I think my next BattleTech campaign will start in 3025 and run in real time.  That way I don't have to deal with the Clan story line for the next 25 years.  :-)

Quote from: zircher on May 29, 2024, 01:12:35 AMI think my next BattleTech campaign will start in 3025 and run in real time.  That way I don't have to deal with the Clan story line for the next 25 years.  :-)

If you're going for real time, make sure to play out the weeks (or even months) it takes to transit from one star system to another.

Here are two games that are BattleTech clones, but not actually BattleTech products. 

MachaForce.  Basically, BattleTech without hit locations.  There are four weight classes.  There are jump jets.  Weapons are energy based, cannons, and missiles, each having a big and small version of the type, and a small flamethrower tacked on as a 7th weapon. Moving and shooting build up heat, and you use heat sinks to get rid of that heat.  The game plays in four phases;  Movement, shooting, melee, and finally heat phase.

And you can build a custom mech. There are also stats for a tank, attack helicopter, and infantry.

The rule book is only 8 pages long and only cost $2 for the PDF.

It's a BattleTech clone if there ever was one. 

Wargame Vault Link to MechaForce

The other one is called C.O.R.E. Mech Warfare.  This one is more like Gundam, and suggests that you use 144:1 scale Japanese plastic model kits.  That's the scale of the basic "HG" Gundam model kits.

Try it for free.  There is a free demo set of rules. 

Gameplay, there are three sizes of mechs, each class has a dice you roll to generate energy for your turn, then you spend the energy to move and attack. 

It's a Gundam game.  Don't let the AI art of the rule book fool you. 

Quote from: weirdguy564 on June 13, 2024, 06:17:33 PMHere are two games that are BattleTech clones, but not actually BattleTech products. 

MachaForce.  Basically, BattleTech without hit locations.  There are four weight classes.  There are jump jets.  Weapons are energy based, cannons, and missiles, each having a big and small version of the type, and a small flamethrower tacked on as a 7th weapon. Moving and shooting build up heat, and you use heat sinks to get rid of that heat.  The game plays in four phases;  Movement, shooting, melee, and finally heat phase.

And you can build a custom mech. There are also stats for a tank, attack helicopter, and infantry.

The rule book is only 8 pages long and only cost $2 for the PDF.

It's a BattleTech clone if there ever was one. 

Wargame Vault Link to MechaForce

The other one is called C.O.R.E. Mech Warfare.  This one is more like Gundam, and suggests that you use 144:1 scale Japanese plastic model kits.  That's the scale of the basic "HG" Gundam model kits.

Try it for free.  There is a free demo set of rules. 

Gameplay, there are three sizes of mechs, each class has a dice you roll to generate energy for your turn, then you spend the energy to move and attack. 

It's a Gundam game.  Don't let the AI art of the rule book fool you. 

MechaForce (or is it MachaForce?) sounds really limited compared to even a BattleTech starter set. It sounds like it gets the feel right, but there just doesn't sound like it has enough to it to keep it on the table for long.

If the other game is a "Gundam" game, then it's not going to play/feel much like BattleTech (IMO).

It's copycat games, or download older rule books. 

I just got my favorite rule book recently.  BattleTech Compendium. 

I even like the Aerospace fighter rules. 

Quote from: weirdguy564 on June 14, 2024, 05:56:34 PMIt's copycat games, or download older rule books. 

I just got my favorite rule book recently.  BattleTech Compendium. 

I even like the Aerospace fighter rules. 

Why "older" rulebooks when even the "current" rulebook (Total Warfare) is 18 years old?

Make a new game?

Quote from: HappyDaze on June 15, 2024, 12:27:04 AM

Quote from: weirdguy564 on June 14, 2024, 05:56:34 PMIt's copycat games, or download older rule books. 

I just got my favorite rule book recently.  BattleTech Compendium. 

I even like the Aerospace fighter rules. 

Why "older" rulebooks when even the "current" rulebook (Total Warfare) is 18 years old?

Because of the AeroTech rules, and the lack of bloat from all the super weapons.  I mean we have a Heavy Medium laser now.  To me that means we've lost the plot. I don't like all of that.

AeroTech in the Compendium had a chart of acrobatic maneuvers.  That was a good idea I liked. 

Even then, I still prefer just the introductory rules or Alpha Strike.  Alpha Strike is really all I have time to play, and my son can play too.  He is only six.

Back when my son was young, I made a fast kill version of BTech for him and his friends.  Basically I simplified the sheet and changed weapon damage so that every five points was 1d6.  This created a version with more 'fun' dice rolling and let the players run several mechs in case one of theirs got taken out.  It went over very well with the boys running several lances together against a GM controlled combined arms force at a factory.

Panther PNT-9R            35 tons
               
Walk    4    SRM4      OOOOO OOOOO   
Run     6              OOOOO OOOOO   
Jump    4              OOOOO   
Heat    13           
               
              Head       
              O cockpit       
R. Arm        O sensors      L. Arm
O destroyed   OO             O destroyed
O servos                     O servos
O PPC         Torso          OOO
OO            O explosion       
              O engine       
R. Leg        O gyro         L. Leg
O destroyed   O engine       O destroyed
O servos      O SRM4         O servos
O jump 2      OOOOO          O jump 2
OOOO          OO             OOOO


Quote from: weirdguy564 on June 17, 2024, 10:50:34 AM

Quote from: HappyDaze on June 15, 2024, 12:27:04 AM

Quote from: weirdguy564 on June 14, 2024, 05:56:34 PMIt's copycat games, or download older rule books. 

I just got my favorite rule book recently.  BattleTech Compendium. 

I even like the Aerospace fighter rules. 

Why "older" rulebooks when even the "current" rulebook (Total Warfare) is 18 years old?

Because of the AeroTech rules, and the lack of bloat from all the super weapons.  I mean we have a Heavy Medium laser now.  To me that means we've lost the plot. I don't like all of that.

AeroTech in the Compendium had a chart of acrobatic maneuvers.  That was a good idea I liked. 

Even then, I still prefer just the introductory rules or Alpha Strike.  Alpha Strike is really all I have time to play, and my son can play too.  He is only six.

Now? The Heavy Lasers (including the Heavy Medium Laser you mentioned) have been around since 1998. It is not a "super weapon" in any way.

You want a simplified game, then sticking to Alpha Strike will keep you in your comfort zone. Of course, it includes mechs with heavy lasers, but the effects are abstracted like all other weapons.

I don't even like the Clans.  I prefer 3025.

I would like combined arms with infantry and tanks. 

MechaForce seems like a good compromise.

I'll also give Renegade Legion Centurion a go as well, though it's another universe from FASA. 

Quote from: weirdguy564 on June 18, 2024, 10:31:38 AMI don't even like the Clans.  I prefer 3025.

I would like combined arms with infantry and tanks. 

MechaForce seems like a good compromise.

I'll also give Renegade Legion Centurion a go as well, though it's another universe from FASA. 

My joke about Renegade Legion is that someone at FASA looked at the rules for Battletech and said "That's for babies!"

Great universe, great system, crunchy as hell.

Quote from: Ratman_tf on June 24, 2024, 05:59:09 PM

Quote from: weirdguy564 on June 18, 2024, 10:31:38 AMI don't even like the Clans.  I prefer 3025.

I would like combined arms with infantry and tanks. 

MechaForce seems like a good compromise.

I'll also give Renegade Legion Centurion a go as well, though it's another universe from FASA. 

My joke about Renegade Legion is that someone at FASA looked at the rules for Battletech and said "That's for babies!"

Great universe, great system, crunchy as hell.

I enjoyed Centurion, but their other products not so much. I remember the damage chart for Interceptor looking like an electrician's diagram turned into a flow chart and just shaking my head.

I really loved SSI's original take on Interceptor.  They kept all the tactical fun but automated/hid the (very faithful) mechanics  of the game.  Played multiple campaigns as Renegade and TOG.  Jacob's Star was just... ick... an attempt to catch some of Wing Commander's audience.

The current incarnation of FASA's Aetherstream: Interceptor has a lot of that RL:I spirit, but they switched from a flow chart to a dice pool system.  It does result in faster more 'modern' play.  Shame that the rights to the original setting are buried in a swamp.

I just bought this used off Amazon this past week.  It's the original all-in-one BattleTech rule book that combined BattleTech with CityTech and with AeroTech.

BattleTech The Rules of Warfare

This is the original game without Clan technology, but has infantry, tanks, and AeroTech. 

I see nothing wrong with wanting a trimmed down rule book that is not full of gadgets and gizmos that I'll never use. 

Also, I like this version of AeroTech as it's the only version I actually have played. 

That being said, what I actually want is a rule book for Alpha Strike that is just Inner Sphere set in 3025.  Again, ditch all the rules for weird stuff like protomechs, c3 networks, alternate Autocannon ammo types, etc. 

It's kind of why I like MechaForce.  It's a good halfway point between BattleTech and Alpha Strike.