Mechwarrior Dictionary

This page is about the various language and expressions used by pilots in the battletech universe. In short, slang. Often people use these terms in game so for those confused, especially new people to battletech this should help translate and explain some phrases for you.

Inner Sphere Terms
General Inner Sphere terms used by all to describe things such as unit formations, resources, general equipment, etc.

AC
Used to abbreviate Autocannon.

C-Bills
Shortened form of ComStar-Bill, the currency used to pay for use of the Order's HPG network. Thanks to ComStar's neutrality and the Inner Sphere wide reach of the HPG network, C-Bills are the de-facto unit of exchange between the Great Houses, as well as the preferred form of payment for interstate merchants and mercenaries.

H-Bills
Shorted form of House-Bills, an umbrella term for the currencies of the various Great Houses.

Lance
A standard squad of 'Mechs. A Lance normally consists of 4 'Mechs.

Company
A standard unit that usually consists of three lances. (12 'Mechs)

Battalion
A military unit that usually consists of three companies. (36 'Mechs)

Regiment
A military unit that usually consists of three battalions.

Lostech
Contraction of Lost Technology, referring to equipment that was considered lost during the Succession Wars which was readily available during the time of the Star League.

LRM
Used to abbreviate Long Range Missile.

SRM
Used to abbreviate Short Range Missile

PPC
Used to abbreviate Particle Projector Cannon

ER
Abbreviation for "Extended Range." Term is found at the start of other weapons such as "ER Large Laser" or "ER PPC."

Hyperpulse Generator
Shortened to HPG, the Hyperpulse Generator is the primary means of interstellar communications across the Inner Sphere. ComStar maintains and controls the HPG network, with HPG stations on virtually every Inner Sphere world.

DropShip
Interplanetary spacecraft which attach and travel between star-systems aboard JumpShips, DropShips are generally capable of take-off and landing on planets.

JumpShip
Interstellar spacecraft which perform hyperspace jumps between star-systems, JumpShips can only function at points minimal gravity on the outer limits of a system, thus the requirement for DropShips to transport people and material in-system.

House Terms

First Prince
Head of State

Coordinator
Head of State

Captain-General
Head of state of House Marik

Archon
Head of state of House Steiner,

Lyran Recon Lance
Joke term referring to LCAF heavy or assault weight lances, born of the heavier average weight of House Steiner's military forces.

Social General
Term referring to Lyran military officers who have obtained their rank and position through networking as opposed to martial talent, emblematic of the reputation of LCAF's somewhat bloated and ineffective command structure.

Federated Commonwealth
Offical BattleTech terms regarding the Federated Commonwealth

Archon-Prince
Title combination of House Steiner and House Davion; its the Head of State for the Federated Commonwealth.

Fed-Com
Shortened slang term for Federated Commonwealth.

Chancellor
Head of state of the Capellan Confederation.

ComStar Terms
Official BattleTech terms regarding ComStar

Acolyte
The lowest rank in ComStar, roughly equivalent to labourer.

Adept
The second rank in ComStar, Adepts are the organization's working technicans.

Blessed Blake
Deified term for ComStar founder Jerome Blake.

Blessed Order
Internal term used to refer to ComStar itself

First Circuit
Originally named for the HPG network's First or Prime Circuit of Class A stations, the political First Circuit serves as ComStar's ruling and decision making council.

Level I
The smallest ComStar military formation, consisting of either a single BattleMech, armored vehicle or aerospace fighter, or single infantry squad.

Level II
A ComStar military formation consisting of six Level I units, referred to as a demi-company.

Level III
A ComStar military formation consisting of six Level II units, referred to as a battalion.

Level IV
A ComStar military formation consisting of six Level III units, referred to as a division.

Level V
A ComStar military formation consisting of six Level IV units, referred to as an army.

Precentor
The third rank in ComStar, Precentors serve as the managers of its branches and divisions, HPG stations, Com Guard Level IV's.

Precentor Martial
The overall commander of ComStar's military forces, the Com Guards.

Precentor ROM
The head of ComStar's shadowy inteliegence arm ROM.

Primus
The political and spiritual leader of the Order, the Primus is effectively the head of state of ComStar.

The Word of Blake
Document supposedly written by ComStar founder Jerome Blake outlining his claimed vision of the future, detailing the collapse of Inner Sphere into war and ComStar's role as the preserver of knowledge and salvation of humankind. The Word of Blake is required reading for all ComStar members.

Battlemech Terms
Official battletech terms for mechs.

Alpha Strike
Term for describing firing all weapons at once.

Light Mech
Term used to describe mechs weighing in the 20-35 ton category.

Scout Mech
Sometimes incorrectly used to label light mechs, but generally any mech designed for recon duty.

Medium Mech
Term used to describe mechs weighing in the 40-55 ton category

Heavy Mech
Term used to describe mechs weighing in the 60-75 ton category

Assault Mech
Term used to describe mechs weighing in the 80-100 ton category

Mechwarrior Terms
In game terms, slang often used by players.

Lyran Recon Lance
Used to describe a House Steiner Scouting lance....usually consisting of about four 100 ton Atlas Assault Mechs.

Poptarts
People who use 'Mechs designed with jump jets to leap up, fire then fall back behind cover.

Boats
'Mechs that use pretty much only one class of same grouped weapons, for example all PPC or MG's.

Goats
Recent term introduced into MechWarrior world. Used to describe pilots who hang near hill tops using "Boat" mechs to snipe or rain LRMs.

Fatties
Slang term for large cumbersome Assault Class Mechs.

Unseens
Used to describe Mechs or equipment that was used from other mech or mecha franchises that was removed following complaints from Harmony Gold.

Reseens
Mechs that were taken from other franchises that have been redesigned in order to avoid copyright infringement.

Jerd
Slang for a Jenner JR7-D light Mech.

Gaussling
A name for a Raven-4X mounting a Gauss Rifle.