Field Manual: Periphery

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Field Manual: Periphery
Product information
Type Sourcebook
Development Christoffer Trossen
Primary writing Randall N. Bills,
Loren L. Coleman,
Dan Grendell,
Chris Hartford,
Camille Klein,
Brant Sponberg,
Christoffer Trossen
Pages 184
Cover Artwork Doug Chaffee
Illustrations Steve Prescott,
Marc Sasso,
Franz Vohwinkel,
Christina Wald
Publication information
Publisher FASA (2000);
FanPro (2003)
Product code 1726 (FASA);
10982 (FanPro)
First published 2000
ISBN-10 1555604358
MSRP $22.00 (FASA);
$24.99 (FanPro)
Content
Era Clan Invasion era;
Civil War era
Agency Word of Blake
Universe Date 01 January 3064
Series Field Manuals
Preceded by Field Manual: Lyran Alliance
Followed by Field Manual: Updates

Description[edit]

The tenth in the Field Manual series, Field Manual: Periphery details the military units of various Periphery nations as of 3064, and updates the history of those nations and their armed forces to the same year. (The Periphery, 2nd Edition, published in 1996, had previously been the last volume to cover these.)

This was apparently the last book that FASA produced for BattleTech, right before closing their doors and licensing the BattleTech rights to WizKids and FanPro. The imprint indicates the book is from 2000, but listings suggest it was actually only released in 2001.[citation needed] FanPro reprinted the book in 2003 with a slightly altered cover, and with a new production code (FanPro #10982) and ISBN (3-89064-982-3); the FanPro edition is described as a "corrected 2nd printing" in the imprint.

Field Manual: Periphery introduced rules for the Rocket Launcher, a single-shot weapon, in 10-, 15-, and 20-point varieties. It also saw the debut of the Anubis BattleMech, as well as old 'Mechs modified to use the Rocket Launchers. As with previous Field Manuals, new Periphery-specific life paths and affiliations were provided for character creation in MechWarrior RPG games.

According to its preface, the book is an in-universe report by Precentor Martial Cameron St. Jamais to the Word of Blake's shadowy "Master," dated 01 January 3064.

From the back cover[edit]

Beyond the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere lies the untamed Periphery. Filled with young souls seeking adventure and freedom, the Periphery is a watershed for every stripe of humanity. This diversity has spawned powerful Inner Sphere-like political coalitions, roving pirates, one-world lesser powers and bandit kingdoms striving for legitimacy. Wild, uncivilized and deadly, the Periphery is a turbulent frontier where any warrior who dares can be king.

BattleTech Field Manual: Periphery describes the various factions that make up the Periphery: Magistracy of Canopus, Taurian Concordat, Marian Hegemony, Outworlds Alliance, Circinus Federation, the Lesser Periphery States, Bandit Kingdoms and the Deep Periphery. This sourcebook describes the history, military doctrine, traditions and tactics of each Periphery faction, plus special rules that reflect the exclusive capabilities of each Periphery regiment, as well as new weapons and 'Mechs unique to the Periphery.

Contents[edit]

  • Hardest of Times (short story)
  • Introduction
  • Outside Looking In
  • Military Disorganization
  • Command
  • Combat Forces
  • Training
Raventhir's Iron Hand: Undying Service
First Canopian Cuirassiers: Defenders of Canopus
Second Canopian Cuirassiers: United in Freedom
First Canopian Light Horse: Defiance at all Cost
Second Canopian Light Horse: Centrella Honor
Third Canopian Light Horse: Defiant to the End
First Canopian Fusiliers: Defenders of the Realm
Second Canopian Fusiliers: League Killers
Third Canopian Fusiliers: Pirate Hunters
Magistracy Cavaliers: Thraxa's Own 39
First Magistracy Highlanders: Long's Light Lancers
Second Magistracy Highlanders: Nellie's Naughties
First Raventhir Cuirassiers: A New Order
Second Raventhir Cuirassiers: Warrior Diplomats
First Canopian Brigade: Farmers of the Outback
Colonial Marshals: Lone Stars
  • Awards and Decorations
  • Academies
  • Personalities
  • Units
The Final Frontier
  • Taurian Defense Force
  • Organizational Doctrine
  • Uniforms, Insignia & Decorations
  • The Taurian Military Academy
  • Personalities
  • Units
Taurian Guard: Hell's Heart Regiment
Concordat Commandos: By the Homs
Concordat Jaegers: Strength Through Adversity
Red Chasseurs: Bright Flame Regiment
Hyades Light Infantry: Taurian Nomads
Pleiades Hussars: The Challenge of Brinkmanship
First Taurian Lancers: Battlefield Brethren
Pleiades Lancers: On the Warpath
Second Taurian Lancers: Starbright Regiment
Third Taurian Lancers: Growing Pains
First Taurian Pride: The New Colony Lancers
Second Taurian Pride: Walking Softly
  • Nova Roma
  • Legiones Marianes
I Legio Martia Victrix: The Praetorian Guard
II Legio Cataphracti: The Caesar's Own
III Legio Limitanei: Sentinels of the Reaches
IV Legio Comitatensis: Imperial Legionnaires
V Legio Ripariensis: Wheel of Fire
VI Legio Ripariensis: The Caesar's Cavalry
Cohors Morituri: Cohort of the Dead
  • Uniforms and Insignias
  • Ars Militaria
  • Personalities
  • Units
  • Outworlds Alliance
  • Historical Overview
  • Organization
  • AMC Rank System
  • Uniforms
  • Awards
  • Academies
  • Personalities
  • Units
First Alliance Air Wing: The Flying Nightmares
Second Alliance Air Wing: The Thunderbirds
Third Alliance Air Wing: Dark Rain
Fourth Alliance Air Wing: The Diamondbacks
Fifth Alliance Air Wing: The Joyless Rogers
Black Warriors: Covert Bandits
McIntyre House Guard: Balance of Power
  • Personalities
  • Units
The Brotherhood of Randis
Fiefdom Military Forces
Larsen's Loners
Nelson's Longbows
Niops Association Militia
Able's Aces
  • Militaries of the Lesser States
  • Pirate Units
Lady Death: Haven's Dame
Vance Rezak: Band of the Damned
Morrison's Extractors: New King on the Block
New Belt Pirates: Harassing the Clans
Tortuga Fusiliers: Pride of the Dominions
Shen-sè Tian: The Dark Days Band
Hanseatic Security Force Units
Umayyad Units
Castilian Units
  • Rules
  • MechWarrior Rules
  • Rank Trait
  • Additional Affiliations
  • Additional Life Paths
  • New Equipment

Notes[edit]

  • The original book was mistakenly given the same ISBN as a previous BattleTech publication, MechWarrior's Guide to the Clans, making it near impossible to order as booksellers would rely on the ISBN to identify the book in question, and not the title (and thus deliver MechWarrior's Guide to the Clans instead). The FanPro edition had a different ISBN.
  • Although neither Jeren Reinesblatt nor his mercenaries-turned-pirate unit, the Blades of Death, were mentioned within the book, the cover depicts an obviously modified Banshee wielding what appears to be a 'Mech hatchet that matches the description of the customized Banshee piloted by Reinesblatt, a notable Banshee pilot as of ca. 3039 according to Technical Readout: 3039.

Gallery[edit]