Hey folks, I will try to answer some of your questions now.
@MoleMan Typically in the early game it might only take 15 to 30 minutes to purchase new forces, deploy them and move them on the strategic map. Of course if we get to years down the road and larger empires it might take a little more micromanagement, however I have tried to make it as simple as possible so you don't need to devote a lot of time to it. Although you certainly could...
However when you do have a battle it might take about 1-2 hours for against the bot (bandits/pirates) and perhaps 2-3? with other players depending on if they are used to MegaMek or internet games or not. I will be trying to provide instructions for everyone when they do eventually have to fight other people, but that is very unlikely for the first number of turns as you don't spawn right next door to one another.
@Moleman As of this moment there are 27 registered players, including yourself once you submit files. We started with an Alpha play test group of 19 and had someone else join in very late into the Alpha. We do have a forum at
https://megamekempires.boards.net/ that is just starting to get traffic.
@Daryk Just for the record I am asking players questions when they sign up, such as their main goal: roleplay, empire building (defensive play), warmongering (offensive play), making an empire that will eventually hire out forces mercenary style to other empires, if the player in question is interested in canon Clan combat style, etc. I am endeavoring to place empires on different "continents" or island chains based on player interests.
Based on these questions it is is possible to put you with folks who like Inner Sphere tech better (already a thing), or perhaps just 3025 era tech (which hasn't been requested yet but is possible to setup I made a huge map with extra space for that reason). I currently have a "mixed" zone (which also houses a small corner for people interested in mercs, "Clan" only zone and an "Inner Sphere" only zone. The number of players on each isn't equal obviously, but is decent enough to make it work, and it has only been about a week so far with very little attempt to recruit thus far.
I can keep you fairly far away from the other "cliques", and in the case of the 3025 era idea would just institute a no play zone of admin control so players with Clan equipment or more advanced tech just can't enter (However in the current Inner Sphere tech zone I can't completely guarantee an Inner Sphere aligned player won't throw in a single Clan 'mech once in awhile in their armies. Some people just really like one particular design and want a couple of those units. The current player base mostly has an understanding to that regard. I won't say who or what, but I know of one single case of this.)
We are only ONE turn into the game so I can be very flexible and change things quite easily right now.