the shape of things to come

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Clan Jade Falcon’s Delta Galaxy conducts a Trial of Possession to take a power station from the Steel Vipers’ Rho Galaxy.
The Battle Value (BV) system provides a numerical rating that
represents the capabilities and survivability of every Classic
BattleTech unit: BattleMechs, IndustrialMechs, Combat Vehicles,
Support Vehicles, aerospace fi ghters, conventional fi ghters, Drop-
Ships, Small Craft, ProtoMechs, conventional infantry and battle
armor. With the Battle Value system, players can create evenly
matched battles by assembling two opposing forces, each with
the same total BV ratings (see Constructing a Battle Force, p. 314).
The BV ratings for weapons and equipment are listed in the Inner
Sphere, Clan and Conventional Infantry Weapons Battle Value
tables at the end of this section, beginning on p. 317.
The formulas in this section allow players to calculate the exact
BV of any BattleMech, vehicle or other unit. However, the variety of
hardware and units encompassed by Classic BattleTech precludes
an easy-to-use system. Players may fi nd some of the formulas
complex, and space prohibits a detailed analysis of the methods
by which equipment values and other modifi ers are derived.
This revised Battle Value system replaces the system fi rst published
in Maximum Tech and the BattleTech Master Rules (BMR). A list
of Battle Values for all previously published units can be found on
FanPro’s Classic BattleTech Web Site (www.classicbattletech.com).
CALCULATING ’MECH BV
BattleMechs and IndustrialMechs share the same method of
calculating their BV ratings, involving three main steps. First, calculate
the ’Mech’s Defensive Battle Rating (DBR). Second, calculate
the Off ensive Battle Rating (OBR). Finally, add the Defensive and
Off ensive battle ratings to fi nd the fi nal BV and then round to the
nearest whole number (round .5 up). As you read each step, refer
to pp. 304–305 for an example of calculating the BV for a MON-66
Mongoose, a BGS-1T Barghest and a Uni CargoMech.
STEP 1: CALCULATE DEFENSIVE BATTLE RATING
First, ADD the following fi gures:
Total Armor Factor x 2.5 x Armor Type Modifi er
Consult the Mech Armor Type Modifi er Table on p. 315.
Total Internal Structure Points x 1.5 x Internal Structure Type
Modifi er x Engine Type Modifi er
Consult the ’Mech Internal Structure Type Modifi er Table on p.
315 and the ’Mech Engine Type Modifi er Table on p. 315.
Gyro (’Mech Tonnage x Mech Gyro Modifi er)
Consult the Mech Gyro Modifi er Table on p. 315.
Total BV of all Defensive Equipment
Defensive equipment includes active probes, anti-missile systems,
anti-personnel pods, anti-battle armor pods, bridge-layers and ECM
suites. Other Defensive Equipment are identifi ed on the Weapon
and Equipment Battle Value Tables by a dagger footnote (†).
Then SUBTRACT the following fi gures. (Explosive ammo is any
ammunition that may explode inside a ’Mech. Gauss weapons
include Gauss rifl es, HAGs and AP Gauss.) These subtractions cannot
drop the running total below 1.
15 points per critical space of explosive ammo in center
torso, legs or head (Clan ’Mech)
15 points per critical space of explosive ammo in any location
(Inner Sphere ’Mech with XL engine)