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I have an sudden desire to do some mech-gaming, but I want something faster and more playable than Battletech (no disrespect to Battletech, I just don't care for the pace of the game). Are there any good alternatives out there? In my head I have this crazy idea of a game that's essentially Flames of War plus Mechs, and I was wondering if there was anything out there that fit the bill.

There's a bunch of alt-WWII games out there, and many have some sort of big walker units. Dust is one I can think of off the top of my head.

However, for something in scale with FoW, look at Gear Krieg. The link I used is for Agis' version, which was first for Mongoose's World at War, but is being redone for Agis' own Victory Decision rules.

(Bias note: I do web work for dp9, who originally created Gear Krieg and still sells a bunch of older GK books, as wella s the current minis line.)

There's 15mm minis (for the mecha: use your choice for troops from Battlefront, PSC, etc.). and I think the rules are written to accoomadate multiple different basing options (so you can re-use a FoW army without needing to rebase).

I had forgotten about Gear Krieg . Thanks, I'll check into it and see if it doesn't scratch the itch.

The version I linked to is Agis's baby so I know nothing about the mechanics, but it's a relatively 'down to earth' take on the setting, I believe.

Battletech also has a version called "Quick Strike." It is in the book "Strategic Operations."

You can get a couple COMPANIES on a side done in a couple hours.

It compares a little more to Reaper's CAV than it does Battletech. But it is fun, based off the old BattleForce rules.

You can print sheets off using Solaris Skunk Werks (it's free!)

(Bias Note: I am a Catalyst Battletech Demo Agent, and want you to keep playing Battletech in some form.)

Heavy Gear Blitz!

http://www.dp9.com/

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Wardogs

http://www.mj12games.com/wardogs/

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Quantum legions Vanguard

http://www.mj12games.com/quantumlegions/mjg1401.html

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Mekton Z and Mekton Z+

http://www.talsorian.com//talsorian/NEWWEBSITE/MektonPage.html

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Lightning Strike (kind of a Gundam clone, see also Jovian Chronicles rpg w/ tactical rules)

http://www.dp9.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=109

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Gear Krieg -OLD (A 15mm Weird War 2 robot games compatible loosely with Flames of War, w/ one 1/56 (28mm) model available from company B)

http://store.dp9.com/index.php?cPath=38&osCsid=c604482b549ade3ac2ba1bf5981981e4

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Gear Krieg: World at War ( a new version of the Gear Krieg WWW2 game based on Mongoose's Battlefield Evolution rules, requires Battlefield Evolution World at War rules)

A.D. Publishing (I couldn't find a direct link but the usual PDF places like rpg drivethru have it, and DP9 apparently sells it)

http://www.dp9.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=165:world-at-war-gear-krieg&catid=77:gear-krieg&Itemid=169

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Nuts: War Without End (a werid WW2 supplement for the Nuts! WW2 rules from Two Hour Wargames, makers of the chain reaction ruleset. Has some solo play rules.)

http://www.twohourwargames.com/warwiendwewa.html

Here's a free sample version of the basic chain reaction fire arms rules to see if you like them:

http://www.twohourwargames.com/chainreaction3.html

Also consider other WW2 games with robots and power suits like Shadows of the Third Reich/Incursion by Westwind games, and the now semi-defunct AE WW2 by Darkson Designs. Both HAVE robots but are not necessarily based on robots. Google them.

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Warmachine/Hordes (not a pure mech game, but has super powered steam punk robots and large battle monsters in a warbands type tabletop combat game with a collector card game like structure to the magic and effects of the figures, and basic mechanics loosely based on Mage-knight and other clicky games )

http://privateerpress.com/

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Infinity (kind of an interplanetary skirmish game based in a Masamune Shirow type J-cyber-punk world this game requires small warbands of figures and has several robots as model choices.It's not a pure robot game but has robots and cool looking future armor in it. )

http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/en/

Take a look at Mech Attack by Armor Grid Games. You can learn the rules in about 5min, it has a nice, fast system to build any kind of mech you like (our group uses Mechwarrior Clix figs) and plays very, very fast. Best of all, it's probably the least expensive rules set of anything anyone has mentioned yet (I spent $15 for rules, terrain rules/printable hills/trees and a printable mech/vehicle/infantry pack.)

Hey, a friend just pointed me over here to this thread. On March 1, I'll fire up a Kickstarter for Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack, the new edition of Vincent Baker's Mechaton.



The game is most heavily inspired by VOTOMS, Macross, and other Real Robot anime.

Most games are played with asymmetrical teams, with the difficulty of your objectives based on the size and materiel of your team, which means that your company of 7 and mine of 4 are on even footing. The game is designed to be easy to pick up and relies primarily on tactical decisions, not rules knowledge. That means it's easy to play with your friends who haven't played before, too. In my experience, players figure out the basics of how to play after about two moves. Which isn't to say they know what to do, of course. That's where it's fun to really get better.

Wanna see some great stuff? Check out the Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack Flickr group. There are some amazing robots in there.

Now, here's a block of cheese.

A couple other options worth considering. All of the below will accomadate mechs vehicles and infantry.

Mech Attack. As Sarcastro says, it's cheap, easy to learn, fast playing and really fun, and can be used with virtually any line of mech miniatures. I've played it quite a bit and had a very good time. Currently on sale for about 6 bucks, the 4 dollar "terrain Pack" provides just enough additional rules to be worth buying.
http://www.wargamevault.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=3148

CAV. A great line of miniatures from reaper. http://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/CAV:%20Strike%20Operations/latest

The rules come in 3 flavors.
-CAV: Strike Operations. Currently in Beta Testing. Available for free in the Reaper forums, but reportedly doesn't play much faster than Battletech.
http://www.reapermini.com/forum/index.php?/topic/43593-cso-11-26-2011/

-Cav: 2. This version reportedly plays well, and is also a free download, but was never avaialble in a paper version.
http://www.reapermini.com/pdf/CAV_2_v1_1.pdf

-Cav1. The original version. Technically OOP, but T&T has the rulebook and the two journals of recognition (Tech Readouts) for 99cents each (shipping for 3 books is about 5 bucks). I've not played it, but I'm currenlty reading through the rules and it seems like a very elegant system that should play much faster than BT.
http://www.trollandtoad.com/D&D-&-RPGs/2193-922-5209.html
http://www.trollandtoad.com/p150628.html
The books are a good read for mech fans whether or not they ever play the game.

My advice would be to pick up Mech Attack and CAV1. It's $18 bucks well spent that will give you two very nice mech games at simple and Moderate levels of complexity respecitvely.