OBT Forum

U know what Nova, I confess to the same thing but then I got the hardcover finally. I've really picked up the pace to say the least. Gonna be going over it here starting tomorrow.Should be fun!

U know what Nova, I confess to the same thing but then I got the hardcover finally. I've really picked up the pace to say the least. Gonna be going over it here starting tomorrow.Should be fun!

Have fun Takiro!
Got the hardcover version two weeks ago and have to admit that I too found it slow going. But I think there are quite a few nuggets of information within to make the effort worthwhile. I especially love the deployment maps. It will be interesting to see what ideas you have.

Ciao
Hessian

Introduction Story (Greater than Yourself) page 4
       Taking place somewhere in the Lyran Commonwealth, presumably the Donegal District, this in universe tale details the capture of an Star League trooper by a band of pirates, bandits, pillagers, or whatever you will call them. The point of the story shows the espirit de corps of the SLDF but I’m more interested in the raiders. During the story and throughout the Field Manual it is clear that these brigands were everywhere. To quote the short story they “seemed to spring up like cockroaches.” Time and again the vast SLDF is fighting endless hordes all over known space including the interior worlds of the InnerSphere. While the Star League emerges victorious just as many time it seems these barbarous multitudes are never short on numbers. I don’t really get a stereotypical Draconis “feel” from the bandits in this short but if they hail from the Combine, the Free Worlds League, the Rim Worlds Republic, or wherever it really don’t matter. For Threat Assessment 2785 I had originally envisioned only the Draconis Combine assembling a major force, the Shadow Regiments, from these raiders. Indeed there is talk in various BattleTech products about certain House Commands going rogue. Wouldn’t these formerly independent buccaneers chaff under orders? It just got me thinking that perhaps there are other Houses aside from Kurita, maybe all of them, that would assemble new formations on the record after the fall of the Star League. Indeed it seems like they could. It appears they have the numbers. Alternatively what happens if they don’t obey their erstwhile Lords any longer? We know an economic downfall engulfs the Human Sphere as the Amaris Coup rages – quite the breeding ground for pirates.

In Universe Introductions (Two Parts – RoTS and SLDF) page 5
The dual intro given on the very next page also has a few tantalizing tidbits. Part one is a Republic of the Sphere revelation that this entire document was recovered in Geneva during reconstruction circa 3090. Post Jihad folks and the Stoners go onto say this is a snapshot of the SLDF prior to the Amaris Coup untouched by ComStar, very interesting. Geneva was the capital of the Terran Hegemony so whose report was this? Well the second part tells us that Dechavilier sent said document to Kerensky. No other CC is given but I wonder if this was a copy for the Director-General or some other Terran functionary because of the location of its discovery. The intriguing and horrifying possibility that the Usurper got hold of this comprehensive report as he had access to the Hegemony via Richard has to be considered. No wonder the SLDF got wrecked if he was reading their details. Just my take but hey. Now lets go to part two which mentions to very tantalizing things. One, Kerensky apparently had the goal of restoring the Martial Olympiad in 2768. Dechavilier says accomplishing such a feat in four years (January 2764 is the Star League intro date) is tough but I get the picture that if things hadn’t gone to hell in a hand basket it would have happened. This brings us to the second most fascinating point of the Star League intro – real friction developing between the Royal Command and the rest of the SLDF! Kerensky is warned by Dechavilier of growing tensions between the two distinct groups under their command. Of course this has real impact on BTSD as we will be dividing the SLDF into two groups – Terrans remaining with the Last Cameron and Star League true believers leaving with Kerensky after the Amaris Coup. I’d love to hear what you guys think before I comment further on BTSD further but lets discuss another alternate. Dechavilier admits that he has no idea how to deal with the problem but What if Kerensky decides on or about this time to take the Royals out of the SLDF and reform the HAF headed by the Royal Command. Before Richard reaches his majority might be a good time as he has the power to do it. Might make the Amaris Coup impossible but what is the effect of the SLDF and on the rest of the universe?

Not that many MA if your going to use the same match the Houses strength and obey the Edict of 2650 approach which is sound. The Royal Navy might even take the best of the League's warships in keeping with the Blacklist policy. I could still see the Hegemony trying to keep the best stuff for itself.

Dechavilier admits that he has no idea how to deal with the problem but What if Kerensky decides on or about this time to take the Royals out of the SLDF and reform the HAF headed by the Royal Command.

Kerensky couldn't/wouldn't do it.

The conversion of the HAF to form the core of the SLDF was written into the Star League Accords. So reforging them into anything is/was illegal. His power as Protector of the Realm was largely ceremonial, and what little political power he had was negated by the other House Lords. But honestly, seeing how Kerensky wouldn't helm the Hegemony, usurp the Council Lords, or do anything except leave the Inner Sphere to protect his precious ideal of the "Star League" this would never ever happen.

A guy like Dechavilier would suggest it, and maybe even attempt it if he were desperate enough – after all, he suggested tossing the Council Lords, etc. – but is still highly unlikely.

Try to remember that the tension exists between soldiers of the Star League, not between soldiers and the Star League. Keep the Star League out of it.

That said, changes within the bureaucracy of the Royal Command could have a positive long term effect, as would some unit rotations. Modifying the supply situation would also help, as would a round of SLDF Regular upgrades – particularly among mid-rank officers – nothing pan-SLDF.

Seeing as this is an AU, I'd make changes to Kerensky's character, or slowly siphon off troublesome Royal units to help enlarge the Hegemony militia groups. Technically, tossing Divisions to the militia isn't illegal – in fact, the militia is the only remaining bits of the HAF left in the Star League – so that's one way to quietly rebuild the HAF.

That might be a tough sell to front line troops, and it wouldn't help with the navy. Mothballing is your only answer there. Plus, you've stuck with canon dates, so there isn't much time for a slow and quiet reorganization.
 

Seeing how they already printed dates and published fanbooks, that's a major retcon on BTSD's part.