the shape of things to come

Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight
Extending ladders are typical of rescue or utility Support Vehicles,
where they are often turret mounted for maximum fl exibility. Most are
composed of lightweight but sturdy materials such as graphite, highstrength
plastics, aluminum or even wood, and tend to reach lengths
LADDER
of 20 to 100 meters. It’s quite rare to see large ladder mechanisms like
these deployed on combat vehicles or ’Mechs. Indeed, the closest
common item is the roll-out rope or chain ladders MechWarriors and
IndustrialMech drivers use to climb into and out of their machines,
which make for poor rescue options in a pinch.
Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan
Unit Restrictions: Ladders may not be installed on ProtoMechs, fi ghters, Fixed-Wing Support Vehicles, Small Craft or DropShips.
Game Rules: Ladders permit a single friendly foot infantry unit to climb up or down elevation levels to any terrain adjacent to a ladderequipped
unit (such as a building or hill) at a rate of 1 MP per level, up to the maximum number of levels accommodated by the ladder
(equal to the ladder’s length in meters, divided by 6, rounding up), to the level of the underlying terrain of the ladder-equipped unit. Infantry
may not climb a ladder on a unit that spends any MP in the same turn.
Construction Rules: BattleMechs and IndustrialMechs may only mount ladders in torso locations. Combat and Support Vehicles using
ladders may mount them on any Side location or the turret. Ladders weigh 100 kg (0.1 ton) per 20-meter length (or fraction thereof, to a
maximum length of 100 meters). Regardless of the ladder’s length, it only occupies one slot in a vehicle or ‘Mech design.
Table Reference: Weapons and Equipment (Industrial, pp. 344–345)
Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight
IndustrialMechs and Support Vehicles designed for hauling (or
merely moving) cargo often mount lift hoists as a means of expediting
the process. Though the look and methods of these items vary—from
pull chains and high-tension cables to hydraulics and even myomerenhanced
claw-like specialty lifters—the basic lift hoist system essentially
takes advantage of the unit’s own mass as a counterbalance
against the weight being lifted.
LADDER
LIFT HOIST/ARRESTING HOIST
LIFT HOIST/ARRESTING HOIST
Airships employ a specialized variant of the lift hoist on rare occasions.
Dubbed arresting hoists, these specially actuated mechanisms
are used to snag VTOLs, aircraft and aerospace fi ghters while in fl ight,
recovering said craft the way a DropShip with suitable fi ghter bays
can recover smaller aerospace craft. Though such operation is fraught
with danger, it has granted airships the ability to operate as light
carriers after a fashion, augmenting the small air-defense forces of
troubled skies.
Tech Base: Clan and Inner Sphere
Unit Restrictions: Only Airship Support Vehicles may install arresting lift hoists; standard lift hoists may be used by any unit type except
ProtoMechs, fi ghters (conventional and aerospace), Small Craft and DropShips.
Game Rules: Arresting hoists enable an Airship Support Vehicle so equipped to retrieve airborne fi ghters, Fixed-Wing Support Vehicles and
VTOLs (Combat and Support VTOLs) like a DropShip. Lift hoists may not be used if the unit is shut down or its pilot/crew is unable to act.
Construction Rules: BattleMechs and IndustrialMechs may mount up to 2 lift hoists per unit (limited to Arm and Torso locations only).
Combat and Support Vehicles may mount up to 4 (standard) lift hoists per unit. Airship and Fixed-Wing Support Vehicles mount these in
the body; VTOL Combat and Support Vehicles may mount lift hoists in any location except the rotor. All other Combat and Support Vehicle
types may mount lift hoists in any location except the body.
Airships can only mount arresting lift hoists in the Body location and only in conjunction with a minimum of one vehicle cubicle (of any
size), representing the docking stations for any airborne unit intended to dock with the Airship.
Table Reference: Weapons and Equipment (Industrial, pp. 344–345). Game Rules: Total Warfare, p. 136
Introduced: Circa 2000
The modern manipulator is eff ectively a fully (or semi-) articulated
armature and gripping claw a bit more elaborate and multifunctional
than a basic robotic assembler arm, but signifi cantly smaller and less
sophisticated than a ’Mech’s hand actuator. Mounted on the exterior
of a vehicle—’Mechs don’t use these devices, as any intended for
manipulating objects can easily be built with hand and arm actuators
MANIPULATOR
for the job—most basic manipulators typically have a lifting and carrying
capacity of about 100 kilograms, and a reach of maybe fi ve meters
away from the vehicle’s hull. The typical use of these devices covers
the handling of dangerous chemicals and waste without exposing the
operator to harm, and so they are most commonly seen on specialized
vehicles for the disposal of bombs and hazardous materials.
Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan
Unit Restrictions: BattleMechs, IndustrialMechs, ProtoMechs, fi ghters, Small Craft and DropShips may not mount manipulators.
Game Rules: The limited range and capacity of the manipulator means it has no impact in Total Warfare game play. Its full functionality
will be covered in CBT: RPG (Revised). The manipulator may not be used if its controlling unit is shut down or if its pilot/crew is otherwise
prevented from acting.
Construction Rules: Qualifying units may mount a maximum of 2 manipulators per location (not including Rotor locations).
Table Reference: Weapons and Equipment (Industrial, pp. 344–345)
MANIPULATOR
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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
245