the shape of things to come

the standard modular weapon mount, the turret weapon mount, the
anti-personnel weapon mount, the squad support weapon and the
modular equipment adaptor.
In essence, the principle behind all of these modular mounts
involves “under-loading” the suit design to leave room for the installation
of other weapons and equipment in the fi eld. Some of these
mounts—such as the modular equipment adaptor—are fi xed to a
distinct function, mass and space capacity (see Manipulators above
for more on this modular mount). Others—like the squad support
weapon, discussed at length later—are more of a simple holster for
temporary storage. The remaining three—anti-personnel, standard
MWM and turret mount—are modular mounts tied directly into the
battlesuit’s sensors and targeting system, intended for immediate use
at the trooper’s command.
The largest and typically most flexible of these is the standard
MWM, designed for use on humanoid chassis. Each consists of 10
Introduced: Pre-spacefl ight
A common infantry support weapon since as far back as the nineteenth
century, mortars are designed to lob explosive ordnance high
and far—kind of like a miniaturized, anti-personnel variation on an
artillery piece. While quite eff ective against unarmored personnel,
Introduced: 3061 (Word of Blake)
The battle armor-mounted Narc launcher is functionally identical
to that deployed on vehicular-scale units. Though the Clans reportedly
have this weapon system as well, the Inner Sphere fi rst deployed
battle armor Narc launchers with the Word of Blake’s 3061 introduction
of the Purifi er adaptive battle armor. Indeed, the Clans appear to
MORTAR
NARC
kilograms’ worth of mounting equipment and targeting interfaces
suitable to a single primary battlesuit weapon system of any given
size desired.
The turret mount, developed for quadruped chassis, allows for
the mounting of multiple weapons at once, in a 360-degree swivel
assembly. Turret mounts come in a standard hard-mount style and a
confi gurable style. The closest equivalent to the MWM is the confi gurable
turret mount, but the hard-mounted standard turret is slightly
lighter and more compact.
The anti-personnel (AP) weapon mount is the last of the major
MWMs, and is designed for infantry-scale weapons such as small arms
and non-battlesuit support weapon types that lack the punch and refi
nements of their larger cousins. Like the standard MWM, AP weapon
mounts are limited only by the maximum weight of the suit and the
mass and bulk of the weapons and ammo to be carried.
MORTAR
mortars are less common with battle armor than with conventional
infantry because they are relatively unreliable compared to missiles
and have fairly poor anti-’Mech potential. The Clans show no interest
in these weapons.
Tech Base: Inner Sphere only
Battle Armor Unit Restrictions: No restrictions
Game Rules: Under Total Warfare game play, a battlesuit’s mortar weapons remain operational as long as the suit is not destroyed and
its trooper is capable of acting.
Construction Rules: Mortars come in heavy and light sizes. A battle armor suit (including exoskeleton and power armor designs) may
mount multiple mortar weapons of varying types, if desired.
Table Reference: Battle Armor Weapons and Equipment (Inner Sphere, pp. 346–348) Game Rules: Total Warfare, p. 214, 217
NARC
consider the weight and bulk of compact Narc launchers wasteful for
battlesuit use, as they eff ectively prevent otherwise unhindered suits
from executing anti-’Mech attacks until the launcher is jettisoned. The
Clan system—seen quite rarely on apparent one-off refi ts—appears
no more refi ned than the Spheroid version.
Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan
Battle Armor Unit Restrictions: No restrictions
Game Rules: Under Total Warfare game play, a battlesuit’s Narc launcher remains operational as long as it is not jettisoned (if mounted
as a detachable missile), and is not out of ammunition. Otherwise, a suit’s launcher will remain operational as long as the suit itself is not
destroyed and its trooper is capable of acting. Narc pods fi red by a battlesuit remain active even if the launching suit is destroyed later.
Construction Rules: A battle armor suit (including exoskeleton and power armor designs) may mount multiple Narc launchers if desired.
Narc ammo is treated as missile ammo under Step 5 of the Battle Armor core construction rules (starting on p. 170).
Table Reference: Battle Armor Weapons and Equipment (Inner Sphere and Clan, pp. 346–348) Game Rules: Total Warfare, p. 229
i
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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
263