Total Warfare - 17 September 2023 (v11.01)

[Xotl]

This thread is for all issues and problems with Total Warfare.

Product Link: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-total-warfare-pdf

The current errata version is 11.0, and can be found here:
https://bg.battletech.com/errata/

There are eleven main print revisions of Total Warfare - be sure to cite which release you're working from:
2006 - first printing (FanPro)
2007 - second printing (Catalyst/Wizkids)
2011 - third printing (Catalyst/Topps)
2013 - fourth printing (Catalyst/Topps)
2018 - fifth printing (Catalyst/Topps; retro art cover; reprinted the next year with a 35th Anniversary symbol in the bottom corner but otherwise 100% identical)
2020 - sixth printing (Catalyst/Topps; retro art cover)
2021 - seventh printing (Catalyst/Topps; new Atlas art cover)
2021 - eighth printing (Catalyst/Topps; new Atlas art cover)
2021 - ninth printing (Catalyst/Topps; new Atlas art cover)
2022 - tenth printing (Catalyst/Topps; new Atlas art cover)
2023 - eleventh printing (Catalyst/Topps; new Atlas art cover) - pending

Please remember to follow the errata report template when reporting issues.  Thanks.


Developer-Level Errata
In case of any contradiction, developer-level errata takes precedence over the current errata document.

ECM, p. 134:
Change the title of the "C3 and C3i" paragraph to "C3".

ECM, p. 135:
Insert a new paragraph:

     C3i Computer: ECM only cuts off C3i ’Mechs that are directly in the effect radius. C3i ’Mechs that only trace LOS through an ECM effect radius are not cut off.

Forced Withdrawal, p. 258:
A unit making a forced withdrawal must move toward its home map edge as designated by a scenario.
Change to:
A unit making a forced withdrawal must move toward its home map edge as designated by a scenario (even a single hex of movement in that direction satisfies this requirement).

[Xotl]

Here's the latest big update, intended for the new fourth printing of Total Warfare.  The big changes this release are:

 - lots of aero fixes and adjustments, including the elimination of hex 0909
 - C3 requires LOS
 - Stealth Armour and ECM adjustments
 - Plasma weapons and conventional infantry finally resolved
 - a whole bunch of physical attack clarifications
 - even more infantry clarifications

[Xotl]

Updated to 4.01.  The only real rules changes are the correction of the C3 LOS example as pointed out in Errata Discussion, and a slight correction to p. 222's Fighting Off Swarm Attacks errata (damage is measured from how much jump MP the mech used, not how much it had).  Thanks.

[Jim1701]

Your errata has errata.   :D

Pg 10 of the errata pdf under the section labeled * Changing Levels Inside A Building (p. 169) the actual errata is a repeat of the quad kicking errata from the previous page. 

[Xotl]

Thanks for that catch.  It's a phantom entry - something that was going to be inserted, before I realized it wasn't necessary.  However, I forgot to delete what I'd started.  New version upped that simply removes the useless entry (same version number since it's still issued today and nothing really changed).

[Harry]

PDF - Corrected Fourth Printing

P. 53 - Jumping, Section Heat:

Error:
The last sentence repeats itself: "Regardless of what type of jump jets are mounted, if a ’Mech only jumps 1 hex, it builds up 3 heat points for that jump. Even if a ’Mech only jumps 1 hex, it builds up 3 heat points for that jump."

Suggestion:
Delete last sentence.

[Pa Weasley]

pdf, fourth corrected printing
page 305

The Man-Portable Plasma Rifle has a damage type of "DE" listed. Per this this post in the previous TW Errata thread, it should be "DE, H".

[Xotl]

Thank you - I gather this somehow missed incorporation into the new printing.  As such, a slight update of the errata will be made to remove this entry from the document, so that the errata matches the latest printing.

It's still an official change however - it will just be moved to this thread for incorporation into the next official errata release.

[megatrons2nd]

In the aerospace vs airborne non aerospace units section it says to use air to ground attacks, the very next page says only bombs may be used to attack airborne non aerospace units, then later an example has a unit striking a VTOL using an attack other than bombing.

[Xotl]

You've really got to provide some page numbers and in general read the rules if I'm going to be able to take care of that, I'm afraid.

[megatrons2nd]

Page 242 changed the way Aerospace Fighters attacked airborne non Aerospace units to use air to ground attack rules.

Page 243 Tells us that airborne non Aerospace units can not be damaged by an air to ground attack, excepting bombs in certain circumstances.

Page 245 Has an example of a VTOL being struck by a Strafing run.

Essentially page 243 needs the first paragraph deleted.

[Feenix74]

PDF, Corrected Fourth Printing.

Page 302 "Pulse weapons, 143" (page 143 contains the entry for Targeting Computer which includes a paragraph on the use of pulse weapons with targeting computers)

Suggest changing to:

Page 302 "Pulse weapons, 113, 143" (page 113 contains the entry for Weapons And Equipment which describes the to-hit modifier rule for pulse weapons and page 143 is entry for Targeting Computer including a paragraph on the use of pulse weapons with targeting computers, together these entries provide the reader with rules required to use a pulse weapon)

[Feenix74]

PDF, corrected Fourth Printing.

Page 131 "Stealth Armor: Armor that inflicts range modifiers against attacking units does not confuse a C3 network. Armor that
inflicts range modifiers against attacking units does not confuse a C3 network."

Suggest deletion of the repeated sentence.

[Xotl]

Howdy.  Here's the latest revision of the Total Warfare errata.  There's been a lot of old questions from the old and gone boards answered here.  It's mostly little fixes, but the bigger changes this release are:

 - Protomechs can move underwater
 - added the infantry types from TechManual into the basic game rules
 - changed how Flak works to clarify and close a loophole or two
 - brought VTOLs in line with the rest of the vehicles in that rotor destruction just means the VTOL is destroyed, like any other vehicle losing a location
 - charge damage and timing clarifications

Download link as always is in the first post.  After a couple of weeks on the forums, if nothing terrible shows up we'll move it to the main webpage.

[Ryo]

"Collisions," TW Errata v4.1 p. 2.

I think that this change should be added:

3) Under “Prohibited Terrain”, second sentence

"Group the resulting damage into 5-point groupings, then roll once for each grouping on the appropriate Hit Location Table (always use the Front/Rear column)."

Suggest changing to (it may be process as "Levels"):

"Group the resulting damage into 5-point groupings, then roll once for each grouping on the appropriate Hit Location Table (based on the attack direction: see p. 119). Treat the attack as if it came from the hex that the skidding unit crashed into."

Thanks!

p.s. I  changed a wrong page number.

[Xotl]

Okay, I've sent this to the main webpage.  The current version (i.e. the final one, now on the website) is dated 19 May.  For those of you who downloaded this when it first came out a few days ago, the following was added between then and now:

* Lift Hoists (p. 137)
Delete the last paragraph of the main entry (Lift hoists cannot be used to lift...) and after the “Combat” subsection insert the following new subsection:
     Units Carrying Non-Infantry Units: Lift hoists cannot be used to lift another unit of any kind during combat. However, a unit can begin the scenario transporting another non-infantry unit (infantry units are carried as normal cargo). A transported unit is inactive and so cannot perform any action. Note that inactive units cannot be made active in regular Total Warfare play; see Readying for Deployment on p. 44 of Strategic Operations for details.
     Units that are dropped do not risk destruction as cargo does, but instead suffer damage as if falling a number of levels equal to the distance between the transporting unit and the surface directly below it (minimum 1). Area of effect attacks damage both the carrying unit and its transported unit equally; any other attacks may strike either the carried unit or the transport. Roll a D6 after each such successful attack on the carrying unit: on a 1-3 the transported unit is hit instead, with the direction of attack determined as if the transported unit was facing the same direction as its carrier.

* Anti-Personnel Weapons (p. 218)
In between the first and second sentences insert the following:
The standard rules presume the mounting of a single Auto-Rifle as the unit’s anti-personnel weapon. At the players’ option, the damage, ranges and to-hit numbers of alternative anti-personnel weapon types may be used as per TechManual, p. 271.

* Scale (p. 238)
This ruling has changed from previous errata versions.
Under “Spheroid Units”
attacks by standard-scale weapons against capital-scale armor are totaled then divided by 10 and rounded down for each location
Change to:
attacks by standard-scale weapons against capital-scale armor and structure are totaled then divided by 10 and rounded normally

[Xotl]

Ground Combat Vehicle Critical Hit Effects (p. 194)
Under “Crew Killed”, at the end of the third sentence append the following:

(VTOLs and WiGEs crash and are considered destroyed).

[Xotl]

C3 Computer (p. 131)
After the third paragraph, before the TAG subsection, insert the following new paragraph:

While a unit may mount both a C3 Master and a C3 Slave, it may not use both at once. For units so equipped, at the start of game designate which C3 system is operational. A unit may only belong to a single network.

[Sartris]

4th Printing PDF

Pg.5

The heading for the Painting Miniatures section in the second column says it starts on pg, 288. It actually starts on pg. 280.

[Weirdo]

4th printing pdf

Pg. 225

The section of dropping troops from aero units retains the references to Hex 0909 despite 0909-centric rules being removed throughout the book.

Suggestion:

Remove the following sentence:

Code: [Select]

If the carrying units are flying on a low-altitude map, at the end of the aerospace unit’s movement, jump infantry are placed in hex 0909 of the ground mapsheet that corresponds to the low-altitude hex (if the infantry are prohibited from entering that hex they are destroyed), while infantry with VTOL MPs are placed in hex 0909 of the ground mapsheet that corresponds to the low-altitude hex at Elevation 10.
(The pdf already contains the post-0909 rules, so nothing needs to be added in.)

[jymset]

Anoter clarification related to this TM report.

p. 104, pertaining to ammunition expenditure. Add underlined words.

Infantry Weapons: Infantry units and vehicles mounting Conventional Infantry Weapons do not need to keep track of ammunition, with the exception of certain battle armor missile attacks (see Battle Armor Attacks, p. 217).

[A. Lurker]

Given the age of my physical copy by now, this may have been fixed in the interim without me catching on, but I can't seem to find it in the errata proper: p. 139, under the Narc Missile Beacon's writeup:

"Indirect LRM fire: Once a Narc pod is attached to a target, all Narc-equipped missiles may be fired indirectly at a (sic!) target without a spotter; [...]"

Suggest replacing that second "a target" with "that target" to make clear that a single attached homing pod doesn't also allow indirect fire at any other potential target on the board.

[A. Lurker]

Per this thread, IndustrialMechs with fuel cell engines should be able to move without building up heat just as those with internal combustion engines do. However, neither my (admittedly old) physical copy nor the current errata text actually say so; page 158 only explicitly mentions ICE-powered machines. (As does, for that matter, page 160 when it discusses engine explosions from high heat. As written, those only affect 'Mechs with internal combustion engines and fuel cell-powered ones are immune; this may be as intended, but if not, fuel cell engines should be mentioned there as well.)

[Xotl]

Total Warfare v4.2 errata has been released - Glorious 6th of June edition.

Major changes this time around are:

Lots of mechanized battle armor changes
Indirect fire and water changed
Flak updated
Protomech frenzy updated
Aerospace altitude changes for striking & dive bombing happen before attacks

[snrdg091012]

Version: BT Total Warfare PDF Catalyst/Topps 4th Printing/Catalyst 3rd Printing 2006-2013 p. 40

BattleTech PDF version Corrected 4th Printing/Catalyst Game Labs 3rd Printing

Page 40 Defaulting Skills:

Rather than defaulting to these skill ratings, players may use the
Experience Ratings and Skills rules on p. 272.

Page 272 in the PDF copy is an illustration titled 2005 Origins International Games Expo Diorama

The correct page number is 273.

[snrdg091012]

BT Total Warfare PDF Catalyst/Topps 4th Printing/Catalyst 3rd Printing 2006-2013 versus Total Warfare Errata v4.2 06/06/15

Version: Total Warfare Errata v4.2 p. 4 and BattleTech Total Warfare PDF p. 199
 
From Total Warfare Errata v4.2 p. 4

② Damage (p. 199)

Second paragraph, fourth sentence

Because a WiGE vehicle flies above terrain, it does not benefit from woods modifiers for the hex it occupies while in flight.

Change to:
Since a WiGE vehicle operates one elevation above the ground, it remains below the level of a woods hex, and so gains the modifier from woods as would a VTOL at the same elevation. If a WiGE vehicle follows a road through a woods hex, it also gains this bonus by being in the hex.

On p. 199 of the BattleTech Total Warfare PDF the sentence to be changed is found here:

To-Hit Modifiers
Because a WiGE vehicle flies above terrain, it does not
benefit from woods modifiers for the hex it occupies while
in flight.

Suggested change to the errata entry change

② Damage (p. 199)

to ② To-Hit Modifiers (p. 199) first sentence.

[snrdg091012]

BT Total Warfare PDF Catalyst/Topps 4th Printing/Catalyst 3rd Printing 2006-2013 p. 35 is different from Total Warfare Errata v4.2 p.8

Total Warfare Errata v4.2
Force Structure (p. 35)
Second paragraph, first sentence

“The smallest formation is a Level I, which comprises a BattleMech, fighter, tank or infantry squad.”
Change to:
“The smallest formation is a Level I, which comprises a BattleMech, fighter, tank or infantry platoon.”

 BT Total Warfare Catalyst/Tops 2006-2013 4th Edition p. 35
"The smallest formation is a Level I, which comprises a single BattleMech, fighter, tank or infantry platoon."

The sentence in BT Total Warfare Catalyst/Tops 2006-2013 4th Edition includes the word "single" should the word be deleted or added to the errata?

[snrdg091012]

Total Warfare Errata v4.2 06/06/2015 p. 11 versus BT Total Warfare PDF Catalyst/Topps 4th Printing/Catalyst 3rd Printing 2006-2013

Total Warfare Errata v4.2 06/06/2015 p. 11 indicates that the change for
Skidding [example text] (p. 65) third full paragraph, first sentence of

“At the end of the successful charge, the skidding unit is in Hex 2B (even though it would normally have skid for 1 more hex, because it unintentionally charged another unit, it ends its movement in that hex), while the target ’Mech is moved into Hex 3B.” is in the left column of the page.

BT Total Warfare PDF Catalyst/Topps 4th Printing/Catalyst 3rd Printing p. 65 has the sentence in the right column, third full paragraph

Recommend that the errata entry be changed to: "right column, third full paragraph".

[snrdg091012]

Total Warfare Errata v4.2 06/06/2015 p. 14

Total Warfare Errata v4.2 06/06/2015 p. 14  indicates that the
Special Maneuvers Table (p. 85)
Under "VIFF"

“A VSTOL unit halts its forward momentum and gains one altitude."

Change to:
“Any VSTOL unit halts its forward momentum and gains one altitude."

In BT Total Warfare PDF Catalyst/Topps 4th Printing/Catalyst 3rd Printing 2006-2013 p. 85 the Special Maneuvers Table has five columns the errata indicates that the required change be made under "VIFF" which is in the first column.

However, the table shows the change to be “Any VSTOL unit halts its forward momentum and gains one altitude" is added to the fifth column with the header of "Effect".

The recommendation is to change p 14
b]Special Maneuvers Table (p. 85)[/b]
Under "VIFF"

to
b]Special Maneuvers Table (p. 85)[/b]
Under "VIFF", "Effect" column

[Darth_Biagio]

Errata PDF (v4.2)
Page 47, in the Ground-To-Air Attacks example

There is a typo in the 7th numbered point:
"Because the closest point on the Shiva's flightline is equidistant to the ’Mech in Hex 2's front and left arm arcs, the player controlling the player may choose what arc applies."

As it's written, it's not clear which player decides the firing arc.