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I narrowly prefer Exodus Road and on some days the entire Jade Phoenix trilogy, but it is hard to argue against Wolves On The Border as the "best" battletech book so I endorse a happy-feelings Readalong Fun Party.
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Dec 28, 2011 06:06
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PoptartsNinja posted:I will defend Cassie as not a bad character, since her books introduced the best Draconis Combine character of them all: Chandrasekhar Kurita (aka: the WORST Kurita). Also, her battlemech destruction is plausable and she's surrounded by a ton of other incredibly strong characters (and I don't mean strong warriors, I mean strong personalities) and she's also depicted pretty consistently as having huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge mental health issues. I agree with you re: Cassie. A terrible, terrible (and moderately creepy) wiki page on her does not retroactively make her terrible. I think the Wolves on the Border let's read would rule, but I think finishing your Main Event let's read would rule even more. I loved the snark. 
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Dec 28, 2011 06:15
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Mukaikubo posted:I narrowly prefer Exodus Road and on some days the entire Jade Phoenix trilogy, but it is hard to argue against Wolves On The Border as the "best" battletech book so I endorse a happy-feelings Readalong Fun Party. Exodus Road is great because Stackpole managed to write a character who's entire premise was 'he always gets the short-end of the stick (crammed up his rear end by other characters, typically),' but it still suffers insofar as Stackpole kinda stopped trying near the end of it and the last fight was pretty much a copy/paste of Kai Allard-Liao's fight in the Great Gash. The Jade Phoenix Trilogy is good, except it's actually the birth of the concepts behind Zell. They weren't in the original Clan-based novels (where it was originally written that the reason the Clans don't split fire is because their immediate superior is passing out target assignments for them to kill; that Clanners never jumped on the comms and demanded a duel with someone, etc). Also, the Jade Falcon sibko depiction was considered to be 'standard' for the Clans (even though the Wolves use sibkos of mixed family backgrounds and I'm sperging about this and I really shouldn't be. Either way: a lot of the Clan handicaps actually came about towards the end of the invasion as a direct result of the Jade Phoenix trilogy and/or Stackpole needing to come up with a conceptual reason why the Clans would actually lose to the ComGuards (because there's no way Phelan Kell could be out-fought, so clearly the Wolves had to slowly crumble around him). VVV Oh yeah, that's right. I just remembered the ridiculous reactor explosion at the end and assumed Stackpole, since Purdoe wasn't fond of using 'reactor meltdown as plot device.' PoptartsNinja fucked around with this message at 06:24 on Dec 28, 2011 |
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Dec 28, 2011 06:15
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Stackpole actually didn't write Exodus Road. Blaine Lee Pardoe did. Pardoe can write a conversation, for one. Also gently caress everything Thurston ever wrote.
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Dec 28, 2011 06:17
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Defiance Industries posted:Stackpole actually didn't write Exodus Road. Blaine Lee Pardoe did. Pardoe can write a conversation, for one. Aidan Pryde's Trial of Refusal is my single favorite mech fight written in all the fiction, and it is at least half because of that damned creepy rhyme he recites the entire time. As for the sibkos: I do wish they had stuck with the mixed-genotype approach to sibkos, rather than having one be an entire batch of near clones. Seems more... interesting. But I will forgive much for Aidan Pryde. e: "Two little battlemechs, coming at a run. One chewed the grass, and then there was one..." Mukaikubo fucked around with this message at 06:31 on Dec 28, 2011 |
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Dec 28, 2011 06:21
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Wolves on the Border has a special place in my heart as it was actually my introduction to BattleTech as a fictional universe back in 1996 after a friend loaned me his copy to read. After I was hooked into it, he then loaned me his copies of the Warrior Trilogy, saying that they were loving AWESOME, way better than WOTB, etc. Needless to say I learned quickly that Stackpole loving sucks as a writer and to avoid reading his books, but that BT was neat. Holybat fucked around with this message at 06:34 on Dec 28, 2011 |
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Dec 28, 2011 06:30
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Wolf Pack is pretty good, too. Not as good as Wolves on the Border, but up there.
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Dec 28, 2011 06:36
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PoptartsNinja posted:Chandrasekhar Kurita (aka: the WORST Kurita) Does that make him a pretty cool guy, then?
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Dec 28, 2011 07:46
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Mukaikubo posted:I narrowly prefer Exodus Road and on some days the entire Jade Phoenix trilogy, but it is hard to argue against Wolves On The Border as the "best" battletech book so I endorse a happy-feelings Readalong Fun Party. Have you read the Jade Phoenix trilogy lately? I loved it as a kid but when I went back to it more recently, I was shocked at how stilted and unimaginative the writing was. Thurston got slightly better in later books, but I'd say that he was probably the worst writer BT had in regards to technical skill. Tom Gressman was probably the best.
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Dec 28, 2011 13:26
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PoptartsNinja posted:I will defend Cassie as not a bad character, since her books introduced the best Draconis Combine character of them all: Chandrasekhar Kurita (aka: the WORST Kurita). Also, her battlemech destruction is plausable and she's surrounded by a ton of other incredibly strong characters (and I don't mean strong warriors, I mean strong personalities) and she's also depicted pretty consistently as having huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge mental health issues. I was always impressed at how well Victor Milan was able to capture the cowboy/redneck mindset. I'm from Texas and one of my friends from high school was a dead ringer for Cowboy Payson. Goofy laugh, rail-thin, mullet with a rat-tail, always looking for a scrap, chasing anything in a skirt, strutting around like he was cock-of-the-walk. Cassie wasn't the only one with mental issues. Lainie Shimazu was a mess as well. The misfits of the 9th Ghost were also well-written.
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Dec 28, 2011 14:52
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Some of the scenarios that come bundled with Megamek are super easy  
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Dec 28, 2011 16:21
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Counting Coup: Tactical Update 4 Movement Phase P5 Kingfisher B - Must pass a piloting test or skid (3 base + 0 movement = 3): rolled 7, succeeds! End Phase Combat Phase P5 Kingfisher B - Torso Twists to threaten hex 2066! - Fires ER Large Laser at S2 Jenner (2 base + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 range = 7): rolled 8, hit Right Arm (0/4 armor, 0/6 structure remains)! Limb blown off! - Fires Medium Pulse Laser at S2 Jenner (2 base + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 2 range - 2 Pulse Laser = 7): rolled 9, hit Left Arm (0/4 armor, 3/6 structure remains)! Critical chance! - Fires Medium Pulse Laser at S2 Jenner (2 base + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 2 range - 2 Pulse Laser = 7): rolled 7, hit Center Torso (3/10 armor remains)! Generates 22 heat, sinks 32! P4 Gargoyle Prime - Fires ER PPC at S8 Panther (2 base + 3 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 range = 7): rolled 5, miss! - Fires ER PPC at S8 Panther (2 base + 3 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 range = 7): rolled 5, miss! Generates 35 heat, sinks 32! P3 Gargoyle D - Fires ER Large Laser at S2 Jenner (2 base + 3 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 range - 1 Targeting Computer = 7): rolled 9, hit Left Arm (0/6 structure remains)! Limb blown off! - - Damage transfers to Left Torso (1/8 armor remains)! - Fires ER Small Laser at S2 Jenner (2 base + 3 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 range - 1 Targeting Computer = 7): rolled 3, miss! - Fires ER Small Laser at S2 Jenner (2 base + 3 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 range - 1 Targeting Computer = 7): rolled 6, miss! - Fires ER Small Laser at S2 Jenner (2 base + 3 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 range - 1 Targeting Computer = 7): rolled 5, miss! - Fires Streak SRM-6 at S2 Jenner (2 base + 3 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 range = 8): rolled 7, Streak SRM-6 fails to achieve lock and does not fire! - Generates heat 27, sinks 32! P2 Hellbringer C - Attempts to fire at S2 Jenner, no line of sight to target! - Generates 2 heat, sinks 26! P1 Stormcrow B - Holds fire - Generates 1 heat, sinks 26! A Grand Dragon - Holds fire! B Warhammer - Holds fire! C Thug - Holds fire! O1 Atlas - Holds fire! O2 Mauler Daboku 1 - Holds fire! O3 Mauler Daboku 2 - Holds fire! O4 Hatamoto Hankou - Holds fire! S1 Phoenix Hawk - Holds fire! S2 Jenner 1 - Fires Medium Laser at P3 Gargoyle D (4 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 4, miss! - Fires Medium Laser at P3 Gargoyle D (4 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 6, miss! - Fires Medium Laser at P3 Gargoyle D (4 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 8, hit Right Torso (17/26 armor remains)! - Fires Medium Laser at P3 Gargoyle D (4 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 6, miss! - Fires SRM-4 at P3 Gargoyle D (4 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 6, miss! Overheating! S3 Jenner 2 - Holds fire! S4 Spider - Holds fire! S5 Panther 1 - Holds fire! S6 Panther 2 - Holds fire! S7 Panther 3 - Holds fire! S8 Panther 4 - Holds fire! End Phase: S2 Jenner - Must make a piloting test or fall (5 base + 1 massive damage = 6): rolled 5, fails! - - Suffers damage to Right Torso (5/8 armor remains)! - Attempts to avoid pilot damage (5 base + 1 massive damage + 1 avoiding pilot damage = 7): rolled 8, succeeds! As the de-facto leader of Alpha Keshik, the most powerful Cluster in Clan Hell’s Horses, Star Colonel Kelso Cooper was considered perhaps the best warrior in the Clan short of the Khans themselves. A head wound suffered early in the invasion had also rendered him, according to the Scientist Caste, certifiably insane. A one-time Loremaster of the Hell’s Horses, Kelso’s skill as a `Mechwarrior had precluded his early retirement, and none would trust him training the next generation of warriors. Not anymore. He obeyed the ilKhan and a few others, but the truth was he made the other Hell’s Horses nervous. When the Khan had ordered him to join this raid, he hadn’t thought twice about it. It was entirely possible he didn’t even remember the Khan’s order. Muttering the Rememberance under his breath, Kelso seemed an almost instinctive `Mechwarrior. He couldn’t have said why a certain action was correct, but in his insanity he was still prone to actions that shocked the `Mechwarriors of the Inner Sphere in their audacity. Twice since his near-fatal wounding had he saved at least a Trinary of the Clan’s warriors from being cut off or killed. He’d claimed afterwards that he’d had a vision of the future, and had known his actions would succeed, but if you asked him now? He wouldn’t have remembered any of it. Mission Objectives Kill Takashi Kurita Secondary Objective At least 1 Clan `Mech escapes via any of the river hexes Enemy Movement Modifiers: A Grand Dragon: S+0 B Warhammer: W+1 C Thug: W+1 O1 Atlas: S+0 O2 Mauler Daboku 1: S+0 O3 Mauler Daboku 2: S+0 O4 Hatamoto Hankou: S+0 S1 Phoenix Hawk: S+0 S2 Jenner 1: W(R)+2 S3 Jenner 2: S+0 S4 Spider: W+1 S5 Panther 1: S+0 S6 Panther 2: R+2 S7 Panther 3: W+0 S8 Panther 4: R+2   P5 Kingfisher B Weight: 90 tons (Assault) HD A(S): 9/9 (3/3) LT A(S): 28/28 (19/19) LT R A(S): 10/10 CT A(S): 45/45 (29/29) CT R A(S): 12/12 RT A(S): 28/28 (19/19) RT R A(S): 10/10 LA A(S): 20/30 (15/15) RA A(S): 30/30 (15/15) LL A(S): 38/38 (19/19) RL A(S): 38/38 (19/19) Heat: 0/30 Overheat Penalty: None Heat Sinks: 16(32) Movement: 4/6/0 Mechwarrior: Pilot 3, Gunnery 2 Mechwarrior Name: Star Captain Nasrullah Mechwarrior Player: Keru Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: Ultra-AC/20 – RA (Heat: 7, Ammo: 40, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) Ultra-AC/20 – RA (Heat: 7, Ammo: -, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) ER Large Laser – LT (Heat: 12, Range: (L:25 M:15 S:8), Status: OK!) Medium Pulse Laser – RT (Heat: 4, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) Medium Pulse Laser – RT (Heat: 4, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) Anti-Missile System – HD (Heat: 1, Ammo: 24, Status: OK!) Critical Damage: None! Notes: no hands or arm actuators P4 Gargoyle 1 Prime Weight: 80 tons (Assault) HD A(S): 9/9 (3/3) LT A(S): 26/26 (17/17) LT R A(S): 8/8 CT A(S): 38/38 (25/25) CT R A(S): 12/12 RT A(S): 26/26 (17/17) RT R A(S): 8/8 LA A(S): 26/26 (13/13) RA A(S): 26/26 (13/13) LL A(S): 34/34 (17/17) RL A(S): 34/34 (17/17) Heat: 3/30 Overheat Penalty: None Heat Sinks: 16(32) Movement: 5/8[10]/5 Mechwarrior: Pilot 3, Gunnery 2 Mechwarrior Name: Mechwarrior Zenyatta DeLarel Mechwarrior Player: GenericOverusedName Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: ER PPC – RA (Heat: 15, Range: (L:23 M:14 S:7), Status: OK!) ER PPC – LA (Heat: 15, Range: (L:23 M:14 S:7), Status: OK!) Small Pulse Laser – RA (Heat: 2, Range: (L:6 M:4 S:2), Status: OK!) Small Pulse Laser – LA (Heat: 2, Range: (L:6 M:4 S:2), Status: OK!) ER Small Laser – RT (Heat: 2, Range: (L:6 M:4 S:2), Status: OK!) ER Small Laser – LT (Heat: 2, Range: (L:6 M:4 S:2), Status: OK!) ER Small Laser – HD (Heat: 2, Range: (L:6 M:4 S:2), Status: OK!) Critical Damage: None! Notes: no hands or arm actuators P3 Gargoyle 2 D Weight: 80 tons (Assault) HD A(S): 9/9 (3/3) LT A(S): 26/26 (17/17) LT R A(S): 8/8 CT A(S): 38/38 (25/25) CT R A(S): 12/12 RT A(S): 17/26 (17/17) RT R A(S): 8/8 LA A(S): 26/26 (13/13) RA A(S): 26/26 (13/13) LL A(S): 34/34 (17/17) RL A(S): 34/34 (17/17) Heat: 0/30 Overheat Penalty: None Heat Sinks: 16(32) Movement: 5/8[10]/5 Mechwarrior: Pilot 3, Gunnery 2 Mechwarrior Name: Star Captain Matsukaze Ravenwater Mechwarrior Player: Der Waffle Maus Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: ER Large Laser – RA (Heat: 12, Range: (L:25 M:15 S:8), Status: OK!) ER Large Laser – RA (Heat: 12, Range: (L:25 M:15 S:8), Status: OK!) Streak SRM-6 – LA (Heat: 4, Ammo: 15, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) ER Small Laser – LA (Heat: 2, Range: (L:6 M:4 S:2), Status: OK!) ER Small Laser – LA (Heat: 2, Range: (L:6 M:4 S:2), Status: OK!) ER Small Laser – HD (Heat: 2, Range: (L:6 M:4 S:2), Status: OK!) Targeting Computer – RT (Status: OK!) Critical Damage: None! Notes: 2 hands P2 Hellbringer C Weight: 65 tons (Heavy) HD A(S): 9/9 (3/3) LT A(S): 23/23 (15/15) LT R A(S): 7/7 CT A(S): 32/32 (21/21) CT R A(S): 10/10 RT A(S): 23/23 (15/15) RT R A(S): 7/7 LA A(S): 20/20 (10/10) RA A(S): 20/20 (10/10) LL A(S): 30/30 (15/15) RL A(S): 30/30 (15/15) Heat: 0/30 Overheat Penalty: None Heat Sinks: 13(26) Movement: 5/8/0 Mechwarrior: Pilot 3, Gunnery 2 Mechwarrior Name: Star Colonel Kelso Cooper Mechwarrior Player: Serril Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: ER Large Laser – LT (Heat: 12, Range: (L:25 M:15 S:8), Status: OK!) ER Small Laser – HD (Heat: 2, Range: (L:6 M:4 S:2), Status: OK!) Streak SRM-6 – RA (Heat: 4, Ammo: 90, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) Streak SRM-6 – RA (Heat: 4, Ammo: 90, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) Streak SRM-6 – RT (Heat: 4, Ammo: 90, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) Streak SRM-6 – RT (Heat: 4, Ammo: 90, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) Streak SRM-6 – LA (Heat: 4, Ammo: 90, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) Streak SRM-6 – LA (Heat: 4, Ammo: 90, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) Critical Damage: None! Notes: no hands or arm actuators P1 Stormcrow B Weight: 55 tons (Medium) HD A(S): 9/9 (3/3) LT A(S): 17/17 (13/13) LT R A(S): 9/9 CT A(S): 25/25 (18/18) CT R A(S): 10/10 RT A(S): 17/17 (13/13) RT R A(S): 9/9 LA A(S): 18/18 (9/9) RA A(S): 18/18 (9/9) LL A(S): 25/25 (13/13) RL A(S): 25/25 (13/13) Heat: 0/30 Overheat Penalty: None Heat Sinks: 13(26) Movement: 6/9/0 Mechwarrior: Pilot 2, Gunnery 1 Mechwarrior Name: ilKhan Lair Seidman Mechwarrior Player: ShadowDragon8685 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: Ultra AC/20 – LA (Heat: 7, Ammo: 10, Range: (L:12 M:8 S:4), Status: OK!) ER Medium Laser – RA (Heat: 5, Range: (L:15 M:10 S:5), Status: OK!) ER Medium Laser – RA (Heat: 5, Range: (L:15 M:10 S:5), Status: OK!) ER Medium Laser – RA (Heat: 5, Range: (L:15 M:10 S:5), Status: OK!) ER Medium Laser – RA (Heat: 5, Range: (L:15 M:10 S:5), Status: OK!) ER Medium Laser – RA (Heat: 5, Range: (L:15 M:10 S:5), Status: OK!) ER Medium Laser – RA (Heat: 5, Range: (L:15 M:10 S:5), Status: OK!) Critical Damage: None! Notes: 1 hand Enemy Status A) GRD-1T Grand Dragon Weight: 60 tons (Heavy) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 4, Gunnery 2 Mechwarrior Name: Coordinator Takashi Kurita Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: PPC, 2x Medium Laser, SRM-6 Critical Damage: None! Notes: B) WHM-6Y Warhammer Weight: 70 tons (Heavy) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 0, Gunnery 0 Mechwarrior Name: Sho-sa Yorinaga Kurita Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: 2x ER PPC, 3x Medium Laser, 2x Small Laser, Null Signature System Critical Damage: None! Notes: C) THG-11E Thug Weight: 80 tons (Assault) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 3, Gunnery 2 Mechwarrior Name: Tai-i Akira Kurita Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: 2x PPC, 2x SRM-6 Critical Damage: None! Notes: O1 AS7-D Atlas Weight: 100 tons (Assault) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 4, Gunnery 3 Mechwarrior Name: Sho-Sho Oda Hideyoshi Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: Autocannon/20, 4x Medium Laser, LRM-20, SRM-6 Critical Damage: None! Notes: O2 MDB-1X Mauler Daboku 1 Weight: 90 tons (Assault) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: 2x Gauss Rifle, 3x Medium Laser Critical Damage: None! Notes: O3 MDB-1X Mauler Daboku 2 Weight: 90 tons (Assault) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: 2x Gauss Rifle, 3x Medium Laser Critical Damage: None! Notes: O4 HTM-25T Hatamoto Hankou Weight: 80 tons (Assault) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: Gauss Rifle, 2x SRM-6, Medium Laser, Small Laser Critical Damage: None! Notes: S1 PHX-1D Phoenix Hawk Weight: 45 tons (Medium) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: Large Laser, 2x Medium Laser Critical Damage: None! Notes: S2 JR7-D Jenner 1 Weight: 35 tons (Light) Overheat Penalty: Movement reduced! Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: SRM-4 Critical Damage: None! Notes: S3 JR7-D Jenner 2 Weight: 35 tons (Light) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: 4x Medium Laser, SRM-4 Critical Damage: None! Notes: S4 SDR-5V Spider Weight: 30 tons (Light) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: 2x Medium Laser Critical Damage: None! Notes: S5 PNT-8Z Panther 1 Weight: 35 tons (Light) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: Large Laser, SRM-4 Critical Damage: None! Notes: S6 PNT-9R Panther 2 Weight: 35 tons (Light) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: SRM-4 Critical Damage: None! Notes: S7 PNT-9R Panther 3 Weight: 35 tons (Light) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: PPC, SRM-4 Critical Damage: None! Notes: S8 PNT-9R Panther 4 Weight: 35 tons (Light) Overheat Penalty: None Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4 Mechwarrior Status: OK! Armament: SRM-4 Critical Damage: None! Notes:
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Dec 28, 2011 17:59
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S-8's move this turn is hilarious.
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Dec 28, 2011 18:04
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I'm going to need
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Dec 28, 2011 18:08
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S8 is a goddamned champion. We just need one little TAC and we will have our Mira Tyraborg. You can do it little Panther.
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Dec 28, 2011 18:15
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Arcturas posted:S-8's move this turn is hilarious. The man has the soul of a Samurai. He's backed the il Khan into a corner where he either has to run, or fight at SRM range. If he actually challenges the ilKhan to single combat I think I might die laughing. Edit : Charging S2 could be potentially hilarious, if PTN has mechs domino like they do in Megamech. Again, this isn't the smartest or safest option. I just love mech bowling. Scurrilous fucked around with this message at 18:28 on Dec 28, 2011 |
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Dec 28, 2011 18:18
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I hope that any light that distinguishes itself(possibly by ammo TACing the ilKhan) gets a name and a place in inner sphere history. We will have a Kuritan Samantha Clover.
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Dec 28, 2011 18:20
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With the dismemberment of the Jenner, that makes the third Kurita light 'mech that you guys have left with only an SRM-4! What is this, Be Kind to SRMs Day?
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Dec 28, 2011 18:35
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Felime posted:I hope that any light that distinguishes itself(possibly by ammo TACing the ilKhan) gets a name and a place in inner sphere history. We will have a Kuritan Samantha Clover. Better yet: ammo TAC the ilKhan and earn yourself a place in the Clan Hell's Horses Remembrance!
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Dec 28, 2011 18:36
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Let’s Read: Main Event (part 20) Begin Book 2! Chapter 20 Houston, Borghese 13 December 3054 Days elapsed since book start: 225 Mercenaries recruited since book start: 6 Mercenaries recruited off-screen: 1 Things accomplished since book start: 1 ( Protagonists introduced since book start: 7 Protagonists mentioned but not yet introduced: 1 Antagonists introduced since book start: 1 Antagonists defeated since book start: 0 Chapters spent on Northwind: 5 Chapters spent on Solaris: 10 Chapters spent on Outreach: 4 Chapters spent on Borghese: 13 (the book ends here) We learn from We learn that McCloud is kinda upset with Jeremiah Rose at the moment since his Mercenaries, recruited entirely from family members and a pack of barely-sentient malcontents (AKA: the very dregs of society), are loving with her crew. Jeremiah Rose, meanwhile, is loving with her in a more literal sense (and has been since before the book began). We’re then treated to more exposition about a spacer/mercenary truce and a primer on how this author understands Jump Physics to work. Ever the disciplinarian, Jeremiah just lets his new soldiers do whatever the gently caress they want and keep whatever hours they care to since there is no ‘day’ or ‘night’ onboard a dropship. I’ve never served in the military and this still makes me cringe. I mean, really, isn’t this just a quick way for the chain of command (which pretty much boils down to ‘ask Rose what to do’ at this point) to break down? Someone with Military experience, feel free to comment about this, because it strikes me as a horrible, horrible idea. Especially considering one of the Black Thorns got kicked out of a Capellan Warrior House for being too much of an rear end in a top hat. Also, we learn that the Black Thorns don’t have a full-time technician, so they all have to pull double-duty as `Techs. It’s no wonder they won’t have any real battle-preparedness when We then learn that Jeremiah has only ever piloted his Charger that one time, and that he is ‘leading by example’ by spending all his free time He’s also been stealing from football playbooks, and has given his maneuvers fancy names so he can call out plays and have In the interim, the two people from Borghese who hired the Black Thorns have been trying to teach Rose about the planet, but he can’t be bothered to learn anything about it since who gives a poo poo (also, it’s less that the author has to remember, so he can just make poo poo up as needed). Borghese is 80% ocean and has only one continent smaller than Australia, which means it either has a billion islands or it’s a loving tiny planet. 60% of the planet’s population lives in a single city (Houston), and the rest grow Quillar (a type of super-corn that can be grown to taste like nearly any fruit or vegetable you can name). Jeremiah Rose then immediately turns into a smug rear end in a top hat and decides that everyone on Borghese is an inbred simpleton. We then learn that Rose spends every moment he’s not working on his `Mech looking for McCloud, who ‘seemed like a different person’ (i.e. they’re not currently loving each other). We then learn that no, Rose is indeed still loving her and he’s just not very perceptive. We then learn that his contacts have been loving with him and didn’t actually have the authority to hire a mercenary company, and that something is going on. Being dense as a block of cement, Jeremiah Rose simply storms the Assembly Pavilion where the planet’s ruling council meets, which the Black Thorns do by stomping their Battlemechs through town and asking why their contract hasn’t been approved yet. He gives an order that would be retarded taken literally (“don’t stop until you reach the biggest white building you’ve ever seen”) and it’s a good thing none of his troops are spiteful asshats because I could see a goon totally walking through the building in question simply because they’ve ‘seen bigger.’ Rose then sets his unit up to ‘guard the building’ (i.e. to keep people in) and demands that they ratify his contract since according to the MRBC it’s already binding (it is, Rose is correct, but this is NOT the way to enter an employer’s good graces). The council chairman Zenos Cookie then walks out, tells Rose that the council is in emergency session, and that he’ll have to come inside to discuss things. Completely fearless, even though his council is now technically being held hostage by the very Mercenaries they’re debating hiring. Then the chapter ends.
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Dec 28, 2011 18:49
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Well, not to belabor the obvious, but the Stormcrow's moves are utterly inexplicable to me and that Panther has a shot to be the biggest hero in the Combine's history. Also: YAY MORE JEREMIAH ROSE  Oh, what amazing idiocy will you reveal to us for the rest of this book, Captain Rose? I can only hope that your high standards are met and exceeded.
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Dec 28, 2011 18:53
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I wonder if there shouldn't be a bonus objective of total limbs blown off at this point, because sheesh.
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Dec 28, 2011 18:58
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On the one hand: Hooray, another Let's Read! On the other hand, Jesus gently caress, more Jeremiah Rose... 
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Dec 28, 2011 19:22
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Let’s Read: Main Event (part 21) Chapter 21 Houston, Borghese 13 December 3054 Days elapsed since book start: 225 Mercenaries recruited since book start: 6 Mercenaries recruited off-screen: 1 Things accomplished since book start: 1 ( Protagonists introduced since book start: 7 Protagonists mentioned but not yet introduced: 1 Antagonists introduced since book start: 3 (guess who?) Antagonists defeated since book start: 0 Chapters spent on Northwind: 5 Chapters spent on Solaris: 10 Chapters spent on Outreach: 4 Chapters spent on Borghese: 13 (the book ends here) Rose, currently technically holding the ruling council of planet Borghese hostage with his superior battlemech forces, feels confident enough to step out of his charger to go have a chat with them in person (rather than doing what I’m sure he originally intended: yelling in their general direction via his Charger’s loudspeakers). The buildings guards let Jeremiah in, so he assumes he’s been cleared for entry or that they’re ceremonial. No. They’re scared shitless because you’re holding the building hostage with your Battlemechs you stupid gently caress! Rose then… Main Event posted:Feeling slightly like Daniel in the lion’s den, Rose began to move down the short aisle to the platform. … REALLY?! My rage is as furious as it is impotent. Jeremiah Rose is not a biblical hero and an angel is not going to come down from heaven to keep lions from eating him; although the rest of the allegory works since anyone who dares to oppose him gets thrown to the lions by the end of the book. Chairman Zenos greets Rose warmly, and Rose smiles back ‘but it’s not nearly as warm’ (in other words, he’s preparing to be a colossal douchebag. Again). Crenshaw, one of the councilmen, then calls Jeremiah on holding the assembly hostage with his BattleMechs. ANTAGONIST DETECTED! WEAPONS: ONLINE! ALL SYSTEMS NOMINAL! Ahem. Yes, we have been introduced to our second antagonist of the book. Surprise, he’s a politician. Crenshaw then tries to tell Jeremiah Rose to go gently caress himself, and that he’s not welcome on Borgese. Rose points out that he has a legally binding contract; but Crenshaw counters that the contract isn’t legally binding since it was signed on behalf of the planet without the council’s consent. Zenos Cooke then punches the hardwood table, and tells Crenshaw to go gently caress himself since the Planetary Chairman doesn’t need a goddamned quorum to hire a mercenary I guess. SPACE-DEMOCRACY AT WORK! Crenshaw also insists on calling Jeremiah Rose a ‘boy,’ which, being a colossal manchild, pisses Rose off. We then learn that Borgese can’t decide whether or not they’re above or below the truce line and they’re worried the Clans might attack them (gee, I wonder if that is going to happen (no I don’t, it is)). A retired FedCom Hauptman then shows up, points out that if the planet’s invaded everyone’s hosed; but if they’re just raided Jeremiah and the Black Thorns might actually be able to do some good. His name is, and I kid you not, Salander Morgain. No, it’s not a reference to anything. It’s just stupid. His defining character trait is, incidentally, ‘smug rear end in a top hat’  He’s also a veteran who’s fought the Steel Vipers and Jade Falcons, and Hauptman Morgain then begins expositing about how proud he was when he came back after fighting in the war to find the people of Borghese still looked up to him, seeing as he is a great and powerful noble or some poo poo (honestly, I’m not much paying attention to him). He’s also suffering from battlefield injuries and Space-PTSD, and believes that Jeremiah Rose can do good for planet Borghese. He’s in full support of Jeremiah Rose’s presence, and supports giving him money. … Rose then decides he doesn’t like Hauptman Morgain.  Main Event posted:Rose stared at the Council members, but watched Morgain out of the corner of his eye. The speech was slick and very well received. Rose hoped the man was just a gifted speaker. There was something about him that he didn’t like, but just what it was eluded him. Jealousy? Rose had always believed he was above such an emotion. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA —AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No. Anyway, the Planetary Council decides to give Jeremiah his money so he’ll Chapter over, we have two new antagonists (guess who they turn out to be).
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Dec 28, 2011 19:30
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PoptartsNinja posted:… Rose then decides he doesn’t like Hauptman Morgain. "gently caress THIS GUY FOR LIKING ME!  "
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Dec 28, 2011 19:34
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PoptartsNinja posted:Rose then sets his unit up to ‘guard the building’ (i.e. to keep people in) and demands that they ratify his contract since according to the MRBC it’s already binding (it is, Rose is correct, but this is NOT the way to enter an employer’s good graces). The council chairman Zenos Cookie then walks out, tells Rose that the council is in emergency session, and that he’ll have to come inside to discuss things. Completely fearless, even though his council is now technically being held hostage by the very Mercenaries they’re debating hiring. Then the chapter ends.
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Dec 28, 2011 19:56
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Hm. Can the Stormcrow run through the building at 0628 to get behind the panther at 0728? That SRM-4 is torso mounted, after all.
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Dec 28, 2011 19:57
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Hah, lots of dissarment going on this turn as well. 
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Dec 28, 2011 20:05
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Does Rose ever acknowledge to himself that he's an rear end in a top hat? I mean, imagine the kind of complex that would give you. You define your world view on the understanding that you are both the greatest man alive, and also an rear end in a top hat. Therefore everyone else must be a worse rear end in a top hat. If anyone is not acting like an outright rear end in a top hat, then they're a conniving rear end in a top hat.
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Dec 28, 2011 20:07
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Can someone explain to me what the stormcrow is doing?
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Dec 28, 2011 20:09
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AJ_Impy posted:Hm. Can the Stormcrow run through the building at 0628 to get behind the panther at 0728? That SRM-4 is torso mounted, after all. He could but that leaves him vulnerable to S6 and his SRM-4.  0526 on the other hand should be safe from any and all enemy fire.
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Dec 28, 2011 20:20
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{John Madden Mode: ON} Now, now let's look at what we've got here. That, I think, I think that was some interesting weapons fire. That Jenner, you know, he's hurt but he can still play it looks like, and he's got the speed to not get left behind here. He can still be a factor. Kicks could really be a problem, you know, he just runs up and BOOM! Someone falls over. That could, you know, really be a big problem for one of these Clanners. Jenners are playmakers, you know. See, though, now I don't think that's all that important in the big picture though. We've been talking all game about, you know, about keeping a close blocking formation and defending the pocket. And it looks like, uh, guys still aren't picking up their assignments. Let me, uh, let me use the telestrator here because I think you'll see what I mean, right. I mean, look at this Stormcrow here, that Stormcrow is all boxed in right now, and backing up further away from the line of scrimmage! And he can only go further away from the play in order to escape as long as that blitzer is there. That's not good blocking. That's not how you put points on the scoreboard. Those other mechs, uh, now they've got to be blocking and preventing penetration into the backfield, and they're not doing that. It's all about covering the right gaps and communicating and that isn't happening right now. And then there's P4 down to the south, I mean, what, what's he doing, Al? He's way outside his zone. He's just not executing right now. I think the coach is gonna have to have a talk with him at halftime, you know. See, a real all-pro like Alan Faneca wouldn't end up that far away, Al. He's gotta get somewhere like 2027, get back in the game and make some plays at range. That mech's a real gunslinger you know, he can really make plays downfield, but he's gotta be in the right positions, make the right decisions and execute. That's how you win games in the National Football League. Of course the defense has problems too, Al, see now they've got their eight-man box all ruined. There's only three along that one road going northwest-southeast at 0620, that means those others to the northeast can't help out. You can tell they can see the extra pressure coming since they're starting to pinch the safeties, that Warhammer and Thug up north. Now, those guys, see, those guys are real playmakers on defense, they react quickly to uh, to the point of attack and BOOM! They hit real hard real quick, so the offense has to play to the side of them or else risk a turnover. These next couple turns are, are going to be really important though. This DCMS team has to start doing a little more damage if they want to put points on the scoreboard. But if the Clans don't, you know, start, start picking up their blocking assignments more regularly, they're going to give a lot of chances for loss of yards and turnovers. {John Madden Mode: OFF} Fraction Jackson fucked around with this message at 21:08 on Dec 28, 2011 |
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Dec 28, 2011 20:22
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That's the kind of hard-hitting analysis we like to see out there! (e- wtf Stormcrow indeed)
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Dec 28, 2011 20:25
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So what's happening in hex 1730? Frogmen?
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Dec 28, 2011 21:14
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/\ Submerged Quickdraw.Fraction Jackson posted:That mech's a real gunslinger you know, he can really make plays downfield, but he's gotta be in the right positions, make the right decisions and execute. That's how you win games in the National Football League. Apparently, Madden ate Ron Jaworski. It's entertaining that the Kingfisher has only a crippled Jenner in range for the AC/20s currently. Circumspect Clanners are fun.
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Dec 28, 2011 21:21
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Tactical advice: P1 - You can't juke around S8, he's gonna force you to kill him. You don't have any real maneuvering space, so just hold where you are and put all those ERMLs into him. You've got 1s, he's got something like 8s. Closing in won't do you any good - it'll just put that SRM into close range and if you kick him, he can kick you back. P2 - advance to 2020. You won't have a shot this turn but you'll be set up for a flank (or to prevent theirs) next turn. P3 - Reverse to 1726, and lay some ERLL fire into S7. You're out of range of everything they have but the PPC and LL, and both of those are at long range while you're at medium with a TC. Force them to move at you or die, don't charge it. P4 - Jump to 2027 and fire up-road with those ERPPCs. Try to peg S7 as well. Ignore S6, he'll walk up into range soon enough. P5 - Hold position, ERLL. They have enough firepower up there to not making a push worthwhile. Soften them up with long range fire, let them charge next turn so you can counter-charge at them.
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Dec 28, 2011 21:31
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Yay more Rose updates, he is my hero. Sven is my version of rose in FractionJackson's ATOW game. R.I.P. killed by elemental small laser 
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Dec 28, 2011 21:32
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The Merry Marauder posted:Apparently, Madden ate Ron Jaworski. Pretty sure Madden invented a good portion of that, everyone else just copies him in a less authoritative voice. Pretty much everyone calling a game Maddens from time to time, even Al Michaels...except for maybe Collinsworth (when he's sober anyway, so before halftime). Axe-man posted:Yay more Rose updates, he is my hero. Sven is my version of rose in FractionJackson's ATOW game. R.I.P. killed by elemental small laser The difference is that Rose never pays the consequences of his misanthropy.
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Dec 28, 2011 21:38
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Fraction Jackson posted:Pretty sure Madden invented a good portion of that, everyone else just copies him in a less authoritative voice. Pretty much everyone calling a game Maddens from time to time, even Al Michaels...except for maybe Collinsworth (when he's sober anyway, so before halftime). There's a few other exceptions (Mayock, Gus Johnson), but yeah, your Madden is dead on. But Jaws has a fetish for saying '[do X] in the National. Football. League.' which entertains me. Between that and Gruden's "this guy...THIS GUY..." schtick, I almost miss
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Dec 28, 2011 21:43
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The Merry Marauder posted:There's a few other exceptions (Mayock, Gus Johnson), but yeah, your Madden is dead on. But Jaws has a fetish for saying '[do X] in the National. Football. League.' which entertains me. Between that and Gruden's "this guy...THIS GUY..." schtick, I almost miss It happens a lot in sports announcing these days, but the current MNF crew are especially bad about the whole "He's the BEST player" and the like. How can everyone they point out possibly be the best at everything? I understand that hype is part of your job, but these guys take it to annoying extremes.
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Dec 28, 2011 21:56
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