the shape of things to come

Scott’s Sabutai is an aerospace fighter
powered by a fusion engine, and thus not
only receives 10 heat sinks free, but also can
use double heat sinks. It is also an Omni-
Fighter and not bound to any minimum
heat sink requirement (beyond those of
the engine, that is), but will generate heat
for energy and non-energy weapons alike (unlike Robert’s
conventional fi ghter).
Scott technically does not need to place additional sinks
on the base design. Because he sees the Sabutai as a heavy
dogfi ghter, however, he realizes that high-heat weapons
may well be the norm. He therefore chooses to designate
the fi ghter’s 10 free heat sinks as doubles, and adds 5 more
double heat sinks to the base design, for a total of 15 double
heat sinks. Having spent 5 tons on the added heat sinks, the
Sabutai has 44.5 unspent tons remaining (49.5 tons – 5 tons
= 44.5 tons).
As a Small Craft powered by a fusion
engine, Bruce’s Astrolux can use standard
(single) or double heat sinks, as desired.
Bruce, however, sees no need for them as he
plans to leave the craft completely unarmed. Nevertheless,
the Astrolux does receive 1 free heat sink (which Bruce
decides will be a standard sink) free with its engine (65 tons
of engine weight ÷ 60 = 1.08, rounded down to 1).
As Chris plans for his Nekohono’o-class
DropShip to engage other DropShips and
fi ghters in heavy combat, he foresees a lot
of weaponry in its future. Because Drop-
Ships generate heat for energy and
non-energy weapons alike, he also foresees
a correspondingly high number of heat sinks to go
with them. Checking the Aerospace Unit Heat Sinks Table,
he fi nds that the 5,200-ton engine of his military spheroid
DropShip provides 188 free heat sinks (√[5,200 tons engine
weight x 6.8]) = 188.04 heat sinks, rounded down to 188).
Chris decides to add another 107 heat sinks (at 107 tons),
and declares that these will all be double heat sinks to
maximize their eff ect, thus providing his Nekohono’o with
295 double heat sinks (a heat capacity of 590 points; 295
sinks x 2 points of heat capacity per sink = 590 points of
heat sink capacity). The Nekohono’o now has up to 9,596
tons remaining (9,703 tons – 107 tons = 9,596 tons).
As a 3,000-ton military aerodyne Drop-
Ship, Dawn’s Arcadia receives 54 free heat
sinks thanks to its 1,098-ton engine (1,098
tons of engine weight ÷ 20 = 54.9, rounded
down to 54). Because she expects to arm
this vessel for heavy combat, she adds
another 160 heat sinks to the design, bringing the Arcadia
to a total heat sink count of 214 sinks, which she declares
will be double-strength. Subtracting the 160 tons of added
sinks from her remaining weight, Dawn fi nds that she has
up to 1,300.5 tons remaining (1,460.5 tons – 160 tons =
1,300.5 tons).
STEP 5: ADD WEAPONS,
AMMUNITION AND OTHER
EQUIPMENT
The weapons, ammunition and equipment that may be
mounted on an aerospace unit are listed in the Weapons and
Equipment Tables shown on p. 341. In addition to any heat, damage
and range statistics, these tables provide the tonnage these
items occupy on an aerospace unit, what technology base (Clan
or Inner Sphere) is required to use them and any special construction
rules that might apply to installing the equipment.
The Ammunition column for each item’s entry also notes how
many shots a given weapon or item caries per ton (only machine
guns may carry ammunition in half-ton lots). Note, however, that all
non-fi ghter units must carry a minimum of 10 turns of fi re for each
ammunition-dependent weapon (for multi-fi ring weapons, such
as Ultra and rotary autocannons, this 10-turns rule assumes the
weapon is fi ring at its maximum rate, so an Ultra AC would require
a minimum of 20 shots, while a rotary AC would require a minimum
of 60 shots). Non-fi ghter aerospace units armed with ATM launchers
may not use the various special munitions unless they carry at
least 10 shots of each ammo type per ATM launcher. For example, a
unit carrying 4 ATM-12s would need 24 tons of ATM ammo—6 per
launcher—to reach the required 10 shots of each ammo type per
launcher, as each ton of ATM ammo equals 5 shots (2 tons of ammo
per launcher x 5 shots per ton = 10 shots per ton; 3 ammo types per
ATM x 2 tons per ammo type x 4 ATMs = 24 tons of ammo).
For special rules on any item, consult its entry under Weapons
and Heavy Equipment (pp. 200–273)
Remember that the total tonnage of a given aerospace unit
design’s structure, engine, controls, armor, heat sinks, weapons
and other components may never exceed the tonnage established
for the unit in Step 1. Any leftover weight that cannot be allocated
to other equipment is considered cargo or wasted tonnage, at the
designer’s option.
Tech Base: The Weapon and Equipment Tables (starting on p.
341) note which items are available to which technology base.
Clan-made aerospace units may use only items available to the
Clans, while Inner Sphere-made aerospace units must use only
those items available to the Inner Sphere.
Capital Weapons: Only DropShips may mount capital missile
launchers. Small Craft and fi ghters may not carry capital weapons
under these rules.
Weapon Bays and Firing Arcs: As a means of simplifying their
use in combat, the weapons usable by aerospace units are sorted
into weapon classes. These weapon bay classes are: Point Defense,
Laser, Pulse Laser, PPC, Autocannon, LB-X AC, ATM, LRM, MRM,
SRM, Rocket Launcher and Capital Missile.
When mounted on fi ghters, weapons of the same class—as
shown on the Aerospace Weapons Classes beginning on p.
352—may be grouped together (at the designer’s option) for ease
of fi ring, but only if the weapons are of the same type and size.
Otherwise, fi ghter weapons may be listed and fi red separately.
Small Craft and DropShips also may group weapons of the same
class together in weapon bays that are fi red as a single weapon in