Lovely as it was, Harebrained Schemes’s BattleTech felt like it trimmed back many of the tabletop game’s wilder elements. RogueTech, a messy compilation of mods organised by “LadyAlekto” and crew, reinstates these complex rules and lets you bolt just about anything onto your big stompy bots up to and including the contents of the kitchen sink. If riding a clattering, improvised pirate ‘Mech into battle with a hot-rod engine and a Gauss shotgun loaded with silverware appeals, this mod is for you. Just don’t expect the galaxy to play fair, or make much sense.
There’s no story to RogueTech beyond the one you write, no goals past the ones you set and no coherent canon. It just gives you a big messy galaxy full of mercenary contracts, and the looming threat of bankruptcy if you don’t play your cards right. You’ll probably die horribly, but you’ll come away with some fun tales to tell. Below, three stories of my own attempts to lead a squad through missions and gain a foothold, plus a quick guide to how to install and play the mod yourself.