Battletech game in San Angelo

Hey everyone,

I know most of you don't play Battletech, but I played a game last weekend, and I thought I would post a very brief AAR. Battletech is really a boardgame, but we used the miniatures conversion to play out this accidental meeting of recon 'Mechs, which are light and fast. Mine were lighter and much faster, while Mike had one fast one and two that were heavier and/or made for combat. I also had two 'Mechs, an Assassin and a Clint, which had long range weapons. His 'Mechs didn't have the range, but dealt much more damage, esp. his Hunchback, which could potentially take out one of my 'Mechs with just one shot.

Here my Assassin takes cover behind a hill and uses long range missiles to pepper the advancing force. My Cicada (in foreground) had only short-range lasers, and so ran a flanking move from the start (see below).

His Panther found its way into some woods, but had engine damage by the time he got in there, thanks to the long range weapons of the Assasssin and the Clint.
Because this Hunchback of his could basically disable or destroy any 'Mech it hit, I ran a run and gun tactic. The Clint held the middle while the Assassin fakes right and the Cicada went around the left flank. My Assassin was then fast enough to join the Clin and follow the Cicada onto the left flank while his slower 'Mechs were forced to adjust, those on the refused flank with no one to face whil mine teamed up on the isolated Hermes that he had stationed on that flank. Above is the Hunchback, lumbering along just out of range for the big gun.

Here the Cicada and the Clint close in on the Hermes, and just after this the Assassin closed on this flank as well. They hit the Hermes with everything they had, but (despite a potentially crippling shot to the head), the Hermes slipped away, and my 'Mechs gave chase.

My tactic was working pretty well, I think, and I had damaged the Hermes and was closing in for a kill on the Panther, which was caught in the woods with an overheating engine. Unfortunately, I got over eager, and the Hunchback was able to wade into the woods and fire at the Cicada on the one round that I didn't stay out of his range. The Hunchback completely blew through the ecenter of the Cicada, killing the 'Mech (although the pilot, Bram Stein, lived through the attack). This changed the game, as my opponent took advantage of this turn of events and pressed his advantage. Now outgunned and in bad position, my two remaining 'Mechs surrendered the field in return for the safe return of their comrade.

All in all it was a really fun a technical game. We both knew that my tactic could work, but if I made any mistakes he could take advantage if he was in a good position. Most of the game was positioning and sniping, and we both had a great time. Lots of folks have very good complaints about Battletech, but I think it is a real good time.