Difference between revisions of "Tactical Handbook"

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{{InfoBoxBook
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{{InfoBoxProduct
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| image = Tactical_Handbook.gif
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| image               = Tactical Handbook cover.jpg
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| name = Tactical Handbook
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| name               = ''Tactical Handbook''
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| publisher = [[FASA]]
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| type                = Rulebook
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| year = 1994
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| author              =  
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| production code = 8630
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| development        = [[Rob Cruz]]<br />[[Scott Jenkins]]<br />[[Sam Lewis (person)|Sam Lewis]]
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| ISBN = 1-55560-212-6
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| primarywriting      = [[Jim Long]]<br />[[Stuart Johnson]] (LAM rules)
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| MSRP = 12.00
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| pages              = 80
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| type = Rules Expansion
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| cover              = [[Doug Chaffee]] (Painting)<br />[[Joel Biske]] (Design)
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| primary writing =  
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| interiorart        =
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*[[Jim Long]]
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| illustrations       = [[Paul Daly]]<br />[[John Paul Lona]]
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*[[Stuart Johnson]]
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| publisher          = [[FASA]]
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| product development =  
+
| productioncode      = 8630
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*[[Rob Cruz]]
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| year                = 1994
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*[[Scott Jenkins]]
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| ISBN10              = 1555602126
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*[[Sam Lewis]]
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| ISBN13              = 978-1555602123
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| illustrations =  
+
| MSRP                = $12.00
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*[[Doug Chaffee]]
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| content            =
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*[[Paul Daly]]
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| era                = [[Clan Invasion era]]
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*[[John Paul Lona]]
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| timeline            = ca. [[3055]]
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*[[Earl Geier]]
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| series              =
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*[[Allen Nunis]]
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| precededby          =
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*[[Larry MacDougall]]
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| followedby          =  
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| pages = 79
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
==Description==
 +
The '''''BattleTech Tactical Handbook''''' was the first expansion to the [[BattleTech]] board game that included so called [[Rules Level Three]] optional rules and equipment. These rules included the much-maligned [[Combat Value]] system for balancing force and the [[Double-Blind rules]] that enable players and a gamemaster to allow both sides the use of hidden units. Plenty of new arms, armor, and ammunition debuted. Some of the equipment and rules were later included in ''[[Maximum Tech]]''.
 +
 +
==From the back cover==
 +
{{quote|'''''Thirty-one hours ago''' your [[lance]] commander ordered you into position. Twenty-eight hours ago you finished draping the thermal camo tarps over your [['Mech]]. And for the past 27 hours you've been sitting in your cockpit, systems on minimum power, waiting in the dark — waiting for the [[Clans]].''
  
 +
'''''Suddenly''' your thermal sensors detect multiple 'Mechs moving 100 meters directly ahead. Your fingers fly over the weapons controls, disengaging [[PPC]] field inhibitors, hot-loading [[LRM]]s... green board. A single pull of the trigger sends fiery missile plumes and white-hot plasma streaking through the air, and the night erupts in a lethal inferno...''
  
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==Description==
+
''The '''BattleTech Tactical Handbook''' is an advanced-rules supplement for the '''BattleTech''' game universe. The '''Handbook''' provides advanced rules and equipment that enables players to add new depth and intensity to their games. Guidelines for creating long-term campaigns and double-blind games, formulas for calculating the combat values of all '''BattleTech''' combat units, detailed descriptions of advanced weapon systems and more make the '''BattleTech Tactical Handbook''' a necessity for the serious '''BattleTech''' player.''}}
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The '''''BattleTech Tactical Handbook''''' was the first expansion to the [[BattleTech]] board game that included so called [[Level 3]] optional rules and equipment. These rules included the much-maligned [[Combat Value]] system for balancing force and the Double-Blind rules that enable players and a gamemaster to allow both sides the use of hidden units. Plenty of new arms, armor, and ammunition debuted. Some of the equipment and rules were later included in ''[[Maximum Tech]]''.
 
−
 
  
 
==Contents==
 
==Contents==
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*Introduction
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* Introduction
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*New Rules
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* New Rules
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::Thunder LRMs
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** [[Thunder LRM]]s
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:Double-Blind Rules
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** [[Double-Blind Rules]]
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:Operational Game
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** Operational Game
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:Combat Values
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** [[Combat Value]]s
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:Level Three Rules
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::Modified Movement Sequence
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* [[Rules Level 3|Level Three]] Rules
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::Artillery
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** Modified Movement Sequence
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::BattleMech Engine Explosions
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** [[Artillery]]
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::BattleMech Sensors
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** BattleMech Engine Explosions
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::Craters
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** BattleMech Sensors
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::Disengaging PPC field inhibitors
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*** Electromagnetic Sensors
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::Four-Legged 'Mechs
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*** Seismic Sensors
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::Hidden Placement
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*** Thermographic Sensors
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::Hot Loading LRMs
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** Craters
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::Interlocking Streak Missiles
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** Disengaging PPC [[Field Inhibitor|field inhibitor]]s
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::Jumping Fire
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** [[Four-Legged 'Mech]]s
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::[[Land-Air 'Mech]]s
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** Hidden Placement
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::Line of Sight
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** [[Hot Loading]] LRMs
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:::Partial Cover
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** Hull-Down Rules
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::MechWarrior Damage
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** [[Interlocking]] Streak Missiles
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::Selecting Terrain Elevation
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** Jumping Fire
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*New Equipment
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** [[Land-Air BattleMech]]s
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:Ballistic Weapons
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** Line of Sight
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::[[Caseless Ammunition]]
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*** Partial Cover
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::[[Hyper-Velocity Autocannon]]s
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** MechWarrior Damage
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::[[LB-X Autocannon]]s
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** Selecting Terrain Elevation
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::[['Mech Mortars]]
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::[[Ultra Autocannon]]s
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* New Equipment
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:Missile Systems
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** Ballistic Weapons
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::[[AX Warhead|AX (Acid) Warhead]]
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*** [[Caseless AC/10|Caseless Autocannon]]
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::[[Anti-Personnel Warhead|Anti-Personnel (AP) Warhead]]
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*** [[Hyper-Velocity Autocannon]]s
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::[[Dead-Fire Missiles]]
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*** [[LB-X Autocannon]]s
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::Extended Long-Range Missiles
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*** [[Mech mortar|'Mech Mortar]]s
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::[[Heat Seeking Warhead|HS (Heat Seeking) Warhead]]
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*** [[Ultra Autocannon]]s
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::[[Magnetic-Pulse Warhead]]
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** Missile Systems
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::[[Smoke Warhead]]
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*** [[Acid (AX) Warhead]]
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::[[Streak Missile System]]s
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*** [[Fragmentation Missile|Anti-Personnel (AP) Warhead]]
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::[[Tandem-Charge Warhead|TC (Tandem-Charge) Warhead]]
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*** [[Dead-Fire Missiles]]
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::Thunderbolt Launcher
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*** [[ELRM-10|Extended Long-Range Missiles]]
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:Physical Weapons
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*** [[Heat Seeking Warhead|HS (Heat Seeking) Warhead]]
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::[[Claw]]
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*** [[Magnetic-Pulse Warhead]]
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::[[Mace]]
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*** [[Smoke Warhead]]
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:BattleMech Accessories
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*** [[Streak Missile System]]s
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::[[Angel ECM Suite]]
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*** [[Tandem-Charge Warhead|TC (Tandem-Charge) Warhead]]
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::[[Bloodhound Active Probe]]
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*** [[Thunderbolt Missile|Thunderbolt Launcher]]
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::[[Command Console]]
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** Physical Weapons
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::[[Coolant Pod|Coolant System]]
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*** [[Claw]]
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::[[Mechanical Jump Boosters]]
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*** [[Mace]]
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::[[Watchdog System]]
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** BattleMech Accessories
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:Defensive Armaments
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*** [[Angel ECM Suite]]
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::[[Blazer Armor]]
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*** [[Bloodhound Active Probe]]
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::[[Glazed Armor]]
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*** [[Command Console]]
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::[[Laser Anti-Missile System]]
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*** [[Coolant Pod|Coolant System]]
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:Static Defenses
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*** [[Mechanical Jump Booster]]s
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::Bunkers
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*** [[Watchdog System]]
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::Field Works
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** Defensive Armaments
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::Fortifications
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*** [[Blazer Armor]]
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::Installations
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*** [[Glazed Armor]]
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:MechWarrior Gear
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*** [[Laser Anti-Missile System]]
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::Ablative/Flak Cooling Suit and Vest
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** Static Defenses
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::Computer Voice Circuit
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*** Bunkers
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::SLDF Neurohelmet
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*** Field Works
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:Weapon and Equipment Tables
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*** Fortifications
 +
*** Installations
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** MechWarrior Gear
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*** [[Ablative/Flak Cooling Suit and Vest]]
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*** [[Computer Voice Circuit]]
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*** [[Damage-Interrupt Circuit]]
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*** [[SLDF]] [[Neurohelmet#SLDF Neurohelmet|Neurohelmet]]
 +
 
 +
* Weapon and Equipment Tables
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
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*A number of pieces of optional equipment are carried over from [[Unbound]], an earlier book with optional tech.
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* A number of pieces of optional equipment are carried over from ''[[Unbound]]'', an earlier book with optional tech.
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*The Tactical Handbook was the last official publication to include the rules for construction and use of Land Air 'Mechs, the previously tournament legal designs moved to optional/non-legal status with this book, signaling their decline and removal from the BattleTech universe.
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* The ''Tactical Handbook'' was the last official publication to include the rules for construction and use of [[Land-Air 'Mech]]s, the previously tournament legal designs moved to optional/non-legal status with this book, signaling their decline and removal from the BattleTech universe.<ref>''Interstellar Operations'' pp. 105–106 shows LAMs are extinct in [[3050]], and are listed as Experimental Technology.</ref>
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*The book was written from perspective of the early to mid 3050's, including still non-tournament legal "prototype" [[Inner Sphere]] versions of the previously [[Clan]] only LB-X and Ultra [[Autocannon]]s and Streak launchers which would later become [[Level 2]] with the [[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]] and [[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]] prior to their "official" inclusion in [[BattleTech Master Rules]].
+
* The book was written from perspective of the early to mid-3050s, including still non–tournament legal "prototype" [[Inner Sphere]] versions of the previously [[Clan]]-only [[LB-X Autocannon|LB-X]] and [[Ultra Autocannon]]s and [[Streak Missile System|Streak launchers]] which would later become [[Rules Level 2]] with the ''[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]]'' and ''[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]]'' prior to their "official" inclusion in [[BattleTech Master Rules]].
 +
* A number of pieces of equipment described here, such as the [[ELRM-15|Extended Long-Range Missiles]] systems, are not tournament legal. Instead they have been recategorized as [[Advanced Technology|Advanced]] or [[Experimental Technology]]. This equipment is defined further in ''[[Interstellar Operations]]'' and ''[[Tactical Operations]]''.
 +
* The trademark title was ''BattleTech Tactical Handbook''.
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references/>
  
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[[Category:Books]]
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[[Category:Rulebooks]]

Latest revision as of 11:10, 28 May 2023

Tactical Handbook cover.jpg
Tactical Handbook
Product information
Type Rulebook
Development Rob Cruz
Scott Jenkins
Sam Lewis
Primary writing Jim Long
Stuart Johnson (LAM rules)
Pages 80
Cover Artwork Doug Chaffee (Painting)
Joel Biske (Design)
Illustrations Paul Daly
John Paul Lona
Publication information
Publisher FASA
Product code 8630
First published 1994
ISBN-10 1555602126
ISBN-13 978-1555602123
MSRP $12.00
Content
Era Clan Invasion era
Timeline ca. 3055

Description[edit]

The BattleTech Tactical Handbook was the first expansion to the BattleTech board game that included so called Rules Level Three optional rules and equipment. These rules included the much-maligned Combat Value system for balancing force and the Double-Blind rules that enable players and a gamemaster to allow both sides the use of hidden units. Plenty of new arms, armor, and ammunition debuted. Some of the equipment and rules were later included in Maximum Tech.

From the back cover[edit]

“ Thirty-one hours ago your lance commander ordered you into position. Twenty-eight hours ago you finished draping the thermal camo tarps over your 'Mech. And for the past 27 hours you've been sitting in your cockpit, systems on minimum power, waiting in the dark — waiting for the Clans.

Suddenly your thermal sensors detect multiple 'Mechs moving 100 meters directly ahead. Your fingers fly over the weapons controls, disengaging PPC field inhibitors, hot-loading LRMs... green board. A single pull of the trigger sends fiery missile plumes and white-hot plasma streaking through the air, and the night erupts in a lethal inferno...

The BattleTech Tactical Handbook is an advanced-rules supplement for the BattleTech game universe. The Handbook provides advanced rules and equipment that enables players to add new depth and intensity to their games. Guidelines for creating long-term campaigns and double-blind games, formulas for calculating the combat values of all BattleTech combat units, detailed descriptions of advanced weapon systems and more make the BattleTech Tactical Handbook a necessity for the serious BattleTech player.

”

Contents[edit]

  • Weapon and Equipment Tables

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Interstellar Operations pp. 105–106 shows LAMs are extinct in 3050, and are listed as Experimental Technology.

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