the shape of things to come

Introduced: 2436 (Draconis Combine)
Originally developed by New Samarkand Small Arms along the
same lines as the standard vehicular-scale version, the support particle
projector cannon (sometimes shortened to S-PPC) is a bit more
exotic than the standard laser weapon and delivers a powerful punch.
Introduced: 3065 (Capellan Confederation)
A curious new weapon from our Capellan neighbors, the manportable
plasma rifl e (M-PPR) fi rst appeared on the battlefi eld in late
3065. Analysis of captured samples have revealed this weapon to be
a hybrid energy and ballistic rifl e system that features a ceramic-lined
rifl e tube, energy coupler, cooling system and an ammunition supply
of plastic foam cartridges. When fi red, a lasing process converts the
cartridges into a ball of white-hot plasma, which splashes the target
and delivers damage more through its incendiary eff ects than true
kinetic impact. Though in principle these methods sound like a high-
Introduced: 3050 (Federated Commonwealth)
One of the fi rst weapons deployed by Inner Sphere-made battle
armor—specifically the FedCom-era Sloth—the one-shot pop-up
mine was a clever enough concept, but dangerous to employ because
it required the attacker to get within point-blank range of a target.
Fired from very close ranges (ideally, in fact, from directly below the
target), the pop-up mine is a magnetized limpet mine that uses a
PARTICLE PROJECTOR CANNON (SUPPORT)
PLASMA RIFLE (MAN-PORTABLE)
POP-UP MINE
Though easily adapted for use on battle armor, it was not until the
Draconis Combine began development of the Void battlesuit that this
weapon saw deployment in such a fashion. The Void entered service
earlier this year.
PARTICLE PROJECTOR CANNON (SUPPORT)
Tech Base: Inner Sphere and Clan
Battle Armor Unit Restrictions: No restrictions
Game Rules: Under Total Warfare game play, a battlesuit’s particle projector cannon will remain operational as long as the suit is not
destroyed and its trooper is capable of acting.
Construction Rules: A battle armor suit (including exoskeleton and power armor designs) may mount multiple particle projector cannons if desired.
Table Reference: Battle Armor Weapons and Equipment (Inner Sphere and Clan, pp. 346–348) Game Rules: Total Warfare, p. 214
PLASMA RIFLE (MAN-PORTABLE)
tech variation on the Firedrake, the plasma bolt’s high energy and
velocity allows it to burn through even battlefi eld armor, with almost
the same eff ectiveness as a small laser.
As expected, the M-PPR was quickly deployed for battle armor
usage, appearing on the Capellan version of the Trinity battlesuits that
debuted last year. Rumors abound that the Confederation is looking
into a ’Mech-scale upgrade, but has yet to produce a viable large-scale
adaptation of this technology. [As noted earlier, both the Clans and
the Inner Sphere eventually accomplished that feat after this publication
appeared. –EB]
Tech Base: Inner Sphere only
Battle Armor Unit Restrictions: No restrictions
Game Rules: Under Total Warfare game play, a battlesuit’s plasma weapons remain operational as long as the suit is not destroyed and
its trooper is capable of acting.
Construction Rules: A battle armor suit (including exoskeleton and power armor designs) may mount multiple plasma rifl es if desired.
Table Reference: Battle Armor Weapons and Equipment (Inner Sphere, pp. 346–348) Game Rules: Total Warfare, p. 214
POP-UP MINE
shaped charge powerful enough to breach even heavy battlefi eld
armor and cause internal systems damage. As powerful as this system
is, however, since the Sloth went out of production very few pop-up
mines have seen use on modern battlesuits, largely because the attack
procedure literally throws the trooper under the proverbial bus
into the bargain.
Tech Base: Inner Sphere only
Battle Armor Unit Restrictions: No restrictions
Game Rules: Under Total Warfare game play, a battlesuit’s pop-up mine remains operational as long as it is not already fi red in combat.
Otherwise, the weapon remains operational as long as its carrying suit is not destroyed and its trooper is capable of acting.
Construction Rules: A battle armor suit (including exoskeleton and power armor designs) may mount multiple pop-up mines if desired.
Pop-up mines are one-shot devices and may not add extra reloads.
Table Reference: Battle Armor Weapons and Equipment (Inner Sphere, pp. 346–348) Game Rules: Total Warfare, p. 229
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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
267