Editing BattleTech (board game)

{{otheruses|the BattleTech boardgame as such|the series of game boxes that served as the core boardgame BattleTech product, and its iterations over time|BattleTech boxed set}}
The '''''BattleTech''''' board game, also referred to as ''Classic BattleTech'' or "CBT" for short (see ''History'' below), is a tabletop wargame simulating combat between futuristic mechanized forces in the fictional [[BattleTech]] universe. Originally published by [[FASA|FASA Corporation]], the first edition was named ''[[Battledroids]]'', but the game was renamed ''BattleTech'' from the second edition onwards. [[BattleTech, 2nd Edition]], with its updates to the sometimes unclear or erroneous rules and record sheets from ''Battledroids'', is generally considered the baseline game, and ''Battledroids'' merely a prototype or percursor.

The highly successful setting spawned numerous spin-off games, novels, etc., and established itself as a brand name (see ''[[BattleTech]]'').

The game is currently owned by [[Topps]], and produced under license by [[Catalyst Game Labs]].

==Gameplay==
''BattleTech'' is a turn-based, multiplayer game, typically played on a map divided into hexagonal grids with figurines or counters representing the various units. Paper record sheets provide detailed information about each unit, including its armament, armor and equipment, and are used to track damage, heat buildup, ammunition and various other data. Players use two six-sided dice to determine variable results, such as whether a shot strikes its target and the location it hits.

Of the units used in the game, the most common are the eponymous [[BattleMech]]s, large, semi-humanoid fighting machines controlled by human pilots. While pre-designed 'Mechs, vehicles and other military units are provided with the game, a complex system of design rules allows players to create their own custom units even in the introductory boxed set. This engineering facet of the game has remained enduringly popular with players.

==History==
[[FASA]] published the first ''BattleTech'' game set in 1984, and subsequently released a wide range of supplemental books and materials for the series. FASA ceased producing ''BattleTech'' in 2001 and sold the [[w:intellectual property|intellectual property]] (IP) to [[WizKids]]. The IP was then split into '''[[Classic BattleTech]]''' and '''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age]]''' for a time (from 2002 to 2008):

;<nowiki>MechWarrior: Dark Age</nowiki>
WizKids created a new BattleTech game line called ''MechWarrior: Dark Age'' which employed the substantially different [[Clix]] game rules and had only superficial similarities with BattleTech as it was known until then. To avoid conflict in the shared setting, the new game and the new [[MechWarrior: Dark Age Novels|novel line]] accompanying it was set in ca. [[3135]], roughly 70 years after the BattleTech timeline at the time. The 70-year gap allowed for some substantial changes to the overall setting and a 'fresh start'.

The creation of the ''MechWarrior: Dark Age'' spin-off brand led to a renaming of the [[MechWarrior Role Playing Game]] into "''[[Classic BattleTech RPG]]''" for the reprint of the third edition, and "''[[A Time of War]]''" (previously the title of the introduction) for the fourth edition. [[ROC]] discontinued their [[MechWarrior series]] of novels in the classic setting and began to publish [[MechWarrior: Dark Age Novels]] in the Dark Age setting.

;Classic BattleTech
The original board game line was rebranded '''Classic BattleTech''' by [[FanPro]], who had previously held the license for German ''BattleTech'' products. They licensed the rights from WizKids in 2002 and continued to release sourcebooks and supplements under the ''Classic Battletech'' moniker.

;BattleTech again
IP holder WizKids was purchased by Topps in 2003, and terminated as a brand in 2008 (the brand was since revived, but does not produce BattleTech-related material anymore); ever since, the IP to ''BattleTech'' (and others) are held directly by Topps.

In June 2007, FanPro's license ran out and [[Catalyst Game Labs]] (a subsidiary of [[InMediaRes]] Productions, LLC) acquired the license to Classic BattleTech in their stead. Catalyst also retained many of the staff members who previously worked for FanPro.

The "Classic" prefix was dropped again from new BattleTech products after the Dark Age line was discontinued in 2008. It remains in use to some extent, often to differentiate from the Clix game, and is now synonymous with the BattleTech board game.

==Publications==
The latest iteration of the ''BattleTech'' rules is ''[[Total Warfare]]'' (2006), a streamlined compendium intended to integrate the numerous rulesets that have governed the series into a single, comprehensive volume. ''Total Warfare'' is supplemented by five or more other books (some pending), aiming at producing compatible rulesets for various levels of gameplay:
*''[[TechManual]]'', which presents the design rules for making custom units.
*''[[Tactical Operations]]'', offering advanced rules and equipment beyond those in ''Total Warfare'' and ''TechManual'' and offering an updated version of the [[BattleForce]] ruleset
*''[[Strategic Operations]]'', updating [[BattleForce|BattleForce 2]] and [[AeroTech 2 Revised Edition|AeroTech 2 Revised]] to provide a large-scale version of the game
* ''[[Interstellar Operations]]'', advanced rules to allow playing on a grand strategic scale, playing an interstellar empire instead of individual combat units. This is similar to a previous FASA game named ''[[Succession Wars (Board Game)|Succession Wars]]'' and rules from the ''[[Combat Operations]]'' sourcebook
* ''[[Campaign Operations]]'', advanced rules for creating and running campaigns, and managing and running both mercenary and house military units.
* ''[[A Time of War]]'', the role-playing game rules for the BattleTech universe
* ''[[Universe Book]]'', which provides background and details on the game's fictional universe

Catalyst has continued this line of rulebooks that was begun by FanPro.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:BD1604.jpg|''[[Battledroids]]''<br />1984
Image:Bt2ed.jpg|''[[BattleTech, 2nd Edition]]''<br />1984
Image:Bt3ed.jpg|''[[BattleTech, Third Edition ]]''<br />1994
Image:Bt4ed.jpg|''[[BattleTech Fourth Edition]]''<br />1996
Image:CBT10980.jpg|''[[Classic BattleTech]]''<br />2002
</gallery>
==See also:==
<gallery>
Image:TheGameWorld2.jpg|''[[Solaris VII: The Game World]]''<br />1991
Image:CT16081ED.jpg|''[[CityTech]]''<br />1986
Image:AeroTech1609.jpg|''[[AeroTech]]''<br />1986
Image:BS1680.jpg|''[[BattleSpace]]''<br />1993
Image:TSW1612.jpg|''[[Succession Wars (Board Game)]]''<br />1987
</gallery>

==External links==
* [https://bg.battletech.com/ BattleTech: The Board Game of Armored Combat] - the official BattleTech homepage, also hosting the official fan interaction boards ([[CBT Forum]])
* [http://www.battletech.com/ BattleTech] - another, also official site that was launched after the "Classic" prefix was dropped

[[Category:Game Systems]]