Intro Scenarios

[jamesbeil]

I'm running some intro scenarios for some new players this week, all of whom are familiar with tabletop gaming but only one of whom has played Battletech before. I'm thinking it would be better to give them two or three 'Mechs each, so they get a sense of the tactics involved in the game but I'm not sure how to simply balance it while making sure each player gets a proper taste of how the different 'Mech classes work?

I've got two sets of the old intro box from the 2000s, the new box from last year, some Urbanmechs, an extra Vindicator, Awesome, Charger and Firestarter from the lance pack and a load of Clan 'Mechs I probably won't use.

Ideally it's going to be some sort of game beyond 'blow up the other guys' but I'm not sure if that might be best so the players can just enjoy blowing stuff up in the 31st century?

[Daryk]

If they're that new, "blow up the other guy" is appropriate, and they'll probably enjoy it more.

Using identical 'mechs on each side would be ideal for a first outing.

[Hellraiser]

I agree.

Pure Combat is very appropriate for training sessions.

Get them used to the mechanics before you toss in Mission Objectives.

[SteelRaven]

Attack or defend would be a simple enough scenario if you looking for something more than Red vs Blue death match. 

[Colt Ward]

You might look to Sartis topic for ideas but . . . recently they released Chaos Campaign Succession Wars which should give you some scenario ideas and balanced force set ups that use the minis you have on hand.  I do agree with others though, last man standing or maybe capture the flag would be the appropriate game types.

[Sartris]

There’s an old FASA book you can get on PDF - First Strike! was designed to be the follow up volume to the 4th Ed box in 1996. It’s got nine basic scenarios in it as well as one of the more succinct tactics guide I’ve seen. You can find the record sheets in Record Sheets: Succession Wars. The last four missions use citytech 2nd ed, which includes buildings, infantry, and vehicles.

https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-first-strike-pdf
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/64062

[Cubby]

Using identical 'mechs on each side would be ideal for a first outing.

IIRC, the old "First Strike" book's first few scenarios were set up that way.

recently they released Chaos Campaign Succession Wars which should give you some scenario ideas and balanced force set ups that use the minis you have on hand.

That's probably a very good second stop if they get a taste for the game from an initial playthrough, and want to have a linked campaign.

[Weirdo]

My favorite intro scenario remains one from the old 3rd Edition intro box. You had one standard Battletech map, one player got a Griffin and a Stinger, while the other got a Wolverine and a Wasp, classic standard models all. It's a basic brawl, but the twist is that you win as soon as you destroy ANY of the opponent's mechs. So you can choose to play it safe and keep your bug mech behind cover while your medium does the work, but you might be at a firepower disadvantage if the other player chooses to bring both mechs forward(though if they do, they're risking a quick defeat if their bug falls).

[Daryk]

I don't remember that one, but it does sound pretty cool!  :thumbsup:

[Colt Ward]

It would definitely be a answer to the 'why have a light mech on the table' for a game.  A bit of hide and seek would make it interesting.

[Chromatism]

There’s an old FASA book you can get on PDF - First Strike! was designed to be the follow up volume to the 4th Ed box in 1996. It’s got nine basic scenarios in it as well as one of the more succinct tactics guide I’ve seen. You can find the record sheets in Record Sheets: Succession Wars. The last four missions use citytech 2nd ed, which includes buildings, infantry, and vehicles.

https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-first-strike-pdf
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/64062

I've been looking to beef up my list of scenarios. Thank you! This is exactly what I was after.