Most Prevalent Starting date

[Col Toda]

Most campaigns I have been in started in 3039 . Most of the material I have seen seem to indicated the 3060s . What has been your experience? 

[Kerfuffin(925)]

In MM I start 3149.
The clans have fully differentiated by then

[nerd]

Depends on what we want to do. Any era can be good for starting.

[Failure16]

My personal preference is 3000 or so. Lot of fun times to be had across the Sphere and beyond, and gives you time to build into some of the bigger things to come. Lots of good things do eventually, but some of my favorites are the '02 invasion of Solaris, the Dragoons against the CapCon '06-08, the morass of Rochelle in '07, FWL Deep Raids into the LC in '08, FWL versus the CapCon/Dragoons '12ish, the '14 Marik Civil War and fallout which included the LC. By the time you enter into 3025 and the 4th War, you are on your second generation of characters, and by 3050, you are on generation three.

The late stages of the 3SW are ideal for being "low impact" and without too much craziness to keep track of. But any time is a good time.

[SteelRaven]

I started in 3050, more options and good stories to go along with the MW2 games. While I love 3025 now, it was frustrating when I got started as a kid. As said above, any era is a good start date depending on what you are looking for. MechWarrior 4 made 3060 super appealing as HBS Battletech and MW5 shinning a light back of the 3025 era with the Clan Invasion Kickstarter showing there is still allot of love for the 3050s. It's just a question of what type of game you want to play

[Daryk]

My personal preference is 3000 or so. Lot of fun times to be had across the Sphere and beyond, and gives you time to build into some of the bigger things to come. Lots of good things do eventually, but some of my favorites are the '02 invasion of Solaris, the Dragoons against the CapCon '06-08, the morass of Rochelle in '07, FWL Deep Raids into the LC in '08, FWL versus the CapCon/Dragoons '12ish, the '14 Marik Civil War and fallout which included the LC. By the time you enter into 3025 and the 4th War, you are on your second generation of characters, and by 3050, you are on generation three.

The late stages of the 3SW are ideal for being "low impact" and without too much craziness to keep track of. But any time is a good time.

I KNEW I liked you...  ;D

[VensersRevenge]

I like 3058. The Chaos March allows for small forces players can realistically run to be decisive, you have all of the drama of the late 3050s and 3060s to run players through, and they have enough time to build connections and relationships to the setting for the tragedy of the Jihad to matter. Plus, if they actually survive all the way through, the formation of the Republic is a logical retirement period for a happy ending.

[Geg]

In MM I start 3149.
The clans have fully differentiated by then

I like 3145-3149.  However, 3151 in the Hinterlands is probably a well, I will go back to time and time again.

I enjoy the Dark Age.   If you really lean into the HPG Blackout you can get a good mix of 3rd Succession War Era stories and the everyone has a bit of everything tech along side classics from the Clan Invasion.

[Trellis Serf]

In my area, a majority of the players were of the "3025 or Die!" group.  They would often cite "it was better because you actually had to manage your heat".  But then I'd hear anti-Clan rants.  I mean, I'm not a fan of the Clans, but at least they can be interesting on the other side of the table, so to speak.

I tend to default to 3067, as that's when most of the books I had were set, and I find it cozy.  I'm warming up to the Hinterlands of 3151-3152, but I'm sure I'll have a hard time finding folks to run that, whether it be for A Time of War, or even just CBT or AS.

[Frabby]

I'm with Failure16 and Daryk, because I feel I know the BT universe better (and can explain and GM it better) in the late SW era.
Jumping head first into the Civil War era just makes it too confusing and disconnected to feel at home. Total Chaos did an admirable job of guiding players through the Jihad era, but I never got to actually play it. Jury’s still out on the playability of the ilClan era because I only ever play pickup games these days.

[Lance Leader]

  I've done a campaign over Megamek set in the Jihad era starting in 3067.  I've also played one against myself in in the same era using the Chaos Campaign rules, it was surprisingly fun.

[BrianDavion]

3151 has a LOOOT of potential, between the hinterlands and the dracs and feddies basicly turning their border over to merc units there is a LOT of room for intreasting stuff

[Shin_Fenris]

We do mostly pickup games w/few restrictions other than BV or Alpha Strike points but when we campaign, our preferred starting point is 3067. Going into the Blakey Temper Tantrum is a lot of chaotic fun. Alternately, 3025, 3049, or 3145 are solid for me personally, since I'm the "bookkeeper" of our group & love the spectrum of conflict from SW-era tech to CI to Industrial 'Mechs being a solid occupying force. Really digging the newest releases coming out so trying to convince the group to start an IlClan run right now.

[Sartris]

*rolls d700+2449*

there

[mechasaurus]

In my area, a majority of the players were of the "3025 or Die!" group.  They would often cite "it was better because you actually had to manage your heat".  But then I'd hear anti-Clan rants.  I mean, I'm not a fan of the Clans, but at least they can be interesting on the other side of the table, so to speak...

... I'm warming up to the Hinterlands of 3151-3152, but I'm sure I'll have a hard time finding folks to run that, whether it be for A Time of War, or even just CBT or AS.

The nice thing is that the AS box set plunks you right into 3151.  Buy the box, and (errata aside) you have timeline appropriate AS cards right from the get-go.  My son and I play right out of the box.  If we have to force-balance with PV, we'll often just pick up an any era mech that fits (I had 11 points to squeeze in an OG Urbie the other day).

For me in CBT, it's 3025.  I don't really see that changing much, until CGL makes a default 3151 box set.  They'll have to re-orient Battletech to have 3151 presented up front.  At that point only, will 3025 be relegated to alternate eras.

For us, it's 3151 AS, 3025 CBT (through to about 3055 to get some Clan stuff thrown in).  It's nice.  I mentally treat the AS box as both a separate era and separate game system.

[Daryk]

I have to say the introduction of so much gear into the 3SW era really revitalized it... BLAZER CANNONs first and foremost, of course, but Recon Cameras, Remote Sensor Dispensers, Rocket Launchers... all make it that much more attractive to me!  :D

[Vonshroom]

I'm with Failure16 and Daryk, because I feel I know the BT universe better (and can explain and GM it better) in the late SW era.

Chalk one more for the ~3000 - 3015 start date. It's a simpler era to play in and choices have more impact.

I like the grittiness and resource scarce nature of this era and its a great setting to start out with. If you are GM you can really make your players earn it and it adds a fun level of texture to the game when you can't just "buy new". As a player I like it from the same perspective because there's a lot of "making do with what you have". Also because I don't have the time for massive campaigns we can get in a "campaign" through a series of pick up style games. I'll run my same lance through a series of short lance on lance sized games and keep track of my side as if it were a campaign, this frees the other player(s) up to just have a pick up game. I'll keep track of everything including refit costs, etc on my own time if I want to go that route.

The late stages of the 3SW are ideal for being "low impact" and without too much craziness to keep track of. But any time is a good time.

I like to write up fanfic and play units that are "realistic" or "could exist" in the timeline but aren't canon. This is an ideal setting and you can effectively gear up for the fourth succession war. The amount of minor border skirmishes, resource raids, etc means that the entire universe is really your oyster when it comes to playing this era. Further this is the era that really is centered around small (playable) units and mercenaries, while the later eras start getting really large units and shove you into a box more.

[Daryk]

Well, that's four of us at least!  :thumbsup:

[Minemech]

I have to say the introduction of so much gear into the 3SW era really revitalized it... BLAZER CANNONs first and foremost

Adding a second headcapper was a quaint idea.

[Hellraiser]

I'm sure its just because it was the start of the game way back when, but, 3025 enough for a few end of 3SW missions before moving into 4SW.

[Grizzly]

I've only run one campaign as GM, starting in 3014. I think the 3SW is great for lance-sized mercs.

3025 got old at one point but playing with Total Warfare and BV2 really has more replayability than the old mech-only tonnage-balanced matches.

[epic 2.0]

yup, prefer the early 3020s as a start, that leads into a campaign that can then play thru all the way to the Jihad.  If we play generational play, then it can go all the way to the ilClan.

However, I've always wanted to try my hand at a small group of SLDF forces that go merc in the 1SW, and then play them thru as generations all the way to 3151.  If they survive.

[tassa_kay]

My favorite starting point is the Blackout. It's a fantastic introductory set-up for the setting, and lets me ratchet up the scale/scope of the game gradually as the Republic collapses and its neighbors start moving in.

[Daryk]

yup, prefer the early 3020s as a start, that leads into a campaign that can then play thru all the way to the Jihad.  If we play generational play, then it can go all the way to the ilClan.

However, I've always wanted to try my hand at a small group of SLDF forces that go merc in the 1SW, and then play them thru as generations all the way to 3151.  If they survive.

That would be epic, by definition!  :thumbsup:

[Charistoph]

Our local one started with the Auregan Dominion, fighting for it.

At one point we were given a choice to change sides.  The money wasn't as good, but we were given access to Star League tech, and the chance to acquire some 'Mechs from a downed Leopard (that pissed off the Wolf Dragoons and ComStar for some reason), and we acquired some interesting (and rather irreplaceable) new Mechs.

Either way, setting up your starting point where you and your opponents are using Introtech, is a good idea.  It allows people to get their feet wet while not going crazy, and if you want to give them a leg up, set them up with an opportunity to get a cache of advanced tech, be it Star League, Dragoon, or Clan (depending on the time period).

[Col Toda]

I was hoping to see one ERA stand out . The all over the place ERA posts frustrating to me but good and healthy to the Game itself.  Will ask again in 3 years perhaps in a poll format . Looks like will get different balance of answers every 3 years

[Iron Grenadier]

Anywhere from 3000 to 3039.

Last two games started 3039 and 3030. Before that it was 3025 bunch of times with a few earlier dates sprinkled in

[Calimehter]

Anywhere from 3000 to the Jihad works for us.  Almost never play on either side of that range.

[Rastignac]

The most easiest to start is clan invasion, 4th succession war. Also most favourite I think.

[Zematus737]

*rolls d700+2449*

there

There's a list of twelve periods for the Inner Sphere and four for Clan in the Force Creation Era Table that you can use as a RAT.  2d6 for the top half and 1-3;4-6;7-9;10-12 for the bottom.