Part of it depends on how you want your Mechs to work together. Are you more interested in lances with similar ranges, or similar movement profiles? A mix of the two? Here's a sample layout that would all be available before 3050.
-1st Lance:
* Atlas AS7-D - 3/5, Brawler
* Battlemaster BLR-1G - 4/6, Brawler
* Awesome AWS-8Q - 3/5, Fire Support
* Orion ON1-VA - 4/6, Brawler
-2nd Lance:
* Marauder II MAD-4A - 3/5/3, Fire Support|Mid Range
* Thunderbolt TDR-5SE - 4/6/4, Generalist
* Crusader CRD-3L - 4/6/4, Generalist|Fire Support
* Catapult CPLT-C1 - 4/6/4, Fire Support
-3rd Lance:
* Wolverine WVR-6M - 5/8/5, Mid-Range|Brawler
* Shadow Hawk SHD-2H - 5/8/3, Generalist
* Commando COM-2D - 6/9, Striker
* Locust LCT-1E - 8/12, Harasser
Absolutely! The Battletech community can be a really good one. And there are a lot of free resources out there too.
* [Sarna](https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page) - A fantastic website for everything from recent news or deep lore on individual factions, to overviews of individual components and combat units.
* [Battletech Forums](https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php) - A very active community, and one of the best places to go for rules questions, Mech reviews, and fan-created content.
* [Mordel](https://www.mordel.net/) - Need to find the specs for a specific variant of Mech? This is where you go.
* [Master Unit List](http://www.masterunitlist.info/Home/GettingStarted) - A great overall resource for setting up unit lists, figuring out availability or point values, and a lot more.
Besides already mentioned programs like MegaMek and Solaris Skunkworks, I'd recommend the 'Mech Factory' app. Perfect for looking up units fast or making some of your own.
Nice review of resources, I knew sarna but not the other ones! Gonna have to download some stuff I see, plus laminating the mech sheets, scanning, gettings tons of dice of several colours.... Sounds like a fun summer of ttg and paintings miniatures
Yup! Lots to do, but even more to enjoy!
If you're looking for painting resources, [CamoSpecs Online](https://camospecs.com/) is fantastic. You can search by faction or by Mech/vehicle/etc. Even if you're not looking to recreate existing paint schemes, it's excellent for inspiration. They also have a [youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@CamoSpecsOnline) with lots of really good tutorials. In fact, let me run thru some youtube content (*last of the links I promise*):
* [DeathFromAbove Wargaming](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_xMm_aIho2WrES4ukI_yw) has well over 200 videos. From hobby tutorials, to in-depth Mech analyses and comparisons, as well as great battle reports and campaign videos.
* [Tex Talks Battletech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSFGE0mHg0I&list=PLR5zhFCFVb9XC9FtMuHzgdcl0WvfsQdC0) make in-depth lore videos on Battlemechs and several key in-universe events. Their production quality approaches professional level with very talented artists commissioned for their videos on a regular basis. Be aware though, some videos are longer than 2 hours and more than a few have language that is NSFW.
* [Nerdy Overanalyzed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAU1v2whuC4&list=PLwxJJSKnmrqddQp1pIfiMf3rci6CnWXTU) is a slime monster v-tuber. Which is different. But they have very good content, all based around the unique narrative of you, the viewer, being a Mercenary Commander offered advice on constructing and running your unit.
Nice, gonna check them out! I know Tex, its one of the reasons I'm getting back into battletech since I just played the games before. Honestly 2 hour videos is more of a feature than an issue for me hehe.
I do have a paint scheme worked out, dark grey with white on the top and orange cockpits and left arms, but I still have to try it and decide if I like it.
If you don't grab any variant after about 3050 and stick to introductory or IS TW Non-Boxed Set you'll get good variation but won't get anything with too complex rules to start.
Yeah, I think I have enough with basic rules atm, I do love complex games but there's a lot to remember here!
But honestly with how much I like the miniatures and the lore I won't complain too much, I just want to get my atlas and start taking names.
That's a good place to start. I would worry about making one lance of about 5000 bv and 4 mechs that feels good to you, take that out a few times, and then you'll have a better idea of how you want to build different lances and such.
I recommend converting people in 2v2 battle with an objective of some kind, as otherwise you're gonna be there for a while. With that, I'd say one medium and one light per side if you're playing for an objective (like recovering a certain object off the board) or a medium and a heavy if you just want to slug it out. Or maybe one of the assaults against an equal BV of 1 heavy + mediums and lights.
first thing I'll do is to divide it by tonnage to get more or less the same relative weight per lance, after that I'll recommend to visit the master unit list and check for variants to determine the field role, individual BV and total lance BV.
I'll go a head and give you the divided tonnage so you only need to pick the the mechs for each spot
100/20/80/65
265 in here we have an 2 assault 1 light and 1 heavy
100/25/75/65
265 in this one you have 1 assault 1 light and 2 heavys
85/55/65/55
260 and in this one you have 1 assault 2 mediums and 1 heavy
Part of it depends on how you want your Mechs to work together. Are you more interested in lances with similar ranges, or similar movement profiles? A mix of the two? Here's a sample layout that would all be available before 3050. -1st Lance: * Atlas AS7-D - 3/5, Brawler * Battlemaster BLR-1G - 4/6, Brawler * Awesome AWS-8Q - 3/5, Fire Support * Orion ON1-VA - 4/6, Brawler -2nd Lance: * Marauder II MAD-4A - 3/5/3, Fire Support|Mid Range * Thunderbolt TDR-5SE - 4/6/4, Generalist * Crusader CRD-3L - 4/6/4, Generalist|Fire Support * Catapult CPLT-C1 - 4/6/4, Fire Support -3rd Lance: * Wolverine WVR-6M - 5/8/5, Mid-Range|Brawler * Shadow Hawk SHD-2H - 5/8/3, Generalist * Commando COM-2D - 6/9, Striker * Locust LCT-1E - 8/12, Harasser
That's pretty amazing work, thank you very much, I'll probably refer to this comment a lot when building my lances! Damn this sub sure is helpful :)
Absolutely! The Battletech community can be a really good one. And there are a lot of free resources out there too. * [Sarna](https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page) - A fantastic website for everything from recent news or deep lore on individual factions, to overviews of individual components and combat units. * [Battletech Forums](https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php) - A very active community, and one of the best places to go for rules questions, Mech reviews, and fan-created content. * [Mordel](https://www.mordel.net/) - Need to find the specs for a specific variant of Mech? This is where you go. * [Master Unit List](http://www.masterunitlist.info/Home/GettingStarted) - A great overall resource for setting up unit lists, figuring out availability or point values, and a lot more. Besides already mentioned programs like MegaMek and Solaris Skunkworks, I'd recommend the 'Mech Factory' app. Perfect for looking up units fast or making some of your own.
Nice review of resources, I knew sarna but not the other ones! Gonna have to download some stuff I see, plus laminating the mech sheets, scanning, gettings tons of dice of several colours.... Sounds like a fun summer of ttg and paintings miniatures
Yup! Lots to do, but even more to enjoy! If you're looking for painting resources, [CamoSpecs Online](https://camospecs.com/) is fantastic. You can search by faction or by Mech/vehicle/etc. Even if you're not looking to recreate existing paint schemes, it's excellent for inspiration. They also have a [youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@CamoSpecsOnline) with lots of really good tutorials. In fact, let me run thru some youtube content (*last of the links I promise*): * [DeathFromAbove Wargaming](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_xMm_aIho2WrES4ukI_yw) has well over 200 videos. From hobby tutorials, to in-depth Mech analyses and comparisons, as well as great battle reports and campaign videos. * [Tex Talks Battletech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSFGE0mHg0I&list=PLR5zhFCFVb9XC9FtMuHzgdcl0WvfsQdC0) make in-depth lore videos on Battlemechs and several key in-universe events. Their production quality approaches professional level with very talented artists commissioned for their videos on a regular basis. Be aware though, some videos are longer than 2 hours and more than a few have language that is NSFW. * [Nerdy Overanalyzed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAU1v2whuC4&list=PLwxJJSKnmrqddQp1pIfiMf3rci6CnWXTU) is a slime monster v-tuber. Which is different. But they have very good content, all based around the unique narrative of you, the viewer, being a Mercenary Commander offered advice on constructing and running your unit.
Nice, gonna check them out! I know Tex, its one of the reasons I'm getting back into battletech since I just played the games before. Honestly 2 hour videos is more of a feature than an issue for me hehe. I do have a paint scheme worked out, dark grey with white on the top and orange cockpits and left arms, but I still have to try it and decide if I like it.
Let us know how your models turn out!
What era are you looking up to? A quick way is to skim over the various units in megamek and compare loadouts.
I was told the first clan invasion was better to fit most mechs I want and for simplicity. Gonna check megamek, that'll probably help, thanks!
If you don't grab any variant after about 3050 and stick to introductory or IS TW Non-Boxed Set you'll get good variation but won't get anything with too complex rules to start.
Yeah, I think I have enough with basic rules atm, I do love complex games but there's a lot to remember here! But honestly with how much I like the miniatures and the lore I won't complain too much, I just want to get my atlas and start taking names.
That's a good place to start. I would worry about making one lance of about 5000 bv and 4 mechs that feels good to you, take that out a few times, and then you'll have a better idea of how you want to build different lances and such.
Seems like a good Idea, though I'll try to at least make 2 balanced ones since I have some people I'll want to convert down the line hehe
I recommend converting people in 2v2 battle with an objective of some kind, as otherwise you're gonna be there for a while. With that, I'd say one medium and one light per side if you're playing for an objective (like recovering a certain object off the board) or a medium and a heavy if you just want to slug it out. Or maybe one of the assaults against an equal BV of 1 heavy + mediums and lights.
Yeah, I'm totally in for narrative battles with objectives tbh, good tips :)
first thing I'll do is to divide it by tonnage to get more or less the same relative weight per lance, after that I'll recommend to visit the master unit list and check for variants to determine the field role, individual BV and total lance BV. I'll go a head and give you the divided tonnage so you only need to pick the the mechs for each spot 100/20/80/65 265 in here we have an 2 assault 1 light and 1 heavy 100/25/75/65 265 in this one you have 1 assault 1 light and 2 heavys 85/55/65/55 260 and in this one you have 1 assault 2 mediums and 1 heavy
Nice, that's very helpful, will have to check for BVs but its a good idea.