Exactly.
There were Warrior-Caste-loyal scientists, and not an irrelevant amount of them. Many were purged by the Warriors anyway, but even if they hadn't, they still wouldn't have been much help with coming up with new Tech. The Warriors had been morphing the Scientist Caste in to a geneticist Caste for more than a century at that point. And unlike the movies and most RPGs, "science" isn't a catchall skill that makes you good at *everything*. Biochemists aren't going to know anything about material science, energy or weaponry. They may be able to absorb existing materials, but that's a far cry from being able to innovate. That might be in reach for a handful of cutting-edge individuals, who are rare.
And must be found within the relatively small pool that is the Scientist Caste. A Caste which includes numerous individuals who are barely better than lab assistants and school teachers. Not fertile ground to find the creator of the next ER-Pulse-PPC-ATM.
Now, given enough time, perhaps something would've surfaced, but the WOR was relatively brief. And the Society portion of it was less still.
Paul
Well I understand and I know the Homeclans are on a very low priority.
However, let me explain my reasons why I think that there could/should have been some new designs constructed in the WoR.
First, due new weapon tech, you are correct that you wrote about, however, there was somewhat of a new rush of development of new technologies before the WoR, but suddenly it ended. There could have been some more technologies and/nor new designs in development for some years, that is very likely that some of these would get workable, this is my educated guess.
Secondly the disruption of logistic and production chains.
Many planets were lost with their production facilities, so many of the used designs were lost or losses among could not be replaced or even repaired.
For example Clan X can not produce heavy Mechs anymore. Declaring a ToP against another Clan does not work because the forces are too weak. However they do have facilities and resources left. But no construction plans.
IMHO it would be reasonable and less expensive to construct a new design rather than trying to retro-construct an known. They do not have high-tech resources as to XL engines, Endo-Steel composite structure or ferro-fibrous armour but a steady production of material to construct a 70t Omnimech (3/5/0) with standard engine, standard internal structure and standard armour. It is not state of the art, but a good makeshift solution. A jury-rigged design, ugly as the night, but do not bother, it can fight.
Good engineers and technicians can do this.
Just look at the Balius Omnimech, constructed on-tour during the relocation of the Horses during the WoR, IMHO that no Homeclan did introduce a new design is very unbelievable. This is somewhat of a blight to the WoR storyline.
Thirdly, think of your are a loyal scientist, but due the crimes of rebel members of your caste you feel the increasing distrust. You know how erratic the warriors (hardly educated they are you know) can be, you fear for your life. Would you not be especially motivated to prove both you loyalty and worth to your Clan? How better could you do this in giving them new tools of war? If you not you are without use. And if you are not of value for your Clan ... you know what I mean.
Fourthly, especially till the culmination of the WoR the surviving Clans should have gotten samples of new technologies and at some new designs made of state-of-the-arts technologies could have been introduced into the toumans.
The WoR sourcebook gets less detailed to the end (due he sparse information the IS author got I have understand), so there is some potential left, I think. Especially the epic battles in the Viper Annihilation cry for some new.
Fifth, we are told about new WiGE Protomechs in the WoR, but no designs was presented to us, so here is potential left.
My five cents.
