Ok thanks everyone I think that fully answers my questions.
I will pick up a copy of the Battlemech Manual as all I want is Mech combat. Its only 9 dollars as a pdf.
I had a look through the TW manual and found it really confusing, everything feels jumbled together and I was skipping lots of info due to it covering literally everything.
Sounds like the starter box (the bigger one) will still be stripped down, which may or may not appeal to me, just depends whats missing.
I will be getting it anyway because, well... the new minis look fantastic and im hoping it does well so we get clan mechs in the same format.
I actually found watching a load of tutorial videos much easier to re-learn the game, along with having an old manual in front of me.
I watched a series by andrew J on youtube which was great.
Is there an official "how to play" about anywhere?
Since reading the rules can be quite a challenge to get through, id have thought nowdays this would be the obvious way to engage a player base?
I play 40k, Necromunda and Blood Bowl and GW seem to knock it out the park on "how to" guides, which wasnt always the case but they have done a stellar job of late.
Obviously they probably have a much bigger budget, but then again how much does it cost to create an official (or unofficial) how to play?
Anyways, looking forward to a game in the not too distant future...
Cheers
H