Author Topic: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us  (Read 116310 times)

Kerfuffin(925)

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3762
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #720 on: 09 May 2023, 13:16:05 »
Mislabeling a Star league artifact as a knockoff.
NCKestrel’s new favorite.

tassa_kay

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3499
  • Karianna Schmitt has no time for your headcanon.
    • My Facebook page!
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #721 on: 09 May 2023, 13:29:40 »
On the opposite end of the spectrum, does anyone know of a crime a warrior might commit that would require a temporary mark of great shame, but not justify pulling them from combat duty or transferring to a lesser unit? I've got a Fire Scorpion where I accidentally put the Clan emblem on upside down, and I don't want to redo it. My best idea was that they were the cause of great waste, such as taking part in a Seeker Quest, but through mistake or negligence their actions caused the destruction of the objective artifact.

Honestly, I think your idea is fantastic as it is. That's a perfect reason to slap a black mark on a warrior without demoting him, and it feels very Scorpion, like the equivalent of a Hell's Horses team earning the Mark of Hell for screwing up a Branding.
"Social media made y'all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it." - Mike Tyson

My Personal Units: Thuggee Warrior House Nagah (Capellan Confederation), 29th Blood Drinkers (Clan Blood Spirit), Nightmare Galaxy (Clan Hell's Horses), 1st Raven Rook Cluster (Raven Alliance)
Favorite Factions: Capellan Confederation • Clan Blood Spirit • Clan Smoke Jaguar • Clan Hell's Horses • Raven Alliance • Escorpion Imperio • Rim Worlds Republic • Magistracy of Canopus
Favorite Characters: Malvina Hazen • Kali Liao • Katherine Steiner-Davion • Anastasia Kerensky • Danai Liao-Centrella • Karianna Schmitt • Lady Death • Tara Campbell • Katana Tormark
Favorite Units: The Golden Ordun • Wolf Hunters • 1st Horde Cluster • 1st Rasalhague Bears • Thuggee Warrior Houses • Hikage • Raptor Keshik • Kara's Scorchers • 1st Star Sentinels

rebs

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 16186
  • Et tu, Brute?
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #722 on: 09 May 2023, 15:14:12 »
If said warrior caused the destruction of a coveted SL artifact, I could see the "Mark of Shame" being permanent.  As well as a call for some type of trial of cleansing to make the offender prove he or she still belongs among the warriors.
Playing Guitar On My YouTube Channel:
Current cover tune: "The Wind Cries Mary" (by Jimi Hendrix)
https://youtu.be/m6a8wZiCsjM?si=0w7tVOgk7yylNv6a

"Thou shalt not create a machine in the image of the human mind." ~ The Orange Catholic Bible, Dune, Frank Herbert

tassa_kay

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3499
  • Karianna Schmitt has no time for your headcanon.
    • My Facebook page!
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #723 on: 09 May 2023, 15:15:39 »
As well as a call for some type of trial of cleansing to make the offender prove he or she still belongs among the warriors.

Another great idea, especially given how in vogue this notion seems to be with the Homeworld Clans post-WoR (Coyotes, Lions).
"Social media made y'all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it." - Mike Tyson

My Personal Units: Thuggee Warrior House Nagah (Capellan Confederation), 29th Blood Drinkers (Clan Blood Spirit), Nightmare Galaxy (Clan Hell's Horses), 1st Raven Rook Cluster (Raven Alliance)
Favorite Factions: Capellan Confederation • Clan Blood Spirit • Clan Smoke Jaguar • Clan Hell's Horses • Raven Alliance • Escorpion Imperio • Rim Worlds Republic • Magistracy of Canopus
Favorite Characters: Malvina Hazen • Kali Liao • Katherine Steiner-Davion • Anastasia Kerensky • Danai Liao-Centrella • Karianna Schmitt • Lady Death • Tara Campbell • Katana Tormark
Favorite Units: The Golden Ordun • Wolf Hunters • 1st Horde Cluster • 1st Rasalhague Bears • Thuggee Warrior Houses • Hikage • Raptor Keshik • Kara's Scorchers • 1st Star Sentinels

rebs

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 16186
  • Et tu, Brute?
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #724 on: 10 May 2023, 15:18:59 »
Right!  The more you hate an enemy, the more you become like them, as is often the case. BT is often a case study in how we are our own worst enemies, and this would be one more log on that raging bonfire.
Playing Guitar On My YouTube Channel:
Current cover tune: "The Wind Cries Mary" (by Jimi Hendrix)
https://youtu.be/m6a8wZiCsjM?si=0w7tVOgk7yylNv6a

"Thou shalt not create a machine in the image of the human mind." ~ The Orange Catholic Bible, Dune, Frank Herbert

CJC070

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1140
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #725 on: 10 May 2023, 21:50:36 »
If said warrior caused the destruction of a coveted SL artifact, I could see the "Mark of Shame" being permanent.  As well as a call for some type of trial of cleansing to make the offender prove he or she still belongs among the warriors.

I would suggest labeling four more mechs upside down to create a Star of Shame.  No permanent pilots instead it is a Star where those who seek redemption in their past deeds.  Solhama or suicidal need not apply.

Crimson Dynamo

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1271
  • Opening hearts, minds, and throats since 2807
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #726 on: 10 May 2023, 22:23:37 »
On the opposite end of the spectrum, does anyone know of a crime a warrior might commit that would require a temporary mark of great shame, but not justify pulling them from combat duty or transferring to a lesser unit? I've got a Fire Scorpion where I accidentally put the Clan emblem on upside down, and I don't want to redo it. My best idea was that they were the cause of great waste, such as taking part in a Seeker Quest, but through mistake or negligence their actions caused the destruction of the objective artifact.

Instead of destruction of an artifact, perhaps the Warrior was negligent and allowed it to be lost again. Say some pirates beat the Scorps to a site and took what they were after. They split into two groups to escape (one of transports and one of 'Mechs), and rather than stay on-mission, your Warrior chases glory and runs down the 'Mechs first and loses the transports. That I think would warrant punishment but definitely a chance to redeem one's self, maybe even a 'This-is-your-last-chance' kinda deal.

For some reason, your idea also reminds me of the novel where Aidan Pryde killed some fool in a Circle of Equals and his commander made him wear a picture of said dead fool on his chest for a while.
"Well, I do, Marcus, and rule number one of the MAC has always been that the man with the plan leads. If we get shot up, I'm the first one to get my ticket punched. There are no flags in the MAC."
"And there never will be," Barton said, nodding his head in agreement.

"You guys are facing a freaking Shadow Division! These guys have strict policies against playing fair!"

"I don’t care. Kill them. I planned the defense so I know it will work. If they claim otherwise, they’re cowards. Any step back is a betrayal of me, and saying they don’t have enough men is just an excuse for incompetence and disloyalty. Tell the Krypteia to do it if you’re too soft but get it done." -Emperor Stefan Ukris Amaris I

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 41417
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #727 on: 10 May 2023, 22:28:11 »
For some reason, your idea also reminds me of the novel where Aidan Pryde killed some fool in a Circle of Equals and his commander made him wear a picture of said dead fool on his chest for a while.

It's been ages since I read the Jade Phoenix trilogy, that is *exactly* the kind of feel I'm looking for. :thumbsup:
My wife writes books

Sixteen tons means sixteen suits. CT must be repaired.

"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul

glitterboy2098

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 12329
    • The Temple Grounds - My Roleplaying and History website
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #728 on: 10 May 2023, 22:47:04 »
For some reason, your idea also reminds me of the novel where Aidan Pryde killed some fool in a Circle of Equals and his commander made him wear a picture of said dead fool on his chest for a while.
https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Surkai

Fire Scorpion IIC

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 378
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #729 on: 18 May 2023, 17:05:10 »
Great to finally be here

But first things first:

I would like to extend colossal gratitude to Doc Swift for his amazing work on Goliath Scorpions

He took this tiny background group and turned them into one of the most interesting factions not only in BattleTech but in fiction overall

He also managed to hit just the right balance between likeability and douchiness, this perfect blend should be the template for all factions in this franchise

I've been BattleTech and MechWarrior fan for a long time but was never able to really gel with any of the usual factions (both IS or Clans) but when people started talking about these new guys who decided to ditch everything and do their own thing I was hooked again after almost 20 years

And it's not just me, there's loads of us out there and I'm sure you guys noticed the surge in Scorpion painted minis both online and on gaming tables

Best of all everything he wrote lines up perfectly with every single piece of lore that came before all the way back to the first mention of Scorpions decades ago, no need for updates and retcons here because it all fits like Legos, stellar job on research   

Me and so many other folks can't wait to see what Doc comes up with next   :bow:


 

Doc Swift

  • Freelance Writer
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 764
  • Buy my new book on Amazon!
    • My Amazon Author page
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #730 on: 18 May 2023, 17:50:25 »
 :)

Wow. Thanks. Seriously, that made my day.

(I'm having an awesome week! Heard yesterday that a BT novella I wrote will be published and now this? Something terrible is about to happen, I'm sure, but I'm gonna appreciate this for a while.)

Baldur Mekorig

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1265
  • Join the Brotherhood, our mechs are cuter!
    • My Facebook
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #731 on: 27 May 2023, 18:30:08 »
Any idea how the sibko caretakers and cadets are/were called in the Clan Goliath Scorpion?
Oh my brother, with your courage we can conquer,
In your sword I put my trust that you will honor
I will be the higher ground should you concede it
And my body be your shield if you should need it.

tassa_kay

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3499
  • Karianna Schmitt has no time for your headcanon.
    • My Facebook page!
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #732 on: 27 May 2023, 19:16:00 »
Any idea how the sibko caretakers and cadets are/were called in the Clan Goliath Scorpion?

Never been mentioned in any product that I've come across.
"Social media made y'all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it." - Mike Tyson

My Personal Units: Thuggee Warrior House Nagah (Capellan Confederation), 29th Blood Drinkers (Clan Blood Spirit), Nightmare Galaxy (Clan Hell's Horses), 1st Raven Rook Cluster (Raven Alliance)
Favorite Factions: Capellan Confederation • Clan Blood Spirit • Clan Smoke Jaguar • Clan Hell's Horses • Raven Alliance • Escorpion Imperio • Rim Worlds Republic • Magistracy of Canopus
Favorite Characters: Malvina Hazen • Kali Liao • Katherine Steiner-Davion • Anastasia Kerensky • Danai Liao-Centrella • Karianna Schmitt • Lady Death • Tara Campbell • Katana Tormark
Favorite Units: The Golden Ordun • Wolf Hunters • 1st Horde Cluster • 1st Rasalhague Bears • Thuggee Warrior Houses • Hikage • Raptor Keshik • Kara's Scorchers • 1st Star Sentinels

rebs

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 16186
  • Et tu, Brute?
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #733 on: 28 May 2023, 01:46:20 »
Never been mentioned in any product that I've come across.

I thought of a cool term but then I decided not to say it so it might see a better chance of being used in something upcoming...
Playing Guitar On My YouTube Channel:
Current cover tune: "The Wind Cries Mary" (by Jimi Hendrix)
https://youtu.be/m6a8wZiCsjM?si=0w7tVOgk7yylNv6a

"Thou shalt not create a machine in the image of the human mind." ~ The Orange Catholic Bible, Dune, Frank Herbert

Baldur Mekorig

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1265
  • Join the Brotherhood, our mechs are cuter!
    • My Facebook
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #734 on: 28 May 2023, 11:07:50 »
Ummm, by the time of FM:WC, it appaears it just was "Instructor" and "Cadets" (page 110).
Oh my brother, with your courage we can conquer,
In your sword I put my trust that you will honor
I will be the higher ground should you concede it
And my body be your shield if you should need it.

Fire Scorpion IIC

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 378
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #735 on: 28 May 2023, 15:16:46 »
Ummm, by the time of FM:WC, it appaears it just was "Instructor" and "Cadets" (page 110).

Seems vanilla at first but it fits with their characterization

Despite their trademark weirdness Scorpions are the most dedicated of all Clans to their SLDF roots and it makes perfect sense that they would keep a lot of the old names


And I did come up with pretty cool names for them too but since saying it out loud eliminates it from potential use I will also keep it to myself just in case (unless there is some anonymous tip-line to ''report'' such ideas to writers?  ^-^ )



tassa_kay

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3499
  • Karianna Schmitt has no time for your headcanon.
    • My Facebook page!
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #736 on: 28 May 2023, 17:33:05 »
Despite their trademark weirdness Scorpions are the most dedicated of all Clans to their SLDF roots and it makes perfect sense that they would keep a lot of the old names

I dunno, I think the Adders kinda have them beat there.
"Social media made y'all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it." - Mike Tyson

My Personal Units: Thuggee Warrior House Nagah (Capellan Confederation), 29th Blood Drinkers (Clan Blood Spirit), Nightmare Galaxy (Clan Hell's Horses), 1st Raven Rook Cluster (Raven Alliance)
Favorite Factions: Capellan Confederation • Clan Blood Spirit • Clan Smoke Jaguar • Clan Hell's Horses • Raven Alliance • Escorpion Imperio • Rim Worlds Republic • Magistracy of Canopus
Favorite Characters: Malvina Hazen • Kali Liao • Katherine Steiner-Davion • Anastasia Kerensky • Danai Liao-Centrella • Karianna Schmitt • Lady Death • Tara Campbell • Katana Tormark
Favorite Units: The Golden Ordun • Wolf Hunters • 1st Horde Cluster • 1st Rasalhague Bears • Thuggee Warrior Houses • Hikage • Raptor Keshik • Kara's Scorchers • 1st Star Sentinels

Fire Scorpion IIC

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 378
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #737 on: 29 May 2023, 16:44:17 »
I dunno, I think the Adders kinda have them beat there.

Could be, could be

Still, its a good company to be in on this topic  :thumbsup:

-----------
-----------

Something I've noticed while going over MUL are various designs which started appearing again in Scorpion military (and nowhere else) after being extinct for very long time

I'd say that they have been sending back in production various models which they deemed rugged enough, cost effective and easy to build, even ones which they haven't been using extensively or at all, namely:

Naja: extinct for century, not used by Scorpions for two centuries, back in use by Scorpions in 3101 or later
 
Spartan-C: extinct alongside it's creators Fire Mandrills for century, never ever been used by Scorpions, back in use by Scorpions in 3101 or later (and it's the only place with Spartan of any kind in it's inventory)

Zephyr Hovertank EC: extinct for two centuries even before it's creators and, back then, only users ever Blood Spirits, back in use by Scorpions in 3062 or later

Seems like Scorpions were resurrecting platforms which they deemed to be appropriate for their new location and industrial base at the time, more precisely between their "militia-mech/reused local IS-grade production lines" phase and regaining full Clan tech ability prior to Crusade

Even after going back to Clan tech it would make sense to keep this production trickling in, both as backups and for export, Spartan for example was literally designed for Periphery by SLDF, it's just too good to abandon

In case of things like Zephyr they might be upgrades of vehicles they did have but I'm a bit skeptical there because when you are going on total exodus you will pack as many mechs as you can buy you will not be using up precious cargo space on vehicles


What I'm saying here is that every single vehicle in Scorpion military has been manufactured in Castilian Cluster post exodus

More specifically (and initially) for their garrison caste PGCs. Why? Because Clan vehicles are by design perfect for strictly defensive duties which garrison caste PGCs specialize in: cheap to build and maintain, available in large numbers, durable enough, pack a punch for their weight and are easy to use

Bigger and tougher stuff was added later of course for entire Imperio Militar (Demolisher, Mars, Cyrano, Athena, Ephona, etc...)




Doc Swift

  • Freelance Writer
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 764
  • Buy my new book on Amazon!
    • My Amazon Author page
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #738 on: 29 May 2023, 17:19:56 »
I won't speak for the MUL folks, but when I was putting together the RATs for OTP: Hanseatic Crusade, I went with what made sense to me. For example: the Warhawk. It's too good a 'Mech not to build and use. Even so, though, I put it on 3 for one Galaxy and 12 for another, to indicate that it's somewhat rare even for them.

For the Empire, I see vehicles as a relatively simple and inexpensive way to deal with the opposition they expect. A Clan vehicle should be pretty damn effective against the 'Mechs that the League or pirates would throw at one of the Empire's worlds. Since they are simpler and faster to build than 'Mechs, those vehicles might have been among the first Clantech units built in the Empire, serving as a testbed for local weapons manufacturing (for example). Note that I didn't specify vehicle variants, so the Zephyr you mentioned was probably decided on by someone on the MUL, along with the Spartan-C.

Baldur Mekorig

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1265
  • Join the Brotherhood, our mechs are cuter!
    • My Facebook
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #739 on: 30 May 2023, 11:35:24 »
Spartan C also appeared in the IS during the Dark Age. I think the protagonist of the last Wolf Dragoons book use one.
Oh my brother, with your courage we can conquer,
In your sword I put my trust that you will honor
I will be the higher ground should you concede it
And my body be your shield if you should need it.

D-Rock

  • Corporal
  • *
  • Posts: 78
  • "I'm sure a profound statement belongs here..."
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #740 on: 30 May 2023, 15:23:34 »
My Theory: The Hanseatic League and the Umayyids definitely had old SLDF stocks of mechs. That's why models like the Crockett and the Lancelot somehow show up in the ilClan era.

In my reading the Hanseatic League also had manufacturing capability, which the Scorpion Empire inherited. The planet Antwerp became the new home of Warhawk production. Could be possible there was pre-existing manufacturing of mechs done there as well. However, Bordello Arms, the former military supplier of the Hanseatic League, could best do basic designs like the Locust, Wasp, Phoenix Hawk, and a primitive Wolverine.

Imperial BattleMechs might be out best bet to figure out which deigns are being built, but they don't have an entry in Sarna yet.
« Last Edit: 30 May 2023, 15:29:47 by D-Rock »

Gorgon

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 959
  • The little duchy that could
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #741 on: 30 May 2023, 16:18:14 »
My Theory: The Hanseatic League and the Umayyids definitely had old SLDF stocks of mechs. That's why models like the Crockett and the Lancelot somehow show up in the ilClan era.

In my reading the Hanseatic League also had manufacturing capability, which the Scorpion Empire inherited. The planet Antwerp became the new home of Warhawk production. Could be possible there was pre-existing manufacturing of mechs done there as well. However, Bordello Arms, the former military supplier of the Hanseatic League, could best do basic designs like the Locust, Wasp, Phoenix Hawk, and a primitive Wolverine.

Imperial BattleMechs might be out best bet to figure out which deigns are being built, but they don't have an entry in Sarna yet.

Hanseatic Crusade makes it clear that the League had massively updated their production capabilities, advancing to pre-Jihad tech levels. Produced units include modern variants of: Thunderbolt, Awesome, Zeus (all Braunschweig) and Banshees and UrbanMechs (at Falsterbo). On Falsterbo Battlearmor like the Purifer and IS Standard are produced and the facility is rumored to have been built (or expanded) with the help of WoB refugees.
Jude Melancon lives!

Fire Scorpion IIC

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 378
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #742 on: 30 May 2023, 16:47:33 »
Spartan C also appeared in the IS during the Dark Age. I think the protagonist of the last Wolf Dragoons book use one.

Oh definitely, I didn't mean to imply that there aren't any Spartans outside the Empire

This is BattleTech, you can find anything anywhere as usual

What I meant to say was that post-Jihad the only place where Spartans (plus Najas and maybe some other curiosities) are built is the Scorpion Empire

Spartan(s) that Dragoons use would be from the old Clan Homeworld stock built by Mandrills way back when

 
My Theory: The Hanseatic League and the Umayyids definitely had old SLDF stocks of mechs. That's why models like the Crockett and the Lancelot somehow show up in the ilClan era.

In my reading the Hanseatic League also had manufacturing capability, which the Scorpion Empire inherited. The planet Antwerp became the new home of Warhawk production. Could be possible there was pre-existing manufacturing of mechs done there as well. However, Bordello Arms, the former military supplier of the Hanseatic League, could best do basic designs like the Locust, Wasp, Phoenix Hawk, and a primitive Wolverine.

Imperial BattleMechs might be out best bet to figure out which deigns are being built, but they don't have an entry in Sarna yet.


Castilians and Umayyads each had primitive production lines for Wasp, Stinger, Shadow Hawk and Rifleman generously sold to them by Sea Foxes (how nice of them to sell identical products to opposing warring parties  ;D )

Those would get upgraded later by the Scorpions and most likely diversified as time went on and those 4 mechs are very good foundation for making more advanced spin-offs and models like C and IIC versions to round up your military

Things like Crockett and Lancelot would either be brought from the Homeworlds or built anew in the Imperio later on, probably for Seekers like Doc mentioned a while back


As for Hansa, like Gorgon said, they had extensive military production built up during arms race with Imperio

They have been throwing everything and the kitchen sink at the military budget since Scorpions arrived (all bought from Lyrans) and it escalated to insane levels after Battle of Holdout, it ballooned so much it started altering the very fabric of their society

Imperial BattleMechs still doesn't have any official details in lore so there isn't anything to add to Sarna, same for Prosoma War Works (me and the guys are eagerly waiting for something to drop so we can get beavering away at it)

« Last Edit: 30 May 2023, 16:51:23 by Fire Scorpion IIC »

DarkISI

  • Praedonum Dominus
  • Freelance Writer
  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7211
  • https://amzn.to/3Dm3bvj
    • My Author Website
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #743 on: 31 May 2023, 13:26:56 »
Hanseatic Crusade makes it clear that the League had massively updated their production capabilities, advancing to pre-Jihad tech levels. Produced units include modern variants of: Thunderbolt, Awesome, Zeus (all Braunschweig) and Banshees and UrbanMechs (at Falsterbo). On Falsterbo Battlearmor like the Purifer and IS Standard are produced and the facility is rumored to have been built (or expanded) with the help of WoB refugees.

In addition, we know the Scorpions are also upgrading some civilian manufacturing plants for military purposes as well as creating new production lines.
German novelist and part time Battletech writer.


HPG Station - German Battletech News

"if they didn't want to be stomped to death by a psychotic gang of battlemechs, they shouldn't have fallen down" - Liam's Ghost

Wrangler

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 25684
  • Dang it!
    • Battletech Fanon Wiki
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #744 on: 02 June 2023, 15:54:27 »
Are they bolstering their military capacity because their Clan or they paranoid of Home Clans coming to reclaim or smite their own?

Killing your civilian production can do bad things to your economy, however BattleTech doesn't necessary pay attention to that aspect of things If I'm not mistaken.
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

Doc Swift

  • Freelance Writer
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 764
  • Buy my new book on Amazon!
    • My Amazon Author page
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #745 on: 02 June 2023, 16:15:09 »
They're still Clan Goliath Scorpion. The military takes precedence over everything else.

As for why they're building up? They had six Galaxies when they controlled sixteen worlds. Now they control more than 40. They don't plan to lose any of them, which means they need a bigger touman.

tassa_kay

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3499
  • Karianna Schmitt has no time for your headcanon.
    • My Facebook page!
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #746 on: 02 June 2023, 16:27:50 »
or they paranoid of Home Clans coming to reclaim or smite their own?

That would require folks to remember the Home Clans still exist and were planning an invasion of the Hansa well before the Scorps did anything. The Home Clans should absolutely be the Scorps' #1 worry, not that you can tell by the post-WoR writing, and the moratorium on their usage is the only reason the Scorpion Empire even exists in its present form. It's easy to be the perfect Clan/non-Clan fusion state when you're kept in a narrative bubble and have no legitimate threats to your bland awesomeness.
"Social media made y'all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it." - Mike Tyson

My Personal Units: Thuggee Warrior House Nagah (Capellan Confederation), 29th Blood Drinkers (Clan Blood Spirit), Nightmare Galaxy (Clan Hell's Horses), 1st Raven Rook Cluster (Raven Alliance)
Favorite Factions: Capellan Confederation • Clan Blood Spirit • Clan Smoke Jaguar • Clan Hell's Horses • Raven Alliance • Escorpion Imperio • Rim Worlds Republic • Magistracy of Canopus
Favorite Characters: Malvina Hazen • Kali Liao • Katherine Steiner-Davion • Anastasia Kerensky • Danai Liao-Centrella • Karianna Schmitt • Lady Death • Tara Campbell • Katana Tormark
Favorite Units: The Golden Ordun • Wolf Hunters • 1st Horde Cluster • 1st Rasalhague Bears • Thuggee Warrior Houses • Hikage • Raptor Keshik • Kara's Scorchers • 1st Star Sentinels

Fire Scorpion IIC

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 378
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #747 on: 02 June 2023, 19:23:31 »
That would require folks to remember the Home Clans still exist and were planning an invasion of the Hansa well before the Scorps did anything. The Home Clans should absolutely be the Scorps' #1 worry, not that you can tell by the post-WoR writing, and the moratorium on their usage is the only reason the Scorpion Empire even exists in its present form. It's easy to be the perfect Clan/non-Clan fusion state when you're kept in a narrative bubble and have no legitimate threats to your bland awesomeness.

Nobody forgot that Home Clans still exist, neither Scorpions nor writers, which were getting mentioned as recently as RecGuides and latest TRO entries where it was clearly stated that Home Clans are, were and always will be Scorpions' No. 1 concern

What people do seem to forget is that they have always been one of more coherent and competent Clans albeit insular one starting from their very first description decades ago and that it was quite surprising that they even had so many problems with locals early on to begin with.

But most people just read ''drugs!!!'' and suddenly it has become core defining trait for fans while everything else gets ignored

Mineral extraction, industry, aquaculture, efficient society, freebirth input, competent touman, large garrison units composed of freebirths, effective and extensive intel gathering, etc... all forgotten. But hey, everyone knows about drugs! 


In WoR Supplemental it was stated that Bastions who are absolutely dominant political current have been sending the very tiny fringe Aggressors into the region as way of sidelining the problematic personnel while they deal with matters of actual concern and that aforementioned problematic personnel only succeeded in fully, completely and humiliatingly failing at everything they intended to do other than throwing some Twitter shade at Umayyads which Seekers later cleared out with DNA testing

How long would Bastions (Star Adder Bastions of all people) tolerate these abject and costly failures before they pulled the plug and told them to get back in line?


Another thing people forget is that Scorpions were sentenced to abjuration not annihilation which involves packing their stuff and leaving which is exactly what they did. Homies will not be bending over backwards to charge into Imperio especially after Scorpions kicked out their dudes and figured out how to run the place at the turn of the century 


Next often forgotten thing is that Home Clans now have proportionally huge territory to deal with themselves after Wars of Reaving, loads of planets and infrastructure that need fixing and that they also have more pressing issues to solve which would take precedence over pointless adventures in Deep Periphery and that not even worst Clan dogma would make Scorpions big enough issue especially when compared to much more ''tainted'' Clans which are now sitting right in the middle of the ''taint'' source

Cloud Cobras were unable to administer even the Tanite worlds, Scorpions solved this type of problem by making compromises with the locals which Homies would never under any circumstances agree to. This is also why Home Clan would stay out once Scorpions stabilized their nation, it had become impossible to neutralize Scorpions without going full mass genocide, again something which was stated in WoR Supplemental that dominant Bastions would want to avoid   

Even with unanimous will to do it there was only <20 year window for classic quick Clan style invasion of Imperio and it closed about 3100, Clan was already fusing with locals, they were now looking at decades of guerilla campaign even if they win, the juice was no longer worth the squeeze and risks of disastrous failure grew exponentially for Homies


About Scorpons being ''perfect Clan/non-Clan fusion state' have we been reading the same material?

As much as I love Scorpion Empire they are by any measure extremely hardcore totalitarian military dictatorship which would put any real life thing and 50% of in-universe ones to shame, only difference being better amenities and wider selection of consumer goods and cable TV 

Perfect Clan/non-Clan fusion state is still RasDom.

The best Clan administrators are still Hell's Horses but for some reason fandom is insistent on refusing to give them any credit for anything they ever accomplished be it civilian or military. Win invasion of every planet except one? Failure!!! Smoothly run an occupation zone, give locals leeway and keep them happy? Failure!!!  Why? I have no clue.... 
 

Scorpions are still doing the very same thing they have been doing since forever and which they are very good at: sort out problems, bunker down, plan ahead and keep to yourself.

Home Clans also have their own things to do and fighting an identity-shredding costly and potentially disastrous genocidal holy war with a a Clan (of now billions of people) which isn't even slated for annihilation is not one of them. If it were writers would have left Coyotes or Cobras in charge instead of Adders.   

« Last Edit: 02 June 2023, 19:27:47 by Fire Scorpion IIC »

tassa_kay

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3499
  • Karianna Schmitt has no time for your headcanon.
    • My Facebook page!
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #748 on: 02 June 2023, 19:48:33 »
We'll just have to agree to disagree on pretty much all of that. I've certainly never seen "fans" saying any of that stuff.
« Last Edit: 03 June 2023, 00:27:36 by tassa_kay »
"Social media made y'all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it." - Mike Tyson

My Personal Units: Thuggee Warrior House Nagah (Capellan Confederation), 29th Blood Drinkers (Clan Blood Spirit), Nightmare Galaxy (Clan Hell's Horses), 1st Raven Rook Cluster (Raven Alliance)
Favorite Factions: Capellan Confederation • Clan Blood Spirit • Clan Smoke Jaguar • Clan Hell's Horses • Raven Alliance • Escorpion Imperio • Rim Worlds Republic • Magistracy of Canopus
Favorite Characters: Malvina Hazen • Kali Liao • Katherine Steiner-Davion • Anastasia Kerensky • Danai Liao-Centrella • Karianna Schmitt • Lady Death • Tara Campbell • Katana Tormark
Favorite Units: The Golden Ordun • Wolf Hunters • 1st Horde Cluster • 1st Rasalhague Bears • Thuggee Warrior Houses • Hikage • Raptor Keshik • Kara's Scorchers • 1st Star Sentinels

rebs

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 16186
  • Et tu, Brute?
Re: The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us
« Reply #749 on: 05 June 2023, 15:35:08 »
Regarding the Home Clans:

In fiction and sourcebooks, everyone has agreed both overtly (the Council of Six), and quietly to not speak of the Home Clans anymore.

This also translates as a moratorium, though officially that has never been said either.

The Home Clans are simply moot.

That is, until further notice at the developer's discretion. 

I've probed about it myself, and I get no answers, just hints that speculating about the Homies' activities or possible return is a waste of time.  A distraction *at best*. 

But that's not the official line either!  That's just me and what I've gathered.

I'd have to say if there is an official line encapsulating all of the above, it is simply Nothing.  Silence.
Playing Guitar On My YouTube Channel:
Current cover tune: "The Wind Cries Mary" (by Jimi Hendrix)
https://youtu.be/m6a8wZiCsjM?si=0w7tVOgk7yylNv6a

"Thou shalt not create a machine in the image of the human mind." ~ The Orange Catholic Bible, Dune, Frank Herbert

 

Register