So you’ve come back from a show having tried a game, or someone’s suggested it would be fun, the idea of big stompy robots just appeals, or you’ve just rediscovered the tin of metal ‘Mechs you or some random family member stashed away a couple of decades ago. Whatever, it sounds fun, but…

Where do you start? There are so many things you could buy it can all get a bit bewildering.

Here’s what you need to know.

There are two sets of rules for BattleTech.

• First off, there is what’s variously called just “BattleTech” (its official name), “Classic BattleTech”, “Total Warfare”, “A Game Of Armoured Combat” or “that game I used to play many years ago.” It involves not very many ‘Mechs on a side, a map or terrain with a hex grid on it, and one big sheet of paper per ‘Mech with dots to cross off on each arm, leg, etc.
• Secondly, there’s its brash new cousin, “Alpha Strike” – the aim here is you can get many more ‘Mechs a side in the same amount of time, and each ‘Mech has a single small card with a handful of stats.

Important things to know:

• You can use the same models for both. All of them.
• The stat sheets or cards are a free download for both BattleTech and Alpha Strike.
• The rules for BattleTech have not changed much in 40 years – if you used to play it back in the day, you’ll be very familiar with the rules as they are now.

Ok. What would you like to do?

I’d like to dip my toe in the water but not spend too much…

Particularly if you’re really not used to the game at all, there is a starter set called the Beginner Box available with two ‘Mechs and a cut down set of the rules. I would advise against it for anyone with any aptitude for gaming, except for a couple of compelling reasons:

1. You can’t get one of the ‘Mechs anywhere else! (this may not make sense now, but trust me, soon, soon, you will understand the appeal of shiny grey plastic!!)
2. It is a very good basic version of the game suitable for the younger player.

If either applies to you, knock yourself out!

I’ve played BattleTech (or Alpha Strike) and liked it (whether in the past or at a show, club, etc)…

Go for the ‘A Game Of Armoured Combat” box set. You get 8 ‘Mechs, two hex maps, dice, rules, a short history of the BattleTech universe and a novella to read. If you (now or later) also decide you want to try Alpha Strike, all the ‘Mechs can be used for that and it also contains the Alpha Strike cards for the ‘Mechs in the box. And the Alpha Strike rules are a free download right here. Great value for money as a BatteTech starter set, and the cheapest way to get started in Alpha Strike, too.

If you expect to wind up playing lots of Alpha Strike, though, see the next section.

I really really like Alpha Strike: give me all the Alpha Strike!

You need (obviously enough) the Alpha Strike box set. Thirteen, count ’em, 13 ‘Mechs, a bunch of counters, a whole slew of cardboard buildings and terrain pieces, the rules, a universe primer, another novella and all the Alpha Strike cards for the ‘Mechs. Reason to buy this over “A Game Of Armoured Combat”: if you know you want to play Alpha Strike, there’s more ‘Mechs for the buck (13 for £80 vs 8 for £60), and the extra counters are helpful.

If you later change your mind, you can get the BattleTech sheets for all the ‘Mechs here, but you will need a set of the BattleTech rules, for which the best bet is the BattleMech Manual hardcover. (Alternatively, just buy the AGOAC box and then you have more ‘Mechs and hex maps as well as the introductory rulebook!)

I have loads of old ‘Mechs, I just want the latest rules.

As above – grab a copy of the BattleMech Manual and off you go.

Where do I go from there?

That depends. More ‘Mechs? There’s the other box sets – starting with whichever of the AGOAC and AS boxes you don’t have (remember, the ‘Mechs are good for both versions of the game). There’s also the Clan Invasion box, with more Clan BattleMechs, and some extra rules for Clan weapons and tech, and then a whole load of forcepacks with between 4 and 6 ‘Mechs a pack. And soon there will be the Mercenaries box set.

These all come with the Alpha Strike cards, and once again (let’s all say it together) the BattleTech record sheets are just a free download away.

After that? If you want the expanded version of the rules, you want one or both of BattleTech: Total Warfare or Alpha Strike: Commander’s Editiion, depending on which version of the game you’ve nailed your colours to the mast for.

Or both.

Both is good.

After that?

If you’ve got this far, the BattleTech universe is your oyster. Pick a favourite faction. Start reading the novels. Grab the sourcebooks for the era that interests you. Just go for it!

FInd a club or a store with like-minded folks to play with.

Paint your ‘Mechs.

Oh, and buy more ‘Mechs. You can never have enough ‘Mechs.

And support your local gaming store if you can. Ask them to order stuff in. Because that’s how we get the UK distributors to import more stuff!