
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,049
- BGG rating
- 8.2
BattleTech Compendium: The Rules of Warfare
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 1994

1990
Rules assistance for The BattleTech Compendium
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The BattleTech Compendium is a board game released in 1990 for 2–6 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Sam Lewis and Jerry Stenson and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement.
From the back of the book: "COMPILATION OF six years of detailed research, The BattleTech Compendium may well be the ultimate resource for the player. Clear and concise rules clarifications, battle demonstrations, and rules changes will help develope and streamline play. All Material from the BattleTech Manual is presented in a revised form, as well as additional rules for JumpShip and DropShip combat 'Mech construction, and the latest discoveries concerning the technology of the Star League and the Invading Clans. Optional rules are included for miniature play, environmental effects on the battlefield, and more. Loaded with color photos, this Compendium gives the clearest picture yet of combat in the 31st Century." User comment: The Battletech Compendium is a compilation of all Battletech rules and rule clarifications. It is a concise complete guide including Aerotech, infantry and vehicle rules. It also contains rules for 'Mech construction updatd to include inner sphere as well as clan technology.. The BattleTech Compendium superceded the BattleTech Manual: The Rules of Warfare and was in turn superceded by the BattleTech Compendium: The Rules of Warfare.
The BattleTech Compendium supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for The BattleTech Compendium is 120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists The BattleTech Compendium for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
The BattleTech Compendium has a complexity rating of 3.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
The BattleTech Compendium belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of The BattleTech Compendium are: Sam Lewis and Jerry Stenson. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists The BattleTech Compendium as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.