23 replies to this topic

[Oni Ralas]

Trying to catch up on the history. The clans are portrayed as being borderline psychotic in some format, but their goal of reunification isn't that far fetched based on the civil unrest of the IS. So are they the bad guys or the good guys?

[Sean Lang]

Knocking on the back door, asking how many the Inner Sphere will bring to the party...

[Joanna Conners]

Oni Ralas, on 08 February 2013 - 09:10 AM, said:

Trying to catch up on the history. The clans are portrayed as being borderline psychotic in some format, but their goal of reunification isn't that far fetched based on the civil unrest of the IS. So are they the bad guys or the good guys?

The answer is something you must determine yourself, but I'm sure this could turn into a twenty page argument for both sides.

[Jakob Knight]

One of the common themes in Battletech is that no group in that universe is completely 'right' or 'wrong'. The Draconis Combine was considered for years the 'bad guys' of the Battletech universe, but it became clear as time went on that they had some very strong points in their favor and that the supposed 'good guys' of the Federated Suns had no small bit of corruption within their own policies.

The Clans are no different. As in almost every one of the Battletech factions, they took some ideal and took it to extremes. The Clans represent Science and the ideals of the Warrior Race ethic stretched to the limit of what might be workable, bringing with that the merciless nature of both when uncontrolled by concern for life. Thus, the Clans have both the virtues of honor and service to their people, but also the blind belief that their ways cannot be wrong and that Man's science will produce the most perfect society.

In that they invade the Inner Sphere and, for all intents and purposes, seek to enslave the rest of Humanity to their way of life through force of arms, they were set up to be the 'bad guys'. But also, by being portrayed as striving to be above petty corruption and a seeking of personal property, they were meant to throw into relief the faults of the Inner Sphere, who have spent centuries squandering their resources and people in attempts to gain power.

[Viper69]

The clans couldnt settle things between themselves so I find it funny they want to try to cleanse the IS.

[Tetatae Squawkins]

Might makes right.

That pretty much sums up all morality in BT.

[Listless Nomad]

A highly militarized, racist, discriminatory society with a well established eugenics program does not sound like a good guy to me.

A despotic, fractured, back stabbing, monarchic society that bombed themselves almost back to the Stone Age doesn't sound like a good guy either.

Huh, maybe BT didn't have any real good guys or bad guys...

[EarlGrey83]

Dont forget that the Clans are deeply divided between the crussaders and wardens.
While the crussaders try to unite the IS by force, the wardens see themselfs as the last defense of humanity against outer foes, and hope to be called back to the IS as the only legitimate army. Quite good intentions i think.

As a society, all clans are described as a fascist caste society, wich doesnt sound all that funny. The personell freedom of clanners varies from clan to clan though; and also does from IS nation to nation.

So, in my opinion: crussaders more on the unfriendly side, wardens missunderstood with good intentions.

[Kraven Kor]

Good? Bad?

I'm the guy with the AC/20.



----

That has always been my favorite aspect of the Battletech Lore - the various factions were not at all one-dimensional. There wasn't "the totalitarian regime vs. the plucky rebels" theme AT ALL. There were fairly well thought out governments and regional politics and, as stated, nobody was devoid of a little dirt beneath their fingernails, or skeletons in their closet.

Edited by Kraven Kor, 08 February 2013 - 11:20 AM.

[Stormwolf]

Every faction is a shade of grey, there is good and bad in all of them.

Except for the Word of Blake, those guys come with doctorates from the university of evil.

[SGT Unther]

I find this depends on the Clan, for example Smoke Jaguar leveled and entire city from orbit to stop the resistance there.

Clan Wolf on the other hand set itself up for heavy fighting in order spare the civilian population of one planet.

There are both good and bad clans, it's kind of like saying all "Russians are bad," I'm not saying Russians are bad (some of my best friends are Russian). But saying all Clans are bad is along those same lines.

Basically there are 2 mindsets to the clans; Warden and Crusader. The Wardens believe they should be the protectors of the Innersphere and should not interfere with it. The Cusaders believe it is their birthright to liberate the Inner Sphere and reform the Star League by any means necessary.

[FupDup]

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

[Kylere]

The first question is which type of clan? Warder or Crusader?

Wussy Falcons or Brave Wolves?

[Grey Black]

Is the 20 something college grad who comes back home to get on his feet who starts demanding you do things their way because he just finished with college and everything he knows is right and everything you know is wrong the good guy or the bad guy? Answer that question and you will have your answer.

[Naja]

So many different views, even within the clans themselves. Take my beloved Wolf-in-Exile, they have vastly different views on who the 'bad guys' are *coughjadefalconcough* to some of the other clans. In short, there is no right or wrong here, just different views on the same situation.

Read a bit of lore, browse through the sarna and decide for yourself. You may find you align better with one side or another, and then you can jump into the ongoing and never ending debate of who is the superior group =P

[Khanahar]

Listless Nomad, on 08 February 2013 - 10:00 AM, said:

A highly militarized, racist, discriminatory society with a well established eugenics program does not sound like a good guy to me.

A despotic, fractured, back stabbing, monarchic society that bombed themselves almost back to the Stone Age doesn't sound like a good guy either.

Huh, maybe BT didn't have any real good guys or bad guys...

Well, maybe not a lot of good guys.

But there are definitely some bad guys.

And yes, all this stuff is super arguable. Which is what makes it awesome! One of my first experience with BT lore was reading a thread by a Marik talking about why he was a Marik. And soon everybody was joining in, saying why they love their House/Clan. I'm a Davion. In real life, would I be a wholehearted supporter of all things Davion? Probably not. 4th Succession War was kind of a travesty. But they appeal the most to my idea of right and wrong, so I like them.

[Joanna Conners]

And if I could make millions driving a walking nuke reactor and risk my life for myself, retiring on some massive yacht on a pleasure planet? I would.

[Stormwolf]

Demona, on 09 February 2013 - 08:32 AM, said:

And if I could make millions driving a walking nuke reactor and risk my life for myself, retiring on some massive yacht on a pleasure planet? I would.

[CG Oglethorpe Kerensky]

Oni Ralas, on 08 February 2013 - 09:10 AM, said:

Trying to catch up on the history. The clans are portrayed as being borderline psychotic in some format, but their goal of reunification isn't that far fetched based on the civil unrest of the IS. So are they the bad guys or the good guys?

Trying to stop the Succession Wars and restore peace and harmony in the Inner Sphere, a noble goal.
Blazing a path of death and destruction towards Terra, not exactly the best course of action in my mind. However it probably makes perfect sense for an elitist warrior caste who handles pretty much everything through violence.

At its core though, the Clans weren't coming back to the Inner Sphere with any lofty goals of stopping the wars and starting a new era of peace and harmony. It was about a desire to become the ilClan, the clan in charge of all other clans, this was a power-grab and not much more. So I am hard pressed to consider the invading clans as anything but 'the bad guys'. That being said Nova Cat, WiE, and Ghost Bear decided to just integrate back into the IS which I feel is a bit more noble than the rest of them

[Natasha Kerensky]

Oni Ralas, on 08 February 2013 - 09:10 AM, said:

Trying to catch up on the history. The clans are portrayed as being borderline psychotic in some format, but their goal of reunification isn't that far fetched based on the civil unrest of the IS. So are they the bad guys or the good guys?

Good guys. I'm not bias here...