LinkNet

MWDA Website, MWDA Homepage, WizKids Website, and WizKids Homepage redirect here.

Overview

When WizKids launched the MechWarrior: Dark Age (MWDA) Clix game in 2003, they also dedicated a subsection of their web presence to the game, presenting it as an outlet for news and messages within the BattleTech universe (see Content below).

Real World Website

LinkNet was an in-character subsection on the last incarnation of the now defunct real-world WizKids website. Following the discontinuation of the MWDA game in 2008, the website was taken offline in 2010.

In a broader sense, "LinkNet" is a summary reference among the fan community for BattleTech and MWDA that also covers the preceding incarnations (or skins) of the MWDA subsection of the WizKids website.

Incarnations

The MWDA website underwent changes as the game's storyline progressed:

June 2002 – Jan 2004

In-universe date: June 3132 – 9 March 3134
The site was styled as INN, a news site based on Towne that offered a primer on the new Republic of the Sphere and a Republic Atlas, as well as Touring the Stars articles and ComStar newsfeeds. After the Blackout (on 7 August 3132) it only provided local news.

2005

In-universe date: Jan – Dec 3135
During this time, the website offered the PDA journals of Evan Kaiple and Deandra Lowe as is, without any in-universe context.

2006 and onwards

LinkNet screenshot

In-universe date: Jan – Aug 3136
The in-universe LinkNet was a network formed by a handful of still-functional HPGs in the wake of the Blackout, to keep each other informed and maintain HPG communication as much as circumstances allowed.

Canonicity

Like MWDA in general, the MWDA website was considered part of the greater BattleTech universe and its in-character content is considered fully canonical, albeit subject to the usual possibilities for in-character resources to be in error due to oversight, bias, or outright misinformation.

Content

Compilations

Since much of the content published via the MWDA website was not published elsewhere, steps were undertaken to preserve it. Catalyst Game Labs and volunteers compiled some of the information into a number of files that CGL subsequently offered for free download via their website; these files are copyrighted to Topps with a 2012 timestamp:

• Touring the Stars - An in-universe look at the major factions, their histories and their status quo as of 3130.
  (not to be confused with the "Touring the Stars with Bertram Habeas" series of articles contained within the 3132-3134 INN file, nor the Touring the Stars series of PDF microproducts detailing individual star systems)
• Republic of the Sphere - A brief primer for the government and history of the premier new faction introduced in MWDA, the Republic of the Sphere. Also includes short biographies of the prominent personalities of the early Dark Age era.
• Republic Worlds - A gazetteer of the worlds that compose the Republic. (Note: Not all worlds are fully described by the time LinkNet was taken down; many entries remained placeholder "articles" with no content.)
• Collections of in-universe news articles and personal journals that paint a vivid picture of life in the mid-32nd century from just before the HPG blackout into the years of Fortress Republic.
  • 3132-3134 INN - A collection of news articles fleshing out the universe and advancing the timeline
  • 3135 PDA Journals - Diary-style snippets of information, fleshing out the universe and advancing the timeline
  • 3136 LinkNet - Transcripts from the actual in-universe "LinkNet", a group of still-functional HPGs after the 3132 HPG Blackout, fleshing out the universe and advancing the timeline
  • 3136 Levin's List - Wanted ads and snippets, fleshing out the universe and advancing the timeline

Short Stories

The website featured additional content for the BattleTech universe that (so far) was not made available for download again, including several short stories:

• A Shot at Glory, by Adam Sherwood
• Angry Voices in the Dark, by Loren L. Coleman (since available as EPUB for sale)
• Field to Field, by Jean Rabe
• Loyalty, by Jason Schmetzer
• The Inheritance of Duty, by Michael A. Stackpole
• The Proof Is in the Pudding, by Adam Sherwood
• Tides of Change, by Kevin Killiany

Scenarios

See also: Category:MWDA Events

Starting in September 2002, official scenarios for events and organized play arranged by Wizkids became available from their website to support the MWDA game and its ongoing timeline and evolution. These included:

• Gambit: The Battle for Addicks! (September 2002)
• Baring the Blade: The Battle for Ankaa! (October 2002)
• Visions of Fire: The Battle for Ozawa! (November 2002)
• Knife in the Dark: The Battle for New Rhodes III! (January 2003)
• Roar of the Dragon: The Battle for Ronel! (February 2003)
• Information Is Ammunition: The Battle for Achernar! (March 2003)
• Black Rain: The Battle for Addicks (May 2003)
• Trial of Destiny: The Battle for Ruchbah (June 2003)
• Redemption: The Battle for Tybalt! (July 2003)
• The Battle for Menkar (September 2003)
• The Battle for Algot (October 2003)
• The Battle for Buchlau (November 2003)
• The Battle for Ningpo (January 2004)
• The Battle For Algol (February 2004)
• The Bitter Truth (March 2004)
• Lies, Lies, Lies (April 2004)
• Sword of Betrayal (May 2004)
• Trouble in Paradise (June 2004)
• Stick The Knife In (July 2004)
• The Bird in the Trees (February 2005)
• Recruitment Drive (March 2005)
• Of ‘Mechs and Men (April 2005)
• A Tale of Two Swords (May 2005)
• Snakes In The Grass (June 2005)
• The Dragon Eats Its Tail (July 2005)
• Clash of Swords (August 2005)
• The Combine Returns to Kervil (September 2005)
• Taming the Dragon (October 2005)
• Déjà Vu, All Over Again (November 2005)
• The Bear In Winter (February 2006)
• All Washed Up? (March 2006)
• Beneath the Seas of Fire (April 2006)
• If You Can’t Take The Heat (May 2006)
• A Matter of Honor (Scenario) (June 2006)
• Finders Keepers (July 2006)
• The Dragon! The Dragon!! (July 2006)
• Escape! (August 2006)
• Good Night, Knight (August 2006)
• Urban Warfare (September 2006)
• Night Running (September 2006)
• A Hard Rain (October 2006)
• Monkey Business (October 2006)
• What’s that Sound? (November 2006)
• Thanks for Giving! (November 2006)
• I Smell A Swamp Rat by Matt “Laserlight” Roen (December 2006)
• Deep Six by Mike “Rimoran” McCarrig (December 2006)
• Field of Battle by Rob “eMouse” Brunskil (January 2007)
• Time and Tides by Matt “therose” Sulham (January 2007)
• Fish In A Barrel by Brad “warengine” Zeitler (February 2007)
• Desperate Measures (Scenario) by Mike “Rimoran” McCarrig (February 2007)
• The Search For Jacob (March 2007)
• Battle… Interrupted (March 2007)
• Island Thunder by Scott “PumaKilla” Addley (March 2007)
• Honor Among Thieves (April 2007)
• Stalking The Colossus (April 2007)
• Battle for Stewart (May 2007)
• The Giant’s Trail Grows Hot (June 2007)
• In the Path of Wolves (June 2007)
• Gentle Into That Good Night, Knight (June 2007)
• Crusader’s War (July 2007)
• Militia In Training (July 2007)
• Weather Permitting (August 2007)
• Trick or Treat by Michael Miller, a.k.a. “southpaw13” (October 2007)
• Night of the Living Dead by Mike Demaline, a.k.a. “X-Sythe” (October 2007)
• HPG: Hyper Poltergeist Generator by Mike McCarrig, a.k.a. “Rimoran” (November 2007)
• Terran Chainsaw ’Mechssacre by Keith Schmitz, a.k.a. “Norcross” (November 2007)
• Word of Blake Zombies by Mike McCarrig, a.k.a. “Rimoran” (November 2007)
• Your Candy or Your Life by Rich Miller, a.k.a.” RedDawn” (November 2007)
• Toys for Bots (December 2007)
• Brother, Can You Spare a ‘Mech? (January 2008)
• Possession is Nine-Tenths (February 2008)
• New Neighbors (March 2008)
• To Take a Giant (April 2008)
• Reinforcements (April 2008)
• In Preparation for the Fall by Jim “VincentDegrassa” Topa (May 2008)
• The Voice of Stone (June 2008)
• Wolves of Destiny (July 2008)
• Ghost War - Specter of Hostilities (December 2002 – Special Event)
• Fire for Effect - Snarling Wolves (March 2003 – Special Event)
• Death from Above - Something Wicked This Way Comes (June 2003 – Special Event)
• Liao Incursion - Toe in the Water… (September 2003 – Special Event)
• Counterassault – Into the Storm (January 2004 – Special Event)
• Age of Destruction – Kill and Keep (February 2005 – Special Event)
• Annihilation - Call To Arms (November 2005 – Special Event)
• Pandora’s Box (October 2003 – Faction War)
• The Thunderous Sound of Hooves (April 2007 – Faction War)
• VTOL Race (May 2003 – Play@Home)
• Forgotten Arms (May 2003 – Play@Home)
• Caught Sleeping (May 2003 – Play@Home)
• Domination - Officer’s Club Scenario Cards (January 2006)
• Vanguard - Officer’s Club Scenario Cards (May 2006)
• Wolf Strike - Officer’s Club Scenario Cards (September 2006)

External Links

• Download link for LinkNet content from the official BattleTech website (plus MWDA Dossiers and Pilot Cards and MWDA Sneak Peeks)
• MWDA teaser site, as of 13 February 2002 (via Wayback Machine)
• MWDA website, as of 2 August 2002 (via Wayback Machine)
• MWDA website, as of 29 May 2005 (via Wayback Machine) - with PDA articles
• MWDA website, as of 31 August 2006 (via Wayback Machine) - with LinkNet link
• MechWarrior Age of Destruction Scenario Handbook, as of 4 January 2009 (via Wayback Machine) - With Scenario Summaries