Getting started with Battletech: what to buy first and what to expect.
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- Опубликовано: 22 апр 2023
- Today's stream of consciousness brought to you because there's a lot of resources and boxes to choose from in Battletech. If you want to play this game, it might be nice to have some advice.
In the interest of not being a damn fool, I just now realised that I neglected to notify that the Locust is in both the ACOAG box and the Alpha Strike Starterbox. They are visibly different variants, if that matters. 
Игры
As somebody who has recently gotten into battletech through lore and is now branching into the game itself; your guide has been incredibly helpful with what to start with. You've earned yourself a subscriber Hellkite.
Know that I am only one, tangent-prone, guy. Your mileage will of course vary and other guides are out there, but thank you kindly, my good man!
As an old Wizkids Mechwarrior player I can say this vid helped me a lot to finally get seriously into BT
I hope to help many more as well! Thank you for the endorsement!
as an old fasa.... lol nm just for the laughs, we were in convesions of 500 ppl paying one map.. there was a grip in a harness Over the map moving thmecha insane how big the map was, 60 by 4 feet or something.... not to mention camping 7 days to complete the match SOMETIMES lol
@@hellkitestudioslooking forward to more battletech videos in the future!
to keep it simple, the book 'total warfare' by CGL gives you all the rules to use mechs, vehicles, battle armor, vtol, Aerospace, artillery, infantry and so much more. the only other book you might want is the 'tech manual'. it has all the rules to make your own mechs, vehicles etc.
the box sets are nice and they have some mini's and maps. but if you have a traditional gaming table, 2 6-sided dice, paper and pencil, you only really need the battletech total warfare book. everything else adds to the game, but isn't necessary.
I've gotten back into Battletech after stopping playing in the mid '90s. Mostly due to the HBS Battletech game (and mods) and 3D printing. I even play Alpha Strike with my young nephew.
A new generation of enthusiastic players. Glad to see the extent of the revival.
I even signed up for the Mercenaries Kickstarter (despite not generally being a fan of the platform) and so I'll have those Vehicle/Combined arms options next year some time (supposedly). With the 3D printing and Catalysts new minis, I already have a massive unpainted mountain of shame with more mechs than I'm ever possibly going to need (even for Alpha Strike). Biggest issue with the 3D printing and old Ironwind models is the scale inaccuracies (I know it doesn't really matter, but it always irked me).Something Catalyst has mostly done right with the new plastic minis.
Reading through the "new" (ie after 1998) TROs and some of the lore now. Still haven't played past 3067 mind you.
I just started alpha strike and it’s really fun. If you’re like a grown man and have not much time, I can recommend. Also the rules are so easy, it’s also accessible for non-tabletop people and children in my opinion.
Solid overview, and good looking out for some common beginner pitfalls.
I am new to BT and keen to learn so your video is great for the books you really need and I certainly hope that you do one for Alpha Strike.. Keep up the good work!
just started playing, great vid. i picked up the alpha strike for the value
you have gained my sub sir thank you for your service
Very nice guide. Thank you mate 👍.
Thank you, this is exactly the info I was looking for.
Glad it was helpful!
Congrats on the new microphone) The sound quality is top-notch
great video, I have not played BattleTech since early 2000s. I was looking to get back into it but did not know where to start.
I am brand new to BattleTech. I just got the Essentials box from Target, and I am planning on getting the Alpha Strike. I just would like to say that if I decide to get into Classic BattleTech, it will way down the road. For me, Alpha Strike is fine. Thank you.
I had been wanting to look at Battletech for awhile and strolling through Target one day I saw that Essentials box and picked it up. I was pretty disappointed to learn it was a cut down version of the game, but it was enough to whet my appetite to research it for real, and thus I'm here :D
Not too sure about getting into the table top. Im dumping my cash into a high end Windows 98 laptop for Mechawarrior 2 Mercenaries.
I played Battletech with a friend of mine in middleschool and we used his models and terrain. That was back in the 90s and I will have to build and paint a few just to see if it sparks something.
Everyone's gotta start somewhere, and this is where I see SO many people say they did. Good choice
Have you tried getting then running in Dosbox?
Okay this will actually be useful. I never got to play back in the 90s because my parents didn't want me spending the money on all the miniatures, etc. Instead I devoured every single Battletech and mechwarrior novel that was out there (usually from the library but also saved up for the bookstore). Sort of drifted away when wizkids took over and started the whole dark age thing, but recently got interested in trying out the actual game now that my money is my money and I can splurge on what I want
thank you for sharing your wisdom I can now find references i can not find otherwise
Apparently the big guide picture was made for r/battletech, but I lifted it from the helm memory core discord.
There are many more sites you could try, but the ones I've had the best results from have been listed.
Iron Wind Metals are good, but they sell metal which I have less love for than plastic as I like to cut into and mod my mechs.
Thank you. This was helpful
Great vid! Just getting into Battletech/ Mech Warrior from a long hiatus and only were into the pc games, I got main set but also the Vidicator B.B set. I tought it was an old version. And yeah, the Griffin lacks hardpoints, hardcore-mode/ stock challenge mech 😂
Just got into the hobby and I’m cooking up about a full regiment (100+) 3d prints right now. Im about halfway through. There are a lot of excellent quality files out there for free.
Excellent. Well deserved like and subscription.
Get the Clan Fire Star and Command Star and you'll have a nice little binary with a good mix of long range lights mediums heavies and assaults at reasonable battle values, suitable for fighting freebirths.
Clan 'mechs first!? TEN MILLION YEARS DUNGEON
NO TRIAL
"your normal friend" 🤣
Thank you I just started getting into the game and just bought the battle tech essential box and wanted to see what else I could get from the older sets or just info on getting my tcg group into playing it together 6 players.
I have enjoyed reading the lore and history of the BT universe, yet I've never got into the actual game, with or without minis. I flicked though the rules are thought it just looked too complicated and overwhelming. I've been a fan of many mini games for a long time though, but the old sculpts of the mechs never grabbed me.
Maybe with the new nicer minis it's time for me to think about getting some.
Gotta start with a Jenner though :D
Another way to get models is to find old Mechwarrior clicks.
Find the old Mechwarrior Companion, buy the source books for 3025 and 3050 and then ignore everything that happens after 3062. Buy a pair of d6s, some old record sheets and find joy.
Brilliant and concise vid thank you for sharing your knowlage and experience
Played BT like 30 years ago and my friends and me had everything that was on the market. I wonder if so many new rules and stuff came out since then... or if the huge amount of boxes is just modern marketing; divide and cash in.
No, it isn't modern marketing.
The old rulebooks from back in the day are similar to the battlemech manual, but it contains more equipment and rules, and no construction.
Total warfare replaced 3 different rulebooks with one, as it has rules for vehicles, infantry, protomechs, battle armor, aerospace, support vehicles... yeah.
At the same time, there are fairly few core rule changes from back in the day. The biggest ones are a change in how partial cover works, changes to charge/dfa, and a massive overhaul of infantry and vehicle damage.
The boxes you see here are not required, you could jump in with total warfare or the battlemech manual, and then some minis, and a mapsheet pack / neoprene map (or you can use no-hex rules, which are also in both rulebooks if you have wargamer terrain already)
@@TenkawaBC Thanks!
Just curious, but with the beginner boxes, is there anything else different between the two other than the one mech?
I want to believe that shipping cost is for an actual usps carrier to hop on a plane and hand deliver the package to you (return flight included in shipping cost)
I have the old box of battletech third edition. 1604. It has 14 mech models inside with a 16 page book of pre generated battlemech record sheets. I also have The hardback battletech compendium rules of warfare.
What new box should i go for?
Great vid 👍
Battletech is a game you can play with a copy of the rules, and two mechs. You can get buy the 1990's fasa rules copy. Vehicles rules changed a little but that is about it. Chart makers are online. So can swap weapons as you wish.
Hey man, this guide has been fantastic for someone like me wanting to get into the game but have no clue where to start. I do have one question though, what's the difference between the total warfare book and the battle mech manual? (Not the techmanual)
I've looked at reviews of them but in my eyes they seem to have the same content just presented differently. I fell like I'm missing something.
In the video I do briefly go over it, but even MORE briefly:
Battletech manual only goes over the ways to play with a few 'mechs against a few 'mechs... but it does include some advanced rules for deeper play.
Total Warfare is how to play with everything but only on the basic level.
Interesting , Thank you . Even though I have played Battle Teck since about 1996? , and have a pretey descent collection there were several I have never seen. I even Remember the BattleTeck cartoon So glad that it's on U tube . I do miss FASA . Battle Teck on Pc is fun the mods are fun High Landers Rule ,
I've never seen or seen mention that Reenforcememt box set. I suppose due to it being only standees.
Probably it.
Well i see the battletech universe is as expansive as ever! Ive been looking into Battletech again. Last time i played was 3rd edition when FASA still owned it. This video helped. I was just at my LGS and got Alpha Strike and battleforce book. a good buy and bad buy i suppose. Is there no Aerotech and Battlespace anymore? Aerotech was freaking awesome. Battlespace not so much.
There is a retaliation pack that has the first beginner mechs and the agoac mechs.
Beginner box is not optional. It is the only way to get the map that comes with it, and the Griffin and the Vindicator miniatures.
which is what I said. You don't NEED those things, but if you want them that box is the only way to get them
I have The books FASA put out and a LOT of the OLD minis!
Is Battleforce just comprised of Alpha Strike units in formations groups, represented as single Elements? Or is SBF using a different construction rule? It's very appealing to me, as even a 4 on 4 mech fight takes so very long that introducing Support makes you wither.
do i need the tech manual for rules on like, cost and time to repair and refit mechs with different weapons
If I wanted to play an RPG with my friends would I just need BattleTech a time of war/Mech warrior destiny. Or will I need additional books other than those
I know I’ll need something to play on and models.
I found out about the kickstarter 2 days after it ended. I was excited to try it and get a good kickstarter deal 😢
Continue to follow the campaign - you'll be able to make late pledges soon.
2:06 Despite having played the 2018 video game I'm struggling to get the hang of things as my first table top. Beginner Box has certainly been a bit helpful.
Not seen that Reinforcement box before. Can't find out now, either.
Just got back into this recently and bought the armored combat box and the clan box. There are still some weapons and equipment however, that aren't covered in either of those, like LBX and ultra AC etc. Wondering if there's another box that I'm missing?
The clan box expanded rulebook would've had LBX and UAC rules, I'm sure of it. They don't have regular autocannons.
If not, then it's the realm of the total war book
Excellent effort on the current state of affairs, covered the basics right away then went deep for those that want more. Is this the first of an annual series?
I'm trying to upload frequently but things are taking my time for the next few weeks. Eventually I'll be making vids explaining tricks of the trade in each phase etc.
As well as possibly guides on the new stuff as it comes out, as well as what to look for when it comes to 3d printing
@@hellkitestudios hello there ... by "annual series" I didn't mean to question your output, rather to say this solid this solid video could be revisited in the future, as products and their availability change
Now if only I could get any of these in physical form.
so quick question, where do i find warship drop ship etc construction rules? thanks
even with some of their releases, I prefer some of the random 3d printed minis. I believe in a free open economy. and luckily, so does cgl and battletech!!😉😊
but what is this about cgl not making any money on their miniatures?!??!🤔 I understand they are licensed through Topps, but upon paying their license fees, I think they get the remainder, no?🤨
Not "not making any" money on minis, but the profit margins that don't go straight to Topps is more for the books. This is also more of their own work that doesn't necessarily NEED their parent company to produce.
Or at least, I have heard things to this effect. If I am wrong, then I am wrong.
love you
Get the 2nd edition beginner box just because I's the only way to get a Vindicator and basic Gryphon. It's a bad value compared to ither boxes, but those are two great medium mechs with a lot of faction flavor.1
...What if I have no clue what a Griffin or Vindicator are? Should I get the beginner box then?😉
Half of my mechs are 3D printed, I have the official models and the 3D printed versions on the table at the same time!
BattleTech is a miniatures agnostic game, so there's no requirement to use official models.
can you play battletech solo? are there campaigns/missions/ custom loadouts? can i use the normal edition (a game of armored combat) for that?
You can always develop a split personality to play solo. ^_°
Kidding aside. There are solo rules in development. I played the prototype at some point and it looks promesing. No release date yet sadly.
There are tons of Campaings and Mission as well as rules to create them.
For custom loadouts there are rules and can surely be created. Note that a lot of people don't like playing with them as they tend to be very meta and end up beeing all the same... boring.
The rules in "A Game for armored combat" I think cover all the rules you need in the beginning. I think campaing creating rules are in another book.
Can't realy say as I tend to just create my own stuff and not use those specific rules.
16:55 That looks like Imperial Outpost in Phoenix, AZ
Played the Battletech PC game, decided to mod it recently and was like wow vehicles and battle armor. Now I printed tanks and vtols.... I cannot find full record sheets. Where can I find them please help? Do I have to build them in megamek or something?
IIRC MegaMek even provides tons of units as a seperate download.
Man, they cheaped out on the cardboard standies. The FASA boxes had every playable mech in multiples when they released.
Grant it I haven't played Battletech tabletop since somewhere in the mid to late eighties but you'd think whomever owns it now would've stuck to that concept.
Hopefully the current license holders don't want to be the next Games Workshop.
(just noticed this is an old video, but hey it was in my recommended so here I am...)
Yeah I guess I could just not 3d print my mechs, not be able to afford a lance, and just not play. I'm sure that's WAY better for Catalyst when I just don't even play and support the community lol. Even if someone were to 4Chan and print proxies for all their stuff, the alternative to that for them is overwhelmingly to just not do that thing. if they had a fat bank account, it's almost always easier to just buy things and not go on a huge treasure hunt for PDFs hidden away in secret corners of the web. You do you friends, more people in a hobby is ALWAYS better, don't let sad people gatekeep fun
Does anyone know where to find the rules for special weapons like pulse lasers, AMS's, targeting computers, NARC's, ART 4 missles, etc...? I found some free pdf's with mech that have items like this, but do not know where to find the rules for these items. If someone could tell me the rules for them, or point me in the right direction, that would be amazing. I have the battletech game of armored combat and begginer box.
The "BattleMech Manual 7th print" covers a lot of the new tech. Not this only has rules for Mech to Mech combat in it but is easier to read then the following.
When you want to expand to tanks, infantry, etc. then I would look into getting "Total Warfare". Its a bit older but still the most complete and complex of the rule box.
I got the old cardboard mechs in the 80s.i liked those ones better.i am happy they're making plastic ones i don't have on cardboard.i don't liked metal ones
I laughed at "normal friend" I wouldn't try this with a normie. Just a funny acknowledgement of the fact that no one watching this is normal. 😂
Is it true this game is much more affordable and less time consuming to build/paint and maintain an Army then Warhammer 40k? I made a big pivot to Killteam now (Skirmish spin-off of 40k) and looking to make the switch from big 40k to this as my main Wargame.
It is. If you can get a good lance that you like, it only takes 4 machines to play. Maps can be hex-grid or just play Alpha Strike with simpler rules and any kind of terrain you want (paper shapes, 3d-printed or styrofoam, etc.). Sure you might spend like $100-200 to get the right combo from box sets, but in 40k that's barely a combat patrol.
@@hellkitestudios Very interesting thank you
Would you recommend Alpha Strike or Vanilla Battletech for a 40Kish player?
Alpha Strike is much closer in the rules to 40k. That being said I am not a 40k player, just quoting a friend who is.
As for what to get, I would say it depends on what experiance you want.
Alpha Strike is more simple and allows bigger armies on the table as it is played faster.
Battletech. It takes a bit more effort to get into. Lots of tables and charts and fewer units BUT its rules are incredible flexible.
You can use the basic rules to just go mech to mech and have a fun time or you can start to add more and more rules and you can choose whatever you like.
There aren't just mechs. You can have infantry, tanks, VTOL, Battlearmor, mechs, dropships, air-space fighters and so on.
Want to fight in a city? There are rules to create building and to tear them down in style.
Low gravity? Yah there is a rule for that too and more.
Pick the complexety you like and just have fun creating your won scenarios.
Also its just so satisfying to dismember your enemy piece by piece. Every mech is kinda lika a complete troop of people in 40k. Armor, internel structure, systems to be damaged and ton of different weapon systems all in one figure.
It also has two rules I like so much over other games. First of "You hit a target then its hit" no defance diece to ruin your perfect shot.
Secondly, damage is done at the same time. No more "I shot first and now I have won the game".
18:00 Heck, 3rd party retailers I've seen can get the shipping rates (importing fee included) around the same price of the merchandise. How can Catalyst games even manage to get them TWICE that?!
lol my box has the original warhammer...... indeed the origal box came with a griffin... warhawk phoenix hawk...... locust ... battlemaster.. blah blah all plastic.. but I have over 1000 mech readouts of the 1200 some out there
I wanna go balls deep but I haven’t gotten anything yet. I’m a Wargamer of 20 years but somehow never really took notice of battle tech I wanna change that.
3D printing my whole clan, it works for me.
And then you have me, a Mercenary who loves to field both Clan and Inner Sphere mechs and paint them up as my own custom scheme, pissing off both Clanners and the Loyalists. The only Clan I like is Clan Sea Fox which I constantly buy mechs from them.
I've got a mixed lance that's run by a bunch of filthy pirates who somehow won their stuff in a batchall and now imitate clanners with lots of ignorance about their actual culture, it's nonsense but a pretty fun excuse to paint my mechs however the hell I want :')
"The beginner box is useful for teaching your child or normal friends how to play"
i loled at "normal" vs a child.
My brain have stopped tracking right after Alpha strike... Really, why not to make one book with everything like: basics, advanced rules etc...
Anyway, nice video!
Would you really want such a massive (and likely expensive) tome if you're not going to actually _use_ most of these options?
Alpha Strike isn't "additional rules" on top of basic BT - think of it as an alternate mode of play.
Battlemech Manual and some dice and pens and paper is all you NEED really. That gives you all tournament 'mech rules and you can just proxy everything else you want.
The box sets are just different collections of easy to digest rules.
At least you don't need a different book for each faction (cough 40k cough).
I'm new here
"your normal friend" lol. Are we still in the 80s?
Given that every single "Gaming" themed thing uses late 80s Chiptunes and 16-bit pixel-art graphics... maybe yes?
seems like that archive is down :(
This makes me kick myself for selling off all my books and minis from the 90s. 😢😢
But TRO don't have any rules.
Some do for the new gear that got introduced in them. It's nothing on the main rulebooks, but if it's beyond total war-tier they tend to explain themselves
@@hellkitestudios bro, no the newest catalyst series only refers to the book where you can find the rules
Then that's an important distinction to make, and you are right. Good catch.
@Hellkite Studios the original FASA series of TROs had alot of rules in them. this was because they were introducing a lot of new equipment in them. at this point, CGL doesn't need to put those rules into their version of the TROs.
😂 small spoiler if you have a 3D printer you can print most of these by the way you find a lot of them on STL finder😂 why even buy a box
"If you're on a budget..."
If that's the case, TTGs might not be for you
To be fair. 100USD will get you everything you need and more to play tournament level Battletech.
No need to drop 500 on an army to be competitive, and proxying is written into the rules.
But tanks are coming with the latest Kickstarter next year when they ship
What to expect? An old out-of-date rules set that forgets that players are actually supposed to have fun while playing?
Right? I think I'll just stick to playing MechWarrior.
I'm not a fan of Classic Battletech, but I'm all in for Alpha Strike. It's much closer to the complexity of the clix game, and you have the choice of using a hex map or free movement with rulers
I gotta say touching grass sounds nice but Battletech has no french translation and therefore nobody wants to sell them here, a shame
Just skip the classic game entirely. It is more of a board game that feels more like an old SSI game. Alpha Strike is a skirmish wargame and much more satisfying for people who have the need to play the game more and enjoy the notion of scenery.
wrong opinion
I'm glad Alpha Strike exists, but no way is it a substitute. Management of weaponry, systems and heat essentially does not exist in AS when compared to Classic.
Classic is beautiful, but not for everyone. Alpha Strike exists for a reason.