Alan_Nominus's Xanga

CGL Projected 1st Quarter 2010 Lineup

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:06:44 GMT

BattleTech 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set

A Time of War: The BattleTech RPG [Hardcover, full-color, roleplaying game]

Technical Readout: 3060 [Catalyst-branded reprint]

HexPack: Lakes and Rivers [A Terrain Expansion]

Record Sheets: 3060

Record Sheets: 3075

Historicals: Operation Klondike

First Strike: BattleCorps Anthology Vol 2 [BattleTech: A selection of the best fiction from BattleCorps.com]

Warrior Trilogy [BattleTech: Anniversary Omnibus, Author's Definitive Edition]

A Bonfire of Worlds [BattleTech: A Dark Age Era Novel]

*ahem*

It looks like 2011's gonna be a kickass year for Battletech.
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Catalyst Game Labs: Update

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:51:14 GMT

They insisted they refunded my cash, but they gave me a store credit a few days ago. Not optimal for either of us I guess, so maybe it's a good compromise. I asked around and one of my friends expressed some interest in Eclipse Phase and another mentioned Cthulutech. I picked up the core book for each, and with shipping it about equaled my store credit.

When those books come in though, I will finally be done with CGL. Probably not forever, though I am hoping.

Catalyst Game Labs: How I used to love a game

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:47:09 GMT

Spent the last three weeks on a barge, salvaging used-up oil platforms out of the Gulf of Mexico. Okay, I wasn't doing that, I filing paperwork for the guys who do it, but what did you expect?

Anyway, I come back and it turns out that Catalyst didn't credit me back for my TacOps/StratOps purchase/preorder. They said they did before I headed out and I thought everything was going to be cool, but they fucked up and now I have to get with them again and make a ruckus.

I really don't think I'm ever dealing with these people again. They've been incredibly polite and quick on response time, but helplessly opaque, slow to actually do anything, forgetful, and, of course, wrong about having given me my money back(I'm not saying 'dishonest' because I'm still assuming that this is all a misunderstanding based on miscommunications or simple error instead to maliciously pocketing my $137). Let's not forget that pre-orders got dick-all consideration for pre-ordering and got to wait an extra week!

I'm just angry and stupefied because this is still an issue and because I know that in a week, it will still be an issue.

I'm even angrier because I can't even think of playing anything Battletech related right now. Nothing. Looking at the books, everything is trimmed in this bled-over hate. That the people who made this product (in a rather collective sense), aren't too great at running their company, that I gave them money for that product when they were possibly fucking up someone else's money, that I somehow (unreasonably) thought that just because there were a few good ideas and scenes kicked around that this whole setting/game was somehow interesting. It's like coming home from vacation and seeing your house as if for the first time--with a stranger's eyes.

Those strange eyes haven't been very kind to Battletech. I signed up for metaphorical knights on metaphorical steel horses. I signed up for alien cultures standing shoulder-to-shoulder (okay, muzzle-to-muzzle with very alien cultures). I signed up for customizable play with simple rules, not 'mech editors and shrugged shoulders over rules arcane, unclear, and unreasonable. It was this proud...thing in my life, with giant robots and cool stories, and now that this one string has been pulled-like a tapestry-it's just falling apart.

But hey, just picked up a fat-pack for Magic the Gathering's new set, so I'm pretty stoked.

Silly question though: does anyone know any reputable lawyers that deal with internet company cases, or if that is a law-enforcement issue?

Gaming Lately

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:22:23 GMT

Didn't know I felt this way until I was reading the forums and found this:

I have to agree with him when it's time to think how many friends I have found thru the community. I have ever seen gamers enjoying the others' companionship and creating a very intuitive feeling that perhaps is what makes these persons special.

I agree with the rest of his statement (about theft being wrong), but it didn't stop me from composing a response in my head:

Most of the gamers I've met have been unmitigated jackasses. If all gamers burned in a fire, I'd probably be too happy watching the ninety percent burn to really cry over the other ten.

But that's really me on the whole population.

I have just been bitter lately. Maybe it's the job/relationship/school thing.

'Mech catalog

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:13:15 GMT

Ahem. It is now complete. The 'mechs themselves aren't, but the list is.

Alpha: All notes are included in fluff and/or discarded. Fluff is cut to TRO specs(appx 750 words for Battlemechs, appx 500 for omnimechs).
Name           Model     Status

Bravo: Fluff is written, but unrevised.
Name           Model       Status
Clear          THG-21X     Unrevised fluff. 3087.
Deadpool       WW-01     Unrevised fluff.
Deadpool       WW-03       Unrevised fluff
Dragon Fire                Unrevised fluff
El Dorado                  Unrevised fluff. 3087
Fire Falcon    3087u       Unrevised fluff. 3087
Ghost of Blake GoB-111     Unrevised fluff. Notes. 3087
Grigori        Omni        Unrevised fluff.
Jester         LKI-1A      Unrevised fluff. 3087
Headhunter HHR-5-2VL Unrevised fluff. 3087 NEW!

Königswolf     -           Unrevised fluff. 3087

Kit Fox        3087u       Unrevised fluff. 3087
Lunarbound     LUNB-1-2VL Unrevised fluff. 3087 NEW!
Murder         RDRM-1-2VM Unrevised fluff. 3087

Night Gyr      Kevin Pryde Omni config. Notes. 3087

Rhesus                     Unrevised fluff. 3087
Sheriff                    Unrevised fluff. 3087
Überhammer      ÜBH-0220    Unrevised fluff.

Sychophant     SYC-2A      Unrevised fluff

Charlie: Notes are on file.
Name           Model       Status
Cobra IIC    -             Fluff written, not typed. For 3087
Commando       IIC         Some fluff. 3087
Danger Angel/Mauler IIC    No fluff. Notes.
Dire Wolf      FR          No fluff. Notes.
Flenser                    No fluff. Notes. 3087
Mereo Casus Relucesco MCR-00 Unrevised fluff. 3087
Thirty-One      OMI-31      No fluff. Notes. 3087
Catapult       CPLT-5-2KH Notes.
Blood Asp      Switchblade No fluff. Notes.
Rummy          No fluff. Notes.

Delta: No fluff.
Name         Model        Status
Alchemist    ACHM-1C      No fluff. 3087?
Berserker    BRZ-U3X      Test bed for housetech.
Dire Wolf    xE           No fluff.
Field Support Industrial Mech Fluff? Eh.
Frame        FRME-1-2LI   No fluff.
Hellbringer iJager       No fluff.
Hellbringer 2             No fluff.
Kingfisher   L/Emo        No fluff.
Quickdraw    QKD-O8       Omni Quickdraw. Fluff is somewhere. 3087
Slim Thug    THG-21K      LPPC, 70-ton Thug. No fluff.
Turkina      MX2      Omni config. No fluff needed. For 3087
Turkina      MX9          Omni config. No fluff needed. For 3087
Turkina      HGN          Omni config. No fluff needed. NEW!
Catapult     CPLT-4-1KSM Streak Catapult. Test platform. No fluff.
Deadeye IIC               Fluff depends entirely on mood.
Mars IIC                  Fluff inevitable. Sooo lazy. 3087.
Atlas        AS7-AP0 Fluff depends entirely on mood.

X-Ray: X-treeme designs
Evil Eye      EVL-373     No fluff. X-treeme design.
Joe                       No fluff. Hoses the Cobra, mostly.
Luna         LNA-7X       No fluff. Is it worth it?
Tank                      X-treeme design. Not an actual tank.
Hellbringer Cheapshot    Omni config. Fluff is somewhere.
Megapult     CPLT-111-2KA No fluff planned. X-treeme design.
Vredefort    VDF-GBL1     No fluff planned. X-treeme design.
Dude 57      DUD-RR7      No fluff planned. X-treeme design.

Non-Mech
Ward Fast Transport Dropship

Custommech: Adramelech

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:11:00 GMT

               BattleMech Technical Readout

Type/Model:    Adramelech
Tech:          Clan / 3087
Config:        Biped OmniMech
Rules:         Level 2, Custom design

Mass:          40 tons
Chassis:       Endo Steel
Power Plant:   280 XL Fusion
Walking Speed: 75.6 km/h
Maximum Speed: 118.8 km/h
Jump Jets:     None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type:    Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:      None
Manufacturer: (Unknown)
Location:    (Unknown)
Communications System: (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System: (Unknown)

--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Adramelech
Mass:          40 tons

Equipment:                                 Crits    Mass
Int. Struct.: 67 pts Endo Steel             7      2.00
(Endo Steel Loc: 2 LA, 2 RA, 2 LT, 1 RT)
Engine:        280 XL Fusion                10      8.00
   Walking MP:   7
   Running MP: 11
   Jumping MP:   0
Heat Sinks:     10 Double [20]               0       .00
Gyro:                                        4      3.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors:                5      3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA    R: Sh+UA             12       .00
Armor Factor: 134 pts Ferro-Fibrous         7      7.00
(Armor Crit Loc: 2 LA, 2 RA, 1 LT, 2 RT)

                          Internal    Armor
                          Structure   Value
   Head:                      3          8
   Center Torso:             12         18
   Center Torso (Rear):                  6
   L/R Side Torso:           10      15/15
   L/R Side Torso (Rear):              5/5
   L/R Arm:                   6      12/12
   L/R Leg:                  10      19/19

Weapons and Equipment    Loc Heat Ammo   Crits    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                          0          45     23.00
Crits & Tons Left:                          33     17.00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        8,044,168 C-Bills
Battle Value:      537
Cost per BV:       14,979.83
Weapon Value:      0 / 0 (Ratio = .00 / .00)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 0; MRDmg = 0; LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2:      MP: 7, Armor/Structure: 3/3
                   Damage PB/M/L: 1/-/-, Overheat: 0
                   Class: MM; Point Value: 5
                   Specials: omni
Weapons and Equipment    Loc Heat Ammo   Crits    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 ER PPC                 RA     15           2      6.00
1 Streak SRM 6           RT      4   30      4      5.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT)
1 Streak SRM 6           LT      4           2      3.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                         23          61     40.00
Crits & Tons Left:                          17       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        9,393,768 C-Bills
Battle Value:      1,734
Cost per BV:       5,417.4
Weapon Value:      1,732 / 1,444 (Ratio = 1.00 / .83)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 34; MRDmg = 19; LRDmg = 6
BattleForce2:      MP: 7, Armor/Structure: 3/3
                   Damage PB/M/L: 5/4/2, Overheat: 0
                   Class: MM; Point Value: 17
                   Specials: omni

Weapons and Equipment    Loc Heat Ammo   Crits    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Large Pulse Laser      RA     10           2      6.00
2 Machine Guns           RA      0 100      3      1.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RA)
1 Flamer                 LA      3           1       .50
1 Small Pulse Laser      LA      2           1      1.00
2 Machine Guns           RT      0           2       .50
1 LRM 10                 LT      4   24      3      4.50
(Ammo Locations: 2 LT)
7 Standard Jump Jets:                        7      3.50
(Jump Jet Loc: 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 CT, 2 LL, 2 RL)
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                         19          67     40.00
Crits & Tons Left:                          11       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        9,581,018 C-Bills
Battle Value:      1,584
Cost per BV:       6,048.62
Weapon Value:      996 / 996 (Ratio = .63 / .63)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 21; MRDmg = 14; LRDmg = 9
BattleForce2:      MP: 7J, Armor/Structure: 3/3
                   Damage PB/M/L: 3/2/2, Overheat: 1
                   Class: MM; Point Value: 16
                   Specials: omni

Weapons and Equipment    Loc Heat Ammo   Crits    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 ER Medium Laser        RA      5           1      1.00
1 ER Medium Laser        LA      5           1      1.00
1 Gauss Rifle            RT      1   16      8     14.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT, 1 CT)
1 ER Medium Laser        LT      5           1      1.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                         16          60     40.00
Crits & Tons Left:                          18       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        9,164,868 C-Bills
Battle Value:      1,788
Cost per BV:       5,125.77
Weapon Value:      1,668 / 1,668 (Ratio = .93 / .93)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 29; MRDmg = 22; LRDmg = 8
BattleForce2:      MP: 7, Armor/Structure: 3/3
                   Damage PB/M/L: 4/4/2, Overheat: 0
                   Class: MM; Point Value: 18
                   Specials: omni

Dr. Doom is such a pimp...(spoilers)

Tue, 12 May 2009 05:26:41 GMT

...that prostitutes pay him to provide them with men in purple suits that take their money.

...the Ovid mind swap has the option of being performed with a backhand and a simple incantation of "Bitch!"

...his pimp cane is fully autonomous, going upside heads, even when Doom himself is unavailable to supervise.

...it has its own cane as well, as it cannot be bothered to strike the insolent itself.

...his armor contains over ten thousand microscopic, independently-rotating spinning rims.

...The Phalanx are the unfortunate end-result of an aborted attempt to track all of his illegitimate children.

...unfortunate for you. Doom cares not.

...he once played The Sinister Six, The Masters of Evil, The Circus of Crime, Magneto, and the mutant witch Selene to exhaust the final echo of the Infinity Gems' power on Earth and expunge what little remained of his sense of guilt over his actions, past and future. Dr. Doom and the Masters of Evil was friggin' sweet!

Custom Mech: Turkina MX Classic

Mon, 11 May 2009 03:23:15 GMT

I'll spare you the full stats of a Turkina, and simply list the loadout.

Code:

Heat Sinks:     17 Double [34]              12      7.00
 (Heat Sink Loc: 2 LA, 2 LT, 2 RT)
Actuators: L: Sh+UA+LA    R: Sh+UA+LA       14       .00

Weapons and Equipment    Loc  Heat  Ammo   Crits    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
2 Heavy Medium Lasers    RA     14           4      2.00
2 Heavy Medium Lasers    LA     14           4      2.00
1 LRM 15 w/ Artemis IV   RT      5   32      7      8.50
  (Ammo Locations: 2 LL, 2 RL)
1 Large Pulse Laser      RT     10           2      6.00
1 LRM 15 w/ Artemis IV   LT      5           3      4.50
1 Large Pulse Laser      LT     10           2      6.00
1 ER Large Laser         CT     12           1      4.00
1 Medium Pulse Laser     HD      4           1      2.00
1 Targeting Computer     RA                  5      5.00
3 Standard Jump Jets:                        3      6.00
 (Jump Jet Loc: 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 CT)
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                         74          77     95.00
Crits & Tons Left:                           1       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        27,509,625 C-Bills
Battle Value:      2,533

It runs fine. It's an amazing machine, but then LPLs + TCs and Artemis IV-enhanced LRM 15s will all do that. I'd like to dial it back a notch; perhaps make it more of a niche machine. The Turkina D is tempting, but I thought I'd harness some collective intelligence to bring down the...LPL+TC level. Here's what I'm looking for:

-Thunder-compatible LRMs. The four tons of LRM ammo I have work pretty well. I can easily change one set out for a ton of Thunder rounds without dedicating a large portion of my LRM ammo to it. I can also lay some pretty nice minefields.

-LRM crit-ability. I don't have any SRMs or LBX ACs on here, so it relies heavily on the LRMs to deliver much needed critical hits. On the other hand, adding SRMs or LBX ACs might work.

-Keep the Heavy Lasers. The Heavy Lasers, though inefficient, are likeable as knife-fighting weapons. That mostly necessitates a Targeting Computer, but not necessarily. I could do with fewer Heavy Lasers, but at least enough to make it more dangerous w/in 3 hexes.

-MegaMek compatible. I know they're working on some TW stuff, but I'd much rather pre-TW tech.

-Something for range. It doesn't have to be the ER Large Laser, but it can be.

Custom Mech: Tank battlemech

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:26:01 GMT

Man, I hate infantry...

Tank

Rules Level: Advanced
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Production Year: 3070
Mass: 55 tons

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 275 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 53.75 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.0 km/h (107.5 km/h)
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard
Armament:
    3 SRM-6s
    2 Small Pulse Lasers
    2 AP Gauss Rifles
    2 Heavy Flamers
    10 Machine Guns
    1 Active Probe
    2 A-Pods
    2 B-Pods
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
================================================================================
Tank

Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Era: Clan Invasion                                            Cost: 11,495,782
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E                          BV2: 1,698

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    91 points                3.00
    Internal Locations: 1 LT, 6 LA
Engine:             XL Engine                    275                       8.00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8 (10)
    Jumping MP: 5 (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT                                   2.50
Heat Sinks:         Double                       10(20)                    0.00
Gyro:               Standard Gyro                                          3.00
Cockpit:            Standard Cockpit                                       3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard                     AV - 184                 11.50
    CASE Locations: LT, RT, RA                                             0.00

                                                      Internal       Armor
                                                      Structure      Factor
                                                Head     3            9
                                        Center Torso     18           27
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  8
                                           L/R Torso     13           18
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  8
                                             L/R Arm     9            18
                                             L/R Leg     13           26

================================================================================
Equipment                                        Location     Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRM-6                                              HD            1         1.50
Active Probe                                       CT            1         1.00
Machine Gun                                        RT            1         0.25
Machine Gun                                        RT            1         0.25
Machine Gun                                        RT            1         0.25
Heavy Flamer                                       RT            1         1.50
MASC                                               RT            2         2.00
Small Pulse Laser                                  LT            1         1.00
AP Gauss Rifle                                     LT            1         0.50
AP Gauss Rifle                                     LT            1         0.50
SRM-6                                              LT            1         1.50
Heavy Flamer                                       LT            1         1.50
Machine Gun                                        RA            1         0.25
Machine Gun                                        RA            1         0.25
Machine Gun                                        RA            1         0.25
Machine Gun                                        RA            1         0.25
Machine Gun                                        RA            1         0.25
Machine Gun                                        RA            1         0.25
Machine Gun                                        RA            1         0.25
Small Pulse Laser                                  LA            1         1.00
SRM-6                                              LA            1         1.50
A-Pod                                              RL            1         0.50
B-Pod                                              RL            1         1.00
A-Pod                                              LL            1         0.50
B-Pod                                              LL            1         1.00
@SRM-6 (Frag) (15)                                 RT            1         1.00
@SRM-6 (Frag) (15)                                 RT            1         1.00
@AP Gauss Rifle (40)                               LT            1         1.00
@SRM-6 (15)                                        LT            1         1.00
@MG (200)                                          RA            1         1.00

Custommech: Deadeye IIC

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:09:33 GMT

There was an IS version I made, but it wasn't cool and has been lost to the vagaries of time.

I'm also positive I've posted this one before.

Deadeye IIC

Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Production Year: 3070
Mass: 65 tons

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 325 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 53.75 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    1 Large Pulse Laser
    5 Medium Pulse Lasers
    1 Streak SRM-6
    1 (R) ER Small Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
================================================================================
Deadeye IIC

Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Era: Clan Invasion                                            Cost: 14,181,722
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-D                          BV2: 2,582

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   104 points                3.50
    Internal Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT, 2 LA, 1 RA
Engine:             XL Engine                    325                      12.00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double                       17(34)                    7.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 1 LL, 1 RL
Gyro:               Standard Gyro                                          4.00
Cockpit:            Standard Cockpit                                       3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 211                 11.00
    Armor Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 3 LA, 2 RA
    CASE Locations: LT                                                     0.00

                                                      Internal       Armor
                                                      Structure      Factor
                                                Head     3            9
                                        Center Torso     21           32
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  10
                                           L/R Torso     15           23
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  7
                                             L/R Arm     10           20
                                             L/R Leg     15           30

================================================================================
Equipment                                        Location     Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Pulse Laser                                 HD            1         2.00
Medium Pulse Laser                                 CT            1         2.00
Medium Pulse Laser                                 CT            1         2.00
Large Pulse Laser                                  RT            2         6.00
(R) ER Small Laser                                 RT            1         0.50
Targeting Computer                                 RT            4         4.00
Streak SRM-6                                       LT            2         3.00
Medium Pulse Laser                                 RA            1         2.00
Medium Pulse Laser                                 LA            1         2.00
@Streak SRM-6 (15)                                 LT            1         1.00