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MERCS Intro Game 2 – Attack On South African Villa – Villa Raid
February 27, 2013 by warzan
Video Sponsors: Mercs – Wayland Games
Win a massive MERCS bundle, watch this video for details!
Warren's adventures in the world of MERCS continue! Considering the outcome of his CCC assault on the lower town he's been forced to call in reinforcements to aid in the attempt to capture the Sedafu scientist. We've seen the basics of how the game works so far with one of the advanced rules being played in game one (Bounding) so now the guys add in a second (Overwatch) to really get the game flowing.
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ENTRY
Good Video
Why is there no British SAS style faction…make them and i’ll totally be all up in this game
There is a ‘faction’ within the world of MERCS called EU Inc that includes Britain and most of the North of Europe. So I imagine/hope we’ll be seeing them sooner rather than later 😀
For now I will have to stick with either CCC or USCR lol.
BoW Ben
There is also another faction called the GDC ( I think) coming out, who are the law makers and keepers of the MERCS universe. Guess where they are based…hint, it is the UK.
From what I have read and heard EU Inc. which is the UK and northern Europe will be out around Gen Con/ later this year. Not sure on exact dates and such.
If you’re after the looks then I get you. But if you’re looking for a playing style, then the Sefadu seem pretty close to the SAS doctrine. They’ve ditched the armor to be faster, they have perfected the move and shoot action and it all seems to point towards the SAS shock tactics of overwhelming the foe before they can say “teatime”.
Loving this series.
fantastic info to entry level merc am really thinking of getting ccc sefadu and kemvar……..na all factions lol
Love that terrain so much. Awesome stuff.
Loving the week. If i put a banner on a forum sig do i have to tell you guys i did it our will you know through internet majiks?
Love all the merc coverage.
I admittedly did not pay much attention to mercs before Mercs week, this is why i love BoW for exposing me to all these game systems. as a pc gamer there are fewer and fewer RTS games being made and table top wargaming is quickly winning me over.
Sounds like a good deal lol.
Just started watching, didn’t lucus say in the first video that you can only snap to cover at the start or end of your movement?, yet on his frist activation he moved then snapped on to the wall and then moved of it!
@stryke you can SnapToCover once during your activation. You can even do it after you shoot to make sure they don’t get that shot back at you!
I am sooo hooked can’t wait to get my units
Please enter me BoW men.
I like the narrative, story driven gameplay on show, will need to invest in more terrain though.
I would much prefer the one with the nukey guys…but hey! can’t complain on free stuff!
Loving this game. Now pls send me the books and minis 🙂
I just signed up specifically for this contest but I’ve been lurking for a while. Looks like MERCS is the only game I can afford to play. Winning this would make it that much easier! And wouldn’t it be the loveliest of welcomes?
I like the way the entire momentum of combat can shift just on the roll of initiative , makes it very fast paced.
I would say that is the differentiator for this game, and whilst it will inevitably be compared to infinity, having seen this game in action, they are really very different animals indeed.
One of the better ‘weeks’ you’ve done to be honest , warren’s enthusiasm shines through on these vids , and that makes them very watchable.
Great stuff this week, really getting the MERCS itch.
Hmm was somewhat set on USCR…but after seeing the CCC coverage today I’m torn once again..not to mention loving the look and character of Texico! Decisions decisions…
Really, you’re just picking which one you’d get first, heh.
Both Texico and USCR are strong contenders, lots to work with.
Also as a side note, having no previous experience with this game I’m intrested in the cards alot. They seem essential to the game giving movement and stats etc. also the templates my concern comes from durability, I would assume them to be fairly robust but without handeling them myself i dont know and due to thier sorta unique shape I dont think sticking them in toploaders will suffice, I could be wrong but dont realy know. Anybody able to say anything more about these things? Cheers in advance!
The stat cards are kind of flimsy but durable. However in the past they have had hard plastic cards that have come out in the size and shape to help with movement and such.
Thanks for letting me know =)
A prize draw on my birthday have to enter that
My Entry….I wants me some MERCS!!
Go Warren!
Thanks for the videos, seems like a fun game.
Must say, this bundle would be perfect for me, as I know someone who wants sefadu, and I want the CCC, love the fact that you guys actually take the time to arrange these things, as well as doing all this content for free
Meant to include a thank you in that comment somewhere
wanna win me some mercs!
Well I’m converted. Looks like a fast fun game, quite different from the Infinity-a-like I’d assumed it was before these videos (not that Infinity isnt fun or fast if played right but, you know what I meant). The kitchen table board size and low model count is what really appeals to me, gaming time is precious enough so anything that saves on setup is a plus.
Also, good to see full game being played out in videos on BoW. Interesting to watch and hope to see more (Mercs and others).
Hmm I wonder if I finely found the entry game holy grail to get my wife to play. Shes all about painting but playing, this just might be the answer.
Are the Germans under the EU of USCR? Also great bat reps!
if my translation is right comparing maps Germany is under EU Inc. There is a world map on the MERCS Minis website under World of MERCS that shows how the map has been divided.
MERCS really does hit an odd spot in the wargame scene. I always felt like similar skirmish games needed something more; like the skirmish scale held them back more than helped them. MERCS embraces the scale and it works in some unique ways.
Entered…what the heck. If I win this it’ll give me a good reason to play it.
Entry 😀
Mercs really seems like a great game. I’ve been watching every video and been enjoying it. I like the way you twist the rules to add a little narrative to your games.
bongo
Mercs quick play style is the ideal setup for a good skirmish game!
I really want to see the ISS play and see how there playing style.
ISS are board control, they are fast with two short ranged but very powerful weapons, and one of our gals can drop a turret that basically sits there and overwatches every turn. honestly, they are a tough nut to crack but if you do they can be awesome. Also our sniper is pretty sweet, He has a PA that allows him to trade initiative with one other ISS and his rifle repulse people back a card.
I’d love to win a contest
These vids are definitely getting me sucked into MERCS! Also free stuff helps 🙂
I like the fast paced play of the game.
This is the way to get started with merc. Nice merc week guys…..
This game is so awesome! Thank you for the great videos and this week!
Entry
Awesome looking miniatures
Have never played the game, but unless I’m understanding it correctly, I don’t think holding with the incinerator in the first turn was a good move. Well it might be okay as a wait and see tactic, but for the purpose of having a better chance at bounding the next turn as stated in the video, I believe it’s a waste. If you hold, you don’t move on the first turn and on the second, while you have a better chance of being able to bound, it’s not a sure thing. So for those two turn the incinerator will move either 1 card + Snap To Cover or 2 cards + STC. On the other hand, if you move on the first turn you still have a good chance of bounding the incinerator on the second turn, having 4 other characters on the team. This mean that you would move at least 2 cards + 2 STC and could potentially move 3 cards + 2 STC. It worked out okay for Warren in this case because it allowed him to change his mind on where he would send the incinerator, but I think he would’ve been able to advance him to a kind of neutral position on the first turn and decide to commit to a direction on the second. Especially since on the second turn if the incinerator got a high initiative he wanted to bound him to someone else thus lowering his initiative and allowing him to see how things were going before deciding. And if he got a low initiative and could not bound, well that meant that he would still have seen how things were proceeding. Anyway i’ll stop rambling now.
Here’s for my 1/7 entry!
The first game was a great intro to some of the basic rules…
This video was awesome. Starting to get a better idea of the flavour of the game. Really pleased you introduced the overwatch rule so I could see how it worked.
Those grenades are nasty.
Just a comment on the narrative behind the game. I have always infinitely enjoyed a game more when a narrative is created.
Great job guys. I especially loved Warren’s cheeky grin and fervent hand rubbing when he was killing Sefadu.
Hey guys great game, I like the narrative and I also think its great you are bring so much attention to this game. The only real concern that I thought of through this was in the back stories CCC and SEFADU are kind of allies or at least were at one point but that is just me being someone who pays way to much attention to story in these games. Anyway great job and keep up the good work.
sidenote: Sorry if constant replying is annoying just trying to help out. I admit I don’t know everything and I am still learning myself but just wanted to address some of the questions and concerns as best as I possibly could
Cool. I really enjoyed this Mercs week stuff. Would love to get a book and some minis to try them!
Very nice Battle report
ENTRY!
this game makes me want to return to the hobby!
Would be an awesome addition to my local club’s games library. Good intros, thanks guys.
And here, I put the banner up on the club forums:
http://www.crossgamingclub.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3284
another great video guys
A great intro. I have often watched mercs with interest!
Winning the bundle would be sweet, darn postgrad budget 😛
As awesome as this looks, I’m not seeing much to lure me away from Infinity, which seems to do everything MERCS does, and then some.
Here’s where i posted the badge
http://www.facebook.com/groups/581798968515117/
hope it helps,if not this comment is good enough:)
wow,i hope i would win and maybe get my fiancee into the game:D
thanks for all the great reviews and amazing givaways!
Great Video, really want the CCC 🙂
Would love to uses these MERCS miniatures to get some of the others in my gaming group into the game.
looking forward to seeing how this game system progresses. like the look of it
i gotta get me some Mercs
Explaining the meaning of the word carnage to a five and six year old is one of the rewarding moments of being both a gamer and a father. Mercs, bringing families together, through mutual destruction.
Nice game love your missions and minis look astounding here is my link to badge 😉 I’ve also pasted on my facebook http://www.facebook.com/vytautas.podolianka?ref=tn_tnmn
seems a pretty darn good game
any chance of an Irish faction soon? that’d be some laugh 🙂
Keep up the great vids, they do a great job of highlighting the play style of the game! I had the great fortune of getting a demo of mercs from Brian at gencon a few years back-they are great guys with some cool ideas for sure. Oh, and ENTRY….maybe I can get some free stuff to coerce others into playing too!
warren
was it a special rule for this game that your opponent had all 6 figures i thought you had to pick a 5 man team out of your 6
Dane
Thats not quite how overwatch works in MERCs. That was 40k/necromunda style overwatch. In MERCS you need LOS at the start of the target’s activation to get a shot. And the shot happens halfway through the move(if they’re moving).
Well, i’m pretty sure that’s how it works. I don’t actually own a rulebook so can’t check. So i need to win please:)
Great battle report otherwise, it looked like a fun time was had by all (and that’s what its all about at the end of the day). I think i will try that scenario. You get to play with toy choppers!
Keep up the good work.
You are correct sir. Suppression and Overwatch both require that you have line of sight to the target at the beginning of the target’s activation.
this question is aimed at Tobin, Warren & Lucas, with the Asslt Ldr, Demo & Medics, are n’t ALL their weapons semi-auto?? If so Do you roll 1 die or 2?? I am confused that during each of the Demo games Warren & Lucas are only rolling 1 die for the semi-auto weapons. I thought you would roll 2 die (for 2 Attacks, its how I have been playing) but I could probably be very wrong, Can I please get some clarification on this………..
please my brain hurts trying to “nut” this wrinkle out!!
Cheers!!
But aside, I am thoroughly enjoying the Demo’s, and Yes yet again Warren dice rolling sucks badly & has left him in many unfortunate and vunerable positions. I wouldgo so far as to postulate the “Ming the Under-rated” can possible roll better than Wazza can!!
You are right, they are wrong. Lucas does spot it a minute or two from the end of the vid. They have been making half the attacks they should have been. So much for them always erring on the side of carnage 🙂
You’d be correct @recon63. Semi-Auto is 2 attacks vs 1 target. You brain can un-wrinkle lol
I really want to try out Mercs
Thank you BoW and let me explain why.
I’m Chairman of a newly formed Gaming Club, our members are mostly made up of people who previously only played 2 certain GW Games in the local GW store. Lucky for us the GW store rules have stopped our instore gaming and hobby activities unless we “need help” and the club was formed. Since the formation of the club we have people looking at Infinity based around your quick start rules and Mercs Week has sparked interest in that direction too.
So once again thank you BoW for making it SO easy to broaden our gaming horizons, keep doing what you do and if I win any of the prizes this will only make it even easier for the club to get involved.
Silly Justin – a Bird in the Hand is worth 2 in the Bush, but 7 Freakin Entries is GREAT!
Consider me ENTERED (that sounds wrong…)
Linkified for 5 entries!!
http://www.creepytownminis.com/
I do enjoy the various themed weeks you lads get up to. It allows me to take a deep look into games that I might otherwise pass up. Got into infinity through you and now MERCS is looking alright as well.
Entry please.
Enjoying MERCS week so much that I’d like to get started with this game soon. Pretty please, help me out! 😉
One constructive note: I like the idea of a “handy cam” – please keep it –, though for a better overview over movement and such I would prefer a bird eye’s view from above the table. Only a minor quibble, of course.
Been eyeing MERCS for quite a while and this MERCS week might push me over XD
Great video once again, love this Mercs game and the narrative!
Keep it up!
can’t wait to try this out.
http://neonerdlings.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/mercs-week-at-beastsofwar-com/
This looks like a seriously fun game! I may have to drop some money on this one too.
All badged up!
http://pinsofwar.com/things-i-learned-from-mercs-week/
This looks like a lot of fun. I was looking into the factions the other day, thinking about getting into MERCS. From what I’ve read, and from watching these videos, I love the CCC, and the Sefadu are in my top 3.
Thanks for the demo. The paint jobs and terrain are great!
I like the trimmed down battle system. Simple and elegant.
awesomeness, rly want that bundle 😀
great series of videos guys!
CCC are awesome this would be great to get my friends into this as well.
Here is my entry also wanted to say loved the terrain and game play keep up the good job.
Those poor dice rolls.
Ok here is my first entry, too bad that there is no uscr bundle on the way 😉
But Iam looking forward to more Mercs Vids.
Thanks BoW
This game looks more and more interesting with each video.
the more i know about mercs, the more i think its rly worth a check
Great videos guys. Battle reports should include all the cool terrain, scenarios, and camera shots more often.
Loving Mercs week. Thank you for running through the rules as thoroughly as you are.
badge added to http://blog.angrygeek.net
Glad to see MERCS getting some attention, I love this game and can’t wait to see what the future has in store
I’m loving how this game plays. Now if I could get a copy to try it out.
well done, great vids
http://dark-eldar.blogspot.co.uk/
Badge uploaded!
My Entry Comment……….
Mercs please 😀
web link to my forum sig:
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/271389-new-player-questions/
I hope I win, because i win nothing! 😛
I’d love to win!
I love those CCC, man they look cool! I am so going to enter this drawing! Well, whoever wins the bundle, you better enjoy it!
If I am not mistaken, you can’t use SnapToCover to change ER rating, see 35:50. To go up/down any ER you need to use a MP, so the demo could not have made the movement he did.
Excellent. More videos please
Have been looking for a new game for a while now; mercs looks interesting might have to give it a go.
Those battle reports are a great way to introduce the game. Keep this up, guys.
What !! Two gunships and neither of you made a helicopter noise I’ve got to question your gaming credentials.
comment here for my two entries, god i hope i get lucky! Me and my friend would love this, i’ve already called the yellowjackets for myself though :3
Enter me as well!
Great Video Guys 🙂
Another excellent vid guys.
gotta say i have been on the website and im gna talk to some guys at my gaming club cz i think it would go down a treat, good and fast moving, just wish i had a website to put the badge on…. 🙁 the bundle would be perfect donation for the school club.
Boom! Been really enjoying this series.
Loving WarrenCam™! Great idea for games like this.
I’m really digging the tactical side of this game, it’s the closest miniatures thing to something like the Ghost Recon video games that I’ve seen so far without over-complicating everything. Looking forward to seeing more of this with the final advanced rules (and some other factions).
What a game 😛 love that the gun ship came in to kill the medic to finish it :))
I want these ! I need these !
I’m in! I really want to get into this game
GO CCC!
Entering the draw, great looking game…
Great game and idea there and I am starting to warm to Mercs in a big way.
Really loving this weeks coverage. Great innovations, lovely concepts and ‘soldiers eye view’ is a brilliant touch. Speaking of soldiers, my squad mates and i would love to take this to Afghan when we deploy in June, so me and my buddies for the win please 🙂
Great game.
sounds good !
looks like good fun
These really are selling me on Mercs 🙂
Looks very interesting.
Great mercs week. Im loving the demo games. Like the small mini count for the game.
Great video guys. Game seems to have fantastic dynamics. I ve gone for CCC and Kemvar. Cheers.
This is game seems great! Thanks for the videos Beasts of Wars.
Great game, need to get into it. Count me in.
Looks so goood.
This game looks awesome. I’m really liking the narrative aspect of it all. If I can get some of my buddies to join me in this, I will write some cool backstory for all my characters. I mean, it’s just five guys after all.
its intresting to see as your playing Warren your understanding the rules and doing some sneaky tricks,
Great video to paint your mini’s by…
🙂
I think the thing that seperates this week compared to others done by BoW is an actual game being played nice touch. Please keep this in the game weeks to come
I want to win a Mercs bundle. LOL!
It’s a cool looking game …
so easy and fast , maybe I can introduce this to my girlfriend and play whit she
Entry^^
Awesome video, it really helped me to learn the rules
I’d love to win a Mercs bundle!
It’s just too sweet of a deal for just a single comment.
MERCS RULES!!! I want to play!!!!
Indeed
I love the fluff of this game. Megacorporations battling for economic and military dominance gives a completely new meaning to the term “hostile takeover”.
Still making my mind up about Mercs – enjoying the videos though! A bunch of miniatures and a rule book could sway me!
I think Id enjoy this game.
Just started playing this myself and its a cracking little game.
C’mon Warren, you can do it!
This looks like a great game. Looks simple to start, but looks as though there is a bit of scope for the developers to expand it.
The more I see of this game the more i fall in love with it and the minis. Thankyou for MERCS week guys 🙂
late entry?
Wow. This game is looking really good. Fast and full of fun 🙂
Great video again, can’t wait until the next one. The CCC are looking like an interesting addition to my other MegaCons (Kenzai, USCR and ISS).
I pasted the banner on to my new guild site, its a work in progress 😉 http://guildportal.com/Guild.aspx?GuildID=471916&TabID=4070885 and shared the image on my facebook https://www.facebook.com/jetmorph just in case 😉
As I am watching the video I am already coming up with a whole list of scenarios and different terrain setup for each map stage. Awesome game and great work with Mercs week. Can’t wait to see the World Wide Merc week, the EU inc.and the EIC.
I love this game, can’t wait to play.
My website is:
http://billmoore.azurewebsites.net/
I have put the badge on my site.
i don’t even play tabletop wargames in RL but I’m trying to WIN! one on BeastsofWar.com
I really like the narrative bit. I’ll have to work some stuff like that into my games sometime.
Oh yeah, and the banner is on http://www.paranoydandroyd.com
Great videos really good to see how the game works.
enter me for this, would love to learn mercs!
great looking game hope i win so i can give it a good try 😛 great content on BOW these days i’m on nearly every day
Seems like a fun game, like the CCC faction.
This looks like a really fun game, I really like the idea of playing the game where your team is just a small commando style unit. It was nice seeing how the game was played.
I would like to enter the competition. Been eyeing the CCC faction all week now.
CCC look like a great team to play. The preview for the new team member looks fantastic as well. This a game crying out for a double-purchase, though. Who to add to the mix…
this system is fascinating
I want to be Sefadu!!!
Great match guys. It would have been very cinematic to have the CCC use the leader’s EMP grenade right near the beginning when all the Sefadu were bunched up in the graveyard. Looking forward to the next match.
Finally, a game that will give me an excuse to build those Blackhawk kits I’ve been hoarding..
Dropping a comment here for entry along with my site for the badge entries. http://aeonswonderoswonders.tumblr.com/
i like me a good skirmish game
Love MERCS!!!!!
Mercs week is the BEst Week
I want CCC 🙁
I’m gonna have to get into this!
Looks like a fast n fun game. Really like the simultaneous shouting of ‘SHOOT YOU IN THE FACE’ on matched initiative.
Cant wait to get my hands on some of these minis.
entry for a great prize go!
Entered love the way this game looks cant wait to try it 🙂
Entry 🙂
I posted the following on the you tube vid, but no answer. I see a similar question here, but it hasn’t had a convincing answer yet:
“Quick question – in the first demo game Lucas stated that a snap to cover move could only be done at the start or end of a model’s action, not part way through.
In the very first move of this game Lucas moves up to the wall, uses snap to cover to climb onto the wall then uses the last mp to move off the wall…..
So which is it? Only at the start/end, or at any time?”
These videos really sold this game to me. That’s what I needed ANOTHER money sink…
So here’s hoping I could win a set, to save me some money 🙂
Kick down the door for a shotgun&incendiary grenades ENTRY! 🙂
Badge added to http://www.rustkill.net
Wow you only need 1 box each this looks fun
This game looks excellen! I’ve added a link!
http://thereadoversion.blogspot.co.uk/
I know Warren’s a newb, but reading the quick rules (downloadable from the Mercs site) I note that pre-measuring is not allowed; so vaguely waving a card around in a sequence of wanting to go in a certain direction (@15:50) is not normally allowed!
**x fingers for Prize draw **
Yup I’m a newb alright. 🙂 thanks for helping to keep viewers on the right path!
Good looking minis and nice skirmish type game. Put me in that draw, guys!
I had liitle interest in this game until I started watching your videos. Count me entered!
Going for the mercs!
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/user/profile/62374.page
heres my profile with the banner
very cool cant wait for more factions
entered!
Can’t decide which megacon to pick
I can’t wait to try out Mercs! You made this game look interesting and fun! Thank you for the excellent coverage all week!
Looks like a blast!
I would share the wealth! Maybe!
Great video’s guys. Realy nice informal introduction to the game.
Keep up the good work.
Prizes! I love prizes!!!
Good so far wetted my appitite
camera work takes time, practace makes perfect …lol
when both medics had go together, mhy did you not over watch you would have got to shot anyone moving/acting that turn.
give me some
Entered
The game looks fun. Might have to get it.
Entry
I am becoming super interested in this game!
great game
This game looks AWSOME
I would also love a British style faction, at the mo its Kemvar for me
This is one awesome game. I really hope I get the prize 😉
I’m Loving this game so far
i wanna win some mercs get my club playing 😛
I’m loving the look and feel of the CCC models.
d10s are always tricky. They never quite seem to do what you want them to. But coming from rolling nothing but d6s it’s a welcome change. Seems interesting and I assume fast when your not trying to spoon feed it to the masses. Color me interested.
Another awesome game intro series, loving the fluff and the game speed, fast and dirty
I have been thinking of getting into Mercs for some time, so I have really appreciated the coverage here on Beasts of War, especially the demo games. They give a good taste of gameplay for those of us thinking of delving in.
Entry for me. Have been thinking about getting into Mercs, so this is good timing!
Entered guys! Been looking into MERCS thanks for the week, intro and videos. I can’t wait to get stuck in!
Yeah i love Mercs
Herp, Derp, Mega Bundle Prize entry sexy love D10 Murkles
Like I need another minis game. Looks like Mercs may get me to buy into though. I really like the squad based action of the system.
Mercs is a great game I love how easy it is to get into and play.
entry
Entry
GREAT VIDEO I run to download the rules and start get involved^^
entry 2
couldn’t think of any other way to promte you badge than on facebook so so here it is on my timeline and as my profile picure
https://www.facebook.com/Jacob.McNair347 is the link
Really enjoyed the videos, time to proxy some models and give it a try.
http://geekinthebasement.blogspot.com/2013/03/shameless-plug-for-mercs-week.html
Pimped out my site for free swag!
Not sure if I’m scraping in under the deadline for the competition or not, but I wanted to drop you BoW guys a line anyway to say how much I’ve enjoyed Mercs week and the BoW site in general. Only discovered it a couple of weeks ago any I’m already wishing my bank account was bigger to accommodate all the cool things you guys have introduced me to – so cheers!
Have enjoyed this new format for intro to a new game system and hope to see similar for others, particularly war machine and maybe Kings of War?
Thanks for great into games. Link to my blog with Merc graphic below
http://crispypete.wordpress.com/
I love the game but grenades are insanely powerful.
It really forces you into more of a spread out attack pattern if possible.
Great demo guys!