BattleTech: Getting Started

Welcome to video #1 in our How to Play BattleTech series. In this #tutorial we go over how to get started in your Classic BattleTech journey, such as the minis, materials, and rules and where to find them.
#BattleTech, the #BattleMechs mentioned, and most artwork contained in this video are owned by Topps, and licensed by Catalyst Game Labs.

[@agamelift]

A good summary of the basics of the game. I always tell people that if you can add numbers between 1 and 6 you can play Battletech haha! Keep up the good work man!

[@ITDonker01]

No Guts, No Galaxy. Love me some BattleTech. Keep it up.

[@shawnarmitage7955]

God, guns, and Battletech. Like your format. And comments for Comstars programming

[@12crit]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

[@gamerhalim4717]

Tks for your guide respect from Indonesia 🇮🇩 (battletech player)

[@12crit]

Thank you very much! I am glad you enjoyed it!

[@gamerhalim4717]

@@12crit sama2 bro (you welcome)

[@135forte]

A couple of small notes. If you are using physical record sheets, springing for sheet protectors (or full lamination if you want to be really fancy) and dry erase is better than pencils. As for deployment, the default is walking onto the board via your home edge, but certain scenarios have other instructions. Deploying within three of your board edge is a fairly common one while more extreme scenarios might air drop your forces in.

[@12crit]

Thanks for the notes! I really appreciate it! The sheet protectors are a great alternative. I am trying to stick to the rules as presented in the BattMech Manual. Page 10 tells us there are no formal deployment rules. If there are none presented by a Gamemaster or Scenario, players should come to an agreement, BUT they do offer the option of alternating entering your side of the map using your Movement Mode of choice (including Running and Jumping), as an informal guideline.

[@135forte]

@@12crit That explains a lot. I was checking Total Warfare, which manages to be both more and less complete than the Mech Manual. The biggest problem with CBT is that it can turn into a rules scavenger hunt.

[@matthewbolton4908]

I'm just getting into BattleTech -- so soaking up all the intro information I can. This was a beautiful video. I can tell it was made with a lot of care. On top of that, simply introducing Flechs is actually mind-blowing! Keep it up, and I look forward to seeing more!

[@12crit]

Thanks for your comment! I am very glad you enjoyed the video. There is a lot of great 3rd party support for BattleTech, such as Flechs Sheets, I would like to cover in-depth later. I am just getting started with video editing so I really appreciate your compliment.

[@MrRyamEros]

I am so glad I found this!! Also, I hear the "in our next episode" bit read by the voice from Robotech. The next thrilling installment of How to Play Battletech. [Bwah bwah bwah buh buh buh bwah thud dud dud dum]

[@12crit]

Oh no! I better watch out for Harmony Gold! 😉 I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@Cyballistic]

Just started and these vids are really helpful. Thanks!

[@12crit]

I'm glad they are handy! Thanks!

[@skeith1543]

Thanks for the intro.

[@countryfriedminis]

I'm super excited to see where your channel goes, good sir!

[@Vagabond_Etranger]

Tip on record sheet. Over time, erasing the pencil marks will slowly tear the spot where you made those marks. I suggest putting the record sheet in a clear plastic folder, & use a grease pen to make your annotations.

[@harvestblades]

I just came across your channel & was glad you mentioned using bottle caps as stand ins for mechs. While the rules can get rather crunching (something I love), it's really quick & easy to pickup & you can add the advanced rilules if & when you'd like. The fact the rules have barely changed in the forty years this game has been around only adds to the appeal & keeping the barrier to entry extremely low. I enjoyed 40k twenty years ago, but now you'll spend a mortgage payment or more just to buy a single army the next rules update may just ruin. You can even download the basic rules & I even believe a hex map from Catalyst Gaming Labs website, & after that I recommend the A Game of Armored Combat box set as you get rules, dice, maps, plastic mechs & some cardboard mechs just to give you even more. It is a fantastic way to get your feet wet & will give you mechs you will continue to use in the future.

[@12crit]

Yeah, I learned how expensive and frustrating an edition change in 40k could be and it REALLY makes me appreciate how consistent BattleTech is, as well as how flexible force building is ("it's salvage!"). Plus, big stompy 'Mechs will never NOT be cool.

[@an_ordinary_goose]

Ive been playing a ton if Battletech and MW5 and think it was high time to finally dive into the tabletop game, so thank you for this! Time to add to the checklist.

[@12crit]

Welcome to the Classic BattleTech community!

[@chinablade6371]

Fantastic series of videos. I'm getting back into Battletech for the first time since the original releases. I hope you decide to keep making them. Many thanks. 👍🏻

[@12crit]

Working on two videos right now and one of them is most definitely covering the next phase of the game! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@aduffyguy]

This is really helpful to get into the game thanks for sharing!

[@12crit]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@f1sk8mm]

Thanks for making this. I've always wanted to get into this. I think you nudged me in the right direction!

[@12crit]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@nyandyn]

I highly recommend printing Flechs sheets on paper, as they come with modifiers already printed on the weapon list

[@Hizoll]

Sweet introduction.

[@atempestrages5059]

Just found your series- this was a great primer for me as I'm starting out. Thanks! Sub'd and liked. o7

[@12crit]

I'm very glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the Sub!

[@noodles2459]

Awesome intro video

[@Kaiju-Driver]

My first few games were odds and ends. Game 4 is when i gained miniatures.

[@eopatcjo]

"Information is ammunition" is such a good tag line!

[@12crit]

I love it, but... I completely stole it from the BattleTech cartoon from the 90s.

[@joenicesmile]

Hoq do you determined what mechs can i use or can i use as manny and any mechs.

[@12crit]

Quick answer is that a good place to start is 4 'Mechs versus 4 'Mechs and choose a Battle Value (BV) limit to stick to with your opponent. Battle Values for each 'Mech are found on their record sheets or can be found at www.masterunitlist.info. My recommendation for your first full game, try out 4000 BV with 4 'Mechs.

[@12crit]

Might do a video on this ;)

[@joenicesmile]

@12crit oh ok nice. And does it matter what faction they are or I can just choose 4 mechs.

[@joenicesmile]

@@12crit ok cool cant wait to see it.

[@12crit]

@@joenicesmile the official list for faction availability for each unit is at www.masterunitlist.info as well, but faction limits are not really an official rule. In the fiction of BattleTech, it's not uncommon for forces to gather salvage after a battle so there's always an excuse to field units outside your faction list.

[@thecringeslayer4897]

cool

[@pacificgrim4661]

I want to start Battletech but my question is, how many miniatures do I need? I saw a 5 pack but do I need more?

[@12crit]

Most players play a 4v4 game. The smallest force pack they sell is 4 models. So if you are just looking for some models to get started, pick whatever pack has the 'Mechs you like the look of. The packs with 4 models will usually run you around $25. While a single pack comes with 4-6 miniatures, keep in mind each of those miniatures have multiple variants to choose from in-game when selecting record-sheets, so there a ton of variety. If looking for a super solid recommendation, I would start with the A Game of Armored Combat. It comes with a good variety of 8 models that will allow you to switch things up from game to game, plus everything else you need to play full games of Classic BattleTech (for 2 players even!), all for $40-$50. If you just want to just dip your toes in, the Beginner Box is a good start. Only comes with 2 models, but it comes with a map and a simplified version of the rules as well. That box runs about $20-$25. Both of those boxes also come with cardboard standees to proxy for 'Mechs as well, which is legal and legit when playing, too. So, you can actually play with no models as long as you have distinct proxies to play with, but a good place to start, model wise, is 4. Hope that helps!

[@jjnxyz4368]

Get a game of armoured combat, yes it's over double the price of 4 minis but you get 2 maps, a decent basic rulebook mech cutouts so that you can play with 16 mechs, 2 map sections and a 20 USD voucher for the catalyst store so that you can buy either the battlemech manual or the total war combined arms (yes this game has infantry, vehicles, halos, artillery and planes) which ARE BOTH RECOMMENDED. IF YOU'RE ON A REALLY TIGHT BUDGET, buy a $25 lance, print or create your own maps, buy a few D6 dice and find rules online. Or 3D print/make cutout minis (to make a cutout minis draw it's front and side on thin card, laminate the card, cut the minis out and create slits to join the two halves together

[@ScythianLancer]

All nice and good but i got none to play with in Belgrade

[@12crit]

Gotta spread the good word (of Blake) there in Serbia (?).

[@ScythianLancer]

@@12crit Serbia is poor country, there was 0 sales on warhammer stuff before influence of liberal Russians, average zerb doesn't know anything about warhammer and battletech is even more niche

[@ScythianLancer]

@@12crit i am not at blakist lore yet

[@12crit]

Sorry to hear that! Is MegaMek a possibility? There's a great online community for it.

[@PenguinOverlord4555]

1:04 sounds like a discord ping lol

[@12crit]

I would *never* forget to mute my computer while recording... ;)