BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Game Systems => General BattleTech Discussion => Topic started by: Bosefius on 07 August 2019, 15:20:47
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Yes, the New Release Discussion thread is extending here. What's not going to extend is the discussion of the extinct mechs. Just don't. Seriously.
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for reference, here's what's listed as upcoming
The Kickstarter. if you haven't heard they're doing one
TacOps Reprint in two volumes: Advanced Rules and Advanced Units and Equipment
IlClan (slated for 2020)
Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze
Touring the Stars: Regil Kentares
BattleCorps Anthology, Vol 6: Front Lines
Books 2 and 3 of the Rogue Academy Trilogy by Jennifer Brozek
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When's RS 3150 NTNU.
EDIT Come to think of it, newbies gonna need RS Clan Invasion as well.
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unannounced so somewhere between now and never
RS: Clan Invasion closer to the now than the never
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Yes, and i'll keep making noise about them every now and then until they get announced or we get told "not happening, not now, not ever".
TROs without record sheets are borderline useless, especially if there's variants around. I mean, sure, fluff and art's fun, but hard to play with just those.
Honestly, i'll settle for official stats somewhere, i can fill record sheets manually on paper if necessary, just need stats for that.
Not gonna buy another TRO without record sheets or stats for all variants.
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yeah, that's fair.
i think the Prototypes Unabridged volume was announced in 2013. still waiting on that one too.
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IWM has four of the 3150 NTNU record sheets (Pendragon PDG-3R, Thor II E, Thunderbolt IIC 2, and Vixen 6) available for download in their Downloads section.
I'd really like to see the full RS 3150 NTNU release too. (If nothing else, so I can use more of my cache of plastic Shoguns...)
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Yeah, the last time I remember someone shaking that tree we got a few RS dumped but I know I saw comments questioning their 'officialness' at the time. I still want the Clan ERLL Juliano . . .
Sartis, I think the mentioned ebook & PoD for Anthology 6 also counts.
Do you also have a list of the new positioned fiction with Kickstarter?
New sheets? Going to have to grab those to go with my Orion C and others that were leaked.
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Do you also have a list of the new positioned fiction with Kickstarter?
I've got...
Proliferation Cycle 1-6 (BC stories)
Honor and Glory I-IV (Based on Backers' Characters, unwritten)
Founding of the Clans I-III (III, unwritten)
Den of Wolves (WD Origin Story, unwritten)
and the MW: Legends book but that's more like the 25th anni art book
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Yeah, not counting the BC stories . . . Founding the Clans 1 & 2 are written, 2 was just never released. I would have to dig but I want to say . . . 2? Was set for Dec 2019? Dragoons origin story was Coleman/Stackpole and I figure that is 2 years out at least if nothing has been done.
Outside of Prolif Cycle, all of that was to be general release IIRC.
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Some neat stuff coming out. Can't wait
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Yeah, not counting the BC stories . . . Founding the Clans 1 & 2 are written, 2 was just never released. I would have to dig but I want to say . . . 2? Was set for Dec 2019? Dragoons origin story was Coleman/Stackpole and I figure that is 2 years out at least if nothing has been done.
With all of the material we already have on the Dragoons the writing of the book may take less than 6 months if they have no other projects they are currently working on.
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Of course so much goons material makes for a lot more factchecking
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Founding the Clans 1 & 2 are written, 2 was just never released.
...in English.
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Any sign of something coming out soon? We had some Touring the Stars and Operations Pdfs noted on Coming Attractions part of the website.
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Ive fallen behind on TtS and Spotlight... :'(
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Ive fallen behind on TtS and Spotlight... :'(
They're really nice. You're missing out.
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They're really nice. You're missing out.
I hear the Crimson Seeker Star is a good one
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Any sign of something coming out soon?
(https://i.ibb.co/RbLWyKg/TRO-CI.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bmpnJV6)
Now Available - Technical Readout: Clan Invasion!
Technical Readout: Clan Invasion is now available in print and PDF formats through the Catalyst Game Labs store (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-clan-invasion)!
Discuss this new release here (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66414.msg1533260#msg1533260).
INVADERS FROM BEYOND
On 27 September 3048, the ComStar Explorer Corps JumpShip Outbound Light stumbled onto the Clan Homeworlds, setting in motion a massive invasion of the Inner Sphere by the Clans. At first sweeping all before them with their advanced technologies, the Clans met defeat at the Battle of Tukayyid and were stymied by a 15-year truce. With the clock ticking, the Inner Sphere’s elite took the battle directly to the Clan Homeworlds. There, the destruction of Clan Smoke Jaguar and the defeat of the Clans in the Great Refusal ended the invasion.
In their absence, political machinations continued across the Inner Sphere. As the victorious forces returned home, the mighty Federated Commonwealth tore itself apart in a titanic Civil War spanning a thousand light years as Houses Davion and Steiner pitted brother against sister. These large-scale conflicts accelerated technical advancements, as a new generation of BattleMechs and weapons appeared on a hundred worlds of conflict.
Technical Readout: Clan Invasion builds on Technical Readout: Succession Wars with ’Mechs previously found in Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, Technical Readout: 3060, and Technical Readout: 3067. This volume features some of the most common ’Mechs from the Clan Invasion and Civil War Eras, each illustrated in detail and accompanied by a description of its history, capabilities, and game stats, along with their most famous pilots.
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Great news
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The third paragraph for I assume the back cover gives a great description of the product.
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The third paragraph for I assume the back cover gives a great description of the product.
Yup, that's the back cover copy. (Easier to c&p than try to rewrite it all in my own words!)
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I think its good simply b/c if it is on the shelf, or someone is browsing the listed TROs trying to figure out which one to get its going to indicate Clan Invasion is the best choice for their next step- "I can get the mechs from 5 TROs? What a deal!"
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yeah, that's fair.
i think the Prototypes Unabridged volume was announced in 2013. still waiting on that one too.
Honestly Prototype Unabridged and RS 3150 NTNU are the two things I wish they would release out of everything they've announced. (Even more than ilClan.)
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Honestly Prototype Unabridged and RS 3150 NTNU are the two things I wish they would release out of everything they've announced.
Seconded! And they need to fold all the missing record sheets from the year of the Star League products into Prototypes (It will be a bit on the thin side anyway).
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Honestly Prototype Unabridged and RS 3150 NTNU are the two things I wish they would release out of everything they've announced. (Even more than ilClan.)
Could not agree more!
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Honestly Prototype Unabridged and RS 3150 NTNU are the two things I wish they would release out of everything they've announced. (Even more than ilClan.)
I'm backing this as well. Finish off the record sheets please! :D
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as far as upcoming releases go, any idea when we'll get to see the Shimseen in a paper TRO?
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assuming it's a thing, a while. after he's done the concept art he or someone else would have to do TRO quality art. there's going to be some writing as well as some of those clan second line units haven't gotten a write up since the original tro 3055. editing, fact checking, layout, printing. put it on a boat. Q4 2020 at the absolute earliest based on all the other stuff they got going on?
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New sheets? Going to have to grab those to go with my Orion C and others that were leaked.
If it's not a state secret how can we get the Orion C and an other "leaked" sheets?
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We were given the general stats for the Orion C but no semiofficial sheet
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Yeah, for MM play its close enough. The other sheets were in a topic . . . I think the FWL thread has a link, or you can go look . . in the design thread? I think that is where they were put. But it was only 2 people dropped their sheets and the Orion C & Longinus C maker mentioned them in the Wolf thread.
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Ordered my TRO: CI from the CGL labs store just before GenCon, but haven't heard back from them yet. Hoping they get caught up soon, this will be my first DTF new TRO in like 20 years.
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I ordered on the first and just got my shipping notification today.
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Perfect! I ordered on the August 2nd, so hopefully I'll get a shipping confirmation soon as well. Thanks Sartris.
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Yeah, for MM play its close enough. The other sheets were in a topic . . . I think the FWL thread has a link, or you can go look . . in the design thread? I think that is where they were put. But it was only 2 people dropped their sheets and the Orion C & Longinus C maker mentioned them in the Wolf thread.
Thank you, found it. Very interesting.
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as far as upcoming releases go, any idea when we'll get to see the Shimseen in a paper TRO?
The straightforward answer is: there are no current plans to package together the recently-redesigned Mechs in a TRO.
It's tricky. TROs have almost never been packaged in terms of a "real world" grouping, i.e. "stuff Shim has recently re-done." TRO Project Phoenix is probably the closest example, but I have no idea if there's a desire to do a similar product in this case.
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Ordered my TRO: CI from the CGL labs store just before GenCon, but haven't heard back from them yet. Hoping they get caught up soon, this will be my first DTF new TRO in like 20 years.
Ordered mine last Friday and it arrived today.
Yeah it's nothing new mech wise, but if my step-son is any proof, this is the way to go for the younger players. He far more enjoys going through the SW TRO than the others since it's mech only.
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The straightforward answer is: there are no current plans to package together the recently-redesigned Mechs in a TRO.
It's tricky. TROs have almost never been packaged in terms of a "real world" grouping, i.e. "stuff Shim has recently re-done." TRO Project Phoenix is probably the closest example, but I have no idea if there's a desire to do a similar product in this case.
My personal opinion: I didn't buy the recent Clan Invasion TRO, but I would buy a revised edition that only uses the updated art.
I also believe that such a revised TRO would give new players the right impression of BattleTech.
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I will pass on this one too because I own already all the original TROs but I might snatch up the RS eventually if there are new variants inside.
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The RS I will buy, but I own the original 3050 and the later reprint, plus the original 2750, 3055, 3058 (twice, though one could be a reprint) and 3060. The Clan Invasion era is, where I have the most books, despite hardly playing beyond 3049.
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We need record sheets so we can get going, especially the 3150 stuff. If CGL want's us to fully enjoy and play in these settings we need the tools to play game aka Record Sheets: 3150 & it's upgraded variants.
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The RS I will buy, but I own the original 3050 and the later reprint, plus the original 2750, 3055, 3058 (twice, though one could be a reprint) and 3060. The Clan Invasion era is, where I have the most books, despite hardly playing beyond 3049.
This!
So much this! :D
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The straightforward answer is: there are no current plans to package together the recently-redesigned Mechs in a TRO.
It's tricky. TROs have almost never been packaged in terms of a "real world" grouping, i.e. "stuff Shim has recently re-done." TRO Project Phoenix is probably the closest example, but I have no idea if there's a desire to do a similar product in this case.
I think such thing would be nice but it would need an appropriate theme perhaps.
"TRO Ubiquitous 'Mechs"? Doesn't sound interesting or impressive. "TRO Most Popular"? Except are we talking about in-universe or real world?
Unfortunately you went and used "Clan Invasion" name already.
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I think such thing would be nice but it would need an appropriate theme perhaps.
"TRO Ubiquitous 'Mechs"? Doesn't sound interesting or impressive. "TRO Most Popular"? Except are we talking about in-universe or real world?
Unfortunately you went and used "Clan Invasion" name already.
Second printing/pdf update would be my suggestion.
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Dunno, seems a bit odd to me. Not to mention perhaps a bit annoying for anyone who did buy the original physical version.
Besides, wouldn't something have to go away to fit 'Mechs? Think someone said the TRO CI doesn't have some of the classics for example.
I'll further note that i'd like consistent art (style) across a TRO. Currently, more or less all TROs do that, except SW and CI due to their nature as compilations.
Perhaps a special TRO framed from, say, the Kickstarter perspective, featuring 'Mechs in the KS, plus the Elemental Battle Armor. Hell, make it portrait orientation, full color, and POD-option.
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The 3145 and 3150 have a cacophony of art styles. I like most of the art in those but they aren’t close to a homogenous aesthetic
What makes TRO SW feel so unbalanced is the combo of thirty years of art standards jumping around at random along with the very haphazard flow of the narrative in the entries. Each non-3039 entry speaks in the present but is that present is the 3070s
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The 3145 and 3150 have a cacophony of art styles. I like most of the art in those but they aren’t close to a homogenous aesthetic
Right, forgot they exists as compilations technically. I just read individual entries from faction-specific TRO3145s usually which are mostly homogeneous.
EDIT Also yeah, i dislike that the entries are from different times. Definitively think a TRO with Shimmy art should also have entries from same time period and in-universe writer.
Maybe TRO Gunslingers? Since it seems that "Gunslingers" in 3250 use variety of old 'Mechs...
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I’d have to go back and look but I recall some being better than others. The Kurita one especially felt pretty cohesive
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Wasn't there a XTRO:SW vol.2 planned? At least I remember looking forward to it...
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yes but it disappeared from the coming releases page which indicates it was indefinitely shelved
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Too bad. I really liked the first volume.
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Here, benefit from the fact that I have no life by reading this piece of information I picked up from the KS comments re: the previously con-exclusive metal dice pucks
The initial Dice Pucks were a trial run for us at the shows to see how well they did. We are planning on doing another run of them to see how they fair on the Catalyst Store! So while currently they are Convention exclusive atm. Its hard making them public when our trial run of the Dice Pucks is already gone and needs to be reordered ;)
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Sounds about right. I think I said in the last thread, Vol XIV, that the intent was to make them available in the web store at some point, but that I could not say for sure when that point might be.
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Fall 2107
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Too bad. I really liked the first volume.
I'm still hoping TRO: Golden Century eventually comes out.
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I'm still hoping TRO: Golden Century eventually comes out.
I just spoke to the developer of that one last week, hoping to get it moving again in the next week or three.
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(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIzbLNotuVTV8z2gLzgvOTPP8YkQ5YbDUhRa5OCPZB8d519dCl)
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If golden century gets a choir of angels, what would RS: 3150 NTNU get?
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(https://cdn.britannica.com/s:500x350/77/2577-004-DA7549AE.jpg)
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If golden century gets a choir of angels, what would RS: 3150 NTNU get?
A fistfull of Dollars?
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I just spoke to the developer of that one last week, hoping to get it moving again in the next week or three.
You're a prince. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
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Is XTRO:SW vol.2 still a thing or is it dead and gone?
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indefinitely shelved. it may return it may not. i'm considering it gone forever until we are told otherwise
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indefinitely shelved. it may return it may not. i'm considering it gone forever until we are told otherwise
It is not being actively worked on, to my knowledge.
Really, I need to update that whole Coming Releases page but I'd rather rebuild the whole website time is short.
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Uhm... that is very sad. :'(
But one can hope.
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If golden century gets a choir of angels, what would RS: 3150 NTNU get?
(https://media.giphy.com/media/1AhNXmfWcHnfq/giphy.gif)
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I just spoke to the developer of that one last week, hoping to get it moving again in the next week or three.
Yay!
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I just spoke to the developer of that one last week, hoping to get it moving again in the next week or three.
Fingers definitely crossed on that one. I figure it's the only realistic chance to ever get stats on stuff like the Vision Quest mech.
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I just spoke to the developer of that one last week, hoping to get it moving again in the next week or three.
Outside of the Kickstarter, this is the one thing I am most looking forward to getting. I love delving back into the history and what CGL has done the past few years (1st and 2nd SW, Star League era, etc).
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Now Available - Chaos Campaign: Succession Wars in Print-on-Demand Format and FREE PDF
Chaos Campaign: Succession Wars is now available in full-color, Print-on-Demand format ($5.99) and as a PDF download (Free!).
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/279836/BattleTech-Chaos-Campaign-Succession-Wars (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/279836/BattleTech-Chaos-Campaign-Succession-Wars)
Discuss this new product here (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66493.msg1535791#msg1535791)!
Any able commander can win a single battle, but only true leaders with skill, guts, and vision can win a war. Do you have what it takes to change the course of the Succession Wars and add your name to the annals of history?
Building off of the BattleTech Beginner Box and BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat, Chaos Campaign: Succession Wars provides rules for selecting a force and embarking on a planetary assault mini-campaign, as well as tools to create campaigns of your own.
The scenarios included with those boxed sets are intended as one-off battles with no impact on the next encounter. This module introduces Chaos Campaign play, which offers consequences between individual missions, a reason to chase down specific objectives while preserving your troops, and ways to improve your force as you progress.
(https://i.ibb.co/XC52mkP/CCSW.jpg) (https://ibb.co/S3msq7g)
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Seems you got a bit of a backlog ;D
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Seems you got a bit of a backlog ;D
POD option was new as of this morning.
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Wait what.
EDIT o.O Missed that.
I'm thinking i'll do a POD order eventually, once there's enough stuff to justify shipping costs. House Arano and this are good start certainly.
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It's a sweet little book, in my biased opinion. A really good bridge off of the boxed sets.
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is there any word about the " Golden Century" or the XTRO of the Dark Age that includes Forestry Mech MOD and so on?
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irregulartech hasn't been heard from since the table of contents was posted a couple years ago. golden century is in dev limbo
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is there any word about the " Golden Century" or the XTRO of the Dark Age that includes Forestry Mech MOD and so on?
At the end of the last page and top of this page TRO Golden Century is discussed.
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Durning the AMA last week I asked about Golden Century and they answered it was going to be worked on with the sucess of the kick starter but no time frame.
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TRO: Golden Century would be a nice shoe in with Clan themed KickStarter.
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TRO: Golden Century would be a nice shoe in with Clan themed KickStarter.
Working on it...
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Work faster! :P ;D
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Working on it...
Do not play with my emotions that way! :drool:
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I have the draft to edit, but having trouble getting traction on art. It’s not forgotten, but don’t expect to see it anytime soon. Months, at best.
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So, Cubby by Months....could that be say around March of 2020???
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So, Cubby by Months....could that be say around March of 2020???
You should know by now they never give out anything remotely close to release dates until the product is done and up for sale. Too many people pick up rumors and hope-for release dates and then freak out if those dates are missed. "Months" only means "not anytime soon" and who knows when.
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I am aware of that fact....just thinking that a release date of March 2020 would tie-in with the Clan kickstarter product shipping nicely....but it will be done when its done.....to paraphrase Orson Wells....Catalyst will sell No Battletech Product before its Time....
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traction on art...oh man..don't tell me the fan funded stuff is delaying it. xp
Oh well, we got be strong. ;D
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So, Cubby by Months....could that be say around March of 2020???
More likely X of 202Y.
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...don't tell me the fan funded stuff is delaying it.
Good news! He didn't.
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Kickstarter art vs Golden Century
Which ones the better RoI? 🤔
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If I was CGL, and I’m not, I wouldn’t be releasing a book full of old art when there’s a bucketload of new art just around the corner...
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At least some of the stuff in GC will be new
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I have the draft to edit, but having trouble getting traction on art. It’s not forgotten, but don’t expect to see it anytime soon. Months, at best.
Soooo...you're saying it's full of tanks? :D
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Gamers are easily lured by pretty things
Doubly so by nostalgic pretty things
Cash in
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Soooo...you're saying it's full of tanks? :D
Or a bunch of mechs trying to dance in the snow?
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I am aware of that fact....just thinking that a release date of March 2020 would tie-in with the Clan kickstarter product shipping nicely
Had my druthers, it'd come out well before KS product started shipping. Keeping momentum off the KS is crucial. But I'm not in the driver's seat on this one.
traction on art...oh man..don't tell me the fan funded stuff is delaying it.
Not previous to the KS which ended 9 days ago, no.
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Now Available - A Bonfire of Worlds and BattleCorps Vol. 6 Now in Print!
At long last - BattleTech fiction enthusiasts can fill two holes in their collection with the print-on-demand release of two much-requested titles: BattleCorps Anthology Vol. 6: Front Lines and, for the first time in print, Steven Mohan Jr.'s A Bonfire of Worlds!
Discuss these new releases here (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66666.msg1540852#msg1540852)!
(https://i.ibb.co/K25JLhy/Front-Lines-front-cover-Google.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HtKjx4g)
BattleCorps Vol. 6: Front Lines
HONOR. DESPERATION. JIHAD.
Inhuman cybernetic soldiers invade a peaceful world, bringing terror and misery in the name of a new flag. A young soldier, part of the most maligned military machine in history, struggles to find meaning in his service. And the prince of a star-spanning empire discovers that not even he can protect the people he loves.
Ten stories of combat, honor, betrayal, and death fill the pages of Front Lines: BattleCorps Anthology Volume 6.
Readers will recognize familiar names in BattleTech lore among the authors: Steven Mohan, Jr., and Blaine Lee Pardoe, who welcome newer writers such as Jason Hansa, Christopher Purnell and Craig A. Reed, Jr. These writers have shaped the direction of the BattleTech universe. In 2009, with these stories, they told the stories that demonstrated the indomitable will that has carried BattleTech readers across more than 25 years of publication.
Print-on-Demand: https://amzn.to/2KXLg3C (https://amzn.to/2KXLg3C)
eBook: https://books2read.com/BattleTechFrontLines (https://books2read.com/BattleTechFrontLines)
(https://i.ibb.co/Q81tzSv/Bow-front-cover-final.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tZWFkjp)
A Bonfire of Worlds by Steven Mohan Jr.
GALAXY AFLAME…
The universe has gone dark. Interstellar communications have been lost across the Inner Sphere, threatening the corporate giant ComStar—and maybe civilization itself. Risking everything on a last chance for survival, Comstar has kidnapped the engineering genius Tucker Harwell, hoping he can unravel the mystery of the blackout. But Tucker isn’t just working on why it happened... he’s also trying to figure out who’s behind it.
Meanwhile, Khan Malvina Hazen solidifies her hold on a purified Clan Jade Falcon while hunting for the next enemy to crush under the talons of her brutal Mongol Doctrine. Hundreds of light-years away, Clan Wolf is carving out territory along the Lyran Commonwealth/Free Worlds League border—and Alaric Wolf is primed to make his moves in the halls of power.
Plans years in the making begin to come together across hundreds of star systems, and secrets hidden for decades will finally be revealed while an empire goes up in flames…
Print-on-Demand: https://www.amazon.com/BattleTech-Bonfire-Steven-Mohan-Jr/dp/1942487908 (https://www.amazon.com/BattleTech-Bonfire-Steven-Mohan-Jr/dp/1942487908)
eBook: https://books2read.com/BattleTechABonfireofWorlds (https://books2read.com/BattleTechABonfireofWorlds)
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New covers, and both are an improvement. :thumbsup:
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Now Available - A Bonfire of Worlds and BattleCorps Vol. 6 Now in Print!
At long last - BattleTech fiction enthusiasts can fill two holes in their collection with the print-on-demand release of two much-requested titles: BattleCorps Anthology Vol. 6: Front Lines and, for the first time in print, Steven Mohan Jr.'s A Bonfire of Worlds!
Discuss these new releases here (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66666.msg1540852#msg1540852)!
(https://i.ibb.co/K25JLhy/Front-Lines-front-cover-Google.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HtKjx4g)
BattleCorps Vol. 6: Front Lines
HONOR. DESPERATION. JIHAD.
Inhuman cybernetic soldiers invade a peaceful world, bringing terror and misery in the name of a new flag. A young soldier, part of the most maligned military machine in history, struggles to find meaning in his service. And the prince of a star-spanning empire discovers that not even he can protect the people he loves.
Ten stories of combat, honor, betrayal, and death fill the pages of Front Lines: BattleCorps Anthology Volume 6.
Readers will recognize familiar names in BattleTech lore among the authors: Steven Mohan, Jr., and Blaine Lee Pardoe, who welcome newer writers such as Jason Hansa, Christopher Purnell and Craig A. Reed, Jr. These writers have shaped the direction of the BattleTech universe. In 2009, with these stories, they told the stories that demonstrated the indomitable will that has carried BattleTech readers across more than 25 years of publication.
Print-on-Demand: https://amzn.to/2KXLg3C (https://amzn.to/2KXLg3C)
eBook: https://books2read.com/BattleTechFrontLines (https://books2read.com/BattleTechFrontLines)
:bow: THANK YOU!!!! :bow:
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Is that totally new art for Bonfire? I do not recall seeing that Savage Wolf before, and I think the other cover was fine but it was MWDA-style.
So is Frontlines available as a ebook now too?
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Old cover art:
(http://cfw.sarna.net/wiki/images/c/c2/Bonfire_of_Worlds.jpg?timestamp=20091127183607)
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Bonfire has hit Barnes & Noble for nook users!
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Got an email from drivethrurpg that TRO: Succession Wars had been updated. Anyone know anything about a change there?
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Thank you sooooo much for PoD... love the smell of fresh dead tree in the morning.
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Got an email from drivethrurpg that TRO: Succession Wars had been updated. Anyone know anything about a change there?
Same applies to Shattered Fortress. What's going on?
EDIT newer TRO seems to have smaller file size, credit page says "corrected third printing", and updated one email at least.
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newer TRO seems to have smaller file size, credit page says "corrected third printing", and updated one email at least.
I'd love to see a synopsis/rundown of the changes between this and previous editions, if anyone who has them can be bothered. Pretty please?
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I'd start by the errata thread and comparing your previously downloaded version and this most recent version.
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=58132.0
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Ah, right. Probably stuff getting new print runs and getting errata folded in? At least for the TRO.
Shattered Fortress doesn't say "corrected second printing" or anything like that, at least i didn't see notes like that.
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Only thing I can think of with Shattered Fortress is showing the Templar Julian is given being a Omni rather than standard.
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Errata was folded in for both.
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Only thing I can think of with Shattered Fortress is showing the Templar Julian is given being a Omni rather than standard.
Why would it be changed?
It is fixed-tech version with Command Console. Sure, new rules would allow making it an Omni, but it is reasonable command platform as it is, and predates the rule change.
(Also RS never make distinction between Omni and standard.)
EDIT Incidentally, there are no changes to the RS.
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The RS does let you know . . . its a TLR2-J . . . the Omni version is a TLR2-O, -OA, -OB, or whatever.
Any guesses what we are getting in tonight's KS infoblast?
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Not exactly a new product, but...
Catalyst Game Labs Announces Executive Editor, New BattleTech and Leviathans Line Developers: https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66898.0 (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66898.0)
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it is important to know where to throw the tomatoes
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BattleTech would issue a trial of possession for your Star Crunch if it knew where you were hiding it ;D
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and we should get the 2nd Founding of the Clans novel in December. Is there 1st novel even available as a ebook yet? I do not remember it, but my Kindle is down and so I am waiting on its replacement to arrive.
Fall from Glory isn't out yet in ebook or PoD format.
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I am wondering if I read part of that on BC, I seem to remember some stuff involving Dana Kufahl and her dealing with Andrey's death.
Founding of the Clans I @$340k says the 2nd novel by the end of the year but I cannot find anything about the 1st being available. Founding of the Clans II @$390 says 2nd novel will be delivered by the end of the campaign.
I think the wording on that got messed up, but unless I missed it we did not get the 1st Founding book yet?
Oh Cubby . . .
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I am wondering if I read part of that on BC, I seem to remember some stuff involving Dana Kufahl and her dealing with Andrey's death.
Yeah, it was serialised on BattleCorps some... (checks sundail) 12 years ago
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+++MOD NOTICE+++
Folks, please stop the rumor mongering around ilClan. I've removed several posts related to that from this thread. Further activity like that may receive warnings.
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I saw a TRO:Clan Invasion in the wild. It was at a FLGS that normally dont carry Battletech. That is a good thing.
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lol wonder how that happened?? Did it grow legs or hitch a ride with another popular gaming book?
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I'm hoping TRO: Golden Century eventually comes out. I need it for my fan fic. I know they said it was being worked on last month... but I just have to poke the bear. >:D
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Do we have any news on a Map Pack: Grasslands reprint? I gave my copy to a local player making 3D terrain to match the maps and would like to get another.
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Beating Cubby to it-
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51BAzjCSTyL._SX260_.jpg)
Is out in ebook and paperback, maybe POD?
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I hope so, i've been waiting for that to come out. I do hope it's PoD.
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I do not know how to distinguish POD from normal novels, but it offers a paperback and gives dimensions. I already DL'd my Kindle copy, I will get into it during my lunch break!
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Just had my local book store order it for me (Redemption Rift) and I should have it by this time next week. I know I can get it quicker through Amazon, but I like giving my local bookstore the business, since they have treated me well and were able to find after an almost 15 year wait a copy of The Sword and the Dagger.
Psy
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Just had my local book store order it for me (Redemption Rift) and I should have it by this time next week. I know I can get it quicker through Amazon, but I like giving my local bookstore the business, since they have treated me well and were able to find after an almost 15 year wait a copy of The Sword and the Dagger.
Psy
Good man! :thumbsup:
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I do not know how to distinguish POD from normal novels, but it offers a paperback and gives dimensions. I already DL'd my Kindle copy, I will get into it during my lunch break!
there isn't a definitive marker for PoD but there are some clues like being sold via Amazon Prime (at least in the states) at the MSRP of $12.95 or $13.95. I can say that at least with my copies, every CGL-produced novel has been PoD except Embers of War
I had ordered some history books a couple weeks ago directly from Amazon and didn't know they were PoD until they arrived at my house.
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Beating Cubby to it-
Let's NOT play that game, especially when your post ends with a question.
Working on a post now.
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Now Available in eBook and Print on Demand - Redemption Rift by Jason Schmetzer
(https://i.ibb.co/fQqq87N/71391621-2409870795796444-7958444987828404224-n.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FnmmstY)
eBook: https://books2read.com/BattleTechRedemptionRift (https://books2read.com/BattleTechRedemptionRift)
Print on Demand: https://tinyurl.com/BattleTechRedemptionRift (https://tinyurl.com/BattleTechRedemptionRift)
(Please note: Amazon usually combines the POD listing and the Kindle (ebook) listing after a day or two. As of this writing, that has not occurred yet. I will update the links if necessary when it does, please bear with me if there is a brief period when the links do not work.)
Discuss this new release here (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=67060.0)!
ON THE HUNT AGAIN…
It is the Dark Age—3139—and the famed mercenary regiments of Wolf's Dragoons have returned to the employ of House Kurita after a century of bitter enmity. Somehow, mercenaries and Kuritans must find a way to work together in a combined invasion of the Dragon’s oldest enemy, House Davion.
Thrust into the middle of this new conflict, Colonel Henry Kincaid is surprised by the commonalities—duty, honor, expediency—the Wolves and Combine forces share.
But as the Wolves’ lightning tactics and unstoppable drive brings world after Davion world under the Dragon’s banner, old hatreds arise anew, and with them come insidious plots engineered to cause the mercenaries’ downfall.
Throughout the campaign, Colonel Kincaid struggles to rectify what he thought he had always known about the Kuritans with the truth he discovers while actually working with them. But when his forces are trapped on a Davion world with no way to escape and the regiments of House Davion closing in, can he pull another bit of genius from his hat, or will the battalions of Wolf’s Dragoons be destroyed?
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Let's NOT play that game, especially when your post ends with a question.
Working on a post now.
Sorry, just surprised to get a notice from a company and spot it before you mentioned it. I buy most books now for Kindle, and I knew there were supposed to be some tells on POD, but I could not see anything one way or the other. Seeing it was a great surprise . . .
But while you are at it . . . Founding of the Clans 1, meant to be out by end of KS campaign?
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Ah, it's okay - I'm just slammed on trying to push a few other projects out the door. Don't mind me, sorry for being testy.
As I wrote in my post, at some point within the first few days both the ebook and the POD listing are live, Amazon gets around to merging them into one listing. That listing is what you're used to seeing, with the obvious buttons between Kindle/ebook and POD. In this time before that happens, it can seem weird and uncertain as to what you're buying, but the links I shared do work.
I am not sure about the status of Founding of the Clans I, I will ask but it may be a couple days before I get an answer.
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Np, just over here squeaking away.
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Cubby and update on rhe WWE 2019 event general release?
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Order my PoD
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Cubby and update on rhe WWE 2019 event general release?
That is up to the Demo Team management, I'll see what I can find out.
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Back of Redemption Rift teases . . .
Grey Watch Protocol
The Highlander Covenant, Book One
Starts in Sept 3150?
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Starts in Sept 3150?
DUN DUN DUN
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Well, I read the teaser and certain bits were headscratchers . . . the Cappies know Stone is in charge but not the League has been reformed . . . for the last 7 or 8 years?
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my understanding of league politics tells me that the league may not know it's been reconstituted either
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my understanding of league politics tells me that the league may not know it's been reconstituted either
No truer words be spoken. :P
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So the timeline hasn't jumped yet?
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So the timeline hasn't jumped yet?
Beyond 3150s? No, there are no plans to do so.
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Id be hoping to see some more record sheet books sine we got some recently this year. I hope the KS didnt slow everything down.
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Record Sheets would be neat.
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we haven't had an RS volume in years so i don't see how the KS would suddenly be slowing that process down
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we haven't had an RS volume in years
Except this one: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-record-sheets-succession-wars
(https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-record-sheets-succession-wars)
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i guess pedantically you got me. I wasn’t thinking of complications that only had a handful of new units
Meanwhile RS Prototypes Unabridged and NTNU have been MIA for years
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And all the units from the year of the Star League products.
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And the rest of Vehicle Annex.
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And my axe!
Too early to list RS:Clan Invasion?
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As long as CGL is going to produce record sheets, they should make them available when the TROs are released. Seems logical. :D
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The WWE is pending final approval, so should be available soon.
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I like the record sheets on PDF. We can use what we need and not need a whole book. Besides it's cheaper and easy to carry.
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Finally got my copy of Dragoons novel. Im excited to read it as soon im done with Bonfire of Worlds!
I saw over the weekend TRO Clan Invasion in print at store i goto. I think they bought too many, like 5 copies. I was taken back by 40 dollar price tag. I hope they get sales of the book as i was mentioning to new players the book was in.
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Can we expect any more PDF-only products soonish?
TtS: Gulf Breeze and Rigil Kentares maybe?
Not to put the bite on you, but I need a little Battletech fix now and then. ;D
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I remember reading some months ago that the neoprene maps were supposed to hit retail stores in October. Is that still on track?
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Trying again: Any update on the neoprene maps that were tentatively scheduled to hit retail in October?
--Thanks to the brisk sales and enthusiasm for the recent series of BattleMats, we’re pleased to announce that a full re-order of all four previously-released mats has been placed. They will be available in the Catalyst Game Labs store and in retail stores by October.
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=64318.msg1518670#msg1518670 (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=64318.msg1518670#msg1518670)
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Missed this before, my apologies. I’ll ask, stay tuned.
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Any update on the relese os WWE 2019?
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Just a quick questions on new novels.
I was talking with a friend who like me has taken a brake from the game for a while. He mentioned seeing a blog by Pardoe, and that there would be future novels written. Has anybody seen possible titles ? (I know release dates are not given, just curious what I should possibly be looking for..) I figured if anyone knew, it would be on the new/upcoming releases thread.
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Just a quick questions on new novels.
I was talking with a friend who like me has taken a brake from the game for a while. He mentioned seeing a blog by Pardoe, and that there would be future novels written. Has anybody seen possible titles ? (I know release dates are not given, just curious what I should possibly be looking for..) I figured if anyone knew, it would be on the new/upcoming releases thread.
Two brand-new novels have come out this year - Forever Faithful by Blaine Pardoe and Iron Dawn by Jennifer Brozeck. There's another new novel out soon about the Northwind Highlanders. They've also published A Bonfire of Worlds by Stephen Mohan- the final MechWarrior Dark Age novel which was only available digital until now. Another original novel called Embers of War by Jason Schmetzer was published in 2015.
As well as that a number of compilations of novellas, Battlecorps serials and other bits have been published as fix-up books - The Nellus Academy Incident by Jennifer Brozeck, Kell Hounds Ascendant by Michael Stackpole, Redemption Rift by Jason Schemetzer and Betrayal of Ideals by Blaine Pardoe, and the novellas A Splinter of Hope by Phil Lee and The Anvil by Blaine Pardoe have a combined print edition. BattleCorps anthology 7 and a reprint of 6 were recently released, as well as an anthology of original stories called Legacy.
These are all available digitially from various websites and via Print on Demand from Amazon. A number of the original novels are on PoD as well.
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Trying again: Any update on the neoprene maps that were tentatively scheduled to hit retail in October?
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=64318.msg1518670#msg1518670 (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=64318.msg1518670#msg1518670)
According to the fulfillment company, they're tentatively supposed to arrive early next week. I've set a reminder to check back in with them then.
Any update on the relese os WWE 2019?
This week, I'm hoping. I need to get it all set up, but working on Clan Invasion box materials has been the sole priority for most of the last few weeks.
Has anybody seen possible titles ? (I know release dates are not given, just curious what I should possibly be looking for..)
More "hoping," but I'm hoping to get a better fix on upcoming fiction releases as part of a general overhaul of the upcoming products page in the near future (i.e. the month of November, most likely).
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Some good news - I finally saw, and was able to pick up a copy of the 2019/35th Tech Manual with the retro cover in an LGS last weekend. Still have not seen the Clan Invasion Tech Readout in the wild yet, though...
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Some good news - I finally saw, and was able to pick up a copy of the 2019/35th Tech Manual with the retro cover in an LGS last weekend. Still have not seen the Clan Invasion Tech Readout in the wild yet, though...
I have, there like 5 them in store i went too. I am fortunate that the owner is Battletech fan.
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I have, there like 5 them in store i went too. I am fortunate that the owner is Battletech fan.
Must be nice. The store in question for me had just the recent box sets, Total Warfare, Battlemech Manual, Alpha Strike, and the Tech Manual. It's the only store within two hours of me that has anything, other than the Beginner Box being available at the local B&N. Still better than nothing...hopefully the Kickstarter and having some stock on shelf spurs some more sales.
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FLGS has Clan Invasion listed at the distributor level, so they ordered one for me 2.5 weeks ago but have received nothing yet. They don't know why.
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I’ve also seen TRO: Clan Invasion at the FLGS level, from someone who’d previously been rather skeptical of carrying any Battletech at all.
So: win!
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I *believe* TRO Clan Invasion is between printings, so you *may* be caught in the gap between them. Of course, it being such a recent release there's still going to be "old" stock out there, but trying to get it from the distributor you might run into supply issues. There will be an errata-corrected reprint at some point: I've already submitted the corrections.
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It's definitely hit retail, I picked it up in Dublin a week or two after the street date.
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It's definitely hit retail, I picked it up in Dublin a week or two after the street date.
My FLGS has my copy on hold.
Ruger
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Some good news - I finally saw, and was able to pick up a copy of the 2019/35th Tech Manual with the retro cover in an LGS last weekend. Still have not seen the Clan Invasion Tech Readout in the wild yet, though...
They had it at Essen games fair last week on Thursday.
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FLGS has Clan Invasion listed at the distributor level, so they ordered one for me 2.5 weeks ago but have received nothing yet. They don't know why.
Depending where you are, it could be the distributor itself. I AM NO EXPERT. Some of them are trying stock what they knows will sell. My old FLG had stupid amounts of difficulty trying get product in from 2 out 3 major distributor get Battletech stuff in. Not so much minis, but the Catalyst stuff. I am not surprised given how you have online distributors competing with older variety.
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Ive seen my FLGS have TRO:CI and that was nice to see. Have not seen Battletech at that FLGS for years. GREAT TO SEE!!!
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Any update on the relese os WWE 2019?
And it is up (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-world-wide-event-requiem-for-a-blue-star).
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And it is up (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-world-wide-event-requiem-for-a-blue-star).
Thank you Sir it was a great read.
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And it is up (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-world-wide-event-requiem-for-a-blue-star).
This is awesome. Is this considered canon?
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(https://i.ibb.co/8Mm26Hm/E-CAT35-WWE19-Requiem-for-a-Blue-Star-9-6b-1-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F6hJgFh)
Now Available – Worldwide Event 2019: Requiem for a Blue Star
The complete scenario for the 2019 Worldwide Event, Requiem for a Blue Star, is now available as a FREE PDF from the Catalyst Game Labs store (https://tinyurl.com/RequiemForABlueStar).
After 200 years of being lost to the Inner Sphere the remains of 295th BattleMech Division was discovered in 3021. The fate of a lost Star League division could be penciled in. But for ComStar, this was not welcome news. The division was only a few jumps beyond the Inner Sphere, too far to bring the equipment back covertly, but close enough to the Lyran Commonwealth and especially the Draconis Combine to be a potential source for them. So ComStar hid them, and for 130 years the secret remained just that.
But people talk and secrets leak.
Requiem for a Blue Star was the 2019 BattleTech Worldwide Event depicting the clash between Bartlett’s Boxers and La Grande Armée. This PDF-only product includes the Total Warfare and Alpha Strike scenarios as well as the final results of the event.
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SLS Cape Bon and SLS Protecteur: which one is the Essex, and which is the Lola?
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In the order they are listed. Cape Bon is the Essex, Protecteur the Lola.
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Sweet. That means I can paint up Protecteur and Surveillante as sister ships. :)
Were all three WarShips abandoned at that world, or just Ulithi?
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Were all three WarShips abandoned at that world, or just Ulithi?
:-X
In all seriousness while I have an answer, answering that was outside my mandate. Until such time as CGL decides to answer it, and/or do any follow up on that world, that answer remains just an idea.
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That's fair. My list marks most SLDF ships as 'Unknown', anyway. :)
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Since there was no colony on the world, I suspect that all the personnel were loaded aboard the destroyers, jumpships and dropships and they continued on to find the Exodus fleet. The only ship left behind would be the Potemkin. That may have been de-orbited into the sun.
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Nice gift to have for Halloween.
Since there was no colony on the world, I suspect that all the personnel were loaded aboard the destroyers, jumpships and dropships and they continued on to find the Exodus fleet. The only ship left behind would be the Potemkin. That may have been de-orbited into the sun.
Personally, i would expect that to happen given how warships aren't exactly welcomed in new era.
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Since there was no colony on the world, I suspect that all the personnel were loaded aboard the destroyers, jumpships and dropships and they continued on to find the Exodus fleet. The only ship left behind would be the Potemkin. That may have been de-orbited into the sun.
I believe the canon status is that Comstar found a failed colony, and the 285th just didn't survive.
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In the order they are listed. Cape Bon is the Essex, Protecteur the Lola.
Just to be sure: It's a Lola III, isn't it?
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I'd be 99% confident of such. The Lola I is from a time when they actually retired old WarShips, either scrapping them or selling them off, and the II was a piece of crap they offloaded as soon as possible. By the time of the Coup, I'd be amazed if any of either were still in League service, except maybe as a training or testbed vessel.
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Just to be sure: It's a Lola III, isn't it?
The 295th was, almost, a royal division. They had their own Potemkin. Yes, it was a Lola III.
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I just wish I knew where the system was. It should be "north" of the Clan OZs, right? But the only "Draconis Reach" I can find is the mess of systems on the Drac/Fed border...
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But the only "Draconis Reach"
So about that...
That's a mistake. It should be: "Draconian Drift." That slipped through all the way through the draftings, Agent time, and all the way to now. :-[
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I believe the canon status is that Comstar found a failed colony, and the 285th just didn't survive.
Source?
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Source?
The Sarna citation is The Periphery, 2nd Edition, p. 91 "New Findings - New Discoveries - The Fate of the 295th"
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Looks like something I need
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The Sarna citation is The Periphery, 2nd Edition, p. 91 "New Findings - New Discoveries - The Fate of the 295th"
Historical: First Succession War also lists their fate as "Stranded in the Periphery"
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The Sarna citation is The Periphery, 2nd Edition, p. 91 "New Findings - New Discoveries - The Fate of the 295th"
Thanks!
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All four BattleMats are now back in stock!
https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battlemats (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battlemats)
(https://i.ibb.co/JWYQ2Gv/Battle-Mat-Topdown-Photo.jpg) (https://ibb.co/V0FmDzg)
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All four BattleMats are now back in stock!
https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battlemats (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battlemats)
(https://i.ibb.co/JWYQ2Gv/Battle-Mat-Topdown-Photo.jpg) (https://ibb.co/V0FmDzg)
Excellent! Is there any word on availabilty through distributors for local stores?
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Can't wait get one these.
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Lol, I played on a pair of these last Thursday, a stormy cool night, since we did not have our Agent present with his 3D terrain. We get the 1st table by the door where you can see everyone through the glass . . . did not matter who walked in or how long they held the door open, the maps did not move!
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Excellent! Is there any word on availabilty through distributors for local stores?
Yes, these are available to retail stores through their regular distribution channels.
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Reposting an update that just went out re: Kickstarter Pledge Manager, for anyone who didn't catch it over on the KS thread and might be interested:
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66543.msg1561981#msg1561981 (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66543.msg1561981#msg1561981)
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MechWarrior 5 Tie-In Fiction by Randall N. Bills Now Available as Free Download
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=67578.msg1563078#msg1563078 (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=67578.msg1563078#msg1563078)
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Yes, these are available to retail stores through their regular distribution channels.
Are you sure? I wrote 2 stores and they say it's not in their available catalogues.
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Distributors . . . have to see if they carry Catalyst.
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They see the boxes, sheet map pack, rulebooks, but no battlemats
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First thing I enjoy battletech, but i am disappointed that the new Tech Manual is not updated with BA L-BX or BA artillery. Can someone direct me to where I can get the numbers for BA L-BX and the BA- artillery?
Second, is there any news about XTRO Golden Century and XTRO Dark Age (Industrial Mechs).
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my local distro has neither the map pack or the battlemaps. Did see a shadowrun product I might get, despite my dislike of 6th.
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Golden Century was supposed to be a standard TRO even if smallish b/c I think it was supposed to be a PDF. Dark Age IndiMechs have appeared in several products already, I am not sure there was ever a plan to make a new exclusive IndiMech TRO.
BA Artillery I think is covered by the normal conventional artillery rules with the provision damage is multiplied by the number of active suits. BA LBX . . . not really sure, its not like the RS does not give you ranges which is all you need to figure out the difference IMO.
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First thing I enjoy battletech, but i am disappointed that the new Tech Manual is not updated with BA L-BX or BA artillery. Can someone direct me to where I can get the numbers for BA L-BX and the BA- artillery?
Second, is there any news about XTRO Golden Century and XTRO Dark Age (Industrial Mechs).
BA artillery and LBX are in later printing of TacOps. On of the reasons I picked up an updated copy.
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First thing I enjoy battletech, but i am disappointed that the new Tech Manual is not updated with BA L-BX or BA artillery. Can someone direct me to where I can get the numbers for BA L-BX and the BA- artillery?
Both were added to Tac Ops. Since they were added as errata, you can find their stats in the TO errata document.
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my local distro has neither the map pack or the battlemaps. Did see a shadowrun product I might get, despite my dislike of 6th.
I think--think--the busted link here is that the fulfillment warehouse may not have communicated to distributors that these are products available for order. Therefore, when the distributors provide lists to stores of what's available for them to order, they're not on there. That could be why, on your end, you're standing in front of the clerk at The Troll's Hole in East Waukegan, and they're saying they don't see it on the distributor's list.
(Although, Map Pack: Grasslands should definitely be on there, I know other distributors/stores have been able to stock it. I'd make sure your store is asking their distributor rep to ask the fulfillment center whether it's available.)
This is not necessarily the fault of the fulfillment center--in fact, I think I might know why it's happening. But I'm hampered from doing much to fix it because 1) I'm buried in KS work and 2) this means crawling into the guts of IMR/CGL business operations and I am not an employee, so there are limits to what I'm allowed to do. But I'll see what I can figure out.
Golden Century was supposed to be a standard TRO even if smallish b/c I think it was supposed to be a PDF. Dark Age IndiMechs have appeared in several products already, I am not sure there was ever a plan to make a new exclusive IndiMech TRO.
FWIW, Golden Century is not dead, but all art assets and then some are tied up in the KS for now. IrregularTech is in my inbox for an edit, but is further down my list--because once I edit it, it'll run into the same art bottleneck. I'd like to see both get released next year, but need to talk with Ray and Anthony about a window when that might be possible.
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Thanks for the update about the missing TROs. Been waiting for years for them to come out. I know Kickstart was necessary vehicle get more people to buy and play the game, but darn it...now were back to waiting year or so for new stuff again. :'(
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but darn it...now were back to waiting year or so for new stuff again. :'(
...except for the unparalleled pile of new stuff you're getting in March!
I realize there's some previously-announced stuff that's being pushed back, and that's a bummer. But priorities aren't always set by what was announced first.
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...except for the unparalleled pile of new stuff you're getting in March!
I realize there's some previously-announced stuff that's being pushed back, and that's a bummer. But priorities aren't always set by what was announced first.
Is that most of the Clan Kickstarter or different materials??
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Is that most of the Clan Kickstarter or different materials??
(facepalm)
The Kickstarter. My apologies for not being specific.
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(facepalm)
The Kickstarter. My apologies for not being specific.
Thank you.
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Golden Century was supposed to be a standard TRO even if smallish b/c I think it was supposed to be a PDF. Dark Age IndiMechs have appeared in several products already, I am not sure there was ever a plan to make a new exclusive IndiMech TRO.
I would love and IndiMech TRO! I'd love stats on the Dump Truck Mech. :smitten:
FWIW, Golden Century is not dead, but all art assets and then some are tied up in the KS for now. IrregularTech is in my inbox for an edit, but is further down my list--because once I edit it, it'll run into the same art bottleneck. I'd like to see both get released next year, but need to talk with Ray and Anthony about a window when that might be possible.
I'm glad Golden Century isn't dead and I'm totally thrilled IrregularTech is still alive too! :smitten:
Out of curiosity, and this might have been asked already so apologies if it has, but has anyone there considered a RAW edition without art, or other units as placeholders? It seems to work for another company and it would generate interest as it can be used now. And of course the official published edition would have corrections and art.
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Out of curiosity, and this might have been asked already so apologies if it has, but has anyone there considered a RAW edition without art, or other units as placeholders? It seems to work for another company and it would generate interest as it can be used now. And of course the official published edition would have corrections and art.
It's been suggested before, yes.
And my opinion then and now is that releasing something sub-par simply for the sake of getting it out there is not a viable strategy. The gaming market is just too crowded with product, and those products for the most part are finished, polished publications, not something that looks like a 1980s 'zine. It's possible that such a "raw" TRO" would generate the wrong kind of interest--"god, look at this rag that BattleTech threw out there"--and reinforce the idea of BT as some dated, groggy game. The thing about the new box sets is that that's the art/design/quality bar for future products. We don't want someone buying those, loving the look of the game, and the next thing they get is an artless phonebook in 10-pt font. Our product density (the amount of stuff we make) isn't strong enough to support that. (IMO.)
Also, because the market is so crowded, you can't assume that people will definitely come back for the nice version. One chance to make a first impression, and "hey, we know this looks like garbage, but stay tuned, we'll do it nicer the next time (and charge you again for it)" is a really bad marketing message.
More to the point, it might solve (postpone, really) the art bottleneck, but it wouldn't solve other issues like the need for editing work, at least a rudimentary layout, etc. Those production resources are being consumed by the KS stuff, too. My sense is that the KS is having one good effect of helping deepen our bench in some areas (art especially). But we're not there yet.
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I really respect and appreciate that stance Cubby. I'd rather pay once for a high quality product.
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True, I don't know if people will come back for a finished version however RAW Editions aren't mass produced books. They're not meant to be sold in the stores. The one's I've gotten have been limited to a couple hundred copies, available only from the game creator. In this case it'd be Catalyst. So it's not like a casual player would pick it up and be unimpressed. And with limited copies made it'd only be the players who really want the book and are willing to buy multiple copies
As for edition, there's a forum here where fans list corrections. I think using fan help like this would end up with a better finished product as all the mistakes have already been corrected.
There is also the time factor, a Raw Edition would allow players to use things, now, instead of waiting for years. Personally, I'd rather have an unfinished product than spend money and wait for years and never get anything.
Now that I think of it, wasn't something like this tried a few years ago? Buy the early edition PDF and be able to upgrade to the finished edition for free or at a discount? I think it was called a beta version of something? Why not do something similar with these TROs or other long awaited books?
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Now that I think of it, wasn't something like this tried a few years ago? Buy the early edition PDF and be able to upgrade to the finished edition for free or at a discount? I think it was called a beta version of something? Why not do something similar with these TROs or other long awaited books?
In this case it seems the reason is that CGL has considered it and decided it's not a good idea for them.
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Now that I think of it, wasn't something like this tried a few years ago? Buy the early edition PDF and be able to upgrade to the finished edition for free or at a discount? I think it was called a beta version of something? Why not do something similar with these TROs or other long awaited books?
In this case it seems the reason is that CGL has considered it and decided it's not a good idea for them.
What RM is remembering is the Beta for BattleMech Manual from January 2017 (https://bg.battletech.com/news/news-and-announcements/battlemech-manual-beta-pdf-bt-survey-available/), where you bought the Beta PDF for (IIRC) $9.99, with the option to do a survey and get $5.00 off something in the CGL store. There was also one done for Interstellar Operations, but I was solely an editor then, and I'm not aware what the discounts or anything might have been for that one.
There was a Closed Beta for MechWarrior: Destiny which was limited to KS backers, so we do still do them. But it's infrequent--and IMO, should remain so.
The problem with CGL doing Betas, or "raw" editions like you're describing, is that they jam up the production pipeline, which already has certain bottlenecks. For instance, with Destiny, we're essentially making the book twice--and on a tight timeline to hit the KS delivery dates. The Beta went through a full edit cycle, a full layout cycle, and had various art produced/reviewed/revised/inserted both for the Beta, and for the final. Now, with the feedback, there's new writing, which needs editing, then it's inserted into the manuscript, which needs re-proofing, and then layout has to at least flow the text in again, but probably a lot more.
That's a justifiable use of resources (both monetary and personnel-bandwidth) when it's a "big" book that you want to get right. The BMM qualified, Destiny qualified (mostly), and for other companies, things like D&D 5th and Pathfinder 2nd were worth doing that way. But to do it for less-impactful products, or to do it frequently, is going to clog the production pipeline terribly.
Personally, I'd rather have an unfinished product than spend money and wait for years and never get anything.
So, it's the second part of that, "wait for years and never get anything," that's what really needs to be addressed and what I feel like the core concern is here. That's the part that many of us involved in producing the game discuss a lot - building an effective, smooth production process so that stuff comes out. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "spend money and wait" (preorders? buying into a game initially?). But the basic sentiment that you want more BattleTech, as frequently and as high-quality as possible, that I 100 pct hear and agree with. If we can knock down that challenge, and you're getting lavishly-illustrated, engaging products a couple times a year to spice up your games...that's where I want to be, too. We shouldn't have to produce half-finished stuff just to get things out to you.
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Didn't the first Combat Manual also have a beta version? I think it might have been the first BT product to do so.
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Didn't the first Combat Manual also have a beta version? I think it might have been the first BT product to do so.
yes
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A Time of War had the first Beta Version, back in 2009
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forgot about that one. i've largely chosen to disavow knowing anything from more than a decade ago for the sake of my sanity.
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Ah so. I don't remember AToW having a beta.
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In this case it seems the reason is that CGL has considered it and decided it's not a good idea for them.
Okay. Thanks.
What RM is remembering is the Beta for BattleMech Manual from January 2017 (https://bg.battletech.com/news/news-and-announcements/battlemech-manual-beta-pdf-bt-survey-available/), where you bought the Beta PDF for (IIRC) $9.99, with the option to do a survey and get $5.00 off something in the CGL store. There was also one done for Interstellar Operations, but I was solely an editor then, and I'm not aware what the discounts or anything might have been for that one.
There was a Closed Beta for MechWarrior: Destiny which was limited to KS backers, so we do still do them. But it's infrequent--and IMO, should remain so.
The problem with CGL doing Betas, or "raw" editions like you're describing, is that they jam up the production pipeline, which already has certain bottlenecks. For instance, with Destiny, we're essentially making the book twice--and on a tight timeline to hit the KS delivery dates. The Beta went through a full edit cycle, a full layout cycle, and had various art produced/reviewed/revised/inserted both for the Beta, and for the final. Now, with the feedback, there's new writing, which needs editing, then it's inserted into the manuscript, which needs re-proofing, and then layout has to at least flow the text in again, but probably a lot more.
That's a justifiable use of resources (both monetary and personnel-bandwidth) when it's a "big" book that you want to get right. The BMM qualified, Destiny qualified (mostly), and for other companies, things like D&D 5th and Pathfinder 2nd were worth doing that way. But to do it for less-impactful products, or to do it frequently, is going to clog the production pipeline terribly.
I don't remember a survey but I'm probably not remembering right. I'm also not advocating that it be done on something that has a deadline, small things, or everything. That would be a pain. I was just wondering if it could be useful for key products, maybe, and or products that have been in the work for years and look to stay that way for a while. The key products would need testing and checking anyway. The others are so far down the list that a raw or beta edition wouldn't really effect the rest of the schedule.
So, it's the second part of that, "wait for years and never get anything," that's what really needs to be addressed and what I feel like the core concern is here. That's the part that many of us involved in producing the game discuss a lot - building an effective, smooth production process so that stuff comes out. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "spend money and wait" (preorders? buying into a game initially?). But the basic sentiment that you want more BattleTech, as frequently and as high-quality as possible, that I 100 pct hear and agree with. If we can knock down that challenge, and you're getting lavishly-illustrated, engaging products a couple times a year to spice up your games...that's where I want to be, too. We shouldn't have to produce half-finished stuff just to get things out to you.
I was referring to pre-orders and kickstarters. Pre-orders have lasted years and even been cancelled. Kickstarters have also failed. I'm glad this one seems to be working but I'm still leery of them.
I also don't mean that you, or others, should produce a half finished product just for me. I'm thinking all the players who've been waiting for these products. Maybe I'm not remembering right, but weren't TROs Golden Century and IrregularTech cancelled a few years ago? I'm pretty sure I remember a lot of us being disappointed when told they weren't coming out. I'm also pretty sure we're all thrilled they're not canceled and might be coming out in a couple years. I think a few of us would be happy to pay for a look at a book that won't be out for a few years. But if a raw beta edition isn't workable, that's okay. I just wondered.
As far a frequency of releases and quality of production goes. It'd be great to have products coming out every few months. I know it can take longer than that though. I also know that when it comes out it'll be a quality product. However, there does come a point where waiting with anticipation becomes wondering if it'll come out which eventually becomes, "I'll believe it when I see it." Which turns into, "It came out when?" or "Still not out yet? No surprise." :(
Again, I'm thrilled that these TROs are going to be coming out. :excited: That they're still being worked on is a very nice surprise. :) I'm just hoping the wait won't be so long that I get to the last points above.
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I was part of the Combat Manual, IntOps, CamOps, and BattleMech Manual betas as well as the one for Destiny though I wasn't as into that one as the others.
All but Destiny had some discounted price for the beta (not much) but also upgraded to the final version when complete iirc. Except possibly BMM.
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I'm also pretty sure we're all thrilled they're not canceled and might be coming out in a couple years. I think a few of us would be happy to pay for a look at a book that won't be out for a few years.
Years? I sure hope not. I realize it's been years since they were announced, but I really enjoy crossing things off of lists...and I really want to cross these off by the end of next year.
However, there does come a point where waiting with anticipation becomes wondering if it'll come out which eventually becomes, "I'll believe it when I see it." Which turns into, "It came out when?" or "Still not out yet? No surprise." :(
Total agreement. That's what I'm talking about, when I talk about establishing production pipelines and practices, so that initial excitement doesn't curdle into disappointment or even bitterness just like you describe. My personal opinion is that there are NO points awarded for announcing a thing, only for making and delivering a good thing. It'll take time to establish a solid pipeline and get things in order, but that's the goal.
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Years? I sure hope not. I realize it's been years since they were announced, but I really enjoy crossing things off of lists...and I really want to cross these off by the end of next year.
And I'm really looking forward to getting them. :thumbsup: :excited: :)
Total agreement. That's what I'm talking about, when I talk about establishing production pipelines and practices, so that initial excitement doesn't curdle into disappointment or even bitterness just like you describe. My personal opinion is that there are NO points awarded for announcing a thing, only for making and delivering a good thing. It'll take time to establish a solid pipeline and get things in order, but that's the goal.
And I think I'm just one of many who hope you not only reach but surpass that goal. That's why I wondered about raw/beta editions. To wet our appetite and keep our anticipation up. But if its not practical or possible, then it won't happen. Oh well. :( We'll just have to keep waiting for you to cross it off your list. :)
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In the end i think if seemless process that CGL getting polished and really sought out products it wants to put out is the important thing.
After the TRO3145-Faction-PDFs came out, with it's wonderful records sheets included, it seem like something broke and products stop coming out in that scale.
I will be glad see that kind energy again, but i am getting bit conservative in my enthusiasm of new products coming out now, waiting see actual thing come out. I think CGL would just hurt itself just putting half-made beta stuff out for sale than finish thing.
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In the end i think if seemless process that CGL getting polished and really sought out products it wants to put out is the important thing.
After the TRO3145-Faction-PDFs came out, with it's wonderful records sheets included, it seem like something broke and products stop coming out in that scale.
I will be glad see that kind energy again, but i am getting bit conservative in my enthusiasm of new products coming out now, waiting see actual thing come out. I think CGL would just hurt itself just putting half-made beta stuff out for sale than finish thing.
I don't think CGL would hurt itself with a beta. Depending on the beta. I do worry about new products though. I do think older work should be available for purchase and I do think the occasional new product made for the past. New things are always coming to light so its good to keep revisiting the past. But I thought most of TPTB's attention was going to be moving the timeline forward? Only now we aren't.
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As far a frequency of releases and quality of production goes. It'd be great to have products coming out every few months. I know it can take longer than that though. I also know that when it comes out it'll be a quality product. However, there does come a point where waiting with anticipation becomes wondering if it'll come out which eventually becomes, "I'll believe it when I see it." Which turns into, "It came out when?" or "Still not out yet? No surprise." :(
I've had a few "It came out when?" moments. If I am honest, I don't really follow product announcements or the front page anymore. Once in a while I skim the top of this forum for new product topics, and glance over this thread to see if there is any interesting news.
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Ah so. I don't remember AToW having a beta.
It was called MechWarrior Third Edition. ^-^
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Now that I remember.
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I've had a few "It came out when?" moments. If I am honest, I don't really follow product announcements or the front page anymore. Once in a while I skim the top of this forum for new product topics, and glance over this thread to see if there is any interesting news.
That's about it for me too. I don't mind being surprised something has come out. I'd just rather not miss something because it'd been so long I gave up looking for it.
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Are the XTROs, Touring the Stars, Spotlight and Turning Points all finished now?
They are collectively second to Wars of Reaving on my list of recent favourites
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I doubt that such a concept can ever be "finished", as they never had a set scope or quota to begin with. As long as the product format remains viable, new entries may follow. Case in point: House Arano, another Housebook reviving BattleTech's oldest sourcebook series with a new entry after some three decades.
Personally, I have ideas for several Turning Points and (X)TROs.
The only series that will run out of creative canvas eventually is Touring The Stars: There are only so many settled worlds in BT, and I don't think it is even desirable to have complete writeups on more than a handful, to give GMs and future writers some free space to work with.
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May have been asked: When is the second Rogue Academy novel going to get released? :)
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Are the XTROs, Touring the Stars, Spotlight and Turning Points all finished now?
They are collectively second to Wars of Reaving on my list of recent favourites
TtS: Gulf Breeze and Rigil Kentares are still on the coming releases page.
The XTROs were in the majority a Jihad-era project (with the second most coming from pre-exodus periods) and have slowed considerably - the most recent by my count was Primitives vol 5 in 2016.
Turning points is getting some new entries as part of the kickstarter.
I have no recollection of anything recent on Spotlight On
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Considering we are now 4 months overdue on the first Founding book and have a bit less than 2 weeks for the time table on the second Founding book, any word on them?
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May have been asked: When is the second Rogue Academy novel going to get released? :)
As I'm facebook stalking the author... The first draft has been handed over to editing as of last week if I read the updates properly. So assuming it goes through at least one round of edits, and the fact checks, etc....
My guess is February to PoD, but it is a guess, and that would be if TPTB want to release it immediately upon completion.
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As I'm facebook stalking the author... The first draft has been handed over to editing as of last week if I read the updates properly. So assuming it goes through at least one round of edits, and the fact checks, etc....
My guess is February to PoD, but it is a guess, and that would be if TPTB want to release it immediately upon completion.
Thank you :)
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Turning points is getting some new entries as part of the kickstarter.
It is? There's the Chaos Campaign: Tukayyid, but I don't remember new TPs. Did they say which ones?
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they’re based on the same structure, system, and rules so the duck taxonomy principle applies here
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Are the XTROs, Touring the Stars, Spotlight and Turning Points all finished now?
Not exactly. No new ones are in production, as far as I'm aware, but that doesn't mean none ever could be. I'd had some ideas of how to try to better unify them and produce them more consistently, but didn't get much traction with it before the KS happened. I'll add "figure out mini-PDFs" to my 2020 planning notes.
TtS: Gulf Breeze and Rigil Kentares are still on the coming releases page.
Good. Point. I need to see what the heck happened there.
The XTROs were in the majority a Jihad-era project (with the second most coming from pre-exodus periods) and have slowed considerably - the most recent by my count was Primitives vol 5 in 2016.
Those mostly pre-date my involvement in the line, but my sense is that they were fairly demanding products to create--in terms of art, if nothing else. Of all the PDF-onlys, they might be the trickiest to re-establish.
Turning points is getting some new entries as part of the kickstarter.
I don't show any TP products on my tracking sheet - maybe someone misspoke on one of the AMAs, and meant the Chaos Campaign: Tukayyid product?
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Yeah I tend to conflate CC and TP products because they’re strains of the same plant
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FWIW, Golden Century is not dead, but all art assets and then some are tied up in the KS for now.
Boooooooo
As for XTROs and SpotlightOn, I've got ideas and partially written ones and I'm sure other folks do too.
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Makes me little depressed that production of new stuff deplayed or confused by KS. Previous year it was different reasons. Seems yearly now this happening. :(
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You realize we are still getting new stuff? Its just different new stuff b/c the stretch goals got reached . . . considering most of the KS stuff has wider appeal (and will be published) than niche PDF, I think its a pretty solid trade.
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Not exactly. No new ones are in production, as far as I'm aware, but that doesn't mean none ever could be. I'd had some ideas of how to try to better unify them and produce them more consistently, but didn't get much traction with it before the KS happened. I'll add "figure out mini-PDFs" to my 2020 planning notes.
Good. Point. I need to see what the heck happened there.
Those mostly pre-date my involvement in the line, but my sense is that they were fairly demanding products to create--in terms of art, if nothing else. Of all the PDF-onlys, they might be the trickiest to re-establish.
I don't show any TP products on my tracking sheet - maybe someone misspoke on one of the AMAs, and meant the Chaos Campaign: Tukayyid product?
Thanks for the updates they are great products but I could see they'd be plenty work to do with the art and the individual fiction pieces
I hope to see more, I for one really enjoy them and they give new angles on things
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You realize we are still getting new stuff? Its just different new stuff b/c the stretch goals got reached . . . considering most of the KS stuff has wider appeal (and will be published) than niche PDF, I think its a pretty solid trade.
right. if it comes down to mega successful project backed by thousands of people vs cool niche product that may or may not recoup its production costs, go with the former
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You realize we are still getting new stuff? Its just different new stuff b/c the stretch goals got reached . . . considering most of the KS stuff has wider appeal (and will be published) than niche PDF, I think its a pretty solid trade.
So the KS got it's goals met. Does that mean there'll be enough of those products for everyone, or just those who participated in the KS? Forgive my not knowing but previous KS I've seen only do enough to cover those who participated. Maybe. If they're going to be for sale to anyone, when can I order a plush Urbie? :D
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most items have been tentatively slated to be made available via retail except the items explicitly marked as exclusives like the dice bags
when and at what markup is yet to be seen
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So the KS got it's goals met. Does that mean there'll be enough of those products for everyone, or just those who participated in the KS? Forgive my not knowing but previous KS I've seen only do enough to cover those who participated. Maybe. If they're going to be for sale to anyone, when can I order a plush Urbie? :D
Anything that wasn't labeled a Kickstarter Exclusive will likely be available for sale. Especially all those miniatures.
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So the KS got it's goals met. Does that mean there'll be enough of those products for everyone, or just those who participated in the KS? Forgive my not knowing but previous KS I've seen only do enough to cover those who participated. Maybe. If they're going to be for sale to anyone, when can I order a plush Urbie? :D
Mentally, I have broken it down into 3 tiers . . .
KS Exclusive- clearly stated on the KS website, covering things like the dice bags, daggerstar keychain and the leatherbound Legends book
KS produced niche products- Clan Burrock, Wolverine, etc dice/coin, plush UrbanMech, and a few other things. I expect they will make a order for these items to meet KS demand that will have some left overs that go for sale on the website or at Cons until supply runs out. IMO its questionable if they will ever have enough demand to make another production run
KS broad appeal- Things like the minis, maps, 5 Houses dice, and major Clan dice will probably have recurring production runs
Its why most of my dice and the few coins I ordered went to things I expect will only be available this once.
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Thanks.
I hope the plush UrbieMech will be made available for sale.
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Did Mercenary’s Star and The Price of Glory PoD release on amazon without fanfare or did I just miss the announcement?
Edit: DRT is PoD now too, apparently
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Did Mercenary’s Star and The Price of Glory PoD release on amazon without fanfare or did I just miss the announcement?
Edit: DRT is PoD now too, apparently
Well, it was on social media, but I dropped the ball on sharing it here. So busy in life, so much KS stuff to do, too. But! The forms must be obeyed.
Now Available - "Mercenary's Star," "The Price of Glory," and "D.R.T." in Print-on-Demand!
(https://i.ibb.co/qJzswqV/78548410-10156729480973148-2567627918809235456-o.jpg) (https://ibb.co/z61Rw9D)
"Mercenary's Star" - The Gray Death Legion Saga, Vol. 2 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335006/ref=sr_1_4?crid=INKC2W23R144&keywords=battletech+mercenary%27s+star&qid=1574542606&sprefix=Battletech:+mercenary%27s,aps,157&sr=8-4&fbclid=IwAR3wT__6TgwGPBm377HHGcL8w3_kkYjzR7t08NLAyJYgV61_MftsZIIYkDw)
"BACKS AGAINST THE WALL…
Galatea. The Mercenary's Star. Even the most down on their luck units can find work here. Leading the newly-formed Gray Death Legion has been challenging for Grayson Death Carlyle, so when a job comes their way, he’s only too happy to take it. The mission: train the local resistance on the planet Verthandi to resist their Draconis Combine masters.
But things do not go well almost from the moment the Legion arrives. Trapped on Verthandi and facing a superior force and a fractured populace, the men and women of the Legion find themselves in a situation that makes the campaign on Trellwan look like a walk in the park. And Grayson quickly learns that repeating his past successes may not be so easy this time…"
(https://i.ibb.co/44kvH7b/71749914-10156791467693148-6946734607685386240-o.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qm6qvdH)
"The Price of Glory" - The Gray Death Legion Saga, Vol. 3 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335049/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_2399Db5YC5TA5?fbclid=IwAR0pWCfa6N6xJaUhp4UW3aEJadI0kRxW-g2UXfhv6hG9KTGxRyrS7a-FmSo)
"NOWHERE TO RUN
The Gray Death Legion is in the employ of the Free Worlds League, and has even been given a landhold on the planet Helm. But dark forces conspire against them, and the Legion soon finds themselves declared renegade war criminals, fair game for anyone to attack.
Now they are on the run on their home planet, trying desperately to reach safety before the might of House Marik falls upon them. They are about to discover the true motives of those who engineered their downfall.
And what they discover will change the Inner Sphere forever…"
(https://i.ibb.co/4FPDX0z/80226849-10156791470768148-4276894262596993024-o.jpg) (https://ibb.co/51BzSJm)
"D.R.T." (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335057/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Q499DbXPNJ308?fbclid=IwAR1ze2KZ5CnvPBafHBdlUTaGIPfRU_v9YP-qdnzJRJrE2r-lTVnPRkWUwoo)
"DEAD RIGHT THERE
Jeremiah Rose and the Black Thorns, flush with their success against the Jade Falcons on Borghese, head to Harlech to draw a new assignment. Their only requirement: Their new job must let them face off against the Clans.
They find more than they bargained for—a lot more. Their assignment: Garrison duty on Wolcott—a Kurita planet deep in the heart of the Clan Smoke Jaguar occupation zone. Wolcott is besieged, but protected from further Clan aggression by the Clan code of honor. Wolcott makes a useful staging area for Kurita raids on Smoke Jaguar-occupied territory. But too much aggression could bring the Clans down hard on the mercenary unit.
The pay is good. The advance is unbelievable. They just have to live long enough to spend it..."
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That DRT cover needs more banana hammock.
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Did the first book for the First Black Thorns book come out too on POD? Main Event?
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That DRT cover needs more banana hammock.
Repaint the Masakari? :)
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That DRT cover needs more banana hammock.
I agree!
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Well, it was on social media
ah, there's my problem. my only remaining social media presence is my cat's instagram
Did the first book for the First Black Thorns book come out too on POD? Main Event?
not yet. the "classics" (aka oldschool reprints) include
The Warrior Trilogy
The Gray Death Trilogy
DRT
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Cubby, does Catalyst have any standing to get more of the MWDA novels into e-pub form? I have some holes in my dtf set that are not filled with the few I have as e-pubs. It would be nice to get some of the more 'spine' (Fortress Republic vs Patriot's Stand frex) MWDA novels released.
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ah, there's my problem. my only remaining social media presence is my cat's instagram
IRL, a co-worker's pair of sheepadoodles have an IG account with 18k followers. We use it as the metric when evaluating potential social media influencers for our campaigns. If you don't have more followers than Bean and Jones, you're behind the 8-ball.
Did the first book for the First Black Thorns book come out too on POD? Main Event?
Not yet, and I don't have any information on when it might be available. "The future."
Cubby, does Catalyst have any standing to get more of the MWDA novels into e-pub form? I have some holes in my dtf set that are not filled with the few I have as e-pubs. It would be nice to get some of the more 'spine' (Fortress Republic vs Patriot's Stand frex) MWDA novels released.
The ability is there, afaik. The planning and strategy for what novels are released when, I don't have insight into. Personally, I'd also like to see more DA fiction become widely (legally) available, because that's where we are in the timeline. Tough to get people to buy into an era when they can't read the books.
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Yeah, Amazon has a few and mostly the later books of the Free Worlds League arc so you can get the build up to Bonfire of Worlds. Earlier books like Ghost War and others covering the Republic's struggles (VSD's death, Levin's election to Exarch) would be good to offer to get people into the 'current' era even if it occurred 15-20 years before the 'date' of ilClan.
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That DRT cover needs more banana hammock.
I don't follow.
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From the original cover, you could say the title of the book, DRT, stands for Dinky Red Thong . . .
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Quote
The XTROs were in the majority a Jihad-era project (with the second most coming from pre-exodus periods) and have slowed considerably - the most recent by my count was Primitives vol 5 in 2016.
Those mostly pre-date my involvement in the line, but my sense is that they were fairly demanding products to create--in terms of art, if nothing else. Of all the PDF-onlys, they might be the trickiest to re-establish.
I know new art takes a long time and is expensive but I was wondering if using existing art from sourcebooks that have never been given stats or maybe alternate versions of the Retconned might speed things up? Or maybe be used for XTROs set in earlier time periods?
Just a quick look in the Comstar sourcebook has art for mechs on pages 3,5,29, 75 and 79. That I've never seen stats for. There's also aerospace units and infantry units. And that's just one book. I know there's more in others. I guess they could be called the seen but never named? Would using them help with XTROs or even TROs?
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No.
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ok
Will they ever get stats?
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It’s certainly possible but unlikely.
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Fasa let allot of artist run wild. You can find a mech that is modeled after a Xenomorph in the opening on The Periphery 2nd Edition and I for the life of me can't figure out if it was a original design on something heavily modified. One SB also has a Thug firing ACs vs PPCs which I'm sure is a mistake
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The autocannon-wielding Thug is in Brush Wars (the beginning of the Rules Annex, I believe). So, not FASA.
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The autocannon-wielding Thug is in Brush Wars (the beginning of the Rules Annex, I believe). So, not FASA.
Oops! Caught the image second hand on the net, thanks for the correction. See, make my own mistakes :D
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Thug with ac/10s sounds like art boo boo. Be nice to have Succession Wars II XTRO.
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Repaint the Masakari? :)
I agree!
The mods and the devs demanded it, so
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It’s certainly possible but unlikely.
Okay. Thanks.
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The mods and the devs demanded it, so
Thumbs up!
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The mods and the devs demanded it, so
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The mods and the devs demanded it, so
Hmmm...it's like I've seen that before....
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We're excited to announce that the first three Gray Death Legion books are available as a collected omnibus.
NOTE: This is an electronic version only, this is NOT a print version.
https://books2read.com/BattleTechLegendsTheGrayDeathLegionTrilogy
"THE FIRST TRILOGY IN THE EPIC SAGA OF FUTURE WAR...
Thirty meters tall, seventy tons of quick-striding death and destruction, the armored war machines called BattleMechs are the front-line forces of the crumbling star empire locked in the horror of the endless Succession Wars. Their pilots are MechWarriors, 31st-century knights riding armored machines powerful enough to destroy an entire city.
AND THE BEGINNING OF A LEGEND…
The Gray Death Legion Trilogy brings together three complete Battletech novels featuring one of the most popular mercenary units very created—the Gray Death Legion.
DECISION AT THUNDER RIFT
Grayson Death Carlyle had been training to be a MechWarrior since he was 10 years old, but his graduation came sooner than expected. With his friends and family dead and his father's regiment destroyed, young Grayson finds himself stranded on a world turned hostile. Now he must learn the hardest lesson of all: it takes more than a BattleMech to make a MechWarrior...
But to claim that title, all Grayson has to do is go out and capture one of those giant killing machines...if it doesn't kill him first.
MERCENARY’S STAR
Galatea. The Mercenary's Star. Even the most down on their luck units can find work here. Leading the new Gray Death Legion has been challenging for Grayson Death Carlyle, so when a job comes their way, he’s only too happy to take it. The mission: train the local resistance on the planet Verthandi to resist their Draconis Combine masters.
But things do not go well from the moment the Legion arrives. Trapped on Verthandi and facing a superior force and a fractured populace, the men and women of the Legion find themselves in a situation that makes the campaign on Trellwan look like a walk in the park. And Grayson quickly learns that repeating his past successes may not be so easy this time…
THE PRICE OF GLORY
The Gray Death Legion is in the employ of the Free Worlds League, and has even been given a landhold on the planet Helm. But dark forces conspire against them, and the Legion soon finds themselves declared renegade war criminals, fair game for anyone to attack.
Now they are on the run on their home planet, trying desperately to reach safety before the might of House Marik falls upon them. They are about to discover the true motives of those who engineered their downfall.
And what they discover will change the Inner Sphere forever…"
(https://i.ibb.co/419c6LW/Gray-Death-Legion-Mockup-Trilogy-Box-12-22a.png) (https://ibb.co/tLkS76B)
(https://i.ibb.co/86PzmQG/Battle-Tech-Legends-Decision-at-Thunder-Rift-Generic.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SRVQ6ZH)
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:drool:
The nostalgia just hit me.
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I'm not crying... you're crying. :'(
Must save Lori...
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Not exactly. No new ones are in production, as far as I'm aware, but that doesn't mean none ever could be. I'd had some ideas of how to try to better unify them and produce them more consistently, but didn't get much traction with it before the KS happened. I'll add "figure out mini-PDFs" to my 2020 planning notes.
I wonder how well it might work for the mini TROs to get dead tree compilations for store shelves.
ok
Will they ever get stats?
It’s certainly possible but unlikely.
What we REALLY need is Record sheets for the rest of the units that have stats/writups but aren't yet in any of the record sheet products.
Speaking of TROs, any chance of any of the reprints having Scroggin's new art in them instead of the old stuff?
It seems like a HUGE missed opportunity and even a bit of a brand erosion to have nice new minis and art only for players to pick up the TROs being advertised with it, and being greeted with the older stuff.
The brand identity is a huge thing, because this is the first time in quite a while that everything's seemed to have a fairly consistent design aesthetic which I'd imagine is good for marketability. Being able to point at something and say, yeah that's a Battletech/Mechwarrior robot for sure.
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I wonder how well it might work for the mini TROs to get dead tree compilations for store shelves.
What we REALLY need is Record sheets for the rest of the units that have stats/writups but aren't yet in any of the record sheet products.
Speaking of TROs, any chance of any of the reprints having Scroggin's new art in them instead of the old stuff?
It seems like a HUGE missed opportunity and even a bit of a brand erosion to have nice new minis and art only for players to pick up the TROs being advertised with it, and being greeted with the older stuff.
The brand identity is a huge thing, because this is the first time in quite a while that everything's seemed to have a fairly consistent design aesthetic which I'd imagine is good for marketability. Being able to point at something and say, yeah that's a Battletech/Mechwarrior robot for sure.
I have to assume that updated reprints would depend entirely on how well those products are still selling. If they are flying out of the warehouse, then maybe?
I'm sure CGL would prefer never to maximize the mileage they can get out of the refreshed art, but the layout and editorial work to make it happen isn't free.
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just slap Technical Readout in front of the MechWarrior Legends book? :)
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How long until we get books that update like PDFs?
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That's one of several reasons I prefer digital copies, though one thing I am missing is the ability to have one rulebook link another (eg. if something in strat ops says see page x in tac ops being able to click the page number and open that page of tac ops.).
Could do that if there were an app or some sort of wiki like thing (maybe something along the lines of what DnD Beyond can do even), but that costs money CGL can better spend elsewhere. Maybe one day if BT ever gets popular enough to print money. (hey I can dream can't I?)
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How long until we get books that update like PDFs?
I think your question answers itself.
eReader + digital content = self-updating book.
Personally, I still like to combine it with durable DTF, which can't run into network or licensing issues, but as you say, it won't update either. I don't think a perfect form will ever exist.
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How long until we get books that update like PDFs?
HolyShroud compatible? ;)
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It’s really just ROM burning all your books and giving you a lobotomy
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That's one of several reasons I prefer digital copies, though one thing I am missing is the ability to have one rulebook link another (eg. if something in strat ops says see page x in tac ops being able to click the page number and open that page of tac ops.).
Could do that if there were an app or some sort of wiki like thing (maybe something along the lines of what DnD Beyond can do even), but that costs money CGL can better spend elsewhere. Maybe one day if BT ever gets popular enough to print money. (hey I can dream can't I?)
That's an awesome idea but I imagine it would involve multiple linked databases. I did it years ago in Access, I presume it would be easier in SQL but you would still have to add all the rules for each book into databases.
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I wonder how well it might work for the mini TROs to get dead tree compilations for store shelves.
What we REALLY need is Record sheets for the rest of the units that have stats/writups but aren't yet in any of the record sheet products.
We can use the blank record sheets for those until we get official ones. Stats for unnamed/stated artwork though is more of a problem. The entire thing has to be made up and can change drastically from one person to another.
Speaking of TROs, any chance of any of the reprints having Scroggin's new art in them instead of the old stuff?
It seems like a HUGE missed opportunity and even a bit of a brand erosion to have nice new minis and art only for players to pick up the TROs being advertised with it, and being greeted with the older stuff.
The brand identity is a huge thing, because this is the first time in quite a while that everything's seemed to have a fairly consistent design aesthetic which I'd imagine is good for marketability. Being able to point at something and say, yeah that's a Battletech/Mechwarrior robot for sure.
I'd agree with replacing the art for the Retconned as they're needed. Replacing the art for the rest? New art can be good but I don't think everything needs to be redesigned. I know no one will agree with me but I think having everything have the same aesthetic is a mistake. These are units made by various fractions over hundreds of years. They shouldn't have the same aesthetic.
Now I can see designs changing over the years and the aesthetics changing with them. Like how the Ford Mustang changed over the years. I can even see multiple versions with different aesthetics being made at the same time, like the VW Beetle. It's okay to have different aesthetics. History shouldn't be changed to erase the Classics just because the older aesthetic doesn't fit the aesthetic currently in vogue. Let both aesthetics exist. The Succession Wars can have the older version and Clan Invasion or later the newer versions. That way your Classic can still be a Classic. It can also be upgraded with newest tech and it can be a new design based on the Classic. Otherwise you're constantly retconning the classic designs to meet changing aesthetics instead of moving things forward. You also loose some of the richness and depth of the universe with everything being the same.
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Several copies of 6th printing TW sighted at my flgs along with other books. The response to the boxes must have been encouraging
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Several copies of 6th printing TW sighted at my flgs along with other books. The response to the boxes must have been encouraging
Nice to hear. Hopefully they move.
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Two days left on the KS announced timeframe . . . we going to see the 2nd Founding book before the year rolls over?
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Did we see the first? ???
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Nope- and never a real clear answer about the first, but the second was set as a stretch goal to be available by Dec 2019.
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That's one of several reasons I prefer digital copies, though one thing I am missing is the ability to have one rulebook link another (eg. if something in strat ops says see page x in tac ops being able to click the page number and open that page of tac ops.).
You can do this in Adobe Acrobat now. IIRC the major problem is you have to use absolute links instead of relative, which means you have to know exactly where the file is located on the drive. Obviously that can change depending on how you organize your files.
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Speaking of TROs, any chance of any of the reprints having Scroggin's new art in them instead of the old stuff?
It seems like a HUGE missed opportunity and even a bit of a brand erosion to have nice new minis and art only for players to pick up the TROs being advertised with it, and being greeted with the older stuff.
I get where you're coming from. I really wondered at the time what was up with TRO: SW and CI, with the Nuseen coming out.
I am certain we will see that eventually, but speaking personally; yet *another* retread of old material with revised presentation interests me not at all. Why pay for stuff I already have in a new package? Same reason I did not/will not buy SW/CI.
As an intro product, makes total sense, but...then wasn't SW/CI a pair of sucker's products? Like; "HAHA! You paid for this, but here is THE SAME STUFF with art that makes what you have look like crap!" Like; why even do those products if this was in the pipeline? Especially since we've know this was coming for a while.
Unless you wanted to use THAT as a release to do the side-by-side of the old and new art and use THAT as the opportunity to bridge that gap with an official statement that mechs that look like both sets of art are the same type and share the same battlefields. I'd support the HELL out of that. I really don't think lampshading that one is the ethical way to go, so it needs to be dealt with sooner or later.
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I get where you're coming from. I really wondered at the time what was up with TRO: SW and CI, with the Nuseen coming out.
I am certain we will see that eventually, but speaking personally; yet *another* retread of old material with revised presentation interests me not at all. Why pay for stuff I already have in a new package? Same reason I did not/will not buy SW/CI.
As an intro product, makes total sense, but...then wasn't SW/CI a pair of sucker's products? Like; "HAHA! You paid for this, but here is THE SAME STUFF with art that makes what you have look like crap!" Like; why even do those products if this was in the pipeline? Especially since we've know this was coming for a while.
Unless you wanted to use THAT as a release to do the side-by-side of the old and new art and use THAT as the opportunity to bridge that gap with an official statement that mechs that look like both sets of art are the same type and share the same battlefields. I'd support the HELL out of that. I really don't think lampshading that one is the ethical way to go, so it needs to be dealt with sooner or later.
I will agree, the timing seems to be a fair bit off with the releases of those TROs, but their intent, I think is spot on.
Yes, they are mostly worthless for players with all of the TROs, but we're not the target audience. They are compilation TROs to help get newer players playing. The two of them cover the mechs contained in a half dozen separate TROs which is a significant cost savings for anyone just getting into big stompy robots. Combine that with the BattleMech Manual whose sole focus on mech combat lets it slim the rules down enough to include advanced options from TacOps, and you have a pretty good starter setup to grow out of a boxed set for the people who want more mech on mech combat (which IS the primary draw of the universe even if us grognards like the other bits under the surface too). The fact they are (roughly) organized by era also simplifies things quite a bit which is super useful for both old and new players finding and picking units.
Again, the timing has been rather terrible. TRO:SW not including entries for mechs like the Marauder and Warhammer, even if it HAD been Project Phoenix art is a HUGE blow to the whole point of era based organization since those units were heavily fielded then. And I still think holding TRO:SW and CI back a bit to get newer art in would have increased their appeal, and I imagine the respective boxed sets increases their marketability as an upsell/follow-on product, so I don't see what the rush is to get them released. products for new players are of less use when there's fewer new players.
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The development cycles for those books were (at least for SW) probably begun before the Kickstarter was little more than an idea. There wouldn’t be bandwidth now to do them (and by now I mean months from now when the art is finished). Doing the books first and waiting on the art would have meant spending resources for no money. The prototype for CI was at gencon last summer, a full eight months before we knew about the Kickstarter.
By the by CI is getting a reprint, the only TRO besides 3039 to get more than one run to my knowledge
The art compromise did what waiting on new art wouldn’t do: make money. TRO SW came out as the last product before they literally shut the line down to retool for the new box - and on a shoestring budget that didn’t have room for the (again, mostly unconceived) art. BMM and SW were some of the only points of BT revenue outside rulebook pdfs for quite a while
For the expected sales, I image the margins were too tight to do new art for anyway. I’m very much of the opinion a TRO: Kickstarter will need a selling point beyond scroggafied art to be a hit.
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Since it's all utterly irrelevant to gameplay, getting a 'new' TRO that has no new 'Mechs but does have new art and also completely redoes all of the Deployment/Notable Pilot fluff would be something I'd buy.
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Actually liked the idea of Mini TROs with the Combat Manuals, something similar would be a nice way to introduce new art.
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I didn't mean to say they should be released at EXACTLY the same time. Releases ahead of time are still perfectly fine.
What I'm saying is it's fairly clear some of the art has been in development for a while before the kickstarter, since they actually seem to have a decent release plan again, so they could have pumped the brakes a bit on TRO:CI
As for Succession Wars, there's been refreshed art in the Combat Manuals, and my understanding is there's actually a piece or two they commissioned Scroggins for that ended up having their products canceled, and thus not used, so it's less wait to pay for new art, and more spend the time to include art that's already paid for.
As mentioned, though CI IS getting a reprint (and hopefully that is an indicator the direction they want to take Battletech with a bit of reorganization for clarity is actually working), and, again, I hope it's viable to go back to layout to replace the artwork.
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I didn't mean to say they should be released at EXACTLY the same time. Releases ahead of time are still perfectly fine.
What I'm saying is it's fairly clear some of the art has been in development for a while before the kickstarter, since they actually seem to have a decent release plan again, so they could have pumped the brakes a bit on TRO:CI
some as in maybe 20%. we'd still be waiting. the art's not done yet - the lineup for the kickstarter wasn't locked in until toward the end of the kickstarter. it wouldn't have started until after. you've seen how much they've had time for outside of kickstarter-related items.
As for Succession Wars, there's been refreshed art in the Combat Manuals, and my understanding is there's actually a piece or two they commissioned Scroggins for that ended up having their products canceled, and thus not used, so it's less wait to pay for new art, and more spend the time to include art that's already paid for.
the harmony gold lawsuit prevented all all of the macross art from being used, which was the vast majority of what Anthony and others had done (in addition the CM art isn't TRO art - they were a very different style). There are three new pieces of art out of ninety-five mechs (flea, galahad, banshee). none of the macross units were in SW. so we're back to the art cost/time bottleneck. most of it was Loose's 3025 stuff - they had no intention of waiting.
As mentioned, though CI IS getting a reprint (and hopefully that is an indicator the direction they want to take Battletech with a bit of reorganization for clarity is actually working), and, again, I hope it's viable to go back to layout to replace the artwork.
again, the art isn't done - many of the mechs in CI on the IS side weren't even in the kickstarter. as nckestrel has speculated in another thread, it's due to the demand from the kickstarter.
neither cost nor time were worth pumping the brakes for in any way - people would have rightly complained about a half-done job. best to go with the old stuff and state upfront that's the reality.
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I'm perfectly fine with the Era TRO's being compilation TRO's for those who don't already have the existing collection and ask 'where do I start?'
I do see the point, that new art needs a home but asking CGL reprint a TRO every time we get new art for those mechs devalues them as a whole as demand will be less every time. Only reason I brought up the Combat Manuals as a example, you don't need a entire new TRO to introduce new art.
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I'd be happy just to see New New TROs. As much as i want new art work to find a home, i rather see new product in form a TRO with new art. We haven't had one quite sometime. Its wearing thin on me as well i would imagine others.
CGL trying do what has to do get company head above water, but always seems like we take 2 steps behind before we get a step forward.
Where not getting any younger. :wheelchair:
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More and more TRO's. Bonus with new equipment.
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I hope for new TROs with bonus new equipment.
I wish they'd stayed with dated TROs though. TRO:Succession Wars is confusing. Why include mechs that didn't live though the Succession Wars? Why include the Mackie at all? It pretty much went extinct at the end of the Star League and MUL has it being exclusive to the Star League Era. It was even removed from TRO:3058U for that reason. Not operational. The Mackie would have worked in a revised or upgraded TRO:2750 or even better in a TRO with an earlier date.
Fun Fact: the German version of TRO:2750 includes the Mackie and many other SLDF designs seen in TRO:3058.
I think dates would even help with retconned art. I think production should either be simultaneous or new art means new production. An example of simultaneous production could the Hatcheman. It appears in TRO:3024. TRO:3027 could have the Kurita version. With different styling and maybe even different stats since they couldn't replicate the ejection system and didn't like using hatchets.
An example of sequential production could be TRO:3010 using the older Flea art as used by Wolf's Dragoons and TRO:3042 could have the newer art as the new retooled production available to anyone for purchase. Another example would be the Locust. Just about everyone builds them. That can lead to a lot of different art to reflect all the faction specific variants.
This way nothing is invalidated. Not art. Not miniatures. Not older TROs. Nothing. But that's just my two cents. Not that they'd be worth anything even if they were legal tender. :(
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I’m guessing we’ll get one that helps set the table for the post-ilclan setting. Besides “era samplers,” (that we don’t even need that many of), the fewer the better. Not releasing a new one since 2013 has been refreshing. we still don’t have all the minis for 3145/50
W E H A V E E N O U G H M E C H S
If you care that much about the old outdated art buy the pdf or hit eBay. It serves almost no one to keep the old shit in print
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I’m guessing we’ll get one that helps set the table for the post-ilclan setting. Besides “era samplers,” (that we don’t even need that many of), the fewer the better. Not releasing a new one since 2013 has been refreshing. we still don’t have all the minis for 3145/50
W E H A V E E N O U G H M E C H S
If you care that much about the old outdated art buy the pdf or hit eBay. It serves almost no one to keep the old shit in print
Yea, expanding the number of mechs so dramatically really helps no one. There are too many mechs if anything atm. Especially since so many fill the same niches. Then they started spamming new tech to justify new mechs and it just becomes a mess.
Because really, very few times are the mechs even referenced if they're not of the core stock of the models people care about. lol
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I’m guessing we’ll get one that helps set the table for the post-ilclan setting. Besides “era samplers,” (that we don’t even need that many of), the fewer the better. Not releasing a new one since 2013 has been refreshing. we still don’t have all the minis for 3145/50
W E H A V E E N O U G H M E C H S
If you care that much about the old outdated art buy the pdf or hit eBay. It serves almost no one to keep the old shit in print
N O W E D O N T
Can you imagine a TCG player saying they have enough cards? Or a D&D player saying they have enough books already? Or a Pokémon fan saying they have enough Pokémon already? That's how crazy you're sounding now. The whole point of the game is to make giant robot battles and no amount of giant robots will ever "be enough". The game would be in a better place if we got a major TRO per year! It would keep games fresh and shake the foundations of the games. In 2015 I was already tired of using the mechs released in 2013 TROs and it's been 5 years from that already!
I wish I could tell "I see your point" but I clearly don't. How can you like to have your games the same way from 7 years?
We don't have enough mechs and neve will
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Pokemon just sharply reduced the number of them available because it was getting ridiculous, and every (successful) TCG in the world that I'm aware of has rotating supported formats to make sure that the pool of cards doesn't explode or become too large for new players to break into.
You may want to rethink your examples, because neither of them supports your point the way you want them to.
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I mean, what about new TROs with newer variants of older mechs? I personally enjoyed the Project Phoenix section of TRO3085, and seeing newer versions of the Stalker, Hunchback, Viking, etc. in the TRO3145 series has certainly scratched my itch for new units without them being aesthetically all that different.
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Things just become unmanageable above certain numbers.
BT is at least lucky that it would be possible to restrict some units to specific eras.
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N O W E D O N T
Can you imagine a TCG player saying they have enough cards? Or a D&D player saying they have enough books already? Or a Pokémon fan saying they have enough Pokémon already? That's how crazy you're sounding now. The whole point of the game is to make giant robot battles and no amount of giant robots will ever "be enough". The game would be in a better place if we got a major TRO per year! It would keep games fresh and shake the foundations of the games. In 2015 I was already tired of using the mechs released in 2013 TROs and it's been 5 years from that already!
I wish I could tell "I see your point" but I clearly don't. How can you like to have your games the same way from 7 years?
We don't have enough mechs and neve will
Huh? You mean the people you play with do not tend to use the same mix of units with little variation? We had one player I always expected LRMs, especially Semi-Guided, from when he came to play- usually a Viking or Stalker as the main missile chucker. I know one player that likes to bring the PPCs, and usually has a Awesome or Warhammer on the table. One guy will usually take a Gallowglas, Ice Ferret, Hoplite or sometimes a Timber Wolf B. Another wants to field just mechs, and rarely takes anything past 3055- a lot of times 3025 versions. Another guy is a big Drac fan, has maybe a company painted . . . always seem to see a Panther and Dragon of some sort in his forces. Another likes the Blakists, so he wants to play with C3i and/or Celestials. One player likes to mix mechs & armor, he brings stuff from the Lance Packs or the new plastics and a Brutus tank or two- he had really good luck with the Brutus and seemed to like them.
If no one in your group commonly repeats weapons or units, then you have a rare group . . . for a pick up game, I can predict what a lot of people will bring. Have you used every single of the thousands of mechs? Probably not, I would expect you have used what you consider best for the conditions.
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Huh? You mean the people you play with do not tend to use the same mix of units with little variation? We had one player I always expected LRMs, especially Semi-Guided, from when he came to play- usually a Viking or Stalker as the main missile chucker. I know one player that likes to bring the PPCs, and usually has a Awesome or Warhammer on the table. One guy will usually take a Gallowglas, Ice Ferret, Hoplite or sometimes a Timber Wolf B. Another wants to field just mechs, and rarely takes anything past 3055- a lot of times 3025 versions. Another guy is a big Drac fan, has maybe a company painted . . . always seem to see a Panther and Dragon of some sort in his forces. Another likes the Blakists, so he wants to play with C3i and/or Celestials. One player likes to mix mechs & armor, he brings stuff from the Lance Packs or the new plastics and a Brutus tank or two- he had really good luck with the Brutus and seemed to like them.
If no one in your group commonly repeats weapons or units, then you have a rare group . . . for a pick up game, I can predict what a lot of people will bring. Have you used every single of the thousands of mechs? Probably not, I would expect you have used what you consider best for the conditions.
You're right, but I also take his point. For example, in magic, you always had the players who play black, or prefer mill decks, or so on and so forth.
But RotSFan's point, as I take it, is that the Magic has a way to convince people to buy new cards (the rotating formats, keeping only certain cards in production, and a regular power creep)
I do not think that BT needs to be monetized the same way as a CCG -- that was actually an issue I took with MW:DA -- but if you go with the mechs as a the primary monetization scheme thought then it's natural to jump to limited releases and formats that limit mechs, while constantly releasing new ones.
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Things just become unmanageable above certain numbers.
BT is at least lucky that it would be possible to restrict some units to specific eras.
But then refuses to do so...at least when going forward. :)
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More mechs means more TROs that won’t sell as well as you think they do (it’s not 1995). More resources into more products that don’t make the company money and that won’t keep in print that new players have to absorb. Miss me with that. There are 3600 mech variants. Not even 40k puts that kind of knowledge burden on people. You can’t bring any new ones home until some get thrown out.
This isn’t fantasy land where money flows from the ground. TRO after TRO is a failed business model. If they were so damn popular we would already have 315X. Thank god they decided to put new ones into cold storage.
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More mechs means more TROs that won’t sell as well as you think they do (it’s not 1995). More resources into more products that don’t make the company money and that won’t keep in print that new players have to absorb. Miss me with that. There are 3600 mech variants. Not even 40k puts that kind of knowledge burden on people. You can’t bring any new ones home until some get thrown out.
This isn’t fantasy land where money flows from the ground. TRO after TRO is a failed business model. If they were so damn popular we would already have 315X. Thank god they decided to put new ones into cold storage.
I think it's a careful balance.
We need some new mechs and variants and other new things to keep people engaged and give them things to buy, but not so much to flood and not sell and scare new people.
Where that balance is? I don't pretend to know.
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If we do new TROs, it should be to highlight different models of existing designs, or update the art. Many of the older designs have not aged well or have glaringly bad design features, like the inability to torso twist. There are some designs that I have don't have minis for because I think that they are ugly. It is something I could excuse, if they are highly effective, but often they are not. Many of the Wizkids' designs could stand to be redone with the excuse being that upgrades necessitated significant structural changes. For example, swapping the SM-1 tank destroyer with the following Matt Plog design commissioned by Marauder648:
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I think it's a careful balance.
We need some new mechs and variants and other new things to keep people engaged and give them things to buy, but not so much to flood and not sell and scare new people.
Where that balance is? I don't pretend to know.
i'd lean toward what is profitable and sustainable. if that means few? good. if that means lots? i'll grit my teeth and grumble in the corner. i can't see any evidence that a continuous flow like we got between 3067 and 3145 was the magic bullet - it's been six years. i'll allow that the advancement of the timeline is the prime place to release such things - but i highly doubt we'll be doing anything like the rocket trip from 3081 to 3145 like we saw 2009-2013.
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i'd lean toward what is profitable and sustainable. if that means few? good. if that means lots? i'll grit my teeth and grumble in the corner. i can't see any evidence that a continuous flow like we got between 3067 and 3145 was the magic bullet - it's been six years. i'll allow that the advancement of the timeline is the prime place to release such things - but i highly doubt we'll be doing anything like the rocket trip from 3081 to 3145 like we saw 2009-2013.
I agree with you there as well, actually. I think "never enough mechs" and "No more mechs" are both unsustainable.
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I'd be happy with (and buy all of) 5-12 new 'Mechs (with at most 2-3 variants) a year if they sprang fully formed into my FLGS from Ray's head like Athena from Zeus.
Any more than that and how the hell is anyone supposed to know what X or Y new mech is or does?
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I'd be happy with (and buy all of) 5-12 new 'Mechs (with at most 2-3 variants) a year if they sprang fully formed into my FLGS from Ray's head like Athena from Zeus.
Any more than that and how the hell is anyone supposed to know what X or Y new mech is or does?
I think it's a careful balance.
We need some new mechs and variants and other new things to keep people engaged and give them things to buy, but not so much to flood and not sell and scare new people.
Where that balance is? I don't pretend to know.
That's about where I sit.
I ABSOLUTELY think we need new units to move the timeline forward, but I think it needs to be a fairly limited number. The first obvious reason is simply to control the bloat to a point where people can actually remember what the new mechs are, but more than that is for minis.
Granted BT isn't WYSIWYG, so it's not super critical, but it's still nice to be able to see a nice new design that you like and be able to field it without waiting a super long time which happens when IWM has dozens of units to make molds for, and fewer minis also leaves room for game stores to actually carry miniatures.
As far as in general, I've said it several times that I think a slight retconning might be in order to, each era, trim out a few older units as newer designs come on the field so that, for any given era and faction, there's a manageable list of units to choose from rather than to just keep adding and adding until trying to pick a heavy mech for a Marik force means scrolling through a list of a hundred mechs.
Few can remember that many mechs or parse such a list which is why you tend to see the same couple dozen designs used by any given player. Humans simply aren't equipped to deal with that much more.
Also, again, I think the TROs by era is still a good idea: it's MUCH easier to parse, I am looking for a Clan Invasion mech so I'll look at TRO:CI than trying to search through 4 separate tomes (yes, I know there's only 3 set in that era, but a few designs in later books are said to be from around the Invasion era). It's just that the execution was lacking a bit due with CI having some earlier designs.
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It does make you wonder. Since the introduction of the era themed TROs. It makes you think there could be a couple more to me is kind of I don't know. I don't like the idea. Probably a book for the Civil War era then the Jihad era in the Dark Age Era.
Were stuck in this "pause" in stories and movement franchise story.
Likely, were not going to see much until KS out of the way..
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As far as in general, I've said it several times that I think a slight retconning might be in order to, each era, trim out a few older units as newer designs come on the field so that, for any given era and faction, there's a manageable list of units to choose from rather than to just keep adding and adding until trying to pick a heavy mech for a Marik force means scrolling through a list of a hundred mechs.
they took a softer version of this route. the era-based TROs don't include everything - CI, less than half of 3050-55-58-60. it's not a retcon, but a consciousness prune. it should be pretty clear by now that they don't intend to recon any units out (and my Daikyu mini thanks them for this). the decision to take a broad rather than narrow force building approach will always cause headaches in that regard. the combat manual availability tables that reigned in some of the firehose effect the MUL can dump on the unintitatied are perhaps what i miss most about that series.
a very unheralded piece from Turning Points: Vega (3039) was the inclusion of standard lances for steiner and davion (pg11) - a take on the same sort of organization found in the back of NAIS 4th Succession War Atlas vol 2 (pg 98), but to CampOps unit building standards. i'd certainly like to see more of these for more factions in various eras
the problem with the line as it stands is the poor scaffolding to usher people from one era to another. from a business perspective, ineffective funneling of players into the far end of the timeline means a smaller customer base for where any new TROs (read as not era compilations) or any other sourcebooks are going to be situated. the boxes help with this. i think they could be far more explicit about product branching, but it's a step in the right direction. the addition of clear signposts toward more modern (or at least in-print products) that provide setting details in addition to mechs adds some substance, rather than regarding a new era merely as an equipment expansion pack. this flow has been neglected for a long, long time so building it up is going to take some real effort (and years). they were right to do what they did with refocusing on the core game experience and it's going to take some time to mend the foundation before adding on too many more floors.
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Well. I missed some stuff in this thread.
the problem with the line as it stands is the poor scaffolding to usher people from one era to another.
This is basically the reason (as far as I'm aware, but I'm pretty aware) why the newer "reprint" TROs have been titled to era and not year. It's a marketing thing.
For a new player / customer, "3050" versus "3075" means nothing. They're numbers. Yes, to you, the experienced smartypants, those numbers instantly register as "initial Clan Invasion" and "depths of the Jihad."
Recent sourcebooks have all borne the various era logos, with the era in which that book is set (more or less) highlighted. It's not applied perfectly, but that's the guidepost for a new customer to understand what they're looking at. Same reason that most of those books carry a page explaining each era, next to that era's same logo.
In a perfect, more organized world, there would be better funnels built to guide new customers where to go. At the moment, the best we can do is try to be matchy-matchy with era naming conventions.
When we were devising Chaos Campaign: Succession Wars, I suggested that as the name, because it plugs in "correctly" with TRO: Succession Wars and Record Sheets: Succession Wars. We want to avoid customers having to know things that aren't intuitive. "Oh, I see, this book I'm holding is "TRO: 3025," and I know that year is the Fourth Succession War." It's too much. Even the reprint TRO 3025 put "The Succession Wars" on the cover. TRO 3050 put "The Return of Kerensky" on its cover. And so on.
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The newest version of the primer is the best effort in a while. I understand the reticence to point to too many established products (ca 2007-2015) as they don’t play nicely with the post 2017-18 restructure. I ran into a similar problem when writing my own guide when pointing to stuff like HTP: Mallory’s World as there were a lot of elements (especially old map sheets) that would rank on the bad end of the “get it cheaply” scale.
At this point it seems the revival of the base game experience continues to be a fruitful avenue. Once the full range of KS stuff hits store shelves, the entry point seems much more clear
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The name "Succesion Wars" doesn't mean anything to a new player until they read the back cover. And then say they're including mechs from the Age of War to the Succession Wars? For an experienced player that's 500+ years. For the newbie that's how many eras shoved into one book? ??? And then reading the entries it talks about things that happen long past the Succession Wars. That makes it more confusing as it covered even more time.
It's like buying a book on Vietnam Era Tanks and finding it full of WWII tanks, with information about their variants from the late 1990s and even a Mark IV thrown in just for fun. It's all over the place. As a big generic compilation TRO, it's good. A single era TRO, not so much.
Dates TROs don't mean much to new players either. At least not until they pick up the book and read the back cover and introduction page. There they'd learn about where the book and how the units within fit into things. It isn't difficult to understand. The Upgrade ones could be a bit since it talks about things far after the TRO's date. I wish they were called Updates instead since the stats aren't for Upgraded variants. I know that's more a pet peeve but when the first Upgrade came out I was looking forward to upgraded units. Like how TRO:3050 upgraded units from TRO:3025. They're still good, just not what I'd hoped. Oh well.
And there's got to be new TROs. You can't go forward or backward without a TRO to show new units or variants. Going forward, I don't know that every existing unit needs to be updated. At least not officially. After all we have been given the tools to do it ourselves. That'd also reflect unpopular lines, or those with expired licenses, shutting down and being retooled to produce all new designs. It's a natural process and would keep the number of designs in production down. However as the designs are not extinct players can still use them. Which is why older books should remain available without having to spend hundreds on them. So players can have access to them.
That said, revised editions allows for new information to be added, such as corrections to Comstar/WoB misinformation. Which of course leaves the door open for such misinformation in the first place. Other chances can included correcting errors, adding possible down grades in the variant section and extinctions, or presumed extinctions. They could also include new art if needed as being a version produced by a different factory. Also stats could be revised to include things we didn't have rules for originally such as full head ejection systems and quirks.
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The name "Succesion Wars" doesn't mean anything to a new player until they read the back cover. And then say they're including mechs from the Age of War to the Succession Wars? For an experienced player that's 500+ years. For the newbie that's how many eras shoved into one book? ??? And then reading the entries it talks about things that happen long past the Succession Wars. That makes it more confusing as it covered even more time.
These distinctions, much like the tank example after this paragraph, mean very little to a new player. They are examples fundamentally born of viewing the presentation through the lens of 10-30+ years of information that you find personally relevant. For the new player who recognizes the name "BattleTech" and picks up a book titled "Technical Readout: The Succession Wars", it's pretty evident that they're reading a book full of 'Mech designs that were used during the Succession Wars. It is really that simple. Quibbling "but it's not technically just the Succession Wars![/i]" is unnecessary obfuscation.
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These distinctions, much like the tank example after this paragraph, mean very little to a new player. They are examples fundamentally born of viewing the presentation through the lens of 10-30+ years of information that you find personally relevant. For the new player who recognizes the name "BattleTech" and picks up a book titled "Technical Readout: The Succession Wars", it's pretty evident that they're reading a book full of 'Mech designs that were used during the Succession Wars. It is really that simple. Quibbling "but it's not technically just the Succession Wars![/i]" is unnecessary obfuscation.
These distinctions, much like the tank example after this paragraph, mean very little to a new player. They are examples fundamentally born of viewing the presentation through the lens of 10-30+ years of information that you find personally relevant. For the new player who recognizes the name "BattleTech" and picks up a book titled "Technical Readout: The Succession Wars", it's pretty evident that they're reading a book full of 'Mech designs that were used during the Succession Wars. It is really that simple. Quibbling "but it's not technically just the Succession Wars![/i]" is unnecessary obfuscation.
I don't have to be a long time fan to read.
From the rear cover.
this volume features some of the most common ’Mechs from the Age of War to the Succession Wars.
That in itself makes the name misleading. Reading is even more so. Not only are there mechs that didn't get to the Succession Wars much less through them but it talks about events and variants that take place after the Succession Wars. And that's with through the lens of experience. Think about new players.
The very first mech, the Flea, starts off with it being scrapped and then resurrected during the Fourth Succession War. The first date in Deployment is 3032 and goes up from there. As a new player does that mean the Forth Succession War continued past 3041 when the Dragoon's contract expires? ??? It must right since the Flea was resurrected during that War.
When does the Fourth Succession War end? The Mercury fluff says it disappeared during the Succession Wars but that it comes back mid 31st century. That means its available during the Fourth Succession War? It also means that WoB won the Succession Wars in 3054 after they took Terra from Comstar and recreated Star League, right? Why was their Second Star League blighted? Is that when the Clans invaded or did the Clans work for WoB?
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If y’all want to boil this debate into a simple question, I might try to definitively answer it, if it means putting an end to it. But otherwise I’ll have to ask that it all goes elsewhere. Thanks.
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Is there anything coming out? We really don't have much to talk about. This discussion was about upcoming releases we know nothing about them now what was mentioned maybe last year.
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Yes, everything in the Kickstarter.
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Personally, I disagree with the notion that there are too many mechs. Particularly on the clan side during the invasion era. If you only ever play at the start to trinary level, it's harder to notice, but when you build units at the cluster/galaxy/touman scale, you notice that with only the classic invasion omnis, things start looking really same-y.
A Big Reason I'm looking forward to the eventual possibility of TRO:GC, because more pre-invasion-era mechs means more that I can bring forward into a revised campaign depicting a more fleshed out Operation REVIVAL. One where there's less overlap between wolf, falcon, jaguar and bear.
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Anything not in the Kickstarter coming anytime before spring?
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It would be a bonus / surprise
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Personally, I disagree with the notion that there are too many mechs. Particularly on the clan side during the invasion era. If you only ever play at the start to trinary level, it's harder to notice, but when you build units at the cluster/galaxy/touman scale, you notice that with only the classic invasion omnis, things start looking really same-y.
A Big Reason I'm looking forward to the eventual possibility of TRO:GC, because more pre-invasion-era mechs means more that I can bring forward into a revised campaign depicting a more fleshed out Operation REVIVAL. One where there's less overlap between wolf, falcon, jaguar and bear.
Huh? TRO3055, 58, 60 & 67 ALL had mechs that were backdated to be available during the Invasion- Bears could take a Stooping Hawk, Falcons could have had a Battle Cobra, the Jaguars a Kingfisher, and the Wolves could have used a Lupus -granted stats came later, but it was referenced. I think it gets more interesting where you run into things like for a while the Nova Cats did not list the Nova Cat D on their configs- it was a Ghost Bear config using isorla Omnis.
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Even with those, you don't really start getting enough variety to have truly unique forces by clan until the 3145 TROs. Especially since many of the additions the clans get in those mid-game TROs aren't Omnis, but second line machines. TRO:GC would be unlikely to expand omni options as far as I'd like, but any expansion of options is welcome in my book.
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Personally, I disagree with the notion that there are too many mechs. Particularly on the clan side during the invasion era. If you only ever play at the start to trinary level, it's harder to notice, but when you build units at the cluster/galaxy/touman scale, you notice that with only the classic invasion omnis, things start looking really same-y.
A Big Reason I'm looking forward to the eventual possibility of TRO:GC, because more pre-invasion-era mechs means more that I can bring forward into a revised campaign depicting a more fleshed out Operation REVIVAL. One where there's less overlap between wolf, falcon, jaguar and bear.
I'd agree that there's never too many mechs. Or anything other units. I'm of mixed feeling about their being same-y though. OMNIs have lots of different known configurations plus all the custom ones players can make. We actually had more with the improved weapons from TRO:3050. Their being made extinct limits things a bit, Still the fronline forces could still vary wildly. More so when you bring up units from the second line. More so than the frontlines.
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If y’all want to boil this debate into a simple question, I might try to definitively answer it, if it means putting an end to it. But otherwise I’ll have to ask that it all goes elsewhere. Thanks.
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More so when you bring up units from the second line. More so than the frontlines.
That's part of the dilemma on the clan front, with the whole Prestige and Honor issues associated with using Pure Omni formations rather than shuffling in static battlemechs. We're told they didn't really do much of that during REVIVAL in frontline units.
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So it's not actually an issue of not enough variery, it's an issue of being unable to sufficiently tailor this straitjacket of your own creation with the materials you want to use.
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Attempting to adhere to canon practices and attitudes is important to me. I appreciate when the game makes that easier, and chafe when the game makes that harder.
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We have 3 to 5 of every Omni that is available in the Invasion with different configs. I have played with some of the Invasion forces from the telephone book of WCSB . . . IF I went straight with what they had listed for say a Trinary . . . yeah, I may have 6 Gargoyles- but that means I can have a Prime, A, C and D without having to embrace the awful B. It leaves me with two that will be duplicates without getting into say a Star Captain's tailored ride or selecting something like the Gargoyle Connal. Timber Wolf? Prime, A, C, D, S, and Pryde. TPTB have noticed that problem IMO and besides getting the Omnis that could have also been present we have also gotten other 3050 compatible designs.
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and for those, for whom that is sufficient, that's great.
I'm just saying, there's a perspective from which more design choices is a welcome thing.
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Hey, y'all remember when the Battletech Line Developer asked you to take all that to a new thread?
Consider it to have a ++mod notice++ behind it now.
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<posted before reading the rest of the thread and LD/mod updates>
Mods: Please delete if appropriate.
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A quick note here, since someone might see it and freak out: I just went through the Coming Releases page and removed the already-released stuff from there, and made a few other minor tweaks.
I realize that doesn't leave a lot of upcoming product on there....except the massive, massive pile of KS stuff we're making that's not currently reflected on that page. I need to think through (and ask management) how to tackle that. Most likely, I won't add any KS-related products to the Coming Releases page unless/until I have some clarity on when they're hitting general retail. The Coming Releases page is part of the public website and not the KS, after all, so I think there needs to be a separation of church and state, based on dates of availability.
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Cool - thanx!
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I realize that doesn't leave a lot of upcoming product on there....except the massive, massive pile of KS stuff we're making that's not currently reflected on that page.
REG: They've bled us white, the bastards. They've taken everything we had, and not just from us, from our fathers, and from our fathers' fathers.
LORETTA: And from our fathers' fathers' fathers.
REG: Yeah.
LORETTA: And from our fathers' fathers' fathers' fathers.
REG: Yeah. All right, Stan. Don't labour the point. And what have they ever given us in return?!
XERXES: The aqueduct?
REG: What?
XERXES: The aqueduct.
REG: Oh. Yeah, yeah. They did give us that. Uh, that's true. Yeah.
COMMANDO #3: And the sanitation.
LORETTA: Oh, yeah, the sanitation, Reg. Remember what the city used to be like?
REG: Yeah. All right. I'll grant you the aqueduct and the sanitation are two things that the Romans have done.
MATTHIAS: And the roads.
REG: Well, yeah. Obviously the roads. I mean, the roads go without saying, don't they? But apart from the sanitation, the aqueduct, and the roads--
COMMANDO: Irrigation.
XERXES: Medicine.
COMMANDOS: Huh? Heh? Huh...
COMMANDO #2: Education.
COMMANDOS: Ohh...
REG: Yeah, yeah. All right. Fair enough.
COMMANDO #1: And the wine.
COMMANDOS: Oh, yes. Yeah...
FRANCIS: Yeah. Yeah, that's something we'd really miss, Reg, if the Romans left. Huh.
COMMANDO: Public baths.
LORETTA: And it's safe to walk in the streets at night now, Reg.
FRANCIS: Yeah, they certainly know how to keep order. Let's face it. They're the only ones who could in a place like this.
REG: All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?
XERXES: Brought peace.
REG: Oh. Peace? Shut up!
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ROFL! Good one, Sartris! ;D
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taken from the coming releases page. unsure if the text has always read like this, but the last line caught my eye this time:
Core Book Reprints
Release Date: New print editions and PDFs of Total Warfare and TechManual are available now.
A two-volume reprint of Tactical Operations will be available in PDF soon and in print later this year; PDF sales of the previous Tactical Operations volume have been suspended pending this thoroughly revised PDF release.
Plans for reprinted material from Strategic Operations and other core BattleTech books are underway.
hmm. "reprinted material from" makes me think significant cuts, crops, or revisions. Ray had mentioned in the destiny thread that a potential future AToW could mean revisions to the system as well as information from AToW companion so a more substantial shakeup of SO / IO / CO might also be possible
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Well, at least they told the people currently looking for a copy of TacOps why they can't get one...
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taken from the coming releases page. unsure if the text has always read like this, but the last line caught my eye this time:
hmm. "reprinted material from" makes me think significant cuts, crops, or revisions. Ray had mentioned in the destiny thread that a potential future AToW could mean revisions to the system as well as information from AToW companion so a more substantial shakeup of SO / IO / CO might also be possible
I can understand SO needing revision: since Quick-Strike got spun off into Alpha Strike, that's a pretty sizable chunk of the book that is now redundant...
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That only looks like about 10 pages out of more than 400... ???
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the question is what (if any) future plans they have for BattleForce.
SO's breakdown is basically
BattleSpace 2, Big ship construction rules (14-161)
Maintenance, Repair, Salvage, and Customization (166-199)
BattleForce (212-381)
Miniature Rules (including quickstrike) (386-409)
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IO has Strategic Battleforce, so they were still thinking about that at some point.
Honestly, all of the Operations books are kinda a hodgepodge mess of where do I find the rule for X?
It's probably too much to ask to reorganize them into: Campaign/multiple scenario play book, Less granular forces for larger armies book, and equipment and construction book.
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About all BattleForce and strategic BattleForce share is a name. BattleForce shares a lot of territory with AS so updating becomes a redundancy (there’s also a question of how much official support or even how many people even use the rules)
A consolidation is probably in order (I’ve suggested similar in the past)- I think the mishmash nature of the current rules is a product of the years-long rollout. Unsure how much of that is going to happen before the successor line to TW comes along
If the mission of the reprints is to cut down page counts like the TO split, amputating the BF rules from SO would go a long way in reaching that goal
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I haven't given it a thorough reading as of late, but I could have swore it was pretty much the same but each piece was a company or more.
Anyway, my ultimate hope is the restructuring of TO and other rulebooks is just a temporary stopgap, and they reorganize along unit type.
So BMM gets a tech manual sorta book that has rules and equipment for JUST mechs, but includes some of the advanced gear from TO (much like how there's some TO rules in BMM. Then they can have a combined arms book for vehicles and infantry (I figure it'd be better to combine them than trying to sell tanks and troops separately), as well as a construction book for those that contains equipment not found on mechs (to avoid duplication these would probably want to refer back to the mech books for shared stuff). Alongside that a pair of aerospace books (though, I admit, that sounds more like a print on demand product than a sold in stores one. I never got the impression battlespace was in any way popular). The real question there then becomes where does the IO equipment go it seems like it would bloat the construction books a bit too much, but if they just did a TO equipment book again we'd still be in this same situation where gears split between 3 different volumes for everything except mechs.
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hmm. "reprinted material from" makes me think significant cuts, crops, or revisions. Ray had mentioned in the destiny thread that a potential future AToW could mean revisions to the system as well as information from AToW companion so a more substantial shakeup of SO / IO / CO might also be possible
It's one of the lines I added to the page when making a change. I don't have specifics, but that's my sense of things - that the books would not be straight-up reprinted with new covers.
Well, at least they told the people currently looking for a copy of TacOps why they can't get one...
I answered those people directly here, too--this isn't some information we're trying to slide past anyone.
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I haven't given it a thorough reading as of late, but I could have swore it was pretty much the same but each piece was a company or more.
Anyway, my ultimate hope is the restructuring of TO and other rulebooks is just a temporary stopgap, and they reorganize along unit type.
So BMM gets a tech manual sorta book that has rules and equipment for JUST mechs, but includes some of the advanced gear from TO (much like how there's some TO rules in BMM. Then they can have a combined arms book for vehicles and infantry (I figure it'd be better to combine them than trying to sell tanks and troops separately), as well as a construction book for those that contains equipment not found on mechs (to avoid duplication these would probably want to refer back to the mech books for shared stuff). Alongside that a pair of aerospace books (though, I admit, that sounds more like a print on demand product than a sold in stores one. I never got the impression battlespace was in any way popular). The real question there then becomes where does the IO equipment go it seems like it would bloat the construction books a bit too much, but if they just did a TO equipment book again we'd still be in this same situation where gears split between 3 different volumes for everything except mechs.
i figure a revision of TW along the lines of BMM is in their strategic pipeline, but who knows how long that is down the road. Whatever it looks like, it probably won't contain any dramatic changes for mechs unless it comes YEARS after the clan box.
the delay on IO until 2015 probably meant a longer lifespan than they were counting on - this will be the 14th year TW has been in force as the core rules. If you overlay that with the original core rules releases, that's the same distance between the BattleTech Manual in '87 and BMRr in '01 (aka every other core rules ever released).
Assuming they do what they've always done, 3150 former-advanced/experimental-now-standard equipment will go in TW2/TM2 (much like BMM has done already). the exodus from TO leaves plenty of room for the IO catchall stuff like tripods and superheavies. I assume the AeroTech 3 parts of SO will survive in one form or another somewhere as it has enough universe precedent to not go away
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IS there going to be anything ready for Adepticon in late march???
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IS there going to be anything ready for Adepticon in late march???
You mean new, physical product for sale at Adepticon? It’s possible but not likely.
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I could see the Game books being separated into Tournament Legal and Advanced Rules. If some things have changed they get moved into the applicable book. I would also include things from AToW and it's Companion as some things don't have TW rules.
I can also see the Construction Books being separated into 4 books. One for equipment and three for construction. I'd also reorganize them so that everything is together instead of spread out. That way information is easier to find.
For the equipment books I'd include all the equipment from every book, even the equipment that wasn't included in IO. For the construction books, the first would be for Tournament Level Ground Units from TM, TO, IO and AToW+C. The second book would be for Advanced Level Ground Units, from TO, IO, and AToW+C. The third Construction Book would contain all the Aerospace Units from TM, TO, SO, IO.
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Any possible word on when the next Touring the Stars might drop?
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Any possible word on when the next Touring the Stars might drop?
I’m editing the two previously announced volumes (Gulf Breeze, Rigil Kentares) this weekend and early next week. Shooting for February.
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I’m editing the two previously announced volumes (Gulf Breeze, Rigil Kentares) this weekend and early next week. Shooting for February.
That is good to hear. As happy and excited about the Kickstarter I am a little annoyed that is derailed everything else it seems.
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I’m editing the two previously announced volumes (Gulf Breeze, Rigil Kentares) this weekend and early next week. Shooting for February.
Sweet!
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I’m editing the two previously announced volumes (Gulf Breeze, Rigil Kentares) this weekend and early next week. Shooting for February.
Great news
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+1 more for the TTS news! Thanks Cubby! :thumbsup:
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Fantastic news, thanks for your hard work Cubby and friends!
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Great news, thanks to you Cubby and your colleagues for all of your hard work :thumbsup:
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Excellent news! New product always welcome.
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Excellent news! New product always welcome.
Always good to see new product.
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Team effort, not just me. Ray and I had a good call this week with Knightmare, the mini-PDF dev, about the next wave of those products for this year. And Ray's got a pretty ambitious list of ideas for non-KS products in the next year or 18 months.
That is good to hear. As happy and excited about the Kickstarter I am a little annoyed that is derailed everything else it seems.
I wouldn't frame it that way--remember that the bulk of products for the KS are going to hit retail as well, eventually.
IMO, the line desperately needed new miniatures and that would/should have been a priority no matter what. The KS backers are getting them first because they funded their existence. But it's not one or the other, it's one then the other. I think that distinction matters.
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Hopefully minis on shelves increases the visibility and appeal of the game and increased sales gives Catalyst more income to work with in expanding other areas.
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Hopefully minis on shelves increases the visibility and appeal of the game and increased sales gives Catalyst more income to work with in expanding other areas.
Believe this is the end goal we all want to see.
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Provided stores pick up on the new stuff and stop saying BT is dead.
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provided the large number of KS items make it to retail in sufficient number (neither a given), the long list from the distributor's catalog should prove that assertion indefensible
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Provided stores pick up on the new stuff and stop saying BT is dead.
I don't think Lion Rampant and Picard will EVER agree on how many lights they see on that one.
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I know lion rampent - who's picard?
universal distribution is the most common one in my area, and they're pretty good, except for getting barely any map-pack
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Pretty sure it was a reference to the STNG episode where Picard was being tortured by a Cardassian to say the wrong number of lights were displayed. Sort of like getting someone to agree 2+2 = 5.
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Pretty sure it was a reference to the STNG episode where Picard was being tortured by a Cardassian to say the wrong number of lights were displayed. Sort of like getting someone to agree 2+2 = 5.
Correct. It was a two parter that is often hailed as some of the best of the series.
Ruger
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who's picard?
Jean-Luc Picard (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6oUz1v17Uo)
There. Are. Four. Lights. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAdGhMRBbzY)
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Its a iconic episode of STNG . . . torture of a prisoner to achieve brainwashing was not show on TV before afaik- not to that length.
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I wouldn't frame it that way--remember that the bulk of products for the KS are going to hit retail as well, eventually.
IMO, the line desperately needed new miniatures and that would/should have been a priority no matter what. The KS backers are getting them first because they funded their existence. But it's not one or the other, it's one then the other. I think that distinction matters.
Humble suggestion for the Dev team, once the dust settles from KS fulfillment:
Remix the lance/star packs so you can buy “house/clan” lances/stars; IE, a Kurita lance that contains a Panther, Jenner, Dragon, etc
Or a smoke Jaguar Star, with ebon jaguar, Warhawk, dire wolf, mist lynx and arctic cheetah.
Just a down the road thought
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Just a down the road thought
It's come up recently, it's pie in the sky for the moment, could happen someday.
The biggest factor would be which Mechs are included, more than the factionalization of the pack. Meaning, a pack that's very on-flavor Lyran (for instance) but includes less-demanded Mechs may not be successful--but because of the Mechs, not because it's "single faction stuff doesn't sell." (This is how people conflate the fallacy that "single faction products don't sell" with the truth that there are usually multiple factors why something doesn't sell.)
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Given how much of the lyran lineup would be heavy metal i'd expect it to sell well. it's the fedsuns one i'd have doubts about.
'lance' pack with three mechs and two tanks? I think that would work next kickstarter, depending on the tanks.
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Humble suggestion for the Dev team, once the dust settles from KS fulfillment:
Remix the lance/star packs so you can buy “house/clan” lances/stars; IE, a Kurita lance that contains a Panther, Jenner, Dragon, etc
Or a smoke Jaguar Star, with ebon jaguar, Warhawk, dire wolf, mist lynx and arctic cheetah.
Just a down the road thought
This was something I brought up, after I already missed the boat on the AS lance packs being a one and done-deal.
You could do it simply with a "build-a-lance" or "Build-a-star" option online. At the time; I was fantasizing about what might be in the next wave of AS Plastics and was thinking how cool it would be to buy a lance of Urbanmechs, or Panthers or whatever.
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Judging by how few companies do that, I wouldn't hold my breath. It's just a procurement nightmare for the distributers that has no benefit over selling each one individually, later which comes with it's own draw backs.
Honestly, just ask IWM why they never did that with their own Mech Packs.
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Available now in digital, Battletech: Gray Markets anthology.
"COMBAT IS THEIR BUSINESS…
And business is good in the 31st century as the Third Succession War rages on battlefields ruled by the almighty BattleMech: ten-meter-tall humanoid machines of pure destruction. Continuous warfare between the five Great Houses of the Inner Sphere has led to a steep technological decline, forcing the nobility of these vast interstellar empires to rely on mercenaries to augment their standing armies and gain crucial advantages against their enemies. However, that House nobleman may be paying your unit’s bills one day, but sending you straight into a trap tomorrow. BattleMechs may be the kings of the battlefield, but money, power, and machinations are just as important in victory as an autocannon barrage.
This anthology of hard-hitting BattleTech action includes six short stories that demonstrate how Machiavellian nobles, greedy pirates, and desperate mercenary units can change the course of Inner Sphere history. Take up the cause and charge your way through war-torn tales by veteran BattleTech authors such as Chris Hussey, Philip A. Lee, and Craig A. Reed, Jr."
https://books2read.com/BattleTechGrayMarkets (https://books2read.com/BattleTechGrayMarkets)
(https://i.ibb.co/0MHsYbd/Gray-Markets-Epub-Cover-1-9.png) (https://ibb.co/qsTJmQP)
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Reading a bit of the foreword . . . is it safe to assume these are not in any other collection? I know I have some like the Lennox stories that appeared in the Anthologies but also were released in their own set.
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i've got none of these in a currently available anthology
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Reading a bit of the foreword . . . is it safe to assume these are not in any other collection? I know I have some like the Lennox stories that appeared in the Anthologies but also were released in their own set.
None of these are previously released that I know of.
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Ok, like I said it sounded that way from the foreword but I wanted someone in the know to confirm.
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Oh, hey, Grey Markets! (Why, hello there 'Forsaken')
Cool.
These were originally published on BattleCorps in 2016.
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Does anybody else gets the "This title is not currently available for purchase" message for Kindle format on Amazon?
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Works just fine trough Barnes & Noble.
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Does anybody else gets the "This title is not currently available for purchase" message for Kindle format on Amazon?
No, I was able to navigate right to the Kindle page
Here's a direct link, https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0841PXBVQ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_CrHjEb3XGZQ3F (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0841PXBVQ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_CrHjEb3XGZQ3F)
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The. Book looks good so far! Got through Google books .
The intro has a surprisingly piece news for 2020 in the introduction !
Im really looking forward to it!
New Battletech magazine!
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Wondering if I should bite down and throw the grasslands map pack onto my pledge; anyone have that? Like it?
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Any chance of a Print on Demand for the new book?
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Wondering if I should bite down and throw the grasslands map pack onto my pledge; anyone have that? Like it?
I have them both in paper and neoprene. I like them and the design and artwork are far superior to anything I had in my collection. 8)
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Wondering if I should bite down and throw the grasslands map pack onto my pledge; anyone have that? Like it?
The new paper maps, like those in Grasslands and the new box sets, absolutely destroy the old ones. So pretty, and much easier to visually see the difference in levels. (Though I'll admit that some of the hex labels can be a bit hard to read in places.)
Remember that the reverse of the BattleMats is two of the maps from the Grasslands pack.
Any chance of a Print on Demand for the new book?
Eventually. It's too short on it's own to do as a POD. It needs to be paired with either or both of the other short BattleCorps anthologies, Slack Tide or Honor Code; similar to how The Anvil and Splinter of Hope were paired. There are plans to do that at some point in the not too distant future, but there are a few other fiction releases in the pipeline first.
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Im really looking forward to it!
New Battletech magazine!
That's old news. The magazine was a stretch goal for the Clan Invasion Kickstarter, the name has been annonced as "Shrapnel" since, and we've been talking about it in various threads here.
But man am I stoked about it!
Looks like the best of both worlds from BattleTechnology and BattleCorps are going to be fused together for this.
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Looks like the best of both worlds from BattleTechnology and BattleCorps are going to be fused together for this.
uh, what do you mean? What’s the expectation there?
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I don't know what going be in magazine, i haven't seen anything mentioned. I would love to see a Battletechnology style magazine.
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If Frabby means a little bit of fiction along with game useable rules ideas, the occasional new 'mech or vehicle, and other surprises, I agree! That's something to be stoked about.
But, I'm nobody, just a user, one of many. ;D
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Nothing's really been specified about what will be coming from Shrapnel, aside from at least four issues of it courtesy of the Kickstarter.
Given the title, I'd expect short stories set in the universe, similar to the anthology of the same name from the 1980s.
BattleTechnology (as well as Mech Magazine, MechForce Quarterly, and Commando Quarterly) also had fiction, to which they added scenarios, rules variants, designs, in-universe news reports, product reviews, sourcebook-style material (planetary write-ups, character profiles, equipment guides), painting guides, and both in-universe and gaming-perspective strategy and tactics tips.
I wouldn't think we'd need new 'Mech designs, equipment guides, or other sourcebook supplements in Shrapnel, since Catalyst does a fine job of delivering such materials (Touring the Stars, XTROs, etc.) CamoSpecs and other sources can deliver the hobby-specific painting tips, and magazine-based product reviews seem quaint in the age of the Internet. Thus, I'd expect (though I'm very open to being surprised) it to be fiction, scenarios, tactics & strategy guides, and in-universe news reports, primarily.
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I know as a backer I got two issues free, but to support the project I want to say I went ahead to pony up for the other 2 issues since I want to see it be successful.
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You asked and we've been listening.
We're ecstatic, to say the least, to announce that Forever Faithful is now available as an audio book, narrated by the great Tren Sparks!
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0845PCDFS/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_oXomEbF543B9Q (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0845PCDFS/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_oXomEbF543B9Q)
SEMPER FIDELIS
In the year 3060, the reborn Star League has destroyed Clan Smoke Jaguar, conquered their home world Huntress, and scattered the few remaining Jaguar warriors to the winds. Now the League seeks to end the Clan invasion for good by using former Smoke Jaguars against their own people.
Meanwhile, two bitter enemies seek to salvage a future for the last Jaguars in existence: Trent, who betrayed his wayward Clan to help them regain their honor, and Paul Moon, a disgraced warrior torn between his pledged loyalty to the Star League and a duty to the Smoke Jaguar civilization he was born to protect.
But power-hungry predators lurk in Clan space, waiting for the right time to strike the vulnerable Star League forces. And to the victor will go the spoils: the priceless artifacts of a destroyed Clan and the sacred genetics of the final generation of Smoke Jaguar warriors.
Trent and Paul Moon must fight tooth and nail against would-be conquerors to save the soul of the surviving Jaguar people before they are consigned to the annals of history. But will their divergent plans tear the survivors apart, or lead them toward freedom?
(https://i.ibb.co/wMHZ11V/Forever-Faithful-Audio-Book-Cover.jpg) (https://ibb.co/r4PKJJY)
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It's about time we see more audiobooks coming out for Battletech that is unabridged.
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Now that would be fantastic, unabridged audio books. Especially of the entire catalogue.
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Provided stores pick up on the new stuff and stop saying BT is dead.
Yeah, but BT died like two decades ago. I feel like most people got the message.
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Yeah, but BT died like two decades ago. I feel like most people got the message.
No, FASA died. FanPro simply did not have the same presences when they continued the line, WK had stuff on the selves but a different game that split the community.
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No, FASA died. FanPro simply did not have the same presences when they continued the line, WK had stuff on the selves but a different game that split the community.
A mistake I hope never to see repeated, we can't afford it.
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MANY mistakes were made I hope are never repeated... xp
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CGL has done a great job IMO, I don't see Topps licensing out the IP to a second party right now.
As for us fans, we just need to not split the community... Which seems to be hard thing to do for some. Gamers seem to have a built in gate keeper mentally as they get older that only hurts the community as a whole, chasing away new fans and alienating others.
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MWDA saved the franchise. It's the reason why WizKids were willing and able to licence the IP to FanPro to make Classic Battletech products. Without MWDA we wouldn't have Battletech today, at least not in its current form.
This is a point that's been covered numerous times in past.
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Only reason I bring up it is up to the community to not split the fan base. If you don't like DA, cool, just don't slam those who do. I mean, I don't go around denouncing the card game just because I don't like card games. It brought new fans to the table, we need more of that more than ever.
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MANY mistakes were made I hope are never repeated... xp
Yeah, like selling millions of miniatures in a period of success that the property had never seen before or since.
...wait.
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You assume a lot there.
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Back on topic folks.
Looking forward to more audio books and PODs.
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Back on topic folks.
Looking forward to more audio books and PODs.
Indeed. The DA vs. BT discussion isn't going to go anywhere helpful, so argument over before it starts. Mod's orders.
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Hey Cubby, are there any plans to restock the T-Shirts and Sweatshirt that are available on the CGL store? All the main sizes have been out of stock for some time now.
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Hey Cubby, are there any plans to restock the T-Shirts and Sweatshirt that are available on the CGL store? All the main sizes have been out of stock for some time now.
I would love to get one of the T-shirts, got to spread the good word of Battletech around.
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Hey Cubby, are there any plans to restock the T-Shirts and Sweatshirt that are available on the CGL store? All the main sizes have been out of stock for some time now.
Good question. There's recently been talk of new shirts and swag for this year, so it's a good time for me to ask.
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Good question. There's recently been talk of new shirts and swag for this year, so it's a good time for me to ask.
Cool. Would love to get another sweatshirt and another Marauder t-shirt. Thanks for the quick response! :thumbsup:
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speaking of restocks - any plans for Map Pack: Grasslands? currently it's almost as hard to find as if it had never existed
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speaking of restocks - any plans for Map Pack: Grasslands? currently it's almost as hard to find as if it had never existed
Per the (backer-only) KS Update #83, a second printing of MapPack: Green is on a ship.
There's a lot of reprint and retailer-release news I've gotta get together soon, just buried under other BT work. (And real work, and life stuff.)
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:thumbsup:
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Per the (backer-only) KS Update #83, a second printing of MapPack: Green is on a ship.
There's a lot of reprint and retailer-release news I've gotta get together soon, just buried under other BT work. (And real work, and life stuff.)
AHey speaking of reprints, has it been announced what all is getting reprinted anywhere besides one of the kickstarter updates (which one, I can't remember)
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From KS Update 83
A Game of Armored Combat (box set)
Beginner Box (box set)
TR: Succession Wars and TR: Clan Invasion.
MapPack: Grasslands
Alpha Strike Unit Cards: Succession Wars and Clan Invasion
BattleMech Manual
Alpha Strike: Commander's Edition
Total Warfare
TechManual
Tactical Operations (two volumes)
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I just want to see reprints of the first succession and second succession war books so I can finally get my hand on a physical copy
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What are the chances this year that ILCLAN sourcebook will be published?
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They said it was coming this year so there’s a fair chance
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AHey speaking of reprints, has it been announced what all is getting reprinted anywhere besides one of the kickstarter updates (which one, I can't remember)
Like I said two posts above yours, I have a comprehensive update on that, which I hope to publish this week.
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What are the chances this year that ILCLAN sourcebook will be published?
15-20%.
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15-20%.
Is that -5% or 15-(15*0.8)=3?
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I'm hoping to hear some news about golden century after things from the ks calm down.
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Wrong thread.
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It's about time we see more audiobooks coming out for Battletech that is unabridged.
I don't know how feasible it would be, but it'd be cool to see CGL partner with Big Finish Productions (the guys who have been doing Doctor Who audio dramas for over 20 years) to do full-cast adaptations of some of the novels.
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New book posted too early?
Saw a Pardoe book- Redemption & Malice, cover was a Archer with red & . . . purple?- but the CGL store took the page down . . .
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Wat...there new book out ? No one announced it.
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I THINK the page went live too early. The CGL page was taken down, and its not in Amazon . . . plus no one else posted here.
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Weird.
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Novels are coming out more than main line game products. Interesting how it panned out.
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Novels are coming out more than main line game products. Interesting how it panned out.
Except in a few months you are going to get a LOT of game products landing . . . the fiction tied to the KS is just easier to push out the door.
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I THINK the page went live too early. The CGL page was taken down, and its not in Amazon . . . plus no one else posted here.
According to BLP over on Facebook it was indeed a mistake and the story will probably be made available through the Kickstarter.
Lucky me, I was able to snatch it, while it was up.
What a tease!!
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According to BLP over on Facebook it was indeed a mistake and the story will probably be made available through the Kickstarter.
Lucky me, I was able to snatch it, while it was up.
What a tease!!
What era is it set in?
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3148 on a backwater periphery world, that was formerly Ein Worlds Republic
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Lucky me, I was able to snatch it, while it was up.
What format? epub or pdf?
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What format? epub or pdf?
E-Pub
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What format? epub or pdf?
.mobi for Kindle
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I thought there was hints we were going to get a fiction release last Wednesday . . . did that get delayed?
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I just want to see reprints of the first succession and second succession war books so I can finally get my hand on a physical copy
Yes please. The OOP sourcebooks from recent years has been a major pain for coming back to the game and trying to get caught up. I did snag 1st SW from Amazon for a reasonable price.
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The size of the print runs during 2007-2018 must have been comparatively small outside of TW. The secondary market prices on many books rival the rarest FASA sourcebooks. The prices definitely spiked after the HBS game - I’m lucky my DTF push ended right as that started to make things really uncomfortable. Some like the AToW companion and 25th anniversary art book physically hurt to buy.
The only way things will get better on the consumer end is if TPTB figure out how to make PoD make business sense for them. They will never be able to afford the simultaneous print runs necessary to fill all the holes in people’s libraries, nor be able to distribute them in a satisfactory manner.
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We are pleased to announce that "Slack Tide", another anthology, is available for purchase as an ebook.
https://books2read.com/BattleTechSlackTide
This is not being offered as a print book, though it may be combined with another collection in the future. Please, don't ask.
"BattleTech: Slack Tide
Number of Stories: 9
Authors: Alan Brundage, Aaron Cahall, Jason Hansa, Chris Hussey, Philip A. Lee, David G. Martin, Craig A. Reed, Jr., Geoff Swift, Richard C. White
Word Count: 66,183
Blurb:
PEACE MAY SELL…BUT WHAT IF NO ONE’S BUYING?
On 21 May 3052, the seemingly unstoppable military juggernaut of the invading Clans was defeated in a pitched campaign on the quiet world of Tukayyid. This astonishing victory bought the weary armies of the Inner Sphere a fifteen-year stay before the invasion can resume. But despite the truce, the fire driving the Clans’ centuries-long quest to conquer Terra, the birthplace of humankind, and rebuild Inner Sphere civilization in their warmongering image has not been extinguished. Conflict still rages above the truce line, and the Clans are biding their time until the tide of war can surge up and flood the Inner Sphere once more.
Slack Tide collects nine stories that chronicle the life-and-death struggles still being waged in the wake of Tukayyid’s so-called peace. Fan-favorite authors such as Jason Hansa, Philip A. Lee, and Craig A. Reed, Jr. spin tales of undercover operatives seeking to gain the secrets of Clan BattleMech technology, Inner Sphere MechWarriors attempting dangerous escapes from Clan-controlled planets, and mercenaries fighting to protect the only things that truly matter to them—themselves and their loved ones.
The Clans’ invasion may have been temporarily halted, but the true battles for the future of the Inner Sphere have only just begun…"
(https://i.ibb.co/VCGKJHW/Battle-Tech-Slack-Tide-Generic.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VCGKJHW)
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Looks fantastic from here, count me in!
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This shows up as a "Pre-Order" on Amazon, due out 2-21-2020. ???
Also, why not make it available from the CGL Store? ???
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Also, why not make it available from the CGL Store? ???
I've found this books are generally for e-readers. Their not PDFs from what i've been experiencing. I don't think the store is able to properly or easily able to funnel stuff into readers as easy such as app on a phone.
I just pre-ordered mine copy on Google Books for couple bucks.
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Pre ordered from B&N.
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What is the PoD target? ~300 pages?
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What is the PoD target? ~300 pages?
Good question - I don't think there's a hard-and-fast target on page count. I'm not entirely clear on whether "not big enough for POD by itself" refers to an actual girth needed for physical printing, or a size of book needed to make it worth the cover price we need to charge to enable POD. I suspect the latter. Some people might pay $13.95 for a 120 page book, but...that's not the way to victory.
I'm pretty confident that all four anthologies (Onslaught, Slack Tide, Honor Code, and Grey Markets) will be in POD at some point, but I don't know exactly when, or whether the first two would get POD'd before Honor Code is made available in ebook format.
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Are these new stories or re-used BC material?
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Any chance for a list of stories?
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Are these new stories or re-used BC material?
The Slack Tide stories were originally posted on BattleCorps.
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I suspect the latter. Some people might pay $13.95 for a 120 page book, but...that's not the way to victory.
oh. $14 is the base price. yes, i understand now ;D
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The Slack Tide stories were originally posted on BattleCorps.
Where they in any other collection? It was nice information when they released Gray Market.
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Any chance for a list of stories?
Horn and Fang - Philip A. Lee
That Old Highlander Way - David G. Martin
Save What You Can - Aaron Cahall
I Was Lost - Alan Brundage
A Cold Collaboration - Jason Hansa
Once You Go Traitor - Chris Hussey
Shadow Angels - Craig A. Reed, Jr.
No Rest for the Wicked - Richard C. White
Duty Before Honour - Geoff Swift
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Where they in any other collection? It was nice information when they released Gray Market.
I don't believe so, no.
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oh. $14 is the base price. yes, i understand now ;D
Give or take? I'm not privy to the exact economics, but the general sense I've gotten is that POD costs X regardless of book size, so we need to charge Y to make it work, meaning there'd better be enough content Z to be worth your hard-earned cash.
Where they in any other collection? It was nice information when they released Gray Market.
None of the Slack Tide, Gray Markets, or (I think) Honor Code stories have been collected previously in any BC anthologies or as e-books of their own.
Because it's not exactly a secret, here's the full list of the Slack Tide stories and authors, in the order they'll appear in this collection.
1) Horn and Fang - Philip A. Lee
2) That Old Highlander Way - David G. Martin
3) Save What You Can - Aaron Cahall
4) I Was Lost - Alan Brundage
5) A Cold Collaboration - Jason Hansa
6) Once You Go Traitor - Chris Hussey
7) Shadow Angels - Craig A. Reed, Jr.
8 ) No Rest for the Wicked - Richard C. White
9) Duty Before Honor - Geoff Swift
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The House Arano book was quite a bit less than 300 pages, but seemed to be worth it to me...
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Fiction and sourcebooks are two different animals it seems
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Could be, could be...
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I've found this books are generally for e-readers. Their not PDFs from what I've been experiencing. I don't think the store is able to properly or easily able to funnel stuff into readers as easy such as app on a phone.
What about all the other books they've currently got up then? Are they not in Kindle format? ???
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We're looking into why this isn't available on Kindle.
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The House Arano book was quite a bit less than 300 pages, but seemed to be worth it to me...
Fiction and sourcebooks are two different animals it seems
They are. All the way down to the POD process and associated factors.
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Good to know, thanks! :thumbsup:
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According to BLP over on Facebook it was indeed a mistake and the story will probably be made available through the Kickstarter.
Lucky me, I was able to snatch it, while it was up.
What a tease!!
But did you like it?
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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I definitely did! Although I want to know more about the new BattleMechs named in the story, even though they're from a historical context. I was also amused at what seemed to be an appearance by the MWO Corsair.
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What book was put up and then taken down, I think I missed something?
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Per the (backer-only) KS Update #83, a second printing of MapPack: Green is on a ship.
There's a lot of reprint and retailer-release news I've gotta get together soon, just buried under other BT work. (And real work, and life stuff.)
MapPack: Green
Interesting phrase. CGL Internal designation?
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But did you like it?
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
I loved it
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Interesting phrase. CGL Internal designation?
Eh, more like my internal designation that I let slip there.
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we have any idea what mappack alien worlds looks like? crystal forests, methane bogs, giant hoodoos canyons?
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Eh, more like my internal designation that I let slip there.
can't wait for Map Pack: Chartreuse
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I'm looking forward to Map Packs; Striped, Plaid, and Polka Dots. ;D
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Map pack grey. Warship hulls, cities, moons...
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Btw, managed to wedge out the cash to buy a neoprene matt. Super excited, releasing these for general retail was a fantastic move, it looks like it’s walking out quick!
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Map pack grey. Warship hulls, cities, moons...
(https://media.giphy.com/media/oaZk0WNSO7fXi/giphy.gif)
Btw, managed to wedge out the cash to buy a neoprene matt. Super excited, releasing these for general retail was a fantastic move, it looks like it’s walking out quick!
Glad to hear it!
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Map pack grey. Warship hulls, cities, moons...
:excited:
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I have bought both books Slack Tide and Gray Markets. I finished gray market and it's not too bad. It was quite enjoyable read I just wish it wasn't so short. I just started reading tide and this book is has rough stories that the authors are putting these characters or that's one thing for certain. So far it's an enjoyable not quite my usual cup of tea for battletac but hey it is what it is.
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I have bought both books Slack Tide and Gray Markets. I finished gray market and it's not too bad. It was quite enjoyable read I just wish it wasn't so short. I just started reading tide and this book is has rough stories that the authors are putting these characters or that's one thing for certain. So far it's an enjoyable not quite my usual cup of tea for battletac but hey it is what it is.
7th Star Guard regiment?
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7th Star Guard regiment?
Not sure, i've only gotten to the 2nd story. I'm trying take me time reading it. I think i'm 2nd story by Aaron Cahall, "Save what you can".
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Not sure, i've only gotten to the 2nd story. I'm trying take me time reading it. I think i'm 2nd story by Aaron Cahall, "Save what you can".
Ugh, what a hack. Instant skip.
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Ugh, what a hack. Instant skip.
I agree. Never a word he says makes sense. Does have a decent sense of humor.
(Yes, I know who he is. Pretty sure we met once.)
I'll probably pick them up sometime in the next couple months.
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if one were to glue Onslaught / Grey Markets / Slack Tide into a PoD option, i'd spring for that
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Has there ever been talk of 3150: old is the new new? Basically classic mechs full of experimental dark age stuff from interstellar operations?
I wouldn't likely get or enjoy it, but the guys and gals who got into battletech through the dark age might feel better about getting "ancient" minis (like the ones in the kickstarter) if they had 'leet upgrades for them. One guy I know in particular likes his shiny new toys.
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I'm happy with the stuff that was added for the Succession Wars, personally (Blazer Cannons, et al., FTW!).
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Has there ever been talk of 3150: old is the new new? Basically classic mechs full of experimental dark age stuff from interstellar operations?
I wouldn't likely get or enjoy it, but the guys and gals who got into battletech through the dark age might feel better about getting "ancient" minis (like the ones in the kickstarter) if they had 'leet upgrades for them. One guy I know in particular likes his shiny new toys.
There are a number of variants in the back of tro 3150 that fit this. Unfortunately they’ve yet to get sheets
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Still waiting for RS3150NTNU and RSPrototypes Unabridged...
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Still waiting for RS3150NTNU and RSPrototypes Unabridged...
Agreed. This is Battletech. We be powered by officially issued Record Sheets.
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Still waiting for RS3150NTNU and RSPrototypes Unabridged...
And 3039 Unabridged, and 3067 Unabridged, and 3057 Unabridged, and sheets for various back-of-book units...
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And 3039 Unabridged, and 3067 Unabridged, and 3057 Unabridged, and sheets for various back-of-book units...
3039 and 3067? I own both of those, uanabridged. Were they incomplete somehow?
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Monitors. Sea Skimmers. Neptunes.
Zechetinus. Inazumas. Avalon's. Leviathans...
They may have almost everything, but until they have everything, they're not unabridged.
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i'm guessing you'll have to live with 3039 and 3067 with an asterisk after Unabridged as i don't see a reissuing to add in h20 naval units.
the release of 3057u might trigger some kind of vicious cold front in hell
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We got Marauders back, anything can happen. I may not have reasonable expectations, but I'll always have hope.
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It’s not a “never” thing, it’s a low, low, super low priority, thing.
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How far is the production of PoD sourcebooks, more specifically the Jihad one? What priority this has?
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It’s not a “never” thing, it’s a low, low, super low priority, thing.
We waited how long for Marauders? Until you say Never, I can wait for record sheets.
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It’s not a “never” thing, it’s a low, low, super low priority, thing.
So your saying there is a chance??
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We waited how long for Marauders? Until you say Never, I can wait for record sheets.
Sooo… when are you going to bring back that DEAD sexy MAD strut avatar? ^-^
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It might be dead. If it isn't, and I can find it...RS Vehicle Annex Actually Unabridged.
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I'm pretty sure that PoD depends on how popular something is or might be. As for short print runs, I'm guessing that CGL don't want to lose money by making big orders that might not sell and would rather print a limited number that they know would sell, if they could even afford large volume runs. Going forward it might be that all books have PoD on release but no proper print run
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We’re talking about digital record sheets
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We're talking about record sheets that should exists but don't, no matter whether print or digital.
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I wish there was a way for the Record sheets to get attached to the MUL so we can have that on top of the Alpha Strike forms.
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I wish there was a way for the Record sheets to get attached to the MUL so we can have that on top of the Alpha Strike forms.
I wish there was a way to update the stat block in TROs so that it was unambiguous. Anyone could fill out a Record Sheet using the official book and they would all be the same as the official one.
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I wish there was a way to update the stat block in TROs so that it was unambiguous. Anyone could fill out a Record Sheet using the official book and they would all be the same as the official one.
Took me a second . . . but do you mean something like-
Medium Laser LT/8
Simply putting the slot rank next to the location would allow you to make your own sheet by hand with just the TRO entry . . .
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I wish there was a way that record sheets would pay for Ray's mortgage.
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I wish there was a way that record sheets would pay for Ray's mortgage.
This.
RS have been almost non existent because CGL gets almost zero return on time and manpower invested vs all the other products in the pipeline. We can only hope the app idea mentioned at the beginning of the KS bears fruit for all involved.
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While he said updating, it maybe a better way going forward when a mech gets a entry in the back of a book. Just put a notation in which 1-12 or 1-6 location the first crit takes up. For instance a IS XL does not get a notation since its location is always fixed. But a Warhammer's ERPPC would get listed like . . . 'LA/4' (for occupying 4, 5, 6) or 'LA/7' (for 7, 8, 9) if a IS DHS occupies Crit 4-6 rather than the current entry where it just says 'LA.'
IMO its a good way going forward in the TRO-like entries in SB that will not require TPTB to spend that time (and cost) creating the RS by hand.
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a van-sized electromagnet for errata if i've ever seen one.
maybe i'm missing something but if you know all the components that go in a certain location, does it matter how they're stacked?
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To some people it does, I have seen folks quibble about equipment's location being described (say in the LT) but not laid out in a RS being a un-playable design. Since its not specified by a RS where every single piece of equipment is placed.
Just look at the recent Warhawk art vs RS discussion.
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a van-sized electromagnet for errata if i've ever seen one.
maybe i'm missing something but if you know all the components that go in a certain location, does it matter how they're stacked?
But we don't even know what all the components in a certain location are. Heat Sink locations aren't specified, nor are where alternate construction materials situated.
Whether or not lower arm and hand actuators exist is also something that the stat block doesn't specify.
It's something that I think could be included in future Readouts, but isn't included currently for some reason.
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i'm not seeing adding another layer that will likely create a host of mistakes to be errata'd as particularly helpful. it would NOT be a clean or easy process.
ultimately it's a time vs return on investment issue. first making the internal sheets, then converting them into a notation in a TRO is going to take more time than just releasing the sheets now that they largely use MML (vs back in the 3039 days a decade ago when the sheets were manually edited graphics). If it were worth their time to put in the effort to release those sheets, they would be a higher priority.
i guess i find it absurd that people are up tight about approximated units that are simulated by pushing metal around on a table. if it's not an official event or money isn't on the line, i dunno, live on the wild side.
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Alternate materials - Ferro-fibrous armor slots and endo-steel structure - do not occupy critical slots so much as reduce the number of slots available in a given section. They should have no impact on gameplay whatsoever.
Heat sink placement, on the other hand, does. In my group back in the 90s, it was often a hotly contested topic wether they should be placed in the legs by default (to benefit from water cooling) or be used to pad out ammo crits in torso locations.
In this respect, official record sheets went a long way to stop players from bickering.
On the other hand, component placement on official record sheets still makes me scratch my head sometimes. Granted, art vs. stats mismatch are more a TRO problem. But in some refit cases the record sheet just doesn't match the fluff. Take the ZEU-6T: Fluff says refits are arms with a PPC and heat sink instead of the AC/5 that were shipped out to LCAF units, but in an apparent oversight the official record sheet doesn't place the heat sink in the arm (I forget where).
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i guess i find it absurd that people are up tight about approximated units that are simulated by pushing metal around on a table. if it's not an official event or money isn't on the line, i dunno, live on the wild side.
Because some tables require a official RS to play a unit, so it has to be in a DTF of PDF book. For example, I could not at that table bring Archer Christifori's Penetrator- why? It has no official sheet even as described as having Clan ERLLs rather than the IS versions. Or almost any of the 3145/50 variants described but never given a official sheet. This rule is strictly enforced in a lot of places b/c of custom problems- look at Weirdo's well known personal strict stance as an example.
And Frabby is right- Heat Sinks are the only crits that are not in a TRO-style entry laid out which mech location its in. Everything else lists LA, LT, CT, etc be it weapon, ammo, equipment (ECM, BAP, etc), or CASE. FF, ES and their ilk do not require it since they are merely 'roll again' results if you crit them.
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Looking at the Christifori example, there are more changes than just noting the extra range and damage for the lasers. What does his mech do with the tonnage freed by that swap? More heat sinks? More armor? More AMS ammo? Storage for two metric tons of Thorin-brewed fine aged Fanta? We just don't know, and since any of those can change how the mech fights, we need an official sheet to settle questions like that.
And for mechs with unknown heat sinks, yes placement is important. A Marauder operates very differently if it has heat sinks in the legs to take advantage of water, or in the torso providing some crit padding to the ammo bin.
Things like that are why official sheets make a difference.
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Because some tables require a official RS to play a unit, so it has to be in a DTF of PDF book. For example, I could not at that table bring Archer Christifori's Penetrator- why? It has no official sheet even as described as having Clan ERLLs rather than the IS versions. Or almost any of the 3145/50 variants described but never given a official sheet. This rule is strictly enforced in a lot of places b/c of custom problems- look at Weirdo's well known personal strict stance as an example.
And Frabby is right- Heat Sinks are the only crits that are not in a TRO-style entry laid out which mech location its in. Everything else lists LA, LT, CT, etc be it weapon, ammo, equipment (ECM, BAP, etc), or CASE. FF, ES and their ilk do not require it since they are merely 'roll again' results if you crit them.
Looking at the Christifori example, there are more changes than just noting the extra range and damage for the lasers. What does his mech do with the tonnage freed by that swap? More heat sinks? More armor? More AMS ammo? Storage for two metric tons of Thorin-brewed fine aged Fanta? We just don't know, and since any of those can change how the mech fights, we need an official sheet to settle questions like that.
And for mechs with unknown heat sinks, yes placement is important. A Marauder operates very differently if it has heat sinks in the legs to take advantage of water, or in the torso providing some crit padding to the ammo bin.
Things like that are why official sheets make a difference.
since the last part of my post was an opinion, i reserve the right to not really care about any of this, especially since we're talking about the vast minority of units. if "some tables" care so much about heat sink placement, they can go without until the official sheet is released.
none of this addresses the actual point that i was making - what is being suggested as a replacement for sheets is more work and more prone to errors than actually releasing the sheets. the choice is obviously being made to place priorities elsewhere.
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Its actually a good chunk of the 'current' 3145/50 offerings since those variants did not get official sheets. Off the top of my head . . . Juliano w/Clan ERLL, 3 or 4 other Scourge variants, Orion C, Longinus C, Tempest C, and 4 variants of the Havoc are all missing official sheets- or in some cases even hints.
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i'm not arguing against more sheets. the problem is that the proposed fix (this isn't the first time i've seen it) - DIY stat blocks - are inherently more time consuming, inefficient, and inaccurate than just releasing the sheets. would it increase the sales enough to justify the transcription and formatting if that data were included in a TRO? who knows. if it is the case, just put the sheets in the back of the digital version like with the 3145 faction series.
the last real record sheet release (besides RS:SW, which is almost all reprints) was the Vehicle Annex workmech compilation in 2014. we don't get new sheets because we don't buy enough sheets to make the resources spent making them worth the effort. SSW and MML are great tools but we've kind of painted ourselves into a corner in that regard - new designs can't be added to those databases until they're released officially. for sale. it's ironic that the next major sheet release is going to be the KS stuff, which we've had in various forms for 25-30 years for the most part.
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What I was suggesting was not a new additional step in TROs, merely the addition of a bit of information to the entry.
I know some sheets were unofficially released but its still not a good fix for what I assume is a very marginal (I still use my HMP) product but one that is needed for the game. Unfortunately it also happens to hamper the leading edge of the timeline.
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Extremely frustrating that cool variants are hinted at but they aren't usable. And even more so that it happens with the "now" moment of the game timeline.
If it were up to me, i'd probably cut the concept of variants in general, to avoid issues like this in the future. Advanced variants do keep older units relevant, but at the same time this leads to question why have new units at all. No variants, no problems. Let variants stay in XTROs or other specials (eg "hero units" in scenarios or sourcebooks).
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The thing that most drives cognitive dissonance is that BattleTech is a non-WYSIWYG game, yet a significant part of the community obsesses about canon record sheets. As long as the sheet in question is within the rules and what we know about the variant (or whatever), why care? Yes, crit-padding vs. extra cooling for leg mounted HS is a thing. As long as both players know what's on the sheet before starting play, what real difference does it make? It's only when one player tries to hide the actual placement of things that problems arise. To me, that falls within "don't be a dick" territory. I daresay Weirdo wouldn't be so fanatical about canon sheets if someone back in the day hadn't screwed him with a surprise in this vein.
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WYSIWYG is about miniatures and whether they match stats. It has nothing to do with record sheets, canon or not.
Record sheets are essential in this game, WYSIWYG minis are just a preference.
As for recreating described variants, if it were just about "where do heat sinks go", it wouldn't be so bad. (Especially for DHS units, since they rarely have many options where to put them.) But the issue isn't so simple. For example, take the Penetrator 7D from 3150NTNU. The descriptions gives us "AES in arms with Snubbies, and reflective armor". The problem is, what else? Does it change lasers? What about the AMS the original Penetrator has? The descriptions aren't enough to recreate the variants. And the example i gave is one of the more complete ones.
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You guys realize that the record sheets themselves are the core of the game itself that we play? It's important to have the least all those in place. The fiction is important it supports of the game and of course the actual record sheet. Also the units that show up in the technical readouts we get every couple of years makes the game function. Sure we have plenty of material over the decades. But we need to finish up things so we can move on. And we do need those record sheets.
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Re Empyrus: The concepts are absolutely similar. Given a rough description of a unit (i.e., the appearance of a miniature, or a text description of a variant), is that enough to employ it on the table? I'm not saying the two examples are identical (because they're clearly not), but they are similar enough. I'll hold at that until Weirdo comes back, since he's been identified as the main example of the latter case.
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You guys realize that the record sheets themselveslf sheets are the core of the game itself that we play? It's important to have the least all those in place. The fiction is important it supports of the game and of course the actual record sheet. Also the units that show up in the technical readouts we get every couple of years makes the game function. Sure we have plenty of material over the decades. But we need to finish up things so we can move on. And we do need those record sheets.
what's necessary is that CGL turns a profit. the non-existence of new sheets for sale indicates they aren't that necessary to enough people to justify the creation of more (or if people do find them necessary, enough are mooching off the free ones and expecting others to pick up the bill). the timeline will creep along whether we ever see the 3150 NTNU or not
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Re Empyrus: The concepts are absolutely similar. Given a rough description of a unit (i.e., the appearance of a miniature, or a text description of a variant), is that enough to employ it on the table? I'm not saying the two examples are identical (because they're clearly not), but they are similar enough. I'll hold at that until Weirdo comes back, since he's been identified as the main example of the latter case.
They're not even analogues. A different miniature does not affect the game, a record sheet does.
I prefer my minis to match stats roughly (as a rule of thumb: "does the silhouette change or not") but i don't care what my opponent has, as long as we're clear about what miniature or proxy represents what record sheet. Rules don't mandate that miniatures must match stats.
But record sheets based on interpreted stats do affect the game. If my opponent says they'll bring a Penetrator 7D, that does technically satisfy the description but also sports a couple of Gauss Rifles, i'm going to be annoyed. Technically BV takes care of balancing (that dual-Gauss unit probably costs a lot) but it is not perfect (and that is assuming the BV is calculated correctly...).
Throw in practical considerations. I can print sheets for myself and opponent if necessary as long as we're talking about canon units. Can't do that with interpreted units. Depending on time and place, making custom units (based on real variants or not) may not be possible even if printing official sheets is.
the timeline will creep along whether we ever see the 3150 NTNU or not
Will feel like half-assed thing without record sheets to support the said era.
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They are absolutely analogs if you look at different rule sets. BT doesn't hold to miniatures, but others do. Some BT players hold to Record Sheets as religiously as some others hold to miniature verisimilitude. That's the parallelism. As I said, I'll hold for Weirdo on this one.
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They are absolutely analogs if you look at different rule sets. BT doesn't hold to miniatures, but others do. Some BT players hold to Record Sheets as religiously as some others hold to miniature verisimilitude. That's the parallelism. As I said, I'll hold for Weirdo on this one.
BattleTech cannot be played without record sheets. Whether canon or custom units.
Minis are completely optional, just need tokens that can be told apart and have front and rear side.
Canon sheets just happen to be far more convenient and neutral than custom units.
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They are absolutely analogs if you look at different rule sets. BT doesn't hold to miniatures, but others do. Some BT players hold to Record Sheets as religiously as some others hold to miniature verisimilitude. That's the parallelism. As I said, I'll hold for Weirdo on this one.
If a player is using an Atlas mini to represent his Griffon, it's a little off, but totally within the rules. If a player is using an Atlas record sheet for his Griffon, that's a whole other matter.
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Reminds me of that joke about Japanese engineers using Russian plans and always getting a locomotive rather than whatever was intended.
"Hey boss, we assembled these Griffin parts and got an Atlas".
Atlas mini to represent a Griffin just means the Griffin has gotten a bit chonk.
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If a player is using an Atlas mini to represent his Griffon, it's a little off, but totally within the rules. If a player is using an Atlas record sheet for his Griffon, that's a whole other matter.
That's not the analog. The analog would be a Griffin sheet generated by SSW or MML vs. a canon one.
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Unhelpfully: the Beginners Box game can be played just fine without record sheets
More meaningfully: the existence of canon rules for construction suggests that Record Sheets are a nice-to-have that has been turned into a must-have by pockets of player culture. If they’re not a profitable priority then maybe it’s our expectations that could change?
It might be heresy, but I feel like we’ve got the tools for filling the gaps in our hands already.
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That's not heresy at all... in fact, I'd assert it's orthodoxy...
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Unhelpfully: the Beginners Box game can be played just fine without record sheets
Only if you play using stripped-down rules which are useful for introducing game concepts to new players but not particularly fun as a game. (Recently got my brother to try BT, he did say after intro game that next time with full introductory rules.)
Or if you go full calvin-ball.
For BT proper, you need record sheets. Canon sheets are the simplest and most convenient source for units and playing the game. The suggested method. RATs, scenarios refer to official sheets.
Official units are easy to use, they're mostly OK, not too good and not too bad few outliers aside. A casual player might read a TRO, note a described variant and decide they'll use that. And they'll be disappointed to find there is no RS for that unit. I very much doubt they'll start making a custom unit from a description. Not to mention a casual player probably isn't adept at making units that are reasonable whether or not they have a vague description of a unit.
And even if these are not issues, how many are going to make custom units before a game? Much faster to use canon sheets.
Which really sucks when you want to play a Dark Age scenario with smattering of latest tech and can't because the stats are not available.
EDIT Furthermore, no record sheets for units in official TRO is a bad precedent.
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That's not the analog. The analog would be a Griffin sheet generated by SSW or MML vs. a canon one.
But, if SSW and MML (and HMP) all use the Official Rules, what makes them "Bad" compared to so-called "Canon" Record Sheets? ???
Especially since I Think the ones made using MML ARE the "Canon/Official" Record Sheets.
I know a guy that used to talk crap about HMP, "Because they're not Up to date" regarding the rules, and he refused to game with anyone that had RS printed using HMP. He was all about MML. Which ALSO lets you create Non-Canon and Non-Legal designs. ;D Note that I have NOTHING against ANY of those programs. I Prefer using HMP, because I'm so used to it. Still working with MML, and never tried SSW, though I've heard a lot of GOOD about it.
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3150 NTNU in the TRO is comprised of
4 battle armor
9 vehicles
30 mechs
5 Protomechs
6 Aerospace fighters
vs the hundreds in 3145u / 3145 NTNU (many of which have that cutting edge tech). let's not act like there is a chronic shortage of dark age units.
Would they be cool to have? Undoubtedly yes. But I see why we don’t have them
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Huh? I was referring to mostly new units (Havoc, Scourge, Juliano) in the original example. Being mixed tech I could argue the Orion, Tempest and Longinus are actually 'new' as well.
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I know a guy that used to talk crap about HMP, "Because they're not Up to date" regarding the rules, and he refused to game with anyone that had RS printed using HMP. He was all about MML. Which ALSO lets you create Non-Canon and Non-Legal designs. ;D Note that I have NOTHING against ANY of those programs. I Prefer using HMP, because I'm so used to it. Still working with MML, and never tried SSW, though I've heard a lot of GOOD about it.
Yeah, I personally don't get players that are that cagey with record sheets outside of a official event. If you need to police your game group that much, not only is trust a issue but I'm not sure how you are having any fun.
I really need to give MML another go.
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Huh? I was referring to mostly new units (Havoc, Scourge, Juliano) in the original example. Being mixed tech I could argue the Orion, Tempest and Longinus are actually 'new' as well.
either way we're quibbling about edge cases. the consternation around missing sheets is largely over a small and fragmented minority of total units. this, unfortunately, does not equate to a sufficient level of demand to justify making them. maybe they'll find a home someday and maybe they'll remain a fixture in Beachead's missing unit thread for the rest of time.
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3150 NTNU in the TRO is comprised of
4 battle armor
9 vehicles
30 mechs
5 Protomechs
6 Aerospace fighters
vs the hundreds in 3145u / 3145 NTNU (many of which have that cutting edge tech). let's not act like there is a chronic shortage of dark age units.
Would they be cool to have? Undoubtedly yes. But I see why we don’t have them
Add in TRO prototypes stuff and ER2750 variants and the Dragoon variants from Liberation of Terra and there's certainly enough for a RS release or two. Besides, a RS release doesn't need to be massive.
Edit TRO3150 also describes variants for TRO3145 units that weren't in the faction versions.
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i'm in agreement there are enough (and they would be cool to have)
but would they sell enough? their long general absence does not engender confidence
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Well, they sure as hell don't sell if they're not available at all.
If making them to RS format is too costly, just sell the raw stats, i can fill sheets on my own.
Or include them in that maybe-planned RS app if it ever gets off the ground. Incidentally wondering if the proof of concept is still part of the kickstarter?
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i'm not seeing adding another layer that will likely create a host of mistakes to be errata'd as particularly helpful. it would NOT be a clean or easy process.
ultimately it's a time vs return on investment issue. first making the internal sheets, then converting them into a notation in a TRO is going to take more time than just releasing the sheets now that they largely use MML (vs back in the 3039 days a decade ago when the sheets were manually edited graphics). If it were worth their time to put in the effort to release those sheets, they would be a higher priority.
i guess i find it absurd that people are up tight about approximated units that are simulated by pushing metal around on a table. if it's not an official event or money isn't on the line, i dunno, live on the wild side.
I think the problem is that there aren't even internal sheets for these designs at this stage.
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it's been six years
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I think the problem is that there aren't even internal sheets for these designs at this stage.
Given that the variants are described to an extent and because some have been unofficially released, I'm inclined to think they do exist.
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Being in the UK, I've been asleep through a lot of this argument, but I'd like to clarify. I wasn't proposing some sort of project to go back and produce erratta for every single existing Technical Readout. I was suggesting that, going forward, whenever a statblock is written up for a product they put in a couple of extra pieces of information compared to the current (and since TRO 3025) standard. This is information that must be known, because it's required to confirm that a design is legal. We're just not getting told it.
- The first thing is which critical location any 'outside-the-engine' Heat sinks are located in.
- The second thing is whether the Lower Arm and Hand actuators have been replaced.
If I was doing this, I'd put an extra row beneath the 'Heat Sinks:' one to list the locations. Then I'd put a couple of rows beneath 'Cockpit:'. 'Lower Arms:' and 'Hands:' which would then get 'Present', 'Right only', 'Left only' or 'Absent' as options.
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RATs, scenarios refer to official sheets.
Why should RATs refer to official sheets? Why should they refer to sheets at all?
Where is a unit built, when is the unit built, who fights against whom, who trades with whom, that are things deciding the contents of RATs, not sheets.
And even if these are not issues, how many are going to make custom units before a game? Much faster to use canon sheets.
Which really sucks when you want to play a Dark Age scenario with smattering of latest tech and can't because the stats are not available.
If I really want to play the latest tech I take the time and effort to make my 'own' sheets. Which I can use time after time, so the time making one doesn't really carry weight.
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The other function of the canon record sheets is to establish cement guide line that STOPS or ENDs arguments what a machine has. People in past get fluttered because placement what they think the thing has.
I know CGL needs make a profit. They have a slim staff. They need focus on things to keep them going. The record sheet thing is important. These releases have been all over the place with thing we didn't expect or existing fan base didn't think game needed. New players are super important but keeping our existing player base is important too.
We need stable routine releases of products. Record Sheet thing one of them.
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The reason they're not high priority is that they're money losers.
So are maps. To an even higher degree.
Yet Catalyst, having no maps in print for a game that's played on maps, bit the bullet and is giving is three map packs. Grasslands, Tukayyid, and Alien Worlds. With two of those sets being done in neoprene as well.
If they can do all that, it shouldn't be too much to ask for one record sheet product that collects all the missing sheets from 3150 NTNU, TRO Prototypes and the Year of the Star League products. A collected volume would be much more cost effective that three small ones.
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the map packs were funded in part by the four million dollars collected so far in the kickstarter
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I daresay Weirdo wouldn't be so fanatical about canon sheets if someone back in the day hadn't screwed him with a surprise in this vein.
Nope. Not any such examples that I can remember.
The fact of the matter is that there really isn't a comparison with wysiwyg games, because those also require record sheets. It might not have the same name, it not even be a sheet of paper, but the fact remains that just about every miniatures game (there might be an exception, but I can't think of any) has two components to represent a unit. There's the thing that moves around the table and shows the unit's place on the battlefield, and often looks really pretty. Some games place requirements on the Pretty Thing in order to facilitate line of sight, or identify a unit's loadout, or to pay the bills of Pretty Thing Producers. Others have no requirements beyond the Pretty Thing's ability to clearly indicate location, direction, and identity.
Regardless, every unit must also have a second component, the Record. Wether it be a sheet of paper, a card, lines of text scattered across multiple locations or even symbols or a dial directly attached to the Pretty Thing, there must be a Record that tells you where a unit can move, how it affects opponents, how it defends itself, everything it can do and everything that has been done to it. Without the Record, the unit is nothing.
Regardless of any requirements for the Pretty Thing, the Record has to be unambiguous, absolute, and unimpeachable. Gamers are a naturally competitive lot, and the less socially-adjusted of our species is often drawn to us. There will always be those among us that will bring a game to a grinding halt so they can take advantage of any inaccuracy or ambiguity (real or perceived) to their benefit. That's why we all work from the same rulebook, and why we all need to work from the same Record.
Full disclosure: I have absolutely no issues with people that play using hand-filled sheets, or ones printed from other sources like MML or SSW. But there must exist an official sheet, something players can check those sheets against in order to forestall any arguments or confusion.
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If they can do all that, it shouldn't be too much to ask for one record sheet product that collects all the missing sheets from 3150 NTNU, TRO Prototypes and the Year of the Star League products. A collected volume would be much more cost effective that three small ones.
*FIRST AND FOREMOST - THE FOLLOWING IS BASED ON ME A PLAYER NOT ME A DEMO AGENT!*
From what I understand from past reports for Record Sheets is:
1: There is NO LICENSED PROGRAM that allows for official record sheets. This important due to the Split IP: CGL on behalf of TOPPS has the paper/physical stuff, and I believe Windows owns all Digital Rights. This means an official Record Sheet maker fall on the digital side.
Again, this is based on my understanding as it currently stands
2. Heavy Metal Pro, which is (again, as far as I KNOW) the only officially licensed, but that is woefully out of date and not currently supported by the licensed holder
3. YES, MEGAMEK and SOLARIS SKUNK WERKS can do record sheet, and has been used to do so, I believe we had heard some time in the past from the POWERS THAT BE that there is still a lot of physical work that must be done to ensure the math works out, and there is no errors.
Again, this is my understanding.
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the map packs were funded in part by the four million dollars collected so far in the kickstarter
Grasslands and it's associated neoprenes were out long before the Kickstarter.
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Grasslands and it's associated neoprenes were out long before the Kickstarter.
yeah, as part of the "completely shut down the line and put all the priority into the new player experience" plan of 2018-19. this does not include a hundred fringe units (prototypes unabridged excepted)
Edit: It should be noted that we ARE getting new canon sheets in the back of Turning Points and other products - they're just not the sheets you personally want. tokasha turned up with plenty of interesting surprises. golden century will presumably as well if it ever sees the light of day. it's pretty clear that without an explicit vehicle to justify including them, the record sheet book (pdf) is largely an endangered species based on recent history (post-3145u/ntnu).
because of the nature of human attention span, your player base needs to be disproportionally new - most aren't going to make it much past even the base game or the first expansion (which we now have in CI). to most people trying the game out without a fast track from being surrounded by vets, if the base game is Battletech 1, then the Dark Age will seem like Battletech 4 with five DLCs. the timeline got too stretched out to keep the whole garden watered. dark age record sheets are just one part of the collateral damage.
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Full disclosure: I have absolutely no issues with people that play using hand-filled sheets, or ones printed from other sources like MML or SSW. But there must exist an official sheet, something players can check those sheets against in order to forestall any arguments or confusion.
Its this . . . not about trust, but just keeping it simple and cutting down on any friction so the game is about playing and not arguing. My group has the rule requiring official record sheets as the source . . . but I use my HMP sheets though sometimes I have to fill in parts when it has advanced tech in crits (AES for example), some use SSW, one or two guys use MML, we had someone using sheets from products in the early 90s, and we have someone who uses copies of blank sheets that he hand fills in from sources.
Afaik none of the sheets have ever been questioned for accuracy, but if someone is unfamiliar with a variant or even the base design (like when I pull out 3145 designs for open games) you just say what product its from. Some times it results at someone looking at it on Sarna and then checking out more 'current' designs because the tech changes the capabilities- lol, made some Pixiu fans that way.
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The record sheet thing is important.
No. There are thousands of units with 'official' sheets. A few dozens known units w/o these. So what?
If you can't live w/o playing these few units: make your own sheets. Show them to your playing group, if needed include their input. If there's no accord: wait until the most vocal naysayer isn't present and play your unit at this opportunity.
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So... Anything about upcoming products? This talk of record sheets that aren't upcoming products seems out of place here.
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Audio book is still in the works
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So... Anything about upcoming products? This talk of record sheets that aren't upcoming products seems out of place here.
Well the sheets should be upcoming products.
Or at least the stats.
In absence of those... TRO Golden Century? That Milestones series? IlClan? New Spotlight On?
New record sheets?
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yeah, as part of the "completely shut down the line and put all the priority into the new player experience" plan of 2018-19. this does not include a hundred fringe units (prototypes unabridged excepted)
snip
because of the nature of human attention span, your player base needs to be disproportionally new - most aren't going to make it much past even the base game or the first expansion (which we now have in CI). to most people trying the game out without a fast track from being surrounded by vets, if the base game is Battletech 1, then the Dark Age will seem like Battletech 4 with five DLCs. the timeline got too stretched out to keep the whole garden watered. dark age record sheets are just one part of the collateral damage.
They should've finished the Dark Age and set up new introduction period in IlClan era. Move folks to the current moment of the timeline, something that is actually clean sleet for everyone, and leave 31st century to historicals.
Now, i like new minis, but i would like them more if they were at proper place in the timeline...
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An introduction era for new players needs intro tech 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And then - maybe - some standard tech.
Also one manual with all necessary rules.
That's not something I see in the ilClan time period.
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An introduction era for new players needs intro tech 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And then - maybe - some standard tech.
Also one manual with all necessary rules.
That's not something I see in the ilClan time period.
The few pieces of text we've seen from IlClan era imply introtech machines are used in gladiatorial combat.
Intro rules can be set in such things, using old tech.
Or things can be set in the Periphery. Or whatever else contrived thing can be done if needed.
Alternatively you can prune tech for an intro product, and have variants featured there use only tech described in the intro rules.
Only ER lasers and ER PPC and flamer for energy weapons, only double heat sinks, only one type of engine, etc etc.
Tech isn't a reason not to use latest time period. Just an excuse at best.
Time period isn't a problem either. Just set things in median res, like original BT was set during the late Third Succession War. A new intro set could've been set, say, the 101st year of the Third Star League.
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Audio book is still in the works
Audiobooks, plural - nothing specific to announce yet, but management is aware of the positive reception to the two so far and has greenlit more. Takes a little while to produce them.
In absence of those...
Lightning round!
TRO Golden Century?
Art is in process, same for TRO IrregularTech. Hoping to have some preview art to share in the not-too-distant future. It'll be in this thread and on social media and the website when ready.
That Milestones series?
Not dead. ilClan first.
IlClan?
Not dead. Milestones first.
...I kid. The story summit last fall led to some revisions and updates. It's got some wind under it, especially on the fiction side building up to it.
New Spotlight On?
Two new ones are next on my list of things to edit.
New record sheets?
You were doing so well.
I've followed the recent RS discussion, just haven't had anything new or interesting to add to it. It's a known problem. Ray or management would have to speak to any plans to address. In fact, Ray did:
It’s not a “never” thing, it’s a low, low, super low priority, thing.
An introduction era for new players needs intro tech 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And then - maybe - some standard tech.
Please, please, for the love of god, let's not go down this road again.
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The few pieces of text we've seen from IlClan era imply introtech machines are used in gladiatorial combat.
Intro rules can be set in such things, using old tech.
Or things can be set in the Periphery. Or whatever else contrived thing can be done if needed.
Alternatively you can prune tech for an intro product, and have variants featured there use only tech described in the intro rules.
Only ER lasers and ER PPC and flamer for energy weapons, only double heat sinks, only one type of engine, etc etc.
Tech isn't a reason not to use latest time period. Just an excuse at best.
Time period isn't a problem either. Just set things in median res, like original BT was set during the late Third Succession War. A new intro set could've been set, say, the 101st year of the Third Star League.
Close but wrong, what we've seen, including I think some forum posts, can't remember exactly, suggests that there will be a new, unified, tech-base and any units not manufactured under it are hopelessly out of date and using them in combat against new-tech units is a quick trip to an early grave, thus they are used in gladiatorial combat.
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Lightning round!
Wait, whoah, Irregular Tech is a thing? I honestly thought that was completely canned. No idea why though.
Good news, both TROs. Can't wait for news.
Okay, figured Milestones is tied with IlClan somehow. It got announced way too early certainly...
Was the story summit stuff public or only for CGL and KS backers who qualified?
Interesting to see what's next for Spotlight Ons.
Sorry 'bout the record sheet thing, just frustrated about them. And worried about future TROs and whether they get record sheets because stuff got skipped and most recent release i recall is primarily rehashing stuff (RS Succession Wars).
Close but wrong, what we've seen, including I think some forum posts, can't remember exactly, suggests that there will be a new, unified, tech-base and any units not manufactured under it are hopelessly out of date and using them in combat against new-tech units is a quick trip to an early grave, thus they are used in gladiatorial combat.
I wasn't talking about what previous line devs may have thought. There are no indications unified tech base is gonna be a thing nowadays. I was just throwing an example how things could be done.
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Nope. Not any such examples that I can remember.
*snip*
Full disclosure: I have absolutely no issues with people that play using hand-filled sheets, or ones printed from other sources like MML or SSW. But there must exist an official sheet, something players can check those sheets against in order to forestall any arguments or confusion.
Thank you for the clarification! On that basis, I still maintain as long as everyone gets a look at everyone else's sheets prior to the game so there are no surprises, everything is copacetic. Official record sheets may or may not factor into that. Personally, I would have absolutely no issues with a heat sink here or there being placed differently (regardless of what that does to the chance of an ammo explosion), and I'll note that SSW (at least) does show where they are placed, as well as what actuators are present or not.
All that said, I'm perfectly happy to use sheets provided by a GM (which has been the case for most of the games I've recently played). If I think a GM has made an error, I'll certainly point it out, but I'll also certainly abide by their judgment of the particular case.
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Was the story summit stuff public or only for CGL and KS backers who qualified?
I think you're conflating two different things.
Khan-level backers for the recent KS will have a gathering with CGL management and guests of honor; that's happening in the near future. What may or may not become public from that, I can't say. (My own advice to management has been PR 101: assume anything said or done will be shared publicly in some form...but use that fact to hype upcoming and exciting things.)
What I was referring to was a story summit last fall only for BT developers and top contributors to chart out plot and product for the next few years. Those details, obviously, are not public and will play out...over the next few years.
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What I was referring to was a story summit last fall only for BT developers and top contributors to chart out plot and product for the next few years. Those details, obviously, are not public and will play out...over the next few years.
Herb trolledshared some interesting pictures from the last one of these before he left the position of Line Dev, any pics from this one?
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I remember seeing a handful back in the fall, when it occurred. But I don't think there were any teasers (true and otherwise) like Herb posted back then--it was just shots of folks around a conference table.
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I think you're conflating two different things.
Khan-level backers for the recent KS will have a gathering with CGL management and guests of honor; that's happening in the near future. What may or may not become public from that, I can't say. (My own advice to management has been PR 101: assume anything said or done will be shared publicly in some form...but use that fact to hype upcoming and exciting things.)
What I was referring to was a story summit last fall only for BT developers and top contributors to chart out plot and product for the next few years. Those details, obviously, are not public and will play out...over the next few years.
Ahh, i see. I just remember there was some KS update about story summit and there was talk about high-tier backers something-something-something CGL. Thought they were the same thing.
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Before someone asks, no i did not watch the vid. I absorb info very poorly from vids of someone just talking so i never bother. I might remember a face afterwards though, i'm mostly visual learner.
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Hopefully new reading material will come out soon.
Im worried with mass cancellations going on now over medical emergency that Origins Game Fair and Gencon will get prematurely cancelled before the new stuff will get more delayed.
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I am glad to hear y'all are working on Golden Century, Irregular tech, Il Clan and other items. Just like to hear or see samples or more update information. I can dream.
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We are pleased to announce that "Lethal Heritage", The Blood of Kerensky trilogy book one, is back in print, for the first time in roughly 30 years. And it has a new cover by Alex Iglesias, who is also doing the cover art for books two and three.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335170/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WKXAEbBHKTXJB (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335170/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WKXAEbBHKTXJB)
"A DANGEROUS NEW ENEMY APPROACHES…
Two decades after the events that nearly brought the Successor States to the brink of all-out war, the Great Houses exist in an uneasy peace.
But now, from out beyond the Periphery comes a new threat. A swift-moving military force of unknown origin.
Nothing the Inner Sphere has can stop them. Their power, speed, and ferocity are unparalleled. Some of the finest warriors and ablest units have challenged them and been crushed. No force has faced them and won.
They are the Clans! A military juggernaut whose sole reason for existence is battle. A race that selectively breeds itself for combat.
Humanity’s only hope is an alliance of mortal enemies. The Federated Commonwealth and the Draconis Combine, interstellar empires at war for 300 years, must now stand side-by-side—or face certain destruction."
(https://i.ibb.co/0DhhC29/Lethal-Heritage-NEW-EPUB-Cover-3-4a.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Wxggk5z)
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Love that new cover art! Ah, the description brings back fine memories...
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Does this mean our e-pub will change to that cover?
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I like how it's reminiscent of two of the previous covers - the original FASA one and the Roc version - while also being an improvement on both. And I'm trying to remember whose 'mech that is. Is it Shin Yodama's?
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Who did the art work? Anthony Scroggins ? It's very nice.
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The cover is in fact an homage to the covers of the previous two print editions, Shin Yodama’s first encounter with “Toads.” It was done by Alex Iglesias.
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Who did the art work? Anthony Scroggins ? It's very nice.
I also included the artist in the first paragraph of my post. Here's doing new cover for the other two books in the trilogy also.
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Art is in process, same for TRO IrregularTech. Hoping to have some preview art to share in the not-too-distant future. It'll be in this thread and on social media and the website when ready.
:excited: :excited: :excited:
Quote from: BoyOfSummer on 11 March 2020, 15:26:58
An introduction era for new players needs intro tech 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And then - maybe - some standard tech.
Please, please, for the love of god, let's not go down this road again.
Why couldn't there be a variety of tech levels per era? ??? The tech still exists and is still in use. Plus it'd make more sense to have intro units for each era than force new players start in the late 3rd Succession War and then have to jump a hundred years to play in the currant era. According the the MUL there's currently 13 introductory mechs available during the Dark Ages. Why not give them updated fluff to show their use during the past 50 years? That way new players can start playing in the Dark Ages?
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What’s the mad cat icon in the lower right?
Does this mean our e-pub will change to that cover?
FWIW it has in the cgl store
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What’s the mad cat icon in the lower right?
The Clan Invasion era icon, looks like.
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*Looks at the new Lethal Heritage art, then at the ROC art...*
...so, can I just print that out and tape it over the original? Asking for a friend...
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The Clan Invasion era icon, looks like.
Ah, yup. That it is.
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We are pleased to announce that "Legal Heritage", The Blood of Kerensky trilogy book one, . . .
legal or lethal. no big difference - if you ask a clanner. ;D :D
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A coalition of the Inner Sphere's best attorneys is assembled to combat their greatest threat - a litigious onslaught from beyond the bar spearheaded by Kerensky and Ward - hostile takeover specialists since 2821
WHO WILL EMERGE WITH A SUMMARY DECISION
LEGAL HERITAGE
(invaded by mutants from beyond? call Kurita and Yodama today)
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Mods, split this off please? Looks like people want to keep going for the 500th time on this, but I don't want them doing it here.
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Done. I think I got them all...
In any case, the tech level discussion is considered off topic. Please direct your posts on that subject here: https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=68583.0
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Any chance Rigil Kentares or Gulf Breeze shows up this year?
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Finished the edit on Rigil last month. Literally finalizing Gulf Breeze now to send tonight.
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[sick guitar riff]
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The reason they're not high priority is that they're money losers.
So are maps. To an even higher degree.
I understand that the heavy stock hexpack ones were. But a lot of that was overproduction, the then-availability of fanpro map compilations, and the heavy cardstock material.
CGL guys, you willing to tell us if mappack: grasslands made money? Or at least wasn't a loss? Because several of the above problems aren't relevant to the new product.
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I understand that the heavy stock hexpack ones were. But a lot of that was overproduction, the then-availability of fanpro map compilations, and the heavy cardstock material.
CGL guys, you willing to tell us if mappack: grasslands made money? Or at least wasn't a loss? Because several of the above problems aren't relevant to the new product.
The big issue was that the price of cardboard went up, so it becomes hard to justify the prices required to actually make a profit.
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CGL guys, you willing to tell us if mappack: grasslands made money? Or at least wasn't a loss?
No -- but it's getting a reprint, if that points you in the right direction.
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Here's something to add a little 'color' to your day! 56 pages of fun and activities, coming soon to PDF and POD!
(https://i.ibb.co/hdj3Zm4/Battle-Tech-Activity-Book-3-18a-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xg0xf7B) (https://i.ibb.co/G2MWQj8/Battle-Tech-Activity-Book-3-18a-11.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BZ6y2RQ) (https://i.ibb.co/mN3Xmn1/Battle-Tech-Activity-Book-3-18a-28.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z20Y3Qt)
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Is it canon? ::)
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Yes, including any and all 'Mechs constructed with the cut-out "Build Your Own Mech" pages. Let's get weird.
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Here's something to add a little 'color' to your day! 56 pages of fun and activities, coming soon to PDF and POD!
(https://i.ibb.co/mN3Xmn1/Battle-Tech-Activity-Book-3-18a-28.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z20Y3Qt)
I just hope the mazes aren't like these:
(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/53/34/0d/53340d8b3f0edf13f18f057b7872c6c2.jpg)
(https://miro.medium.com/max/441/1*luY6fVm0QYDWEH1tlPiWtw.png)
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Yes, including any and all 'Mechs constructed with the cut-out "Build Your Own Mech" pages. Let's get weird.
*Lightning flashes*
I can't wait to build my own Frankenstein's Mech! *Insert mad cackling here*
Also, will it be pay what you want or will it be a couple bucks? Either way, my AmEx is ready and waiting.
(Psst: Even if it's free, I'll still go buy several other products to cover it... :D ;D )
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*Lightning flashes*
I can't wait to build my own Frankenstein's Mech! *Insert mad cackling here*
Easily my favorite thing in the book, though the codes are close.
("Drink...more....Timbiqui Dark??? Aww $#%#!!")
Also, will it be pay what you want or will it be a couple bucks? Either way, my AmEx is ready and waiting.
Not sure. Likely not free free, because design work went in.
I just hope the mazes aren't like these:
(https://miro.medium.com/max/441/1*luY6fVm0QYDWEH1tlPiWtw.png)
Oh look, a graphical depiction of life right now.
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I just hope the mazes aren't like these:
(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/53/34/0d/53340d8b3f0edf13f18f057b7872c6c2.jpg)
(https://miro.medium.com/max/441/1*luY6fVm0QYDWEH1tlPiWtw.png)
Those two are proposed roadmaps to peace in the Inner Sphere.
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With enough C8 explosives, you can get through any maze. :))
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(https://miro.medium.com/max/441/1*luY6fVm0QYDWEH1tlPiWtw.png)
The real Smoke Jaguar maze.
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I just hope my maze is this easy :D
(https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Amusing-Epic-Design-Fails-maze.jpg)
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My toddler will love being able to color mechs on his own . . . when we remember to get the crayons down from the highest shelf.
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Be kinda neat this came out on April Fools Day. :D Still paying for it and canon but maybe that could be the day?
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Be kinda neat this came out on April Fools Day. :D Still paying for it and canon but maybe that could be the day?
I loved the April Fools Jokes. I wish they would make a come back.
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I just hope the mazes aren't like these:
The Church of Nanoha has a solution.
(https://i.imgur.com/e1k3F49.png)
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Here's something to add a little 'color' to your day! 56 pages of fun and activities, coming soon to PDF and POD!
(https://i.ibb.co/hdj3Zm4/Battle-Tech-Activity-Book-3-18a-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xg0xf7B)
Nothing's coming out of China anytime soon, so here's what we can give you. ;)
Seriously, a lighthearted product like this is exactly what we need right now.
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Nothing's coming out of China anytime soon, so here's what we can give you. ;)
Seriously, a lighthearted product like this is exactly what we need right now.
Not all BT printing is done in China, and there's an example currently at the printers.
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That second maze posted by NeonKnight is totally solvable... the squares outside the maze are exactly as legal as the ones inside it... ^-^
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Here's something to add a little 'color' to your day! 56 pages of fun and activities, coming soon to PDF and POD!
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Repeating a message I just posted as a separate (locked) topic and on the website and all social media:
Greetings,
The entire world is struggling with the ramifications of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Family and friends who may be sick. Struggling businesses. Self-isolation. On behalf of everyone at Catalyst Game Labs, our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the outbreak.
As a virtual company Catalyst continues to operate fairly normally. We have game lines requiring our ongoing attention, and at some point (we assume) life will return to something approaching normal. Still, we encourage our employees and our fans out there to practice extreme safety measures. Follow the ongoing advice of health care professionals. Try to socially distance yourselves as much as is practical.
We understand that gamers are social creatures, so this will be hard for us; dealing with the closing of our favorite conventions and our local game stores who may also be self-isolating. Everyone at Catalyst is saddened that we may miss seeing so many friends this year.
At this time, we are anticipating and preparing for a delay of several weeks to the production, shipment, and distribution of our products, for regular release and for the BattleTech: Clan Invasion Kickstarter. We are exploring alternative options to mitigate delays, including domestic U.S. printing. We will keep you updated as we learn more from our production and shipping vendors.
While there may not be much we can do from a health care perspective, Catalyst will be offering a 20% discount store-wide on our online store (http://store.catalystgamelabs.com), with an additional 20% discount on non-BattleTech, non-Shadowrun products, for the next month to encourage our fans to stay home. Catch up on the latest BattleTech novel. Complete your Shadowrun RPG collection. If your family is healthy, maybe try a new boardgame.
(Note: the 20% discount for non-BattleTech, non-Shadowrun products is shown in the store listings; the blanket 20% discount will be applied to all items once they’re in your cart.)
If our FLGS friends have any ideas on how we can help them in this trying time, reach out to us and let us know.
It doesn’t feel like much, but they say every little bit helps.
Be safe, and we look forward to seeing everyone on the other side of this world tragedy.
Loren & Heather Coleman
Please note: the digital versions of Total Warfare, TechManual, BattleMech Manual, Technical Readout: Succession Wars, Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, and Alpha Strike: Commander's Edition were recently updated with new versions. These versions contain no major changes, only errata fixes. Customers who purchased earlier versions of these products either on the Catalyst Web Store or DriveThruRPG should have received an e-mail informing them that the updated versions are available for download.
However, due to a technical glitch, multiple files may appear. Customers can download each, and check the dates on the back cover page and the Table of Contents page to determine the most recent, updated version. We hope to have this issue resolved soon.
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Thanks guys! :)
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Thanks guys good health to you and all other gamers
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Nice, glad CGL did this. It's very thoughtful thing to do.
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At this time, we are anticipating and preparing for a delay of several weeks to the production, shipment, and distribution of our products, for regular release and for the BattleTech: Clan Invasion Kickstarter.
We are taken utterly by surprise, and think this is cause to gripe endlessly, right guys? [/unfunny]
More seriously, things are hard all over. I have some savings, but expect to lose at least a couple months of work over covid.
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Thanks for doing this guys. Already bought just about everything I'm interested in over the past decade but I found room in my wallet for a couple more PDFs. Hope this pittance helps even a little.
Best of fortune to you at CGL and hope you and your kin all make it through this OK :thumbsup:
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The big issue was that the price of cardboard went up, so it becomes hard to justify the prices required to actually make a profit.
I remember after the last Single Box Set came out (the one with all the minis used for the AS Lance packs), Randall told us at the "What's Up With CGL?" Seminar at GC that year, the cost of the cardboard for the BOXES alone was enough to make them LOSE money on the entire run. :(
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I remember after the last Single Box Set came out (the one with all the minis used for the AS Lance packs), Randall told us at the "What's Up With CGL?" Seminar at GC that year, the cost of the cardboard for the BOXES alone was enough to make them LOSE money on the entire run. :(
YIKES.
Now that's a thing I hadn't heard, but that's pretty rough.
Definitely a loss leader there.
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I remember after the last Single Box Set came out (the one with all the minis used for the AS Lance packs), Randall told us at the "What's Up With CGL?" Seminar at GC that year, the cost of the cardboard for the BOXES alone was enough to make them LOSE money on the entire run. :(
Where is that printing company buying cardboard??? From virgin forest wood to make into cardboard??? That utter insane.
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Where is that printing company buying cardboard??? From virgin forest wood to make into cardboard??? That utter insane.
The dark side of supply and demand, and there was so much demand.
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Now Available - The BattleTech Activity Book in PDF; Coming Soon - TRO: Jihad
Hotly anticipated by MechWarriors of all stripes and beleaguered parents everywhere, we're proud to release the BattleTech Activity Book as a free PDF (and pay-what-you-wish on DriveThruRPG)! (CGL Webstore (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-activity-book) // DTRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/307657/BattleTech-Activity-Book)) The book will be available in print-on-demand hard copy in the near future; it's winding its way through the POD process now.
This 56-page coloring and activity book will provide hours of fun, showcasing line art of 'Mechs from the BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat boxed set and the upcoming BattleTech: Clan Invasion boxed set.
Join the Clans and all their friends on their fun-filled adventures against the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere! MechWarriors of all ages can take command--each page features 'Mechs to color, puzzles, mazes, games, cutting activities and things to make and do. Your favorite 'Mechs and characters are featured in other great BattleTech products. Look for them at your local game store!
(https://i.ibb.co/HTxzNt4/Battle-Tech-Activity-Book-COVER-for-display.png) (https://ibb.co/9HVTwbg)
Also, coming very soon to hard copy print release and PDF: Technical Readout: Jihad. Following up on Technical Readout: Succession Wars and Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, this volume presents 'Mechs compiled from long out-of-print volumes. Check out the cover art and back cover copy below:
November 3067 saw the culmination of work two centuries in the making, work begun by Primus Conrad Toyama of ComStar, successor to Jerome Blake and the man responsible for single-handedly turning ComStar into a pseudo-religious organization with a vision: to lead mankind to the light.
But then the Second Star League collapsed.
Denied their dream, the Blakists fought to preserve the Star League against the follies of the Great Houses, its fanaticism manifested as the Jihad: a horrific war that pitted every nation against each other. This era saw bleeding edge machines march off to war, while venerable ’Mechs continued to receive upgrades and facelifts. Even primitive ’Mechs not seen in over half a millennia once again appear on the battlefield.
Technical Readout: Jihad expands on Technical Readout: Succession Wars and Technical Readout: Clan Invasion by combining ’Mechs previously found in Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, Technical Readout: 3060, Technical Readout: 3067, Technical Readout: 3075, Technical Readout: 3085, and Technical Readout: Project Phoenix. This volume features some of the most common ’Mechs from the Jihad, and each machine is accompanied by an illustration, a description of its history, capabilities, and game stats.
(https://i.ibb.co/QQ0PpjL/Technical-Readout-Jihad-COVER-for-Display.png) (https://ibb.co/vq93Vvp)
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Now Available - The BattleTech Activity Book in PDF; Coming Soon - TRO: Jihad
Hotly anticipated by MechWarriors of all stripes and beleaguered parents everywhere, we're proud to release the BattleTech Activity Book as a free PDF (and pay-what-you-wish on DriveThruRPG)! (CGL Webstore (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-activity-book) // DTRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/307657/BattleTech-Activity-Book)) The book will be available in print-on-demand hard copy in the near future; it's winding its way through the POD process now.
This 56-page coloring and activity book will provide hours of fun, showcasing line art of 'Mechs from the BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat boxed set and the upcoming BattleTech: Clan Invasion boxed set.
Join the Clans and all their friends on their fun-filled adventures against the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere! MechWarriors of all ages can take command--each page features 'Mechs to color, puzzles, mazes, games, cutting activities and things to make and do. Your favorite 'Mechs and characters are featured in other great BattleTech products. Look for them at your local game store!
(https://i.ibb.co/HTxzNt4/Battle-Tech-Activity-Book-COVER-for-display.png) (https://ibb.co/9HVTwbg)
Also, coming very soon to hard copy print release and PDF: Technical Readout: Jihad. Following up on Technical Readout: Succession Wars and Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, this volume presents 'Mechs compiled from long out-of-print volumes. Check out the cover art and back cover copy below:
(https://i.ibb.co/QQ0PpjL/Technical-Readout-Jihad-COVER-for-Display.png) (https://ibb.co/vq93Vvp)
*Goes and puts his money where his mouth isn't*
Also, looking forward to the Jihad release. I'm getting these for my kid to go with his beginner's box set. I get my record sheets from MML, though.
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WOO HOO . . . my wife laughed when I told her this, but the toddler is coloring a mech tonight!
About TRO Jihad . . . is it TRO3067/3075/3085?
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About TRO Jihad . . . is it TRO3067/3075/3085?
The BCC is in the description. Yes.
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Thanx Cubby - Got my Activity Book.
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The click link only gives me the cover unless I am doing something wrong.
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The activity book is actually for free. But there was still work involved. So I put $ 5 down, because that is very well invested money.
Thank you. The kids will love it. And their me, too ;)
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Wow, that's a nice TRO compilation.
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The click link only gives me the cover unless I am doing something wrong.
To the activity book? Both links seem to be working for me.
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The click link only gives me the cover unless I am doing something wrong.
Wait, I see.
The link is in the text of the announcement, not the cover.
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The activity book is actually for free. But there was still work involved. So I put $ 5 down, because that is very well invested money.
Thank you. The kids will love it. And their me, too ;)
Totally worth it for me. My wife loves to color, but my kid'll enjoy the activity parts. I'll just enjoy it for the fact I got my entire family to do a BattleTech activity and not just my kid and I playing tabletop. ;D
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(https://i.ibb.co/QQ0PpjL/Technical-Readout-Jihad-COVER-for-Display.png) (https://ibb.co/vq93Vvp)
:yikes:
was expecting one of these around con season.
ditto on the toddler getting coloring pages today
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Wait, I see.
The link is in the text of the announcement, not the cover.
Ok, I feel silly that it was right there . . . its a lot of books though half were already picked over for Clan Invasion, guess it does make some sense to skip over a TRO for the FCCW. Thanks for the effort on the activity book, I am going to share a picture of the 3 y/o's efforts on a mech- lol, he sees lines a suggestions rather than rules.
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it appears the pay what you want is getting the 20% store discount - which, ironically, is not paying what i want :D
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Always like a TRO even if I have the books already.
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Always like a TRO even if I have the books already.
lol I know, I had to do some math to figure out what to put in, to give what I wanted.
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I wonder if anything new will be put into the book or if record sheets will be made for the add-on/new variants.
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This is speculation on my part, but based on what they've said about TRO CI, in the past, this is a product for noobs; basically reprinting bits of a bunch of older products to get them available.
There was some new stuff in Record sheets succession wars, but that was not received well by experienced players (Grognards) who viewed it as a cash grab for to get them to buy for a bare handful of variants.
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It's too bad if that's true. Due to this shortage anything new, having couple new record sheets variants would be nice. I'm very very grateful for the Activity Book and i know my friends do too!
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Big thanks for the activity book. My kid will love it.
I'll just have to teach him that Daddy's TROs are NOT the activity book too. ;D
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There was some new stuff in Record sheets succession wars, but that was not received well by experienced players (Grognards) who viewed it as a cash grab for to get them to buy for a bare handful of variants.
Personally, I always find it HILARIOUS when they do that, ESPECIALLY since CGL Usually makes it Pretty Well Known that it IS basically a Reprint. ;D But "Fans" gotta have something to whine about. :P
I'll be getting the TRO:Jihad in PDF AND DTF, even though "I Already Have Them", JUST to support CGL! :thumbsup:
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I recently bought technical readout succession Wars and Clan invasion. I'm doing my part! :thumbsup:
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A friend go me TRO: Clan Invasion for the holidays. Considering I lost my original books a while back, I really appreciate how much is in the one TRO.
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Bonus points to the person who made the faction symbols (in the activity book) vector graphics. No fuzzy edges when you enlarge them!
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Civil War Era is getting skipped?
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Civil War Era is getting skipped?
There is so much overlap Between the Clan Invasion, the Civil War era and the Jihad, I'll be surprised if we miss a unite between 3 TROs vs 4.
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Civil War Era is getting skipped?
CI took stuff up through TRO: 3067 and this Jihad volume will reach back into the clan invasion stock so it seems to be getting covered indirectly.
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CI took stuff up through TRO: 3067 and this Jihad volume will reach back into the clan invasion stock so it seems to be getting covered indirectly.
Maybe a little more fluff for some ONN designs.
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Civil War Era is getting skipped?
Like others said, they were slammed into TRO: Clan Invasion. Phoenix Reseens are in that book along with others books. Jihad going likely include samples TRO3075 & 3085. Which is going include RetroMechs/Primitives which were reintroduced.
As side note, i notice the Phoenix Hawk included in this art work is Plot's work which i think looks little different than the official one we got from Shimmering. Still awesome but its different! Really cool way show off this stuff!
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this volume is going to include a swath from 3050 all the way through 3085 (see the description in cubby's post above). it's essentially CI: Part II with the surprisingly small group of modern mechs from 3075 (did you remember there are only fifteen non-age of war mechs? i didn't!) and an unknown cross section of 3085 stuff (republic units or nah)
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Personally, I always find it HILARIOUS when they do that, ESPECIALLY since CGL Usually makes it Pretty Well Known that it IS basically a Reprint. ;D But "Fans" gotta have something to whine about. :P
That would require them to do research, and read the description. I've failed to do that a time or two myself. (cough) TRO:3057 not being aerotech 1 (cough)
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Will TRO: Jihad have the new lineart that's been put out recently?
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Always like a TRO even if I have the books already.
Agreed. Truth be told, I fully intend to pick up TRO: Jihad even though I have all of the respective books. I've always been a sucker for TROs for some reason.
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I hope we get another 3rd Star League intro, even if the rest is straight reprint. They are always fun.
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:yikes:
was expecting one of these around con season.
ditto on the toddler getting coloring pages today
I'm guessing that CGL is guessing that there isn't going to be a con season this year, despite how far off it is they probably have to start planing for it now, along with making bookings, so their plans are probably being scaled back.
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that's a fair assumption.
the announcement lists the pdf and hard copy as coming "very soon," which means it's been in the works for a bit. rare that we didn't even get a wiff of it sneaking up on us.
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I'm guessing that CGL is guessing that there isn't going to be a con season this year, despite how far off it is they probably have to start planing for it now, along with making bookings, so their plans are probably being scaled back.
Origins has already announced that May 1st is when they're going to decide go/no go.
I can't realistically see it happening this year.
Gen Con still may happen.
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the announcement lists the pdf and hard copy as coming "very soon," which means it's been in the works for a bit. rare that we didn't even get a wiff of it sneaking up on us.
Not intentionally - just a lot going on, and this one was kind of humming along in the background. It's very close to release, and I realized we'd never actually announced it.
So, not meant to be a "surprise" release by any means. But also, this pleases my desire to announce product MUCH closer to its actual release than we historically have.
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Civil War Era is getting skipped?
As a TRO like these, yes. I have some other plans for trying to do some Civil War Era stuff in other products.
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Not intentionally - just a lot going on, and this one was kind of humming along in the background. It's very close to release, and I realized we'd never actually announced it.
So, not meant to be a "surprise" release by any means. But also, this pleases my desire to announce product MUCH closer to its actual release than we historically have.
ah. not very soon but Very Soon™
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Cubby,
Will TRO: Jihad use new KS artwork for 'Mechs where available?
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Cubby,
Will TRO: Jihad use new KS artwork for 'Mechs where available?
Linebacker and Night Gyr still use the original artwork, haven't checked anything else (not even sure, the new artwork for them was available when it was edited for release).
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Will TRO: Jihad use new KS artwork for 'Mechs where available?
No.
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is it safe to say then that the text will remain unchanged as well a la Clan Invasion?
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Yes.
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Most importantly for me, will all the units in the new TRO have record sheets available somewhere?
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Most importantly for me, will all the units in the new TRO have record sheets available somewhere?
I'd imagine that there will be RS:Jihad because there's RS:Succession Wars and RS:Clan Invasion.
EDIT only RS:SW exists.
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There is currently no RS: Clan Invasion
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There is currently no RS: Clan Invasion
...
Ok, must've been imagining things then.
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Most importantly for me, will all the units in the new TRO have record sheets available somewhere?
Considering it's a compilation, RS already exists. It's new RS that's still a hang up.
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to get the full swath you need
The Bulk:
3050Uu Clan and Star League
3055Uu
3058Uu Inner Sphere
3058Uu Clan and Star League
3085Uu Project Phoenix
Others:
3050Uu Inner Sphere (Wolf Trap, Axman, Caesar, Mauler)
3060Uu (Enforcer III, Commando IIC, Cougar, Nova Cat, Highlander IIC )
3067Uu (Argus, No-Dachi, Akuma, Hellion, Arcas)
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Picked up the activity book twice (once as a freebie, then once I found I had some spare coin, threw 4.80 at it. Shared it on FB for all my friends with bored children at home.
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That activity book "Design OmniMech" thing is funny, a pity it doesn't have cutouts of all original OmniMech torsos.
Also, the Warhammer cross-section is awesome.
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Its likely that TRO: Jihad will be relaying on previous TRO's Record Sheets with no new variants or units unless the authorities say other wise. This has been the pattern however the releases been going. I think the exception was RS: Succession Wars because it was the starter RS book for new players.
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With the announced CV price break, I picked up the 1SW book to read through . . . what is the pair of mechs on page 140? LRM10 in the chest, LL or PPC type in the right arm, and a flamer in the left arm.
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With the announced CV price break, I picked up the 1SW book to read through . . . what is the pair of mechs on page 140? LRM10 in the chest, LL or PPC type in the right arm, and a flamer in the left arm.
Think it is a Von Rohrs (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Von_Rohrs_(BattleMech)), so it isn't really right pic for 1SW. Probably existing art that happened to fit the page well?
EDIT Pretty 'Mech... a pity it is extinct and doesn't have modern variant, would otherwise probably get one for my Kurita force...
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Its likely that TRO: Jihad will be relaying on previous TRO's Record Sheets with no new variants or units unless the authorities say other wise. This has been the pattern however the releases been going. I think the exception was RS: Succession Wars because it was the starter RS book for new players.
There is no RS: Clan Invasion, so there is no second data point to draw a conclusion here.
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Think it is a Von Rohrs (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Von_Rohrs_(BattleMech)), so it isn't really right pic for 1SW. Probably existing art that happened to fit the page well?
EDIT Pretty 'Mech... a pity it is extinct and doesn't have modern variant, would otherwise probably get one for my Kurita force...
definitely von rohrs (rohrses?). perfect match for the mini i've got in my to paint pile on my desk.
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There is no RS: Clan Invasion, so there is no second data point to draw a conclusion here.
Sorry i misspoke, i'm saying there was only RS: Succession Wars that was produced from these Era based TROs.
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There is no RS: Clan Invasion, so there is no second data point to draw a conclusion here.
There is now apparently. :)
https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-record-sheets-clan-invasion (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-record-sheets-clan-invasion)
EDIT: TRO: Jihad is available as well.
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:o that literally appeared since i looked last night. also TRO: Jihad is up
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Yup, it wasn't there this morning either. New artwork on some mechs in the record sheets. 8)
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What I get for trying to take an afternoon off from the apocalypse...
Now Available – Technical Readout: Jihad and Record Sheets: Clan Invasion
We’re proud to offer two new BattleTech products for sale today!
Technical Readout: Jihad is available in PDF and Book+Free PDF from the Catalyst Game Labs store, and in PDF from DriveThruRPG. (CGL Store (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-technical-readout-jihad) // DTRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/307875/BattleTech-Technical-Readout-Jihad))
(https://i.ibb.co/xmJS742/Technical-Readout-Jihad-COVER-for-Display.png) (https://ibb.co/ZHW6MZf)
Also available today in PDF only is Record Sheets: Clan Invasion (CGL Store (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-record-sheets-clan-invasion) // DTRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/307871/BattleTech-Record-Sheets-Clan-Invasion))
(https://i.ibb.co/3vx4gMy/E-CAT35-RS221-Battle-Tech-Record-Sheets-Clan-Invasion-1024x1024.png) (https://ibb.co/1MC7Fdf)
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Does RS:CI have any new record sheets like RS:SW had?
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Nope, not this time.
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It says a lot about the mindset of the new Star League that the intro of TRO:Jihad describes Elias Critchell, Vertvahn Chitsu, Lincoln Osis and Leo Showers as "flawed by wise"
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Does RS:CI have any new record sheets like RS:SW had?
I don't see any after a quick pass, though I could have missed them.
I do see nuSeen artwork on some all of the Reseen (Project Phoenix) record sheets, but not all except one (BH Marauder II). Little odd there.
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We don't know how long this thing has been in the works, and some of the nuseen is years old. Which ones got the new stuff?
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Thanks for getting this out to us, appreciate your efforts :thumbsup:
It says a lot about the mindset of the new Star League that the intro of TRO:Jihad describes Elias Critchell, Vertvahn Chitsu, Lincoln Osis and Leo Showers as "flawed by wise"
Particularly the fact that they describe Smoke Jaguar leaders this way, given the contempt in which the Jags were held by the other Clans after 3060. Makes me wonder what role, if any, the Fidelis played in that revisionist history.
Or the Wardens being branded as misguided, unwitting traitors to the Clans. Quite a change from the post-Great Refusal years. A history of the Clans and Inner Sphere written by this Star League would make for very interesting reading I think.
The reference to Auditor Clusters suggests that Clan Sea Fox carved out a nice little niche for itself under the new regime.
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it sounds to me like the homeworld clans came a-calling
A guy can hope, right?
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We don't know how long this thing has been in the works, and some of the nuseen is years old. Which ones got the new stuff?
Corrected my statement. All of the Project Phoenix record sheets except the Marauder II Bounty Hunter have nuSeen artwork.
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it sounds to me like the homeworld clans came a-calling
A guy can hope, right?
But only the invaders were referenced.
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So very awesome! Love new stuff.
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it sounds to me like the homeworld clans came a-calling
A guy can hope, right?
Doubtful but possible. More likely the other way around - Reunification War II being waged against the Kerensky Cluster and across the Deep Periphery. A truly universal Star League being forged this time.
Hopefully we will get an update on the Home Clans and the Imperio in the near(ish) future though. Maybe something next year for Wars of Reaving's 10th anniversary - a Clan fan can dream, right?
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Your Griffin just so happens to look like a Von Rohrs?
Think it is a Von Rohrs (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Von_Rohrs_(BattleMech)), so it isn't really right pic for 1SW. Probably existing art that happened to fit the page well?
EDIT Pretty 'Mech... a pity it is extinct and doesn't have modern variant, would otherwise probably get one for my Kurita force...
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The introduction was interesting insight to how the new League handles the Inner Sphere.
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The Star League loremaster with a Falcon bloodname sounds very pro-Falcon in that intro - I wonder if that is a hint as to the identity of the IlClan?
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Is it still a Falcon bloodname?
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Is it still a Falcon bloodname?
By that point, who knows. But I think it was still exclusive last we heard.
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Seeing as how the mods had to lock the TRO:Jihad thread and if I start a new thread to ask this question the mods will have to lock that as well I'm going to ask this here because I don't think the same problem can come up here:
As of TRO:Jihad what are the units that are still not covered by the era series of TRO's?
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The Star League loremaster with a Falcon bloodname sounds very pro-Falcon in that intro - I wonder if that is a hint as to the identity of the IlClan?
It is the Clan Wolf, me thinks. The Dark Age Wolves are Crusaders, have been since 3060s.
Then there's the CS2014 Diorama, planned IlClan cover featuring Devlin Stone and Alaric Wolf-Ward-Steiner-Davion dueling, all the obvious foreshadowing like the Wolf leader being named Alaric...
At least the Wolves are the first on Terra, i'll admit that it is possible they end up losing anyway. But figure that's unlikely.
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To the devs: Thanks for the activity book! All three of my kids really like it.
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Hopefully we will get an update on the Home Clans
No.
and the Imperio
Yes.
Maybe something next year for Wars of Reaving's 10th anniversary - a Clan fan can dream, right?
Sooner than that.
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Sooner than that.
Wut?
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imperio update this year... do they get a blurb in ilclan?
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Just downloaded the Activity Book! ... so fun looking!
what do I have to do print it off at say Staples or UPS store? Can I just put on a flash drive and bring it over? (well checking covid-19 restrictions)
Tried to donate $10, but it was knocked down to $8 with %20 off.
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I am pretty sure you can e-mail the file you want printed rather than exchanging a drive for contact purposes.
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Seeing as how the mods had to lock the TRO:Jihad thread and if I start a new thread to ask this question the mods will have to lock that as well...
You know there are ways to get a moderator to talk to you other than committing what you believe to be a warnable offense, right?
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Yes.
Sooner than that.
Whoa!
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Unexpected twist of Answer! :D
Look forward what is to come.
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Great products, just downloaded. Thank you!
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Ok, so I'm a little behind in getting the Activity Book...
I will admit this is a pretty cool thing. While I haven't been following the Kickstarter stuff, I'm loving the new Clan art that's in it.
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Ok, so I'm a little behind in getting the Activity Book...
I will admit this is a pretty cool thing. While I haven't been following the Kickstarter stuff, I'm loving the new Clan art that's in it.
Personally, I think my favorite piece of new art in it is the UrbanMech. It just looks so tough in that pose.
Edit: as to the Clan ‘Mechs, I think I most like the Gargoyle’s new art.
Ruger
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You know there are ways to get a moderator to talk to you other than committing what you believe to be a warnable offense, right?
Not since you got that restraining order against me....
^-^
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+++MOD NOTICE+++
Okay, folks, let's just stop that line of discussion about the TRO: Jihad thread lock RIGHT NOW. I don't care if you think it's funny, just stop.
SCC, if you have questions about the matter, take them to the admins over PM. That is not going to be hashed out publicly and further mentions may result in warnings.
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as to the Clan ‘Mechs, I think I most like the Gargoyle’s new art.
Ruger
Amen to that. That Gargoyle looks mean and aggressive. I'd pilot that mech in a heartbeat. I always felt like the Gargoyle was the Timber Wolf's sad sack cousin, kind of like karma biting you for having an especially great heavy mech, you get the worst possible assault mech (out of the original invasion Omnis).
Scroggins really hit the ball out of the park with that one. Crushed it.
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Dunno, the Gargoyle C was always enough running with Timber Wolves to open up Lyran formations.
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Anyone dissing the Gargoyle Prime doesn't play with BV balancing often enough. 1537 for a ludicrously fast Assault 'Mech that can critseek like nobody's business is a steal.
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Anyone dissing the Gargoyle Prime doesn't play with BV balancing often enough. 1537 for a ludicrously fast Assault 'Mech that can critseek like nobody's business is a steal.
Or just face combined arms where you need to park tanks, plink VTOLs and lawndart ASF/Convos. Given the skill of Wolf pilots in the Invasion, calling Upper on a enemy mech and plinking the head enough is viable.
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Anyone dissing the Gargoyle Prime doesn't play with BV balancing often enough. 1537 for a ludicrously fast Assault 'Mech that can critseek like nobody's business is a steal.
Guilty as charged. Once we get our KS minis I hope to rectify that by getting some games in. I'll have to give it a go.
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Anyone dissing the Gargoyle Prime doesn't play with BV balancing often enough. 1537 for a ludicrously fast Assault 'Mech that can critseek like nobody's business is a steal.
Even better if you're not RPing and can use Physical attacks.
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Even better if you're not RPing and can use Physical attacks.
I said BV balanced, I figured that implied not arbitrarily handicapping yourself in a way that takes away your biggest weapon. :P
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Aww, setting everything on fire and running through it like a mad man was always fun with the Prime to me . . . you could run into fire, stand in it, fire everything off, and be coated in infernos (pre-TW) and not even heat up.
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Wow has it been almost 10 years since WoR all ready!?! That's almost as shocking as people liking the gargoyle prime!!! ;)
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One rather interesting thing from RS:Clan Invasion: The page that describes the BattleTech eras gives us the name and logo of the era following the Dark Age:
IlClan
The logo is a daggerstar.
There is a blurb of information that doesn't tell us anything we don't already know
:thumbsup:
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Cool!
EDIT Wait, that isn't an april fools, is it?
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can confirm it's there
(http://puu.sh/FrMYc/5ceb4d63ca.png)
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I'm more concerned about the information in the introduction to the TRO: Jihad.
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After the time and resources poured into the current timeline, I don’t see 3250 being the now any time soon
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To me, it doesn't look like there's gonna be a time-jump per se, rather that stuff is getting framed from a later POV, telling "how we got here". I mean, IlClan era is 3151+, not 3151-3250 or 3250+.
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it provides historical distance without it becoming the past - for example, 3050U's new intro was from 3071 - present at the time, but now another view from the past. 3250 gives you a stable view, not unlike us looking back at the Great War and 19th century conflicts from 2020.
also it gives tptb another tool to toy with us
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I'll continue to take anything and everything pre-3049 TPTB will give us.
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I think TPTB are using a historical perspective to show a viewpoint like they once used Comstar notes like they did previously.
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... just noticed it, how long has Battlerun 2: The Quest for the Thing been on the CGL store?
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it's the april fools' day thing so not long
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Battlerun 2: The Quest for the Thing
BaWHAT?!?
*scrambles for the CGL store*
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Yeah, Jonas Hadry put it on his Facebook page but I haven't seen it anywhere here....
Cubby's probably back-logged yet again, poor guy. :-\
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Thank you to those involved in this product and others like it.
I haven't even gotten through the first few pages yet and already had a couple of chuckles.
"Roll a D20" lol
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I will admit, I got a dark chuckle out of the Hatchetman quiz question. RIP my copy of Cybertechnology.
BRII:TQFTT is amazing. It needs publishing to DTRPG so I can throw another $10 at it because it's just as entertaining for me as the BT Coloring Book.
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Will Battlerun 2: The Quest for the Thing be getting put on DrivethruRPG?
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Will Battlerun 2: The Quest for the Thing be getting put on DrivethruRPG?
It's on Catalyst Store:
https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battlerun-ii-the-quest-for-the-thing
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Jee-willikers...I'm not even a single page in, and this is one my favorite lines so far:
She melted in his grasp like a curvy, sexy scoop of ice cream.
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You get the feeling the writers were greatly enjoying making this? :)
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You get the feeling the writers were greatly enjoying making this? :)
I’m feeling the same vibe as “Alternate Chapter Six” and “Clan Moose und Squirrel”
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Well, after a TRO: Jihad a TRO: Wars of Reaving would be very, very appreciated.
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Well, after a TRO: Jihad a TRO: Wars of Reaving would be very, very appreciated.
TRO Wars of Reaving would be largely pointless, since 'Mechs used by the Home Clans should be mostly covered by previous TROs.
And post-WoR Home Clans are currently effectively put on a bus for now.
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TRO Wars of Reaving would be largely pointless, since 'Mechs used by the Home Clans should be mostly covered by previous TROs.
And post-WoR Home Clans are currently effectively put on a bus for now.
So far there have not been published any new designs the Home Clans might have developed / produced during the WoR.
There should have been quite a number, because quite a many production site and logistic chans were disrupted / destroyed.
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So far there have not been published any new designs the Home Clans might have developed / produced during the WoR.
There should have been quite a number, because quite a many production site and logistic chans were disrupted / destroyed.
On the contrary, the destruction and disruption will have prevented new designs until after the War (the Clans are a bit slower at developing new things than the Spheroids anyhow).
At least i'm pretty sure nothing in WoR book implied new variants or even new 'Mechs were a thing, the Society Omnis and
ProtoMechs aside.
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There weer a ton of variants and configs that appeared during the Wars of Reaving, but like Empyrus said, investing resources in creating new designs (especially when half of the Scientists were straight-up revolting) would seem somewhat out of place considering the heavy logistical problems every Clan was facing.
From an Out of Universe perspective, creating a TRO:Wars of Reaving seems like it'd be be a bad direction to direct new players in; it's a fun conflict, yes, but it mostly involves secondary factions in a secondary setting that leads to, what remains for now, a narrative dead-end.
I think it'd be smarter to move straight to a TRO:Dark Age, maaaaybe with a TRO:Republic is there are too many units to fit into one TRO.
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TRO DA/Republic is a bit tricky since the primary DA TROs are already split into two volumes (3145 and 3150). Though i suppose knocking out all vehicles and other units would allow condensing them to one volume?
And if there's space, throw in some TRO Prototypes units, maybe.
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TRO DA/Republic is a bit tricky since the primary DA TROs are already split into two volumes (3145 and 3150). Though i suppose knocking out all vehicles and other units would allow condensing them to one volume?
And if there's space, throw in some TRO Prototypes units, maybe.
Oh yeah, forgot about Prototypes. With that and TRO:3085 I guess there might really be a need for a Republic-era book, then.
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TRO Prototypes has a lot of advanced variants, fewer completely new units, so it might not be terribly relevant.
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most of the IS units in prototypes are up-teched variants apart from the Dola (WoB tech stolen by the CC), Pendragon, and the industrials. the clan side has mostly new units - Stinger IIC, Incubus, II, Beowulf IIC, Mad Cat III, and Thunderbolt IIC.
for me, periodization is a slight problem. Clan Invasion and Jihad run 3049-3062, and 3067-3085, respectively. going 3085-3140 (latest 3145/50 intro date for a non-superheavy quad) stretches coverage a little long. But it's not nearly as bad as Succession Wars that has 500 years of history all speaking in the present tense.
smartly selected, you could use the units to tell the story of the rise and fall of the republic. or at least get to the blackout
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TRO Wars of Reaving isn’t a thing and isn’t going to happen.
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A TRO with some new equipment would be neat.
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Yes the drought is killing me to be honest. Time been frozen for years.
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from a business perspective, this was for the best. ilClan is due this year and i suspect additional post-3150 work has not gone idle
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Yes the drought is killing me to be honest. Time been frozen for years.
Two? years ago we got Shattered Fortress . . . so it already came to a end.
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I mean new stuff, new mechs, momentium. we only got part of the story, there more to go. Stories/timeline fuel the game. This isn't good.
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maybe?
$4m into the kickstarter says hanging out around 3050 is good enough for now
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I mean new stuff, new mechs, momentium. we only got part of the story, there more to go. Stories/timeline fuel the game. This isn't good.
There's already thousands of canon Mechs (incl. all variants and configs), why do we need more?
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There's already thousands of canon Mechs (incl. all variants and configs), why do we need more?
Because shiny, and the stuff we have doesn't min/max the potential of the new gear at the end of the timeline.
I'm good with the extant collection, but understand why others aren't.
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Because shiny, and the stuff we have doesn't min/max the potential of the new gear at the end of the timeline.
The problem is that the BT is massively oversupplied with designs, if you look at virtually any other game, computer or tabletop, you will see that the number of units is kept to a minimum, generally with only option for a given role per side/faction. Even the worst made made mods stop long before they reach BT's level of unit inflation.
Then there's the problem that the engine's pretty much reached it's limit for what can be added.
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The problem is that the BT is massively oversupplied with designs, if you look at virtually any other game, computer or tabletop, you will see that the number of units is kept to a minimum, generally with only option for a given role per side/faction. Even the worst made made mods stop long before they reach BT's level of unit inflation.
Then there's the problem that the engine's pretty much reached it's limit for what can be added.
Yes that is a true problem, personally I am hoping for an 3250 with a new set of mechs replacing what has come before.
And I can see a possible future in where ERA TROs share one small group of common designs that are always updated and the rest being designs that are era specific.
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so, everything that is going to be in plastic gets perpetual updates, everything else goes the way of the Celestials? Because that is the smart business decision.
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so, everything that is going to be in plastic gets perpetual updates, everything else goes the way of the Celestials? Because that is the smart business decision.
I think that all anyone here can say is that it's more complicated then that.
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I wouldn't mind seeing the Wizkid and many of the 3055 designs getting new artwork. Also, I think we could stand to have a few more specialized armor units: battle armor carriers, short-haul dropships, etc.
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can confirm it's there
(http://puu.sh/FrMYc/5ceb4d63ca.png)
The fun part is whatever takes the Ilclan down. But I guess, maybe it makes sense to do things in reverse. Go fight the Home Clans.
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maybe?
$4m into the kickstarter says hanging out around 3050 is good enough for now
I think that's more of a reflection on how much people want plastic minis and Battletech swag than on how much people like this era.
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I know I wouldn't have pledged as much as I did if it was focused on an era that couldn't be restricted to 3025 stuff. I'm fairly certain I'm not alone.
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Who's to say it's not both? The Invasion is a good story, and a fun era to play in. And everybody relevant to my interests cares more about minis than a constant stream of plot.
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Clarification: what does "common designs that are always updated/perpetual updates" mean?
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Clarification: what does "common designs that are always updated/perpetual updates" mean?
Think Marauder, Archer. Classic designs shared more or less by everyone.
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Who's to say it's not both? The Invasion is a good story, and a fun era to play in. And everybody relevant to my interests cares more about minis than a constant stream of plot.
Well, if we went and gathered some statistics on posts about the kickstarter, I'm willing to bet we see way more "woohoo! Cool stuff!" posts than, "Yippee, more Clan Invasion era!". Not saying there isn't people that into the clan invasion, but if it was a venn diagram, I'm sure one circle would be fully engulfed by the other. ;D
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Can confirm i'm in for the Clan minis and Tukayyid maps. Don't actually care much for playing pre-Dark Age eras... except as "anachronistic historical simulations", that is: old campaigns with modern tech, something the Tukayyid maps will be handy for.
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Well, I for one am not in the "yay, clans" circle, but the fact the KS let me scope down to 3025 stuff sucked me in for a pretty penny.
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Just wanted to drop in and say—so that I can get some form of release—that we have lots of neat stuff in development and production. But—as many of you know—CGL culture has grown so used to keeping their cards close to their vest until the last minute, that even the writers, artists, and devs that work for me are always like "naw Ray, you can't show/talk about this yet," and I kick the nearest can and go sulk in the corner.
We expect in April and May you'll finally start hearing about a few things.
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Announcements of announcements are evil ;D
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Announcements of announcements are evil ;D
yeah, but I feel better. ;D
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Just wanted to drop in and say—so that I can get some form of release—that we have lots of neat stuff in development and production. But—as many of you know—CGL culture has grown so used to keeping their cards close to their vest until the last minute, that even the writers, artists, and devs that work for me are always like "naw Ray, you can't show/talk about this yet," and I kick the nearest can and go sulk in the corner.
We expect in April and May you'll finally start hearing about a few things.
I both envy and pity you for having all that cool info you can't share :beer:.
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And here I thought it was good to be the king
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Just wanted to drop in and say—so that I can get some form of release—that we have lots of neat stuff in development and production. But—as many of you know—CGL culture has grown so used to keeping their cards close to their vest until the last minute, that even the writers, artists, and devs that work for me are always like "naw Ray, you can't show/talk about this yet," and I kick the nearest can and go sulk in the corner.
We expect in April and May you'll finally start hearing about a few things.
That is good to hear. No one probably remembers me but I had 880 posts between 2012 and 2018, and I haven't posted since August 8th, 2018 with my last purchase, shattered fortress.
Some people are sourcebook people. Reading this and having a break really motivates me to finally complete my Tukkayid project.
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Just wanted to drop in and say—so that I can get some form of release—that we have lots of neat stuff in development and production. But—as many of you know—CGL culture has grown so used to keeping their cards close to their vest until the last minute, that even the writers, artists, and devs that work for me are always like "naw Ray, you can't show/talk about this yet," and I kick the nearest can and go sulk in the corner.
We expect in April and May you'll finally start hearing about a few things.
I feel like this is most likely something that will be easy to put out, so I'm guessing TRO: Dark Age or RS: Jihad or RS: Dark Age, or all three.
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there was also this
Maybe something next year for Wars of Reaving's 10th anniversary - a Clan fan can dream, right?
Sooner than that.
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I feel like this is most likely something
I feel like this better suits the facts we've been given.
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(https://media1.giphy.com/media/fMwU9EKsJsxmU/source.gif)
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Announcements of announcements are evil ;D
Sort of like the teaser for the cinematic trailer.
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no, this is
better. it's simply the announcement that there's going to be a trailer.
(https://previews.123rf.com/images/kchung/kchung1407/kchung140700244/29937461-3d-illustration-of-road-sign-of-coming-soon-isolated-on-white-background.jpg)
Us: WHAT is coming??
Ray: Yes.
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I feel like this is most likely something that will be easy to put out, so I'm guessing TRO: Dark Age or RS: Jihad or RS: Dark Age, or all three.
Recod Sheets books are not easy to put out as has been stated many times in the past.
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Agreed. If they were easy, we'd probably have a lot more RS PDFs out, not to mention more Unabridged PDFs that are actually unabridged.
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DriveThruFiction's Deal of the Day is Lethal Heritage, 40% off the cost.
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I realise that I am slightly late, but I only just got BattleRun II.
I can't believe that they actually went as far as making a Leviathans reference. There's a game that needs more help, whatever form that help may be.
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they were planning a kickstarter sometime this year. I give it even odds that becomes a 2021 thing.
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I realise that I am slightly late, but I only just got BattleRun II.
I can't believe that they actually went as far as making a Leviathans reference. There's a game that needs more help, whatever form that help may be.
Did you ever see the Shadowrun April Fool's Day book from the year BattleTech got Free TaiSt Ives? In it the runners are hired to hijack a container ship carrying the most recent attempt to ship Leviathans to the market.
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Just wanted to drop in and say—so that I can get some form of release—that we have lots of neat stuff in development and production. But—as many of you know—CGL culture has grown so used to keeping their cards close to their vest until the last minute, that even the writers, artists, and devs that work for me are always like "naw Ray, you can't show/talk about this yet," and I kick the nearest can and go sulk in the corner.
We expect in April and May you'll finally start hearing about a few things.
You can release info about the stuff I wrote, not that there's much that I wrote that hasn't been released
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Judging by that e-mail in my in-box, April is finally here!
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You can release info about the stuff I wrote, not that there's much that I wrote that hasn't been released
SoonTM
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Did you ever see the Shadowrun April Fool's Day book from the year BattleTech got Free TaiSt Ives? In it the runners are hired to hijack a container ship carrying the most recent attempt to ship Leviathans to the market.
THAT is simultaneously hilarious and depressing... :-\
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THAT is simultaneously hilarious and depressing... :-\
It was, especially with the bit about the colour of Taiwan on the map being a particular delay...
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Not to approach Rule 4, but have you ever read any accounts of the negotiations for the cease fire in Korea?
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Not to approach Rule 4, but have you ever read any accounts of the negotiations for the cease fire in Korea?
Eh, MASH made a string of jokes about it which is about all you need to know.
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Agreed. If they were easy, we'd probably have a lot more RS PDFs out, not to mention more Unabridged PDFs that are actually unabridged.
I figure that it's much, much easier to put an existing RS into a new product then it is to create a new RS from scratch, probably just copy/paste level easy, or at least close to it.
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We expect in April and May you'll finally start hearing about a few things.
And we're now at April 7! :D
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I figure that it's much, much easier to put an existing RS into a new product then it is to create a new RS from scratch, probably just copy/paste level easy, or at least close to it.
Everything we've ever heard about document layout from CGL folks says no. Easier than a scratch sheet, yes. Copy/paste easy? Heeeeeells no.
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Don't actually understand why. Using MML is dead easy, and adobe makes a program that lets you insert pages easy(ish.) There's also freeware that does the same.
Then again, I'm not a professional, so I might be missing steps that need to be taken to get to published status.
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It's not simple in the same way people sometimes look at any profession and say Sir Robin of Holy Grail style: "Aw thas' essay! I can do tha'!"
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It's not simple in the same way people sometimes look at any profession and say Sir Robin of Holy Grail style: "Aw thas' essay! I can do tha'!"
Aw coconuts! he went there!
I'm still one of the people who have not downloaded MML. I used to use The Drawing Board, but that was a while ago.
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Don't actually understand why. Using MML is dead easy, and adobe makes a program that lets you insert pages easy(ish.) There's also freeware that does the same.
Then again, I'm not a professional, so I might be missing steps that need to be taken to get to published status.
As someone who does work in marketing these days:
For starters, the PDF you would use for printing at home, and a PDF marked up for professional printing are different beasts. A professional print job isnt printing out just one page at a time and needs special markups for that reason.
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Don't actually understand why. Using MML is dead easy, and adobe makes a program that lets you insert pages easy(ish.)
Even using MML as they are, it isn't perfect. (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=64909.msg1581595#msg1581595)
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Besides the legal difficulties of using MML/SSW raises the spectre of the Unseen- simply put, are those programs owned or under contract to CGL? No . . . therefore, not going to be officially used.
The abundance of alternate sources (MML/SSW/old HMP) and folk's ability to alter PDFs for printing is why I think it would be better to get what the RS would be- tell us what crit slot things will take up in a text chart- and let players fill them out. The discussed units that have no official RS would get a 'RS' without having to clear that hurdle, players do the work filling in based on the description.
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And this is why I hope the record sheet app unlocked in the kickstarter will be developed enough to be able to create record sheets that CGL themselves can use for their products.
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And this is why I hope the record sheet app unlocked in the kickstarter will be developed enough to be able to create record sheets that CGL themselves can use for their products.
I have zero idea what would be involved for CGL to get a new Design program/update done, but I would support a kickstarter on that -- if it was feasible, there may be more to that process than I can possibly imagine.
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I have zero idea what would be involved for CGL to get a new Design program/update done, but I would support a kickstarter on that -- if it was feasible, there may be more to that process than I can possibly imagine.
CGL was at the very least looking into one, I remember that being mentioned sometime during the beginning KS but not a word after that. I'm sure they will make some noise one they have something more concrete. CGL doesn't like talking about 'maybes' as this forum/community doesn't always have the best reaction when things don't turn out as planned *RIP Battlechat*
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CGL doesn't like talking about 'maybes' as this forum/community doesn't always have the best reaction when things don't turn out as planned *RIP Battlechat*
*CGL announces something*
Immediate fan reaction:
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*CGL announces something*
Immediate fan reaction:
" +1,000 Likes! " :thumbsup:
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Guys if you are not a pateron of Anthony Scroggins find $2 a month to do so, he just posted the new Stalker sculpt and it is Phenomenal
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It’s the stalker I always wanted
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Is it just me, or did they manage to include several bits from the old Japanese version?
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Is it just me, or did they manage to include several bits from the old Japanese version?
the LL and torso look like it. either way it looks so much better than the old model.
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Where we left off August 2018
On 1 January, 3151 an entire fleet of clan vessels arrived in terran space, inexplicably untouched by the Wall. The challenge broadcast by the flagship....
I'm waiting to find out.
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Where we left off August 2018
is this where hanse wakes up in bed and realizes it was all dream?
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is this where hanse wakes up in bed and realizes it was all dream?
I mean... I wouldn't say no to that.
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depends. i was thinking of that episode of the twilight zone where the earth was moving toward the sun and everything was burning up. at the end the protagonist wakes up from the dream - but the earth wasn't ok, it was moving farther away from the sun instead
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Oh, I was thinking of the show Dallas and its many spoofs. In your version, how many Clans are there?
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fewer. i never found it credible that only three clans got eaten before revival. i've got seven at the low end if the clans acted as aggressively as they were supposed to... up to twelve if they switch to pillow-fighting and "hold me back" warfare after the golden century. smaller numbers would have meant more personality instead of having generic clan but we use vehicles or generic clan but we use warships or generic clan but we use drugs
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Where we left off August 2018
On 1 January, 3151 an entire fleet of clan vessels arrived in terran space, inexplicably untouched by the Wall. The challenge broadcast by the flagship....
I'm waiting to find out.
Likewise. Much as I enjoyed Shattered Fortress when it was released, to have it end on that cliffhanger - and no answer as to what caused the Blackout - was a bit of a let-down. Mostly because it would be literally years before we did get an answer. Still, with any luck, we'll see a resolution this year or next.
Regarding which Clan owned that fleet, it could a multi-Clan force rather than just the Wolves or Falcons. Perhaps a coalition of Bears, Foxes, Ravens and Horses brokered by Devlin Stone. None of them would be too thrilled at seeing the Falcons claim the ilClan mantle at this stage.
smaller numbers would have meant more personality instead of having generic clan but we use vehicles or generic clan but we use warships or generic clan but we use drugs
Each to their own, but since the Field Manuals and Warriors of Kerensky sourcebooks came out the Clans always had more nuance and individuality than that (IMHO at least). Much like how the 18 Space Marine Legions from the Horus Heresy were built from the same template and have some overlap, but each is most certainly an individual entity in its own right.
'generic clan but we use vehicles' - also emphasizes infantry, suffering from internal division between Crusader leaders and Warden rank and file (at least when first introduced), decent relations between castes, the Branding ritual, oscillates between following another Clan and forging its own path
'generic clan but we use warships' - heavily utilizes fighters and ground forces together, Machiavellian both internally and towards other Clans, paranoia and distrust are endemic even within castes and Bloodname houses
'generic clan but we use drugs' - emphasize marksmanship, venerate history and artifacts, Seekers, egalitarian attitude towards freeborns, mascot animals kept by Scorpion warriors, somewhat isolationist but not hostile to outsiders
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Each to their own, but since the Field Manuals and Warriors of Kerensky sourcebooks came out the Clans always had more nuance and individuality than that (IMHO at least). Much like how the 18 Space Marine Legions from the Horus Heresy were built from the same template and have some overlap, but each is most certainly an individual entity in its own right.
'generic clan but we use vehicles' - also emphasizes infantry, suffering from internal division between Crusader leaders and Warden rank and file (at least when first introduced), decent relations between castes, the Branding ritual, oscillates between following another Clan and forging its own path
'generic clan but we use warships' - heavily utilizes fighters and ground forces together, Machiavellian both internally and towards other Clans, paranoia and distrust are endemic even within castes and Bloodname houses
'generic clan but we use drugs' - emphasize marksmanship, venerate history and artifacts, Seekers, egalitarian attitude towards freeborns, mascot animals kept by Scorpion warriors, somewhat isolationist but not hostile to outsiders
bleh. that's all fine if you have a GW-sized staff to flesh these things out. with a small writing cadre, it's a lot of words wasted on clans that mean almost nothing to the overall plot. the WoR was a welcome (if late) acknowledgement that there was too little butter to spread over too much bread
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bleh. that's all fine if you have a GW-sized staff to flesh these things out. with a small writing cadre, it's a lot of words wasted on clans that mean almost nothing to the overall plot. the WoR was a welcome (if late) acknowledgement that there was too little butter to spread over too much bread
Given that said wars actually increased the number of clans in the 'sphere, I'd say they were fairly ineffective, to boot. Although that was a wizkids thing, IIRC.
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Given that said wars actually increased the number of clans in the 'sphere, I'd say they were fairly ineffective, to boot. Although that was a wizkids thing, IIRC.
They only added two more, neither of which got an entry in the Touring the Stars faction overviews and were otherwise marginalized during the Wizkids era. Since Catalyst took over both have since been given small but important roles in the post-Blackout timeline: Malvina's rise to power with Horses support, and the FedSuns disaster at Palmyra leading to the fall of New Avalon, albeit Raven treachery is strongly implied rather than explicit.
Hopefully that trend will continue for both in the ilClan sourcebook(s). Especially if the Horses manage to redeem themselves by helping bring Malvina down.
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I'm looking for the Gray Watch Protocol book, i got read sample of it in last year's Redemption Rift PoD novella.
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I'm looking for the Gray Watch Protocol book, i got read sample of it in last year's Redemption Rift PoD novella.
What was the synopsis?
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Coming Soon - New Installments of Touring the Stars!
Friday, April 17 - Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze
Friday, May 1 - Touring the Stars: Rigil Kentarus
(https://i.ibb.co/7VCyp9d/Battle-Tech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze-display-cover.png) (https://ibb.co/bLmdvfM)
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Coming Soon - New Installments of Touring the Stars!
Friday, April 17 - Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze
Friday, May 1 - Touring the Stars: Rigil Kentarus
(https://i.ibb.co/7VCyp9d/Battle-Tech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze-display-cover.png) (https://ibb.co/bLmdvfM)
Yaaayy!!!
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Woot! Looking forward to the two new Touring the Stars.
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Ooo cover upgrade!
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Coming Soon - New Installments of Touring the Stars!
Friday, April 17 - Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze
Friday, May 1 - Touring the Stars: Rigil Kentarus
(https://i.ibb.co/7VCyp9d/Battle-Tech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze-display-cover.png) (https://ibb.co/bLmdvfM)
Excellent news gulf breeze looks great
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I'm excited for it, but i thought that station was O'Neil like station.
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What was the synopsis?
Grey Watch Protocol
The Highlander Covenant, Book One
By Michael A. Ciaravella
Surrounded by the Enemy...
In the 32nd Century, the Republic of the Sphere is beset on all sides, its enemies seeking the most important weapon in the Inner Sphere: interstellar communication. As the forces of the Capellan Confederation advance toward the heart of the crumbling Republic, they are laser-focused on the one goal that will give them the upper hand and help destroy the Republic once and for all: the planet of Northwind.
Homeworld of the famed Northwind Highlanders mercenaries, Northwind represents not only the site of a century-old betrayal, but it boasts the only working hyperpulse generator along the line of the Confederation's advance. Sang-shao Lindsey Baxter and the Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry have been tasked with taking Northwind at all costs, and the besieged Republic is unable to lend further support to the defending XII Hastati Sentinels. Northwind will be easy pickings, and other sharks smell blood in the water. The Highlanders' honor remains strong, but will it be enough to survive the coming storm?
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Will there be stats on the space station??
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(http://)
So much goodness.
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I've always found it hilarious that the engineers could find room for a hand with an LRM-15 and Medium Laser mounted to an arm, but not two Medium Lasers...
Still... sweet renders! 8)
And hooray for more TtS! :thumbsup:
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The Zeus has gained weight. Chonky Zeus. EDIT Might be a megachonk even.
The Trebuchet actually looks like Trebuchet now, compared to how it looked when we last saw it, i think. Might be just the angle though.
The Longbow's okay, though i still wish there was a MWDA/Mechwarrior IV sculpt. Goes with other classics certainly, but comes in wrong pack (just like the Crusader).
The Stalker looks OK. I was afraid it would become too MWO-ish or too much like the Stalker II.
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Not sure I like the feet on the stalker or elbows on the trebuchet, but otherwise good.
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This is the first time I felt this way since the beginning of the redesigns, but I'm really not a fan of the Treb. It doesn't feel like a Treb, I feel like it's lost too much of it's original design in its redesign process.
I am solidly in love with the Longbow and Stalker though.
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This is the first time I felt this way since the beginning of the redesigns, but I'm really not a fan of the Treb. It doesn't feel like a Treb, I feel like it's lost too much of it's original design in its redesign process.
Ironically this is the first time that I like the way it looks, so I agree it is very different.
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The Zeus always should have been chunky, really...
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The Trenchbucket elbows look wrong upon inspecting it closer. Needs bigger helmet and maybe bigger head in general. And the slope on the shoulders is a bit weird.
The Zeus always should have been chunky, really...
While the Zeus always could've used a bit more thickness, this new one feels a bit too chonky. Might be the angle though.
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The Treb could certainly use more helmet (what T-Bucket couldn't?), but the Zeus really needed the extra chunk...
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I'm with Daryk here: it's an assault that always felt anemic. Now it's a proper big boy.
Trenchbucket feels bucketless, though.
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Glad to see we agree on some things too! :thumbsup:
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The Trenchbucket elbows look wrong upon inspecting it closer. Needs bigger helmet and maybe bigger head in general. And the slope on the shoulders is a bit weird.
While the Zeus always could've used a bit more thickness, this new one feels a bit too chonky. Might be the angle though.
Trebuchet needs the head to protrude a little, not be smashed into the torso.
The Zeus' hips are so unnecessarily wide that the arms have to be canted out to swing past them. Looks terrible with the lines of the shoulders.
Not a fan of the cylindrical searchlight on top of the Longbow... it just doesn't look right.
I guess everyone but me hated the original Stalker's knees. They got rid of the scoops on the arms and went with weapons bay doors, except that only worked on the MWO design with missiles under the lasers. I do like that the main torso appears to be the same width all the way back, and not tapered so the arms skew out.
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Not sure I like the feet on the stalker or elbows on the trebuchet, but otherwise good.
Is it because the Stalker looks like it's wearing slippers?
You know...that could be a pretty cool mod for a Stalker mini. Put long ears on feet and call it "Death wears bunny slippers."
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Is it because the Stalker looks like it's wearing slippers?
You know...that could be a pretty cool mod for a Stalker mini. Put long ears on feet and call it "Death wears bunny slippers."
Thank you. I can never un-see that. ;D
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The Stalker wears slippers, and the Stalker II is prone to slipping. Something to think about.
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This really all needs to go over into the KS thread. The TTS announcement is now buried.
Will there be stats on the space station??
Yes.
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Jiggle a mod's elbow- but you are right.
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Space Station looks good. Is that a model? Its quite unique.
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This really all needs to go over into the KS thread. The TTS announcement is now buried.
Yes.
Already more interested than I was before. Interest up to a 11 now form a 10.
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Coming Soon - New Installments of Touring the Stars!
Friday, April 17 - Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze
Friday, May 1 - Touring the Stars: Rigil Kentarus
(https://i.ibb.co/7VCyp9d/Battle-Tech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze-display-cover.png) (https://ibb.co/bLmdvfM)
Nice cover work. 8) Looking forward to both.
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*off topic, deleted*
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Still, with any luck, we'll see a resolution this year or next.
I said the same thing to myself 7 years ago ::)
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We are getting more love from DriveThru . . . BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction is their deal of the day.
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Brent doubled down on Ray's tease in the Sarna.net interview (thanks, guys!)
https://www.sarna.net/news/catalyst-coronavirus-and-clan-invasions-interview-with-battletech-line-developer-brent-evans/?fbclid=IwAR0f-_8W6hmdus-1Kn4PmXDbzIjwESJxpTpSR2xpveRedkI5OxqQOErRvtQ
In fact, one of the first things we did was task Ray with overhauling a couple of product lines we already had in the works – redesigning them to be delivered as electronic products in the coming weeks. EPubs are something we do extremely well at Catalyst, and in no time Ray’s team had the content split into two new lines of PDF products which will begin releasing in the near future (even while printing and distribution are on hold). This content is great and ties in perfectly with the plots and storylines we had underway to make sure everyone can get their regular BattleTech fix.
You’ll see news about all that soon enough, but for now, I’ll just tease you all with the line I’m most excited about: an upcoming series of merc-focused PDF products which starts with release from two of BT’s most prolific creators. Jason Schmetzer will be bringing to life new content to expand the legacy of the Raiders from his novel Embers of War… and Blaine Lee Pardoe will at long last expand on the legacy of Snord’s Irregulars! Whether you’re an old fan who enjoys delving into the classics or you’re a new fan sinking your teeth into some legendary gameplay, these products are going to be a great combination of story and adventure. Get your dice ready MechWarriors, because some ****’s about to go down!
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Didn't Pardoe hint at more Snords' stuff sometime ago?
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Yes
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Before people get too worked up: the “upcoming series of merc-focused PDF products” Brent’s referring to with the merc thing are new installments of an *existing* PDF line, Spotlight On.
The other two new lines of PDFs will be announced soon.
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Before people get too worked up: the “upcoming series of merc-focused PDF products” Brent’s referring to with the merc thing are new installments of an *existing* PDF line, Spotlight On.
Schmetzer and Pardoe... I'm sold.
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Before people get too worked up: the “upcoming series of merc-focused PDF products” Brent’s referring to with the merc thing are new installments of an *existing* PDF line, Spotlight On.
The other two new lines of PDFs will be announced soon.
Sweet! I've been itching for some more "Spotlight On" action. 8)
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Spotlight On
Welcome news
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Schmetzer and Pardoe... I'm sold.
Oh good! I was starting to get worried that Pardoe was the ONLY one working on new novels.
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Oh good! I was starting to get worried that Pardoe was the ONLY one working on new novels.
From my read, those two are doing the Spotlight On entries coming up. There was no new word regarding novels.
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Before people get too worked up: the “upcoming series of merc-focused PDF products” Brent’s referring to with the merc thing are new installments of an *existing* PDF line, Spotlight On.
The other two new lines of PDFs will be announced soon.
I'm just glad we're getting more Snord's Irregulars stuff. Always found them more interesting than the Dragoons, and having Mr. Pardoe on-board makes me more than satisfied at this point. 8)
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That's great news. I honestly thought the Raiders day was done after Embers of War other than splinter version of them controlled by the WoB.
I'm still holding out hope of a Rolling Thunder Spotlight or Novella to come out some day.
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TRO Prototypes has a lot of advanced variants, fewer completely new units, so it might not be terribly relevant.
FWLIW, I thought TRO:Prototypes was the way we fans received a hardcopy of the various XTRO PDFs. (That and the upgraded technology level info.)
Just wanted to drop in and say—so that I can get some form of release—that we have lots of neat stuff in development and production. But—as many of you know—CGL culture has grown so used to keeping their cards close to their vest until the last minute, that even the writers, artists, and devs that work for me are always like "naw Ray, you can't show/talk about this yet," and I kick the nearest can and go sulk in the corner.
We expect hope in April and May you'll finally start hearing about a few things.
Fixed that for you, Adrian! (What with the virus and all. ;))
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Fixed that for you, Adrian! (What with the virus and all. ;))
No, you'll start hearing about them later this month and into next.
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all things are possible with the power of Soon™
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Caveats matter, even when they're subtle... ^-^
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Trebuchet needs the head to protrude a little, not be smashed into the torso.
The Zeus' hips are so unnecessarily wide that the arms have to be canted out to swing past them. Looks terrible with the lines of the shoulders.
Not a fan of the cylindrical searchlight on top of the Longbow... it just doesn't look right.
I guess everyone but me hated the original Stalker's knees. They got rid of the scoops on the arms and went with weapons bay doors, except that only worked on the MWO design with missiles under the lasers. I do like that the main torso appears to be the same width all the way back, and not tapered so the arms skew out.
I totally agree on the Trebuchet's head. It needs to be mounted on a neck to capture the bucket-head look of the original, although its absence might be an artifact of the camera angle.
I'm on board with new knee joints for the stalker, but the new large laser mounts seem a bit over the top to me. I always liked the more understated armaments of the original.
For the longbow... I like the re-imagined torso and arms a lot. Easily enough to overlook the big searchlight.
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I see Brent let my Spotlight On fly under the radar. Guess I should have expected it....
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Did you actually turn the Spotlight On?
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That's a perfect question for Kit... ^-^
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Maybe he turned on the heart light instead.
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Coming Soon to Print-on-Demand: The Wars of Reaving, BattleTech Activity Book
Big news, MechWarriors!
This Friday, we’re excited to offer The Wars of Reaving in Print-on-Demand format — the first out-of-print sourcebook among many we’re planning to offer again via POD. In addition, the BattleTech Activity Book will be available in Print-on-Demand the same day, and Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze drops on PDF. You’ll see links to all three products here, and on the official BattleTech and Catalyst Game Labs social media.
Read the full story here (https://bg.battletech.com/news/coming-soon-to-print-on-demand-the-wars-of-reaving-battletech-activity-book/).
(https://i.ibb.co/4Rg1czq/Wars-of-Reaving.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YBT06mC) (https://i.ibb.co/5YV5S9X/BT-Activity-Book.png) (https://ibb.co/VH8vzN0)
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🤔
Guess the HW Clans are not as "put on a bus (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PutOnABus)" as thought...
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That’s…I can see how you’re getting that, but that’s not the right takeaway.
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PoD sourcebook, baby. we made it :'(
i'm hoping this is a strategic selection with something new as a followup
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That’s…I can see how you’re getting that, but that’s not the right takeaway.
Hmm.
Given what happens in WoR and how it ends, i kinda have hard time seeing anything future not involving HW Clans return, in the sense of "we'll be seeing them, not necessarily meaning they'll be coming to the Inner Sphere".
Just WoR tech (iATMs, etc.) appearing seems to small, even that implied superarmor on the Leviathan Prime.
Though i suppose there's always a chance of Spheroid Clans deciding to re-enact Wars of Reaving. Though this seems unlikely.
What else i can think of...
We finally getting Operational Milestones or whatever it was gonna be called and get told HW Clans or the Society is behind the Blackout?
Just guessing stuff here, not really expecting answers until we see whatever products you are so evilly teasing, lol
Either way, WoR as POD product is good to hear. It is good.
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...the first out-of-print sourcebook among many we’re planning to offer again via POD.
:o
That is huge.
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Anyone who doesn't have a print version of this seriously should get it it's a beautiful product
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Great news! I haven't bought DTF in over a decade but for WoR I'll break that streak and find a place for it on my now-emptier bookshelf.
Hmm.
Given what happens in WoR and how it ends, i kinda have hard time seeing anything future not involving HW Clans return, in the sense of "we'll be seeing them, not necessarily meaning they'll be coming to the Inner Sphere".
Much as I'd like for you to be right, I suspect we won't be seeing HW Clans for a long time yet, if ever. The bulk of the fan base, if I'm reading this right, aren't too fussed about finding out about them post-WoR (and a few players seem to think any ink/bytes spend on Clans are a waste of the writer's time).
We finally getting Operational Milestones or whatever it was gonna be called and get told HW Clans or the Society is behind the Blackout?
Maybe they did cause the Blackout (though I'd put money on Devlin Stone or Blakists) but that raises the question of why they didn't mount their invasion of the Inner Sphere right after. I figure it's more likely for the last sixty years they've been trading shots with the Imperio and Hanseatic League, or bogged down trying to subdue one or both.
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You've also got to realize that the HomeClans basically think the IS has cooties last we saw them, don't think they're going to be paying a visit any time soon.
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maybe there's some kind of ecological disaster after the reavings that make the homeworlds uninhabitable or something. wouldn't that be the perfect revenge by the society? first festering as a cancer within the clans and then as a rotting disease long after they've been exterminated.
that or they just hang out in the deepest peripheral vision of the game universe as a boogeyman
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(and a few players seem to think any ink/bytes spend on Clans are a waste of the writer's time).
Others seem to think anything after 3040 is the same
Others want all 3150 all the time
Still others look back at the clan invasion '90s as the golden age of battletech
Can't make everyone happy. Can't even get enough people buying to finish the combat manual series, which tried to be a medium between succession war and clan invasion. (Maybe you could now that BT has picked up, but CGL have higher priority product to work on)
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that or they just hang out in the deepest peripheral vision of the game universe as a boogeyman
I hope not - Clan Wolverine / Minnesota Tribe has been filling that niche quite nicely since the 80s.
Others seem to think anything after 3040 is the same
Others want all 3150 all the time
Still others look back at the clan invasion '90s as the golden age of battletech
Can't make everyone happy. Can't even get enough people buying to finish the combat manual series (Maybe you could now that BT has picked up, but they have higher priority product to work on)
Sad but true. Gameplay-wise one might think there's catering for all of the above just with the product available from Catalyst's online store. It's only with advancing the post-Blackout storyline that one could argue in favour of the second option - BT history from c. 2570 to 3150 has been detailed quite nicely already.
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This Friday, we’re excited to offer The Wars of Reaving in Print-on-Demand format — the first out-of-print sourcebook among many we’re planning to offer again via POD.
This is fantastic news! I mean, the writing has been on the wall for some time, but now it's actually happening. This will rid CGL of a great many problems going forward, I imagine - money will no longer be tied up in small print runs, hopefully lowering the revenue hurdles for new products being pushed out of the gate.
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Great decision on WoR. Prices for the original print run are absurd right now if you can even find a copy
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maybe there's some kind of ecological disaster after the reavings that make the homeworlds uninhabitable or something. wouldn't that be the perfect revenge by the society? first festering as a cancer within the clans and then as a rotting disease long after they've been exterminated.
One could imagine an ever narrowing genetic base from the reavings, making the Homeworld Clans susceptible to a civilization collapsing level Society designed virus, perhaps released from some abandoned research facility. Poetic justice as an ever madder clamour for purity robs the Clans of the very resources they needed to survive.
It would be a pretty neat way to tie up the entire story line one suspects (and as a side bonus eliminate the temptation to do the Clan Invasion 2: The Electric Boogaloo).
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I'm glad that some of War of Reaving Source book is coming back. Personally I own both versions of WoR but if wor was updated or revised then I'd think twice about not getting it. If there something added to it than what was in it in the the first place.
Also i would hope the WoR Companion book be coming later or merged with this new reissuing.
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I'm glad that some of War o Reaving Source book is coming back. Personally I own both versions of WoR but if wor was updated or revised then I'd think twice about not getting it. If there something added to it than what was in it in the the first place.
Also i would hope the WoR Companion book be coming later or merged with this new reissuing.
The WoR Supplemental was purely an epub when released, I don't think it's ever been a DTF.
True, it would be nice if the two were bundled together. The question is whether it can be done from a practical standpoint.
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I wouldn't be opposed to books like the Era Digests and War of Reaving Supplemental just getting straight up POD releases. Don't know if I'd pay for the smaller or mostly Record sheet books like Turning Points and XTROs, but the slightly meatier ones? Hell yeah.
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This is fantastic news! I mean, the writing has been on the wall for some time, but now it's actually happening. This will rid CGL of a great many problems going forward, I imagine - money will no longer be tied up in small print runs, hopefully lowering the revenue hurdles for new products being pushed out of the gate.
To be clear - we're not going to do POD for all new sourcebooks from now on. POD is primarily intended for making out-of-print books available again, and collecting previously PDF-only product, such as Touring the Stars or Spotlight On.
There are a few reasons for this, but one of the big ones is shelf presence in stores. Our marketing funnel is nowhere near developed enough to be able to take a new customer from "my friends and I bought this box set in our LGS and loved it, where do I get more?" to "here's the one website where you can find the big new book." It's more than sticking a flyer in the box set; it requires a comprehensive, integrated marketing strategy, and we're not there.
For another, the economics of selling a new book via retail and the CGL webstore vs. selling it POD via DTRPG are different. One is more favorable than the other. So don't assume "everything will be POD now." It won't be.
Great decision on WoR. Prices for the original print run are absurd right now if you can even find a copy
They really are. Though, secondary market prices are not really a factor in our prioritizing which books to resurrect with POD. It's much more important that they compliment sales of new product, and vice versa.
As I said in my website post announcing this, Wars of Reaving is definitely a "sought-after" book (read as: north of $200 on Amazon and eBay), but think about its place in the timeline, too. We're in the middle of delivering a major KS based on the Clan Invasion. We're about to move into the ilClan era. There's a rather obvious gaping hole in the Clan story between those two points, no? "Man, I got back into BT with the KS, can't wait to buy more. I love the Clans, what happens to them next?" "Sorry, that book has been out of print for almost a decade." What a buzzkill for a new customer! With this POD resurrection ability now available, Wars was a no-brainer first choice.
The WoR Supplemental was purely an epub when released, I don't think it's ever been a DTF.
True, it would be nice if the two were bundled together. The question is whether it can be done from a practical standpoint.
I'm told that it was considered - not sure what the plans for it might be going forward. I suspect that simply stapling it onto the end of the main WOR book was too much of a hurdle from a layout/set-up standpoint, on top of what it took to get Wars ready to go anyway. We're aware of its absence, is the best I can say. Good part is that it's always been PDF-only, and is still available. Nothing's been lost, unlike a print book no longer being in print--just nothing gained.
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Question - are there any new variants in RS: clan invasion, or is it a pure re-hash?
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rehash
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Should I assume that old House books or Field Manuals will be at some point available as PoD? Or is this not currently planned?
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Should I assume that old House books or Field Manuals will be at some point available as PoD? Or is this not currently planned?
If you click on the read more in the forum announcement, it specifically mentions the old House books, and the Field Manuals more generically.
For another, more recent sourcebooks that were originally laid out on digital programs are much easier to turn into Print-on-Demand products. So, apologies to anyone waiting for the old House sourcebooks, but they’re going to be a bigger task to tackle. (But–they are on the list!)
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But with the IlClan Era right around the corner, we wanted to make sure everyone had the chance to read up on a critical chapter in the history of the Clans. Plus, who knows? Wars may hold some important groundwork for other products we haven’t told you about yet…
F O R E S H A D O W I N G
one thing on the housebooks - three of the volumes were FanPro joints (Marik, Steiner, Davion). coincidentally, the product codes were kept empty where they would theoretically go if ever reprinted (35200-35202). HOW CONVENIENT
it's the FASA housebooks, an even BETTER outcome
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F O R E S H A D O W I N G
one thing on the housebooks - three of the volumes were FanPro joints (Marik, Steiner, Davion). coincidentally, the product codes were kept empty where they would theoretically go if ever reprinted (35200-35202). HOW CONVENIENT
I assume the press release referred to the original FASA House sourcebooks rather than the handbooks.
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I assume the press release referred to the original FASA House sourcebooks rather than the handbooks.
That was my intent, yes. Stuff from that era, that was nowhere near digitally laid out.
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really? neat. re-reading it does seem like what they're referring to... when i interpreted it initially i had not considered that a possibility because of the hugeness of the undertaking (not only digitizing but repopulating the art)
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Coming Soon to Print-on-Demand: The Wars of Reaving, BattleTech Activity Book
Big news, MechWarriors!
This Friday, we’re excited to offer The Wars of Reaving in Print-on-Demand format — the first out-of-print sourcebook among many we’re planning to offer again via POD. In addition, the BattleTech Activity Book will be available in Print-on-Demand the same day, and Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze drops on PDF. You’ll see links to all three products here, and on the official BattleTech and Catalyst Game Labs social media.
All I can say...You mean I can SAVE $400!!!! :o
https://www.amazon.ca/Wars-Reaving-Ben-H-Rome/dp/1934857858/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=war+of+reaving&qid=1587070434&sr=8-1
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really? neat. re-reading it does seem like what they're referring to... when i interpreted it initially i had not considered that a possibility because of the hugeness of the undertaking (not only digitizing but repopulating the art)
It's not a small effort, for sure.
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I was half asleep when I read the announcement. I saw it as The Wars of Reaving BattleTech Activity Book. I mentally left the comma out.
My first thought was, wow, TPTB finally went off the deep end with a coloring book full of war time atrocities for children...could at least have released that horror on April 1st.
I'm going back to sleep now.
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The Wars of Reaving Activity Book would be amazing really, lol
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The Wars of Reaving Activity Book would be amazing really, lol
It builds character. ;)
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Oh, perfect for Halloween!
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It builds character. ;)
:toofunny:
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WOB coloring book, little ones are going to need allot of red crayons.
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nuclear ash is red?
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The Wars of Reaving Activity Book would be amazing really, lol
Hey kids!
Enjoy this word search!
Of everyone and everything we KILLED
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Between WoR and WoB, ... well, those may be a wee bit on the dark(er) side. It gives the history teacher me the heebie-jeebies! Which is ironic considering we all love a fictional universe of Armored Combat and Warfare.
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The Wars of Reaving Activity Book would be amazing really, lol
I know the perfect crayon set for it! (https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2014-12-08)
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Im looking for the IlKhan coloring book.
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nuclear ash is red?
Well, the nuclear Fireballs are anyway. ;D
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Now Available! The Wars of Reaving and BattleTech Activity Book POD; Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze
We’ve got three new releases ready to go! Enjoy the next stop in our ongoing tour of the Inner Sphere in Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze. Welcome back an old favorite with the Print-on-Demand availability of The Wars of Reaving. And finally, take a moment to relax or keep the kids busy with Print-on-Demand copies of the BattleTech Activity Book!
(https://i.ibb.co/SQ5gFcB/Battle-Tech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze-display-cover.png) (https://ibb.co/LQYyVr1)
Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze (PDF Only – $2.99)
From pirates to profiteers, and corrupt Mining Consortiums in between, Gulf Breeze has a thousand different ways to kill even veteran spacers. But with great danger comes great opportunity and Gulf Breeze has it by the metric ton. If you can survive the resource-rich world’s deadly and unique planetary challenges or avoid being spaced from a Wheeler station, a fortune awaits.
Touring the Stars is a whistle-stop tour of the universe! Every system and planet where mankind treads in the BattleTech universe has a story, for those with the drive to explore it. Take a tour of the stars humanity now calls home, experience awesome new worlds, immerse yourself in the local civilization, and prepare to do battle in exotic locales.
Catalyst Game Labs web store PDF: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-touring-the-stars-gulf-breeze (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-touring-the-stars-gulf-breeze)
DriveThruRPG PDF: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/310228/BattleTech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/310228/BattleTech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze)
(https://i.ibb.co/bm4F6Z9/Wars-of-Reaving.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vqNhcGn)
The Wars of Reaving (Print-on-Demand – $34.99 // PDF – $25.00
The Clans
Descendants of the Star League Defense Force, they returned to the Inner Sphere in 3050 with violence and honor. Stalled by the combined might of the Inner Sphere, the Clans have been waiting for the chance to strike for Terra once more. But fractures within Nicholas Kerensky’s Great Society have widened. A new enemy threatens to destroy the Clans once and for all: themselves. The resulting Wars of Reaving touches every Clan: some will be destroyed, all will be forever altered.
The Wars of Reaving sourcebook details the Clans from 3067 through the end of the Jihad era and includes detailed reports, faction updates, personalities, units, and equipment that have a hand in this widespread orgy of war. Essential gameplay statistics, maps, and a complete campaign allow players to immerse themselves completely within these Wars of Reaving.
DriveThruRPG Print-on-Demand: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/93647/BattleTech-The-Wars-of-Reaving (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/93647/BattleTech-The-Wars-of-Reaving)
Catalyst Game Labs web store PDF: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-the-wars-of-reaving-pdf (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-the-wars-of-reaving-pdf)
(https://i.ibb.co/fxTHVry/BT-Activity-Book.png) (https://ibb.co/TgNtDP7)
BattleTech Activity Book (Print-on-Demand – $9.99 // PDF – Pay What You Wish)
TAKE AIM AND FIRE!
Join the Clans and all their friends on their fun-filled adventures against the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere!
MechWarriors of all ages can take command—each page features ‘Mechs to color, puzzles, mazes, games, cutting activities and things to make and do. Your favorite ‘Mechs and characters are featured in other great BattleTech products.
DriveThruRPG Print-on-Demand: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/307657/BattleTech-Activity-Book (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/307657/BattleTech-Activity-Book)
Catalyst Game Labs web store PDF: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-activity-book (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-activity-book)
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Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze was very nice additive to the universe. Space Station situation is new twist to things.
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So when are we going to see rules for an eight thousand ton anfo bomb, huh? ;D
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So when are we going to see rules for an eight thousand ton anfo bomb, huh? ;D
I read this as "an eight thousand ton afro bomb".
I then realised my mistake, and was rather disappointed. ;D
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I red this as "an eight thousand ton afro bomb".
I then realised my mistake, and was rather disappointed. ;D
same :D
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I read this as "an eight thousand ton afro bomb".
Painters, your mission, should you choose to accept it: paint a mule class dropship in the form of a head with a tremendous afro.
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Was WoR:Supplemental ever re-edited back in 2012? I checked my PC to see if I had it or WoR, and I've got TWO copies of "Supplemental", each of a different size, both from 2012. :o
E-CAT35S002 The Wars of Reaving Supplemental 4/26/2012 38,964 KB
The Wars of Reaving Supplemental 6/22/2012 36,212 KB
When I move it from Documents to my "BT Stuff" Folder, I delete the Cat # from the front, which explains the 2nd one. Though it points out that I OBVIOUSLY bought it TWICE! ::) :-[
Was it maybe just re-formatted for the smaller size? Because neither says anything about "1st Printing"/"2nd Printing", or anything like that at the beginning. ??? At least I know I need the original WoR, so I'm off to order some CGL Store Goodies! :thumbsup:
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Also, WHY do we have to do the "Spell out Catalyst" thing to see the store? Is it to make us Acknowledge that print items will be delayed?
Wasn't any big deal the 1st couple of times. Now it's annoying as . . . Yes. :P
Oh, even MORE Annoying when you have to do that AGAIN, RIGHT AFTER you've placed an order, in order to download your PDFs. >:(
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So when are we going to see rules for an eight thousand ton anfo bomb, huh? ;D
Scarily, I think there's a serious answer to this question: just use the rules for a Type II nuclear weapon, less the Secondary (radiation/EM) effects (IO, page 170).
-
Was WoR:Supplemental ever re-edited back in 2012? I checked my PC to see if I had it or WoR, and I've got TWO copies of "Supplemental", each of a different size, both from 2012. :o
From what I can remember, WoR:s had certain important issues with its record sheets, so the second version probably has the corrected sheets.
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I remember a few of the RATs being duplicates. Did they ever fix that?
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Gulf Breeze was a fun read. Enjoyed it a lot.
Do have a question about the map though...was it meant to be blank? I thought the surface was inhabited?
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I had the same question. I know there limited budget, i would have loved to at least to have basic schematic of the interior. I know each station's interior varies depending on what's specialty is such as producing sea food, manufacturing small things. It would have been cool. However, i know this would cost money. Just getting that unique CGI (i think it is) picture of the station was nice treat. I wish the Gulf Breeze Station itself was shown and described more, but again i do understand.
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I really, really hope that they will not use the Home Clans as some kind of a loser / space filler, just to show the greatness of the ilClan.
-
The old house books have some interesting quirks - are they going to be exact duplicates or are some of these going to be fixed/explained?
-
They are so far down the line that there is no point discussing them at this juncture. Their status is “not off the table.”
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Now Available! The Wars of Reaving and BattleTech Activity Book POD; Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze
We’ve got three new releases ready to go! Enjoy the next stop in our ongoing tour of the Inner Sphere in Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze. Welcome back an old favorite with the Print-on-Demand availability of The Wars of Reaving. And finally, take a moment to relax or keep the kids busy with Print-on-Demand copies of the BattleTech Activity Book!
(https://i.ibb.co/SQ5gFcB/Battle-Tech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze-display-cover.png) (https://ibb.co/LQYyVr1)
Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze (PDF Only – $2.99)
From pirates to profiteers, and corrupt Mining Consortiums in between, Gulf Breeze has a thousand different ways to kill even veteran spacers. But with great danger comes great opportunity and Gulf Breeze has it by the metric ton. If you can survive the resource-rich world’s deadly and unique planetary challenges or avoid being spaced from a Wheeler station, a fortune awaits.
Touring the Stars is a whistle-stop tour of the universe! Every system and planet where mankind treads in the BattleTech universe has a story, for those with the drive to explore it. Take a tour of the stars humanity now calls home, experience awesome new worlds, immerse yourself in the local civilization, and prepare to do battle in exotic locales.
Catalyst Game Labs web store PDF: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-touring-the-stars-gulf-breeze (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-touring-the-stars-gulf-breeze)
DriveThruRPG PDF: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/310228/BattleTech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/310228/BattleTech-Touring-the-Stars-Gulf-Breeze)
(https://i.ibb.co/bm4F6Z9/Wars-of-Reaving.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vqNhcGn)
The Wars of Reaving (Print-on-Demand – $34.99 // PDF – $25.00
The Clans
Descendants of the Star League Defense Force, they returned to the Inner Sphere in 3050 with violence and honor. Stalled by the combined might of the Inner Sphere, the Clans have been waiting for the chance to strike for Terra once more. But fractures within Nicholas Kerensky’s Great Society have widened. A new enemy threatens to destroy the Clans once and for all: themselves. The resulting Wars of Reaving touches every Clan: some will be destroyed, all will be forever altered.
The Wars of Reaving sourcebook details the Clans from 3067 through the end of the Jihad era and includes detailed reports, faction updates, personalities, units, and equipment that have a hand in this widespread orgy of war. Essential gameplay statistics, maps, and a complete campaign allow players to immerse themselves completely within these Wars of Reaving.
DriveThruRPG Print-on-Demand: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/93647/BattleTech-The-Wars-of-Reaving (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/93647/BattleTech-The-Wars-of-Reaving)
Catalyst Game Labs web store PDF: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-the-wars-of-reaving-pdf (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-the-wars-of-reaving-pdf)
(https://i.ibb.co/fxTHVry/BT-Activity-Book.png) (https://ibb.co/TgNtDP7)
BattleTech Activity Book (Print-on-Demand – $9.99 // PDF – Pay What You Wish)
TAKE AIM AND FIRE!
Join the Clans and all their friends on their fun-filled adventures against the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere!
MechWarriors of all ages can take command—each page features ‘Mechs to color, puzzles, mazes, games, cutting activities and things to make and do. Your favorite ‘Mechs and characters are featured in other great BattleTech products.
DriveThruRPG Print-on-Demand: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/307657/BattleTech-Activity-Book (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/307657/BattleTech-Activity-Book)
Catalyst Game Labs web store PDF: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-activity-book (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-activity-book)
Will these also be added to Amazon? It's cheaper to get things shipped from European Amazon stores than from Drivethrurpg, unfortunately.
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DTRPG has a European print hub now, and the price for shipping drops significantly if you order in relative bulk. I'm ordering 10 POD books this week and the shipping cost to Ireland is only €15
-
Will these also be added to Amazon? It's cheaper to get things shipped from European Amazon stores than from Drivethrurpg, unfortunately.
Not anytime soon unfortunately.
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I just read Gulf Breeze and it's well worth it.
Firstly the description text is interesting unlike other ravaged worlds this one is more like a safe haven with plenty of natural hazards that would kill you.
I enjoyed the description of the Wheeler Station (and stats for it) it's a cool sounding place. The sound of the Spider Station is interesting I'd have liked to see stats for that purely to use it elsewhere ;D
I always thought that the system's habitat was one huge inhabited station with small mining colonies below so it was interesting to read about the amount of different stations and ground habitats.
I also really enjoyed how they dealt with the local Manei Domini...
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I like the coupon for a free novel or anthology Catalyst emailed out today. :thumbsup:
I'm hoping something comes out to use it on before it expires on May 15th.
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I'm behind on several of the anthologies, I used mine to pick up Grey Markets. :thumbsup:
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I like the coupon for a free novel or anthology Catalyst emailed out today. :thumbsup:
I'm hoping something comes out to use it on before it expires on May 15th.
Was that just directly through email or on the website?
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I didn't get that email, although I did get one yesterday for A Secret Guide to Fighting Elder Gods kickstarter.
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I didn't get that email, although I did get one yesterday for A Secret Guide to Fighting Elder Gods kickstarter.
That's the one.
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I didn't get that email, although I did get one yesterday for A Secret Guide to Fighting Elder Gods kickstarter.
The cgl store coupon for fiction is at the bottom of that email
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It's a code for the CGL online store to be more accurate, almost missed it myself until Fat Guy's post.
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I just took a look at what javascript the CGL store is running.
Massive 3-inch long list. I think some of that is because canada/international, but wow.
Also, I picked up grey markets and slack tide, and got $5 off, not one book off. I'll take it anyway.
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I decided to pick up TROs Succession Wars, Clan Invasion, and Jihad, along with HTP: Antallos and Objectives: The Clans.
:)
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HTP: Antallos is an underrated gem.
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I'm reading TtS Gulf Breeze, and...am I the only one confused by this?:
In 3060, a daring “pirate” raid of well-informed, well-equipped raiders attempted to board Gulf Breeze Station and seize rare alloys and components meant for XL engines and ER PPCs. The surviving raiders were taken into custody by the Lyran Intelligence Corps and remain officially unidentified—though some “pirates” were mercenaries personally known as the Basilisk Assault Squadron, which had been defending the system.
So were they defending the system, or did they join the pirates in the attack? Or was it just some of them? I don't understand what this was trying to convey, especially since the entry on the Basilisk Assault Squadron in MercSuppII makes it pretty clear they were unambiguously the defenders in that particular incident.
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I’m assuming some betrayed their employer and their own fellow mercs to show the pirates where to attack. Or the mercs were infiltrated before hand.
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HTP: Antallos is an underrated gem.
I enjoyed that one too
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Maybe a typo? The whole thing makes perfect sense if you change "personally known as" to "personally known to". Also, better grammar.
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Maybe a typo? The whole thing makes perfect sense if you change "personally known as" to "personally known to". Also, better grammar.
I had assumed it was a typo for "previously known as", which would also work. Though the data from MercSuppII perhaps makes "personally known to" more likely.
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Yeah, Basilisk squadron was active all through the 3060s and Jihad, joining the RAF at the end. A few Medusan personnel going pirate in 3060 is plausible, but a large chunk of the squadron might be pushing it.
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Mercenary Supplemental II indicates Basilisk Squadron were the defenders in the attack, so almost certainly a typo.
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I got that CGL coupon too, spent it on a t-shirt :thumbsup:
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Is the coupon code perchance straddled with a typo? Or should I use it as-is?
Also, I wanted to use the coupon on the A Face Full of Blades anthology, but I seem to be unable to find it on the Catalyst store. Can anyone help?
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Pretty sure that’s only on amazon
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Is the coupon code perchance straddled with a typo? Or should I use it as-is?
You can use it as is.
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Where do these coupons come from? I think i missed that.
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I got that CGL coupon too, spent it on a t-shirt :thumbsup:
I thought the physical store was closed?
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You can probably order from the physical store but you can't expect that you will get it soon.
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Where do these coupons come from? I think i missed that.
There was an email went out from Catalyst about a kickstarter for an anthology of Lovecraftian fiction that's been published by a "partner" of CGL and edited by Jennifer Brozeck. There's a voucher code at the bottom of the mail for a "novel, anthology or credit" in the web store.
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And I'm thinking since it's Kickstarter related, it probably only went out to Clan Invasion backers.
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Nope. I got one in an old hotmail that I used for battlecorps, so it's going out other ways as well.
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I noticed the email but didn't read it through, didn't realize it offered free stuff!
Picked up Forever Faithful.
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I thought it was only digital fiction? Is it good for other stuff too?
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You can probably order from the physical store but you can't expect that you will get it soon.
do we know for sure?
if that is the case, I am totally good with that!
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There was an email went out from Catalyst about a kickstarter for an anthology of Lovecraftian fiction that's been published by a "partner" of CGL and edited by Jennifer Brozeck. There's a voucher code at the bottom of the mail for a "novel, anthology or credit" in the web store.
Thank you found it
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The new clan heavy star renders make me want to do a early clan era game any update on
TRO Golden Century?
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The new clan heavy star renders make me want to do a early clan era game any update on
TRO Golden Century?
Still moving. I'll probably be editing it in the next week or two, depending on other projects.
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Just received a mail stating a new version of TtS: Gulf Breeze was available. Is it possible to say what changed between editions?
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i did a side-by side flipthrough. whatever the change was, it make the new version slightly bigger (~100k) but doesn't appear to be a major change in text, graphics, or formatting. everything appears to be in the same place in both versions
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Just received a mail stating a new version of TtS: Gulf Breeze was available. Is it possible to say what changed between editions?
The position of the planet was previously established but was different in the original PDF release (sixth in system when it should've been fifth.) Ahhh, BattleTech.
Dak
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Changing that detail took 100KB?? ???
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Touring the Stars: Rigil Kentarus delayed?
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Now Available - Touring the Stars: Rigil Kentarus!
(https://i.ibb.co/vjPj2Pp/Battle-Tech-Touring-the-Stars-Rigil-Kentarus-display-cover.png) (https://ibb.co/G525g2y)
Terra’s closest if not first colony, the binary planets of Rigil Kentarus and Riken Minor are just 4.3 light-years from Terra. Rigil Kentarus was settled by a mélange of Terran Alliance member-nations, some of which still leave their mark on the world (“Little America”), while others were wiped out by the Succession Wars, Jihad, and reconstruction. The twin worlds only recovered in the Republic of the Sphere, but generations-old refugee camps nurse hatred for the current government.
CGL Store: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-touring-the-stars-rigil-kentarus (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-touring-the-stars-rigil-kentarus)
DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/312071/BattleTech-Touring-the-Stars-Rigel-Kentarus
And coming in two weeks, on May 15 - Spotlight On: The Crazy Eights!
(https://i.ibb.co/xfWHH8T/Spotlight-On-The-Crazy-Eights-display-cover.png) (https://ibb.co/cC0LLXn)
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Excellent
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Now Available - Touring the Stars: Rigil Kentarus!
Interesting... includes upper torso shots of the new Mercury and Black Knight art.
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This one is one of the best in the series.
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Changing that detail took 100KB?? ???
I had to redo the Planetary Invasion map for the change, I probably used a slightly higher PDF graphic quality this time.
Dak
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Ah, thanks for the explanation! That totally makes sense.. :thumbsup:
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Interesting... includes upper torso shots of the new Mercury and Black Knight art.
And the Mercury has the same style cockpit that Scroggins is putting everywhere. ::)
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And we learn James McKenna ordered literal Roman style decimations for cowardly units, which I found a strangely hilarious detail.
Is that new, or is it a reference to something I've missed?
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I'm interested in the Crazy 8s. Reminds me of the kill bill song "Battle without honor or humanity".
I think i saw the unit once mentioned on wrong side of the FedCom Civil War, but nothing much beyond that.
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And the Mercury has the same style cockpit that Scroggins is putting everywhere. ::)
I'm guessing the Mercury is by Bishop Steiner, as with the Urbie and Flashman.
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I'm interested in the Crazy 8s. Reminds me of the kill bill song "Battle without honor or humanity".
I think i saw the unit once mentioned on wrong side of the FedCom Civil War, but nothing much beyond that.
Me too. The only Crazy Eights I recall were the Mercs at Coventry attached to the Waco Rangers, but these new Crazy Eights seem to be Avalon Hussars related
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Correct. These are not the Coventry Crazy Eights.
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More good stuff. Thanks!!
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Me too. The only Crazy Eights I recall were the Mercs at Coventry attached to the Waco Rangers, but these new Crazy Eights seem to be Avalon Hussars related
Indeed. As I’m not familiar with any 8th Avalon Hussars, I’m very curious.
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8th Co., 20th Avalon Hussars.
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Wow, a house unit. I think that's a first. All previous units were mercenary related i think with maybe the Republic special ops team.
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Crescent Hawks and Nakiyama’s Blood. Stone’s trackers is RotS which is close
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Wow, a house unit. I think that's a first. All previous units were mercenary related i think with maybe the Republic special ops team.
And not a Davion Guard unit or an irregular unit even better the Spotlight products are cool though I've lived them all so far
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Wow, a house unit. I think that's a first. All previous units were mercenary related i think with maybe the Republic special ops team.
The Crimson Seeker Star is from Clan Goliath Scorpion. And from an earlier post in this threat we may be seeing more of that Clan soon enough.
Great job with TtS: Rigel K, an interesting world. Nice tidbit of info about the Rigel K unit breaking under fire during the Campaigns of Persuasion while the Terrans won the day - a subtle reminder of why the TH was the Terran Hegemony. Also Little America's write-up made me chuckle at the image of Presidents Wilson, Roosevelt and Reagan winning the 20th century wars with their lasso-tossing and buffalo-riding skills ;D
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Also Little America's write-up made me chuckle at the image of Presidents Wilson, Roosevelt and Reagan winning the 20th century wars with their lasso-tossing and buffalo-riding skills ;D
Are you trying to Imply that is NOT how they did it? ???
:D
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I enjoyed Touring the Stars Rigil Kentarus.
Reading it I hoped to see an Avalonmax freighter at the back like we got the Wheeler in the previous one but the Castle was pretty good too.
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I enjoyed Touring the Stars Rigil Kentarus.
Reading it I hoped to see an Avalonmax freighter at the back like we got the Wheeler in the previous one but the Castle was pretty good too.
I enjoyed that one a lot.
"Yeah, I got killed by a friggin' torpedo."
"Wow, really? Where were you fighting?"
"Underground."
::bar falls silent. in the distance, a glass drops to the floor::
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I enjoyed that one a lot.
"Yeah, I got killed by a friggin' torpedo."
"Wow, really? Where were you fighting?"
"Underground."
::bar falls silent. in the distance, a glass drops to the floor::
(https://i.imgur.com/VIqvata.png)
I think i need to read various Touring the Stars at some point.
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(https://i.imgur.com/VIqvata.png)
I think i need to read various Touring the Stars at some point.
There's some fun stuff in them!
My comment was specifically for Rigil Kentarus' rules and suggestions for Castle Brian play, also known as, "Every Horrible, Horrible Thing Paul Can Think Of."
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"Every Horrible, Horrible Thing Paul Can Think Of."
I am now intrigued, but suspect this is "you don't want to know" territory.
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I am now intrigued, but suspect this is "you don't want to know" territory.
Look pal...the stuff that man has done to my 'Mechs beggars belief.
"Okay, so you skid, and (rolls) fall into a depth 4 pit. It has a lid, which slams shut over you. That's when the lava jets built into the sides start spewing lava into the pit."
"Uh."
"Do you have jump MP?"
"No."
"Do you have hand actuators?"
"It's a Timber Wolf and I think you know that."
"Does your MechWarrior have a sidearm?"
"I hate you."
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"Okay, so you skid, and (rolls) fall into a depth 4 pit. It has a lid, which slams shut over you. That's when the lava jets built into the sides start spewing lava into the pit."
That sounds like something Doctor Evil from Austin Powers would come up with.
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TIL: Battletech has a Tomb of Horrors scenario
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TIL: Battletech has a Tomb of Horrors scenario
Isn't that the fortress assault missions in McCarron's Armoured Cavalry?
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TIL: Battletech has a Tomb of Horrors scenario
Or Ruins of Umdermountain.
Ruger
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I enjoyed that one a lot.
"Yeah, I got killed by a friggin' torpedo."
"Wow, really? Where were you fighting?"
"Underground."
::bar falls silent. in the distance, a glass drops to the floor::
I thought the corridor with the special roof was cool too very Indiana Jones sounding place
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That sounds like something Doctor Evil from Austin Powers would come up with.
Dr. Evil has NOTHING on Paul... ^-^
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Look pal...the stuff that man has done to my 'Mechs beggars belief.
"Okay, so you skid, and (rolls) fall into a depth 4 pit. It has a lid, which slams shut over you. That's when the lava jets built into the sides start spewing lava into the pit."
"Uh."
"Do you have jump MP?"
"No."
"Do you have hand actuators?"
"It's a Timber Wolf and I think you know that."
"Does your MechWarrior have a sidearm?"
"I hate you."
I’m pretty sure people would pay for a book of these and others like it. Make it a pair of books the other with JHB dice roll antics :)
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So two things about that new Touring the Stars, which is excellent and which I highly recommend to anyone who hasn't already purchased it:
- Does anyone know what that 'Mech in the art on page 9 is? I'm usually aces at this sort of thing, but for the life of me I can't identify it.
- The people of Riken Minor must be absolutely riddled with gout.
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it's the mercury redesign from the kickstarter
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Cuddy, i hope you keep writing this stuff. I think one best parts of these announcements is is funny dialogue ypu guys come up to reactions on forums. It really funny adds bit charm for me at least how great the community can be. :D
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Dr. Evil has NOTHING on Paul... ^-^
Paul is definitely folically superior.
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Dr. Evil has NOTHING on Paul... ^-^
Yeah, he sounds more like Jigsaw.
Or Rick Sanchez after playing The Tomb of Horrors
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DriveThruFiction just sent me a notice about new BattleTech fiction..
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DriveThru tells me there is new Dark Age fiction? Republic vs Dracs on Dieron?
(https://www.drivethrufiction.com/images/2216/312182.jpg)
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Without even thinking I downloaded it from Barnes & Noble, when I could have used my coupon code at the Catalyst store.
Oh well, it's still good 'till the 15th.
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Awesome!!!!! I hope it's full novel, Jason right a seriously good book. I caught up recently bough the Pod-printed Dragoons book was amazingly good. I wasn't a Battlecorp subscriber so i didn't read it when it was coming out.
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i'm only interested in DTF fiction these days so hopefully it will make its way to PoD eventually
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Ugh, its not on Amazon so I bought it from DriveThruFiction which I might do more often . . . but its giving me DRM errors when trying to read it. Oh the roller coaster of happiness to frustration! But that cover looks sharp . . . seems the Knight might be losing his Large Pulse Laser!
-
I will wait for PoD. It's what i did last time, sadly taking years of waiting. (sigh)
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Will there be a PDF of Shell Games as well? I don't have a Kindle or e-reader.
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i'm only interested in DTF fiction these days so hopefully it will make its way to PoD eventually
It will. Likely paired with something of similar size.
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I will say . . . I have some problem with the DriveThru download and DRM- probably on the Kindle's part but nothing else has ever been rejected like that afaik- but they got a hold of CGL who set up another copy for DL to make sure in a very short time.
But since I cannot read it on DriveThru . . . its not on Amazon yet?
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Ugh, its not on Amazon so I bought it from DriveThruFiction which I might do more often . . . but its giving me DRM errors when trying to read it. Oh the roller coaster of happiness to frustration! But that cover looks sharp . . . seems the Knight might be losing his Large Pulse Laser!
What flavor of DRM error, and on what platform? I used to have crash issues on a Kobo Aqua, but not DRM issues.
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But since I cannot read it on DriveThru . . . its not on Amazon yet?
The FB announcement says... This is NOT available on Amazon yet. They are dragging their feet approving the book, once they do we'll add the link here.
If nobody beats me to it, I'll post here when they update.
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It will. Likely paired with something of similar size.
so A Splinter of Hope / The Anvil situation. i can dig it.
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Ugh, its not on Amazon so I bought it from DriveThruFiction which I might do more often . . . but its giving me DRM errors when trying to read it. Oh the roller coaster of happiness to frustration! But that cover looks sharp . . . seems the Knight might be losing his Large Pulse Laser!
I'm not sure if it got resolved, but you might download Calibre and see if you can open it in there. If you can, you can probably re-convert it. Btw, Calibre is pretty amazing for ereaders and managing that sort of content.
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Seconded. I reconvert any epubs with Calibre (on my Windows laptop), and no longer have any compatibility issues on my Android device.
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Any idea when it is coming out on Amazon?
-
Reposting Mr. Pardoe's Dragoons short story teaser for those not following his thread in OT: https://blainepardoe.wordpress.com/2020/05/07/new-battletech-tease-wolfs-dragoon-short-novel-divided-we-fall/
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... which, apparently, is now available for pre-order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0889WYMKT
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Ok, I can find that one in Amazon but not Shell Game? And what mech is that on the front cover? Looks like that is a Blood Reaper next to it . . .
Dang! Pre-Order for May 18th release!
-
https://blainepardoe.wordpress.com/2020/05/07/new-battletech-tease-wolfs-dragoon-short-novel-divided-we-fall/
Hello, my name is bob, and I am insulted you used me as a negative example. Please give me a free books in recompense. [/silly]
*Not actually named bob.
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I had change of heart and wasnt able to pre-order the novella on Google Books app.
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https://blainepardoe.wordpress.com/2020/05/07/new-battletech-tease-wolfs-dragoon-short-novel-divided-we-fall/
Hello, my name is bob, and I am insulted you used me as a negative example. Please give me a free books in recompense.
*Not actually named bob.
*sigh*
(https://media2.giphy.com/media/3o6wrlKnz8Qe89043C/200.gif)
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Hmm . . . Shell Game & Divided being POD together?
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Hmm . . . Shell Game & Divided being POD together?
So Divided should really be Included?
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*sigh*
(https://media2.giphy.com/media/3o6wrlKnz8Qe89043C/200.gif)
That is the appropriate response, yes.
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So
1) new mechs (art and stats done for some.)
2) digital release in May
3) story dovetails into ilClan novels (can you smell that forward-arc fiction??)
4) don’t ask Mr Pardoe for inside information or free shit he just works here
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New mechs?
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New mechs?
Mr. Pardoe's teaser blog post is linked a handful of posts above.
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(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51STDq+9skL._SX260_.jpg)
New mech, a few more, and a Goliath C . . . guess the Crusader Wolves must have captured enough or a factory. With it being a Linebacker instead of a Blood Reaper in the background, guess the cover mech is a heavy or assault.
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Guessing heavy from the weapons loadout.
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I saw it on Amazon, do we know where else it might be available when it's out??
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I saw it on Amazon, do we know where else it might be available when it's out??
The usual places? To my knowledge, there’s nothing unusual about the releasing of this one, other than Amazon deciding to put Blaine’s book up for preorder way sooner than expected.
Hmm . . . Shell Game & Divided being POD together?
Only a possibility. They could also be paired with other material or possibly published solo if POD allows for volumes that size. Not sure what fiction has planned.
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So when will Shell Game be available on Amazon?
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So when will Shell Game be available on Amazon?
It's my understanding that the only people who know the answer to this question work at Amazon, not CGL.
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From the teaser a cool sounding story though the Dragoons were last in a Combine contract so the Wolves influence extends that far :o
Of course the Dragoons are different though they fell pretty damned hard in the Jihad lost all their support so I'm glad they are not still claiming to be top dogs
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I saw it on Amazon, do we know where else it might be available when it's out??
Not yet up for preorder on Barnes & Noble or the Catalyst Store.
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Amazon does tend to the "let's put it online 18 months before it exists, to capture as many people as possible who aren't thinking about when it'll be delivered" approach.
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Amazon does tend to the "let's put it online 18 months before it exists, to capture as many people as possible who aren't thinking about when it'll be delivered" approach.
Except for Shell Games. Apparently they aren't in a hurry to sell us that one. ::)
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The Kindle books are put up by Amazon LLC . . . so its not like someone putting up the Clan Invasion or Clan Starter Box. They have offered some of the epubs for pre-release, its that someone other distributors are carrying not making it over that makes me wonder.
I am also going to poke at the mobi and see if I can figure out how to get that sent over.
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So when will Shell Game be available on Amazon?
It's currently available from the CGL store. :thumbsup:
Quote from the store listing:
Note: This purchase allows the download of two files, an ebook file for use on most ereaders, and a .mobi file for use on the Amazon Kindle.
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i was hoping that the google books read would read the files you get from catalyst, but i found to my disappointment will not.
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B&N now has Divided We Fall up for preorder.
Come one Catalyst Store. Put it up for preorder before the 15th so I can use my coupon code.
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Google books has it pre-order now as well.
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Is anyone else getting "Something went wrong" when trying to read Shell Games on Play Books?
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Is anyone else getting "Something went wrong" when trying to read Shell Games on Play Books?
I'm having the exactly the same problem. I'm ticked off. I sent message to Google Play Books, hopefully they will get back to me.
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might be same reasoning as I was having with DriveThru.
Did anyone else buy it on Drive Thru?
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To be honest, i never seen announcement for this novella made. Maybe it's not ready and it's pulled? I'd be mad if it were true. Hopefully Cuddy will be able answer some of our concerns, since it definitely not application / download error on my part.
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It's still available through Barnes & Noble.
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It's still available through Barnes & Noble.
Have you downloaded it and try read it? It seems to be issue with it. At least from google.
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Still works just fine.
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Shell Games is working fine on Google Books for me. It might be a problem with American servers as opposed to Canadian ones?
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Shell Games is working fine on Google Books for me. It might be a problem with American servers as opposed to Canadian ones?
I'm in South Africa. Probably using the EU Servers.
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I know digital has a lot of advantages over dead tree format, but seeing all this is going a long way to convince me to stick with it.
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Its the only one I have ever had a problem with and I got the novel from a different source than usual . . . I have put rule & source book PDFs on 3 different Kindles along with my CPU.
Were these two novellas planned to be released for the Cons?
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... Hopefully Cuddy will be able answer ...
Cubby?
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No, Cuddy, who wrote Freeborth, and Voles on the Border. Remember him?
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No, Cuddy, who wrote Freeborth, and Voles on the Border. Remember him?
Nope! that explains some though. thank you!
(man, I was like "who is Cuddy?")
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No, Cuddy, who wrote Freeborth, and Voles on the Border. Remember him?
Didn't he also write Twilight of the Clans: The Cullen Bloodname?
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Cubby?
No...CUDDY!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Cuddy
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Bigger fan of Cutty myself
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No, Cuddy, who wrote Freeborth, and Voles on the Border. Remember him?
Star Captain Tuttle is still one of my favorite characters. The clans needed more warriors like him. Shame he forgot to bring his parachute. :'(
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Tuttle? I thought it was Star Captain Turtle?
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I was in a rush when i wrote it as i was on verge of throwing my phone across my work space because the book won't open and Google is being doofuses in their help response. I rate I'm going i'm not going get my book on my only usable e-reader. "yay"... :(
Ignore my rant. Hopeful Mr. Pardoe's book will be readable.
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I saw that Divided We Fall was listed for pre-order on Google Books. They had posted a preview, including the prelude and opening chapter, which have certainly whetted my appetite. What is rather bizarre is that whenever I check this preview, it seems to change in length! The other night the preview included the last page of the novel which gave a lot more away than I was expecting to see; it just segued from the intro to that last page!
It also had a write-up for the Dominator at the end.
I thought the mech was a bit underwhelming...
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Were these two novellas planned to be released for the Cons?
Nope.
No...CUDDY!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Cuddy
See, that's where I went with that too. I stuck with that show to the end, even the last two seasons when I felt more like a hostage to my sense of completionism than a viewer.
The all time winner for misspellings of me is still "Chubby."
I'm having the exactly the same problem. I'm ticked off. I sent message to Google Play Books, hopefully they will get back to me.
That may be your best bet. I got your PM and will respond momentarily, but I don't think this is an issue with the file. Either way, it's far out of my wheelhouse to address.
Amazon does tend to the "let's put it online 18 months before it exists, to capture as many people as possible who aren't thinking about when it'll be delivered" approach.
Not what's happening here. There's an issue getting Shell Games onto Amazon, and John Helfers is aware of it and working on it.
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If my google books thing doesn't MESS up again, i have Divided they Fall on pre-order for me. I will be sad Dragoon will be perma-destroyed and some some element become something else. I wonder if the stats page will appear in my version of the book.
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I will be sad Dragoon will be perma-destroyed and some some element become something else.
Who said that's what happens? No one said that's what happens.
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Who said that's what happens? No one said that's what happens.
My assumption since the Dragoons are mercenaries, their profession in a Clan ran organization doesn't seem likely to continue. Sorry.
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My assumption since the Dragoons are mercenaries, their profession in a Clan ran organization doesn't seem likely to continue. Sorry.
Alaric still has, last we 'saw,' Solaris operating mostly as it was before . . .
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I know the Combat Manual Series weren’t great sellers. However, I really enjoyed Combat Manual: Kurita and would love a hard copy of Mercenaries. I heard whispers that an abridged version of CM: Davion might be released. Is there any truth to these rumors?
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IlClan era blurb https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66405.msg1594779#msg1594779
Indicates that mercs are a pretty big deal for now. I'm thinking that instead of IlClan ending with a timejump, the story is gonna continue with a war of consolidation and building the Third League.
What does that mean to the Dragoons? Unknown, but given how they're a fan favorite, it is hard to see them dying out (or if they do that, they do it in a way that leaves a lasting legacy and impact). Now, i'm skeptical of the IlClan, regardless who it is, using mercs, but i can see them incorporating the best into their ranks as elite specialist/troubleshooter units and the like.
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For the shorter stories, the plan is to wait until theres enough to fill a book, then PoD them, right? Or is it more complicated than that? I'm assuming you wouldn't want to pair stories from different eras together.
Tuttle? I thought it was Star Captain Turtle?
Figured no one would catch the reference, but I had to go for it anyway.
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I know the Combat Manual Series weren’t great sellers. However, I really enjoyed Combat Manual: Kurita and would love a hard copy of Mercenaries. I heard whispers that an abridged version of CM: Davion might be released. Is there any truth to these rumors?
1) clarification: they sold like anything else but the high production value made their profit margins much tighter - in essence they had to over-perform to perform adequately
2) i have not heard this rumor - nckestrel (aka Mr. Alpha Strike) has made a series of unofficial CM lite editions (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=63772.0). davion wasn't included in that batch because he wasn't the author. also it would ruin any potential chance (no matter how slim) of an official publication.
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1) clarification: they sold like anything else but the high production value made their profit margins much tighter - in essence they had to over-perform to perform adequately
The art in the book is gorgeous and the color panel in the CM: Mercs cover every paint scheme of 3rd-4th SW era Merc unit I can think of, more than I can recall being in previous Merc books (I mean, who else has included the paint scheme of the Thermo Police? ) and a how too on the Wolf Dragoons paint scheme featured on Camo Specs.
Unfortunately, image/art heavy media have delayed books in the pass. It's painful that the best part of the book may have been what negated it's success.
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If I could find a reasonable price on a DTF version of CM: Mercs I'd snap it up in a second.
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Check other game stores . . . I picked it up from mine just b/c I have a lot of the merc materials even if I do not play AS. It had a few nice bits that impacted some of what I was playing around with in MM- for instance the 3/12 Star Guard hired a guy who . . . won the Noisiel games and got a Marauder 5D as a prize. Found out the CO runs a Wolverine in the regiment . . . and they had no light mechs! Shuffled up the TO&E for the Wolf vs Star Guard invasion game on MM.
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I think they should do a re-release of both the mercenary and kurita manual when the lance and star packs drop. You could easy pull some of the GW crowd that uses a codex to build their forces, and then you could gauge if they should be continued.
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For the shorter stories, the plan is to wait until theres enough to fill a book, then PoD them, right? Or is it more complicated than that? I'm assuming you wouldn't want to pair stories from different eras together.
It's been done plenty in the past (see: every BattleCorps Anthology).
Fiction and other smaller anthologies (Gray Markets, Slack Tide, Honor Road) will be available in DTF in the near future. There's some new stuff we're trying to get out the door, but the fact that people like dead tree is not lost on anyone. Reminded our fiction lead of it last night, I did.
The art in the book is gorgeous and the color panel in the CM: Mercs cover every paint scheme of 3rd-4th SW era Merc unit I can think of, more than I can recall being in previous Merc books (I mean, who else has included the paint scheme of the Thermo Police? ) and a how too on the Wolf Dragoons paint scheme featured on Camo Specs.
Unfortunately, image/art heavy media have delayed books in the pass. It's painful that the best part of the book may have been what negated it's success.
::walks by munching popcorn::
Oh, we're re-legislating Combat Manuals again? Ok. Let me add in a wrinkle to your understanding above.
While it's true that the art costs and associated production costs/time were higher for those books, let us also remember that paying those costs for the CMs allowed other products to benefit from reduced costs. By modeling the new Classics designs the way we did for the CMs, we could then re-use / re-color some of those models for other products.
I'm getting out of my words-boy wheelhouse and into art-stuff, but suffice to say: it's more complicated than "the CMs didn't make money" or "the costs of producing them were too high."
If I could find a reasonable price on a DTF version of CM: Mercs I'd snap it up in a second.
::cough cough (https://bg.battletech.com/news/coming-soon-to-print-on-demand-the-wars-of-reaving-battletech-activity-book/)::
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Sorry if we are speaking out of ignorant but the official fate of the CM was a little tight lipped for awhile leaving only speculation and rumors.
Thanks for the reminder of PoD is on way :)
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I saw that Divided We Fall was listed for pre-order on Google Books. They had posted a preview, including the prelude and opening chapter, which have certainly whetted my appetite. What is rather bizarre is that whenever I check this preview, it seems to change in length! The other night the preview included the last page of the novel which gave a lot more away than I was expecting to see; it just segued from the intro to that last page!
It also had a write-up for the Dominator at the end.
I thought the mech was a bit underwhelming...
Agreed, if I reversered engineered it correctly it has AES on the arms and legs and a not much else going for it, weapons run hot if used together and kind of lacking.
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I find it strange that people cite not playing AS as a justification for not getting the CMs. AS converts to BT quite easily (and vice versa), and there is a great deal of new material in both of the CMs. Seems like a good job of bridging the gap between the oldest material (3025-3030 era) and the Field Manual series (post-Invasion) by slotting in relevant material in the Invasion period specifically. The 20-Year Update didn't have this sort of data. CM:Kurita's Rasalhague section alone is a must-have for games in the Invasion era.
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Anthology called Honor Road? I take it that possible new one coming out? ???
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Alaric still has, last we 'saw,' Solaris operating mostly as it was before . . .
That story is forthcoming...
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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IlClan era blurb https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=66405.msg1594779#msg1594779
Indicates that mercs are a pretty big deal for now. I'm thinking that instead of IlClan ending with a timejump, the story is gonna continue with a war of consolidation and building the Third League.
What does that mean to the Dragoons? Unknown, but given how they're a fan favorite, it is hard to see them dying out (or if they do that, they do it in a way that leaves a lasting legacy and impact). Now, i'm skeptical of the IlClan, regardless who it is, using mercs, but i can see them incorporating the best into their ranks as elite specialist/troubleshooter units and the like.
I could see the Dragoons, and/or the Warden Wolves, becoming mainline Clan Wolf or IlClan galaxies. It would kept the legacy while getting a bit of faction consolidation, which wouldn't be a terrible thing.
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Figured no one would catch the reference, but I had to go for it anyway.
That episode of MASH predates most people in this forum.
Not me unfortunately. :wheelchair:
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That episode of MASH predates most people in this forum.
Not me unfortunately. :wheelchair:
:thumbsup:
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That episode of MASH predates most people in this forum.
Not me unfortunately. :wheelchair:
Off to Hulu tor ewatch the episode. The McLean Stevenos years were the best.
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I'll be frank... after reading Touring the Stars: Rigil Kentarus.... I honestly wouldn't really call Riken Minor a moon. Honestly it seems more like a binary planet system.
Tidally locked, mars-sized... Riken Minor on its own would most likely count as a planet by pretty much any standard. I would not at all be surprised if they have a barycenter in-between them.
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I could see the Dragoons, and/or the Warden Wolves, becoming mainline Clan Wolf or IlClan galaxies. It would kept the legacy while getting a bit of faction consolidation, which wouldn't be a terrible thing.
Come to think of it...
[Alaric] <seizes Terra>
[Clan Wolf] Yay! Clan Wolf is the ilKhan!
[Clan Wolf-in-Exile] We‘re ilClan, too!
[Wolf's Dragoons] ...and we'll be your ilMercs, because we're Clan Wolf, too!
[Steel Wolves veterans] So are we!
[Wolf Hunters] <wave hands frantically>
[Snord's Irregulars] My wife's ilClan, too! Reporting back from detached duty for ilMercship.
[House Steiner] Given Alaric's maternal heritage, that makes us the ilHouse then. Long live our Third League First Lord ilKhan Alaric Steiner-Ward-Wolf!
[House Davion] <raises hand> *cough cough*
[Malvina] Seeing how my Jade Falcons pwned the Wolves in the Refusal War and absorbed them, that ilClan title totally belongs to the Jade Falcons. And I've got the WarShips and nukes to prove it. Dare me.
[Fidelis] Actually, Clan Smoke Jaguar kinda sorta combat-landed on Terra first with Stone back in the Jihad. You guys are half a century late.
[The Blood/Wolverine Cabal/ComStar/Word of Blake] <snicker>
I think I'm going to like the ilClan era. :)
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(wrong button...)
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I really want Paul Moon to try to claim ilClanship, just to have Alaric casually shoot him and carry on like nothing happened.
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Come to think of it...
[Alaric] <seizes Terra>
[Clan Wolf] Yay! Clan Wolf is the ilKhan!
[Clan Wolf-in-Exile] We‘re ilClan, too!
[Wolf's Dragoons] ...and we'll be your ilMercs, because we're Clan Wolf, too!
[Steel Wolves veterans] So are we!
[Wolf Hunters] <wave hands frantically>
[Snord's Irregulars] My wife's ilClan, too! Reporting back from detached duty for ilMercship.
[House Steiner] Given Alaric's maternal heritage, that makes us the ilHouse then. Long live our Third League First Lord ilKhan Alaric Steiner-Ward-Wolf!
[House Davion] <raises hand> *cough cough*
[Malvina] Seeing how my Jade Falcons pwned the Wolves in the Refusal War and absorbed them, that ilClan title totally belongs to the Jade Falcons. And I've got the WarShips and nukes to prove it. Dare me.
[Fidelis] Actually, Clan Smoke Jaguar kinda sorta combat-landed on Terra first with Stone back in the Jihad. You guys are half a century late.
[The Blood/Wolverine Cabal/ComStar/Word of Blake] <snicker>
I think I'm going to like the ilClan era. :)
The trials of grievance will take decades... no wonder the new book intros are from 3250 that’s when they sort the damn thing out
Of course by then the lore master is a sea fox
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I really want Paul Moon to try to claim ilClanship, just to have Alaric casually shoot him and carry on like nothing happened.
Easy for Alaric to do, being as Moon's like >130 years old at this point. How an Elemental survived to that age in the first place I'm curious to know. Unless Elementals are really proto-Space Marines...
Of course by then the lore master is a sea fox
??? Isn't Roshak an exclusive Jade Falcon heritage?
Granted, Clan Sea Fox may have acquired it by 3250 but is there any hard evidence that they'll be the ilClan?
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Daoshen: We secretly replaced Alaric Steiner-Davion-Ward-Wolf with a clone of Max Liao. WE are ilClan now!
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Given Sun-Tzu Liao is spawn of House Davion (snickers) that would put him descendants inline to the throne of the Star League (x3).
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I could see the Dragoons, and/or the Warden Wolves, becoming mainline Clan Wolf or IlClan galaxies. It would kept the legacy while getting a bit of faction consolidation, which wouldn't be a terrible thing.
I will go ahead and pop the bubble here . . .
. . . after losing Arc Royal, the Warden Wolves voted not to return to the Crusaders per Shattered Fortress IIRC- they left with Calamity. Some individuals did, but some that the Crusaders ended up with were like Anastasia or Alexa Wolf (Stormhammers officer) and just folks who left the Warden Wolves b/c they felt stagnate. Steel Wolves were Crusader descendants anyway . . . or wannabes/abathka . . . and what Anastasia did not keep for the Wolf Hunters fragmented 3x though only one group is still kicking as mercs per one of the 3145 books.
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I would like to have the Dragoons get annihilated by the Wolves.
To begin a new era, the symbols of the old must die.
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Daoshen: We secretly replaced Alaric Steiner-Davion-Ward-Wolf with a clone of Max Liao. WE are ilClan now!
That... would definitely be something.
I'd read it.
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I would like to have the Dragoons get annihilated by the Wolves.
To begin a new era, the symbols of the old must die.
I wouldn't mind that either to be honest I hope ilClan will change the map dramatically with the Clans completing their birthright in conquering the Inner Sphere just the question who will lead the Falcon, Wolf or Bear?
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I would like to have the Dragoons get annihilated by the Wolves.
To begin a new era, the symbols of the old must die.
You speak like a Lannister!
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As long as it is handled better than Dying Time.
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As long as it is handled better than Dying Time.
You know, now that I think about it, that is how much of the final season of Game of Thrones (and Lost come to think of it) felt to me. Just like Dying Time.
Ruger
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You know, now that I think about it, that is how much of the final season of Game of Thrones (and Lost come to think of it) felt to me. Just like Dying Time.
Ruger
It was a little worse for me, I lost a family member just before the book hit the shelves. It... was not a good time for me.
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As long as it is handled better than Dying Time.
Ooof. This is the one that almost had me quit BT. Mood whiplash from Op Excalibur to this plus it felt like someone's revenge fantasy on a unit they didn't like much. Only reason I finished was hope that everything would turn out in the end... :'(
When Herb and Company's "Oops, accidentally killed the Black Thorns" or "Alex Carlyle was on Tharkad when the reactor went up" makes more sense than The Dying Time...
*BACK ON TOPIC!*
Looks like the new novella will hit Kindles on Monday if you Buy It Now on Amazon, so there is that. Also, the summary doesn't feel like an Annihilation is in the cards. Good, though even if they did, there's still enough Great House materials to have the carryover effect to not feel so jarring.
See Old Man Steiner-Davion in the first MWDA novel.
BTW, Cubby, any ETA on getting MWDA novels digitized and made available for sale?
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I finally got Shell Games book to work on my Chrome browser which is annoying. Awesome book! I'm so surprised how a book size of novella felt like full on novel. Jason did a bang up job with this book. An interesting one, though i have say if i were disappointed it was for one reason. They had Duat-Class DropShip, Yet NOT Superheavy BattleMechs?? That's what ship FOR! What a let down.
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They had Duat-Class DropShip, Yet NOT Superheavy BattleMechs?? That's what ship FOR! What a let down.
Don't worry. I'm sure you'll see them in action sooner or later.
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BTW, Cubby, any ETA on getting MWDA novels digitized and made available for sale?
I support this, some went digital and some did not . . . and some quit being digital before I could pick them up. I think the forums can pick out at least 4 that do not need to be released . . . Del Rio's drek (and that is as nice as I can be) along with Ruins of Paper . . . but it would be nice to get a lot of the later (and better) ones out in epub, it would help lead to the Dark Age era.
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BTW, Cubby, any ETA on getting MWDA novels digitized and made available for sale?
Nothing I can share publicly at this time; however, it's an active effort. They're not being ignored, nor is the value of their availability.
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Excellent answer and not one I think I had heard before . . . I know I missed some of the novels when they were printed, like one of the later ones covering Katana Tormark's rise to Warlord Dieron, so filling in the gaps would be great. The ones I have digitally are 10, 12, 18, 25-30 though I think I have 1 through 14 or 15 in paper and then sprinkled novels after.
I have duplicated most of my paperbacks with epub just b/c I can take the whole collection on my kindle while I travel or have to wait places. So 40+ novels, have not counted, TW, TM, TacOps, StratOps, IO, CampOps . . . handful of Tourings, FMs & ERs, I think something like 30+ rules or sourcebooks or materials.
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Nothing I can share publicly at this time; however, it's an active effort. They're not being ignored, nor is the value of their availability.
Glad to know they're being worked on, I missed out on anything after Blood Avatar, which I still haven't finished...
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I finally got Shell Games book to work on my Chrome browser which is annoying. Awesome book! I'm so surprised how a book size of novella felt like full on novel. Jason did a bang up job with this book. An interesting one, though i have say if i were disappointed it was for one reason. They had Duat-Class DropShip, Yet NOT Superheavy BattleMechs?? That's what ship FOR! What a let down.
It is great that Jason Schmetzer (seemingly) returned to write for BattleTech again. :thumbsup:
Ben Rome is somewhat snarky about.
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Glad to know they're being worked on, I missed out on anything after Blood Avatar, which I still haven't finished...
You know #10, Flight of the Falcon by Victor Milan is still available on Amazon? Its the only one any longer, but its a good read and introduces you to Mad Malvina.
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And remember that we re-released A Bonfire of Worlds as a POD product (https://www.amazon.com/BattleTech-Bonfire-Steven-Mohan-Jr/dp/1942487908/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=) not too long ago.
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Oh, don't mind me. I'm just looking at some gorgeous ’Mech art from David White for TRO: Golden Century.
IF you're all good little MechWarriors you might get to see a sneak preview. ;)
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I would rather see the table of contents . . .
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IF you're all good little MechWarriors you might get to see a sneak preview. ;)
Yay! :D :rockon:
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Oh, don't mind me. I'm just looking at some gorgeous ’Mech art from David White for TRO: Golden Century.
IF you're all good little MechWarriors you might get to see a sneak preview. ;)
What about good little Aerospace pilots? ^-^
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Now Available: Spotlight On: The Crazy Eights in PDF; First Succession War, Second Succession War in Print-on-Demand
A new PDF release is available, and two out-of-print books are back in Print-on-Demand!
And coming in two weeks, on May 29 - Touring the Stars: Jardine.
(https://i.ibb.co/F6MQdYb/Spotlight-On-The-Crazy-Eights-display-cover-1.png) (https://ibb.co/5TyQJjW)
Spotlight On: The Crazy Eights (PDF Only - $3.99)
There is no company more fitting as heralds of the Davion sword and sunburst than the Crazy Eights, and even fewer regiments in the AFFS with as storied and lengthy history as the Eighth Company of the Twentieth Avalon Hussars. Disbanded and lost during the Word of Blake’s Jihad, the Crazy Eights were reformed when the call to war once again compelled the Federated Suns to raise new regiments for the protection of the realm. Now, as House Davion’s ancient enemy bears down on New Avalon in this new Dark Age, the Crazy Eights are one of the few to stand in the Dragon’s path.
Spotlight On: The Crazy Eights includes a Unit History, Personalities, Personnel Rosters, Mission Tracks, and data for use with all scales of BattleTech play.
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DriveThruRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/313770/BattleTech-Spotlight-On-The-Crazy-Eights)
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First Succession War (Print-on-Demand - $34.99 // PDF - $14.99)
THE DREAM IS OVER
In 2784, the departure of General Alexsandr Kerensky and the remnants of the SLDF from known space leaves the Inner Sphere balanced on a knife-edge. With no Star League to keep the House Lords in check, greed, ambition and old grudges come to the fore once more, propelling the five remaining Great Houses into a war that threatens human civilization itself: The First Succession War.
The First Succession War describes the most devastating conflict ever fought by mankind as the five Great Houses battle for supremacy in the ruins of the Star League. Covering the collapse of the Star League, the militarization of the Inner Sphere and the horrors that ensued, this volume provides a detailed look at the major actions of the war, the motivations of its participants, and the deadly consequences of their decisions.
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Catalyst Game Labs web store PDF: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-first-succession-war-pdf (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-first-succession-war-pdf)
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Second Succession War (Print-on-Demand - $34.99 // PDF - $14.99)
WAR TO END ALL WARS
By 2821, the “Great Succession War” has ground to a halt, the participants seeking desperate respite and to forge a new peace and hope for mankind. Yet not everyone shares this ideal and soon secret machinations undermine the peace efforts and propel the Inner Sphere into a new round of violence. Soon brother will be set against brother and madness will reign once more: The Second Succession War.
The Second Succession War covers the aftermath of the titanic First Succession War and the Great Houses efforts to survive before the machinations of Conrad Toyama propel them into a new round of blood-letting. Detailing the efforts to build a peace while preparing for a new war, this volume showcases the causes and consequences of the Second Succession War, as well as the politics and stresses between and within the Great Houses.
DriveThruRPG Print-on-Demand: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/216757/BattleTech-Second-Succession-War (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/216757/BattleTech-Second-Succession-War)
Catalyst Game Labs web store PDF: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-second-succession-war-pdf (https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-second-succession-war-pdf)
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Just ordered the PoD version of First Succession Wars, will order the 2nd in a few weeks. Already spent enough of Battletech stuff this month.
Psy
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Waitwaitwait.
JARDINE?!??! :o
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Oh, don't mind me. I'm just looking at some gorgeous ’Mech art from David White for TRO: Golden Century.
IF you're all good little MechWarriors you might get to see a sneak preview. ;)
Some of us have been waiting patiently for years for this book, preview please.
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Waitwaitwait.
JARDINE?!??! :o
SECRETS WILL BE REVEALED
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Oh, don't mind me. I'm just looking at some gorgeous ’Mech art from David White for TRO: Golden Century.
IF you're all good little MechWarriors you might get to see a sneak preview. ;)
Well, you should know by now that nobody good comes here.
How about a bribe instead? I can offer an unopened 4 pack of toilet paper.
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Just used my coupon code on Crazy Eights. :thumbsup:
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Waitwaitwait.
JARDINE?!??! :o
A typo, it should be Sjardijn. Its a tour of Paul's house.
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A typo, it should be Sjardijn. Its a tour of Paul's house.
Does that mean that we still get to see WMD?
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Just used my coupon code on Crazy Eights. :thumbsup:
Let me know if you liked it! Or hated it, I guess.
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Does that mean that we still get to see WMD?
Does his dirty laundry count?
Or how about the mystery package in the back of the refrigerator?
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Let me know if you liked it! Or hated it, I guess.
i did like it. i've been waiting to see one that stretched the full timeline
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A typo, it should be Sjardijn. Its a tour of Paul's house.
“Wait until you see what’s under his porch!”
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SECRETS WILL BE REVEALED
Or it will be pages and pages of redacted text with a cleartext word here and there.... >:D
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Or it will be pages and pages of redacted text with a cleartext word here and there.... >:D
or it will be a bunch of inane secrets like how the manei domini weren't really super soldiers - the just snorted pixie sticks
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Or it will be pages and pages of redacted text with a cleartext word here and there.... >:D
Every PDF comes with a free lava lamp.
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I'm seriously considering getting the PoD of the First and Second Succession Wars.
Can anyone comment on the quality from past iterations of the PoD? Shipping to South Africa will probably end up being pricey.
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Waitwaitwait.
JARDINE?!??! :o
In progress. It's a thing.
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Maybe I am biased as a Federated Suns player but this is easily my favorite Spotlight on product.
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A typo, it should be Sjardijn. Its a tour of Paul's house.
It's not April 1st, but this DOES sound like the more likely thing... ^-^
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Let me know if you liked it! Or hated it, I guess.
Enjoyed it.
Four eras of playability. Nicely done!
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I would rather see the table of contents . . .
Won't happen, but why spoil the surprise?
I can safely say the book has a solid mix of ground & space units. Lots of game ideas and fleshes out the use of early Clan prototype weapons post-Klondike and pre-Golden Century.
Cubby will probably strangle me, but here are three units definitely in the TRO. He'll decide which one to show.
Minsk BattleMech
Ogotai OmniFighter
Peregrine WarShip
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Let me know if you liked it! Or hated it, I guess.
Ha! Now I can connect the name with the forum handle. :thumbsup:
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I'm seriously considering getting the PoD of the First and Second Succession Wars.
Can anyone comment on the quality from past iterations of the PoD? Shipping to South Africa will probably end up being pricey.
Quality of the House Arano sourcebook was excellent. Indistinguishable from a regular print product.
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Won't happen, but why spoil the surprise?
I can safely say the book has a solid mix of ground & space units. Lots of game ideas and fleshes out the use of early Clan prototype weapons post-Klondike and pre-Golden Century.
Cubby will probably strangle me, but here are three units definitely in the TRO. He'll decide which one to show.
Minsk BattleMech
Ogotai OmniFighter
Peregrine WarShip
Pretty sure those have been given out before . . .
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We have a lot more things to announce.
Just don’t want to overwhelm or overpromise.
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Spotlight On: Crazy Eights was great! Lots of interesting information, and a Davion classic pro-Victor unit is great to see.
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Won't happen, but why spoil the surprise?
I can safely say the book has a solid mix of ground & space units. Lots of game ideas and fleshes out the use of early Clan prototype weapons post-Klondike and pre-Golden Century.
Cubby will probably strangle me, but here are three units definitely in the TRO. He'll decide which one to show.
Minsk BattleMech
Ogotai OmniFighter
Peregrine WarShip
Can I vote for the warship just for a change?
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We have a lot more things to announce.
Just don’t want to overwhelm or overpromise.
We are willkng to risk it.
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Quality of the House Arano sourcebook was excellent. Indistinguishable from a regular print product.
That's fantastic news! Thank you!
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We are willkng to risk it.
History on this board has a lot of evidence otherwise.
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Well I know i'm going to be mashing F5 until TTS:Jardine appears
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History on this board has a lot of evidence otherwise.
I know but after two months of quarantine I could use good news.
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History on this board has a lot of evidence otherwise.
This community is totally the ~Borg
(~ means not, at least when I was in math it did ... now they try to use it as similar which is two of those squiggles, one above the other.)
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~ means "approximately equal" and is weaker than ≈, which is also "approximately equal", but represents a stronger relationship.
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~ means "approximately equal" and is weaker than ≈, which is also "approximately equal", but represents a stronger relationship.
like I said, back when I was in math ... that symbol represented 'not/negate' in logic ~p & q was a false statement if p is true and q true. We may have over used it for other applications.
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Logic and algebra use slightly different symbology… for no good reason...
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Logic and algebra use slightly different symbology… for no good reason...
we always used the double ~ in alg/trig/geo/calc, was much less confusing to not use the same exact symbol for two different meanings. My advanced math brain is now doodoo, so nothing matters anymore, lol.
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I'm seriously considering getting the PoD of the First and Second Succession Wars.
Can anyone comment on the quality from past iterations of the PoD? Shipping to South Africa will probably end up being pricey.
I have the House Arano PoD and a novel(or two?). Had I not known they were PoD when I ordered them, I'd have never known.
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House arano is indistinguishable from a standard book. Anyone get WoR On pod? That’s the most comparable
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Just read through Spotlight On: Crazy Eights. Most amusing read from BT I've seen in some time ;D
Would love to see Pejman's slapping the Charger in a short story one day, and I'm also curious to know what was on the reading list for the Crazy 8s Christmas Raids. Or if they also dropped off morale packs with Hunky Hanse and Belissima Melissa dolls.
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I'll be honest, I got a real classical British Army feel from the Crazy Eights.
Complete with the Jacobite Toast.
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House arano is indistinguishable from a standard book. Anyone get WoR On pod? That’s the most comparable
I've looked at both my original copy and PoD copy of Wars of Reaving, and I can confirm that they are practically indistinguishable from each other. The PoD is high quality.
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I'll be honest, I got a real classical British Army feel from the Crazy Eights.
That's to be expected from a well-known anglophile like 3CL.
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I don't see why a Spotlight On Jardine is that strange, we've already had at least one Spotlight On a dead world, Bob, so there's no requirement for it to be still living world.
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I think it's fairly clear that simply being dead is NOT what made Jardine so interesting.
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Jardine is about the last world I would have expected to see get a TTS...
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I don't see why a Spotlight On Jardine is that strange, we've already had at least one Spotlight On a dead world, Bob, so there's no requirement for it to be still living world.
*sigh* Bob. What a fun place, and all for a throwaway line I put in a story, inspired by a fun discussion with Oystein...
(There have been a few dead worlds, actually; McEvedy's Folly, Tyrfing, and New Dallas come to mind as well...)
- Herb
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I love the Crazy Eights book was great. I wish they had made stats for the Pejman's folly. Hoping it had been uniquely modified.
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We have a lot more things to announce.
Just don’t want to overwhelm or overpromise.
Overwhelm us? Ain't happening. >:D
Overpromise? Yes, always best to err on the side of caution unfortunately. :(
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No, overwhelm us.
But alright, here’s one thing: we should be starting to drop Herb Beas’ Forgotten Worlds on the same day.
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No, overwhelm us.
Yea, you did a good enough job at that with the Kickstarter. No need to do it again. ;)
But alright, here’s one thing: we should be starting to drop Herb Beas’ Forgotten Worlds on the same day.
Excellent! :thumbsup:
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Spotlight On: Crazy Eights is so damn good!!! >:D ;D :D :thumbsup: :)
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But alright, here’s one thing: we should be starting to drop Herb Beas’ Forgotten Worlds on the same day.
Wait, what?
- Herb
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I was going to ask, but I figured it would have more weight coming from you...
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But alright, here’s one thing: we should be starting to drop Herb Beas’ Forgotten Worlds on the same day.
Want!
I was starting to wonder what had happened to that project. Good to see it's not on the backburner after all (please tell me your post meant it isn't).
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No, overwhelm us.
But alright, here’s one thing: we should be starting to drop Herb Beas’ Forgotten Worlds on the same day.
Wait, what?
- Herb
;D
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We have a lot more things to announce.
Just don’t want to overwhelm or overpromise.
See? Now I'm [more?] paranoid.
I'm picturing you ambushing me on the street with an air cannon, and firing fresh Battletech product at me until my defenses collapse, and I am forced to surrender.
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Well since klarg 1 seems genuinely distressed about being ambushed, please scratch him off the list and put me in his place.
Please?
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I volunteer for this arduous trial of will and stamina
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Where can I get an air cannon?
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I think it's fairly clear that simply being dead is NOT what made Jardine so interesting.
This.
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Where can I get an air cannon?
TacOps?
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Where can I get an air cannon?
Um...you're already equipped with two. ;D
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Where can I get an air cannon?
Does BT really need MORE weapons now?
- Herb
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Where can I get an air cannon?
'Consult a lawyer, then a pipefitter' would be my recommendation. You might have to settle for a potato gun, if even that.
:P
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Where can I get an air cannon?
I thought that is what fluid guns were for- you could load it with any sort of liquid to douse a target.
IMO, the question is what merc unit that has a mech refitted with fluid guns have the biggest beer bashes?
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Where can I get an air cannon?
https://www.amazon.com/Orginal-T-shirt-Launcher-Micro-Mini/dp/B077KC4MRJ
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Where can I get an air cannon?
so to be clear. first air cannon, then product previews?
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https://www.amazon.com/Orginal-T-shirt-Launcher-Micro-Mini/dp/B077KC4MRJ
Nah, they need a Rotary AC... (https://www.amazon.com/T-shirt-Launcher-Stress-Ball-Gatling/dp/B077KC7CR6/ref=pd_sbs_200_2/131-5856988-3745223?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B077KC7CR6&pd_rd_r=30d72d27-05a4-456b-b943-b11e08a282a2&pd_rd_w=WALnN&pd_rd_wg=kohmK&pf_rd_p=12b8d3e2-e203-4b23-a8bc-68a7d2806477&pf_rd_r=FJHFD31Q8BSG1VM8XC7T&psc=1&refRID=FJHFD31Q8BSG1VM8XC7T) :)
Looking forward to the slate of new stuff. That and discovering Megamek has let me scratch my Battletech itch while under house arrest ;D
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'Consult a lawyer, then a pipefitter' would be my recommendation. You might have to settle for a potato gun, if even that.
:P
Thanks Now I've got an image of a Mech with a Potato Gun in the right arm and a Fluid Gun in the Left arm firing baked potatoes from one and butter and sour cream from the other. With torso mounted Mortars providing salt, pepper and chives. Which is making me hungry. :drool:
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I thought that is what fluid guns were for- you could load it with any sort of liquid to douse a target.
IMO, the question is what merc unit that has a mech refitted with fluid guns have the biggest beer bashes?
Reed's Brew, duh. :thumbsup:
(https://cfw.sarna.net/wiki/images/9/90/Reed%E2%80%99s_Brew.jpg?timestamp=20100215214456)
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Wouldn't the beer taste better dispensed by a vehicle flamer from refrigerated liquid cargo bay? AKA Cooling truck?
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Y'all need to look up the Royal Canadian Air Farce chicken cannon.
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So . . . new novella dropped, flipped to the back to see the RS . . . its got the Republic symbol in the place of the Weapons Heat/Max Dissipation that is usually there, but nothing super ground breaking except its a Clan design that finally puts the DHS in the legs? Its a Alpha baby even with the Streaks . . . and TC gets another ton & crit for that ER Small pointing to the rear. It also joins the War Dog in having unbalanced armor on the arms- 20 for the RA and 15 for the LA . . . all for 3k BV
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So . . . new novella dropped, flipped to the back to see the RS . . . its got the Republic symbol in the place of the Weapons Heat/Max Dissipation that is usually there, but nothing super ground breaking except its a Clan design that finally puts the DHS in the legs? Its a Alpha baby even with the Streaks . . . and TC gets another ton & crit for that ER Small pointing to the rear. It also joins the War Dog in having unbalanced armor on the arms- 20 for the RA and 15 for the LA . . . all for 3k BV
Yeah the small laser thing really bugs me it just screams we are trying to make it quirky, other wise it serves no real point. reminds me of the rear facing ams kn the Marauder II
other wise I like it
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So . . . new novella dropped, flipped to the back to see the RS . . . its got the Republic symbol in the place of the Weapons Heat/Max Dissipation that is usually there, but nothing super ground breaking except its a Clan design that finally puts the DHS in the legs? Its a Alpha baby even with the Streaks . . . and TC gets another ton & crit for that ER Small pointing to the rear. It also joins the War Dog in having unbalanced armor on the arms- 20 for the RA and 15 for the LA . . . all for 3k BV
Which novella?
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Yeah the small laser thing really bugs me it just screams we are trying to make it quirky, other wise it serves no real point. reminds me of the rear facing ams kn the Marauder II
other wise I like it
I would hate the Small Laser less if it didn't single-handedly make the Targeting Computer three tons.
I would also like the 'Mech in general a lot more if the Supercharger didn't bump it up to 10 hexes, which means for BV calc it's got a +4 TMM but it will almost never actually get one in combat.
Or if it had spent the extra half ton to get to max armor (exactly, with no points wasted) and avoided the asymmetrical arm armor.
There are a lot of small things about that design that really bug me, to the point where I don't actually like the 'Mech as a whole.
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It is also overly cooled . . . the mech has to jump, fire all forward facing weapons - which means getting a Streak lock- to even get to its max dissipation. Honestly, looks great especially in that paint job, but the design is a headscratcher in 3150.
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I thought the new mech looked great. The stats were problematic for the reasons mentioned above. Adding a new Mech for a book also strikes me as unnecessary. Couldn't you just take a 5/8 65 ton Omni, slap a supercharger on it, and say that it was a new canon Omni config for the Dragoons?
I'm not too worked up about it either way, just thought it was odd. Enjoyed the Novella, although I'd like to sink my teeth into something meatier. Are we going to see a full length fiction release as part of the ilClan storyline or will they all be these shorter novellas?
Best,
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"In all of BattleTech history, no mercenary unit has ever fought for a Clan, right?
But what if one of the most elite units that has fought across the entire Inner Sphere decided to join the invaders? And what if some members decided to join, and others don’t?
That’s the story acclaimed author Blaine Lee Pardoe tells in his latest original BattleTech story, Divided We Fall. It’s an amazing story, with the ground-pounding ’Mech action Blaine is known for, and features one of the most popular mercenary units ever created. I loved what he did with this tale, and I think you will too."
"Divided We Fall" is available!!
https://book2read.com/BattletechDividedWeFall (https://books2read.com/BattletechDividedWeFall)
(https://i.ibb.co/4fVfZ2D/51-STDq-9sk-L-SX316-SY316.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
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"In all of BattleTech history, no mercenary unit has ever fought for a Clan, right?"
i missed the "for" there and saw
"In all of BattleTech history, no mercenary unit has ever fought a Clan, right?"
i mean i don't want to tell you the story of your game but uh. yes. at least once.
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Shortly into Divided We Fall . . . could Alaric be leading or forming a trap at Terra for the Jade Falcons, to defeat Malvina & her mad followers- in conjunction with Stone via Fidelis presenting Alaric's challenge, and sending Anastasia to the Warden Wolves & Kell Hounds 'going back to where it all started' being Terra after a misdirection rampage through Falcon OZ into the periphery to join the coalition?
Malvina & what remains of her Falcons land on Terra to fight the Republic, then in comes Crusader Wolves, Kell Hound remains, Warden Wolves remains, and whoever else to end Malvina and by extension her Mongol Falcons forever? Absorbing Norimoto Helmer and his sane Falcons in the Desant territory . . .
May have to say someone else was right about the Warden Wolves joining up . . . because seriously, how is ending nihilistic sociopath Malvina not part of the Warden philosophy?
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I took one look at the Dominator and immediately thought Quickdraw IIC.
Now to read the book. :popcorn:
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I thought the new mech looked great. The stats were problematic for the reasons mentioned above. Adding a new Mech for a book also strikes me as unnecessary. Couldn't you just take a 5/8 65 ton Omni, slap a supercharger on it, and say that it was a new canon Omni config for the Dragoons?
I'm not too worked up about it either way, just thought it was odd. Enjoyed the Novella, although I'd like to sink my teeth into something meatier. Are we going to see a full length fiction release as part of the ilClan storyline or will they all be these shorter novellas?
Best,
The existing 5/8 65 ton Clan Omnis are Cauldron-Born (not in production), Crossbow (Raven Alliance only), Karhu (Rasalhague Dominion only), and Loki (not in production). That's it, that's the list.
Not a lot to choose from.
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Love the speculation and angst.
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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Will the book also become available on drivethrurpg?
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Will the book also become available on drivethrurpg?
It's available on Drivethrufiction.
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Just finished Divided We Fall.
Damn. Over too quick. Need more. And need more urgently.
Also... What the heck is a White Raven?
Very very minor quibble, but my Google Books version had some inconsistencies with character's rank changing between paragraphs. As well as Alaric Ward and Alaric Wolf being used interchangeably in a few instances.
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after years away of the franchise I'm happily suck back with new stories advancing the story! So glad to be back to this universe ;D
congrats on another amazing novel, mr. Pardoe
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White Raven is a 75t jumping mech armed with a large pulse laser under normal circumstances. Not sure if 4/6/4 or 5/8/5 . . . but Marotta's was slower and had non-standard weapons.
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"In all of BattleTech history, no mercenary unit has ever fought for a Clan, right?"
i missed the "for" there and saw
"In all of BattleTech history, no mercenary unit has ever fought a Clan, right?"
i mean i don't want to tell you the story of your game but uh. yes. at least once.
guilty as well ... I skim way to fast sometimes. I'm so used to reading garbage online that when someone has something written in good English, I mess it up. (and I'm way to distracted by kids).
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Well, the Kell Hounds fought for . . . sort of . . . the Warden Wolves. Then again, are they really mercs at that point?
Not finished yet- reading during my breaks- but my appetite is whet for a good old fashioned Falcon stomping. I love the Refusal War fighting, w/o getting into the potholes in FASA proofing, so revisiting the Falcon hate makes me feel good.
This weekend is good weather, time to get the airbrush figured out to start priming my Wolf mechs! Whenever I can sit across from some Falcons will be great!
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Not sure I'd say the Kell Hounds ever fought for so much as with the Wolves.
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This weekend is good weather, time to get the airbrush figured out to start priming my Wolf mechs! Whenever I can sit across from some Falcons will be great!
Almost all my clan stuff is painted falcon. Considered wolf, but if I'm going to have a bad guy faction I'm going to go full bad guy; the Jags have dull schemes or I would've used them.
Bright green Balius for the win.
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I just want to get a larger, clearer picture of the Dominator. Not only is the cover illo rather small, but the colours blot out a lot of the details.
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Not only do I long to know more about this White Raven, but what the devil is a "Heirofalcon"? (Mentioned in the Dominator's fluff). And what's on a "Timber Wolf T" config? TSEMP?
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When i was reading "White Raven" i was thinking Snow Raven mech (not the Capellans enlarged their Raven painted them white or anything. :D)
I'm grateful that book downloaded without any hitch with my google books, still trying work out issues with other book that came out. :ticked:
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The Dominator reminds me of all of my Mechcommander designs. Really enjoyed this and looking forward to the storyline advancing.
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I really want to read ilClan now.
Right now! :(
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The novella is a tasty appetizer for ILCLAN. Well written, the story is something I did not expect.
Was astonished that nothing of Blaine`s usual thirst for blood does not appear ;)
(Expected a blood bath due battles between Dragoons and Dracs).
The White Raven could be a Golden Century design. And there is a number of more Clan refits of Inner Sphere Battlemechs.
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Only 2 . . . Griffin C and Goliath C- the Orion C was already canon and has a unofficial official RS.
Hmm, you do raise a good point . . . will the White Raven be in Golden Century?
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The White Raven is described as a Steel Viper design. IMHO could not be an MWDA-originated Mech.
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...unofficial official RS.
...what.
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Hmm, you do raise a good point . . . will the White Raven be in Golden Century?
That would be weird that the Kerensky managed use a recently(?) capture 2 century old Clan BattleMech in 3140s just to mod it and fight for a Bloodname Trial. It sounds more like it's something new that could end up in a future TRO: IlClan or something
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...what.
Maybe one of those IWM RS?
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That would be weird that the Kerensky managed use a recently(?) capture 2 century old Clan BattleMech in 3140s just to mod it and fight for a Bloodname Trial. It sounds more like it's something new that could end up in a future TRO: IlClan or something
No, Alaric notes it was 'a relic of another Clan.' Which implies it might have been kicking around the touman for a while. It could have also been salvage from the Falcons who took it from the Vipers . . . or the Vipers could have lost it to the Ravens who sold it to the SharkFoxes along the way who in turn sold it to the Crusader Wolves.
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Only 2 . . . Griffin C and Goliath C- the Orion C was already canon and has a unofficial official RS.
Hmm, you do raise a good point . . . will the White Raven be in Golden Century?
Do we have access to the Orion C record sheet?
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Do we have access to the Orion C record sheet?
The Orion C is mentioned in TRO:3150, but I'm not sure if there is record sheet for it yet.
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Gee, I'm wondering if we'll see a IIIC series of 'Mechs eventually.
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Only details on the Orion C:
Orion C: When the Wolves took Kalidasa, they resurrected the original Orion as a
worthy successor to the Orion IIC. Though there is technically an ON2-M hidden under the
thick ferro-lamellor hide, its Streak LRMs and ER pulse lasers make it clear that the Orion
C uses today’s cutting edge Clan tech.
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nckestrel chimed in on the matter in this conversation here https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=49241.msg1479517#msg1479517
he can step in here to disavow anything he said there as non-canon but it's a bit more than what the blurb gives
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nckestrel chimed in on the matter in this conversation here https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=49241.msg1479517#msg1479517
he can step in here to disavow anything he said there as non-canon but it's a bit more than what the blurb gives
Thank you. That is one fine heavy mech!
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Well, regardless, it was very good book Mr. Pardoe wrote. I wish it were longer.
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nckestrel chimed in on the matter in this conversation here https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=49241.msg1479517#msg1479517
he can step in here to disavow anything he said there as non-canon but it's a bit more than what the blurb gives
Nothing is canon until it is published (or the Line Developer says so). I could have told you what I put for the Cyclops CP-11-B, only to find out it was changed in editing (actual example).
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Oh no! Did your account crash?? :o
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You would think that a mech named "White Raven" would have a Snow Raven connection. Maybe a Battle Cobra modified and renamed by the Ravens? It could also be a mech designed and built by the Ravens during the golden century but lost to the Steel Vipers, who kept the name to mock them.
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(http://puu.sh/FMqEc/779ad66bb5.png)
canon was a poor word choice, yeah - i was searching for something to convey "a state of pre-official existence in which at least part of its state has been publicly revealed in a canon source"
the thing exists, though the final form is obfuscated? yeah.
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It’s not Golden Century.
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You would think that a mech named "White Raven" would have a Snow Raven connection. Maybe a Battle Cobra modified and renamed by the Ravens? It could also be a mech designed and built by the Ravens during the golden century but lost to the Steel Vipers, who kept the name to mock them.
I have been playing in MML to replicate the White Raven (original & custom), and I think that the original was deliberately designed to be obsolete. Likely the Steel Vipers did again what they often do and trailed for some scientists, forcing them to make a new 'Mech. Resulting in the scientists making something deliberately bad.
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You would think that a mech named "White Raven" would have a Snow Raven connection. Maybe a Battle Cobra modified and renamed by the Ravens? It could also be a mech designed and built by the Ravens during the golden century but lost to the Steel Vipers, who kept the name to mock them.
Wolves made a mech called the Sun Cobra, sometimes a name is just a name.
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Do we have access to the Orion C record sheet?
There is not a sheet for it yet. However, there was a thread on the forums where we got some information with a wink and a nod, as to how to interpret what NTNU3150 said. I forget who it was and what thread it was exactly.
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WELL, Gencon is Officially Canceled now. https://www.gencon.com/press/updates-gen-con-covid19
So, if a company was waiting for Gencon to release something, they could theoretically do whatever they wanted, release whenever they wanted... y'know... no need to make anyone wait that long... ;) Make a silver lining, for such a dark cloud...
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Unfortunately for most of our Gen Con releases, they weren't waiting until the con to put it out. They were racing the clock to get it out in time for the con.
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WELL, Gencon is Officially Canceled now. https://www.gencon.com/press/updates-gen-con-covid19 (https://www.gencon.com/press/updates-gen-con-covid19)
So, if a company was waiting for Gencon to release something, they could theoretically do whatever they wanted, release whenever they wanted... y'know... no need to make anyone wait that long... ;) Make a silver lining, for such a dark cloud...
Well...shoot :-\
Guess we'll just have to wait till next year then...
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look at the bright side. More time for some spit and polish.
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Let's hope this is over before next year's has to be cancelled too.
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GenCon being cancelled is a huge blow to the entire gaming industry. Iron Wind Metals makes a ton at cons, as does CGL, along with all the other game companies. Here's hoping the loss of income is made up in other ways. :(
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GenCon being cancelled is a huge blow to the entire gaming industry. Iron Wind Metals makes a ton at cons, as does CGL, along with all the other game companies. Here's hoping the loss of income is made up in other ways. :(
I expect you will see a big shift to October for this years Origins.
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look at the bright side. More time for some spit and polish.
Adrian,
I'd like to have 100% of the spit removed and replaced with polish, please.
Thanks!
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Oh no! Did your account crash?? :o
Shhh! He doesn't know he's a clone of nckestrel, created to do more work than just one nckestrel can do.
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Ok... THAT's funny! ;D
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Shhh! He doesn't know he's a clone of nckestrel, created to do more work than just one nckestrel can do.
She doesn't know she's a clone of nckestrel, and will likely not find out until she defeats nckestrels grandson in his attempted coup.
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Since it did not migrate over here yet . . .
They'll all be in Recognition Guide: IlClan.
What?
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hoping for the TRO: New Art we were wanting the comp TROs to include. would be very cool if it's written from a 3250 perspective
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So the next TRO won't be called a TRO? Recognition Guide: IlClan?
Well, i look forward to it when it comes out, not fan of the name.
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i mean it's kind of announced and we know the new art for the osts and quads are in it. that's all. it might not even be a TRO.
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i mean it's kind of announced and we know the new art for the osts and quads are in it. that's all. it might not even be a TRO.
And the Crusader!
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Recognition Guides are very different from tech books . . .
By calling it that to ME it implies it will show the mech (b/c I do not expect anything but mechs) from several different angles and in action like-
(https://inetres.com/gp/military/cv/tank/Leopard1/Leopard1A2.gif)
Which is what I saw on a playing card deck for various tanks & vehicles. Typically they have even less facts than your TRO entry and do not give production or deployment facts. So any entry might be stripped down to- name/model, weight, speed, faction/tech base, and weapons in order of likeliness.
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To me, might even have a silhouette like this Old Canadian Armed Forces/NATO recognition guide back in the early 80's, with maybe a Tonnage listing.
**UPDATE** this was a double sided card about 8" x 4" one could carry in a pocket.
Had to scan it myself to post....one of my old momentos.
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Yeah, in '03 we got a pack of playing cards for recognition. Probably in a box somewhere . . . also found this online.
(https://tfetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/8df8RTg.jpg)
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hoping for the TRO: New Art we were wanting the comp TROs to include. would be very cool if it's written from a 3250 perspective
If there was such a TRO, would it include stats from the Succession Wars versions of these mechs? Would you like it to have stats at all? Would it include ALL the new art? (that's a lot of mechs!!!). I'm reminded of the back of the TRO: Project Phoenix that had a recognition guide for all the variants. Just pics: no stats.
I'd buy a book like that with all the new art in a heartbeat. That would be pretty fantastic.
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Recognition Guides are very different from tech books . . .
Nah.
Just needed a name other than Technical Readout or <something something>Technical Readout. More about different presentation/delivery/media than different content exactly.
More later, but want to stop expectations from going awry.
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So is the TRO name going away for good after the final books name come out?
I figured the RG name was exclusive Clan name for TRO. Then again that would mean Golden Century would need be re named Recognition Guide: Golden Century.
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stop expectations from going awry.
Too late, apparently.
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Shell Game now appears for me on Amazon, diving into that during my lunch break!
Its a recognition guide, not a TRO- what I gave you was what could be found on SOME recognition guides, but you have 3 examples right now. Think of all the 'action' art we have gotten like-
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.tdxZtNrnQ035kXKb6nugIQHaIg?pid=Api&rs=1)
(https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/9220d93a-7888-4c12-85bc-93d1274bd888/dbutgnv-598aeb87-f20e-440f-9885-dfd47aa41b16.jpg)
Maybe color panels taken from some of the already published books
(http://68.media.tumblr.com/8589747a447a7c9f4dc22f6a90c0dc43/tumblr_inline_ntlyk86ogE1s9c9hj_540.jpg)
Sorry, Adrian I was meaning IRL recognition guides vs something like Jane's Fighting Ships type which are like our TROs.
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So is the TRO name going away for good after the final books name come out?
I figured the RG name was exclusive Clan name for TRO. Then again that would mean Golden Century would need be re named Recognition Guide: Golden Century.
Why can’t both exist?
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So is the TRO name going away for good after the final books name come out?
I figured the RG name was exclusive Clan name for TRO. Then again that would mean Golden Century would need be re named Recognition Guide: Golden Century.
Not sure I understand, I'm probably under caffeinated.
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Not sure I understand, I'm probably under caffeinated.
Basically, it looks like their not using Technical Readout name for the next "TRO", the TROs are written as a in-universe publication. Thus Clans like publication would use different name. I don't like it, name change, but its what the CGL wants to do.
-
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91EDI7zrnHL._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
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Basically, it looks like their not using Technical Readout name for the next "TRO", the TROs are written as a in-universe publication. Thus Clans like publication would use different name. I don't like it, name change, but its what the CGL wants to do.
This is exactly the sort of leaps of expectations going awry that Adrian Gideon mentioned. No one said there would be no more TROs. This sounds like a NEW product type, not a REPLACEMENT NAME for an existing product type. No one said anything was going away. Why would speculation go in that direction? Sheesh. No wonder they never made the time jump to 3250.
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Yeah, in '03 we got a pack of playing cards for recognition. Probably in a box somewhere . . . also found this online.
https://tfetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/8df8RTg.jpg
I still remember the tails my grandfather would tell of facing a Nissan Skyline in battle. His voice would tremble a little whenever he'd bring it up, but you see the pride in his eye when he'd talk of the one he took down.
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I still remember the tails my grandfather would tell of facing a Nissan Skyline in battle. His voice would tremble a little whenever he'd bring it up, but you see the pride in his eye when he'd talk of the one he took down.
I'm so glad I was NOT drinking my coffee just then :P
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We are happy to announce that the novella Divided We Fall is available today in print
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335227/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_Ys-XEbX1KYME3 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335227/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_Ys-XEbX1KYME3)
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Oh cool!
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FYI - Divided We Fall is now available in Print On Demand for those of you that require a physical copy.
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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We are happy to announce that the novella Divided We Fall is available today in print
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335227/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_Ys-XEbX1KYME3 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335227/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_Ys-XEbX1KYME3)
For You Canucks!
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1947335227/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590180755&sr=8-1
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i do require one. it's good it was an option so soon after the digital release
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I'm good with digital. Profit margin is probably better for CGL anyway, and I lack the easy storage.
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What novels/novellas are currently available for PoD? I was just looking at amazon, and several of the latest fiction selections either do not have a print option or say “currently unavailable”.
Ruger
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What novels/novellas are currently available for PoD? I was just looking at amazon, and several of the latest fiction selections either do not have a print option or say “currently unavailable”.
Ruger
My list as of a couple of months ago, not sure if any more Legends books have been PODed
Legends
Decision at Thunder Rift
Mercenary’s Star
The Price of Glory
Warrior: En Garde
Warrior: Riposte
Warrior: Coupe
New
Novels:
Embers of War
Forever Faithful
Iron Dawn
A Bonfire of Worlds
Novella collections
A Splinter of Hope/The Anvil
Kell Hounds Ascendent
Short story collections
Front Lines (BattleCorps Anthology 6)
Kill Zone (BattleCorps Anthology 7)
Legacy
BattleCorps serials
Betrayal of Ideals
The Nellus Academy Incident
Redemption Rift
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Ouch. Looks like a missed a lot of those and everything I missed isn't available on amazon anymore.
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We are happy to announce that the novella Divided We Fall is available today in print
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335227/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_Ys-XEbX1KYME3 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335227/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_Ys-XEbX1KYME3)
Already ordered a copy.
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Suggestion for the future: Era Report: 3075, to better and in a more coherent fashion, explain the Jihad without the information being diffused over half a dozen different books and to remove the "news narrator" story telling function.
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My list as of a couple of months ago, not sure if any more Legends books have been PODed
Legends
Decision at Thunder Rift
Mercenary’s Star
The Price of Glory
Warrior: En Garde
Warrior: Riposte
Warrior: Coupe
New
Novels:
Embers of War
Forever Faithful
Iron Dawn
A Bonfire of Worlds
Novella collections
A Splinter of Hope/The Anvil
Kell Hounds Ascendent
Short story collections
Front Lines (BattleCorps Anthology 6)
Kill Zone (BattleCorps Anthology 7)
Legacy
BattleCorps serials
Betrayal of Ideals
The Nellus Academy Incident
Redemption Rift
I already have all the old books. Was wanting to verify the newer ones (thank you though). I know I looked at two or three of those new ones on amazon, but they said print was currently unavailable?
Ruger
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Lethal Heritage and DRT are in PoD now as well
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Shoot, I didn't realize that POD was going to be a limited run kind of thing or I'd have snapped them up already. :-\
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It appears that most of the pod is down... hopefully not by design?
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It appears that most of the pod is down... hopefully not by design?
Investigating.
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At least 5 hours after the new World Wide Event is announced, nothing on the main page here . .
Jags vs Dracs in one of the last pre-Tukayyid battles, in a Cluster's only battle of note. Some new maps it seems as well.
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At least 5 hours after the new World Wide Event is announced, nothing on the main page here . .
Jags vs Dracs in one of the last pre-Tukayyid battles, in a Cluster's only battle of note. Some new maps it seems as well.
Any idea when this'll be available to non-demo crew?
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No clue, I am just mentioning it here b/c while we get an announcement (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=69564.0 (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=69564.0)) no details can apparently be given on the forum by the announcing party. Since its to be run until Labor Day, I would expect sometime after that . . . IIRC, its usually 1-2 months later at least?
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the 2018 maps were made available as a pdf not long after the fact. would be pretty sweet if they packaged the 2018 and 2020 maps together as a print product
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Hopefully this year's are not just a busy update to older maps.
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These are completely new maps.
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Last year's were said to be new too, but they were a update of some of the earliest maps with more woods and hills.
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Last year's were said to be new too, but they were a update of some of the earliest maps with more woods and hills.
These are indeed new.
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new new is the new... new?
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Gee-willikers!
NEW :P
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What novels/novellas are currently available for PoD? I was just looking at amazon, and several of the latest fiction selections either do not have a print option or say “currently unavailable”.
Ruger
Yeah, I am having a real problem with this as well. I had added most of the new novels/anthologies to my Amazon.ca wishlist and was slowly working through them when I could afford to pick one up. I ordered Front Lines and then shortly thereafter everything dropped to "Unavailable/do not know when or if it will be available again". Ditto in .com; I am not seeing a PoD option and I have bought a number of PoD books from Amazon, some quite recently and none even needed a special option to get them.
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it appears to affect most of the PoD and
Investigating.
someone is on the case. hopefully it's just a minor miscommunication and easily remedied.
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If you kids can;t play nice, go back to playing 40K! :D
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if i sold off my BT collection i bet i could afford one 40k army ;D
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if i sold off my BT collection i bet i could afford one 40k army ;D
Which is only effective/legal until the next edition
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Price of one BT box gets me one 40K unit, not counting the cost of paints to make it game 'legal'... I'll stick with BT.
Honestly, at least BT allows me the budget to play other games. You 40K guys are doing waaaay better than me.
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I sold off my Warhammer stuff years ago (Lizard Men and Khemri/Tomb Kings)
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it appears to affect most of the PoD and
someone is on the case. hopefully it's just a minor miscommunication and easily remedied.
Thank you.
I had not seen that. It should be working just like my other PoD books though, correct? Just buy it in dead-tree as per normal, right?
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yeah. before when you ordered something like Forever Faithful, there was no indication it was PoD (or at least it wasn't immediately obvious anywhere I looked on the page). If you order it from Amazon, it's probably going to be PoD (iirc embers of war is the only "new logo" printing that wasn't)
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divided we fall showed up today. looked at the tech specs for the dominator
DO-M-X8R
i groaned. i laughed. i had traumatic flashbacks of interacting with leet speak nerds in 2003.
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divided we fall showed up today. looked at the tech specs for the dominator
DO-M-X8R
i groaned. i laughed. i had traumatic flashbacks of interacting with leet speak nerds in 2003.
They've been doing that since before leet speak was really a thing. GRF-1N, MAD-3R, and CRD-3R, for example.
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Wow how did I never make that connection before?
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They've been doing that since before leet speak was really a thing. GRF-1N, MAD-3R, and CRD-3R, for example.
Unbelievable. Cheeky bastards.
Wow how did I never make that connection before?
For me it’s a simple explanation: I’m incredibly stupid
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divided we fall showed up today. looked at the tech specs for the dominator
DO-M-X8R
i groaned. i laughed. i had traumatic flashbacks of interacting with leet speak nerds in 2003.
They've been doing that since before leet speak was really a thing. GRF-1N, MAD-3R, and CRD-3R, for example.
(https://media.tenor.com/images/457e9a1149ebf9426938f45ca61d5cbf/tenor.gif)
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You mean you guys didn't notice the BL-6-KNT and the GRM-R-PR29?
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Or the BZK-F3 Hollander? Oh, wait ...
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You mean you guys didn't notice the BL-6-KNT and the GRM-R-PR29?
I’m incredibly stupid
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Wow how did I never make that connection before?
consider my (feeble -- I blame my kids) mind blown, too!
You mean you guys didn't notice the BL-6-KNT and the GRM-R-PR29?
Nope! I couldn't see the trees, there was this forest in the way.
[edit] My personal favorite was the LGB-0W.
gods! stop it, I can't keep up with the puns I've missed.
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My personal favorite was the LGB-0W.
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I always thought the ZEU-6S was the biggest offender in that regard.
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Add me to the one that all those puns have gone over my head since starting in the 90s. (Doubly bad for me because I like puns)
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gods! stop it, I can't keep up with the puns I've missed.
You can't handle the puns of this magnitude? ???
Add me to the one that all those puns have gone over my head since starting in the 90s. (Doubly bad for me because I like puns)
Don't worry i find you very punny.
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Aside from the novels, is there a pdf scheduled to come out or is that next week? I think remember June being mentioned earlier.
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If you're a kickstarter backer, check your email. Issue 1 of Shrapnel has arrived.
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I'm a backer and didn't get it. Sigh.
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it's at the bottom of an email titled "BattleTech: Clan Invasion - Getting Your Files" from battletech-clan-invasion@support.crowdox.com
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I'm a backer and didn't get it. Sigh.
The mails seem to be going out in a staggered fashion. I got it a few hours after the first person reported getting it here.
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I always thought the ZEU-6S was the biggest offender in that regard.
Check out the chassis for the DemolitionMech.
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more substantial than i had anticipated.
it even gets its own graphic
(http://puu.sh/FPQzT/8e9b7ccae0.png)
material from across the timeline (late succession wars to 3150)
6 short stories (Hussey, Pardoe, Hansa, Scarinci, Reed Jr., Killiany)
1 serial novel entry (Stackpole)
4 in-universe news articles (Ciaravella [one of the winners of the merc unit submission in 2SW], three by Wayne [five TTS credits])
An article on sniper rifles with AToW stats (Reed Jr.)
Unit Digest (Ciaravella)
Chaos Campaign Scenario (Cahall)
One note for next time - the table of contents page numbers are off
Submission guidelines are in the back - basically they want 3-7k word stories that haven't been posted anywhere. Five cents a word for published stories nets you $150-350. Not bad for something you might have done for free and posted in the fan fiction section anyway.
I've got a story idea I've been kicking around for the better part of a decade - can't wait to get rejected! ;D
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I just wish there was a unit (with record sheet) of some kind.
It doesn't even have to be a new unit. A variant of an existing unit would suffice.
Maybe tie it in to one of the stories. One of the character's custom variant?
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Question I have is Canonicty (sp??) of articles?
i.e. Say a new Mech or vehicle is posted, is it official/canon?
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more substantial than i had anticipated.
it even gets its own graphic
(http://puu.sh/FPQzT/8e9b7ccae0.png)
material from across the timeline (late succession wars to 3150)
6 short stories (Hussey, Pardoe, Hansa, Scarinci, Reed Jr., Killiany)
1 serial novel entry (Stackpole)
4 in-universe news articles (Ciaravella [one of the winners of the merc unit submission in 2SW], three by Wayne [five TTS credits])
An article on sniper rifles with AToW stats (Reed Jr.)
Unit Digest (Ciaravella)
Chaos Campaign Scenario (Cahall)
One note for next time - the table of contents page numbers are off
Submission guidelines are in the back - basically they want 3-7k word stories that haven't been posted anywhere. Five cents a word for published stories nets you $150-350. Not bad for something you might have done for free and posted in the fan fiction section anyway.
I've got a story idea I've been kicking around for the better part of a decade - can't wait to get rejected! ;D
How did I miss this info? I knew about it from the Kickstarter but where were these details announced?
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i compiled it manually just now
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Well, apparently its being sent out . . . but is it going to have the same problems as the last fiction sent out by CrowdOx? I wonder how it breaks down the send out.
Sigil, Sartis presumably has the issue already and is giving a break down for those who do not have it to be able to see its make up. All backers get 2 issues IIRC? I went in for all 4 when I picked my stuff through CrowdOx but I wonder how easy this issue will be for folks who were not backers to get their hands on.
NeonKnight . . . its official? not sure how that is vague on its canonicty.
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Question I have is Canonicty (sp??) of articles?
i.e. Say a new Mech or vehicle is posted, is it official/canon?
The 'Official' part of 'Official Battlemech Magazine' tells me that everything within is canon.
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NeonKnight . . . its official? not sure how that is vague on its canonicty.
Simple - Just cause it is 'official' does not mean it is Canon.
Case in Point - Herb made mention years ago about Canon Status, and Magazine (even official produced ones) were excluded, and I have almost every original edition of BattleTechnology (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/BattleTechnology) except the last two issues.
Now, I got this info from SARNA (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Canon), and by and large info on SARNA is not official canon, but a lot of folks go there to find info (I know I do) first to lead me back to official info.
And finally, the CCG (an official product), has been ruled as not being Canon: https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=52501.0
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AAAAAAAAAAAND found the official, official answer ;)
https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/026/158/325/4d8d4bbb10fea73bd2b27abf921d884c_original.png?ixlib=rb-2.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1565934990&auto=format&frame=1&lossless=true&s=24f67b170807ccd7c891687a7722b9a6
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Shrapnel is fun! Wish there were more scenarios... I love scenarios with ties to fiction.
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My intent is to do one each issue, tied to a notable battle from the MW:DA books. And, ideally, one that shaped the path to 3150 in an important way.
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They've been doing that since before leet speak was really a thing. GRF-1N, MAD-3R, and CRD-3R, for example.
The best one was the Oink.
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STOP IT STOP TORTURING ME
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How did I never see OINK? The others occurred to me as silly, but the OINK is awesome.
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How did I never see OINK? The others occurred to me as silly, but the OINK is awesome.
Did you fill out your ID-10T form?
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OUCH! probably deserved. ;D
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The best one was the Oink.
Great, now I'm going to wast so much time thinking of a can ham joke for the Orion.
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And now you know why I call Panthers Punts. Also the Orion is totally an Oinker...
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OUCH! probably deserved. ;D
Sorry, it was not a personal remark, its just one of my favorite ones. We were in the field one time and a guy had a conflict and did not show up till the next day as excused by command. So when he walked into the CP and was getting the run down of where things where at and what we were doing . . . I told him that before we left the armory we had to sign off and accept a new form for some REMF BS. He needed to go check with the admin (E7) to get the ID-10T form and fill it out so it could be submitted to personnel.
We all watched him turn around, leave the track and go to the next tent where admin was set up. Everyone was quietly laughing as soon as he was out of sight. I could have gone on with it, we had someone in the track who did not get it- spelled it out on the log sheet for them.
It never gets old, and I have used it several times . . . but military paperwork and forms makes it so easy.
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Pure evil, Ward.
Oink? ... nope, missed that one too. Poor Orion. I can see the clans getting very upset at spheroids. I bet the Snords had something to do with this.
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POD books through Amazon should now all be back up and available.
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POD books through Amazon should now all be back up and available.
Are you allowed to tell us what happened?
I mean, we don't really have a need to know, but tales of Murphy striking are usually interesting.
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My intent is to do one each issue, tied to a notable battle from the MW:DA books. And, ideally, one that shaped the path to 3150 in an important way.
Ah, if that's the purpose of the magazine, I can stop sweating not receiving the link. Glad I didn't sign up for more.
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it's the purpose of the scenarios - the fiction spans the timeline (Stackpole's serial is kell hounds-related)
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There were early indications the magazine would be era agnostic. It now appears its purpose is to push things toward 3150. No skin off my nose, but don't expect me to read it.
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There were early indications the magazine would be era agnostic. It now appears its purpose is to push things toward 3150. No skin off my nose, but don't expect me to read it.
You're basing this entirely on the existence of a single chaos campaign track in the the issue. the vast majority of the content for issue 1 is Clan Invasion.
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There were early indications the magazine would be era agnostic. It now appears its purpose is to push things toward 3150. No skin off my nose, but don't expect me to read it.
You are misinterpreting.
The magazine is era-agnostic.
The scenarios are building to 3150, and only them.
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You are misinterpreting.
The magazine is era-agnostic.
The scenarios are building to 3150, and only them.
Even more than that- the 4 scenarios in the first four issues are supporting the latest published sourcebook. We have no indication that the scenarios would not come out supporting any pre-Invasion material if that was the era the sourcebook was going to cover.
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I'll be happy to be proved wrong. Haven't received the link though, so who knows when that will be...
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Sniper Rifles: Death from a Distance (article) - no era
Unit Digest: Eridani Light Horse 11th Recon Battalion (profile) - post-TF Serpent through the Republic era
If Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot (serial novel) - 3010
Grim Sentence (story) - 3049
The Flames of Idlewind (story) - 3050
Airs Above the Ground (story) - 3050
Yesterday's Enemy (story) - 3052
Tales from the Cracked Canopy (story) 3058
Missing Duke Spurs Demonstration (article) - 3094
Forgotten Heroes, Slandered Honor (story) - 3096
"Mother of Resistance" Dead on Vipaava (article) - 3125
CC Scenario: Target of Opportunity (scenario) - 3135
Wars and Rumors (story) - 3149
Secrets of the Sphere: The Cameron Question (article) - 3150
of course, as an era-agnostic publication (that is, spread across most eras) you're not going to have a great time if you've decided most of the timeline isn't your cup of tea
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This is true, but if the heart of the publication is elsewhere, I'll be giving it a pass... [/grognard]
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And the Cracked Canopy story really takes place in 3058, the 3090 period is a framing device.
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POD books through Amazon should now all be back up and available.
Anyone got that list again of what came out of the last year or so? Want to make sure I don't miss it again.
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And the Cracked Canopy story really takes place in 3058, the 3090 period is a framing device.
Thanks
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My intent is to do one each issue, tied to a notable battle from the MW:DA books. And, ideally, one that shaped the path to 3150 in an important way.
Woot! Woot! Love all the Love the end of the Dark Age is getting.
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Just got my e-mail... looks like it requires creating an account... pass.
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Where? The link in my email goes directly to a zip
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Just got my e-mail... looks like it requires creating an account... pass.
Just got mine as well. Downloaded zip from the email and opened.
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Where? The link in my email goes directly to a zip
That's it. Click the link and it downloads. Open the zip and you get the epub, mobi and pdf files. YOu don't have to go through CGL Store like you have to for the novellas.
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No I meant where do you have to create an account?
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I saw store in the url and assumed that would require an account (just like the other digital content I have received through the KS). Since that's not the case, I'll give it a try...
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No I meant where do you have to create an account?
You don't, it goes directly to a download link. Or it did for everyone else so far. Proliferation Cycle is the only thing that requires an account as far as I know.
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I saw store in the url and assumed that would require an account (just like the other digital content I have received through the KS). Since that's not the case, I'll give it a try...
If nothing else you get a free kell hounds story. I assume the atow sniper rifles are also pursuant of your interests
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Looking back through the e-mail, every single link before Shrapnel required a redeem code in the store. Forgive me for losing track before I got to the bottom.
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There were early indications the magazine would be era agnostic. It now appears its purpose is to push things toward 3150. No skin off my nose, but don't expect me to read it.
You're way off the rails, in a way that makes me think you're looking for a reason to not like this.
ALL I said is that the scenarios I hope to keep contributing to this would be Dark Age-era. Nothing more.
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I stand corrected.
Now, off to the rules forum to seek clarification on the Sniper Rifles...
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Are you allowed to tell us what happened?
I mean, we don't really have a need to know, but tales of Murphy striking are usually interesting.
I don't have a clear understanding of what the issue was; I sort of doubt it would be all that interesting if I did; but I don't believe there was anything dark or sinister about it.
John Helfers is the fiction lead, so he's the one that's been handling getting new fiction onto the various markets. And between the various digital, print-on-demand, and audiobook platforms, it's such a byzantine process that I have to save what shreds of sanity I have left and trust John's long experience in publishing. I edited Interstellar Operations, and I can't wrap my brain around some of this stuff.
But I know enough to know that there's not always a logical (or, sorry, interesting) reason that Amazon does anything. The delay getting "Shell Games" on Amazon, for example, had to do with convincing Amazon (and/or possibly just Amazon's bots, algorithms, etc.) that the book was a new piece of fiction and not us trying to represent our product as a knock-off of another. Goofball stuff like that.
All I can say is, I suggest you do what I do: trust John, but please do call out if you see some kind of issue with the catalog.
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I stand corrected.
Now, off to the rules forum to seek clarification on the Sniper Rifles...
All good.
Oh man, Paul might have some thoughts for you there.
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I hope so... the article neglected to classify the weapons as Standard or Support. Game balance-wise, they should be the latter.
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We are happy to announce that Blood Legacy, Book 2 of the Blood of Kerensky trilogy, is available as Print on Demand.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335235/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_ore0EbN5DRKJX (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335235/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_ore0EbN5DRKJX)
"THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY...Since appearing in the Inner Sphere, the frenzied Clans have overwhelmed every planet they’ve invaded, brutally crushing any opposing force. Their race is selectively bred for combat. Their technology is superior to anything the Inner Sphere possesses. Nothing the Great Houses have can stop them. Humanity’s only hope—an alliance of mortal enemies—may be doomed.The Clan invaders have chosen their next objective—Luthien, capital of the Draconis Combine. House Kurita must now fight for survival on its homeworld. Hanse Davion is presented with a situation undreamt of...the final defeat of the Dragon itself. Should he attack his distracted foe and destroy the enemy his family has battled for over 300 years? Or should he reinforce a fellow House of the Inner Sphere against a force that Davion and the Federated Commonwealth might not otherwise defeat when their time comes?And even if the Houses should somehow agree to stand together against the Clan menace, another just as dangerous threat lurks within their midst. ComStar, the semi-mystic sect that controls interstellar communication, schemes to hurl House Davion, House Kurita, and the Clans into a devastating war that will leave ComStar in a position to dominate the Inner Sphere..."
We're also pleased to announce that all of our PoD books on Amazon are available again, the error has been resolved.
(https://i.ibb.co/dWNmt8F/2d29104f-eedb-4c37-aa0f-28a88c37e21f.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dWNmt8F)
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The cover is certainly gorgeous! :clap:
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As someone who started BT in the 90's, I love that cover! :thumbsup:
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the article neglected to classify the weapons as Standard or Support. Game balance-wise, they should be the latter.
All sniper rifles are standard.
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Is Shrapnel going to be available for purchase? I couldn’t participate in the Kickstarter, but I’d love to read it. Also, can the full submission guidelines be posted here? I appreciate the info provided, but I’d like to see the actual guidelines before I get too far out over my skis.
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https://pulsepublishingsubmissions.moksha.io/publication/3
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Is Shrapnel going to be available for purchase? I couldn’t participate in the Kickstarter, but I’d love to read it. Also, can the full submission guidelines be posted here? I appreciate the info provided, but I’d like to see the actual guidelines before I get too far out over my skis.
You can probably still get in on the KS, but it would all ship in Wave 2 I think.
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Anyone got that list again of what came out of the last year or so? Want to make sure I don't miss it again.
here's all the PoD with the new logo (as seen at the top of the forum)
Anthologies:
Front Lines (BattleCorps Anthology vol 6)
Kill Zone (BattleCorps Anthology vol 7)
Legacy
Compilations:
A Splinter of Hope / the Anvil
Kell Hounds Ascendant
New Novels:
Embers of War
Betrayal of Ideals
Forever Faithful
Redemption Rift
A Bonfire of Worlds
Divided We Stand (novella)
The Nellus Academy Incident (YA)
Iron Dawn (YA)
Old Novels:
Decision at Thunder Rift
Mercenary's Star
The Price of Glory
Warrior: En Garde
Warrior: Riposte
Warrior: Coupé
Lethal Heritage
Blood Legacy
DRT
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Anyone got that list again of what came out of the last year or so? Want to make sure I don't miss it again.
The list I've been maintaining and I think is up to date:
Legends
Decision at Thunder Rift
Mercenary’s Star
The Price of Glory
Warrior: En Garde
Warrior: Riposte
Warrior: Coupe
Lethal Heritage
Blood Legacy
DRT
New
Novels:
Embers of War
Forever Faithful
Iron Dawn
A Bonfire of Worlds
Novellas
Divided we Stand
Novella collections:
A Splinter of Hope/The Anvil
Kell Hounds Ascendent
Short story collections
Front Lines (BattleCorps Anthology 6)
Kill Zone (BattleCorps Anthology 7)
Legacy
BattleCorps serials
Betrayal of Ideals
The Nellus Academy Incident
Redemption Rift
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All sniper rifles are standard.
Awesome... no more range problem for infantry... ^-^
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Is Shrapnel going to be available for purchase? I couldn’t participate in the Kickstarter, but I’d love to read it. Also, can the full submission guidelines be posted here? I appreciate the info provided, but I’d like to see the actual guidelines before I get too far out over my skis.
It'll be available to the public and in POD in mid-June.
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Oooh... PoD! :drool:
Shame this wasn't already a kickstarter option. I subscribed for all four issues, but at the time it was only a digital product. I vastly prefer print to digital. Not sure if I'm going to pay twice though.
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Awesome... no more range problem for infantry... ^-^
Its been an option since tech manual.
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Hoping Shell Games comes out in PoD as well!
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Is Shrapnel going to be available for purchase? I couldn’t participate in the Kickstarter, but I’d love to read it. Also, can the full submission guidelines be posted here? I appreciate the info provided, but I’d like to see the actual guidelines before I get too far out over my skis.
It'll be available to the public and in POD in mid-June.
Oh, that is fantastic news! I was wondering when it was going to be available to everyone.
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The best one was the Oink.
Isn’t the Orion ON-1K?
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Isn’t the Orion ON-1K?
Dang, they spelled ‘oink’ wrong? Lil embarrassing.
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guys
SCP-1N
i can't stop seeing them now and my entire existence is pain
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Please tell me you at least noticed the J. Edgar Hover Tank.
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Please tell me you at least noticed the J. Edgar Hover Tank.
HAH! That one I did notice! Noticed, shrugged my shoulders, though 'huh, why'd they do that', then moved on. Failed the rest of my perception checks.
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Please tell me you at least noticed the J. Edgar Hover Tank.
And the extra-subtle dig with the fact that all hovers...
...have skirts.
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I'm so super happy about this PoD initiative. It's amazing to have the Gray Death, Kerensky, and Warrior trilogy available again in fresh new format.
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And the extra-subtle dig with the fact that all hovers...
...have skirts.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/d10dMmzqCYqQ0/giphy.gif)
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Yup.
Missed it.
I'm hurting inside.
Maybe I'll order some more lego sets for the 'kids'? ... one for each of them, then one cool one for me!
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(https://media.giphy.com/media/d10dMmzqCYqQ0/giphy.gif)
The Black Knight is a zombie Mech, you can cut of its arms and "Tis but a scratch".
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The Black Knight is a zombie Mech, you can cut of its arms and "Tis but a scratch".
(https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/392799_135580919958047_531094239_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_sid=85a577&_nc_ohc=st27G8w3hV8AX-apK4I&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-1.fna&oh=731fb1bfa9acc1611b7e20f483061e71&oe=5EF6D6FA)
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Maybe I'll order some more lego sets for the 'kids'? ... one for each of them, then one cool one for me!
Funny you say that after I just put this collage together....and that's from a year ago, I have more sets added to it and another shelf.
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Its been an option since tech manual.
Previously, up to 3/6/9 without a movement penalty. Now... looks like 6/12/18... ^-^
All that remains is to solve what does more damage: 2 Sniper Rifles and a bunch of Auto-Rifles, or a bunch of Sniper Rifles and a single Support Weapon. This is why I was thinking game balance would lead you to designate them Support Weapons. I'll do the math over the weekend down in the design forums.
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It's possible game balance will lead to them getting radically different TW-scale stats.
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They're not burst weapons, so it probably won't be too bad. Hence the need for math to determine which one works better.
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Nah, we would just retcon the shrapnel stats.
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them's nice looking lego sets!
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Previously, up to 3/6/9 without a movement penalty. Now... looks like 6/12/18... ^-^
All that remains is to solve what does more damage: 2 Sniper Rifles and a bunch of Auto-Rifles, or a bunch of Sniper Rifles and a single Support Weapon. This is why I was thinking game balance would lead you to designate them Support Weapons. I'll do the math over the weekend down in the design forums.
7/14/21 in the case of the Fed anti-material rifle and the Capellan rifle.
I'm not sure treating them as support weapons would necessarily work for balance, either. Without burst firing capability their raw damage isn't going to be quite as impressive as existing options (such as the mausers, or even the autorifle I think). What you get from them is the huge range, so all that damage you're getting from your mausers or autorifles is reaching out to large laser or LRM range.
I wouldn't call them balanced, but I do think they aren't any more unbalanced than all the unbalanced things the system already has baked into it.
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Nah, we would just retcon the shrapnel stats.
Have them personal on a ATOW scale and support on a TW scale is another option.
Considering that it's tilting the balance in the favor of infantry (Which a lot of pure mech forces already struggle with,) I can't see the current mech-centric design philosophy you were talking about in the 'core rulebook' thread letting an infantry buff stand.
D&D has "gank the wizard first". Battletech getting to "shoot the firestarter first (So our game-winning infantry are safe)" isn't something I want to see, anyway.
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I missed alot *looks at a nearly empty wallet* Dang.... whelp guess I know what Im buying the next three weeks.
Regarding names of units: Theirs a lot more....
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Have them personal on a ATOW scale and support on a TW scale is another option.
That makes things worse, not better. Moving them to Support means you get their range while you can boost the damage potential of the platoon with the primary weapon. Making them standard at least pushes the damage potential down and restrains you to a single Support weapon.
Considering that it's tilting the balance in the favor of infantry
Not massively.
But sure, *any* advantage for them is undesirable to me. Good thing I'm not the Line Dev? ;)
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That makes things worse, not better. Moving them to Support means you get their range while you can boost the damage potential of the platoon with the primary weapon. Making them standard at least pushes the damage potential down and restrains you to a single Support weapon.
Can you tell I've never really studied infantry design? Fortunately, neither has the infantryista at our table.
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Can you tell I've never really studied infantry design? Fortunately, neither has the infantryista at our table.
You could throw him a bone and show him some of the infy in 3085.
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I've printed him fieldguns, and deeply regret it.
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I've printed him fieldguns, and deeply regret it.
;D
You should contemplate flechette and frag ammo, and what they can do for AC10s and LRMs.
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Really any problem with the rifles at total warfare scale is inherent in the total warfare/tech manual rules rather than the guns themselves. You'd actually have to go back and rework how infantry works in the first place to really "balance" things, and get away from the whole "one attack at one range with damage solely based on how many people in the platoon are still standing" motif that we've had since the eighties.
That sounds critical, and in a sense it is, but I want to be clear that I also understand how we got to this place, and why the powers that be wouldn't feel any immediate pressing need to fix it. I'm actually quite fond of how the current regime seems to be focusing on the core of the game rather than pulling itself in several different directions trying to cover each aspect of what is kinda a sprawling mess of a system.
Though I do hope that once the core game has a nice firm foundation, maybe another look can be taken at some of these things.
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and why the powers that be wouldn't feel any immediate pressing need to fix it.
That doesn't really characterize the discussions of the time well at all.
We looked at giving infantry 2 damage values. We looked at not including MW3 weapon stats in TM, which then effectively married us to those stats for what turned out to be 15 years*.
But those decisions came after lengthy debate, not casual indifference.
* And I assure you, that is a lot longer than you may think, since BT was about 15 years *old* when those discussions began!
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I didn't mean to suggest casual indifference.
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I didn't mean to suggest casual indifference.
Ah, I misunderstood.
I suppose it's a pet peeve. Knowing what we know now, it's clear that the decisions back then were rather bad. Bad with a B. But that's hindsight for you.
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Are the POD books supposed to be available more generally? I am trying to find them through Amazon.ca or the web store and the ones I want are not showing up besides as digital.
I know we had a hiccup with these, but maybe I am just looking in the wrong place?
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https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=battletech&i=stripbooks&rh=n%3A916520%2Cn%3A15401673011%2Cp_85%3A5690392011%2Cp_n_availability%3A12035747011&s=date-desc-rank&dc&qid=1590815703&rnid=12035746011&ref=sr_nr_p_n_availability_2
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That makes things worse, not better. Moving them to Support means you get their range while you can boost the damage potential of the platoon with the primary weapon. Making them standard at least pushes the damage potential down and restrains you to a single Support weapon.
You can do that already. The rules cover using standard weapons as the 1-2 per squad secondary weapon already.
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Precisely... off to the design forum and Excel...
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Thread is up: https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=69615.0
Paul is 100% correct about the range and damage not being any more unbalancing than existing Support Weapons (lack of a mobility restriction isn't that big of a deal). Some of them have to hit bonuses though, and if those translate to TW play... yikes!
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Ah, I misunderstood.
I suppose it's a pet peeve. Knowing what we know now, it's clear that the decisions back then were rather bad. Bad with a B. But that's hindsight for you.
No problem. Hindsight sucks.
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I think no one noticed that TtS: Jardine dropped yesterday :)
https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-touring-the-stars-jardine
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1540/0075/products/E-CAT35SN215_BattleTechTouringtheStarsJardine_480x.png?v=1590778769)
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I saw it on DriveThruRPG but I thought it had come out earlier.
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We did not (even though cubby told us two weeks ago it was happening)
But one must appreciate that an outline of one of the HIDDEN WORLDS completely escaped our notice
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I think no one noticed that TtS: Jardine dropped yesterday :)
I honestly wondered if anyone WOULD notice. Heck, we almost had time to relabel it "Heraklione" and disappear it again....
Jokes aside, I would love to hear how this one does. Anyone buying it on DTRPG, please leave comments there? I think such reviews can be a real signal booster.
- Herb
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We posted it but didn’t announce it yet because we’re waiting to pair it with another product in the announcement.
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We posted it but didn’t announce it yet because we’re waiting to pair it with another product in the announcement.
(https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/57561191/but-wait-theres-more.jpg)
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We posted it but didn’t announce it yet because we’re waiting to pair it with another product in the announcement.
Are you talking about Herb's novel or some unannounced product?
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Jokes aside, I would love to hear how this one does. Anyone buying it on DTRPG, please leave comments there? I think such reviews can be a real signal booster.
- Herb
Did you contribute to this product? I gotta say that I miss your writing, it'd be great to have you back in the fold somehow.
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Did you contribute to this product? I gotta say that I miss your writing, it'd be great to have you back in the fold somehow.
Yeah, I contributed a little bit. It was actually among my last open contracts from back in 2015...
- Herb
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(https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/57561191/but-wait-theres-more.jpg)
Sartris wins this round! ;D
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We're done, folks. Last call. You don't have to go home but you can't continue to post here.
I hear there's a party down the block (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=69619.0), though.