DP9's Heavy Gear Blitz

[Scorch]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/he ... tarter-set

Saw this kickstarter! I know, should go in Kickstart thread, but I think it's a good starting point for a thread about Heavy Gear Blitz.

I am a big Front Mission fan, but Heavy Gear has never really fired up around me. Models aren't really beautiful, but I was wondering how the game itself works. I heard it was complex, scaring away most of the interested players. Anyone have any more information/experience with this?

I like the change of scale (15mm) it has from Infinity, and the fact that it is still a squad-level Skirmish, so I won't need myself tons of models. Not sold on the tanks though..

[Hero of Man]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heavygearblitz/heavy-gear-blitz-war-for-terra-nova-starter-set

Saw this kickstarter! I know, should go in Kickstart thread, but I think it's a good starting point for a thread about Heavy Gear Blitz.

I am a big Front Mission fan, but Heavy Gear has never really fired up around me. Models aren't really beautiful, but I was wondering how the game itself works. I heard it was complex, scaring away most of the interested players. Anyone have any more information/experience with this?

I like the change of scale (15mm) it has from Infinity, and the fact that it is still a squad-level Skirmish, so I won't need myself tons of models. Not sold on the tanks though..

The Silohuette System is really crunchy and deep; it really turned off the few of my friends with any interest.... that is, the few who weren't already turned off by the ridiculously over priced models. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind dropping some money, but the amount of models/sculpt quality just doesn't match up with that cost in my book.

[Scorch]

I agree, That's why this kickstarter peaked my interest. The amount of add-ons you get for 80~~ euros makes the models almost worth the cost.

Don't see any point in getting more after that though. The models are indeed pricy as hell.

[Scorch]

Btw, it might also just be my old 40k's Tau love that makes me look for alternative battlesuits in Wargaming.

[Section9]

I don't think that the Silhouette system is all that complex, but the dice rolling convention is weird. It's all d6 based, but it's just the highest die roll you get on multiple d6s. The weirdness is that for each additional 6 you roll, that adds a +1 to your result (get 2x 6s, your die roll is a 7; roll of 3x 6s is an 8, etc).

The vehicle construction rules are a bit complex (they use cube roots), but if you're just running the pre-generated models you can handle 15 or more mecha per player easily.

I suppose that if you can't do math in your head you will hate the game. Weapons don't have a fixed damage number, they have a damage multiplier. You multiply your margin of success by the weapons damage multiplier, which allows a very good shot with a small weapon to have a chance of being a Golden BB.

[Scorch]

Okay. They lost me at head-math. I can experience trouble with Infinity, and that's just calculating numbers below 20. x'D

[Claudius Sol]

The only reason I'd ever pick this game up is to play a Zeonic Mobile Suit division using the Southern Army miniatures.

Those're clearly Zaku II's, Goufs, Gelgoogs, and Kampfers.

[JBRocky]

I will second what Section9 says about the Silhouette system, its actually pretty simple simple. Roll a number of d6's equal to your skill (usually 2) add in your modifiers, your opponent does the same defensively and if you are higher the number you succeed by is you MoS. Each weapon has a damage multiplier so that times the MoS is your damage. If it is higher than the armor value of your target you do light damage, double is moderate damage and, three times is heavy damage.

[BrandonKF]

Information? For Heavy Gear, the best game ever???



That's right boys and girls, I graduated from your old haunt to here. Muwahahah.

Okay, the old Tactical edition is still good.

Seriously, if you don't mind crunch.

But the new Beta rules are free for download. Dream Pod 9 plans on making it a living rulebook that will exist much like Infinity.

The Beta rules have their own forum for development. Solkan is over there and testing as we speak. Dave, the guy in charge, he is taking everything and really answering lots of questions.

The scale is technically 12mm or n-scale, a wee smaller than 15mm.

The tanks you see there are a new addition, the MHT-95. Not everyone is crazy about them, but the HT-68s and HT-72s have their own aesthetic.

We broke $95,000 in Canadian, so this is shaping up to be a great time to get in the game, with lots of Stretch Goals hit already.


Edit: Claudius Sol, the game was based on VOTOMs.

Here is a more 'Gundam' incarnation



The rest of the factions will be worked on eventually to go to plastic, but here is the current line-up.



Anymore questions? I am here now.

As to price, that is why they are going plastic. Easier to ship to retailers and distributors and customers.

Here is a line up of my finished stuff.

[Claudius Sol]

Oh, I know it's VOTOMs, but I still can't help but feel the Zeon influences.

Also, that model isn't really a "Gundam"... Kinda a little too "tank"-like.

[Hero of Man]

I will second what Section9 says about the Silhouette system, its actually pretty simple simple. Roll a number of d6's equal to your skill (usually 2) add in your modifiers, your opponent does the same defensively and if you are higher the number you succeed by is you MoS. Each weapon has a damage multiplier so that times the MoS is your damage. If it is higher than the armor value of your target you do light damage, double is moderate damage and, three times is heavy damage.

Maybe convoluted is the word I'm looking for here; seems like unnecessary complications. That's just me and my friends way of looking at multiple systems though.

[BrandonKF]

Oh, I know it's VOTOMs, but I still can't help but feel the Zeon influences.

Also, that model isn't really a "Gundam"... Kinda a little too "tank"-like.

Heh, don't tell that to the older guys.

Basically they talk about the influence from the Lobos (spelling?) from one of the later series. The Hussar is a Gearstrider.

Second edit: If you know what a Gearstrider is, I apologize. I am just trying to explain without patronizing anybody, and there is a lot in the Heavy Gear Universe to cover.



In reference to the convoluted rules, the new Beta is doing its best to chop off a lot of the stuff that made earlier versions of Blitz exactly like the Tactical edition. It is difficult of course, because for Skirmish rules of less than 10 models the Tactical rules were very nice, but these Beta rules are meant to be played with 4-20 models, with the aim being a maximum 2 hour game when you get larger numbers on the table.

Edit: Here is a link to Steel Paladin's Flickr account with all his Heavy Gear pics.

https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/steelpaladin/15102444623/

[Hero of Man]

In reference to the convoluted rules, the new Beta is doing its best to chop off a lot of the stuff that made earlier versions of Blitz exactly like the Tactical edition. It is difficult of course, because for Skirmish rules of less than 10 models the Tactical rules were very nice, but these Beta rules are meant to be played with 4-20 models, with the aim being a maximum 2 hour game when you get larger numbers on the table.

I'll give it a read through; I always like taking a look at newer rules, especially if the intent is on being more streamlined and such.

[Durandal]

I don't think that the Silhouette system is all that complex, but the dice rolling convention is weird. It's all d6 based, but it's just the highest die roll you get on multiple d6s. The weirdness is that for each additional 6 you roll, that adds a +1 to your result (get 2x 6s, your die roll is a 7; roll of 3x 6s is an 8, etc).

The vehicle construction rules are a bit complex (they use cube roots), but if you're just running the pre-generated models you can handle 15 or more mecha per player easily.

I suppose that if you can't do math in your head you will hate the game. Weapons don't have a fixed damage number, they have a damage multiplier. You multiply your margin of success by the weapons damage multiplier, which allows a very good shot with a small weapon to have a chance of being a Golden BB.

Yeah, the newest iteration of Blitz actually isn't using the Silhouette mechanic anymore. Probably for the best, I liked the idea of the mechanic, but it put far to much emphasis on bonuses with skill being not terribly important after about the 3-dice mark.

The big issue was that the modifier range of +/- 3-4 was far too big for the d6's being used (most hacks of the system moved to d8's or d10's, but they came with the problem of being too swingy).

I am liking the new dice mechanic. It retains the feel of the original mechanic without allowing modifiers to dominate. You still roll your dice and choose the highest, but the way things work now is that all other dice work in a more conventional "success counting" dice pool style.

You will have a skill listed (e.g. 4+) and if other dice in the roll turn up that value or higher, then you add one to the primary die.

So now bonuses instead of adding directly on to the dice roll (and thus overpowering any impact the dice might have had) you add more dice to the roll (or subtract them for penalties).

It does a lot for opening up opportunities in the system and improves on the biggest weakness in the system that have existed since tactical. Modifiers aren't overpowering but they still have a definite benefit.

Oh, and they got rid of all the awkward mutliplication from the damage system. So now the big hulking striders and support gears like the Grizzly aren't walking deathtraps because of how multiplicative damage interacted with the modifier problem. So folks who fell in love with things like the Northern Mammoth can field it without learning the hard way that it was an expensive coffin for two.

Definitely one of the better iterations of the rules in a long time.

[Claudius Sol]

Oh, I know it's VOTOMs, but I still can't help but feel the Zeon influences.

Also, that model isn't really a "Gundam"... Kinda a little too "tank"-like.

Heh, don't tell that to the older guys.

Basically they talk about the influence from the Lobos (spelling?) from one of the later series. The Hussar is a Gearstrider.

Second edit: If you know what a Gearstrider is, I apologize. I am just trying to explain without patronizing anybody, and there is a lot in the Heavy Gear Universe to cover.

Ah, the Lotos. Eh, I can kinda see it. Sorry, I wasn't thinking of trying to compare with a special forces APC mobile suit.

Were you thinking this Loto?

[BrandonKF]

Oh, I know it's VOTOMs, but I still can't help but feel the Zeon influences.

Also, that model isn't really a "Gundam"... Kinda a little too "tank"-like.

Heh, don't tell that to the older guys.

Basically they talk about the influence from the Lobos (spelling?) from one of the later series. The Hussar is a Gearstrider.

Second edit: If you know what a Gearstrider is, I apologize. I am just trying to explain without patronizing anybody, and there is a lot in the Heavy Gear Universe to cover.

Ah, the Lotos. Eh, I can kinda see it. Sorry, I wasn't thinking of trying to compare with a special forces APC mobile suit.

Were you thinking this Loto?

Exactly the one in fact.

Good find!

Yes, the old guard grumble a bit about the Gearstriders, but personally I see it as the Gear development growing.

There is worry that the Gearstriders will lead to larger models, but so far no one has said they will grow past the Scimitar. Which is good for me, that is big enough without breaking verisimiltude.



Above shows the standard sizes for the Heavy Gears.



The four current Gearstriders.



The Scimitar in comparison to the Overlord.

[Poseidal]

The tanky one kind of reminds me of some of the stuff Global Armaments (GA) from Armoured Core 4/4A brought out.

I have a south and north force I haven't really played with. Is there a centralised place to download the rules now?

[BrandonKF]

@Poseidal


Here is the link to the Beta on DrivethroughRPG.com.


http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/1 ... Beta-Rules

Here is the development forum:

http://dp9forum.com/index.php?showforum=66

I am Kris_Din over there.

Any questions about the rules, the guys and gals at the DP9 development forum are quick to respond. Dave is taking the day off in honor of Remembrance (Veterans) Day, but he will be making a update to the most recent download, which was last updated on September 24.

The new updates will be removing some of the rules, such as We're in Trouble, and rephrasing some of the more vague sentences for clarity and understanding for new players.

[BrandonKF]

Well, hit over $111,000. Wondering how much further the news has gotten out, but it has been an education I can tell you that.