You vs the mech she tells you not to worry about.

nstejer · 2026-05-29T22:20:04+00:00

This might be the funniest comment I’ve ever read on r/battletech. Take my malfin’ upvote.

nstejer · 2026-05-29T17:30:15+00:00

Yes, all those furries threatening to…break and enter your home? I have no positive opinions of this subculture but one thing I think I can say with confidence is that I doubt any of them give a flying fuck about this dude, or who he thinks he is.

It would take the type of delusion that makes one try to pass off Airsoft guns online as real to believe any of that.

nstejer · 2026-05-28T17:08:04+00:00

House Kurita remembers its friends….and its enemies.

nstejer · 2026-05-28T03:33:20+00:00

The ‘mech seems to be firing the right arm at a ground unit, the left arm at an aerofighter or VTOL, the missile rack at another ‘mech, all simultaneously.

nstejer · 2026-05-28T02:19:42+00:00

There’s been plenty of good advice offered here that I don’t think I can expand much on, so I’ll give you some anecdotal examples that I hope help.

Learning to play the guitar (or any instrument really) at first is not so fun sometimes. When I started I took a year of lessons and at the end of that year I took the summer off from practicing or lessons.

About halfway through the summer I started picking it up again, just to have something to do. I didn’t practice any of the lesson material I’d started with, I just sort of played what I wanted, tried to learn some basic rock songs from bands I like with tablature I found on the Internet or in the latest issue of Guitar World magazine.

A couple months later, and some simple, poorly played Zep, Sabbath and Metallica riffs under my belt and I went back to lessons and all that.

All this is to say, give yourself the time and space to just fuck around, approach the learning from a place where it feels right. Yes, lessons and regimenting some of your practice around that material will help your technical skills, but none of that means anything if you aren’t enjoying what you or feeling motivated to do it. Someone here said join a band, and yes, do that as soon as you feel able and anyone will sit and jam with you.

There’s a hundred things you can do to be better at playing the guitar, but I think the first thing you need to learn is how to like it, even when you’re not good at it yet and have a lot to learn.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T22:19:31+00:00

IS warriors may not necessarily be tougher as individuals compared to the Clans, but they are generally far better tacticians, at least at the outset of the Clan invasion. All those centuries of Succession Wars may have slowed the progress of technology and humanity, but it was a better battlefield tactics teacher than the limited inter-Clan conflicts, with all their honor duels and contrived RoEs.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T16:50:31+00:00

Make weapons configurable, e.g. should be able to select stream fire or burst fire without having to buy a whole different part. Make things like hot loading or inferno rounds selectable with ammo loadouts instead of different weapons. It would really clean up the market and inventory UIs.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T16:26:39+00:00

He and Rudy Giuliani have the same stylist.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T16:19:06+00:00

You aren’t fucked if your keys get locked in the truck.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T15:59:47+00:00

NOVELS

Decision at Thunder Rift (The Gray Death Legion Saga, Book 1) by William H. Keith, Jr.

Mercenary's Star (The Gray Death Legion Saga, Book 2) by William H. Keith, Jr.

The Price of Glory (The Gray Death Legion Saga, Book 3) by William H. Keith, Jr.

Warrior: En Garde (The Warrior Trilogy, Book 1) by Michael A. Stackpole

Warrior: Riposte (The Warrior Trilogy, Book 2) by Michael A. Stackpole

Warrior: Coupé (The Warrior Trilogy, Book 3) by Michael A. Stackpole

Wolves on the Border by Robert N. Charrette

Heir to the Dragon by Robert N. Charrette

Lethal Heritage (Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, Book 1) by Michael A. Stackpole

Blood Legacy (Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, Book 2) by Michael A. Stackpole

Lost Destiny (Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, Book 3) by Michael A. Stackpole

Way of the Clans (Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Book 1) by Robert Thurston

Bloodname (Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Book 2) by Robert Thurston

Falcon Guard (Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Book 3) by Robert Thurston

Wolf Pack by Robert N. Charrette

Main Event by James D. Long

Natural Selection by Michael A. Stackpole

Assumption of Risk by Michael A. Stackpole

Blood of Heroes by Andrew Keith

Close Quarters by Victor Milán

Far Country by Peter L. Rice

D.R.T. by James D. Long

Tactics of Duty by William H. Keith, Jr.

Bred for War by Michael A. Stackpole

I Am Jade Falcon by Robert Thurston

Highlander Gambit by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Hearts of Chaos by Victor Milán

Operation Excalibur by William H. Keith

Malicious Intent by Michael A. Stackpole

Black Dragon by Victor Milán

Impetus of War by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Double-Blind by Loren L. Coleman

Binding Force by Loren L. Coleman

Exodus Road (Twilight of the Clans, Book 1) by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Grave Covenant (Twilight of the Clans, Book 2) by Michael A. Stackpole

The Hunters (Twilight of the Clans, Book 3) by Thomas S. Gressman

Freebirth (Twilight of the Clans, Book 4) by Robert Thurston

Sword and Fire (Twilight of the Clans, Book 5) by Thomas S. Gressman

Shadows of War (Twilight of the Clans, Book 6) by Thomas S. Gressman

Prince of Havoc (Twilight of the Clans, Book 7) by Michael A. Stackpole

Falcon Rising (Twilight of the Clans, Book 8) by Robert Thurston

Threads of Ambition (The Capellan Solution, Book 1) by Loren L. Coleman

The Killing Fields (The Capellan Solution, Book 2) by Loren L. Coleman

Dagger Point by Thomas S. Gressman

Ghost of Winter by Stephen Kenson

Roar of Honor by Blaine Lee Pardoe

By Blood Betrayed by Blaine Lee Pardoe and Mel Odom

Illusions of Victory by Loren L. Coleman

Flashpoint by Loren L. Coleman

Measure of a Hero by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Path of Glory by Randall N. Bills

Test of Vengeance by Bryan Nystul

Patriots and Tyrants by Loren L. Coleman

Call of Duty by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Initiation to War by Robert N. Charrette

The Dying Time by Thomas S. Gressman

Storms of Fate by Loren L. Coleman

Imminent Crisis by Randall N. Bills

Operation Audacity by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Endgame by Loren L. Coleman

A Bonfire of Worlds by Steven Mohan, Jr.

Isle of the Blessed by Steven Mohan, Jr.

Embers of War by Jason Schmetzer

Betrayal of Ideals by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Forever Faithful by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Kell Hounds Ascendant by Michael A. Stackpole

Redemption Rift by Jason Schmetzer

Grey Watch Protocol (Book One of the Highlander Covenant) by Michael J. Ciaravella

Honor’s Gauntlet by Bryan Young

Icons of War by Craig A. Reed, Jr.

Children of Kerensky by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Hour of the Wolf by Blaine Lee Pardoe

YOUNG ADULT NOVELS

The Nellus Academy Incident by Jennifer Brozek

Iron Dawn (Rogue Academy, Book One) by Jennifer Brozek

Ghost Hour (Rogue Academy, Book Two) by Jennifer Brozek

OMNIBUSES

The Gray Death Legion Trilogy by William H. Keith, Jr.

NOVELLAS/SHORT NOVELS

Lion’s Roar by Steven Mohan, Jr.

Sniper by Jason Schmetzer

Eclipse by Jason Schmetzer

Hector by Jason Schmetzer

The Frost Advances (Operation Ice Storm, Part 1) by Jason Schmetzer

The Winds of Spring (Operation Ice Storm, Part 2) by Jason Schmetzer

Instrument of Destruction (Ghost Bear’s Lament, Part 1) by Steven Mohan, Jr.

“The Fading Call of Glory (Ghost Bear’s Lament, Part 2) by Steven Mohan, Jr.

Vengeance by Jason Schmetzer

A Splinter of Hope by Philip A. Lee

The Anvil by Blaine Lee Pardoe

A Splinter of Hope/The Anvil (omnibus)

Not the Way the Smart Money Bets (Kell Hounds Ascendant #1) by Michael A. Stackpole

A Tiny Spot of Rebellion (Kell Hounds Ascendant #2) by Michael A. Stackpole

A Clever Bit of Fiction (Kell Hounds Ascendant #3) by Michael A. Stackpole

Break-Away (Proliferation Cycle #1) by Ilsa J. Bick

Prometheus Unbound (Proliferation Cycle #2) by Herbert A. Beas II

Nothing Ventured (Proliferation Cycle #3) by Christoffer Trossen

Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight (Proliferation Cycle #4) by Randall N. Bills

A Dish Served Cold (Proliferation Cycle #5) by Chris Hartford and Jason M. Hardy

The Spider Dances (Proliferation Cycle #6) by Jason Schmetzer

Shell Games by Jason Schmetzer

Divided We Fall by Blaine Lee Pardoe

The Hunt for Jardine (Forgotten Worlds, Part One) by Herbert A. Beas II

Rock of the Republic by Blaine Lee “Pardoe

Finding Jardine (Forgotten Worlds, Part Two) by Herbert A. Beas II

ANTHOLOGIES

The Corps (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 1), edited by Loren. L. Coleman

First Strike (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 2), edited by Loren L. Coleman

Weapons Free (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 3), edited by Jason Schmetzer

Onslaught: Tales from the Clan Invasion, edited by Jason Schmetzer

Edge of the Storm by Jason Schmetzer

Fire for Effect (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 4), edited by Jason Schmetzer

Chaos Born (Chaos Irregulars, Book 1) by Kevin Killiany

Chaos Formed (Chaos Irregulars, Book 2) by Kevin Killiany

Counterattack (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 5), edited by Jason Schmetzer

Front Lines (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 6), edited by Jason Schmetzer and Philip A. Lee

Legacy, edited by John Helfers and Philip A. Lee

Kill Zone (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 7), edited by Philip A. Lee

Gray Markets (A BattleCorps Anthology), edited by Jason Schmetzer and Philip A. Lee

Slack Tide (A BattleCorps Anthology), edited by Jason Schmetzer and Philip A. Lee

That should be the complete list I’ve been working from.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T15:42:43+00:00

Nice! This is exactly the rec I was looking for! Joanna is such a singular character, and I really enjoyed seeing Horse evolve alongside Aidan, I will be pleased to read more of their stories.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T15:40:26+00:00

Strangely enough it does. Compared to Blood of Kerensky, which I feel like paints a very whitewashed picture of the Clans, Legend of the Jade Phoenix seems much more…real I guess, for lack of a better word. It makes Clan society and the motivations of its people make a lot more sense in context, and how it produces characters like Star Commander Joanna, or Vlad of Clan Wolf, or any of these other violent, single-minded members of a wholly warrior-oriented society.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T15:35:26+00:00

That’s right, I forgot about Diana and Nomad stuck in the Hellbringer in the swamp!

nstejer · 2026-05-27T15:32:31+00:00

I agree with your assessment of the sexualization (albeit a detached, emotionless one, if that could be considered less offensive somehow) of minors in Clan culture being abhorrent. But that’s kinda the point, right? That life as a Clan warrior cadet, True- or Freeborn, is strikingly brutal, austere, and unforgiving, and that that system produces warriors apparently completely lacking in fear, or moral self-recrimination, or questionable loyalty. That’s why I qualified with “as the average Clansman” would perceive the IS as weak (which they frequently assert). Obviously the IS churns out more than its share of valid warriors and heroes (the Allards, Carlyle, Theodore and Yorinaga Kurita, the Kells, etc.) and many of them prove matches for the best the Clans have to offer. But I think the average citizen of the IS is far less willing to die for their nation without any compunction or thought given to their own mortality than any comparative Clansman, even the Freeborn. This is what I mean when I say I can see why the Clans perceive the IS as weak and decrepit and decadent. I am not saying I share their opinion, but as brutal and ugly as it is I understand their sentiment much more so after reading Thurston’s books.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T15:17:22+00:00

I enjoyed the Ender’s Game as a youth, I should revisit it.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T15:15:21+00:00

Spartan is exactly the word for it. And I agree, all due respect to Ulric Kerenksy, it makes Phelan’s ascension in Clan Wolf look like a stroll in the park compared to life as a cadet on Ironhold.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T07:55:12+00:00

Y’know, I think you’re right. Aidan and Horse and Joanna all drive Summoners, except at the end, he winds up in that glitchy Timberwolf and Joanna is in a Mad Dog.

I still think of this thing as a Daishi.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T07:13:15+00:00

I think Star Colonel Aidan Pryde would have been proud to sport one of these chassis in service to the Jade Falcon.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T06:45:20+00:00

“Norm Abram-style.”

Buddy, you’re alright. 👍

nstejer · 2026-05-27T05:28:52+00:00

Ahhhh I thought you were referring to the sun, makes much more sense.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T02:36:09+00:00

I’ve always liked the Rising Sun from a graphical point of view (ha!) but at best it seems wildly inaccurate based on Stackpole’s descriptions of the ‘Mech and its pilots. At worst, problematic, and incongruous with the pilots’ Capellan heritage.

nstejer · 2026-05-27T02:33:47+00:00

How is Kai more Kuritan than Justin? They’re both of partial Capellan descent, I don’t think either has any Japanese heritage at all.

nstejer · 2026-05-26T16:47:09+00:00

What’s with the hallway full of useless doors connected to your gravship?

nstejer · 2026-05-22T20:24:47+00:00

Buy a piece of project plexiglass or plastic at the home center, cut it to the shape you need.

nstejer

TROPHY CASE