r/battletech • u/AlexT9191 • 8h ago

Question ❓ New Rules and Elementals

Are Elementals only able to be used as battlefield support now, or am I missing something?

Also, if this is the case, as far as I can tell Elementals no longer are attched to enemy mechs that they swarm, they just get extra damage groupings on their attacks and Elementals also no longer have a chance to take hits for Omnimechs they ae riding.

Is this all correct or am I missing something?

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36

u/Doctor_Loggins Scorpin Empire Stronk 8h ago

For the time being, anything not covered in Core still functions as it did in Total Warfare. So if you're using Elemental Assets, use the Asset rules, but if you're using record sheet Elementals, use Total Warfare.

Revised infantry and CV rules are due next book, and I don't anticipate the core rules for Battle Armor changing much since they're one of the more popular and currently-functional bits of combined arms.

16

u/rzelln 7h ago

Yeah, they spent 6 months playtesting the mech rules and wanted to put out a solid book that focused on the units that make up the vast majority of games. Other units will likely get a similar playtest too, but in the meanwhile they made sure to include the rudimentary asset rules for new players who want to get a combined arms experience without buying Total Warfare, which will be outdated in a year or two.

I fully approve of this business plan. The only thing I'd change is, like, increase the player base so that Catalyst could publish a little faster and get to the next book sooner. But with their current budget, I think what they're doing is commendable.

14

u/Doctor_Loggins Scorpin Empire Stronk 7h ago

My local group was very active with the playtests, and I think they got some great feedback over the course of the tests. I know for sure we'll be champing at the bit to help shape the future of combined arms.

6

u/135forte 6h ago

That was just the public playtest. According to the book, Xotl started in 2018 and the official decision to replace TW was finalized in 2023. Even if most of it was just him originally, a lot of time went into the Core Book and even just checking the stuff I knew had changed I saw stuff that made it feel like the people writing it actually know the game namely 400pt ammo explosion in the CASE rules. Which is such a pleasant experience compared to some rulesets I have dealt with.

7

u/PharmaDan 8h ago

From what I understand the full updated rules for stuff like vehicles and armor are coming out later in their own book and the battlefield support stuff was included to have it available now. 

3

u/NeedsMoreDakkath Mercenary 7h ago edited 7h ago

All nonmech units can still use the Total Warfare rules OR asset rules until they get around to making the new book to cover them.

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u/phantam 29m ago

The new Core Rules essentially replace the Battlemech Manual and the Mech related sections of Total Warfare. Until combined arms related segments get replaced, Total Warfare rules are still the most recent for tanks and infantry. For those looking for a simpler option, Battlefield Support exists as a way to get vehicles and infantry on the field as more disposable mook elements.