ScrapYard Armory

This battle was played at Historicon 2010.  Thanks to Chuck “MetalCarnage” Stocky for putting together a great game.

Radstat

In 3074 The Word of Blake assaulted Radstadt, a core world in the newly formed Ghost Bear Dominion.  Elements of the Bear’s Sigma Galaxy were on a training assignment when the 43rd Shadow division clashed with the trueborn warriors of the Third Claw and 5th Bear regulars.

Clan Ghost Bear – Sigma Galaxy

• Arcas (3/4)
• Warhammer IIC 4 (3/4)
• Supernova 2 (3/3)
• Bane 2 (3/5)
• Kodiak 3 (2/3)
• Tyr Infantry Support Tank (2/2) x 2
• Golem Battle Armor (2/2)
• Rogue Bear Battle Armor (2/2)

Word of Blake – 43rd Shadow Division

• Preta Dominus (2/2) *
• Flashman 7B (2/3)
• Seraph Dominus (3/3) *
• Seraph Infernus (3/3)
• Archangel Infernus (2/1)
• Archangel Dominus (3/3) *
• Purifier Battle Armor (2/2)
• Challenger MK XI (3/3)

* indicate Manei Domini pilots

Turn 1 and 2 – Ghost Bears win Initiative Both Turns

The armies are separated by a large winding hill in the center of the battle.  As such, the first two turns feature little action.  Line of sight is blocked as each force slowly stalks forward in a foreboding line.

The Word of Blake stay relatively concentrated in a tight group to the North.  A Preta and Flashman are the point ‘Mechs, running fast but keeping out of view for the time being.

The Ghost Bears are fanned out in a wide attack line.  The slower ‘Mechs steadily climb up the mountain face.  The speedy Tyr Infantry carriers sweep around the hill instead of going over the top.

Turn 3 – Word of Blake wins Initiative

Both forces cautiously approach the other at first but begin making bolder moves to attack.  The Bears get close to the top but still cannot see the main force of Blakists.  Both Tyr deploy infantry behind partial cover.  The threat of the heavy Battle Armor will have to be dealt with eventually.

In a quick attack, the forward Preta jumps over the top of the mountain and puts itself behind the lumbering SuperNova.  A flurry of PPC and laser fire shed 25 points of armor in the left leg and arm.

No other fire is successful this turn.

Turn 4 – Ghost Bears win Initiative

All Clan ‘Mechs except the slightly bruised SuperNova crest the mountain and line up shots against the Blakists.  The Tyr Infantry carriers speed into short range to harass.

A Ghost Bear Arcas makes a long jump behind the Blakist Flashman.  Meanwhile, the Blakist Preta assumes a harasser role and lurks just out of sight behind the Clan force, positioning for an attack.

The Ghost Bears spread their shots across available targets.  Critical hits are scored on the Blakist vehicles.  One of the Seraphs takes enormous damage from PPCs but manages to keep its balance.  In a surprising long range hit, the Preta gets tagged with an AC20 shell from the far off Kodiak.

The Blakists choose to pile most weapons on the Arcas who jumped into their midst.  Even at such short range the Wobbies managed to miss far too many Heavy PPC shots for their liking.  One Snub Nose PPC did hit the head but failed to score a critical hit.

Turn 5 – Ghost Bears win Initiative

Both Archangels and one Seraph stay back while the Flashman and the second Seraph push forward.

The wounded Arcas jumps to cover as the Supernova finally brings its weapons to bear.  The Warhammer IIC and Bane hold their ground behind partial cover.  The Kodiak brings up the rear and is flanked by the lurking Preta.  The Tyr infantry carriers sprint behind the big Archangels for rear shots.

This turn featured a lot of misses (some due to partial cover) with lots of damage soaking.  A significant amount of armor was shed by both sides without hitting any internal structure.  That would change in the physical attack phase.

The forward Seraph is running hot with TSM active and gives a solid kick destroying 34 points of armor from the SuperNova’s right leg.  There is one critical hit, and it finds the Advanced Tactical Missile ammunition stores.  The resulting explosion takes off the leg and severely injures the pilot.  The return kick is not quite so successful but manages to topple the TSM monster.

Turn 6 – Ghost Bears win Initiative

The Flashman and Preta get bolder and pick spots directly in front of the camping Bane and Warhammer IIC.  The Seraph stands his ground in front of the downed SuperNova while the remaining Blakist force inches closer while keeping the top of the mountain in sight.

The Kodiak runs to close with the main fray.  The Warhammer IIC and Bane continue to hold their position.  The battle armor all the while have been pestering the main Blakist force but fail to make a significant dent in their impressive armor.

The Blakist pile most of their fire on the Warhammer IIC while spreading enough fire to hit every target in some way.  The Ghost Bears consolidate fire on the two targets on top of the hill, leaving the Archangels and their Seraph cohort to the harassing Battle Armor and Tyr combat vehicles.

The Flashman is receives a heap of PPCs and is gutted by three engine hits.  The Seraph beside him is just as lucky.  After soaking two AC20 rounds and taking it, one last medium laser severs the the remaining structure holding  the right arm on.  Further fire from the Arcas peppers the torso and head with SRM hits.  After the pilot takes his damage (needing only a 3 to stay awake), he promptly falls unconscious.  And then it got worse.  The resulting fall would end with critical hits to BOTH hips.  Without an arm to prop with, the red Seraph was now out of the battle.

Return fire from the Blakists is just as cruel.  The Warhammer IIC takes a beating from multiple sources and finally takes an ammo critical hit.  Combined with a prior head hit and damage from the fall, the Warhammer pilot is knocked unconscious, needing a 10+ to wake up.  The Arcas, although not heavily targeted, meets a similar fate and takes pilot hits from ammo explosions and fall damage.  Both lie knocked out on the battlefield.

Turn 7 – Ghost Bears win Initiative

The main Blakist force slowly moves back, still being harassed by the Tyr.  They remain wary of the slowly approaching battle armor.  The Preta makes a long jump away from the thick of the battle.

The Ghost Bears stand their ground where they can while the Warhammer and Arcas dream sweet dreams in their cockpits.

Weapons fire is well spread as available targets show the fatigue of battle.  The downed Seraph soaks hits from the SuperNova in front of him.  The damage inflicts an engine and gyro hit and also destroys a leg.  Interesting choice of targets since the Seraph was unable to prop and fire.  Return fire from the other Seraph at the bottom of the hill sends two Heavy PPCs to the center torso, coring the SuperNova.

The Kraken is successful in hitting with both Ultra AC10s at double rate but manages to find fresh armor on an Archangel when very little remains anywhere else.

Turn 8 – Ghost Bears win Initiative

The Blakists reverse their previous course and walk forward toward the mountain into the awaiting arms of the Rouge Bear battle armor.  The Preta makes a long jump again, preferring to stay at a distance.

The conscious Ghost Bear pilots concentrate fire on the closest Archangel while the Blakist return in kind with fire directed mostly at the Bane.

The Ghost Bears tear into the Archangel but fail to shed enough armor to reveal internal structure.  The first Heavy PPC shot directed at the Bane evaporates the cockpit.  The remaining three Blakist ‘Mech’s pummel the headless ‘Mech.

In a surprise turn, the immobilized and almost forgotten Tyr combat vehicles score two engine hits on the Seraph from rear shots.  The Seraph is staggered but not out of the action.

Turn 9 – Ghost Bears win Initiative

The Ghost Bears rolled a 3 for initiative.  The Blakists did them one better with snake eyes.

The Warhammer IIC wakes up!  Meanwhile the battle armor are now out of missiles.  The Blakists move back again trying to get the troublesome Tyr out of rear arc.

The Warhammer is quickly put down again by a gyro hit causing him to fall behind partial cover.  The advancing Kodiak’s head is disintegrated by a Heavy PPC from an Archangel.

Return fire from the active Ghost Bears only manages to score a gyro hit and destroy a Heavy PPC in the Seraph.

End Game

All that remains of the Ghost Bear force is an unconscious Arcas, some battle armor without missiles and the immobilized Tyr.  The remaining Archangels and Seraph are more than a match for what’s left and are victorious on the battle field.

This was an excellent game with lots of action.  When the Word of Blake and the Clans meet with their best equipment, you are bound to see lots of fireworks.  This battle did not disappoint.  Kudos to Chuck for putting together this well thought out game.

Thanks BH-21 for posting the raw log!  Since the chat was unmoderated, Herb had to deal with a flood of questions at times.  Reading the raw log was very confusing sometimes.  ScrapYard editor SaxyWolf put in the work to rearrange the transcript so the questions and answers are paired.  The transcript has been trimmed and at times reorganized for your convenience.

Where Battle Chat Live! occurs.

Questions and Answers

<Mendrugo2> So, how do you feel with JHS: Terra released?
<Habeas2> I feel it is time to get to the next project. The days when I celebrated every release have dwindled lately

<raven> Is the chaos campaign or some system of track campaigns going to continue after the Jihad?
<Habeas2> The Chaos Campaign system is the established method all future scenarios and in-universe tactical campaigns will be using, replacing the old FASA-era scenarios concept. So, yes, they will continue even after the Jihad sourcebooks have run their course.

<DeJaVu> Randall Bills has written two books of the series Foundation of clans. The first book in the canon, as published in English. Is the second book as canon?
<Habeas2> yes

<Mendrugo2> Why didn’t Mercury rate a writeup in JHS – Terra, considering it’s got a higher population in 3078 than Venus?
<Habeas2> Because Mercury still is little more interesting to the Terrans than the rest of the Belter settlements.

<raven> So what are the big releases that are planned to be in for Gencon?
<Habeas2> We cannot be certain of GenCon releases, even now. It is our hope that the Box Set will make an appearance, as well the first of the Map Tiles products, and at least two print BattleTech sourcebooks.

<Korsar> As we continue with the PDF-only-products and the Turning Points-Series seems like a very good job: Is there a chance that we see any adventure seeds (like in the chaos campaign) for AToW in future TP-products?
<Habeas2> An AToW Adventures series was planned for PDF release, but fell behind schedule and has been suspended pending the print release of A Time of War (as well as the result of several issues that cannot be disclosed at this time).

<Frabby> Any plans (or even wish) to bring the XTROs and Turning Point products into actual print (DTF)?
<Habeas2> Eventual print publications of Catalyst Game Labs’ PDF-exclusive products is a subject that we will be discussing internally at some point in the future, but the immediate plan is “not yet”.

<VhenRa> Had it been established prior to JHS: Terra that Mars was terraformed to the point you could walk on the surface without a space suit?
<Habeas2> VhenRa – Yes.
<Mendrugo2> That was addressed in the [Masters and Minions, p. 222 has the reference.  It’s also in one of the News articles from BattleCorps from a year or so ago.] – Blakist terraforming work caused a localized storm that killed the Zeta pilots who ejected.

<Mendrugo2> Herb – I love the Rattler.  Can you speak as to whether or not the mobile orbital guns from MechCommander are canon?  They seem to be similar class mobile structures to the Rattler.
<Habeas2> It remains to be seen; after all, even in the Star League’s day, we heard very little indications that even Terra had a ground-mobile SDS platform of any kind. The Rattler may be a unique Word of Blake creation that surpassed even Star league combat engineering.
<Mendrugo2> JHS:Terra p. 188 says it was built in Jonathan Cameron’s time.  The WoB just changed the payload.
<VhenRa> And built more if I recall correctly.
<Frabby> I thought it was a nod to the computer game
<Mendrugo2> That would imply that when the Clans give you SafCon, they really mean that otherwise they’d blow your DropShips out of the skies…
<Habeas2> It is not uncommon for us to build rules inspired by the video/computer games, but given how such games are always developed outside of our direct interaction, what happens in the computerized/video game BT products may not equate to canon
<Habeas2> Given the considerable challenge involved in their transport and manufacture, it seems unlikely the Clans have any mobile SDS Structures

<Trboturtle> What do YOU want to see in Battletech? :D
<Habeas2> What I want to see will begin in 2012

<raven> Era Report: 3052 and the Clan Boxed Set, still being worked on or shelved at this time?
<Habeas2> One was shelved. The other was not.

<VhenRa> The Phobos Skyhook in the Touring Terra section of JHS: Terra. Is that an actual Skyhook based on the concept similar to a space elevator. i.e. A long cable ranging down from space into the atmosphere?
<Habeas2> That is a subject I would refer to the author of the section.  The author was Michael Miller (“Cray” on the CBT forums)

<VhenRa> Where would I ask on the forums in order to get a reply to that question?
<Habeas2> Since virtually all authors have been stripped of their Writer’s title on the forums, General Discussion, include a “CRAY HELP ME!” in your title
<Korsar> Herb @authors: O.o That was unexpected
<Habeas2> This was a necessary action in regards to recent developments on the forums.

<Frabby> Does that mean the Jihan timeline will run out this year? (As in, getting wrapped up and all associated products published?)
<Habeas2> The Jihad timeline has two more sourcebooks planned, which should appear next year.

<DeJaVu> Will we see in the near future at battlecorps Founding Clans book 2 and 3.
<Habeas2> That remains to be seen, but we hope so. Managing Developer Randall Bills will require time to do so, however, and is quite busy these days on other matters.

<Mendrugo2> Is the art for the Caspar Mk II drones intended to also represent the general appearance of the Caspar Mk Is?  Or do they, canonically, look like big eggs with “HALT” on the forward display? :)
<Habeas2> No

<Taurevanime> A simple question. Who is the person responsible for making that insane Devastator from the new XTRO: Davion? And would it be possible to inform him that I love the insanity of that machine?
<Habeas2> That would be Chris Smith (AKA “Chunga” on the forums)
<Taurevanime> Why am I not surprised it was him? XD
<Habeas2> Given that I do not know you personally, I have no idea why you are not surprised.  However, fun fact: The Mech was very nearly redesigned after the similarities to the XTR: Corporations Charger were underscored.

<Korsar> Jihad HotSpots: Terra: Do you like the way it came together? Is there a part you really like?
<Habeas2> Completing it. Due to scheduling issues, towards the end, all of the assignments I reserved for myself had to be turned over to other authors, leaving me primarily to simply organize the book.

<Mendrugo2> Is “Free Mars” in JHS-Terra a conscious nod to Babylon 5 (a series you’re known to look on kindly)?
<Habeas2> All things considered, a Martial liberation movement would be hard-pressed to find a better name, really. While I very much enjoyed Babylon 5, this was not a deliberate nod to the series.

<Frabby> Seeing how we’re mainly discussing current and upcoming products, I have to ask: Will all OOP products from FASA times eventually become available as PDFs? I found these extremely useful, as I am highly interested in fluff and context. The Star League book for some 7 bucks as opposed to a collector’s item for 170 was a great bargain and so was Tales of the Black Widow, and other early products. PDFs and private collection together I have almost every OOP book now, with the notable exception of FCCW sourcebook and Rolling Thunder. Any chance to see these in PDF at some point?
<Habeas2> Frabby – At the time, the plan to republish OOP FASA products in PDF form remains an active consideration, yes.

<BH-21> Will any historical products either HTP: or Historical: (Print) or even “A Time of War” set to focus on Helm in 3028?
<Habeas2> Regarding a Tuning Point set on Helm, it is a possibility

<Mendrugo2> A question about the EARC versions of the novels – does BattleCorps plan to release all the old novels in that format over the coming years?  What about the status of The Sword and the Dagger, which was never had a ROC printing?
<Habeas2> I believe the plan is for BattleCorps to publish EARCs for all novels they can, but I am uncertain at this time whether they have EARCs for all of the novels that ever were.

<Mendrugo2> If you’re looking for another Campaign Turning Point like “Red Corsair” (spread over a bunch of planets), you couldn’t do much better than McCarron’s ‘Long March’ campaign.  Just sayin’.
<Habeas2> At this point, the Line Developer would like to indicate that it is a Catalyst Game Labs policy to NOT accept unsolicited concepts or project ideas from “off the street”.

<BH-21> Was there references to or was it a whim to make Michi’s Ostroc a jumper?
<Habeas2> Unknown by me. But considering that the fact-check group did not flag and change it, it appears that there either was support for it, or no canon against it.

<Mendrugo2> Herb – can you speculate (non-bindingly) about what sort of products might be considered down the line to flesh out the Republic of the Sphere?  A Handbook? A Field Manual? A glossy coffee table art book?
<Habeas2> One TRO, one Era Report, and possibly one Field Manual.

<Maelwys> Are any time jumps planned in the future?

<Habeas2> Yes.  As most of you should not be shocked to hear, covering the period between the Jihad and the 3130s is largely seen as a relative waste of time; the conflicts were very limited, and spread out across 60 years. We will not linger in the ashes of the Jihad very long as a result.

<Trboturtle> But there will be historical based between 3085 (or so) – 3130?
<Habeas2> There are several Historicals still on the schedule

<Mendrugo2> Herb – Can you update us on the current status of the Core Book series?  Interstellar Ops?  Universe Book?  Progressing?  Back Burner?  Released last month but we didn’t notice?
<Habeas2> AToW: Awaiting print. Interstellar Ops – In progress.  Universe Book – Waiting for me to axe it.

<DeJaVu> Stragglers from Clan Ice Hellion reportedly raid the Periphery edge of the Ghost Bear Dominion, hitting Holmsbu, Constance, and Pinnacle, before Rasalhague KungsArmé forces manage to pin them down on Damian. They were refugees from Klanspeysa, “slivers” Civil War of Clans?  You see how any information about Civil War of Clans in clanspace?
<Habeas2> The Ice Hellion stragglers are an unknown factor at this time re: their origins.

<Taurevanime> There has been a lot of feedback on the two recent PDF releases, some positive some negative. Does this feedback have a (minor at best) influence on future products. I mainly ask because I have witnessed computer games going downhill because developers only listened to the vocal negative minority. And so am basically looking for reassurance that such a fate is not in store for Battletech.
<Habeas2> Feedback has some effect, but sales have far more effect. Needless to say, the negatives are horrendously outnumbered when one looks at sales figures.

<Taurevanime> I would like to ask what your opinion is about how the first official chat in such a long time has gone?
<Habeas2> This was a triumph. I’m making a note here: “HUGE SUCCESS!”

<DeJaVu> Will be decided whether favorably with paper books – Warrior, Bonfire? I love when they are pleasing to the eye on the shelf
<Habeas2> I cannot say for certain whether paper novels will make an appearance on the shelves again soon, but we remain committed to that goal nevertheless.

<Tolan> Are there any products related the War of Reaving in the works?
<Habeas2> Maybe. ;)

<BH-21> Will Welshman get a cookie for his work on 3085, or a kick in the groin?
<Habeas2> Welshman got his kick in the groin by GETTING 3085

<Tolan> Will you be at GenCon this year?
<Habeas2> Yes. I have to be.

<Mendrugo2> Who would win – Wolverines or Aliens?
<Habeas2> Me.

<Taurevanime> What kind of music do you like to listen to while you work, if any at all?
<Habeas2> Yes. At present, I am listening to a collection of music inspired by or from the Transformers movies….

<Taurevanime> It is well known you are a Transformers fan Herb. Have you managed to get a copy or at least play the new Transformers: War for Cybertron game?
<Habeas2> Nope. No time and I rarely leave the house.

<ice_trey> In the previous incarnations of the Battletech RPG, we’ve not been privileged to get a GM screen with the product. Since I believe the RPG’s print release is to be pushed back to later in the year if not the beginning of the next, will there be any GM screen or equivalent released with the product?
<Habeas2> There has been no plan to create a GM’s screen for A Time of War at this stage, but that remains an option down the road.

<DarkJackal> where do you envision BT/catalyst will be in five years time?
<Habeas2> Five years from now BattleTech and Catalyst Game Labs will still be alive and we will be enjoying the antics of characters, affiliations, and forces you have not met yet.

<Cavalier> I saw the unofficial chat transcript from earlier today. There was a point where you were reported to say we wouldn’t “linger in the ashes of the Jihad” for long. Was that more or less a confirmation of a time-jump the Dark Age frame?
<Habeas2> That was a pointed reference to the lack of engaging stories and developments in the time period between the Jihad’s end and the start of the Dark Age setting in 3130, and how we have no intentions of dragging people through 60 in-universe years of relative inactivity.

<Highball> JHS Terra has so many naval battles, but not a single track deals with any of them. I know Battletech is all about the Battlemech, but don’t you think you are neglecting the Aerotech side of the game a bit much? Will there be something released later for those of us that enjoy the Aerotech side of the game?
<Habeas2> The Tracks used in the Jihad campaigns were focused on mostly ground combat forces because, in effect, it presupposes the players as a group of mercenaries (by far the most flexible command, considering the variety of actions they may take part in.  For this reason, and given the fact that no current mercenaries possess WarShips, it was considered poor use of page space to offer Chaos Campaign tracks aimed at that aspect of gameplay
<GB> Though it is entirely possible to use aerospace forces in a track

<HsojVvad> Herb thanks for having another session. I read somewhere someone asked you what you would like to see in BT. Your answer was it will be 2012. Can you say anymore? Would this be story lines, or how the game is played differently?
<Habeas2> In effect, many of the developments in battleTech from the Jihad and forward were created at my desk, but certainly not all of them, as the Jihad itself was planned while I was still a novice writer. By about 2012, the bulk of our products will deal with universe events I effectively created from whole cloth.

<Ghost0402> Since the Jihad is more or less over, other than the wrap up stuff, as in previous times, will you all be holding a writers summit to help plan out the upcoming in universe years?
<Habeas2> The last Writer’s summit was 7 years before the one we held in November of 2009. If another summit is held, I would expect it not to occur until 2015-2016 at the earliest

<ice_trey> A two part question in regards to the hex packs: Firstly, can you release the name of the hexpacks to be released after Lakes and Rivers? Secondly, with the release of Hexpacks, are these going to be meant to replace the still-easy-to-find-but-out-of-print mapsheets, albeit compatable, or remain a complimentary product?
<Habeas2> the names of the next Hex Pack is not yet for me to reveal. And no, they are not intended to weholly replace mapsheets

<Mendrugo> When the ‘now’ period of the storyline moves forward, would it be to 3130-ish, or to 3143, where the WizKids materiel left off?
<Habeas2> The “now” of the story is technically 3078. The Dark Age “now” is currently wahetevr year Bonfire of Worlds left off at

<ice_trey> Just touching on some of the fluff questions prior: With the Jihad now coming to a close, how will CGL be handling the fluff from here on out? Will you trudge on ahead through the RotS years, will you start focusing on the early years of battletech (As the Age of War ‘mechs in 3075 seemed to hint), or will you be leaving the previous method of focusing your energies on a single time period in order to attack multiple time frames at once?
<Habeas2> As indicated, there will likely be a skim-over of the post-Jihad to the Dark Age, given the dearth of activities in that period.

<Sagittaire> Hi Herb, Can we get a list of all of the official CGL employee’s now that things have changed on the forms?
<Habeas2> At this time, the CBT forums recognizes the following as “Developers”: Ben Rome, myself, and Joel Bancroft-Conners (Ghost Bear, Habeas2, and Welshman, respectively). Catalyst Staff–the green mechs–are Sulla (Matt heerdt), and Precentor_Martial (Randall Bills).

<Highball> XTRO Davion has almost every Mech/Vehicle design featuring ClanTech to one degree or another. Is this going to be something incorporated into the future House XTRO’s?  And is ClanTech going to become much more commonplace if Clan Diamond Shark is selling it?
<Habeas2> The actual ratio of Clan to Spheroid tech in XTR Davion is roughly 7-8 or 13 units featured. This is not surprising considering Davion is one of the three biggest factions to have built up a Clan tech salvage pool.

<ice_trey> With the release of the Deimos, I’m just curious on how CGL plans to treat the design. Is it to be released in a print product, or will it be more treated as a PDF extra? Furthermore, should we expect to see more Mektek/Catalyst collabs on the way?
<Habeas2> As evidenced by the Historicals series, there will always be room for other eras of play. The Deimos is planned for an eventual TRO treatment. That will be revealed later

<Sagittaire> Will future source books in the 3130-40 etc be like the Hot Spot Series or will we get more FM types?
<Habeas2> It remains to be seen how all of the Dark Age setting sourcebooks will be presented.

<Korsar> Since I’m a big fan of the ISP books: Will there be sections that deal with conspiracy theories surrounding the ultimate demise of WoB in Jihad: The Final Reckoning?
<Void> For that matter, is there a future for ISP-style “maybe real, maybe not” books beyond the Jihad?
<Habeas2> Yes, there will be ample conspiracy mongering in Jihad: Reckoning. It remains to be seen if we will see more Interstellar Players-type books post-Jihad, but it is possible.

<Ghost0402> Any plans for a FM:U type product to give us a solid idea of how each faction stands after the carnage is over?
<Habeas2> There are plans for a post-Jihad summation of forces, yes.

<Cavalier> So, if there is an intent to pick up after Bonfire of Worlds, will there still be novels planned (or hoped for) that cover some of the other simmering plot-threads that got left behind? The civil war in the Combine, Caleb Davion’s madness, whatever is up with the Capellans?
<Habeas2> I cannot speak to novels at this time.

<ice_trey> In regards to the Handbook series of books, I’m curious about Handbook Liao. With the setbacks that CGL faced earlier in the year, is it realistic to hope to see a print version of the book released sometime this year?
<Habeas2> I cannot reveal the publication schedule for the Handbooks at this time.

<DarkJackal> I like the idea of x-tro and mini-campaigns. Will there be some special products in the future merging of the two to have a mini-scenario packs? I was thinking along the lines of a mini-campaign with a handful of showcase ‘Mechs but a much cutdown version than the starterbooks. In essence, the next flaver of books of this series.
<Habeas2> There are no plans to merge the XTR and the Turning Points series as they serve different functions

<ice_trey> In regards to the novels. The last Battletech print book, The Corps, seemed to only be released in LGS’es around the country, rather than mainstream book outlets such as Chapters. Will there be an effort to get future books into those retailers and into the hands of the average joes?
<Habeas2> Should the novel line resume, the hope is to get all fiction print books into mainstream outlets, yes.

<Ghost0402> Any tidbits you might be able to drop at this time about Era Report 3052?
<Habeas2> Era Report 3052 is a sourcebook focused on the early Clan Invasion period.

<ice_trey> Forgive the further prodding in spite of your saying you can’t speak on books, but I’m curious as to what the status of the print novels, or rather, how far down the pipe, they may be. Namely, The Corps 2, Warrior Omnibus, and the Jihad novel I’ve been antsing for since it’s cover art appeared in 25 ann art&fic.
<Habeas2> I cannot answer to the status of novels at this time.

<ice_trey> Ah yes. Are there any plans to provide BV modifiers to the Quirks list presented in Strategic Ops?
<Habeas2> No

<HsojVvad> Will there be any new rules coming in the future? I take it BT will always be the same with just a few tweaks correct? Do you think we will ever have a drastic change for BT?
<Habeas2> There are no guarantees, but considering the strange fact that BattleTech has survived despite being something of a dinosaur in terms of gameplay, when newer adaptations have failed, the rules are unlikely to undergo a massive change any time soon.

<Korsar> Some of the artworks in the last books were simply awesome. Any chance that we might get some of them to download as wallpapers in the near future?
<Habeas2> No idea

<bhrome> any truth to the rumors that kurita has been named as oscar’s successor?
<Habeas2> Annie vehemently disagrees

<Dukeroyal> Is there a chance for Interstellar Operations to be available in PDF before the end of 2010 or is it more likely for 2011?
<Habeas2> Interstellar Operations will likely not release this year

<General308> Any plans for a new Merc handbook?
<Habeas2> No

<ice_trey> With many people now using clickytech figs for use in Battletech, and a decided upscaling in the size of Battletech pewter sculpts over the past few years, the current size of the hexes on Battletech mapsheets is becoming less and less compatible. Are there any plans to release upscaled mapsheets in the future? (con’t)
<Habeas2> Not at this time, no.

<Dukeroyal> Is Handbook Minor Periphery States still planned for sometime in the future?
<Habeas2> No. That project was cut from the line-up before the Outlining stage.

<ice_trey> Alternately, with the use of heroscape tiles frequently being used at cons, and being a happy median that allows both clix and pewters to be used without overlapping hexes, has there been any consideration of joint venture with the holders of the Heroscape license to produce the tiles for Battletech?
<Habeas2> No such joint venture has been proposed as far as I am aware.

<Highball> I love strategic games …. the bigger the better. Will there be some kind of expansion on the BSG – Inner Sphere in Flames Ruleset such as an actual boxed game with a mapsheets / record sheets to play the game on/with?
<Habeas2> Highball – That ruleset will be dealt with in the Interstellar Operations core rulebook.

<ice_trey> Last year, though Harmony Gold saw fit to pull the plug on our fun rather early on, CGL got rights to the use of the Dougram and Crusher Joe designs that were used in the first Battledroids boxed set. Will we be seeing any fresh casts of these figures by Ironwind Metals?
<Habeas2> Unknown. That is a decision Iron Wind Metals makes on its own.

<Mendrugo> A question for the Interstellar Operations content – all of the Planetary Invasion battlemaps have been the same size.  Are there any plans to have official templates for worlds larger or smaller than Terra?  (I’ve experimented myself – it gets complicated with all the half-hexes)
<Habeas2> No such plans are being considered. The planetary invasion battlemaps are seen as abstractions, where the size of the world may simply more directly impact the scale of the hexes.

<ice_trey> Alternately, will we be seeing some of the old Victor Musical Industries commissioned figures (Such as the Jenner IIC, Behemoth) that were exclusively battletech-inspired be put back into minis production?
<Habeas2> Unknown. The sculpts developed by IWM are at the discretion of IWM.

<Highball> There is an abundance of new tech items being thrown into the BT universe. Do you have any concerns that by continuing the throw more and more higher technologies into the system that it will eventually become “broken” due to the escalation of damage, weight, etc etc in the newer weapon systems? Especially when Mech weight/armor is limited?
<Habeas2> Not really, especially since we’re about to hit a tech plateau….

<DarkJackal> what are you top 3 favorite ‘Mech designs amongst the release XTRO designs?
<Habeas2> I have no favorites at this time.

<HsojVvad> I remeber playing a board game, forget the name, but its where you are one of the great houses and you play on a galatic level. Is there any plans to release this or make a new version of it?
<five_corparty> Succession Wars was the name
<Habeas2> That was the Succession Wars boardgame. Though it gets discussed from time to time, there are no current plans to bring it back.

<Dukeroyal> Before making the jump forward to the 3130’s will events in the Clan Homeworlds, both before and during the Jihad, get covered, such as the Absorption War and the War of Reaving?
<Habeas2> I cannot say at this time. There are still two more Jihad-era books in development at this time

<Trboturtle> Speaking of which, how much do the cats help you with the storyline for BT? :)
<Habeas2> Occasionally, Oscar tells me to blow something up, and Kurita prods me to keep working when it seems like I’m going to nod off, so they help quite a bit

<ice_trey> Personally, I feel that Mechwarrior 3015 will play a strong role in marketing Battletech to those that generally wouldn’t visit a store that sells board games. Does CGL currently have any hand in the making of the new title (for fact checking)?
<Habeas2> CGL provided some information for the making of MechWarrior 3015. but I cannot say the full extent of our involvement.

<ice_trey> That said, will CGL have a chance to advertise the analog component of the franchise with the release of said game?
<Habeas2> Mapsheets, with miniatures.

<BH-21> Any chance of seeing “Wolf’s Dragoons Sourcebook” and “More Tales of the Black Widow” in .pdf format in the near future?
<Habeas2> BH-21 – I do not presently control the flow of which classic books are released in PDF, therefore I cannot say

<Highball> With the emphasis on the ground aspect (Battlemechs) in JHS Terra (which is understandable), will something be released in the future with some kind of list showing the WoB warships defending the Terran system so we can make scenarios for ourselves and play them? It was a big surprise to see there was a Farragut Battleship in WoB colors!
<Habeas2> Maybe.

<HsojVvad> Herb, do you still play BT in your spare time, or do you have to get away from your work? Also what is your favorite mech and why?
<Habeas2> The last game of Battletech I played was in November, a Quick-Start game against my wife, introducing her to BattleTech.  I like the TBT-5N because it was the first BattleMech I played in when I played in a long-running RPG campaign.

<Highball> Does CGL have any input on future computer games for Battletech? And can you comment if any are in development other than the current Mechwarrior game that seems to have been delayed.
<Habeas2> Not really.

<raven> Will Jihad: Final Reckoning continue the Chaos Campaign ala the Hot Spots books or will it skip over it like The Blake
Documents….or is it too early to tell?
<Habeas2> Seems no Campaign material is currently slated for that book.

<Taurevanime> Jordan Weisman is far to busy with his own company and projects to get involved with anything CGL does (Not to mention that he is not an employee). But does he give his approval of the way CGL has been moving the story forward and the direction you are going with it?
<Habeas2> Taurevanime – It is my impression that Jordan Weisman likes what we’ve done with the place.

<Highball> Can you with 100% conviction and certainty say that Battletech will never ever EVER have aliens introduced.
<Habeas2> No

<Mendrugo> What are your factional preferences?  And are there any factions that you detest?  (not in an ‘in-game’ sense, but ones that you wish had never been created?)
<Habeas2> My favorite factions are: House Steiner, Clan Hell’s Horses, Word of Blake. I particularly dislike Pirates, and the Wolf’s Dragoons
<Habeas2> Consider those groups and what’s happened to them and you may notice it really doesn’t matter HOW I feel about a faction.
<J_Schmetzer> Which means Herb hates all the things that I love. :(
<Habeas2> J_Schmetzer – I also love what you hate. ;)

<Mendrugo> And when will the Herbania system get a full write up?
<Habeas2> never

<HsojVvad> How did you get into BT? Did you just work there, or did you become a fan and then started working there?
<Habeas2> I was a fan first. I only played the game for about 6-7 years before my first professional work with FASA

<Taurevanime> Herb is always busy busy busy huh?
<Habeas2> My wife has taken a four-day vacation without me. Yes. I’m always busy.

<Trboturtle> Sastified with the BT universe so far?
<Habeas2> Yes. Always.

<BH-21> How is the Master Unit List coming along, and its possible release?
<Habeas2> The MUL is taking its sweet time being finalized. We’re using the team to chek the various TROs and pretty much anything with a Record Sheet now

<DarkJackal> Will devlin stone be cloned? :P
<Habeas2> Don’t be silly

<Pa> Are all the remaining Dark Age units that were described as introduced during the Jihad to be included in TRO: 3085?
<Habeas2> Yes.

<HsojVvad> Is there any spin off or anything like that planned for BT that you guys control? Be it a different game type, movies or what not?
<Habeas2> We control mainly print products only.

<Mendrugo> Has Topps expressed any interest in a line of Btech trading cards?  With or without bubblegum?
<Habeas2> Mendrugo – Not that I know of

<Taurevanime> Of all the stuff that has been published so far that you had a hand in writing. What has been your favourite act of destruction that you have dispensed Herb?
<Habeas2> Every nuke that’s hit Terra had a “Courtesy of Herb” sticker on it.

<ice_trey> Are there any initiatives being put in place to help Battletech compete with some of the big-name miniatures games out there right now, like Warmachine, anything by GW, and even Infinity, or is it currently just trying to cater to a specific niche?
<Habeas2> BattleTech has ALWAYS catered to a specific niche: its customers, whoever they may be.

<P_Dupree> What is your favorit boardgame (besides Battletech)
<Habeas2> I cannot remember the last time I played a non-BT boardgame.

<Korsar> Is there already a date for the next BattleChat, and if so, will the two Chats-a-day-routine be continued?
<Habeas2> I have not planned a date.  It will continue to be two-a-day for the benefit of various time zones, however.

<HsojVvad> Herb, what inspires you in your writing for BT fiction?
<Habeas2>Just about everything I watch and every game I play.

<Highball> JHS Terra had an in depth description of Terra’s past and the fact it is an industrial powerhouse.  Is there anything planned along the lines of a “Historical” that would follow Terra through its rise and fall during all these years?
<Habeas2> Not at this time, no.

<Dukeroyal> Is there a chance of collecting the MilSpec articles from Battlecorps and making them available for sale as a PDF?
<Habeas2> That is something I would need to contemplate and confer with Jason on. Not sure at this time.

<raven> Are there plans to continue the Starterbook line or have the sales not held that end up?
<Habeas2> The Starterbook line is finished. There will be no more.

<HsojVvad> Herb, what is your favoirte thing you did for BT that you are proudest the most.
<Habeas2> A Time of War, honestly. Even though that book very nearly killed me.

Questions Left Unanswered

For one reason or another, a few questions were not directly answered.  Here is the short list.

<VhenRa> The Dragon’s Breath seems very similar in the concept of salvo’ed missiles and heavy ECM.

<Maelwys> So the Ghost Bear war and Capellan conflicts with RotS are going to get the original War of 3039 treatment ala 20 year update?

<HsojVvad> What do people think if something new was introduced like aliens, so it’s not human vs human all the time?

<Nathan18> Thanks for releasing XTRO Davion, Misery, and JHS Terra.  Is there a chance that TRO 3085 will come out in PDF form around Gen-Con

<ice_trey> When you do play Battletech, how do you generally run it, yourself? Mapsheets? Miniatures rules? Heroscape? Pewters? Paper Cut-outs? Clickytech?

This game was played at Historicon 2010 using the RPG combat rules from A Time of War.  Two infantry forces face off in a race to gather intelligence on the area when no ‘Mech forces are available to assist.

There are eight objective on the board worth between one and four victory points.  Each enemy kill is also worth a victory point.

Lyran Alliance

• Field Commander, Pulse Laser Rifle
• Heavy Weapons Team, Support Pulse Laser
• Soldiers, Pulse Laser Rifle x 2
• Soldiers, Intek Laser Rifle x 3

Draconis Combine

• Heavy Weapons Team, Portable Machine Gun
• Heavy Weapons Team, Light Recoiless Rifle
• Soldiers, Auto Rifle x 2
• Soldiers, Imperator AX Rifle x 2

Record Sheets and Cheat Sheets

After playing quite a few games with the Time of War rules set, I made a few adjustments to suit my own particular taste.  I also created my own record sheet that helps to ease the learning curve.  All skill numbers are listed as the raw to-hit number.  The fatigue and injury modifiers are also listed for easy reference.  I also boiled down some key points into a simple two page rules summary for the players to use during the game.

I’ve included my record sheets and the rules reference here for you to take a look.  I expect to do a future post on the Time of War combat rules with further insight into the game and maybe even some new and improved record sheets.

• Lyran Record Sheets, (PDF, 328KB)
• Kurita Record Sheets, (PDF, 250KB)
• Quick Reference Sheets, (PDF, 49KB)

Turn 1 – Lyrans Win Initiative

Both teams sprint towards the central area of the map.  The Kurita side makes a dash to the north corner of the map with their Recoiless Rifle team while the bulk of their forces fan out along a wide line.  The Lyran side sets up their Support Pulse Laser early while the remaining team spreads into a diamond pattern with the Lyran Field Commander bringing up the rear.

Both teams tag up on their 1 VP objective.

No shots are available just yet as the bombed out building and the gentle rise of the terrain prevent line of sight.

Turn 2 – Kurita Win Initiative

Alarmingly each team elects to sprint one member to claim the 2 VP objective which lies in front of available cover.  The Lyrans send another soldier to the corner of the center building neglecting to take cover.

The Kurita Recoiless Rifle team takes more time getting into position in the sniper nest in the north-western corner of the battle.

The Lyran heavy weapons teams begins the break down their equipment in hopes of moving to a better location.

The Kurita Recoiless Rifle support member manages to take an extreme range pot-shot at the advancing Lyrans with his side-arm but fails to hit.  Two Kurita soldiers with Auto Rifles land three shots total against targets in the open.  The Lyran soldiers to the North and South take hits.  The Northern Lyran fails his knock-down check.

Three of the Lyran squad are lined up in the center of the battle behind the main buildings and cannot draw line of sight to any targets and can do nothing but watch as two of their teammates take damage.

Turn 3 – Kurita Win Initiative

The Kurita soldiers in the North take cover behind a low wall and send bullets down range at incoming Lyrans.  The Lyran take cover at the corner of the center building.  One additional Lyran takes cover in woods.

The Lyran heavy weapons team sprints forward in hopes of finding a better spot to plant their support pulse laser.

The Lyran soldier to the south suffers bleeding wounds from numerous shots from the line of Kurita soldiers across the battle.  Amazingly he keeps his balance through the barrage.    The Kurita Recoiless Rifle team is now in position and fires their first ordinance towards the Northern corner of the center building.  The round deviates marvelously and detonates a High Explosive round in range of two Lyrans.  Both are wounded and knocked down.

The Lyran soldier in the woods inches forward and fires two single shots at the Kurita soldiers behind the wall.  The first shot misses but the second hits hard, knocking the soldier down and causing a bleeding wound.

Turn 4 – Kurita Win Initiative

The Kurita machine gun team wastes no time and fires a burst at the Lyran soldier against the wall to the South killing him.

The Lyrans sneak a soldier into the center building and tags the 4 VP objective.  The Recoiless Rifle team takes aim and misses by a wide margin.  The shot deviates far enough to land at the feet of another Lyran soldier who was already injured.  The resulting explosion kills the soldier.

The Lyran previously in the woods sprints to claim the 3 VP objective in the pit to the North.

To the South the Lyran player sprints a soldier to the other pit and is quickly followed by two Kurita soldier.  Both Kurita soldiers happen to be armed with Vibro-Katanas for a melee weapon.

Turn 5 – Lyrans Win Initiative

The Lyrans win initiative and make good use of it.  The Lyran in the Southern pit scrabbles out and drops a grenade in behind him.  Both Kurita soldiers are knocked down and bleeding.  One of them is knocked out as well.  The Kurita Machine Gun team is in perfect position and shoots up the Lyran who dropped the grenade.  The soldier is knocked down and bleeding.

In the North, the Kurita soldier behind the low wall stops his own bleeding while his partner trades fire with the Lyran in the pit.  The Lyran luck is not holding out.  Despite good cover the soldier in the pit is hit while missing his own shots.

The Recoiless Rifle team continues to rain explosives onto the Lyrans.  This time the dice roll is perfect and the Lyran who claimed the objective in the center building is killed outright.

Turn 6 – Kurita Win Initiative

Things go from bad to worse for the Lyrans.  Once again good cover doesn’t save the Lyran soldier holding the pit in the North.  The Kurita player rolls boxcars on a burst attack for the kill.

The Machine Gun team finishes off the Lyran on the ground to the South.

The body count is now vastly in favor of the Kurita player and the game is called.

Fighting the Good Fight

Unfortunately there is not much to say about this game.  The Lyrans were picked apart by a more spread out adversary.  There was a missmatch of equipment that I am to blame for.  I overvalued the long range of the Lyran weaponry.  The Recoiless Rifle team was probably overkill.  That weapon proved very powerful by itself and devastating when combined with good dice rolls.

The gentle rise of the terrain crippled line of sight and prevented the Lyrans from using the full effect of their longer range.

What both players didn’t do is make use of suppression fire.  Maybe the rules were too complicated or I just didn’t explain it well enough.  Suppression fire is an excellent way of denying your opponents movement and I would love to see a game where it really came into play.

I learned a lot during this game and hope that the players who gave it a shot had a good time despite the uneven battlefield.  Just more reason I should start cooking up a Time of War Battle Value.

Iron Wind Metals is sponsoring a painting contest over at a WAMP.

The prizes are fairly decent.  Who doesn’t need a shot at some extra miniature spending money?

1. $40 Credit
2. $30 Credit
3. $30 Credit

The deadline is August 28th, giving us BattleTech fans a month and a half to conjure up our best paint jobs.

I’ll be very interested in seeing what figures are entered as any Iron Wind Metals figures are legal to enter.  BattleTech is only a small part of the total line of miniatures Iron Wind makes and sells.  There are plenty of fantasy, alternate sci-fi and historical miniatures in their portfolio.

I hope that BattleTech sweeps.  I’ll have to paint something up and get it in.  No better reason to get in some practice.

A New Home

Historicon has a new home at Valley Forge, Pa.  The venue has more modern accommodations while providing much needed breathing room for the growing convention.

The one major problem was the long and twisted walk to the BattleTech area.  There were around 50 or so gaming tables tucked away on the Radisson side of the convention while the main tables were near registration at the Scanticon.  I felt that I spent too much time traveling between the two locations to get to one game or another.

While the convention site grew, the BattleTech specific gaming room did not.  The regular crew never seemed to mind.  BattleTech folk are a hearty breed after all.  The room almost always looked full especially when we ended up filling tables all the way around for the more popular games.

BattleTech Games

For the first time since I started attending HMGS events, I ended up hosting games rather than just participating.  My partner in crime minion, “Saxywolf” built terrain for one of the events and assisted preparing minis.  The first was a multi-battle big game using a unique system of synchronized battles that involved Aerospace Fighters and off-map Artillery to compliment the regular assortment of ‘Mechs and Vehicles.

Our second game was a BattleTroops skirmish using the Time of War combat system as our framework.  While not as well attended, I had a great time watching players discover this great system.  I will admit that the forces were not as balanced as they should have been.  I should have put more effort into playtesting but the effect of the terrain we used, which was not completed until the 11th hour, had a huge effect on weapon balance that I did not have the foresight to account for.

“Speck” and crew put on another great show with lots of games ranging from 2821 to 3074.  I’ll have no less than three full battle reports from the convention in the near future.  Check back for more!

Grinder and Demos

While the Grinder table always seemed full the demo table was rarely used.  The normal influx of passers-by interested in a quick 10 minute demo were far and few between, no doubt due to the location of the BattleTech room.  Demo Agent “Speck” and his crew of minions did their best to bring in visitors and put up their own signs to direct people to the demo location.  No venue is perfect and this one certainly had it’s flaws.  I find it curious during my many  long walks between the Scanticon and Radisson that there were many conference rooms available or being used by other parties.  If HMGS attends Valley Forge again, I think it would be better to use these spaces to keep the game rooms closer together.

Painting Contest

BattleTech regulars took no less than three prizes in the painting contest!  Mark’s brother Dave took home honors for his Wolf’s Dragoons and TotalWar BattleMaster while Scott “Wemic9” was awarded for his museum scale Vulture. Congrats to both on their entries!

Iron Wind Metals and the Vendor Hall

Iron Wind was in attendance with Ral Partha banners on display.  Sadly, they still have not gotten their BattleArmor sorted into new bins so they were absent.  The regular assortment was on hand though and I picked up a Limited Edition TDR-10M Thunderbolt which I plan to add to my Marik roster.

I noticed a few more painted miniatures in the display case that I had not seen before.

The rest of the vendor hall was spacious and well stocked with all manner of miniatures, terrain, tools, and random wargaming goodness.  I saw many old favorites and some new faces too.

Other Games

There are always a lot of great games at Historicon.  BattleTech will always be my bread and butter, but I love showcasing some pictures of the best I saw while walking around.  Historicon is always a huge event and a great time for any wargamer.