Ööh... MechTek? Or MekTek? I didn't mention either [:-]ORIGINAL: General Quarters
Matti, thanks. You seem to have paid close attention to the criteria I listed. I looked at the second game you mentioned, but their forum is white letters against black background and my eyes cannot take that. I was interested in MechTek and looked at their site and forum and Wiki, but I can't really tell what the gameplay -- I mean, what is like. I mean, what do you mainly DO? It sounds as if it is one on one combat.
Anyways I'll give you descriptions of what I did mention. Maybe I'd better start from BattleTech first. At first BattleTech was just tabletop/hex wargame, which models warfare in 31st century on tactical level in land, in sea, in air and in space. Game has all the conventional stuff + various (military) spacecrafts, armored infantry, and over 10 meter tall walking warmachines of mass destruction: BattleMechs. Game evolved over the time and is now at its 5th edition, called Classic BattleTech (earlier version was BattleTech 4th Edition). Many other game systems were made to supplement main BattleTech line (RPG, that can be used with Classic BattleTech, or its earlier editions), and some more independent games, most of them made for computers (such as MechWarrior and MechCommander series) and consoles (MechAssault serie). Computer games based on BattleTech are many: some have official license, some have not, some cost money, some are available for free. Some games are clearly based on BattleTech game system, but otherwise are just enough different to be sold without license (Titans of Steel: Warring Suns, released by Matrix Games).
BTMUX is ... terminal based game. So it works like this: you start TELNET program, connect to server, register, read through instructions, and start playing. There are available game specific client programs, which offer kinda primitive graphical user interface. Anyways game in normal action mode works like this: there is large hex map, you're in control of one unit (you can own multiple units from truck to BattleMech to helicopter, but you can use just one at a time), game progresses in real time, and you and your team need capture and hold strategic locations in map. So you move your unit around, plan strategy with your team, engage enemy... but here's catch: most of the actions you take, need to be typed with keyboard! I'll give you example:
speed 50 - unit starts moving 50 kilometers in hour
heading 270 - unit changes heading to west
lock hc - unit locks on target hc
fire 1 - unit fires weapon #1
It's been at least a year since I played it last time, so I'm not sure did I got those commands right. But it gives you idea about how to play game. Hey, it's not that difficult: I survived my first engagement, which wasn't exactly easy: I had SHD-2H Shadow Hawk, on walk across the bridge, to see what's on other side of the river. Beyond line of sight some Awesome starts firing ERPPCs (Extended Range Particle Projection Cannon). I turn my SHD around, hit top speed, and call help over radio. Slow Awesome gets left behind, but I get fast Jenner on my tail, getting closer. I think what the Hell should I do... I come up with plan. Jenner comes closer, firing Medium Lasers on SHD's weak rear. Then I type serie of commands:
jump 3 0
heading 180
fire 1
fire 2
fire 3
kick
Translation: SHD jumps 3 hexes north, then turns south, Jenner was already past my SHD before it could react. 3 weapons are fired, followed by boot of 55 ton BattleMech (the SHD). After those commands it took me some time to realize that Jenner was destroyed! On my way north, I had passed friendly tank, armed with Gauss Rifle. Maybe it had something to do with destruction of Jenner? Didn't see that tank anymore though... So BTMUX is about like that.
MegaMek is direct computer port of Classic BattleTech. Familiarize yourself with rules of Classic BattleTech before playing. There are some PDF rules available for free.
MekWars is based on MegaMek. Or let's say: MegaMek is part of MekWars. In MekWars player joins to faction to fight against players of other factions. Goal is to conquer planets. When enough of the planet (%s) belongs to one faction or other, it has control of the planet's resources, such as weapon factories. It can be very useful to use enemy facilities to produce their own equipment, and put it in use against them! You can also capture and salvage enemy equipment, but also lose your own same ways.
Any more questions?
