Author Topic: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta  (Read 134174 times)

nckestrel

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Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« on: 16 December 2018, 21:03:25 »
Combat Manual Liao
Combat Manual Steiner
Combat Manual Marik
Combat Manual Invading Clans
Combat Manual Calderon
Combat Manual ComStar


Did this one as a fan work.
Why Lite? Because the Combat Manual series involved the work of a lot of people, and I'm only one of them.  So there's lots missing, from writing, creativity, design, layout, art (illustrations and mini painting), editing, even review.  There's no new Classic artwork.  (I know that's the only reason some of you cared!  :) ).
« Last Edit: 07 September 2022, 07:24:02 by nckestrel »
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Daryk

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #1 on: 16 December 2018, 21:54:44 »
So... you only need AS stats?  Or are you looking for AToW?  I can do the latter...

nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #2 on: 16 December 2018, 21:58:09 »
So... you only need AS stats?  Or are you looking for AToW?  I can do the latter...

Nothing to do with AToW, sorry. 
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Daryk

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #3 on: 16 December 2018, 21:59:01 »
Rog, bummer.  If you ever do need AToW work, just let me know.

NeonKnight

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #4 on: 16 December 2018, 22:33:25 »
Ooooooooo....something to do/read while at the ski hill with family this week.
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Red Pins

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #5 on: 17 December 2018, 16:05:55 »
Tagged.
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Hayden.

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #6 on: 18 December 2018, 19:17:13 »
Excited to dive into this later tonight! Really thrilled to see the Tikonov Free Republic get the nod!  And of course St. Ives  ;)
Hayden

nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #7 on: 18 December 2018, 19:38:45 »
The Republican Guard probably should be in Steiner, but we that one is expected to be large enough to shuffle anything we could elsewhere :).
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worktroll

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #8 on: 18 December 2018, 20:34:59 »
Working rhrough this, and liking it a lot. The two new formations are well thought out. I'm building minis for  Dark zage era aug battalion, and there are perfect aug lances for either - eg the Urban Lance of four Urbies and two Hetzers is now even nastier! Well done.

Any thoughts for FM:Blake Lite? ;D

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nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #9 on: 19 December 2018, 07:49:50 »
I haven’t even started Comstar.  Marik, Steiner, invading Clans would likely be next. In some order. And then Comstar. There as even a vague idea that invading clans and Comstar would come together with a Tukkayyid campaign. But at this point that’s probably way too much for me to even contemplate.
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Hayden.

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #10 on: 19 December 2018, 12:14:05 »
The Republican Guard probably should be in Steiner, but we that one is expected to be large enough to shuffle anything we could elsewhere :).

You mean Combat Manual Ridzik, don't you?

In all seriousness, I really like the idea of the Tikonov Free Republic being in the Liao book, given the era and context. The FRA never really felt "integrated" into House Steiner*, an afterthought to be tidied away, rather than really built on; I was always a little disappointed that Ridzik couldn't make more of a go of things (hard to do from the grave, I know), after his shining moment during the invasion of the FWL.  Like so many things in BattleTech, a potentially great and certainly fun thread cut short.

*Don't get me wrong, I was very happy they got a nod in the Steiner Field Manual at all, and I felt the story surrounding them was suitable for in the context of that book.
Hayden

nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #11 on: 19 December 2018, 12:59:05 »
It did help me link up some of the SCAs between who the Republican Giards used to be.
Looks like Steiner will be next.  I have a lot done of them, so maybe in the next week or two.
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I am Belch II

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #12 on: 19 December 2018, 16:54:08 »
Nice job.
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Red Pins

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #13 on: 19 December 2018, 23:35:55 »
...Don't have time to really look at it, but it looks interesting.  I've made a note in my fanprojects thread, as well.
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Vulp

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Re: Combat Manual Liao, Lite, Beta
« Reply #14 on: 20 December 2018, 07:29:48 »
Thanks very much for releasing this, great unexpected Christmas gift for this Battletech fan! The Combat Manual series has been one of my favorite lines and I was very much looking forward to collecting it.

It is interesting to see another great house, particularly the little differences in Force Composition on Page 2, such as the use of command companies at regiment level (matching the org in the other fan-man favorite Combat Support Field Manual).

The new special abilities are very interesting - Devastating Charge in particular looks fun to use.

Excited to see the series live on, and looking forward to Combat Manual Steiner!

nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #15 on: 21 December 2018, 13:30:33 »
And Steiner is done. link in original post.
Same story, I could really use more unique characters :).
Steiner includes the entire Federated Commonwealth Corps.
And... i just realized I forgot to add a definition of what the switch to RCT means. 
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JPArbiter

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #16 on: 21 December 2018, 17:31:14 »
you really need to do Adam Steiner, and a side formation about the First Somerset.  Also no mention of Thomas Hogarth???
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nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #17 on: 23 December 2018, 15:50:49 »
Marik is added to the list (in the first post).
This one was fun.  Steiner is a great faction, but their individual regiments are hard to differentiate. Marik has a lot more color (especially Purple).
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NeonKnight

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #18 on: 23 December 2018, 16:46:32 »
Marik is added to the list (in the first post).
This one was fun.  Steiner is a great faction, but their individual regiments are hard to differentiate. Marik has a lot more color (especially Purple).

Please, please PLEASE do a Comstar/Word of Blake!
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nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #19 on: 23 December 2018, 16:59:01 »
Invading Clans will be next.  Without them, Comstar pre-3055 has nobody to fight. :)
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Daryk

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #20 on: 23 December 2018, 17:01:11 »
Not out in the open, at any rate...

Red Pins

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #21 on: 23 December 2018, 19:24:42 »
 :o

My gosh, nckestral, do you live in your parents basement!?!

This is incredible!  I can't manage 5000 words a MONTH!  Thank you so much!
...Visit the Legacy Cluster...
The New Clans:Volume One
Clan Devil Wasp * Clan Carnoraptor * Clan Frost Ape * Clan Surf Dragon * Clan Tundra Leopard
Work-in-progress; The Blake Threat File
Now with MORE GROGNARD!  ...I think I'm done.  I've played long enough to earn a pension, fer cryin' out loud!  IlClan and out in <REDACTED>!
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nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #22 on: 23 December 2018, 23:09:30 »
I need a basement :).

A lot of the work was already done. It was in a lot of different documents and some had to be changed.  But it was mostly straightening up more than writing. And then fixing gaps that were missing.

Invading Clans is going to take me a bit longer because it’s a bigger chunk and not as much is done. I’ve also got first drafts of a lot of changes for them that I need to reread and see if anything stands out as broken.
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Vulp

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #23 on: 24 December 2018, 08:40:31 »
Thanks again for putting these up - I took a quick look at Steiner and Marik last night.  Really great stuff!  I'd love to contribute some custom characters, but the next few days are going to be busy.  When you are creating special characters, are they all based on canonical references, or are some just invented as appropriate for the unit?

I was in a hurry and didn't take page numbers in my notes, but here are some note in the spirit of beta:

Steiner Combat Manual

The following units are missing at least one SPA (usually a green with None, Vet with two, etc.):
  • First Lyran Guards “The Cyclone”
    Tenth Lyran Guards “Thundering Elephants”
    Nineteenth Lyran Guards “The Scarlet Guards”
    Twenty-fourth Lyran Guards “The Slashers”
    Twenty-sixth Lyran Guards “Steiner’s Boots”
    Thirtieth Lyran Guards “Walking Hellfire”
    First Lyran Regulars “The Boomers”
    Seventh Lyran Regulars “New Delhi Lancers”
    Tenth Lyran Regulars “The Stinging Barflies”
    Fifteenth Lyran Regulars “The Bully Boys”
    Seventh Federated Commonwealth Corps RCT “Spectral Menace”
    Eleventh Federated Commonwealth Corps RCT “The Boys from Skye”
    Alexandria March Militia
    Nekkar March Militia
    Hot Springs March Militia
    Laurent March Militia
    Blackjack Training Battalion
    Sarna Marital Academy Training Battalion
    Somerset Academy Training Battalion
    Tikonov Martial Academy Training Battalion

This one is fine, but if I recall it was green with three or so SPAs, could be a typo:
  • Ninth Lyran Regulars “Karilon Magicians”

Some additional notes from the quick read through:
  • The explanation of what an RCT is in the Marik PDF, rather than the Steiner book (it references the LCAF, so probably just accidentally ended up in the wrong doc)
  • In "Determine Number and Assign Special Command Abilities" both Steiner and Marik books state that commands always have Hopeless Battle available.  These should probably be Wall of Steel and Independence.


Pat Payne

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #24 on: 24 December 2018, 13:05:43 »
Marik is added to the list (in the first post).
This one was fun.  Steiner is a great faction, but their individual regiments are hard to differentiate. Marik has a lot more color (especially Purple).

Thanks for the early Christmas present!  :)

nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #25 on: 24 December 2018, 13:12:50 »
Thanks Vulp!  I will take a look when the visiting everybody is done :).
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Pat Payne

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #26 on: 27 December 2018, 03:23:44 »
Nckestrel -- thanks again for taking this on and getting us these manuals!  :thumbsup:

Here's a few Marik pilots taken from the old House Marik book to help fill out some of the combat commands. One thing I did do, since it wasn't explicitly called out -- for the 'mechs that had a M-variant available, I assigned that to the character, such as Marina Zuritas' Marauder -3M, to give a little more explicit factional flavor to the pilots.

Hope this helps!

Colonel Marina " Slice 'n' Dice" Zuritas 34(55)
Marauder MAD-3M 1, BM, 3, 8" 1, 3/3/1, 1, 6/6
Street Fighter, Run and Gun
Available to: Silver Hawk Irregulars -- Gryphons

MW Grady Sheen 31
Phoenix Hawk PHX-HK2M, 4, BM, 2, 10"j, 2, 2/2/1, 0, 4/4
FUEL4, IF1, LAM(30"g/5a)
Lucky(1)
Available to: 9th Marik Militia

Lt (JG) Cassandra "Sassy Cassie" Blake 28(34)
Chippewa CHP-W5, 3, AF, 3, 5a, 4/4/2/0, 3, 4/5
BOMB3, FUEL20, REAR1/-/-/-, SPC, VSTOL
Ride the Wash
Available to: 1st Marik Militia

Maj. Vic "The Ripper" Davis
Cyclops CP-10-Z, 2, BM, 4, 8", 1, 3/3/1, 2, 5/7
AC1/1/-, IF1
Tactical Genius, Oblique Attacker
Available to: 1st Regulan Hussars

Captain Dick "Diver" Dickson
Ostroc OSR-2M, 3, BM, 3, 10"j, 2, 2/2/0, 0, 5/5, ENE
Melee Master, Jumping Jack
Available to: 6th Marik Militia
« Last Edit: 27 December 2018, 03:29:22 by Pat Payne »

Elmoth

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #27 on: 27 December 2018, 04:29:06 »
Captain Dick "Diver" Dickson
Really??? XD

nckestrel

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #28 on: 28 December 2018, 17:37:44 »
The following units are missing at least one SPA (usually a green with None, Vet with two, etc.):

Remember all Steiner commands have Wall of Steel available.  So the First Lyran Guards have three available: Wall of Steel, Overrun Combat, Banking Initiative.
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Dark Jackal

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Re: Combat Manual Lite series, Beta
« Reply #29 on: 28 December 2018, 20:09:43 »
These are pretty cool, thank you. I did like the print quality and physical feel to the books.