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Administration and Moderation => BattleTech News => Catalyst Asks You! => Topic started by: HABeas2 on 14 April 2012, 19:58:38
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Hello,
Here is another poll constructed merely for my own curiosity. This time around, however, I decided to try something a little bit different.
As many of our fan base are aware, the BattleTech setting is driven by a very much living timeline, and one in which empire rise and empires actually do fall. Throughout the history of the Inner Sphere since the dawn of the Star League, in fact, it seems that at least 23 factions of various sizes have vanished from the maps for one reason or another (including outright destruction, absorption into other factions, or dissolution by internal conflicts).
So, for the next thirty days, we ask: Of these fallen factions, what are YOUR top three favorites? You needn't expound on the whys of this inquiry, but I'm, leaving discussion open for comments. And if you don't see a faction on this list (sorry; I simply do not see any one mercenary force as a "faction"), feel free to toss in an "Other" vote and tell us who you feel we missed.
That's it! Happy voting!
Thank you,
- Herbert Beas
BattleTech
Catalyst Game Labs
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Two mysterious bogeymen and a Rim Worlds that gets more interesting with each book
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My votes for the Free Worlds League and Terran Hegemony should come as no surprise to anyone who's read any of my posts, though they might perhaps be cheating since I know both come back, the FWL in the Dark Age, and the Hegemony as the Republic of the Sphere. For my third, I had to vote Other, for the elephant that must have snuck out of the poll, probably on an outbound DropShip: The Star League. 8)
Honorable mentions go to the Star League II, Electric Boogaloo(It had so much potential as a faction, but was apathied to death before it got to do anything on its' own. Seriously, the coolest thing about it was the mention of Fury Team actions in Covert Ops, and I was hoping for more like that, plus trying to ride herd on House Lord politics), and some of the now-dead minor Periphery realms like the Lothians and Elysians. More potential to be unique there, but we just know so little about them at this point.
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Hello,
While I considered it, was the Star League (or the Second Star League) truly a faction, or just an amalgamation of the extant factions of the day?
Thank you,
- Herbert Beas
BattleTech
Catalyst Game Labs
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I'd say initially an Amalgam, but once you have bored Kuritans specifically challenging Star League warriors to duels or facing off against 'pirate' forces from all five houses, I'm fairly certain you're a separate faction. My guess would be that the Star League could truly be considered a separate faction after the Reunification War, kinda like how the American Civil War was the transition between "the Unites States are" to "the United States is". And yes, I'm aware that metaphor probably cannot stand up to much poking.
The 2nd SL was probably still in the amalgam stage when it died, but it was starting to head towards its own identity. Having a non-House Lord in charge towards the end helped that, as did the slow creation of an SLDF that wasn't loyal to any House.
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FedCom, Terran Hegemony, and the FWL.
I actually did like the thought of merchant warrior Lyrans joining with the white hat professional baby eater FedSuns.
The Terran Hegemony showed us they'll love and cooperation you to death which made for an interesting setting considering how 'new' the other Houses were at that time.
FWL because I actually think it might have worked. The fake Thomas could have federalized enough of the League to fight the Blakists with the same energy the Inner Sphere used to fight the Clans initially. Poor faction, you fell to the internalisation that made you so quirky.
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#1 - Oberon Confederation. A former pirate state on the verge of becoming a legitimate power intrigued me, and it was my second-favourite affiliation after House Liao.
#2 - ("Other") The Belt Pirates of Star's End (new and old) - because a civilisation of space-faring pirates is not only cool; when you think about it, these guys were the very reason why so many pirate bands could exist. Star's End is the only rogue shipyard known, the ultimate pirate haven. The Belt Pirates didn't actually have to loot themselves (much), they presumably provided service to all those bloodthirsty pirate bands who bore the brund of the fighting. Smart.
#3 - The Free Worlds League. Because I'm a traditionalist - there's five Houses to the Inner Sphere (Clans need not apply)
I liked the Free Rasalhague Republic and to a lesser extent St. Ives. They were fleshed out well enough to have their own national feel like the Successor States (y'know, simple and easily recognizable cultural templates). They felt "right", felt akin to the Successor States, and existed long enough to get noticed.
For the record, I don't care about the Clans. At all. As far as I'm concerned, every dead Clan is an improvement to the universe. The Successor States were at least based on believable recognizable real cultures. The Clans are a decidedly unfunny carricature of something that doesn't exist. Which made for their "alien" feel and probably seemed an ok idea to begin with, but to me they remain alien within the game.
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missing the ol'TH,,,,it's "Home" by the way. ;D
Then the Jags and Wobbies,cuz every good story needs the "Bad guys" to hate. >:D
still,I could have picked a half dozen more,all for good reasons weather good or bad
A question to Big'H,,,was the OA ever conciderd seeing my beloved Snow Ravens took-over? O0
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Hmm, I have to say none.
Each of the listed factions had its purpose when they "existed", but that ended and I do not miss any of them.
And something unique of each faction has survived.
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With these choices the FWL, the Scorpions and the Spirits. (I would not really count the two first as dead, but they are among my favorites from this list.)
BTW, no Comstar or Society options?
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BTW, no Comstar or Society options?
ComStar's not dead.
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Hello,
ComStar is not a destroyed faction, and the Society is debatably not a faction so much as a resistance movement. Since I did not want to start listing off "Free Capella" as a faction, that's why we don't see the Society there.
Thank you,
- Herbert Beas
BattleTech
Catalyst Game Labs
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I picked the Circinus Federation, because who doesn't like Rome...IN SPAAAAAAAAAAAACE!? Seriously, though, they had a lot of potential to become a shining example of what pirates who go straight can aspire to before they fell in with the Blakists.
My second choice was the Oberon Confederation. Hendrik Grimm was one of my favorite characters--even to the point of caricature--and his realm was, again, on the doorstep to becoming a straight player (well, as close as it gets in the Periphery, anyway) as possible before it went under.
Finally, I chose "Other", because the Tikonov Free Republic was an interesting idea that never really got enough of a chance, in my opinion. Instead of having the FC juggernaut be the 800-pound gorilla (and having to beef up its opponents to make them be able to stand up to it) of the Inner Sphere for twenty years, why not have it cut in half and see what that does to internal cohesion. Sure, it got done in the FC Civil War era, but that only lasted a few years. Instead, see what happens when the FC instead has to cut bites out of the FWL and DC to try and connect its halves. Can anyone say "Fifth Succession War"?
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I picked the Circinus Federation, because who doesn't like Rome...IN SPAAAAAAAAAAAACE!? Seriously, though, they had a lot of potential to become a shining example of what pirates who go straight can aspire to before they fell in with the Blakists.
Um, that's the Marian Hegemony and they're still around. Circinus was founded by pirates and farmers, not too unlike Oberon.
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All the chicks dig the Word of Blake. We have the best rides.
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I picked only one faction.There was only one that i really cared about from the poll and that was Clan BloodSpirit. So much rage, so much potential, so much emo, and in the end, they died from orbital bombardment... Such a waste and a trajedy. I love the faction and so hoped for better.
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Terran Hegemony, Fed Com and the Wolverines. My votes, although it could be argued the Hegemony is reborn in the RoS.
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Clan Widowmaker... had some interesting potential.
Clan Blood Spirit... really, what's not to like?
St. Ives Compact... a Capellan state that didn't suffer from crazy leaders?! Awesome!
I don't really consider the FWL a fallen faction... it's just on hiatus until 3139 ;)
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Clan Blood Spirit
Rim World Republic
Oberon Confederation
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I voted Other for the Outworld Alliance.
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Sounds crazy, but I love the Elysian Fields. A little area organized by members of the Inheritors Movement as a protectorate of the Oberon Confederation.
The Inheritors, a bunch of survivalists, give me a good laugh as their philosophy that the successor states would destroy each other, and then a periphery raised army would conquer the Inner Sphere.
Well ultimate irony abounds, one day in 3049 an army raised in the periphery comes knocking and wipes them out. Though that army fell short of conquering the Inner Sphere.
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Lets see...
Blood Spirits: I like the paint schemes... the awesome 'mechs... and the bitter fight back till the end attitude.
Smoke Jaguars: I used to despise the faction, but over time I've come to be somewhat curious about them and wish we'd have seem a Field Manual style write up for them outside of Invader Clans. It's also unfortunate that, at least to me, they were kind of a cardboard cut out, one dimensional faction before their demise. Recent products have helped to flesh them out more, though I think there could still be some more information put down.
FedCom: They were around when I got into the game and then sundered shortly after, but I enjoyed the faction immensely as a large group of people trying to struggle with their identity and coming together (which of course, did not work!)
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Um, that's the Marian Hegemony and they're still around. Circinus was founded by pirates and farmers, not too unlike Oberon.
:-[ Well, I'm an idiot. Ignore the above on Circinus. Sorry about that.
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I bleed purple, so it should come as no surprise that the Free Worlds League headed up my list.
The Word of Blake followed shortly after, mostly because I loved how they interacted with ComStar when they weren't nuking the hell out of the entire Inner Sphere.
Greater Valkyrate got the third vote because names don't really get much more awesome than that, and none of the other factions on the list appealed to me except perhaps the Federated Commonwealth, and I still get both halves of that anyway.
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Gave the FedCom my vote as although I started out as a mercenary I got drawn into the FedSuns and really enjoyed the FedCom when it came along so was not happy when Katherine turned the LC side into the LA. Always hoped it would be reformed but the civil war put paid to that. :(
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Clan Wolverine - It had so much potential if had survived, become opposing force against Clans itself. It was last throngs (arguably) of the SLDF jabbering of its Khan can be believed to be true.
Terran Hegemony - Alot history (House SL) with alot interesting characters coming from it until its last days where it got ruling leadership stupid and careless allowed itself be taken over.
Clan Blood Spirit - I liked how it did what none of the other clans should been doing in the first place, Exploring and Colonizing.
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I voted for the bad guys, the Rim Worlds Republic and the Word of Blake, as well as my favorite, Clan Blood Spirit.
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Blood Spirits
A barbaric ending for an interesting Clan that started out with such high ideals
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Since the Lothian League re-establishes its independence from the Marian Hegemony in 3087, might it no longer count as a deceased facton by 3090?
And since the Scorpions were/are still alive in the Imperio by 3085, I'm not overly sure why they are on this list; they are no more "dead" than the Ghost Bears or Snow Ravens, two Clans which also take part in hybrid realms after departing the Homeworlds, and which aren't on the list either. Unless there is meant to be some information in the upcoming Wars of Reaving Supplemental which bodes ill for the Scorpions by the year of this poll...
(Although I suppose you could count both the Castilian Principalities and the Umayyad Caliphate as deceased, since they have both been forcibly absorbed into the Imperio.)
Voting-wise, I went for the FWL, and picked "other" to cover both the Castilian and Umayyad realms.
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Clan Fire Mandrill
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I think my favorites have always been the ones who have really shook the pillars of the heavens over the ages... either in life or in their death throws.
TH because... well... it is the Terran Hegemony. It is the birthplace of anything interesting out there... and really was the shining light of the Star League. Closest thing to a high sci-fi space opera in the sheer scale of the game. Wars that were a blast in terms of it's potential.
The Federated Commonwealth... because it actually DID something... unlike so many others. I always give cheers to a group who can actually manage to do more than just maintain the status quo. They were a nice center of technology and a strong point when they were needed. Really looked like a possible end of the wars. Source of infinite fun and back stabbing. When it finally died... it went out with a nice big bang. Plenty of conflict and in ways that the normal houses or clans could not really provide.
The Word of Blake... well... How can you not like a good and proper villain. Short of having Cobra or the Decepticons show up, they were it for the modern day. They blew up our sand castles, came out of nowhere like the Spanish Inquisition, kicked a few puppies, war the likes not seen since the days of old and didn't hide behind any form of fake honor, and murdered mary sue units for the joy of it... how can you NOT love to hate them? And like any proper villain, even in defeat... you are not sure they are gone. If anything, I wish I could as a GM vote for them three times.
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First I have to pick the FWL after all it is one of the Great Five Houses. But it will come back in 3139 so that is okay.
Second I picked the Greater Valkyrate just because they were really unlucky to be where they were.
And last I picked the Wolverines just because I really like their totem.
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Clan Wolverine gets a vote and so do the Burrocks, The Wolverines because for a Clan with so little known info that there considered legends even unto the modern day and the Burrocks, there was something about this Clan I liked, they made the perfect Bully's. My last vote was for the Blood Spirits, like many have said, there rage and brotherhood were what the Clans should have been about, and to die so ignominiously seemed a tragic waste, the Clans themselves were lessened by the loss of such a Clan.
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United Hindu Collective: Do they count as "deceased" if they've been folded in? Thought they were cool. Most important to me is the fact that they weren't Scottish. ;) Hmm. There should be a Free UHC movement springing up. Could there? Pretty please?
Circinus Federation: I liked them. Had a few McIntyre House Guard painted up. Liked the balance between piracy and galactic politics.
Greater Valkyrate: It's like the MoC's crazy little sister, or something.
Honorable Mention: Free Rasalhague and Outworlds Alliance. I hope a large swath of "Clan Culture" gets broken by the native "Spheroid Culture". Not all. Just a large swath.
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Clan Blood Spirit
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There have been a number of "destroyed" factions, and while I can certainly understand some being written off for various purposes (if only to show the mortality of a nation in the BT universe), there's been a fair number of actually interesting factions which have been written out in recent fiction. It comes off that this is for the purpose to merely emphasize the point that some factions are dangerous, and this doesn't sound like a good standpoint.
Clan absorption of factions is something of a temporary measure, given the tendency not to waste the civilian working populace and leaving the likely coming option of nationalist revolution/renaissance. Compared to more permanent destruction, it's agreeable - as well as "historical" pre-3000 annihilations - but instead of factions falling, I'd like to see more of a process of balkanization even among the clans. This leaves the prospect of revival and looks less like a show execution.
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Clan Smoke Jaguar - They were tagged as the "ruthless" clan and so they made a great bad guy. Lots of memories playing against these guys.
Word of Blake - Warmed up to this faction in the Jihad era. I like the 'mechs as well as the complexities they had.
St. Ives - They never got the treatment they deserved.
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Hello,
There have been a number of "destroyed" factions, and while I can certainly understand some being written off for various purposes (if only to show the mortality of a nation in the BT universe), there's been a fair number of actually interesting factions which have been written out in recent fiction. It comes off that this is for the purpose to merely emphasize the point that some factions are dangerous, and this doesn't sound like a good standpoint.
Clan absorption of factions is something of a temporary measure, given the tendency not to waste the civilian working populace and leaving the likely coming option of nationalist revolution/renaissance. Compared to more permanent destruction, it's agreeable - as well as "historical" pre-3000 annihilations - but instead of factions falling, I'd like to see more of a process of balkanization even among the clans. This leaves the prospect of revival and looks less like a show execution.
I'm sorry; was there supposed to be a question here, or is this mere observation?
Thank you,
- Herbert Beas
BattleTech
Catalyst Game Labs
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I will always miss my Blakists.
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I am a Clanner at heart, so I choose Clans Blood Spirit, Goliath Scorpion and Smoke Jaguar.
Ciao
Hessian
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Circinus Federation, laid low just when they had started to realize that they could be more than just thugs with questionable morals. I hope that some days the sons & daughters of Circinus that were scattered to the stars will unite & forge a new Federation
Clan Ice Hellion perfect clan for the player that prefers light fast moving mechs. just enough paranoia & crazy to be entertaining.
Clan Steep Viper Arrogance at its finest. Cool mech designs.
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I'm sorry; was there supposed to be a question here, or is this mere observation?
Nothing but personal observations and mildly era-favoritistic opinions. :)
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The FWL is only mostly dead. I also took WoB (I like their mechs) and Circinus (the Black Warriors are cool)
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Well i voted -
Free Worlds League (which will come back)
Lotharian League (which will come back)
Greater Valkyriate (Well Ryan's Rebels anyway, given that Susie Ryan was still alive last i heard i'm hoping she/they will be back to)
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Clan Goliath Scorpion - personal favorite, no idea why
St. Ives - for punching well above its weight, and spitting in the eye of 2 Great Houses time and time again.
Clan Burrock - for being wonderfully unClanlike and embodying the most and least human aspects
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I only voted for one faction that was destroyed - Clan Wolverine.
While I can appreciate the air of mystery that surrounds them, I think they deserve better for telling Nicholas Kerensky to get bent. . .if that was indeed what they did. . .
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The RWR and Wolverines were easy choices, but the third was a great deal harder. I finally went with the Smoke Jags because I was disappointed we never got to see more of them.
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I voted for:
Clan Wolverine: Because of the mystery of what happened to them AFTER they played the switcheroo, and beat feat out of Clan space.
Clan Smoke Jaguar: Mainly because I like the name, but also, they seemed like the Clan's one clan to almost fear.
Federated Commonwealth: I liked them because they kicked butt.
I started playing BattleTech back when it came out as BattleTech. I played for a quite a few years, then the ex-wife made me quit. I just recently came back, and I brought my 2 sons and my new wife with me. We all enjoy it, and have started making our own Lances.
I hope everyone welcomes my family to the game (and me back to the game), and Happy Hunting!
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I voted for:
Clan Wolverine: Because of the mystery of what happened to them AFTER they played the switcheroo, and beat feat out of Clan space.
Clan Smoke Jaguar: Mainly because I like the name, but also, they seemed like the Clan's one clan to almost fear.
Federated Commonwealth: I liked them because they kicked butt.
I started playing BattleTech back when it came out as BattleTech. I played for a quite a few years, then the ex-wife made me quit. I just recently came back, and I brought my 2 sons and my new wife with me. We all enjoy it, and have started making our own Lances.
I hope everyone welcomes my family to the game (and me back to the game), and Happy Hunting!
welcome back!
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WoB
FWL
St Ives
Could be realistically resurrected and not be a game-changer like Fedcom.
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I know we don't have to explain, but...
Clan Wolverine: Even with some of the mystique removed through the recent Operation Klondike and various Jihad books, Clan Wolverine/Minnesota Tribe is still one of the longest in-game mysteries and always a favorite of theorists.
Federated Commonwealth: I started playing when the Fourth Boxed Set was published by FASA, so these were my White Hats. Then the Civil War happened...
Clan Goliath Scorpion: Don't care what you say, the amalgamation of Goliath Scorpion, Umayyad, and Castile factions is not Clan Goliath Scorpion. The Rasalhague Dominion and Raven Alliance still rely heavily on Clan traditions while we have no idea if Escorpio Imperio even pays lipservice to the Way of the Clans, and may never know...
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Greater Valkyrate (Destroyed in Clan Invasion era)
Redjack Ryan was one of the only Pirates I rooted for :)
St. Ives Compact (Destroyed in Civil War era)
All things Capellan are Awesome and the birth and death of the tiny realm were pivotal to the metaplot :)
Clan Ice Hellion (Destroyed in Jihad era)
It's really sad that they got so much crap, their pack Zell tactics are actually quite sound and I rarely lost while proxying for them. Small fast Clan Mechs pack nearly as much firepower as heavies and Assults when used in groups and are EXTREMELY deadly in Quick Strike. (Five 2 pt Hovertanks will make shortwork of a 50 PT assault in no time)
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Free Worlds League - what have you expected?
Clan Blood Spirit - they aimed high ... Somehow, their end showed what's wrong with Clan society.
Oberon Confederation - something from the past. Interesting nation, a kind of proto-state. Who knows, perhaps the Confederation will be re-established after the defeat of the Clans. Yeah, definitely!
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Clan Mongoose: Not completely sure why, but I've just felt a calling to this faction even though we have little info for it...but then again, they also used a Du Shi Wang-class battleship to defeat a McKenna-class battleship...and developed the Chippewa IIC aerospace fighter...
Clam Smoke Jaguar: such a cool faction...loved the emblem, the attitude...and did you take a gander at what a WarShip fleet they once had?
Circinus Federation: as mentioned by others, these were bad boys with such potential...and besides, I loved their rank emblems...
Ruger
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Well my first vote would have to go to the Free Rasalhague Republic. Mainly because it was "Oh my God a new faction on the scene? This could get interesting." And that got swiftly followed by them getting reduced to a rump state before they ever really could establish a culture and a flavour for themselves.
The second one goes to the St. Ives Compact. It might have started as a Federated Suns satelite state almost. But was getting increasingly more independent. And it could have become a faction that wielded more power than it had the right too. Mainly because both the Federated Suns and the Capellan Confederation would try to woo them into their camp. Which would have been akin to certain Cold War states. And Battletech is afterall 1980s in space.
My final vote goes to Clan Steel Viper. (Though sadly it seems to have tallied my vote for clan blood spirit. Which is also interesting but I find it less so. So please in your mind regard the Steel Vipers as having one more vote than they actually do.) What interested me in them was their beliefs. A very warden like stance in that they wanted to cooperate with the Inner Sphere to return the Star League. But had the very crusader stance of utter disdain for any freeborn. And outright barring them from military service. This duality greatly interested me and I saw a lot of potential in it.
And though they did get to share an invasion corridor. I do not think they actually ever fought against the Inner Sphere factions outside of Tukayyid and never got in contact with their politics. Two things that I imagine would have been quite the culture shock to them.
I have to say a lot of these other dead factions are interesting as well. And if this poll ever has any baring on old factions coming back or new factions appearing like some of these older ones. The one thing I wold like to see isn't military strength, but more political. Much like the Raven Alliance seems to be. The back door dealings and cloak and dagger stuff were some of my favourite story arcs. Because it was the stories that ultimately drew me into Battletech.
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WoB, FWL, and CSJ. So many good toys ...
Cheers,
LCC
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Smoke Jaguar because they were my first faction and I still have great memories of adult grognards whinning about them being on the table being run by a 13 year old kid.
FWL cuz its a major house and it seems weir dfor them to be gone. They also have some cool toys.
Clan Blood Spirit. I''ve said it before here, I like the Spirits. I didnt like the way they went out and they were unique in the home worlds.
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1) Blood Spirits for the same reasons posted by most of their voters.
2) Wolverines - the name, the ongoing mystery...
3) Ice Hellions - fast, light mechs, new tactics, a bit crazy/rabid
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Word of Blake for sure the one true heroes of the man kind that got overwhelmed by thoughtslaves of the great houses.
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D'oh, too late to vote, but I would've picked the following:
Rim Worlds Republic - I'd love to see a return
Free Worlds League - If they're splintered, how relevant can they really be? Unify!
Word of Blake - Games aren't the same without the ever-present threat of seeing Darrian pull out the Nuke Template.