Frequently Asked Questions

This section of the rules is constantly in flux. It is made up a compilation of questions and answers that have been brought up on the HPG Uplink as well as in E-mails from NBT members.

The Questions

1. Is membership in another NBT league requried to play in NBT-Solaris? -  11-03-04
2. Do I have to go through the entire character creation system to play in NBT-Solaris? -  11-03-04
3. Are the Life Paths and Affiliations listed in the current automation the only ones available? - 11-04-04
4. What are the requirements for a created character to be used in NBT-Solaris drops? - 11-11-04
5. I'm getting errors during character creation! What gives? - 11-11-06
6. Where's the rest? - 11-11-06

The Answers

1. Is membership in another NBT league required to play in NBT-Solaris?

   Not at all. We have setup the system to link to the HPG Uplink rather than any individual NBT league. Thus to use the character creation system, you only need a HPG account. Please review the Join NBT-Solaris page for details.

2. Do I have to go through the entire character creation system to play in NBT-Solaris?

   In the final version, once Stage 2 is launched, no, you will not. At present though, with only Stage 1 (Character Creation) available, that is the sole offering of the league.

   While creating a custom character is recommended, we understand that there are some who will wish to just play in the league.  To accomplish this, we will create a host of generic characters with various skills and histories. By selecting one of these and just choosing a name for your character you will be able to participate in NBT-Solaris Stage 2. Note - These are generic characters, and do not get many of the bonuses that created characters receive.  But they will enable you to play the game quickly and easily.

3. Are the Life Paths and Affiliations listed in the current automation the only ones available?

   At present, yes this is the case. As time progresses though, the NBT-Solaris Admin Team will be providing Booster Packs based on additional information available in various Classic BattleTech source books, as well as possibly custom Life Paths and the like. For example, we have plans to add a Mercenary Booster Pack, additional Inner Sphere Academies (DCM, FWL, etc), even specialized Covert Ops Affiliations and Life Paths. Each group will be a seperate Booster Pack. Announcements will be made once all data entry and testing has been completed, and the Booster Packs are made available for public use.

4. What are the requirements for a created character to be used in NBT-Solaris drops?

   In order for a character viable for NBT-Solaris drops, it must meet the following requirements:

   • Active Character: Only Active Characters may drop in NBT-Solaris. All NPCs and Retired characters are for RP purposes only, and may not actively participate in the league.
   • MechWarrior FSG: A character must have either the MechWarrior FSG or the Clan MechWarrior FSG in order to be able to be saved as an Active Character. Once you have completed your life paths, if you do not have one of these FSGs, you will be asked if you wish to take supplementary Solaris training to acquire these skills. Characters without may only be NPCs.
   • Valid Role-Play: Before a character is allowed to participate in NBT-Solaris drops, the Sector Administrator will make a final review of their role-play, background, creation statistics and so forth. This will prevent unweildy or unreasonable characters from entering play within the league.

    

5. I'm getting errors during character creation! What gives?

   Please bear in mind that Stage 1 is still in beta phase, and as such it does have some errors still present. We repair the errors that we can, but we do not have a designated coder for this project any longer. Character Creation using the vast majority of options is possible, but there are some combos that will result in crashes or errors (some skill handlers are incomplete). If this is the case, you can report the error on the HPG, but more than likely you will need to create a slightly different character. If the crash is serious, we will strive to correct it as best we can. We appreciate both your patience and understanding in this regard.
   

6. Where's the rest?

   Stage 1 of NBT-Solaris comprises the Character Creation system. Our original goal was to have 2 additional stages: Stage 2 was to be a ladder league usable with the MW4 game engine; Stage 3 was to be an online betting system (OTB) that would allow people to bet their winnings on other matches. Sadly, due to real life constraints, these additional stages were never brought to completion. Hopefully someday that will occur, be it for MW4 or another game platform. Someday a coder will rise, one with the skill, the time and the interest to bring this undertaking to their awesome end. Until such time though, we are pleased to make the MW RPG Character Creator available to all who wish to use it.