Is it time to consider a reformatting/rewriting of the Core Rulebooks?

[ColBosch]

... I thought TW was smaller than 300 for some reason.

312, not including the covers. It's a chufty lad.

[abou]

The BattleMech Manual is a mixture of Total Warfare, Tactical Operations, and Campaign Operations (where the Design Quirks first come in to play).  It's all you need (plus a bit more) for a tournament game and you're only play Battlemechs.

Yes, the quirks are in Campaign Operations, but the list of 'mechs and their official quirks is in the BMM. So the information isn't even redundant if you have to double check.

[TheOldDragoon]

Some of this needs to come to a point of scrapping of terms like 'tournament level rules' which can lead to confusion as there really isn't a tournament scene or setup.  Which is another discussion, and generally a potent one which doesn't need to be hashed out again here.  And getting a firm distinction between tech and rules level which has this crossover which again can be confusing.  Primitive - Basic - Modern - Experimental for the former (tech) which can change based on equipment and era; Introductory - Standard - Advanced for the latter (rules) which do not change.

It's funny. This has been the nomenclature for 18 years, and still I hear players at the local game stores and conventions referring to "Level 1", "Level 2", and "Level 3" rules from the BMR and BMR(R) eras.
,.

[Rob Bendig]

So here's what I'd like to see in a new version of "Total Warfare:"
- Short introduction, including where players can find "advanced" and optional rules or a lore overview
- Basic unit types: BattleMechs, combat vehicles (wheeled, tracked, VTOL, water, WiGE), ProtoMechs, battle armor, infantry
- Variant unit types: IndustrialMechs, support vehicles (wheeled, track, VTOL, WiGE), Superheavy 'Mechs, multi-modal 'Mechs (LAMs, QuadVees) but not multiple-hex units
- All current weapons aside from artillery, WMDs, capital/sub-capital weapons, and the like
- Terrain and buildings, anything seen on a current mapsheet
- Battlefield Support to cover artillery, aerospace, and simplified vehicles/infantry
- Quirks and SPAs
- DropShips as battlefield strongpoints (because it looks like the models may enter general release)
- Basic scenario creation
 - 'Mech, combat vehicle, and ProtoMech design rules

I like most of this but, as mentioned by others, I'd suggest pulling all of the Design Rules out into a different supplement. Given the breadth of units available in universe, Design Rules really are an adjunct rather than core rule base (even if they've been part of the core rules from Day 1).

And I wrestle with the usefulness of Quirks and SPAs in the "Basic" book. As specialist ability rules, I think they should probably go into a different supplement where formation bonuses are also discussed.

[RifleMech]

Way to miss context.  Again.

The quote you were responding to was talking about a new person starting with what's on the wall.  This is not 1980 or 1990 where finding pre-prepared Record Sheets for free is any real difficulty.  Even if you're stuck with a phone (which a few in my group are), you can get PDFs off of several websites which can be transmitted to a local printer.

And "finding all the rules" for Battletech in one book is pretty much impossible without carrying a massive tomb that will crack your back.  As it is, they've had to split up books precisely because they were getting too big for the binding they had access to.  And that's beside the point when you don't NEED The Tech Manual to play the game.

Not everyone has internet to find free record sheets. Mine has been off an on all week. Mostly off. And there are places without cell coverage. There's a couple of them near me. But even if the internet and cell coverage was 100%, and there are printers nearby - There aren't here. - players shouldn't have to go hunting for a required part of the game. It's worse than having to hunt through multiple sections in multiple books just to find out what one item does. That's one of the problems with the core books. That players have to go hunting for information. And right now TW requires TM or an internet connection to play the game. That is wrong. Everything one needs to play the basic game should be in the basic rule book. That's basic rules, a blank map sheet, and blank record sheets. You can't play without those things.

And yes, there will be multiple rule books as one would be too big. However, the number of rule books should be kept to a minimum.

[Charistoph]

Not everyone has internet to find free record sheets. Mine has been off an on all week. Mostly off. And there are places without cell coverage. There's a couple of them near me. But even if the internet and cell coverage was 100%, and there are printers nearby - There aren't here. - players shouldn't have to go hunting for a required part of the game. It's worse than having to hunt through multiple sections in multiple books just to find out what one item does. That's one of the problems with the core books. That players have to go hunting for information. And right now TW requires TM or an internet connection to play the game. That is wrong. Everything one needs to play the basic game should be in the basic rule book. That's basic rules, a blank map sheet, and blank record sheets. You can't play without those things.

I haven't played with blank record sheets since the internet was a thing.  Back in those days I went to local convenience store and made copies for a dime.  Both of which are now impossible.

From there, blank records sheets are meaningless without something to put in to it.  And if the group is sticklers about having precise Record Sheets, how would they set that up?

That's why the box works better than just a book.

[YingJanshi]

Not everyone has internet to find free record sheets. Mine has been off an on all week. Mostly off. And there are places without cell coverage. There's a couple of them near me. But even if the internet and cell coverage was 100%, and there are printers nearby - There aren't here. - players shouldn't have to go hunting for a required part of the game. It's worse than having to hunt through multiple sections in multiple books just to find out what one item does. That's one of the problems with the core books. That players have to go hunting for information. And right now TW requires TM or an internet connection to play the game. That is wrong. Everything one needs to play the basic game should be in the basic rule book. That's basic rules, a blank map sheet, and blank record sheets. You can't play without those things.

And yes, there will be multiple rule books as one would be too big. However, the number of rule books should be kept to a minimum.

That...sounds like the box set. Which is literally just the basic rules. TW is not, and never was basic rules. It was the collected ruleset for all of the standard Tournament legal rules.

[RifleMech]

I haven't played with blank record sheets since the internet was a thing.  Back in those days I went to local convenience store and made copies for a dime.  Both of which are now impossible.

From there, blank records sheets are meaningless without something to put in to it.  And if the group is sticklers about having precise Record Sheets, how would they set that up?

That's why the box works better than just a book.

Finding a copier isn't always easy, neither is finding a printer. One can use a blank piece of paper to make a record sheet though.

Pre-printed record sheets have never been a requirement to play. They make things easier but aren't a requirement.

I never said the box didn't work better, just that they weren't the only way to play the game.

That...sounds like the box set. Which is literally just the basic rules. TW is not, and never was basic rules. It was the collected ruleset for all of the standard Tournament legal rules.

Missed the point. The rule book used to include record sheets because you need them to play. TW doesn't have them. Players have to go elsewhere to get them. That's a problem.

[Daemion]

The quote you were responding to was talking about a new person starting with what's on the wall.  This is not 1980 or 1990 where finding pre-prepared Record Sheets for free is any real difficulty.  Even if you're stuck with a phone (which a few in my group are), you can get PDFs off of several websites which can be transmitted to a local printer.

Have you been to the countryside in the midwest?  I live here.  And, boy, would you be surprised by how behind the times things can be. 

[SCC]

I'll have to disagree. Either you keep all rules together in one book, or keep the rules together in BOTH books. Splitting them up becomes a headache.

Even with your idea, you still have to have SOME of the Aerospace rules or rules for flying into-off of the battlefield and construction rules for LAMs (including internal structure in ASF mode and all that.)

The only exception then I'd say is having a 5th book for "Non-Standard" vehicles or something like that, for units that actually don't fit into just ONE category.

This, LAMs are not actually 'Mechs, despite the name.

[Daemion]

That...sounds like the box set. Which is literally just the basic rules. TW is not, and never was basic rules. It was the collected ruleset for all of the standard Tournament legal rules.

It's been pointed out that tournaments haven't been a real thing for Catalyst in a long while. Considering that, do we really want to focus on that aspect? 

What's the goal for this set of books now?  Is it to expand the game from the box sets?  Is it to open up new eras with advanced tech? 

In a lot of aspects, a lot of that is tied to the lore just as much as raw rules. Maybe we should revisit the Level 1, 2, and 3 style of compartmentalization.

And, I'll have to check, but the Box set doesn't come with BLANK record sheets last I recall.  Certainly no construction rules for BattleMechs.  But, since I've given Core Boxes to people and haven't kept one for myself a while ago, my memory is a little foggy on that one.  Assuming I'm remembering rightly, you don't even have a means to 'upgrade' the existing designs, let alone come up with new ones or try to emulate Mechs that come in those funky lance/star packs.

But, that's my experience with the current era of BattleTech, looking at the products that I can find on the shelves.  So, working from there, what do you want this rulebook series to do?  If it's to expand on the contents of the Box Set, then, do we really need for the core rules to be reprinted?  And, if you decide that they should, imagine that some people might pick up the rule book to get a glimpse of the game rules without having to commit to picking up a box. 

As an example: Adeptus Titanicus's recent reprint just a couple years ago had the Core Rule book sold separately from the box.  I bought it and a Warhound Titan box.  I got the rule book because I wanted to understand the game before I committed to something as expensive as the basic game box, which was a steal for what it contained, but too much if I didn't like what I found.  The rulebook worked to run a full game, and it came in a box of its own, containing the cards and weapons options to run pairs of each of the common titan classes. To my pleasant surprise that [edit:] Warhound Titan[/] box came with enough parts to make a pair, so I had the basics for simple game, right there.  I actually liked the rules enough to commit to the core box of Titanicus when I could afford it.

You will find that people unfamiliar with BattleTech the Board Game will probably do something like me.  If someone can look at the rules without having to commit to having the whole game when they're not sure they want the whole game, let alone minis and materials that won't get used if it's decide the game isn't their cup-o-tea, that core book should be able to represent the whole game without the accoutrements of the Box Set. 

If the Core Rule Book is going to be a reprint of the core rules, then one of the design considerations should be that you can buy the book, and a lance or star pack, and be able to run a game with just that.

[Jeyar123]

Well, since there was so much effort in dividing up the eras in some of the books, how about greater era specific rules breakup? With a clan vs. IS for when they overlap. I liked the level 1, 2 and 3 as well as introductory, standard and advanced and even 3025, 3050 and clan, but we really do have what amounts to a second 3050 era.

In that era you had as the IS a LB10x but not all the other LB techs. Ultra5 and a few others were the same. Now we have a single plasma weapon for both the IS and clan, light and heavy PPCs with no ER versions, I have no idea how to evolve the snub nose and the idea that my twisted mind sees if light AC 10 and 20 follow the same equation the first two examples do makes me shiver. In any case, with that in mind we have more than 3 divisions now, and the mechs that are out there can (a bit) more readily shine with the time periods reflecting what was available. Shoot, you can even have designs that "optimize" outdated tech like the munchkin designs (like the 75 ton 4/6 zombie mech with ml and DHS as a quick example), but put it with the ilkhan era tech and see how it fares (kind of fun).

I do like the idea of initially focusing on making a core book that focuses on playing the game - no stories in the book but as DL if they must be there. If possible have vehicles and infantry all together in that book and let us PLAY. I know too many people that will only play with units pre-jihad/advanced as getting to know the rules for after that is just too frustrating, they work hard enough. I like a lot of clear rules existing, but I like being able to play with others even more.

[Charistoph]

Finding a copier isn't always easy, neither is finding a printer. One can use a blank piece of paper to make a record sheet though.

And takes a lot times longer to set up a Record Sheet by hand than finding a copier or printer.  It's far easier to to find a copier or printer now than it was 30 years ago, too, as the latter isn't considered geek equipment, and the former can be found at most office stores (OfficeMax, FedEx Office, etc) and more than happy to print a PDF from an email.

Pre-printed record sheets have never been a requirement to play. They make things easier but aren't a requirement.

They aren't a requirement of the game, but often are of players that you would play with, as I stated and you promptly ignored.

I never said the box didn't work better, just that they weren't the only way to play the game.

But it was, and is, better with the box.  The box comes with a couple maps, record sheets.  Since it is a superior way to play, why focus on what is considered the "tournament rules" instead of what is considered the "starter rules" which come in boxes?

Missed the point. The rule book used to include record sheets because you need them to play. TW doesn't have them. Players have to go elsewhere to get them. That's a problem.

The compendium did because it also had construction rules.  The rulebook in the boxes didn't because they were separate pages.  Total Warfare doesn't have construction rules, so no need for the Record Sheet to be included.

Have you been to the countryside in the midwest?  I live here.  And, boy, would you be surprised by how behind the times things can be. 

Not as much as you think.  I grew up in a mining town that was half an hour past nowhere in Arizona.

I'd be more surprised that you had access to Battletech at all than a lack of copier or printer.

It's been pointed out that tournaments haven't been a real thing for Catalyst in a long while. Considering that, do we really want to focus on that aspect? 

Someone hasn't been paying attention, because quite a few Battletech tournaments have been played at conventions over the last year.  My campaign group lost a week of play because half the group when to LVO in January.

Not to mention, tournament standards do make it easier and quicker for random people to meet up and start playing than without.  Much as I hate the attitude of a tournament scene, I do respect this aspect of it.

What's the goal for this set of books now?  Is it to expand the game from the box sets?  Is it to open up new eras with advanced tech? 

That is a proper question, though.  It is always good to have set expectations when one is sitting down to write a document.

And, I'll have to check, but the Box set doesn't come with BLANK record sheets last I recall.  Certainly no construction rules for BattleMechs.  But, since I've given Core Boxes to people and haven't kept one for myself a while ago, my memory is a little foggy on that one.  Assuming I'm remembering rightly, you don't even have a means to 'upgrade' the existing designs, let alone come up with new ones or try to emulate Mechs that come in those funky lance/star packs.

Page 50 of A Game of Armored Combat rulebook comes with basic construction rules for Battlemechs.

I can't confirm the blank Record Sheet or not because the Record Sheets might be buried somewhere.  I don't use them because I prefer to print them out off of Solaris SkunkWerks or MegaMekLab since they include the helpful charts on the side.

If the Core Rule Book is going to be a reprint of the core rules, then one of the design considerations should be that you can buy the book, and a lance or star pack, and be able to run a game with just that.

Why go with Titanicus as an example?  It's a tiny game and it doesn't have the unit options that Battletech has.  Why not 40K?  Oh, wait, I need to buy 2 books in order to properly run a force there because it doesn't have all the unit stats and rules in the main rulebook unless they go through a whole change that tosses everything out like with 8th Edition (even that loses out on unit specific rules).  Even from there, there are no rules for creating your own unit from the ground up in Warhammer like there is in Battletech.

From there, where would they fit the Record Sheets in a ForcePack box?  How many should they include per model?  2 like the Alpha Strike cards?

[Maingunnery]

I haven't played with blank record sheets since the internet was a thing.  Back in those days I went to local convenience store and made copies for a dime.  Both of which are now impossible.

From there, blank records sheets are meaningless without something to put in to it.  And if the group is sticklers about having precise Record Sheets, how would they set that up?

That's why the box works better than just a book.

Indeed the last time I saw blank record sheets was about two decades ago, and some groups just refused to allow them.

[AlphaMirage]

I wonder if it might be better to put the TW rules into more distinct tiers and focusing on Ground Operations (indeed I'd like it to be titled Battletech: Ground Operations Guide B:GOG), which each have their own chapters.

You have level 1 'basic/fast play' rules without tracking heat, ammo, or crits. Basically the pamphlet of how to read the record sheet and map (forests are cover, rough costs more, elevation changes what you can see) that helps you learn movement, hit locations, GATOR, the cluster table (including Artemis/Apollo), and some basic tactics. I'd even say no piloting checks, physicals, or indirect fire. This basically already exists as the box set rules because its really handy.

That can be covered reasonably quick along with easy to visualize diagrams, including a visual representation showing the front/side battlemech hit locations and numbers, plus a flowchart of turn order and unit activation.


Then you have level 2 'tournament/standard/limited' which introduces heat and critical rolls as well as more advanced (LB, Pulse, Gauss) weapons, physicals (all of them and modified slightly), indirect fires, piloting checks (from 20+ and critical damage), specialty ammo (all of them, so minefields included), equipment (like ECM, Stealth, TacComps, or C3/Nova) and some environmental effects (smoke, fire, terrain/building destruction) but not everything.

This would be benchmark, most of the advanced rules are really just a +/- 1-4 so having them all just listed out in one set of charts by modifier (for all weapon types) would be helpful.


Then you have level 3 'unlimited/extended' which makes all optional TacOps rules valid based on a scenario checklist. So it would have a section for advanced (and very niche) infantry, vehicle, and mech operations, plus abstract battlefield support, (air and artillery strikes, minefields, etc...), and the scenarios in which they would be most appropriate.

Closing Ground Operations you'd have Scenario Design which would not only have BV calculation (including the pilot chart, C3 mod, TAG/SG, etc...) but you'd have basic building (CF) and map sheet modifiers (wind, weather) as well as advanced environmental effects (water/vacuum breach, swarms of bugs, exploding objects, etc...) It would have a very standard template for the GM to neatly balance forces and conditions based on the intended mission.

Quirks and Special Pilot Abilities would be saved for a later Alpha Strike Commander's book. They kinda clutter everything up and need more playtesting IMO.

[YingJanshi]

And, I'll have to check, but the Box set doesn't come with BLANK record sheets last I recall.  Certainly no construction rules for BattleMechs.  But, since I've given Core Boxes to people and haven't kept one for myself a while ago, my memory is a little foggy on that one.  Assuming I'm remembering rightly, you don't even have a means to 'upgrade' the existing designs, let alone come up with new ones or try to emulate Mechs that come in those funky lance/star packs.

I just checked. The Box Set (AGoAC) does include construction rules and a blank RS at the back of the RS booklet.

[Cannonshop]

What are the basic steps in a Battletech turn?

1. Initiative. (establishes movement order)
2. Movement.
3. attacks (except DFA) where weapons are fired and damage is marked off.
4. Heat is added up and marked on the chart.

Why is heat important? because it's part of the bloody game.  If you don't want to track it, there are games that don't require you to.

The entirety of those four things I just listed can be adequately described and applied in about two pages of 8 ^1/2x 11 at about a ten point font.

not including small illustrations, which will push you up to between three and four pages.

Weapons descriptions, what do you need to know?

1. Short/Medium/long range
2. Damage
3. Heat
4. Ammo Count.  (If applicable) 
5. Mass and Crit space (for 'mechs)/Mass for vees and fighters.
6. Conditional rules.

In the pre-generated/pre-printed record sheets, there's adequate space for those, either printed in, or you write it in the blank spaces, usually in the corner.  In the book, this is something that, with a short description text, should be able to fit.  This, too, can fit into the same page.  (cluster rules falls under conditional, same for pulse bonuses or to-hit penalties, or special features like heat generation) Conditional rules would also include indirect fire and scatter.

Armor Types/ what are they?

1. Material.
2. Mass
3. Crits
4. Special modifiers

Same for most of your other construction materials, Special modifiers (bonus vs. ballistic/penalty vs. ballistic)

IOW you shouldn't have to hunt through a separate page, never mind chapter, to find the answers to the questions above.

Weapons Entries: Organize them by one of two ways: by type (Energy/Ballistic/Missile/Physical) or alphabetically.  I'd recommend by type because that's logical to me, but others may have a different take.

The main book could be a LOT thinner than it is, even with the added dice-rolling and extra crit locations they gave vehicles, which in turn, should also be better organized.  Modifiers like sideslip/skidding should be described by unit TYPE (since people make a point of sideslip being different between Hover and VTOL, the specific sideslip should be in the unit type description under 'movement, not in a separated entry buried halfway through the book with exceptions).

Boil. it. down.  but don't erase core mechanics for 'simplicity' because that's not simplifying at all, it's writing a new game.  Your core book should be able to handle the BASIC MECHANICS of the game, the mechanics that  are intended to be the most commonly used.

Also, I'd agree that the old L1/L2/L3 segregation for rules levels was easier to explain that hunting through charts of Era Specific Mechanics.  Starslab is Starslab is Starslab, whether it's on this year's newest Clanner Omnimech, or a 3025 Wasp. 

[Charistoph]

Show it.

Provide all Movement rules on a 2 page PDF, including the modification chart, rules for Skidding, Sideslipping, and examples, for Infantry, Battlemechs, Combat Vehicle (all 5), and Protomech.

Don't forget to leave enough margin space for binding on one side and easy tags for sections on the other.

Also, DFA is under Attacks, just like Charging, Punching, and Shooting.

[Sartris]

if you make the font small enough you can get the whole book on page

[ActionButler]

**Mod Notice**

I’m going to go ahead and encourage everyone to chill out and end the swiping at one another. Nobody is winning an argument with their personal opinions about a theoretical rulebook reorganization.

[Cannonshop]

**Mod Notice**

I’m going to go ahead and encourage everyone to chill out and end the swiping at one another. Nobody is winning an argument with their personal opinions about a theoretical rulebook reorganization.

Alright, I know what comes next, so I'm out.

[M0rph3u5]

From the Perspective of someone who's just returned after leaving when the move to Dark Age/Click-tech happened...

I went looking to see what the current rulebook to buy was, and honestly had a hard time.  I've been taking my old Master Rules to the shop when I play, because I needed equipment rules that weren't in the current intro box rules booklet.

It seemed really unclear whether I should buy the 18 year old book, or the newer one that was only battlemechs, so I haven't bought either yet.  If I had googled things and seen a recent printing of the Master Rules, I would have thought 'yup, that's it,' and ordered it in a heartbeat.

Now, I'm only remembering how to play, and I have all my old books.

For a brand new player, I can only assume its a significant barrier to entry.

Now, for the positive: I love that the game is back.  The presentation is excellent, it's great to have readily available good plastic sculpts (at barnes and noble!), the Ilclan storyline/era is a huge step up from Dark Age, the new pilot cards are a really fun edition to game, even the new paints seem better than when last I played.  Been having lots of fun painting up Kell Hounds and Clan Wolf minis and playing people locally.  Very excited about the state of the game. 

[ColBosch]

Yeah, with my suggestions, I'm really trying to think of new and returning players. I suspect that the best title for a new BattleTech core rulebook would simply be "BattleTech: Core Rulebook."

[spotH3D]

You know how in some ABCDEF ratings A is best, and sometimes F is best?

That's a technical writing disaster.  That could do with fixing.

[Daemion]

I just checked. The Box Set (AGoAC) does include construction rules and a blank RS at the back of the RS booklet.

Well, there you go!  Thanks. 


And, if the box set can do it, why not the core rule book?

[Daemion]

if you make the font small enough you can get the whole book on page

 

They did that with the little Constitution of the United State of America documents.  I used to be able to read that without a magnifying lens.  Barely.  Not much anymore.  But, they could do it.

[Charistoph]

And, if the box set can do it, why not the core rule book?

Because its Introtech, and only deals with one single unit.

To repeat myself:

Second, do you know how big a book that would be? 

Total Warfare is 291 pages before the Index.  Even taking out the fluff (54 pages), we're still looking at 237 pages before the Index and Tables for Total Warfare alone.  Aerospace is another 19 pages for movement and 18 pages for combat, for 37 pages that could be potentially left out, so down to 200.  Leaving out painting would save us another 19, so we're down to 181 pages of rules, 3 pages of Index, and 10 pages of tables.

Tech Manual has 311 pages before its index.  Taking out fluff (50 pages) leave us with 261 pages.  If we leave out the support units like IndustrialMechs and Support Vehicles, we can save another 12 and 14 pages respectively.  We can probably leave out Aerospace, too, if we're leaving out their rules, so that's another 20 pages.  That's a final total of 215 pages for the rules of construction, cost and BV included, 4 pages of Index (which could mix a little with Total Warfare's, but not by much), 17 pages of Record Sheets, and 14 more pages of tables outside of the 215.

So, that's a grand "tournament total" of 427 pages, and that's not including the table of contents and other legal pages that precedes everything else.  That's bigger than the old Tactical Operations or Interstellar Operations books before they were split.

There's a reason that the BMR wasn't duplicated when they did Total Warfare.  Battletech has simply gotten too big, and construction rules aren't needed for a tournament atmosphere.

[Greatclub]

Put the basic construction rules in the core book; a handful of pages copy-pasted from what was in BMRr, leaving out all the complicated and/or marginal stuff, and not going into BV calcs

Techmanual needs to be its own book at this point. It also needs an update, basically incorporating all the alternate era stuff from when it was first printed and optional gear from tacops.

edit - but rip out most of the descriptive text. Will all due respect to Cray and the excellent job he did, that was still a low-value use of space.

[Charistoph]

Put the basic construction rules in the core book; a handful of pages copy-pasted from what was in BMRr, leaving out all the complicated and/or marginal stuff, and not going into BV calcs

If it was kept to Introductory levels, it would work.

Where the problem lies is what is in Total Warfare is not Standard and goes far beyond what the BMRr did.  BMRr didn't have Infantry unit construction in it, much less Battle Armor.

And leaving out BV calculations now kind of defeats the purpose of having the construction rules in it since it is quite pervasive and included on any pre-made Record Sheet provided over the last 2 decades.

[Greatclub]

If it was kept to Introductory levels, it would work.

Where the problem lies is what is in Total Warfare is not Standard and goes far beyond what the BMRr did.  BMRr didn't have Infantry unit construction in it, much less Battle Armor.

And leaving out BV calculations now kind of defeats the purpose of having the construction rules in it since it is quite pervasive and included on any pre-made Record Sheet provided over the last 2 decades.

That's what the construction book is for.

Most people just need stats for one of the standard infantry platoons; they don't need or want to get into the deep end of infantry construction. If they do, they get the splatbook.

BV calcs devour pages and frankly, I've never seen anyone do them right by hand. There's a dozen programs on the web for that, and if you want to know how it works or do it yourself? Get the splatbook.

want to build a proto, or BA? Get the splatbook. Quadvee, LAM, tripod, superheavy, industrial, primitive? Splatbook.

Wanting to know how to swap an ac/5 for two heat sinks and a PPC, or SHS for DHS is what most people want to do, and pretty much all a beginner needs to know. I'm proposing TW2 has only the most basic of construction for a reason, and it isn't even to sell splatbooks.