How To Play Alpha Strike: Introduction

This is the first exciting video in our series that will teach you and your friends (and teach you how to teach you friends) how to play Alpha Strike!
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[@RealMrBoy]

I came into the game at a good time! Glad you guys made this! Not enough content like this on the tube, and you guys have lots of good videos on the subject. Cheers!

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Welcome to the channel and BattleTech!

[@Scarecrow69]

I've adopted some of your house rules. I like the 1:1 movement and ranges. I also regard friendlies as blocking LoS. I like rolling each damage point separately too. I've also adopted Guerilla's idea of using D12s instead of 2D6 and it's great rolling a handful of D12s. Love a D12. Of course, I also use a draw token initiative system but that's a whole other story. 😅

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Love it!

[@jlozano2615]

I’ve been thinking of trying Alpha Strike when I get my kickstarter stuff, so thanks for this video!!

[@guardsman1426]

Thanks for the heads up on the play lists following you on spotify

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Enjoy the BT themed music 🙂

[@majesticfeet1]

Actually, the Dark Age stuff varied so much in scale that I use some of the vehicles for Alpha Strike. The infantry are hard to beat too. They are painted and if you find 'em cheap some of them make good infantry stands for Alpha Strike.

[@rastamann2009]

This is awesome. I just typed in today - how to play alpha strike, and you guys show up. Would also be nice to have a video on using alpha strike with hex maps (or maybe you guys did it also and I’m jumping the gun - I’m typing this even as I start to watch the video! Thanks. Subbed

[@KevinPeterstheRyan]

Once you go hex-less, you never go back. Throw some debris on the dining room table and play!

[@darktetsuya]

that's about where I came from, I think my earliest experience with the Battletech series was on SEGA Genesis, (and one night at a lock-in at a laser tag place that happened to have the pods, those were really cool) then kinda fell off til I found mechwarrior 5 on xbox series s! having a ton of fun with it (especially the ease of painting your virtual mechs) then I learned there was a more recent tabletop series so was thinking of checking it out!

[@Scarecrow69]

Oh, also, Alpha Strike is my new favourite way of how I play Battletech now. I love it!

[@davidkinnison9157]

I really like your House Rules. They had a more CBT flavor to AS.

[@kevincollier4147]

Also Battletech is still using the same rules for the last 35 years!

[@eusebiou-say-bee-oh326]

As the old saying goes: If it isn't broken, don't fix it.

[@105Gunner]

Thom!!! Welcome Back!

[@txmaddog7917]

Great video!! Are you going to do more Alpha Strike Lance packs?? I'd be interested in a Steiner one!

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

It is definitely possible 🙂

[@Bolththrower]

Have you guys given any thought to remake these HTP: Alpha Strike videos? With improved knowledge and production quality, this would be THE time to do that (with the new alphastrike box out) or perhaps refine these 3 videos you already have like a "remaster" with perhaps some added stuff here and there?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

We have - just lots on the agenda and not enough time!

[@Bolththrower]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming Understandable.

[@steinerscout7896]

This most certainly seems like my cup of tea compared to the Total Warfare rules. I'm coming from Warhammer so I like bigger armies with simpler rules for faster games.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Most definitely. AS is a great “gateway” and also has a fantastic list building element (formations etc) that you will find familiar to 40k.

[@jameshojnowski8455]

Thanks for saying Mechwarrior Dark Age clix was a great game, I miss it.

[@mordenmw]

Brilliant. Thanks for this.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

You are welcome!!! Appreciate the comment. 👍

[@barryxanchez2965]

Great tutorial 👌

[@spoilerwarning28]

okay, awesome. But where do I get the minis? are they only sold in those lance packs and box sets?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

The newest ones are sold in the packs - Aries Games and Minis!

[@JudexDirus]

Just got the game and found this site, I like the idea of making your own cards but I don't see the movement in inches on your card.

[@TAVAAR7]

When all your friends parents drop them off at school in a variety of the latest and greatest omnimechs...and you get dropped off in an urbie... 😰😫😭

[@MausGMR]

Hey guys good to see you back at it. I'm looking for mech alpha strike cards on your website like the thunder bolt but can't see them on the downloads or battalytics section. Am I missing something? Perhaps I miss heard what you said about available resources

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Thanks! The cards are in the downloads section here: dfawargaming.com/downloads.html#asexpansions The quick reference cards can be found here: dfawargaming.com/downloads.html#refguides 🙂👍

[@shaneflickinger]

Looking forward to this series guys. Thanks for putting this together! Does Aries Games actually have the commander's ed in stock? I feel like I've checked their website several times this year and they were always showing a lot of their Battletech stuff as being out of stock/sold out. I would love to support the channel by purchasing from them, but I'm about to the point where I'm just going to pick it up wherever I can. I'm trying to be patient because I'm sure the lockdown probably messed up their stocking and ability to resupply.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Thanks Shane! In full transparency, we don’t get any kind of commission from Aries because his prices are already as low as they can go! Derek is a great guy and very responsive, so feel free to reach out to him! If he doesn’t have the CE in stock, he may have a good idea on the pipeline! 👍 Enjoy the series!!

[@ryolacap]

I am a bit confused. Is Alfa Strike a toned down version of BT, what do you actually need to play the game? Is there some kind of starter pack?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Yes - AS is a streamlined version of Classic BattleTech, used either for very fast small games or much larger games that can be handled in a few hours. It also makes combined arms (tanks, infantry, etc.) easy to use and integrate. There is actually a new boxed set coming out soon (?) but also there are free “quick start” rules online. There is also a main rule book called the Alpha Strike: Commander’s Edition.

[@trevore1667]

Your videos are really getting me excited to jump back into Battletech. One question, where on your website can I find your custom Alpha Strike cards like the TDR-5S you show @12:35 in the vid. Keep up the awesome content and production value of your videos!

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Awesome to hear and thanks for watching! We do offer a digital toolkit for those on patreon which includes a card catalog and card generator, as well as a converter for custom ‘mechs youve built in Classic and want to port over to Alpha Strike.

[@spoilerwarning28]

I can’t find the free pdf on the catalyst site. Bummer :( was really looking forward to playing.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Google is your friend: bg.battletech.com/wp-content/uploads/Alpha%20Strike%20Quick%20Start%20Rules%202019-08.pdf

[@atkmonkey]

Orks would make some cool mechs though.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Only the finest ramshackle, smoke-belching monstrosities. So basically a Mackie.

[@zackholloway324]

Can you use the old dark age clix models in Alpha Strike?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Absolutely - you can use whatever you want, really! The free rules from Catalyst have some cutouts in the back :) The Dark Age miniatures are a little larger than your standard BattleTech mini, but you can absolutely make it work!

[@brianhenry152]

Hey guys, I tried following the links for the lance packs in the description, and on all three I got a 404 Not Found error. Are these no longer available? If they are, you might wanna have the Aries guys update their site because I can't seem to find them.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Thanks! They did sell out but I shot Aries a note to check on the links!

[@infinite_array]

They're back!

[@jerrylujan4794]

I am not seeing your unit card converter on your website. The link you posted below opens up a page in the DFA website, but nothing it there

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Are you on patreon?

[@jerrylujan4794]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming I am not sir, is that why I can't get to them?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

That is correct - it’s one of the digital perks available for our patrons.

[@jesusthugmusic]

Dark age is still my 2nd favorite minis game next to sw miniatures. Battlemaster maniacjack74 signing off....😥. I won the heroclix ic display when it launched then started running it along with mw and mage knight.

[@davidnemoseck9007]

How do we get your specially made cards?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

We have an updated builder on our website. dfawargaming.com

[@jctxcboy36]

Are your lance packs on Aries website painted?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

They are not.

[@donvaughan3016]

how do you make the hill supports under the mats. thanks

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

This should give you what you need! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHbEZp6rpdV1qNE

[@billtrent6520]

So I learned I bee doing heat wrong I thought overheat went up every time the mech fire wich why only thing had mech do is shut down.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

Awesome stuff

[@doombunnybomb]

Great to see Thom again!

[@aaronrasalhagueforever3311]

What, Aaron looks so young in this video

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

It is sobering to see what 3-4 years can do haha

[@MrHorncity]

Sorry just started playing. If I'm in short range do I get roll for short , medium range and long.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Only the range bracket you are in.

[@MrHorncity]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming thanks brother

[@christophermactaggart243]

Where do I find your list of Mech cards with the skill point value printed on the upper right ? Sorry brand new to battletech .. playing the beginner box set for our very first game this weekend ( me and the 9 yr old )…We will be playing Alpha in the near future lol 👍

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

That is a card builder we built for patrons. You can also go to masterunitlist to print standard cards.

[@christophermactaggart243]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming Is the Patreon still available? You guys are great and I can’t believe after all these years I missed this game lol I think I’m going to need more room for another one lol This is also the first time I have ever seen you guys , and I’m going to buy your sets at Ares next month 👍 Awesome

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

It is! We are also in the process of revamping and upgrading the tool with an even better look and feel. Details are all on patreon!

[@christophermactaggart243]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming awesome …. Just joined (5usd)… I can’t seem to find them ?… I looked in posts and also August google drive and didn’t see them … great work BTW

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Its on the website - you’ll need to sign in and authenticate your patreon account and a bunch of exclusive downloads will appear.

[@antonspartan]

Why have you guys switched to an all Alpha Strike format? I thought your battletech batreps were the best.

[@thomberg3457]

we'll still be playing Classic as well don't worry :)

[@rburt3]

Thom!

[@kylrapture]

Is anyone playing this via TTS? any communities out there?

[@x13rads]

I can’t seem to find the Long Range Targeting Rules in the CE, do you guys have a page number?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Hey! Couple of things: 1. It is on 173 in my version of the CE. :) 2. This may also be helpful - check out the house and optional rules PDF we have posted up on our site, which also has page references as well: dfawargaming.com/downloads.html#asexpansions Enjoy! Feel free to ping us with any other questions.

[@x13rads]

Death From Above Wargaming That’s pretty cool. So by those rules you could choose which kind of Targeting system a unit has; Long, Short, or Normal.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

We play with *only* long but yes you could switch it around! I think that has some high potential for imbalance though 😁

[@x13rads]

Death From Above Wargaming But just using the Long Range targeting rules gives mechs with non-Long range attacks at a disadvantage. It clearly states that you have to continue using the Long or Short exclusively during the game unless your mech has a Special Rule that allows it to switch. Lots of Mechs don’t even do ANY damage at long range. Making them use the LRT rules gives them a penalty without any trade off.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Maybe. I think if you dig into the PV calculation and how various damages are weighted, it might change your mind 😁

[@ZexyObserver]

While I would like a simplified version of the core BattleTech rules, I think Alpha strike takes it just a little too far, personally.

[@x13rads]

Your comments about the high movement amounts in Alpha Strike make me wonder. Do you guys not use the Classic Battletech rules for playing on hexless terrain where you are supposed to double your movement value and recalculate your run speed based on the new number???

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Thanks for the question! I’m not sure I 100% follow - but basically, the movement numbers work out identically to Classic. For example a Spider SDR-7K has a move profile of 8/12/8 in Classic. In RAW Alpha Strike, the SDR-7K moves 16 and sprints 24! So we halve everything back to the “Classic” scale of 1” = 1 hex, so that spider once again moves 8 and sprints 12. Does that help/answer the question? Lmk! 👍

[@x13rads]

Death From Above Wargaming There is a whole section in Strategic Operations on playing Classic on a regular Wargaming Table where you are supposed to be doubling walk speed, recalculate Run speed, and doubling range brackets. The reason being wargaming tables are typically less dense with terrain than traditional hex maps. Likewise there is an entire section in the Alpha Strike book about how to play it on a hex map, where each hex counts as 2” of movement, etc etc. Link to the rules I am talking about for Classic www.battletech.com/downloads/CBTMiniRules_Final.pdf

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Yeah - so those strategic ops rules are 2:1, same as AS RAW. Whether we are doing hexless classic or AS, we prefer a 1:1... I think, for me at least, having a units that can cross to entire field of play in 2 turns really detracts from being able to engage in pre-engagement maneuvering. Our comment around the ranges was tied to that... does that help?

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

I think maybe I misunderstood the basis for your original question 😆 so if it was as simple as “do we use the 2:1 in classic” ... then the answer there is “no” 🙂 We use 1:1 (1 hex = 1 inch) on a hexless 48x48 battlegrid for both systems!

[@x13rads]

Death From Above Wargaming Oh my whole point of bringing it up was more of a Clarification than a Critique. I kinda thought you were using those rules all along in your Classic battle reports. Basically my point before was kinda how Alpha Strike is adjusted in this way, hence the rules section for playing AS on a hex map section in the book. On the Critique side though, your maps seem kinda sparse on terrain to play a true 1” to 1” ratio for my tastes. I still absolutely LOVE your guys content though, keep up the good work!

[@JustinThorLPs]

lol quarantine one is over

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

Ughghghghghg haha

[@ogrehaslayers605]

You are mispronouncing Kurita. It's pronounced VON-RORZ 😈

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

lol

[@jimnicholas7334]

Two dudes just standing awkwardly and ad-libbing in front of a sheet isn't the greatest way to introduce a game to folks :/ Also... It doesn't really make sense to explain 'house rules' before people have a grasp on the basics. That just needlessly confuses people.

[@DeathfromAboveWargaming]

12k people say otherwise. Back to your cave!

[@jimnicholas7334]

@@DeathfromAboveWargaming I hope ya get railed by those 12k 'members'