BATTLETECH: The Origin of Comstar

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ย. 2022
  • In the wreckage of the #TerranHegemony and the #StarLeague, a glim flicker of light would remain, set alight by members of the #SLDF who had not gone on the #Exodus, an of the Star League Department of Communications. #JeromeBlake, or just #Blake, would be their leader, and eventually their spiritual leader as well.
    What came out of all of this chaos and destruction, despite the best efforts of the #GreatHouses was #Comstar. And Comstar, despite all of its faults, such as prolonging the #SuccessionWars and creating the #WordofBlake, truly did save the #InnerSphere, and not just on #Tukayyid.
    Let's go on a journey, and walk in the past world that these people once did. Let's look into what started... Comstar.
    It was a great privilege to make this video, and thank you to all the TH-cam Members who supported this project.
    I also don't care about my pronunciation of Hegemony at this point.
    One piece of fanart was used in this video:
    / jerome_blake_father_of...
    Some other non-Battletech materials were used, such as game footage and art from Battlefield, Fallout, Cyberpunk, and an incomplete game from 2014 called Outcasts, if I got the latter right.
    My primary resources for this were the original Comstar Sourcebook, which can be procured Digitally here:
    Catalyst Game Labs:
    store.catalystgamelabs.com/pr...
    DriveThru RPG:
    www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
    I also used the dialogue from the "Intentions" Novella, found at the start of the Second Succession War Book, and a few other blurbs from within. Another great book, and definitely is worth your time:
    Catalyst Game Labs:
    store.catalystgamelabs.com/pr...
    DriveThru RPG:
    www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
    #ConradToyama #AlexanderKerensky #Kerensky #HouseMarik #HouseKurita #HouseDaivion #HouseLiao #HouseCameron #HouseSteiner #StefanAmaris #Amaris #AmarisEmpire #AmarisCivilWar #RichardCameron #Battletech #Mechwarrior #HPG #FederatedSuns #FreeWorldsLeague #DraconisCombine #CapellanConfederation #LyranCommonwealth #BlessedOrder
    Join this channel in order to support this content:
    / @bigred40tech
    Join us on the free Discord as well!:
    / discord
    Note: I am not associated with the Battletech / Mechwarrior IP, and create this under fair-use. Ownership of the Battletech IP resides with several companies at this time. I support all official releases.
  • เกม

ความคิดเห็น • 517

  • @treevenewson
    @treevenewson ปีที่แล้ว +235

    In my opinion Blake was basically a good man trying to save humanity, making his way the best he could through dark times. It was Toyama who really corrupted and altered Comstar's purpose to it's self-centered and obsessed goals of being humanities savior.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +58

      Blake did a lot of messed up stuff too, but only after he became cynical. Toyama really took it too far from the moment he took power.

    • @foenrik8941
      @foenrik8941 ปีที่แล้ว +38

      @@BigRed40TECH Perhaps Blake should've given better instructions then. While Toyama would be the one to do all of that, ultimate blame falls upon Blake himself for giving the idea and pushing it. In the end, he set his friend up to become a monster, as well as the one who would get all of the blame in his place when the Schism occurred, and later the Jihad.

    • @treevenewson
      @treevenewson ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@foenrik8941 I think you're right, I forgot Karpov. He gets overlooked by Comstar's two essential founders.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +27

      He was a little dying at the time to be fair.

    • @DonaldWWitt
      @DonaldWWitt ปีที่แล้ว +22

      ​@@foenrik8941 I think Blake's biggest folly in creating the Order of ComStar is that he only shared the intention with so few people.
      He only informed his closet confidant in Toyama, and the head of his Intelligence Service, Michelle Dupreas, correct?
      It's not hard to predict that these two, alone, would go full Zealot.
      But if Michelle's Murderous Solutions were counter-balanced with a... Truer Believer in Blake's mission, ComStar's top tiers may have taken a more secular approach and avoid the catastrophe of Karpov's reign.

  • @AWholeLegionary
    @AWholeLegionary ปีที่แล้ว +34

    Sitting here for an hour to learn about telephone fanatics... I'm not disappointed.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Praise be to Blake! Praise his wisdom!

  • @RyeFields
    @RyeFields ปีที่แล้ว +108

    To think a man built it all when he came from nothing, Blake is by far one of the most if not the most influential singular person in the history of Battletech. And the best part of it all... He wasn't perfect, he wasn't entirely good, he was just a man with a vision and the charisma to back it up.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +30

      It's not even that he had natural charisma, it's more that he was just competent, and was willing to act. That created a charisma that followed him.
      It's really interesting, but he's not naturally charismatic.

    • @RyeFields
      @RyeFields ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@BigRed40TECH not all charisma is verbal. His push for action made people follow him is how I see it, and that's a leader from the front lines of bureaucracy that I can get behind

  • @SHDW-nf2ki
    @SHDW-nf2ki ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Blake was a good man at heart.
    Same as Kerensky.
    Both genuinely wanted what was best for the Star League.

  • @GliderBane
    @GliderBane ปีที่แล้ว +87

    Comstar is so unrealistic. The golfers of Hilton Head Island would never allow the construction of a HPG and the administration buildings of Comstar's HQ on their beloved golf courses. Not even ROM agents have that sort of power!

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +37

      Most of those golfers, I suspect, would have been killed by Amaris. Problem solved! lol

    • @lexington476
      @lexington476 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      It was kind of funny when I first read the Blood of Kerensky series I didn't think that Hilton Head Island existed, it wasn't actually until years later that I found out it did.

    • @JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey
      @JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Blessed be the Word of Golf.

    • @misterbeeps
      @misterbeeps ปีที่แล้ว

      @@lexington476 I gotta try Old Oyster Factory Restaurant. Old oysters? I'll bring my own stomach pump!

    • @TheChillee
      @TheChillee 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I concur, Amaris likely executed the golfers and Kerensky finished the survivors off… thankfully.

  • @gabrieliacoboni6951
    @gabrieliacoboni6951 ปีที่แล้ว +82

    I feel sorry for Blake. As so many of us say, one wonders what he would think of what Comstar has become today.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +31

      I think he'd have been disappointed. Though I think his plan was destined to fail, Toyama drove it into the ground right away.

    • @gabrieliacoboni6951
      @gabrieliacoboni6951 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@BigRed40TECH I agree. Blake himself said or at least hinted he did not want Comstar to instigate a religious war or the purges which have defined religions histoircally. The fact Toyoma went that way immediately tells me all I need to know.

    • @DJTourniquet
      @DJTourniquet ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Don't forget that they eventually strip all the religious zealotry from comstar and the remnants form the Word of Blake and start a Jihad in 3067 with the fall of the SLDF, Part Duex. I swear there were missions for it in the initial release of mw4 mercs, but I may be thinking of Mech Assault 1 or 2 for the original Xbox. Comstar under Mr. Toyota (yes, I intentionally misspelled his name. Because fuck that guy in particular...) was already batshit crazy, but the Blakists really turned that shit up to 12.

    • @watchm4ker
      @watchm4ker ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@BigRed40TECH I genuinely don't think there was anything else Toyama could have done. He had to move quickly to secure his position, and Comstar's operational security, or the game would be over. Any of those personnel, any of those board members, anyone who could compromise the network would have meant Comstar's collapse within a couple of generations.

  • @joshuamidgette4846
    @joshuamidgette4846 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    Toyama's problem was he went too far off the edge and fell into madness. The inner sphere's problem was Toyama could not keep his madness to himself.

  • @thestabbybrit4798
    @thestabbybrit4798 ปีที่แล้ว +36

    I've watched this one twice already. The parallel between Blake and Kerensky is painful! I know the religion was his idea, but I can't imagine Blake would have supported what Comstar became.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +5

      It's a sad story, straight up. I like to think I did it justice. :)

    • @robertwilkins3167
      @robertwilkins3167 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It was actually Blake's idea to turn ComStar into a religious cult.

    • @gokbay3057
      @gokbay3057 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@robertwilkins3167 Yeah, OP already said "I know the religion was his idea". They know.

  • @osogitzgraymane72
    @osogitzgraymane72 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    One thing history has taught us about any theology: you can't control the zealots. Their existance and their choices. And that they are inevitable. No matter the theology. Sanctioned or otherwise.
    I like these big projects. I always feel I learn alot from them. Keep up the great work. I look forward to the next one.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Thanks! I really put a lot into this one, so I hope people are liking it. :)

  • @kafs1822
    @kafs1822 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    The story of Blake, Kerensky, the SLDF and Comstar would make a series as great as game of thrones, their stories are a true tragedy of good men with good intentions being subverted by greedy people like the houses.

  • @jamesvoicepro3345
    @jamesvoicepro3345 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    It strikes me, that the 2 surviving organizations of the star league, com star and the clans, are not really all that different. There is certainly technological differences, but narrower than what the IS as a whole saw. Each has their founding martyrs, fanaticism, and even a caste like structure, though less so in comstar. Is it any wonder that the 2 phoenixes of the star league, rose above the ashes of the IS, to clash for dominance?

    • @robrib2682
      @robrib2682 ปีที่แล้ว

      One worships and idolizes the technology from the Golden age, the other is so wholy reliant upon it that to take it away would cause the collapse of the very structure of their society. I feel like both are good takes on the danger of over-reliance on technology for any one thing and the dark things that can follow if allowed to get out of hand and you decide to ignore human nature for long enough

    • @toddkes5890
      @toddkes5890 ปีที่แล้ว

      Imagine of Word of Blake had managed to contact The Society (Clan Scientists) and offered those scientists an exit option. Take all of the Clan scientific knowledge and its future scientific research away, and use the existing Society options to wipe out the Clan Warrior Caste. A new set of Clans where the Scientists are in charge, and the Dark Caste is welcomed back to be under control of the scientists.
      Or at least, WoB providing enough resources for the Scientists to win, but not that much more. So the Scientists are on top of a rubble pile, and need years/decades to build up their new society.
      The contact would be made during Task Force Serpent, where WoB forces would provide Jumpships and Dropships full of supplies to help the Task Force. But many of those Jumpships would actually be compact-core Warships, designed to imitate a similarly-sized Jumpship. This extra tonnage would be used to hide extra mass and equipment, to give the WoB forces more flexibility.
      Getting access to a few of the scientists might let WoB build a "Willow Run" style Mech factory. A factory that builds a Mech every hour, 16 hours a day. Have it produce a basic TrooperMech that is a good generalist, in large quantities. 4 Lances a day, ~100 Mechs a week, over 5000 a year. Imagine that sort of defense provided to the WoB Protectorate. Capturing other worlds just means more Mechs for the remaining worlds, so Stone & friends had to attack Terra.

    • @codyraugh6599
      @codyraugh6599 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Well there's a good chance that the Manei Domini of the WoB were a product of Clan Wolverine's survivors if not Clan Wolverine's descendants themselves. And half of the Manei Domini's 4 functional worlds have not been found, AND its theorized that they have much much more at their disposal while being able to coopt so much from comstar and the five houses.
      So we might see them come back just for a chance to fuck the Ilclan. Seeing how the Manei Domini when vs the Houses were...restrained...at least compared to how over the top they went when the clans were on the field.

    • @erikbjelke4411
      @erikbjelke4411 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@codyraugh6599 That was lies and slander founded on flimsy evidence simply to snap Clan Ghost Bear out of their berserk frenzy so they could work with the coalition. It's based on the WarShip Sword of Blake *possibly* being the WarShip Zughoffer Weir, which *might* have have been part of the Wolverines' attempt to fleet the Clans until it was somehow captured by ComStar, where it *happened* to eventually side with the Word of Blake in the ComStar schism. It's extremely flimsy, circumstantial evidence, but all the Ghost Bears needed to stop for ten seconds and listen to reason.

  • @krissteel4074
    @krissteel4074 ปีที่แล้ว +57

    As someone who worked in communications for quite a long time, Comstar is dear to my heart in a lot of ways.
    Plus the hilarity that would ensue giving some of those companies any kind of power is what makes it really funny. Good work mate

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Thank you! :D

    • @KoeSeer
      @KoeSeer ปีที่แล้ว +7

      imagine the communication company you work for is suddenly decided to be UN peace keeping operations administrator, UNESCO, and later replaced Vatican.

    • @krissteel4074
      @krissteel4074 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@KoeSeer At least if it was like that, some of the bonkers stuff I've been a part of would have made a lot more sense. People sort of assume its mostly just a lot of flashing alarm lights and fixing broken bits of equipment which is more or less the average day.
      But there's also the critical security side of the business I did for about 12yrs and got wrapped up in a front row seat to watch out of control stolen armoured personnel carriers, police shootings, counter terrorism surveillance , kidnappings, murders, drug trafficking, arson attacks and spent a lot of time in court giving evidence.

  • @alexroman6424
    @alexroman6424 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    I was only passingly interested in Battletech thanks to the MechWarrior video games. I had no idea about the depth of the lore behind it. This video and this entire channel is amazing!

  • @observationsfromthebunker9639
    @observationsfromthebunker9639 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Thanks for this piece, which contains much lore scattered across a number of sources, some of which doubtless are PDF scans of yellowing sourcebooks. It tells a good story about the creation of Comstar and sheds some real light on why it does the things it does. It was surprising to see the mission creep occurring even as Blake's body cooled, but these things can happen. I'm still not going to blame him for the Wobbies though; they were responsible for their own misinterpretations, and the orthodox leaders screwed up handling the incipient crisis. (I've always thought the Precentor who framed the Gray Death Legion was a proto-WOB who was happy to put the needs of the knowledgeable few before the needs of the deprived many.)

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I agree. I tend to blame Toyama more than Blake, even though it wasn't Toyama's idea. He screwed it up out the gate. Not that it was going to be a marvelous ideal to start with.

  • @MoreEvilThanYahweh
    @MoreEvilThanYahweh ปีที่แล้ว +19

    To be fair, you'd also want to do something about the "Great" Houses and cripple their warfighting capacity if you personally witnessed the madness of the First Succession War and were helpless to do anything about it because Kerensky had a tantrum and ran off.
    Where ComStar failed was in execution, but the idea behind things before Karpov came along wasn't actually worse than the Scavenger Lords who just wanted the throne of the Star League at any cost.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I think Jerome wasn't any worse than the House Lords, but I think Toyama was not the man to try his plan. He dialed it to 11, when Blake needed it died to 7.

    • @EmperorPylades
      @EmperorPylades ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@BigRed40TECH I don't even think dialling it to eleven was necessarily a bad idea, though that early was probably dangerous. Saying "Space Jesus says I'm right, and I got 9mm of argument for anyone who says otherwise!" was the real mistake Toyama made.

  • @fmailaender
    @fmailaender ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Thank you, Brother. May Blakes Wisdom be with you.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      May Blake's words bring you peace, brother!

  • @Andrewlik
    @Andrewlik ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I've watched this twice.
    This shit made me tear up.
    I was a president of a robotics club in high school, so I know the feeling of trying to preserve the knowledge and organization so that it lives long after you are gone.
    I'm definately taking this far more to heart than I need to, but this really hit me where I live.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It was an emotional video to make tbh

  • @kathilmechworks4895
    @kathilmechworks4895 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Comstar was a must for me as I work in telecommunications and even use my white 7th army marauder and 7th army's crest for my channel. I can't believe I missed this video great run down of their history. Some of the greatest villains yet also the savior of man kind from the Clans. I'm just sorry both they and WoB are gone.

  • @Spakken117
    @Spakken117 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    Great Video, it really gives Comstar and Blake the representation they both deserve! I always thought its kind of tragic when you look at what Comstar was intended to be and what it later turned into.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Blake became jaded over time, and then, well... Toyama... :(

  • @Aceman52
    @Aceman52 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Another epic production. I am not a fan of Comstar as an organization, but they are have a fascinating history. This was a great video. I never get enough of your presentations.

  • @mickbrown7793
    @mickbrown7793 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Your delivery of that closing section was chilling. The video humanizes Blake and Toyama in a way even the books struggle to.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I think my favourite part is where I got to describe the bonkers meeting between the crazy, jingoistic, revanchist board-members wanting to declare war on the Inner Sphere- and Toyama countering them with a completely insane religious awakening.
      What a total clusterfuck of a meeting, lol. Just 2 groups of literal crazy people shouting at one another. XD

  • @Robo-kz3nr
    @Robo-kz3nr ปีที่แล้ว +60

    Blake: "we need to make comstar a religion to preserve humanity and the dream of the star league"
    Toyama: "so you're telling me we need to preform technology subdifuge and plunge the inner sphere into 300 years of a technological dark age!"
    Blake: "that's not what i meant-" *flat lines*

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Blake wasn't entiretly against extending the wars, or undermining technology, but Toyama just took things to 11.

  • @nemamiah7832
    @nemamiah7832 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I was informed about this transmission. We are watching. Signed: Acolyte Epsilon IV Nemamiah.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Watch away, Comstar slave. Those who are truly loyal to Blake and his vision cannot be stopped so easily! :P

    • @nemamiah7832
      @nemamiah7832 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@BigRed40TECH The beauty of the BattleTech. Everyone probably can find a faction they will enjoy for one reason or the other. Especially when you step away from the memes and get into the source books. "Hey, these guys are actually really fun!" I wasn't that much into ComStar before playing them for, like, 3 or 4 months in a prolonged Tukayyid campaign, while reading about them. Suddenly I find myself a ComStar apologist xD

    • @rmcdudmk212
      @rmcdudmk212 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nemamiah7832 ROM agents have been alerted to your unauthorized transmission. Please put your head between you legs and kiss your butt goodbye 🤣

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Comstar's fantastic. I love them. There are so many rich, and fascinating factions in Battletech.
      Thank goodness we still have the Blessed Order, in the latter eras.

    • @RyeFields
      @RyeFields ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@nemamiah7832 the very reason I love Steiner's and Clan Sea Fox, *Money*

  • @rmcdudmk212
    @rmcdudmk212 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Pay your bills or get wrecked! This has been a friendly reminder from ComStar 😁

    • @foenrik8941
      @foenrik8941 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      "Sir, this is a Wendys...also, Comstar's been dead for a few decades now, I dunno what you got from Canopus, but maybe take a break, okay?"

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Comstar's alive. Confirmed in Elements of Treason, Opportunity.
      Well, part of Comstar's still alive... The Blessed Order survived the Republic's wrath, if only barely. :)

  • @Alpharius-Omegon
    @Alpharius-Omegon ปีที่แล้ว +20

    The sins one commits for a goal are easier to see with hindsight than in the moment. When such sins are intertwined with such an organization’s very founding, the founders will more often than not ponder to their dying breath if such actions to raise their organization will also topple it in time or even worse… twist it into something else

  • @haroldbenton979
    @haroldbenton979 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Just look what Yamata was doing if you've played the original MW5 campaign. Literally destroying worlds looking for Lostech and otherwise trying to kill those who opposed him.

  • @Vericyn
    @Vericyn ปีที่แล้ว +33

    So of these voice-over clips of Blake are making me emotional. Damn well-done mate!

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +11

      I put a lot of effort into trying to get Blake right. :)

    • @Vericyn
      @Vericyn ปีที่แล้ว +6

      You did really well! Voice-over work is hard and getting the right emotional tone right is often hard and you hit it out of the park!

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Thank you! :D

    • @pheonixshaman
      @pheonixshaman ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@BigRed40TECH I just hear Dekard Kane. It does fit though.

  • @derpiperp
    @derpiperp ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Praie Blake! \o/ Let the Light of Blake guide thee.. 🙏

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      May the light guide them towards a future without strife, or pain.
      May Blake's wisdom bring them peace.

  • @louiskemner3216
    @louiskemner3216 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The Jerome Blake/Conrad Toyama duo feels an awful lot like Aleksandr/Nicholas Kerensky duo

  • @GUMMRUCHK
    @GUMMRUCHK ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Toyama's task of creating the Comstar Blake envisioned was herculean I do not think anyone could have expected him to succeed but his failure was far more spectacular than it should have been it is one thing to fail it is quite another to fail on such catastrophic level.
    He pretty much did precisely what Blake said not to do as if he never listened to Blake.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Yep, created the extreme zealots right out the gate.
      I'm sure Blake expected some political upheaval and murders, but not like that.

    • @lorefox201
      @lorefox201 ปีที่แล้ว

      Blake's plan encountered reality,you don't get to keep the pie and eat it too.

  • @majnabunny
    @majnabunny ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Define Irony.... A video about Comstar a massive overbearing telecoms company..... then at One minute thirty five seconds I got a TH-cam questionnaire pop up asking if I was seeing too many ads today.... that was oddly self conscious of the algorithm

  • @EdmondHiggins
    @EdmondHiggins ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Unironically my favorite faction.
    Great video.
    Your rate and quality of content output is mind boggling.
    Keep it up! (Maintaining a healthy work life balance of course.)

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว

      I really enjoyed making it, I too love Comstar, though it's not currently in my top 5, it's always had a place in my heart. :)

    • @EdmondHiggins
      @EdmondHiggins ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@BigRed40TECH From the moment I saw the 'van wizards with laser guns' cover of the sourcebook, I knew who I was gonna play.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@EdmondHiggins For me it wasn't even that. I thought they were cool because they were Inner Sphere, but had decent tech, even if it wasn't as good as the clans.
      Their story really captured me as a whole once I grew up more.

  • @SimpleGeekReviews
    @SimpleGeekReviews ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I am loving your content! I've played Battletech since I was a kid, played all the major video games, hell played WizKids' MechWarrior minis (man I miss them!). Your videos are excellent sources of info. I love putting them on in the background, doing other stuff, but I'm always learning new things or relearning things I had forgotten.
    This video was excellent. I never really looked much into Comstar, but wow, very nice, very informative. Your presentation was excellent. I hope you do more of these, with more history and factions.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      TH-cam members voted for me to do it. I always do my best to deliver on these videos when they ask for them. :)

  • @WhiteK2500
    @WhiteK2500 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Well done Red!
    This was a great video.
    Being someone who stuck with Battletech over the years, due to stompy robots, I very slowly immersed myself into the world of Battletech beyond the battlemech. This was a great linking of what was, to me, something that felt like very separate eras having nothing that linked them together. It helped me understand and broaden my knowledge of the "in-betweens" of the eras and made my muddied picture of the universe a lot clearer!
    Your involvement of Battletech lore in your battlemech videos makes them that much better and far more interesting to me, so having a video that dives so deep into such a rich and storied lore is what made this a fantastic journey for me.
    Bravo!

  • @mattcarper9853
    @mattcarper9853 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    "Tis a fine barn, but it's no HPG." - Jerome Blake, maybe?

  • @steveharrison76
    @steveharrison76 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    A magnificent piece of work! Really very well done indeed!

  • @SMAXZO
    @SMAXZO ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Comstar surprised me...before I read on, I thought Comstar is this giant MegaCorp, using its wealth and power to control the IS from the shadows, y'know, typical Megacorp Cyberpunk stuff....I didn't expect it to be a religious cult that used its wealth and powers to control the IS from the shadows...

  • @julienseitz1350
    @julienseitz1350 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Exceptional work Bear. I'm amazed to learn the religious turn was Blake's own, rather than a pure opportunistic take other by Toyama

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Yea, it was Blake. But Toyama screwed up, and Blake's warnings didn't even last 5 minutes :(

    • @lorefox201
      @lorefox201 ปีที่แล้ว

      he decided to pull an Asimov

    • @OmniMontel
      @OmniMontel ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@lorefox201 nah more of a L Ron Hubbard.

    • @lorefox201
      @lorefox201 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@OmniMontel I was referencing Hari Seldon from the foundation series of book by Asimov and how he planned for the dark ages he saw coming.

  • @scottchristoph1050
    @scottchristoph1050 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Why does Blake look like Rainn Wilson cosplaying Abe Lincoln?

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      What if he actually is Lincoln???

  • @freshhands9461
    @freshhands9461 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Blake and Kerensky. Two people we might need in the true battles to come. Listen well, fellow Nerds! This is an excellent lesson...also well crafted and presented, both in voice and in tone. Battletech rules with 90t of thermonuclearresistant composite :D

  • @gace1200
    @gace1200 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    The voice over somehow sounded like Bane to me and thus Comstar becomes more awesome.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Bane, if he was an old man, dying of a genetic brain-illness. lol

    • @allanhanson6616
      @allanhanson6616 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Lol. The Word of Bane.

    • @SirHatz
      @SirHatz ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I got a Daniel day lewis as Abraham Lincoln vibe....

    • @Atlas3060
      @Atlas3060 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@BigRed40TECH Blake Bane: "No one cared who I was until I put on the robe..."

  • @dbul2542
    @dbul2542 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Blake: Don’t quote me boy, I ain’t sayin’ sh*t
    Toyama: Ummmm about that

  • @patricioacuna1688
    @patricioacuna1688 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I can’t blame Blake he was left alone trying to put order on the circus that is the inner sphere at least if kerinsky stayed there would be only one circus but instead he made the clans… I mean both of them were right the great houses tried to nuke the innersphere to kingdoms come until they ran out of tech. In that regard Carlyle could be the third worst thing that happened to the galaxy for releasing the helm core to the circus known as the inner sphere but then the clans… the whole thing is a circle jerk lol I love it

  • @Viper0701
    @Viper0701 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great video!! Thank you for the time and dedication to put this one together.

  • @terryhiggins5077
    @terryhiggins5077 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Praise be to Blake!
    Bear this is your best work yet, bar none. Enjoy your break, you more than earned it.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      If only people watched the video. lol
      I do think it's my best video. XD

  • @beskar66
    @beskar66 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Blake on his deathbed: screw it make me a religion
    Conrad: ........ sigh ok .... how do I do that?
    Blake: ..............
    Conrad: well fuck looks like im gonna have to wing it

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      He winged it straight into the trash. Poor Blake. lol

  • @jakopath7
    @jakopath7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I saw this in your playlist and was looking forward to getting to it. You did not disappoint.

  • @MemeatorMotivatoroftheMemes
    @MemeatorMotivatoroftheMemes ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Pay your bills to Space AT&T boys.
    All in all, excellent video. Loved every moment of it.

  • @Skringly
    @Skringly ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Said it before and I'll say it again! Your channel is so underrated as a source of BT lore and info (not enough brain dead memes I guess). Nevertheless I am very glad that I stumbled across it.

  • @davidmelton3704
    @davidmelton3704 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Very well done. The respect for the characters you spoke of showed through the entire video.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว

      One of the better origins for the setting, so I definitely had to.

  • @matthaeusmagus
    @matthaeusmagus ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Excellent work! I've only recently gotten into BattleTech and your videos have been very helpful for learning about the setting

  • @BazztheBazz
    @BazztheBazz ปีที่แล้ว +19

    Ahh, Comstar. Proof that you can directly cause the deaths of billions, engineer centuries-long wars, attempt to enslave all of humanity multiple times, and cause more suffering and misery than every other villain in the setting combined, and still get lionized and put on a pedestal for winning one fight against some edgelords back in the 90s.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Yea, I didn't cover Tukayyid. lmao

    • @Skringly
      @Skringly ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Average Battletech memer and Tex fanboy: "The Capellans are the worst! It's a police state where if you don't tow the party line you get disappeared and they've held back the progress of humanity! But Comstar is awesome, pay your phonebill fucko, get Focht'd clanners. Haha black ops operation goes brrrrr!"

    • @canderoussnurd4265
      @canderoussnurd4265 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      And that’s why I’m a Taurian. Because at least we’re not full of crap. We’ll commit genocide and admit that we did it and not complain when it happens to us either.

    • @canderoussnurd4265
      @canderoussnurd4265 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Skringly to be fair when ComStar defeated the clans it was lead by a guy that killed the Primus and restored ComStar to what Blake had originally intended to be. Anastasias Focht deserves the praise he gets because he’s exactly what Jerome Blake would’ve wanted to lead ComStar. And yes Focht is a great man because he beat the Clans by being humble enough to know he wasn’t invincible and needed to fight smarter rather than harder to win. He restored Star League better than any Clanner ever could simply because he understood the one thing Clanners never will. That great men aren’t born. They’re made through trials and tribulations. They become monsters and then learn to control it. So I’d say ComStar of the Focht era deserves at least a nod of respect. Regardless of what Tex says. And this is coming from a Taurian fan.

    • @iller3
      @iller3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Skringly sure it's a biased take-away, but you can't say the BPL folks don't put the time in those videos either. To people who don't have access to all of the books, (or the time), it's going to be passed along in that form instead

  • @OptimusJedi
    @OptimusJedi ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video! Loved learning more about one of my favorite factions.

  • @TroySeward
    @TroySeward ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wow great video. Love see more on Comstar.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว

      More to come!
      People voted for my next faction video to be the Blessed Order, which is next month, lol.

  • @therakshasan8547
    @therakshasan8547 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank You , I enjoy your style and format .

  • @BreadTherian666
    @BreadTherian666 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I think this is your best video yet. Keep it up!

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I do too! I really put a lot into it. I based the approach on how I did things for the Clan Wolverine Video. :)

  • @greysonjones5429
    @greysonjones5429 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This is fantastic! I've been getting into battletech recently because my father kept talking about it. We got the beginner game and Battletech from hbs. Now I'm diving into the lore because it's so dang interesting. ComStar was such a mystery to me, I'm so glad you covered it. Such a shame that Toyama immediately nosedived that aircraft straight into the dirt, ComStar could have been such an amazing beacon if hope to Humanity.

  • @r30413
    @r30413 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    The most evil phone company in all of fictional history!

  • @sharlin648
    @sharlin648 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Absolutely superb stuff!

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I think it's the best video I've put together. Which also makes me kinda sad that it's having a pretty slow start. lol

  • @Kim_Jong-un1356
    @Kim_Jong-un1356 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent listen! I just recently got into BT and stuff likes this is gold.

  • @jerrywalters8885
    @jerrywalters8885 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The best most perfect telling of a great story. MORE PLEASE

  • @clarkreamer4560
    @clarkreamer4560 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Brought this up, saw the length, decided "after work".
    Fascinating story and well told. The glitchy effects give the feeling that it has been passed around and copied many times...or that something has tried corrupting or blocking the signal.
    Excellent work.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The glitching was done on purpose to such a large extent. I'd normally not use it, but I thought that Comstar's involvement justified it.

    • @clarkreamer4560
      @clarkreamer4560 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@BigRed40TECH - it was a nice touch that I appreciated

  • @stormcrow28
    @stormcrow28 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    All hail the Interstellar Pope of AT&T, Abraham Lincoln Jerome Blake.

  • @brent1975
    @brent1975 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for an Amazing video
    Really enjoyed it

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you Brent! I do my best. :D

  • @thomasrose4523
    @thomasrose4523 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Still making my way through your Mech Overview playlist, but I'd truly love to see you do videos like this on other major groups as well. Psyched for this year, quite a few games I'm looking forward to, but getting back into MechWarrior and with your channel, Sven's BattleTech Lore videos, Hired Steel, checking out The Black Pants Legion and others making story themed content with MW5's engine? That's all so great, and of course, the Clan Invasion is on the horizon!
    Sorry for this being long, I just really appreciate you and everyone keeping BattleTech as big as it was in my childhood.

  • @rorymcclernon4674
    @rorymcclernon4674 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent work! I love hearing about Battletech lore

  • @FrostyThundertrod
    @FrostyThundertrod ปีที่แล้ว +10

    TH-cam keeps telling me “No stream Tap to retry” please check you back yard for 500 year old pristine white battlemechs

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Really? I wonder what's causing that? The video is live.

    • @oprime0078
      @oprime0078 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yeah I’m seeing that too

    • @zoeycarter8874
      @zoeycarter8874 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Same here

    • @SRTifiable
      @SRTifiable ปีที่แล้ว +3

      We’re having similar HPG outages. I hope they got my payment.

    • @robbybarbera
      @robbybarbera ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Same problem as well.

  • @shahinaryan-taasheedaar4516
    @shahinaryan-taasheedaar4516 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    impressive Level of Details. very well done and narrated.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you! It's one of my favourite videos :D

  • @herebejamz
    @herebejamz ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I'm not saying I ship Blake and Toyama, but boy howdy did that man have a hardcore breakdown when his boyfriend finally died.

  • @faithmcclosky4528
    @faithmcclosky4528 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video as always Red! I think my takeaway from this will forever be to hear the voice of Ye Olde Amish Jerome Blake. Far more memorable than the Kerensky accent.

  • @AGS363
    @AGS363 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Good Work, Adept!

  • @gigamix7394
    @gigamix7394 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Wonderful job. I loved this

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      One of my favourite videos on the channel.

    • @gigamix7394
      @gigamix7394 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@BigRed40TECH I thoroughly loved it. Been listening to a lot of your long form at work! Keep up the wonderful work!

  • @julienseitz1350
    @julienseitz1350 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Your Best video so far Red. Don't get disapointed by the average returns so far. It sets the level of the channel one step beyond.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว

      Oh I know it is. I just find it funny that it didn't do well compared to some other, easier projects. lol

  • @kentw4360
    @kentw4360 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You are the best content creator for Battletech, seriously.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว

      That's too kind to say. I really appreciate it. A lot went into this video. I may not agree, but I sincerely appreciate the sentiment.

  • @davemilner5504
    @davemilner5504 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    An interesting treatment of Comstar, one of the most influential entities in the BattleTech universe. Well done.

  • @Agent382YYC
    @Agent382YYC ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Another awesome video good sir!! Although I was snickering anytime that Blake’s “voice” was being heard. I’m sorry but I was SO getting Tom Hardy’s BANE vibes from The Dark Knight Rises.
    Not meant as a picking point or an insult. It’s just how you twisted and demented mind works.
    It was awesome!

  • @jjsheets330
    @jjsheets330 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    You good sir are doing Blake’s work. Blessed be Blake

  • @nurgle333
    @nurgle333 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This is some delicious lore right here boy

  • @allanhanson6616
    @allanhanson6616 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great work.

  • @Sir.suspicious
    @Sir.suspicious ปีที่แล้ว +1

    HOLY HELL LET'S GOOOO AN HOUR LONG COMSTAR VIDEO

  • @burgerport138
    @burgerport138 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Wonderfully told, voice acting wasn't bad especially when you got Blake's pain on his regret of a lost life to his service.
    Quite powerful stuff, well done.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It's one of my favourite videos. :)

  • @canderoussnurd4265
    @canderoussnurd4265 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    It’s so sad to hear Blake as he reflects on the Innersphere and the losses caused by the first succession war. Is it not the peak of nightmare fuel to work you whole life to build something only to have it destroyed only to have what you build up again turned into something corrupted and so ruthless. I know Blake himself was very much for weakening the great houses and burning away the corruption they presented but I can’t imagine he would’ve approved of what ComStar became. In many ways a mirror version of the dark age Catholic Church or Muslim extremists of ISIS who used this faith as a justification for war and genocide. His idea to turtle up in the heart of the old Star Leagues capital and keep what he could alive was a noble intention but like all things in life it just took one extremist in power to twist it to his will. Like Kerensky, he was a great man with strong beliefs and determination to protect the Star League at all costs. And like Kerensky his beliefs and ideals were corrupted by an underling who’s own personal mental instability spelled doom for millions upon millions as they both took a noble ideal tampered by altruism and logic and took it to its furthest extent.
    I enjoyed your work very much Red. Looking forward to more and glad to have spotted ya when I did.

  • @Drakenfoul
    @Drakenfoul ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This? This vid is nothing short of a masterpice....!

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you! It was a lot of work :D

    • @Drakenfoul
      @Drakenfoul ปีที่แล้ว

      @@BigRed40TECH it showes, truly. Thank you again for making this, because this is the lore that i havent read mutch of.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Drakenfoul The TH-cam members voted for it, truthfully. I always follow-through if we hit our member goals per month. lol

  • @Zyme86
    @Zyme86 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Remember to pay your bills on time!

  • @doom7ish
    @doom7ish ปีที่แล้ว +1

    When ComStar comes calling:
    You maybe should have paid your bills

  • @michaeltopping3816
    @michaeltopping3816 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for the video it was excellent, only thing I had a hard time with was the way you said “ hegemony”guess people say it differently in the us

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว

      People don't like it. I just live with it. :P

  • @commandermcnash5137
    @commandermcnash5137 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Ultimately, religion could never, will never go away, gods, prophets, rules and ideals may come and go, but hope in a path to transcendence will always be present in the mental architecture of our species, and what is faith but hope filling the gaps of ignorance and contradictions present in such a path?

  • @allones3078
    @allones3078 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very good video chummer.

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks 👍

    • @allones3078
      @allones3078 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@BigRed40TECH keep up the good work.

  • @Beargeek616
    @Beargeek616 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Humanizing ComStar is not easy. Good work!

  • @carlosrgns
    @carlosrgns ปีที่แล้ว +2

    great video

  • @BigZaeon
    @BigZaeon ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great vid

  • @DCJMS
    @DCJMS ปีที่แล้ว +1

    that was a quick slide down to crazy town

  • @Morec0
    @Morec0 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent Blake voice.

  • @1nONLY_DRock
    @1nONLY_DRock ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Jerome Blake sounds like Doctor Dugong from The Venture Bros. *LOL*

  • @randomnetsurfer
    @randomnetsurfer ปีที่แล้ว +1

    By the Word of Blake, you outdid yourself with this video. Please do more history/setting videos like this. Though it did sound like Bane was doing your Blake-voice (not a bad thing, just an amused comment from a TTRPG gamemaster who also does 'voices' for characters). ;-) Also like # 1000 woo!

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you!
      There are more videos planned. These always are member-goal videos.
      the next one up is about the Blessed Order.
      Then we've got one coming that will be about the Rise and Fall of the Republic of the Sphere.
      There is also plans to put together a member drive for another video after the Blessed Order video is done (I only let so many go into the queue), which is for the Life of Wayne Waco.
      Also, I did another video very similar to this much earlier, on Clan Wolverine: ttps://th-cam.com/video/37939aPRtvU/w-d-xo.html

  • @Snaillearningacademy
    @Snaillearningacademy ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This made me go out and get some Comstar minis.

  • @mikewaterfield3599
    @mikewaterfield3599 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Comstar, your only choice in interstellar communications.

  • @unclemiguel4221
    @unclemiguel4221 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    my dream Mechwarrior game would be set at the formation of Comstar or the clan war, both are time periods of great conflict, unlike the near dead period of Mechwarrior 5. oh sure the Kestrel Lancer campaign was ok, but what I really want is to be thrown deep into those time periods, both either as a clanner fighting against the inner sphere, a Comstar soldier fighting against the Great Houses, or a mercenary that can choose any side, heck that's all I want and dream of.

    • @johnbarber7199
      @johnbarber7199 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think Mechwarrior 2:Mercenaries would be what your after even if its a bit dated

  • @lesjames2478
    @lesjames2478 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You're Jerome Blake sounds like a Dekard Cain Impression. I dig it. It makes me giggle. Video is great though, great work man

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It was meant to be that. lol

  • @Living4Crits
    @Living4Crits ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Incredible video!

    • @BigRed40TECH
      @BigRed40TECH  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you! It took a ton of time. It's my favourite I've done. :)

    • @Living4Crits
      @Living4Crits ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@BigRed40TECH I could feel the love and attention you gave to the subject. Extraordinary!
      Watching and listening to your videos as I work in my little mech bay in the basement has been so much fun these past few weeks!!! THANK YOU!