This is an implementation of Alpha Strike on the computer.

This project can be installed by running the install.sh script after you have installed the following dependencies:

• GTK4.10 or newer and its dependencies
• Roswell Lisp manager and its dependencies.

See your Distro's package manager for how to install the dependencies above. For MacOS, use Homebrew. Once you have run install.sh, you will find an executable in the root folder for the project, simply run that and the game should start.

Instructions coming soon.

Right now (v1.3.0), the game allows you to simulate combat between armies of any size using units exported from Megamek via their AlphaStrike stat generator. While the game won't stop you from using them, note that FLYING UNITS DO NOT FLY and none of the rules for them have been implemented yet. I am currently hiding all the Aero elements and many of the conventional fighters, but VTOLs and Support Vehicles which fly are still in the lists, so you could add using them. The combat happens on a featureless plain.

When you first launch the game, it will launch into a lobby screen. In this lobby screen, you will see 3 window spaces. These windows are the Unit Selection window, the Game Setup window, and the Army Unit List window.

Forces need a name, a deployment zone (Same options as Megamek, N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW, EDG, CTR), and a color. Note that the deployment zone is not enforced as of 1.3.0.

NOTE: The game currenly only supports 2 forces in a head to head, do not add more than two forces.

Once you have added a force, you can select it by clicking on its name. You'll need both forces before you can select one.

To add a unit, you need to have a force selected and a mek selected. Enter the pilot data and click the Add Unit button. You should see the unit appear in the Army Unit List window to the bottom left. You can add as many units as you want. Currently (as for 1.3.0), there is no way to remove a unit added by mistake, be sure to click carefully.

Finally, initialize the map by entering the width and height of the map. Once you are happy with the map size, click "Update Map Size".

If you have completed all of these steps, you will see the "Game Not Ready" button change to "Game Ready". Click it to begin playing.

Initiative should roll automatically. If it does not, click "Reroll Initiative" to roll it. You can see the initiative order at the bottom of the screen above the buttons. Additionally, you can see the active force has their units at the top of the stats area to the right. Click "Next Phase" when ready to begin.

To deploy a unit, click on the unit in the list on the right, then click on the hex you want to deploy in. Right now, you can deploy anywhere, you will have to manually enforce deployment zones. When you are happy with that unit's deployment, click "Deploy". If you want to deploy a different unit, click "Undeploy" before you select the next unit. When everyone has deployed, click "Next phase".

You could have units deploy later in the fight by simply advancing to the next phase before you've deployed everybody, but you will then need to remember to skip those units during the next phases as they will not automatically be skipped.

To move a unit, select the unit you want to move and then the button for the movement type you want (Walk or Jump). The walk button is also the button for tracked, wheeled, etc. If a unit only has a single move type, click the "walk" button. Then click a hex. If you cannot reach that hex, nothing will happen. If you can reach that hex, then a ghost will appear in that hex. When you're ready to move that unit, click "Move Unit". If a unit is standing still, click them, click "Stand Still", and then click "Move Unit". When everyone has moved, click "Next Phase".

Note that units which jump their full walk (like the Panther-9R, whos movement is "4j") will always be jumping as of 1.3.0.

The Combat phase works similarly. Click a unit on the right side, click their target, and then click "Attack". A popup will appear with the details on the attack. Click "Attack" to resolve the attack or click "Cancel" to select another target. Once everyone has fired, click Next Phase.

Destroyed units will be removed automatically at the end of the end phase. Click Next Phase to start the next round.

Initiative for the next round should roll automatically! If it does not, click "Reroll Initiative" and "Next Phase". Play continues until one side is destroyed. When you are finished, click "Quit Game" to exit.

This, the first "functional" release, is a very primitive implementation of the rules, allowing a hot-seat 2v2. The map is a featureless plain. The pilots will all be skill 4. Selecting new units requires programming. Facing will not be calculated. Critical hits will not be applied. Only standard attack types will work. Only walking and jumping will be allowed (nothing but Mechs). Basically, you will be able to move, shoot, and lose armor/structure until your mech dies.

Allow you to build your armies before battle. Deployment happens via entering the locations (as the instructions above), expect this to change very quickly.

Deployment happens now by click on the map in the deployment phase. Automatic advancement of phases works sometimes, but it doesn't always detect that it should advance.

Rewrite everthing using GTK4 instead of McCLIM. This should allow for much simpler cross platform installation. This rewrite allowed me to also add the following features:

• An MUL listing all the units in MegaMek 0.49.14 (~8100)
• Movement Ghosts, so you can change your mind about your intended destination
• A confirmation menu for attacks in case you click the wrong target.

I also used the opportunity to rewrite the code to make it easier to add in new rules. Finally, I also bought the "new" Commanders Edition PDF to replace the original paper rulebook I bought ages ago in a Barnes and Noble. Based on that, I see that this Introductory/Standard/Advanced break down I've been using to structure this code is no longer actually how the rulebook is structured, meaning I'll need to reimagine the rest of the V1.x series. Expect an updated roadmap soon.

Full implementation of introductory rules for maps and movement.

Full implementation of introductory rules for attacks and damage (excluding physical attacks).

Implementation of physical attacks, heat, and all specials that are part of the Introductory rule set.

Full implementation of the introductory rule set for Alphastrike.

Add save games and other cleanup before moving on to implement the Standard rules for the 2.0 series.

How you can help depends on how much you know Lisp.

Awesome! Your help is definitely welcome! This is the largest project I've ever written in Common Lisp and help would be appreciated. We can chat about specifics but areas I know I need help with are:

1. GUI redesign. CL-GTK4 is challenging. I've made a lot of progress, but there are some frustrating bugs (which I'll be logging as issues in Github) that I could use some help with.
2. Movement Algorithm. Movement will probably require some variation on Astar or a heat map. I'm an amateur, Astar is really hard for me. I'd love some help implementing it.
3. AI. Eventually, I want to have a bot you can play against. I know a tiny bit about how to implement that, but I'd welcome help.
4. Network. I want this to eventually be like MegaMek, able to be played over the network.. I realize this will require a client-server setup and likely some extensive rewriting (though I've tried to separate things out as best I can to make that easier), but that's all I know.

Fantastic, pull requests are welcome to help me with whatever catches your fancy. Particularly, I'd love for someone to help me with the Windows build. I'm able to test builds for MacOS and Linux on my computers but not Windows.

Playtesting is greatly appreciated. Submit issues to Github and I'll do my best to address them! Especially places where I've got the rules wrong. I'm writing this specifically because I have nobody to play Alphastrike with, so my understanding of the rules is largely theoretical.

Most of the files found in the data folder are used with permission from Megamek Megamek.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

MechWarrior, BattleMech, ‘Mech and AeroTech are registered trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc. Original BattleTech material Copyright by Catalyst Game Labs All Rights Reserved. Used without permission.