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{{InfoBoxProduct
| image = Bt4edUniverseCover.jpg
| name = Introduction to BattleTech
| development = [[Bryan Nystul]]
| primarywriting = [[Michael A. Stackpole]], and others
| cover = [[Todd Lockwood]]
| illustrations = [[Doug Anderson]] [[Mike Jackson]] [[Chris Moeller]] [[Peter Bergting]] [[Jeff Laubenstein]] [[Joel Biske]] [[Jim Nelson]] [[Mike Nielsen]]
| era =
| type = Rulebook Sourcebook
| publisher = [[FASA]]
| year = 1996
| pages = 32
| productioncode =
| ISBN10 =
| series = [[Universe book]]
| followedby = [[Classic BattleTech Universe]] (in: [[Classic BattleTech Boxed Set]])
}}
The '''''Introduction to BattleTech''''' [[universe book]] was not a stand-alone product; instead, it was part of the completely redesigned [[BattleTech, Fourth Edition|fourth edition]] of the [[BattleTech boxed set]] that was released in 1996. As such, the booklet does not have its own product code, nor does it have an imprint.

The other booklets in the box were one titled ''Rulebook'', which featured a "Credits" imprint with summary design and writing attributions for the boxed set, and a [[Record Sheets]] booklet without a cover. With the inclusion of the ''Introduction to BattleTech'' booklet, the game universe description was physically separated from the core game rules for the first time in the boxed sets. Previously, there had been only one rulebook and the universe description had been strewn in throughout the rules, or been a subsection in the rulebook. Subsequent editions would keep it separate, though the booklet underwent small changes and was retitled to ''"[[Classic BattleTech Universe booklet|Classic BattleTech Universe]]"'' in the 2003 edition and then to ''[[Inner Sphere at a Glance]]'' from 2007 onwards.

==Contents==
The ''Introduction to BattleTech'' booklet is divided into five sections titled Introduction, BattleTech Quick Start Rules, A Brief History of the Inner Sphere, The BattleMech, and Technical Readout:

;Introduction
This is less than half a page, set next to the table of contents.

;Quick Start Rules
The [[Quick Start Rules]] take up 10 pages, and include the "First Run" training scenario. Later iterations of the boxed set would remove the Quick Start Rules from the universe book and move them to a separate booklet.

;A Brief History of the Inner Sphere
"A Brief History of the Inner Sphere" includes a presentation of the [[Great Houses]] of the [[Inner Sphere]] and their rulers as of [[3049]], and briefly covers minor and [[periphery]] powers and [[mercenaries]]. This chapter is attributed to [[Michael A. Stackpole]] in the (other) rulebook contained in the boxed set.

;The BattleMech
This section provides an in-universe description of the working principles of a [[BattleMech]] and its subsystems. It leads directly into the Technical Readout section.

;Technical Readout
Appended to the preceding chapter within the book but treated as a separate chapter within the table of contents, this section offers brief Technical Readout-style write-ups for the 24 'Mechs featured in the box, each half a page long with accompanying artwork.

[[Category: Rulebooks]]
[[Category: Sourcebooks]]

Introduction to BattleTech - Revision history

imported>Ti"Lore"Jo at 01:24, 20 September 2024