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Looking For Battletech Lore/games


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#1 Noob Weapons

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Posted 22 April 2014 - 09:11 PM

So MWO is my first experience in the Battletech universe, and I would like to reach out to more sources (and besides that, getting tired of the poptart and ac40 meta, so I can't play more than a few matches a day).

Generally I'm looking to know what some of the diehard fans of battletech say are some of the best games in the series. I don't mind bad graphics, as I generally enjoy older games.

Also some suggestions on good books would be welcome, I read pretty often, and it would give me a more in depth look at the series, but if the writer is terrible I probably won't finish the book, so keep that in mind.

Thanks ahead of time for your suggestions.

#2 SnagaDance

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Posted 23 April 2014 - 12:02 AM

If you're interested in the lore there's no going around: http://www.sarna.net

As for the games I'm a fan of the older ones. Mechwarrior 2: 31st century combat get's you that Clan vibe while Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries has got you going in the Inner Sphere (and later against the Clans). I also like Mechcommander.

For all of these games it may be hard to find a copy and get it working on your computer though.

As for the novels you can't really go wrong with the Warrior Trilogy: http://www.sarna.net...Warrior_Trilogy
Followed by the the Blood of Kerensky Trilogy: http://www.sarna.net...ood_of_Kerensky

Welcome to the BattleTech universe! :P

#3 CyclonerM

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Posted 23 April 2014 - 12:26 AM

Absolutely welcome in the BTU :P

You may want to look on Sarna for the timeline to know the main events from the medieval age to 3550 ;) Mind that Sarna is a reference for Canon but non canon itself (it is sometimes inaccurated).

The canon publications are sourcebooks (they are very interesting), technical readouts, boardgame manuals, rp game manuals, novels and something else. I especially love the novels, there are around 100 of them, i suggest you to start with Wolves on the Border (my first novel) then you could read the Warrior trilogy to take a look at the Inner Sphere in the 4th succession war era, then i strongly reccomend the Blood of Kerensky trilogy (it is set in the MWO timeline, starting around 3049).

For the games, i suggest you MW2:31st Century Combat, maybe MW2 Mercs (i mostly agree with Snaga ^_^ ). You can use DosBox to play them.

MW4 would be easier to run (if you can find it B) ) but it is not very lore-accurated, however it has a decent single player campaign.

I heard that MW3 is a very good game, more like a sim, but may have had issues trying to play it.. Good luck.

Edited by CyclonerM, 23 April 2014 - 12:30 AM.


#4 CCC Dober

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Posted 23 April 2014 - 02:11 AM

From my point of view, I'd say that MW3 has been the best Mech simulator so far. Graphics, sounds, physics, weapons and animations made for a highly immersive experience back in the days. MW4 is much more stable when it comes to multiplayer, but it's a lesser simulation by comparison, unfortunately. Still it has hundreds of custom maps to try out in multiplayer and one particular mod improves and expands MW4:Mercenaries in many ways (Mekpak 3.1). Other notable games, are MW1, MW2, MechCommander 1 and MechCommander 2 (optional mods).

So much for the games. As for actual lore, I guess that depends on your tastes. There are several dozen novels that show in detail what's going on in the Inner Sphere and far beyond that. You get to know the key players and see how the Clans change the whole picture dramatically.

Or you can get a quicker, more clinical overview (IMO) by going through the field manuals/source books that are commonly referenced on sarna.net. Which btw is a great place to start and find answers for questions that you will encounter sooner or later.

Up to you mate.

#5 Hex Pallett

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Posted 23 April 2014 - 05:30 AM

http://www.stargazer..._novel_list.htm

I heard it's the complete booklist for all BattleTech novels. Now most of the physical books are like antiques and are unnecessarily expensive, but hey, there's always the Internet.

#6 Pht

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Posted 23 April 2014 - 05:27 PM

View PostNoob Weapons, on 22 April 2014 - 09:11 PM, said:

So MWO is my first experience in the Battletech universe, and I would like to reach out to more sources (and besides that, getting tired of the poptart and ac40 meta, so I can't play more than a few matches a day).

Generally I'm looking to know what some of the diehard fans of battletech say are some of the best games in the series. I don't mind bad graphics, as I generally enjoy older games.

Also some suggestions on good books would be welcome, I read pretty often, and it would give me a more in depth look at the series, but if the writer is terrible I probably won't finish the book, so keep that in mind.

Thanks ahead of time for your suggestions.


Really ANY ... of the old MW video games are worthwhile. That said, a lot of people think the mechwarrior 2 run of VGs are the high-water point in the series.

If you use http://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net/ you should be able to get mw2 to run - I've had good luck with it.

As far as the lore is concerned, You would likely do best to start out with the novels in the "warrior trilogy" http://www.sarna.net...Warrior_Trilogy

and than after that the "blood of kerensky" trilogy http://www.sarna.net...ky_%28series%29

which will give you a good grounding in the lore and a taste for the novels.

PS, don't be put off by the various factions of fans. Some hate the clans or anything newer, some hate the word of blake stuff, etc, etc, etc. Try the stuff and decide for yourself. Also, you will find absolutely RABID hatred for any faction you choose, which is fine, actually. People grow to really identify with the various factions. It's one of the upsides of the lore. Once you decide which faction you really like (yes, even for mercs and periphery/independent worlds) ... you might look into getting the battletech game book for your faction. That would be the various handbooks for the "houses" and such.



BTW. As a shameless plug, read my pinned thread about battlemech technology here in the off topic forum.





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