BThis program has been written to aid in the design of BattleMechs for the FASA Corporation game BattleTech. Conceptually it is akin to an electronic scratchpad rather than being a complete tool. It allows you to play with different 'mech designs but steers clear of providing any facility for placing the equipment on the 'mech record sheet. The best bit is that it is completely free of charge to any one who wants to use it. However, if there are any strange souls out there who feel that they must make some gesture of gratitude then consider that this is postcardware, and send me a postcard from your home town (look under author for my snail mail address 8-)
UAEvery reasonable measure has been taken to ensure that this program performs satisfactorily and does not do anything that could compromise the integrity of hardware or software. It's use is entirely at your own risk, and no liability will be accepted due to damage or loss as a part of it's use. Sorry to get heavy, but there you have it.
CThis program is supplied as freeware. If you like it just send me a postcard with your 'mech design on it, and see that your friends get to see it should you think they'll find it useful. If you do want to send me your design my snail mail address follows later. 8-)
The program is supplied 'as-is' with no warranties as to it's performance or worthiness to the stated task.
I'd prefer it if you didn't attempt to reverse translate the code, but it is a free world after all. There is no reverse translation protection since I haven't seen anything yet that guarantees protection against the most persistent of hackers other than not writing in OPL. If you are going to reverse translate it then may you have the best of luck in understanding what it does, the code confuses me and I wrote it!
About the author
Future stuff^If you have anything you'd like to see added, then drop me a line and I'll see what I can do.
Future stuff^If you have anything you'd like to see added, then drop me a line and I'll see what I can do.
FMechs
New mech (Ctrl+N): clears all the fields and asks you to choose technology base and tonnage.
Store mech (Ctrl+M): stores your 'mech details to a file. The file will be placed in the OPD directory in LOC::M:, with the extension .mek.
Retrieve mech (Ctrl+R): loads 'mech data from a file.
Exit (Ctrl+E): quits the program.
Options
Show total weight/show free weight (Ctrl+W): switches between showing total weight of 'mech or total of weight under the maximum tonnage.
Show total space/show free space (Ctrl+S) switches between showing total internal space used in the 'mech or how much internal space remains to be used.
Turn autocalculate off/turn autocalculate on (Ctrl+T): switches the autocalculate feature on or off. Turning it off speeds up the cursor movement, but does not update weight or space used. A useful feature if you will be making a lot of changes all at once.
Set actuators (Ctrl+A): by choosing which shoulder, arm and hand actuators you want fitted you can free up internal space. There is no validation of fitted actuators, so you'll just have to remember that you can't have lower arm actuators without shoulder actuators.
Clear weapon slots (Ctrl+Z): clears all the weapon slots and ammo fields. Use when you want to try a different weapon setup on the same 'mech chassis. Leaves the cursor at the first weapon slot.
Calculations
Calculate weight/space (Ctrl+C): only appears when autocalculate is turned off. Use it to do a one-off calculation of weight and internal space.
Combat value (Ctrl+V): calculates the combat value of the 'mech and all of it's fittings. The CV is determined by using the values and formulae supplied in the Tactical Handbook.
DThe program takes all the number crunching out of designing a BattleMech, leaving you only the task of completing your record sheet.
It performs some limited validation, such as ensuring that the jump rate does not exceed the walking rate and that the armor fitted does not exceed the maximum available, but does not prevent your 'mech from going overweight or using too much internal space. This was done for two reasons - it was easier to program, and what to take off when you have weight/space problems is subjective - everyone has their own ideas about what their ideal 'mech should have in the way of necessities.
It was not written to be the be-all and end-all of all 'mech design tools. It was written to be a replacement for lots of paper calculations resulting from the 'what if I fitted this?' thoughts that we've all had when trying to design a new 'mech. Essentially it is an electronic scratch-pad purpose made for designing one thing. I think it performs the task admirably. It has already saved a good deal of time in my local BattleTech group and has helped identify a few problems and errors with 'mech designs from official publications.
@CGreetings. Andy has an unfaltering admiration for the little grey slabs produced by Psion, and all the chaps and chapesses who are responsible. This is probably a bad sign for his long term stability, but there you have it. Interests include model car racing, kites, bonsai, origami, wargaming, alcohol, juggling, Japanese animation, eating strange and exotic animals of the dead variety and not getting maimed by lions. He has a collection of tattoos and piercings and has given up the cottage cheese sculptures in favour of community work (helping cats use dental floss). There, I bet you're glad that you looked at this help topic! Seriously though, folks, if you must contact him (via postcard, perhaps?) he can be contacted at the following address:
Andy Blake,
19 Stirtingale Avenue,
Kingsway,
Bath,
Somerset,
BA2 2NQ.
wLThe program starts by asking you to choose a technology base and tonnage for your 'mech. After choosing your starting point use the up/down cursor keys to navigate the cursor around the different fields on the screen, and the left/right cursor keys to change the value of the field.
The fields are:-
(Left side of screen)
Mech tonnage: 5 ton increments from 10 to 100 tons using left/right cursors.
Internal structure: choose normal or endo using left/right cursors.
Walk/run: how fast the mech walks and runs, set using left/right cursors.
Jump at: how far the 'mech can jump, set using the left/right cursors. Always less than or equal to the walking rate.
Engine rating: shows the engine rating needed, can be switched between normal and XL using the left/right cursors.
Gyro and cockpit: can not be changed, included just to show the weight.
# of heatsinks: single or double, changed using the left/right cursors - and the number of additional heatsinks fitted (over the normal 10 as part of the engine), again changed using the left/right cursors. Heatsinks use up internal space when there are more than the engine rating divided by 25 (page 102 of the Compendium).
Heat dissipated: the total heat points dissipated per turn, including the 10 in the engine. Doubled when double heat sinks are fitted.
Heat generated: the total heat generated by firing all the weapons at once. Does not include heat generated by walking, jumping, etc. so you'll just have to remember to allow for these when you're designing the 'mech.
Armor: shows the maximum armor points available, the points fitted and the weight. Armor is fitted in half ton increments. The left/right cursors change the points fitted, the weight changes automatically.
Armor type: changes between normal and ferro fibrous using the left/right cursor keys. Changing between types will adjust the number of points fitted and sometimes the weight (if changing from normal to ferro fibrous when armor is maxed out, for example).
Total weight: shows just how heavy that super 'mech of yours is getting, either as total weight or total free weight.
(Right side of screen)
12 weapon slots: each weapon slot can show 1 of 4 equipment types: energy weapon, ballistic weapon, missile weapon or equipment. To bring up the weapon/equipment dialog box just press left/right cursor. The dialog will then present you with the above types. In the case of Inner Sphere 'mechs, ballistic and missile weapons are split over two choices due to the limit of 255 characters per string in OPL. Clan 'mechs have less in the way of ballistic and missile weapons, so all the weapon names in each type fit in 255 characters. If you choose more than one weapon the one nearest the top of the dialog will be placed into the slot. To remove a weapon press enter when the dialog displays 'none' in each choice. Where applicable each slot will also have a field for the amount of ammo fitted, which will hold upto 9 tons in 1 ton increments. To change the amount of ammo use the left/right cursor keys on the ammo field.
Total space: shows the amount of internal space used up, either as total spaces used or total spaces free.
Legal Stuff
BATTLETECH
, 'MECH
, BATTLEMECH
, BATTLETECH COMPENDIUM: THE RULES OF WARFARE
and BATTLETECH TACTICAL HANDBOOK are trademarks or registered trademarks of FASA Corporation.
About Mechmaker for the Series 5
Rulebase and rule source
This program adheres to the rules contained in BATTLETECH COMPENDIUM: THE RULES OF WARFARE (third printing September 1995) and BATTLETECH TACTICAL HANDBOOK (corrected 4th printing) level 3 rules (LAMs not included).
What Mechmaker does
How to use Mechmaker
Menu options
Disclaimer
Terms and conditions
tLThe program starts by asking you to choose a technology base and tonnage for your 'mech. After choosing your starting point use the up/down cursor keys to navigate the cursor around the different fields on the screen, and the left/right cursor keys to change the value of the field.
The fields are:-
(Left side of screen)
Mech tonnage: 5 ton increments from 10 to 100 tons using left/right cursors.
Internal structure: choose normal or endo using left/right cursors.
Walk/run: how fast the mech walks and runs, set using left/right cursors.
Jump at: how far the 'mech can jump, set using the left/right cursors. Always less than or equal to the walking rate.
Engine rating: shows the engine rating needed, can be switched between normal and XL using the left/right cursors.
Gyro and cockpit: can not be changed, included just to show the weight.
# of heatsinks: single or double, changed using the left/right cursors - and the number of additional heatsinks fitted (over the normal 10 as part of the engine), again changed using the left/right cursors. Heatsinks use up internal space when there are more than the engine rating divided by 25 (page 102 of the Compendium).
Heat dissipated: the total heat points dissipated per turn, including the 10 in the engine. Doubled when double heat sinks are fitted.
Heat generated: the total heat generated by firing all the weapons at once. Does not include heat generated by walking, jumping, etc. so you'll just have to remember to allow for these when you're designing the 'mech.
Armor: shows the maximum armor points available, the points fitted and the weight. Armor is fitted in
ton increments. The left/right cursors change the points fitted, the weight changes automatically.
Armor type: changes between normal and ferro fibrous using the left/right cursor keys. Changing between types will adjust the number of points fitted and sometimes the weight (if changing from normal to ferro fibrous when armor is maxed out, for example).
Total weight: shows just how heavy that super 'mech of yours is getting, either as total weight or total free weight.
(Right side of screen)
12 weapon slots: each weapon slot can show 1 of 4 equipment types: energy weapon, ballistic weapon, missile weapon or equipment. To bring up the weapon/equipment dialog box just press left/right cursor. The dialog will then present you with the above types. In the case of Inner Sphere 'mechs, ballistic and missile weapons are split over two choices due to the limit of 255 characters per string in OPL. Clan 'mechs have less in the way of ballistic and missile weapons, so all the weapon names in each type fit in 255 characters. If you choose more than one weapon the one nearest the top of the dialog will be placed into the slot. To remove a weapon press enter when the dialog displays 'none' in each choice. Where applicable each slot will also have a field for the amount of ammo fitted, which will hold upto 9 tons in 1 ton increments. To change the amount of ammo use the left/right cursor keys on the ammo field.
Total space: shows the amount of internal space used up, either as total spaces used or total spaces free.
Legal Stuff
BATTLETECH
, 'MECH
, BATTLEMECH
, BATTLETECH COMPENDIUM: THE RULES OF WARFARE
and BATTLETECH TACTICAL HANDBOOK are trademarks or registered trademarks of FASA Corporation.
About Mechmaker for the Series 5
Rulebase and rule source
This program adheres to the rules contained in BATTLETECH COMPENDIUM: THE RULES OF WARFARE (third printing September 1995) and BATTLETECH TACTICAL HANDBOOK (corrected 4th printing) level 3 rules (LAMs not included).
What Mechmaker does
How to use Mechmaker
Menu options
Disclaimer
Terms and conditions
UFMechs
New mech (Ctrl+N): clears all the fields and asks you to choose technology base and tonnage.
Store mech (Ctrl+M): stores your 'mech details to a file.
Retrieve mech (Ctrl+R): loads 'mech data from a file.
Exit (Ctrl+E): quits the program.
Options
Show total weight/show free weight (Ctrl+W): switches between showing total weight of 'mech or total of weight under the maximum tonnage.
Show total space/show free space (Ctrl+S) switches between showing total internal space used in the 'mech or how much internal space remains to be used.
Turn autocalculate off/turn autocalculate on (Ctrl+T): switches the autocalculate feature on or off. Turning it off speeds up the cursor movement, but does not update weight or space used. A useful feature if you will be making a lot of changes all at once.
Set actuators (Ctrl+A): by choosing which shoulder, arm and hand actuators you want fitted you can free up internal space. There is no validation of fitted actuators, so you'll just have to remember that you can't have lower arm actuators without shoulder actuators.
Clear weapon slots (Ctrl+Z): clears all the weapon slots and ammo fields. Use when you want to try a different weapon setup on the same 'mech chassis. Leaves the cursor at the first weapon slot.
Calculations
Calculate weight/space (Ctrl+C): only appears when autocalculate is turned off. Use it to do a one-off calculation of weight and internal space.
Combat value (Ctrl+V): calculates the combat value of the 'mech and all of it's fittings. The CV is determined by using the values and formulae supplied in the Tactical Handbook.
Legal Stuff
BATTLETECH
, 'MECH
, BATTLEMECH
, BATTL
ETECH COMPENDIUM: THE RULES OF WARFARE
and BATTLETECH TACTICAL HANDBOOK are trademarks or registered trademarks of FASA Corporation.
About Mechmaker for the Series 5
Rulebase and rule source
This program adheres to the rules contained in BATTLETECH COMPENDIUM: THE RULES OF WARFARE (third printing September 1995) and BATTLETECH TACTICAL HANDBOOK (corrected 4th printing) level 3 rules (LAMs not included).
(.txt)