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 Davespil wrote:
Man those are some ugly models. AT is gonna eat this game for breakfast.

Kudos on the retro dig. Haven't heard of someone eating someone else's breakfast in years.


But to the point, the games have different vibes, dude. Not everyone wants to pilot a walking church that ejaculates skullz all over the place. Some people want to ride around in clunky robots kicking each other in the shins.

Will AT sell more copies? Certainly. Is AT's production value and distribution channels higher than Battletech? Absolutely, making point one a forgone conclusion. I'd guess there will be more copies of AT printed than Battletech just in general, and with GW's distribution chains and stores, those copies will be everywhere. Battletech doesn't have that sort of reach.

Are the two games appealing to the same crowd? Not sure. Battletech, even with its zany physics, is still much more "hard sci-fi" than 40k. So, what appeals to Battletech players aesthetically and game-play-wise may not be captured by AT. Also, the buy-in for Battletech will be cheaper than At and Battletech has its own customer base and nostalgia to tap into, so from a sales perspective I think Battletech and its breakfast will be fine. Battletech hasn't pulled in sales on par with GW since the 90's, but it has endured, sometimes inexplicably. In a sense it is the cockroach of Mecha gaming.

You can't defeat cockroaches. They just wait you out, then they sneak into your cupboard and eat your breakfast cereal.

Considering Adeptus Titanicus was Games Workshop's admitted rip-off of Battletech, the irony is delightful! But the dude is just trolling. It's not even worth responding.

 Davespil wrote:
Man those are some ugly models. AT is gonna eat this game for breakfast.

Right, of course

I'm quite sure there will be audiences for both. I for example don't like the scale of the new AT at all. And design wise, well... I'd rather buy several Gundam kits for the price/size (like, dozens, if the rumours of the AT prices are any indication).

 judgedoug wrote:
Considering Adeptus Titanicus was Games Workshop's admitted rip-off of Battletech, the irony is delightful! But the dude is just trolling. It's not even worth responding.

Oh for sure. Obvious troll is obvious with his middle school-yard banter.

I am surprised he didn't say that AT's dad was tougher than Battletech's dad.

 Albertorius wrote:

 Davespil wrote:
Man those are some ugly models. AT is gonna eat this game for breakfast.

Right, of course

I'm quite sure there will be audiences for both. I for example don't like the scale of the new AT at all. And design wise, well... I'd rather buy several Gundam kits for the price/size (like, dozens, if the rumours of the AT prices are any indication).

I am thinking that the BattleMech's from this game will be nciely in scale with the Knights from Adeptus Titanicus.

That sets up soem fun possibilities in my mind

To each their own I suppose, even if the dude is just trolling. I'd rather give Battletech a shot at 60 bucks (where I can read the quick start rules before hand) than spend 200+ on an AT starter where I can't read the rules first. Oh and Battletech has more than 4 total chassis options when the entire product line for the game is released. That is what really drives a nail into the coffin of that game for me.

When is this coming out?

 DarkTraveler777 wrote:

 judgedoug wrote:
Considering Adeptus Titanicus was Games Workshop's admitted rip-off of Battletech, the irony is delightful! But the dude is just trolling. It's not even worth responding.

Oh for sure. Obvious troll is obvious with his middle school-yard banter.

I am surprised he didn't say that AT's dad was tougher than Battletech's dad.

A warlord titan did kick sand into the face of a jenner IIC once

 thekingofkings wrote:

 DarkTraveler777 wrote:

 judgedoug wrote:
Considering Adeptus Titanicus was Games Workshop's admitted rip-off of Battletech, the irony is delightful! But the dude is just trolling. It's not even worth responding.

Oh for sure. Obvious troll is obvious with his middle school-yard banter.

I am surprised he didn't say that AT's dad was tougher than Battletech's dad.

A warlord titan did kick sand into the face of a jenner IIC once

Pretty sure it took the Jenner's lunch money, too.

 Gitzbitah wrote:
@ Sabotage
https://bg.battletech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/AlphaStrikeQuick-Start-Rules.pdf?x64300 Alpha Strike's free basic rules.

The Alpha Strike Lance Packs are probably your best bet for plastic Inner Sphere minis, though they are out of print.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=alpha+strike+lance+pack

8-15 for most, although the one with the Atlas is crazy expensive- it's the only place to get that plastic Victor.

The Ironwind Metals remain the best place to get Clan mechs, like the Timberwolf.

Are they out of production? I found this on their online store: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/pages/search-results?narrow=%5B%5B%22Categories%22%2C%22338289417%22%5D%2C%5B%22Type%22%2C%22Miniatures%22%5D%5D&category_id=338289417&category_url=%2Fcollections%2Fbattletech&disable_semantics=1

I loved BattleTech back in the eighties, but this company is doing its best to kill it off for good. I can't ever stock this game because they are always out of stock. This new set is pretty, but I am afraid we will get one shipment and then it will be out of stock for a year. I can't build a player base if new players can't get product, and in this competitive market I might as well go with Monsterapocalypse. Also, BattleTech has a long history and a bunch of technical readouts from too many different eras. They need to consolidate the product line and start over with a core of products. To this day I do not know which products are still usable, which are out of date, etc. And it's not just BattleTech, I can't get the Shadowrun core rules, or at least I couldn't until the new addition was announced. Catalyst seems to be in over their heads. They need to call that guy from "the Profit" To give them 200k seed money to stock up and meet demand. The last company to own the rights to the Vampire rpg was in a similar position, only selling online. Someone else bought the license and is re-releasing it the right way (with the original lore) and I am stocking up on that.

That is, unfortunately, quite possible. The release of the Battletech computer game should be used as effectively as possible, and a big part of that is actually having stock to sell... but well, Catalyst being the company it is, I don't quite see them capitalizing on it.

@mmmpi I know, I learned that in this thread as well. It took me by surprise. Look through your link for this- http://www.sarna.net/wiki/BattleTech_Alpha_Strike:_Assault_Lance_Pack

The pursuit lance pack is also no longer listed. Presently, there is still stock to be had, but no more are being produced. Grab them while you can!

 Albertorius wrote:
That is, unfortunately, quite possible. The release of the Battletech computer game should be used as effectively as possible, and a big part of that is actually having stock to sell... but well, Catalyst being the company it is, I don't quite see them capitalizing on it.

While I agree somewhat on Catalyst, they ARE releasing a new edition, HAVE been promoting it alongside the computer game, and the redesigns are far more recognizable to the players of the computer game. Catalyst may be slow in this instance (should have come out in May) but they're not too dumb.

The Battletech computer game only got released in may due to unforeseen delays, too, so that means Catalyst was even more late, but they sort of lucked out, and the delay between the release of the computer game and the new starter box will "only" be of about 4-5 months.

And they are NOT releasing a new edition... they are releasing a substitute for the starter box that has been OOP for years, now. There is no new edition of the Battletech core game.

There is going to be a new edition of Alpha Strike, though. Sometime in the nearish future.

 Albertorius wrote:
The Battletech computer game only got released in may due to unforeseen delays, too, so that means Catalyst was even more late, but they sort of lucked out, and the delay between the release of the computer game and the new starter box will "only" be of about 4-5 months.

And they are NOT releasing a new edition... they are releasing a substitute for the starter box that has been OOP for years, now. There is no new edition of the Battletech core game.

There is going to be a new edition of Alpha Strike, though. Sometime in the nearish future.

You know what I mean. This thread was started by me.

It was just too good of a bait, man

 Albertorius wrote:
It was just too good of a bait, man

Hey any chance to introduce new players to not only the weirdly satisfied state that playing a game Battletech can leave your brain in, or to the fun and frantic tactics of Alpha Strike (especially on a huge terrain filled game board), and all with sweet new models, is great by me

 Gitzbitah wrote:
@mmmpi I know, I learned that in this thread as well. It took me by surprise. Look through your link for this- http://www.sarna.net/wiki/BattleTech_Alpha_Strike:_Assault_Lance_Pack

The pursuit lance pack is also no longer listed. Presently, there is still stock to be had, but no more are being produced. Grab them while you can!

It would be nice if they said they were out of production. Literally nothing says that definitively anywhere.

That's Battletech style. Figuring out what's archived and what's not on IWM is also a fun digging expedition.

But hey, that honestly is quite a bit of Battletech's weird charm. I'll gladly spend hours poring over forums and digging through their MUL to figure out a faction appropriate lance- and undoubtedly encounter contradiction and opposition to my fidelity as soon as it hits the table. You usually discover a mech or two you haven't used before, or forgot about in the process.

Where does one even begin with learning the Battletech rules?

I'm not talking about the skirmish style Alpha Strike game, which I know is getting new rules, but the proper, handful of mechs per side, game?

For someone from the complete outside there is a shocking amount of content out there, and I can't tell RPG source-books from miniature game rules, etc...

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
Where does one even begin with learning the Battletech rules?

I'm not talking about the skirmish style Alpha Strike game, which I know is getting new rules, but the proper, handful of mechs per side, game?

For someone from the complete outside there is a shocking amount of content out there, and I can't tell RPG source-books from miniature game rules, etc...

Wait a few weeks for the new box set to come out. That's where you start.

A bit more indepth? The Battletech website actually is pretty useful. Here's the info: https://bg.battletech.com/books/core_rulebooks/

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
Where does one even begin with learning the Battletech rules?

I'm not talking about the skirmish style Alpha Strike game, which I know is getting new rules, but the proper, handful of mechs per side, game?

For someone from the complete outside there is a shocking amount of content out there, and I can't tell RPG source-books from miniature game rules, etc...

http://www.battletech.com/downloads/CBT-Quick-Start-Rules.pdf

 DarkTraveler777 wrote:

 Davespil wrote:
Man those are some ugly models. AT is gonna eat this game for breakfast.

Kudos on the retro dig. Haven't heard of someone eating someone else's breakfast in years.

In my defense, I'm old.

 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
But to the point, the games have different vibes, dude. Not everyone wants to pilot a walking church that ejaculates skullz all over the place. Some people want to ride around in clunky robots kicking each other in the shins.

Will AT sell more copies? Certainly. Is AT's production value and distribution channels higher than Battletech? Absolutely, making point one a forgone conclusion. I'd guess there will be more copies of AT printed than Battletech just in general, and with GW's distribution chains and stores, those copies will be everywhere. Battletech doesn't have that sort of reach.

Are the two games appealing to the same crowd? Not sure. Battletech, even with its zany physics, is still much more "hard sci-fi" than 40k. So, what appeals to Battletech players aesthetically and game-play-wise may not be captured by AT. Also, the buy-in for Battletech will be cheaper than At and Battletech has its own customer base and nostalgia to tap into, so from a sales perspective I think Battletech and its breakfast will be fine. Battletech hasn't pulled in sales on par with GW since the 90's, but it has endured, sometimes inexplicably. In a sense it is the cockroach of Mecha gaming.

You can't defeat cockroaches. They just wait you out, then they sneak into your cupboard and eat your breakfast cereal.

But these cockroaches looked out dated in the 80's when compared to Robotech and the like. I'm not an anime fan but a lot of Japanese cartoons look more advanced and stylized than Battletech.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Sabotage! wrote:
To each their own I suppose, even if the dude is just trolling. I'd rather give Battletech a shot at 60 bucks (where I can read the quick start rules before hand) than spend 200+ on an AT starter where I can't read the rules first. Oh and Battletech has more than 4 total chassis options when the entire product line for the game is released. That is what really drives a nail into the coffin of that game for me.

Or, just buy the models you want and the rules instead of buying the starter. You will pay more for quaility. Battletech has more than 4 chassis cause it's been around forever. GW will add more titans as the game goes on.

 Davespil wrote:
Or, just buy the models you want and the rules instead of buying the starter. You will pay more for quaility. Battletech has more than 4 chassis cause it's been around forever. GW will add more titans as the game goes on.

GW hasn't introduced a new Titan chassis in twenty-four years. There's been Warhound, Reaver, Warlord, Imperator since 1988-1994. Their imperial chassis are the equivalent of Light, Medium, Heavy, Assault Mechs, but the difference is that there are "patterns" of each type of titan, and of course, modular weapons load-outs.

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
Where does one even begin with learning the Battletech rules?

I'm not talking about the skirmish style Alpha Strike game, which I know is getting new rules, but the proper, handful of mechs per side, game?

For someone from the complete outside there is a shocking amount of content out there, and I can't tell RPG source-books from miniature game rules, etc...

If you want to start out, try this:

http://www.battletech.com/downloads/CBT-Quick-Start-Rules.pdf

It has everything you need to try out the game and some in-setting fiction, to boot.

It's kind of neat how there's so much room in the giant robot genre, and so many different ways to take the tropes and flavours. GKR: Heavy Hitters, for example, makes it a sport. Giga-Robo does Japanese super-robots where Robotech does 'real' robots. Pacific Rim: Extinction punches giant monsters. I really like how Adeptus Titanicus makes them walking battleships, whereas Battletech makes them more like conventional units (and emphasises conventional units more).

 Davespil wrote:
But these cockroaches looked out dated in the 80's when compared to Robotech and the like. I'm not an anime fan but a lot of Japanese cartoons look more advanced and stylized than Battletech.

Oh my goodness, that's real comedy gold, right there.

You do realize that most of those are actually redesigns of mechas from anime series, right? And that they have been redesigned to avoid further lawsuits for their rights, right?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Nurglitch wrote:
It's kind of neat how there's so much room in the giant robot genre, and so many different ways to take the tropes and flavours. GKR: Heavy Hitters, for example, makes it a sport. Giga-Robo does Japanese super-robots where Robotech does 'real' robots. Pacific Rim: Extinction punches giant monsters. I really like how Adeptus Titanicus makes them walking battleships, whereas Battletech makes them more like conventional units (and emphasises conventional units more).

You know, it's interesting that you say that, because back in the day we always said that the way Btech plays is very similar to Age of Sail ship combat, whereas the game we thought that was more in line with conventional combat with mechas was Heavy Gear.

I still think it, to be honest.

However you think these things line up, the point is that there's lots of different games to play with giant robots.

 Nurglitch wrote:
However you think these things line up, the point is that there's lots of different games to play with giant robots.

Oh, yeah, I wasn't disputing that in the slightest. And it's a really great thing, too