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???

cant you just tell me here in a short sentence what each faction is in a nut shell?

Trimming the above-quoted-post down:

North: Guided weapons, combined arms.

South: Specialists. Variants specialize further, with Southern forces covering possible options from 'horde' to 'elite.'

NuCoal: New Fun Stuff. Giant walkers, high-speed Gears.

P.A.K.:NuCoal/CEF Hybrid.

Peace River: They make everyone's guns. Lots of 'elite' Gears.

CEF: Hovertanks and advanced weapons. Scary infantry supersoldiers.

Caprice: Bug walkers that can climb everywhere. Sadly, units are a bit expensive (in $) due to being big chunks of metal. Can Ally to CEF/Black Talons.

Utopia: Drones with some interesting special rules for a sort of hive-mind.

Eden: Mainly an ally force. Weak powered armor.

Black Talons: Can allies with the Colonials or Terra Novans. Get the shiniest and most costly toys around. Stealth everywhere and will often massacre or work at a major disadvantage depending on what the opponent's list contain. More so than anyone else I mean

ones that would intrest me would be

south
nucaol
caprice
black talons

I hope you realize that the difference is a relative comparison. And your previous 40K experience will likely hinder you from learning this game.

What did the Heavy Gear team do for April Fool's?

The BTech team released TRO: 1945, complete with in-game rules for Tigers, Panzers and all sorts of other nonsense that should never grace the hex-maps of a BTech game.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
What did the Heavy Gear team do for April Fool's?

Nothing. The guys are too busy with some production stuff, unfortunately.

(No offense intended to the Battletech guys. I like an amusing April Fool's 'release' but ti would have been a bad idea for DP9 to do one this year instead of focusing on 'real' work.)

H.B.M.C. wrote:The BTech team released TRO: 1945, complete with in-game rules for Tigers, Panzers and all sorts of other nonsense that should never grace the hex-maps of a BTech game.

Oh, I didn't even see that yet! Thanks.

I remember last year they did the A Time of Peace teaser (a play on the A Time of War RPG already released) as well as the Third League Turning Points (complete with a 70 ton Urbanmech V2). The latter actually had quite a number of people confused, complaining about how they dare launch a new era without providing closure to the Dark Age first...


As for the topic at hand, I'm not sure my own opinion can be of much help, given that I have yet to play either tabletop - although I did read the BT rules and am currently interested in giving it a try. However, I would add that with Battletech, you would quite likely end up delving into it for more than just the TT. There is a host of computer games, pen&paper, novels (imho of better quality than the average 40k stuff) and even an old cartoon you could check out, and the franchise is currently experiencing a revival ever since Catalyst picked up the license, with a steady stream of new products being released almost every month. See this page for a brief glimpse at the volume of options open to you, as well as a free PDF introduction to the universe.

I myself got into it only recently and thanks to MechWarrior Online, but the more I read about the setting itself, the more I felt fascinated by this intrigueing blend of feudal politics, regressive sci-fi tech and the role of the battlemechs and their pilots. To me, the universe and its factions are interesting and beautifully fleshed out, especially after so many decades of novels and sourcebooks adding to it. Unlike 40k, BT actually has an actual canon policy, which means few to no contradictions between the books you read (and if there are, you'll be able to clearly tell which one is "right").

So I suppose it also depends on whether you are just looking at a tabletop game, or possibly might be interested in getting something "more". I'd say it is something to consider, at least.

You know, to be picky... as to Battletech's TRO: 1945: been there, done that.

(DP9 released Gear Krieg years ago, which included stats for various WWII designs. It's a spin-off from Heavy Gear, so probably not 100% compatible, but uses the same core. I'd have to look at stats side-by-side to see how hilariously unbalanced they probably are...)

More current Gear Krieg (different system, multi-scale compatible) is available from A.D. Publishing.

I'm not sure that is comparable. One is intended as an actual serious product sold for $38 promoting an alternate history.
The other is a free April's Fools gag introducing historical battles and units into a game set in a possible future of mankind, with players being unable to use any unit they already own with this new "supplement".

Tabletop wargames set in WW2 are not a new idea by a long shot - regardless of them being historic or not. With Battletech, it was a play on their own habit of releasing Technical Readouts (TRO's) covering the various eras of play in BT, such as TRO 3050 or TRO 2750.
The joke being that there were no BattleMechs in 1945, and thus no Battletech in the conventional sense.

It's probably funnier when you know the "TRO <year number>" reference.

* has no idea whats going on *

I know, but GK is a spinoff of HG, and includes a lot of real WWII vehicles. It's a bit more serious, of course.

I have a bunch of friends who play Battle Tech, and I find it tons of fun. There are a few cool/great models, but many look boxy and blocky. That said, the game is great fun.

 timetowaste85 wrote:
I have a bunch of friends who play Battle Tech, and I find it tons of fun. There are a few cool/great models, but many look boxy and blocky. That said, the game is great fun.

yes but my problem is that im not rich and i cant buy both willy nilly, so i would like to know witch one to buy

I'd like to recommend Battletech then-it's fun, and the starter set isn't too bad on price. I've only bought 4 individual metal models, cost me about 36 bucks or so for them. The starter set should run you around $40, and give you a lot more. What state do you live in? If you happen to be in NY, I might be able to set you up with one of two different Battletech groups.

i live in the pa area

 timetowaste85 wrote:
I'd like to recommend Battletech then-it's fun, and the starter set isn't too bad on price. I've only bought 4 individual metal models, cost me about 36 bucks or so for them. The starter set should run you around $40, and give you a lot more. What state do you live in? If you happen to be in NY, I might be able to set you up with one of two different Battletech groups.

If you're talking about the starter set from Catalyst games, it's 60 bucks.

Well, OP, if PA area means "Scranton" or north of there, my buddy is starting up a Battletech group at Jupiter Games in Binghamton, NY-pretty close to the PA border. I hope that's around your neck of the woods, I could get you in touch with him if it is.


And I haven't personally bought the starter, I was going off of memory from what I was told half a year ago.

It seems to depend on where you buy it - Catalyst themselves sell it for 60, but I'm seeing offers for anywhere between that and 40 on the internets. Here is one of the latter, but they don't have it stocked right now so I suppose you'd have to ask them when they'll be able to deliver or whether they can order it for you. Either that, or spend some more time searching.
Here is a quick vid of what's inside.
And I just noticed, the comments on that vid might actually be useful to gain further impression, I guess.

 Balance wrote:
Nothing. The guys are too busy with some production stuff, unfortunately.

(No offense intended to the Battletech guys. I like an amusing April Fool's 'release' but ti would have been a bad idea for DP9 to do one this year instead of focusing on 'real' work.)

Too busy doing 'real work' to have some fun on April Fool's? Oh give me a break.

 timetowaste85 wrote:
Well, OP, if PA area means "Scranton" or north of there, my buddy is starting up a Battletech group at Jupiter Games in Binghamton, NY-pretty close to the PA border. I hope that's around your neck of the woods, I could get you in touch with him if it is.


And I haven't personally bought the starter, I was going off of memory from what I was told half a year ago.

im actualy on the exact opposet side of pa

 H.B.M.C. wrote:

 Balance wrote:
Nothing. The guys are too busy with some production stuff, unfortunately.

(No offense intended to the Battletech guys. I like an amusing April Fool's 'release' but ti would have been a bad idea for DP9 to do one this year instead of focusing on 'real' work.)

Too busy doing 'real work' to have some fun on April Fool's? Oh give me a break.

More like "There's enough projects with delays on them. Taking time that could be spent getting stuff released would be a serious disrespect to fans in this case."

Catalyst is in a different position and can get away with stuff like this, DP9 isn't... So the guys instead released another issue of the free Gear Up, which was long overdue, a day after April Fools. I'm sure the TRO:1945 took someone some serious time (probably 'off the clock' but that's none of my business) for a few people to write, layout, etc.

From my POV, I mostly work on behind-the-scenes stuff, and have enough personal stuff going on that I didn't have time to event hink about doing anything fun with the dp9.com web site.

Balance wrote:Catalyst is in a different position and can get away with stuff like this

I wouldn't say so... There's quite a lot of people waiting for Handbook House Kurita (including me ) to come out of editing to be finally published, and then there's the Interstellar Operations open beta test, and Era Report 3145 is coming up as well. They certainly seem to have their hands full, so to speak.

Granted, it could just be a matter of how many writers the design studio is employing, and a matter of enthusiasm or even corporate policy (even in geeky companies, employee creativity is often limited by beancounters somewhere in management).

 jbsnv wrote:

yes but my problem is that im not rich and i cant buy both willy nilly, so i would like to know witch one to buy

If you want to save money for BT, do NOT buy any starter set. Pick 4 mechs around the 3050 era to form a lance. It allows to play at the beginning era of 3025 as well as Clan invasion at the later date. The lance will last you forever. You don't need to purchase anything else. Best is to have an assault/heavy mix. That will cost you $45 to $60 depending on where you make your purchase.

If you do have the money for HGB, aim for a 1000TV taking advantage of the sale. Generally, it costs you at least $150 or more. If you are a modeller, you should seriously consider HGB.

wildger wrote:If you want to save money for BT, do NOT buy any starter set. Pick 4 mechs around the 3050 era to form a lance. It allows to play at the beginning era of 3025 as well as Clan invasion at the later date. The lance will last you forever. You don't need to purchase anything else. Best is to have an assault/heavy mix. That will cost you $45 to $60 depending on where you make your purchase.

That's really good advice, as this way you will also be able to pick your choice of 'mechs and can opt for the metal ones right away (as frankly, the plastics look a bit meh, at least judging from that video).

Maybe try a few games of MegaMek first to see what kind of 'mechs you like (and whether you like BT at all). There is something to be said about Lights and Mediums, too!

Wouldn't it cost you the same amount of money to get the Starter Box, get 24 'Mechs (so 6 times as many as the Lance), which last you even longer and give you far more options, allow you to play with friends without any additional purchases, give you maps, dice, rules and everything else you need?

wildger wrote:

 jbsnv wrote:

yes but my problem is that im not rich and i cant buy both willy nilly, so i would like to know witch one to buy

If you want to save money for BT, do NOT buy any starter set. Pick 4 mechs around the 3050 era to form a lance. It allows to play at the beginning era of 3025 as well as Clan invasion at the later date. The lance will last you forever. You don't need to purchase anything else. Best is to have an assault/heavy mix. That will cost you $45 to $60 depending on where you make your purchase.

If you do have the money for HGB, aim for a 1000TV taking advantage of the sale. Generally, it costs you at least $150 or more. If you are a modeller, you should seriously consider HGB.

i have no idea what that means

If I understand, I think Wildger is saying that he feels the best way to get into Battletech would be to buy 4 specific models you like and play the heck out of them. That might make sense if you are playing with an established group, but I think if you're just starting the starter might make more sense.

ok then?

I'm not telling anyone what to do.

y you no help