73 replies to this topic

[KeeperVS]

I bought the Introduction Boxed set last week and just got the main rulebook "Total Warfare" in today. I'm excited to play some games. I may have to be the advocate for it at my local store as they don't carry Battleteh very much anymore it seems.

[Captain Fabulous]

Reading through since I popped my head in, I can add some addition info.

Not really information, but I've always preferred Solaris Skunkwerks to Heavy Metal Pro. Its interface makes a bit more since, in my opinion.

No two mechs can really occupy one hex. Both Deaths From Above and Charges require that for at least for firing and movement, they technically occupy the same space, but for both one will get displaced after it has been resolved.

In regards to the rules and mechs coming from different companies, it has to do with rights transfer when Wiz Kids either sold off the game to Catalyst or Catalyst took over Wiz Kids or something. Basically the company (Wiz Kids) that originally marketed it doesn't have it anymore. And Iron Wind Metals (somebody mentioned the Topps licensing-whatever) specializes in making iron miniatures anyways, so they took over the model production.

I don't know who makes the plastic minis that come in the box set; they're a bit smaller than the Iron Wind Models. I'll get a size comparison for ye.

[Captain Fabulous]

The pink ones with the green bases are my plastics that came with the box (yes, laugh at their inferior paint and basing jobs. They were some of my first attempts) and the red ones are from Iron Wind. I also added a pencil for a convenient reference point to overall size.



Same mech (Trebuchet and Jenner) for both obviously.

Note: You have to buy the full hex bases for the Iron Wind mechs separately.

[Evoshen]

WOW, I am very surprised that this thread has sort of.. exploded the way it has! I'm glad other people are able to ask their own questions and I am happy to know how helpful this community is! Though I may say this in... every post so far... thank you again so much guys. This is fantastic!

[village idiot]

Captain Fabulous, on 09 June 2012 - 09:35 PM, said:

No two mechs can really occupy one hex. Both Deaths From Above and Charges require that for at least for firing and movement, they technically occupy the same space, but for both one will get displaced after it has been resolved.

Close, but not exactly. During the Movement Phase, you pay any movement points or jump points to enter the target hex, but you're adjacent to your target for purposes of firing. The affects things like range, LOS and the to-hit modifier for the # of hexes moved.
With a DFA, you're also considered to be 3 levels above the terrain you're in.

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In regards to the rules and mechs coming from different companies, it has to do with rights transfer when Wiz Kids either sold off the game to Catalyst or Catalyst took over Wiz Kids or something. Basically the company (Wiz Kids) that originally marketed it doesn't have it anymore. And Iron Wind Metals (somebody mentioned the Topps licensing-whatever) specializes in making iron miniatures anyways, so they took over the model production.

The whole rights thing is a bit convoluted after all these years, and perhaps not entirely fun, but I decided to remark on it anyway =) :
FASA originally held the IP.
They split off the electronic rights to FASA Interactive, their computer game company.
Microsoft bought that, and any IP rights the company had access too, like BattleTech.
Meanwhile, the non-electronic rights (novels, books, tabletop games, etc) stayed with FASA.
FASA closed down operations, Wizkids bought the rights from them, then licensed FanPro to make books and the table-top game while they made their own Click-base MW game.
FanPro was replaced by Catalyst, and Wizkids was bought by Topps; both Catalyst and Iron Wind Metals operate under license from Topps.

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I don't know who makes the plastic minis that come in the box set; they're a bit smaller than the Iron Wind Models. I'll get a size comparison for ye.

Cool pictures! And yeah, your more recent entries show a lot of progress you've made skill-wise. I need a thumbs up smiley...

[Captain Fabulous]

village *****, on 10 June 2012 - 05:25 AM, said:

Close, but not exactly. During the Movement Phase, you pay any movement points or jump points to enter the target hex, but you're adjacent to your target for purposes of firing. The affects things like range, LOS and the to-hit modifier for the # of hexes moved.
With a DFA, you're also considered to be 3 levels above the terrain you're in.

DFA's were the one maneuver that, despite almost a year of playing, we still haven't experienced, so thank you for clarifying that, and pretty much everything in general.

And thanks for the progress comment. They should add a thumbs up one.

[Demoulius]

Ive called a local store(only one I know...) and sadly they dont got the game and with all the D&D things that they got going on they dont space to add any more sadly.

So looks like il be mail ordering... Heres to hoping the delivery cost arent bigger then the costs of the box <.<

Funny that theres a small height difference. Arent the models from the starter kit plastic though and the ones that you can buy seperatly metal? Aside from the starter kit I think I havent seen a single plastic mech around

[Captain Fabulous]

Demoulius, on 10 June 2012 - 01:53 PM, said:

Ive called a local store(only one I know...) and sadly they dont got the game and with all the D&D things that they got going on they dont space to add any more sadly.

So looks like il be mail ordering... Heres to hoping the delivery cost arent bigger then the costs of the box <.<

Funny that theres a small height difference. Arent the models from the starter kit plastic though and the ones that you can buy seperatly metal? Aside from the starter kit I think I havent seen a single plastic mech around

You could always try asking if they'll order one for you. Even if they don't have it readily in stock, they might be able to get in touch with somebody.

And yeah, but there are supposedly places to buy plastics according to our GM, but I've never seen where.

[Captain Fabulous]

And also search "game store" into Google Maps or something of the sort. A couple may show up.

[Skylarr]

Aidan Ramsdell, on 08 June 2012 - 04:34 AM, said:

I want to play TT, but there is nothing in vermont. nothing at all. It is a beautiful, forested wasteland that I know of only two other BT players, and one of them is my father. But wait, how many people do you need to play TT?

2 is Min. It is like an elaberate chess match. the More you add in the longer the battle take. When you starting doing Battalion or larger use an egg timer. If you do not move by the time the time goes off the unit stand still. Take to long enough times and you start to learn to move faster.

Also try

http://www.heavymetalpro.com/

[Kittygrinder]

Skylarr, on 10 June 2012 - 06:52 PM, said:

2 is Min. It is like an elaberate chess match. the More you add in the longer the battle take. When you starting doing Battalion or larger use an egg timer. If you do not move by the time the time goes off the unit stand still. Take to long enough times and you start to learn to move faster.

Also try

http://www.heavymetalpro.com/

Stay away from Heavy Metal. The guy is a good guy, but the program is incredibly old. The guy has been talking about a full update for it for at least 5 years (theres a post of him talking about it in 2005), but he hasnt gotten around to it. On top of that, the software being as old as it is, he doesnt offer any discount or anything. Just get Solaris Skunk Werks, its the best option out side of buying PDF's of the recordsheets.

Edited by Kittygrinder, 11 June 2012 - 05:16 AM.

[Sychodemus]

The guy's name is Rick Raisley. He has actually eaten a lot of the expense to produce and ship Heavy Metal over the years. That being said, HMP is long overdue for an overhaul (though some of that was due to things out of his control.) SSW is a great (free) alternative but unfortunately it hasn't quite caught up with HM in all regards.

[Demoulius]

Placed my mail order Local store dident have it, couldnt order and dident know where it could be bought so the interwebz was the place to go.

Funn thing about the box, ive taken a look at what mech I at least would want a model off and 9 that I really like (well I do like alot...) are in there

Makes me wonder though... Is having two identical mech (or with different load outs) in the same lance a bad thing? For example I can see commandos beeing good for a scout lance

[Sychodemus]

Multiples of 'Mechs can very beneficial in numerous ways; they can pair up in terms of mobility and firepower, they ease supply and logistics issues and most importantly, two identical 'Mechs standing behind their overlord is more intimidating.

[Demoulius]

Very true on all cases

Ive been gaming abit of my old mechwarrior games until the game comes out and in mechcommander youve basicly got faction specific mechs. Is this true to the background? Do some factions make more use of certain mechs or can every factions use any? Im looking to make a faction specific lance (Steiner) but cant find much aside from what I can find in mechcommander

[Arctic Fox]

Demoulius, on 11 June 2012 - 07:58 AM, said:

Ive been gaming abit of my old mechwarrior games until the game comes out and in mechcommander youve basicly got faction specific mechs. Is this true to the background? Do some factions make more use of certain mechs or can every factions use any? Im looking to make a faction specific lance (Steiner) but cant find much aside from what I can find in mechcommander

In the BattleTech universe, it's generally possible for for every faction to field nearly every design, even if it does not manufacture it, because of trading and salvage. This isn't true in all cases, but when it comes to the 3025-era and the 'Mechs in the box set there shouldn't be any problem for pretty much any faction to field any of them.

That said, there are definitely designs which are used by factions to a much greater degree, and you can get an idea of what those are by looking at the Random Assignment Tables in various books or the fluff of the design in TROs. For example, out of the box set 'Mechs, Steiner greatly favours designs like the Commando, Zeus and Banshee.

[Kittygrinder]

But also, later on there are designs that are exclusive to some houses. For example, the Templar is Davion only mech, and the Fafnir is a Steiner only mech.

There aslo some variants that are exclusive to some houses as well...

[Atlas3060]

Of course as the years go by (game and real life) designs might fall into obscurity or become general use due to tech proliferation.
HGRs originally were Lyran tech, but as we get into the later eras you might see that weapon on a FWL or even FedSun design.
Ravens were once CapCon secret technology, but during the FedCom civil war you see even mercenaries using that thing

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Im looking to make a faction specific lance (Steiner) but cant find much aside from what I can find in mechcommander

(Steiner joke incoming) If you're bringing 'Mechs in that are less than 85 tons, you aren't doing it Lyran style! (/joke end)

Edited by Atlas3060, 11 June 2012 - 09:44 AM.

[Blu C]

In for one moment:

If you want the most affordable introduction to Table Top I suggest you actually check out MegaMek. It will not teach you any of the rules or how to play, but it will enable you to play without having to buy minis. The AI is decent and if you have friends who are also interested it is possible to play each other.

Of course I do suggest you eventually move on to actual minis, because there is just something about them... but if you don't have much money it is a cheap way to get in to play without having to do something like use little paper tokens.

[Captain Fabulous]

Demoulius, on 11 June 2012 - 06:48 AM, said:

Makes me wonder though... Is having two identical mech (or with different load outs) in the same lance a bad thing? For example I can see commandos beeing good for a scout lance

They can be really useful. I have a lance of nothing but griffins, and another of just vindi's