BattleTech Compendium: The Rules of Warfare

Rules of Warfare.jpg
BattleTech Compendium: The Rules of Warfare
Product information
Type Rulebook
Development Bryan Nystul
Primary writing Jordan K. Weisman
L. Ross Babcock III
Sam Lewis
Pages 151
Cover Artwork Doug Anderson
Illustrations Doug Anderson
Joel Biske
Earl Geier
Mike Jackson
Jeff Laubenstein
John Paul Lona
Duane Loose
Larry MacDougall
Jim Nelson
Allen Nunis
Karl Denham
Dave McCoy
Richard Paine
Mike Nielsen
Publication information
Publisher FASA
Product code 1690/1690L/1691
First published 1994
ISBN-10 1555602479
Content
Era Clan Invasion era
Agency WolfNet
Universe Date 15 November 3056
Preceded by The BattleTech Compendium
Followed by BattleTech Master Rules
There are three versions of this book (hardcover, limited edition hardcover, and softcover); see Notes below.

Description[edit]

Superseding the original BattleTech Compendium, the BattleTech Compendium: The Rules of Warfare is the next single expanded rulebook, revising and streamlining the material from the BattleTech, 3rd Edition and CityTech, 2nd Edition box sets. More than just rulebook, as a celebration of the BattleTech game's tenth anniversary, The Rules of Warfare includes a large number of sidebars written from the perspective of Inner Sphere news snippets picked up by WolfNet, providing mood setting information about a wide range of in-universe information about the forces, factions and technology of the BattleTech universe.

From the back cover[edit]

"Life is cheap. BattleMechs are expensive." – Advertising slogan, Irian BattleMechs Ltd.

Welcome to the year 3056. The Successor States of the Inner Sphere battle each other and their deadliest enemies, the invading Clans, in endless wars that rage across the known universe. These epic conflicts are won and lost by BattleMechs, 30-foot tall, humanoid titans of metal that pack enough firepower to destroy entire cities.

BattleTech celebrates its tenth anniversary with the BattleTech Compendium: The Rules of Warfare, the ultimate guide to combat in the 31st century. All the rules needed to simulate exciting conflicts between BattleMechs, vehicles, and infantry are included, revising and streamlining material from BattleTech, 3rd Edition, CityTech, 2nd Edition and the original BattleTech Compendium. The Rules of Warfare also contains a concise history of the BattleTech universe and its movers and shakers, several new BattleMech and OmniMech designs, rules for miniatures play, and full-color illustrations.

Contents[edit]

  • "The story so far"
  • Components
    • Units
    • Record Sheets
    • Mapsheets
    • Counters
    • Dice
  • Movement
    • Movement Costs
    • Movement Modes
    • Facing
    • Dropping to the Ground
    • Road/Pavement Movement
    • Stacking
    • Standing Up
    • Torso Twist/Turret Rotation
    • Piloting Skill Rolls
  • Combat
    • Attacks
    • Physical Attacks
    • Heat
  • Buildings
    • Building Types
    • Movement Effects
    • Combat Effects
  • Vehicles
    • Movement
    • Combat
  • Infantry
    • Movement
    • Combat
    • Inner Sphere Battle Suits
  • Special Case Rules
    • Aerospace Support
    • Anti-BattleMech Infantry
    • Artillery
    • Basements
    • BattleMech Lifting Capabilities
    • Cargo Carriers
    • Clearing Woods
    • Dropping Troops
    • Dumping Ammunition
    • Ejecting
    • Fire
    • Flak
    • Four-Legged BattleMechs
    • Gun Emplacements
    • Hidden Units
    • Hostile Environments
    • Improved Positions
    • LRM Indirect Fire
    • Minefields
    • Night Combat
    • Reversing Arms
    • Scavenging and Repair
    • Underwater Operations
  • BattleTech Miniature Conversion - Color Plates
  • Equipment
  • Costs
    • BattleMech Costs
    • Infantry Costs
    • Vehicle Costs
  • Index
  • Record Sheets
  • Reference Tables
  • Color Foldout - Map of the Inner Sphere - 3057

Notes[edit]

  • Befitting this book's role celebrating the 10th anniversary of the BattleTech game, this title was released in three versions:
    • The original hardcover - Production code: 1690
    • The Limited Edition hardcover "collector's edition", featuring a foil-stamped cover. Only 1000 copies printed, each individually numbered - Production code: 1690L
    • The softcover edition - Production code: 1691
  • This book appears to be influenced by or an influence on BattleTech: The Animated Series, the first color plates includes much more photo realistic CGI models of 'Mechs and JumpShips that appeared in the cartoon, and the selection of pregenerated 'Mechs includes specific examples first seen only in the cartoon.
  • This book superseded the BattleTech Compendium, and itself was superseded by the original BattleTech Master Rules.
  • While the BattleTech Manual and the preceding Compendium were intended as all-inclusive books, this book was intended to be only a ground-based combat game, the dropping of the full AeroTech rules (LAMs included) being the major omission/change.
  • The Third Printing was dated September 1995.

Polish[edit]

A Polish edition was published by Wydawnictwo MAG in 1996 as Battletech Kompendium: Edycja Polska.

Spanish[edit]

A Spanish edition was published by Ediciones Zinco in 1995 as BattleTech compendium: Las reglas de la guerra.

Covers[edit]