BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #18:

BattleTech Universe #Mag18

by Philip A. Lee

UNCHARTED TERRITORY

The Official BattleTech Magazine is your map and compass for discovering heavy-hitting tales of BattleMech combat on the battlefields of the Hinterlands!

Former Jade Falcon cadets who found a new home within the Kell Hounds are pushed to the breaking point of loyalty when ordered to hunt down Falcon holdouts. Plagued by raids and unrest, the Malthus syndicate seeks to end the rise of a charismatic and elusive Jade Falcon leader known only as the Talon. And a planetary noble desperate for protection will stop at nothing to keep the planet’s mercenary force on a permanent contract, even if that means they can never return home…
In this issue, you’ll also travel beyond the Hinterlands region to help a Draconis Combine tea master undertake a treasure hunt for the fabled lost treasure of House Kurita. You’ll see rival mercenary units forced into close proximity on Small World erupt into a bitter feud with only one logical a prank war. And you’ll wander into a merciless blizzard in the Magistracy of Canopus, hoping to hunt down a pirate before the hunter becomes the hunted.

The Hinterlands region of the Inner Sphere is packed full of shifting loyalties, shady characters, selfless heroes, and more. Get lost in the uncharted chaos of this region with articles forecasting the future of Duke Vedet Brewer’s Vesper Marches and the independent planet of Blue Hole, a playable campaign for Barcelona, planet digests, technical readouts, and more—all by veteran BattleTech authors and some new

Russell Zimmerman
Giles Gammage
James Bixby
Sam Barrett
Alex Fairbanks
James Hauser
Ken’ Horner
Bryan Young
Alex Fauth
James Kirtley
Matt Larson
Mike Miller
Lorcan Nagle
Luke Robertson
Eric Salzman
Zac Schwartz
Tom Stanley
Stephen Toropov

Genres: Science Fiction

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2024

Reviews

[Enrique · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an average issue of Shrapnel. There were no standout stories that draws the story into the Battletech universe. Once again Bryan Young contributed a story with weak characters and an uninteresting plot. The stories overall in this issue are forgettable. The scenarios for gameplay are useful, but other standout features from earlier issues are lacking.

[Kevin K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best issue of Shrapnel in awhile. Engaging fiction (if giant fighting robots are your thing) with excellent supplements for campaign play, as well as planetary, unit and mech digests. Worth picking up

[Tim Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

More decent Battletech stories - more scenarios I won't be using!

[Valerie Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always look forward to next issue!

I really enjoy reading shrapnel and look forward to next issue. It expands to battletech universe and introduces us to up and coming writers.

[Urgewyrm · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average to decent issue of Shrapnel with some good to meh stories. No real standouts.