As I have not yet ordered ATOW yet - can some of you let me know how it plays and it it the best version to play an Battletech RPG
In the context of "Here's how I manage and build a company" like the old MW1 (and MW2) then AToW might be lacking to you.
AToW's main focus is on the Roleplaying side of things, much like MW3 (CBT:RPG it was also called) or even Shadowrun.
The game's scope isn't one of managing a Merc unit, but how the people interact with the Universe.
With that said, there's going to be a Campaign Companion one day that should give us a book geared towards that.
http://bg.battletech.com/books/upcoming-releases/Campaign Companion
.....
The Campaign Companion contains rules for generating and running any type of force within the BattleTech universe. From a single pirate BattleMech all the way to regimental combat teams, players can scale to their own taste. Additional rules cover running campaigns, from battlefield roles and force-building, to missions and the Chaos Campaign system......
So what do we do until then? Well the Chaos Campaign system is an abstract way of dealing with the ups and downs of running a force.
Plenty of the recent productions are using Tracks (missions that the system uses) to help folks build their gaming experience.
Total Chaos is the book that has the rules built to handle nearly every unit available in game.
A bare bones, but free, version was prototyped before that book and is available on the main site's download section
(here) Free downloads sampling nearly every scale of Battletech game here.Now if you are more interested in exploring the universe and found the previous Mechwarrior iterations a bit lacking, then AToW might be useful.
The character creation system no longer is focused on "Are you a Mechwarrior/Aeropilot? No? Tech? Why are you even here?" mentality.
It is possible to create characters that don't fit into classic archetypes, thus providing a unique game.
- I see there is a version more to how I used to do it on DriveThruRPG but not sure which is the best - or what people think is the best.
Thanks
Todd
I'm assuming you mean the MW 1st edition PDF, or possibly the 2nd edition pdf? If I'm wrong I wouldn't mind being corrected.
As for which is better, it depends on the needs of the game and your tastes.
I've gone on record with others on this board saying that MW1/2 both are fine campaign tools, but limited as RPG systems go.
Meanwhile the reverse can be applied to AToW.
However since the current publications support AToW, I'm happy to use Chaos Campaign to handle the war side of my game and AToW for the people side.
My tastes don't invalidate those who just want to plunk down with a Mech-centric experience, but incorporating new tech (post Clan era) in with the old rules requires some home brewing if you're okay with that.
However if you simply wish to play within those time frames those book provide, then have fun. After all that's all that matters.