I've been kicking around the idea of some non-official rules for Battletech. Something that moves away from the hex map and operates on a larger scale. This means involving infantry and vehicles to a much greater extent than they have been previously. It also means making mechs as scarce as they should be, with only a single lance available.
I've also made a list of miniatures cast by a company called GHQ. They're all modern or historical, but I made a list of miniatures that can easily be used in Battletech. Note that this list is country independent. I simply went after anything that could look "futuristic" or fit with the battletech theme without being immediately identifiable to someone with a bit of background in military equipment. The list is by no means comprehensive, but should help anyone who is looking for something other than mechs to fill the battlefield.
The great thing is that almost all of these models are 5 for $10.
Tanks
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/n94.html
http://www.ghqmodels...roduct1233.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/is11.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/rc5.html
IFV/APC
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n503.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/n68.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/n69.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n508.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n511.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/n59.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/is13.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/w34.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/rc6.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/rc20.html
Infantry
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n139.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n140.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/w69.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/rc18.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/tw9.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/tw12.html
Light Vehicle
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n111.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n523.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n535.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n520.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n519.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/n76.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n510.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/tw18.html
Aircraft
http://www.ghqmodels...store/ac30.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/ac24.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/ac71.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/ac25.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/ac43.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/ac46.html
Artillery
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n104.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/n62.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n107.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n512.html
Other
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n121.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n141.html
http://www.ghqmodels...store/n142.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/n73.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/n74.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/w87.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/w80.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/w86.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/w32.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/w50.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/w40.html
http://www.ghqmodels.../store/w63.html
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/w7.html
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Alternate forms of Classic Battletech
Started by S3dition, Nov 03 2011 05:36 PM
2 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 03 November 2011 - 05:49 PM
I'd suggest you take a look at the Quickstrike rules in Strategic Operations, then. it simplifies the stats of whole 'mechs down to a few blurbs. You can do the same with vehicles. It was made so that you could play these massive-scale games.
As for the vehicles, Battletech already has it's fair share of combat vees, and I consider support vehicles to be one of the few types of unit that you can come to the table with custom variants of; it's unlikely that someone will complain something is min-maxed or munchkinny if it's made for non-combat roles like bridge-laying, field repairs, communication, or salvage retrieval
As for the more extensive use of vehicles? Why not limit both sides to only a company of 'mechs, and fill out another two companies of combat vehicles and conventional infantry, and some support vehicles that need to be defended on top of that?
...But as for getting rid of the hexes? I think you're being overambitious. "Massive battles" on a battletech scale will require a lot more range between figures than a table can provide. Don't forget that even vanilla battletech hexmaps are not to scale with the figures. Each hex is supposed to be 30 meters wide, and the 'mechs are supposed to be 12 meters tall, but you can clearly see that on the board, the 'mech miniature is roughly 1-2 times taller than a hex is wide. You go to a larger scale, and you'll have even more difficulty. You'll be able to play with miniatures rules (That is to say, without hexmaps and just terrain) with smaller scale games, but even then, if you're playing to-scale, a single Battletech mapsheet is equivalent to more than a large kitchen table when blown up to the 4.1" per hex scale.
As for the vehicles, Battletech already has it's fair share of combat vees, and I consider support vehicles to be one of the few types of unit that you can come to the table with custom variants of; it's unlikely that someone will complain something is min-maxed or munchkinny if it's made for non-combat roles like bridge-laying, field repairs, communication, or salvage retrieval
As for the more extensive use of vehicles? Why not limit both sides to only a company of 'mechs, and fill out another two companies of combat vehicles and conventional infantry, and some support vehicles that need to be defended on top of that?
...But as for getting rid of the hexes? I think you're being overambitious. "Massive battles" on a battletech scale will require a lot more range between figures than a table can provide. Don't forget that even vanilla battletech hexmaps are not to scale with the figures. Each hex is supposed to be 30 meters wide, and the 'mechs are supposed to be 12 meters tall, but you can clearly see that on the board, the 'mech miniature is roughly 1-2 times taller than a hex is wide. You go to a larger scale, and you'll have even more difficulty. You'll be able to play with miniatures rules (That is to say, without hexmaps and just terrain) with smaller scale games, but even then, if you're playing to-scale, a single Battletech mapsheet is equivalent to more than a large kitchen table when blown up to the 4.1" per hex scale.
Edited by ice trey, 03 November 2011 - 05:52 PM.
#3
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Posted 03 November 2011 - 05:55 PM
Battletech has them but you have to settle for those ugly versions that ral partha made. I doubt Iron Wind has resculpted many vehicles. Even so, they're more expensive at 2 vehicles for ~$11.
So, by your logic, all 6mm games that have more units that battletech are unlrealistic and over ambitious, despite dozens of them in existence? My objective was not to use a watered down version of Battletech, but an entirely different system.
Oh, and FYI, there is already a system that does away with hexes and converts it to inches using the same Classic Battletech rules. So, I totally disagree with you.
So, by your logic, all 6mm games that have more units that battletech are unlrealistic and over ambitious, despite dozens of them in existence? My objective was not to use a watered down version of Battletech, but an entirely different system.
Oh, and FYI, there is already a system that does away with hexes and converts it to inches using the same Classic Battletech rules. So, I totally disagree with you.
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