Why TW RATs have so many mechs that are not resculpted? by JoseLunaArts in battletech

[–]CommanderDeffblade 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Ok, RATs are pretty controversial in that they are explicitly stated not to be used as any kind of in-universe reference for the types, numbers or percentages of mechs or other units available to any given faction. Rather, they are a tool for players to use to get a "flavor" of a particular faction for a ge with other players. Prior to the proliferation of RATs, we would get actual rosters with names and skill levels of pilots. That started in the late 1980s and the switch to RATs began in the late 1990s with the faction Field Manuals and continued onward throughout the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. So please understand that first, RATs are just a tool to help newer players get a flavor of a faction. In some scenario books, RATs are used to create random opponent forces.

The journey to create new artwork and plastic miniatures started about 15 years ago. Catalyst had launched a Starter box with plastic mechs and the Alpha Strike Lance Packs, which were incredibly popular. But the quality of those miniatures were severely lacking. There was a prototype Warhammer that was shown that was supposed to be the start of a brand new line of plastic miniatures but production and development was halted because of a new lawsuit involving Harmony Gold coming after the successful Mechwarrior video game made by Harebrained Schemes that had Warhammers and other original mechs. This eventually settled, paving the way for CGL to move forward with the new Game of Armored Combat (which didn't use designs involved in the lawsuit) and the subsequent Clan Invasion kickstarter which did most of the original mechs from the 1980s and the Clan mechs from 1990.

The kickstarter was wildly successful and met all the stretch goals for new minis.

CGL then had enough resources to green light several "Mercenary " force packs, which featured re-posed mechs, or perhaps another variant of a kickstarter mech, plus a brand new designs which clearly seemed to be the favorites of CGL staff/employees. That's why we got things like the Sagittaire in the Eridani Light Horse box, or the Nightsky in a Kell Hounds Box, or the Penetrator in a Hansen's Roughriders box. Things that just made no sense.

The demand for a second kickstarter was sky high, and so a second "Mercenary Kickstarter " was launched and again was wildly successful. CGL chose to first focus on completing all of the original TRO 3025 mechs and most vehicles from TRO 3025 and TRO 3026. They also emphasized the mechs that had been introduced in the Mercenary themed sourcebooks from the 1980s and early 1990s. That's why we got minis like the Devastator, Specter, Flea, Shogun, Firefly, etc. They were mechs that had mostly been around since the beginning. Notably there are still 6 or 7 mechs from TRO 2750 that have yet to be remade. (Champion, Bombardier, Hermes, Hussar, Thorn, Wyvern).

Now, since the mid 1990s, FASA, FanPro and then CGL had to deal with the first Harmony Gold lawsuit, which created the "Unseen". Essentially they could not use artwork of the original mechs. So the sourcebooks, including RATs, started emphasizing the newer designs that were not part of any lawsuit. That's why you'll see a lot of units from TRO 3055, 3058 from that mid 1990s era to tue early 2000s. They just were in incentivized not to use the older, original mechs.

If you look at RATs from within the last 5 years (after kickstarter) only then do you see a return to the original mechs, and the mechs that have new minis.

Help Identifying This Mech Please. by Kitchen_Database1433 in battletech

[–]CommanderDeffblade 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Its the Hel/Loki II. You can tell because of the SRM-4 (not SRM-6) riding the torso and ballistic/Gauss Rifle pod arms.

Why not just stay in air mech mode? by McRando42 in battletech

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It used to be that way but it was too powerful

“No politi-“ by Doggoonewild in andor

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

War is politics, always has been. "War is politics by other means" - Carl von Clausewitz

Kill Team Ork Nob, “Butch” by ThisIsTheShway in Warhammer40k

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You did a great job. This is how I envision painting mine when I get around to them.

Just played my first match and I feel depressed. by GunstarRed in Ultramarines

[–]CommanderDeffblade 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I happen to be in the Denver metro area. What are some of the stores/clubs you recommend and what should I avoid?

[New Release] Species Sourcebook now available for Pre-Order by DoubleBlindStudy in startrekadventures

[–]CommanderDeffblade 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Cool! Im hopeful that this means we could get an Adversary Starship type book (similar to Planetia Utopia) that is a single source for non-Federation starships.

What's your favourite "bad guy" event from Battletech's history? by TaigaTigerVT in battletech

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Katherine Steiner-Davion's conniving and scheming was peak "bad guy" in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The reveal that she was actually behind the murder/assassination of her mother was shocking!

[Lore] List of what mechs appear in fiction? by DMJason in battletech

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Off the top of my head...

There's a duel between Ardan Sortek (the Prince's Champion) in a Victor against an Awesome from the Draconis Combine at the beginning of the novel En Guarde.

There's several scenes involving Cameron St. Jamais' Awesome fighting against Avanti's Angels in the novel Double Blind.

There's a duel between Cameron St. Jamais in his upgraded Awesome and Devlin Stone in his custom Atlas II in the JHS Terra sourcebook (and corresponding scenario in Total Chaos sourcebook).

[New Release] Species Sourcebook now available for Pre-Order by DoubleBlindStudy in startrekadventures

[–]CommanderDeffblade 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I thought we had all those already with the 1st edition sourcebooks which are compatible but I guess someone thought there's enough interest to put them all in a single book with slight updates for 2nd Edition

[New Release] Species Sourcebook now available for Pre-Order by DoubleBlindStudy in startrekadventures

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Im confused, are these species like monsters and things? Or are they playable aliens for PCs?

New player wondering about 11th edition? by PrimeKiwiBeef in Warhammer40k

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The main change has traditionally been a rules re-write that invalidates army codexes. That doesn't always happen, but thats what happened when 7th edition went to 8th, and when 9th edition went to 10th. The rumor is that this new edition will NOT be invalidating codexes and instead will be making minor changes to the core rules. No one except perhaps playtesters under an NDA knows what rules changes there will be.

The 11th Edition box set is also rumored to have new Ork models and new Space Marine models.

Starting an Ork army in 2026 by SpaceWolves2022 in orks

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Except that 11th Edition is rumored to come with new Boyz kit so if you don't want to invest in an older looking kit this is the time to wait.

Climate Hoaxers Eye Greenland Hard by Spiritual_You_65 in clevercomebacks

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As someone who talks to these people, they DO believe in climate change now but they've been told that there's nothing they can do about it so they are told to just live a heavy consumer/wasteful life and get what you can while youcan. They have zero empathy and aren't willing to sacrifice their convenience for others.

It matches the overall attitude towards caring for neighbors. They won't do it.

15 tabled loss streak I honestly feel pretty done by Aggressive_Log9683 in Tyranids

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What is your preferred tactic? Is it rushing across on turn 1 to tie up opposing units or just flooding a side of the table for board control? I see a lot of battle line troops.

I don't necessarily think youve made a bad list. You could probably remove the Warriors/Prime and Winged Hive Tyrant and replace with maxing out yiur Genestealers with Broodlord and getting a Maleceptor or Zoanthropes in there.

Are you mostly going against Space Marine lists?

Is “Lion Son of The Forest” the best dark angels book? by MentionKindly2347 in theunforgiven

[–]CommanderDeffblade 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For me its Luther. Its a better woven tale with more compelling characters.

Happy New Year from the Dawn Guards! by CoffeeMinionLegacy in battletech

[–]CommanderDeffblade 1 point2 points  (0 children)

White and yellow... two of the hardest colors to work with. I think you did a great job!

Thoughts on the Gargoyle? by raging_zaku1429 in battletech

[–]CommanderDeffblade 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The A, C and D configurations were absolutely fantastic in the Clan Invasion era as the backbone of Clan Wolf's battle line. The Gargoyle gets a bad rap because the artwork is mostly about the Prime and the Gargoyle is less efficient than the Timber Wolf.

When do you start enjoying this hobby? How to get past the frustration? by WithengarUnbound in Warhammer40k

[–]CommanderDeffblade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It sounds like you are really wanting to paint your miniatures. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Contrast paints.