Dipping a toe in Battletech!

[Legionnaire]

A few weeks ago, a member at the club brought down the Battletech Starter Box and we were 6 players having a go, three a side commanding one Mech each. It was good fun but I know nothing about Battletech more than that involves big robots. £25 later, I found myself with a nice little 4 model "lance. Mostly bought because it was a decent price.

It's an Inner Sphere Urban Lance, containing a Victor, an Enforcer, a Hunchback and a Raven. I DO like some colour on a model if I'm going to play with it so I basically looked for colours I liked and via that route, I plumped on Free Worlds Legionnaires  . Below are my "artistic renditions" of those colours  . We are still to organise a proper full rules game, but I have printed out the essential Mech Sheets and will laminate those.

[robh]

They look good, nice selection of Mechs.
I don't know much about the later iterations of the rules, but with the original having only 1 or 2 mechs each was the best way to do it. Much more tactical that way.

[Keeper Nilbog]

Welcome to the "very deep" hole of the Battletech Universe.

The rules, well the "classic" rules, haven't really changed much in the 40 odd years the game has been up and running, though they remain "crunchy" in their detail (Alpha Strike works for Company and up games quite well - and that's what those coloured cards in the lance box are for). The changes are mostly "tidy ups", or additional weapons and equipment (Clans, League Era equipment and follow on improvements - which you can take or leave - I generally only play games between 3039 and 3062, So late Succession Wars, Clan Invasion, FedCom Civil War and the Bears/Combine War around 3062).

So, go with what attracts you, and make use of Sarna.net and the Master Unit List (as a guide, not gospel) to build your forces.

[Logain77]

I’ve played since the 80s, the rules are pretty much exactly the same.  Fun game for sure if you don’t mind some crunch. A single lance vs lance is a great way to play. Those are solid mechs, there are definitely garbage mechs and really good ones so balance can be an issue.

[syrinx0]

Just played a large BT in person game last Saturday.  Like Logain77 we have been playing forever with various metal, resin and plastic mechs. We normally have 6-8 players (generally IS vs Clan) with 8 to 12 mechs a side.  Three of the guys went overboard on the kickstarters so we have a lot to choose from.  Every time I go over I get a couple of box sets to paint from them.

We also play a MegaMech online campaign almost weekly. That can be a fun option when travel or free time is limited. 

[scotty]

I do like your colour scheme on the Mechs

[Maniac]

Welcome to Battletech!  If you find CBT (Classic Battletech) to crunchy or slow give Alpha Strike a try.  It easily handles multiple lances on the table top.  I picked it up a couple years back and it is a great, streamlined rule set for all ages.

As far as universes go it is a rich one with loads of opportunity to play pretty much any scenario you can dream up.

[Legionnaire]

They look good, nice selection of Mechs.
I don't know much about the later iterations of the rules, but with the original having only 1 or 2 mechs each was the best way to do it. Much more tactical that way.

Thank you kindly robh. Nice and easy to paint, just white primer, paint in the other bits with Armypainter Speedpaint 2.0 and job done.

[Legionnaire]

Welcome to the "very deep" hole of the Battletech Universe.

So, go with what attracts you, and make use of Sarna.net and the Master Unit List (as a guide, not gospel) to build your forces.

"Very deep" hole indeed. Doing my "research" into something I don't know anything about led me to: Mech colours of clans and factions, some of the BT history, the VERY big document about the Free World Legionnaires military history and makeup of the different Legions, where it stipulates they are employing a wide range of combined arms (to get people to buy MORE models presumably  ) etc.

Wise words indeed, going with what you like is a very valid idea. I ALWAYS play my games to have fun, sometimes very badly but having a good time and that's what it's about. Thank you very much for the advice.

[Legionnaire]

I’ve played since the 80s, the rules are pretty much exactly the same.  Fun game for sure if you don’t mind some crunch. A single lance vs lance is a great way to play. Those are solid mechs, there are definitely garbage mechs and really good ones so balance can be an issue.

Wow, a seasoned veteran by now surely  ! I don't mind some crunch if I'm having fun. The only one I'm not sure about rules wise how it works, is the Raven which has got a lot of equipment, which I assume are more like "spotting" and supporting other Mechs on the battlefield, than primary armaments. But the guy who has the game will let me know what's what. I gather that, because the sheer volume of Mechs kind of dictates that not everyone, ton for ton, can be equal.

[Legionnaire]

Just played a large BT in person game last Saturday.  Like Logain77 we have been playing forever with various metal, resin and plastic mechs. We normally have 6-8 players (generally IS vs Clan) with 8 to 12 mechs a side.  Three of the guys went overboard on the kickstarters so we have a lot to choose from.  Every time I go over I get a couple of box sets to paint from them.

We also play a MegaMech online campaign almost weekly. That can be a fun option when travel or free time is limited.

Another veteran! It might still be a thing to take off at our club, who knows?

I did laugh (in good humour) at "play online almost weekly when travel/ free time is limited". I work in a 24/7 service and have other commitments, so my attendance at the local gaming club is "spotty" at best. I have an online gaming group that might get together once a month when work/ family/ other commitment allows, so the perspective of "limited free time" is highly individual .

[Legionnaire]

I do like your colour scheme on the Mechs

Thank you sir! And nice and easy to paint as well. White primer, put the other colours on with Armypainter Speedpaint 2.0 and it's a quick job to get them on the table. We are still to organise another game, but hopefully, it'll happen over the next few weeks.

[Legionnaire]

Welcome to Battletech!  If you find CBT (Classic Battletech) to crunchy or slow give Alpha Strike a try.  It easily handles multiple lances on the table top.  I picked it up a couple years back and it is a great, streamlined rule set for all ages.

As far as universes go it is a rich one with loads of opportunity to play pretty much any scenario you can dream up.

Thank you for the welcome sir! Seems to be a quite popular game, but I don't know much about it. I'm under the impression Alpha Strike is more of a skirmish wargame or can you play it on the hex maps as well? The pure benefit there is that the cards and pilot cards are included in the box.

[Maniac]

Thank you for the welcome sir! Seems to be a quite popular game, but I don't know much about it. I'm under the impression Alpha Strike is more of a skirmish wargame or can you play it on the hex maps as well? The pure benefit there is that the cards and pilot cards are included in the box.

Like some of the others I started playing in the 80s, and CBT is a fun game, but going beyond a couple mechs a player can get a bit overwhelming.  It is a more old school game in terms of feel.

Alpha Strike is more skirmish style.  That said, if you want it to be it could be very crunchy for a skirmish game with rules for Mechs, infantry, vtols, tanks, artillery, aerospace, special equipment, special munitions, under water combat, etc.  You can play it on hex maps if you want or sans hex if you want.  I swapped over as it was better suited to our gaming group and playing with my kids. 

[Legionnaire]

Like some of the others I started playing in the 80s, and CBT is a fun game, but going beyond a couple mechs a player can get a bit overwhelming.  It is a more old school game in terms of feel.

Alpha Strike is more skirmish style.  That said, if you want it to be it could be very crunchy for a skirmish game with rules for Mechs, infantry, vtols, tanks, artillery, aerospace, special equipment, special munitions, under water combat, etc.  You can play it on hex maps if you want or sans hex if you want.  I swapped over as it was better suited to our gaming group and playing with my kids.

I'm more than happy to take advice and guidance from those who "are in the know"  . I mainly aim to just play the game now and then, because frankly, with work and other commitments, I will struggle to play anything with any kind of regularity.

I spoke to the chap that kindly let us have a go and discussed what kind of games we'd like to do. Nothing too complicated, basically a Mech vs Mech bash. So, both of us, funnily enough, ordered the Battletech: Battlemech Manual today!!! Mine should, all things being well, arrive Monday so I'm looking forward to reading the rules.