Difference between revisions of "MechForce"
Sarna News
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{{otheruses|the fan organisations|the video game|MechForce (Video Game)}} | {{otheruses|the fan organisations|the video game|MechForce (Video Game)}} | ||
| − | '''MechForce''' was the moniker for several official [[BattleTech]] fan organisations that catered to the game's growing fan community with regular magazines, chapter fights, and other fan support. | + | '''MechForce''' was the moniker for several official [[BattleTech]] fan organisations that catered to the game's growing fan community with regular magazines, chapter fights, and other fan support. Most references to "MechForce" are meant to refer to the MFNA. |
==MechForce North America== | ==MechForce North America== | ||
| − | The first and most important MechForce was the '''[[MechForce North America]]''' ('''MFNA''', also occasionally called '''MechForce NA''', '''MechForce US''' or '''MFUS''') | + | The first and most important MechForce was the '''[[MechForce North America]]''' ('''MFNA''', also occasionally called '''MechForce NA''', '''MechForce US''' or '''MFUS'''). It is generally considered the "true" MechForce by virtue of having been created directly by [[FASA]]. |
| − | Despite its name, the MFNA was in fact open to players from across the globe; besides North America, it was explicitly meant to | + | Despite its name, the MFNA was in fact open to players from across the globe; besides North America, it was explicitly meant to include players from countries where no national MechForce existed. |
| − | The MFNA | + | The MFNA produced a regular magazine, the [['Mech (magazine)|'Mech]] magazine and later [[MechForce Quarterly]], which could arguably be regarded an official product by virtue of being produced under a valid license from FASA; however, it has explicitly been declared to be not among the [[canon]]ical sources for BattleTech and can therefore be considered apocryphal at best. |
| − | Dwindling membership rendered the MFNA almost inactive since around the year 1999. When FASA | + | Dwindling membership rendered the MFNA almost inactive since around the year 1999. When FASA ceased its activities in 2001, the MFNA's license ran out, terminating the MFNA for good. |
==Other MechForces== | ==Other MechForces== | ||
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Among the national organisations, the '''[[MechForce Germany]]''' ('''MFG''') was the biggest and most active, alledgedly even eclipsing the MFNA in membership size at its peak. The MFG is also the only MechForce organisation still in existence today. | Among the national organisations, the '''[[MechForce Germany]]''' ('''MFG''') was the biggest and most active, alledgedly even eclipsing the MFNA in membership size at its peak. The MFG is also the only MechForce organisation still in existence today. | ||
| − | Remarkably, the MFG went through three | + | Remarkably, the MFG went through three successive incarnations, with a successor organsiation (the '''Nice Dice e.V. BattleTech AG''' and the '''Sternenbund e.V.''') spawned by each of the two earlier organisations for a total of five. Of these, only the third incarnation of the MFG remains to this day. |
| − | MechForce Germany produced the [[Life Support]], [[MechQuarterly]] and [[Terra Post]] magazines. The Nice Dice e.V. produced the [[Warrior's Guide]] magazine for BattleTech | + | MechForce Germany produced the [[Life Support]] (8 issues), [[MechQuarterly]] (4 issues) and [[Terra Post]] (30+ issues and ongoing) magazines. The Nice Dice e.V. produced the [[Warrior's Guide]] magazine for BattleTech (36 issues). The Sternenbund e.V. had no dedicated BattleTech magazine; their ''Infobrief'' was largely limited to the club's administrative issues. |
===MechForce United Kingdom=== | ===MechForce United Kingdom=== | ||
Revision as of 14:39, 7 April 2010
- This article is about the fan organisations. For the video game, see MechForce (Video Game).
MechForce was the moniker for several official BattleTech fan organisations that catered to the game's growing fan community with regular magazines, chapter fights, and other fan support. Most references to "MechForce" are meant to refer to the MFNA.
Contents
MechForce North America
The first and most important MechForce was the MechForce North America (MFNA, also occasionally called MechForce NA, MechForce US or MFUS). It is generally considered the "true" MechForce by virtue of having been created directly by FASA.
Despite its name, the MFNA was in fact open to players from across the globe; besides North America, it was explicitly meant to include players from countries where no national MechForce existed.
The MFNA produced a regular magazine, the 'Mech magazine and later MechForce Quarterly, which could arguably be regarded an official product by virtue of being produced under a valid license from FASA; however, it has explicitly been declared to be not among the canonical sources for BattleTech and can therefore be considered apocryphal at best.
Dwindling membership rendered the MFNA almost inactive since around the year 1999. When FASA ceased its activities in 2001, the MFNA's license ran out, terminating the MFNA for good.
Other MechForces
Several national MechForce organisations were also granted an official license from FASA to use the name. Although technically independent, they generally cooperated with the MFNA and adopted its modus operandi.
MechForce Germany
Among the national organisations, the MechForce Germany (MFG) was the biggest and most active, alledgedly even eclipsing the MFNA in membership size at its peak. The MFG is also the only MechForce organisation still in existence today.
Remarkably, the MFG went through three successive incarnations, with a successor organsiation (the Nice Dice e.V. BattleTech AG and the Sternenbund e.V.) spawned by each of the two earlier organisations for a total of five. Of these, only the third incarnation of the MFG remains to this day.
MechForce Germany produced the Life Support (8 issues), MechQuarterly (4 issues) and Terra Post (30+ issues and ongoing) magazines. The Nice Dice e.V. produced the Warrior's Guide magazine for BattleTech (36 issues). The Sternenbund e.V. had no dedicated BattleTech magazine; their Infobrief was largely limited to the club's administrative issues.
MechForce United Kingdom
The MechForce United Kingdom (MFUK) was relatively small and run by a mere handful of members for a decade. Yet it gained a reputation as a particularly creative and prolific producer of merchandise, house rules, scenario packs and new BattleMech designs. Notably, Ral Partha produced minitatures for a number of MFUK custom 'Mech designs (including the Dreadnought, Hades, Hydra, Katyusha, Tree Frog and Falcon Eyrie) which led many fans to believe them to be official.
The MFUK ceased to exist when the last active member left the organisation for health reasons on August 31, 2001.
Minor national MechForces
Other national MechForces with official license from FASA existed in Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, and Japan, but these never had the size or relevance of the aforementioned three organisations.
External links
- [1] - Homepage of the current MechForce Germany