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[Professor Lemur]

There's a thread on Something Awful's LP forum for Battletech. If you really like it then I honestly suggest you give the thread a read. It's called "Let's All Play Battletech and Rewrite Inner Sphere History." To know how much it's diverged from the canon...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

they're called the Draconis Suns now.

Anyway, I should write up a little on the events of Battletech. Let's start with...
The Star-League Era!

Four and a half hundred years before the Fourth Succession War was even thought of, there was an alliance that ruled the entire Inner Sphere. Composed of the Terran Hegemony that was in charge of the Terra System, the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere (Marik, Steiner, etc.) and the states of the Periphery, the Star League was a complete amagamation of every major and nearly every minor faction of the Inner Sphere in the 2500's. It was considered by a majority of the Inner Sphere to be the golden age of human civilization, and this sentiment stayed present even half a millennium after the Star League's collapse.
Engineered by the Terran Hegemony, Capellan Confederation and the Free Worlds League, the Star League slowly received the signage and backing of the other three houses. The Periphery joined the Star League eventually as well, but only after a series of vicious battles had forced the alliances that dotted the outskirts of the IS to concede.
These battles had been fought by the Star League Defence Force. The reason I mention this is because the SLDF become VERY important later on.

The general incompetence of the House Cameron, leaders of the Terran Hegemony, came to a head when Simon Cameron, the House Lord at the time, had not only failed to force a cease-fire between the FedSuns and the Draconis Combine, but also failed in his drives to bring peace. The straw that broke the camel's back had been the appointment of Richard Cameron II, a mere child. Fed up with the continuing failures of the Star League, the other five houses of the Inner Sphere went to Terra, and appointed the commanding officer of the SLDF to become Cameron's Regent and Protector. The Commanding Officer was a General Aleksandr Kerensky.

After countless years of the Amaris family supporting Richard Cameron through corruption, the leader of the Star League found the monarch of the Rim Worlds Republic, Stefan Amaris to be a close friend of his. Through this, Cameron ordered the withdrawal of all SLDF units from the Periphery, leaving the RWR free to use the former SLDF-owned bases and fortresses to use for their own gains.

It didn't take long for another civil war to break out in the Inner Sphere. With Richard being persuaded by Amaris that everyone except the Rim Worlds were against him, he had released an order that all House armies were to be disbanded. It was thanks to Kerensky that this order was instead annulled. In a final move against the other houses, Stefan Amaris persuaded Richard Cameron that the Rim Worlds Republic should protect the Terran Hegemony. Not knowing any better, Cameron accepted. As was almost expected of Amaris, he travelled to Terra, and killed Richard, along with every other member of the Cameron family. With them eliminated, Stefan saw fit to claim power to the Star League, proceeding to remove any trace of the League that he could. With Kerensky slowly taking over the Rim Worlds, he began to capture the planets closest to Terra.

It was on the date of the 23rd of January, 2777 that the SLDF slowly advanced to Earth, capturing all planets along the way, after one long bloody battle - a battle that left ten million people dead. It took two years to execute Stefan Amaris and his family once it was discovered just what happened to the Camerons.
Afterwards, the five remaining house lords stripped Aleksandr Kerensky of his title of Protector, and began their bickering over who should be the rightful ruler over the Star League.
After the year 2781, Aleksandr took 80% of the remaining SLDF, and left the Inner Sphere, never to be heard from again.

With Kerensky's departure, whatever remained of the Star League finally crumbled, leaving the Inner Sphere controlled mainly by the Five Houses. Because of this, we have had the Succession Wars.
Tune in next time for our next era, the Fourth Succession War!

[Professor Lemur]

Voting has ended. Here are the results:
The Free Worlds League will now be marching on, with a total of 4 votes!
The Lyran Alliance is left lumbering behind with only 1 vote!

And with a close vote, the FedCom Civil War will be our Era of Choice.
For all of those who voted, you have the privilege of choosing your Mechwarrior choice and name!

Tiber, Free Worlds League
June 23rd, 3065

Lt. Manfred Olson straightened his collar, noticed it was still slightly misaligned, cursed and readjusted it. His thoughts wandered to why he had received a summons from his colonel. Was it because he punched out that Lyran ambassador? It wasn't his fault. The bastard should have stopped provoking everybody with his long words.
He sighed. It's a wonder he's even lasted this long in the military. Colonel Basil was more forgiving than most other officers in the armed forces, but that doesn't mean even she can accept this many "inappropriate acts of insubordination", as she called it.

He looked up as one of the colonel's secretaries approached him.
"Col. Basil will see you now," the secretary simply told him. Olson snapped into a salute, holding on until they reciprocated. Settling into a smart march, a small feeling of apprehension slowly grew, until he knocked on the door. A voice of invitation came through, and he opened it.

Basil, or "Col. Bay" as she is informally known stood far behind the desk, looking out of the window. Outside, new recruits for the training battalion "31 Bat" were sprinting around a course, accompanied by an angry drill sergeant, screaming mutely at them. Manfred shut the door behind him, and stood to attention.
"Lieutenant Manfred Olson present and accounted for." Not waiting, he saluted, holding the pose. Basil returned the salute.
"Good afternoon, Olson. Please sit down. Your schedule for the rest of the week has been cancelled. Please pay attention to everything that I have to say." Olson did so, sitting down rigidly enough for it to look uncomfortable.
"Ma'am, if this is to do with the ambassador-"
"Negative Olson. That matter has already been settled with, quietly. This is of a more... important matter."
"Ma'am?"
Basil held up a long finger, browned in some places from tobacco. She then pulled a folder from the side, and opened it.
"Lt. Manfred Olson. Enlisted in 3052. Participated in defense during the Clan Invasion. No siblings, no friends. Psychological review states that you have a strong aversion to those in higher ranks. Combat and strategy tests indicate an almost perpetual state of aggression, preferring to go in guns blazing. Tactical tests and previous experience prove that you have a decent control of subordinates, though methods of enforcing your control is... unorthodox."
The Colonel smiled at Manfred. "There have been multiple counts of insubordination, most of which are physical. Hospitalised a drill sergeant. Caught with illicit drugs, being drunk on duty... Not exactly a well behaved officer." The smile comes again, the mirth now gone.

"As you know, my plans to renovate the regiment in preparations for operations near the newborn Lyran Alliance mean that a lot of the more "unsavoury" types have had to be dismissed, or transferred to other regiments. This will not be the case for you," Basil continued, "as you have proved to be a valuable asset to not only the 115th Hussars, but to the Free Worlds League in general. I have summoned you here to offer you a position as Captain in my new sub-regiment, the 12th. Call it a promotion, if you will.

"There are some restrictions, however. The higher-ups - particularly General Rand - want to see how you handle a reinforcement operation. As such, you will be deployed to Turin in a month. You will be given a start-up fee, and assigned a Griffin. What I want you to do is recruit your own soldiers and buy the mechs and tanks for this operation. If you perform admirably, I'll see what I can do to allow for some... bonuses. That is all, Olson. You are welcome to tell your colleagues about this new assignment, but you will be on your own starting from tomorrow. Any questions?"

The newly promoted Captain Olson nodded, in a slight state of shock. "When do I begin, ma'am?" He managed to say.
"You mean you're still here?" Was the only answer he got.

-----
So now the MekHQ tutorial/campaign will begin. All of those who participated, PM me your desired mechwarrior's name and description. You will all begin with a piloting of 4, and gunnery of 3.
Let's get this party started.

[Xardalas]

Went a head and put in my description. Seems like I'm going to be the Lance's Tanker.

[Erkki]

PM sent!

[Professor Lemur]

Your characters are now in the game. Next update when I do the starting part of the tutorial, you can see your wonderful Mariks on the screenshots. I promise.

[Xardalas]

I wouldn't mind going through a few matches in megamek right now. Anyone else in this thread interested in a few matches not related to the campaign being set up?

[Erkki]

I wouldn't mind going through a few matches in megamek right now. Anyone else in this thread interested in a few matches not related to the campaign being set up?

Always! You can find me in B12 BT group.

[Xardalas]

The campaign isn't dead. Lemur just had personal business he had to attend to for a while. So no worries for anyone, This should be picked up when he gets back.

[Professor Lemur]

Yeah. Long story short, my new job is really hectic and I'm going to have to make a lot of compromises.
But,this thread is not dead. The campaign is not dead either. Believe it or not, but I've been very busy making Screenshots for the tutorials, while also composing a storyline along with it.
In order to do your bit, fellow members of Basil's 12th, try to keep this thread alive. Post things you've learnt from playing around with MEKHQ, or even stuff from Megamek. It'll be greatly appreciated and I'll make it worth your while (maybe).

[Erkki]

Yeah. Long story short, my new job is really hectic and I'm going to have to make a lot of compromises.
But,this thread is not dead. The campaign is not dead either. Believe it or not, but I've been very busy making Screenshots for the tutorials, while also composing a storyline along with it.
In order to do your bit, fellow members of Basil's 12th, try to keep this thread alive. Post things you've learnt from playing around with MEKHQ, or even stuff from Megamek. It'll be greatly appreciated and I'll make it worth your while (maybe).

Excellent! We'll stay tuned. 


Have I mentioned I also love direct-fire artillery? That shot saved the day as the Grand Crusader was intact, and the reinforced lance and a half of mine, that had been mauled a bit, then got just enough firepower and armor advantage  to take out the surviving foes.


Weapons fire for Mobile Long Tom Artillery (+ Carriage) (9th Regulan Hussars)
    Long Tom at Hex: 1835 (Artillery); needs 9, rolls 10 : hits the intended hex 1835.
Grand Crusader GRN-D-02 (1st Thorin Regiment) hit for 25 damage.
        Grand Crusader GRN-D-02 (1st Thorin Regiment) takes 5 damage to LL. 16 Armor remaining.
        Grand Crusader GRN-D-02 (1st Thorin Regiment) takes 5 damage to HD. Armor destroyed, 2 Internal Structure remaining
         Critical hit on HD. Roll is 7; no effect.

        Pilot of Grand Crusader GRN-D-02 (1st Thorin Regiment) "Sgt. Ronald Macdonald" takes 1 damage.       
Pilot of Grand Crusader GRN-D-02 (1st Thorin Regiment) "Sgt. Ronald Macdonald" needs a 5 to stay conscious.  Rolls 2 : blacks out.
        Grand Crusader GRN-D-02 (1st Thorin Regiment) takes 5 damage to HD. SECTION DESTROYED,

*** Grand Crusader GRN-D-02 (1st Thorin Regiment) DESTROYED by damage! ***
         Critical hit on HD. Roll is 6; no effect.

        Grand Crusader GRN-D-02 (1st Thorin Regiment) takes 5 damage to CT. 11 Armor remaining.
        Grand Crusader GRN-D-02 (1st Thorin Regiment) takes 5 damage to RA. 20 Armor remaining.

[ndkid]

I still look forward to the tutorials that will spring into existence from this not-dead-just-long-hibernating thread.

[Anvilfolk]

This particular post might be what you're looking for!

http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=41494.msg957784#msg957784

That's what I used. I played for a bit on those settings, then eventually reduced difficulty a bit by changing a few more options to suit me. Takes a little to set up, but after that it's fairly breezy

[Hanzoku]

A little personal shilling:

I've started a thread for a Let's Play of MekHQ/MegaMek using the Against the Bot rules linked in the first post of this thread. As part of that, I'll probably explain the program to some degree and can try to answer any questions.

If you're interested in reading or submitting a character, the thread is here.

[Xardalas]

A little personal shilling:

I've started a thread for a Let's Play of MekHQ/MegaMek using the Against the Bot rules linked in the first post of this thread. As part of that, I'll probably explain the program to some degree and can try to answer any questions.

If you're interested in reading or submitting a character, the thread is here.

Good luck with it. If you have any issues with the campaign, I might be able to help you with it. At least the mekhq/megamek side of it anyways. You decide on what rules you want to use for the matches?

[Anvilfolk]

Better always use simfire Makes the game so much quicker! I've yet to find situations where it really matters!

Also, I actually don't know how to set my MGs to rapid fire within MekHQ. Any tips on that?

And how often do you cheat with Against the Bot? Often it'll give me completely impossible missions that destroy an entire lance, or the game will bug and the AI will refuse to deploy. I've been playing what I guess could be termed easy mode by not having double the enemy vehicles, by skipping missions when things are too hot, and by allowing myself to put mechs in a maintenance bay for repairs, and sometimes cheating and GMing CT repairs.

I don't think I'd generally be able to keep up otherwise, though it'd be fun to try to. I also just generally cheat the defection rolls, because I'm not interested in starting from scratch every year.

Also, the reason I reduce the number of enemy vehicles if because battles take too long otherwise, and also because sometimes BT has bullshit luck and you get AC/2 or AC/5'd from a billion miles away, get a critted, and instantly lose the assault mech you just bought to a catastrophic explosion. I just can't deal with that.