(Answered) Hot dog SPA and TSM

[Boateye]

The hot dog SPA on pg. 97 states that "The unit acts as if it [is] one level lower on the heat scale..."

Does this mean that if the unit has TSM, and the unit wants TSM to be active and granting it's bonuses, then does it need to be at heat scale level 2 to do so, or does TSM still grant its benefits at heat scale level 1?

And upon rereading TSM before writing this question, it raised raised another related question, so I want to be sure I'm reading it right this second time around.

The TSM entry on pg 79 (haha the pg number just happens to be inverted from the previous question!) states the following:

With this in mind I want to clarify the stat changes at different heat levels:

At heat level 1, a unit with TSM has the following stat changes: a net +2" of movement, +1 modifier for weapon attacks, and +1 damage for standard or melee physical attacks. That is very clear to me.

At heat level 2, would a unit with TSM have the following stat changes: net -2" of movement, -1 TMM, +2 modifier for weapon attacks, and +1 damage for standard and melee physical attacks.

At heat level 3, it would have the same effects of heat level 2, but the unit has a net loss of -4" of movement , and a +3 modifier to weapon attacks.

Basically, TSM never "turns off " and stops giving it's bonuses to movement and physical damage at heat levels 2+. It's always active and aggregated with the normal negative effects of the heat scale. Is that correct?

[nckestrel]

Does this mean that if the unit has TSM, and the unit wants TSM to be active and granting it's bonuses, then does it need to be at heat scale level 2 to do so, or does TSM still grant its benefits at heat scale level 1?

Yes. It acts as one heat level lower, even for TSM.

At heat level 1, a unit with TSM has the following stat changes: a net +2" of movement, +1 modifier for weapon attacks, and +1 damage for standard or melee physical attacks. That is very clear to me.

Yes, at heat level 1, it gains +2" of MV and ignores the 2" loss from Heat level 1, for a net +2".

At heat level 2, would a unit with TSM have the following stat changes: net -2" of movement, -1 TMM, +2 modifier for weapon attacks, and +1 damage for standard and melee physical attacks.

Yes, still gains the +2" of MV from TSM at heat scale 1+, but loses -4" of MV from heat scale 2, for a net -2" of MV. And the -1 TTM, +2 to attacks and +1 damage.

At heat level 3, it would have the same effects of heat level 2, but the unit has a net loss of -4" of movement , and a +3 modifier to weapon attacks.

Yes.  Though you left off the -1 TMM and the +1 damage for standard and melee physical attacks that still applies here. I figure you knew that by this point, but in case anybody else is reading.. :)

[Boateye]

Thank you so much for the detailed response! I figured that I was on the right track but wanted to be clear I wasn't missing anything.