Clan Thunder Ant (Fan Project)

 Hey Folks We’re playing a little bit of hooky today. As part of Thanksgiving Week, we’re goofing a bit, (we’ll have a full boat of our normal content again next week). Following up on the well received Void Krakens and Steel Crabs, we’re giving you another new Clan. Behold, the wonder of the Thunder Ants.    

As stated, this is a FAN PROJECT. This is not official CGL material, nor is it endorsed by the powers that be at Battletech, but it is something that I find interesting. It’s also a “My Dudes are cool” sort of project. Like the previous project, this is an Ilclan Era expansion of the Homeworld Clans. Let’s see how this plays out, shall we?

Clan Steel Crab (Fan Stuff Part II)

 Hey Folks We’re playing a little bit of hooky today.  As part of Thanksgiving Week, we’re goofing a bit, (we’ll have a full boat of our normal content again next week). Following up on the well received Void Krakens, we’re giving you another new Clan.  Behold, the Joy and Horror of the Steel Crabs.    

As stated, this is a FAN PROJECT.  This is not official CGL material, nor is it endorsed by the powers that be at BattleTech, but it is something that I find interesting.  It’s also a “My Dudes are cool” sort of project.  Like the previous project, this is an Ilclan Era expansion of the Homeworld Clans.  Let’s see how this plays out, shall we?

Clan Void Kraken (Fan Stuff, Battletech)

 Hey Folks, today we’re taking a bit of a break from our typical Monday Rules article because we’re gearing up for Thanksgiving here in the US.  Today I'm going to lay out a FAN PROJECT.  This is not official CGL material, nor is it endorsed by the powers that be at BattleTech, but it is something that i find interesting.  It’s also a “My Dudes are cool” sort of project.  Unlike most of those projects, i’m not looking at building my own Merc unit or House Command.  Today, we’re taking a look at a Clan.  (That’s right, friends, today we’re going to work our way through the mental exercise of building a clan). 

Let’s see what weird ass direction my brain goes on this one, shall we?   

Fiction Review: Shrapnel #1

 Hey, Folks, new feature for the blog today. We're going to cover Shrapnel #1. Shrapnel is an anthology series of short fiction and other Battletech related articles released every quarter. Now, I'm planning on covering 1 of these are month, so eventually we'll catch up. This is a spoiler free review, and rather than individual ratings of each story or article, I'll provide an overall star rating at the end.

Force Manual: Kurita

 Hey Folks, Good to see you all again, hope the midweek is treating you all well.  This is the second of our reviews of their Force Manual Series. Today, we’ve got Force Manual: Kurita, and the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery*.  If you’re coming to BattleTech from another war game, you’re familiar with your army book, or codex, or player’s guide for your faction.  

The Force Manual is the BattleTech version of that book.  Force Manuals are a replacement for an older product (The Combat Manual, of which two were produced) and bring a lot of information to the player’s hands.  Let’s dive in and see what we see, all right?

Rules Preview: Mercenaries Box Set

 Hey Folks, happy Monday and I hope KS is treating you all with the love and joy you deserve. Today, we’re taking a deeper look at the Mercenaries box set.  This time we’re going to focus on the rulebook included and a sneak peek at the rules inside.  Let’s see how much trouble we can get into, yeah?  

BattleTech Mercenaries Rulebook

Fiction Review: No One Left Behind

 Hey, Folks, just a little review to tide you over on Friday. Today we’re bouncing around and landed on No One Left Behind by Michael J. Ciaravella. This is the included novella im the Mercenaries boxed set, in case you were wondering why you hadn't heard of it.

Rift Zone: Contact

Hey Folks, surprise, bonus article this week. Today I'm sharing something interesting i found on Kickstarter that has a lot of potential for the Wargaming crowd. Today we're looking at Rift Zone: Contact by Boosted Reality. Let's dig into this and then I'll link you to the Kickstarter in progress for you to go see what you think.

Product Review: Mercenaries Box Set

 Hey Folks, we’re back with another product review. The BattleTech Mercenaries Boxed Set is fulfilling its Kickstarter commitments, and once that’s done, they’ll be in your stores sooner than you think.  Let's dig into this box and see what you can look forward to.  Focused on the Mercenary trade and its practitioners, Mercenaries adds the framework of campaign rules to BattleTech. It also features the revised Battlefield Support Rules, which both confuse and annoy me because I am old and grouchy. (I haven’t played with them yet, but they’ll get a full, honest evaluation in an article later on down the line).  

Mercenaries Kickstarter Exclusive Cover

How To Build A Crucis Lancers Company

 Hey Folks, we’re back to work on Force Construction again. This is part five of the series, but we’re starting a new project for the fans this week.  Last week we finished up Doretto’s Company of the 1st Argyle Lancers, so today we’re going to start a company of the Crucis Lancers.  Now, this will have less explanation of why i make the choices made and the process, so if you get confused at the process, feel free to check back with our earlier articles (Collated here for easy reference).  Let’s see what the Crucis Lancers have for us today?

A Beginner's Guide to Classic Battletech (Review)

 Hey Game Fans, we're back with a review of something I find very endearing. Over at itch.io, a battletech fan has created A Beginner's Guide to Classic Battletech, by Kyle Reimergartin. Even my old ass 30 some odd year veteran heart found joy in this.  

Battle of Tukayyid (Sourcebook Review

 Hey Game Fans, We’re back with a bit of a classic that we somehow missed during the Clan Invasion Kickstarter.  Today we’re going to review the updated Battle of Tukayyid Sourcebook.  Covering the monumental, era defining clash between Comstar’s Com Guards and the Invader Clans, Battle of Tukayyid covers the armies involved, updated mechs fielded by both sides, and a campaign that allows you and your friends to refight this epic conflict.  Let’s dig in and see what we can find.  

We’re also going to touch briefly on the Battle of Tukayyid Map Pack, and the Battle of Tukayyid Supplemental.  

BattleTech: Force Construction Part III (The Deets)

 Hey Folks, we’re back to work on Force Construction again. This is part IV of the process, (refer back to our original discussion here, and part I and II of this specific project here and here).  Today we’re going to finish up the record keeping and last few steps of this process.  If ’you want to follow along, go back and grab those articles, then we’ll get started.  

BattleTech Fiction Review: Riptides (Spoiler Free)

 Hey everybody, we’re back with another fiction review. We’ve got another in the Mercenary Tales collection, Riptides by Randall N. Billis. This is a novella, and a pretty good read, (I finished it in about an hour, but i’m a quick reader). It also ties into the Mercenaries Kickstarter release. This is #1 in the series, (we’ve covered #3 back here) and if math works out, we might try and grab #2 for next week.