BattleTroops (Rulebook)

BattleTroops.jpg
BattleTroops
Product information
Type Rulebook
Development Sam Lewis
Jordan Weisman
L. Ross Babcock III
Primary writing Sam Lewis
Pages 44
Cover Artwork Tom Miller
Illustrations Joel Biske
Publication information
Publisher FASA
Product code 1637
First published 1989
Content


Description[edit]

The BattleTroops Rulebook contains the guidelines that allow players to conduct infantry-based small unit actions in the BattleTech Universe of the pre–Clan Invasion era in the Inner Sphere. Focusing on small unit actions, the system bridges the gap between the MechWarrior/RPG 1st or 2nd edition and the BattleMech-based Classic BattleTech, it uses an original set of rules and deals with several situations allowing a good range of versatility.

The rules are divided in three broad stages, basic combat (only standard weapons and grenades) that allow battles between squads in different types of terrain and inside buildings. Optional rules that allow to incorporate special equipment such as area effect weapons (LAWs, SRM, Recoilless Riles), combat armor (not battle armor), support weapons and the way the troops interact with them (it is perfectly possible to take your opponent's heavy weapons and use them against him) and finally and most interesting, the inclusion of vehicles and BattleMechs and their interaction with troops. from mounting/dismounting a vehicle, to infernos, to climbing a BattleMech and placing a satchel charge on the cockpit. A small brief on Inner Sphere platoon compositions round the contents.

The book is focused on events during the Fourth Succession War presenting four scenarios set during this era.

A sourcebook, ClanTroops, introduces new rules and their respective control counters and permits the use of battle armor, rafts, anti-BattleMech operations, artillery, clan weapon profiles update, errata and miniatures rules conversion (i.e. playing without a map). The scenarios depicted in ClanTroops describe events during the Clan Invasion up to the Battle of Tukayyid.

Contents[edit]

  • BATTLETROOPS
    • Components
    • Counters
      • Stand-Up Figures
      • Firing Arcs
      • Hand Grenades
      • HE Impact
      • Breach
      • Rubble and Splinters
      • Flamers
      • 'Mech Weapons
      • Floor
      • Prone
      • Vehicle Template
      • 'Mech Template
      • Fallen 'Mech Template
    • Mapsheets
      • Position spots
      • Buildings
      • Undergrowth
      • Trees
      • Contour Lines
    • Record Sheets
    • Dice
  • PREPARATION FOR PLAY
    • Mapsheet Layout
    • Filling Out the Record Sheet
  • SEQUENCE OF PLAY
    • Initiative Phase
    • Movement Phase
    • End Phase
  • MOVEMENT
    • Movement Points
    • Movement Costs
    • Stairways
    • Placement of Firing Arcs
    • Going Prone
    • Standing Up
    • Prepare Weapon/Grenade
    • Throw Grenade
    • Stacking
  • COMBAT
    • Firing Arc
    • Line-of-Sight
      • Terrain Elevation Death Zone
    • Ranged Combat
      • Base To-Hit Number
      • To-Hit Modifiers
    • Hand-to-Hand Combat
    • Resolve Attack
    • Damage
    • Damage Effects
  • SPECIAL WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
    • Hand Grenades
      • Grenade Damage
    • Armor
  • OPTIONAL RULES
    • Weapons
      • Exchanging Weapons/Ammo
      • Area-Effect Weapons
      • Support Weapons
    • Jump Troops
    • Leadership
      • Experience Level
      • Morale
      • Leaders
    • MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game Integration
      • Weapon Conversion
    • BattleTech/CityTech Integration
      • Filling Out the 'Mech Record Sheet
      • Movement
      • Combat
      • Heat
      • Consciousness Rolls
      • Anti-'Mech Fire
    • Mines
    • Fire
    • Buildings
    • Vehicles
      • Movement
      • Combat
      • Riding Vehicles
      • Open Hatch
      • Crew Abandonment
    • Hidden Units
    • Vehicle vs. Vehicle or 'Mech Combat
      • Movement
      • Fire Combat
      • Physical Combat
  • PLATOON ORGANIZATION
  • SCENARIOS
    • Side Show
    • Dragon Hunting
    • Race Against Time

Notes[edit]

  • The game is scaled for 25 mm figures and supports miniatures as well as cardboard cutouts
  • Vehicle and 'Mech models that are scaled for 25 mm are useable on the maps but the rules as written reference only the provided cardboard 'Mech and vehicle templates
  • A turn of movement represents 5 seconds of real time.
  • Combat is not simultaneous like in the 'Mech board games, instead being instantaneously applied and affecting the future actions of a trooper after that instant within the same turn.
  • Standard Platoons are made of 28 soldiers comprising of 4 Squads of 7 soldiers each.
  • Side Show (scenario): This mission has a squad of 8 troops from House Liao and 8 troops from House Davion squaring off in an urban area starting at opposing edges of the map. The goal is to get one to three troops to the opposing edge and then retreat back to the starting edge. Body count does not affect victory conditions.