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So, this is something I've been toying with for a time. Recently I got back into Battletech after a long absence given it's on the rise again, and there's a solid number of interesting elements in the setting. It's Warhammer's big rival, but there's a huge emphasis on the failings of humanity over the usual mix of daemons and fantasy elements. Well, I found out that both of my favourite factions were wiped out. I can accept that for most things, but in the case of ComStar, I took issue with just how it was done. A lot of situations read more like a rushed effort to get the faction out of the way and effectively erasing from the setting. Namely the famously covert, manipulative, and information-based company getting their entire fleet wiped out because they relied upon data that was 10+ years out of date and opted for a blind and disorganized zerg rush with little to no recon or infiltration work.

The end result of this was me creating an entirely new state, justifying playing ComStar in the current IlClan era. While I did my best not to emulate the Severian Principate, I won't deny that more than a few elements did cross over between the two, namely having a mercantile emphasis and an abolitionist origin. Still, given the ComStar was a quasi-religious corporation and I wanted at least some limited grey morality to a group who were often villainous, it was the easiest way to pull it off. Plus, I rather liked how it justified their military tactics - Presenting themselves as overly chivalrous figures who put honour before common sense, but fight with the ruthlessness of Spetsnaz and strategic guile that would make Alpharius proud. Also, I will be up front about one thing - One societal aspect was heavily lifted from Mass Effect. I tried to put my own spin on the concept, but a lot of efforts to further diverge from the original proved to be unsatisfying.

That said, my apologies in advance for the section on culture. This was largely a mix of ideas rather than something fully formed, and I'll likely have a do-over on this at some point. Still, I hope you enjoy it if you take a few minutes to read through what's here.

Description
So, this is something I've been toying with for a time. Recently I got back into Battletech after a long absence given it's on the rise again, and there's a solid number of interesting elements in the setting. It's Warhammer's big rival, but there's a huge emphasis on the failings of humanity over the usual mix of daemons and fantasy elements. Well, I found out that both of my favourite factions were wiped out. I can accept that for most things, but in the case of ComStar, I took issue with just how it was done. A lot of situations read more like a rushed effort to get the faction out of the way and effectively erasing from the setting. Namely the famously covert, manipulative, and information-based company getting their entire fleet wiped out because they relied upon data that was 10+ years out of date and opted for a blind and disorganized zerg rush with little to no recon or infiltration work.

The end result of this was me creating an entirely new state, justifying playing ComStar in the current IlClan era. While I did my best not to emulate the Severian Principate, I won't deny that more than a few elements did cross over between the two, namely having a mercantile emphasis and an abolitionist origin. Still, given the ComStar was a quasi-religious corporation and I wanted at least some limited grey morality to a group who were often villainous, it was the easiest way to pull it off. Plus, I rather liked how it justified their military tactics - Presenting themselves as overly chivalrous figures who put honour before common sense, but fight with the ruthlessness of Spetsnaz and strategic guile that would make Alpharius proud. Also, I will be up front about one thing - One societal aspect was heavily lifted from Mass Effect. I tried to put my own spin on the concept, but a lot of efforts to further diverge from the original proved to be unsatisfying.

That said, my apologies in advance for the section on culture. This was largely a mix of ideas rather than something fully formed, and I'll likely have a do-over on this at some point. Still, I hope you enjoy it if you take a few minutes to read through what's here.