BattleTech Collectible Card Game

The ''BattleTech Trading Card Game'' is an out-of-print collectible card game (CCG) set in the ''BattleTech'' universe. The game was developed by Wizards of the Coast (WotC) for FASA and released in 1996.

Description

The ''BattleTech Trading Card Game'' was designed by Richard Garfield, the designer of ''Magic: The Gathering''; both games use a similar style of gameplay and card distribution. It was produced from November 1996 through 2001, and features BattleMechs, characters, and technology from the original ''BattleTech'' board game, with new artwork done by various artists.

Gameplay

The goal of the game is to make your opponent run out of cards from their stockpile (deck of cards). The one without any cards left loses the game. The most basic way of achieving this is to attack your enemy's stockpile with mechs and other units.

Each player will need a deck with a maximum of 60 cards. Those decks can consist of any combination of cards the player desires, although when playing with official FASA rules, choosing cards for your deck will be limited, e.g. only cards from one faction/clan. The right assortment of cards can prove vital to victory and is mostly linked to certain tactics.

Turn sequence

The turn sequence is divided into 6 phases, played in the following order.

* Untap
* Draw
* Repair/reload
* Deploy
* Mission
* End of turn

During the deploy phase, you will use special command cards (Command Resource) to buy off the costs of units and other command cards like pilots, political personalities and structures. Once they are paid for, they are put into play (deploy) and can be used to attack your opponents or gain tactical advantages. While attacking certain targets during a mission, your units can be aided by mission cards (which may be played as an instant) that give them the edge in fighting your enemy and his or her units.

Card types

* Unit, including mechs, battlesuits and vehicles
* Command, including resource, structures and pilots
* Mission, aka instants

Expansions

* Counterstrike
* Mercenaries
* Mechwarrior
* Arsenal
* Commander's Edition
* Crusade

Reception

In the October 1997 edition of '' Dragon'' (Issue 240), Rick Swan liked this collectible card game, calling it "simple (much easier, in fact, than the ''Magic: The Gathering'' game, designed by the same guy) and addictive (which means you better start saving up for the boosters)."

In Issue 1 of ''Backstab'', Stéphane Bura liked some of the game mechanics, but ultimately found that the game's biggest fault was the "poor quality of the composition and design of the cards" compared to rival CCGs ''Netrunner'' and ''Mirage''. Bura concluded by giving the game a below average rating of 6 out of 10.

The ''Arsenal'' expansion, which introduced a new cart type, vehicles, resulted in the need for extensive errata and has been credited with bringing the game to its end.

Reviews

*''Arcane'' #15 (January 1997)

References

External links

An unofficial ''BattleTech TCG'' card databaseBattleTech Rulebook
1998
*

at www.gamecabinet.com

{{BattleTech Universe

BattleTech games
Card games introduced in 1996
Collectible card games
Richard Garfield games
Wizards of the Coast games