Dipping a toe in Battletech!

[Rick]

I started playing with a copy of the original 'Battledroids' set and the rules (apart from vehicles) really haven't changed that much over the years. It has probably the most extensive background of any game I've ever played which has evolved over the 40 years it's been going - yep, 40th anniversary this year, 1984-2024 and still going strong!

[Keeper Nilbog]

I, like Rick, started playing with the "Battledroids" game (before Lucasfilm got touchy over the use of the word droids, and Unseen was not a thing).

I've tried to get some of my (now non functional) local club interested, but CBT was too involved for them, and I didn't have Alpha Strike at the time.
(The youth of today and their "quick/simple" games - have you seen how complicated 40K is currently, and they can't handle a simple CBT game).

I always tended to play "mapless" if able, but do find I'm now more likely to use a map when gaming, though with 3D terrain on it.

Continue with building your force, and remember that "most" mechs can work in any time/era, so use what you like. Just give the "weaker" (non optimised) versions a run out every now and then - the Urbanmech and Charger exist for a reason.  :-)

[Rick]

If you can find a copy then a good way in might be to get the FanPro CBT 'Solaris VII Map pack' - special rules for each of the main arenas and the reaches (just missing the counters). Get a few players in the game, each with a standard mech, and last mech standing wins!
Alternatively, treat a single standard map board as a local arena for a fun free-for-all game.

[Cat]

I've also been playing since Battledroids, and another big vote in favour of BattleTech Alpha Strike.  This is the fast-play version we needed 25 years ago for quick lance v. lance games and even handles company or battalion engagements very nicely in an afternoon.

[Rick]

Yeah, we WERE playing something like this 25 years ago! I did a homebrew fastplay set of rules that a couple of local clubs used to use for big games with a company or more on a side. I was highly amused when Alpha Strike came out to find that I'd been more or less on the right track back then, although AS has far more in it than my old set ever did.

[Logain77]

The Raven does often have a lot of advanced electronics that doesn’t really do much in most situations. But most mechs have a number of different variants so you can ditch that stuff for more practical equipment or build your force to take advantage of it. The best games we played were always with a Gamemaster and focused on narrative scenarios. A Raven might shine in those. Even in its normal configuration it’s a decent mech. Lots of people complain the game takes too long, but I also like playing with mostly lights and mediums - the game plays a lot faster with the little guys.

[Rick]

The Raven is very much a team player with its equipment suite - rather than benefitting from its own weaponry it enhances the capabilities of the mechs around it. The rules for the equipment should be in the Clan Invasion era set and in Alpha Strike - it does have on-table effects, not just limited to a narrative arc.

Speaking of Alpha Strike, just found out that the Force Manual Davion book has been released and the Force Manual Kurita book is due out any time. For those who are just getting into A/S, the Force Manual series gives an overview of an entire houses military units, along with specific guidelines for fielding forces from those units and special A/S rules for them. Well worth getting imho and long overdue.

[Cat]

There are many versions of each mech as they evolve through the ages and gather bling.  For sanity's sake, I just stick with 4th Succession War.  The 3030 Raven RVN-2X is just a straight up nice 35-tonner.

[HerbertTarkel]

I so badly want to go back to Battletech; it’s SO CONFUSING and so many books out of print now.
I have very fond memories of FASA 1980s - and wish Catalyst had that same fire?

[Rick]

That is one of the great strength's of Battletech - you can pick up a rulebook from the 80's and use it against someone playing with the current rulebook (aside from just checking the physical attack target numbers which may have changed). The current rulebook is basically just a streamlined version of the same rules we've always used, with a few minor tweaks and extra weapons to reflect advancing technology. I'm still using the FanPro Master set rules and my rulebook is completely up-to-date, albeit published quite some time ago! I don't think the record sheets or mech designs have changed - the original designs in the first set are the same 'classic' versions in use today, there are just a lot more variants and new mechs to choose from.

[Maniac]

I've also been playing since Battledroids, and another big vote in favour of BattleTech Alpha Strike.  This is the fast-play version we needed 25 years ago for quick lance v. lance games and even handles company or battalion engagements very nicely in an afternoon.

 

We've done several multiple battalion battles, and that is really what Alpha Strike does well.  The last time we played was a battalion a player plus infantry, tank, vtol, and aerospace support.

At that level you want to activate a whole lance at a time rather than a model at a time, but it was still enjoyed by all 6 players.  We didn't tough on too many special rules such as C3 or special munitions, but it played just fine.  Took about 3+ hours.

[Maniac]

That is one of the great strength's of Battletech - you can pick up a rulebook from the 80's and use it against someone playing with the current rulebook (aside from just checking the physical attack target numbers which may have changed). The current rulebook is basically just a streamlined version of the same rules we've always used, with a few minor tweaks and extra weapons to reflect advancing technology. I'm still using the FanPro Master set rules and my rulebook is completely up-to-date, albeit published quite some time ago! I don't think the record sheets or mech designs have changed - the original designs in the first set are the same 'classic' versions in use today, there are just a lot more variants and new mechs to choose from.

I think the other very strong draw is the massive customization system.  You are not even slightly limited to the published units.  Want a PPC equipped Raven, rock on with the unit design rules.  That was, for me, one of the key drivers for CBT.  I could strip the mgs off the battlemaster, slap on extra heat sinks, and wreck total havoc.

[HerbertTarkel]

Temptation got the better of me.

Ordered Alpha Strike and Clan Invasion.

No idea what I’m doing, but I went with “those toys look cool” rule. 

[Rick]

It was the A/S commanders edition, wasn't it? That's the revised and upgraded version with the latest version of the rules in it, which is what you'll want.
The other good news is that there is an online resource called the 'Master Unit List' which has record cards for pretty much every battlemech, vehicle, fighter and infantry unit you can imagine.

[HerbertTarkel]

It was the A/S commanders edition, wasn't it? That's the revised and upgraded version with the latest version of the rules in it, which is what you'll want.
The other good news is that there is an online resource called the 'Master Unit List' which has record cards for pretty much every battlemech, vehicle, fighter and infantry unit you can imagine.

Again … SOOOOO CONFUSING! No, it’s just “Alpha Strike”.

I feel like I can’t win at Battletech. At least the mechs will be fun to paint…