'magic' ( LosTech gadgets that are not understood anymore) and.knights errant ( MechWarriors) and mercenaries,.feudalism (the Successor States with their established hereditary nobility),.The BattleTech universe in its early stages was heavily influenced by easily recognizable (and intimately familiar) staple concepts from the fantasy genre including This military buildup culminated in a Civil War era draining resources, and then the Jihad era engulfed the BattleTech universe in yet another highly destructive war that essentially reset the technological advances and led to a new Dark Age. Similarly, the small-scale raids of the early setup gradually increased in size until multiregiment battles became normal again. Weapon systems of all forms and sizes, right up to WarShips, became available in increasing numbers. Over the next decade the universe quickly achieved, even surpassed the Star League-era level of technology.

The invasion by an unknown enemy from beyond known space started an all-new story arc with numerous new factions, and a technological renaissance allowed the game to be expanded with additional rules and units. The entire setting was then moved forward one generation, to the Clan Invasion era that began in 3050.

This and the Fourth Succession War concluded the earliest storylines. An early novel, The Price of Glory, culminated in the recovery of an intact Star League era memory core to explain how lost technology was subsequently recovered. Functional factories were mentioned that could even produce new 'Mechs. Add-on publications for the game soon downplayed the technological decline more and more. This state of affairs obviously left little room for evolution. Vehicles and machinery could hardly be maintained, and ritualized wars were fought over ancient spare parts or even water. Advanced technology was not understood anymore. In its earliest descriptions in the Battledroids rulebook the game was set around the year 3025 in the Succession Wars era, a dystopian future where centuries of warfare following the demise of the once mighty Star League had all but destroyed mankind's previous achievements. Inception and Evolution See also: BattleTech eras

Battletech board game