Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 08:31:10 PM
Jeffy, I didn't say it was reason enough...because barring a contract (and the author made no mention of such) a company is fully within its rights to end the relationship for any reason or no reason whatsoever so long as it's not for legally defined discrimination (and this doesn't qualify).

I'm not saying I like what Catalyst did. I haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. I don't wish ill upon the author,  and I hope he finds success away from Catalyst.

Nice dissembling and backpeddling.

You did, however, say:

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 01:28:35 PM
Looks like he's leaning heavily into his politically charged fiction titles, and Catalyst (really their parent company) doesn't want to be associated with the guy authoring those. That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut lose. He can still write BattleTech if he likes, but it'll be fan fiction.

The man has two political thrillers to his name. Explain to me how that is "leaning heavily" if you can.

From what I've read, and apparently you didn't bother to, is that Catalyst started getting heat from a small very vocal group of stalkers who don't like this guy because he is a conservative. The lead nutcase is claiming that there are "hidden Confederate messages" in his writing. Explain how someone wanting books pulled from shelves because of "hidden Confederate messages" is credible. This guy is a credible writer of some fame and Catalyst Games is cancelling him because of a bunch of crazies who have internet access. It isn't that he violated company policy or the terms of his contract, it is because Catalyst became a bunch of spineless cowards in the face of woke scolds.

Your last post claims that you are, "not saying you like what Catalyst did. You haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. You don't wish ill upon the author", but you sure as fuck were quick to claim that, "That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut loose." Quick to join the woke mob and slow to realize your mistake.

You are one weaselly piece of shit, HippyDirt.

Once a property is sold it will inevitably go woke. At this point it isn't even a surprise anymore. Only when an IP is held by its original creators is there any chance of it staying true to the original vision. But, Battletech wasn't that good of a game and the setting is pretty generic so there isn't really a need for anyone to support it anyway.

Razorfist and others are trying to get this guy his job back but, to me, that is foolish. Catalyst Game Labs have very clearly stated who they like and who they hate so even if this guy is allowed to write again, it won't change anything.

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 30, 2022, 10:28:44 PMThis guy is a credible writer of some fame and Catalyst Games is cancelling him because of a bunch of crazies who have internet access. It isn't that he violated company policy or the terms of his contract, it is because Catalyst became a bunch of spineless cowards in the face of woke scolds.

At this point why don't know if Catalyst was caving to a mob or just waiting around for an excuse to get rid of him. At this point I don't think they deserve the benefit of the doubt.

HappyDerp simping for 'Faith McCloskey' I see. No real surprise there.

The attempted narrative being pushed is that Pardoe was being a jerk to BT fans. Now, I WILL defend a firing where someone acts like a dickhead to a customer -- witness Jessica Price's unceremonious turfing from ArenaNet -- but I wanna see more than 'oh he was a jerk'. Let's see some screencaps.

He was, in fact, being stalked and sent death threats by this McCloskey loon. And the crazy fuck made enough noise to get him tossed, as near as I can tell.

I am honestly astonished by this. According to Pardoe, the current president of Catalyst is Loren Coleman -- who caught all sorts of hell over funds getting misused. But they never fired him, or pressed charges.

Per Pardoe, the owners of the IP, Fanatics, demanded Catalyst make the screaming 'go away'.

Pardoe's blog entry on the matter: https://blainepardoe.wordpress.com/2022/07/31/moving-forward/

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 30, 2022, 10:28:44 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 08:31:10 PM
Jeffy, I didn't say it was reason enough...because barring a contract (and the author made no mention of such) a company is fully within its rights to end the relationship for any reason or no reason whatsoever so long as it's not for legally defined discrimination (and this doesn't qualify).

I'm not saying I like what Catalyst did. I haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. I don't wish ill upon the author,  and I hope he finds success away from Catalyst.

Nice dissembling and backpeddling.

You did, however, say:

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 01:28:35 PM
Looks like he's leaning heavily into his politically charged fiction titles, and Catalyst (really their parent company) doesn't want to be associated with the guy authoring those. That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut lose. He can still write BattleTech if he likes, but it'll be fan fiction.

The man has two political thrillers to his name. Explain to me how that is "leaning heavily" if you can.

From what I've read, and apparently you didn't bother to, is that Catalyst started getting heat from a small very vocal group of stalkers who don't like this guy because he is a conservative. The lead nutcase is claiming that there are "hidden Confederate messages" in his writing. Explain how someone wanting books pulled from shelves because of "hidden Confederate messages" is credible. This guy is a credible writer of some fame and Catalyst Games is cancelling him because of a bunch of crazies who have internet access. It isn't that he violated company policy or the terms of his contract, it is because Catalyst became a bunch of spineless cowards in the face of woke scolds.

Your last post claims that you are, "not saying you like what Catalyst did. You haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. You don't wish ill upon the author", but you sure as fuck were quick to claim that, "That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut loose." Quick to join the woke mob and slow to realize your mistake.

You are one weaselly piece of shit, HippyDirt.

Jeffy, being called weasels by a piece of shit like you is meaningless to me. You really have nothing here, little guy, but do keep barking like the chihuahua bitch you are.

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 31, 2022, 06:26:41 PM

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 30, 2022, 10:28:44 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 08:31:10 PM
Jeffy, I didn't say it was reason enough...because barring a contract (and the author made no mention of such) a company is fully within its rights to end the relationship for any reason or no reason whatsoever so long as it's not for legally defined discrimination (and this doesn't qualify).

I'm not saying I like what Catalyst did. I haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. I don't wish ill upon the author,  and I hope he finds success away from Catalyst.

Nice dissembling and backpeddling.

You did, however, say:

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 01:28:35 PM
Looks like he's leaning heavily into his politically charged fiction titles, and Catalyst (really their parent company) doesn't want to be associated with the guy authoring those. That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut lose. He can still write BattleTech if he likes, but it'll be fan fiction.

The man has two political thrillers to his name. Explain to me how that is "leaning heavily" if you can.

From what I've read, and apparently you didn't bother to, is that Catalyst started getting heat from a small very vocal group of stalkers who don't like this guy because he is a conservative. The lead nutcase is claiming that there are "hidden Confederate messages" in his writing. Explain how someone wanting books pulled from shelves because of "hidden Confederate messages" is credible. This guy is a credible writer of some fame and Catalyst Games is cancelling him because of a bunch of crazies who have internet access. It isn't that he violated company policy or the terms of his contract, it is because Catalyst became a bunch of spineless cowards in the face of woke scolds.

Your last post claims that you are, "not saying you like what Catalyst did. You haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. You don't wish ill upon the author", but you sure as fuck were quick to claim that, "That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut loose." Quick to join the woke mob and slow to realize your mistake.

You are one weaselly piece of shit, HippyDirt.

Jeffy, being called weasels by a piece of shit like you is meaningless to me. You really have nothing here, little guy, but do keep barking like the chihuahua bitch you are.

Everyone reading this can tell you're a felcher, HippyDirt.

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 31, 2022, 07:17:34 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 31, 2022, 06:26:41 PM

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 30, 2022, 10:28:44 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 08:31:10 PM
Jeffy, I didn't say it was reason enough...because barring a contract (and the author made no mention of such) a company is fully within its rights to end the relationship for any reason or no reason whatsoever so long as it's not for legally defined discrimination (and this doesn't qualify).

I'm not saying I like what Catalyst did. I haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. I don't wish ill upon the author,  and I hope he finds success away from Catalyst.

Nice dissembling and backpeddling.

You did, however, say:

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 01:28:35 PM
Looks like he's leaning heavily into his politically charged fiction titles, and Catalyst (really their parent company) doesn't want to be associated with the guy authoring those. That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut lose. He can still write BattleTech if he likes, but it'll be fan fiction.

The man has two political thrillers to his name. Explain to me how that is "leaning heavily" if you can.

From what I've read, and apparently you didn't bother to, is that Catalyst started getting heat from a small very vocal group of stalkers who don't like this guy because he is a conservative. The lead nutcase is claiming that there are "hidden Confederate messages" in his writing. Explain how someone wanting books pulled from shelves because of "hidden Confederate messages" is credible. This guy is a credible writer of some fame and Catalyst Games is cancelling him because of a bunch of crazies who have internet access. It isn't that he violated company policy or the terms of his contract, it is because Catalyst became a bunch of spineless cowards in the face of woke scolds.

Your last post claims that you are, "not saying you like what Catalyst did. You haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. You don't wish ill upon the author", but you sure as fuck were quick to claim that, "That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut loose." Quick to join the woke mob and slow to realize your mistake.

You are one weaselly piece of shit, HippyDirt.

Jeffy, being called weasels by a piece of shit like you is meaningless to me. You really have nothing here, little guy, but do keep barking like the chihuahua bitch you are.

Everyone reading this can tell you're a felcher, HippyDirt.

Keep yapping little dog.

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 31, 2022, 07:25:04 PM

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 31, 2022, 07:17:34 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 31, 2022, 06:26:41 PM

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 30, 2022, 10:28:44 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 08:31:10 PM
Jeffy, I didn't say it was reason enough...because barring a contract (and the author made no mention of such) a company is fully within its rights to end the relationship for any reason or no reason whatsoever so long as it's not for legally defined discrimination (and this doesn't qualify).

I'm not saying I like what Catalyst did. I haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. I don't wish ill upon the author,  and I hope he finds success away from Catalyst.

Nice dissembling and backpeddling.

You did, however, say:

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 01:28:35 PM
Looks like he's leaning heavily into his politically charged fiction titles, and Catalyst (really their parent company) doesn't want to be associated with the guy authoring those. That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut lose. He can still write BattleTech if he likes, but it'll be fan fiction.

The man has two political thrillers to his name. Explain to me how that is "leaning heavily" if you can.

From what I've read, and apparently you didn't bother to, is that Catalyst started getting heat from a small very vocal group of stalkers who don't like this guy because he is a conservative. The lead nutcase is claiming that there are "hidden Confederate messages" in his writing. Explain how someone wanting books pulled from shelves because of "hidden Confederate messages" is credible. This guy is a credible writer of some fame and Catalyst Games is cancelling him because of a bunch of crazies who have internet access. It isn't that he violated company policy or the terms of his contract, it is because Catalyst became a bunch of spineless cowards in the face of woke scolds.

Your last post claims that you are, "not saying you like what Catalyst did. You haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. You don't wish ill upon the author", but you sure as fuck were quick to claim that, "That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut loose." Quick to join the woke mob and slow to realize your mistake.

You are one weaselly piece of shit, HippyDirt.

Jeffy, being called weasels by a piece of shit like you is meaningless to me. You really have nothing here, little guy, but do keep barking like the chihuahua bitch you are.

Everyone reading this can tell you're a felcher, HippyDirt.

Keep yapping little dog.

I'm just laughing at you getting pissed off over people siding with an author who got screwed by the woke mob. The turning tide scares you.

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 31, 2022, 07:34:41 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 31, 2022, 07:25:04 PM

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 31, 2022, 07:17:34 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 31, 2022, 06:26:41 PM

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 30, 2022, 10:28:44 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 08:31:10 PM
Jeffy, I didn't say it was reason enough...because barring a contract (and the author made no mention of such) a company is fully within its rights to end the relationship for any reason or no reason whatsoever so long as it's not for legally defined discrimination (and this doesn't qualify).

I'm not saying I like what Catalyst did. I haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. I don't wish ill upon the author,  and I hope he finds success away from Catalyst.

Nice dissembling and backpeddling.

You did, however, say:

Quote from: HappyDaze on July 30, 2022, 01:28:35 PM
Looks like he's leaning heavily into his politically charged fiction titles, and Catalyst (really their parent company) doesn't want to be associated with the guy authoring those. That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut lose. He can still write BattleTech if he likes, but it'll be fan fiction.

The man has two political thrillers to his name. Explain to me how that is "leaning heavily" if you can.

From what I've read, and apparently you didn't bother to, is that Catalyst started getting heat from a small very vocal group of stalkers who don't like this guy because he is a conservative. The lead nutcase is claiming that there are "hidden Confederate messages" in his writing. Explain how someone wanting books pulled from shelves because of "hidden Confederate messages" is credible. This guy is a credible writer of some fame and Catalyst Games is cancelling him because of a bunch of crazies who have internet access. It isn't that he violated company policy or the terms of his contract, it is because Catalyst became a bunch of spineless cowards in the face of woke scolds.

Your last post claims that you are, "not saying you like what Catalyst did. You haven't liked anything about that company since they screwed over their SR freelancers years ago. You don't wish ill upon the author", but you sure as fuck were quick to claim that, "That's just a consequence of his actions, not censorship. You work for a company, you keep them happy or you are cut loose." Quick to join the woke mob and slow to realize your mistake.

You are one weaselly piece of shit, HippyDirt.

Jeffy, being called weasels by a piece of shit like you is meaningless to me. You really have nothing here, little guy, but do keep barking like the chihuahua bitch you are.

Everyone reading this can tell you're a felcher, HippyDirt.

Keep yapping little dog.

I'm just laughing at you getting pissed off over people siding with an author who got screwed by the woke mob. The turning tide scares you.

You're imagining things again. I have almost no emotional investment in this matter at all. I was interested to see shit flung at Catalyst,  but I don't personally have any attachment to this author, and, ultimately, Catalyst isn't likely to suffer from making this move. And, as you've shown, the author has a diverse profile, so he still has options. This is not a "turning tide" moment; it's just the way businesses operate today and the risks that anyone dependent upon sustaining employment faces.

Well damn...

I really did like Battletech.  One of my all time favorite games.

I have slowly watched the games that I love, drowned in a scummy tide of wokeness. 

Quote from: Svenhelgrim on July 31, 2022, 07:48:02 PM
Well damn...

I really did like Battletech.  One of my all time favorite games.

I have slowly watched the games that I love, drowned in a scummy tide of wokeness.

A while back I had stated my belief that the miniature wargaming scene would probably be the most resistant to wokeist infection, but now I worry that I was sorely mistaken.

One author does not a hobby make, but when you kick out a guy who's been writing source material and novels for over 35 years, it's kind of rattling.

Quote from: Ghostmaker on July 31, 2022, 08:54:28 PM

Quote from: Svenhelgrim on July 31, 2022, 07:48:02 PM
Well damn...

I really did like Battletech.  One of my all time favorite games.

I have slowly watched the games that I love, drowned in a scummy tide of wokeness.

A while back I had stated my belief that the miniature wargaming scene would probably be the most resistant to wokeist infection, but now I worry that I was sorely mistaken.

One author does not a hobby make, but when you kick out a guy who's been writing source material and novels for over 35 years, it's kind of rattling.

I'll just take that money I was going to spend on Catalyst Battletech matereal and spend it on Blaine Pardo's books.  Should be a good read.

Quote from: jeff37923 on July 31, 2022, 07:17:34 PMEveryone reading this can tell you're a felcher, HippyDirt.

We all already know what he is. That's why most of us don't respond to him.

Quote from: Ghostmaker on July 31, 2022, 08:54:28 PMA while back I had stated my belief that the miniature wargaming scene would probably be the most resistant to wokeist infection, but now I worry that I was sorely mistaken.

The IP that are in the most danger are those that have fiction books written about them. These attract the "I read a book so I am part of the community" crowd. Those guys are the death of any game-related fandom.

BLAINE L. PARDOE Discusses Battletech Firing - RazörForce Offensive

I was just getting back into Battletech. The Catalyst editions are great, the plastic miniatures are fantastic, and I was looking forward to playing the game again at my local gaming pub.

Now, why? I'm not going to support a company that does the dirty work for woke shitstains.

Quote from: Ratman_tf on August 01, 2022, 01:39:09 AM

BLAINE L. PARDOE Discusses Battletech Firing - RazörForce Offensive

I was just getting back into Battletech. The Catalyst editions are great, the plastic miniatures are fantastic, and I was looking forward to playing the game again at my local gaming pub.

Now, why? I'm not going to support a company that does the dirty work for woke shitstains.

Good find. Thank you for the video.