Where to Begin?

Hi!

As I mentioned in my introductory post, I want to explore various time periods of the Battletech universe but the question is where to begin?

As you get further into the timeline for Battletech, the more complex the rules get due to a renaissance in technology due to the invasion of the clans so I figured that as I was just starting out with the game, I'd keep it simple by begin my exploration of Battletech by looking at 3025.

During this period, the Inner Sphere has undergone several hundred years of devastating warfare so technology is decidedly lower level with the great houses armies having battered each other to a standstill. Similarly, society and culture has regressed to a neo feudal state in many worlds, especially out towards the Periphery which is where I am planning on initially setting the action.

The industrial base of each of the great houses have been hammered with many mech factories destroyed and higher tech systems no longer possible to construct. This means that Battle Mechs are rare and valuable and objects of awe and fear for planetary populations and with many planets struggling to survive, raids from marauding pirates or other powers conducting resource grabs, it's an interesting period of low level skirmishes between the great Succession Wars which wrack the Inner Sphere.

Magistracy of Canopus

To keep things low level, I have settled on hosting my forthcoming games and campaign in the Periphery, a somewhat technically backward and lawless frontier region of space that has been settled by those looking for a new life free from the Successor States. Even here, war has ravaged the lesser powers and an already unstable region may descend into barbarism.

My initial gaming will be based primarily in the Magistracy of Canopus, one of the larger Periphery states after reading about Wilson's Hussars, the rather washed up mercenary company that has found itself stuck in the Periphery without much prospects being hired by agents of the Magistrix Kyalla Centralla, the ruler of the Magistracy.

The Canopians were once the richest of the Periphery states, but their fortunes have waned greatly as the Free Worlds League annexed many of their industrial worlds leaving them with their core systems and other, less valuable planets. Coupled with their lack of technology and the smallest military of the region, the Magistrix has begun tentative diplomacy with several of the Inner Sphere powers offering advanced medical skills, one of the few advanced sciences that its battered state can still perform in return for tech and industrial investment.

With this slight increase in wealth and industry comes the threat of renewed raiding from other powers and pirates. Seeing her military is badly overstretched, Kyalla has begin hiring small impoverished mercenary units to bolster her defences and train her forces in order to defend what they have while the laborious process of rebuilding society begins.

There are several other powers in the region to be contended with. Firstly the Free Worlds League borders Canopian space and Marik is sure to try to use the lull in the fighting to try and annex further worlds from the seemingly weak Periphery state. There is also the Capellan Confederation to be contended with, the Aurigan Coalition and the Tauran Concordat, not to mention the host of pirate, freebooter and lawless mercenary forces that litter the region to contend with.

While much of the action will be using Classic Battletech and Alphastrike, I do want to explore some small skirmishes with groups of intelligence officers, mercs and adventurers conducting all manner of covert operations and skulduggery as well. There is also the chance to look at a bit of space combat too but I'll need to really read through my copy of The Periphery Sourcebook to get me a good grounding in the setting before I try to play more games.

Hopefully I'll be able to post some more gubbins later today with an overview of the Magistracy and its forces as it will help me incorporate the what I learn into the setting and in turn help develop a possible campaign and dramatis personae.

In the meantime, watch this space!