Sarna Challenge 1: Dark Age Era Reading
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- This challenge (started on 05 June 2021) is to create an essay (i.e., a page not within the usual BattleTechWiki article space) that will help guide readers unfamiliar with the Dark Age Era through that period, in preparation for the ilClan Era. The focus of this essay (which will be featured on the Sarna Main Page and relevant articles) is to chronologize all the products on CGL's Recommended Reading list (and those that are not) for the era, with brief descriptions of how the product advances the timeline or important events, people, technologies, etc., within.
- Additionally, using the consensus process, each of these products will be rated as to how important they are to the reader to understand the Dark Age. (To be clear: we're not rating the product, but the importance of its contents to its influence on the Dark Age era.) The categories are:
- Recommended
- Optional
- Unnecessary
- This is a group challenge, so early Editors will have the advantage in guiding how it is presented. This challenge is being hosted for collaboration purposes on the Sarna Discord Community, so Editors should check both this challenge's discussion tab and the Discord channel (#wiki-challenge1) prior to making major editorial changes.
- The challenge will run until the team of volunteers feel the essay is ready for "prime time", with all material placed between the two broad lines below this statement. Editors, on your keyboards...get set...go!
| Title | Years | Type | Synopsis | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Age Turning Points: Liao | 3134 | Scenario Pack | Unnecessary (ex) | |
| Ghost War | 3132 – 3133 | Novel | ||
| Call to Arms, A | 3133 | Novel | ||
| Flight of the Falcon | 3134 | Novel | ||
| Target of Opportunity | 3135 | Novel | ||
| Sword of Sedition | 3134 - 3135 | Novel | ||
| Surrender Your Dreams | 3135 - 3138 | Novel | ||
| Masters of War | 3136 - 3137 | Novel | ||
| Rending of Falcons, A | 3135 - 3136 | Novel | ||
| Bonfire of Worlds, A | 3139 - 3143 | Novel | ||
| Forever Faithful | 3060 - 3130 | Novel | Former Clan Smoke Jaguar Star Colonel Paul Moon and the former Smoke Jaguar Star Captain Trent set aside their feud to preserve what's left of Clan Smoke Jaguar and lead them away from the Clan Homeworlds before the rival Clans absorb what is left of their Clan. This novel shows the exodus of Clan Smoke Jaguar and its transformation into the Fidelis. Significance: This novel adds background on how Clan Smoke Jaguar ended up as special forces of the Republic of the Sphere |
Optional |
| Splinter of Hope, A | 3147 - 3148 | Novel | ||
| Anvil, The | 3148 | Novella | Clan Jade Falcon Galaxy Commander Stephanie Chistu is ordered to conquer the Lyran Commonwealth planet Coventry. She receives a strict set of orders from the Jade Falcon Khan Malvina Hazen to force Chistu to fall in line with the Mongol Doctrine. The Lyran defenders are led by General of the Armies Roderick Steiner and General Jasek Kelswa-Steiner.
Significance: This novella introduces future Jade Falcon Khan Stephanie Chistu as an opposing force to Khan Malvina Hazen and her use of the Mongol Doctrine. |
Optional |
| Divided We Fall | 3149 - 3150 | Novella | Clan Wolf Star Captain Marotta Kerensky is sent on a mission to win Wolf's Dragoons support in the upcoming fight for Terra. A century after the original Clan Invasion there are still some members of Wolf's Dragoons who are willing to return to Clan Wolf, this leads to a conflict in the leadership of the mercenary unit. This novella introduces the Dominator Clan BattleMech
Significance: This novella adds some background on how Wolf's Dragoons joined in on the invasion of Terra by Clan Wolf. |
Optional |
| Blood of the Isle | 3134 - 3135 | Novel | ||
| Scorpion Jar, The | 3134 - 3135 | Novel | ||
| Fortress Republic | 3135 | Novel | ||
| Wolf Hunters | Novel | |||
| Rock of the Republic | 3145 - 3149 | Novella | ||
| Grey Watch Protocol - The Highlander Covenant (series) part 1 | 3150 | Novel | ||
| Paid in Blood - The Highlander Covenant (series) part 2 | 3150 | Novel | ||
| Honor's Gauntlet | 3150 - 3151 | Novella | ||
| Children of Kerensky | 3121 - 3151 | Novel | This novel tells the story of how Clan Wolf Khan Alaric Ward and Jade Falcon Khan Malvina Hazen prepared themselves and worked towards fulfilling the ultimate goal of the Clans - conquering Terra and making their Clan become ilClan. It also tells the reader how a way through The Wall was found.
Significance: Leads up directly to Hour of the Wolf and introduces many characters featured in Hour of the Wolf. |
Recommended |
| Icons of War | 3071 - 3077 | Novella | Clan Wolf Khan Vlad Ward orders Elemental warrior Garmen Kerensky to retrieve the body of Aleksandr Kerensky all the while the Wars of Reaving break out in the Clan Homeworlds and Clan Wolf evacuates Clan Space.
Significance: This novella adds background on how Clan Wolf managed to get in possession of the McKenna's Pride which is used as Clan Wolf flagship during the events of Hour of the Wolf. |
Optional |
| Hour of the Wolf | 3151 | Novel | The Clans Wolf and Jade Falcon invade Terra and destroy what remains of the Republic of the Sphere on Terra. After the defeat of the Republic, the Clans Wolf and Jade Falcon hold a Trial of Possession over Terra to determine which Clan has the right to be called "ilClan".
Significance: This novel ends the Dark Age and marks the beginning of the ilClan Era. |
Recommended |
| "Grand Theft Agro" | 3133 | Short Story | ||
| "The Running Man" | 3098 | Short Story | ||
| By Temptations and By War | 3134 | Novel | ||
| Fire at Will | 3136 - 3138 | Novel | ||
| The Last Charge | 3138 | Novel | ||
| To Ride the Chimera | 3138 - 3139 | Novel | ||
| Dark Age Turning Points: Vega | 3133 - 3137 | Scenario Pack | ||
| Era Digest: Dark Age | 3128 - 3134 | Sourcebook | ||
| Era Report: 3145 | 3132 - 3145 | Sourcebook | ||
| Experimental Technical Readout: Most Wanted | Technical Readout | |||
| Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 1 | Technical Readout | |||
| Field Manual: 3145 | 3132 - 3145 | Sourcebook | ||
| Historical: Wars of the Republic Era | 3085 - 3145 | Sourcebook | ||
| Technical Readout: 3085 | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3085 Supplemental | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: Prototypes | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3145 | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3145 Capellan Confederation | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3145 Federated Suns | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenaries | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3145 Republic of the Sphere | Technical Readout | |||
| Technical Readout: 3150 | Technical Readout | |||
| Shattered Fortress | 3146 - 3150 | Sourcebook | This sourcebook shows the latest developments and military campaigns in the Inner Sphere towards the end of the Dark Age and the ultimate conquest of Terra by the Clans. It also contains scenarios and profiles for selected units. | Recommended |
| Redemption Rift | 3138 - 3140 | Novel | Wolf's Dragoons are once again employed by House Kurita to fight against House Davion, events from Wolves on the Border are referenced frequently. | Optional |
| Blood Will Tell | 3148 - 3149 | Novel | Danai Liao-Centrella leads troops of the Capellan Confederation in a campaign against the Republic of the Sphere. At the same time, she needs to learn how to become a leader for the people of the Capellan Confederation beyond her duties as a military officer. | Optional |
| Iron Dawn Rogue Academy Trilogy Book 1 | 3150 | Novel | Unnecessary | |
| Ghost Hour Rogue Academy Trilogy Book 2 | 3150 | Novel | Unnecessary | |
| Crimson Night Rogue Academy Trilogy Book 3 | 3150 | Novel | Unnecessary | |
| Fortress of Lies | 3134 | Novel |