The binary progresses.
#Battletech/Mechwarrior/ATOW
indigo hinge
indigo hinge
We sure do, welcome to the Battletech channel.
hexed musk
Yoooo
rough parrot
I ain't from the West, and from SEA. So the version of BattleTech that I grew up with naturally differs
hexed musk
Ooh! Fun base!
verbal trout
You don't wanna know how many times I had to rebase before putting the mini.
indigo hinge
Ohhh that's good. That's real good.
I want to replicate that goshawk scheme on a bunch of Corpro minis.
waxen fulcrum
No, no, that's a Griffin
rough parrot
rough parrot
I'll be eating good
wet nova
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw1GysjdHls some humor to light things up
this is like my, first solo meme video in like 3 goddamn year
azure stream
The entire station is devoid of people.
*"I will honor our agreement to the letter." *
plucky ore
verbal trout
And then there are the periphery frankenmechs.
Have you seen a combination of the bastard love child of a battlemaster and Griffin combined?
I have.
It ain't pretty
elder ridgeBOT
The wolfman is perhaps the least ugly og the frankenmech pattern groups, but also like the rifleman's legs are just kinda basic
hexed musk
Bugmech posting time
Fleas are the bugmech you bring when you need to fill the last 500 BV and the Grasshopper is for the times you say you're only bringing bugmechs, but you actually are going to kick their ass
hexed musk
In the mood to finish up a faction this week.
rough parrot
hexed musk
Gives PATLABOR vibes. Kick ass!
indigo hinge
More clanners. Slowly but surely figuring out this batch painting thing.
hexed musk
BIRDS CACKAWWWW
indigo hinge
Yup, going with Falcons for the aces box isn't very creative, but I like the way the box art rendered them, so I figured I'd do my own take on that.
hexed musk
I feel like scouring sands has/will multiply the number of painted jade falcon armies significantly
I'm painting mine in JF too.
indigo hinge
Couldn't decide on a scheme for any of my clanners, so they made for a good start.
indigo hinge
Reverse kintsugi. Neat.
Aces convinced me to paint a trinary (and now a star of Elementals) as Falcons, and the other Binary (and a lone Jupiter) will be Burrocks.
Those just need highlights and weapon jeweling though, so finishing those should be quite doable. I just have to actually do it.
hexed musk
That orange gradient is sick as hell
indigo hinge
I saw it on CamoSpecs, with only a single entry, and found it criminal that there weren't any more.
rough parrot
azure stream
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1468429490832150579/1468429491301777418...
That Black Knight romantically running on the beach...
rough parrot
hexed musk
Ay yoo that phoenix hawk is straight sexual
rough parrot
I am preparing these guys for a Flames of Orion campaign
waxen fulcrum
verbal trout
The Inner Sphere when it fights the Periphery
The Inner Sphere when its done fighting the Periphery
The cycle
topaz yew
While its not out yet. Mech Warrior Living Legends is going to join the Steam Betas program soon!
Like next weekish soon!
rough parrot
topaz yew
🫧🫧 🔥 clean 🔥 🫧🫧
verbal trout
Okay, so, this is being inspired by a friend's art.
But April 1st...CGL could the funniest thing ever.
Collectible Mechamusume derby cards.
indigo hinge
BattleTech is also a great franchise to steal mecha minis for other games
History tends to repeat itself.
rough parrot
History tends to repeat itself.
whaaaat? what are you taalking about?
you see, the venerable Warhammer, Marauder, Phoenix Hawk, Shadow Hawk and others are completely homegrown Western mecha and has no connections of outside sources whatsoever
:33333
you see that Samurai robot right there? compleeetely Western
:))
indigo hinge
They must be, how could they be anything else?
azure stream
The Shiro. Named after the founder of the Draconis Combine, this BattleMech is only assigned to exceptional individuals by the Coordinator himself. It is armed with a mighty, fear inducing...LB-2X autocannon.
rough parrot
I think it's the quad Clan LRM/10s that can be vomitted in melee range is the selling point
hexed musk
The other samurai mech in the new forcepack is almost worse. A 30 tonner with the glorious armament of...a sword and a LAC5.
At least there is a variant that replaces that peashooter with an ERPPC
topaz yew
Hopefully the new rule book will keep the changes to armor piercing ammo.
rough parrot
The other samurai mech in the new forcepack is almost worse. A 30 tonner with th...
yeah it's one of those many mechs that looks cool and stylized af but with a dogshit loadout. Nowadays I just kinda use BattleTech mechs with other 6mm mecha minis for other mech games that is miniature agnostic
Samurai Robot Battle Royale allows me to do fighting game chain combos with the custom melee weapons if I pushed my luck enough
hexed musk
A lot of the real funky later era machines come from the clixtech era which had radically different rules
They do not translate well to classic
rough parrot
They do *not* translate well to classic
well to be fair we have a lot of janky af mechs even before ClickyTech in Clan Invasion and 3025
cerulean jackal
CGR-1A1 charger had small lasers and a dream
hexed musk
My counter argument is that the lore generally acknowledged mechs like the charger, assassin, and cicada as the dog that they are
The Rokorukbi has a glorious alpha strike of 9 but is apparently a favored dueling machine of DCMS samurai and a vanguard machine in the invasion of New Avalon
cerulean jackal
Yeah even the 4th Succession War splat gave the CGR-1A5 charger that was 4/6 with an AC/20 instead of the 1A1
supple jetty
CGR-1A1 charger had small lasers and a dream
The 1A1 is actually really spooky if you tackle people with it
its not the worst/best chargebot by a long measure but its cheap and it hurts
cerulean jackal
Yeah it's right up there with the 4/6/0 BNC-3E Banshee for punching all day and partying all night except the 1A1 is 60% the BV cost
azure stream
The Rokorukbi has a glorious alpha strike of *9* but is apparently a favored due...
It kind of makes sense as a dueling machine. Duelists can agree on "First to n hits scored wins," and with the hardened armor you're extremely unlikely to accidentally kill the other guy. But putting it on the frontline is....yeah.
hexed musk
That point does make sense. All of its weapons do 2 damage to itself
That is... unlikely to cause a fatality.
lost parrot
Henlo so my gf got me into Mechwarrior recently and we've been playing through mw5 co-op lately
It's been v fun, so far i think the rifleman and Orion are my favorites
topaz yew
I love the rifleman
It's one of those Mechs that shine more in MechWarrior than the tabletop but I love it in both
lost parrot
Just being able to plink away with dual ac/5-bf's is so fun
And then ive got a hero Orion that's like, 3 large lasers, two srm-6 infernos and an lrm-5 for brawling with
Gf likes laser boats and usually lives in a crab or black knight
And my fiancé who were also playing with has stuck themselves into a Firestarter and never left it
indigo hinge
Some people find their spirit mech right away and will stick with that until the end.
My second will live and die by her Phoenix Hawk. Mostly live, when she dies, it's not until she's taken out at least ten times her tonnage.
lime fox
Trying to figure out the best setup for a starter lance
Currently thinking a varied lance to get people into the game (me included).
asl does anybody know good battletech content for tts?
indigo hinge
Battletech for TTS? Not sure how much that gets used, though perhaps for Alpha Strike.
Many players prefer MegaMek for playing BT digitally. It is specialised for BT, and can track and take care of a ton of things. It also has pretty much every 'mech design built in.
indigo hinge
Trying to figure out the best setup for a starter lance
Currently thinking a va...
For a starter lance, I'd look at the mechs in the AGOAC box. Mechs like the Locust, the Awesome, and the Wolverine are tried and true staples.
I've also had success introducing people to the game by playing Solaris style matches, duels or free-for-alls where everyone picks a 'mech in the same weight class, then adjusting the P/G a bit until they form a rough BV match.
lime fox
Many players prefer MegaMek for playing BT digitally. It is specialised for BT, ...
I kinda want to have to roll the dice myself to startr with
indigo hinge
That's fair! Then Roll20 might be a more convenient 2D option? Though chances are someone's made a TTS mod, yeah.
lime fox
I found some record sheets, but idk how to mark on them
lime fox
Does megamek have a 'mannual dice rolling' button?
like an option where you have to clci to roll
copper wind
it does not, it's all automated
lime fox
I,m not sure if megamek is ideal for firt time players
since the automation means they dont see most fo the setup
copper wind
it saves a lot of time looking up dice tables
I think it's a net gain even if you won't quite grasp what goes into a roll
cerulean jackal
MegaMek saves a huge amount of time with the automation
hexed musk
Finally I can play the dual LBX-20 Novacat without my opponent going "good game, I have errands to run now"
topaz yew
Trying to figure out the best setup for a starter lance
Currently thinking a va...
In my experience the best way to introduce players is with slower light and medium Mechs. The lower armor and damage keeps games a little shorter
hexed musk
My favorite move to introduce people is to give the new player a WVR-6M and often some introtech enforcer or hunchback. I take a SHD-2D and VND-1AA, and we all have 3/4 pilots.
What this does is that I have better long range but horrifically thinly armored mechs and they are encouraged to rush me, learning how to play the game interactively.
The WVR-6M will eat the two enemy mechs if it gets within 3
lime fox
lime fox
In my experience the best way to introduce players is with slower light and medi...
the agoac box has smth like that
only one mech is more than 50 tons, and its a catapault.
a mech is considered destroyed once u take out one leg/the gyro
eternal basin
Perfectly normal annihilator.
elder ridgeBOT
Yeah and about a locust more expencive then just getting two demolishers
hexed musk
Thats like 2 demolishers right?
And thats terrible!
indigo hinge
Okay but 4 Arrow IV nukes.
topaz yew
Casually committing war crimes are we?
indigo hinge
Gods forbid a girl has hobbies.
lime fox
Rules question
My catapault is at LOS level 3. The enemy is LOS level 2. Inbetween is some level 2 terrain, and two light woods hexes at level 0. Do we have LOS?
hexed musk
Yes
So this is a weird one: trees have to be equal to or taller than everyone in the equation to matter with one exception
If they're adjacent to either mech they count
Same with terrain: it would have to be at level 3 or at level 2 and next to the target
lime fox
Next one: does charging a unit affect a mechs ability to attack that same unit
hexed musk
I believe charging precludes your gun attacks for that round. Other people can shoot at both the charger and chargee
lime fox
if charger and chargee both have 5 piloting, then is the base roll 5?
hexed musk
yeah
It's a PSR with the difference in skill applied to the check
so as a skill 5 charger it'll always be 5+- something (and all the other effects too)
lime fox
Does the tile the unit is in count as intervening for the purpose of LOS blocking?
indigo hinge
For the attacker? No. For the target? Yes.
Being inside a tile will provide you the cover bonus, but will not hinder your own shooting.
hexed musk
It also doesn't count for the amount of obscuration needed to break LoS
So if you are in a heavy woods and there's a light woods between you and the shooter, they can still see you
If you were behind both tiles of trees, they could not.
elder ridgeBOT
indigo hinge
Yes, and they will both hit each others' side arcs.
hexed musk
Got back to painting again after a hiatus.
lime fox
honestly
I would love a grand strategy game where nuking the opponenets industruial base is an option.
But you end up running into succession war level issues where you no longer have enough to maintain your own forces.
rough parrot
Has anyone managed to get a tabletop campaign game going using Campaign Ops?
I am currently looking for advice on how to start one (probably solo for now)
indigo hinge
I've seen one or two people do it, but it's always been a mystery to me.
That grand strategy level sounds so appealing, and it's an itch I haven't yet managed to scratch.
copper wind
the grand strategy game that makes the most sense for battletech is crusader kings tbh
indigo hinge
prime spruce
oughh my dragons ouuugh
rough parrot
I've seen one or two people do it, but it's always been a mystery to me.
ngl
It's like Campaign Ops (and maybe BattleTech as a whole), I do hear and see a lot more about people talking about them than actually playing them
most peeps I see just play Alpha Strike
hexed musk
Really? My group heavily favors classic
indigo hinge
most peeps I see just play Alpha Strike
Oh I've never gotten AS. It doesn't do anything for me. I'm a hardcore CBT enjoyer.
On second thought... that's poor wording.
hexed musk
Wahahaha
Theres a reason people say Total Warfare instead
indigo hinge
But yeah, classic is where it's at for me, and I see more people playing it than AS.
rough parrot
Oh I've never gotten AS. It doesn't do anything for me. I'm a hardcore CBT enjoy...
I mean, same here
so the thing with me is
I am a miniature agnostic enjoyer, and I have games like GunFrame, Samurai Robots Battle Royale, and Mecha Bardagulan that does everything Alpha Strike does, and better
"ok, does Alpha Strike offer me space combat rules, transforming mechs, and combining mechs, and others? do they allow me to build a Drone/Funnel Carrier mech which something like a Nu Gundam?" and then they also allow me to like... pit BattleMechs against other mecha miniatures I have... BattleTech vs Heavy Gear... etc etc... like a Super Robot Wars scenario, and alongside combined arms. I am not much of a setting purist anyway.
while BattleTech Classic is something I usually imagine if people mentions BattleTech
rough parrot
But yeah, classic is where it's at for me, and I see more people playing it than...
but it's unfortunate is that maybe I just sit in an area where peeps don't play BattleTech much in general
indigo hinge
"ok, does Alpha Strike offer me space combat rules, transforming mechs, and comb...
I believe yes, yes, no, probably yes, to your first questions.
indigo hinge
but it's unfortunate is that maybe I just sit in an area where peeps don't play ...
I feel you. I'm in an area where people don't play tabletop games at all. I have to find friends to hold hostage.
rough parrot
I believe yes, yes, no, probably yes, to your first questions.
I mean Gundam-style space combat rules for mechs
not Aerospace Fighters or ships
I already took a look at several Alpha Strike mech cards.
and uh... it's barely anything there
as compared to... something like this that I made using GunFrame Unit Construction rules
mech launches 6 combat drones and swarms the enemy, and it can combines back into the Full Coat and Shard Sword
idk, I look at Alpha Strike and I don't see it having much of a chance. It doesn't even feel like a good giant robot game to make giant robot nerds happy. No giant robot customization.
while BattleTech Classic has its own niche that makes it stands out
rough parrot
but it's unfortunate is that maybe I just sit in an area where peeps don't play ...
another thing that fuels my grief is that I live in an area where people who likes to talk about BattleTech, but never really plays them.
they also tends to act like BattleTech don't have competition in the "giant robot tabletop skirmish wargame" department
quartz jasper
I will often argue that BattleTech doesn't actually have much direct competition. It's a very weird game built on very old bones and I struggle to think of something that really reaches for the same mechanical... depth sounds a bit too positive for what I mean, but depth that CBT has
There's plenty of mech skirmish games but none I've seen do the thing battletech does
rough parrot
I will often argue that BattleTech doesn't actually have much direct competition...
oh yeah I agree with that, but I am talking in the sense about Alpha Strike
BattleTech Classic, not going to lie
has a LOT of flaws, as much as I still like it
but the thing that if you are not playing using a campaign ruleset?
"balancing" just relies on what is basically honor rules
and anything outside of certain fanbase-approved playstyles and preferences (cough LAMs cough melee cough) will be met with grognardistic disdain
creativity is punished, and any mech that doesn't function like a slow clumsy trodding tank will be dismissed/banned. Mech customization? don't I even dare to bring that up, since they seeth and mald.
but the game system itself is very meticulously thought-out, but it's just the balancing that I have issues with
Alpha Strike on the other hand... I dunno who's it for
rough parrot
I will often argue that BattleTech doesn't actually have much direct competition...
the only game that rivals (or even surpasses) BattleTech in terms of mechanical detail
is Mekton Zeta
but it doesn't have a pvp skirmish format, only for RPG format
I like games where people are basically allowed to be creative without being punished for it
rough parrot
for example, I can't think of BattleTech even do something like this
I can flexibly build a funnel/drone user like in Gundam using GunFrame
while I can't push something like that or something else creative like in BattleTech. Although I do understand that BattleTech is ultimately not exactly a giant robot game
it's a Walking Tank game (something akin to Warthunder on the tabletop) that was built by military nerd Westerners who has a seething disdain for anime giant robots, which I get it.
BattleTech = Cold War armored warfare that just so happens to be wearing a robot costume it lisenced from a couple of Japanese companies
GunFrame and Mekton Zeta lets me do Gundam/Super Robot Wars stuff, while still letting me do the Military Walking Tank stuff, BT aggressively doesn't, and are very inflexible
and that's kinda their niche lies somewhere else
BattleTech also suffers from them being kinda like what DnD is to tabletop rpgs is to "giant robot wargame", I assumed that it is popular because that's what many people heard of it whenever they hear "giant robot" and "tabletop wargame" is in the same sentence. I keep hearing people keep talking about it as it is only the "correct" way to enjoy the concept of a giant robot tabletop game, which is clearly not the case. As much as a I like BattleTech.
for better or for worse
which is why I want games like uh
Ember: Obsidian Protocol, Gundam Assemble, and the other miniature agnostic games to become more successful
hell, there's also Heavy Gear, which I want it to be bigger. They are currently doing testing on the 4th edition of Blitz
indigo hinge
I mean Gundam-style space combat rules for mechs
I've been thinking about those. Possibly writing my own system (again). Perhaps something that takes into account the G-forces pilots are pulling when doing more extreme manoeuvres.
rough parrot
I've been thinking about those. Possibly writing my own system (again). Perhaps ...
that can be a good system
topaz yew
A little late to the convo but I also prefer Classic over Alpha Strike but I do will think that Aces is incredible and play that occasionally
hexed musk
Aces is really good
cerulean jackal
Alpha Strike's neat because it means you don't need a full afternoon to do anything bigger than star on star
hexed musk
I've stated it before but AS also feels a lot better with combined arms
Tanks and infantry and the like play noticeably different than mechs
cerulean valley
I love Classic's combined arms though.
At least in theory or using megamek.
hexed musk
Oh, I didnt mean that it was better than classic, TW's combined arms are great too
But it is better than mech-only AS.
short rose
🧬 We don't know about t being a walking tank game, like there are a lot of fast zippy mechs out there, and like 120~ KPG relay dose not feel like anythign clsoe to a walk
elder ridgeBOT
We don't know about t being a walking tank game, like there are a lot of fast zippy mechs out there, and like 120~ KPG relay dose not feel like anythign clsoe to a walk
hexed musk
~75 mph is ponderously slow for the general mech genre
'Walking tank' is also a declaration of mechanical intent just as Lancer's Mud and Lasers is imo
elder ridgeBOT
If we are going by mechanical intenst then Btech is a bear and prezals game
but like the mechanical intenst of Btech was somthing three publishers ago decied and everyone seince has worked wiht and changed. but like at it's core it's still Macross but amarican.
hexed musk
If we are going by mechanical intenst then Btech is a bear and prezals game
This feels like im getting dismissed here
elder ridgeBOT
Talking about mechanical intent for a game who's current edition predates the last few publishers with out bringing up what the orgonal publishers of that edition intended feels like it would be intentoanly lacking
But if you wanted to talk just on the marits of speed, most one year war mech's in gundam top out at 80-90~ KPH which makes them about a 6/8 in Btech and a GM masses 50-60 tonnes wich is fine for a heavy medium or a light heavy
hexed musk
Okay, so I will speak to the mechanics: unlike every game I can think of with any functional presence, BT focuses on mundane issues of armored war
cerulean valley
hexed musk
Armor location and direction, difficult positioning in tough terrain, and obscuring of enemies
cerulean valley
Also a Classic rules refresh (minor changes for the most part)
elder ridgeBOT
We herd the two crits to disable AC's got trough
cerulean valley
Are they gonna keep agoac around?
I think they probably will? Either that or release the contents as Inner Sphere packs.
No confirmation though
hexed musk
Okay yeah it doesn't say that its being replaced
There's also a link to the finalized new rules which I'll peep at lunch
elder ridgeBOT
And as for the rules, we understand whare your comming from, but also played a bit of historicals and Btech tends to lean more twords navel combat in mecanical feel more then tanks/combained arms. in our experince. but yeah none of those games had any real presance outside of flames of war
hexed musk
Pointing to even more deeply niche games to claim that a game that's only somewhat niche is totally casual doesn't feel fair
cerulean valley
Leg damage not reducing you to immobilization, Ammo Explosions are capped at 20 points, Component Explosions fixed to 2x Critical Slots (unless otherwise specified by equipment), UACs don't jam, all ACs get the two crits/innate armor.
Oh this is good.
hexed musk
Like, yes, BT is a casual game for beer and pretzel enjoyment but the mechanics of the game are encouraging a not grounded but more sluggish sort of mech combat than what people typically imagine
Much of gundam is zipping around with beam swords, lancer is lancer, and Armored core moves at Mach fuck
elder ridgeBOT
Part of that is just FASA pacing, it taking more then 60X as long to to a round IRL then the in game time always makes everythign feel slugish
hexed musk
Even if you move quick, and my group is pretty good at it now, a mech can take a while to be rendered inoperable.
You'll be at it for a while if you want to get to the rear of a Regent via the front
cerulean valley
If we are going by mechanical intenst then Btech is a bear and prezals game
It's been a long time since the gaming landscape was at a point where Classic Battletech really fits the "night of rolling dice over beer and pretzels" archetype of gaming.
elder ridgeBOT
That is true, but it was atill the mecahnical intent of the game when the curent edition of the game came out in 85
cerulean valley
And to be fair, the system grew a lot in the direction of simulationism compared to most other mainline sci-fi/fantasy wargames.
hexed musk
I dont think its fair to compare current mechanical intent and setting to what was set up 40 years ago
elder ridgeBOT
And also the GURPS levels of optional rules
hexed musk
Like, it might have been considered casual 40 years ago but now its maintained a much higher level of fidelity (for better or worse) than practically all of its compatriots
elder ridgeBOT
There has been minimal changes to the game over those past 40 years, FanPro and WizKids did not do much wiht CBT during there time, and this upcomming boxset is CGL's fist big rules refresh
D. Smoothly | Blink Anchored ↩️
hexed musk
I feel like we need three words for casual
- you play it with friends with beer for fun
- its built around noncompetitive rules
elder ridgeBOT
That would help a lot
hexed musk
- its easy to run and pick up
hexed musk
There has been minimal changes to the game over those past 40 years, FanPro and ...
Right, but everyone's moved on without it is my point
elder ridgeBOT
Right we are on the same page there
hexed musk
BT is 1 and 2 but not 3 from my experience
I get lots of friends to play it because all my friends are technical engineers
Its a hard sell to my friends who are into ttrpgs or often even 40k
Also not that im more awake and less combative, it can be walking tank themed and beer and pretzel themed
You only have to deal with like, engines heating up and coming to speed if you do advanced quirks
elder ridgeBOT
Oh yeah it sort of has the same reputation GURPS has, even if you aviod most of the optional rules if you just doing skermish. like the mobile strucutre rules are noce for a campain, or AToW but
cerulean valley
There has been minimal changes to the game over those past 40 years, FanPro and ...
imo, it's less about what it was when it was created. It's what it is in the current landscape. Back then it was simplified compared to higher detail simulationist wargames, it was a casual entry to the whole simulationist wargame genre. Now you're in an era where everything is sped up and easier to play and it's sitting at a point where it's no longer particularly casual.
elder ridgeBOT
Also we were also on the combative side and apolagize for that
D. Smoothly | Blink Anchored ↩️
hexed musk
I appreciate that. I hope i wasn't too crass either.
cerulean valley
Ooh, they rewrote the TacOps terrain rules for Fog, Foilage, Ice, Mud, and so on and put them into the core.
Along with Fire and Smoke
topaz yew
Here's the list of changes
not like the full rules but like a list of changes to expect
hexed musk
Awww skidding was actually pretty funny
My group might keep it
cerulean valley
Probably swapped over to advanced rules once we get those I'd imagine.
hexed musk
Thats likely
topaz yew
https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/624f7d41255eb00a78db9678/69bece50c9fedfcf70b0...
This is an ecclectic offering of mechs and I love every single one of them
The MW4 squad
cerulean valley
Given how the refreshes for Int Ops and TacOps went, I'm thinking/hoping they maintain the general trend of making older rule elements optionals.
hexed musk
Yeah this is a real goober mix but there are some freaky good mechs in there
cerulean valley
This is an ecclectic offering of mechs and I love every single one of them
Luv me Hollander
hexed musk
Regent and vulture 4 in particular are fucking mean
topaz yew
I've been playing a lot of Living Legends so seeing these guys with fresh models is so bizarre lol
cerulean valley
Regent and vulture 4 in particular are fucking mean
Interestingly it looks like that's the Regent A, so it basically replaced the Awesome in the AGoAC lineup
I love how there's some absolute cutting edge ClanTech alongside the Rakshasa and Hollander.
cerulean valley
From the artwork is also looks like one side has the Regent, Uziel, Vulture Mk4, and Hollander. Which means both the Mad Cat Mk2 and Raskshasa get to sit next to each other (which I find very funny)
topaz yew
Daniel and the Cooler Daniel (Rakshasa is the cooler daniel)
cerulean valley
Hammerhead and Kontio are very interesting choices for the starter box.
Especially given the last two starter boxes (outside the Essential set) had very similar mechs against each other.
topaz yew
Yeah the last one was, what, wolverine vs shadowhawk?
cerulean valley
Griffin vs Vindicator I think
topaz yew
Either way the Kontio has melee weapons which is interesting
I wonder if the quickstart rules will mention that or if there will be a new model without them for the box
hexed musk
Griffin and vindicator, yeah
topaz yew
This is what most interests me
its in the appendices so maybe this isn't much to get excited over but this seems like we could see new superheavies, tripods, and quads
Especially with this art at the back
cerulean jackal
200 tons and a dream
topaz yew
Heavy Gauss headshot moment
hexed musk
The superheavies show up a ton in the books for how little presence on the tables they have (probably due to their exorbitant metal prices)
cerulean valley
The Ares in particular has been showing up more recently and gotten new artwork. Pretty sure it'll show up in a box sooner or later.
indigo hinge
Perhaps a box of an Ares with some of those Celerity drones?
hexed musk
Okay, it looks like the starter set and the agoac box are getting phased out like the CI box already has been
But CGL promises that the mechs inside will get forcepacked to retain accessibility
Which is good because its the only place to get those griffin, thunderbolt, catapult and awesome sculpts, and they're the only places to get the wolverine, commando, vindicator, and battlemaster.
cerulean valley
Ah shame. I did like AGoAC's mechs and they're a fair bit more iconic.
Did CI get force packed?
hexed musk
Yeah
Gargoyle, grendel, puma, and elementals are unobtainum rn
Elementals being gone is really tough, ngl but they're supposed to be getting a much higher quality set soon
indigo hinge
My reinforced binary of Clan Burrock is done. Turns out I'm not cut out for batch painting at all, but we got through it in the end.
Units that perform noteworthy acts on the battlefield will receive unique freehands to tell their stories, such as these Elementals that rode a Dasher and killed a Bane on the first turn of the battle, or this Supernova that dismantled a Marauder so thoroughly that it left only a few points of structure left and the pilot on a single wound, all without taking any damage in return.
hexed musk
Hell yeah, I love giving extra details after a mech earns them
indigo hinge
Thanks. It's both a way to give them personality, and to stop myself from giving each of them freehands off the bat.
Turns out my brain hates batch painting and will fixate on details like cockpits and freehands to get a kick out of them.
quartz jasper
I remember the name castle brian but I can’t for the life of me remember what they do mechanically
hexed musk
For my smoke jaguars I only give them the set of black and white spots after they fight in glorious battle
I called it earning their spots
I think I might do something similar with my sword of light mechs
Draw cherry blossoms on them when they show a samurai's honor
indigo hinge
Oh yeah, that'll be a fun touch.
hexed musk
What was your color mix for the canopies?
indigo hinge
Let's see...
- Army Painter's Terrestrial Titan for the base.
- Citadel's Xereus Purple for the initial light.
- Citadel's Screamer Pink for the highlight.
- Vallejo's Pink for the final highlight/framing.
- Vallejo's White for the specular highlights.
I might use it for more 'mechs in the future, it has a nice depth to it.
Here's some more closeups.
hexed musk
Oooh
azure stream
https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/624f7d41255eb00a78db9678/69bece2b30d48ad8533a8a31_image6.png
Using the new and improved BattleTech(TM) Starter Box, you'll be able to dive in and learn about all the basics of BattleTech(TM), like:
Movement!
Ranged Attacks!
Melee Attacks!
Pilot Skill Rolls!
Pulse Lasers!
Claw Weapons!
Stealth Armor!
Triple Strength Myomer!
ECM (but only parts of it)!
Hardened Armor!
Streak Missiles!
AES (but only parts of it)!
And More Pulse Lasers!
All the bare essentials you should learn in your first game of BattleTech(TM)!
hexed musk
Lmao
Succ wars are over boys
verbal trout
The time of the Clans is now
cerulean valley
https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/624f7d41255eb00a78db9678/69bece2b30d48ad8533a...
To be fair it's also a Beginner/Starter box and all of those have so far used simplified rulesets. You can see the Record Sheet doesn't even track heat on it.
My bet is the first couple of scenarios use the standees for the Uziel and Solitaire first (with simplified loadouts), the Solitaire is listed as Solitaire 3, which doesn't exist yet. Then moves you up to the Hammerhead and Kontio with a tutorial on active and advanced systems being baked into the record sheet and simplified.
azure stream
To be fair it's also a Beginner/Starter box and all of those have so far used si...
Kontio card's got "First Mission" in red caps, so i'd bet on that being where they expect you to start. Which makes sense, no way even CGL would say "here's your two cool new mech models, but first we're going to learn on these cardboard standees!"
cerulean valley
Kontio card's got "First Mission" in red caps, so i'd bet on that being where th...
Ah. Hmm, I guess they'll start with a basic loadout and introduce equipment with each scenario
indigo hinge
Finished up my Gothic salvage lance today, including a little Gundam reference.
lime fox
Anybody here intrested in playing some CBT on TTS? I am open to whatever but am overall new to thegame
indigo hinge
Not really, most people that play CBT use MegaMek, it's a free purpose-built client.
lime fox
I'd be ok with that I think
lime fox
Anybody want to play some BF on MegaMek later today?
dire pecan
Really hope that CGL keeps the AGoAC minis in production and allows Fortress to sell them as loose
hexed musk
CGL has stated that the core minis will be repackaged in forcepacks, but we don't have a timeline
Inshallah I can get wolverines and vindicators in forcepacks
A "55 ton trio and vindicator too" would be a slam dunk pack
hexed musk
I would be very surprised if they did that at this point, even if it is more ethical
indigo hinge
Salvage boxes might be an option, but Catalyst gets kind of iffy about singles from what I can tell.
verbal trout
So, mechs
Should they move like tanks, like people, ...or like Chuck E. Cheese animatronics?
topaz yew
They should move like excavators
indigo hinge
Depends. If I headshot a mech in MW5, they move like a gmod character.
elder ridgeBOT
going by like some of the fiction they move like tokusatu actors in robots suits. But also most of the stuff we read was from the Era whare 'mechs backfliping was how like one author liked to have hotshots showing off.
elder ridgeBOT
that's the really old ones iirc
indigo hinge
Finished up the last 100 tons for tomorrow's intro fight.
azure stream
Should they move like tanks, like people, ...or like Chuck E. Cheese animatronic...
Because of the neurohelmet interface and myomer muscle system, a humanoid mech can pull off any movement that a human being can. Sprinting, rolling, jumping short distances, are all possible for mechs like the Shadow Hawk or the Black Knight.
The further you get from the humanoid design (Marauder, Goliath), the less nimble it's going to be because it's not a 1:1 mental connection to the pilot.
elder ridgeBOT
probably shouldn't be watching anyone's merc kickstarter unboxing but we are trying to live vicariously through people who have things and money
How does one improve fast enough so that there are still minis in one's collection to paint good?
hexed musk
My advice is to think about one thing you want to improve each mini
Maybe that's paint consistency, or brush control to make neater lines, or edge highlighting, or jeweling lasers and canopies
verbal trout
Treat each mini as a work of art
hexed musk
Look at your previous minis and really look at what you think you biffed and how you might improve it
verbal trout
Treat each mini as a work of art
take your time with each piece
hexed musk
I take hours per mech even on easier paint schemes
Finally, make sure to take advantage of "cheater" techniques like washes and drybrushing
And sponging
elder ridgeBOT
we're gonna need more minis at this rate
hexed musk
Eventually yes you do run out. I'm on something like my 100th painted goober
elder ridgeBOT
if only Force Packs weren't 25 each
at least
why can't Fortress restock loose minis yet
indigo hinge
How does one improve fast enough so that there are still minis in one's collecti...
By not forcing it, unfortunately. And by not being afraid to pick up a mini and repaint it if you think you can do better.
I like to pick up mechs individually and add fun touches to their scheme. My first company of mercs is all flying circus style. Even my second company has a lot of varied schemes.
elder ridgeBOT
I do wish to say that my room is pretty damn small so it's not like I can have paint stuff out for a long time
cerulean valley
Should they move like tanks, like people, ...or like Chuck E. Cheese animatronic...
They're generally more agile and mobile than the video games depict. I think I've heard their mobility described as a human in plate armor.
We know their control systems are throttle, joysticks, and pedals. Along with the neurohelm that provides balance and context to the input computer. So human range of motion but more repetitive movements.
The books do often also describe them taking cover, dropping to one knee, sprinting, and evading, along with pilots using a pair of gloves to control the hands.
lime fox
Some of the earlier books do have them doing stuff like straight up rolling, which is definitly NOT a thing
indigo hinge
The Locust I kicked with my assault 'mech says otherwise. That thing rolled alright.
azure stream
I remembered: climbing is another thing humanoid mechs can do.
cerulean valley
Yeah, there's even rules for it and it checks if you have functioning hands
lime fox
I feel like a lot of the BT advanced rules are '90% of the ruels are used 10% of the time'
hexed musk
Yep.
cerulean valley
You get to use the advanced rules? I always thought that they're just theoreticals for extreme edge cases that won't ever arise.
I still find it very amusing how detonating a nuke has a 4 page long step by step process.
That ends with a roll on the "Consequences of WMD use table" to see if your officer gets court martialed.
I feel like that level of detail just summarizes the experience of Battletech's advanced rules.
indigo hinge
You get to use the advanced rules? I always thought that they're just theoretica...
The point of the advanced rules is that you can always use them, as long as your opponent agrees. Want to shake things up a bit for your next game? Why not play in an active hurricane?
cerulean valley
I do use them on the rare occasions I get to play Classic. Just poking fun at how all encompassing some get.
I've ended up playing more Alpha Strike recently now that Aces is out. The decks are pretty good. Got my Regent almost engine-killed from one turn of being exposed.
hexed musk
Hey kids, want to lose all your friends? I present to you: The Taranis Battle Armor. Use some piece of shit taxi to get them in the enemy lines turn 2 and then laugh as they never get a shot better than +5 if they're in the lightest cover.
https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Taranis
Seriously though, do not play these in friendly games.
topaz yew
Oh so you just dump them in a ditch than they get to blast everyone that walks by with medium lasers
Spooky
azure stream
Absolutely Dezgra Behavior
marble olive
saturday night fun !
lime fox
Does anybody want to play some BT with me sometime?
I have megamek and have only played once before, but Id be up for it
elder ridgeBOT
Yeah we could be up for that
lime fox
when would ue be available?
lime fox
Yeah we could be up for that
I'd probably be ready sometime this sunday
lime fox
Any prefernce on lance size/bp?
elder ridgeBOT
sorry for taking so long discord is being annoying on my computer. But Sunday works for us and 3-5k bv?
lime fox
sorry for taking so long discord is being annoying on my computer. But Sunday w...
4k sounds good
any pref on tech level/restrictions?
elder ridgeBOT
We are a bit rusty so 3067 cut off and standard rules with carful stand?
lime fox
sounds good, I have less than 1 game under my belt lol
carful? not familiar with that
would we be using mechs only or other stuff too?
elder ridgeBOT
It lets you use all your movement for a -6 to your piloting roll to stand
and lets keep it to mechs and tanks
lime fox
oki
havent really tried tanks b4, what makes them different?
elder ridgeBOT
they are sort thease weird armourd baloons, every location has a fatale crit on the crit table and they have 2-3 TAC slots on there hit table by facing
they cant melee other then ramming (charging) they dont fall when they skid and as long as they dont crash can recover from it and keep moving, difeirnt motive types suffer to varing degrees moving over anything that is not flat
Oh and they dont have heat tracks so they can't over heat but flamers just do damage to them
copper wind
if you want to use them I highly recommend ticking the option for enhanced vehicle rules
to make them explode less fast
lime fox
if you want to use them I highly recommend ticking the option for enhanced vehic...
which book is that in?
copper wind
tacops I'm fairly sure
hexed musk
Vehicles tend to be slow and very easy to cripple compared to a mech but they carry inordinate firepower for their weight and BV.
Hovercraft and VTOLs can be nearly unbeatable unless the opponent brings the right counterweapons, but tanks are hit or miss.
shrewd plover
I keep wanting to pull off traditional combined arms
lime fox
What time would work for u?
elder ridgeBOT
mid to late afternoon Eastern is good but if it works better for your time zone i can do later
lime fox
I live in the uk, so 3pm est means we can get at least 2 hours in
elder ridgeBOT
OK
elder ridgeBOT
3 works a lot better for us
lime fox
sounds good
lime fox
idk how to do multiplayer megamek tho, you'll have to guide me thru it
elder ridgeBOT
😅 Hopefully we remember every thing it's been a few years
verbal trout
So, I'm seriously considering getting a printer to make some squishes for BT.
And would kit like this exist at the same with this?
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-modern-nato-infantry-alternate-style-squad-15mm-694025
verbal trout
marble olive
ohthe ones i got were 6mm
verbal trout
How small are infantry in BT?
indigo hinge
6mm.
verbal trout
That's tiny
lime fox
😅 Hopefully we remember every thing it's been a few years
ready to start?
elder ridgeBOT
Yep just give me a minute to make sure i got everything set up in MegaMek
And wich voice chat do you want to use?
elder ridgeBOT
IPSN it is
marble olive
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-sci-fi-expeditionary-drop-troops-s...
i got these ones and can recomend
verbal trout
Oh hey, Panthera.
indigo hinge
That's tiny
Tiny? That's massive.
indigo hinge
Some quick fun with colour shifts.
marble olive
ohhh 3d printed mechs
indigo hinge
Yeah, I had a lance of them laying around and wasn't doing anything with them. I've learnt that they don't feel as good to paint as the models that were designed to be miniatures.
I suppose there's a lesson in there for my own designs as well.
hexed musk
I agree with that, I've done 3d prints and the catalyst ones just feel better to paint. Hard to say why.
azure stream
The CGL ones are designed to be easy to paint: a lot of greebling to catch drybrush/speedpaints. The 3D prints generally don't have that, but have a bunch of large, flat areas that are harder to work with.
hexed musk
That supports what I sort of suspected myself.
Lots of vents and heatsink ridges to add those greebles yeah
indigo hinge
Furthermore, the 3D printed panel lines are less pronounced, edges are beveled in such a way that they become awkward to highlight, and the composition as a whole tends to be different.
hexed musk
All of this shows how much artistry is hidden in a lot of the things we take for granted.
indigo hinge
Exaggerating those vents and such seems like an important thing, I've encountered the same problem on a number of designs I've done for MECHCOM.
The Blackhawk's leg vents here just kind of... vanish, and the entire leg shape just feels bad to highlight. I need to be bolder in my modeling.
I've started redesigning them, including more dynamic poses and sharper details. Lot less undercuts, too.
marble olive
some reinforcements arrived today for my IS mercenary group ! the group got a shadow hawk, a catapult K and for ilkhan stuff, the regent
hexed musk
some reinforcements arrived today for my IS mercenary group ! the group got a sh...
This scheme rocks btw
marble olive
thanks ! i do need to add some more heavy and light mechs for this force
marble olive
for heavy mechs i'm thinking a 3d printer marrauder one (love the PGI desing for it) black knight, and maybe another warhammer, the blackknight is a mech i'm looking and seeing it play and going "hmmm this mech needs some skill
indigo hinge
The Black Knight is neat.
marble olive
its a nice mech, the issue is my funny ass resisitng not using the ppc and just the large lasers
indigo hinge
Do it. A little heat never killed a pilot.
marble olive
could also use a non mechwarrior 5 mech....
hexed musk
Sometimes you get a good action shot of a game
marble olive
urgh the urge for a 3d printer is greatr
marble olive
i bought it 😄
what to do with the cappelan macs is something to think about later, for in this house we stand with the first prince
elder ridgeBOT
First trial is complete. Definitely not perfect but we’re still learning
elder ridgeBOT
Woah, a JägerMech!
marble olive
i think the AC2s for 3d printing are always risky