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NavPoint
Clan Wolf
Warrior
Joined: 23-Jul-2021 03:56
Posts: 7
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 Posted: 12-Feb-2026 19:02 Post subject: Standardized list building rules |
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Just thinking about standardized list-building rules that could be someday. One thing that historically has really hurt this game vs. something like W40K is a lack of such things.
Spitballing:
approx. 5,000 / 10,000 / and 15,000 BV?
A force may contain any number of non-unique units available to the appropriate faction and era. Unique units are those belonging to special characters, ex. The Bounty Hunter.
A force may take up to one of each 'Mech chassis. A chassis is a single named thing encompassing all its variants, ex. a Warhammer-6R and a Warhammer-6D cannot be taken together.
A force may take up to two of each Vehicle or Fighter chassis.
A force may take up to 1 unit of Battle Armor for each transport in the formation. Any unit capable of transporting the BA units, including OmniMechs, counts as a transport.
A force may take up to half its total unit count in Conventional Infantry.
Omni-bonus: After lists are revealed but before starting the game, any unit with OmniPod technology may choose a different configuration as long as they remain within the BV limit. Be quick about it. The tournament organizer shouldn't have to suffer for your unpreparedness.
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Mordel
Mordel.Net
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Joined: 03-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 6261
Location: United States
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| Posted: 13-Feb-2026 08:30 Post subject: Standardized list building rules |
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Isn't part of the allure of BattleTech for those who love it is its openness and ability to create forces how you wish?
If there were force rules, they'd definitely have to be era, location, battle, etc. specific.
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NavPoint
Clan Wolf
Warrior
Joined: 23-Jul-2021 03:56
Posts: 7
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| Posted: 13-Feb-2026 17:19 Post subject: Standardized list building rules |
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Love me a good narrative scenario setup.
But the first thing every new player asks is "how do I build a list?", looking for guidance, and the answer can't be "do what you want" because that's the opposite of guidance.
What were the rules at the last tournament/organized play event you played?
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Captain_Frosty
ComStar
Corporal
Joined: 22-Nov-2024 02:18
Posts: 90
Location: Greece
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| Posted: 16-Feb-2026 04:53 Post subject: Standardized list building rules |
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Maybe it's because of the group I hand out with but when I introduced battletech, the main appeal for all the players was out ability to make sh!t up both for our units and the people piloting them.
On the opponent's team, one guy had an assault 'mech that moved slower than death and was effectively a clan-tech Atlas wannabe. Another had a hovertank with nothing but inferno SRM6 launchers and the third had a late-tech Raven.
On our team, I had a quadmech command vehicle (the CRBN-55 Cerberon, if you wanna look it up here) and my ally had a special snowflake super-mech with stealth, jump-jets, experimental tech weapons and such.
When I pitched the idea of moving from single unit battles to proper lance battles, the question wasn't "how do I make a listing?" but "How many points?" since that's all you really need. Even if you don't want to create custom units, there's a metric ton of pre-made units and unit variants out there that you can just slap 'em into a force and call it a day.
Beyond that.. I may be misunderstanding what you're suggesting but from what I see, it just seems like a bunch of arbitrary restrictions and rules that feel pointless. If I had tried to pitch that to the people I know who play BT, they'd immediately veto it in unison.
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Mordel
Mordel.Net
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 16-Feb-2026 10:22 Post subject: Standardized list building rules |
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Typically, when I play games that aren't scenario based, the rules for unit construction are around quantity of units, BV max, technology base, rules level, and era.
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Mordel Blacknight - Site Administrator
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NavPoint
Clan Wolf
Warrior
Joined: 23-Jul-2021 03:56
Posts: 7
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| Posted: 16-Feb-2026 19:53 Post subject: Standardized list building rules |
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| Your group has no force construction rules beyond BV, written or unwritten?
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Jade_Dragon
8th Sword of Light
Sho-sho
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1353
Location: United States
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| Posted: 16-Feb-2026 20:49 Post subject: Standardized list building rules |
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I do really like the fact that BattleTech is so open and it is up to the players/group to decide what they want to do and govern themselves.
On the other hand it wouldn't hurt the game or universe to have a couple of "standardized" modes of play, force construction rules, etc. Nothing too restrictive, just a springboard to use before diving into the deep end of the pool.
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Mordel
Mordel.Net
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 16-Feb-2026 20:56 Post subject: Re: Standardized list building rules |
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| NavPoint wrote: | | Your group has no force construction rules beyond BV, written or unwritten? |
Just what I indicated. Nothing to your extent for sure. It's very open. The intent is always to have fun and hang with people. The game is always secondary. 
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