SLAUGHTERTECH 1) Detremine the speed of the mech
2) Determine the Engine rating
Below you will find the rules that my friends and I have come
up with for Battletech. These rules were meant to augment the
existing rules, not replace them. _The Battletech Compendium_
is the ruleook referenced throughout this text and is considered
necessary for these rules to be used fully.
One of the basic assumptions throughout this entire text is that
the Clans do not exist. Granted, some of the technology
presented in here is Clan in nature or capability, but this system
was started before the Clans were presented. The history of the
Battletech Universe has also been ignored completely. This is
evident with the huge variety of weapons and the fact that (for
example) LB-X autocannons weigh more than standard
autocannons. For any system that is not specifically modifed or
covered in these rules assume that the standard rules for "Inner
Sphere" systems take precedence.
The 2x engine rules were created some time ago, exact date
forgotten. These rules are of my design and should be
considered copyrighted. The Observer rules were created based
upon ideas found in the Rec.Games.Mecha archives. Credit is
given at the end.
The Internal Structure and Armor rules were developed
recently and are pretty much an adjustment to existing rules
plus added systems. If anything appears to have come from
FASA then it probably did.
The Weapons list is a compilation of the existing weapons plus
those developed by myself, my friends, and others. The
alternate ammunitions were an outgrowth of rules presented in
the FASA product _Unbound_ and material found in the
aforementioned archives.
The Infantry Rules were developed to make all types of infantry
a viable selection. These rules were also intened to make
them a little more capable of playing a role on the battlefield.
The Credit Section is where I give credit to those who inspired
me to put something resembling their work into my compilation.
I tried to give credit where it is due, but if you feel slighted I
apologize. One source of inspiration and information that is
not credited there is FASA. They deserve the credit for anything
that resembles material from the rulebook and the product
_Unbound_.
Matt Murray
TWO ENGINE AND
TWO COCKPIT
The 2xeng and 2xeng2xcockpit mech rules will require that
you make new mech sheets for these monsters. With a little bit of
work, clear tape, and photocopies you can cut up, you can make
the sheets no problem. I'll give you what location has how many
crits of each thing.
2 ENGINE MECHS
The two engine mech is simply a battlemech that has such a
high speed that the weight or power requirements are so high
that two engines are required as opposed to one. For a mech to
have two engines, it must pass one of two requirements. If it
doesn't, then the mech will simply use one engine. NOTE: The
weight requirements below are based upon standard engine
weights and are regardless of the possibility of the engines being
ST or XL engines.
For the design of your mech, replace the rules for
"Determine engine weight" with this list:
3) Determine the Engine weight
4) Check to see if steps 2 or 3 qualify the mech for 2x
engine status. If the mech does qualify, follow ths steps:
A) If the last digit of the Engine rating is a 5, add 5 to the engine
rating making it an even number.
B) Divide the engine rating by 2 creating the engine ratings of the
2 smaller engines to be used.
C) Use the smaller engine ratings to determine the engine
weights of the two smaller engines.
D) Modify the weights of the engines appropriately if you are
going to use ST or XL engines.
E) Add the weights of the engines together to determine the final
weight of the engines.
(Note: Gyro weight is based upon the engine rating from line 4A.)
REQUIREMENTS:
If the mech is 55-100 tons, then the requirements are:
1) The required engine rating is above 400
or
2) The weight of the engine required is 75% or greater than
the weight of the mech.
If the mech is 5-50 tons, then the requirements are:
1) The required engine rating is above 400
or
2) The weight of the engine required is 50% or greater than
the weight of the mech.
Now that the rules for what mechs are allowed to have 2
engines have been established, next are the special rules
pertaining to them.
1) Since the mech has 2 fusion engines, it also has 20 heat
sinks.
A) They can be made double heat sinks.
B) The number of HS that can be put on to an engine w/out
being represented on the critical hit table is based upon the
engine rating of each engine, not the combined engine ratings.
C) If the engine heat sinks are double HS, then divide the
number of heat sinks that can be put on an engine by the number
of crits each double heat sink takes up. (This rule is put in so that
double heat sinks are not common and do not unbalance the
game since heat is the restraining factor in this game. This rule is
also under the assumption that the rules concerning mixing
standard and double heat sinks are changed. If you want to, you
can mount double and standard HS on a mech. All of the heat
sinks from the engines must be the same type. All 20 must be
either double or standard, not half&half. If you keep the original
rule saying ALL heat sinks must be the same type, then you may
also consider possibly ignore this subrule completely.
2) A damage track is kept for each engine. It is possible for
a 2x engine mech to recieve 4 engine hits, 2 per engine. When
one of the two engines receives 3 hits, it is destroyed and the
move rate of the mech is halved, rounding down. The destroyed
engine also stops producing heat due to damage or moving. A
2x engine mech is considered destroyed when both engines are
destroyed,
i.e.: When each engine has received 3 engine hits. Any HS
mounted on the engine and not represented on the crit. hit table
for the mech are also destroyed.
3) When the internal structure for a side torso has been
completely destroyed, that sides engine is also counted as
destroyed with the appropriate effects for losing one engine as
outlined in rule 2.
4) The Critical Hit table for a 2x engined mech is different
from that you would find on a standard one.
A) Change the center torso by changing all engine slots
(11,12,13,22,23,24) into empty slots that can mount equipment.
B) Change both of the side torsos to this slot configuration:
Standard ST Engines XL Engines
1. Engine 1. Engine 1. Engine
2. Engine 2. Engine 2. Engine
3. Engine 3. Engine 3. Engine
4. ______ 4. ______ 4. Engine
5. ______ 5. ______ 5. Engine
6. ______ 6. ______ 6. Engine
1. ______ 1. Engine 1. Engine
2. Engine 2. Engine 2. Engine
3. Engine 3. Engine 3. Engine
4. Engine 4. Engine 4. Engine
5. ______ 5. Engine 5. Engine
6. ______ 6. Engine 6. Engine
(As you can see, you have a high to 100% chance of getting an
engine hit with the more advanced engines.)
5) If the engines are going to use ST or XL technology, both
must be of the same type.
6) The heat produced from movement is doubled with 2x
engine mechs. Walking heat is 2 while running produces 4 heat.
7) As before, regardless of technology level of the engine,
each engine requires only 3 engine hits to be destroyed.
DESIGN NOTES ON 2X ENGINE MECHS:
These rules were written long before the clans came into the
picture. They were even written before the rules for XL engines
were published. From the time we came out with the rules for 2x
engine mechs, we have experimented with rules for 2x engine
tanks (we never goofed with aerospace fighters, but that would
be another logical growth of the rules.) The rules we developed
never did seem balanced and seemed to require a major rewrite
of the tank rules, which we did for some areas. If you desire to
have 2x engine tanks, you may want to take a long hard look at
them. Realize that the limiting factors for 2x engine mechs are:
loss of internal space, loss of armor protection for the engines
due to sitting in the side torsos, ease of getting engine hits due to
doubled number of engine crits, and increased heat for
movement. All of these limiting factors are not available for tanks
based on the available rules. There are no damage locations
where tank engines are. There are no internal crit slotsfor tanks.
Tanks don't have to worry about movement heat. As you can see,
tanks were made overly simple so that they were easy to play
and integrate. Due to these simplifications, you can't easily
integrate 2x engine rules for them. On further investigation, you'll
see that the same problems exist for aerospace fighters,
conventional fighters, and the other vehicles. If you are going to
put rules for 2x engines in for other vehicles, you will have to
rebuild a lot of the game.
The Clans would probably never have 2x engine mechs.
Their mechs tend to point to a huge standardization policy
throughout the clans and would be very slow to change to 2x
engines upon discovering 2x engine mechs. Even with those
points of logic out of the way, it should be apparent enough that
the clans are nasty enough as they are and need no further
modification. You will find that 2x engine mechs come only half
way to meeting the clans on even grounds. *I* wouldn't want a
100 ton clan mech with 2x engines stomping on my face and
ripping my lipps off!
SPECIAL TECHNOLOGY (ST) ENGINES
ST engines were developed primarily to incorporate the
weight saving capabilities of XL engines without the huge space
requirements. ST engines are best described as being halway
between standard and XL engines. ST engines are best used on
one engine mechs that need extra tonnage for ballistic weapons
and extra space for the weapons themselves. For 2x engine
mechs, internal space becomes critically short when both
engines are made XL, making the use of ST engines
predominant.
1) ST engines weigh .75 the weight of a standard engine,
this in comparison to XL engines that weigh .5 the weight of a
standard engine.
2) ST engines require 3 extra crit slots on a critical hit table.
These crit slots have already been described for 2x engine
mechs. For one engine mechs, ST engines require one extra slot
in each of the 3 torsos.
3) 3 engine hits are required to destroy an ST engine,
regardless if they are in the side or center torsos.
4) For figuring the costs of an ST engine, as per p. 128 of
_The Battletech Compendium_, use the formula of:
(10,000 x rating x tonnage) / 75
NOTES ON ST ENGINES:
As you can see, ST engines are halfway XL engines.
That's what they are intended to be. When I first came up with
ST engines, I had trouble convincing my friends the need of ST
engines. They are truly put in for 2x engine mechs, I have never
seen their use on one engine mechs. Use them as you please.
The Clans would probably never use ST engines. They
would more then likely use XL engines exclusively.
Historically, you could say that ST engines are a stepping
stone to XL engines, with their use relegated primarily to
2xengine mechs. You could also say that Peripheral houses
and governments developed them as their best effort to reach XL
technology.
2X COCKPIT and 2X ENGINE 2X COCKPIT MECHS
2x cockpit mechs are a natural outgrowth of mech designs
that had 2 seats in a mech cockpit where one seat was for the
mech pilot and the other seat was for a
commander/observer/nobody useful. There are 3 types of 2x
cockpit mechs: one engine 2x cockpit, 2x engine 2x cockpit Alpha,
and 2x engine 2x cockpit Beta. After the descriptions of the
three type of 2x cockpit mechs rules will be given for their use.
NOTE: When examples of the internal structure are shown, there
will be two empty critical slots with astricks. These are the slots
for "extra" sensors to be placed in. They will be explained later in
the rules.
2X COCKPIT MECHS:
These designs are achieved through the removal of the
cockpit from the head and replacing it with a cockpit in each side
torso.
1) The critical hit table is modified by replacing the head
with six empty crit slots. This effectively turns the head from a
cockpit center into a weapons platform. This platform can have a
turret like a ground vehicle where the turret mechanism weighs
ten percent of the weapons mounted (round up to the nearest half CENTER TORSO
ton). When the armor has been breached and internals have
been scored, roll for turret lock where the turret locks on a roll of 1) Life Support
1-3. If the turret locks, it locks facing the hexside that it was firing 2) Gyro
into that turn. 1 3) Cockpit
2) The side torsos are modified as such: 4) Gyro
5) Gyro
LEFT SIDE TORSO RIGHT SIDE TORSO 6) Life Support

1) Life Support 1) Life Support 1) Life Support

2) Sensors 2) Sensors 2) Sensors
1 3) Cockpit 1 3) Cockpit 2 3) Cockpit
4) _______ 4) _______ 4) Gyro
5) _______* 5) _______* 5) Sensors
6) Life Support 6) Life Support 6) Life Support

1) _______ 1) _______ 3) The pilot is in the upper cockpit while the gunner is in the
2) _______ 2) _______ lower cockpit. Notice also that there are no provisions for there to
2 3) _______ 2 3) _______ be backup sensors on this type of mech.
4) _______ 4) _______
5) _______ 5) _______ GENERAL RULES COVERING 2X COCKPIT MECHS
6) _______ 6) _______
1) There are 2 cockpits on 2x cockpit mechs. One is for a
3) The pilot can be in one side or the other as long as which pilot where the other one is for a gunner. These two pilots work
side has the pilot and which side has the gunner is marked on the together to pilot and fight the mech. The cumulative effect of
sheet before the game begins. these two working together and being able to concentrate on their
jobs is that the piloting and gunnery skills are better. To reflect
2X ENGINE 2X COCKPIT MECHS ALPHA these advantages, a mech with two cockpits has a -1 bonus on its
to hit and piloting target numbers.
These types of mechs are achieved through the addition of 2) The pilot controls the piloting functions of the mech, but
a cockpit to the center torso. Traditionally the gunner would be he can also do weapons firing. If the gunner should be killed, the
positioned in the torso and the pilot would be in the head. This pilot can take over weapons fire. The turn after the gunner is
arrangement can be swapped around with little problem, but it killed, the mech can not fire weapons but can still move. This
would seem more logical to have the pilot in the head. represents the pilot realizing the loss of the gunner and switching
over gunnery systems to his control. After this turn of lost
1) The head cannot be mounted on a turret. weapons fire, the pilot operates the mech without the piloting skill
2) The head and Center torso critical hit tables would look bonus and has a +1 penalty to weapons fire.
like this: 3) The gunner controls the firing functions of the mech, but
Center torso Head he can also pilot the mech. If the pilot should be killed, the gunner
can take over moving the mech. The turn after the pilot is killed,
1) _______ 1) Life Support the mech can not move but may continue to fire weapons. This
2) _______ 2) _______* represents the gunner realizing the loss of the pilot and switching
1 3) _______ 3) Cockpit over movement systems to his control. After this turn of lost
4) Gyro 4) _______ movement, the gunner operates the mech without the gunnery
5) Gyro 5) _______* bonus and has a +1 penalty to piloting skill.
6) Gyro 6) Life Support 4) The bonuses and penalties mentioned above are treated
just like any of the bonuses and penalties found in the rules and
1) Life Support can be made cumulative with any other modifiers. If the players
2) Sensors are using the optional rules for DNI and VRPP piloting
2 3) Cockpit enhancements, they can also be used with 2x cockpit mechs.
4) Gyro (The two pilots had better know each other *VERY* well to
5) Sensors be allowed to use DNI.)
6) Life Support 5) If both the pilot and the gunner are killed, then the mech
is considered destroyed.
3) To put the gunner in the head, move the sensors from the 6) The Sensors that were deleted from one of the cockpits
center torso and put them in the #2 and #5 slots in the head. can be left in to serve as backup sensors. Either one or both of
the deleted sensors can be left in. As long as there are two
2X ENGINE 2X COCKPIT MECHS BETA undestroyed Sensors critical hit locations remaining on the mech,
there is no effect from Sensors hits.
These types of mechs are achieved through putting both of 7) When a 2 is rolled onto a torso hit location that has a
the cockpits in the center torso. The advantage of this cockpit in it will also damage the pilot/gunner like a head hit.
arrangement is that the head can act as a weapons platform like 8) When a 2x cockpit mech falls, the pilot must roll two
the rules above state. The primary disadvantage is that whenever piloting skill rolls to determine if both he and the gunner take
the center torso is hit on a 2, both pilots take damage and roll for damage. Roll each one seperately.
consciousness. 9) When ammunition explodes, each pilot takes one point of
damage as oppossed to both taking two points. If one of the
1) The head can act as a turreted weapons platform as pilots is dead, then the other takes 2 points of damage.
discussed above in the rules for 2x cockpit mechs.
2) The center torso is modified as such:
 10) Life support hits are kept for each cockpit and are
seperate from each other. It is possible for one pilot to take hits
from excess heat and the other to be perfectly fine.
11) Conciousness rolls for each pilot are done seperately
and are independant of each other. It is possible for one pilot to
be unconcious while the other is not. If this should happen, treat
the unconcious pilot to be "temporarely" dead. Refer to rules 2 &
3 for switchover procedure. When the unconcious pilot regains
conciousness, he may resume his functions at the beginning of
the next turn.
Design notes on 2x cockpit mechs: 2x cockpit mechs are
just about the epitome of Battlemech technology when you
combine 2x engine 2x cockpit rules with ST/XL engine rules.
Throw in any other sundry advanced technologies you wish and
you will have true war machines.
These rules were developed well before the Clans came out.
Based on the reading I've done, I don't think the clans would go
for this type of mechs. Their honor code would seem to dictate
that they fight "without someone else's help." Anyway, would you
want the Clans to be any more powerful?
COCKPIT SECOND SEATS/OBSERVERS
Normally the cockpit of a mech has a second seat for a
passenger but that seat has no special function. These rules
are designed to add special seatings for specialty observers.
Note that the people in these seats *CAN NOT* control the mech
that they are in in any special manner or way. (Exception:
Mech Gunners) They are only observers.
If the critical hit location that the second chair takes up is
destroyed then the passenger is killed and cannot perform their
function. If the pilot's critical hit location is destroyed then the
mech is considered destroyed for one cockpit mechs. 2x cockpit
mechs are different in that the cockpit up in the head (normally
the pilot's cockpit) is the only cockpit that can have a second
chair. Destruction of the head still results in the Observers
death as well as the pilot/gunner, but the 2x cockpit mech still
functions as per the 2x cockpit rules. (Exception: Mech
Gunners: The mech is not considered destroyed if the head is
still intact and the pilot is unconcious/dead then the gunner can
still fire the mech's weapons. Mech gunners can not be used in
2x cockpit mechs.)
Artillery Spotter: The Artillery Spotter is a trained
professional in the coordination of off-board artillery fire. Their
seat has range finding and communication equipment built in to
assist them.
ADVANTAGES: The AS mech can act as an oberver for
off board artillery fire. Any off board artillery fire using this mech
as the observer gets a -2 to hit bonus for Observing unit Gunnery
Skill as per p.49 of _The Battletech Compendium_.
WEIGHT: The Artillery Spotter seat weighs 1.5 tons and
takes up 1 critical location in the head.
Company Commander: The company commander can be
in a command mech that has a trusted pilot piloting his mech
while he pays attention to the battle. His attention to the battle
plus his training gives his company a special advantage over
those that do not have a dedicated command mech.
ADVANTAGES: The Command Mech and the 11 other
mechs designated as being in the comapany get a special and
seperate Initiative Roll. They roll 2D6 for their Initiative instead of
the regular 1D6.
DISADVANTAGES/REQUIREMENTS: For the Company
Commander to be able to do his/her job the command mech must
be equipped with 2 C^3 Masters and the rest of the company
must be set up with the C^3 system as per the rules in _The
Battletech Compendium_ p.118. This communication and
coordination still continues even if LOS between company mates
is blocked or there is a Guardian operating in the LOS, even if the
C^3 does not work.
WEIGHT: The Commander's seat weighs 1 ton and takes
up 1 critical spot in the head.
Forward Observer: The Forward Observer is a person
trained in the coordination and direction of all indirect fire. S/he
can assist in the firing of normal artillery fire and indirect missile
fire.
ADVANTAGES: The FO mech can act as an observer for
a unit firing LRM or BRM missiles indirectly. For this fire there is
no +1 automatic penalty to the to hit and the FO mech can make
attacks as normal. The FO mech can also act as a spotter for off
board artillery fire, giving a -1 to hit bonus for Observing unit
Gunnery Skill as per p.49 of _The Battletech Compendium_.
WEIGHT: The Forward Observer seat weighs 1 tons and
1 critical spot in the head.
Mech Gunner: The Mech Gunner is a Mechwarrior in a
specially designed chair that allows the gunner to fire the mech's
weapons while the normal pilot concentrates on piloting the mech.
While this system has the same advantages as 2 cockpits, it still
has the inherent disadvantage that destroying the head will knock
out the mech.
ADVANTAGES: The mech with a mech gunner can fire
weapons and pilot better. Any Piloting Skill rolls and weapons fire
is done at a -1 bonus, cumulative with other bonuses and
penalties.
DISADVANTAGES: The mech gunner in this system
cannot be combined with the 2 cockpit system, it is either/or. If
the gunner gets knocked out via unconciousness or critical hit
then the mech cannot fire weapons. If the pilot is knocked out in a
similar manner then the mech cannot move. If the head is
destroyed then the mech is counted as destroyed. Otherwise
refer to rules 8, 9, and the first part of 11 in the 2 cockpit rules for
assitional information. Mech Gunner chairs can not be installed
on 2x cockpit mechs.
WEIGHT: The Mech Gunner seat weighs 2 tons and takes
up 1 critical hit location in the head.
GYRO DESIGN CHANGES
Gyros can be rounded to the nearest half or quarter ton,
depending on what your are rounding nearest to in your design.
ALTERNATE INTERNAL STRUCTURES
and
ARMOR
There are several different types of internal structures,
armors, and defensive systems that can be used by a mech.
Each are detailed below.
Endo Steel: This is the same as presented in the books
with the exception of changing the number of critical hit locations
that are taken up. This is done to make its use more viable.
TONS: Half Standard
Slots: 10
Nitivir Composite: This extra strong internal structure is
made from a laticed composite of Nickel, Titanium, Vanadium,
Iridium, and other standard metals. This combonation is heavier
and bulkier than standard internal structure but is 25% more
resilient to damage and allows the mech to mount heavier armor.
The mech with Nitivir Composite multiplies the amount of
internal points for each of the internal structure areas by 1.25,
round .5 up. This new, higher number is the amount of internal
structure each area has and is used as the base for the max
number of armor points that the area can mount. If the number of
internal structure or armor points in a location exceeds the
number of circles that the mech sheet has simply write the
excess points next to the appropriate location.
TONS: Standard
Slots: 10
Standard Internal Structure: The standard internal
structure is not changed at all from the rules. It is though used
as the basis of comparison for the other internal structures.
The below armor types are "base" armors and are not
compatible with each other. See the defensive systems below to
see which are compatible with what.
Ferro-Fibrous Armor: This armor is like that presented in
the rules with changes to make its use more viable. The Armor
Value is multiplied by 1.2 instead of 1.12. (Where did they get
1.12?)
TONS: Standard
Slots: 10
Ceramo-Steel Armor: This armor uses the natural heat
resistive properties of ceramic materials and meshes them within
layers of standard armor. Ceramo-Steel armor comes in 2 ratings:
Level 1 and Level 2.
Level 1 Ceramo-Steel comes with a armor rating multiplier
of 1.1 similar to Ferro-Fibrous and makes the mech invulnerable
to energy weapons target heat (From lasers, PPCs, etc).
Incindiery Target Heat from Infernos, Flamers, and the like still
affect the mech normally.
Level 2 Ceramo-Steel Armor gets no armor multiplier but
makes the mech invulnerable to *any* target heat.
TONS: Standard (for both levels)
Slots: 10 (for both levels)
Reflective Armor: This is an armor where the armor
plates have been covered in layers of polished metallic flakes.
The effect is to reduce the effectiveness of lasers hitting the
target. The disadvantage is that the overall armor resiliancy is
reduced.
Reflective Armor reduces the effectiveness of incoming
laser fire. All laser fire that hits the mounting vehicle has 1 point of
damage subtracted from it. EXAMPLE: A large laser and 2
medium lasers are fired at a tank with reflective armor. The net
damage is: 15 (8-1 + 5-1 + 5-1).
Reflective armor gives less protection than standard armor
and is expressed by multiplying the number of armor points
available by .9.
Standard Armor: This ablative armor is not changed from
the game, yet is used as the basis of comparison for other
armors.
Below are defensive systems that can be designed into a
mech in addition to other armors/defensive systems. Refer to
the description of each one to determine what can
armors/systems can be used on the same mech/vehicle.
Blue Shield Project: This system is a concentrated particle
field dampener which dissipates incoming PPC fire.
Blue Shield way 3 tons and takes up one critical hit space in
each of the mech/vehicle's hit locations. This system halves the
damage of any LPPC, PPC, HPPC, or variants. A critical hit to a
Blue Shield slot destroys the entire shield.
Every time that Blue Shield is activated by PPC or HPPC hit
roll 2D6. On a roll of 2 when hit by a PPC or on a roll of 2 or 3
when hit by
HPPC the system overloads, destroying all of the shield critical
locations and inflicting 5 points of internal damage to all of the hit
locations except for the head which takes one point of internal
damage.
Blue Shield is compatible with all of the armors and can be
use with the other defensive systems.
Chameleon System: This is a system that evaluates the
surrounding terrain with electronic sensors and changes the color
scheme of the armor on the mech/vehicle. It works best when the
mounting vehicle is not moving and in some type of obscuring
terrain.
The Chameleon System weighs 3 tons and takes up one
critical hit space in each hit location. This system adds a +1 to
hit penalty to any weapons fire against the mounting vehicle
when the mounting vehicle is standing still, walks/cruises or
jumps. It has no effect when the mounting vehicle runs/flanks.
When the mounting vehicle is stationary for the turn in a hex that
provides terrain modifiers to hit (Woods, smoke, etc.) the terrain
to hit penalties against the mounting vehicle are used as the
effects of the Chameleon System. EXAMPLE: Fred walks his
mech that has the Chameleon System and ends it in a heavy
woods hex. Since he walked it any fire against his mech has a +1
to hit penalty in addition to any other modifiers. The next turn
Fred does not move his mech, remaining in the heavy woods hex.
The Chameleon System gives any fire against the mech a +4
to hit penalty (+2 for heavy woods hex that the Chameleon
System emulates) in addition to the +2 for the heavy woods his
mech is in and any other
modifiers.
The Chameleon System is not very good at keeping the
color coordination if the mounting vehicle is running/flanking or
jumping. This difficulty can overload the system with disasterous
results. At the end of any turn that the mounting vehicle
runs/flanks or jumps it must roll 2D6. On a roll of 2, 3, or 4 the
system has overloaded and explodes. This destroys all of the
system's critical locations and inflicts 5 points of internal damage
to all of the hit locations except for the head which takes one
point of internal damage.
The Chameleon System can be used with all armors except
Reflective Armor and defensive systems except for Reactive
Armor.
Reactive Armor: This is bolted on armor that protects the
mech from slow incoming projectiles by using a shaped charge to
blow them away. It can be combined with any of the other types
of armor. The covering of Reactive Armor requires internal
support brackets which take up space.
Reactive Armor requires 1 critical hit space in each of the
mech's/vehicle's locations and weighs equal to the
mech's/vehicle's tonnage/20. Any missile and certain other
weapon attacks made against the target with reactive armor do
half damage, round fractions up. The armor location hit must
have armor points left for this to work or there will be no effect.
Any critical hits to the Reactive Armor slots count as no effect.
VTOLs may not have reactive armor. Reactive Armor has no
effect upon TSM or Inferno.
Every time that the mech is hit by missile fire and Reactive
Armor is used roll 2D6. On a roll of a 2 the armor has blown back
the missile at a bad angle. Apply the half damage to the location
hit and then roll for another hit location. This second hit location
takes an equal amount of damage as the first.
Reactive Armor is compatible with all armor and defensive
systems except for Chameleon System. Reactive Armor will not
explode when set afire.
WEAPONS TABLE
TYPE DAMAGE HEAT TAR/HEAT MIN. RANGE (S/M/L/Ex./Max.)
S. Laser 3 1 - - 1/2/3/4/5
M. Laser 5 3 .5 - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
L. Laser 8 8 1 - 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
ER Small Laser 3 2 - - 1-2/3-4/5-6/7-8/9-10
ER Medium Laser 5 5 .5 - 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
ER Large Laser 8 12 1 - 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
S. Pul. Laser 3 2 .5 - 1/2/3/4/5
M. Pul. Laser 6 4 1 - 1-2/3-4/5-6/7-8/9-10
L. Pul. Laser 9 10 2 - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
Light PPC 5 5 1 4 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
PPC 10 10 2 3 1-6/7-12/13-18/19-24/25-30
Heavy PPC 15 15 3 2 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
ER Light PPC 5 7 1 - 1-8/9-16/17-24/25-32/33-40
ER PPC 10 15 2 - 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
ER Heavy PPC 15 23 3 - 1-6/7-12/13-18/19-24/25-30
Pul. LPPC 6 6 2 3 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
Pul. PPC 11 11 3 2 1-4/5-8/9-12/13-15/16-18
Pul. HPPC 16 16 4 1 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
Light EDC 5 3 - 3 1-6/7-12/13-18/19-24/25-30
EDC 10 7 1 2 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
Heavy ED C 15 10 2 - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
Rail Gun 5 0 - 4 1-9/10-18/19-27/28-36/37-45
Rail Cannon 10 1 - 3 1-8/9-16/17-24/25-32/33-40
Gauss Rifle 15 2 - 2 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
Gauss Cannon 20 3 - 1 1-6/7-12/13-18/19-24/25-30
A/C 2 2 0 - 4 1-8/9-16/17-24/25-32/33-40
A/C 5 5 1 - 3 1-6/7-12/13-18/19-24/25-30
A/C 10 10 3 - - 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
A/C 15 15 5 - - 1-4/5-8/9-12/13-15/16-18
A/C 20 20 7 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
A/C 2 Ultra 2 (x2) 0 - 4 1-8/9-16/17-24/25-32/33-40
A/C 5 Ultra 5 (x2) 1(x2) - 3 1-6/7-12/13-18/19-24/25-30
A/C 10 Ultra 10(x2) 3(x2) - - 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
A/C 15 Ultra 15(x2) 5(x2) - - 1-4/5-8/9-12/13-15/16-18
A/C 20 Ultra 20(x2) 7(x2) - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
LB2-X 2 0 - 4 1-8/9-16/17-24/25-32/33-40
LB5-X 5 1 - 3 1-6/7-12/13-18/19-24/25-30
LB10-X 10 3 - - 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
LB15-X 15 5 - - 1-4/5-8/9-12/13-15/16-18
LB20-X 20 7 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
Machine Gun 2 0 - - 1/2/3/4/5
Vulcan 4 1 - - 1-2/3-4/5-6/7-8/9-10
Light Cannon 3 0 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
Flamer 2 3 3(I) - 1/2/3/4/5
Flame Thrower 4 5 5(I) - 1-2/3-4/5-6/7-8/9-10
Coolant Cannon 0 0 (-10) - 1/2/3/4/5
BRM/6 1D6 2 - 7 1-9/10-18/19-27/28-36/37-45
BRM/12 2D6 4 - 7 1-9/10-18/19-27/28-36/37-45
BRM/18 3D6 6 - 7 1-9/10-18/19-27/28-36/37-45
BRM/24 4D6 8 - 7 1-9/10-18/19-27/28-36/37-45
BRM/30 5D6 10 - 7 1-9/10-18/19-27/28-36/37-45
LRM/5 1/hit 2 - 6 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
LRM/10 1/hit 4 - 6 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
LRM/15 1/hit 5 - 6 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
LRM/20 1/hit 6 - 6 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
TSM/1 (5/2)/hit 2 - 6 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
TSM/2 (5/2)/hit 4 - 6 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
TSM/3 (5/2)/hit 5 - 6 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
TSM/4 (5/2)/hit 6 - 6 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
MRM/3 1/hit 1 - 3 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
MRM/6 1/hit 2 - 3 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
MRM/9 1/hit 3 - 3 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
MRM/12 1/hit 4 - 3 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
SRM/2 2/hit 2 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
SRM/4 2/hit 3 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
SRM/6 2/hit 4 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
Streak SRM/2 2x2 2 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
WEAPONS TABLE
TYPE DAMAGE HEAT TAR/HEAT MIN. RANGE (S/M/L/Ex./Max.)
Streak SRM/4 2x4 3 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
Streak SRM/6 2x6 4 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
CRM/1 3/hit 0 - - 1/2/3/4/5
CRM/2 3/hit 1 - - 1/2/3/4/5
CRM/3 3/hit 2 - - 1/2/3/4/5
CRM/4 3/hit 3 - - 1/2/3/4/5
Inferno/1 - 2 (5/2)(I) - 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
Inferno/2 - 1 5/hit(I) - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
Inferno/3 - 1 3.3/ht(I) 3 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
Inferno/5 - 2 2/hit(I) 6 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28/29-35
TAG Laser - 0 - - 1-5/6-10/11-15/16-20/21-25
NARC - 0 - - 1-3/4-6/7-9/10-12/13-15
AMS - 1 - - Special rules
AML - 3 - - Refer to note
PAML - 1D6 - - Refer to note
AP pods 1D6-1 0 - - 0-1 Auto hit
Hatchet 1/5 ton 0 - - Close combat
Sword 1/10ton 0 - - Close combat
Buzzsaw 2D6 3 - - Close combat
Arrow IV 20/10 10 - - 5 maps
Bolt III 10/5 5 - - 5 maps
Dart II 5/2 3 - - 5 maps
Long Tom 20/10 20 - - 20 maps
Sniper 10/5 10 - - 14 maps
Thumper 5/2 6 - - 12 maps
Self Destruct ER/15 A lot ER/30 - 0/1

RANGE TARGET # DAMAGE and TARGET HEAT MODIFIERS

Short (S) 4 Normal Damage
Medium (M) 6 Normal Damage
Long (L) 8 Normal Damage
Extreme (Ex.) 10 Damage&Tar. Ht. x.75 (round .5+ up)
Maximum (Max.) 12 Damage&Tar. Ht. x.5 (round .5 up)

Note: Missiles roll on the Extreme Range Missile Hit Chart and the Maximum Range Missile Hit Chart when firing at those ranges.
BRM's roll D6-1 at Extreme Range and D3 at Maximum Range.

MISSILE HIT CHARTS

STANDARD MISSILE HIT CHART

DIE ROLL # of MISSILES EXTREME RANGE MISSILE HIT CHART
2 3 4 5 6 9 10 12 15 20 DIE ROLL # of MISSILES
2 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 12 15 20
3 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 8 1 2 2 3 3 5 5 6 7 10
4 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 6 6 9 9 1 2 3 3 4 6 6 7 8 11
5 1 2 2 3 3 5 6 6 9 12 10 1 2 3 3 4 6 6 8 9 12
6 1 2 2 3 4 6 6 8 9 12 11 2 3 3 4 5 7 7 9 11 14
7 1 2 3 3 4 6 6 8 9 12 12 2 3 3 4 5 7 8 9 12 15
8 2 2 3 3 4 7 6 8 9 12
9 2 3 3 4 5 8 8 10 12 16 MAXIMUM RANGE MISSILE HIT CHART
10 2 3 3 4 5 8 8 10 12 16 DIE ROLL # of MISSILES
11 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 12 15 20 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 12 15 20
12 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 12 15 20 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3
3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3
EXTREME RANGE MISSILE HIT CHART 4 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4
DIE ROLL # of MISSILES 5 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 6
2 3 4 5 6 9 10 12 15 20 6 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 6
2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 7 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 6
3 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 8 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 6
4 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 7 9 1 2 2 2 2 4 4 5 6 8
5 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 5 6 8 10 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 6 8
6 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 6 6 9 11 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 10
7 1 1 2 2 3 5 5 6 7 9 12 1 2 2 3 3 5 5 6 8 10
CONSTRUCTION PARTICULARS
WEAPON TONS SHOTS/TON CRITICAL NOTES
S. Laser .5 - .5 #1
M. Laser 1 - 1 #2
L. Laser 4 - 2 #3
ER Small Laser .5 - .5 #1
ER Medium Laser 1 - 1 #2
ER L. Laser 4 - 2 #3
S. Pul. Laser 1 - 1 -2 to hit
M. Pul. Laser 2 - 1 -2 to hit
L. Pul. Laser 6 - 2 -2 to hit
Light PPC 3 - 2 #4
PPC 7 - 3
Heavy PPC 9 - 4 #4
ER Light PPC 3 - 2 #4
ER PPC 7 - 3
ER Heavy PPC 9 - 4 #4
Pul. LPPC 4 - 2 -1 to hit
Pul. PPC 8 - 3 -1 to hit
Pul. HPPC 10 - 4 -1 to hit
Light EDC 3.5 20 3 #5
EDC 8 15 5 #5
Heavy EDC 11 10 7 #5
Rail Gun 9 20 4 Explodes for 10
Rail Cannon 12 15 5 Explodes for 15
Gauss Rifle 15 8 7 Explodes for 20
Gauss Cannon 18 4 9 Explodes for 25
A/C 2 3 45 1 #6
A/C 5 4 20 4 #6
A/C 10 10 10 6 #6
A/C 15 12 7 8
A/C 20 14 5 10
A/C 2 Ultra 4 45 2 Double shot, #6
A/C 5 Ultra 6 20 4 Double shot, #6
A/C 10 Ultra 13 10 7 Double shot, #6
A/C 15 Ultra 14.5 7 9 Double shot
A/C 20 Ultra 16 5 11 Double shot
LB2-X 3.5 45 1 Shotgun w/-1,#6,#7
LB5-X 5 20 4 Shotgun w/-1,#6,#7
LB10-X 11 10 7 Shotgun w/-1,#6,#7
LB15-X 13 7 8.5 Shotgun w/-1,#1
LB20-X 15 5 10 Shotgun w/-1
Machine Gun .5 200 .5 #1
Vulcan 1 100 1
Light Cannon 1 100 1
Flamer 1 - 1 #8
Flame Thrower 2 - 1 #8
Coolant Cannon 1 2 N/A (1) #9
BRM/6 3 14 2 #10
BRM/12 6 10 4 #10
BRM/18 9 6 6 #10
BRM/24 12 5 8 #10
BRM/30 15 4 10 #10
LRM/5 2 24 1
LRM/10 5 12 2
LRM/15 7 8 3
LRM/20 10 6 5
TSM/1 2 18 1 #11
TSM/2 5 9 2 #11
TSM/3 7 6 3 #11
TSM/4 10 4 5 #11
MRM/3 1 50 1 #12
MRM/6 2 25 2 #12
MRM/9 3 15 3 #12
MRM/12 4 10 4 #12
SRM/2 1 50 1
SRM/4 2 25 1
SRM/6 3 15 2
Streak SRM/2 1.5 50 1
CONSTRUCTION PARTICULARS
WEAPON TONS SHOTS/TON CRITICAL NOTES
Streak SRM/4 3 25 2
Streak SRM/6 4.5 15 2
CRM/1 .5 50 .5 #13
CRM/2 1 25 1 #13
CRM/3 1.5 15 1.5 #13
CRM/4 2 10 2 #13
Inferno/1 3 9 2 #14
Inferno/2 2 25 2 #14
Inferno/3 2 25 2 #14
Inferno/5 3 12 2 #14
TAG Laser 1 - 1 #15
NARC 3 6 2 #16
Artemis 1 - 1 #17
AMS .5 50 1 #18
AML 1.5 - 2 #18
PAML 3 - 2 #18
AP pods .5 one shot 0
Hatchet 1/15 ton 1/15 ton
Sword 1/15 ton 1/15 ton -2 to hit
Buzzsaw 4 - 2 Att roll 2 dest. saw
Arrow IV 15 5 15
Bolt III 10 10 10
Dart II 7 20 7
Long Tom 30 5 30
Sniper 20 10 20
Thumper 15 20 15
Icewind .5 one shot 0 #19
C^3 Master 5 - 5
C^3 Slave 1 - 1
Beagle 1.5 - 2
Guardian 1.5 - 2
AAR 1per5 - 1per5 tons #20
GAR 1per5 - 1per5 tons #21
Target Comp. 1per5 - 1per5 tons
Infantry pods 4.5 1 Platoon 3 #22
BAIP 2 1 Star 2 #23
Self Destruct 1 Your mech! 1 #24

1) The .5 critical means that 2 of these weapons can be
fitted into one location. If this location gets hit, both weapons are
lost. The two weapons can be considered "banked" as per the
rules below. Any weapn that takes up x.5 critical hit locations can
fit another .5 critical hit location item with one of its lines.
Example: An LBX-15 takes up 8.5 critical hit locations. On one of
the lines a small laser can share the same line as one of the 9
LBX-15 lines. Another example would be where a CRM/3 has 1.5
tons of ammo assigned to it. The first line would be "CRM/3," the
second would read "CRM/3 & 1/2 ton ammo," and the last line
would read "1 ton CRM/3 ammo."
2) The .5 Target Heat means that for every 2 medium lasers
that hit, the target receives 1 point of heat. Refer to the Target
Heat rules found below.
of electrical energy into the target. For the EDC to fire, a
discharge coil is needed. As this coil burns out every-time the
weapon fires, the weapon is designed to have a new coil placed
in the receptacle and the burned out one cycled out in a way
similar to an autocannon reload system. Thus in the listing for the
weapon under ammunition the number gives how many coils.
A) The "ammunition" for the EDC is not truly ammo. When
it is hit it does not explode.
B) The EDC will cause collateral damage to units in water
hexes. If the EDC hits a target in or above (like hovercraft or LAM
at 1 elevation) water the EDC does full damage to all targets in
that hex. Any units in or above water 1 hex away will receive full
damage minus 5 points. Any units in or above water 2 hexes
away will receive full damage minus 10 points of damage. Any
unit 3 or more hexes away is safe from collateral damage.

3) The large laser and variants had their weights reduced to
make them more competitive with other weapons. It seemed that
the large laser was not worth the weight of the weapon, therefore
the weight is reduced on this weapons list.
4) These two weapons seemed like natural outgrowthes of
the standard PPC. The pulse PPC's also seemed like they should
belong somehow. Their only special rule is that there is a -1 to hit
for them as opposed to the -2 for the pulse lasers.
5) The Electrical Discharge Cannon is an energy weapon
designed around the principle of discharging huge amounts
6) The weights of the lighter autocannons were lowered
because they were perceived to be to heavy for them to be worth
taking. The benefits of low heat and high range were not enough
to counter the drawbacksof very high weight and possibility of
ammo explosions. It got to the point that all A/C 2 through A/C 10
were replaced with different weapons due to their attractiveness.
Therefore the weights of some of the A/C were
reduced.
7) The weights of the LBX autocannons were made higher
than the standard models to compensate for the fact that they
were better than standard autocannons. Granted, these changes
to the various autocannons are not historical, but then again, who
plays historically?
8) The Flamer and the Flame Thrower are modified to make
them more worth their weight. In addition to doing their damage,
these weapons incur "incindiery" target heat upon their target.
The target heat from these weapons will remain on the target for
3 turns. Any additional target heat beyond 10 points carries over
for an additional 3 turns. Refer to the target heat rules below.
9) The coolant cannon is "weapon" that does no damage
and is designed to cool down mech in one of two methods. The
first is to take any flame/inferno heat that is sticking to the target
and eliminate it. Any flame/inferno heat fired upon the target after
it has been cooled will act normally. This first method of cooling
will take precedence over the second method. (This first method
of "attack" is similar to blowing out a candle or using a fire
extinguisher to put out a fire.)
The second method of "attack" for a coolant cannon is to
eliminate 10 points of heat generated that turn by the target.
This can be done only if the target has no flame/inferno target
heat generating at the time. If the target has less than 10 points of
flame/inferno heat generateing at the time, for example 6 points,
the coolant cannon would eliminate the 6 points of fame/inferno
heat and reduce the heat generated by the target by 4. In general
terms, the coolant cannon does -10 points of target heat. It will
eliminate up to 10 points of flame/inferno heat. Any remaining
coolant cannon "damage" will reduce that turns heat output
for the target by the remaining amount.
Coolant cannons can only be mounted on ground vehicles
since the volume of the coolant is too large to mount on a
battlemech. If rules are made such that a coolant cannon were to
take up crits, the number is listed in parentheses.
10) Bombardment Range Missiles (BRM) BRM's are an
extreme range weapon designed to saturate an area with
warheads. It is a rather erratic weapon in its performance, but this
is compensated for by its long range.
A) BRM's do not roll on the missile hit chart to determine the
number of missiles that hit. Instead, a number of D6 are rolled to
determine the number that hit. When firing at Extreme Range a
number of D6-1 are rolled and the number of D3 when firing at
Maximum range.
B) The damage that a BRM does is distributed as an LRM
would. Every 5 points of damage is rolled for.
C) If Artemis is tied in to a BRM, an extra D6 is rolled to
determine the number of missiles that hit. If the number of
missiles that would hit is greater than the rating of the launcher,
then simply all of the missiles hit.
D) BRM's may indirect fire just as LRM's can.
11) Tactical Support Missiles (TSM) TSM's are an area
effect, mech mounted, reloadable weapon system based loosely
on the LRM. It utilizes an airburst schrapnel charge to spread its
damage over an area.
A) TSM's do 5 points of damage to any units in the target
hex and 2 points of damage to any units one hex away from the
target hex. (The 6 surrounding hexes)
B) Like artillery, TSM's attack hexes rather than units. The to
hit roll is modified only by intervening terrain and the attacking
unit's movement and condition, never by the movement or
condition of units in the hex.
C) To determine the number of missiles that hit, roll on the
Missile Hit Chart under the appropriate number. (Obviously the
TSM/1 is a hit or miss deal.)
D) Roll for scatter for any TSM's that did not hit their
intended target hex. Use the Artillery scatter method. Roll each
missile seperately.
E) The firing of TSM's cannot be modified or helped by the
following systems: Artemis, AAR, GAR, NARC, TAG, or anything
else that would improve the accuracy or damage of the missile.
(This restriction does not apply to 2x cockpit mechs, C^3, or
pilot/gunners that have an improved gunnery skill.) This reflects
the fact that the TSM is a ballistic missile that air bursts over the
target and cannot really be guided to the explosion point.
Another reason is because these things are nasty enough as they
are!
F) When TSM ammunition explodes due to heat or critical
hit each missile explodes for 7 points of damage.
12) MRM's (Medium Range Missiles) Medium Range
Missiles were developed as support weapons that would have a
longer range than SRM's but shorter range than LRM's.
A) To resolve a missile hit from an MRM, conduct it in a
manner similar to an LRM except that MRM hit in groups of 3 as
opposed to in groups of 5 as with LRM.
B) MRM can not be fired in indirect fire mode. They are,
except as noted previouslly, functionally similar to LRM.
13) CRM (Close Range Missiles) are an functionally similar
to SRM's except that they do 3 points of damage per missile that
hits.
14) Inferno weapons. The only changes from the Inferno
rules as listed on p.60 of _The Battletech Compendium_ are
listed below.
A) The max target heat that Infernos (of any kind) can
deliver is 10 instead of 6.
B) Inferno/1 is based upon the TSM/1. Use notes 11B,
11D, and 11E for additional information. The Inferno/1 delivers
5 target heat to anything in the target hex and 2 target heat to
anything in the 6 immediately surrounding hexes.
C) While the Geneva Conventions and the rules may
prohibit the use of incindiery weapons against infantry, we
warmongers will not. The number of men killed by an inferno
attack is equal to the target heat inflicted.
15) TAG Laser. The TAG laser appeared to be too limited in
scope for your average warmonger. To make the TAG laser more
useful for its weight it was decided to make it helpful for normal
missile attacks in addition to your average Arrow IV attack. In
addition to its normal functions, the TAG laser can be used by
amech about to make a missile attack against a target. Fire the
TAG laser first. If it hits then any *one* missile launcher may be
fired at that target with a to hit modifier of -1 since the TAG laser
has a more definate lock on the target and feeds its information to
the selected missile launcher. Multiple TAG lasers are needed
for multiple launcher assists and can only assist in missile shots
at the TAGed target. TAG can be combined with any missile
launcher or targeting enhancement. TAG is useless with Thunder
and Swarm munitions. There is no additional cost to launchers or
munitions to use TAG. The C^3 system's capability to emulate
TAG does not get the -1 to hit missile bonus.
16) NARC Pods. The NARC as presented in the rules is,
well, to put it bluntly, pretty wimpy. Here are the modifications
suggested:
A) Any missile equipped attack against a NARCed target
has a -1 to hit and a +2 on the missile chart instead of just the +2
to missile hit chart modifier as presented in the rules originally.
B) Record the hit location of where the NARC beacon will hit.
Once that location has been destroyed (Mech arm destroyed or
blown off) then the NARC beacon is lost also.
C) NARC and Artemis are still incompatible.
D) The idea of special NARC missiles has been discarded.
All normal missiles and those not specifically mentioned are
"NARC compatible."
 17) Artemis. The only change to the Artemis is that Artemis
assisted BRM attacks get an additional D6 (D6-1, D3) to
determine the number of missiles that hit.
18) Anti-Missile System (AMS) Ammunition, Anti-Missile
Laser (AML), and Pulse Anti-Missile Laser (PAML)
Was somebody smoking dope at FASA and not invite us?
Why does the original rules state that AMS get only 12 reloads?
Especially if you can expend all 12 in one shot? And treat an
AMS ammo hit as machine gun ammo? Hello? Is this thing on?
A) Increase AMS ammunition to 50 shots per ton. Even
that is being mean.
B) The Anti Missile Laser is an energy weapon based
version of the AMS. It operates exactly like an AMS except that
there is no ammunition to go with the weapon. After the AML has
been used roll 2D6. If a two is rolled then the focusing
mechanism has been overstressed and has broken. The AML
cannot be used until repaired.
C) The Pulse Anti-Missile Laser is a pulse energy weapon
based version of the AMS. It operates exactly like an AML except
that the PAML can engage twice per turn and the heat generated
is 1D6 per engaging. After each time that the PAML is engaged
roll 2D6, if a two is rolled the PAML's focusing device is damaged.
This will knock out the PAML until repaired. If the PAML is
damaged on it's first use of the turn then it cannot be used again,
that turn or for the rest of the game.
19) Icewind. The Icewind system is not an offensive weapon
but a defensive heat reducing system. It is a bottle of
non-flammable gas in liquid state under compression. When the
ambiant temperature of the mech reaches a preset level the easy
melt cap of the bottle melts, releasing a cold cloud of vapor into
the interior of the mech, cooling the mech off.
A) For every Icewind installed put a line on the heat scale.
This represents the setting of the Icewind. If multiple Icewinds are
mounted settings can be put on the same line.
B) Resolve the heat buildup for the mech normally. If the
final heat level for that turn is above the rating of the Icewind(s)
then each Icewind that it is above releases. For each Icewind that
releases reduce the heat scale by 4 points. That is the final heat
level for the mech for that turn.
C) Once an Icewind has gone off it is gone for the game.
In a campaign an Icewind can be reloaded same as doing a quick
reload yet requires a coolant truck.
20) Anti Aircraft Radar (AAR) AAR is a special targeting
system that is used against any aerial target (Aerospace fighters,
conventional fighters, VTOL, and LAM in LAM mode but not
mechs that are simply jumping.)
A) For any attacks that are made against aerial targets that
utilize AAR the movement to hit modifiers are halved. Example:
A mech with AAR that is running (+2 to hit) is trying to fire on a
VTOL flying 11 hexes (+5 to hit). The total modifier to hit is +7.
Since the mech is using AAR the total movement based to hit
modifier is +3.5 which is rounded up to +4.
B) AAR does not compensate for any other to hit modifiers
that might accumulate, such as heat, terrain, or pilot.
C) AAR may be used by the affected targets listed in
parenthesis above against other such targets. AAR may not be
used against targets on the ground.
D) AAR does not have to be linked to all weapons on a
mech/vehicle. If AAR is linked to only certain weapons then only
those weapons get the benefits of the AAR.
E) AAR weighs 1 ton for every 5 tons of weapons that it is
tied into. It takes up one critical for every ton of weight.
F) Once the AAR has taken one critical it is destroyed. The
AAR cannot be mounted in the legs.
G) Guardian ECM nullifies the capabilities of AAR if the
defender has Guardian or the line of sight from the AAR using
unit to the defender passes within 6 hexes of an enemy AAR.
21) Ground Attack Radar (GAR) Ground Attack Radar is in
game terms functionally similar to AAR except that it can only be
used by aerial targets to fire upon ground targets. (GAR is the
AAR that *can* be used against targets on the ground as
mentioned in rule 19C.)
A) GAR can not be used to help in the fire of strafing runs.
GAR is used for firing upon individual targets while strafing
saturates an area with fire.
B) GAR can not be used by ground mechs/vehicles for use
against other ground targets. The only way for LAM to use GAR
is for them to be flying in either LAM or fighter mode. VTOLs or
any other flying craft that has landed may not use GAR.
C) For any attacks that are made against ground targets
that utilize GAR the movement to hit modifiers are halved.
Example: A LAM in Airmech mode with GAR that is jumping
(+3 to hit) is trying to fire on a mech running 6 hexes (+2 to hit).
The total modifier to hit is +5. Since the LAM is using GAR the
total movement based to hit modifier is +2.5 which is rounded up
to +3.
D) GAR does not compensate for any other to hit modifiers
that might accumulate, such as heat, terrain, or pilot.
E) GAR does not have to be linked to all weapons on a
mech/vehicle. If GAR is linked to only certain weapons then only
those weapons get the benefits of the AAR.
F) GAR weighs 1 ton for every 5 tons of weapons that it is
tied into. It takes up one critical for every ton of weight.
G) Once the AAR has taken one critical it is destroyed.
The AAR cannot be mounted in the legs.
H) Guardian ECM nullifies the capabilities of AAR if the
defender has Guardian or the line of sight from the AAR using
unit to the defender passes within 6 hexes of an enemy AAR.
22) Infantry Pods are special cargo carriers that come with
one platoon of jump infantry that are mounted on mechs. The
criticals that the pods take represent special internal bracing for
seating and life support equipment. The infantry take no damage
from weapons hits to the mech because they are in an armored
pod, as opposed to hanging on the sides of the mech. The pod
and/or exit doors are normally mounted/facing the back or the top
of the mech. While these pods tend to grossly distort the normal
profile of the mech they do not make it any easier to target.
A) The jump infantry may dismount from the mech as per
regular infantry except that the mech does not need to expend
1mp. Remounting is per regular rules. Remember that infantry
may not move or fire the turn that they dismount. The reaon that
1mp does not have to be expended is because the infantry can
jump down and land safely while the mech is moving.
B) The pods must be mounted in the torsos, head, or arms.
If mounted in the arms the mech may not make make any
physical attacks involving the arms while infantry are in their
pod(s). If the head or arm is "blown off" with 3 critical hits and the
infantry are still in their pod(s) they suffer 2D6 casualties.
C) When the Infantry Pod has suffered 1 critical hit any
infantry still in the pods suffer 1D6 casualties and 1 casualty
when the heat scale is 15-25 and 2 when it is 25+. Double this
number if the Infantry Pod has suffered 2 critical hits. On the
second critical hit 2D6 remaining infantry are destroyed. Any
infantry in the pod when it suffers its third critical hit are
destroyed.
D) The platoon of jump infantry comes free with the pod and
does not have to be payed for in any manner.
23) Battlearmor Infantry Pods (BAIP) are just like Infantry
Pods except that they carry one star (5 man team) of Battlearmor.
The rules
below will either refer you to the rules above or modify it. These
rules are different and should not be confused with the
*Mechanized Battlearmor* rules on p.44-45 of _The Battletech
Compendium_.
A) Refer to note 22A.
B) Same as note 22B except that when the location is
"blown off" each trooper suffers 1D6 damage.
C) When this type of infantry pod suffers 1 critical hit each
trooper takes 1D6 points of damage. On the second critical hit all
remaining troopers are destroyed. Battlearmor suffer no damage
for excessive heat.
D) When a BAIP is mounted on the mech it does not come
with the Battle armor troops free. Each point of Battle Armor
counts as a 5 ton mech and most be "bought" as such. They may
be mounted in the BAIP at the start of the game.
24) Self Destruct is a system for voluntarily making your
mech into a small ultrahot ball of thermal destruction. It takes the
reactor fuel and dumps it into the reactor, after which the
magnetic bottle is allowed to decay rapidly. The end result is a
metallic vapor where the mech used to be and blast marks for
meters!!!
A) The Self Destruct Device weighs one ton and takes up
one critical hit location which must be located in one of the torsos.
B) When activated the device destroys the mech and
anything in the same hex. Anything 1 hex away takes damage
equal to the engine rating divided by 15. If the mech is a 2x
engine mech then the engine rating used is the sum of the 2
engine ratings. If one of the engines has been destroyed due to
damage then the total engine rating is based upon the one
operating engine.
C) The device is activated during the weapons attack phase
as if it were a weapon. No weapons may be fired if the device is
to be activated.
D) Units taking damage take target heat equal to 1/2 the
damage taken, round down. This target heat lasts for that turn
only, similar to energy weapon target heat.
E) Units that self destruct are destroyed and count towards
the victory of the enemy.
F) It is assumed that the pilot(s) give themselves enough
time to eject before the explosion. Those of us that created these
rules really don't care, but some of you might. After all, life is
cheap, mechs aren't.
TARGET HEAT RULES
These rules were created to simulate the fact that when
certain weapons hit they are going to create additional heat upon
their target. Certain weapons are designed for this task while
others create target heat do to the huge energy conversion of
their damage.
The types of weapons that create target heat can be divided
up into two general groups: energy weapons and incindiery
weapons. These two weapons groups are treated seperately
within these rules. The target heat that a weapon inflicts upon a
target is listed in the TAR/HEAT column of the weapons damage
chart. Incindiery weapons are marked with an (I).
TARGET HEAT FROM ENERGY WEAPONS:
When an energy weapon hits a target it will recieve target heat.
The heat that the target recieves affects it only for the turn that
the weapon hit. The target heat that a target recieves is treated
as heat generated by the mech that turn. There is no limit to the
amount of energy weapon target heat that a unit can receive.
EXAMPLE: During turn 1 a mech has walked (+1 heat),
fired 2 PPC (+20 heat), and was hit by a PPC and 2 medium
lasers (+3 heat). Its heat
sinks must dissipate 24 heat that turn. The next turn the same
mech runs (+2 heat), fires 2 PPC (+20 heat), and is hit by, among
other weapons, 1 large laser and 3 medium lasers (+2.5 heat,
rounded down to 2). This turn the mech must dissipate 24 heat.
Notice that none of the energy weapon target heat from turn 1 did
not carry over to the next turn.
TARGET HEAT FROM INCINDIERY WEAPONS:
Incindiery weapons are generally inferno launchers and
flamers/flamethrowers. They are marked on the weapons
damage chart in the TAR/HEAT column with an (I). Incindiery
weapon target heat is described on p.60 of _The Battletech
Compendium_ under the heading of Infernos. The only additions
to those rules is:
the max heat that a target can receive is 10 instead of 6,
Inferno Launchers have to roll to determine the number of
missiles that explode close enough to the target to generate
target heat, and flamers/flamethrowers are considered in the
same class as inferno launchers.
WEAPON BANKING RULES
Weapons can be mounted in pairs on the same weapon
mount. This is known as "banking."
A) Banked weapons must be mounted in the same area of
the mech/vehicle. For mechs both weapons must be completely
in the hit location area. Example: A pair of A/C 20's could not be
banked on a mech since 2 of them would not fit in any one hit
location, be it a torso or an arm. A pair of Heavy PPC could be
banked in an arm since it has 8 critical locations and 2 HPPC
would take up 8 critical slots. The above pair of A/C 20's could be
banked in the turret of a tank, but not on a mech. Remember that
Lower Arm and Hand actutors can be removed for more criticals.
B) The weapons banked must be of the exact same type.
Exception: Missile launchers of the same type but of different size
can be banked.
C) Any weapon except for artillery weapons can be banked.
D) Banked weapons can fire together as one weapon. For
this only one to hit roll is made. If the bank hits then both
weapons hit in the same location. If the to hit roll is missed then
both weapons miss. Banked weapons do not have to be fired as
a bank, they may be fired independently.
E) Non-Energy weapons that are fired banked must both
use the same type of ammunition. Different types of alternate
ammunitions cannot be
used.
F) two .5 critical space weapons in the same critical slot are
automatically counted as being banked. For other weapons to be
counted as banked there must be some discernable mark
connecting the two weapons.
G) If one banked weapon is destroyed there is no effect
upon theother weapon. It may only fired independently though,
and not banked with another weapon.
ALTERNATE AMMUNITIONS FOR WEAPONS
This section is a listing of the various types of different
munitions that can be used for weapons. The basic format will
be:
WEAPON: This will tell what weapon the ammo may be used
for.
DESCRIPTION: This will give a description plus necessary
special rules.
ADVANTAGES: Self explanatory
DISADVANTAGES: Self explanatory
Note: All of the Alternate Ammunitions must be used as
reloads in full or half ton increments. A part of a ton of one type
of ammunition cannot be mixed with a complementary part of a
ton of another type. Be prepared that some 20th Century
acronyms are used using different words. This reflects that the
names will change to reflect changing technology. Other types
use a name from history to represent what they are loosely based
upon. All ammunition types must be specified before the start of
the game. Any unspecified reloads are assumed to be
standard.
Cannister Shot Ammunition
WEAPON: Rail Gun, Rail Cannon, Gauss Rifle, and Gauss
Cannon
DESCRIPTION: Cannister Shot is where the standard
round slug is replaced with a container of submunitions. The net
effect is that the damage is spread all over the target hit.
Cannister is a less volatile (and less effective) version of Silver
Bullet ammunition.
ADVANTAGES: When a target has been it with Cannister
Shot roll on the standard Missile Hit Chart under the column for
the damage that the weapon does. This is the amount of damage
that the weapon does. Roll for hit location for each point of
damage (as per the LB-X autocannon cluster munitions.)
DISADVANTAGES: Due to the size and shape of the
Cannister shot round Gauss Cannons only get 10 shots per ton of
reloads, the Gauss Rifle 6, and the Gauss Cannon 3 shots per
ton.
Chain Shot Ammunition
WEAPON: Rail Gun, Rail Cannon, Gauss Rifle, and Gauss
Cannon
DESCRIPTION: Chain Shot takes a round of shot and
replaces it with 2 hollow hemispheres connected by a heavy
chain. The tendency for the chain to wrap around part of a mech
creates problems for the pilot of the target mech. The reduced
volume of the shot reduces the damage done.Take the base
damage for the weapon firing and divide it by 3. This is the
damage that each of the 2 halves will do. When the weapon hits
each of the halves will hit a potentially different hit location. To
represent the wrapping possibility of the chain the hit location
procedure is modified. For each half roll a D6 to represent the
direction that the half will hit from. A roll of 1 means damage is
rolled on the front, 2 goes to the right side front (Roll on the right
side hit location table, torso damage goes on the front), 3 to the
right side rear, 4 to the rear, 5 to the left side rear, and 6 rolls on
the left side front. Once the direction has been determined roll
2D6 for location as per normal rules.
ADVANTAGES: When hit the target must make a piloting
skill roll with a +2 penalty, +4 if both halves hit the legs. If this is
failed then the target mech falls. Any piloting skill rolls after being
hit by chain shot are at a +1 penalty until the mech expends 1 MP
to free itself of the chain. Each chain shot that accumulates gives
an additional +1 penalty to the Piloting Skill Roll. Example: A
mech has been hit by 3 chain shots in one turn. Trying to get back
up will require a piloting skill roll with a +3 penalty due to the 3
chain shots hanging fom it. After getting back up the mech
expends 2 MP to free itself of 2 chain shots. From here the mech
makes piloting skill rolls with a +1 penalty due to the remaining
chain shot hanging from it.
DISADVANTAGES: Since the Chain Shot is very
unpredictable in its ballistic characteristics there is a +2 to hit
penalty. Vehicles do not have to make a piloting skill roll when
first hit, but still have the piloting skill roll penalties just as mechs.
Nested Slug Ammunition
WEAPON: Rail Cannon, Gauss Rifle, and Gauss Cannon
DESCRIPTION: Nested Slug Ammunition uses a nested set
of Rail Gun rounds instead of one large round. It distributes the
damage over several areas. The round still does full damage, it
just divides it over 2, 3, or 4 areas.
ADVANTAGES: NS ammo divides the damage into groups
of 5 points. Roll for damage location for the 2 or 3 groups of 5
damage points seperately.
DISADVANTAGES: Due to the size and shape of the NS
round Gauss Cannons only get 10 shots per ton of reloads, the
Gauss Rifle 6, and the Gauss Cannon 3 shots per ton.
Silver Bullet Ammunition
WEAPON: Rail Gun, Rail Cannon, Gauss Rifle, Gauss
Cannon
DESCRIPTION: Silver Bullet ammo is a single round with an
explosive charge in the center. This charge is used to explode the
round near its target. If a hit is made using SB ammo roll to
determine the amount of damage on the 5, 10, 15, or 20 column
of the missile hit chart.Distribute each point of damage
individually (like an LBX autocannon round).
ADVANTAGES: When firing SB ammo there is a -1 to hit
modifier.
DISADVANTAGES: In addition to the weapon doing
damage when hit as per normal rules the ammo will explode
when hit by a critical hit or exploding due to heat. When
exploding there will be 5, 10, 15, or 20 points of damage per
round exploded, explosion strength per round based upon
original damage value of weapon.
Smart Rock Ammunition
WEAPON: Rail Gun, Rail Cannon, Gauss Rifle, Gauss
Cannon
DESCRIPTION: Smart Rocks replace some of the shot
mass with a small guidance system and compressed gas
steering rockets.
ADVANTAGES: There is a -1 to hit bonus when firing at
medium range, a -2 to hit when firing at long range, -3 to hit at
extreme range and -4 to hit at maximum range with Smart Rocks.
DISADVANTAGES: When firing smart rocks there is a +1
additional to hit modifier when firing inside minimum range.
Weapon damage is reduced also. Rail Guns score 2 points of
damage, Rail Cannons score 5, Gauss Rifles score 7 points, and
Gauss Cannons score 10 points when firing Smart Rocks.
Armor Peircing Discarding Sabot (APDS) Ammunition
WEAPON: Auto cannons, LB-X autocannons, Ultra auto
cannons
DESCRIPTION: APDS ammo replaces the normal round
with a smaller, high velocity, high density penetrator round inside
a sabot.
ADVANTAGES: APDS ammo does some internal damage
when the round hits. Refer to the chart below.
A/C or LBX Armor Damage Internal Damage
2 1 1
5 3 2
10 7 3
15 10 5
20 13 7
DISADVANTAGES: The APDS round is a high compression
round that autocannons have trouble handling. Whenever APDS
rounds are fired roll a second 2D6 for a stress check. If a 2 or a 3
is rolled the autocannon has broken some linkage on it. That
autocannon may still fire but has a +2 to hit penalty. If the
autocannon continues to fire APDS roll a stress check with a 2, 3,
4, or 5 as a failure. If the autocannon fails this second check it is
considered destroyed. Autocannon Ultras that fire 2 APDS
rounds roll stress checks twice. LB-X Autocannons get a -1
bonus on the stress check roll. When APDS ammo takes a
critical hit or explodes the internal damage produced is twice that
for normal exploding ammo.
Bolt Thrower (BT) Ammunition
WEAPON: Auto Cannons, LB-X Cannons, Ultra auto
cannons
DESCRIPTION: Bolt Thrower ammunition is a standard
auto cannon round that has roughly half the round's mass
removed to accomadate a solid fuel propellent. This propellent
increases the range of the round significantly.
ADVANTAGES: When using Bolt Thrower ammo the
classes of autocannons have these ranges:
ineffective. To represent this these rounds have a +1 to hit
penalty.
Against Level 1 Ceramo-Steel armor HEAP rounds do no
target heat on the target and against Level 2 Ceramo-Steel armor
HEAP rounds do only armor damage, no Internal or Target Heat
damage. Due to the slow speed of these rounds Reactive Armor
can affect them. Apply the 1/2 damage rule from Reactive Armor
to these rounds also when fired against a target with Reactive
Armor.

Class Short Medium Long Extreme Maximum Damage Bangalor Missiles

2 1-12 13-24 25-36 37-48 49-60 1 WEAPON: MRM, TSM, LRM, BRM
5 1-9 10-18 19-27 28-36 37-45 3 DESCRIPTION: Bangalor missiles have for a warhead several
10 1-8 9-16 17-24 25-32 33-40 5 line charges acting as Bangalor Torpedoes (an Army engineer
15 1-6 7-12 13-18 19-24 25-30 8 obstacle clearing charge). These line charges also have landing
20 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 10 spikes that allow them to land without bouncing or to stick to the
side of buildings.
NOTE: Minimum Ranges are not affected. ADVANTAGES: Bangalor missiles can do either of two things:
DISADVANTAGES: As can be seen from the table above the Minefield clearing: Bangalor missiles can be used to attack
damage mined hexes of any type. Bangalor missiles will reduce the attack
produced is 50% of the normal autocannon round due to the strength of a mined hex by the number of missiles/attack strength
reduction in per hex in the attack.
mass. EXAMPLE: A hex that has been mined by a 20 point FASCAM
is attacked by 5 point Bangalor attack. Assuming that the attack
Cluster Ammunition: hits the mined hex will have its attack strength reduced by 5 down
WEAPON: LB-X Autocannons to 15.
DESCRIPTION: Cluster Ammunition is the standard cluster Preset conventional minefields (as per p.60-61 of _The
round that the LB-X autocannons use as presented on p.120 in Battletech Compendium_) have an attack strength of 6 and
_The Battletech Compendium_. Command Detonated hexes have a strength of 10 (assuming the
ADVANTAGES: As per the rules. hex is attacked blindly in hopes that it is mined). Vibrabomb
DISADVANTAGES: Only LB-X autocannons can use these hexes that are attacked have their sensitivity rating lowered by
rounds. the Bangalor missile attack strength. When the rating reaches 0
the vibrabomb detonates as if tripped.
Flechette Ammunition: Building/fortification destruction: Bangalor missiles do double
WEAPON: LB-X Autocannons damage against buildings or any structure that has its strength
DESCRIPTION: Flechette Ammunition is similar to Cluster listed in CF.
ammunition except that it is specially designed for taking out DISADVANTAGES: Bangalor missiles do no damage against
infantry, battlearmor, and clearing trees. mechs, vehicles, or infantry. TAG, Artemis, and NARC work only
ADVANTAGES: Flechette Ammunition does double normal when firing Bangalors against buildings.
damage versus infantry and battlearmor. Flechette retains the -1
to hit bonus of LB-X Cluster rounds. When firing LB10X or bigger FASCAM Missiles, FASCAM Artillery Rounds
with Flechette rounds to clear heavy woods instead of reducing WEAPON:MRM, TSM, LRM, BRM, All Artillery Weapons
the heavy woods to a light woods as per the rules these rounds DESCRIPTION: FASCAM Missiles and FASCAM Artillery
will reduce them to a rough hex. Rounds deliver Field Artillery SCatterable fAmily of Mines. Each
DISADVANTAGES: When firing this ammunition versus mechs warhead contains an even mix of anti-vehicle and anti-personnel
or vehicles apply a -2 penalty to the roll on the Missile Hit Chart to mines.
determine the amount of damage. Any rolls below 2 are treated ADVANTAGES: FASCAM missiles are treated just like
as a 2. Thunder LRM as described on p.121 of _The Battletech
Compendium_. FASCAM Artillery Rounds deliver minefields over
HEAP Ammunition: an area of 7 hexes: the target hex and the 6 surrounding.
WEAPON: Auto Cannons, LB-X Cannons, Ultra auto cannons FASCAM Artillery Rounds deliver minefields in strengths equal to
DESCRIPTION: High Explosive Armor Piercing rounds use a the damage that they would do normally. EXAMPLE: A Long Tom
shaped charge chemical warhead that burns through the armor to is firing a FASCAM shell. When the shell lands the hex hit will
produce armor and internal structure damage. have a 20 point minefield and each of the 6 surrounding hexes
ADVANTAGES: HEAP rounds do some internal damage and will have a 10 point minefield. FASCAM TSM are handled in a
target heat in addition to the armor damage. Refer to the chart manner similar to FASCAM Artillery Rounds except that the
below. attack values are 5/2 per missile that lands in the target hex.
DISADVANTAGES: The number of reloads per ton is half that
A/C or LBX Armor Dam. Internal Dam. Target Heat for normal missiles/artillery rounds. FASCAM missiles are not
2 1 1 1 affected by TAG, Artemis, or NARC.
5 3 1 2
10 6 2 3 Fuel-Air Explosive (FAE) Missiles
15 9 3 4 WEAPON: TSM
20 12 4 5 DESCRIPTION: FAE missiles replace the standard explosive
charges of TSM missiles with a Thermite ignited canister of
DISADVANTAGES: HEAP rounds use a directional charge to hydrocarbon fuel. The resulting explosion produces armor
do their damage. If the round(s) hit at the wrong angle then the damage and target heat.
blast is ADVANTAGES: Each FAE missile does 3 points of damage/ 2
points of incindiery target heat to the target hex and 1 point of
damage/ 1 point of incindiery target heat to the 6 surrounding
hexes. The incindiery target heat lasts for 3 turns as per the
Inferno rules.
DISADVANTAGES: FAE missiles use the inferno rules
concerning checking for ammo explosion due to heat. If FAE
missile ammunition does explode due to heat or critical hit each
missile explodes for 10 points of damage.
Smoke Missiles
WEAPON: TSM
DESCRIPTION: Smoke Missiles are designed to fill the target
hex and adjacent hexes with smoke.
ADVANTAGES: Each missile will produce a 1 elevation high
smoke cloud in the target hex and the 6 adjacent hexes that lasts
for 1 turn for each missile that hits that hex.
DISADVANTAGES: These missiles do no damage to any unit
in the target hexes.
Swarm Missiles
WEAPON: MRM, LRM, BRM
DESCRIPTION: Swarm missiles are special missiles using
hundreds of submunitions able to saturate an area.
ADVANTAGES: Swarm missiles are used just as the
description on p.121 of _The Battletech Compendium_ for Swarm
LRMs. For the BRM to determine the number of missiles that hit
a secondary target use a D6 for every 6 missiles remaining,
disregarding remaining portions of 6.
DISADVANTAGES: The number of reloads per ton is half
that for normal missiles.
TOW Missiles
WEAPONS: MRM, LRM, BRM
DESCRIPTION: TOW Missiles are optically tracked, wire
guided missiles. They operate in a manner similar to FTL missiles
in that only some of the missiles in a rack are wire guided while
the rest follow.
ADVANTAGES:
-3 to hit if firing unit is stationary
-2 to hit if firing unit walked/cruised
-1 to hit if firing unit ran/flanked
additional. -1 to hit if target is the only target to be attacked
DISADVANTAGES: Double all terrain to hit modifiers to reflect
the possibility of guide wire snap. Above advantages are lost if
firing unit plans to enagage in close combat. If the firing unit takes
the advantages then it may not make close combat attacks. TOW
missiles may not be fired indirectly. TOW missiles are not
affected by NARC, Artemis, or Guardian.
Follow The Leader (FTL) Missiles
WEAPONS: CRM, SRM, MRM, LRM, BRM
DESCRIPTION: A modification to the guidance system of the
missiles has the majority of the missiles in a rack follow one
missile.
ADVANTAGES: FTL missiles do not scatter their damage all
over the target but concentrate in one location. Example: If an
LRM 20 rack fires with FTL missiles and hits with 12 missiles the
missiles will all hit on one damage location area as opposed to 5
in one area, 5 in another, and 2 in a third.
DISADVANTAGES: For FTL missiles to work the lead missile
must be one that hits. Occasionally the targetting systems will
follow the wrong missile. Firing with FTL missiles has a +2 Fire
Modifier penalty.
Radar Guided Missiles (RG)
WEAPONS: CRM, SRM, MRM, LRM, BRM
DESCRIPTION: The crude guidance system of the missile has
been replaced by a rough radar unit. These guidance systems
are not very good, yet not overly affected by Guardian ECM.
ADVANTAGES:
-1 to hit light mechs
-2 to hit medium mechs
-3 to hit heavy mechs
-4 to hit assault mechs
additional -1 to hit if target has been hit by NARC
DISADVANTAGES: RG missiles when fired have any terrain to
hit modifiers doubled. If the target is within 6 hexes of an enemy
ECM unit then the above modifiers are ignored and there is a +1
to hit. If fired indirect and miss their original target then roll
another to hit for any one randomly determined target within the 6
hexes immediately surrounding the target. If the to hit is made
then the missiles hit that unit instead.
Keep doing this procedure until an alternate target is hit or all
possible alternate targets within the 6 hexes have been missed.
(If any clarifications are needed, the rules are similar to those
involving Swarm missiles except that only one target is hit.) RG
missiles are not affected by Artemis or TAG lasers. Multiply the
number of reloads by .75 for Radar Guided missiles. RG missiles
are not affected by Artemis.
Radiation Seeking Missiles
WEAPONS: CRM, SRM, MRM, LRM, BRM
DESCRIPTION: These missiles rely upon the emitions of
special electronics to home in on their target. They are not very
good if the target does not have special electronic gear operating.
ADVANTAGES: The missiles have a -2 to hit bonus against
any units that have active Guardian, Beagle, AAR, or GAR. For
targets that have a NARC attached to them double the NARC
bonuses.
DISADVANTAGES: The missiles have a +2 to hit penalty
against any unit that does not have the above systems operating.
Heat Seeking (HS) Missiles
WEAPONS: CRM, SRM
DESCRIPTION: The HS warheads replace part of the
explosive payload with an infrared guidance system.
ADVANTAGES: HS missiles receive a to hit bonus equal to the
target mech's Fire Modifier from heat buildup (if any) from the
beginning of the turn. In addition, if the target is receiving
incindiery target heat from Infernos or Flamers/Flame Throwers
there is a to hit bonus equal to the square of the target heat
generated by the incidiery weapons, rounded down.
Example: A mech has ben hit by a Flame Thrower and is
receiving 5 incindiery target heat. The square root of 5 is 2.23
which is rounded down to 2. Any HS missiles fired at that mech
get a to hit bonus of -2. If the missiles score critical hits then they
are automatically heat sinks before anything else.
DISADVANTAGES: HS SRM do 1 point while HS CRM do 2
points of damage per missile that hits (as well as blow up for that
amount in ammo explosions.) If the heat scale of the target mech
is 0 then Heat Seeking missiles have a +2 to hit. HS missiles are
not affected by Artemis or NARC.
Laser Guided Missiles (LGM)
WEAPONS: CRM, SRM, MRM
DESCRIPTION: LGM require the guidance of a TAG laser to
work effectively. When the TAG laser hits the target then there is
a marked increase in the percentage of missiles that hit. When
the TAG laser misses then the probability of a hit decreases
ADVANTAGES: LGM get a +3 on the Missile Hit Chart if the
target is TAGed by the firing mech. The -1 to hit for each missile
launcher tied into a TAG laser as per the TAG laser note above
still applies. LGM that are following a TAG beam do not get to hit
penalties due to Chameleon System.
DISADVANTAGES: The announcement to fire LGM and TAG
laser(s) must be made and adhered to before any dice are rolled.
If LGM and TAG are fired and no TAG laser hits then the LGM
*must* be fired with a +2 to hit.
 Only TAG laser(s) fired from the firing mech can TAG a target
for LGM to get their bonusses. LGM can be fired without the
intention to TAG the target with a +2 to hit penalty.
Tandem Charge (TC) Warhead Missiles
WEAPONS: CRM, SRM
DESCRIPTION: The TC warhead contains two shaped charge
warheads where one punches a hole in the armor allowing the
second to damage the internal structure.
ADVANTAGES: CRM with TC warheads do 2 points of armor
and one point of internal structure damage per missile. SRM with
TC warheads do 1 point of armor and 1 point of internal damage.
If the area hit has no armor then each missile that hits does 1
point of damage due to the narrowness of the impact area.
DISADVANTAGES: The number of reload shots per ton is
multiplied by .75, round down. This represents the extra room
required to hold the larger warheads. For ammo explosions, treat
each TC CRM as having a 4 point warhead and each TC SRM as
having a 3 point warhead. TC warhead internal damage against
its target roll to score critical hits on the Critical Hits Effects table
with a -3 modifier. (TC warheads score only 1 critical on a roll of
11 or 12.)
Beehive Artillery Shells
WEAPONS: Long Tom, Sniper, Thumper
DESCRIPTION: These shells are effectively huge shotgun
shells used to fire directly upon approaching enemy. They are
primarily used as a last ditch weapon to beat back unwanted
interlopers, making use of this shell rare. Under normal
circumstances a gun train might have 1 ton per gun of reloads.
On rare occasions when artillery guns are expected to be very
close to the fighting 2-3 tons of reloads per gun are carried.
ADVANTAGES: These shells make the artillery guns act just
like LB-X autocannons. Take the base damage of the gun (20 for
Long Toms, 10 for Snipers, and 5 for Thumpers) and roll 2D6
under that number on the Missile Hit chart *twice*. These 2
values are added together to determine the damage done.
Each point of damage is allocated seperately.
EXAMPLE: (The Shot from Hell) A Long Tom fires a Beehive
Artillery round at an approaching mech and hits. Since the Long
Tom does 20 points of base damage it rolls under the 20 column
of the Missile Hit Chart twice. The Long Tom miraculously rolls an
11 and a 12 doing 40 points of damage. Somebody had more
than just a bad hair day...
DISADVANTAGES: The range of these rounds in hexes is
equal to the number of boards that the gun can fire normal rounds.
The base to hit number is 9 regardless of range.
Copperhead Artillery Shells
WEAPONS: Long Tom, Sniper, Thumper
DESCRIPTION: These are missiles that are shot from the tube
of the gun towards the general area of impact. In flight on the
descent the missiles rocket motor takes over and allows the
missile to home in on a TAGed target.
ADVANTAGES: Follow the rules in the last three
paragraphs of the last column under the rules for "Arrow IV
Missile Artillery System" on p. 117 of _The Battletech
Compendium_. These rules apply to Copperhead Artillery Shells.
The Long Tom Copperhead does 20 points of artillery damage to
the target and 5 points to any other unit in the hex. The Sniper
Copperhead does 10 points of artillery damage to the target and
2 points to any other unit in the hex. The Thumper Copperhead
does 5 points of artillery damage to the target and 1 point to any
other unit in the hex.
DISADVANTAGES: These shells cannot be used as standard
artillery shells. They must be used as TAG homing missiles.
They cannot carry any special kind of warhead.
Dam Buster Artillery Shells
WEAPONS: Arrow IV, Bolt III, Dart II, Long Tom, Sniper,
Thumper
DESCRIPTION: These shells replace their normal high
explosive warheads with a concussionary charge. These have
the capability to clear minefields by setting off the mines and to
damage buildings better. These were first developed by a Long
Tom gunner to destroy a dam that, with its destruction, was able
to knock out a company of enemy mechs.
ADVANTAGES: The target and adjacent hex damage of these
shells are used to reduce the attack strength of mine hexes as
per the rules for Bangalor missiles. These shells will also do
double damage to any structure with a CF rating. EXAMPLE:
Should a three hex long building be hit in the center hex by a
Long Tom Dam Buster then it would receive 80 points of damage.
(20x2 for the center hex of the building + 10x2 + 10x2 for each of
the adjacent hexes of the building)
DISADVANTAGES: These shells do 1/4 damage to infantry,
vehicles, or mechs.
Illumination Artillery Shells
WEAPONS: Dart II, Thumper
DESCRIPTION: These shells shoot a round that has a brightly
burning peice of metal (usually Magnesium) with a parachute
attached. These shells are used to eliminate the effects of
darkness during night fights.
ADVANTAGES: Fire this shell as if it were a normal shell.
When the hex of impact is determined this is actually the hex
above which the illumination shell floats down on its parachute.
This hex will drift in the direction of the wind for each turn that it is
up. The illumination covers an area with a radius of 10 hexes for
3 turns.
Smoke Artillery Shells
WEAPONS: Arrow IV, Bolt III, Dart II, Long Tom, Sniper,
Thumper
DESCRIPTION: These smoke round rules replace those on p.
49 of _The Battletech Compendium_.
ADVANTAGES:
Arrow IV & Long Tom: These smoke rounds produce a 2
elevation high smoke cloud in the target hex and the 6 adjacent
hexes that lasts for 3 turns.
Bolt II & Sniper: These smoke rounds produce a 1 elevation
high smoke cloud in the target hex and the 6 adjacent hexes that
lasts for 3 turns.
Dart II and Thumper: These smoke rounds produce a 1
elevation high smoke cloud in the target hex and the 6 adjacent
hexes that lasts for 1 turn.
Telemetry Artillery Shells
WEAPONS: Arrow IV, Bolt III, Dart II, Long Tom, Sniper,
Thumper
DESCRIPTION: These shells are used to better adjust fire with
artillery guns using a signal that orbitting geo-positional satellites
pick up. The satellites then tell the firing crew, within 10 meters,
where the shell landed. The shell also releases a small marker
cloud that observers can use to better observe where the shell
landed.
ADVANTAGES: These shells allow artillery peices to adjust
fire against fixed positions without the need of an observer. If
these shells are fired with the help of an observer then there is a
-2 bonus for adjusting fire with the next shot. The bonuses do not
add on to each other if Telemetry shells are used 2 or more times
in a row. These bonuses are cumulative with observer and
artillery gunner modifiers.
The hex that a Telemetry shell lands in counts as a
"pre-registered hex" as per p. 48 of _The Battletech
Compendium_ once the shell has landed.
Any shots against this hex automatically hit.
 DISADVANTAGES: These shells do no damage at all. The
bonus will only help the gun/launcher that fired the shell or any
gun/launcher that is connected to the firing unit via C^3. It is not
possible for one gun to do the sounding shots for another gun
unless they are connected by C^3 as per the C^3 rules.
White Phospherous Artillery Shells
WEAPONS: Arrow IV, Bolt III, Dart II, Long Tom, Sniper,
Thumper
DESCRIPTION: The "Willie Pete" White Phosperous (WP)
round is the field artillery version of Inferno missiles. This safer
medium of delivering incindieries does not last as long as Inferno
liquid, yet is the only kind that can stand the shock of firing
without exploding.
ADVANTAGES: Given below is a table showing the target heat
that WP shells deliver to the units in the hex of impact and the 6
surrounding hexes. Target is heat listed as X/Y is treated where X
is the target heat that any units in the hex of impact receive and Y
is the target heat that any units in a surrounding hex take.
Damage Rating Turn 1 Turn 2 Turn 3 Turn 4
20/10 10/10 10/5 5/2 2/0
10/5 10/5 5/2 2/0
5/2 5/2 2/0
NOTE: The Damage rating is the damage that the weapon
would do if it were to fire a regular shell. Obviously a bigger shell
will do more heat longer.
DISADVANTAGES: WP rounds do no damage, only target
heat. WP rounds are treated just like Infernos for purposes of
interactions with Coolant Cannons. (If the Coolant Cannon were
to use liquid oxygen instead of liquid nitrogen then double the
heat inflicted, up to 20.)
EXPANDED INFANTRY RULES
These rules are written to rectify the rules for infantry in
Battletech. This is done under the following assumptions:
1) When determining the size of a balanced game each
side will determine its size in tons instead of some financial unit
such as C-Bills.
2) If sides are determined in tons then the various types of
infantry are inherently different in capability.
3) If the various types of infantry are different incapability
then one or a few types will be taken over all the others. This
eliminates some of the diversity that commanders can expect on
the battlefield and some of the realistic options that a commander
can use in determining his/her force composition.
With these reasons the rules for infantry will be changed or
expanded to make their use more defined and balanced.
Equivelant tonnage: Free for standard infantry. They weigh
no tons when determining their "cost." The only requirement is
that they be transported onto the battlefield in some vehicle or
mech. For transport by mech refer to the infantry pods in the
weapons list and notes. For transport by vehicle refer to the
Infantry Carrier rules in _The Battletech Compendium_ on page
44.
Battlearmor are handled differently from standard infantry in
that 5 tons must be "paid" for each point of 5. Battlearmor does
not have to be carried on to the field via APC yet may be
desirable.
Movement modifiers: This ill defined subject is addressed
and changed here. Infantry recieve a -1 to hit bonus if they do not
move and no penalties for moving. Since infantry do not have a
"running" speed there are no like modifiers. Jump infantry and
battlearmor that jump as part of their movement get a +1 to hit
penalty.
Infantry type modifications: Since all movement types of
infantry "cost" the same, there must be some way to make all the
infantry from rifle up to SRM platoons equal. Below are the rules
changes, if any, to the various types of infantry and battlearmor to
make them equal.
Rifle Platoons: The special advantage that Rifle Platoons get
is that when they score damage and roll for location, that location
may be shifted up or down by one. This shows that the soldiers
are better able to control and call their shots. EXAMPLE: A rifle
platoon has hit a mech from the front and has rolled a 6 for
damage location, giving a right torso hit for the 5 point group.
The rifle platoon has the option of shifting that damage location
roll from a 6 to a 5 or 7, hitting the right leg or the center torso.
The last 2 points are rolled to hit 11, left arm. The rifle platoon
may shift it to 10, left arm again, or to 12, head. Obviously it will
be shifted to the head.
Machine Gun Platoons: Machine gun platoons recieve a -1 to
hit bonus due to hit due to the directed high rate of fire of their
weapons.
Flamer Platoons: Flamer platoons get the bonus of doing
heat damage in addition to their normal damage. They inflict 3
turns of incindiery heat as per the target heat rules equal to their
damage value.
EXAMPLE: A flamer platoon with 16 men hits a mech doing 5
points of damage and 5 points of target heat which lasts for 3
turns.
Laser Platoons: Laser platoons inflict 1 point of target heat for
every 7 infantrymen in the platoon, round fractions down.
SRM Platoons: SRM platoons may not use any of the different
SRM warheads or guidance systems available for mech mounted
SRMs.
Machine Gun Battlearmor: Machine gun battlearmor recieve
a -1 to hit bonus due to the directed high rate of fire.
Flamer Battlearmor: Flamer battlearmor use the flamer rules
as presented in the weapons list.
Small Laser Battlearmor: No changes.