MercTech: Structures

## General Overview

Unlike in the vanilla game, where mech structure was inaccessible as a mechlab item, MercTech features a number of different structure types that each provide their own advantages and disadvantages.

## Structure Types

### Standard Structure:

The sole structure type in use by battlemechs until the introduction of the lighter Endo-Steel structure during the Star League-era. The Standard Structure would once again be relegated to the sole structure type available during the Succession Wars, until the reintroduction of Endo Steel and the development of new structure types later on.

Mechlab rules: Standard Structure weighs 10% the total weight of the mech and take no internal slots.

### Endo-Steel Structure:

An advanced structure developed by Star League scientists, Endo-Steel structure is made of a blend of steel, titanium and aluminum that can only be created in a zero-G environment, which limits its availability and makes it expensive to repair. This unique blend of metals creates a structure that weighs half that of a comparable Standard Structure, but is significantly bulkier, which limits the internal space needed for equipment.

Mechlab rules: Endo-Steel Structure weighs 5% the total weight of the mech and requires space for 14 dynamic structure slots. Clan Endo-Steel requires only 7 slots, but otherwise weighs the same.

### Composite Structure:

Wanting to create a structure as light as Endo-Steel, without its considerable bulk, Federated Suns scientists would develop the Composite Structure. Composite Structure allows a mech to mount more tonnage without limiting available space, at the cost of the brittle materials used being able to absorb only half the damage that Standard or Endo-Steel structures can usually sustain. This drawback limits mechs built around a Composite chassis to avoid the front-lines, since an armor breach can quickly spell its end should it stay in combat much longer.

Mechlab rules: Composite Structure weighs 5% the total weight of the mech like Endo-Steel structure, but requires no space for structure slots. Any damage the structure receives is doubled.

### Endo-Composite Structure:

Developed by Lyran scientists, the Endo-Composite Structure is the product of efforts to reduce the bulk of the Endo-Steel Structure. Mixing Standard and Endo-Steel components, the scientists were able to produce a structure that's half the bulk of Endo-Steel, while being 75% the weight of a comparable Standard Structure. Unlike the Federated Suns' Composite Structure, Endo-Composite isn't any more vulnerable to damage than Standard or Endo-Steel, allowing mechs with this kind of chassis to be used on the front-lines.

Mechlab rules: Endo-Composite Structure weighs 7.5% the total weight of the mech (rounded up to the nearest half-ton) and requires space for 7 structure slots. Clan Endo-Composite requires only 4 slots.

### Reinforced Structure:

Developed and prototyped by Comstar and Word of Blake scientists shortly after the Clan Invasion, Reinforced Structure goes the opposite route of Composite Structure, using significantly heavier and stronger components to create a structure capable of shrugging off more damage before crumpling. Although it weighs twice as much as Standard Structure and four times that of Composite and Endo-Steel, Reinforced Structure is capable of absorbing twice as much damage, and being more likely to stop projectiles and other dangers from bouncing around inside the mech, reduces the likelihood of suffering critical damage.

Mechlab rules: Reinforced Structure weighs 20% the total weight of the mech, but requires no space for structure slots. Damage to the structure is halved, and critical hit chance is reduced by 50%.