Battletech: Total War Rules Changes

[Mozza Zoktavir]

As previously mentioned on parts of this section of the forum there are a number of changes which we can post here as we spot 'em.

One thing I spotted was that Anti Missile Systems now work differently. Instead of shooting down d6 missiles, which was either gloriously good(6) or not worth bothering with(1) it now applies a -4 modifier to the roll when checking on the cluster table with missiles, which makes it better on average. Nice!

Hida Kaiju
Ryuken Yon

[Fox1]

does seem there are quiet a few subtle changes in it iv noticed too it seems more than just a bit of a tweak.

[Mozza Zoktavir]

Just a couple of other bit's worth mentioning:

Targeting Computers: STill provide the -1 to hit modifier to direct ballistic and energy weapons.
However the location targeting rules have changed somewhat, I believe in the interest of balance.
You cannot target a location with a Rotary Autocannon or Ultra Cannon if firing more than a single shot. Also Pulse weaponry may not be used to target a location at all.
This might seem harsh, but stops a lot of exploitive targeting and stops a 4 Large Pulse Laser Vulture with a targeting computer being the one round killer that it used to be.

VTOL's have changed slightly, to make a bit more survivable. They now get an additional +1 to be hit modifier for being airborne when cruising and +2 when flanking, cumulative with other speed modifiers.

All seems to make sense really so far,

Mozza, OUT.

[Mozza Zoktavir]

There's also a "new" vehicle type, the little known "Wing In Ground Effect" planes.
These vehicles utilise the spiral downdraft off the wing tips to provide more updraft. This means that a plane with comparitively very small wingspan and surface area can carry large amounts of weight efficiently by staying between 1 & 6 meters from the ground.

They aren't all that useful in real life as they can only travel over reasonably flat terrain (often sea) and have to be massive to take full advantage of the Ground Effect as more weight = more advantage.
The russian on was 550 tons and wasn't big enough to take full advantage! :eek:

It's a niche use vehicle but is cool that they thought of it for the new system as these vehicles look way cool

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Ekranoplan_of_1980s.jpg

Mozza, OUT.

[Mozza Zoktavir]

We've also spotted that VTOL's who receive rotor hits only take one point per ten points of damage or part there of.

So a rotor hit by a clan PPC would do 1 point of damage. But two medium laser hits on the rotor would do a point each.

This originally appeared in max Tech as an optional rule, and is cool that it is now part of the core rules.

Mozza, OUT.

[Seneschal Stormblade]

does the clan AMS give a -8 to missle hit chart as it shoots down 2d6 missiles?

[Mozza Zoktavir]

Nope. They're the same these days.

And if a weapon only launches 1 missile (such as narc launcher) you roll a d6. on a 4+ you destroy the missile.

Always thought clan AMS was a bit imba anyway to be honest.

It is a shame that they're not different. I mean the clan one could ahve given -5 or something?

Moz.

[Dee]

I dunno, Clan get plenty of bonuses as it is. I did check to see if the Clan AMS is lighter but they are both 1 critical and .5 tons. I think the AMS is a fairly niche system anyway, it's not all that common in the grand scheme of things, so it's not really any major blow to Clan-tech superiority.

On the otherhand, it does sort of balance out the Thunderbolt missiles, as they get destroyed on a 4+.

[Analytical Engine]

Does this mean we have to update the Mech Design application or whatever it was called now? Where can I find a new copy?