32 replies to this topic

[John Martyr]

I'm relatively new to Mechwarrior, and I'm also getting into the Shadowrun, Pathfinder and Hawken communites, as well. I've played my share of the old Mechwarrior games, and I know the best way to learn the lore is to play them.. but well, maybe you guys could give me a quick briefing into the world of Mechwarrior and point me in the direction of other sources I can use to learn about the setting, world, etc. This could be a refreshing topic for you all to unleash your inner fanboy/fangirl because I'm interested and I'd prolly ask A LOT of questions.

Thanks.

Edited by John Martyr, 02 October 2012 - 12:57 PM.

[Redshift2k5]

http://www.sarna.net

Edited by Redshift2k5, 02 October 2012 - 01:34 PM.

[John Martyr]

-.- Yes, but this isn't exactly a newb introduction. I was looking for something more like a synopsis you'd read in a game manual.

Thank you, however.

[Gun Bear]

Check out the faction and game information on the tabs on top of the page, the dev blogs and ask the devs are also good way to get more information. The entire universe however requires a lot of time to learn about and is very in depth.

[The Smith]

There is some good background info available here. http://bg.battletech.com/ I would start by looking at the timelines. After that if you want more detail just look things up individually

[AdmiralCheez]

I'm fairly new too, Mr. Martyr. I must say, the link provided by The Smith contains really nice introductory lore as well as happy fun technobabble.

For example, I just learned that the electrodes in the neurohelmet allow a 'Mech to rely on the pilot's subconscious sense of balance and cooridnation to properly orient itself. It uses your cerebellum as a gyroscope!

Pardon me whilst I engage in severe loregeeking brb...

[Joe3142]

There are four different weight classes of mechs which are:

• Light Mechs
  
• Medium Mechs
  
• Heavy Mechs
  
• Assault Mechs

These four different classes are split into different weight classes aswell which are:

• Light- 20-35 tons
  
• Medium- 40-55 tons
  
• Heavy- 60-75 tons
  
• Assault- 80-100 tons

Usually, light mechs are used for scouting and getting information on enemy mechs, Mediums are a good mix of speed and firepower, Heavys have a good amount of firepower while not being very slow, and Assaults have got extreme firepower, but are the slowest class of mechs.
Mechs have got hardpoints on them, which restricts what weapon types they can carry (Ballistic, Missile, Energy)
The Battlemech can also have its engine fitted out with a new one, but the larger the engine, the heavier. XL engines are also an alternative option, however they cost a **** load of money, and tend to explode easily.

Weapons:

There are three main catogries for weapons which are:

• Energy Weapons (Lasers, Flamers)
  
• Ballistic Weapons (MGs, Autocannons)
  
• Misiile Weapons (LRM, SRM)

There are both advantages and disadvantages with all the classes classes.

• Energy-
  
• Advantages: Do not require ammo
  
• Disadvantages: Generate alot of heat

• Missile Weapons-
  
• Advantages: Dont generate as much heat as energy weapons
  
• Disadvantages: Require Ammo, which can explode when shot

• Ballistic Weapons-
  
• Advantages: Dont generate much heat
  
• Disadvantages: Require Ammo

There are different types of weapons in each of the classes such as:

Energy: Small Laser, Medium Laser, Large Laser (The bigger the weapon the more damage, but more heat)

Ballistic: A/C2, A/C5, A/C,10. A/C20 (The larger the weapon, the less range with A/C weapons (Autocannons)

Missile: LRM5, LRM10, LRM15, LRM20, SRM2, SRM4, SRM6

LRM= Long Range Missile

SRM= Short Range Missile

Hope this helps a little, its just off the top of my head, and I am tierd and about to go to bed

[RagingOyster]

In a nutshell:
-There was the Star League, an interstellar empire uniting all of humanity under the rule of Terra. This lasted for a few hundred years
-Stefan Amaris staged a coup, killed the royal family (the Camerons) and seized power. Aleksandr Kerensky, commander-in-chief of the Star League Defense Forces (SLDF) fought a long and bloody war culminating in the liberation of Terra from Amaris and Amaris' summary execution by Kerensky.
-The various Great Houses began to fight over the power vacuum left in the wake of the deaths of the entire royal family, creating the various Successor States. Kerensky, not wanting the SLDF to be a tool for the power games of the Successors, launches Operation Exodus, taking over 80% of the SLDF and leaving the Inner Sphere
-Hundreds of years of wars between the Successor States destroys much of human civilization; the Successors States blast themselves back to early-21st century tech levels
-ComStar, the communications corporation of the old Star League, is the last bastion of technological advancement in the IS. They control Terra and the IS communication networks and remain neutral in the wars
-Meanwhile, the exiled SLDF has formed a warrior-based society far from the Inner Sphere. Trueborn (genetically engineered) warriors lead a heirarchy of castes. They call themselves the Clans, with each clan named after an animal (Wolf, Ghost Bear, Jade Falcon etc). The Clans have remained on the same tech level as the old Star League, even creating many new technologies.
-In the year 3050 (one year after MWO starts), the Clans initiate Operation Revival: a massive invasion of the Inner Sphere with the intent of reestablishing the Star League. After 2 years of warfare in which the Clans make huge territorial gains, ComStar reveals their secret, highly advanced military arm called ComGuard
-Anastasius Focht, leader of the ComGuards challenges the Clans to a proxy battle for control of Terra. ilKhan Ulric Kerensky, overall leader of the Clans, accepts. In the subsequent Battle of Tukayyid, the ComGuards decisively defeat the Clans, halting the Clan Invasion.

It gets kind of crazy after that. Word of Blake, new Star League, Refusal War etc.
That is BattleTech lore in (very) brief

Edited by RagingOyster, 02 October 2012 - 05:10 PM.

[John Martyr]

@GunBear
Thank you, I will be perusing the website as much as possible over the next hour or so.

@TheSmith
Thanks a lot! This is proving to be very helpful so far. I like the Historicals and the Technical Readouts.

@Joe3142
Thanks. That was very practical. I'm a big techno buff when it comes to mech games.

@RagingOyster
Good summary. You gave me a lot of topics to do some searches on.


I have a few more questions if anyone is willing to lend some help.

1. What kinds of planets are there in MechWarrior? Can every planet be listed in enough time for you to list them all for me? If not, what are the most important ones?
2. What are 3 search terms of MechWarrior concepts I should definately do a search and read up on?

Edited by John Martyr, 04 October 2012 - 09:47 PM.

[Ensaine]

Dude, the Wiki linked above has everything you are asking for......I mean.. did you even look at it?

1: http://www.sarna.net...ategory:Planets
2: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Inner_Sphere
and
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Clans
and
http://www.sarna.net...ory:BattleMechs

Like, the top 3 links on the Wiki main page ....???


As with any wiki...... one can get carried away easily.......have at it.....

Edited by Ensaine, 05 October 2012 - 05:14 AM.

[TheGuv]

I'd just like to thank you guys, it's been years since I've touched Mechwarrior and the info here really helped get me back up to speed

[Kraven Kor]

I would offer the advice of not using that font, ever again, OP

But yeah Sarna has just about all the info you could want or need.

[John Martyr]

Ensaine, on 05 October 2012 - 05:09 AM, said:

Dude, the Wiki linked above has everything you are asking for......I mean.. did you even look at it?

1: http://www.sarna.net...ategory:Planets
2: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Inner_Sphere
and
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Clans
and
http://www.sarna.net...ory:BattleMechs

Like, the top 3 links on the Wiki main page ....???


As with any wiki...... one can get carried away easily.......have at it.....

Instead of mindless reading, I'd rather connect with the community, and ask specific questions. Get involved. Some people learn differently, have you ever thought of that?

Whatever. I'll just go read the wiki.

Edited by John Martyr, 05 October 2012 - 03:52 PM.

[PirateLincoln]

Guys, this is an easy one...

http://www.battletech.com/downloads-2/

The link on the bottom right gives you a PDF of the Universe Guide, which is a nice succinct place to start.

[Aym]

John Martyr, on 02 October 2012 - 01:47 PM, said:

-.- Yes, but this isn't exactly a newb introduction. I was looking for something more like a synopsis you'd read in a game manual.

Thank you, however.

It's like 40K but the Emperor is Alexander Kerensky and the Imperium of Man is the Inner Sphere and it's all political and the Clans are the like Elves, everything you can do they can do better.

[Kraven Kor]

John Martyr, on 05 October 2012 - 03:50 PM, said:

Instead of mindless reading, I'd rather connect with the community, and ask specific questions. Get involved. Some people learn differently, have you ever thought of that?

Whatever. I'll just go read the wiki.

Mindless reading lol. There's some cognizant dissonance for you

I mean, ask away, sure, but it did seem you were asking for a "primer" on the battletech lore; which those links would basically tell you. Without someone here having to re-type it all; even if in short form.

If I had a link to a "cliff's notes" version I'd refer you to that; but I don't know of one.

[Verminaard]

most people who would gladly explain are busy testing the beta, this is a good time for it, and the forums died down a lot when beta became available. So unfortunately you may have to wait awhile and wade through some trolls before you find some talkative people who know a lot. Try the TS servers on "no guts no galaxy" people seem to hang around in there from what i hear.

[Kraven Kor]

John Martyr, on 04 October 2012 - 09:47 PM, said:

1. What kinds of planets are there in MechWarrior? Can every planet be listed in enough time for you to list them all for me? If not, what are the most important ones?

Most planets were terraformed during the golden age of the Star League or whatever, so many are very earth-like. I recall a few exceptions. Lots of planets actually died off entirely after the collapse of the Star League and the Succession Wars as they were either cut off from supplies or expertise to finish terraforming. So you have "Core Worlds" that are fully habitable, terraformed or naturally, and still have heavy industry. Then you have some similar non-core worlds that are not quite as hospitable, as industrialized, or as well preserved as the core worlds, and then periphery worlds which are at least hospitable, but usually not as industrialized or heavily populated - these mostly on the edge of known space, some long forgotten or very technologically retrogressed. Lastly, you have worlds that are strategically important due to location or resources, but not exactly inhabitable or hospitable - worlds still being terraformed, or worlds heavily affected by the Succession Wars. Add to that some worlds that once had important stuff that are long abandoned, forgotten, etc.

Quote

2. What are 3 search terms of MechWarrior concepts I should definately do a search and read up on?

Hard to say? I mean, are you wanting to understand things from a tactical / strategic / gameplay sense? Or more just lore / roleplaying type info? Storyline stuff?

Edited by Kraven Kor, 05 October 2012 - 04:56 PM.

[Kyone Akashi]

I like the idea of this thread. It provides an alternate topic to talk about for a change, and everyone can potentially brush up on their background knowledge.

John Martyr, on 04 October 2012 - 09:47 PM, said:

1. What kinds of planets are there in MechWarrior? Can every planet be listed in enough time for you to list them all for me? If not, what are the most important ones?

There are way too many planets in the Inner Sphere to list them all in a post, especially with detailed information, but here is a map for you: http://www.housekurita.org/InnerSphere.png
A word of warning, though - it takes some time to load.

In terms of types of planets, most colonized planets tend to be somewhat "earthlike", but obviously there are some variances in temparature and gravity. There is/was some terraforming going on, too, but since the tech-level has dropped such projects would probably have become somewhat rare, and on some worlds the population has a great tendency towards mutations due to flawed terraforming.

As far as the most important worlds right now are concerned, there is of course Terra itself (currently under ComStar administration), then the various factions' homeworlds, and the planet of Solaris which is famous for its gladiator-like mech fights that get broadcast all over the Inner Sphere. I recommend looking to sarna for specifics.

John Martyr, on 04 October 2012 - 09:47 PM, said:

2. What are 3 search terms of MechWarrior concepts I should definately do a search and read up on?

Are you referring to Battletech terms, or pilot characters? In case of the former, I would say "Inner Sphere" (which will lead you to the various factions), "BattleMech" (for technological fluff) and "Mercenary" (as this is a role you can play in MWO as well, in case the bigger factions are not for you).

I would recommend reading up on the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere, as well as potentially the Periphery Nations. They have very characterful cultures that may greatly influence your choice of faction for this game!

Also, have fun in your further research - you have taken the first step into a great and thrilling setting with lots of interesting background about awesome battles, high ideals and dirty political schemes. I was fairly new to the franchise as well (only played MechCommander 1 & 2 many years ago but never quite got into it beyond these games), until MWO piqued my interest. Once I started reading, I could not stop - and now I own several books of the tabletop and the RPG, simply because I truly enjoyed absorbing all the detail.

Speaking of these books - the "Handbook" series is a great read once you figured out which faction interests you the most!

Yoroshiku!~

Aym, on 05 October 2012 - 04:34 PM, said:

It's like 40K but the Emperor is Alexander Kerensky and the Imperium of Man is the Inner Sphere and it's all political and the Clans are the like Elves, everything you can do they can do better.

What...
Kerensky was a general, not a political leader. Unlike the IoM, the Inner Sphere is also fragmented in numerous nations with no overarching leadership - unless you are referring to the Star League era, but I'm fairly sure OP would like to know what's going on in the "current" century.

Edited by Kyone Akashi, 05 October 2012 - 05:17 PM.

[Flowing Blade]

@John

Really sorry on the short version of Battletech but the problem is that this universe is incredibly detailed with a huge amount of background and it's incredibly difficult to sum it up in a post, even a long one, which is why people keep refering you to links.

I'll try to sum it up.

Humanity has declined from a Golden Age when the Star League (a cross between the UN and the Royal Family) imploded into civil war with the death of the First Lord. To avoid getting caught up in the Succession Wars, General Kerensky took most of the SLDF (Star League Defence Forces) and left the Inner Sphere. After ~250 years of war, mankind has lost a lot of tech and reverted into a semi-feudal society (mechwarriors being something like knights) with ~21st century tech and fight over critical resources like water, factories and even agricultural worlds. Only the most stringent of sanctions allowed some high tech to survive, for example, attacks on Jumpships would subject the offender to a boycott on transport by non-House owned Jumpships, or attacks on Hyperpulse Generators (HPGs) would be cause for an Interdiction by ComStar, cutting the offender off from interstellar communications, crippling him militarily and economically.

5 Successor States (Steiner, Kurita, Davion, Liao and Marik) still vie for the post of First Lord, but all in all, things were more or less stalemated until Melissa Steiner married Hanse Davion, uniting Steiner and Davion into a "super state". The other 3 States allied in a counterbalance but it was clear that the Federated Commonwealth had a very strong advantage. This lasted only until the arrival/return of a "wild card", the Clans. The Clans are the decendents of the SLDF, returned to reclaim the Inner Sphere from the barbarians. A warlike culture, the original 20 Clans were reduced to 18 (later 17, maybe, it's complicated) as one Clan absorbed another through infighting.

After massive losses, the Inner Sphere managed to blunt the Clan invasion, and with the intervention of ComStar and a proxy battle for Terra where ComStar gambled control for Terra for a 15 year truce, managed to secure a temporary 15 year peace with a close win (3 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw). Currently, we're 1 year just before the Clan invasion. Get ready to be pounded.