Battletech a Game of Armored Combat Box Set Review
I've been piloting a 'mech since my oldest son, lovingly known as Derp, was in diapers. Since he'southward about to have his driving examination, he'southward been out of diapers for several years now, and since he grew up with these minis he loves them too.
For a long time, our family and friends take played with old technical manuals and game mechanics that weren't always super clear. While we love the game, we felt an update was in guild.
Enter Catalyst Labs. Information technology is no small feat to take a well-loved game with a vocal and loyal following, and resurrect information technology in such a manner that not only is information technology accustomed and enjoyed by its veterans but also easily adopted by new players. Luckily for us, they have provided multiple ways to begin your playing experience, including 2 new box sets.
Why Should I Play BattleTech?
When yous strip away everything else, BattleTech is a tabletop mini wargame. Yous could lump it in with a host of other games, but what drew me to BattleTech is the flexibility of the game. Nearly every aspect of information technology is take-it-or-leave-it. Exercise you want to have a MechWarrior graphic symbol who pilots your 'mechs? Sweet! Here'due south a character sheet. Only desire to catch a mini and run effectually kicking the teeth in of other 'mechs? Awesome! Here'southward a handy bill of fare for you. Want to spend hours customizing your 'mech'south loadout for your personal mode of play? Groovy! Here's some technical readouts.Some gamers take played the tabletop game for years with a standard build or a standard character, and that'due south great too.
Want to immerse yourself in the BattleTech universe by reading every ounce of fluff and lore? Hither's a huge stack of novels for you to read. Like painting 'mechs? Neat, none of these minis come up with paint on them. Hate painting 'mechs? That's absurd too, the detail on the plastic by itself is just fine for many. Want to take your tabletop gaming to the digital earth? Cool, Harebrained Schemes put together a fantastic video game. Have you played the digital games in whatever of their many incarnations, merely want to try playing with the minis? Nosotros've got you covered. All are welcome hither.
Why Does BattleTech Have Two Box Sets?
Strictly speaking, I think BattleTech is best played with the BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat box set. Most veteran players would likely agree; however, not everyone is a veteran player. I really capeesh Catalyst Games' recognition of the demand for something a little easier to grasp, and that's where the BattleTech: Beginner Box comes in particularly handy. We played a game with the Beginner Box, and I noted that without some of the more than complex concepts like internal structure, oestrus, and critical hits the game not but went a little faster just was as well easier to empathize. Bringing those concepts in subsequently is excellent strategy for new players.
The Beginner Box isn't just for newbies, though. Opening this box was an experience filled with nostalgia and elicited cheers from the seasoned players clustered around me. For anyone who beginning played BattleTech with the cardboard standees, you lot're in luck. This prepare is a gem of excellent artwork and playability. We took the time, as years before, to seal those exposed cardboard edges with super glue out of a decades old addiction, and those several minutes were filled with reminiscing. We shared stories of our favorite MechWarriors, and my eyes glazed over a few times as they discussed lore I've never quite gotten to. I bemoaned the fact that I don't take the fantastic Association tech that I demand to "properly" field my Phoenix Hawk while eyes all effectually me rolled in unison.
At a mere twenty dollars, the Beginner Box is well suited to help any thespian get started or get back into the game. Eventually though, someone who enjoys BattleTech and wants to continue playing will desire the BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat box and the technical readouts from various eras.
BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat is a more fully immersive gaming feel from the showtime. The rulebook is more comprehensive (though yet not equally complete as the Total Warfare volume) and the Reference Sheets are amazing, mounted on paper-thin stock and incredibly useful.
The box sets are remarkably similar, just differ in quantity, multifariousness, and complication. A comparing:
Practice I Need More than Than the Box Set?
You can play BattleTech with nothing more than than a box set, but role of the joy of BattleTech is how much you tin can choose to practise. Catalyst Games has developed or reintroduced several different resources to brand the game more than enjoyable for anybody.
Whether you're new to BattleTech or have a bin of quondam schoolhouse 'mechs in your attic, here is the gild of items recommended for your adventure:
- BattleTech: Beginner Box
- BattleTech: A Game of Armored Gainsay
- Total Warfare
- Chaos Entrada
- Anarchy Campaign: Succession Wars (Non Nevertheless RELEASED)
- Technical Readout: Succession Wars
- Record Sheets: Succession Wars
- Map Set: Grasslands or BattleMat (Author'southward preference would be ii BattleMats)
- BattleMech Transmission
If you're completely new to the game, yous can learn more at Catalyst's New To BattleTech folio.
What Is the Point of the Stuff Beyond the BattleTech Box Sets?
BattleTech has many aspects, and the box sets tin can only incorporate and then much. A modular approach makes the near sense for players also as the designers, because and so people can play how they want with the parts of the game they feel suits them the most.
Total Warfare is the truthful dominion volume for playing BattleTech. While the box sets include some quick start rules, Total Warfare includes all the more than complex rules, from oestrus generation and dissipation to critical hits, falling, jumping, sliding, Death From Higher up jumps, and much more than. Nosotros recommend starting with the quick rules in the box sets for anyone new to the game, simply veterans will capeesh the Full Warfare rules overhaul. Total Warfare does bear on about every aspect of the game. The BattleMech Manual introduces advanced technologies, especially Clan related, and a host of rules options well beyond the box sets, but is strictly for BattleMech information.
BattleTech is super flexible equally a gaming system, but sometimes it'due south prissy to accept a campaign to follow. The Chaos Campaign is a complimentary PDF available to walk players through such a campaign. It showcases BattleTech's flexibility and allows for a multitude of gratuitous resources to help yous pattern the kind of campaign y'all and your fellow Mechwarriors want to play.
Catalyst makes downloadable information readily available which is helpful for players. Catalyst recognized the need for complimentary printable information and reference cards, and came through for the fans. There's fifty-fifty a gratis primer for How the Core Rulebooks Work!
Not all BattleMechs are created equal, and not all MechWarriors desire their 'mech to have stock equipment. The Technical Readout: Succession Wars is a fantastic resource for 'mech information and gives a 'mech mechanic the information they need before adjusting a loadout. We were pleasantly surprised to run into that it has a similar style to the old TROs we still take lying around, albeit with some updated information.
In social club to have a battle that works inside in the confines of BattleTech rules, one must play on a hex map. Any old hex map would probably do, simply BattleTech maps have extra information on them that is particularly useful. Nosotros recently tested the newest release, the BattleMat. Currently exclusive to Goad's online store, these BattleMats are the perfect size for running the Beginner Box fix cardboard standees confronting each other without too much crowding or too much space between opposing sides. Our plan is to get one more BattleMat so that we tin quickly roll out a sturdy, less-slippery boxing surface. The price is corking compared to other neoprene hex maps as well, and being dual sided makes this an even greater deal.
What Is the GATOR Firing Concept?
BattleTech continues to utilize the ii six-sided dice (2d6) system it has since its inception. In an try to enhance that organization, Catalyst labs released a new acronym for to-hit calculations with the latest sets, and I like it because despite playing for over 15 years, I have never had an easy fourth dimension agreement how to determine the rolls I need. Every single shooting phase, I've had to look up every single aspect to consider, and even then often failed to remember everything I needed to add together or subtract. With the GATOR acronym, I plant myself quickly being able to come up with the dice rolls I needed to hit.
Chiliad: Gunnery skill. Base pilots showtime out at 4. It's possible to improve your pilot, and therefore lower your gunnery skill number, making the target number for your hit easier to scroll.
A: Attacker movement. If you walked, ran, or jumped, this will touch on how piece of cake it is for yous to hitting your target.
T: Target movement. You lot need a higher roll the more than hexes your target has moved.
O: Other modifiers, such equally terrain and heat, affect your accurateness as well.
R: Range modifiers. If you're in short range, yous won't need to change, but medium and long range for each weapon comes with a modifier to your attack roll.
The GATOR acronym helps me so much, I can't imagine playing without information technology anymore. A mnemonic similar this would have been nice a decade ago!
Is BattleTech History and Lore Important?
BattleTech lore is just as important as you lot want. Catalyst made basic Inner Sphere history super accessible with primers included in both box sets. If the mere mention of the Inner Sphere piques your curiosity, then I imagine the lore is a role of your experience. Y'all can detect lots of historical information floating around the internet at sites similar Sarna.net, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. Battletech has been effectually for a long time.
Veteran Mechwarriors tin can appreciate that the lore they know and love still exists as they remember it. In fact, Catalyst has many of the out of print novels on a re-release schedule in addition to creating new lore to supplement it. The conscientious treatment of dearest art, fiction, history, and playstyles is one reason I think Catalyst has done correct past Battletech.
Is BattleTech Worth the Investment?
BattleTech is my absolute favorite tabletop miniature game and has been for years. When Catalyst labs gave me the opportunity to see what they've done with the game, I jumped at it and am so glad I did.
If you've played in the past but put downward your 'mechs for other things, this is the perfect time to dust them off and get back in the fight, Mechwarrior! If y'all still take your hex maps, they're the aforementioned size and in fact I'grand pretty certain we already had one of the maps that came in the boxes.
Need more than convincing? Visit the Catalyst Games BattleTech website and take a look through the various pages. Information technology's easy to navigate and makes it super clear that no thing how you want to play BattleTech, you're going to take support and resources.
In the long run, BattleTech is worth the investment to me. It's far less expensive than a full army game like Warhammer 40K with an every bit deep well of excellent lore to draw from, and its flexibility for different play styles makes it a favorite amid all of our gamer friends. If you are even a little bit interested in miniature tabletop gaming, I call back you'll similar it too.
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Disclosure: GeekDad received a copy of this game for review purposes.
Source: https://geekdad.com/2019/03/back-to-the-table-with-a-new-battletech/
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