The book is designed as an introductory companion volume to go with the BattleMech Manual, and thus primarily addressing new players.

“ Darkest Before the Dawn

From the star-spanning devastation of the Word of Blake Jihad arose the Republic of the Sphere, a new nation dedicated to breaking the centuries-long cycle of warfare plaguing the Inner Sphere and creating new innovation and prosperity for all.

The ideals of the Republic worked–for a time.

Then, in 3132, hyperpulse generators across thousands of worlds went offline, enveloping the Inner Sphere in silence. Paranoia and opportunism ran rampant as age-old hostilities reignited and chaos ruled the day. The Republic, the grand experiment in hope, was torn asunder by hostile forces on every side.

The Republic Era–better known as the Dark Age–was a time of upheaval and opportunity. Fortunes rose and fell, nations crumbled and others reconstituted. And at the center of the whirlwind lay Terra, the crown jewel of the Republic, a prize waiting for the warrior strong enough to seize it.

Technical Readout: Dark Age expands on Technical Readout: Succession Wars, Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, and Technical Readout: Jihad by combining the ’Mechs previously found in Technical Readout: 3075, Technical Readout: 3085 (and its Supplemental), Technical Readout: 3145, Technical Readout: Irregulars, Technical Readout: Prototypes, and more. This volume features some of the most common ’Mechs from the Dark Age. Each machine is accompanied by an illustration, a description of its history, capabilities, and game stats.

”

Contents

Table of Contents

Credits

Introduction

Star League Loremaster Stephan Roshak, 12 November 3250

BattleMechs

Gùn

Arbalest

Crimson Hawk

Gunsmith

Koshi

Mjolnir

Anubis

Cadaver

Crosscut

Dola

Jackalope

Pack Hunter II

Spider

Wulfen

Blade

Eyrie

Havoc

Jaguar

Rokurokubi

Storm Raider

Tiburon

Araña

Calliope

Cuirass

Night Stalker

Raven II

Scarecrow

Goshawk II

Stalking Spider II

Violator

Agrotera

Avalanche

Black Hawk

Centurion

Enforcer III

Gravedigger

Raider

Sarath

Shockwave

Ursus II

Wendigo

Bakeneko

Dark Crow

Exhumer

Gyrfalcon

Hitotsume Kozo

Kheper

Mad Cat III

Thunder Fox

Anzu

Shadow Cat II

Vulpes

Vulture Mk III (Mad Dog Mk III)

Vulture Mk IV (Mad Dog Mk IV)

Dragon II

Karhu

Lament

Loki Mk II (Hel)

Scourge

Ursa

Blood Reaper

Carronade

Gallant

Hound

Mangonel

Thor II (Grand Summoner)

Black Knight

Cave Lion

Jade Hawk

Mad Cat Mk IV (Savage Wolf)

Mortis

Prefect

Shiro

Sphinx

Tian-zong

Tundra Wolf

Warwolf

Bruin

Doloire

Zeus X

Omen

Stalker II

Juliano

Night Wolf

Onager

Orochi

Peacekeeper

Shrike

Tenshi

Atlas

Atlas III

Jupiter

Malice

Xanthos

Poseidon

Ares

Advanced BattleMech Rules

While the majority of the contents are a consolidation of past Technical Readouts, there are several Deployment sections and Notable Pilots that are either new or updated.

Tai-i Danni Haag

Flavio Rodriguez

Imad “Hal” Aglin

Lieutenant Mathias Vulpine

Sang-wei Jan Prowell

Camilla Manksu

Lorccán Dillon

Star Commander Yisroel Korn

The Gravity Brothers

Leftenant Gwydion Fawcett

Mikhail Polnach

Abeni Zikhali

Star Captain Nathan Howell

Leftenant Caven Sutton

Mechwarrior-AsTech Moni “GaussGirl” Wingo

Major Jeffrey “Doc” Witt

Jax

MechWarrior Kendra

Adept Michael White

MechWarrior Derek Leung

Major Sean Howard

Star Captain Krayd Kufahl

Leftenant Colonel Nikolae Voldkif

Galaxy Commander Wolfgang West

Burkhard Schlömer

Aiko Ryohara

Star Captain George Vandenberg

MechWarriors Joshua “Big Boss” Bashor and Jason “Bullfrog” Buford

Major Levon Wells

Star Captain Jack Pryde

Sho-sa Marcus Schwarzkopf

Technical Readout: Dark Age is the fourth volume in a series of Technical Readout by Era. The book is designed as an introductory companion volume to go with the BattleMech Manual, and thus primarily addressing new players. The book is a compilation of 'Mech designs from Technical Readout: 3075, Technical Readout: 3085, Technical Readout: Prototypes, Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 1, Technical Readout: Irregulars, Technical Readout: 3145, Technical Readout: 3150, and Historical Wars of the Republic Era Sourcebook.

The book's content is mostly taken verbatim from Technical Readout products that preceded it. The book is part of reorganization of the original Technical Readouts to compile them per Era. Some Mechs are not present in this book that were mentioned in early products. Unlike the first book in this series, this book does not include additional/new variants not published before.