OBT Forum
General BattleTech => Canon Inspired => Topic started by: masterarminas on August 03, 2011, 10:21:29 PM
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Has anyone got the Reunification War Handbook? Is it worth getting? I heard that the stats for the Dreadnought-class battleship are in there--are they any good?
Master Arminas
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Worth the money spent fo many reasons. Perhaps wait until the errat'd version is available thoguh as there were a few glaring continuity errors that will need cleaning.
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It is well worth the money - the TC is even better then you had thought and the Concordat class frigate is one of the best ships ever. But there are a lot of typos and continuity errors- check the errata thread over on CBT.
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It is but the errors are many.
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I can only repeat what the other have said: the editing is surprisingly bad. But at the same time, the coverage of this era is very nice 8)
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One of my many current endeavors is a Supplemental that should wipe all of these errors from the RW.
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One of my many current endeavors is a Supplemental that should wipe all of these errors from the RW.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
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Now the real fun begins. LMAO
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Here is my concept we will call it BTSD Reunification War Supplemental. It will roll into Threat Assessments 2785 quite nicely as we can detail House units more effectively at the time (replace references to the Crucis Lancers and the Dieron Regulars with their actual forerunners) and our naval units (like the Hegemony class Battlecruiser) can be fit right in. Clearing up all the questions the canon version missed. What do you think?
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It got my vote. Great Idea.
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Great, let me know what you feel got overlooked or was just done in your opinion incorrectly. Whatever it is go ahead and throw it out here.
Invade the Invaders (a Terran planet [can't remember which one but it is alluded to in those old INN planetary summaries] is struck first)
Hegemony class Battlecruiser (clearly showing her age this class some of her newer ships will now make their appearance)
Star League Strategies (Army vs. Navy - two very different approaches to the conquest of the Periphery. Army eventually wins with what happens in canon but the Navy presents a longer range more pragmatic conquest of the area using space supremacy)
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I will get back to you but it will be soon. I do not have the pdf but I am working on it. Just the lack of funds is keeping me from getting all the pdf's and books I need. Hope I win the lottery or mega soon.
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Hope I win the lottery or mega soon.
You and me both kid! ;)
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Invade the Invaders (a Terran planet [can't remember which one but it is alluded to in those old INN planetary summaries] is struck first)
Found it! I give you the Battle of Kervil which does not appear at all in Historical Reunification War.
At the peak of the Star League, Kervil’s metal industry and orbital refineries became a major producer of ferro-fibrous armor and endo-steel, used extensively in the manufacture of BattleMechs and other military vehicles. It was perhaps for this reason that forces sympathetic to the Outworlds Alliance attacked Kervil during the Reunification War, attempting to demolish the distribution centers on the planet’s surface after crippling several orbital factories. A small BattleMech unit stationed on Kervil, part of the SLDF’s 138th BattleMech Division, was all that stood between the renegade forces and total destruction. The woefully outnumbered SLDF troops put up a brave fight, first with hit-and-run attacks and later with an assault against one of the renegade DropShips, while waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Still outnumbered nearly 5 to 1, however, the defenders were forced to fall back to Fort Steel, their main base near the planetary capital of Iron City. For three days they held out against a siege by angry renegades; then the enemy troops overwhelmed them and destroyed the fort and its defenders to the last ’Mech and soldier. This stand, likened to the battle for the Alamo on Terra, ultimately achieved its goal, as the departing renegades ran full-on into SLDF reinforcement troops on their way out of the system, losing the entire raiding force to the guns of SLDF WarShips. The brave SLDF defenders who died at the Battle of Kervil are still remembered today: Fort Steel’s remains are a historic site open to tourists year-round.
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Great, let me know what you feel got overlooked or was just done in your opinion incorrectly. Whatever it is go ahead and throw it out here.
Things that are missing-
The TDF should have destroyer class warship (the Concordat Frigate is described as being a bridge between corvettes and destroyers - ergo there should be a destroyer in the Concordat Navy).
There should potentially be another Taurian Corvette class that dates back to the 2360s (although you could argue they were all retired)
We need more mechs- the TDF had other mechs (heavy/assault class if you read the Talos entry) that are not described in the book.
We need fighter carrier to replace the leopard CV which was not yet in service- it entered service in 2581. (we may need multiple fighter carriers- I don't see the TDF and the SL using the same design....)
We need Davion warships to replace the Aegis and Barons that were used at Tentativa (They were not provided to the IS states until 2582). We may also consider replacing the Vigilants and Vincents but they could have been in AFFS service at the point. We need an earlier version of the Vincent (say the Mk XX rather then the MX XXXIX).
We should come up with Taurian armor units and maybe aerospace fighters.
We need stats for the Athena class warship built by the MOC.
We need new RATs that are actually correct for the era- i.e. no placeholder units.
I'd be interested in seeing a section on Taurian raiding operations during the war- they were enough of a problem that the SLDF used the Tracker as a Q ship during the war.
A realistic fleet list for the SLDF would be nice.
That's all I have for now.
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Now we are cooking with gas! In addition to what I've already wrote here are three more,
- Internal Political Divisions of the Hegemony is a topic I'd like to go into in depth. The new map presented is interesting but needs some background. I'll talk about my old way of thinking (Big Provinces vs. Old Provinces) and McKenna's Campaigns of Persuasion. This all pertains to changes with the creation of the Star League like the Corps (which I original thought represented Big Provinces) and the supremacy of new Terran worlds (Lonestar, Lockdale, and Tyrfing for example). Perhaps a Periphery intel report speculating on the weaknesses of the SL. Might be a nice angle.
- Fate of the Orion. What happened to John Cameron as outlined in the SLSB page 42 and his ship? This is a good motivator for the First Lord not referred to once in the Historical.
- The Illyrian Theater. ;) Irose knows what I'm talking about...
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- The Illyrian Theater. ;) Irose knows what I'm talking about...
Actually you can expand that to cover independent worlds & minor states of the Periphery - there had to be more then just Illyria. I was a bit disappointed when I saw Illyria on the map for 2600 but no mention of it anywhere in the book.
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As was I my friend. Minor Theaters is a definite add here. Was thinking perhaps of letting the SL Navy handle it.
Oh and we shall have to search the old Naval Archive for a Ships of the Reunification War. ;)
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Here we go Full Speed Ahead.
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You are welcome to use my old Knight class cruiser for the Davions if you need one--I've reposted it in the aerospace section.
MA
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We should come up with Taurian armor units and maybe aerospace fighters.
Ask MasterArminas.
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Just wanted to put a list of ships from the olde Naval Archive here. You might see them in our Supplemental.
Capellan Confederation
Ship Type & Class Mass Thrust SI Introduced In Class
Confederation class A. Transport 410,000 2/3 40 2382 267 Irose
Garami class Frigate 640,000 4/6 80 2430 140 Takiro
Andurien Class Battlecruiser Irose
Draconis Combine
Ship Type & Class Mass Thrust SI Introduced In Class
Wave class Destroyer 400,000 4/6 40 2577 7 LN
Cloud class Destroyer 500,000 4/6 60 2540 300 LN
Kirov class Heavy Cruiser 680,000 2/3 60 2430 31 LN
Yama Neko class Light Cruiser 700,000 3/5 50 2407 87 LN
Sultan class Heavy Cruiser 800,000 2/3 70 2370 97 LN
Sultan II class Heavy Cruiser 800,000 2/3 70 2400 55 LN
Federated Suns
Ship Type & Class Mass Thrust SI Introduced In Class
Audacious class Corvette 180,000 3/5 40 2343 224 Irose
Sunburst class Destroyer 475,000 3/5 50 2369 164 Irose
St. George class Frigate 700,000 3/5 85 2457 170 Irose
Majestic Class Cruiser 730,000 2/3 85 2444 12 Irose
Delevan class Strike Cruiser 750,000 3/5 75 2309 16 LN
Nova Zemlya class Strike Cruiser 750,000 3/5 75 2400 88 LN
June class Strike Cruiser 750,000 3/5 75 2450 47 LN
Rodney class Medium Cruiser 760,000 3/5 80 2560 79 LN
Musketeer class Battlecruiser 880,000 3/5 100 2425 30 Irose
Iron Duke class Battleship 1,000,000 3/5 100 2507 50 LN
Free Worlds League
Ship Type & Class Mass Thrust SI Introduced In Class
Fulbaum class Destroyer 470,000 4/6 60 2530 60 LN
Oriente class Frigate 700,000 3/5 80 2575 207 LN
Lyran Commonwealth
Ship Type & Class Mass Thrust SI Introduced In Class
Freedom class Corvette 100,000 3/5* 50 2350 100 Takiro
Prosperity class Transport 250,000 ½* 25 2399 350 Takiro
Mako class Corvette 400,000 4/6 90 2418 210 Takiro
Marsden class Destroyer 420,000 2/3* 50 2355 135 Takiro
Long March class Destroyer 500,000 3/5 70 2421 180 Takiro
Viking class Transport 500,000 2/3 35 2420 150 Takiro
Sentinel class Light Frigate 570,000 3/5* 55 2399 58 Takiro
Valkyrie class Destroyer 580,000 3/5 75 2558 250 Takiro
Nightstalker class Light Cruiser 680,000 3/5* 60 2400 30 Takiro
Victory class Frigate 720,000 3/5* 100 2370 275 Irose
Balmung class Frigate 750,000 3/5 80 2560 170 Takiro
Lyre class Heavy Cruiser 810,000 2/3* 70 2360 90 Takiro
Brandenberg class Heavy Cruiser 830,000 2/3 85 2424 70 Takiro
Gauntlet class Heavy Cruiser 850,000 2/3 90 2572 137 Takiro
Arcturus class Battleship (Hvy Cr) 890,000 2/3* 85 2365 48 Takiro
Tirpitz class Battleship 1,150,000 2/3* 90 2403 34 Takiro
Thor class Battleship 1,500,000 2/3 90 2590 30 Irose
Taurian Concordat
Ship Type & Class Mass Thrust SI Introduced In Class
R class Corvette 180,000 4/6 60 Mid 2400s? ? LN
Bulldog class Corvette 200,000 4/6 60 2516 40 LN
Defiant class Corvette 220,000 3/5 50 2366 60 LN
Boxer class Destroyer 400,000 4/6 60 2572 14 LN
Gideon class Destroyer 430,000 3/5 100 2460 40 LN
Armageddon class Attack Ship 450,000 5/8 75 NA(Late 2580s) 0 Irose
Independence class Destroyer 480,000 4/6 60 2550? 20? LN
Lexington clss Light Strike Carrier 500,000 4/6 60 2579 2 Irose
Rattlesnake class Light Frigate 500,000 3/5 80 2575 1 LN
Trailblazer class Explorer Ship 500,000 2/3 60 2497 20-25 Irose
Winchester (Taurian) clss Hvy Cr. 650,000 3/5 70 2561 16-20 LN
Deception class Cruiser 750,000 3/5 75 2583? 2? Irose
Basho class Patrol Frigate 800,000 4/6 180 2577 2 LN
Jamestown class Battlecruiser 890,000 3/5 120 NA (2590) 0 LN
Monsoon (Taurian) class B-ship 900,000 2/3 80 2410 (2571) 6 LN
Magistracy of Canopus
Ship Type & Class Mass Thrust SI Introduced In Class
Amazon class Corvette 190,000 4/6 40 2542 100 Irose
Canopus class Destroyer 425,000 4/6 50 2547 24 Irose
Magistracy class Cruiser 675,000 4/6 60 2564 4 Irose
Centrella class Command Cruiser 675,000 4/6 60 2566 2 Irose
Outworlds Alliance
Ship Type & Class Mass Thrust SI Introduced In Class
Consadine class Escort 470,000 5/8 50 2582 3 Takiro
Master Arminas has already submitted a few, I'll list them below
Fury class Aerospace Fighter (TC) 65
Daedlus class Destroyer (FS)
Knight class Cruiser (FS)
Knightmare's Devonshire S7 stuff has a few designs that are era relevant, perhaps the old Terran dropships could be Periphery ones now??
Manstein class Dropshop (TH)
Guderian class Dropship (TH)
Blackhaus class Dropship (TH)
Kyoto class Destroyer (DC)
Stewart class Destroyer (FWL)
Hefron class Destroyer (RWR)
And I still have to go over TRO 2800! ::)
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Ships from TRO 2800 that served in the Reunification War
Jumpships (all save the Venture are available)
Cargo class Jumpship (2420) [All Factions]
Courier class Jumpship (2504) [Star League]
Pioneer class Jumpship (2550) [Star League]
Vanguard class Jumpship (2552) [Star League]
Trader class Jumpship (2480) [All Factions]
Scion class Jumpship (2440) [Star League]
Leviathan class Jumpship (2568) [Star League]
Dropships (only 2 civilian transports qualified)
Black Ball class Freighter (2450) [All Factions]
Purveyor class Civilian Transport (2455) [All Factions]
Capellan Confederation Navy (CCN)
Confederation class Transport (2372)
Ji class Corvette (2412)
Slava I class Destroyer (? Indicated in the Slava II fluff)
Nightstalker class Light Cruiser (LC at this time but available)
Andurien class Battlecruiser (2412)
Draconis Combine Admiralty (DCA)
Kumo class Destroyer
Nami class Destroyer
Federated Suns Naval Service (FSNS)
Audacious I class Corvette (2343)
Sunburst class Destroyer (2369)
St. George class Transport (2425, classified as a Frigate at this time)
Rodney I class Cruiser (2563, also a SL warship)
Musketeer class Battlecruiser (2425)
Iron Duke class Battleship (2507)
Free Worlds League Navy (FWLN)
Guardian class Corvette (2584)
Libertad I & II class Corvette (2563 & 2595)
Fulbaum class Destroyer (2530)
Aristotle class Transport (2540) [All Factions]
Stewart class Destroyer (2469)
Aeneas class Cruiser (2595)
Lyran Commonwealth Navy (LCN)
Marsden class Destroyer (?, pointed to in Dinesen fluff)
Viking class Transport (2420)
Valkryie class Destroyer (2558)
Victory class Frigate (?, pointed to in Icarus and McQuiston fluff)
Balmung class Frigate (2560)
Brandenberg class Heavy Cruiser (2424)
Gauntlet I class Heavy Cruiser (2572)
Arcturus class Battlecruiser (2405)
Tirpitz class Battleship (2403)
Thor class Battleship (2590)
Terran Royal Navy (TRN)
Vulcan class Tender (2591, SLDF)
Catalyst class Tanker (2587, SLDF)
Now to catalog all canon designs!
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Along with fixing and detailing the militaries of every great power of the time I'd like to get into some guns for hire. Mercenaries could very well be on the rise at this time.
The birth of the Illician Lancers is one event I'd like to delve into as well the RWR use of mercs. Stefan Amaris used them extensively during his infamous Coup and perhaps
this is where it all began. The relationship between soldiers of fortune and House Amaris could of ironically had its genesis during the conflict as Gregory Amaris generously
(in my vision) funds the creation of new "foreign legions" to crush rebellions in his far flung empire. Did the Greenhaven Gestapo, the Burning Tygers, or other infamous merc
commands get their start here? Was thinking of this as a parallel to what Qadafi tried to do in Libya. Thoughts??
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to go with the list Takiro i will add the Liam's Ghost Nav Archive here as well
http://web.archive.org/web/20090810123919/geocities.com/master_sun2000/NavArchive.html (http://web.archive.org/web/20090810123919/geocities.com/master_sun2000/NavArchive.html)
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Mercenaries could very well be on the rise at this time.
This was mentioned in the book. With the draw down of house units, many warriors turned merc- and were then hired to help fill the gaps caused by the force draw down dictated by Cameron. I'll find the specific passage and post it later.
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I do remember the reference vaguely Irose. Be great if you could post it. Do you like the ideas behind my expansion on the topic?
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well we do have the Illician Lancers Unit
History
Formed 2572 by members of the Illician Order (ancient military brotherhood). They worked for every Star League member state and also for the SLDF for the next two centuries. two Regiments were destroyed (First and Seventh Illician Rangers) by the final assault of Terra. During the Succession Wars the Lancers were reduced first to half of its original strength and in the 3rd Succession War must sell most of its JumpShip assets for normal operations after a disastrous contract with the CCAF. Since this time they were employed by the AFFC. The High Command assigned them as part of the Capellan March defense network.
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well we do have the Illician Lancers Unit
True dat! I always liked them and would like to expand on their early history. ;)
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Page 18:
Though the political necessity of reducing the Great House militaries is hard to dispute, the mechanism for doing so—forced downsizing—caused almost as many problems as it solved. Many House troops suddenly found themselves without employment, made redundant to meet the quotas established by the Star League Accords, and a number turned to banditry. Others attempted to make an honest living, gaining employment with planetary militias and the like, but the demobilizations are acknowledged as a
key factor in the significant upsurge of violent crimes in the 2570s.
In 2572, scarcely a year after the League’s founding, many of the House Lords contemplated abrogating the elements of the Accords that required downscaling of their militaries. Only Ian Cameron and Viola Steiner-Dinesen opposed the proposals to solve the chaos
being caused by the “demobbed†troops. The First Lord disagreed, proposing instead to find employment for the former troops during the massed exercises he had in mind.The garrison duties required during the United Triumph exercises provided one short-term outlet for
these troops but the longer-term prognosis wasn’t good. The Reunification War was in some regards fortuitous (suspiciously so in the minds of some), bolstering the need for garrison troops but also offering a host of opportunities for private security consultants:
mercenaries.
A profession almost as old as war itself, the mercenary trade had fallen off markedly during the Age of War as each of the Great Houses tried to build up their own forces to the maximum extent. The dawn of the Star League, and the Reunification War in particular,
prompted a resurgence in the mercenary trade as planetary governments and private concerns—particularly those near the Periphery—sought to bolster their defenses. While the Star League refused to sanction private armies, mercenaries did prove useful on
several occasions during the Periphery campaigns. Many mercenary companies found themselves, directly or indirectly, in the employ of the member-states, allowing them to bolster their armed forces without contravening the letter (if not the spirit) of the Star
League Accords.
Page 26:
To ensure the supremacy of the SLDF, House forces would be limited, which mandated the downsizing of all the Great House
militaries. Some of these reductions were facilitated by troop transfers to the SLDF, but each House was forced to dismiss a large number of troops, creating social and economic problems. Ironically,the Regular Army and member-state militaries were forced to
re-hire many of these troops to maintain their defenses during the Reunification War, effectively kick-starting the mercenary industry
that, though frowned upon by the Star League, remained a key part of the Inner Sphere military machine.
page 80-81
Each of the four Great Houses involved in the Reunification War experienced these same problems to one degree or another, and each responded in their own way, skirting Star League law to expand the capabilities of their militaries. House Steiner, for example, contracted a number of logistical and support functions to civilian corporations while likewise eliminating numerous uniformed support positions so that it could create new combat units. House Davion, on the other hand, hired thousands of former soldiers,
armed them (with heavy tanks and some BattleMechs) and gave them uniforms, and sent them to seven different worlds. Alternately calling them police forces or contract security forces, Davion nonetheless created some of the first modern mercenary forces
Page 98
Like all Canopians, he’d served in the MAF but then had become a freelancer, serving in private wars in the Free Worlds, Lyran Commonwealth and Federated Suns. The formation of the Star League (and the glut of unemployed troops flooding the mercenary market) effectively put Buquoy’s Bandits out of business in the late 2560s
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Great stuff Irose! I'm gonna consult Merc Guild for more info.
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i love that we now have a complete force listing for the periphery now.