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New Classic Battletech releases??
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Wanallo
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PostPosted: 09-Feb-2006 14:36    Post subject: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

I got this from the mektek website, can anyone make sense of it? Sounds interesting.



From a number of different CBT sources.

YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BATTLETECH LIKE THIS!

August of 2006 sees the unveiling of a whole new look and presentation for Classic BattleTech.
The basic rules and concepts of the game have not changed: thirty-foot tall metal titans of doom—piloted by feudal MechWarrior knights—firing lightning bolts, coherent lasers and autocannons in an orgy of destruction across a futuristic landscape of thousands of worlds.

These concepts have made Classic BattleTech/MechWarrior® one of the most successful science fiction lines ever created, spawning millions of sold MechWarrior PC games, almost a hundred full-length novels, more than ten million sold MechWarrior: Dark Age Collectable Miniatures Game figures, comic books, toys, a cartoon, virtual reality centers, over five-thousand fan-based websites and more.
Yet it all began with the original board game, which still conveys all the best the universe has to offer, presented in a whole new way:

• All the disparate game systems from BattleMechs® to vehicles, battle armor to aerospace units: all are fully integrated into a single, unified rules set.
• The new series of six core rulebooks are organized and presented to provide a foundation of game play (and the universe), for the various aspects of Classic BattleTech. Knowing which core products to stock or purchase for Classic BattleTech will be simple and easy, allowing for a smooth transition from one core rulebook to the next.
• The core line of Classic BattleTech rulebooks will be published in full-color, hard back.

THE FIRST PRODUCTS IN THE RETURN OF CLASSIC BATTLETECH

Total Warfare™

The product of over twenty years of gaming experience, Total Warfare presents the rules of the BattleTech game system as never before. Fully integrated and meticulously updated, Total Warfare provides the most detailed and comprehensive rules set published to date for BattleTech; the perfect companion for standard tournament play.

Starterbook: Sword and Dragon™
The Starterbooks are a perfect way to jump into the further excitement of the Classic BattleTech universe once players have tried their hands at BattleTech. Starterbook: Sword and Dragon provides a short synopsis of the conflicts between the ancient enemies of House Davion and House Kurita, as conveyed through the infamous Fox’s Teeth and Sorenson’s Sabres.

Includes record sheets for everyone in both commands, including eight, never-before-seen ’Mech variants!

Sword and Dragon ’MechPacks

Iron Wind Metals (www.IronWindMetals.com) will be simultaneously releasing Sword and Dragon ’MechPack Davion and Sword and Dragon ’MechPack Kurita to support Starterbook: Sword and Dragon. Each ’MechPack contains four unique ’Mech variants, to be used in conjunction with the new variant record sheets found in the Starterbook.

TechManual™

A companion volume to Total Warfare, Classic BattleTech TechManual combines all the construction rules for the various units presented in that core rules set. More than just a rulebook, the TechManual presents numerous sourcebook-style treatises, providing the in-universe context for these units and the technologies of their development.

Classic BattleTech Introductory Box Set™
For the first time in over a decade, plastic miniatures are back in the base box set! As ever, the introductory box is the starting point for any player, containing everything needed to play. But now players can have the thrill of 3-dimensional figures to bring excitement to their games from the moment they open the lid.

FROM HERE TO PUBLICATION
FanPro LLC has big plans afoot to support the re-branding of Classic BattleTech.

• Issue #8 of Games Quarterly (shipping February 10th) contains an interview covering some of the behind-the-scenes decisions for this re-branding and the launching of the new core line of Classic BattleTech rulebooks.
• An extensive marketing campaign leading up to August’s release will launch in March.
• Kicking off the launch will be a great new look to the www.ClassicBattleTech.com website. Fully integrating the new branding look of Classic BattleTech, the site will be streamlined, while retaining the depth of information of the current site, including the ever popular forums.
• A new weekly BattleBlog will be featured on the front page that will have insights and information direct from the Line Developer, Randall Bills, on a whole range of topics pertaining to all aspects of this new and exciting time. Topics include everything from what this re-branding means for fans and retailers to what rules will be improved upon and how they will be presented.
• Starting on March 18th (and running the third Saturday of every month through August) an open-to-the-public Live BattleChat will be hosted by www.BattleCorps.com, at 10AM Pacific Standard Time. Randall Bills will be answering questions posted by those in attendance; look to both www.BattleCorps.com and www.ClassicBattleTech.com as we near March 18th for details on how to attend.

Feel free to use the attached PDF, containing most of this information, as you deem appropriate and make sure to keep watch at www.ClassicBattletech.com (and www.FanproGames.com) for updates, sneak previews, and more!

©2006 WizKids, Inc. All rights reserved. Classic BattleTech and WK Games are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of WizKids, Inc. Used under license.

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PostPosted: 09-Feb-2006 14:55    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Looks like they are taking all the rule books and dumping them into a core set, I'm betting similer to the AD&D books that are set up in 3 and 3.5

Just a guess

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PostPosted: 09-Feb-2006 15:21    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

So what happens to the older rules? The older books and all the other stuff?

Do we really need a new rule book?

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PostPosted: 09-Feb-2006 15:39    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Well, it says they are keeping the same rules. just setting them up diffrently.

IF you ever bought the newer AD&D series, you know that they come in a set of three called the Core book, which has just what you need to get started. I'm willing to bet that's what they are doing.

You go into a store and ask for a btech starter set. In the past you got a box with some rules and minis. Now you'll get the basic rules, the compendium, and some other book that I'm sure as a little bit of most of the Feild Manuals.

agian, I'm guessing

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PostPosted: 09-Feb-2006 22:22    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:

On 2006-02-09 15:39, ICER wrote:
Well, it says they are keeping the same rules. just setting them up diffrently.

IF you ever bought the newer AD&D series, you know that they come in a set of three called the Core book, which has just what you need to get started. I'm willing to bet that's what they are doing.




Hell, i'd love to see them put out a new Core system for BT. New Rules, New Play, but the same feel. I'd love to see it.

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PostPosted: 10-Feb-2006 00:12    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

The biggest challenge would be keeping the capabilities of the 'mechs. People are used to certain 'mechs having certain strengths and weaknesses...change the rules, and you can easily change the balance of power there.

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PostPosted: 10-Feb-2006 01:46    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:

On 2006-02-10 00:12, mud wrote:
The biggest challenge would be keeping the capabilities of the 'mechs. People are used to certain 'mechs having certain strengths and weaknesses...change the rules, and you can easily change the balance of power there.



We had that problem with AT2!
Under the old rules SRM´s ruled! Lots of chances to get some criticals on enemy fighters so our units had lots of SRM-carrying aircrafts.
But now under AT2 rules it does just 8 points of damage and thats it! If you beat the new damage treshhold you can do a crit just like a large laser.

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PostPosted: 10-Feb-2006 14:36    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Hmm Interesting. So does this mean that there will no longer be lvl 3 rules? Or are they going to keep thoes rules separate? I for one would like to see the lvl 3 vehicle rules made standard rules.

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PostPosted: 10-Feb-2006 15:02    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Again, htis is just guessing, But I would think that since lvl rules have been around for a long time now, that the would be put in as optional rules. or maybe in a diffrent chapter of the rulebook.

the sad part is, If I am correct andthey make into a coreset like that of AD&D, the unit price well be close to $60-$80 US dollars.

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PostPosted: 12-Feb-2006 19:56    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

From my understand from the information they put on the message boards, apparently Randal Bills said that they were revamping the tank/vehicle & infantry rules to make those to factors more durable. Like they are in MWDA.

Also, their doing away with the Tech levels, only Tournment & Non-Tournment. Such as example: Warships are Non-Tournment. Thus will not appear in the new Total Warfare core books. They will appear if i understand right another book for large scale conflicts but i've not seen listing for it.

Books are going be hardbacks as well, and be roughly 40 buck each, but thats near-say.

I wonder if they'll actually run the new system at Gencon.
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PostPosted: 13-Feb-2006 08:57    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Hope they do revamp a vehicles a little. since they can't travel in light wood or rumble. It kinda limits how useful they are.

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PostPosted: 13-Feb-2006 17:08    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Looks like the same dogs with different collars

New rulebook. Long overdue.

Sword vs Dragon, looks like they are selling Sorenson Sabres and Fox Teeth again, edited to remove the Unseen art

What about the universe? The Clans, the Jihad and the Dark Age were a flop

So unless they start churning out Age of War scenarios or the like (before 3025), or erase the board and start again from 3025 (hah! dream on!) I fail to see how this will breathe new life in the corpse that has been Battletech for the last years.

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PostPosted: 14-Feb-2006 12:23    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:


What about the universe? The Clans, the Jihad and the Dark Age were a flop

So unless they start churning out Age of War scenarios or the like (before 3025), or erase the board and start again from 3025 (hah! dream on!) I fail to see how this will breathe new life in the corpse that has been Battletech for the last years.




I feel I have to disagree with you their Vamp. The argument of each story arc being a success or flop is purely subjective. It is my personel opinion that the Clans, while executed a bit poorly, were a success. I see more players who have gotten into BT and stayed because of the Clans. Yes, FASA didn't last after releasing the Clans, but i think we can agree that the timing was more of a flux then a casual relationship.

We have lost alot of players to newtech because it drastically changed the game. However, it is a pretty certain fact that you will loose players anytime you change a game. No matter which game it is. I know atleast a few dozen people who refuse to play DnD 3.0 or 3.5 or Star Wars d20 because it changed the game. People as a creature do not like change, and so people will rebel against it.

As a smart man once said, and i do not remember who, "Change is not bad, it is just different."

Any bad story can be made good IF enough effort is placed into expanding it and making it more believable. However, no matter the effort their will still be choice things [like the Blakies Army] that we will just have to pallet or just choose to reject it all. Good writers can only do so much with a poor idea if they are not fully allowed to alter certain aspects of it.

However, i say if given full reign to alter minorly and with greater detail those stick in your graw aspects then anything can me made great.

I just have to pray, wait, and use my imagination.

Personally, I say they should change the core rules intirely as to attract and keep [the hard part for BT] new players. Any changes can be used to plug the gaps in system caused by newtech while maintaining an old feel. i personaly do not know how; however, if i did, i would so send it to Fanpro or release it myself.

It holds the possability of making uber designs only great designs and piss poor designs into moderatly good designs.

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PostPosted: 14-Feb-2006 12:48    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

I have to agree with Vaggie here (and it pains me so to say that )

I came into battletech because of the clans. and stayed for the game. and flat out refuse to play Btech DA. Not because it preverts a game I have come to love (although it gives me ample reason to hate it) But because it's a no thinking, money grubbing, hit'em til they die and not care how it's done game.

The story line of DA has never effected my willness to play the game. To where the Story line of the FASAverse got me into the game to begin with

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PostPosted: 14-Feb-2006 22:08    Post subject: RE: New Classic Battletech releases?? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Not to turn this into another DA thread, but I just have to say, while I'll agree to the money grubbing and 'hit'em until they die' aspect of the game, DA actually has lot more thinking involved in it than you think. Especially with all the newer game mechanics they've added since it's initial release. And you have to admit, CBT is all about the 'hit'em until they die' part as well.

And personally, I came into the game simply for the big, giant, tank-like robots blowing stuff up part (Can you say Mechwarrior 1? I knew ya could ). Although what kept me in it was, in part, the whole background story/history.
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