Lucen Dacier
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lucendacier.bsky.social
Lucen Dacier
@lucendacier.bsky.social
310 followers 97 following 350 posts
Amateur author and fan of science fiction and good worldbuilding. Writer of BattleTech fan fiction, including Mechwarrior: Wild Rose.

Youtube (for my audio fiction): http://www.youtube.com/@lucendacier6851

Text also on Scribblehub and Space Battles!
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lucendacier.bsky.social
Merlin nearly died on the page for not being flashy. Yet Merlin proved a reliable multipurpose machine loved across the galaxy.

If you feel insignificant, remember the heroes are the reliable ones that show up, ready to do whatever is asked of them.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
MLN-1A Merlin. Made in 3010, this was the first completely new BattleMech design to be made in over 100 years. Weighing in at 60 tons, it has a top speed of 64 kph and a jump distance of 120 meters (4 hexes). A spiritual cousin to the Shadow Hawk and its "jack of all trades, master of none" design, the Merlin carries a PPC, 2 Medium lasers, an LRM-5, a machine gun, and a flamer. Ten and a half tons of armor keep it reasonably protected. The Merlin almost wasn't made, as the CEO of the manufacturer rejected the design. Fate stepped in, though. With that CEO's death and replacement by his son, the Merlin was revived. The design proved so successful that it saved Mountain Wolf BattleMechs from bankruptcy. Although uncommon among House units, Merlin is quite popular among mercenaries for its flexibility, cheap cost, and easy maintenance.
December 5, 2025 at 5:09 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
#nanofree day 30: Finishing off the month with a relatively modest 2660 words written.

Which by my count gives me a total of 63418 words written in the month of November.

I'm sure for pros that's just a light month, but for me it's not half-bad. Calling it a win!
December 1, 2025 at 3:08 AM
lucendacier.bsky.social
Orca was more powerful and dangerous than anything else. So much...that its pilot could not control it.

Let Orca be a lesson. Don't try to take everything on yourself. Don't be so focused on 'being powerful' that you're crushed under the weight.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
Orca, a 200-ton Superheavy. The biggest 'Mech ever made, this monster carries the firepower of a whole Lance, as well as a Sniper artillery piece. A closely-kept secret, this 'Mech was never fielded as it proved too much for the pilot to control reliably. However, the development of the Orca spurred production of later, more useful Superheavies, such as the Poseidon and the Ares.
November 29, 2025 at 12:27 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
It's hard to stay focused sometimes. The rest of the time it's impossible.

#writerslife
November 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
Lacking heavy firepower, Bloodhound faltered against other 'Mechs. Yet Bloodhound was very good at supporting units that couldn't see what it did.

Even if you're not the strongest, remember anyone can still stand up to support their friends.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
B1-HND Bloodhound. At 45 tons with a maximum speed of 118 kph, this 'Mech can move very fast over the modern battlefield. A Beagle Active Probe lets it do its assigned task of finding hidden units, and three ER Medium lasers backed up by a Streak SRM-6 and an ER Small Laser help defend it against the things it finds. 14 double heat sinks mean it can keep firing that arsenal all day, and 9.5 tons of CASE-equipped armor with Protected Actuators allow the pilot to take some risks. Bloodhound is very good at its intended role of infantry support, but can quickly find itself outclassed by other 'Mechs, even in its own weight bracket.
November 21, 2025 at 4:39 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
#nanofree day 18: wrote 1922 words.

Me: do the words count if they're in a lore document I'm writing in support of the main WIP?

The manager of nanofree, who is also me:
November 19, 2025 at 3:08 AM
lucendacier.bsky.social
#nanofree day 17: only 538 words in Matryoshka, but I have a new direction.

I generally go into a story with a vague idea and let the plan show up as I go through the first draft. That plan is slowly becoming clearer.
November 18, 2025 at 1:27 AM
lucendacier.bsky.social
Struggling both to get its weapons into range and to avoid overheating, Pillager was deeply flawed. Then upgraded equipment made it a versatile fighter.

Stay true to yourself, but rebuild if something's not working. It's how you become great.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
PLG-1N Pillager. This 100-ton Assault 'Mech was built as an upgraded Victor. Double AC/20s, an SRM-4, and three medium lasers make it a single-'Mech delete button at short range...but its maximum speed of 54kph means it's going to spent a lot of time trying to get those weapons into range of anything. An UrbanMech-grade jump range of 60 meters (2 hexes) helps in a pinch, but the 'Mech's 17 tons of armor will quickly get ground down before it can get into range to fire. 16 single heat sinks struggle to bleed off the heat from the inevitable alpha strikes. Even when HildCo had the manufacturing base to keep making these during the Succession Wars, the company chose to put off production until the upgraded PLG-3Z could be made again. PGL-3Z Pillager. The "default" variant of the Pillager and grown to far greater popularity than the original PLG-1N. This 100-tonner carries two Gauss Rifles, four Medium Lasers, and a Large Laser. An XL engine frees up the tonnage for this loadout while maintaining the 'Mech's original top speed of 54 kph, though the jump range has been upgraded to 90 meters (3 hexes). Double Heat Sinks give a much-needed boost to the 'Mech's cooling capacity, allowing the pilot to alpha strike at will. 19.5 tons of armor give the Pillager Atlas-grade protection. This is the model of Pillager HildCo held out for, not starting Pillager production again until they had the technology to make XL engines and Gauss rifles again.
November 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
#nanofree day 12: Wrote 1645 days in the Matryoshka WIP.

Would have written more, but I want to be able to sleep, and I've gotten up to that scene.

You know. _That_ scene.
November 13, 2025 at 2:36 AM
lucendacier.bsky.social
#nanofree day 11. Tried to get back in the saddle after a rough day yesterday.

1218 words in the Matryoshka story. Realized I don't have to write sequentially, so I skipped ahead to this scene.
November 12, 2025 at 2:55 AM
lucendacier.bsky.social
#nanofree Day 10: well I was going to get a bad day eventually. Just didn't have a chance to sit down today.

Just 119 words written today, all in the Matryoshka WIP.
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 AM
lucendacier.bsky.social
An ambitious design held back by constant technical problems, Scourge seemed trapped in a loop of testing. Then Scourge was re-worked into a good general-purpose fighter.

Speed bumps can hold back a good idea. Stick with it, see your dreams through.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
SCG-WF1 Scourge. This 65-ton 'Mech serves as a general-purpose fighter and heavy scout. A maximum speed of 86 kph and jump jets make it very mobile for its weight. 11 tons of light Ferro-Fibrous armor give it the maximum available amount of protection. A Gauss Rifle gives it long-range punch, but its real power comes from four ER Medium lasers loaded into the right arm, where an Actuator Enhancement System makes them even more accurate, and 11 Double Heat Sinks allows it to fire these guns regularly. The prototype SCG-WX1 Scourge was a different story. It carried an Ultra AC/10 and Improved Heavy Large Laser as main weapons backed up by three ER Medium Lasers, along with Reflective Armor. This prototype was bogged down with constant technical problems, ultimately being destroyed...though it would go on to inspire the design for the Rawhide BattleMech.
November 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
Raven was slow, weak, and jammed by its own experimental ECM gear. But designers stuck with it until the solution came, giving them a truly groundbreaking 'Mech.

Give the bad ideas a chance, you might just be missing one piece.

And Happy Halloween.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
RVN-3L Raven. The premier electronic warfare 'Mech, this 35-tonner carried all the tricks available in 3050: Guardian ECM, Beagle Active Probe, Narc Beacon, and TAG. Two medium lasers and an SRM-6 give it some punch when forced to fight. Four and a half tons of ferro-fibrous armor give some protection, but when in trouble you're better off using the 97.2 kph top speed to get to safety. Or use the TAG to call in some heavy backup. The prototype Raven, the infamous RVN-1X of 3024, was an embarrassing mess, limited to a top speed of 86 kph by lack of XL engine technology, and with only four tons of regular armor its first fight was often its last. The 1X's experimental electronic warfare suite was both heavier and less effective than the more advanced Guardian/Beagle combo, and had an unfortunate bug: when damaged, the ECM would jam the Raven's own systems. You can't really blame the Davions who would refit captured Ravens to carry a Large Laser and extra armor instead of ECM.
October 31, 2025 at 5:35 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
I have four WIPs in various stages of being done, so they're my focus. They're all either fantasy or sci-fi. Mostly mecha-sci-fi, if I'm being honest.

Heck, even the fantasy has mecha elements.
October 31, 2025 at 5:33 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
And remember, the rule is just to write as much as possible. Not necessarily to finish anything, though that is a bonus if I can.

We'll see how this goes.
October 27, 2025 at 12:53 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
An effort to revolutionize BattleMechs, Gestalt faded away with its cybernetic creators. Yet Gestalt was a high-power striker that gave its pilot unique options.

Always take the risk to push forward. That's how you find something truly amazing.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
D2X-G Gestalt. This 45-ton Word of Blake 'Mech has a Heavy PPC with a Capacitor, backed up by a pair of ER Medium Lasers. A top speed of 118 kph and 180 meter jump capacity also make it incredibly mobile. An Angel ECM suite and Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor keep it protected, and a Void Signature System lets it literally vanish from the field when it has to. The 'Mech's armor and weapons are only part of the story. Instead of a gyro, the Gestalt is piloted by a cybernetic pilot in a special Machina Domini PA(L) suit. This allows unprecedented control of the 'Mech, and also lets the pilot disembark and proceed on foot when the mission required. Whether the Gestalt was a testbed for equipment that would later be incorporated into existing Blakist hardware, or if it was the first in a whole new line of war machines, remains a mystery. The Blakists who designed it have vanished, and the Gestalt's factory has been destroyed. Machina Domini PA(L) interface armor. A necessary component of the Gestalt 'Mech, the VDNI-equipped pilot had to wear this to be able to interface with and control the 'Mech. The armor lets the pilot achieve a ground speed of 32.4 kph, and a Firedrake Support Needler and Anti-Personnel Weapon Mount give the pilot options in case of running into trouble while out of the 'Mech. This suit might have been the first model in a new generation of Machina Domini class equipment, but like the Gestalt, this power suit has vanished from the Inner Sphere.
October 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
For certain definitions of "nice," anyway.
October 17, 2025 at 5:32 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
Dismissed as a relic, Vision Quest was sidelined and forgotten. Yet Vision Quest was a highly capable Heavy 'Mech that fought to the bitter end.

Don't accept that your time has passed. Hold the line and push forward.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
Vision Quest, a 60-ton Nova Cat BattleMech. With a top speed of 86 kph and maximum armor, it had staying power on the battlefield. It also had stopping power, with a pair of Clan-level ER Large Lasers and a trio of Medium Pulse Lasers, all in support of an Improved Gauss Rifle, which was later upgraded to an Ultra AC/20. Vision Quest existed mostly as a symbolic 'Mech, honoring past Nova Cat Khans. Tragically the Nova Cats themselves dismissed it as lackluster. The last one was literally nuked from existence on Irece as the Draconis Combine wiped out the Nova Cats as punishment for their rebellion.
October 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
An effort to make the perfect Zombie 'Mech, Gotterdammerung kept its pilot incredibly safe, but in emergencies pilots could not escape from it.

Learn from this one. Protect yourself, but don't have walls up so strong you can't get out.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
Gotterdammerung, a 75-ton Lyran 'Mech. With a name that translates to "Twilight of the Gods," this can be fearsome to run into on the battlefield. An ER PPC and head-mounted LRM/15 give it respectable long-range punch. Its maximum speed of 64 kph can bring it into range to use its five ER Medium Lasers on unlucky targets. Just mind the heat on firing all those lasers at once! Twelve tons of Heavy Ferro Fibrous armor, a compact Gyro, regular-style fusion engine, and torso-mounted cockpit make the 'Mech's most important components difficult to take out quickly. On top of that, all five Medium Lasers are mounted directly in the Center Torso, so this 'Mech will keep shooting until it is completely torn apart. In emergencies however, pilots find the critical flaws: a life support system split between the side torsos and a buggy ejection system mean an unlucky pilot can find themselves sealed into an overheating metal box with no way out.
October 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
Great Wyrm did nothing wrong, but was still pushed aside by OmniMechs. Yet Great Wyrm was capable and popular enough to be revived when it was needed.

Falling behind doesn't mean you've failed. Hold the course and play to your strengths.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
Great Wyrm, a 45-ton Clan 'Mech from 2844. Arguably a Dragon IIC, this 'Mech sported an LRM/10 and two each of Ultra AC/2's, ER Medium Lasers, and ER Small Lasers. 7 tons of armor and a top speed of 86 kph kept it safe and mobile. Great Wyrm was seen in all the Clan toumans for a time, but was phased out of frontline positions as OmniMechs were introduced and became popular. Production ultimately stopped in 2872, but this was not the end of Great Wyrm's story. It would reappear in 3069, retooled and upgraded into the Great Wyrm 2 in time to fight the Blakists.
October 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
A mishmash of rare parts, Prometheus seemed a huge boondoggle. Yet Prometheus' unique construction actually fixed its interface system and made it a Solaris legend.

Don't give up because you're flawed. Sometimes flaws give us our strength.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
Prometheus. This 75-ton prototype was the equivalent of throwing a Loki, Thor, Mad Cat, and Vulture into a blender and seeing what came out. It would have been thrown in the dust bin of history and forgotten if not for it also having a prototype Direct Neural Interface control system included. The DNI allowed a minimally-trained pilot to take the Prometheus through a legendary run on Solaris VII. Furthermore, the 'Mech's patchwork construction actually worked as an inhibitor on the very dangerous DNI system, holding off the more dangerous side effects of directly plugging your brain into a giant robot.
September 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
A golden child of the SLDF, Mongoose was singled out, losing the tech that made it special. Yet Mongoose still retooled and carried on.

Life beats you down. The question is whether you'll give up, or move on with what strength you can muster.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
MON-67 Mongoose. A heavy downgrade from the MON-66, this 25-tonner lacks the Ferro-Fibrous armor, Endo Steel structure, or Beagle Active Probe of its original model. However, 5.5 tons of armor, a top speed of 129 kph, and a trio of Medium Lasers backed up by a Small Laser made this little 'Mech a very effective striker, even if it the loss of the BAP made it less of a scout. The original MON-66 Mongoose was celebrated as an excellent command 'Mech for scout units, able to coordinate whole companies of Light 'Mechs. This capability made it a big target on the battlefield, though. Repairs and lack of spare parts during the Succession Wars forced a switch to the MON-67 model, but the 'Mech never really disappeared. When the Helm Memory core brought lostech back, the much-vaunted MON-66 was revived and redeployed, serving even during the Word of Blake war.
September 19, 2025 at 5:25 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
An explorer in a universe full of warriors, Marco disappeared without a market. Yet Marco allowed some to dream of doing something other than war.

Not everything is a reason to fight. Sometimes it's best to step back with your friends and breathe.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
MR-8C Marco ExplorerMech. At 30 tons, this little 'Mech lets a crew of two explore the great beyond. A Salvage Arm lets it perform delicate maneuvers, and a Small Laser alongside four tons of armor keep it safe from any aggressive fauna. Marco stands out as one of very, very few 'Mechs to come with its own shoulder-mounted porch. There are some combat variants of the Marco, most notable being the 8D, equipped with a Large Laser and an SRM-4. But by and large the Marco is the 'Mech for those of us who say "I don't want to live on this planet anymore" and go hiking in style.
September 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
Naga is a cautionary tale. Made to force Clans to use artillery, it was weak. Some Clans ended up accepting artillery, but all discarded the Naga.

Don't force an idea. Be patient, let your creativity prove its worth, and you will find your place.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
Naga OmniMech. This 80-ton curiosity spends almost all of its available weapon space on a pair of permanently installed Arrow IV missile launchers. A huge XL engine allows this 'Mech to reach up to 86 kph top speed, which it will need to use if challenged: with only 9 tons of armor and three ER Small Lasers for defense, the Prime configuration is all but helpless in combat. The Naga was made to force the Clans to incorporate artillery into their ranks. While the Wolves were able to use it effectively on Tukayyid, most Clanners reject the 'Mech as being unable to fight the close-range single combat they prefer. With time Clan doctrine branched around the Naga: some Clans, especially those that moved to the Inner Sphere, started using artillery mounted on vehicles, while Nagas were converted to Naga II's, made for more traditional BattleMech combat.
September 5, 2025 at 4:09 PM
lucendacier.bsky.social
A black sheep of the early OmniMechs, Gargoyle Prime was fast but lacked any real punch. This belied other configurations that made it truly fearsome.

If you seem bland, it just means you're finding your place. You can still surprise people.

#battletech #GoodFeelsFriday
Gargoyle, or Man O'War in the Inner Sphere. This 80-ton Assault 'Mech managed a top speed of 86 kph, which let it keep up with other, lighter Clan 'Mechs in the high-speed engagements they favored. The Prime configuration had paired LB 5-X's and SRM-6's, and a bonus ER small laser just in case. Other configurations equipped it with more energy weapons, a Gauss Rifle, or an AC/20, giving it the bite it needed to have a real impact on the battlefield. Most configurations also did something not commonly seen in early Clan OmniMechs: it carried extra ammo, which allowed the pilot to stay in the fight longer. Gargoyles tended to carry all their weapons in the arms, meaning pilots had to be careful to preserve these limbs if they wanted to stay in the fight.
August 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM