support product releases (sourcebooks and rulebooks), as of their premier military academies (for more information well as the current Jihad story arc (see p. 11). on House Steiner and specifi cally on the Nagelring, players Because it hurls the players directly into the CBT universe, should check out Handbook: House Steiner). Total Warfare includes more “story fi ction” than any core To further cement this concept directly into a reader’s INTRODUCTION rulebook previously published for Classic BattleTech. Twelve mind, the art at the beginning of this section shows the very short stories off er a taste of the core factions with which Nagelring military computer represented “in universe” by the AUTHORplayers will come to associate, while conveying the theme of a text and layout of thisCOPY rulebook. given section of the rulebook; players can also use these stories Note that as with fi ction, players should never construe art to launch endless games and campaigns, whether set in the as rules. In a similar vein, while the diagrams used throughout current Jihad era or in the rich history of Classic BattleTech. this book are rules, players should note that the graphic Finally, A Time of War (see p. 14) and Military Organization icons within each diagram only represent specifi c unit types (see p. 34) provide two examples of the many diff erent types (‘Mechs, vehicles, infantry and so on). As such, players should of “sourcebook fi ction” players will discover in the various not be confused by a specifi c unit image (such as the Mad Cat sourcebooks published for Classic BattleTech. for the ‘Mech) used in an example, when its game stats do not mirror the example. FICTION VS. RULES It is important to note that fi ction, though essential in making the game universe come alive, should never be 3-D TERRAIN VS. construed as rules. While Classic BattleTech fi ction usually attempts to adhere to the aesthetics established by the rules, PAPER MAPS authors often use creative license to accomplish the needs of Classic BattleTech at its core is a board game; players move a given story. pieces on a hex-grid mapsheet. Unlike tabletop miniatures To eliminate confusion in Total Warfare about which sections games, which use three-dimensional (3-D) terrain and rulers are fi ction and which are rules, the fi ction sections have a to approximate movement and combat, the core Classic unique look. In addition, all fi ction sections are italicized in the BattleTech game rules use specifi c, codifi ed movement and Table of Contents. combat ranges within a mapsheet’s hex grid. Nevertheless, any game system that uses three-dimensional FICTION AND ART miniatures (such as the complete line of Classic BattleTech From the moment of Classic BattleTech’s inception, it miniatures sold by Iron Wind Metals; see p. 12) looks better was conceived as a visually intensive universe. Though the when played on 3-D terrain—hence the photos in this Technical Readout series is one of the better examples of rulebook. Three-dimensional terrain also enhances the feel the importance of art in conveying the universe to a reader, of the game. When using 3-D terrain, however, players should every sourcebook employs art to work hand-in-hand with the note that Classic BattleTech requires hex-grids. fi ction to bring the universe to life: from a stunning cover to While the Classic BattleTech Introductory Box Set, Total the smallest illustration buried on a last page. Warfare and future rulebooks all require the playing Even the graphic layout of rulebooks and sourcebooks— area (whether mapsheets or 3-D terrain) to be a hex the borders around the edges of a page, how the words are grid, some players may wish to learn how to play Classic placed on the page and so on—are specifi cally designed to BattleTech as a table-top miniatures game (using rulers accentuate the universe. and without the hex grid on 3-D terrain). Players can visit For Total Warfare, the graphic design concept is that of a www.classicbattletech.com to download a free conversion computer interface. Specifi cally speaking, it is a computer BATTLETECH MAPPACKrules set—Classic BattleTechCITYT MiniaturesECH MRules—APcovering the from House Steiner’s (see A Time of War, p. 14) Nagelring; one diff erences between the two types of play. OPTION 2 This method is simpler and uses less paper and ink. However, please note that while any maps produced using this method are compatable with each other, they are a fraction smaller than previously produced Bat- tleTech Hex Maps and will not line up with them. Print out the four Letter-sized tiles (pp. 6-9) using Adobe Reader. Set the size as Fit. Trim the white excess off the sheets and tape them to- gether with clear tape. OPTION 3 If your printer is capable of printing tabloid-sized sheets, use the above WSB CSO WSB WSB method but print the two Tabloid-sized tiles (pp. 4-5) instead.WSB As notedWSB above, any maps produced using this method are compatable with each other, but they are a fraction smaller than previously produced BattleTech Hex Maps and will not line up with them. PRINT YOUR BATTLEFIELD! 9 0101 0301 0501 0701 0901 1101 1301 1501 0201 0401 0601 0801 1001 1201 1401 BattleTech MapPacks bring back BattleTech’s classic map sheets LIGHT 0102 0302 0502 0702 0902 1102 1302 1502 LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT in printable form. Using the original map sheet art, and sized for 0202 0402 0602 0802 1002 1202 1402 HEAVY HEAVY compatibility with the original printed sheets and newer Hex Packs 0103 0303 0503 0703 0903 1103 1303 1503 LIGHT LIGHT alike, you can now store and print as many sheets as needed for your 0203 0403 0603 0803 1003 1203 1403 LIGHT BattleTech games. 0104 0304 0504 0704 0904 1104 1304 1504 0204 0404 0604 0804 1004 1204 1404 Use these sheets in conjunction with the random terrain tables found 0105 0305 0505 0705 0905 1105 1305 1505 PAVEMENT in Total Warfare, or any time you need a quick map, but transporting 0205 0405 0605 0805 1005 1205 1405 PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT physical terrain is impractical. Mount them on poster board or 0106 0306 0506 0706 0906 1106 1306 1506 PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT 0206 0406 0606 0806 1006 1206 1406 cardboard for longevity, or cut them up to mix and match your own PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT 0107 0307 0507 0707 0907 1107 1307 1507 unique battlefields. PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT LIGHT 0207 0407 0607 0807 1007 1207 1407 DEPTH 1 PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT WATER This PDF provides you with a Full-Sized Map (18”x22”) as well as Tab- 0108 0308 0508 0708 0908 1108 1308 1508 DEPTH 1 DEPTH 1 PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT WATER WATER 0208 0408 0608 0808 1008 1208 1408 loid (11”x17”) and Letter (8.5”x11”) tiles to choose from. DEPTH 1 PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT WATER 0109 0309 0509 0709 0909 1109 1309 1509 PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT 0209 0409 0609 0809 1009 1209 1409 DEPTH 1 WATER PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT 0110 0310 0510 0710 0910 1110 1310 1510 DEPTH 1 WATER PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT 0210 0410 0610 0810 1010 1210 1410 DEPTH 1 WATER PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT OPTION 1 (PREFERRED) 0111 0311 0511 0711 0911 1111 1311 1511 LIGHT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT 0211 0411 0611 0811 1011 1211 1411 LIGHT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT 0112 0312 0512 0712 0912 1112 1312 1512 If you have access to an oversize or poster printer, printing the Full- LIGHT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT 0212 0412 0612 0812 1012 1212 1412 Sized Map whole is the simplest option. Otherwise, printing tiles will PAVEMENT PAVEMENT 0113 0313 0513 0713 0913 1113 1313 1513 PAVEMENT PAVEMENT PAVEMENT be necessary. 0213 0413 0613 0813 1013 1213 1413 PAVEMENT PAVEMENT Print the Full-Sized Map (p. 3) in Adobe Reader using the Poster 0114 0314 0514 0714 0914 1114 1314 1514 PAVEMENT Size option. Use the default Tile Scale and Overlap (Tile Scale 100%, 0214 0414 0614 0814 1014 1214 1414 PAVEMENT ROUGH 0115 0315 0515 0715 0915 1115 1315 1515 Overlap 0.005 in) and select the Cut Marks box. This will produce six LIGHT 0215 0415 0615 0815 1015 1215 1415 sheets of map segments marked for proper cutting and joining. Trim LIGHT LEVEL 1 0116 0316 0516 0716 0916 1116 1316 1516 LIGHT HEAVY the sheets along the cut marks provided and tape them together 0216 0416 0616 0816 1016 1216 1416 LIGHT LIGHT LEVEL 2 0117 0317 0517 0717 0917 1117 1317 1517 with clear tape. LIGHT ©2013 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Map Name: CityTech Map. ROUGH LEVEL 2 0217 0417 0617 0817 1017 1217 1417 LIGHT LEVEL 1 LEVEL 3 © 2013 The Topps Company Inc. All Rights Reserved. MapPack: Open Terrain #1, BattleTech, BattleMech, and ’Mech are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game Labs logo are registered trademarks of InMediaRes2 Productions, LLC..