BattleTech Lore & History - Star League Civil War: Arms Industry & Deployment (MechWarrior Lore)

[@jasonashman9534]

This is brilliant- its basically a military documentary of the Star League, suitable for consumption by fans of military history. If anyone is wondering why #battletech is experiencing a Renaissance in popularity needs to look no further than what fans like SVDP, Tex, BigRed and so many others are doing. This is better and more detailed than ANYTHING Catalyst or it's predecessors have released in decades. Between this and Tex's mass consumption masterpieces, along with the countless folks doing overviews and mech histories, the fan work is the reason Battletech is still in gaming. Catalyst needs to look at what the fans are doing, and embrace and support their efforts, because it is what is keeping the IP relevant- it's not CGI's rambling attempts to keep the ridiculous timeline going; its releases like this.

[@richmcgee434]

Doesn't hurt that the game also finally has new, far more economical and frankly better-looking minis coming out in real numbers, and is getting carried reasonably well by US distribution (which has become an enormous issue for many companies over five years or so). It's taken 38 years but I can finally point new players at BT and feel happy about recommending the minis. There's also a not-inconsiderable influx of new/returning players who've come over from Games Workshop, in part due to their own incredibly stupid decision to stifle fan support rather than permit and even encourage it. That said, I strongly disagree with your assessment of the ilClan era stuff. It's just another of many historical periods you can play BT in, and is neither better nor worse than any other. It does, at least, have its own identity in terms of very different available tech and mech design norms. I prefer the less complex earlier eras myself, but I'm not going to begrudge anyone who prefers later time periods, and I certainly won't criticize CG for opening up another era for people to experiment with.

[@jasonashman9534]

@@richmcgee434 you're right, but I'm not a fan of IlClan Era. I get that Catalyst is just continuing the timeline, playing with the cards they were dealt, but the IlClan storylibe is built on the back of a whole bunch of flaming garbage- 2 whole eras of line that was either frantic "what can we do that is drastically wacky enough to keep the ship afloat?" (Jihad) or just plain lazy and incompetent (Dark Age) decisions. I should also clarify that, while I have played tabletop, my love of the IP comes from the fiction, the storyline, and the machinations of the Universe rather than the dice-rolling aspects (and the video games). In 30+ years of reading, I've consumed almost everything the universe has spit out. So, while I get the love of the cool tech and new mechs, my hate of anything post-Sepent/Bulldog cones from the fact that the "in-universe" story, decisions, etc are just an utterly dumpster fire of lazy, ridiculous movements and tone-deaf decisions. I'm a big proponent of retconning the story to right the wrongs (but not the ability or support to play tabletop with those tech levels) because of that fact. I also know most of the pushback/hate I get on it is from tabletop players who love the tech levels, which is fine: that's the beauty of 4 decades of development- you can come at this from a variety of positions. I'd love to see Catalyst keep churning out support, miniatures and readouts from ALL current eras for the gamers under the "legends" banner, but take the "in-universe" storyline back to when it wasn't just "well, let's do what we can with this pile of flaming garbage."

[@richmcgee434]

@@jasonashman9534 Well, I certainly can't disagree with your take on the Jihad/Dark Age issues (although I know a few who would) but there's just no way they'll somehow be retconned out of existence. IlClan might turn out equally as dreadful in the long run, but so far it hasn't been as terrible as I'd feared. Not really my cup of tea (I prefer either pre-Clan IS myself, or Wars of Reaving if I want to push around Clanners) but some folks seem pretty enthusiastic, and it's early days yet, maybe it'll grow on me. If nothing else seeing some differentiation between armor types in widespread use is a grossly overdue development - I can remember writing snail mail letters to FASA when the game was still Battledroids suggesting they do armor that worked better or worse against broad weapon types (eg energy, kinetic & explosive). Agreed that it would be nice if all the eras saw more support in terms of "historical" scenarios, though. I'm under the impression that Shrapnel's still doing that for the fiction end of things, but perhaps I'm wrong? The new era will inevitably get the most attention (since it's still being fleshed out) but no reason we can't look backward as well.

[@jasonashman9534]

@@richmcgee434 to my knowledge, Shrapnel/Battlecorps are still releasing anthologies, but it is very hit and miss (although its gotten better), and, to give Catalyst its props, they've gone back to pushing fiction from those earlier eras (Bill Keith's recent Grey Death Legion story, the Kell Hounds and part of the ELH stories, etc) that were quite good. Like I said, different perspectives. 🤷‍♂️

[@jasonashman9534]

I do agree with you about the armor types and some other developments; I always thought the storyline over-focused on the mechs, when conventional weaponry capable of serious anti-mech warfare clearly exist. Laser sighting by ground troops for guided missles were used in the first Gulf War, so I really cannot see how artillery guidance and long-distance munitions weren't utilized more, especially lately. Same with drones, satellites, etc. I know they all exist in-universe, and they are obvious and easy-to-implement force multipliers, especially in defensive situations, yet you never see them. The common explanation is that- especially with large payload guided missles- they're too much of a multiplier.... which is fine, until you write an entire Era where nukes and orbital bombardment are the norm. Since there has now been three of those (Amaris, SW 1/2, and Jihad) you can probably bring them in. Same with anti-mech infantry tactics; I LOVED the GDL/Caryle Commando's use of satchel charges, but how is that the ONLY legitimate infantry-based anti-mech weapon capable of crippling a mech? In a thousand years, no one thought "let's just build a Claymore mine, but to kill mechs!"? No one picked up a Jane's or other military tech manual in the 80s, and they've continued that trend today, so they have no real base for the tech. I asked a simple question awhile back: What, in-universe, differentiates one AC/20 from another? Because if there's 40 manufacturers, each autocannon would be different- different calibres, different ranges, different reliad times, different muzzle velocities, relaibility, repairability, etc etc etc. "In-universe" there is an entire arms industry continually fighting for contracts, making innovation, and looking for that edge. So, who builds the best AC/20? No one could answer me. Sure, EVERYONE knew it does X,Y,Z in the tabletop, but no one could tell me how it transferred "in-universe" beyond a very basic calibre spreadsheet gleaned from the old novels and readouts. As a storyline guy, this is what I want to know.... which is also why I dig this episode so much: it's logistics and numbers and data, built into the story; stuff that gets overlooked by many of the fans, but that is very much the mark of some writer(s) doing EXACTLY what they are supposed to be doing for line and story development.

[@fredlandry6170]

Seeing how huge the SLDF was in 2765 it’s unreal that by 2779 the SLDF was only a quarter of its pre war strength. Such devastating losses.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

It is crazy the devastation the SLDF suffers, but I do feel the numbers don't really add up, especially in the next episode. The Periphery Uprising is undertaken by a far less cohesive force than during the Reunification War. And yet they are able to destroy twice as many SLDF units in comparison to their own losses. That doesn't seem possible without the judicious use of WMDs, something which the sources tell us were actually far more restrained than during the RW. The only way I can justify it is if the periphery "regiments" were actually FAR larger than their SLDF equivalents (which could make sense for irregulars). They also made a point of going after the command units so maybe a loss of division command results in the loss of the whole unit in the figures.

[@MoreEvilThanYahweh]

It really didn't help that even if described as a good general in-universe, Kerensky meatgrindered the SLDF in reality as far as strategy and deployments went.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Could you give some examples? I don't think I agree. His strategic decisions seem pretty sound to me.

[@MoreEvilThanYahweh]

@@SvenVanDerPlank YT comment section wouldn't begin to contain everything I and others have noted. While I understand there were logistics concerns about why the SLDF as a whole could not just charge back into the Hegemony or go straight for Terra... If you can go all the way from the Rimward to Coreward Periphery without the RWR's factories and supplies you can do probing/spoiling/beachhead establishing attacks on some Hegemony worlds en route as well, faffing about for years in the RWR without doing likewise as well, not bypassing and just seiging occupied Castles and bases as soon as they had local/orbital superiority, letting the Hegemony RWR dig in to the extent they did, charging into enemy guns time and again like a conscript army rather than the supposedly elite SLDF, etc. On the subject of the largest obstacle for example, the SDS and Caspars. A real and competent military wouldn't have stopped probing the state of the SDS (they have Bugeyes and L-F batteries), even after that one SLDF group went rogue and charged to their deaths on one of the few systems that Amaris didn't need a few years to gain control over. They would have noticed the vulnerability early on and at least tried spoiling attacks or establishing a sustainable foothold in the Hegemony itself that could fend off the RWR fleet alone (since the Caspars wouldn't be used offensively given the whole jump weakness) to help the proper offensive later on. Just look at all the operations and fronts the Western Allies fought between the fall of France and Overlord/the invasion of continental Europe. They didn't just faff about in the intervening years. I'm not gonna pretend to be able to cite chapter and verse better than you at particular events, though I don't think Kerensky's march to Terra was that detailed outside of particular battles like taking Sol and Terra itself. I consider it out another case of a writer or writers being unable to get into the head or realistically write the actions of a character that's actually smarter or more knowledgeable than themselves in a subject/field. That said, I generally consider Kerensky as the good leader they intended rather than what we actually got. Chalk it up to a variant of FASAnomics. Others also note that while he was a good pilot/gunslinger and a charismatic officer loved by the troops, he was ultimately promoted too fast, was only experienced in peacekeeping operations prior to the coup and unable/incapable of managing the amount of forces he had across the fronts being fought on. It's like if Eisenhower in WW2 only had the experience of his 30 year old self as Supreme Allied Commander (IIRC, that's when Kerensky became head general). Doesn't help that he came from the Nagelring and we all know what kind of general Lyrans produce... James McKenna also rose too quickly and too young, which is what I guess was the writers telling us "look how ultra competent and talented they are!" but comes off as a red flag when you apply a smidgen of real world scrutiny to the narrative. You could say he was the right guy and a good officer for the time he was commissioned in, but not the best for when it came time to kick the Fat Man off Terra.

[@mathiasanderson554]

@@MoreEvilThanYahweh While I can neither agree or disagree with your points, I appreciate your logic and reason. Very well-said.

[@Drietfoga]

A week ago I was only vaguely aware that this setting even exists but now I'm binge watching your videos and getting amazed how intricate this lore is. You're doing amazing work.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, I'm really pleased I could introduce you to some of deeper lore behind the setting.

[@anothergalaxy799]

I'm right behind you :)

[@das_gruuben]

I'm new to Battletech and I've been really enjoying a lot of the content surrounding it. I have to say that these videos are very interesting, keep them coming! Also, the development of your visuals of the campaign maps has been getting better and better. I know that's likely a time and effort heavy part of the videos, but it does wonders to show some polish and keep viewers engaged.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. The maps are a fair amount of work. Took a day or two to make the base map and just recently made the three dozen variations I'd need for the upcoming liberation campaign which took another 6-8 hours. But making the maps is one of my favourite bits so it doesn't bother me.

[@das_gruuben]

@@SvenVanDerPlank I'm excited to hear that you've got more on the way in terms of content. I don't know if it's feasible, but I'd gladly lend my voice to projects like this. I'm not a pro by any standard, but I've been told many times that my voice is great for narration. Not sure how I'd go about it, but if you're looking for a good reader, I'd like to do something for the community that got me I to Battletech.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

That's very kind of you to offer. I think I have the rest of this series covered already but maybe in a future project down the line I'll return to the idea of having others on as "historians."

[@Zenoflame]

Every video keeps getting better and the passion, creativity and intelligence put in them shows. I can't wait for another great video of yours and I hope to be here for the premier.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you for the kind words.

[@VoiceOfTheEmperor]

I want to hate you because of your profile picture, but I'll let it slide. Regardless, your words are extremely nice to hear. (Federated Suns Loyalist here.)

[@ArawnNox]

man I forget how detailed battletech is and I love it. This is a great look at how armies were set up and stationed at the outset of the war. You are doing an incredible amount of work and its really appreciated. Keep it up!

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you. What it really showed me is how much the SLDF was set up to keep everyone under constant surveillance. Nowhere was safe and you weren't allowed to step out of line. Was very much an army of occupation.

[@matthewneuendorf5763]

I really like the rotating narrators. It's super fitting for a historical documentary presentation style.

[@RyeFields]

You got to love how detailed all of the infantry and mechanized infantry divisions are. They could have just said there's an endless number of said no named soldiers. However, they decided to go in full force.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

There is a stupid amount written about them in Field Manual: SLDF. It's something like 250+ pages, and like only a couple dozen of the 450 divisions will ever get mentioned by name again.

[@RyeFields]

@@SvenVanDerPlank to be fair... The amount of detail in the clan invasion is ridiculous too

[@spartanalex9006]

@@RyeFields Correction, the amount of detail in this IP is huge.

[@Zhool]

A veritable powerhouse of contributing voices on this one.

[@Smeghead76]

10:30 "Sadly, centuries of searching and exploration by treasure hunters have concluded that both were lost during the ensuing wars". Someone should tell that to the Gray Death Legion, then...

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Aren't they that new Merc unit from Trellwan? Doubt they'll be able to find it. Last I heard they were heading to the Draconis Combine on a contract they're not likely to return from.

[@Smeghead76]

@@SvenVanDerPlank Weirder things have happened in the Sphere, though. I mean, who would have thought that almost all of the SLDF would simply pack up and head for parts unknown after the Council Lords chose to rip the Star League apart rather than see anyone else as First Lord?

[@MM22966]

I has completely missed the strategic/logistics weakness implications of the SLDF for divisional and above movements after reading the Star League sourcebook. You really shed light on how HARD it must have been to shift out into the Periphery, and the agony Kerensky must have felt when he realized how long it would take to get back to the Hegemony and the Amaris troops dug in behind all its fortifications. No wonder there was a spate of smaller units "going rogue" and attacking NOW, right after the coupe. They couldn't see the big picture of what would have to be done and died in their dropships as Caspar drones tore them apart, or were nuked at their LZs by missiles launched from inside Castles Brian. Great doc!

[@sid2112]

Tex introducing the MIC episode, hehehe. Graft graft graft bribes graft.

[@friendlywallflower7521]

Oh yeah. Tex opening a video about arms and industry. Perfect.

[@kieranhosty]

Having watched the Tex talks Amaris civil war videos, the gravity of how colossal the civil war has impressed me again

[@yourseatatthetable]

Looking forward to it as well.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for participating, I really appreciate your volunteering your time and creating some of your own lines as well.

[@yourseatatthetable]

@@SvenVanDerPlank Truly, it was an honor to contribute in any small way. I'll also be more than happy to participate in the future.

[@yourseatatthetable]

Lore videos such as these tend to draw me back numerous times as there is always something I usually miss during the first few viewings.

[@kyokyodisaster4842]

PATRON REPORTING! Can't wait for the video!

[@BattleBound]

Looking very forward to hearing this all in just a bit while I paint. Thanks so much for having me on, it was lots of fun, and I appreciate you!

[@maggiweber]

Goosebumps when I heard Wargamer Fritz! Uhhhh These videos are fantastic 😍

[@franksmedley7372]

Hello Sven. Although I am a 'gray warrior', in that I am one of those that bought the original boxed set with the fold over Battletmech units, and later bought the original 'Lances' of lead miniatures, and even though I know the rather extensive and pervasive background of the game as a whole, I was impressed by the amount of detailed information presented in your video. The inclusion of so many well known content creators was a pleasant surprise, and a welcome break from hearing only one voice narrate events and numbers. Your video put paid to any thoughts that the Reunification War as a 'small affair' in ANY sense of the term. It was a clash of epic proportions that stagger belief, until you sit down and look at the numbers involved, deployments, and later subsequent redeployment. Your statements of the rarity of Brian Caches is well-made, although not directly pointed out. Although finding a Brian Cache is often used by Players as a way to reward Players for winning a series of battles, your video, hopefully, will reign in this tendency to award them as prizes. Brian Caches are VERY rare, and should never be callously thus awarded. Even hints of one such cache, was enough to cause major players to invest time, money, and Mechs to the search for such a thing... allowing a tiny Merc Unit to find one and use it beggars belief. Replicating the events of the Gray Death Legion is just lazy thinking, and no true 'Battle Master' should ever resort to such things. Now, finding out that a Pirate band unearthed a cache and is attempting to utilize their prize? That is something that might be worth working with. With the Bandits only being able to strip off some equipment to mount to their existing Mechs, and perhaps fielding troops with SLDF grade weaponry. Full on Battlemechs though, would be hard to put into action, with SLDF encryption and pilot identification systems. Getting around such security would be well beyond the vast majority of Bandit groups, but stripping off weapons and equipment from SLDF Mechs? Not that difficult, although time-consuming. Keep making these videos, Sven. They are informative, in depth, and well worth the viewing... even to someone like myself, with a pretty good grasp of the overall subject. May my Locust Swarm always bypass your location, Speaking, Frankly.

[@keithwinget6521]

OMFG, bringing all of you together like this is solid-gold rockstar-level badassery! You could have talked about shredding newspaper for bird cages or something like that and I'd still listen to it.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

I'll keep that in mind for future videos.

[@Jordanationalismtion]

“Twelfth Army was assigned the understrength 2nd RTC, which had recently taken a beating on the Taurian world of Detroit.” Even in the far future, Detroit reaps a human cost. It’s quite fitting that it’s in Space Texas.

[@duanewong1527]

This video was the single-most detailed map of force deployments of the Star League era I've seen

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

They wrote seven sourcebooks on the military situation in 2765, which is why this video is as long as it is. And next weekend, I'm releasing the 15 minutes I cut out of this one as a bonus.

[@JC-nl9yq]

You are a boss. I love this stuff. It’s gotten me back into Battletech, between nostalgic MechCommander and OG Mechwarrior games to the new Mercenaries. I also have a few Battletech novels I have started bringing to work to page through on my down time.

[@TheRealholycrapper]

I know this video is over a year old, but I can't overstate how awesome it was to hear the collaboration with other Battletech content creators, I loved hearing their voiceovers!

[@Alpharius-Omegon]

Excellent work Remembrancer Plank, continue building upon this strong foundation

[@djolds1]

Great work. A loving recounting of the deep lore of Battletech.

[@Justaoldspacemarine]

B bc I R

[@richmcgee434]

So many familiar voices in one vid. Awesome work all around.

[@Wrangler-fp4ei]

Wow. That's heavy duty documentation of the beginning of the Star League Civil War! This was amazing!

[@arwing20]

You are easily the best Battletech Lore channel out there (yes even more so than Tex, since you are way more active and consistent) I love your details on armies and navies, with the graphics you use being a bonus. Got yourself a subscriber and patron

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, that's very high praise and I appreciate your support.

[@YycGrumpyGamerDad]

Damn sir. Another one hit right out of the park. Your videos have become some of my favourite Battletech Lore vids. Keep up the amazing and awesome work!!!

[@cm3291]

That was fantastic, looking forward to the next one!

[@floriangallus7760]

It might have been numbers heavy, but that attention to detail is what I love about your videos. Great stuff as always. I can't wait for the next one.

[@williamchamberlain2263]

Really good You span a huge area and timeline, but you manage to keep it well paced and just enough reminders to not have to go back to episode 1 every time

[@Dracobyte]

Another awesome collaboration video!!!!

[@sterner626]

Such amazing work and so many talented collaborators! Absolutely love this thank you :D

[@oldmandeath]

This was great as always! I can't wait to see a break down of the civil war proper. Keep killing it!

[@macrux152__8]

TEX? TEX TALKS BATTLETECH?!

[@Sparafucile-kg5hz]

Thank you for this in-depth look. A great job by everyone!

[@steveguziec8050]

Awesome hearing so many great BT Podcasters!

[@harbingerx7793]

​just noticed now that Serenity is in the Concordant. battle of Serenity Fields and the gumption of the Brown Coats makes a lot of sense.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Ha, never made that connection before. Wonder if that was a deliberate reference.

[@harbingerx7793]

@@SvenVanDerPlank I never thought there would be any. But I happened to pause the video during a focus on the Taurians, and spotted the planet. Eerie similarity when you don't think to hard about it.

[@ebla83]

Fantastic video, and so nice having the guest narrators!

[@RemTV]

These videos are fantastic, I'm so glad you've been able to unite the community by having different readers of your script! Keep it up

[@jst5926]

Fantastic. Good to see top teir battletech lore videos.

[@BrianBors]

The details! Amazing! :D So well done. It feels like a ramp up towards all the chaos to come.

[@michaelkimberling7307]

My Inner sphere mechs are getting painted as the Alliance Borderers. It’s pretty cool to hear of them in a lore video

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

They get a brief cameo in the next episode as well but... it doesn't go well for them.

[@michaelkimberling7307]

@@SvenVanDerPlank yep I like playing as the underdogs. In terms on Battletech the outworlds alliance is almost the poster children of the concept of underdogs.

[@derekburge5294]

Really love the detail you dive into. Goddamn excellent work!

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thanks, glad to see people don't think it's OTT. Happy to hear you enjoyed it.

[@derekburge5294]

@@SvenVanDerPlank Nah, I think it's right where it should be. That sweet spot between BPL cinematic and Sarna dry reading. Keep it up, mate!

[@jkulcsar100]

this series is totally amazing! i got into battletech in the 80's when i was a kid. have loved it ever since. this is the best videos i have ever seen on the subject.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, that's very kind of you to say. I'm really pleased your enjoying it.

[@keeganpenney169]

This videos really great for lore but also awesome because it brings the bt community together more with multiple youtube channels working together. Super cool keep up the great work bt folks!

[@chrisgibson6061]

Well done good sir. Excellent work

[@valdimarinn]

One of the best lore channels on KZbin , love your videos

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Thank you, that's kind of you to say.

[@JeraldSizzler]

These are fantastic! Cannot wait for the omnibus vid. Huge Critial Rocket and Tex fan , so awesome you brought them all together! Oh yea , holy shit i love battletech!

[@mathiasanderson554]

I very much enjoy this series and am elated by the undertaking. I'm excited for the next part!

[@rmod42]

A project of epic proportions. Most enjoyable!

[@lohengrin5082]

AS Soon as I heard the Mechcommander menu music I knew this was gonna be good!

[@therakshasan8547]

It is amazing that after 500 years of wars that there were any resources left on any known world .

[@blackspade1]

Loving these!

[@Mofflin1]

Wish I could like this twice. Sharing.

[@Mogrand]

congrats on another amazing lore video mate keep em coming and thanks for the nostalgia hit with the mechcommander background music👍

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

No problem. You're the first person to mention the MechCommander soundtrack. I used it on a whim during the Reunification War series when I was laying out all the units on the board (so to speak) and really liked the way it sounded. I decided that going forwards, every major conflict like this I cover, I'll use the same two songs for the same overview chapter.

[@Mogrand]

@@SvenVanDerPlank soon as i heard the music i had instant flashbacks of playing mechcommander on the old msn gaming zone those where the days 😀

[@robertbyerlay5040]

8:23. I knew i heard lances of same mechs. Perhaps companies and battalions too? Logistics bonus from same parts and battlefield repairs plus interchangeable pilots. Maybe some customizations or defects made a small variety in those lances but SLDF era had fewer makes of mechs or at least ones that survived to 3025.

[@JordonVirtue]

Once again, incredibly high quality video my friend! I have the distinct sense I'm going to be saying this uh... you said nine parts? Seven more times!

[@AGS363]

He was a bad Dude, this Stefan Amaris. But to pull all this up, he had to be some kind of genius. Building up enough forces to challenge the SLDF and having Star League pay for it, that takes some real talent.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

I think his talents (however diabolical) are underappreciated. He wasn't the bumbling fool he is often talked about as. Like there are bits in the lore that make me go "really now?" but Amaris' rise to power isn't one of them anymore. It's just handled masterfully and I fully buy that he was able to do what he did.

[@schaddenkorp6977]

@@SvenVanDerPlank I like the idea Tex put forth in his Amaris Civil War video that the events with the Blackwatch and how he very nearly could have been thwarted and killed were what caused him to go insane.

[@No1_OfConsequence]

Nice to see B1B again, from the Lords of the Battlefield days!

[@Demolitiondude]

So many times the military industrial complex speech could be invoked only here.

[@oneproudbrowncoat]

Damn Star League definitely got what was coming to it.

[@johnathan651]

If Mechwarrior 5 ever gets another DLC, I hope Tex gets a starring voice role. That would be amazing!

[@billrich9722]

That ended on a fucking grim note. I really enjoy these. Thank you for them.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

You know what's coming. It's too late to stop it now. I tried to have a sense of impending doom build throughout the first three episodes going into the Coup.

[@billrich9722]

@@SvenVanDerPlank Yeah, I know. But it still gets me. BattleTech is one of the few IPs I've managed to stay excited about through the years. You've done a good job with that building sense of dread. I think this one might be the biggest, "Oh no," tease. I knew the Star League era slung around a lot of metal but I never realized just how much tonnage there was.

[@Athlon2736]

Love the work and the breakdown down. Though I would have love to seen the unit markings for the Taurians and the Out World's Alliance like how you showed off everyone elses

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Regrettably, the artwork simply does not exist. Most are units that exist only in this short time period. Vast majority are about to be wiped out next episode. Only the handful that make it to the modern setting have sigils/coat of arms.

[@RobinWhiteTX]

I would fight an Atlas while piloting a 1 legged Stinger for a night in the house of Magistrix Janina Centrella. Yep, that's the comment. Great Series!

[@robertsullivan4172]

At the rate the amount of detail is increasing with each video I really look forward to when we get to the actual New Vandenberg Uprising/Amaris Civil War.

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

New Vandenberg kicks off the next episode. The Coup us the focus the fourth chapter. Then it's the Rim Worlds campaign, two on the Hegemony Campaign, one on Earth and then the finale.

[@KillerOrca]

108 Stalkers is a TERRIFYING thought. ...the Atlas was mobile but the time of the Amaris Coup, right? Kerensky himself ordered its construction. Wonder if there was an Atlas Regiment somewhere

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Possibly, but then I don't think there was quite enough of them. The Atlas II was actually just entering early production at the outset of the war. One actually features in the next episode.

[@oriffel]

amazing. we need more naval stuff in BT.

[@GalmLead]

I personally would LOVE to see you proceed into the Succession Wars, Clan Invasion, Fed-Com Civil War and even the Jihad Eras, myself! The books around the Fed-Com Civil War, Jihad and intro into the Dark Ages Eras I seem to struggle to find books and the like to support these, but I'd absolutely love to see more deep dives into these eras, even if the games covered the Succession Wars to death!

[@Steven-dt5nu]

Battletech has a rich history.

[@RSColddawg]

Damn youtube ninja'd this one in for me.

[@cynicalcitizen8315]

Long live New Vandenberg!

[@suicune1939]

Was that tex talking in the continue a video that has to be tex

[@SvenVanDerPlank]

Tex kindly recorded a number of lines throughout the Fall of the Star League series.