the shape of things to come

Light IndustrialMechs weigh 35 tons and under. Most are
built in this range to keep costs low and production high.
Common models often serve as basic labor ’Mechs or light
security units.
Medium IndustrialMechs weigh 40 to 55 tons, and are the
second most common IndustrialMech type. They commonly
balance speed and carrying capability, and are favored as
heavy laborers and cargo haulers.
Heavy IndustrialMechs weigh from 60 to 75 tons. These
machines are rare, with average mobility, and usually haul
heavy cargo loads.
Assault IndustrialMechs (the name for their weight class
was copied from BattleMechs over the centuries) weigh from
80 to 100 tons. Quite rare, IndustrialMechs at this scale are
typically employed for battlefi eld scavenge and salvage duties
where their muscle is needed to haul away other damaged or
crippled heavy units.
SPACE
Internal space (also called critical space) on an Industrial-
Mech is illustrated and tracked by the Critical Hits Table on
the ’Mech’s record sheet, which describes in abstract detail
the internal arrangement of the IndustrialMech’s body just as
for BattleMechs. Certain sections of this table are already fi lled
in, because the relevant components and equipment—actuators,
cockpit systems, engines and gyros—must be placed in
those specifi c body locations. As the ’Mech’s various design
elements are chosen—from additional heat sinks and jump
jets to weapons and equipment—the designer must assign
these components to diff erent parts of its body and allocate
their required number of slots on this Critical Hits Table.
Many items that may be mounted on an IndustrialMech
take up more than one critical slot, and no slot may accommodate
more than one item at a time. When installed, items that
occupy multiple slots must be specially noted on the tables,
as most become non-functional if they receive even a single
critical hit from damage. Also, very few items may be placed in
multiple body locations, and the critical slots for all multi-slot
items must be contiguous unless the item’s construction rules
specifi cally permit otherwise.
The Critical Space Table used by BattleMechs (see p. 45) summarizes
the number of open critical slots in each location of a
standard IndustrialMech, whether built as a biped (humanoid)
or a four-legged (quad) design. As with weight, the designer
should keep in mind how many slots have been used and how
many remain available in each body section. This will help to
avoid installing too many items or items too large for a given
location.
Reclaiming Critical Space
The Critical Space Table presumes a default IndustrialMech
confi guration, built using standard engines, gyros, cockpit systems
and—in the case of humanoid chassis—two complete
sets of arm and hand actuators. The removal of hand and/or
lower arm actuators on one or both arms can increase the
amount of open space overall at the designer’s option, though
doing so can impair the IndustrialMech’s ability to function
well under certain conditions. Designers should carefully consider
the eff ects of exercising such “space-saving” measures.
As with BattleMechs, only biped-style IndustrialMechs may
remove hand and lower arm actuators to reclaim space. To
remove a lower arm actuator, the hand actuator on that same
arm must also be removed.
DESIGNING INDUSTRIALMECHS
The process of IndustrialMech design is identical to that for
BattleMechs, following the same six simple steps:
Step 1: Design the Chassis—Determine the Industrial-
Mech’s technology base, weight, type (biped or four-legged)
and internal structure.
Step 2: Install Engine and Control Systems—Determine the
IndustrialMech’s Engine Rating, type and size, add cockpit and
jump jets.
Step 3: Add Heat Sinks—Determine the number and locations
(if necessary) for the IndustrialMech’s heat sinks.
Step 4: Add Armor—Determine type, amount and weight
of armor, and allocate armor points.
Step 5: Install Weapons and Equipment—Add weapons
and other gear to the IndustrialMech.
Step 6: Complete the Record Sheet.
The above design process—as with BattleMechs—is a
mere framework for designing an IndustrialMech. The actual
process—particularly after the chassis, engine and control
systems are determined—can involve a bit more fl exibility as
equipment, armor and heat sinks are balanced for their best
fi t in terms of weight and space. For example, some designers
might wish to assign armor as soon as the engine and chassis
are settled, perhaps to maximize the ’Mech’s protection before
dealing with heat sinks and weapons. Others may want to
choose equipment before adding more heat sinks, to see how
many may be needed in addition to those that might come
free with the engine.
To assist in this eff ort, the designer may fi nd it useful to
make copies of the blank ’Mech Record Sheet (in the back of
this book), to visually arrange the placement of all equipment
while tracking the use of tonnage on a piece of scratch paper.
Alternatively, designers with access to HeavyMetal Pro can use
that design software to develop their IndustrialMechs using
a PC.
An AFFS-employed MiningMech participates in the rape of Demeter.
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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
65