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So I have been looking into getting a copy of Battletech, but I am unable to find anywhere that stocks it. Ive tried all the UK sites that usually stock it, and even Amazon, yet they are all saying that it is unavailable and have been for some months.
Does anyone know when it is becoming available again, as I have been stumped, and I was really looking forward to getting a copy of it.

MoO, very confused veteran Mech pilot.

 master of ordinance wrote:
So I have been looking into getting a copy of Battletech, but I am unable to find anywhere that stocks it. Ive tried all the UK sites that usually stock it, and even Amazon, yet they are all saying that it is unavailable and have been for some months.
Does anyone know when it is becoming available again, as I have been stumped, and I was really looking forward to getting a copy of it.

MoO, very confused veteran Mech pilot.

Catalyst Labs publishes the game now. They have PDFs of some of their books, including Alpha Strike, the fast play current ruleset. You can purchase those from them directly.

Im after the Box sets though, as these come with all you need to play, including a number of Mechs.

The 25th anniversary box set is pretty good.

CCG Armory shows it in stock, but I've never ordered from them.

LINKY!

Thanks Kronk. Hopefully well get that in the UK soon enough.

Ive only been able to find the 25th box set on Ebay-it appears to be out of stock everywhere.

FWIW the new fast play rules (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/117408/BattleTech-Alpha-Strike) are pretty damn good - obviously lacking minis though :-/

The fast play rules are great, I must agree.

But I also love a weekender of multi-company battles, because I love the pain associated with things like 25k point Apoc, Twilight Imperium and multi-company Battletech. :-P

Welcome to a great hobby, BTW. The novels are pretty good too if you stay away from the Dark Age junk.

i recently just got into alpha strike myself and have come to find out that the 25th anniversary set is no longer being made. they are going to rerelease it with improved mechs.
now having said that i dont know when it is supposed to be out or how long it has been since they stopped making it.

 Farseer Faenyin wrote:
The fast play rules are great, I must agree.

But I also love a weekender of multi-company battles, because I love the pain associated with things like 25k point Apoc, Twilight Imperium and multi-company Battletech. :-P

I love regiment on regiment... so much fun. And making up orbital bombardment rules was also fun.

The new boxed set with improved miniatures was supposed to be available this fall, but Catlyst has been mum about why it isn't out yet. You can see info about the new boxed set here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/528495.page

If you look long enough, you'll find one of 25th anniversary boxed sets around, but I'd recommend waiting until the new box with better minis comes around. I liked my 25th box, but some of the minis had issues.

As regards Alpha Strike, I played my first game a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it. I never could enjoy the full BT rules, but AS is a great playing experience.

rigeld2 wrote:

 Farseer Faenyin wrote:
The fast play rules are great, I must agree.

But I also love a weekender of multi-company battles, because I love the pain associated with things like 25k point Apoc, Twilight Imperium and multi-company Battletech. :-P

I love regiment on regiment... so much fun. And making up orbital bombardment rules was also fun.

I completely agree on Regimental action. I've done it, but with a lot of unpainted plastic minis from the 25th Anniv box set (I rarely do Clan War era, I like the Succession Wars....3025, 3040 era Mechs).

I do have 2 full Companies of Mechs painted for our old Mechwarrior/BattleTech RPG...in the scheme of our Mercenary group. So much fun.

I have about a regiment of mechs, 90% painted but not in a cohesive scheme.

At the peak of our playgroup we had ~3 times that much amongst everyone. Man I miss those days.

Well, I shall try and contact Catalyst. I have been a Mech fan for 10 years, but its only recently that I have come into a good enough income to buy one of these starter sets.

I find the irony very unamusing.

I am going to buy the new box set when it comes out. The minis look so much better the the 25th ann box. They were total gak except for the two multi-part plastic heavy mechs. Plus if it is coming out with a Mad Cat it is totally mine!

Yeah, I've been on the lookout for this as well. Disappointed it's never surfaced.

Do we even know what the new starter box 'Mechs are meant to look like?

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Do we even know what the new starter box 'Mechs are meant to look like?

IIRC, the starterbox mechs were supposed to be plastic versions of metal sculpts. Whatever company cast them last time resulted in some odd indentions, miscast hands and other flaws similar to what was seen in the mid-90's plastic starterbox mechs. IMO, they weren't as bad as some folks said, but they definitely arrived "needing work"

The new models are being called "new sculpts" of the same models as last time, but I seem to recall it somewhere being confirmed they're the same sculpts, just new masters and new molds.

 Eilif wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Do we even know what the new starter box 'Mechs are meant to look like?

IIRC, the starterbox mechs were supposed to be plastic versions of metal sculpts. Whatever company cast them last time resulted in some odd indentions, miscast hands and other flaws similar to what was seen in the mid-90's plastic starterbox mechs. IMO, they weren't as bad as some folks said, but they definitely arrived "needing work"

The new models are being called "new sculpts" of the same models as last time, but I seem to recall it somewhere being confirmed they're the same sculpts, just new masters and new molds.

So, hopefully the Atlas will no longer be anorexic.

This recent BattleBlog from the BattleTech website might be of some interest.

The key info for those how can't be bothered to read the above link

The Introductory Box Set is at the printers and should start shipping to our warehouse in late January (remember it’s overseas),

Total Warfare is again available on December 18th;

still working to get A Time of War into the pipeline.

Well that's good. I cannot wait to get a hold of it

The reprint of the New Box Set also includes different "Premium" 'Mechs, a Mad Cat and a Battlemaster instead of the Thor and Loki.

Also, the new box shouldn't say 25th Anniversary, since we are a lot closer to the 30th now...

I can't emphasize enough how much better the Alpha Strike rules are over the regular rules. If you want gladiator style, one on one mech combat that will either be over in five minutes or five hours, go for the regular rules.

If you want a quick, streamlined game, of lances/regiments vs. a Star/Galaxy, Alpha Strike is the way to go.

Now, about the mini's... I wish Catalyst could somehow reign in or buy out all the current manufacturers of the Battletech Mech range and re-sculpt them. The scale of the models are so far off, it's not even funny. The sculpts are simple, uninspired and very static. I love how my Jenner IIc is actually bigger then my Atlas! I would love to see some sense of scale in the models.

The 25th Anniversary Box Set was a fantastic deal full of a ton of plastic mechs, maps, etc. etc. Perhaps the best introductory box set that has come out in a long time. Just wish Alpha Strike was the core rule set.

I would also love to see some new molds for some of the models. But then my amazing models would devalue, so not sure.... :-P

 Farseer Faenyin wrote:
I would also love to see some new molds for some of the models. But then my amazing models would devalue, so not sure.... :-P

Do you mean new molds for the boxed set plastics or for some of the metal models?

I guess that means the "Clan Boxed Set" has reached plastic Cadian levels of myth, right?

 Eilif wrote:

 Farseer Faenyin wrote:
I would also love to see some new molds for some of the models. But then my amazing models would devalue, so not sure.... :-P

Do you mean new molds for the boxed set plastics or for some of the metal models?

For a good majority of them, honestly. I know some were redone due to legality issues like the Archer and such, but other 'common battlefield mechs' could use more dynamic poses too, but aren't really touched on due to not being favorites. It is possible then have been redone since I've checked into the hobby, as it has been a few years.

Models like the Sentinel, Commando and Wolfhound...for instance.

The Wolfhound and Commando have had at least two sculpts. I like the original Commando better than the newer one, and the newer Wolfhound better than the original one.