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{{seealso|BattleTech (board game)|BattleTech Universe}}
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{{seealso|BattleTech (board game)|BattleTech rulebooks|BattleTech Universe}}
 
The '''''BattleTech boxed set''''' is the core product of the [[BattleTech board game]] that spawned the [[BattleTech universe]]. It has gone through numerous editions and revisions, and remains the entry product to guide new players into the boardgaming aspect of [[BattleTech]].
 
The '''''BattleTech boxed set''''' is the core product of the [[BattleTech board game]] that spawned the [[BattleTech universe]]. It has gone through numerous editions and revisions, and remains the entry product to guide new players into the boardgaming aspect of [[BattleTech]].
  
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BattleTech, 2nd Edition, came with a rulebook (with a proper cover) with gaming and 'Mech construction rules. These were based off the Advanced Battledroids Rules, and form the core of the BattleTech boardgame rules to this day with minimal changes. The vehicle and infantry rules from Battledroids were dropped, but the construction rules were kept with some adjustments.
 
BattleTech, 2nd Edition, came with a rulebook (with a proper cover) with gaming and 'Mech construction rules. These were based off the Advanced Battledroids Rules, and form the core of the BattleTech boardgame rules to this day with minimal changes. The vehicle and infantry rules from Battledroids were dropped, but the construction rules were kept with some adjustments.
  
Expanded background information for the setting, namely the [[Inner Sphere]] during the [[Succession Wars era]] around the year [[3025]], was found throughout the rulebook, mostly through sidebars. Crests for the five [[Great Houses]] plus three [[Bandit Kingdoms]] and five [[mercenary unit]]s made their first appearance, including colored faction counters to go with the 'Mech cutout playing pieces. Notably, there were no scenarios included in the rulebook.
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Expanded background information for the setting, namely the [[Inner Sphere]] during the [[Succession Wars era]] around the year [[3025]], was found throughout the rulebook, mostly through sidebars, including the first mention of [[ComStar]]. Crests for the five [[Great Houses]] plus three [[Bandit Kingdoms]] and five [[mercenary unit]]s made their first appearance, including colored faction counters to go with the 'Mech cutout playing pieces. Notably, there were no scenarios included in the rulebook.
  
 
The game stats for all but three Battledroids–now called BattleMechs–were changed to some degree to account for errors or changes in the construction rules (and one had its alphanumerical code altered), and four additional designs were introduced: ''[[Locust]]'', ''[[Wolverine]]'', ''[[Thunderbolt]]'', and ''[[BattleMaster]]''. All of these, too, would later become Unseen. A fifth new addition was the ''[[Chameleon]]'' TrainingMech. (In addition, the blank [[record sheet]] in the rulebook featured the outline of a BattleMech that did not match any of the other 'Mechs and was retroactively identified as a 'Mech called the ''[[Viper (BattleMech)|Viper]]'' 38 years later in 2023.)
 
The game stats for all but three Battledroids–now called BattleMechs–were changed to some degree to account for errors or changes in the construction rules (and one had its alphanumerical code altered), and four additional designs were introduced: ''[[Locust]]'', ''[[Wolverine]]'', ''[[Thunderbolt]]'', and ''[[BattleMaster]]''. All of these, too, would later become Unseen. A fifth new addition was the ''[[Chameleon]]'' TrainingMech. (In addition, the blank [[record sheet]] in the rulebook featured the outline of a BattleMech that did not match any of the other 'Mechs and was retroactively identified as a 'Mech called the ''[[Viper (BattleMech)|Viper]]'' 38 years later in 2023.)
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==1994: CityTech, 2nd Edition (FASA 1608)==
 
==1994: CityTech, 2nd Edition (FASA 1608)==
 
{{main|CityTech, Second Edition}}
 
{{main|CityTech, Second Edition}}
[[Image:CityTech, 2nd Edition.jpg|right|210px]]In the same fashion as the new (third) edition of the BattleTech boxed set, CityTech received a makeover for its second edition while retaining the product number. FASA went a bit further here, calling the game "The Advanced BattleTech Game of 3050 Combat" in the tagline and explicitly expanding the rules to "[[Rules Level 2|Level 2]]" ([[Clan Invasion era]]) technology. The set came with a record sheets booklet, sixteen plastic miniatures on two identical sprues of eight units each (''[[Javelin]]'', ''[[Centurion (BattleMech)|Centurion]]'', ''[[Orion]]'', ''[[Victor]]'', ''[[Uller]]'', ''[[Nova (Black Hawk)|Black Hawk]]'', ''[[Mad Cat]]'', ''[[Daishi]]''), and two double-sided sheets of color counters with black-and-white backside for buildings, vehicles, infantry, and effects. The mapsheets remained the same as in the first edition of CityTech. Like in the first CityTech edition, no scenarios were included.
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[[Image:CityTech, 2nd Edition.jpg|right|210px]]In the same fashion as the new (third) edition of the BattleTech boxed set, CityTech received a makeover for its second edition while retaining the product number. FASA went a bit further here, calling the game "The Advanced BattleTech Game of 3050 Combat" in the tagline and explicitly expanding the rules to "[[Level 2]]" ([[Clan Invasion era]]) technology. The set came with a record sheets booklet, sixteen plastic miniatures on two identical sprues of eight units each (''[[Javelin]]'', ''[[Centurion (BattleMech)|Centurion]]'', ''[[Orion]]'', ''[[Victor]]'', ''[[Uller]]'', ''[[Nova (Black Hawk)|Black Hawk]]'', ''[[Mad Cat]]'', ''[[Daishi]]''), and two double-sided sheets of color counters with black-and-white backside for buildings, vehicles, infantry, and effects. The mapsheets remained the same as in the first edition of CityTech. Like in the first CityTech edition, no scenarios were included.
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Image:CityTech2ed.jpg|CityTech, 2nd Ed. boxed set contents
 
Image:CityTech2ed.jpg|CityTech, 2nd Ed. boxed set contents
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Image:CT2Minis.jpg|CityTech, 2nd Ed. miniatures
 
Image:CT2Minis.jpg|CityTech, 2nd Ed. miniatures
 
</gallery><div style="clear:both"></div>
 
</gallery><div style="clear:both"></div>
 
 
==1996: BattleTech, 4th Edition (FASA 1604)==
 
==1996: BattleTech, 4th Edition (FASA 1604)==
 
{{main|BattleTech, Fourth Edition}}
 
{{main|BattleTech, Fourth Edition}}
[[Image:4thEditionFront.jpg|left|210px]]In the wake of the [[Unseen lawsuits]] FASA redesigned the basic BattleTech boxed set for a new edition in 1996, with a new lineup of 24 classic 'Mechs that were not Unseen: ''[[Commando]]'', ''[[Spider]]'', ''[[Jenner]]'', ''[[Panther]]'', ''[[Assassin]]'', ''[[Cicada]]'', ''[[Clint]]'', ''[[Hermes II]]'', ''[[Whitworth]]'', ''[[Vindicator]]'', ''[[Enforcer]]'', ''[[Hunchback]]'', ''[[Trebuchet]]'', ''[[Dervish]]'', ''[[Dragon]]'', ''[[Quickdraw]]'', ''[[Catapult]]'', ''[[JagerMech]]'', ''[[Grasshopper]]'', ''[[Awesome]]'', ''[[Zeus]]'', ''[[Cyclops]]'', ''[[Banshee (BattleMech)|Banshee]]'', and ''[[Atlas (BattleMech)|Atlas]]''. This lineup would be used for all subsequent editions of the boxed set until 2019 when "A Game of Armored Combat" came with a new selection of 'Mechs. Because no plastic miniatures were readily available, FASA reverted to cardboard cutouts for this edition.
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[[Image:4thEditionFront.jpg|left|210px]]In the wake of the [[Unseen lawsuit]]s FASA redesigned the basic BattleTech boxed set for a new edition in 1996, with a new lineup of 24 classic 'Mechs that were not Unseen: ''[[Commando]]'', ''[[Spider]]'', ''[[Jenner]]'', ''[[Panther]]'', ''[[Assassin]]'', ''[[Cicada]]'', ''[[Clint]]'', ''[[Hermes II]]'', ''[[Whitworth]]'', ''[[Vindicator]]'', ''[[Enforcer]]'', ''[[Hunchback]]'', ''[[Trebuchet]]'', ''[[Dervish]]'', ''[[Dragon]]'', ''[[Quickdraw]]'', ''[[Catapult]]'', ''[[JagerMech]]'', ''[[Grasshopper]]'', ''[[Awesome]]'', ''[[Zeus]]'', ''[[Cyclops]]'', ''[[Banshee (BattleMech)|Banshee]]'', and ''[[Atlas (BattleMech)|Atlas]]''. This lineup would be used for all subsequent editions of the boxed set until 2019 when "A Game of Armored Combat" came with a new selection of 'Mechs. Because no plastic miniatures were readily available, FASA reverted to cardboard cutouts for this edition.
  
The fourth edition redesigned the rulebook again. Calling itself 'BT4', it states that the "current" year of the BattleTech universe is [[3058]], while BT4 is set in 3049. It also makes reference to the [[Rules Level]]s previously seen in CityTech, Second Edition, and states that the technology described in the BT4 game is Level 1, whereas Level 2 includes the technology available in 3058. Three of the previous edition's four scenarios ("Final Exam", "Trial by Fire", and "Divide and Conquer") were included in the rulebook, with small changes; most importantly, the original (now Unseen) 'Mechs in these scenarios were exchanged for different 'Mechs from BT4's new lineup.
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The fourth edition redesigned the rulebook again. Calling itself 'BT4', it states that the "current" year of the BattleTech universe is [[3058]], while BT4 is set in 3049. It also makes reference to the [[Rules Levels]] previously seen in CityTech, Second Edition, and states that the technology described in the BT4 game is Level 1, whereas Level 2 includes the technology available in 3058. Three of the previous edition's four scenarios ("Final Exam", "Trial by Fire", and "Divide and Conquer") were included in the rulebook, with small changes; most importantly, the original (now Unseen) 'Mechs in these scenarios were exchanged for different 'Mechs from BT4's new lineup.
  
 
The box included a separate second booklet, ''[[Introduction to BattleTech]]'', which contained simplified Quick Start Rules and a dedicated sourcebook-style description of the BattleTech universe background and its history up until [[3049]], including the role of BattleMechs therein and a [[Technical Readout]]-style section briefly covering the 'Mechs contained in the boxed set. The fourth scenario from the previous edition ("First Run") was used to showcase the quick start rules, and was moved to the second booklet accordingly.
 
The box included a separate second booklet, ''[[Introduction to BattleTech]]'', which contained simplified Quick Start Rules and a dedicated sourcebook-style description of the BattleTech universe background and its history up until [[3049]], including the role of BattleMechs therein and a [[Technical Readout]]-style section briefly covering the 'Mechs contained in the boxed set. The fourth scenario from the previous edition ("First Run") was used to showcase the quick start rules, and was moved to the second booklet accordingly.
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[[Image:CAT35000.ClassicBattleTech.jpg|left|210px]]After FanPro's license expired in 2007, the Classic BattleTech license went to [[Catalyst Game Labs]] who created yet another new edition of the boxed set. Most importantly, the cardboard counters were once again replaced by twenty-four plastic miniatures that required no cutting or assembly. The 'Mech lineup remained unchanged since the 4th edition, and the three game scenarios remained the same except for changes to the map layout.
 
[[Image:CAT35000.ClassicBattleTech.jpg|left|210px]]After FanPro's license expired in 2007, the Classic BattleTech license went to [[Catalyst Game Labs]] who created yet another new edition of the boxed set. Most importantly, the cardboard counters were once again replaced by twenty-four plastic miniatures that required no cutting or assembly. The 'Mech lineup remained unchanged since the 4th edition, and the three game scenarios remained the same except for changes to the map layout.
  
The rulebook was expanded to 80 pages, and abandoned the Rules Levels approach of previous rulebooks; instead, it now referred to Introductory, Standard (Tournament), and Advanced (Non-Tournament) rulesets. The rules by and large remain at the technology level of the year 3049, with some individual advanced rules provided, while the "current" year of the BattleTech universe was now given as [[3085]]. Basic rules for vehicles and infantry were added back in with two additional training scenarios for these unit types, titled "Veteran Training Scenario" and "Elite Training Scenario", respectively.
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The rulebook was expanded to 80 pages, and abandoned the Rules Levels approach of previous rulebooks; instead, it now referred to Introductory, Standard (Tournament), and Advanced (Non-Tournament) rulesets. The rules by and large remain at the technology level of the year 3049, with some individual advanced rules provided, while the "current" year of the BattleTech universe was now given as [[3085]]. Basic rules for vehicles and infantry were added back in, with additional training scenarios for these unit types, titled "Veteran Training Scenario" and "Elite Training Scenario", respectively.
  
The universe book was retitled to ''[[Inner Sphere at a Glance]]'', but its content remained largely unchanged and it notably still only covers the universe history through the year 3067 and not to 3085. The Record Sheets and Quick Start Rules booklets remained, and a "Painting and Tactics Guide" booklet was added that taught miniatures painting and some boardgame tactics.
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The universe book was retitled to ''[[Inner Sphere at a Glance]]'', but its content remained largely unchanged and it notably still only covers the universe through the year 3067. The Record Sheets and Quick Start Rules booklets remained, and a "Painting and Tactics Guide" booklet was added that taught miniatures painting and some boardgame tactics.
 
<div style="clear:both"></div><gallery>
 
<div style="clear:both"></div><gallery>
 
Image:CBT35000.jpg|CBT Introductory Box Set contents
 
Image:CBT35000.jpg|CBT Introductory Box Set contents
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==2011: 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set (CGL 3500A)==
 
==2011: 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set (CGL 3500A)==
 
{{main|25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set}}
 
{{main|25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set}}
[[Image:25th Anniversary Box Set.jpg|left|210px]]Delayed in production so that it actually came out 26 years after the BattleTech, 2nd Edition boxed set, by the time this anniversary edition came out the "Classic" part had been dropped from the name again and the game had reverted to simply "BattleTech".
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[[Image:25th Anniversary Box Set.jpg|left|210px]]Delayed in production so that it actually came out 26 years after the BattleTech, 2nd Edition boxed set, this anniversary edition included a number of changes. By this time the "Classic" part had been dropped from the name again and it had reverted to simply "BattleTech". The box format was changed to a square 16" x 16" from the bookshelf format used by all previous boxed sets. Instead of paper foldout maps, this edition contained two double-sided mapsheets with different terrain on heavy cardstock paper, one of them the classic "standard" BattleTech mapsheet. A new booklet titled ''[[How the Core Rulebooks Work]]'' was added that sought to explain how different BattleTech rulesets interact and complement each other.
 
 
This is edition saw considerable change over the previous editions: The box format was changed from the bookshelf format used by all previous boxed sets to a square 16" x 16" format. Instead of a pair of paper foldout maps, now there were two double-sided mapsheets with different terrain on heavy cardstock paper, one of them the classic "standard" BattleTech mapsheet (the others being City Hills/Residential #2, Lake Area, and Open Terrain #2). A new booklet titled ''[[How the Core Rulebooks Work]]'' was added that sought to explain how different BattleTech rulesets interact and complement each other.
 
  
 
In addition to the usual 24 playing piece miniatures there were two high-quality extra miniatures of a ''[[Hellbringer (Loki)]]'' and a ''[[Summoner (Thor)]]'', though unlike the other miniatures these two had to be assembled from parts that came on sprues.
 
In addition to the usual 24 playing piece miniatures there were two high-quality extra miniatures of a ''[[Hellbringer (Loki)]]'' and a ''[[Summoner (Thor)]]'', though unlike the other miniatures these two had to be assembled from parts that came on sprues.
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[[Image:Clan Invasion Box Front.png|left|210px]]Released in 2020 after a successful [[2019 Clan Invasion crowdfunding campaign|crowdfunding campaign]], this box set served as an expansion to ''[[BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat]]''. The box provides lore, rules, and components for introducing Clan warfare into BattleTech gameplay.
 
[[Image:Clan Invasion Box Front.png|left|210px]]Released in 2020 after a successful [[2019 Clan Invasion crowdfunding campaign|crowdfunding campaign]], this box set served as an expansion to ''[[BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat]]''. The box provides lore, rules, and components for introducing Clan warfare into BattleTech gameplay.
  
The set includes unpainted plastic miniatures of the ''[[Adder (Puma)|Adder]]'', ''[[Executioner (Gladiator)|Executioner]]'', ''[[Mongrel (Grendel)|Mongrel]]'', ''[[Nova (Black Hawk)|Nova]]'', ''[[Timber Wolf (Mad Cat)|Timber Wolf]]'', plastic miniatures for two points of [[Elemental (Battle Armor)|Elemental battle armor]], a 32-page rulebook, a 24-page booklet containing record sheets, a 24-page Clan Invasion primer describing the universe and factions in the early years of the Clan Invasion, a 20-page novella titled ''[[The Bonds of Battle]]'', 10 MechWarrior cards, a heavy-stock reference sheet, two full-color double-sided mapsheets for a total of four maps, a punchboard containing additional BattleMechs and terrain, one ''Alpha Strike'' card for each 'Mech miniature, and two six-sided dice.
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The set includes unpainted plastic miniatures of the ''[[Adder]]'', ''[[Executioner]]'', ''[[Mongrel]]'', ''[[Nova]]'', ''[[Timber Wolf]]'', plastic miniatures for two points of [[Elemental (Battle Armor)|Elemental battle armor]], a 32-page rulebook, a 24-page booklet containing record sheets, a 24-page Clan Invasion primer describing the universe and factions in the early years of the Clan Invasion, a 20-page novella titled ''[[The Bonds of Battle]]'', 10 MechWarrior cards, a heavy-stock reference sheet, two full-color double-sided mapsheets for a total of four maps, a punchboard containing additional BattleMechs and terrain, one ''Alpha Strike'' card for each 'Mech miniature, and two six-sided dice.
  
 
There was an exclusive version of the boxed set for campaign backers, CGL 35030K. It came with a different front cover than the standard retail version CGL 35030. However, due to an error during shipping, some backers received the standard retail box instead of this exclusive version.
 
There was an exclusive version of the boxed set for campaign backers, CGL 35030K. It came with a different front cover than the standard retail version CGL 35030. However, due to an error during shipping, some backers received the standard retail box instead of this exclusive version.

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