NEW RELEASE: Core Rulebooks - New Printings

[Bedwyr]

Very cool. I look forward to seeing more pictures of the bookcover.

[I am Belch II]

Very nice.
Is it just a reprint or is there something new in there.

[ColBosch]

Very nice.
Is it just a reprint or is there something new in there.

Reprint, but with all the errata folded in.

[omega2010]

Hmm. I still need Interstellar Ops, but it's probably $300 by now. My Total Warfare is pretty old - I think it's the first CGL printing - so I'll go ahead and pick this up when it's in general circulation.

First CGL printing?  My copy still has FanPro on the spine!

[ColBosch]

First CGL printing?  My copy still has FanPro on the spine!

I traded my FanPro copy for CGL, so they'd all match.

[Cubby]

Here's a shot of the spine art - photo credit to Bosefius!

[Sellsword]

Ok so what product is being developed to bridge the gap between the new 3025 box set and the total warefare line of core rule books which are clearly set during the jihad?

[Wrangler]

That's interesting.  Rule book's product number changed little bit.  35001V.

Does that mean it's revised version?

[Tai Dai Cultist]

Here's a shot of the spine art - photo credit to Bosefius!

Looks like the art for TRO3050 is the spine picture

[Bedwyr]

Ok so what product is being developed to bridge the gap between the new 3025 box set and the total warefare line of core rule books which are clearly set during the jihad?

There is no bridge. If I’m understanding your unspoken point, it can seem odd that these two core products are ping-ponging across major timespans. But it’s inevitable because the box set unavoidably uses equipment from 3205. It cannot be set in the current era Total Warfare was written in the setting that was current at the time. This has not been altered because the book is a reprint and not a completely new product.

The Battletech product line, moreover, ping pongs itself between eras to suit fans’ curiosity about past events as well as “current timeline” events. So the full answer to your question is more like “the entire set of Battletech publications ever is your bridge”. This isn’t a product line that fully commits itself to a single progressing point in time for everything like your average 40k product line.

[Sellsword]

There is no bridge. If I’m understanding your unspoken point, it can seem odd that these two core products are ping-ponging across major timespans. But it’s inevitable because the box set unavoidably uses equipment from 3205. It cannot be set in the current era Total Warfare was written in the setting that was current at the time. This has not been altered because the book is a reprint and not a completely new product.

The Battletech product line, moreover, ping pongs itself between eras to suit fans’ curiosity about past events as well as “current timeline” events. So the full answer to your question is more like “the entire set of Battletech publications ever is your bridge”. This isn’t a product line that fully commits itself to a single progressing point in time for everything like your average 40k product line.

Fair enough.  But it seems a pretty big step for new players to go from 3025 Mech only tech to 3069 tech levels with Vehicles, Battlearmor, Protomechs, Aerospace etc.

[Weirdo]

The print record sheet books are good bridges, each having a small rules chapter before getting to the sheets. For example, RS 3039 introduces vehicle and infantry rules, while I think RS 3050 brings in the weapons and equipment of that era.

[nckestrel]

Fair enough.  But it seems a pretty big step for new players to go from 3025 Mech only tech to 3069 tech levels with Vehicles, Battlearmor, Protomechs, Aerospace etc.

The Box Sets aren't out yet. Even when it is, there's no need to force new players to jump immediately to Total Warfare. 
  But for now, there's (relatively) no new players to make a bridge product for. Several previous products attempted to do so (starterbook sword and dragon, print record sheets), but they're not going to succeed as bridge products when there's not really any market for such an item.
Though I'd love for there to eventually be a "bridge" box set. "In success."

[Sartris]

I’d like to see a tro: succession wars related expansion. The mechs within use pretty much all the star league lostech.

I don’t like the prototype gear in sword and dragon because it’s more complicated than actual TL gear

[nckestrel]

I’d like to see a tro: succession wars related expansion. The mechs within use pretty much all the star league lostech.

I don’t like the prototype gear in sword and dragon because it’s more complicated than actual TL gear

Agree.  I just don't think having a product specifically to "bridge the gap" is going to work on its own.
Record Sheets 3039 was better at being that specifically, but had little/no appeal to veteran BattleTech players, so it didn't sell.
Starterbook: Sword and Dragon was a too complicated to be a good bridge, but I think it actually sold better because it had more appeal to veteran players. 
So such a "bridge" product would need to be something that appealed to veteran players as well. A clan invasion box set, or a starterbook type product expanding on the box set (campaign/story like sword and dragon, but rules expansion more like print record sheet 3039)?

[ThePW]

Does this version V have newer stories in it (or information that shows the current timeline is past 3150?)

[Bedwyr]

Does this version V have newer stories in it (or information that shows the current timeline is past 3150?)

I don't think so. Cubby, others, or new owners can confirm. I think this was just a straight-up re-print as resources were not budgeted to get new fluff.

[Sartris]

Agree.  I just don't think having a product specifically to "bridge the gap" is going to work on its own.
Record Sheets 3039 was better at being that specifically, but had little/no appeal to veteran BattleTech players, so it didn't sell.
Starterbook: Sword and Dragon was a too complicated to be a good bridge, but I think it actually sold better because it had more appeal to veteran players. 
So such a "bridge" product would need to be something that appealed to veteran players as well. A clan invasion box set, or a starterbook type product expanding on the box set (campaign/story like sword and dragon, but rules expansion more like print record sheet 3039)?

I suppose the ironic element here is that the intro box actually fills the criteria of appealing to both new to veteran players, but a step-up product does not. The solution to reaching both audiences appears to be to put plastic minis in everything.

[abou]

I actually found the PDF of the record sheets - particularly 3039 awesome. Granted, I prefer the older record sheet style and it could be organized better, but still nice to have for easy printing.

[Cubby]

Does this version V have newer stories in it (or information that shows the current timeline is past 3150?)

Unfortunately, no - the only changes to text or layout were to include current errata. More substantial re-writing, and certainly an all-new layout, just wasn't in the cards.

[Colt Ward]

I suppose the ironic element here is that the intro box actually fills the criteria of appealing to both new to veteran players, but a step-up product does not. The solution to reaching both audiences appears to be to put plastic minis in everything.

Which is why the suggestion for marketing purposes was a 'Succession War Expansion Pack' that has TRO SW mechs & sheets as the next step, advances tech a bit but leaves out the Clans & BA.  As much as I would love the old forum plan AS Box Set that was set 3050 with 22 mini (or more for Elementals) . . . its probably missed its chance, and the SWEP idea is more likely since it can get the grognards.

[Daryk]

Which is why the suggestion for marketing purposes was a 'Succession War Expansion Pack' that has TRO SW mechs & sheets as the next step, advances tech a bit but leaves out the Clans & BA.
*snip*

That idea certainly intrigues this grognard...

[Tai Dai Cultist]

Which is why the suggestion for marketing purposes was a 'Succession War Expansion Pack' that has TRO SW mechs & sheets as the next step, advances tech a bit but leaves out the Clans & BA.  As much as I would love the old forum plan AS Box Set that was set 3050 with 22 mini (or more for Elementals) . . . its probably missed its chance, and the SWEP idea is more likely since it can get the grognards.

That idea certainly intrigues this grognard...

Speaking as another grognard, one with an inflated sense of self-importance:

Grognards are like Your Health.  Without them, you have nothing.

[Maingunnery]

Which is why the suggestion for marketing purposes was a 'Succession War Expansion Pack' that has TRO SW mechs & sheets as the next step, advances tech a bit but leaves out the Clans & BA.  As much as I would love the old forum plan AS Box Set that was set 3050 with 22 mini (or more for Elementals) . . . its probably missed its chance, and the SWEP idea is more likely since it can get the grognards.

That might work if all the art is brought to the same level as the new box minis, and add several new variants....

[Sartris]

That idea certainly intrigues this grognard...


Speaking as another grognard, one with an inflated sense of self-importance:

Grognards are like Your Health.  Without them, you have nothing.

Back in my day we had to roll dice uphill both ways. And we tripled all the heat costs because we were real gamers

[Bosefius]

Does this version V have newer stories in it (or information that shows the current timeline is past 3150?)

The only changes are the errata being folded in and the cover/spine.

[Maingunnery]

Is version V = version 5?

[klarg1]

I've been waiting for a new printing for a while.

My copy of Total Warfare still says "Fanpro" on it, and I could really use an updated copy, with all the errata folded in.  :thumbsup:

[Sigil]

Yeah, I don't think this was the best choice for the first book. If I knew nothing of battletech and saw that on the cover, I'd probably pass by.  More so if I only new battletech from the video games. "What's this?  Are they trying to rip off mechwarrior online?"

Now as something like a con exclusive or some other kind of collectible, I could totally see it.

I agree.  The front cover art is a questionable choice.  Instead of looking to draw the eye of new players, or those who enjoy the modern aesthetic, they are paying tribute to the 1987 Rules of Warfare.  That said, with the earlier release of the BattleMech Manual, an utterly superb rulebook for both new and experienced players, the audience for Total Warfare may only be the same hardcore BT players that appreciate the tribute ;)

[Greatclub]

I'd prefer the old spine art. I'm only missing two from the collection, and that'll break up the pattern.

That said, I'll get TechManual and Innerstellat ops the second they come out.