Battletech Tabletop Basics

Turn Order
(Phases of the Game)
1. Initiative
2. Movement
3. Weapons Fire
4. Physical Attack
5. Heat
All players must complete the phase before any player can
move on to the next phase.
After every phase, check to see if you need to make
Piloting Skill Rolls (PSR). A PSR is needed if a mech
enters a water hex, takes more than 20 points of damage,
leg actuator damage, gyro damage, or any other event
listed under PSRs on the game aid.

Dice
Facing

7-9
3

Walking = 1 Heat (even if just changing facing)

Running = 2 Heat
Jumping = 3 Heat or # of hexes jumped whichever is
greater

+
Outside Sources

Some weapons my cause heat in addition to damage when you are

hit. This cannot exceed 15 points of heat per turn.

Die Facing:
5-6

Heat

Movement

Remember to check if you fired more than one weapon from a

location. Each one fired creates the heat listed.

Stand Still: White (+0)

Walk: Green (+1)
Run: Yellow (+2)
Jump: Red (+3)

3-4

Punching Attacks, Kicking Attacks, Clubbing Attacks, Pushing

Attacks, Charging Attacks, and Death from Above are all possible
physical attacks you can make (See p.49 Intro Rules/p. 144 TW)

Weapons Fired

(modifier Dice)

0-2

Physical Attacks

Movement Modifiers

Hexes
Moved

T: Target Movement Modifier (dice number)

o: Other Modifiers (Trees, Partial Cover, Heat)
R: Range (Short +0, Medium +2, Long +4)

10-17
4

Jumped
+1

+
Damage

If you took damage such that your mech creates more heat
(engine hits).

Criteria to Fire
Line of Sight: Center of hex to center of hex in a straight line. No
intervening terrain (3 points of woods, 2 levels taller than highest
mech) LOS is mutual; if you can see them, they can see you.
Range: The hexes between you and your target, including the one
you opponent is in but not the one you are in (This is also mutual)

To Fire
G: Gunnery Skill
A: Attacker (your) Movement Modifier (dice color)

Operation Heat Sinks

Remember that double heat sinks dissipate 2 points of heat per
turn, and if any slot of a heat sink suffers a critical hit, the whole
heat sink does not function.