Battletech: Intro To Alpha Strike

New to Alpha Strike? Not sure about how some of the mechanics work? Tune in today if you'd like to listen to me (gleefully!) ramble about this game I love. Not sure how helpful it will be but if you're new, couldn't hurt right?
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[@windsleeper]

Alpha Strike is great fun, fast paced and easy to learn. Love the ability to play Battletech games with bigger forces and get a game done in a reasonable amount of time.

[@craiglytton1641]

I love Classic, but Alpha Strike suits my love of combined arms. It's really fun to play.

[@Thearmedpainter]

My thoughts exactly! I like have the ease of options and speed of gameplay given the number of units we can put on the table.

[@almostgoodvariant]

This is quite an opportune video as I’ll be playing Alpha Strike for the first time ever tomorrow!

[@Thearmedpainter]

Yesss! I hope you have a great time.

[@danacoleman4007]

How did it go?

[@almostgoodvariant]

@@danacoleman4007 it was very nice! Played Alpha Strike a few times since. I think I prefer BattleTech but AS is certainly not without its charms. I enjoy plonking a big ol army of mechs on the table.

[@danacoleman4007]

@@almostgoodvariant nice!!!!

[@GreySectoid]

I was searching for alpha strike to get into the game and this was the first video that came up. Now I know the basics how to play, the damage system seems to hit the sweet spot between complexity and variable outcomes.

[@Thearmedpainter]

That’s a exactly how I feel about the dice mechanic from the book I’ve chosen to use for my games, most definitely the sweet spot :)

[@ObiwanNekody]

I played CBT under the BMR 3ed back in the 00's a lot, and played using the TW rules a few times since then. I just recently learned about Alpha Strike and have been looking into how it work etc. I really appreciate this video, thank you for making it. I also really appreciate how Catalyst has handled the rules with Battletech. I remember really not liking the Wiz Kids Dark Age rules simplification, although I don't particularly recall why. Alpha Strike seems to be a very nice simplification of Battletech, and great for faster games.

[@Thearmedpainter]

Dive into the alternative attack dice rules in the AS book and you’re golden :)

[@sergprot1053]

huge alpha strike fun - thx for video! Hope for advanced tutorials (DFA, Artillery, special rules, aerospace, lance composition and etc)!

[@Thearmedpainter]

I'll get into the minutia with time :)

[@a9876954]

I've ordered the Alpha Strike box. Can't wait to start playing this game.

[@Thearmedpainter]

Yes!

[@gamingwithkittens3607]

Don’t have base alpha but got core set still exited to try

[@LetsKeepThePeace]

Could you also make an advanced or intermediate rules video? Rules videos are awesome.

[@richardrussell7082]

The best part is that, if you're still unclear, you can rewind as much as you want, rather than asking a person "I'm really sorry but can you go over that again just one more time please☹"

[@JasonSkye]

This video made great listening while I was rebasing the minis from the Alpha Strike boxed set, cheers!

[@nyandyn]

I like to pick my movement dice so that they match the overall force color scheme. Light for walking, dark for running and a third distinct one for jumping.

[@NessieKnows]

Didnt know about the different dice rolls options and I like both already! better than all or nothing when just getting into the game. Thanks TAP!

[@Thearmedpainter]

110% glad it was helpful :) now you can put your drd products to use lol!

[@NessieKnows]

@@Thearmedpainter no Lie there

[@faithmcclosky4528]

Great Video Justin! I think this sort of stuff is great for new players, or even poeple that are new to Alpha Strike but veteran Battletech players like myself

[@jamesjenningsix]

Thank you for the explanation on game play.

[@Thearmedpainter]

Thank you for leaving a comment! :)

[@Hinnix]

Excellent video! I can see you're enthusiastic about alpha strike! Great way to show us the basic rules, the variations to the damage rolls were an excellent example. For sure i'm going to try them out. Please make more rules example videos, you are a lot more pleasant to listen to than most. Just slow it down like a teeny tiny bit. Helps to sink the message in a little. Thanks!

[@Thearmedpainter]

I do tend to talk a little fast when I’m excited lol! 😄

[@Roberts7466]

I enjoyed this tutorial. I just played my first intro game of Alpha Strike (160pts). I played with one guy running the game, and one veteran player. I enjoyed it a lot, but some of the rules weren't explained very well. This did a good job of clarifying some of those rules. The quick-start guide also didn't do a great job of pointing out pilot skill and how to figure it out. This should have been front and center. Thanks!

[@Thearmedpainter]

Glad it helped and ecstatic you’ve dove into the game :)

[@AlanTwigg]

This was super easy to follow and a great explanation of working out your to hit targets.

[@Haydencz]

Great presentation there, love Alpha Strike i sometimes play it with my kids but with current support from CGL i think it will be time to run some more demos by myself

[@o46b83]

Your vid was on while I was painting my buddy's Draconis Combine. Wow. 🤖

[@ogrehaslayers605]

My son and I have been playing classic together for a couple years. I've been playing since the early 90's. But we are about to switch to Alpha Strike... getting excited to tryi it out. We like to use combined arms, and this should speed the game up a lot! I've noticed though, that just like classic, there are ways to "finesse" your forces to maximize what they can do. Wow

[@Thearmedpainter]

It caters to different niches, I'm glad you're giving it a shot :) There is depth to both games, all comes down to what you're interested in at the time. I hope you and your son enjoy AS as much as I do!

[@glenleyssenaar8382]

I found this helpful, thank you

[@Thearmedpainter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danroberts007]

Very helpful. I just watched an Alpha Strike batrep on another channel and the game seemed severely lacking. The alternate method of rolling for hits based on # of damage dice looks MUCH better. Definitely seems like it’d result in better games. I’m subbed now and will be watching more of your videos ASAP!

[@Thearmedpainter]

Glad you enjoyed it :) I’m behind on videos at this point but I’m going to try to get some more games filmed soon!

[@douglashawkins9918]

Well explained

[@MechanicalFrog]

Solid and informative video. Keep up the great work.

[@clanorangechicken6648]

I think BTAS could be done as a one page rules game with a second page for optional rules

[@Thearmedpainter]

It’s not too far off from that in all honesty. If you strip away all the stuff that is optional or almost never used the rules left may not be literally one page but still pretty light. Honestly in the several years I’ve been playing there are optional rules I’ve still yet to use.

[@sahaynam6470]

Thanks for the video! Subbed. I've had the game of armored combat box set forever and haven't gotten it to the table. Found out a bunch of dudes at work play alpha strike so decided to take the plunge. I got the commander's kit book and a Clan Heavy Strike Star (the one with the mad dog). If I want to go deeper, how many stars do I need to get to play a "full" game? Definitely want the star with the Vapor Eagle/Goshawk...

[@Thearmedpainter]

So a “full game” really is what you and an opponent agree to. I recommend 250-350pts. 300 imo is the sweet spot. For clanners at 300pts you’ll be looking at around 10 minis plus some battle armor (depending on what you field and how you adjust their point levels with pilot skills). For inner sphere at 300pts you could have a LOT of minis because they are often cheaper to field. I’d say 12 would be the starting point. Good rule of thumb (though there are exceptions): Clanners = Quality. Inner Sphere = quantity. That’s also pretty true in the fluff for the most part as well. For list building I’ve got a video that just went up talking about the Master Unit List. As a new player I imagine that might be a good starting point for you :)

[@brentbuckland5043]

Any chance of doing a Tier list or recommended variant list? I am going to Master Unit list and I am getting overwhelmed with how many variants there are.

[@Thearmedpainter]

To help narrow that down it may be easier to do a tier list based in a mech chassis based on a specific era.

[@zeroa6]

Cool channel!!!! Subbed.

[@Thearmedpainter]

Thank you :)

[@CMDRFandragon]

Does each certain AS pack have a fixed mech type in it? As in, if you buy the AS main box, with the 13 mechs, the variant is always the same? How do you know where what variants are? Where does the Warhawk Prime come from? Or the Warhawk C?

[@Thearmedpainter]

So a standard mech as multiple variants and that one model can represent a variety of variants. I have a video breaking down the Master Unit List that may help with some of that. All of their force packs and boxes have set minis in them, nothing random. They typically have cards you can use but you can use the MUL to find alternative variants for a given unit that you’d like to use. The expected to in to this is the CGL Salvage boxes. These are blind boxes with a random model. That said, all of the models you can get from their blind boxes are also in the force packs or box sets of you don’t want to play the random booster pack style game so to speak :) Keep the questions coming! Happy to help :)

[@CMDRFandragon]

@@ThearmedpainterI think the strangest thing to me about AS, just from reading the MUL and unit cards is how all over the place the stats are, as well as how low they are overall. 85t Assault mech with only 9 health? Awesome with 3 dmg, meanwhile a Locust has 2......20t mech vs an 80t mech and the 60t difference is only worth 1 more damage? IDK, the values dont seem to have any rhyme or reason...... If i was to do it, id probably go with a little more Mechcommander 1-ish style. Remove variants entirely really....just have A, W and J versions, that is "Armor, Weapon and Jump variants. Id start off with 2 pips of health per 10t of mech, so an 80t mech would have 16 pips with structure being half the armor value. Armor variant might get 18 pips but 1 less damage and movement. Weapons Variant might get 16 pips but 1 more damage and base movement value. J variant would have like 14 pips 2 less damage but increased speed as well as JJ. IDK.....give the game a little more........sense....idk what the exact word is im looking for.

[@scottwilliams3665]

Watched so many videos and thus was literally the easiest to follow.

[@Thearmedpainter]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@CMDRFandragon]

So whats considered partial cover? If your unit is atleast half behind a building?

[@Thearmedpainter]

1/3rd - 2/3rds obscured. Less than 1/3rd nothing more than 2/3rds LOS is blocked.

[@CMDRFandragon]

@@Thearmedpainter On another random note, I followed your links and stuff to your facebook page where it talks about mini painting services. Do you still do that?

[@mattcarper9853]

Ooooh! Cool!

[@clanorangechicken6648]

Question- I have the 2021 BTAS Commanders book and it has the math formula for a charge. So question is, is there a newer Commanders book with the box rule? You said you have the 2022 book?

[@Thearmedpainter]

The most recent book does indeed have the charge to charges in it :)

[@rigmerkrel8339]

How do u measure for range is it center to center, edge of base to edge of base or center to edge of base?

[@Thearmedpainter]

Edge to edge.

[@weirdguy564]

One thing that should be said in most games. When to quit. We used to play BattleTech games to the death. Last mech standing wins. That isn't how real wars are fought. It might be more realistic to have games play to the first army to lose 50% of their units destroyed ends the game, or to when one of the players feels like the game is a lost cause. Throw in the towel. Don't drag it out. You can play more games when a side surrenders when you think. Also, if you are winning, ask if the other player wants to surrender so we can start over.

[@Thearmedpainter]

I don’t disagree but to your last point you have to be very tactful in the way you ask that as you risk coming off as condescending to your opponent. I usually talk to my opponents to see what they are thinking and walk through the play options and see what they say or what they come up with. Then I’ll ask if they want to give any of those options a go and see how the battle goes from there. That usually turns into a “I’ll give this a shot and if it doesn’t work that’s game” type situation but outright asking someone to surrender in those words probably not the best choice of words. If someone asked me if I wanted to call it, which does happen, I’ll usually run down some logical paths and make a decision but if someone asked me to surrender? I’d probably just play it to the last model on principle lol

[@Kol_0oo]

It’s nice to see Seth Rogan doing something normal

[@Thearmedpainter]

I wish I had his bank account lol! I'd be able to do more video content and with the best equipment/backdrop setup as well.

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

I don’t know much about Battletech and it seems like videos aren’t really great about how it works. It’s hard to tell how the different versions of the game work or look, how should I know what pieces to get to start and how does the game look. I don’t care about the cards at this point. I want to know how the game is played. Then use that to talk about the card, but way too many people try to cover stuff too much or too quickly. Tell me what the game looks like when you’re playing. What’s the objective. How many mechs do you play with? What makes Alpha Strike different? I’ve watched some videos where people play 1v1, like with 1 mech each and they have bubble sheets for how much damage and where they take it. Is Alpha Strike the version most people play? Does it use multiple mechs? Ugh. Frustrating. I need to find a good video for absolute beginners that aren’t don’t at lightning speed.

[@Thearmedpainter]

Thanks for the comment! Alpha Strike is played based on a point total. I’ve got a few videos on the channel breaking down the Master Unit List (how to make a force) and where to start with Alpha Strike. I play AS primarily however the bubble sheets you saw are Classic Battletech, a more simulation style of play which takes longer and you’ll typically see low model count. For AS at 250pts you’ll probably be using around 10 models on average. If you’ve got specific questions, I’m happy to help out as best I can. I’d love to get someone new onto the hobby and the game :) don’t worry, we’ll get you playing!

[@youtmeme]

the ranges are why bt needs to be played more like a rpg similar to dnd!! whilst ur imagination can handle things like camo, surprise, distance etc, mere playing on a visual mat, cannot! the idea that all visuals are DIRECTLY tied to a flat map is ridiculous and silly.😜

[@danacoleman4007]

I don't understand this comment

[@youtmeme]

@@danacoleman4007 all I am saying is that visually, using an actual mat, limits ones imagination into how terrain actually works!😉

[@BattleBound]

Even if it may not be the video for me, have the watch hours anyway

[@johncasarino5627]

I have always thought battletech/mechwarrior is cool. As an australian GW just takes the absolute piss out of us with it's price hikes which is worse here than anywhere else in the world, at my local games store I noticed the new battletech mini's were much more affordable so i might give this a try.

[@Thearmedpainter]

Alpha Strike scratches the wargame itch on a budget! The unit cards and list builder are also free: www.masterunitlist.info