Author Topic: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?  (Read 7873 times)

The_Big_Red_Bear

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Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« on: 26 December 2019, 04:53:20 »
G'day Battletech community!

I became a late backer to the Battletech Kickstarter, and decided to go with a named character and concept art (I'm also actively seeking an artist to draw a sketch for me to pass off to them as a photo reference, I've got an idea in my head for how to present it, lol.)

So, I've got a 15 word quote to work with to best describe who this "person" is going to be. I don't have control over who, or what the folks at Catalyst decide, I'm just seeing if I can steer it in a certain direction. According to their list, I get to get a preference for the rank, mech, and rank this character would possess.

I've got the name down, which will be:

Adam Akimov

For the house, I'm reasonably sure I'm going to choose the FWL.

For the mech, probably something like a VTR, even if that's a tad bit uncommon.

But here is the kicker. For the rank, I'm thinking of either lieutenant-colonel, or colonel, in order to try and edge this towards being an openly nefarious character. I suspect a lot of people (understandably) are going to do self-inserts, I myself, if I opt to upgrade in a few weeks, might even include myself, but if I only do one character, I want to input someone whose a total and complete bastard. Because why not shake things up?

So, in 15 words, who wants to help me paint someone as a war criminal?

So far, I've got this:

"Unfortunately, my reputation precedes me. Exaggerated claims, nothing more. I am a /gentlemen/, I assure you."

"War Criminal? Is that the term they're calling me? How slanderous. Winning is not a crime."

Any and all input for helping forge an arrogant monster, will be greatly appreciated, lol

*I'm also posting this on /r/Battletech.
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Daryk

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #1 on: 26 December 2019, 07:01:39 »
What era?  And what books do you have access to?  I have a spreadsheet I use to build characters...

The_Big_Red_Bear

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #2 on: 26 December 2019, 07:10:31 »
What era?  And what books do you have access to?  I have a spreadsheet I use to build characters...

It's a quirk that's apart of the Kickstarter, they leave it nebulous I suspect.

"STAR COLONEL: Starting at this pledge level, you will name a canon character that is guaranteed to appear in future sourcebooks and fiction. The details we will eventually ask players to provide for us are roughly as follows:

Name

Specialty (MechWarrior/Tanker/Nobility/Special Forces, Merchant, etc.)

Gender

Faction (specific Clan, House, Mercenary, Periphery, etc.)

Suggested Vehicles/Equipment

Suggested Combat Command

Suggested Rank

15-word or less character quote"

I'm working out the fiddly bits.

The 15 words or less character quote, is what I'm aiming for, to be something totally damning. :P
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Daryk

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #3 on: 26 December 2019, 07:20:03 »
Oh, I see... not a full AToW work up, then.

Hmmm... that senior going into the invasion... they were probably a junior officer (or enlisted trooper) during Anton's revolt.  How about:
"Wolf's Dragoons got everything they deserved working for the traitor Duke!"

Paul

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #4 on: 26 December 2019, 12:58:41 »
"Their surrender was a poor choice. I don't regret killing them. Neither should you."
The solution is just ignore Paul.

ssfsx17

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #5 on: 26 December 2019, 13:09:08 »
"They did it first. Why not one-up them?"

Natasha Kerensky

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #6 on: 26 December 2019, 13:29:54 »

“I did my duty.”
"Ah, yes.  The belle dame sans merci.  The sweet young thing who will blast your nuts off.  The kitten with a whip.  That mystique?"
"Slavish adherence to formal ritual is a sign that one has nothing better to think about."
"Variety is the spice of battle."
"I've fought in... what... a hundred battles, a thousand battles?  It could be a million as far as I know.  I've fought for anybody who offered a decent contract and a couple who didn't.  And the universe is not much different after all that.  I could go on fighting for another hundred years and it would still look the same."
"I'm in mourning for my life."
"Those who break faith with the Unity shall go down into darkness."

Arkansas Warrior

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #7 on: 26 December 2019, 13:50:32 »
“War is Hell. They knew that going in.  It’s not like they’re innocent.”
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Sharpnel

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #8 on: 26 December 2019, 13:59:54 »
"Those dumbasses. If they didn't wanna die, then they shouldn't have fought"
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SteelRaven

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #9 on: 26 December 2019, 14:25:15 »
Common advice on this forum for city fighting:
'Tell the men to loan infernos.'

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Ruger

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #10 on: 26 December 2019, 15:29:41 »
“Those *%#* needed killin’.”

Or

“Yes! They deserved to die and I hope they burn in hell!”

Or

“Great men are forged in fire. It’s the privilege of lesser men to light the flame.”

(Ok, that last one is 16 words. It’s still one of the best quotes from Doctor Who that actually could be used here.)

Edit: “In war, there are no civilians. Only various degrees of combatants.”

Ruger
« Last Edit: 26 December 2019, 17:36:11 by Ruger »
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Daryk

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #11 on: 26 December 2019, 16:34:02 »
If 15 is a hard limit, you could technically contract "men are" to "men're".

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #12 on: 26 December 2019, 16:35:49 »
"I won't apologize for success."
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

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Mohammed As`Zaman Bey

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #13 on: 26 December 2019, 16:37:10 »
"All of my actions were well within the letter of the law. Stop your whining."

Deadborder

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #14 on: 26 December 2019, 16:58:10 »
"I had my orders. They had theirs"
Author of BattleCorps stories Grand Theft Agro and Zero Signal



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MoneyLovinOgre4Hire

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #15 on: 26 December 2019, 17:25:49 »
"It was a legitimate military target."
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

"I think I've just had another near-Rincewind experience," Death, The Color of Magic

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lrose

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #16 on: 26 December 2019, 19:43:50 »
Amos Furlough, Stefan Amaris, Jinjiro Kurita, Claudius Steiner, Apollyon - all amateurs compared to me.

Pat Payne

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #17 on: 26 December 2019, 19:47:28 »

Any and all input for helping forge an arrogant monster, will be greatly appreciated, lol

*I'm also posting this on /r/Battletech.

If you don't mind going a different direction on the vileness (more Corrupt Corporate Executive than Colonel Kilgore), look up "Sir Basil Zaharoff" for a nasty piece of work that you can use as a template... anyone who can put on their resume "helped get World War One going so I could turn a tidy profit" deserves everything karma would throw their way.  ;D

In fact, in a MW:D campaign I'm setting up, Zaharoff is going to be mercilessly exploited as the basis for a possible Big Bad the party could tangle with. One quote I have for him is:

"Oh, I can break you. I don't have to lift a finger, and it may not even physically hurt. But you will be broken."
« Last Edit: 26 December 2019, 19:49:29 by Pat Payne »

VensersRevenge

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #18 on: 26 December 2019, 19:48:44 »
The most obvious is: "I was only following orders." With the Free Worlds League and their factionalism you could also do: "I didn't betray the League, the League betrayed my home." I like: "Whoever said war is Hell? I enjoy myself all the time" for a more sadistic vibe.
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Mohammed As`Zaman Bey

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #19 on: 26 December 2019, 20:09:59 »
"My list of victories carries far more weight than any list of alleged crimes."

Sharpnel

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #20 on: 26 December 2019, 20:11:03 »
To steal one from somewhere else, "Killin' is my business and business is good."
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Iceweb

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #21 on: 26 December 2019, 20:12:37 »
"Loading infernos is always a good idea.  I don't care that I disobeyed worthless orders." 

I'm not sure what noodle incident that quote refers to exactly, but I'm pretty sure that whoever said it is not a hoopy frood.

Mohammed As`Zaman Bey

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #22 on: 26 December 2019, 21:28:42 »
"Incompetent politicians cause wars. Blaming commanders for wars is like blaming doctors for diseases."

"I won the war, the enemy would have killed you. I'll remember that next time."

"You cannot judge me. Victory is above pedestrian morality. You should be thanking me."

Daryk

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #23 on: 26 December 2019, 21:50:34 »
To be historically correct (if far less than 15 words): "An order is an order."

Wolf72

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #24 on: 26 December 2019, 22:18:40 »

"Wipe them out, all of them"

"You may fire when ready"

"... It was the only way to be sure"
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Greatclub

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #25 on: 26 December 2019, 22:33:13 »
What is the military phrase for 'officer safety'?


They were out of my line of sight. I didn't see them.

DOC_Agren

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #26 on: 27 December 2019, 00:31:20 »
I don't seek out nor fear death, but accepted the inevitability of death, mine and others

or

No one wants to die to a unknown, therefore my reputation means is their death worthwhile
« Last Edit: 27 December 2019, 00:41:53 by DOC_Agren »
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Cannonshop

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #27 on: 27 December 2019, 01:09:59 »
"What I did there, was for the good of everyone, including the people who were unfortunate collateral damage."

there's a concept out there that the more frightening sort of fanatic, is the one who believes his cause is righteous, just, and humane in the long term.  See, those guys are the ones who won't ever feel a shred of guilt over committing real atrocities, because they honestly believe they're doing 'good' in the long term, and that the ends justify the means.

"If you have to ask permission, then it's no longer a Right, it has been turned into a Privilege-something that can be and will be taken from you when convenient."

Mohammed As`Zaman Bey

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #28 on: 27 December 2019, 01:42:37 »
"War crimes? You need me and my army more than I need you."

"It's a crime against humanity to call them human, the same way we are human."

"I ordered all the prisoners killed...and bought our people one more generation of peace."
« Last Edit: 28 December 2019, 04:58:18 by Mohammed As`Zaman Bey »

Apocal

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Re: Who Wants to Help Build a War Criminal?
« Reply #29 on: 27 December 2019, 02:29:19 »
"Crimes? I'll not be judged by men who've never stood the wall."

 

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