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BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:29 pm
by LordSteel
Well, here it is. I've converted the Battletech 3025 Mechs to TOS format.
Please note: these mechs suck when fighting TOS titans - as they have no shields, ECM, GM, and other advanced gear. As with most Battletech mechs, they are
very prone to overheating. You should be able to take your TOS force against a much heavier 3025 force.
(See attachment below)
For the Battletech fans out there, here are some additional points of interest:
1) Weight - Battletech mechs are 20-100 tons, while TOS is 40-200 tons. I used the 3025 technical readout and used "double tonnage" as my goal for mech size
2) Heat/Damage/Weapons - I did my best to duplicate Battletech mechs with heat sink, jump, armor and weapons. Since 10 heat sinks is the minimum for B-Tech 3025, I used -1.5C/sec as my base and went up from there.
Also, I made some subsitutions like: SRMS-2 and SRMS-4 were combined into TOS SRM4 and SRMS-6 into TOS SRM8. This is as close a "fit" as I could determine. I made a similar move with the LRM-20 (classifying it as 2 LRM-10 for substitution purposes).
3) Mech Types - some 3025 mechs could not be converted. Quad-legged mechs and fast & heavy mechs come to mind. I also eliminated mechs that made extensive use of the Flamer, as it is very different in TOS. When I could, I substituted the TOS SL for the Flamer.
3025 Mechs that do not appear here:
* FIRESTARTER-30 tons (flamer)
* SCORPION-55 tons (quad legs)
* CHARGER-80 tons (fast & heavy)
* GOLIATH-80 tons (quad legs)
* BANSHEE - 95 tons (fast & heavy)
4) Exceptions - some mechs came up short on weight (most likely because their B-tech engines used a greater percentage of their weight). When applicable, I gave these some CC weapons if the damage output did not raddically differ from their standard CC output. In some other cases, I gave the mechs D.C.S. systems. - I didn't like giving 3025 mechs such advanced hardware as the D.C.S. but I wanted weight to match the design (for my own unfathomable purposes).
Please don't hate. I am open to criticism. Feel free to email suggestions to
Bryan.Beck@unisys.com or post below. I may or may not incorporate your recommendations into a version 2 of the 3025 mech pack.
RE: BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 8:41 am
by Ghstbear
Okay, I looked them over. You put some nice research into them. It was also good to see ye olde designs. [:D]
There are some elements that are useful and some that are not.
First, the bad news. We will not be able to field these designs with the heat problems. Did you do a direct conversion of heat in one universe to the same heat units in the other? I don't recall what it was in BT. Do the weapons do comparable heat? I don't remember being stuck with such nasty heat problems in BT.
Second, the good news. I like the concept: all mechs (just when I was getting out of using that term!) without the bells and whistles. There are some titans that do the same thing. BT always focused on realism. Shields are still not conceivable by modern science. (Discussion anyone?) There were a few gadgets, but they didn't come along in 3025: Artemis FCS, different kinds of armor, etc. They also had more options for the basics: taking off hand actuators, quads, Land and Air Mechs. It would be great to see these in ToS. ToS just adds it's own unique layers to the game. These designs could work, though, because their classic weapondry happens to be the kind that you can't argue with in ToS, except energy.
Finally, if I were to field them, I would have to take engine off and add heat sinks. I don't need them as enemies, either. Target practice is boring. [>:] I try to give the computer an even playing field. [:)]
RE: BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:45 pm
by LordSteel
I agree with you about the heat issues. I do not recommend piloting these. In the BT universe, heat was always an issue - at least in the novels. My tabletop designs always factored in heat. But many (90%) of the 3025 mech designs can't fire all their weapons every round without overheating. Back in junior high, my friends and I always hated this because overheating caused to-hit and piloting penalties.
For TOS, my heat conversion was based on:
3025.............................................................. TOS
10 HS minimum...............................................1.5 C Heat Regulator 1
28 HS maximum..............................................4.8 C Heat Regulator 9
-- (the Awesome, iirm, had 28 HS. I'll check when I get home. Custom-built designs could have more HS)
so I took number of HS, multiplied by .15 to get the C Heat Regulated.
As TOS generates more heat for movement, this does impact the overall compatibility. I'll consider uping the 3025 mechs' Heat Regulator by 1 level. I'll look into it when I consider my version 2 conversion. [:)]
In the meanwhile, I play against a much higher tonnage than my own team. For example, if I take 400 tons into battle, I'll fight against 600 or 800 tons of InnerSphere. This helps "balance" the playing field. I don't mind fighting against a higher tonnage because that's what we'd do when fielding CLAN tech vs. Inner Sphere. Clans were typically 50% the weight if you were looking for a 'fair' fight.
The 3025 mechs also do better on ice environment (as I found out in your campaign). [;)]
Thanks for the feedback.
RE: BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:01 pm
by FASA
I took a look at your designs as well, and I have tried converting BT units to TOS too. I have really enjoyed this game, I think it's the best turn based mech (titan) game arund! From what I have seen of your designs is the heat issue. TOS is a totally different dynamic from BT, and the units have a hard time transfering over. Without atleast a 3.0 heat regulator most units don't work well. I have found that some clan units translate better to TOS. You have to have a big enough engine to power your energy weapons so a mech with 6 lasers wont really work out without some good designing. If i get a chance and your interested I could post some of my conversions (Rifleman, Warhammer, etc.) for you to take a look at. Allthough I have to say that I am still learning the game system as my squad is still ranked fairly low after about 25 battles, and I am constantly redesigning and reworking my titans.
RE: BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:58 pm
by LordSteel
Thanks, FASA. I'd be happy to review some of your conversions.
Again, the 3025 mechs really shouldn't work as well as the TOS designs - IMHO. I prefer to think of the TOS designs as "clan-like" in their ability to take on double their weight of 3025 mechs.
Hmmm. I may end up making two versions of 3025 mechs. One version would be playable by real-life people (and not as prone to overheat) so that you can fight 3025 vs. 3025. The other version would "suck" and require the AI to have double the player tonnage for a "fair" fight. Hmmm. I think that could work. -- Thanks for the idea!
RE: BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:21 pm
by Ghstbear
Nice explanation, and very scientific. In addition, the maximum isn't really 4.8 C anyway. You can put millenium on all over to make it 5.52 C. Would that give the Inner Sphere a little boost?
RE: BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:08 pm
by LordSteel
Hmmmmm. *thinks some* Hmmmmm. The only issue I could see with Millenia would be lack of space on the titans. But...
if we state the following:
3025.............................................................. TOS
28 HS maximum..............................................5.5 C Heat Regulator A (Millenia)
would mean that all HS levels would be multiplied by .1964 (let's round it to .2 to give them some help).
that would mean the Locust, Phoenix Hawk, and a bunch of other mechs would have:
10 HS minimum...............................................-1.98 C (Heat Regulator 2 with mixed Millenia/Titanium) (this is slightly less than Heat Regulator 3 - not bad)
No InnerSphere mech would have less than -1.98 C heat dissipation.
This would give make the 3025 mechs much more competitive, meaning that going against twice your weight would not be a good idea. I'll give it a shot. Engine size will go down to compensate, which is not such a bad thing.
RE: BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:31 am
by Ghstbear
I like it![8D]
RE: BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:43 pm
by Perturabo
How do I use this file?
RE: BattleTech: Inner Sphere -> TOS conversion
Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 3:34 am
by LarkinVB
Download attachment of top poster, rename suffix of the download to zip, unpack this archive and merge the titan database files and your existing database with tmerge.exe.