Classic BattleTech Miniatures Rules is a 24-page, free PDF that contains a set of conversion rules that allows players to play Classic BattleTech as a table-top miniatures game (on 3-D terrain using rulers, and without the hex grid). Tion has been published in game supplements, scenarios and sourcebooks—as well as in the numerous BattleTech novels, which represent some of the richest back-ground source mate-rial for the game. Currently, BattleTech is set in the year 3071-72. Though the Classic BattleTech Universe book brings new players up to speed.
Greetings from /r/battletech
While I eagerly await these last couple of hours to tick off and the PC game to unlock, I thought I'd make a post about the tabletop game which started all of this and answer any questions anyone has. I've been playing tabletop Battletech since ~92 and have played just about every iteration of it be it a board game, PC game, console, game or something else.
Some quick facts:
The tabletop game began in 1984 and was originally called 'BattleDroids' but the name had to be changed due to Lucasfilm claiming the term 'Droid' as intellectual property. Thus the Battledroids became Battlemechs and the game itself was renamed Battletech
There have been seven editions of the core game since its inception:
1984 - Battledroids
1985 - Battletech 2nd Edition
1992 - Battletech 3rd Edition
1996 - Battletech 4th Edition
2003 - Classic Battletech Boxed Set
2007 - Classic Battletech Introductory Boxed Set
2018 - Battletech Beginner Boxed Set (Coming Q3)
2018 - Battletech a Game of Armored Combat (Coming Q3)
In addition to the core board game and the many Mechwarrior/Mechcommander PC games, there have been several Battletech spinoff games (most now defunct) including:
Mechwarrior pen & paper RPG (still around and now called Battlech - A Time of War)
Succession Wars - a planetary scale warfare board game
A Battletech customizable card game from the makers of MTG
Mechwarrior: Dark Ages, a customizable miniatures game
Aerotech and Battletspace (space combat in the Battletech universe)
BattleTroops (squad-scale infantry combat in the Battletech universe)
BattleForce (large army scale combat in the Battletech universe)
There are well over 100 Battletech novels
There are hundreds of Battletech sourcebooks, Technical Readouts, map sets, scenario books, and gaming aids which contain lore and stories about the many different factions, places, and equipment in the Battletech universe
The core Battletech tabletop site has a great 'Universe Primer' PDF which gives you a short crash course in the history of the franchise and the basic lore of the Battletech universe
Battletech is a game that has endured for over 33 years because of the dedication of its fans. With the PC game releasing today and new tabletop boxed sets coming out later this year we're hoping to see some new faces in the Battletech tabletop community. If you have any questions post them here or feel free to swing by /r/battletech
Have fun storming the castle!