BattleDroids / BattleTech First Edition (1984 FASA) Value & Price Guide

In 1984, a small Chicago-based company called FASA Corporation published a tabletop wargame about giant walking war machines. They called it BattleDroids. Within months, they received a cease-and-desist letter from Lucasfilm, which held the trademark on the word "droid" from the Star Wars films. FASA renamed the game BattleTech and kept going. The original BattleDroids boxes, printed before the name change, became one of the most collectible items in tabletop gaming history.

Quick Value Summary

• Item: BattleDroids (later BattleTech), FASA Corporation First Edition

• Year: 1984

• Publisher: FASA Corporation, Chicago, Illinois

• Category: Collectible Toys & Games

• Condition Range:

  • Incomplete (missing components): $50 - $100
  • Good (complete, moderate wear): $100 - $250
  • Very Good (complete, light wear): $250 - $500
  • Near Mint (complete, minimal wear): $500 - $800+

• Record Sales: Complete, near mint BattleDroids boxes have sold above $800 at auction and specialty retailers

• Rarity: Rare. The BattleDroids name was used for a very short print run before the forced rename.

The Story

Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III founded FASA Corporation in 1980. The company had found success with tabletop RPGs including Shadowrun and the Star Trek RPG, but Weisman had a vision for a game centered on mechanized combat featuring piloted walking tanks called BattleMechs.

The game was originally called BattleDroids, a name that Weisman considered perfectly descriptive: battle robots piloted by warriors. The first edition shipped in 1984 as a boxed set containing two plastic BattleMech miniatures (a Griffin and a Shadow Hawk), two mapsheets, dice, cardboard standee counters, and a rulebook that included basic, advanced, and expert rules.

The Lucasfilm cease-and-desist arrived quickly. George Lucas's company had trademarked "droid" as far back as 1977, and "BattleDroids" was too close. FASA renamed the game BattleTech in 1985 and reprinted everything. But the original BattleDroids boxes had already shipped to stores. Those boxes, with "BATTLEDROIDS" emblazoned on the cover, became instant collector items.

BattleTech went on to become one of the most enduring franchises in tabletop gaming, spawning hundreds of supplements, novels, video games (including the MechWarrior series), a Saturday morning cartoon, and a dedicated community that remains active more than 40 years later. The franchise has been owned by FASA, WizKids, Topps, and is currently published by Catalyst Game Labs. But everything traces back to that 1984 box.

How to Identify the First Edition

The true first edition is the BattleDroids version, identifiable by:

• Box cover: The word "BATTLEDROIDS" prominently displayed. The subtitle reads "A Game of Armored Combat."

• FASA catalogue number: 1604.

• Box contents (complete):

  • Rulebook (includes basic, advanced, and expert rules, plus record sheets)
  • Errata sheet
  • 2 plastic BattleMech miniatures: GRF-1N Griffin and SHD-2H Shadow Hawk
  • 2 color terrain mapsheets (22" x 17")
  • 2 six-sided dice
  • 4 sheets of paper markers comprising 24 droid standees, 22 terrain counters, and 28 unit counters

• Copyright: 1984 FASA Corporation

Common confusions:

• The 1985 BattleTech first edition box is the same game with the new name. It is collectible but worth less than the BattleDroids version.

• Later BattleTech editions added or changed components, especially miniatures. The 1984 edition has the two specific plastic minis.

• The BattleTech Introductory Box Set (2006+) and BattleTech Game of Armored Combat (2019+, Catalyst Game Labs) are modern re-releases. They are not vintage collectibles.

• The 1985 BattleTech second edition (FASA 1604-2) features updated art and the renamed title. Worth $50 to $150.

Value by Condition

Incomplete: Missing miniatures, mapsheets, or significant numbers of counters. Even incomplete BattleDroids boxes sell for $50 to $100 based on the box and rulebook alone. The box itself has collector value.

Good (Complete, Moderate Wear): All components present but showing moderate play wear. Box may have corner bumps, creases, or shelf wear. Rulebook may show use. Counters may be punched and loosely stored. Expect $100 to $250.

Very Good (Complete, Light Wear): All components present and in good condition. Box shows light shelf wear only. Rulebook unwritten-in and in good condition. Counters may or may not be punched. Miniatures intact. Expect $250 to $500.

Near Mint (Complete, Minimal Wear): Box shows minimal wear, all components in like-new condition, counters unpunched, miniatures on sprues or unassembled. This condition is exceptional for a 40-year-old game. Expect $500 to $800 or more. Noble Knight Games listed a near mint copy at approximately $700.

Key value factors:

• BattleDroids vs. BattleTech: The BattleDroids name is the primary differentiator. A BattleDroids box is worth 2-3 times more than the equivalent BattleTech-named version.

• Completeness: Having both plastic miniatures, both mapsheets, all counter sheets, the errata sheet, and the rulebook is critical. Missing miniatures are the most common deficiency.

• Unpunched counters: If the counter sheets have never been punched out, value increases significantly.

• Rulebook condition: An unwritten-in rulebook in clean condition adds value.

Authentication and Fakes

Counterfeit BattleDroids boxes are not a significant concern, but misrepresentation is:

• Completeness verification: Sellers sometimes list boxes as "complete" when they are missing counters or errata sheets. Cross-reference against the known contents list.

• BattleDroids vs. BattleTech mismatch: Ensure the box matches its contents. A BattleDroids box with BattleTech-edition rulebook inside suggests mixing.

• Condition overstatement: "Near mint" in the board game world often means "played once." Examine photos carefully for shelf wear, corner bumps, and component condition.

• Print quality: The 1984 print has specific color density and paper stock quality. Photocopied components (sometimes inserted to replace missing pieces) should be obvious under close inspection.

Where to Sell

• Noble Knight Games: A specialty retailer for out-of-print board games and RPGs. They buy directly and are one of the most knowledgeable dealers for FASA products.

• eBay: Good for reaching a broad gaming collector audience. Fees approximately 13%.

• BoardGameGeek Marketplace: The geek marketplace on BGG has an active audience of tabletop gaming collectors. No listing fees; standard PayPal fees apply.

• Gaming conventions: Events like Gen Con attract BattleTech enthusiasts who may pay premium prices for original editions.

• Facebook groups: Dedicated BattleTech collector groups exist and facilitate peer-to-peer sales.

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a quick estimate.

Explore More

The BattleDroids box is the genesis of one of gaming's most enduring universes. Lucasfilm forced a name change, but they could not stop the game. Forty years later, BattleTech is bigger than ever, and that original 1984 box has become a grail item for collectors who want a piece of where it all started.

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