OBT Forum

So... I haven't been active on these forums in a number of years (2012? 2013? not sure). Long ago I reverted back to being a lurker, which is largely the case with all of my internet hobbies over the past few years (job, family, house, etc. it really doesn't matter).

However, I have kept up my fanaticism for BattleTech and every couple of months put in some work on this Ripple Effect Alternate Universe of mine since I started it back in 2011.

Over the past two years I've ramped up my work on it as I attempted (successfully I might add) to introduce my group of non-BattleTech friends into the game. I now run an (at least) monthly Total Chaos-style Mercenary campaign for them set in this universe and its really been a lot of fun (Total Chaos has become one of my favorite books after I had neglected to appreciate it for a long time).

I had intended on posting my work online at different points but just never took the time to. However, as I am gearing up to work on two new Sourcebooks I thought now would be a good time to post this stuff up for anyone who might be interested and just for me to have a place to put the finished products, etc.

A long time ago I got some great feedback and tips from here, and just reading all the awesome stories here has and continues to inspire and mold my ideas. With Canon BattleTech taking a bit of a snooze I've had to scratch that itch myself largely lately and reading the occasional AU story here is always a blast. Mine is feeble compared to some here but it might bring somebody some enjoyment so I figure that's worth taking the time (finally) to post it up again.

As I said, I am working on two new sourcebooks for this Alternate Universe:

The first is Field Manual AU: 20 Year Update, advancing the Inner Sphere to ~3048, fleshing out stuff like the FRR formation, War of 3039, Andurien Crisis, etc. I have quite a bit of this sourcebook already written but have yet to start layout work. I intend it to look/feel like a cross between 20 Year Update and newer Field Manuals like 3085/3145 and also have a small TRO section in the back similar to what I did in Obj AU: 3028.

The second is tentatively titled: The Crimson Phoenix. The Crimson Phoenix being the name of the Mercenary unit in my gaming group's Chaos Campaign, this book would follow their exploits likely up until the Clan invasion. I'm envisioning a cross between the old mercenary/unit sourcebooks (like Kell Hounds, Wolf's Dragoons, Rolling Thunder, etc.) and a book like Total Chaos. I already have a lot of this written by virtue of the writing I have done GMing that campaign (the Tracks for instance are almost all already written with extra RP on both ends that could relatively easily be fleshed out). I've mentioned this to the group and they are really excited to see it, so I gotta deliver on that one even just to keep them happy and engaged

Long term I am still trying to tackle how I want the Clan Invasion to go, I have done a few planning sessions but its a monster trying to decide how much to change without destroying too much. I'm starting to feel constrained by my stated planned invasion (see the end of FMAU: The Clans) where all 20 clans invade, but I think I have some ideas how I can make that work without having the whole Inner Sphere be wiped out.

Anyways, I have rambled long enough here - I kinda doubt anyone is actually going to read this