the shape of things to come

ADD GYROSCOPE
Like BattleMechs, IndustrialMechs require powerful gyroscopes
(gyros) to keep them upright and mobile. The weight
of these gyros (in tons) is that of the IndustrialMech’s engine
rating divided by 100 and rounded up to the nearest whole
number. IndustrialMechs may only use standard gyros; the
Compact, Heavy-Duty and XL gyros available to BattleMechs
may not be installed on a IndustrialMech.
Tech Base: Standard gyros are equally available to IndustrialMechs
of Clan or Inner Sphere tech bases.
Space: The Standard Gyro (which takes up 4 critical slots in
the center torso) already appears on the Critical Hits Table of
the blank ’Mech Record Sheet.
Mounting a 100-rated engine,
David’s CattleMaster requires a 1ton
gyro (Engine Rating 100 ÷ 100
= 1 ton). Once the gyro is installed,
the CattleMaster will have 13 tons
remaining (14 tons – 1 ton = 13 tons).
With its 150-rated engine,
Edward’s Buster requires a 2-ton
gyro (Engine Rating 150 ÷ 100 =
1.5, rounded up to 2 tons). After
this, the Buster will have 27
remaining unallocated tons of
weight (29 tons – 2 tons = 27 tons).
The Uni’s 210-rated engine
requires the IndustrialMech
to carry a 3-ton gyro (Engine
Rating 210 ÷ 100 = 2.1, rounded
up to 3 tons). The Uni now has
42 unspent tons remaining (45
tons – 3 tons = 42 tons).
DETERMINE JUMP CAPABILITY
At the designer’s option, fusion- or fi ssion-powered IndustrialMechs
may be equipped with jump jets in their legs and/or
torsos to allow for short bursts of jumping movement. In the
same fashion as for BattleMechs, the weight of these jets
depends on the IndustrialMech’s desired Jumping Movement
Points (MP), though IndustrialMechs may use only standard
jump jets. Use the Standard Jump Jets column of the Jump
Jets Table for BattleMechs (see p. 51) to determine the tonnage
of the IndustrialMech’s jets.
Like BattleMech jump jets, the jets on IndustrialMechs are
mounted singly, with each jet providing 1 Jumping MP. For
example, an IndustrialMech with fi ve jump jets would have 5
Jumping MP. The maximum number of jets an IndustrialMech
may mount is equal to its maximum Walking MP.
Tech Base: Standard jump jets are equally available to
IndustrialMechs of Clan or Inner Sphere tech bases.
Space: Jump jets may only be mounted in an IndustrialMech’s
torso and leg locations. Each jet occupies one critical slot. Their
placement need not be determined at this time, but should be
set by or during the fi nal phases of the IndustrialMech’s design.
None of the three Industrial-
Mechs being developed by David,
Edward or Geoff employ fi ssion or
fusion engine types, so they may
not mount jump jets.
Had Edward gone with a fi ssion
or fusion engine, he could have
incorporated jump jets into his
Buster as though he were mounting
them on a standard BattleMech. In such a case,
with a IndustrialMech weight of 50 tons, Ed could have
installed up to 3 jump jets (the maximum allowed with
a Walking MP of 3), each jet weighing 0.5 ton and
occupying 1 critical slot. The questionable decision
to mount jump jets on an IndustrialMech intended to
haul cargo, however, is academic at this point.
ADD COCKPIT
IndustrialMech cockpits are simpler than those of their
battlefi eld cousins, lacking the targeting and pilot ejection
systems that MechWarriors take for granted. In game play,
these features translate into a +1 modifi er for all Industrial-
Mech to-hit rolls when making attacks, and an inability to eject
from combat (ejection will be covered in Tactical Operations).
These systems, however, can be added to an IndustrialMech’s
cockpit for an additional cost.
The standard IndustrialMech cockpit weighs 3 tons and
occupies the same critical slots as the default standard
BattleMech cockpit. Without the Advanced Fire Control
enhancement (see below), an IndustrialMech may not use any
of the following equipment: Artemis IV, Beagle Active Probe
(or its Clan equivalent), C 3 or C 3 i units (including Master and
Slave units) or Targeting Computers (Clan or Inner Sphere).
Tech Base: Standard IndustrialMech cockpits are equally
available to IndustrialMechs of Clan or Inner Sphere tech bases.
Space: As with the BattleMech cockpit, the standard IndustrialMech
cockpit must be located in the BattleMech’s head. The
blank ’Mech Record Sheet presumes that the designer is using
the standard cockpit, and so already has all cockpit slots in their
default locations, including 2 Sensors slots (slots 2 and 5), 2 Life
Support slots (slots 1 and 6) and 1 Cockpit slot (in slot 3), leaving
Slot 4 open for any additional equipment.
IndustrialMech Cockpit Enhancements:
Advanced Fire Control and Ejection
Two additions to the IndustrialMech cockpit are available at
the designer’s option: Advanced Fire Control and an Ejection
Seat for the pilot.
Advanced Fire Control doubles the cockpit’s C-bill cost,
but takes up no tonnage or critical space. When installed,
the IndustrialMech loses its +1 to-hit modifi er to all attacks,
and may use targeting computers and C 3 -type equipment,
essentially functioning in game play as if it had a standard
BattleMech cockpit.
An Ejection Seat weighs half a ton and occupies 1 critical
slot in the IndustrialMech’s head. Ejection, an advanced rule
that will be covered in Tactical Operations, enables the pilot
to make a quick exit in the event of a ’Mech’s catastrophic
destruction. (The ejection feature comes free with all BattleMech
cockpits.)
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
69