BattleTech Introductory Boxset

In Review

Battletech, the game of Armoured Combat.

Or, more accurately, the Hex-based tabletop wargame about giant robots blowing eachother to smouldering heaps of metal, all wrapped up in a rich and ever expanding setting of SPACE-FEUDALISM.

I've been meaning to grab a boxset of some description for a few years now, having been a big fan of both the Mechwarrior vidyagaems and tabletop wargaming, my only problem was finding someone to play with.    Recently that ended & here we are, taking a look at the current Introductory Boxset.

My piss-poor Camera skills at work, I totally meant to get the ominous shadows, totally..

The game comes in a sturdy well made cardboard box with an astounding amount of content for the price. (between £45-55 online).

Contents:
24 single part Battlemech miniatures (aparently newly cast unlike the sloppy models in previous boxsets).
2 "Premium" multipart plastic mechs (they're not so premium, but still nice).
A very large map of the Inner Sphere.
'Inner Sphere at a Glance' - 56 page book of lore, all you need to get to grips with the full universe of Battletech.
'Quickstart Rules' - 12 page rulebook, easy to learn in a very short amount of time.
'Painting and Tactics Guide' - 16 pages of Ronseal.
'Introductory Rulebook' - 80 pages with all the fun rules like Heat!
36 page booklet of Battlemech Record Sheets for the enclosed Mech minis.
2 doublesided cardboard reference tables. 
Two double-sided thick gameboards measuring 18inches by 22inches.
and finally, 2 dice.

Pile O' Goodies.

A selection of minis, all require minor mold-line removal and clean up, but for the price they're some of the cheapest miniatures available, and yet still very high quality.

The two 'Premium' multipart miniatures included in this boxset; the Timberwolf/MadCat, and the Battlemaster.  the Battlemaster stands up well against the one-part minis, whereas the Timberwolf will require heating in hot water to bend those thin and ever-so-slightly rubbering arms into shape.   

Timberwolf/MadCat looking slightly disapointed with itself.

Cicada and the Jagermech, notice the bent arm on the Jagermech (Right).  again this can be fixed with hot water, the problem comes from the quality of the plastic used.  Can't really be helped without driving the price way up.

THICK - these gameboards (referred to as 'mapsheets') are about as thick, possibly slightly thicker, than your average Monopoly gameboard.   and you get two!

This thing is maybe around 'A2' in size, and demands to be framed.

Quick-star rules, easily read over a lunch break at work.

Very handy for those new to the Hobby.

I won't show the insides for reasons, but its a lot of words and diagrams.

Reverse side of the Rulebook.

Record sheets and Tables.  high quality paper on those record sheets.  use pencil lightly or be posh and laminate those things. 

LOREtastic

To Conclude..

I am very pleased with my purchase and would recommend this game to anybody who enjoys Mechs and smashing Mechs with other Mechs.     
Battletech has a tendency, I think, to be rather intimidating to a new player.  it's lore is vast spanning over 25 years, its ruleset very detailed and complex, however I feel this Boxset lives up to the title of 'Introductory', as it gives the new player a great way of entering both the gameplay and the fiction without bogging you down in masses of tables to remember (that comes later...)

Available at:
http://www.waylandgames.co.uk/

OUTTAKES

Mollie, the 24-toed cat looms.

The Battletechs are comfortable too.

-Stimpy