BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Game Universe => Clan Chatterweb => Topic started by: Colt Ward on 11 September 2017, 17:40:38
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Working to convert the old MechCommander campaign into a TT/MM format which could be fun (see http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=58707.0 (http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=58707.0)) but facing the staggered waves would need another limiter on the Smoke Jaguar forces with their better technology and higher skilled pilots.
Which got down to the honor rules the Clan mechwarriors and Elementals would use to engage . . . towards the end of the campaign on Port Arthur the briefings seem to indicate the Jaguars are getting a bit desperate- if nothing else just the loss of face in a IS force stomping around. They manage to take out one of the companies, but the PC's group manages to avoid getting smashed and is pushing to reach a critical objective that would REALLY hurt the Jaguar garrison.
At what point would the Jaguar garrison commander suspend the duel/honor rules to end the Inner Sphere barbarians on their planet? Would the response of the training/garrison/secondline/frontline forces be different in regards to the honor rules?
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The second part is what gives me pause. On the one hand, those units consist of bondsmen and such, and 'honor' is a concept they might happily throw to the wind if they don't think it's worth dying over. On the other hand, cadets looking to impress their COs might still insist on holding to zellbrigen rather than defile themselves with horde tactics (and thus prove themselves unClanlike). I could see this going either way, with differing opinions even within a Star depending on the warrior. (This can be tracked by keeping either a small list of which Mechs have which kind of pilot, or by making a subtle mark on a record sheet to show zell-oriented vs. not)
As for when the high-ranking officers start throwing zell aside, that's a little less ambiguous- when you want that CO to do so. There's something to be said for keeping them on-track early on, and even late in a campaign they may not BREAK their rules and go nuts- but there's something to be said for 'creative' looks at the situation by the Galaxy Commander. After all, zell is reserved for honorable opponents, right? It's a PRIVILEGE to be offered zellbrigen! And these Inner Sphere dogs have proven that they don't deserve that honor, right? With their being all... you know, freeborn and stuff! Screw those guys, no more zell! See, now it's THEIR fault that you're throwing honorable combat out the window. When a Jaguar commander reaches that point is up to you, but I'd try to save it for at least halfway, if not 2/3rds into the campaign.
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I think it would depend on the PCs actions, are they behaving honorably or not. Also how does the Jag commander view the PCs, are they worthy of honor, or does he see them as little more than pirates?
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One of my favorite lines in all of BattleTech came from one of the campaign briefing vids later in the game. It went something like "Now the bad news: You've made quite an impression. The Jaguars have mobilized fresh companies of heavy and assault-class 'Mechs in your honor and more elite pilots. I hope you're ready."
I would interpret that as initially, you (the IS force) are nothing more than bandits come to skulk in the Clan's rightful conquests. After the "lesser" forces have their try to be rid of the raiders, failing spectacularly in some objective, the front-line forces would take note of worthy opposition and come looking for a measure of glory. For a campaign, I might be tempted with very loose if any interpretation of zell initially, but as the PC force achieves objectives and strengthens, throw some higher-level opponents at them with stricter zell to compensate for the tech/skill deficits that should probably exist. As the campaign draws to a close, you could swing back to loose/no zell as the Smoke Jaguars try to escape the planet.