Battletech, isn’t that complicated and clunky?
By a lot of modern game standards, yes. BUT…. we can make it simpler. View the game more as a sandbox rather than play every rule in the book.
Or, just watch this video to get the main jist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv8WQlf2ML4
Just read this first part, if you’re interested then go on to page 2 and beyond…
What are we playing?
Battletech can be played at all sorts of levels, RPG character level, or zoomed all the way out up to strategic sector space conflict.
The focus of our games will be in the ‘late succession war era’ These dates span the timeline of 3020-3049 (more about that later).
Infantry, tanks and air units, Oh my! Those things will come in time if people are interested, but for the time being it is all about big stompy robots shooting each other, and occasionally using trees or the limbs of the fallen as clubs.
Why 3020-3049?
Because the mechs are not super advanced, and don’t have tons of armour and additional rules to remember. They also overheat, blow up quicker and the balance between the Inner Sphere is broadly the same. Basically, shit blows up quicker so you learn quicker.
The second reason, in this era there are a number of factions to choose from ‘great houses’ if you will. It is all flavour and not set out like codexes. You can go full flavour or paint your mechs as your own in mercenary colours. It really doesn’t matter as it is all about the timeline and stuff available.
Watch this video for a 101 on the ‘great houses’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQhzlXcmTzw
What about clans?
OK, so clans appear from the back end of 3049. Clans have better gear and it becomes an asymmetric game where 2 or 3 clan mechs can take on 5 or 6 inner sphere mechs at the same points cost game. Clan vs Clan is a more equal footing. Don’t worry about that for now
Got any more links?
Yes – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR5zhFCFVb9Unr7My0Epa_QQQqa388AVh
Just watch all these, the lore ones alone are worth it even if you don’t want to play.