MechForce News
Apocryphal Product Although the subject of this article is an official BattleTech product, it does not meet the current criteria for Canon. Its content may or may not be canonical for the BattleTech universe, and for the purpose of the Sarna.net BattleTechWiki is considered apocryphal. |
MechForce News | |
---|---|
Product information | |
Type | Magazine |
Publication information | |
Publisher | FASA (via MechForce) |
First published | 1988-1990 |
Content | |
Timeline | 3028-3051 |
Followed by | Mech (magazine) |
MechForce News was the quarterly newsletter of the MechForce North America fan club, produced by FASA. Each issue summarized recent events in the BattleTech fiction line from an in-universe perspective and had a section that listed members rankings.
AWOL Productions took over running the MechForce North America from 1990 onward, and the publication changed its name to 'Mech (magazine).
Contents
Canonicity
The MechForce News was an official product, produced under FASA's direct aegis. However, the current definition of Canon for BattleTech expressly excludes magazines (even "official" ones) by default. The magazine's content must therefore be considered apocryphal unless confirmed in a recognized canonical publication or ruling.
Volumes
No volumes are given for the early issues. After the time-jump to the Clan Invasion era, a note of "Volume XXI" appears in the header, and references are made to having been in publication for 20 years.
Volume One
Issue One
Spring 3028, 8 pages.
Contents
- "Operation Galahad 3028: Troops Take to the Field"
- "Wedding Plans Continue"
Issue Two
Summer 3028, 8 pages. (Mailed 15 August, 1988)
Contents
- "Wedding Activities on Terra"
- "Operation Galahad Continues"
- "Unexplained Image Baffles NAIS Experts"
- "DropShip Hijacked"
- "Fighting on An Ting"
- "VTOL Tactics and Counter-Measures"
- "AA/A Thumper"
- "Shrapnel" (Advertisment)
- "Who Are Wolf's Dragoons?" (Fan contest - source of theories in Wolf's Dragoons sourcebook)
- "Players Wanted"
- "MechForce Rankings"
- "Warrior: Riposte" (Advertisement)
Special Edition - WAR
Contents
- "Galahad/Thor Ruse"
- "Davion/Steiner Offensive Viewed With Dismay"
- "Experts Question the Wisdom of the Offensive"
- "Liao Garrisons Swept Away By Davion Deluge"
- "Wolf's Dragoons Sign With Davion"
- "Warrior: Riposte" (Advertisement)
Issue Three
Fall 3028, 8 pages (Mailed December 9, 1988)
Contents
- "Second Wave of Davion Offensive Rolls over Capellan Confederation"
- "Crucis Lancers hit Tikonov"
- "LCAF Stalled"
- "Warlord Grieg Samsonov assassinated"
- "Marik Attacks Isle of Skye"
- "Demand for Mercenaries Up - Galatea Never Busier"
- "Grey Riders Pledge Themselves to Steiner/Davion Alliance"
- "Four-Legged 'Mechs"
- "Optional Four-Legged 'Mech Rules"
- "Record Sheet Changes"
- "Movement Rule Changes"
- "Lateral Shift"
- "Piloting Skill Rolls"
- "Combat Changes"
- "Hit Location Table"
- "Leg Critical Hits"
- "Physical Attacks"
- "Heat Build-Up"
- "Quad 'Mech Record Sheet"
- "MechForce Rankings" - Member names and score rankings.
- "Players Wanted"
- "MechForce Chapters" - Registration form.
- "MechForce Associate Membership" - Registration form.
- Ad for Wolves on the Border.
Issue Four
Fall 3029, 8 pages (Mailed April 25, 1989)
Contents
- "4th Succession War Changing the Face of the Inner Sphere"
- "Federated Suns Under ComStar Interdiction"
- "Inheritors Declare End is Near"
- "Solaris Competitions Continue Despite War"
- "Using Variant BattleMechs for Ranking"
- "MechForce Chapters" - Chapter list.
- "MechForce Rankings" - Member list and score rankings.
- "MechForce chapters" - Enrollment instructions.
- "Players Wanted"
- Ad for Wolf's Dragoons sourcebook
Volume XXI
Issue One
Fall 3050, 8 pages (Mailed September 8, 1989)
Contents
- "Our Twentieth (Almost) Anniversary"
- "Star-League Type Technology Coming"
- "A Look Back"
- "Fall 3030 - Kurita Offensive Threatens Skye"
- "Fall 3030 - Peace Treaty Ends Fourth Succession War"
- "Spring 3031 - Tarnished Glory: The Cost of the Fourth Succession War"
- "Fall 3029 - Followup - Have You Seen Me?
- "Winter 3030 - ComStar to Arm Its Stations"
- "Summer 3030 - Heir to Federated Commonwealth Born"
- "Spring 3031 - Romano Liao Assumes Leadership of the Capellan Confederation"
- "Spring 3040 - Katrina Steiner Dies"
- "MechForce Rankings" - Member names and score rankings.
- "MechForce Chapters" - Enrollment instructions.
- "Players Wanted"
- "MechForce Chapters" - Chapter list.
Issue Two
Winter 3051, 8 pages (Mailed April 18, 1990)
Contents
- "INVASION!"
- "Intelligence Briefing"
- "Invader Organization"
- "Clan Combat Equipment"
- "Clan Tactics"
- "Who Are The Clans?"
- "The Return of Kerensky"
- "The Lost Colony"
- "Alien Invasion"
- "MechForce Rankings" - Member list and score rankings.
- "MechForce Chapters" - Chapter list.
Volume XXII
Issue One
Summer 3051, 8 pages
Contents
- "Has it Stopped?"
- "Clan Analysis"
- "Military Analysis"
- "Twycross - 10 September, 3050"
- "About Wolcott - 2 October, 3050"
- "About Radstadt - 31 October, 3050"
- Combat Values for 'Mechs for TRO:3050
- MechForce Chapters
- MechForce Rankings