©2008-2012 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. BattleTech Tactical Operations, Classic BattleTech, BattleTech, BattleMech, ’Mech, and the Topps logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game Labs logo are trademarks of InMediaRes Productions, LLC.

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Take your warfare to a whole new level of excitement! Deploy under cover of exotic weather and severe planetary conditions. Surprise your enemy with your mastery of new battlefield tactics—from artillery to command-level comms to minefields—as well as cutting-edge, prototype technologies! A daring commander can take advantage of any or all of these….if he’s brave enough to seize the moment!

Tactical Operations is the one-source reference for advanced rules that apply to on-world operations. It includes new movement and combat options, an extensive Advanced Weapons and Equipment section, and the rules for playing and constructing advanced Support Vehicles and Mobile Structures.

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BATTLETECHTM

TACTICAL OPERATIONS

• CATALYST GAME LABS •

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INTRODUCTION

Advanced Rules 8Tactical Operations 8Strategic Operations 8Interstellar Operations 8

Choose What You Like 9Player Adjudication 9

Fiction 9Fiction Vs. Rules 9Fiction Vs. Art 10

Components 10Support Vehicles 10Mobile Structures 10

Record Sheets 10Large Naval Vehicle Record Sheet 10Satellite Record Sheet 11Structure Record Sheet 11Advanced Rules Record Sheets 11Additional Record Sheets and Templates 13

TACTICAL ANALYSIS 14

ADVANCED GROUND MOVEMENT

Movement Modes 18Standing Still (Expanded: Movement Mode) 18Sprinting (Movement Mode) 18Evading (Movement Mode) 18Shielding (Movement Mode) 19Physical Defense (Movement Mode) 20Crawling (Movement Mode) 20Hurried Movement 20Hull Down 21Backward Movement (Expanded) 22Climbing and Leaping 22Stacking (Expanded) 22

Skidding 23Piloting Skill Rolls 23

Fumbles 23Taking Damage 23Leg Damage 24Falling (Expanded) 24Attempting to Stand 24

Vehicles 24Movement 24

Infantry 27Squad Deployment 27Movement on Pavement 27Fast Movement 27Climbing 27

Movement Dice (Tips and Suggestions) 27Planetary Conditions 28

Expanded Movement Cost and Planetary Conditions Rules 28Base Terrain Types 30

Buildings 30Gravel Piles 30Half Levels 31Heavy Industrial Zone 31Jungle 31Level 1 Foliage 36Magma 36Planted Fields 38Rough (Ultra) 39Rubble (Ultra) 39Sand 39Sheer Cliff s 39Tundra 40Woods (Ultra-Heavy) 40

Terrain Modifi cations 40Black Ice 40Bug Storms 40Deep Snow 41Extreme Depths 42 Fire 43Smoke 47Geyser 48

The Fifth Free Worlds Guards battle the Second Donegal Guards in the blasted ruins of a factory complex.

ES/RH

Backward Movement (Expanded) 22Climbing and Leaping 22Stacking (Expanded) 22

Fire 43Smoke 47Geyser 48

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INTRODUCTION

ADVANCEDGROUND MOVEMENT

ADVANCED COMBAT

ADVANCED BUILDINGS

ADVANCED SUPPORT VEHICLES

GENERAL RULES

ADVANCED SUPPORT VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION

ADVANCED WEAPONS

AND EQUIPMENT

INDEX

RECORD SHEETS

148

74

114

Hazardous Liquid Pools 49Ice 50Mud 50Rapids 50Rails 51Roads 51Swamp 51Thin Snow 52Torrent 52Water Flow 52

Terrain Conditions 54Atmospheric Pressure (Density) 54Earthquake 55Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) 55High/Low Gravity 55Meteor Showers 56Tainted and Toxic Atmospheres 56

Weather Conditions 57Fog 57Hail 57Light 58Rain 59Snow 60Wind 61

Misc. 62Blowing Sand 62Extreme Temperature 62

Bog Down Rules 62Careful Movement 62Heat Scale Modifi ers 62Terrain Factor Rules 62Planetary Conditions Tables 68

GLANCING BLOW 70

ADVANCED COMBAT

General Rules 74Expanded Critical Hits and Damage 74Fumbles 75Floating Critical Rule 77Advanced Hit Locations 77Engine Explosions 77Called Shots 78

Weapons Attacks 78Line of Sight and Dead Zones 79Glancing/Direct Blows 80Missed Shots 81Damage 83Advanced Firing 84Partial Cover 87

Physical Combat 88Weight Class Physical Attack Modifi ers 88New Physical Attack Weapons 88New Attack Types 88Charging 91Death From Above 91Intentional Falls From Above 91

Picking Up and Throwing Objects 92Picking Up Inanimate Objects 92Throwing ’Mechs and ProtoMechs 95Picking Up and Throwing Vehicles 96Picking Up and Throwing Battle Armor 97Dropping or Setting Down Inanimate Objects 98Dragging a ’Mech 99

Other Combat Weapons and Equipment 99Active Probes 99Anti-Missile Systems 99Autocannons 100ECM Suites 100Energy Weapons 102Gauss Weapons 102Machine Guns 102

Missiles 102Particle Projector Cannon (PPC) 103Retractable Blade 104

Heat 104Avoiding Shutdown 104Rerouting Heat Sink Coolant (’Mechs only) 105Heat Sink Coolant Failure 105

Vehicles 107Firing Arcs 107Vehicle Eff ectiveness 107VTOL Special Attacks 107

Infantry 108Digging In 108Conventional Infantry Squad Deployment 108Using Non-Infantry Units As Cover 108Battle Armor Infantry 108

Weapon Resolution Dice (Tips and Ideas) 109

BOOM 110

ADVANCED BUILDINGS

Structure Record Sheet 114Advanced Building Classi� cations 114

Building Classifi cations 116Standard Rules Expansions 118

Moving Through Advanced Buildings 118Advanced Building Critical Damage 120Armored Buildings 121Attacking Buildings From Within 121Construction Factor (Expanded) 121Building Collapse (Expanded) 123Scaled Damage 126

Building Construction 128Building Basics 128The Design Process 128Step 1: Establish Superstructure 128Step 2: Add Armor 130Step 3: Install Components 131Step 4: Complete the Record Sheet 133

Advanced Building Equipment 133Automated Weapons 133Power Generators 133Liquid Fuel/Chemical Storage Tanks 134Environmental Sealing 136Heavy Metal Superstructure 137High/Low Ceilings 137Industrial Elevators 137Large Doors 138Open Space Construction 138Subsurface/Underwater Structures 140Tunnels 141

Castles Brian Complexes 141

BLOODY DIVIDENDS 144

ADVANCED SUPPORT VEHICLES

Satellites 148Movement (Outside of Game Play) 148Movement (During Game Play) 148Rail 149Movement 149Carrying Units 150Combat 153Charging Rail Vehicles 154Accidental Falls From Above 154

Large Naval Vessel Support Vehicles 154Movement 154Stacking 156Carrying Units 156Flight Decks 156

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Energy Weapons 102Gauss Weapons 102Machine Guns 102

Stacking 156Carrying Units 156Flight Decks 156

Hazardous Liquid Pools 49Ice 50Mud 50

Missiles 102Particle Projector Cannon (PPC) 103Retractable Blade 104

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Naval Tractors 156Combat 157Critical Damage 159Electronic Equipment 159Unit Destruction 159

Large Airship Support Vehicles 164Movement 164Stacking 164Carrying Units 164Flight Decks 164Combat 164Electronic Equipment 164Accidental Falls From Above 164

Mobile Structures 165Movement 165Facing 167Collisions 167Buildings 167Stacking (Ground Mobile Structures) 168Carrying Units 170Flight Decks 170Combat 171Critical Hits 172Destroying a Mobile Structure 172Unit Displacement 173

INTO THE FIRE 174

GENERAL RULES

Advanced Scatter 178Advanced Altitude Bombing Scatter 178

Artillery 179Sequence of Play 179Artillery Not Directly on the Playing Area 179Targeting 180Damage 182Direct-Fire Artillery 185Counter-Battery Fire 186Planetary Conditions 186

Battle Armor Weights 186Battle� eld Wreckage 187Boarding Actions (Non-Infantry) 188

Mounting Through A Bay Door (Into a Cargo Bay) 188Weapon Attacks in Cargo Bays 188Fire Due to Weapon Attacks in Cargo Bays 190

Command-Level (Tactical) Comms 191Commanders 191Satellites 193

Ejection and Abandoning Units 196’Mechs 196Vehicles 197Naval Vessels 197

Fatigue 198Improved Positions 198Infantry Vs. Infantry Actions 199

Boarding Actions (Infantry) 199Infantry Vs. Infantry Action Inside A Building 201Resolving Infantry Vs. Infantry Actions 201Re-Converting Marine Points Score 205Crew Losses and Crew Hits 206Using A Captured Unit/Building 207

Mine� elds 207Conventional Minefi elds 208Command-Detonated Minefi elds 209Vibrabomb Minefi elds 209Active Minefi elds 209Combined Minefi elds 210Weapon-Delivered Minefi elds 210Clearing Minefi elds 210

Morale 211Morale Checks 211Broken Morale 212Recovering Nerve 213

Rearming Under Fire 213Rolling Maps 214Simultaneous Movement 215

Plotting Movement 215Movement 215

Taking Control of A Unit 216Abandoned Units 216Swarming 217

Transport Bays (Expanded) 217Vehicle Crews 218

Crew Numbers And Abilities 218Zip Lines 219Concealing Information 219

Record Sheets And Set-Up 219Available Information 219Scanning 219

Double-Blind Rules 220Sequence of Play 220Initiative Phase 220Movement Phase (Spotting Phase) 220Weapon Attack Phase 224

Underwater Combat 224

UNSUNG TECHNOLOGIES 226

ADVANCED SUPPORT VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION

The Basics of Advanced Unit Design 236Unit Type 236Technology Base 237Weight 237

Designing Advanced Support Vehicle Units 238Step 1: Design the Chassis 238

Choose Advanced Support Vehicle Type 238Choose Technology Base 239Choose Weight 240Allocate Weight for Internal Structure/Structural Integrity 242

Step 2: Install Engines And Control Systems 245Install Engine 245Determine Fuel Capacity 248Determine Structural Integrity (Airships Only) 249Add Lift/Dive Equipment 249Determine Jump Capability 249Add Control/Crew Systems 249Special Enhancements 251

Step 3: Add Heat Sinks 251Step 4: Add Armor 252Step 5: Add Weapons, Ammunition And Other Equipment 254Step 6: Complete The Record Sheet 258

Support OmniVehicles 258Designing Mobile Structures 259Step 1: Establish Function 259

Choose Mobile Structure Type 259Choose Technology Base 260Choose Class, Size, And Shape 261Construction Factor and Internal Weight Capacity 261

Step 2: Install Power, Motive, And Control Systems 262Install Power System 262Install Motive System 263Determine Fuel Capacity 263Add Crew 264Special Enhancements (Enviro Sealing, Modular Structure Linkage) 265

Step 3: Install Armor 266Step 4: Install Weapons, Heat Sinks, And Equipment 266Step 5: Complete The Record Sheet 269

THE EFFICIENCY OF ROME 270THE EFFICIENCY OF ROME 270

Naval Tractors 156Combat 157Critical Damage 159

Morale 211Morale Checks 211Broken Morale 212

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INTRODUCTION

ADVANCEDGROUND MOVEMENT

ADVANCED COMBAT

ADVANCED BUILDINGS

ADVANCED SUPPORT VEHICLES

GENERAL RULES

ADVANCED SUPPORT VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION

ADVANCED WEAPONS

AND EQUIPMENT

INDEX

RECORD SHEETS

274

378

387

391

404

Equipment Notes 275Active Probe 278Actuator Enhancement System (AES) 279Angel ECM Suite 279Armor 279Armored Components 283Armored Motive Systems 283Artemis V Fire-Control System 283Artillery 284Artillery Cannons 285Autocannon 285Battle Armor Mechanical Jump Booster 286Battle Armor Myomer Booster 287Battle Armor Detachable Weapon Pack 287BattleMech HarJel System 288BattleMech Melee Weapons 288BattleMech/ProtoMech Motive Systems 292Beast-Mounted Infantry 295Blue Shield Particle Field Damper (PFD) 296Booby Trap 297C3 Systems 297CASE II 299Chaff Pod 299Chameleon Light Polarization Shield (LPS) 300Cockpit Systems 300Collapsible Command Module (CCM) 301Combat Vehicle Chassis Modifi cations 302Coolant Pod 303Disposable Weapons 304Docking Hardpoint (Docking Collar) 304Docking thrusters 305Drone (Remote) Systems 305Energy Storage Batteries 306Engine Systems 307Ejection Systems 309Electronic Warfare (EW) Equipment 310

Field Guns/Field Artillery 311Flamers 312Flight Deck/Helipad 312Fluid Gun 313Gauss Rifl es 313Grav Deck 315Grenade Launchers, Vehicular (VGL) 315Handheld Weapons 315Heat Sinks 316Infantry Armor 317Landing Deck 319Lasers 319Laser Anti-Missile System 322Laser Insulator 322Light Sail 323Lithium-Fusion Battery 323Mass Driver 323

’Mech Mortars 324Mechanized VTOL Infantry 324MechWarrior Aquatic Survival System 325Mine Dispensers 325Minesweeper 326Missile Launchers 326Mobile Field Base 330Mobile Hyperpulse Generators 330M-Pod 330MRM “Apollo” Fire Control System 330Naval Autocannons (Capital AC) 331Naval C3 332Naval Comm-Scanner Suite 332Naval Gauss (Capital Gauss) 333Naval Laser (Capital Laser) 333Naval PPC (Capital PPC) 333Naval Repair Facilities 334Naval Tug Adaptor 334Null-Signature System 336

Power Collector and Microwave Transmitter 336PPC Capacitor 337ProtoMech Melee Weapon 337Recon Camera 337Rifl e (Cannon) 338Satellite Imagers 338Specialized Infantry 340Structure 342Sub-capital Weapons 343Sub-Compact K-F Drive System 344Supercharger 345Taser 345Thunderbolt Missile Launcher 347Turrets 347Vehicular/Battle Armor Dropchute 348Vehicular Jump Jets 348Void-Signature System 349VTOL Jet Booster 350VTOL Mast Mount 350Xenoplanetary Condition-Trained Troops 351

Alternative Munitions 352Autocannon Munitions 352Artillery Munitions 353Bomb Munitions 357Flamer/Fluid Gun/Sprayer Ammunition 360Grenade Launcher Munitions 363Mines 364Missile Munitions 367

’Mech Mortar Ammunition 373Remote Sensors 375

Advanced Construction Options 376Fractional Accounting 376Mixed Technologies 377Patchwork Armor 377Super-Heavy Vehicles 378Ultra-Light BattleMechs 378

ADVANCED WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT

ADVANCED BATTLE VALUES

Satellites 378Rail Vehicles 378Large-Sized Airships 379Large-Sized Naval Vessels 379Mobile Structures 379Step 1: Calculating Defensive Battle Rating 379Step 2: Calculating Off ensive Battle Rating 379Step 3: Calculate The Final BV 379

Advanced Infantry 379Step 1: Calculating Defensive Battle Rating 379Step 2: Calculating Off ensive Battle Rating 379Step 3: Calculate The Final BV 379

Advanced Weapons and Equipment 380Actuator Enhancement System 380Armor 380Armored Components 380Battle Armor Mechanical Jump Booster 380Battle Armor Myomer Booster 380Battle Armor Detachable Weapon pack 380BattleMech Mechanical Jump Boosters 380BattleMech/ProtoMech Partial Wing 380BattleMech UMU System 380Blue Shield PFD 380CASE II 381Chameleon Light Polarization Shield 381Cockpit Systems—Torso-Mounted Cockpit 381Combat Vehicle Chassis Modifi cations 381Coolant Pod 381Engine Systems 381

Handheld Weapons 381Laser Anti-Missile System 381Laser Insulator 381Laser—Variable Speed Pulse 382Null-Signature System 382Patchwork Armor 382PPC Capacitor 382Shields 382Structure 382Supercharger 382Turrets 382Vehicular Jump Jets 382Void-Signature System 382VTOL Jet Booster 382VTOL MAST Mount 382

Constructing A Battle Force (Addendum) 386Alternative Munitions (New) 386Target Acquisition Gear (Expanded) 386Command, Control and Communications (Expanded) 386External Stores (Expanded) 386Skill Ratings (Expanded) 386Force Size 386Minefi elds (New) 386

INDEX

RECORD SHEETS

TABLES

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404Coolant Pod 381Engine Systems 381 TABLES

274ADVANCED WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT

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