the shape of things to come

Hovercraft-based mechanized infantry platoons make use
of larger hover vehicles that can carry as much as a squad of
troops each. Their mobility allows them to traverse water, but
they cannot negotiate woods of any type.
Tracked-based mechanized infantry platoons use larger,
squad-size tracked vehicles. Like tracked Combat Vehicles,
these mechanized infantry can traverse Depth 0 Water, but
cannot handle heavy woods or deeper water terrains.
In terms of speed, wheeled mechanized infantry fall
between hover and tracked platoons. Mainly dependent
on militarized versions of off -road cars, these troops cannot
negotiate rough terrain, rubble, any woods, or water greater
than Depth 1 in combat.
TECHNOLOGY BASE
In Total Warfare standard rules play, conventional infantry
fall into Clan or Inner Sphere technology bases. Inner Sphere
infantry may only use equipment available to the Inner
Sphere, while Clan infantry may only use equipment available
to the Clans.
Technology Rating
In the Infantry Weapons and Equipment Tables used for
creating conventional infantry, all items receive a Technology
Rating in addition to a tech base. This rating (expressed as a
series of letter grades that defi ne the level of technology and
its availability through the major eras of Classic BattleTech
history) helps to defi ne the item’s level of sophistication and
may be used to standardize the level of advancement the
unit demonstrates for purposes of era-based campaigning.
Beyond this, however, an item’s Tech Rating has no bearing
on conventional infantry design. See Costs and Availability (p.
274) for more on Tech Rating.
Affi liation and Infantry Organization
Though not technically a matter of technology base, the
sophistication of a given faction in the Classic BattleTech
universe and its corresponding level of technological
advancement do combine to infl uence the arrangement of
conventional infantry forces at the squad and platoon levels.
For ease of reference in these rules, these eff ects are handled
as part of a platoon’s technology base.
Motive Type
DESIGNING INFANTRY
The process of conventional infantry design can be organized
into three simple steps, each of which is described in
detail in this section. These steps are:
Step 1: Establish Platoon Type—Determine the platoon’s
motive type, tech base and size.
Step 2: Establish Platoon Weaponry—Determine the weapons
carried by the platoon’s component troops, including
their range, damage, base to-hits at each range and special
abilities.
Step 3: Complete the Record Sheet.
The above design process is a mere framework for
designing a conventional infantry platoon. The actual process—particularly
after determining the motive type, tech
base and platoon size—can involve a bit more give-and-take
as weapons and armor are balanced for their best fi t in terms
of mobility, damage and protection.
STEP 1: ESTABLISH PLATOON TYPE
The fi rst step in conventional infantry platoon design is
the creation of the platoon’s basic type, including its motive
type, which describes the means by which it travels when
not operating as a passenger aboard other units. This step
establishes some of the most basic aspects of the platoon’s
design, determining what kind of platoon it is, its movement
capabilities and technology base, and the number of troops
that deploy in a full platoon. These choices will restrict the
designer’s access to certain equipment.
CHOOSE MOTIVE TYPE
Conventional infantry come in a variety of motive types
(also referred to as movement types), which aff ect their maximum
number of troops, terrain restrictions and Movement
Points (MP). The various options available for standard rules
play are described below.
In terms of construction rules, the Conventional Infantry
Motive Types Table below defines the central features of
each infantry platoon motive type. The Max Squad Size column
indicates the maximum number of troopers (individual
CONVENTIONAL INFANTRY MOTIVE TYPES TABLE
Max Squad Size
(Troopers)
Max Platoon
Size (Troopers) MP (Type) Prohibited Terrain
Foot 10 30 1 (Ground) Water (Any)
Motorized 10 30 3 (Ground) Water (Any)
Jump
Mechanized
10 30 3 (Jump) Water (Any)
Hover 5 20 5 (Hover) Woods (Any)
Tracked 7 28 3 (Tracked) Woods (Heavy), Water (Depth 1+)
Wheeled 6 24 4 (Wheeled) Rough, Rubble, Woods (Any), Water (Depth 1+)
INTRODUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
BASICS
BATTLEMECH
CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRIALMECH
CONSTRUCTION
PROTOMECH
CONSTRUCTION
COMBAT VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION
SUPPORT VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION
CONV. INFANTRY
CONSTRUCTION
BATTLE ARMOR
CONSTRUCTION
AEROSPACE UNIT
CONSTRUCTION
WEAPONS AND
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
INFANTRY WEAPONS
AND EQUIPMENT
COSTS AND
AVAILABILITY
BATTLE VALUE
INDEX
RECORD SHEETS
145