Well hello again. Sorry for my absence last month,
but school had just let out, my had computer died, and
then I went home for a while (yay). Anyways I know
that normally I give a column about Transformers
toys. Not this month (or last month but thats neither
here nor there (Whooooo!! I said "neither here nor
there" in an appropriate syntax!!)). Anyway, between
me being poor and the local Wal-Marts not carrying
the current TF toys for Armada, I think were on wave
3 or 4 by now, I have no new TFs to review. Never
fear. I wouldnt be the kind of person to leave you in
suspense with a months absence and then follow it up
with a nonsense article thats just here to fill space
(actually I would, but thats too much effort for me
right now). Instead sit down friend (No, not there,
THERE!), relax, and let me tell you about the newest
collectable craze to devour my wallet about as fast as
it grows.
Mechwarrior: Dark Age
Basic concept:
Some of you may remember the older RPG/Tactical Board
Game version. You also may remember the hours of game
play revolving solely around two dueling mechs. You
know that you always wished you could easily field
multiple mechs and even possibly vehicles and/or
infantry. Well now you can, thanks to the wonderful
guys at WizKids Games, who have made us a clicky
version of the game. MWDA utilizes the click base
system similar to Mage Knight and Hero Clix. The major
difference here is that MWDA includes three different
base sizes. Smallest, and most common, are the
infantry bases. These bases are the same size as the
Mage Knight and Hero Clix bases, or about the diameter
of a quarter. These represent various infantry class
pieces ranging from a five-man squad of peasant
infantry to three-man Elemental power armor teams to
various small vehicles such as hover-bikes. The next
size up is vehicle figures. These are the same width
as infantry pieces but about 2.3 times as long. These
vehicles range from slow but heavy hitting treaded
tanks to nimble hovering APCs. Finally we have the
large mech bases. These measure about 2.5 inches in
diameter and all have a secondary dial (hang on Im
getting there). The most common mechs are various
industrial grade mechs and modified versions of those,
but there are some truly impressive heavy mechs that
barely fit on the base and easily overshadow the
edges.
Game Mechanics (overview):
All the units have a circular disk built into the
bottom of their base. The base in turn has a window
that displays a portion of the sticker on the disk
(for pictures go look around on
but wait till you finished reading the 'zine eh?).
These numbers show the players the damage rating(s)*,
speed, accuracy, and defense of the given unit. Damage
to units is represented by "clicking" the dial
clockwise, one click (aka displayed set of stats) per
damage taken. This way, as units take damage their
stats change accordingly. Next to each damage rating
there is a symbol and a pair of numbers scribed on the
base. The symbol tells what type of damage that unit
deals (energy, ballistic, or melee) and the numbers
give the minimum and maximum ranges for the weapon in
that order. The bases also display the forward
shooting arc and the rear arc. Most units sport some
special abilities and each ability is represented by a
colored square or circle on a given stat number.
Examples of such are armor piercing rounds (ballistic
attack), pulse cannons (energy attack), melee weapon
(melee attack), evasion (speed), improved targeting
(accuracy), and heavy armor (defense). *Mechs have two damage values, primary and secondary
(duh).
Unit Construction:
All the figures come pre-painted and fairly poseable.
Most major articulation points (in units bigger than
infantry anyway) are truly articulated, IE mechs arms
can generally move at the shoulder and torsos can
twist, turrets rotate, etc. These paint jobs are
fairly detailed using most standard painting
techniques including dry-brushing and washing.
Storyline:
The events depicted in the novels (and therefore in
the tournament scenarios) take place in the early 3000
(3133 I think, but I cant remember right now). Anyway
this is long after the Succession Wars where most of
the clans come from. The Inner Sphere has had peace
under Delvin Stone and most of the planets
de-militarized. Few battlemechs remain, either in the
hands of the horribly rich, knights of the sphere, or
in museums. Sometime before the books start most of
the Hyper-Pulse Generators (HPG) mysteriously go
offline and are unable to be repaired. With the
breakdown in interstellar communications descendants
of the old clans, as well as a few ambitious others,
begin making power plays for various sectors. There
are six initial factions: Bannsons Raiders, Dragons
Fury, Spirit Cats, Swordsworn, Highlander, and Steel
Wolves. Each faction has its own traits that show up
in the special abilities of the units.
Price:
MWDA comes in both starter and booster size boxes
($20, $10 respectively).
Updates:
Since the launch of MDA last fall there have been two
expansions so far: Fire for Effect (FFE) and Death
>From Above (DFA). Each expansion so far has introduced
a new unit type and at least one new faction. FFE
introduced artillery and armored personnel carrier
(APC) unit types, along with faction-less mercenary
units. DFA introduced VTOLs, Anti-Aircraft, and towed
units, along with the Storm Hammers and Republic of
the Sphere factions. Due in August is Liao Incursion
which boasts new rules for regimental abilities
(whatever those are).
Overview:
I really enjoy this game. It allows me to use
whatever spread of unit types I choose and lets me
really experiment with tactics. The game shop that I
play at has nice 3-D terrain that really adds to the
game, but Ive played on rough Leggotm terrain too.
What you gain from not having to paint or assemble the
figures you loose from having random packs. It also
suffers from the standard collectable syndrome wherein
MWDA has various levels of rares (including some very
rare send off or tournament prize uniques).
Basically if you like mechs and you like miniatures
gaming (or wanted to try it but were afraid to spend
money/time on pewter figs that you have to paint) you
need to give this a try. Standard low point games can
take as little as 1 or 2 hours once both players have
learned the rules. On the other hand if you have an
entire Saturday to waste go ahead and throw together
some 1000 point armies and go at it all day long. The
versatility of this set is what really does it for me.
VF-XX
Veteran Mechwarrior
Black Hawk "Nova Prime"
Now I could tell you what Im doing for next month,
but then Id be committed to that, so if something new
and interesting came out I wouldnt be able to review
it for you until September. We really just dont want
that now do we?
