BattleTech 3025 - Recruitment - A Time of War and Total Warfare

[Stendarr]

BattleTech 3025

Character Sheets

By 2108, humankind has developed faster-than-light-travel in the form of what is typically known as warp drives. With the sudden availability of colonizable territory, mankind expanded rapidly. Over 600 colonies were established within 150 years. The newly available riches and increasingly powerful colonies eventually caused sentiments of separatism and the political landscape erupted.

By the 25th century, the emergence of giant, semi-humanoid machines, known as BattleMechs, changes military conflict across the universe. A large part of BattleTech gaming is focused on BattleMechs, also known simply as 'Mechs, and the lives of MechWarriors, their human pilots.

Do I need to already be familiar with the setting?
Players don't need to be familiar with the setting, but you should have at least some will to dip your toes into the fundamental basics of the universe as well as details directly pertaining to the campaign.

What type of gameplay will we focus on?
As obvious as it may sound, I want the focus to be largely on roleplaying, as opposed to more of a video-game/numbers-simulator attitude. I want the game to be focused on interpersonal relationships, especially between players, and the pursuit of characters' and players' goals. The players will have the ability to decide their activities, but will always be able to request help from NPCs if they feel like they're lacking direction.

How much lewd content will there be?
I love smut, but anything comprising of the focus of more than a couple posts should be taken to a separate thread with the participants. Casual sexiness and other things of the sort that can live alongside a post that advances the plot are welcome.

What type of game systems will be used?
Character creation and operation is going to be accomplished with the book A Time of War. There will be some slight changes to character creation (detailed below).

BattleMech outfitting and combat rules are going to be handled with Total Warfare or the slimmed-down version BattleMech Manual. Note that the BattleMech Manual does not contain rules for aerospace units and other things that may be relevant.

What is the setting for the adventure?
Established in 2392, Neuva Castile was an agrarian deep-periphery state. In 2830, after 400 years of peace and ignorance of political and technological advancement, they were set upon by mysterious invaders. The invaders, dubbed the Umayyad Caliphate, easily conquered them with superior-tech. The Umayyads quickly occupied all but one of Neuva Castile's 9 systems. Castilian forces were able to capture a BattleMech. They reverse-engineered the Umayyads' technology, used the knowledge to begin producing their own primitive BattleMechs, and eventually began reconquering their systems. By 3025, Neuva Castile owns 6 of their original 9 systems and they appear to be evenly matched with the Umayyad Caliphate.

Nearly 4 jumps to the south of Neuva Castile is the Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic League is a mercantile state that has been playing both sides of the Castile-Umayyad war. The League is interested in prolonging the war as long as possible in order to continue profiting as suppliers for both sides. You, the players, will be part of a group hired by the Hanseatic League to act as privateers. Overarching objectives will be given, and significant performance will be expected, but the specifics of your operation will be left in your hands.

Do you have what it takes to thrive in the deep periphery, will you be able to perform to your employer's satisfaction, will you seize riches and glory before you?

What kind of players and how many are you looking for?
I'm looking for players who are interested in most aspects of the campaign. The number of players I will take on is flexible. I would like to keep the number modest, but I will also try and accommodate players that seem interested and willing to be at least somewhat dedicated.

Character Creation Rules
If you would like help creating a character or need acess to rule books let me know in a PM!

To create a character follow the guide in A Time of War, with the following changes:

• 5000exp
• Up to 500exp bonus from negative traits
• Use either the Life Module system or Points-Only Character Creation
  
• Aging provides no bonus exp but does provide attribute modifiers.
• Do not use Universal Fixed Experience Points. It's okay if your character ends up not being very proficient (or capable at all) in English. Language barriers can be fun!
• Related to the above, Spanish is helpful within Neuva Castile and the Umayyad Caliphate, German is helpful within the Hanseatic League, and English is helpful everywhere.
• Clan and Comstar/Word of Blake affiliations are not allowed.
• You can change your age to be something other than "what it should be", but if you're reducing your age keep it reasonable.
• You can buy your own equipment, but necessities will be issued to you for free.
• The following traits are not allowed or are restricted in level. If a life module would give you exp toward one of these traits treat it as flexible exp.
  
  
  
  • Custom Vehicle is Prohibited
  • Design Quirk is Prohibited
  • Vehicle Level is Prohibited
  • Connections Cannot Exceed 4 TP
  • Extra Income Cannot Exceed 4 TP
  • PropertyCannot Exceed 3 TP
  • Reputation Cannot Exceed 3 TP or Less Than -3 TP
  • Title Cannot Exceed 4 TP
  • Wealth Cannot Exceed 4 TP

Code Select Expand

[float=right][img height=400 padding=5](Please include at least a physical description or a picture.)[/img][/float]
[b]Name:[/b] (Names suitable to characters' background are appreciated but not required)
[b]Age:[/b] (At Least 16)
[b]Sex:[/b] (Futa and anything else is fine.)
[b]Height:[/b] (feet and inches, add metric if you'd like)
[b]Physical Description:[/b] (Please include at least a physical description or a picture.)
[b]Personality Description:[/b] (Something brief is fine.)
[b]Background:[/b] (Please try and incorporate your life modules, but don't let it limit your creativity and freedom.)
[b]Sexual Tendencies and Preferences:[/b] (Sexuality, Fetishes, whatever you want)
[b]Player Ons and Offs:[/b]
[hr]
[b]Attributes:[/b]
STR: SCORE (LINK MODIFIER)
DEX: SCORE (LINK MODIFIER)
BOD: SCORE (LINK MODIFIER)
RFL: SCORE (LINK MODIFIER)
INT: SCORE (LINK MODIFIER)
WIL: SCORE (LINK MODIFIER)
CHA: SCORE (LINK MODIFIER)
EDG: SCORE (LINK MODIFIER)

[b]Traits:[/b]
NAME (TP)
NAME (TP)
NAME (TP)

[b]Skills:[/b]
NAME - EXP (LEVEL)
NAME - EXP (LEVEL)
NAME - EXP (LEVEL)

[b]Equipment:[/b]
ITEM - MASS - COST
ITEM - MASS - COST
ITEM - MASS - COST

[b]C-Bills:[/b]AMOUNT

Example Character

Name: Sarah Gilligan
Age: 27
Sex: Female
Height: 5' 5"
Physical Description:
Personality Description: She's a little happy go lucky and she tends to cling to the childhood she had on her family farm, but she's one of the kindest people you'll ever meet. She's got a cute German accent when she speaks English.
Background: Born in the Lyran Commonwealth, Sarah lived most of her childhood on a modest family farm. She went to college to become a 'Mech technician after becoming interested in the IndustrialMechs on her family's farm. She worked as a 'Mech technician for about 6 years before she finally came to the realization that she wasn't enjoying life as much as she could be. She started working on applying her IndustrialMech skills to BattleMechs while she searched for an opportunity to do something exciting. She saw a relatively beginer-friendly job for up and coming 'Mech pilots on a mercenary board and she jumped at the opportunity.
Sexual Tendencies and Preferences: She's kinkier than she'd let on, but she won't admit it without some serious prying. She's straight... mostly.
Player Ons and Offs: I'm good with most anything except scat.

Attributes:
STR: 400 (+0)
DEX: 700 (+1)
BOD: 400 (+0)
RFL: 400 (+0)
INT: 400 (+0)
WIL: 200 (-1)
CHA: 400 (+0)
EDG: 300 (-1)

Traits:
Animal Empathy (1)
Equipped (3)
Toughness (3)
Unlucky (-2)
Wealth (2)

Skills:
Administration +120 (4)
Animal Handling +50 (2)
Appraisal +50 (2)
Career/Agriculture +50 (2)
Career/Technician +120 (4)
Computers +50 (2)
Driving/Ground Vehicle +50 (3)
Gunnery/'Mech +120 (4)
Interest/BattleMechs +80 (3)
Interest/Animals +80 (3)
Leadership +30 (1)
Technician/Electronic +80 (3)
Technician/Jet +80 (3)
Technician/Mechanical +120 (4)
Technician/Myomer +80 (3)
Technician/Nuclear +80 (3)
Sensor Operation +30 (2)
Small Arms +30 (2)
Language/English +50 (2)
Language/German +80 (3)
Langauge/Scots Gaelic +50 (2)
Negotiation +50 (2)
Piloting/'Mech +180 (5)
Protocol/Lyran +80 (3)

C-Bills:5000

[Tavarokk]

Hmm. 50-50? I mean, I'd need to check out the systems later when I got time to see if they agree with me, and I would be very interested in diving deep into lore and battlemech combat if they do, but I do find the general idea appealing.

Incidentally, have you read Davion & Davion and False Prophets?

[Stendarr]

Hmm. 50-50?

Uh, pardon? I'm failing to understand the question here.

I'd need to check out the systems later when I got time to see if they agree with me, and I would be very interested in diving deep into lore and battlemech combat if they do, but I do find the general idea appealing.

I do have a pdf for the new BattleTech BattleMech Manual I can share with anyone. It's basically a condensed, remastered version of BattleTech Total Warfare that forgoes combat in other vehicles (tanks, planes, etc.).

Incidentally, have you read Davion & Davion and False Prophets?

I haven't. Frankly, you could very well be more well-read on the lore than I am, but I'm definitely down to doing relevant reading to really let us give into lore once we've decided a place and time for the story.

Assuming you're somewhat into the lore, what era and/or place would you be interested in playing? And what do you think about playing clan characters? Personally, I love Solaris VII.

[Tavarokk]

Uh, pardon? I'm failing to understand the question here.

That's not a question, "fifty-fifty" is an expression of ambiguity.

I do have a pdf for the new BattleTech BattleMech Manual I can share with anyone. It's basically a condensed, remastered version of BattleTech Total Warfare that forgoes combat in other vehicles (tanks, planes, etc.).

Found those already, I think.

I haven't. Frankly, you could very well be more well-read on the lore than I am, but I'm definitely down to doing relevant reading to really let us give into lore once we've decided a place and time for the story.

Doubtful, it's been literally over a decade since I've touched Gray Death, Wolf's Dragoons and Jade Falcon novels, and it's mostly been games and Sarna since then.

The ones I mentioned are relatively recent fanfiction, notable for their level of quality.
https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/davion-davion-deceased-a-battletech-au.586222/
https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/false-prophets-battletech-cyoa.637198/

Assuming you're somewhat into the lore, what era and/or place would you be interested in playing? And what do you think about playing clan characters? Personally, I love Solaris VII.

Anywhere between 3000 and 3060 time-wise, no great preference region-wise. Wouldn't want to play clanners, not a fan of those guys. My favourite pasttime would involve hunting for technological superiority, so something like a respectable merc outfit? Lyran or Canopian, maybe.

[Ron Don Volante]

Very interested. Comstar's Explorer Corps or Interstellar Expeditions would be good if you're interested in tech hunting or just independent Merc group especially if it's pre-Clan (or even pre-4th SW).

[Stendarr]

My favourite pasttime would involve hunting for technological superiority, so something like a respectable merc outfit? Lyran or Canopian, maybe.

Very interested. Comstar's Explorer Corps or Interstellar Expeditions would be good if you're interested in tech hunting or just independent Merc group especially if it's pre-Clan (or even pre-4th SW).

I kinda like the idea of pre-4th succession war. Doing an independent merc group is always good too. But a merc company would probably need a dropship, which means at least a handful of other people on payroll. Not that there's anything wrong with that though, I suppose. I think I prefer the Explorer Corps idea though or maybe some mash of the two.

[TFcommando]

I do love Battletech, and system games.

I don't think a merc group HAS to have their own drop ship.  Many merc contracts are for garrison or cadre or other long-term missions that would just have the drop ship sitting idle and racking up expenses.  Indeed, there could be mercenary dropships that contract transportation for merc groups... sometimes to a planet where they'll be for a few years, sometimes for a raid.  A Leopard carries two fighters on top of four mechs, so it can provide air support on a raid.  And there'd be more groups that need mechs moved than dropships, so they could do well in the business!  Thus, the ship crew would not be on the payroll and not around all the time.

[Tavarokk]

I do love Battletech, and system games.

I don't think a merc group HAS to have their own drop ship.  Many merc contracts are for garrison or cadre or other long-term missions that would just have the drop ship sitting idle and racking up expenses.  Indeed, there could be mercenary dropships that contract transportation for merc groups... sometimes to a planet where they'll be for a few years, sometimes for a raid.  A Leopard carries two fighters on top of four mechs, so it can provide air support on a raid.  And there'd be more groups that need mechs moved than dropships, so they could do well in the business!  Thus, the ship crew would not be on the payroll and not around all the time.

Doubtful. Maybe if we're speaking complete rabble, but anyone half decent would need to have their own dropship simply because it's impossible to deploy without one outside of a relatively puny area that mechs can swiftly traverse on foot. So having one stand by is essential even during planetary garrison contracts. Plus, it ofen serves as field command center and workshop, because one is by no means guaranteed to be stationed anywhere with decent communications facilities and mech-sized hangars freely available.

At least if we're speaking of independent merc units. Mechwarriors that can't or don't want to establish one for whatever reason can and do hire on individually with nothing but their mech and personal effects to their soul.

[Ron Don Volante]

Plus who doesn't love a mobile HQ? A Merc unit having their own jumpship on the other hand would be pretty rare especially during the 3rd SW era.

[Stendarr]

Assuming the three of you are interested, what kind of game systems would you all prefer?

[Ron Don Volante]

I wouldn't mind doing the official Time of War system.

[JFD99]

I'm not familiar with the Time of War system, but I'd be interested in this :)

I played a bit of MechWarrior back in the day and a lot of Armored Core so I'm familiar with the general idea.

[Stendarr]

*Ahem* It's: A Time of War, but I think that sounds good. Not that anything is even nearly set in stone at this point. I'm also glad that there seems to be yet another person interested.

[Voidknight]

Love it- very interested, I have A Time of War and have even run it in the past. It is not... Elegent but it does work. I love 3025, but would be comfortable with most eras. Would be happy to play a more support role if you're looking for people to fill out non-mechwarrior roles too.

[Stendarr]

Ya, A Time of War has some issues, but I'm probably going to change the rules a bit. But I think, fundamentally, the character creation and mechanics are pretty easy and provide a solid foundation.

Playing a non-MechWarrior is totally something you can do.

I'm going to try to get a recruitment thread up with more defined rules. I think we're going with 3025-ish using A Time of War and Total Warfare. If anyone has anything else they'd prefer, now's the time to speak up.

I'll post a link to the other thread here once it's up. We'll use that thread for character submission too.

[TFcommando]

Sounds good to me!  I have A Time of War but have never played it, or gone all the way through chargen, since no one I know was up for it, preferring the earlier editions.

One bit of sexy content I like for Battletech: in the 3025 era, pilots wore just thongs or speedos to pilot their mechs, along with cooling vests and neurohelms.  So there would be some casual toplessness and exhibitionism! :)

EDIT: Like the Mechwarrior template on ATOW p. 94.  😀

Vague concepts include a ronin or bastard Kurita samurai looking to accomplish something spectacular for redemption/recognition, history/archeological geek looking for Star League tech and data or a thick, fun-loving team mom/den mother, trying to find a replacement for her dead family.

One idea... what if they are pirates/raiders, mercs who are down on their luck in the periphery?  The Dropship captain would be an important PC role then.

[Stendarr]

One bit of sexy content I like for Battletech: in the 3025 era, pilots wore just thongs or speedos to pilot their mechs, along with cooling vests and neurohelms.  So there would be some casual toplessness and exhibitionism! :)

That was always an interesting detail to me. It feels almost out of place, but I like it. Serves us well anyway, I'd say.

Speaking of, what sort of lewd/smut amount is everyone looking for? I tend to like not too much, and within mostly reasonable circumstances, but definitely present.

[JFD99]

I think a healthy mix of story/action and lewdness during downtime is best. My suggestion would be to have the "serious" thread(s) where missions and story happens, a "home base" thread where social can happen and a "bedrooms" thread where lewdness can occur.

Those are only examples, whatever combination works works, of course.

I'm of course also open to adult/graphic content on those threads.

Personally, I'm more of a softcore/romance kind of guy, but I don't mind the occasional romping either :)

[Xurtan]

Out of random curiosity, have you considered Lancer for a system? "Lancer is a mud-and-lasers RPG about mechs and the pilots who crew them, featuring deep narrative play, gritty tactical combat and broad customization."

[Stendarr]

I have seen Lancer before. I only ever briefly skimmed through it. I think for a game set in the BattleTech universe it just makes more sense to use BattleTech rules. It seemed to me like it would be hard to recreate BattleMechs with the Lancer system.

[Hawkwood]

The issue I've had with every attempt to try and roleplay Battletech is the system; it all just goes back to the tabletop wargame if you want to involve mechs. That's hard to pull of face-to-face, more so online. AToW is explicit in that it directs you back to the miniatures for anything vehicular.

[Sinestra]

Well- nothing is saying the Mech-play couldn't be done on something like Roll20. A hex map or whatever is placed and enemies/PCs move on their turns and everyone can easily see who is where, facing what etc. People can hop in, check the map, write a post about what they're doing and the GM moves everyone (or the Players can move themselves) and the GM resolves actions.

Also, yes. It has been utter ages since I've looked at anything Battletech/Mechwarrior, but who doesn't love giant stomping mech-action? :)

But yes, the thing here for me would be to simplify the complicated nature of combat preferably outside of E and let these forums handle RP aspect. That lets us use a system of our choosing without making the game overly complex. I'd even prefer a Discord server or the aforementioned Roll20 room/game, not for RPing or anything like that, but for logistics related to combat. Some people might not have the time or creative energy to log onto E, write, format, generally be 'creative' etc and plan out mechanics. But they might feel a lot easier about hopping into Discord, typing out a line indicating what they want to do during combat- and that's done.

I've always seen that RP-in-Combat decreases in quality dramatically the longer a battle goes. And since this is forum play battles can go on forever. If we can use a system to speed up combat and make it less complicated, RP can continue without anyone getting tired of things.

[Stendarr]

I think there are a couple of solutions.

If we change the rules a little bit, we could run it in a way where all the bad guys move first, and then, in no particular order, all of the players can move and shoot. Then the bad guys shoot and start moving again for the next round. Which is followed by the players, etc.. The bad guys would be at somewhat of a disadvantage, but I don't think that's really a big deal.

That would mean it only takes a single post per round from each person. Which I think is quite doable. And then that way people can add (or not add if they prefer) as much roleplaying into it as they would like. Even the formating doesn't have to be effortful.

Alternatively, I could set up a discord server and do things as suggested. Personally I'd prefer the other way, but first and foremost I want engaged players.

[Voidknight]

For actual battlemech action there is always megamek- a faithful recreation of the wargame rules using I believe a java client? Could pick an evening or the like and hammer out battles? I do like the lewd/smut myself but emphasis should absolutely be on the story and things making internal sense.

Love the ide aof playing under a Denmother sort TFC, could have a weird interaction with a war orphan sort? Could have an interesting dynamic of craving the attention and resenting it at the same time. I do tend to nominally enjoy being a 'good-guy' so not thrilled at the thought of being a pirate, though can think of some interesting angles there. I'm somewhere between a chipper tech and a chipper aerospace myself.

[JFD99]

Using a software or app for combat mechanics is a nice idea. It would make things a lot simpler and put less workload on the DM.

I think I saw the battletech system is on Tabletop simulator on Steam. :)