the shape of things to come

SM SL
After a round of training exercises, this Blood Spirit ProtoMech point is sent in for a routine maintenance check.
A uniquely Clan concept (the Inner Sphere has yet to mimic the
technology), ProtoMechs (sometimes referred to simply as “Protos”)
occupy a middle ground between heavy battle armor and
true BattleMechs in Classic BattleTech. Intended as a frugal answer
to BattleMechs for more resource-poor Clans, ProtoMechs are
much smaller than BattleMechs, and most are much tougher than
battlesuits. Operating in groups, ProtoMechs can be a powerful
weapon in battle.
The following system enables players to construct unique ProtoMechs
for Classic BattleTech games that conform to the standard
rules presented in Total Warfare. As these rules can be fairly mathintensive,
ProtoMech designers are encouraged to do all work
on scratch paper before committing the resulting design’s fi nal
specifi cations to an appropriate blank record sheet.
PROTOMECH BASICS
Though ProtoMechs are thematically based on BattleMech
design, their construction is slightly more simplifi ed. Only available
to a Clan Technology Base, their lighter weight and simpler
space system make for a shorter process. These factors, broadly
overviewed in the Construction Basics section (see p. 44), are
expanded on below.
TECHNOLOGY BASE
Under these rules, ProtoMechs may only be constructed using a
Clan Technology Base. Any weapons and equipment carried by a
ProtoMech must be selected from those available to the Clans.
Tech Rating
In the Weapons and Equipment Tables used for creating Proto-
Mechs and other units in this book, all items receive a Technology
Rating in addition to a technology base. This rating (expressed as
a series of letter grades that defi ne the level of technology, and
its availability through the major eras of Classic BattleTech history)
helps to defi ne the item’s level of sophistication and may be used to
help standardize the level of “advancement” the unit demonstrates
for purposes of era-based campaigning. Beyond this, however, an
item’s Technology Rating has no direct bearing on ProtoMech
design. See Costs and Availability (p. 274) for more on Tech Rating.
OmniMechs
ProtoMechs may not be constructed as OmniMechs.
WEIGHT
ProtoMechs use a kilogram standard, with all units legal for
Total Warfare standard play weighing between 2,000 and 9,000
kilograms, increasing in increments of 1,000 kilograms. Because
many items that may be mounted on Protos express their weight
in tonnage, these items must be converted to the kilogram standard
by multiplying their tonnage values by 1,000.
At the end of ProtoMech construction, a Proto’s total mass is
expressed in terms of tonnage on its record sheet for simplicity.
For example, a 6,000-kilogram ProtoMech is listed on its record
sheet as a 6-ton design.
Weight Classes
ProtoMechs loosely fall into four main weight classes, determined
by their tonnage. Most designs in these classes share similar
features, though the lighter weight of ProtoMechs (compared to
BattleMechs) often blurs their distinctions.