the shape of things to come

MM
Originally developed by the Clans, battle armor (also referred
to as battlesuits or simply suits) represents the ultimate in infantry
protection, mobility and fi repower. Based on advanced variations
of industrial exoskeletons, these hardened, powered suits have
made it possible for otherwise insignifi cant numbers of infantry
to infl ict real damage against armored battlefi eld units. Soon after
the start of their invasion, captured samples of Clan Elemental
armor made it possible for the Successor States to fi eld their own
versions in short order, leading to a tech race that produced more
than 20 models of battle armor in less than a decade.
The following system enables players to construct unique battle
armor for Classic BattleTech games that conforms to the standard
rules presented in Total Warfare; this includes the exoskeletons and
power armor that preceded their development (both as weapons
of war and as industrial tools). As these rules can be fairly mathintensive,
battle armor designers are encouraged to do all work
on scratch paper before committing the resulting design’s fi nal
specifi cations to an appropriate blank Battle Armor Record Sheet.
Note: In Total Warfare the term “battle armor” refers to any
unit built using the rules in this section. Unless specifi cally stated
otherwise in this section, the term “battle armor” also refers to any
unit built using the rules in this section.
BATTLE ARMOR BASICS
Battle armor construction (as well as the construction of
power armor and exoskeletons) relies on three primary factors:
technology base, weight and space. These factors were broadly
overviewed in the Construction Basics section (see p. 18). The
notes in this section expand on these factors.
Raiden battle armor squads leap through a small facility just behind a Daimyo’s castle.
TECHNOLOGY BASE
In Total Warfare standard rules play, battle armor (and its kin)
fall into one of two available technology bases: Inner Sphere or
Clan. Unless otherwise noted, Inner Sphere battle armor may only
use Inner Sphere equipment, while Clan battle armor may only
use Clan equipment. Some components—such as ground MP systems,
jump jets, manipulators, and the base chasses of industrial
exoskeletons—are considered universal, and so are available to
Clan and Inner Sphere technology bases (when noted).
Tech Rating
In the Weapons and Equipment Tables used for creating battle
armor and other units in this book, all items receive a Technology
Rating in addition to a technology 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 determine the item’s level of sophistication and may
be used to help standardize the level of advancement the unit
demonstrates for purposes of era-based campaigning. Beyond
this, however, an item’s Technology Rating has no bearing on
battle armor design. See Costs and Availability (p. 274) for more
on Tech Rating.
Modular Technology
Similar to the Omni technologies occasionally used in BattleMechs,
vehicles and aerospace fighters, battle armor may
incorporate modular components at certain stages of development.
These modular technologies, however, are limited to the
battle armor’s manipulators (hands) and other items. Motive
systems, chassis and armor are never considered modular, and so
there are no true “Omni-Battle Armor” units.