Battletech (PC) Persistent Campaign Discussion

A little early on this, but would like to get people's input. I would like to do something similar to what I'm doing with the Steel Division campaign. I had hoped that this Battletech game would include conventional forces as well as mechs for skirmishes, but we may have to work within our limitations.

Here's what we know:

• Skirmishes maximum of 2 players, 4 vs 4 mechs.
• Preset pilot list, skills, and abilities.
  • Gunnery - For shooting
  • Piloting - for melee
  • Tactics - for LOS distance, sensors, and called shot %
  • Guts - how much heat a pilot can withstand before overheating
• Can control lance layout and map selection.
• Player vs Player or Player vs. AI confirmed
• After-action report has a pretty good breakdown on what was lost/captured:

Example Player Force: (my first game)

In the above example, no casualties with heavy damage on the Jaeger and Panther.

OpFor:

All OpFor eliminated with the Atlas captured intact after its pilot died from combat injuries. Excellent salvage opportunity.

In the above example, the Jaeger and Panther would likely have to be held back from the next mission to complete repairs. However, a player could supplement their active force with the newly captured Atlas.

General Campaign Rules (WIP):

• Players start with a predetermined amount of resources (TBA).
• Players must begin and end a contract with no more than what they can fit on their dropship. Maximum number is a company of (12) mechs using a Union dropship.
• Only 1 lance may be deployed at a time (due to game limitations)
• One mission = one lance of mechs. A lance may take only one action per week.
• Lances are considered "integrated" and "semi-autonomous" meaning that you cannot freely swap out pilots and mechs between lances unless certain conditions are met (such as between contracts or with two lances being in the same location).

Logistics & Repair Rules WIP):

• All armor damage is automatically repaired at the end of each mission.
• Mechs with destroyed sections are removed from combat (RFC) and require one week of repairs.
• Internal damage Option A: treated the same as armor.
• Internal damage Option B: treated the same as section destroyed.
• Weapon damage Option A: individual weapon & ammo supplies are NOT tracked.
• Weapon damage Option B: individual weapon & ammo supplies are tracked.

Economy & Salvage Rules (WIP):

• Salvage rights and availability will depend on the parameters of the contract and facilities available to the player.
  • Offensive contracts will have more liberal salvage rights.
  • Defensive contracts will have better repair facilities.
• Mechs salvaged fully intact (no missing sections) may always be fitted for combat duty.
• Mechs salvaged with missing sections but intact CTs may be fitted for combat duty only if appropriate facilities are available to repair them.
• Surplus salvage may be sold at appropriate facilities before leaving a friendly world.
• Salvage must be carried off hostile worlds before it can be sold.

Possible Mission Parameters (WIP):

• Force Value - could be asymmetrical depending on conditions and difficulty of mission.
• Map
• Weather
• Turn Count Limit - only for appropriate missions
• Starting Positions (if GM controls OpFor)
• Targeted Objectives (if GM controls OpFor)

Other Considerations:

• Guts skill roll determines how likely a pilot is to panic and flee after receiving internal damage.
• Guts skill roll to determine if pilot is willing to surrender in the face of impossible odds.
• Pilot skill roll determines if pilot can stand and move in the same turn after being knocked down.
• Tactics skill roll to determine force deployment.

 

THREE Starting Player Archtypes:

Note: Currently you cannot deploy with less than 4 mechs. Hopefully this will change. Until it does, empty slots will be filled with "reservists" using the cheapest stock mech available. Total Force Value includes the value of reservist mechs. This is not the case anymore.

The Survivor:
You are the only living member of your previous lance. Was it luck or cowardice that saved you? No one except you can say for sure, but you care little for the opinion of others. Honor matters not if you are dead. In survival there is always the promise of victory; a lesson you will never forget.

• Total Force Value = 9 million
• Start with 1 custom mech and three reservists.
• Start with 1 Leopard dropship (4 mechbays)

The Apprentice:
You were a dedicated student in the study of war until your master met their untimely demise. Rumors conflict on whether it was the machinations of a rival or by your own hand. Regardless, you will demand fear and respect in equal measure. What better way than destroying your enemies?

• Total Force Value = 8.5 million
• Start with 2 custom mechs and 2 reservists.
• Start with 1 Leopard dropship (4 mechbays)

The Scion
You are the last of your venerable house. The fortunes of war, however, have not been kind to your family. What remains of your fortune you have cobbled together to muster a modest battlemech force. Through conquest, you will see your family rise from the ashes... or die trying.

• Total Force Value = 8 million
• Start with 4 custom mechs.
• Start with 1 Leopard dropship (4 mechbays)

OpFor Archtypes:

Reservist Scouts: x4 Locusts
Reservist Guards: x4 Urbanmechs
(More to be added later)

 

I hope so, but how will that work if we are limited to only 4 units per player? Will they be expanding it to say 4 mechs + 4 other units? That would probably be ideal.

 

that's what i figured, but for purposes of this conversation i have only been talking about skirmish mode.

 

why would it be bad if players can control them? 4 vehicles would be easy to manage. conventional forces are far simpler to control than mechs. more options are usually better. if "purists" don't want to fight them, there should be a toggle option to prevent their use.

 

added starting player assets:
http://www.theskjaldborg.com/index....istent-campaign-discussion.11718/#post-276905

 

at what point does it become "combined arms"? nevermind... its a rhetorical question. i think you are way over analyzing what i was saying.

the point i was making is that players should have the OPTION for a little mix of everything for skirmish, not just single player.

 

Okay... I was about to let you guys have it with a double dose of snark and about my original statement still being valid, but allow me to start over.

@Solis: thank you for that. I didn't know we already had a list.

@Damion & Fless: that's great and all, but it has fuck-all to do with the planning of the campaign. As far as we know at this moment, no vehicles are available FOR SKIRMISH. For purposes of this discussion, lets stay on topic. Pretty please with sugar on top. *eye twitch*