Difference between revisions of "Supercharger"

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A '''Supercharger''' is a device which temporarily exceeds the normal safe operating levels of an engine to boost speed. While this compromises safety with an increasing chance of critical engine damage, in any field such as racing or war where there is a need for speed, people are willing to throw safety to the wind for a performance boost.
 
  
Despite the wide differences in underlining technology, with [[internal combustion engine]] superchargers injecting chemicals that boost combustion while [[Fusion Engine]] superchargers temporarily drop the limiters that keep the engine output from damaging the shielding, both produce almost identical end-results.
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A '''Supercharger''' is a device which temporarily exceeds the normal safe operating levels of an engine to boost the ground speed of [[Combat Vehicle]]s, [[Support Vehicle]]s, [[IndustrialMech]]s and [[BattleMech]]s. While this compromises safety with an increasing chance of critical engine damage, in any field such as racing or war where there is a need for speed, people are willing to throw safety to the wind for a performance boost. <ref name=MT-92>''Maximum Tech'', p. 92 "Equipment - Supercharger"</ref> <ref name=TO-345>''Tactical Operations'', p. 345 "Advanced Weaponry and Equipment - Supercharger"</ref>
  
Because [[BattleMech]] superchargers use a entirely different method of increasing performance than that used by [[MASC]], both devices can be used at the same time for cumulative speed boost in exchange for considerably higher odds of a catastrophic failure.
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==Description==
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Despite the wide differences in underlying technology, both [[internal combustion engine]] and [[Fusion Engine]] superchargers produce almost identical end-results and thus boost ground speed by as much as 125%<ref name=MT-92/> <ref name=TO-345/>. In an ICE, a Supercharger simply injects oxidizers into the fuel mix to increase power, while Fusion Engine superchargers temporarily allow the fusion engine to operate beyond its design limits, disabling the limiters that normally keep the engine from damaging its own shielding.
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Because [[BattleMech]] superchargers use an entirely different method of increasing performance than that used by a [[MASC]] system, both devices can be used simultaneously for a cumulative speed boost in exchange for a considerable increase to the odds of a catastrophic failure. <ref name=MT-92/> <ref name=TO-345/>
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While an unusual if experimental add-on for centuries, the technology achieved a mainstream level of acceptance and refinement during the [[Word of Blake]] [[Jihad]], with manufacturers within both the [[Inner Sphere]] and the [[Clan]]-space regularly producing superchargers from [[3078]] on. <ref name=TROP-207>''Technical Readout: Prototypes'', p. 207  "Jihad Technology Advancement Table - Supercharger"</ref>
  
 
==Rules==
 
==Rules==
 
<div class="gamerules">
 
<div class="gamerules">
 
===Game Rules===
 
===Game Rules===
*''Tactical Operations'' note: The supercharger needs an activation roll, just like MASC. On a failed activation, 'Mechs take engine damage, and vehicles motive system damage, followed by then engine damage. <ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 345</ref>
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Operating similarly to MASC, when a player first activates a supercharger, they roll 2D6. On a result of 3+, the supercharger operates normally, allowing the unit to move at twice its Cruising or Walking MP speed (adjusted for modifiers such as damaged leg actuators, etc.) for that turn. On a failed activation roll, unlike MASC the critical hits are applied directly to engine for 'Mechs and to motive systems first and then destroying engine after immobilization. The Supercharger is automatically destroyed upon failure. Each consecutive turn the supercharger is used, the target number increases by 2, each turn the player ceases to use the supercharger the target number is reduced by 1. <ref name=MT-92/> IndustrialMechs and Support Vehicle apply an additional -1 modifier to the activation roll under TO rules. <ref name=TO-345/>
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The supercharger weighs one-tenth of the unit's engine weight (rounded up to the nearest half-ton) and occupies 1 critical slot on 'Mechs and one item location on vehicles. 'Mech carrying a supercharger must mount the system in a location that contains engine slots, either the center torso on standard engines or additionally the left or right torsos for [[Fusion Engine - Light|Light]] and [[XL Engine]]s. <ref name=TO-344>''Tactical Operations'', p. 344 "Advanced Weaponry and Equipment - Construction Rules - Supercharger"</ref> Superchargers can be pod-mounted by [[OmniMech]]s and [[OmniVehicle]]s. <ref name=MT-92/>
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'Mechs carrying both a Supercharger and MASC can use both devices within the same round for a cumulative speed boost, making separate activation rolls for each, receiving a Running MP equal to 2.5 its normal Walking MP rounded up. <ref name=TO-345/> (Previously 3 times its normal Walking MP under MaxTech) <ref name=MT-92/>  
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</div>
 
</div>
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==Notes==
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* BattleTech Internal Combustion Engine Superchargers function in an entirely different way to their real world namesakes, which pressurize the air intake charge by means of compression which forces more oxygen into the cylinder than a naturally aspirated engine can normally draw in during the intake cycle. However, its description is consistent with real-world nitrous systems, which inject liquid nitrous oxide (an oxidizer, so chemically it acts just like additional oxygen) into the engine's intake manifold, that then reacts with additional injected fuel to produce more power.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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*''[[Maximum Tech]]''
 
*''[[Maximum Tech]]''
 
*''[[Tactical Operations]]''
 
*''[[Tactical Operations]]''
 
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*''[[Technical Readout: Prototypes]]''
  
 
[[Category:Technology]]
 
[[Category:Technology]]

Revision as of 05:04, 8 February 2018

A Supercharger is a device which temporarily exceeds the normal safe operating levels of an engine to boost the ground speed of Combat Vehicles, Support Vehicles, IndustrialMechs and BattleMechs. While this compromises safety with an increasing chance of critical engine damage, in any field such as racing or war where there is a need for speed, people are willing to throw safety to the wind for a performance boost. [1] [2]

Description

Despite the wide differences in underlying technology, both internal combustion engine and Fusion Engine superchargers produce almost identical end-results and thus boost ground speed by as much as 125%[1] [2]. In an ICE, a Supercharger simply injects oxidizers into the fuel mix to increase power, while Fusion Engine superchargers temporarily allow the fusion engine to operate beyond its design limits, disabling the limiters that normally keep the engine from damaging its own shielding.

Because BattleMech superchargers use an entirely different method of increasing performance than that used by a MASC system, both devices can be used simultaneously for a cumulative speed boost in exchange for a considerable increase to the odds of a catastrophic failure. [1] [2]

While an unusual if experimental add-on for centuries, the technology achieved a mainstream level of acceptance and refinement during the Word of Blake Jihad, with manufacturers within both the Inner Sphere and the Clan-space regularly producing superchargers from 3078 on. [3]

Rules

Game Rules

Operating similarly to MASC, when a player first activates a supercharger, they roll 2D6. On a result of 3+, the supercharger operates normally, allowing the unit to move at twice its Cruising or Walking MP speed (adjusted for modifiers such as damaged leg actuators, etc.) for that turn. On a failed activation roll, unlike MASC the critical hits are applied directly to engine for 'Mechs and to motive systems first and then destroying engine after immobilization. The Supercharger is automatically destroyed upon failure. Each consecutive turn the supercharger is used, the target number increases by 2, each turn the player ceases to use the supercharger the target number is reduced by 1. [1] IndustrialMechs and Support Vehicle apply an additional -1 modifier to the activation roll under TO rules. [2]

The supercharger weighs one-tenth of the unit's engine weight (rounded up to the nearest half-ton) and occupies 1 critical slot on 'Mechs and one item location on vehicles. 'Mech carrying a supercharger must mount the system in a location that contains engine slots, either the center torso on standard engines or additionally the left or right torsos for Light and XL Engines. [4] Superchargers can be pod-mounted by OmniMechs and OmniVehicles. [1]

'Mechs carrying both a Supercharger and MASC can use both devices within the same round for a cumulative speed boost, making separate activation rolls for each, receiving a Running MP equal to 2.5 its normal Walking MP rounded up. [2] (Previously 3 times its normal Walking MP under MaxTech) [1]

Notes

  • BattleTech Internal Combustion Engine Superchargers function in an entirely different way to their real world namesakes, which pressurize the air intake charge by means of compression which forces more oxygen into the cylinder than a naturally aspirated engine can normally draw in during the intake cycle. However, its description is consistent with real-world nitrous systems, which inject liquid nitrous oxide (an oxidizer, so chemically it acts just like additional oxygen) into the engine's intake manifold, that then reacts with additional injected fuel to produce more power.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Maximum Tech, p. 92 "Equipment - Supercharger"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Tactical Operations, p. 345 "Advanced Weaponry and Equipment - Supercharger"
  3. Technical Readout: Prototypes, p. 207 "Jihad Technology Advancement Table - Supercharger"
  4. Tactical Operations, p. 344 "Advanced Weaponry and Equipment - Construction Rules - Supercharger"

Bibliography