BattleTech Beginner Box & A Game of Armoured Combat

[Xotl]

This thread is for all issues and problems with the two current-generation introductory box sets: the Beginner Box and A Game of Armoured Combat.

Product Links:
https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-beginner-box
https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech-getting-started/products/battletech-a-game-of-armored-combat

There is no compiled errata for the Beginner Box at this time.  When reporting an issue for this box set, please confirm which version you're writing about: the original Griffin/Wolverine edition, or the 2022 Griffin/Vindicator "Mercs" edition.  The Essentials box is a separate product and has its own thread.

The most recent errata for the AGOAC box is v8.01, and can be found here:
https://bg.battletech.com/errata/
Additionally, note that a free copy of the 8th printing PDF can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/e9q2otjapw94gg4tlmrcg/A-Game-of-Armored-Combat-Rulebook-8th.pdf?rlkey=k8smra3ifgxzj4ahrzr0ivnsa&dl=0

Please remember to follow the errata report template when reporting issues.  Additionally, please be sure to mention as the very first thing which box you're offering the correction for.  Thanks.

[Xotl]

Beginner Box, Quick-Start Rules

None at this time.

AGoAC Rulebook

None at this time.

[Apocal]

Passing this along:

AGoAC
Pilot card "Piers Ballatine"

Pilot has the Sandblaster (LRM) SPA but the text reads: "When rolling on the Cluster Hits Table for a successful SRM attack..."

[Alfaryn]

AGoAC Rulebook

p. 3

Problem - the "Box Contents" frame says that there should be two Tables Cards in the box. I found only one such card in the box, the back of the box also fays that there is only one, and when I checked a couple unboxing videos of AGoAC on YouTube and in each of them there was also just one Table Card shown in the box, so I suspect that no components are missing, but instead there is an error in the manual.

Suggested solution - in Box Contents frame on p. 3 change:
"Tables Cards: These cards compile tables found in this introductory rulebook, to be used for ease of reference during game play; the two are identical - each player takes one!"
to:
"Tables Card: This card compiles tables found in this introductory rulebook, to be used for ease of reference during game play."

A hint for people who are just beginning their adventure with Battletech, and don't know the official website well yet - you can find a link to a printable version of the Box Set Table Card on this page:
https://bg.battletech.com/downloads/

Moderators - I am aware that this hint technically doesn't belong in an errata thread, but considering starter nature of AGoAC box I decided to put it here, since I think that it could be useful for a large of people who bought or will end up buying this product. Having said that obviously feel free to delete or modify anything written in this post as you see fit.

p. 8 (Movement Dice box)

Problem - the box suggests removing the movement dice from the board after weapon's fire is completed. This seems a little too early, because movement modifiers represented by the dice also affect physical attacks. Moreover this rule doesn't match it's counterpart found on p. 13 BMM, which suggests removing the dice during the End Phase.

Suggested solution - Change the last sentence in the Movement dice box from:
"After all weapon's fire is completed, remove all movement dice from the board."
to:
"During the End Phase, remove all movement dice from the board."

Note - do NOT apply analogous change to Movement Dice box on p. 3 of the Quick-Start Rules found in the Beginner Box and as a free pdf in the downloads section of the official website, since neither physical attacks nor the End Phase exist under those rules.

p. 13

In the fourth paragraph under "Line of Sight" change:
"(see Indirect Fire, p. 22)"
to:
"(see Indirect Fire, p. 21)"


pp. 49 - 55 (Construction chapter)

Problem - as far as I can see there is no explanation on how to determine mass and number of critical slots of a Hatchet mounted on a 'Mech with tonnage not divisible by 15. Moreover TM rules regarding legal placement of Hatchets in a 'Mech are also missing from AGoAC manual.

Suggested solutions (based on rules found on p. 220 of Battletech TechManual):

1. in Weapons and Equipment Table on p. 55 change footnote:
"** 'Mech Tonnage / 15"
to:
"** 'Mech Tonnage / 15 (rounding up to the nearest whole number)"

2. Add the following paragraph at the end of "Step 7: Add Weapons and Ammunition" section on p. 54 or between "Weapon Arcs:" and "Ammunition:" subsections of that section:
"Hatchets: BattleMechs may mount Hatchets in the arm locations only. Each arm may have no more than one Hatchet, and to be equipped with a Hatchet an arm must possess a full set of arm and hand actuators."

[ODIN GUNTERSON]

The AGoAC Rulebook Spanish Translator here, (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=68130.0) so I could dive attentively in its text. Apart from adding to Spanish AGoAC the fixed errata from my colleages Xotl, Apocal and Alfaryn, I found these:

P.18:
Text box, 4th paragraph. GATOR rule. Where it says:
"The Base Target Number is the Griffin MechWarrior’s Gunnery Skill of 4 (GATOR)"
change it to:
"The Base Target Number is the Wolverine" (The Base Target Number is from the Attacker, not the Target)

P.28:
PUNCH ATTACK chapter, 3rd paragraph. Where it says:
"Punch Location Table Table"
change it to:
"Punch Location Table" (only one needed).

p.30:
DAMAGE chapter, 3rd paragraph, "Attacks:" Where it says:
Rather than attacking with and resolving damage "for for" one weapon
change it to:
Rather than attacking with and resolving damage "for" (only one needed).

p.43:
Text box starting with "A prone Battlemaster attempts to stand". Where it says:
"9 x 1 = 7"
change it to:
"9 x 1 = 9". (Simple maths!)  ;D

[Sseiger66]

AGoAC Rulebook p 25-26
    Charge Attacks
        Nowhere is it mentioned that the target must be in the hex directly in front of the attacker per the core rules in Total Warfare.  Recommend inserting this requirement after the first sentence.

[Xotl]

v4.0 of the AGoAC errata has been released.  The errata version number jumped from 2 to 4 because I always match the errata version number to the printing, and the upcoming printing is the fourth.  It turns out that what I had earlier marked as the second printing was actually the third; there is no difference between the first and the second printings, so it was impossible to tell.

Thank you all for your reports.  Everything above should have been corrected.

[Sseiger66]

AGoAC P 27:
    Text box about DFA last sentence: Other Mechs on the map can check for LOS and fire as though the Griffin were in Hex C with an LOS height of Level 4.

Earlier in the box the height was calculated as 3 which is correct (target hex = level 1 + 2 = 3)  Change the level referred to in the last sentence from 4 to 5 (level of hex attacker is considered at plus normal height of Mech for LOS.)  This error has previously occurred in TW and BMM.

[Xotl]

The AGoAC errata has been updated on the main site to reflect the above error.  This fix will also be included in the 4th printing.

[Alfaryn]

AGoAC Rulebook (2018 edition)

P. 19 Combat in water section

A ’Mech standing in Depth 1 water may attack ’Mechs in water with weapons not mounted in the legs.
change to:
A ’Mech standing in Depth 1 water may not attack with weapons mounted in the legs.

[Xotl]

The new AGOAC errata is (v5.0).

[Alfaryn]

First edition of the AGoAC rulebook, both print and pdf, with 5.0 errata document

p. 22, Attack Direction section

Assuming the rules pp. 22 BMM, 32 BMM, and 99 TW are correct, change:
If the straightedge crosses at the intersection of two hexsides, the target chooses which side is hit by all attacks from the firing ’Mech
that turn before the attacking player makes the hit location roll.
to something like:
If the straightedge crosses at the intersection of two hexsides, the side hit by all attacks from the firing 'Mech depends on the path chosen while determining LOS during the first attack declaration between the target and the attacker during current phase (see LOS Exactly Between Two Hexes, p. 13).

[Xotl]

Even as the 5th printing arrives in stores, we've readied a 6th printing.  New errata has been released reflecting the changes made in this upcoming printing (no estimated due date).


EDIT: slight update to the AGOAC errata to add an entry that will be in the new printing but that I forgot to record (unintentional charge row deleted off combat table).

[nckestrel]

Beginner Box Quick-Start (as downloaded from New to BattleTech? webpage link).
p9, Scenario.
WVR-4R change to WVR-6R.

[Alfaryn]

Beginner Box (2018 printing) 'Mech record sheets

Wolverine WVR-6M armor diagram shows too many circles in leg location. Should be 19 circles per leg, not 26.

The above error was originally posted by u/jcwillia1 on r/battletech subreddit.

[Pat Payne]

Beginner Box, 2022 Edition (Vindicator Cover)

Eknoroi Vasuni Pilot Card:

Issue: Sentence in bio reads "with surpbvrisingly frequent requests..."

Fix: Should be surprisingly.

[Xotl]

AGOAC errata updated to v7.0.  The 7th printing underwent major textual revisions to make it clearer than previous prints for new audiences: there were some 200 changes.  However, comparatively few of these were outright errors, and so the errata changelog is rather small.

[SANSd20]

AGOAC errata updated to v7.0.  The 7th printing underwent major textual revisions to make it clearer than previous prints for new audiences: there were some 200 changes.  However, comparatively few of these were outright errors, and so the errata changelog is rather small.

Will the pdf that was posted in the Kickstarter update for this be updated to the latest version? Also, is this also one of the products that if own the physical, you get the PDF?


Xotl: Post in the thread titled "Errata Discussion Thread - Questions HERE, not in Errata Threads"

[Xotl]

A copy of the 7th printing AGOAC PDF is available in the first post.

[SANSd20]

Beginner Box Quickstart Rules (https://bg.battletech.com/download/BTBB%20Online%20QSR%201-21c.pdf)

Page 3, Jumping:

These combat effects appear on the Attack Modifiers Table found on p. 7 and are further explained under Firing Weapons, p. 9.

Page 9 is the scenario, Firing Weapons is on p. 5.

[Alfaryn]

7th printing AGoAC pdfs

Attack Modifiers Table (rulebook pp. 19-20, and the reference card)

The following subsections of the table should all be marked as not applicable to physical attacks:
- 'Mech Damage [Damage Modifier (GATOR)] (the one in the general section of the table, not the one under Physical Attacks Only),
- Heat [Heat Modifier (GATOR)],
- Target [Multiple Targets Modifier (GATOR)].

[Xotl]

AGOAC errata has been updated to version 8.0.

[Xotl]

The free copy of the AGOAC rulebook provided in the first post has been updated to the 8th printing.  The upcoming 40th anniversary print matches this in content, but has different cover art.

[Alfaryn]

AGoAC manual, eight printing

P. 8, Walking section, One-Legged 'Mechs paragraph and possibly other places (as noted below)

PROBLEM: Despite of what the paragraph says rules elsewhere in the book clearly indicate that one-legged 'Mechs can both jump (Leg Destruction section, p. 34 for example) and use a minimum movement rule (which requires them to run - see p. 11). The only thing they can't do is run beyond what minimum movement rule allows.
SOLUTION: Remove One-Legged 'Mechs paragraph from the Walking section. In the Running section on the same page, below Critical Damage paragraph add the following paragraph: "One-Legged 'Mechs: a 'Mech that lost one of its legs cannot run, except when using the Minimum Movement rule (see p. 11)." or add this information to Critical Damage paragraph itself.

PROBLEM 2: The rules in Leg Destruction section (p. 34) regarding PSRs while getting up without a leg seem to suggest that a 'Mech without a leg that uses minimum movement rule should make a PSR at the end of the movement except if it already made one to stand up during the movement, but it is nowhere explicitly stated.
SOLUTION: Clarify in the rules that using minimum movement rule with a missing leg forces a 'Mech to make a PSR at the end of movement unless it is already prone or stood up this turn (in Running section p. 8, Minimum Movement section p. 11, Leg Destruction p. 34, and/or 'Mech's Actions section of Piloting Skill Roll Table on p. 41 and the tables cards in the AGoAC and Clan Invasion boxes).

P. 15, Arcs and Torso Twists section

PROBLEM: No mention of head-mounted weapons in the section.
SOLUTION: In the first sentence in the section change "arm- and torso mounted weapons" to "arm-, head- and torso-mounted weapons".