The Second Circuit

Jesse, Scott, and Avalyn talk the holidays and how they spent them, BattleTech-wise. Scott upgraded his 3D ice-river battleground. How many minis is too many, and how should we paint them? What about decals? Where would a VTOL crash, and should those rules even matter if it's fun? Why doesn't everyone love the Somerset Strikers as much as Jesse? And why isn't more BattleTech happening in full moti...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse, Avalyn, and Jo talk Mercenaries contracts and The Hinterlands. What is the Peacekeeper for? We each have a slightly different way of looking at our ideal BattleTech gaming experience. Hinterlands and Mercenaries rules combine to make Jo's ideal BattleTech long-term engagement. How a long-term campaign differs from quick encounters. How the contracts wo...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse, Scott, and Avalyn talk video game tie-ins and units you've never heard of. What's up with Tigress? Where does the influence come from? It's a little too army-porn for Star Wars. Some thoughts on Wolves of Tukayyid. Why make 'Mech games when you aren't in a 'Mech? What about an Elemental game? Kidnapping Chris Lowery. Think of the cool unique units and...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse, Scott, and Paul recount the excellent adventure that was PAX Unplugged, and the North American launch of BattleTech Aces Scouring Sands! We have a road-trip adventure! Friendships with Catalyst crew are renewed before we all plunge into the fire of the con floor. We all feel proud watching those shelves empty themselves of Aces boxes. Scott becomes the...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse and Scott welcome to the show Josh Derksen, Dylan Birtolo and Russell Zimmerman, the creative minds behind BattleTech Aces! While the Automated Opponent through the Aces cards is the cover model for the box for sure, these three worked hard to bring us an incredible Choose Your Own Adventure-esque campaign book that is, as Josh puts it, the party that t...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse, foolishly allowed to be left to his own devices, ruminates hard on a hypothetical ultimate MechWarrior experience. We'll be back to the regular crew next week!   Focht's Network is affiliated with the Catalyst Demo Team and associated with Catalyst Gaming Labs, is the Events Team for Six Sides of Gaming and powered by MSI. However all opinions expresse...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse, Henny, and Jo talk scenarios and scenario design! Jesse is pleased to complete his Focht's Network Pokedex by getting all of Focht's on the show. Henny is a big Mercenaries guy, but with maybe a bit of a lean towards the Northwind Highlanders. The best of scenarios tend to have multiple objectives and be super heavily themed based on stuff in the lore....

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse, Austin, and Scott consider how their Halloween special event scenario went. Abominations made a big splash, and do they offer interesting possibilities for classic play? Thanks to @counterpixel on Instagram for the great paint job! We also recently had the Anime North Halloween party where we ran Henny Henderson's Visitor's Pass event - guest starring...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, it's Jesse, Austin, and Scott, and Scott is playing like a lot! What does the CV in Leopard CV stand for? BattleTech Gothic! The universe probably won't be a home for us, but Jesse and Scott like the minis. Austin a little less. It seems perfectly reasonable that they could make it, but Jesse misses the Celestials he could have had. They should have put the A...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, we are joined by Focht's Network veteran and Periphery Frankenstein (the doctor, not the monster) Jo Becker from Focht's Monday Knights game at Sir Games-A-Lot in Barrie Ontario! Jo got into BattleTech the way all good hobbyists want it to happen, he walked up to a table and was intrigued! Then discovered his spirit animal in 'Mech form and was locked in for...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse, Austin, and Scott are getting in to some of the specifics of what's happening at our tables. We are cautiously optimistic about the rule changes in the playtests so far! Scott learned to love being able to shelter a side and target it besides. Jesse is concerned about what it means for focusing on the sides instead of the back. Austin is bringing some...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse and Austin welcome Paul Clarkson the founder and director of the Focht's Network Events Team to the show! For obvious reasons this one is a little Focht's coded as we talk about how Focht's got started and what it's all on about. But we also touch on some of Paul's favourites including the Waco Rangers, combined arms, the Mechnificent 7, and of course:...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, Jesse and Scott have a lot to say that's for the birds. Scott is a Taurian because the Concordat reminds him of Canada. No one else thinks much about the Periphery. The Magistracy didn't start great but it is getting better. Airplanes are a thing in BattleTech too, they have their own game but it's rough. Exterior mounted weapons add a lot of risk/reward to t...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, we have a few things to say about the factions we like, and the ones we don't.  Austin is a Lyran, but only because that's her earliest access to melee weapons. Jesse is a FedRat because he has a boy-like wonder for chivalry in space - but also he likes rotary autocannons. Dracs are weebs, but start getting their own swords which could throw off Austin's game...

On this episode of The Second Circuit, we introduce ourselves as hosts so that our listeners can determine whether or not we have actually “got game.” We talk about BattleTech, how we got into it, and what we’re doing with it now as promoters and event hosts, and why it's just so ding-dong great! Some shade is thrown in the direction of James Workshop, but in a loving and understanding way. Scott...