Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I've been a bit curious about getting into Battletech, after seeing Ironwind Metals mech models and being a Mechwarrior fan for years now, but I'm not sure where to start. It seems there's a ton of rulebooks out there and I'm not sure which one is the most current, or just how big or complicated the game really is. I'd like a smaller, maybe skirmish level game, since I've already sunk so much into 40k and don't feel like collecting another huge army of models. Is it possible to play with a single lance of 4 mechs per side, or do you have to play with vehicles, aircraft, multiple lances, etc.?

The game is not overly complicated. Keeping track of Heat and Ammo is about as compilcated as it it gets.

I've been playing since it was first introduced as "BattleDroids" and have purchased the rules updates, expansions over the years.

As far as cost to get "in", most games are made up of 1 or 2 lances (4-8 mechs total) so it's not a huge investment. If you want to go further and include infantry, etc, then the cost up as well as how long it takes play a game.

Out of curiosity I picked up the new BattleTech starter game. http://www.classicbattletech.com/index.php?action=products&mode=full&id=198

All you need to play.

The plastic mini's that come with it are crap though, but the cost is worth the game components themselves.

hope this helps.

Lance on Lance battles are about what you can squeeze into a 2 hour timeframe, depending on tonnage....

Thanks. I've been getting help on another forum too, and I think I might just get into it. All I really need are four mechs and a rulebook, sounds great.

I still have the boxed set that came with the cardboard Mechs and the two hex field desert maps.

This was one of the many games that I had some of the books for and the basic game stuff but no one to play with. I also had MechWarrior and AeroTech, a technical readout, and the House Davion book. That's as far as I got, but I still read the books now and again.

which book takes you away from hex based map to tabletop style of play? is it Total Warfare?

Easiest way to get back in is the Intro Box. 24 plastic 'Mechs (low quality, but hey, you can't have everything), rules and plenty of fluff for $40.

Total Warfare will give you all the rules to play in a tournament setting.. It is a big, intimidating book that you can ignore 80% of if you want to. It does have Miniatures Rules in it.

Tactical Operations has all the alternate rules in it. In fact, it is a massive book of nothing BUT alternate rules.

get on eBay and see what you can find, you need eight mechs, not four. This gives you some swap out mechs for variety and lance on lance battles without requiring your opponent having his own collection. After all if you knew Battletech players you would have asked them not here.

Question now is what mechs? Tell us what factions you are interested in and we can help further.

Pfft, I have the old school PAPER mechs.

Though I haven't gotten into it... the only mechs I ever liked are:

Mad Cat and Vulture...maybe a couple more random ones.
Let me think...off the top of my head:
-Shadow Cat
-Diashi
-Uller
-Urban Mech (for the lulz)
-Hatchet Man
-Gunslinger

Come to think of it, I do like alot of them, I think the proper terms would be something along:
I like omni-mechs that are Clan mech?//...er... I have no idea if that makes sense, but the Mad Cat and Vulture (Mad Dog) are my top picks, then Diashi (Great Death).

Sid: i would recomend picking up the box game its kinda like a starter set as well, has everything you need, and you can build from there...

heres an image of what your after....

http://www.devir.com.br/estrategia/imagens/battletech_box.jpg