OBT Forum

First Welcome to ourbattletech!

War of Reaving jumps out as a must buy especially if you want to know just how messed up the Clans have gotten

The most recent Field Manual covers all the military forces and introduces the Republic as a nation

There are about 5 Jihad source books after a slow start with Hot Spots 3072 it continued from strength to strength IMO

Historical Liberation of Terra Part 1 is an awesome read part two on the way shortly.  Operation Klondlike plots the first steps of the Clans.

(in other words yes theres lots of new stuff)

There isn't really an Aero version of HMA like there is Solaris Skunk Werks for Mechs and vehicles which is a shame, I like WarShips.

Hey everyone,

I have been playing battletech since 1986, but have not been buying anything since HS 3072. Is there any must buys among Catalyst’s recent releases? I have a little money to burn but have been out of the loop for a few years. I have just ordered Handbook MPS, Handbook Liao, TRO 3075, and FM 3085. I am a fan of the older Historicals (Brush Wars and 3039). Are the new historicals worth the money? Do they have sourcebook that covers the Jihad like the FCCW handbook? Thanks in advance.

Oh and do they have a computer program that will convert aerotech units to BF2 recordsheets? I was thinking about buying HM Aero but wanted to check to see if there is a cheaper option.

Welcome back.  So, just looking to brush up?  Like the Historicals, eh?  Curious about the Clans?

Must-haves are rare, but if it was up to me, for you I'd suggest the Fed-Com Civil War book (Best overview of the Civil War Era), Blake Ascending (An omnibus reprint of the Dawn of the Jihad and Jihad Hot Spots: 3070 sourcebooks.  You should think carefully about this one, the Jihad storyline is presented as media coverage and personally I hate the style), and the Wars of Reaving sourcebook.  If you want a fourth, I'd say Jihad: Final Reckoning, for the new tech particularly.

Of all the products in the last 3-4 years, WoR gets my firm vote for best product.  Ben Rome wrote it; his blog carried sample entries and art (look in its Archives for WoR entries) that may help you decide if you want it.  The book sets up the whole Clan plotline for the Dark Age, so if the DA is your interest, this is definately the book to buy.  His blog is at;

http://benhrome.wordpress.com/

if you want to dig back a little further into Catalysts products, I was a huge fan of Starterbook Sword and Dragon and Wolf and Blake.  it is the pity the line did not perform well enough to expand beyond those two.

It might.

I am not interested as much in the clans, so I have avoided the War of Reaving. Jihad: FR sounds interesting. I have heard the Star League stuff is poorly written, is that true??

I am not interested as much in the clans, so I have avoided the War of Reaving. Jihad: FR sounds interesting. I have heard the Star League stuff is poorly written, is that true??

the only Star Leauge era book I would argue was sub standard was Field Manual SLDF, and that was not because it was poorly written, but that the subject of the SLDF's makeup and readiness is DULL.  once they see action in both the Liberation of Terra and Reunifacation war, they become fascinating!

Gotta agree with BlackNova on that, Wars of Reaving & its supplemental are both great books by Ben and the first Catalyst have been able to write without having to tie into anything else which is giving me hope for the post 3145/3250 jump.

Free Taiw...St. Ives is the greatest BT product of the last few years, and very likely of forever and ever.

Masters and Minions was one sexy book. I hope in the not-too-distant future all of the softbound books are as nice.