Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread!

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**H.B.M.C.**

I'm not really talking about KS' own rules.

I'm more amazed that they'd want to two campaigns that close to one another, especially given how complex the last one was.

**Ghaz**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
I'm not really talking about KS' own rules.

I'm more amazed that they'd want to two campaigns that close to one another, especially given how complex the last one was.

When they announced the Kickstarter back in April they specifically stated 'Fall 2022' and that would be between September 22nd and December 22nd. Catalyst hasn't noted any changes to that time frame.

**beast_gts**

Statement Regarding Online BattleTech Communities

Like many in the extended online BattleTech community, we at Catalyst Game Labs were surprised today by the decision of a prominent member of that community to re-brand their online presence as a general science fiction discussion rather than BattleTech alone.

This decision appears to have stemmed from a meeting Wednesday night between that community member, David Anthony Vivas, and BattleTech Line Developer Ray Arrastia. The meeting was one in a series of dialogues we have had and will continue to have across prominent BattleTech communities.

These discussions came after Catalyst Game Labs was contacted by the BattleTech license holder regarding potential violations of the BattleTech rights and license. While no specific action was demanded by the license holder at that time, Catalyst elected to proactively reach out to individuals in the BattleTech community regarding BattleTech IP rights and license uses.

We took this step as a courtesy to the community to alert them to probable forthcoming issues, and in the hope that Catalyst could work with them to tailor their communities and activities to better fit within the bounds of the BattleTech IP rights and license.

At no point during conversations with any community members did Ray make any requirement for a comprehensive rebranding or retreat from the BattleTech fan space. Rather, during these meetings, he laid out some suggestions for ways to continue operating and ensure the greater community’s long-term viability in light of the license holder’s concerns. That initial meeting with “Everything BattleTech” was meant to be the first exchange in an ongoing conversation; the subsequent, unilateral rebranding was a surprise to us.

We wish David the best with his rebranding effort, and remain available and willing to discuss any concerns by those operating communities or fan spaces in the BattleTech online sphere.

The reaction among BattleTech community members today has reminded us of the importance of–and fan appetite for–dedicated spaces online for BattleTech communities. We are currently reviewing Catalyst’s official presence online and always evaluating options to refine and improve it.

**H.B.M.C.**

I hope ~~Viacom~~ Topps doesn't come after Sarna.net next...

**Miguelsan**

It really pisses me off if it's what I'm imaging. No matter how legally on the right Topps&Co. are the fact is that for years while the game was in the doldrums it was the online fans that kept it out oblivion. Now, after 2 several succesful KS for the 2018 game, and the plastic miniatures that brought fresh air for the game it's time to turn back on the people that kept it alive?

Talk about corporate gratitude (AKA ingratitude)

M.

**Chillreaper**

Apparently, they decided to monetise something, the Discord or something like that (I don't Discord, so I wouldn't have a clue).

Yeah, that sort of thing will get the attention of the powers that be...

I mean, even Lucasfilm will let people get away with fanfilms as long as money isn't involved.

**Albertorius**

Who are we talking about, here? Who's the "prominent member of that community that has re-branded their online presence as a general science fiction discussion"?

**Chillreaper**

From what I've managed to put together, from hearsay it goes like this:

There's a site, with Discord (I don't know, it's all Web 2.0 stuff to me) called Everything Battle tech.

Monetisation is involved somewhere. The owner, or new owner (who may or may not be the old owner under a different name) has come to the attention of the license holder (Topps).

Apparently the license holder mentioned this to CGL who had a friendly/"friendly" word with the site owner, giving them a heads up. They appear to have rebranded in order to avoid incidents.

The owner of the site may or may not have said that he got a C&D, but the evidence of that hasn't been posted.

All as clear as things usually are in the wonderful world of IP stuff...

**Albertorius**

...huh

**beast_gts**

From what I've seen Chillreaper is right: David Anthony Vivas / Everything Battletech was making money off the Battletech brand, Topps flagged this up and Everything Battletech went critical - stuff is either down or renamed Everything Sci-Fi.

**BrianDavion**

I should also note that I'd heard lots about EBT and the folks running it and none of it was good, so yeah I'm inclined to side with CGL on this. Especially when, I know from personal experiance that CGL is incrediably supportive and involved with, the online community

apparently the guys all but admitted he only ran the site and discord to make money off the fans.

**Miguelsan**

If it's about monetization of the discord I stand corrected. I was thinking more along the lines of EBT receiving a warning for allowing fan art without permision from Topps.

M.

**Ghaz**

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**privateer4hire**

“…apparently the guys all but admitted he only ran the site and discord to make money off the fans.”

For the chronically uninformed, how would someone make money by running such a site?

**Charistoph**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
I hope ~~Viacom~~ Topps doesn't come after Sarna.net next...

It may not be Topps, actually. Topps was recently bought out by a company called Fanatics (from what I've heard from a the local Demo Agent), and they may be part of the situation as well.

Of course, if there was notable profitable monetization as others have noted, that would be a concern as well.

It may hit 3D model printers and STL creators as well. It largely depends on how much profit and attention they may be getting that gets the IP owner's attention.

**beast_gts**

privateer4hire wrote:
“…apparently the guys all but admitted he only ran the site and discord to make money off the fans.”

For the chronically uninformed, how would someone make money by running such a site?

You paid ("subscribed") for access to the exclusive Patron / Discord Premium content.

**Ghaz**

Charistoph wrote:
H.B.M.C. wrote:
I hope ~~Viacom~~ Topps doesn't come after Sarna.net next...

It may not be Topps, actually. Topps was recently bought out by a company called Fanatics (from what I've heard from a the local Demo Agent), and they may be part of the situation as well.

Of course, if there was notable profitable monetization as others have noted, that would be a concern as well.

It may hit 3D model printers and STL creators as well. It largely depends on how much profit and attention they may be getting that gets the IP owner's attention.

Yes, Fanatics acquired Topps' trading cards and collectables businesses back in January, but it looks like they didn't get the movie and television rights to BattleTech. That being said it does look like the profitization was the problem.

As for the 3D printing, most of those are generally of MechWarrior Online models and not something that Catalyst would be taking care of AFAIK.

**Charistoph**

Ghaz wrote:
As for the 3D printing, most of those are generally of MechWarrior Online models and not something that Catalyst would be taking care of AFAIK.

Which would be either Microsoft or Piranha Games, but some of the designs are REALLY close to each other that the details are almost unnoticeable in a good print.

**privateer4hire**

beast_gts wrote:
privateer4hire wrote:
“…apparently the guys all but admitted he only ran the site and discord to make money off the fans.”

For the chronically uninformed, how would someone make money by running such a site?

You paid ("subscribed") for access to the exclusive Patron / Discord Premium content.

Huh.

Thank you

**Albertorius**

Charistoph wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
As for the 3D printing, most of those are generally of MechWarrior Online models and not something that Catalyst would be taking care of AFAIK.

Which would be either Microsoft or Piranha Games, but some of the designs are REALLY close to each other that the details are almost unnoticeable in a good print.

And Piranha stated a long time ago they didn't much care. Repeatedly, IIRC.

**BrianDavion**

yeah I don't think this was STL files but art.

**kodos**

privateer4hire wrote:
beast_gts wrote:
privateer4hire wrote:
“…apparently the guys all but admitted he only ran the site and discord to make money off the fans.”

For the chronically uninformed, how would someone make money by running such a site?

You paid ("subscribed") for access to the exclusive Patron / Discord Premium content.

Huh.
Thank you

this is very common at the moment as the easiest thing to get people to pay a subscription on patreon/Youtube, offer an exclusive discord for members to discuss everything (which can get you into trouble if you allow politics as well) and have the chance to see stuff before it goes live or suggest new content etc to the creators

but than using a name for it that is already owned by someone else, is not the best idea in the first place

**Ghaz**

150 internet points for the first poster who can identify this combat vehicle

...

**aphyon**

Looks kind of like a behemoth

Don't see the 2 front mounted SRM 2's but other than that the loadout checks out.

**Ghaz**

aphyon wrote:
Looks kind of like a behemoth

Don't see the 2 front mounted SRM 2's but other than that the loadout checks out.

The SRM-2s are side-mounted according to TRO 3039 and are in the disc-shaped turrets above the tracks along with a MG (they're mounted like this in the original artwork as well). There's also another pair of MGs mounted to the front above the right LRM launchers.

**aphyon**

Ghaz wrote:
aphyon wrote:
Looks kind of like a behemoth

Don't see the 2 front mounted SRM 2's but other than that the loadout checks out.

The SRM-2s are side-mounted according to TRO 3039 and are in the disc-shaped turrets above the tracks along with a MG (they're mounted like this in the original artwork as well). There's also another pair of MGs mounted to the front above the right LRM launchers.

I counted all that it is still missing the 2 front mounted SRM 2 launchers

X2 AC 10 turret
X2 SRM 6 turret
X4 LRM 5 front
X2 SRM 2 front (missing)
X2 machine guns front
X1 SRM 2 left/right
X1 machinegun left/right

It isn't a bad tank but i would rather run a challenger X

**Ghaz**

From the BattleTech Forums:

Moonsword wrote:Behemoth Heavy Tank, page 96, PDF based on Second Corrected Printing

Replace "2 Harvester 2K..." with "4 Harvester 2K..."

It's easy to miss the two front-mounted SRMs (I did) but I would be very surprised if it's not already been noted in the comments on his Patreon.

**aphyon**

I planned to play this game for a while, we finally got time for it.

The battle of the crabs

our comstar player loves his crabs, he has 2 king crabs, 2 regular crabs and 2 hermit crabs to make a full comstar level 2 lance of crabs.

I brought a re-enforced kurita C3 lance of mostly heavies-

Battlemaster (double C3 masters)
.warhammer
.daikyu
.catapult
.grand dragon
.wolverine

It turned out to be a pretty brutal back and forth. keeping us both right around the same number of losses each turn.

the comstar player called it in the end after he lost initiative 2 turns in a row that prevented him from really using the speed of his hermit crabs to his advantage.

Spoiler:

**H.B.M.C.**

What miniatures were you using for the Hermit Crabs?

**aphyon**

3d printed king crabs at reduced scale.

The other game we did was the final battle in our ongoing campaign.

The players were trying to hold the city they had liberated in the previous match. they came close, but were down a player and an assault mech. it also didn't help they lost their nightstar on turn 2 thanks to the pilot getting knocked unconscious .

We had to use quite a few proxies for the attacking force. and my poor hunchback basically had a bullseye painted on him as no Mater which way he went the indirect artillery strikes the players called in always seemed to scatter onto him.

Spoiler: