Who plays BattleTech Universe games?

[Darik Sdair]

I've noticed that a number of the people on here seem to have some exposure to the BattleTech Universe. I was wondering what aspects of the game you play, so I figured I'd set up a poll =)

In the interest of full disclosure: I'm an independant contractor for Fantasy Productions LLC, which is the company that owns Classic BattleTech. Consequently, I have a vested interest in finding out what BTU games are popular

If the options on the poll are inadequate or you have something to add, feel free to post =)

[RayCav of ASVS]

I play the computer games and read the fiction, I would dabble in the other areas but I simply don't have the money.

Whatever you do, keep Classic BattleTech alive!

And really, you should have a few more options, such as:

"DK is Gay! My T-72 AND my Atlas will r0xx0r DK's Ass!"

"GAY?!?!?! WHOEVER SAYS BATTLETECH IS GAY WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO ME!!!!!!!!"

[LordChaos]

I would be playing the classic board game (miniture rules though) if there was anyone local to play against (but I am still buying the minis).

I do play various ones of the computer games.

I do NOT read the novels however.

[Enforcer Talen]

fear my star of jade falcon heavy mechs. . .bwhah.

[Tychu]

Battle Tech looks alright, but what exactly is it and what goes on in it?

[Darik Sdair]

Battle Tech looks alright, but what exactly is it and what goes on in it?

The basic Classic BattleTech table game is a wargame set in the late 31st century, which revolves around the ultimate weapon in mankind's arsenals - giant humanoid robots called BattleMechs (for Battlefield Mechanized Unit). The game is played on either hex grids or on open terrain, either with cardboard counters or plastic/metal miniatures.

Unlike Warhammer 40,000 and many other science fiction games, CBT has a pretty low entry cost (about $25-30 for the basic boxed set, which comes with maps, rulebook, and dozens of carboard counters). Additionally, the system tends to focus more on small tactical engagements than massive clashes.

In addition to the board game, the BattleTech Universe has its own novel line (with more than fifty titles), two major computer game lines (MechWarrior and MechCommander), a collectable card game, an upcoming X-Box game (MechAssault), a tabletop roleplaying game (MechWarrior), and even a "mage knight" style collectable miniatures game (MechWarrior: Dark Age).

The actual in-universe story is fairly convoluted, but here's the basics:

Until the 28th century, mankind was united under the banner of the Star League. Though it didn't end all of humanities problems, the League provided a central authority that stabilized and focused the efforts of rapidly-expanding humanity.

That changed in the 28th century. One of the six great houses that consitituted the Star League was toppled in a blood coup, and the war of succession to the Star League throne by the five remaining houses killed trillions and destroyed much of humanity's scientific achievements (other than their implements of war, which were carefully preserved).

Jump forward now to the 31st century. The succession wars have largely ground down into protracted skirmishes; however, a new threat is on the horizon: the Clans, descendants of the original Star League Army who fled to the succession wars, returned to charted space intent on subjugating the successor states under their own new League. The so-called "Clan Wars" that followed lasted from 3049 to 3061, and in the end the Clans controlled nearly a quarter of human-occupied space.

In the current timeline, the year is now 3067. In the tense peace following the end of the Clan Wars, internal pressures have lead to bloody civil wars, and while these battles seem to be at an end, a new threat is going to be unveiled soon. Next year, we'll start seeing the storyline of the next major war unfolding, the details of which I'm somewhat loath to unveil.

For a more complete treatment of the storyline, swing by www.classicbattletech.com and check out the various information pages located there.


PS, RayCav, check out this baby =)

[Straha]

Until the 28th century, mankind was united under the banner of the Star League. Though it didn't end all of humanities problems, the League provided a central authority that stabilized and focused the efforts of rapidly-expanding humanity.

That changed in the 28th century. One of the six great houses that consitituted the Star League was toppled in a blood coup, and the war of succession to the Star League throne by the five remaining houses killed trillions and destroyed much of humanity's scientific achievements (other than their implements of war, which were carefully preserved).

Jump forward now to the 31st century. The succession wars have largely ground down into protracted skirmishes; however, a new threat is on the horizon: the Clans, descendants of the original Star League Army who fled to the succession wars, returned to charted space intent on subjugating the successor states under their own new League. The so-called "Clan Wars" that followed lasted from 3049 to 3061, and in the end the Clans controlled nearly a quarter of human-occupied space.

In the current timeline, the year is now 3067. In the tense peace following the end of the Clan Wars, internal pressures have lead to bloody civil wars, and while these battles seem to be at an end, a new threat is going to be unveiled soon. Next year, we'll start seeing the storyline of the next major war unfolding, the details of which I'm somewhat loath to unveil.

A nitpick and a question. Star leauge didn't come around till 2400s I believe and before that there were wide spread wars and nukings, etc.

Secondly with stackpole back isn't he going to jump the timeline ahead some 20-30 years??

[RadiO]

Damn! I missed the Other Games option on the poll.
Anyway, I dug Battleforce. Everything that's good about Battletech, only more of it! (or at least, everything that's good about Battletech without the need for a really bigass table.) Except minatures, of course - but then you'd need zillions of 'em unless you stuck rigidly to the same units over and over again.
Needless to say, Battletech r0x0rs also.

[Darik Sdair]

Until the 28th century, mankind was united under the banner of the Star League. Though it didn't end all of humanities problems, the League provided a central authority that stabilized and focused the efforts of rapidly-expanding humanity.

That changed in the 28th century. One of the six great houses that consitituted the Star League was toppled in a blood coup, and the war of succession to the Star League throne by the five remaining houses killed trillions and destroyed much of humanity's scientific achievements (other than their implements of war, which were carefully preserved).

Jump forward now to the 31st century. The succession wars have largely ground down into protracted skirmishes; however, a new threat is on the horizon: the Clans, descendants of the original Star League Army who fled to the succession wars, returned to charted space intent on subjugating the successor states under their own new League. The so-called "Clan Wars" that followed lasted from 3049 to 3061, and in the end the Clans controlled nearly a quarter of human-occupied space.

In the current timeline, the year is now 3067. In the tense peace following the end of the Clan Wars, internal pressures have lead to bloody civil wars, and while these battles seem to be at an end, a new threat is going to be unveiled soon. Next year, we'll start seeing the storyline of the next major war unfolding, the details of which I'm somewhat loath to unveil.

A nitpick and a question. Star leauge didn't come around till 2400s I believe and before that there were wide spread wars and nukings, etc.

Secondly with stackpole back isn't he going to jump the timeline ahead some 20-30 years??

Yes, I know the Star League didn't exist in the "early days," but I was trying to keep the lecture short

As for Stackpole's work, here's the skinny:

Classic BattleTech is going to keep right on going on the current timeline, no time jump. However, MechWarrior: Dark Age, the new "quick and dirty" game, is set like 60 years in the future. Stackpole is currently writing books for Dark Age, hence the time jump in them =)

[Straha]

K thanks. I didn't understand that.

By the way are any of the new books good? I stopped reading them after they used the same plot on solaris and kathil

[Darik Sdair]

K thanks. I didn't understand that.

By the way are any of the new books good? I stopped reading them after they used the same plot on solaris and kathil

The last few novels have been pretty good; however, the really big thing I'm looking forward to is the FedCom Civil War Sourcebook. Its been out for about a month now, but I haven't bought it yet because I was waiting to acrue enough product credit through the Commando program so I could get it for free. As it stands, I put my order in at the start of this week, so I should have my copy soon - I'll post details when I get it.

"Endgame" by Loren Coleman should also be out soon, that's going to be the last novel under the BattleTech imprint. (subsequent novels will be on the MechWarrior imprint). So far, it looks interesting.