Editing MechWarrior: Dark Age Website

{{otheruses|the official MWDA website, often called LinkNet by fans|other uses of "LinkNet"|LinkNet}}
==Overview==
When [[WizKids]] launched the '''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age]]''' (MWDA) [https://wizkids.com/heroclix/ Clix] game in 2003, they also dedicated a subsection of their web presence to the game, presenting it as an outlet for news and messages within the [[BattleTech]] universe, as well as stories, scenarios, and other MWDA material (see Content below).

The site is often called "LinkNet" among the fan community for BattleTech and MWDA, in reference to the third framing device it used for in-universe news and messages.

Following the discontinuation of the MWDA game in 2008, the website was taken offline in 2010.

==Incarnations==
The MWDA website underwent changes as the game's storyline progressed. In particular, in-universe news and messages were given using three framing devices:

;June 2002 – Jan 2004
In-universe date: June [[3132]] – 9 March [[3134]]<br />
The site was styled as [[INN]], a news site based on [[Towne]] that offered a primer on the new [[Republic of the Sphere]] and a Republic Atlas, as well as [[Dark Age: Touring the Stars (3130)|Touring the Stars]] articles and [[ComStar]] newsfeeds. After the [[Blackout]] (on 7 August 3132) it mostly provided local news.

;2005
In-universe date: Jan – Dec [[3135]]<br />
During this time, the website offered the PDA journals of [[Evan Kaiple]] and [[Deandra Lowe]] as is, without any in-universe context.

;2006
[[Image:LinkNet.jpg|thumb|280px|right|LinkNet screenshot]]
In-universe date: Jan – Aug [[3136]]<br />
The in-universe [[LinkNet (news service)|LinkNet]] was a network formed by a handful of still functional [[HPG]]s in the wake of the Blackout, to keep each other informed and maintain HPG communication as much as circumstances allowed.

==Canonicity==
Like MWDA in general, the MWDA website was considered part of the greater [[BattleTech]] universe and its in-character content is considered fully [[canonical]], albeit subject to the usual possibilities for in-character resources to be in error due to oversight, bias, or outright misinformation.

==Content==
===Compilations===
Since much of the content published via the MWDA website was not published elsewhere, steps were undertaken to preserve it. [[Catalyst Game Labs]] and volunteers compiled some of the information into a number of files that CGL subsequently offered for free download via their website; these files are copyrighted to [[Topps]] with a 2012 timestamp:
*[[Dark Age: Touring the Stars|Touring the Stars]] - An in-universe look at the major factions, their histories and their status quo as of [[3130]].<br />(also contained within the 3132-3134 INN file, and not to be confused with the ''Touring the Stars'' series of PDF microproducts detailing individual star systems)
*[[Dark Age: Republic of the Sphere|Republic of the Sphere]] - A brief primer for the government and history of the premier new faction introduced in MWDA, the [[Republic of the Sphere]]. Also includes short biographies of the prominent personalities of the early Dark Age era.
*[[Dark Age: Republic Worlds|Republic Worlds]] - A gazetteer of the worlds that compose the Republic. (Note: Not all worlds are fully described by the time the website was taken down; many entries remained placeholder "articles" with no content.)
*Collections of in-universe news articles and personal journals that paint a vivid picture of life in the mid-[[thirty-second century]] from just before the HPG blackout into the years of [[Fortress Republic]].
**[[Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN|3132-3134 INN]] - A collection of news articles fleshing out the universe and advancing the timeling
**[[Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals|3135 PDA Journals]] - Diary-style snippets of information, fleshing out the universe and advancing the timeline
**[[Dark Age: 3136 LinkNet|3136 LinkNet]] - Transcripts from the in-universe "LinkNet", a group of still functional [[HPG]]s after the 3132 HPG Blackout, fleshing out the universe and advancing the timeline
**[[Dark Age: 3136 Levin's List|3136 Levin's List]] - Wanted ads and snippets, fleshing out the universe and advancing the timeline

===Faction Dossiers===
From 2003 on, the website hosted two [[Faction Dossiers (MWDA)|faction dossiers]] covering the [[Stormhammers]] and [[Republic Armed Forces]], supplementing those in the ''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age Starter Set]]''.

===Short Stories===
The website featured additional content for the BattleTech universe that (so far) was not made available for download again, including several short stories:
*''[[A Shot at Glory]]'', by [[Adam Sherwood]]
*''[[Angry Voices in the Dark]]'', by [[Loren L. Coleman]] (since available as EPUB for sale)
*''[[Field to Field]]'', by [[Jean Rabe]]
*''[[Loyalty (short story)|Loyalty]]'', by [[Jason Schmetzer]]
*''[[The Inheritance of Duty]]'', by [[Michael A. Stackpole]]
*''[[The Proof Is in the Pudding]]'', by Adam Sherwood
*''[[Tides of Change]]'', by [[Kevin Killiany]]

===Scenarios===
:''See also: [[:Category:MWDA Events]]''
Starting in September 2002, official scenarios for events and organized play arranged by WizKids became available from their website to support the MWDA game and its ongoing timeline and evolution. These included:
*''[[Gambit: The Battle for Addicks! ]]'' (September 2002)
*''[[Baring the Blade: The Battle for Ankaa!]]'' (October 2002)
*''[[Visions of Fire: The Battle for Ozawa!]]'' (November 2002)
*''[[Knife in the Dark: The Battle for New Rhodes III!]]'' (January 2003)
*''[[Roar of the Dragon: The Battle for Ronel!]]'' (February 2003)
*''[[Information Is Ammunition: The Battle for Achernar!]]'' (March 2003)
*''[[Black Rain: The Battle for Addicks]]'' (May 2003)
*''[[Trial of Destiny: The Battle for Ruchbah]]'' (June 2003)
*''[[Redemption: The Battle for Tybalt!]]'' (July 2003)
*''[[The Battle for Menkar]]'' (September 2003)
*''[[The Battle for Algot]]'' (October 2003)
*''[[The Battle for Buchlau]]'' (November 2003)
*''[[The Battle for Ningpo]]'' (January 2004)
*''[[The Battle For Algol]]'' (February 2004)
*''[[The Bitter Truth]]'' (March 2004)
*''[[Lies, Lies, Lies]]'' (April 2004)
*''[[Sword of Betrayal]]'' (May 2004)
*''[[Trouble in Paradise]]'' (June 2004)
*''[[Stick The Knife In]]'' (July 2004)
*''[[The Bird in the Trees]]'' (February 2005)
*''[[Recruitment Drive]]'' (March 2005)
*''[[Of ‘Mechs and Men]]'' (April 2005)
*''[[A Tale of Two Swords]]'' (May 2005)
*''[[Snakes In The Grass]]'' (June 2005)
*''[[The Dragon Eats Its Tail]]'' (July 2005)
*''[[Clash of Swords]]'' (August 2005)
*''[[The Combine Returns to Kervil]]'' (September 2005)
*''[[Taming the Dragon]]'' (October 2005)
*''[[Déjà Vu, All Over Again]]'' (November 2005)
*''[[The Bear In Winter]]'' (February 2006)
*''[[All Washed Up?]]'' (March 2006)
*''[[Beneath the Seas of Fire]]'' (April 2006)
*''[[If You Can’t Take The Heat]]'' (May 2006)
*''[[A Matter of Honor (Scenario)]]'' (June 2006)
*''[[Finders Keepers]]'' (July 2006)
*''[[The Dragon! The Dragon!!]]'' (July 2006)
*''[[Escape!]]'' (August 2006)
*''[[Good Night, Knight]]'' (August 2006)
*''[[Urban Warfare]]'' (September 2006)
*''[[Night Running]]'' (September 2006)
*''[[A Hard Rain]]'' (October 2006)
*''[[Monkey Business]]'' (October 2006)
*''[[What’s that Sound?]]'' (November 2006)
*''[[Thanks for Giving!]]'' (November 2006)
*''[[I Smell A Swamp Rat]]'' by Matt “Laserlight” Roen (December 2006)
*''[[Deep Six]]'' by Mike “Rimoran” McCarrig (December 2006)
*''[[Field of Battle]]'' by Rob “eMouse” Brunskil (January 2007)
*''[[Time and Tides]]'' by Matt “therose” Sulham (January 2007)
*''[[Fish In A Barrel]]'' by Brad “warengine” Zeitler (February 2007)
*''[[Desperate Measures (Scenario)]]'' by Mike “Rimoran” McCarrig (February 2007)
*''[[The Search For Jacob]]'' (March 2007)
*''[[Battle… Interrupted]]'' (March 2007)
*''[[Island Thunder]]'' by Scott “PumaKilla” Addley (March 2007)
*''[[Honor Among Thieves]]'' (April 2007)
*''[[Stalking The Colossus]]'' (April 2007)
*''[[Battle for Stewart]]'' (May 2007)
*''[[The Giant’s Trail Grows Hot]]'' (June 2007)
*''[[In the Path of Wolves]]'' (June 2007)
*''[[Gentle Into That Good Night, Knight]]'' (June 2007)
*''[[Crusader’s War]]'' (July 2007)
*''[[Militia In Training]]'' (July 2007)
*''[[Weather Permitting]]'' (August 2007)
*''[[Trick or Treat]]'' by Michael Miller, a.k.a. “southpaw13” (October 2007)
*''[[Night of the Living Dead]]'' by Mike Demaline, a.k.a. “X-Sythe” (October 2007)
*''[[HPG: Hyper Poltergeist Generator]]'' by Mike McCarrig, a.k.a. “Rimoran” (November 2007)
*''[[Terran Chainsaw ’Mechssacre]]'' by Keith Schmitz, a.k.a. “Norcross” (November 2007)
*''[[Word of Blake Zombies]]'' by Mike McCarrig, a.k.a. “Rimoran” (November 2007)
*''[[Your Candy or Your Life]]'' by Rich Miller, a.k.a.” RedDawn” (November 2007)
*''[[Toys for Bots]]'' (December 2007)
*''[[Brother, Can You Spare a ‘Mech?]]'' (January 2008)
*''[[Possession is Nine-Tenths]]'' (February 2008)
*''[[New Neighbors]]'' (March 2008)
*''[[To Take a Giant]]'' (April 2008)
*''[[Reinforcements]]'' (April 2008)
*''[[In Preparation for the Fall]]'' by Jim “VincentDegrassa” Topa (May 2008)
*''[[The Voice of Stone]]'' (June 2008)
*''[[Wolves of Destiny]]'' (July 2008)
*''[[Ghost War - Specter of Hostilities]]'' (December 2002 – Special Event)
*''[[Fire for Effect - Snarling Wolves]]'' (March 2003 – Special Event)
*''[[Death from Above - Something Wicked This Way Comes]]'' (June 2003 – Special Event)
*''[[Liao Incursion - Toe in the Water…]]'' (September 2003 – Special Event)
*''[[Counterassault – Into the Storm]]'' (January 2004 – Special Event)
*''[[Age of Destruction – Kill and Keep]]'' (February 2005 – Special Event)
*''[[Annihilation - Call To Arms]]'' (November 2005 – Special Event)
*''[[Pandora's Box (scenario)|Pandora's Box]]'' (October 2003 – Faction War)
*''[[The Thunderous Sound of Hooves]]''  (April 2007 – Faction War)
*''[[VTOL Race]]'' (May 2003 – Play@Home)
*''[[Forgotten Arms]]'' (May 2003 – Play@Home)
*''[[Caught Sleeping]]'' (May 2003 – Play@Home)
*''[[Domination - Officer’s Club Scenario Cards]]'' (January 2006)
*''[[Vanguard - Officer’s Club Scenario Cards]]'' (May 2006)
*''[[Wolf Strike - Officer’s Club Scenario Cards]]'' (September 2006)

====Solaris VII====
Starting in 2007, some scenarios and events were made for the [[MechWarrior: Solaris VII]] ruleset:
*''[[Welcome... to the Arena! (Light)]]'' (September 2007 Event)
*''[[Welcome... to the Arena! (Heavy)]]'' (September 2007 Event)
*''[[Southeast of Eden]]'' (October 2007 Event)
*''[[Welcome... to the Arena! (Widowmaker)]]'' (October 2007 Event)
*''[[Go Team, Go!]]'' (November 2007 Event)
*''[[Variety: The Spice of Strife]]'' (February 2008 Scenario)

==External Links==
*[http://bg.battletech.com/downloads/ Download link] for MWDA web content from the official BattleTech website (plus MWDA Dossiers and Pilot Cards and MWDA Sneak Peeks)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20020213205741/http://www.wizkidsgames.com/mwdarkage/ MWDA teaser site], as of 13 February 2002 (via Wayback Machine)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20020802140917/http://www.wizkidsgames.com:80/mwdarkage/ MWDA website], as of 2 August 2002 (via Wayback Machine)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050529032800/http://www.wizkidsgames.com/mechwarrior/ MWDA website], as of 29 May 2005 (via Wayback Machine) - with PDA articles
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060831164958/http://www.wizkidsgames.com/mwdarkage/ MWDA website], as of 31 August 2006 (via Wayback Machine) - with LinkNet link
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20240108002549/https://www.warrenborn.com/Files/MWScenarioHandbookv21.pdf/ MechWarrior Age of Destruction Scenario Handbook], as of 7 January 2024 (via Wayback Machine) - With Scenario Summaries

[[Category:Battletech Media Franchise]]