Also what I've decided I really want to "see" is something like MegaMek or even Roll20 or what-have-you except instead of 'mechs each side gets, like, four Protomechs and two points of Elementals.
I think it's way better and more balanced when you drill down into the Protomech rules. Proto v Proto, +/- elementals, feels really balanced and just barely botty enough to scratch the stompy bot itch for me.
Im not really a clanner by any means, but the fact im sitting on a trinary of elementals makes me giddy for some reason.
What would be a typical clan landing force carrying along 3 stars of elementals? Trianry Supernova? 15 mechs, 75 elementals?
If you wanted all of the elementals in one large formation, that makes sense. Mind you, I personally wouldn't be mounting Toads on anything slower than a 5/8, preferably a 6/9 or faster. That means to me that the whole Supernova Trinary is probably lights and mediums with a handful of heavies.
I feel like Toads on slow 'Mechs, strategically, are more for a "Take and Hold" situation. The 'Mechs move to some critical point, Toads get dropped off, and the fatty 'Mechs continue the advance.
Or used as a screening force, to keep fast OpFor units off your slower, oftentimes second-line or fire support chassis that are chilling back, taking long-range shots.
Im not really a clanner by any means, but the fact im sitting on a trinary of elementals makes me giddy for some reason.
What would be a typical clan landing force carrying along 3 stars of elementals? Trianry Supernova? 15 mechs, 75 elementals?
In general, Stars which mix different unit types see their overall combat effectiveness severely weakened. One of the few exceptions to this rule is the strategic command Star, a formation first pioneered by Clan Wolf, but presumably based on the Star League's Air Lance formation. It combines four Points of either OmniMechs or Elementals with an AeroSpace Point for reconnaissance and escort duty. The success of this formation has caused other Clans to adopt it, albeit in more limited numbers.[1][2]
Clan Snow Raven also maintained a specialist Star formation known as an R-Team. Composed of two 'Mech Points, two Elemental Points, and a team of combat-trained technicians, it's primary purpose is for the recovery of battlefield salvage, or isorla, while under enemy fire. Generally the technicians will call in special recovery vehicles to transport the material once it has been secured, although the R-team's 'Mechs are equipped with hands and nets to manhandle the equipment back to friendly lines if necessary.[8]
Im not really a clanner by any means, but the fact im sitting on a trinary of elementals makes me giddy for some reason.
What would be a typical clan landing force carrying along 3 stars of elementals? Trianry Supernova? 15 mechs, 75 elementals?
If you wanted all of the elementals in one large formation, that makes sense. Mind you, I personally wouldn't be mounting Toads on anything slower than a 5/8, preferably a 6/9 or faster. That means to me that the whole Supernova Trinary is probably lights and mediums with a handful of heavies.
I feel like Toads on slow 'Mechs, strategically, are more for a "Take and Hold" situation. The 'Mechs move to some critical point, Toads get dropped off, and the fatty 'Mechs continue the advance.
Or used as a screening force, to keep fast OpFor units off your slower, oftentimes second-line or fire support chassis that are chilling back, taking long-range shots.
Here's my Battalion make-up (colors correspond to the actual weight class of the 'mech):
I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to organize my clan 'mechs.
put em all in a box, shake it up and pull out 5 randoms for a fight. Thats my plan anyway.
oh lord, i need to come up with 37 lances
You're going to need a bigger box given the photos you have shared.
i mean, its ONLY 134 129 clan mechs... i added in 5 elementals for some reason on the spreadsheet
jesus. thats so much plastic. i may have a problem.
But, do you have a Wolves Dragoon pack yet?
well, when it gets here in December, yea
This man must be stopped.
There was a day when he was known as having too many virtual mechs... and not one Oosik is surprised that he embraces that in real life. By the end of 2022 I expect he'll have to live in a house that is built from the boxes.
Here's my Battalion make-up (colors correspond to the actual weight class of the 'mech):
I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to organize my clan 'mechs.
put em all in a box, shake it up and pull out 5 randoms for a fight. Thats my plan anyway.
oh lord, i need to come up with 37 lances
You're going to need a bigger box given the photos you have shared.
i mean, its ONLY 134 129 clan mechs... i added in 5 elementals for some reason on the spreadsheet
jesus. thats so much plastic. i may have a problem.
But, do you have a Wolves Dragoon pack yet?
well, when it gets here in December, yea
This man must be stopped.
There was a day when he was known as having too many virtual mechs... and not one Oosik is surprised that he embraces that in real life. By the end of 2022 I expect he'll have to live in a house that is built from the boxes.
So you're telling me y'all stood by and let this happen.
A Capellan's favorite sheath for any blade is your back.
Here's my Battalion make-up (colors correspond to the actual weight class of the 'mech):
I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to organize my clan 'mechs.
put em all in a box, shake it up and pull out 5 randoms for a fight. Thats my plan anyway.
oh lord, i need to come up with 37 lances
You're going to need a bigger box given the photos you have shared.
i mean, its ONLY 134 129 clan mechs... i added in 5 elementals for some reason on the spreadsheet
jesus. thats so much plastic. i may have a problem.
But, do you have a Wolves Dragoon pack yet?
well, when it gets here in December, yea
This man must be stopped.
There was a day when he was known as having too many virtual mechs... and not one Oosik is surprised that he embraces that in real life. By the end of 2022 I expect he'll have to live in a house that is built from the boxes.
I horde so much I couldn't even spend my premium time hours
Does anybody have solid info wrt which clans are still active and kicking in the ilClan era?
I know about Wolves, Falcons, Ravens, and Ghost Bear (the former two being mentioned in the novels, and the latter having formally joined with minor powers of the IS).
I don't really remember what happened with the Refusals and Reavings and all that stuff
Does anybody have solid info wrt which clans are still active and kicking in the ilClan era?
I know about Wolves, Falcons, Ravens, and Ghost Bear (the former two being mentioned in the novels, and the latter having formally joined with minor powers of the IS).
I don't really remember what happened with the Refusals and Reavings and all that stuff
Clan Sea Fox!
They also have the distinction of being the richest and having the largest military even before the Battle of Terra. They're quite possibly the single most powerful faction in the Inner Sphere in terms of economic and military might.
However, the Clan itself is actually scattered all over the Inner Sphere in nomadic fleets plying their trade.
edit- Also
Scorpion Empire (Clan Goliath Scorpion) - The Goliath Scorpions conquered the Hanseatic League. The League, despite being a Deep Periphery nation, was/is on par with the Inner Sphere technologically and industrially. So the Scorpion Empire is pretty fucking stacked now and with no one to challenge them and their build up.
Clan Hell's Horses - This one is likely to grow quite large now that the Jade Falcons have been Smoke Jaguar'd
Oh
Clan Smoke Jaguar!
edit- To clarify these are Inner Sphere and not Clan Home Worlds. I honestly don't think we'll see Home Worlds Clans any time soon or ever again. They really put an axe in that and a lot of the writers seem to be all the more happy for it.
Axen on
A Capellan's favorite sheath for any blade is your back.
Does anybody have solid info wrt which clans are still active and kicking in the ilClan era?
I know about Wolves, Falcons, Ravens, and Ghost Bear (the former two being mentioned in the novels, and the latter having formally joined with minor powers of the IS).
I don't really remember what happened with the Refusals and Reavings and all that stuff
Home clans are a huge question mark.
In the Inner Sphere there are:
Wolves
Ghost Bears
Snow Ravens
Hells Horses
We also have some of the following remaining:
Smoke Jaguars
Nova Cats (a tiny amount living in the Clan protectorate in the (former) FWL)
Jade Falcons
Outside the Inner Sphere (but not in the Clan homeworlds)
Goliath Scorpions.
Home Clans did include the following:
Coyotes
Star Adders
Stone Lions (the half of Hell’s Horses that didn’t go to the Inner Sphere)
Cloud Cobras
But we don’t really know what has been going on there since the Wars of Reaving ended.
0
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AxenMy avatar is Excalibur.Yes, the sword.Registered Userregular
edited September 2021
Clan Wolverine is out there, some where. Watching and waiting. . . .
ComStar a registered subsidiary of Clan Sea Fox (this is a joke, but only just)
Axen on
A Capellan's favorite sheath for any blade is your back.
Here's my Battalion make-up (colors correspond to the actual weight class of the 'mech):
I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to organize my clan 'mechs.
put em all in a box, shake it up and pull out 5 randoms for a fight. Thats my plan anyway.
oh lord, i need to come up with 37 lances
You're going to need a bigger box given the photos you have shared.
i mean, its ONLY 134 129 clan mechs... i added in 5 elementals for some reason on the spreadsheet
jesus. thats so much plastic. i may have a problem.
But, do you have a Wolves Dragoon pack yet?
well, when it gets here in December, yea
This man must be stopped.
There was a day when he was known as having too many virtual mechs... and not one Oosik is surprised that he embraces that in real life. By the end of 2022 I expect he'll have to live in a house that is built from the boxes.
So you're telling me y'all stood by and let this happen.
Well he was the first to get the Blake Achievement... So yeah we sort of encouraged his behavior.
Here's my Battalion make-up (colors correspond to the actual weight class of the 'mech):
I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to organize my clan 'mechs.
put em all in a box, shake it up and pull out 5 randoms for a fight. Thats my plan anyway.
oh lord, i need to come up with 37 lances
You're going to need a bigger box given the photos you have shared.
i mean, its ONLY 134 129 clan mechs... i added in 5 elementals for some reason on the spreadsheet
jesus. thats so much plastic. i may have a problem.
But, do you have a Wolves Dragoon pack yet?
well, when it gets here in December, yea
This man must be stopped.
There was a day when he was known as having too many virtual mechs... and not one Oosik is surprised that he embraces that in real life. By the end of 2022 I expect he'll have to live in a house that is built from the boxes.
So you're telling me y'all stood by and let this happen.
Well he was the first to get the Blake Achievement... So yeah we sort of encouraged his behavior.
By the Founder!
Er
Blake preserve us!
Ahem, no er I mean,
In Kerensky's name!
Wait, wait. . .
The Dragon shield us!
A Capellan's favorite sheath for any blade is your back.
It may be that they're just revitalizing all the art. Maybe some of these make it to 3D physical objects. Who can say?
Not me, that's for sure. The WD pack has busted my long-range sensors for this stuff from now on.
That's got 5 more of the missing mechs from the Inner Sphere 24 that were in all of the starter boxes between 3rd and AGOAC!
Assassin
Cicada
Dervish
Jagermech
Vindicator
There's not many left that won't have updated designs. Hermes II is the only one that jumps out at me. I forget, is there a Clint, Quickdraw, or Whitworth in the KS sets? Everything else is in there.
Also, yay for Firestarter and Vulcan representation. More mechs with standard-issue flamers!
It may be that they're just revitalizing all the art. Maybe some of these make it to 3D physical objects. Who can say?
Not me, that's for sure. The WD pack has busted my long-range sensors for this stuff from now on.
That's got 5 more of the missing mechs from the Inner Sphere 24 that were in all of the starter boxes between 3rd and AGOAC!
Assassin
Cicada
Dervish
Jagermech
Vindicator
There's not many left that won't have updated designs. Hermes II is the only one that jumps out at me. I forget, is there a Clint, Quickdraw, or Whitworth in the KS sets? Everything else is in there.
Also, yay for Firestarter and Vulcan representation. More mechs with standard-issue flamers!
Vindicator is a starter mech in the video game, so there's a good chance then that it's gonna be up on the priority list soon.
I think the Firestarter will be too, because they can probably do an "Omni" variant (I always loved the way the Firestarter Omni looked).
I want Jagermech because Jagermech so hopefully that'll be in there, but there's not really a better known heavy on that list so there's a good chance.
And then probably just the Annihilator (lol "just the anni"), but I guess the Devastator is a possibility.
Between the Shilone and now this Annihilator they've successfully proven we do not know everything they're up to, and that it's not necessarily a bad thing.
NipsHe/HimLuxuriating in existential crisis.Registered Userregular
edited September 2021
Follow-Up convo from that other place, on missing updated art:
Originally from 3025: Javelin, Clint, Hermes II, Whitworth, Quickdraw, Charger
Originally from 2750: Thorn, Hermes, Hussar, Wyvern, Kintaro, Champion, Bombardier
Originally from Wolf's Dragoons sourcebook: Flea, Hornet, Falcon, Shogun, Imp
Originally from 3050: Wolf Trap, Hatamato-Chi, Mauler
Also:
OstScout and Ostsol have new art, Ostroc is yet to be.
The 2 Quads (Scorpion and Goliath) are still old, bit there's been a teaser of a Scorpion leg, so that's still in the realm.
Nips on
+1
Options
NipsHe/HimLuxuriating in existential crisis.Registered Userregular
edited September 2021
TAMAR RISING!
(Technically not out until October, but advance copies came out at Gen Con)
THE TIMELINE MOVES FORWARD!
(Not a lot, but just enough.)
What happened to the Falcon OZ?
It fell the fuck apart, that's what happened!
In and around the OZ, here's the factions that have arisen and staked claims:
The factions contained in the book include, The Jade Falcons, Alyina Mercantile League, Malthus Confederation, Hell's Horses, Tamar Pact, Vesper Marches, Arc-Royal Liberty Coalition, and Lyran Comonwealth.
Looks like the Falcons split into at least three subfactions. Good! Fuck 'em!
[Edit] Apparently there's another Falcon subfaction, the Turkina Ascendancy. And it promptly gets curbed by the Horses. Lol!
Also, our Mercantile Heroes are here to save the day!
Apparently the SharkFoxes have begun to repair the HPG network, finally signaling the actual end to the Dark Age.
Hooray for economic progress!
Nips on
+3
Options
AxenMy avatar is Excalibur.Yes, the sword.Registered Userregular
TAMAR RISING!
(Technically not out until October, but advance copies came out at Gen Con)
THE TIMELINE MOVES FORWARD!
(Not a lot, but just enough.)
What happened to the Falcon OZ?
It fell the fuck apart, that's what happened!
In and around the OZ, here's the factions that have arisen and staked claims:
The factions contained in the book include, The Jade Falcons, Alyina Mercantile League, Malthus Confederation, Hell's Horses, Tamar Pact, Vesper Marches, Arc-Royal Liberty Coalition, and Lyran Comonwealth.
Looks like the Falcons split into at least three subfactions. Good! Fuck 'em!
[Edit] Apparently there's another Falcon subfaction, the Turkina Ascendancy. And it promptly gets curbed by the Horses. Lol!
Also, our Mercantile Heroes are here to save the day!
Apparently the SharkFoxes have begun to repair the HPG network, finally signaling the actual end to the Dark Age.
Hooray for economic progress!
Mmmmm, yes.
I am quite interested in picking this one up as the region is very near and dear to my heart.
As to the timeline they have said that they wont release a single book that, say, is set in 3160 and covers all the events of the previous decade. Instead they will release region specific books that inch things along over the next ten years. So we're not likely to see a "current" map for quite some time.
Their reasoning is that they really wanted to be able to focus on and highlight each particular area of the Inner Sphere and get in to the nitty-gritty as opposed to only being able to give a more general outline of events. The novels and short stories will be the main mover of the timeline.
A sourcebook focusing on the FWL is likely next based on what CGL has talked about. The main hold up was that they had three or so ideas of what they want to do and couldn't decide on which one they liked more. Whatever they choose though CGL has mentioned that the FWL is very much going to be the "Chaos March" of the ilClan Era. Essentially a playground for Mercenary players and Narrative Campaigns.
I can see Sea Fox becoming the new ComStar. Not so much in the "puppet master" sense, but more in the ostensibly neutral third party sense. They seem quite keen on ensuring the free flow of info and trade. If for nothing else then to help maximize their own profits.
Axen on
A Capellan's favorite sheath for any blade is your back.
Follow-Up convo from that other place, on missing updated art:
Originally from 3025: Javelin, Clint, Hermes II, Whitworth, Quickdraw, Charger
Originally from 2750: Thorn, Hermes, Hussar, Wyvern, Kintaro, Champion, Bombardier
Originally from Wolf's Dragoons sourcebook: Flea, Hornet, Falcon, Shogun, Imp
Originally from 3050: Wolf Trap, Hatamato-Chi, Mauler
Also:
OstScout and Ostsol have new art, Ostroc is yet to be.
The 2 Quads (Scorpion and Goliath) are still old, bit there's been a teaser of a Scorpion leg, so that's still in the realm.
Yeah, I'm calling the Jagermech an outside favorite. It's a popular 'mech, it's well known, it was in one of the starter boxes. It was in both 3025s, and TRO 3028 (which exists, apparently); it's got new PGI/HBS art; but it doesn't have new TRO/RG art.
The Ostsol is also a heavy and it does have art, and the Ost-mechs as a whole are relatively more or less "heard of" by I think most folks who have ever handled a TRO. And the new design is actually pretty damn alright, tbh.
Also the same way we have a sort of nickname for the "main gun and back up missiles" 55-ton triplets from almost every box set ever (seriously, the beginner box should have just had all three), I think we could similarly use a nickname for the Turret 'mechs (although I guess that is the nickname?)- the Rifleman, the Catapult, and the Jagermech. I like how, with the JM7 70 tonner, that gives us a turret 'mech for 3/4 weight classes in the Heavy category.
Any good 75-ton turret mechs out there?
e: also I'm predicting there's a reasonably good chance that we see "Blackjack Omni" and "Grand Dragon" variants at some point, since I feel like a variant like that is probably a much cheaper investment once you already have a baseline to work off of (I have no really good reason to believe that's true but there it is).
I’ve heard that the Blackjack in the Dragoon’s box is supposed to be the Omni, but haven’t seen anything official yet
It's the WD variant with LLs and SRMs, apparently.
Whatever they choose though CGL has mentioned that the FWL is very much going to be the "Chaos March" of the ilClan Era. Essentially a playground for Mercenary players and Narrative Campaigns.
According to early readers, the Tamar Pact region is now exactly this. None of the factions have the manufacturing base to support long-term defense and existence, so mercenary support is heavily leveraged (even by some of the splinter Falcon factions). And while the Lyrans have the manufacturing base, they don't have the unified political will to enact a mass retaking of worlds in the region. So, sales to the highest bidders instead.
More mercenary playgrounds!
Nips on
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NipsHe/HimLuxuriating in existential crisis.Registered Userregular
edited September 2021
Everyone needs to go look at Scroggins's Patreon. Go now! Some of that stuff in the list above already have lineart!
Posts
I think it's way better and more balanced when you drill down into the Protomech rules. Proto v Proto, +/- elementals, feels really balanced and just barely botty enough to scratch the stompy bot itch for me.
I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to organize my clan 'mechs.
put em all in a box, shake it up and pull out 5 randoms for a fight. Thats my plan anyway.
oh lord, i need to come up with 37 lances
Dire Wolf (Legendary)
Stone Rhino
Executioner
Marauder IIC
Warhammer IIC
Timberwolf
Summoner
Goshawk
Hunchback IIC
Hellhound
Nova
Grendel
Ice Ferret
Viper
Adder
Horned Owl
Incubus
Mist Lynx
Piranha
And I know I have an extra Ice Ferret and Mist Lynx, and maybe an extra Viper as well.
e: oh yeah and a point of elementals.
What would be a typical clan landing force carrying along 3 stars of elementals? Trianry Supernova? 15 mechs, 75 elementals?
If you wanted all of the elementals in one large formation, that makes sense. Mind you, I personally wouldn't be mounting Toads on anything slower than a 5/8, preferably a 6/9 or faster. That means to me that the whole Supernova Trinary is probably lights and mediums with a handful of heavies.
I feel like Toads on slow 'Mechs, strategically, are more for a "Take and Hold" situation. The 'Mechs move to some critical point, Toads get dropped off, and the fatty 'Mechs continue the advance.
Or used as a screening force, to keep fast OpFor units off your slower, oftentimes second-line or fire support chassis that are chilling back, taking long-range shots.
In general, Stars which mix different unit types see their overall combat effectiveness severely weakened. One of the few exceptions to this rule is the strategic command Star, a formation first pioneered by Clan Wolf, but presumably based on the Star League's Air Lance formation. It combines four Points of either OmniMechs or Elementals with an AeroSpace Point for reconnaissance and escort duty. The success of this formation has caused other Clans to adopt it, albeit in more limited numbers.[1][2]
Clan Snow Raven also maintained a specialist Star formation known as an R-Team. Composed of two 'Mech Points, two Elemental Points, and a team of combat-trained technicians, it's primary purpose is for the recovery of battlefield salvage, or isorla, while under enemy fire. Generally the technicians will call in special recovery vehicles to transport the material once it has been secured, although the R-team's 'Mechs are equipped with hands and nets to manhandle the equipment back to friendly lines if necessary.[8]
https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Star_(Formation)
So 10 Timberwolfs and 5 Hellbringers. got it.
You're going to need a bigger box given the photos you have shared.
Steam: betsuni7
i mean, its ONLY 134 129 clan mechs... i added in 5 elementals for some reason on the spreadsheet
jesus. thats so much plastic. i may have a problem.
But, do you have a Wolves Dragoon pack yet?
well, when it gets here in December, yea
This man must be stopped.
im afraid for when they start rolling out new boxes of product. there are a LOT of IS mechs that need to be made.
There was a day when he was known as having too many virtual mechs... and not one Oosik is surprised that he embraces that in real life. By the end of 2022 I expect he'll have to live in a house that is built from the boxes.
Steam: betsuni7
So you're telling me y'all stood by and let this happen.
I horde so much I couldn't even spend my premium time hours
I know about Wolves, Falcons, Ravens, and Ghost Bear (the former two being mentioned in the novels, and the latter having formally joined with minor powers of the IS).
I don't really remember what happened with the Refusals and Reavings and all that stuff
Clan Sea Fox!
They also have the distinction of being the richest and having the largest military even before the Battle of Terra. They're quite possibly the single most powerful faction in the Inner Sphere in terms of economic and military might.
However, the Clan itself is actually scattered all over the Inner Sphere in nomadic fleets plying their trade.
edit- Also
Scorpion Empire (Clan Goliath Scorpion) - The Goliath Scorpions conquered the Hanseatic League. The League, despite being a Deep Periphery nation, was/is on par with the Inner Sphere technologically and industrially. So the Scorpion Empire is pretty fucking stacked now and with no one to challenge them and their build up.
Clan Hell's Horses - This one is likely to grow quite large now that the Jade Falcons have been Smoke Jaguar'd
Oh
Clan Smoke Jaguar!
edit- To clarify these are Inner Sphere and not Clan Home Worlds. I honestly don't think we'll see Home Worlds Clans any time soon or ever again. They really put an axe in that and a lot of the writers seem to be all the more happy for it.
Home clans are a huge question mark.
In the Inner Sphere there are:
Wolves
Ghost Bears
Snow Ravens
Hells Horses
We also have some of the following remaining:
Smoke Jaguars
Nova Cats (a tiny amount living in the Clan protectorate in the (former) FWL)
Jade Falcons
Outside the Inner Sphere (but not in the Clan homeworlds)
Goliath Scorpions.
Home Clans did include the following:
Coyotes
Star Adders
Stone Lions (the half of Hell’s Horses that didn’t go to the Inner Sphere)
Cloud Cobras
But we don’t really know what has been going on there since the Wars of Reaving ended.
ComStar a registered subsidiary of Clan Sea Fox (this is a joke, but only just)
Comstar had two separate descendants of a Clan Wolverine Bloodline fighting (and dying) at Tukayyid. >.>
Oh, time to add another string to the Conspiracy Wall.
Well he was the first to get the Blake Achievement... So yeah we sort of encouraged his behavior.
Steam: betsuni7
By the Founder!
Er
Blake preserve us!
Ahem, no er I mean,
In Kerensky's name!
Wait, wait. . .
The Dragon shield us!
https://www.sarna.net/wiki/House_Hallis
It may be that they're just revitalizing all the art. Maybe some of these make it to 3D physical objects. Who can say?
Not me, that's for sure. The WD pack has busted my long-range sensors for this stuff from now on.
There's not many left that won't have updated designs. Hermes II is the only one that jumps out at me. I forget, is there a Clint, Quickdraw, or Whitworth in the KS sets? Everything else is in there.
Also, yay for Firestarter and Vulcan representation. More mechs with standard-issue flamers!
I think the Firestarter will be too, because they can probably do an "Omni" variant (I always loved the way the Firestarter Omni looked).
I want Jagermech because Jagermech so hopefully that'll be in there, but there's not really a better known heavy on that list so there's a good chance.
And then probably just the Annihilator (lol "just the anni"), but I guess the Devastator is a possibility.
Also:
OstScout and Ostsol have new art, Ostroc is yet to be.
The 2 Quads (Scorpion and Goliath) are still old, bit there's been a teaser of a Scorpion leg, so that's still in the realm.
(Technically not out until October, but advance copies came out at Gen Con)
THE TIMELINE MOVES FORWARD!
(Not a lot, but just enough.)
What happened to the Falcon OZ?
In and around the OZ, here's the factions that have arisen and staked claims:
Looks like the Falcons split into at least three subfactions. Good! Fuck 'em!
[Edit] Apparently there's another Falcon subfaction, the Turkina Ascendancy. And it promptly gets curbed by the Horses. Lol!
Also, our Mercantile Heroes are here to save the day!
Hooray for economic progress!
Mmmmm, yes.
I am quite interested in picking this one up as the region is very near and dear to my heart.
As to the timeline they have said that they wont release a single book that, say, is set in 3160 and covers all the events of the previous decade. Instead they will release region specific books that inch things along over the next ten years. So we're not likely to see a "current" map for quite some time.
Their reasoning is that they really wanted to be able to focus on and highlight each particular area of the Inner Sphere and get in to the nitty-gritty as opposed to only being able to give a more general outline of events. The novels and short stories will be the main mover of the timeline.
A sourcebook focusing on the FWL is likely next based on what CGL has talked about. The main hold up was that they had three or so ideas of what they want to do and couldn't decide on which one they liked more. Whatever they choose though CGL has mentioned that the FWL is very much going to be the "Chaos March" of the ilClan Era. Essentially a playground for Mercenary players and Narrative Campaigns.
I can see Sea Fox becoming the new ComStar. Not so much in the "puppet master" sense, but more in the ostensibly neutral third party sense. They seem quite keen on ensuring the free flow of info and trade. If for nothing else then to help maximize their own profits.
Yeah, I'm calling the Jagermech an outside favorite. It's a popular 'mech, it's well known, it was in one of the starter boxes. It was in both 3025s, and TRO 3028 (which exists, apparently); it's got new PGI/HBS art; but it doesn't have new TRO/RG art.
The Ostsol is also a heavy and it does have art, and the Ost-mechs as a whole are relatively more or less "heard of" by I think most folks who have ever handled a TRO. And the new design is actually pretty damn alright, tbh.
Also the same way we have a sort of nickname for the "main gun and back up missiles" 55-ton triplets from almost every box set ever (seriously, the beginner box should have just had all three), I think we could similarly use a nickname for the Turret 'mechs (although I guess that is the nickname?)- the Rifleman, the Catapult, and the Jagermech. I like how, with the JM7 70 tonner, that gives us a turret 'mech for 3/4 weight classes in the Heavy category.
Any good 75-ton turret mechs out there?
e: also I'm predicting there's a reasonably good chance that we see "Blackjack Omni" and "Grand Dragon" variants at some point, since I feel like a variant like that is probably a much cheaper investment once you already have a baseline to work off of (I have no really good reason to believe that's true but there it is).
It's the WD variant with LLs and SRMs, apparently.
According to early readers, the Tamar Pact region is now exactly this. None of the factions have the manufacturing base to support long-term defense and existence, so mercenary support is heavily leveraged (even by some of the splinter Falcon factions). And while the Lyrans have the manufacturing base, they don't have the unified political will to enact a mass retaking of worlds in the region. So, sales to the highest bidders instead.
More mercenary playgrounds!
Amazing. Print it.
Then lob off its arms and swap them with a Catapults (though maybe mount the missiles upside down on the Jagermech). You get a 6-A and a -K2
The Periphery is strong with this one.
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Guardia Nazionale del Montefeltro
Clockwise starting on the left going clockwise; Enforcer III ENF-6M, Rakshasa MDG-1A, Mjolnir MLR-B2, Cuirass CDR-1X