SDN Megamek/(Battletech) Game!

[Darksider]

I pretty much just unload with all weapons whenever I get a decent shot at the enemy, so my mechs are regularly spiking to 16+ heat, hence the aformentioned ammo explosions.

[Dark Hellion]

An easy solution to that is to make a list of your weapons and a priority list for what targets they should be fired at.

It is much easier to avoid overheating if you only use medium lasers on close targets and LRM on long ranged ones. AC/20s are really wasted against light mechs, even though they one shot em, it uses a lot of ammo. PPCs are great against everything, so choose targets wisely an don't use it if its going to generate too much heat.

[Dark Hellion]

V and I were talking in the SDNmegamek chatroom and decided that since many of the people expressing interest in playing are not very familiar with the Btech rules perhaps we should have a few demo games.

Personally, I would do it in the following way over multiple games.

Game 1: Introduction to the rules. The experienced players would go over basic movement such as walking, running, jumping, skidding, and movement through various terrains. Then going over combat basics, shooting, range and movement modifiers, physical attacks, and damage resolution (critical hits, damage transfer, etc.). This would be followed by some basic strategy such as heat management, target prioritization, tactical movement etc.

Game 2: Introduction to other unit types. Introducing vehicles, infantry, perhaps battle armour. Perhaps going over rules for artillery, TAG, ECM, hidden units. Advanced strategy for such things as LRM indirect fire, advanced ammunition rules (infernos, narc, ATMs[?]) and more advanced tactics.

Game 3: The all out for what would be needed to run a campaign. Dropship rules, aerospace rules, off-board artillery, the whole shebang.

Perhaps other players would only want to go so far as mechs and vehicles, but a campaign would probably necessitate using all the basic CBT rules covered in Total Warfare and the Tech Manuel and might want to include Tactical Operations as well.

[RecklessPrudence]

Sounds great! I've only played a few games of only-'Mech beginner games, and felt a little intimidated thinking of people who, although rusty, actually know the rules, down cold. Hopefully I'll have some time free when someone else is in the room and I can actually get some games in!

[Prannon]

I'm still up for a game if anyone is interested. I'll be hanging out in the chatroom for the next few hours in any case.

[Nephtys]

V and I were talking in the SDNmegamek chatroom and decided that since many of the people expressing interest in playing are not very familiar with the Btech rules perhaps we should have a few demo games.

Personally, I would do it in the following way over multiple games.

Game 1: Introduction to the rules. The experienced players would go over basic movement such as walking, running, jumping, skidding, and movement through various terrains. Then going over combat basics, shooting, range and movement modifiers, physical attacks, and damage resolution (critical hits, damage transfer, etc.). This would be followed by some basic strategy such as heat management, target prioritization, tactical movement etc.

Game 2: Introduction to other unit types. Introducing vehicles, infantry, perhaps battle armour. Perhaps going over rules for artillery, TAG, ECM, hidden units. Advanced strategy for such things as LRM indirect fire, advanced ammunition rules (infernos, narc, ATMs[?]) and more advanced tactics.

Game 3: The all out for what would be needed to run a campaign. Dropship rules, aerospace rules, off-board artillery, the whole shebang.

Perhaps other players would only want to go so far as mechs and vehicles, but a campaign would probably necessitate using all the basic CBT rules covered in Total Warfare and the Tech Manuel and might want to include Tactical Operations as well.

Half of that is really unnecessary. If we run 3025, we don't need most of that, and the mechs are quite frankly much better balanced in the fact that most of them suck equally. ECM, hidden, BAP, TAG doesn't DO anything in 99 percent of games. NARCs and ATMs don't need mentioning at all, given that one's a gimmick weapon and the other is a clanner missile.

That first set is all anyone needs. Just how to move, how to shoot, and managing the ratio of your own defensive modifiers against that of the enemy.

[PainRack]

Nep, you forgot. You actually need to walk me through the interface too:D

I just can't figure out thinking tactically with Megamek. Well, that is, if I could even connect to the server. Been trying to do so so far with no luck.

[Nephtys]

Next time I have time, I'll host for some people, but next week's a bit busy

Mostly, you need to allow your router to port forward 2346. Then, it'll work.