BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Game Systems => Strategic Combat => Topic started by: Lycanthropos on 12 February 2011, 16:44:03
-
Hello,
Does anybody knows when will be out of print Interstellar Operations? Is the project still alive?
Any new?
-
The last mention of it was in a BattleChat late last year, when Herb said that Interstellar Operations was in development, while the Universe Book was teetering on the brink of cancellation. ('Waiting for me to axe it.")
-
IF we see it this year I doubt it will be much before Gencon.
-
Looking forward to this very much.
-
Looking forward to it as well. What is Universe though?
Daryl
-
Looking forward to it as well. What is Universe though?
Daryl
Not even TPTB know...
-
:(
Thanks gentlemen. I assume that we must wait until the time is ready.
:(
I pray Blake's god and every other Super Power could exist in Catalyst to release to us so awesome knowledge...
-
I'm anxiously awaiting this one as well guys. Gotta to say Catalyst usually doesn't disappoint when it comes down to release dates. So this your or next.
-
Universal Ops?
Seriously though I think IO should be a much higher priority
-
I thought Galactic Ops was up next? :D
-
Actually, if we just dial "0," we should be able to get some Phone Ops in a matter of minutes.
Our calls, however, may be recorded to assure quality customer service.
-
Actually, if we just dial "0," we should be able to get some Phone Ops in a matter of minutes.
Our calls, however, may be recorded to assure quality customer service.
Phone Company sourcebook?
-
ComStar already has a source book 8)
-
Galactic Ops sounds really fun!!!
-
ComStar already has a source book 8)
Yes, but are its pages white, or yellow?
And if you dial 2 on the HPG, does your message automatically transmit in Spanish?
-
Yes, bu are its pages white, or yellow?
And if you dial 2 on the HPG, does your message automatically transmit in Spanish?
Brown and bad Pig Latin :D
-
Yes, bu are its pages white, or yellow?
And if you dial 2 on the HPG, does your message automatically transmit in Spanish?
Your message could not be delivered, please hang up and try again. You will still be billed for the attempt though. Thank you for using WoB for all your HPG needs.
-
Your message could not be delivered, please hang up and try again. You will still be billed for the attempt though. Thank you for using WoB for all your HPG needs.
Dang.
Okay. Time to switch back to Interstellar Ops, and then hope I can get better service with Galactic Ops.
-
I cannot wait to see this book!
-
From what I remember from the Saturday morning chat, the book is "going apace as core books do" My inference is that it is taking as long as it needs to get it right and that means that is behind schedule. However long that may be
-
As well it should. Randall basically described 2-3 separate game systems in each "zooming out"; game systems that need to be tested, tweaked, and revised like any single game systems. I think this one's going to be a real bear and the cause of great exhaustion by authors and playtesters.
-
From what I remember from the Saturday morning chat, the book is "going apace as core books do" My inference is that it is taking as long as it needs to get it right and that means that is behind schedule. However long that may be
I'm always obliged to agree with anyone named Stormcrow.
;)
That said, I think this is the best way to do things, and it has worked for others in other situations.
-
From what I remember from the Saturday morning chat, the book is "going apace as core books do" My inference is that it is taking as long as it needs to get it right and that means that is behind schedule. However long that may be
Do it cheep, do it quick, do it right...pick one?
-
Intersteller Ops needs to be done right and I expect it will take a long time.
Which makes me a sad camper in a way, because both it and Jihad Final Reckoning probably won't be out for some time...
But OTH, better right than soon. I won't, I don't think, Die waiting for it, after all.
-
Amusingly I still check this thread in the 1 in a million chance that someone has news. :-[
-
I check the thread because it is an unread thread and I have a compulsion to click the "you haven't read me and you want to read me" icon to see what people are saying...
:D
-
Same here. I would love to be a fly on the wall when the developers do playtesting though.
-
I think I am most looking forward to the new design rules, particularly the make-your-own planet rules, but also the stuff that is implied in Jihad: final reckoning.
-
I think I am most looking forward to the new design rules, particularly the make-your-own planet rules, but also the stuff that is implied in Jihad: final reckoning.
Hey? What? What IS stuff is implied in JFR? We hardly know anything...don't we?
-
Well ew know their are new lams-- or at least designs for them. Machina Domina could be a lot of things, ranging from IS protomechs to mechs iwth cyborg brains in them. Then we get he new Casper drones...there's a lot of goodness in there.
-
super-heavy mechs are specifically noted...
-
How is that implied to be in IOps?
Oh, as in we don't have the rules yet?
-
I was wondering if you guys could post some links to previous Interstellar Ops news, blogs, or posts from TPTB.
-
How is that implied to be in IOps?
Oh, as in we don't have the rules yet?
super-heavies were hyped as being in Jihad: final reckonning, so I presume the rules for building them will be in IO
-
Jihad: Final Reckoning.
http://www.classicbattletech.com/downloads/BT-End_of_the_Jihad_Ad_lowrez.pdf (http://www.classicbattletech.com/downloads/BT-End_of_the_Jihad_Ad_lowrez.pdf)
-
Any word on what the Machina Domini are?
-
Any word on what the Machina Domini are?
Not yet :(
-
Any word on what the Machina Domini are?
I have a theory...
-
I have a theory...
So do I....however, I expect both our theories will be wrong.
-
I have a theory...
...It could be bunnies!!!
Bunnies arent just cute like everybody supposes,
They got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses,
And whats with all the carrots?
What do they need such good eyesight for anyway?
Bunnies, Bunnies, it must be bunnies!
.... Or maybe midgets?
-
...It could be bunnies!!!
Bunnies arent just cute like everybody supposes,
They got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses,
And whats with all the carrots?
What do they need such good eyesight for anyway?
Bunnies, Bunnies, it must be bunnies!
.... Or maybe midgets?
So./..Genecaste or Victor Steiner-Davion clones?
-
I'm thinking more machine than human (Borg?) or machines with super advanced AIs
-
...It could be bunnies!!!
Bunnies arent just cute like everybody supposes,
They got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses,
And whats with all the carrots?
What do they need such good eyesight for anyway?
Bunnies, Bunnies, it must be bunnies!
.... Or maybe midgets?
+1 Brownie Points for Pop Culture References! :)
I have to admit that Interstellar Operations is quite high on my list of upcoming products that I want. I'm quite interested in revised Planetary Assault rules, system creation, and new/updated unit creation rules.
-
LAM rules myself.
I want to design some!
-
Any update on availability? I can't wait for this one too... hope it is out at GenCon, that would be great news!
-
I asked in the last Battlechat and this was Herb's answer.
<mib_mgv6np>: But I imagine IO will not be this year (Not looking for a date just curious)
<Habeas2>: Mib_mgv6np - Hard to say at this stage.
-
Any update on availability? I can't wait for this one too... hope it is out at GenCon, that would be great news!
I would love that, too....I want the Inner Sphere in Flames rules so that my group can run an Alternate Version of the Clan
Invasion
-
I would love that, too....I want the Inner Sphere in Flames rules so that my group can run an Alternate Version of the Clan
Invasion
YES!
-
I'm hoping for the End of hte Jihad book-- we have a setting that's pretty much stalled at the fall of Terra, and I think tat book would be what it needs to get going again.
-
When O' when?!
-
I'm hoping for the End of hte Jihad book-- we have a setting that's pretty much stalled at the fall of Terra, and I think tat book would be what it needs to get going again.
Final Reckoning? That isn't in print yet?
Or are you talking about Field Manual: 3085?
We have one year, form what herb has said, that is going to focus on the Star League as a breather, then next year(2013)
we are supposed to get the Dark Age, and then the next year(unless plans change), we get the As of Yet Unnamed New Era(AYUNE)!
-
Final Reckoning? That isn't in print yet?
Or are you talking about Field Manual: 3085?
We have one year, form what herb has said, that is going to focus on the Star League as a breather, then next year(2013)
we are supposed to get the Dark Age, and then the next year(unless plans change), we get the As of Yet Unnamed New Era(AYUNE)!
Yay...sldf stufff!
Not to nit pick but the post you quoted saying the Jihad had stalled was from May last year, a good six months befote Final Reckoning...
-
Yay...sldf stufff!
Not to nit pick but the post you quoted saying the Jihad had stalled was from May last year, a good six months befote Final Reckoning...
Wow..did not look at the date...just saw it at the top when I clicked the "unread posts" button...
-
Wow..did not look at the date...just saw it at the top when I clicked the "unread posts" button...
No harm...no foul!
-
So, any news :)
-
So, any news :)
before the end of the year...or never, according to Herb.
-
End of the year would be great.
But with the big rework of Battletech in the planning. That scares me.
-
Why would that scare you?
-
i did a dig looking around for any newer posts, this is the most new one, and i hate bugging people i know signed NDAs, any news of release?
-
Only the powers that be know.. we will know when that time is right.. but at least we have alpha strike.. so where one step closer to larger scale fights on globe scale..
i did a dig looking around for any newer posts, this is the most new one, and i hate bugging people i know signed NDAs, any news of release?
-
I check the thread because it is an unread thread and I have a compulsion to click the "you haven't read me and you want to read me" icon to see what people are saying...
:D
Glad I am not the only one who does this.
-
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,31797.msg739853.html#msg739853
See Point #2
This is the most current thing I've seen on it. I hoping we get a candid updates from Gen Con next week.
-
thanks hammer
-
A very small reference to IO on twitter:
https://twitter.com/catalystgamelab/status/381101001346134016
Hope that means we get some movement or even news.
-
70%
Interesting.... well here's hoping to more public beta tests!
-
https://twitter.com/catalystgamelab/status/387303906730323969
-
https://twitter.com/catalystgamelab/status/387303906730323969
Any chance in telling us what it says? Between not having a twitter account and it being blocked at work anyhow...
-
Any chance in telling us what it says? Between not having a twitter account and it being blocked at work anyhow...
From the CGL Twitter:
Good Skype BT meeting today with Herb and Ray…printing out a ton of IO materials to review on the plane trip this week. rnb
-
Thanks, hopefully that means we'll see IO in this decade :D
-
Thanks, hopefully that means we'll see IO in this decade :D
Sounds about right...
I've looked at the IO open beta material up on CGL's website. Frankly, there's not a whole lot there. What I've seen is of good quality, but the lack of more conclusive updates is concerning. What, exactly, is the holdup?
-
What, exactly, is the holdup?
We will never truly know what exactly is the hold up. Well unless CGL eventually posts a Battleblog or thread explaining the hold up. ;)
As for fun fan guesses? Probably having similar problems that Kurita Handbook is having.
Heck for all we know printing out all the pages broke someone's back (and printer) and they killed off a rainforest in one go. ;D
-
My opinion? (and purely my opinion?)
All the scaling in and out that they were wanting to do and Randall talked about in his blog are similar to the mechanics in the Battleforce 2 planetary operations, except that they're taking the scaling up and down to (as befits Randall's wont for the Core books) an absurd degree. Making fun games and rules out of that is really complicated.
I predict that one of the problems they're having to resolve is the same one in BF2: how do you deal with loss of resolution as you zoom in and out to the different levels of gameplay? Each conversion abstracts the unit being converted in some way and you've lost information you may have been tracking. Blown a weapon? That gets abstracted into lower damage, perhaps, but you lose the individual weapon information when you convert back. So scaling is really only useful in one-off situations or permanent changes. Also, how do you work out with your opponent how and when scaling can happen? Is this a GM kind of thing? Campaign? Maybe each of you gets so many chits to scale down? Is it fair that your units get abstracted because your opponent called in a chit?
Like I said, it's kind of complicated.
-
Good points, also fact is there are only so many writers and only so many fact checkers.
Other products have to go out the door to make money.
I have faith that it is being worked on, after all we got twitter updates about it earlier.
It is just certain things are probably taking priority over IO.
-
I think part of it is simply the fact that the rules haven't covered this sort of thing before, sure there was the IS in Flames board game, but that isn't the same thing
-
Succession Wars was the board game.
Inner Sphere in Flames was a...very loose frame work within the spirit of the SW but without the board part.
I like to think that ISiF was similar to Chaos Campaign: loose rules, allows folks to make stuff up, but otherwise not really cemented until a further publication.
I can only hope that IO will do to ISiF what Total Chaos did for CC.
-
Not even that. ISiF was almost more a group of tables held loosely together by some suggested rules.people who tried it quickly realized that they had to fill in about 1/3 of the gaps not including errata discovery. ISiF was very... partial.
The confusion brings up an interesting point. ISiF and Succession Wars are two very different products. Given Randall's penchant for the kitchen sink, does that mean both are being shoehorned into that same overall framework? How hard is that to do? (The answer probably begins with 'very'.)
-
Well with all the fun and shenanigans he told us about the boxed set and manufacturing it, I doubt we would get a Succession Wars boxed set any time in the future.
The one rule I couldn't get into with ISiF was the 30 light year movement for each system.
Considering how we don't even have a canon published source to find such things out, it makes the game a little harder to move units.
For example, I'm moving my Regiment from Thorin to...well what's 30 LY from it? Oh let's consult... oh that's right aside from the IS Atlas I can't think of anything and even that isn't officially canon anyways.
I loved how Succession Wars board game did it: move into a segment of the map that contains X number of systems. Fight for those and done deal.
As I ponder this I realize all the era maps so far have provinces and internal borders for nearly every stellar nation.
It would take some imagination, but I could see that as an alternative for movement.
-
Succession Wars was the board game.
Inner Sphere in Flames was a...very loose frame work within the spirit of the SW but without the board part.
I like to think that ISiF was similar to Chaos Campaign: loose rules, allows folks to make stuff up, but otherwise not really cemented until a further publication.
I can only hope that IO will do to ISiF what Total Chaos did for CC.
Succession Wars is a fun game, wish they released an updated version.
-
Considering how we don't even have a canon published source to find such things out, it makes the game a little harder to move units.
For example, I'm moving my Regiment from Thorin to...well what's 30 LY from it? Oh let's consult... oh that's right aside from the IS Atlas I can't think of anything and even that isn't officially canon anyways.
Working on a little something here. How's this for a work in progress? Each hex is 5 LY.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/klkw0n1213kh1ps/3025.png
-
Working on a little something here. How's this for a work in progress? Each hex is 5 LY.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/klkw0n1213kh1ps/3025.png
Actually pretty cool, if there was a version with no political borders people could carve out their own empires on the finished product. 8)
-
Actually pretty cool, if there was a version with no political borders people could carve out their own empires on the finished product. 8)
That's possible, actually. I'll keep that in mind as I progress :D
-
MekHQ has a pretty good, interactive, map that can handle calculating distances, jumps necessary, etc.
It also calculates jump times based on the sun type (which is canon for the ~1/3 of planets that have published data and for now a default for the rest). In some cases, the positioning of the planets could be improved (and there are plans to do so), but overall it is about as accurate as you're going to be seeing anywhere.
There are also plans to make it easier to change factions. Currently that would have to be accomplished by manually changing the planets.xml file (which is relatively simple since it is an XML document). Otherwise, it updates the map based on the date you've selected and should follow canon or be as close as possible (not all faction changes are 100% in yet, there's a lot to work with.)
Still, it is a very handy tool. And planets with published data, have their information entered (sun type, gravity, pressure, temp, recharge stations, etc.)
-
Working on a little something here. How's this for a work in progress? Each hex is 5 LY.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/klkw0n1213kh1ps/3025.png
neat, i like the political boundaries
I found this picture on google images which was similar, but bigger hexes:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r-RM10CTyFo/Tnly0ArSauI/AAAAAAAAADA/YjBDdIreQ2w/s1600/temp4.png
-
I've frequently wondered what the hold up with IO is ... the first mention of the book and it's purpose that I'm aware of was in Tactical Operations, and my .pdf copy has a copyright of 2008.
You'd think it would be finished by now.
-
I've frequently wondered what the hold up with IO is ... the first mention of the book and it's purpose that I'm aware of was in Tactical Operations, and my .pdf copy has a copyright of 2008.
You'd think it would be finished by now.
As I've said, and it is speculation, the mix of systems Randall et all want to include create an immense amount of complexity. This isn't any warchest campaign system, but refreshed abstractions and whole game systems for nearly everything in the Battletech universe several times over. Randall wrote about "staging" and "zooming" when he first blogged about IO. Each one of those stages is an entirely new abstraction that needs to be dealt with in the context of its siblings (Battleforce/Alpha Strike, Battletech, and each other staging). So to get it right is kind of like the board game analog of a combinatorial explosion. Sure you can release a new Inner Sphere in Flames, but for Core Book quality you have to get it right and test the hell out of it. You can't do it half-assed like the Combat Ops release. That's FASA/FanPro thinking.
Here's the potential dark side to the book's development. I'm a big fan of having connected and complete campaign systems. It really makes the verisimilitude of Battletech shine for me. But while Battletech has a market and Alpha Strike might have a market, I'm not sure how much of a market multiple complex campaign systems have. They're a lot of awesome and cool to me, but maybe people just prefer to play with minis and standard record sheets and buy TROs the way they always have. Alpha Strike's release gives me a hint where the developer resources are going and where priorities are. I'm not mad or angry or affronted, just kind of "aww darn" at the possibility that IO's a low priority.
-
I've frequently wondered what the hold up with IO is ... the first mention of the book and it's purpose that I'm aware of was in Tactical Operations, and my .pdf copy has a copyright of 2008.
You'd think it would be finished by now.
I suspect it that TPTB have the tendency to throw the kitchen sink at a book (causing the page count to explode) and then trying to integrate everything (which is very hard).
-
great post, Bedwyr! I couldn't agree more with the sentiments you expressed.
I've always been a big fan of lengthy campaigns that started out with strategic planning, moved to jumpships entering a system, followed by dropships and their fighter escorts making their way through swarms of defending fighters, atmospheric drops, abstract (radar map) fighter battles on planet that allow ground forces to disembark, recon excursions to the target, and massive battles that include artillery, ASF cover, fires, infantry and anything else, all the way down to a one-on-one Solaris VII dueling rules battle between primary characters, and roleplaying mixed throughout!
-
great post, Bedwyr! I couldn't agree more with the sentiments you expressed.
[stupid] ;)
Interesting thing to ask. As starry eyed as I get about these systems, have I actually run a campaign with them? Er... no. I, um, haven't. <shuffles feet embarrassedly>
-
Updated version, now with the Taurian Concordat and the Capellan March added in (no borders).
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4240188/3025.png
-
I'd suggest getting rid of the hex numbers or reducing them in size, AK
-
The hex numbers are there for initial star placement reference only. Once everything's mapped they'll go away.
-
Updated version, now with the Taurian Concordat and the Capellan March added in (no borders).
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4240188/3025.png
Looking Great!
I think I'd rather see the stars in the hexes go away, they seem to clutter the image.
How are you going to deal with hexes with multiple stars in them?
-
great post, Bedwyr! I couldn't agree more with the sentiments you expressed.
I've always been a big fan of lengthy campaigns that started out with strategic planning, moved to jumpships entering a system, followed by dropships and their fighter escorts making their way through swarms of defending fighters, atmospheric drops, abstract (radar map) fighter battles on planet that allow ground forces to disembark, recon excursions to the target, and massive battles that include artillery, ASF cover, fires, infantry and anything else, all the way down to a one-on-one Solaris VII dueling rules battle between primary characters, and roleplaying mixed throughout!
This is exactly the kind of game I love to play! My problem with it is that it always seems to need or take up more space(physically available to me) and time(once again available to me) to be able to do this.
-
How are you going to deal with hexes with multiple stars in them?
With 5 LY hexes, that's a lot rarer than you'd think. The Pelaides Cluster and the Hyades Cluster come to mine as the only two actually
-
This is exactly the kind of game I love to play! My problem with it is that it always seems to need or take up more space(physically available to me) and time(once again available to me) to be able to do this.
It's tough ... no doubt there.
The only way to really make it work is to have a group that's dedicated to that kind of campaign and willing to play at it once or twice a month consistently.
-
That is extremely impressive! I have long hoped for something like this!
How else do you even calculate a jump?
-
With 5 LY hexes, that's a lot rarer than you'd think. The Pelaides Cluster and the Hyades Cluster come to mine as the only two actually
I counted well over 100 systems within 5 LY of each other, though wriggling the hexagon a bit would reduce that. How do you plan on dealing with those situations when they do come up?
And what happens when, since hex jumps and systems are so precise, when 2 systems six 5 LY hexes apart are actually 35 LY, or there is some wacky shortcut that allows you to get to a planet 100 LY away with just 3 jumps?
Heck, even if those are persistent issues what you are doing looks great, and I can't wait to see the whole inner sphere!
-
Rounding, mainly. Failing that, I massage hex locations. :)
Example:
System A is 5 LY from Terra
System B is 7.5 LY from Terra.
System A is 1 hex away from Terra
System B is 2 hexes away from Terra.
-
New progress snapshot. In deference to Atlas's request, no borders marked!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4240188/BTNoBorders.png
-
Excellent, I can see myself carving out personal empires with this map. >:D
-
the map will be 245 hexes by 213 hexes, at 5 LY per hex.
It's big. :)
-
I want to see more! [applause]
-
This fine map, as will, I hope to see soon the anti-spinward sectors
-
Tagged for reference.
I too am very interested in whatever IO becomes. I'll no doubt be one of the first to buy the PDF release when it comes out.
The devs have a lot on their plate and it will be interesting what the final product will hold.
-
This fine map, as will, I hope to see soon the anti-spinward sectors
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4240188/BTNoBorders.png
The Inner Sphere, sans hex numbers.
-
Ask the map is 3025? Why not be missing a few systems, New Venice, Horatius, Marius's Tear, and Valerius Paulinus are just a few
-
The map is based on the one from the 3039 Historical.
-
The map is based on the one from the 3039 Historical.
I think I'm wrong but that's Marius Tear's, New Venice and Horatius had already been colonized by then, I'm not so sure about but I think also Paulinus
-
I have not, wrong to colonize between 3040-3045 to the first 3 and a few years later Paulinus preparing the assault League Lothario
-
The map is based on the one from the 3039 Historical.
You forgot to add Randis IV. O:-)
-
Here's something for all of you to gander at.
-
Here's something for all of you to gander at.
You realize an IS War like game on the PC would suck me in and my wife would divorce me. Especially if I don't have to fight each and every single battle in tactical mode and it has the ability to play against the computer.....
-
cool!
-
Annnnd progress.
-
In 3039 Quentin was not under Kurita domain?
-
Not at the start of the war, no
-
Looks awesome!
-
Can't wait to see how this looks and plays when finished.
@Alwxander
Forgot to ask.. What program is that that you are using?
-
Annnnd progress.
Is that built using vassal?
-
Yes, using Vassal for the components. The map itself was built using Hexographer.
-
Some news at least.
https://twitter.com/catalystgamelab/status/444529827492954112
-
I wonder if this means that the other sections are almost ready
-
Edit: I'm dumb and did not see 2 posts before me.
-
Yes, using Vassal for the components. The map itself was built using Hexographer.
How is it coming?
I play Federation and Empire on vassal and would be interested to see ISIF ported.
-
Was curious for any new info?
-
And, finally, an answer!
http://bg.battletech.com/news/news-and-announcements/drop-pod-sequence-initiatedthree-two-one/
-
Very very excited. Reading the Inner Sphere at War section now...
-
Who are the six Characters on the cover of this new edition? I know some of them but others are stumping me.
-
The left three are easy: Devlin Stone, Thomas Marik (The Master), Victor Steiner-Davion. On the right...no idea who the woman is or the guy in the background, but I think the final figure is Theodore Kurita. Perhaps Bella Lee and Aleksandr Kerensky? Corrine Marik? Doesn't look like Sun-Tzu Liao, though.
-
Stone was the one I was really having trouble with.
The ones on the right are Natasha Kerensky, Takashi Kurita, and I think Alexander Kerensky.
-
Stone was the one I was really having trouble with.
The ones on the right are Natasha Kerensky, Takashi Kurita, and I think Alexander Kerensky.
Ah, tying together the "present" (well, the recent past) with the more-distant pasts of the universe.
But I will say that I thought Takashi was skinnier. I do wish the artist had emphasized his blue eyes.