USCR - Undercoated

After Brian Shotton's recent comments in the MegaCon MERCS Community facebook group (found on this post here), I found myself unexpectedly motivated to get my MERCS on.
I'm cautiously optimistic about the future of MERCS - the fact that Megacon are actively thinking about the system is a positive step, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and see where it goes.

So, as I was priming some Deadzone Forge Father models, and thought I might as well prime a MERCS faction as well.
I'll finish painting my Deadzone faction first, and I'll see where my MERCS motivation is after that.

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MERCS 2.0 - Free Rules PDF and MERCS singles available!

After an extended hiatus from MERCS, Megacon Games have made the MERCS 2.0 Rules available for download as a PDF file, and made the entire MERCS miniatures line available for purchase as single models.

MERCS 2.0 PDF Rules

• http://megacongames.com/downloads/download-info/mercs-2-0-rules/
• Full colour - including diagrams, artwork, and painted models
• 119 pages:
• 39 pages of rules (full rules for play, not 'quick-start' rules)
• 80 pages featuring every character card

This is great step forward in making MERCS more accessible! This allows gamers, in an overcrowded miniatures marketplace, the opportunity to check out the game before diving in with any financial commitment.

With many other gaming companies also making rules available for free, this PDF from Megacon Games helps bring MERCS to a more competitive position.

Single MERCS Miniatures Available

• https://store.megacongames.com/collections/mercs
• Every single MERCS miniature is now available for purchase individually

This allows those wanting to upgrade from MERCS 1.0 to MERCS 2.0 the option to just pick up the models they need.

It also gives gamers with the MERCS Recon boardgames the option to finish off their factions, and jump into the MERCS 2.0 tabletop game!

Both these actions from Megacon Games are very positive for the future of MERCS - but after their  extended hiatus, this long-time MERCS fan is hoping that it's not too little too late.

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MERCS Recon Wave 2 Has Arrived!

I was very excited to come home last night to find my MERCS Recon Wave 2 delivery waiting for me!
Here are some quick unboxing photos I took last night before a quick inventory, then settling down to read through the MERCS 2.0 rulebook.

Big box of MERCS Recon goodness!
2 year old daughter's foot and Twirlywoo toy for scale

All Mission Packs Add-on.
Cat Tower game for scale
(everyone has Cat Tower right?)

All Faction Decks, additional MERCS Recon cards, Lockdown Deck,
Doors stands and MERCS card sleeves

Baggies for individual models that aren't part of the Mission Packs

MERCS Lockdown rules and board tile, MERCS 2.0 Rulebook (tome!)
and The Workers Heart book.

Ready for some bedtime reading!

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MERCS 2.0 - Rulebook Preview

Megacon Games shared a preview of the new hardcover MERCS 2.0 tabletop rulebook in their latest MERCS Recon Kickstarter update!

I am crazy stupid excited for this!

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MERCS 2.0 - Rulebook

Rulebook

• Limited edition hard-cover book - when they are gone, or slightly before that, production will move to a more mass market softcover with the rules and MegaCons (but no fluff or campaign)
• 384 pages, with 128 gsm gold east matte paper
• The spine width of the book is 30 mm (1.25 inches)
• It has a soft-touch surface with a premium gold foil treatment

Punchboard Tokens

• Each hard-cover rulebook comes with a full compliment of MERCS tabletop tokens
• Every token needed to play
• Included is a high-quality hard board version of the MERCS movement card
• Note that each MegaCon deck also includes a faction specific movement card
• In MERCS 2.0, players can use tape measures

Game Modes

• Conflict: the standard 5 MERC team-kill-team game 
• Capture: this mode revolves around an asset that must be captured and escorted to the extraction zone
• Control: this game has three areas of control, where controlling zones earns victory points, and controlling more zones earns lots of victory points
• Deathmatch: every player controls a MERC, and the first MERC to 3 kills wins. Random respawn locations make this fun for the whole family
• Defend: one person is tasked with protecting a zone and each round the zone is protected earns the defender VP. Attackers gain VP for getting MERCS inside the zone.
• Economic: this is a combination interaction and kill game mode. There are three locations that must be interacted with at certain times
• Espionage: this is a combination of control zones and interact locations
• Political: this is a combination of capture and interact locations
• Platoon: this game mode uses all 10 MERCS from a faction's roster. Players act as commander and select 6 MERCS out of the 10 to activate each round. Those that activate receive initiative, those that are not are inactive. Inactive MERCS do no carry bonuses over from round to round nor perform round to round actions. 

Scenario Story

• The book also comes with an 11 chapter scenario story, which tie MERCS lore into game play 
• Each scenario has special rules and a detailed map layout
• The Sabre and the Snowman scenario story follows the birth, capture, escape, and possible death of the world's first AI. It introduces a couple new characters, and adds background to ones that have been mentioned before in MERCS lore

MERCS Lore

• 40 pages of lore
• Updated timeline
• Expanded history
• Short story by J.L Allan, that ties into the background of The Worker's Heart

MERCS Campaign

• Designed to give the community the tools they need to establish a MERCS league with their friends/FLGS
• Campaign rules for MERCS, that use the MERCS: Conflict dice
• Players select whatever MegaCon they wish and try to wrest control of old Hong Kong in the Lost Margin from the other players
• MegaCons build their economy, exploit resources, upgrade MERCS, and expand their MERCS team
• Maps are included for 2 to 8 players

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MERCS 2.0 - Updated Cards, Templates and Tokens

With the release of MERCS 2.0 around the corner, I thought I'd have a look at some the upcoming changes.

One of the biggest changes are the new unit cards. Below is the MERCS 1.0 unit card for the KemVar Heavy Assault, followed by it's MERCS 2.0 successor.

Firstly, there is now information on both the front AND back of the cards.
All the basic unit information is on the front, with more detailed information on that back - very handy.

Secondly, the indentations in the cards, which were used for movement, have been removed.
Movement in MERCS 2.0 can be now be done using tape-measures, as well as using the new template card - which will be included in each deck, pictured below. The new template cards will have the Megacon's Corporate Traits listed on them as well.

Each unit in MERCS will also have a page dedicated to them in rulebook. Pictured below is the CCC Incinerator unit card, followed by the corresponding page in the rulebook.

Another addition are the new punch-board tokens, which will be shrink-wrapped along with the MERCS 2.0 tabletop hard-cover rulebook. The picture below shows which tokens are included, and the movement template is hard to miss.
I'm not sure if this is a Kickstarter exclusive, or if it will come with all MERCS 2.0 tabletop rulebooks purchased via retail.

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MERCS Recon is here!

The MERCS Recon Kickstarter has landed in Australia, so last week I set to work on assembling all the MERCS in preparation for MERCS 2.0!

I have a personal preference for plastic miniatures over metal miniatures, and I love the new plastic MERCS models!
A bit of trimming was required, but nothing I hadn't experienced with other plastic miniatures before, and assembling the new plastics was much easier than my experience with assembling metal models.

Here are some quick and dirty shots of the MERCS from the Counter Threat and Assassination Protocol boxes.
Check out the new bases that are included - you'll notice that the lipped edges on the 30mm round bases have quadrant markings, which makes determining front/flank/rear arcs easy!

EU Inc.

CCC

KemVar

Keizai Waza

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MERCS: Recon Kickstarter LIVE!

This has just gone live this morning, and I've already put my pledge in. Currently I've pledged at Agent Level, but will definitely bump this up to the OPFOR Level once I can confirm my funding :)

So check out the MERCS: Recon Kickstarter Page!

So excited for this!

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MERCS: Recon Coming to Kickstarter!

Beasts of War have revealed some of the details around the next Kickstarter from MegaCon games, MERCS: Recon! Check out Beasts of War: http://www.beastsofwar.com/mercs/lock-load-mercs-recon-coming/

I'm patiently waiting for my Myth pledge, and I'll definitely be backing MERCS: Recon!

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Keiwai Waza Teaser Photo!

Brian has shared this teaser photo of the upcoming Keiwai Waza faction on this forum post. He's also stated that:

Keizai Waza samples will be in the booth. The sixth MegaCon for MERCS, they will be available for purchase in two short weeks. Here is a quick preview shot of the group.

Keiwai Waza - click to enlarge!

Here's the Faction Artwork, to provide a comparison between the models and concepts. More fantastic work and collaboration from the MERCS team!

Can't wait!

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MERCS at GenCon 2011

So these photos are the closest I'll be getting to GenCon, with me living in Sydney - I'll update this post with any more photos that pop up. I think it's great that Brian shares things like this with the community via his Twitpic - have a great time guys!

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MERCS Buttons available at GenCon

In this thread Brian announces that MERCS Faction Buttons will be available for purchase at GenCon this year. No news on whether or not it will be available for purchase online (which is the only feasible option for non-North American MERCS), but I'll update this post with any word.

Here are the designs from MERCS sculptor Tom Mason:

CCC

FCC

KemVar

sefadu

USCR

Keizai Waza

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Official Gear: Maps, Counters, Battlefoam Bag!

Gale Force Nine: Maps and Counters
In this forum thread, the MERCS team have given us a teaser as to what is going to be available come September, with a limited run available to those lucky enough to be at GenCon this year.

The following maps are single-sided, super durable, wet erasable, full color vinyl:

Missile Silo

Fuel Relay Station

 
The following counters are clear acrylic with printed design and a felt backing:

Action +1
Action +2
Simultaneous Action (SA) Action
Simultaneous Action (SA) Move
Simultaneous Action (SA) Attack
Armor Failure
Blood 1
Blood 2
Load
Aim
Set
Grenade
Bounding
Overwatch
Suppression

Anchored
Ice
Armor Failure
Radiation
Repulsor Tag
Boosted
Blood 1
Blood 2

Battlefoam MERCS Bag
The bag was announced in this thread, has a desert-tan colour for a sleek military look, and has a whole range of MERCS specific features, listed below:

Zippered Front Pocket, for dice and tokens

 

 

 

Flap pocket, big enough for the MERCS Rulebook

Elastic Sleeves Hold, for official MERCS Game Mats

MERCS Faction Card Pockets

Inside the bag - able to hold 60 MERCS

Inside the bag - able to hold 60 MERCS

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