PPC Compression Module
Using a series of electromagnetic coils partially derived from Gauss type armaments, the PPC Compression Module effectively creates a 'squeezebore' effect which not only further increases the particle bolt's final muzzle velocity but intensifies the bolt into a smaller area thus drastically increasing its armor penetration chances. The Module itself is partially mechanical in nature and needs to be shifted clear in order to fire a normal bolt, along with performing a quick reboot of the system with the original focusing software for the particle bolt containment.
Can be fitted to the following:
PPC
Extended Range PPC (IS)
Extended Range PPC (Clan)
Light PPC
Heavy PPC
Snub-Nose PPC
Cannot be fitted to an Enhanced PPC
Adds extra hexes of range to the appropriate range brackets of any PPC it is paired with, as per the lists below, and adds +3 to its existing minimum. If it doesn't already have a minimum range, it gains a minimum range of 3.
Players may choose to have it activated or deactivated prior to the start of the game. If active, it constantly creates +5 heat each turn even if the PPC it is paired to has not been used. Activating or Deactivating it must be declared at the START of a player's turn. If a player wishes to deactivate it, the PPC it is paired with cannot fire the following turn as certain components are shifting internally and software changes occur. This cannot be overriden. If active, the PPC can be used each turn.
PPC Compression Modules can be paired to any PPC already paired to a PPC Capacitor, with the PPC Capacitor working as per its normal rules.
If carried on a unit mounting an Advanced Targeting Computer, add the mass of all carried PPC Compression Modules to the total mass of Energy and Ballistic weapons carried when computing the mass of the Advanced Targeting Computer.
1 ton
1 crit (takes up one slot in conventional vehicles)
Must be located in the same location as the PPC it is paired with, one slot below it unless a PPC Capacitor is paired as well, then it takes up the next slot below the PPC Capacitor.
If critically hit, it explodes/is destroyed and does 5 points of internal structure damage unless CASE or CASE II is present which reduces structure damage to 1 point in either case. The PPC it was paired with cannot be fired the following turn as it reconfigures. Explosion does not cause an automatic critical to the PPC it was paired with.
PPCs, Light PPCs, and Heavy PPCs adjust their range to Min 1-6 / Short 1-7 / Medium 8-15 / Long 16-23
Snub-Nose PPCs adjust its range to Min 1-3 / Short 1-10 / Medium 11-15 / Long 16-18
ER PPCs adjust their range to Min 1-3 / Short 1-8 / Medium 9-17 / Long 18-27
Optional:
In games where extreme range bracket rules are in play, any PPC paired with a PPC Compression Module has one additional hex of range beyond its modified long range as its extreme range bracket. This is due to the bolt diffusing as the particles that make up the bolt rapidly start to repel each other.
