26 replies to this topic

[Dr Killinger]

I've never really gotten to know what defines each faction. I've heard talk of the brute force that Steiner (I think?) uses, but I'm not sure about the rest? It looks like the FRR are kind of like Vikings, which is awesome, but I'm not sure of their tactics and how they get the job done. Can someone give me a very quick breakdown of the 6 factions in MWO? I've read their relevant Sarna.net articles, but they all just ramble on about politics... I want to know how these guys play!

[MaddMaxx]

From the Search Engine of the MWO Forums:

Posted 24 January 2012 - 02:14 AM
Lyrans = Robber merchants meet the US economic machine (this is what keeps them going)
Dracs = Feudal Japan, some Chinese elements
Davion = Feudal France, with a huge almost Aussie area. It is even called the Outback.
Liao = Feudal China with elements of Communist China. Do NOT mess with the Death Commandos.
FRR = Scandinavian kingdoms after seceding from the Combine
FWL = Odd mix of patchwork states. Very central Europe. It is also one of the last places where the Romanian and Hindu languages survive.

Go Periphery. I like the Taurian Concordat, but I worry about the growing paranoia of our rulers.

[Dr Killinger]

Don't know ow I missed that -.- I have a very hit-or-miss relationship with forum searches, thanks.

[MaddMaxx]

Not a problem. I was looking for a Post someone made that was very in-depth about the whole cultural make up of the Houses. Could not locate it on such short notice sadly. The synopsis version should get you started.

Edited by MaddMaxx, 16 February 2012 - 12:17 PM.

[KaiserSoze]

MaddMaxx, on 16 February 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

From the Search Engine of the MWO Forums:

Posted 24 January 2012 - 02:14 AM
Lyrans = Robber merchants meet the US economic machine (this is what keeps them going)
Dracs = Feudal Japan, some Chinese elements
Davion = Feudal France, with a huge almost Aussie area. It is even called the Outback.
Liao = Feudal China with elements of Communist China. Do NOT mess with the Death Commandos.
FRR = Scandinavian kingdoms after seceding from the Combine
FWL = Odd mix of patchwork states. Very central Europe. It is also one of the last places where the Romanian and Hindu languages survive.

Go Periphery. I like the Taurian Concordat, but I worry about the growing paranoia of our rulers.

You are allowed to be paranoid, you have the Capellans as neighbors....

[Convaras Bloodskorn]

Well, you mentioned the FRR, and so I'll least give you an idea there

The FRR, as you've ascertained, broke off from the Combine after being under their vile oppression for centuries. During that time they were particularly troublesome, revolting and raising trouble through resistance and guerrilla combat. Then less than roughly two decades after declaring independence they were greeted with the clan invasion.

In that context, look at it like this: they're founded in rebellion and resistance, and the majority of their exposed timeline has them bordering huge military powers and locked in combat to maintain (or at least not completely lose) their borders.

In short: Fierce (driven by strong nationalism), drunken, resistance and guerrilla combat.

Edited by Convaras Bloodskorn, 16 February 2012 - 12:32 PM.

[Phelan Adam Davion]

all in all it`s the story of mankind... and of a few charakters

the story of the Inner Sphere is a story about changes... Steiner turns from sympathetic to evil, Davion turns from devious to good, Dracos turn from intolerant to (a bit more) tolerant, Clans turn from Crusaders to Wardens, Liaos turn from viable to extremly crazy on the one hand and very competend on the other etc...

there are hundreds of planets with billions of people... The Battletech Universe teaches that wherever you are and whatever you fight for - in the end we are all the same.

you are just born where you are just born... some can change their fate, and some can not.

a powerful leader of the Inner Sphere becomes a gardener... a mercenary becomes a great Clan Leader... a good daughter becomes an evil bitch...

a typical daily soap

[Garth Erlam]

We have an update planned that will help with this: ETA - soon.

[Aegis Kleais]

Garth Erlam, on 16 February 2012 - 12:48 PM, said:

We have an update planned that will help with this: ETA - soon.

You are beginning to sound like Valve. Time will tell if that's good or bad.

[Dr Killinger]

Seriously, I've never had someone "official" reply to any of my posts on any forum in the history of the internet. This is why this game is going to be brilliant, so involved with the community thanks!

I must admit, I just chose the Steiner avatar because of the Battletech cartoon. I was that weird kid that drew Steiner fists on everything at school. My dictionary from grade 5 had a Catapult on it (and I still have it).

[Omigir]

One thing I never got, is the Dragon for hundreds and hundreds of years has been China's royal symbole, how the hell did the Draconis combine get it!? And what is the Liaos symbol? An amr armwrestling a sword? And the sword winning? are swords how you beat them!? : \

Edited by Omigir, 16 February 2012 - 01:08 PM.

[Stormwolf]

Here's what you need to know:

Houses

Federated Suns: Supposed "good guy" faction that actually starts most of the wars, though Hanse Davion was pretty cool.

Lyran Commonwealth: Space Germany/Austria with a preference for assault mechs.

Federated Commenwealth: The combination of the above two.

Draconis Combine: Feudal era Japan with samurais in mechs set in SPACE!!!! They were pretty much a bad guy faction in the early days.

Cappellan Confederation: Small Chinese based faction with rulers that are ready for the loony bin.

Free Worlds League: Dysfunctional collection of states that are led by a peaceloving guy who only means well....


Clans

Clan Wolf: Hero faction among the Clans, they want to halt the invasion because they are really nice.

Clan Jade Falcon: A evil Clan who will make you wear green when it is no longer fashionable, they are also good with birds.

Clan Ghost Bear: A strong Clan with a love for mercenaries. I advise all mercs to fight these guys, they tend to go soft on you guys.

Clan Smoke Jaguar: Also known as Clan Ghandi, peace and understanding are their forte. No aggression here folks.

Clan Nova Cat: Famous for mech that hasn't been invented yet, there might also be catgirls among their numbers...

Clan Steel Viper: Founded by a lady who was a really, really, really good friend of Nic Kerensky, her friendship was so strong that they had to kill her.


Others:

Comstar: The phone company, nothing to see here.

Wolf's Dragoons: Not a Clan Wolf scouting force, just answer their questions and go about your bussiness.

Gray Death Legion: Founded by a guy who started out muddy clothes and shoes one size too small, now he has his own army.

Northwind Highlanders: Overpaid mercs in skirts.

Snords Irregulars: Not connected to Clan Wolf or Wolf's Dragoons, just show them where the old Star League caches are.

Kell Hounds: Founded by two brothers, and then one of them came down with a sudden case of death. Strong unit though.

Ryan's Rebels: Pirates led by a guy in leather pants, based on a planet called Butte Hold.

Oberon Confederation: Like Ryan's Rebels, only bigger better and actually organized.

Edited by Stormwolf, 16 February 2012 - 01:30 PM.

[IxxxI]

Omigir, on 16 February 2012 - 01:06 PM, said:

One thing I never got, is the Dragon for hundreds and hundreds of years has been China's royal symbole, how the hell did the Draconis combine get it!? And what is the Liaos symbol? An amr armwrestling a sword? And the sword winning? are swords how you beat them!? : \

As usual it's all about phallic symbols and Freud's theory:
Liao have no problems - hand and sword symbolize harmony, Yin & Yang in some way). Triangle and green (jade) color mean balance as well.
Steiners have some issues - only empty fist - that's symbolize unbalanced temper, I guess. Square shield speaks of solid base.
Davions have only straight phallic symbol and sun on round field - that's cyclic egocentric pursuit for domination caused by unbalanced temper of another kind.
The most mournful situation is at FRR and DC, the snake is definitely phallic symbol, but its curved line... At least Kurita are in circle and eager for blood and attention. Rasalhague is too angular, like a teen in the middle of puberty (maybe just waiting for a prince on a white bear?).
What to say about FWL? Purple eagle is symbol of pure faith, it symbolize the struggle of spiritual desires, no space for normal human desires left there, only anxiety :*(

Excuse me my frivolity

Edited by IxxxI, 16 February 2012 - 01:56 PM.

[Phelan Adam Davion]

I love you for that Stormwolf
Space Germany and Clan Gandhi were the best.

besides.... ermmm, you shouldn`t trust that guy Doctor!
another important note for you:
what you know from childhood is not "Steiner" - its FedCom.
The Federated Commonwealth is a symbiosis of Steiner and Davion by marriage (so its the Steiner-Fist in front of the Davion-Sun). Later it will be Steiner and Davion again.

[Graefin Zeppelin]

Ah actualy Liao is a mix of Chinese, Russians and Scotts.

Davion is very much Anglosaxon with French included.

Edited by Graefin Zeppelin, 16 February 2012 - 01:50 PM.

[Petroff Northrup]

Don't forget the noticeable Russian influences in DC or their Arab minorities.

Each faction can be broken down simply or in insanely complex ways, there are no good guys or bad guys, no light or dark, there is only the war taking place within the shades of grey across of the Inner Sphere, there are a thousand retellings of a single story, and a thousand lives ended every minute on a thousand worlds in a place that for centuries has never known peace, merely the time between wars.

[Strum Wealh]

From a previous post I made on a similar topic (dealing mainly with languages more than nationalities):

Strum Wealh, on 09 December 2011 - 02:51 PM, said:

The major divisions of the Inner Sphere are defined by the five Successor States (feudal nation-states that once composed a UN-like body called the Star League), each ruled by one of the Great Houses. They are:

Federated Suns:
Ruled by: House Davion
Government: Constitutional Aristocracy (Western European feudal stylings)
Dominant Language(s): English (official), French, German
Dominant Religion(s): Christianity (Interfaith Church), Buddhism, Judaism

Lyran Commonwealth:
Ruled by: House Steiner
Government: Constitutional Monarchy (with German feudal stylings)
Dominant Language(s): English and German (official), Scottish Gaelic, Italian, French
Dominant Religion(s): Christian (Protestant), Judaism, Muslim

Draconis Combine:
Ruled by: House Kurita
Government: Military Dictatorship (with Japanese feudal stylings)
Dominant Language(s): Japanese (official), Arabic, English
Dominant Religion(s): Shinto (official), Buddhism, Islam

Capellan Confederation:
Ruled by: House Liao
Government: Dictatorship (with Chinese feudal stylings)
Dominant Language(s): Chinese (Mandarin, official), Chinese (Cantonese), Russian, English, Hindi
Dominant Religion(s): Buddhism, Taoism, Hindu

Free Worlds League:
Ruled by: House Marik
Basis: multicultural, with strong European, American and Indian influences
Government: Representative Democracy (mixture of regional and federal authorities with great autonomy for its component regions)

At this point in the timeline (late 3040s), the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth are united (by the marriage of their respective rulers, Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner) into one state called the Federated Commonwealth.

Other Inner Sphere powers include the Free Rasalhague Republic (between the Lyran side of the FedCom and the Combine), the St. Ives Compact (between the FedSuns side of the FedCom and the Confederation), ComStar (the organization that controls the interstellar comunications network and located on Terra/Earth, at the center of the Inner Sphere), and the Periphery Realms (located at the edges of the Inner Sphere).

The Clans are the descendants of the self-exiled bulk (~80%) of the original Star League's military who left (with much of their advanced military equipment) for deep space following the collapse of the Star League government. There are a number of Clans, with each organized into a very rigid military caste system (the castes are Warrior, Technician, Scientist, Merchant, and Laborer; the outlaws/rebels/undesirables form an unofficial "Bandit Caste"), and having been lead by the Russian-descended general Alexandr Kerensky (named after a real-world historical figure) and his son Nicholas Kerensky (who actually founded the Clans as the society we know today), their speech is mostly English with a mixture of radio-shorthand-friendly terms ("aff" for "affirmative"/"yes", "neg" for "negative"/"no", and such), shortenings of common words/phrases ("ristar" for "rising star", "powless" for "powerless", and such; of interest is the fact that Clansmen generally frown on the use of contractions, despite the use of such shorthand) and the Kerenskys' native Russian (the name of the Clan capital world, Strana Mechty, is actually Russian for "Land of Dreams").

To expand on the second-to-last paragraph: I would say that the FRR represents Scandinavia and northern Europe, St. Ives represents Taiwan, the Periphery Realms collectively represent the "Developing World", and ComStar is essentially a combination of the Illuminati, the Vatican, and phone companies, and the postal services.

To expand on the last paragraph: I would say that the Clans collectively represent the "great conquering hordes" of the past (e.g. the Mongols under Genghis Khan, the Macedonians under Alexander III, the Romans during the expansion of the Roman Empire, and so on), while each Clan individually represents a separate society - the Ghost Bears are generally thought to be Scandinavian (like the FRR, with whom they later merged), the Smoke Jaguars are thought to represent (stereotypes of) the warrior tribes of Africa's past (most notably the Zulu Kingdom), the Nova Cats are thought to have been modeled on (stereotypes of) Native American societies, and so on.

Also, this post by CaveMan (and the post immediately following it) explains a bit more about the Clans' socio-economic structure.

Edited by Strum Wealh, 16 February 2012 - 06:17 PM.

[Bianca Flowers]

as mentioned in that last post, there are significant minorities in each state.

The Draconis Combine, while adopting primarily a Feudal Japanese mindset, they are not all that ethnically Japanese (the in-universe perfect Samurai, Minobu Tetsuhara, is actually of African-American ancestry), although the ruling Kurita family is ethnically Japanese. In addition to the Japanese overtones, there were strong minorities of Arabs (seen in the Arkab Legion, and Duke Ricol), South Asians (on Hachiman), and scandinavians in the sections that became the free Rassalhague Republic.

Steiner, while primarily German, has a significant scottish minority (The Isle of Skye planets, near Terra). Skye is restless at least partially because of the cultural differences, and partly because it used to be part of the Terran Hegemony. In addition, between 3000 and 3075, there were 6 different Archons, from three unrelated branches of the Steiner family. only *one* of those transitions was peaceful. Allesandro Steiner was deposed by Katrina, her daughter Melissa inherited the throne. Melissa was assassinated by her daughter Katherine, who also deposed her brother, Victor. Brother lead a civil war, but defered to his younger brother Peter, who gained the throne. Peter was killed in the Jihad, and Adam Steiner (the guy from the cartoon, and a very successful General) was his named successor

[Bianca Flowers]

The Free Worlds is made up entirely of Minorities. The Marik family is Greek, but there are dozens of sub-states and ethnic groups, including the 'cowboys and indians' of the Gallesto trinity worlds, roma, south asia, latin america, etc. while it is technically a representative democracy, its been a defacto Military dictatorship, with the Marik family in charge 'for the duration of the emergency' -- said emergency has lasted nearly 300 years. Marik seems to specialize in civil wars, with one in 3014, guerrilla action in the 3020s (heavily supported by Davion), a rebellion in the 3030s, and another civil war in the mid 3040s. The whole nation collapsed into petty statelets in 3070.



Hose Li

[Arnold Carns]

Stormwolf, on 16 February 2012 - 01:27 PM, said:

Here's what you need to know:

Clan Nova Cat: Famous for mech that hasn't been invented yet, there might also be catgirls among their numbers...

IMHO more famous for their unusual behaviour to resolve their Trials of Possession. I remember one being a Soccer match, another a drinking competition and the most famous being a cointoss. Where the Nova Cat called "rim". Once they get the Clans in, they have to make up some special Minigames to take in account the unusual "fighting style" of the Cats.
Imagine a battefield where it's almost peaceful, 'Mechs stand deaktivated all around and the "combatants" gather around a table playing Poker, Black Jack or a boardgame named BattleDroids... errr BattleTech.