Mars Rising - Marian Hegemony V: Barbari ite Domum!

[BrianDavion]

Well, we got a lot of pocket warships on our RAT suddenly. Not the new stuff with subcaps and so but the old, nasty Wobby ships that are not built for battle but for genocide. 

If we fall, we fall. But I hope we go out with a bang.

OTOH Alphard was attacked before in the hope to break the Marian's spines, to demoralize them. Did not work well back then, but  WoB was not the Canopians...

TBH I doubt the Canopians intend to stay and occupy, as you said that won't really work, but a lighting strike on the capitol that ideally captures the ceaser and senate, followed by a humiliating treaty signed at gunpoint? that I could see

[jimdigris]

They could hand out rifles and ammunition to all the slaves too.  That would keep things busy for a long time.

[Martius]

I merely point out the noted units are plausible refits that allow the Hegemony to play with the bigger players.

These were exactly my thoughts as well. Nothing fancy, nothing too high tech for the faction but still nothing that can be ignored lightly. Also fits the storyline and background well. A good addition IMO.

[Colt Ward]

For a while I have been trying to decide which Marian formation to follow . . . but there is a game coming up that I decided to field Marians as my theme force, even though the one-off game does not require it.  I am going to have a CN9-Ar, CN9-H2, CN9-H2H, CN9-H3 and as the final mech in the maniple a Emperor 6L.  The Emperor would otherwise be a more standard 6A model at later times.

This will have me paint 2 Centurions (already have a woodland & Avalon Hussars) and a primitive Emperor for this game, though only 1 Cent will be in the MH scheme.



Decided I will be going with the I Legion Matria Victrix like in the image above, but with a darker blue . . . maybe a gray primer rather than white to make the blue darker.  With them being present through all eras it helps.  The only other one I was interested put Maroon & Orange together, and anyone who has lived in Texas knows that is absolutely wrong.

All though the Cohors Morituri would be interesting, I think the bigger Marian fan already puts them down.

So tell me of the glories of the I Legion!

[MDFification]

So tell me of the glories of the I Legion!

The I Legio are the Praetorian Guard, the most fanatically loyal servants of the Caesar. How loyal, do you ask? During Julius O'Reilly's coup against his father, once they realized the odds of their master keeping his throne was hopeless, half the legio fought to the death - and the other half committed mass suicide rather than serve another master. They have only ever been led by the Caesar himself, or by the Imperator (the highest ranking member of the Marian military - it used to be the Marian head of state's title, but after the office of Caesar was created it became the Caesar's right hand). Their tactics, as befitting their primary role (protecting either the Caesar or whatever he needds held at all costs - traditionally Alphard or Illyria) are heavily oriented towards defensive warfare and entrenchment.

[truetanker]

Gentelmen...

I present a query :

Command Centry

Highlander-740
Archer-8M
Archer-8M
Medium??
Medium??

And in support I have these :

Support Artillery Maniple

Prowler w/ Gun Trailer Thumper
Prowler ECM w/ Gun Trailer Thumper
Prowler Support w/ Gun Trailer LRM - 1x Jump Support Infantry StarCorps Jump Assault Infantry
Prowler Support w/ Gun Trailer Stronghold - 2x Jump Support Infantry StarCorps Jump Assault Infantry
Prowler Support w/ Gun Trailer Stronghold - 2x Jump Support Infantry StarCorps Jump Assault Infantry

My question is this, first I need two Medium mechs to support my unit, and secondly, what other mechs would work with this. Main goal to complete a Cohort, IlClan era.

Thanks,
TT

[Ruger]

I would suggest either a pair of Hunchbacks or Centurions to complete the Century.

Then, since you specify ‘Mechs, on the other two Maniples, I would go with one heavy Century, two Medium (edit: at least one cavalry) Centuries and a light Century.

Edit 2: the heavy Maniple should be a heavy battle Century; probably accompanied by a similar speed medium Century (all around 4/6 movement). The third Maniple would be the maneuver unit, with a cavalry medium Century of 5/8/5 and 6/9/6 movers, and the light Century 6/9/6 or faster/more mobile units.

Ruger

[Colt Ward]

I am going to have a CN9-Ar, CN9-H2, CN9-H2H, CN9-H3

Anyone used those H series Centurions?

[Weirdo]

Truetanker:

What you've got so far is a siege/assault force that can drop a horrendous amount of covering fire. I would build Second Century as a close assault force meant to charge in and take advantage of that cover and kick your target's teeth in. Try to shoot for the 5/8 speed bracket, to give your force enough speed to take advantage of situations. Not sure if anything is available, but units with reactive armor would be particularly useful as you won't have to slack off the bombardment when they get mixed in. Third Century should be fast, to function as scouts and counter-flankers and prevent your opponent from exploiting the slowness of your overall group. If you can, attaching some Marauder squads to this group would give you good spotters and a fast infantry contingent, and while this is very clearly a brute force kind of group, their TAGs will allow you the option of precision strikes when called for.

[Martius]

Anyone used those H series Centurions?

Yes, I did a few ti,es. Good to bully Indys with but fall apart quickly against BattleMechs of the same era.

I really like the fluff of the CN-9H2. Being sold as construction kit offers many possibilities story/scenario wise, it has the potential to become the Toyota Truck or AK-47 of 'Mechs.

[truetanker]

So the twin Thumpers aren't overpowering for this unit? Or should I go Testudo instead?

And thanks for helping.

TT

[Adacas]

The I Legio are the Praetorian Guard, the most fanatically loyal servants of the Caesar. How loyal, do you ask? During Julius O'Reilly's coup against his father, once they realized the odds of their master keeping his throne was hopeless, half the legio fought to the death - and the other half committed mass suicide rather than serve another master. They have only ever been led by the Caesar himself, or by the Imperator (the highest ranking member of the Marian military - it used to be the Marian head of state's title, but after the office of Caesar was created it became the Caesar's right hand). Their tactics, as befitting their primary role (protecting either the Caesar or whatever he needds held at all costs - traditionally Alphard or Illyria) are heavily oriented towards defensive warfare and entrenchment.

That may have been in the time of Sean or Julius, the I Legio being the most traditional, but from 3080 onwards they have been out of their once traditional location in Alphard.
Illyria is more the Base of operations of 2 Legions, the II Legio and the IV Legio, which alternately follow each other as a garrison of the Province + some merc units

It is more from the period of 3090 onwards they asked to be hunting pirates from the Ruins of Circinus from then on because the Legio felt responsible for the death of Cesar who was the father of Ignatius in his campaign in Logan Prime, after this they took as Base Valerius/Blantleff to make defensive actions, and offensive campaigns against the pirates of Circinus and beyond.

The two most Defense oriented Legions historically were the IV Legio specialized in Insurgency/Counter-Insurgency.
The III Legio before the last events was a Legio Limitanei, that is, a Legio for the defense of its own borders/territories, (Towards 3090 this changes).
The II Legio is the most offensive oriented legio, it is an Assault/Heavy Legio oriented to the planetary assault, if I remember correctly the II Legio was the Legio that during the period 3080/3130 destroyed a couple of Marik units (One of Marik's Protectors and I can't remember the other one).
Nominally Caesar does not have a Praetorian Guard (at least one unit of mechs that is), if there is an Infantry unit (Mobiliarius that is attached to the Custody of Caesar and the Senate)
This is something that always surprised me that a unit of "Bodyguards" of Cesar had not been formed, of at least a Reinforced Cohort, there were times when the Mortuori Cohort fulfilled that function (if quite strange, right?)

[Colt Ward]

eh . . . "He dies, you all die" is a pretty serious incentive.

But yeah, I Legio has a scheme I can paint and exists through the time . . . though if someone wants to suggest a 'dead' Legion for the Dark Ages- not even sure there is one- I might not be opposed, can always fluff it is a attempt to restore them from a wealthy Senator.  A sort of Crassus legion.

[Nerroth]

Not exactly "dead" dead - more like "dead to me", from the Caesar's perspective - but there is the turncoat Punic Legion over in the "post-Marian" Lothian League. They have a new unit logo in Era Report: 3145, but (so far as I'm aware) have yet to be given an official paint scheme. They still adhere to the MHAF military structure, at last reporting.

Actually, Field Manual: 3145 refers to a second unit called the Lothian Guards. So far as I'm aware, they don't have a logo or a paint scheme as of yet. But then, their maniple of 'Mechs is rotated in from the Punic Legion, so whether they'd go to the trouble of re-branding for the duration of each deployment is another matter...

[Weirdo]

So the twin Thumpers aren't overpowering for this unit? Or should I go Testudo instead?

I'd say the Thumpers are fine.

Testudos aren't support units, they're main battle tanks with a coaxial demolition gun. The Ultra and the heavy armor are core facets of the unit and if they're not getting used at the same time as the Arrow, then quite frankly it's a waste of resources.

[truetanker]

UPDATE:

Command Centry

Highlander-740
Archer-8M
Archer-8M
Centurion-10B
Trebuchet-7M

Calvary Century

Ostroc-2Cb
Ostroc-4C
Ostsol-5C
Griffin-2N
Griffin-3N

Armor Maniple

Maxim Infantry Command - 1x Marauder Squad
Maxim Infantry - 2x Marian Jump LRM Squads ( Platoon ), 1x Gorilla Falcata* Squad
Partisan Cell AC
Partisan Cell AC
Partisan Cell LRM
Partisan Cell LRM
SRM Carrier Cell
SRM Carrier Cell
Vedette Cell - 1x Marauder Squad
Vedette Cell - 1x Marauder Squad

Support Artillery Maniple

Prowler w/ Gun Trailer Thumper
Prowler ECM w/ Gun Trailer Thumper
Prowler Support w/ Gun Trailer LRM - 1x Jump Support Infantry StarCorps Jump Assault Infantry
Prowler Support w/ Gun Trailer Stronghold - 2x Jump Support Infantry StarCorps Jump Assault Infantry
Prowler Support w/ Gun Trailer Stronghold - 2x Jump Support Infantry StarCorps Jump Assault Infantry

(NOTE: * Gorilla Falcata Squad looks fun... )

The above too much?

And still need to get ten more Mechs... What's the class faviortes?

TT

[Saint]

Jagermech 6H
Icarus II
Gladiator 5R
Emperor
Commando H or Firestarter H
To add more of a Marian flavor. And as a plus all are solid designs.

And if you're really brave add in some militamechs and armed industrials to flesh it out.

[Martius]

truetanker:
I would add a fast Century of light 'Mechs for harassing and flanking (Ostscouts, Wights, Razorbacks- and of course a Firestarter), as well as a century of 4/6/x heavies (we got lovely Marauders, Thunderbolts and Warhammers for this) to be able to smash through heavy resistance or to hold a line. If you want to get extra nasty add an Incubus to your light Century and a Rifleman II C to your heavies.

[DOC_Agren]

Wasp 5A
Assassin ASN30 (if u can swap the LBX5 for LL or PPC)
Storm Raider STM-R1
Firestarter
Strider (Omni)

Axman AXM-3S (because who doesn't love a crazy mech pilot with a Axe and AC20)
Thunderbolt
Archer
Warhammer (because I love them)
Zeus 9S

[Coriendal]

As a thought exercise....

If you were the founder of the Marian Hegemony and wanted home grown industry what would you do?

Buy Jumpships and Dropships and find techs, farmers, terraformers, etc. and bring them to your new world.  Hire those mercenaries to protect your find but heavily invest in basic industry.

When it comes to adding Battlemechs/Aerospace fighters keep it simple.  Since you can build many weights of units with one engine why not start and end with the 240 Fusion engine.

The great thing about it is you can build a 30, 40, 60 and 80 ton mech and a 30, 40, 60 and 80 ton Aerospace fighter with one engine.

Example:  ASF:  Centurion 30T, Sparrowhawk 40T, Hellcat 60T, Stingray 60T, Vulcan 80T
                 BM:  Spider 30T, Hermes II 40 T, Rifleman 60T, Thug 80T

With the massive amount of Germanium he found could he have established a self sufficient world and attracted a company to set up shop on his world?

[Adacas]

As a thought exercise....

If you were the founder of the Marian Hegemony and wanted home grown industry what would you do?

Buy Jumpships and Dropships and find techs, farmers, terraformers, etc. and bring them to your new world.  Hire those mercenaries to protect your find but heavily invest in basic industry.

When it comes to adding Battlemechs/Aerospace fighters keep it simple.  Since you can build many weights of units with one engine why not start and end with the 240 Fusion engine.

The great thing about it is you can build a 30, 40, 60 and 80 ton mech and a 30, 40, 60 and 80 ton Aerospace fighter with one engine.

Example:  ASF:  Centurion 30T, Sparrowhawk 40T, Hellcat 60T, Stingray 60T, Vulcan 80T
                 BM:  Spider 30T, Hermes II 40 T, Rifleman 60T, Thug 80T

With the massive amount of Germanium he found could he have established a self sufficient world and attracted a company to set up shop on his world?

Well maybe what I would have tried to do is some mech or ASF in time earlier
Alphard is a self-sufficient world with a population that is roughly half of the current Earth.
The other worlds of the Alphard Province are less populated in old publications says that the next in population size is Suetonius and then less population
Those with less population for having been founded by Marius are New Venice, Horatius and Marius Tears. the youngest colonial world is in another province and is Valerius.

Returning to the subject of attracting a company, perhaps it would have been good, but perhaps not because they would have wanted to keep the ATC and perhaps Marian Arms as well.

[Adacas]

As for why the Hegemony didn't think to build mechs locally is a good question but for the writers they may want it perpetually as a faction of easy to destroy baddies, although at least soon it seems that at least one medium mech will come, we'll see what will bring destiny in equipment production issues

[Coriendal]

Barring author fiat, could a newly founded Marian Hegemony, with massive cash reserves from the Germanium, have been able to afford to set up Alphard, colonize local planets and set up the civilian infrastructure to make their nation sustainable?

Once that is done, then attracting a company that has been trashed infrastructure wise, but still has the tech know how seems like a real possibility.  Germanium is a key item in jump ship manufacturing.  Seems like a company setting up shop and building anything from vehicles, to mechs or aerospace fighters would be desirable.  Once they know the government is stable and can defend them they might even be willing to build jump/drop ships or at least the repair and maintenance facilities that would set the MH ahead of where they are.

Many things are the way they are because they weren't thought up until later.  Things like the Firebee, Toro, Hammerhands, DC Gladiator are not in production in 3025 because they didn't want to retro it into the history.

[truetanker]

I think the Marians sat on their germanium pile and dollied it out in piecemeal amounts to one, give an idea of Hey we found this while our expansion process is going on. Two, if everyone knew they had it a House would have seized it centuries ago.

TT

[Adacas]

Barring author fiat, could a newly founded Marian Hegemony, with massive cash reserves from the Germanium, have been able to afford to set up Alphard, colonize local planets and set up the civilian infrastructure to make their nation sustainable?

Once that is done, then attracting a company that has been trashed infrastructure wise, but still has the tech know how seems like a real possibility.  Germanium is a key item in jump ship manufacturing.  Seems like a company setting up shop and building anything from vehicles, to mechs or aerospace fighters would be desirable.  Once they know the government is stable and can defend them they might even be willing to build jump/drop ships or at least the repair and maintenance facilities that would set the MH ahead of where they are.

Many things are the way they are because they weren't thought up until later.  Things like the Firebee, Toro, Hammerhands, DC Gladiator are not in production in 3025 because they didn't want to retro it into the history.

Let's see the Hegemony could have started better with a little attention from those who write fluff that's clear.
Over time with the Germanium the issue is worse and it is not just what was found in those deposits.
The Hegemony found its own Germanium mines and increased that wealth, the Hegemony currently has mines of that mineral in Alphard, Pompey, Horatius and Algenib, let's say that with such a large production and refinement of it, the Hegemony sold industrial quantities of this mineral to Marik for the construction of its WS fleet, also probably at Capela, that is, income from Germanium increased even more over time

The Hegemony, strangely by the work and design of the authors, have only colonized "officially" during the reign of Marius and as a strategic measure to approach and create a Fortified Base to attack Circinus (I mean Valerius)
I would like nothing more than to colonize more by expanding the Hegemony outwards from the Alphard Province and from the Valerius/Blantleff area

Regarding industrial production there is no way to explain why the Hegemony did not build more things even now in 3145 the Hegemony has access to Fusion Reactors to build some medium and some heavy mechs and several Fighter models butoo, we are still in the waiting to confirm if we make any mech and more fighters

Clearly those old models that you mention would fascinate me to make them or more modern versions, or Talos or the Merlin

[Adacas]

I think the Marians sat on their germanium pile and dollied it out in piecemeal amounts to one, give an idea of Hey we found this while our expansion process is going on. Two, if everyone knew they had it a House would have seized it centuries ago.

TT

It is the most likely thing that will happen, once the Hegemony was established, it began its own mineral exploitations and increased its volume, which makes it even more rare that with its colossal income of money, more was not invested in production for defense.

[Metallgewitter]

It is the most likely thing that will happen, once the Hegemony was established, it began its own mineral exploitations and increased its volume, which makes it even more rare that with its colossal income of money, more was not invested in production for defense.

Found something in the Masters & Minions book: the ATC on Alphard which was created by Sean O'Reilly was later run by Livia O'Reilly. She sold Germanium in specific amounts in order to make the most profits without flooding the markets and later added mining of other minerals and precious gemstones as well as a defense sector for the day the Germanium finally runs out. Masters & Minions is in the year 3073 or 3074 so the Germanium mines still seem to have ressources left. Though if that is true for the current Dark Age / IlClan era is up to debate

[Coriendal]

Clearly those old models that you mention would fascinate me to make them or more modern versions, or Talos or the Merlin.

Adacus, I suggested those models simply because every single one uses the 240 Fusion engine.  That simplifies production as they don't have to set up factories to build 5 different Fusion engines.

The same can be done with a 100 ICE engine, heavy APC's, Scorpion tanks, 15 and 30 ton VTOLs, etc.  Add a 180 ICE engine and you can have a Galleon, Goblin, Pike set up for main force tanks.  You still have the 240 Fusion engine for Manticores if you want.

That production early in the nations history would allow a surprise and massive strike on Niops where technology recovery would give them another thing to sell and benefit from. 

The collapse or failure to thrive of the periphery states is because of the concentration of the line developers on the Succession Wars and Clans over the nice alternate ways people could play the game.  Aurigan Reach, I am looking at you!

[Adacas]

Clearly those old models that you mention would fascinate me to make them or more modern versions, or Talos or the Merlin.

Adacus, I suggested those models simply because every single one uses the 240 Fusion engine.  That simplifies production as they don't have to set up factories to build 5 different Fusion engines.

The same can be done with a 100 ICE engine, heavy APC's, Scorpion tanks, 15 and 30 ton VTOLs, etc.  Add a 180 ICE engine and you can have a Galleon, Goblin, Pike set up for main force tanks.  You still have the 240 Fusion engine for Manticores if you want.

That production early in the nations history would allow a surprise and massive strike on Niops where technology recovery would give them another thing to sell and benefit from. 

The collapse or failure to thrive of the periphery states is because of the concentration of the line developers on the Succession Wars and Clans over the nice alternate ways people could play the game.  Aurigan Reach, I am looking at you!

Add a Fusion Reactor plus the Shinobi 260 of the Shilone that we also have since 3074 approximately, based on that reactor we would have to see what can be built, also confirmed smaller reactors such as the Commando or the Locust they have, and more than probably the one that moves the Shreck which I think is Fusion 225

[Coriendal]

The Schrek is an 80 ton tank that uses a 240 fusion engine.  Add it to the manticore which also uses a 240 engine.  Other than a 120 fusion engine for a 20 ton light mech or a 25 ton hover tank with 3 ML’s and a srm 4 in a turret you could just stick with the 240 engine.  Add in a 100 and 180 ICE engine and you are done.