Guides, tools, and lore for new players and veteran MechWarriors.
Built by the BattleTech Down Under community.
This site is run by David — host of the BattleTech Down Under YouTube channel. I've been playing and painting BattleTech for years and built these tools and guides because the ones I wanted didn't exist. If something's wrong or missing, let me know.
▶ Watch on YouTubeThe lance builder built for the table, not the wiki. Filter by faction and era, track Battle Value and tonnage in real time, preview 'Mech loadouts, and print your roster sheet. Over 600 chassis and 3,700 variants from the full MUL database.
No opponent, no problem. Run a whole campaign on your own, or play a one off with a tool that thinks for the enemy.
Roll a campaign of five to ten missions and run it solo. You get a company of twelve with named pilots, and you pick a lance for each mission. Damage carries between missions, salvage pays for repairs and replacements, wrecks can be recovered off the field, and pilots can die. Alpha Strike.
Open Campaign Tracker →The two tools a campaign runs on, also usable on their own: one keeps your lance straight, the other thinks for the enemy.
Heat, armour and ammo for the 'Mechs you are piloting. Keeps a full lance straight across a long game so you are not rubbing out pencil marks between turns.
Open Game Tracker →A weapon-aware opponent. It reads the actual variant you are facing, works out the range band that 'Mech wants to fight at, and gives you movement and fire orders every turn. Classic and Alpha Strike.
Open OpFor Command →Table photo by Valtteri Hyvärinen, used with permission.
What to buy, how the rules work, and what to expect from your first game — no padding, just what you need to know.
Read More →A genuine comparison from someone who's played both. Cost, gameplay, community, and which one is actually right for you.
Read More →Which 'Mechs teach the game well, which ones to avoid early, and how to build a first lance that won't frustrate you.
Read More →All 4 getting started articles →
Every variant ranked, with the numbers behind each call. Not just what a mech is, but how it actually plays and what it costs you when it goes wrong.
The most recognisable heavy in the game, and the one most people play wrong. Every variant ranked, the heat maths behind the 3R, and how to kill one.
Read the guide →More guides: Marauder · Warhammer · Atlas · Locust · Highlander · BattleMaster · Bushwacker · Axman · all mech guides →
Roles, synergies, and the thinking behind building a lance that actually works together rather than four individual 'Mechs.
Read More →Both systems have their place. Here's how to decide which one to learn first and when to switch.
Read More →The mechanic that defines BattleTech. Understanding it is the difference between a good pilot and a great one.
Read More →All 6 gameplay & strategy articles →
Ian Cameron's forced unification, the Reunification War, the Amaris coup, and why Kerensky took the SLDF and left.
Read More →Three centuries of compounding catastrophe — LosTech, ComStar's rise, and how the Inner Sphere became the place we love to game in.
Read More →The HPG blackout, the Fortress Republic, and fifty years of recovery unravelling. BattleTech's most controversial era explained.
Read More →All 10 lore & universe articles →
From bare plastic to a presentable 'Mech in an evening. Primer, basecoat, wash, done — how the pros actually do it fast.
Read More →Batch painting techniques that get four 'Mechs table-ready in a weekend without cutting corners on quality.
Read More →Army Painter, Vallejo, Citadel — which brands are worth the money and what you actually need to get started.
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All 5 painting & hobby articles →
These are products I actually use and recommend. Prices are approximate and vary by retailer.
The best entry point for most new players. Eight 'Mechs, complete rules, maps, everything you need for your first campaign.
View on Amazon ~$60Two 'Mechs and simplified rules. Good if you want to try before committing. Outgrow it fast, but a solid intro.
View on Amazon ~$25The fastest way to get 'Mechs painted. One coat over a white primer gives you a solid tabletop result in minutes per model.
View on AmazonBetter control than speedpaints, more versatile. The starter set covers everything you need for the first year.
View on AmazonReplaces paper maps with a durable neoprene surface. Makes the table look properly serious.
View on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.