Getting started

From MegaMekNET

Contents 1 Your first game 1.1 Connect 1.2 Enroll 1.3 Register 1.4 Your headquarters 1.5 Create an Army 1.6 Find a game 1.6.1 Attack from reserve 1.6.2 Blind attack 1.7 Engage 1.8 Find a server to host the battle 1.9 MegaMek client 1.10 Battle resolution 2 Classic BattleTech Rules 3 What next?

Your first game

Connect

You have just downloaded and installed MegaMekNET and you just launched it! You should discover a splash screen with a connection window describing username, password, IP address, chat and data ports. You'll only need to fill the username field, leaving default values for others fields.

You are greeted with the GUI of the campaign, and in the Main Channel window you read

It appears that you have not signed up for this server’s campaign. [Click to get started]

Click on the link and you will be enrolled in the game training faction, known as the Solaris Training Company (or SOL, for short).

Enroll

Next you will read something similar to:

WELCOME TO MEKWARS!
You’ve been assigned to Solaris Training Company, a training faction. Take some time here to learn about the server rules, the unique qualities of the factions that you may join, and the software in general. If you’re looking for helpful hints, many servers include a short New Player Guide. Most have active forums. All have veteran players, moderators and admins willing to help new folks learn the ropes.
You’ve been assigned a starting force: PNT-9R (4/5), UM-R60 (4/5), WSP-1A3 (4/5), STG-3G (4/5), CDA-2A (4/5), TBT-5N (4/5), GRF-1N (4/5), WVR-6M (4/5).
Have fun!
---
NOTE: Your account will not be password protected until you [register] your nickname.

This is your first assignment of units. Most likely, you will be given different units than the ones indicated above: the server assigns to new recruits a random selection of four light and four medium meks, to get you started in your new field commander career.

Register

When you first enroll in the campaign, your account name is NOT password protected, and until you protect it with a password, anyone can use your selected name. It's a wise idea to register as soon as possible, by clicking on the link provided.

Error creating thumbnail: convert: unable to open image `/var/lib/mediawiki/images/a/a0/MekWars_Getting_Started_2.jpg': No such file or directory. Click on the [register] link and enter a password twice, to protect your new game account.

Error creating thumbnail: convert: unable to open image `/var/lib/mediawiki/images/f/fa/MekWars_Getting_Started_1.jpg': No such file or directory. At times many things will flash on your screen about current games played and Faction Ranking. Dont let them confuse you. You will learn about that later in your MechWarrior career.

Also, this is a good time to register your callsign on the game forums. Remember: your MegaMekNET game account and forum account callsigns must be the same.

Once you register your name and password, you can avoid to re-enter your password every time you connect, by setting your password in the client configuration. To do so, follow this procedure:

1. Click on "File" menu
2. Click on "Configuration" item
3. Insert your name and password in the appropriate fields of the configuration dialog window
4. Click "OK"

Your headquarters

You will see in the middle of your screen tabs for "Headquarters", "BlackMarket", "Faction Status", "Battles" and "Map".

Click on "Headquarters". That's the hangar where your units are parked, and your armies assembled.

Create an Army

Click on the "Create New Army" button of your hangar. This will prepare a new empty army for you to populate with units. To add meks to an army, simply drag them in place.

Error creating thumbnail: convert: unable to open image `/var/lib/mediawiki/images/7/76/MekWars_Getting_Started_3.jpg': No such file or directory. Drag meks to Army #0 to make a fighting force. In this example I used a TBT GRF PNT CDA for a Battle Value (BV) of 3891.

Error creating thumbnail: convert: unable to open image `/var/lib/mediawiki/images/7/7d/MekWars_Getting_Started_4.jpg': No such file or directory. Now you're ready to fight!

You can also swap the position of units in an army. The units will move and fire in the order shown, once engaged in a battle. Usually a good starting army combine both Medium and Light mechs for a usual value of 3000 BV to 4000 BV (BV stands for Battle Value).

Find a game

A battle in MegaMekNET can start in one of two ways:

• Attack from Reserve (AFR)
• Blind attack

Attack from reserve

With this game matching method, you or your opponent announce in "Main Channel" the intention to engage in a fight, eventually adding the Battle Value at which the game will be carried out. It's often the quickest way to find a game to play.

When you find an opponent willing to match your BV, it's time to decide who attacks whom. As a SOL player, you can attack only other SOL players; if confronted with regular faction players, you can only defend the attack. The only allowed operation for SOL players is the Tutorial operation type. Once established who will be the attacker, the attacking side issues an AFR command; if you are the attacker, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Games menu
2. Click on the "Attack from reserve" item
3. Select the "Tutorial" operation type (it should be the only one)
4. Select the planet "Solaris VII" as battleground (it should be the only one)
5. Select the player with which you agreed on the battle
6. Wait the answer to your attack
7. Skip to the next section (Engage)

If you are the defender, you will receive an AFR game offer, and you accept it by clicking on the provided Main Channel link.

Blind attack

If you don't want to ask in Main Channel, you can always leave the comfort of your reserve duty condition and head straight for the frontline and wait for someone to attack you "blindly".

Be aware, however, that it may take a while to receive an attack in this way. SOL operations have a low payout for regular faction players, and often the newbies are shunned for their lack of skill and speed. You should be prepared to be patient, if you don't want to propose a battle.

To materially reach the frontline, click on the big button at the bottom right of your game interface marked "Activate". You will be immediately available to receive a Blind Attack. After a delay of 30 seconds, you will also be able to attack on your own, but remember that SOL players can attack only other SOL players.

Engage

When the attack is accepted, you will get an "Intel Report" showing Planet name, Continent name (map type), and your opponent's Army. Take a second to note these details as it is important to your game what type map you will play on what your opponent is taking.

Find a server to host the battle

Click on the "Battles" button, find the game your opponent is hosting or use a Dedicated server that your opponent is on, right click that line and click on "Join Game". You're encouraged to host the game yourself, if you can; to do that, click on the "Host" menu and on the "Start Host (and Join)" menu item.

See also MekWars Battles tab.

MegaMek client

Once you enter the battle host, the MekWars client software will automatically launch and display the MegaMek interface and your army will be placed in the pre-battle lobby for you. All battle settings are automatically set by the MekWars server corresponding to the campaign configuration.

Battle resolution

Now you can engage in the actual battle, and try to overcome your opponent by dispatching of the enemy units faster than they dispatch of yours. You may continue fighting until one side is victorious and destroys/disables enough of their opponent's army to be automatically awarded the win, but mostly one side will surrender well before then, to conserve their forces for another day.

It is beyond the scope of this guide to teach you how to efficiently beat your opponents. For that, practice, willingness to learn from veterans, watching others' games, studying the ruleset, will all make a difference. The game is quite complex, the learning curve quite steep, but this complexity can give you hours and hours of fun and entertainment.

Classic BattleTech Rules

Classic BattleTech rules can be found in Total Warfare handbook. Catalyst Game Labs also released some free materials, those PDF are cost-free download.

• Classic BattleTech Introductory Rulebook
• Classic BattleTech Quick-Start Rules is a light reference book with less content, more suitable for old-time player that need some mind refresh.

What next?

You can stay as long as you wish in the Solaris Training Company. The payouts are low, as you don't risk much by staying a recruit: all "Tutorial" operations are mock-up games, and your units will never be damaged nor destroyed in battle.

When you are satisfied with the training you received, and reached the mandatory experience requirement (currently 100 XP), you can abandon the Company and Defect to a real faction. Follow this procedure to pick your new home:

1. Click on the "Campaign" menu
2. Click on the "Other >" item
3. Click on the "Defect" item
4. Select the faction you want to move into
5. Click OK

Beware, however, that moving outside the training faction to one of the six factions is a permanent choice: once out of SOL you won't be able to move back in. Choose carefully, it is expensive to change your mind in the future! Solaris will remove all training units from your hangar, and your new faction will automatically issue your first combat units to stock your bays.

You are now responsible for everything about these meks and vehicles, including repairs, pilot assignments, and all the paperwork you thought you'd avoid until now.

For more information, see the introduction to Faction Play page. Have fun.