I've long thought that an active Solaris VII league would be a very cool thing to run out of a store. With the recent success of the 40k league, I think it would be possible to follow the same format as that league and run a Classic Battletech league.

The first option would be to simply have players challenge one another and then keep score of the results just like in 40k. It would be simple and entertaining.

The second option is the one that I would really want to try: Having players keep track of their assets as Solaris VII stables. This system would have the new Warchest Points system at its heart, borrowed and directly inspired from the new Sword and Dragon campaign rules that were released last year.

These rules could easily be adapted to allow players to earn points for defeating opponents either directly or indirectly (just like in S&D) and work their way up the Solaris VII ladder. These points could be spent on new mechs, new recruits and new technology (again, just like S&D).

I have the maps for the Solaris VII arenas and I would be perfectly happy to loan them to the store for a league (just like the Blood Bowl set that resides there). I could even get them laminated.

I will tackle this project and keep what I come up with posted here so that you can all comment on what you think works and what doesn't.

I'm inclined to keep everything at the pre-clan era of 3039 since that is where S&D takes place and it also coincides with the new release of the latest TRO book.

-Peter

Peter,

I'm stil lnot sure of my future location... but I'd be up for playtesting it on the wekeend of the Blood Bowl tourney when I'm in town.

LUke
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That'd be awesome if you could Luke. Do you remember my first go at this way back at Iguana's? You helped me iron out the rules using C-bills and conventional repair and customization.

The new WP system is SO much easier and I think developing a track for letting players start out as a fledgling stable and grow to a major contender for the Solaris Championship would be _perfect_ for a league setting.

Additionally, since the 5 house-specfic arena's have special qualites, they would be easy to translate into bonus WP options like in the S&D campaign. Things like "mushy ground" and "cold climate" would be easy to do and would completely fit the arenas.

I'm going to start work on this right away.

Dude, I still have the files for BURR... Battletech Ultimate Round Robin
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I would love to play in a Solaris VII league!  If you need an additional playtester I'm very much willing to help.
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Count me in!
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The first draft is done. I will bring a couple copies with me to CHG today (Saturday the 1st of March).

Players need a copy of Sword and Dragon and Map pack: Solaris VII to play it. Ideally a copy of Historical: War of 3039 would be good too.

-Peter

Could you post highlights or pm them to me?  Otherwise I plan on being at the shop over the weekend and can take a look.

Luke
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Here's a quick rundown.

The "campaign" takes place in 3039.

Players build a fledgling stable with 500 Warchest Points. This should be enough to buy a reasonble lance consisting of one of each size mech although that is entirely up to the player. A player must also buy his 4 mechwarriors using that 500 WP. Players can use the tables for mechs from S&D or the tables found in Historical: War of 3039 by using a key that a friend of mine who's playing the Sword and Dragon campaign with me (Andrew Erikson) calculated.

Players follow a track system almost identical to the S&D campaign. To start out, they get an additional 100 WP. Players may start any Non-Circuit track they can afford. To advance through the tracks, players must win at least one duel in each of the 4 mech weight classes in a circuit: Classes 2 through 5. At the end of a successful class 5 duel, they may participate in a circuit tournament that is 3 rounds long. Once they have won a circuit tournament they can advance to the next circuit. A new circuit offers new arenas and tougher options for each track.

Once the players have gone through the minor circuit, they may compete in the major circuit arenas. These are the house arenas that everyone is familiar with from Solaris VII. They need not choose a weight class based on their success, they can choose any weight class to duel with in the major circuit.

Finally, once there are enough players in the major circuit, the tournament organizer or league moderator may hold an all-player tournament in which a player may bring any mech that they want. Players compete in rounds (depending on how many players in the league there are) to find the Solaris VII champion.

Now, what is different about this campaign is that player-vs.-player dueling is encouraged because it opens up all circuit weight classes and the circuit tournaments if you are successful. A player can skip individual duel tracks by dueling other players or participating in a "Grand Melee" of four player-stables.

Each track has bonus options that are representative of where a player would be in their Solaris VII life as a duelist. For example, a player can select bonus options like "Enbittered Opponent" or "Neglect" to represent the overconfidence you might have gotten for making it to a higher weight class. Later, the arena options listed in Map Pack: Solaris VII become bonus options. So laser turrets and mines and pits and all that good stuff becomes available.

Players may also choose team duels, or tag team duels for each track. larger teams of mechs may duel in the later circuits.

The upgrades for customizing mechs are limited to physical weapons (like swords and stuff) and cosmetic upgrades. Additionally, the experimental tech that is available for upgrades in S&D are also available here.

If you want me to send you a copy of the rules, PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you the latest draft.

-Peter

If you guys are still playing I would love to get in on this.
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