Heavy Gear Blitz Tournament System Beta Test
Heavy Gear Blitz! is a game you can enjoy in a variety of ways. Some people love incorporating it into their role playing games, or building their own scenarios and campaigns to fight across the surface of Terra Nova. For the players who enjoy the competitive aspects of miniature games, a tournament system has been created by the community!
What is HGBTS?
At its core, the Heavy Gear Blitz Tournament System (or HGBTS) was created to create a common context of competitive play, for players to be able to discuss the game and strategies within a shared understanding of how missions are going to be played. Furthermore, it’s intended to help create a streamlined tournament experience, so that games can end in a reasonable amount of time and space for your average local game shop.
The system is built around two different formats:
Matched Scenarios
This is probably close to what you think of when you think about tournament play from other game systems. There is a common set of objectives that both players are competing against each other to accomplish. Both players still have their standard book missions that they wish to accomplish as well, giving a bit of asymmetry to the game.
Advanced Operations
Asymmetric mission design is a core philosophy of Heavy Gear Blitz!, and the Advanced Operations format leans heavily into that. Based on the role of both players commanders, a mission will be generated. This means that each player has 5 different missions they need to prepare for with their army, and won’t know which mission they’ll be playing until they get to the table. This set of missions is the primary emphasis of the current beta test period, so if you play them, please be sure to leave your feedback on the forums!
What isn’t HGBTS?
HGBTS is not meant to dictate how everyone enjoys Heavy Gear Blitz. Instead, this format is meant to be an additional way to play for people who prefer a competitive framework for their miniature gaming experience. It was created by community members, and is not an official DP9 product, but endorsed by DP9 and the Blitz designers, much like Gear Grinder (you can think of it as the official-unofficial tournament system). That said, it is very much encouraged if you’re looking for new and exciting ways to enjoy Heavy Gear Blitz!
Seasonal Special Rules
One great thing HGBTS lets the community do is test new rules that might end up in future editions of Blitz!, or come up with seasonal rules to spice things up every year. For example, the core rules objectives were expanded between 3.0 and 3.1 thanks to testing additional missions in the HGBTS Alpha Test. The goal this season was to breathe a bit of life into units in transports, and giving rocket weapons a characterful rule to represent the days when rocket packs would often get unloaded in a massive volley of fire. Urban Sensor Interference helps players who have limited terrain access to add some areas that sensors cannot reach, without having to make new terrain, while Veteran Combat Groups adds a twist to force construction, making it easier to include some less cost-effective veteran options.
Mechanized Deployment
Any vehicle with the Transport trait that is deployed with embarked infantry or gears may deploy up to 6" outside their deployment zone.
Mechanized Deployment may not be used with other deployment skills such as AirDrop or Sub. Vehicles which have an Armor attribute greater than 8 or VTOL trait may not use this special rule.
Rocket Salvo Fire
Gear pilots are notorious for unleashing all the rockets at once, in a spectacularly devastating display of firepower. Unfortunately though, unsanctioned depletion of ammunition leaves the rocket pack empty for sustained combat.
All Rocket Packs (*RP), Anti-Personnel Rockets (*APR), and Artillery Rockets (*AR), gain the Salvo trait.
Salvo - This weapon may gain Burst:+1 for an attack. If they do so, then the weapon will be out of ammunition and unable to fire again until Reloaded, as if it has the LA:1 trait.
Veteran Combat Groups
Instead of purchasing the Veteran upgrade individually, an entire combat group may be given the Vet trait for 5 TV. This follows all the normal restrictions for number of veteran combat groups allowed in the force, and does not replace the ability to purchase the veteran upgrade for individual models. Models with the Conscript trait in a group upgraded in this way will not gain the Veteran trait.
Urban Sensor Interference
Sensors may only pass through a single medium cover building, effectively treating the second building the sensors would pass through as heavy cover.
How Can I Participate?
It’s easy! You can find the HGBTS rules hosted on the Lumbering Sprocket site by clicking below, then play some games with your friends. Please leave any feedback you have on the DP9 Forums for the team to see so that they can continue to develop the HGBTS ruleset.
Remember that these rules are in beta testing still, and especially need help thoroughly testing the Advanced Operations missions. Any feedback you can give will be helpful to further evolve the tournament system for everyone in the Blitz community.
