ScrapYard Armory

Time 2020-10-26 10:03:52

Web Name: ScrapYard Armory

WebSite: http://www.scrapyardarmory.com

ID:94830

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ScrapYard,Armory,

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This is the first of many models I will probably be printing this year and shows just a little of what my Ender 3 is capable of.The model is available on Thingiverse from the talented Erik Gustafson (Vergotterung). Nozzle 0.4Layer height 0.2mm 20% infill w/Supports 62 degree overhang zdist 0.28 x/y dist 0.8 Print time 2 Hours 45 Minutes I like how the model came out. I need to do another one in a more neutral color.It’s been a long time. I wonder if anyone is still checking in on the ScrapYard for new content.For those faithful few still pining for updates, today is your day. Just as the franchise seeks the attention of new and old audiences alike, we will relight the flames of this humble blog.Anyone who keeps a close eye on the tabletop BattleTech scene are probably well aware of the runaway success that is the recent Clan Boxset Kickstarter.  Catalyst Game Labs kicked off the campaign and was inundated with pledges of support. The campaign funded quickly and crossed the one million dollar mark and headed into the heart of the campaign with a full head of steam.It is great to see this kind of fervor over the BattleTech universe. With the success of this Kickstarter, it seems logical that we would see more such campaigns in the future.Back in the day, I was a minor contributor to the original SSW program. When the code base changed hands from LostInSpace to SkyHigh, I tagged along, always keeping the program in my view. When SkyHigh chose to pass the development torch, I was there. I had it in my head that I would be able to tackle the continued development of this massive suite of programs but life had other ideas.In the meantime I moved the code to GitHub and more of less kept vigil over the account always believing that one day I would have the time to support it. That day did not come, not for me. But something did happen eventually. Imagine my surprise when I got an email notification for a pull request on the oft forgotten repository.After some brief discussions with the new and energetic developers I passed over control of the repository to them. I’ll stay on the team for the time being. Maybe one day I’ll be able to contribute in earnest again. For now I am elated to see development work continue and releases start once again.You can follow along on GitHub or even find a way to contribute in any way you can.Earlier this year I decided to treat myself and buy a 3D printer. 3D printing has been on my mind for ages but until recently they have been too expensive for me to even consider. But today there are many affordable printers with large build volumes and good quality.I bought a Creality Ender 3 for around $230 and spent a good $50 or so on various upgrades. After going through my first kilogram of PLA I can report that I am impressed with the quality. The printer takes some getting used to (3D printing will almost always be a learning process) but once I had the machine dialed in I could print with abandon.I’ll plan on sharing more about my journey in the world of 3D printing, and its application to my BattleTech hobby in future posts which will cover upgrades, models, tips, and tricks.  Over the last few years I’ve been at least somewhat busy producing custom token sets for use in BattleTech and other games. You can find them on TheGameCrafter. I have ideas for more tokens, and possibly finishing up those custom cut building sets.I don’t go to nearly as many conventions as I used to. This year the only convention left on my radar is Pax Unplugged in Philadelphia. I’m not sure exactly how much time I’ll have for some BattleTech games, but I may have to make an effort to do something, even if it’s as simple as an introductory Grinder.Time marches on.  Looking forward to what the future holds. If you are out there, give me a Lima Charlie Posted under ArticlesI m always looking for ways to improve my map based BattleTech experience.  Within the last year The Game Crafter, a print on demand board game manufacturer, has allowed customers to create their own custom laser cut chipboard.  One of the first things I thought about was 3D buildings.  After three iterations, here is what I ve come up with. I ll let the video do the rest of the talking and eventually I hope to have these for sale for anyone who wants to pick them up.  Still are a few rough edges to clean up.Posted under TerrainThe following objective based battle was played out using the BattleForce rules in Strategic Operations.  Opposing forces from Steiner and Kurita face off to control vital objectives on the battlefield.Each force consisted of a full Mech Battalion with an additional Assault Command Lance (40 Mechs for each player!).TO EDownload the Hostile_Borders_TOandE record sheets as a PDF.ObjectivesVictory points are scored during the game by eliminating opposing lances (3 points) and controlling the three objectives on the board each turn.  The center objective is worth 3 VP each turn while the other two are worth 2 VP.Objectives are controlled by having the majority of units adjacent to the objective marker.  Control is checked and scored at the end of each turn.Objectives block movement but do not block line of sight.DeploymentSteiner lines up their forces evenly across their map edge.  To the North, a company of lights and mediums look to speed their way towards the closest objective while to the South a heavier force looks to navigate the wooded terrain to contest the far objective.Kurita meanwhile sets up heavy in the middle, to make use of the bridge to get the majority of their non-jump capable lances across the river.  Light lances stretch out to the North and South flanks looking to gain ground and make advances on the objectives.Turn 1 Kurita wins InitiativeThe first turn sees both forces move at top speed towards the objectives.  Kurita remains clumped towards the middle of the battle while Steiner remains spread out.  Light lances are making top speed to nearest objectives.Victory Points: Steiner 0, Kurita 0Turn 2 Kurita wins InitiativeBoth forces continue their march towards each other with both sides using Light lances to secure one objective.Opposing forces remain out of range for the time being. Victory Points: Steiner 2, Kurita 2Turn 3 Steiner wins InitiativeSteiner manages to race a heavy lance into position to secure the center objective while the main component of Kurita forces struggle with the terrain.  At the same time, most of the Kurita Heavies are nearing prime positions on the hill overlooking the center of the battle.  Defensive positions are setup around the North and South objectives while opposing forces both probe at long range.Weapons are finally finding their range as missiles, lasers, and autocannons erupt along the divide between the two forces.At the top of the map a Kurita Jenner crumbles under combined fire from a Steiner medium lance.  A Kurita Trebuchet has its head shot off by long range fire.  Return fire scatters damage to armor.A Kurita Heavy lance of Archers uses their height advantage to line up shots against the Steiner lances securing the center.  Missile rain down inflicting heavy damage to a Steiner Heavy lance.  However, damage is done mostly to armor as Kurita selected to spread out shots instead of concentrating fire.Victory Points: Steiner 7, Kurita 4Turn 4 Kurita wins InitiativeSteiner establishes a defensive stance and secures cover where possible.  The Steiner Heavies to the South are slowly working their way through terrain to support a Light Lance which retreats slightly into cover.Near the North a probing Steiner Medium Lance is engaged by a Kurita Light and Medium Lance while in the center, Kurita lines up all three Heavies to prey on the lone Steiner Heavy Lance securing the center objective.To the North the combined Kurita fire kills off a Phoenix Hawk while return fire scours armor but little else.In the center, the Kurita Heavies rain death upon the Steiner Heavy near the objective and decimate three of four Mechs, reducing them to slag.  Return fire concentrates on the Kurita Archers but can only peel away armor. Victory Points: Steiner 12, Kurita 6Turn 5 Steiner wins InitiativeReeling from the withering firepower of the Kurita Heavies, Steiner forces retreat from the center objective.  The nearly destroyed Steiner Heavy Lance sulks backwards for cover.  Kurita seizes the momentum and secures the center while striking at the Steiner controlled objective in the North.  Steiner consolidates its forces to counter the assault on the North objective while continuing to spar with forces in the South. Steiner Heavies continue their painfully slow march to join the fray.Concentrated fire from both sides tears armor and structure apart.  A Steiner Sentinel blows up in an ammo explosion.  To the North the Steiners begin making up casualties as they tear apart one of the Kurita Medium lances, securing a first complete lance kill.Steiner Light lances lose two Commandos and the Command Lance takes heavy damage and critical hits to a Zeus s weapons.  Luckily several volleys from the Kurita Archer lance fail to find their targets. Victory Points: Steiner 17, Kurita 11Turn 6 Kurita wins InitiativeSteiner pushes into the South objective, finally supported by their Heavy lances.  Steiner Mediums run flanking maneuvers using available cover.  The Steiner Command lance reinforces the North objective against the sustained Kurita assault.Kurita presses the Northern attack with Heavies from the center, leaving the Archer lance to control the center objective.  Kurita forces in the South make best use of available cover to attempt to counter the fresh Steiner lances now engaged.The Steiner Heavies in the South expertly divide their fire to fully obliterate the defending Kurita Medium lance.  The final return fire scratches some armor but can do little more before crumbling.  The defending Kurita Lights manage to combine fire to destroy a Hatchetman and cripple a Sentinel.In a surprising long range attack, the Kurita Command lance almost completely destroys a Steiner Medium lance.To the North, both forces trade volleys shedding armor and trading critical hits.  As a whole the Steiner forces, using the woods to their advantage, seem to come out better.  A second Kurita lance, a Medium, meets its doom while several Steiner lances are hanging on by a tread.Victory Points: Steiner 22, Kurita 14Turn 7 Kurita wins InitiativeSteiner fades from the Northern objective, still fighting to contest the objective but forcing the Kurita forces to fight for every inch.  Steiner Medium lances in the center of the battle turn into harassers behind the Kurita lines.  Kurita does not choose to pursue the harassers and reinforces the fight for the North and South objectives with it s Heavies while the Command Lance holds the center.Kurita loses the last of a Light Lance while its other two lances hold the line while defending the Southern objective.  One Archer goes down while the rest of the Kurita Heavy lance suffers minor damage.Steiner loses another Commando while multiple lances shed armor to Kurita attacks.  A surprise long range attack on the Steiner Command Lance scores multiple Weapon criticals. Victory Points: Steiner 27, Kurita 19Turn 8 Steiner wins InitiativeKurita forces shrink back from attacking the Southern objective to secure the center.  The battle over the North continues with Kurita pushing with its heavy lances.Weapons fires pours across the battle.  The Steiner forces decimate one of the Kurita Heavy lances, downing two Mechs.  The Steiner Heavies take major damage but manage to only lose a Thunderbolt.  The Steiner Command lance also takes heavy damage.  Armor slags off in droves but critical hit rolls come up empty. Victory Points: Steiner 29, Kurita 24Turn 9 Steiner wins InitiativeKurita concentrates the attack on the North while conceding the Southern objective.  The last Kurita Light lance, sensing the end is near, moves to contest the Southern objective to draw at least one if not two Steiner lances away.Steiner makes a surprise move and mostly abandons the Southern objective, leaving it only contested with a single lance.  All other Steiner units collapse towards the center to face off against the Kurita Command lance and the Heavy Archer lance.To the South, the Kurita Light lance is destroyed by SRM volleys but not before touching off an ammo explosion in a Commando.Kurita kills off two Steiner Command Mechs while stripping another of armor.  Return fire from the Steiner s cracks two Kurita Command Mechs, weapon critting an Awesome.  Both Command lances pay a heavy price this turn but somehow remain intact.Victory Points: Steiner 32, Kurita 29Turn 10 Kurita wins InitiativeSteiner forces continue to collapse on the center objective.  Kurita escapes the center while securing their hold on the Northern objective.  The Southern objective is left to Steiner who guards it with the remnants of a Light lance.Weapons fire is sporadic and many previously damaged Mechs are felled by opportunistic shots. One more Kurita lance meets its end while several Steiner lances are left limping but still alive. Victory Points: Steiner 40, Kurita 31After the Dust Settles .The final score does not tell the full story of this battle.  It was a lot closer than it may initially appear.  Kurita s Heavy lances decimated Steiner forces for the first half of the game.  Many Steiner lances were left hanging on with a single unit remaining.  A quirk of the scoring system meant that Steiner held onto the lead throughout most of the game but it was a lot closer than that.The second half of the game saw Steiner gain superior position against the pressing Kurita attack and begin to lose some individual battles while winning the war.  A great game in the end.Posted under After Action ReportCitadel of DevotionThe opening short fiction of Turning Points: Epsilon Eridani takes place over two time periods.  We are first presented with an enthusiastic vision of promise and new beginnings as Comstar unearths the location of a sought after cache.  Euphoria fades away to despair within a few short years.  As the Republic closes the noose on the Comstar s position, fighting becomes man to man in cluttered hallways filled with the battered and broken remnants of those loyal to Jerome Blake s misguided visions.A bit more macabre than usual (and Battletech is full of macabre scenes) the opening fiction thrusts us into the world of Epsilon Eridani and is a well written introduction to the birth and destruction we are soon to learn about in the pages to come.Epsilon EridaniThe opening section of the PDF covers a brief overview of the planet, its major geological features as well as a bit of history.  Epsilon Eridani seems to have a gifted life.  A majority water world, it suffers from frequent rain storms and is replete with numerous stockpiles of natural resources as well as a few Star League caches.Quite the bounty if you ask me.  I don t think I ve seen a BattleTech world featured in a Turning Points PDF with this much going for it outside of a major capital.Map tables are provided for those wanting representative battlefields.  An interesting note is the presence of two tables for other planets mentioned in the tracks.  Not all of the action takes place on the battlefields of Eridani.Random Assignment TablesTables are provided for four distinct forces that will make up the conflict on this world.  Only Mechs are represented, which is a shame.  I always look forward to combined arms games when encouraged.The Republic Militia/Spirit Cats table has some odd balls thrown into the mix with some Industrial Mechs making the list.  Other than that, considering the year (3141) we are greeted with an assortment of newer designs that are prevalent in the Dark Age era.Avenging AngelsThe battle depicted in this PDF primarily focuses on the Republic and the waning military elements of Comstar.  Conflict, originating on other planets, spills onto Epsilon Eridani and turns into a back and forth melee.  I was a bit surprised to see the use of orbital bombardments near the end of the battle.  I would think such operations would be relegated to the past but it appears no objective is sacred enough to be excluded from the brutal machinations of war.The battle for Epsilon Eridani is more focused than some other Turning Points I ve read before.  The list of competing interests is shorter than a lot of others.A fine introduction to the conflict, however brief, and a good intro for what is to come.CombatantsIndeed the combatants section is only a single page.  Comstar, led by their First Division, goes up against a trio of forces from the Republic of the Sphere.  Each combatant is provided with a Commanding Officer, experience level, unit ability, and some historical notes.Unit abilities are rather mundane and revolve around standard Tactical Operations abilities, RAT manipulations, and otherwise lack the spice I would expect from truly original abilities.The Comstar force also features some AToW stat modifiers.  I am not sure if that would play a role in this PDF other than as source material for an enterprising AToW GM.TracksFinally, on to the best part of the document;  The tracks.  Epsilon Eridani features 11 tracks, which puts it at an above average count for the series.Overall the tracks leaned heavily on uninspired objectives and optional bonuses.  Motivation through objectives never strayed far from the expected Kill the Other Guy type.  Optional bonuses consisted of a mix of terrain and weather effects with a sprinkling of added pre-battle damage and others.There are some bright spots though with the inclusion of the occasional dropship, artillery, and combat drops.Pursuit of Glory features a full aerospace battle with jumpship capture objectives.  A refreshing addition to the book for sure.  There are not enough space battles to be had in the Turning Points series.The most interesting track of the PDF is Active Probes which features a smash and grab supply stealing objective.  The Attacker is tasked with using a swarm of hover trucks to pilfer as much cargo as they can before the battle ends.I saw many references to Era Report 3145, an obvious product tie in.  Perhaps this is where additional RAT tables for infantry and conventional vehicles were to be found?  Many tracks called for a mix of infantry, battle armor, and conventional combat vehicles while the PDF only provided BattleMech RATs.Alpha and OmegaThis section catches the reader up on the happenings of Comstar in the fading light of the Dark Age.  This short section provided the most concrete historical information on what led up to the events in this PDF.  Some of it was very surprising.  I ve not tread very far into Dark Age era lore, so some of the events that the tracks were leading to were quite shocking to say the least.Obviously I found many gaps in the lore.  There is only so much that can be crammed into a PDF only product.  Era Report 3145 promises to further enlighten readers on the full story behind that battle.Record SheetsWe get three record sheets to complement our battles.  The first is a Pollux II ADA Tank featuring an Arrow IV system with some impressively high tech secondary weapons systems.  The only sour point I can see is that the tank is a bit under armored considering it s 75 ton frame.Up next is a mixed tech Lament.  A 65 ton monster with duel ER PPCs and heavy medium lasers.  A radical heat sink system attempts to cool this laser heavy monster.  Quite the Mech for anyone wanting a hard hitting heavy Mech with staying power.Finally we have a 70 ton Dragoon.  At first blush the Mech seems a bit under-armed with a Plasma Rifle taking top billing as its main offensive weapon.  It is however, decked out in some of the latest electronics including a C3 system as well as Guardian ECM.  Ferro-Lammellor armor provides protection to complete this tech heavy brawler.And All the RestBlasting into the Dark Age era, Epsilon Eridani is a stark and foreboding tale of the twilight of Comstar.  While all the usual Turning Point PDF goodies are included, overall I found the tracks to be a bit too mundane and comfortable to rank this highly among its peers.The inclusion of an aerospace battle and the few other gems in the rough do their best, but fail to elevate Eridani above par for the series.Posted under ReviewIt has been a while since I last visited GenCon, but the last time I went, I picked up a handful of these small buildings from Iron Wind Metals.Roughly hex-sized, these buildings could be warehouses, parts depot, or something simpler.  They work great on hex maps and are in good scale for a 2 level building.PaintingFor painting, I kept it simple with a base of Slaanesh Grey followed by my usual magic wash to set the shadows.After waiting overnight for the wash to set, I gave it a quick coat of sealer (Dullcote) and then gave it a quick dry brush of a mix of the base color and a little bit of white.Boom.  All done and ready for the table top.I wish I could find these little guys on the IWM website.  As I recall, they were very affordable.  Something around 50 or so cents each.Hopefully I can get back to the convention scene sometime in the near future.  Until then, I do have quite the backlog of minis and terrain to paint up.  Here s to busy schedules and engaging hobbies!Posted under TerrainOver the years I ve played a few games of BattleForce and have also taken a distinct liking to the new Abstract Combat System.  One thing that unites these two rule sets is the use of Strategic Symbols to represent combat units.  While you could always proxy in miniatures I feel that the use of iconography showcased in Strategic Operations (itself a modification of familiar Military Symbology) really adds to the gaming experience.Covet Thy Neighbor, BattleForce Battle ReportCatalyst Game Labs has made available some modestly priced PDF products for those who wanted make their own tokens at home.BattleForce CountersI ve downloaded the whole bunch and have played around with them in the past.  I really think they hit the mark.  They are gorgeous tokens but they do require a bit of work to make them tabletop ready.  Not a huge detriment considering we are all war gamers who are perfectly comfortable cutting, filing, priming, painting, and sealing minis and terrain for fun.However, I ve always wanted something with a bit more heft.  Something a bit more substantial than some card stock glued back to back.  Over the last year I ve been using Print on Demand services from The Game Crafter (TGC) to procure board and card game prototypes.  Just recently I ve prototyped some hex chits for my Battle for Altais scenario.  After some tweaks as well as some process improvements at TGC I wanted to make these chits available to anyone to purchase.A Closer LookTake a look at the following action shots to see how they look.  The chits will come attached to a punch board so you have the fun of punching out the chits when you first receive them.  The hexes are just a bit smaller than a standard BattleTech map hex so they fit nicely next to each other even when things get crowded.  My only complaint with TGC is the front to back registration can be a bit off, so the radar blips sometimes are skewed to one side.One of the best features is a UV coating which makes every hex dry erase marker compatible.  You can mark units, keep tabs on radar blips, and do any kind of tracking you can fit on the hex.  After the battle, just wipe it away and be ready for the next campaign.I have more than a few sets available for sale depending on what assortment of colors and units you are most interested in. (Click through to see details on TGC) Each item will have a full inventory in the description.The multi-color packs feature a reduced variety of units but cover all five major colors BattleTech players will want to see (red, blue, green, yellow, purple).  The single color Reinforcements have a much wider variety of units including things like Aerospace, Artillery, Mechanized Infantry, and even an HQ unit.Warfare Pack (120 Hexes in 5 Colors)Battle Pack (60 Hexes in 5 Colors)Reinforcements Blue (60 hexes in 1 Color)Reinforcements Red (60 hexes in 1 Color)Reinforcements Yellow (60 hexes in 1 Color)Reinforcements Green (60 hexes in 1 Color)Reinforcements Purple (60 hexes in 1 Color)Future PlansI have a few more ideas in mind for future expansions to the lineup.  A Grey Reinforcement set is a given.  A set of space hexes is also in the works.  We could all use some Warships, Space Stations, Jumpships, and Dropships in our lives.Looking For Something Completely Custom?Not seeing anything you like?  Perhaps you need a different color?  A unique unit type?  A different mix of units to capture your favorite battle?I can work with you to do something completely custom.  I generate the images for each hex using a script so just about anything is possible.  With a little bit of work I can generate a custom TGC order for you to purchase.  If interested, shoot me an email at [email protected] and we can discuss the details of your project.Posted under MiscSummer of 2015 was an unexpectedly busy one for BattleTech.  After many many years of waiting we got a look at the upcoming Interstellar Operations core rule book.  The open beta period featured a sequence of smaller online releases followed by a limited edition softcover print run of the full book at GenCon 2015.Fortuitously, I was able to make it to Indy and snagged my very own copy.  It was something to behold.  This, among all the other books in the series was the one I ve waited the most for.  In it, the Grand Strategic game rules were waiting to be poked and prodded.Catalyst gave us a month for play-testing and feedback, and what a month it was.  Below is a recap of my experiences and the work I did to explore the deepest crevasses of Interstellar Operations.Kicking the Tires in StyleI can t say enough about the value of the print copy of the Beta rules.  I know they sold out at GenCon and for good reason.  Not only does it provide a unique collectors item but also provides a way to get the best playtesting out to the fans.  I know I can t be the only one that stares at a computer screen most of the day.  I prefer my BattleTech and other leisure reading to be of the dead tree variety.  That reduced eye strain and the ability to quickly flip between sections of the book was vital to getting any testing done on these rule systems.Pick and ChooseInterestingly enough I only had any use for about half of the rule book.  I don t have a lot of use for the alternate eras sections.  My focus is the game rules, including Strategic BattleForce (SBF), the Abstract Combat System (ACS), and the Inner Sphere at War (ISW) rules.  You can keep your LAMs if you like.  Makes no difference to me.  I m here for the grand level strategic gaming and always have been.The Inner Sphere at WarThe Inner Sphere at War is the latest incarnation of a Grand Strategy game for the BattleTech universe.  It allows dedicated players to take the reigns of entire factions to wage war across the Inner Sphere.That is quite a lot to try to cram into even 1/2 of the 367 page rule book we have today.  Interstellar Operations takes its lead from the old (and much derided) Inner Sphere in Flames rules found in the poorly edited Combat Operations rule book from the FanPro days.The Inner Sphere in Flames rules had several issues.  First and foremost, it was an incomplete set of guidelines around which players could build a complete set of game rules from.  My heart sank a little bit when I then read this line at the start of the ISW rules in Interstellar Operations;While these rules attempt to capture the basics needed to run a campaign, the scale of ISW is too great to cover all possible variations in game play.  These rules are a framework around which players can construct a campaign spanning just a few worlds, or all 2,000-plus worlds in the BattleTech universe.Despite this potential cop-out, I was pleasantly surprised by the rules and their level of polish.  There are areas to improve and I hope that Catalyst takes the communities ideas to heart.  You can read all about the beta and the community feedback below.Interstellar Operations Beta Feedback ThreadSo what is in the ISW rules?  Let s take a quick tour of what s included and major differences from previous Grand Strategic Games.At first blush ISW begins like most other Grand Strategic Game iterations we have seen in the past.  Game turns are divided into familiar phases; Order Writing, Economics and Logistics, Military Development, Commerce and Diplomacy, Military, and End phases.In a new twist, player controlled factions are given faction abilities that provide special abilities involving different phases of the game.  They are meant to be advantages and hindrances that combine to give a more nuanced picture of a particular faction.  For example, the Lyrans are Merchant Kings with Superior Black Ops, but suffer from Flawed Doctrine owing to their social general based military hierarchy.The bulk of the game will have players plotting invasions, forming alliances, and developing Combat Commands to wage war.  Once war does inevitably break out we turn to a brand new way to play BattleTech; the Abstract Combat System.The ACS is a battalion to regiment level combat system that covers planetary scale battles.  We are talking 700km hexes using turns of 2.5 days in length.  Individual Combat Units hold entire battalions inside formations of one or more regiments.  And all of this scaled up complexity is the distilled product of the Alpha Strike stats of the individual units.  This is quite the departure from combat systems of the past which abstracted commands into a tiny handful of strength numbers.  Instead of combat being resolved by a single die roll (where invariably the bigger stack shall win) we have a much more detailed system of positioning, recon, and die throwing.Unfortunately and perhaps not surprisingly, there are more than a few things missing in ISW at the current moment.  Rules for War Ships, Espionage, and alternate eras are suspiciously absent.  The book had unfortunately outgrown the confines of its simple binding.  We have been promised additional product releases which will expand the game system to include these rules.  I have it on good authority that these rule developments are underway.  Hopefully we will not have to wait too long for them to materialize.Playtests and AutomationI wanted to get as much play testing in as possible within the short month we were allotted.  Not a lot of time.  There was no chance for me to meet fellow BattleTech players in person.  I was limited to time available in my evenings.  So naturally I started to think about ways to automate the system to be easier to test and be accessible online so I could receive help from willing guinea pigs online.For those of you who follow the blog, you know I run a companion site where players from around the world can play games of the the old FASA era board game Succession Wars.  My goal was to build a similar site minus a good bit of the automation capabilities.  What I ended up with was a website that would help to track and generate units, move combat commands, and most importantly facilitate ACS combat between players who move tokens on a common play surface while rolling dice by themselves in real life.One day I hope to be able to create something fully automated that will live up to my grand ambitions.  For now though, the web code served its purpose and allowed us to play a test game involving a single planetary battle, namely, Altais in 3039.These test games would later be the inspiration for my entry into the IO scenario contest which I was able to win after there were no other entries besides my own.  Look for The Battle for Altais in a future ISW based product.For those of you wanting to take a peak at the code, it is available online on Github.Inner Sphere at War CodebaseThoughts and QuestionsWhile the bulk of ISW and ACS seem perfectly serviceable there are a few rough edges that myself and more than a few forum dwellers have focused on as potential problems.For instance there does not seem to be an incentive to invest in the advancement of planets beyond a certain point.  After upgrading to minor industrial there is little to push you to upgrade any further as the investment would simply produce more money for you by sitting around and collecting interest.One of the more confusing rules is that newly minted Combat Commands (regiment level forces) may be placed anywhere when purchased and there is no limit to how many forces may be bought so long as you have the funds to pay for them (production capacity is divorced from factory quantity/quality).  This presents a few problems.  Number one, there is no need to build forces for an invasion or defense because you could easily conjure required forces at will with sufficient funds.  There is no weak spot to invade an enemy when they can instantly counter your attacks with perfect placement under this system.So there are still a few things I would expect will see house rules to make the system as a whole palpable.  As many know, I ve never been shy to change a rule or two to fit my particular needs.  I think the BattleTech community is well know for innovating when called upon.Looking AheadAfter a long long road, we are almost home.  Interstellar Operations finally has it s street date; April 27th, 2016.  I will be first in line to grab a copy to add to my gaming shelf.  With final rules in hand, there is only one last thing to do  We need to grab our dice and start conquering the Inner Sphere.Posted under Articles The Scrapyard We make 'Mechs out of molehills! The Scrapyard features news, commentary, and unofficial content for Battletech, a Science Fiction miniatures game.

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