Talk:BattleTech Reinforcements 2

Mystery Version

A few years ago, I obtained a BattleTech Reinforcements box second-hand. The box cover was File:BattleTech-Reinforcements-cover.png but the back was File:BattleTech-Reinforcements-2-back.jpg, which is listed here as the back for BattleTech Reinforcements 2. As I obtained it second-hand (and as the interior contained some portions of ClanTroops) I assumed that it may have simply been the prior owner mixing up the parts of two boxes and consolidating various items of their collection into a single box. (It also contained some miscellaneous marketing materials from 1992.) So I have not given it much mind. However, I recently came across this exact same box cover combination on Ebay, which has stirred some further examination on this.

I also obtained a copy of BattleTech Reinforcements 2 (also second-hand). For that, the cover of that was File:BattleTech-Reinforcements-2-cover.jpg and the back was File:Alternative BattleTech-Reinforcements-2-back.jpg. The standees and faction counters seems to correspond to those shown here (with some key hallmarks being the blue elementals and high number of FedCom faction tokens.)

There are some other oddities about the mystery hybrid box. The ISBN (which is on the bottom edge of the front cover) is the exact same as that for BattleTech Reinforcements 2, but they have different five digit codes after the ISBN. Also the MSRP listed by the ISBN is $20.00. See this photo to see that. Also it contained a set of three counter sheets similar to those appearing in BattleTech Reinforcements 2, but with slightly different art for the 'Mechs and certain faction tokens. The 'Mechs include a mix of Clan and Inner Sphere 'Mechs. The included elementals are green, not blue. The faction tokens also a lot fewer FedCom tokens. The listed copyright on the counter sheets is 1992. These definitely differ from what is described under BattleTech Reinforcements and BattleTech Reinforcements 2, though it closer to the latter. The stock code on the cover is 1625, not 1625A.

I may try to upload some photos of the counter sheets (with various provisios on the image files) and simply link to them from this talk page for the time being (until a better home for them becomes clear). If anyone has any light they might be able to shed on this, please feel free to do so. --Dude RB (talk) 21:53, 12 January 2023 (EST)

Wow, good find. It looks as if there were different editions of the Reinfocements 2 pack. I don't think anyone from the FASA days is still around at CGL for any official statement; but it can't hurt to push this research onto the BT forum and ask around if any forumites can provide additional info. In any case, my recommendation would be to pull as many photos and info off Ebay as you can and expand the article with that info. I'd do it myself, but I don't have time for anything anymore and way too much on my plate already. Frabby (talk) 04:22, 13 January 2023 (EST)