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2026/03/24 19:54:22
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
Kalamadea wrote: it's a little wierd to have the starter set with no truly iconic mechs, but it does mean you aren't locking important things like the Awesome and Catapult into the starter set.
Instead they're locking a mech with its first official model to one.
You know you're really doing something when you can make strangers hate you over the Internet. - Mauleed
Just remember folks. Panic. Panic all the time. It's the only way to survive, other than just being mindful, of course-but geez, that's so friggin' boring. - Aegis Grimm
Hallowed is the All Pie The Before Times: A Place That Celebrates The World That Was
2026/03/24 20:48:01
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
Kalamadea wrote: I'm so happy to have a plastic Hollander finally, loved that mech ever since it wrecked my world in Mechcommander and I refuse to build the awfulness that is the metal version. The rest of the mechs are mostly meh, it's a little wierd to have the starter set with no truly iconic mechs...
Honestly, not always falling back on the designs us old heads find iconic is probably a good choice considering how many new Battletech fans there have been lately. Designs become iconic via exposure, so sticking some newer stuff in to the starter boxes seems like a good choice (I mean, they went to the trouble of redesigning so many of them, may as well use the new designs in a front-and-center role).
It also means there is a better chance of both established and new players grabbing it. Part of it is not locking popular designs in the starter, as you said, the other part is that many of us have more than we need of most of the iconic designs we want anyways.
Definitely grabbing it for the Regent and Hollander myself (I do own the metal ones, and you were right not to get them, they are pants).
2026/03/24 21:46:41
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
Only one I recognize is the Reagent, and it's much better looking compared to the Gray Death version.
I do have two questions, however: what will happen to the beginner and Essentials Mechs(possibly a Legendary IV for the latter?), and why do I feel like I should only get the new beginner box only for such a beautiful Mech as the Konito?
2026/03/24 21:48:02
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
It's a way to get people more stuck in with the current IlClan era I suppose. But hey, we get a new Mad Cat variant as well as the "we have a Mad Cat at home" variant.
Here's hoping they announce a set or two with some of the current starter exclusives soon. One can never have too many Commando's, Catapults and Wolverines.
I never thought we'd see the day the Solitaire went mainstream!
This is the best way possible to move beyond the grognards that are stuck in the 80s though- make the icons of a new era the introduction for new players. Are you a Hammerhead, or a Kontio player?
Klawz-Ramming is a subset of citrus fruit?
Gwar- "And everyone wants a bigger Spleen!"
Mercurial wrote:
I admire your aplomb and instate you as Baron of the Seas and Lord Marshall of Privateers.
Orkeosaurus wrote:Star Trek also said we'd have X-Wings by now. We all see how that prediction turned out.
Orkeosaurus, on homophobia, the nature of homosexuality, and the greatness of George Takei.
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2026/03/24 22:50:35
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
They'll never get me into the IlKhan era, but then that's probably true of 95% of their customer base. And I'm a new player, it's a complete fantasy to think being new means you like the new stuff and being old means you just like the old stuff. I'm still probably going to pick up one of the new core box. But just one.
It may be they're not going to get another AGOAC type box again where players all buy six. But this box definitely won't move like that. Still by tying the cooler old era Mechs into their new IlPoochy era Mechs, they still get us to buy one.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2026/03/24 22:52:32
2026/03/25 06:52:45
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
Gitzbitah wrote: I never thought we'd see the day the Solitaire went mainstream!
This is the best way possible to move beyond the grognards that are stuck in the 80s though- make the icons of a new era the introduction for new players. Are you a Hammerhead, or a Kontio player?
As someone less familiar with the newer mechs I thought it was a modernized Starslayer there.
I'm hoping this also means we eventually get a lance box with a new Battlemaster and Catapult. The Game of Armored Combat sculpts are very poor compared to the current releases.
2026/03/25 11:31:35
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
They'll never get me into the IlKhan era, but then that's probably true of 95% of their customer base. And I'm a new player, it's a complete fantasy to think being new means you like the new stuff and being old means you just like the old stuff. I'm still probably going to pick up one of the new core box. But just one.
It may be they're not going to get another AGOAC type box again where players all buy six. But this box definitely won't move like that. Still by tying the cooler old era Mechs into their new IlPoochy era Mechs, they still get us to buy one.
I just looked at Sarna and MUL. The Mech were first built in different eras, but yeah: it seems the core box is doimg more for ilClan than a flyer and an added Mech sheet like with AGoAC's 40th.
I do wonder though if the classic and AS stats for Eris will also be for Hel...
2026/03/25 12:23:29
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
Gitzbitah wrote: I never thought we'd see the day the Solitaire went mainstream!
This is the best way possible to move beyond the grognards that are stuck in the 80s though- make the icons of a new era the introduction for new players. Are you a Hammerhead, or a Kontio player?
As someone less familiar with the newer mechs I thought it was a modernized Starslayer there.
I'm hoping this also means we eventually get a lance box with a new Battlemaster and Catapult. The Game of Armored Combat sculpts are very poor compared to the current releases.
As mentioned by Ghaz upthread, the AGoAC Mechs will be made available thru 2 ForcePacks (confirmed by CGL's Cubby).
Hopefully they'll also take the effort to update the models with remastered STLs (as they are planning to do with the Clan Invasion Box Mechs which will be re-released as ForcePack as well).
2026/03/25 19:44:12
Subject: Re:BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
Note the Aerospace Fighter prototypes to the left, from bottom to top we have what appears to be a Chippewa, a Lucifer and a Seydlitz.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2026/03/25 22:12:13
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
2026/03/25 22:22:45
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
Oh man, Snowblind is going to hit the shelves before I ever get a copy of Scouring Sands. I placed my order 6 months ago and the retailer is still waiting on a UK restock :(
Helm Memory Core wrote:From the Randall Leakverse: (Who Knows, Randall's KerenskyCon List still in the air lol)
- House Steiner Air Force pack coming later this year
- 3 minis per pack, 1 per weight class
- Two packs needed for whole IS squadron
- Each House gets a pack"
The three aerospace fighters pictured above are all Steiner ASFs so should be the contents of the Air ForcePack.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2026/03/26 01:52:18
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
Randall hopes to have a C-scale BattleMaster at GenCon and work has already begun on a C-scale Regent.
From the Helm Memory Core Facebook page:
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech Adepticon News 8am:
- Core Rulebook will be sent to print end of April
- Randall Mentions my Leakverse (lol)
- Battletech Inceptions Computer Game homage in the New Graphic Novel from Eldon
- Adepticon Schedule still in Flux due to flights
- Regent C-Scale
- C-Scale Regent might be Modular, Prime and A Variant
- Rules taken out of Total Warfare for the new Core Rules will arrive in future releases
- Aerospace Alpha Playtest just finished, postive things all around
- "Somehow, the Nova Cats have Returned" : Randall: You don't know what you are asking for
- The New Map Scale Dropships won't have BSP cards, no rules exist
- No news on IWM Business
- Solid Gold Urbanmech when?
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech Adepticon News 10am:
- The 6 Month Playtest was a massive Success for the new Core Rulebook
- Side Torso test was the biggest change, it is considered the single most slow part of Classic Battletech
- Side Torso Chart looked good at first but in the end it didn't work
- Cluster Hit table also slows down the game but changing it would change battletech
- Marco Mazzoni did the Covers for the new Core Books
- Big Reds Video with the Pheonix Hawk IIC Art will be on the back of the Starter Box and the Core Rule Book
- The Demo Agents created the Battletech Grinder System
- Bryn wanted the vibe for younger kids, "do you want to play the shark or the bear" for the starter box
- The Hammerhead and Kontio are popular designs from the newest era, so it was best of both worlds
- The Starter box first mission will use the half sheets with basic tech
- Second Mission will have more rules introduced, the back of the half sheets will have more rules
- ECM and other tech is explained as they go along the missions so the Starter Box will lead them gradually
- Starter Box will have halfsheets for the mechs in the Core Box
- The original Idea of AGOAC/Starter Box/Essentials is that the advance tech would be hard to use as an introduction
- Legacy was a big part of how Battletech was orginally sold and still the big part of the community loves the Succession Wars
- The New Boxsets are setup to really help new players and maybe old players jump into Adv.Tech and the ilClan
- Some people are Jihad players, Randall said "good for you"
- Kontio will only be available in the Starter Box
- Clan Invasion Boxset went OOP last fall, Mechs will be in the Clan Battle Star
- Beginner Box and AGOAC Mechs will be filtered into new Forcepacks as we go along with new molds (aka Remastered)
- Core box will have the 3152 Box
- Regent is the posterchild of the ilClan Era (Gray Death Legion, Pope Leo)
- The mech selection in the Core Box represents a solid 40 years of mechs
- Rakshasa, Hollander 3055 released in 1992
- Solitaire 3067
- Mechwarrior 4 Mechs coming out like the Uziel, the Uziel had the most minimal updates because its a solid design
- Dark Age represetned by the Vulture MKIV, Eris
- A Nice representation of History in one box
- PIlot Cards are updated
- Hammerhead and Kontio Alpha Strike Cards will be in the Core Box, didn't want to cause confusion
- New Variants for the Rakshasa, Uziel, Mad Cat MKII, Hollander
- Hollander now has a Heavy Gauss Rifle in the ilClan Era
- Maps in the New Box Sets are still the same, but updated the art
- Barnes and Noble Exclusive Camacho's Caballeros Available in the Fall: Albatross, Pheonix Hawk 7k, Hunchi 4P, Grand TItan
- In a perfect world The New Boxsets and Rulebooks should be available at retail in August, and will be available at Gencon
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech Adepticon News 12pm:
- Ray has been working on the Core Rulebook for the last 18 months
- The Battlemech Manual was the inspiration for the new Core Rulebook, Battlemech Manual came out 9 years ago, Total Warfare 19 years ago
- OnlyLAMs: Crash and Burn (Ray's Dream Product lol)
- Snowblind: You don't need Scouring Sands to get Snowblind
- New Snowblind Rulebook has some updates
- Infantry Barracks rule from Hinterlands updated: Add Infantry to your force but you can pay to "repair" the Infantry Unit, less punishing
- Snowblind: Story from Dominions Divided, 3151-3152
- Ghost Bear Civil War
- Story of the Joiners and Deniers
- Alaric rejects the Ghost Bears joining the ilClan
- Your Merc unit is the garrison unit keeping the peace
- Pirate raids happening trying to take the Battlemech Factory on planet
- No one likes the Mercs coming in to help the Planet
- 3 Different Endings
- Scouring Sands was a huge hit
- 20 Pages longer in the Scenario Book, way more fiction
- More Waypoint stuff
- Design Changes overall
- Same Training Mission, but cleaned up a bit and cleaner FAQ - Civilians added to the Campaign, with rules adapted from Classic
- Artillery is the special function of Snowblind
- Small Changes for Alpha Strike in terms of Artillery, will show up later in new Alpha Strike Rules
- Special Juggernaut Deck included (TMM 0)
- Front Loaded Initiative Explanation included for multiple forces
- Aces Snow Blind Mech List:
Fire Moth G, Arctic Cheetah A, Rime Otter Prime, Mongrel A, Nova Cat B, Kingfisher C, Grizzly 3, Viking IIC
- Cardboard:
2x Manticore
5x Elementals
2x Vedette
2x LRM
2x SRM
2x Long Tom Artillery
- Tau Galaxy, 18th Provisional Cluster is the OpFor
- 5 Elemental Alpha Strike Cards
- Pirate Motorized Infantry: Snowmobiles
- Kingfisher Art is Pirate King "Bearslayer"
- BSP Cards including
- Fulcrum 1 and 2 Cards included in Snowblind, Forgot to include in Scouring Sands (Apologies from Josh)
Helm Memory Core wrote:Adepitcon Q&A Day 1 with Randall Bills:
- Nova Cats Novel Coming
- More BSP Counters is being worked on
- New Token Pack probably coming in a year or two
- Battle Armor Force Packs Updates: These are difficult to make so they are changing (Delayed)
- Mid April plan for replacements for broken or miscast Scouring Sands minis
- Draconis Reach Might Show up tomorrow at Gencon
- All the Beginner Box and AGOAC Mechs will be in new Force Packs
- Convential Infantry we might see as resin minis or just leave at Iron Wind Metals
- All Eras will still be supported, don't worry
- Celestials Force Pack still coming, Don't worry Jihad Players
- Jihad Novels still in the works
- Battletroops, maybe, but a ways out, never say never
- Mechwarrior RPG Delayed
- No RPG Conversions either
- No Mad Cat III any time soon
- C-Scale Battle Armor, Never Say Never
- C-Scale Battlemaster for Gencon (Randall Hopes)
- Standalone Aces decks being looked at, really want those to be sold
- Aerospace Boxset, Forcepacks, Rulebook Coming, Aerojocks rejoice (Small Clan Aerojocks step on a stool and rejoice as well)
- By the Fall Two Aerospace Forcepacks will be available at retail, House Steiner Squadron Force Packs
- Forcepack 1: Shilone, Slayer, Shologar,
- Forcepack 2: Chippewa, Lucifer, Seydlitz
- There will also be a Clan Squadron Forcepack as well: Sabutai, Jagatai, Chaeronea
- Aces Terrain might come out later as a separate product but no plans yet
- Celestials doesn't have a timeline of release
- Aerospace Kickstarter being discussed but no comment at the moment
- Starter Box: 29.99
- Core Box: 69.99
- Snowblind: 84.99
- Core Rulebook: 49.99
- Below Weapon area, Phyiscial Attacks will be added to record sheets
- We are never having a Blood Kite, Rip Homeworld Clanners
- No Change on Jump rules for IS Battle Armor
- Champion, Wyvern, and others still trying to find a home to be released
- More ilClan Variants still coming for older mechs
- Maybe a BT 18 Month Calendar
- Aerospace not using Leviathans Rules, stilll 2D6 - Aces Classic Series being worked on, hopefully its popular so it can expand
- New Weapons and Armor coming, will see in a new box down the road
- The new AGOAC and BB Minis will be remaster but not reposed
- Aces: Wrath & Reprisal Leak: Lao Hu will be in the box from Field Manual Capellan Confederation
- The 3250 Timeskip was planned but will be changed
- If C-Scale Regent Modularity works, it will be integrated in future releases
- Mechcommander Handbook still being worked on, Campaign book
- Battletech Command still coming
- Resurgent Empires still coming
- Graphic Novels will be in Color
- No Clan Vehicles this year
- New TROs with modernized Art: NO
- No new Coffee table book, Currently just the Battletech Universe
- Tried to improve Autocannons, but really it was too hard to balance, just ignore the first crit
- Capital Ships, one day, one day...
- Core Box will have coupon
- Custom Alpha Strike Calculator, good idea, not something on the table
- Not ready to say what the next Rule Book will be
- Another year or more until we see the new Rule Book after Core
- PGI Mechs: Problems to bring over to Battletech
- Clan Forcepacks Coming
- Clan Wolf Pack almost done
- The Hexes for the Dropships are for balance and to be able to place units below them
- No Price for Aerotech Forcepack: Maybe around 44.99 but we don't know yet
- ilClan PDFs for Force Manuals will come after all the layout for new product
- Maybe Battlemechs will be updated to be able to carry Battle Armor, maybe
- C-Scale Urbie not anytime soon
- No US Injection molding plans
- Core Rulebook replaces Total Warfare and Battlemech Manual
- BV update doesn't have a date yet
- Maybe a Battleforce update one day
- Abomination Construction Rules maybe one day
- Ares Forcepack is after the Clan Wolf Support Star
- Want to do Clan Plushies one day
- Print on Demand for old source books still coming
- End of the year maybe a new updated Randall Mech List Leak
This message was edited 7 times. Last update was at 2026/03/26 23:19:34
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News Day 2 9am Adepticon:
- Still Would like to translate all the German Novels to English
- Translating Novels costs the same as getting a new novel off the ground
- 2026 Still Focusing on Mercenaries
- Hinterlands still a prominent area
- Hinterlands popular amongst fans
- New Tom Leveen novel
- Death Head Mercs back from thr Battlecorps era
- Dominion Civil War Novellas
- HBS Battletech Novellas finally going to print
- Moving pass Terra stories, time to revisit areas around the Sphere
- Tomorrow at Noon(Saturday) ilClan Inner Sphere Tour, 2 hour update
- Pushing the timeline forward is important for the ip
- All eras will always be supported
- The Newest era is the easiest way to get new players in
- More Marik Stories from Phil
- Jihad not forgotten
- Blake be With you
- Audiobooks still coming, aiming for 1 a month, looking to expand
- Terran Hegemony Novel interesting but no plans, maybe some Novellas if someone has a good idea
- Yellow King Productions Germany has the License to do Print on Demand, Audiobooks and epubs
- Mario Weiss is leading Yellow King Productions
- Wars of Reaving Novel drafts are done, but they are too long
- Wars of Reaving delayed until they are retooled and edited
- No far reaching timeline disclosure at this time
- Reunification War Series seems interesting
- Hinterland Minor powers are not going away
- Michael Ciaravella confirmed Blakest
- The ghost of Ray Arrastia ,"The Marauder is the Heavy Crab"
- Den of Wolves still being worked on, meeting with Stackpole and Loren next month
- Alaric confirmed to die one day
- Kell Hounds Project, Many Authors like Stackpole and Jason Schmetzer
- No Scorpion Empire stories currently
- No Aurigian Reach
- Camacho's Caballeros, Jason Schmetzer Coming
- Black Marauder Stories not done, there is an ending but if you want to send in a Black Marauder story, go for it
- Maybe a Canopus vs Marian story
- Maybe a Hotspots/Sourcebook for a Canopus vs Marian story
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News Day 2 10am Adepticon:
- Phil wants to do more Marik Stories for sure, but working on Shrapnel
- Jason Hansa would do Far Country Sequels in a heartbeat if allowed
- More GDL Novels for sure, both in Classic Timeline and the current timeline
- Long Road Sequel for sure - Jason Hansa
- Nighthawk Mech Fiction Possibly Coming
- "Somehow the Spirit Cats have returned"
- New Romance Novel set at Fulker Military Academy, out April
- Maybe some Aerospace Fiction to go along with the new Aerospace Boxset and Squadron Packs
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News Adepticon Day 2 Fireside Chat Ray Arrastia:
- May have a Aces pdf, heavily redacted depending on content
- Draconis Reach has reached the Warehouse
- Draconis Reach 49.99
- Release Date soon
- none of the AGOAC/Clan Invasion minis will return as new variants, just remastered
- Ray will always try to do his best for Battletech, strive to make decisions that make sense
- Anything not in the new Core book will be optional rules
- New BSP Rules in the New Campaign Book
- The Sea Fox Units are redundant now with new Core Box
- The Vindicator will return
- Unknown if Apla Strike Box will be replaced
- New Alpha Strike Rule Book for sure though
- The new Mechwarrior RPG has a specific style that Catalyst, specifically Ray, wanted to achieve.
- Ray had the designer/author in mind and it turned out he loves Battletech but the timing didn't work out, so until the timing is right, the RPG is shelved until further notice
- Fox Patrol Boxset still coming but it involves fiction that is not available yet
- Master Unit List 2.0 update is close, but there are hosting issues
- Comstar Level II Restocks are enroute but no date
- Force Manual Invading Clans is the next FM coming, hopefully by the end of the Year
- FM Invading Clans is about double the size of the other Force Manuals
- New freelancer joining the Layout team to help
- Force Manual Steiner getting written
- After Steiner no precise faction in mind yet
- Layout is really the place where things get stuck
- ilClan PDF updates for Force Manuals are ready, but again the Layout process is in the way
- Ray would have wanted to show off some Graphic Novel Artwork, but didn't think about it before the stream
- Ray says the Artwork so far is amazing
- One thing about the new rulebook Ray had questions about was Ammo Explosions. It was tied to the new side torso tables but the ammo explosion change in the new rulebook was kept, but the side torso changes were dropped.
- Missions in the new rulebook is one of his favorite parts of the new Core book
- Gallowglas is in the new Mech list, its coming
- Aerospace Fighters are done to scale so they are large. Maybe a rescale later on but nothing planned.
- Ray is really open to have interviews and community outreach so if you are a content creator, feel free to reach out.
- Ray wants everyone to keep calm about Aerospace, they are trying and want to keep enthusiasm high, but just remember things change and happen
- There will be a new product that has not been announced that will have Abomination construction rules.
- Mercenaries Force Packs will continue to go to Barnes & Noble
- The Shilone might not come in the new Aerospace pack because its a repeat, but please wait until everything is confirmed
- Battle Armor Forcepacks really come with production hurdles, so hopefully CGL finds a solution for the small scale units
- UrbanMech Company Pack might not come back
- Fox Patrol, Mix Unit 2 New minis for sure
- New IWM models coming this year, but no list yet available
- Mad Cat III is not on the lost for plastic
- Premium Record Sheets might not come back, not a priority but if Loren wants to do it sure
- Still no list for which Force Packs have been retired, 4 total, might come back In a few years
- No new printings of current rulebook like Total Warfare and BMM
- Raijin, Nexus, Gran Crusader Coming Evetually
- New TROs will always come
- Battleforce, Everyone wants, not many people actually play
- But yes, a New Battleforce Type thing coming
- CGL pursuing maore outreach and social media
- Ray would like a bits box for variants, but no not right now
- Ray thanks all the Content Creators
- MFUK Designs could become Canon
- No Pope Leo Plans
- Essentials is retired
- Brush Wars coming to Print
- PrePainted Minis was 50/50 in the community
- No update on Premium Minis
- Don't worry All eras will be supported but include ilclan stuff too
Some nice views of the resin prototypes at Adepticon
This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 2026/03/28 14:38:23
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
Right, that was also a thing mentioned aeons ago now.
Haha, at this point, I've come to learn that all news from CGL while awesome, should be taken with a hefty huff of "when it's done, it's done" and to not get too excited about it all any more.
Morskul wrote: I really hope we get some news about MUL 2.0.
MUL 2.0 was mentioned in the Fireside Chat with Ray Arrastia (just added above). It's being held up with hosting issues.
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
2026/03/28 17:22:15
Subject: BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - ADEPTICON 2026 MAJOR UPDATE
Ronin_eX wrote: Honestly, not always falling back on the designs us old heads find iconic is probably a good choice considering how many new Battletech fans there have been lately. Designs become iconic via exposure, so sticking some newer stuff in to the starter boxes seems like a good choice (I mean, they went to the trouble of redesigning so many of them, may as well use the new designs in a front-and-center role).
I think this looks like a very nice starter set. A whole lot of the mechs are the sorts that would convince established players to buy a lance box due to how good they are so putting that power in the hands of new players is going to make them iconic through brute force. A starter box with a kontio and a hammerhead is a step up in sheer ferocity over a griffin and my beloved vindicator.
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News Adepticon Day 3 Welcome Stream:
- Aces Legacy, Convention Rules, Coming to Cons soon, will debut at the Ontario Convention, for sure at Gencon
- Rakshasa C when? Clan Tech Refit
- Stats on the Light and Heavy Plasma Rifles not available yet
- XL Engines in Alpha Strike are represented with lower Structure HP - Heavy Guass Rifle PSR checks are gone, Hollander will Live when shooting Heavy Gauss
- Forest Clearing Rules removed since it wasn't used much, focus on streamlining rules for the New Core
- Ammo Dump Rules removed because immersion is great but also sometimes it bogs down the game due to how the rules exist
- Dark Age Mechs will keep coming
- No one who runs Tuesday Newsday runs Catalyst :rofl:
- Josh Derksen is a Canon Event in Battletech
- Mech 7 Season 2 Premiere is up, make sure to check it out!
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News ilClan Deep Cut Stream Part 1:
- ilClan Era came about because Dark Age lasted almost 20 years and the franchise was in hibernation
- The ip needed to move forward and grow, pay off the Clan Invasion finally, which lead to Hour of the Wolf
- Clan Wolf Finally taking terra, Jade Falcon almost being wiped out, and the end of the Republic and destruction of Republic Forces
- Having done this opened the Inner Sphere for Fiction once more to get stories going
- This gave Shrapnel the ability to take stories from around the Inner Sphere as well
- Periphery ilClan Sourcebook in the works, The Matter of the Pleides
- Alairc's Goal was always to reform the Star League, and he succeeded
- The wall is still up around Terra
- SLDF reformed, with Clan flavors
- Ghost Bear was rejected from joining the ilClan
- Terrans had to be informed about becoming part of the Clan
- Wall is up because Clan Wolf set everything on fire and it's a bad look
- Alairc's Win on Terra is the culmination of Kerensky's vision
- Insuregency still happneing on Terra
- Some Republic Forces were able to flee Terra, some are still on Terra subverting Clan Wolf
- Story wise, there is a focus past Terra and seeing the ramifications throughout the Sphere
- The Lyran Commonwealth starting the ilClan are basically beaten into the ground and are not doing well financially
- Many Commonwealth Systems broke off to become Periphery Nations
- Jade Falcons have lost a lot of the territory they gained from the Lyrans but they might still be a problem
- Since Alaric gave the Commonwealth a beating, they are hesitant to retake territory
- Some Systems are forming small groups to support eachother in Former Steiner Space
- Jade Falcons still on Sudetan, the Jade Falcon Capital. they think the Main Jade Falcon forces were destroyed, but not true
- Less than 100 Jade Falcon warriors survived on Terra after the Assault
- Some Jade Falcons were swallowed up by Hells Horses
- Vedet Brewer (Duke of Hesperus II, CEO of Defiance Industries) Established a Kingdom for the reforming Commonwealth by capturing emptied territory
- Lots of Salvage Opportunities in the Hinterlands/Commonwealth Former Territory lol - Steiner and the Commonwealth is gonna get hurt a bit more before it gets better (Ray Leakverse)
- Kell Hounds took back Arc Royal, the traditional Kell Hound Homeworld
- Kell Hounds have had unhappy Commonwealth systems join the Kell Hounds
- Lots of Loki Missions were still happening even in the ilClan Era
- Wolf Empire Territory was a stepping stone to take Terra, still occupied, including Solaris VII
- The Free Worlds League is trying to take back territory taken by Clan Wolf, area that occupies old FWL and Steiner territory
- The New FWL had a cease fire agreement with Clan Wolf, but afraid to take back territory and face retaliation
- Due to the structure of the FWL, other FWL factions say to break the ceasefire and take back their rightful territory
- The Capellans and the FWL have been friendly on their border
- The Marion Hegemony have struct deep into FWL Territory
- The Anduriens are Allied with the Confederation and the Magistracy, a pain in the side of the rest of the FWL
- Current Captain General of the FWL is Nicole Marik
- She Convinced the FWL to ally themselves together, but her Mother was the one behind the armistace with Clan Wolf
- Lots of Marik Nobels lost their planets but have heard rumors that Clan Wolf sent forces to Terra, unafraid of Repercussions
- The Clan Protectorate is a member of the FWL, but some protectorate units broke off to police Clan Territory
- Sprit Cats/Nova Cats in the Protectorate are fairly neutral
- Wolf Remnants have not heard back of their victory on Terra, Since they are thinned out, they are having trouble keeping territory
- Wolf Dragoons flanking the Wolf Remnants
- Some Wolf Dragoons Joined Clan Wolf
- Dragoons are mostly Freebirths, about 100 years since they had Trueborns
- Dragoons got the bad end of that stick
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News ilClan Deep Cut Stream Part 2: The Stability of the Inner Sphere, The Capellan Confederation
- Daoshen was the Chancellor of the Capellans
- Hellbent on taking Terra
- Wanted to be the First Lord of the Star league
- Capellan Forces became a major power during the Dark Age
- Daoshen's Sister is the Leader of the Magistracy of Canopus, Liao Supremacy
- The Anduriens Married into the Liao Family via Daoshen's Sister, leading them to becoming Allies
- They Agreed to attack the FWL, which lead the Marians to attack the FWL, but the Anduriens and Canopus did not support
- Canopus is supporting Andurien Territory
- Everyone was supporting Daoshen in his conqest of Terra
- It helped the FWL overall as Canopian, Andurien and Capellan Forces were distracted with the taking of Terra and supporting Daoshen
- Since Liao Forces were so focused on Terra they left the FWL alone and a ceasefire with House Davion/Fed Suns
- Danai Liao, is the sister to the leaders of Canopus and Capellan Confederation
- She is actually the Child of the Siblings
- Danai is the Heir to the Capellan Confederation
- The Reformed Star League faces the Capelland Head on and Daoshen ends up dying during the conflict (Blood Will Tell)
- Danai Becomes the New Chancellor, Her Sister(Mother) is still the leader of Canopus
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News ilClan Deep Cut Stream Part 3: A rat is always a rat, especially a FedRat
- Fed Suns and the Republic were closely allied during the Dark Age
- Devlin Stone depended on the Support of the Fed Suns
- The Republic had supported the Fedsuns in their hour of need
- However, The Combine had went deep into Davion Territory and took New Avalon
- This prevented House Davion from supporting the Republic once the incursion commenced on the Republic
- Julian Davion wanted to help Devlin Stone but his advisors urged him to let Terra fall to secure their territory from the Combine
- The Dawn Guards remained with House Davion, which might lead to the reformation of the Fox's Teeth and the Deneb Light Calvary
- The Dawn Guards still have Republic loyalty and there might be some drama there from not helping the Republic in their time of need
- The FedSuns offered land holdings to the Mercenaries helping them, giving Mercs a home base and loyalty to House Davion
- House Hasek is still a thorn in Davion Stability
- House Hasek might be more Popular amongst the FedSuns than Julian and House Davion
- The next Romance Novel takes place in the Land Hold, fairly untouched Territory in the Federated Suns, Border with the Taurian Concordat
- Fed Suns were about the same situation as the Lyrans at the end of the Dark Age/start of the ilClan
- Caleb Davion, the First Prince, is confirmed Dead
- FedSuns did take New Avalon back from the Combine in 3152
- Many Merc groups now on the border of the Combine and FedSuns
- Hot Spots Draconis Reach Covers much of this border
- House Hasek Attacked the Taurian Concordat
- The Pleiades, the area near the Concordat and FedSuns border, is the Core of the new Sourcebook: The Matter of the Pleiades
- The Taurians had split during the Jihad
- The new Sourcebook will focus on that that area including other Periphery Nations like Tortuga Dominion, Pirates, Filtvelt Coalition and others
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News ilClan Deep Cut Stream Part 4: The Draconis Combine, The Best Faction :100:
- Currently Leading the Combine is Yori Kurita (Yori Sakamoto)
- Pushed by Matsuhari Toranaga
- Yori refused to be a puppet
- Lots of people do not see her as the legitimate leader of the Combine
- Because Yori Sacrificed Matsuhari Toranaga, they lost their Davion Holdings and helped Davion claw back from their loses
- Yori becomes a strong puppet master in her own right
- The Combine is currently in a Clan Sandwich: Clan Wolf, Ghost Bears, Snow Ravens, Reformed Star League Supporters
- Davion Skrimishes are still a concern as well, active potential battles along the entire Combine Border
- That's it
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News ilClan Deep Cut Stream Part 5: Clan Ghost Bear/Dominion
- Ghost Bears were supposed to be the Main Force for Alaric
- Ghost Bears are no Longer a Clan perse, but a 50% portion of the Dominion
- Clan Ghost Bear is the Military arm of the Rasalhague Dominion
- They went back to vote to join Alaric and the ilClan but the vote was 49/51
- This wasn't amongst Rasalhague and Clan lines, it was a very personal split ideologically, some wanting to be the first members of the Star League, allegiances with Clan Wolf, but also embracing their new reality between two people's who made it work
- Some Ghost Bears remember they hate Clan Wolf
- This leads to the second Aces Box Fiction with the Civil unrest in Dominion Space between the Joiners and Deniers
- Alaric seeing that Ghost Bears were not 100% onboard, Alaric couldn't completely trust the people of the Dominion, sent them back and rejected them
- Ghost Bears decide to Attack the Combine during this time of unrest to distract
Helm Memory Core wrote:Battletech News ilClan Deep Cut Stream Part 6: Clans - Snow Ravens/Sea Fox
- Sterling McKenna, Khan of the Ravens, Fully Supports Alaric
- Ravens Alliance has a strong Navy, Clan Wolf had lost many of their Navy forces during the Battle for Terra, Belters caused some damage
- Sea Fox Hates Snow Raven but Sea Fox also supports the ilClan/Alaric
- Snow Ravens killed the Sea Fox Totem Animal and thus the feud began
- Sea Fox picked up much of Comstar assets, as well understood why Comstar won at the Battle of Tukayyid: Logistics Wins Wars
- Sea Fox began to become the economic and merchant power in the Inner Sphere, taking cues from their Comstar predecessors
- Sea Fox controls shipping/mail/currency in many part of the Inner Sphere
- When Comstar collapsed during the Dark Age, Sea Fox was able to fill the roles and also recruited much of the labor force into Clan Sea Fox
- Alaric owes Sea Fox much
- Sea Fox has machinations throughout the Inner Sphere
- Sea Fox controls the Merecenary Bonding Review Commission
- With buying and solving the HPG assets, Sea Fox will be able to spread influence around the Inner Sphere
This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2026/03/29 01:17:35
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
While I'm not against pushing the timeline I'm not so sure about the current pacing. There is too much of an unexplored era during Jihad/Dark Age that could be filled out before pushing IlClan. I know that Catalyst has promised Jihad books previously, and repeated it during Adepticon, but until know those are mere projects that will come out... soon(TM).
Danai Liao-Centrella new Chancellor of the Celestial Throne. I hope we get another Sun Tzu, and not a Romano for the new players to hate.
M.
Jenkins: You don't have jurisdiction here!
Smith Jamison: We aren't here, which means when we open up on you and shred your bodies with automatic fire then this will never have happened.
About the Clans: "Those brief outbursts of sense can't hold back the wave of sibko bred, over hormoned sociopaths that they crank out though."
Miguelsan wrote: While I'm not against pushing the timeline I'm not so sure about the current pacing. There is too much of an unexplored era during Jihad/Dark Age that could be filled out before pushing IlClan. I know that Catalyst has promised Jihad books previously, and repeated it during Adepticon, but until know those are mere projects that will come out... soon(TM).
Danai Liao-Centrella new Chancellor of the Celestial Throne. I hope we get another Sun Tzu, and not a Romano for the new players to hate.
M.
I like the fog of uncertainty that surrounds the Jihad era as it feels appropriate when no one was expecting the Word of Blake to launch a massive attack on the Inner Sphere.
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
Fatum Iustum Stultorum 
