BattleTech version of Chess

[Colt Ward]

So . . . Chess is a classical wargame, we could perhaps consider it an ancestor of BattleTech . . . so, while bored with a slow work day, I started pondering how you might play a BattleTech version of chess.  First, the board should be 2x2 randomly rolled from the terrain group selections (Plains, Hills, etc).  For MM players I would say either 2x2 of the classic boards, or some of the better 30x30 up to 35x35.  I really like the option of double blind, but I understand that is harder to do with table top.  Second, I had to evaluate the balance of forces while each was to be distinct.  Armor would be the Pawns since I did not wish to mess with infantry.  Mechs would be the queen and knights for their mobility, to balance it there would be two 'queens' so each force would have a lance.  The Knight must have Jump Jets for its unique movement pattern (with one exception).  To encourage combined arms, I opted for the Rooks to be Assault BA and Bishops to be VTOLs.  Finally the King should be a command unit . . . like a Mobile HQ!

While I could have gone generic, to reflect the diversity of BattleTech I decided to create a Chess army for each major faction.  Iconic or important mechs (like Xin Sheng designs for the Cappies) should represent their factions on the battlefields.  The flavor of the faction should also be represented in the weapons generally available, such as MRMs and C3 for the Dracs, TSM for the Cappies, and BFGs for the Steiners.  I also tried to arrange the weights to reflect what we might consider more common.

So, I have not play tested this, BV matched, or even selected the VTOLs . . . but give it a look and tell me what you think.

Fed Suns Force
Armor Company (Pawns, 4/5)
1st Lance
4 Patton Tanks
2nd Lance
4 Patton (Ultra) Tanks
3rd Lance
4 Vedette

VTOL Flight (Bishops, 4/5)

Mech Lance (Queens/Knights)
Jagermech 7F (Queen Prime, 3/4)
Argus 4D (Queen Alternate, 4/5)
Dervish 8D (King's Knight, 4/4)
Wolverine II -7H (Queen's Knight 4/4)

Demi BA Company (Rook, 3/5)
2 Hauberk Squads

Command Section (King)
Mobile HQ


Lyran Commonwealth Force
Armor Company (Pawns, 4/5)
1st Lance
4 Manticore Tanks
2nd Lance
4 Rommel (Gauss) Tanks
3rd Lance
4 4 Myrmidon

VTOL Flight (Bishops, 4/5)

Mech Lance (Queens/Knights)
Fafnir -5 (Queen Prime, 4/4)
Defiance -3S (Queen Alternate, 4/5)
Griffin -1S (King's Knight, 4/5)
Griffin -6S (Queen's Knight, 4/5)

Demi BA Company (Rook, 3/5)
Fenrir (SRM), Fenrir (ERML)

Command Section (King)
Mobile HQ


Draconis Combine Force
Armor Company (Pawns)
1st Lance
4 Bulldog Medium Tank
2nd Lance
4 Zhukov Heavy Tank
3rd Lance
4 Scorpion

VTOL Flight (Bishops)

Mech Lance (Queens/Knights)
Katana CRK-5003-CM (Queen Prime, 4/5, form network)
No-Daichi -2KO (Queen Alternate, 4/4)
Panther -C (King's Knight, 4/5)
Firestarter -OE (Queen's Knight, 4/5)

Demi BA Company (Rook, 3/5)
2 Kanazuchi Squads

Command Section (King)
Mobile HQ


Capellan Confederation Force
Armor Company (Pawns)
1st Lance
4 Po Heavy Tanks
2nd Lance
4 Po (LGR) Heavy Tanks
3rd Lance
4 Po II Heavy Tanks

VTOL Flight (Bishops)

Mech Lance (Queen, Knights)
Lao Hu -2B (Queen Prime, 4/5)
Thunder -1L (Queen Alternate, 4/5)
Ti Ts'ang -9H (King's Knight, 4/4)
Men Shen -O (Queen's Knight, 4/5)

Demi BA Company (Rook, 3/5)
2 Kopi Squads

Command Section (King)
Mobile HQ

[Archangel]

From what you have listed, it implies that pawns are stronger than rooks and the king has virtually no offensive/defensive power (and couldn't stand up to a pawn).

[JoeJones]

From what you have listed, it implies that pawns are stronger than rooks and the king has virtually no offensive/defensive power (and couldn't stand up to a pawn).

Which is not entirely inaccurate: The pawn captures diagonally, which the rook cannot do, and can be promoted to any other piece. (Ask Ma-Tsu Kai about the great strength of the pawn. See Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, pg. 65)

The king, on the other hand, does have some combat utility, but cannot withstand any attack. In fact, any threat upon the king must be answered immediately lest the game is lost.

[monbvol]

See I've had thoughts about going a slightly different direction.

I've thought about getting minis in sufficient quantity to make chess sets with.  I've worked out most of a generic Inner Sphere set and parts of a generic Clan set.  I am trying to think up more faction specific ones.

Inner Sphere:
Urbanmechs would be pawns.
Hollanders Rooks.
Hollander II Bishop.  Though I would like something a bit more distinct for this so still thinking on this a bit but it'll do for now.
Axman for the Knight.
Atlas for the King.
Queen as yet undetermined.  Starting to lean towards Banshee.

Clan set:
Urbanmech IIC for Pawns.
Vulture C for Rooks.
Bishop as yet undetermined.
Summoner for Knights.
Kodiak for King.
Hellstar for Queen.

[Colt Ward]

Well, I was implying that a Rook is more like Assault BA when it Castles.

[monbvol]

Well I do imagine I may have to look to BA at some point in making more faction specific sets either way.

[JoeJones]

If you're looking to make sets for a standard chess game using Battletech minis, I'd suggest using battle armor for pawns and 'Mechs for the power pieces.

For example, a Capellan set (IMO) would look like this:

Pawns: Fa Shih BA
Rooks: Catapult
Knights: Ti Ts'ang
Bishops: Vindicator
Queen: Jinggau
King: Yu Huang

[TS_Hawk]

I like the idea you have here Colt. 

[guardiandashi]

there was a battletech "battlechess" option in the old "contracts book"

the "pawns" were bug mechs stingers and wasps
the "king" was an atlas
the queen was a banshee I think

basically the chess game played out like normal chess but when a piece was "taken" you put the 2 relavent pieces on a map and they could battle it out, (basically pieces could fight to avoid being taken)

[Caturix]

You forgot the Free Worlds League.

[Colt Ward]

Not really, I was just trying to decide if I wanted to do a complete FWL or a fragmented (IE, Oriente, Marik CW, Tamarind, Andurien or Regulan flavors).  Its still an undecided in my mind.

[I am Belch II]

Battletech Chess....im sure its been tried a couple of dozen times.