Recent Posts

1

MechWarrior and BattleTech Computer | Console Games / Re: MWO - Bullshark - new 'Mech

« Last post by Akamia on Today at 17:09:29 »

A pleasant surprise. This year is really good so far. New weapons, the first IS OmniMech in the game's history, and the reintroduction of the Bull Shark, an apocryphal ’Mech that hasn't been seen since the Heavy Metal expansion to HBSTech in 2019?! Madness!

I gotta admit, I'm excited for this one. Of all the ’Mechs to have come out exclusive to video games that haven't been ported to tabletop yet in some fashion, the Bull Shark is my favorite by a significant margin. Sure, we're not getting the original BSK-MAZ, because no Thumper cannon, but I'll accept what we are getting. The Mako Hero ’Mech seems to be a compromise on what the BSK-MAZ brought to the table, being armed almost identically save for the missiles and ER small lasers. I think I'll be running that the most of all of them. lol

2

BattleMechs / Re: 'Warcriming the Militia' - Battlemechs of the WoB

« Last post by Red Pins on Today at 16:54:20 »

I've yet to read your story, I suspect that this project is related to it? I honestly can't see Blakists working with Clans. So far it's looking good.

I actually have a couple stubs out there - I'm still working on the Clan Blood Spirit one, but its very hard for me since it isn't a natural writing style.  This is the fiction for this project - I finished it but never put the rest of it here.*

Edit - yes, I did.


https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=71607.msg1669723#msg1669723


TL;DR - WoB, Clan Python, and the Civil Government of the Legacy Cluster.

The WoB wants to conquer the Cluster (including their allies) and brainwash them before returning to the IS and conquering it.  (They have to retreat from the Cluster.  One of their factions releases a bio-weapon.  Poof!  No survivors.)

The Pythons 'just want to see the other Clans burn' - nukes are ok - and are hoping to learn enough about the WoB to do the same to them (They don't.  They get Annihilated.  All of them.)

The Civil Government just wants to be at the table with the popular kids.  Maybe not live hand-to-mouth, like the other Periphery hellholes.

...And, it looks like there will be a total of 75 Battlemechs - 12 domestically produced Primitive/standard units, 13 Primitive/standards imported from the IS and seconded to their allies.  More than I wanted, so they might get cut down somehow.
 

3

BattleMechs / Re: Dark Age/IlClan AC-2, -5, -10, -20 Challenge

« Last post by Speedbump on Today at 16:42:16 »

With limited access to to even the depleted industry on their "capital" Sudeten, the Jade Falcon Remnants garrison on Blair Atholl were forced to resort to desperate measures:

Code: [Select]

Loki (Hellbringer)

Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped Omnimech
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-E-E-D
Production Year: 2926
Dry Cost: 15,645,781 C-Bills
Total Cost: 15,645,781 C-Bills
Battle Value: 699

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 325 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    28.5 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                     104 points                6.50
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             325                      12.00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             13(26)                    3.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 128                  8.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     21           17       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  8         
                                           L/R Torso     15           14       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  7         
                                             L/R Arm     10           11       
                                             L/R Leg     15           15       



================================================================================
Loadout Name: Anne                                           Cost: 17,513,734
Tech Rating/Era Availability: X/X-X-X-X                       BV2: 1,861
Rules Level: Era Specific                               Tech Base: Mixed

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: RT, RA                                                 0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Medium Laser                              HD        5         1         1.00
Modular Armor                                CT        -         1         1.00
2 Machine Guns                               RT        0         2         0.50
Modular Armor                                RT        -         1         1.00
Modular Armor                                LT        -         1         1.00
3 Rocket Launcher 20s                        LT        15        9         4.50
Autocannon/5                                 RA        1         4         8.00
2 ER Large Lasers                            LA        24        2         8.00
Modular Armor                                RL        -         1         1.00
Modular Armor                                LL        -         1         1.00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              RT        -         1         0.50
@AC/5 (20)                                   RA        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 21

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 19
4          4       4       3       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
Star Captain Anne's lasers and machine guns are still Clantech, but rest has had to be downgraded to weapons who's ammo could be manufactured locally, plus some improvised up-armouring. As the primary weapons are still intact it is primarily the loss of speed that troubles her.

Code: [Select]

Gravedigger GDR-1D "Daniel"

Mass: 50 tons
Tech Base: Mixed
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Era Specific
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: X/X-X-X-X
Production Year: 3152
Dry Cost: 8,305,000 C-Bills
Total Cost: 8,445,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,547

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 200 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  (CL) ER PPC
    1  (IS) Autocannon/20
    1  Angel ECM
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    83 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 4 LT, 3 LA, 3 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Engine:             XL Engine                    200                       4.50
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         (IS) Double Heat Sink        10(20)                    0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 LA
Gyro:               Standard                                               2.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 169                 11.00
    CASE II Locations: 1 RT                                                1.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     16           24       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  8         
                                           L/R Torso     12           18       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  6         
                                             L/R Arm     8            16       
                                             L/R Leg     12           24       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angel ECM                                    CT        0         2         2.00
(IS) Autocannon/20                           RT/RA     7         3/7      14.00
(CL) ER PPC                                  LA        15        2         6.00
@AC/20 (Precision) (4)                       RT        -         2         2.00
@AC/20 (10)                                  RT        -         2         2.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 6

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 15
4          4       4       2       0      2     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: AECM, CASEII, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, AC 2/2/0
Mechwarrior Daniel's Gravedigger was hastily pressed back into service after being salvaged from Rasalhage Dominion forces, but currently has to ration usage of the limited amount of precision ammo they've been able to secure. Despite this limitation Daniel is far happier in this improvisation than the Hunchback IIC that he was shot out of.

Code: [Select]

Pinion Hanse

Mass: 45 tons
Tech Base: Mixed
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-X-X
Production Year: 3152
Dry Cost: 4,073,558 C-Bills
Total Cost: 4,074,558 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,301

Chassis: Olivetti Stage 3 Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 225 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: Clan Standard Type A1
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Raydient Series 2 Standard Armor
Armament:
    2 Series 14a (CL) Medium Pulse Lasers
    1  (IS) Autocannon/2
    4 Raid (CL) Micro Pulse Lasers
Manufacturer: Olivetti Weapons
    Primary Factory: Sudeten
Communications System: Squawkbox 3.56
Targeting and Tracking System: Olivetti Pinpoint Advanced

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    75 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 1 CT, 3 LT, 3 RT
Engine:             Fusion Engine                225                      10.00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 5 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LL, 2 RL                                   2.50
Heat Sinks:         (CL) Double Heat Sink        11(22)                    1.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 153                 10.00
    CASE Locations: RA                                                     0.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     14           21       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  7         
                                           L/R Torso     11           15       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  7         
                                             L/R Arm     7            14       
                                             L/R Leg     11           22       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CL) Medium Pulse Laser                      RT        4         1         2.00
2 (CL) Micro Pulse Lasers                    RT        2         2         1.00
(CL) Medium Pulse Laser                      LT        4         1         2.00
2 (CL) Micro Pulse Lasers                    LT        2         2         1.00
(IS) Autocannon/2                            RA        1         1         6.00
@AC/2 (45)                                   RA        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 25

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      5    Points: 13
5j         3       2       1       0      2     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
Replacing the destroyed Heavy Large Laser on Mechwarrior Hanse's (no not that one) Pinion with a spare AC/2 that the garrison had on hand required removing a number of heatsinks, but the result is still arguably over sinked. He has strenuously argued for it to be rearmed with a weapon with more punch, but other jobs have taken priority so far.

Edit: Typos

4

Off Topic / Re: Naval Pictures X: Underway on Nuclear Power

« Last post by JadeHellbringer on Today at 16:42:13 »

The only known photo of the three Littorio-class battleships together, in the brief period between Roma's completion and loss. Taken by an RAF recon plane at La Spezia.

5

Fan Articles / Re: Mech of the Week: Turkina

« Last post by BATTLEMASTER on Today at 16:12:30 »

I just got a Turkina miniature today with the Clan Heavy Battle Star force pack.  Admittedly I got the force pack mainly because of the Kingfisher and Ebon Jaguar :D  But the sculpt is gorgeous, a huge upgrade from the past!  The front torso profile reminds me a lot of a Galaxy-class star ship from Star Trek.

"Beam me up, Jiyi!"

6

Fan Fiction / Re: Opalescent Reflections

« Last post by Gorgon on Today at 15:50:34 »

Omi and Victor, at least. I don't think we've seen Victor share his concerns with his family or friends. Of course, with Hanse still alive and Victor more involved with governance and bureaucracy, there certainly is less opportunity for Katherine to accelerate her journey towards a throne. She's also much more involved on the Davion side of the F-C, so there might be an opportunity for her to exploit any dissent (among the Draconis March especially) about focusing too much on the "Lyran" problem of the Clan front and not taking the golden opportunity of ending the threat of the Combine for good.

It certainly is not a problem now, but I expect someone ten to fifteen years from now lamenting the fact that the AFFC didn't go after the Combine when they were easy pickings. And if it comes to that, Katherine could seem like the patriotic, "Davion" alternative to a Victor that served in the Lyran Guards, spend much of his time in the Lyran half of the realm and holds close relations with the sister of the Coordinator.

Of course, this comes with the big - IF the Clans by then are not seen as an existential threat but just another player in the IS.

7

General BattleTech Discussion / Re: Upcoming Releases XXIX: First Annual 29th Birthday

« Last post by I am Belch II on Today at 15:49:22 »

Another week and nothing new.

8

General BattleTech Discussion / Re: Mercenaries Kickstarter Discussion 6: the 1st 3rd Star League conversation

« Last post by I am Belch II on Today at 15:48:57 »

From what that update said, it seems pretty close to being fixed or fixed enough for the people in charge.

9

General BattleTech Discussion / Re: Mercenaries Kickstarter Discussion 6: the 1st 3rd Star League conversation

« Last post by Charistoph on Today at 15:44:56 »

I'm curious if we could submit Arizona's shipping state tax for review as well.  It's fairly complicated, and this doesn't seem to fit.

10

General BattleTech Discussion / Re: Mercenaries Kickstarter Discussion 6: the 1st 3rd Star League conversation

« Last post by Wolf72 on Today at 15:27:59 »

Is it worth sending a request to review the s/h charges? I'm at 20% of a $540 order ($101).  It certainly is better than the 30% that I was hit w/first.