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Battletech Core Rulebooks
Battletech: Battlemech Manual
YOUR AVATAR AWAITS!The modern BattleMech is the end result of more than three thousand years of battlefield technology development. Combining awesome destructive power and unparalleled maneuverability, the BattleMech is perhaps the most complex machine ever produced. The undisputed master of thirty-first century warfare, the BattleMech seems destined to reign supreme for centuries to come.Using the most up-to-date rules text, the BattleMech Manual has been designed from the ground up to cater to the BattleTech player wanting to engage in an all-’Mech battle. Includes a variety of optional rules, terrain and more. Welcome to the most table-usage-friendly BattleTech rulebook ever published!
- GenresGamingScience Fiction
150 pages, Hardcover
Published October 4, 2017
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 11, 2026
I really love that they've decided to make this book which syphons off the rules of 'Mech combat for the game. If you're not playing an extensive game of BattleTech and are just really focused on 'Mech combat, this means you do not have to carry around or flip through the full rulebook which is a much more involved affair.
The rules are well written, but also as concise as can be. There are multiple examples and diagrams drawn to clarify more obscure questions. The game of Classic BattleTech can be quite a bit granular, and this book helps to figure out the clarifying rules for all kinds of different situations. As with any game of this level of complexity there are still a few situations here and there where players will need to make their best judgement call on what the rules might intend, but I think the creators have done a fairly good job trying to think of the majority of situations you could run into, even in more niche situations.
I should point out that to new players, this is not just a hardcover version of the rules you get in the beginner set or the boxed set of "A Game of Armored Combat". The rules ino those box sets are even more stripped down than this book. However, as with most two player games, since those rulebooks have the tables in there, picking up a slightly more expanded rulesset like this is real handy to have. That way both players don't need to pass the rulebook back and forth.
The rules are well written, but also as concise as can be. There are multiple examples and diagrams drawn to clarify more obscure questions. The game of Classic BattleTech can be quite a bit granular, and this book helps to figure out the clarifying rules for all kinds of different situations. As with any game of this level of complexity there are still a few situations here and there where players will need to make their best judgement call on what the rules might intend, but I think the creators have done a fairly good job trying to think of the majority of situations you could run into, even in more niche situations.
I should point out that to new players, this is not just a hardcover version of the rules you get in the beginner set or the boxed set of "A Game of Armored Combat". The rules ino those box sets are even more stripped down than this book. However, as with most two player games, since those rulebooks have the tables in there, picking up a slightly more expanded rulesset like this is real handy to have. That way both players don't need to pass the rulebook back and forth.
June 13, 2022
Battletech is a super crunchy system, with lots going on. I've had to re-read this a couple times, and even then I'm sure I'll screw something up.
Regardless, this is what I want from a source book, clear explanation of rules, structured in a logical way, with useful examples of gameplay, and a mess of reference tables. Added bonus it's got a great table of contents and page reference in the back.
If you like giant stompy robots and want something heavier then Alpha Strike, pick this up.
Regardless, this is what I want from a source book, clear explanation of rules, structured in a logical way, with useful examples of gameplay, and a mess of reference tables. Added bonus it's got a great table of contents and page reference in the back.
If you like giant stompy robots and want something heavier then Alpha Strike, pick this up.
May 6, 2024
In terms of layout, indexing, pagination, curation of contents, and overall find-ability of rules & minutia, these is the best gaming rulebook I’ve read. Some of the technical writing could’ve used another editing pass for clarity, though. Illustrations and visual examples are good and I love the artwork. Battletech is a complex game and this is the most accessible rulebook for it.
July 19, 2018
19/20.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews