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PoptartsNinja posted:Lyran Commonwealth For reference for the thread, Contract C is with the Federation of Skye, which is part of the Lyran Commonwealth but has a history of getting antsy about wanting independence at inopportune moments. Given the time period and that it's a contract to raid the Combine, this contract is probably on the up and up, but it would behoove potential goon votes to bear in mind that the company's employers may not be in complete accord with the mothership. Also potentially concerning given that this company is mainly Lyran in origin.
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Aug 24, 2023 20:39
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SIGSEGV posted:I suppose that's the sort of thing you can GM edit? Technically you don't even need to, all AtB says is "Second Battalion, First Company, Alpha Lance" is assigned, nothing stops you from changing the mechs in that lance around Or just making Steiner scout lances in the first place so it doesn't matter what they choose
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Aug 24, 2023 20:47
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Cythereal posted:For reference for the thread, Contract C is with the Federation of Skye, which is part of the Lyran Commonwealth but has a history of getting antsy about wanting independence at inopportune moments. Given the time period and that it's a contract to raid the Combine, this contract is probably on the up and up, but it would behoove potential goon votes to bear in mind that the company's employers may not be in complete accord with the mothership. The current leader of Skye is Duke Aldo Lestrade IV, a He hates the Draconis Combine more than he loves power; but he loves power a whole lot. While Skye vs. DC contracts are probably on the up-and-up, Duke Lestrade would have absolutely no qualms about suiciding you into the Combine if he thought your deaths would hurt the combine more than they'd hurt his power base.
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Aug 24, 2023 21:10
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Contract D both for the Aurigans and the Special Surprise Inside! I hope its a pair of 3D glasses.
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Aug 24, 2023 21:19
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I'd like to see our HBS Aurigan friends again, so voting D I'd be just as happy with C, too, never a bad time to go beat the stuffing out of some snakes.
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Aug 24, 2023 22:00
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I'm gonna bet that the surprise in D is multiple Taurian nukes on population centers, it's about the only one they know.
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Aug 24, 2023 22:02
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PoptartsNinja posted:He hates the Draconis Combine more than he loves power; but he loves power a whole lot. While Skye vs. DC contracts are probably on the up-and-up, Duke Lestrade would have absolutely no qualms about suiciding you into the Combine if he thought your deaths would hurt the combine more than they'd hurt his power base. Given that C is a liaison, personally I'd make a priority of finding out how much Lestrade likes the liaison officer (or the officer's parents). 
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Aug 24, 2023 22:07
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So, not the Kuritans as a mercenary. No way, no how. Eesh. I think I'd vote C as the best of a bad bunch. Let's not run out to the Periphery just yet. I don't think we're that hard up on cash (or reputation).
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Aug 24, 2023 22:25
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Thanks for the clarifications. Throwing in a vote for C then.
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Aug 24, 2023 22:33
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PoptartsNinja posted:The current leader of Skye is Duke Aldo Lestrade IV, a Aldo is also very mad that his cousin Grethar Lestrade, who is the current Duke of Skye, adopted a child to succeed him rather than name Aldo his heir. Grethar's still alive at this time so Aldo is a little less secure in his position than he is after 3022, when Grethar dies in a car crash and suddenly there's nobody to oppose Aldo.
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Aug 24, 2023 23:27
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D The Aurigancrats!
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Aug 24, 2023 23:27
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I like the aurigan reach but B sounds like some wild fun. Be champions
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Aug 24, 2023 23:29
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i dont think we really need to be worried about how the houses are going to treat us just yet
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Aug 24, 2023 23:36
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Space Kablooey posted:i dont think we really need to be worried about how the houses are going to treat us just yet -merc about to get trashed by the combine
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Aug 25, 2023 00:30
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The big downside to C that I'm seeing is it's a planetary raid. Means you're going to have minimal support and your techs are going to be tossing ropes over tree branches to hoist your mechs up for repair
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Aug 25, 2023 01:32
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Voting for C because it sounds like a fun place to get stuck in; and the pay isn't so bad, the risk sounds like it should be manageable. A sounds like a disaster, B sounds like a fun disaster, and D sounds great but also involves babysitting.
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Aug 25, 2023 01:50
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Captain Foo posted:-merc about to get trashed by the combine surely the gm isnt going to screw us over like that in the second contract... right...?
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Aug 25, 2023 02:03
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Second contract is the second most common place for a merc company to end.
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Aug 25, 2023 02:23
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Space Kablooey posted:i dont think we really need to be worried about how the houses are going to treat us just yet Mercs in BattleTech live and die by their reputations. The Great Houses do take notice of random companies of BattleMechs wandering around the galaxy, and tend to determine whether they're an asset or a threat. Most mercenary companies go under in five years or less, either by going broke or by getting permanently hired by a House or other power group. So far, Sterling and Sable have done good work for the Free Worlds League in an independent command. Pros and Cons for each contract in this goon's armchair analysis: Contract A - Undermined Draconis Combine, Planetary Defense, Liaison, fighting Federated Suns and Combine rebels Pros: Best pay and if you want to get in Kurita's good books, this is probably the best possible scenario for mercenaries. Good chance at getting good salvage, the AFFS tend to be well equipped. Cons: Kurita's generally not a great House to butter up for mercenaries (this is the land of the moustache helicopters), they will likely make the company earn prizes the hard way, and this will be a black mark in Davion's books (which may transfer to Steiner's if this campaign lasts long enough). Contract B - Blood and Circuses Illyrian Palatinate, Tournament, Independent, fighting ??? Pros: A mystery box in both prizes and opponents. Anyone could turn up and be impressed. Cons: A mystery box in both prizes and opponents. Anyone could turn up and be pissed off. Contract C - Cold Reception Federation of Skye, Planetary Raid, Liaison, fighting Draconis Combine Pros: Impresses a part of the wealthiest Successor State, which may or may not transfer to the Commonwealth at large, good mix of rewards, theoretically likely the most impressive if goons pull it off. Cons: Higher than normal chance of the client pulling a fast one, will anger the Combine, probably the lowest odds of getting quality salvage Contract D - Boot Camp Aurigan Coalition, Training, House command, ?non-lethal exercises? Pros: Good chance of being the safest option, strong possibility of good salvage that might even be LosTech Cons: Highly subject to the whims and fuckery of a minor Periphery state, might not get any good salvage, has 'trap' written all over it.
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Aug 25, 2023 02:24
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The real pro to working for Kurita is getting all of Steiner's sweet sweet Flashmans
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Aug 25, 2023 02:56
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I mean I get it, but I'm just not that convinced that, at this point, it would be worth it for the bigger powers to gently caress us over for no reason (other than using us as fodder, which contract A is all about). I think for now we're just too unknown to have someone higher up to gun for us. .Maybe I'm mixing up my settings, but isn't there a merc board that oversees merc contracts so either party doesn't get screwed over? I'll defer to you guys, but i think for now it's a little too much 5D chess to worry too much about those things
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Aug 25, 2023 03:21
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The Mercenary Review Board. It's basically just a ComStar run binding arbitration committee that rules against the big houses about as often as the real world versions rule against their controlling corporations. It's biggest benefit is the prisoner exchange and bonding services so a properly registered company can get pows back. And obviously if you get your mrb rating up you can get juicier contracts, but don't expect it to save you if Davion decides that sacrificing your company is in it's best interest
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Aug 25, 2023 03:29
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The choices here all look pretty interesting! I'm going to throw a vote to A though. It has the highest pay, it's likely to have a decent selection of salvage, good chance of support likely to have better facilities for repairs than C.
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Aug 25, 2023 04:00
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Azhais posted:Flashmans  Love me some Flashmans
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Aug 25, 2023 05:17
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I'm torn between C and D for all the reasons everyone has already posted. I want to go D because of the HBS connection, but it's obviously a trap and "House" command means the trap could really backfire. Scintilla, does house command extends to the unit's BattleMechs even if this is an entirely virtual training contract? C sounds like the financially best choice of not too audacious. However, do we own our own DS? Like, if we're raiding behind the lines, what's the extraction plan?
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Aug 25, 2023 05:17
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Space Kablooey posted:surely the gm isnt going to screw us over like that in the second contract... right...? Honestly, we're still at the stage where the company can collapse pretty quickly without me pulling any shenanigans. Once the company gets properly established, though... Amechwarrior posted:I want to go D because of the HBS connection, but it's obviously a trap and "House" command means the trap could really backfire. Scintilla, does house command extends to the unit's BattleMechs even if this is an entirely virtual training contract? Yes, but the only reason that would matter is if something happened that required the company to physically deploy its mechs... Amechwarrior posted:C sounds like the financially best choice of not too audacious. However, do we own our own DS? Like, if we're raiding behind the lines, what's the extraction plan? The Lyrans will provide a DropShip. The plan is to land in a concealed location and use the ship as the company's base of operations. The liaison will also be on-world with you. Scintilla fucked around with this message at 05:37 on Aug 25, 2023 |
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Aug 25, 2023 05:30
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I would have mad respect for the twist on the training mission being that everything goes right for once and no real assets ever need to get deployed. Not sure exactly how the liaisons operate, but in menu item C the liaison is going to be Lyran, which might mean a better chance of him or her having some real hardware and being an asset instead of just an rear end.
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Aug 25, 2023 05:59
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D
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Aug 25, 2023 06:36
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aniviron posted:Not sure exactly how the liaisons operate, but in menu item C the liaison is going to be Lyran, which might mean a better chance of him or her having some real hardware and being an asset instead of just an rear end. Using the 2028 Steiner list from my copy of the Random Assignment and Rarity Tables, the most likely medium Mech picks would be:
I doubt we're getting a light or heavy Mech assignment with the liaison officer. I'd be fine with any of the assignments above aside from the Vulcan and Blackjack.
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Aug 25, 2023 06:46
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Gotta go with C. The Lyrans have their issues, but they're by far the least likely to screw us over. Though once we're done I'd advise against accepting any suspiciously enticing contracts from the Dracs. I'm no expert on mercenary relations in Battletech, but isn't it generally a good idea to not poo poo where you eat? i.e. don't take contracts that will pit you against your most recent employer, and avoid job offers from the people you were just shooting at.
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Aug 25, 2023 10:34
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From what I remember of the fluff, it isn't unheard of for some of the factions to be perfectly happy to hire "enemy" mercenaries once a contract's up. If you fought well enough against them to notice, surely you'll be an asset! More importantly, the enemy won't have your services now.
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Aug 25, 2023 12:32
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Gnoman posted:From what I remember of the fluff, it isn't unheard of for some of the factions to be perfectly happy to hire "enemy" mercenaries once a contract's up. If you fought well enough against them to notice, surely you'll be an asset! More importantly, the enemy won't have your services now. This exact thing happens in Mech Commander 2. You spend the first third of the game smashing the Capellans and their various cats-paws, leaving them so depleted the Mandrissa is forced to hire you once your contract with House Steiner runs out. The first mission briefing is pretty funny, with the Mandrissa wryly noting that she doesn't need to see your resume since she's witnessed your competence firsthand.
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Aug 25, 2023 13:55
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D. We are well equipped and prepared to run a training programme. Should be a nice breather after the Prowlers.
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Aug 25, 2023 14:11
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C is the financially sound choice. So my vote is for D because I want to see where this goes. 50% BLC and it's the perfect place to let the new pilots integrate in a low intensity environment. Than and a mystery box prize at the end intrigues me. It could be anything, even a boat!
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Aug 25, 2023 17:03
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Amechwarrior posted:C is the financially sound choice. So my vote is for D because I want to see where this goes. 50% BLC and it's the perfect place to let the new pilots integrate in a low intensity environment. Than and a mystery box prize at the end intrigues me. It could be anything, even a boat! I'll agree with this. I approve of contract d! Why play optimal when you can play fun?
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Aug 25, 2023 17:08
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Alright, so it looks like Cold Reception and Boot Camp have opened up a pretty decisive lead, so I'll say a little bit more about them. Contract C, aka Cold Reception, is a planetary raid. The pay and salvage rights are pretty generous, but there are caveats. The company will be cut off from external supply lines once the DropShip lands, and will have to conduct repairs in the vessel's transport bays rather than a proper repair facility. This will negatively impact repair rolls, and means that replacement parts cannot be shipped in easily. I may allow a single resupply run halfway through the contract, but don't take that as a given. On the flipside, the Lyran liaison is a hands-on kind of gentleman who is perfectly willing to suit up and join the fray directly if the need arises. Contract D, aka Boot Camp, is a training / garrison mission. This is a fairly safe contract; battles will be simulated and/or conducted so that no actual battle damage or pilot injuries are sustained for the most part. The OpFor will be the same for each mission, but will gain skills and special abilities as the battles progress (ie a 5/6 pilot becoming a 4/5 pilot). Maquis Decimis's expedition is targeting the El Empecinado, a derelict SLDF Overlord-class DropShip that was crippled over Panzyr II during the Reunification War. The debris surrounding the vessel has now thinned enough to make a salvage run possible, and the excursion will take place roughly halfway through the contract.
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Aug 25, 2023 18:27
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Scintilla posted:On the flipside, the Lyran liaison is a hands-on kind of gentleman who is perfectly willing to suit up and join the fray directly if the need arises. But what's the Liaison officer's rank?
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Aug 25, 2023 18:58
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D
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Aug 25, 2023 19:05
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PoptartsNinja posted:But what's the Liaison officer's rank? He is Hauptmann Heinrich Stanier of the Fourth Skye Rangers!
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Aug 25, 2023 19:14
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i can imagine the "contract" for mission B is a pamphlet/tv ad that one of the Yeoung twins stumbled upon one day and told Jenna
Space Kablooey fucked around with this message at 19:19 on Aug 25, 2023 |
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Aug 25, 2023 19:17
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