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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 604
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 Posted: 18-May-2004 14:15 Post subject: Trial of Position |
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Okay, my Sibko (eldest son) is getting all excited about playing Battletech, and wants to do the whole Trial of Position stuff. No problem, Ive got more than enough stuff to do that.
My big question is, How big of a mech should I give him to use?
What kid of mechs should I use to oppose him?
Im thinking that I could give him something like a Summoner or Timber Wolf, and oppose him with a Nova, another Timber Wolf, and maybe a Dire Wolf, but that seems to me like Im staking the deck too heavily in my favor.
Anyone got any ideas? 
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Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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CO_17thRecon
Kell Hounds
Major
Joined: 10-Sep-2002 00:00
Posts: 1297
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-May-2004 14:30 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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Quote:
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On 2004-05-18 14:15, DarkAdder wrote:
Okay, my Sibko (eldest son) is getting all excited about playing Battletech, and wants to do the whole Trial of Position stuff. No problem, Ive got more than enough stuff to do that.
My big question is, How big of a mech should I give him to use?
What kid of mechs should I use to oppose him?
Im thinking that I could give him something like a Summoner or Timber Wolf, and oppose him with a Nova, another Timber Wolf, and maybe a Dire Wolf, but that seems to me like Im staking the deck too heavily in my favor.
Anyone got any ideas?
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Actually, that's stacking the deck in his favor, since he'll almost surely beat one of the three. But that's usually best for his first game. I think that's an acceptable amount for a trial of position. He should be able to easily beat the Nova, could possibly beat the other Timber Wolf if he has a good load out, a bit of talent and a bit of luck, and if he's a B-Tech genius or a god with the dice he could take on the Daishi. Sounds very clan like to me.
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Jarylan Blackwell
"What the...?! Where did you get THAT?!"
"Creative aquisition."
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ralgith
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company
"Ralgith's Renegades"
Colonel
Joined: 18-Aug-2003 00:00
Posts: 2021
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-May-2004 15:45 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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I would give him a Timber Wolf, and face him against 2 heavies and an assault, here are what I normally choose when doing something like this:
Player:
Timber Wolf Prime or A (I prefer the A)
Opponents:
Summoner M
Timber Wolf B or C (I normally use the B to face them off against a variety of weapons, but the C is good too)
Warhawk A or B (For the same reasons as having Timber Wolf B or C)
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Colonel Ralgith t'Mayasara
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company 'Ralgith's Renegades'
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Ronin
ComStar
Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 908
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-May-2004 16:59 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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The first question is: does he already know how to play? If so, how well?
I know one of the manuals that came out about a year or so ago (mine are at my parent's house) listed all of the specifics for setting up a Trial of Position. What I'm putting here is what pops into memory.
Either way, it's probably best to let him choose his mech first.
The Trial is then set up with three mechs (some clans do it differently, but this is basically the standard format).
The first is lighter than the candidate's mech, the second the same weight, and the third is heavier. The skills of pilots of the opposing mechs is also an issue. I think you either make all of the pilots 3 gunner 4 pilot (an average clan pilot) or you increase the skills of the pilots as the weight of their mechs increase... I think the lightest mech is supposed to have the same skill as the candidate, the next opponent is one level higher, and so on.
Usually, two trials are run simultaneously, so that if the candidate is good, lucky, and/or ambitious, they can achieve more than 3 kills. However, doing so requires that the test be opened up into a Grand Melee somewhere along the way... The Legend of the Jade Phoenix novels (now combined into one big novel available at bookstands now!) explains this process in pretty good detail.
If you want to integrate Mechwarrior into the game, then you can add the first scenario that some clans use where the candidates have to get to their mechs first, facing unarmored infantry opponents (freebirth cadets) along the way.
Good luck to your warrior candidate! May he prove to be a ristar!
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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 604
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| Posted: 18-May-2004 18:53 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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Im not worried about integrating Mechwarrior into the game, Ronin, but thats an interesting concept.
Ive shown him the basics of the game (some maps, Tech Readout, minis, Etc.) But I havent gone into deep detail yet. My rulebooks and other goodies are still in Iowa.
I recall some of the Jade Falcon trilogy and the Trial of Position, but its been quite a while.
Im looking for something to be challanging, but not im-#%&@*%ing-possible. (The only Trial I helped in, the candidate was killed a few rounds in when the Nova did a successful DFA and crushed the kids cockpit, so I dont know how effective the match-up would have been)
Any idea for terrain to use? Clear terrain, urban, hills....?
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Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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| Posted: 18-May-2004 20:09 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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Give the candidate a Summoner. The enemies can have a Loki, a Summoner, and finally any assault 'mech you please. The first two battles should be fairly even, giving him a fighting chance of at least making Commander.
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ralgith
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company
"Ralgith's Renegades"
Colonel
Joined: 18-Aug-2003 00:00
Posts: 2021
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-May-2004 20:57 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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What he said about the weights of opponent mechs is exactly why i recommended the ones I did. The summonder is lighter, the timber wolf is same weight, and the warhawk is heavier. As for terrain I'd use 2 maps, and do the "coin hunting ritual" (Have him choose heads or tails) and he can pick the first map if he wins, second if he loses, and other map will be rolled on a random table. I've used that combination of mechs and map numbers/map choosing method many times to good effect. Also it's better to lose the coin toss and pick your map after the random one is chosen 
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Colonel Ralgith t'Mayasara
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company 'Ralgith's Renegades'
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Ronin
ComStar
Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 908
Location: United States
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| Posted: 19-May-2004 00:49 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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If one of the opponents in a Trial of Position did a DFA, then the player wasn't playing a Clan warrior. Even if the Trial had turned into a Grand Melee, the Clans detest physical attacks so much that it is almost unthinkable to them.
Terrain should be up to you... if I remember correctly, the rationale given is that a warrior does not always know where he will have to fight. But once you select the terrain, let your son pick his mech accordingly.
Depending on how many mechs are out there, I would suggest two maps as a bare minimum. Four is a btter idea, and six would be ideal. "Rolling" the maps might also be an idea, but have a limit because the Trial should be contained somewhat. The reson for having so many maps is to take advantage of the range of most Clan weapons, and the speed of some of their mechs. It also allows you to have a variety of terrain if you want... mountains overlooking a forst valley, perhaps, or open terrain leading to a city (the clans would avoid combat in the city, but the scenario could be that the candidate must draw off and defeat some dezgra attackers, etc.).
Regardless, make sure you pick mechs that go with the terrain. Try to have a few selections already available, two different ones from each weight class, a first and a second. Pick these before yoru son picks his mech... after he picks his mech, you can select the first mech from each weight class needed, and use the second if two of a particular weight class is needed.
A suggestion for you son... select a hard-hitting medium mech, preferably a fast one and/or jump capable one. Don't overlook the pulse/tc combo: people complain about it for a reason. By selecting a medium, he will face a light, a medium, and a heavy. Most lights can be swiftly dispatched, especially if a pulse/tc combo is in play, or at least a tc and something hard hitting like an ERPPC. The medium can then be taken on, and with some luck can be dispatched fairly easy as well. The heavy will take some work, but that's where the speed and/or jump jets come in: make yourself a hard target and wear at the heavy if it has strong armor, or strike fast and hard if it doesn't. Remember, the rest of your life is based on the results of this Trial, so fight intelligently.
My favorite mechs for Trials are Dragonflys and Grendels, because of the weapons loadouts that some of the configurations have, plus the speed/manueverability factor to keep you from getting hit.
My 2 Kerensky's there. Hope it helps!
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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 604
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| Posted: 19-May-2004 01:23 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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Well, one thing Im planning on doing for his Trial is to give him a Prime omnimech but keep the exact configurations of the opposing mechs a secret. He wont know what weapons they have until they shoot.
Warriors must deal with the unexpected....
If he does something with a TC in it, Im probably going to throw at least one mech at him that has ECM to make him do without.
Just as a side note, would a point of elementals be a good opponent if he decides to fight in a light or medium mech?
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Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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ralgith
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company
"Ralgith's Renegades"
Colonel
Joined: 18-Aug-2003 00:00
Posts: 2021
Location: United States
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| Posted: 19-May-2004 08:04 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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In a light mech with good weapons maybe, otherwise perhaps not.
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Colonel Ralgith t'Mayasara
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company 'Ralgith's Renegades'
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Ronin
ComStar
Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 908
Location: United States
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| Posted: 19-May-2004 09:15 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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Elementals would not be a good idea... so far that I know of, Trials of Position are always against the same type of warriors that the candidate aspires to be: mechs for mechwarriors, elementals for elementals, aerofighters for pilots, armor for tankers, infantry for infantry, etc...
I agree, your son shouldn't know what kinds of mechs he is facing, let along their configurations. If he is familiar enough with the rules, he should be allowed to set up a custom configuration of an omni if he so desires, or at least he should pick the configuration of the existing ones. Having an opponent with ECM might not be a bad idea, just in case he does rely on electronics too much, but not all opponents should be that way.
Unless, of course, you're having him test as a freebirth, in which case he doesn't get a choice, unless your clan is incredibly progressive.
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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 604
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| Posted: 19-May-2004 19:36 Post subject: RE: Trial of Position |
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Im not sure if Im going to give him the Freebirth or Trueborn style of the Trial of Position. Im not entirely sure how the Star Adders conduct their Trials (its been a while since Ive read my Field Manuals) but Ill do what I can.
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Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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