the shape of things to come

must use standard BattleMech fusion engines instead (see the
Master Engine Table, p. 49). In the latter case, however, any Engine
Rating not evenly divisible by 5 must be rounded up to the next
nearest rating to fi nd its appropriate engine size. For example, a
ProtoMech with a computed Engine Rating of 42 rounds up to a
fi nal Engine Rating of 45.
The ProtoMech Engine Rating and Mobility Formulas summarize
the rules for computing a ProtoMech’s Engine Rating and
determining the tonnage for its engine.
ProtoMechs may use only standard fusion engines. Nonfusion
engines, as well as non-standard fusion engines such
as Compact, Light and XL engines, may not be installed on a
ProtoMech’s chassis.
Space: ProtoMech engine hits are handled as a default critical
hit on the ProtoMech’s Hit Locations and Critical Hits Table, and so
occupy no critical slots as engines do on BattleMechs and IndustrialMechs.
John wants to give his Siren-4 enough
speed to run down almost any quarry and
still escape the inevitable return fi re, so he
chooses a fast Walking speed of 10 MP. This
gives his ProtoMech a Running speed of 15
MP (10 Walking MP x 1.5 = 15 Running MP).
The Siren’s Engine Rating will thus be 45 (3
tons x 15 Running MP = 45). Because this rating
is 40 or higher, John consults the Master Engine Table
on p. 49 and fi nds that a standard 45-rated fusion engine
will weigh 1 ton (1,000 kilograms). After subtracting this
from the Siren’s unspent weight, John fi nds that he has
1,700 kilograms left over.
Kevin feels speed is less a priority for his
Hydra than good armor and fi repower, so
he decides on an average Walking MP of 4,
which yields a Running MP of 6 (4 Walking
MP x 1.5 = 6 Running MP). This means his
6,000-kilogram (6-ton) Proto’s engine will
need an Engine Rating of 36 (6 tons x 6
Running MP = 36). This is below the 40 Rating
that would place the ProtoMech’s
engine weight on the Master Engine Table. Instead, Kevin
computes his Hydra’s engine mass, multiplying its rating
by 25 kilograms, and fi nds that his fi nal engine weight will
be 900 kilograms (Engine Rating 36 x 25 kg = 900 kg). The
Hydra now has 4,500 kilograms of unspent weight remaining
(5,400 kg – 900 kg = 4,500 kg).
Lara wants her 9-ton assault ProtoMech
to have a surprising amount of speed, and
so decides to give the Delphyne-2 an
impressive Walking MP of 5. This produces
a Running MP of 8 (5 Walking MP x 1.5 = 7.5
Running MP, rounded up to 8), and requires
an Engine Rating of 75 to accomplish. (While
9 tons x 8 Running MP = 72, the fact that 72
is greater than 40 means that Lara has to
fi nd her Proto’s engine using the Master Engine Table on
p. 49. This forces her to round her Engine Rating result up
to the nearest listed Engine Rating, which is 75.) On the
PROTOMECH JUMP JET
WEIGHT TABLE
ProtoMech Weight Jump Jet Weight
2 to 5 tons 50 kg/Jumping MP
6 to 9 tons 100 kg/Jumping MP
Master Engine Table, Lara fi nds that a 75-rated standard
fusion engine weighs 2 tons (2,000 kilograms), and so she
subtracts this from the Delphyne’s unspent weight. The
Delphyne now has 6,100 unspent kilograms left (8,100 kg
– 2,000 kg = 6,100 kg).
DETERMINE JUMP CAPABILITY
ProtoMechs may mount jump jets in the same way as BattleMechs
do, except that their jets weigh considerably less per Jump
MP than BattleMech jets. See the ProtoMech Jump Jet Weight
Table above to fi nd the mass of each ProtoMech jump jet, based
on the Proto’s total weight. Each ProtoMech jump jet provides 1
Jumping MP and is considered to be mounted in the ProtoMech’s
legs and/or rear torso.
Only ProtoMechs may use ProtoMech jump jets. ProtoMechs
may not employ non-ProtoMech jump jets.
A ProtoMech’s Jumping MP may not exceed its Walking MP, so
a ProtoMech that has a Walking MP of 5 may not install more than
5 jump jets.
Space: ProtoMech jump jets do not occupy slots on the Proto-
Mech’s Weapons Inventory. Critical hits to any jets are already built
into the Proto’s Hit Locations and Critical Hits Table, so their exact
locations need not be determined on the record sheet.
Satisfi ed with the Siren-4’s swift overland
speed, and already short on kilograms for
weapons, ammunition and armor, John
decides not to mount jump jets on his Proto-
Mech at this point.
Equally content with the ground speed
of his Hydra, and eager to save as much
weight as possible for guns and armor,
Kevin also elects to mount no jump jets on
his ProtoMech design.
Even though her Proto is already fast
for its size, Lara decides to add an extra
surprise in the form of jump jets. She
decides on the maximum Jumping MP of
5 (equal to the Delphyne-2’s Walking MP)
and computes that the total weight for all
5 jump jets will come to 500 kilograms (5
Jumping MP x 100 kg/Jumping MP [for a
6- to 9-ton Proto] = 500 kilograms). Because ProtoMechs