the shape of things to come

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of widespread deployment. However, even as of his writing, scientists working for Phelan Kell’s exiled Wolf Clan were working on perfecting a more powerful jump jet system, designed to carry ’Mechs farther and with less heat build-up per jump. The fi rst of these functionally improved jump jets fi nally reached the battlefi elds in 3069, and the specs were shared with the Lyrans, Draconis Combine, FedSuns and even ComStar—in the The laser (its name originates from the ancient acronym “Light Amplifi cation by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”) is the most basic of modern battlefi eld energy weapons. Designed to deliver a concentrated burst of extreme heat to a small area, military-grade lasers can put a gouge through military-grade armors in a fraction of a second. Only the fact that sustained bursts of more than a few seconds would melt the optics used to align and focus each shot prevents lasers from becoming the ultimate “shoot-and-sweep” weapon. The vehicular-scale lasers currently employed by BattleMechs, aerospace fi ghters and other modern combat units are commonly defi ned by their size and power class. The typical laser size and power classes are known universally as micro, small, medium and large. Most of these debuted during the Age of War, with large lasers appearing fi rst on the Mackie, but only the Clans currently fi eld eff ective lasers in the micro size class. In addition, technological advancements over the past three decades have brought forth three new types of vehicular laser weapons beyond the standard models. These types include recovered and refi ned extendedrange (ER) lasers, the rapid-cycling pulse laser series, and the Clans’ highpowered, but less accurate heavy laser series. EXTENDED-RANGE (ER) LASERS Introduced: 2620 (Terran Hegemony [ER large]), circa 2820 (Clans [ER medium and ER small]), 3060 (Clan Smoke Jaguar [ER micro]) Extinct: 2950 (Inner Sphere) Recovered: 3037 (Draconis Combine [ER large]), 3058 (Free Worlds [ER medium and ER small]) Newhart Industries of New Earth fi elded the fi rst production run of extended-range large lasers for the SLDF in 2620, debuting a weapon system that boasted a longer reach than any other contemporary energy weapon. Within fi ve years, the ER large laser became Newhart’s showpiece on their latest BattleMech off ering, the HSR-200-D Hussar. The success of this ’Mech—largely attributed to the combination of its speed and its single, powerful weapon system—cemented Newhart’s place as one of the Terran Hegemony’s chief weapons producers. Never expanded to other standard lasers of the day—perhaps because Hegemony designers saw little need for another tier of overlapping laser ranges—extended-range upgrades for the medium and small laser size classes did not emerge until the Clans developed them during their Golden Century. Even after the ER large laser’s recovery by Combine engineers in 3037, Spheroid versions of the Clan medium and small models would not emerge until Diverse Optics unveiled their fi rst batches for the Free Worlds League Military in 3058 (inspired, of course, by reports of the Clans and samples of captured equipment fi ltered to League scientists). Other major laser designers, including Martell, RAMTech and Magna, soon followed suit. ER lasers off er enhanced range in all size classes, but at a considerably higher heat cost. Spheroid models run the small to large sizes now, while the Clans recently added the micro class for use in their ProtoMechs. LASER eff ort to provide any edge over Blakist assault forces. Curiously enough, the Crusader Wolves also fi elded improved jump jets on some of their ’Mechs in 3069, with a few reportedly deployed in their off ensives against Falcon-held worlds. This spontaneous appearance may have been the result of Watch agents in the Exiles’ midst, to which Khan Kell may or may not be turning a blind eye during the current crises. –EB] LASER HEAVY LASERS Introduced: 3059 (Clan Star Adder) According to all reliable reports, scientists from one of the Home Clans—the Star Adders—pioneered the so-called heavy laser series in the waning days of 3059. The development dramatically increased the size of the barrels, focusing crystals and power feeds of extant Clan lasers to produce a weapon system capable of delivering far greater fi repower per blast. Though the heavy lasers lost much of the range advantage enjoyed by Clan ER lasers (they actually fell closer to Spheroid standard range profi les), the real innovation wasn’t so much the laser design itself as the fact that its creation broke what amounted to more than a century of technological stagnation among Kerensky’s children. It should be noted that while Clan heavy lasers are deadly in the extreme—a Series 6A heavy medium laser can dish out the same destructive force as an Inner Sphere PartiKill PPC—all of that fi repower comes with a price measured in more than just reduced range. With the increased power, interference attributed to an intentional shielding reduction around the laser emitters (as well as a noticeable “pre-charge” phase that adds a subtle fi ring delay with every trigger pull) plays havoc with these weapons’ accuracy. Heavy lasers come in small, medium, and large sizes only. PULSE LASERS Introduced: 2609 (Terran Hegemony [large, medium and small pulse]), 3060 (Clan Smoke Jaguar [micro pulse]) Extinct: 2950 (Inner Sphere) Recovered: 3037 (Draconis Combine) The pulse laser uses rapid-cycling, high-energy pulses to generate multiple laser beams, creating an eff ect comparable to machine-gun fi re. But because the staggered pulses give the protective ablation products from combat armor a chance to disperse—to expose fresh armor to subsequent pulses—the result is a burst of fi re that is more eff ective and accurate. Originally developed by the Terran Hegemony, pulse lasers run cooler than ER lasers and pack a little more punch than standard lasers, but have a shorter eff ective range than either type. These weapons were popular on faster hunter/killer designs, which could close faster and benefi t from the ability to land solid damage even on the fl y. Like many Star League technologies, pulse lasers were lost during the early Succession Wars and only returned after the discovery of the Gray Death Memory Core and ComStar’s secret deals with the Draconis Combine in the 3030s. Today, renowned laser manufacturers such as Diverse Optics, Martell and RAMTech have been able to market pulse laser versions of their reliable standard models—often side-by-side with their progenitors. Currently, Inner Sphere manufacturers offer pulse lasers in small, medium and large classes. Clan pulse lasers, meanwhile, come in micro to large classes. Tech Base: Inner Sphere (small, medium and large ER, pulse and standard lasers only) and Clan (micro, small, medium and large ER, heavy and pulse lasers only) Unit Restrictions: No restrictions Game Rules: Lasers may not be fi red if the unit is shut down or if its pilot/crew is otherwise prevented from acting. Construction Rules: Lasers may be mounted on any unit in accordance with the unit’s standard core construction rules. Table Reference: Weapons and Equipment (Inner Sphere and Clan, pp. 341–343) Game Rules: Total Warfare, p. 98 i
STANDARD LASERS Introduced: circa 2400 (Terran Hegemony [medium and small]), 2430 (Terran Hegemony [large]) Extinct: circa 2820 (Clans only) Compact and straightforward, standard laser weaponry managed to survive the depredations of the Succession Wars while their extended-range and pulse-style cousins were lost. Indeed, by the end of the Fourth Succession War, there remained almost fi fty distinct standard laser models still in active production, with Martell’s medium laser line—considered by far the most effi cient for the tonnage—manufactured on as many as six worlds. As with their view on standard autocannon, the Clans apparently phased out standard laser production in favor of their more eff ective Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight (maritime [and atmospheric]), circa 2000 (aerospace) Lifeboats, like escape pods, are an emergency evacuation system for larger crewed vessels, both seafaring and spaceborne. But while they serve the same function at heart, and support the survival of the same number of people, lifeboats diff er from escape pods in their approach to the mission at hand, with lifeboats being a less energyintensive version of the escape pod. Where aerospace escape pods are powered, for instance, their equivalent lifeboats lack anything more than the most basic life support and food stores. These craft are thus forced to drift in space until friendly craft can pick them up, unable to adjust their vectors or even manage an unpowered atmospheric re-entry. On the other hand, the use of energy collection sails enables aerospace lifeboats to send distress signals indefi nitely, while its six to seven passengers can survive for 24 to 30 days on the craft’s internal oxygen supply. versions of the ER and pulse laser lines, but with so many aging models left in Clan stores, these “archaic” weapons—every bit as effi cient as their Spheroid varieties—may still be found on vintage Clan-owned Star League units once in a while. [Once more, as with the standard autocannon, Habeas is essentially correct. The advent of more effi cient ER and pulse laser grades for the small, medium and large sizes made the standard models almost superfl uous, but it should be noted that a few models remained in production as late as 2900, built to more refi ned standards that made them somewhat more compact before they truly faded into obsolescence. Most of these weapons were either refurbished to upgraded Clan specs or replaced entirely by the turn of the century. –EB] LIFEBOAT Maritime lifeboats are likewise simplified (but much lighter), with most amounting to rafts or rigid-hull boats not designed for an underwater launch and possessing—at best—a basic outboard motor (though many use a collapsible wind sail instead), and a food/supplies store typically stocked enough to sustain up to ten persons for a week. It is not uncommon for a given vessel—aerospace or maritime—to employ escape pods and lifeboats at the same time. For spacecraft, this redundancy allows the crew more exit points in the event of an emergency, as well as a means to jettison under any power crises. For maritime vessels, lifeboats are often a legal requirement and a low-cost answer to escape pods—usable by any vessel as long as it remains on the surface. [Habeas has apparently forgotten that a simpler, atmospheric-only version of these lifeboats exists—such as those used by airships. These boats weigh as much as a typical maritime lifeboat, but function instead as gliders or on chutes, drifting slowly to the ground once jettisoned, and feature fl otation devices in the event of a water landing. –EB] Tech Base: Clan and Inner Sphere Unit Restrictions: Only Naval Combat and Support Vehicles, as well as Support Vehicles with the Amphibious Chassis Modifi cation may install maritime lifeboats; only Airship and Fixed-Wing Support Vehicles may install atmospheric lifeboats. Only Small Craft and DropShips may install aerospace lifeboats. Game Rules: Escape systems are not covered in Total Warfare game play. These systems will be covered more fully in Tactical Operations. Lifeboats are never considered disabled by engine shutdown or crew injury. Construction Rules: All applicable units that can carry lifeboats may carry as many lifeboats as desired, with each lifeboat weighing as much as shown under the Industrial Weapon and Equipment Table (1 ton each for maritime and atmospheric; 7 tons each for aerospace). Lifeboats occupy no weapon or equipment slots. Note: Maritime lifeboats have a capacity of 10 people; atmospheric and aerospace lifeboats may support up to 7. Table Reference: Weapons and Equipment (Industrial, pp. 344–345). Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight Look-down radar is specialized form of sensor equipment typically employed by surveillance aircraft to accurately map local topography and monitor troop movements. Unaff ected by ground clutter, but susceptible to modern ECM systems, look-down radar is a useful piece of equipment, but often not deployed thanks to the preponderance of LIFEBOAT LOOK-DOWN RADAR EW suites today, and because its best use requires aerial supremacy. Nevertheless, some units have appeared even in Clan arsenals with such equipment installed, such as the Clan Spectre-class surveillance planes that reportedly overfl ew the battlefi elds on Tukayyid in 3052. Tech Base: Clan and Inner Sphere Unit Restrictions: BattleMechs, IndustrialMechs, ProtoMechs and ground-based Combat and Support Vehicles (those with Wheeled, Tracked, Hover and WiGE motive systems) may not mount a look-down radar system. Game Rules: Look-down radar is not covered in Total Warfare game play. This system will be covered more fully in Tactical Operations. Construction Rules: Applicable units may carry only one look-down radar system, which must be placed in the unit’s Nose (or Front) location. Table Reference: Weapons and Equipment (Industrial, pp. 344–345). LOOK-DOWN RADAR i i 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 227
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35103
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CLASSIC BATTLETECH BATTLETECHTM TEC
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Choose Technology Base 46 Choose We
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Nail/Rivet Gun 246 Refueling Drogue
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To David Stansel-Garner for being t
Page 11 and 12:
The one exception is the Equipment
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Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL)
Page 15 and 16:
Battle Armor Aerospace Fighter Conv
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CLAN JADE FALCON OCCUPATION ZONE EC
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FREE RASALHAGUE REPUBLIC ECONOMY Ca
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BATTLE ARMOR Battle armor (battlesu
Page 23 and 24:
each full four missiles (regardless
Page 25 and 26:
ange brackets, and so instead of li
Page 27 and 28:
on the ’Mech, including the rear
Page 29 and 30:
BATTLE ARMOR RECORD SHEET Each Batt
Page 31 and 32:
AIRSHIP DATA Type: Name: Tonnage: T
Page 33 and 34:
Distinguished members of the media,
Page 35 and 36:
sible. The relatively recent develo
Page 37 and 38:
cancels the gyroscopic problems. On
Page 39 and 40:
vert a standard into an XL—such a
Page 41 and 42:
orbit. But even when working for sh
Page 43 and 44:
neurohelmets typical of the Success
Page 45 and 46:
on blind, crushing feet to create g
Page 47 and 48:
WEIGHT BattleMechs use the tonnage
Page 49 and 50:
Total ’Mech Tonnage BATTLEMECH IN
Page 51 and 52:
Non-Fusion Engines Fusion Engines E
Page 53 and 54:
Andrew has chosen a standard gyro f
Page 55 and 56:
The placement of these critical slo
Page 57 and 58:
the Base Armor Multipliers shown fo
Page 59 and 60:
Chas distributes his armor points a
Page 61 and 62:
ight side torso and the adjacent ce
Page 63 and 64:
In light of these events, this grou
Page 65 and 66:
preliminary phases, we will still n
Page 67 and 68:
Light IndustrialMechs weigh 35 tons
Page 69 and 70:
structure circles in that location,
Page 71 and 72:
ADD GYROSCOPE Like BattleMechs, Ind
Page 73 and 74:
STEP 3: ADD HEAT SINKS Though not a
Page 75 and 76:
Edward sees no great need to spend
Page 77 and 78:
power amplifi ers to supply the nee
Page 79 and 80:
MEETING AGENDA Project Details Proj
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loads. The lower- to medium-size Pr
Page 83 and 84:
Light ProtoMechs weigh 3 tons (3,00
Page 85 and 86:
John’s Siren-4 weighs 3 tons (3,0
Page 87 and 88:
do not record internal space the sa
Page 89 and 90:
At 6 tons (6,000 kilograms), Kevin
Page 91 and 92:
With only 25 kilograms left (275 kg
Page 93 and 94:
derstand the technologies employed
Page 95 and 96:
able, accurate weapon. Given the Ch
Page 97 and 98:
terrain other than heavy woods and
Page 99 and 100:
Michael wants to design a fast and
Page 101 and 102:
Units built as Trailers do not requ
Page 103 and 104:
ing required, or consider the engin
Page 105 and 106:
DETERMINE JUMP CAPABILITY Combat Ve
Page 107 and 108:
STEP 4: ADD ARMOR Armor helps prote
Page 109 and 110:
STEP 5: ADD WEAPONS, AMMUNITION AND
Page 111 and 112:
the 23.5 tons he had after armoring
Page 113 and 114:
PTI’S HOT PRODUCTS: 3067 (SUPPORT
Page 115 and 116:
HOVERCRAFT Units in this category m
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WHEELED VEHICLE The wheeled support
Page 119 and 120:
VTOL: VTOLs are one of the lightest
Page 121 and 122:
Motive Type design like Simon’s.
Page 123 and 124:
Base Chassis/Engine Values In addit
Page 125 and 126:
Choose Chassis Modifi cations For m
Page 127 and 128:
MD Sheet, Simon blacks out all of t
Page 129 and 130:
SUPPORT VEHICLE ENGINE TABLE SUPPOR
Page 131 and 132:
half-ton (32 tons [engine weight] x
Page 133 and 134:
Christine’s Dixon is a 300-ton Ai
Page 135 and 136:
total crew/passenger seat weight to
Page 137 and 138:
chassis modifi cation, which enable
Page 139 and 140:
tion is devoted to one or more of t
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Because these minimum crew needs ar
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13 August 3068 This is my diary. I
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the forming clouds. The recruits on
Page 147 and 148:
Hovercraft-based mechanized infantr
Page 149 and 150:
CONVENTIONAL INFANTRY FORMATIONS (B
Page 151 and 152:
energy, “M” for Missile and “
Page 153 and 154:
Secondary Weapon Limits The use of
Page 155 and 156:
Oversized Platoons Even though over
Page 157 and 158:
Motive Type CONVENTIONAL INFANTRY W
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ZM: Good morning, campers! They cal
Page 161 and 162:
Weapons break down into your usual
Page 163 and 164:
WEIGHT Battle armor, power armor an
Page 165 and 166:
BATTLE ARMOR STRUCTURE WEIGHTS TABL
Page 167 and 168:
BATTLE ARMOR NON-GROUND MOTIVE SYST
Page 169 and 170:
must adhere to their basic rules wh
Page 171 and 172:
Keith decides to provide his Tunnel
Page 173 and 174:
The weight for these extra magazine
Page 175 and 176:
MODULAR TECHNOLOGY When completing
Page 177 and 178: a squad of meat bags in the back, a
Page 179 and 180: laser-guided targeting system. All
Page 181 and 182: secondary control stick instead. On
Page 183 and 184: TECHNOLOGY BASE In Total Warfare st
Page 185 and 186: Unit Types The following unit types
Page 187 and 188: Base Engine Rating and Movement For
Page 189 and 190: True to Clan style, Scott sees his
Page 191 and 192: ays, ’Mech bays and so forth—ne
Page 193 and 194: (see p. 192). To determine the armo
Page 195 and 196: DropShip and not a fi ghter, it los
Page 197 and 198: combat. Unlike fi ghters, however,
Page 199 and 200: As neither quarters nor cargo bays
Page 201 and 202: fi ghter, aerodyne Small Craft, sph
Page 203 and 204: WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT The modern ba
Page 205 and 206: • SMALL PULSE LASER • [PAGE 226
Page 207 and 208: Clan Wolf-in-Exile finally succeede
Page 209 and 210: Interestingly enough, the Clan vers
Page 211 and 212: Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight Bay do
Page 213 and 214: ’MECH COCKPIT Introduced: circa 2
Page 215 and 216: Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight While
Page 217 and 218: AEROSPACE ENGINES (FUSION/TURBINE)
Page 219 and 220: Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight Seen a
Page 221 and 222: HYPER-ASSAULT GAUSS RIFLE [Introduc
Page 223 and 224: DOUBLE HEAT SINKS Introduced: 2567
Page 225 and 226: • AUTOCANNON • [PAGE 208] • U
Page 227: PROTOMECH STRUCTURE Introduced: 306
Page 231 and 232: Today’s vehicular-scale missile l
Page 233 and 234: Inferno SRMs: An enhancement of an
Page 235 and 236: and communications. This impairs th
Page 237 and 238: Capellan engineers soon realized, h
Page 239 and 240: Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan Un
Page 241 and 242: Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight Even b
Page 243 and 244: during the mid-3040s. Even thicker
Page 245 and 246: Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight Combin
Page 247 and 248: Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight Extend
Page 249 and 250: Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight Mid-ai
Page 251 and 252: Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan Un
Page 253 and 254: • MICRO GRENADE LAUNCHER • [PAG
Page 255 and 256: FIRE RESISTANT Introduced: 3058 (Cl
Page 257 and 258: Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan Ba
Page 259 and 260: Introduced: Circa 2890 (Clans), 305
Page 261 and 262: Introduced: 3062 (Capellan Confeder
Page 263 and 264: The “big gun” of most battle ar
Page 265 and 266: the standard modular weapon mount,
Page 267 and 268: • SINGLE-SHOT SRM LAUNCHER • [P
Page 269 and 270: Introduced: 2436 (Draconis Combine)
Page 271 and 272: Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight Battle
Page 273 and 274: Introduced: 3060 (Clan Cloud Cobra)
Page 275 and 276: hunters, or as a desperate “backu
Page 277 and 278: Conventional Infantry Conventional
Page 279 and 280:
Robert wants to fi nd the costs for
Page 281 and 282:
PROTOMECH STRUCTURAL COSTS AND AVAI
Page 283 and 284:
BATTLE ARMOR STRUCTURAL COSTS AND A
Page 285 and 286:
AEROSPACE UNIT STRUCTURAL COSTS AND
Page 287 and 288:
The combined structural and weapons
Page 289 and 290:
AVAILABILITY CODES TABLE Code Avail
Page 291 and 292:
Michael determines that his Hephaes
Page 293 and 294:
HEAVY WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT (CONT)
Page 295 and 296:
Weapon / Item Cost Availability IND
Page 297 and 298:
Weapon / Item Cost Availability HEA
Page 299 and 300:
ADDITIONAL BATTLE ARMOR WEAPONS AND
Page 301 and 302:
Weapon / Item Cost CONVENTIONAL INF
Page 303 and 304:
Weapon / Item Cost CONVENTIONAL INF
Page 305 and 306:
15 points per critical space of exp
Page 307 and 308:
CALCULATING THE BV OF: A TOYAMA TYM
Page 309 and 310:
Add 1 to the result if the ProtoMec
Page 311 and 312:
CALCULATING THE BV OF: A HEPHAESTUS
Page 313 and 314:
Squad Support Weapon: The BV of a S
Page 315 and 316:
CALCULATING THE BV OF: A MECHBUSTER
Page 317 and 318:
DEFENSIVE FACTORS TABLE Target Modi
Page 319 and 320:
WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT BATTLE VALUE
Page 321 and 322:
Weapon BV Archaic Weapons* Bow (Com
Page 323 and 324:
DropShips, 175-76 fi ghters, 178-79
Page 325 and 326:
Quarters, 236 • R • Range base,
Page 327 and 328:
CLASSiC FOUR-LEGGED ’MECH RECORD
Page 329 and 330:
CLASSiC VEHICLE DATA Type: Movement
Page 331 and 332:
CLASSiC VEHICLE DATA Type: Movement
Page 333 and 334:
LARGE GROUND SUPPORT VEHICLE RECORD
Page 335 and 336:
CLASSiC CONVENTIONAL INFANTRY: PLAT
Page 337 and 338:
CLASSiC FIGHTER DATA Type: Cost: NO
Page 339 and 340:
CLASSiC CRAFT DATA Type: Thrust: Sa
Page 341 and 342:
CLASSiC DROPSHIP DATA Type: NOTES A
Page 343 and 344:
Space Column Unit Type M BattleMech
Page 345 and 346:
clan HEaVY WEaPOnS anD EQUIPMEnT Ta
Page 347 and 348:
INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT TABLE (CONT) H
Page 349 and 350:
Weapon / Item Damage Range Min/sht/
Page 351 and 352:
CONVENTIONAL INFANTRY WEAPONS Weapo
Page 353 and 354:
CONVENTIONAL INFANTRY WEAPONS (CONT
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