the shape of things to come

DESIGNING COMBAT VEHICLES
The process of Combat Vehicle design can be organized into six
simple steps, each described below:
Step 1: Design the Chassis—Determine the vehicle’s motive
type, tech base, weight, and internal structure.
Step 2: Install Engine and Control Systems—Determine the
Combat Vehicle’s Engine Rating, type and size, add control systems
and any necessary lift/dive equipment.
Step 3: Add Heat Sinks—Determine number and tonnage for
the Combat Vehicle’s heat sinks, if any.
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 Combat Vehicle.
Step 6: Complete the Record Sheet.
The above design process is a framework for designing a Combat
Vehicle. The actual process—particularly after the chassis, engine
and control systems are determined—can involve a bit more fl exibility
as weapons, armor and heat sinks are balanced for their best
fi t in terms of tonnage and space. For instance, some designers
might wish to assign armor as soon as the engine and chassis
are settled, perhaps to maximize the vehicle’s protection before
dealing with heat sinks and weapons. Others may want to choose
weapons before adding more heat sinks, to see how many might
be needed in addition to those that come free with the engine.
To assist in this eff ort, the designer may fi nd it useful to make
copies of an appropriate blank Vehicle Record Sheet (in the back
of this book), to visually arrange the placement of weapons
and equipment while tracking the use of tonnage on a piece of
scratch paper. Alternatively, designers with access to a PC and
HeavyMetal Vee can use that design software to develop their
Combat Vehicle electronically.
COMBAT VEHICLE MOTIVE TYPES TABLE
STEP 1: DESIGN THE CHASSIS
The fi rst step in Combat Vehicle design is the creation of the
vehicle’s basic framework, or chassis. This step establishes some
of the bedrock aspects of the Combat Vehicle’s design, determining
what kind of vehicle it is, its technology base, its weight class
and its movement (motive) type. These choices will restrict the
designer’s access to certain equipment, and will also determine
the weight and bulk of the vehicle’s internal structure.
CHOOSE MOTIVE TYPE
Combat Vehicles come in a variety of motive types, which can
aff ect their maximum tonnage, terrain restrictions and engine
effi ciencies. Because of this, choosing a Combat Vehicle’s motive
type is the fi rst key part of the chassis design process. Even the
selection of a proper blank Record Sheet for use in vehicle design
hinges on the choice of motive type fi rst.
The Combat Vehicle Motive Types Table below provides the
key data that applies to Combat Vehicle design and game play.
Each motive type covered by these rules is listed in the Motive
Type column, and has its own Maximum Tonnage (beyond which
Combat Vehicles of that motive type may not be constructed) and
Restricted Terrains (areas impassable to units of that motive type
in Total Warfare game play). The Combat Vehicle Record Table,
meanwhile, determines which blank Record Sheet must be used
to record the construction of a new Combat Vehicle from a given
motive type.
Motive Type Maximum Tonnage Restricted Terrain
Hover 50 Woods (Light and Heavy)
Naval (Displacement Hull) 300 All except Water (Depth 1+)
Naval (Hydrofoil) 100 All except Water (Depth 1+)
Naval (Submarine) 300 All except Water (Depth 1+)
Tracked 100 Woods (Heavy), Water (Depth 1+)
VTOL 30 Any Woods, Hills, or Structures at same altitude*
Wheeled 80 Rough, Rubble, Woods (Light and Heavy), Water (Depth 1+)
Wing-in-Ground Eff ect (WiGE) 80 Any Woods, Hills, or Structures at same altitude
*VTOL units may not operate on the High-Altitude Map
COMBAT VEHICLE RECORD SHEET TABLE
Motive Type Record Sheet
Hover, Tracked, Wheeled or WiGE Ground
Naval (Displacement Hull, Hydrofoil or Submarine) Naval
VTOL VTOL