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jymset
Scavenger
in pursuit of LosTech
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 956
Location: Germany
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 Posted: 01-Dec-2004 13:25 Post subject: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Just a quick rant about this merc unit:
It seems to have almost been forgotten! Some pointers:
There is no entry in CamoSpecsOnline.
This would have been important, because there is actually a clash in unit colour-scheme as far as source-books go - in the orignal CamoSpec book, it has their scheme being black with red highlights. In TRO:3025 (the original), it has a Jagermech pilot listed, who leads a lance in the Bandits. His 'mech has a black and grey scheme. In Field Manual: Mercenaries (set in the late 3050s - so, very much still the current CLASSICbt universe), it has them using a forest camouflage scheme.
To make it worse, I have to discover that this once-great unit (3 regiments) had been reduced to a shadow of itself (2 battalions). When/where/how did this happen?
I remember that in one of the older novels, the Bandits were part of the enemy force, and a real menace to the heroes. Alas, it was so long ago, that I can't remember in which context I read it....
So, I guess my post can be reduced to three questions:
What is the official colour scheme for the Bandits (and if it ever officially changed - I am interested in the 3025 one)?
Can you give me a quick run-down of the unit from about 3030 to 3055?
In which novel did I read about them?
Any and all pointers would be helpful.
_________________
"Rear armour is defeatist!" - unknown Kuritan Mechwarrior
The AC5 is a great gun!
On heat, 3025 style:
A Rifleman knows no heat.
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jymset
Scavenger
in pursuit of LosTech
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 956
Location: Germany
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| Posted: 01-Dec-2004 13:44 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Another thought, maybe fodder for debate or reminiscing? But please - answer the above questions first, if possible. 
What were the mercenary units that seemed great to you, when you first got involved in BT? True grit, and all?
Ok, the Gray Death Legion, the Kell Hounds and Wolf's Dragoons are a given. I liked all of them, the Legion probably slightly less than the others. Thunder Rift was a great novel, but the others weren't on par, IMO. The Kell Hounds were always one of the most entertaining units to follow. Always winning, but always coming out hurtnig. And the Dragoons, well, I liked Wolves on the Border. A lot. And the two Black Widow scenario-packs were absolutely wonderful.
Then there are the other great ones that were swallowed: The Eridani I never cared about. Part of Davion? Good riddance! Made head of the new SLDF? Typical for those goody-two-shoes! No, they were always way too....pretty for my like.
But the Big Mac?!? Oh, what fun it is to go down in a blaze of glory, against all the regiments of the Syrtis Fusiliers! How many regiments? 5?
But then they were swallowed by House Liao. Ok, I prefer Liao to most other houses, but don't they already have their share of the coolest units? The Warrior Houses? The Death Commandos? The Big Mac would've been cooler if its remnants had remained merc!
Other merc units sorely missing in action: Hansen's Roughriders. I love these back from MW2: Mercenaries. However, I'm kinda sure I knew of their existance before that. They have so dropped from the horizon, so to speak.
The Bandits, see above post.
What happened to Snord's Irregulars? Ok, the 2nd scenario book was a bit ridiculous, with them beating way too many Jade Falcons. But the first book was sooooo good, and now? Where are they now?
Now, I am only going to receive my copies of Fox's Teeth and Rolling Thunder in a couple of weeks. But I bet I'll be spell-bound and howling for more venerable units to be remembered!
Oh, and last thing: I really, really loathed what Stackpole did to the Waco Rangers, a really, really interesting unit, a bit of a foil to Wolf's Dragoons. I actually like Stackpole quite a bit, I only hate two single points in his output: the demise of the Waco Rangers, and, well, all of Prince of Havoc.
The Rangers were on the 'good' side (FedCom), but NOOOO, of course, IF Davion has to bleed (after all, despite Stackpole trying to make the Falcons look really crappy in some of his novels, Thurston had boosted them to new popularity-levels) on Coventry, it has to be the regiment that isn't all poster-boy good-looking! !*%&!
I guess this is going nowhere, but please, you pitch in too! Give us a little bit of insight into which merc units you remember, and why? Or if you hate any of them, and why?
_________________
"Rear armour is defeatist!" - unknown Kuritan Mechwarrior
The AC5 is a great gun!
On heat, 3025 style:
A Rifleman knows no heat.
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Moonlapse Vertigo
Clan Goliath Scorpion
Star Captain
Joined: 02-Mar-2004 00:00
Posts: 207
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| Posted: 01-Dec-2004 15:28 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Quote:
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On 2004-12-01 13:25, jymset wrote:
Just a quick rant about this merc unit:
It seems to have almost been forgotten! Some pointers:
There is no entry in CamoSpecsOnline.
This would have been important, because there is actually a clash in unit colour-scheme as far as source-books go - in the orignal CamoSpec book, it has their scheme being black with red highlights. In TRO:3025 (the original), it has a Jagermech pilot listed, who leads a lance in the Bandits. His 'mech has a black and grey scheme. In Field Manual: Mercenaries (set in the late 3050s - so, very much still the current CLASSICbt universe), it has them using a forest camouflage scheme.
To make it worse, I have to discover that this once-great unit (3 regiments) had been reduced to a shadow of itself (2 battalions). When/where/how did this happen?
I remember that in one of the older novels, the Bandits were part of the enemy force, and a real menace to the heroes. Alas, it was so long ago, that I can't remember in which context I read it....
So, I guess my post can be reduced to three questions:
What is the official colour scheme for the Bandits (and if it ever officially changed - I am interested in the 3025 one)?
Can you give me a quick run-down of the unit from about 3030 to 3055?
In which novel did I read about them?
Any and all pointers would be helpful.
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As far as paint jobs go, I would go with the original camo specs description. I believe the TRO 3025 highlights "unique" mechwarriors who may not have painted their mechs the same as the rest of their unit. (beliavable in a mercenary unit) The forsest camo could be just that, a camo, not the official "parade" scheme of the unit. The reason Camo specs may not have made an entry for them is because of these conflicts.
I'm not sure about when they were used as the opposing force in a novel, I know the tales of the black widow sourcebook has the Wolf's Dragoons beating them at some point.
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Moonlapse Vertigo
Clan Goliath Scorpion
Star Captain
Joined: 02-Mar-2004 00:00
Posts: 207
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| Posted: 01-Dec-2004 15:33 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Good rants, by the way...
I think the problem with merc units "dropping off the face of the earth" is that there are just to many of them to keep track of in novels and things. The Snords Irregulars are still there in employ of LA, I believe, the Roughrighders are probably still around too.
Mercenery units I've always liked...
A lot of people call them munchy, but I like the Wolf Dragoons. Maybe because they were the first thing I ever knew of battletech. They had a lot of advantages in terms of support and mechs, but they still took losses, didn't cheaply win battles like the Grey Death Legion. I also like the 21st Centuari Lancers, one of the best mercenery units but they never get the credit along the more famous ones. Also the Canopion Highlander, I like their insignia and attitude.
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StarRaven
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 01-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 1138
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Dec-2004 16:25 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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I don't know about the 3050s, I'm afraid. The best I can do you is 3066. According to FCCW, Smithson's Chinese Bandits (strength not given) were on Small World throughout the war. The Loyalist Seventeenth Arcturan Guards hit Small World on April 20th, 3066, and got kicked around by the Bandits. On June 14th, the Arcturan Guards were reinforced by the Achernar SMM, and together they hunted down and destroyed the Bandits by the 17th. That's all I've got.
I don't think I remember even hearing about the Bandits before FCCW, but that's probably because I'm still relatively new to the game. I'm sketchy on details bfore the 3060s.
[ This Message was edited by: StarRaven on 2004-12-01 18:16 ]
_________________
"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close semblance to the first."
- Attributed to General Aleksandr Kerensky
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Erenon
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Sergeant
Joined: 04-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 976
Location: Singapore
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| Posted: 01-Dec-2004 18:14 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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I've heard about both Hansen's Roughriders and the Chinese bandits since the late 80's. They just never really made it in the novels.
I vaguely remember two roughly regimental sized units that were used as sample forces for the original battleforce...
_________________
"My job is to keep the majority of people in this country alive. That's it. If fifty-one percent eat a meal tomorrow and forty-nine percent don't, I've done my job." - The Beast (AKA The President), Transmetropolitan
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Ruger
Lyran Alliance
Hauptmann General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2039
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| Posted: 01-Dec-2004 18:22 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Quote:
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On 2004-12-01 13:44, jymset wrote:
What were the mercenary units that seemed great to you, when you first got involved in BT? True grit, and all?
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Mobile Fire and Little Richard's Panzer Brigade...
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Other merc units sorely missing in action: Hansen's Roughriders. I love these back from MW2: Mercenaries. However, I'm kinda sure I knew of their existance before that. They have so dropped from the horizon, so to speak.
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Hansen's Roughriders have been in the action, most recently starring in a MechWarrior Dark Age novel...in fact, they are one of the 6 (or so) merc units that have miniatures (the others being the Wolf's Dragoons, Kell Hounds, Eridani Light Horse, 21st Centauri Lancers and the Ronin)...their figs are some of the ones I collect...
Also be sure to check out the upcoming Merc Supplement sourcebook...
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What happened to Snord's Irregulars? Ok, the 2nd scenario book was a bit ridiculous, with them beating way too many Jade Falcons. But the first book was sooooo good, and now? Where are they now?
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See the novel Call of Duty and the FedCom Civil War sourcebook...
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I guess this is going nowhere, but please, you pitch in too! Give us a little bit of insight into which merc units you remember, and why? Or if you hate any of them, and why?
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I like Mobile Fire because it's a pro-Steiner combined arms unit descended from an armor unit...the Panzer Brigade I like because, again, it's a combined arms unit and they are the bad boys of mercs...too bad about what happened to them during the FedCom Civil War...and even worse, what is to come...
As for merc units I hate? I positively LOATHE the Vanguard Legion...I despise them with a passion...anyone whose read about them, particularly the novel Imminent Crisis, should know why...
Ruger
[ This Message was edited by: Ruger on 2004-12-01 18:44 ]
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Clan Goliath Scorpion
Star Captain
Joined: 02-Mar-2004 00:00
Posts: 207
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| Posted: 01-Dec-2004 18:59 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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| Oh yeah, I forgot all about the Roughriders being in Dark Age.
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StarRaven
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 01-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 1138
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Dec-2004 19:02 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Quote:
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On 2004-12-01 18:22, Ruger wrote:
As for merc units I hate? I positively LOATHE the Vanguard Legion...I despise them with a passion...anyone whose read about them, particularly the novel Imminent Crisis, should know why...
Ruger
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Why? I liked the Vanguard Legion in Imminent Crisis. What about them did you loathe?
_________________
"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close semblance to the first."
- Attributed to General Aleksandr Kerensky
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bladewind
Free Rasalhague Republic
Major General
Joined: 02-Oct-2004 00:00
Posts: 1054
Location: Singapore
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| Posted: 01-Dec-2004 22:03 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Avanti's Angels anyone ? Or Black Thorns ?
never heard of the Angels anymore after they last whooped Wobbies in Doubleblind.
Too many merc units, too few novels. :/
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jymset
Scavenger
in pursuit of LosTech
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 956
Location: Germany
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| Posted: 02-Dec-2004 01:54 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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WTF?!?!?!
The Bandits were destroyed in 3066?!?!?!
But then, I hear that Miller's Marauders II were also destroyed. Now, that was a munchy unit which I won't miss much. Very, very cool-looking, though.....
No, I think I'm gonna cry now.....
Just to let all of you know: I stopped reading the novels after the Twilight of the Clans 'octology' (?). I realise that there was the FedCom Civil War (don't even know of its proper outcome). Did Katrina die? Did she have Omi Kurita assassinated?
The Twilight series was a mixed bag. I totally, utterly loathed Prince of Havoc - to me, the worst BT novel I ever read. But most of the other ones were pretty cool. I actually really liked the last Thurston-Jade Falcon one, where Horse just pretty much sits around (on Huntress, right?), not being able to do anything. It not only depicts 'mech combat and politics, but also some more personal insights into the frustrations and romance of a truly great BT character. But then, I'm also like the only one who liked 'I am Jade Falcon'....
But sorry, I digress. Basically I'm just saying: "I've been gone for a little while" and "Please fill in wherever you like" and "Let's debate about the merits of novels up to the end of the Twilight series (I read all APART from Double-Blind!!)".
To address a few of the points made by all of you above:
Yes, the Wolves' victories always made sense. They were the best, but even they always took a horrible beating.
Same for the Kell Hounds. Important characters died, AND they were backed by the royal Steiner family.
BUT - the Gray Death Legion's victories always needed quite a bit of suspension of disbelief. That really worked to an excellent extent in Descision on Thunder Rift (a most wonderful novel), but got real old real fast. I hear that has changed quite a bit (what was that novel called? The dying time?).
Ruger - yes, Mobile Fire and the Panzer Brigade were always there, and always respectable. So were Narhal's Raiders, another unit that I happen to like quite a bit.
Same goes for the 21st Centauri and: The 4th Tau Ceti Rangers! Dear goodness, I forgot them above! Now, these guys were (and hopefully ARE) the true stuff! A very, very scary and elite unit - in the employ of House Liao! Seriously, at around 3025 the Big Mac and the 4th Tau included just about the best regiments Liao had!
_________________
"Rear armour is defeatist!" - unknown Kuritan Mechwarrior
The AC5 is a great gun!
On heat, 3025 style:
A Rifleman knows no heat.
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jymset
Scavenger
in pursuit of LosTech
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 956
Location: Germany
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| Posted: 02-Dec-2004 02:02 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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In the words of Eric Idle: "Oh, sod it!"
I forgot to scream and shout about Smithson's Chinese Bandits. Ok, I'll get to that right now:
WHAT THE **** DO YOU MEAN BY: DESTROYED BY THE 17th?!?!?! THEY ARE GONE?!?!? WITHOUT A BLAZE OF GLORY?!?!? WHY? WHY? WHY?!?!?!?! THAT IS IT! I WILL DEVOTE ALL MY MINIATURES INTO MAKING SEVERAL BANDITS REGIMENTS, THEN PROCEED TO BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF ANY AND ALL WHO WOULD OPPOSE ME, JUST TO PROVE THAT THEY STILL REMAIN, AND ARE, IN FACT, UNBEATABLE! *!(&/("!&!"%!
Ahem.
No, seriously, these are still the guys I'm after most. So, should I go the 3025 scheme?
I still don't know of the novel in which I read about them. And it is a terrible shame about them passing out of the universe.
I generally start small supplemental mercenary Lances for my companies of house units (we are talking miniatures, again, BTW  ). I have, well, several for Wolf's Dragoons (their fault for having such cool 'mechs) and one of the Eridani. Which 'mechs should I include in a Bandit Lance or Company? The Jagermech and the Hunchback are givens - the former for having a Bandit pilot in TRO:3025 and the latter for being the displayed 'mech in CamoSpecs. If I knew of the novel, I could flick through it to find more typical 'mechs....
_________________
"Rear armour is defeatist!" - unknown Kuritan Mechwarrior
The AC5 is a great gun!
On heat, 3025 style:
A Rifleman knows no heat.
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Ruger
Lyran Alliance
Hauptmann General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2039
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| Posted: 02-Dec-2004 04:32 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Quote:
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On 2004-12-02 01:54, jymset wrote:
But then, I hear that Miller's Marauders II were also destroyed. Now, that was a munchy unit which I won't miss much. Very, very cool-looking, though.....
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No...Barber's Marauder IIs, the unit the one you mention becomes, was destroyed during the Jade Falcon Incursion during the FedCom Civil War by a Falcon cluster...
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Just to let all of you know: I stopped reading the novels after the Twilight of the Clans 'octology' (?). I realise that there was the FedCom Civil War (don't even know of its proper outcome). Did Katrina die? Did she have Omi Kurita assassinated?
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Spoilers for the Civil War....
The FedCom Civil War ended with Katherine's side losing and Victor giving up both thrones...the Lyran Alliance is now controlled by Peter Steiner-Davion as Archon, and the Federated Suns has Yvonne Steiner-Davion as regent, and about to marry Tancred Sandoval...Katherine is now with the Crusader Wolves (Vlad threatened war if she wasn't given to him) and Omi did die at the hands of the assassin that Katherine hired...that same assassin was killed by Minoru Kurita...
There is a bunch of other stuff that happened that I don't have time to go into right now...maybe tonight...
Ruger
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StarRaven
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 01-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 1138
Location: United States
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| Posted: 02-Dec-2004 12:28 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Quote:
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On 2004-12-02 02:02, jymset wrote:
WHAT THE **** DO YOU MEAN BY: DESTROYED BY THE 17th?!?!?! THEY ARE GONE?!?!? WITHOUT A BLAZE OF GLORY?!?!? WHY? WHY? WHY?!?!?!?!
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That's all the information they give. "[H]unted down and destroyed." I'm assuming that "destroyed" here means "annhilated." Mostly because there was no further mention of them.
Hansen's Roughriders retreated from Panpour with heavy losses (>60%) ... I think they retreated from the Illican Lancers. But I've not got the book infront of me, so I'll check it tonight. But it mentions what they did. It mentions that DeMaestri's Sluggers of the fighting Urukhai stole some DropShips and eventually went to Taurus. The Taurians destroyed some of their DropShips (without real reason), so the rest of them went in, raided Taurus, and died aslmost to a man. But it mentions that a few escsaped.
The point I'm making is that other "destoryed" units had something mentioned about them afterwards. The Bandits didn't, which is why I assume that they were completely annhilated. An assumption, but I think a reasonable one.
_________________
"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close semblance to the first."
- Attributed to General Aleksandr Kerensky
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StarRaven
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 01-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 1138
Location: United States
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| Posted: 03-Dec-2004 13:32 Post subject: RE: Smithson's Chinese Bandits - a couple of questions |
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Quote:
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On 2004-12-01 19:02, StarRaven wrote:
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On 2004-12-01 18:22, Ruger wrote:
As for merc units I hate? I positively LOATHE the Vanguard Legion...I despise them with a passion...anyone whose read about them, particularly the novel Imminent Crisis, should know why...
Ruger
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Why? I liked the Vanguard Legion in Imminent Crisis. What about them did you loathe?
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So Ruger, what was it about the Vaguard Legion that you loathed? I liked them in Imminent Crisis; what am I missing?
_________________
"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close semblance to the first."
- Attributed to General Aleksandr Kerensky
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