Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

i think that im going to be picking up battletech alpha strike for my 10 year old son for christmas and i was hoping that some of the bt fans on here could tell me if there are any mech "starter sets" or if i have to buy them all individually?
i figured alpha strike would be a good starting point since it sounds a little less complicated than standard bt and personally i was never a fan of hex play.

whats the best source for tech building these days? i thought maybe the dropzone commander building sets but i havent really checked them out yet.

any opinions?

you could look up ironwind they produce the metals for catalyst they do lance packs or you could look for the old wolf and dragon packs that came out with the introductory set but catalyst are reissuing the intro box with better plastics says an autumn 2013 release but that could change hope this helps

thanks dekinrie. i saw those lance packs a few seconds ago.
i cant believe how hard of a time im having finding out what mechs are listed in alpha strike.

i was hoping some of you have tried it for a review.

Have you tried drive thru rpg they give some previews for the book im not sure about reviews I think that alpha strike you should be able to use any mech look for record sheets for alpha strike catalyst usually have them as free download.

i tried but they tell you to reference something called the master unit list?
i checked it out but im having trouble sorting it out at the moment,

For Alpha Strike (which I've been thinking of getting, at some unspecified point in the future) the Alpha Strike data cards should be findable at

http://www.masterunitlist.info/

Where they seem to have appended them to each unit listing at the bottom. Search for the Mechs you're interested in, and see if they have a data card e.g.

http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Card/1985?skill=4
http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Card/332?skill=4

amazing... thank you so much graphite.
ive never scrolled to the extreme bottom of the entry... doh!

thanks so much.

No problem, let us know how the big stompy mech games go!

can any of you tell me if the cityscape terrain from dropzone commander will scale well woth battletech?
the fold up city in a box is pretty nice looking.

actually i think i found some pics and it looks like it would scale well but i would love a confirmation.

Dropzone is 10mm, and Battletech is 6mm, so the buildings would be out of scale and these mech, but it might not make a difference.

Question for the thread, is there a battletech game that doesn't run on a hexmap?

I've only ever seen battletech on hex map, but I'm not an expert in BT. Maybe the clicks version is square map?

 kronk wrote:
I've only ever seen battletech on hex map, but I'm not an expert in BT. Maybe the clicks version is square map?

I'd actually prefer something like bt minis (or mechs for that matter), but on a board similar to the one that the OP linked for Dropzone Commander. I lurve me some mechs, but hex maps seem really slow paced and boring. I blame Gundam Wing in my formative years.

battletech alpha strike is designed for the tabletop and not hexes.
this is what i was thinking of trying.
its also a streamlined version of the game.

Battletech can be run on terrain rather than a hex map. The typical conversion for movement and weapons ranges is 1" = 1 hex, though some people change that to 2" = 1 hex depending on the size of the game table being used. Most games are rather short ranged unless you bring things like artillery into the fold (not something I'd recommend for beginning players).

I haven't tried Alpha Strike yet, but from what I read it is a great abstraction of the original game that gives you the fun of the original game without all of the record keeping.

 Alfndrate wrote:
is there a battletech game that doesn't run on a hexmap?

The new Alpha Strike book.

 Alfndrate wrote:
Dropzone is 10mm, and Battletech is 6mm, so the buildings would be out of scale and these mech, but it might not make a difference.

Question for the thread, is there a battletech game that doesn't run on a hexmap?

Most versions of the game have also had a miniatures rules option where it's more like 40k or similar with measuring with a tape, etc.

Alpha Strike doesn't come with any miniatures.

The DZC map would work reasonably well. Height of the buildings is more important than where the windows are drawn.

The Battletech Introductory Box Set comes with 24 minis. They aren't of super-awesome quality, but it is 24 minis for cheap.

Alpha Strike is run on terrain, but both Battletech and Alpha Strike can be run on hexed or non-hexed terrain.

If you want more 'Mechs, people will often be unloading them on Bartertown, or even in the Swap Shop on occasion.

Welcome to Battletech. Alpha Strike is pretty damn awesome, and I've been playing Battletech for 20 years. Standard version is slower paced, but nicely detailed, and can be as complex as you want it to be. But works better at small scales. Alpha Strike lets you throw out DOZENS of units per SIDE, and still get a game done in a couple hours. Due to the simplification, units that are CRAP in standard Battletech can still be used Alpha Strike, which is nice.

I'll just echo the suggestion of getting the Intro box when it is released. It's actually 26 minis because in addition to the 24 basic plastic, there's two high-quality plastic mechs included. It also has basic BT rules in case they want to try somethign more complex, hex maps, which can be used with the hex-rules in alpha strike, and a neat booklet about the history of the inner sphere.

Trolling Bartertown, ebay wargame conventions and other locales for used mechs is a good way to build a force. They have been making battlemechs for a long time so there are alot of used ones out there.

If you don't mind going generic, the EM4 Mechs scale up correctly, are great stand-ins for BT mech and are only about a buck each. They're also great for kitbashes
http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/Science_Fiction.html
A nice review of them here:
http://www.reviewingwargames.com/wargamereviews/em4steel.html
A few of my mods
http://chicagoskirmish.blogspot.com/2013/02/from-workbench-converted-plastic-mechs.html
EM4 is also a nice source for 30mm lipped hex bases that make the Battletech Starter mechs (who are mostly cast with irregular small hexes) look much better
http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/MINIAATURES_BASES.html

As for the cards from the Master Unit List, they are great. They work best when printed and put into card sleeves.
Simply...
-Copy the picture, paste into your favorite draw or presentation program (landscape orientation).
-Then resize each card to 3.5x2.5 inches.
-You'll be able to fit 9 cards on each page.

As for terrain, here's a guy with pictures using the DZC buildings for Battletech.
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,34880.0.html

They look great to me.

There's also a huge amount of free paper buildings online that you can print and make. The sticky thread in this forum will show you more:
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/board,31.0.html

thanks so much everyone.
unfortunately now ive stumbled upon heavy gear blitz. it looks fun but may be a little much for my son, im not sure yet.
i dont suppose anyone has experience with both HG blitz and BT alpha strike?
i cant seem to find any gameplay examples fo alpha strike to compare them.

HG blitz is going to be quite a bit more complex than Alpha Strike and the miniatures are more expensive. There are some gameplay examples of AS at the forum I linked to above.

On the other hand HG Blitz will require less miniatures.

Your best bet might be to pick a truely basic mech game and a batch of EM4 mechs for playing with your son and if he sticks with it then see where his interests take you. "Mech Attack!" By armor grid games is a favorite of mine.
http://www.wargamevault.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=3148

It has alot of BT'ish elements (damage trackign, heat, multiple weapons, customizable mechs) but in a much more streamlined package that plays about as fast as alpha strike, and is quite cheap. It's probably close to a level you're sun can grasp, but I've also used it both for play at the club and for running convention games. Though streamlined, it's definitely a tactical game.

Mech Attack and 10 EM4 mechs will run you about 20 bucks.

The Battletech Miniatures Rules (Not Alpha strike, straight battletech on terrain) which still require hex grid rules are kicking about on the net - I can't find them immediately, but they were legitimately produced and free. Only a couple of pages to print.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Found them:

http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1811

i picked up a copy of the alpha strike rules and wow does it seem like stuff dies fast, like 1 or 2 hits.
is this what makes the game play faster?

 usernamesareannoying wrote:
i picked up a copy of the alpha strike rules and wow does it seem like stuff dies fast, like 1 or 2 hits.
is this what makes the game play faster?

Very much so. But most things can survive one or two hits, unless it is a little 'Mech/vehicle taking hits from something much bigger.

Graphite wrote:The Battletech Miniatures Rules (Not Alpha strike, straight battletech on terrain) which still require hex grid rules are kicking about on the net - I can't find them immediately, but they were legitimately produced and free. Only a couple of pages to print.

http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1811

Note that those aren't complete rules, just guidelines for adapting the BT rules for play on terrain. You will also need a copy of the BT rules or at least the introductory rules. Thease come in the introducotry boxed set, are the very basic BT rules (covering mech combat up to 3039) and are fully compatible with BT's main rulebook "Total Warfare".

The "Quick-Start" rules which are free on the battletech website are not the same, they are not compatible with Total Warfare, though with some tweaking might work with the free "Miniatures rules". Fortunately the "Introductory rules" were free online until recently and can still be found with a quick search for "Classic Battletech Introductory Rule Book".

Alternatively, older versions of the CBT introductory rules from earlier boxed sets and even full BT rulebooks like the "Battletech Compendium" are available at big discounts. Unlike games like Warhammer, earlier editions of BT have very few rules changes and are a fine way to start if one isn't sure they want to invest in the boxed set or "Total Warfare". Heck, I've even got an old rulebook or two I'd be willing to part with for a few bucks.

All that said, the appeal of Alpha strike isn't just that it can be played on terrain. Folks have been doing that with Battletech for decades. The appeal lies more in it's ability to have a fast moving game with more units on the table, with much less record-keeping and fewer rules.

I love Battletech. I'm also quite fond of games like Heavy Gear.

Haven't tried Alpha Strike specifically, but it does look like quite a bit of streamlining. The main issue with Battletech was always damage tracking and hit resolving, which made any game of more than 4 units vs 4 units take all day.

If all Alpha does is compress all stats into 1 'attack' profile, 1 armor box set and 1 internal structure set, it'll speed the game up by like 4x.

HGB is a good game too. It's extremely tactical, as even the act of harming an enemy unit generally requires maneuver to pull off. But I wouldn't recommend it for a kid, it's fairly intensive not in rules complexity, but the tactics required to actually succeed.

ive been reading the alpha strike rules and it really seems closer to something like say 40k set in the battletech universe.
the only things really the same as classic battletech is the terminology and the fact that youre using mechs.

im trying to get a grasp on all of the special abilities on the unit cards now but im sure we can play basic and ignore that stuff for starting out.

do you guys know if there is a version of the master unit list on something like an excel spreadsheet?

the MUL website is really cool and helpful but its hard to use when trying to decide between all of the different variants of the same mech. it would be cool to be able to compare them side by side on something like a spreadsheet.

Most Special Abilities on 'Mechs are on there only because they are 'Mechs, and have very little impact on most Alpha Strike games.

Using the MUL, the best thing to do is to limit the search by technology. For stating stuff (to keep it simpler) sort it with RULES: Inner Sphere, and TECHNOLOGY: Introductory only.

This will give you only a few special rules that will apply to a 'Mech vs. 'Mech game.

As far as I know, there is no excell listing of the MUL. It'd be a really big list. I understand the difficulty in comparing different mech versions. Sometimes it's hard to tell and I have to open each in a different window to see them side by side.

As for 40k'ishness. I couldn't disagree more. It's certanly not as complicated as Classic Battletech, but the Turn sequence is completely different, the movement and shooting sequence is very similar to BT, the game is very much NOT close combat centric. All that said, if you find it's too dissimlar from CBT, you can always play that. Definitlely try and get a game in to see how it plays for you.

As to first games and working with special rules, most every mech as a version with only one or two special rules. For my first game last week we went strait to the "standard" level of rules but I purposely chose the simplest version of each mech and it was easy to keep track of. Almost all of them only had one or two of the easiest to follow rules like Case or ENE. I highly recommend printing or copying the special rule sheet in the back and highlingting which rules your mechs have.

how do the mechwarrior click mechs scale up to the regular battletech mechs?

They are considerably larger. Though not entirely consistent, Battletech mechs tend to be about 6mm scale, also known (or fairly compatible with) as 1/285, 1/300, and sometimes used with Z scale (though Z is 1/220) accessories and structures . Mechwarrior miniatures on the other hand are 10mm, also known as "N" scale or 1/160, also sometimes seen along side 1/144 scale items.

Some of the smallest (or most poorly scaled) light Mechwarrior mechs, are close in size to some heavy and assault Battletech mechs, and a few of the underscaled vehicles could work. Also, BT infantry have always been a bit oversized, and infantry scale is largerly unimportant to the game so many folks use Mechwarrior infantry rebased for Battletech.