the shape of things to come

The placement of these critical slots need not be determined
at this time, but must be determined at or during the
fi nal stages of the BattleMech’s design.
OmniMechs: The type, weight and placement of critical
slots for MASC and Triple-Strength Myomer 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. Unlike jump jets, neither
MASC nor Triple-Strength Myomer may be “pod-mounted,”
so an OmniMech may not feature MASC or TSM capabilities
on an alternate confi guration unless the base confi guration
is so equipped.
Though MASC technology existed
in the era in which Andrew plans to
base his Mongoose, he decides not
to use that technology for added
speed bursts, as the ’Mech already
boasts a respectable movement rate.
He likewise considers Triple-Strength
Myomer inappropriate, though that
has more to do with the technology
not existing in the old Star League era than the fact
that the lightweight Mongoose would make a lousy
close-in brawler.
To provide his 95-ton Gladiator
with amazing bursts of speed that
can catch lighter enemies off -guard,
Brent chooses to add MASC to the
base design. Clan-made MASC
weighs 4 percent of the BattleMech’s
total weight, so MASC on the Gladiator
will weigh 4 tons (95 tons x 0.04 =
3.8 tons, rounded up to 4). As this formula
also determines the equipment’s size in terms of
critical slots, the same value (4) applies to the number
of slots needed. The Gladiator now has 46 unspent
tons remaining (50 – 4 = 46). Brent decides to assign
the 4 MASC slots to the Omni’s left torso location.
Chas resists the urge to install
MASC or TSM on his Barghest, opting
to save weight and space for ranged
weapons.
SM ??
PXH-4L Phoenix Hawk, Broadsword Legion (Mercenary)
STEP 3:
ADD ADDITIONAL HEAT SINKS
The heat sinks that dissipate heat produced by the BattleMech’s
movement, weapons fi re and other actions may be
allocated at this time. At this stage, however, the give-andtake
of BattleMech design begins to come into play, and so
the player can skip this step for now, leaving the heat sinks
until after assigning the ’Mech’s weapons and equipment.
The fusion engines used on BattleMechs automatically
provide the ’Mech with 10 free heat sinks that do not take up
tonnage (but may occupy critical slots, if the engine is not large
enough). Additional heat sinks may be installed beyond this free
amount, at a cost of 1 ton per heat sink (regardless of whether
or not the heat sinks used are standard or double-strength).
Two types of heat sink are available to BattleMechs: standard
heat sinks (generally known as single heat sinks) and
double heat sinks. A BattleMech may only carry one type of
heat sink, not a mixture of both. This includes the free sinks
that come with the fusion engine. If a designer opts to equip a
’Mech with double heat sinks, the 10 heat sinks that come with
the engine are automatically considered double heat sinks as
well. If standard heat sinks are chosen instead, then the 10 free
sinks are considered single heat sinks.
Tech Base: Standard (single) heat sinks are equally available
to BattleMechs of Clan or Inner Sphere tech bases. BattleMechs
built using an Inner Sphere Tech Base may use Inner
Sphere double heat sinks as well. Clan-made BattleMechs may
use Clan double heat sinks.
Space: Regardless of the type of heat sinks used, or how
many more are added after the engine’s 10 free sinks, a number
of heat sinks may not require any critical slots on the Critical
Hits Table, based on the size of the engine. To fi nd the number
of heat sinks that may be considered “critical-free,” divide the
BattleMech’s engine rating by 25 and round the result down.
These sinks are considered an integral part of the engine, and
so can only be destroyed if the engine is destroyed.
All remaining heat sinks (even the engine’s 10 free sinks)
must be allocated to the Critical Hits Table, with each sink
considered a separate item. Heat sinks that occupy multiple
critical slots—such as Clan and Inner Sphere double heat
sinks—must allocate these slots contiguously on the table.
For example, if a player adds 5 heat sinks (for a total of 15) to
a BattleMech with a 195-rated fusion engine, 7 of these sinks
(195 ÷ 25 = 7.8, rounded down to 7) are considered integral to
the engine and are not assigned critical slots. The other 8 [10
(original equipment) + 5 (extra) – 7 (integral to engine) = 8]
must be assigned to critical slots.
Each standard (single) heat sink not considered integral to
the engine takes up 1 critical slot, while Inner Sphere double
heat sinks fi ll 3 slots each, and Clan double heat sinks occupy 2
slots each. The allocation of these sinks to the Critical Hits Table
can wait until later, if the designer so wishes, in order to assure
the best fi t when mounting weapons and other equipment.
OmniMechs: A Clan or Inner Sphere OmniMech may add
more heat sinks at this stage, or—at the designer’s option—
may stick with the 10 free sinks already provided by the fusion
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
53