Game types

Matchmaking

MekWars software keeps track of armies eligibility for various Operations as well as their BVs. If attacker is legal to launch an operation, the defender is legal to defend this attack and both armies are within a certain bv range from each other - attack may occur.There are several ways to fulfill the criteria and get into a game.

Activity

Going active is a change in your status from "Reserve" to Active. This change is made by left clicking on the "Activation Button" in the lower right corner of the client. Being active openly announces your willingness to commit to any game. You are ready to play with any armies that are not currently disabled. More operation types with greater and more varied rewards are available only when active. There is a 30 second delay between going active and getting information about opponents, giving players who are already active a chance to attack you. This is called "Blinding."

During activity, your armies generate components and influence. Each "tick" produces additional influence and components.

Blinding

Attacking an opponent that has gone active and can't see you, is referred to as blinding. Blinding is the preferred method for getting a game. The attacking player may choose the target planet, which army to use(if there's more than one match), which operation to launch(if there are more than one available to the attacking army)as well as which faction to attack (if there is more than one available). The attacker may not choose which player to attack specifically. Though if there is only one player active from a faction, who the defender is may be obvious.

Blinding is considered of greater importance than arranged games. If you are blinded, unless you have openly announced playing a tutorial match or are retasking from a prior incomplete game, each player is obligated to play. You may ask for the attacker to honor an arranged game with another player, but the attacker is not obligated to do so. The Staff of MegaMek Net does not consider it poor sportsmanship or an offense to refuse to honor an arranged game. Going active announces your willingness to play any active opponent. Complaining about a player enforcing their right to a blind attack MAY be an offense of sportsmanship.

Blinding is not considered of greater importance than Tutorials or Retasks.

Tutorial

For training purposes, tutorials can only be played between two active players. In order to avoid being blinded, a player going active for a tutorial should state his intention as well as BV and then go active with that army only. Using a Tutorial for any other purpose is not allowed.

Retask

Retasking is essentially relaunching an operation that was cancelled for whatever reason. Retasking is not mandatory, unless cancelled by a stuff member, and requires a mutual agreement by the players. There are no limitations on retasking as long as all participating players agree. Retasking players must announce their intention as well as BV of the army, then go active with that army only. Using the right of Retasking for any other purpose is not allowed.

Arranging

Arranging is a way of getting a game with a specific person without going active. Both players must agree on an operation and BV beforehand. Players agreement might include any other aspect they come up with. The common way to determine attacker is to use /roll command to roll 2D6, winner gets the attack. It is considered good sportsmanship to choose a target planet that both players have a share of, but it is not mandatory unless it was specifically mentioned. The target of the attack may be negotiated.

Players arranging a game should use the attack from reserve operations. These operations allow for starting a game without going active. Going active for an arranged game exposes the players to any currently active players. Those players may be attacked without regard for any announcement of arranged games.