ScrapYard Armory

I wrote in an earlier post about playing in War of the Clans, a play by email/forum game. At the time, I had high hopes for it making the grade. This was just after the Capellan game at the Classic Battletech forums fell apart.

The War of the Clans had a lot going for it. The rules were complete and written. They had a very elaborate and well done spreadsheet for each faction leader to track their clan’s abilities and resources. The spreadsheet automatically calculated stats for your particular clan. Those stats along with your turn orders were used by the game masters to complete each turn.

Sadly, the War of the Clans never got off the ground. There were two false starts as the game masters tried and failed to get all of the players onto the same page. When the main game master went AWOL, the second in command took the reigns and tried to put the pieces together.

Several days had already passed and players naturally became bored and wandered off. New delays followed in order to fill those empty spots. The second game master has tried a few times to rally the remaining players but to no avail. The forums still have a few lurkers, including myself, but that’s it.

This experience reinforces the point that in order to make a play by email game successful, you need to remove the requirement for a game master.

Demand for a grand strategic game is definitely out there. The game had attracted players for just about every single spot available before things went to hell. And it did not take long either. Only after several delays did players begin to defect, never to return. Classic Battletech players just want to play and have fun. When game masters inhibit their ability to do so, they will leave for greener pastures.

Wow, what an April Fools. Catalyst pulled out the stops and offered up a preview of Tactical Operations featuring Classic BattleTech power ups. Thats right, mushroom power for your ‘Mechs. The power ups include everything from weapon upgrades, instant healing, and yes even a super size ‘Mech effect!

From the download,

For some players. however, this approach may lack a certain zeal found in today’s computer and console games. Players interested in more exotic game play options that combine elements of this cinematic medium may thus incorporate the following advanced rules into their Classic BattleTech games for an added challenge.

The best part of this gag is that it is actually usable. It’s a clever idea that has been prepared and polished. While not everyone’s cup of tea, it can make silly games with friends even more fun.

JediBear on the Classic BattleTech forums summed up the gist of the negative reactions out there.

That’s actually kinda scary.

Okay. Battletech is in its essence a simulator. Beer and Pretzels it may be, but every rule in the game is designed to somehow simulate “real” variables in “real” 31st Century Combat.

With TacOps, what the fans are expecting is rules to cover special cases not otherwise covered in the rules that might occur on a “real” battlefield.

These are the first ever “alternate-universe” rules ever proposed (to the fans. I have no idea what ya’all do behind closed doors anymore) for official Battletech publication. They’re also unavoidably silly — not fun, silly. Many people have contemplated using them for a pick-up game or two or for special events, but no one is planning on using these as a regular feature in their games (unlike, say, artillery.)

We can do fun without being silly. As I said earlier, you can easily find a better use for four pages.

I agree with those sentiments. Power ups ought not be included in Tac Ops, but I will be using these rules in a few games with friends.

Made for Grinders

I love the idea of using these rules in a Grinder. All of a sudden it becomes slightly more advantageous to lose initiative. Here is what I had in mind.

• Start the game with all combatants in light ‘Mechs arranged around the center of your arena of choice.
• One power-up starts in the center of the arena.
• Once a ‘Mech is destroyed, the player gets out his medium/heavy/orca ‘Mech to play on, while a new power up scatters from where he was destroyed.

There are countless possible variations. Infinite possibilities for fun and hilarious antics. While I would not introduce players to Classic BattleTech with power ups, it is a great tool to inject some spontaneous hilarity into a casual game session.