Try BattleTech for free – here’s how!
Are you interested in BattleTech or BattleTech Alpha Strike, but don’t want to spend money on miniatures and rulebooks right away? No problem! The popular mech tabletop can be tested completely free of charge. In this article, you’ll find out how you can get started right away with little effort.
1. The Quick Start Rules – Get to know BattleTech for free
Catalyst Game Labs offers free Quick Start Rules for BattleTech and BattleTech Alpha Strike. These contain the basic rules and enable a quick introduction to the game. The rules are designed in such a way that they offer newcomers uncomplicated access without having to familiarize themselves immediately with complex mechanics.
You can download the Quick Start Rules for free as a PDF on the official BattleTech website of Catalyst Game Labs:
- BattleTech Quick Start Rules for classic BattleTech
- Alpha Strike Quick Start Rules for the faster, strategic variant
2. BattleMech data sheets and Alpha Strike cards – also free of charge
So that you also have playable units, the mech data sheets (Record Sheets) for BattleTech and the Alpha Strike maps are available to download free of charge. These contain all the important values for using your BattleMechs in the game. The BattleMech record sheets can be found on the Battletech page in the download area, the Alpha Strike cards in the Master Unit List.
With these free resources, you already have everything you need for a game of BattleTech or Alpha Strike – almost! Because you still need a few tools for the game itself.
3. What you still need to play
Apart from the Quick Start Rules and the unit cards, you only need a few additional materials:
- Dice (6-sided dice that can be found in every household)
- An inch tape measure (only necessary for Alpha Strike, alternatively a ruler is also possible)
- Replacement for miniatures: If you don’t have BattleTech mechs, you can simply use other figures such as Playmobil, LEGO, chess pieces or cardboard markers. The Quick Start Rules also contain some printable figure plates.
- Playing field: A sheet of paper with a hand-drawn grid or a printed hex is completely sufficient. For BattleTech classic there are also hex maps to print yourself, e.g. at Sarna.net.
- Terrain simulation: Terrain can easily be improvised for Alpha Strike. Use books or cardboard boxes for hills and mountains, while bottles or other household items can be used as buildings. This quickly creates a three-dimensional play landscape.
4. Advantages of the free test
The free trial has many advantages, especially for beginners:
- No financial hurdles: You can get to know the game without investing any money.
- Get started quickly: With the Quick Start Rules, you can get started in just a few minutes.
- Flexibility: You don’t need special miniatures, you can improvise.
- Decision support: You can test whether BattleTech or Alpha Strike suits your playing style before you buy miniatures or rulebooks.
Conclusion: BattleTech free of charge is an excellent way to get to know the game
BattleTech is one of the oldest and most popular sci-fi tabletops, and with the free Quick Start Rules you can try out the game without any obligation. All you need are dice, a few printouts and a little creativity for miniatures and terrain. Perfect for beginners and the curious!
