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So what is the scope of BattleTech now a days? I used to play back when I was littler (I have no idea what edition it was), but I do know I love the Summoner/Thor, are they still around? What should I buy to get back in the game? Also, how balanced is the game?

And will I still kick much arse with the Summoner?

The universe has expanded quite a bit. Summoner's are still around, and they are still good. Not the best, but solid.

Good place to start would be the 25th Anniversary Intro Box. Comes out Wednesday IIRC. Includes 24 plastic (low quality) Inner Sphere 'Mechs and 2 VERY high quality Clan 'Mechs, a Loki/Hellbringer and a Summoner. And everything you need to play to get back into the game, including crap loads of universe info.

A good place to go is http://www.classicbattletech.com and sign up in the Forums there. It is the official site for Battletech, and we have a solid community over there.

I will also point you in the direction of http://www.catalystdemos.com where you can sign up as a player to find other players and Demo Agents (like me!) in your area. All you need is a functioning email address and the ability to come up with a callsign.

Ooooh, Nice. Going to have to look that up in the morning.

How much would you say the Anniversary Package is going to cost?

It's $50, but one of the really nice upgrades are the mapsheets. They went from being paper to hard cardboard, like a board game board.

Add in 26 minis, books, dice and everything, it is MORE than worth the money.

While the new style mapsheets are nice, don't they horribly jar when you try to expand them with your older paper ones?

I think what's important is that this is a superior product to what they've previously released. Its very explicitly an introductory product, which means its intended for people who own nothing else. The plastic minis are suppose to be better than the old plastic minis from so long ago, and are definitely a step up from the paper fold-up minis.

I think its obvious Catalyst is trying to step up its production value and that means older products will eventually be made inferior.

So if we already have a bunch of stuff for the game, do you think we should still pick this Anniversary Package up?

Still waiting on mine, but from reviews and others opinions it worth the money either way for what you get, but if you own the old stuff it doesn't have as much value. I'd say get it and use it to bring people into the game.

aka_mythos wrote:Still waiting on mine, but from reviews and others opinions it worth the money either way for what you get, but if you own the old stuff it doesn't have as much value. I'd say get it and use it to bring people into the game.

True, and all the models I have are really my parents, so if I want to take it with me I'm going to have to buy some new ones anyway.

Wow... generations of B'tech players... thats almost scary to think about.

Slarg232 wrote:So if we already have a bunch of stuff for the game, do you think we should still pick this Anniversary Package up?

It still isn't a bad deal. It can re-introduce you to everything, and you get more 'Mechs. That is never a bad thing.

The next step would be Total Warfare, which is all of the tournament level rules. I will warn you there are NO construction rules in it. Those are in TechManual.

BAWTRM wrote:While the new style mapsheets are nice, don't they horribly jar when you try to expand them with your older paper ones?

map...sheets?...I think you mean 6x4 table with terrain right?, how battletech is supposed to be played.

aka_mythos wrote:Wow... generations of B'tech players... thats almost scary to think about.

Just me dad and brothers, My grandpa never heard of it

Mattlov wrote:

Slarg232 wrote:So if we already have a bunch of stuff for the game, do you think we should still pick this Anniversary Package up?

It still isn't a bad deal. It can re-introduce you to everything, and you get more 'Mechs. That is never a bad thing.

The next step would be Total Warfare, which is all of the tournament level rules. I will warn you there are NO construction rules in it. Those are in TechManual.

By Construction Rules, you mean rules to add different weapons to the Omni-mechs, right? Or something totally different?

Stella Cadente wrote:

BAWTRM wrote:While the new style mapsheets are nice, don't they horribly jar when you try to expand them with your older paper ones?

map...sheets?...I think you mean 6x4 table with terrain right?, how battletech is supposed to be played.

Oh Snap!

Mattlov wrote:
It still isn't a bad deal. It can re-introduce you to everything, and you get more 'Mechs. That is never a bad thing.

The next step would be Total Warfare, which is all of the tournament level rules. I will warn you there are NO construction rules in it. Those are in TechManual.

Slarg232 wrote:
By Construction Rules, you mean rules to add different weapons to the Omni-mechs, right? Or something totally different?

No, as in designing your own units from the ground up. 'Mechs, vehicles, Support vehicles, AeroFighters, and DropShips.

Mattlov wrote:

Mattlov wrote:
It still isn't a bad deal. It can re-introduce you to everything, and you get more 'Mechs. That is never a bad thing.

The next step would be Total Warfare, which is all of the tournament level rules. I will warn you there are NO construction rules in it. Those are in TechManual.

Slarg232 wrote:
By Construction Rules, you mean rules to add different weapons to the Omni-mechs, right? Or something totally different?

No, as in designing your own units from the ground up. 'Mechs, vehicles, Support vehicles, AeroFighters, and DropShips.

Oh nice, but probably don't need that. Give me a Summoner, and I'm golden.

My favorite IS mech is the Grashopper, where I truly enjoy the nice mix of firepower and mobility/jumping. So you might expect I'd like the Summoner as well but I actually dislike it.

Mostly because most of the versions have serious ammo shortages, only 10LBX for the prime, 8 Gauss for the A, the B has a nice load of ammo but I dislike the LRM/SRM combi, C only has 10 for the UAC20. The D-version I probably like the best but they could have dropped the MGs, don't fit with it's other weapons IMO.

I'd rather take a Timberwolf D or A.

Mattlov wrote:It's $50, but one of the really nice upgrades are the mapsheets. They went from being paper to hard cardboard, like a board game board.

Add in 26 minis, books, dice and everything, it is MORE than worth the money.

You can get it just under $40 from places like thewarstore.com and frpgames.com...with shipping they will still be under $50.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Mattlov wrote:

Slarg232 wrote:So if we already have a bunch of stuff for the game, do you think we should still pick this Anniversary Package up?

It still isn't a bad deal. It can re-introduce you to everything, and you get more 'Mechs. That is never a bad thing.

The next step would be Total Warfare, which is all of the tournament level rules. I will warn you there are NO construction rules in it. Those are in TechManual.

I have several metal minis, the old Master Rules book, the Introductory Box Set...and i still ordered the 25th anniversary set.

Master Rules is out of date at this point. Go get Total Warfare.

I got my copy yesterday... amazing.
Pros:
-Sturdy, nice box better than GW's.
-The deluxe minis are very nice and come 75% cut from sprue. For there size, they're probably the best we can expect for a table top game not made by GW. I hope they do more.
-The maps are gorgeous, with good depth, and robust. I hope they sell more of this quality separately, or else I may need another intro box.
-The different booklets are perfect for introducing new players. They break down the rules into bite size pieces without simplifying the core game itself, while giving the player clear instruction of where to go next for more detail in the game and universe.

Con:
-4 of my "24" miniatures came broken. Its nothing that can't be repaired but I can't help but think if they had used the larger space for miniatures, for some if not all the miniatures, breakage could have been avoided. Thats the only other empty space in the box, and though it has an insert that supports the thick maps, the minis could easily fit within it and would have been less squished there.

Overall I'd give it an 8 out of 10, it would have been a 9 had it not been for the "salvage ready" mechs.

A note for those in the UK the latest Wayland newsletter includes this set.

(I know allot were asking were they could get it over here)

Very tempting....must deal with painting backlog......very tempting....

I would get it, but I got the previous one, and do I really need a second atlas............wait stupid question.

I think having multiple Atlas mechs is a sign of a veteran player. They're like the rings in a tree trunk for a BT player.

I really want one of the PlasTech Atlas minis, I'm missing that one.

I don't even like the atlas, its ugly, slow and usually has awful weapon synergy, but having one kick a fafnir in the head gives some man related satisfaction

I never said "use"... just possessing. I tend to prefer my fafnir to an atlas anyways.

aka_mythos wrote:I think having multiple Atlas mechs is a sign of a veteran player. They're like the rings in a tree trunk for a BT player.

I really want one of the PlasTech Atlas minis, I'm missing that one.

Dude, the Fatlas from Plastech is amazing. Just as amusing as the Fatapult from the same set.

I used to have a couple, let me see if I still do sitting around here...

notprop wrote:A note for those in the UK the latest Wayland newsletter includes this set.

(I know allot were asking were they could get it over here)

Very tempting....must deal with painting backlog......very tempting....

I ordered mine from Infinity on Wed, got it today. £33.79 shipped.