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Cadet
ComStar
Lieutenant, SG
Joined: 17-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 495
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 Posted: 28-Mar-2003 11:12 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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In all honesty, the only thing that can advance BattleTech is the storyline. Given TPTB's track record of introducing new game elements and add-ons, and then not supporting them (Think Solaris VII box set, Succession Wars, AeroTech), I fail to see how adding a few new expansions will advance BT. I understand that map sets are cool, and there is some support now for AT2, but even so, there isn't much there.
As far as TROs, I'm torn. I like the idea of new Mechs for the game, but the universe really doesn't need them.
Unlike stuff that is completely RPG based, it is difficult to produce game add-ons (e.g. new rules or equipment), especially since we have the Level 1, 2, 3 things. That's just a limitation of a wargame I suppose. It just seems to me that the board game is just going to have to suffer with stagnation and rely on the storyline.
As far as revamping the game, I'm all for it, but it absolutely would need to keep the same equipment and ability to modify Mechs. About the only piece of equipment I could do without is the DHS. it just removes the whole point of heat, which was to balance out the weight of autocannons.
Not that anything I say is very important anyhow.
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Gangrene
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 939
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 15:34 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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On 2003-03-28 11:12, Cadet wrote:
It just seems to me that the board game is just going to have to suffer with stagnation and rely on the storyline.
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I think that is a death sentence (given my opinion of the current storyline). Btech does not have novels anymore, so FanPro would be relying entirely on Sourcebooks to add to the game.
I know Btech has a poor history of not supporting side products, but if the product does not advance it will fade away. I wouldn't mind seeing it redone or updated as long as the general feel is the same.
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Gangrene
[ This Message was edited by: Gangrene on 2003-03-28 15:38 ]
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Gangrene
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Alexander
Heavy Horse Merc Brigade
Commanding Officer
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 828
Location: Canada
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 18:25 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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Hey, welcome back. How's things? Things have been too quiet around here without your destabilizing presence.
I do agree with you that the storylines have stagnated. That's what happens when you have restrictive submission requirements, and a small number of contributing authors.
Alexander
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Horhiro
Draconis Combine
Samurai
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1625
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 18:27 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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About the only piece of equipment I could do without is the DHS. it just removes the whole point of heat, |
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I couldn't agree more! They changed the way the game is played more than any other piece of equipment.
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"I have lived my life trying to be a virtuous man. The Dragon admires tenacity, and the code of the samurai upholds it as well." -Minobu Tetsuhara
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Cadet
ComStar
Lieutenant, SG
Joined: 17-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 495
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 19:49 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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On 2003-03-28 15:34, Gangrene wrote:
I think that is a death sentence (given my opinion of the current storyline). Btech does not have novels anymore, so FanPro would be relying entirely on Sourcebooks to add to the game.
I know Btech has a poor history of not supporting side products, but if the product does not advance it will fade away. I wouldn't mind seeing it redone or updated as long as the general feel is the same.
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The only real problem I have with revamping the game is that it could change dramatically (think differences between 40K 2nd and 3rd editions) or would be dumbed down (ClickyTech) to the point that the only relationship between the battleTech we all know and love and whatever it becomes is the name and big robots. I think you can already see that in the way ClickyTech became the flagship game of the BattlTech universe with our game being an afterthought.
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Cadet
ComStar
Lieutenant, SG
Joined: 17-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 495
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 19:51 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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On 2003-03-28 18:25, Alexander wrote:
Hey, welcome back. How's things? Things have been too quiet around here without your destabilizing presence.
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I lurk a bit, but don't feel like posting much for various reasons. I just felt like putting my 2 cents in on this though. Things are things I guess. How's your end?
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Cadet
ComStar
Lieutenant, SG
Joined: 17-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 495
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 19:56 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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On 2003-03-28 18:27, Horhiro wrote:
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About the only piece of equipment I could do without is the DHS. it just removes the whole point of heat, |
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I couldn't agree more! They changed the way the game is played more than any other piece of equipment.
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The way I feel about it, without the DHS, the game never would have gotten unbalanced the way it has. The three biggest changes (weapon and equipment-wise) before the Clans were the DHS (which totally destroyed the heat management aspect), the XL engine (that allowed so much more equipment to be mounted), and the Gauss Rifle (headshot from across the map). Now I could have lived with the GR (heavy weight and bulky) and the XL engine (vastly increased vulnerability), but the DHS just ruined the balancing factor heat had. Sure you could have a ERLL, but you had to pay for the increased range with higher heat. Add on DHS and it really is no penalty. Things just got out of hand though with the range and damage of Clan ERPPC and Lasers though.
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 20:17 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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Allow me to introduce you all to the concept of fan fiction.
So what if FanPro is slow to get stories out? As fans, we can still do our own stories and get them out amongst ourselves. While it may only reach the fans, that alone ought to stir up some interest with those who are losing it.
I figure that right now, if we can just retain the current fanbase the fans will bring more fans with them.
As an example of fanfiction in action, I give you www.lexicon.tf which I am a fairly active contributor to (under the callsign Firestorm). There are college-level essays and fiction works there; I figure that give the fans the opportunity, we can do similar.
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Gangrene
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 939
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 20:38 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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On 2003-03-28 19:49, Cadet wrote:
The only real problem I have with revamping the game is that it could change dramatically (think differences between 40K 2nd and 3rd editions) or would be dumbed down (ClickyTech) to the point that the only relationship between the battleTech we all know and love and whatever it becomes is the name and big robots. I think you can already see that in the way ClickyTech became the flagship game of the BattlTech universe with our game being an afterthought.
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I have no problem with modifying or recreating the game as long as the classic game still exists. I have argued on CBT that L1 should be a separate, simplified game for the masses. That was shot down. MW:DA would be fine with me if (a) the money actually supported the Btech timeline and (b) it wasn't so damn stupid.
The current fluff just isn't that good, IMO. To say the future of Btech as a product relies on that is like admitting defeat (IMO).
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Gangrene
[ This Message was edited by: Gangrene on 2003-03-28 20:38 ]
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 21:10 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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All the talk over on CBT is that there may very well be a BTech movie in the works. If it is true and it does get moving, then it may lead to an increase in the fan base.
I'm just hoping that if it is true, it doesn't wind up like a duplicate of the failed D+D movie from a few years ago.
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"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Gangrene
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 21:22 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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The "Btech" movie will more than likely lead to an increase in fan base for MW:DA and Microsoft products. Unless the movie is specifically tied into Btech I don't see it helping much.
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Mar-2003 22:05 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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While that may be so, there is a chance that by default it will lead them into the regular stuff. Or at least, we can hope so.
IMHO, the main thing that we need to do is to change the popular opinion about RPGs in general; otherwise, folks, the fan base will invariably peak and quite possibly sometime in the near future.
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"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Cadet
ComStar
Lieutenant, SG
Joined: 17-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 495
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| Posted: 29-Mar-2003 10:35 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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Quote:
| The current fluff just isn't that good, IMO. To say the future of Btech as a product relies on that is like admitting defeat (IMO).
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That's the biggest part of it. The storyline and fluff isn't very good. It doesn't help that anyone who says so is tarred with the title of "NAYSAYER" and "FEAR-MONGER".
There's a reason so many players have said it's time to strike out on their own.
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Alexander
Heavy Horse Merc Brigade
Commanding Officer
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: Canada
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| Posted: 29-Mar-2003 12:00 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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Not bad. I leave for Bosnia on Monday. Better than Iraq. Otherwise, same old.
Trying not to spend all my money on Alcohol and Women...
Alexander
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Commanding Officer, North West Armoured Cavalry
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Cadet
ComStar
Lieutenant, SG
Joined: 17-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 495
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| Posted: 31-Mar-2003 23:53 Post subject: RE: Btech stagnation |
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On 2003-03-29 12:00, Alexander wrote:
Not bad. I leave for Bosnia on Monday. Better than Iraq. Otherwise, same old.
Trying not to spend all my money on Alcohol and Women...
Alexander
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What the hell else would you spend your money on? 
be cool man, and keep your head down.
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