The Let's Play Archive

Battletech

by PoptartsNinja

Part 176: Combat Theater Vote 8 Results - Sword of the Dragon

Combat Theater Vote 9 Results:

Fight Fans, Solaris VII beats the odds with 50 votes!
The Ryuken show their stuff with 49 votes!
Star League? The Praetorian Guards don’t give a damn about your Star League at 14 votes!
7 votes mirror the 3rd Syrtis Fusiliers’ unspectacular performance.
MacGregor’s Armored Scouts don’t even find the battlefield with only 2 votes…



Factory Semi-Finals!
“Aaaaand… we’re live!”

“Good evening, fight fans!” a swarthy man with a vibrant baritone said immediately as he smiled warmly at the holocameras. “I’m Cal Jeager, and joining me this evening is the current champion of the medium-weight solo-circuit—Duncan Fisher.”

Tipping his head, the young pilot offered a friendly grin. “Pleasure to be here tonight, Cal. This is shaping up to be quite a fight.”

“Quite a fight indeed! It’s the last regular fight of the season here at the Factory, and the folks here in Montenegro have gone all-out for this dustup! Before we talk about that, what do you think of the competition this evening Duncan?”

“Well, House Steiner’s Overlord Stables are favored to win—they’ve got the funding, the skill, and this year? The equipment to pull off a major upset. Serge Axey’s been absolutely devastating the circuit this season, and the Silver Dragon Stables almost had to pull out of tonight’s qualifiers after he took apart Bakemono Yi last week. That fight could cost him tonight, though, it can’t be easy finding parts for an Axman here on Solaris!”

“You’re certainly right—for those of you tuning in the first time this season, well, you may want to pick up some of the ROMs for Serge’s fights: the Axman’s a new Lyran design so hush-hush it’s only ever been deployed against the Clans. Serge surprised Solaris by fielding one this season, and none of his opponents really seem to know how to cope with that monster!”

“Well, if anyone can,” Duncan cut in with a grin, “It’s Colonel Isadora Alvarez of the 18th Marik Militia—here on special leave to represent House Marik’s Bromley Stables in the semi-finals. It’s rare to get someone with real military experience here on the Game World, and I’d be interested to see how she does.”

“I’ll be interested as well,” Cal replied with a grin. “The Eighteenth’s reputation isn’t exactly stellar, but Colonel Alvarez is fighting for the pride of House Marik in their home stadium, so she’s bound to be a crowd favorite!”

“Well, she’d better watch out for Antonin Césaire of Tandrek Stables,” Duncan countered. “I’ve bumped into him more than once during my time on the medium circuit and he’s no pushover. Things have been tense here with so many of Césaire’s fans in the audience. Take care on the way home, folks—Liao nationals aren’t exactly welcome in Montenegro right now!”

“Césaire’s a total pro, it’s true,” Cal replied, “But he’s gotta be feeling the pressure. Taking a Centurion up against a group of heavies? He’s going to have to play smart, the odds aren’t exactly in his favor tonite.”

“The bookies still rank him higher than Silver Dragon’s Ken Hachiman, Cal. Still, with pros like Charles Boyington and Ngoc Binh on the field a last-minute replacement like Ken is going to have his work cut out for him. Neither of them has stepped outside of the box for this fight, they’re gearing up to slug it out with the other competitors—and both are well equipped to do it. I wouldn’t give Ken's Catapult good odds in the arena either, the Cat’s a great `Mech but it’s much better suited to the Steiner Coliseum or the Jungle.”

Cal turned, flashing his million c-bill smile, “Well, the Factory is all about give and take; and tonight’s no exception. What is exceptional are the amended arena rules: the folks here at the Factory really know how to shake things up, and they’ve added a decidedly Marik flair to an already tense matchup!”

“Shakeups are definitely interesting, but they can be really hard on the pilots on the field. I hear they’ve set up a team duel, rather than the typical free-for-all. How’s that going to work, Cal?”

“Well, in homage to the last Marik Civil War, every pilot’s been divided into two teams: but they have no idea which team they’ve been assigned until the starting bell; and every thirty seconds—or any time one of the competitors is defeated—the teams will be randomized.”

Duncan grinned, “Ooh, that’s going to be rough Cal. It’s hard enough to fight alongside people you’ve never met, but never knowing whether they’ll suddenly have a free and clear shot at your back in a match this important? I’m not sure we can expect to see a lot of teamwork tonight, Cal.”

“That’s Solaris for you—it’s all about seizing opportunities as presented. Speaking of opportunities, tonight’s broadcast is sponsored by Quikscell Company: because if you could afford better, you wouldn’t be shopping with us!”




The Map:






Overlord Stables (Steiner)
Odds: 1-2
AXM-1N Axman “Copper” – Serge Axey (g3p4) (magni)

Bromley Stables (Marik)
Odds: 1-1
GLT-4L Guillotine “The Fighting 18th” – Colonel Isadora Alvarez (g3p4) (GreyjoyBastard)

Skye Tigers Stables (Skye)
Odds: 1-1
TDR-5SS Thunderbolt “Warhawk” – Charles Boyington (g3p4) (Longinus00)

Gemini Stables (Duchy of New Syrtis)
Odds: 6-5
MAD-3D Marauder “Danh Khan Huu” – Ngoc Binh (g3p4) (cafel)

Tandrek Stables (Liao)
Odds: 3-2
CN9-AL Centurion “Legionnaire” – Antonin Césaire (g3p4) (Felime)

Silver Dragon Stables (Kurita)
Odds: 2-1
CPLT-K2 Catapult “Kokuryuu” – Ken Hachiman (g3p4) (anakha)




Alternates, please stand by for an availability confirmation e-mail:
Sair
Pinguliten
Iridium
Rhobot Mk. II



Mission Objectives
Be the Last Man Standing!



New House Rules:
No Escape: The map is edged by solid walls. `Mechs may not be pushed, charged, or otherwise knocked out of the map.

Textured Ferrocrete: The floors of the factory were designed to be traversed by LoaderMechs, no skidding tests are required.

Low Ceiling Clearance: Designed for the passage of LoaderMechs, the Montenegro Factory has low ceilings (height 2) which render Jump Jets useless unless the floor directly above has collapsed. Even height 1 terrain is considered impassable by `Mechs, though it still functions as Partial Cover.

Ups and Downs: Players may travel up and down the levels of the map via the ramps (and holes in the floor) provided. Only `Mechs with jump jets can cross to higher levels via holes in the floor above.

PVP: This mission is Player vs. Player. I will have no `Mechs to control. That means players will want to be careful to include multiple shooting orders / contingency orders since everyone will be moving simultaneously. This mission is likely to be a clusterfuck, so if it turns out really poorly I may end it early and move on to our runner-up mission.

Team Deathmatch: The players will be divided into two even teams. Firing at a teammate results in immediate disqualification (firing at teammates is actually impossible and any orders to do so will be disregarded and cost the player a turn of fire, so don’t do it).

A Marik Twist: Whenever a player `Mech is eliminated or if three turns pass without an eliminated `Mech, the members of each team will be randomized. This will occur at the end of the phase to prevent any accidental friendly fire.

Stable Conditions: You are not required to take your full compliment of ammunition. Since this isn't a real battlefield situation and you're aware of your opposition in advance, you're allowed to take as much or as little ammunition for your ammo-based weapons as you think you can get away with.