User talk:ClanWolverine101

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First Major Project of 2013 - Rewritten: 4th Skye Rangers

"So CW - What have you been up to these last few weeks?"

I give you 4th Skye Rangers.

There are a bunch of reasons why I took this on. One was because I was always interested in these guys, who were the "villains" in two novels (Heir to the Dragon and the Dying Time), and only succeeded in "freeing" Skye with their own disbandment. Such a curious history!

The next was to show why I use the Update Needed tags the way I do. When i put one up, I don't usually mean to put one sentence from one particular publication. I want to put the whole thing in context. Since I found many unused references to the Fourth Skye, I decided to use them.

Another reason (and its bothered me awhile) was the whole "Lyran Rangers" controversy. At one point, some well intentioned individual named the article the Lyran Rangers, in the context that the Fourth Skye were sort of the pre-Lyran Rangers of the Dark Age era. This was somewhat understandable based on the Storm Hammers MW:DA Dossier, but was ultimately refuted in Field Manual: 3085. It also bothered me that a fairly famous unit was being reduced to a "Dark Age pre-unit". I address this issue in the context of the article. These are different though related units, and I deal with that. Another reason I chose the 4th Skye - I don't want to be known as the "Wolf's Dragoons guy". :P

I always like to challenge myself with these articles, so I really tried to nail my reference formatting. Some have commented my articles are overly-lengthy in the past, and its a fair criticism. I try to present everything from the subject's perspective. If there was a five regiment on four regiment battle, yes, I name all nine regiments. But again, I keep the proper perspective. Now given that there were two novels involved, there was a lot of material. I broke it up as best I could, and as always, Doneve's pics really help.

So there you have it. Feedback of all kinds is always welcome. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 21:51, 21 January 2013 (PST)

I really liked it, but that's not unusual, or likely, helpful, so I'll go on a bit. It was long, but they have a long history, and you did summarize many things as best you could, I see. It's not hard to imagine this article as being 50% longer than even now - which would really be excessive. As Rev pointed out on his talk page (I eavesdrop a lot, but it's all for learning purposes, I assure you!), far better to have a lot of material than to have summarized the life and soul out of one of the history of one of the IS's most prominent units.
If expanding beyond the "Wolf's Dragoons Guy" label was a goal, then you are getting close to escape velocity. Excelsior!
The ToC is long, but that's fine, linking to sections in this will greatly aid related articles yet to be produced or perfected.
Your use of images related to the different sections of their history (as done in other articles) makes me look at my articles as bland. I need to go back and color them up. I also dug on and have used pics on the left, too. Breaking up the left to right motion of reading in this way actually helps your readers psychologically. Can't throw down the hard science of that, but it was something my writing prof used to tell me. Later, I'll go through my older articles and put in a few more relevant images to help them get up to par. I'd do that now, but I need to stop stalling on Perigard Zalman. ;) He'll be out next. I might have need of discussion regarding a few things like that in the future. If so, I'll leave it here bellow in a new heading. Sometimes the freedom we have in crafting these articles can be a little daunting in and of itself. --Rebs (talk) 20:43, 10 February 2013 (PST)
Thanks, Rebs! Let me know if you want me to look at your Zalman article. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 08:37, 11 February 2013 (PST)
I'll drop you a PM at CBT with my email, hit me back. Just wanted to get some more done on it. Rebs (talk) 22:26, 14 February 2013 (PST)
Perigard Zalman is finished (maybe some more tweaks and or additional sources if there are any), but some of the most difficult stuff is yet to come, and some of that will be very soon. cough Brett Andrews cough cough :) Bouncing that one back and forth and can only benefit everyone. --Rebs (talk) 16:54, 17 February 2013 (PST)

Contact

Hy CW you can contact me here [1], please send me a private message.--Doneve (talk) 20:57, 15 February 2013 (PST)
Thanks! Responded! ClanWolverine101 (talk) 20:33, 17 February 2013 (PST)
Responded!--Doneve (talk) 08:53, 18 February 2013 (PST)
Got it. Thanks! ClanWolverine101 (talk) 09:24, 18 February 2013 (PST)

Year In Review - Year Three

So - I've been with Sarna for just over three years. And its been a good run, thus far.

This past year hasn't necessarily been as productive as I might have liked, either in new articles or in terms of major contributions to other articles.

Near the beginning of the year, Rev asked me to assist him with the Unfinished Book project. It was quite a challenge for me, as I tried to produce comprehensive articles on topics that weren't very well covered in the source material. I also pressured myself (only myself; Rev was always supportive) to focus on the UB project, which was a new experience for me. Those of you who've watched my work know that I bounce back and forth a bit in my subject matter. I'll do a Wolf's Dragoons article, then an article about a Kurita guy you never heard of. Another WD article, then an article on some Lyran unit. Another WD article, then an article on a Clan character/unit. It keeps me motivated. Having said all that, I really do want to continue with the UB Project, at my own pace.

To an extent, I think I've become a perfectionist in some regards. I mean that in respect to scraping the bottom of the barrel in data mining, and references. This has slowed me down, as I'll work off and on with one specific article until I'm satisfied with it. On the flip side, I've sometimes become too comprehensive, including some speculative notes that may have gone too far. Frabby (appropriately) corrected me, and I've begun using the "Ask the Writers" section of the CBT forum quite a bit. I'm hoping this will make me a better writer.

I've decided to re-examine my priorities in terms of the articles I'm producing/rewriting. Obscure "red link" characters don't always interest me, and trying to work through an arbitrary order has slowed me up. So I've got to look at that.

In terms of the wiki as a whole, I've been very encouraged by the good work editors like BrokenMnemonic and Rebs are doing. They're producing excellent articles, often on characters or units I was planning to write myself. Unnecessary now, as they did a better job than I probably would have done. Further, I am elated to have Rev back, even if its not on a "full-time" status.

Thank you all for your support. I hope the coming year is a good one for me and for Sarna. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 11:03, 18 February 2013 (PST)

Great year review, but where's the love, i miss my name, hehehe Wink.gif.--Doneve (talk) 15:26, 26 February 2013 (PST)
Aw, Doneve. I always give you the cred. :D ClanWolverine101 (talk) 23:04, 26 February 2013 (PST)

Wolves and Cats and others

Hey CW. I was wondering if your plans included any Wolf, Nova Cat or any other Clan characters. Severen Leroux was excellent and a great standard. I'll not be doing many more Spheroid Clans any time soon, probably won't get to a warm-blooded Clan for a while for that matter. Also, there are some important things that will have to be done... Ulric Kerensky, and all of the Kerenskys for that matter need help. Vlad Ward will want a nicer page too. Phelan needed brushed up. All kinds of things that I know others might want to do. I definitely don't want it all. I was prepared to make a deal... I'll do Nicholas Kerensky's history section if you took on expansion of Ulric and/or Aleks. :) Or we could reverse that... Or if someone else wanted to call dibs on something mentioned (or not yet mentioned).

What do you think? If there are any requests, I'll keep on the Steel Vipers and go straight to the Star Adders from Cannon to Banacek next and maybe a Kerensky in between for fun. --Rebs (talk) 00:23, 21 February 2013 (PST)

All valid points, Rebs. As you've noticed, I pick and choose my topics with a strange combination of logic and whim! (Actually, I chose Severen because I had red-linked him in another article.) I'm strongly considering doing a Lucian Carns entry, as well as other characters from the early Clan Invasion era. The deal you propose is fair, but I won't commit to it just yet. Let me know how Nicholas goes. :) ClanWolverine101 (talk) 00:30, 21 February 2013 (PST)
Nick will be after Brett Andrews at least. This was just an example. I mostly just wanted to make sure I was not just hogging all the good articles. If there are any that you or others want to do, let me know. --Rebs (talk) 12:05, 21 February 2013 (PST)
Nah. You HAVE hit a couple of characters who were on my list, but the Nick Kerensky rewrite wasn't one of them. Have at. :) ClanWolverine101 (talk) 16:57, 21 February 2013 (PST)
Actually, I was hoping maybe Ulric Kerensky was on your list :D Lucian Carns would be cool too, should you choose the cat way. I'll probably have a Nick Kerensky article revamping in shape at some random point in the next few months. Rebs (talk) 18:32, 21 February 2013 (PST)
Its OK if you are ignoring this for a bit. I'll throw in a revamping of Lincoln Osis on top of a Nick K. flyby, because Nick won't be that bad at all, I've realized as I've been pummeled by the Bloody ilKhan for days. Wink.gif And importantly, congrats on your Superior Article award. Very deserving, and scholarly. The bar is very high. --Rebs (talk) 23:50, 25 February 2013 (PST)
Thanks. Not ignoring this, just finding time. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 07:17, 26 February 2013 (PST)
No rush, of course, I know you have plans that we don't always see. I'm just seriously glad you find this challenge acceptable. --Rebs (talk) 15:05, 26 February 2013 (PST)
Ha ha ha, guys great talk, i follow this at the start, i want more Smiley.gif.--Doneve (talk) 15:16, 26 February 2013 (PST)
I am thinking my next Clan character article to expand would be Bjorn Jorgensson. Inner Sphere... I'd consider Hanse Davion. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 13:02, 28 March 2013 (PDT)

Superior Article Award

Superior Article Award, 4th ribbonHi ClanWolverine101, I'm happy to inform you that the Award Committee has agreed to grant you another Superior Article Award, this one for the closely related articles on Kathleen Heany and the 4th Skye Rangers combined.

Your research and equally importantly, your references are exemplary. This was showcased particularly in this case where you and I ended up in a fruitful (imho) discussion about what the apparently conflicting sources actually say. I am also happy with the professional manner in which you stood your ground and attempted to obtain an official ruling on the matter before willingly accepting a different interpretation.

I have also said in the past (and maintain) that the articles are a bit too long and not concise enough for my personal taste; but that should not be seen as more than a mere niggle. Frabby (talk) 06:50, 25 February 2013 (PST)

Frabby - I appreciate that. Thank you. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 18:47, 25 February 2013 (PST)

Hero of Project: Biographies IIC

Yep, that's you dude! The Great Wolves will have proper justice done to their articles. If you need to alter Kerlin Ward or any of the associated articles in any way, shape, or form to make his article fall into line, feel free to do so. --Rebs (talk) 09:18, 9 March 2013 (PST)

Ha. I'm still working on Ulric. :P ClanWolverine101 (talk) 12:29, 9 March 2013 (PST)
I know man, was just saying if something don't jibe, it was all good. I'm looking forward to Ulric. And finishing up here on the one right here, one of these days... I was just happy to see you pick up the Vladinator. :D I had to say something, that's huge.--Rebs (talk) 18:05, 9 March 2013 (PST)
Yeah... its weird. I didn't originally *want* to do Vlad. He always came off as such a slimy guy. But working on Ulric, and seeing the rather sorry state of Vlad's article, I felt I had to. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 21:07, 9 March 2013 (PST)
I understand that, too. The Jade Falcon Khanslaying helped him turn back around a little, but he never fully shakes villain status, because even that event was done with as much brutality as he could possibly put into it (in the case of Crichell). He aquits himself well in Wars of Reaving, but retains the "roguish bad guy" mystique which is by that point a somehow endearing trait to me (I used to despise him as well)... I'll still take on Lincoln Osis at some point then. What do you think about Leo Showers? If I do it, it won't have as much Tukayyid details, so I depend on Cyc and everyone else to not mind taking over those sections, and that is a very important thing to helping the article look it's very best. :) (Edit: Yeah, I caught that before I closed the tab, no Tukayyid for Leo... was tired I think) But I'll do all the detailing of his personality and career, for certain, and it will give me a good reason to do a super-critical re-read of Lethal Heritage. He was a scary guy, and the IS lucked out that Tyra made her choice so freely and quickly.
And that leads me to the last point in this crash course makeover of the major league Clan players: Aleksandr Kerensky. I was hoping maybe one of the well-versed and highly skilled Star League fans would maybe think about revamping him. It's a volunteer position, and it can be harrowing, of that I'm certain. Just throwing it out there, feedback and Trials of Refusal are acceptable too ;) --Rebs (talk) 04:19, 24 March 2013 (PDT)
Given the amount of material on Aleksandr Kerensky in the new "Liberation" books, I'd be reluctant to tackle him. :) A year or so ago, I briefly considered re-doing the Morgan Kell article. When the sheer scope of what I was considering became clear to me, I chickened out faster than a Locust at an Atlas convention.
Ulric... is going slower than I'd hoped. I already have a lot of material, and I've still got a LOT to data-mine. After this, I think I may scale back for awhile. Still, Leo Showers seems doable...
My poor copy of Lethal Heritage. I read that thing to death back in the day. I worry the spine won't survive this process. :P ClanWolverine101 (talk) 19:39, 24 March 2013 (PDT)
Potentially i could try to tackle it. I'm finishing up re-reading Omnibus version of Jade Phoenix triology on Aidian Pryde. -- Wrangler (talk) 19:01, 26 March 2013 (PDT)
I gotcha. I think I'm gonna finish Ulric, and then reconsider everything. As you've probably seen from my work, I bounce around a lot. A Wolf Dragoon character/unit, a Kurita character, back to the Dragoons, a Steiner unit, back to the Dragoons, a Clan Khan. And so forth. (You see a pattern? :) ) ClanWolverine101 (talk) 19:52, 26 March 2013 (PDT)
Understandable, as well. I feel the same way, it's why I didn't rush to complete all the Wolves and Jade Falcons, or didn't bust out all the basic Clan pages, like Circle of Equals. Stuff like that could have been done a long time ago, but these things need to be interspersed like breaks between the big articles for the sake of writer/editor sanity. Take your time with Ulric. And if Vlad waits a long time, he waits a long time. Even if its just Ulric, you have done an immense job. Thanks for helping out, I was sure you would probably have a good take on the Wolves.
And Wrangler, if you wanted to gather up info on Aleksandr, that would be great. No miracle giant page is necessary all at once, just bring info as needed and as you feel like. He's probably the central most of all characters, bridging the gap between the height of the Star League and the foundation of the Clans.
I'll see what i can do. I'm semi-retired and don't have alot time do articles like i used to. I'll look into Vlad. Right now i'm been reading strickly the Jade Falcon books, getting to Falcon Rising. Vlad in there couple times, but to alot. -- Wrangler (talk) 19:05, 10 April 2013 (PDT)
edit: we could maybe do Vlad by committee, a few sections at a time. Or if that was what you meant, Wrangler, you could take on the Vlad. I'm open for all kinds of ideas about the main characters, and wanted some to not have the same authorial tone. CW doing Ulric does a lot to dispel that appearance, as Ulric is more or less the main character of all the Clans. (followed by Aidan Pryde and Jaime Wolf too close to call, behind that is Nicholas Kerensky with a gun pointed at Brett Andrews... Smiley.gif--Rebs (talk) 02:58, 27 March 2013 (PDT)
I've been re-reading Blood of Kerensky while working on Ulric. I've come to realize that in the earlier books... Vlad was a Saturday morning cartoon villain. He really was. :P ClanWolverine101 (talk) 15:22, 28 March 2013 (PDT)
I don't think we can do article by committee. That would get messy if people jump in there speculating. These articles are written by the editor's impression of the original works and what were translating without direct copy from the source. Anyways, Robert Thurston version of Vlad isn't as comicbookish. But he not there much. -- Wrangler (talk) 19:05, 10 April 2013 (PDT)
You may be right. And yes, the Thurston version, and the later Stackpole versions, were all much better. But the stuff he pulled in Blood of Kerensky.... d*uche. :P
Anyway, I'm not moving onto him anytime soon. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 22:02, 10 April 2013 (PDT)

Update Needed template

Hy CW, why we don't put page numbers to the template when we added it on pages, then every one can datamine the source and can update it or not. I wait for some support. You like this idea?--Doneve (talk) 19:22, 23 March 2013 (PDT)

Doneve - I'll try to start doing that. Thanks! ClanWolverine101 (talk) 19:37, 23 March 2013 (PDT)

Rewritten: Ulric Kerensky

For your approval, I give you Ulric Kerensky.
This one... was obviously hard. Ulric was a major character in four novels. That wasn't the worst of it. Many of the older sourcebooks and scenario packs contain so much contradictory information and other issues that it makes me wonder why the developers couldn't have slowed down and done it right. The more recent Era Reports are obviously superior, but usually don't have the fine detail. Still, he was one of my favorite characters, and I was always bothered that Stackpole killed him off so soon.
Thanks first go to Rebs, for pushing me to do this. As frustrating as it can be, I admit, I do enjoy it.
Thanks to Doneve as well, for his help with images and other resources. I am sorry I had to drop the quote from the previous version. Even though it was used on Ulric's CCG card, it had nothing to do with him personally, and was written centuries before he was even born.
If any of you have time to read this monstrosity I wrote, I always appreciate constructive feedback. Thanks. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 14:36, 7 April 2013 (PDT)

It was a great read. I knew he had lots of sources that you knew the best to make sense of. He's a centerpiece character, and the Clan articles are now much more full for this strong and expansive rewrite. I know Ulric already had a link filled in, but between him and Andrews, at least 300 links now lead to excellent material regarding the history and nature of the Clans.
Again, thanks for helping out to bring vitality to the Clan pages. Articles like this are heavy-duty work. Random Act of Appreciation Award, 2nd ribbon --Rebs (talk) 13:01, 8 April 2013 (PDT)

Battle of Twycross

The Battle of Twycross is up.
I had two things in mind producing this article. The first is that last year, Mbear produced a fantastic conflict infobox for us, and accepted - with incredible grace - a lot of input from myself. If I'm going to ask someone to do something for the wiki, I should absolutely demonstrate how it can improve it. I really hope people look at what I did here, and it leads to other articles, or an improvement of the format. Second, I think all of us have a favorite era, and I think that era is usually the one they were first introduced to. For me, it was the Clan Invasion era. Lethal Heritage was my first novel, TRO3050 was my first TRO. The climax of LH was the Battle of Twycross, and I always felt it deserved the full treatment on this wiki.
Thank you, and I await your feedback. ClanWolverine101 (talk) 08:41, 1 May 2013 (PDT)

Nice! I like the article and it's good to see that infobox in use. Whoo-hoo!--Mbear(talk) 07:50, 2 May 2013 (PDT)
Another excellent article. I got TRO 3050, 3025 and 2750 all at the same time from a hobby store, but it was all when 3050 and the BattleTech Compendium were new. I read Blood of Kerensky next after the Jade Phoenix, and adjusted to the writing style differences rather easily and really enjoyed them. I got it right away that perspective means everything, whether we're talking about the characters in BT, or our own perspectives as gamers and writers of articles. So yeah, I agree that I'm partial to 3050 as a setting and the highest arcs of the over-all BT story. And I was thinking about that as I read it, that this is classic BT. Good article. --Rebs (talk) 08:29, 2 May 2013 (PDT)