the shape of things to come

Recommendations

Info

Introduced: 2600 (Terran Hegemony) Extinct: 2835 (Inner Sphere) Recovered: 3033 (Federated Suns) Though it built on techniques already centuries old in 2600, Grumman Industries’ Alloran In-Line target acquisition gear became the model for the artillery-spotting laser communications system today known simply by the acronym TAG. More than a simple infrared laser-based target designation system, the TAG system tied into the user’s on-board targeting and tracking systems and used its own integral tight-beam laser communications array to link into the receptive guidance systems of certain friendly artillery warheads and guided bombs. When initially fi elded, the Alloran In-Line worked in tandem with the AIL Arrow IV homing missile (also developed by Grumman Industries). Lost during the early Succession Wars, this technology was fi nally recovered in the early 3030s by the Federated Suns, which began fi elding the resurrected TAGs to assist in the targeting of laser-guided bombs. By the mid-3040s, the Capellan Confederation had returned the TAG to ‘Mech use with their enhanced Raven design, which served as a spotter for the more TARGET ACQUISITION GEAR (TAG) Tech Base: Inner Sphere (TAG only) and Clan (TAG and light TAG) Unit Restrictions: No restrictions Game Rules: TAG and light TAG may not be used if the unit is shut down or if its pilot/crew is otherwise prevented from acting. Construction Rules: TAG and light TAG may be mounted on any applicable 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. 142 Introduced: 2860 (Clan Mongoose), 3062 (Federated Suns) The Clans prize the enhanced range and accuracy of their weapons, seen by Clan warriors as an extension of themselves. With close-quarters combat considered anathema (unless outside the cockpit), all Clan technological advancements focus on making ranged combat deadlier. Their “waste-not, want-not” philosophy also screams for more precision, to minimize collateral damage even when the weapons are live. It therefore comes as no surprise that, in addition to the enhanced variations of Star League-era missile targeting systems, the Clans also developed advanced targeting systems to aid their direct-fi re weaponry. Only recently matched by our own engineers at the NAIS, the targeting computer is a sophisticated “smart” system that enhances the accuracy of lasers, particle cannons, gauss rifl es and autocannons. More than just a basic sensor tracking and targeting array, the targeting computer actually helps its gunner aim physically. This is accomplished through a series of TARGETING COMPUTER TARGET ACQUISITION GEAR (TAG) recently recovered Arrow IV guided artillery on their Catapult refi ts. The Capellans’ decade-long alliance with the Free Worlds League in the 3050s later brought about the advent of the semi-guided missiles that also use TAG as an eff ective target designator, further expanding the utility of this venerable equipment. LIGHT TAG Introduced: 3054 (Clan Wolf) That the Clans maintained the use of TAG at all came as a bit of a shock to Inner Sphere commanders who had thought Kerensky’s children universally shunned the use of artillery. Nevertheless, certain Clans—such as the Wolves—proved more tactically fl exible than Spheroids tended to give them credit for. It came as less of a surprise, then, when supporting units—including vehicles and battle armored infantry—began deploying among such Clans with smaller versions of the TAG system. Half the weight of the standard TAG models used by the Inner Sphere and the Clans, the so-called light TAG has an eff ective targeting range roughly 20 percent shorter than the standard model. TARGETING COMPUTER recoil compensators and gyroscopic stabilizers that combine to counter much of the routine weapon drift caused by the shooter’s own lurching motions, muzzle recoil and other environmental conditions. All of this is mated to core computing elements that help the pilot adjust more quickly for atmospheric conditions and such, providing a more accurate “lead” for almost every shot. The resulting increase in accuracy is light-years ahead of standard targeting through sensors alone. Not only can it make direct-fi re shots more accurate, but experienced gunners using this system can even narrow their targeting focus to particular body areas on many targets for more surgical precision. Understandably, this ability works best with more precise weaponry; cluster-shot LB-X autocannons, rapid-cycling pulse lasers and Ultra or rotary ACs fi ring in their faster modes lose the acuity necessary for this kind of fi nesse. Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan Unit Restrictions: ProtoMechs, Small Craft and DropShips may not mount targeting computers. Construction Rules: IndustrialMechs and Support Vehicles that do not feature an advanced fire-control system may not mount a targeting computer. The weight of a targeting computer is based on the weight of all direct-fi re, non-missile heavy weapons (not counting machine guns, fl amers or TAG systems) used by the unit. Ammunition, power amplifi ers, heat sinks and turret/pintle mechanisms are not counted in this weight. Inner Sphere units compute this weight as equal to the tonnage of such weapons, divided by 4. Clan units compute targeting computer weight by dividing the total weight of all applicable weapons by 5. This weight is rounded up to the nearest full ton. For BattleMechs and IndustrialMechs, the targeting computer occupies as many critical slots as its tonnage (for example, a 4-ton targeting computer takes up 4 critical slots), which must be allocated contiguously and may not be divided among multiple locations (per standard equipment rules). Combat and Support Vehicles allocate targeting computers to a single slot, regardless of weight (placed in the Body location). Fighters also treat the targeting computer as a single item located in the Body (Fuselage), with no loss in weapon slots. Table Reference: Weapons and Equipment (Industrial, pp. 344–345) Game Rules: Total Warfare, p. 143 i i
Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight Even before they became the standard by which all military DropShip amenities are now known, various military and civilian support vehicles—from armored personnel carriers to motor homes—have devoted internal spaces to short- and long-term human habitation or cargo. Today, “bays” is the generic term used to describe a cluster of similar storage spaces for vehicles, personnel or bulk cargo carried by larger vehicles and spacecraft (as opposed to quarters, described earlier in this section). To further diff erentiate them, transport bays are often clearly defi ned in the vehicle’s or vessel’s statistics, to express the personnel or equipment they can service and maintain, based on the dominant number of cubicle-style facilities. Understandably, larger transport bays—capable of hauling vehicles or BattleMechs by the lance—are much more common to larger units such as DropShips than to your basic ground vehicle. But almost all unit types in the fi eld today allocate some amount of internal space toward transport bays of some size. BattleMechs and ProtoMechs are the exceptions to this concept. Though rumors abound that some forces (notably the Hell’s Horses Clan) have attempted to allocate transport bay space to such units, conventional wisdom and common sense have kept such “walking APCs” to mere speculation. After all, the theory goes that one builds a BattleMech or a ProtoMech solely for the business of doing battle. TRANSPORT BAY TRANSPORT BAYS Wasting weight on prepared transport bays, with the intent to haul precious cargo into a hellish crossfi re, defeats the whole purpose. CARGO BAY Though impractical mount on BattleMechs or ProtoMechs, bulk cargo bays are a common sight on nearly any other type of long-haul mobile unit, including Combat Vehicles, Support Vehicles, DropShips and other capital spacecraft. Even some models of IndustrialMechs and the occasional aerospace and conventional fi ghter have been known to devote space and tonnage to internalized cargo bays. Most cargo bays are generic—little more than an open space within the unit’s framework, with clamps and other anchor points for retention straps. Precious little else goes into these bays, as the aim is simply to maximize load space at any given time. Variations include fi xed-cubicle style “container storage bays,” liquid stores, insulated stores, refrigerated stores and even bays developed primarily to haul livestock in something approaching safety (if not necessarily comfort). The weight and volume devoted to these bays varies with the needs and design of the hauling unit. Vehicle engine and chassis designs today account for such bays as “fully-loaded” items, and thus do not gain appreciable speeds or better handling from running with empty cargo stores. The reasons for this engineering standard are beyond the scope of this discussion. Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan Unit Restrictions: BattleMechs and ProtoMechs may not install transport bays. Construction Rules: Transport bays of any kind can be mounted on any applicable unit that has enough weight capacity and equipment space to do so. With the exception of container storage bays, IndustrialMechs must allocate one critical slot per ton (or fraction thereof) of cargo capacity assigned. Combat and Support Vehicles with transport bays need only allocate 1 slot for each distinct type of transport bay (though bays may be broken into separate slots, if desired). Fighters, Small Craft and DropShips must separate any and all transport bays by type, but need not allocate them to equipment slots on the unit’s design. The weight, equipment slot space (if any) and capacity for all transport bay types are shown in the Quarters/Seating Table below. Note that infantry bays may be designated as bays or as compartments, with the weight for each (respectively) shown under the Weight column. Infantry and battle armor bays, and cubicles for other units, incorporate basic accommodations for the units’ crews and technical support, and so do not require the installation of additional passenger or crew quarters. Transport Bay Type Weight Equipment Slot Space Capacity Cargo, Container 10 tons 1 per container (‘Mech or Vehicle) 10 tons per container Cargo, Standard Variable 1 per ton (‘Mech)* / 1 (Vehicle) Weight x 1.0 (Bulk Items) Cargo, Liquid Variable 1 per ton (‘Mech)* / 1 (Vehicle) Weight x 0.91 (Fluid Items) Cargo, Insulated or Refrigerated Variable 1 per ton (‘Mech)* / 1 (Vehicle) Weight x 0.87 (Fluid/Bulk Items) Cargo, Livestock Variable 1 per ton (‘Mech)* / 1 (Vehicle) Weight x 0.83 (Animals) Infantry, Foot (Bay / Compartment) 5 tons / 3 tons 1 per ton (‘Mech)* / 1 (Vehicle)** 28 troopers (Foot Infantry) Infantry, Jump (Bay / Compartment) 6 tons / 4 tons 1 per ton (‘Mech)* / 1 (Vehicle)** 28 troopers (Jump Infantry) Infantry, Motorized (Bay / Compartment) 7 tons / 6 tons 1 per ton (‘Mech)* / 1 (Vehicle)** 28 troopers (Motorized Infantry) Infantry, Mechanized (Bay / Compartment) 8 tons / 5 tons 1 per ton (‘Mech)* / 1 (Vehicle)** 5 troopers (Mechanized Infantry) Battle Armor (Bay / Compartment) 2 tons / 1 tons 1 per ton (‘Mech)* / 1 (Vehicle)** 1 Battle Armor trooper ‘Mech (per Cubicle) 150 tons NA (‘Mech) / 1 (Vehicle) 1 BattleMech or IndustrialMech Fighter (per Cubicle) 150 tons NA (‘Mech) / 1 (Vehicle) 1 Fighter/Aircraft (up to 100 tons) ProtoMech (per 5 Cubicles) 50 tons NA (‘Mech) / 1 (Vehicle) 5 ProtoMechs Small Craft (per Cubicle) 200 tons NA (‘Mech) / 1 (Vehicle) 1 Small Craft (up to 200 tons) Vehicle, Light (per Cubicle) 50 tons NA (‘Mech) / 1 (Vehicle) 1 Vehicle (up to 50 tons) Vehicle, Heavy (per Cubicle) 100 tons NA (‘Mech) / 1 (Vehicle) 1 Vehicle (up to 100 tons) Vehicle, Super-Heavy (per Cubicle) 200 tons NA (‘Mech) / 1 (Vehicle) 1 Vehicle (up to 200 tons) *Round up to the nearest whole number. **All infantry bays or compartments on a Combat or Support Vehicle may be combined into a single, unifi ed infantry bay slot, regardless of the number of troopers or tonnage devoted to the space. Table Reference: Weapons and Equipment (Industrial, pp. 344–345) Game Rules: Total Warfare; p. 261 (Cargo), and p. 89 (Carrying Units). 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 239
Page 1 and 2:
35103
Page 3 and 4:
CLASSIC BATTLETECH BATTLETECHTM TEC
Page 5 and 6:
Choose Technology Base 46 Choose We
Page 7 and 8:
Nail/Rivet Gun 246 Refueling Drogue
Page 9 and 10:
To David Stansel-Garner for being t
Page 11 and 12:
The one exception is the Equipment
Page 13 and 14:
Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL)
Page 15 and 16:
Battle Armor Aerospace Fighter Conv
Page 17 and 18:
CLAN JADE FALCON OCCUPATION ZONE EC
Page 19 and 20:
FREE RASALHAGUE REPUBLIC ECONOMY Ca
Page 21 and 22:
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
Page 81 and 82:
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
Page 117 and 118:
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
Page 141 and 142:
Because these minimum crew needs ar
Page 143 and 144:
13 August 3068 This is my diary. I
Page 145 and 146:
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
Page 159 and 160:
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 and 228: PROTOMECH STRUCTURE Introduced: 306
Page 229 and 230: STANDARD LASERS Introduced: circa 2
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: Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan Un
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
show all

the shape of things to come

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?