OBT Forum

...aannndd a couple more.  Clans Carnoraptor...

 
THE BEGINNING

[**  Begin Recording…(Historical Record, 2862-2871)]
Those of you in the rear, stand.  Those in front, kneel.
Packmates…   The origins of our Clan and Packs are clear – our Warrior Caste was assembled from the finest Warriors of Clan Dingo, as the pinnacle of the Warrior Caste.  Selected for ferocity and tenacity, our Clan was built as a cavalry and attack unit under the command of our Founders, Khan Rachel Sanders and saKhan Dennis Fouchet.
After establishing the Pack and Clan Councils, our Khan began modifying Clan stra-tacs to more closely follow the ways of our Totem and establishing the rituals and traditions of the Clan, including the Hazing Ritual of the Warrior Caste.
As we began to grow, we needed access to greater resources, and our needs grew until our sibClans turned our Merchants away, jealously guarding their share of scarce resources from us.  In desperate need of several basic goods, we turned to saKhan Fouchet and the Merchant Caste to secure our future growth and expansion.
Entering negotiations with the Surf Dragons in good faith, we traded part of our industrial strength in exchange for the territory and natural resources we needed.  All seemed ready for the coming of our first anniversary as a Clan, when the errors of the Merchant Caste started to become plain.  More and more of our industrial capacity became idle, as the loss of essential basic manufactur-ing and support services forced the Laborer Caste to concentrate on immediate needs.  Nearly three Clusters in size, our Touman became increasingly crippled by shortages.
Eventually, the failure of saKhan Fouchet had to be dealt with, and the Khan executed him in a Trial of Grievance.  He was replaced by Star Colonel Wayne Harkness, a choice forced on the Clan by political pressure from the Dingo Khans.  Familiar with the logistics needed by the Clan, he was accepted as saKhan despite the politics played behind the scenes. 
Struggling to find support for the growing needs of our Touman, our Merchants reported requests from Clan Mammoth for bids to contract garrison troops.  Offering support and maintenance for our troops in return, the Mammoths had refused to parcel out a majority of their industrial base when spawning their 2nd Clans, making them the largest industrial base of the New Clans next to IlClan Wolverine, supplying the needs of the IlKhan’s Guard Galaxy and their own.
After a formal bid, Khan Sanders offered elite units of our Touman to relieve their overwhelmed garrisons in exchange for a minor amount, including supplies and maintenance, and an alliance to assist rebuilding and exploiting our new territories.  Accepting our terms and offering a ‘Lend/Lease’ agreement to recoup our industrial losses, our Khan approved the Mammoth terms.
However, we had not considered the grasping clutches of the Mammoth Merchant Caste.  The saKhan and senior Merchants took their concerns over the terms of the agreement to the Khan, who was unable to censor the saKhan because of his political connections.  Rachel chose to believe the protests of the Mammoth Khans that the contract was honorable and would benefit both Clans, but as time passed we found ourselves becoming more and more dependant on the resources of our allies, and further in debt for supplies and equipment to repair damage to our machines not covered by our contract.
Finally involving the Khans of the Dingoes, Mammoths, Wolverines, and the IlKhan herself, secret negotiations for dealing with the debt assumed by our Clan resulted in a ‘mortgage’ of all Carnoraptor assets along with a portion of Clan Wolverine’s industrial base as collateral.  It was not until the eventual Trial and victory of the young Star Colonel Ben Alexander that our Clan was redeemed.  But that is tomorrow’s lesson.

[**Analyst’s Note:
In the historical records of Clan Wolverine, the original Khan was actually Gene Robbins, who selected a highly aggressive Nova Captain, Rachel Sanders, as SaKhan.  Consensus among analysts researching the circumstances of Robbins’ death conclude the Khan was overmatched in training exercises that eventually crossed a line into an undeclared Circle of Equals in late April of 2862.
Erasing all mention of Gene Robbins as Founding Khan from Carnoraptor records, Rachel assigned the position of saKhan to Dennis Fouchet, a fellow veteran of the March on Legacy.  Dennis began to organize the lesser Castes to fully develop the Clan’s resources with the assistance of the Merchant Caste, although the inexperience of the Warrior Caste in logistics led to some disastrous implications for future development.
The Carnoraptors became heavily in debt after Fouchet and the Merchant Caste made a rash decision to bid for possession of the offered Surf Dragon territory.  The undeveloped deposits and resources offered to enrich the Clan substantially, but the bid required a large portion of the industrial base needed to exploit them, and their competitors bid the cost of ownership up significantly.  The resulting debt crippled the Clan’s development for years, and only the fact they received the majority of the Dingo Touman left them even with the Toumans of their sibClans after the Truce.
The Mammoth alliance again took advantage of their inexperience by offering maintenance and supplies common to all Mammoth garrison facilities while refusing to provide expensive spare parts, equipment, and material to units defending the facilities from Trials, saving themselves the cost of doing so.  The ‘goodwill’ generated by the contract was nonexistent, as the Ilkhan eventually became involved as arbiter between the Mammoths, Dingoes, and Carnoraptors.  The eventual settlement placed the Carnoraptor Touman under a “mortgage” guaranteed by nearly a half of the facilities dedicated to the IlKhan’s Guard.]


...and Clan Devil Wasp, from volume 1.

MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE

   Unlike the rest of the 1st Clans, the Mammoths proved to be jealous misers who refused to distribute their industrial base fairly among their new Spawn.  Interested in preserving the size and strength of their Clan, we were offered an industrial base unable to sustain the basic needs of our Castes and a Touman of elderly Warriors and damaged or broken equipment.  Refusing to accept the position of Khan under these circumstances, Founding Khan Jules Hubbard was removed from the Mammoth Warrior Caste and taken into the wilderness to be shot.
Those orders were never followed, whether from the unwillingness of Mammoth Warriors to follow the dishonorable orders of their Khan, or the laziness commonplace among the Mammoth Warrior Caste.  Finding a small settlement, Jules was accepted as a deserter and found a home among the freebirth settlers of the small village of Evergreen.
Quickly rising to a position of influence, Jules was instrumental in convincing several settlements to cooperate and join forces to provide mutual protection from bandits and increase the amount of cultivated land.  It was during this time he met Anita Lynch, who eventually became his wife.  Raped and abandoned by bandits, Anita and her daughter Erin became enthusiastic supporters of his efforts.
During his time there, Mammoth Warriors continued to refuse the offer of becoming Khan of Clan Devil Wasp, until Feb 9, 2862, when the Hamburg Riots erupted and Mammoth Warriors massacred nearly 5,000 women and children while attempting to regain control of the Hamburg Industrial Complexes.
Suddenly under close scrutiny by the Office of the IlKhan and their fellow 1st Clans, their Khans discredited by the riots, and the situation of the Mammoth 2nd Clans coming to light, new orders went out to stall any inquiries and locate former Star Colonel Hubbard.  Within days, the search located the settlement and our Khan demanded Anita and Erin be allowed to accompany him as his family, to become founding members of the Clan.
   Taking command of the Clan after intense negotiations with the Mammoth Khans in which Jules accepted slightly less than 1/5th of the Mammoth assets, Khan Hubbard began looking for ways to help further the strength of his new Clan.  First among these were allies.  Our sibClans, the Condors and Tyrants, responded favorably to the offer of combining our industrial bases and Toumans, and on April 2, 2862, the three groups announced the Unified Clans.
   The three Khans also announced a first for the New Clans as a whole; all members of the Clans would be given 30 days to decide whether to return to Clan Mammoth, become Civilians, or to willingly endure the hardships of establishing their new Clans.
On May 1st, 18% of the 2nd Clan population abandoned claims of membership to the UC and left the New Clans or returned to their homes in Clan Mammoth.  The remaining 82% declared their support for the UC and their Clans, now termed ‘Factions’, turning their backs on the injustices of the past and Clan Mammoth.

Welcome aboard Red Pins!

Welcome.
How can I help?

Well, if you want to, its up to you.  Some of the things I need help with are;

-Art.  Original, doesn't matter if its a practice piece of your grandmother, it can brighten things up a bit.
-WarShip designs. I don't have Strat Ops (yet) and they need a small fleet, centered around corvettes with destroyer squadron leaders and a single BC as flagship.  A list of specs exists, with rough speed, anti-fighter strength, docking collars, and a bunch of other minor stuff.
-Drafting help.  I have 5 new types of units; Assault- and Heavy Assault Components (150-ton 6-leggers and 200-ton 8-leggers), Permanent AirMechs (LAM design, with some wrinkles), FighterShips (110- to 200-ton, double-engine ASF/small craft), a cellular missile launcher (missile trailers towed behind APCs, a replacement for SRM/LRM carriers), and Extra-Light 'Mechs (ELMs are from 11-19 tons, sort of a cross between ProtoMechs and Light Mechs).  What I DON'T have are record sheets.
-Playtesters.  Five new units, 4-5 new construction techs, and a couple new weapons and equipment.  Stilts, Hardpoints, Point C3 system, HAG-style AP Gauss Rifle.  Most aren't typed yet, but the basic rules have been worked out and fluff written.
-Readers.  I'm pretty sure I have what I want in the fiction, but it could always use another pair (or a couple pair) of eyes.  Comes in 5 flavors, Frost Ape, Carnoraptor, Devil Wasp, Surf Dragon, and Tundra Leopard.

...Give me a day and I'll have another half-dozen items.  Basically, what's your favorite thing?

I like your Naval Stuff - no Heavy Cruiser that would be a little slower (3,5) but more heavily armored and armed? Call them Dreadnought Escorts.

...Taa-Daaa!  Finally - and the FighterShip one makes this look easy, I haven't played AeroSpace since TW came out!


Game Rules
   PAMs operate in a manner similar to VTOLs, using MP to take off, land, and gain or loose elevation.  PAMs also have the added risk of PSRs to land and complete turns at high speed.

Movement
   Because of the confusion over LAM movement, there is also the detailed movement examples at the end of this section.
·   Light and Medium PAMs have only 1/3rd the Walk speed of a normal ‘Mech and x3 the Jump capability.  Heavy PAMs have 1/3rd the Walk speed of a normal ‘Mech and x2 the Jump capability. 
·   PAMs Jump at no cost in heat.
·   A PAM may not mix movement modes; It may Walk/Run (according to the rules for ‘Mechs) or Jump, but may not attempt to Stand and Launch.
·   At the beginning of each Movement Phase, a PAM must Launch itself into the air at a cost of 2 MP.  If a PAM chooses to Land, it must make a PSR at –4 and pay 2 MP.  If a PAM has suffered actuator damage to its legs, it adds the normal modifiers and loses its –4 modifier.
·   PAMs are unable to remain in the air at the end of the Movement Phase as LAMs do.  They are incapable of true flight.
·   While airborne, Light and Medium PAMs moving over x2 their Jump are considered at Flank speed for the purpose of the sideslipping rules on page 67 of TW.
·   PAMs have a unique movement option; Nape of the Earth flight.  Light and Medium PAMs may use x2 their Jump MP to travel at ground level.  Note they must still pay the MP cost for Launching and Landing.
o   Because of the risks involved, PAMs are required to make a PSR at every turn.  The target modifier for a successful turn increases by +3 every time it changes hex facings.

Ex.  A Light PAM chooses to attempt NotE flight.  After Launching and moving 5 hexes, it must turn a single hex face to the left.  Its base Pilot skill is a 4, so for its first PSR must roll 4+ on 2d6.  After continuing onward for 2 hexes, it must turn right two hex facings.  Its second PSR is now a 7 (base 4 + 3 for its first turn) and its third turn is a 10 (base 4 + 3 (for its first turn) + 3 (for its second turn)).  Afraid of crashing, the pilot decides not to attempt a fourth turn.

o   A failed PSR during NotE movement causes a crash, in which the PAM takes 1 pt. of damage for every 5 tons, multiplied by the number of hexes moved in the last straight line before its turn.  Because the Pilot is trying to turn, he assigns damage to the opposite-Side (left turn, right side arc) arc.  Note the Pilot follows all rules for falling, including a PSR to avoid injury.

Ex.  A 35-ton PAM with Walk 2/ Run 3/ Jump 18 chooses to use NotE to cross the open ground in front of it, Launching and moving 9 hexes in a straight line.  Choosing to turn two hex faces left at the end of his movement, the Pilot misses his second PSR (base 4 + 3 (first turn)), and looses control.  Because his last straight-line movement was the nine hexes, he must assign 63 points of damage (35 tons / 5 = 7 pts x 9 hexes) in 5-point groups to the Right side arc.

Combat Sample
Jane and her 35-ton Gryphon PAM is racing across the battlefield; Launching for 2 MP, she climbs 2 elevations to avoid crashing into the trees in her path, moves 13 hexes (one hex over her x2 Jump of 16), then turns to the left 1 hex facing (her 18th MP), and must roll a PSR to prevent sideslipping.  Successful, she moves 2 more hexes before dropping 2 levels and Landing, using her maximum Jump movement of 24.  Rolling a PSR at –4, she finds she has Landed safely.
Entering the map, Jane chooses to use NotE movement.  Launching for 2 MP, she moves along the open hexes along the side of the map.  Turning left after 3 hexes, she fails her PSR (base 4 + 0 (first turn)) by rolling 2 and crashes for 21 damage (35 tons / 5 = 7 pts of damage x3 hexes traveled = 21 damage), assigned in 5-pt groups to her Right side on the Hit Location Table.  Rolling a second PSR, she finds she has avoided injury.  Determining facing after the fall, she finds she has come to a stop facing hex side #4.
   Seeing the opportunity to cripple the elusive PAM, her opponents rush to gain line-of-sight on her machine.  Since she has fallen, she must attempt to Stand.  Her PAM, with a 280 XL engine, has only a 2/3 movement (35 tons x 8 movement = 280 Engine Rating.  Since she is a PAM, she must calculate her 1/3rd ground movement penalty; 8 x .33 = 2.64, rounded down to 2.  With a 2 Walk MP, her Run becomes 2 x 1.5 = 3 MP.) and she decides to Run.  Standing on her first attempt, she moves further from her attackers and remains out of line-of-sight.
   Breathing a sigh of relief, she Launches in the next Turn, climbs 2 elevations to avoid the Light Woods in her path, and travels 9 hexes before dropping 2 levels and Landing behind an enemy Thor (for 17 MP).  Rolling a PSR at -4, she finds she has Landed safely.  In order to hit with her Medium Lasers, she needs an 8 (base 3 + 0 (short range) + 3 (attacker Jumped) + 2 (target movement)).  Unfortunately, Jane is struck by another ‘Mech with a Targeting Computer and a Large Pulse laser; her attacker needs a 6 (base 3 + 0 (short range) + 1 (attacker Walked) + 1 (target Jumped) + 3 (target movement) +1 (Light Woods) – 2 (Pulse weapon) – 1 (targeting computer)), and rolls a 9, piercing the armor on her right leg and destroying her Upper Leg actuator.
Jane has lost the-4 modifier to Landing in her PAM, and now has to roll a 5 (base 4 + 1Upper Leg Actuator destroyed) to remain standing. Landing successfully and avoiding doing further damage to her ‘Mech will now require a PSR of 5, rather than her previous target number of 0 (base 4 – 4 (no leg damage bonus)).


(Writer’s Note:
   LAMs are one of, probably the, most controversial subjects in the game.   Players are nearly always vehemently for or against these units, and forum topics at CLASSICBATTLETECH.COM are regularly filled with complaints over the abuse by players of their unique “superjump” ability.
   I’ve always held the only things wrong with LAMs are the players using them; unfamiliarity with the movement rules for AirMechs on both sides of the argument, in my opinion, is to blame.  So to prevent this, I have included a small construction and movement example at the end of this section, going into detail what is allowed and required to use these units.
   The unique Extra-Light ‘Mech PAM is covered in the ELM section, since its size causes several unique problems in addition to what is covered here.  As a final note, I hope players try these units and rules before declaring, “I DO NOT LIKE green eggs and ham!”

...Yup.  I've decided I have to cut it down a bit.  Unique Technology will be made up of;

New Units - 150-200 ton units, PAMs, FighterShips, and ELMs.
New Construction Equipment - Stilts and Armor Rescue Pods.
New Weapons - Cassette Missile System and ER-TAG.
New Equipment - PC3 (Point C3 System).

Its already 106 kb and 15 pages - I need another 3-5 for the PAMs, then 5-6 for the ELMs, and another 1/2 page or so for the ARPs.  Time to move on.

Ah this reminds me of my efforts with Small Craft Bombers for TRO2800 or even larger DropFighters (200-1000 tons) I was working on.