FASA Sourcebook Index - 1987-2000

[Sartris]

I recently decided to fill out parts of my FASA sourcebook collection and had to triage the catalog to determine what I considered essential for purchasing. The result is a companion piece to my Modern Sourcebook Index by Era.

All items have been give an in-universe date (IU) except the original run of sourcebooks up through the first Periphery volume that all were set roughly in 3025 and TROs, which were set in the year on the cover (excepting 2750)

As always, corrections welcome. I'm a typo magnet.

* - available for purchase as a scanned PDF at drivethrurpg.com. store.catalystgamelabs.com has some but not all for some reason
^ - updated printing by FanPro or Catalyst sold at store.catalyst.com

Star League (2571-2780)

Code: [Select]

Sourcebooks
-----------
1630 The Star League* (IU: 3028)

Technical Readouts
------------------
8613 Technical Readout: 2750* (IU: ca 3028, shortly after the GDL discovered the Helm Memory Core)

Late Succession Wars - Renaissance (3020-3049)

Code: [Select]

Sourcebooks
-----------
1616 Mercenary's Handbook* (IU: 3025)
1619 Jumpships and Dropships* (IU: 3025)
1620 House Kurita* (IU: 3025)
1621 House Steiner* (IU: 3025)
1622 House Marik* (IU: 3025)
1623 House Davion (IU: 3025)
1624 House Liao (IU: 3025)
1629 The Periphery* (IU: 3025)
1631 Wolf's Dragoons (IU: 3030)
1634 NAIS 4th SW Atlas Vol 1* (IU: 3029)
1635 NAIS 4th SW Atlas Vol 2* (IU: 3031)

Technical Readouts
------------------
8603 Technical Readout: 3025*
8606 Technical Readout: 3026^

Scenario Packs
--------------
1605 Tales of the Black Widow Company* (IU: ca 3022-3027)
1606 The Fox's Teeth (IU: ca 3021-3027)
1613 The Galtor Campaign* (IU: 3025)
1614 Cranston Snord's Irregulars (IU: 3007-3025)
1617 Gray Death Legion (IU: 3024-3030)
1627 Sorenson's Sabres (IU: 3021-3026)
1651 Rolling Thunder (IU: 3025-3028)
1652 The Kell Hounds (IU: 3013-3029)
1654 The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Vol. 1* (IU: 3028-3029)
1669 McCarron's Armored Cavalry* (IU: 3044)
1705 Battlepack: Fourth Succession War (IU: 3028-3029) - intro implies it was meant to be a beginner-level product series that never got a second installment

Clan Invasion (3050-3061)

Code: [Select]

Sourcebooks
-----------
1639 20 Year Update* (IU: 3050)
1642 Wolf Clan* (IU: 3052)
1644 Jade Falcon* (IU: 3052)
1645 Invading Clans* (IU: 3052)
1655 Comstar* (IU: 3055)
1659 Solaris: The Reaches (IU: 3055)
1660 Solaris VII: The Game World (IU: ca. 3054) - The Player's and GM's guides amount to a sourcebook of Solaris VII
1665 Objective Raids* (IU: 3054)
1670 Mercenary's Handbook 3055* (IU: 3056)
1673 Intelligence Operations Handbook* (IU: 3055)
1679 Hot Spots* (IU: 3056)
1681 Explorer Corps* (IU: 3059)
1688 Chaos March* (IU: 3058)
1692 The Periphery (IU: 3059)

Field Manuals
-------------
1698 Field Manual: Draconis Combine* (IU: 3058)
1699 Field Manual: Free Worlds League* (IU: 3059)
1701 Field Manual: Mercenaries* (IU: 3059)
1706 Field Manual: Crusader Clans* (IU: 3059)
1711 Field Manual: Warden Clans* (IU: 3061)
1714 Field Manual: ComStar* (IU: 3062)
1717 Field Manual: Capellan Confederation* (IU: 3063)
1719 Field Manual: Federated Suns* (IU: 3062)
1720 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance (IU: 3062)
1726 Field Manual: Periphery (IU: 3064)

Technical Readouts
------------------
8614 Technical Readout: 3050^
8619 Technical Readout: 3055^
8620 Technical Readout: 3057^
8621 Technical Readout: 3058^
8622 Technical Readout: 3060^

Scenario Packs
--------------
1643 Rhonda's Irregulars* (IU: 3028-3051)
1653 Battle for Twycross* (IU: 3050)
1657 More Tales of the Black Widow (IU: 3032-3052)
1677 Day of Heroes* (IU: 3039-3056)
1678 Luthien* (IU: 3052)
1684 The Fall of Terra* (IU: 3058)
1685 Tukayyid (IU: 3052)
1686 The Black Thorns* (IU: 3052-3057)
1689 The Falcon and the Wolf* (IU: 3057)
1693 The Battle of Coventry* (IU: 3058)
1697 First Strike* (IU: 3027-3057)
1702 Northwind Highlanders (IU: 2366-3058)
1704 The Dragon Roars* (IU: 3059)
1710 Twilight of the Clans* (IU: 3059-3060)
1713 Operation: Stiletto (IU: 3061-3062)

FedCom Civil War (3062-3067)

Code: [Select]

Sourcebooks
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1709 The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky (IU: 3062)
1712 Shattered Sphere* (IU: 3062)
1724 Inner Sphere (IU: 3063)

Scenario Packs
--------------
1721 Operation: Flashpoint* (IU: 3063)

MechWarrior Support

Code: [Select]

Second Edition (1991)
---------------------
1646 Living Legends
1656 Unbound
1665 Bloodright
1672 Null Set*
1676 Royalty and Rogues

Third Edition (1999)
--------------------
1716 The Mechwarrior's Guide to Solaris VII
1722 LosTech: The MechWarrior Equipment Guide
1725 MechWarrior's Guide to the Clans
10975 Classic BattleTech Companion (FanPro)
35008 A Guide to Covert Ops (FanPro)

Core Rules

Code: [Select]

1626 BattleTech Manual: Rules of Warfare* (1987)
1640 BattleTech Compendium* (1990)
1690 BattleTech Compendium: The Rules of Warfare* (1994)
1707 BattleTech Master Rules* (1998)
1707 BattleTech Master Rules, Revised* (2001)

Rules

Code: [Select]

1604 BattleDroids (1984)
1604 BattleTech, 2nd Ed (1985)
1604 BattleTech, 3rd Ed (1990)
1604 Battletech, 4th Ed (1996)
1607 MechWarrior (1986)
1608 CityTech (1986)
1608 CityTech, 2nd Ed* (1994)
1609 AeroTech (1986)
1611 BattleForce* (1986)
1612 The Succession Wars (1987)
1637 BattleTroops (1989)
1641 MechWarrior, 2nd Ed (1991)
1660 Solaris VII (1991)
1664 ClanTroops (1991)
1671 MechWarrior Companion* (1995)
1680 BattleSpace (1993)
1700 Maximum Tech (1997)
1700 Maximum Tech, Revised* (1998)
1703 BattleForce 2* (1997)
1715 MechWarrior, 3rd Ed^ (1999) (rebranded by FanPro as the BattleTech RPG)
1718 AeroTech 2^ (2000)
8630 Tactical Handbook* (1994)


[Tymers Realm]

While I see Unbound in the mix, I don't see the materials of the Solaris 7 Boxed set anywhere?

[Tai Dai Cultist]

While I see Unbound in the mix, I don't see the materials of the Solaris 7 Boxed set anywhere?

Probably a deliberate omission, as it was not only a boxed set it also was the core rules for a variant scale of play.  (BattleTech basic box=lance scale combat, AeroTech=Space combat, BattleForce=large unit combat, BattleTroops=squad combat, and Solaris IIV=solo mech combat)

[Sartris]

Probably a deliberate omission, as it was not only a boxed set it also was the core rules for a variant scale of play.  (BattleTech basic box=lance scale combat, AeroTech=Space combat, BattleForce=large unit combat, BattleTroops=squad combat, and Solaris IIV=solo mech combat)

pretty much this... also, i only ever looked at the Solaris box set books once in the late 90s so I really can't speak to their contents.

at some point i'll go back and catalog which rules levels the various books support. for example, the Twilight of the Clans book has BattleTech, BattleForce 2, and BattleSpace scenarios

[Tymers Realm]

Well keep in mind that while S7 boxed set introduced a new play-scale/rules, it also detailed the world's history and about the arenas and the main city of Solaris 7. There's quite a bit of RP material between both books.

[ColBosch]

pretty much this... also, i only ever looked at the Solaris box set books once in the late 90s so I really can't speak to their contents.

at some point i'll go back and catalog which rules levels the various books support. for example, the Twilight of the Clans book has BattleTech, BattleForce 2, and BattleSpace scenarios

I've got ALL* of the FASA stuff, so if you need anything checked, drop me a PM.


* - Not all. All but Map Set 4, Map Set 5 (because I have the Compilations), the two OmniMech poster sets (because who cares, let someone else pay $125 for folded paper), and the plastic BattleMechs (1674) set (because I have many copies of BT3e's pieces). But that's all I'm missing.

[Red Pins]

I've got ALL* of the FASA stuff, so if you need anything checked, drop me a PM.


* - Not all. All but Map Set 4, Map Set 5 (because I have the Compilations), the two OmniMech poster sets (because who cares, let someone else pay $125 for folded paper), and the plastic BattleMechs (1674) set (because I have many copies of BT3e's pieces). But that's all I'm missing.

And I'm giving stuff away because I don't have room or need it anymore.  Your turn will come.

[ColBosch]

And I'm giving stuff away because I don't have room or need it anymore.  Your turn will come.

Yeah, it's the third time I've rebuilt my collection.

[CrossfirePilot]

How about the fabled Comstar Sourcebook? :D

[ColBosch]

How about the fabled Comstar Sourcebook? :D

Yes.

[truetanker]

And I'm giving stuff away because I don't have room or need it anymore.  Your turn will come.

Ohh... tanks peas!

TT  ;)

[Sartris]

While I see Unbound in the mix, I don't see the materials of the Solaris 7 Boxed set anywhere?

i skyped with a friend who has this and between the player's and gm's guides, they are basically two mid-sized sourcebooks - especially the player's guide, which has virtually no game information at all apart from background info. Added to the list (FASA 1660)

[GarageBay9]

How about the fabled Comstar Sourcebook? :D

Ok - I keep seeing allusion to the ComStar sourcebook being hidden with the Area 51 UFO next to Jimmy Hoffa, or something.  Are we talking about this one?

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/5/52/ComStar_%28sourcebook%29.jpg

Because I have like two of those somewhere.

[ColBosch]

Ok - I keep seeing allusion to the ComStar sourcebook being hidden with the Area 51 UFO next to Jimmy Hoffa, or something.  Are we talking about this one?

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/5/52/ComStar_%28sourcebook%29.jpg

Because I have like two of those somewhere.

No. The original ComStar sourcebook.

[GarageBay9]

No. The original ComStar sourcebook.

Let me guess, there's a picture of it in, say, a 1989 / 1990 FASA catalog, but nobody has ever actually held one?

[ColBosch]

Let me guess, there's a picture of it in, say, a 1989 / 1990 FASA catalog, but nobody has ever actually held one?

No. There are no known pictures, but there are eyewitness accounts.

[SteelRaven]

like Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster

[Frabby]

This ComStar sourcebook: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Vaporware#ComStar_sourcebook

[ColBosch]

That article is misleading. The ComStar sourcebook isn't vaporware, it was just delayed. It really came out at a far more appropriate point, after Focht "opened the archives." The existing sourcebook certainly reads more like the original House sourcebooks than it does the Clan sourcebooks of the early '90s.

Also, FASA code 1628 originally appeared on company order forms (around 1987) as "BattleMechs: 16 plastic miniatures" (or variants thereof); whether this was changed to 1633 for PlasTech or there were plans for a different boxed set is lost to history. If it was to be a different selection of 'Mechs, that would at least explain the eclectic mix found in PlasTech.

[SteelRaven]

But the book that everyone claimed they 'held in their hands' before 1992 the was never a FASA product.. if it existed at all (I'm still not convinced)

[ColBosch]

But the book that everyone claimed they 'held in their hands' before 1992 the was never a FASA product.. if it existed at all (I'm still not convinced)

It did not exist prior to 1992. Anyone who thinks it did was mistaken. It's been decades, and memories are not as solid as we think they are. For example, recently I was telling a story about watching the movie "Elektra" when I lived in Austin, TX. A friend who knew me during that time interrupted me to say the film hadn't come out yet. We checked IMDB and, lo and behlod, she was right; indeed, "Daredevil" hadn't even come out. Even today, knowing that I must've seen the movie another time and place, I still can picture sitting at the bar, watching it on a television that I found pictures of...but that event never actually happened. Let me tell you, it's a weird feeling when your memories are wrong.

[SteelRaven]

Doesn't help when you have a rumor mill turning it into a urban myth.

"It exist I tell you! I seen it with my own eyes!"
"I seen it too!"
"Then it must exist!"

 

[Tymers Realm]

i skyped with a friend who has this and between the player's and gm's guides, they are basically two mid-sized sourcebooks - especially the player's guide, which has virtually no game information at all apart from background info. Added to the list (FASA 1660)

It can be surprising what you find. From what I remember, I picked up the S7 box for the fluff as much as the new combat scale. I still have the books, but I fear my maps have long since gone missing/destroyed. I have XTRO: Royal Fantasy, so I'm good in that respect...

[ColBosch]

It can be surprising what you find. From what I remember, I picked up the S7 box for the fluff as much as the new combat scale. I still have the books, but I fear my maps have long since gone missing/destroyed. I have XTRO: Royal Fantasy, so I'm good in that respect...

MapPack: Solaris VII can still be found for a decent price, and the supplemental booklet updates the boxed set nicely.

[Kit deSummersville]

I don't see the Record Sheet books.

[ColBosch]

I don't see the Record Sheet books.

He's focusing on sourcebooks.

[CrossfirePilot]

That article is misleading. The ComStar sourcebook isn't vaporware, it was just delayed. It really came out at a far more appropriate point, after Focht "opened the archives." The existing sourcebook certainly reads more like the original House sourcebooks than it does the Clan sourcebooks of the early '90s.

Also, FASA code 1628 originally appeared on company order forms (around 1987) as "BattleMechs: 16 plastic miniatures" (or variants thereof); whether this was changed to 1633 for PlasTech or there were plans for a different boxed set is lost to history. If it was to be a different selection of 'Mechs, that would at least explain the eclectic mix found in PlasTech.

Please quit trying to rebuff my fuzzy memories with facts.

[ColBosch]

Please quit trying to rebuff my fuzzy memories with facts.

Sorry for killing the magic. Would a unicorn make things better?

[SCC]

Where's Maximum Tech? Doesn't it date from '97?

[ColBosch]

Where's Maximum Tech? Doesn't it date from '97?

That's a rulebook, not a sourcebook.