I'm considering getting into a mechwarrior type game, and I have a few friends that seem interested too; but I've run into a problem with the rules. I know there's several core rule sets for battletech, and tons of add on packages, AND a (simplified?) version or two under the title of mechwarrior.
I really want to pick up a core rule set, and run some proxies (or cheap ebay figs), but I just don't know where to start. I've read that the later editions have little clickers (clix?) in the bases to speed it up, but that scares me (I like big D&D style rosters), but it seems to appeal to one of the other players. Furthermore, I don't want to wind up getting figures that don't mesh with the editions (or eras, or etc).
For you veterans that have been playing for some time; which book (or even box set) do you recommend for new players to get a foot in the door? I'm leaning towards a battletech edition, and maybe an addon for urban type games; but I'm not sure what to hunt for.
Likely the games will be mostly one on one, with no more than 5 mechs each (a lance is four, yes?), and I don't see any of us getting excited of infantry/tanks (that's why we play 40k); it's all mechs for us. also, I don't mind searching around (or even downloading) older/oop books; as eBay supports retro hobbies better than my LGC supports games workshop ones.
Thanks in advance!