the shape of things to come

TECHNOLOGY BASE
In Total Warfare standard rules play, aerospace units fall
into one of two available technology bases: Inner Sphere or
Clan. Inner Sphere aerospace units may only use Inner Sphere
equipment, while Clan aerospace units may only use Clan
equipment. Many standard components, however, such as
armor, control systems, engines and heat sinks are considered
universal, and so may be available to Clan and Inner Sphere
technology bases.
Technology Rating
In the Weapons and Equipment Tables used for creating
aerospace units 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 to defi ne 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 direct bearing on aerospace design. See
Costs and Availability (p. 274) for more on Tech Ratings.
OmniFighters
OmniFighters—aerospace fi ghters designed to be rapidly
reconfi gured between missions—are available to Clan and
Inner Sphere technology bases. OmniFighters use the same
construction rules as standard aerospace fi ghters, but when
an Omni is made, the designer must fi rst establish its base
configuration. The base configuration of an OmniFighter
includes its chassis, engine, control systems, armor and—if
desired—any additional weapons and heat sinks “hardwired”
to its design.
The tonnage, weapon slots and arrangement for all of this
equipment is considered “fi xed” on all confi gurations of that
OmniFighter, leaving any leftover tonnage and critical space
open to pods that can mix and match additional heat sinks,
weapons and equipment based on mission needs. A base
OmniFighter configuration is never considered a finished
aerospace fi ghter and is generally not legal for Total Warfare
standard rules play (as such units are essentially open frames
of empty pods). Only the completed Primary and Alternate
confi gurations (which must always comply with the rules for
constructing standard aerospace fighters) are considered
legal for game play.
Conventional fi ghters, Small Craft and DropShips cannot be
built as Omni units under these rules.
WEIGHT (TONNAGE)
All aerospace units described in these rules use the tonnage
standard, with the weight ranges legal for Total Warfare standard
rules play described above under Unit Type and Shape.
Weight and Unit Classes
The weight classes used by most combat units become
more complex with aerospace units, as they break up among
the various unit types. Still, depending on the unit’s weight
and type, many aerospace designs can be classifi ed along
similar lines, though unusual specializations and such remain
possible within the weight limits of any given design.
Fighters: Conventional and aerospace fi ghters fall broadly
into three weight class: light (45 tons and under), medium (50
to 70 tons) and heavy (75 to 100 tons). Conventional fi ghters—which
almost always fall in the light weight class—often
get separated out into their own “conventional” class. Lighter
fi ghter classes tend to be fast and lightly armored, acting as
scouts and interceptors. The more well-rounded medium
fi ghter class tends to be more adept at dogfi ghts and ground
support missions. Heavy fi ghters commonly serve as bombers
and DropShip escorts, as they often boast the heaviest armor
and fi repower.
Small Craft: A catchall category for the range of weight
between fighters and DropShips, Small Craft are most often
used as shuttles, and are classified more by their roles than
by weight. Most Small Craft are merely passenger or cargo
shuttles, though some combat versions see use as boarding
craft. A rare few have even played the role of “assault”
fighters, escorting friendly DropShips or gunning down
hostile vessels.
DropShips: DropShips are known by their weight classes
and their roles. Small DropShips (200 to 2,499 tons) are
most often deployed in small-unit actions or civilian work.
Medium DropShips (weighing 2,500 to 9,999 tons) fill out
the bulk of many merchant and military fleets, where they
most often act as transports. Large DropShips (weighing
from 10,000 to 100,000 tons) are most often deployed as
bulk cargo haulers or large-force transports, typically seen
during planetary invasions.
The roles DropShips most commonly play include assault
ships, cargo carriers, fi ghter carriers, ’Mech carriers, troop carriers
and passenger liners. Assault ships are DropShips that
emphasize armor and firepower over transport capability,
intended to engage and destroy other DropShips and Large
Craft. Carriers of all kinds are essentially long-range transports,
often tailored to a primary cargo type, whether regular goods
(cargo carriers), aerospace support (fighter carriers), BattleMech
forces (’Mech carriers) or other ground units (troop
carriers). It is uncommon, but not unheard of, for passenger
liners to appear in a space battle, either as the target of pirates
and raiders or as a dragooned troop transport.
SPACE
Under these rules, overall unit type rather than an aerospace
unit’s size determines its equipment capacity and weapon
limits. Space in terms of aerospace unit construction actually
refers to the amount of room available for weaponry in the
unit’s various fi ring arcs.
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
181