User:Doneve/BattleMech Construction Steps

This! Is a step by step introduction, to design various BattleMech models and variants.

Step 1: Design the Chassis

Choose Technology Base

MON-66 Mongoose

[Andrew] - is designing a BattleMech that he has dubbed a Mongoose. Because he plans to create this design for an old Star League-era game, before the time of the Clans, he chooses an Inner Sphere technology base, and notes that the design will not be an OmniMech.

Executioner (Gladiator)

[Brent] - is designing a BattleMech, which he has named the Gladiator (Clan name: Executioner). He has chosen the Clan technology base for this design, and has elected to make it an OmniMech.

BGS-1T Barghest

[Chas] - is designing a four-legged Barghest 'Mech. As this will be a modern Lyran-made design, he has chosen an Inner Sphere technology base, and has opted not to make it an Omni.

Choose Weight (Tonnage)

MON-66 Mongoose

[Andrew] - decides his Mongoose will be a lightweight scout. Light BattleMechs weigh between 20 and 35 tons, so he chooses to set his Mongoose at 25 tons.

Executioner (Gladiator)

[Brent's] - Gladiator is to be a mass of devastating fi repower few can withstand. Choosing the assault weight class, Brent decides this 'Mech will weigh in at 95 tons—nearly the heaviest mass possible.

BGS-1T Barghest

[Chas] - chooses a heavy weight class for his Barghest, giving him a range of 60 to 75 tons to choose from. He selects a total mass of 70 tons for his machine.

Allocate Tonnage For Internal Structure

MON-66 Mongoose

[Andrew's] - Mongoose, weight is at a premium, so he chooses to install endo-steel internal structure on his BattleMech. At 25 tons in total weight, the Mongoose's endo-steel internal structure weighs 1.5 tons, leaving 23.5 tons to play with [25 – 1.5 = 23.5]. This endo-steel construction will require 14 slots on the Critical Hits Table, but Andrew opts to wait until later to distribute them. In the meantime, Andrew blacks out all extraneous circles from the Internal Structure Diagram on his Mongoose's Record Sheet, leaving only 8 open circles in the center torso, 6 circles each in the left and right torsos, 6 circles in each leg and 4 in each arm. (As all heads receive 3 points of structure automatically, Andrew leaves the head's internal structure alone.)

Executioner (Gladiator)

[Brent] - To devote as much internal space as possible, Brent opts for standard internal structure on his Gladiator, confident that the more efficient weight of Clan weaponry will allow him to arm the OmniMech to the teeth without undue expense. Standard internal structure for a 95-ton 'Mech weighs in at 9.5 tons, leaving 85.5 tons for other systems. No slots need be filled in on the Critical Hits Table for standard structure, and Brent need only black out a few circles on the Internal Structure Diagram, leaving 30 in the center torso, 20 in each side torso, 20 in each leg and 16 in each arm.

BGS-1T Barghest

[Chas] - also decides on standard internal structure for his Barghest, knowing that the big guns he plans to install down the road will be bulky in the extreme. He finds that at 70 tons, the Barghest's internal structure will weigh 7 tons, and provides 22 points of internal structure in the center torso, 15 each in the left and right torsos, and 15 in each of the 'Mech's four legs. On the record sheet's Internal Structure Diagram, Chas blacks out all the excess circles in those locations.

Step 2: Install Engines And Control Systems

Install Engine

MON-66 Mongoose

[Andrew] - Because his Mongoose is intended primarily as a scout, high speed is Andrew's goal here. He decides to give the 'Mech a Walking MP of 8 (thus attaining a Running MP of 12; 8 MP x 1.5 = 12 MP). This means that the Mongoose's Engine Rating will be 200 (25 tons x 8 MP = 200). Looking at the Master Engine Table, a standard 200 -rated engine weighs 8.5 tons. Though an XL engine is tempting, Andrew goes with the standard engine mass and subtracts 8.5 tons from his 23.5 tons of unspent weight (for a remainder of 15 tons). Because it carries a standard engine, the Mongoose uses the standard engine slots on the Critical Hits Table, neither adding more nor reducing the number shown.

Executioner (Gladiator)

[Brent] - wants his Gladiator to have decent mobility for its size, and so chooses a Walking MP of 4, yielding an Engine Rating of 380 (95 tons x 4 MP = 380). To save tonnage for weapons, he opts for an XL engine to lighten the load. The Master Engine Table shows that a 380-rated XL engine weighs 20.5 tons, leaving the Gladiator with 65 tons remaining (85.5 tons – 20.5 tons = 65 tons). The Running MP for the Gladiator is 6 (4 Walking MP x 1.5 = 6 MP). The Gladiator must also assign two engine critical slots to each side torso location on the 'Mech's Critical Hits Table, to refl ect the larger physical size of the Clan XL engine.

BGS-1T Barghest

[Chas] - intends to give his Barghest excellent speed for a heavy 'Mech, and decides upon a Walking MP of 5. This requires an Engine Rating of 350 (70 tons x 5 MP = 350). As the Master Engine Table shows that this would take up an incredible 29.5 tons if he selected a standard fusion engine for the job, Chas also chooses an XL engine at a cost of 15 tons (leaving 48 tons leftover; 63 – 15 = 48). The use of an Inner Sphere XL engine—which is even bulkier than its Clan equivalent—requires Chas to assign 3 critical slots each to the left and right torso locations on the Barghest's Critical Hits Table. The Running MP for the Barghest is 8 (5 Walk- ing MP x 1.5 = 7.5, which rounds up to 8 MP).

Add Gyroscope

MON-66 Mongoose

[Andrew] - has chosen a standard gyro for his Mongoose. With an Engine Rating of 200, the Mongoose would need a 2-ton gyroscope (200 ÷ 100 = 2). This leaves him with 13 tons (15 – 2 = 13).

Executioner (Gladiator)

[Brent] - Because his OmniMech uses a Clan tech base, Brent may only select a standard gyro. With an Engine Rating of 380, his Gladiator needs a 4-ton gyroscope (380 ÷ 100 = 3.8, rounded up to 4). This leaves Brent with 61 tons left over (65 – 4 = 61).

BGS-1T Barghest

[Chas'] - Barghest, with its Engine Rating of 350, would also have a base 4-ton standard gyroscope weight (350 ÷ 100 = 3.5, rounded up to 4). Because Chas also selects a standard gyro, this leaves him with 44 tons (48 – 4 = 44).

Determine Jum Capability

MON-66 Mongoose

[Andrew] - As it is already capable of swift land speed and meant for open areas where it can use its mobility best, Andrew decides that his Mongoose will not require jump jets at this point.

Executioner (Gladiator)

[Brent] - Though his 'Mech is fast for its size, Brent anticipates it will need some help getting through difficult terrain or out of sticky situations. He thus opts to install jump jets on the Gladiator, and decides upon a Jump MP of 4—the maximum attainable using standard jets. Because of the Gladiator's weight, Brent finds that the jump jets will weigh 2 tons each and occupy 1 critical slot each. He opts to install all four jets in the legs, with 2 in each leg for a total of 8 tons spent. Because Brent is building the base model of an OmniMech, he may not move or remove these jets when making alternate configurations for the machine later on. The Gladiator now has a Jumping MP of 4, and has 53 remaining unspent tons (61 – 8 = 53).

BGS-1T Barghest

[Chas] - decides that his Barghest is mobile enough for his tastes, and decides not to install jump jets at this time.

Add Cockpit

MON-66 Mongoose

[Andrew] - decides to give his Mongoose a Standard cockpit, spending 3 tons on it, and thus retains the default slot arrangement for the cockpit's systems. He has 10 tons remaining (13 – 3 = 10).

Executioner (Gladiator)

[Brent] - With no access to Small cockpits, Brent installs a Standard cockpit in his Gladiator, using the default slots on the Record Sheet Critical Hits Table as well. His OmniMech now has 50 unspent tons remaining (53 – 3 = 50).

BGS-1T Barghest

[Chas] - Though a +1 Piloting modifier would hardly impair his quad Barghest, Chas too opts to use a Standard cockpit, leaving him with 41 unspent tons (44 – 3 = 41). He too retains the default slot arrangement on the Critical Hits Table.

Special Physical Enhancements (MASC/TSM)

MON-66 Mongoose

[Andrew] - Though MASC technology existed in the era in which Andrew plans to base his Mongoose, he decides not to use that technology for added speed bursts, as the 'Mech already boasts a respectable movement rate. He likewise considers Triple Strength Myomer inappropriate, though that has more to do with the technology not existing in the old Star League era than the fact that the lightweight Mongoose would make a lousy close-in brawler.

Executioner (Gladiator)

[Brent] - To provide his 95-ton Gladiator with amazing bursts of speed that can catch lighter enemies off-guard, Brent chooses to add MASC to the base design. Clan- made MASC weighs 4 percent of the BattleMech's total weight, so MASC on the Gladiator will weigh 4 tons (95 tons x 0.04 = 3.8 tons, rounded up to 4). As this formula also determines the equipment's size in terms of critical slots, the same value (4) applies to the number of slots needed. The Gladiator now has 46 unspent tons remaining (50 – 4 = 46). Brent decides to assign the 4 MASC slots to the Omni's left torso location.

BGS-1T Barghest

[Chas] - resists the urge to install MASC or TSM on his Barghest, opting to save weight and space for ranged weapons.

Step 3: Add Additional Heat Sinks

Heat Sinks

MON-66 Mongoose

[Andrew] - does not foresee placing a lot of firepower on his lightweight Mongoose, so he decides to stick with the 10 free heat sinks that come with the 'Mech's engine (which he decides will be single heat sinks, to cut costs). In computing how many sinks will not require critical slots, he finds that the Mongoose's 200-rated engine will only integrate 8 of these 10 sinks (200 ÷ 25 = 8). The remaining 2 heat sinks—which occupy 1 slot apiece—must be allocated to the Mongoose's Critical Hits Table someplace. Andrew decides to settle this now, rather than wait until later, and assigns one sink to each of the Mongoose's leg locations. Because the 10 sinks were provided free with the engine, Andrew still has 10 tons remaining. On the Heat Data Block of the Record Sheet, Andrew notes the Mongoose has 10 sinks by blacking out all but 10 Heat Sink circles, checking off the box marked "Single" and writing a value of 10 in the line marked Heat Sinks, and between the parentheses on the same line.

Executioner (Gladiator)

[Brent] - Anticipating some awesome firepower options on his Gladiator, Brent decides to provide the OmniMech's base chassis with a total of 16 double-strength heat sinks. Because 10 of these come free with the engine, this decision costs 6 tons in weight, leaving the Gladiator with 40 tons left over (46 – 6 = 40). In addition, the OmniMech's 380-rated engine integrates all but 1 of these heat sinks (380 ÷ 25 = 15.2, rounded down to 15; 16 sinks – 15 integrated = 1), leaving that heat sink to be allocated on the 'Mech's Critical Hits Table. Brent assigns this remaining sink to the right torso location, where the Clan double heat sink takes up 2 critical slots. On the Heat Data Block of the Record Sheet he is using to record his OmniMech's base configuration, Brent notes the Gladiator has 16 double heat sinks by blacking out all but 16 Heat Sink circles, checking off the box marked "Double" and writing a value of 16 in the line marked Heat Sinks, anda value of 32 (16 x 2 = 32) between the parentheses on the same line.

BGS-1T Barghest

[Chas] - does not feel he has much weight to spare for heat sinks, considering his plans for firepower and armor on his Barghest. He thus sticks with the 10 free sinks that come with the BattleMech's engine, but chooses to make them double heat sinks rather than singles. In computing how many are integrated into the engine "critical-free", Chas finds he won't need to worry about assigning any of these 3-slot Inner Sphere double heat sinks to the 'Mech's Critical Hits Table, as the 350-rated engine is large enough to easily take in all 10 (350 ÷ 25 = 14). Because the 10 sinks came with the engine, Chas still has 41 unspent tons. On the Heat Data Block of the Record Sheet, Chas notes the Barghest has 10 double heat sinks by blacking out all but 10 Heat Sink circles, checking off the box marked "Double" and writing a value of 10 in the line marked Heat Sinks, and a value of 20 (10 x 2 = 20) between the parentheses on the same line.