From: "Technomancer" <farmerb@msoe.edu>
To: <ffml@fanfic.com>
Subject: [FFML] Re: [FFML][Idea][Ranma/BattleTech]
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 07:57:19 -0600

> Standard Inner Sphere mechs need to outnumber Clan Omnimechs by a ratio of
> 4-1 (by tonnage) in order to have a reasonable chance of victory. Inner
> Sphere Omnimechs need numerical superiority of 2-1 in order to equal the
> Clan's technological and skill advantage. That means that the DCMS must
> field about 720 omnimechs in order to achieve the odds you state. That
> sixteen regiments and one lance of omnimechs. I think not even the
> Federated Commonwealth at its height could field such a force at any one
> place.

Bwa? I don't know where you got the 4-1, since any decent tactician can take
out a clan force with half again the clan's tonnage.  It's a hard battle,
but for normal inner sphere mechs and mechwarriors can take out a clan force
with only light casualties at the 2-1 ratio, as long as they have a good
tactician calling the shots.  The problem is that in Merc units, you usually
can't get a 2-1 tonnage ratio against the heavier clan stuff, because it's
fairly rare for mercs to have more than one or two heavy class or higher
mechs.

> > Ranma:
> Worse, some Clansmen regard sex as something you do with your sibko.
That's
> as close as you will get to a family in the Warrior Caste. Makes me wonder
> what Nicholas Kerensky was smoking when he instituted this. Sex in Clan
> society is an affirmation of closeness (in the Warrior Caste at least) not
> of love.

Thankfully, much of this is not true among the freeborn, even if they are
still warriors.

Yeeesh.

> Good interpretation of what Ranma would be like if he were raised in the
> Battletech Universe.

Very good interpretation, but I really don't see Ranma ever piloting a mech
as ungainly as a heavy or assault.  Even the Thor is pushing it.

> > Pilots a captured Thor
>
> A Thor? A captured merc has a heavy omnimech?

Not only this, but the captured Omnis are usually reserved for unit
commanders.  This would be good to give Soun.
My personal favorite mech, the Phoenix Hawk, would much better suit Ranma's
style, IMO.  Lots of agility, and still enough room for a big gun.  And it's
not a very hard mech to get.

Something Medium, but with good firepower.

> > Lt. Akane Tendo:
> > Lost her mother during the Clan invasion of the Inner sphere. Harbors an

Um, exactly when is this taking place?  I know that the date of Mrs. Tendo
is not given in the original, so that doesn't matter, but it would help to
have a better idea than just "after Tukkayid, but before the Twilight."

> > can. Pilots a WarHammer II C.
> >
> A Warhammer II C is a fairly new model assault mech, where did they get
the
> money for one?

No kidding, especially since the IIC version is a clan mech.  While an
Assault mech suits her, it's probably better to give her an old IS standby,
like the Atlas.

> > Sgt. Ryoga Hibiki:
> > Has fallen for Akane. Believes the only good Clanner is a dead Clanner.
> > Pilots a Marauder.
>
> Another Assault Clan Omnimech. Man, even Wolf's Dragoons do not have that
> many. Princes in the Inner Sphere pilot Daishis, not grunts in merc
> companies.

Um, the Marauder isn't a clan mech.  This is another person who definitely
suits the assault class.  I would lean toward giving Ryoga a Warhammer, or
at least something that can take a lot of punishment.

Let's see... Marauder, Marauder... Oh yeah!  The one that was based off the Zentradei Officer's Pod!  He or Akane would be good for this or the Excalibur-I mean Warhammer.

> >
> > Captain Soun Tendo:
> Why is Soun piloting a mech designed to hunt down command mechs? I would
> think that with the money that they seem to have, he could have afforded a
> command mech like the Sunder or at least a Commando.

Yah,  Tendo should really be in something like the Cyclops, especially if he
can manage to get one of the newer versions, with C3.  This unit is getting
a little heavy on the assault class mechs though, since they _are_ fairly
hard to get.

> > Nabiki Tendo:
> At least Nabiki's piloting a Scout mech. Information gathering was always
> her strength anyhow. As a bit of curiousity, does Nabiki's Raven have the
> NARC retrofit?

I can think of no mech that suits Nabs better than the Raven.  As long as
it's not a DeathRaven.

I remember the Raven.  It's perfect for Nabs.

> > Moral Officer Kasumi Tendo
> Same old Kasumi. Maybe she can man the point defense systems or an Arrow
IV
> battery. Imagine a really creepy smile as she mans the Long Tom Batteries.

Now this would be interesting, I've always had a thing for the evil Kasumi's

> > Mechwarrior Ukyo Kuonji:
> The pride of the DCMS is the Sunder. In the Otomo, there are only THREE
> Sunders and the Otomo are arguably the best of the elite units of the
> Draconis Combine (like the Ryoken and Sword of Light). The fact that it
was
> given to an unranked mechwarrior of a MERC outfit boggles the mind.

All true.  Besides, just to stay in theme, you should give her a mech with a
big weapon.  Like the Hatchetman, or the Axeman, if they can swing it.

Axe.  Swing.  Bad joke.  An Axeman would be perfect for her.  I think the missles were better than the AC/20, though.

>
> > The Amazons - A mostly female merc group, has ties to Wolf's Dragoons.
> > Lt. Shampoo:
> > One of the best Mechwarriors in the Amazons. Grudgingly respects Ranma
> for
> > being able to take her out that quickly. Pilots a Mad Dog.
> >
> Another Clan Heavy Mech. I do not remember them being so prolific in the
> Inner Sphere even during the "Twillight of the Clans" saga.

I can't say that I like the idea of having so many clan mechs floating
around.  Personally, I'd give her something small and manuverable, and
commonly available, like the Wolverine.  Small, common, and still packs a
hell of a punch.

> > Sgt. Mousse:
> > with the Nerima Maulers and away from his girl. Pilots a Phoenix
> >
>
> A phoenix is not so bad.......

Yes, another person piloting a Phoenix Hawk would just be too cool.  You
could also give him a heavily modified Griffin.

> > Draconis combine forces
> >
> > Captain Kuno
> Ha, make him pilot a Hachetman but replace the axe with a giant bokken and
> you'll be all set.

Oy, the Draconis Combine has already started making mechs with swords
instead of hatchets.  Functionally the same, but it looks cooler.

Hatchet or Axeman.

> I like this idea and would very much like to see it done. Although I do
> disagree with your parts of your scripting though. I would rather have
> Akane as the Truebirth that Ranma tried to save. The Dropship could not
get
> to them due to LRM fire and they were left behind. Thus not only does
Akane
> hate Ranma for being a Freebirth, she hates him because its naturally his
> fault they are in this mess. Have Ukyo put down Ranma and Akane's mechs.
> Then both of them must obey a girl that hates them. Yes I'm evil. Ranma
> could start paying a fair bit of attention to Ukyo as he is an honourable
> bondsman. Akane on the other hand would rather gnaw on ferro-fibre.

it's always good to have a reason to hate someone.

That sounds like a good Idea.  I don't remember much about Battletech, but the story sounds like a great idea.

This story has a lot of potential, but I do agree that the mech choices
should be toned down a bit.  Assault mechs are bloody expensive, often
taking more than ten missions just to pay for a used one, let alone new.
Remember, an average mech plant turns out one type of mech, in the number of
about 3-4 per year, less for heavy and assaults.  In addition, in my
experience, a slightly larger force of small, manuverable mechs will almost
always tear a less manuverable but larger foe into small, bloody pieces
suitable for drying into jerky.  As any good mercenary knows, jump jets are
your friend.

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