the shape of things to come

ADD COCKPIT
Every BattleMech must have a cockpit, which contains the
MechWarrior’s control station, life-support system and electronic
sensors. The weight and critical spaces these cockpit systems
occupy in the BattleMech design depend on which type is chosen
(Standard or Small). Standard cockpits, which allow for unfettered
operations, weigh 3 tons and leave only one slot open in the
head for additional equipment. The more cramped Small cockpits
weigh 2 tons and leave 2 head location slots open, but impose
penalties on the warrior in game play. The BattleMech Cockpit
Table below outlines these basic features, including tonnage, critical
slots (as well as default locations on the Head Location of the
Critical Hits Table) and game play modifi er.
Tech Base: Standard cockpits are equally available to BattleMechs
of Clan or Inner Sphere tech bases. BattleMechs built using
an Inner Sphere Tech Base may use Small cockpits as well. Small
cockpits are currently unavailable to Clan-made BattleMechs.
Space: Both the Small and Standard cockpit types must be
located in the BattleMech’s head location. The blank ’Mech Record
Sheet generally presumes that the designer is using the Standard
cockpit and its default slot locations, which includes 2 Sensors
slots (in default slots 2 and 5), 2 Life Support slots (in default slots
1 and 6), and 1 Cockpit slot (in default slot 3), leaving slot 4 open
for any additional equipment.
The Small cockpit, if used instead, removes one of the Life Support
slots (default slot 6) and moves the sensors in slot 5 up to slot
4 to create 2 contiguous empty slots in the head.
The placement of cockpit critical spaces must be determined
at this time.
OmniMechs: The cockpit type and placement of its critical slots
must be established when designing an OmniMech’s base confi
guration, and may not be altered in that OmniMech’s completed
primary or alternate confi gurations.
Andrew decides to give his Mongoose
a Standard cockpit, spending 3 tons on it,
and thus retains the default slot arrangement
for the cockpit’s systems. He has 10
tons remaining (13 – 3 = 10).
With no access to Small cockpits, Brent
installs a Standard cockpit in his Gladiator,
using the default slots on the Record Sheet
Critical Hits Table as well. His OmniMech now
has 50 unspent tons remaining (53 – 3 = 50).
Though a +1 Piloting modifi er would
hardly impair his quad Barghest, Chas
too opts to use a Standard cockpit, leaving
him with 41 unspent tons (44 – 3 = 41).
He too retains the default slot arrangement
on the Critical Hits Table.
SPECIAL PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENTS (MASC/TSM)
Some designers may wish to install additional motive or musculature
enhancements to their BattleMechs at this time, such
as the speed-enhancing Myomer Acceleration Signal Circuitry
(MASC) or the strength-boosting Triple Strength Myomer (TSM).
Though this equipment is technically not part of the engine or
control systems, it should be installed at this stage, and its critical
slots allocated—particularly if the design is to be the base confi
guration of an OmniMech. Consult the BattleMech MASC and
TSM Table below for tonnage and critical slot data on MASC and
Triple-Strength Myomer.
MASC and Triple-Strength Myomer may not be combined on
the same BattleMech.
Tech Base: BattleMechs built with an Inner Sphere technology
base may make use of Inner Sphere MASC and Triple-Strength
Myomer. BattleMechs built using a Clan tech base may use Clan
MASC, but may not mount Triple-Strength Myomer.
Space: The number of critical slots required by MASC or Triple-
Strength Myomer is shown in the BattleMech MASC and TSM
Table, below. The critical slots for both systems may be placed
anywhere on the Critical Hit Table, but MASC must be allocated in
contiguous slots as a single item, while the critical slots for Triple-
Strength Myomer may be distributed throughout the table (like
endo-steel critical slots).
BATTLEMECH MASC AND TSM TABLE
System
Weight Critical Slots
(Inner
Sphere) (Clan)
(Inner
Sphere) (Clan)
MASC 5%* 4%* 5%* 4%*
Triple-Strength
Myomer
BATTLEMECH COCKPIT TABLE
0
Not
Avail.
6
Not
Avail.
*Percentage of the BattleMech’s total weight (in tons). Round this fi gure up to the
nearest full ton/critical slot.
Slots (Default Locations)
Cockpit Type Tons Cockpit Sensors Life Support Gameplay Eff ect
Standard 3 1 (3) 2 (2 and 5) 2 (1 and 6) None
Small 2 1 (3) 2 (2 and 4) 1 (1) +1 modifi er to all Piloting Skill Rolls