MechWarrior Prize Money?

[DiscountMechs]

So I know that some of the early themes of Battletech were drawn from the age of sail? Is there any instance of a Mechwarrior being granted prize money for bringing down an enemy mech that is salvageable, Similar to how in the age of sail naval captains could be eligible for capturing an enemy vessel? It seems like the sort of thing that would fit in the Battletech universe, but I cannot find any reference to that. Just wondering if anyone knew any mention of things like that in the lore.

[AlphaMirage]

Specific fiction references not that I can think of. Its not something the fiction handles well, but that's the standard MO for Mercs. I figure it would be something your Overlord would grant you but not likely in the professional military.

[ANS Kamas P81]

I recall reading about ransoms being paid for captured Mechs or Mechwarriors, though that was more of a general thing than any specific events.  And was very much a factor of the Mad Max era of things, rather than the later setting.

[Weirdo]

I know it was fairly common for a warrior to lay claim to a captured or salvageable mech, older material are full of stories of folks who gained(or regained) MechWarrior status by bringing down an enemy mech and piloting it once it was repaired.

It makes perfect sense for MechWarriors who already/still have their mechs to lay claim to salvageable kills and immediately sell it to their army for the scrap value. Given that there's also several anecdotes of people keeping their mechs in repair by personally obtaining parts instead of just relying of official supply channels (even pilots who don't seem to come from a noble or wealthy background), it stands to reason that they need a source of income to support such scrounging.

[Alan Grant]

It's less age of sail and more the age of medieval knights if you are looking for a comparison.

In medieval times, knights would claim the equipment (and horses) of captured or killed opponents. This was not just lucrative; it was often vital to the profession. An individual knight was largely responsible for outfitting themselves. Armor, weapons, horses, all of this was expensive. Plus, actual currency pay for an army could be very inconsistent.

Even some of the tournament-like events (which sometimes got pretty lethal) would see knights get the opportunity to claim stuff. Very successful knights might walk away with a number of horses, weapons and armor.

I'm not aware of any specific examples in Battletech of prize money for kills. But there are some nation military rewards/awards out there that come with land grants and titles (or giving them ownership of their 'mech). I could definitely see some mechwarriors earning some of that stuff for basically lots of kills, though the citation might read something more like valor in combat and having an outsized contribution to winning a battle.

[DiscountMechs]

Thank you all! This will help me with putting together some narrative campaigns.

[Atlas3060]

Also never underestimate the sheer fun of just rival families paying to knock another Mechwarrior off his keister for side scratch.

"Mechwarrior Jenkins, of the Duvalt family I presume? I hear you're going to attack the Sword of Light soon. If you find anyone from the Bledsoes on the field, we'd love for you to make them Dispossessed if possible. They were a pain in my family's side, your own family is our vassal after all. We'll give you praise and fat stacks of C-Bills for proof in your Mech's blackbox."

[Weirdo]

That would make for an awesome scenario. You'd need at least two players per side, and before the game starts, each player is randomly assigned a single mech belonging to their ally. In addition for scoring VP for killing enemy mechs or achieving objectives, you also get points if that ally mech does NOT make it off the field for any reason. Extra points if this is done without shooting at it.

[Atlas3060]

That would make for an awesome scenario. You'd need at least two players per side, and before the game starts, each player is randomly assigned a single mech belonging to their ally. In addition for scoring VP for killing enemy mechs or achieving objectives, you also get points if that ally mech does NOT make it off the field for any reason. Extra points if this is done without shooting at it.

It was stuff like that and "You see that enemy Thug? Kill that more than the other stuff they have" which is what inspired me for our tables should I ever get back in again.

Something about families backstabbing each other even during a big skirmish just tickles me. 

[idea weenie]

Or even against pirates:
"Our contract says we have to kill Benjie the Brutal and his top three lieutenants.  The rest of you are merely in our way."

Then you only provide the Kill data for the four Mechs listed in the contract, and rely upon the pirates coming back under a new leader to guarantee a new contract.

[Arkansas Warrior]

There's an anecdote from one of Kevin Killainy's Chaos Irregulars stories* (Endgame at Engadine Part II, page 47 in my pdf, if you want to look it up) where a mercenary in a Firestarter is able to solo capture a Starslayer.  She offers the unit papers for her Firestarter in exchange for full ownership of the mech she captured, which the COs find to be "more than fair."  The implication seems to be that normally she'd get only partial ownership (or, more likely, a payout equal to the value of her share).  Seems like the sort of thing you're looking for.  This was in 3067, just on the cusp of the Jihad.






*What ever happened to KevinK?  I haven't seen him around in years.  He was maybe my second favorite BT writer, after Schmetzer.  I wouldn't mind a new Chaos irregulars story or two.

[Atlas3060]

I think there was a short story, Sniper, where a infantry grunt popped a pilot while they were in the cockpit and someone stated "Now you own it" or something to that effect.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I think there was a short story, Sniper, where a infantry grunt popped a pilot while they were in the cockpit and someone stated "Now you own it" or something to that effect.

Ares Sung bluffed a Stinger pilot into surrendering while he was still in the infantry and was rewarded with the mech.