Because managing turn-based BattleTech combat on pen-and-paper is like playing chess while doing calculus in your head.
The Pain: Traditional BattleTech-style hex-based tactical combat requires tracking movement points, weapon ranges, line-of-sight calculations, initiative orders, damage tracking, and turn phases—all while managing multiple mechs across a hex grid. That's a lot of mental overhead when you just want to blow stuff up with giant robots.
The Solution: PyMechAttack is a streamlined, Python-powered hex-based tactical combat simulator that handles all the tedious calculations for you. It features intelligent AI opponents, smooth animations, automated turn management, and a clean Tkinter-based interface. Whether you're playing solo against AI commanders or battling friends in a hot-seat multiplayer setup, the game manages the complexity so you can focus on tactics.
Repository: https://github.com/AdamMoses-GitHub/pyMechAttack
- 2-4 Player Support: Configure 2, 3, or 4 players with mix-and-match human and AI opponents
- Smart AI Commanders: 16 unique AI personalities with tactical decision-making for movement and combat
- Dynamic Hex Battlefield: Procedurally generated terrain with forests, water, mountains affecting movement and line-of-sight
- Turn-Based Combat: Initiative-based activation with separate movement and attack phases
- Visual Effects: Smooth movement animations, laser beams, missile trails, and explosion effects
- Flexible Positioning: Configure starting positions (close/medium/far) to control engagement distance
- Modular Architecture: 15+ specialized modules for clean separation of concerns (entities, combat, AI, UI, animations)
- A Pathfinding*: Efficient hex-grid pathfinding with terrain cost evaluation
- Zero External Dependencies: Pure Python 3.10+ using only the standard library (Tkinter for GUI)
- Canvas Object Caching: Performance-optimized rendering with dirty-rectangle tracking
- Line-of-Sight Algorithm: Bresenham-style hex line drawing for accurate LOS calculations with terrain modifiers
- Type-Safe Design: Comprehensive type hints and custom exception hierarchy for robust error handling
For detailed installation and usage instructions, see INSTALL_AND_USAGE.md.
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/AdamMoses-GitHub/pyMechAttack.git
cd pyMechAttack
# Run the game (Python 3.10+ required)
python battletech_hex_game.py| Component | Purpose | Why This One |
|---|---|---|
| Python 3.10+ | Core language | Type hints, structural pattern matching, performance |
| Tkinter | GUI framework | Cross-platform, bundled with Python, no external deps |
| Standard Library | All utilities | Zero-dependency philosophy for easy deployment |
| Axial Coordinates | Hex grid system | Efficient distance/pathfinding calculations vs offset coords |
| A Algorithm* | Pathfinding | Guaranteed optimal paths with terrain cost evaluation |
| Canvas API | Rendering | Direct pixel control for animations and hex drawing |
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
Pull requests are welcome! For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you'd like to change. This project values clean code, type safety, and modular design.
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