Battletech

I'm a 2nd generation mechwarrior. I was a military brat, and my father, a USAF officer, was home maybe 25% of the time. But when he was away, I kept a connection to him through his toys. DOS games (in 2000-2004), Gamma World TTRPG, the NES, and, above all, a Tabletop Wargame called Battletech and it's younger TCG brother.

From memory, he had 2 decks for the TCG, davion v dcms. He had 4 minis, a marauder, a rifleman, a gryphon, and a wasp, all from the OG robotech metals. There was the clan invasion box set with the mad cat on the front, sourcebooks for Snord's Irregulars, Fox's Teeth, and Black Widow Company, TRO 3055, and the box set expansion to Solaris VII.

As a home-schooled kid who moved every 2-5 years, my friends always changed, but the universe of 3055 felt so vibrant and deep that it became an anchored escape from life to ground me and nurture my creativity. It really felt like I was spending quality time with my dad when he was half a world away. Now, he's retired and we crack out my 150+ mini collection to play company v. company battles in alpha strike. I still have all his old books and maps.