BattleTech is a tactical wargame where players maneuver giant fighting robots ('BattleMechs,' or ''Mechs') against each other (or vehicles and/or infantry) on hexagon-based maps. The complex game system includes details such as varying weapon ranges, heat generation, and discrete hit locations (torso, arms, legs, etc.). 'Mechs vary greatly by mobility and firepower, and players can choose from provided designs or take the time to create their own 'Mechs from scratch. The base game (reprinted in many different editions) includes a introduction rule book for helping new players getting around fast. The game board is extensible, and there are many map packs available for purchase or even download. An extensive line of pewter figurines ('Mechs, vehicles, and the like) are available in the U.S. from Iron Wind Metals. (Many earlier BattleTech figures were produced and sold by Ral Partha, and Ral Partha still handles the figures in Europe.)The main components of the current generation of BattleTech are a series of core rulebooks, the central one being Total Warfare (in print and PDF), which contains the main (tournament-legal) rules for the game. (If possible, get an edition with the Catalyst Game Labs logo, as this slightly revised edition contains many errata fixes.) TechManual (in print and PDF) contains construction rules for 'Mechs and other units. A series of three 'advanced rules' books adds on to the standard rules: Tactical Operations (in print and PDF) covers on-planet actions over a period of hours Strategic Operations (in print hardcopy expected Q3 2009) covers in-system actions over a period of weeks and Interstellar Operations (forthcoming 2009) covers system-level actions over a period of months. The final two announced rulebooks (no release date set) are A Time of War: The BattleTech RPG (a revised version of the BattleTech RPG rules, which have previously gone under the names MechWarrior and Classic BattleTech RPG) and an as-yet-unnamed one-volume tome on the BattleTech universe.(C)BT is also supplemented by a variety of Technical Readouts, which provide gameplay and background data on 'Mechs and other units at various time periods in the game-universe history map sets sourcebooks and pregenerated record sheets, as well as the aforementioned miniatures (which are not required for play).As in earlier editions of BattleTech, the current generation includes a new Introductory Box Set, which features both quick-start and introductory rules and other background information and components (such as maps). It also features twenty-four plastic 'Mechs, unpainted but otherwise ready to play. (Apart from the plastic 'Mechs and the maps, much else in the set can be downloaded for free from classicbattletech.com.) A twenty-fifth-anniversary Box Set, containing four additional 'Mech miniatures and higher-quality maps, is to be published in 2009.In 2009, the adjective 'Classic' was dropped from the BattleTech line. - BoardGameGeek