Life Support (magazine)
Sarna News
 | Apocryphal Product Although the subject of this article is an official BattleTech product, it does not meet the current criteria for Canon. Its content may or may not be canonical for the BattleTech universe, and for the purpose of the Sarna.net BattleTechWiki is considered apocryphal. |
| Life Support | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Magazine |
| Development | Chief editor: Detlef Howe (Issues 1-2, 4) Hans Schönberg (Issues 3, 5-8) Beat Volkert (Issue 8, with Hans Schönberg) |
| Primary writing | Various contributors |
| Pages | varies |
| Cover Artwork | Various artists |
| Illustrations | Various artists |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | MechForce Germany |
| First published | 1993-1995 |
| MSRP | 7,50 DM (Issues 1-6) 8,50 DM (Issues 7-8) |
| Content | |
Life Support was the BattleTech magazine published by the first incarnation of the MechForce Germany (MFG). It contained internal MFG news and ranking lists as well as rules, essays, fiction, scenarios, 'Mech designs and record sheets, and similar information. Some content, like the FLC-4N Falcon writeup, the short story Down & Out in Temp Town or the article about BattleTech tactics were translations of earlier English-language publications (from BattleTechnology, the 1993 Update Flyer, and Stardrive Vol. 1, respectively).
The magazine was issued to MFG members, but was also available for sale independent of MFG membership. A total of 8 issues was published before the first MFG folded.
Issue 1
The first issue, markedly short at only 24 pages, served mainly to introduce the MFG and its structure and ranking system. Notable content includes:
- an essay/fiction with critical remarks about new tech and how it changed the game
- an essay decrying rampant munchkinism in BattleTech roleplaying
- a BV listing;
- scenario "Rettet den Botschafter" ("Save the ambassador")
- a report about the European Gen Con 92 where several MFG founding members including Detlef Howe and Dirk Scharfenstein had met with Bob Nicholls of the MFUK and Tom Dowd from FASA and signed a license agreement on 15 November 1992 that would be a headstone for the MFG.
Issue 2
Published with some delay, this 40-page issue concerns itself mainly with internal organisational news, the introduction of "House Officers" to aid internal administration, and rules pertaining to the personal 'Mech all members had assigned upon joining. Other topics include the start of a Solaris VII league, the Chicago BattleTech Center, and several short stories.
Issue 3
40 pages. Contained a loose sheet that explained certain chapter rules published within this issue to be outdated, and updated them. Other content includes:
- scenario "'...schon wieder eine langweilige Streife..." ("...another boring patrol")
- 'Garde Romano Liao', Romano Liao's personal 'Mech battalion plus elite infantry
- history/timeline of the fall of the Star League, part I
- Keine Chance! (short story, part 1)
Issue 4
48 pages. Notable content includes:
- history/timeline of the fall of the Star League, part II
- detailed ISF article
- LMN-1PT5 Linesman BattleMech writeup & record sheet
- Keine Chance! (part 2)
- BattleMech development history/timeline (part 1)
- FLC-4N Falcon BattleMech writeup & record sheet
Issue 5
This 76-page issue was made Clan-centric. Notable content includes:
- essay about the Clan perspective
- (brief) history and description of Clan culture
- Keine Chance! (part 3)
- article about the Battle of Tukayyid
- detailed LIC article
- Ares Conventions article
- BattleMech development history/timeline (part 2)
- history/timeline of the fall of the Star League, part III
Issue 6
Following an announcement in the previous issue, this 76-page issue was also issued for the newly formed MechForce Switzerland. Notable content includes:
- detailed DMI article
- Keine Chance! (part 4)
- Dual Cockpit rules
- writeup for the modified black Griffins guarding the throne of the Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth
- ECM 3025 rules
- BattleMech development history/timeline (part 2)
- history/timeline of the fall of the Star League, part V {sic}
- record sheets for various 'Mechs with Dual Cockpit refits:
- RVN-1XL DC Raven
- HCT-3FDC Hatchetman
- GRF-1STDC Griffin
- DRG-1GKDC Grand Dragon
- ON1-VDC Orion
- BLR-1GDC BattleMaster
- ZEU-6SDC Zeus
- IMP-2E WDC Imp
- HGN-732 CDC Highlander
Issue 7
72 pages. This issue is somewhat Solaris VII-focused, including Solaris Mech Federation (SMF) house-rules and Solaris VII fiction. Notable content includes:
- Clan terminology overview
- a rundown of Clan names (totem animals) and their origin and meaning
- Duelling rules consisting of a combination of the Solaris VII 'Mech Duel Rules and optional rules from the Tactical Handbook
- They call me Toad (short story, part 1)
- KRZ-1G Templar BattleMech writeup & record sheet (Crusader variant; "KRZ" is the German designation for the Crusader, "Kreuzritter" in German)
- SL-21 G Sholagar Aerospace Fighter writeup & record sheet
Issue 8
72 pages. Notable content includes:
- detailed description of the interior of a BattleMech cockpit
- BattleTech tactics essay
- They call me Toad (part 2)
- HCT-3F Hatchetman BattleMech writeup & record sheet (a suggested rework of the published design to account for Hatchet rules)
- RFL-3N Rifleman BattleMech writeup & record sheet (reworked; lower arm actuators removed "to end the discussion about flipping arms.")
- Sidewinder OmniMech writeup & record sheet
Canonicity
As a German-only product, the Life Support magazine does not fall under the current definition of Canon for the BattleTech universe.
The MechForce Germany organisation was officially sanctioned by FASA, therefore Life Support can be regarded as an official (apocryphal) BattleTech publication. However, its content was not checked for continuity whatsoever by FASA.