OBT Forum

SDS. I think Knightmare is forgetting the time factor as WoB is far removed from the Star League era where the New Republic isn’t. Technical decline while in its first stages hasn’t swept the InnerSphere. Even though the Republic suffered severe damage in areas other resources remain. However, primitive SDS along the lines of what the WoB did is more plausible then the height of the Star League era. Don’t forget the Terran SDS was the most sophisticated known to man. Current attempts to match that what I call 3rd Generation SDS don’t fly. Even those found on outer Hegemony worlds, what I call 2nd Generation, that Kerensky’s ECM knocked out maybe too complex. However I think salvage from Terran space could recover enough to guard a single system – I’ll give you one guess where that would be. Numbers might be reduced but combined with the limited naval assets of the Republic could be enough to stave off invasion. What the Terrans have is more like the Blakist deployed in the Jihad and is likely to be concentrated close to Terra – say within the home province.

I think you've taken the whole line of discussion out of context. We're not talking from the current year you've already written into SD canon/existence (as far as I'm concerned it's a dead point - effectively history.) I was approaching the situation from a "clean" perspective, i.e. if you had not written any material for your Republic.

As in, "If I were writing this from scratch..."

And you should note that technological decline isn't the stumbling block I was talking about. In fact technological decline doesn't even enter into the equation. Neither ComStar nor the Word fall into the "lost technology" category. That title only applies to the Successor Sates. However, the Republic would suffer from the upheaval of the Civil War and Kerensky's Exodus - whereas the Word would not, having over two years to sort and organize all of the technological research inherited from the Terran Hegemony. That is what accounts for a longer R&D time for the Republic. Plus, the Word was really only responsible (initially) for a score of worlds, half of which were hidden. The Republic is hemmed on all sides and immediately under pressure. This "could" be a contributing distraction to take into consideration.

3. Nuclear Genie. Sadly Knightmare the cat is already out of the bag here. The Bolan Incident already transpired early in 2785 which begins House to House exchanges. Even more significant is the strategic mindset that VIPs have fallen into already at this time. Maybe it was the Terrorist attack on Demeter during the 3rd Hidden War that first showed the gloves coming off. Throw in tactics seen during the Periphery Uprising which helped gut the SLDF and you see a picture start to develop. However these harsh examples probably serve as useful tools to Terrans seeking methods to halt House aggression by numerically superior forces. Finally you have the Amaris Coup and all its nuclear action which every House Lord and their minions saw and studied. It really isn’t surprising that the militaries of the day which are at peak strength and efficiency are using nukes as a way to achieve some kind of advantage. Unfortunately we have already seen what the consequences of these tactics have in the canon timeline.

Again context...the Nuke game was also one of tit-for-tat, or "act accordingly." There is the possibility that the Republic would NOT face the same type of fighting occurring along the Lyran/Marik front or Kuritan/Davion front only because A.) For the most part no realm really has a great deal of sustained historical enmity with the Terran Hegemony. B.) The NBC throwing at the start of the 1SW was a responsive tactic. If the Republic didn't engage in it, there's the "possibility" they wouldn't face it. I'm not saying it wouldn't happen, I'm only stressing the idea that it could be somewhat avoidable.   

4. Brian Construction. Could you guys provide me with some references for your assertions that Castle Brian construction would be impossible. I haven’t read the entire book so giving me a page number and quote would be very helpful. I also find it hard to believe and several BTSD products already refer to new structures being built. The MegaCastles are prime examples. The Republic isn’t as far removed from the Star League as the Word of Blake is. Engineers with the know how and proper industrial equipment would likely be available for these priority constructs although their building may take longer and possibly be less sophisticated in subtle ways.

The whole section on the Castle Brians allude to the idea that these one of a kind structures were incredibly difficult to build. They were both expensive and time consuming to build and required industries that were damaged or destroyed in the Civil War. The Republic may be able to replicate or build new ones, but from what I've gathered from JHS: Terra I don't think they'd be able to engage in the same kind of construction you've written in the SD sourcebooks as early as you have them doing it. But that's just my personal opinion. Also, the Cat's kinda out of the bag with Castle Brians. Sure they're incredibly difficult to crack, but the know how to do it is now available since the Civil War. Overall, they seem like a waste of resources at this point in the timeline.

Quite correct Ice. What was it that Patton said "fixed fortifications are monuments to the stupidity of man". His mobile style of warfare tended to avoid such strong points much as the Germans did to the Maginot Line. However a Castle Brian eventually has to be dealt with if you want to completely pacify a planet. They are difficult to contain given their many exits and given the nature of warfare in BT you have to face your opponent. The populace submits to anyone with a BattleMech seemingly.