The Explorer Corps book was my second purchase from the Battletech franchise. The Periphery sourcebook was my fourth. As limited money, as well as travel time, to get to a game store (70+ miles away to the nearest) hindered getting additional content, I spent a LOT of time pouring over those books as a teenager. I always wished I could have talked my friends into an exploration campaign, but mostly they wanted to jump from planet to planet in a military campaign. Thanks for showing a little love to a part of Battletech that is great, but often overshadowed. I'm looking forward to this series. I still want to explore the deep Periphery, many years later.
I'm finishing up the script for the first part of the story as someone tries to bring the Explorer Corps back to greatness in the IlClan era. I promise I will do my best to be faithful to the lore and legacy of the EC.
Comstar made a terrible mistake exploring things. The only thing that needed to be explored, was mankind's current and future dedication to Jerome Blake. Faith is the truest shield.
I really want CGL to reconsider killing off Comstar entirely in the IlClan era. At least, let there be a faction of ComGuard that persisted and carved out a planet or two in the Periphery.
@@MechanicalFrog I totally agree. Killing once-dominant brands is something that always bothered me about the BT universe in general. For example, what happened to Wolf's Dragoons? Famously send to the IS and then somewhat abandoned.
I've been thinking about writing a few short stories or campaigns for the Battletech universe for some time now. But I needed more information about the Periphery and beyond. I am looking forward to your series, hopefully I will get enough info to complete my intended project(s). Either way I appreciate the hard work involved with what you are doing.
An excellent video and primer to the Explorer Corps. :) I always wondered what Showers told the other Khans, as its never been written down. You'd think that most Smoke Jaguars wouldn't have a political bone in their body but he clearly did. He must have spoken to their fears, to their desires, and wants, as well as a whole 'Barbarians at the gates' thing with heavily edited footage from the torture and interrogation of the Outbound Light's crew or very select parts of it. Can't wait for the rest of the series :)
Hello Frog. I liked the video, and the matter of fact delivery of the data in it. I like the idea of spreading this out across the Periphery, and in fact, I have an idea for you. Not only that, but I've been playing B-Tech since early 1984, when the game was released. I have played, literally, thousands of games on tabletops in many venues since that 'fateful' day I first picked up the first boxed set. I mostly played with a Playing Group (we never got around to naming it) at the Emperor's Headquarters, a gaming shop in the near western suburbs of Chicago. For well over 15 years, I played there, with the Playing Group, with members coming and going over the roughly 2 decades of its existence. Eventually, E-HQ closed its doors due to mismanagement, bad investments, and rivalry among the multiple owners. A few years before the collapse of E-HQ, I played a scenario dreamed up by one of the Playing Group. This Player was a firm adherent to House Liao, and the multi-scenario campaign he dreamed up ended with my Mercenary group (The Star Lions Corps. A force of about a reinforced Regiment in size), hired to defend a couple of Liao worlds during the 4th Succession War. When House Davion forces arrived to attack Spica, my force was told to 'defend to the death', or my dependents would suffer the consequences. I decided that this constituted a Breach of Contract. Making my Contract with House Liao null and void. The Star Lions leader, Alexander Leonidas Granger, had been a Colonel in the Davion Heavy Guards before becoming a Mercenary. By using old Davion codes, he was able to contact the Davion invasion commander and offer the services of his mercenaries, for a price. That being, the successful retrieval of his dependents, and a share of salvage. The Davion commander agreed, and a 'mock' battle was performed, where the Star Lions were cut down to the last man, by overwhelming Davion forces. In reality, this was all 'theater' for the Mandarin in charge of the System, and several other nearby systems, including St. Loris, where his unit's dependents were being held. With the Star Lions Corps supposed death, it was easy to move them to take the main city of Spica, and the Headquarters where the Mandarin resided. Star Lions infantry, bolstered by Davion Infantry, were so successful and quick at taking the headquarters, that they were able to gain possession of the intact databases and current pass codes of the Liao sector HQ. This capture allowed the Davion-Star Lions forces to 'ring up' several relief fleets to bolster Spica's defense (Spica having fully fallen to the Davion forces before that). Such reinforcements were captured nearly intact as they arrived, almost always falling for the 'legal' orders being given from their own HQ on planet. Once Spica and St. Loris were secured, the Star Lions Corps took their share of captured jump ships, drop ships, Mechs, vehicles, ammo, and other materials, (Including the stripping to the ground of 2 Light Mech Factories on Spica), to retrieve their dependents, and take as many of the 'disaffected' populace as they could from the planets and make their way rim-ward into the Periphery. The now vastly enlarged Star Lions Corps moved in a zigzag route, stopping at various periphery worlds to trade, buy up equipment, take on additional personnel, and moving onwards. The Star lions Corps was able to obtain a full copy of the Helm Memory Core in its travels as well. A few dangerous jumps into the Perseus-Cepherus Cloud Complex, the Star Lions found a solar system rich in 'rare earth' elements, but with no habitable planets. This did not deter them in the least, since in their travels they had been buying up tunnel boring machines and hiring crews to operate them. So, instead of above ground domes and other installations, the Star Lions dug deep into the solid crusts of several of the moons of the gas giant planets found in the Stygia System. 70 years later, a new Mercenary group was founded and recorded with the Mercenary Review Board. The birth of the Ghost Lions Legions. The Stygia System, as well as several nearby solar systems, were annexed by the newly founded Stygian Compact, and they defend their claim due to 'settlement' and 'advancement' of said systems, to which no one else had laid claims, nor even knew existed. On the rim-ward side of the Cloud Complex, the Compact found several 'failed' Terran colonies. Uplifting them with machinery they produced, as well as copies of the Helm Memory Core, they were able to add these systems to their growing Compact (nascent star nation). To date, the Stygian Compact claims 9 worlds outright, and has very close ties with over a dozen single star periphery nations, to which they provide exclusive trade and defense. I have dozens of text articles about the Stygian Compact, the history of the Star Lions Corps, the Ghost Lions Legions, and various technologies and equipment they have built and are building outside the Inner Sphere. If any of the above data appeals to you, I can share my data files with you. Including a LOT of Mech designs, and rebuilds of existing Mech designs, mostly exclusive to the Ghost Lions Legions, or Mechs designed and used by the old Star Lions Corps. I look forwards to hearing from you.
@@MechanicalFrog : Here is an example of some of the files I have as 'background' for the Unit(s). I would have rather sent this as a .txt file via email, rather than post the text file here. From the Tyrant's desk. On Politics and the Constitutional Tyranny. There are numerous examples of governments throughout the History of Mankind. Some of them were better than others, others were horrors their citizens endured. The government of the Stygian Compact is a Constitutional Tyranny. This government has a 'Head of State' known as The Tyrant. The position is semi-hereditary, but always in the family line of the Tyrant's family or one of those closely allied by marriage to it. The Tyrant's powers are very limited. Mostly, the Tyrant has the power to disband the Government, but must call for the immediate election of a new Government (sort of like Queen Elizabeth of England). The Tyrant cannot wield direct power. The Tyrant can, however, be the ultimate recourse for the removal (usually by special ops team) of anyone in Government that proves to be dishonest, disloyal, or just plain 'not out for the benefit of the populace'. In this case, think greed, dishonesty, peculation, bribery, etc. The Tyrant can be removed from his/her Throne, but not easily. Should this occur, a new 'Tyrant' is selected from the same family line. That of the Founder, and First Tyrant, Leonidas Alexander Franklin. The Tyrant's Throne is technically outside the Compact Government. It acts as a brake upon the Government as a whole, and a counter balance of Political Power. Both Nobles and Commoners can become Senators, Populares, Judges, and serve on the Proconsul's Staff. This ensures that no one group controls the Compact overall. And both the Nobles and Commoners are held in check by the Tyrant. Patents of Nobility may be awarded to Citizens for deeds and actions that stand above all others. The Title is only a 'Life Time' Title and any 'lands' awarded along with it return to the Government upon the Noble's death. The new Noble has the rank of 'Baron' and is addressed as 'Sir' (last name), or Knight (first name). Lands can be almost anything. Chunks of the EM spectrum that can be leased to broadcasting companies, a section of one of the three asteroid belts and the income from mining it, etc. There are NO hereditary Nobles in the Compact, by Law. The children of said Noble will enjoy some perks, such as access to better schools, more likely to be selected for Officer's training if they join the Military, a 'leg up' in starting or expanding a business, etc. But all this 'dries up and blows away' upon the Noble's death. The Government is composed of three branches, each of which play a part in the overall governmental process. These branches are: The Proconsul, who is the day-to-day head of Government (Think the President of the United States). The Judiciary (again, like the USA). And the Senate (Think of the USA, but with a mandatory three party system). The Senate is composed of both an Upper and Lower House. The Lower House's representatives are Populares, and only hold office for a period of 4 years, but can be re-elected to serve up to three terms of office. The Upper House's representitives are Senators, and only hold office for a period of 6 years, and can only be elected to serve two terms in office total. It is possible to serve as a Populare and later be elected as Senator. There is only one Senator per Colony site. The number of Populares is based upon the population total of the Colony site. Unlike previous constitutional governments, the Government of the Compact is as 'transparent' as possible, given Security needs. Any member of Government found to be 'dirty' is tried and if convicted may be sentenced to Public Hanging, after a Public Flogging. Such a person can never hold office again, no matter how minor, in the Government of the Compact. The Judiciary branch is composed of 7 High Judges, and 13 'Low Judges'. All of which are referred to as a 'Solomon'. Each Solomon's decisions come under 'Peer Review' and must pass a 'super majority' of 80% approval by the other Solomons of the collectively named Solomon's Council, or they must step down from their Office. Such Reviews not only review the Decisions of the Solomon, but also their context, and impact upon Society, and the Government. Should a Solomon be found to be dishonest, disloyal, or otherwise 'dirty', they can be removed from Office and tried and convicted like any other Citizen of the Compact. The Procounsul is the Working Head of State. The 'visible' director of Government. Like the President of the Ancient United States of America, the Procounsul has a 'staff' to help him run the Government of the Compact. All offices are appointed by the Procounsul, but have to have final approval by the Senate and Judiciary. Again, should the Procounsul or one of his Staff be found to be dishonest, disloyal, or otherwise 'dirty', they can be removed from Office, tried, and convicted like any other Citizen of the Compact. In the rare case where the collective 'Senate' and Judiciary cannot agree upon a candidate, the Tyrant can cast the decisive vote for or against. In the cases with Senators, Populares, Solomons, the Procousul, or his Staff, it is common that such trials are held 'out of the public eye' due to the nature of the Office, and the possible release of Secret Information. Any Citizen may petition to review said trials, and will be granted access to said data, but only after they themselves have been reviewed by State Security, the Solomon Council, and the Procousul's Office, on top of a full, in depth, review of the Citizen's life history. The Citizen must also swear an oath to never speak in detail of what is revealed, upon threat of immediate assassination by State Security (speaking in generalities is granted), unless such review reveals criminal acts that were not addressed by the trial reviewed. So, a Citizen granted such access could affirm that the Decision reached was Just and Fair, but no more than that. Otherwise, the Constitutional Tyranny governs its population and territories like either the United States of America, or the British Empire. There are no 'Parties' like the old United States of America, or the British Empire. All persons seeking Office must run upon their own merits, although campaign costs are dispensed by the current Government, and rigorously reviewed until after the Elections are finished. (Out of character here: The Tyrant is well known to be, in most cases, the previous Proconsul. When elevated to the Throne, the new Tyrant becomes the final arbiter to the suitability of the newly vetted candidate for Proconsul). The originally appointed Tyrant, 'Old Leo' himself, wore a disguise in formal settings. This was due to being framed for a crime he didn't commit by a Noble's son while a Colonel of the Davion Heavy Guards unit. He took up this disguise and founded the Star Lions Corps Mercenary Unit, and it became habit to wear the disguise while in 'public' settings. Today, all Tyrants wear it in honor of the memory of the First Tyrant at formal affairs of State and other formal occasions. The Public does see the current Tyrant from time to time without this disguise. The Tyrant never appears without the traditional golden lions mask and full dictatorial splendor of dress (think almost 'over the top', comic, space opera style of uniform). The mask contains a sophisticated vocal modulator to disguise the Tyrant's vice from recognition. From the desk of Alexandros Leonidas Freeman Granger.
I loved the outbound light short story i still remember the awe i had reading about the planets they rediscovered and the Indiana Jones esc adventures they had. I like were this series is going.
Good start. I would ask that you cover the Periphery Pirates and the Clan Bandit Class. Two groups that are often used for cannon fodder, but offer a lot of story potential...
It really sets you apart from other channels the way so many of your videos open up with a story before talking about the mechs. It brings the universe to life in a way.
Some of the many things that I have taken away from the Explorer Corps lore over the decades are: That humanity expanded further into the deep Periphery then surviving Inner Sphere records show. That some of these may have been 'all or nothing' expeditions or mini exoduses to get away from the powers and factions warring within the IS, while others were corporate driven, or even supported originally by pure exploration and colonization efforts of the Star League. That while many of these far flung settlements died or were stillborn upon conception, more then a few survived and even a smaller few thrived. That to-date, most of these survivors lost the ability to produce and/or maintain FTL transport, either through attrition, back sliding of Technology, or on purpose (i.e. they burned their ships sort of thing). That space is vast, very vast, and that Humanity has not scratched the depths of the Milky Way. That while Clan Space is significant, it is, in reality, really quite small. Comparable to most Minor Houses of the Inner Sphere when it comes to populations, industrial capacity, etc. It helps to reinforce the basic understanding that aside from their warrior driven culture and slight edge technologically speaking over where they were during the SLDF days, the Clans could never truly conquer and control the entirety of the Inner Sphere. Not without considerable political and economic assistance from factions within the IS, which would fly in the face of Clan concepts of Command and Control. That there are vast areas of the Periphery, near and deep, that are left open to the fanbase to envision, construct, and to expand. So much potential; such a vast sandbox. Awesome stuff.
Your Seat: I have a LOT of data based upon the many hundreds of games I played with my Playing Group (we never got around to naming ourselves) back in Chicago, from 1984 through around 2008. During that 20+ year period, many of us created 'backgrounds' for our various units. One example: mine: After being betrayed on contract to House Liao, my Mercenary unit joined the Davion invaders during the 4th Succession War. Eventually, they took their spoils, and vast enlarged force, and zigzagged their way into the Deep Periphery. There, they founded a 'colony', using the resources, people, and a copy of the Helm Memory Core, to found what they call the Stygian Compact. A multi-star, mini 'empire' located in and around the Perseus-Cepherus Cloud Complex. 80 years after founding the colony, and after adding many other star systems to their 'compact', the Stygian Compact Government founded a new Mercenary Company. One to take contracts with most Houses, both minor and major (although, NEVER with House Liao), to keep abreast of current events in the Sphere, and to judge when to make themselves fully known to the Sphere as a whole.
@@yourseatatthetable : First, let me note that all the Players in the Playing Group, were using the results of their battles on the tabletops to 'fill in' the 'histories' of their units. My own inclulded. Secondly, the 'battle' against the Davion Commander's forces was 'faked' (yes, we did play this out as if it was 'real'). My attack with Infantry, bolstered by Davion Infantry (whom I let distract the Liao forces, in order to maximize my impact in the battle, and allow my forces to take the HQ, intact), was totally unexpected, and although the Liao forces were expecting the Davion attack, they never expected my own forces, and thus the battle was quite 'one-sided'. Once in control of the HQ, and the Mandarin dead, we were in control of the planet's military communications network, had their 'command codes', and were able to issue 'valid' orders. Such as telling them that a force that massively outnumbered each deployed unit was on the way to destroy them, and that their orders were to surrender peacefully. Each Enemy unit pretty much surrendered to a Lance of Mechs. Those that chose to fight, were destroyed from long range by massed artillery, and finished off by Battalion sized units sent in to 'mop up' the renegades. With the planet under our control, we are able to send for reinforcements, and reinforcements for the reinforcements. Each group being captured as they appeared at the jump points, or shortly after they landed. All of this was played out on the tabletops over the course of 3 months of weekly battles. After claiming most of the captured drop ships and jump ships, and reclaiming my dependents, along with any Liao dissenters I could convince of leaving with me (promised that they would NEVER, EVER, be within range of Liao control again), along with my share of the captured Mechs and other military forces and equipment, and the total 'raising to the ground' of two Light Mech factories, the Star Lions Corps left the Inner Sphere. Somewhat like General Kerensky had done with the SLDF, zigzagging to the 'south' (Rim-Wards), ever deeper into the Periphery. Trading and buying up needed equipment, food, and other resources, along with yet more personnel, by selling Mechs, Tanks, and other military hardware to impoverished Periphery governments, as well as 'cash on the barrel head' (The Star Lions had, of course, looted every Liao bank on both Spica and St. Loris, selling the Liao 'house' bills to the Davion Commander for 30% 'face' value in C-Bills, and other House currencies at 50% face value, keeping ONLY the C-Bills. The Davion Commander buying them all to help destabilize the Liao economy). The 'trek' outwards took 33 months, before the 'fleet' advanced into the Perseus-Cepherus Cloud Complex and found the star system they named 'Stygia'. From there, it was merely a matter of allowing enough time to dig out the colonies and inhabiting them, as well as establishing food production, air and water production and recycling, and light industry. Eventually, heavy industry, and later Battlemech production facilities and factories, as well as expanding the colonies to other moons of the gas giants in the system. Thus, the 8 decade period before the founding of the Ghost Lions Legions. All of this, because ONE Player, decided he was going to 'kill' my Mercenary group. Mostly, because he had repeatedly failed to defeat them, time and time again. NONE of my variant designs of Mechs were ever 'illegal'. All were entirely 'legal' designs according to the design rules in the game. And the Player would never admit to himself that he just was not as good of a 'general' on the battlefield as I was. And so, this elaborate 'plan' to destroy my Mercenaries was hatched, with consequences the Player could never have predicted. All told, it took about 5 months in the real world, of weekly orders, to get the Star Lions Corps out to the P-C Nebula area and found the colonies that later would become the Stygian Compact. Given the time that has passed since those days (roughly 2008), I feel that the Compact would have expanded rapidly, and be a 'minor house' all on its own, with roughly the same number of systems under its control as the Magistracy of Canopus, although covering an area at least 3 to 5 times the volume of space. The Stygian Compact would have good trade relations with the Magistracy, the Concordiat, and House Arrano. And excellent relations with the many, many single and small multi-star nations between them and those 'minor' houses. This includs protected trade routes, with refueling and repair stations located in otherwise 'useless' star systems, as well as various pacts, covenants, and outright protective agreements for said smaller governmental groups in exchange for near-exclusive trading networks and the establishment of Stygian Compact Repair and Refit Stations in their systems (anti-piracy patrols are 'popular' with those small governments). This has been the work of a lifetime of gaming. A snapshot of 39 years of playing Battletech. And I have dozens of text files detailing such things and events, along with hundreds of 'variant' designs for the Ghost Lions Legions and the old Star Lions Corps. In effect, Ex-Colonel Alexander Leonidas Granger built a 'star nation' of his own. Basically, at this point, a 'House' in the Periphery. What makes this more 'interesting' to me, is that having lost ALL my Battletech stuff in an apartment fire in Chicago, I am recreating all this from memory. Good thing that I have an excellent memory for events and occurrences, and most of the fine details, even at this 'late' date.
Big fan of the new fiction! Can you do something on Misjumps? Hazards of FTL-transports. Also, what about a Tales from the PPC, a bar on Solaris 7 and a regular article in Battletechnology Magazine, back in the day! Thanks Man!
This is very cool, exactly what I need. I've not had a real thorough grounding iin the lore, just haphazard, a book here or there and it's been years tbh. One question that I'm curious about in the BattleTech universe is did the Inner Sphere realize the origin of the Clans? and a somewhat similiar note - did they ever come across true aliens/alien tech? or only estranged humans?
The realization came pretty quick once the invasion started that it was Kerensky's crew. The Clans weren't shy about it. As far as alien stuff goes, the Battletech creators went out of their way to resist the temptation to add sentient aliens (except for one notable example with giant talking birds in Far Country). There are lots of strange alien creatures found on planets across the Inner Sphere and periphery. We're going to run into one of them in Monday's video.
Hello there. I will add to Mr Frog's comments, just a bit. There are no 'real' aliens 'with technology' in the Battletech Universe (other than the aforementioned 'birds' in Far Country). This actually has a two-fold reasoning. First, is that the creators of the game, FASA, did not want to include them into it. Second, is the 'scale' of the game's setting. The Inner Sphere is only around 1,000 LY across. Even including Clan Space, and the farthest recorded, actually 'named' star system in the game, 'Human Space' is only around 3,000 to 3,500 LY across. Compared to the currently known size of our Galaxy, this area works out to be less than 0.3 of ONE percent of the Galaxy as a whole. Far, far, too little to expect to stumble across high-tech aliens, or even aboriginal ones. Perhaps if Humanity ever 'gets its act together' and actively explores a significant portion of the Galaxy, aliens could be found. For the foreseeable future? Nope, no aliens. Why would Humanity NEED aliens to fight, when the 'perfect' predator-prey exists in its own nature? Now, if you are asking: is there 'alien' species found on the various planets that Humanity has discovered? Why yes, yes indeed. But all are non-sapient 'animals', and plants. None are 'self-aware' enough to be classified as aboriginal, let alone as intelligent as Humans. Oh, and as to those of the Far Country novel? That ship could be literally anywhere in the Galaxy, or even in another galaxy entirely, due to the accidental mis-jump they suffered. No one at FASA ever specified if the Humans in Far Country were in our own Galaxy, or not, so my above statements are still valid and correct. I hope all this helps.
"You just read off Sarna," is one of the most infantile and obviously untrue insults one can levy. A good insult should contain a grain of truth to it to really bite at someone's pre-existing self-doubt.
Lots of opportunity to meet some interesting characters. I plan on drawing from past sourcebooks that cover the topic, as well as create some new and interesting groups... It won't just be House shenanigans.
Thank you for all of the positive comments. Part 1 of the series will be up on Monday 1/10
The Stone Rhino on the desk is a nice touch. As is the old school bootup sequence. You can FEEL the 80s
Thank you! I wanted to ramp up the nostalgia for the new template.
The Explorer Corps book was my second purchase from the Battletech franchise. The Periphery sourcebook was my fourth. As limited money, as well as travel time, to get to a game store (70+ miles away to the nearest) hindered getting additional content, I spent a LOT of time pouring over those books as a teenager. I always wished I could have talked my friends into an exploration campaign, but mostly they wanted to jump from planet to planet in a military campaign.
Thanks for showing a little love to a part of Battletech that is great, but often overshadowed. I'm looking forward to this series. I still want to explore the deep Periphery, many years later.
I'm finishing up the script for the first part of the story as someone tries to bring the Explorer Corps back to greatness in the IlClan era. I promise I will do my best to be faithful to the lore and legacy of the EC.
Comstar made a terrible mistake exploring things.
The only thing that needed to be explored, was mankind's current and future dedication to Jerome Blake.
Faith is the truest shield.
Yet again, staying home would have prevented disaster...
Wtf did you just say to me?
blessed is the mind to small to doubt
I played a lot of Battletech during the 90th. Mechforce! 😉
I fell in love with ComStar and their HPGs.
I really want CGL to reconsider killing off Comstar entirely in the IlClan era.
At least, let there be a faction of ComGuard that persisted and carved out a planet or two in the Periphery.
@@MechanicalFrog I totally agree. Killing once-dominant brands is something that always bothered me about the BT universe in general. For example, what happened to Wolf's Dragoons? Famously send to the IS and then somewhat abandoned.
I've been thinking about writing a few short stories or campaigns for the Battletech universe for some time now. But I needed more information about the Periphery and beyond. I am looking forward to your series, hopefully I will get enough info to complete my intended project(s). Either way I appreciate the hard work involved with what you are doing.
Thank you for giving them a go. Good luck with your writing project!
@@MechanicalFrog Thankyou, and please keep up the excellent work on your series. They have been very entertaining.
@@Dang_Near_Fed_Up Will do.
Didnt really know much about the explorer core i think this was a really great introduction and im very excited to hear about the periphery
It's a great opportunity to tell some awesome stories. I plan on doing some canon lore videos as well as write a few new things here and there.
thank you for new material to sleep to i appreciate you!
An excellent video and primer to the Explorer Corps. :) I always wondered what Showers told the other Khans, as its never been written down. You'd think that most Smoke Jaguars wouldn't have a political bone in their body but he clearly did. He must have spoken to their fears, to their desires, and wants, as well as a whole 'Barbarians at the gates' thing with heavily edited footage from the torture and interrogation of the Outbound Light's crew or very select parts of it. Can't wait for the rest of the series :)
It must have been quite the tale told...
Hello Frog.
I liked the video, and the matter of fact delivery of the data in it.
I like the idea of spreading this out across the Periphery, and in fact, I have an idea for you.
Not only that, but I've been playing B-Tech since early 1984, when the game was released. I have played, literally, thousands of games on tabletops in many venues since that 'fateful' day I first picked up the first boxed set.
I mostly played with a Playing Group (we never got around to naming it) at the Emperor's Headquarters, a gaming shop in the near western suburbs of Chicago. For well over 15 years, I played there, with the Playing Group, with members coming and going over the roughly 2 decades of its existence. Eventually, E-HQ closed its doors due to mismanagement, bad investments, and rivalry among the multiple owners.
A few years before the collapse of E-HQ, I played a scenario dreamed up by one of the Playing Group. This Player was a firm adherent to House Liao, and the multi-scenario campaign he dreamed up ended with my Mercenary group (The Star Lions Corps. A force of about a reinforced Regiment in size), hired to defend a couple of Liao worlds during the 4th Succession War. When House Davion forces arrived to attack Spica, my force was told to 'defend to the death', or my dependents would suffer the consequences.
I decided that this constituted a Breach of Contract. Making my Contract with House Liao null and void. The Star Lions leader, Alexander Leonidas Granger, had been a Colonel in the Davion Heavy Guards before becoming a Mercenary. By using old Davion codes, he was able to contact the Davion invasion commander and offer the services of his mercenaries, for a price. That being, the successful retrieval of his dependents, and a share of salvage.
The Davion commander agreed, and a 'mock' battle was performed, where the Star Lions were cut down to the last man, by overwhelming Davion forces. In reality, this was all 'theater' for the Mandarin in charge of the System, and several other nearby systems, including St. Loris, where his unit's dependents were being held.
With the Star Lions Corps supposed death, it was easy to move them to take the main city of Spica, and the Headquarters where the Mandarin resided. Star Lions infantry, bolstered by Davion Infantry, were so successful and quick at taking the headquarters, that they were able to gain possession of the intact databases and current pass codes of the Liao sector HQ.
This capture allowed the Davion-Star Lions forces to 'ring up' several relief fleets to bolster Spica's defense (Spica having fully fallen to the Davion forces before that). Such reinforcements were captured nearly intact as they arrived, almost always falling for the 'legal' orders being given from their own HQ on planet.
Once Spica and St. Loris were secured, the Star Lions Corps took their share of captured jump ships, drop ships, Mechs, vehicles, ammo, and other materials, (Including the stripping to the ground of 2 Light Mech Factories on Spica), to retrieve their dependents, and take as many of the 'disaffected' populace as they could from the planets and make their way rim-ward into the Periphery.
The now vastly enlarged Star Lions Corps moved in a zigzag route, stopping at various periphery worlds to trade, buy up equipment, take on additional personnel, and moving onwards. The Star lions Corps was able to obtain a full copy of the Helm Memory Core in its travels as well.
A few dangerous jumps into the Perseus-Cepherus Cloud Complex, the Star Lions found a solar system rich in 'rare earth' elements, but with no habitable planets. This did not deter them in the least, since in their travels they had been buying up tunnel boring machines and hiring crews to operate them. So, instead of above ground domes and other installations, the Star Lions dug deep into the solid crusts of several of the moons of the gas giant planets found in the Stygia System.
70 years later, a new Mercenary group was founded and recorded with the Mercenary Review Board. The birth of the Ghost Lions Legions. The Stygia System, as well as several nearby solar systems, were annexed by the newly founded Stygian Compact, and they defend their claim due to 'settlement' and 'advancement' of said systems, to which no one else had laid claims, nor even knew existed.
On the rim-ward side of the Cloud Complex, the Compact found several 'failed' Terran colonies. Uplifting them with machinery they produced, as well as copies of the Helm Memory Core, they were able to add these systems to their growing Compact (nascent star nation). To date, the Stygian Compact claims 9 worlds outright, and has very close ties with over a dozen single star periphery nations, to which they provide exclusive trade and defense.
I have dozens of text articles about the Stygian Compact, the history of the Star Lions Corps, the Ghost Lions Legions, and various technologies and equipment they have built and are building outside the Inner Sphere.
If any of the above data appeals to you, I can share my data files with you. Including a LOT of Mech designs, and rebuilds of existing Mech designs, mostly exclusive to the Ghost Lions Legions, or Mechs designed and used by the old Star Lions Corps.
I look forwards to hearing from you.
Very cool story. If you have a summary of the unit, beyond what you have shared, I would be up for reading it.
@@MechanicalFrog : Here is an example of some of the files I have as 'background' for the Unit(s).
I would have rather sent this as a .txt file via email, rather than post the text file here.
From the Tyrant's desk.
On Politics and the Constitutional Tyranny.
There are numerous examples of governments throughout the History of Mankind. Some of them were better than others, others were horrors their citizens endured.
The government of the Stygian Compact is a Constitutional Tyranny. This government has a 'Head of State' known as The Tyrant. The position is semi-hereditary, but always in the family line of the Tyrant's family or one of those closely allied by marriage to it.
The Tyrant's powers are very limited. Mostly, the Tyrant has the power to disband the Government, but must call for the immediate election of a new Government (sort of like Queen Elizabeth of England).
The Tyrant cannot wield direct power. The Tyrant can, however, be the ultimate recourse for the removal (usually by special ops team) of anyone in Government that proves to be dishonest, disloyal, or just plain 'not out for the benefit of the populace'. In this case, think greed, dishonesty, peculation, bribery, etc.
The Tyrant can be removed from his/her Throne, but not easily. Should this occur, a new 'Tyrant' is selected from the same family line. That of the Founder, and First Tyrant, Leonidas Alexander Franklin.
The Tyrant's Throne is technically outside the Compact Government. It acts as a brake upon the Government as a whole, and a counter balance of Political Power.
Both Nobles and Commoners can become Senators, Populares, Judges, and serve on the Proconsul's Staff. This ensures that no one group controls the Compact overall. And both the Nobles and Commoners are held in check by the Tyrant.
Patents of Nobility may be awarded to Citizens for deeds and actions that stand above all others. The Title is only a 'Life Time' Title and any 'lands' awarded along with it return to the Government upon the Noble's death.
The new Noble has the rank of 'Baron' and is addressed as 'Sir' (last name), or Knight (first name). Lands can be almost anything. Chunks of the EM spectrum that can be leased to broadcasting companies, a section of one of the three asteroid belts and the income from mining it, etc. There are NO hereditary Nobles in the Compact, by Law.
The children of said Noble will enjoy some perks, such as access to better schools, more likely to be selected for Officer's training if they join the Military, a 'leg up' in starting or expanding a business, etc. But all this 'dries up and blows away' upon the Noble's death.
The Government is composed of three branches, each of which play a part in the overall governmental process. These branches are: The Proconsul, who is the day-to-day head of Government (Think the President of the United States). The Judiciary (again, like the USA). And the Senate (Think of the USA, but with a mandatory three party system).
The Senate is composed of both an Upper and Lower House. The Lower House's representatives are Populares, and only hold office for a period of 4 years, but can be re-elected to serve up to three terms of office. The Upper House's representitives are Senators, and only hold office for a period of 6 years, and can only be elected to serve two terms in office total. It is possible to serve as a Populare and later be elected as Senator.
There is only one Senator per Colony site. The number of Populares is based upon the population total of the Colony site. Unlike previous constitutional governments, the Government of the Compact is as 'transparent' as possible, given Security needs. Any member of Government found to be 'dirty' is tried and if convicted may be sentenced to Public Hanging, after a Public Flogging. Such a person can never hold office again, no matter how minor, in the Government of the Compact.
The Judiciary branch is composed of 7 High Judges, and 13 'Low Judges'. All of which are referred to as a 'Solomon'. Each Solomon's decisions come under 'Peer Review' and must pass a 'super majority' of 80% approval by the other Solomons of the collectively named Solomon's Council, or they must step down from their Office.
Such Reviews not only review the Decisions of the Solomon, but also their context, and impact upon Society, and the Government. Should a Solomon be found to be dishonest, disloyal, or otherwise 'dirty', they can be removed from Office and tried and convicted like any other Citizen of the Compact.
The Procounsul is the Working Head of State. The 'visible' director of Government. Like the President of the Ancient United States of America, the Procounsul has a 'staff' to help him run the Government of the Compact.
All offices are appointed by the Procounsul, but have to have final approval by the Senate and Judiciary. Again, should the Procounsul or one of his Staff be found to be dishonest, disloyal, or otherwise 'dirty', they can be removed from Office, tried, and convicted like any other Citizen of the Compact. In the rare case where the collective 'Senate' and Judiciary cannot agree upon a candidate, the Tyrant can cast the decisive vote for or against.
In the cases with Senators, Populares, Solomons, the Procousul, or his Staff, it is common that such trials are held 'out of the public eye' due to the nature of the Office, and the possible release of Secret Information.
Any Citizen may petition to review said trials, and will be granted access to said data, but only after they themselves have been reviewed by State Security, the Solomon Council, and the Procousul's Office, on top of a full, in depth, review of the Citizen's life history.
The Citizen must also swear an oath to never speak in detail of what is revealed, upon threat of immediate assassination by State Security (speaking in generalities is granted), unless such review reveals criminal acts that were not addressed by the trial reviewed. So, a Citizen granted such access could affirm that the Decision reached was Just and Fair, but no more than that.
Otherwise, the Constitutional Tyranny governs its population and territories like either the United States of America, or the British Empire. There are no 'Parties' like the old United States of America, or the British Empire. All persons seeking Office must run upon their own merits, although campaign costs are dispensed by the current Government, and rigorously reviewed until after the Elections are finished.
(Out of character here: The Tyrant is well known to be, in most cases, the previous Proconsul. When elevated to the Throne, the new Tyrant becomes the final arbiter to the suitability of the newly vetted candidate for Proconsul).
The originally appointed Tyrant, 'Old Leo' himself, wore a disguise in formal settings. This was due to being framed for a crime he didn't commit by a Noble's son while a Colonel of the Davion Heavy Guards unit. He took up this disguise and founded the Star Lions Corps Mercenary Unit, and it became habit to wear the disguise while in 'public' settings.
Today, all Tyrants wear it in honor of the memory of the First Tyrant at formal affairs of State and other formal occasions. The Public does see the current Tyrant from time to time without this disguise.
The Tyrant never appears without the traditional golden lions mask and full dictatorial splendor of dress (think almost 'over the top', comic, space opera style of uniform). The mask contains a sophisticated vocal modulator to disguise the Tyrant's vice from recognition.
From the desk of Alexandros Leonidas Freeman Granger.
Getting to the point where I hit the like button before I even watch the video with this channel 💪🏾
I very much appreciate it and will keep working hard to earn the like, automatic or not.
I loved the outbound light short story i still remember the awe i had reading about the planets they rediscovered and the Indiana Jones esc adventures they had. I like were this series is going.
This series will definitely be calling back to that sort of tale. Discovering and re-discovering along the way.
New to the channel & excited to binge this fan fiction tonight!
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching.
LOVED THIS! Never learned about the Explorer Corps, thanks for filling in the blanks for me!
Happy to help! There's so much fun stuff in the Battletech IP.
Excellent video. Lots of potential here.
Glad you think so!
This is... this is comfy.
Comfyness cannot be overrated.
Good job covering this! I knew nothing about the explorer corps, but this was great!
Glad you enjoyed! Big things ahead.
Good start. I would ask that you cover the Periphery Pirates and the Clan Bandit Class. Two groups that are often used for cannon fodder, but offer a lot of story potential...
They're both in the long-term outline of the story. Big plans ahead.
Jesus you're such a good storyteller
Thank you!
Great way to start.
Big plans ahead. Thanks for watching.
Excellent series I’m listening for a second time. You should consider writing books too imo I’d buy it. You know how to tell a story.
Thank you very much. I really enjoy writing BattleTech fiction and will keep doing it for the channel.
It really sets you apart from other channels the way so many of your videos open up with a story before talking about the mechs. It brings the universe to life in a way.
Well I do try to be original...
@@MechanicalFrogThanks for making the world a slightly better place 😉
Some of the many things that I have taken away from the Explorer Corps lore over the decades are: That humanity expanded further into the deep Periphery then surviving Inner Sphere records show.
That some of these may have been 'all or nothing' expeditions or mini exoduses to get away from the powers and factions warring within the IS, while others were corporate driven, or even supported originally by pure exploration and colonization efforts of the Star League.
That while many of these far flung settlements died or were stillborn upon conception, more then a few survived and even a smaller few thrived. That to-date, most of these survivors lost the ability to produce and/or maintain FTL transport, either through attrition, back sliding of Technology, or on purpose (i.e. they burned their ships sort of thing).
That space is vast, very vast, and that Humanity has not scratched the depths of the Milky Way.
That while Clan Space is significant, it is, in reality, really quite small. Comparable to most Minor Houses of the Inner Sphere when it comes to populations, industrial capacity, etc. It helps to reinforce the basic understanding that aside from their warrior driven culture and slight edge technologically speaking over where they were during the SLDF days, the Clans could never truly conquer and control the entirety of the Inner Sphere. Not without considerable political and economic assistance from factions within the IS, which would fly in the face of Clan concepts of Command and Control.
That there are vast areas of the Periphery, near and deep, that are left open to the fanbase to envision, construct, and to expand. So much potential; such a vast sandbox.
Awesome stuff.
It's a topic rife with possibilities for future stories. I plan to write a few of them.
@@MechanicalFrog I look forward to hearing them.
Your Seat: I have a LOT of data based upon the many hundreds of games I played with my Playing Group (we never got around to naming ourselves) back in Chicago, from 1984 through around 2008. During that 20+ year period, many of us created 'backgrounds' for our various units.
One example: mine: After being betrayed on contract to House Liao, my Mercenary unit joined the Davion invaders during the 4th Succession War. Eventually, they took their spoils, and vast enlarged force, and zigzagged their way into the Deep Periphery. There, they founded a 'colony', using the resources, people, and a copy of the Helm Memory Core, to found what they call the Stygian Compact. A multi-star, mini 'empire' located in and around the Perseus-Cepherus Cloud Complex.
80 years after founding the colony, and after adding many other star systems to their 'compact', the Stygian Compact Government founded a new Mercenary Company. One to take contracts with most Houses, both minor and major (although, NEVER with House Liao), to keep abreast of current events in the Sphere, and to judge when to make themselves fully known to the Sphere as a whole.
@@franksmedley7372 sounds like a hell of a game.
@@yourseatatthetable : First, let me note that all the Players in the Playing Group, were using the results of their battles on the tabletops to 'fill in' the 'histories' of their units. My own inclulded. Secondly, the 'battle' against the Davion Commander's forces was 'faked' (yes, we did play this out as if it was 'real'). My attack with Infantry, bolstered by Davion Infantry (whom I let distract the Liao forces, in order to maximize my impact in the battle, and allow my forces to take the HQ, intact), was totally unexpected, and although the Liao forces were expecting the Davion attack, they never expected my own forces, and thus the battle was quite 'one-sided'. Once in control of the HQ, and the Mandarin dead, we were in control of the planet's military communications network, had their 'command codes', and were able to issue 'valid' orders. Such as telling them that a force that massively outnumbered each deployed unit was on the way to destroy them, and that their orders were to surrender peacefully. Each Enemy unit pretty much surrendered to a Lance of Mechs. Those that chose to fight, were destroyed from long range by massed artillery, and finished off by Battalion sized units sent in to 'mop up' the renegades. With the planet under our control, we are able to send for reinforcements, and reinforcements for the reinforcements. Each group being captured as they appeared at the jump points, or shortly after they landed. All of this was played out on the tabletops over the course of 3 months of weekly battles. After claiming most of the captured drop ships and jump ships, and reclaiming my dependents, along with any Liao dissenters I could convince of leaving with me (promised that they would NEVER, EVER, be within range of Liao control again), along with my share of the captured Mechs and other military forces and equipment, and the total 'raising to the ground' of two Light Mech factories, the Star Lions Corps left the Inner Sphere. Somewhat like General Kerensky had done with the SLDF, zigzagging to the 'south' (Rim-Wards), ever deeper into the Periphery. Trading and buying up needed equipment, food, and other resources, along with yet more personnel, by selling Mechs, Tanks, and other military hardware to impoverished Periphery governments, as well as 'cash on the barrel head' (The Star Lions had, of course, looted every Liao bank on both Spica and St. Loris, selling the Liao 'house' bills to the Davion Commander for 30% 'face' value in C-Bills, and other House currencies at 50% face value, keeping ONLY the C-Bills. The Davion Commander buying them all to help destabilize the Liao economy). The 'trek' outwards took 33 months, before the 'fleet' advanced into the Perseus-Cepherus Cloud Complex and found the star system they named 'Stygia'. From there, it was merely a matter of allowing enough time to dig out the colonies and inhabiting them, as well as establishing food production, air and water production and recycling, and light industry. Eventually, heavy industry, and later Battlemech production facilities and factories, as well as expanding the colonies to other moons of the gas giants in the system. Thus, the 8 decade period before the founding of the Ghost Lions Legions. All of this, because ONE Player, decided he was going to 'kill' my Mercenary group. Mostly, because he had repeatedly failed to defeat them, time and time again. NONE of my variant designs of Mechs were ever 'illegal'. All were entirely 'legal' designs according to the design rules in the game. And the Player would never admit to himself that he just was not as good of a 'general' on the battlefield as I was. And so, this elaborate 'plan' to destroy my Mercenaries was hatched, with consequences the Player could never have predicted. All told, it took about 5 months in the real world, of weekly orders, to get the Star Lions Corps out to the P-C Nebula area and found the colonies that later would become the Stygian Compact. Given the time that has passed since those days (roughly 2008), I feel that the Compact would have expanded rapidly, and be a 'minor house' all on its own, with roughly the same number of systems under its control as the Magistracy of Canopus, although covering an area at least 3 to 5 times the volume of space. The Stygian Compact would have good trade relations with the Magistracy, the Concordiat, and House Arrano. And excellent relations with the many, many single and small multi-star nations between them and those 'minor' houses. This includs protected trade routes, with refueling and repair stations located in otherwise 'useless' star systems, as well as various pacts, covenants, and outright protective agreements for said smaller governmental groups in exchange for near-exclusive trading networks and the establishment of Stygian Compact Repair and Refit Stations in their systems (anti-piracy patrols are 'popular' with those small governments). This has been the work of a lifetime of gaming. A snapshot of 39 years of playing Battletech. And I have dozens of text files detailing such things and events, along with hundreds of 'variant' designs for the Ghost Lions Legions and the old Star Lions Corps. In effect, Ex-Colonel Alexander Leonidas Granger built a 'star nation' of his own. Basically, at this point, a 'House' in the Periphery. What makes this more 'interesting' to me, is that having lost ALL my Battletech stuff in an apartment fire in Chicago, I am recreating all this from memory. Good thing that I have an excellent memory for events and occurrences, and most of the fine details, even at this 'late' date.
Big fan of the new fiction! Can you do something on Misjumps? Hazards of FTL-transports. Also, what about a Tales from the PPC, a bar on Solaris 7 and a regular article in Battletechnology Magazine, back in the day! Thanks Man!
Thank you! Who knows what might happen out in the Periphery!? :D
Always loved the Explorer core.
There's lots of fun to be had outside the trials and tribulations of the Inner Sphere houses and clans bickering over the same few planets.
Excited to see more of your stories. Enjoyed it
More to come! First story up on Monday.
Looking forward to your work. Subscribed.
Welcome aboard! I'm excited to explore the Periphery and, of course, all the usual antics.
Love this! - New sub!
Welcome!! I will keep working hard to earn it.
That was really good and detailed
Thank you. I hope you enjoyed it.
This is very cool, exactly what I need. I've not had a real thorough grounding iin the lore, just haphazard, a book here or there and it's been years tbh. One question that I'm curious about in the BattleTech universe is did the Inner Sphere realize the origin of the Clans? and a somewhat similiar note - did they ever come across true aliens/alien tech? or only estranged humans?
The realization came pretty quick once the invasion started that it was Kerensky's crew. The Clans weren't shy about it.
As far as alien stuff goes, the Battletech creators went out of their way to resist the temptation to add sentient aliens (except for one notable example with giant talking birds in Far Country). There are lots of strange alien creatures found on planets across the Inner Sphere and periphery. We're going to run into one of them in Monday's video.
Hello there. I will add to Mr Frog's comments, just a bit. There are no 'real' aliens 'with technology' in the Battletech Universe (other than the aforementioned 'birds' in Far Country). This actually has a two-fold reasoning. First, is that the creators of the game, FASA, did not want to include them into it. Second, is the 'scale' of the game's setting. The Inner Sphere is only around 1,000 LY across. Even including Clan Space, and the farthest recorded, actually 'named' star system in the game, 'Human Space' is only around 3,000 to 3,500 LY across. Compared to the currently known size of our Galaxy, this area works out to be less than 0.3 of ONE percent of the Galaxy as a whole. Far, far, too little to expect to stumble across high-tech aliens, or even aboriginal ones. Perhaps if Humanity ever 'gets its act together' and actively explores a significant portion of the Galaxy, aliens could be found. For the foreseeable future? Nope, no aliens. Why would Humanity NEED aliens to fight, when the 'perfect' predator-prey exists in its own nature? Now, if you are asking: is there 'alien' species found on the various planets that Humanity has discovered? Why yes, yes indeed. But all are non-sapient 'animals', and plants. None are 'self-aware' enough to be classified as aboriginal, let alone as intelligent as Humans. Oh, and as to those of the Far Country novel? That ship could be literally anywhere in the Galaxy, or even in another galaxy entirely, due to the accidental mis-jump they suffered. No one at FASA ever specified if the Humans in Far Country were in our own Galaxy, or not, so my above statements are still valid and correct. I hope all this helps.
Just starting my third listen through, love your work MF. 👍👌🤘
Thank you. New episode up tomorrow morning!
Great video
Glad you enjoyed it
This was great.. Thankyou!
Glad you enjoyed it! I'm working on the next piece and hope to get it out on Monday morning.
I always wondered why instead of finding new worlds they kept fighting over the old ones.
The Periphery can be a very dangerous place...
Very nice and , thats the thing, different. Reading Sarna mechspecs isnt an art. This is in a way, well done
"You just read off Sarna," is one of the most infantile and obviously untrue insults one can levy. A good insult should contain a grain of truth to it to really bite at someone's pre-existing self-doubt.
I'm hoping we get stories about periphery factions instead of just the big factions doing things *in* the periphery.
Lots of opportunity to meet some interesting characters. I plan on drawing from past sourcebooks that cover the topic, as well as create some new and interesting groups... It won't just be House shenanigans.
Does the jump ship with swirling paint job mean anything to people who know more than me? Or is it terribly mysterious to all?
It was a JàrnFòlk ship. There's a Sarna entry about them, that mentions the encounter at the Columbus system :)
As Rodrigo mentioned, the JarnFolk are a semi-passifistic people. The Clans ran across them later and left them alone.
Video good
You make good video
Thank you so much 😀
So you're telling me the sldf explorers encountered aliens
lower level lifeforms, yes. No talking birds as of yet.