BATTLETECH: Alpha Strike - The Barry's World Campaign: Part 1 - Planetfall

Barry's World is a backwater in the Hyades cluster... but Reynold's Rangers, the Taurian Guard there on maneuvers find themselves set upon by the austere forces of Clan Blood Spirit!
Check out Jared Blando's great Alpha Strike Campaign packet HERE: jaredblando.com/battletech-as
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[@ApocryphalPress]

All the Wolverines in the Alpha Flight, eh? I see what you did there...

[@stormcrow13579]

Heyo, Blando here. Awesome to see you using the rules! A heads up, there is a 1.3 version now available now and it cleans up alot from vr.1.2!

[@justinmsc5]

Those freeborn strategies... Charge half an army into an encirclement! ;) Great bat rep, really appreciate the Alpha Strike content.

[@danielmartinezmartinez441]

Love the scenery an the buildings, they really make the mechs look giant. This video really makes me want to paint my clan mechs!

[@gabriellee9887]

Clan mech for life

[@Yummy1337Sauce]

"We'll just sit here menacingly." I'll always appareciate a good Spongebob reference.

[@willtijerina5149]

Looks like a fun campaign system. I downloaded it after watching this. Looking forward to all your Alpha Strike goodness!

[@jaguargrenadier1111]

Awesome! Two of my favorite, more fringe factions locking horns in a narrative campaign! Great stuff and looking forward to more!

[@beardedmanchild5816]

Love these battle reports fun to watch and also get to see the rules in action!

[@wesdyer9085]

Love the Alpha Strike batreps! Keep 'em coming.

[@BryantR372]

Love these videos. Glad to see Clan Blood Spirit getting the spotlight.

[@ShawnEnge]

Great Batrep! I'm going to check out the campaign rules as well. Keep them coming!

[@john88benson]

Houses: Hey TC we need help with this horde of Chuunibyou from beyond the Periphery! TC: Piss off Inners Houses: Oh well, the way the FedCom is getting mauled you probably couldn't have helped anyway. TC: ...Get the dropships loaded up.

[@DarkKnightCuron]

I'll definitely share this with my other BattleTech friends!

[@RPGojira23]

Narrative campaign! What a great way to start off the day!

[@andreasell1830]

Great, i hope for more battletech video soon 💚

[@ladyjayee]

Thanks for the amazing content. I love that this game is a better game than Warhammer. At least in Battletech this MECH GIRL considers this an evolution of chess yet because of the very detailed construction rules you essentially get to design the pieces

[@sebastiang.5032]

Whooop, more Battletech!

[@RemTV]

man i love this. watching this gameplay makes me wanna play it so badly lol

[@bomberooski]

NOOO! What happened to this campaign? Hoping it continues! Great first episode.

[@FerreusVir]

For those watching that have experience with both; how do the point values from Alpha Strike compare to standard Batteltech BV? Looking at the clan drops I winced at how expensive it would be just with the Timber Wolves and Dire Wolves. Also, solid paint job on the mini's guys! Getting ready for a long weekend of BT myself so i'm trying to get my mercs all done. Keep up the great work! Edit: regarding the burning of activations with the battle armors: well done! Took me forever to realize that forcing your opponent to move via stuff like this is super important.

[@alexdeeprose2303]

Fun report! D12s is an interesting idea....it changes the odds and impact of modifiers quite a bit, but it also streamlines the rolling a lot. I’ll have to give it a try to see how it plays :)

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Check through the comments if you want to see a pretty good discussion of our reasoning for it. :)

[@hgar6973]

Can't wait for the next batrep 🙋

[@Redwelliv]

Love the HACK with the D12

[@ArthurBugorski]

There are optional rules of engagment „zellbringen” that govern how honourable clan pilots should engage the enemy. They aren’t rules of play per se, so no added complexity, but „sportmanship” things like „no 2 on 1, clearly declare your target, etc”. Might be interesting to see Owen try to work within those. www.sarna.net/wiki/Zellbrigen

[@horhevamp8890]

That would indeed be awesome.

[@RPGojira23]

Zellbrigen does bring a great narrative element to the games, although it's actual tabletop implementation can get a little wonky at times. Would love to see it played out here!

[@cjanquart]

Been ages but doesn't zellbringen go out the window if the challengee doesn't accept or if he buddies focused-fire on an opponent? Grand Melee IIRC.

[@ArthurBugorski]

@@cjanquart Yes, I believe once it is violated by a warrior then that warrior is not afforded that respect but I believe it's mech by mech. Also I don't know how widely practiced it would be in the civil war era. I think it was a stronger practice in Operation Revival.

[@drubaccasnetwork9101]

Zellbringen is used when the enemy is deemed worthy of a fair fight. If the clan warrior does not see the enemy worthy of such honorable combat, zellbringen is not used and they simply kill the enemy in short order. Some individual mechwarriors may still claim or try to claim a target and disregard others.

[@bshean72]

Owen is the luckiest dice roller I have ever seen

[@KillerOrca]

There’s honestly a lot of Seattle like planets in BattleTech it seems.

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Every planet gets terraformed into Washington State.

[@KillerOrca]

@@GuerrillaMiniatureGames This pleases me.

[@Tazacks]

The clan mechs look great! Can i ask what technique he used to get the brown patches/shading.

[@berserkerdad2490]

Would like to see a link to the website where the rules you used are located. Table looked great and the paint jobs on the mechs were spot on. Keep the Alpha Strike coming!

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

There’s a link in the description!

[@berserkerdad2490]

Sorry about that , Ash!! I finally did find the link. Sorry for the late reply and not seeing the link before.

[@prophet89]

I really want to build an inner sphere force that is all mechs equipped with melee weapons.

[@joshpontius8120]

If you want, you could replace the griffin in alpha flight with a vindicator....

[@lumoplast1]

Sadly D12 means no Lumineth dice T.T

[@Mihail540]

I am new in Alpha Strike. And I'm very interested how Cyclops Z and HQ work in this game. I know they have command modules, but what about Alpha Strike?

[@Groundpenguin]

Great to see more BT! Any chance of you looking at the new Heavy Gear Blitz when 3.0 drops?

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

I mean I’ll give anything a go, but I’m a bit gunshy unless they reach out.

[@ladyjayee]

Not to mention also cheaper at least as far as purchasing models. I am a BATTLE SISTER in Warhammer 40K I won't probably play the hobby again yet I proudly own a 3rd edition of SPACEHULK, the models from Games Workshop are very expensive. They should offer a prepainted line for people who don't have time to paint. I made terrain more than I actually played the game. I loved the imagination of terrain creation. Sad there's just not enough room to store everything. I enjoy the BATTLETECH computer game on STEAM. Merch company is fun running in career mode

[@army310]

more please

[@drubaccasnetwork9101]

Where is the video where you explain how you are using this pilot die with d12s. I'm a bit confused with the d12 system including the pilot die. I am familiar with 2d6 system utilizing a pilot die, and with straight d12 roll in place of the normal 2d6 roll. It screws up the bell curve and replaces it with a linear difficulty. Which is fine, but feels dirty (due to nostalgia, not anything else). NOTE: found later comment that explains the d12 system with pilot die as the crit chance for the attack. ie if the pilot die rolls a 12, a thru armor crit occurs. No other die can cause a thru armor crit. Hitting structure still causes crits as normal.

[@thefatrat7486]

Good old battletech

[@cerealkiller195]

The golden geese!

[@horhevamp8890]

I havent finished watching but Owens clan seems brutal just at the presentation. So many Timber Wolves and Direwolves... uff... IS mechs are in for a beating. Calling it now. Side note - I heard you are using single die for Pilot skill. I predict this wont go down well :) -Edit: Ah, I guess this isnt like before where you were adding 2d6 every attack...

[@ladyjayee]

Hi I was wondering been playing BATTLETECH for over 30 years. I wanted to do a non AS Camp of a full-scale planetary war. I noticed you were using a force Lance composition form. I was wondering if you knew where I could download this sheet. If you don't mind sharing a link I would appreciate it. I showed my brother this amazing tabletop game. It's interesting you used d12s to see if you attack successful I was wondering if others might use say d6 for srm6 d10s for LRM 10S 2d6 for anything not on a standard polythedral die. D20 for LRM20S or ULTRA Ac20s Don't know what others may think. Using d12s to determine if you hit is a very interesting idea. Also with the die counters. The number indicated means number of hexes moved correct.? White walk red run yellow jump. Was just wanting to make sure I got it correctly

[@kilianlandersman4772]

Why the change to D12s? That sorta throws the probability charts of the 2D6 system.

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Because mods in Battletech stack linearly, but a 2D6 roll doesn’t. Having a linear results graph for the randomizer makes more sense when that’s how modifiers pile on as well and for us just led to the smoothest gameplay result.

[@kilianlandersman4772]

Ah ok, makes sense. Never thought of it that way. I might try that out in my next game.

[@GreyHunter88]

@@GuerrillaMiniatureGames Out of curiosity, what would be an example of a modifier that doesn't stack linearly? The net result of moving to d12's seems to be that easy to middle-difficulty shots become more difficult to land, and more difficult shots become easier. Hitting on 12's is 200% more common in your system, for example. I liked the uneven probability curve of the 2d6 punishing you for incurring too many negative modifiers. Running and Cover might both give the same numerical penalty, but combining them together might actually have an even more detrimental effect if your "To Hit" veers above a certain point. Your system obviously speeds up the game, but seems to make aiming for the optimal position and shot far less valuable compared to chucking more dice, no?

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

They do, which is why a curved resolution system makes really one dimensional builds and tactics possible and highly favoured by the system. Everyone rushes to point blank range because it is actually significantly easier to hit on low numbers than to attempt longer range shots. All the modifiers (like range for instance) stack evenly at regular intervals, but should actually stack on a curve. Why is the long range penalty actually the same incremental increase as between short and medium but actually a massive percentile shift in comparison? Also point values for pilot skill are stacked vertically, but you actually get MORE of an increase in potential hitting power the more you spend. Basically, because you aren’t given the option to stack modifiers with any kind of curve limit it makes curved resolution inherently flex the value of ‘a point of difference’. Simply changing resolution to a linear value means that a point of modifier, no matter what the origin, is always worth the same value.

[@GreyHunter88]

@@GuerrillaMiniatureGames I see where you're coming from. Despite the change in dice, this game still ended up being "rush into point blank range" for the most part, which I think is maybe an issue inherent to Alpha Strike. The best way to maximize your firepower is always going to be to get as close as possible to an enemy with nothing in-between. In BattleTech proper, terrain and movement seem to play a much bigger role. Closing the distance is slower and movement can often (especially with bigger mechs) penalize your own shooting more than your enemy's. So you have to balance whether running through that swamp and testing 6 times to fall over and knock yourself out is worth it. In Alpha Strike, it seems like the mechs can fly (sometimes literally) across the table almost instantly, and without torso twists (as far as I can tell) it seems like it gets into that weird point-blank dance of drawing out activations and moving the minimum value to get your defensive bonus and dodge LOS. The maps are also less able to include swaths of water, hills, settlements, and other interesting tactical minutiae since you are limited to using real terrain on a physical board. So I suppose the advantage of shooting at long range (having the chance to hit your enemy before he hits you) isn't all that powerful when the enemy just gets to you on Turn 2 and starts kicking you in the cankles. Heck, in BattleTech, taking an unlucky shot to the hip or leg while you're running can mean you literally faceplant and KO yourself. Very different games, I suppose. I didn't know that the pilot skill is linearly calculated, however... that definitely doesn't seem like it should be a thing. Thanks for explaining your reasoning! Much appreciated.

[@AlitarS]

What's the dice mechanic exactly you are using apart from using d12s?

[@AlitarS]

Ok, answered myself on minute 15 :D

[@horhevamp8890]

Side note... too few trees for a jungle planet. FILL THE TABLE WITH GREEN ASH!

[@BBiggar02]

Out of curiosity, why don't you put the TMM face up on the white die next to the mechs?

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Forgetting

[@Guncraft]

Where can I find the latest cards for battletech alpha strike? Do they come in a box set or is there a site I can print them from? Also I'm curious where you can find these models, are they from catalyst game labs or are they 3d prints?

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Master Unit List will print you cards for any unit in AS. Our models are all the new plastics from catalyst!

[@shadowwolf2760]

Where is part 2?

[@raymondteats]

Who was the publisher of the campaign rules again and his website?

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Link in the description.

[@RecklessFables]

As much as I like playing on hex maps, non hex looks so much better

[@drubaccasnetwork9101]

I've got to say something because the STORMCROW is my favorite clan mech and you keep calling that mini a dragonfly. Is it being used as a dragonfly? or as the mini is which is a stormcrow. It later became clear that the stormcrow mini was being use for the dragonfly/viper when you jumped 14... lol

[@bennosvinto9050]

is it just me or is the guy with the camera trying to rule cheat constantly. to tip the odds in his favour. "camera man" so its like this right!? "opponent" um no.... its the tabletop paradox

[@maximemackie]

How does the pilot/crit die works?

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

It is the only dice that triggers a critical hit result when using variable damage. Otherwise the occurrence spikes way high because you’re rolling multiple dice. The means crits are about twice as likely still than on a 2d6 roll but not twice as likely times the number of dice in the attack.

[@Dassenkop]

@@GuerrillaMiniatureGames Just so that I understand what you are saying. If I only had 1 dice to roll I would roll only the pilot die? Or would I both roll 1 regular die and 1 pilot die to see if the regular die would result in a crit? I'm not familiar with variable damage but in a 'normal' game can you not score multiple crits when you roll multiple 2d6's or d12's? How would that than sit with rolling only 1 pilot/crid die? Thx.

[@rburt3]

@@Dassenkop As I understand the system they're using, if you only do 1 damage, you only roll 1 die and it can crit. If you do 2 or more damage, you roll 2 or more dice, but only 1 specific die can crit. In official rules when using variable damage and through-armor-criticals options, you can do at most 2 crits per attack (1 for hitting any amount of structure and 1 for a nat 12).

[@michaelbarclay1327]

40K envy.

[@willnox1]

Ash will this ever continue? :(

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Sadly not with Owen, but a new contender is arriving!

[@willnox1]

@@GuerrillaMiniatureGames Oh! I forgot he moved didn't he...how sad :( your son. :P

[@BrisCassa]

Where are the glorious hexes

[@ArthurBugorski]

Warmachine feels like it would have been a better game on hexes.

[@FerreusVir]

Alpha strike doesn't use em I dont think

[@rburt3]

@@FerreusVir It does not. There are optional rules for playing it on hexes, however.

[@user-vo7en1fz6u]

لاتت

[@phaedrosx]

The only sad thing about BT is that it has a very well defined narrative, and for instance, Blood Spirit never left the Clan homeworlds, so it makes for less fun as the believability of Blood Spirit getting all the way to Concordat space is non-existent. Obviously play for fun my friend, I think they should've had the Clans encircle the Inner Sphere and invade from all over, allowing players to play with pretty much whatever they wanted and still have a decent chance at a narrative.

[@phaedrosx]

Also, did you guys use the 'Mech availability for your faction for the era?

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

I mean these could be the last vestiges of Blood Spirit fleeing their annihilation to the Periphery... And yes we’re playing the Civil War era.

[@orkloven]

The good thing about any game is you can play it how you want. Canonicity shouldn't get in your way if a good game. Battletechs history is only a creative straightjacket if you let it be. I've played a terrific Flames of War campaign of Germany vs Japan. Historically accurate? Not even close! Enjoyable? Completely.

[@theprofessor6898]

@@orkloven Yeah, especially with historical wargaming, a lot of the fun is exploring things that could have been, not just re-enacting what definitively happened.

[@redxgamer1581]

@@GuerrillaMiniatureGames Or you know you could just be playing an alternate "what if" history where maybe Blood Spirit won the right to invade the IS instead of one of the canonical invading clans. Nothing says you have to always play exactly to the lore all them time. Worth noting quickly though Owen's Command Star that model is actually the Stormcrow/Ryoken not the Viper/Dragonfy.

[@gerasc9619]

Zzzzzz

[@owenyates6046]

I really like the mechanics of this game seems fun and fast but holy hell is there a bunch of elitist gatekeepers. You're playing with the wrong mechs! You're using the wrong dice system! You're narrative is wrong! Go away and let people play the game.

[@frankb3347]

Yeah I wouldn't do it this way but as long as everyone involved is having fun that's all that really matters.

[@orkloven]

Wow, this was painful to watch... the guy hosting the game is one of those players who rushes his activations and plays loose and dishonest with the rules; he over-measures his movement every time, he moves through gaps too small to legally fit, etc... The campaign looks interesting but his rushed play style is sketchy.

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Yeah I wouldn’t play with that guy.

[@torymiddlebrooks]

Thank God you'll never have to

[@willtijerina5149]

@@GuerrillaMiniatureGames Yeah, that guy is the wurst. Lol.

[@orkloven]

Yeah, I probably could have said that more diplomatically... 😁... the videos are great fun to watch! And all parties involved seem to have a blast! But I'm a little (a little?!) OCD about tabletop etiquette when I play. Always have been. I get VERY anxious when playing with someone who's more loosey-goosey or "fun-oriented" with the mechanics.

[@stuartd7645]

In Australia, we call it "Bazza's World". Fact.