I rarely play video games these days outside of work but I have been getting increasingly interested in getting into Battletech TT. Any recommendations, suggestions or so on getting started with it? Any immediate "house rules" or such that make it either more fun, better or easier to start? Buying recommendations? Weird rambling off the topic - anything!
Well... for starters, there's a lot of useful information posted here: https://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?forums/battletech-harebrained.325/ Besides that, you will learn early on that working for independents is not financially beneficial to you as they have no special faction store. So I would not spend too much time "slumming it" on independent planets. Edit: I just realized you meant TT. Best advice: whether it is ALpha Strike or Classic rules, start SMALL. No more than 4 v 4. Rules for conventional ground forces are easy enough to understand, but utterly avoid using any air units. I would also generally avoid anything but the most basic rules regarding buildings and urban combat. I would also avoid any abnormal enviromental rules (underwater, no atmosphere, etc.) Alpha Strike ruleset is generally faster, simpler and more similar to contemporary modern wargaming (Warhammer 40k). It is "possible", but you typically do not play with customization of units in this form. Regarding AS, I made a whole subforum with helpful links: https://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?forums/alpha-strike-tabletop-simulator.347/ AS houserules can be found here: https://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?forums/rule-tips-additions-gm-tools.350/ Classic ruleset is OG Battletech. It is very detailed and can be fun as long as you keep the battles small, but it's not for everyone. This is the preferred version if you want to customize your unit at all (construction rules are much more straightforward than those used in AS). If you want faster games with Classic rules, using the Megamek client is really the best way to play it as the program does all the hard calculating for you (especially with more than 4 units). However, if you really want the OG Battletech experience, nothing beats the Classic PnP version. We also have a large section of stickied threads with helpful tips for Classic rules: https://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?forums/tabletop.239/ Not as much regarding Classic houserules except for one NOTABLE recommendation (applies only to custom mechs): https://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?threads/house-rule-power-output-aka-medium-laser-nerf.11301/
