Who can deploy him? The new availability view in The Tactical Screen
Just the other day, I was sitting down again to plan my list for an upcoming Alpha Strike game set in a specific era, and I was faced with a familiar question: Am I even allowed to use this Mech in this scenario? The Atlas is an absolute monster on the battlefield—but is it actually available to me in the year 3025 during the Succession Wars? And if so, for which faction?
Until now, this often meant spending a lot of time scrolling through the Master Unit List (MUL) or other sources. But that’s over now! Under Tools → Availability, The Tactical Screen has unlocked a new feature. I’ve put this feature through its paces and will show you how it simplifies creating your lists.
Select a unit, see everything
Using the new tool is incredibly simple. In the selection panel, just type in the name of a chassis—such as “Warhammer”—and you’ll immediately see an overview of all related variants.
To keep from getting lost in a sea of data, you can filter your search precisely:
- Unit Type: Narrows the selection down to BattleMechs, vehicles, or infantry.
Click to select a specific variant. If you’d rather keep an overview of the entire chassis, simply don’t select anything or deselect your choice with a click.
Variants & Eras in Detail
Once you’ve selected a chassis, the results list displays all variants one below the other—sorted chronologically by the year of their first appearance in the BattleTech universe. Each card shows you the model designation, role, type, size, and point value (PV) at a glance.
Availability by Era and Faction
The real highlight of the data cards lies in the details: For each variant, you can expand the availability section. This is clearly organized by era, with all the factions that were allowed to field the model during that era listed under each era.
My tip for setting up scenarios: Eras in which a variant wasn’t available are also displayed—though without an entry. This lets you see the historical gaps at a glance, instead of wondering why your favorite Mech isn’t showing up in the Succession Wars setup.
In addition, the header for each variant summarizes its availability (e.g., “7 out of 12 eras · 34 factions”). This way, you can immediately tell whether you have a true all-rounder or a rare gem in your squad.
The Highlight: The Gantt Timeline
I was particularly impressed by the new timeline mode, which you can activate in the top-right corner using the ” Cards / Timeline ” toggle.
In this view, all variants are listed one below the other, while colored bars span across the eras. They show you exactly when each variant was available:
- Color intensity: The color intensity immediately tells you how many factions were able to use that variant during the respective era.
- Interactivity: Clicking on a bar lists all the factions by name.
This creates a striking visual representation of a chassis’s development history. While a classic like the Atlas remains consistently available throughout much of the timeline, special variants of other mechs show significant gaps or short, intense periods of use. This is ideal for compiling historically accurate Combined Arms lists or simply tracking the career of your favorite mech.
My conclusion
Whether you’re building a deck for the next tournament, creating narrative scenarios set in a specific era, or simply indulging in nostalgia while browsing the Lore. The new availability view answers the question “Who can field him?” in a matter of seconds. With detailed cards for precise stat checks and a Gantt chart for the big picture, this tool is a real asset for every BattleTech strategist!
Enjoy!
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Ich bin Sören Spieckermann, der Kopf hinter mechstrategen. Seit Jahren faszinieren mich taktische Tabletop-Schlachten und die strategische Tiefe von Mechs. Ob schnelle Gefechte in Halo: Flashpoint oder epische Schlachten bei BattleTech Alpha Strike – hier teile ich meine Erfahrungen und Taktiken mit dir. Mein Ziel? Sowohl Einsteigern den Start zu erleichtern als auch alten Hasen neue Impulse für das nächste Match zu geben.
