EDIT: I was able to upload a modified version of the file. Somehow during my document renaming process I over-wrote the contents of my version 20120128 file with the work-in-progress file. Problem resolved. =)
A blog about tabletop gaming, boardgame design ... and with pictures, and 3D printing.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wrong file!
I just noticed that I uploaded the wrong file for MEST Basic rules. I'll correct that once I get home from my day job.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
BETA updated - critical fixes
I noticed an error in the rules for the Detect Tests. After confirming the change I've updated the QSR and the Basic Game rules. Version control is currently done via copy-and-paste into the Change List page on MEST Tactics.
Here's what the rules had been:
Here's what they should be and are now:
The problem crept in when I altered the rules from an earlier version prior to the beta to use different attribute names ... it just floated along and wasn't caught until just now.
Additionally, it has been the case the Optimal Range [ OR ] multiples above 1 should also affect Detect tests. The OR for Detect tests uses Visibility; thus OR 16" for Day, Clear and OR 8" for Night, Clear, Full-moon.
These changes have been entered and the document updated.
p.s.; As time progresses, I'll continue blogging bug fixes to the rules. The entries will be tagged as 'bug-fixes'.
Here's what the rules had been:
Actions > Detect;
if Free perform a Detect check against a target within LOS to remove its Hidden status and make it Revealed. Detect OR is equal to Cohesion. The first Detect check is free and can be combined with any other action.
Perform this action as an Unopposed REF Test -3 Modifier dice.
Here's what they should be and are now:
if Free perform a Detect check against a target within LOS to remove its Hidden status and make it Revealed. Detect OR is equal to Cohesion. The first Detect check is free and can be combined with any other action.
Perform this action as an Opposed INT vs. REF Test.
The problem crept in when I altered the rules from an earlier version prior to the beta to use different attribute names ... it just floated along and wasn't caught until just now.
Additionally, it has been the case the Optimal Range [ OR ] multiples above 1 should also affect Detect tests. The OR for Detect tests uses Visibility; thus OR 16" for Day, Clear and OR 8" for Night, Clear, Full-moon.
These changes have been entered and the document updated.
p.s.; As time progresses, I'll continue blogging bug fixes to the rules. The entries will be tagged as 'bug-fixes'.
Basic Rules are now Beta!
MEST Narrative Basic rules beta links have been posted on these two sites:
In the meanwhile; I've been looking into Kickstarter as a venue to get the set of rules [ combined books for the Basic, Advanced, Genre rules ] into a nice presentation set. I'm not sure what the set could be other than hard-bound materials. I'm pondering packing it with an actual "starter set" of materials such as markers, tokens, 2D cardboard figures, 2D buildings, rulers, dice, and perhaps a CD with GENERATOR and PDF copies of the files I used to create the 2D and book assets.
It would be really cool if I could shop the rules set to a miniatures production house to cover a niche that either has not been addressed or that exists but uses an older rules set. The ones I have in mind got minis that fit well into the sorts of genres I'm interested in supporting with the MEST game system.
- freewargamesrules.co.uk at http://www.freewargamesrules.co.uk/2/post/2012/01/mest-adventures-in-matter-energy-space-and-time.html
- Lead Adventure Forums at http://www.lead-adventure.de/index.php?topic=37123.0
In the meanwhile; I've been looking into Kickstarter as a venue to get the set of rules [ combined books for the Basic, Advanced, Genre rules ] into a nice presentation set. I'm not sure what the set could be other than hard-bound materials. I'm pondering packing it with an actual "starter set" of materials such as markers, tokens, 2D cardboard figures, 2D buildings, rulers, dice, and perhaps a CD with GENERATOR and PDF copies of the files I used to create the 2D and book assets.
It would be really cool if I could shop the rules set to a miniatures production house to cover a niche that either has not been addressed or that exists but uses an older rules set. The ones I have in mind got minis that fit well into the sorts of genres I'm interested in supporting with the MEST game system.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
MEST Basic Rules
I think the MEST Basic Rules are ready for Beta testers.
I've been working to get the QSR or "quick-start rules" finished. It's been over two years and about 50 play-test sessions but I think its ready for public scrutiny. As well, I've been trying to figure out a format for the basic rules so that when it goes to print it will look nice.
The difference between the two is as follows; the QSR basically is a two-pager with the core system rules for the MEST tabletop minis game ... and uses really, really, small type. Everything that I could keep in it is there; much of the other stuff has either been pared away to the trash-bin or kept safely hidden within my design notes for use in the future. The MEST Basic Rules is the content of the QSR put into a nicely-formatted document. There are numerous illustrated examples and a stylized layout; I opted for 1930's pulp for the design. There's even a table-of-contents. Nothing too fancy otherwise.
I'm still working on the Advanced Rules which I think are still nascent. Some of the interesting stuff there deals mostly with modern fire-arms such as fields-of-fire, group fire, and suppression fire. However, there's also universal-system elements that are pending completion such as the introduction of Champion and Trooper characters, mission varieties, and a campaign rules set. Much of this is already documented but hasn't been entirely play-tested. Using my methodology assessment (shown here) I'd say it's in the Alpha Draft set phase where as the QSR and Basic Rules are in the Alpha Test phase ... nearing Beta.
The QSR and the Basic Rules are available in the down-loads section of the MEST Tactics Web site at http://sites.google.com/site/mesttactics/downloads/ . Keep an eye out for the date-time stamp; the current build is 2012.01.26. There will be small tweaks during this late alpha phase but if I get some beta-testers I'll start keeping a better grip on the version control.
Join the Google Groups for this project to help me out as a Beta tester here; http://groups.google.com/group/mesttactics/?pli=1
I've been working to get the QSR or "quick-start rules" finished. It's been over two years and about 50 play-test sessions but I think its ready for public scrutiny. As well, I've been trying to figure out a format for the basic rules so that when it goes to print it will look nice.
The difference between the two is as follows; the QSR basically is a two-pager with the core system rules for the MEST tabletop minis game ... and uses really, really, small type. Everything that I could keep in it is there; much of the other stuff has either been pared away to the trash-bin or kept safely hidden within my design notes for use in the future. The MEST Basic Rules is the content of the QSR put into a nicely-formatted document. There are numerous illustrated examples and a stylized layout; I opted for 1930's pulp for the design. There's even a table-of-contents. Nothing too fancy otherwise.
I'm still working on the Advanced Rules which I think are still nascent. Some of the interesting stuff there deals mostly with modern fire-arms such as fields-of-fire, group fire, and suppression fire. However, there's also universal-system elements that are pending completion such as the introduction of Champion and Trooper characters, mission varieties, and a campaign rules set. Much of this is already documented but hasn't been entirely play-tested. Using my methodology assessment (shown here) I'd say it's in the Alpha Draft set phase where as the QSR and Basic Rules are in the Alpha Test phase ... nearing Beta.
The QSR and the Basic Rules are available in the down-loads section of the MEST Tactics Web site at http://sites.google.com/site/mesttactics/downloads/ . Keep an eye out for the date-time stamp; the current build is 2012.01.26. There will be small tweaks during this late alpha phase but if I get some beta-testers I'll start keeping a better grip on the version control.
Join the Google Groups for this project to help me out as a Beta tester here; http://groups.google.com/group/mesttactics/?pli=1
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