Battletech: A Game of Armored Combat (4th Edition) [Hardcover]

Bryan Nystul (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: FASA Corporation; 4th edition (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555603092
• ISBN-13: 978-1555603090
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.8 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #333,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strategy and Tactics make you a Mech Commander, October 6, 2000

By 

"star_colonel_kevin" (Western Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battletech: A Game of Armored Combat (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

This game is a worthy FASA battletech product. In the game you recieve two maps, which are identical, 48 Battlemechs which are made from 24 designs, two rule books for beginners and advanced players, dice, game Battlemechs sheets, 144 miniture insignia stickers for the battlemechs and a mail order form.

I found the game very enjoyable. The beginner rules are easy to learn and you can really use strategies to disable opponents. A lot of Role Playing board games I've seen are basically just roll the dice chance games.

With this boardgame the players can really use tactics and strategies to defeat opponents. The terrain types with their advantages and disadvantages really add a sense of leadership with deciding which areas to engage enemy companies from.

The beginner rules give you the basics and are detailed enough to keep players happy until they master these rules. Next you can move onto the more advanced rules. The advanced rules make the game absolutely brilliant. There are so many variables to effect the game with strategy, it's incredible.

However the battlemechs you recieve in the game are only stand up cards. However they are beautifully drawn and colourful. I have purchased 14 miniture plastic Battlemechs to help spice the game up. Doing this can really improve the games realism.

The more players you have the merrier. I have only played with a maximum of three, and it was brilliant. However making teams and having alliances also spice the game up.

There are a few scenarios included to help the role playing in the game. The game allows you to custom battlemechs, which gives you the ability to select weapons, armour, MPs etc. This also helps improve the game because players can create their own 'mech and test their skill against other players.

Another little set back I found was the record sheets for the Battlemechs. The idea is to use a pencil and use the sheets, then erase the pencil marks to preserve the limited sheets. However you can only do that so many times until the sheets are warn out. I scanned the sheets and printed out copies of each one.

The game is solid and enjoyable. It also really helps you learn about the Inner Sphere and Battletech. The game is fun and can be played with just he one set. The games can go for hours and never get boring. The strategy and tactics used in the game really make it a worthy title, where you have advanced knowledge on battletech or are a new player, the game is for everyone. I recommend this title!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Game System, November 27, 1999

By 

Greg Morris - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battletech: A Game of Armored Combat (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

I began playing Battletech when the 2nd edition rules were the newest around, and have stayed with it ever since. It is a well thought out, easy to learn game system that is still entertaining due to the infinite setups that are possible. The newest boxed set fixes the one problem I had with the earlier boxed set, the cardboard figures,as the current set comes with plastic miniatures. Metal ones can be purchased for almost every FASA designed 'mech through gaming stores. I have played dozens of different wargame systems, and always come back to Battletech.

-Greg Morris-

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A cool game to start if ou've got time., May 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Battletech: A Game of Armored Combat (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

This is the basic starter set. If you're only interested in the gameplay, this is as far as you have to go. It has all the basic items you need: 2 maps, little cardboard figures, a basic rulebook, dice, an introduction to the BT universe, and a catalog of stuff you might like.

The main problem is the figures. They are just cardboard and can be knocked over easily. Also there are only level 1 basic mechs to use. The master rules will cover everything from creation to rules to history.

If you're interested in the universe and more advanced gaming, (which you probably will be) you need to buy record sheets or a technical readout, figures and probably the master rules. Citytech has some of these.

The game is cool. You get to play as a mech, a 12 meter tall robot with lasers, autocannons (big guns), particle projection cannons, missiles, and finally physical weapons. It works the best with 2-4 players. If you go with more than that, the game gets into 2+ hours. I've played games that take 6 hours.

After this, I reccomend first buying the 3058 of 3060 record sheets, then the master rules and then a 3058 or 3060 technical readout.

If you've got some time (and some money), an interest of the future, and a good imagination, the game can become a second world.