State of the Sphere: 2016 Recap

Wow, I have absolutely dropped the ball on keeping the BlogSpot updated. I blame Facebook and Instagram for that. Since I can just upload game photos as we go on the FB, and any works in progress usually get thrown on IG as I go, I tend to forget to head over here and do the thing.

But, like all things, here I am for a fresh start on the first day of a new year. And the best way to start off a new year, full of new gaming opportunities, is to take a look back at what has already transpired.

We played quite a few great BattleTech matches this year, including finishing up the campaign for Outreach between the Word of Blake and Wolfs Dragoons. Technically, there is probably one or two more games we could work in there, guerilla mop up and whatnot, but with how absolutely convincingly the Word has won in each step, that's really up to them. Regardless, in any future larger campaigns (more on this below), this planet will be under Word ownership and much more intact than in canon, as the Light of Mankind never had to exercise the "orbital strike" option to win.

Another big event for us was the annual Waterly Memorial, which we split into two days. We only did BattleTech on one evening, as the second was spent more with Magic than anything, but for what it was, we really had a lot of fun. Just wish there wouldn't have been such... interpersonal messiness... Which kind of was a problem the second night. It is what it is though.

Jesse, Sean, and I had a great chance to pre-finalize beta the Nachtfalke rule set. I really think the changes we made allow for so many different tactics when we get a larger, six person going. I can't wait to see if anyone tries a tank or infantry rush, but especially anyone using Capellans and Fa Shih mine-droppers. That would be brutal, especially in the mountain passes. Clan forces have been balanced enough that, whilst they can be powerful, they won't dominate the early game and by the time they really hit their stride, smart Inner Sphere players should be able to stand toe to toe with them.

Mentioning the Clans brings me to what I would call the biggest miss of 2016. Sean has spent a lot of time working on his Davion force, and we honestly haven't played a lot of Inner Sphere games. That's my fault. I've been building a ton of Clan stuff since I already have a score of IS units, and of course, that makes me want to play games using them more. But, I promised to help put together a Chaos Campaign/warchest type multiplayer campaign with the FedSuns taking on Liao for Tikonov and I think we're all excited to get that.

Which brings me to where I mentioned larger campaigns. I think I'm at the point where I've given up on the idea of a 5th Succession War as a solidly coherent campaign, which is ironic now that I have both Interstellar Operations and the Campaign Companion books. The biggest concern I have with a 5th SW is the need for an entirely neutral GM. There is no way we can set it up and not metagame - having read all of the Jihad books, and knowing my players the way I do, I don't foresee any way to make a massive house on house on house campaign work without suspension of disbelief and not using outside knowledge. I know how much of FM Updates is BSed by the houses (Davion overestimating, Steiner underestimating, the Word not even close to releasing their full force strengths, etc), and what little kernels of plot threads turned out to be important points vs which ones were red herrings or just never really went anywhere over the years and the turnover rate of writers. There is always using the abstract combat system and a crap ton of tables, yet that rarely feels like true BattleTech to me. So meh, we're on hold there. At the same time though, pick up games get old unless we're working with new players and I really would like to see some worlds change hands. 2017, man.

Cheers to the new people I taught in 2016 and woohoo to everyone that will learn in 2017.

ONTO THE UNITS!! Here's where we stand on that;

--4 'Mechs = lance, 3 lances = company, 3 companies = battalion--
--5 'Mechs = star, 2 stars = binary, 3 stars = trinary, 3-5 trinaries = cluster--

Units with "--" are 2017 projects

INNER SPHERE

MERCENARY
26th Royal Tyran (Mechanized) - 4 lances
Khaos Chevaliers - 2 companies (1 'Mech short of 6 lances)
Kuroi Kaze - 3 battalions
--MEKA
--Talon

CAPELLAN CONFEDERATION
Three Kingdoms Lancers - 3 companies (3 'Mechs shy of a full battalion)

DRACONIS COMBINE
1st Genyosha - 1 company
Otomo - 4 lances
--8th Arkab Legion

FEDERATED SUNS
8th (?) Davion Guards (Sean) -4/5 lances

FREE WORLDS LEAGUE
19th Marik Militia - 6 lances

LYRAN ALLIANCE
4th Skye Rangers (Mitch) - 1 battalion

MARIAN HEGEMONY
Praetorian Guard - 2 companies

WORD OF BLAKE
Light of Mankind/SD - 10 level IIs/5 companies

CLANS

CLAN BLOOD SPIRIT
Iota/Zeta Galaxy, Bellicose Guard - 2 trinaries, 1 star

CLAN CLOUD COBRA
Pharaoh Keshik - 1 trinary

CLAN DIAMOND SHARK
Beta Galaxy - 1 star

CLAN GHOST BEAR
Tau Galaxy, 1st Bear Regulars - 5 stars

CLAN JADE FALCON
Turkina Keshik - 1 star
Generic Camo - 4 stars, 3 'Mechs

CLAN NOVA CAT
Lambda Galaxy, Nekoryu Cluster - 2 'Mechs

CLAN WOLF
Alpha Galaxy, 1st Wolf Assault Cluster - 3 trinaries, 2 stars
Beta Galaxy, Silver Keshik - 1 trinary
*Delta Galaxy, Wofkin Keshik - 1 trinary
*Omega Galaxy, The Dark Keshik - 1 star

(* these two Galaxies utilize Wolf-in-Exile paint schemes, not as in any ties to said Exiles, but because I preferred their coloring more than standard Wolf markings.)