BattleTech 3025 - Recruitment - A Time of War and Total Warfare

[TFcommando]

I have an outdated copy of the book then - Fast Learner is definitely a good purchase. I'll mod that in, and put some of my savings towards Sensor Operator.

As far as gear....so the codes are Tech-Availability-Legality, it goes A-B-C-D-E, and the base rating for Equipped 0 is D-B-B.

So, for example, I could get a Disguise Kit since its worst rating is C-B-B, but I cannot get a Basic Lockpick Set since it would be B-A-A/C (Legality too low), unless I had Equipped 1 (Legality max of C). Just to be certain I comprende.

Without any Equipped, you get access to gear that is:

Tech D
Availability B
Legality B

or lower.

The codes are Tech, then Availability for the three time periods... we're in the one in the center, then Legality last.  Availability and Legality for a realm-specific item, such as Vibroblades being marked CC for Capellan Confederation, are one letter higher if you're not in that realm. 

[Stendarr]

The codes are Tech, then Availability for the three time periods... we're in the one in the center, 

Ohhhh, that makes much more sense. Does it say that somewhere and I just missed it?

[TFcommando]

Ohhhh, that makes much more sense. Does it say that somewhere and I just missed it?

It's on page 255 under "Availability," and not real obvious... not with the explanations of availability letter codes elsewhere, for instance. 

[Montagne]

Battletech! How did I miss this one. I absolutely love the setting and since I got my 3D printer a couple of weeks ago I've been churning out battlemechs non-stop. The local setting and story for the lance's involvement seem really interesting. Is there still room for more characters to get involved?

I've read through most of the 9 pages. Am I right in thinking there's no more room for more mechwarrior characters, due to the dropship capacity? (I believe it's possible to mod a Leopard to replace an aerospace bay with another mech bay, if that could be considered.) I had a Mechwarrior in mind, but I can change things as appropriate.

Also, how are we handling what type of mech/fighter each pilot has access to?

[Tavarokk]

(I believe it's possible to mod a Leopard to replace an aerospace bay with another mech bay, if that could be considered.) I had a Mechwarrior in mind, but I can change things as appropriate.

It's highly unlikely that 5-1 Leopards exist because few, if any, owners would specifically want to field one aerospace fighter rather than a pair. 6-0 modification is pretty common, but since we already have a fighter pilot...

Also, how are we handling what type of mech/fighter each pilot has access to?

It has to be a reasonably available (by 3025) light, beyond that just ask.

[Montagne]

It has to be a reasonably available (by 3025) light, beyond that just ask.

All Urbanmechs UM-R60L's is the only sensible lance configuration in that case!

[Tavarokk]

So far it looks like a Panther and either of Jenner or Javeline F models. Dunno about the other two.

My favourite mainstream light chassis is actually Firestarter, but I'm not keen on quad flamethrower setup, and rebuilding it to carry additional lasers instead of those is usually more of a hassle than just getting a medium.

[Montagne]

It's highly unlikely that 5-1 Leopards exist because few, if any, owners would specifically want to field one aerospace fighter rather than a pair. 6-0 modification is pretty common, but since we already have a fighter pilot...It has to be a reasonably available (by 3025) light, beyond that just ask.

Do we have one fighter pilot or two? I thought both Hawkwood & Voidknight's characters were aerospace pilots? With Cessali, TFCommando, JFD99 and yourself having mech piloting skills?

[Tavarokk]

Hawk's Leopard pilot iirc.

[TheGlyphstone]

I swapped some points around to be an aerospace pilot too.

[Montagne]

Ahh then that might be all the places took up. I'll wait to hear from Stendarr.

[TheGlyphstone]

Without any Equipped, you get access to gear that is:

Tech D
Availability B
Legality B

or lower.

The codes are Tech, then Availability for the three time periods... we're in the one in the center, then Legality last.  Availability and Legality for a realm-specific item, such as Vibroblades being marked CC for Capellan Confederation, are one letter higher if you're not in that realm.

So to use the Disguise Kit again, I should be reading it as Tech C, Availability A/B/B (depending on time period), and Legality A? If so, I'll have to ditch my Sonic Stunner as it's Availability C in our time period.

[Hawkwood]

Hawk: Leopard + infantry

Voidknight: Aerospace + Tech
Glyph: Aerospace + Face

JFD99: Mech
Tavarokk: Mech + Tech
Cessali: Mech + Intel
TFCommando: Mech + Deploy SWORD

What we lack is someone with surgery. If Montagne wants to take over driving the bus, I could generate a purely non-combatant...?

[TheGlyphstone]

I'd worry about a too-large group in Tactical Combat situations, though I admittedly don't know how smoothly ATOW TC runs.

[Hawkwood]

I'm entirely happy to miss out on the tactical / vehicular aspect of combat. In that sense, there'd be 7 PCs in any mech battle, rather than with me, only 6.

[Captain Whitebread]

Are you still accepting characters?

I'm not familiar with the character generation system you're using but I am familiar with Battletech and Mechwarrior.  My original books have long since fallen apart.  I'm a huge fan of 3025 tech and loathe the Clans with the very fibre of my being.  Advanced tech turns a game where you need to play your heatscale like a symphony into checkers.

Anyway, I can fill any role, from mechwarrior (from green to elite and from dispossessed to assault) to aerospace as well as armoured corps and logisitics (Kharnov anyone?) to air cavalry (Warrior VTOL for the win!)

As always, I find myself needing to run the game rather than play and would enjoy the chance to have someone else take the big chair.

[Stendarr]

So to use the Disguise Kit again, I should be reading it as Tech C, Availability A/B/B (depending on time period), and Legality A? If so, I'll have to ditch my Sonic Stunner as it's Availability C in our time period.

Yes. If you had Equipped 2 you could take it though.

Battletech! How did I miss this one. I absolutely love the setting and since I got my 3D printer a couple of weeks ago I've been churning out battlemechs non-stop. The local setting and story for the lance's involvement seem really interesting. Is there still room for more characters to get involved?

I hate the feeling of missing a cool game just because you neglected to check for a few days.

Am I right in thinking there's no more room for more mechwarrior characters, due to the dropship capacity? (I believe it's possible to mod a Leopard to replace an aerospace bay with another mech bay, if that could be considered.)

When you mod a Leopard for more 'Mech capacity it usually takes up both aero hangers to put in another 'Mech bay, such as the clan Broadsword.

Are you still accepting characters?

I think what I'm going to do is let you two sit on a waiting list of sorts. That way if someone drops out we can put one of you in. And maybe if we end up with like 4 people on the waiting list I might run a second game.

Alternatively, if you two are really keen, you could be non-'Mech/aero pilots. The crew still has space for an officer/captain, a couple of medics, a cook, a few technicians, a dropship engineer, two or three gunners, maybe a cook or janitor.

You two could be part of an infantry squad if you wanted to see "vehicle" combat. I'm not sure how fun that would be. You might also be infiltrators, diplomats, or something of the like. A Time of War has plenty of rules to support diplomacy, espionage, and person to person combat. We could even run your missions in tandem with other things.

I'm just becoming a little weary of having a group that is too big. With 7 (6 in combat) already it's getting there.

[JFD99]

I think it would be really fun to have a couple of mech technician PCs. I could see the mech pilots becoming rather close friends with the person who fixes the mech they break time and time again

"I broke the left arm."
"AGAIN?! It's the third time this week! I'm running out of arms!"
"I got two right here baby."
"Don't push your luck!"

Of course it could be a little boring if they have to sit down while the mechs are out fighting unless they can have a secondary role.

[Stendarr]

"How many fucking times do I have to tell you to stop trying to Death from Above people!"

If they do choose to be on the ship without a vehicle I'd definitely give them something to do with their day while the 'Mechs are out fighting.

[Captain Whitebread]

My first ever character was a tech warrior. He drove a hover tank. His favourite saying was “when they fight, I’m shit. When they break I’m God.”

By all means put me on a waiting list.

[Voidknight]

Just so long as the aero's don't try a death from above amarite? =D

[Stendarr]

Just so long as the aero's don't try a death from above amarite? =D

House Kurita style.

My first ever character was a tech warrior. He drove a hover tank. His favourite saying was “when they fight, I’m shit. When they break I’m God.”

By all means put me on a waiting list.

Sounds good.

[Hawkwood]

"Death from Above" with a Leopard: [here]

[Voidknight]

Gotta say, pretty psyched for the start here! We going to open on some action or on a bit of a character peice?

[JFD99]

Same here! I'm guessing we'll start with the party coming together or something but I dunno what Standarr has in store for us xD