Cray
07/14/03 02:20 PM
147.160.125.185
|
Buckshot LRMs are a dumbed-down variant of Swarm LRMs. Like Swarm LRMs, Buckshots deploy a cloud of submunitions near the target. (Because the release is always near the target, the effects of Buckshot munitions do not vary with range.) Unlike Swarm LRMs, Buckshot submunitions are unguided (after release). They simply represent a dispersed cloud of munitions that cover more area and, as a whole, are more likely to hit the target. The disadvantages are a higher rate of misses within a given salvo and a more dispersed damage pattern. Field use has revealed the Buckshot LRMs are about as good as LBX cluster munitions at hunting out weak points in targets' armor.
(In other words: these are an LRM version of LBX cluster munitions. Like LBX cluster ammo, they do less damage than "solid" shot, but are more likely to hit and crit find.)
RULES
Buckshot LRMs, an Inner Sphere development, behave like normal LRMs except as noted below.
1) Buckshot LRMs are not compatible with any other LRM guidance systems or warhead types (and do NOT get attacks on extra targets like Swarm ammo - they had their Swarm guidance removed, hence the "dumbing down" comment in the fluff). Buckshot LRMs may be fired from Artemis-equipped launchers, but won't benefit from the Artemis FCS.
2) Due to their dispersal, Buckshot LRMs apply damage in 1-point groups rather than 5-point groups
3) Due to their dispersal, some Buckshot LRMs are more likely to hit a target. Buckshot LRMs get a -1 bonus on target numbers, which also applies in indirect fire (canceling the normal +1 penalty)
4) Due to their dispersal, fewer overall Buckshots hit the target. Buckshot LRMs roll as one LRM launcher size smaller to see how many missiles hit. An LRM 20 firing Buckshot LRMs rolls on the 15 column, LRM 15 rolls on the 10 column, LRM 10 rolls on the 5 column, and the LRM 5 rolls on the 3 column.
5) Buckshot LRMs may not be "hot loaded," owing to the hardwiring of their release mechanism.
6) At minimum range, hardwired safeties prevent Buckshot LRMs from dispersing their submunitions. Buckshot LRMs behave like normal LRMs in their minimum range. Thus, rules 2, 3, and 4 are inapplicable in Buckshot LRMs' minimum range. Rules 1, 5, 6, and 7 remain in effect.
7) Buckshot LRMs cost 50% more than normal LRMs (45000CB/ton.)
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
Disclaimer: Anything stated in this post is unofficial and non-canon unless directly quoted from a published book. Random internet musings of a BattleTech writer are not canon.
|
Cray
07/15/03 05:50 PM
68.200.111.72
|
Oops. Forgot the new Battle Armor construction rules. It is possible for Inner Sphere troops to have non-traditional numbers of LRM tubes. Therefore, the corrected rule 4 is:
4) Due to their dispersal, fewer overall Buckshots hit the target. Buckshot LRMs roll at -2 on the appropriate column on the missile hit chart, with rolls under 2 treated as rolls of 2.
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
Disclaimer: Anything stated in this post is unofficial and non-canon unless directly quoted from a published book. Random internet musings of a BattleTech writer are not canon.
|