NeonKnight, your modular game boards look great. I am in Burnaby so maybe one day I can check them out in person.
I am curious though. Why did you choose to use hexes over top rather than just playing with the miniature rules? Any reason in particular? Modular terrain with hexes takes more time and requires more precision, while also being more restrictive for moving units and positioning terrain. I can understand using hexed maps when space and budget is limited, but you seem to have sufficient gaming acreage and the materials more costly than paper.
Not a criticism at all, just genuine interest in your decision factors.
Hey, Thanx for commenting. I have brought it out to Bonsor Rec Centre game night in Burnaby (p.s. Tonight we are doing the WORLD WIDE EVENT starting around 7pm. BONSOR across from METROTOWN).
While yes I see what you mean with the Precision and space, and yes I have an entire room (approximate 10 feet x 15 feet for Gaming), I actually prefer BattleTech on Hexes as opposed to free form. Even my Alpha Strike is hexed.
It comes down to a few factors really. First I'm not as young as I used to be. Sure 51 is not 'old' today like it used to be 20-30 years ago, but while I don;t
feel old, my body likes to remind me once and a while ;) In fact my best friend and gaming buddy, is going on his second week in Hospital in Langley for inflamed disks in his back which just sort of snuck up on him all
SURPRISE! and he's younger than me. So With free form gaming, the whole lets bend over and get a Mini's Eye view is just not practical for us anymore.
Related a bit to point 1 is point 2. With hexes, things are just a little easier. A point on the board is much easier to be determined
IS or
IS NOT. Is Mech A in medium range of Mech B's medium laser? Count the hexes 1-2-3-4-5 YES, yes it is. Can I move there? yes or no based on movement and hexes. It just makes the games a little quicker.
Additionally, I can easily and accurately provide the players with accurate maps to plan Hidden movement, artillery strikes, and most important, is this woods hex 4 hexes from me and 6 hexes from you intervening or not? (See Attached photos). These have the added benefit of meaning if it is a particulary long match, I can take a photo of the game board, everyone says good night, and I can reset up at a later date with 100% accuracy as to who was where and facing which way. With a free form table, one could only ever hope for a 'close enough'.
Finally...I guess I just love hexes. Again, having played BT since 1rst/second edition days...it just isnt BT without hexes.