Enter stage right

Ok, it's been a while since I created this blog. A lot has changed in the Battletech (and my) world since I first started this site.

Originally, I created a Clan Diamond Shark site called the Chatterweb. The original Chatterweb site was a nice little piece of how I envisioned the Shark world. I even built a faux Touman complete with unit histories and TO&E for all the Clusters.

Eventually, I decided that I wanted this site to be more than it was. So, with the Crusader and Warden Clans Field Manuals, I expanded it to include all the other Clans. I added Clan histories, TO&E's and everything I could think of.

Still, that wasn't enough. As the various Inner Sphere Field Manuals started rolling out, I cowboy'd up and added all the data I could find. Again, with the TO&E's that everyone hated or loved (mostly the latter).

(Sidenote: For those of you who are interested, I took down the regimental/cluster listings cause I got tired of all the whiny little, um, gamers who were constantly ragging on me because of differences in the listings and FASA's descriptions. Fact: after hand-coding a twenty or so Clusters, I broke out Visual Basic and wrote a little app that generate a complete roster (including HTML!) for whatever regiment or cluster I wanted. There are over two thousand regiments/clusters in the Battletech universe. There was, and is, no way in heck I was going customize every single regiment/cluster. None whatsoever.)

Finally, around 2002, I rolled out the current (and outdated) version. It looked and worked great a few ISPs ago but now is ready for an overhaul. The code base for the site has remained the same for over four years. I am currently working on a update that is more efficient and easier to use. The new site is more streamlined and makes use of some of the new web gadgets (AJAX and soon the new Coldfusion 8 tags). Lots of cool stuff is in the works! Stay tuned.

The flipside to all the code changes is that it's extremely time-consuming. The changes I'm making to the mech display screens are enormous and take time I don't have. I am working on redesigning the layout page but also have to change the database structure significantly. I've worked up some tools to speed up the process but there are over 2000 mechs, fighters, etc I have to change.

Which brings us to maintaining the site:

Honestly, folks, I can't begin to account for all the hundreds of man-hours I've sunk into this site. The only money I make off this site is from the AdSense links I've got on the pages. (The Google search bar also generates a number of clicks but no revenue since no one ever clicks on the search results! :) ) I also accept Paypal donations. I've also started an affiliate program with my ISP, DailyRazor. They've got some good services. If you're looking for a new ISP give them a try.

Anyway, I'm not asking for much. Just a little help to offset the time and effort I've put into the site. A click here or there goes a long way towards keeping the site up and running.

Well, that's enough pandering for now.


Take care, everyone.

Intro to Battletech

Battletech was first published in the mid-80's by FASA. The basic premise is that after mankind moved to the stars, interstellar nations were formed and a whole new era of warfare emerged. One of the new weapons developed was the BattleMech.

Standing rough ten to fifteen meters tall and piloted by a single operator, BattleMechs (or 'Mechs) replaced the main battle tank as the principal ground fighting unit. For centuries, wars of epic scale raged across the realms of man, a space known as the Inner Sphere.

In recent (game) years, the political and military landscape has changed numerous times. Through it all, the 'Mech still reigns supreme on the battlefield.

Sadly, FASA is no more, a victim of circumstances to numerous to mention here. The banner has been picked up by Fanpro.

In BattleTech, lives are cheap, 'Mechs aren't.