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Interested in buying TT game for the first time
Started by Starchild192, Jul 23 2012 04:50 PM
15 replies to this topic
#1
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- 26 posts
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Posted 23 July 2012 - 04:50 PM
So, as per the title of this thread, I have never played the Table Top game before, and I am interested in buying it because it just looks dang fun. But... I have no clue where to start. What should I buy? Where should I buy? I really don't have any game stores in my area that sell anything other than MTG, so I should probably buy online. With so many sites though, I really don't know where to start. Thanks in advance for any help
#3
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- Bridesmaid
- 2,100 posts
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- LocationTerra
Posted 23 July 2012 - 05:07 PM
I'd start on the official site for the board game: http://bg.battletech.com/
They have a whole section on "new to battletech?": http://bg.battletech.com/?page_id=175
There are also some free PDFs with quick start rules and a small scenario at http://bg.battletech.com/?page_id=27 .
Imho, for a starter, the introductory box set is the best product to begin with. Gives you two hex maps, 24 plastic minis and all you need to play (but, the rules included are a bit simplified). And for the price, it's a steal, especially compared to what you need to spend to start with many other TT games.
Next would the rulebook (Total Warfare). It contains... *drumroll* ... all the rules for skirmish, lance on lance warfare.
Then... well. You could get a Technical Readout for more mech variants, or the tactical warfare tulebook for advanced rules and large, company scale battles.
I'd suggest asking your local game stores if they can order Battletech products. Maybe they just don't have it in stock.
As for online sources... it might help if you told us what region you're in.
They have a whole section on "new to battletech?": http://bg.battletech.com/?page_id=175
There are also some free PDFs with quick start rules and a small scenario at http://bg.battletech.com/?page_id=27 .
Imho, for a starter, the introductory box set is the best product to begin with. Gives you two hex maps, 24 plastic minis and all you need to play (but, the rules included are a bit simplified). And for the price, it's a steal, especially compared to what you need to spend to start with many other TT games.
Next would the rulebook (Total Warfare). It contains... *drumroll* ... all the rules for skirmish, lance on lance warfare.
Then... well. You could get a Technical Readout for more mech variants, or the tactical warfare tulebook for advanced rules and large, company scale battles.
I'd suggest asking your local game stores if they can order Battletech products. Maybe they just don't have it in stock.
As for online sources... it might help if you told us what region you're in.
Edited by Exilyth, 23 July 2012 - 05:11 PM.
#4
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- 26 posts
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Posted 23 July 2012 - 06:52 PM
Thanks for all the suggestions! As for my region, I live in North America. Specifically, northern Indiana. And I already asked my local game stores. They all said, "Sorry, we only sell MTG." Thats the most popular game around where I live, so it wasn't a surprise. I think Ill be going with the intro box set to start off.
As for my region, I live in North America. Specifically, northern Indiana. And I already asked my local game stores. They all said, "Sorry, we only sell MTG." Thats the most popular game around where I live, so it wasn't a surprise. I think Ill be going with the intro box set to start off.
#5
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- The Messenger
- 1,215 posts
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Posted 24 July 2012 - 07:33 AM
The "Starterbook: Sword & Dragon" is a great companion to the intro boxed set. It also gives you the Warchest points system to run linked scenario campaigns.
#6
Posted 24 July 2012 - 10:55 AM
Buy the box set but if you want to get into playing with people regularly I recommend you check out http://mekwars.org You can get into an online campaign that is similar to what is planned for MWO. You join a faction and fight for control of the inner sphere. All of the table top board game rules are converted into java for it. Awesome and best way to play the game IMHO. You still need to know the rules if you want to play well so buy the real rules!
#7
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- 89 posts
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- LocationAustralis
Posted 24 July 2012 - 05:21 PM
check ebay, there's always people selling, there's 1 guy currently selling his entire collection.
#8
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- 12 posts
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- LocationSpokane, WA
Posted 24 July 2012 - 05:37 PM
Definately get the box set! I ordered it from Amazon, and saved about $11... If no gaming stores in your area want to order other stuff for you, get it from Amazon! It's your local gaming store's loss in profits.
FYI: I recommend the Technical Readout 3039 and the 3039 Pre printed Mech sheets. IF you want ALL the variants listed, you can buy them (and DL them) in pdf format from battlecorps for $9 plus tax. That $9 will give you EVERY variant of EVERY Mech listed in the 3039 Readout! Well worth it, imho. You can get the mini's from Ironwind Metals. Web sites are listed in the Box Set rule book for several great sites.
Hope you find some people to Mech with!
FYI: I recommend the Technical Readout 3039 and the 3039 Pre printed Mech sheets. IF you want ALL the variants listed, you can buy them (and DL them) in pdf format from battlecorps for $9 plus tax. That $9 will give you EVERY variant of EVERY Mech listed in the 3039 Readout! Well worth it, imho. You can get the mini's from Ironwind Metals. Web sites are listed in the Box Set rule book for several great sites.
Hope you find some people to Mech with!
Edited by Barad, 24 July 2012 - 05:39 PM.
#9
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- Elite Founder
- 63 posts
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- LocationTexas
Posted 11 August 2012 - 11:18 AM
Get the introductory box set to start off with, and then look on e-bay, amazon, and any other site for deals on the books. I have gotten some decent deals off amazon and e-bay for starter pack mechs and record sheet and mech books. I also sell some gaming terrain from time to time on e-bay.
#10
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- Legendary Founder
- 231 posts
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- LocationMercenary Training Command, Outreach
Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:36 PM
Look into Solaris Skunk Werks. It's a free BattleTech record sheet generator which, unlike Heavy Metal Pro, uses the current rule set. Other than that, the Total Warfare book is the main item you should get.
Mechs can be collected later. The box set is great for a starter army, but you can uses paper cutouts or even coins to represent mechs. Total Warfare has all the rules you need, and SSW can provide the sheets.
Mechs can be collected later. The box set is great for a starter army, but you can uses paper cutouts or even coins to represent mechs. Total Warfare has all the rules you need, and SSW can provide the sheets.
#11
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- 359 posts
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- LocationOahu
Posted 11 August 2012 - 10:05 PM
Get the box set.
Get copies of the free quick start PDF into the hands of your players before the first game.
If you lihe the game at that point, buy a copy of Total Warfare for more advance play rules.
A copy of TRO 3039 is a good step to make once you've gotten sick of the starter mechs.
After that it really depends on how you want to play, and what era of play you want.
Some people enjoy just throwing lances at each other ever now and again. There's nothing wrong with that.
Other people like a simple campaign system, and use the warchest rules to string scenarios together.
Me, I like a more complicated campaign, so I never bothered to get any of the "Starterbook" series.
To be brutally honest, getting into BT beyond the box set and Total Warfare is a pretty big jump. The current book series spread the rules out over multiple hardcovers. The rules for building a mech are in the Techmanual, but the rules for repairs are in Strategic Operations, while advanced play rules are mostly in Tactical Operations. IMHO there isn't really any point in buying one of them unless your going to buy them all.
Get copies of the free quick start PDF into the hands of your players before the first game.
If you lihe the game at that point, buy a copy of Total Warfare for more advance play rules.
A copy of TRO 3039 is a good step to make once you've gotten sick of the starter mechs.
After that it really depends on how you want to play, and what era of play you want.
Some people enjoy just throwing lances at each other ever now and again. There's nothing wrong with that.
Other people like a simple campaign system, and use the warchest rules to string scenarios together.
Me, I like a more complicated campaign, so I never bothered to get any of the "Starterbook" series.
To be brutally honest, getting into BT beyond the box set and Total Warfare is a pretty big jump. The current book series spread the rules out over multiple hardcovers. The rules for building a mech are in the Techmanual, but the rules for repairs are in Strategic Operations, while advanced play rules are mostly in Tactical Operations. IMHO there isn't really any point in buying one of them unless your going to buy them all.
#12
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- The Machete
- 1,620 posts
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- LocationThe Good Ole South
Posted 12 August 2012 - 08:24 AM
OP - like yourself i am considering the TT game.
For years (and I mean years) I have been a SL/ASL gamer. (Squad Leader / Advanced Squad Leader).
The original investment (and it is an investment) is actually relatively inexpensive for the hours and years of fun it will reap.When i first started playing SL (ASL not released at that time) the game was a meager 15$ with expansions running 10 to 20$.
ASL was released (it is a rulebook only) and it was 30$ !!! Shock! The 1st Module which included all the Fins. Germans and Russians (vehicles too) some mapboards and scenario sheets was about 25$. Some 20 or more years later, we are still playing from those items. Yeah we bought all the other modules as new Forces were completed (Americans, Brits, Itals, French, Minor Factions, ****, Chinese blah blah blah) and the updated Rules Books (and errata as added).But that original 55$ investment has provided us over 20 years (maybe close to 30 now) of entertainment and fun.
From all I have researched and gathered, Battletech is ASL. Details rules (and i mean detailed), every faction and every war machine produced by every faction is there. The introductory set is THE way to get started unless you already have a friend or buddy playing battletech (then you use his stuff to learn before buying your own). Having a good friend or friends makes this (as any tabletop game) much more enjoyable as you learn things from others as you go, not just rules, but tactics and variant makings etc and you gain a friend in the process.
The guys I game with, for the most part, are the same guys now for all those years. Yeah there were others in our "group" and as RL happens they move along, but the core is still playing once a week (ASL). I have brought up Battletech and they are all for it.
If you want to get a taste of the TT before laying out any $ and you do NOT have a friend already playing, then download MegaMek (free) and run through it a little. You learn parts of the rules as you play and you pick up on it pretty quick. That is what has me interested in buying the tabletop version, plus the fact that I already have some friends that play face to face weekly.
Good luck, enjoy and its worth the initial investment.
EDIT: LOL the shortened version of Japanese is not allowed on these forums. Sorry, No offense intended.
For years (and I mean years) I have been a SL/ASL gamer. (Squad Leader / Advanced Squad Leader).
The original investment (and it is an investment) is actually relatively inexpensive for the hours and years of fun it will reap.When i first started playing SL (ASL not released at that time) the game was a meager 15$ with expansions running 10 to 20$.
ASL was released (it is a rulebook only) and it was 30$ !!! Shock! The 1st Module which included all the Fins. Germans and Russians (vehicles too) some mapboards and scenario sheets was about 25$. Some 20 or more years later, we are still playing from those items. Yeah we bought all the other modules as new Forces were completed (Americans, Brits, Itals, French, Minor Factions, ****, Chinese blah blah blah) and the updated Rules Books (and errata as added).But that original 55$ investment has provided us over 20 years (maybe close to 30 now) of entertainment and fun.
From all I have researched and gathered, Battletech is ASL. Details rules (and i mean detailed), every faction and every war machine produced by every faction is there. The introductory set is THE way to get started unless you already have a friend or buddy playing battletech (then you use his stuff to learn before buying your own). Having a good friend or friends makes this (as any tabletop game) much more enjoyable as you learn things from others as you go, not just rules, but tactics and variant makings etc and you gain a friend in the process.
The guys I game with, for the most part, are the same guys now for all those years. Yeah there were others in our "group" and as RL happens they move along, but the core is still playing once a week (ASL). I have brought up Battletech and they are all for it.
If you want to get a taste of the TT before laying out any $ and you do NOT have a friend already playing, then download MegaMek (free) and run through it a little. You learn parts of the rules as you play and you pick up on it pretty quick. That is what has me interested in buying the tabletop version, plus the fact that I already have some friends that play face to face weekly.
Good luck, enjoy and its worth the initial investment.
EDIT: LOL the shortened version of Japanese is not allowed on these forums. Sorry, No offense intended.
Edited by vettie, 12 August 2012 - 08:26 AM.
#13
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- The 1 Percent
- 129 posts
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- LocationSoutheast of Disorder
Posted 15 August 2012 - 12:24 PM
A quick headsup. I quickly browsed this thread before I shut down my laptop for the day. I just recently picked up the 25th annivesary set last Friday. Now in my case I was able to pick it up as one of the sites retail stores is 40 miles away, but I am not sure with shipping if this is on par with Amazon, or better/worse.
Anyway they have some in stock here for $38.99
http://www.coolstuffinc.com/p/Board%20Games/Battletech+25th+Anniversary+Introductory+Box+Set/Acc-CYTBattletech25thAnniversaryBoxSet/#Battletech 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set
Anyway they have some in stock here for $38.99
http://www.coolstuffinc.com/p/Board%20Games/Battletech+25th+Anniversary+Introductory+Box+Set/Acc-CYTBattletech25thAnniversaryBoxSet/#Battletech 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set
Edited by PieRat, 15 August 2012 - 12:25 PM.
#14
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- 45 posts
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- LocationChicago Area
Posted 15 August 2012 - 01:20 PM
Not sure how North you are and what time you have available, but Gencon is this week at the Indianapolis convention center. Battletech TT has strong roots in this convention and one of the larger ones in the country. Its roots go back to D&D but Battletech is definitely a big part. I don’t have allot of time to go this year but attending Friday. Starts tomorrow and ends Sunday.
You can buy about anything Battletech here you want. They also have seminars for beginners with experienced players who will help you learn the game. Not uncommon to find people playing all hours of the night during the convention. If you can swing it, I would suggest attending and sure you can find what you’re looking for and even some experienced players who would be willing to help you learn the game.
Here is link and info on the convention, good luck with finding the game. http://www.gencon.com/[
You can buy about anything Battletech here you want. They also have seminars for beginners with experienced players who will help you learn the game. Not uncommon to find people playing all hours of the night during the convention. If you can swing it, I would suggest attending and sure you can find what you’re looking for and even some experienced players who would be willing to help you learn the game.
Here is link and info on the convention, good luck with finding the game. http://www.gencon.com/[
Edited by Devilsjoy, 15 August 2012 - 01:22 PM.
#16
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- 54 posts
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Posted 15 August 2012 - 02:48 PM
I'm interested as well but I'm having a hard time finding some 2" iron-on hex transfer sheets to make my board. Anyone have any idea where to find'em? I've check a lot of hobby type places and came up craps.
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