Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread!

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**Ancestral Hamster**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Which is all good and fine - and I don't disagree - but they are doing T-shirts with this KS, but are doing them in a way that makes it very difficult (not to mention expensive) for anyone outside of the continental USA.

Ah, fair enough. Then they should find a better method of fulfilling that part of the KS for those outside of the US if feasible.

**chaos0xomega**

Well thats kind of the problem, is that it isn't really part of the kickstarter. The T-shirst will be sold directly via their webstore during the course of the kickstarter campaign in order to ease the logistical burden of fulfillment of the kickstarter itself.

**Ghaz**

An update (kinda) on the Force Manuals from the BattleTech Forums:

Cubby wrote:They're steadily chugging along.

That's about the best update I can give you. Actively being worked on. It's just too far out to give you a release window, because it's still much too hypothetical. We understand and appreciate the interest in these, we want them out too.

**Albertorius**

chaos0xomega wrote:
Well thats kind of the problem, is that it isn't really part of the kickstarter. The T-shirst will be sold directly via their webstore during the course of the kickstarter campaign in order to ease the logistical burden of fulfillment of the kickstarter itself.

Which basically boils down to "people outside of the USA need not to apply".

**chaos0xomega**

Essentially, yes. A problem that could easily be resolved if CGL struck some distribution deals with foreign partners.

**Ghaz**

From the BattleTech Forum:

Death_from_above wrote:
Couple of snippets from the comments in Anthony's Patreon (emojis were included in Anthony's replies) ;

Regarding the MASH Truck in the upcoming KS Objectives ForcePack :

Q : I wonder if there is a panel underneath the side extension of the MASH, so that it can be depicted on the move by taking off that bit?
A : That is the plan, but no guarantee.

With 3 RecGuides to go, an average of 9 Mechs/vees per volume and 22 redesigns remaining (shown so far), there's potentially room for a couple more :

Q : Almost forgot, you've done the big missile tank but what about the little one, the Hunter Light Support Tank? Any plans?
A : You'll have to wait and see as the Rec Guides roll out

Next one is not necessarily KS- or RecGuide-related, could be further off :

Q: Blood Asp then I'd love to see some Protos updated and get love. Would also appreciate a savage Coyote
A : Might be able to do something there eventually

**H.B.M.C.**

If they did a plastic Blood Asp I might finally have a mini of one.

Never bought the original. Gave up putting the second one together (ghastly miniature - literally threw it across the room one time I hate that thing so much). Bought the third one from Iron Wind, but never received it (and it was months later that I realised).

Fourth time's a charm?

**catbarf**

Well, I guess I play Battletech now.

(more pics in my project log)

I gotta say, I really appreciate that BT allows you to just put together a lance of whatever mechs you like and play a game. No fussing with force org or army lists, or having to paint 30+ models before you can play. If my 3D printer hadn't conked out while printing this base, I'd probably have a full lance of printed mechs to go with the plastic ones I have on the way (whenever Catalyst gets around to shipping them).

**H.B.M.C.**

Wait a minute... that's your Tyranid crab pattern... on a Crab!

I see what you did there...

**catbarf**

Y'know, someone on Reddit a year or two ago did the coconut crab scheme on some Crabs and King Crabs, and it looked pretty neat- but I figured going that route might be a bit too on the nose.

I think I'll be doing a more conventional scheme for the opfor.

**Albertorius**

That is pretty awesome, all told

Yesterday I painted the toad star I got from the KS:

**Ghaz**

So do you remember the MechWarrior 4 video game?...

**Charistoph**

Albertorius wrote:
That is pretty awesome, all told

Yesterday I painted the toad star I got from the KS:

They look great!

Organizationally, though, you might want to have a different color on the base sides to make it easier to identify which is which on your paperwork.

**Flinty**

This is Battletech... surely each of the armour plates needs separate numbering for record keeping purposes

@Albertorious - what is your teenytiniest brush?

**Albertorius**

Flinty wrote:
This is Battletech... surely each of the armour plates needs separate numbering for record keeping purposes

@Albertorious - what is your teenytiniest brush?

...I think I have a 0? I mostly use size 1 and 2 >_>

I probably should do something to mark them, yeah, but I'm not yet sure what.

Also, Catalyst is leaving money on the table by not releasing "28mm" stuff. Those toads would look gorgeous at the scale (I know they seem to be getting to it, but still).

**Ghaz**

Albertorius wrote:
I probably should do something to mark them, yeah, but I'm not yet sure what.

Simple vertical lines (on the back of the base) would work. Different colors for different Stars, and a different number of lines for each Point (e.g., one line for the first point, two for the second, etc.).

**Prometheum5**

Albertorius wrote:
Flinty wrote:
This is Battletech... surely each of the armour plates needs separate numbering for record keeping purposes

@Albertorious - what is your teenytiniest brush?

...I think I have a 0? I mostly use size 1 and 2 >_>

I probably should do something to mark them, yeah, but I'm not yet sure what.

Also, Catalyst is leaving money on the table by not releasing "28mm" stuff. Those toads would look gorgeous at the scale (I know they seem to be getting to it, but still).

I just did colored helmet/mohawk stripes on mine. That was easier than a shoulder pad for the Elementals, but on other BAs that's where I'll put a marking.

**VictorVonTzeentch**

Albertorius wrote:

Also, Catalyst is leaving money on the table by not releasing "28mm" stuff. Those toads would look gorgeous at the scale (I know they seem to be getting to it, but still).

I would buy so many of them. I already have to resist buying more stars of them. One day, I'll have a Galaxy worth for Ghost Bear and enough to run all my other Clans as Novas and Super Novas

**H.B.M.C.**

Ghaz wrote:
So do you remember the MechWarrior 4 video game?...

But... the Striker Star already includes... why would they... ?

I'm very confused, unless this is a completely separate "Hellhound" for some reason.

**Charistoph**

Albertorius wrote:Also, Catalyst is leaving money on the table by not releasing "28mm" stuff. Those toads would look gorgeous at the scale (I know they seem to be getting to it, but still).

They would. While Ironwind Metals have larger models of Elementals in 25mm and 28mm, they are based on the original designs, so look a bit derpy in comparison. They also have some of a similar size with the Inner Sphere Hauberk Battle Armor. They were designed for the very old and outdated BattleTroops game.

IWM 28mm Elemental

IWM 25mm Elemental

Ghaz wrote:Simple vertical lines (on the back of the base) would work. Different colors for different Stars, and a different number of lines for each Point (e.g., one line for the first point, two for the second, etc.).

One of our local guys did that for his Combat Vehicles. Well, not hashes, but triangles on the base. There are also some 3D printed sub-bases which can provide numbers for them, too.

Prometheum5 wrote:I just did colored helmet/mohawk stripes on mine. That was easier than a shoulder pad for the Elementals, but on other BAs that's where I'll put a marking.

That's what I did with my metal Elementals and Protomechs. I just barely got a couple of the new plastics, but with their huge bases, I may delay in painting them, and may even trade them for a 'Mech I lost (puppy got my finished Raven).

**deleted20250424**

Miniatures Market is having a BT sale - https://www.miniaturemarket.com/table-top-miniatures/battletech.html

**Ancestral Hamster**

TalonZahn wrote:
Miniatures Market is having a BT sale - https://www.miniaturemarket.com/table-top-miniatures/battletech.html

Technically, it's the "Royal Treatment" sale, where previously customers were asked what they wanted discounted, so there's more than just Battletech. However, I topped up a held order for the free shipping, and so I'll be getting a lot of BT stuff + the Alpha Strike box.

BattleTech: Beginner Box (2022) (Royal Treatment Sale) - For the Griffin and whatever the 2nd mech is.
Inner Sphere Fire Lance (Royal Treatment Sale)
Inner Sphere Battle Lance
BattleTech: Alpha Strike Box Set (New Arrival)
Frostgrave: Forgotten Pacts
Chessex 16mm d6 Set: Translucent - Blue w/White (12)

**Ghaz**

Announcing the New BattleTech Paint Set! Also: Recognition Guide Vol. 30 Now Available

We design BattleTech products to be playable right out of the box–but the most immersive BattleTech experience comes when ranks of miniatures painted in the colors of your favorite factions clash on the tabletop. We’re pleased to announce a new paint set that will help painters develop their skills and bring new life to their miniatures.

Catalyst Game Labs and The Army Painter have partnered to create the BattleTech Starter Set, harnessing the cutting edge Speed Paints to make it easier than ever to paint your ’Mechs. It’s a perfect companion to the fully assembled, out-of-the-box play that Catalyst’s BattleTech miniatures provide.

“I’ve wanted to see an official paint starter set for BattleTech for a long time,” said Randall N. Bills, Managing Developer for Catalyst Game Labs. “After looking at the market, it was hard not to think that The Army Painter’s Speed Paints were a perfect match for BattleTech. It was a fun experience for our team to paint up a pile of UrbanMechs to see how Speed Paints work, and then to help select the colors for this first starter set. We hope this is just the beginning of a long relationship.”

The Army Painter was founded to help gamers of all types have more fun playing, by painting their miniatures using high-quality products that are affordably priced and perfect for the job. Army Painter products are designed to make painting fun, easy, and fast.

“At The Army Painter we are highly excited about this project,” said Bo M Penstoft, Founder of The Army Painter. “BattleTech has been around for ages–and I remember playing it when I was a young man (a different Millennium)–so having worked out the perfect colors for this fantastic range is a real hobby achievement for me personally. I trust hobbyists all over the world will rejoice at this set.”

Stay tuned to bg.battletech.com for more information on when the BattleTech Starter Set will be available.

About Catalyst Game Labs

Catalyst Game Labs is dedicated to producing high-quality games and fiction that mesh sophisticated game mechanics with dynamic universes—all presented in a form that allows beginning players and long-time veterans to easily jump into our games and fiction readers to enjoy our stories even if they don’t know the games. Find Catalyst Game Labs online at www.catalystgamelabs.com.

The Army Painter

Since 2007, The Army Painter has grown from a two-person startup with one product to a complete hobby company with nearly 80 employees. Army Painter in a new state-of-the-art production facility in Skanderborg, Denmark. A far cry from filling Quickshade tins from a tiny red barn in Bo’s backyard. The Army Painter Colour Lab has gone on to develop several key products and ranges. All designed to help new and experienced gamers bring their gray plastic sprues to life. From the first clip to the final layer of paint–and everything in between. Find The Army Painter online at www.thearmypainter.com.

BattleMech Recognition Guide: ilClan, Vol. 30

The march of technology across BattleTech’s eras is relentless—but some war machines never die. This PDF-only series includes brand-new BattleMechs and OmniMechs, alongside Classic ’Mechs and combat vehicles from both the Inner Sphere and the Clans rebuilt with the latest technology to keep them competitive on modern battlefields. This series also includes in-universe development notes, battle histories, notable pilots, and record sheets for each unit.

Catalyst Web Store: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-recognition-guide-ilclan-vol-30
DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/424037/BattleTech-Recognition-Guide-ilClan-Vol-30

**RaptorusRex**

The new Hellcat looks awesome.

**H.B.M.C.**

And to think it only took 21 years to canonise the MW4:Merc version of the Hellhound.

**Charistoph**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
And to think it only took 21 years to canonise the MW4:Merc version of the Hellhound.

Makes one wonder how long it will take for other designs that were created under the Microsoft license to become equally official.

**Formosa**

I always liked the MW4 Mad Dog with the little chin mounted gun, hope we get that... unless we already have and I missed it?

**Ghaz**

Formosa wrote:
I always liked the MW4 Mad Dog with the little chin mounted gun, hope we get that... unless we already have and I missed it?

In-universe it's known as the Vulture Mk II and is functionally identical to the Mad Dog. It has not received a plastic miniature and I would give it low odds to appear as one.

**H.B.M.C.**

The Vulture Mk III is essentially the "more correct" version of the MW4 one as it has the right amount of guns, and larger missile racks that the MW4 version seemed to have. The Vulture Mk III A might even match the config used in the opening movie, given that thing had Autocannons.

Of course, the Mk III was introduced away after the FedCom Civil War, which is when MW4: Vengeance is set, so... *shrugs*

I mean, the Mad Cat Mk II was meant to be the Mad Cat in that game, until people started asking "Where's the Timber Wolf?".

**aphyon**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
The Vulture Mk III is essentially the "more correct" version of the MW4 one as it has the right amount of guns, and larger missile racks that the MW4 version seemed to have. The Vulture Mk III A might even match the config used in the opening movie, given that thing had Autocannons.

Of course, the Mk III was introduced away after the FedCom Civil War, which is when MW4: Vengeance is set, so... *shrugs*

I mean, the Mad Cat Mk II was meant to be the Mad Cat in that game, until people started asking "Where's the Timber Wolf?".

I have the IWM version of that mini and it is fantastic i run it as the mad-dog/vulture D since the models weapons look like the loadout.