Chapter 22: MechWarrior 2 and NetMech

The Scenario

Players assume the role of MechWarriors, an elite group of fighters who "strap on" and pilot the Clans' BattleMechs, two-legged fighting machines laden with armor and a complement of brutal weaponry. The Clan for which a player chooses to fight during any session of play is up to the player. An equal number of missions is included for both Clans, so players can play one side and then the other, meeting each Clan's very different mission objectives.

The game allows for two modes of play. In the career mode, players garner honor points and compete for rank within the Clans. In the instant action mode, the play is the thing-the play action that is, with no concern for rank, career, or honor, just destruction and coming back alive.

As each weapon offers different capabilities, so too the BattleMechs differ in their size and maneuverability. Since a MechWarrior must select, customize, and configure the BattleMech he will take into each mission, an intelligence of the machinery and weaponry, plus savvy skills, will be vital to surviving.

The Clan assigns missions, the MechWarrior does not choose. It is important, therefore, for the player to read the mission briefing and understand the mission objectives before preparing a BattleMech and adventuring out of the Clan hall. Know, too, the missions are timed, and though it is possible to run through a mission dodging exchanges with the enemy Clan, this in-and-out tactic garners few honor points.

When engaged in combat, keep in mind that a legless BattleMech is a lame BattleMech and an armless BattleMech is often disarmed. Also, be aware that the armor on the back of a BattleMech is the weakest-this is true of your BattleMech as well as your enemy's. Watch your back and aim for your opponent's.

Code	Action
Spacebar	Fires the selected weapon
Enter	Cycles through available options to select a weapon or weapons group
\ (backslash)	Toggles between chain fire and group fire
Shift+1, 2, or 3	Adds a weapon to a weapons group
Num Lock, /, * (on the keypad)	Fires weapons group
K	Jettisons ammunition
T	Cycles through all targets
R	Returns to previous target
E	Targets nearest enemy
F	Identifies nearest friend, or Starmate
Q	Targets object in reticle
I	Inspects targeted object
Ctrl+T	Turns targeting off

F1	Cycles through the multifunctional display
F2	Toggles the radar display between normal and full screen
F5	Toggles damage display; indicates any damage the BattleMech has sustained
F6	Toggles HTAL (Head/Torso/Arms/Legs) damage display; reports any damage to armor
F11	Toggles HUD (Heads Up Display); enables/DisablesHUD
U	Uses menu; reports systems status
F12	Reviews mission objectives

F4	Toggles target display; targets angle
F7	Toggles rear view
F8	Down view
F9	Weapon view
F10	Weapon view after launch

1 through 0	Accelerates the BattleMech (0 = 100%) and slows the BattleMech to a stop
+, -	Increases, decreases throttle
Left & Right Arrows	Steers left and right
Backspace	Reverses direction
< or >	Twists the BattleMech's torso
/	Recenters the BattleMech's torso
M	Recenters the BattleMech's legs under its torso
J	Engages jump jets (when applicable) To steer the jump jets, use the 6-key "home" portion of the keypad
N	Selects a NAVigation point
A	Turns autopilot on and off
V	Turns MASC on and off
S	Engages manual shutdown or restart
O	Overrides automatic thermal shutdown
Ctrl+Alt+E	Ejects the MechWarrior pilot from the BattleMech
Ctrl+E	Turns auto-ejection on and off
Ctrl+Alt+X	Initiates self-destruct
Ctrl+F1 or Ctrl+B	Allows MechWarrior to command Starmates
Ctrl+F2 or Ctrl+F3	Determines command point 1 or 2

Z	Zooms in
Shift+Z	Zooms out
Ctrl+Z	Resets zoom magnification
7 (on the keypad)	Glance to the left
9 (on the keypad)	Glance to the right
Ctrl+Arrow Keys	Controls pilot line of vision
L	Turns low light amplification on and off
W	Turns enhanced imaging on and off
F3	Turns satellite uplink on and off
X	Zooms in on satellite uplink image
Shift+X	Zooms out on satellite uplink image
C	Turns External Tracking Cameras (XTC) on and off
Ctrl+Arrow Keys	Controls External Tracking Cameras's line of vision

EscReveals options/battle parameters menuAlt+P or Alt+PausePauses gameCtrl+QAborts or exits a missionCtrl+PSnaps a screen shot

Cheat Codes To a MechWarrior, "war is life" and honor is all. There is no honor in cheating, but here are some of the game's cheat codes just the same. To activate these cheats, a player must be actively involved in a mission, and the codes must be typed while the Ctrl+Alt+Shift keys are depressed (see Table 22.7).

Code	Action
BLORB	Turns invulnerability on and off
CIA	Provides unlimited ammunition
COLDMISER	Turns heat tracking on and off
DORCS	Introduces the "dorcs" who created the game
ENOLAGAY	Nukes the area, killing everything vulnerable
FLYGIRL	Installs jump jets on BattleMechs without them
FRONT	Makes rearview camera a frontview camera
Ctrl+Left Arrow	turn left
Ctrl+Right Arrow	turn right
Ctrl+Up Arrow	increase altitude
Ctrl+Down Arrow	decrease altitude
Z	zoom in
Shift+Z	zoom out
GANKEM	Destroys the object targeted
HANGAROUND	Enables player to stay at mission site after the mission has been completed or time has run out
MEEPMEEP	Enables time compression
UNMEEPMEEP	Disables time compression
MICHELIN	Displays bounding spheres on targets
MIGHTYMOUSE	Provides unlimited jump jet power
TINKERBELL	Positions external camera to view a fixed area
XRAY	Provides ability to see through objects
ZMACK	Enables time expansion

You must run MechWarrior 2 along with NetMech in order for 2 or more users to play. With NetMech true multiplayer action in MechWarrior 2 is possible, allowing up to eight players to simultaneously shoot it out for the honor and glory of their respective Clans. In addition to opening up the multiplayer capability of the game, NetMech also includes 15 new missions.