Hello everyone,
I'm not exactly sure how I discovered this game but I stumbled across it about two weeks ago. I have been digesting the rules (MFZ:RA and IO), the setting fiction (which I enjoy) and this forum since that time. I am the married father of two boys (and no shortage of Legos) and we hail from Ohio.
This is a really great game in its design. The rules are so simple but the the strategic applications are endless. In my opinion, THAT makes for a great game.
I am a "retired" 40K veteran (as retired as a Space Marine can be, lol) and I still sit around a table of other forty-somethings every other Friday night to play D&D (we are now playing 5E). Along these lines, I also played Battletech, The Robotech RPG and Car Wars as well.
[My friends and] I have almost immediately added some house rules almost that I would like to share:
1) We have written (or plagiarized) some scenario-based skirmishes and battles
2) We have created some "cards" that offer secret weapons, rules, winning conditions and alliances to add to the game
3) We have stylized some of the art and "unit regalia" of familiar frames and ships through the use of printed stickers.
4) I have created a fun little frame (it's more an "Artillery Support Frame" actually) that also fulfills the "Build a Cheap Frame" challenges that I have been reading on the blogs of other active members of this community. I will post pictures (sorry but LDD and Stud.io have not been agreeable to creating build instructions - though you all should be able to figure it out as it is 26 pieces from a Dollar General $1 kit).
5) We also don't usually play in a "furball" all-v-all style of game. We usually field four players on two teams each with 4-5 frames each. That way the battles are - in our opinion - more strategic, more realistic (i.e., with squads and commanders) and more epic.
One question that I have as I move forward into this cool hobby is how many people are still out there and active? According to this forum, there appear to be some die-hards but it appears that Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack hit some years ago and has maybe fallen off since.
Either way, I plan on becoming involved and look forward to reading (and writing) posts for the foreseeable future.
Thanks in advance for your warm welcomes!
Cmd. Kaos