The TC has no Terran likeness, unless you compare them to the Federation of Starship Troopers from the book. Which is still waaay off. And still not space Texas. A big thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos.
Oddly, I generally do write a script, or at least take notes. Sadly though, the only intelligent conversation I ever have anymore seems to be on TH-cam, which means that I am driven to ramble, rant sometimes, and drive off script, often without meaning too. For that, I do apologize, but then, I know that my channel is what it is, a never ending work in progress. At least, so far, I haven't procrastinated with it like every thing else not work related in my life. Anyway, I do appreciate the comments and advice.
"The ideal" vs. "the reality" is certainly something to consider when regarding the safeguarding of the 'general welfare' of the people. One thing I appreciate about Battletech is how the designers and writers have captured just how far off, due to human nature, every faction in Battletech is from having the ideal meeting reality. "Space Texas" is as reasonable a comparision as possible, as due to human nature, the ideals rarely meet the reality. Such is the comparison in any nation. One of Heinlien's flaws in "Starship Troopers" is not accounting for this aspect of human nature, but then, given that it was an indictment of mandatory conscription more than anything else, it is forgivable (after all, he wasn't intent on presenting a new form of government, but attempting to point out the death of a nation will be when it's people refuse to serve it's greater good with their lives). I'm going to venture to say, "Space Texas" is not far off, nor is the comparison to "Starship Troopers" while at the same time agreeing that they are far from perfect comparisons. This is where "good enough for government work" or "close enough for horeshoes and hand grenades" comes in. The ideals are very similar to America and Texas; while the actual application of the ideals varies depending upon the current timeframe. Part of the genius behind the 'fluff' of Battletech in my opinion; they let 'shit happen' and destroy ideals.
Education wise... Space Texas, while flawed, is not wrong here as well. Given that Texas, due to population base, has a huge influence on text books across the US. If Texas and California refuse a text book, odds are it doesn't get printed and used in the other 48 states. Also, given that I got my post high school education via GI Bill, Space USA (while still flawed), is still not a bad meme for the Concordat. My service paid for my education, and I don't live in Texas (but I did live in the largest state in the US....). Perhaps Space Alaska would be a better fit for the Concordat.
@@michaelsudsysutherland5353 Alaska would work well, and I agree with your opinions. Reality is rarely factual, even in this 'reality' that we share today. One of the great things about BT is how much effort has been put into developing a deep back story for the game and it's various factions. Deep and for the most part, concise in that they writers and designers have made many efforts to keep the various story lines and game paths consistent. Each major and minor power has a critical flaw (if not several), and a strength. I think that part of my issues with the later Dark Ages era and the Jihad was that it felt as if they (the writers/designers at that time) were attempting to change this. That said, it feels like the current creators are working to subtlety correct this but then, I could be wrong. I've read Heinlein's original Starship Troopers, and seen several of the movie takes on the novel. For those who've only seen the movies, they can't apricate just how different they are in tone and spirit. Still, they're (at least the first movie anyway), are entertaining. It's this attempt at being consistent throughout most of the BT ages that appeals to me and I hope that they continue to follow the deep ruts made in that path, as apposed to how some franchisees have 'become woke' and have attempted to re-write history, so to speak.
@@yourseatatthetable I think the saddest aspect of the 1997 erroneously named "Starship Troopers" is that Paul Verhoeven never read the source material. Not more than two chapters. He considered it 'right wing' which is pretty laughable when you consider that most 'right wing' Americans consider the same government very 'left wing'. But then, such terms mean VERY DIFFERENT things to Americans and Europeans (after all, European right and left are BOTH too far leftist to American Libertarians...). I'm pretty biased toward the good old "Succession Wars" era myself, barely tolerating the Clan Invasion. I have little to no reference material relating to the Jihad or Dark Ages beyond the Catalyst core rule books (Total Warfare thru Strategic Operations) for that reason. Like you, I got into the game in the FASA era... Albeit a bit later, my first BattleTech was the 4th Edition box set and the 3rd Edition Rules Compendium I would check out at my local library (my only source of knowledge about the Clan Invasion). It is indeed only recently that I've been catching up on the lore. Tex, yourself, and a few others on TH-cam as well as Amazon Kindle republications of the Battletech Legends novels from William H. Keith and Michael Stackpole have me re-discovering Battletech and appreciating the flawed Houses and Periphery states. The OG BT designers were geniuses with inserting those flaws!
@@michaelsudsysutherland5353 I managed to purchase most of the novels up and including the first five novels of the "Dark Age" series, which is where I lost interest. Although recently I purchased a few of the newest novels. Of those four I think Betrayer of Ideals is the top pick. Hour of the Wolf left me with more questions than the book answered, in part, because I've missed pretty much everything printed in the last fifteen years. I have stumbled across a few sourcebooks on the net that were fairly cheap, the War of 3039 and Field Manual: Periphery, and was talked into buying a copy of House Arano. I also purchased a hardcopy of Tamar Rising. So far I think there's a movement towards improving BT/MW overall, at least I hope so. Truth be told I was shocked when I tuned back in to find out just how things had gone to date. It was as if someone threw everything into a wood chipper. The wanton destruction (without a lot of thought, it seemed) of the Jihad, the Clans becoming something, well, not really clan like. (Back home clans; IS Clans; etc), although finding that several Clans had melded, if that's a good term, with IS powers to form...some sort of hybrids wasn't unexpected. But the way the great Houses had been fragged was a bit too much for my tastes. I suppose that it all was meant to keep the various factions at each others throats. I think the point where I had lost interest was when the Republic of the Sphere formed and there was talk appearing about turning mechs into agra/indo mechs that soured me. Gray (or Grey) Monday, etc., only made things even more confusing. I'm still trying to hunt down reference to just what the hell happened. It doesn't help that I'm not really a fan of PDFs because I can't lug them around as easily as a book. And then I understand that there are sections/eras that were intentionally left vague to facilitate pushing the game into the next new age thing. As for Starship Troopers, I'd hazard a guess that Paul Verhoeven probably got as far as the second chapter before groaning about all the dialogue and lack of action as many more modern series cater too when he threw the book away. His take on the visuals is appealing enough, even if the story is barely a story, at least in my opinion. That second ST movie seemed to be worse - I think that it went straight to DVD. Of all the game systems I have collected/played over the decades, I admit that several stand out as my favorites. This one is in the top three. BT has haunted me for many years, surfacing in several surprising ways. My personal game system combat chapter mirrors some of BT (War Knights instead of Battlemechs, that sort of thing), and the convoluted, history rich, stories has flavored my own attempts at novel writing. There is so very much subject material in BT to explore and cover that I suspect that I could be doing videos on the material for some years to come. Of course, as you can see in my vids, I'm opiniated and also have a desire to understand the nuts and bolts; the flavor... My next video is on the 2750 Technical Readout. I've also been compiling notes on the Rim Worlds Republic, mainly how was that this supposedly fringe, second-rate Periphery state able to mass such a large, well trained/experience military and navy without 'somebody' in the SLDF or Star League finding out about it. The end of the SL lore is thick with comments about the RWR fielding battleships larger than anything the SLDF had; a considerable number of "elite and veteran' Mech Regiments, etc. Well, since I can't really play the game, I figure I can armchair grouse about it, heh... Sadly, I'm no Tex...
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Aurigan Coalition introduced in the HBS Battletech game and canonized by the House Arano sourcebook, including theories as to what happened to them by 3050.
@@Panax07 I've heard references before about House Arano but never looked into it until now. What I've read so far is interesting. Hopefully after the bills are paid I'll have enough to order a copy. Once I do and had time to read it... What it brings to mind is something about BT that I've always enjoyed. The setting is so vast that there's plenty of room for more. Specifically material and stories player generated. Any given Great House is surrounded by minor houses, just as entire swathes of the perifery (spelling) are blank, left open to the imagination.
Yeah, sad how things have worked out here in America. Imagine had our founding fathers had taken their own words to heart and to be literal. Imagine the what if of what could have been.
The TC has no Terran likeness, unless you compare them to the Federation of Starship Troopers from the book. Which is still waaay off. And still not space Texas. A big thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos.
I would say the taurian concordat is probably closer to space Finland rather than space Texas.
Agreed.
1) thank you for the intro to the Taurian Concordat.
2) I recommend writing a script to help you keep on track.
Oddly, I generally do write a script, or at least take notes. Sadly though, the only intelligent conversation I ever have anymore seems to be on TH-cam, which means that I am driven to ramble, rant sometimes, and drive off script, often without meaning too. For that, I do apologize, but then, I know that my channel is what it is, a never ending work in progress. At least, so far, I haven't procrastinated with it like every thing else not work related in my life. Anyway, I do appreciate the comments and advice.
"You might take my lunch, but imma get the sammich", as an old NCOIC used to say about fights
heh.
"The ideal" vs. "the reality" is certainly something to consider when regarding the safeguarding of the 'general welfare' of the people. One thing I appreciate about Battletech is how the designers and writers have captured just how far off, due to human nature, every faction in Battletech is from having the ideal meeting reality. "Space Texas" is as reasonable a comparision as possible, as due to human nature, the ideals rarely meet the reality. Such is the comparison in any nation. One of Heinlien's flaws in "Starship Troopers" is not accounting for this aspect of human nature, but then, given that it was an indictment of mandatory conscription more than anything else, it is forgivable (after all, he wasn't intent on presenting a new form of government, but attempting to point out the death of a nation will be when it's people refuse to serve it's greater good with their lives). I'm going to venture to say, "Space Texas" is not far off, nor is the comparison to "Starship Troopers" while at the same time agreeing that they are far from perfect comparisons. This is where "good enough for government work" or "close enough for horeshoes and hand grenades" comes in. The ideals are very similar to America and Texas; while the actual application of the ideals varies depending upon the current timeframe. Part of the genius behind the 'fluff' of Battletech in my opinion; they let 'shit happen' and destroy ideals.
Education wise... Space Texas, while flawed, is not wrong here as well. Given that Texas, due to population base, has a huge influence on text books across the US. If Texas and California refuse a text book, odds are it doesn't get printed and used in the other 48 states. Also, given that I got my post high school education via GI Bill, Space USA (while still flawed), is still not a bad meme for the Concordat. My service paid for my education, and I don't live in Texas (but I did live in the largest state in the US....). Perhaps Space Alaska would be a better fit for the Concordat.
@@michaelsudsysutherland5353 Alaska would work well, and I agree with your opinions. Reality is rarely factual, even in this 'reality' that we share today. One of the great things about BT is how much effort has been put into developing a deep back story for the game and it's various factions. Deep and for the most part, concise in that they writers and designers have made many efforts to keep the various story lines and game paths consistent. Each major and minor power has a critical flaw (if not several), and a strength. I think that part of my issues with the later Dark Ages era and the Jihad was that it felt as if they (the writers/designers at that time) were attempting to change this. That said, it feels like the current creators are working to subtlety correct this but then, I could be wrong. I've read Heinlein's original Starship Troopers, and seen several of the movie takes on the novel. For those who've only seen the movies, they can't apricate just how different they are in tone and spirit. Still, they're (at least the first movie anyway), are entertaining. It's this attempt at being consistent throughout most of the BT ages that appeals to me and I hope that they continue to follow the deep ruts made in that path, as apposed to how some franchisees have 'become woke' and have attempted to re-write history, so to speak.
@@yourseatatthetable I think the saddest aspect of the 1997 erroneously named "Starship Troopers" is that Paul Verhoeven never read the source material. Not more than two chapters. He considered it 'right wing' which is pretty laughable when you consider that most 'right wing' Americans consider the same government very 'left wing'. But then, such terms mean VERY DIFFERENT things to Americans and Europeans (after all, European right and left are BOTH too far leftist to American Libertarians...).
I'm pretty biased toward the good old "Succession Wars" era myself, barely tolerating the Clan Invasion. I have little to no reference material relating to the Jihad or Dark Ages beyond the Catalyst core rule books (Total Warfare thru Strategic Operations) for that reason. Like you, I got into the game in the FASA era... Albeit a bit later, my first BattleTech was the 4th Edition box set and the 3rd Edition Rules Compendium I would check out at my local library (my only source of knowledge about the Clan Invasion).
It is indeed only recently that I've been catching up on the lore. Tex, yourself, and a few others on TH-cam as well as Amazon Kindle republications of the Battletech Legends novels from William H. Keith and Michael Stackpole have me re-discovering Battletech and appreciating the flawed Houses and Periphery states. The OG BT designers were geniuses with inserting those flaws!
@@michaelsudsysutherland5353 I managed to purchase most of the novels up and including the first five novels of the "Dark Age" series, which is where I lost interest. Although recently I purchased a few of the newest novels. Of those four I think Betrayer of Ideals is the top pick. Hour of the Wolf left me with more questions than the book answered, in part, because I've missed pretty much everything printed in the last fifteen years.
I have stumbled across a few sourcebooks on the net that were fairly cheap, the War of 3039 and Field Manual: Periphery, and was talked into buying a copy of House Arano. I also purchased a hardcopy of Tamar Rising. So far I think there's a movement towards improving BT/MW overall, at least I hope so.
Truth be told I was shocked when I tuned back in to find out just how things had gone to date. It was as if someone threw everything into a wood chipper. The wanton destruction (without a lot of thought, it seemed) of the Jihad, the Clans becoming something, well, not really clan like. (Back home clans; IS Clans; etc), although finding that several Clans had melded, if that's a good term, with IS powers to form...some sort of hybrids wasn't unexpected.
But the way the great Houses had been fragged was a bit too much for my tastes. I suppose that it all was meant to keep the various factions at each others throats. I think the point where I had lost interest was when the Republic of the Sphere formed and there was talk appearing about turning mechs into agra/indo mechs that soured me.
Gray (or Grey) Monday, etc., only made things even more confusing. I'm still trying to hunt down reference to just what the hell happened. It doesn't help that I'm not really a fan of PDFs because I can't lug them around as easily as a book. And then I understand that there are sections/eras that were intentionally left vague to facilitate pushing the game into the next new age thing.
As for Starship Troopers, I'd hazard a guess that Paul Verhoeven probably got as far as the second chapter before groaning about all the dialogue and lack of action as many more modern series cater too when he threw the book away. His take on the visuals is appealing enough, even if the story is barely a story, at least in my opinion. That second ST movie seemed to be worse - I think that it went straight to DVD.
Of all the game systems I have collected/played over the decades, I admit that several stand out as my favorites. This one is in the top three. BT has haunted me for many years, surfacing in several surprising ways. My personal game system combat chapter mirrors some of BT (War Knights instead of Battlemechs, that sort of thing), and the convoluted, history rich, stories has flavored my own attempts at novel writing.
There is so very much subject material in BT to explore and cover that I suspect that I could be doing videos on the material for some years to come. Of course, as you can see in my vids, I'm opiniated and also have a desire to understand the nuts and bolts; the flavor...
My next video is on the 2750 Technical Readout. I've also been compiling notes on the Rim Worlds Republic, mainly how was that this supposedly fringe, second-rate Periphery state able to mass such a large, well trained/experience military and navy without 'somebody' in the SLDF or Star League finding out about it. The end of the SL lore is thick with comments about the RWR fielding battleships larger than anything the SLDF had; a considerable number of "elite and veteran' Mech Regiments, etc.
Well, since I can't really play the game, I figure I can armchair grouse about it, heh... Sadly, I'm no Tex...
@@michaelsudsysutherland5353 LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your comments!!!
Great breakdown and I really appreciated it.
What an amazing state.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Aurigan Coalition introduced in the HBS Battletech game and canonized by the House Arano sourcebook, including theories as to what happened to them by 3050.
Well, I'll have to see if I can find a copy of the sourcebook.
@@yourseatatthetable Its available from Catalyst as a pdf or print on demand.
@@Panax07 I've heard references before about House Arano but never looked into it until now. What I've read so far is interesting. Hopefully after the bills are paid I'll have enough to order a copy. Once I do and had time to read it...
What it brings to mind is something about BT that I've always enjoyed. The setting is so vast that there's plenty of room for more. Specifically material and stories player generated. Any given Great House is surrounded by minor houses, just as entire swathes of the perifery (spelling) are blank, left open to the imagination.
Like Canada.....
Could very well be.
Wait, are you saying that we could learn from a government that allows people to actually live free?! That's evil socialism (sarcasm)😂
Yeah, sad how things have worked out here in America. Imagine had our founding fathers had taken their own words to heart and to be literal. Imagine the what if of what could have been.