TacOps PowerUps

TacOps PowerUps
Product information
Type Sourcebook/Rulebook
(April Fools)
Pages 3
Publication information
Publisher Catalyst Game Labs
First published 1 April 2008
MSRP Free
Content
Series April Fools releases;
Followed by PseudoTech: Arcade Operations

Description[edit]

TacOps PowerUps was published as an April Fools joke on 1 April 2008. The free sourcebook is done in the style of the major sourcebooks like BattleTech Total Warfare, TechManual, Tactical Operations and Strategic Operations. It may be accessed here: https://web.archive.org/web/20191108005821/https://catalystgamelabs.com/download/previews/13-TacOps-PowerUps.pdf

The book does not feature a proper back cover section, it directly throws the reader to a 3-page PDF (meant to resemble a bonus Chapter 13 for Tactical Operations) where rules for putting "powerups" into BattleTech, similar to Heroscape's runes, or to MechAssault’s own powerup mechanics. The PDF gives recommendations on how many powerups to be added per mapsheet and rules and a table to roll randomly which one is found.

The PowerUps rules were expanded and revised in 2022's PseudoTech: Arcade Operations.

List of PowerUps (as presented)[edit]

  • Extra Health
  • Firepower Add-On (Energy Triple-Shot)
  • Firepower Add-On (Ballistic Triple-Shot)
  • Firepower Add-On (Homing Missile)
  • Artillery Strike
  • Hyper ECM
  • Invisibility
  • Energy Shield
  • Invulnerability
  • Special
  • Booby Trap

Canonicity[edit]

As an April Fools product, TacOps PowerUps is explicitly considered noncanonical.