point system and cross-compatibility

[ciabs]

so I was thinking; we've got FL at this point, and someone already began using some of its vehicles into MDRG, which is great IMO;

then as far as I know, we should get a revised point system for MDRG in the next free hack issue;

now I'm asking andrea and/or anyone who happens to have a clue: is there any possibility that said point system is FL-builder compatible..?

it'd be great to have MDRG weapons, mutations, robotic features and such with a point value compatible with FL's java builder!

heck, heaven would be to have those things already inputted into the extisting program, but I'd be content with just a point system that lets me easily put FL-style vehicles and/or weapons into my MDRG games...

so, any chance of that happening..?

*waits for andrea to get back online*

[cesareborgia]

Hi,
in my club there are about ten players of MDRG that love tihs games for the random ability/mutations/weapons system.

I think that vehicle and weapons of FL are a very important resource for MDRG but I have a doubt about casuality.

(For Example, with my plants, if I can buy mutations as I want, I don't buy some mutations like "Two Headed")

Pierpaolo

[ciabs]

you're right, and I like MDRG's randomness as well, but still at this point there's no real way to know how much a vehicle will count in game terms;

does it counts as the equivalent of two models? maybe more, or less?

a guideline meant to keep games balanced wouldn't be bad;

maybe something like "every X points of vehicle value it counts as a model"; problem is: how many points X are..?

[cesareborgia]

I understand and I haven't a pretty solution to this problem.

Perhaps you can fix an amount of X point to buy only vehicles for each band (even if you create the problem for the band that don't use vehicles like plant, animal or other).

[ciabs]

well, let's at least hope that ANT will patch this little problem, as I really wouldn't mind some mad max-ish vehicles thrown here and there in MDRG

also, I'm REAAALLY looking forward to the eventual release of the Sci-Fi core rulebook that's hinted on the homepage, maybe that would be the best place to put these things together...

[richjones]

The problem is the random nature of the system. One solution would be to be able to take range bands of vehicle which have set costs. Once you pay the cost for that 'band' then you roll on a chart to see what you get.

[The Beer Ogre]

The MDRG constructed hanbook that is due out in the next Free Hack has a complete list (and points cost) for all the mutations, robotic systems and equipment in the MDRG book.

It also has a slightly revised random vs. constructed system... this isn't a perfect fit, as lucky players can roll up very powerful models, that constructed players could never afford... however they can (conversely) roll up a rubbish model that a constructed player would never buy.

The most difficult thing to balance is the squad bonus system that gives warbands of one type of model either more models, or more "stuff", but the system that is in place works quite well.

The points list can easily be ported over into a java squad builder... hopefully that will be out shortly after the Free Hack.

Andy

[ciabs]

thanks for the answer Ogre, so I can assume that the core formulas behind the upcoming MDRG constructed handbook are the same used for FL;

I say this because I read somewhere on this forum that point values of FL would've been somewhat different from other Song games since they had to include vehicles and weapons, and I thought that meant that there would be different point calculating formulas...

then again, maybe what I read just meant that the final point values would've been different because of the simple addition of weapon points;

cutting to the point: leaving MDRG awesome randomness aside, what you said means that we can hope to have a cross-game compatible point value system..?

[The Beer Ogre]

The points cost system for the MDRG "stuff" is based on the SBH/FL model and is compatable with the standard point cost formula used in the java warband creator.

The Constructed Handbook runs on a more simplified point system, based on the SBH formula, but designed for campign use against either constructed or randomly created MDRG warbands.

For pure constructed play (as in FL) where you make your own models from scratch, we might have to adjust some of the costs (probably upwards), if something turns out to be "broken", but playtesting has shown things are pretty balanced.

Andy

[richjones]

What it is is that in FL the points for an average game are a lot higher of you want to maintain the same sort of force numbers as most things will have a weapon etc or have armoured vehicles.

[squirmydad]

Feb 18, 2010 19:27:00 GMT 1 The Beer Ogre said:

The MDRG constructed hanbook that is due out in the next Free Hack has a complete list (and points cost) for all the mutations, robotic systems and equipment in the MDRG book.

It also has a slightly revised random vs. constructed system... this isn't a perfect fit, as lucky players can roll up very powerful models, that constructed players could never afford... however they can (conversely) roll up a rubbish model that a constructed player would never buy.

The most difficult thing to balance is the squad bonus system that gives warbands of one type of model either more models, or more "stuff", but the system that is in place works quite well.

The points list can easily be ported over into a java squad builder... hopefully that will be out shortly after the Free Hack.

Andy

This is excellent news. ;D
Looking forward to both Free Hack and the Java builder.

[dijit80]

Ok, does this mean that there'll be points costs for MDRG, that'll allow me to equip models for FL with MDRG goodness? I want to use FL for Sci-fi, and want to use some of the skills/abilites/equipment from MDRG in it.

[The Beer Ogre]

Apr 21, 2010 11:01:46 GMT 1 dijit80 said:

Ok, does this mean that there'll be points costs for MDRG, that'll allow me to equip models for FL with MDRG goodness? I want to use FL for Sci-fi, and want to use some of the skills/abilites/equipment from MDRG in it.

The points costs for the MDRG weapons are compatable with FL. However, the MDRG points costs are balanced against the power and availability of weapons in the MDRG game, so that a constructed MDRG warband can fight a random band on an equal footing.

As FL warbands will typically use a greater number of points/models than MDRG, the cost of some MDRG weapons (typically the more futuristic weapons like Death Ray Guns) will probably have to be increased to balance them with FL weapon lists.

Balance is the key here. Once the MDRG Constructed Handbook is released, players can try out the points costs in thier FL games.

If you spot anything that needs adjustment, we can then change it.

How does that sound?

[dijit80]

Sounds good. It'd also be great to be able to use some of the SOBH skills in FL to create more unusual creature/character types - not that I can think of any off hand (tough perhaps?)

[charger3604bbl]

Apr 22, 2010 13:46:37 GMT 1 dijit80 said:

Sounds good. It'd also be great to be able to use some of the SOBH skills in FL to create more unusual creature/character types - not that I can think of any off hand (tough perhaps?)

I've already started doing this to create stats for my Arachnids for Starship Troopers. I just used the points straight from SBH. I've yet to playtest them to see how it will work.

Chris