TechManual - 22 August 2024 (v8.0)

[Xotl]

This thread is for all issues and problems with TechManual.

Product Link: http://bg.battletech.com/?wpsc-product=1095-2

Current errata version is 8.0, and can be found here:
https://bg.battletech.com/errata/

There are eight main releases of TechManual - be sure to cite which release you're working from:
2007 - first printing (FanPro)
2007 - second printing (Catalyst/WizKids)
2019 - third printing (Catalyst/Topps: retro art cover)
2020 - fourth printing
2021 - fifth printing
2021 - sixth printing (Catalyst/Topps: new art cover)
2023 - seventh printing
2024 - eighth printing; pending

Please remember to follow the errata report template when reporting issues.  Thanks.


Developer-Level Errata

None.

[Xotl]

Welcome to the next TechManual errata release.  I'd like to thank those that took the time to check over the pre-release errata - your reports helped make the upcoming third release of TechManual even better.  If you have any pre-release documents, the above linked documents replace them all (the BV document in particular was heavily re-written).  Thank you.

BV Note
There were four significant changes to Battle Value that I feel should be pointed out:

 - The Force Size Modifier was deleted
 - IndustrialMechs without Advanced Fire Control multiply their Offensive Battle Rating by 0.9, not their Final Battle Value
 - Stealth armour adds 10 to a 'Mech's movement heat for the purposes of calculating 'Mech Heat Efficiency
 - Many infantry weapons had their Battle Values changed

[Xotl]

The infantry table document has been updated with numerous corrections.  Changes from the last version (not the complete list of changes as a whole) have been marked in red.  Thank you.

[Maelwys]

Page 7 of the Errata states

* Standard Lasers (p. 227)
1) Change Introduced to “Circa 2300 (Terran Alliance [medium and small]), 2316 (Terran Hegemony [large])”
2) Change Extinct to “Circa 2850 (Clans only)”

Pg 13 states
* Heavy Weapons and Equipment (Cont) (p. 291)
1) Under “ER Large Laser”, change Introduced (Affiliation) to “2620 (TH) / 2823 (CNC)”
2) Under “Medium Laser” and “Large Laser”, change Introduced (Affiliation) to “2300 (TA) / —” and change Extinction to “— / 2850”

Suggest keeping the Large laser at 2316.

Clarify whether or not the extinction date on page 7 includes the small laser.

Page 14 of the Errata
6) Under “ER PPC”, change Introduced (Affiliation) to “2751 (TH) / 2826 (CNR)”

There is no CNR. According to the Golden Century PDF the inventors of the Clan ER PPC was Clan Snow Raven. Change CNR to CSR.

edit
Added another, and fixed a date in the first part
/edit

[mikewoo]

Errata v3.0 PDF

p.6
* Capital Missile Launchers (p. 210)
1) Under “Game Rules”
Change Introduced to “Circa 2300 (Terran Alliance [Capital Missiles]); 2550 (Terran Hegemony [AR-10])”

p.14
* Heavy Weapons and Equipment (Cont) (p. 292)
7) Under “Capital Missiles”, change Introduced (Affiliation) for the Killer Whale, White Shark, and Barracuda from “ES” to “2305”. Change Introduced (Affiliation) for the AR-10 Launcher from “ES” to “2550”.

Introduction dates for Killer Whale, White Shark, Barracuda missiles should be consistent; please clarify correct introduction date.

[Xotl]

Thanks for those reports.  Those corrections, plus one other small one on splitting weapons, has been included in the 3.01 update, now available in the first post.  As far as I know, they will also make it into the new PDF release of TechManual.

[Maelwys]

Errata v3.01
pg. 14

5) Under “Light TAG”, change Introduced (Affiliation) to “3053 (DC) / 3054 (CWF)”

This is actually a problem that's existed for a while with TechManual, but since its technically in the errata, I figured I'd include it here.

This errata is on the "Heavy Weapons and Equipment" Table. Meaning the `Mech-scale version of everything. There is no Inner Sphere equivalent of Light TAG (at that scale). What the DC developed in 3053 was the Battle Armor-scale Light TAG, which has its own entry on page 298 of TechManual under the BA Equipment section.

The entry should read “ -- / 3054 (CWF)”

[worktroll]

Late, I know ...

TechManual 2nd printing (CAT35002). Mechanised infantry.

Top of p145:

Tracked-based mechanized infantry platoons use larger, squad-sized tracked vehicles. Like tracked Combat Vehicles, these mechanised infantry can traverse Depth 0 Water, but cannot handle heavy woods or deeper water terrains.

In terms of speed, wheeled mechanized infantry fall between hover and tracked platoons. Mainly dependent on militarized versions of off-road cars, these troops cannot negotiate rough terrain, rubble, any woods, or water greater than Depth 1 in combat.

Emphasis added.

Conventional Infantry Motive Types Table Table at bottom of p.145

Code: [Select]

Mechanized
                         Prohibited Terrain       
Hover   5 20 5 (Hover)   Woods (Any)
Tracked 7 28 3 (Tracked) Woods (Heavy), Water (Depth 1+)
Wheeled 6 24 4 (Wheeled) Rough, Rubble, Woods (Any), Water (Depth 1+)
Problem: the text says wheeled mechanised infantry can enter water up to depth 1, the table says it can't enter water of depth 1+

Suggested solution: fix fluff text in second quoted paragraph to be "water greater than Depth 0".

[SCC]

I was working from the Errata V3.01 stuff for this.
Tech Manual Page 239, Transport Bay Table.
While the table shows that Super-Heavy Vehicles must use Super-Heavy Vehicle Bays it does not note that SuperHeavy BattleMechs may not use normal 'Mech Bays or weather or not UltraHeavy ProtoMechs may use normal ProtoMech bays

The Total Bay Personal column is also out in several places, if I understand the way things work correctly Infantry Bay's for all types except Mechanized should be increased by (For the head tech). The Battle Armor Bay entries should also be 5, 6 and 7 to be one more than the number of troopers (Again for the head tech).

Finally there was some interesting fall-out from the IO Beta that would require Bays to have the capacity to carry a full tech team, Cray will need to be consulted about that

[Maelwys]

Page 8 of the errata states

Snub-Nose PPC (p. 233)
1) Change Introduced to “2784 (Terran Hegemony)”
2) Underneath “Introduced”, insert “Extinct: 2790”
3) Underneath “Extinct”, insert “Recovered: 3067 (Draconis Combine)”

However, there is no change in the availability code that I've found (its X-X-F according to TM).

This should change as well to F-X-F.

Also, how do the Clans handle the Snub-nose, and when does it go extinct for them (if it does?)

[A. Lurker]

Under "Constructing a Battle Force" in the Battle Value document, the section on TAG has this to say:

"If any unit in the battle force is equipped with TAG, Light TAG or a C3 Master Computer, add BV equal to the BV of each
ton of semi-guided LRM ammunition carried (use the ammo BV for the appropriate-size LRM launcher). If the only such piece of equipment in the force is rear-mounted, add half the BV instead."

As in my physical copy, this doesn't actually ever say what this extra BV should be added to -- the equipped unit, the one(s) carrying the ammunition in question, the force as a whole, or whatever. That information simply isn't there.

If the recent reply from Paul in this thread on the rules forum is on the level, the wording should probably run along lines similar to "If any units in the battle force are equipped with TAG, Light TAG or a C3 Master Computer, add BV equal to the BV of each ton of semi-guided LRM ammunition carried by the force (use the ammo BV for the appropriate-size LRM launcher) to each of those units. If the only such piece of equipment on a unit is rear-mounted, add half the ammunition BV instead." And even if that should turn out not to be the actual intent, precisely what is could stand to be cleared up.

[Moonsword]

I was working from the Errata V3.01 stuff for this.
Tech Manual Page 239, Transport Bay Table.
While the table shows that Super-Heavy Vehicles must use Super-Heavy Vehicle Bays it does not note that SuperHeavy BattleMechs may not use normal 'Mech Bays or weather or not UltraHeavy ProtoMechs may use normal ProtoMech bays

Full rules for super-heavy BattleMechs will be provided in Interstellar Operations.  To answer the question directly, no, they can't use standard 'Mech bays.  Ultra-heavy ProtoMechs similarly are outside the province of TechManual but again cannot use standard-sized bays.

The Total Bay Personal column is also out in several places, if I understand the way things work correctly Infantry Bay's for all types except Mechanized should be increased by (For the head tech). The Battle Armor Bay entries should also be 5, 6 and 7 to be one more than the number of troopers (Again for the head tech).

The listed bay sizes are correct.  If you're unclear on the way the rules work, ask in the Rules Question forum, please.

Finally there was some interesting fall-out from the IO Beta that would require Bays to have the capacity to carry a full tech team, Cray will need to be consulted about that

Ask a specific rules question (including your specific reasoning why this is an issue) in the TechManual rules question forum, please.

[BeeRockxs]

For consistency between record sheets, TRO entries and within TM, all mentions of "endo-steel", "Endo-Steel" or "Endo-steel" should lose the hyphen and be changed to "endo steel", "Endo Steel" and "Endo steel", respectively.

[NullVoid]

Third Printing (2013).  The Conventional Infantry Weapons cost and availability table (starting at page TM298) is missing the following weapons, which can be found on the Conventional Infantry Weapons construction data table (this one starting at page TM349):

• Club (Vibro-Mace): 540/* (X-F-E) ?(CF)/? ?/? ?/?
• Spear (actually listed as Thrown (Spear)): 15/NA (B-B-B) PS/? ?/? ?/?
• Dart (actually listed as Thrown (Dart)): 3/NA (A-A-A) PS/? ?/? ?/?
• Harpoon Gun (Pequod Mk.I): 350/2 (D-C-B) ?(TC)/? ?/? ?/?
• Harpoon (Pequod Mk. II): 700/5 (F-D-B) ?(TC)/? ?/? ?/?
• Auto-Pistol (Mydron) (actually under Submachine Guns): 100/4 (C-B-B)  ?/? ?/? ?/?
• Auto-Pistol (Stetta) (actually under Submachine Guns): 150/10 (X-F-C)  ?/? ?/? ?/?
• Machine Pistol (Martial Eagle) (actually under Submachine Guns): 180/20 (X-F-D) ?(FW)/? ?/? ?/?

Data has been retrieved from The Sharper Warrior tables on pages ATOW261+

Also, the Gyroslug Carbine (Star King) has an extinction date of 2925 but it has availability (X-C-D).  If it has no reintroduction date, that last D makes no sense.

[Xotl]

Hi.  The TechManual reprint had a few months delay, which meant that we were able to sneak in a few more minor updates before it was produced.  I've updated the errata to reflect these minor corrections - the light tag, snub-nose, and mechanized infantry corrections from above, a small clarifier on support weapon small and medium weapon slots, and a rewrite to the communications equipment game rules.

[mordel]

2013 - Third Printing (PDF)

Snub-Nose PPC (p. 234)
* Change "Recovered: 3037 (Draconis Combine)" to "Recovered: 3067 (Draconis Combine)" as per latest Errata

Heavy Weapons and Equipment table; entry for Snub-Nose PPC (p. 291)
* Change data in Introduced (Affiliation) column to "2784 (TH) / NA"
* Change data in Extinction column to "2790 / NA"
* Change data in Reintroduced (Affiliation) column to "3067 (DC) / NA"

[mbear]

TechManual, Corrected Third Printing PDF:

Per Errata Document 3.02, the Battle Armor Mine Dispenser entry has been removed from the document, but the corresponding bookmark/hyperlink hasn't been removed from the document.

Suggested fix: Remove this hyperlink from PDF.

[Schottenjaeger]

Tech Manual Battle Value addendum v. 3.0, ppg. 22 & 23
"Constructing a Battle Force"
Second paragraph:

This BV is adjusted to reflect the effectiveness of the battle force’s target acquisition gear; command, control and communications systems; Skill Level; and relative force sizes.

Subsection "External Stores", first paragraph:

The BV of any external stores is added to the base BV of a unit before the base BV is modified for skill level or force size.

Error:
Per other errata, force size modifiers have been eliminated. Force Size Modifier rules not included in document

Fix: Delete bolded sections: change first sentence to "..systems; and Skill Level."

[sillybrit]

Tech Manual PDF, p249, Sprayer/Light Fluid Suction System:

The first sentence for Unit Restrictions states: "As they may not mount internal cargo, BattleMechs and ProtoMechs may not mount sprayers or light fluid suction systems."

However, as per the Transport Bay Unit Restrictions on p239: "BattleMechs may only carry Standard, Liquid, or Insulated Cargo Bays", plus we have designs with Liquid Storage such as the Black Hawk U and Turkina U from RS3085ONN.

Suggested fix: The first sentence for Unit Restrictions for Sprayer/Light Fluid Suction System should instead read "As they may not mount internal cargo, ProtoMechs may not mount sprayers or light fluid suction systems."

[Xotl]

Tech Manual Battle Value addendum v. 3.0, ppg. 22 & 23
"Constructing a Battle Force"
Second paragraph:Subsection "External Stores", first paragraph:
Error:
Per other errata, force size modifiers have been eliminated. Force Size Modifier rules not included in document

Fix: Delete bolded sections: change first sentence to "..systems; and Skill Level."

I've updated the website pdf to reflect this needed correction.  Thanks!

[Xotl]

Triple Strength Myomer (p. 240 in latest release)

Introduced: 3050 (Capellan Confederation)

Indeed, in 3050, after more than two decades of research, House Liao once more fielded BattleMechs enhanced with TSM--BattleMechs immune to the effects of the catalyst gas, that could actually control when the powerful musculature engaged in battle.
   (Ironically, FedSuns engineers had also completed refinements to the technology by this time, fielding it on a few one-off 'Mechs in time for the Clan invasion.  However, in true conservative fashion, they were loath to declare their catalyst-proof TSM "production-ready" at the time, as the operating range for the myomers' enhancements was considered too narrow.  Thus, credit for the first fully functional TSM units in our time goes to our Capellan neighbors.  Sorry, kids.)

The Capellans were still using vulnerable, prototype TSM in 3052 (see TR:3050, Locust) and didn't achieve production-ready TSM until 3060 (Sun Tzu's short speech in TR:3060, Ti T'sang); however, TechManual is correct that the FedCom only made limited use of their superior TSM (TR:3050 Centurion, TR:3055 Scarabus), so giving credit to the Capellans is somewhat reasonable.

TR:3050, Locust

Also of note is the factory refit in progress at the partially rebuilt Bergan Industries plant on Ares, in the Capellan Confederation.  The Capellans, obsessed with the triple-strength myomer that Hanse Davion used so successfully to trick them during the Fourth Succession War, have been experimenting to keep the myomers from bursting into flame upon contact with a catalyst.  Though testing has been unsuccessful so far, the Capellans are producing a limited number of LCT-1V Locusts with the still-vulnerable myomer for engineering studies.

TR:3055, Scarabus

Rumors abound that the Federated Commonwealth has converted many Scarabus 'Mechs to triple-strength myomer technology.

TR:3060, Ti T'sang

The most stunning feature of the new 'Mech is the inclusion of triple-strength myomer, a technology pioneered by the Federated Suns.  In his speech announcing the debut of this 'Mech, Sun-Tzu said, "It is time we overcame our fear of symbols from the past.  That we were tricked into using defective myomer during the Fourth War is common knowledge.  That it aided in our most ignominious defeat is recorded in every Great House's history books.  With this BattleMech, we conquer the demon of failure and show our enemies that we have the will to use any tool available to fulfill our destiny."

Errata?
Add a decade to the introduction date: "Introduced: 3060 (Capellan Confederation, Draconis Combine)" and change "Indeed, in 3050, after more than two decades of research" to "Indeed, in 3060, after more than three decades of research" (underlined for emphasis).

[sillybrit]

PDF, corrected third printing, p. 162, Choosing Weight section, last sentence of first para:

Any unspent tonnage left after the creation process is considered wasted or—if space permits—may be used to determine the capacity of any modular mounts or cargo spaces, such as AP weapon mounts and mission equipment items.

AP weapon mounts no longer need to have mass reserved for whichever infantry weapon will be mounted on them. Suggested fix is to change the sentence to the following:

Any unspent tonnage left after the creation process is considered wasted or—if space permits—may be used to determine the capacity of any modular mounts or cargo spaces, such as configurable turret mounts and mission equipment items.

[jymset]

A needed clarification that's come up when talking to the bosses:

TM, p. 136, "Weapons and Ammunition:", 1st paragraph.

Regardless of their type, these weapons require no heat sinks and come with a free clip, but may carry ammunition in multiples of their clip size.

Add underlined words.

[jymset]

TM, Industrial Equipment Table (Cont), p. 345

Weapons, Anti-Personnel
Line "Medium", column "SV" - change value from "2*" to "1*"


This is in line with p. 136: "When mounting Small and Medium Weapons on Support Vehicles, each such weapon occupies 1 item slot." and also with TRO VAr's Rock Rover p. 30, which mounts 1 Medium and 2 Small Weapons on top of two separate cargos and only has 5 slot available.

[Xotl]

Updated for the year to v3.1.  No major changes.  A small BV change to how variable-damage, variable-BV physical weapons are calculated was added.

[jymset]

TM, Inner Sphere Heavy Weapons Equipment Table (Cont), p. 342

Special Equipment
Line "Targeting Computer", column "SV" - change value from "Var*" to "1"


This is in line with the Construction Rules on p. 238.

[Daryk]

Tech Manual Infantry Tables v3.0, page 2:

The "Rifle (Federated-Barrett M42-B)" is listed as having the "B" (Heavy Burst) special ability, uniquely among Standard Weapons.  Per AToW (page 266), in "Standard" mode, the M42-B has a 10 round burst, while in Light Machine Gun mode it has a 15 round burst (page 273).  Was the intent to allow a platoon to be equipped with heavy burst weapons as standard weapons?  The ammunition entry implies the listed damage (1.02, a value I have been unable to derive with the AToW Companion page 170 formula) is for the Standard (10 shot burst) mode.  For reference, the machine gun mode doesn't have the compact grenade launcher of the standard or close in modes.

Recommended change: Remove the "B" from the Federated-Barrett M42-B listing under standard weapons.  Consider adding an M42-B entry with the "B" special ability under support weapons.  Per AToW, it takes two complex actions (i.e., one full TW turn) to switch weapon modes.

[Daryk]

Tech Manual Infantry Tables v3.0, page 3:

The "Grenade Launcher (Heavy Auto)" is listed with a reload weight of 12 kg (just like it is in AToW).  The problem is AToW lists 20 shots for the weapon in a reload, and Class D Ordnance for damage.  20 shots of Class D Ordnance weighs no less than 40 kg, twice the weight of the weapon.  The 12 kg listed does match 20 shots of Class C Ordnance.

Recommended Change: Change the ammunition of the Heavy Auto Grenade Launcher to Class C Ordnance in AToW, and up the Burst value as necessary to maintain damage (which would be in line with it being Clan technology).

Alternative Change: To simply bring the table in line with AToW, reload weight needs to change to 40 kg, and damage needs to be verified as reflecting Class D Ordnance.

[Revanche]

* VERSION: Corrected Third Printing (i.e., PDF)
* LOCATION: pp. 279, 280 and 345
* THE ERROR: Turrets have a Tech Rating of B on the Combat Vehicle Costs and Availability & Support Vehicle Structural Costs and Availability tables, but an A on the Industrial Equipment table.
* THE CORRECTION: Best left up to the developers, but my recommendation would be to make p. 345 the same as the preceding pages.

[snrdg091012]

TechManual 2007-2013 The Topps Company, Inc. Corrected Third Printing Published by Catalyst Game Labs

I believe that the Industrial Equipment Table p. 344 for Lifeboat (Aerospace) Heat of Std (Aero) 0 (NA) is reversed.
Consulting TechManual (Version 3.1) as of 6 June, 2016 p. 34 Industrial Equipment Table (p. 344) there is no entry for the Lifeboat (Aerospace)  to change the Heat entry for 0 (NA) to NA (0)

I would suggest the following errata entry be added to the next update:

Industrial Equipment Table (p. 344)

Under “Lifeboat (Aerospace)”, change Heat from “0 (NA)” to “NA (0)”.