Battletech-ish RP

[Aesalon]

The OOC Is up: STEEL: Heavy Metal
Status: Recruiting Players
(This will be changed to 'Closed' when the RP is full.)

Just a testing the waters for something along the lines of the Battletech universe (Though outside of the FASA/Battletech canon, I don't have enough of that history down to do it justice.)

The general idea would be based around 'The Mongrels' the last station for mech pilots before they are extricated from the calvary completely.

The setting would be a large solar system on the galactic frontier, with a number of populated independant planets. Each of these planets has it's own defence force, but they also contribute to the two Legions that are responsible for defense of the entire system. (Imagine NATO) The two units are the 'Rim Hawks' and the 'Stellar Wolves' (Called by most the 'Mongrels') The 'Rim Hawks' are the best of the best, each planet's leadership outfits them with the highest end equipment that can be found - the 'Stellar Wolves' are the misfits and exiles, funded by just enough to keep the mechs and dropships running.

The plot would settle around the discovery of a new mineral, that would change mech warfare completely. (The biggest limitation of these fighting machines is overheating - heavy weapons fire, lasers and the engines that run the machines all contribute to the need to load them down with 'heat sinks' to dispell the heat before it causes permanent damage to the mech or its pilot.) This mineral can be used as a lens for heavy laser weaponry without emitting any heat at all.
-Owning this mineral in quantity would shift the balance of power in the galaxy and every corporation, planetary confederation, freebooter and mercenary is heading out to look for it...of course, it has been discovered somewhere in the solar system guarded by our 'Mongrels'.

I would like for this one:
Commanding Officer
3-4 Mech Pilots
Dropship Pilot

Remember, troubled past is almost a 'must' for these guys.

Please let me know if you are interested - I'm in no hurry to start this, but if there is enough interest we can go at any time.

-Aes

[Spectre]

hm. intergalactic war fought with heavy cavalry weaponry? count me in.

[Verhalten]

I'm not familiar with much mech, but I would be interested in playing the role of a pilot. I may make mistakes at first, as I get a handle on it.

It sounds a lot to me like one of my favorite Star Wars series, X-Wing. In it there is Rogue Squadron, the best of the best, and there is Wraith Squadron, comprised of misfits. The Wraith Squadron books were by far my favorite.

[Aesalon]

Great, I'm pretty excited about this.

Here in the next few days I'll work up the specifics of the system - if there is any specific species/background that you guys want to play let me know, and I should be able to write it in. (Since we are not actually in the Battletech universe I will allow sentient alien life and human genetic mutations, I just want to keep powers within reason, after all - the Mechs are the real stars here.)


Verhalten: Don't worry too much about not being familiar, take a quick read Here. Ignore the history, and good ol' Wikipedia gives you a basic rundown of the Battlemech.
If you have any other specific questions just post them and I would be happy to answer. (I need to read the X-Wing books, I'm always afraid that if I start reading the Star Wars books that I'll need to read ALL of them...and my wife won't see me for months.)

[Verhalten]

After skimming over this, I have a question or two.

Pilots: Co-ed or strictly all males? You say "misfits," but is it all right to go so far as to play an ex-con?

Mechs: I was reading the classifications of different kinds of mechs. Are they all going to be issued one standard sort of mech or will there be room for customization?

[Aesalon]

Good questions
-Mech battalions are coed, assume about a 5-1 ratio, men to women.
-Ex-con is fine - mech pilots are rare and no amount of skill/talent is allowed to go to waste, as long as they don't fear that you would dropship in the middle of the city and start killing people, they will put you back in your mech after you have served your time.
-A standard batallion (in this world) consists of 1 Assault class mech, 2 Heavy Mechs, 2 light mechs (scouts) and 4-8 Medium Mechs.
-A pilot actually owns his/her own mech: Either it belongs to their family, was bought by the pilot, or was taken in combat and granted to the pilot. Because of this, the mechs themselves are almost always mismatched models. (In a few cases, EXTREMELY wealthy families will field full battallions that are matching, but these are rarely seen, and don't usually last too long as pilots prefer to customize stock models.)

That went a little longer than I had planned, but I hope that it answered your questions.

-Aes

[Verhalten]

It did. And I'm totally developing a character in my mind.

But! More questions.

So, what do you envision for this RP? (I'm being annoying with the questions, I know, but I want to make sure we fit one another before I commit.) Do you think it will be battle heavy or will there be a lot of down time to develop the individual characters? If it's battle heavy, are you going to set up some combat rules?

And if I'm in, since I'm being so pesky, may I reserve a scout mech?

[Klikxx]

Battletech, well it's been a long time but count me in. I always enjoyed the premise behind it. Even roleplayed in a forum much like this though we were dwelling more with the invading clans.

I assume we are using innersphere technology. Like I said it has been a while. This may have changed dramatically since my last visit to the game.
You mentioned the mechs are "mismatched". Can we design our own? I myself prefer to pilot medium class mechs. Disreputable pasts are no problem as it creates baggage. Always fun to play.

[Aesalon]

If one more person shows interest, I'll start an OOC for this and write up the full background info.


Klikxx- You have already shown that you know more than I, I haven't played the game in at least 20 years
Yes, designing your own is great, just don't worry about being too technical with things, just as long as the weaponry stays reasonable, I'm not worried about your mech being a ton or two overweight.

Verhalten -No problem, your questions are helping me develop this more thoroughly anyway, so it's a good thing.

I believe this should turn out about 70/30 Combat (Or at least mech/action oriented anyway.) to Non-Combat posts. I think that we will probably begin on a dropship entering orbit for a 'police action' - so there will be a post or two of character introduction and interaction, then on to the planet's surface for chaos.
There will be no combat rules specifically - the scenario (conditions, terrain, enemy situation) will be set up in the OOC section, then I'll trust our writing to keep things 'realistic'.

If you choose to join, a scout mech is yours.

-Aes

[Klikxx]

this dates me but I have been playing btech since it first came out.
It was a table top game based on Robotech in its infancy. The bought the rights to use the mechs for a short term. The game caught on and they had to reinvent a few of the mechs after the lost the licencing. The clans then followed.
My favorite mech was always the clan ryokin bristleng with er small lasers and a targeting computer. In my latter efforts I advanced to piloting a Mad Cat with much the same weaponry. I would build up heat but the 20 er smalls ate away opponents armor like a sawed-off shotgun blast.

So the question still remains what technology can we use? A captured clan relic? I would imagine it would be retrofitted with IS (inner spere) tech being battle worn. Inner sphere base with a prize weapon salvaged from an unimaginable victory. So many possibilities. Imaging if a phoenix hawk was still in existance. What's a phoenix hawk many will ask?

Are we going to be working from a character skeleton or just rough ideas? If I remember the only real skills involved were piloting skill and gunnery skill. Though it never hurt to carry a sidearm or two. Actual character creation if I remember always fell better using the robotech system.

[Aesalon]

I do seem to remember thinking that Robotech was more of an actual RP game while Battletech was more of a combat game, in fact, I don't remember ever caring about my pilot at all in Battletech.
We always played Gladiatorial games, my mech was a 95 ton with a single heavy laser and sonic-based jackhammers for arms...I miss that game sometimes. (Thus the reason that I suggested this RP.)

-I'm re-designing the universe on the fly here, but I would imagine that the 'Mongrels' solar system would be similar to a galactic rim system - high-end 'innersphere' tech is available, but is horribly expensive/valuable. Anything that a Mongrel pilot has that would be considered Top-of-the-line would need to be explained in the pilot's backstory.

We'll just use a basic character sheet for the pilots/mechs.
If you want to be an alien or a mutate pilot send me a message with what you are considering and I'll see if I can write that into the solar system description.

Pilot Name and Call Sign:
Description: (Ht/Wt/Eyes/Hair etc.)
Personality:
History/Backstory:
Mech Name:
Mech Size:
Mech Description:
Weaponry:
Armor:
Special Information: (Mech info that is considered unique, such as recurring problems with the machinery or 'improvements' that have been made beyond normal spec.)

[Dio the Awesome]

THROWING HIS HAT INTO THE RING BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES!

That being said, I have a few questions. Do you think combat will have a lot of rules? I usually prefer free form roleplaying, allowing balance and fairness up to the player. I am currently in one heavy rule based RP, and I'm not sure if I could handle a second technical RP system to learn.

I have no Battletech background. *goes to read the wiki*

[Aesalon]

You have your spot D_S.

I am going to stay away from any real combat rules, it is really difficult to use a combat 'system' in this format, so it will be free-form writing.

Going in to a combat situation, I will post an Objective Sheet in the OOC - it will say what the characters are hoping to accomplish with the mission and it will also have a section detailing any unexpected events or conditions that may be encountered - we'll leave it to the writers to make it exciting.

I will be putting the OOC up sometime today, and plan to start the IC sometime next week - There are still some spots to fill though.

[Klikxx]

ooohh, Innerspere Technology it is. I must say. Not as appetizing but just as fun. I don't remember alot about them. Much of it was like a bad taste when they tried incorporating clan technology.
I remember the Hatchetmand, axeman, and berserker were promising though hidiously slow.
I will still do some research although I might up my weightclass and take the axeman

What about callsigns. That seems to be neglected on the profile sheet.

[Gabe]

*jawdrop*
I'm a huge fan of this game, as well as MechWarrior (the computer versions at least), and even the tabletop miniatures game. Sadly I'm going to be leaving for Basic Training this Tuesday, so I won't commit to joining...but oh man, if there's a spot open when I get back...

[Aesalon]

The call sign issue is corrected on the character sheet template.

Deadeye - As long as the RP is still running, we should be able to write you in, the Mongrels have a large amount of...'turnover'.

[Klikxx]

I've done a little mech hunting online and came up with a few possibilities.

the axeman seems a bit antiquated in the terms ammunition may be hard to come by in an extended campaign. It also has ferro armor which gets expensive to replace. I do so live that mech once the ac20 is switched out with the clan version. This was a mech a former character relished. Although the one shot wonder as we called it had better hit early and make itself known.

I am leaning towards a future version so to speak, the Ti Ts'ang an innerspere mech of 2060. weighing in at 60tons it has less firepower of others the same weight but moves like a much lighter mech 6(7) 9(11) jump 6. A definite plus. if I remember corectly the triple strength myomer incteases the hand weapon damage when running hot. (win/win) armed with 5 ERmed and 4 ER small has less of an impact than the AC20 but it also sports 200 armor. It has some staying power which many med mechs do not.
Are we allowed to augment our mechs within reason and weight perameters?

[Aesalon]

Ouch, you are making me feel like I should run home and attempt to find the rulebooks -

Augmenting the mechs is certainly acceptable, just remember that there may not be access to the tech to repair the mech. (though the Mongrel's mechanic is brilliant he can only use what is available to him.)

[Klikxx]

The tech issue is why i stayed away from the axeman idea.

The Ti Ts'ang is all innersphere although I would imagine the triple strength myomer will fetch a high asking price to repair. I was thinking along the lines of using the condensed cockpit idea (I am currently planning on haning my character as having both legs amputated from an earlier mission mishap Perhaps she emerged from the gladiator fights recruitet by the IS armies only to wash out because of attitude. Still much to be determined. Hense her sparkling personality.) pulling out the tag system I might be able to free up enough space for a targeting computer. Once again another systenm that would be costly to replace.

I also came across a 45 ton and a 60 to quad mech that looked interesting as well

here is the link to the sight I used.
http://www.mechground.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1382&Itemid=1819

[Aesalon]

Good link Klikxx, the list there can be VERY handy - I will most likely link it as reference to show what we are fighing against when the combat really starts.

All -
The OOC is up for everyone to post the 'official' character sheets

[Dio the Awesome]

Awesome. I'll run my idea past you in the OOC thread I guess.

[Aesalon]

Sorta 'Bump'

The OOC Is officially up and we still need a commanding officer for the Epsilon Company.

STEEL: Heavy Metal

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