I’m a late convert to Battletech. Despite selling BT in the shop for a couple of decades, only recently have I started to play when it debuted in our game group. We all became avid players in short order. My middle son was inspired to become a BT miniatures painter and GM as well.
Even as a non-player, I’ve always loved the Battletech Second Edition cover art by Allen Gutierrez. It was in later years that I learned that the 1985 2e set changed a bit in 1989 (the box back graphics are the most noticeable difference). BT would get its 3rd edition in 1992, with new editions as the years passed, all the way to the present day. GM Greg told me BT gameplay has changed surprisingly little over the years.
I finally have both 2e variants in the shop, so a good opportunity to take some reference pics.
Open Set Reference Photos
Battletech: A Game of Armored Combat (2nd Edition) [BOX SET]
1985, 1989 … Jordan K. Weisman … FASA Corporation 1604 … ISBN 0931787645
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CONTENTS:
* 48 cardboard stand-up mechs, with full-color front & back views.
* 120 color unit insignias
* 24 plastic holders for playing pieces
* 1 40-page rulebook, including 10 pages of history, background, and technical information
Changes
First edition Battletech wasn’t even called “Battletech”. 1st ed was Battledroids (1984). Battletech went through some alterations from its quick facelift as a re-labeled Battledroids. (See my Reference Site’s BT page for more about the editions)
The renamed 1985 BT 2nd edition even states “BATTLETECH is the second edition of BATTLEDROIDS” on the back.
By 1989 FASA Corporation was ready to update the graphics, but not to release a whole new edition. The most visible difference was the back of the box.
The 1985 bottom lid art (also by Allen Gutierrez) depicts mechs fighting in a swamp. The 1989 version replaces this art with a scene of mechs on the march on an alien planet by Steve Venters. References to 1e Battledroids are removed. The 1989 set is somewhat less common than its predecessor.
The 1985 hex maps are the flimsy paper style seen in Battledroids (but are properly labeled “Battletech”). The 1989 set replaced them with the sturdier cardstock play mats familiar to Battletech players.
The early printing also has advertising for other FASA releases on the outside wall of the bottom lid.
These side panel promo graphics disappeared from the 1989 printing. Too bad, I think they’re cool.
The book is mostly the same between the two versions. There are some alterations, however. The 1989 book printed a blank mech sheet and mech stats inside the covers. The last few pages switch up the mechs, and things move around. If anybody knows of rule changes or edits printed in the 1989 booklet, let us know in the comments.
In the following photos, 1985 is above, 1989 is below.
There is no change in the dating on the box or in the books. So how do I know? The FASA ad fliers. Both are dated at the bottom of the page.
1985 order form is only printed on one side. 1989 form, both sides (see below).
More Pics: 1985
We’ve tried this a handful of times… with mixed results.
More Pics: 1989
In addition to the order form, the 1989 set had a double sided errata page of “clarifications” from “commonly asked questions”.
See Also:
DM Greg gives us the inside scoop on the personages and mechs in classic FASA covers
The holy grail of BT novels
Sensual fantasy artist Boris Vallejo gives us his take on Battletech
My first exposure to Battletech was the ancient PC game, “Crescent Hawks Revenge.” After being captivated by the universe, I grabbed the ’89 box set and was hooked. The fact that you can grab a Mech out of that box set and pit it against a modern ‘Mech sheet without any modifications is a testament to the endurance and slick design of the game engine. (In fact most of the changes over the years were focused on peripheral units, like tanks and infantry).
Especially given how other games have changed over the same time period, BT’s consistency is astounding!
I enjoy BT, I really liked the Mechwarrior Wizkids version, which is probably blasphemous to purists, but like most collectible games it had a meteoric rise followed by a spectacular implosion.
Never got into the WizKids stuff myself, but I can certainly see the appeal.