ScrapYard Armory

I own both of the Starterbooks and I believe they are great products for both new and old players alike.  If a Fasa era unit specific scenario book and the Chaos Campaign rules got it on, the Starterbooks would be their offspring.

The Starterbooks are designed to be played with one player as one of the headline units and the other playing the opposing force.  It is an easy conversion to make it possible for two players to play against each other.

Starting Off and Running the Tracks

Each player will be playing one of the factions within the Starterbook.  While one player is playing a track, the other will run the opposing force.

From my experience, the generic tracks presented in both Starterbooks are meant to be won.  The difference maker in the overall campaign is being able to win with the optional bonuses and without taking too much damage.  Losing an important ‘Mech or pilot can drastically change the course of the campaign.

Meanwhile, the opposing force still has a stake in the track.  Since their own force will inevitably face off against the same ‘Mechs and pilots, it is in their best interest to ensure they receive the most damage possible.  And just maybe, they can keep them from achieving a full victory every once in a while.

Facing Off

Within each book, there are Dustup or Touchpoint tracks that put the two units against each other.  This occurs once in Sword and Dragon and three times in Wolf and Blake.

When one of the players gets to one of these combined tracks, it’s time to battle.  Follow the track instructions, using each player’s force as available units.

In Sword and Dragon, the final Dustup involves one company from each force.  Each player picks his best twelve ‘Mechs to face off.

In Wolf and Blake, the first two Touchpoints use limited units from both forces while the final Touchpoint is similar to Sword and Dragon, a company on company epic battle to prove who is the best command in the Inner Sphere.

When there are optional bonuses that affect the battle, both players should agree to use them or not.  A simple solution is to require both player’s to want to bonus for it to take effect.  Or, if both players would like a little variability in their game, they can dice off optional bonuses (1-3 this bonus is in play, 4-6 it is not).

Resolving the Time Continuum

When the first player reaches a Touchpoint his force pauses and waits for the other player to get the the same track.  This brings up some potential issues.  It would not be fair for the other player, who knows the state of the opposing force, to play unlimited additional generic tracks to bolster his force to an unbeatable level.  On the other hand, when one force has the obvious upper hand, it would likewise not be fair to force the other player to join the Touchpoint without at least an opportunity to get his force back into fighting trim.

With this in mind, agree with your opponent beforehand how many generic tracks are acceptable before the opponent must enter the combined track.  In the Wolf and Blake campaign I am playing in now, my opponent and I have agreed on one track before being forced to play a Touchpoint.

End Game

At the end of the campaign, there are several ways to determine the overall winner.  Here are a few ways to go about it.  If you have your heart set on having a clear winner of the campaign, agree with your opponent before the campaign begins what victory conditions are going to be used.  Use one, best out of three, or make your own (Please share if you do make some new victory conditions though!).

Warchest

Add up the Warchest point value of each player’s remaining force including their current Warchest balance.  The higher final Warchest wins this victory condition.

Final Battle

Whoever wins the final Touchpoint/Dustup in the campaign wins this victory condition.

Unit Cohesion

Count up all of the ‘Mechs and pilots in each force that started the campaign.  Whichever force retains more original ‘Mechs and pilots wins this victory condition.

Have Fun, Standard Answer Number One

Above all, have some fun.  Sometimes it is not who wins and loses, but how you play the game.  The journey is better than the final destination.  The Starterbooks are worth many many hours of gaming fun.  Enjoy the ride.