ProtoMechs and Field Aptitude

[Maelwys]

So I've been pondering asking this question in the Rules question section, but I figured I'd ask it here first to see if I'm insane, or if I'm missing something.

So unless I'm missing something, ATOW at no point mentions changing your character's Field Aptitude from the Field Aptitude: Clan Fighter Pilot to that of the Clan ProtoMech Warrior one.

And while this makes sense for the ProtoMech Pilot Training where you wash out of Aerospace training and take Proto training next, it doesn't make as much sense if you start the ProtoMech training as part of the early Trueborn Creche path.

It especially doesn't make sense when the training is much better in 3145, when training has been worked out, and the character should get the bonus. (For instance on page 189 of Era Report: 3145the TankWarrior subcaste allows that character to switch their Field Aptitude.)

And the last little question. That same page mentions that only the Horse and the Ravens had ProtoMechs, and thus only those two clans "may choose the ProtoMech warrior sub-caste, ProtoMech Life Modules, or ProtoMech training."

Do you think they should be able to use the advanced ProtoMech training, which in ATOW was only available to the Blood Spirits?

[Daryk]

The way I read it on page 79 of AToW, if you're building a Protomech pilot you simply choose that field vice Aerospace.  The Trueborn Creche module doesn't give you a field, just a Phenotype.  The Aerospace Phenotype gives you a Field Aptitude, and you'd get those bonuses, but without taking the skill field itself, you only get the -1 bonus to skills you really haven't trained in.  I think that represents "washing out".  I don't have the later Era Report, so I really can't comment on what that would do.  Per AToW, it does seem only the Blood Spirits have access to the Advanced training.

[Maelwys]

Sure, but the Field Aptitude is tied to the Phenotype. You take Aerospace, you get the Aerospace Field Aptitude.

For the Tank Warrior in the Era Report, it specifically says to take either the MW or Elemental phenotype and then switch the Field Aptitude to the Clan Cavalry one.

As far as I can tell, there's no way for you to get a field Aptitude for ProtoMech skills as written.

[Daryk]

Yes, exactly.  That what's written now.  Either a rules question or maybe "Ask the Writers" might be ways to address it.  It may have been an oversight, but it could have been a deliberate decision.

[Maelwys]

Yeah, was just trying to get my ducks in a row before going to the rules forums, just incase I had missed something blatantly obvious.

[Daryk]

Good luck with TPTB! :)

[Maelwys]

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=86722.0

Hopefully its coherent enough...

[Daryk]

It makes sense to me, and I think you have enough page references... good luck! :)