FM: Homebrew Engine Design

Engine Design

Field Manual: Homebrew

Introduction

Battletech's simplified system of walk, 1.5 run, and 2 sprint is convenient it does little to take into accaunt the variable designs of engines. This means some engines are optimized for general output while others optimize their power output for bursts (such as modern engines using nitrous fuels vs a good comuting car).

By: Alex Warner

Lore

Fusion engines since the later 2400s have been consistently built for average output in both normal and burst situations though a number of the larger engine manufacturers have been investing in new varieties of engines. This has yeilded little of note to date though a considerable number of these prototype engine's have escaped destruction and filtered into the blackmarkets (especially those that cater to down an out duelers on solaris).

The most notable of these "pulse" engine's was the cataclysmic failure of Pitban's 300-P engine. Battlefield analysists are torn on the future of the technology a number declaring the developments healthy, and likely resulting in new battlefield viable manufactured engine types with in 20 years. While others have been quick to call the technology an investing ploy to drive up revenue for a dead end technology (which will later be channled else where).

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Table of Contents

Credits

Rules

These rules allow player's to construct specialized engines which vary in their performance capabilities (namely different movement type ratios).

Rating: The Engine's rating is considered the average of its drive and overdrive ratings. (if using sprinting rules the rating is the average of drive, overdrive, and over-overdrive).

Weight: The Engine's weight is as per a standard engine of its rating (see above).

Drive Rating: This rating determines the mech's walk mp. This is as per normally deriving a mechs walk mp from engine rating and tonnage (rating/tonnage).

Overdrive Rating: This rating times 1.5 is used to determine the Mech's running mp (rating/tonnage). A mech's overdrive rating can not be greater than Drive Rating x2 or less than Drive Rating x(2/3).

Notes: A mech can mount heatsinks in its engine sheilding as per its Rating, the average. At the GM's discression (if they believe this rule needs more balancing) may institute the "shakey sheilding" rule.

Shakey Sheilding Optional rules:
This reflects these "optimized engines" not being made to deal with the extreme fluctuations in heat. The result is that for each 1 mp above normal a mech's walk mp is it generates 1 extra heat when walking. Similarly for each 1 mp the mech's run is above normal run mp it generates 1 extra heat when running. Note this rules is only intended to be used by player's and GMs that feel these engines need further balancing.