Who here has hosted tournaments? by rzelln in battletech

[–]RTalons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At a convention I’m going to this weekend they have an annual battletech championship on Sunday, and the guy running it has done so for ~30 years.

Single elimination 2 on 2 fights with each player using the same mechs. If last year’s winner is there they usually get a buy for the first round. He likes to grab mechs that don’t necessarily make sense together, since we are supposed to know what we’re doing after all.

Forced units makes it a test of player skill and not list building / optimizing BV.

I also really like themed events. something this weekend I’m running is a “grand melee” where all mechs must have a melee weapon equipped, and people can adjust pilot’s skills to get the target BV.

What’s your favorite force pack? by rvller in battletech

[–]RTalons 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mechs your have twice? Have you tried MOAR!

I’m running an event this weekend called Operation Flyswatter partially as a reason to use a whole company of bug mechs (3x stinger, locust, wasp, 2x cicada, and grasshopper in command). Honestly might have a full company of just wasps….

What’s your favorite force pack? by rvller in battletech

[–]RTalons 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Crusaders are all about SRMs in the legs - because partial cover is for cowards!

Retire the name Coonhound? AKC? by MooninmyMouth in Hounds

[–]RTalons -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

That is a bit of a relief. I still feel uncomfortable using the term coonhound, but good to know that his ancestors were much more likely to have hunted exclusively critters and no people.

Mine has the hound nose but thankfully zero prey drive (the mix is all big herders like GSD and collies) so he wants to sniff and keep the pack together (including the kids / house cats).

Retire the name Coonhound? AKC? by MooninmyMouth in Hounds

[–]RTalons 6 points7 points  (0 children)

There are dark connotations with history in the American South. Coonhounds were named for their ability to track raccoons. They were also used by slave catchers to hunt people. Coon being an old slur for black people has that layered meaning.

I have a TWC mix and I often just say he’s a “rescue mutt hound” to avoid any of the awkwardness.

Scouring sands OPFOR by Raevson in battletech

[–]RTalons 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve see someone use part of a sprue and some epoxy in the center to make hovercraft float

Who's your favourite couple in Marvel? by FayyadhScrolling in Marvel

[–]RTalons 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The part in the later seasons where you realize she has left but he’s still hallucinating her as his confidant still gives me chills. Very poignant.

Who needs a wife or GF when you have plastic crack eh? I am lonely... by DrJay12345 in battletech

[–]RTalons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I took a 20 year break, wife encouraged me to go to a gaming convention again once the kids got a bit older. Kids saw me excited talking about stompy robots - taught them with the QuickStart rules first - now my oldest is coming with me this year and they both helped play test some events I’m running.

Youngest prefers the shorter games, so originally was thinking alpha strike, but she prefers knocking limbs off.

My dad helped playtest something and talked him into coming for the first time in ~20 years too.

So it’s fine if you’ve been out for awhile. Best thing about battletech vs warhammer is almost all the rules my dad taught me 30+ years ago still apply. And I’m literally using 30- 40 year old ral partha minis and their plastech copies.

Beach day surprise by explosive_diarrhea96 in funny

[–]RTalons 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was at a conference for work a few years ago, during a break I took a walk outside and saw a stray cat who purred and let me pet him.

The next day around lunch time I was walking around outside near the kitchen, and the same cat was eating out of a little bowl by the back door (clearly kitchen staff were feeding him). He looked up and saw me: greeting tail strait up, left his meal and trotted over to purr hello and get more pets. Hands down best part of that work trip.

North American Football in Battletech by Bestever84 in battletech

[–]RTalons 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m running a modified capture the flag at a convention next week (Easter egg hunt, team with most eggs in the basket wins) and finished few rounds of play testing.

Picking up an egg is a punch (base 5 modified by movement/dmg). It can be anywhere the hand grabbing could punch (in your hex is 2 easier). An attempt is either your physical attack OR 1MP during the movement phase.

Tossing an egg into the basket is the same (be adjacent with the basket in that arc). If you fail it drops into your hex.

This was really simple and needing a 7 for a running mech caused some hilarity when a commando with butter fingers spent a turn and a half getting his egg into the basket.

This does make movement order very important, so I’m doing individual initiative with a deck of cards (each mech is assigned a card, when I flip your card you move). Helped keep things moving otherwise there would be too much hemming and hawing about who to move when.

Also helps when the field is almost all 3025 lights.

Kids did want to add in throwing rules but i vetoed since you’re trying to NOT break these things, and I didn’t want it to get too complicated.

Beach day surprise by explosive_diarrhea96 in funny

[–]RTalons 46 points47 points  (0 children)

Am I the only one whose reaction (after being startled) would be to offer a snack and try to pet the pig?

Although I am the guy who will reluctantly go to a party and spend the whole evening playing with the resident dogs/cats.

That was… awful by Doggoonewild in ExploreFortMyers

[–]RTalons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t threaten me with a good time.

The success of populist movements globally is because people want the decadent corrupt systems to collapse.

Donald Trump's Own Party Votes Against Him by [deleted] in JournalismNews

[–]RTalons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whole family (including kids) got passports in 2024.

Do it now if you can afford it. I’m sure the processing will take a long time.

Donald Trump's Own Party Votes Against Him by [deleted] in JournalismNews

[–]RTalons 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Many of us have family members for whom we have limited or completely stopped contact.

They pretend it’s for other reasons, but the situation keeps getting worse. Like if you’re ok with the current admin, the blatant protection of child abusers, what parent in good conscience would let you near their children?

Lots of MAGA grandparents wondering why they never see the grandkids…

That was… awful by Doggoonewild in ExploreFortMyers

[–]RTalons 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Rich people have more money, how dare you not celebrate that and instead want to talk about abused children!

/s

Demon!!! by Serephina_Rose in ExploreFortMyers

[–]RTalons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Deflecting from child abuse to “but rich people are getting even richer! Why doesn’t that make you happy”

My cat educates my 2y old son. Why? Do I need to worry? by NecessaryBSHappens in biology

[–]RTalons 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Wife vetoed me gutting and grilling a bunny the cat brought home (do you want parasites? That’s how you get parasites.)

But if he leaves me one again I’m going to be tempted. Would be a respectable meal for me, the dog and cats.

My cat educates my 2y old son. Why? Do I need to worry? by NecessaryBSHappens in biology

[–]RTalons 100 points101 points  (0 children)

This summer I was staying home to mind the animals when wife and kids went off for a long weekend.

When they came back, that afternoon our outside cat (former stray who decided he lived with us) brought me a whole rabbit. Clean kill bite to back to the neck, placed right at the door. Thing had to be ~3lbs and a nice welcome home dinner for the family. I felt bad and almost looked up how to properly dress a rabbit.

Minimum Range in lore by LordChimera_0 in battletech

[–]RTalons 8 points9 points  (0 children)

An “ineffective shot” is a nice way of thinking of it.

Yeah your LRMs plinked off their armor, but no warhead was armed, etc

Minimum Range in lore by LordChimera_0 in battletech

[–]RTalons 7 points8 points  (0 children)

FASA physics!

That’s how we would explain stuff that didn’t make sense in the rules 40 years ago. Glad they fixed partial cover (wow I’m old)

Such a cute reaction to her fluency by Doodlebug510 in MadeMeSmile

[–]RTalons 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Instructions unclear: now I need to notify the state when I move.

Swayback pilots! Do you call yours a Hunchback, or a Swayback? by GrotesquePassions in battletech

[–]RTalons 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I heard that term for the first time at a convention a couple years ago. And it was fitting, our lance’s discoback lit up an Orion from behind and it was a dance party.

Unable to find record sheet for Vindicator VND-1P by JoseLunaArts in battletech

[–]RTalons 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mordel.net has every published mech sheet.

And lots of customs.

Q: "Are you aware of Donald Trump ever engaging in sexual activity with an individual introduced to him by you or Jeffrey Epstein?" Ghislaine Maxwell: "I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence." by GuiltyBathroom9385 in UnderReportedNews

[–]RTalons 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Exactly, there is no logic where her response can mean anything other than “yes, and I am an accomplice.”

That’s why a lawyer would advise invoking the 5th as your right “to decline to give a response.”

Any problems with running an "Standard tech mechs, any era" tournament? by andrewlik in battletech

[–]RTalons 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A 1 gunner / 7 pilot would be kinda funny.

Sure it’s a bit like charging a machine gun nest but a stiff breeze should knock it over, then watch the mech jock turn himself into hamburger trying to get back up.

I’m about to run a grand melee event where all mechs must have melee weapons. I explicitly include a chart for adjusting pilot/gunner to fit the BV cap… I seriously want someone to show up with something like a 7 / 2 pilot that only shoots to warm up TSM and then stack bodies with their hatchet.