"Favorite Stompy Robot Rules?" Topic

My first miniatures game was Battletech, back in the days before the clan wars. They seemed pretty straightforward and easy to play. Although not really designed for larger scale battles.

After 25+ years I've picked up some more Stompy robots and plenty of vehicles, infantry and air support, but now I'm not sure what rules to use? Classic BattleTech, Strike Operations, the new CAv rules, etc.

Any thoughts and suggestions? Hopefully something that moves fast and easy to use with medium to large numbers. (If I want squad/lance level battles I'll just use classic Battletech.)

Ganesha Games' "Samurai Robots Battle Royale" is what I'm using for most projects now, with "Mech Attack" intended for one crunchier pseudo-Battletech setting. But SRBR for my CAV figures, pseudo-Gundam, etc.

While it moves fast, I'm not sure about battle size though, 8 per side might max it out.

Two Hour Wargames has a mecha game called "No Quarter":

link

Regards,

Scott Chisholm

We mostly do Battletech but I don't know if it's that we LIKE it or that we own it and it's what everybody knows.

I really enjoy CAV. Battletech felt too much like math class for me. I also enjoyed MechWarrior with the clicks, but CAV still remains my go-to game.

nukesnipe,

How does No Quarter compare to the other 5150 rules? (Of which I am not a big fin)

Moe:
Here's a step-by-step battle report by Ed himself:
link

If you don't like the Two Hour Wargames reaction system, you probably won't like No Quarter.

For big battles, you might check out Alplha Strike / Quick Strike. I think the Quick Strike intro rules are available free somewhere on the net.

EDIT: found the Battleforce Quick Start rules:
bg.battletech.com/downloads
The Quick Strike cards sample pack is there, too. See if you like the style of play and go from there.

Moe,

Looks like Stryderg beat me to the post. In any case…

In all honesty, I haven't played it. The mechanics are pretty much the same (Reaction system). Ed has some posts on his blog. Here's a link to the first: link

The other two of interest are dated October 8 and 19, 2015.

Regards,

Scott Chisholm

My favourite is Samurai Robots Battle Royale but I would agree with boy wundyr x. We play 3 mecha-a-side games and it is very fast moving but I am not sure it would work too well with more than about 5 each.

If you want vehicles, infantry and air support as well I would use Gruntz but that would be best with only 30 or so infantry and a few vehicles each.

In addition to the above, Alpha Strike plays well with the ability for combined arms attacks and lots of mechs and vehicles on the table at one time.

Mekatac. Free, fun and fast: link

Thanks for the Ideas. I'll have to look into them.

Second Edition Heavy Gear/Jovian Chronicles and Robotech RPG Tactics for me so far.

Robotech for agility type Mecha, its just the many part figures which is a let down and the company behind it too… but the rules in my little mind is lovely

Heavy Gear, but I like Alpha Strike for Battletech style mechs.

Little love for Stompy Robots on my part except in games like Dirtside 2 where they are no more or less effective than any other combined arms element.

Mechaforce is a fast and simple set of bot rules. Sorta like Battletech light. And you can't beat the price! You can find them here…. link

I own the Robotech rules and some of the robots but never looked at them. And I had forgot about the heavy gear rules.

CAV is a great game pre rage engine addition, fast easy and fun with posts of CAVs. Combined arms works really good too, but stompy bots rule;) Can't say I like the newest version at all. I can also attest to Jovian cronicles as a fun game but as someone else ran the mechanics for myself and the other players I can't tell you what the rules capabilities are

I've been having some fun playing current 40K with just knights and other Stompy robots….

I enjoy Robotech, don't care for CAV rules or Heavy Gear so I started making my own rules set. I've read or looked into a few others like Mekton and the new Horizon Wars and the rules look too simplified to me.

link

Battletech. Up through the 3055-3060 era, but I like the 3025-3050 too.

Chalfant

Battletech was long my go-to game, though I also like Heavy Gear quite a bit. Alpha Strike has sort of displaced both recently though; it definitely hits the sweet of 12 units per side but still plays like Battletech. I'm currently trying to graft the No Quarter Reaction system on to Alpha Strike for solo play. :)

-Will

The thought would be some combined arms action. 3 people per side, maybe 4 mechs, a unit or two of vehicles, infantry and maybe a unit or two of airsupport per side. overall about 30-40 bases/figs per side.

Alpha Strike definitely works for larger games too; I've run Battalion sized games (36 mechs per side) no sweat.

-Will

Mekton.

CA is coming out with a new set of rules aren't they?

Grimm

Osprey is releasing Horizon Wars in April. You might want to check that out.

From Osprey's page on Horizon Wars
" …Combining the feel of real-world combat and tactics with versatile and quick-to-learn rules, Horizon Wars is a 6mm company-level game that incorporates ground forces, aircraft and the titans of the battlefield – mechs. Whether you want to pit a handful of mechs against each other in quick clash of patrols, or line up combined-arms forces for a huge battle, the game remains fast-moving and enjoyable. Also included are full rules for building units from the ground up, allowing players to tailor their forces to suit the mission objectives or their figure collections."

This is what I was looking for, although who knows how good it will be. But I am looking forward to taking a peak.

Battletech is just a good game even with all it's flaws because it's really easy to learn. Even if it does bog down it's a simple game.

I still like the zippy play of Heavy Gear more. Jovian Chronicles could be just as zippy, but the rules try to make vector movement in space as real as possible. Which bogs the game down a little, record keeping of what velocity which unit is moving.

Metkon is great too, unless you're trying to design as that's more math intensive than Battletech's system.

Morpheus1975 and other who mention heavy Gear, which version of Heavy Gear? There is a big difference between 2nd, 3rd, and the current Blitz rules.

I have a copy of Blitz and 2E…..I won a Beta copy of Blitz

Well, we just played the ganesha might monsters an robots rules at Havoc and it was a BLAST. tons of fun. just sayin

Heavy Gear or Jovian Chronicles for up to 4 Mecha per player, though you can stretch it to 6 once you know the rules well.

HGBlitz for lots of mecha.

Robotech RPG Tactics is good for cinematic, high-mobility type bots. It's REALLY good for that, in fact, good enough that I would recommend buying the rulebook as a separate piece if you don't want to fight with the bajillion part Valkyries.

I just wish I could get Wave 2, with the fighters and Mk2 Monsters sometime before GenCon 2017… }:(

I have 3 MK2 monsters coming. Whenever they get made.

Yeah, Robotech is great, but I took their rules and went a step further to create my own with a similar vibe.

Feel free to Share Morpheus :)

link

You should even try Mobile Frame Zero althought is meant for "Lego" Wargaming is worth a try
mobileframezero.com/mfz

Morpheus1975's link requires a FB logon, FYI.

Doug

Sorry, I have no website building skills and this was an easy way to get a group together to assist with fine tuning the game.

I got my copy of Horizon Wars yesterday. I plan to get in aq game this weekend. I'll let the thread know how it goes.

Me let us know, from the stuff I could find seemed Inf and Tanks were generic, more geared to like RoboTech.

battletech has vehicles asd well. my favorite is de morgan with gauss rifles! 45 points of damage! ouch!

When it comes to Stompy Robots it's got to be Classic Battletech for smaller games and Alpha Strike for more massed battles.

Classic battletech was my First miniature game. For squad/lance level actions. It will always be my go to ruleset.