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BattleTech

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20 Year Anniversary of BattleTech logo.

BattleTech is a science fiction universe akin to Star Trek or Star Wars. It began with a board game/wargame, designed by FASA in 1984. The game simulates warfare in the distant future of the 31st century, where humans battle in gigantic walking machines (known as BattleMechs) powered by fusion reactors, tanks, spaceships and aircraft, wielding weapons such as lasers, particle projection cannons, Gauss rifles, autocannons, and missiles. As the game and related stories are centered around the BattleMechs and warfare, it can be considered a type of a military space opera. BattleTech was originally released under the name BattleDroids, but was renamed with the release of the second edition due to George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. holding a trademark on the term droid. BattleTech has won three Origins Awards and its various spinoffs and expansions several more. The designs of the original 'Mechs were transplanted from Macross and other anime, but due to legal issues those images are no longer used.

An estimated twenty-five million people have played a BattleTech or MechWarrior game or read a BattleTech or MechWarrior novel, and at least ten million people have played the BattleTech computer games. More than eleven million copies of MechWarrior PC games and a similar number of MechWarrior: Dark Age Collectable Miniatures Game figures have been sold to date. Over three hundred and fifty different BattleTech/MechWarrior game and toy products have been produced to date; several products, such as the Technical Readout series, the core rulebook and base box set, have been in continuous print (in one form or another) since publication. More than five thousand World Wide Web pages have been created to date by the online BattleTech community.

Contents

[edit] Political entities of BattleTech

Battlemechs from cover of the book The Legend of the Jade Phoenix by Robert Thurston, art by Fred Gambino.


BattleTech's universe is comprised of numerous interstellar human governments that vie for supremacy. Known space can be divided into three regions centered on the Terran star system:

  • The Inner Sphere, containing all worlds within 500 light-years of Terra; this term usually refers to the traditional territories of the Successor States
  • The Periphery, all worlds beyond 500 light-years of terra; but this term normally refers to the nations that lie near the Successor States
  • The Deep Periphery, the mostly uncharted space beyond the nearby Periphery states

[edit] The Successor States

The Inner Sphere has always been the heart of the BattleTech Universe. It is dominated by the five Great Houses - House Davion, House Liao, House Marik, House Steiner, and House Kurita. The leader of each Great House claims to be the rightful successor to the rule of the Star League, and so their nations are known as the Successor States. The Federated Suns (ruled by House Davion) is the largest of the Successor States. It joined with the Lyran Commonwealth in 3030 to form the Federated Commonwealth, though civil war divided them again in 3067. The Capellan Confederation (ruled by House Liao) is the smallest of the Successor States. During the 3060s it forms the Trinity Alliance along with two nearby periphery nations. The Free Worlds League (ruled by House Marik) is the nation most prone to civil war, and supplies military goods to the other Houses throughout the Clan Invasion. The Lyran Commonwealth (ruled by House Steiner) has the strongest economy. After seceding from the Federated Commonwealth in 3057 it was renamed the Lyran Alliance. The Draconis Combine (ruled by House Kurita) bases its culture on that of ancient Japan, and rivals the Federated Suns for military strength.

There are few other significant nations in the Inner Sphere. The St. Ives Compact was a short-lived state that broke away from the Capellan Confederation after the 4th Succession War, and was reabsorbed following a brief war in 3062. The Free Rasalhague Republic was created in 3034 by a deal between the Draconis Combine and the Lyran Commonwealth. It rivaled the Capellan Confederation for size, but by 3052 it had been almost entirely conquered by the Clans; in the late 3060s, much of it is incorporated into the Ghost Bear Dominion (which is known as the Rasalhague Dominion by 3130).

Battlemechs from cover of the book Patriots and Tyrants by Loren L. Coleman, art by Fred Gambino.

[edit] Terran Nations

The Terran Hegemony (ruled by House Cameron) contained the worlds surrounding Terra and dominated the Star League. The interstellar communications network, known as ComStar, was the only part of that government to survive the Fall of the League in the late 28th century. It captured the Terran star system while the Successor States divided the remaining Hegemony worlds. Comstar quickly developed into a mystical organization, so much so that secular reforms in 3052 drove many dissidents to form the competing Word of Blake. In 3058 a small region of independent worlds called the Chaos March formed around Terra and the Word of Blake took this opportunity to conquer Terra. They took many nearby worlds into their protectorate, and eventually initiated a Sphere-wide war. They were ultimately defeated by Devlin Stone in 3081. At that time Stone demanded and received all worlds within 120 light years of Terra to form the Republic of the Sphere.

[edit] The Clans

The Clans were formed after Aleksandr Kerensky took the majority of the Star League Army into exile. They were originally created to prevent the factionalism that had caused the disintegration of the Star League. Later, they became the genetically enhanced and artificially-birthed warriors known today. The four strongest Clans returned to the Inner Sphere as would-be conquerors in 3049 - Clan Jade Falcon, Clan Wolf (briefly renamed to Clan Jade Wolf in 3058), Clan Ghost Bear, and Clan Smoke Jaguar. A year later they were joined by Clan Steel Viper, Clan Diamond Shark (known as Clan Sea Fox until 2985 and again after 3100), and Clan Nova Cat. Two more Clans move into the Inner Sphere in the late 3060s - Clan Hell's Horses reinforce the Wolves, and Clan Snow Raven takes up residence in the Outworld's Alliance (which by 3130 is known as the Raven Alliance). The Clan Occupation Zones together occupy a region roughly equivalent to a Successor State.

Kerensky christened 20 original Clans, although many have fallen over the centuries and only 14 exist or are still considered 'Clan' as of 3067. Half of Clan Wolf (known as Clan Wolf-in-Exile) defects to the Inner Sphere in 3052, and the Nova Cats defect in 3059 to assist in the Annihilation of Clan Smoke Jaguar. The Not-Named Clan (sometimes known as Clan Wolverine or the Minnesota Tribe) was the first to be Annihilated, in 2823. Clan Widowmaker is absorbed by Clan Wolf in 2834, Clan Mongoose is absorbed by Clan Smoke Jaguar in 2868, and Clan Burrock is absorbed by Clan Star Adder in 3059. At least one of the Homeworld Clans (Clan Blood Spirit, Clan Cloud Cobra, Clan Coyote, Clan Fire Mandrill, Clan Goliath Scorpion, Clan Ice Hellion, and Clan Star Adder) also falls sometime between 3080 and 3130.

Battlemechs from cover of the book Storms of Fate by Loren L. Coleman, art by Fred Gambino.

[edit] Mercenaries

Inner Sphere has many private military companies. Some of them are quite famous and powerful, and their actions have influenced the history of the known universe. Among the most famous mercenary groups are:

[edit] The Periphery Realms

The space surrounding the Inner Sphere contains a number of independent nations, known collectively as the Periphery. The largest of these nations predate the Star League and rival the Successor States themselves in power - the Outworlds Alliance (ruled by House Avellar), the Taurian Concordat (ruled by House Calderon), the The Magistracy of Canopus (ruled by House Centrella), and the Marian Hegemony (ruled by House O'Reilly). Another nation, the Rim World's Republic (ruled by House Amaris) fragmented during the Fall of the Star League and was later replaced by the Bandit Kingdoms. Minor periphery nations consisting of single star systems are also common.

[edit] Main protagonists of BattleTech

Main article: List of BattleTech characters

[edit] Technology of BattleTech

Main article: BattleTech technology

[edit] Notable Battletech artists, designers, and writers

[edit] BattleTech trivia and in-jokes

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Many of the novels and sourcebooks incorporate pop-culture references, in names and places. Anime and manga seem to be a popular source of names for minor characters, as does history. Examples of both include:

Image:JBtech.jpg
  • FASA, the company that produced BattleTech, was sued for copyright infringement for using several mecha designs from Macross and other anime series without the proper copyright licenses1 (the first edition of BattleTech, then named BattleDroids, actually included two Japanese 1/144 model kits from the Fang of Sun Dougram anime series).) The related lawsuits were settled out of court, and later products of BattleTech do not use the designs under contention.
    • In the Japanese edition of BattleTech, all of these designs got redesigned by Studio Nue, creator of Macross.
  • Perhaps the most famous character in BattleTech, General Aleksandr Kerensky, is said to be a direct descendant of a real-world Russian statesman of similar name.
  • Reference to an "Area 51" in the "Roswell district" of New Avalon.
  • Reference to a Precentor "Igarashi Miya" of ComStar. In Here is Greenwood, Igarashi Miya is the love interest of protagonist Hasukawa Kazuya.
  • Reference to an Adept "Madoka Kasuga" of the Com Guards. In Kimagure Orange Road, Ayukawa Madoka was one of the two love interests of protagonist Kasuga Kyosuke. The Kimagure-class cruiser of the Star League Defense Force may also be an indirect reference to the series.
  • Reference to a Colonel "Benton Frasier" of the Royal Diefenbaker Rifles. This is a reference to the CBS TV Series Due South.
  • Reference to the planet Lum, capital of Clan Snow Raven, in the Kerensky Cluster. Lum is the name of the female lead character in Urusei Yatsura. The reference is further bolstered by mention of a major city on the planet named Rumiko, which is probably a reference to Takahashi Rumiko, author of the Urusei Yatsura manga (among others). Lum is also an Alcoholic beverage in Star Wars.
  • Reference to the planet Harloc in the Capellan Confederation. This is a reference to anime icon Space Pirate Captain Harlock. This reference is further bolstered by mention of the "Owen Stanley Mountains" on the planet; a mountain range known by this name was a plot device in the Captain Harlock movie My Youth in Arcadia.
  • Reference to the planet Klathandu IV in the Draconis Combine, this is a reference to Starship Troopers, where the main "bug" planet is Klendathu or "Big K"
    • In an art item in the sourcebook Field Manual: Federated Suns, a suit of powered combat armor has the name "CDR J. Rico" emblazoned on it, this is also a reference to Robert A. Heinlein's novel Starship Troopers.
  • The Wolf's Dragoons sourcebook has a Char Aznable listed in the unit roster for the famous Zeta Battalion. The original Aznable is a character from various Mobile Suit Gundam series. Lieutenant Aznable was written out of the unit in 1989. The sourcebook lists him as killed on the planet Misery, a reference to the events in the 1988 novel Wolves on the Border.
  • The Star League Sourcebook mentions an Aegis-class heavy cruiser named the E. Presley. This is almost definitely a reference to Elvis Presley.
  • Some of the early novels make mention of a mercenary regiment named "Team Banzai", under contract to the Federated Suns, whose leader, Dr. B. Banzai, is a scientific genius who teaches at the New Avalon Institute of Science. This is clearly a reference to Buckaroo Banzai. The reference was altered to be more subtle in later works, with the unit changing its name to the "Hong Kong Cavaliers".
  • There are references in the game to "The Fighting Urakhai," a mercenary unit said to have taken its name from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The unit's insignia even features a white hand on a black shield. Following the release of New Line Cinema's LotR movie trilogy and a subsequent increase of public awareness, a decision was taken to write the unit out of the game.
  • Another The Lord of the Rings reference can be found with the name of the Capital planet of the Draconis Combine, Luthien.
  • The mercenary unit Cranston Snord's Irregulars (later Rhonda's Irregulars) would regularly scour the Inner Sphere for 20th century artifacts, resulting in numerous pop culture references. In one instance (seen in "Shrapnel,") the unit tricks House Marik during a raid in order to obtain, amongst other things, original Frank Frazetta paintings.
  • The mercenary unit Grim Determination was, for years, led by one Colonel "Hardy Haarhar". This is both a reference to a cynical laugh as well as a Hanna-Barbera character of the same name.
  • Another mercenary unit, Wylie's Coyotes, is a reference to the classic Looney Toons character Wile E. Coyote. Later, this unit changed its name to Blanc's Coyotes, a reference to Mel Blanc, who voiced many of the old Looney Toons characters.
  • Clan Coyote's Delta Galaxy is led by Armin Tamzarian, an alias of Seymour Skinner from The Simpsons
  • Several Battletech players, fans, or development staff have also been canonised, either as recognition for their contribution to Battletech or via Prize Draws in support of various charities. The most notable of these are:
    • "Sang-Shao Jordan Weis": Jordan Weisman, founder of FASA & Wizkids
    • "Gustavus Michaels": Michael Stackpole
    • "Terrence Peter LaCasse": Peter LaCasse
    • "Colonel Warner Doles": Warner Doles
    • "Marshal Randy Hasek-Bills": Randall N. Bills
    • "Demi-Precentor Rebek Craines": Rebekah Crane
    • "Intel Director Larry Coleman": Loren L. Coleman
    • "Adept Nonda Toolippi": Donna Ippolito
    • "Professor Bertram Habeas" and "Aristide Habeas" are the identites of Herbert A. Beas II.
    • "Larry Acuff": A Solaris VII Champion of the same name.
    • "Brian Pryde": Brian Bunch (a well-known if unlucky Jade Falcon player).
    • The late J. Andrew Keith is referenced in memoriam as "Keith Andrew" in the 1999 PC game MechWarrior 3.
    • "Dr. Rick Raisley": Rick Raisly, programer of the "Heavy Metal" line of software, used by players (and the development staff) of Battletech to create units, and print out said units, for use with the board game.
    • "Professor-General Sam Lewis" is a reference to Sam Lewis, once-president of FASA
  • Reference to the holovid show "The ComStar Files", a reference to the TV series "The X-Files."
  • The mercenary unit Canned Heat is a reference to the blues-rock band Canned Heat from the late 60's and early 70's.
  • The Royal Black Watch, since the publication of the Star League Sourcebook, has been described as the body guard of the First Lord of the Star League. The unit is described to use the insignia of the Scottish battalion.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

See related article on BattleTechWiki

[edit] Official sites

[edit] Movie Project

[edit] The cartoon

BattleTech
BattleTech Universe History of the BattleTech universe • BattleTech Technology
The Inner Sphere Federated Suns • Capellan Confederation • Free Worlds League • Lyran Commonwealth • Draconis Combine • St. Ives Compact • Free Rasalhague Republic • Terran Hegemony • Comstar • Word of Blake • Star League • Republic of the Sphere • Chaos March • Mercenaries
The Clans Jade Falcon • Wolf • Ghost Bear • Smoke Jaguar • Steel Viper • Diamond Shark • Nova Cat • Hell's Horses • Snow Raven • Wolverine • Widowmaker • Mogoose • Burrock • Star Adder • Blood Adder • Cloud Cobra • Coyote • Fire Mandrill • Goliath Scorpion • Ice Hellion
The Periphery Outworlds Alliance • Taurian Concordat • Magistracy of Canopus • Marian Hegemony • Rim Worlds Republic • Bandit Kingdoms • Deep Periphery Nations • Minor Periphery Nations
Tabletop Games Classic BattleTech • AeroTech • BattleForce • The Succession Wars • BattleTroops • Battlespace • BattleTech CCG • MechWarrior Darkage • MechWarrior

v • d • e</div>

MechWarrior video games
MechWarrior • MechWarrior 2 • MechWarrior 3 • MechWarrior 4 • MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries
MechCommander • MechCommander 2
MechAssault • MechAssault 2 • MechAssault: Phantom War
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