TechManual - 22 August 2024 (v8.0)

[Alfaryn]

Corrected Fourth Printing, pdf

P. 126, "Tractor/Trailers" paragraph.

The movement rate of any Tractor/Trailer Support Vehicle combinations is based off that of the controlling Tractor unit, and is subject to the rules for carrying external cargo as presented in Total Warfare (see p. 261, TW).
change to something like:
The movement rate of any Tractor/Trailer Support Vehicle combinations is based off that of the controlling Tractor unit, and is subject to the rules in Tractors section on p. 205 TW.

Reasoning behind the change: The proposed change should avoid possible confusion coming from the fact that the rules never explicitly call trailers an "external cargo", while at the same time pointing the reader towards other TW rules regarding SV tractors and trailers which they may want to consider while designing such Vehicles using TM rules.

Edit: I've just posed a question in the rules question section of the forum, which, depending on answer, may require a change to the above errata. Here's a link to that thread: https://bg.battletech.com/forums/total-warfare/speed-of-a-support-vehicle-pulling-trailers-and-carrying-external-cargo/msg1726996/#msg1726996

Edit 2: The answer I got in the rules questions thread basically confirms this erratum.

[Xotl]

A new errata release is up, for the upcoming fifth printing of TechManual.

[Xotl]

Dev-level errata:

TechManual, p. 348, Clan Battle Armor Equipment Table, Weight (Item) column.
Change the weights in brackets (for One-Shot launchers) to the following:

Advanced SRM-1 - change from 35 to 40 kg
Advanced SRM-2 - change from 70 to 60 kg
Advanced SRM-3 - change from 105 to 80 kg
Advanced SRM-4 - change from 135 to 100 kg
Advanced SRM-5 - change from 165 to 120 kg
Advanced SRM-6 - change from 195 to 140 kg

[idea weenie]

Corrected 4th edition printing

Field Kitchen, p217 (Weapons & Heavy Equipment -> Heavy Equipment)
Error:
Game Rules: Its game play rules are covered in Strategic Operations p. 41, under Fatigue (Outside of Game Play)

The "Fatigue (Outside of Game Play)" rules have been moved to Campaign Operations

Correction:
Game Rules: Its game play rules are covered in Campaign Operations p. 219, under Fatigue (Outside of Game Play)

(Version of Campaign Operations I am using is Corrected Second Printing, printed in China, cover by Steve Venters, from the Battleforce Box set - 1987)
(the path I used is "MAINTENANCE, SALVAGE REPAIR & CUSTOMIZATION" -> "MORALE AND FATIGUE (OUTSIDE OF GAME PLAY)" -> "Fatigue (Outside of Game Play)" -> Field Kitchens

[Xotl]

A sort-of update to the TM errata is live.  Rules content is the same: the only changes are an update to the version number and version history at the start of the document.  Long story short, there was an extra printing that snuck out without my knowledge, and so the changes I had as earmarked for the 5th printing are actually going to be in the upcoming 6th printing.  Unfortunately, the 6th printing is labelled inside as the 5th printing, and has a 2021 date despite coming out this year.  However, as it will have an all-new cover, it will be easy to tell apart once it arrives (no due date known).

The two changes above this post have yet to be corrected; they'll have to await a hypothetical 7th print.

[idea weenie]

Corrected 6th printing, PDF, p132, the "CONTROL AND CREW SYSTEMS SPACE TABLE"

For Equipment Space Required (slots), it lists for "Infantry Bay/Compartment" that it requires  "1 (per 28-man capacity)*"

Since the current ruling on page 239 is that Infantry Bays/Compartments allow for up to 30 people, this should be changed as well.

[pokefan548]

Problem: P. 123 and p. 126 state that Support Vehicle structure and engines must simply be "rounded to the nearest half-ton" for SVs weighing 5 tons or more. This implies that a normal rounding operation should be used. However, the examples given show weights being rounded up to the nearest half-ton, even for decimals between 0.001 and 0.249, or 0.501 and 0.749.

Solution: Specify in both cases that structure and engine weight must be rounded up for SVs weighing 5 tons or more.

Note: The armor section properly instructs that armor weight should be rounded up for units weighing 5 tons or more, in contrast to structure and engine.

[ArcFurnace]

From an old rules forum ruling:

The Camo System Construction Rules (TM p. 253) should be amended to read:

"A battle armor suit (including exoskeleton and power armor designs) may mount only one camo system, which includes mimetic armor."

Checking my 6th printing copy, it appears this was never implemented.

[theothersarah]

Standard (Prototype) BA armor should be 90 kg per point instead of 100 kg per point.

Okay, yes, it's super-bold of me to barge in here and demand a change to construction rules. But hear me out!

The only canon unit to use prototype BA armor is the NAIS/Blackwell "Power Suit" (AKA "Gorilla Suit"), the precursor to the IS Standard, which had its capabilities described in the ClanTroops expansion for BattleTroops. The Power Suit had identical capabilities to the Elemental, including the primary weapon selection, but it had half the armor and did not have the SRM launcher or AP weapon mount.

There's no BattleTech-scale record sheet or stats for it, but it is easy enough to just arbitrarily stat out. However, if you want to construct it using the TechManual rules, it is an invalid unit. Since the current construction rules were essentially reverse-engineered from the original bunch of BA units that were statted out arbitrarily, I think it would be fair to slightly alter the armor weight to make the Power Suit work.

Statting out an IS BA unit as follows:

Medium IS Chassis: 175 kg
1 ground MP: 0 kg
3 jump MP: 150 kg
Left arm manipulator: Battle Claw (15 kg)
Right arm manipulator: None (0 kg)
Armor: 5 Standard (Prototype) (500 kg, 4 slots)
Right arm equipment: Modular Weapon Mount (10kg, 1 slot) - 2 remaining
Left arm equipment: Nothing - 3 remaining
Body equipment: 4x Standard (Prototype) - 0 remaining
Total weight: 850 kg (150 kg free)

This leaves it with space in the right arm for a 2-slot weapon that weighs up to 150 kg. This is enough for a Flamer, Machine Gun, or various SRM configurations (for instance, an SRM 1 with 4 shots), but does not allow it to use the Small Laser, which is also stated to be an option.

If the weight of the prototype armor was reduced to 90 kg per point, this would leave 200 kg of free weight allowing the Power Suit to carry a Small Laser. It wouldn't affect any other canon units and it would, if anything, be a buff for anyone who has a reason to use it for a custom unit.

edit: clarified that I mean Standard (Prototype) and not Stealth (Prototype), which has already been used on the Infiltrator Mk. I so it probably shouldn't be touched, and it probably should weigh more than the non-stealth stuff anyway!

[Hammer]

Per Xotl.

DEV LEVEL ERRATA

Pg 126 - Install Engine

Tech Base/Rating.
To determine the engine rating for a Support Vehicle the rating is determined by multiplying its Cruising or Safe Thrust MP by its tonnage and use that value in place of the Engine Rating (to a maximum of 500)

[Hammer]

Per DarkISI

DEV LEVEL ERRATA

6th Printing pg 316

UNIT TYPE MODIFIERS TABLE
Add line for Motorized and add 1.0

[Empyrus]

Issue: Snub-nose PPC introduction date, TM page 234
Per this discussion/issue:
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=47774.msg1695563#msg1695563
Based on the Phoenix Hawk LAM Mk I PHX-HK1R introduction date 2695, and old Star League sourcebook mention of the Snub-nose PPC, it seems the Snub-nose PPC introduction date should be almost 100 years before what it is now.
While that post indicated "tentatively adopted" solution, the unit introduction dates have been what they are for a while. (Megamek also uses 2695 as Snub-nose introduction date.) So it just seems relevant errata hasn't been issued, namely adjusting Snub-nose PPC introduction date for Interstellar Operations: Alternate Eras and Tech Manual.

Solution: Change Snub-nose PPC's "Introduced" date to 2695.

[Hammer]

Dev Level Errata:

Tech Manual, pg 134

Under Space Section:

Replace:
"Under these rules, no armor type available to Support Vehicles reduces their equipment slot space"

With:

"Except for Tech Level E-BAR 10 and Tech Level F-BAR 10, no armor type available to Support Vehicles reduces their equipment slot space."

Replace the footnote on the SUPPORT VEHICLE ARMOR TABLE:

From:
"†At Tech Ratings E and F, BAR 10 Armor occupies slot space equal to that of Inner Sphere and Clan Ferro-Fibrous Armor types (respectively)."

To:
"At Tech Ratings E and F, BAR 10 Armor occupies slot space equal to that of Inner Sphere and Clan Ferro-Fibrous Armor types (respectively). See COMBAT VEHICLE ARMOR TABLE pg 105."

[Hammer]

Developer Level Errata

Update the following table from:

Transport Bay Table

Transport Bay Type ... 'Mech (per Cubicle) Fighter (per Cubicle) ... Small Craft (per Cubicle) Vehicle, Light (per Cubicle) Vehicle, Heavy (per Cubicle) Vehicle, Superheavy (per Cubicle)

...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...

Capacity ... 1 BattleMech or IndustrialMech 1 aero unit (up to 100 tons) ... 1 aero unit (up to 200 tons) 1 Vehicle (up to 50 tons) 1 Vehicle (up to 100 tons) 1 Vehicle (up to 200 tons)

to the following:

Transport Bay Table

Transport Bay Type ... 'Mech (per Cubicle) Fighter (per Cubicle) ... Small Craft (per Cubicle) Vehicle, Light (per Cubicle) Vehicle, Heavy (per Cubicle) Vehicle, Superheavy (per Cubicle)

...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...

Capacity ... 1 BattleMech or IndustrialMech (up to 100 tons)*** 1 aero unit (up to 100 tons)*** ... 1 aero unit (up to 200 tons)*** 1 Vehicle (up to 50 tons)*** 1 Vehicle (up to 100 tons)*** 1 Vehicle (up to 200 tons)***

Below the table add the following entry.
***If bay is occupied but has weight capacity remaining, this weight can be used for Cargo, Standard. If so, the bay cannot be used for maintenance/customization (pp. 193 and 211, CO) or dropping troops (p. 20, SO); nor can it be used to transport additional units in excess of the normal limits for that bay type.


Also note the errata clarifies the maximum weight allowed in a mech cubicles.

[Xotl]

The pre-release for the 8.0 errata is available in the first post.

Yes, there was no 7.0 errata released.  Very little was changed in that printing (as a glance at the document would show), and while I waited for the PDF to come out, they asked for a new printing so I figured I'd just roll both the 7th and 8th together into one release.

[Xotl]

The bay errata above has had a clarification added to ensure that a bay can't stack units beyond the limit of a single bay.  This is not in the newest printing, but is queued for the next one.