Commando Quarterly

Commando Quarterly
United We Conquer
Product information
Type Magazine (PDF)
Development Jason Weiser, Anthony Hardenburgh (Editors)
Primary writing Various contributors
Pages 36-54/issue
Cover Artwork Various artists
Illustrations Various artists
Publication information
Publisher FanPro Commandos
First published 2003-2006
MSRP free download
Content

Commando Quarterly (subtitle: United We Conquer) was a magazine dedicated to the BattleTech franchise. Intended as a quarterly magazine, seven digital issues were published between 2003 and 2006 in PDF format. After the first four issues, the title changed to "Commando Quarterly - The FanPro Commando Magazine."

As "Commando Quarterly" the magazine was largely written from an in-universe perspective, featuring tactical advice, planetary worldbooks, and game scenarios for BattleTech-based tabletop combat, along with advertisement pages from fictional in-universe firms and reports on worldwide events run by the FanPro Commandos.

For issues 5-7, the magazine changed its title to "FanPro's Commando Quarterly", abandoned the in-universe viewpoint and added material for Shadowrun.

It was distributed via the now-defunct www.commandohq.com website which offered the files for free download.

Canonicity[edit]

Commando Quarterly initially identified itself as a BattleTech fanzine created by the FanPro Commandos. The Commandos' semi-official position implies that the magazine was published with FanPro's consent, and could therefore be considered an official publication which, however, does not meet the current criteria for canon and would hence have to be regarded as apocryphal.

A disclaimer in the third issue states that "WizKids LLC" [sic] is the owner of the IP and has granted permission to the magazine to use BattleTech material, but does not endorse nor is affiliated with Commando Quarterly in any official capacity whatsoever.

When it shifted formats, it added a disclaimer that All writing herein is speculative and non-canon.

Issue 67-01 (Summer 3067)[edit]

Issue 67-02 (Autumn 3067)[edit]

  • Contents
    • Brother Against Brother - Short Story by Jason Weiser
    • Monte Diablo: Both Sides Speak
    • Monte Diablo in Memoriam
    • Ye Olde Paint Shoppe - The Basics of Weathering
    • Spaceship Recognition Charts
  • Departments

Issue 68-01 (Spring 3068)[edit]

  • Contents
  • Departments
    • Editor's Corner
    • Worldbook: Sigma Mare
    • Tactical Analysis: Heavy 'Mechs
    • News From the Front - Sigma Mare - Short Story by Joel Steverson
    • Simulator Tech: Assessment - NAIS Midterm Exam
    • Simulator Tech: NAIS Answers
    • Simulator Tech: Brainstorm - Scenario/Event Ideas
    • Simulator Tech: Scenario - Lazarus Rising by John R. Wooldridge
    • Simulator Tech: Scenario - Siege of Fire Base San Antonio by Robert Pigeon
    • Simulator Tech: Scenario - Things That Go Bump in the Night - Short Story and Scenario by Buster G. McCall
    • Simulator Tech: Scenario - A Lesson in Betrayal by Joel Steverson
    • Commando Painting Gallery
    • Trading Shots - The Commando Quarterly Marketplace

Issue 68-02 (Summer 3068)[edit]

  • Contents
  • Departments
    • Editor's Corner
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Worldbook: Ronel
    • Tactical Analysis: Battle Armored Infantry
    • Crafty Commando - DropShip
    • News From the Front - Ronel - Short Story by Joel Steverson
    • Simulator Tech: Small Tech - MechWarrior Gear
    • Simulator Tech: Small Tech - MechWarrior Survival Pack
    • Simulator Tech: Small Tech - Guns, Guns, Guns
    • Commando Painting Gallery
    • Trading Shots - The Commando Quarterly Marketplace

Issue 1 (October 2005)[edit]

  • Contents
    • Senility, Madness, and Minis - A Shadowrun Primer for New GMs and Minis
    • 15 Tips for New Shadowrun GMs
    • Painting Shadowrun 25mm Miniatures
    • January's Lancers - Carnival of Chaos - Short Story by Lou Myers
    • Prometheus Unbound
    • Cat & Mouse - A Campaign for I-Con 25 - Short Story by John Hudson
  • Departments
    • Editor's Corner
    • What's On Deck
    • Event Happenings
    • Firebase Listings
    • Bodyguard of Lies - Yance I - Short Story by Anthony Hardenburgh
    • Bodyguard of Lies - Jihad and the Making of New Ghosts - Short Story by Frank Diaz
    • Bodyguard of Lies - Home of Enlightenment
    • Bodyguard of Lies - The Kervil Campaign
    • Kick the Can - Anti-'Mech Tactics for PBI in BattleTech
    • Quarterly Puzzler: Interstellar Players
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Yance I
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Halstead Station III
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Kervil

Issue 2 (January 2006)[edit]

  • Contents
    • 2005 Year in Review
    • Shadowrun Missions in 2071 - Welcome to Denver
    • Classic BattleTech 20 Questions
    • January's Lancers - Carnival of Chaos
    • How to Make a 'Mech Recovery Vehicle
    • Banshee Hunt - Short Story by Buster G. McCall
    • Chaos Unleashed - Resisting Arrest - Track by Ben Rome
    • Chaos Unleashed - One For the Money - Track by Ben Rome
    • TRO: Vehicle Annex - Sneak Peek - Heavy Law Enforcement Vehicles
    • TRO: Vehicle Annex - Sneak Peek - Hover Racers
    • Bang! You're Dead - A Look at the Bounty Hunter and His Crew in Miniatures Form
    • Cat & Mouse - A Campaign for I-Con 25 - Short Story by John Hudson
  • Departments
    • Editor's Corner
    • What's On Deck
    • Event Happenings
    • New Firebases
    • Bodyguard of Lies - Poison Ghosts - Short Story by Dave Baughman
    • Bodyguard of Lies - Claws of the Dragon - Allah's Revenge - Short Story by Lou Myers
    • Bodyguard of Lies - Home of Enlightenment - Short Story by John Hudson
    • Bodyguard of Lies - The Kervil Campaign
    • Kick the Can - Doctrine and Tactics for Unarmored Infantry
    • Quarterly Puzzlers: Mercenaries Supplemental II
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Piedmont
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Ormstown
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Quentin
    • Tactical Analysis - Assault Class BattleMechs

Issue 3 (April 2006)[edit]

  • Contents
    • Blasting Bicson (Shadowrun adventure)
    • A Guy Walks into a Bar on Solaris VII (1-page BattleCorps preview)
    • An Unknown Past (Shadowrun fiction)
    • Making A Statement (Shadowrun adventure)
    • Poison Ghosts - Short Story by Dave Baughman
    • Q&A: Total Warfare - An Interview with Randall Bills
    • Lazarus Inbound - Short Story by Lou Myers
    • Victory At TempleCon
    • Tactical Numbering Schemes
    • Sword and Dragon Preview
    • Cat & Mouse - A Campaign for I-Con 25 - Short Story by John Hudson
  • Departments
    • Editor's Corner
    • What's On Deck
    • Event Happenings
    • New Firebases
    • Quarterly Puzzlers - Shadowrun Missions in 2071
    • Word Scramble - BattleMechs Circa 3025
    • Last Painter Standing
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Altair
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Caph
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Epsilon Eridani
    • Explorer Corps Survey - Fletcher

Credited Contributors[edit]

References[edit]