Friday Faction: BattleTech Universe

In 2024, BattleTech is forty years old. Infamously, the game of ‘big, stompy robots’, in the four decades since the original publication of BattleTech: A Game of Armoured Combat by the FASA Corporation in 1984, the miniatures combat game has been expanded with numerous sets of new rules, supplements, several ranges of miniatures—both plastic and metal, over one hundred novels, a cartoon series, a collectible card game, and multiple computer games. What all of these have done—especially the novels—is develop the background and setting, covering a history that begins in the twenty-first century and runs all the way into the thirty-second century. It is detailed, involves multiple factions, hundreds of personalities, and a region of interstellar space surrounding Earth with a radius of roughly five hundred light years. Yet with this wealth of detail comes a complexity which leaves the prospective player to wonder where he should start with the game, which faction should he pick and why, and how did the current situation in the BattleTech universe get to be like it is. These are also questions—and more, that BattleTech Universe.

BattleTech Universe is the key lore book for the BattleTech setting. Published by Catalyst Game Labs, this is a complete history of the Inner Sphere from the theoretical foundations of the Kearny-Fuchida drive in 2018 and the launch of the TAS Pathfinder in 2107 through the Age of War and the Terran Hegemony, the foundation of the Great Houses, to the establishment of the Star League and a golden age. Then with the Amaris Coup, the collapse of the Star League, and the Exodus of the Star League Defence Force under General Aleksandr Kerensky, on through the Succession Wars that threatened a technological collapse into the fourth millennium and thirty-first century, to the Clan Invasion and the devastating onslaught of the invaders’ technologically advanced battlemech designs, the Dark Age that followed a collapse in the interstellar communications network, and ultimately, the capture of Terra by the Clans and the ascension of the ilClan, the one Clan to govern the others. In the process, the book not only provides a history of the BattleTech setting, but also gives a description of the current state of the Inner Sphere.

BattleTech Universe is really a book of two halves, though they are not equal halves. Less than a third of the book, the first half lays the foundation for the longer, second half. The development of the battlemech, the foundation of the Great Houses—Davion, Kurita, Liao Marik, and Steiner—and the four Succession Wars fought to decide which one of them would succeed to the position of First Lord and re-establish the Star League. This includes the development of the technology fundamental to the setting and its neo-feudalism—the battlemech and the pilots who become the new knights of the Inner Sphere. First with the Mackie, and then with its armour and weaponry, including autocannons, lasers, missile launchers, and more. Notable designs are highlighted, such as the Banshee, the Thunderbolts, and Frankenmechs! This groundwork sets everything up for what follows—the conflicts, the intrigues, the clash of personalities, the coming of the Clans, and much, much more. The reason that the second half is both longer and far more detailed is simple. It only covers one-hundred-and-twenty-six years, but these years are when the game is set and when the game’s setting is being developed as an active intellectual property, with events and clashes and stories within the setting that support new supplements and expansions for the game, giving new technologies and battlemech designs for players to deploy, and new battles to fight via new supplements and expansions for the game.

Throughout, BattleTech Universe highlights particular events such as the War of 3039, Operation Revival which saw the invasion of the Inner Sphere in 3049 and the battle of Tukayyid, the Word of Blake Jihad, the foundation of the Second Star League, and their consequences. This is supported by detailed background on the Clans and their culture and their technology, highlighting the radical differences between it and that of the Inner Sphere, and shining a spotlight on the feared Mad Cat battlemech and the baffling use of Elemental Battle Armour. Personalities, such as Victor Steiner-Davion and his resentful sister, Katherine Steiner-Davion, and more up to date with Yori Kurita, Julian Davion, and Danai Liao-Centrella, as well as the ilKhan, Alaric Ward, are given short biographies, including discussion of what motivated them. In between, other aspects of the BattleTech universe are not ignored. Thus, there are sections devoted to the major corporations of the Inner Sphere, the intelligence agencies operated by the Great Houses and other factions, and then, in between, there are maps, the changes in boundaries marking major changes in the history of the Inner Sphere and showing the winners and losers and which faction possesses which worlds.

The last third of BattleTech Universe is devoted to its many factions. Beginning with the five Great Houses, each faction is presented with its history, culture, and goals as well as what its future might be. For each of the eight Clans still existing in 3151, there is a similarly lengthy examination of their history and culture, and then shorter overviews of the twelve Lost Clans. The major kingdoms of the Periphery are given similar treatments, whilst the minor states are given a broad overview. Lastly, the most notable mercenary units are detailed, many of them well known across the Inner Sphere, such as Wolf’s Dragoons, the Gray Death Legion, and the Kell Hounds.

Physically, BattleTech Universe is a coffee table style full of great artwork drawn from the forty years of BattleTech’s publishing history combined with short, easy to digest essays on innumerable subjects. The book is well written, the artwork excellent, and the maps give some scale of the Inner Sphere, but each time they do show a large swathe of occupied space on just a couple of pages. If there is anything missing, it is an index and a bibliography of all of the books that the authors have drawn from for the contents of BattleTech Universe. That might have also helped for any reader wanting to delve deeper into the subject.

BattleTech Universe is an engaging and readable overview of the BattleTech setting and its history. Dedicated fans will probably prefer to delve deep into the supplements and sourcebooks that they have on their bookshelves, but this does not mean they will not enjoy the grand sweep of history presented in its pages, whilst those new to BattleTech will find BattleTech Universe a very useful introduction, readying them for the battlefield.