Aces cards and decks

Access and starting decks

1. After uploading release 299, an administrator runs Admin > Database updates. This creates the Aces tables and imports the five-card MechWarrior - Jade Falcons and Star Captain - Jade Falcons decks. Repeating the update preserves existing card versions and deck selections. Players cannot access Aces editing, libraries or print files.

2. Campaign GMs open Campaign > Aces cards or Aces decks for their own campaign. Resources > Aces shared library lists adopted cards. Choose a campaign there to create private cards. Administrators can also create shared-library drafts directly. Shared drafts remain unavailable to GMs until explicitly published.

3. Starter gameplay instructions were transcribed from the supplied corrected Jade Falcon scans. The layout is recreated at the proposed 2.5 by 3.5 inch size; it does not establish the original physical card dimensions. Original scanned portraits and emblems are not bundled. Configure the named deck portrait to choose an approved pilot portrait or upload artwork for all five cards.

Edit one card

1. Open Create card or Edit card. The Card to edit selector loads the chosen record immediately in place; Add and Save card stay together in a toolbar while scrolling. Unsaved text, picture selections and selected upload files remain when switching records with JavaScript. The no-JavaScript selector has a Load selected card fallback.

2. Set the name, role, faction, A–E letter, theme accent and portrait cropping. Front/back letters stay paired. Approved enabled portraits from the existing shared pilot library and this campaign appear under Approved pilot portrait defaults. Card versions retain an independent copy of the chosen image. Uploaded portraits and emblems accept PNG, JPEG and WebP up to 2 MB and four million pixels; PHP GD with those formats is required. Uploads are normalized and rate-limited.

3. Enter one priority per line; numbering is added automatically. Move active row up/down uses the row containing the text cursor. Front Orders, Support orders, Strategy decisions and attribution follow the compact fields. Strategy rows start with A–E and a colon, or use Maintain this strategy. Blank lines in narratives are preserved.

4. Use the icon picker to insert into the active text field, with a distance for zone/spacing. Without JavaScript, type tokens manually: [ground], [jump], [sprint], [stand], [moved], [notmoved], [highest], [lowest], [zone:24], [los], [nolos], [range], [closer], [spacing:8], [short], [medium], [long], [destroy], [objective], [red], [yellow], [blue]. Highest/lowest use current values unless your text explicitly specifies starting values, losses or another basis.

5. Both sides preview the unsaved content at fixed font sizes. Unsupported font characters and unknown tokens are rejected before saving; use the recognized icons rather than emoji. Overflowing drafts may be saved, but cannot be printed, submitted or used in a new deck until corrected. Validation notices identify the saved card record and lead to its corrective editor. A partial correction retains unresolved issues; a complete correction returns to its originating page.

6. Save card creates an immutable new version. Failed saves retain entered text; with JavaScript, selected files also remain. After a failed no-JavaScript upload submission, reselect the file before retrying. Card editing retains the legacy artwork snapshot; configure the portrait and cropping on the deck. Remove saved emblem remains an individual card control.

Build and retain decks

1. Aces decks defaults to the named fixed role/faction sets. Copy deck to campaign creates an editable campaign deck. Build custom deck requires exactly one A, B, C, D and E card, all MechWarrior or all Star Captain. Factions and source decks may be mixed. The GM is responsible for the resulting strategy; the app does not judge whether the letter transitions are tactically sound.

2. Deck selections refer to saved versions. Editing a card or accepting a shared update does not change an existing deck automatically. Update available identifies newer versions; select the desired version and Save A–E deck to update explicitly. Historical versions and previously generated print files remain unchanged.

3. Versions and publication provides submission, publication and archive controls. Archiving hides a card from new selections while retaining its versions, artwork and existing deck printing. An archived card can be restored through its retained history.

Researched commander releases

1. Printed commander title is independent of the compatibility family. Use an era-appropriate rank, name and affiliation; blank titles retain the original Star Captain or MechWarrior header. Both families direct a force through five A–E strategy states.

2. Approved decks researched outside Hot Spots arrive through versioned application releases. After uploading, an administrator runs Admin > Database updates. There is no website research tool or user package uploader. Replaying a package preserves versions; a changed imported version, mismatched campaign identity or locally edited release deck/card stops the import for review.

3. Revisions append card versions and update the released source deck. Existing campaign copies and their selected versions remain pinned. Apply a published card update and explicitly select its version in a campaign deck when desired.

4. On a researched card, choose Research evidence and optional legendary rules to inspect the source references and documented versus inferred claims. Print optional rules sheet opens a separate tab; navigation is hidden on paper. Legendary SCAs/SPAs require GM approval and do not automatically change abilities or unit records.

Clan Invasion library (3050–3052)

1. After uploading release 301, an administrator runs Admin > Database updates to install 34 shared A–E commander decks (170 cards): seven invading Clans and ten House/Periphery factions. Select a shared deck in the Aces card library, then copy it into your campaign when customization is needed.

2. House and Periphery decks display Lance Commander or Company Commander. The underlying MechWarrior and Star Captain families are compatibility categories; both direct the automated force. Davion and Steiner represent distinct traditions within the Federated Commonwealth. Circinus is included by owner choice.

3. The release copies the reviewed generic portraits from the existing approved, enabled global portrait library. A missing, disabled, unapproved or changed portrait stops that package for review; do not retry after an uncertain response. Previously committed packages replay safely, and existing campaign decks stay pinned.

4. Cards are original researched archetypes, not official cards or canonical portraits. No SPA/SCA abilities are applied automatically. Read the source evidence and tactical weaknesses, playtest balance, and calibrate duplex printing before bulk printing.

One portrait per commander or custom deck

1. Open Aces decks, choose the named deck (for example MechWarrior - Jade Falcons), then Configure deck portrait. The Commander / deck selector loads saved portrait settings immediately; Add deck and Save deck portrait remain beside it.

2. Choose portrait opens the 24-thumbnail gallery with Previous/Next, page entry and optional name search. Selection and cropping are unsaved until Save deck portrait. All A–E cards in that deck then use that portrait, including cards mixed from other decks. Source decks and saved card versions are not rewritten.

3. Each custom mixed deck owns its portrait settings. Copy deck to campaign copies the source deck’s current portrait as a starting point; later changes to either deck remain independent. Saved print files keep their original images and record the deck portrait revision used.

4. Current portrait, Library and Upload are exclusive active sources; inactive library/file drafts are retained with JavaScript. Remove portrait is also unsaved until Save. Card editors configure behavior and emblems; portrait selection and cropping have moved to the deck.

5. Run Admin > Database updates after deploying release 304. A deck whose old A–E portrait settings agree inherits them. A deck that formerly combined different portraits starts without a portrait and displays a review notice; choose that deck’s portrait explicitly. Repeating the update preserves your configured deck portraits.

6. The public Rules > Commander cards reference uses the saved portrait for each published shared deck. GMs configure their own campaign decks; only administrators configure shared decks. Pilot/crew portrait assignment and GM upload approval are unchanged.

7. Without JavaScript, expand Browse portrait library and use its server-rendered page/selection buttons. Entered settings are retained; browsers require file reselection after a server round trip.

8. Saving a shared deck portrait immediately updates its published public previews and future PDFs. It does not publish draft card text. Replacement printing requires a selected deck and uses its portrait.

Pirate commanders (3050?3052)

1. After uploading release 305, run Admin > Database updates to install Pirate Tough (MechWarrior compatibility) and Pirate Captain (Star Captain compatibility). Both are five-state force commander decks.

2. Find both decks without signing in through Rules > Commander cards; search for Pirate or the deck name. GMs can copy shared decks into their campaigns. Configure deck portrait sets one portrait across A?E, including custom mixed decks.

3. Pirate Tough uses close pressure and disengagement states. Pirate Captain favors raiding and extraction and withdraws when half its starting printed PV is destroyed. Only declared destroy objectives use Objective priorities; scenario loot, extraction and rewards remain scenario rules.

4. These are original researched archetypes, with no automatic SPA/SCA grants. Review tactics, playtest balance and calibrate duplex printing before bulk printing. Missing, disabled, unapproved or changed source portraits stop package import for review; committed packages replay safely.

Commander library across six eras

1. After uploading release 306, run Admin > Database updates to install 588 approved commander decks (2,940 cards) across source-supported faction and era pairs: Succession Wars from the Third War onward, Clan Invasion, Civil War, Jihad, Dark Age including the Republic interval, and ilClan. Existing Clan Invasion faction pairs are retained without duplicate decks.

2. Rules > Commander cards is available without signing in. Search by faction, era, date or tactical approach, select a deck, and open its front/back preview, source evidence or duplex print PDF. GMs may copy a shared deck into their own campaign.

3. Each faction-era pair has two A–E force commander decks. MechWarrior and Star Captain are compatibility families; printed commander titles match the faction. These are original ordinary archetypes, not official cards or named legendary commanders. No automatic SPA/SCA grants, equipment changes, rewards or accounting entries are applied.

4. The full deployment includes the existing portrait library and checksum-bound import references for all 63 portraits used by these decks. Each deck has one initial portrait across A–E; mixed decks retain their own portrait profile. Missing, disabled, unapproved or changed new portrait sources stop the affected package atomically. Resolve the reported problem before resubmitting; never retry automatically after an uncertain response.

5. The collection intentionally omits faction-era pairs without sufficient verified dated tactical evidence. Source evidence distinguishes documented facts from authored interpretation and may reveal story spoilers. A missing era deck does not imply that the faction never existed.

6. Database updates append immutable card versions and preserve existing campaign selections and history. Committed packages replay safely. Print the selected deck at Actual size / 100%, Letter, long-edge duplex; calibrate your printer and playtest tactical balance before bulk use.

Filter authenticated libraries and saved-record choices

1. The Aces card library and Aces decks use the same Era, Faction category, Faction, Commander family and Search controls as Rules > Commander cards, within your existing access and campaign scope. Results are grouped and paginated; filters are recorded in the URL.

2. The card editor, custom deck builder and print deck selector also have local filters for their saved-record choices. Filtering preserves the currently selected record/card versions, unsaved fields, printer settings and independent deck portraits. A selection outside the filters remains available and is labeled selected outside filters. Filters do not save or change deck membership.

3. With JavaScript disabled, the library and deck-list filter forms and pagination links work on the server. Editor/build/print selectors retain their complete authorized choices and explicit load/save actions; use the filtered library or deck list to find the desired records first.

4. When authoring a custom card, Search era and Search affiliation store its browsing classification separately from its printed Faction label. Enter first and last in-universe years within the selected era, or choose Undated / custom and leave dates blank. Search affiliation supplies the category. Use Unclassified / custom when no recorded affiliation fits. Saving appends a card version and retains source research; failed saves retain entered values. Existing released package payloads and historical versions are not rewritten.

5. Mixed decks match the classifications of their selected saved card versions. They may appear under multiple eras, categories or factions. Each mixed deck retains its own portrait and pinned members.

Choose a deck portrait from the card editor

1. In Edit Aces card, use Commander / deck portrait to choose the saved deck containing this card, then Choose deck portrait. If only one editable deck contains the card it is selected automatically. When the card belongs to several decks, choose the intended deck explicitly; each mixed deck keeps its own portrait.

2. Choose deck portrait opens the existing visual portrait library/upload and crop editor in a separate tab, keeping unsaved card edits available. Save deck portrait applies one image to all A–E cards in that deck. Return to the card editor to refresh its portrait preview. Save card saves card content and retains the selected deck context; it does not apply an individual-card portrait.

3. If a new or unattached card has no editable deck, save it and use Build a deck to assign it before choosing a portrait. With JavaScript disabled the portrait link and saved preview remain available; use Show deck portrait to load an explicitly selected deck.

4. Release 308 restores the original MechWarrior woman and Star Captain man portraits from the supplied scans to untouched blank profiles of the two original shared Jade Falcon starter decks. Upload the full release and run Admin > Database updates. Explicit portrait choices and removals, campaign copies, mixed decks, card versions and historical print files remain unchanged. Repeat updates do not reapply the restoration.

Edit a shared commander deck

1. Use Resources > Aces shared library, then Browse decks and View / build deck. Administrators may edit the shared deck name, compatibility family and selected A–E card versions, then Save A–E deck. Configure deck portrait edits the one image used by that deck.

2. For a campaign deck, choose Campaign > Aces decks. Shared deck contents stay read-only in campaign scope until copied to the campaign. To edit rules text rather than select member versions, open the individual card editor and explicitly select the saved update in the deck afterward.

3. The original two Jade Falcon decks transcribed from BattleTech Aces are ilClan era. They match the ilClan filter by recorded source provenance; exact years are unspecified. An era may be stored without exact years by leaving both date fields blank. If you enter either year, enter both within the selected era. Explicit custom classifications and existing immutable versions remain unchanged.

Insert card icons with editor buttons

1. Each rules text box in Edit Aces card has an icon toolbar directly above it. Click an icon to insert supported lowercase markup, such as [highest] or [lowest], at that box’s cursor. Selected text is replaced. Hover for the icon name and token; keyboard users can tab to a button and activate it with Enter or Space.

2. Zone and spacing use that box’s Distance (inches) value, allowing 0–999 including decimals. Invalid distances show a local message without changing the text. Insertion returns focus to the text box and updates the unsaved preview; it does not save or publish the card.

3. The toolbars cover front priorities/orders and back support, emplacement, artillery, BSP and strategy text. Attribution remains plain text. With JavaScript unavailable, enter tokens manually—for example [highest], [lowest], [los], [zone:24] and [spacing:8]—then use the existing Save action.