Editing Combat Operations

{{InfoBoxProduct
| image               = CombatOperations.jpg
| name                = 
| type                = Rulebook
| author              = 
| development         = [[Randall N. Bills]]
| primarywriting      = [[Chris Hartford]]
| pages               = 144
| cover               = [[Franz Vohwinkel]]
| interiorart         = 
| illustrations       = [[Chris Lewis]]<br />[[Matthew Plog]]
| publisher           = [[FanPro]]
| productioncode      = 10979
| year                = 2003
| ISBN10              = 1932564039
| ISBN13              = 978-1932564037
| MSRP                = $24.99
| content             = Campaign rules & boardgame rules expansion
| era                 = 
| timeline            = 
| series              = 
| precededby          = 
| followedby          = 
}}
==Description==
''Combat Operations'' is a rule expansion for the [[CBT]] game system and provides background material on how war is conducted in the [[BattleTech]] universe. As such, it doubles both as a sourcebook and a rules supplement. It also doubles as a method for transferring gaming data between the [[CBT:RPG]] and [[Board Game|CBT board game]].

==From the back cover==
{{quote|''The [[FedCom Civil War]]: 89 [[Federated Suns]] [[regiment]]s/RCT/Militia units; 75 [[Lyran Alliance]] regiments/RCT/Militia units; 41 [[mercenary unit|mercenary]] regiments; 8 [[ComStar]] Divisions; 11 [[Draconis Combine]] regiments; 2 [[Capellan Confederation]] regiments.''

''All fought across a thousand lights on well over a hundred planetary systems for five long years. Now you can recreate it!''

''The Classic BattleTech ''Combat Operations'' rules expansion is the most comprehensive rules system for campaign play ever published for [[BattleTech]].''

''Modern Warfare: Provides players with a primer on how war is waged by each major faction in the BattleTech universe.''

''BattleTech Operations Rules: Provides expanded rules for the creation, running and play of any type of military force.''

''[[AeroTech 2]] Operations Rules: Expanded rules provide additional depth of play for any ''[[AeroTech 2]]'' game, as well as integrated BattleTech and AeroTech 2 play.''

''[[BattleTroops|Infantry Platoon]] Construction: Extensive rules for constructing almost any type of standard infantry platoon found in the BattleTech universe are provided.''

''[[Inner Sphere In Flames|Strategic Game]]: A rules framework that allows players to run grand-scale campaigns utilizing every aspect of warfare&mdash;combat, technology, subterfuge and assassination, politics and more&mdash;is provided.''

''Faction Force Tables: Comprehensive table of units available, by major [[BattleTech eras|era]], to every major and minor faction in the BattleTech universe. Here's your chance to build that [[Star League]] division to take back [[Terra]]!''}}

==Contents==
* "[[By Any Means]]" &ndash; an introductory fiction story by [[Chris Hartford]]

* War and Its Makers &ndash; a series of essays on:
** Events as justification for war
** [[Troop types]]
** [[Battlefield tactics]]
** [[Strategy]]
** [[Grand strategy]]
** [[Logistics]]
** [[Communications]]
** [[Medicine]]
** [[Law and order]]
** [[Combat related fields]]
** [[Military intelligence]]
** [[Psychological operations]]

===BattleTech Operations Rules===
Details expansion and strategic options
* Force creation rules
* Force sizes
* Purchasing supplies
* Salaries
* New equipment assign rules
* Morale and fatigue
* Maintenance, repair, and medical services

===Infantry Platoon Construction Rules===
Creating new types of infantry forces
* Converting RPG weapons & equipment into CBT
* Assembling squads and platoons
* Disposable weapons
* Calculating [[Battle Value]] (version 1.0)
* Costs of weapons, equipment, and modes of transport

===AeroSpace 2 Operations Rules===
Details expansion and strategic options
* Boarding actions
* Crew quality
* Advanced sensors
* Force composition
* Zero-G operations
* Grounded [[DropShip]]

===Linked Scenarios===
Rules to link individual scenarios into a dynamic campaign
* Assembling a force
* actions
* Campaign scores
* Scenario determination
* Campaign goals
* New scenario types: probes, recon raids, base attacks
* Updated terrain

===BattleTech Strategic Game=== 
====Inner Sphere In Flames====
Rules for strategic-level of play, to include complete campaigns and wars, and involving economic, political and technological aspects.
* Economics and resources
* Interests and personalities
* Espionage
* Communications and orders
* Technology
* Combat

===Force Faction Tables===
Provides simple data (BV, tonnage, cost and availability data) on combat equipment for different factions
** [[Star League]] ([[2750]] and [[3061]])
** [[Clans]] (general and individual)
** [[Inner Sphere]] (general and individual)
** [[Word of Blake]]
** [[Mercenary]] (general)
** [[Periphery]] (general and individual)

===Record Sheets===
* [[AeroTech 2]]
** [[BattleMech]]
** [[Battle armor]]
** [[ProtoMech]]
* [[Level III|Level 3]] Infantry

==Notes==
* CBT has provided rulesets for all level of play: individual ([[MechWarrior (RPG)|MechWarrior RPG]]), squad ([[BattleTroops]]), lance and company (CBT board game) and battalion and higher ([[BattleForce 2]]). The BattleTech Strategic Game (usually referred to as ''ISIF'' or ''[[Inner Sphere In Flames]]'') replaces the [[The Succession Wars|Succession Wars]] strategic game (published 1987) with a lot more rules and less dependence on luck. Where the previous incarnation was a board game, ISIF is role-playing at the strategic level. [[FanPro]] has continued to support the game in later products that allow for strategic play.

[[Category:Rulebooks]]
[[Category:Works by Chris Hartford]]