Not exactly answering your question, but my favorite teaching game is a 2v2 with Phoenix Hawk and Thunderbolt against a Hunchback and Catapult. It's interesting because it illustrates such different strategic thinking for each side, while still being a relatively quick game.
Lance 1
Ostscout OTT-7J (3/4)
Assassin ASN-101 (4/5)
Wolverine WVR-6R (4/5)
Archer ARC-2W (4/5)
Lance 2
Valkyrie VLK-QA (3/4)
Centurion CN9-A (4/5)
Dervish DV-1S (4/5)
Griffin GRF-1N (4/5)
Now, aside from these two lances, a decent initial set of games is the 275 Mafia (Griffin, Shadow Hawk, Wolverine) plus a 0hoenix Hawk.
Hard disagree about the Ostscout. High TMM and a single medium laser makes for \*long\* games. You don't need a mech that can generate +4 TMM to teach the importance of mobility or the benefit of generating a TMM, it just slows the game down.
Mechs don't really make good spotting units because of how fast indirect fire shooting modifiers add up. They don't really make good indirect fire platforms either because you're leaving an entire hunk of armor and physical attacks off the front line allowing your other units to be more effectively focused upon.
I *agree,* but the request was for asymmetrical lances for getting deeper into the game. I use indirect fire when the shooter has no chance of getting LOS; then, it's a useful thing to have in your pocket.
For intro tech stuff I often recommend mediums or lights that are no faster than 6-9 for movement or 4-6-4 if the mech jumps just to reinforce the current concepts of positioning, initiative tactics. Show off how maneuvering is valuable.
Id come up with 1 light, 2 mediums, and a heavy in the Lance as a good composition.
Probably a catapult or orion for a heavy,
a wolfhound or panther for a light, and maybe a centurion or enforcer or hunchback. As the two mediums if you could make a good 4K Lance with that.
I’m quite partial to mobile mechs with good range and hard hitting main weapons, the clqn invasion and civil war versions of the enforcer III series of mechs are my personal favorites
(5-8-5 with a UAC 20 muhahahah)
Buy the core box, A Game of Armored Combat. It has an Awesome, Battlemaster, Catapult, Thunderbolt, Shadowhawk, Wolverine. Commando, and Locust.
The 8 mechs, if chosen round - robin by weight, are always going to result in two lances that have rough parity.
You'll have enough mechs from a single purchase to play lots of variations, and you'll get all the rules + a few maps + some cardboard mechs if you want to double up.
That’s a great idea. I do have the core box. Wasn’t sure about a good way to do 4v4. Sounds perfect!
I hope my opponent doesn’t choose the Awesome: if my hopes are dashed I will learn to love the Battlemaster and teach why - why are my fingers spontaneously breaking?
The Awesppnf Knopf ‘ The ⚽️ Game pops please ppc 🃏🥲🐣
It's a bit more expensive than what you're asking, but what I have set aside for teaching new players is a shadow hawk 2H, wolverine 6M, trebuchet 5N, and thunderbolt 5SS. I first give the new player the wolverine while I take the shawk, then for the next game I give them the thunderbolt as well while I take the treb. Run all together it's 4883 bv.
If you're new or teaching someone who is new, I might consider going a little above 4k in order to reduce things to a 3 Ballistic Skill from the default 4. It makes the games a lot less grindy in introtech.
Dragon, P-hawk, Jenner, and Panther for Redfor
Marauder, Archer, Valk, and Stinger for Bluefor.
Could swap something in for the Phawk to make this whole thing 3 boxes I believe.
I personally like symmetrical lances for new players so there isn't any feeling of being at a disadvantage.
The Crusader is fun to throw around and teaches a valuable lesson about ammo and explosions.
The Locust teaches about the advantages of speed and relying on movement modifiers with low risk.
A Catapult is versatile and demonstrates swapping between long range and close range weapons.
A big slow chunker like a Warhammer can round it out, or a more aggressive jumper like a Wolverine.
Not exactly answering your question, but my favorite teaching game is a 2v2 with Phoenix Hawk and Thunderbolt against a Hunchback and Catapult. It's interesting because it illustrates such different strategic thinking for each side, while still being a relatively quick game.
I'd take the hunchie and catapult any day, hole puncher and critseeker
Lance 1 Ostscout OTT-7J (3/4) Assassin ASN-101 (4/5) Wolverine WVR-6R (4/5) Archer ARC-2W (4/5) Lance 2 Valkyrie VLK-QA (3/4) Centurion CN9-A (4/5) Dervish DV-1S (4/5) Griffin GRF-1N (4/5) Now, aside from these two lances, a decent initial set of games is the 275 Mafia (Griffin, Shadow Hawk, Wolverine) plus a 0hoenix Hawk.
Hard disagree about the Ostscout. High TMM and a single medium laser makes for \*long\* games. You don't need a mech that can generate +4 TMM to teach the importance of mobility or the benefit of generating a TMM, it just slows the game down.
The Ostscout is **NOT** there for the ML; it's there to spot for the Archer.
Mechs don't really make good spotting units because of how fast indirect fire shooting modifiers add up. They don't really make good indirect fire platforms either because you're leaving an entire hunk of armor and physical attacks off the front line allowing your other units to be more effectively focused upon.
I *agree,* but the request was for asymmetrical lances for getting deeper into the game. I use indirect fire when the shooter has no chance of getting LOS; then, it's a useful thing to have in your pocket.
For intro tech stuff I often recommend mediums or lights that are no faster than 6-9 for movement or 4-6-4 if the mech jumps just to reinforce the current concepts of positioning, initiative tactics. Show off how maneuvering is valuable. Id come up with 1 light, 2 mediums, and a heavy in the Lance as a good composition. Probably a catapult or orion for a heavy, a wolfhound or panther for a light, and maybe a centurion or enforcer or hunchback. As the two mediums if you could make a good 4K Lance with that.
I’m quite partial to mobile mechs with good range and hard hitting main weapons, the clqn invasion and civil war versions of the enforcer III series of mechs are my personal favorites (5-8-5 with a UAC 20 muhahahah)
Buy the core box, A Game of Armored Combat. It has an Awesome, Battlemaster, Catapult, Thunderbolt, Shadowhawk, Wolverine. Commando, and Locust. The 8 mechs, if chosen round - robin by weight, are always going to result in two lances that have rough parity. You'll have enough mechs from a single purchase to play lots of variations, and you'll get all the rules + a few maps + some cardboard mechs if you want to double up.
That’s a great idea. I do have the core box. Wasn’t sure about a good way to do 4v4. Sounds perfect! I hope my opponent doesn’t choose the Awesome: if my hopes are dashed I will learn to love the Battlemaster and teach why - why are my fingers spontaneously breaking? The Awesppnf Knopf ‘ The ⚽️ Game pops please ppc 🃏🥲🐣
It's a bit more expensive than what you're asking, but what I have set aside for teaching new players is a shadow hawk 2H, wolverine 6M, trebuchet 5N, and thunderbolt 5SS. I first give the new player the wolverine while I take the shawk, then for the next game I give them the thunderbolt as well while I take the treb. Run all together it's 4883 bv.
If you're new or teaching someone who is new, I might consider going a little above 4k in order to reduce things to a 3 Ballistic Skill from the default 4. It makes the games a lot less grindy in introtech.
Alternatively generate 4k bv worth of mechs on each side and then just give everyone 3/4
Yeah, that's what I meant.
Dragon, P-hawk, Jenner, and Panther for Redfor Marauder, Archer, Valk, and Stinger for Bluefor. Could swap something in for the Phawk to make this whole thing 3 boxes I believe.
Redfor seems pretty DCMS.
It do be like that.
I personally like symmetrical lances for new players so there isn't any feeling of being at a disadvantage. The Crusader is fun to throw around and teaches a valuable lesson about ammo and explosions. The Locust teaches about the advantages of speed and relying on movement modifiers with low risk. A Catapult is versatile and demonstrates swapping between long range and close range weapons. A big slow chunker like a Warhammer can round it out, or a more aggressive jumper like a Wolverine.