Solaris 7 - The Battlemech Games World [OOC]

[HeySeuss]

Satus: Rebooting now that Omega's back.

A 100-ton Atlas punches an 85-ton Masakari

TL;DR Summary:

• Battletech Universe, Circa 3068 - the very end of the FedCom Civil War.
• Gladiator matches in Solaris 7, a neutral planet that hosts the Inner Sphere's most popular and profitable games; combat between Battlemechs, the ultimate combat machines.
• Big Bipedal Robots with Pilots Killing other Pilots in Big Bipedal Robots
• A fully developed universe with political factions and intrigue.
• Yes, that means you can sabotage the opponent's mech.
• Experience, money, customization and character growth system.
• Class, style and good sense are rewarded by the system we have set up.
• Battlemechs, not Mecha; this is a western-style science-fiction deal with some influence from anime, but if you want anime, this ain't it.
  

Useful Links:

• Sarna.Net Wiki - A resource for all things Battletech; Our primary reference.
  
• Solaris7.net - A resource to look up prices of Battlemechs. Canon mechs found on Sarna.net only.
• A Sample of Character Creation - A guide through the math and the process, a quick tour.
• The Character List Thread - Please only post characters here, no other conversation. This is the official archive of characters and the only one that counts.
  
• The official chat channel for this Arena RP - Please bear in mind that names are there, but users may be away from their keyboard at the time. If you don't get a response immediately, that's what's up.
• The official chat channel for the entire Guild - also on IRC, same place as the channel for this RP. Come check it out!
• In House Rules: Neurohelmets and their modifications
• The Inner Sphere - Sarna.net, the Galaxy and its history and politics.
  
• Solaris VII - Sarna.net, a description of the games world setting.
  
• Mechwarrior - Sarna.net - What your character does for a living.
  
• Battlemech - Sarna.net, the 31st century's most destructive combat weapon.
• The Clans - Sarna.net, a political faction; invaded the Inner Sphere in 3050 with advanced technology. Turns out they were descended from the long-lost Star League Defense Forces units that went into Exodus in 2784 after the Amaris Civil War.
• Great Houses - The political entities that formed a part of the Star League but fell to squabbling among each other after its dissolution in 2784. They are known as the 'Successor States' as each claimed the First Lordship of the Star League for themselves upon the end of the Amaris Civil War, which led to the Succession Wars.
  

In Character Info:

Solaris VII is known across the galaxy for its 'Mech fights for entertainment. Gamblers place exorbitant amounts of money on longshot bets, and fortunes are won and lost daily. Solaris City, in particular, hosts six major arenas and numerous MechWarrior stables. Every year there is a Grand Tournament, which culminates with the naming of the year's champion (notable champions include Gray Noton and Kai Allard-Liao). Manufacturers, the Great Powers and other interests are deeply involved in Solaris; it seems like fighting would be simple, but as with other forms of combat, politics is involved.

There are Class One through Class Five arenas scattered throughout Solaris VII, but there are five Open Class arenas, where the most important duels on Solaris are fought, are in Solaris City. These are where the Big Game is afoot, an intersection between the tumultuous politics of the Inner Sphere and the desire of many for glory and the greed of others all come together...under the lights and on camera.

Out of Character Info:

It's big robots fighting big robots, piloted by mechwarriors. If you know Battletech, it's all good. If you're new and want to give this a shot, there are, as of right now, three people with lots of experience who can assist you in getting started.

I am GM'ing this and doing nothing but GM'ing; I love BT, but I'm leaving the playing to others. Instead, I help judge the matches and figure out what works and what doesn't, using your character sheets and stats to make the decisions on how things work out. It isn't a perfect system, but I think it is a functional one; playing this requires you to think through your moves and keep it plausible; the system is designed to reward good role-playing and encourage it with the statics as a baseline. The details, the rules, the information, the numbers, are all down below, but you are not on your own; we can help you get started there.

The fights will be arranged as duels at first, but we will expand into UNIT combat and melees (many mechs but only one winner) as we get the numbers. The big rule is to be cool like the Fonz. That's the Tao of Mahz and we follow that here particularly because when RP gets competitive, people can get nasty; I'll dock XP from fights for being a jerk. Keep it respectful and remember...we're having fun here.

That aside, trust me, you want to do this. Because it's badass.

Starting Stats:
No code has to be inserted here.Starting XP: 12

Example:
Basically, if you want to increase Piloting to 2 (1 Piloting Skill x 3), you pay 3 XP.
To increase to 3, you pay 6XP (2 Piloting Skill x 3).
Then, if you want to be a melee specialist, you pay 2XP ([#(0) of Specializations x 2] - [Piloting Level (3)], Minimum 2XP)
If you then want to take "Death From Above" ([#(1) of Specializations x2] - [Piloting Level (3)], minimum 2XP).

It's easy to acquire skills when you start, you basically paid 11 XP in the example. However, the rest of the skills suffer. You can get a skill if you really want it, but you can't load up at first...that only comes with fights and experience. Be sure to check the specializations for specific cost formulae; not all specializations are alike,

Starting C-Bills: 6,000,000 -- You have to purchase a mech and pay stabling/maintenance fees.

Victory and Defeat; Rewards:

• 2 XP per Duel Victory
• 1 XP per Duel Defeat
• 12 XP per Lance Victory (divided among 4 Mechwarriors according to performance)
• 6 XP per Lance Defeat (divided among 4 Mechwarriors according to performance)
• 10 XP for Melee Victory
• 4 XP for Melee Defeat
• +1-3 XP style bonus (the better you write, play the game and stay in character, the more the bonus -- assigned at discretion)
• +1-2 XP for Conditional Modifiers, such as low light, no sensors or weapons restrictions.
• 2,000,000 C-Bills per Light Duel Victory, 500,000 per loss
• 3,000,000 C-Bills per Medium Duel Victory, 1,000,000 per loss
• 5,000,000 C-Bills per Heavy Duel Victory, 1,500,000 per loss
• 7,000,000 C-Bills per Assault Duel Victory, 2,000,000 per loss
• Lance Victory and Grand Melee Victory pay rates are TBD at this time.

The Cost of Doing Business

This is a list of services that will expand as we work down the list; the cost of basic items of equipment and services. This will expand as we encounter the items that we need to price out.

• Mech Maintenance Costs - 5% of overall cost for light mechs, 10% medium, 15% heavy, 20% Assault, +5% Omni*, +10% Clan*.

* Maintenance rates for Omnimechs and Clan Tech assume one has taken the Social Specialization of 'Top Techs' (see below)

Attributes:
These are the baselines of your skills; how you reckon, on the basic level, what your mechwarrior's capabilities are. They grow with experience, and your attribute levels dictate your specializations; how easily you acquire them, how much you take off the cost. A better gunner naturally develops an affinity for various aspects of gunnery, just as a superior pilot develops certain abilities above and beyond with more alacrity than a mediocre pilot. A good self-promoter will probably find stable membership faster, and acquire money and equipment more easily, but will get eaten alive on Solaris if they can't back up that reputation with performance.

And yes, you can double and triple up on the specializations. Of course, you risk being a one-trick pony in a sport where anything can happen.

No code has to be inserted here.

Attribute Specializations:

Essentially, these are buyable special traits that customize your mechwarrior; they encompass the fighting style, dictate the tactics and are how I judge who does what successfully against each other. These traits are scaled according to their worth in cost; a couple cost more than the standard amount of points, and the rewards for buying them early are very high indeed; the XP cost goes up considerably. For each Specialization you take, the costs for others increases, which is why you want to choose wisely.

Piloting Specializations
No code has to be inserted here.

Gunnery Specializations
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Situational Awareness Specializations
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Technical Specializations
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Social Specializations
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Character Sheet Template
Character Sheet
Name:
Age:
Appearance:
Personality: Not a whole lot is needed.
History: You came from somewhere, once again a whole lot is not needed, but a solid paragraph of where you came from and how you got here would be nice.

Pilot Stats:
No code has to be inserted here.Battlemech: (Pick from this list and deduct cost. If you need to find a variant's cost, go here and search for your exact variant;BattleMech Technical Readout Search Form I'd do it by model number. Provide links to both so I can verify that they are canon. Deduct the cost from your c-bills...yeah, that's right.)

1. Math; the calculations of experience cost per trait purchased, in order of purchase.
2. Example: Autocannon Gunnery Specialization +1 ([2x0 {of traits already owned}] - [Gunnery: 1{Gunnery Stat}] = -1, minimum 2XP = 2XP cost)

Paint Scheme: (Bold as you like; camo is for the real world, Solaris is deadly entertainment.)

Modifications: (These must not exceed the weight of the chassis, use Sarna.net's wiki to find the cost of the part, and we'll figure out the cost of installation)

Equipment: Neurohelmets, Cooling Vests, and more exotic equipment; a DCMS Mechwarrior Suit is more expensive but gives benefits to cooling and has an automatic medical monitoring system. A clan neurohelmet is lighter and more compact than a standard; I will happily provide prices as needed. Neurohelmets also have upgrades that greatly enhance a warrior's perception and targeting data while in the cockpit. These are brand new tech. (and house rules)

[cipherace]

Reserve,working on CS

[HeySeuss]

Here's an example of the system for character creation at work.

Sample Character Sheet

Name: Michael Archer
Age: 22
Appearance:
Personality:
History:

Pilot Stats:
No code has to be inserted here.
XP Spent:

1. Piloting+1 (original level (1) x 3 = cost 3xp)
2. Situational Awareness +1 (original level (1) x 3 = cost 3xp)
3. Autocannon Gunnery Specialization +1 ([2x0 {of traits already owned}] - [Gunnery: 1{Gunnery Stat}] = -1, minimum 2XP = 2XP cost)
4. Combat Instincts +1 ([2x1 {of traits already owned}] - [Situational Awareness: 2{Situational Awareness Stat}] = 0, minimum 2XP = 2XP cost)
5. Medium Mech Specialist +1 ([2x2 {of traits already owned}] - [Piloting: 2{Piloting Skill}] = 2 (min 2XP) = 2XP cost)

Zero XP left. But say I wanted to get another trait, in Gunnery, like Run and Gun, whose formula is as follows, I'd have to do this math to figure out how much it would cost, how much XP my character would need to buy that stat:

Run and Gun: 3x# of traits already owned - Gunnery Skill, minimum 3XP

3 x 3 (Traits already owned) - 1 (Gunnery Skill) = Cost? 8XP. Dang. It goes up, doesn't it?

Of course, if I spend 3 and upgrade Gunnery to 2, then it costs 7XP. Or I upgrade Gunnery to 3, spending 6XP and lower that cost to 6XP. Eventually, it costs a lot more to acquire skills; that's because these are very special abilities, they take time to develop after a while, and because I don't want characters with too much experience able to totally overpower new guys. The more skilled you are, the harder it is to improve those skills even further, the more it costs to do that. That's just life.

Battlemech:

I picked the Shadow Hawk SHD-2Hb, which has a cost of 5,394,957 C-Bills. Maintenance and Storage Costs 10% of that rate,

605043 (what I have left over) - 539496 (10% maintenance rate for a medium mech) = 65,547 C-Bills.

I also make sure to post the webpages I pulled the stats off of so the ref can approve that stuff.

Shadow Hawk - BattleTechWiki - Sarna.net Classic BattleTech Wiki
Shadow Hawk - SHD-2Hb : Solaris7 BattleMech TRO

Paint Scheme:
(Who cares? Go to town. Paint is free in this pretend-universe. )

Modifications:
None, can't afford 'em right now.

Equipment:

• DMCS Mechwarrior Combat Suit (-20,000x1.25 (availability - I set the modifier, basically) = 25,000 C-Bills, but comes with improved cooling, automatic medical injection system and a combat neurohelmet, as well as protection from gunfire) = 40547 C-Bills left after purchase.

(Upgraded neurohelmets, which improve the mechwarrior's comfort level and interface with his Battlemech are available, as well as cooling suits that are an upgrade on the cooling vests that come standard with the mech; this equipment is available. The benefit of such equipment is intentionally hidden, but it's entirely possible that it means the difference between life or death; a wise warrior stocks up on survival gear just in case it goes wrong.)

That's basically how you go about it. You need to factor in mech maintenance costs and the rest of it, but you can easily get a good character paired a good mech (I love the Shadow Hawk, personally) and a little left over for equipment. It's a lot of math to start with, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy to shake and bake a character.

This character would be fairly threatening with his own mech; he's got a lot to learn, but he's ready to start on Solaris, and he has a medium mech, which he specializes in, with an autocannon as primary armament. It's a short-range brawler mech, but he's got combat instincts, which is more suited to the sort of warrior that goes in balls out and fights on the seat of their pants, relying on reflexes and their skill to get them through the fight, rather than thinking it out too hard; and that's a good way to be in the thick of the fight.

The thing is, characters can and will die, and you will basically have to start over. It's okay, I expect it to happen a few times. Don't be discouraged. Just get back into it and start over, maybe a little more wary on how to play the game.

[Sylock]

Reserved. Just warning you it will be a while before i Can really post in the middle of a move. Dont know how long it will be before i am settle again.

[cipherace]

Would it cost extra to request a specific loadout? If so,how much for alt config F on a kit fox?

And I also need prices for a standard cooling vest and helmet as well as maintenance and storage costs for a kit fox

[Omega]

Kit Fox F costs 5,214,462 base, I think maintenance will go up since it is an omnimech and clan tech.

[HeySeuss]

By 20%; the base for a Light mech is 5%, +10% for Clan tech and another 5% for Omnitech.

You gotta pay at least one maintenance fee, so yeah, you need more than 6 million C-bills. That means you gotta purchase both Wealth and Top Tech.

[Omega]

Clan tech is the best stuff around, but you pay for what you get.

[LTDan]

Name: Sir Dirk Hadaway

Age: 35

Appearance:


Personality: Read this and all your questions are answered.

History:
A Knight as crowned by the Free Worlds League for his heroic deeds in keeping it safe from the Lyrians, Dirk is a distinguished man down on his luck. He started his life on Terra, when he became of age he had his choice of any Inner Sphere Federation to join and make his destiny as a Mechwarrior. Choosing the FWL he was quickly accepted and became a respected pilot. Earning his medals through courageous actions on numerous Clan raids and defenses sometimes the CO would note his devotion to his squad. When the Knights of the Inner Sphere were form by Marik, Dirk was chosen as a member. Several more years of distinguished service in the unit saw him uphold the very ideals of knights of old. On the fateful day of a raid into Clan space, Dirk's Atlas was lost along with the Jumpship carrying his Mech's Dropship as they attempted to go through a pirate point.

Feel shamed by the loss he quietly requested a resignation, it was denied but they allowed him to leave still as a Knight. At least till he regained a Mech' and was restored his former pride. The minute his boots hit the ground at Solaris where Dirk had decided to prove his mettle and regain his Mech' the honorable way through martial force, he learned of the nerve strike of teh Knight's homeworld. Learning that no one survived he became very depressed as the loss of all his friends hit him hard. Seeing nothing else to do he threw himself into the arena track to lose himself in combat, some say that vacant stare that he gives is an indication of a man who has lost everything.

Pilot Stats:
No code has to be inserted here.
Battlemech:Shootist ST-8C "Drop Dead Sexy'"


Paint Scheme: (Bold as you like; camo is for the real world, Solaris is deadly entertainment.)

Modifications: (These must not exceed the weight of the chassis, use Sarna.net's wiki to find the cost of the part, and we'll figure out the cost of installation)

Equipment: Neurohelmets, Cooling Vests, and more exotic equipment; a DCMS Mechwarrior Suit is more expensive but gives benefits to cooling and has an automatic medical monitoring system. A clan neurohelmet is lighter and more compact than a standard; I will happily provide prices as needed.

(WIP)

[Omega]

Character Sheet
Name: Maria
Age: 24
Appearance:

Personality: By Inner Sphere standards she is considered very straight forward and rather haughty, being a trueborn clanner she is used to acting as such. Since coming to the Inner Sphere her personality has changed little though has long since gotten over her culture shock for the most part and approaches most new encounters now somewhat cautiously at first, to make sure she gains a proper understanding of the situation. She is still a clan trueborn though and acts as such, demanding respect from those she feels are her inferiors, but being more careful to make sure others understand she does not look down upon them, and especially not on their work.

History: A trueborn, Maria was born of the ironwombs, spending all of her early life in a training creche, learning the ways of war in the clans. She was never particularly spectacular in any one area and far from a ristar but was still often near the top of her creche. Year after year she improved in skill, her skills in a battlemech making her seem to have a clear shot at making it to a Trial of Position, though many doubted if she would survive that final trial.

When the day finally did come for her Trial of Position she was ready, piloting a Battle Cobra against already confirmed warriors was not as easy ask, her first enemy was a mobile Griffin IIC, however, she risked her enemy outmaneuvering her by rushing straight into it, firing her paired pulse lasers to slough armor off her opponent. Several bites were taken out of her own armor by the larger laser of her enemy but the LRMs lacked much punch, especially close up and soon enough she chewed into the Griffin's ammo stores and completely annihilating the enemy mech as the ammo detonated. her next opponent though she stood almost no chance against. A heavy Grizzly battlemech. Almost as soon as her first opponent went up a gauss round tore into her side armor, followed up by coruscating laser beams breaching her armor and destroying internals. She managed to retaliate with both large pulse lasers for a short time but could not match the superior firepower of the Grizzly which continued to pour fire onto her as her mech began to reach scorching heat levels. Refusing to give up she tried once more to close on her enemy only have one leg suddenly snap off beneath her from a gauss rifle shot, ending her trial with only a single kill.

As a trueborn warrior she soon found herself on the frontline against the enemies of her clan. Many of her initial battles were defending against Steel Viper attacks against her clan, almost all resulted in resounding Snow Raven victories, though only a few allowed Maria to stand out in anyway. It was not until she managed to engage in offensive battles that she began to gain notice of her superiors. Often engaging mechs just above her weight class she quickly accrued a worthy list of victories on her codex.

As a result it came as quite a surprise when she was moved out of her frontline unit after her greatest victories, brought back to Lum she was assembled along with the rest of a trinay of mech pilots where they were soon briefed by one of the most prominent Galaxy Commanders in the clan. He informed them they were undertaking a rather unorthodox operation, as relations with Inner Sphere powers increased in importance a better understand of spheroids was needed in ways never before considered. As a result one binary of warriors was being sent to the Outworld's Alliance to be added to their touman for a short time. The remaining star was to split up and join with mercenaries or others who fought for wealth, glory, and all that spheroids fight for.

Several lessons were learned from the events of the Wolf's Dragoons and as a result were approached in a different way by the Snow Ravens. Several mechs were sold the OA in return for enough IS mechs to outfit the trinary as well as funds for the star going deep into the Inner Sphere. This special star was to learn from the spheroids, and perhaps even teach some spheroids of clanners as well. For this reason one of their secondary objectives was to gain renown and glory so that their status may improve.

Maria was assigned a Firebee, a light mech of Capellan design originally, and with it Maria was sent to the Inner Sphere, given a guide book, funds and ordered to find her way. Having heard of Solaris before she decided that such a planet would be a superb place for a planner to start at, using civilian transit she quickly made her way across the Inner Sphere to her destination. Things were rather strange to her at first here, but few people bothered her and soon enough she understood the ways of the spheroids enough to hire a small crew and begin entering her first set of trials, or as she learned them called them here, 'matches'.

Pilot Stats:
No code has to be inserted here.

Battlemech: Firebee - BattleTechWiki - Sarna.net Classic BattleTech Wiki


Paint Scheme: Painted in a navy blue with black trimming and the Snow Raven logo emblazoned on the left breast below the SRM launchers.

Modifications: 1 ton of SRM ammo has been exchanged for SRM inferno ammo.

Equipment: Clan neurohelmet, clan coolant suit, 2,757,970 C-bills, 212,765 Dracons Combine Ryu, 234,741 Lyran Kroner, semi-automatic .45 caliber slugthrower pistol