Bob_Richter
10/15/01 07:47 PM
134.121.149.97
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Land-Air 'Mechs:
I have always liked the idea of convertible Mecha, no matter how impractical it is, all that was lacking was a good implementation in Battletech. This is my attempt at creating a balanced and accurate implementation.
Construction
LAMs are constructed in precisely the same way as an ordinary Battlemech with the following exceptions:
1) A LAM must mount "LAM Conversion Equipment" which consumes 10% of the 'Mech's total mass and one critical in each LA/RA/LL/RL/RT/LT/CT.
2) Clan LAMs must mount a second (Aerospace pilot) cockpit, which masses 3 tons and must be placed in the head.
3) A LAM may mass no more than 55 tons.
4) A LAM may carry additional fuel for use in fighter mode, as per AT2.
Crew
A Clan LAM has both a Mechwarrior and an Aerospace pilot, the skills for which are rolled separately. In 'Mech mode use Mechwarrior skills. In Fighter mode use Aerospace pilot skills. In Airmech mode, use Mechwarrior gunnery with a +1 modifier and Aerospace pilot piloting with a +1 modifier.
An Inner Sphere LAM has a single pilot who is extensively cross-trained and has a different skill set for each mode. Select one skill set to be the primary skill set, the other two are rolled at -1 (subtract 1 from the die result, then check against appropriate table)
Operation: Battlemech Mode
In Battlemech mode, a LAM functions as normal for a 'Mech.
Operation: Airmech Mode
In Airmech mode, walking movement is halfed and running movement is recalculated. The Airmech also gains new move modes called "flight-Cruise" and "flight-Flank" flight-Cruise is equal to 2x the 'Mech's Jump MP. flight-Flank is equal to 1.5x flight-Cruise.
When using these move modes, treat the AirMech as if it were a VTOL.
Once airborne, the AirMech must continue to use flight mode until it lands.
Side-torso rear armor becomes "wings". If one or more wing is missing, Airmech cannot use flight modes. If Airmech is in flight when wings are destroyed and its altitude exceeds its jump MP, it will crash.
Shots that hit the arms from the front or sides have a 50% chance of hitting the wings instead (unless the wings have been destroyed.)
Operation: Aerospace fighter mode
Safe Thrust is equal to 2+ jump MP
Max Thrust is equal to 1.5*Thrust
SI is equal to mass or Safe Thrust (whichever is higher)
Damage rolled against Nose hits either the Center Torso (1-5) or the head (6).
Fuel is equal to 5*Battlemech jump MP + any onboard fuel storage.
Determine armor values by adding the Armor and IS values of the appropriate locations
Head+Center Torso/Side Torso+Arm/Legs
Critical hits act as Battlemech critical hits against a randomly determined location.
Nose: 1-5 CT, 6 Head
Wings: 1-3 ST, 4-6 Arm
Aft: 1-3 RL, 5-6 LL
Weapons are allocated accordingly:
RA: RW
LA: LW
RT: RW
RT(R): RW
LT: LW
LT(R): LW
CT: Nose
CT(R): Nose
Head: Nose
RL: Aft
LL: Aft
Operation: Conversion
A LAM must announce its intention to convert in the End Phase of the turn before the conversion is to take place.
To convert from Battlemech to Airmech, the LAM need only have undamaged Conversion Gear. The conversion takes one turn, during which the LAM may not fire, moves as if it were in LAM mode (except than flight modes are at 1/2 MP), and takes hits as an Airmech.
To convert from AirMech to Fighter, the LAM must be airborne and have undamaged Conversion Gear. The conversion takes one turn, during which the LAM may not fire, moves as if it were an Aerospace fighter (at 1/2 Thrust), and takes hits as an aerospace fighter.
To convert from Fighter to Airmech, the LAM must have undamaged Conversion Gear and must have ended its movement in a hex that contains a Battletech Map. The conversion takes one turn. During this turn, it may not fire, takes damage as an Airmech, and moves as an AirMech. May begin at any position along last turn's line of attack.
To convert from Airmech to Battlemech, the LAM must have undamage Conversion Gear. The conversion takes one turn, during which the LAM may not fire, takes damage as a Battlemechm and moves as an Airmech with 1/2 flight MPs.
-Bob Richter
A dead primate is nobody's ancestor.
-Bob (The Magnificent) Richter
Assertions made in this post are the humble opinion of Bob.
They are not necessarily statements of fact or decrees from God Himself, unless explicitly and seriously stated to be so.
:)
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Cray
10/29/01 01:03 PM
204.245.128.108
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>I hope they will consider bringing them back.
I'm sure you can get them to consider bringing LAMs back, but the consideration will quickly end in "not a chance in hell" when they recall the whole Unseen fiasco.
>A boarding party of a different scale
Where would mechs go in a warship? All the cool parts (bridge, engine room, KF drive room, crew quarters, CIC) probably aren't built to mech scale. That means blasting and smashing through hundreds of meters of reinforced armor and bulkheads.
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
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.
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