Switch Theme:

Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit  [RSS] 

Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/13 20:40:01


Post by: Formosa


So ive been playing the crap out of this game, and.... love it, the levels of optional complexity is so refreshing, the fact I can play it as both a TT game and a hex game OR alpha strike, awesome, the models are meh but a few of you directed me to a good place of good models, anyway, I digress, get it ladies and gents, its awesome.

just thought id share


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/13 20:43:00


Post by: megatrons2nd


My favorite game, I wish more people played. It's hard to find players, most people want faster gameplay.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/13 20:51:43


Post by: Formosa


 megatrons2nd wrote:
My favorite game, I wish more people played. It's hard to find players, most people want faster gameplay.


Its gaining traction in Norfolk, overtaking 40k in a shocking amount of time actually, the cheap buy in, the cheap books, the models, ive always been a fan of MechWarrior and was lucky to find the intro box set for £35 in my local charity shop (sealed) and the ball well and truly started rolling.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/14 02:27:28


Post by: Mattlov


I am hoping sometime soon that the Catalyst Demo Site gets running properly again. You could easily locate players.

As it is, go over here http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php and find the Challenges and Gatherings Forum. You'll hopefully find some people.

You can go here too http://www.lordsofthebattlefield.com/forum/index.php, especially if you are looking for second hand minis.

And I'm a Catalyst Demo Agent. You can ask me anything you'd like!

Keep on Battleteching!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/14 03:12:55


Post by: Charistoph


My first tabletop game. My only regret was not keeping the dozens of books I collected before my mission. It colors my expectations of games, and aside from speed granted by abstractedness, I find many failing in comparison.

Just how it handles the turn sequence alone is superior and would correct many of 40K's problems if they went with something similar, imo. (not all, mind, just many).


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/14 05:22:47


Post by: Stormonu


Still have all my old Battletech (and Wizkids Mechwarrior Dark Age) stuff, and I love the Technical Readouts and the 4th succession era lore.

Always hated the random hit locations in the game, though, and how SRM missiles were handled. Clan stuff ... yeesh.

I have the Alpha Strike rules and need to coax my old buddies into giving them a whirl one day.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/14 10:11:56


Post by: megatrons2nd


 Mattlov wrote:
I am hoping sometime soon that the Catalyst Demo Site gets running properly again. You could easily locate players.

As it is, go over here http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php and find the Challenges and Gatherings Forum. You'll hopefully find some people.

You can go here too http://www.lordsofthebattlefield.com/forum/index.php, especially if you are looking for second hand minis.

And I'm a Catalyst Demo Agent. You can ask me anything you'd like!

Keep on Battleteching!


It would help if every Battletech Player used it. As it is, I have a total of 6 players within an hours drive of me, most in different directions, and none, aside from me, in my home town.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/14 11:10:54


Post by: Siygess


 Stormonu wrote:
Still have all my old Battletech (and Wizkids Mechwarrior Dark Age) stuff, and I love the Technical Readouts and the 4th succession era lore.

Always hated the random hit locations in the game, though, and how SRM missiles were handled. Clan stuff ... yeesh.

I have the Alpha Strike rules and need to coax my old buddies into giving them a whirl one day.


Same here, the random hit locations made it hard to capitalise on high damage / high heat weapons such as the Blaser cannon unless you could create favourable 2vs1 shoot outs where a high damage weapon could be complimented by SRMs and / or multiple medium damage weapons on the second mech.. in the hope that you manage to get a strong hit and a medium hit on the same location. Still, I've been playing it with my kids quite a lot over the last year and I will be running a DM'ed campaign at my local club in the autumn. Alpha Strike might appeal to them more than classic BT, though..


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/14 12:00:59


Post by: Mattlov


The random it locations are what defines standard Battletech. It isn't supposed to be quick kills and smashing through 'Mechs left and right. Battletech combat is a GRIND, also to represent the toughness of the 'Mech. That's why even in the 4th Succession War you might find yourself piloting or fighting a completely functional 'Mech that is over 300 years old.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/14 23:43:19


Post by: Elbows


Love the universe, dislike the game...so I made my own version of it, and I enjoy it immensely. I think the current state of Battletech is a comical mess and a half though (i.e. the hundreds of books, thousands of mechs, and the predominance of build-to-win, etc.).

But if I keep it at 3025 and 3050 I'm still a big fan.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/15 04:11:28


Post by: nobody


Haven't played in around a decade, but it still holds a place in my heart.

I still have several of the old rulebooks (I collected up to the 3058 readout) and still have several of the old Ral Partha minis floating around.

Haven't run across anybody who plays in years.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/15 05:40:01


Post by: Vertrucio


Nostalgia only goes so far, and people with nostalgia for btech are running out of time, money, and sometimes even life.

If you want battletech to make a come back, time to update every mech to use the new designes put forth by the PC games. Because a bunch of 80s reject robots, no matter how they might have looked to your teenage self, doesn't cut it these days.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/15 07:01:38


Post by: Chillreaper


I love this game.

Got a chance to play it a few weeks ago (after years of absence) and it's still the same as ever.

The biggest mistake that people make is to scale up the size of the games - going beyond 4 'mechs a side is an exercise in mental torture, but below that it's fantastic.

I'm looking forward to the new rules manual, which seems to be looking as good as you'll ever be able to make it look, given the complexity of the rules. Battlemech Quirks! Finally!

All they need to do now is sort out a new introductory box.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/15 20:12:44


Post by: Stormonu


 Vertrucio wrote:
Nostalgia only goes so far, and people with nostalgia for btech are running out of time, money, and sometimes even life.

If you want battletech to make a come back, time to update every mech to use the new designes put forth by the PC games. Because a bunch of 80s reject robots, no matter how they might have looked to your teenage self, doesn't cut it these days.


Says you, the 80's designs are what defined the game.

I just don't understand the hate for the old designs; I can't stand the stuff from around 3058 and later.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/15 23:04:37


Post by: Siygess


 Chillreaper wrote:
I love this game.

Got a chance to play it a few weeks ago (after years of absence) and it's still the same as ever.

The biggest mistake that people make is to scale up the size of the games - going beyond 4 'mechs a side is an exercise in mental torture, but below that it's fantastic.

I'm looking forward to the new rules manual, which seems to be looking as good as you'll ever be able to make it look, given the complexity of the rules. Battlemech Quirks! Finally!

All they need to do now is sort out a new introductory box.


Agreed on the introductory box. The last one was pretty good in terms of quality (although while the basic mechs were a step up, the premium mechs were actually a step back.. a restic-like material vs the hard plastic of the previous set). I don't want to jinx things by using the P word but I think the unicast system would be perfect for the boxed mechs. The catch is that CGL already went to the expense of creating new molds (from the IWM metals, if I remember correctly) for the previous set and will probably try to make those last another 10 years!

So switching to a new process and material, as well as finally getting 3D models instead of recasts of hand sculpted ones, is probably a pipe dream at this point.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/16 02:30:08


Post by: Mattlov


The new classics (old 3025 stuff) are being done with 3D modeling. I think some of the new Iron Wind Metals designs are as well, they just aren't mentioning it. The master for the molds is being 3D printed, and then being cast in metal.

I can't prove that, but I bought a few new 'Mechs and they had markings on them that I associate with 3D printing.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/16 07:13:13


Post by: Siygess


Yeah, I think some of their newer models - perhaps as far back as 2015 - have been 3D printed because I have noticed the same. But I'm not sure about the 24 IS mechs in the latest box - there is still too much unevenness in the sculpts and not all of the shallow detail can be attributed to the plastic itself.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/16 11:31:00


Post by: Mattlov


No, the box sets are injection molded. Made from the casts of the metal minis they look like.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/16 12:46:10


Post by: Siygess


 Mattlov wrote:
No, the box sets are injection molded. Made from the casts of the metal minis they look like.


Right, which is what I'm saying - I'm pretty sure the metal minis that were used to create the molds for the plastic set are "older" models that were hand sculpted. I don't think there are any nice, crisp 3D printed Withworth WTH-1 or Quickdraw QKD-4G mechs from which a higher quality set of plastic intro mechs could be made.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/16 19:23:16


Post by: Chillreaper


I had a copy of the 25th Anniversary set and the minis in it were... well... not amazing.

But, yeah, looking at them compared to the original metal minis, there are a lot of similarities; it's just whatever process they used to reproduce them in PVC didn't really work too well.

I never managed to get my hands on the subsequent box (I'm such a moron!), but I'm guessing that they had another go using the metals as masters and they seemed to get a better result.

Personally, I think that the 3rd Edition box had the best plastics, but that might have been after I chopped and tweaked them, come to think of it.

I, for one, welcome our 12 meter tall, 3D printed overlords.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/16 19:55:19


Post by: judgedoug


 Chillreaper wrote:
I had a copy of the 25th Anniversary set and the minis in it were... well... not amazing.


The reissue of that set with the Atlas on the cover had re-engineered plastics, and they are orders of magnitude better than that set.
All the new plastic Alpha Strike lance packs are the same high quality plastics.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/16 21:34:32


Post by: Chillreaper


 judgedoug wrote:
 Chillreaper wrote:
I had a copy of the 25th Anniversary set and the minis in it were... well... not amazing.


The reissue of that set with the Atlas on the cover had re-engineered plastics, and they are orders of magnitude better than that set.
All the new plastic Alpha Strike lance packs are the same high quality plastics.



I had dreams of getting hold of a copy of the Atlas edition 6 months ago - but not at the current asking price! Sheesh...

I've let that dream die.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/17 02:26:42


Post by: Mattlov


A new box is in the works. But that is all we know.

Rumor wants to believe they want to put some of the "NewSeen" designs in it. This has not been confirmed or denied, and even the base rule set has not been confirmed as standard Battletech or Alpha Strike.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/17 20:53:52


Post by: simonr1978


Battletech is a great game, unfortunately the nearest thing to Battletech that I get to play these days is Megamek which to be fair is a pretty faithful copy. I've found the background material to be very immersive, even if some of the books can vary in quality.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/17 22:37:06


Post by: AndrewGPaul


 Stormonu wrote:
 Vertrucio wrote:
Nostalgia only goes so far, and people with nostalgia for btech are running out of time, money, and sometimes even life.

If you want battletech to make a come back, time to update every mech to use the new designes put forth by the PC games. Because a bunch of 80s reject robots, no matter how they might have looked to your teenage self, doesn't cut it these days.


Says you, the 80's designs are what defined the game.

I just don't understand the hate for the old designs; I can't stand the stuff from around 3058 and later.


It's a bit unfortunate that most of the iconic designs are lifted from elsewhere. There's a few half-decent home grown designs (the Awesome, Catapult (albeit a bit of a Mad Cat knockoff, but still ...) and Atlas come to mind, but other than that, 3025 - 3058 is full of horrible designs. I really liked some of the 3060 and 3067 designs, but the miniatures really failed to live up to the promise.

I do like the initiative system, especially the way it works to ensure that no side ends up with a long tail of minis to activate at the end. I also remember reading about a suggested alternative turn sequence, that used sub-phases similar to Starfleet Battles (and Dark Future, among others). This dates from 2001 on the sf-consim_l Yahoo! Group:

Short form:

12 segment turn from champions.

If your mech moved faster than 12, you'd get to move one hex every segment, and 2 hexes on the segments that your leftover speeds went. Thus, speed 14 moves 1 hex every segment, with 2 hexes on segments 6 and 12.
Mechs moved in order from heaviest to smallest; ties in the move order were resolved by rolling piloting skills. All fire was simultaneous on a given segment. (In theory, all movement should've been simul, but we never found a solution we liked for it.)
Moving into terrain would cost you future movement points. We pretty much did away with the distinction between walking and running -- everyone got their run speed for determining movement points. You generated 1 heat for every 4 movement points spent during a turn, and 1 heat per hex covered via jump.
A jumping mech had to place a counter on the hex it would land in; it moved at 1 hex/segment while mid-air (and made SUCH a lovely target). It was possible to combine jumping and running in the same movement. We pretty much had you make piloting checks for entering terrain and for jumping. If you missed your jump piloting roll, you landed funny. If you botched your jump piloting roll (natural 12), we rolled two dice to determine which hex you actually landed in...
If you fired a weapon, you had to wait a number of segments equal to the heat generated to let the "barrel cool down" before firing it again. This did mean ballistic weapons gained a lot of RoF.
Heat sinks were done post-segment 12. (Exception: Ending a segment in level 1 water would dump 1 heat per segment, level 2 would dump 2 heat per segment. Infernos added 1 heat per segment, and fire added 1 heat per segment.)
We re-defined a hex as being 100 m to make the weapon ranges match what we wanted.
Mostly, we stuck with the 3025 book 'Mechs for this, because it made life MUCH simpler. We weren't entirely happy with the initiative system, but it seemed to work. The real problem we ran into was that rabid B-techers wouldn't play with us, so new blood was hard to come by. We did do demolition derbies for conventions (Everyone gets a book Locust, Stinger or Wasp; last man standing wins. The person with the funniest death got second place. The one I recall the most was the guy trying to do death from above with his Stinger, botching the piloting roll.

It required someone to bellow out the segment numbers, but it was fun.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/18 22:15:07


Post by: Charistoph


 AndrewGPaul wrote:
Catapult (albeit a bit of a Mad Cat knockoff, but still ...)

Very funny. Just like Star Trek is a Galaxy Quest knockoff...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/19 07:39:28


Post by: Chillreaper


 Charistoph wrote:
 AndrewGPaul wrote:
Catapult (albeit a bit of a Mad Cat knockoff, but still ...)

Very funny. Just like Star Trek is a Galaxy Quest knockoff...


Nope.

The Marauder is a Mad Cat knockoff... erm... or was it the Catapult? No, no. Definitely the Marauder - I mean Catapult dammit!

I'm so confused...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/19 11:33:59


Post by: AndrewGPaul


Didn't mean Mad Cat. Meant Marauder, my apologies. And I suppose I should say "a bit of a Glaug Officer's pod knockoff", really.

I really enjoy 3025 / Level 1 / whatever you call it now games; it's pretty straightforward at that level, with only four major weapon categories to remember. Once it started adding pulse, ER, heavy, light, etc lasers, rotary, LB-X and Ultra autocannon, XL engines, ferro-fibrous armour, etc, etc, I couldn't keep my head round what everything did any more.

I have always been a fan of the ability to beat a 'Mech do death with its own limb. Can't think of any other giant robot games that let you do that.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/19 14:37:06


Post by: Albertorius


 AndrewGPaul wrote:
Didn't mean Mad Cat. Meant Marauder, my apologies. And I suppose I should say "a bit of a Glaug Officer's pod knockoff", really.


Well, the catapult's original legs (except the feet) are the Marauder's, and its main body structure, particularly the back, is very similar, so it probably started as a traced and modified Marauder, yes.

As to the OP: yes, yes it is.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/19 16:22:50


Post by: Chillreaper


There's a reference to the Mad Cat's appearance the first time it's seen in the novels.

The Inner Sphere pilot who sees it has a problem with his IFF systems that keep tagging it as both a Marauder and a Catapult at the same time - it couldn't settle on one chassis type. As a result, the Inner Sphere name for the Timber Wolf became the Mad Cat.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/19 17:27:47


Post by: Charistoph


 Chillreaper wrote:
There's a reference to the Mad Cat's appearance the first time it's seen in the novels.

The Inner Sphere pilot who sees it has a problem with his IFF systems that keep tagging it as both a Marauder and a Catapult at the same time - it couldn't settle on one chassis type. As a result, the Inner Sphere name for the Timber Wolf became the Mad Cat.

Exactly, which is why calling that came out first a knockoff of something that came later is "funny".

There are some similarities between the Catapult and Marauder, but only the most basic. The Catapult's hull was far more bullet-shaped, while the Marauder's hull was more bulbous in places giving a far more anime vibe. It would be like comparing the Atlas with the Crusader, in more ways then one.

I do like what Piranha Games did with those anime knockoffs (also known as "Unseen"), and they are sufficiently different that Catalyst is working to get physical models akin to them made.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/20 00:04:21


Post by: AndrewGPaul


 Charistoph wrote:
 Chillreaper wrote:
There's a reference to the Mad Cat's appearance the first time it's seen in the novels.

The Inner Sphere pilot who sees it has a problem with his IFF systems that keep tagging it as both a Marauder and a Catapult at the same time - it couldn't settle on one chassis type. As a result, the Inner Sphere name for the Timber Wolf became the Mad Cat.

Exactly, which is why calling that came out first a knockoff of something that came later is "funny".


It'd be even funnier if I hadn't already corrected my error.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/21 12:17:08


Post by: Mattlov


 Charistoph wrote:


I do like what Piranha Games did with those anime knockoffs (also known as "Unseen"), and they are sufficiently different that Catalyst is working to get physical models akin to them made.



Not quite. Catalyst and Piranha don't have a ton of interaction. Catalyst isn't releasing any miniatures based on anything in MWO, and they have no plans to do so. The "Newseen" are being done by Catalyst without regard to the computer stuff. Those redesigns were in the works long before PGI started doing them.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/21 15:00:50


Post by: Charistoph


 Mattlov wrote:
Not quite. Catalyst and Piranha don't have a ton of interaction. Catalyst isn't releasing any miniatures based on anything in MWO, and they have no plans to do so. The "Newseen" are being done by Catalyst without regard to the computer stuff. Those redesigns were in the works long before PGI started doing them.

I did say they were "akin", not the same. And considering the time frames involved, I question this assertion.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/21 20:45:05


Post by: Mattlov


 Charistoph wrote:
 Mattlov wrote:
Not quite. Catalyst and Piranha don't have a ton of interaction. Catalyst isn't releasing any miniatures based on anything in MWO, and they have no plans to do so. The "Newseen" are being done by Catalyst without regard to the computer stuff. Those redesigns were in the works long before PGI started doing them.

I did say they were "akin", not the same. And considering the time frames involved, I question this assertion.


3D printed miniatures based off of the MWO copyright are banned from the official Battletech forums, there is definitely not any cooperation to have minis produced.

The idea of the "NewSeen" have been around since the Reseen were created. It was TOO dramatic a shift away from the original designs, and the idea has been working for some time. Especially after the amazing art some people made on their own. Catalyst then began redesigning them at a slow rate, and have been showing them off as recently as 2 years ago.

The MWO Warhammer released in January of 2016.

The "NewSeen" Warhammer was previewed at GenCon in 2015. This mostly likely means Catalyst was working on them BEFORE PGI was.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/22 02:56:00


Post by: Charistoph


 Mattlov wrote:
3D printed miniatures based off of the MWO copyright are banned from the official Battletech forums, there is definitely not any cooperation to have minis produced.

A pointless statement. This is assuming that anything produced by Catalyst Labs falls under this category. A 3D print of the metal Atlas would fall under the same category.

 Mattlov wrote:
The idea of the "NewSeen" have been around since the Reseen were created. It was TOO dramatic a shift away from the original designs, and the idea has been working for some time. Especially after the amazing art some people made on their own. Catalyst then began redesigning them at a slow rate, and have been showing them off as recently as 2 years ago.

The MWO Warhammer released in January of 2016.

The "NewSeen" Warhammer was previewed at GenCon in 2015. This mostly likely means Catalyst was working on them BEFORE PGI was.

And the Plastic NewSeen Warhammer has yet to be released. Admittedly, it is far easier to release a model for a video game than it is a plastic model for a tabletop game. But the development of the MWO Warhammer just didn't happen on January 2016, but was in development long before then. I know because I preordered it months before its release and it had been advertised, image and all, for some time before my order. The final MWO model design would have been set by GenCon 2015 in August, at the latest. And it wouldn't take much communication to connect the two companies to share a design.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/23 21:34:04


Post by: Mattlov


The plastic NewSeens are not being released yet. The intention (last I knew) was to release several in a box at once. A few have been released in metal already, the Shadow Hawk, and Wasp, with the Flea and Locust coming shortly IIRC.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/26 17:43:16


Post by: Formosa


so ive been playing the ever living crap out of this game with my mates when I was away, and now I want to start a campaign.

So any recommendations on period or tech levels, shall I allow customs or just modifications? frankenmechs?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/26 20:50:23


Post by: Orlanth


 Chillreaper wrote:
 Charistoph wrote:
 AndrewGPaul wrote:
Catapult (albeit a bit of a Mad Cat knockoff, but still ...)

Very funny. Just like Star Trek is a Galaxy Quest knockoff...


Nope.

The Marauder is a Mad Cat knockoff... erm... or was it the Catapult? No, no. Definitely the Marauder - I mean Catapult dammit!

I'm so confused...


That is because they are freebirth barbarians who do not know a Timber Wolf when they see one.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/26 22:19:41


Post by: Charistoph


Orlanth wrote:That is because they are freebirth barbarians who do not know a Timber Wolf when they see one.

Well, when you hide away in a tiny corner of the galaxy for over 200 years without any phone calls or letters, it's hard to recognize your work. I mean, your grandmothers' have been worried to death waiting for word, and you just run off and have a revolution without letting anyone else know about them.

Formosa wrote:so ive been playing the ever living crap out of this game with my mates when I was away, and now I want to start a campaign.

So any recommendations on period or tech levels, shall I allow customs or just modifications? frankenmechs?

A lot depends on what your group is capable of. There used to be some really interesting campaign packs (and I don't know how available they are now) that covered things like the Battles of Luthien and Coventry. Then there are the RPG campaigns which can interact with that.

But off hand, I would start off with stock machines. They may be variants depending on the time frame, or whatever. But by the end of the campaign, you want them to be frankenmechs to act as a trophy rack of their progress in the campaign's story. At least, that's how I would do it.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/26 22:26:28


Post by: thekingofkings


Its pretty big here with the ColoradoBattletech guys in Parker and on facebook.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/27 10:32:06


Post by: simonr1978


 Formosa wrote:
so ive been playing the ever living crap out of this game with my mates when I was away, and now I want to start a campaign.

So any recommendations on period or tech levels, shall I allow customs or just modifications? frankenmechs?


As far as time period or tech levels, whatever your group are comfortable and happy with running really is the best. If you're not already up to speed with level 3 rules and equipment it's probably best to avoid that for now.

I would definitely allow modifications, especially once the campaign is under way since lack of ammunition or replacement parts may necessitate swapping some weapons out for others, even more so if you're using Omnimechs, that was the point of them after all. Custom mechs can be good for a bit of extra variety, but they're not always popular plus there are so many official versions out there that in all honesty there's probably a published mech pretty close to whatever homebrew you're designing anyway. That said, the old group I used to be in freely allowed custom mechs with the conditions that a custom mech had to be represented by a custom model to prevent confusion and due to the number of quite basic mistakes that were made the sheet had to be checked and signed by at least one of the more experienced members of the group. Sounds a bit officious, but it cut the errors down to practically zero.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/27 10:47:57


Post by: Mattlov


If you want a more "set" campaign and rules, pick up the Chaos Campaign PDF. It helps keep things more simple, but still allows for personal flavor.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/27 18:49:36


Post by: Charistoph


 thekingofkings wrote:
Its pretty big here with the ColoradoBattletech guys in Parker and on facebook.

Size means little. It is the ability for people to come together regularly, abide by rules, and stick to something long term which makes it possible.

You can also plan rewards out for customization like certain missions that they secure X objectives they gain X tech to add to their 'Mechs, or they get an empty Timber Wolf (all pods empty, but otherwise good), things like that.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/27 19:22:17


Post by: troa


 thekingofkings wrote:
Its pretty big here with the ColoradoBattletech guys in Parker and on facebook.


Good to know, I'll look that group up. I commute up that direction every day from the Springs.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/28 14:44:55


Post by: Tamwulf


Miniatures aside...

Classic Battletech is great for "dueling" with 1 or 2 mechs per side fighting. Start stepping up to Lances or Stars and prepare to spend an entire day playing a single game. That was always the frustrating thing about the game. For it's time, it was a very innovative system using a resource to limit your effectiveness (heat), and the granularity of the combat was both it's biggest advantage and weakness.

Alphastrike is much, much better IMO, but loses something when you know the lore or a mech's loadout. You have one attack, and you get to decide regular, or alphastrike. Heat is still present, but it doesn't feel like a resource to manage, but a consequence of my actions to be dealt with later. Damage feels non-specific compared to the base game, but that just dramatically speeds up the game.

A "good game" of battletech can really only be achieved when both sides have the same tech levels. Even then, I hesitate to play Inner Sphere vs. Clan, just because Inner Sphere still needs some kind of advantage until you get into the 3065+ era.

Don't even get me started on "design your own mechs".


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/28 15:05:21


Post by: Charistoph


 Tamwulf wrote:
Even then, I hesitate to play Inner Sphere vs. Clan, just because Inner Sphere still needs some kind of advantage until you get into the 3065+ era.

And even after 3065, Clan tech still is vastly superior in many ways, it is just starts becoming accessible as something other than salvage around that time.

One of the biggest problems with Mechwarrior Online's Faction Play was that they set up the matchs as being 12v12. That's 12 IS players vs 12 Clan players. Never mind the lack of fluff that puts Clanners in units of 12, rather than their 10 or 15. They also have 4 'Mechs that all players get to bring in. In one match I was in the IS unit I was in was attacking a Clan position. Out of 48 'Mechs, I think we downed 3-4 Clanners.

IS need numbers to counter the Clan tech. That's been the standard since the Invasion. It used to be 1 Company (12) versus a Star (5), and it was balanced.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/28 16:19:11


Post by: simonr1978


Tamwolf, I disagree on both counts. I used to regularly play games around company level (usually somewhere between about 8 - 16 units per side) in a 2 to 3 hour gaming evening. 4 to 8 mechs per side should be more than managable in much less than a day even for relative newcomers to the game unless you're doing something massively wrong. A Battalion level game will take about a day, but few people will be putting three dozen mechs each on the table at once.

Also, different tech levels are fine. In my own experience Inner Sphere 3050 tech can be reasonably matched by a well chosen pure 3025 force, a lot of 3050's "improvements" are a trade off, either much higher heat, lower range (pulse lasers) or give a major weakness like XL engines.

Clan is a different matter but not insurmountable, enforcing Clan engagement rules can help, but the Inner Sphere force needs to outnumber the Clan force by a minimum of 2 Lances to 1 Star or somewhere around 2-1, depending on what mechs the Clan player's using (Anything that combines Pulse Lasers and a Targetting Computer can be brutally effective).

Never played Alpha Strike myself but I've given it a look over and it seems like it loses a lot of the nuances and detail that I enjoy about Classic Battletech.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/28 23:44:14


Post by: Charistoph


simonr1978 wrote:
Clan is a different matter but not insurmountable, enforcing Clan engagement rules can help, but the Inner Sphere force needs to outnumber the Clan force by a minimum of 2 Lances to 1 Star or somewhere around 2-1, depending on what mechs the Clan player's using (Anything that combines Pulse Lasers and a Targetting Computer can be brutally effective).

Yeah, a lot depends on what level of IS Tech we're talking about and tonnage, too.

Introtech tends to get murdered by Clantech if we go by just total drop weight, or even numbers of weight classes, because Clantech vastly out-ranges Introtech, out performs Introtech, and can fit at least 33% more equipment at higher speeds. And that's not even including fun little things like Clantech being smaller so more survivable in a single combat (I'm looking at you XL Fusion Engines).

Let's compare 4 'Mechs, for an example.
.........................................................................
AS7-D Atlas - 100 tons - Introtech
Speed: 3/5/0 (54 km/h, no jump)
Heat Sinks: 20 Singles
Weaponry:
* 1x AC-20 - Rng: 9, Dmg: 20, Ammo/Ton: 5, Heat: 7
* 1x LRM-20 - Rng: 7-21, Dmg: 1/missle, Ammo/Ton: 6, Heat: 6, rolls on a Cluster hit line for per missile
* 1x SRM-6 - Rng: 9, Dmg: 2/missile, Ammo/Ton: 15, Heat: 4, rolls on a Cluster hit line for per missile
* 4x Medium Laser (2 rear pointing) - Rng: 9, Dmg: 5, Ammo/Ton: -, Heat 3

AS7-K Atlas - 100 tons - 3050 Upgrades/Star League tech
Speed: 3/5/0 (54 km/h, no jump)
Heat Sinks: 20 Singles
Weaponry:
* 1x Gauss Rifle - Rng: 3-22, Dmg: 15, Ammo/Ton: 8, Heat: 1
* 1x LRM-20 - Rng: 7-21, Dmg: 1/missle, Ammo/Ton: 6, Heat: 6, rolls on a Cluster hit line for per missile
* 1x AMS - Reduces number of missiles hitting the 'Mech
* 2x ER Large Laser - Rng: 19, Dmg: 8, Ammo/Ton: -, Heat: 12
* 2x Medium Pulse Laser (Rear) - Rng: 6, Dmg: 6, Ammo/Ton: -, Heat: 4

Dire Wolf/ Daishi Prime - 100 tons - 3050 Clantech
Speed: 3/5/0 (54 km/h, no jump)
Heat Sinks: 15 Doubles
Weaponry:
* 4x ER Large Laser - Rng: 25, Dmg: 10, Ammo/Ton: -, Heat: 12
* 4x Medium Pulse Laser - Rng: 12, Dmg: 7, Ammo/Ton: -, Heat: 4
* 2x Ultra Autocannon 5 - Rng: 21, Dmg: 5, Ammo/Ton: 20, Heat: 1, can be fired twice in the same turn with a chance to jam.
* 1x LRM 10 - Rng: 6, Dmg: 6, Ammo/Ton: -, Heat: 4

Kodiak - 100 tons - 3058 (referenced) Clantech secondline mech
Speed: 4/6/0 (54 km/h, no jump)
Heat Sinks: 20 Doubles
Weaponry:
* 1x Ultra Autocannon 20 - Rng: 12, Dmg: 20, Ammo/Ton: 5, Heat: 7, can be fired twice in the same turn with a chance to jam.
* 2x Streak SRM-6 - Rng: 12, Dmg: 2/missile, Ammo/Ton: 15, Heat: 4, Will not fire if you do not hit, all missiles will hit unless AMS is involved.
* 8x ER Medium Laser - Rng: 15, Dmg: 7, Ammo/Ton: -, Heat: 5
* 1x ER Large Laser - Rng: 25, Dmg: 10, Ammo/Ton: -, Heat: 12

For those keeping track, the Kodiak carries a similar weapon loadout as the Atlas, but can move faster. Each of its equivalent weapons will shoot farther and potentially do more damage. The Dire Wolf carries almost double the Weaponry.

If I just tried to match as closely as possible to an Atlas build with Clan tech, what we'd see is an Atlas that has 18 tons of space left which is enough to move it up a Movement bracket to match the Kodiak (8.5 if you went with a Standard Fusion Engine), 5 Critical Spots left (9 with Standard Engine), and out-ranging and out-gunning in every category.

Clantech is bad-enough against the Star League tech, but against Introtech, it's just a slaughter. Jihad/post-Dark Age-tech gets around some of this by just being crazy, like the Rotary AC-5 which has about the same weight and range as the AC-10, but can fire off 6x the shots, equating to up to 3 times the damage (but with a huge chance to jam).


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/29 00:49:06


Post by: simonr1978


IIRC the AS7-K has an XL engine though which means barring a fatal headshot the destruction of any one torso section will kill it outright, unlike the AS7-D so 3050 vs 3025 Inner Sphere is often a bit more balanced than it might seem at first glance. Also whilst it's definitely true that in the examples you listed there the Clan mechs are vastly superior, certainly in 3050-58 there were some poor Clan mechs too such as the Man O'War P which is IIRC massively underarmed for an 80 tonner with a lot of tonnage wasted on surplus heatsinks and could be outperformed by a lot of contemporary Inner Sphere designs. Admittedly, they're the rare exception and you have to try to find them and deliberately handicap yourself by making a crappy choice though.

Also if you think the Rotary AC-5 is crazy, originally the RACs were a Clan development in the mid-late 3050s and there was a Daishi variant mounting a RAC-20 which as you've probably guessed was a six shot AC-20. It burned ammo like mad (potentially over a tonne a turn) but could kill heavy and even assault mechs in a single turn. (There was also a Madcat mounting a RAC-10 and a Fenris with a RAC-2, can't recall who got the RAC-5 but I think it was the Blackhawk.)


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/29 02:41:26


Post by: Charistoph


simonr1978 wrote:
IIRC the AS7-K has an XL engine though which means barring a fatal headshot the destruction of any one torso section will kill it outright, unlike the AS7-D so 3050 vs 3025 Inner Sphere is often a bit more balanced than it might seem at first glance. Also whilst it's definitely true that in the examples you listed there the Clan mechs are vastly superior, certainly in 3050-58 there were some poor Clan mechs too such as the Man O'War P which is IIRC massively underarmed for an 80 tonner with a lot of tonnage wasted on surplus heatsinks and could be outperformed by a lot of contemporary Inner Sphere designs. Admittedly, they're the rare exception and you have to try to find them and deliberately handicap yourself by making a crappy choice though.

I did mention the XL Engine, but didn't give any specifics on it.

And for ever real duffer of a Clan mech, there's about 5 Spheroid variants. Heck, the Clan duffer can actually be brutal to an average Introtech IS in the same weight class. But if you put that duffer in to IS tech, it makes the Charger and Urbanmech seem like wise decisions.

simonr1978 wrote:
Also if you think the Rotary AC-5 is crazy, originally the RACs were a Clan development in the mid-late 3050s and there was a Daishi variant mounting a RAC-20 which as you've probably guessed was a six shot AC-20. It burned ammo like mad (potentially over a tonne a turn) but could kill heavy and even assault mechs in a single turn. (There was also a Madcat mounting a RAC-10 and a Fenris with a RAC-2, can't recall who got the RAC-5 but I think it was the Blackhawk.)

Yeah, it's crazy. I only say that because it looked like the Spheroids were playing Aperture Science Labs with a lot of things, and if it didn't outright blow-up consistently, they fielded it. MRMs, for example....


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/29 09:11:36


Post by: simonr1978


To be fair there, for every Clan mech or variant there are about ten Inner Sphere though. And while you did mention XL engines, it wasn't particularly in the comparison between the AS7-D and -K and it's a massive weakness in the K's design (I'll never understand putting Inner Sphere XLs in heavies or assaults personally).

Not all Clan "duffers" are still scary to introtech, the Man O'War P I mentioned is armed with twin LB5's and twin Streak SRM-6's IIRC. Whilst it's true it'll tear most Chargers a new one (but that's true of most other mechs in general), there's not going to be many halfway decent 3025 heavies or assaults that are going to be running in fear from that firepower. Admittedly, it's pretty much bottom of the barrel for Clan mechs though.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/29 14:14:00


Post by: Mattlov


The argument of the AS-7K also fails to mention it is one of the worst Atlas variants ever made. It is a heat hog of the highest caliber, to little advantage.


IS vs. Clan can be balanced. I've been running Battletech games for decades, and you can balance the games by terrain advantages, Battle Value, objectives, etc. It isn't that difficult. Forcing the Clan players to play by their rules helps as well.

IS 3050 variants are generaly bad, as they are field refits, very few of them are actually redesigned. 3055 had the new stuff being built, but the IS wasn't quite up to snuff on what they needed to make. There were a few standouts like the Gallowglas or the Gunslinger, but it wasn't until 3058 that the Inner Sphere really started building 'Mechs that could take on the Clans.

As for putting XL engines on IS heavies and assaults, it is for 2 things: speed or firepower. You can't make a Falconer without an XL engine, can't make a Thunder Hawk without one.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/29 16:40:02


Post by: Charistoph


 Mattlov wrote:
The argument of the AS-7K also fails to mention it is one of the worst Atlas variants ever made. It is a heat hog of the highest caliber, to little advantage.

True, I was just looking at an easily-referenced version I could write up from the TRO.

 Mattlov wrote:
IS vs. Clan can be balanced. I've been running Battletech games for decades, and you can balance the games by terrain advantages, Battle Value, objectives, etc. It isn't that difficult. Forcing the Clan players to play by their rules helps as well.

Very true. Battle Value helps the most for a quick setup. It wasn't my point that they couldn't be balanced. My point was that IS vs Clan cannot be 1:1 in either numbers or tonnage. While you can 1:1 for Mechs if you go for a significant difference in tonnage drops.

And, yes, the Clan system of Zellbrigen helps a little, but the Spheroids have to keep that in mind as well, or the Clanners don't have to follow it (for the most part).

 Mattlov wrote:
IS 3050 variants are generaly bad, as they are field refits, very few of them are actually redesigned. 3055 had the new stuff being built, but the IS wasn't quite up to snuff on what they needed to make. There were a few standouts like the Gallowglas or the Gunslinger, but it wasn't until 3058 that the Inner Sphere really started building 'Mechs that could take on the Clans.

While true, they are still less effective 1:1 vs Clanners for tonnage. They definitely changed from requiring a 1:2 or 1:3, to a 1:1.2 ratio. You can take any of those Clan-fighter 'Mechs and convert them to Clantech and they become a lot more effective. For example, try taking the Timber Wolf/Mad Cat and build it out to match the Falconer's weapon loadout, the Timber Wolf will still have weight to fill up and the energy weapons will all be more powerful and have a higher range (meaning earlier successful hits). Even the Summoner/Thor would be in the same situation.

The closest you will find parity between Clantech and Spheroid tech is in the Autocannons. The only advantage that the Clanners have is weight (depending on the time period) and their CASE is 'free".


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/29 19:07:25


Post by: Mattlov


Of course, the Clanners will always have the technological advantage over an IS force. The part that doubly hurts is that they should also have the SKILL advantage. That makes it harder to balance Clan vs. IS fights, I think.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/29 20:42:30


Post by: Stormonu


Yeah, Gunnery/Piloting skills can be where Clanners are really scary. Back when the Clan material was new, the local gaming club ran a IS vs. Clan invasion campaign. After some heated talked, the Clan players decided to teach the IS players a lesson. They bid for one big fight for the control of the planet. One star against the entire defense force - some 30-40 IS mechs.

The IS players went for it. Not only did they bring the entire force, they also got their hands on a couple of salvaged LAMs and even hired a local Merc force to help, which brought the IS force up to somewhere near 50 mechs.

The Clanners (I think they were Smoke Jaguar, BTW) won. The game table was about 10'-15' square. They landed in the middle of a Monsoon, at night, after they likewise tricked the IS forces to be spead out across several objectives, leaving them to attack in waves. The Clanners needed 9's to 11's to hit. Most of the IS mechs needed 13's-15's most of the time.

I remember the first casualty being an IS Warhammer who made himself a target when he turned on his spotlight. I stopped watching after that to go to my D&D game, and got the rest of the battle report later.

By the end of the battle, only a badly limping Atlas IS mech (with a gyro hit and armless) and a "gerwalk"-locked LAM Wasp survived the ensuing massacre.

None of the Clan mechs were destroyed, though one Loki was missing all of its right torso armor.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/30 01:32:56


Post by: Mattlov


Yeah, you can set up a scenario for that to happen. The Clanners should have lost though. At that point the IS forces should have literally just dog-piled and kicked them to death.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/30 11:49:06


Post by: Graphite


Never quite figured out how to make the honour rules much of a disadvantage (and I generally played Clan) since it seemed that as soon as the IS tried to use weight of numbers it turned to a Melee and the duelling problem went away.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/30 12:25:53


Post by: Albertorius


 Mattlov wrote:
Yeah, you can set up a scenario for that to happen. The Clanners should have lost though. At that point the IS forces should have literally just dog-piled and kicked them to death.


Yes, evidently, but still, clan stuff is scary. Years ago I remember having some discussion about how scary they actually were, and we did an experiment: me with a clanner assault 'mech (Pilot 4/3) against an IS assault lance and heavy lance of regular (5/4) pilots (3025 designs), to be played over the two regular Btech boards, the ones with mountains on the borders and the lakes.

I don't exactly remember the full lances, but I remember there being an Atlas and an Awesome, a Warhammer, a Dragon, two other heavies, plus a PHawk and... some other medium 'mech.

I chose a Turkina-B, and proceeded to obliterate the whole of them, mostly by jumping over a hill repeatedly to limit the amount of firepower I was subjected to and breaking legs with aimed pulse lasers.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/30 13:19:15


Post by: simonr1978


 Charistoph wrote:

The closest you will find parity between Clantech and Spheroid tech is in the Autocannons. The only advantage that the Clanners have is weight (depending on the time period) and their CASE is 'free".


...and range and depending on time period rate of fire since it's not until the 3060s that the Inner Sphere starts fielding Ultra ACs apart fro.the -5 or LBXs apart from the ten.

Re: XL engines, I get that Assaults (and Heavies to a lesser extent) are typically going to benefit little from the marginal speed increase and freeing up the extra tonnage for more firepower has to be balanced against the reality that what should be your toughest me ha now have a major Achilles heel. Inner Sphere XLs IMO belong in lights and to a lesser degree mediums where they can benefit from the speed and the increased vulnerability to torso hits matters less because they're never going to be soaking up that much damage anyway.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/30 19:42:26


Post by: Mattlov


 Graphite wrote:
Never quite figured out how to make the honour rules much of a disadvantage (and I generally played Clan) since it seemed that as soon as the IS tried to use weight of numbers it turned to a Melee and the duelling problem went away.


A Clanner has no problem dueling multiple inferior opponents as once.

And even during the Invasion, several Clans (Smoke Jaguars and Jade Falcons, notably) stuck to their dueling principles even if the other side broke them. After all, they felt no need to morally descend to the level of the Inner Sphere barbarian.


Exploiting Clan honor is way easier to do IN THEORY than it is in practice. Playing against an opponent that knows what is happening and the appropriate counter to that maneuver is NOT the same as a Clan pilot not forsaking his honor and the honor of his Clan to gain glory. It's a difficult line to walk as a player.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, a Clanner will almost never engage in physical combat, even if presented the opportunity. They just don't do it.

Of course, later in the timeline even that idea by the Clans goes away...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/30 22:01:14


Post by: Charistoph


A lot depends on the Clan, too. Smoke Jaguar and most of the Crusader Homeworld Clans stuck by it to the end. Jade Falcons, however, would only stick to Zelbrigen versus Clanners, and MAYBE Dragoons and a few others, after Kerensky was made ilKhan. It was one of the reasons the Falcons (and most of the other Invasion Clans) were able to beat the Spheroids who came to the homeworlds in a Trial of Refusal versus the initial Invasion.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/31 09:38:00


Post by: Formosa


OK, so here is my plan, gonna start in 3045 time line, a rag tag merc group will be controlled by the players, contracts will be given out etc. and salvage/repair will be used, and it will all lead up to the clan invasion.

I have the campaign operations book on the way so hopfully this will help in that area.

So, I ask you guys, what would make interesting merc missions, shall I have supply raids for weapons or just allow them to be bought? shall we throw in a solaris VII run of games etc. what are your thoughts people!!!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/03/31 17:00:55


Post by: Charistoph


3045 would be still be looking at the aftermath of 3039, and still 4 years before the first interactions with the Clan Invasion. Some of the Star League tech is getting rolled out here and there to House units, but still rather uncommon to most Mercenary groups, except as rewards for excellent service.

Com Guard is a thing, but largely an unknown or underplayed factor to the rest of the galaxy, and Myndo Waterly is in charge of Comstar.

This last bit could lead to some very interesting interactions. The merc unit could take a contract from "a concerned citizen" regarding some of the tech concepts that groups like Team Banzai are working on. The merc unit could be hired to destroy a facility and all its records, but if they choose to raid it instead for supplies, they could come away with certain prize Mcguffins.

On the counter-side, they could be called upon to defend such a site from Comstar-hired goons as well. Such operations could often be held almost anywhere.

The Capellans and St Ives Compact will still be hot against each other, so plenty of operations will be available from them.

Hanse Davion will always be probing against the Combine and the Confederation, and vice-versa, so at the minimum, recon operations and minor raids will be the order of the day, just like they were before the Fourth Succession War, but less so for basic materials.

And finally, anti-pirate operations are always enjoyed by mercs because the average pirate is far less well equipped and maintained than a House unit, even if the occasional abilities are better. That's how Phelan Kell met the Wolves, after all. And everybody, including the Periphery, will hire for anti-pirate work.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/02 09:07:48


Post by: thekingofkings


 Charistoph wrote:
 thekingofkings wrote:
Its pretty big here with the ColoradoBattletech guys in Parker and on facebook.

Size means little. It is the ability for people to come together regularly, abide by rules, and stick to something long term which makes it possible.

You can also plan rewards out for customization like certain missions that they secure X objectives they gain X tech to add to their 'Mechs, or they get an empty Timber Wolf (all pods empty, but otherwise good), things like that.


They always seem to have great time in collector mania, so thats not a problem.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/02 09:08:09


Post by: simonr1978


There's also the option of rescue/relief operations, depending on how you want to organise your campaign. A raid/assault has gone wrong and the contract is to either link up with and reinforce the initial wave of troops or evacuate as many survivors as possible.

Solaris as you mentioned is an option, there's potential for either single mech combats or the Black Thorn novels show that there is a Lance vs. Lance circuit too which might give a bit of variety. I'm assuming you'd be playing standard Battletech rules rather than the separate Solaris rules?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/02 09:09:15


Post by: thekingofkings


 troa wrote:
 thekingofkings wrote:
Its pretty big here with the ColoradoBattletech guys in Parker and on facebook.


Good to know, I'll look that group up. I commute up that direction every day from the Springs.



Every Saturday at about 6pm in collector mania. The guy usually running it is really open and cool about it and even when he isnt there, there are folks there playing and continueing on, he posts in plenty of time and they are always open to folks showing up mech/s in hand


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/02 09:11:41


Post by: simonr1978


 Charistoph wrote:
A lot depends on the Clan, too. Smoke Jaguar and most of the Crusader Homeworld Clans stuck by it to the end. Jade Falcons, however, would only stick to Zelbrigen versus Clanners, and MAYBE Dragoons and a few others, after Kerensky was made ilKhan. It was one of the reasons the Falcons (and most of the other Invasion Clans) were able to beat the Spheroids who came to the homeworlds in a Trial of Refusal versus the initial Invasion.


Having just finished reading Impetus of War, from that the Jaguars' seemed more than willing the throw Zellbringen and Batchall out of the window when dealing with Inner Sphere forces, especially Mercs by 3058 at least.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/02 21:15:01


Post by: Mattlov


simonr1978 wrote:
 Charistoph wrote:
A lot depends on the Clan, too. Smoke Jaguar and most of the Crusader Homeworld Clans stuck by it to the end. Jade Falcons, however, would only stick to Zelbrigen versus Clanners, and MAYBE Dragoons and a few others, after Kerensky was made ilKhan. It was one of the reasons the Falcons (and most of the other Invasion Clans) were able to beat the Spheroids who came to the homeworlds in a Trial of Refusal versus the initial Invasion.


Having just finished reading Impetus of War, from that the Jaguars' seemed more than willing the throw Zellbringen and Batchall out of the window when dealing with Inner Sphere forces, especially Mercs by 3058 at least.


Very much so. After the dishonorable actions of the Combine on Luthien and continued dickery from Wolcott, the Jags declared the Combine dezgra, and not subject to the rules of Clan honor. They had proven themselves honorless in their eyes, so they suspended zellbrigen for combat against the Combine, ComStar, and any mercenaries.

While they suspended dueling, they still maintained Clan honor in terms of physical combat.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/02 21:21:48


Post by: Charistoph


Guess I remembered it wrong. It has been some years since I have read those books, both the story and the story-point books.

Also remember that many of the units they faced in Operation Bulldog and Serpent were not all Mercenaries or Combine.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/02 23:20:00


Post by: Mattlov


 Charistoph wrote:
Guess I remembered it wrong. It has been some years since I have read those books, both the story and the story-point books.

Also remember that many of the units they faced in Operation Bulldog and Serpent were not all Mercenaries or Combine.


Indeed. And several Jag units tried to fight with Clan honor against them.

And were thoroughly beat down.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/03 12:42:36


Post by: simonr1978


 Mattlov wrote:
simonr1978 wrote:
 Charistoph wrote:
A lot depends on the Clan, too. Smoke Jaguar and most of the Crusader Homeworld Clans stuck by it to the end. Jade Falcons, however, would only stick to Zelbrigen versus Clanners, and MAYBE Dragoons and a few others, after Kerensky was made ilKhan. It was one of the reasons the Falcons (and most of the other Invasion Clans) were able to beat the Spheroids who came to the homeworlds in a Trial of Refusal versus the initial Invasion.


Having just finished reading Impetus of War, from that the Jaguars' seemed more than willing the throw Zellbringen and Batchall out of the window when dealing with Inner Sphere forces, especially Mercs by 3058 at least.


Very much so. After the dishonorable actions of the Combine on Luthien and continued dickery from Wolcott, the Jags declared the Combine dezgra, and not subject to the rules of Clan honor. They had proven themselves honorless in their eyes, so they suspended zellbrigen for combat against the Combine, ComStar, and any mercenaries.

While they suspended dueling, they still maintained Clan honor in terms of physical combat.


Impetus Of War described the Jaguars of the newly formed Tau Galaxy engaging Stirling's Fusiliers of the Northwind Highlanders in physical combat on the periphery world of Wildcat in summer 3058, whilst it isn't made clear who threw the first punches they were more than willing to throw that particular rule out of the window in that case.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/03 15:53:43


Post by: Charistoph


simonr1978 wrote:
Impetus Of War described the Jaguars of the newly formed Tau Galaxy engaging Stirling's Fusiliers of the Northwind Highlanders in physical combat on the periphery world of Wildcat in summer 3058, whilst it isn't made clear who threw the first punches they were more than willing to throw that particular rule out of the window in that case.

And then there's Kai Allard-Liao's challenge in the pass on Twycross having nothing but a Hatchetman's Hatchet (and his fusion engine). If it is part of the Batchall, they will do it (or if someone else violates it, as has been noted).


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 02:39:17


Post by: Eilif


Neat to see folks getting into CBT.
I can't stand the rules, but it is my absolute favorite gaming universe. I've managed to collect every BT novel (even the terrible Sword and Dragon) and almost every mechwarrior novel and my sourcebook collection has got to be over 80 by now. Can't get enough of it and I even like the post-republic years.

As for gaming in "Battletech", I like Alpha strike or the generic ruleset "Mech Attack" which feels very Battletech, but has about 1/10 the rules and plays in 1/4 the time. I even run games of it at conventions (in 28mm on real terrain). I don't use the strict BT unverse but I can take 6 players who have never played before, have each controling a lance or so of units and still complete the scenario game in under 3 hours.
https://www.chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/2017/03/30/aar-mech-attack-at-adepticon-2017/

At the club we've played mech attack and/or Alpha strike a few times a year using the 10mm mechwarrior clix minis rebased onto tradtitional bases. Tons of fun and though it's not quite so cheap anymore, about 5 years ago we were able to acquire massive armies of the stuff for very little cash.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 02:44:02


Post by: H.B.M.C.


BTech is great. It's the game I go to for loads of detail. Love the fiction, and the various factions. I've got some 400-ish 'Mechs, about 200 vehicles and scads of Battle Armour. So much fun!

 Mattlov wrote:
And I'm a Catalyst Demo Agent. You can ask me anything you'd like!


When's the Alpha Strike box with the plastic Clan and Reunseen coming out?



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 04:02:25


Post by: thekingofkings


 H.B.M.C. wrote:
BTech is great. It's the game I go to for loads of detail. Love the fiction, and the various factions. I've got some 400-ish 'Mechs, about 200 vehicles and scads of Battle Armour. So much fun!

 Mattlov wrote:
And I'm a Catalyst Demo Agent. You can ask me anything you'd like!


When's the Alpha Strike box with the plastic Clan and Reunseen coming out?



oh heck yeah!! get some AS out!!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 07:33:42


Post by: H.B.M.C.


I personally don't care about Alpha Strike. I just care about readily available plastic Superunseeyan and Clan 'Mechs.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 12:00:37


Post by: Formosa


it seems this thread has become the Defacto Battletech thread lol, I will change the title to reflect this.

So guys what tips and hits would you give to new players when making a lance.

1: do you enforce the scarcity of certain mechs from certain factions, Ghost bear mechs for ghost bears etc.

2: what tonnage do you usually play, and what is the average BV? do you use BV1 or BV2?

3: Explain heat dissipation to me, as I thought it was
5 legacy heat +10 for the heat genned in that turn for a total of 15, then dissipate heat (say 10 HS) for a total of 5.

4: what are your favourite periods to play in?

5: do you play MWO?

6: will you be playing Battletech when its released

Cheers guys


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 12:20:31


Post by: Mattlov


 Formosa wrote:
it seems this thread has become the Defacto Battletech thread lol, I will change the title to reflect this.

So guys what tips and hits would you give to new players when making a lance.

1: do you enforce the scarcity of certain mechs from certain factions, Ghost bear mechs for ghost bears etc.

2: what tonnage do you usually play, and what is the average BV? do you use BV1 or BV2?

3: Explain heat dissipation to me, as I thought it was
5 legacy heat +10 for the heat genned in that turn for a total of 15, then dissipate heat (say 10 HS) for a total of 5.

4: what are your favourite periods to play in?

5: do you play MWO?

6: will you be playing Battletech when its released

Cheers guys


1. Yes, that's one of the joys of Battletech. Although there are so many different units, even if I can't use "X" I can use "Y," which is more common to said faction even if slightly different.

2. BV 2. BV 1 is flawed (so is 2, but less so). Tonnage is only a decent (never really good) balancing factor if the players are quite gentlemanly and not going for min-maxing. It really only works for Introductory tech games, and then, it still isn't a great balancing mechanic. BV totals vary wildly for games, a company vs. company Inner Sphere game might have a BV total of 18-20K, while binary vs. binary of Clanners might be 25-30K

3. Yep. In the heat phase, you add up the total heat generated for the turn, plus left over heat from last turn, and subtract your heat dissipation. That is your heat level. THen you make any heat-induced penalty rolls (shut down, ammo explosion) from the low end of the scale until you reach your heat level. So if you are SUPER hot, you will be making multiple rolls, each one getting progressively harder to pass.

4. I prefer anything up to the FedCom Civil War, but will happily play any era.

5. Nope. I don't really like the PvP only aspect. I'll pick up Mechwarrior 5 when it comes out, though,

6. Yep. Definitely will find space for that on my phone.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 13:16:04


Post by: Albertorius


1. When playing campaigns, usually yes. Pickup game, anything goes.

2. We use to play 3025 era more, and there tonnage is enough. When playing other eras, I'd recommend BV2.

3. You got it exactly right.

4. 3025 era, but I'll play most anything.

5. Nope, not interested in multiplayer arenas or pay to win.

6. Absolutely. I'm really looking forward to it.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 16:29:50


Post by: Charistoph


 Formosa wrote:
1: do you enforce the scarcity of certain mechs from certain factions, Ghost bear mechs for ghost bears etc.

Rarely. I have seen people choose this route by themselves, though. The reason I do not is because of the salvage mechanic that everyone (including the Clans) use. For example, your pilot may be a Jade Falcon driving a Kodiak, but he is likely the ONLY Jade Falcon driving a Kodiak.

I have largely a mixed set of models, but I plan on setting them up as the 4th Crucis Lancers (for some reason, it just appeals to me, and it is generic enough to be a merc scheme). I have a few Clan mechs, a few Combine Mechs, and even a Periphery Mech called the Marshall. If you go far enough in time, it is easily excused by the fact that salvage can change hands numerous times, and people get transferred from unit to unit, so that even mechs that are rather unique to a faction can be found here and there in other places.

 Formosa wrote:
2: what tonnage do you usually play, and what is the average BV? do you use BV1 or BV2?

BV2, usually. As mentioned, for tonnage to work, you have to go based on the same tech base and some of the similar upgrade sets.

 Formosa wrote:
4: what are your favourite periods to play in?

At this point, whenever I can get a game in. A like different times for different reasons. I like the fun techs that came out in the 3060s like the ATMs and MMLs, but I like the challenge of low firepower that Introtech uses.

Heck, the last game I played, I ran an Introtech Eridani Thunderbolt (LRM-10, Jump Jets, no MGs, no SRMs) with a Rifleman and something else backing me up against an Introtech Enforcer and a Dragonfire (3050 tech). Even though I ran up and jumped into a pond and then played turret, and consequently got gunned down (being the closest target), I enjoyed the game.

 Formosa wrote:
5: do you play MWO?

Occasionally. I don't have a copy of any of the MW4s any more, and I don't agree with MW4 build mechanics as much as I like it in MWO. The PvP aspect is painful because I am not a good twitch player, and each time I get back in to it, it takes me a month of constant playing to survive past my first few encounters.

 Formosa wrote:
6: will you be playing Battletech when its released

A lot depends on cost. If free, then almost right away. If I have to pay to play, my entry will be delayed.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 17:44:19


Post by: DarkTraveler777


 Formosa wrote:

So guys what tips and hits would you give to new players when making a lance.


Try to keep the lance versatile, but with a purpose. What I mean by that is the lance should have a function (fire support, assault, etc.) and have weapons spread across all four `Mechs that serve that function, but the lance shouldn't be so specialized that it cannot engage targets outside of its idealized role. Take a fire support lance, for example. Typically a lance in that role will have long range weapons, perhaps even missile for indirect fire. However, I'd pair at least one `Mech with shorter ranged weapons and maybe only one long ranged weapon to accompany the lance in order to provide some in-close fire for any fast moving `Mechs or vehicles.


 Formosa wrote:
1: do you enforce the scarcity of certain mechs from certain factions, Ghost bear mechs for ghost bears etc.


Only if I am running a campaign. For pick-up games I prefer to just go by BV/Faction.

 Formosa wrote:
2: what tonnage do you usually play, and what is the average BV? do you use BV1 or BV2?

I like about 350 tons per lance and use BV1 since I am kicking old-school with my Heavy Metal Pro disk.

 Formosa wrote:
4: what are your favourite periods to play in?

Succession Wars, Clan Invasion and up to the FedCom Civil War are my preferences in order. I am not a fan of the story line or art direction of the post-FASA era.

 Formosa wrote:
5: do you play MWO?

No.

 Formosa wrote:
6: will you be playing Battletech when its released
Is that the one that was Kickstarted? If so, yeah! But I really only backed it for the swag (got my jacket and LOVE it!).


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 18:30:15


Post by: Charistoph


 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
6: will you be playing Battletech when its released
Is that the one that was Kickstarted? If so, yeah! But I really only backed it for the swag (got my jacket and LOVE it!).

The one being produced by Hare-Brained Studios (the ones who brought Shadowrun to Steam), I am presuming. It's looking pretty good so far, and not that travesty that was the online card game. A slight hiccup with a Unity engine update seems to have caused a speed bump.

You got the jacket? I'm jealous, of both the jacket and the expendable income to put down for that.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 19:49:50


Post by: DarkTraveler777


 Charistoph wrote:
 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
6: will you be playing Battletech when its released
Is that the one that was Kickstarted? If so, yeah! But I really only backed it for the swag (got my jacket and LOVE it!).

The one being produced by Hare-Brained Studios (the ones who brought Shadowrun to Steam), I am presuming. It's looking pretty good so far, and not that travesty that was the online card game. A slight hiccup with a Unity engine update seems to have caused a speed bump.

You got the jacket? I'm jealous, of both the jacket and the expendable income to put down for that.


That's the one!

Yeah, the jacket was pricey and ate up my hobby budget for a while but ultimately was totally worth it. I don't think I'll get to wear it much more until November when California's brief 2-month window of cold weather hits, but for now it proudly hangs in my hobby room.



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 21:03:03


Post by: Charistoph


 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
That's the one!

Yeah, the jacket was pricey and ate up my hobby budget for a while but ultimately was totally worth it. I don't think I'll get to wear it much more until November when California's brief 2-month window of cold weather hits, but for now it proudly hangs in my hobby room.

You get TWO months of cold weather? Now I'm triply jealous. We get about three months of cool weather here. Maybe a week or two of actually cold weather (using other people's standard of cold).


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 21:36:07


Post by: DarkTraveler777


 Charistoph wrote:
 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
That's the one!

Yeah, the jacket was pricey and ate up my hobby budget for a while but ultimately was totally worth it. I don't think I'll get to wear it much more until November when California's brief 2-month window of cold weather hits, but for now it proudly hangs in my hobby room.

You get TWO months of cold weather? Now I'm triply jealous. We get about three months of cool weather here. Maybe a week or two of actually cold weather (using other people's standard of cold).


You trade water for warm weather here. No water to drink, but plenty of sunshine to enjoy!

If Southern California was a planet in Battletech we'd be doing water raids on our neighbors.

Well we kinda do that anyway...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/04 21:41:12


Post by: Stormonu


 Formosa wrote:
it seems this thread has become the Defacto Battletech thread lol, I will change the title to reflect this.

So guys what tips and hits would you give to new players when making a lance.

1: do you enforce the scarcity of certain mechs from certain factions, Ghost bear mechs for ghost bears etc.

2: what tonnage do you usually play, and what is the average BV? do you use BV1 or BV2?

3: Explain heat dissipation to me, as I thought it was
5 legacy heat +10 for the heat genned in that turn for a total of 15, then dissipate heat (say 10 HS) for a total of 5.

4: what are your favourite periods to play in?

5: do you play MWO?

6: will you be playing Battletech when its released

Cheers guys


TBH, I played primarily in the 80's & 90's, mostly with the 3025 rules, and a little bit of 3050. We used tonnage (375 for a lance) for the 3025 era, but started using BV for 3050 (no experience with BV2). For the longest time, we always built our own mechs, rather than use the book designs (we just used the chassis, stripped it down to the skeleton and rebuilt it - always with max armor and then whatever we had left we tried to build to the pic. For our group, half the fun was making and tweaking mechs - we each had our own "factory" that supposedly produced these custom mechs. My all-time favorite mech - but worst designed - was the Mobilefort MBT-1R, 100 tons of walking 1/2 speed fail, with max armor and four PPCs. I even made a scratch-built model for it).

Quite honestly, I had given up Classic Battletech for Mechwarrior: Dark Age - which has been gathering dust in my attic - and have been hoping to get my friends to try out Alpha Strike. I did play MWO for a short time, but it didn't keep my interest.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/05 00:43:51


Post by: nobody


Battletech was my first minis game, but I haven't played since before FASA folded (actually, I lied, I had one game around a decade ago) and still have some of the Ral Partha minis in storage somewhere.

Unfortunately, haven't really come across any other players in the area in a while.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/05 02:00:16


Post by: Charistoph


DarkTraveler777 wrote:You trade water for warm weather here. No water to drink, but plenty of sunshine to enjoy!

If Southern California was a planet in Battletech we'd be doing water raids on our neighbors.

Well we kinda do that anyway...

Oh, we would be planning water raids if some industrious peoples before hand had not run a huge canal system across the state to run snowfall to fields and people.

But my city is also known for the phrase, "but it's a dry heat", when noting the 118-120 degree summers. Many of our people visit SoCal to get away from it. But we also get too many snow birds during the winter.

Stormonu wrote:TBH, I played primarily in the 80's & 90's, mostly with the 3025 rules, and a little bit of 3050. We used tonnage (375 for a lance) for the 3025 era, but started using BV for 3050 (no experience with BV2). For the longest time, we always built our own mechs, rather than use the book designs (we just used the chassis, stripped it down to the skeleton and rebuilt it - always with max armor and then whatever we had left we tried to build to the pic. For our group, half the fun was making and tweaking mechs - we each had our own "factory" that supposedly produced these custom mechs.

Mostly mid-90s for me. I couldn't afford it before then. Had a huge selection of books, but I went on a mission in 98 and haven't seen the books when I sold them.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/05 02:47:14


Post by: H.B.M.C.


 Formosa wrote:
So guys what tips and hits would you give to new players when making a lance.


Start with a list of the 'Mechs you like from that faction. Then work out what type of Lance you want. Then pick 'Mechs that fit with that type from the list of 'Mechs you like. Then spend hours obsessing over the Master Unit List to make sure it fits the era that you're playing in. Then spend more hours wondering how you can make this fit with the fluff. Then bingo! You have your Lance. Easy.



 Formosa wrote:
1: do you enforce the scarcity of certain mechs from certain factions, Ghost bear mechs for ghost bears etc.


Not always. If it's just a free-for-all then I do whatever's cool. But if we're fighting a battle between Faction X and Faction Y then I'll fluff the forces to fit what should be there (see the aforementioned obsessing over the MUL!).

 Formosa wrote:
2: what tonnage do you usually play, and what is the average BV? do you use BV1 or BV2?


Between 4-8 'Mechs a size. Larger games tend to take forever. Solaris games where you have multiple players in big 1v1v1v1v1 situations are a blast. They also teach you a lot about the game, like how to not fear heat.

Sometimes I use BV. Mostly I don't. I like BTech's inherent imbalance. I'll take forces that fit with the fluff and gives me a variety of 'Mechs to use before I take one that's 'balanced'. I do like using RATs.

 Formosa wrote:
4: what are your favourite periods to play in?


3058, when everything was perfect.

I'm not one of those "Nothing happened after 3025!" or "The Jihad sucks!" or "FedCom Civil War 4eva!!!" players. I'll play anything as long as it's fun.

 Formosa wrote:
5: do you play MWO?


I'd love to. It looks like the MW game I dreamt of as a child when playing MW2 on my Pentium 166. But feth microtransactions.

 Formosa wrote:
6: will you be playing Battletech when its released


One of the lead guys on the BattleTech PC game is Mitch Gleitmen. He was the lead on the MechCommander games, MechCommander 1 being one of my fav games of all time. I pledged to the game almost on his presence alone.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/05 08:49:22


Post by: simonr1978


 Formosa wrote:
it seems this thread has become the Defacto Battletech thread lol, I will change the title to reflect this.

So guys what tips and hits would you give to new players when making a lance.

1: do you enforce the scarcity of certain mechs from certain factions, Ghost bear mechs for ghost bears etc.

2: what tonnage do you usually play, and what is the average BV? do you use BV1 or BV2?

3: Explain heat dissipation to me, as I thought it was
5 legacy heat +10 for the heat genned in that turn for a total of 15, then dissipate heat (say 10 HSK) for a total of 5.

4: what are your favourite periods to play in?

5: do you play MWO?

6: will you be playing Battletech when its released

Cheers guys


For Lance construction, it depends to a degree if you're intending on it operating as part of a Company or being a self sufficient unit. If it's part of a larger unit, take mechs that have similar speeds and ranges, ideally they should probably be the same class or similar tonnages. For a single self sufficient Lance, in my experience I favour having a mix of dedicated close range fighters and/or all-rounders with long range support, having a fast and/or jump capable light buzzing around making itself a nuisance and spotting for indirect fire can be useful too and can free up tonnage for the main three, you just need to be careful not to let it get isolated and picked off by volume of fire before its Lance mates can get close enough to be a threat.

1: Yes, but not that strictly. Firstly, the TROs were written from the perspective of being Comstar intelligence reports, so just because they say Mech A is only seen in Faction A, doesn't necessarily mean that there's not a single example anywhere else, Comstar might have just missed it. Secondly, with Battlefield salvage and the occasional sale to mercenary units, mechs tend to migrate through the Inner Sphere, so a Kurita exclusive might eventually find its way to a Marik house unit for example. Similarly for the Clans (not Mercenary sales obviously), so you could reasonably see for example, a Jade Falcon Behemoth. These should be fairly rare though and fielding whole lances or stars of other faction's exclusives should generally be a no-no. I'm stricter with myself on date specifics, so if the books say a specific mech didn't enter service till 3053, I won't use it in games taking place earlier than 3053.

2: Whatever everyone's happy to agree to, somewhere around 250-300t per Lance will give you a decent range of options, much above that though and you'll be likely to end up rarely or never seeing anything below a medium, much below that and you're pretty much ruling out Assaults.

3: As has already been said, yes.

4: Pretty much anything although I haven't really played the 3060+ stuff yet, but I can't see any massive issues with it, although I'm not especially keen on the Jihad storyline. My own Mercenaries are currently up to July 3056 in universe.

5: No, not really interested in online gaming. I tend to play computer games when I want to avoid people rather than interact with them. MW4: Mercenaries was fun but I thought MW3 was closer to actual Battletech.

6: Possibly. Megamek already more or less scratches that itch for me and it's free so providing the lawyers don't kill it, I'll likely stick with that or use it as well as.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Stormonu wrote:
Yeah, Gunnery/Piloting skills can be where Clanners are really scary. Back when the Clan material was new, the local gaming club ran a IS vs. Clan invasion campaign. After some heated talked, the Clan players decided to teach the IS players a lesson. They bid for one big fight for the control of the planet. One star against the entire defense force - some 30-40 IS mechs.

The IS players went for it. Not only did they bring the entire force, they also got their hands on a couple of salvaged LAMs and even hired a local Merc force to help, which brought the IS force up to somewhere near 50 mechs.

The Clanners (I think they were Smoke Jaguar, BTW) won. The game table was about 10'-15' square. They landed in the middle of a Monsoon, at night, after they likewise tricked the IS forces to be spead out across several objectives, leaving them to attack in waves. The Clanners needed 9's to 11's to hit. Most of the IS mechs needed 13's-15's most of the time.

I remember the first casualty being an IS Warhammer who made himself a target when he turned on his spotlight. I stopped watching after that to go to my D&D game, and got the rest of the battle report later.

By the end of the battle, only a badly limping Atlas IS mech (with a gyro hit and armless) and a "gerwalk"-locked LAM Wasp survived the ensuing massacre.

None of the Clan mechs were destroyed, though one Loki was missing all of its right torso armor.


Sorry to backtrack a bit and I mean no real disrespect to the players concerned but if the forces were as you described here either the Inner Sphere players must have been severely incompetent, the Clan players were cheating or insanely lucky or they were doing something wrong, that size force should have been able to swamp a single star just in weight of numbers alone, unless they allowed the Clan mechs to repair and rearm between waves (in which case, it would be more like several separate battles rather than a single engagement), or just sat back and didn't move allowing the Clanners to pick them off at will. Ammunition allocations alone do not favour 3050 Invasion Clan mechs in a protracted battle as they don't usually carry enough for anything beyond a short engagement. I just find it hard to believe the results were quite that one sided, it sounds more like the outcome was a result of bad tactics on the IS side than the superiority of Clan tech.

About the worst odds I played was a 16 mech reinforced company against my 3 Thors. It was to settle an argument, the other player had claimed that all Thors were crap, I disagreed and offered to take on whatever opposing forces he brought against 3 Mechforce UK Thor Es. I won without losing a single mech, although by the end one was more or less stripped of armour, one was missing about 1/3 it's armour though the last was basically undamaged. Large Pulse Lasers and Targetting Computers are vicious. Still, odds of just over 5-1 was more than enough to win the argument.

There are other ways to even the playing field a bit against Clanners, tricks like using FASCAM LRM ammo can leave the Clan player with a choice of losing his mobility or risk blowing his own mechs legs off (I used that one myself to defeat two heavy stars with a single company, got some good salvage out of that one). C-3 networks can help. Aerospace support, where Clan training isn't as advanced can also make a difference as there's not a lot you can do to stop a divebombing Aerospace fighter from dropping it's payload on you, even with Clan tech. You can also get the Clan players to bid against each other for who gets to command and with what, sort of as in the fluff. That can be interesting and can make for more challenging games.

But ultimately if you're playing Inner Sphere against Clan, all other things being equal, you'll need numbers and need to accept that you're going to take losses since you will be outclassed. Which especially sucks if you're a mercenary unit unless you're in the very fortunate position of having spare mechs, but that's why some of the best paying contracts are on the Clan front.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/06 21:32:53


Post by: simonr1978


 H.B.M.C. wrote:


Between 4-8 'Mechs a size. Larger games tend to take forever. Solaris games where you have multiple players in big 1v1v1v1v1 situations are a blast. They also teach you a lot about the game, like how to not fear heat.

Sometimes I use BV. Mostly I don't. I like BTech's inherent imbalance. I'll take forces that fit with the fluff and gives me a variety of 'Mechs to use before I take one that's 'balanced'. I do like using RATs.

 Formosa wrote:
4: what are your favourite periods to play in?


3058, when everything was perfect.

I'm not one of those "Nothing happened after 3025!" or "The Jihad sucks!" or "FedCom Civil War 4eva!!!" players. I'll play anything as long as it's fun.


I always think of 3058 as when they made a deliberate effort to design bad Clan mechs so that the good Inner Sphere designs had a chance. I'd take most 3050 Omnis over their later counterparts, hell I'd take a lot if the second line Clan mechs against their later first line equivilents.

Regarding multiplayer 1v1v1v1... I played a great game once where we drew the mech version out of a hat at random, there was about 10 players and it was purely 3025 Lights. I drew the Locust variant with LRMs and practically no armour...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/06 23:23:20


Post by: 455_PWR


3025-3058 was great! Mechs were perfect, characters were legendary, and I loved the unseens and clans. The jihad got wierd, and wizkids made cbt very wierd and non battletech-ish at that point.

Although, many of the newer designs now fit and the future storyline is great (except for that damned dark age).

I personally don't buy anything newer than 3085, nor do I play anything newer for both cbt and alpha strike.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/07 04:52:06


Post by: H.B.M.C.


simonr1978 wrote:
I always think of 3058 as when they made a deliberate effort to design bad Clan mechs so that the good Inner Sphere designs had a chance. I'd take most 3050 Omnis over their later counterparts, hell I'd take a lot if the second line Clan mechs against their later first line equivilents.


*looks up TRO 3058*

Piranha, Grendel, Shadow Cat, Fat Duck 'Mech Black Lanner, Cauldron-Born, Night Gyr, Turkina, Kodiak.

Bad Clan 'Mechs? You're calling the Night Gyr bad? Please clarify.

simonr1978 wrote:
Regarding multiplayer 1v1v1v1... I played a great game once where we drew the mech version out of a hat at random, there was about 10 players and it was purely 3025 Lights. I drew the Locust variant with LRMs and practically no armour...


Had one game where it was light 'Mechs and on the first round we were moving slow enough to fire at one another I got TAC'd, lost my engine, and was out in one shot. Shortest game I've ever played.



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/07 06:37:03


Post by: Albertorius


Most configurations of the Turkina are very good, but the Turkina-B is a thing out of nightmare with a whooping BV (2.0) of 3.420.

So... yeah, dunno about that ^^


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/07 08:39:24


Post by: simonr1978


Scratch that, I think I was conflating a number of TRO 3055 and 3058 designs together. There are good mechs there, there are also some pretty poor ones too though. Turkina P is pretty underwhelming IMO and Cauldron Born P wastes a lot of tonnage on excess heat sinks IIRC. Definitely wouldn't call the Night Gyr bad though.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/07 10:06:03


Post by: Albertorius


I'm not familiar with the Turkina P... how is it? where is it from?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/07 18:49:04


Post by: DarkTraveler777


simonr1978 wrote:
 H.B.M.C. wrote:


Between 4-8 'Mechs a size. Larger games tend to take forever. Solaris games where you have multiple players in big 1v1v1v1v1 situations are a blast. They also teach you a lot about the game, like how to not fear heat.

Sometimes I use BV. Mostly I don't. I like BTech's inherent imbalance. I'll take forces that fit with the fluff and gives me a variety of 'Mechs to use before I take one that's 'balanced'. I do like using RATs.

 Formosa wrote:
4: what are your favourite periods to play in?


3058, when everything was perfect.

I'm not one of those "Nothing happened after 3025!" or "The Jihad sucks!" or "FedCom Civil War 4eva!!!" players. I'll play anything as long as it's fun.


I always think of 3058 as when they made a deliberate effort to design bad Clan mechs so that the good Inner Sphere designs had a chance. I'd take most 3050 Omnis over their later counterparts, hell I'd take a lot if the second line Clan mechs against their later first line equivilents.



But... but... my Turkina?!

That was, and is, a slick and deadly Clan Omni!

3058 came out when I was in middle school. I still remember pouring over that book with my friends and us freaking out over how many Gauss Rifles were being crammed into `Mechs (along with the glorious IS XL engines that insta-killed your `Mech if you lost a side torso). Mmm nostalgia!




Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Albertorius wrote:
I'm not familiar with the Turkina P... how is it? where is it from?


Jade Faclon 95-ton death machine. Came out in TRO 3058 and has some really, really powerful variants, but the BV costs are also appropriately high.

That is one `Mech that I'd like to see a re-sculpt of. The miniature available is okay, but getting a bit long in the tooth.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/07 19:30:12


Post by: Ghaz


 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
 Albertorius wrote:
I'm not familiar with the Turkina P... how is it? where is it from?

Jade Faclon 95-ton death machine. Came out in TRO 3058 and has some really, really powerful variants, but the BV costs are also appropriately high.

That is one `Mech that I'd like to see a re-sculpt of. The miniature available is okay, but getting a bit long in the tooth.

I believe he's talking about the P configuration, not the Turkina in general.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/07 20:27:42


Post by: Mattlov


As far as I am aware there is no "P" configuration of the Turkina.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/07 20:36:40


Post by: Albertorius


 Ghaz wrote:
 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
 Albertorius wrote:
I'm not familiar with the Turkina P... how is it? where is it from?

Jade Faclon 95-ton death machine. Came out in TRO 3058 and has some really, really powerful variants, but the BV costs are also appropriately high.

That is one `Mech that I'd like to see a re-sculpt of. The miniature available is okay, but getting a bit long in the tooth.

I believe he's talking about the P configuration, not the Turkina in general.


Indeed I am ^_^ (I've even posted a battle story of me using a Turkina B upthread).

Rereading, I suppose that "P" means "Prime", in this context? If so, I would agree that 2x ER-PPC, 2x LRM-15, 2x LB-5X and a fair amount of ammo is not the best configuration ever, but... well, it's not exactly horrible.

Just saw that the Turkina-Z has the second highest BV of any official battlemech, at 3.935, only exceeded by the Ryoken III-XP C.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/08 13:35:49


Post by: Mattlov


 Albertorius wrote:
 Ghaz wrote:
 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
 Albertorius wrote:
I'm not familiar with the Turkina P... how is it? where is it from?

Jade Faclon 95-ton death machine. Came out in TRO 3058 and has some really, really powerful variants, but the BV costs are also appropriately high.

That is one `Mech that I'd like to see a re-sculpt of. The miniature available is okay, but getting a bit long in the tooth.

I believe he's talking about the P configuration, not the Turkina in general.


Indeed I am ^_^ (I've even posted a battle story of me using a Turkina B upthread).

Rereading, I suppose that "P" means "Prime", in this context? If so, I would agree that 2x ER-PPC, 2x LRM-15, 2x LB-5X and a fair amount of ammo is not the best configuration ever, but... well, it's not exactly horrible.

Just saw that the Turkina-Z has the second highest BV of any official battlemech, at 3.935, only exceeded by the Ryoken III-XP C.



The pure evil that is iATMs combined with a Nova CEWS SHOULD have an insanely high BV. Combined with any sort of Nova spotter, it should be shredding things every round it fires.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/09 10:51:58


Post by: Formosa


is anyone aware of any tool that helps with campaigns, tracking etc.

I got the campaign operations books (very good btw) but jebus H bob its complicated, I have most of it down and sorted, but I would like something to help work out upkeep, pay and all that jazz.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/10 04:29:21


Post by: warboss


 Formosa wrote:
is anyone aware of any tool that helps with campaigns, tracking etc.

I got the campaign operations books (very good btw) but jebus H bob its complicated, I have most of it down and sorted, but I would like something to help work out upkeep, pay and all that jazz.


Traditionally these tools worked well in the past.

Spoiler:




Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/10 06:19:24


Post by: Albertorius


 Formosa wrote:
is anyone aware of any tool that helps with campaigns, tracking etc.

I got the campaign operations books (very good btw) but jebus H bob its complicated, I have most of it down and sorted, but I would like something to help work out upkeep, pay and all that jazz.


Only one I know of is MekHQ (which has full integration with Megamek). I don't know if they've updated it to the latest books, though.

http://megamek.org/downloads


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/10 21:49:01


Post by: Mattlov


 Formosa wrote:
is anyone aware of any tool that helps with campaigns, tracking etc.

I got the campaign operations books (very good btw) but jebus H bob its complicated, I have most of it down and sorted, but I would like something to help work out upkeep, pay and all that jazz.


The Chaos Campaign creates a simplified (but solid) campaign and management system. Reasonably cheap Battletech PDF from Catalyst.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/11 18:28:28


Post by: Tar-Minastir


 Formosa wrote:
is anyone aware of any tool that helps with campaigns, tracking etc.

I got the campaign operations books (very good btw) but jebus H bob its complicated, I have most of it down and sorted, but I would like something to help work out upkeep, pay and all that jazz.


Unfortunately you’ve discovered the flaw with most of the optional rules sets. They are so gratuitously complicated, and unnecessary IMHO, that they just sit on the shelf.

One of my gripes with BT is that it is written by, and for, the people who’ve been playing since the 80s/90s. So unless you have all that background it can be overwhelming. They seriously took 23 pages to describe how to build a force. Most modern wargames wouldn’t spend more than 5 pages on it. Decides the force size, pick the stuff, select skills, start playing. When I was in high school the Battletech Compendium was the comprehensive rulebook. It was much smaller than the current total warfare (TW), and covered everything, including stuff that they weren’t able to fit into TW. I don’t want to dampen enthusiasm, since I’m a fan of BT. But sometimes I wonder if they want BT to reach to a broader audience.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/12 02:57:27


Post by: H.B.M.C.


The Chaos Campaign rules are pretty simple though. Shame that the ones in Campaign Operations are functionally broken.

I'm not just saying they're bad, I'm saying that they do not function. There is a point in the rules where, during an example, the example introduces a rule not mentioned prior to the example!!!

It's that bad.

I asked about this on the official forums about 6 months ago and they replied to me a couple of days ago saying "The person who wrote the rule has left the company, but we'll try to find the answer!".

Thing is, the answer is in the updated 4 page (or whatever it was) Chaos Campaign rule booklet they released years ago. That had the same problems, I asked, Herb got angry that someone had pointed out the error, and reluctantly they released an updated version that fixed the problem.

And now they've reverted back to the broken version before the update, and I have no frickin' idea why.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/14 19:29:09


Post by: Formosa


Thanks for all the help people, so here is the VERY rough draft of my idea for the first phase of the campaign.

Players 2-6 depending on who is available and when.

The opening scene will have each of the players controlling a mech from the stockpile of mechs available ($30,000,0000 budget, to include all mechs, support staff etc. Drop ship will be "free"), they will be starting in the Solaris arena (in different maps) at the end of the match, there jump ship receives a distress call, the main base is under attack by forces unknown dum dum duuuuuuum!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/15 00:10:01


Post by: Charistoph


 Formosa wrote:
Thanks for all the help people, so here is the VERY rough draft of my idea for the first phase of the campaign.

Players 2-6 depending on who is available and when.

The opening scene will have each of the players controlling a mech from the stockpile of mechs available ($30,000,0000 budget, to include all mechs, support staff etc. Drop ship will be "free"), they will be starting in the Solaris arena (in different maps) at the end of the match, there jump ship receives a distress call, the main base is under attack by forces unknown dum dum duuuuuuum!

What era, if I may ask?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/15 13:44:44


Post by: Formosa


 Charistoph wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
Thanks for all the help people, so here is the VERY rough draft of my idea for the first phase of the campaign.

Players 2-6 depending on who is available and when.

The opening scene will have each of the players controlling a mech from the stockpile of mechs available ($30,000,0000 budget, to include all mechs, support staff etc. Drop ship will be "free"), they will be starting in the Solaris arena (in different maps) at the end of the match, there jump ship receives a distress call, the main base is under attack by forces unknown dum dum duuuuuuum!

What era, if I may ask?


Derp, 3048


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/16 03:41:38


Post by: nobody


This thread has been giving me the Battletech itch again, so what's the best advice you'd give to somebody who hasn't played in a long time as far as "what to get"? My last rulebook was the Battletech Compendium: Rules of Warfare.

I've also been eyeing the Alpha Strike Striker Lance, since I've always been fond of the Draconis Combine, and it looks like it's purpose built for them.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/16 04:16:20


Post by: Formosa


Total warfare book is the first port of call buddy


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/16 14:17:34


Post by: Mattlov


nobody wrote:
This thread has been giving me the Battletech itch again, so what's the best advice you'd give to somebody who hasn't played in a long time as far as "what to get"? My last rulebook was the Battletech Compendium: Rules of Warfare.

I've also been eyeing the Alpha Strike Striker Lance, since I've always been fond of the Draconis Combine, and it looks like it's purpose built for them.


If you can find a copy of the Intro Box for a reasonable price, you can get that.

Total Warfare gets you all the rules to play "tournament" level games.

Alpha Strike gives you rules to play "fast" Battletech. Larger scale, far less complex, far less details.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/16 22:15:01


Post by: Vejut


Or just keep your Compendium stuff. Not a whole lot changed, mostly just new tech and a few problem rules (Partial cover now just making leg location hits into "whiff", and adds +1 to hit mod, instead of +3 but 1 in 6s takes your head is the only one that immediately jumps to mind.)


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/17 14:03:14


Post by: H.B.M.C.


Or just wait for the Battletech Battle Manual to come out. It's basically going to take the 'Mech stuff from Total Warfare, plus most of the 'Mech-only stuff most people use from the other books, and collate/update it.

It'll be completely 'Mech-centric, and allow you to play BTech games without having to worry about all the rules for infantry, vehicles, jets, etc. getting in the way and making books longer.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/19 12:04:34


Post by: Mattlov


The Manual is undergoing some changes right now. The open beta revealed some problems that are being addressed, so it might be a few months until that release.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/19 23:26:49


Post by: nobody


Thanks guys, assuming I get to play a game I'll use the book I have, and I'll just hold off on getting any new books until the new release.

I'll probably still get that Alpha Strike lance though


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/20 00:36:17


Post by: H.B.M.C.


 Mattlov wrote:
The Manual is undergoing some changes right now. The open beta revealed some problems that are being addressed, so it might be a few months until that release.


What problems, out of interest, given it was a collation of existing rules.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/20 04:03:27


Post by: Charistoph


 H.B.M.C. wrote:
 Mattlov wrote:
The Manual is undergoing some changes right now. The open beta revealed some problems that are being addressed, so it might be a few months until that release.


What problems, out of interest, given it was a collation of existing rules.

I don't have the book, so I can't say, but I saw reports of some TRO tech that is tournament legal at the later eras was not included in the book.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/20 21:06:13


Post by: Mattlov


 H.B.M.C. wrote:
 Mattlov wrote:
The Manual is undergoing some changes right now. The open beta revealed some problems that are being addressed, so it might be a few months until that release.


What problems, out of interest, given it was a collation of existing rules.


While it is existing rules, they were re-worded/cleaned up for it. One of the particular errors I know of was the Stacking Rules. They kind of forgot to put them in.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/21 03:01:51


Post by: H.B.M.C.


Ha! Ok, fair enough. That's an odd oversight.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/21 11:23:52


Post by: Mattlov


 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Ha! Ok, fair enough. That's an odd oversight.


In a 'Mech-only combat, it doesn't come up much.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/25 18:20:54


Post by: Formosa


i so badly want to be back from excercise so i can play battletech lol.

cheer me up guys, tell me about you games, post some pics of your minis


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/25 18:28:06


Post by: Mattlov


Well, I learned me some stuff today about why the Battletech product front has been quiet.

Catalyst has been working with WotC to make a D&D deckbuilding game, Dragonfire.

This has tied up an insane amount of Catalyst's limited capital, but projects including a new Intro Box with new plastic minis and a $20 Beginner Box are back on and will hopefully be in stores by the end of the year.

But if Dragonfire is successful, it will increase CGL's available cash flow, allowing for more consistent product release and restocking.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/25 18:29:18


Post by: Formosa


 Mattlov wrote:
Well, I learned me some stuff today about why the Battletech product front has been quiet.

Catalyst has been working with WotC to make a D&D deckbuilding game, Dragonfire.

This has tied up an insane amount of Catalyst's limited capital, but projects including a new Intro Box with new plastic minis and a $20 Beginner Box are back on and will hopefully be in stores by the end of the year.

But if Dragonfire is successful, it will increase CGL's available cash flow, allowing for more consistent product release and restocking.


That is good news!!

it does explain the lack of the starter set i suppose, its like gold dust over here.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/27 08:06:01


Post by: H.B.M.C.


Weird that Wizards went out of house for this.

None of this excuses the lack of ilClan.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/27 19:17:10


Post by: Mattlov


 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Weird that Wizards went out of house for this.

None of this excuses the lack of ilClan.


The lack of ilCLan is the same problem Catalyst has with everything: MONEY.

Not a big company. Not a lot of capital, and the diverging of the electronic IPs so that Catalyst gets NO money from them (Thanks, Jordan!). The freelance writers for Battletech have been working on the PROMISE of being paid for MONTHS.

Herb? The old Line Developer? Like, two and a half years ago Line Developer? STILL owed money.

So this will get some stuff moving again. It isn't going fix all of CGLs current issues, but it will help with them.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/28 10:45:15


Post by: H.B.M.C.


'Least one of them got a nice deck out of it.




And by diverging of electronic IPs, you mean things like MWO/the Shadowrun games/etc., or do you mean that Catalyst get no money from electronic sales of their products (ie. PDFs)?




Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/28 11:58:31


Post by: Mattlov


 H.B.M.C. wrote:
'Least one of them got a nice deck out of it.



And by diverging of electronic IPs, you mean things like MWO/the Shadowrun games/etc., or do you mean that Catalyst get no money from electronic sales of their products (ie. PDFs)?


The video games.



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/29 15:53:35


Post by: Capt. Camping


Why they dont have youtube videos to promote the game as Hawkwargames is doing?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/29 17:23:45


Post by: Formosa


ok guys, i will be doing a Video Battle report next thursday, its gonna be bad, as i dont record this kind of thing normally and all i have is a phone lol, but either way i will share it here with you guys and elsewhere, also, we WILL get things wrong with the rules no doubt, so be patient


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/29 20:19:18


Post by: Stormonu


Dragonfire?!? Gah, I still have bad memories with the old Spellfire game. It's also strange they didn't a D&D CCG internally to Wizards - guess they didn't want to mix Magic & D&D...

If they were going to do a CCG/Deckbuilding, why didn't they bring the old Battletech CCG game back, or make a new version?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/04/30 18:41:37


Post by: Mattlov


 Stormonu wrote:

If they were going to do a CCG/Deckbuilding, why didn't they bring the old Battletech CCG game back, or make a new version?


I'm glad that wasn't brought back, it was TERRIBLE. Also, it would be far too niche of a market to be profitable. The art costs alone for making a CCG is simply too far out of reach for CGL.

A CCG simply doesn't work without a MASSIVE fanbase at this point, which is why Magic, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh are the only CCGs that still exist.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/05/09 22:46:55


Post by: warboss


I can't quite put my finger on it but something seems different from the way Battletech was fought in stores years ago....




I think they're taking tips from the Chicago Wargaming Little Wars guys.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/05/09 23:07:19


Post by: Charistoph


They had a pretty realistic fluid gun going there. I don't remember a drill melee weapon.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/05/10 03:17:40


Post by: Mattlov


Battletech has a drill Melee weapon. Just Google a Violator Mech.

I'm sure with a drill the name is just a coincidence.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/05/10 03:35:07


Post by: Charistoph


 Mattlov wrote:
Battletech has a drill Melee weapon. Just Google a Violator Mech.

I'm sure with a drill the name is just a coincidence.

Well, it IS a Solaris Mech. They are so much better at naming things than House Militaries. Could you imagine what they would have built with "Wolverine" as a name? Even discounting the fact that they probably didn't have Marvel Comics.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/05/10 06:17:02


Post by: Albertorius


 Charistoph wrote:
 Mattlov wrote:
Battletech has a drill Melee weapon. Just Google a Violator Mech.

I'm sure with a drill the name is just a coincidence.

Well, it IS a Solaris Mech. They are so much better at naming things than House Militaries. Could you imagine what they would have built with "Wolverine" as a name? Even discounting the fact that they probably didn't have Marvel Comics.


Probably something like the Piranha. Only at least twice as heavy. And with max armor. And jumpjets. And CC weapons of some kind.

So yeah, basically nothing like the Piranha


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/05/10 13:16:28


Post by: Mattlov


 Charistoph wrote:
 Mattlov wrote:
Battletech has a drill Melee weapon. Just Google a Violator Mech.

I'm sure with a drill the name is just a coincidence.

Well, it IS a Solaris Mech. They are so much better at naming things than House Militaries. Could you imagine what they would have built with "Wolverine" as a name? Even discounting the fact that they probably didn't have Marvel Comics.


Battletech is the future of the 80's. Wolverine and Marvel would have existed at some point.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/02 13:26:30


Post by: Formosa


Battletech Beta is out guys and its really really good, as you would expect it has its bugs, and a few head scratchers, but on the whole a solid effort in a year of utter let downs.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/02 19:03:31


Post by: Mattlov


On another note, Battletech has a new Head Line Developer, and he is quite eager to get things moving again in terms of product AND story line advancement.

His name is Brent Evans, and he used to be the Lead Art Developer.

We on the inside are cautiously optimistic. They are reaching out to us volunteers and those with "boots on the ground" about the best thing we can do moving forward. If you have suggestions, I'll pass them along. And before you say it:

We know we need a new Intro Box.
We know you want the NewSeen.
We know we need to get publications back in print on a more consistent basis.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/02 19:14:14


Post by: Anpu42


 Formosa wrote:
Battletech Beta is out guys and its really really good, as you would expect it has its bugs, and a few head scratchers, but on the whole a solid effort in a year of utter let downs.

Where, my Gggole-Fu Sucks.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/02 20:26:21


Post by: Charistoph


 Anpu42 wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
Battletech Beta is out guys and its really really good, as you would expect it has its bugs, and a few head scratchers, but on the whole a solid effort in a year of utter let downs.

Where, my Gggole-Fu Sucks.

Well, the Battlmech Beta Manual can be found here.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/02 20:38:23


Post by: Chillreaper


 Anpu42 wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
Battletech Beta is out guys and its really really good, as you would expect it has its bugs, and a few head scratchers, but on the whole a solid effort in a year of utter let downs.

Where, my Gggole-Fu Sucks.



If we're talking about the PC game, it’s been released to KS backers of a certain pledge level and above. I didn't go for one of those pledges - figured that I can wait for the finished product and I've given up on spending time playing betas, no matter how much I'm looking forward to the game.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/03 00:04:29


Post by: H.B.M.C.


The new leadership is a good thing... maybe...? I mean if it means more products that's great, but are these new heads specific faction lovers that will put one faction ahead of the others 'cause they've got a real hard-on for the Cappies, or will we see some real story movement (like ilClan actually happening).


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/03 01:53:24


Post by: Anpu42


I just got through watching a play through...and OMG!!!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/09 18:34:35


Post by: Mattlov


 H.B.M.C. wrote:
The new leadership is a good thing... maybe...? I mean if it means more products that's great, but are these new heads specific faction lovers that will put one faction ahead of the others 'cause they've got a real hard-on for the Cappies, or will we see some real story movement (like ilClan actually happening).


Brent has been in charge of Art for a long time, I don't think he has specific faction loyalties. He also knows faction loyalty doesn't matter if the game dies. While story advancement is on the list of things to do, needed product release (starter boxes!) and possible print runs of core rule books are needed more. The Combat Manual is one of those things.

That is one of the keys: Move forward. Even I'm mostly still in the dark about it, but he has contacted lowly Agents like me just for feedback and ideas. I think it is mostly to see how the community feels and how that jives with what they plan to do. They know they need to come back, and come back strong.

We also know that Battletech is a SUPER niche game, and know that standard BT doesn't appeal to a lot of the new gamers coming on the scene. They don't want a slow paced game, they want something good, fast, and with great models. I suspect Alpha Strike will be pushed harder under the new regime, with a possible Alpha Strike starter box, or AS rules included in the new Starter.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/09 18:48:39


Post by: Charistoph


You're probably right, Mattlov. Even GW is getting in to quicker, more simplified rulesets, something few would have been convinced could happen even 3 years ago.

Privateer Press has also reduced some of the complexity of their lead game, though, not to the degree that Age of Sigmar and Dark Imperium have done.

Alpha Strike should probably be the one they push harder when advertising. Use it as a gateway in the universe and an opportunity to start collecting. That leaves the more complicated rules on the back burner, but available for those who like the detailed gameplay.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/11 15:44:01


Post by: nobody


 Mattlov wrote:

We also know that Battletech is a SUPER niche game, and know that standard BT doesn't appeal to a lot of the new gamers coming on the scene. They don't want a slow paced game, they want something good, fast, and with great models. I suspect Alpha Strike will be pushed harder under the new regime, with a possible Alpha Strike starter box, or AS rules included in the new Starter.


Yeah I'll be honest, I reread my old rulebook with the idea of introducing it to a couple of the guys at my LGS and balked because I may as well be asking them to play D&D. Even with 3025 tech level.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/11 16:32:37


Post by: Mattlov


There was supposed to be a bigger push on AS, but...complications prevented a more cohesive release.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/15 18:38:45


Post by: Mattlov


Guess what's coming back?

BATTLETECH WORLD WIDE EVENTS!!!!!

Linked Battletech, Alpha Strike, and A Time of War (RPG) scenarios.

I'll let you know more when I know more and am allowed to tell you.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/15 22:28:43


Post by: Formosa


 Mattlov wrote:
Guess what's coming back?

BATTLETECH WORLD WIDE EVENTS!!!!!

Linked Battletech, Alpha Strike, and A Time of War (RPG) scenarios.

I'll let you know more when I know more and am allowed to tell you.


Oh hell yes!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/16 00:12:38


Post by: H.B.M.C.


No doubt starting with Jihad II: Jiharder!



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/06/16 03:00:29


Post by: Tamwulf


The Inner Sphere calls for Jihad on the Jihad for the Jihad! JIHAD!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/05 12:42:15


Post by: Formosa


Soooo, I plan on doing a Davion Themed list for this weekends game, any ideas ?

the time period is from 3025 to 3050

I own
1 Atlas
2 Rifleman
2 Blackjacks
1 Warhammer (my Fav)
1 Cataphract
2 Jageremechs
1 Hunchi 4P

So what variants would you guys suggest?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/05 17:18:04


Post by: Anpu42


 Formosa wrote:
Soooo, I plan on doing a Davion Themed list for this weekends game, any ideas ?

the time period is from 3025 to 3050

I own
1 Atlas
2 Rifleman
2 Blackjacks
1 Warhammer (my Fav)
1 Cataphract
2 Jageremechs
1 Hunchi 4P

So what variants would you guys suggest?

It depends on a few things, is there Customization allowed?

With or without I personally would go with The Atlas, Warhammer, Hunchback and either one of Jagers or Riflemen (My Favorite) to act as a bodyguard for the Warhammer and play the range game with with Warhammer and Jager/RFL while the Atlas and Hunchback work on the short game.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/06 11:32:18


Post by: Formosa


 Anpu42 wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
Soooo, I plan on doing a Davion Themed list for this weekends game, any ideas ?

the time period is from 3025 to 3050

I own
1 Atlas
2 Rifleman
2 Blackjacks
1 Warhammer (my Fav)
1 Cataphract
2 Jageremechs
1 Hunchi 4P

So what variants would you guys suggest?

It depends on a few things, is there Customization allowed?

With or without I personally would go with The Atlas, Warhammer, Hunchback and either one of Jagers or Riflemen (My Favorite) to act as a bodyguard for the Warhammer and play the range game with with Warhammer and Jager/RFL while the Atlas and Hunchback work on the short game.


Yep we allow customisation, but only slot for slot, a laser for a laser or balistic for a balistic, it helps us stop the silly min max builds


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/16 16:26:02


Post by: Generalstoner


Have the message boards on CBT been down for anyone else?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/17 00:54:45


Post by: Charistoph


 Generalstoner wrote:
Have the message boards on CBT been down for anyone else?

It has been for me.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/18 16:16:21


Post by: Mattlov


It was down for a couple days last weekend, then back for the week, then down for a day or so.

I just was there, no problems.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/25 09:01:52


Post by: H.B.M.C.


So... Harmony Gold are at it again.

That's great...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/25 11:34:31


Post by: paulson games


It wouldn't be Battletech without lawsuits and hurt feelings flying everywhere.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/25 16:57:22


Post by: Mattlov


 H.B.M.C. wrote:
So... Harmony Gold are at it again.

That's great...


Yeah. Wonderful.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/26 17:26:14


Post by: DarkTraveler777


Seeing some rumblings about this on FB.

Is there somewhere I can go to get caught up on the latest HG drama? WTF are the suing for now?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/26 18:50:21


Post by: Mattlov


 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
Seeing some rumblings about this on FB.

Is there somewhere I can go to get caught up on the latest HG drama? WTF are the suing for now?


They are suing over copyright infringement of the redesigned classics. There are some legal docs online you can find, but the case isn't going before a judge until September 2018.

https://dockets.justia.com/docket/washington/wawdce/2:2017cv00327/242820


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/26 22:34:24


Post by: Orlanth


Specificity might help here,post Chapterhouse case.

The reseen mechs are not identical to IP licenced by Harmony Gold and legal precedent has been established.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/26 23:08:42


Post by: Mattlov


Indeed. But it will still take a while to hash out. Harmony Gold just needs to shut up about this stuff. It's not like they even do anything with the IP. Lawsuits are the only thing they've done for 20 years...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/07/30 15:25:39


Post by: Tamwulf


So let's talk a bit about Gencon 50. Who is going? And what Battletech events will you be playing in? I always make it a point to at least stop by and chat with some of the players and I love the swag in the Catalyst Games booth.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/02 00:19:11


Post by: Mattlov


I'll be there, since it's a brutal 20 minute drive from my house.

I was going to go generic tickets and just sit in on games where there was space, maybe some Grinder fun, maybe some Solaris Challenge. I didn't get a chance to get event tickets, I have always wanted to play in the Master and Minions game.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/02 04:06:07


Post by: Sheperd


Battletech is pretty dang cool. Especially the Protomechs and battle armor!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/02 15:33:22


Post by: Tamwulf


Sheperd wrote:
Battletech is pretty dang cool. Especially the Protomechs and battle armor!


Shhhh. There are a lot of Classic players here, players that barely acknowledge that the Clans exist, never play a game beyond 3050, and never, ever mention Protomechs and battle armor.

Game wise, up until the 3060 update, the Clan mechs were brutal, but enough Inner Sphere mechs (like a 2 or even 3 to 1 ratio) could take one on.

The Clan Elementals were interesting, and in enough numbers, a threat, but they never equaled the power of a mech. Later battle armors and protomechs... they displaced or even replaced a lot of light mechs, and even some medium mechs. The game really changed with 3050, then changed again with the 3060 updates. After that... any mech from any of the technical readouts post 3060 where far and above any mech before it. Technical Readout 3067 was the last "Classic Battletech" supplement. From here, the fracturing of FASA and all the companies that got a piece of the game started diverging the timelines, mechs, story, etc. etc.

My personal experience is that it's been impossible to find a game with anyone using any mech, vehicle, technology, or battle armor post 3050. Like you, the 3050-3070 era was my favorite to play in.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/02 17:49:12


Post by: megatrons2nd


I am apparently a rarity. I like all units across all eras. I even like using Aerospace units in a larger combat.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/17 19:28:19


Post by: David Clarke


The long road to a new core set may have an end in sight-
http://imgur.com/a/1OyIC

Rumoured contents as the pictures only give us 5 of the 9 new sculpts-
Box Set - Locust, Commando, Wolverine, Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt, Catapult, BattleMaster and Awesome.

Beginner Set - Griffin Wolverine.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/17 20:17:29


Post by: Albertorius


Oh yaassssssssssss


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/17 21:19:35


Post by: TalonZahn


Those look.... larger.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/17 21:27:08


Post by: Charistoph


Am lovin' that T-Bolt!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/17 22:19:54


Post by: petrov27


those look pretty good to me and I have always been sticking to preferring the "unseen" versions over the years


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/18 02:18:27


Post by: Mattlov


 David Clarke wrote:
The long road to a new core set may have an end in sight-
http://imgur.com/a/1OyIC

Rumoured contents as the pictures only give us 5 of the 9 new sculpts-
Box Set - Locust, Commando, Wolverine, Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt, Catapult, BattleMaster and Awesome.

Beginner Set - Griffin Wolverine.


The Intro Box will only contain 8 minis. I'll try to find them...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/08/24 15:31:10


Post by: Nostromodamus


Those are great!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/03 00:10:55


Post by: Holden


I saw those in person and the prototype new box at gencon 50... pretty fantastic new sculpts


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/04 14:53:11


Post by: Formosa


wow they look great, but... scale change? or is it just the pics?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/04 18:10:04


Post by: Holden


 Formosa wrote:
wow they look great, but... scale change? or is it just the pics?


I don't think so...a little bulkier maybe...I didn't ask tho


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/04 22:57:05


Post by: Charistoph


 Formosa wrote:
wow they look great, but... scale change? or is it just the pics?

Battletech figs have never been to scale...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/05 00:17:42


Post by: H.B.M.C.


Yeah but those look huge.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/05 03:10:25


Post by: Mattlov


The Battlemaster is big, but the others are not really too large. And the BM is mostly bulky, feeling like an assault 'Mech instead of a tall medium.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/05 09:13:31


Post by: Siygess


 Charistoph wrote:
Am lovin' that T-Bolt!


Hahaha god damn it, it wasn't that long ago when I asked my kids to pick a mech each that they wanted to play with; one wanted a Thunderbolt and the other wanted a Griffin, both of which had pretty nasty models at the time. So I mashed up a primitive Thunderbolt and a .. 9M I think to make a better looking Thunderbolt and I purchased a Super Griffin to stand in for a regular Griffin. Now Catalyst are releasing new plastic minis of both and hot damn, they look good! I can't wait to get my hands on the two new boxes!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/05 15:48:54


Post by: mdauben


 TalonZahn wrote:
Those look.... larger.

Assuming that is a standard BattleTech hex map, they look pretty comparable to current BattleMech miniatures.

That said, BattleTech is notorious for not being able to maintain consistent sizes for their miniatures across the whole product line. This results in some 'Mechs that are supposed to weigh 25-30 tons being as large as 'Mechs that are supposed to weight 90-100 tons.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/05 20:21:35


Post by: Vertrucio


They're using thicker designs that resemble the Mechwarrior Online designs in use by the video game part of the license. These are inherently beefier looking.

They've needed to make that change for a long time.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/06 14:42:05


Post by: Tamwulf


Saw the new 'Mechs at Gencon. They are bigger in just about every sense. Bulkier, taller, I didn't ask about a scale chance, but it's pretty obvious they changed the scale a bit. Which is a good thing in my opinion. You're only ever playing with a couple mechs on the table anyways. Having bigger, more detailed models will only help the game.

We're also one step closer to the Clans...

Catalyst Game Labs dropped the BattleTech: BattleTech Manual to little/no fan fare. It's a rules... compendium? Has all the rules for BattleTech in it- basic rules, advanced rules, Technmanual, Tactical Ops... all in one nice, 150 page rule book. All the rules for Mechs, FAQ's, Errata, etc. etc., no fluff. As a side note, the beta for this book came out back in January 2017, with the final release the end of July 2017 (Gencon was the first time I saw it).

Here is the release from Catalyst Games.

Things are moving along with Battletch. I haven't seen this much movement in the game since the first Introductory box set came out in what, 2007?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/14 14:24:24


Post by: Miguelsan


They just need to weather the new lawsuit with Harmony Gold. Because certain things can never go away. Crossing my fingers so we finally get those new figures.

M.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/14 15:45:26


Post by: ConCon


I used to follow the fiction and enjoyed that, but I stopped following with some of the new dark age 3145 stories. I never liked the lack of consistent scale for the minis though so I never really got into the TT game. Does anyone know a good place to get caught up on the current story-line?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/15 02:51:30


Post by: Formosa


Elephant in the room, the old models are pretty bad compared to what can be produced these days, they are in more need of an update that Abbadon, that is the biggest barrier to getting people I know into the game, the new sculpts are very welcome.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/15 15:22:53


Post by: mdauben


 Formosa wrote:
Elephant in the room, the old models are pretty bad compared to what can be produced these days, they are in more need of an update that Abbadon, that is the biggest barrier to getting people I know into the game, the new sculpts are very welcome.

The "old models" are such a small percentage of the hundreds of miniatures available for BT that I really have a hard time believing it has any significant impact on the sales or popularity of the game. Aside from that, all the "unseen" mechs (which are some of the oldest designs) have already been re-sculpted at least once.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/15 21:35:07


Post by: Formosa


 mdauben wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
Elephant in the room, the old models are pretty bad compared to what can be produced these days, they are in more need of an update that Abbadon, that is the biggest barrier to getting people I know into the game, the new sculpts are very welcome.

The "old models" are such a small percentage of the hundreds of miniatures available for BT that I really have a hard time believing it has any significant impact on the sales or popularity of the game. Aside from that, all the "unseen" mechs (which are some of the oldest designs) have already been re-sculpted at least once.


The old models are anything pre mwo to be honest, some of them are really nice, but I'm already a battletech fan, compare the BT mechs to mechs from any other modern miniatures game and you can easily see, objectively, that the poorer sculpts, low detail and difficulty in getting them (zero store presence) is a turn off for a large part of the market. The miniatures have desperately needed updating to compete and bring in a new audience, and dare I say it, a complete redesign of the game to a similar sales format and scale to xwing, a much larger scale, lance on lance (initially) combat and refined rules (not as watered down as alpha strike) would help this game sell more or at least get its face out there,

as much as some may disagree, a battletech style xwing game would be the best way to go, £30 for one mech with its cards, quirks, named pilots, variants etc. All lend themselves very well to that format, you could even do £20 for a light, £30 for a med, £40 for a heavy and £50 for an assault, people will pay it, look at 40k, Star Wars armada etc.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/15 22:42:35


Post by: Charistoph


 Formosa wrote:
 mdauben wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
Elephant in the room, the old models are pretty bad compared to what can be produced these days, they are in more need of an update that Abbadon, that is the biggest barrier to getting people I know into the game, the new sculpts are very welcome.

The "old models" are such a small percentage of the hundreds of miniatures available for BT that I really have a hard time believing it has any significant impact on the sales or popularity of the game. Aside from that, all the "unseen" mechs (which are some of the oldest designs) have already been re-sculpted at least once.


The old models are anything pre mwo to be honest, some of them are really nice, but I'm already a battletech fan, compare the BT mechs to mechs from any other modern miniatures game and you can easily see, objectively, that the poorer sculpts, low detail and difficulty in getting them (zero store presence) is a turn off for a large part of the market. The miniatures have desperately needed updating to compete and bring in a new audience, and dare I say it, a complete redesign of the game to a similar sales format and scale to xwing, a much larger scale, lance on lance (initially) combat and refined rules (not as watered down as alpha strike) would help this game sell more or at least get its face out there,

"Old" is a relative term. For many of us, "old" is when we were able to get unseen models in plastic. (I wish I still had mine). When comparing most of the Ironwind models to Heavy Gear or CAV, they are some obvious needs for an update.

I do agree that MWO has done an amazing job reimagining many of the models to be up and current, and the up and coming box set's models do an amazing job keeping up with that design scheme.

 Formosa wrote:
as much as some may disagree, a battletech style xwing game would be the best way to go, £30 for one mech with its cards, quirks, named pilots, variants etc. All lend themselves very well to that format, you could even do £20 for a light, £30 for a med, £40 for a heavy and £50 for an assault, people will pay it, look at 40k, Star Wars armada etc.

I'm of two different opinions on that. I do like having the deeper damage model available, but having the Alpha Strike model vamped to be appreciable to the FFG or even WarmaHordes crowd to allow for larger numbers of models to be placed on the table and played quickly would be a very good thing.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/17 00:02:51


Post by: Mattlov


 Formosa wrote:
 mdauben wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
Elephant in the room, the old models are pretty bad compared to what can be produced these days, they are in more need of an update that Abbadon, that is the biggest barrier to getting people I know into the game, the new sculpts are very welcome.

The "old models" are such a small percentage of the hundreds of miniatures available for BT that I really have a hard time believing it has any significant impact on the sales or popularity of the game. Aside from that, all the "unseen" mechs (which are some of the oldest designs) have already been re-sculpted at least once.


The old models are anything pre mwo to be honest, some of them are really nice, but I'm already a battletech fan, compare the BT mechs to mechs from any other modern miniatures game and you can easily see, objectively, that the poorer sculpts, low detail and difficulty in getting them (zero store presence) is a turn off for a large part of the market. The miniatures have desperately needed updating to compete and bring in a new audience, and dare I say it, a complete redesign of the game to a similar sales format and scale to xwing, a much larger scale, lance on lance (initially) combat and refined rules (not as watered down as alpha strike) would help this game sell more or at least get its face out there,

as much as some may disagree, a battletech style xwing game would be the best way to go, £30 for one mech with its cards, quirks, named pilots, variants etc. All lend themselves very well to that format, you could even do £20 for a light, £30 for a med, £40 for a heavy and £50 for an assault, people will pay it, look at 40k, Star Wars armada etc.


Battletech tried that with a Clix game, remember? Customizable pilots and gear! Fast play!

It didn't work, even after they stopped with random boosters.

What you suggest for cost is ASTRONOMICAL. No one will pay that much for a 'Mech sculpt even with everything to use that unit in any time line. Battletech has THOUSANDS of available units. No one would pay that much to have enough to form complete forces. Not to mention a relatively small company like Catalyst could never possibly afford to release units at a fast enough pace to catch up with what already exists. And if you say "just use new stuff" please refer back to my comment about the Clix version.

The people that get into Battletech usually like the crunchiness of the fluff. And they like building forces of their favorite units. Maybe a battalion or so. Some people go full regiment! Or MORE! You can't do that at $30+ per miniature. CAV tried that at $20 per mini basically back in the day, and no one bought that. Not even the minis, really. Catalyst knows VERY DAMN WELL that whatever they put out has to be popular with both old and new players, or it will simply fail, and be a waste of their limited funds. They cannot afford that. The "X-Wing Sales Model" cannot work with Battletech. Also, most Battletech players don't want pre-paints, and with the proliferation of chassis through the Inner Sphere, how do you choose WHICH scheme to paint that particular release in? Especially something like a Thunderbolt, which could be found in any army or the Inner Sphere?

The current batch of sculptors/modelers is doing a much better job at putting out higher quality minis. The direction the game is going right now is positive, but it isn't getting there QUICKLY. I want to see the pace pick up, but it simply isn't feasible. Catalyst doesn't have GW money to simply throw at a problem. They don't even have Infinity money to throw at problems.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/17 01:01:36


Post by: Formosa


 Mattlov wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
 mdauben wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
Elephant in the room, the old models are pretty bad compared to what can be produced these days, they are in more need of an update that Abbadon, that is the biggest barrier to getting people I know into the game, the new sculpts are very welcome.

The "old models" are such a small percentage of the hundreds of miniatures available for BT that I really have a hard time believing it has any significant impact on the sales or popularity of the game. Aside from that, all the "unseen" mechs (which are some of the oldest designs) have already been re-sculpted at least once.


The old models are anything pre mwo to be honest, some of them are really nice, but I'm already a battletech fan, compare the BT mechs to mechs from any other modern miniatures game and you can easily see, objectively, that the poorer sculpts, low detail and difficulty in getting them (zero store presence) is a turn off for a large part of the market. The miniatures have desperately needed updating to compete and bring in a new audience, and dare I say it, a complete redesign of the game to a similar sales format and scale to xwing, a much larger scale, lance on lance (initially) combat and refined rules (not as watered down as alpha strike) would help this game sell more or at least get its face out there,

as much as some may disagree, a battletech style xwing game would be the best way to go, £30 for one mech with its cards, quirks, named pilots, variants etc. All lend themselves very well to that format, you could even do £20 for a light, £30 for a med, £40 for a heavy and £50 for an assault, people will pay it, look at 40k, Star Wars armada etc.


Battletech tried that with a Clix game, remember? Customizable pilots and gear! Fast play!

It didn't work, even after they stopped with random boosters.

What you suggest for cost is ASTRONOMICAL. No one will pay that much for a 'Mech sculpt even with everything to use that unit in any time line. Battletech has THOUSANDS of available units. No one would pay that much to have enough to form complete forces. Not to mention a relatively small company like Catalyst could never possibly afford to release units at a fast enough pace to catch up with what already exists. And if you say "just use new stuff" please refer back to my comment about the Clix version.

The people that get into Battletech usually like the crunchiness of the fluff. And they like building forces of their favorite units. Maybe a battalion or so. Some people go full regiment! Or MORE! You can't do that at $30+ per miniature. CAV tried that at $20 per mini basically back in the day, and no one bought that. Not even the minis, really. Catalyst knows VERY DAMN WELL that whatever they put out has to be popular with both old and new players, or it will simply fail, and be a waste of their limited funds. They cannot afford that. The "X-Wing Sales Model" cannot work with Battletech. Also, most Battletech players don't want pre-paints, and with the proliferation of chassis through the Inner Sphere, how do you choose WHICH scheme to paint that particular release in? Especially something like a Thunderbolt, which could be found in any army or the Inner Sphere?

The current batch of sculptors/modelers is doing a much better job at putting out higher quality minis. The direction the game is going right now is positive, but it isn't getting there QUICKLY. I want to see the pace pick up, but it simply isn't feasible. Catalyst doesn't have GW money to simply throw at a problem. They don't even have Infinity money to throw at problems.


I see one main error in your reply, you assume I would want this to be immediate, that simply wouldnt work, I agree with you, its something that would need a build up and most likely a partnership with WOTC, which simply wont happen.

Another Error is that no, they did not try it with the clicks system, that is completely different, the random drops, the terrible balance, the awful models and paintjobs, ergh, its totally different from Xwing, which on the whole is pretty well made and the models and paint jobs are also good (not amazing, look at star trek attack wing for how bad they could have been).

I do agree that people may not spend that much on a mech, but the numbers i used are off the top of my head and could of course use tweaking, we know that people are willing to spend a lot in a similar game, but that doesnt mean of course it would work for battletech, its just an idea, that I personally think would work. The pre paints comment is completely subjective and doesnt really matter, if you dont like the colours, repaint them like myself and all of friends do, its all about the sculpts really, if they are good it will sell, if they are bad it will not sell.

And yes the current sculptors are doing better as the new mechs in the new box shows, and I am very happy they are updating the models, as I have said before, the biggest barrier to the people I know (cant speak for everyone) is the outdated sculpts and lack of availability.

If nothing else the card system would most certainly work for battletech, its cheap, very cheap, you release a set for mech chassis, with all the relevant info on them, pilot cards, special pilot cards and chassis, expand to include card sets for the great houses and clans, wobbies etc. in fact I may just make a set myself and see how it does with my mates, you could even expand it to include different manufacturers of weapons for slight differences, a set of quirk cards, the more I think about this the more I fail to understand how anyone couldnt see it as a good idea for the game, and inject some much needed cash into catalyst.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/17 14:10:54


Post by: Mattlov


 Formosa wrote:

If nothing else the card system would most certainly work for battletech, its cheap, very cheap, you release a set for mech chassis, with all the relevant info on them, pilot cards, special pilot cards and chassis, expand to include card sets for the great houses and clans, wobbies etc. in fact I may just make a set myself and see how it does with my mates, you could even expand it to include different manufacturers of weapons for slight differences, a set of quirk cards, the more I think about this the more I fail to understand how anyone couldnt see it as a good idea for the game, and inject some much needed cash into catalyst.


The reason it doesn't work is there are too many units in Battletech. Let's say each unit gets 5 cards. Introtech variant, Star League tech variant, Jihad Variant, Special Pilot card, Special Faction card.

Just a quick count through my Inner Sphere light 'Mechs only tells me that I now have about 450 cards for them. And most older 'Mechs are running with 6+ variants in each era, how do you choose which variants get cards? Granted, I have a very large collection. But I'd end up with several thousand cards that aren't going to enhance the game beyond what it already has. I have all that stuff in printable format on my computer. You could release 10 units a month, and you won't be done with INFANTRY for almost 2 years. As of writing this, there are 3200 'Mech variants. Let's say that there are 4 variants on average for each chassis, leaving 800 'Mechs for release. It would take too long to release everything. And when you get into numbers like that, cost does become an issue, because someone has to WRITE all of that.

Also, most Battletech players love their ability to customize 'Mechs for campaigns and RPGs. The card idea does not allow that very vital aspect to the Battletech universe.

I just don't see it working.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/17 14:24:14


Post by: Orlanth


I think they are rescaling the game, interesting, as it will force players to recollect.

I wonder how the community will take that?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/17 15:33:22


Post by: Tamwulf


 Orlanth wrote:
I think they are rescaling the game, interesting, as it will force players to recollect.

I wonder how the community will take that?


There isn't much of a community left besides the people that have been playing for a long time. I hate to stereotype here, but today's gamers have grown up on instant gratification from video games and card games. When it comes to table top games, X-wing is being held up as the gold standard for competitive game play. When it comes to models, GW has the market cornered on plastic models. Other companies are getting there. Try and get a mid 20's gamer into Battletech. Bad, bad, models. WTF is a Hex Map? Is this a bubble sheet? I have all these weapons and I can't shoot them all because I'll blow up because of heat?

I have nostalgia for playing Battletech back in the late 80's. Now, almost 40's years later, it's the same game using the same models and people are freaking out because Catalyist is updating the models and finally interjecting a sense of scale into the game? The game is all but dead, with the only people still playing the old neck beards and die hards like me. If Catalyst wants this game to take off, they need to totally, completely overhaul the entire system and start back over from square one.

In regards to larger models on the table... I'll point to GW and Privateer Press that have put HUGE models on the table in the US$120 range, and players are not only embracing them with open arms, but buying multiples of them to place on the table. Imperial Knight Titans. Gar-Gaunts. Daemon Princes. All the monsters in Age of Sigmar. Roboute Guiliman, Moritan, Battle Engines, Colossals, Gargantuans... You can't walk by a table of these games and not see at least one big model on the table. There is a market for it. If the model is pretty enough, has a solid set of rules, and doesn't break the US$120 range, it will sell. Do the mech's have to be 12" tall? No. Make 'em 6" tall, and scale them correctly. Come up with a new rules system. Make it fast, make it easy. And then we'll see a revitalization of the game with people mentioning Battletech in the same breath as X-Wing, 40K, or Warmachine/Hordes.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/17 16:06:13


Post by: Formosa


 Mattlov wrote:
 Formosa wrote:

If nothing else the card system would most certainly work for battletech, its cheap, very cheap, you release a set for mech chassis, with all the relevant info on them, pilot cards, special pilot cards and chassis, expand to include card sets for the great houses and clans, wobbies etc. in fact I may just make a set myself and see how it does with my mates, you could even expand it to include different manufacturers of weapons for slight differences, a set of quirk cards, the more I think about this the more I fail to understand how anyone couldnt see it as a good idea for the game, and inject some much needed cash into catalyst.


The reason it doesn't work is there are too many units in Battletech. Let's say each unit gets 5 cards. Introtech variant, Star League tech variant, Jihad Variant, Special Pilot card, Special Faction card.

Just a quick count through my Inner Sphere light 'Mechs only tells me that I now have about 450 cards for them. And most older 'Mechs are running with 6+ variants in each era, how do you choose which variants get cards? Granted, I have a very large collection. But I'd end up with several thousand cards that aren't going to enhance the game beyond what it already has. I have all that stuff in printable format on my computer. You could release 10 units a month, and you won't be done with INFANTRY for almost 2 years. As of writing this, there are 3200 'Mech variants. Let's say that there are 4 variants on average for each chassis, leaving 800 'Mechs for release. It would take too long to release everything. And when you get into numbers like that, cost does become an issue, because someone has to WRITE all of that.

Also, most Battletech players love their ability to customize 'Mechs for campaigns and RPGs. The card idea does not allow that very vital aspect to the Battletech universe.

I just don't see it working.


I have been brainstorming this with my mates today, and yes I see what your saying, its a lot of mechs, but you only need to do the base chassis, the customisabilty comes from the cards themselves, the weapon cards are easy to do, there are a lot of weapons but its very doable, the mechs may be more difficult, but its also doable, for example, rather than the 19 different types of Hunchback, you just do 3 or 4, the weapons are what makes most of those variants anyway, so just having the slots available for the cards like a balistic slot, you want that hunchie with an ac/10 instead of the 20, use a different weapon card.

I am Going to try this method with friends of mine and see how it does, if it helps streamline the game and works, I will let you all know, I may even make the cards available if it does work.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Tamwulf wrote:
 Orlanth wrote:
I think they are rescaling the game, interesting, as it will force players to recollect.

I wonder how the community will take that?


There isn't much of a community left besides the people that have been playing for a long time. I hate to stereotype here, but today's gamers have grown up on instant gratification from video games and card games. When it comes to table top games, X-wing is being held up as the gold standard for competitive game play. When it comes to models, GW has the market cornered on plastic models. Other companies are getting there. Try and get a mid 20's gamer into Battletech. Bad, bad, models. WTF is a Hex Map? Is this a bubble sheet? I have all these weapons and I can't shoot them all because I'll blow up because of heat?

I have nostalgia for playing Battletech back in the late 80's. Now, almost 40's years later, it's the same game using the same models and people are freaking out because Catalyist is updating the models and finally interjecting a sense of scale into the game? The game is all but dead, with the only people still playing the old neck beards and die hards like me. If Catalyst wants this game to take off, they need to totally, completely overhaul the entire system and start back over from square one.

In regards to larger models on the table... I'll point to GW and Privateer Press that have put HUGE models on the table in the US$120 range, and players are not only embracing them with open arms, but buying multiples of them to place on the table. Imperial Knight Titans. Gar-Gaunts. Daemon Princes. All the monsters in Age of Sigmar. Roboute Guiliman, Moritan, Battle Engines, Colossals, Gargantuans... You can't walk by a table of these games and not see at least one big model on the table. There is a market for it. If the model is pretty enough, has a solid set of rules, and doesn't break the US$120 range, it will sell. Do the mech's have to be 12" tall? No. Make 'em 6" tall, and scale them correctly. Come up with a new rules system. Make it fast, make it easy. And then we'll see a revitalization of the game with people mentioning Battletech in the same breath as X-Wing, 40K, or Warmachine/Hordes.


Thank you for explaining it in a much better way than I did, this game, as much as I love it, really really needs new life breathed into it, and frankly, keeping the system the way it is puts people off (again, the ones I know).


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/18 16:45:20


Post by: Seawolf


Alpha Strike is Catalysts' attempt at making the game faster and easier to play. I have tried it several times and found it quite enjoyable as well as quicker as 'Mechs tend to die faster than in standard play. Granted everyone will have their preferences, Catalyst appears to be making an attempt at giving everyone rulesets they may enjoy.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/18 19:22:14


Post by: Chillreaper


I played a couple of games of Alpha Strike the other week.

Very enjoyable. Despite the simplification it still managed to capture the feel of a larger scale game of Battletech.

Pushing the heat of my Warhammer in a desperate attempt to keep its damage output respectable after its weapons were damaged, only to get the legs shot up and being caught out in the open, practically unable to move or shoot properly... Yeah, there was far more flavour in it than I expected.

The only problem that I've found with Alpha Strike is having a table set up with 6mm scale terrain. Battletech is easy peasy - just plonk a couple of hexmaps down. Alpha Strike made me start printing and constructing cardstock buildings - I hate having to do that!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/18 22:24:43


Post by: Easy E


If those new mechs are in the starter, I will seriously consider buying another starter!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/19 11:09:48


Post by: Albertorius


 Chillreaper wrote:
I played a couple of games of Alpha Strike the other week.

Very enjoyable. Despite the simplification it still managed to capture the feel of a larger scale game of Battletech.

Pushing the heat of my Warhammer in a desperate attempt to keep its damage output respectable after its weapons were damaged, only to get the legs shot up and being caught out in the open, practically unable to move or shoot properly... Yeah, there was far more flavour in it than I expected.

The only problem that I've found with Alpha Strike is having a table set up with 6mm scale terrain. Battletech is easy peasy - just plonk a couple of hexmaps down. Alpha Strike made me start printing and constructing cardstock buildings - I hate having to do that!


I must admit that everytime I've played Alpha Strike I've done it using hexmaps. It's just part of the Btech experience, for me. Also, much easier for... well, for everything.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/19 20:35:37


Post by: Mattlov


 Chillreaper wrote:

The only problem that I've found with Alpha Strike is having a table set up with 6mm scale terrain. Battletech is easy peasy - just plonk a couple of hexmaps down. Alpha Strike made me start printing and constructing cardstock buildings - I hate having to do that!


The rule book for AS has rules for playing on mapsheets...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/20 04:37:40


Post by: Stormonu


Sad to see the dumping on the Mechwarrior clix game, it did have it moments, and I still have all my minis.

I do think if they came back out with a line of prepainted models (mechs, vehicles and infantry), they could make a pretty penny off it if the game was decent. I liked the Z scale of Mechwarrior Dark Age, it made the models hefty without being too big that you couldn't fit a few lances on a decent sized table for a rumble.

To me, MA's failing was in its rules - the command points were too limiting, picking up and clicking the dials led to misplaced models and the interactions between the abilities wasn't well-balanced (Damn Davion Armor-Piercing mechs vs. my Heavy Armor Highlanders...). MA v2 put the nail in the coffin with the customization cards that invalidated the older static mechs.

Modelwise though, I'd use them in a heartbeat for modern games. Yes, some of the redesigns are bad, but I quite like some of them - like the Mad Cat 2, Jupiter and Thunder Fox.

As for which paint scheme? Doesn't entirely matter, just look at something like the A-Wing in the X-Wing game. There's a dozen possible paint schemes just from looking at the cards alone, but it comes in your choice of red & white or blue & white. Pick a "generic" scheme that's easy enough to paint over and those who want a specific faction can dress them up while those who are just interested in the game can play them in the colors they come painted.

I mean, in classic BT play, your faction didn't have any affect on the Mech's game play - short of Clan vs. Inner Sphere.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/20 06:03:23


Post by: Charistoph


Yeah, Mech Clix had a lot of problems. One was the lifting up and putting it down. Convenient to have all the information right there, but lousy when millimeters are making the difference. And then there were the Special Skills which helped kill your unit when you used them. Using AP ammo suddenly treats my tank as getting a hit is a lousy mechanic, for example.

I did like how it encouraged a combined arms approach to the game, and how they did get good looking models of Infantry and vehicles as well as 'Mechs out there.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/21 06:32:39


Post by: H.B.M.C.


 Orlanth wrote:
I think they are rescaling the game, interesting, as it will force players to recollect.


BTech players have had badly scaled weird looking 'Mechs in the past. This is no different.


 Chillreaper wrote:
The only problem that I've found with Alpha Strike is having a table set up with 6mm scale terrain. Battletech is easy peasy - just plonk a couple of hexmaps down. Alpha Strike made me start printing and constructing cardstock buildings - I hate having to do that!


That's specifically the reason why I'm not interested in it. I've mentioned this before in this thread, but I like the non-ambiguous binary nature of BTech proper. The map sheets define pretty much everything. You're either in LOS, or not. In range, or not. No measuring. Just counting.

I love terrain, but I can't be bothered collecting 6mm terrain for one game when my 28mmh/32mm terrain fits with everything from 40K to Necromunda to RPGs.

If Alpha Strike was map based I'd be all over it, but alas, it is not.




Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2017/09/21 12:29:30


Post by: Albertorius


 H.B.M.C. wrote:
If Alpha Strike was map based I'd be all over it, but alas, it is not.


Actually Alpha Strike supports both hex maps and mapless games. I have not played it without a map, but it works properly with one.





Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/01/21 05:06:54


Post by: doktor_g


I played battletech for the first time in 26 years last night. That damn game is so fun. No gamesmanship. No I see you. No you don't. No this happens before that....

Why did I ever stop playing this game?

Our FLGS is starting a campaign. I am looking forward to it!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/01/21 14:49:04


Post by: Carlson793


I'm pretty much in the same boat. Haven't played since the release of the original TRO 3050, but have kept tabs on the game the whole time. Starting to rebuild my collection, starting with the Unseen necessary to field Cranston Snord's Irregulars. Luckily, there's a solid group locally, so it'll be easy enough to start getting in some games.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/01/29 17:23:56


Post by: mdauben


 Formosa wrote:
as much as some may disagree, a battletech style xwing game would be the best way to go, £30 for one mech with its cards, quirks, named pilots, variants etc. All lend themselves very well to that format, you could even do £20 for a light, £30 for a med, £40 for a heavy and £50 for an assault, people will pay it, look at 40k, Star Wars armada etc.

This sounds much like the defunct MechWarrior game (pre-painted, plastic, click bases), which almost killed the franchise a number of years ago. I know if they moved totally to an X-wing business model, it would absolutely destroy my interest in the game. Of course, I'm an old-school BT player, so I may not be the current target audience.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 H.B.M.C. wrote:
If Alpha Strike was map based I'd be all over it, but alas, it is not.



Huh. My buddies and I almost never used the map, and used 3D terrain instead. I never liked the look of playing on the hex maps. To each their own.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/01/29 18:49:48


Post by: Mattlov


 mdauben wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
as much as some may disagree, a battletech style xwing game would be the best way to go, £30 for one mech with its cards, quirks, named pilots, variants etc. All lend themselves very well to that format, you could even do £20 for a light, £30 for a med, £40 for a heavy and £50 for an assault, people will pay it, look at 40k, Star Wars armada etc.

This sounds much like the defunct MechWarrior game (pre-painted, plastic, click bases), which almost killed the franchise a number of years ago. I know if they moved totally to an X-wing business model, it would absolutely destroy my interest in the game. Of course, I'm an old-school BT player, so I may not be the current target audience.


And that is Catalyst's problem. They have a dedicated core of players. Players that have stuff, some of them (like me) have a LOT of stuff. They cannot afford to alienate those players unless their new version is so amazingly good that it is guaranteed to make HUGE money. And that guarantee does not exist in the gaming world. If CGL tried that and it didn't work, Battletech dies. And no one wants that.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/01/30 15:15:08


Post by: Tamwulf


You stopped playing Classic Battletech because the game is slow. It's non-dynamic. The speed of action is about the same pace as a game of chess. It's typically played on a flat, featureless small board (unless you are lucky and have some 3d hex terrain laying around). You fill in bubbles on a bubble sheet-- a horribly antiquated game mechanic from the 80's that slows the game down even more. You also stopped playing the game because one head shot and your mech was pretty much done. If you play a lance vs. a lance, you'll be playing 5-6 hours, if not longer depending on the tonnage. Player built mechs are far, far superior to anything in any of the manuals- and it always made me wonder why the mechs in the books were so bad, or why the construction rules allowed for such better mechs. The models themselves typically looked boring as with little to no detail and a scale that was all over the place. At least Catalyst is addressing some of that with it's plastic mechs.

You could also be one of those players that thinks Clans broke the game. Certainly stepping into the later manuals with quad mechs and proto-mechs left a sour taste in my mouth. "What do you mean that 4 ton Orc just blew the head off my 50 ton Centurion???" That's when I stopped playing.

What killed Battletech ultimately was inept management, greed, and over licensing by FASA that finally self destructed and declared bankruptcy.

Mechwarrior (Hero clicks version of Battletech by Wizkids) introduced the Battletech universe to a whole new generation of gamers who did more to expand and push the boundaries of Battletech then any other single company in the 00's. What killed Clickytech was Wizkids poor management of the game. Wizkids never plans for a game to last beyond a year or two, and it was obvious Clickytech exceeded their expectations but they failed to leverage it beyond 2006 (the game premiered in 2002). 2007 and the release of the "Action Packs" killed the game.

Battletech is still a fine game, and many of its mechanics can still be seen in other games, so it had a heavy influence in the table top gaming industry. However, with so many companies owning a piece of the IP of Battletech, I doubt we'll ever see an "Official" Battletech game with new mechs anytime soon. Consider: Harmony Gold just loves to sue any company with anything related to the "Classic" mechs, Microsoft, EA, Piranha Games, now Harebrained Schemes, Wizkids, Catalyst Games, Ironwind... they all have a piece of the license for Battletech. And from the way I understand it, they all owe royalties to each other when they come out with anything new. So while we'll see a game of Battletech, it'll never have the "classic" mechs and nothing new beyond what has been already made... Piranha Games startled everyone when it made the first, all new, never before seen Battlemech in the game in close to 10 years, and the hoops they had to jump through, the companies they had to get the approval of (Hasbro? Really? Because they own Wizards of the Coast and Wizards of the Coast owned the rights to the collectable card game from the late 90's???), and to finally get the mech in the game. It's bonkers, and why any company that gets a license for Battletech is walking through a minefield.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/01/30 17:34:07


Post by: mdauben


 Tamwulf wrote:
You stopped playing Classic Battletech because the game is slow.

Its hard to argue with this. Classic BT is slow due to the level of detail in the system. I used to actually love the game for just this reason, but as I have gotten older I appreciate more and more to not needing an entire day (or more!) to finish a game.

Mechwarrior (Hero clicks version of Battletech by Wizkids) introduced the Battletech universe to a whole new generation of gamers who did more to expand and push the boundaries of Battletech then any other single company in the 00's.

All I can speak about is my own personal experience, but at my FLGS MechWarrior and the accompanying Dark Ages storyline killed BattleTech in much less than a year. The models were terrible, the game mechanics were terrible, and the background story was terrible.

I doubt we'll ever see an "Official" Battletech game with new mechs anytime soon.

Not sure what you are talking about here? Alpha Strike, a "new" BattleTech game was introduced not that long ago. New miniatures and new TROs and Source books are released by IWM and Catalyst on a regular basis.

Consider: Harmony Gold just loves to sue any company with anything related to the "Classic" mechs,

Luckily, if nothing else, Harmony Gold's license for the IP is expiring in a year or two and it seems unlikely they will be able to renew it.



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/01/30 17:52:02


Post by: Elbows


I always liked the idea of Battletech. I played it in the 90's with the starter box. A year or two ago I got a bug to build my own version of Battletech, and I did. I gathered 150+ mechs and got some games in. It was good fun, but I found myself just lamenting the terrible state of Battletech miniatures. The plastics are horrid, the metals are horrid AND expensive. The 3D printed ones are beautiful but equally expensive and there's a lack of range.

In the end I just dumped it...there simply wasn't enough support to make the game as attractive/engaging as I wanted. Same news unfortunately for Robotech since Siembeda's a crook. I wish someone would take over Battletech, clean-slate it and start fresh - introduce actual good sculptors and give plastic modular kits, etc.

It's a tremendous IP that just sits like a puddle. I will say I've enjoyed the Battletech video game tremendously though - they've done a brilliant job with it so far. An excellent modernized Battletech - though I'd rather have that on the table.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/01/30 18:03:55


Post by: LunarSol


I've never quite figured out why mech combat is kind of a non-genre in tabletop. It's like the industry can't move past battletech, but battletech itself can't keep up with the industry. Always been a source of frustration, as mechs in general have so much potential to take advantage of all the best features mini gaming has to offer.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/03 19:04:58


Post by: Mattlov


Ah...A lot of good news on the Battletech front just dropped. Here's some info:

New Intro Box hopefully out by the end of Q2. With those new minis. And for those getting ready to ask, no those minis will NOT be sold separately.

New print runs of ALL core books. These will be staggered, starting with Total Warfare.

Alpha Strike Rulebook and Companion combined into one book called Alpha Strike: Commander's Edition. Will be updated with errata. Again, out by end of Q2.

New Mapsheets going to print for those that like that. Additionally, PDF files for printing off terrain editions. Think like the Hex Packs, but you print what you want.

Story line advancement begins in earnest this year.

As with most of this, expect it to all start dropping around Con season.

An interview with Battletech Line Developer Brent Evans will show up on sarna.net in the next week or two. I'll let you know more when I'm allowed to tell you!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/03 21:18:47


Post by: Chillreaper


Good news, everyone!

It's great to see things getting into gear, finally. Sure, it's not a massive release of things compared to other game systems when a new edition comes out, but things have to be treated very conservatively - you don't get to mess with Battletech!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/04 05:16:00


Post by: Stormonu


"New minis" - are those the revised versions of the unseen mechs or something else?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/04 10:22:35


Post by: Chillreaper


I did save a few photos of prototype models that I'd found, this one has a fair few of the new ones.

Spoiler:


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/04 13:28:10


Post by: Sidstyler


Those look nice, but won't be sold separately? And will they do any more in the future that will be available outside the intro box or is this it?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/04 16:28:18


Post by: Tamwulf


 Sidstyler wrote:
Those look nice, but won't be sold separately? And will they do any more in the future that will be available outside the intro box or is this it?


Catalyst only makes Plastic mechs, and they come in a box set of Lances. So far, only a few Inner Sphere mechs have been made.

This news is a bit... underwhelming. It's just repackaging of product that already exists. Nothing new except the plastic mechs, which the prototypes look fantastic, but the scale looks wrong again. That could just be the angle of the shot though, and they are prototypes, which are typically made much larger then production (2Ups).

New map packs are like the cheapest, easiest "new" thing Catalyst can make for the game. , anyone with Adobe Illustrator can make a map!

I like the rumor about advancing the story line, but from where? Catalyst has been very cagey about where their timeline is. While they have rules for Clan Tech and the Clan Mechs themselves, it feels like Catalyst would just like to keep the game pre-3050 and forget all about the Clans. Or maybe this will be Catalyst finally stepping into the 3050's and giving us Clan Mechs in plastic, something that a lot of fans have been requesting since the first "new" Introductory Box Set that Catalyst made back in 2007 (yes, Catalyst has had the license for over 10 years now...).



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/05 03:36:04


Post by: Stormonu


Hmm... I notice that the Warhammer, Archer, Rifleman, Wasp, Pheonix Hawk, Crusader and Marauder are not present. Did HG step in and force Catalyst to drop the Macross-style mechs?

Also, no Scorpion or Goliath?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/05 05:21:09


Post by: Charistoph


HG did bring in a lawsuit against numerous parties which included Catalyst, Harebrained Schemes, and Piranha Games. Interestingly enough some of the claims were... rather ridiculous in their image relationships.

Some of the comments I have made and seen on the BT forum were:

Comparing the Locust to the Marauder? The Shadow Hawk to the Crusader? comparing the Shadow Hawk to the Archer (which is even more hilarious)? It's the Atlas that's being compared to the Crusader (despite Atlas being a completely original design).

But right now the case is waiting on the judge's decisions on a few motions, one of which is out-right dismissal with prejudice.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/05 16:35:44


Post by: mdauben


 Mattlov wrote:
New Intro Box hopefully out by the end of Q2. With those new minis. And for those getting ready to ask, no those minis will NOT be sold separately.

Does this represent a stated change? I know previously it was said that the plastics in the new box set would be released by Catalyst first, but after that I thought they said at least some would be released by IWM in pewter.

New print runs of ALL core books. These will be staggered, starting with Total Warfare.

Just new print runs, or updated books?

Alpha Strike Rulebook and Companion combined into one book called Alpha Strike: Commander's Edition. Will be updated with errata. Again, out by end of Q2.

Good news! I'm leaning more and more to playing Alpha Strike over Classic BattleTech so I'll be all over this release.

New Mapsheets going to print for those that like that. Additionally, PDF files for printing off terrain editions. Think like the Hex Packs, but you print what you want.

I'm more a 3D terrain kind of guy, but I know a lot of people like the maps and they are getting increasingly hard to find on the second hand market.

Story line advancement begins in earnest this year.

More good news. Storyline development is fun in and of itself, but it also usually means new 'Mech designs!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/05 18:52:59


Post by: KTG17


I recently tracked down an original Battledroids game (aka Battletech Fist Editon) that was in unplayed condition. I wont deny it: it wasn't cheap. The models of the Shadowhawk and Griffin (v1) were assembled terribly, but I actually had extras of the original Dougram kits so I replaced them.

I played Battletech Second Edition a long long time ago, and wasnt a big fan. I knew they were using robot designs from others shows I actually grew up watching when I lived in Asia. But there really was little strategy in the game. It was essentially 'everyone move to the center of the board and start shooting'. But something has stayed with me all these years so I tracked down a nice copy of 2nd edition, and then hunted down all the scenario box sets with the models that TCI released. Managed to get them all. I was more in it for the scenarios than the models.

By the way, if you have never seen these:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8780/battle-stanrey
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/14165/battle-kalnock

They pre-date Battletech, and since TCI was importing them and providing briefly translated rules, I am quite sure FASA used these as a basis to develop Battletech. So no Dougram, no Battletech as we know it.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/05 19:51:59


Post by: Stormonu


Yeah, I *think* I saw one of those games back in a Toys-R-Us in California back in the 80’s, but I wasn’t familiar with Dougram (outside the Robotech Defender models), so didn’t buy into it. Wish I had.

Good news for me though, between the old Robotech defender models, the exo-squad Robotech toys and some Gundam & Pacific Rim models, I have enough gear to run a 1/72 (or is it 1/48?) scale game of Battletech....


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/07 19:38:54


Post by: KTG17


You might have seen some of the 1/144 figures. Someone imported these, and then put new boxes in English around the original japanese ones. So you had a box in a box. Very weird. Those were sold in Kay-Tee Stores and Toys R US for a bit, but I don't think the Dougram games were. I don't think TCI could have important that many of them for that kind of distribution. But I could be wrong.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/07 22:49:44


Post by: Mattlov


Stormonu wrote:Hmm... I notice that the Warhammer, Archer, Rifleman, Wasp, Pheonix Hawk, Crusader and Marauder are not present. Did HG step in and force Catalyst to drop the Macross-style mechs?

Also, no Scorpion or Goliath?


Yes. HG is being a bunch of asshats. This is nothing surprising.

Sidstyler wrote:Those look nice, but won't be sold separately? And will they do any more in the future that will be available outside the intro box or is this it?


They will absolutely not be sold separately. Selling box sets lets more box sets get made. Minis only does not do this. And CGL wants to put out more starter boxes like Alpha Strike and Clan box sets.

CGL does not have a lot of cash available. They have to maximize the amount of money they make from each product to make more product. They don't have a big slush fund to keep production going at a higher rate while sales are low.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Tamwulf wrote:


I like the rumor about advancing the story line, but from where? Catalyst has been very cagey about where their timeline is. While they have rules for Clan Tech and the Clan Mechs themselves, it feels like Catalyst would just like to keep the game pre-3050 and forget all about the Clans. Or maybe this will be Catalyst finally stepping into the 3050's and giving us Clan Mechs in plastic, something that a lot of fans have been requesting since the first "new" Introductory Box Set that Catalyst made back in 2007 (yes, Catalyst has had the license for over 10 years now...).



The timeline being advanced is the current Fall of Fortress Republic and the rise of the ilClan story line. There will not be a "time jump" as was rumored for several years.

The products being put out in the pre-3050 era is to flesh out vague timeline information, and it is also guaranteed sales. Not a ton, but enough to keep money coming in.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/08 09:05:04


Post by: XuQishi


If you play a lance vs. a lance, you'll be playing 5-6 hours, if not longer depending on the tonnage.


It probably depends on how often you play, how firm you are in the ruleset. I would say a 3025 lance on lance game doesn't take over 2 hours, unless you're using light mechs, those games take much longer if competent players are involved.

But there really was little strategy in the game. It was essentially 'everyone move to the center of the board and start shooting'.


No, really no. BT is all about the manipulation of odds. I hit you on a 6, you hit me on an 8. In 3025 proper movement is key to winning the game as the winner usually gets lower to-hits and melee attacks in that the opponent can't retaliate against (since you can decide with your move which leg you kick. Leg off is a major cause of mech death).

To be fair, the level of tactics drops off a little in the later timelines because the mechs become much deadlier to each other and movement is a bit marginalized compared to shooting. Which is why I don't really play a lot of 3050+. I find it less fun and more prone to plink spamming. You know, fat LB-X cannons, headplinking and Gyro-TACs. That sort of moves the skill from the board to the list, I'm not a fan of that. In a 3025 game you can usually see who the better player is since there aren't so many ways to screw up the game with a freak roll. Also there's no instant beheading at 22 hexes.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/08 19:42:30


Post by: simonr1978


XuQishi wrote:
If you play a lance vs. a lance, you'll be playing 5-6 hours, if not longer depending on the tonnage.


It probably depends on how often you play, how firm you are in the ruleset. I would say a 3025 lance on lance game doesn't take over 2 hours, unless you're using light mechs, those games take much longer if competent players are involved.


I agree entirely with XuQishi. To claim that a lance-vs-lance game will take 5-6 hours or more is IMO utter nonsense, even for novices unless neither player has even glanced at the rules beforehand. For reasonably competent players in my experience a game involving a reduced company of 8 mechs per side should be realistically achievable in 2-3 hours and larger games are certainly not impossible in a similar time.

Pure light mech games are a different matter and will usually take longer since you tend to have lots of fast movement and jumping but relatively little firing and much less hitting in those and they will take longer, but even then 5-6 hours or longer? Not usually, no. Not unless you're doing something badly wrong, haven't even read the rules beforehand or are deliberately taking forever to decide how to move your 'mechs, in which case the problem lies with the players.

But there really was little strategy in the game. It was essentially 'everyone move to the center of the board and start shooting'.


Then frankly it sounds like you were playing pretty poorly. There should be far more to a typical Battletech game than that, certainly in 3025 games. Naturally, if that's what you all did then that's what your games will devolve into, but an opponent who uses tactics and the terrain to their advantage will have one who just "..move(s) to the center of the board and start(s) shooting" for breakfast.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/12 11:01:10


Post by: XuQishi


Pure light mech games are a different matter and will usually take longer since you tend to have lots of fast movement and jumping but relatively little firing and much less hitting in those and they will take longer, but even then 5-6 hours or longer?


It can happen. In 2014 I played a 2500bv a side game (i.e. both players had a light lance) that took 9 hours and 137 turns on Mekwars (which shaves a lot of time off since Megamek does all the rolling and damage stuff). That's my personal record in that regard and not something I'd like to repeat, but at the time I was very competitive, so was the other guy, and we fought over the 2nd place in the ELO ranking. No one was willing to give up and we both had only 8/12 movers, mostly Spiders and Locusts. That is a terrible combination since they both have mostly center-torso-mounted guns, so are easily avoided if you don't have initiative, but they basically only ever die if you can slow them down. There was a lot of ML shooting on 12s going on and also tons of turns with no shooting at all - we do enforce a house rule that says that after 3 turns of no shooting you're considered to be stalling and lose, so that people don't waste too much time, but setting up a successful assault needs a little preparation. I won the game, but only because the other guy miscounted a move once towards the end and lost a mech because of it. Could have easily happened to me, too. At that point we were basically fighting against the other guy's stamina, not against his units.
But that is a rare occurrence, usually our games take between 10 and 20 turns (say 60-90 minutes) to completion, i.e. someone loses or gives up.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/12 17:17:11


Post by: simonr1978


I'm impressed by your dedication, that is quite a game!

But as you say such games are a rarity and don't represent a typical lance level engagement.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/14 04:10:01


Post by: Mattlov


I love Battletech and would absolutely hate playing that game.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/14 09:05:47


Post by: XuQishi


I didn't love it either .
This would never happen in the board game, though, as there would be human interaction going on and it would be boring as hell. Megamek is a different thing, it's a lot faster and you don't see the other guy, that is always a huge factor in gaming behaviour.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/20 19:04:52


Post by: Mattlov


Beat me to it...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/20 22:41:14


Post by: Orlanth


 Mattlov wrote:
Stormonu wrote:Hmm... I notice that the Warhammer, Archer, Rifleman, Wasp, Pheonix Hawk, Crusader and Marauder are not present. Did HG step in and force Catalyst to drop the Macross-style mechs?

Also, no Scorpion or Goliath?


Yes. HG is being a bunch of asshats. This is nothing surprising.


FASA and then Catalyst have long had a policy of least resistance. If in doubt pull it.
Now i hope that judgement goes against Harmony Gold, but it makes sense for Catalyst to only include designs they are 100% certain cannot be IP challenged.

Harebrained has removed two mechs from the Battletech computer game that are in Mechwarrior Online which pisses me off, but I can understand them. Maybe once and if this whole issue gets kicked into touch Harebrained can re-include those mechs.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/22 15:08:17


Post by: Tamwulf


 Orlanth wrote:
 Mattlov wrote:
Stormonu wrote:Hmm... I notice that the Warhammer, Archer, Rifleman, Wasp, Pheonix Hawk, Crusader and Marauder are not present. Did HG step in and force Catalyst to drop the Macross-style mechs?

Also, no Scorpion or Goliath?


Yes. HG is being a bunch of asshats. This is nothing surprising.


FASA and then Catalyst have long had a policy of least resistance. If in doubt pull it.
Now i hope that judgement goes against Harmony Gold, but it makes sense for Catalyst to only include designs they are 100% certain cannot be IP challenged.

Harebrained has removed two mechs from the Battletech computer game that are in Mechwarrior Online which pisses me off, but I can understand them. Maybe once and if this whole issue gets kicked into touch Harebrained can re-include those mechs.


It seems like Catalyst has a small enough budget that trying to fight off the company that specializes in lawsuits would be too costly to them, so better to just pull the mechs that are doubtful. Not to mention the minute the legal case starts, Catalyst might have to cease production and sales until the lawsuit is over for the product. With a smallish budget, that could really hurt if they have sunk a bunch of money in the new box set, and then have to sit on it for months, maybe even years, before the lawsuit is cleared up. Better to just wait for a while, then release a special box sec of "Classic Mechs" later on.

Just curious about which two mechs harebrained removed?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/23 11:33:10


Post by: chromedog


 Stormonu wrote:


Also, no Scorpion or Goliath?



I've often wondered why the Scorpion, Goliath, Thunderbolt, Griffin, Battlemaster, Shadowhawk, Locust and a tank or two got yoinked at the same time as the "borrowed" Macross mecha designs, since they were from Dougram and Crusher Joe and neither macross connected nor owned by HG.



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/23 15:20:00


Post by: mdauben


 chromedog wrote:
I've often wondered why the Scorpion, Goliath, Thunderbolt, Griffin, Battlemaster, Shadowhawk, Locust and a tank or two got yoinked at the same time as the "borrowed" Macross mecha designs, since they were from Dougram and Crusher Joe and neither macross connected nor owned by HG.


IIRC, all the "unseen" mech designs were done for FASA by "outside contractors" and they decided due to the legal hassle from HG to just pull all those and stick with just designs done by actual FASA employees.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/02/24 17:03:57


Post by: Mattlov


 chromedog wrote:
 Stormonu wrote:


Also, no Scorpion or Goliath?



I've often wondered why the Scorpion, Goliath, Thunderbolt, Griffin, Battlemaster, Shadowhawk, Locust and a tank or two got yoinked at the same time as the "borrowed" Macross mecha designs, since they were from Dougram and Crusher Joe and neither macross connected nor owned by HG.



When the original problem with the "Unseen" became an issue, CGL decided to pull everything that was done by an outside art group. That way this could not occur again.

That has bit them a couple times in the last few years, when they wanted to use someone's amazing art (usually Shimmering Sword) to update their art, but couldn't because he was not paid by CGL to create it.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/19 07:57:45


Post by: David Clarke


Catalyst have updated the coming releases section of the Battletech website with this years releases-

https://bg.battletech.com/books/upcoming-releases/

Looks like its going to be Q3 for the new starter set :(


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/19 11:21:55


Post by: Mmmpi


I'm actually happy with a later release. I'm under a bit of a crunch, and don't have the money in my gaming budget until later.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/19 16:08:19


Post by: Chillreaper


Okay, they look like they're doing things correctly.

- Simplified record sheets for the Beginner's Set.

-Alpha Strike cards in the main set.

- Extra cardboard standees.

- Extra terrain tokens.

- Pilot cards (sweet!)

- BT novella, which is ingenious because it's the way to get people hooked on the universe and the vicious cycle of reading the fiction and playing games.

The only thing that they might have slightly missed is the Q3 release being a bit later than the PC game's release date of April. Who knows? Maybe it's genius, by the time that people have played the bejeezus out of the PC game, they might be prime targets for the boardgame release.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/19 20:25:28


Post by: DarkTraveler777


 Chillreaper wrote:
Okay, they look like they're doing things correctly.

- Simplified record sheets for the Beginner's Set.

-Alpha Strike cards in the main set.

- Extra cardboard standees.

- Extra terrain tokens.

- Pilot cards (sweet!)

- BT novella, which is ingenious because it's the way to get people hooked on the universe and the vicious cycle of reading the fiction and playing games.


I am liking all of that!

My only "issue" is the plastic Griffin `Mech that comes with the Beginner Set. Am I reading the contents correctly between the Beginner Set and the Armored Combat set? Because if so, the Beginner Set is the only way to nab a plastic Griffin. The Wolverine is in both sets but it appears the Griffin is only in the Beginner Set.

Not the end of the world, but I like that Griffin so if I have to buy the Beginner Set to get it I probably will, but seems odd to leave one `Mech dangling like that. Maybe a full plastic box will be released later on with all the designs available in one box? Something like the old Plastech or 3rd Edition Reinforcements plastic `Mech box sets.



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/19 20:30:53


Post by: Mattlov


 David Clarke wrote:
Catalyst have updated the coming releases section of the Battletech website with this years releases-

https://bg.battletech.com/books/upcoming-releases/

Looks like its going to be Q3 for the new starter set :(


Q3 = GenCon. Maybe Origins.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/19 21:14:10


Post by: Chillreaper


 DarkTraveler777 wrote:


My only "issue" is the plastic Griffin `Mech that comes with the Beginner Set. Am I reading the contents correctly between the Beginner Set and the Armored Combat set? Because if so, the Beginner Set is the only way to nab a plastic Griffin. The Wolverine is in both sets but it appears the Griffin is only in the Beginner Set.

Not the end of the world, but I like that Griffin so if I have to buy the Beginner Set to get it I probably will, but seems odd to leave one `Mech dangling like that. Maybe a full plastic box will be released later on with all the designs available in one box? Something like the old Plastech or 3rd Edition Reinforcements plastic `Mech box sets.




Yeah, I mentioned this elsewhere, saying that I'm obviously going to end up getting both sets in order to have a lovely, new Griffin. If it's part of Catalyst's diabolical plan for world domination, then fair enough. I'm quite happy to give them money so that they keep on start churning out new boxed sets.

Looking at the product photos, I think that there's a different novella in each set, maybe the maps are different, too.

It's hardly a big deal for $20 and as someone pointed out "Oh no, you'll end up with two Wolverines. Whatever will you do?"

Can't argue with that logic!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/19 21:50:23


Post by: AegisGrimm


A question from a newbie:

I am looking to nab a couple of the Alpha Strike Lance packs. Are they different from the plastic mechs in the Introductory set? Or are they just those being repackaged?

Because while I do not have the Introductory set, I've heard less than stellar things about those plastics.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/19 23:38:09


Post by: DarkTraveler777


 AegisGrimm wrote:
A question from a newbie:

I am looking to nab a couple of the Alpha Strike Lance packs. Are they different from the plastic mechs in the Introductory set? Or are they just those being repackaged?

Because while I do not have the Introductory set, I've heard less than stellar things about those plastics.


The answer is yes and no.

The 2007 (or there abouts) boxed set had horrible plastic models. The revised one that is also currently OOP had better quality plastic but used the same molds. The Alpha Strike lance packs have the newer plastic models which are pretty good quality (especially at $9.99 for 4 `Mechs).

I wouldn't worry about buying the lance packs the figures are good quality and paint up well.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/19 23:58:56


Post by: AegisGrimm


Well, thanks! I admit I have had an interest over the years, but haven't really followed all the Catalyst advancements, and any mechs I have are positively ancient (anyone remember when they were blue multi-part plastic and pewter models??). Hell, a lot of my formal mech knowledge comes from PC gaming with Mechwarrior Mercs and even way back with Mechwarrior 2 (or three, can't remember).

But the Lance packs look pretty interesting, especially as The Warstore has them for 7 dollars each, which as mech models go, even for CAV minis once they went over the Reaper Bones the mechs are 5-7 dollars each, even if I end up using the Mech Attack ruleset with a pair of Lances (regardless of what I like I am limited by what I can get people to play).


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/20 00:10:36


Post by: usernamesareannoying


Do any of you use alternate models?
I like battletech but some of the minis are really showing their age.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/20 07:51:26


Post by: Albertorius


 DarkTraveler777 wrote:

I am liking all of that!

My only "issue" is the plastic Griffin `Mech that comes with the Beginner Set. Am I reading the contents correctly between the Beginner Set and the Armored Combat set? Because if so, the Beginner Set is the only way to nab a plastic Griffin. The Wolverine is in both sets but it appears the Griffin is only in the Beginner Set.

Not the end of the world, but I like that Griffin so if I have to buy the Beginner Set to get it I probably will, but seems odd to leave one `Mech dangling like that. Maybe a full plastic box will be released later on with all the designs available in one box? Something like the old Plastech or 3rd Edition Reinforcements plastic `Mech box sets.


Agreed if that's the case. I'm not entirely convinced it is because the pics from the "full" box prominently has Griffins on them, so it might just be an error.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/20 07:58:49


Post by: Chillreaper


 usernamesareannoying wrote:
Do any of you use alternate models?
I like battletech but some of the minis are really showing their age.


I'm using a combination of minis from various sources :

3rd Edition PVC minis (with a fair bit of tweaking)

2nd Edition Citytech PVC minis (with a lot of reposing and tweaking)

Plastech HIPS minis (why, oh why is the Catapult so blimmin' huge?!)

Some resin recasts of Unseens (nothing to see here, officer!)

A lot of metals from Ral Partha Europe (I used to be able to visit the factory's shop )

Robotech RPG Tactics HIPS minis...

Resin minis knocked up from the Mechwarrior Online files (still nothing to see here, officer!)


Having had the chance to see the Lance Packs, I'm rather impressed with them. I think that they're pretty much up there with the metals and at least 20 times better than the plastics from the boxed set 10 years ago. I'm expecting great things from the new plastics later this year.



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/20 13:49:30


Post by: Nultaar


 Chillreaper wrote:
 usernamesareannoying wrote:


A lot of metals from Ral Partha Europe (I used to be able to visit the factory's shop )



Do they still have the option of a walk up store at the factory? I find navigating their webstore a pain to the point I thought about taking a shot at site in one of the many modern open source web stores for them. Though that comes down to how they host everything etc.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/20 18:39:14


Post by: Chillreaper


Nultaar wrote:
 Chillreaper wrote:
 usernamesareannoying wrote:


A lot of metals from Ral Partha Europe (I used to be able to visit the factory's shop )



Do they still have the option of a walk up store at the factory? I find navigating their webstore a pain to the point I thought about taking a shot at site in one of the many modern open source web stores for them. Though that comes down to how they host everything etc.


Not too sure.

I used to visit the shop front back when it was on Parr St. Managed to get a massive haul of novels and TROs whilst I was there to boot - bit of a golden age in my life...

I think that they've relocated to an industrial estate on the north side of Liverpool now, never been to visit it. Yeah you're right, it's a pain in the bum dealing with the website, it would be so cool if you can still visit.


EDIT: wtf happened to the quote tags?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/20 19:19:40


Post by: Orlanth


 Tamwulf wrote:
 Orlanth wrote:
 Mattlov wrote:
Stormonu wrote:Hmm... I notice that the Warhammer, Archer, Rifleman, Wasp, Pheonix Hawk, Crusader and Marauder are not present. Did HG step in and force Catalyst to drop the Macross-style mechs?

Also, no Scorpion or Goliath?


Yes. HG is being a bunch of asshats. This is nothing surprising.


FASA and then Catalyst have long had a policy of least resistance. If in doubt pull it.
Now i hope that judgement goes against Harmony Gold, but it makes sense for Catalyst to only include designs they are 100% certain cannot be IP challenged.

Harebrained has removed two mechs from the Battletech computer game that are in Mechwarrior Online which pisses me off, but I can understand them. Maybe once and if this whole issue gets kicked into touch Harebrained can re-include those mechs.


It seems like Catalyst has a small enough budget that trying to fight off the company that specializes in lawsuits would be too costly to them, so better to just pull the mechs that are doubtful. Not to mention the minute the legal case starts, Catalyst might have to cease production and sales until the lawsuit is over for the product. With a smallish budget, that could really hurt if they have sunk a bunch of money in the new box set, and then have to sit on it for months, maybe even years, before the lawsuit is cleared up. Better to just wait for a while, then release a special box sec of "Classic Mechs" later on.

Just curious about which two mechs harebrained removed?


Sorry, late reply to thread.

They removed the Marauder and Warhammer. Frankly two mechs least wanted for removal and it leaves a void in capability in the game with their omission. There arent many alternates to them, Orion and Zeus being closest. Harebrained just quietly dropped them from the list of mechs without fanfare, a lot of backers haven't noticed, and it took some digging to confirm.

Now both mechs have models in Machwarrior Online, which is where Harebrained get their mech skins from and the developers of MWO are fighting Harmony Gold actively and hard, should they win the mechs would almost certainly return, hopefully as free rather than paid DLC.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 mdauben wrote:
 chromedog wrote:
I've often wondered why the Scorpion, Goliath, Thunderbolt, Griffin, Battlemaster, Shadowhawk, Locust and a tank or two got yoinked at the same time as the "borrowed" Macross mecha designs, since they were from Dougram and Crusher Joe and neither macross connected nor owned by HG.


IIRC, all the "unseen" mech designs were done for FASA by "outside contractors" and they decided due to the legal hassle from HG to just pull all those and stick with just designs done by actual FASA employees.


Its a case of better safe than sorry. FASA went though a phase of if it doesn't 100% belong to us remove it. Catalyst then did deals with more reasonable companies to restore as many of the unseen as they could for the benefit of old school fans. Even so each design was reimagined so that there were differences, the principle legal difference is that the owners of Crusher Joe aren't getting triggered by the old Locust, and are likewise not only untriggered but have made statements to say they are not triggered by the reimagiined Locust. This may have involved some sort of licensing contract.

Harmony Gold are milking what they can, not only do they pursue mechs based on Macross designs, they pursue mechs which in their opinion resemble them superficially. Some of the comparisons are ridiculous and amount to 'all your fighting robot belong to us'. It's a bully tactic, nothing more, FASA caved once milk them again.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/22 22:30:03


Post by: Mattlov


 Albertorius wrote:
 DarkTraveler777 wrote:

I am liking all of that!

My only "issue" is the plastic Griffin `Mech that comes with the Beginner Set. Am I reading the contents correctly between the Beginner Set and the Armored Combat set? Because if so, the Beginner Set is the only way to nab a plastic Griffin. The Wolverine is in both sets but it appears the Griffin is only in the Beginner Set.

Not the end of the world, but I like that Griffin so if I have to buy the Beginner Set to get it I probably will, but seems odd to leave one `Mech dangling like that. Maybe a full plastic box will be released later on with all the designs available in one box? Something like the old Plastech or 3rd Edition Reinforcements plastic `Mech box sets.


Agreed if that's the case. I'm not entirely convinced it is because the pics from the "full" box prominently has Griffins on them, so it might just be an error.


Having the "inside scoop" I can tell you you will NEVER get those minis outside of their stater box sets. At least not from Catalyst.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/22 23:23:46


Post by: Albertorius


 Mattlov wrote:
Having the "inside scoop" I can tell you you will NEVER get those minis outside of their stater box sets. At least not from Catalyst.

No, I mean that in the pics of the core box, in the contents, there's a Griffin.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/23 00:19:37


Post by: AegisGrimm


Wow, going on a half-remembered memory, I just found a box in my parents attic that had some ancient mechs in it. Several omnimechs that are from the era of blue resin bodies, legs and feet, with metal weapons arms. Also an original Warhammer that I think is completely blue resin (I bought it painted, but the bottom of the base shows resin).

Plus an old Madcat that I remember whose resin legs kept breaking where the knees are so stupidly thin, so it's gonna get some metal legs and feet donated from a Ryoken that never got put together.

I don't have any of the new Alpha Strike lance packs, does anyone know if the scale will be comparable to use my oldies alongside, or are the new mech models bigger?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/23 06:08:24


Post by: Mmmpi


I used some Alpha Strike models against a player using metals. It was awhile ago, but I believe they matched up reasonably well.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I just re-read the description of the Battle Manual. Since that one is Mechs only, will they be coming out with one to cover the rules for non-mechs?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/23 22:03:04


Post by: DarkTraveler777


 AegisGrimm wrote:
I don't have any of the new Alpha Strike lance packs, does anyone know if the scale will be comparable to use my oldies alongside, or are the new mech models bigger?


As Mmmpi stated, you should be fine. However, there is scale creep in Battletech's miniature range. Since you found some of the old Clan Omnimechs I am pointing this out, because those designs were re-sculpted in the early 2000's and are noticeably larger and thicker (especially in the limbs) than the older Ral Partha versions.

Overall scale isn't a big concern for most Battletech players since the game is usually played on maps. If you play without maps on regular terrain, then some of the `Mech sculpts can be frustrating ( a 30 ton `Mech being larger than a 70 ton `Mech for example) if you are trying to claim cover. Still, most people don't care, so don't sweat it unless scale consistency is important for your own enjoyment.



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/24 00:49:11


Post by: AegisGrimm


Thanks for the heads up. Luckily my ancient stuff is mostly a couple of Black Hawks, Ryokens, and a Fenris. So nothing that's supposed to represent anything really big.

Another good question for this thread:. Where are good places to get hex maps? Generic green would be best, as I have plenty of card 6mm buildings I can print out and make.

I remember back in the old days (the 90's for me) it was super easy to get ahold of fabric/felt hex maps at gaming stores, I remember the seeing ones that had all the hexes outlined in dots.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/03/30 11:47:24


Post by: Mmmpi


I did a google search for 'Hex gaming mat' and came up with several options. Hopefully they have something you're looking for.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/02 03:17:42


Post by: Carlson793


Well, you know the tax returns have come in state-side when Carlson goes a tad nuts with the spending over the course of a week...

• Aerotech 2 Revised ('cause sorting out just the aerospace bits of Total Warfare is too much for my brain)
• Shrink wrapped Battlespace box (Who theleaves a game shrink wrapped?!? They'regames! You're supposed toopen 'em and play 'em!)
• 74 micro fighters, 13 dropships/jumpships, and 5 mech scale fighters on order from IWM
• Aerospace 2 Record Sheets ('cause it's the only place I can find ready-to-use dropship/jumpship sheets)
• Two decent quality Standing Liberty quarters (to make myself one or more Snord's Irregulars pins)
• Hex bases to rebase three-man MWDA Battle Armor into five-man points

I think I need an intervention.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/02 13:22:29


Post by: simonr1978


Battletech related, sort of anyway. Anyone had any experience with Megamek's Map Editor? I've got some of the basics figured out but trying to place buildings that actually look like buildings is proving tricky and neither the readme, the .pdf (Which is quite old now so probably out of date) nor anything else I've been able to Google have been particularly helpful.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/02 20:53:16


Post by: Stormonu


 Chillreaper wrote:
 usernamesareannoying wrote:
Do any of you use alternate models?
I like battletech but some of the minis are really showing their age.


I'm using a combination of minis from various sources :

3rd Edition PVC minis (with a fair bit of tweaking)

2nd Edition Citytech PVC minis (with a lot of reposing and tweaking)

Plastech HIPS minis (why, oh why is the Catapult so blimmin' huge?!)

Some resin recasts of Unseens (nothing to see here, officer!)

A lot of metals from Ral Partha Europe (I used to be able to visit the factory's shop )

Robotech RPG Tactics HIPS minis...

Resin minis knocked up from the Mechwarrior Online files (still nothing to see here, officer!)


Having had the chance to see the Lance Packs, I'm rather impressed with them. I think that they're pretty much up there with the metals and at least 20 times better than the plastics from the boxed set 10 years ago. I'm expecting great things from the new plastics later this year.



Ah, Plastech. I only kept one model from that set, a Catapult I did some kitbashing on to create a quasi MAC II mech I named the MobileFort. Time hasn’t been kind to my modeling skills, but I tried.

<edit:> mauled spelling and the pic’s upside-down. Really?



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/02 23:21:17


Post by: Eilif


 Chillreaper wrote:
 usernamesareannoying wrote:
Do any of you use alternate models?
I like battletech but some of the minis are really showing their age.


I'm using a combination of minis from various sources :

3rd Edition PVC minis (with a fair bit of tweaking)

2nd Edition Citytech PVC minis (with a lot of reposing and tweaking)

Plastech HIPS minis (why, oh why is the Catapult so blimmin' huge?!)

Some resin recasts of Unseens (nothing to see here, officer!)

A lot of metals from Ral Partha Europe (I used to be able to visit the factory's shop )

Robotech RPG Tactics HIPS minis...

Resin minis knocked up from the Mechwarrior Online files (still nothing to see here, officer!)


Having had the chance to see the Lance Packs, I'm rather impressed with them. I think that they're pretty much up there with the metals and at least 20 times better than the plastics from the boxed set 10 years ago. I'm expecting great things from the new plastics later this year.



Just a minor correction, the material used isn't PVC, it's probably polyethylene. I don't know that ral Partha ever made any PVC minis. The CAV line is in PVC now though and there are a few VERY Battletech'ish models in there.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/03 04:05:27


Post by: DarkTraveler777


 Eilif wrote:
 Chillreaper wrote:
 usernamesareannoying wrote:
Do any of you use alternate models?
I like battletech but some of the minis are really showing their age.


I'm using a combination of minis from various sources :

3rd Edition PVC minis (with a fair bit of tweaking)

2nd Edition Citytech PVC minis (with a lot of reposing and tweaking)

Plastech HIPS minis (why, oh why is the Catapult so blimmin' huge?!)

Some resin recasts of Unseens (nothing to see here, officer!)

A lot of metals from Ral Partha Europe (I used to be able to visit the factory's shop )

Robotech RPG Tactics HIPS minis...

Resin minis knocked up from the Mechwarrior Online files (still nothing to see here, officer!)


Having had the chance to see the Lance Packs, I'm rather impressed with them. I think that they're pretty much up there with the metals and at least 20 times better than the plastics from the boxed set 10 years ago. I'm expecting great things from the new plastics later this year.



Just a minor correction, the material used isn't PVC, it's probably polyethylene. I don't know that ral Partha ever made any PVC minis. The CAV line is in PVC now though and there are a few VERY Battletech'ish models in there.


I've heard the 3rd edition minis called PVC before too, but I don't know what the actual material is. The material was crappy, though whatever it was. Really soft, didn't cut or sand well, and was hard to clean up.

Ral Partha didn't make them, though. They were put out directly by FASA and were included in the 3rd edition starter set and the Battlemechs boxed set.

These are the minis in question:
Spoiler:


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/03 07:27:09


Post by: simonr1978


Wow, that brings back some memories. My first introduction to Battletech in 1994 was buying that boxed set with two friends at a wargames convention in Eindhoven. Whilst it was great to play straight out of the box those miniatures were horrible to try and get painted, so soft and shiny that acrylics would more or less peel straight off.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/03 08:32:43


Post by: jouso


 simonr1978 wrote:
Wow, that brings back some memories. My first introduction to Battletech in 1994 was buying that boxed set with two friends at a wargames convention in Eindhoven. Whilst it was great to play straight out of the box those miniatures were horrible to try and get painted, so soft and shiny that acrylics would more or less peel straight off.


Worst plastic ever. Paint just ran down it. I got that set after being introduced with the older FASA box with cardboard cutouts, and ended up playing with those instead.



(We even drew our own for the extra mechs in the tech readout 3025)



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/03 08:57:57


Post by: simonr1978


I seem to remember it was mentioned in Comnet that afterwards FASA went back to the cardboard cutouts because they found people weren't interested in the plastic mechs although to be fair that might have been entirely down to the quality of the plastic. The sculpts themselves weren't terrible IIRC. I can also recall another member of our group getting the Citytech boxed set that came out a short while later which also came with miniatures but whilst I think the plastic quality was an improvement, the sculpts definitely weren't.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/03 15:13:43


Post by: Stormonu


(I have those cardboard standees somewhere in a fishing box - they also came with Citytech, didn’t they?)

Plastech was god-awful, about the only model worth using was the Atlas - all the others were badly sized or super-ugly.

I still have my 3E mechs, and unpainted they look decent. Haven’t tried to paint them, but some of them are the only copies of the unseens I have (such as the Marauder).

They did another set of plastics (I guess for 4th) that was a mix of inner sphere and clan. Those are much better.

I haven’t seen the models for the last edition a couple years back - how good were those? As I recall, they had a special clan mech or two that were multipart, whereas the rest were one piece?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/03 18:14:27


Post by: DarkTraveler777


 Stormonu wrote:
(I have those cardboard standees somewhere in a fishing box - they also came with Citytech, didn’t they?)


Yeah, Citytech 1st edition came with the cardboard standees, along with the boxsets Reinforcements and Reinforcements 2, both of which added standees for additional `Mechs and the Clan designs (Reinforcements 2).


 Stormonu wrote:
They did another set of plastics (I guess for 4th) that was a mix of inner sphere and clan. Those are much better.


That is likely the Citytech 2E set which included both IS and Clan plastics.

This is the best image I could find of the Citytech 2E `Mechs. They were better quality than the 3rd edition Battletech `Mechs, but they still were awkward compared to their metal equivalents.
Spoiler:




 Stormonu wrote:
I haven’t seen the models for the last edition a couple years back - how good were those? As I recall, they had a special clan mech or two that were multipart, whereas the rest were one piece?

Overall really good. Same quality as the current Alpha Strike boxed set plastic `Mechs. The 2 "premium" Clan `Mechs they included were top notch.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/03 19:10:25


Post by: Stormonu


Yep, those Citytech 2 mechs were the ones I was thinking of.

At some point, I need to pick up the Alpha Strike boxes. I’d done some purging of my collection ages ago and I’d like to get as full set of the 3025/3050 mech designs as I can easily get my hands on.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/03 20:18:32


Post by: Chillreaper


 Stormonu wrote:
(I have those cardboard standees somewhere in a fishing box - they also came with Citytech, didn’t they?)

Plastech was god-awful, about the only model worth using was the Atlas - all the others were badly sized or super-ugly.

I still have my 3E mechs, and unpainted they look decent. Haven’t tried to paint them, but some of them are the only copies of the unseens I have (such as the Marauder).

They did another set of plastics (I guess for 4th) that was a mix of inner sphere and clan. Those are much better.

I haven’t seen the models for the last edition a couple years back - how good were those? As I recall, they had a special clan mech or two that were multipart, whereas the rest were one piece?



I managed to redeem most of the Plastech minis (the Panther and Blackjack were alright as they were), but the Hunchback and Catapult were beyond my capability to do anything with. Maybe I'll do the ghetto MAC II with the Catapult being as I don't own a 3D printer to do a proper one.

I have just thought that I might be able to fix the Valkyries with parts from the RRT Valkyries (oh, the irony...), namely the head and arms.

The Citytech 2 minis have a lot of potential, but the arms had to be cast in some lame positions; fortunately they're easy to cut and repose. The Victor is just silly looking.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/04 02:43:50


Post by: Eilif


They're definitely not PVC. PVC takes paint better.

The polyethelyne 3rd edition mechs can be painted but they've got to be cleaned very well and primed with a plastic specific spray paint.

I recommend krylon camo colors. Still ain't as sturdy as other plastics but should hold up fine especially after a good varnish.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/04 13:10:42


Post by: Elbows


I remember, as a kid, trying to paint the original dark grey glossy Battletech minis from the old starter (in the early 90's) and watching my - at the time - craft paint just disappear as I tried to apply it.



Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/04 15:38:15


Post by: Eilif


 Elbows wrote:
I remember, as a kid, trying to paint the original dark grey glossy Battletech minis from the old starter (in the early 90's) and watching my - at the time - craft paint just disappear as I tried to apply it.



I remember ther paint sticking o.k. when i painted them as a kid.

Of course i was using oil based Testors gloss enamels which will stick to anything but are a worse choice than no paint at all!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/04 20:32:21


Post by: Mattlov


If I remember right the 3rd Edition plastics are actually a form of vinyl.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/04 22:00:52


Post by: AegisGrimm


Do the new Alpha Strike models/ Introductory set models take paint ok?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/05 05:06:13


Post by: Albertorius


 AegisGrimm wrote:
Do the new Alpha Strike models/ Introductory set models take paint ok?

Yeah, I've had no issues at all with them. Not even with the ones from the previous set, which were significantly worse.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/05 17:36:44


Post by: Albertorius


Well... it looks like not only the fans are tired of Harmony Gold's shenanigans:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u_j_BhX5NWUcwNdj8Ud-Oy3NYN0-srkg/view


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/05 17:40:42


Post by: Elbows


Yeah, that's been going on for six months or so.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/05 17:45:36


Post by: Albertorius


A year, actually, I know. It's just that the response from Piranha to Harmony Gold's rogatory is priceless ^^.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/05 23:22:42


Post by: Charistoph


 Elbows wrote:
Yeah, that's been going on for six months or so.

Yeah, the Judge had even warned the lawyers to be careful of wasting the court's time and could make a ruling which affect's the lawyers, not just the company who hired them. Some of us are practically watering at the mouth for HG to be slapped down for it.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/09 19:05:33


Post by: Stormonu


Karma seems to be hot on the heels of HG (& PB). It should be a foot race worth watching.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/13 10:36:35


Post by: Albertorius


Aaaaaaand it looks like Karma is catching up:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_33WnIpLEADui_Rh6dqSqtOKgNWRveWQ/view

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a), Plaintiff Harmony Gold U.S.A., Inc., and Defendants Harebrained Schemes LLC, Harebrained Holdings, Inc., and Jordan Weisman (collectively, the “Harebrained Defendants”), by and through their respective counsel of record, stipulate and agree that all of Plaintiff’s claims against the Harebrained Defendants are dismissed with prejudice, without an award of fees or costs to any party. This stipulation does not affect Plaintiff’s claims against the remaining defendants in this lawsuit.



EDIT:

For those who do not know (I did not know), a dismissal WITH prejudice means that Harmony Gold cannot bring up these claims again, in this, or any further cases.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/13 16:02:07


Post by: simonr1978


Nice. Good to see Harmony Gold finally getting their due.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/13 17:58:18


Post by: Charistoph


But it doesn't leave anyone else listed in the lawsuit out of the bag. What that also means is that anything that the Battletech video game that is being borrowed from the Mechwarrior Online game listed in the said suit will have to wait for the resolution before they can be released in game to avoid being drawn back in to another suit.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/14 00:43:46


Post by: Mattlov


The dismissal "with prejudice" makes me happy.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/14 04:29:28


Post by: Stormonu


If HBS was able to get a dismissal, wouldn't this be precedent for the others to get it dismissed if they pushed as well?

Also, who else is named in the suit anyways?


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/14 05:24:03


Post by: Charistoph


 Stormonu wrote:
If HBS was able to get a dismissal, wouldn't this be precedent for the others to get it dismissed if they pushed as well?

It depends on why they were included at all and the lawyers involved as well.

 Stormonu wrote:
Also, who else is named in the suit anyways?

Piranha Games is, the makers of Mechwarrior Online.

Catalyst Game Labs is indirectly via the company that they are a part of (there's some business legal mumbo jumbo involved that I don't understand).

Jordan Weisman is as well, due to a prior lawsuit settlement, but he is part of Harebrained Schemes and part of their dismissal. I think part of it may be that they went after HBS because of him and the work that they were doing they considered to be against their previous settlement. But then, HG was saying a Locust (no arms, gun under cockpit, chicken legs) was the Macross version of the Marauder (gun arms, gun over cockpit, chicken legs), so...


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/21 06:16:07


Post by: Formosa


Battletech keys going out!!!!!

AND IM ON EXCERCISE ARRRRGH!!!!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/21 15:18:02


Post by: Chillreaper


 Formosa wrote:
Battletech keys going out!!!!!

AND IM ON EXCERCISE ARRRRGH!!!!


Chillax...

It's not even available to pre-download for a day or so, then there's a day or so to go live.

You really think that I'd be spending the day scarifying my lawn if it was live?!


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/21 17:15:02


Post by: DEZOAT


Yes I got email the last two day now. Three more day to go.


Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread! @ 2018/04/21 19:26:30


Post by: Formosa


 Chillreaper wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
Battletech keys going out!!!!!

AND IM ON EXCERCISE ARRRRGH!!!!


Chillax...

It's not even available to pre-download for a day or so, then there's a day or so to go live.

You really think that I'd be spending the day scarifying my lawn if it was live?!


I’m away for 3 weeks, sucks so much.

Let me know how you get on lads