Not quite, it's not a Republic of sorts. The United States of BattleTech universe is way more like the Free Worlds League, complete with inter-state rivalries (say, Michigan and Ohio...)
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Not quite, it's not a Republic of sorts. The United States of BattleTech universe is way more like the Free Worlds League, complete with inter-state rivalries (say, Michigan and Ohio...)
I'd add to the chorus saying the problem was how the focus was on VSD, and how awesome he was. There were a few other characters in Battletech with similar authorial favoritism, and they all seemed to wind up on the heroic, pro-davion alignment.
The feudal setting should be mostly grey morally, so that players can embrace whichever one they like. That's a fundamental change that you get when writing novels derived from a game, as novels need a protagonist.
So you wound up with interesting places like the FWL and FRR, two of my personal favorites, being unexplored except through the lens of a Davion-centric narrative. Oversimplification, yes, but it makes my point I think.
For the record, my absolute favorite? Outworlds Alliance. Ultimate in plucky underdogs, a pacifist democracy (albeit a dynastic one) in a universe where everyone else is ruled by some sort of neofeudal warrior class. Of the Inner Sphere proper, the FRR, for their ability to soldier on in the face of constantly getting screwed. Of the Clans, Ghost Bear, for their odd Crusading Warden approach and for being the only clan not to abandon the concept of family entirely.
The feudal setting should be mostly grey morally, so that players can embrace whichever one they like. That's a fundamental change that you get when writing novels derived from a game, as novels need a protagonist.
So you wound up with interesting places like the FWL and FRR, two of my personal favorites, being unexplored except through the lens of a Davion-centric narrative. Oversimplification, yes, but it makes my point I think.
For the record, my absolute favorite? Outworlds Alliance. Ultimate in plucky underdogs, a pacifist democracy (albeit a dynastic one) in a universe where everyone else is ruled by some sort of neofeudal warrior class. Of the Inner Sphere proper, the FRR, for their ability to soldier on in the face of constantly getting screwed. Of the Clans, Ghost Bear, for their odd Crusading Warden approach and for being the only clan not to abandon the concept of family entirely.
Last edited:
I always thought it strange to establish Davions as the good guys, right after Hanse Davion startet a war against the capellans appearantly on a whim. Maybe not exactly on a whim but he promised the capellan confederation as some sort of wedding gift to Melissa. And he did that while the ruling Liao was sitting on the same table. Thats a douchy move for sure, and a rather aggressive one.
Hansen was a 'good' character in a Machievellian way. He was a magnificent bastard who was out to win and was not above a sucker punch or backstab. He didn't really try to stake a claim to the moral high ground, although often his enemies wound up ceding it to him by their sheer douchebaggery.
Sun Tzu Liao. The crap this guy pulled is far and away less believable but no one seems to mind, probably because he's a jerk and people seem to like that these days.
- Shane
By "douchy" do you mean "awesome"? Because that's one of my favorite moments in the lore.
How is House Davion like the USA when everyone not in one of the main worlds/ a noble in the FS is a uneducated dirt farmer? They're hardly militarily or tactically superior either, they just get plot device armor. If House Davion was as superior as you suggest, it wouldnt have needed to craft an alliance with the Lyrans to fight off the Draconis Combine.
House Davion are the best because the fluff makes them the best and everyone else look like idiots.
House Davion are the best because the fluff makes them the best and everyone else look like idiots.
I think some of the "hate" comes from them just being top dog for a long stretch of the early history. I think the same thing happened with Clan Wolf. And even popular sports ball teams.
- Eck
- Eck
Greetings Mechwarriors
Lets please keep the real world Discussions to the appropriate subforums, of which there are countless on This site.
Please lets keep it topically focused on Battletech here.
Thank you.
Lets please keep the real world Discussions to the appropriate subforums, of which there are countless on This site.
Please lets keep it topically focused on Battletech here.
Thank you.
I would have wished for more like this, but victor was simply not his father.
Battletech houses is team sports basically, and the Federated Suns are the New England Patriots.
There's always this bit of Taurian graffiti to explain how up themselves the fed suns are! 
(From 1st periphery handbook)
"It's not so much that the damn Davions keep crossing the borders and destroying our homes all the time, but that their tank shells are all covered with quotations from Michael Hasek-Davion"
(From 1st periphery handbook)"It's not so much that the damn Davions keep crossing the borders and destroying our homes all the time, but that their tank shells are all covered with quotations from Michael Hasek-Davion"
I was gonna go with the previous-generation Dallas Cowboys. Or the post-curse Red Sox. Hmm, why don't we just agree it's like New England and call it a day, I've got plotting to do to relieve some good folk on New Abilene of their idea of a senate.
Hate - its too strong word . If you hate Davions you will hate every single fraction in Battletech . Yes they are gready , bloodthursty tyrants like all IS houses , the clans are not better . In battletech all is grey with two exceptions World of Blake (no matter how much i am trying to find something blow away that dark cloud that surround them ) and Clan mongoose they just need to be hated .
.
As a New Englander, I feel insulted...but you're pretty much right.
Don't feel insulted, it does have the general feel of the original Rowdy Colonial continental folk at times. There's not really a perfect analogue anyway (that I'd try to push publicly) and it's skewed since a lot of fiction tended to be written from people with pro-Suns leaning. Again, I blame the lore architects who mostly didn't give a broad enough focus before narrowing it down around Victor (who, contrary to popular rumor did not have the BattleMech renamed after him).
Except for the whole monarchy thing, you're right. And I'm not really insulted, obviously. It's not as if you called me a clanner, after all!