For Mekwars: Legends 5th campaign the primary method of finding a game will be "Blind Matchmaking". Some specific operations such as Trials of Possession, Aerospace Operations and certain specific challenges may be otherwise arranged but the vast majority of the games will be found using the Blind Matchmaking
Finding a Game through Blind Matchmaking - The "Blind Matchmaking" system is a modification of existing the "Going Active" or "Blind Game" method prominent during Mekwars: Legends first three seasons and on many Mekwars servers before and since. However, unlike the "Blind Game" method which was in reality not actually a true blind system, the "Blind Matchmaking system", referred to henceforth in these rules as BM, endeavors to create what is nearly a true "Blind" system of pairing players for the Tactical Operations that are the instruments of the campaign. So how does one find a game using the BM?
Well as mentioned above the system is a modification of previously used systems so several of the steps will seem familiar to players that have experience on this or past Mekwars servers. Using the BM is quite simple and can be done as follows:
Step 1: Building Armies – Like past systems the first step to using BM is to construct armies for use in games. Players are suggested to plan out their Tactical Campaign by constructing as many viable armies as possible (up to 12) across a variety of BV ranges. If you do not know how to construct armies please reference the tutorial page concerning your Headquarters Tab. Once you have constructed your armies for your Tactical Campaign and are ready to play some BattleTech you are ready for the next step.
Step 2: Challenging– By building armies in the headquarters tab a player has effectively constructed the armies he will use to make challenges for games. Each army is a bid for a game approximately near the Battle Value of the army. Players ready to play now move to the active bidding stage.
The first phase of active challenging is to “go active” which is a familiar mechanism to experienced players. A player “Goes Active” by pressing the "Activate" button shaped like a mech in the lower left hand portion of the server GUI. A player "going active" enters a one minute period where his armies are displayed as "Challenges" (see below) to players who are waiting with active armies of their own.
No information regarding his Challenge (Battle Value, bidding player’s faction, number or type of Units) are displayed to the active waiting players. If none of the players challenges are accepted within the one minute delay, then the player moves on to the next phase, where the player joins the pool of active waiting players (“reached the front” under old system) and may now accept any existing active challenges, or new challenges, by clicking on any challenge that appears.
Step 3: Engagement –If a player has their challenge accepted by another player then the matchmaking system immediately pairs the two players and begins the process of assigning both players to a tactical operation chosen by the attacking player. The attacking player is chosen in step four.
Step 4: Determining Attacker –After the two players have been engaged the server will randomly choose one of the players to be the attacker.
Step 5: Choosing Target and Operation –Once the attacker has been determined. The system will automatically choose a target planet based on the proximity of the attacking factions Logistics Centers. If a player cannot be attacker (has no logistics centers in range of any territory held by the opposing player’s faction) then the ineligible player is immediately deactivated and the challenge is broken. Factions should note that due to this mechanism it is extremely important to keep Logistics Centers near each possible opposing faction if at all possible. If a viable target planet is found then the attacking player must select the operation they wish to use. If the either combatant is ineligible for the selected tactical operation then the system will prompt the attacker to choose a different tactical operation.
Step 6: Information and Game –Lastly the big moment of truth. Once the attacker selects the operation the players are players are revealed to each other as the players receive a report of the operation including the Planet where the battle will take place, the type of operation that will be played, the terrain type, the other player’s unit name, number of units and Battle Value of the opposing force. Players will notice the option to re-roll terrain will be among the information received. Players should make sure they are familiar with the rules regarding this option before utilizing it. The players should now promptly move into a dedicated MegaMek host to resolve the game–see Starting a Game. Enjoy!
Finding a Game through other Methods –While the majority of the operations are designed for use through the BM, as mentioned above there are a handful of operations that are not designed to be used through the BM. If an Operation is designated in its description as AFR only then it is what is commonly called an “Arranged Game”. AFR which stands for “Attack from Reserve” is used for these arranged games or for “Re-tasking” (See Starting a Game). Players that wish to utilize one of these arranged games must first find an opponent. Usually this is done through PM (Private Mail tab on the GUI) or through broadcast in the main channel. Once players have found an opponent for an arranged eligible operation then they may proceed to “roll for it” in main channel using the command line /roll. Higher number wins, ties result in re-roll. The winning player then uses the “Games” tab at the top of the GUI and selects “Attack from Reserve” and follows the prompts.