From: dshaffer@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Donald A Shaffer)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: Interesting BTech device
Date: 18 Nov 92 17:43:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: andromed.Nov.18.12.43.18.1992.12012
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


 Well since everyone else put their nifty new toys in heres my go at it

Sound Cannon
  
  An expereimenal weapon, it wa developed in a prototype stage just prior to
the fall of the star league.  The Sound Cannon operates by firing a tight beam
of ultrasound at a target. This beam creates a resonance effect in the armour
of a hit mech causing damage due to sturctural vibration.  However, because of
the many possible variations in sturcture, the cannon must constantly shift
frequency with the result that damage is relativley light (It only stays on a 
damaging frequency for a short while). However, as the cannon also damages
internal circuitry, the effects can be nice.  Enterprising techs have be known
to patch the cannon into the radio circuits creating a set of really LOUD 
speakers or converting the cannon into a makeshift loudspeaker.  However, its
short range and bulkiness tend to limit the sonic cannons use.  Another
side effect is that the Cannon tends to break down over time from sound waves
it creates, possible damaging the weapon.
  In game effects, the damage from a sonnic cannon is cut in half with half 
being applied to the armour and the other being applied to the internal
structure. (a roll for criticals is needed)  If a vehicle is hit, all damage is
applied as normal with a a chance (4 or less) of causing 2 pts is damage.  
Because of the lack of atmospher, sonic cannon do not work inouter space.also,
water tends to spread the waves out to far making it impoosiible to tighten 
the sound waves enough to cause damage.  If used on a fighter in atmosphere,
their is a chance (2 on 2d12) that it will cause 2 pts structural integrity
damage.  After every time it fires, their is chance (also 2 on 2d12) that the
cannon will break down.

                 Damage   S   M   L     Tonnage  Critical Heat
Sonic Cannon(L)    8     1-3 4-6 7-9       8        4      3 
Sonic Cannon(s)    4      1   2   3        2        2      1
  
EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) Generator

  The EMP Generator uses the mechs fusion plant to create EMP at a fast rate.
These waves would hopefully burn out the circuity used to control various 
things such as weapons, myomer controls, and computer circuits.  The EMP's 
generated are so strong, that the mech using it MUST use extra shielding for 
its circuitry to avoid burning them out.  The EMP waves has also been known
to work as an ECM suite at times due to the intensity of the waves.  Although 
it has been known to work effectively, the EMP generator is bulky, heavy, and
so is the extra shielding needed therefore causing a lack of sufficient weapons
in case teh EMP Generator is destroyed or shorts out.
  In game terms, any object within 6 hexes of an active EMP genrator(including
the mech or vehicle using it) must make a series of rolls.  All normal Mechs
must make three critical hit table rolls for each area (both arms, the torsos,
etc.)  Any Mech with extra shielding get a bonus of +5 on each roll.  IF a 
critical hit is called for, precede as usual.  The item hit is not so much 
dstroyed as the EMP waves have shorted out the systems in question. (ie no ammo
explosions or limbs blowing off)  The EMP Generator wieghs 12 Tons and uses
12 critical slots.  The extra shielding required wieghs 10% of the total weight
and requires 8 critial slots, one in each area.  Effect against vehicles are
done by rolling on the vehicle hit table and applying the non damage portion of
the result.  The EMP generator alsohad the effect of acting as a Guardian ECM
suite.  Infantry are not effected in the sort term though it does tend to short
out advancd weapons (lasers) essentially disarming 1-6 of the infantry.
( Am still working on using this against Elemental and in aerospace)

Ok, any suggestions, improvements so on (to powerfull, to weak) the group I 
play with in the middle of testing these things. Any comment would be 
appreciated (good or bad) so fire away.  (BTW the holo field and bobble thingie
are neat too, have to remember those)

Don Shaffer
dshaffer@andromeda.rutgers.ecu 3000
Newsgroups: rec.games.board