Research: Maximilian Liao's first wife

[ColBosch]

What, y'all don't like the DEATH COMMANDOS!? ("None more death!") They paint their 'Mechs black and everything!

[tassa_kay]

What, y'all don't like the DEATH COMMANDOS!? ("None more death!") They paint their 'Mechs black and everything!

I unironically love the Death Commandos.

[ColBosch]

I unironically love the Death Commandos.

To me, they're just Hollywood ninja. They're mostly around to get slaughtered en masse by The Good Guys (TM)...unless you've got a single Death Commando, in which case somehow he's the badass good guy. Sort of. Okay, maybe just Loren Jaffray.

The Cappies I most dig are the Warrior Houses. Kung fu monks, but actually MechWarriors? Neat.

[tassa_kay]

To me, they're just Hollywood ninja.

I'm fine with Hollywood ninja (as inaccurate/outdated as that descriptor feels in the first place). I don't sweat historical accuracy in my escapism, and the Death Commandos are the least of BattleTech's sins when it comes to silly tropes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Plus they snatched up Marge Simpson Amanda Hasek out of her bed in the ancestral Hasek palace right under the noses of her personal guards, and that was cool. They also seem to be one of the primary sources of Thuggee recruits/converts, and that's also cool.

[Hellraiser]

I unironically love the Death Commandos.

I'm soooo, not a fan of the CC, and yet, I can do nothing but wholly support & agree with this statement.

DC were the first lance I completed a couple decades ago when I finally switched form "camo for all" to House Unit Schemes from Camospecs.

Hands down my favorite CC/House unit.

Also like the Tau Ceti Rangers & Hell's Black Aces, but for true House Units, it's the DC all the way.

[Hellraiser]

To me, they're just Hollywood ninja. They're mostly around to get slaughtered en masse by The Good Guys (TM)...unless you've got a single Death Commando, in which case somehow he's the badass good guy. Sort of. Okay, maybe just Loren Jaffray.

The Cappies I most dig are the Warrior Houses. Kung fu monks, but actually MechWarriors? Neat.

Wait, ColB,  help me out here.

When were the DC slaughtered en masse?

Hollywood Ninja?
I see them more as your KungFu Monk Mechwarriors that went back to school & added on extra classes in Poisons, Demolitions, Vehicles, maybe even ASF Training IIRC.
If I had to say who has the most diverse training regimen of any IS force, they would top out over everyone except the CS/WoB SpecForces guys (Blakes Wrath/Light of Mankind?)

[tassa_kay]

If I had to say who has the most diverse training regimen of any IS force, they would top out over everyone except the CS/WoB SpecForces guys (Blakes Wrath/Light of Mankind?)

I'd even add in the Hikage to that list, at least as up-and-comers to the cross-training title.

[Metallgewitter]

Plus they snatched up Marge Simpson Amanda Hasek out of her bed in the ancestral Hasek palace right under the noses of her personal guards, and that was cool. They also seem to be one of the primary sources of Thuggee recruits/converts, and that's also cool.

But failed to get out without triggering the alarms.

The Death Commandos have some of the weirdest traits. On one hand single members are capable of feats unheard of. Then they get killed in a way that makes one shake his head. For example
1. micro waves from planetary energy stations
2. getting vaporized in their Dropships by mercenaries (more then once)

[tassa_kay]

But failed to get out without triggering the alarms.

The fact that they aren’t perfect only makes them cooler. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[ANS Kamas P81]

Monk Mechwarriors

MonkWarriors

[Pat Payne]

hell with the MAC leaving

I was wondering about that... I saw that pic in Dominions Divided of the MAC's leadership doing homage to Yori, but couldn't for the life of me find text in the book giving context. I wasn't sure if they finally said "screw Daoshen, we're outta here", or if the Cappies had gifted the regiments to the Combine as prelude or part of some sort of Kaptyen 2.0 situation.

[butchbird]

Jokes aside I do feel that the CapCon honestly lacks certain things that makes it intreasting, intreasting subdivisions and subfactions (hell with the MAC leaving what intreasting REGIMENTS does the capcon have these days?

While its true that the CapCon is pretty much completely monolithic nowdays, making it a bit drab, it's its evolution that makes it interesting. Maybe I'm missing something (I've been left in the dust post-jihad and am simply unable to catch up), but of the major houses, it's definitely the one that has known the greatest changes in policy since 3025.

Back then, while the chancellor ruled supreme, the dynamic of underhanded check and balance ( I mean, "the closest thing to a friend" to Maximilian Liao is a bloody mask agent, you know he's there to off him if need be, this is the bleedin' capcon we're talking about) between the CCAF, warrior houses, the prefectorate, the chancellor, the maskirovka and to a lesser extent the death commandos and the house of scions, it makes for quite the explosive situation. And then everything crumbles and things change dramatically, the chancellor becoming ever more powerfull, imposing a dramatic change in policy making and in the policys themselves from chancellor to chancellor (although we doN,t get all that much detail, some is sketchy and I do seem to recall contradictions in the otherwise very well done 3067 handbook).

As for interesting regiments today, how to bypass the Tau Ceti Lancers?

The Tau Ceti Rangers of old (and the absorbed remnants of the 15th dracon) were quite unique in being "hard-luck, ex-star league, semi-mercs" which kept true to ancient ideals, upheld the spirit of the "unofficial late-SW Ares convention revival" which in a sense also meant sticking with what "the capcon has best to offer" in terms of values, from a korvin doctrine and lorix order kind of way. Those two regiments had a very rich tradition, and the Tau Ceti Lancers are steadfastly keeping it alive in the 32nd century.

Warrior houses still have a little something, of course, but then they don't have all the flavour they used to. Pour House Lu Sann, your dubious loyalty and upholding of higher ideals even against the interests of the celestial wisdom is sorely missed.

Talking about interesting/quirky regiments...are Marshigama's Legionnaires still live and kickin' at the current point in the timeline?

[Maelwys]

Talking about interesting/quirky regiments...are Marshigama's Legionnaires still live and kickin' at the current point in the timeline?

Destroyed along with Ambermarle's Highlanders in the invasion of the Republic after the Jihad.

[Gorgon]

I was wondering about that... I saw that pic in Dominions Divided of the MAC's leadership doing homage to Yori, but couldn't for the life of me find text in the book giving context. I wasn't sure if they finally said "screw Daoshen, we're outta here", or if the Cappies had gifted the regiments to the Combine as prelude or part of some sort of Kaptyen 2.0 situation.

There wasn't any accompanying text in DD to go with the picture. It was in all likelyhood a teaser for events yet to be described in IlKhan Eye's Only.

[BrianDavion]

There wasn't any accompanying text in DD to go with the picture. It was in all likelyhood a teaser for events yet to be described in IlKhan Eye's Only.

we DO however know they do indeed go Mercenary, as the MAC boxed set advert says they've gone merc again in the iclan era.

from the new releases page it says

One of the largest and most successful mercenary commands of the late Third and Fourth Succession War Eras, the “Big MAC” shocked the Inner Sphere in 3060 when they fully merged with House Liao’s military. Now, as a new era dawns, this storied command once more seeks the mercenary life.

(bolding for emphisis mine)

given Daoshen's treatment to the MAC in Ilclan, we can ony conclude Daoshen has managed to aliennate the command sufficantly to drive them into going mercenary, it's possiable this isn't the end of it and Daoshen attempts to strike the name Mccarrion's from the regiments, thus leading to a sizable percentage of the unit to leave the capcon, and what remains to no longer have the name MAC.

[Minemech]

we DO however know they do indeed go Mercenary, as the MAC boxed set advert says they've gone merc again in the iclan era.

from the new releases page it says
(bolding for emphisis mine)

given Daoshen's treatment to the MAC in Ilclan, we can ony conclude Daoshen has managed to aliennate the command sufficantly to drive them into going mercenary, it's possiable this isn't the end of it and Daoshen attempts to strike the name Mccarrion's from the regiments, thus leading to a sizable percentage of the unit to leave the capcon, and what remains to no longer have the name MAC.

Sounds like the golden age of mercenaries is returning (I guess it is more of a silver age). I know what other units I want back, cheers to those who got their wish. 

[BrianDavion]

I thiunk that's the plan, the Jihad and dark ages eras really felt like they where trying to kill off mercs, this era looks like they're trying to bring them to the forefront

[Metallgewitter]

Well we have the Lexington Combat Group returning to mercenary service (though for the same employeer), the Gray Death Leagion returns from the grave as well and then the Big Mac. Plus the Kell Hounds now have basically created their own realm just like Hansen's Roughriders created the Galatean Defense League. Oh and don't get me started how the Federated Suns have enobled several mercenaries in their drive to repulse the Combine. And considering how nearly every realm lost a good chunk of their armed forces mercenaries will be the go to source for additional manpower

[ColBosch]

Which is good, because "running a mercenary outfit" is one of the easiest ways for players to get invested in an ongoing campaign.

[Hellraiser]

I thiunk that's the plan, the Jihad and dark ages eras really felt like they where trying to kill off mercs, this era looks like they're trying to bring them to the forefront

Now if only we can get Warship production going.........

[Minemech]

 For what it is worth, the Free Worlds League has multiple shipyards capable of building warships including one that is fully self-sufficient. For whatever reason when surrounded by Clans actively using them, they have decided not to. It is not as if Ionus could not have done so quietly either. Though there is nothing to say they are not doing so.

[BrianDavion]

Which is good, because "running a mercenary outfit" is one of the easiest ways for players to get invested in an ongoing campaign.

which is why they're bringing them back, I think the current regime at CGL reckongizes that the dark ages era was a very hostile enviroment for "your dudes"

[glitterboy2098]

which is why they're bringing them back, I think the current regime at CGL reckongizes that the dark ages era was a very hostile enviroment for "your dudes"

early dark ages environment was ideal for it really, with all the pirate factions, rebellions, insurgencies, and so on. it was the chaos march cranked to 11. but they pretty much skipped that period entirely when tackling the era, rather than retread the period the clix game related websites and novels covered.

[BrianDavion]

early dark ages environment was ideal for it really, with all the pirate factions, rebellions, insurgencies, and so on. it was the chaos march cranked to 11. but they pretty much skipped that period entirely when tackling the era, rather than retread the period the clix game related websites and novels covered.

we where also told a lotta mercs had been destroyed by Stone's peace.

[ColBosch]

we where also told a lotta mercs had been destroyed by Stone's peace.

It didn't help that the MWDA games were focused around set factions instead of allowing players to create their own.

[Metallgewitter]

For what it is worth, the Free Worlds League has multiple shipyards capable of building warships including one that is fully self-sufficient. For whatever reason when surrounded by Clans actively using them, they have decided not to. It is not as if Ionus could not have done so quietly either. Though there is nothing to say they are not doing so.

To be fair when you are sorrounded by enemies you concentrate on plugging holes in your ground forces which should be faster then building a Warship which costs more then a planet's GDP and needs years of building as well as a trained crew. In an age where the navies consists mostly of pocket warships it might be difficult to find crewmen who can handel the "big boys". Also: a Warship can't be everywhere. While it can be a nice "invasion squasher" it can only be at one place at a time

Also: the thread satarted with "Hey who knows how Max Liao's 1s twife was called to "Yeah the IlClan era seems likew the new golden Age of mercenaries" Where did this turn come from?   

[Minemech]

To be fair when you are sorrounded by enemies you concentrate on plugging holes in your ground forces which should be faster then building a Warship which costs more then a planet's GDP and needs years of building as well as a trained crew. In an age where the navies consists mostly of pocket warships it might be difficult to find crewmen who can handel the "big boys". Also: a Warship can't be everywhere. While it can be a nice "invasion squasher" it can only be at one place at a time

Also: the thread satarted with "Hey who knows how Max Liao's 1s twife was called to "Yeah the IlClan era seems likew the new golden Age of mercenaries" Where did this turn come from?   

With the mercenary aspect back in there is interest in having the Crimson Skies aspect of Battletech back. People like Battletech as an interesting game with different types of opportunities for different readers and players. The problem is if you become too much of a catch-all franchise, you dilute the strengths of the priors and Battletech necessarily has priors.

 As for the concentration, a Successor State would have no trouble doing all of the above at once, even one in the shape the League was in. In particular it is a region of space with a powerful maritime legacy. 

[Hellraiser]

we where also told a lotta mercs had been destroyed by Stone's peace. 

To be fair, the JIHAD, which came after the already impressive slaughter of the Clan Invasion and FC Civil War, is what destroyed Mercs.

Stone's Peace just made sure that it was too hard to rebuild by restricting access to War Material & Contracts.

[Dahmin_Toran]

I always thought that Maximilian's first wife was named Jasmine.

[Frabby]

I always thought that Maximilian's first wife was named Jasmine.

...which brings us back to the original question: Where did that come from?

Since no one can quote an actual source, I believe now that decades ago someone, somewhere mixed up Max Liao with Takashi Kurita  (who did have a wife named Jasmine) and since Sarna picked it up from wikipedia and nobody ever questioned or double-checked it before, this false information persisted.

Now we found out that we don't, in fact, know the name of Maximilian Liao's first wife and mother of his three children.