Catalyst Game Labs - Battletech and a Culture of Violence

Here it is, kicking off the new year with calling out the bad conduct activists in the Battletech Fandom! See timestamps below for clips of a "community" member's take on the written declaration of allegiance that relate to the video chapters.
0:00 We begin!
3:50 Dom explains attacking someone
kzbin.info...
4:00 Dom explains assault kzbin.info...
4:10 Dom explains defamation
kzbin.info...
4:20 Dom explains debate (his video comments are locked)
kzbin.info...
4:30 Dom explains telling you what he thinks you are
kzbin.info...
4:40 Dom explains CGL's intentions
kzbin.info...
At the end of the day, Battletech belongs to the fans. Sure, anyone can play Battletech but no one has a right to force their ideologies on others - through defamation, doxing, coercing/compelling speech, harassment, cyberbullying, and most of all threats of violence.
All fans should strive to keep real world politics out of social media spaces and only engage on the topic of Battletech. For those who desire such a space, it exists - #BattletechintotheFuture
/ battletechfandom
Battletech into the Future Discord:
/ discord
Within this refuge are multiple additional areas that players may engage in:
#BattletechFandomLeaders
/ battletechleaders
#BattletechforConservatives:
/ battletechforconservat...
#LandandSeaFandom
/ landandseafandom
For the storyline of #Resurgence #ResurgenceEra:
battletechfano...
#battletechisforthefans #battletechintothefuture #battletechfandomleaders #battletechforconservatives #catalystgamelabs #TabletopWargaming #TabletopGaming #tabletopgames #tabletop #mechwarrior #battlemech #battletechhobby #catalystgamelabs #battletechtotalwarfare #battletechalphastrike #battletechminiatures #battletechgame #fasa #Topps #fanatics #Resurgence #ResurgenceEra #Battletech
Update: Since the creation of this video, it is possible some activists have been removed from the Catalyst Demo Team, however, those opposed to them, the "wrongthinkers" have also been culled. While current membership may be different after January 2024, the message remains the same. Political activism cultivating a culture of violence is unacceptable.

[@Funkin_Disher]

Man its a good thing that the game was around before CGL, and will be just fine again without them

[@agamelift]

You got that right! Thanks for stopping in!

[@captain-commander8138]

man i just want to play my big stommy robot game @@agamelift

[@agamelift]

@@captain-commander8138 That's the best part, CGL may be cornering themselves with these activists but, they are not the fanbase, these guys are less than 20% of the fanbase. You typically won't walk into an LGS and find any of these people unless they congregated there. I've seen some of the activists talking and it seems like there are some locations where it is just a swarm of these ideologues. In that case, you just have to reach out and start your own group. The likelihood, especially given the dramatic shifts in modern culture away from the trans ideologues, is getting lower and lower. Try to find gamers that are veterans (which is a huge demographic in BT) for example. Remember, the fans were here first. The activists will be gone long before we are and their masters at CGL will have to decide to keep the violent, stalking activists or Battletech soon enough.

[@captain-commander8138]

@@agamelift I know a few places were I could play in places and I don't care what you identify as man, women, a slab of limestone, as long as your not a Capellan XD.

[@agamelift]

@@captain-commander8138 Exactly. The only thing that should come up at a Battletech meetup is Battletech. The content of one's character should be priority number 1. The second someone drifts into causing arguing, division, or attempting to force others to abide by their beliefs, that is crossing an unacceptable line.

[@paulhalcott5824]

Remember when a group of people, linked through the mutual love of a game, (be it BT or any other game) could sit around a table and play the game? With the bulk of all the discussion focused on the game? Where political topics and ideology only came up when discussing the Fed rats vs the Dracs? Yeah, good times!

[@agamelift]

We had that for like 8 years straight, starting to rekindle that again since the issue we had over a year ago with a toxic activist. Can't wait til it's in full swing, thanks for stopping by!

[@AxelBlazen]

It is never enough for those people. Even long after they manage to boot everyone out. They will just creep into another hobby and do it all over again.

[@agamelift]

Exactly, they have been learning for the last couple years the Battletech fanbase is not anything as weak as they hoped it would be. Thanks for stopping by!

[@tokusatsukeyblade797]

And they then throw a fit because everyone left. These idiots want to have their cake and eat it too.

[@Terlecki777]

“Protect IP” It’s not CGLs IP so yeah.

[@agamelift]

Exactly, they are quickly looking to lose it by not purging stalkers and violent activists from their own organization. Thanks for stopping in!

[@thebritishgeek]

Man, I remember when games and hobby stuff was full of nerds and not political agitators. Its become worse than 40k by a long shot now. I'm very glad i didnt get too involved with the video side of battletech because i saw too many nutters and i don't want to deal with that.

[@agamelift]

Spot on, it's like all these people can do is inject politics and sex content thinly veiled as Battletech and they are somehow victims when criticized - then they are still crying victim when they are called out for their malicious conduct. Thanks for stopping in!

[@Gigadramon6]

Because the only tactics they HAVE when caught during subversion is to double down and attack. The reason it's so much worse in regards to Battletech than it was in Warhammer is that they're getting pushback before they can even gain a sizeable "community" of fake fans like they were able to in Warhammer with groups like Sigmarxism. They might have inroads to the current people owning the IP, but there's no sizeable contingent of them in the fanbase because, well, gatekeeping WORKS, and the gates are only a problem for the people they're meant to keep out. Maybe I'm just hopeful here after getting chased out of my former hobby due to these same people making it abundantly clear that I wasn't welcome there and I'm wrong. But, I don't think I am.

[@SolomonSamson747]

Id love to see a round table between this channel, Mage Leader, and Razörfist.

[@agamelift]

That'd be awesome, fellow wrongthinkers! hahaha! Thanks for stopping in!

[@padrespeaks]

Plz add the James gang to this, if and when

[@TheRealSleggarLaw]

@@padrespeakswhat’s the James Gang!? Sounds like another group I need to check out

[@timothyreeder2931]

And then that round table gets hit by a meteor? Then I agree 🤣

[@agamelift]

@@timothyreeder2931 Why do you think it is acceptable for a recreational hobby to have multiple loud, moderately well known individuals advocating for and desiring to commit criminal acts from battery to deadly force?

[@SolomonSamson747]

I really hope DFA Wargaming parts ways with Dom. You’re exactly right they’re great guys and Dom brings drama they don’t need.

[@Ichaerus]

I agree. Would be far better for DFA Wargaming to collaborate with someone like MechFrog, or Sven van der Plank. Or even to have their Jump Point videos with Kevin, Matthew Steiner, or Dan.

[@SolomonSamson747]

Frog would be a perfect replacement. He’s so active on the hobby side of things, I’ve never seen Dom post a paint or battle report video.

[@Luncheonbox]

This. That guy drags their brand down the drain. Really enjoyed their latest episode with Matthew Steiner. Hopefully see them bring on some better guests like him in the future.

[@SolomonSamson747]

Don’t forget to support Blaine! His Land & Sea series is such a fun read. The latest book, Rachet’s Run is a blast!

[@agamelift]

Spot on, I have started a group for fan on Facebook that is part of the Battletech into the Future Refuge, link in the description box. Thanks for stopping in!

[@SolomonSamson747]

@@agameliftif I was on Facebook I would! Thanks for providing places for people that just want to play the game. The only politics I care about when I play BT are those of the inner sphere!

[@agamelift]

@@SolomonSamson747 That's exactly it, all that should matter is the game in social media spaces. Feel free to join the discord if you do that haha!

[@shogus0046]

Great video brother! Catalyst needs BattleTech, BattleTech does not need Catalyst. I’ve seen too many hobbies destroyed by these kinds of agitators and unless we draw a line in the sand they will destroy us too.

[@agamelift]

You are spot on! Thanks for stopping in!

[@punishedfink]

Wait doesn't that mean valk should be band from all of battletechs social media. Doxing is in the guide lines.

[@Iamtehman8]

Rules for thee but not for me. As unfortunate as it is, I doubt the likes of Valk, Faith and others will ever face consequences for breaking the community guidelines.

[@agamelift]

You are spot on. CGL should have cut ties with valk when the stalking images went up at the latest. Thanks for stopping in!

[@agamelift]

You are completely right on that! Thanks for stopping in!

[@MrAngryMonkey100]

@@Iamtehman8 take what you have on them and hand it over to law enforcement and if they see legit criminal intent law enforcement will take action.

[@michaelsudsysutherland5353]

Funny enough, I'm reading "The Worst People You Never Met.." by Dr Clio Belle Weisman about just such a culture of violence. Only, to the shock of none of us conservative wrong thinkers, they are much more vicious to each other. Her article covers what happened to an Indie RPG guy, cancel culture, and all we see unfolding targeting us from CGL.

[@agamelift]

You got that right, if one of them starts second guessing their cultist ideologies it is exile and shaming for that person. Thanks for stopping in!

[@ZontarDow]

I think it's no coincidence that the toxicity from CGL skyrocketted after Fanatics bought Topps.

[@agamelift]

That's an interesting idea, of course we can all see who really owns these businesses by the shares.... Thanks for stopping in!

[@Terlecki777]

Something dark something stone

[@Kmkilch22]

Maybe but if you think the leaders of CGL dont agree with it, you've been fooled. Randall Bills, Loren Coleman and even Michael Stackpole were absolutely okay with how Blaine Pardoe was treated, despite the fact the Blaine was a major contributor in ways not just relating to literature, and had been for decades.

[@ZontarDow]

@@Kmkilch22 yeah but I'm going to be honest even ignoring politics Pardoe has a personality that alienates him from people which is why I've gone from defending him to not caring over the past year.

[@Kmkilch22]

@@ZontarDow And? Nerds and the socially awkward often have that kind of personality. Judging from their live streams alone, I could probably guarantee you that several of catalysts department heads are as difficult, or more so, to deal with as Blaine is. What was done to him was political, and wrong.

[@dwalk9674]

I don't trust any of the people at catalyst that don't use their real name.

[@agamelift]

Exactly, there is a VERY specific reason goes by her alias, it shows deceitful thinking before all of the disruption of the fanbase and Battletech social media started. Thanks for stopping in!

[@saulschimek7680]

Time to Apply the “Mary McCarthy” Rule to CGL.

[@agamelift]

Yup, if they are handing over control of the business to political activists and willingly ignoring a culture of violence within the demo team and the wider "communities", it is $$$ based. Something has happened or someone has something on someone. Thanks for stopping in!

[@davidramesy-xn3rm]

Wrong thinker? And damn proud of it!!!

[@agamelift]

You are in good company! Thanks for stopping in!

[@ratz_jm]

i have more than enough to play with, maybe beside a few vehicle packs, and no interest in ILCLAN, I am done.

[@agamelift]

That's what their divisive activism causes, thanks for stopping in!

[@Nobleshield]

Every single time a company posts this thing, it always means "left-leaning speech only", and people argue it constantly by saying "What, sad you can't be an asshole?" when you know what it really means. We're seeing similar in 40k right now, but still trying to keep these activists and tourists out of our hobby.

[@agamelift]

It is pathetic the way they try to gaslight people with this nonsense. Just like you said, everyone knows what it means. That leftist activists have taken positions of power and no one will be tolerated who will disagree with them. thanks for stopping in!

[@bruced648]

I was playing this game long before these people were even born! I will continue to play this game regardless of their antics because they simply don't matter. "keep your 2020 social agenda out of my 31st century dystopian fantasy game" now let's roll dice and destroy stuff!

[@agamelift]

You got that right! Thanks for stopping in!

[@klortikterra4423]

8:11 this is just... my faith in humanity waivers everytime i get reminded of these shit bags. it's not a political reference, for the love of god, it's just theming and making something look cool!

[@agamelift]

At this point, the activists are saying and spinning anything to try to make their opposition look bad. I warned of something they were going to do a couple days ago. They did it. I called them on it. They then tried to say I was doing it for calling them on it. It is madness that radiates away from this toxic lot and somehow they are the ones being given almost total control of CGL and it's social media outreach. Battletech needs to be put in the hands of a group of fans that are not easily compromised politically. Thanks for stopping in.

[@klortikterra4423]

@@agamelift i've seen Warhammer 40k implode due to shitty choices by GW, i do not need a second hobby imploding. i hope we win this fight.

[@agamelift]

@@klortikterra4423 Rest assured, we are far ahead of these activists. They are annoyingly loud, that is all. The only thing they have in their favor is that the loudest ones are in mod positions in their controlled "communities". I have four videos discussing these topics and there is a 70%+ approval rating. The activists are working on borrowed time.

[@Plopiccolo]

It is a terrible shame that Mary the demo team leader who has done such a great job for Catalyst since 2016 when I met her, was so easily removed over this pettiness.

[@agamelift]

What little I know of her, she seemed fair and capable. That rem and crew took over the demo team and stabbed her in the back just to try to force out wrongthinkers was pathetic. Thanks for stopping in!

[@MGAC1701]

I would encourage Battletech players who may be playing at conventions to keep their heads on a swivel and keep an eye out for the aggressive woke CGL supporters who may be out to disrupt games or attack players.

[@agamelift]

Yeah, after our british "lawyer" suggested he would beat the hell out of someone just for seeing them at a convention, we gotta accept this is how a number of them think they are justified in acting. Thanks for stopping in.

[@benlouw7009]

It's not just Battletech. They ruin everything for attention. Magic, Warhammer ect

[@agamelift]

You got that right! Seems like tabletop gaming will be part of gamergate 2.0 at this rate. Thanks for stopping in!

[@DirtyBelter]

Based. Gatekeep your hobbies and ensure that they remain about the hobbies.

[@agamelift]

Agreed, activists have no place at the table, they can drop their politics/ideologies/etc. at the door. No one has any right to force their beliefs on another. Thanks for stopping in!

[@benparker1822]

I've been blessed with being poor (I guess), so keeping up with the new stuff hasn't been a high priority, and from the sounds of it, I'm better off sticking to the various alternate campaigns my group has going. While I may like the new visual appeal of the mins, it isn't a hard requirement as I have plenty of old ones, and more that I've bashed up myself. (I even made my own 'Map Scale' minis way back when MW:DA still had boxes on store shelves.) For me, the distance really started with the changes between the BMR which followed the classic rules out of FASA pretty faithfully, to Total Warfare and the logical disconnect that came with a lot of the secondary filler rules for Infantry and Vehicles. I haven't seen enough of a positive shift to really hop in with the new products.

[@agamelift]

You don't even have to consider the new stuff, everything you have will work just fine. 3D prints are definitely about to become prominent among the Battletech fandom and then there is always Ironwind Metals! Thanks for sharing and stopping in!

[@primafacie5029]

Take a look at Grim Jim’s expose’ into some of the gems of the OSR/RPG community and the gaslighting, whisper circles and other ‘for the greater good’ nonsense they’ve pulled. I won’t say it’s eye opening as much as merely fascinating about the make up of these cultural warriors and the depths they go to.

[@agamelift]

That is something to check out, thanks! Yeah, they will do anything devious they can to hurt people in multiple ways. It's pathetic and vile, yet those ESG $s are worth more than the actual fans are. Thanks for stopping in!

[@brianbanzai]

Do you have a link?

[@haelreysur750]

Punching nerds?🤣😂 These are the people that the nerds wouldn't even hang out with in school.

[@azarite7932]

If some one brings a gun to a game meetup that person should be escorted out of the store by the police and banned period regardless of their political opinion, this is a hobby not a warzone.

[@agamelift]

While I am totally cool with carrying in general, the way that it has been brought up by this activist in the video is for intimidation purposes. While valk claims it'd be self-defense, given his level of hostility and expectation of violence, I could totally see him escalating a verbal disagreement to a physical one. So yes, in his case, if someone is flashing a firearm around, yes they can get the hell out. Thanks for stopping in!

[@azarite7932]

@@agamelift people who are trained and licensed to carry know not to make social media posts about their intention to escalate or use deadly force to settle their disagreements. Plus many shops have it posted in accordance with state and federal laws that you are not allowed to conceal carry on the premises.

[@shanepatrick4534]

Thank god signs atop crazy people, right?​@@azarite7932

[@zombietotseater3894]

Thank You for bringing this to light

[@agamelift]

You're very welcome! No one should be treated this way by someone, I hope my warning helps others to stand strong in the face of an activist bully. Thanks for stopping in!

[@blainepardoe4758]

Great video of the hypocrisy of what CGL was doing with these right-think guidelines.

[@agamelift]

Well said, thank you for stopping in! Currently reading through the Land and Sea novels (and not cgl battletech novels), great job!

[@blainepardoe4758]

Thank you for your support @@agamelift

[@fred9za]

why cant we have nice things, why do assholes have to try to ruin everything. ps thank you for trying to fight back against this madness

[@agamelift]

These goons are pathetic creatures that thrive in online vacuums. They have no purpose and have failed in life so they try to ruin this stuff we fan enjoy. They failed because they expected the fans to crumble, not rally. Thank you! If you haven't yet, check out Battletech into the Future on facebook and the Resurgence Era timeline I am building, soon with additions from others. Thank you for commenting, that alone drives a nail into their lost cause's coffin. Thanks for stopping in!

[@MrJack556]

Just wanted to comment and ask where you're at buddy. I'm getting back into BATTLETECH again finally and was hoping you had some new vids.

[@agamelift]

Heyo! Yeah, not too active on the video end but just finished a 30K word story in the Resurgence Era! (Ravens and Champions) Also about to launch the Guardians of the Periphery story. I am going to be putting some videos together in the near future but building the storyline is priority number 1 right now. Thanks for stopping in! Any additional questions let me know! Im still very active on social media in Battletech into the Future. battletechfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Resurgence

[@MrJack556]

@@agamelift oh wow I didn't know you were a fellow writer. I don't write battletech stuff but I do love to read it. Good to hear brother. I'll stop in and check for vids every now and then. I'll check out your writing too now. Good fortune in the wars to come.

[@agamelift]

@@MrJack556 You as well! I hope you enjoy it!

[@Based_Lord_Humongous]

Knocked it out of the park aye!!

[@agamelift]

Thanks for the feedback and stopping in!

[@seanholmes8290]

Ya I left about 8 years ago. Things started getting woke. Had some less than stellar interactions with brand reps, and community leaders.

[@agamelift]

I can totally see that given the character of these activists. People really have to start securing their own local play groups and distancing from the political activism while it is still rampant at the the company level. Thanks for stopping in!

[@truckingjoe7715]

I love BT. I feel that the game and lore are great and very in depth. Now saying that..... I feel as where yes, CGL putting out a cheaper plastic version of some of the mechs has breathed some oxygen into the IP that was needed. Unfortunately I am starting to see more and more of the toxic ass Virtue Signaling idiots poking their heads into it. I have been gatekeeping my local community as much as possible. I've found one and promptly kicked his ass out. On a side note, what is the real name of the individual that went after Blaine Pardoe? I live in PA and don't want that individual in my community at all.

[@agamelift]

Unfortunately I only know him my his aliases - ace kaller, house master po-ding and faith mcclosky. While I wouldn't share it, I do not know his location either. Battletech has an amazing range of possibilities of characters and stories, that's why I am building Resurgence so I am not forced to adhere to CGL's storyline. Thanks for stopping in!

[@truckingjoe7715]

@agamelift I've been running a Jihad campaign here, and have been trying to steer clear of the ilClan era stuff as that's where CGL seems to be focused.

[@agamelift]

@@truckingjoe7715 Well the best part is you can do whatever you want. I am busy building the #ResurgenceEra that cuts the ilClan era short.

[@lawrencegreenwood2646]

I've only had one player in years cause a issue enough to get kicked from the group and that was because he actively attacking people over real world politics. I ignored it at first until people complained and then I told him he was no longer welcome at the table. Then kicked him from the group. He badmouthed me for a few weeks on various Facebook groups and eventually I just didn't see him posting anymore. Figured he got bored and moved on or found another group. Lesson learned. Ignore them and give them no credence and eventually they go away.

[@agamelift]

That is true, turned out to be the case with the toxic player I reference in a previous video, in fact, he ran himself out of every local group he tried to screw with. Good for you booting that player. Real world politics have no place in Battletech. The issue here though is that the business employees and contracted authors are consistently propping up these loudmouth activists. They even took out their own demo team lead to try to force back in the activist has is very open about coming up with any excuse to shoot someone at a battletech meetup and admitted to stalking a number of people. These are the types that are here to control the fans until they get on their knees. Unfortunately, wherever this lot of activists came from, they completed their mission there, however, they weren't expecting to find the resolve of the Battletech fanbase here. Thanks for stopping in!

[@Iamtehman8]

Well with Valk paint shaming now, it’ll be a good time to tell if CGL intends to enforce their guidelines equally, or if they intended to play favorites like we all expect. Personally I wouldn’t bet on the former.

[@agamelift]

You are damn right, they won't turn on one of their loudest sources for DEI $$$$$! Thanks for stopping in!

[@haelreysur750]

To adress the thing about the person that carrys a handgun to their games. "Because of nazis" Some of the guys I play with carry 7" barrel AR's in our back packs so......#floridaman

[@agamelift]

O yeah, having firearms isn't a problem. Personal safety with so many leftists massacring people is huge right now. The difference is that responsible owners carry for self defense and defense of others. It is fairly clear this activist goon's intention is to carry for intimidation purposes trying to thinly veil his violent fantasies over something a memelord said over a year ago, which wasn't even a threat. These activists are outside their minds. Thanks for stopping in!

[@christopherpurches2774]

A day late, but going to try and help boost in the algorithm. We all know we're dealing with DEI sycophants based on how they apply this nonsense. Bunch of arbitrary, virtue-signaling legalese.

[@agamelift]

Glad to have all the help I can get. We know 70%+ of the fanbase is fed up with this activism, let's get everyone encouraged to rebuke it! Thanks for stopping by!

[@ericjohnson1289]

If CGL is using these nuts as their cause belle for their crap, they must be new to gaming world. CGL keeps feeding these nuts when they openly shill to the short-term tourist fans.

[@agamelift]

This is why a lot of people are moving in the direction that Rem needs to be removed from the company. Her own hostility in the CDT screenshot and that these movements are clearly fueled at her word show that if she were gone, there would be an immediate marked improvement potentially.

[@CapnTytePantz]

Oh! So that's who Po is. Note noted.

[@agamelift]

yup, and id bet he will have another alt soon enough.... lol Thanks for stopping in!

[@mikejonesnoreally]

So uh.....yeah, I guess i'll just give that ol' "return to Battle tech" a miss then.... o.0

[@agamelift]

CGL saying wrongthinkers arent welcome. The amount of banning based on ideological wrongthink has been asinine. By all means, look at the secondary market, there's plenty out there. Also, Ironwind Metals is a potential option. While the minis are more expensive each, and that gap is getting smaller with prices this year, your funds won't be going to the people who publicly hate us. Thanks for stopping in!

[@mrgoob76]

i wonder how long its going to be before topps pulls the license from them and gives it to someone else, we should pool money and see how much we can get, and maybe purchase the rights from topps

[@agamelift]

I love rhat idea, the problem was that the success of the KS shows BT has a massive amount of value. Much more than i think a pool could muster. I think we find ourselves in a position where someone who loves the universe and is wealthy has to pick up the IP. At the end of the day, even if CGL somehow retains the rights long term, as long as the fans rebuke the activism, the activists will drive themselves even more mad that we wont leave. Thanks for stopping in!

[@mrgoob76]

@@agamelift ya, OR like you kinda pointed out we find someone that is a battletech fan that IS really wealthy to buy it, but then if thats the case we have to wrest the rest of the rights from both microsoft, and disney. and i am sure it wouldn't be too hard to convert I.W.M. to plastic. BECAUSE there is a plastic type that brent from goobertown hobbies that acts similar to pewter, you can remelt it and through it back in the pot thats what IWM should be changing over too and it keeps mini making in the states where it belongs instead of... questionable labor practices

[@bilko991]

This is nothing new for CGL, they have always been a shady company. I'm amazed they've managed to retain the licence for so long. Battletech is more than CGL and will outlive them!

[@danpaulsen4123]

gate gate gate gate...oh wait its battletech.. company can burn and weeee good

[@agamelift]

It really is the direction they are pushing towards. Their conduct towards fans is out of line and on top of that they are backing a handful of activists that doxing, stalking, and threatening violence against other fans for "wrongthink". Absolutely repulsive the way the "community" is being "managed". Thanks for stopping in!

[@DarkKnightCuron]

Thank you for the video and information

[@agamelift]

Sure thing, thanks for stopping in!

[@brianbanzai]

The truth will always win out in the end!

[@agamelift]

Damn well said! Thanks for stopping in!

[@bryanmcguire3747]

CGL doesn't have a tremendous amount of cash flow. They have to do Kickstarters to pad their bottom line, and to fund development. Even a modest 5-10% dropoff in their business would be a wake-up call. They're not like these other "get woke, go broke" companies who have multiple product lines to prop them up. Battletech is their cash cow, and losing that license would end them.

[@agamelift]

You nailed it! These activists really think the Merc KS success was from going woke and that CGL is nearly invincible at this point. It is hilarious how confident they are. They only keep these activists around as long as the DEI $ flows in. When it stops because the fanbase rejects the activism, CGL will very quickly change tune or anyone interested in Battletech won't have to even consider them as prior IP holders. Thanks for stopping in!

[@thatpatrickguy3446]

Oh dear Lord... First off, keep up the good work and keep standing up to the hateful harridans who want to gatekeep normal everyday gamers out of games. Battletech will survive without Catalyst, though by pushing away actual fans of their products Catalyst may not survive long without Battletech. I suppose that this, in addition to work and real life taking a toll on my previous Battletech groups, is why I feed my Battletech urges with the old Westwood and newer HBS games on my computer. Not remotely as much fun as laughing, talking, planning, and occasionally swearing with friends over a table loaded with maps, minis and mech sheets, but it has the advantage of 24/7 availability and, in this modern era, zero holier than thous telling me how I'm playing in a bigoted manner. I don't really understand why companies are excited to do long term damage to their brands by employing and encouraging hatemongers and bigots pretending to be stellar citizens of the "modern audiences" population. Most of them don't deserve the honorific of "gamers" since the only games they seem to want to play are destructive real world ones wherein they try to make themselves feel better by destroying other people's nice things. I don't even understand the talking points of these corporate-sponsored bigots. Any table I've run or played at has always been open to anyone who wanted to play, don't care about your political leanings, sexuality, race, or gender, because that doesn't matter in the game and has no bearing on it, so we all left it at the door. We game to relax and be free of real world stresses, not to be preached to about them, as that turns gaming into more unpleasantness in a world already rife with it. Just relax and have fun. That's all we want. Even if we're unfortunately contracted to Liao and find ourselves on a border world when Hanse announces his wedding gift to Melissa. 😲 But that was a campaign to remember...

[@agamelift]

Well said and very good points. In the end it always has to do with $$$. Somehow somewhere $$$ got involved (I think in 2022 before Blaine's [failed] cancelling). That's the way I have always viewed games - show up and play in good faith, dont force your ideologies on others. Now I am a bit more on guard should someone try to tell others what they have to believe is the truth. Thanks for stopping in!

[@thatpatrickguy3446]

@@agamelift Absolutely right! Gaming is a break from the rest of the world so about the only reality that needs to be involved is what snacks and sodas we're getting for game time and perhaps where we order pizza from later. 😀 I don't want Catalyst to outright collapse, I just want them to realize that the people they're trying to appease are generally not the ones who make up a large portion of their customer base. That's where their money sense should really be focused. And as far as Blaine's situation goes, that was much ado about nothing. The whole cancellation attempt was inexplicable inanity. But it's okay if Catalyst doesn't want my money. I've got a couple copies of the 3025 TR, a few companies of mech metal and plastic minis, and both Battletech Reinforcements boxes from the 80s, so I have all I need to run a game any time. 😀 Just need life to settle down so I can! 😲

[@padrespeaks]

Great video, absolutely keep em coming! You're covering it all in terms of battletech these days. These people you showcase are hobby locusts. They will rip through a community and leave hardly a garrison to keep it alive, if left to its own devices. Those around long enough should know not to pick ideological fights, especially if they know they cant win it, or if they know the targets cakt just up andnkake their own communities, which has already started.

[@agamelift]

Thank you! You are spot on! With or without CGL and their puppets, Battletech will continue on. Thanks for stopping in!

[@ericjohnson1289]

Maybe it's time for us to take the argue and issues right to the top (no pun), going to TOPPS and FANATICS, they are the ones who pull the strings, they are the ones who will make the changes, putting Loren and Randall in their proper place.

[@agamelift]

Now I am going to be hammering down on the @Topps tags. They are blamed for Blaine getting cancelled, let's see if there is some neutrality to cancel the activists? Thanks for stopping in!

[@Heimdal001]

What a lot of drama. This sounds like the darker corners of... any fandom ever. It's just a bunch of internet chest-thumping nonsense, people trying to one-up each other on worthless technicalities. This is not an attack on you or your video, but it does include it. None of this actually matters, everybody needs to go touch grass. For the record, the only thing you can reliably count on fandom nerds to have in common is the direct interest in the same specific product. Opinions, political leanings, and social skills have always been a minefield. All of this drama existed 30 years ago, but the internet now is a megaphone like no other.

[@agamelift]

I despise that this is happening. My experience was a night and day shift in political injection after the Blaine situation. It seemed like every day there were new posts from their political ideologies, we said to stop injecting politics, they started slinging isms and phobes at us. The only topics of conversation should be about the universe of Battletech, not modern cultural/political issues. I hope this nonsense ends. Thanks for stopping in!

[@orangeavenger1597]

Catalyst Gay Labs

[@agamelift]

Hahahaha! They've earned a bit of mockery supporting these fool activists calling everyone bigots and nazis. Thanks for stopping in!

[@orangeavenger1597]

@@agamelift I just miss the time when we didnt delve into the sex lives/gender id/politics of game characters OR the people playing them. Its like a non stop interaction with Glenn Quagmire except hes on cable news and is calling me a bigot

[@CthulhuRidesAtDawn]

I can't imagine having so little going on in your life that this is what you choose to spend your energy on

[@agamelift]

Youd think if this meant so little these activists wouldnt spend every hour of every day stalking, doxing, and making threats of violence. But i do think its important to keep their toxicity and cyberbullying out of the fanbase.

[@CthulhuRidesAtDawn]

@@agamelift 😞 sorry people are being mean about your favorite toys

[@agamelift]

@@CthulhuRidesAtDawn Thanks but I wish it was just about the hobby miniatures. These activists should never be tolerated as they harass so many fans of the hobby, especially in the same spaces as CGL employees/contractors who aren't telling them to stop. It's a shame that the fans have to be the stewards of the hobby more than the IP licensee.

[@CthulhuRidesAtDawn]

@@agamelift aww, you're a victim 😔 I didn't realize

[@agamelift]

@@CthulhuRidesAtDawn while I certainly don't claim to be one, unlike the activist goons... I have been the target of cyberbullying, stalking, doxing, and threats of violence, so yes, I could indeed claim that. But, thanks for your sympathies anyway, these activists didn't realize how much resolve the Battletech fanbase had!

[@shawnarmitage7955]

God, guns, and Battletech. It blows my mind how obsessed with everyone/everything being their cheerleaders. If your not comfortable without approval then you might be in the wrong.

[@agamelift]

Christ is King! Carrying to a game of Battletech with the intention of protecting those around you is an admirable trait. Carrying because you automatically view yourself as a victim and expect to be wronged is a recipe for disaster. Absolutely unacceptable conduct as a person, player, and representative of Catalyst Game Labs' Catalyst Demo Team. Thanks for stopping in!

[@nicholasfay9910]

New to BT and it's sad to learn that modern political culture is infecting this game space too

[@agamelift]

It does feel hopeless when looking at the way they control things. As is abundantly obvious from my videos (4) on these topics 70%+ of the fanbase is opposed to these activist pushes. It is important to remember CGL is about 12 people. The activists are less than 30 and that is with sock/alt accounts for the vocal ones. The big issue is that they weaseled their way in to being the go to for "moderation" in the "official" CGL spaces. In other words, they control and moderate in a very left leaning fashion on the reddit page, the CGL "official" pages, and in a handful of medium sized facebook pages and discord groups. As players continue to recognize this, that is why #BattletechintotheFuture continues to grow (See links in description). In the refuge players may focus on only Battletech or branch off into other areas of interest. These activists believe themselves to be the embodiment of their politics/ideologies, so they believe their politics/ideologies not being welcome means they are not welcome - when that is a deceitful manipulation of the truth. When these activists are not welcome it is based on their conduct and character. Thanks for stopping in!

[@theHuGoroN]

TBH how I read your disclaimer is: “I intentionally mislabel trans persons to get them aggravated so I can call them attackers to my hobby” the disguise of “I’m using sex not gender for their pronouns” is intentional and how you said it sounds like you underline that you are not willing to use their preferred pronouns and also want them to be upset to prove your point. Also saying it is to not frighten female members of the hobby is just BS. IMHO initially it is really easy to mislabel someone and they should not get upset but once corrected everyone should respect the other’s rights to have the gender and pronouns they have. I’m willing to admit sports should be separated by sex not genders as they are a physiological competitions. Being a decent human being and present their identity is not a physiological thing so your approach just seem intentionally malevolent. I’m not even going to the difference of PRIDE the organization that got shut down and the modern day pride (not the US political one but the more broad international version that is not politically affiliated).

[@agamelift]

You can read whatever you want into the disclaimer. The facts are that I never addressed this toxic player with any gendered language in person (with rEcEiPtS) and in the video I addressed the man using his physical biology, not his claimed gender preference (in fact, he never asked me to address him as anything in particular haha). I am curious why you are opposed to my consideration of women and making sure they know they are welcome to explore the hobby? Is this like in the olympics right now where two XY chromosome men are fighting for the gold in women's boxing and people just don't care that women have been sidelined by men in their own specific sport? There is no "right" to force other people to abide by your objectively false world view of yourself. This man and other men like him can ask others to lie to their faces but, they have no right to force them to. Being a "decent" human and lying to someone is not being a good person, most importantly, not being a Christian. In fact, this is a direct parallel to schizophrenia. You would never tell them you hear the voices too, right? Why in the world would you help someone along who is potentially going to physically mutilate themselves and cannot understand the foundation of their existence?

[@strykersgamingltd]

As the prophetic wise man said, "Go Woke, Go Broke." Just sit back and watch CGL implode. Karma is a mother of all revenge.

[@agamelift]

You are damn right about that! Well said, the amount of good will absolutely thrown in the trash by these activists CGL is surrounding itself with are not a long term solution. Thanks for stopping in!

[@strykersgamingltd]

@@agamelift You're welcome. I try to limit myself on any topic concerning CGL. The insight I have could be eye opening for many.

[@josepablolunasanchez1283]

When you invest money in index funds, or when your pension fund invests its money in index funds, these index funds push companies for ESG (baiscally wokism) so if they want money invested, companies need to act in a woke way and promote activists. ESG creates a dilemma where companies either profit and build brand presence, or they get investor money. Since all CEO incentives are aimed at stock price, CEOs choose wokeness. One day market correction will correct this, and by then you need to have your money out of failed debt chains of debt backed debt. Company profit is not your business. Your money is currently funding wokeness. So the game is not about Battletech. It is a bigger game. Just protect your pension money.

[@agamelift]

Well that is definitely a perspective I have not seen yet! It makes a lot of sense. Many of us have considered the idea that it is ESG/DEI $$$ that is causing this political activism. Thanks for stopping in!

[@josepablolunasanchez1283]

@@agamelift Just watch where your pension fund invests the money. index funds will collapse with ESG, many already have failed. And also CLOs are risky as they are backed by bonds backed corporate debt and if it happens to be backed by a company going down, your pension is gone.

[@uruk_bye1232]

"Reactor online. Sensors online. Weapons online. My pronouns are ze/zim/zer. All systems nominal."

[@agamelift]

hahahahahahaha! Thanks for stopping in!