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No, it is not a boardgame.

My definition of a boardgame being that the BOARD determines the way miniatures move and determine LOS, usually through the use of squares, hexes, or "rooms" that indicate a movement point. I do not know of any boardgame where I need a ruler to measure out my moves.

Space Hulk, for instance, is a boardgame. You have clearly defined movement squares which show how a miniature moves and LOS.

By my definition, this means that any game that uses a hex map, I would consider to be a boardgame. SFB, B5Wars, Heavy Gear Tactical, as examples, would be considered board games.

AT-43 you can play without the tiles. But more to prove my definition, the tiles/posters do NOT determine how a minature must move. The tiles also do not determine LOS for me.

How would you describe the difference inherent to most tabletop wargames, i.e. the "free play" or "free form" setup they support with the rules design, versus what AT-43 provides, in terms of genres of games?

I do not see a difference. I have never seen a difference. And it is why I am not having as much of a problem with the game in this respect as you are.

Or one ruleset designed around this sort of freedom and another ruleset confined to the aforementioned strictness of table setup?

I do not see AT-43 having "this aforementioned strictness". I see you misinterpretting it as being strict. And this is where I am going to agree that we disagree with this issue.

I've been thinking about it, and it's curious to classify games by their movement rules, i.e. on set spaces or "freely." I'm not sure I really see much difference between a BattleMech's movement on a hex-field map or a BattleMech's movement using miniatures on a regular table. The actual movement doesn't really change all that much...you still need to change facings and pay for the movement, for example. And your Marauder is likely going to move to precisely the same spot it would have in that same tactical situation presented on either hex-fields or an open table.

Actually, that is not true at all. With a hex map game you cannot make a true 90 degree turn and then move forward X inches. You can only make a 45 degree turn and then zig zag along that line of axis. You will end up a few (more than likely half) hexes short of the same distance.

The same goes with a square/grid based game. You cannot make a true 45 degree turn and move. you either have to spend 1.5 movement points or move forward, sidestep, move forward sidestep.

A tabletop game you can make anywhere between a 0-360 degree turn and not lose movement afterwards.

Do you really think that the difference between a boardgame and a tabletop wargame is defined mostly by how the playing pieces move? If the mostly isn't meant by you then I apologize, that's just how it comes across.

No. I am trying to figure out where a tabletop and a boardgame may be considered the same thing and "draw the line". Your argument as I understand it is that AT-43 needs tiles and is hence a boardgame. I say the tiles do not define movement and therefore not a boardgame AND you do not need the tiles to play, hence not a boardgame.

I would argue, first, that you do need the tiles and posters and official AT-43 terrain to play AT-43. As a product, AT-43 is fairly defined as what is published and sold officially by Rackham Entertainment, and nought else.

And again I will say that here I will agree that we disagree.

On packaging... when you buy the game you buy... The AT-43 Rule Book, your army book, and then your miniatures! You do not buy posters or tiles. The missions in the rulebook does not use the posters or tiles. Hence... NOT A BOARDGAME or packaged as a boardgame!

Packaging wise, I would say you are confusing AT-43 with the Operation: Damocles Initiation Set which is like comparing Space Hulk to WH 40K.

I would also like to add that the back of the poster is open ground. No walls! and are used in 4 of the 12 missions in Operation: Damocles (not the initiation book) and 4 of the 12 posted missions use the blank table. So we are looking at about a 1/3 mission ratio that do not require tiles or posters.

Now, you and I can agree to disagree till the universe ends that the missions presented are strictly represented or guidelines for setup. But the fact is that those two missions without maps have suggestions (or strict guidelines in your opinion) on how to place terrain.

And I also noticed this wording:

Pg 84 AT-43 Rulebook

All sorts of obstacles provide cover to the fighters and hinder their advance. Scenery Elements (low walls, containers, CUSTOMIZED TERRAIN ELEMENTS , etc.) can be used to represent this.

** I went a little off topic there. But anyway my point is, can we stop this useless banter over semantics and do something more constructive. Like a battle report or something

I am starting to think that Cairnius is only doing this only to promote his "AT-43 Mission Generator" just like he wanted to do his own "AT-43 Rulebook 1.5"