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Howdy! I don't know about you guys, but I've always loved giant robots. I played Battletech and the Mechwarrior games quite a bit as a kid, but haven't really seen much of them in a long time. However, a 25th anniversary starter set is dropping at the end of March:
http://battletech.catalystgamelabs.com/2011/02/26/25th-introductory-box-set-street-date-also-available-for-pre-order/

The following product has a Street Date of MARCH 30TH, 2011:


BattleTech 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set ($49.95)

Strap yourself into the ultimate suit of armor: the BattleMech. Thirty feet tall and weighing up to a hundred tons, this humanoid engine of destruction is a walking arsenal with enough firepower to level a city block. The BattleTech game system takes you into the world of the 31st Century, where war has become a way of life. You are a MechWarrior. You are in command of the most powerful machine on the battlefield, and hold the fate of empires in your hand!

The BattleTech 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set thrusts you onto the battlefields of the 31st century. This box contains everything needed to play:

24 unpainted, ready-to-play plastic BattleMech minis
2 unpainted, premium-quality plastic BattleMech minis
One 12-page full-color quick-start rulebook will have players into the action in minutes
36-page book of pre-generated BattleMech Record Sheets
One 80-page full-color rulebook
Inner Sphere at a Glance, a 56-page full-color book of universe
background and BattleMech technical data

One 16-page full-color Painting and Tactics Guide
Two heavy-duty cards of compiled tables
Two 18″ x 24″ game-board quality maps
It’s been a long wait for this much anticipated return of the best-selling Introductory Box Set to the perennial BattleTech game line. With product in transit to the warehouse, the wait for the best version yet of the box set is almost over!

After asking on the official forums, the set is confirmed to have the following mechs:

COM-2D Commando
SDR-5V Spider
JR7-D Jenner
PNT-9R Panther
ASN-21 Assassin
CDA-2A Cicada
CLNT-2-3T Clint
HER-2S Hermes II
WTH-1 Whitworth
VND-1R Vindicator
ENF-4R Enforcer
HBK-4G Hunchback
TBT-5N Trebuchet
DV-6M Dervish
DRG-1N Dragon
QKD-4G Quickdraw
CPLT-C1 Catapult
JM6-S JagerMech
GHR-5H Grasshopper
AWS-8Q Awesome
ZEU-6S Zeus
CP-10-Z Cyclops
BNC-3E Banshee
AS7-D Atlas
Thor
Loki

The Thor and Loki are the premium mechs if I recall, and will have swappable arms. Unfortunately, there's no Madcat/Timberwolf in here, as it's always been one of my favorites. Most of the plastics from this set are from the previous Battletech starter, so they won't be of Assault on Black Reach quality, they'll be servicable. Either way, it's two companies worth of battlemechs for $50 plus all kinds of other cool stuff, so I can't complain!

That is the hawtness. Just wish my old Battletech group was still around to play with. Wish there were better pics of the models.

Well, for just 50 bucks you can probably get some friends into it. Just pool your money to get it, or buy it yourself and let your buddies play with your models.

Now that is a tempting buy.

That might have just turned into a must purchase because of the free PDFs about the Rules and Background. I've been interested in checking out BattleTech, and that definitely stoked my interest further. Other companies would be wise to use a similar strategy.

What an incredible let down. This is just a rehash of the last box set with very little in the way of new and interesting product. Catalyst is really doing very little to gain market share in the mini wargaming community. A intro box set that basically only caters to the existing player base is kind pointless, IMO. How about more of those new premium mechs, not just a repackaging of the 2 that are already available. Catalyst has had 2 years to make a decent 8-10 pack set of the new Premium Plastic mechs and they have done nothing with it. To top it of IWM is archiving more models and making very little in the way of new mech. Battletech is really showing its age, and don't expect to ever see a 30 year anniversary for the game.

Looks cool but I woulda liked to see worthwhile pics of the minis, painted of course.

Awww, no Madcat.

Not played in years. Might pick this up and get the kids interested.

Awesome!

eh... the same overly complex rules and simplistic looking minis that kept me from playing the game 20 years ago when i got excited because of the comutergames rereleased to the same effect now. battletech needs to spin off a completely different game with non-compatible rules and minis that have no visual relationship to the current ones for me to sink money into the system.

warboss wrote:eh... the same overly complex rules and simplistic looking minis that kept me from playing the game 20 years ago when i got excited because of the comutergames rereleased to the same effect now. battletech needs to spin off a completely different game with non-compatible rules and minis that have no visual relationship to the current ones for me to sink money into the system.

They did with the clix game they had. They were even in a different scale.

I still have the original boxed set, with the old Warhammer (taken from Robotech) on it.

Battle Tech is such an awesome game. You can learn to play it in 30 minutes, and the rules are never in dispute. GW could learn a thing or 2 from this game.

Brother SRM wrote:

warboss wrote:eh... the same overly complex rules and simplistic looking minis that kept me from playing the game 20 years ago when i got excited because of the comutergames rereleased to the same effect now. battletech needs to spin off a completely different game with non-compatible rules and minis that have no visual relationship to the current ones for me to sink money into the system.

They did with the clix game they had. They were even in a different scale.

true.. i didn't think of that as i consider the prepainted plastics as totally separate. maybe they should make some metal more detailed versions of those and incorporate them into battletech?

Anyone know where I might pick this up in the UK.....used to love Battletech!

Lovepug13 wrote:Anyone know where I might pick this up in the UK.....used to love Battletech!

I'm sure they ship to the UK; can't think of any reason they wouldn't!

Was hoping to pick it up local lol .....I am going to Florida soon so may pick it up then :-)

I am fairly excited about this as well (mentioned previously here), and anticipate getting a set at some point.

However, since this is actually the 27th anniversary, why not just wait for a 30th edition, and keep printing the previous box until then?

warboss wrote:eh... the same overly complex rules and simplistic looking minis that kept me from playing the game 20 years ago when i got excited because of the comutergames rereleased to the same effect now. battletech needs to spin off a completely different game with non-compatible rules and minis that have no visual relationship to the current ones for me to sink money into the system.

Battletech has some of the best fluff I've run across; if you like beer and pretzel sci-fi, this is where to look. The mechs look boxy and simplistic because... wait for it... THEY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE WAR MACHINES. I love 40k, but sometimes a dose of asthetic realism is refreshing.

Also, these "overly complex rules" don't need errata/FAQ/fist-fights like GW rules do, and the fact that they've made it 25 years must mean something good. I started wargaming with Battletech when I was 8, so it clearly can't be too tough

NecronLord3 wrote:What an incredible let down. This is just a rehash of the last box set with very little in the way of new and interesting product. Catalyst is really doing very little to gain market share in the mini wargaming community. A intro box set that basically only caters to the existing player base is kind pointless, IMO. How about more of those new premium mechs, not just a repackaging of the 2 that are already available. Catalyst has had 2 years to make a decent 8-10 pack set of the new Premium Plastic mechs and they have done nothing with it. To top it of IWM is archiving more models and making very little in the way of new mech. Battletech is really showing its age, and don't expect to ever see a 30 year anniversary for the game.

A few points: The previous boxed set is out of print. This boxed set does cater to a new player, because existing players will not want most of the contents. Monopose plastic 'mechs may not appeal to you, but recall that most of the hobby is not particularly enamoured by multi-pose figures. Sure, here in GW land, people expect that, but there are also people who complain about "all those parts". This box allows you to open it up and get to playing. (personnally I love to build models, but YMMV)

Also, only three more years until the 30th anniversary (this box is late), so reaching 30 seems pretty reasonable.

I am disappointed with the crappy new warhammer on the cover and that there is no warhammer or marauder in the mech list as those are the two greatest battletech mechs ever. My local store has had a display box for the 25th an up on it's shelf for months and it has the classic warhammer on the cover. I was jazzed hoping to get a copy but being that they are shackled with the "unseen" art I think I'll pass and see if I can just dig out my old box. The new warhammer makes me an incredibly sad panda.

Pfft, whatever.

Last time I really got into this one we had a box of cardboard cutouts and they were a full boot of kickass.

Now If I remember correctly, I thought THIS was a 30 Year release, based on that Roboteck/ Mechwarrior fiasco back in the early days of FASA.

As to the "Crappy" warhammer picture? Thats the same picture that was on the old box. You really want it theres a boatload of this stuff over on feebay if you are so inclined.

It is funny though, that even after all of that drama, the trainwreck that happened with Wizkidz, and the whole changing of the guard thing that THIS is what comes back to full circle.

!!@#$ you, clicks games, you should have stuck with a good thing when you started.

Was a rabid fan in the beginning, and loved every minute of that. easiest game to learn in an hour and years of fun after the fact, off and on.

My only question is that what happens after the nastalja wears off, are there any serious plans to continue to support the game, or is this just a grognard one off?

paulson games wrote:I am disappointed with the crappy new warhammer on the cover and that there is no warhammer or marauder in the mech list as those are the two greatest battletech mechs ever. My local store has had a display box for the 25th an up on it's shelf for months and it has the classic warhammer on the cover. I was jazzed hoping to get a copy but being that they are shackled with the "unseen" art I think I'll pass and see if I can just dig out my old box. The new warhammer makes me an incredibly sad panda.

Not really their fault: they used a design they had no long term rights to; the new owners of those rights got upset and told them to stop making/marketing their deign; they did so.
It does suck, as many of those designs are great, but its like being upset that gas isn't .50 a gallon anymore. Valid complaint, but not realistic.

NecronLord3 wrote:What an incredible let down. This is just a rehash of the last box set with very little in the way of new and interesting product. Catalyst is really doing very little to gain market share in the mini wargaming community. A intro box set that basically only caters to the existing player base is kind pointless, IMO. How about more of those new premium mechs, not just a repackaging of the 2 that are already available. Catalyst has had 2 years to make a decent 8-10 pack set of the new Premium Plastic mechs and they have done nothing with it. To top it of IWM is archiving more models and making very little in the way of new mech. Battletech is really showing its age, and don't expect to ever see a 30 year anniversary for the game.

Wow, that is ridiculous.

It is an INTRO BOX, it isn't designed for veteran players. As for new content, they got away from the crappy paper maps with this box set and the maps are board game quality cardboard. BIG upgrade. And more universe fluff than before.

Those premium 'Mechs are in limbo right now. They aren't made by IWM, so there is the potential of destroying a business if they start producing them, along with other issues I'm not at liberty to discuss.

IWM puts out DOZENS of new sculpts every year. Archiving is a necessity because they don't have a lot of space. They have thousands of molds for Battletech and other product lines that take up space. I doubt you've been to IWM (I have), it isn't a big building. The "Archiving Fee" helps recoup the cost of additional OFF SITE storage space that holds a metric buttload of molds.

Battletech will reach a 30 Year anniversary without difficulty. The game is bigger than it has ever been. If it wasn't there, wouldn't be fan funded sculpts contributed by hundreds of loyal players. The BT fanbase is willing to pay money out of pocket to get new sculpts outside of the scheduled sculpts for Battletech released. It had to be temporarily halted due to back log. I can't see GW ever deciding to do that. The BT fans are strong, and the BT universe is rock solid. The game is more sound and well made than anything GW has every put out. If it can last while GW is in their heyday, I don't see a problem with them continuing for quite some time.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

paulson games wrote:I am disappointed with the crappy new warhammer on the cover and that there is no warhammer or marauder in the mech list as those are the two greatest battletech mechs ever. My local store has had a display box for the 25th an up on it's shelf for months and it has the classic warhammer on the cover. I was jazzed hoping to get a copy but being that they are shackled with the "unseen" art I think I'll pass and see if I can just dig out my old box. The new warhammer makes me an incredibly sad panda.

That isn't a Warhammer if that makes you feel any better. By universe it is a Hammerhands, a precursor to the Warhammer.

I was hoping for a bit of new in the release as well. As a intro it is great. As a 20th anniversary must have(for me anyway) a pass. Battletech is pretty dead in Necronlord3 and My area. I can't seem to get any interest.

megatrons2nd wrote:I was hoping for a bit of new in the release as well. As a intro it is great. As a 20th anniversary must have(for me anyway) a pass. Battletech is pretty dead in Necronlord3 and My area. I can't seem to get any interest.

Have you checked the Demo Agent site just to be sure it's dead?

http://www.catalystdemos.com

Might have to sign up, but you can then search for players and Agents (like me) nearby.

Love Classic BattleTech have played from the very beginning.

Then the clan crap and click crap came out and the game went downhill.

Found a bunch of like minded people and we are now playing a 3025 campaign and are having a blast. Fast simple rules and quick games.

Hmmmm....

I know some people that play this, and the price is pretty good, might have to pick it up.

I'm in total agreement.

As for the net's, RPGnet has a batch of great looking stuff for the game for free. I'm going to check out that Catylist stuff in a few minutes.

All it takes is a couple of guys and your set.

The game isn't dead, but in hiatus. There are LOADS of players out there and most agree that Clicks, and the Clans didn't do the game any service. It was that little "Pulling out this and that high speed new mech that is the be all end all" thing that ran alot of die hard players off.

Compound that with the fact that you could run a gakload of power armored infantry one man mechs in and pretty much own a big guy with half of the trouble. It ended up slaging the game, the fluff, and the whole desire to keep up with the joneses.