Author Topic: NEW RELEASE: Shattered Fortress (Read 85510 times)

Tai Dai Cultist · « **Reply #120 on:** 03 August 2018, 12:24:33 »

Quote from: MarauderD on 03 August 2018, 11:58:22

Fall of New Avalon confirmed in the novellas. Any more word of it in the book?

The Table of Contents that Cubby spoiled upthread might give some interesting hints of a Kuritan roll-back. What with "Binding the Dragon's Tongue" and "The Harried Dragon" sections. But don't forget this is the same timeline that in introduction to TRO3150 says (among other things) that the "FedSuns is fighting for its life" and that the Dragon has "begun chipping away at the Republic". I'm not so sure either (much less both) would be accurate if the Republic, Dominion, or some other party began saving Davion's bacon by opening a new front on the Combine.

I don't have access to a copy of Shattered Fortress but in my reading of the tea-leaves I'm expecting the Davion-Kurita conflict in that book being an elaboration of the Operations PERCEVAL and the responding TSUJIRI that we first read about in TRO3150. And from TRO3150 it really sounds like that ends in a less-than-good way for Davion despite being reasonably successful at first. (Remagen is treated as one of the Touchpoints in the ToC)

MarauderD · « **Reply #121 on:** 03 August 2018, 12:34:31 »

My thought was that without the industrial output of New Avalon, which is staggeringly massive in terms of mechs, tanks, and especially BattleArmor, I have some doubts that the AFFS will be able to hold out even as a rump state. Without Robinson and New Avalon, you are relying on Kathil, Crofton, and New Syrtis. Wow. Just wow!

Tai Dai Cultist · « **Reply #122 on:** 03 August 2018, 12:40:24 »

I'm pretty sure I remember reading in one of the novellas that The AFFS fled from New Avalon. This might indicate that they preserved their strength and could even have potentially conducted scorched earth to deny the DCMS that production.. But, then again, maybe not.

Kitsune413 · « **Reply #123 on:** 03 August 2018, 13:50:12 »

Having seen the map there isn't much left of the Republic at all. The bears have barely moved an inch but even they seem to be approaching.

Karasu · « **Reply #124 on:** 03 August 2018, 13:53:01 »

Quote from: MarauderD on 03 August 2018, 12:34:31

My thought was that without the industrial output of New Avalon, which is staggeringly massive in terms of mechs, tanks, and especially BattleArmor, I have some doubts that the AFFS will be able to hold out even as a rump state. Without Robinson and New Avalon, you are relying on Kathil, Crofton, and New Syrtis. Wow. Just wow!

And isn't New Syrtis in Capellan hands?

Mech Dingus · « **Reply #125 on:** 03 August 2018, 14:02:55 »

Quote from: Karasu on 03 August 2018, 13:53:01

And isn't New Syrtis in Capellan hands?

The focus of one of the Novellas is the retaking(and successfully defending from a counterattack) of New Syrtis.

Sellsword · « **Reply #126 on:** 03 August 2018, 18:27:03 »

Any mention of the WOB?

Adrian Gideon · « **Reply #127 on:** 03 August 2018, 18:35:18 »

RotS fan · « **Reply #128 on:** 03 August 2018, 20:12:10 »

http://benhrome.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/00-ilclan-outline-final.pdf

Now is a good time to remember Ben Rome's joke from 4 years ago and see what was really true after all

Kitsune413 · « **Reply #129 on:** 03 August 2018, 20:14:34 »

Section 1: Cover - Out of all of that.... There is an Atlas II involved.

Kitsune413 · « **Reply #130 on:** 03 August 2018, 20:40:31 »

Also from that preposterous fake outline was this line:

[May] Fox envoys arrive at Terra to challenge the ilClan and fail the subsequent Trials of Conquest. Stripped of their military power, the Foxes are tasked as the new Supremacy’s Merchant Caste. [500]

If this happens I'll quit BattleTech even though I've essentially played it as long as I've been alive UNLESS...

All Clan Jade Falcon players are forced to only be allowed to play ATOW bankers.
All Ghost Bear players are only allowed to play ATOW with the Interest/Arts
All Clan Wolf players are forced to only be allowed to play ATOW with Interest/Lacrosse
All Raven Alliance Players are forced to only be allowed to play ATOW and only genetically engineer sharks.
All Hell's Horses players - no changes required. As you were.... what do you guys do anyways? As far as I can tell you're just out there hooning in the desert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bkX5VkZg8U

Fair is fair after all.

(p.s. I wouldn't actually quit battletech. I was joking. I'd just be the worlds only dark age grognard. xD)

bobthecoward · « **Reply #131 on:** 03 August 2018, 22:11:56 »

No luck on a PDF today....see you all on the fourth.

The_Livewire · « **Reply #132 on:** 03 August 2018, 22:14:23 »

Bankers or Baker's, Kitsune?

Trial of possession for quick rising yeast!

Sartris · « **Reply #133 on:** 03 August 2018, 22:31:16 »

I now will only accept that trials take place in the form of Master Chef.

For the position of Star Commander you will be subjected to... BATTLE SNOW CRAB

Kitsune413 · « **Reply #134 on:** 03 August 2018, 22:41:04 »

Bankers fits the fluff... but they don't have nightmare kitchen with alton brown... sooooo….

Bakers it is.

rebs · « **Reply #135 on:** 03 August 2018, 22:59:46 »

Quote from: RotS fan on 03 August 2018, 20:12:10

http://benhrome.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/00-ilclan-outline-final.pdf

Now is a good time to remember Ben Rome's joke from 4 years ago and see what was really true after all

I'm so glad that didn't actually happen. Joke/April fool's release is enough.

Tai Dai Cultist · « **Reply #136 on:** 03 August 2018, 23:04:45 »

Quote from: rebs on 03 August 2018, 22:59:46

I'm so glad that didn't actually happen. Joke/April fool's release is enough.

I'm still assuming the Joke is that the outline was actually completely sincere but we were just supposed to think it wasn't. I won't be convinced until I see some thing else actually published.

rebs · « **Reply #137 on:** 03 August 2018, 23:10:35 »

Quote from: Tai Dai Cultist on 03 August 2018, 23:04:45

I'm still assuming the Joke is that the outline was actually completely sincere but we were just supposed to think it wasn't. I won't be convinced until I see some thing else actually published.

I think Ben Rome actually got a kick out of seeing how many people took everything he typed seriously, no matter how preposterous it was/is. Just the vibe I got from his postings.

When almost no one caught on to that, it kind of bothered him. It's my opinion, but he really just wanted to be able to post and not have everyone take everything he said as a canon-overriding statement. Lots of us were guilty of that.

TwinkieMonkieIIC · « **Reply #138 on:** 04 August 2018, 00:19:26 »

I am very excited at the possibility of a previously unknown Thuggee Death Commando unit out there which would be so both badass and terrifying at the same time. Its possible that they were just some "regular" Death Commandos and the AFFS and Danai both seem to believe it was Death Commandos conducting a brutal insurgency campaign on New Syrtis but not even Danai was privy to those operations. I think/hope this is some kind of Thuggee related commando unit for several reasons.

1. The AFFS noted similarities between the chemical attacks and the Wei nerve agent used during the Capellan St. Ives War which was never recovered by the CCAF.

2. "Ritualized" killings. Possible psychological warfare tactic but I think CCAF death commandos would just kill as efficiently as possible rather than rituralize killings. Sounds rather culty to me.

3. Black with crimson paintjob expressly noted as being inconsistent with known Death Commando schemes.

4. Daoshen's belief in his own divinity meshs better with the Thuggee's nutty beliefs than Sun-Tzu's pragmatism so it seems like the kind of thing he would promote.

What does everyone think?

Crimson Dynamo · « **Reply #139 on:** 04 August 2018, 00:25:50 »

I came away from it as they were a Capellan PSYOPS unit imitating the old Thuggee cult. The sister mentions she was going to have stern words over their handiwork with Daoshen over the Death Commandos' behavior, specifically the wanton killing of so many potential pro-Capellan people.

Hammer · « **Reply #140 on:** 04 August 2018, 10:53:17 »

It's out...

https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-shattered-fortress

Tai Dai Cultist · « **Reply #141 on:** 04 August 2018, 10:56:51 »

Quote from: Hammer on 04 August 2018, 10:53:17

It's out...

https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-shattered-fortress

Great news.

Unfortunately not on drivethrurpg yet :(

Cubby · « **Reply #142 on:** 04 August 2018, 11:14:36 »

EDIT: We had to get something in the description changed, but it's good to go now. You'll see some promotion shortly, but it's LIVE!

https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/e-publications/products/battletech-shattered-fortress

Please note: Because a relatively few customers were able to obtain the print book at Gen Con, we wanted to push the PDF version out as quickly as possible so everyone has a chance to read the latest exciting chapter of the BattleTech saga. As a result, at this time, ONLY the PDF version is available. The usual PDF + Print combo will not be available on the store until the print book has a street date, later this fall. An upgrade to the print + PDF combo is not possible at this time.