Quad Manipulators

[Maingunnery]

I encountered a possible issue concerning manipulators.

In TechManual (pg 245) it says about regular/simple Manipulators:
"’Mechs don’t use these devices, as any intended for manipulating objects can easily be built with hand and arm actuators for the job"
However this in-universe argument doesn't cover Quads (both Quad Mechs and Quad BA), as these don't have arms, but could still have a need for something extremely basic/fluff piece.

Now I do understand the need to prevent quads from accessing combat or specialized manipulators as these give flavor to regular 'Mechs and BA. But the noted regular manipulators can't be used in combat, nor do they infringe on specialized manipulators. The current situation is that we have now groups of units that have no access to any manipulator of any kind, while this tech is quite common in the BT universe.

Shouldn't the sentence be more like?: "units with arms don’t use these devices, as any intended for manipulating objects can easily be built with hand and arm actuators for the job".

[Maingunnery]

I'd say eight months without a reply is long enough for a bump, but if this needs to be moved please tell me.

[Adrian Gideon]

“‘Mechs don’t use these devices” covers it. The question you have can apply to a Locust as well as a Tarantula. The answer is, if you want manipulators, don’t build a quad (and make sure to include the necessary components).

[Maingunnery]

Thanks for you reply.  :thumbsup:


That would definitely cover 'Mechs, can we assume that the same principle is also in play for Quad BA?

So I should then properly use Quirk: Fine Manipulators? (see p84 BMM):
 (because this quirk does not seem to make a distinction between quad or biped)

[Adrian Gideon]

Yup.

[Maingunnery]

Final question: Then the solution for Quad BA is to apply Quirk: Fine Manipulators?

This would then cover all possible cases, all bipeds use normal manipulators, while all quads use the quirk.

[Adrian Gideon]

That's what the quirk is for. 'Mechs don't need them. But they can have them, in the form of the quirk.

What's the end goal of all this?

[Maingunnery]

That's what the quirk is for. 'Mechs don't need them. But they can have them, in the form of the quirk.

What's the end goal of all this?

I was designing an Quad BA and I needed a manipulator, then I noticed that Quad BA were a special case with no clear options for them (even vehicles have options). The underlining framework was not clear to me so I posted this thread.

As I understand it now, there would be a clear framework if the quirk in question would also become applicable to Quad BA.

[Adrian Gideon]

Lol. I see so ultimately what you need goes down a pretty thin rabbit hole.
Post the specific question in the rules section of the forum and see what they say. Right now that lives in the same gray area as ‘Mechs before this quirk existed, and I feel the answer for quad BA is “no.”