Hi! New here, but I have always loved the MoC! In the latest era, 3085, I guess, would they be able to field a nice mix of BattleMechs in their units?
I mean latest tech stuff, re-conditioned Clan 'Mechs, etc.?
One of the nice things about the Magistracy is that they can field a little bit of everything. They've got cutting edge designs from their factories and from the Capellan factories, while at the same time still retaining Succession War era equipment that they haven't been able to phase out yet.
Clantech, not so much. Traditionally the Magistracy only has access to Clantech that they seemed to have salvaged from their part in Operation Bulldog (all of a lance, based on percentages). There is some data that the Magistracy has purchased some Clantech `Mechs post Jihad, namely the Warhammer IIC 9, but I'll admit it. I don't get it. The fluff on the Warhammer IIC 8 states that the Periphery nations aren't buying the 8 because its too expensive for them, yet we're expected to believe that they're purchasing the Warhammer IIC 9, whose price tag is almost
4 times the cost of the Warhammer IIC 8 (22 million for the 8,
83 million for the 9)?
Not only is the 9 an extra 61 million per `Mech, but it also has 7 tons of Clantech ammo that require the Magistracy to purchase from the Clan dealers. Its a bit much to take in. Not to mention the maintenance and repair fees...
If the fluff on the 9 (which I don't know if there is any actually) had said that the Magistracy had bought one or two to break down and send to their R&D units, that MIGHT be understandable. But enough to show up on the MUL? That's pretty weird. (And lets face it, the Warhammer IIC9 is hardly the best design to pick if you want to do R&D on Clantech...the ER lasers and LRMs are probably well documented by now, the Clan RACs aren't as good as the IS racks last I checked, and if the Clans can't make the XXL engine cost effective, what hope does the Magistracy have?) Right, rant over :)
And what Clan or InnerSphere power would they have the most contact with? I think they used to have ties to the old Free Worlds League, right?
The Capellans are their closest buddies right now, what with Naomi and Sun Tzu being married and having kids. The Anduriens are worth a mention as well, but I think in 3085 its more of a wary "Lets hope they and the CapCon don't start fighting," more than a solid alliance, but they definitely have quite a bit of contact (The Anduriens saved Naomi once, and she's been there once or twice on a diplomatic mission).
The Taurians have kind of fallen by the wayside, and the Trinity Alliance from the Taurian perspective is pretty much gone.
Thanks! For some reason in my dim memory, I thought it was Marik they were close to, but that Liao connection means they'd probably have a lot of Capellan stuff, as you say.
Guess I need to buy some Vindicators and a Cataphract or two!
They're pretty close to parts of the FWL, they did ally with Andurien in the 3030's, and they probably have strong economic ties with the FWL since they share a mostly peaceful border, but they're definitely closer to the CapCon at this point.