his fire.

“Then we have a collective problem!” She responded after several minutes of silence the Panther had re-joined the Quickdraw but was watching the tree line instead of Lucas forces. The two former Draconis Combine warriors must have recognized that his forces while significantly outgunning them hadn’t acted immediately against the two Fuchida Mechs.”

“Agreed joint operation you and me, your Panther stays here and helps defend the people who are preparing your weapons.” Lucas said swapping communications to his alternate channel “John, get back here now, we’ve got pirates in the bush I’m going hunting with Fuchida, you’ve got one Fuchida Panther at the base it’s a friendly I think.” He said swapping back to the main channel. “Ready when you are.”

For nearly thirty minutes the two Mechs had marched through the undergrowth chasing down the infantry squads’ occasional short-range missiles or even small arms fire hit the chasing Enforcer and Quickdraw. But neither could get a clean shot their tenacity was beginning to pay off though as the trees were beginning to thin ahead Lucas saw a group of infantry and struck out with his autocannon scattering them. His Mech wasn’t entirely built for this fight but he wasn’t going to let them get away with almost ruining a profitable deal for his company.

“I got the APC!” Fuchida called out seeing a vehicle waiting for the infantry her long range missiles flew through the air but didn’t hit an APC instead they flew into a wall of metal which had stepped in the way of the hit, this wall of metal swung its arms up and two particle cannons spat out fire one fired at each of the approaching Mechs. One slammed into Fuchida’s Quickdraw staggering it back slightly.

“What the hell is that!” Lucas exclaimed immediately firing his autocannon and laser into the huge Mech “Battle computer can’t decide if it’s a BattleMaster or an Archer or something else!” He called out as the huge Mech fired paired long-range missile launchers at them peppering both Mechs with fire.

“Someone’s tried to mash the two together, you know what that means?” she asked running her Mech forwards firing her own long-range missile launcher at the new target as more particle cannon fire flew towards them one slamming into the chest of Lucas’ Enforcer.

“Minimum Range!” Lucas shouted realizing why she was charging forwards, both particle cannons and long range missiles were designed for long range fire and were inaccurate at close range, he then started doing the same matching the Quickdraw stride for stride he launched the Enforcer airborne to avoid another flight of long range missiles which Fuchida soaked up ignoring them as she fired her LRMs and four Medium Lasers into the target. Lucas added his autocannon and laser to the mix as he landed and continued running closing on the target. The large enemy Mech targeted Lucas Enforcer with another attack this time targeting him with both particle cannons only one hit slamming into the Enforcer’s right arm melting the barrel of the autocannon just as Lucas pulled the trigger on the weapon the muzzle of the weapon exploded outwards as the rounds hit a hard target before even leaving the weapon. “Ahhh!” Lucas screamed as his Mech lurched to the left fighting the fall that was coming “you son of a…!” He shouted as the Enforcer fell slamming into the ground small arms fire from the infantry that were still in the area hit his Mech but thankfully there were no short-range missiles or swarming attacks.

Fuchida must have seen his plight and was in the right position for her plan now she launched her Quickdraw into the air firing the lasers as the Mech raised burning away at armour on the FrankenMech that was against them. In mid-air she turned her Mech coming down behind the enemy Mech lashing out with her BattleMech’s right leg as she fell towards a landing knocking the enemy Mech forwards with the physical attack. She saw a destroyed jump jet register as the Mech came down heavily but ignored it as she pumped an entire flight of short-range missiles and another set of laser blasts into its back.

Lucas forced his Mech back onto its feet swiping at the infantry with his now destroyed autocannon. As the Enforcer rose to its feet, he fired his laser into the face of the enemy Mech. The combined fire from behind and in front staggered the Mech but it wasn’t done yet. As Fuchida fired a salvo of LRMs into the ground scattering the infantry troopers there the big enemy Mech fired a particle cannon shot into her Mech at near point-blank range burning away armour from her torso section smashing the long-range missile launcher in the process.

“Fuchida, keep him in position for another couple of seconds!” Lucas called out moving around the big enemy Mechs so she wouldn’t be in the firing line. As he moved another particle cannon shot slammed into the Quickdraw.

“What do you think I’m doing!” She called back punching the big Mech as it was more effective at this range, she hated physical attacks but sometimes they were needed.

Which was exactly what Lucas was thinking after moving around the big enemy Mech he was clear of Fuchida and saw the enemy Mech in front of him. Accelerating rapidly Lucas charged “let him go!” He shouted using the ruined autocannon as a battering ram his Enforcer slammed into the bigger Mech slamming both of them to the ground. Metal tore and myomers snapped and Lucas fell unconscious as the two Mechs crumpled to the ground.

He didn’t know how long he was out but Lucas only came to when the door of his Enforcer was opened by someone other than him. Fortunately, John Petrie had ignored him about staying at the factory and it turned out to be friendly infantry who tended to Lucas wounds and helped him get the Mech back up onto its feet. Now standing on the burnt, torn up ground beside the ruined enemy Mech Lucas stood with the Quickdraw’s pilot inside the cockpit of the enemy Mech the infantry had found the pilot dead crushed when the front of the cockpit caved in onto him. “Nice teamwork there” he said to her “we can replace the guns on your Quickdraw if you want?”

“For a price?” Fuchida Nanako replied with a smile. He liked her smile, as a Draconis Combine native she had an oriental look about her, she was young and athletic like most MechWarriors exactly Lucas type and exactly the type that got him into trouble in the Federated Suns.

“As always” Lucas responded “my family are in it for the money as well as our own safety, that doesn’t mean we cannot be allies.” He said looking up at the two battered Mechs and the ruin that lay between them “we proved we can be friends today.” He said smiling back at her.

“Yes we did” she said smiling back as her other MechWarrior approached.

“Chu-i, our weapons shipment is ready” Gunsho Kondo Tamadake said approaching.

“Domo arigatou” she said in Japanese turning back towards Lucas “what will you do with your Mech?” She asked indicating to the half-destroyed Enforcer.

“Well the Mech’s sound but we don’t manufacture the autocannon here, and it’ll cost too much to get it imported, so I think we’ll be using something else there.” He said eyeing one of the downed enemy Mech’s arms its particle cannon appeared in good condition. “I’ll get you your share of that thing if you want it.”

“A discount on our next shipment of weapons should suffice?” She asked him Lucas nodded his agreement “until next time.” She said saluting him in the traditional Draconis Combine way before she turned and left.

“Until next time” he said watching her leave the other MechWarrior stood firm for a moment “what’s up Bob?” He asked the man.

“She’s not for you” he said looking visibly upset before saluting and leaving. Lucas stood his ground for a minute then turned to face the downed enemy Mech and his own Enforcer.

“Alright, let’s get a salvage crew in here drag that wreck back into the complex see what we can take off her, and rig something up in the warehouse we’re going to need to take that cannon off my Enforcer.” He said turning to face the troopers and techs around him. Today had been his first Mech action in months and it had almost killed him, but Lucas Middleton didn’t think that was the last fight he’d be having on Foxhaven.

The Mech comes from here
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=57803.msg1330175#msg1330175 (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=57803.msg1330175#msg1330175)

I haven't worked it out yet but I think the Enforcer is going to get a particle cannon in place of the autocannon, two Rocket Launcher 10s (manufactured by Middleton Manufacturing and mounted one over each shoulder - I'd rather build them into the arm with the PPC but don't have the facilities) and the rest of the tonnage spent on additional heat sinks.

Hope you enjoy
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 04 May 2020, 11:05:30: Jageer Radcliff Arteshbod's position is that he vocally supports the Grand Duke, is publicly making inquires for an investigation into the events of that Fateful Night in the capital by the Council of Nobles, and the Jageer's personal guards are seen on patrol. What is not said in public is that the heir to the Jageer is no longer in Port Royale, facilities that have military applications have increased visible security- mostly with JHG infantry squads- while seeming to operate at peak capacity, the region's borders are mostly sealed off, and Jageer Coastal Patrol has surged the fleet to control the coast & out island waters.

Port Royale, its out island shipping lanes, and canal across the isthmus are open for business (and where the Jageer is focused) but all shipping will have to adapt to heightened security measures. The Jageer released this public statement in a broadcast-

"To the people of Port Royal & the Out Islands, news has reached the Administration House that a civil disturbance occurred in our planetary capital three nights ago which according to reports involved several fires among the government buildings. Along with the fires, the Grand Duke's guard were apparently engaged in military maneuvers, and the Grand Duke has reportedly relocated to a secure facility though we are having difficulty reaching the Grand Duke in person. I am eagerly awaiting contact with our Grand Duke meanwhile we can get on with the business of commerce."
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 04 May 2020, 14:30:02: The Stalker walks down the twisting country road, for hours since zero-four hundred this morning, Pepper had hunted the Von Strong Militia, honing their skills, her mech covered with paint splotches and a few scars from scraps as she had near misses from their paint-rockets. She was training her troops in the fine art of anti-mech warfare in case hostilities arise. So far, they knew enough to stay down and could concentrate their firepower. She had a few scatterings of combat with them, the last being around sixteen hundred and that was ages ago. She was getting tired but they weren't ready yet ,she had to push them more.

It was getting late and the sun was going down when she spotted a intermittent signal. ' There! ' she said to herself, as another intermittent signal pinged on her scopes. ' That's gotta be them... Hessan should've know not to do that. ' After all he's the Von Strong Militia commander, an ex-merc from off planet.

" Major... " Pepper said sweetly over the comms, " I can see you... " and before she could say anything else to chide him with, a barrage of paint-rockets emerged from her left rear. A stucco of bangs hit her rear armor plates and even though they where just pretend, the onslaught made her mech veer off and stumble and stagger, forcing her to control the movement or fall.

" Damnittohell ", she muttered to no one. It was followed by a chuckle in her ear. ' Shit ' she thought ' the mike, it was still open '! Hessan chided her for not looking elsewhere as the lance of concealed Hetzer's rumbled off. " Baroness " his cool Lyran accent soothed through the speakers, " always be prepared for the unexpected. You cede victory this time, again. " ' Ohh, that man! ' she steamed, ' How dare he... ' Then her father's voice overrode her thoughts, ' Patience my child, look for the narrow in an otherwise chaotic world. Find judgment in this and you will prevail child... '

And with that, she order another training regime at twenty-one hundred hours that after noon to the groans of her Militia...

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 04 May 2020, 15:48:33: Quote from: Dragon Cat on 04 May 2020, 04:19:40
Based on what everyone's said until now how about this as a basis for a map?

I don't think I've missed much but if there is anything specific that needs added I'll happily add it
For Ouachita, that's the Barony itself, not really a specific place within it (Well, the Barony's named for the mountains and the river that flows from them, but you get the idea). The map looks more like the Barony as a whole is on opposite shores of a large sea inlet? I've attached a very simple version of roughly what I was thinking. There's be mining in the mountains, timber and farms in the lowlands leading to the coast. The lake where two branches of the river join represents the capital of Rock Lake, with the grey dot in the middle being the baronial fortress. The grey sprawl across the river mouth is the seaport of Graceland (think something like New Orleans or Corpus Christi, TX.). Those are the two main settlements, though there'd be farming- and timber-based villages spread around the lowlands, some mining towns in the mountains.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 04 May 2020, 16:10:11: That should actually be easy enough to edit up I'll have a look in the morning
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 04 May 2020, 17:50:02: I thought Trent was North of the Baron's Hold, not West...

And I'll get an updated table up shortly with Port Royale's declaration...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 04 May 2020, 17:50:54: Where's the Starport? Don't see it...

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 04 May 2020, 17:52:05: Most recent update. Only Okro and New Uttarak to go!
Code: [Select]
Barony Author # of 'mechs Loyalty Resources Greenfan Tegyrius 4 Duke Agriculture (Fruit, Grain) Trent Daryk 4 Duke Agriculture (Cattle), Light Vehicle Manufacturing Ouachita Arkansas Warrior 5 Neutral Agriculture, Timber, Mining Okro Vegam Ranger 5 Mining (Silver, Copper), Insurgents Port Royale Colt Ward 5 Duke 2 Large Ports, Shipping Torrealba Sharpnel 4 Duke Agriculture (Sheep, Cattle), Mining (Bauxite, Copper, Gold), Small Electronics, Household Appliances Urania Giovanni Blasini 5 Duke Rare Elements North Point glitterboy2098 5 Neutral Timber, Ethanol Fuel Von Strong truetanker 5 Duke Agriculture (Sheep), Timber New Uttarak Siegfried Marcus 4 Mining, Timber, Agriculture Middleton Dragon Cat 7 Neutral Weapons Manufacturing Fujiyama monbvol 4 Neutral Functioning 'mech cubicle Duke's Hold Liam ? Rebels Capitol 13th Barony Liam 0 Neutral Jumpship Oto (East/West) truetanker 2/3 Rebels Aquaculture, Pirates Houndshire Hellraiser 4 Duke Iron, Steel Fabrication, Rice, Vegetables, Poultry, Pork[/quote]
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 04 May 2020, 21:10:04: Quote from: Dragon Cat on 04 May 2020, 04:19:40
Based on what everyone's said until now how about this as a basis for a map?

I don't think I've missed much but if there is anything specific that needs added I'll happily add it
the large yellow squares (i'm guessing meant to be farmland?) look out of place and way oversized on a map that i'n guessing is meant to reflect a whole planet, or at least a large chunk of a hemisphere.

the other colors are ambigious as presented. I'm guessing you meant the brown to be mountains, but what is the tan supposed to be? and shouldn't areas of widespread forest be depicted?

my suggestion would be to place ^ marks to indicate mountains with strings and clusters of them to indicate mountain chains. you can leave the brown, just fill it with indications of the actual landmarks so that we can get an idea of the actual layout, how tough it would be to cross, etc.

place something to indicate forests in areas that are supposed ot be forested, or are well away from the settled regions. farmland doesn't really need to be indicated, it can be inferred as existing in the clear land around settlements.

also put a map key indicating what the symbols and colors mean.

also, shouldn't there rather more water/ocean, etc if this is meant to be an inhabited world?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 04 May 2020, 21:35:18: Quote from: glitterboy2098 on 04 May 2020, 21:10:04
the large yellow squares (i'm guessing meant to be farmland?) look out of place and way oversized on a map that i'n guessing is meant to reflect a whole planet, or at least a large chunk of a hemisphere.

the other colors are ambigious as presented. I'm guessing you meant the brown to be mountains, but what is the tan supposed to be? and shouldn't areas of widespread forest be depicted?

my suggestion would be to place ^ marks to indicate mountains with strings and clusters of them to indicate mountain chains. you can leave the brown, just fill it with indications of the actual landmarks so that we can get an idea of the actual layout, how tough it would be to cross, etc.

place something to indicate forests in areas that are supposed ot be forested, or are well away from the settled regions. farmland doesn't really need to be indicated, it can be inferred as existing in the clear land around settlements.

also put a map key indicating what the symbols and colors mean.

also, shouldn't there rather more water/ocean, etc if this is meant to be an inhabited world?
It confused me at first too, but there's a key if you scroll over to the far right of the map.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 05 May 2020, 07:59:31: Right guys attached is version 2 of this map

As suggested I have removed the farmland squares

I have also instead of covering it in arrows for mountain ranges I've added letters and a list of maximum heights with the key on the right hand side

Forests - I've added one named one so far - any suggestions for further forest names and locations are welcome otherwise I'd say that it is up to the decision of the author/GM

glitterboy - I thought I read one one of Liam's posts that there was 40% water on the planet I'm maybe a little over that. I also didn't add Ice Caps as I wasn't sure if there were any from people's posts I haven't seen much in the way of arctic conditions.

Arkansas Warrior - I have edited up Ouachita for you it's similar to what you had

Truetanker - I assumed that the spaceport was in either the Baron's Hold or Trenton given what I read - if I'm wrong I'll change it.

Daryk - I've shifted them about a bit let me know what you think

Anymore suggestions feel free I'll happily edit up
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 05 May 2020, 15:20:57: Quote from: Dragon Cat on 04 May 2020, 04:19:40
Based on what everyone's said until now how about this as a basis for a map?

I don't think I've missed much but if there is anything specific that needs added I'll happily add it

Love the map.

But Houndshire is near a mtn range w/ a river. I only see the River.
I would put it either Far Left/Top corner? Or. Top Mid/Right where I see Rivers coming from Mtns.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 05 May 2020, 16:01:24: Lol, everyone wrote their bits before a map . . . I basically wrote using a free port name picturing it on the old Panama isthmus connecting a series of islands in both oceans with a Med/Caribbean/East Indies/SE Asia island chains covering their 'territory.' I was going to be cutting & pasting real maps together for my 'ideal' lol. Or really more like Istanbul with commercial ties into the Black Sea and while encompassing E Med islands like Byzantine Empire had Rodes, Cyprus, Aegean islands, etc which is why I gave him the title I did along with the name to switch from English type roots to Turk.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 05 May 2020, 16:53:23: Quote from: Daryk on 02 May 2020, 16:12:09
I use Inteks for that in my own games, but I took Liam's restrictions to prohibit that. Up to him to say if we could get enough of those to equip our troops...

Yeah, my Merc units use Inteks but I didn't want a carbon copy of those so basic Las Rifles dating back hundreds of years seemed like an option.

The issue I see is that nothing in his rules is stopping us from taking entire platoons of Las Rifles, or any other Personal Weapons we want.
It appears as if you can make platoons of 30 Blazers based on the lack of restrictions I saw.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 05 May 2020, 17:13:03: Hellraiser and Colt Ward I can certainly incorporate you're ideas no guarantee Liam or one else writing want to use it I just found it a fun creative exercise

Hellraiser what if I extended mountain range "G" towards it maybe added another river from the hills?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 05 May 2020, 17:18:37: Quote from: Arkansas Warrior on 04 May 2020, 15:48:33
For Ouachita, that's the Barony itself, not really a specific place within it (Well, the Barony's named for the mountains and the river that flows from them, but you get the idea). The map looks more like the Barony as a whole is on opposite shores of a large sea inlet? I've attached a very simple version of roughly what I was thinking. There's be mining in the mountains, timber and farms in the lowlands leading to the coast. The lake where two branches of the river join represents the capital of Rock Lake, with the grey dot in the middle being the baronial fortress. The grey sprawl across the river mouth is the seaport of Graceland (think something like New Orleans or Corpus Christi, TX.). Those are the two main settlements, though there'd be farming- and timber-based villages spread around the lowlands, some mining towns in the mountains.

LOL, I just realized AW has the same Mtn w/ River concept that I had.
We'll a 3 pronged river & a castle downstream compared to my castle at the foot of the mountains, but similar anyway :)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 05 May 2020, 17:35:00: I hadn't really thought of a river (much less two) running through Trent. The idea hasn't grown on me yet, but it might. That just means I need to add bridge maintenance to the budget. I'm not sure what the scale is, but I do remember saying Trent was one of the smallest Baronies, and it had a ring road with major highways disecting it N/S and E/W.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 05 May 2020, 17:51:36: perhaps remove the southernmost desert on the left (south of mountain E) and move north up to fill the rest of the valley between mountain C and E (the valley that has "orkro" in it)

Deserts usually stem from two sources.. the first is large areas where precipitation is reduced due to cold ocean currents off shore (like the sahara) these obviously can't be the source of the deserts here. which leaves the other main cause, rain shadow effects. where moist air/clouds blown by the wind are forced up by mountainous areas. as the air climbs into the colder upper atmosphere it condenses and falls as rain. which means that by the time the air crosses the mountains it is very dry, resulting in a desert. with the geology on the map, it looks like the air masses move left to right across the map, creating that desert area in the middle as it passes over the leftmost mountain range.

here is a tweaked map applying this:
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 05 May 2020, 18:25:11: Quote from: glitterboy2098 on 05 May 2020, 17:51:36
perhaps remove the southernmost desert on the left (south of mountain E) and move north up to fill the rest of the valley between mountain C and E (the valley that has "orkro" in it)
I like that idea & the rational for it.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 05 May 2020, 18:34:45: Quote from: Dragon Cat on 05 May 2020, 17:13:03
Hellraiser what if I extended mountain range "G" towards it maybe added another river from the hills?

That looks like a really long way to extend G, but you could pull the castle back to the mtn if you add a river.

The areas I was looking at previously are :

East between Mtn "H" & Bannocks Mine.

West between Mtn "A" & Northpoint in that V shape between 2 rivers, putting Castle where the Brown, Green, & Eastern most River meet matches my description of foothills coming down from Mtn next to a river.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 06 May 2020, 01:32:41: House of Arteshbod & Port Royale 3057 Update-

Jageer Radcliffe Arteshbod still fully supports his distant cousin the Grand Duke though he has not spent much time at court recently. His daughter, who is now 8, is spending her time on the Out Islands under the mechwarrior tutelage of his sister Iryne . . . though observers in Port Royale and whisperers at the Grand Duke's court both note that places her further from the Grand Duke's reach as well as any of the Jageer's rivals. Like others with ties to the ruling family, he has been rather circumspect in dealings with other nobles and very carefully downplaying the old blood ties to the planet's rulers. The Jageer feels that all the wild talk of unrest has made him particularly vulnerable to his enemies at the Grand Duke's court- it opens him up to the third lord of Port's downfall even though every thing was within his rights and with approval of the Grand Duke. The rumors of the Jageer seeking to buy a assault mech turned out to be true, a agent on Herotitus located a damaged formerly FedCom Zeus 9S (while not stated, it was probably captured in a raid either by pirates or periphery-hired mercenaries of the FedCom during the end of the Clan invasion) which was transported on one of the Grand Duke's jumpships in 3053. Unfortunately, the only remaining advanced technology on the Zeus was the new extended range PPC, CASE, and double heat sinks. The armor had been downgraded to standard by a former owner, just as it had standard lasers rather than ER or pulse versions. The Zeus is being viewed as part of the revitalization of House Arteshbod and Port Royale though it had a few undiscovered glitches that are problematic to fix due to the size of the engine. Anastazia Hardin was named the primary pilot of the new Zeus, replacing the future Marshall's ride being the Panther. Her ancestor had the original Zeus shot out from under him during the capture of Port, with the assault mech once again in the family it is a sign the region is once again improving. The nobility of Port Royale celebrated the return of such a design since a Zeus was part of the original Immortals inventory at the cost of the third patent. When Sasha hands over the role of bodyguard to her daughter, the Panther will be given over to general JHG use where it is expected to become another mech assigned to the mercenary portion of the Guard. Jageer Arteshbod has also let rumors circulate that his Dispossessed Holders who currently give service as combat vehicle (support vehs really) might be restored to mechwarrior status. Or a capable mechwarrior from the JHG's reserve pilots might find themselves elevated to Holder status.

Economic growth continued to fuel the development of Port Royale, prompting the Jageer to petition for the import of four industrial mechs which were relatively uncommon on Foxhaven in 3054. While not bound by the laws limiting the import of true battlemechs, rumors of what armed and armored industrial mechs could accomplish made Jageer Radcliffe seek the safest approach. Purchased from the distant economic powerhouse of Mechdur, the industrial mechs were refurbished machines inspected by the Grand Duke's men to prove they were not in anyway militarized. Hanson Resources Ltd, under the current Holder Harold Holmes Hanson purchased with the Jageer's support a Rock Hound prospector indimech which has greatly increased the output of the volcanic mines on his islands. Port Royale Agro Co-Op purchased a AgroMech to replace a failing heavy tractor while increasing the production of banana, rubber, sugar, and cotton plantations. Rounding out the imports would be a pair of Crosscut type forestry mechs that have allowed rapid expansion of the existing plantations allowing the more crops to be planted. The latest imported IndiMechs brings the total now up to a even dozen though they are spread across Port Royale and the Out Islands. Most of these IndiMechs are in the hands of the eight of the nine surviving Holder families while the remaining four are owned by the House of Arteshbod businesses.

The year of 3055 saw the establishment, with foreign investment, of a medium rifle factory outside of Port Royal. The Grand Duke was delighted with its establishment and takes his share of taxes in the form of finished medium rifles and ammunition though as part of the terms of the factory 90% of the production must be shipped off planet for end use sale which is closely monitored by the Grand Duke. This leaves a handful of medium rifles available for purchase to on planet use with most of those still ending up in the Grand Duke's hands. As part of the arrangement for the security of the factory, the Grand Duke allowed a pair of Aspero-Dinton security mechs to be on site though they are under the control of proven Grand Duke loyalists employed by the factory. The factory's on planet overseer is Miguel Aspero-Dinton from a cadet branch of Mechdur's House Aspero. The current merchant factor was the captain of a armed small craft that was escorting a trade convoy that determined conditions on the planet were favorable for Aspero-Denton Mining's expansion . . . and met Iryne Arteshbod. The Jageer's sister had resisted local nobility's efforts at match-making (particularly the widower Holder Hanson) but seems to have dropped her guard with the foreigner.

With the permission of the Grand Duke in 3056 and using the economic boom to fuel the re-armament program, the Jageer of Port Royale once again established a mercenary band to travel off-world. Traveling to Herotitus as cargo about a Aspero-Dinton merchant jumpship on dropship, the mercenary company were sent out to establish their name as well as start gaining experience for their effort to rebuild. Seeking garrison or short term contracts, the force was led by Holder Harold Holmes Hanson with his family Spider and one of the Jageer's UrbanMechs supported by two platoons of rifle equipped infantry. Vehicle support was from a lance of JHG gun trucks (the only examples at the time) and a pair of recon buggy vehicles (Ibex clones). Two of the Jageer House Guard reserve mechwarriors also accompanied the mercenary force as back up pilots for the mechs. Holder Hanson's heir, teenage Harrison Hector Hanson has assumed the administrative duties for the Hanson Holding while also consulting on the operation of Hanson Resources though he spends much of his time piloting the new IndiMech to sharpen his skills for the day he will inherit the family mech.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 06 May 2020, 02:06:08: (https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/95976899_10219765259073636_4784636856719376384_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=e007fa&_nc_ohc=Ysn2jyfK4VkAX8l5UtM&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=638900ac04d523add9849a155c52ff28&oe=5ED673C9)

This is sort of what I was thinking for Port Royale, some Turkish culture overlaid a Caribbean/Central American jungle terrain controlling strings of islands into the seas/oceans on each side of the canal on the isthmus. Bottom left corner with the 'blue ocean' could of course be the place for another coast, but the continent territory would reach from 'Ankara' on this map to 'Izmir' would be Port Royale territory on the continent though more of their territory would be in the islands on both sides of the Port Royale Canal Zone.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 06 May 2020, 05:52:05: Looks a bit like game of thrones beyond Westeros I can work with that though maybe not in that amount of detail but certainly rejig the area around port royale there is plenty space

Nice updated story not to self... they have a Zeus
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 06 May 2020, 09:12:01: Lol . . . with simple lasers and a engine that does not always work properly. I was mentally fluffing it as roll 1d6 for each outing, on a roll of six the engine acts as if it has taken a crit- +5 heat though no actual marked crit- while any extra weight from dropping the MPLs to MLs went into armor. Gives it a very bit of new tech, but has the prestige of being a 'new' mech for a periphery lordling . . . though its nearly 10 years old and been shot to pieces at least once.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 06 May 2020, 15:38:54: I like the position I have! And, curious of that, I have what looks like a Dam? Just below my castle!

So that means, while I haven't thought of it, I have a Hydroelectrically power plant inside the dam! ( and I don't give it up either! ) Hydroelectrically power plant.. So Daryk? Can you add hydroelectric to my list of exports?

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 06 May 2020, 16:07:57: Quote from: truetanker on 06 May 2020, 15:38:54
I like the position I have! And, curious of that, I have what looks like a Dam? Just below my castle!

So that means, while I haven't thought of it, I have a Hydroelectrically power plant inside the dam! ( and I don't give it up either! ) Hydroelectrically power plant.. So Daryk? Can you add hydroelectric to my list of exports?

TT
The major issue with that is transmission distance. Dam in Colorado sending power to Kansas? Sure. But we've got what, 12 baaronies to cover the whole planet? So you're more or less sending power across ~half a continent? to get to the next barony. Using modern tech, the max distance for power transmission is circa 500km. And even then...power's cheap. Hell, when they're not in use we could probably plug our mechs into the grid and run entire major cities on a mech's fusion plant.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 06 May 2020, 16:13:04: To be clear about the map I proposed . . . its zoomed in, the nature being something like combined Panama/Nicaragua in size for continental territory with a LOT of islands like Indonesia? or the smaller Philippine islands spread across a couple hundred square kilometers of ocean/seas.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 06 May 2020, 16:16:58: If Liam gives a thumbs up for the hydroelectric, I'll add it to the table...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 06 May 2020, 16:19:34: Quote from: Arkansas Warrior on 06 May 2020, 16:07:57
The major issue with that is transmission distance. Dam in Colorado sending power to Kansas? Sure. But we've got what, 12 baaronies to cover the whole planet? So you're more or less sending power across ~half a continent? to get to the next barony. Using modern tech, the max distance for power transmission is circa 500km. And even then...power's cheap. Hell, when they're not in use we could probably plug our mechs into the grid and run entire major cities on a mech's fusion plant.

to be fair, we aren't being given a scale on that proposed map. i'm personally assuming this is just the inhabited portion of the planet. call it half a hemisphere.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Tyler Jorgensson on 06 May 2020, 17:50:27: I love that map Colt: I need to do that for a random RP: cut and paste bits of countries together to form a new land. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 06 May 2020, 18:39:32: Quote from: Tyler Jorgensson on 06 May 2020, 17:50:27
I love that map Colt: I need to do that for a random RP: cut and paste bits of countries together to form a new land. :thumbsup:

Agreed.

I recently did something very similar for a project barely a month ago.

I knew how much landmass I wanted & then took sections of the globe based on the area for countries I found online.

Creating an area with 3 continents/landmasses

In my case it was basically Greenland, Australia, & a shaved down N/S America that had Alaska attached to the US directly w/o Canada being there & then stretched down to Argentina but with only the west coast countries of S.America there, no Brazil or a bunch of others.

And then I shifted it at the Panama Canal by 90 degrees or so to stretch Argentina towards Florida to almost enclose the Gulf of Mexico.

Well technically it was towards "Maine" since my final alteration was to cut a straight line from the Great Lakes to the Gulf & flip the Eastern Seaboard of the US, so FLA became the "north" & Maine the "south" so that it stretched further into the gulf since I wanted the "inland sea/gulf" to be almost enclosed but not quite.

Basically a "C or G" shaped continent, or close to that.

I liked it since I was able to still reference actual distances & sizes of geographic areas/formations.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Arkansas Warrior on 06 May 2020, 18:46:02: Something I like to do for that sort of thing is play with sea levels. With sites like https://www.floodmap.net/ (https://www.floodmap.net/), you can raise or lower sea levels an wreak interesting havoc on coastlines. Then cut and paste some things and you can rapidly make the map unrecognizable.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 06 May 2020, 19:02:19: First time I ever really tried, I knew what I wanted it like . . . and then started playing with rotating and shrinking bits of land. It would be a interesting way to develop a map based campaign IMO.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 06 May 2020, 19:23:56: Is there a way to show borders for our Baronies? Like an official of showing how and what is our nearest neighbor? Just like in real life, imagined and physical ones.

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 06 May 2020, 19:46:49: Port Royale and the Out Islands has declared a 100 km economic exclusion zone around their coast and island territories . . .
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 06 May 2020, 19:52:51: Von Strong has the smallest limits but the Oto Islands should have the largest area. After all they are an island chain.

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: EAGLE 7 on 06 May 2020, 21:34:34: From a rpg site of a long running BT rpg group.

https://the-farscape-campaign.obsidianportal.com/items/amalek-apc-wheeled

https://the-farscape-campaign.obsidianportal.com/items/himart

https://the-farscape-campaign.obsidianportal.com/items/jeep-mg

https://the-farscape-campaign.obsidianportal.com/items/jumper-transport-vehicle
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 11 May 2020, 05:37:25: New upload of proposed map attached with some of the suggested changes included in the Houndshire and Port Royale areas

Colt Ward - I tried to take the essence of what you had created and translate it to paint it's not perfect not by a long shot but looks a bit more mysterious
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 11 May 2020, 06:03:47: And Lucas Middleton's modified Enforcer after the fiction piece

The Rocket Launchers are tacked onto the torso like huge shoulder pads. I'd have rather had the Rocket Launchers jury rigged onto the chassis as carried weapons due to the lack of proper Mech facilities but wasn't too sure if that would work.

It's a weapons factory I guessed they'd be able to rig them up. If they had a full Mech facility I'd probably try to incorporate the Rockets into the torso more
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 11 May 2020, 17:19:50: Quote from: Dragon Cat on 11 May 2020, 06:03:47
If they had a full Mech facility I'd probably try to incorporate the Rockets into the torso more

Pay enough to Fujiyama Barony and they might...

After all, I'm assuming they already serve this purpose for every repair needed... Like having the only garage in town, where the Duke and Fujiyama get top slots over everybody, but if you can pay...

It'll cost you for their silence...

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 11 May 2020, 18:33:50: i'd assume that most of the other baronies have at least basic facilities, but the dropship mech bay is far better equipped and can do more elaborate work.

the difference between a local garage and a professional autoshop.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 11 May 2020, 18:41:56: Meanwhile, Trenton has focused on pilot training... ^-^
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 May 2020, 09:20:18: As far as the rescue attempt for the Duke, Trenton's air wing will go in with two Guardians laying smoke for the helicopters, while the other two try to provide cover. I don't expect them all to make it back in one piece, though it would be nice if the pilots are at least able to eject...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: DOC_Agren on 17 May 2020, 11:27:49: really depends on how bad the AA fire is and even if eject can you recover the pilots or will they be POW.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 May 2020, 12:41:40: At that early hour I don't expect the rebels to be taking prisoners, but if the pilots can evade and escape, they might survive...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 17 May 2020, 13:37:11: Quote from: Daryk on 17 May 2020, 09:20:18
As far as the rescue attempt for the Duke, Trenton's air wing will go in with two Guardians laying smoke for the helicopters, while the other two try to provide cover. I don't expect them all to make it back in one piece, though it would be nice if the pilots are at least able to eject...

What is the opposition supposed to be for this attempt?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 May 2020, 13:41:36: No idea (just like my forces would have)... my only focus is getting the man out alive, and his family if possible...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 17 May 2020, 13:44:55: If I have no idea who has opposed with him or what forces they have, then recon is in order :)

Sends out an infantry squad in pairs dressed in jeans & t-shirts in civilian cars out for a weekend of sight seeing.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 May 2020, 13:56:14: It's a short helo ride, but a longer drive... With an emergency call like that from the Palace, the air forces are going in first...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 17 May 2020, 16:28:26: Oh, I see, I was thinking you were saying days later. My bad.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 May 2020, 16:48:41: Days later I'll be all about sending some people into town incognito...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 17 May 2020, 17:52:58: Herotitus Mercenary Submission

Chao's Chargers

Subcommander Lu Chao - Vindicator-1R (3/4)
Lance Sgt. Jax Carradine - Raven-1X (3/3)
Lance Cpl. Tina Hong - Cicada-2A (4/3)
Lance Cpl. Barry Hershey - Wasp-1L (3/4)

The Charger's were originally members of Kincade's Rangers that were unable to evacuate Repulse with the rest of the unit during the Andurian/Canopian invasion in the early 3030's.

With damaged mechs & no way off world they went underground till they the planet was liberated 2 years later.
Forced to find small jobs to survive & angered at being left behind they did not make contact with the unit when it returned in 3033.
MIA & Presumed dead by the CCAF only minimal effort was made to look for survivors.

Lu Chao convinced them to go Mercenary & found transport to Herotitus in 3035.
For the next 15 years the "Chargers" accepted small contracts to survive & keep their mechs functional but never hit the fabled high life of advertised in fiction.

With Chao & Sgt. Carradine being squarely in middle age & the corporals in their late 30's now, the Chargers have taken a deep periphery contract hoping to become landed nobility.

The Chargers can call on 2 technical squads & 2 infantry squads in "trained" support plus a few dependents that help out with "chores".
They also have a single Pitbull Medium Truck for transporting cargo/personnel around.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 May 2020, 18:23:10: Now THAT's a Herotitus merc unit! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 03 June 2020, 20:34:40: The pirates of West Oto are attempting a raid against North Point for Ethanol fuel. Using their Javelin's hands to carry off any such success.

Meanwhile the East Oto pirates are holding up a Port Royal containership off the southern coastline for ransom. Pay or watch it sink...

TT
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: DOC_Agren on 04 June 2020, 00:49:28: Quote from: truetanker on 03 June 2020, 20:34:40
The pirates of West Oto are attempting a raid against North Point for Ethanol fuel. Using their Javelin's hands to carry off any such success.
and the 1st image that came to my mind was the Javelin cupping it hands together and holding and sloshing the Ethanol as it runs away...

thanks TT I need a good laugh
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 04 June 2020, 01:29:44: The Pilots of the North Point defense Lance.: "You have to be the worst pirates i've ever heard of"
East Oto mechwarriors: "ah but you have heard of us"
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 04 June 2020, 02:23:29: Thanks guys that was a good start to the morning

In character Middleton Manufacturing would be willing to send North Point new defence guns for a price. Or/And trade the pirates guns for Ethanol
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 04 June 2020, 17:49:04: (if someone wants to actually play out a fuel raid, i'm game. not sure how to set it up on megamek exactly but i'm sure we could. perhaps get someone to GM and run some NPC trucks that pirate infantry could capture?)
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 05 June 2020, 05:12:32: I have no idea either but I think you're right a breakthrough attack then maybe an escort mission out of the NPC trucks
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 06 June 2020, 10:46:39: Liam, now that TPTB have given us Sniper Rifles, could we perhaps obtain a few of the lower end ones for our infantry as Secondary Weapons (like the Lancelot Mark V (Davion), or Hammel Marksman (Marik))? They both use bog standard Auto Rifle ammo, and cost relatively little (400 for the Lancelot, 500 for the Hammel).
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 06 June 2020, 21:48:18: Since Foxhaven's position is closest to the Taurians and Davions, I'd say the Davion Lancelot and the Taurian Suns Killer would be fine. The Taurian rilfe makes it in because the Taurians make so many of them.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: monbvol on 06 June 2020, 21:52:31: House Fuchida is most interested in brokering terms for a shipment of rifles. Purely for internal security.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 06 June 2020, 22:04:24: Those Taurian Rifles are SWEET. They'll make excellent replacements for the Light Recoilless Rifles in Trent's Second Platoon.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 06 June 2020, 22:10:51: And before I forget to mention it, it's Second Platoon going in for the rescue attempt...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 15 June 2020, 18:09:00: Question, Where is the Dukes palace/territory where the coup is going on in relation to that map we had above?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 15 June 2020, 18:19:28: Should be right next to Trenton on the scale we have...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Hellraiser on 15 June 2020, 18:33:23: Doh, thanks, I just saw the word "Castle" there for the first time.

Well dang, my original where I thought Houndshire would fit would have been close to there.
Where it ended up is half a continent away.
Actually, its hard to really tell how much of the "world" we are seeing on that map
I mean, looking at it, it could be North America, or, it could be Michigan, we really can't tell scale.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 15 June 2020, 18:34:49: The map didn't exactly turn out as I'd envisioned it either, but it's been drawn, so...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 16 June 2020, 01:48:42: If were talking my map it was only a suggestion if you want to go another route feel free I did it out of boredom and wanted to have a play around
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 16 June 2020, 03:33:41: The most important aspect of the map is I didn't have to draw it... I can live with it.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: truetanker on 16 June 2020, 09:37:48: Sounds like Trent and Middleton are stretching their relationships thin, might this be a nice upcoming feud?

TT

( Not a typo, nice... )
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Dragon Cat on 17 June 2020, 02:13:31: Quote from: truetanker on 16 June 2020, 09:37:48
Sounds like Trent and Middleton are stretching their relationships thin, might this be a nice upcoming feud?

TT

( Not a typo, nice... )

Treat has the credits or resources we've got no issues
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 17 June 2020, 03:08:38: Quote from: Hellraiser on 15 June 2020, 18:33:23
Doh, thanks, I just saw the word "Castle" there for the first time.

Well dang, my original where I thought Houndshire would fit would have been close to there.
Where it ended up is half a continent away.
Actually, its hard to really tell how much of the "world" we are seeing on that map
I mean, looking at it, it could be North America, or, it could be Michigan, we really can't tell scale.

given that the baronies we'be got are all fairly smallish in general, i'd say it should represent one america sized continent on the planet.. the part of the world that is actually inhabited sufficiently to actually matter politically.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 June 2020, 04:01:32: Makes sense to me, though my original thought was even smaller than that...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Elmoth on 17 June 2020, 04:25:44: Then you are lacking a pair of baronies that cover the whole of other continents... and havfe very small populations. it is where the strip mining and massive logging take splace. And one or 2 mechs look over the operation
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Sharpnel on 17 June 2020, 06:15:00: Quote from: Daryk on 17 June 2020, 04:01:32
Makes sense to me, though my original thought was even smaller than that...
I was thinking something smaller, like a shrunken version of Australia. If you use North America then much of the landmass should be unsettled and untouched by man
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 17 June 2020, 11:12:40: Quote from: Sharpnel on 17 June 2020, 06:15:00
I was thinking something smaller, like a shrunken version of Australia. If you use North America then much of the landmass should be unsettled and untouched by man

Which works to an extent . . . I actually like the idea that the Baronies were given widely spaced out areas with a bunch of vacant-ness between them to grow into though the strategic/economic important places are already given out.

My mental map is like this . . .

The Duke and his followers arrive in the system for their 'escape from the IS' or whatever other origin scenario you want to run and however they got the information on the planet. As the expedition leader, the future Duke & his family take the biggest prize as their territory. Each of the Baronies were the biggest contributors to the colonization effort- if the colonization was based off a purchased/established survey then it would make sense the supporters & future nobles 'bought' their baronies based on the estimated value of the claim/territory with their contribution to the colonization. Since the Port Royal original family were removed from power and exiled, they make a convenient example-

Port's founding family were planetary shipping magnates from a world the original Duke did business with, specializing in bulk goods shipping on his planet. The Founders became wealthy during the Star League, even having a few direct contracts for bulk foodstuffs to be shipped to the world's spaceport for export. With Foxhaven having a large amount of water (over 60%) but mostly in smaller seas and channels while the land is not giant continents, the future Duke determined it would be useful to bring in a shipping expert. Port's founder decided to leave the FedSuns with the future Duke as the First Prince kept annexing Hegemony worlds and armed encounters increased. Besides his family, Port's founder also recruited colonists from among his extended family and friends while making plans to sell off parts of his company to competitors. Port's founder used his liquid assets to buy a old Jumbo class dropship while also renting a Mammoth as part of the colonization expedition which were both filled with colonizing supplies (pre-fab shelters, livestock, agri-domes & seedbank, civilian fusion reactor, comsat) and supplies that let the future baron set up in his demense of one of the planet's most promising ports (quick construction 14 k-ton cargo ship, dredging equipment, shipyard equipment). Port's founder recruited roughly 6000 people for the colony though roughly 100 of those contributed to the colonization effort beyond their personal settlement requirements (pre-fab, work supplies, house supplies) with the 100 being Port's vassals rather than the future Duke's direct vassals. Some of those 6000 recruited people were actually going to settle around the Duke's capital.

During the first planning meeting between the future Duke and his Barons, they divided up the map based on their contributions to the colonization effort and their areas of specialization. Port's demense was a key sheltered anchorage off a channel located between the prime mining site along some unnamed mountains, the expected agricultural breadbasket, and where initial surveys indicated hydrocarbons should be easy to access. The besides negotiating for the original charter of of territory given using natural boundaries (size of Texas), Port also had included 300 islands/atolls of various sizes strung out into the seas on either side of the channel that bisected his territory along with initial claims for expansion dependent upon growth though that territory would be held by the Duke for the time. It was from ducal territory that several future baronies would be created and was a method to reward or punish the baronies at the time. Half the baronies shared a border with a single neighbor while the other half were so spread out they were not in direct contact with their neighbor. The Duke's direct territory shared borders with three of the baronies though it was not encircled by them either as it also had opportunites for expansion through Trust Territory.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 June 2020, 14:35:58: I had written in to Trent's story that the "castle" is on a plateau that was used as an overflow landing field when the original space port overflowed with refugee ships...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Major Headcase on 17 June 2020, 14:48:22: This topic has been a very interesting read. A great long lasting narrative to explore.
Not quite as interesting as I first thought though since I miss-read the title as "BRONIES of Foxhaven"....
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 17 June 2020, 15:28:25: Quote from: Major Headcase on 17 June 2020, 14:48:22
This topic has been a very interesting read. A great long lasting narrative to explore.
Not quite as interesting as I first thought though since I miss-read the title as "BRONIES of Foxhaven"....

As long as they don't bring the fanart to the meetings, what the Barons get up to in their off hours is their business.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: glitterboy2098 on 17 June 2020, 15:42:36: Quote from: Elmoth on 17 June 2020, 04:25:44
Then you are lacking a pair of baronies that cover the whole of other continents... and havfe very small populations. it is where the strip mining and massive logging take splace. And one or 2 mechs look over the operation

nah.. like the colonial frontiers in history, those areas would be largely free zones where people go to escape the laws of the baronies and try to get some land to call their own. but without systemic ties to the baronies said people and groups would be hardscrabble subsistence farmers and minor service industries surrounding that. isolated and on their own.
and without the threat of native peoples the only real dangers would the wildlife, the weather, and other colonists. so you'd mainly just need a corps of frontier lawmen.. sheriffs, marshals, and so on, who could manage the bits nearer the 'civilized' regions.

i don't doubt that there would be "village-states" that form up out there far from the control of the baronies, but nothing big enough to matter politically or militarily.
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Colt Ward on 17 June 2020, 15:46:38: I think that would depend . . . and it would be interesting to see 'free cities' or even communities of 'freeholders' . . .

Hmm, maybe early 3030s a DS arrives from the CapCon with refugees from 4SW, Candace setting up St Ives and Romano taking on more power in the Confederation?

Would the Duke take over the refugee settlement?
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Daryk on 17 June 2020, 15:58:28: I set up Trent to be the "bedroom" communities of the capitol... Far enough out to not be in "the city", but just close enough to commute. I grew up in a town like that...
Title: Re: Baronies of Foxhaven
Post by: Liam's Ghost on 17 June 2020, 16:33:56: Quote from: Colt Ward on 17 June 2020, 15:46:38
I think that would depend . . . and it would be interesting to see 'free cities' or even communities of 'freeholders' . . .

Hmm, maybe early 3030s a DS arrives from the CapCon with refugees from 4SW, Candace setting up St Ives and Romano taking on more power in the Confederation?

Would the Duke take over the refugee settlement?

Legally the Duke owns any land not directly in the hands of people he's awarded land to. Whether he acts on that claim towards refugees depends on... well, who the sitting duke is (the current duke is annoyingly hands off about those sort of things), how valuable these "unlicensed" settlements are, how much trouble they cause, and how much trouble it would be to deal with them.

If a refugee settlement has a dropship and valuable technology, then they're an obvious target. If they're openly trading with the barons or other settled territory, the Duke would be expected to send troops to explain them the glories of taxation. If they're just farming the land and trying to get by (and far enough away from the populated regions that nobody is really going to notice them) then they should be safe from annexation.

Assuming they don't find something valuable.

Of course, this all hinges on the Duke knowing the settlement is there in the first place.