• Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

Since I've seen it mentioned so often here recently...(and I missed it in the group posts)  I'm working on adding not only steam...but clockwork...tesla coil...and diesel power plants.

So now you can be all steamed up....and a bit shocked...then unwind....and play with fuels...as you want.  lol

This of course will alter the power output section of the rules.

To address comments about armor.  The base value is representative of the amount of materials and toughness inherent to the very size of the unit.  A Humvee for example is smaller than an Abrahms...and far less protected.  Adding armor onto the hummer takes up a proportionately larger amount of its capacity as opposed to the same protection added onto the Abrahms.  If a percentage base was used, then the lighter mecha end up getting a lot (relatively speaking) for nearly nothing.  So I'm going to stick with the system as is.

Movement...I think the enhancements provide an adequate level of flexibility at a fair cost without getting overly complicated.  While it would be possible to utilize an energy for mp cost...it would be more tracking needed and, I feel, detract from playability.  The current method assumes the basic components will all have a similar capability.  Once variable components are added, weights become different, actuator and control function suffers, etc. so the more legs and the larger the mecha...the more relative impact to the base capability...without upgrades.  And nothing is for free. :wink:

D10 instead of D6 for damage dice...I was leaning this way at first myself, but it makes it disproportionately easy to do damage.  A BFG can still swat a small lightly armored mecha...but a small mecha shouldn't be able to swat a heavily armored mecha...which, with the right modifiers, the d10 allows.  The d6 can still get and do damage.

Unless something is broken...where it takes away from the playability...I think things are okay.

The important thing to realize that WARDOGS! isn't looking to be a complex or realistic type of game...but a relatively simple, fast, and abstract type approach to a really fun genre of wargames.  I don't know about other folks...but I like how anime-ish the mecha can be...or hardcore military depending on how you build it.  smile 

In retrospec...for those whom are looking at more of a hard tech approach and more duelish sort of battles...I'm got some thoughts in that direction too for later.  If anyone has seen the movie 'ROBOTJOX'...be thinking along those lines with this. 8)

  • Registered: 2005-05-15
  • Posts: 84

Re: How about a new mech game

Whoops found a few more questions...

1) Are Ballistic weapons ment to be limited to as 9 minimum range?
    (seems kinda harsh)

2) If you don't mind what was the idea behind the limitation of only 2 enhancments on Melee weapons Balance?

Should get a game in the next few days (honest this time.) I hope...

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

Faustus21 wrote:

Whoops found a few more questions...

1) Are Ballistic weapons ment to be limited to as 9 minimum range?
    (seems kinda harsh)

Limited for design purposes, yes.  Limited by fire, no.  So a ballistic range 9 weapon is the shortest range available, but still uses the normal three range bands.  1-3/ 4-6/ 7-9.  I'll make that clearer when I start detailing out stuff.

Faustus21 wrote:

2) If you don't mind what was the idea behind the limitation of only 2 enhancments on Melee weapons Balance?

Yes, pretty much.  So you can't do uber weapons...like I did with one of the sample mechs (now that you reminded me of this) :oops:  Energy, polearm, piercing...me bad!  tongue   This may be changed as play-testing goes on.

Faustus21 wrote:

Should get a game in the next few days (honest this time.) I hope...

Look forward to hearing how it goes.  I know the rules are pretty rough yet, but I'm working on that.  :wink:

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

Here's the updated history document.  Some changes may occur with editting, but this will definitely give you the climate of things.  A follow up appendix listing the particulars of each of the Worlds of Humanity will be forthcoming.  Enjoy.
:twisted:

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: How about a new mech game

Go0gleplex wrote:

Here's the updated history document.  Some changes may occur with editting, but this will definitely give you the climate of things.  A follow up appendix listing the particulars of each of the Worlds of Humanity will be forthcoming.  Enjoy.

Oh, Man...

THAT is good, better than what I'd been puzzling over.

I'm going to have to re-do the map though...
:-)

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

Thanks. smile
What took so long was the research on the name translations and the 50 LY radius star maps. 
You gave me the idea to use the little philosophical bits between sections Mike.  :wink:   It seemed like a great way to lead into the next 'page' of history.  I'm sure it still needs some polishing though.

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

Okay...here's the Worlds of Humanity appendix.  It can be added too if needed. And here's a link to the site where the star maps I used are at.
Enjoy. big_smile

http://www.hometown.aol.com/nlpjp/map3.htm

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: How about a new mech game

Go0gleplex wrote:

Okay...here's the Worlds of Humanity appendix.  It can be added too if needed. And here's a link to the site where the star maps I used are at.
Enjoy. big_smile

Dude, this is seriously great stuff....I hadn't even gotten started on it, when you compare it to the little things I'd written up.

Go0gleplex wrote:

http://www.hometown.aol.com/nlpjp/map3.htm

..I think you'd be better off with a 2D map, though. That map makes my head hurt. :-)

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: How about a new mech game

Go0gleplex wrote:

Thanks. smile
What took so long was the research on the name translations and the 50 LY radius star maps. 
You gave me the idea to use the little philosophical bits between sections Mike.  :wink:   It seemed like a great way to lead into the next 'page' of history.  I'm sure it still needs some polishing though.

You can thank Frank Herbert, actually...
:-)

I'll take all this and try to assemble it into a PDF sometime in the next week...and yeah, it's not finished, but it's a GREAT start.

  • Registered: 2005-11-27
  • Posts: 33

Re: How about a new mech game

Seconded, I like it. Especially the UK worlds..  smile

(Yes Mike its me Ian)

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: How about a new mech game

middenface wrote:

Seconded, I like it. Especially the UK worlds..  smile

(Yes Mike its me Ian)

..with a nickname of 'middenface'?
:-)

Okay, 'Moomin'....

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

Yeah...I agree about the star map Mike. It did help me figure the distance relations between systems when I was putting together the groupings though.  smile  I have a three page listing of all the coordinates and such also from a related site to that map...so all the distances are correct. (I'm a bit particular about stuff like that for some reason *lol*)

Definitely got some things to correct in the background stuff...re-read it yesterday and found all sorts of grammatical 'oops' and dropped words.  :oops:


Glad you guys like it.   smile

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: How about a new mech game

Go0gleplex wrote:

>Yeah...I agree about the star map Mike. It did help me figure the
>distance relations between systems when I was putting together the
>groupings though.  smile  I have a three page listing of all the coordinates
>and such also from a related site to that map...so all the distances are
>correct. (I'm a bit particular about stuff like that for some reason *lol*)

>Definitely got some things to correct in the background stuff...re-read it
>yesterday and found all sorts of grammatical 'oops' and dropped words.

>Glad you guys like it.   smile

My original concept was to skip trying to tie this to the real world, as the recent advances in astronomy may make our 'colonies' unfit as such in the not-so-distant future.<shrug> it's not that big a deal to me. I didn't want to do all the work of getting stellar co-ordinates - but since you've already DONE it, it would truly be a shame not to include it now.

We're up to *10* pages on the forum with this topic now....
:-)

Can you send me that stellar data off-list? I need to start to cobble together a new star map - I figure an 'XY' map, with an attendant number next to the star to denote how much above or below the 'plane' the colony is.

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

Well...if it'd been in a galaxy far far away...*chuckles*...but the moment we started using earth as an origin my engineering gene kicked in... :roll:
The planets don't bother me as much as the stars do for some reason. 

Yeah...I'll send you the list...and my first stab at the points formulae.

Beginning to wonder if this isn't going to rate it's own topic page soon. :shock:

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: How about a new mech game

Go0gleplex wrote:

>Well...if it'd been in a galaxy far far away...*chuckles*...but the moment
>we started using earth as an origin my engineering gene kicked in...
>The planets don't bother me as much as the stars do for some reason. 

>Yeah...I'll send you the list...and my first stab at the points formulae.

Great! I can include it in the PDF, which I'm currently hacking on.

Go0gleplex wrote:

>Beginning to wonder if this isn't going to rate it's own topic page soon.

I think I said that a few pages ago....
:-)

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

Thanks Dan...

we're dutifully plugging away at this still too...

(winces at stating the obvious) ><

:wink:

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: How about a new mech game

Go0gleplex wrote:

Thanks Dan...
we're dutifully plugging away at this still too...
(winces at stating the obvious) ><

Cool, we're a spinoff! :-)

I got about a third of a way through 'the big file' this morning, hope to have it up in a day or two. I'll post it over where Jim posted when I get it done...

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

thedugan wrote:
Go0gleplex wrote:

Thanks Dan...
we're dutifully plugging away at this still too...
(winces at stating the obvious) ><

Cool, we're a spinoff! :-)

I got about a third of a way through 'the big file' this morning, hope to have it up in a day or two. I'll post it over where Jim posted when I get it done...

Makes me want to crank up the Wierd Al Yankovic...*chuckles*

What all is gonna be in the big file Mike? 8)

Jim, the most current files are on page 8 and 9 of this thread. Thanks for the sticky! *mmmm...peanut butter* lol

  • Registered: 2005-03-27
  • Posts: 811

Re: How about a new mech game

Jim, the most current files are on page 8 and 9 of this thread. Thanks for the sticky! *mmmm...peanut butter*

did I miss something?  I got them from 8 and 9 smile

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

:oops:  nebermind...

it helps if I actually look at the file size opposed to the file name. 

d'OH! ><

  • Registered: 2005-03-28
  • Posts: 480

Re: How about a new mech game

Go0gleplex wrote:

Okay...here's the Worlds of Humanity appendix.  It can be added too if needed. And here's a link to the site where the star maps I used are at.
Enjoy. big_smile

http://www.hometown.aol.com/nlpjp/map3.htm

Escargots can't possibly be Kosher!

  • From: Denver, CO
  • Registered: 2005-03-27
  • Posts: 3,578

Re: How about a new mech game

jimbeau wrote:

Jim, the most current files are on page 8 and 9 of this thread. Thanks for the sticky! *mmmm...peanut butter*

did I miss something?  I got them from 8 and 9 smile

You know, now that there's an entire section of the forum for y'all to use, feel free to start new topics... wink

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: How about a new mech game

cricket wrote:
jimbeau wrote:
googleplex, I think, wrote:

>>>Jim, the most current files are on page 8 and 9 of this thread.
>>>Thanks for the sticky! *mmmm...peanut butter*

>>did I miss something?  I got them from 8 and 9 smile

>You know, now that there's an entire section of the forum for
>y'all to use, feel free to start new topics... wink

I can't! I'm a linear thinker!

AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
:-)

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: How about a new mech game

thedugan wrote:

I got about a third of a way through 'the big file' this morning, hope to have it up in a day or two. I'll post it over where Jim posted when I get it done...

Go0gleplex wrote:

Makes me want to crank up the Wierd Al Yankovic...*chuckles*

Ya know, I have some MP3's....merely goes to show how great minds all think alike....I just posted some Frank Zappa lyrics on another list...:-)

Go0gleplex wrote:

What all is gonna be in the big file Mike? 8)

Version 0.5 of the rules, the first history file, the colony listing, some example mecha that were posted, more or less in that order. I shoe-horned in your mecha-2-starmada conversion up in the main rules.

Some minimal editing (mainly to clarify what I think you said), the construction charts laid out in actual tables so that they're easier to follow.

It's in Open Document Format for now, I think I can do it in HTML or DOC, I know I can put it in PDF, RTF would loose the tables that I'm workin on.
If I got energetic, I could re-install some software and do it in Pagemaker.
:-)

I'll post it as a PDF, which any modern, plug-in equipped browser can read.

I may add some graphics, but just have the 'logo' on the front page for now. Once I get that done, everyone has something to go through. I'd like to sit down and intersperse the history stuff between sections, rather than a big chunk of it in one spot.

Once we've got some more mecha designs, I'll crank out some counters.

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: How about a new mech game

Clarify what I said?!? :shock: *gasp* You CAN'T do THAT!!! How will I keep the masses in a state of confusion?   lol

Sounds like you're already where I was heading next then...so I'll start in on a bit of faction information and mecha designs.  Wait til you see the Sturmvolker... :twisted:

Just have CDs...I'm definitely low-tech oriented here in the coastal outback. *chuckles*