Props to the writers, this is a very fun book to read.
Agreed. Skim-read it last night and today, and first impression is quite favourable. Nice to have the latest map of the Inner Sphere as well, and for everybody to get a mention in the Human Sphere-wide summary, even minor factions like the Jarnfolk and Khwarazm Empire.
The writing is good, rarely has a setting sourcebook made me laugh aloud. My favorite line so far: "....and that involve the word “culling” with a frequency the impartial observer might find alarming...."
"As the two Clans chosen to be the Star League’s praetorians have track records with their lower castes that could generously be called poor and that involve the word “culling” with a frequency the impartial observer might find alarming..."
The dry irony in that sentence made me chuckle too
Like that Wars of Reaving quip suggesting Jaguar warriors were better economists than they're given credit for - because the Londerholm slaughter reduced the food demand to manageable levels.
On a more serious note, good to see that PR concerns about the Jags' resurrection are mentioned, given their reputation among Spheroids. Ditto for whether the Falcons can and want to be redeemed.
Another snippet from Clan Sea Fox's entry. Could have sworn I've seen this metaphor on the forums here after HOTW came out.
"...as one wag in Clan Sea Fox put it, the Wolves are like the dog who catches a groundcar at long last but has no clue what to do with it."
All in all, magnificent effort.
