Fun level one mechs for new players?

[vindicator]

a game i always found fun for new players is an all Panther Match. It gives them a long range and short range weapon, a Jump capable mech, teaches them about heat control and no one has an advantage over some one else.

Just a thought

Vindie

[Hellraiser]

Hello all,

I was recently gifted some old Battletech stuff. Hadn't played in years and was inspired to pick up a few of the new core rule books and try and get my gaming group into it.

I'm a fan of the 3025 era and will probably have 4 players. We'll probably play a team and a free-for-all.

What would be a good group of battlemechs be for both balance and fun? Any of the variants using level one tech are cool.

Weapons that will keep the game moving instead of slow attrition will probably keep everyone's interest better for a 1st game.

Any advice is appreciated.

For a "Fast" paced game that doesn't last all day, but is fun to play and yet doesn't get to "tactical" I personally feel you can never go wrong with about 150-200 tons of L1 Medium mechs.

Things like the Centurion, Vindicator, Enforcer, Trebuchet, & Blackjack are some great options.

I like the 4/6/x pattern because it keeps to hit #s low for a quicker game and gives those mediums a bit more tonnage for firepower options.

By the time you hit the 55 ton trio of 5/8/5 variants you can get a machine that can dodge & weave all day, and drag out.  Great for a more tactical game but not the best for a 1st timer feel.
Likewise faster lights do this even more though w/ less armor.
And Heavy/Assault boats just pack in so much armor that you get the "Zombie" effect.

[foxbat]

WHM-6R Warhammers.
Sensible movement without JJs, so you'll have to learn how to expand your MPs properly.
Severe heat issues, so you'll have to watch this as well (and they tend to do it, after I've pointed out the heat scale to them  ;D)
Tiered weapons (I don't tell them outright, but they don't usually take long to figure it out. Tactics 1.0 eh eh)
And an armour that's fairly easily breached, so battles won't take ages.

[Hellraiser]

I've got just about everything in the form of card stock print outs. As for actual metal, I've got an Atlas, 2 Zeus, Catapult, spider, Jenner and Trebuchet.

The hard part is coming up with four different but equal mechs that everyone will enjoy...

Well of the metal minis I'd say the 2 Zeus', Catapult, & Trebuchet are all in the "close" catagory, some BV adjustments for skills will even things out a bit as well as perhaps some variant chassis.

The Atlas, Spider, & Jenner fall into the "very specialized" catagory for me in L1 play and will very likely drag things out.

[IndyRI]

I've always found that the best introductory mechs are ones that let a player learn all of the basic bells and whistles of the game (heat, JJs, ammo, energy), while still being durable and dependable. For 3025-play, the poster childs for this are definitely the Grasshopper and Guillotine. It's really even odds which is better. I tend towards the 'Hopper, others prefer the G'tine. Either one gives you everything you could want in a mech to learn the game with, and as a bonus, they're both fairly usable even with the introduction of new technology, so you won't need to buy new minis or learn a new mech!

[JPArbiter]

the centurion is a great all arounder that fits in almost any lance

the Locust is extremely versatile if you use the variants

the three medium Missile boats (whitworth, Trebuchet, Dervish) are all decent teaching tools, and allow a player to develop a play style since they all act differently.

I would hesitate in introducing assault class mechs until they are comfortable with anything below 70 tons

[agustaaquila]

I would suggest medium mechs of 4/6/x which carry a large gun and several small guns.  This allows you to break through armor with 10+ hits, and so the game speeds up.  My person favorites are the vindicator and and enforcer, but there are other mechs that fit the profile.  I would recommend against the hunchback, for while its gun is huge is can be a very long time to bring it to targets at more than long range.  Of course, you could include a swayback variant, but the important thing is to have fun while teaching them.

[topcat]

Shadow Hawk, Griffin, Dervish, Wolverine.  Everyone gets mobility and a range of weapons.  Some run cool, some don't.  Ammo all around.

[Arkansas Warrior]

I've always found the classic Awesome 8Q to be exceptionally easy to run.  May not be the best for teaching the game but it's easy for a newbie to pick up and go with.  Likewise the Hunchback.

[target_destroyed]

I'm partial to Whitworths for training.  Learn to bracket fire!  Play around with jumping vs. running.  See how ammo is dangerous, and how crit sinks can sometimes save you from explosion. 

It's really the total package, and by not doing one thing particularly well, it lets new players start to figure out what they would want to improve about it (speed, firepower, armor, etc) so they have a direction to go when picking new machines for future battles.

I agree w/ this. W/ 2 distinct weapon types, the Whitworth is easy for a new player to handle and learn the game without worrying about an excessive number of options.

[TJHairball]

BNC-3E is a very easy ride to give to the newest player in a group, who isn't quite up to handling overheat and jumping.

The Panther has gotten some good reactions from newbies IME. It's not terribly complicated but can handle itself quite respectably.

[Moonsword]

Oh, yeah.  A Wolfhound can do the same thing, even against mediums - you basically have to tear it apart limb from limb to get it to stop staggering to its feet and bugging the big guys.

[Schottenjaeger]

You know, the good old Chameleon is a really good heat-training mech, and it partners well with most other mediums. It also has some important lessons about mobility, learning when to use JJs, and teamwork.
Partner it with a non-jumping 5/8, and give one to each side, and I think your players will have a lot of fun.

[Iron Mongoose]

One mech that often gets thrown around is the Shadow Hawk.  Its quick enough that you can get a bonus for movement, so it rewards a mover, yet its sturdy enough that it dosen't excessivly punish someone who can't move well, its got one of each type of weapon (AC, laser, LRM, SRM) so you can learn the rules there, and its easy on heat.  For me, its nice to start of with an easy to use mech, if that's a Shadow Hawk or a Mad Dog C or Panther or what ever, and get the basics out of the way.  Movement, shooting, taking damage.  Heat is a more advanced concept, if only just very slightly more.  Do it after a game or two.  Do very high speed after a game or two.  Do lack of speed, assualts, only after you've demonstrated speed, or I think it can become a crutch to learning movement.

It depends a lot on the player.  It depends a lot on the group.  And it depends on if you have time to do several short games, or if you need a trial by fire and ok, here's your Tessen, watch out for ECM and try and get that iNARC and TAG in play so we can support you with LRM fire.  So long as it works.

[SteveUK]

in the 3025/39 time frame I still enjoy using the classic 55 tonners- Shadowhawk, Griffin and Wolverine, throw in a Vindicator and you have yourself an interesting mix. However if you want to really stretch things and go for laughs try the Ostscout, Cicada, Rifleman 3N and Charger. 

[IndyRI]

One mech that often gets thrown around is the Shadow Hawk.  Its quick enough that you can get a bonus for movement, so it rewards a mover, yet its sturdy enough that it dosen't excessivly punish someone who can't move well, its got one of each type of weapon (AC, laser, LRM, SRM) so you can learn the rules there, and its easy on heat.  For me, its nice to start of with an easy to use mech, if that's a Shadow Hawk or a Mad Dog C or Panther or what ever, and get the basics out of the way.  Movement, shooting, taking damage.  Heat is a more advanced concept, if only just very slightly more.  Do it after a game or two.  Do very high speed after a game or two.  Do lack of speed, assualts, only after you've demonstrated speed, or I think it can become a crutch to learning movement.

Still stuck on the Shadowhawk kick after writing the MotW for the IIC, huh IM?   ;)

[wackrabbit]

A Grasshopper is about the perfect 'mech for someone just starting, not too munchie, not lame.

[Moonsword]

Still stuck on the Shadowhawk kick after writing the MotW for the IIC, huh IM?   ;)

He's been stuck on that kick for years.  I don't think he's ever going to get off it and, honestly, there's no reason for him to.

A Grasshopper is about the perfect 'mech for someone just starting, not too munchie, not lame.

I'd prefer not to start them on it unless you're just handing them something to play with in a game of mixed skill levels.  There are probably better teaching machines.

[wackrabbit]

I actually end up putting them in similar 'mechs as everyone else, as I like to train recruits in the Grinder. It's a nice short, steep learning curve, and it's a lot of fun.

[Diamondshark]

Aff, the Dervish always seemed undergunned to me, but I only recently have done much with SW mechs, in that setting it works very well.

[Moonsword]

I actually end up putting them in similar 'mechs as everyone else, as I like to train recruits in the Grinder. It's a nice short, steep learning curve, and it's a lot of fun.

Well, in that case, Grasshopper for life!

[IndyRI]

Well the Grasshopper is great for teaching someone everything about the game. Heat, Jumping, ammo regulation, all ranges, while still being durable enough to forgive mistakes. It's a great tool for learning everything at once.

[Moonsword]

I tend to prefer something like an Enforcer or Whitworth for that - Grasshoppers don't really overheat that readily.

[wackrabbit]

I use enforcers and whitworths to teach the basics of ammo explosions. 

[topcat]

I tend to prefer something like an Enforcer or Whitworth for that - Grasshoppers don't really overheat that readily.

Agreed there.  Plus the reduced armor leads to faster fights.  You don't want a potential player's first game to be a snoozefest.

[IndyRI]

No such thing as a snooze fest in a Grasshopper.

[JPArbiter]

there is the Intro Tech Eisenfaust in the 3085 record sheets.  the TRO entry implies that the same mech is a much older design that never got purchased.

[topcat]

No such thing as a snooze fest in a Grasshopper.

If both players jump a lot (and new players tend to when given the option), you get TNs at 9 before range and other mods.  Most of the firepower is geared toward infighting, so you have to get really close to have a decent chance of hitting.  With great armor, nice crit-stuffing, and damage typically falling in 5pt groups, it's easy to drag out a fight between a couple of Grasshoppers.  Their survivability is one of the reasons they're so well-loved.

[IndyRI]

You're missing the point. They're Grasshoppers...... they're awesome and fun by default. Logic and numbers hold no sway over the almighty Grasshopper.

[Col. Chiang]

I'm a fan of two of the three classic 55 trio:  the Shadow Hawk and the Wolverine.  In addition, I like the Vindicator and the Phoenix Hawk (the standard PHX-1 model).  All of them have jump jets, all of them have varied weapons, and all of them fall in the 4/6/x to 6/9/x movement profiles.  The P-Hawk is the only one that I'd have a little trepidation about giving to a newcomer; it isn't particularly forgiving of those who don't keep moving.

Another thing to consider is the possible jealousy issue with some of your players getting metal minis and some getting paper stand-ups.  I'd make an effort to go with one or the other, just to avoid possible complications.

Just some thoughts.