OBT Forum

There are a number of events that don't make sense to me in BattleTech and Wars of Reaving are no different. My alternate histories are rooted in contradictions like you site here masterarminas but I am afraid your focus is too narrow. I am going to go by Clan for my objections.

1. Steel Viper. Okay I get the development of Brett Andrews and his 'Tainted philosophy' as it is a crazy swing from a Clan known for their crazy swings. What I disliked was the lack of any Viper opposition in accordance with the Mercer Doctrine which called for greater cooperation with the InnerSphere. Now the treachery of saKhan Christopher Ahmed during the Refusal War does somewhat pour cold water on this but then you have Khan Perigard Zalman. Less extreme than Andrews he was defeated by Diana Pryde and allowed freeborns to actually serve in the Viper Touman defeating several challenges to his leadership. Yes he was bitter about the Viper ejection from the InnerSphere and did endorse a view of the "Invading Clans being tainted by their contact with the InnerSphere" but he seems much more moderate in his approach then Andrews. I see his vision for the Vipers may be one of cooperation among the Home Clans but where is the orthodoxy? Then you have the Great Refusal that is again sited by the Vipers as a fulfillment of Mercer's vision for the Clan!! Certainly advocates of the Mercer Doctrine would still exist even though he defeated challenges upon returning home. He can incorporate freeborns I suppose but shouldn't the Vipers have a culling or civil war between these two divergent philosophies? I have no objection to their alliance with the Snake Clans or their attack on Lum which results in Zalman's death but the Wardens and those in the Clan who would likely go the whole other direction perhaps even saying that their Clan never truly embraced Sanra Mercer's call to cooperate with the InnerSphere (a Tainted ideal or the Tainted ideal if I ever heard one) were never heard from. Plus there are story seeds never addressed here from big characters; the unknown fate of from Khan Natalie Breen after her defeat by the Jade Falcons, Star Captain Dawn Moffat of Star Lord fame did return to the Homeworlds and win some fame in fighting the Snow Ravens in 3062 but then she disappears, and finally one of the biggest mysteries to me involving the Goliath Scorpions and Steel Vipers the disappearance of saKhan Ren Postavaz on Tukayyid. A lot of unresolved here and big opportunities to make changes.

2. Fire Mandrill. Yes I know why the hell am I talking about this mess folks, well quite simply the election of Garret Sainze as ilKhan. Many things don't make sense to me here what so ever!!! Yes ok the election of an ilKhan is very political and we've seen that before but this event is just plain old mishandled in almost ever single way. It lacks any real vision or plan and lets say it did happen and then was challenged wouldn't the Mandrills come together in defense of their ilKhan? What I liked about their development previously was the formation of ilKindraa which should have been more powerful then the seven Kindraa we first saw in FM Crusader Clans. However there wasn't much story building based around this Clan except that it was a mess destined to get splatted. A lot of potential here for alternate stuff.

3. Cloud Cobra. Their growing ties to the Blood Spirits which get an ilChi confuses the ever loving hell right out of me folks. A close friend of the Burrocks and Star Adders forever would never be someone the Blood Spirits would ever want to associate with. Someone makes their intelligence roll here please!!! And what about Tanis and the Society - surely this Clan and its powerful scientist Clan would also be involved as well.

4. Star Adder. My solution to the ilKhan problem here is to see one of my canon favorites survive a bit longer and take up the mantle of supreme leadership. I would have liked to see what Cassius N'Buta would have done when informed about the Word of Blake Jihad. Perhaps propose an Operation Liberation II to join in on the curb stomping of the Blakists and get the Homeworld Clans into the InnerSphere.