BattleTech Lore & History - First Succession War: A Complete 35 Year History (MechWarrior Lore)

[@SweetLittleAki]

This whole project is phenomenal. It's so easy to get lost and numb in the statistics of the Succession Wars, yet this series managed to convey the true horror of the actions of individuals who themselves either could not, or did not wish to. You and Tex are the Zenith and Nadir of Battletech lore.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you very much. I'm glad I was able to cover the conflict without it becoming too impersonal. I know in BattleTech "zenith and nadir" has special significance because of the jumppoints but wouldn't that normally mean the best and worst, lol?

[@Jonnyg325]

​@@SvenVanDerPlankthink of it more like, two entrances to a library, knowing that going through issel a whole world of knowledge just waiting for you

[@ryanlott1108]

Im not being insulting saying this, but this is adorable 😂 and I wholeheartedly agree

[@SweetLittleAki]

@@SvenVanDerPlank It only occured to me months later that it could be taken that way. I was honestly going for the library analogy destructorinator was alluding to. That you and Tex act as literal and metephorical jump points to the planet that is Battletech for new and returning fans alike. Keep up the amazing work. Loving the 2nd Succession War series thus far

[@CaptainSeato]

Zenith is appropriate, since Tex just offers published specs/history, heavily interspersed with opinion; content which is only entertaining to those with low standards and don't already own the material.

[@monkeybusiness673]

The End of Chapter IV gets me every time..."They hoped for a decisive victory.....238 years later, we're still waiting!" That is god tier writing, my man!

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Well thank you. I always try to end each chapter with some sort of stinger. Some are a bit more contrived than others.

[@Korraganitar]

The scale of this is horrifying. Well done communicating it in an understandable way.

[@BK2207]

The beginning always get to me. As if the Amaris Civil War wasn't tragic enough, it was just an appetiser for the main course. Again, thank you for the amazing amount of work you put on this masterpiece Sven. And despite the fact that, as any content creator, you will turn you head back later on this project and see all it's flaws and mistakes, know that what you have done will stay for a very long time across the fandom as a shining example for any loremaster of BattleTech. Heck, it may go up and beyond in the test of time for the actual franchise.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words. I did try to show at the beginning that even though people talk a lot more about the Star League Civil War, it is barely comparable regarding the loss of life.

[@JacatackLP]

The way you focus on the human element is so great, and adds to the heartbreak and horror of watching worlds die.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you. Because my lore series is such a high level overview I do worry that it devolves into nothing but statistics and loses that connection with the people. Glad you found that wasn't the case.

[@JacatackLP]

@@SvenVanDerPlank my gut wrenches more listening to your descriptions of the massacres and casual use of wmds and the deaths caused by infrastructural collapse than it ever has from reading or listening to 40k novels. A big part of Battletech is the pointless inhumanity and pettiness of the wars and you capture that perfectly.

[@EndlessInfinity1]

You'd win my 👍 just for the most chilling chapter transitions alone, but holy crap, it's obvious how much work you put into this.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

I was really pleased with how those scrolling lines of the casualties came out. Like I didn't do anything complicated there but the effect looked really good. I'll have to come up with something new for the 2ndSW.

[@Cross_Malaki]

@@SvenVanDerPlank The use of The Decision Is Made really, accented it.

[@ishcabob20]

Great video! It cracks me up that a lot of the succession wars is just "and then one of the houses committed indescribable war crimes"

[@yogssothoth3199]

Again. Committed war crimes again.

[@empulsive4242]

My partner and I have fallen asleep to many of your videos and I have finally converted her into a battletech fan Thank you so much for the comprehensive videos they explain so much i could never do it justice to explain to her

[@patchpatch4008]

2:14:14 Has to be the most harrowing and gut-wrenching event besides the Amaris Civil War. The absolute terror at seeing what you thought would be your saviors begin bombarding your homeworld. 4 and a quarter billion people just murdered through atomic anhillation.

[@SHDW-nf2ki]

"The Succession wars, had begun" *EPIC DROP*

[@rmcdudmk212]

Best video covering the first sucssesion war that exists today. 👍

[@jonnyares1]

I clicked because it’s a 5hr video. What kind of nuts has a guy got just dropping this whole thing all at once. Much respect

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Well I hope you found it interesting. 5 hours is a LONG time to ask someone to sit and watch a KZbin video, I know.

[@jonnyares1]

@@SvenVanDerPlankso far so good! I’ll let you know in 3.78 months when I finish watching it

[@ryanlott1108]

​@@jonnyares1you watch the civil war one yet? It's like watching a ken burns documentary

[@Maezhughes]

​@@ryanlott1108 I've watched/ listened to it more than a few times and it's really great. I've even used it as a sleep aid. @SvenVanDerPlank makes good content and I'm glad he's doing it the way he wants to

[@raifsevrence]

​@@SvenVanDerPlankI come back to these over and over again. Never catch all of it in one sitting, but these videos are so damned good.

[@richter6699]

A masterwork. This is incredible. There is a criminal lack of Battletech content out there, so this is very much appreciated 😁

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

You're welcome, and thank you. I'm very happy with how it came together in the end.

[@LashanaKaos]

The Kentares massacre has always been terrible to read about, but hearing you explain the specifics really solidified just how horrific it would be for all involved. Truly the stuff of nightmares.

[@ryanlinkson3765]

Amazing work both in production and narrative delivery. Thankyou for the sheer effort 👌 Great content !

[@hork6716]

Listening to the death toll of the civilian populations during the course of this first horrific war makes me legitimately want to cry. You've done an amazing job with this one Sven.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, I love hearing that my videos make people cry, lol. Genuinely though, it's a very high complement to hear I got an emotional reaction out of someone.

[@patchpatch4008]

Battletech on tabletop: Spreadsheets and Spreahsheets and oh! More spreadsheets! 😊 Battletech in lore: We stopped counting dead because we killed the accountants in during our multi planet nuclear holocaust. All for a broken throne and a useless crown...

[@cynicalcitizen8315]

It shows how much this community loves this setting. This is massive amounts of detailed information. These battles are probably scenarios that we players can try odds are. This community is more loved than the 40k community.

[@swytchblayd]

"Would any of the Successor Lords have reconsidered if they knew how little they stood to gain, and how much their own realms were about to suffer?" No, I don't think they would have. Even if someone had irrevocable proof of what was to come and delivered it to each House in turn, they would doubt that all of them could be swayed, and that doubt that even just ONE of them would take the chance to seize as much territory as they could would be enough to push them to war simply so that the rest would not be able to catch them unawares. Its what makes Battletech different - admitting that everyone is, at the end of the day, human, and fallible, and that that degree only increases with the amount of power one possesses. Amazing video! Extremely thorough yet describing more than just statistics, giving a scope of just how insane the First Succession War was. And don't think I missed that Sean Bean cameo :p

[@jamesperkins191]

I think the possibility of the FS uniting with the CC wouldn't have been let pass by

[@SHDW-nf2ki]

Jerome Blake lived through all this shit and decided "nah man, MORE SUCCESSION WARS!"

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

He had so much fun the first time around he couldn't pass on the opportunity to start another one.

[@Maethendias]

fun fact, reading the words "battletech lore" and "first succession war" acutally taught me that mechwarrior and battletech are the same universe so theres that it also explains why i am constantly getting battletech results whenever i look something up for mw5

[@nightvinev1]

so is mech assault (kind of)

[@Zenoflame]

Thank you so much for this Sven, this series (and the others in the Battletech IP Universe) has been so well done it's hard to imagine a time without your works being available. I can't wait for your future works and I'm unimaginably pleased with how everything has turned out. Once again thank you for your efforts and hard work putting these together and giving such a caliber of respect to Battletech that hasn't been seen often. I put your videos up with the pantheon of Sarna and others with respect and effort for this IP.

[@Deridus]

Thirty. Years. I have been playing, reading, or otherwise enjoying Battletech for 30 years. You are the very first person I have EVER SEEN fly Capellan colors. Taurians, Canopus, Circinus, even the Outworlds... but never a Liao. Until now. I do not know how to feel about this. If I were a Clanner, I'd issue a Batchall.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you for the high praise Zenoflame. I appreciate your support as ever.

[@Maerdy]

@@Deridus I've got a strange soft spot for them but I wouldn't be as brave as this guy. I can kind of see the appeal of being the psychotic underdog in a setting where, ultimately, wherever your allegience lies they're responsible for horrific warcrimes and cruelty

[@Deridus]

@@Maerdy Sorry about my prior reply. I'm usually a lot better about keeping real life away from my hobbies.

[@rummskullvonchang]

Well, that's damn good start to my holiday weekend.

[@AlexhandrDenthanor]

It is fascinating just how often suicide attacks are a thing in BattleTech. Particularly from members of Periphery States. Also, very cool there's a mercenary group called the Fighting Urukhai.

[@davidgrunt]

Outstanding video series The level of detail and research that goes in to them is astounding!

[@josepablolunasanchez1283]

I like these complete story videos. Allows me to watch when I have time without missing anything. KZbin preserves the bookmark so I can continue watching them.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Glad you like them.

[@hamder]

Of all the channels I've subscribed to in '23, this is by far my favorite. Gotta get that battletech lore.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, I'm happy you've enjoyed my ridiculously deep dive into the setting.

[@floriangallus7760]

This is a great Christmas present. Thanks man. I'll rewatch this one of these days as a whole maybe while finally sitting down again to paint some Mechs. Maybe I'll finally finish Hanse Davion's Battlemaster.

[@ninjakittens5255]

This content is pure gold. This kind of effort by an individual to tell a story is the very best of yt.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you. It was a lot of effort but I'm very happy with the results and the reception.

[@captainteutonica5474]

I have been waiting for this video ever since the series started. Thank you so very much for all your hard work.

[@backlashlash7366]

THANKS SVEN looked forward to every single release since the beginning now i get them all in one shot, and not from somebody else editing your vids together but from yourself. truly quality work

[@johnb.2107]

Truly phenomenal, my absolute favorite lore series for Battletech.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed it.

[@iamplay797]

So cool 😎 i read all the books and lores when i was a teenager but seeing all this with maps and arts is even better Thanks it makes me want to get my massive collection out of storage and play battle tech again

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Plotting it out on maps really helps visualise the campaigns more than just reading the names of systems on a page. It also helps demonstrate the futility of it all when you see how little was gained for so many lives spent.

[@pitbullseatkids2682]

That intro, damn

[@sinjin8576]

Great houses: *go to war* ComStar: *secures SOL through military might.* Great houses: "wait thats illegal..." ComStar: "Do something about it...we dare you."

[@juamu1132]

Jinjiro considering a nuclear blitzkrieg,hmmmm

[@jegsdinogod5091]

Absolutely awesome job. Like tex you teach a storied history without just reading off a wiki. Bravo sir.

[@Xix1326]

This is a great video for Battletech fans. I'd love to see this level of detail for all the wars pre-clan invasion. Thanks so much for a great 5+ hours.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

We'll get to them in 2024. One day I'd like to have covered the entire timeline.

[@ryanlott1108]

​@@SvenVanDerPlank This reply makes me very excited. I know it's a crazy amount of work, and the current series seems to be from the perspective of the beginning of the franchise in 3025, but I'd love to see the beginning of the clans done in such detail. Or the fedcom war and the jihad. Tall order considering we are still getting chapters of the second succession war, but this is like a college level course on battletech history. Can't wait to see where we're at next year

[@VallornDeathblade]

We all know Tex is the premier when it comes to most Battletech videos so take it as the greatest praise when I say this is the perfect followup to his Amaris Civil War videos. You capture the tone and horror perfectly alongside the political machinations.

[@jasonashman9534]

I know eh? Sven has really come into his own, and it just keeps getting better. He's now up there with Tex in my books, albeit in a very different category of BT content.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you guys, it's high praise to put me even close to the BPL with how good their videos are.

[@VallornDeathblade]

@@SvenVanDerPlank You've got a really good style with this video that's all your own. I especially liked the chapter transitions. Some of those really put a chill down your spine when you realize what they represent.

[@audiosurfarchive]

​@@SvenVanDerPlankYou should absolutely reach out as a associate of the BPL to inevitably make THE definitive Succession War(s) video with BPL. You as an Ace in the hole with Tex's chutzpah and your ability to just as, if not moreso, focus on the humanity beneath the chaos is something. I think it'd be a damn great day for BT community if you became a contributing writer, researcher, editor (of text) for a BPL video in the event it ends up covering the Succession War(s).

[@olecranon5444]

All these incredible works of history that have been made, actually makes me understand why the Clans thought the Inner Sphere were barbaric animals. No wonder there are no aliens in Battletech lol, they all think humans are crazy maniacs. "Quarantine the whole galaxy, let the crazies destroy each others!" I hope we get more of these history movies for the more recent periods of Battletech.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, I'm really pleased you've enjoyed them. It is my intention to carry this history series all the way through to the modern era, but that's a multi-year project. My hope is to finish out the Succession Wars this year.

[@olecranon5444]

@@SvenVanDerPlank That is super cool, that to help me learn more. Do you know if there is enough data to eventually have a series on Kerensky and his fleet as they moved out of the Inner Sphere and headed into uncharted space and how the forming and we came to meet the clans? I read recently about some intriguing stuff about the clans in Bred for War mentioning infighting between clans and even 2 clans getting obliterated due to their crimes.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Yes, definitely. I'm planning to go back and tell their story after the Clan Invasion gets underway or if you can check out the sourcebook Operation KLONDIKE. There's also a trio of novels that cover the founding of the Clans.

[@t95kush27]

An 8 hour video followed up by a 5 hour video? Love it.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

And there's another five hours to go after this one. The Succession Wars will have far exceeded the Star League era by the time I'm done.

[@t95kush27]

Cant wait! Picking up where I left off yesterday! I've been stuck doing " e learning" for my new position at work today but.. its all crap I already know and have done elsewhere so I'm watching these while the mandatory videos and monologuing goes on in Teams today 🤣

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

@t95kush27 Ha, well I'm happy to provide you a distraction from work monotony.

[@ericsouth3019]

Wish i had more than one "Like" to give you. Great job! Love the fact you put them all in one video! Keep up the awesome work 👍

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you. I appreciate the support.

[@simplewrites]

Kerensky: *Leaves* House Lords: "It's free real estate."

[@TheKeyser94]

I trough that Kerensky leaving would lead to some resemblance of peace in the exiles, but his son was even more radical than the Nobles Houses of the Inner Sphere creating a rigid cast system that inevitable lead to war between them, in the end, Kerensky exile was in vain because the Clans are as divided as the warring factions of the Inner Sphere.

[@simplewrites]

@@TheKeyser94 can you imagine if the clans were united?

[@CaptainSeato]

Kerensky leaving only accelerated the House Lords's plans, as well as removed the sole deterrent to their ambitions; repeatedly, it is mentioned that while "together, the House armies marginally outnumbered the SLDF remnants," the SLDF were combat veterans honed to a knife-edge, AND fighting to defend their homes which they just spent time and blood to liberate. Kerensky also removed a significant threat to Hegemony invasion when he removed the fleet. Kerensky was a mentally deficient man who the SLDF never should have put in command in the first place.

[@PeterDahu]

​@@CaptainSeato Interesting way to look at it. Kerensky was in many way short sighted.

[@derekhinger1343]

@@CaptainSeatothe old saying is that the path to hell is paved with good intentions 😢

[@Dogue83]

The Inner Sphere decided to play Nuclear by Mike Oilfield on repeat for a few years.

[@Kurorahk]

Thank you for doing these as they're helping me get a better grasp of the psyche of each faction and their leadership which will help me with running campaigns.

[@thomascraiker6449]

Hey great video, my lore sense is tingling. Can’t wait for your next project.

[@thorgeirnable]

I cant imagine the work required to compile this. Good work

[@ThugShakers4Christ]

Everyone knows that Amaris died protecting the Camerons, but Kerensky murdered them after capturing Terra. He blamed Amaris, but Blake then found out and blackmailed Kerensky into leaving the Inner Sphere.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

It makes perfect sense.

[@Archangelm127]

Well. I guess the truth was out there after all. It all makes sense now!

[@iangale8230]

So much work must have gone into collating all this information. Loving all of the artwork. A venerable project indeed.

[@shadowcaptaincain]

Amazingly put together and easy to follow. All they were left at the end, for all the blood spilt, was ashes and dust.

[@lord6617]

5 hours one sitting, woof, that was cool. Good work and thank you!

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

So you're the madman (one of them, anyway) I see in my analytics watching these right the way through. I'm pleased to have kept your interest for that long but don't forget to take breaks.

[@lord6617]

@@SvenVanDerPlank Its good background while I am slamming my head against roadway design :P

[@NathitTheGamer]

This is the most amazing thing I think I’ve ever seen. I’m a long time battletech fan, I’ve read every single novel (aside from the first one, hard to find). This is unbelievably cool.

[@cianwalsh9137]

Have been putting your videos on while at work, really helps the day go by. Thank you.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

You're welcome, happy to provide you with a distraction from work.

[@Dracobyte]

You are one of the greatest Battletech content creators! Awesome editing.

[@tmorton42]

This was a fun listen and watch. Getting the the whole thing at once is powerful. I had to remind myself this was sci-fi. Well done!

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Cheers. It's unfortunate I can't upload it all at once from the start because I'm sure there are many details that are forgotten or go unnoticed when there's months between the first and last chapter. Sadly it's just too big an undertaking to complete without chopping it up.

[@fabianmaryanowski2252]

Wut the hell 😂If this does not cover all I dont know anymore🎉 Luv your vids mate❤

[@MissStormcaller80]

Another fantastic video, it's amazing to hear about all these battles and lost worlds. The Inner Sphere is truly insane, or at least the House Lord's. Can't wait for the next entry into this series!

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Cheers. I do agree with you, when you see how little they gained and how high a price was paid, the only conclusion you can reach is that they're all totally mad. Hope to debut the Second Succession War later this month.

[@MissStormcaller80]

@SvenVanDerPlank In several battles they simply went with nukes first and asked questions later. Like what worth is a planet if we throw all the nukes at it? Mind boggling that they could be so blindly stupid to the point of ineptitude. Tho what's even more interesting is how likely this could be. Give someone enough power and time and I'd worry this could be the outcome. I think this reason is why Battletech is more interesting than Warhammer 40k. Don't get me wrong, I love 40k, played it religious back in 3rd and 4th Edition but everything in it is so fantastical as to be removed from even the slightest possibility of happening. But Battletech is so much more likely, both in the far future and much sooner. Really fascinating stuff and makes these videos even more like history lectures.

[@ComfortsSpecter]

Awesome near Immaculate work So utterly Heinous and so Enthralling Beautiful presentation Wonderful effort bringing all Your work together Thank You

[@luismena57]

Great video

[@kilrathi827]

Great lecture, Professor! Looking forward to picking up with the 2SW series.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you very much for the support, Andrew. I'm glad you found the video interesting. Already finished 5/13 chapters in the 2ndSW. Hope you find that equally enjoyable.

[@anjetto1]

While 40k lore is, in many ways grander, larger and more dramatic, battletech lore often feels more human. Its not the sweeping achievements of great heroes, mustache swirling super villiany or grim edge lordism. It feels more tragic because it feels more real. Not just because theres no space magic or gods beyond. Everything seems dictated by resource allocation and ego.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

I think there's an element of fatalistic tragedy to it that I'm drawn to. It's an intrinsic part of human nature that we will endlessly fight wars with each other.

[@juamu1132]

what's even more scarier is this might be our future. a never ending nightmare... woe be tide humanity.

[@EdmondHiggins]

Wow, just wow. Yeah great job.

[@Layo81]

Wow. As an actual historian I have to say that you are an actual historian.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Well thank you.

[@EricDKaufman]

An absolute master work!

[@MahBones]

Kudos to you, I can't imagine the sort of effort involved in collating something like this.

[@grinningdm594]

Sees a five hour video, gonna get so much shit done, and I did. Great work thank you.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Glad I could help you to be productive.

[@ST8MENTZ]

Ahh, nothing like listening to this wonderful story while playing Mechwarrior 5.

[@CapnArrich]

I can't explain why, but all the little things like this for the setting just fascinates me to no end. The attention to detail gives it all a great, lived in kind of feel. So thank you for that. Also, I love that little mystery about what happened to those Lyran warships. Something big and ominous hiding out in that irradiated junk field? Or early ComStar shenanigans? Left vague on purpose... A good mystery fuels all sorts of wonderful discourse! Again, my thanks for the hard work.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

It's a little mystery left unexplained by the sourcebook but having just recently finished the Star League Civil War I couldn't help but make the connection to the earlier space battle and what might have been left behind in the debris.

[@CapnArrich]

@SvenVanDerPlank Mysteries are fun. Pirates? ComStar? (I'm not sure of the timing, but it would line up with their potential goals of evening playing fields, so they may be a more controlling power) A rogue AI in said junkyard? A spaaaaaace monster? Probably an AI.

[@nikoclesceri2267]

@@CapnArrich It could be one or more of the drone ships from the civil war, but I think it would be funnier if it was the phone company

[@imasspeons]

​@@SvenVanDerPlank my guess is a Casper.

[@timelessninja]

It might take a while before I have a good 5 hours to sink into this, but I'm looking forward to it when I do.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Well I hope you enjoy it when you find the time.

[@Cynidecia]

Suddenly the Clans don't sound so bad considering the Nightmare that the Succession Wars were.

[@merkarion7883]

Problem with the Clans is that they more or less put all in Cast´s ...which is, when you are not a Warrior, enslavement. Also all People over 45 don´t get any Medicamets or treatments anymore...so they will be left to Die. So I don´t want to know how many died because of that on the conquerred Worlds...

[@ssjjshawn]

You may wanna reread the Clan Novels Being nuked isn't so bad as being a Clanner Civilian

[@merkarion7883]

@@ssjjshawn Not only the Clan Novels. You simply find information about how "lovely" Clanner are to Civilian in Technical Readout. In the Artikel to the Woodsman-Omnimech are interresting informations about how the Smoke Jaguars handle shortages of Food... Others try to find a way to get more Food...the Smoke Jaguars simply let their Civilians die or actively kill them and take the Food for Warriors only...friendly Folks

[@Tom_Cruise_Missile]

​​@@ssjjshawnsometimes you get both depending on the clan, also getting nuked is a small price to pay for victory Concordat ftw

[@Athrun82]

Considering what the Clans do to each other or the Pentagon Civil war I'd rather stick with the Houses thank you very much. Or pray to the big toaster that can also send messages across the entire universe

[@travislewis5058]

Thanks for this stuff. im getting back into battletech, and these vids are vary comfy, lol

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

You're welcome. "Comfy" is a strange word to describe stories about mass genocide, but whatever helps you relax I guess.

[@notneededforthis]

Love your work helps newbies like me get more invested 😊

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thanks, glad to hear that it's proving helpful.

[@Qardo]

Hold up. There is a planet called "Park Place"? What are we playing. Battletech or Monopoly? The answer is "Yes".

[@Firebringer121]

Man the first succession war sucked. It always seemed to be you either were killed by defenders nuking your planet to deny it to the enemy. Or attackers nuking you because your defense was too stiff. A wonder anything remains, really good job conveying that.

[@michaelkimberling7307]

Urge to cook and paint minis… RISING!

[@xedalpha1]

When your war reaches Last Great Time War levels of horror you know you effed up.

[@Chilled_Mackers]

5 Hours of Mech Lore - awww yissss!

[@Ironhold_Watch]

We asked and you delivered Silly house lords.... Sven 4 first lord!

[@MitchellWillingham]

Thank you sir! Have a wonderful holiday!

[@aelreth-]

Superbly done in a matinee format. Thank you for your hard work.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

You're welcome.

[@ostegonation]

Amazing, absolutely amazing work!

[@cynicalcitizen8315]

I'm just a Taurian. I couldn't give less of a fuck about the Inner Sphere.

[@Logan912]

As a fellow Taurian, I have to say that it's nice to see those self-righteous asshole Davions not win at everything all the time.

[@Deridus]

I come from the Spin/Coreward Periphery. I 'ate Kurita. 'Ate Clanners. Really 'ate Capellans. Don't much mind Leaguers, FedRats, or Steiner civilians. Question is, who do I 'ate more? ComStar, Wobbies, Pirates, or Canopus? Like me my Taurians and Outworlders, but y'all are just a bit too far away to be useful to me...

[@Archangelm127]

What do you call it when a Taurian mechwarrior gets knocked down? Ground beef. ❤🐮

[@liljenborg2517]

Yeah, yeah, you Taurians always say that, but when anyone named “Davion” sneezes, you’re all “The Fed-rats are going to invade!” The Liaos invade some of your worlds and you’re all, “the Fed-rats have conned the Cappies into softening us up so the Fed-rats can invade!” House Kurita massacres the entire population of Kentares and Taurians are all, “It’s just a MIIO plot to get us to lower our guard in preparation for the Fed-rats to invade!” The Clans show up and you Taurians are all, “It’s just a plot by the Fed-rats to make us think they’re too focused on these imaginary Clans so we won’t think the Fed Rats are about to invade!” The Blakists (who YOU invited into the Concordat because they had nuked New Avalon and let you take over a bunch of Fed Suns worlds) drop an asteroid on your capital and your all, “the Fed-rats are coming! The Fed-rats are coming!” You guys are OBSESSED with what ever is going on in the Inner Sphere, especially in the Federated Suns. No wonder the Calderons broke away to form their Protectorate.

[@cynicalcitizen8315]

@@liljenborg2517 I don't give a flying fuck about the politics of it all. The Star League was always a corrupt and tyrannical leviathan that died the way it deserved. The thing that you freaks are fighting over is long dead. Davion knew this. I give credit where it's due. But let me remind you that it was the Inner Sphere that committed the worst atrocities in the pointless Reunification War. Our paranoia is justified as it was the Cappellans that turned around and gassed us right after the Ares Convention was signed while The Free Worlds League( who is the only great house that has my respect) followed those conventions when fighting Canopus. Even though they were suspended by the fucking 1st Lord. Time and time again has the Inner Sphere stuck it's nose where it doesn't belong. So yeah, we look at the Inner Sphere with paranoia. Apart from this conversation, how is your day going?

[@michafraszczak120]

It is like an audiobook. Kudos.

[@Deridus]

Yay. Always can use more BT Lore.

[@ShawnShifflett]

This was amazing! Thank you for all of this work.

[@michaelman957]

You've given us the Christmas gift of TRAGEDY. 🤣😭

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Merry Christmas you filthy animals.

[@js1817]

55:20 "The Sharpe Rifles", obviously a reference to the Bernard Cornwell series. Every one in a while, the Battletech writers throw in a reference like that.

[@cterrel]

Amazing work, thank you!

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

You're welcome. Thank you very much for the donation, I really appreciate that.

[@OverwatchSniper]

As a big fan of Mechwarrior 4, Kentares always stands out to me in Battletech history. I hope that you will return to it when you eventually get to the FedCom Civil War. Ian Dresari did nothing wrong, everything was just Steiner propaganda!

[@RichtorLazlo]

So I personally feel wars is overall more advanced then trek, trek hold the edge in so key technologies like transporters, replicators,holographic tech, shield tech, sensors and targeting, and some medical. Wars holds the edge in construction,engineering, bureaucracy, power generation ,planetary defense ,engines. Look at wars you see planet wide city’s , mile spires as a matter commonplace, space ships that are miles long, Death Star , bureaucracy that spreads across the galaxy, amazing galaxy wide commutations networks, hyperdrives that ship can move across the galaxy, I feel star wars “sublight”drives are at least as fast as tos warp drive( keep in mind the kessel run 12 parsecs that they have made cannon, was like just a few minutes. In Star Trek it takes over an hour to go one parsec, let alone 12)there are a few more examples of general advancement of star wars , in a fight however Star Trek will win almost ever engagement due to more powerful weapons, better ranges, more accurate weapons, more powerful shields.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thanks Richtor

[@squizzlor]

Coming in for a thumbs up and some algorithmic assist.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you squizzlor for your continued support.

[@TheeKevinAtor]

This series is my background sound any time I play something Battletech/Mechwarrior related

[@headlessfool7050]

In light of the utterly horrific mass murder of civilians, I wonder what made the fighting people go on fighting . The Leading people may have been unhuman slaughtereres...but how is it ordinary people continued to do their bidding for decades ? And why did civilian populations on not touched by the desaster (yet) worlds not rebel . In short, I am struggling to understand why the people of the 5 States did not stop 5 "Leaders" leading humanity down the path of ruin .

[@MM22966]

A monumental work.

[@johnroscoe2406]

The word "Magistracy" is fast becoming my nemesis.

[@nemo35383]

Hats off again to you. Amazing videos. Thank you

[@snakes3425]

Woe to a kingdom when madness wears the crown

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

I hope you're not implying that a certain Kuritan Successor Lord has gone mad? Woe betide anyone foolish enough to make such a suggestion.

[@shimazutakuma1031]

Lyran regulars often perform better than the guards because: 1. They are more experienced 2. They have more motivation 3. Have commanders who care about their troops rather than just use them for human wave tactics And most importantly: 4. They don't have high pride unlike the Guards 😅

[@robertbyerlay5040]

Minrou kurita at helm. Nukes it into nuclear winter. Thus not found. Centuries later. Duke ricol arrived at helm hoping to salvage mechs from that depot. Thus helm memory core.

[@tinfoilhat3268]

I'd love a playlist of all the supercuts

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

There is one? It should be on my channel's homepage, but if not check the playlists page.

[@AnimeSquirrel]

I'm still pretty green to this universe. I've only played Battletech 2017 and Mechwarrior 5. Do either of those games take place during one of the major event eras?

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Both games take place in the late Succession Wars era, which is what most people consider the "start" of the story. Everything I've covered so far is all prehistory, centuries before any of the novels or games take place. MW5 starts in 3015, HBS BattleTech in 3025, but neither game involves any major world events. They each tell their own story. The MW5 DLC changes that. Heroes of the Inner Sphere and Call to Arms are just a collection of minor stories set in the 3020s. Kestrel Lancers is about the Fourth Succession War (3028-3029), Rise of Rasalhague is about the Ronin War (3034) and Dragon's Gambit the "Fifth" Succession War (3039). The upcoming Solaris Showdown is set in the 3040s but as far as we know, doesn't cover anything major.

[@AnimeSquirrel]

@@SvenVanDerPlank Thank you.

[@clarkreamer4560]

Can someone give us a final count on how many times the Kenyon Marik picture appears? #MyCaptainGeneral #RealFirstLord

[@lorefox201]

not enought

[@Cross_Malaki]

Too many times. #MarikRuinsEverything #Steiner4Life

[@clarkreamer4560]

Some people don't know how to party.