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{{otheruses|the website|the [[mercenary unit]]|Battle Corps}}
 
{{otheruses|the website|the [[mercenary unit]]|Battle Corps}}
 
{{TOCleft}}[[Image:BClogo01.jpg|right|BattleCorps logo]]
 
{{TOCleft}}[[Image:BClogo01.jpg|right|BattleCorps logo]]
'''BattleCorps''' was a subscription-based website featuring new, original [[BattleTech]] fiction, game scenarios and "news" stories that add flavor to the fictional universe (including new units or variants), as well as out-of-universe product previews, news and other downloads. In this fashion, it was essentially a subscription-based online magazine. Its content is fully [[canonical]] for the BattleTech universe, except for certain individual pieces of fiction such as [[:Category:April Fools Products|April Fools jokes]].
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'''BattleCorps''' is a subscription-based website that features new, original [[BattleTech]] fiction, game scenarios and "news" stories that add flavor to the fictional universe (including new units or variants), as well as product previews and other downloads. In this fashion, it is essentially a subscription-based online magazine. Its content is fully [[canon]]ical for the BattleTech universe, except for certain individual pieces of fiction such as [[:Category:April Fools Products|April Fools jokes]].
  
Starting with ''[[The Corps]]'' in 2008, BattleCorps published a line of print anthologies typically containing a selection of BattleCorps short stories that were published within a given year. ''(See also: [[List of BattleTech Print Novels and Anthologies#Print Anthologies]])''
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BattleCorps is owned and run by [[InMediaRes]] Productions LLC, the parent company of [[Catalyst Game Labs]]. InMediaRes was founded in 2003 by [[Loren L. Coleman|Loren]] and Heather Coleman with the expressed purpose of licensing the right to publish new BattleTech fiction to the Internet from [[WizKids]].<ref>[http://www.wizkidsgames.com/wk_article.asp?cid=38058 InMediaRes Productions, LLC and WizKids, Inc in talks for rights to publish Classic BattleTech fiction]</ref> WizKids granted this license to IMR in the fall of 2003, which directly led to the creation of BattleCorps in August 2004.<ref>[http://www.battlecorps.com/BC2/static.php?page=6 BattleCorps: InMediaRes Productions, LLC]</ref>
  
The last story published via BattleCorps (so far) was ''[[Permanent Losses]]'', published on 4 December 2016. The BattleCorps site remained in place until the BattleTech web presence moved to another server between 27 June and 11 July 2017, and has been offline since. There was no official announcement regarding its closing.
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The current Managing Editor is [[Jason Schmetzer]], having taken over from Loren Coleman in 2008.
  
 
==Overview==
 
==Overview==
BattleCorps was owned and run by [[InMediaRes]] Productions LLC, the parent company of [[Catalyst Game Labs]]. InMediaRes was founded in 2003 by [[Loren L. Coleman|Loren]] and Heather Coleman with the expressed purpose of licensing the right to publish new BattleTech fiction to the Internet from [[WizKids]].<ref>[http://www.wizkidsgames.com/wk_article.asp?cid=38058 InMediaRes Productions, LLC and WizKids, Inc in talks for rights to publish Classic BattleTech fiction]</ref> WizKids granted this license to IMR in the fall of 2003, which directly led to the creation of BattleCorps in August 2004.<ref>According to the BattleCorps website itself, at http://www.battlecorps.com/BC2/static.php?page=6 BattleCorps; site is now defunct</ref>
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BattleCorps provides most of its content in the form of [[w:PDF|PDF]] files for download. Individual special stories or other pieces of fiction aside, these files have a largely uniform layout. Until October 2012 they used to have a sidebar on the left, usually displaying the protagonist's House or unit crest; sometimes, artwork is also included. An alternate printer-friendly file is usually provided that is reduced to black-and-white text. This format had roughly 350 words per (full) page of text.
  
The first Managing Editor was Loren Coleman; [[Jason Schmetzer]] took over from Loren Coleman in 2008. In early 2016, [[John Helfers]] took over from Jason Schmetzer.
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With the publication of the first part of ''[[The Eagle's Plunge]]'' on 04 October 2012, the layout was changed for new fiction, including ongoing serials (namely, ''[[The Nellus Academy Incident]]''). The new format resembles the layout of BattleTech fiction in print in the various contemporary rulebooks and sourcebooks and features a full-color frame and appropriate [[BattleTech era]] logo, and double-column print. This new format has approximately twice the word count per page.
  
BattleCorps provided most of its content in the form of [[w:PDF|PDF]] files for download. Individual special stories or other pieces of fiction aside, these files have a largely uniform layout. Until October 2012 they used to have a sidebar on the left, usually displaying the protagonist's House or unit crest; sometimes, artwork is also included. An alternate printer-friendly file was usually provided that is reduced to black-and-white text. This format had roughly 350 words per (full) page of text.
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Subscribers automatically have access to all new files released for the duration of their subscription, including those from a previous subscription if an inactive account is reactivated. [[Blitzkrieg (fiction)|Blitzkrieg]] publications are also ported to BattleCorps (in PDF format) for subscribers shortly after publication.
  
With the publication of the first part of ''[[The Eagle's Plunge]]'' on 04 October 2012, the layout was changed for new publications, including ongoing serials (namely, ''[[The Nellus Academy Incident]]''). The new format resembled the layout of BattleTech fiction in print in the various contemporary rulebooks and sourcebooks and features a full-color frame and appropriate [[BattleTech era]] logo, and double-column print. This new format had approximately twice the word count per page.
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The website also features a forum for subscribers.
 
 
Subscribers automatically got access to all new files released for the duration of their subscription, including those from a previous subscription if an inactive account was reactivated. This included the [[Blitzkrieg (fiction format)|Blitzkrieg]] publications which were ported to BattleCorps (in PDF format) for subscribers shortly after publication.
 
 
 
==Forum==
 
The website also featured a forum for subscribers where authors could comment on and discuss their stories with users. This forum was a separate forum from the official [[BattleTech Forum]], and only BattleCorps subscribers could post there. Overshadowed by the heavily-used official forum, the BattleCorps forum was largely inactive after a few years, and generally only used for BattleCorps-specific threads and little else.
 
 
 
Many BattleCorps subscribers partook in the BattleCorps Regiment, a group that posts pictures of painted miniatures and roleplays through the forum. This group was since canonized as a [[mercenary unit]], The [[Battle Corps]]. (It should not be confused with the [[Chaos Irregulars (Mercenary Command)|Chaos Irregulars]], another mercenary unit that was written into canon through BattleCorps with input from the subscribers.)
 
  
 
==BattleShop==
 
==BattleShop==
InMediaRes maintained an online store known as the '''BattleShop''' as part of the BattleCorps website. It was not required to be a BattleCorps subscriber to buy from BattleShop, but BattleCorps subscribers automatically received a flat 5% discount and some products; new or returning BattleCorps members could also purchase BattleCorps publications that were published at a time when they were not subscribing but back fiction was only available to members with a current subscription however.
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InMediaRes maintains an online store known as the '''BattleShop''' as part of the BattleCorps website. It is not required to be a BattleCorps subscriber to buy from BattleShop, but BattleCorps subscribers automatically receive a flat 5% discount and some products, namely old BattleCorps fiction, are only for sale to current subscribers.
  
Besides selling current BattleTech and [[Shadowrun]] products, both print and PDF and some of them BattleCorps-exclusive, BattleShop carried numerous out-of-print products in the form of searchable PDF files generated from scans of the books. For legal reasons, [[Unseen]] artwork was removed from the PDF files, in some cases including the product cover.
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Besides selling current BattleTech and [[Shadowrun]] products, both print and PDF and some of them BattleCorps-exclusive, BattleShop carries numerous out-of-print products in the form of searchable PDF files generated from scans of the books. For legal reasons, [[unseen]] artwork was removed from the PDF files, in some cases including the product cover.
  
A number of free PDF products including game aids such as counters, and various April Fools publications were published through the BattleShop (and not through the regular BattleCorps subscription downloads).
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BattleCorps carries a number of free PDF products including game aids such as counters, and various April Fools publications.
  
As of 29 November 2016 the BattleShop was switched over to the online Catalyst Game Labs Store.
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New or returning BattleCorps members can also purchase BattleCorps publications that were published at a time when they were not subscribing; back fiction is only available to members with a current subscription however.
  
 
==News section==
 
==News section==
Besides the fiction service, the BattleCorps site maintained a news page called '''[[Interstellar News Network]] (INN)'''. The news section header read "News from the frontlines".
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Besides the fiction it provides, the BattleCorps site maintains a news page called '''[[Interstellar News Network]] (INN)'''. The news section header reads "News from the frontlines".
  
The overview with the individual messages' headers and "want to know more?" links was freely accessible even to nonsubscribers, but most (although not all) newscasts were truncated when an unregistered user attempted to open them, with an invitation to join BattleCorps and purchase a subscription.
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The overview with the individual messages' headers and "want to know more?" links is not restricted, but most (although not all) newscasts are truncated when an unregistered user attempts to open them, with an invitation to join BattleCorps and purchase a subscription.
  
The news section was divided into six different "channels", with one of six channel logos attached to each news article accordingly, but the distinction was rather blurred. With the exception of the MilSpecs, all channels contained a mixture of in-universe and out-of-universe news covering a broad range of topics.
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The news section is divided into six different "channels", with one of six channel logos attached to each news article accordingly, but the distinction is rather blurred. With the example of MilSpec, all channels contain a mixture of in-universe and out-of-universe news covering a broad range of topics. The channels are as follows:
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
===General===
 
===General===
[[Image:BCNGeneral.gif|left|General]]The General channel, as the name implies, covered a broad range of topics both in-universe (politics, accidents and natural disasters, etc.) and out-of-universe (sourcebook previews, interviews, real-world articles loosely related to BattleTech or science fiction in general, and administrative issues of BattleCorps).
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[[Image:BCNGeneral.gif|left|General]]The General channel, as the name implies, covers a broad range of topics both in-universe (politics, accidents and natural desasters, etc.) and out-of-universe (sourcebook previews, interviews, real-world articles loosely related to BattleTech or science fiction in general, and administrative issues of BattleCorps).
 
 
:''see also:'' [[List of General INN articles]]
 
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
===MilSpec===
 
===MilSpec===
[[Image:BCNMilSpec.gif|left|MilSpec]]The MilSpec channel, also often referred to as the MilSpecs, introduced new variants of existing 'Mechs and vehicles, and providing fluff text for variants that had previously only existed as an official [[record sheet]] without context. The MilSpec article section providing actual game stats was restricted to BattleCorps subscribers, and not freely accessible.
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[[Image:BCNMilSpec.gif|left|MilSpec]]The MilSpec channel, also often referred to as the MilSpecs, introduces new variants of existing 'Mechs and vehicles. The MilSpec article section providing game stats is restricted to BattleCorps subscribers, and not freely accessible.
  
 
:''see also:'' [[List of MilSpecs articles]]
 
:''see also:'' [[List of MilSpecs articles]]
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
===Arts and Leisure===
 
===Arts and Leisure===
[[Image:BCNArtsandLeisure.gif|left|Arts and Leisure]]The Arts and Leisure channel contained a mix of in-universe and out-of-universe news.
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[[Image:BCNArtsandLeisure.gif|left|Arts and Leisure]]The Arts and Leisure channel contains a mix of in-universe and out-of-universe news.
  
The former category presented reviews of in-universe books, and in-universe "Art and Leisure" news attributed to in-universe news services such as ''Stellar Pulse Today'', ''Savannah Guardian'' and ''Entertainment Daily''.
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The former category presents reviews of in-universe books, and in-universe "Art and Leisure" news attributed to in-universe news services such as ''Stellar Pulse Today'', ''Savannah Guardian'' and ''Entertainment Daily''.
  
The latter category was similar to the out-of-universe articles on the General channel, including transcripts of chats between BattleCorps staff/authors and members, both in their own capacity and in noncanonical "character chats" role playing as BattleTech characters.  
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The latter category is similar to the out-of-universe articles on the General channel.
 
 
:''see also:'' [[List of Arts and Leisure articles]]
 
 
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<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
 
===ScandalVids===
 
===ScandalVids===
[[Image:BCNScandalVids.gif|left|ScandalVids]]The ScandalVids channel's content was similar to the in-character content under Arts and Leisure, but presented in a yellow-press fashion that renders much of the information doubtful from an in-universe viewpoint, in the fashion of [[Canon Rumor]]s.
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[[Image:BCNScandalVids.gif|left|ScandalVids]]The ScandalVids channel's content is similar to the in-character content under Arts and Leisure, but presented in a yellow-press fashion that renders much of the information doubtful from an in-universe viewpoint, in the fashion of [[Canon Rumor]]s.
 
 
:''see also:'' [[List of ScandalVids articles]]
 
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
<span id="Solaris Broadcasting Co."></span>
 
 
===Solaris Broadcasting Co.===
 
===Solaris Broadcasting Co.===
[[Image:BCNSolarisBroadcastingCo.gif|left|Solaris Broadcasting Co.]]Up until 3 June 2005, news on the Solaris Broadcasting Co. channel were concerned exclusively with out-of-universe issues, including administrative issues and the "TRO Refresher" series where subscribers could submit unique variants of given 'Mech designs for consideration for official publication.  
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[[Image:BCNSolarisBroadcastingCo.gif|left|Solaris Broadcasting Co.]]Up until 03 May 2006, news on the Solaris Broadcasting Co. channel were concerned exclusively with out-of-universe issues, including administrative issues and the "TRO Refresher" series where subscribers could submit unique variants of given 'Mech designs for consideration for official publication.  
  
From 4 June 2005 onwards, the channel carried exclusively in-universe news about [[Solaris VII]]-centered issues and the [[Jihad]] in general.
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From 4 May 2006 onwards, the channel carried exclusively in-universe news about [[Solaris VII]]-centered issues and the [[Jihad]] in general.
 
 
:''see also:'' [[List of Solaris Broadcasting Co. articles]]
 
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
===Isle of the Blessed===
 
===Isle of the Blessed===
[[Image:BCNIsleoftheBlessed.gif|left|Isle of the Blessed]]Starting on 9 July 2006, altogether 13 entries on the [[Isle of the Blessed]] channel gave the personal logs of people involved in the fighting for [[New Avalon]] during the Jihad: Precentor [[Geoffrey Zucker]], Corean Enterprises test pilot [[Robert Doucette]], and an unnamed [[Word of Blake]] [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] with the [[44th Shadow Division]]. This was a tie-in to the [[Isle of the Blessed|eponymous serialized novel]] published via BattleCorps. The channel was abandoned after the storyline had wrapped up.
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[[Image:BCNIsleoftheBlessed.gif|left|Isle of the Blessed]]Starting on 9 July 2006, altogether 13 entries on the Isle of the Blessed channel gave the personal logs of people involved in the fighting for [[New Avalon]] during the Jihad: Precentor [[Geoffrey Zucker]], Corean Enterprises test pilot [[Robert Doucette]], and an unnamed [[Word of Blake]] [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] with the [[44th Shadow Division]].
 
 
:''see also:'' [[List of Isle of the Blessed articles]]
 
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
<div style="clear:both"></div>
  
 
==Download section==
 
==Download section==
The site had a download section with arts and previews (separate from the actual fiction downloads). Like the news section, it is fully accessible to active subscribers, i.e. irrespective of whether or not a news item or downloadable artwork was published during their subscription.
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The forum contains a download section with arts and previews. Like the news section, it is fully accessible to active subscribers, i.e. irrespective of whether or not a news item or downloadable artwork was published during their subscription.
  
 
==Free teaser stories==
 
==Free teaser stories==
Several stories were available for free download to nonsubscribers as a teaser. These include:
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Several stories are available from the site for free download to non-subscribers as a teaser. These include:
 
*''[[Forgotten Worlds]]'' (Prologue and Part I of ''The Hunt for Jardine''), by [[Herbert A. Beas II]]
 
*''[[Forgotten Worlds]]'' (Prologue and Part I of ''The Hunt for Jardine''), by [[Herbert A. Beas II]]
 
*''[[The Heart of Dixie]]'', by [[Blaine Pardoe]]
 
*''[[The Heart of Dixie]]'', by [[Blaine Pardoe]]
 
*''[[The Last Full Measure]]'', by [[Kevin Killiany]]
 
*''[[The Last Full Measure]]'', by [[Kevin Killiany]]
 
*''[[Of War and Peace and Cherry Trees]]'', by [[Steven Mohan Jr.]]
 
*''[[Of War and Peace and Cherry Trees]]'', by [[Steven Mohan Jr.]]
*''[[En Passant (short story)|En Passant]]'', by [[Phaedra M. Weldon]]
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*''[[En Passant]]'', by [[Phaedra M. Weldon]]
 
*''[[Art of the Deal]]'', by [[Loren L. Coleman]]
 
*''[[Art of the Deal]]'', by [[Loren L. Coleman]]
  
There was also a [[BattleCorps Fiction Sampler]] provided for free download from the main BattleTech website including three of the aforementioned teaser stories, as well as two others and the first chapter of a third.
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==BattleCorps Fiction Sampler==
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A 122-page '''BattleCorps Fiction Sampler''' PDF file is available for free download from the BattleTech homepage<ref>in the [http://www.battletech.com/downloads-2/ Download section] of the [http://www.battletech.com/ BattleTech homepage]</ref>. It includes the stories  
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*''Art of the Deal'', by Loren Coleman
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*''En Passant'', by Phaedra M. Weldon
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*''[[Isolation's Weight]]'', by [[Randall N. Bills]]
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*''[[Broken Blade]]'', by Steven Mohan Jr.
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*''The Heart fo Dixie'', by Blaine Pardoe
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*the first chapter of ''[[Not the Way the Smart Money Bets]]'', by [[Michael A. Stackpole]].
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==The Battle Corps==
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Many BattleCorps subscribers take part in the BattleCorps Regiment, a group that posts pictures of painted miniatures and roleplays through the forum. This group was canonized as a mercenary unit, The [[Battle Corps]].
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
*[[:Category:BattleCorps publications]]
 
*[[:Category:BattleCorps publications]]
*[[List of BattleTech Print Novels and Anthologies#Print Anthologies|BattleCorps Print Anthologies]]
 
*[[BattleCorps Exclusives]]
 
 
==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
BattleCorps ad ATOWComp.jpg|An advertisement for the BattleCorps website
 
</gallery>
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
*BattleCorps website (defunct):
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*[http://www.battlecorps.com/BC2/index.html BattleCorps]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20170420111950/http://www.battlecorps.com/BC2/index.html BattleCorps.com (archived)]
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*[http://www.battlecorps.com/BC2/static.php?page=21 BattleCorps: Summary of Services]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20160105223637/http://www.battlecorps.com/BC2/static.php?page=21 BattleCorps: Summary of Services (archived)]
 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170617005344/http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/board,3.0.html BattleCorps subsection of the official BattleTech forum (archived)]
 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140817145919/http://bg.battletech.com/download/battlecorps_inventory.xls Unofficial list of BattleCorps publications, .XLS document (archived)] Last entry dated 2014/06/29.
 
  
 
[[Category:Game Publisher]]
 
[[Category:Game Publisher]]
[[Category:BattleTech Universe Products]]
 

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