the shape of things to come

combat. Unlike fi ghters, however, these aerospace units may
combine weapons of diff erent sizes (such as a mix of large
and medium lasers) in a single weapon bay—so long as the
weapons remain of the same class. The damage delivered by
each weapon bay is then determined by adding together the
values that apply at each range for the weapons in question.
For example, a DropShip may combine 2 large lasers (8 damage
points each, with a maximum range of Medium) with 3
medium lasers (5 damage points each, maximum range Short)
in a single bay, producing a laser weapons bay that delivers 31
damage points at Short range ([3 Medium Lasers x 5 damage
per Medium Laser] + [2 Large Lasers x 8 damage per Large
Laser]), but only 16 at Medium range (2 Large Lasers x 8 damage
per Large Laser = 16).
The only limit to the number of weapons that can be grouped
together in a single weapon bay is a maximum attack value
limit—after adding up all weapon damage—of 700 standard
damage points (70 capital damage points) per bay. If a combination
of desired weapons exceeds this amount in a single
fi ring arc, the vessel simply requires additional weapon bays to
handle the excess weaponry, with the damage capability split
as evenly as possible among any additional weapon bays.
Fighters (conventional and aerospace), aerodyne Small
Craft and aerodyne DropShips may divide their weapons
among four fi ring arcs: Nose, Left Wing, Right Wing and Aft.
Aerodyne Small Craft and DropShips may also opt to assign
their wing-mounted weapons to a rearward facing. Spheroid
Small Craft and DropShips may divide their weapons among
six fi ring arcs: Nose, Fore-Left, Fore-Right, Aft-Left, Aft-Right
and Aft. Side- and wing-mounted weapons must be identical
on both sides of a given craft—so if a fi ghter carries 2 large
lasers and an SRM-6 in its left wing, it must carry 2 large lasers
and an SRM-6 in its right wing as well. In another example, a
spheroid DropShip that carries 4 ER large lasers in its Aft-Left
arc must carry 4 ER large lasers in its Aft-Right arc.
Ammunition for all fi ghter-based weapons is located in the
fi ghter’s fuselage. Small Craft and DropShips allocate their
ammunition to the same bays as the weapons that use them.
Crew Quarters: In addition to the minimum crew required
to man all Small Craft and DropShips, such units require gunners
to man any weapons, and may also carry passengers for
long-distance transportation. These crew and passengers
require quarters. Rules for establishing the crew needs of a
given unit appear under Add Control and Crew Systems in Step
3 (see p. 184). DropShip and Small Craft designers must assign
quarters of some kind to all crew and passengers.
Bay personnel—which includes personnel associated with
other units being transported, such as infantry, vehicles, fi ghters
and ’Mechs—need not be allocated quarters, as their bays
already incorporate basic amenities. Additional quarters for
such personnel may be added as passenger quarters, refl ecting
an added level of comfort and support, but are not required.
Fighters—conventional and aerospace—may not incorporate
quarters under these rules.
Heat Sinks: Remember that conventional fighters need
heat sinks only to handle the heat load of all energy weapons,
and that the number of heat sinks required for such units must
equal that of all energy weapons fi red simultaneously. Aerospace
fi ghters, which can push their heat limits better, may
mount as many heat sinks as desired after their initial 10 free
sinks are added with the engine.
DropShips and Small Craft may not generate heat in excess
of their heat sinks. When determining weaponry and fi ring
arcs, designers should note how many heat sinks the unit has
available, to make certain that the use of any weapon bay
does not exceed the craft’s ability to handle the load.
Power Amplifi ers (turbine-powered conventional fi ghters
only): Conventional fighters powered by ICE (Turbine)
engines may carry heavy energy weapons such as lasers and
PPCs only if they also mount power amplifi ers. These amplifi
ers weigh 10 percent of the weight of the energy weapons
carried (rounded up to the nearest half-ton), but take up no
equipment slots on the fi ghter’s record sheet. Fusion-powered
conventional fighters, aerospace fighters, Small Craft and
DropShips do not require this equipment for energy weapons.
Transport Bays and Doors (DropShips and Small Craft
only): Bays for cargo and unit transport often make up all
remaining tonnage on larger aerospace units such as Small Craft
and DropShips. These bays can be specifi c cubicles for ’Mechs,
fi ghters and other units, or they may be generic cargo bays to
store supplies, spare parts or even additional ammunition and
fuel stores. How much of the generic cargo space is allocated to
A Shilone fi ghter from the First Alliance Air Wing begins a strafi ng run against an unidentifi ed pirate Juggernaut.
DF
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
195