Once scientists research a specific system from the Tech Tree (or their own, if they can convince me.), an Engineer needs to spend a day or so designing it. For instance, once the idea for a new reactor has been researched, the engineer draws up the blueprints. The complexity of the system determines the design time.
The completed system design is then sent to a mechanic to be built. after the item has been built once, it can be built in a normal factory without a mechanic.
Okay, assuming you have all the systems needed to create the mecha, this is how you go about it.
First off, list the class of the vehicle, and give it a name/serial number. Most things fall under normal categories... Very Light to Very Heavy land vehicle, Light to Very Heavy tank, Aircraft, Ship, MS, MA, various sized Spacecrafts, etc.
Next, add a list of all the systems included in the construction.
If it generates it's own power supply, rate the output based
on the size of the engine and the engineer's experience.
Output can equal the 1/2 the engineer's exp times the Rating of the source...
An example.. An engineer with 20 exp plans to use a Nuclear Reactor with a rating
of 500, generating 5000 Power Units. (20/2) x 500 = 5000
Also, if any of the systems are built in weapons (Laser eyes! Muahahaha!) or drain energy, subtract the amount and add an available power thing.
Now comes the fun part.
Using the information from the systems and the engineer's exp, the Stats can
be filled in!
Power : The free power of the suit. This determines how much
power can be put into thrust and weapons.
Manuverability : This depends on the type of systems used to actually move the
mecha. Add up the Movement Ratings to find this.
Weight : The total dry weight (in WUs) of all systems and armor.
Interface : How easy the thing is to pilot. This is based on the average Control
Ratings of applicable systems. Lower is better.
If the vehicle has built in weapons, list them. Usable weapon levels are decided by the power rating. List the optional weapon level underneath the mounted weapons. A corded MS can only use lv 3 weapons or less.
Now the Blueprints are ready, so ship the prints and parts to a mechanic to create the Mecha!
Email 1. (from engineer with Data Disks
for the technologies)
subj: 7/9/01 - System Designs - Gunther Herman - UNATCO
I wish to design plans for the following systems:
Light space MS frame UNATCO-MSFrame-0001
Space Ready MS Power Cord UNATCO-Cord-0001
[Etc.]
I then plan to give the blueprints to John Melloncamp.
Email 2. (from mechanic with Blueprints)
subj: 7/15/01 - System Construction - John Melloncamp - UNATCO
Start working on building from the following blueprints, using
materials from the faction supply depot.
Light space MS frame UNATCO-MSFrame-0001
Space Ready MS Power Cord UNATCO-Cord-0001
[Etc.]
I am giving these parts to Gunther Herman after im through.
-JM
Email 3.(from engineer with complete systems)
subj: 7/20/01 - MS Design - Gunther Herman - UNATCO
I wish to design the following MS.
UNATCO-LSMS0001, "Denton"
Light Space Mobile Suit
Systems:UNATCO-MSFrame-0001, UNATCO-Cord-0001, [etc]
Output: -650 [this MS is corded, so it drains that much from the parent power
supply]
PWR: n/a [can support as much power as the parent power supply can give it.]
MVR: 30
WGT: 50
INT: 30
Fixed Armament: None
Optional Armament: Up to lv 3