Difference between revisions of "Tales of the Black Widow Company"

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** Scenario IV
 
** Scenario IV
  
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==German Version==
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==Notes==
 +
*In 1985, FASA provided a scenario named ''[[Bitter End: The Defense of Connor's Pass]]'' to the [[Game News]] magazine, who published it in their #8 (October 1985) issue. The scenario was described as an excerpt from the ''Tales of the Black Widow Company'' scenario pack, which was also advertised on the same pages in the magazine, and presented in a similar style, but it does not actually appear in this book.
 +
 
 +
==German Edition==
 
{{InfoBoxForLangProduct
 
{{InfoBoxForLangProduct
 
| image              = Biss der Schwarzen Witwe, der.jpg
 
| image              = Biss der Schwarzen Witwe, der.jpg
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| MSRP                =  
 
| MSRP                =  
 
}}
 
}}
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The German language version of the scenario pack was released by [[Fantasy Productions]] in 1989. In typical FanPro fashion, it was not only translated but the content was also changed to a degree:
+
A German edition was released by [[Fantasy Productions]] in 1989. The translation, as well as one additional BattleTech scenario not included in the original version of the product, were credited to Reinhold H. Mai. The German version is printed as DIN A4, a standard European paper size, which is a little larger then north american [[w:Paper size|Letter]].
 +
 
 +
=== Alterations ===
 +
In typical FanPro fashion, the original edition was not just translated but altered to some degree:
  
 
* The "Spider Trap" scenario (depicting the attempt by elements of the [[3rd Davion Guards]] and [[Lindon's Company]] to kill Natasha Kerensky during a battle on [[Coursadin]]) is not included. This scenario was instead included in the rulebook going with the German edition of the [[BattleTech 2nd Edition]] boxed set.
 
* The "Spider Trap" scenario (depicting the attempt by elements of the [[3rd Davion Guards]] and [[Lindon's Company]] to kill Natasha Kerensky during a battle on [[Coursadin]]) is not included. This scenario was instead included in the rulebook going with the German edition of the [[BattleTech 2nd Edition]] boxed set.
−
* A new scenarios by german translator Reinhold H. Mai: "Heisse Gemüter" (''Quick Temper'') - Draconis Combine forces have attacked the Lyran world [[Kobe]], where Kerensky's Command Lance encounters Ryan's Battle Lance of the defending [[Waco Rangers]]. Both sides have another lance on the way to support them. The landscape, including all water, is frozen, but a nearby volcano is active and gradually raising the ambient temperature during the battle.
+
* A new scenario by german translator Reinhold H. Mai: "Heisse Gemüter" (''Quick Temper'') was added - Draconis Combine forces have attacked the Lyran world [[Kobe]], where Kerensky's Command Lance encounters Ryan's Battle Lance of the defending [[Waco Rangers]]. Both sides have another lance on the way to support them. The landscape, including all water, is frozen, but a nearby volcano is active and gradually raising the ambient temperature during the battle.
 
* The back cover was changed:
 
* The back cover was changed:
 
** The half-sentence "Selling their services to the highest bidder," is left out in german translation.
 
** The half-sentence "Selling their services to the highest bidder," is left out in german translation.
Line 94: Line 100:
 
** The back cover lists some of the scenarios included.
 
** The back cover lists some of the scenarios included.
  
−
==Notes==
+
===Spelling and Names===
−
*In 1985, FASA provided a scenario named ''[[Bitter End: The Defense of Connor's Pass]]'' to the [[Game News]] magazine, who published it in their #8 (October 1985) issue. The scenario was described as an excerpt from the ''Tales of the Black Widow Company'' scenario pack, which was also advertised on the same pages in the magazine, and presented in a similar style, but it does not actually appear in this book.
+
As with other German products prior to 1997 spelling and names (especially places and units) as well as most abbreviations were regularly adjusted. For instance the Mech unit ''[[Archer]]'' was renamed to ''Schütze'', the Planet [[Gotterdammerung]] was respelled to ''Götterdämmerung'', the ''[[DCMS]]'' (''Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery'') became ''VSDK'' (''Vereinigte Streitkräfte des Draconis Kombinats'') and so on.
  
 
== Image Gallery ==
 
== Image Gallery ==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
−
Image:Black Widow Company Japanese.jpg|Japanese edition of Tales of the Black Widow Company, ISBN 4-8291-7209-6
+
Image:1605.jpg|Original 1985 cover. Art by Jim Holloway.
 +
Image:Biss der Schwarzen Witwe, der.jpg|German 1989 cover.
 +
Image:Black Widow Company Japanese.jpg|Japanese 1985 cover (ISBN 4-8291-7209-6).
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  

Revision as of 05:25, 10 June 2020

280px
Tales of the Black Widow Company
Product information
Type Scenario pack
Development Jordan K. Weisman
L. Ross Babcock III (Editor-In-Chief)
Donna Ippolito (Editor)
Primary writing L. Ross Babcock
Patrick L. Larkin
Richard Meyer
J. Andrew Keith
William H. Keith, Jr.
Pages 48
Cover Artwork Jim Halloway
Illustrations Dana Knutson
Todd Marsh
Jane Bigos
Publication information
Publisher FASA
Product code 1605
First published 1985
ISBN-10 0931787653
ISBN-13 978-0931787652
MSRP 8.00 US $
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Timeline 3015 – 3022
Followed by More Tales of the Black Widow

Description

Tales of the Black Widow Company is the first scenario book that was published for the BattleTech boardgame. It was apparently designed with the earlier Battledroids rules, as the unique BattleMechs featured in the book comply with Battledroids construction rules but violate BattleTech construction rules.

The book focuses on the legendary Natasha Kerensky and her Black Widow Company. It details the unit's pilots and 'Mechs during the period that their parent unit, Wolf's Dragoons, were in the service of the Draconis Combine (3023 to 3028). A separate scenario is set in 3022, when the Dragoons were in service of the Lyran Commonwealth. The book gives a brief history of Wolf's Dragoons, and their leader Jaime Wolf, before going on to detail the history of the Black Widow Company itself. It then gives information of all twelve pilots in the company and their 'Mechs, including details of mechanical foibles and failures that the 'Mechs suffer from.

After the information on the unit, the book presents eleven stand-alone scenarios and a short four-mission campaign to challenge the Black Widow Company. Each scenario has a short piece of fiction to set the scene before going on to detail the set-up for the mission, with information on which members of the Black Widow Company are involved in the battle and how they are deployed, details of the opposing units and their deployment, victory and loss conditions for each side as well as any special rules for the scenario.

From the back cover

“ This supplement is packed with descriptions of one of BattleTech's most elite fighting companies: The Black Widow Company of Wolf's Dragoons. Selling their services to the highest bidder, this mercenary unit is well known throughout the Successor States. Included is a history of the Black Widow Company and her commander, Natasha Kerensky, details of the units that make up the company and the MechWarriors who do the fighting, plus 15 scenarios of actual engagements fought by the Black Widow. ”

Contents

  • Introduction
    • How To Use The Scenarios Presented
  • Wolf's Dragoons
  • Lady Sings The Blues
  • Queen's Gambit
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Spider Trap
  • The Lady And The Tiger
  • Leave No Survivors
  • Dawn Patrol
  • Fog Of War
  • The Bounty Hunter
  • Lady's Man
  • Ghost Unit
  • The Battle For Hoff
    • Scenario I
    • Scenario II
    • Scenario III
    • Scenario IV

Notes

  • In 1985, FASA provided a scenario named Bitter End: The Defense of Connor's Pass to the Game News magazine, who published it in their #8 (October 1985) issue. The scenario was described as an excerpt from the Tales of the Black Widow Company scenario pack, which was also advertised on the same pages in the magazine, and presented in a similar style, but it does not actually appear in this book.

German Edition

Biss der Schwarzen Witwe, der.jpg
Der Biß der Schwarzen Witwe
Product information
Language german
Contribution Reinhold H. Mai (translation and scenario design), Werner Fuchs (Editor & Layout), Robert Simon (Editor) and Harry Kaltenbach (Setting)
Pages 48
Publication information
Publisher Fantasy Productions
First published 1989
ISBN-10 3890649017
ISBN-13 978-3890649016

A German edition was released by Fantasy Productions in 1989. The translation, as well as one additional BattleTech scenario not included in the original version of the product, were credited to Reinhold H. Mai. The German version is printed as DIN A4, a standard European paper size, which is a little larger then north american Letter.

Alterations

In typical FanPro fashion, the original edition was not just translated but altered to some degree:

  • The "Spider Trap" scenario (depicting the attempt by elements of the 3rd Davion Guards and Lindon's Company to kill Natasha Kerensky during a battle on Coursadin) is not included. This scenario was instead included in the rulebook going with the German edition of the BattleTech 2nd Edition boxed set.
  • A new scenario by german translator Reinhold H. Mai: "Heisse Gemüter" (Quick Temper) was added - Draconis Combine forces have attacked the Lyran world Kobe, where Kerensky's Command Lance encounters Ryan's Battle Lance of the defending Waco Rangers. Both sides have another lance on the way to support them. The landscape, including all water, is frozen, but a nearby volcano is active and gradually raising the ambient temperature during the battle.
  • The back cover was changed:
    • The half-sentence "Selling their services to the highest bidder," is left out in german translation.
    • The back cover shows illustrations of the Black Widow Company's Mechs, next to them is a text suggesting to cut them out for using them in game play ("Die nebenstehenden Mechs können ausgeschnitten und als BattleTech-Figuren für diese Einheit benutzt werden.")
    • The back cover lists some of the scenarios included.

Spelling and Names

As with other German products prior to 1997 spelling and names (especially places and units) as well as most abbreviations were regularly adjusted. For instance the Mech unit Archer was renamed to Schütze, the Planet Gotterdammerung was respelled to Götterdämmerung, the DCMS (Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery) became VSDK (Vereinigte Streitkräfte des Draconis Kombinats) and so on.

Image Gallery

  • 1605.jpg

    Original 1985 cover. Art by Jim Holloway.

  • German 1989 cover.

  • Japanese 1985 cover (ISBN 4-8291-7209-6).

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