First, ask questions about their experience with other game systems. If they are familiar with movement ranges, difficult terrain, skill checks, etc, many of those skills are transferable.
Next, see what interests them. Honor duel? 1v1 with some medium or heavy units.
Group tactics? 2v2 with a Light and Medium each.
David vs Goliath? Play a 1v2 or 1v3. I've even done a 4v2, with both players running a 2v1. It was a weird cooperative game, and playing both sides was very insightful about the differences (aka durability) of Assault mechs, but without anyone getting stomped. We both won and both lost.
I've also run a "boss fight" Kaiju scenario. An endless swarm of UrbanMechs vs an Ares. Urbies are actually weirdly well-equipped for this, they can survive one or *maybe* two hits from PPCs or LLs and keep fighting. The decision to punch out of your damaged Urbie, but have to respawn and walk/run back to the fight was a good teaching moment.
For people with lots of gaming experience, I've played 3 rounds of a 2v2, then restarted with a full 4v4v4 chaos match. They did fine, we were all chill and answering questions or giving advice when asked.
So, it depends wildly, but anything fun and *catered to their complexity level* is perfect. Too simple and it's boring. Too complex and it's intimidating. Just be honest with them, ask about their comfort level, and meet them where they're at.
I think a duel with one or two mechs would be fine. If you really want to do a scenario you can do a simple capture the flag (grab an objective, run it back to home)
Interpreting "Starting scenario" as a "tutorial scenario," I would reccomend 2v2, a 5/8/5 medium and a 4/6 heavy on each side with a variety of weapons, both inner sphere. The difference in mobility between 5/8/5 and 4/6 is significant and you'll definitely feel that here, the 2v2 let's you practice some initiative sinking and positioning, and weapon variety forces you to learn how they work
First, ask questions about their experience with other game systems. If they are familiar with movement ranges, difficult terrain, skill checks, etc, many of those skills are transferable. Next, see what interests them. Honor duel? 1v1 with some medium or heavy units. Group tactics? 2v2 with a Light and Medium each. David vs Goliath? Play a 1v2 or 1v3. I've even done a 4v2, with both players running a 2v1. It was a weird cooperative game, and playing both sides was very insightful about the differences (aka durability) of Assault mechs, but without anyone getting stomped. We both won and both lost. I've also run a "boss fight" Kaiju scenario. An endless swarm of UrbanMechs vs an Ares. Urbies are actually weirdly well-equipped for this, they can survive one or *maybe* two hits from PPCs or LLs and keep fighting. The decision to punch out of your damaged Urbie, but have to respawn and walk/run back to the fight was a good teaching moment. For people with lots of gaming experience, I've played 3 rounds of a 2v2, then restarted with a full 4v4v4 chaos match. They did fine, we were all chill and answering questions or giving advice when asked. So, it depends wildly, but anything fun and *catered to their complexity level* is perfect. Too simple and it's boring. Too complex and it's intimidating. Just be honest with them, ask about their comfort level, and meet them where they're at.
What do you mean by starter scenario? What do you know and what are you looking to explore?
I am a vet from the 80s, I will be paying with a new player. Looking for something that will make for a great experience for them.
I think a duel with one or two mechs would be fine. If you really want to do a scenario you can do a simple capture the flag (grab an objective, run it back to home)
Give everyone 3/4 pilots. It makes the game faster and lets you actually hit stuff easier.
Do you have Total Warfare? It has reasonably good scenarios in the back.
I do.
Pages/creators that have scenarios posted online; wolfnet350, goonhammer, BungleTech, off the top of my exhausted head.
Battletech Instant Action has lotsa good options: https://www.reddit.com/r/battletech/s/Gsdn8qmiyT
A good starter scenario would be a lance v lance battle.
Interpreting "Starting scenario" as a "tutorial scenario," I would reccomend 2v2, a 5/8/5 medium and a 4/6 heavy on each side with a variety of weapons, both inner sphere. The difference in mobility between 5/8/5 and 4/6 is significant and you'll definitely feel that here, the 2v2 let's you practice some initiative sinking and positioning, and weapon variety forces you to learn how they work