the shape of things to come

Chris chooses a Safe Thrust of 5 for his
Nekohono’o-class DropShip, so as to better
hunt larger, slower-moving transports
and the like. This provides a Max Thrust of
8 (5 Safe Thrust x 1.5 = 7.5, rounded up to 8
Max Thrust), and a Base Movement Factor
of 80,000 for the vessel (16,000 tons x 5 Safe Thrust = 80,000).
This in turn yields an engine weight of 5,200 tons (80,000
Base Movement Factor x 0.065 = 5,200 tons). The
Nekohono’o now has 10,800 tons remaining (16,000 tons –
5,200 tons = 10,800 tons).
Dawn wants her Arcadia to excel at fast
insertions, and so selects a Safe Thrust of 6
for her DropShip. This provides the 3,000ton
craft with a Max Thrust of 9 (6 Safe
Thrust x 1.5 = 9 Max Thrust), and a Base
Movement Factor of 18,000 (3,000 tons x
6 Safe Thrust = 18,000). As a Clan DropShip, the Arcadia’s
engine weight comes to 1,098 tons (18,000 Base Movement
Factor x 0.061 = 1,098 tons), which leaves the DropShip
with 1,902 tons left to spend (3,000 tons – 1,098 tons = 1,902
tons).
DETERMINE FUEL CAPACITY
Even though fuel use is not tracked in Total Warfare standard
rules play, all aerospace units must allocate some mass to fuel
supply, to refl ect their endurance in campaign-style play (which
will be covered in Tactical Operations). While no minimum amount
need be allocated, it is generally recommended that fighters
devote at least 2 tons to fuel, while Small Craft and DropShips
should invest at least 5 percent of their total mass in fuel storage.
This mass is in addition to that of the engine and chassis.
All aerospace units burn fuel by Thrust Points. The number of
“fuel points” provided per ton is shown for all fi ghters, Small Craft
and DropShip units on the Aerospace Fuel Table at right. This
value is based on the unit’s type and its total weight. Regardless of
unit type, fuel may only be added in full or half-ton lots. Furthermore,
an additional 2 percent of weight applies to all non-fi ghter
aerospace units, to refl ect the weight of fuel tanks and pumps
(rounded up to the nearest half-ton).
Also provided in the Aerospace Fuel Table is the Strategic Fuel
Use Rating, which applies to Small Craft and DropShips that can
use a fuel expansion system for long-distance travel. This value
sets how many tons of fuel the vessel burns in a given day at a constant
1-G (2 Thrust Point) acceleration rate (and is multiplied by the
actual acceleration—in Gs—the used during long-range transits).
Again, this information is not tracked in Total Warfare game play,
but is relevant to construction, as all aerospace units require fuel.
Strategic fuel use is aff ected depending on whether a given Small
Craft or DropShip is built as a civilian or a military design.
Tech Base: Fuel use by fighters, Small Craft and DropShips
remains the same regardless of the unit’s tech base.
Space: The internal fuel tanks covered by these rules do not
aff ect the weapon slots available to aerospace units.
OmniFighters: The internal fuel capacity of an OmniFighter
must be established when designing the OmniFighter’s base
confi guration, and may not be altered in its completed Primary or
Alternate confi gurations.
AEROSPACE FUEL TABLE
Unit Type (Mass) Fuel Points per Ton
Conventional Fighter 160
Aerospace Fighter 80
Small Craft
DropShip
80
Up to 399 tons 80
400 to 799 tons 70
800 to 1,199 tons 60
1,200 to 1,899 tons 50
1,900 to 2,999 tons 40
3,000 to 19,999 tons 30
20,000 to 39,999 tons 20
40,000 to 100,000 tons 10
Unit Type (Mass)
Strategic Fuel Use
(tons/day/G)
Conventional Fighter NA
Aerospace Fighter NA
Small Craft 1.84
Military DropShip (Any Tonnage)
Civilian DropShip
1.84
100 to 999 tons 1.84
1,000 to 3,999 tons 2.82
4,000 to 8,999 tons 3.37
9,000 to 19,999 tons 4.22
20,000 to 29,999 tons 5.19
30,000 to 39,999 tons 6.52
40,000 to 49,999 tons 7.71
50,000 to 69,999 tons 8.37
70,000 to 100,000 tons 8.83
For a fuel reserve, Robert decides to give
his ’Mechbuster the minimum recommended
amount of fuel at 2 tons. This
amount provides the conventional fi ghter
with 320 fuel points (2 tons of fuel x 160
points of conventional fi ghter fuel per ton
= 320 fuel points). As a conventional fi ghter,
however, the ’Mechbuster cannot use strategic fuel expansion,
and so does not receive a “Tons per Burn Day” value.
The Buster now has 23 unspent tons remaining (25 tons
– 2 tons = 23 tons).