tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post5892167156065679926..comments2024-03-27T10:51:27.467+00:00Comments on Paint-it-Pink: Little Big Mechs Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13666947574653683678noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-29187962294883942542012-09-21T16:14:47.224+01:002012-09-21T16:14:47.224+01:00You Sir, are speaking my language! :-)You Sir, are speaking my language! :-) Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13666947574653683678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-48427450042086841542012-09-21T16:13:41.242+01:002012-09-21T16:13:41.242+01:00Doesn't it just, taking hexes and replacing wi...Doesn't it just, taking hexes and replacing with straight inches just doesn't work, in that it changes the flavour of the game, which is my whole point. It is not just a matter of changing hexes to inches and sayingthe game is the same, because clearly it is not.<br /><br />BTW: I did the medium laser article as a response to BT forum post, and it's posted here so it doesn't get lost. Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13666947574653683678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-69613279993004043162012-09-21T14:59:56.929+01:002012-09-21T14:59:56.929+01:00And yet, taking the hexes away changes the flavour...And yet, taking the hexes away changes the flavour of the game quite dramatically.<br /><br />(It's horribly easy to over-analyse BattleTech - your "Love the Medium Laser" post sounds a bit like where I was in the late eighties, drawing expected damage curves for each 'Mech I designed and optimising for planned pilots and situations. One of the reasons why I dropped it around then, apart from the Clan thing and the rule-breaking, was that I found much more success playing a pure numbers game than playing immersively. These days I've regained a bit of balance...)RogerBWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-8940737829187622902012-09-21T14:32:54.678+01:002012-09-21T14:32:54.678+01:00No - no buttons pushed and if anyone should be apo...No - no buttons pushed and if anyone should be apologizing it is me :) I have the mind set where one sees all the possible outcomes and complexities simultaneously and promptly enters into analysis paralysis. <br /><br />"Without respect" - Keep it simple stupid and assume centre to centre ranging and get on with it. ;)<br />PatGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00379668269395518541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-61070871412402367402012-09-21T13:52:17.325+01:002012-09-21T13:52:17.325+01:00Can I ask do you like playing miniature tabletop g...Can I ask do you like playing miniature tabletop games though?<br /><br />For me the hexes are neither here, nor there. When they work they are great. When they hinder a game, not so great.<br /><br />IMO, the reason I get hung up over hexes in BattleTech versus say hexes in OGRE/GEV, is that in the former they represent quite small areas, whereas in the latter they are a metric mile across, and clearly an abstract representation of the terrain being fought over. Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13666947574653683678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-57469872571124772862012-09-21T13:48:38.598+01:002012-09-21T13:48:38.598+01:00What about the problem of shadows?
Once you'v...What about the problem of shadows?<br /><br />Once you've sorted that out I look forward to seeing your product. ;-) Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13666947574653683678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-55528225060195912162012-09-21T13:24:58.770+01:002012-09-21T13:24:58.770+01:00What about an overhead light source that projects ...What about an overhead light source that projects the hexes onto your battle fields?<br />How hard could that be?, and think of the sales potential............Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-77225863299231977572012-09-21T12:31:44.767+01:002012-09-21T12:31:44.767+01:00With respect... Uhm I guess I said something that ...With respect... Uhm I guess I said something that has pushed your buttons? Sorry about that. Writing is an art, not a science. if it were just down to the mathematics we might have a correct answer, but we don't.<br /><br />I take your opinions on board though, but you've kind of preempted my next blog post.<br /><br />However, you did a great job of summarising my point that three hexes represent the average range of combat that takes place between 60 and 150 meters. I should have said that. Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13666947574653683678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-36741219506362192072012-09-21T12:24:48.936+01:002012-09-21T12:24:48.936+01:00Cool, and just to say I'm not looking for spec...Cool, and just to say I'm not looking for specific answers, as I think answers are less important in this kind of situation than questions, which make you think and reassess what you believe to be true.<br /><br />So surprise me. Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13666947574653683678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-72004269864019622022012-09-21T12:16:29.530+01:002012-09-21T12:16:29.530+01:00"Put simply, what do the models represent?&qu..."Put simply, what do the models represent?"<br />Nooooooo! Why would you ask such a question! They represent me wanting to be a kid forever. It isn't about re-creating the Battle of Whatsit, it's about not doing anything of importance for three hours on a Saturday. The models represent our inner 4-year old, believing in Santa and the monster-under-the-bed and that these giant Mechs are really fighting over a moon in the Ford Galaxy. <br /><br />Not the answer you were looking for but your question was just too good to let go... :) <br />I just started reading your blog and am digging it.Skihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07664654852295234357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-45252775251728580322012-09-21T11:53:52.287+01:002012-09-21T11:53:52.287+01:00With respect, I believe you are over thinking the ...With respect, I believe you are over thinking the range question. All a range of three hexes means is that when you average out a large number of engagements in the 60-150 meter range, most take place at 90 meters. <br /><br />To look at it another way, hexes are simply a type of built in measuring stick with ticks every 30 scale meters coupled with a rules set that measures distances only in full ticks. For conversion, the 60 and 150 edge cases do not matter just go with 3 hexes = 90 meters.<br /><br />Of course some complexity (or subtlety if you prefer) can come into play. Flame throwers in real life have notoriously poor ranges often under 50m. If your game system does not allow opposing units in the same hex and your hexes are 100m across, the FT gets its range doubled or more. In a hexless systems this doesn't happen the FT has a maximum range of 50m. Another consideration would be area weapons like unguided rockets. How big an area can they hit? With hexes it is easy - 1 hex, take out the hexes and you can get as complex as you like. Finally in this line, say an average "plasma cannon thingy" has a range of 6 hexes. Take away the hexes you can allow for the Walmart Weapons World version at 5.5 hex equivalent range or the H&H Gunmakers to Her Imperial Majesty version at 6.75 hex equivalent range. <br /><br />Moving onto what do models represent? For most non-skirmish miniatures games, the models are not required at all. Their bases cover the same area on the board that an equivalent actual formation would in the field. For skirmish games, a model represents what it represents be that a tank or a single man. There is some wiggle room since most models are over-sized for the ground scale. This can be addressed by saying all ranges are measured form the head, turret centre or some other agreed upon point. For games like Battletech where single mech models are mixed with bases of infantry you might need to measure ranges from a mech's head or closest infantry base edge. <br /><br />One thing you must be aware of is balancing the quick play advantages of hexes with the (possible) complexity of a miniatures game. Just because one can add detail does not mean one should. <br /><br />To close off this ramble, If I was converting, I would convert the hex ranges as is: 1 hex = 30 m. Area weapons affect all units within 15m of the impact point. Ranges are measured from mech head, turret centre or centre of closest base edge. Everything else remains the same e.g. weapon arcs stay in 60 degree increments. Then I would play a couple of test games and see what needs tweaking. Wash, rinse, repeat until happiness achieved.<br /><br />Have fun and don't drown yourself in the detail.<br /><br /><br /><br />PatGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00379668269395518541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-27601754785056504322012-09-21T10:04:11.118+01:002012-09-21T10:04:11.118+01:00I haven't tried the miniatures ruleset in Stra...I haven't tried the miniatures ruleset in StratOps, but I think that would be my starting point. The BattleTech I know and love is still a hex-based game, though.RogerBWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-82550327223314876302012-09-21T09:59:19.684+01:002012-09-21T09:59:19.684+01:00I did ask about CGL doing some new miniature warga...I did ask about CGL doing some new miniature wargame rules on one of the Battlechats with Herb and got this reply:<br /><br />"A separate book for miniatures-only play? Consider the fact that miniatures play is based on concepts explained in detail across all of the core books, and you might see why a separate book would just be a redundancy. Plus, we want to avoid the "red-headed stepchild effect" like we had with AeroTech." <br /><br />and then this to my follow-up question, which was a yes but...:<br /><br />"That's just it; if we make separate books for miniatures wargaming and regular hex-grid gaming (when the conversions are ultimately so simple), then we'll either be giving the minis gamers a pamphlet and referencing them to the core rules for basic rules anyway, or we'll be reprinting an entire core book series JUST for a small segment of our gaming community. Both options are expenses neither we nor our customer..." <br /><br />end cut off by the software, so fill in the blanks.<br /><br />This makes the Lead Developers position on this matter quite clear. I disagree with it, hence this post. Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13666947574653683678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262220849718806044.post-10070399661739961212012-09-21T09:21:46.182+01:002012-09-21T09:21:46.182+01:00This is why I've always played on the boards r...This is why I've always played on the boards rather than terrain. The whole scale is borked by the fact that a 6-8m 'mech is standing in a 30m hex. what is the weapon distance/range? Is that 1 hex for a MG 30m or something different. I mean, if the firing 'Mech is standing at the back of his hex and the target is standing at the back of his hex, they're actually closer to 60m apart. It gives me a headache!<br /><br />But, yes, I think you're right...it's a board game played with minis, not a miniature wargame. :)Anthony N. Emmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14017952532295866111noreply@blogger.com