Alternate Prototype Double Heat Sinks

[Daryk]

This idea has been rattling around in my head for years.  Basically, it always bugged me that prototype double heat sinks couldn't be installed in the engine for "reasons", while the regulars could be.  So it strikes me that instead of that odd prohibition, why not simply just make them half a ton, and take up two critical spaces?  To get two heat, you need one ton, and four criticals, but you can stuff a single one in a leg.  The whole series would look something like this:

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Type   I Heat Sink (normal, single heat sink):   1.0 ton, 1 heat, 1 crit, can fit in the engine as normal
Type  II Heat Sink (prototype double heat sink): 0.5 ton, 1 heat, 2 crits, can fit in the engine like normal (but that only gets you 10 free heat, and the ones outside the engine take up twice as many crits)
Type III Heat Sink (IS double heat sink):        1.0 ton, 2 heat, 3 crits, can fit in the engine
Type  IV Heat Sink (clan double heat sink):      1.0 ton, 2 heat, 2 crits, can fit in the engine
A further option would be to allow them to be installed alongside Type I or Type III heat sinks (but not both at the same time), though this removes the requirement for all the heat sinks to be the same (which I think is more consistent).

[Alsadius]

Good idea. I like this.

[Daryk]

Thanks!  I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks this is a good idea... :)

[Retry]

It's not really a double heat sink then, it's more of a "lightweight SHS".

[Daryk]

You could certainly call it that... I used the "Type" nomenclature to distinguish between them, after all.

[Maingunnery]

I would regard it as an XL SHS, but I really like it.  :thumbsup:

[Zematus737]

This idea has been rattling around in my head for years.  Basically, it always bugged me that prototype double heat sinks couldn't be installed in the engine for "reasons", while the regulars could be. 

I may have misunderstood the construction rules.  I was under the assumption that doubles were automatically considered free in the 10 granted within the engine.  As the rules state on pg.53:
'A BattleMech may only carry one type of
heat sink, not a mixture of both. This includes the free sinks
that come with the fusion engine. If a designer opts to equip a
’Mech with double heat sinks, the 10 heat sinks that come with
the engine are automatically considered double heat sinks as
well. If standard heat sinks are chosen instead, then the 10 free
sinks are considered single heat sinks.'

P.S.  Ah, nevermind.  The topic concerns Prototype systems.
Seems fair to me.

[Daryk]

Thanks for looking in!