BattleTech Double Report: One Giant vs The Swarm

🕑 15 min read

Classic BattleTech Scenario - 1 v Swarm

There are moments in tabletop gaming where an idea starts as a throwaway “what if…” and very quickly escalates into something far more dangerous.

This was one of those moments.

Glen and Dave posed a simple question: what happens when one pilot puts everything into a single, god-tier BattleMech… and the other brings a swarm? Not just any swarm either - fast, coordinated, opportunistic. The kind of force that doesn’t win through brute strength, but through chaos.

Two Bases and River runs through it...

The Rules of Engagement

• 5000 BV per side
• One player must field a single mech
• The other must field at least three mechs
• No assault mechs allowed in the swarm
• Same dense urban map: twin bases, high walls, blind alleys, and nasty sightlines

And one particularly spicy house rule:

Alternating Initiative
After round one, initiative alternates automatically - but you can give it away in exchange for a single reroll that turn.

Use it wisely… or regret it forever.

---

Marauder II

GAME ONE – The Lone Titan

Forces

Glen (The Solo Player): 

• Marauder II (100t) – Gunnery 0 / Pilot 0

Marauder / Thunderbolt / Blackjack

Dave (The Swarm):

• Marauder (75t) - Gunnery 3 / Pilot 4
  
• Thunderbolt (65t) - Gunnery 3 / Pilot 4
• Blackjack (45t) - Gunnery 3 / Pilot 4

---

Opening Thoughts

Glen’s Marauder II was a monster - elite pilot, heavy firepower, and jump jets. But Dave’s trio? Flexible, dangerous, and capable of surrounding and isolating.

Glen’s plan was simple: use terrain, isolate targets, and dismantle the swarm one mech at a time.

Dave’s plan? Overwhelm the big guy.

---

Yo. Where we going?

Round One – Run for Cover

Glen wins initiative - and it might be the most important roll of the game.

Dave spreads out immediately:

• Marauder pushes centre
• Blackjack skirts the edge
• Thunderbolt jumps high for vision

Glen responds cautiously, hugging a tall wall and denying line of sight. No early LRM nonsense today.

---

Round Two – Peekaboo

Peekaboo!!

Glen commits.

The Marauder II leaps onto a wall, revealing the battlefield - and itself. It’s a bold move. Possibly reckless.

Dave advances steadily, all three mechs walking for accuracy.

Then… nothing.

An entire volley of fire from Dave’s force misses. Everything.

Glen lands a single AC/5 hit.

A sign of things to come.

---

Keep coming my pretties...

Round Three – “On Yah Head, Son”

Dave accelerates. The Thunderbolt takes a forward wall, Blackjack sprints into open ground, Marauder lumbers behind trying to keep up.

Glen stands still. Waiting.

Then fires.

The Thunderbolt takes a PPC to the head.

Critical hit: life support destroyed.

Feels like a Monty Python sketch

For a moment, it looks like the Thunderbolt might have to withdraw. It doesn’t - but the tone is set. This Marauder II is not here to play fair.

---

Round Four – Storm the Walls

Glen dances along the parapet, keeping his legs hidden and angles awkward.

Dave presses forward - but the dice betray him again. A storm of fire yields almost nothing.

Glen continues to chip away, calmly, methodically.

The swarm is starting to feel… disjointed.

---

Cannon BALLL!!

Round Five – The Insanity

And then Glen does something utterly unhinged.

He jumps.

Not to reposition.

Not to retreat.

But to Death From Above Dave’s Marauder.

Mid-air, the Marauder II is lit up:

• Medium lasers
• Large lasers
• Pulse lasers

Well. This is awkward. 

The armour melts away under concentrated fire.

But Glen lands the piloting check.

And then lands the hit.

30 damage. Spread across the Marauder's top arms, torso and head

The battlefield pauses.

Dave’s Marauder staggers - but doesn’t fall.

Both players stare at the table.

That just happened.

---

HE chickened out! 

Round Six – Tactical Disengagement (Read: RUN AWAY)

Glen immediately jumps out of line of sight, vanishing behind a level 3 wall.

Dave groans.

No shots fired.

Momentum is reset. 

---

Round Seven – Around the Mulberry Bush

Dave is forced to split his force just to get back into the fight.

Thunderbolt and Marauder trade jump fire with each other, but again - poor accuracy plagues Dave.

Glen lands everything.

The Thunderbolt is getting frustrated, battered… but not broken.

---

Choo-Choo! You're dead.

Round Eight – The Trap

Glen drops from the wall and disappears again.

Dave takes the bait.

The Thunderbolt is out of position again, leaving only the Marauder and Blackjack to engage.

Glen unleashes everything on the Blackjack.

Right arm: gone.
Left side: exposed.

Dave swears. Loudly.

Return fire? Pathetic.

The Marauder II dances away almost untouched.

---

Excuse me. Coming through. 

Round Nine – Sweep the Leg

Everything comes down to this.

Dave tries to set up a crossfire.

Glen… refuses to cooperate.

He runs behind the Marauder, isolating it from support.

PPCs slam into the leg.

Then....A kick.

Right leg again.

The Marauder suddenly collapses.

---

All I can hear is screaming...

Result: Called Draw (but…)

Time is up.

Technically a draw.

But both players agree: Glen had the edge.

A single assault mech had survived - and nearly dismantled - the swarm.

---

GAME TWO – The Swarm Strikes Back

Roles reversed.

Now Glen commands the swarm.

Dave brings the big gun.

---

Forces

Glen (The Swarm):

• Wasp (20 tonnes) - Gunnery 4 / Pilot 1
• Stinger (20 tonnes) - Gunnery 4 / Pilot 1
• Spider (30 tonnes) - Gunnery 4 / Pilot 1
• Wolfhound (35 tonnes) - Gunnery 2 / Pilot 4
• Centurion (50 tonnes) - Gunnery 2 / Pilot 4

Dave (The Titan):

• Atlas II (100t) Gunnery 1 / Pilot 2

---

Opening Thoughts

This time, the fear is very real.

The Atlas II isn’t just big - it’s terrifying. Heavy Gauss rifle, LRMs, ER large lasers… it deletes mechs.

Glen’s plan: mobility, misdirection, and rear armour abuse.

Dave’s plan: point at target, remove target.

---

RUN!!!!

Rounds One & Two – The Approach

Quiet.

Measured.

The swarm advances quickly, using walls for cover.

The Atlas takes its time, climbing into position.

Like a predator waiting for the right moment.

---

HIDE!!!!

Round Three – “Time to Die”

Glen makes a bold call: gives away initiative for a reroll.

The Centurion runs the gauntlet.

The Wolfhound flanks and the jump jetting Lights scatter into cover.

Then the Atlas fires.

Everything hits.

These trees will protect me.

The Centurion is wrecked - leg nearly gone, structure exposed.

But somehow…

It stays standing.

Barely.

---

I got your back son.

Round Four – The Swarm Unleashed

Glen goes all-in.

Light mechs leap into position.

Wolfhound breaks cover.

Centurion limps forward - still alive, somehow.

Mistakes were made.

Dave senses the danger and repositions the Atlas - but not enough.

The Stinger launches into the sky.

Death From Above.

It connects.

The Atlas is knocked clean off the wall.

Five levels down.

Into the river.

Tickle tickle tickle. Hee hee.

SMASH.

The table erupts.

Nearby gamers turn to look.

One giant plastic robot lies face down in the water.

Dave looks… less amused.

---

ENOUGH!! Puny MORTALS!

Round Five – The Penultimate Clash

The Atlas rises from the river like a furious god.

The Centurion sees its moment.

Moves one hex closer.

Fires.

AC/20 connects.

The swarm circles:

• Rear shots
• Laser fire
• Constant pressure

Centurion has a heart attack and dies. 

But the Atlas responds.

And this time… The Centurion dies.

Utterly obliterated.

---

Round Six – The End Game

Everything converges.

The Atlas retreats toward Glen’s base wall, trying to create distance.

The Wolfhound advances - bravely or foolishly.

Tickle tickle tickle

The lights jump behind the Atlas.

Perfect positioning.

Then:

• Wolfhound hits the legs
• Critical: hip actuator
• Mobility compromised

The swarm strikes.

Kicks.

Shots.

Pressure from every angle.

Nap time. 

Then the Spider lands the decisive blow - 

Leg destroyed.

The Atlas collapses, triggering catastrophic damage.

The Gauss ammo cooks off.

Explosion.

Pilot unconscious.

---

Result: Swarm Victory

Dave concedes.

The jump jetting vultures have done their work.

---

yes yes very concerning..

Final Thoughts – The Experiment

So… was the swarm idea fun?

Absolutely.

Was it balanced?

Surprisingly… yes.

Game One

The single mech dominated through:

• Gunnery Skill advantage
• Terrain control
• Precision targeting

Game Two

The swarm won through:

• Mobility
• Rear attacks
• Forcing positional mistakes

---

The culprit. 

The Real Turning Point

Dave’s biggest mistake came early in Game Two.

He almost committed to open ground - where the Atlas could dominate.

Instead, he climbed the walls.

That decision gave the swarm:

• Cover
• Approach routes
• DFA opportunities

And ultimately… the win.

---

Conclusion

This wasn’t just two games.

It was a proper test of BattleTech’s depth:

• Positioning vs power
• Flexibility vs dominance
• Chaos vs control

And perhaps most importantly:

Never underestimate a handful of angry light mechs.

Scenario Designer’s Retrospective: Evacuation Under Fire

This is Dave

 So… I designed a BattleTech scenario.

Then I played it twice with Dave
.

This is normally the point where a designer pretends everything went exactly to plan and nods wisely. That is not what happened.

What did happen is that I learned a lot, lost some ’Mechs, nearly lost a VIP in increasingly stupid ways, and had several moments where I realised I’d accidentally designed something far better (or far more dangerous) than I intended.

Which, honestly, is the best possible outcome.

---

The Map

Why I Designed This Scenario in the First Place

I love Classic BattleTech. Well, I remember enjoying it as a teen.

I love narrative play.

And I love spending time pushing toy robots around a table with friends far more than I care about winning.

What I don’t love is scenarios that end when one side stops moving.

Evacuation Under Fire was an attempt to fix that - to create a game where:

• Killing ’Mechs isn’t the whole point

• Standing still feels like a mistake

• And both players feel mildly stressed from Turn 1 onwards

Basically, I wanted a scenario that yells:

“Stop faffing about. Something important is happening.”

---

The Dignitary (a.k.a. “The Problem Child”)

Let’s start with the obvious star of the show.

The VIP.

On paper, this is just a slow-moving token with armour. In practice, it became the single most motivating object on the table. Players ignored perfectly good targets just to take speculative shots at it. Light ’Mechs did absolutely unhinged things to get line of sight. Heavy ’Mechs soaked terrifying amounts of fire because maybe, just maybe, they could end the game right now.

Which is exactly what I wanted.

After a few tweaks (yes, 15 armour was the correct choice), the VIP stopped being fragile and started being tempting. You couldn’t casually kill it - but you could absolutely ruin your own game trying.

Perfect.

---

Some Turrets

Turrets: I Accidentally Made Them Matter

I’ll be honest - the turrets were supposed to be background noise.

They were not background noise.

Turret control became a mini-game inside the scenario:

• Unmanned turrets annoyed people

• Manned turrets scared people

• High-gunnery pilots on turret duty became priority targets very fast

At one point I realised I’d created a situation where a lightly armoured Raven was more important than a heavy ’Mech. That’s not something that happens often in BattleTech, and I’m choosing to pretend it was intentional. It wasn't. Honest to god.

---

What Actually Decided Games (Hint: Not BV)

Across 2 games, a few patterns became very clear:

• The player who committed first usually did better

• The player who tried to do everything usually did worse

• Overkilling already-dead units happened more than I care to admit

• Light ’Mechs died heroically, stupidly, and often

Victory Points did their job quietly in the background. They rewarded:

• Pulling out damaged units

• Playing the objective

• Knowing when to stop

Which meant games ended because the story ended, not because the table was empty.

That’s a huge win in my book.

---

I think you're winning Dave...

Did Anything Break?

No. And I’m genuinely relieved about that.

There are sharp edges, sure:

• High-gunnery turret controllers are terrifying

• Narrow corridors can be exploited

• Assault ’Mechs can absorb frankly offensive amounts of punishment

But nothing ever felt unfair - just dangerous. And there’s a difference.

If anything, the scenario punishes hesitation more than bad luck, which feels very on brand for BattleTech.

---

What I Learned (And Will Steal for Next Time)

If there’s one big lesson from this, it’s this:

Objectives should fight back.

The VIP moved. The turrets mattered. Time mattered. Players had to react, not just optimise.

Second lesson:

Narrative happens whether you plan for it or not.

You just need to give it somewhere to live.

I also learned that swapping sides is essential. Playing both attacker and defender exposed problems far faster than theory ever could - and it stopped me blaming the scenario for my own terrible decisions.

---

Final Thoughts

Evacuation Under Fire isn’t perfect.
But it is interesting, stressful, cinematic, and replayable.

Most importantly:

Every game ended with us talking about what we’d do differently next time.

That’s why I design scenarios.
That’s why I keep learning.
And that’s why there will absolutely be more of these - whether my friends are ready for them or not.

Until next time. Hopefully I can get some PROPER board games on the table. See yah. 

P.S. Thanks to Dave and the Classic and Everything Battletech Facebook pages for all their help, time and advice. We KILLED it!!

PEW PEW.

Game Night – Evacuation Under Fire (Game Two)

🕑 10 min read

Classic BattleTech Scenario Playtest

After the dramatic first playthrough of Evacuation Under Fire, Dave and I immediately agreed that the scenario deserved a rematch - this time with sides swapped. I would take the attacker’s role, while Dave would defend the base and dignitary convoy.

With lessons learned from Game One, both sides arrived with very different force compositions and a much clearer plan. This second game would test whether the scenario could hold up when played aggressively and with intent.

---

The Forces

Defenders (Dave)

• Blackjack BJ-1DC (Gunnery 3 / Piloting 5)

• Raven RVN-1X (Gunnery 2 / Piloting 5)

• Panther PNT-9R (Gunnery 3 / Piloting 5)

• Catapult CPLT-K3 (Gunnery 2 / Piloting 5)

This was a deceptively nasty defensive lineup.
The Raven’s elite gunnery made turret control extremely dangerous, while the Catapult’s ER PPCs threatened the battlefield from almost anywhere. The Panther provided mobile PPC pressure, and the Blackjack acted as a close-range brawler and harassment unit.

Attackers (Glen)

• Awesome AWS-8T

• Archer ARC-2Rb

• Valkyrie VLK-QD

• Locust LCT-1V

• Stinger STG-3Gb

I clearly planned a high-speed, multi-flank assault, with the Locust and Stinger rushing early, while the Awesome and Archer crushed turrets through the centre.

---

Defender Deployment

The defenders deployed compactly around the base, clearly prioritising turret control and interior denial.

• The Raven positioned itself to reach turret control immediately.

• The Catapult took a forward interior position, ready to step out and dominate lines of fire.

• The Panther was placed to threaten fast movers approaching the walls.

• The Blackjack sat deeper in the base, ready to counter-punch or redeploy.
  
  

  
  
  

---

Round 1 – The Rush Begins

I won initiative and immediately committed to speed.

The Locust sprinted up the northern edge, hugging terrain and lining up on the base entrance. The Stinger mirrored this on the southern flank, using hills for cover. The Archer and Awesome advanced methodically from the eastern edge, already lining up long-range shots on the turrets.

On the defensive side, the Raven walked straight onto turret control, while the Panther leapt onto the wall, drawing a bead on the Locust. The Catapult moved out from the gate, facing the incoming light ’Mech threat.

Fire flew immediately. Turrets barked but missed the Locust, though the Stinger took a nasty large-laser hit. The Archer and Awesome stripped heavy armour from two turrets, while the Valkyrie nearly finished one off. Despite multiple PPCs and lasers aimed at it, the Locust somehow survived untouched.

The tone was set: this game would be fast and violent.

---

Round 2 – Lights Die Young

Attacker wins initiative.

The Raven stayed on turret control - and the turrets immediately proved their value.

One Stinger disappeared in a flash of light as turret fire cored its centre torso. The first attacker ’Mech was gone by Round 2.

But the attackers answered brutally. The Valkyrie destroyed a turret, and the Awesome convincingly erased another. With the Catapult and Panther distracted by the dead Stinger, the Locust suddenly found itself staring down a clear corridor straight through the base entrance.

Running flat out, the Locust burst through the gate and - against all expectations - landed a medium laser hit on the Dignitary convoy.

Gasps all around the table. The VIP was suddenly at 10 armour and very much under threat.

---

Round 3 – Disaster Strikes

The defenders won initiative, but it wasn’t enough.

The Valkyrie attempted an indirect LRM shot at the convoy and missed. The Blackjack and Panther tried to collapse on the Locust, while the Raven disengaged from turret control to chase it down.

Then the Awesome stepped up.

From outside the base, it lined up a long-range shot through the corridors - and hit. The Dignitary convoy was completely destroyed.

The table fell silent. The defenders had lost their primary objective by Round 3.

But the fight was far from over.

---

Rounds 4–5 – Punishing the Centre

The defenders won initiative, AGAIN!

With the VIP dead, the defenders shifted goals: deny points and cripple attackers.

The Panther and Catapult began a relentless cycle of knocking the Awesome to the ground. Engine hits, falls, and brutal follow-up fire turned the assault ’Mech into a battered wreck that simply refused to die.

The Blackjack flanked aggressively, slamming into the Archer from behind and knocking it over. The Raven danced between turret control and harassment fire, while the Valkyrie and Locust, both damaged and exhausted, began to disengage.

Despite repeated volleys, the Awesome stubbornly stood back up again and again - only to be knocked down once more.

---

Round 6 – Calling It

The defenders won initiative, for the 4th and final time...

By Round 6, the battlefield was a mess of craters, wreckage, and battered ’Mechs.

• The Stinger was gone.

• The Awesome was crippled but somehow still standing.

• The Locust and Valkyrie withdrew.

• The Raven reclaimed turret control for the end-game bonus.

With objectives resolved and no realistic path to further points, the game was called.

---

Victory Points

Defenders (Dave)

• 1 destroyed ’Mech: 2 VP

• 1 crippled ’Mech: 1 VP

• Controlled turrets at end of game: 3 VP
  Total: 6 VP

Attackers (Glen)

• 2 destroyed turrets: 2 VP

• Assassinated the Dignitary: 2 VP
  Total: 4 VP

Campaign Totals (last games VPs added)

• Glen: 10 + 4 = 14 VP

• Dave: 3 + 6 = 10 VP

---

Final Thoughts (For Now)

This second game felt completely different to the first.
The early assassination proved the attackers can win quickly - but the defenders showed that even after catastrophic loss, there are still meaningful decisions and points to fight for.

Before we dive into scenario balance and lessons learned, we’re going to stop here - because this game deserves a proper post-mortem of its own.

And yes… the Awesome really did just keep standing back up.

Game Night – Evacuation Under Fire

🕑 10 min read

Classic BattleTech Scenario Playtest

For our latest BattleTech game night, we finally put our custom scenario Evacuation Under Fire on the table. This was its first live playtest, and it did not disappoint: collapsing turrets, missed assassination runs, falling Assault ’Mechs, and one very unlucky Commando.

Glen One N (me) took on the role of the Defender, holding a half-abandoned base while a planetary Dignitary attempted to escape. David led the Attacking force, tasked with preventing that evacuation by any means necessary.

Before we get into the blow-by-blow, let’s look at the forces involved.

---

The Defenders in the Base

The Forces

Defenders – Base Garrison (Glen)

• Marauder
  The obvious anchor and convoy bodyguard. Twin PPCs and sheer intimidation made it the natural “bouncer at the door.”

• Catapult
  Long-range fire support, ideally placed to command the battlefield and punish over-extension.

• Blackjack
  Flexible and underrated. Perfect for turret control early, and able to reposition once the fight escalated.

• Valkyrie
  Fast, evasive, and ideal for harassment, spotting, and last-ditch heroics.

On paper, this force was all about area denial and reaction. Fewer ’Mechs, but excellent synergy with the base turrets and strong firing arcs once the attackers committed.

---

The Attackers

Attackers – Assault Group (David)

• Hunchback
  A terrifying mid-range threat, even without its famous AC/20.

• Centurion
  Durable and versatile, ideal for turret removal and pressure on the convoy.

• Enforcer
  Mobile fire support with an LB-10X, perfect for crit fishing.

• Shadow Hawk
  Flexible flanker and potential capture platform.

• Commando
  Fast, fragile, and clearly intended for a high-risk capture run.

This was a numerically superior force with strong combined-arms potential. The attacker’s plan was clear: use mobility and numbers to overwhelm turret control, then apply pressure to the convoy before the evacuation window closed.

---

Getting Ready for Round 1

Deployment & Opening Moves

The defenders deployed conservatively, but with intent.

The Marauder stood squarely at the base entrance like a nightclub bouncer daring anyone to start trouble. The Catapult hid just inside the walls, ready to leap into a commanding fire position. The Blackjack deployed deep in the base, eyeing up the turret control system, while the Valkyrie began on a central hill, poised to react.

The attackers entered from the Blue Border with purpose. The Commando immediately pushed up the northern flank, while the Shadow Hawk and Centurion advanced in the south. The Hunchback took a cautious approach behind hills, and the Enforcer jumped into woods on a distant hill to scout and harass.

From the very first movement phase, it was clear this would be a positional game, not a reckless charge.

---

Enforcer Down

Early Engagements (Rounds 1–2)

Fire in the opening exchanges was… enthusiastic, if not effective.

Autocannons barked, LRMs streaked across the battlefield, and almost nothing landed — except for one important moment. The Enforcer clipped the Valkyrie with an LB-10X cluster, drawing first blood.

The defenders answered immediately. Twin PPC fire from the Marauder slammed into the Enforcer, knocking it clean off its feet after a failed pilot skill roll. The message was clear: approach the base at your own risk.

Meanwhile, the Blackjack seized control of the turrets early, and the Catapult dramatically leapt onto a heavy building, surveying the entire map like an artillery god… and then proceeded to miss with its LRMs for several turns.

The Commando’s northern dash slowed, and that hesitation would soon prove fatal...

---

Turret Popping

Mid-Game Chaos (Rounds 2–3)

The turning point came swiftly.

Seeing the Commando creeping forward without full speed, the Marauder broke formation and charged out of the base. Two PPC shots later, the Commando’s right leg was blown clean off, sending it crashing to the ground in a shower of armour and regret.

The Commando did manage a defiant SRM volley into a nearby turret before falling — but its fate was sealed. Multiple failed stand attempts later, an ammunition explosion finished it off entirely.

Elsewhere, turrets began to fall. The attackers focused fire efficiently, obliterating one turret after another. The Shadow Hawk even made sure of one kill with a somewhat unnecessary “double tap.”

Still, turret fire had its moments — hammering the Shadow Hawk and Enforcer and making every approach feel costly.

The Valkyrie danced in and out of danger, repeatedly jumping back behind the walls, while the Marauder punished anyone who strayed too close.

By the end of Round 3, the battlefield was littered with smoking turret wreckage, and the attackers were running out of time.

---

Valkyrie Jet Dancing behind the Centurion

The Decisive Moments (Rounds 4–5)

Things escalated quickly.

The Shadow Hawk pushed forward again — and paid dearly. Automatic turret fire smashed into its head, followed by a critical gyro hit that dropped it hard to the ground. Attempts to stand only worsened the pilot’s condition until they were knocked unconscious.

The Hunchback finally found its range, hammering the Marauder and scoring a brutal gyro hit of its own, sending the iconic Assault ’Mech crashing to the dirt in front of the base gates.

Expensive Gyro Hit for Marauder

Suddenly, everything was on the line.

The Enforcer and Hunchback closed in on the fallen Marauder, while the Centurion desperately tried — and failed — to hit the Dignitary convoy with indirect fire. The Catapult, having overseen the entire battle from its rooftop throne, finally landed some medium-laser hits, forcing the Centurion to the floor, but couldn’t finish the job.

The defenders held firm.

Despite being prone and under pressure, the Marauder absorbed punishment. The Valkyrie harassed where it could. The Blackjack burst from the base to support its fallen comrade. And crucially — the Dignitary convoy survived.

With the evacuation complete and losses mounting, David made the sensible call to disengage.

---

Panic Setting in...

Aftermath & Victory Points

When the smoke cleared:

Defender

• 5 VP – Dignitary successfully evacuated

• 3 VP – Controlled turrets at game end

• 2 VP – Destroyed Commando
  Total: 10 VP

Attacker

• 3 VP – Destroyed three turrets
  Total: 3 VP

A clear defender victory.

---

Final Thoughts

This first playtest confirmed several things:

• Turret control matters, but turrets alone won’t win the game.

• The Marauder is terrifying when used aggressively — and still relevant even when prone.

• Capture attempts are dangerous, and hesitation is punished brutally.

• The scenario creates genuine tension right up to the evacuation moment.

Most importantly, it felt like BattleTech.

Hard choices, missed shots, sudden catastrophic failures, and a story that practically wrote itself.

We’ll absolutely be running this scenario again (in a few weeks) — and next time, the attackers might be a little less polite.

The Map - Defenders Deployed on Green Hexes, Attackers Deploy from Blue Border.
The Dignitary (VIP) moves from Hex 1 to Evacuate on Hex 6 (Round 6).