MechForce News

MechForce News
Product information
Type	Magazine
Publication information
Publisher	FASA (via MechForce)
First published	1988-1990
Content
Timeline	3028-3051
Followed by	Mech (magazine)

MechForce News was the quarterly newsletter of the MechForce North America fan club, produced by FASA. Each issue summarized recent events in the BattleTech fiction line from an in-universe perspective and had a section that listed members rankings.

AWOL Productions took over running the MechForce North America from 1990 onward, and the publication changed its name to 'Mech (magazine).

Canonicity

The MechForce News was an official product, produced under FASA's direct aegis. However, the current definition of Canon for BattleTech expressly excludes magazines (even "official" ones) by default. The magazine's content must therefore be considered apocryphal unless confirmed in a recognized canonical publication or ruling.

Volumes

No volumes are given for the early issues. After the time-jump to the Clan Invasion era, a note of "Volume XXI" appears in the header, and references are made to having been in publication for 20 years.

Volume One

Issue One

150px

Spring 3028, 8 pages.

Contents

• "Operation Galahad 3028: Troops Take to the Field"
• "Wedding Plans Continue"

Issue Two

Date Unknown, 8 pages.

Issue Three

150px

Fall 3028, 8 pages (Mailed December 9, 1988)

Contents

• "Second Wave of Davion Offensive Rolls over Capellan Confederation"
  • "Crucis Lancers hit Tikonov"
  • "LCAF Stalled"
  • "Warlord Grieg Samsonov assassinated"
  • "Marik Attacks Isle of Skye"
• "Demand for Mercenaries Up - Galatea Never Busier"
• "Grey Riders Pledge Themselves to Steiner/Davion Alliance"
• "Four-Legged 'Mechs"
  • "Optional Four Legged 'Mech Rules"
  • "Record Sheet Changes"
  • "Movement Rule Changes"
    • "Lateral Shift"
    • "Piloting Skill Rolls"
  • "Combat Changes"
    • "Hit Location Table"
    • "Leg Critical Hits"
    • "Physical Attacks"
    • "Heat Build-Up"
  • "Quad 'Mech Record Sheet"
• "MechForce Rankings" - Member names and score rankings.
• "Players Wanted"
• "MechForce Chapters" - Registration form.
• "MechForce Associate Membership" - Registration form.
• Ad for Wolves on the Border.

Issue Four

150px

Fall 3029, 8 pages (Mailed April 25, 1989)

Contents

• "4th Succession War Changing the Face of the Inner Sphere"
• "Federated Suns Under ComStar Interdiction"
• "Inheritors Declare End is Near"
• "Solaris Competitions Continue Despite War"
• "Using Variant BattleMechs for Ranking"
• "MechForce Chapters" - Chapter list.
• "MechForce Rankings" - Member list and score rankings.
• "MechForce chapters" - Enrollment instructions.
• "Players Wanted"
• Ad for Wolf's Dragoons sourcebook

Volume XXI

Issue One

150px

Fall 3050, 8 pages (Mailed September 8, 1989)

Contents

• "Our Twentieth (Almost) Anniversary"
• "Star-League Type Technology Coming"
• "A Look Back"
  • "Fall 3030 - Kurita Offensive Threatens Skye"
  • "Fall 3030 - Peace Treaty Ends Fourth Succession War"
  • "Spring 3031 - Tarnished Glory: The Cost of the Fourth Succession War"
  • "Fall 3029 - Followup - Have You Seen Me?
  • "Winter 3030 - ComStar to Arm Its Stations"
  • "Summer 3030 - Heir to Federated Commonwealth Born"
  • "Spring 3031 - Romano Liao Assumes Leadership of the Capellan Confederation"
  • "Spring 3040 - Katrina Steiner Dies"
• "MechForce Rankings" - Member names and score rankings.
• "MechForce Chapters" - Enrollment instructions.
• "Players Wanted"
• "MechForce Chapters" - Chapter list.

Issue Two

150px

Winter 3051, 8 pages (Mailed April 18, 1990)

Contents

• "INVASION!"
• "Intelligence Briefing"
  • "Invader Organization"
  • "Clan Combat Equipment"
  • "Clan Tactics"
• "Who Are The Clans?"
  • "The Return of Kerensky"
  • "The Lost Colony"
  • "Alien Invasion"
• "MechForce Rankings" - Member list and score rankings.
• "MechForce Chapters" - Chapter list.

Volume XXII

Issue One

150px

Summer 3051, 8 pages (Mailed September 8, 1989)

Contents

• "Has it Stopped?"