BattleTech Mercenaries

Check out this interesting page on BattleTech Mercenaries.  This format is for both quick casual games and for multi-round events.  It's a scenario based format where each player controls 4x Mercenary BattleMechs.  Link

I haven't tried it myself, but intend to do so.

Classic Battletech - Battle Of Duncansviller Power Station

I dived back into the crunchiness of Classic Battletech with my old friend John Elwen on Thursday night at the Harrogate Wargames Club with a 4,000 point aside battle on the planet of Drozen. 

The peace loving traders of the Lyran Commonwealth (House Steiner) defending the recently 'acquired' power plant of Duncansviller Power Station were brutally attacked by the Capellan Confederation (House Liao). 

The Liao raiding party consisted of a Crusader CRD-3L mech supported by 4x Condor Heavy Hover Tanks (standard configuration).  Opposing this unwelcome incursion was a Jenner JR7-F mech supported by 3x Manticore Heavy Tanks (standard configuration). 

Straight from the off the aggressive manoeuvring by the (ridiculously) fast Condor Hover tanks seized the tactical initiative and forced the Lyrans onto the defensive.  The inability of the Hover tanks to enter woods though was exploited by the Manticore tanks who made good use of the cover available (or tried to hide like cowards, depending on your viewpoint! LOL).  After several inconclusive exchanges of fire the Liao unit swept in and reduced most of the firing to point blank, inside the minimum ranges of the PPC and LRM equipped Condors.  Two critical rounds of fire and physical attacks by the Javelin who jumped behind a Condor and repeated kicked it resulted in the destruction of 1x Condor, and the immobilisation of another. The Lyran's had 2x Manticores immobilised and the Javelin's external armour was badly shredded. 

Assessing that he was outgunned at this point, the Liao commander decided to withdraw his force (although we considered it a draw really).  A fun very closely fought game.  It's a long time since I've used vehicles in Classic Battletech and it was a reminder how very vulnerable they are to receiving critical mobility hits which reduce them to the status of a pillbox. 

Looking forward to the next game ! 🙂

Details

Rules:  by Catalyst Games - Battletech Manual - Rules Of Warfare.
Gaming Mat:  by Catalyst Games - Battletech Battlemat - Desert.

Terrain:  Small trees sold for model railways, remainder 3D home printed (FDM).
Mechs and Condor Hover Tanks:  by Iron Wind Metals.

Manticore Heavy Tanks:  Resin models supplied by Badger 3D.

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Here are a few pics from from the game.

The Steiner forces enter the battlefield...

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The Liao Condor Heavy Hover tanks make their presence felt.

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An air reccy photo from a Steiner Lucifer aerospace fighter as it screams over the battlefield

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Under pressure and outmanoeuvred the Steiner tanks seek refuge in the cover of some Light woods. 

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After initially keeping its distance the Liao Crusader jumps in to close the range down and support a Condor that had just been immobilised by a PPC hit from a Manticore. 

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A pair of Condors flank the beleaguered Manticores and heavy fire is exchanged.   

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The Steiner Jenna has jumped behind a Condor that came down the road and has proceeded to block it in. 

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A savage exchange of fire sees all the Javelin's armour stripped off its right torso and some internal structure eaten into.  The Condor is immobilised by repeated SRM hits from the one of Manticors.

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With one Condor destroyed and another immobilised and isolated the Liao commander decides to retreat to fight again another day.  His Crusader is not that damaged and could keep fighting for some time, and the Steiner forces have taken a beating and two of the Manticores are immobilised.  Critically though the Steiner unit still has its full firepower available and is a close supporting formation.

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3 Takeaways from the 2023 Great Wargaming Survey

 Worth a watch  :)

GET FV4005 RUNNING

The tank museum are planning on getting the FV4005 running again.  Check out their web site for more details of this interesting project.  Link

BADGER 3D Creations - Web Site: https://badger3d.co.uk/

I've slightly unretired myself, I'm now helping out at Badger 3D Creations one day a week.  3D printing, it's the future guys !  🙂

Check out Badger's Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/Badger3DCreations and their excellent Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Badger3DPrints.

In addition they have their own website: https://badger3d.co.uk/ suggest check there first for the latest releases.

DRAGON RAMPANT - 3 ROUND MINI CAMPAIGN - ESCAPE TO THE SOUTH

 At my local club I've been running a 3 round min-campaign using the Dragon Rampant rules called, 'Escape To The South'.  If idea interest you download the blank campaign document here.

There is also an accompanying Extra Magic Items document as well, which come into play in Round 3. 

The HWC House rule document referenced in the campaign doc is available from a link in this posting. Link

In our campaign which has 14 players in it, we are coming to the end of round 2.  The forces of 'The Black Horde' have had some success and currently leading the forces of The Greater Empire Coalition' 111 glory points to 66.

If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them.

Battletech - Modified Layout Mech Record Sheets

If you are a classic Battletech gamer I would encourage you to have a look at the custom Mech Record Sheets made by Kieran Vincent Rowley.   

This is the posting he put on the relevant Facebook page which I am repeating here in full:

"So for whatever reason, I post these almost entirely on Reddit, but since I'm almost done with all 3025 variants of all currently-released CGL Box Sets and ForcePacks, I feel like I should really try to get the word out in other places!

I make these! (If you've seen em on Reddit, that's me! I'm the guy)  I use them, I love them, and yes I do take requests.  I've done over 200 that are all available at this link! 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18chMT5KQApwqgA6UbEZ4ZfwPO2lyJK7C?fbclid=IwAR3bygJoOfkryzrbfrXkXoNitC24yLPMUHCgPnzGjw-s9kRC_3vlXiXpUOI

Quick edit: As with any tabletop-game element, conjecture isn't useful feedback.  If you've used it at the table and had a negative experience, let me know what went wrong!  But so far absolutely no-one who has actually used these has had any complaints, and indeed, most (like myself) find them to be much EASIER and faster to use than the official sheets, as well as making the game *feel* less like filling out paperwork.  I made them to be functional and intuitive in ways that I found the official sheets were lacking. As I said, conjecture is not feedback - playtesting is what matters.

Some variants (especially Royal SLDF versions, but sometimes others) have an additional retro art version, with either the original (sadly uncredited) Macross art or early TRO art from Duane Loose or Dana Knutson.  All known artists have been credited, although some remain unknown (Harri Kallio SIGN YER STUFF man! I think half my missing artists are you!), and I own NONE of this, all credit to Catalyst Game Labs and the respective artists and designers.  About the only thing I created here besides the format is the Clanbusters logo, which anyone may use at their own discretion."

The Avid Wargamer

Stumbled by chance across this interesting site called 'The Avid Wargamer  - Computer Wargaming & Military History'.  I highly recommend a visit, there is some really interesting stuff on it.  Link

Battletech - Alphas Strike - Jeff's Battletech Tools

If you are into playing Batteltech Alpha Strike, suggest check out Jeff's Battletech Tools which allows you to configure his improved version (in my opinion) of the AS Cards and also switch between whether the ranges are in inches or hexes. Link