19 replies to this topic

[Mahpsy]

I've always loved playing Mechwarrior games my whole life for as long as I could remember but I never even glanced at the background story until now. I'm looking for a quick explanation (or detailed) just so I can get caught up and also see if there is a faction in particular that I would feel like joining.

[Stickjock]

Battletech History

[Stormwolf]

I'd take Sarna with a grain of salt though, it's not all 100% correct.

[verybad]

The Draconis Combine is here to save the day. Everyone else are a bunch of cowardly, dishonorable fools that want to steal your worlds and make you stop eating sushi for breakfast. Lets team up and behead them!

[Stickjock]

But, failing buying a lot of books or finding them online... it's a good place to start... decent account of what went on and descriptions of the different Houses in MW:O...

EDIT - verybad... you're just saying that because of you Houses "Kill on Sight" standing orders for us Mercs...

Edited by Stickjock, 05 August 2012 - 11:36 AM.

[George Ledoux]

Start with the book, "The Far Country" by Peter L. Rice.
It's the quintessential Battletech Universe lore sourcebook.

[Milkman Luke]

Screw backstory. Come join the internet robot underdogs in House Liao!

[Mahpsy]

Stickjock, on 05 August 2012 - 11:31 AM, said:

Battletech History

Yeah I found this link before but that is slightly overwhelming in details. I'm more looking for things like what are the difference between the factions, how do they differ from one another, what are their goals, etc.

[Stormwolf]

Milkman Luke, on 05 August 2012 - 11:39 AM, said:

Screw backstory. Come join the internet robot underdogs in House Liao!

Benefits include:
- Crazy leaders who will get you killed
- Hostile neighboring nations with far bigger armies
- House Liao produced one of the most skilled warriors ever........but he's been in living in a seceded nation and hates the current leadership.

Edited by Stormwolf, 05 August 2012 - 11:45 AM.

[verybad]

George Ledoux, on 05 August 2012 - 11:38 AM, said:

Start with the book, "The Far Country" by Peter L. Rice.
It's the quintessential Battletech Universe lore sourcebook.

You are an evil, evil man. Have you thought about joining the DCMS?

We offer free burials!

Edited by verybad, 05 August 2012 - 11:47 AM.

[MuffinTop]

Here is your reading assignement, so grab a drink and the cat and let it nap on your lap.

[Stormwolf]

MuffinTop, on 05 August 2012 - 11:47 AM, said:

Here is your reading assignement, so grab a drink and the cat and let it nap on your lap.

That is pretty much the best starting point.

[Mahpsy]

MuffinTop, on 05 August 2012 - 11:47 AM, said:

Here is your reading assignement, so grab a drink and the cat and let it nap on your lap.

Thank you, this was the type of thing i was looking for

[Kreltius]

verybad, on 05 August 2012 - 11:34 AM, said:

The Draconis Combine is here to save the day. Everyone else are a bunch of cowardly, dishonorable fools that want to steal your worlds and make you stop eating sushi for breakfast. Lets team up and behead them!

lol House Kurita is corrupted just as much as the other houses

[Doc McKenna]

Well stenier has a tradtion of strong economics and heavy mechs but inept commanders, Marik is always stuck in civil war, Kurita is villian 1 with honour and skill, Rasalhague is the russian ukranian area that split from Kurita but will be entirely destroyed in 3 years time from the clans, Liao is villian 2 but uses dirty tricks and has no hnour, they are a major underdog after losing much territory to Davion during the fourth succession war, and the defection of the St Ives compact. Davion is a mary sue character, best scientist, best spies, largest area etc.

Comstar isn't mention but its the neutral group that keep the inter stellar communication available. They stopped the clans with their conservation of technology after the first succession war. Then there are the periphery states and pirate kingdoms. Do some readin it is actually very interesting. Though I am told a lot of the stuff I know was retconned into the abyss.

[Steven Dixon]

George Ledoux, on 05 August 2012 - 11:38 AM, said:

Start with the book, "The Far Country" by Peter L. Rice.
It's the quintessential Battletech Universe lore sourcebook.

Did Duncan Fisher just troll us.....lol

Battletech does have an interesting backstory and lore though. It's filled with politics and war and a sort of primitive-futuristic setting that is somewhat reminiscent to Dune. You may even want to consider some of the novels. I've read virtually all of them (I'm a prolific reader) and actually several of them are pretty good.

[verybad]

Revak Vendal, on 05 August 2012 - 12:01 PM, said:

lol House Kurita is corrupted just as much as the other houses

At least we don't sell our elders to pirates like Lyrans are rumoured to do (I saw that on Late Night Luthien News, so I know it's true)

We're fighting to reconstruct the Star League under an honorable, house. Unlike you merchant dogs that just think they can buy victory, and believe you can win wars by packing untrained "warriors" into assault mechs, then are surprised when you are outmaneuvered.

[Rorik Thrumsalr]

House Kurita (Draconis Combine) - Japanese culture with a large Arabic subdivision
House Davion (Federated Suns) - Western Europe / North American culture
House Liao (Capellan Confederation) - Chinese culture with a large Russian subdivision
House Marik (Free Worlds League) - European, North and Central American culture
House Steiner (Lyran Commonwealth) - Germanic, Western culture
Free Rasalhague Republic - Scandinavian Culture with some Japanese
Comstar - Mixed (recruited from everywhere)

Those are the Major players for now, barring the clans and periphery nations.

[Milkman Luke]

In terms of quick and dirty themes

House Kurita (Draconis Combine) - Space samurai douchebags
House Davion (Federated Suns) - Bullying space snobs
House Liao (Capellan Confederation) - Space punching bag
House Marik (Free Worlds League) - Infighting space arms dealers
House Steiner (Lyran Commonwealth) - Rich space slobs
Free Rasalhague Republic - The most idealistic speedbump in space
Comstar - Space AT&T

[verybad]

Milkman Luke, on 05 August 2012 - 01:14 PM, said:

In terms of quick and dirty themes

House Kurita (Draconis Combine) - Space samurai douchebags That's not a very fair assesment of the Draconis Combine. There are douchebags in every nation.. The Drac's tend to focus on somewhat more maneuverable mechs, sacrificing firepower if necessary. Oddly enough, they don't really use mediums that much, The Draconis Combine is one of the poorer nations, it's mechwarriors tend to be a bit more skilled, but their commands are sometimes flawed through overloyalty to protocol.
House Davion (Federated Suns) - Bullying space snobs Like their dakka. Very fond of autocannons. They're always on a high-horse, but not quite as white knight as they proclaim.
House Liao (Capellan Confederation) - Space punching bag Sneaky. Tend to build good electronics mechs (eg Raven) They suffered from House Davion favoritism amongst the writers for battletech, however they're on their way back up in 3049.
House Marik (Free Worlds League) - Infighting space arms dealers A mishmosh of cultures, Probably the most democratic of the great house nations. Also one of the hardest to define. It's a complex conglomerate of smaller states.
House Steiner (Lyran Commonwealth) - Rich space slobs. Assault mech lovers. They are good at defence, but thei overall mass of their armies leads them to being somewhat poor at maneuver.
Free Rasalhague Republic - The most idealistic speedbump in space. Space Vikings. They don't get truly killed off, and eventually the Ghost Bears (An invading Clan) Merge with them, making the resulting Rasalhage Dominion one of the stronger Inner Sphere nations.
Comstar - Space AT&T (and they've got all sorts of plans for taking your money) These are the "Corporate Nation" They're actually more evil than anyone out there. (At least the Old School ComStar guys are)

Just wanted to add to your largely true descriptions.

Just remember, ALL the great houses are vast empires spanning hundreds of worlds. They're all 9except the Rasalhaguians) over half a millenium old.