Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread!

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**Ghaz**

The upcoming Force Manuals = Codices

Alongside the new Alpha Strike boxed set, we’re excited to announce the return of companion sourcebooks for each BattleTech faction, detailing the combat commands, force building, unique battlefield abilities for each. Formerly known as Combat Manuals, this rebooted line of sourcebooks is fully compatible with Total Warfare or Alpha Strike play. Revamped versions of the Kurita and Mercenaries sourcebooks will join the all-new Force Manual: Davion in relaunching the line.

As for 'disposable' that's...

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

I wouldn't call them Codices. BTech has had faction-specific books for literal decades and not a one of them has ever been required like a Codex has.

**Ghaz**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
I wouldn't call them Codices. BTech has had faction-specific books for literal decades and not a one of them has ever been required like a Codex has.

These are a lot more codex-like than the Field Manuals (e.g., see pgs. 116-122 of Empire Alone). Being optional rules doesn't make them any less the equivalent of a codex for BattleTech as they both do the same thing (i.e., allow a player to build a force for game play).

Also remember, Open Play is still a thing in 40K...

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

Open Play exists because "2 Ways to Play" sounds stupid, so they needed a third to go alongside Matched and Crusade.

And, ok, I looked at Empire Alone. Big deal. Again, we've had sections telling you what rules to use with various commanders/units for donkey's years. They've never been vital to the game, certainly not to any extent close to what a Codex is to 40k.

**Charistoph**

Indeed, a codex is required to field any units in 40K. Field Manuals, Force Manuals, and the like are not required to field anything other than if you are doing a narrative campaign or just feel like copying a "historical" unit.

**Gangland**

The only book I bought for Btech was Total Warfare after I got the starter sets (the 2 mech, AGOAC, and the Clan Invasion) and between that and the free mech sheets I have had no problem playing awesome games. I source missions/scenarios from other systems most of the time.

Speaking of which I am excited for my group's game tomorrow, eventually I plan on getting campaign op but another of our group has it and we have been running a really fun campaign currently.

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

It's a Naga II.

That not-a-Woodsman is a Naga II.

Rec Guide 26 is out, BTW.

And it's a 5/8 80-ton 'Mech with an LRM20, LB-10X and UAC10 in its default config.

**Ghaz**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
It's a Naga II.

That not-a-Woodsman is a Naga II.

Rec Guide 26 is out, BTW.

And it's a 5/8 80-ton 'Mech with an LRM20, LB-10X and UAC10 in its default config.

So almost Anthony's Dark Woodsman with the UAC going down from a 20 to a 10 and the ER laser going from a medium to a small. Good to have that one cleared up (and it's good to see the Merlin and the Starslayer in the RecGuide).

News on the Alpha Strike boxed set:

Alpha Strike Box Set Release

After discussions with our warehouse and distribution partners–based upon the incredible demand shown for the Alpha Strike boxed set–we are taking an unusual step. The Alpha Strike boxed set has been set to “release upon receipt”; the box is on track to hit our warehouse on the week of November 15th. This means it will immediately start shipping out to any stores that have ordered it, with most domestic orders starting to reach shelves during the first week of December. The Alpha Strike boxed set will be available for sale on the Catalyst Game Labs web store on Friday, November 25.

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

The problem with the Naga II is that its armour is paper-thin. It has more internal hit boxes than armour hit boxes, with a whopping 58% of its potential maximum armour load.

I don't know if giving it a 400 XL was a good choice.

**Ghaz**

Yeah, that's sort of covered in the 'Battle History':

Though its firepower served its MechWarrior well, it proved that the ’Mech was a relic of both times and doctrines long gone. While a Naga II’s overwhelming weaponry serves it well in duel-style combat, its poor armor makes it weak in the combined-arms warfare that has dominated the past century. Facing modern realities, the Naga may just be a greater asset than the Naga II can ever be.

Not sure that I buy it, but it sounds good?

In other news, I wonder how long it will take this to show up in a RecGuide?

**Charistoph**

Is that the updated Hetzer?

If so, sweeeeet.

**Prometheum5**

It's adorable, and not just an actual Hetzer but with wheels!

**Ghaz**

Prometheum5 wrote:
It's adorable, and not just an actual Hetzer but with wheels!

The BattleTech Hetzer has always had wheels.

**Charistoph**

I've had to deal with Hetzers in the Aurigan Reach portion of our narrative campaign. Nasty little buggers.

Fortunately, most of the time my units were no slower than 5/8/5 and had other objectives to deal with first.

**Platuan4th**

Ghaz wrote:
Prometheum5 wrote:
It's adorable, and not just an actual Hetzer but with wheels!

The BattleTech Hetzer has always had wheels.

Prometheum means they didn't just take the actual real world tank and just give it wheels with no chassis redesign.

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

Are they going to call it a Hetzer, or will this one get changed due to rampant idiotic Presentism as well?

**Flinty**

Hetzers gotta hetz!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
It looks so much like a Gobsmasha

**Ghaz**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Are they going to call it a Hetzer, or will this one get changed due to rampant idiotic Presentism as well?

There was no officer in the Werhmacht by thar name, so no they're not changing the name.

**Charistoph**

Ghaz wrote:
H.B.M.C. wrote:
Are they going to call it a Hetzer, or will this one get changed due to rampant idiotic Presentism as well?

There was no officer in the Werhmacht by thar name, so no they're not changing the name.

Just a vehicle OF the Werhmact... Same principle in concept.

**Ghaz**

Charistoph wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
H.B.M.C. wrote:
Are they going to call it a Hetzer, or will this one get changed due to rampant idiotic Presentism as well?

There was no officer in the Werhmacht by thar name, so no they're not changing the name.

Just a vehicle OF the Werhmact... Same principle in concept.

No. Vehicles are inanimate objects, not people.

**beast_gts**

There's a BTech Humble Bundle on!

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Spoiler:

**Overread**

Well darn that's going to be hard to pass on!

Edit - I'm blind - Shipping for the Physical box is only in the USA.

**Prometheum5**

Platuan4th wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
Prometheum5 wrote:
It's adorable, and not just an actual Hetzer but with wheels!

The BattleTech Hetzer has always had wheels.

Prometheum means they didn't just take the actual real world tank and just give it wheels with no chassis redesign.

Yes, thank you. The original design is just the WWII tank on wheels

New version looks like a great modernization.

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

Ghaz wrote:
There was no officer in the Werhmacht by thar name, so no they're not changing the name.

You ever look up Patton's views on race?

But yeah, let's get rid of the other one...

**Ghaz**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
There was no officer in the Werhmacht by thar name, so no they're not changing the name.
You ever look up Patton's views on race?

But yeah, let's get rid of the other one...

Yes, I have, but I'm pretty sure the majority have not (including the people at Topps).

Looking at Ray's posts on the matter (most of the other posts have been nuked)...

Adrian Gideon wrote:Patton, no Rommel. You won't be seeing that again.

Adrian Gideon wrote:It should be obvious. No, I won’t discuss any of it, here or elsewhere, and it’s rule 4 here so that’s pretty much the end of it.

I get the distinct impression that he's not happy about the subject, which means it was most likely a dictate by Topps. I do remember seeing that they were not going to go back and retcon the Rommel out of existence, it will just be left to quietly fade away.

**kodos**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
There was no officer in the Werhmacht by thar name, so no they're not changing the name.
You ever look up Patton's views on race?
But yeah, let's get rid of the other one...

well, the one is banned outside historical fiction in some countries, the other is not
removing specific WW2 naming is simply to have less troubles by going into some markets

**chaos0xomega**

They could have just made a slight name change and it would be a non issue, call it the "Erwin" and its suddenly named after Schroedinger. Call it the "Roumel" and its suddenly named after a canadian actress. Call it the "Desert Fox" and yeah, you get the point.

That being said, I'm not actually sure the name "Rommel" is much considered a problem by most people, even the Bundesmarine had a destroyer named the Rommel (in his honor) until the late 1990s.

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

The Naga II continues to plague me; but I found a stop-gap solution: MixTech!

5 tons dedicated to modular armour - one on each torso section plus the arms - adds 10 armour to each location. To compensate for the (nonsensical) reduction of speed, you take a super-charger in the CT.

Then for guns I gave it 4 ER Med, 1 Large Pulse, a flamer, 1 SSRM4 and 2 SLRM5s, a targeting computer and a few extra heat sinks.

**Gitzbitah**

I am far more irked that the Caesar 5D gets its second mention- and still no record sheet! Unlike the R, it's inexplicably statted progeny, it was a beast. Same hardened armor, but Clan tech weapons, TSM, and Talons. A mech dedicated to walking right through the middle of the battlefield, to kick that dude in half.

How can it make the recguide, and not be in the rec guide? It's outrageous! It's unfair! rabble rabble rabble.

**Ghaz**

Gitzbitah wrote:
I am far more irked that the Caesar 5D gets its second mention- and still no record sheet! Unlike the R, it's inexplicably statted progeny, it was a beast. Same hardened armor, but Clan tech weapons, TSM, and Talons. A mech dedicated to walking right through the middle of the battlefield, to kick that dude in half.

How can it make the recguide, and not be in the rec guide? It's outrageous! It's unfair! rabble rabble rabble.

Maybe it's because none have been built yet. From page 223 of TRO: 3150:

It was to have been built on New Avalon with Sea Fox assistance, but plans are on the table to begin production on New Syrtis instead.