True enjoyment in battlemech depends on the experience of the players, and the depth and scope of the game. There are several different formats and variants of the game to dive into, and each player should find a few they enjoy most.
Basic FFA Format: For instance, back when I would babysit kids, I would bring my pewter minatures, some mech sheets and a few maps over. This was how I learned the very basics. Everyone pick 1 mech of the same tonnage, whichever you feel looks the coolest. Apply basic LOS with hills and trees (i.e. if you are not in wide open terrain, you are off limits), and only roll out hit location and damage. Very simple and fast to crank out multiple games in a hour, and will help players get a feel of battletech. Every weapon, if in range is a garunteed hit, so its like burning ants with a magnifying glass of which I am sure we all enjoy at some level.
From this, try a few variants that will including rolling for hit chance, crit chance and apply roll deductions for movement, terrain, heat, etc. By then, you will know and have a strong grasp of most rules and basic strategy. Games last longer and require thought and wit. Now you ponder how much movement, and where to position your mech for engagement/flanking. This is about when you start day dreaming which mech variants or what style you enjoy most: lasers + heat management, cannons + munitions, missiles + ammo. The last variant to throw in this mix would be rolling out pilot skills at the beginning. Now you ponder which mech will have your best pilot.
Now you know battletech, time to get into the real fun, gritty stuff.
Without making this too lengthy. My favorite format was 3 Mech: *** Drop Tonnage Deployment. Each MechWarrior had to choose three mechs, within a maximum tonnage limit to deploy to the map. Example: 3 Mech: 225 Tonnage Deployment - Variant: No duplicate Mechs. My most unstoppable combo was a Thor (70 tons), Mad Cat (75 tons) and Orion IIC (75 Tons) - I even have my orginal pewter minis to match this combo which Ill post in a separate thread some other time. Nonetheless, this format requires fun strategy and will adapt a unique play style.
I found trying to teach new players all of the rules the first night, would be the last night you ever saw them. Before long, youll naturally play out all of the rules to the game as if it is second nature. Your palms will be moist as your reach for the die, nerves tight as you wait for the die result, ponding if the decisions you make will ultimately be your fate.
Edited by CPUuser123, 18 February 2012 - 12:02 AM.
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