Overhauling Recruitment in 50.07
“I was just a raw recruit when we landed on McComb during the War of 3039. I was proud to wear the crest of the Martian Cuirassiers, but I had barely learned to march in formation, let alone pilot a ‘Mek in combat.”
“But war does not wait. The sky turned to fire, the ground trembled with the fury of battle, and men I had trained with—laughed with—were gone in an instant. Nearly forty percent of us never left that world.”
“Standing in the wreckage, watching the last embers fade, I learned my first and hardest lesson: life is fragile, fleeting, and far too precious to waste.”
— Lt. Hiroshi Kuroda, Martian Cuirassiers, Reflecting on the War of 3039
Introducing the 2.0 Personnel Market
War is brutal. Units are shattered. MekWarriors fall. But the mission continues—and that means one thing: recruitment.
In version 50.07, MekHQ will be introducing a completely overhauled personnel market system, designed to bring BattleTech’s gritty realism and strategic depth to your campaign’s most human element: its people.
Why We Changed It
The old recruitment system was too frequent, too generous, and too disconnected from the BattleTech universe. Players could game the system, bypass meaningful character development, build elite rosters with little effort, or were left missing critical professions—such as Administrators.
Our goals were clear:
- Add role coverage for every position your unit needs
- Make recruitment more strategic, not just routine
- Ensure recruit quality matches your unit’s rep
- Tie recruitment to location, faction, and politics
- Stop professions appearing before they’re meant to. Looking at you, 3025 Inner Sphere ProtoMek Pilots…
Three Markets, Three Playstyles
Choose how deep you want to go:
- MekHQ Market — Fully immersive, location-based recruitment. Hiring halls, population size, faction reputation, and planetary control all influence who’s available and how often. The most lore-rich and strategic option.
- CamOps (Revised) — A tweaked version of Campaign Operations rules that adds missing professions. Ideal for players who want rules-faithful gameplay without losing role coverage.
- CamOps (Strict) — True to the rulebook—no frills, no fixes. Includes fewer professions. Hardcore only.
Monthly Rolls, Meaningful Choices
Recruitment now happens once per month, not daily. At month’s end, a pool of recruits is generated based on:
- System modifiers (e.g., Great Hiring Hall in a faction capital = x4 attempts)
- Faction Standing
- Population size
- Commander Connections trait
Strategic travel and downtime between contracts just became essential.
Reputation Matters
You want Elite recruits? Earn them. High-skill applicants won’t join a green merc unit. Recruit quality is now tied to your Campaign Ops Reputation, with odds scaling up only as your unit proves itself in battle.
You can sweeten the deal by offering a Golden Hello—one year’s salary upfront. This increases your chances of attracting better applicants without breaking game balance.
Dependents, Diversity & Personality
Each month also brings Dependents—untrained hopefuls looking for a shot. They’re perfect for players who invest in education and development.
Recruits now come with interviewer notes, offering a glimpse into their personalities and loyalty. No more automatically knowing a recruit’s deepest secrets.
Smarter Recruitment, Deeper Campaigns
This system isn’t just about who you hire—it’s about how you plan:
- Need a MekTech? Better travel to a populated world with a Hiring Hall.
- Low on Infantry? Make time between contracts to scout new blood.
- Want rare specialists like LAM pilots or Hyperspace Navigators? Keep your eyes peeled—they’re in there… but rare for a reason.
Ready to Recruit?
Whether you’re rebuilding from losses or expanding for your next contract, hiring the right people has never mattered more. And remember: a good ‘Mek is just scrap without the right pilot.
FAQ
Why did you change recruitment at all?
The old system let players recruit elite characters too easily, didn’t respect faction or location, lacked critical professions, and was poorly documented. This new system fixes that—making recruitment more strategic, immersive, and balanced.
What’s the difference between MekHQ, CamOps (Revised), and CamOps (Strict)?
- MekHQ: Fully featured. Location-based, faction-aware, and supports every role. Best choice for most players.
- CamOps (Revised): Based on official rules but patched to include all key roles (like Administrators).
- CamOps (Strict): Straight-up rules-as-written. Missing roles like LAM pilots. Only use if you’re a hardcore stickler for Campaign Ops.
When do new recruits show up?
At the end of each month. The number of applicants is based on:
- Days in the month (28–31)
- Multipliers from Hiring Halls, Capital status, Faction Standing, and Connections trait
Can I recruit while on contract?
Only if it’s a Garrison-type contract (anything ending in “Duty” except “Relief Duty”). Otherwise, you must be stationed planetside and off-mission to hire.
Why can’t I find high-experience recruits?
Your unit’s reputation limits who will consider joining. If you’re rated Regular, don’t expect Elite or Heroic applicants to line up. You’ve got to earn your reputation on the battlefield.
What’s a Golden Hello?
It’s a signing bonus—1 year’s salary paid only if you hire the recruit. While active, it improves the odds that higher-experience characters will show interest.
What are Dependents? Should I care?
Dependents are unskilled applicants. They’re great for:
- Players who invest in the Education system
- Campaigns that need cheap labor or future specialists
- Storytelling and roleplaying value
Ignore them if you want ready-made recruits. Develop them if you’re playing the long game.
What determines a recruit’s profession or origin?
It’s based on your faction, your campaign era, and the factions present in the system. Each faction gets “tickets” in the recruitment draw. Allies and your own faction get more. Pirates and Mercs always have a chance to show up.
What happens if I have a negative CamOps Reputation?
If your Campaign Ops Reputation drops below -25, only Pirates and Mercs will consider joining you.
Where can I check how many recruitment rolls I’m getting?
- Open the Interstellar Map to check Hiring Hall and Capital status
- Check system data for population
- Check your Connections trait and Faction Standing
Alternatively, you can check the personnel market to see a handy slider. That will give you a good idea of how valuable recruiting in a given system is.
Can I still use the old system?
Yes—for now. But the legacy systems will be deprecated in future releases. MekHQ’s new market is now the standard.
