GMG Reviews - Battletech Starter Sets (2024) by Catalyst Game Labs

[@gkeaton9755]

The Beginners set comes with a coupon, use it for the GOAC box, where you get another coupon. Use that coupon for The clan invasion box, I think it ALSO comes with a coupon, use it for the Alpha strike box set. So just with the boxed sets you wind up with 18 inner sphere mechs, and 15 clan mechs, if I am not mistaken with weight skewed to slightly heavier mechs on the IS side. So, Roughly company sized formations on either side, all at 20% off, from Catalyst. Iff you add in the Target Essentials box, you get 2 MORE mechs, and Duelling rules, Also another coupon to spend on another box of Stompy robots (x2)

[@BuddyX74]

The GOAC box I ordered sadly did not come with the coupon. But, Amazon had the Alpha Strike box on sale for $60, so picked it up there. YMMV, though.

[@Nick_Whiskey]

A lot of the boxes you find on the shelves have out dated coupons - the ones i bought last year has an expiration date of the year before.

[@cole9693]

Some games are just 10 bucks off anyway on amazon

[@Hundmathr]

Getting back into the game during this BattleTech renaissance, for me feels like I'm honoring my 12 year old self that played the hell out of the 2nd edition box with paper standees. I'm glad you gave the game a chance a few years ago and are having a blast with it.

[@televiper11]

Love Battletech and glad to see you featuring it frequently

[@Enneige]

SLDF colours not mercs! They really want to sell the Third Star League, which will be around for years to come* *Star League Extended Warranty Not Guaranteed.

[@Phoney72]

You know what they say, 3rd time's the charm!

[@antytrend]

Following because of The Sword vinyl in background

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Ah… another person of culture

[@kwgrqog]

I knew I was amongst friends when I clicked on this video…

[@bradp6452]

I like that the are the same price as the last releases unlike other companies. I think I have 2 copies of the earlier versions.

[@Blaster__CA]

Quick Start Rules make Alpha Strike superfluous. Nothing QSR can't do that AS does. & with the bonus of not having to learn two completely different Rulesets!

[@johngentry2794]

Damn, I just picked up the prior edition yesterday, didnt see this one shelves. Oh well!

[@Reverb154]

Its not on the shelves yet, this one was sent for the channel to review and show off.

[@BB-pn2qv]

Hope they keep these in stock and accessible!

[@MaverickofThePeople]

I have bought 2 copies of evertything from both kickstarters up to this point. The fact that they do not stop releasing content is both a blessing and a curse. Storing all of this is a real pain.

[@snarkymcsnarkface1863]

Get bankers boxes. Do wonders.

[@antytrend]

Imagine if they did just one cool thing like put in some cross-sections of a Mac with little arrows, pointing to different parts of the catapult or something just like literally anything eyecandy for the military tech nerds, which comprise a major portion of the audience

[@odinulveson9101]

Good morning from Norway! 11:50 am. Coffee☕️ in hands for new vid😁 Glad we kinda dont have to re-purchase the boxed sets, though the GoaCombat Ibwill get for the extra tidbits of ilClan. And extra mechs dosent hurt! Sidenote:Yeah I effed up my Wolverine with Zealot yellow Army Painter speedpaint, read the lower right accurate color description, the Zealot is orangishyellow😂 My homebrewed FRR/ R.D loyal merc group is supposed to be yellow with red and blue

[@threeohm]

Yeah Battletech! GMG FTW! Thanks for more BT content.

[@JERRYR708]

Went to Target today and didn't see any BT on the shelf for the first time in a while. BT Essentials box was usually always available. No vacant slot either.

[@mathewkelly9968]

Lets all be honest we be waiting for the new stuff

[@whitardesigns7572]

Cool! Would like to know about the quality of miniatures, compared to the older boxes. I heard old ones are a bit "soapy"

[@claytonhollowell4488]

Hey! The Shadow Cat is a mech that doesn't actually suck...

[@12neef]

Saturday morning reviews!! 🎉🎊🥳🤩

[@WeOnlyEatSoup]

Can't wait for the full Mercenaries expansion

[@HouseMasterPoDing]

Excellent review! Nice to see you getting yourself into Battletech and getting the lore and all that stuff down.

[@nyverdaletabletop1674]

Any release date for EU known?

[@phillgreen]

I’ve got a lot of battletech, but it turns out that I don’t have any of the mechs in the Game of Armored Combat box. The mechs alone would cost around $50. With the other things, it feels like a good deal for someone without those mechs. When I started watching this, I was a “no” on buying the box. Now I am a maybe, but I think I should wait till I get my Kickstarter order.

[@Kevin.Mitchell]

Well, I have those mechs in GoAC already, but I don't have them painted up for a different faction, so I guess I'll be buying this whenever it hits the shelves in the UK. The Ilclan stuff is interesting but I still spend most of my time playing Alpha Strike in 3025 - always up for a new setting though!

[@shinankoku2]

I have a question that you probably don’t have an answer to, but maybe someone in the community knows. At one point in time, Dr B Bonzai conically exists with the Battletech universe. Is that still the case? Was he retconned out? Do they just not talk about it anymore? Does anyone know?

[@VetBodGaming]

I'd love to see a video explaining the differences between the different battletech "games". With a quick rundown of how to prepare and start a game.

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

Check out the Let’s Play playlist! They’re there for both!

[@VetBodGaming]

@@GuerrillaMiniatureGames thanks. Ill take a look

[@youtmeme]

Wow, i thought u had given up on bt stuff!!!😮🥺 😃🙂👏👍

[@gregmichaud7314]

I'm not going to lie i wish they did more dark age stuff. i love that timeline mercenaries, make shift mechs, and all the classic inner sphere and clan mechs. But i am glad they are continuing to expand battletech. In Ontario, Canada, we have a few wonderful groups that are continuing with games weekly, so i can see battletech lasting long into the future of tabletop gaming

[@korvusknull1447]

My understanding from Catalyst is that they wanted to advance the timeline adding their own company flare and updated/ upgrading to a current timeline in parallel with current time. However they are going to backfill lore and events with dark age jihad but need to organise some of this data because other companies had license during these time periods.

[@ralfsstuff]

After I just got the old GoAC and Alpha Strike boxes. 😭

[@hydra66]

If you have the boxsets from a few yrs ago, what exactly do these add?

[@itsallfunandgames723]

It's just a cool new 40th anniversary box.

[@saigancat]

Nothing except for box art.

[@warlok363]

IlClan rules insert for some equipment also

[@FitzTheMariner]

Is there a release date for these new box sets? Hoping to get one for my birthday in April.

[@wanderertheta]

They are currently on the boat from China and are expected to hit retail in March or April depending on how long it takes to get them from port to the distribution warehouse.

[@thebigslicedcheese3867]

Shame I'd like to see dark age minis. I like the various superlight mechs.

[@TheLofren]

What is new from the last version

[@kaldorf]

Hey that discount code matches my password. I feel like Catalyst does it right with their tabletop starter. Heck back in the day you only got standees but now the include a bunch of minis. Also offering lighter versions to pick up and play.

[@VelcroSnake93]

While people may not mind getting more of the Jihad, since it was literally skipped over in the storyline when a new company took over and wanted to start fresh with the Dark Age so they could ignore the previous lore and release new stuff, I think most people don't mind skipping the Dark Age, as while it wasn't as bad toward the end, most of the Dark Age is pretty rough....

[@speeddemonpainting7050]

The only major downside to battletech, is the PVC models. I have to say though, the latest mercenary boxes seem to use a harder variant of PVC that is pretty much "scrapable" to remove mold lines (at least my Northwind Highlander set did)... Are the models still identical to the first AGoAC box, or is the plastic a touch "harder" in this new variant? It makes a world of difference to how well you can finish these models.

[@ShimmeringSword]

Production reruns always run the newest plastic formulation, so GoAC boxes now are better than the early runs. That said, our detail tolerance improvements aren't retroactive, so only newer products have those improvements. So far we've got an alternative locust, griffin, shadow hawk, thunderbolt, and catapult out in other packs.

[@speeddemonpainting7050]

@@ShimmeringSword that's good to hear. The increased hardness alone makes quite the difference for removal of mold lines.

[@DarthP00P00]

That box art is bitchin. I've got such a large collection that I've yet to buy any of these sets yet but I'm tempted to get them now.

[@danielkochis5133]

Are the maps the same? Or did they print new hexmaps?

[@NegTharayas16]

Good question

[@wanderertheta]

The maps are the same as the previous printings, the only new stuff is the Ilclan primer/rules insert/record sheets. This was mostly just Catalyst changing the covers to celebrate the 40th anniversary and not supposed to be something existing players would feel the need to pick up if they had older copies.

[@joenicesmile]

Beginner here I'm trying to play this game and I can't find these boxes.

[@ljcostanzo7516]

I've got to disagree with the slow speed of classic battletech. I had the previous big box starter set, the one that came with several plastic mechs. I played out both sides of the first scenario, which was using the hunchback v.s either the commando (I believe it was the commando, but I could be wrong) either way I did the opening moves along the map, then got to combat....and shot with that big AC on the hunchback....one shot happened to be all it took location hit straight to the cockpit of the opposition. Boom, match over. But it did get me hooked into the universe and the game even more. Nice reviews, though, thanks.

[@shobooknight]

You have to get pretty lucky to kill even a single mech in one hit and most games have multiple. I wouldn't take that as an indication of the speed of the game on average lol

[@ljcostanzo7516]

@@shobooknight very true. It was just a lucky roll, but it very much reconfirmed my joy and affection for the game and the universe of Battletech to get to play around in.

[@CraigSteinhoff]

So they added ilclan stuff is new? I thought it was not changing

[@wanderertheta]

The first reveal of the covers said they weren't changing the contents, later they said they were just thinking about the included minis and maps and that there is the new Ilclan primer, rules insert, and record sheets.

[@steveisaak4320]

When are they shipping out the kick starter?

[@TheSarge23]

Last news was that shipping should be happening around June this year.

[@Mr_Waffle.]

Wish I'd gotten into this instead of Warhammer at the beginning, might have saved myself a lot of money lol. Such great value!

[@snarkymcsnarkface1863]

Lol I got into It 92 and still got into warhammer... ugh bad choices. I still have most of the stuff from.back then. Lost a few things in a flood back in 2013... my original 12 mechs 4 tanks, 6 elementals and 3 vtols have been demoted to merc company status as the paint jobs are awful and the paint chips are numerous... I just cannot being myself to strip and repaint them after 30 plus years of service. Way too many stories and memories associated with those little hunks of metal.

[@itsallfunandgames723]

It's a little funny how Catalyst and all their novels are focused on the new IlClan Era, their writers are all excited about that new time, while 99% of their tabletop gaming crowd are just like, "That's neat, I hope you guys have a good time doing all that," before going right back to 3025 or 3050. It's as if when GW decided to move the 40K timeline forward all their players just went, "That's cute, you have fun with Primorus Marines, we'll be over here playing games with giant foamball cactuses and never reading a word of it."

[@MadMax-el2el]

I still use my foam ball cactus terrain, thank you. heck I just added a half dozen pieces over Christmas, this time in brown and teal, lol. And yes we mainly play 3025 to 3055 going to 3060 is fun... and some times we get extra spicy and play uptil 3080... heck I still play Mordhiem regularly.

[@iceniwargames6347]

Thats what I did do. Badad was peak 40K for me, I've just stayed there. Primaris need not apply.

[@ShimmeringSword]

Plenty of people play ilClan tech, the books and pdfs seems to sell really well (recognition guides are their most successful pdf product ever). But Battletech is meant to be played in all eras and that requires supporting them all, hence all the new early era minis that work in all eras. This and next year have lot of later era support.

[@phelyxz]

i wonder why this seems so much bigger in the New World in comparison to Europe...

[@margaretwood152]

2:34 = Errrr......Uhh~mmmmmmm, *_No._* (Gimme HH~AoD 30K 1.0 Contemptors/Leviathans _any day of the week,_ )

[@RattlerNxt]

Battletech is so cost effective. Some companies have such a different approach

[@Blaster__CA]

If you needed 10+ Mechs, plus Total Warfare & etc., plus more Maps, to play games the size of GWs Skirmish Games... BT is only 'cost effective' if you're only playing the same 8 Mechs all the time. As soon as you want 8+ Mechs per person, plus Vehicles, & a variety of Maps, plus your own Rulebooks & etc... Yeah, BT has a great low $ entry lvl. After that, it's pretty on par with Kill Team, Necromunda &/or Warcry [let alone Titanicus, Aeronautica &/or Legions Imperialis!].

[@RattlerNxt]

@@Blaster__CA those are all skirmish games. You also don’t need the books. Everything you need comes in the starters.

[@Blaster__CA]

@@RattlerNxt BT is a Skirmish game too. & 40k has free &/or abbreviated Rules, too. But, like BT, abbreviated in a boxset Rules don't get ya very far. They don't have most of the Weapons & Equipment, for one. If you want the width & breadth of the BT experience, you need TW or BattleMech Manual. The free pdf & rules in AGoAC aren't the full rules, by far.

[@ShimmeringSword]

@@Blaster__CAmany other games, even if designed to be played with 4-12 miniatures, offer, encourage, or competitively require hero units. That's the key unique part to BT, hero units aren't generally unique items. How many hero/commander units in GW games only cost $7? Not many people play non BT skirmish games with only the mook minis. Meanwhile, it's only $25-35 a pop to increase your BT variety by 4-6 mechs at a time. Doesn't take long before you've got 20-40 mechs to choose from, 100s of variants. No lack of variety there.

[@Blaster__CA]

​@@ShimmeringSword 20 Mechs, say AGoAC plus 3 Lance Forcepacks, plus Total Warfare/BattleMech Manual & a Map pack is $180~. $100 on KT gets ya the full Rules, 2 KTs [22 minis] & 3d Terrain, plus dice, cardboard mat & suchlike. Throw in another $80 on more Terrain & the value of BT & KT is very comparable. [& yes, comparing BT with KT is the most appropriate. They're both low model count 'Skirmish' lvl games. BTs 'Skirmish' doesn't compare to 40ks 'Mass Battles'.]

[@Mechaninjalo]

I really want to like battletech , but the small scale Just doesn't interest me at all. Bigger is better in this case 😉

[@odinulveson9101]

Then make it bigger! Alpha Strike is exactly made for mixed forces battles and missions that dosent take ages to complete😂 VTOLS, Mechs, Battle Armor, Armored vehicles like wheeled, threaded, hover etc. CGL finally get around to produce minis of support vehicles and tanks too

[@Ont525]

I feel like Battletech has the biggest scale considering what the rules allow in terms of scenarios, weapon systems, and combined arms.

[@sackofpeas2470]

Doesn't really make sense when there's so much depth and complexity that can be had as you utilize more and more of the rules. Full rule battletech with two lances is basically a simulation in miniature form. If you don't want to play a near simulation style game, then Alpha Strike allows you to play massive games with multiple lances/stars as well as infantry, ground vehicles, and aircraft.

[@kookieslayer]

That's why I prefer Titanicus models wise. The scale is more interesting to paint and play with and now that imperialis is out the sheer size of titans is really represented on the table

[@DarthP00P00]

Then play Battletech Alpha Strike... You can play huge battles with multiple combined arms forces relatively easily. Give it a go.

[@earlgrayman982]

So they basically repackaged the existing box sets they had....I cannot wait until catalyst loses the license for Battletech.

[@GuerrillaMiniatureGames]

I mean if they’re reprinting them in waves anyway why not just update the box?

[@odinulveson9101]

The only extras is the ilClan stuff. Its not required ( though extra mechs dont hurt😅) Seriously.. due to real world madness with shipping lanes getting wrecked and possibly CGL factory orders from China its HARD to get enough BT stuff out in the wider market. Here in Norway its a dtruggle yo say get hold on certain books and Force packs! I have more Clan mechs than IS mechs! So I can see why CGL banks on easier to spread on market stuff which I assume such boxed sets are despite the more varied content besides just plastic mechs

[@VelcroSnake93]

I've been thrilled with what CGL is doing, and from what I can tell so are the vast majority of people. I don't want to go back to what previous companies did with the license.

[@earlgrayman982]

Because it's bad product marketing when a company doesn't realize who their audience is. It's aimed at beginners and yet half the existing Battletech audience will plunk down ducats for another beginner box or AGOAC if they switched out a few mechs, maps and tokens which are already in their catalog. They could have even revived Citytech. The original was standalone like Battletech. Same basic ruleset with some additions and new mechs. Its just lazy. Not to mention something like CItytech is perfect for ilclan era. But no, same low effort they've had going for years. I hate this company. The only good thing they've done is keep the sets cheap. @@GuerrillaMiniatureGames

[@earlgrayman982]

They really haven't done much considering how long they've had the license, their stupid kickstarters (who does that with a multimillion dollar license?) and how they haven't had to create much in the way of content given the game is almost identical to when it was published by FASA, but enjoy. @@VelcroSnake93