A Time of War

A Time of War is the fourth iteration of the Role Playing Game for BattleTech, previously known as the "MechWarrior" series. It is therefore informally also known as MechWarrior, Fourth Edition. However, the name "MechWarrior" had been abandoned for the RPG series to avoid confusion with the new MechWarrior: Dark Age brand and game line; the 2007 FanPro reprint of the 1999 MechWarrior, Third Edition was renamed to Classic BattleTech RPG. "A Time of War" had previously been the title of the introduction chapter in the third edition.

"A Time of War is the fifth volume in the core BattleTech rulebook line and is completely compatible with any level of BattleTech boardgame play. Players can literally move from an RPG experience to the boardgame and back again if that’s the style of play they wish to use."

Limited Edition
There is a special issue "Limited Edition" of A Time of War with a different cover, of which 700 items were produced. This edition contains the exclusive short story Vanish by Michael A. Stackpole.

From the back cover
"It is the 31st century. Mankind has spread to the stars and spawned titanic stellar empires, each controlling hundreds of worlds across a thousand light years and beyond. Yet the sins of man have followed him from the cradle of humanity.

Political machinations of feudal lords plunge whole sectors into war; unscrupulous merchant starship captains smuggle weapons to their own faction’s enemies; greedy military commanders demand tribute from worlds they’re protecting; animalistic pirate kings harvest high technologies and human slaves in lightning raids; betrayals from oath-bound allies leave honorable soldiers growing cold on forgotten worlds; death at the tip of knife from a concubine turned assassin to avenge a world and love lost: it is a time of war.

What empire will you swear allegiance to: a warrior merchant of House Steiner; the honorbound samurai of House Kurita; the vat-bred warriors of the Clans; a mercenary that fights only for the highest bidder?

Choose your life in the universe: a MechWarrior piloting the thirty-foot-tall BattleMechs that turn the tide of any battle; a spy deep behind enemy lines discovering critical secrets; a merchant carrying critical supplies; a scientist unleashing the latest cutting edge technologies?

How will YOU become a legend?"

Contents
THE FIRES OF HELL: GATHERING PLAYERS (Story)


 * THE UNIVERSE BEFORE YOU
 * Welcome to the BattleTech Universe
 * Starting Out
 * What is a Roleplaying Game?
 * A Universe at War
 * A Brief History of BattleTech
 * The BattleTech Universe
 * Choose Your Rules


 * BASIC GAMEPLAY
 * Overview
 * Characters
 * Actions

THE FIRES OF HELL: THE CALM BEFORE 


 * CHARACTER CREATION
 * Overview
 * Choosing Life Modules
 * Stage 0 Modules: Affiliations
 * Stage 1 Modules: Early Childhood
 * Stage 2 Modules: Late Childhood
 * Stage 3 Modules: Higher Education
 * Stage 4 Modules: Real Life
 * Purchasing Attributes, Traits and Skills
 * Final Touches
 * Sample Characters

THE FIRES OF HELL: THE MISSION BEGINS


 * TRAITS
 * Overview
 * Trait Descriptions

THE FIRES OF HELL: SECURING THE LZ


 * SKILLS
 * Skills Overview
 * Available Skills

THE FIRES OF HELL: RECON


 * COMBAT
 * Overview
 * The Combat Turn
 * Initiative Phase
 * Action Phase
 * Movement Actions
 * Resolving Actions in Personal Combat
 * Ranged Combat Resolution
 * Melee Combat Resolution
 * Damage Resolution
 * Damage Effects
 * Armor and Barrier Effects
 * End Phase
 * Optional Personal Combat Rules
 * Healing and Recovery

THE FIRES OF HELL: HEAVY ARTILLERY


 * TACTICAL COMBAT ADDENDUM
 * The Combat Turn
 * Initiative Phase
 * Action Phase
 * End Phase
 * Special Pilot Abilities

THE FIRES OF HELL: JOURNEY


 * SPECIAL CASE RULES
 * Planetary Conditions
 * Creatures
 * Diseases

THE FIRES OF HELL: STORMING THE OBJECTIVE


 * EQUIPMENT
 * Overview
 * Supply and Demand
 * Using Equipment
 * The Warrior's Catalog
 * Melee and Archaic Weapons
 * Small Arms
 * Support Weapons
 * Explosives
 * Weapon Accessories
 * Personal Protective Equipment
 * Battle Armor and Exoskeletons
 * Electronics
 * Power Packs and Rechargers
 * Miscellaneous Gear
 * Health Care
 * Prosthetics
 * Drugs and Poisons
 * Personal Vehicles
 * Fuel

THE FIRES OF HELL: BURNOUT


 * GAMEMASTER'S GUIDE
 * Character Advancement
 * NPCs and Random Encounters
 * Gamemastering Tips and Suggestions
 * Developing Stories
 * Adventure Seeds
 * Political and Military Power
 * Universal Aesthetics
 * Touring the Stars
 * Whistle Stop Tour


 * INDEX


 * RECORD SHEETS


 * TABLES