But any recommendations on better BA for a force mostly centered around 3067 but could stretch to about 3085? I like the Rogue Bear art immensely but not sure of their capabilities in game.
I think the Elemental with the APGR has the Rogue Bear beat or at least at a draw.
Against armor, both can throw three, 2-3 point hits out to nine hexes for a couple turns. The Rogue Bear can do that a couple more turns than the Elemental, but the Elemental can keep up a 3-point shot indefinitely after the Rogue Bear’s missiles run out. Probably a draw.
Against infantry, the Rogue Bear has to close to within 3 hexes to bring its MGs into play while the Elemental can stay safer at 9 hexes with the APGR and still enjoy vicious damage bonuses. I give this to the Elemental.
In terms of survivability, the Rogue Bear has more armor, but the Elemental has an extra +1 hit modifier thanks to its 3-hex jumps. Probably a draw.
In terms of mobility, both can mechanize, but the Elemental is 50% more mobile once dismounted. I give this to the Elemental.
And for Swarm and Leg attacks, the Elemental wins. The Rogue Bear simply can’t.
So I’d make the core of your battle armor force the Elemental (APGR).
I think the only other native Bear BA produced in that timeframe is the Golem. I like the Support variant myself. Just make sure you have some IFV/APC transpo.
The Bears pick up the Kobold with the Rasalhagians. The loadouts with the Light TAG as a squad support weapon might be a cheap way to get TAG on the field in a BV-constrained game.
If the MUL allows in that timeframe, I’d also pick up some Salamanders for face-hugging anti-mech attack’s and pair with your Fire Moths and Vipers.
Also if the MUL allows, maybe some Gnomes for your heavier, slower Omnis, but the Elemental (APGR) is arguably just as good if not better.
Later on, the Wraith is another great facehugger produced by the Bears, but not in your timeframe. Same goes for the very cheap ECM, Probe, and TAG support provided by variants of the Constable, especially in BV-limited games. Also, the Kobold IIC is a nice, cheap, but very mobile TAG spotter and ECM generator down the line.
Would the Rasalhague Dominion (in like the DA era) actually hire mercenaries?
I say no way. The Rasalhagians were burned by mercs when they split with the DC, and the Bears found the underhanded, win-at-all-costs tactics of the Black Omen and other mercs during Operational Revival very dezgra. I wish it were otherwise, but that’s how the canon treats Dominion attitudes towards mercs. Maybe with time things would change by the Dark Age, but I doubt such in your timeframe.