Mapsheet

In the classic BattleTech board game, as well as in most other games set in the BattleTech universe, the main gameplay takes place on a mapsheet with hexagonal playing fields. Typically, two mapsheets would be included with every boxed set. Sets with other playing maps were later produced as game supplements.

Although a number of "official" mapsheets exist for BattleTech, players are by no means required to use these. The game can be played on essentially any terrain. Players are free to create hex-based terrain to play on, and earlier mapsheets had backs with blank hex grids on which players could draw terrain features as desired. Various fan organizations and third parties have created custom mapsheets for tournaments or general gaming.

Mapsheet[edit]

Original 1984 Battledroids map

The standard mapsheet layout has remained unchanged from the original Battledroids edition through to the latest editions, though there have been cosmetic changes. The printed size of a standard mapsheet is 22 inches by 18 inches (not 22 by 17 as many rulebooks suggest).[1]

This basic mapsheet, two of which are included in each boxed set, is a standardized size and has an addressing scheme printed on the map in a staggered row and column format. There are fifteen columns, 01XX through 15XX, and there are nominally 17 rows, XX01 through XX17. Additionally there is an unaddressed half hex column on the sides of the mapsheet that make up a "sixteenth column" when multiple mapsheets are tiled. On a standard mapsheet the hex size as originally printed is approximately 1.25 inches and depicts terrain 30 meters (roughly 100 feet) across. As published, BattleTech mapsheets have terrain, including vegetation, hydrologic features and topography marked. The back was a blank hex board in earlier editions; such blank playing fields are not considered tournament-legal maps though.[citation needed]

Under standard rules the mapsheet is also referred to as a unit of distance with the range of artillery pieces being originally expressed in terms of the number of mapsheets (or "boards") a given unit could fire.[2] Under AeroTech rules, each hex on the low altitude map corresponds with a mapsheet at the ground level.[3]Total Warfare provides rules how maps may (or may not) be placed to form bigger playing fields, and provides that in the absence of actual mapsheets (e.g. when playing on other hex terrain), one "board" translates as 17 hexes for determining range.

Other board games in the BattleTech universe have generally used mapsheets that are printed to the same size hex size as the original mapsheet, even though other games have represented different distances per hex: The mapsheets included with BattleForce originally represented 180m per hex[4] compared to the 30m per hex of standard BattleTech. The BattleForce mapsheet is a double size mapsheet, being exactly twice the width, in hexes, of the standard BattleTech mapsheet, with columns from 01XX to 32XX. Similarly, the mapsheets in the Solaris VII game represent only 7.5 meters of ground distance, a quarter of the scale of standard BattleTech. Nonetheless, as the hexes are printed to the same size on paper and use the same map symbology the maps can be used interchangeably between these various BattleTech scales. BattleTroops was one notable departure from this printing convention, instead using a layout of points in a triangular (or arguably hexagonal) pattern rather than a hex-grid.[5] The original AeroTech map was another departure, being printed on a half inch hex-grid rather than the one and a quarter inch grid in BattleTech for both an outer space map and a low altitude map.

Up until 1988 (i.e. up until the first edition of Map Set 2) the BattleTech maps were printed on thick cardboard similar to the maps included with the BattleTech 2nd Edition and CityTech boxed sets.
Starting with the second edition of Map Set 2 (1991) and the BattleTech, Third Edition (1992) boxed set, maps were printed on thinner paper. This allowed maps to be included in some sourcebooks, too. (see Other maps below)
The 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set and Hex Pack: Lakes and Rivers were the first products to feature a new generation of thick, vinyl covered double-sided map boards from 2010 onwards. However, CGL reverted to paper maps by 2018 for cost reasons.[6]

From 2002 until 2008 the various game supplements, including map sets, were produced under the "Classic BattleTech" moniker to differentiate them from supplements for the "MechWarrior: Dark Age" brand. Afterwards, the line reverted to just "BattleTech".

Map Sets[edit]

A number of Map Sets and Map Set Compilations were published as supplements for the game, providing additional gaming maps with new hex-based terrain.

Map Set[edit]

FASA product #1610; also colloquially known as the "Map Set #1". Released in 1985.

(see Map Set 1 for full article)

Map Set

Maps included:

Map Set 2[edit]

FASA product #1618. Released first in 1988 with four cardboard maps, again in 1989 with six cardboard maps, and then rereleased in 1991, 1993 and 1995 with eight paper maps, with the same product number. Two German editions were published in 1990 as GeoTech and 1993 as GeoTech I (see below). A Finnish edition was released in 1992 as Karttasetti 1.

(see Map Set 2 for full article)

Map Set 2

Maps included:

Map Set 3[edit]

FASA product #1638, released in 1991. German edition published in 1993 as "GeoTech II" (see below).

(see Map Set 3 for full article)

Map Set 3

Maps included:

Map Set 4[edit]

FASA product #1663, released in 1991. German edition published in 1993 as "GeoTech III" (see below).

(see Map Set 4 for full article)

Map Set 4

Maps included:

Map Set 5[edit]

FASA product #1683, released in 1997. The "Open Terrain #1" map was identical to the "Open Terrain" map previously published in the first Map Set, albeit printed on paper instead of cardboard. German edition published in 1997 as "GeoTech IV" (see below).

(see Map Set 5 for full article)

Map Set 5

Maps included:

Map Set 6[edit]

FASA product #1723, released in 2000.

(see Map Set 6 for full article)

Map Set 6

Maps included:

Map Set 7[edit]

FanPro product #10972, released in 2002.

(see Map Set 7 for full article)

Map Set 7

Maps included:

Map Set Compilation 1[edit]

FanPro product #10990, released in 2003. Includes all maps from Map Sets 2 through 4.

(see Map Set Compilation 1 for full article)

Map Set Compilation 2[edit]

FanPro product #35012, released in 2005. Includes the maps from Map Sets 5 and 6, plus Planetary Assault Maps 1 and 2 from BattleForce 2 and the BattleSpace map.

(see Map Set Compilation 2 for full article)'

Extra maps included:

Solaris VII Arena Maps[edit]

Several hex maps have been released for various arenas on Solaris VII.

Solaris VII: The Game World Boxed Set[edit]

The Solaris VII: The Game World boxed set, published in 1991, included maps for five arenas (with one arena requiring two sheets), one for each of the major houses. The Ishiyama map was intended to be cut in quarters and then randomly arranged each match to reflect the unknown layout of the arena.

Maps included:

Solaris VII: The Reaches Sourcebook[edit]

In 1993 an expansion to the aforementioned boxed set was published as the sourcebook titled Solaris: The Reaches. Five additional hex maps were included.

Maps included:

MapPack: Solaris VII[edit]

MapPack Solaris VII

FanPro product #35002 was released in 2005.

(see MapPack: Solaris VII for full article)

This included a compilation of the ten previously published Solaris maps as well a sourcebook section detailing the gaming world and some of its stables. Special rules are provided for playing on certain maps.

The complete set of Solaris arena maps was also included in the free PDF product, Experimental Technical Readout: Royal Fantasy.

Noisiel Summer Games Maps[edit]

Touring the Stars: Noisiel[edit]

The PDF-only Touring the Stars: Noisiel contains six printable maps and rule expansions to play the Mech games that make Noisiel famous for their Summer Games.

Maps included:

HexPacks[edit]

The first HexPack (occasionally also spelled as two words: "Hex Pack") was released in 2010 and heralded a new style for maps, which were now printed on thick, double-sided gameboard-style cardboard with vinyl covering, with different maps printed on the two sides. In addition, punch-out map pieces of various sizes are included to modify the maps as well as a booklet with scenarios and rules expansions for the basic game from Tactical Operations. (The BattleTech 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set may have been intended to be the first product featuring these improved maps, but its release was delayed until 2011 by other issues.)

HexPack: Lakes and Rivers[edit]

HexPack: Lakes and Rivers

CGL product #35140, released in 2010.

(see HexPack: Lakes and Rivers for full article)

Maps included: River Valley, Large Lakes #2 (double-sided).

HexPack: Cities and Roads[edit]

HexPack: Cities and Roads

CGL product #35141, released in 2011.

(see HexPack: Cities and Roads for full article)

Maps included: City (Skyscraper), City (Hills/Residential) #1 (double-sided).

HexPack: Mountains and Canyons[edit]

HexPack: Mountains and Canyons

CGL product #35142, released in 2012.

(see HexPack: Mountains and Canyons for full article)

Maps included: Large Mountain #1, Deep Canyon #1 (double-sided).

MapPacks[edit]

MapPack PDF Series[edit]

In early 2013 Catalyst Game Labs began publishing the MapPack series, PDF editions of previously published maps. Using the original mapsheet art, and sized for compatibility with the original printed sheets and newer Hex Packs alike, they are meant as a PDF game aid to be printed out as required. Besides six individual maps, the MapPack Flatlands Terrain Set was published that combined those six maps for a lower price. Three months later five more maps and the MapPack Hill Terrain Set (including the five new maps and the Desert Hills map that had already been part of the previous set) were published.

Map Pack Worldwide Event 2018 Terrain Set[edit]

(see Map Pack: WWE2018 Terrain Set for full article)
Map Pack WWE 2018 Terrain Set

In the wake of the Dig, Defend, or Die 2018 Worldwide Event, a series of related PDF products was released by CGL that included the scenario's Terrain Set of four newly created maps under the "Map Pack" moniker. Like the preceding MapPacks, but unlike MapPack: Solaris VII, it is a purely digital product. It was published for free.

Maps included:

Map Pack Grasslands[edit]

(see Map Pack: Grasslands for full article)
Map Pack: Grasslands

The first all-new map set in nearly twenty years, Map Pack: Grasslands includes six double-sided maps providing twelve brand-new battlefields.

Maps included:

Map Pack Battle of Tukayyid[edit]

(see Map Pack: Battle of Tukayyid for full article)
Map Pack: Battle of Tukayyid

A map set focused on the Battle of Tukayyid, with four double-sized, 34” x 22", double-sided paper maps.

Maps included:

Map Pack Alien Worlds[edit]

(see Map Pack: Alien Worlds for full article)
Map Pack: Alien Worlds

A map set focused on unusual biomes, with two double-sized, 34” x 22", double-sided paper maps.

Maps included:

Map Pack Deserts[edit]

(see Map Pack: Deserts for full article)
Map Pack: Deserts

A map set focused on the desert biome, with six 17” x 22", double-sided paper maps.

Maps included:

And Hell Followed With Him Worldwide Event 2020[edit]

(see And Hell Followed With Him for full article)
And Hell Followed With Him Worldwide Event 2020

While the materials for the 2020 Worldwide Event was not published, four newly created maps were designed for the scenario, and provided for those who participated in the event.

Maps included:

Boxed Sets[edit]

BattleTech: Beginner Box[edit]

(see BattleTech: Beginner Box for full article)
BattleTech: Beginner Box

The beginner boxed set includes one unique, double-sided 18″ x 22″ full-color game map, with maps called Grasslands #1 (Side A) and Desert #1 (Side B).

Maps included:

BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat[edit]

(see BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat for full article)
BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat

The A Game of Armored Combat boxed set includes two unique, double-sided 18″ x 22″ full-color game maps, with maps called Grasslands #2, Grasslands #3, Desert #2 and Desert #3.

Maps included:

BattleTech: Clan Invasion[edit]

(see BattleTech: Clan Invasion for full article)
BattleTech: Clan Invasion

The Clan Invasion boxed set includes two unique, double-sided 18″ x 22″ full-color game maps.

Maps included:

Reinforcements: Clan Invasion[edit]

(see BattleTech Reinforcements: Clan Invasion for full article)
Reinforcements: Clan Invasion

The Reinforcements: Clan Invasion boxed set includes one unique, double-sided 36″ x 22″ full-color game map focused on Twycross.

Maps included:

BattleTech: Essentials Box[edit]

(see BattleTech: Essentials for full article)
BattleTech: Essentials Box

The essentials boxed set includes one unique, double-sided 18"x22" full-color game map, with maps called Stiener Stadium-SolarisVII (Side A) and The Patchwork-The Reaches (Side B)

Maps included:

BattleMats[edit]

BattleMat: Grassland Collection[edit]

(see BattleMat: Grassland Collection for full article)
BattleMat: Grassland Collection

A high-quality neoprene map set (34"x 22" Inches) featuring different terrain, including biomes including Desert, Luna, Alpine, Savanna and Tundra. The set was created to complement the BattleTech Map Pack: Grasslands that was released shortly after this set, and also including a number of these grassland maps on the reverse side of the BattleMats.[7]

Maps included:

BattleMat: Battle of Tukayyid Collection[edit]

(see BattleMat: Battle of Tukayyid Collection for full article)
BattleMat: BattleMat: Battle of Tukayyid Collection

A high-quality neoprene map set (34"x 22" Inches) featuring battle locations from the Battle of Tukayyid.

Maps included:

BattleMat: Strana Mechty[edit]

(see BattleMat: Strana Mechty for full article)
BattleMat: Strana Mechty

A high-quality neoprene map set focused on Strana Mechty, with one double-sized, 34” x 22", double-sided BattleMat.

Maps included:

Aerospace BattleMat[edit]

(see Aerospace BattleMat for full article)
Aerospace BattleMat Display at Gen Con 2021

A high-quality neoprene map set focused on aerospace, with one double-sized, 36” x 22", double-sided BattleMat.

Maps included:

Alpha Strike Hexless BattleMat[edit]

(see Alpha Strike Hexless BattleMat for full article)

A high-quality neoprene map set, designed for hexless Alpha Strike play, with one double-sized, 36” x 22", double-sided BattleMat.

Maps included:

BattleTech MegaMat[edit]

(see BattleTech MegaMat for full article)

A high-quality neoprene extra-large map set, with one mega-sized, 72” x 48" double-sided BattleMat. The first side of this BattleMat is a desert map containing 8 of the 12 maps from Map Pack: Deserts, and the second side is a grasslands map containing 8 of the 12 maps from Map Pack: Grasslands.

Maps included:

Alien Worlds BattleMats[edit]

(see Alien Worlds BattleMats for full article)

A high-quality neoprene map set focused on unusual biomes, with four double-sized, 34” x 22", double-sided BattleMats. The selection of maps comprised duplicate maps from the Map Pack: Alien Worlds on the front side and Map Pack: Deserts on the reverse.

Maps included:

Other Maps[edit]

Beyond the boxed sets and dedicated map packs, some other individual products include boardgame mapsheets with hexes. Beyond these it should be noted that some products like the Turning Points series typically include maps such as individual planetary maps for the worlds featured.

BattlePack: Fourth Succession War[edit]

The "Woodland" map was first published with BattlePack: Fourth Succession War in 1998 before it was included in Map Set #6 two years later.

Luthien scenario pack[edit]

The Luthien from 1993 included a loose double-sided map. One side depicted part of Imperial City, the other Kado-guchi Valley. The latter was the site of a large battle and is meant for playing on a different scale akin to BattleForce.

Renegade Legion[edit]

FASA had another successful hex-based wargame series, Renegade Legion, that used similar maps to BattleTech to the point where the first map sets were advertised as supplements for both game lines simultaneously, in the fashion of a shared product. Conversely, some Renegade Legion products contain mapsheets that were never officially published for BattleTech, but can be used for BattleTech nonetheless. Renegade Legion had a hovertank combat system (Centurion) with maps similar in style to regular BattleTech maps, and its Leviathan and Interceptor space combat games had maps similar to AeroTech.

Side-by-side comparison of maps from the Renegade Legion/Centurion (left) and BattleTech (right) games

The Centurion mapsheets fold out to the equivalent of two BattleTech maps. While compatible with BattleTech map topology, the hexes on the Centurion map are printed slightly larger so that the mapsheets from the two games do not align.

Casus Belli magazine[edit]

The French gaming magazine Casus Belli, who had ties to the official publisher of the French edition of BattleTech (Jeux Descartes), published a BattleTech map in 1994 that is copyrighted to the magazine, but matches the style found in other BattleTech maps. The map is marked "©Casus Belli 1994 Carte conçue par Michal Salicetto, dessin Bernard Bittler BATTLETECH est un jeu édité par Jeux Descartes sous licence FASA". Since this product was not published directly by a BattleTech IP owner or licensee, its status as an official product is arguable.

MWDA Solaris mapsheets[edit]

Although the MechWarrior: Dark Age clix game was designed as a miniatures game forgoing gaming maps in favor of miniature terrain, WizKids produced a number of mapsheets with the usual hex grid for various Solaris VII arenas. Hex sides were printed with various colors to show the changes in terrain features and elevations that could affect the use of certain abilities and equipment.

There was one such map for each (Light, Medium, Heavy and Assault-class) "Solaris VII Action Pack" set and one for the "Youngblood Training Field" that went with the Atlas and Marauder promotional pieces.

The "Solaris VII Action Pack" maps are double-sided, one with the arena one, and the other with the same map. The four of them together form the tournament map.

German map sets[edit]

GeoTech[edit]

Between 1990 and 1997, German BattleTech licensee FanPro, who would later also be the game's English-language publisher for a time, reproduced Map Sets 2 through 5 and sold them as GeoTech I through IV in Germany. A first, unnumbered GeoTech set was published in 1990 containing a specially produced (German) BattleTech rules booklet with excerpts from the BattleTech Manual rulebook and the Mountain Lake, Scattered Woods, Desert Hills and City Ruins maps, i.e. parts of Map Set 2, plus four plastic paper clips.

BattleTech Kartensets[edit]

German BattleTech licensee Ulisses Spiele published a range of map sets ("BattleTech Kartensets") in 2014, both as a physical product and as PDF downloads. The physical maps are thick cardboard maps akin to those from the latest boxed sets and Hex Packs, with one of the classic game maps printed on either side. The maps retained their English names, but the markings on the maps are in German. Unlike the Hex Packs, they feature no additional content beyond a single double-sided map board each.

BattleTech Starterbox[edit]

In 2017 Ulisses Spiele released a new, original BattleTech Starterbox boxed set (not to be confused with the previous "Einsteigerbox"). This box contains two all-new mapsheets in the new thick cardboard style of the HexPacks and Kartensets that were designed specifically for this product, labeled "Mine" and "Country Side 3":

References[edit]

  1. BattleTech 2nd Edition rulebook, p. 1
  2. Tactical Operations, p. 304
  3. The Rules of War, p. 67
  4. BattleForce rulebook, p. 3
  5. BattleTroops rulebook, p. 6
  6. In this reply on the official BattleTech Forum, Aaron "Cubby" Cahall explained that CGL had returned to paper mapsheets for the newest box sets because "The board-style maps of the past two box sets are cost-prohibitive."
  7. Catalyst Game Labs Link - Grasslands BattleMat