New MechWarrior Game Mechanics: Falcon’s Prey Faction Abilities
by Kevin Goddard

Two new factions appear in MechWarrior: Falcon's Prey – Clans Jade Falcon and Sea Fox. Similar to House Liao, which made its first appearance in Liao Incursion, Jade Falcon and Sea Fox have been part of the MechWarrior universe for years. Because their armies are well seasoned, they have developed techniques and tactics that give them a slight edge over the newer factions that have grown up in the Inner Sphere.

Jade Falcon's abilities reflect their attitude toward battle, where they like to prove their mettle and go after the strongest foes possible. With that in mind, the first Jade Falcon ability is Zellbrigen:

ZELLBRIGEN. When this unit makes a successful attack against a single opposing target unit, if the target is Elite this unit gets +1 to its damage value for that attack. Unless this unit is in base contact with another opposing unit, or the opposing Elite unit cannot be targeted because it is captured or becomes a passenger, any subsequent attack made by this unit must target the opposing Elite unit until that unit is captured, eliminated, or becomes a passenger.

Similar to the House Liao Ruthlessness ability, Zellbrigen targets the strongest units on the field.

Of the 14 'Mechs that Jade Falcon receives, 11 have Jump Jets. Such a mobile force, coupled with the Jade Falcon strike-hard-and-fast style, made it natural that Jade Falcon units would receive a special attack enhancement:

MERCILESS. When this unit makes a death from above attack, roll one six-sided die and add the result to this unit’s attack value for this attack. This unit takes 1 click of damage when it makes an unsuccessful death from above attack and no damage when it makes a successful death from above attack.

The target of a Death from Above attack gets +2 to its defense value. Merciless gives Jade Falcon the opportunity to meet or even beat that increase. It also decreases the risk of damage to the attacking 'Mech.

A common Clan technology, Enhanced Imaging, allows a 'Mech pilot to better interface with his or her machine. Surgically implanted electronics show up as glowing "tattoos" on the pilot. As an unfortunate side effect, these implants are known to drive the pilots insane or unstable. Jade Falcon warriors, however, are happy to pay the price for such an advantage:

ENHANCED IMAGING. When this unit makes a ranged combat attack against a single opposing target unit, roll one six-sided die. On a result of 4–6, the following two conditions apply to this attack: This unit’s line of fire is not affected by hindering terrain and the target treats hindering terrain as clear terrain.

Does your favorite opponent like to sit in hindering terrain and blast out from "under cover?" Well, that's not going to work against Jade Falcon.

Even though Sea Fox receives only two units in Falcon's Prey (one of which is a super-rare piece), they still have access to faction abilities. Due to their nomadic nature, Sea Fox tends to work poorly with others (and each other). Their first faction ability reflects that trait, but because there are currently only two Sea Fox units, both of which are ’Mechs, this is not that big of a disadvantage:

RENEGADE. Sea Fox units cannot use formations.

Sea Fox is a Clan of merchants, and they are always looking for ways to make some extra c-bills. This includes taking any salvage they happen to come across (or make on their own):

SCAVENGER. When this unit eliminates an opposing unit with the same speed type as itself, apply 2 clicks of repair to this unit.

Neither Sea Fox ’Mech has repair markers, allowing them to take full advantage of Scavenger. Similar to Scavenger, Predator allows Sea Fox warriors to get the last word:

PREDATOR. After this unit resolves a successful close or ranged combat attack targeting a single opposing unit, if the target has gained Salvage special equipment this unit may make a second attack against it. The second attack must be of the same type (close or ranged combat) as the first attack. This second attack does not cost an extra order and this unit does not receive an additional order token. This unit may not use any special equipment when resolving the second attack. If this unit is a ’Mech, the second attack does not generate additional heat.

Faction abilities enhance the fiction feel of the Clan or House in the game and provide additional opportunities for the savvy player. Consider carefully how you will adapt these new pieces into your armies.

Is this going to be our preview for today?

I can already see the JF mechs now like little death bunnies, hopping from target to target.

Apart from that, the Sea Fox abilities look even meaner. That two clicks of healing is pretty respectable. Going to make them especially good for mech hunting.

No preview? These are cool, way cool. Mmmm...sea fox....

...Interesting. Looks like my standard Spirit Cat sniping from Camo tactics arent going to work against the falcons.

Predator...I just know that's going to cause screaming. *gets the earplugs ready*

So JF automatically get successful homing beacon effect on a roll of 4-6?

Just great now that Liao and Jade Falcon or the only factions that have Chevrons on our uniques and Le's we can beat each other up with our Ruthlessness and Zellbrigen. But once again these 2 abilities will be useless against other factions U's and Le's

So the Shrike would rather chase down an Elite Merc. Locust instead of the Geoff and his SW Kodiak right :rollseyes:

So, Wizkids is officially ending the clans as we know them, no more honourable combat, its all dfa this and dfa that. I guess all good times have o come to an end oh well.... seyla

so when making a DFA attack with Trovic i first roll a 1d6 to determine attack value. then i roll as normal for a DFA. that could be a difference maker as the dice gods tend to hat or love individual die.

otherwise i am stoked about these abilities. and i am gonna have fun with the Foxes and falcons. muhahahahahahahaha~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Not a bad first preview!

Falcons:
Zellbrigen - we called this one a while back. Reverse Ruthlessness...hmm. Could be useful against CapCon "shock-n-Awe' armies.

Merciless - by itself, the +1d6 to-hit on DFA wouldn't have justified the point increase, but with the reduction in damage taken, it should be worthwhile.

E.I. - Ow. Clyde Joyce, Marcel Thennes, and Stephani Ehli are going to hate this rule. Absolutely no hindering mods whatsoever 2/3 of the time is definitely a viable ability.

- - - - -

Renegade - agreed, with only two units, no formations is a cry of 'big fat hairy deal'. Once the faction fills out, it'll come more into play, but that's not for another three months or so, right?

Scavenger - again, with only two units, this may not be much of a factor. You won't have your entire opponent's army healing itself after an exchange (until we get more for them). I don't know about this one; personally, I'd have ruled it at 'give this unit a move order, but do not move it. Repair this unit 2 clicks.' Or maybe limit it to one click. As it stands, this invokes the image of a SF unit blowing the bolts out of something, then having the shrapnel magnetically attach itself to the firing unit. Cute, but...no.

Predator - since the follow-through attack only works if you salvage the target with the first hit, this isn't quite as powerful as it might appear (not to mention the 'no SE' clause).

- - - - -

Looks good on the whole. I have a few issues, but those stem from my fluff-logical mind. Falcon faction traits we pretty much figured out already - (DF+SH)/2,+ good heat dials. Foxes, on the other hand, the preview gives us BR-like repairability; logic dictates (yeah, yeah, logic and this game...I know, shut up aleready) that its balanced by fairly colourless dials. If I had to guess, I'd say Sea Fox might play like a hybrid of Bannson's and Spirit Cats - good stats just by the numbers, colourless dials, reparability, but on the more expensive side.

Here's to August 25!

####, i wa expecting an unit =(

Wow, Sea Fox mechs definately have the potential to be powerhouses. Hopefully they'll have the stats to backup Preditor and Scavenger, with luck Renegade drops their point costs enough to afford to sweet values.

It's official, Jade Falcon can crank out some serious damage. Looks like sniping in hindering terrain will definately be a major JF tactic with Enhanced Imaging and Merciless. You have to do something with those low defenses, or come up with tactics. Whatever... :p

Sea Fox abilities seem balanced. They have RENEGADES that is bad and the other that are good.
But all 3 abilities of Falcons are good! This sounds unbalancing to me... Moreover, they are quite powerful abilities!

Oh boy expensive abilites. Oh and the spoilier list was right. Next time I see a jumping CJF I'm going to scream "Pull" as I shoot w/ a SH Behemoth or DF M1 Marksman. Time to get green killer markers for the sides of my MBTs!

Those poor SC will hate Predator.