MechCommander 2 casts you in the role of commander of a group of mercenary MechWarriors. You'll be hired to fight for, and against, various warring Houses - ruling factions vying for control of the star systems colonized by humankind - in a series of missions that make up the campaign game. Each mission is proceeded by a tactical briefing, stating your objectives and providing a tactical overview of the situation. You're well-advised to pay attention to this briefing, because you'll next select the Mechs to assign to the mission and it is vital to select the right mix of weapons for the job. A convoy ambush requires different weapons than a base assault, and some Mechs are light and fast, others long-range weapon platforms, and still others huge hulking juggernaughts bristling with weapons.

After selecting your Mechs, you'll need to select a pilot for each from your roster of MechWarriors. Each MechWarrior is rated on his or her gunnery and Mech handling skills, and more experienced MechWarriors possess specialty weapon and Mech skills. Once all of your Mechs are manned, you can begin the mission.

In every mission you'll be given a certain amount of resource points. These can be spent during the mission to call in support elements such as airstrikes, repair vehicles, or extra MechWarriors to take over downed enemy Mechs. Additional resource points can be obtained by capturing enemy resource buildings - once captured they provide you with a one time bonus of extra resource points.

To successfully complete a mission, you'll need to satisfy each of its primary objectives. Finishing secondary objectives will reward you with an additional cash bonus if you complete the mission. Completing a mission also gives you the right to salvage any disabled Mechs left on the battlefield, although you will have to pay for their extraction and repair.

Once a mission has been completed, your MechWarriors are presented with medals or promotions depending on their performance in the battle. If a MechWarrior is promoted, you'll be given the option to assign him/her a new secondary skill. This will help you to groom certain Mech specialists as the campaign progresses.

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