Author Topic: NEW RELEASE: BattleTech Beginner Box and BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat  (Read 104257 times)

Sartris

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Obviously that’s about as far as we can go into that without encroaching on rule 4. Whatever the case grown men will have to find ways to cope without their toys for a bit

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Fear Factory

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Obviously that’s about as far as we can go into that without encroaching on rule 4. Whatever the case grown men will have to find ways to cope without their toys for a bit

Lol I know right? I WANT MY DANG TOYS!  :D
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TheShadowyMrEvans

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Update on New BattleTech Box Sets

With convention season behind us, the Catalyst team wanted to provide an update on two hotly-anticipated BattleTech products, the “BattleTech Beginner Box” and “BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat” boxed sets.

Just before PAX West, we were surprised to learn we would not be receiving additional rush-delivered copies of the two boxed sets.  What’s more, despite being in near-constant contact with the overseas manufacturer throughout August, it is clear they have not shipped the production runs as expected.

As such, we wanted to let customers and retailers alike know that the two products will not be available by the end of the third quarter of 2018 as we’d planned. While this news is as disappointing to our team as it is to you, we wanted to ensure you had the most up-to-date information possible.

We continue to work with the manufacturer to get both box sets in stores as soon as possible. Once the production run ships and clears customs, we will have a reasonable estimate for a release date of the two products.

Until then, we appreciate your patience and understanding, and your continued support of BattleTech.

Will they have copies at Mechcon this year?

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Will they have copies at Mechcon this year?
They're gonna try.
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Geont

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Update on New BattleTech Box Sets

With convention season behind us, the Catalyst team wanted to provide an update on two hotly-anticipated BattleTech products, the “BattleTech Beginner Box” and “BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat” boxed sets.

Just before PAX West, we were surprised to learn we would not be receiving additional rush-delivered copies of the two boxed sets.  What’s more, despite being in near-constant contact with the overseas manufacturer throughout August, it is clear they have not shipped the production runs as expected.

As such, we wanted to let customers and retailers alike know that the two products will not be available by the end of the third quarter of 2018 as we’d planned. While this news is as disappointing to our team as it is to you, we wanted to ensure you had the most up-to-date information possible.

We continue to work with the manufacturer to get both box sets in stores as soon as possible. Once the production run ships and clears customs, we will have a reasonable estimate for a release date of the two products.

Until then, we appreciate your patience and understanding, and your continued support of BattleTech.

It is unfortunate to hear about this but I am thankful for letting us know. I feel more confident at CGL because of yours hard work at providing us information. Still hoping to get them this year in Europe.
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It sucks but Im sure its not the first time this has happened, and it wont be the last.
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Disappointed. I've drummed up interest locally on social media. Veterans and new players were getting ready to buy and play... reading comments on the FB groups and this forum I see this is a chronic problem. I'll invest my money in Aristeia by Corvus Belli instead. I bought the starter last month and its a fun game with solid support.
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I have my Wolverine.  I'll be patient. :-D
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Probable Koz

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They're gonna try.

That’s just tragically sad. You miss the window to tie-in to the HBS game, then miss your targeted release window of an entire quarter, and then cannot promise you’ll make it for 4th qtr or have product for the BattleTech convention.

That’s just a load of sadness in a depression bucket.
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That’s just tragically sad. You miss the window to tie-in to the HBS game, then miss your targeted release window of an entire quarter, and then cannot promise you’ll make it for 4th qtr or have product for the BattleTech convention.

That’s just a load of sadness in a depression bucket.

It's unfortunate, but sounds like it's issues beyond their control.
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Valkerie

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I for one will be patient.  They aren't the only ones getting hit with this BS.
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Probable Koz

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It's unfortunate, but sounds like it's issues beyond their control.

While that may be true, it’s just par for the course with the reputation that CGL has.

I want it to come out. I want it to do well. I want it to encourage more releases like it. I want it to grow the community.

I know you all are frustrated in your own ways.
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Major Headcase

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From my gaming experience I EXPECT shipments from China to be delayed now. I'm pretty sure you just add 60 days to whatever the manufacturer tells you, and start from there. These factories oversell their efficiency to get your business, and they know a US or European company can't do Jack about it when they inevitably fail to deliver on time. It's dirty business but that's how they work.
I'm patient. Mostly. Once they do hit the shelves I might trample children to get the fist set, though.... 😉

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I'm patient. Mostly. Once they do hit the shelves I might trample children to get the fist set, though.... 😉

My two year old has a lightsabre. I wouldn't try it, if I were you ;)
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TheShadowyMrEvans

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I'm new to the board (this is my second post - I've been lurking/reading for about a month, but never found any specific place to make an introduction - so, Hi everybody, I'm Sam). But more than that I'm "new" to BattleTech, or rather I played BattleTech as a kid in the late 80s/early 90s, then drifted away, and just got interested in getting back in recently. I'd also played Warhammer Fantasy during that same timeframe, and a few years ago some of my friends that I play RPGs with talked about getting into Warhammer, and a few months (and a couple hundred dollars later) and I had a new Skaven army.

From there I branched out into other miniature wargames, from historicals to scifi skirmish. This year I painted up a Custodes army for the new edition of 40K. During that time I flipped through BattleTech boos at my FLGS occasionally, but never took the plunge. Then Adeptus Titanicus was announced. I got kinda excited about that, it evoked my childhood love of giant robot battles. But then the prices were revealed. I mean, I shouldnt have been surprised by that point, GW has rhymed with "price gouging" for years, but $300 for a boxed set with 8 minis, 6 of them the size of Space Marines? That was more than I could stomach.

But I guess that left me with a giant-robot-sized hole in my imagination, and that's when I really started thinking about BattleTech again. I ended up finding a copy of the original 3025 TRO for cheap in good condition on Ebay. Than was like a double dose of pure nostalgiaa, igniting my childhood passion again. Then I purchased an original Atlas mini (I seem to be addicted to buying Atlas minis for some reason, I now have 5 of them). And of course I looked into getting into the game and discovered Catalyst's "coming soon" page, showing the new Introductory and Starter boxes. GenCon came right after, and I got to see Youtube videos. My excitement was mounting. I found out Mechcon was being held in my hometown in December, and I started buying up more and more old books to get myself back into the fluff. Grabbed a copy of the Star League sourcebook, Comstar, the first two Stackpole trilogies. Then discovered Alpha Strike, which seemed like the perfect way to introduce my gaming circle.

But it was at this point that I noticed something odd. I'd downloaded the free preview PDF of Alpha Strike, but the actual book was no where to be found online. On Ebay it was selling for silly prices. Luckily one of the local gaming stores in my area turned out to have a copy, but I'm still trying to get a hold of the AS Companion for less than a hundred dollars. "Why are these out of print?" I wondered. I guessed it was because the new "Commander's Edition" was slated to be released soon, but even so, that seemed odd to me for a game company. I mean, you could still find copies of D&D 4th edition on the shelves of any gaming store up to and even after 5th edition came out.

But then I found it wasn't just Alpha Strike. Not counting the new printing of total War, (which I only just this week managed to order a copy of), it appears none of the core rulebooks for BattleTech are in print. I can't even find a copy of the TechManual on Ebay. Sure, there are PDFs, but I'm old school. I want a physical copy. And PDFs arent on gamestore shelves inviting new players.

Regardless, though, I was excited for the release of the new boxed sets. And then this delay. It's fine, it's understandable. CGL had, as a business, a projection and an intention, and things got delayed. OK, fine. But that leaves me as someone hghly motivated to get back into this game with no way to go out and buy a starter set of rules. And I have to think, that's not an isolated scenario.

And all that seems very odd to me. Why , at the very least, were the core rules of the game not kept in print? Even doing a Print on Demand service through DriveThru or LuLu just seems elementary to me. I mean, it seems like I'm exactly in the position that CGL would want for a fan, interested in the game, wanting to throw money at them, but just sitting here twiddling my thumbs.

I can, obviously, go the Oldhammer route. Pick up an earlier boxed set (but not any of the ones CGL put out, because apparently those are worth $200+ on the secondary market). I grabbed all the Alpha Strike plastic mini boxed sets for $5 a piece on clearance. It's just weird to me that I cant walk into a local game store (or at least an online retailer) and order a copy of the TW or the Techmanual or the AS Companion. And that's not even considering any of the further supplements like Combat Manual: Mercenaries or any of the House Handbooks.

jimdigris

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With a little patience, all of that may change.

avon1985

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Sad but they both look great and worth the wait! :thumbsup:

Sartris

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Hi and welcome.

To the essential question “why don’t they have game essentials in circulation?”

We don’t know. A combination of capital outlay and workflow logjams? Supply of box sets and core rulebooks has been critical for a while and they’ve been working on the new box for the better part of a year and secondary market prices were ridiculous even broke that. Some items like the AS or A Time of War companion I don’t know will ever get a reprint. I don’t know if techmanual has ever seen a reprint since it was first released in 2007. That said, I don’t know if ridiculous prices are the result of a small number of people willing to pay double to quintuple msrp or a broader demand that would justify reprints. All we have is anecdotal observations.

The good news: the BattleMech Manual (TW + bits of equipment and rules from tactical operations that focuses on just mechs) can still be had. The first four core rulebooks are seeing reprints - TW should be making its way around soon. TechManual, Tactical Operations, and Strategic Operations will follow. The Alpha Strike Commander’s edition will help. Era rather than year-based TROs (succession wars out now, clan invasion announced) plus new maps will offer somewhat of an easier entry.

While that may be true, it’s just par for the course with the reputation that CGL has.

I want it to come out. I want it to do well. I want it to encourage more releases like it. I want it to grow the community.

I know you all are frustrated in your own ways.

And that’s where we’ll have to cross our fingers and hope they do better with release windows going forward. Because people like me who are willing (or maybe dumb enough) to wait it out are probably not enough of a constituency to keep the business afloat long term. People move on when they can’t get something they want in a timely or affordable fashion and I don’t blame them.

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Exilyth

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As such, we wanted to let customers and retailers alike know that the two products will not be available by the end of the third quarter of 2018 as we’d planned.

That's bad news - but still new news.

We have been waiting for years, what's a few more weeks?

Peanuts. :)


At least stuff doesn't have to be shipped in from another star system:

Starport tech: "What took you so long? We expected you last year!"
Drop ship crewman: "It is kind of a long story."
Starport tech: "You just had to stop by the canopian pleasure circus on the way, didn't you?"
Drop ship crewman: (blank stare)
Starport tech: "Woah, that bad? I'm all ears."
Drop ship crewman: "Well, first the **** MULE wouldn't lift properly, so we had to check all the ****** systems and missed the jumpship with the delay. Then, after hanging around the jump point a few weeks and hitching a ride on another ship, we finally make the jump. What happens?"
Starport tech: "Let me guess - next jump ship was late?"
Drop ship crewman: "Naw, the bugger showed up just on shedule. But what did we get? ***** misjump, that's what! Had to wait another ********* month for a passage to the system we wanted to go."
Starport tech: "At least you didn't end up with the birds."
Drop ship crewman: "What?"
Starport tech: "Just an old saying. Go on."
Drop ship crewman: "So, as we arrive, what's the next thing that happens? Jump ship leaves, we're all alone again. Except we're not alone. ***** pirates hiding behind a moon. I would've thought stuff like that happens only in the ******* trivids! Anyway, captain orders full thrust, we go for the planet. ****** Pirates start closing in. They're getting closer. And closer. Suddenly - contacts from the planet, closing in."
Starport tech: "More pirates?"
Drop ship crewman: "That's what we thought at first. Turns out the planetary militia send some fighters to help. So we turn around for the braking and fire our engines. The fighers pass us by and go for the boogies. Suprise the pirates right out of our sensor shadow."
Starport tech: "And then?"
Drop ship crewman: "T'was a fierce fight. We couldn't bring our own ******* guns to bear, cause we would've risked hitting friendlies. Know what's the worst? The waiting. The **** waiting kills you. Finally the ****** pirates bugger off back to whatever ********* they came from. Militia escorts us planetside. We went drinking with the guys and gals from the militia. I don't really remember what else happened that night. Too ****** much drinks."
Starport tech: "Must've been one hell of a hangover. What happened next?"
Drop ship crewman: "Had to make a few repairs over the next weeks, then left again. We finally made the jump to this system. And just as we land and think it's all over, the ***** engines give up. I swear, that ***** dropship is cursed or something!"
Starport tech: "Told you not to buy ships from that guy."

 ;) :)
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MarauderD

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Question about the two new box sets.

Which map sheets belong in which?  A kind person picked up both sets for me at GenCon.  All 3 mapsheets were in one box, as they were given separately when people purchased them.

Does Map sheet 1 go in the Beginner's box?  It looks like it would.  I'm headed back out to my in laws house this weekend, and want to bring the right mapsheet to him.

Best,

Mad

RoundTop

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Question about the two new box sets.

Which map sheets belong in which?  A kind person picked up both sets for me at GenCon.  All 3 mapsheets were in one box, as they were given separately when people purchased them.

Does Map sheet 1 go in the Beginner's box?  It looks like it would.  I'm headed back out to my in laws house this weekend, and want to bring the right mapsheet to him.

Best,

Mad

The one that doesn't have hills is the beginner map.
No-Dachi has a counter-argument. Nothing further? Ok.
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CranstonSnord

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From the back of the AGAC box, maps 2 and 3 go with that, so I expect map 1 goes with the beginner box.

MarauderD

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Thanks!  I'll divide them up that way and give my Brother in Law Map #1 for his Beginner's Box Set.

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There are already two listings on Amazon for the starter box for 29.99 lol

Ninja7x

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Hi, after an almost 10 year vacation, the latest battletech videogame has once again renewed my interest for tabletop...

I have the 2006 intro box set but was looking to get a more up to date rule book. Im going to get the new 2018 box set which will contain all the latest rules but my question is regarding the more recent 2017 Battletech Battlemech Manual. Is it worth purchasing this as well or should I just wait for the new box set to drop in a couple of months?

Cheers H

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I do not have the latest box sets but if it is like the others you get a simplified set of rules.  The BM Manual is a rather complete set of rules for just battlemechs, if you want to play with tanks, BA and other things under the basic ruleset then TW would be a better option.  You can get PDF now if that works or wait for the latest version of TW to drop.
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RoundTop

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Hi, after an almost 10 year vacation, the latest battletech videogame has once again renewed my interest for tabletop...

I have the 2006 intro box set but was looking to get a more up to date rule book. Im going to get the new 2018 box set which will contain all the latest rules but my question is regarding the more recent 2017 Battletech Battlemech Manual. Is it worth purchasing this as well or should I just wait for the new box set to drop in a couple of months?

Cheers H

The box sets will only come with basic rules.  You will want to get the Battlemech Manual (if all you care about is mechs) or Total Warfare (If you want to bring out vehicles, infantry, aerospace as well) for the full rules.

eg: What is in the new box set would only get you to the succession wars period in terms of rules, and only for mechs.  For anything Clan Invasion and later (or star league), you will need one of the other aforementioned products.
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The biggest shame of the whole affair is that there just isn't an American company that could produce the products here. Sure the production cost would be higher but if it was produced here I am sure the higher cost would be offset by the potential lost revenue that these delays cause. 
I may have a low amount of posts but I have a PHD in Battletech and mechs older then most people on this board!

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eg: What is in the new box set would only get you to the succession wars period in terms of rules, and only for mechs.  For anything Clan Invasion and later (or star league), you will need one of the other aforementioned products.

Not quite accurate.

The box sets will come with two versions of the rules, but neither has all of the 'Mech-based rules.

The "BattleTech Beginner Box" has very basic rules, just enough to let new players get a taste of moving and shooting with 'Mechs, without getting mired in some of the elements that can be confusing to someone playing for the very first time. For example, things like Levels of terrain are not part of these rules.

The "BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat" box adds more complexity, but not everything--I don't have the file available at the moment, but I recall it being somewhat less than the previous box set's rulebook.

The "BattleMech Manual" has the full 'Mech-only rules. It's a great book, and the layout of the rules has been fully revamped from what you'll remember. It's the easiest-to-follow version of the core 'Mech rules ever printed, by far. (And the rules in the two new boxes have a layout scheme to match.)

"Total Warfare" is the full, standard BattleTech rules including infantry, vehicles, and more. You'll want the recent fifth printing, which incorporates all existing errata. (It's the one with the gray old-school Atlas on the cover.)

The products are intended to stack in that order, so that a newer player has a better pathway into the game without having to choose only between an Intro-level box with rules that don't always feel "intro," or a $40 tome that has a lot of elements to it.
« Last Edit: 26 September 2018, 10:32:52 by Cubby »
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