Talk to me about Battlemech Partial Wings

[mbear]

After reading the recent Shrike article I realized I didn't know enough about them. From what I can tell they add some Jump MP and some heat dissipation.

Does the heat dissipation work even if I don't jump?

[marauder648]

Short answer - Yes

Long answer - Yeeeeeeeees :p  Basically they are extra surface area and are tied into the cooling system and act as big radiators in addition to the jumping distance boost. They don't require jumping to add the extra cooling.

[grimlock1]

Short answer - Yes

Long answer - Yeeeeeeeees :p  Basically they are extra surface area and are tied into the cooling system and act as big radiators in addition to the jumping distance boost. They don't require jumping to add the extra cooling.

Caveated answer.  Partial wings are dead weight in thinner atmospheres and vacuums.  I never got deep into the alternate atmo/enviro rules so I don't remember where the cutoff point is.

[marauder648]

Caveated answer.  Partial wings are dead weight in thinner atmospheres and vacuums.  I never got deep into the alternate atmo/enviro rules so I don't remember where the cutoff point is.

Yep! They don't work on high G worlds, vaccumes or worlds with thin atmospheres. But the cooling aspect will always work unless damaged.

[mbear]

Yep! They don't work on high G worlds, vaccumes or worlds with thin atmospheres. But the cooling aspect will always work unless damaged.

Cool. Thanks everyone. Now I'm off to build a very special Awesome.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I thought the cooling aspect also didn't work in low/no atmo environments.

[AJC46]

i believe any critical hits to the system nulls the jump bonus AND -3 heat (in standard atmo) benifits

[Empyrus]

Single hit does not negate all bonuses, it is -1 per hit (minimum 0). As such, in standard atmo, heavy and assault PWs lose the jump bonus on first hit, and lights and mediums lose the jump bonus completely on second hit. The cooling bonus does not vanish.

EDIT in high pressure atmo even assault 'Mechs gain +2 jump, so it takes two this to remove that bonus. But this isn't terribly relevant in normal games.

EDIT Cooling bonus gets reduced in lower atmos and vanishes in vacuum.

[UnLimiTeD]

For the actual jumping, they have some advantages, especially on lower weight classes and at certain thresholds. Those thresholds being, for example, getting a heavy or low end assault to 5 jump without the use of improved jets. Of course, you can combine the two, but the space constraints are terrifying.

[grimlock1]

For the actual jumping, they have some advantages, especially on lower weight classes and at certain thresholds. Those thresholds being, for example, getting a heavy or low end assault to 5 jump without the use of improved jets. Of course, you can combine the two, but the space constraints are terrifying.

Even with the space constraints, the some of the stuff over in the Partial Wing Awesome thread are still terrifying.  They are a bit light on the firepower, but the mix of armor and mobility is daunting. 

[mbear]

Even with the space constraints, the some of the stuff over in the Partial Wing Awesome thread are still terrifying.  They are a bit light on the firepower, but the mix of armor and mobility is daunting.

I just posted a new design that I hope will inspire fear and loathing.