Wow. Tell us how you really feel.
In the homeworlds, there may have been some truth to this, but times have changed. I wouldn't say the Falcons were 'revolted' by the Jags treatment of their civilians, if they had been, they would have launched a trial against the Jaguars. That never happened. As for the nukes against the Raven capitals... it was just one when the Wolverines did the deed, everyone was 'revolted' not just the Falcons.
I've seen no evidence that the Falcon's were the 'staunchest anti-WMD' Clans. They followed Kerensky's rules, period. Crichell's only problem with Chistu was that Chistu wanted to take Crichell's place. He applauded his methods.
This is very confused. True, the Falcon's were never really the 'crazy ones.' The Falcons largely ignored their civilians, letting their merchants prosper, so I suppose that could be 'liberal.' Freeborns were reluctantly allowed into the touman in small numbers. Diana Pryde is the only known freeborn Falcon to win a bloodname, and she never moved beyond Star Colonel. Agreed, they do have the most effective Watch. Marthe pulled back because she wanted to preserve the touman, but had virtually any of her subordinates been in charge, including Samantha Clees, Coventry would have been a disaster.
You know, people worked hard on that "material" you so casually put down. Many fans seem to be on board with the Falcon's current path. The more progressive fans are waiting for Malvina's fall, so that the Clan can resume it's more traditional role. Things change. We don't always like said change. If you don't approve of the new, 'pedantic (really? overly meticulous?)' direction of the setting, don't buy the newer products and play in your own, homegrown AU.
Here's the problem. The most logical outcome of the Clan system IS a monster such as Malvina. The Falcon's just got there first. History plays a role too. The Crusader beliefs can reasonably lead to the Mongol beliefs espoused by Malvina. But the thing to remember is that Marthe Pryde as Khan was an anomaly, not the rule.
But ultimately, yes, somebody has to be the 'bad guy.'
The Falcons were actually one of the Clans who voted on either Smoke Jaguar's annihilation or absorption following the Londerholm Revolt, but unfortunately for all of the Clan's futures they ended up turning the issue around and using it offensively against all the other clans which lead to ALL parties to back down from that including Coyote and Diamond Shark. It wasn't just Jade Falcon though, it was nearly the majority of all Clans in the Grand Council, but again, even Diamond Shark realized setting a precedence for a clan to interrupt another clans treatment of their civilians and every day operation could be disastrous for their way of life.
They weren't the staunchest, but they were up there in the list of traditionalists in which they were eschewed. WMD's have a tendency to obliterate infrastructure and cause horrendous civilian lives, which put them on the top of the list seeing how careful and marked their combat was in and around civilians centers. Chrichell applauded his effort and the fact he didn't see it coming from Chistu, he figured him rather a lout and ineffective at politics... To see him actually trying these machinations, well, he could have covered it up and continued the dance and likely won, it could have ended their most hated rival too. But he didn't, he actually gave Wolf a chance.
I'm not sure that Samantha Clees, personally, would have continued that campaign either. She was an amazingly intelligent woman who was markedly exceptional at noticing when a situation was ugly and when it was a benefit to carry on. There were never any examples (few examples of her there may be) being rash or hot headed, and all of the op's she lead tended to be resoundingly successful.
I am not really sold on how hard people worked on the material... You know the gap was simply them wiping a clean slate in order to not involve all previous lore? They went the easiest route which really was something that caused... Well, pun intended, the dark age of battletech lol. To wit, pedantic as trying, and just focused on all these new sudden micro stories etc which again were all completely brand new as they white washed everything people had come to love previously and the new entities of this universe are basically sock pockets of their former selves. So yes, people worked hard, but sometimes you can work very hard on a failure.
I'm not sold, on this though. Jade Falcon, as well as several other Clan's, actually have had a history of very level headed and rational Khans. The system COULD breed a mongol like situation, but I mean... Hasn't every other one? The situation of Malvina is just a joke, in such a progressive traditionalist clan, someone would have challenged her... But there were NO takers. The entire clan just seemed okay with what was going on. I figure the Clan Council meeting might have been a little something like;
"Oh hey Malvina, yeah I agree we have over the years showed this mindset and behavior which should be ingrained on us completely. Oh you want to nuke everything and have the entirety of our civilization just completely 180, causing one of the greatest losses of life outside of all FOUR succession wars combined, or the Jihad? I mean, it goes completely against all of our lore, backstory, everything that has been established to this point but... I guess if it will give WizKids a framing and plot device."
It was part of the bad writing Dark Age has been legendary for, especially in its start up period and WizKids just... Holy crap period. I heard Catalyst is doing some interesting things, but I mean, as an old time fan and reader of BattleTech, I can't buy Dark Age as being in the same universe. Especially Falcons, they went from Hazen, Chrichell, Pryde, to Jerome Blake. With all the Clans that previously through Clan Invasion-Jihad/Civil war having Khans that were apparently the anomaly according to you... To suddenly getting the rare and one off norm?
Reading the last couple posts has left me a bit confused at the opposed opinions on what the proper Falcon behavior is supposed. Jade Falcons have been becoming an increasingly important part of the stuff I've been writing on the side, and I'd like to get their portrayal as "right" as possible, but it's a bit difficult if people disagree on what direction the right portrayal is supposed to take.
As much as I would like the old Falcon lore to be accurate to, you know, today... Jaim Magnus' etc idea of what the falcons have become is accurate. They are extremely vicious, murderous, worse than Smoke Jaguar ever could have been in their history. They are lower than Widowmaker now, and the reasons were simply they needed a bad guy, and since they virtually erased all previous lore and what it meant/mattered they could use anyone. Falcons drew the straw because Wolf has usually been the favored child, Ghost Bears are the Dominion, and Snow Raven localized too.