Frequently Asked Questions about the Faction List Project
Last updated Sunday 2004-08-15

1. What does the faction list represent?
2. What criteria determines if a mech belongs on a faction's list?
3. Do captured enemy mechs show up on the faction list?
4. What if two official sources conflict about a mech's presence in a faction?
5. How do I contribute to the faction list project?
6. Does the Eridani Light Horse get Mercenary General units seeing as it is/was
   a mercenary unit?
7. Some recent deletions indicate <foo> about <recent event>.  Did <foo> occur?


1. What does the faction list represent?

The faction list represents the units in use by a faction's forces at the
current time of the BT universe (which as of this writing is about 3067.)
More or less.  Realistically, every mech probably appears in every faction's
Table of Organization and Equipment at least once, but that would make for
a pretty simple list - if that's what you want, see the master unit list,
which is available at classicbattletech.com.  Also, it would be great to
someday have a "start date" and "end date" for each unit, which would let
a dedicated enough person make a list that was accurate to any time period.
That has not yet been implemented.

2. What criteria determines if a mech belongs on a faction's list?

	1. Some official fluff text says that it's fielded by that faction
	2. The unit is produced by that faction
	3. The unit is found in one of that faction's published random unit
		assignment tables
	4. Some other official product or source (such as a BT writer) says
		that the unit is used by that faction (note that this is not
		100% conclusive; exceptions do exist.)
	5. The design has a letter designation indicating a certain faction
		(note that this is not 100% conclusive; exceptions do exist)
	6. The design logically must belong in a faction (for example, mechs
		with light engines most likely belong to the Lyran Alliance
		or Wolf's Dragoons.)

3. Do captured enemy mechs show up on the faction list?

There's a good case to be made that they should, but I think they shouldn't,
for two reasons:

	1. it clouds the definition and character of a faction
	2. it would require a version of the faction list for each era - there
		are many more DRG-1G Dragons in the AFFC in 3050 than there
		were in 3028.

The best solution, when choosing mechs for a campaign using the faction list,
is to allow the use of mechs from opposing factions if the mechs are from a
previous era.  For example, the Capellan Confederation in 3050 probably has
access to every Federated Commonwealth mech design that was in use in 3025,
such as the WHM-6D Warhammer.  The exception to this would be mech designs
that are explicitly limited in number, but I think it's up to the players to
decide those corner cases, not me.

4. What if two official sources conflict about a mech's presence in a faction?

Unfortunately, sometimes, the official sources conflict.  When resolving a 
conflict, keep in mind the following:

	1. Is one side more numerous?  If 5 sources say X and 1 says Not X, X
		appears more credible.
	2. What does common sense say?  Granted, the official sources sometimes
		defy it, but sometimes it's all that we have to go on.
	3. Which source is more recent?  Sometimes, newer products are intended
		to supercede older ones.

5. How do I contribute to the faction list project?

The vast majority of the work will consist of suggesting changes to the list.
To submit a change, email me, Peter La Casse <peter_lacasse@bigfoot.com> with 
the change and the justification for it.  Also, let me know if you want me to 
leave you out of the credits (everybody who contributes by default gets credit
for helping.)

6. Does the Eridani Light Horse get Mercenary General units seeing as it is/was
   a mercenary unit?

Yes.

7. Some recent deletions indicate <foo> about <recent event>.  Did <foo> occur?

If I knew, I would not be allowed to answer.  Feel free to speculate about what
these deletions may or may not imply.