Canon

Overview

Canon is reference to official recognized materials, images, subjects, and content which was created explicitly for the BattleTech Universe.

This article does not contain any fan created content, this is to give explanation anything that is not-fan created. It is to give some understanding what is considered to be actual BattleTech, which is copyright material.

Purchase of canon material can be done through the Catalyst Game Lab Store, DriveThru RPG, and as well as Amazon.

Types of Canon

As of this writing, Canon is measured in what could be referred to as tiers wiki, 1 thru 4.

As quoted by staff of Catalyst Game Lab.

Hierarchy (most canon to least canon):

• 1) Narrative Fiction (novels, Shrapnel short stories)

  These describe things as they actually happen

• 2) Sourcebook Fiction (sourcebooks, Shrapnel articles)

  These are reports/articles being written by an in-universe source, but the in-universe author may be lying, misrepresenting things, or misinformed.
  

• 3) Art

  This official visual appearance which is found in official BattleTech products

• 4) Apocrypha

  These are events depicted in materials that were fully licensed by the BattleTech IP owner at the time of their creation, but are not considered canon. The events depicted therein may be considered to have happened in some form in the BattleTech universe, or may just be rumors spoken of. This covers things like the events in the video games, comics, TCI model kit scenarios, BattleTechnology, StarDate, MechForce North America, 'Mech Magazine, and the Commando Quarterly. In the event of any conflict between canon materials and apocrypha, the apocrypha loses out every time. However, some elements that started out in apocryphal sources have graduated into the canon, so such sources cannot be completely disregarded as potential sources of future canon.

Technology

Technology used in BattleTech Tabletop Games is measured in by designation of game play. There have been two listings which is appears in this wiki. Which this brief explanation will describe here.

Technologies of BattleTech Summary

While not quite explained in sourcebooks, Battletech technology levels (not rules, this is in general). Essentially, much of the military grade equipment is incredibly heavy comparison, this hearkens to to the tabletop rules itself. Where tonnage of large equipment is measured in metric ton measurement. Its while other technology is not so..heavy. It simplification Moore's Law, which explains as technology/science progress, things get smaller. Such as Microchips and such, while it holds true for some things of the universe. Computers in the setting are essentially seen as Moore's Law faltered in 1980s, certain technologies did not get smaller. Such as invention of the Smart Phone did not quite happen, while ComPad and the Comm is simplified version of small computer or a Smart Phone. Optical Computers did come into existence, they did not shrink common used items and military equipment as much as they could have been. Also, while original Star League its many technologies which are still not fully vetted out or explain how they could exist, in the horrors of the Succession Wars this technologies were lost. More so scientist who did understand the technology were eliminated by ComStar's secretive agents of ROM try dumb down Inner Sphere to eventually in aspiration being them to their knees and control of the faction.

Rules Levels

This is the old / obsolete measurement of rules which pertains to technology was specific to time period prior to the canon timeline advancing beyond 3025/3050 game years. However, the older rules sets still used and referred to. These Levels introduced level of rules which are more than the basic introduction rules for new players or less complicate game play. Additionally, in this system specific years of introduction are noted per record sheet or line item when these items or units were made available in game. This practice unfortunately was dropped for simplification in the newer rules. The following is a crude explanation of how this had worked.

• Level 1 - Introduction, basic "Standard" Technology used during the Succession Wars time period (2781 - 3049). This these rules have always been hallmark of regular game play until introduction of Total Warfare rules set. See Rules Books below.
• Level 2 - This is rediscovered advanced technology, Star League technology, originally used prior to the Succession Wars (2571 – 2780). This level weapons, equipment in game play which maybe unbalanced if facing against Standard Technology
• Level 3 - This experimental technology which is rarely used and very powerful and perhaps not full functional equipment is used. This also entailed very difficult to use rules that pertained to these associated equipment, weapons, or advanced methods of game play.

Technology Levels

These rules were introduced to expand game play which beyond time period specific Rules Levels as seen above. These technology designations are adjusted depending on the time period or Era a player is campaign or certain technology they wish play with.

• Introduction Tech - Also known as "Standard Technology", this is the basic entry Level technology to the game, which is was used during the Succession Wars Era and earlier time period before formation of the Star League and considered to be low end tech during the Star League Era. Certain items are not used in Introduction Rules, such as Artillery.
• Tournament Legal Tech - This is seen as normal technology level, which has mix of Star League technology and Standard technology. Which is used in tournaments, and is gold standard of game play.
• Clan Technology - This designation is used by group faction known as the Clans, which has considerably more advanced technology.
• Advanced Technology - This is designation is for equipment which is rare to use and optional for normal game play. Not "mass produced".
• Experimental Technology - These are technology which are brand new and very rare. Many times more powerful or have usual effects in the game, with also negative effects on the user.
  • Primitive Technology - While considered a branch of Experimental Technology, this is a technology level that existed prior to the "Standard Technology/Succession War/Introduction Technology" in a time period prior in the early part of the Star League Era known as the Age of War. Equipment found under this designation was simple, fairly easy to maintain, while greatly flawed or have large disadvantage to Standard Technology. Where example weapons used generated more heat, weight more, not as accurate or may have accuracy issues.

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Design Quirks

These are optional rules which allows individual units, namely Combat Vehicles, Aerospace Units, most prominently BattleMechs in particular to have additional functionality beyond the standard tabletop game rules. These quirks work in positive and negative, thus it is a gamble should the Design Quirk be implemented for a game.

They give more character to whatever to any kind unit they are part of, however they are polarizing since design quirks can be negative performance which could make any unit unusable or have a short operational life when in play. These featured design play on canon description which were there before Design Quirk was invented.

Sarna.net has full list of these unique characteristics list on their own page.

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Common Game Terms of BattleTech

The following are basically terminology used in the TableTop version of the game, which aren't necessary spoken in character or source books but are there never the less.

• STAT / STATS

  This is the abbreviations of what particular unit Consists of. It's generally seen on Record Sheets and Technical Readouts/Recognition Guides - Where breakdown what makes up a Unit in the game terms. Weapons, speeds, special abilities, armor protection, pilot current abilities and so forth.

• Record Sheet

  This is a paper or digital document used by players of the Tabletop game which consists of the Stats of any sort vehicle/mech/ship/fighter/infantry and more used in combat. Very core of the game's gameplay itself. This allows a player to track and use unit in combat against other players. It gives a detailed account of individual unit where it's armor/internal structure & its components are located for purposes of tracking damage in course of a fight and consumables such as ammunition. They are generally printed pieces of paper, however digital record sheets have raisin as new option.

• Alpha Strike Data Card

  This is similar to the Record Sheet, where with a data card is intended for the Alpha Strike table top game version of BattleTech. Simplified / faster system play units. These data cards do not detail accounts of a individual unit's make up, but a summary of it. Abstract of the unit, as means try simplify things for faster game play. However, these data cards are conversion of record sheets information. They are also used for cover more than individual units, but combat forces as well, scaling upwards regimental forces in size for large scale game play.

Books

The following Books and other reference websites are deeded as canon by the current publisher of BattleTech, Catalyst Game Labs. Links here will take users to Sarna.net wiki, which will give further detail.

Current Rules Books

• Total Warfare - Main Rules book for Tabletop gameplay. The content of this rule book includes rules for game play with all units ('Mechs, Combat Vehicles, Small AeroSpace Vehicles, Infantry, Battle Armor) and weapons associated with them. Rules found in this book are referred to Tournament Legal (This for game play without extensive advanced rules). However, simpler rules for novice players are noted as Intro Tech. (This original basic setting 3025 game play with absolutely no advanced technology.)

• BattleMech Manual - This is more centralized rule book for Tabletop gameplay. Unlike the main book, Total Warfare, the book's focus on BattleMech game play. Other units such as non-Mech oriented options are not covered to cut down on excessive page count of rules a player needs go through. Additional appear in the book are limited to simplified rulesets for conditions such as fire and smoke; artillery, mines, and airstrikes; and a few terrain or weather conditions. Design Quirks which pertain to BattleMechs to offer additional enhancement game play are also listed.

• TechManual - This book is the primary written with construction rules for building Tournament Level combat units using Introduction or Advanced Equipment. This covers all units listed for Total Warfare.

• Tactical Operations - This is MULTI-VOLUME publication which is used for game play and items deemed to be "Advanced Rules", which are not entry level and require some knowledge of the game to use. While they are advanced they are not necessary not seen in later eras as regular Tournament Legal rules / Standard Rules. Thus, depends on WHEN the particular game is happening.

• Strategic Operations - This is covers game play and items/units using "Advanced Rules", more specifically Large AeroSpace Vehicles such as WarShips, Space Stations, etc, also including rules for Experimental Technology which is used on special cases or items which not seen in normal Tabletop Game play. This also included construction rules for said units. Also found in this publication is Advanced BattleForce, which is alternate game play that allows for larger forces to be used with simplified means of tracking them. Also, this book has tables of the advanced equipment listed in this book. It should note, that much of the content is changed from Experimental to a different designation after 3090. Thus double check your book and when you wish to conduct your game (time period.)

• A Time of War - This is a Rule book for Roleplaying in BattleTech universe. However, there are different version which may appeal to players due to easier to use or more familiarity to the older system. This is a structured, rich game play for roleplaying. With lifepaths / careers to construct any sort character whom may reside in the BattleTech universe.

• MechWarrior: Destiny - This is the latest roleplaying book for BattleTech. This uses a less structured means role play in BattleTech. At it's heart of the is the CUE system, which helps players get idea how to play character they've design's personality. Essentially, this is intended to be alternate means to roleplay, a "light" weight roleplaying system, where A Time of War is complex, but offers different perspective on being a character. Additionally, this version of the roleplay systems offers a alternate tabletop game play. This includes BattleTech tabletop record sheet for mechs/vehicles etc which is simplified game play on the tabletop, but retaining some elements of original game.

• Alpha Strike - This is alternate Rules set for quick game play, which is the basis for larger formation warfare. Similar to BattleForce and Advance BattleForce, this allows for Tabletop individual unit to be used without Record Sheets. This version of the game uses Data Cards, which has a simplified system tracking damage.

• BattleMech Manual - This is a entry level & easy to read rules book for new players who wish solely focus using the game's main combat unit, the BattleMech.

• Interstellar Operations This is compendium of the rules book series for BattleTech. This compliments previous books with listing newer and other technologies / vehicles / etc not covered in current previous books. Among other things, it has Advanced Technology Rules which includes & new units which are later introduced into the game. Included are construction rules for advanced units, information/construction info for Advanced & Era Specific Technology/Equipment/Units. Also included are rules for large formation combat such as ADVANCED STRATEGIC BATTLEFORCE, ABSTRACT COMBAT SYSTEM, INNER SPHERE AT WAR, and more.

• Campaign Operations - This is the official rules for the creation and operating rules for Tabletop game play. This includes means construct campaigns using scenario rules such as Warchest System (Easy means funding/tracking winnings/losses and repairs of a continuous campaigns for force a player maybe running.) Solar System construction system.

Publishers & Owners

To understand BattleTech and it's conception, one should look to whom had invented and published the game. This is a brief list of whom had and are currently involved with it's continued existence since it's conception in 1984. BattleTech is a wargaming and military science fiction franchise first created Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III.

FASA

FASA Corporation founded in 1980, had driving force of inception of the game franchise, as aforementioned Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III were it's developers, originally calling it Battledroids. However, it's name was changed to BattleTech due to George Luca's copy right of name Battledroid. FASA had had been a dynamic publishing house for games and roleplaying. Having made other noted games such as Shadowrun (often sister franchise), Crimson Skies, Renegade Legion and so forth. It was FASA which pushed the franchise beyond paper and pencil, having creating other divisions of the genre for Computer games (FASA Interactive) which evolved into successful MechWarrior PC game franchise and fostered a Cartoon Show based on it for younger audiences in early 1990s.

During this time with FASA, elements of other games were used to add additional rules to the aspects of the game. Such as for Capital Ships, which was sub-set rules known as Aerospace/BattleSpace which were taken from Renegade Legion's Leviathan Space game. (Much of it still used today.) FASA introduced strategic combat inform of BattleForce (simplifying game from individual 4-unit Lances to Regiments by calculating/resizing units. Roleplaying as well was published for the universe, better known as MechWarrior RPG (it often confused with video game by same name...)

During this troubles began for the Franchise, main of line up of BattlMechs were licensed and caused to be replaced (see Unseen below). Other companies had battled it out in courts, since some of visual appearances were licensed from anime IP holding company and were used basis of those 'Mechs, vehicles, and some aerospace craft.

However, by end of the 1990s in April 30th, 2001, the company shutdown having sold it's individual intellectual properties (aka different segments (video games, novels, film/media rights). This however caused copyright issues for the decades to come to broken IP Copyright owners & Licensees.

FanPro & WizKids

After the break up of FASA and it's shutdown, Jordan Weisman (one of the co-founders of FASA / BattlTech's creators) rescued the Franchise with his WizKidz Collectable Miniature Games company. This when his company in 2001 purchased the rights for table top / RPG / novels for BattleTech and Shadowrun properties. BattleTech was split in two segments, original tabletop game would be licensed to the long time German gaming company FanPro LLC, rebranding it Classic BattleTech continuing in the game year 3067 and onward (Jihad Era). While WizKidz adapt the setting set 70 years in the future starting in 3132 what is called Dark Age Era. The company version of the game would be referred to as MechWarrior: Dark Age (MWDA), as starting point for figure size elements using dials built into them were used on playing tables, with organized play by volunteers. These would be term as collectable miniatures, what particular unit in box was mystery (grab bag), with random element of rarity. As the setting there was massive demilitarization of setting after the Jihad. This game offered fresh new start for new players as well those wish simplified version of game (less time consuming with paper work.) While Classic BattleTech would continued be published by FanPro using nearly all of FASA original staff and fans turned staff keep franchise and universe alive. This ended in 2007-2008, when FanPro downsized, cease publishing both Shadow Run and Classic BattleTech. During this time, WizKids was purchased by The Topps Company announced on November 10, 2008. During this time, BattleTech novels had ceased publication, as it's publisher would only do one game line's of gaming novels, MWDA Dark Age until FanPro had shutdown. The company during it's time of operation was originally publisher of German language BattleTech novels, many original novels yet published for English readers.

Topps & Catalyst Game Labs

Prior to it's shutdown, Fanpro had sold the license to publish BattleTech & Shadowrun to the American branch of FanPro which would be come InMediaRes Productions, LLC, which it has it's sub-division Catalyst Game Labs (CGL) publish the game. However, Topps had retain ownership of both brands as they were selling. Since 2007, then Catalyst Game Labs (founded by BattleTech long time author/writer Loren Coleman), continues to publish the game. The segmented elements unique made for MWDA Collectable Miniatures Game, have merged into re-rebranded BattleTech game. Being adapted. One of the struggles of franchise's fandom was MWDA was not taken in good light, as many of the visual renditions of many of the old time favorite Mechs, vehicles and so forth were not made visually appealing and were lacking in abilities as they performed differently using the Game's Combat Dial System. The CGL continues advance the timeline (Which is important element of the fiction of the game) introducing new aspects of game play such as Alpha Strike and other different styles games.

Unseen

The Unseen is an designation created due to a copyright issue with some of BattleTech's earliest units, which include primarily BattleMechs images and at least one Aerospace Fighter, which were based on licensed Japanese image of anime art via a model copyright which was done by FASA corporation in early 1980s. However, other companies would be involved what would turn into a legal dispute. FASA would end up phasing out use of arguably it's core BattleMechs from use. Thus term Unseen would become word used by Battletech Fans. Rendering 'Mechs as silhouettes. Effort to return these classic 'Mechs and additional unseen 'Mechs phased out due to similar copyright concerns were made, and these images would replaced with what be termed as Reseen refits of these machines. New images, but only appearing decades later in timeline. Ultimately, all-together new images referred to as "Classic"s or by fandom "NuSeen" images would be created in late 2010s - early 2020s becoming full replacement of the original images after three decades of being absent.