BattleTech 2.0: New rules for modifiers

[BirdofPrey]

Maybe tone it down by just having it roll a through armor crit?
Still a chance for limb blown off crit.   if you're really insistent on dismemberment make a shoulder crit result in dismemberment as well.

[abou]

That's a thought. The actuator hit results in amputation at the level of the joint. Might be more meta, but interesting visual and concept.

[BirdofPrey]

Yes, though my balance concern there is if hand and lower arm actuators also count that puts mechs with those at a disadvantage since there's more chances of them taking a hit to their arm actuators.  and partial removal of a section doesn't have any gameplay support.

[Fear Factory]

Well, I can say this also makes a case for giving Melee weapons their actions in the weapon attack phase.

How about this?

Axman is fighting an Atlas, hits with the large pulse, and uses its Hatchet, Atlas decides to kick...

Situation 1: Axman hits the right leg with the Hatchet. Applies 13 damage and makes a dismemberment check (critical hit check with a +2 modifier, can only achieve "limb blown off"). Rolls 2d6 and gets a result of 10 (limb blown off). Leg is taken off the Atlas, now the Atlas can't kick!

Situation 2: Axman hits the right leg with the Hatchet. Applies 13 damage and makes a dismemberment check (critical hit check with a +2 modifier, can only achieve "limb blown off"). Rolls 2d6 and gets a result of 7 (Makes a critical hit, but this doesn't apply). Damage is applied to the leg, and since the large pulse laser hit the same turn, the Atlas makes a PSR and fails. Atlas falls and cannot perform the kick!

Makes melee weapons a lot better. Hatchets could get a +2 bonus, Swords a +1, Retractable blades get no mod but they can actually cause a critical hit already.

[Crimson Dawn]

Doesn't armor piercing ammo have ta thing where they can crit automatically but there is a modifier based on the size of the AC where the larger AC has an advantage?  Could you not do something similar for hatchets except the modifier gets better by size category (much like how Alpha Strike does physical damage where the number of damage is based on mech type ie light meidum heavy or assault).

So if the hatchet is used during the weapon phase can a mech also do something during the physical phase if it used the hatchet?  If so that would make that weapon much more worth it though I could see some thinking too powerful.

[Fear Factory]

Doesn't armor piercing ammo have ta thing where they can crit automatically but there is a modifier based on the size of the AC where the larger AC has an advantage?  Could you not do something similar for hatchets except the modifier gets better by size category (much like how Alpha Strike does physical damage where the number of damage is based on mech type ie light meidum heavy or assault).

Dismemberment Check

2d6 check of 10 or better.

Light: -2
Med: -1
Heavy: +0
Assault: +1

So if the hatchet is used during the weapon phase can a mech also do something during the physical phase if it used the hatchet?  If so that would make that weapon much more worth it though I could see some thinking too powerful.

It still counts as a physical attack. The only difference is Melee Weapons get their effect in the Weapon Attack Phase, meaning your melee weapon strikes before the enemy can retaliate with a physical attack and that's part of the damage caused in that phase. Hence why you could force a PSR with a Hatchet before the unit could respond.