Custom Vehicles Revised and Explained

[Dagger]

Our original intent was to save custom Vehicles for a future expansion. However, due to playtester feedback and requests, we included basic Vehicle construction rules into the initial release. Now that we are further into development of the rules expansion, we see where our initial attempt wasn't exactly going in the direction we wanted to go. As a result we need to make a few changes to the optional Vehicle construction rules in the initial release. The beauty of electronic distribution is that we can update the existing product so changes are available for future customers and existing customers if they wish to re-download the package. This will also make for more seemless integration of the rules expansion when it is released. Here is a look at the new optional Vehicle construction rules soon to be updated in the current basic game:

Vehicle Skeletons:

Ultra-Light
Max Bp – 3
Mv – 5
Tp – 5
Hull Options: 1

Light
Max Bp – 4
Mv – 4
Tp – 5
Hull Options: 2

Medium
Max Bp – 6
Mv – 3
Tp – 5
Hull Options: 2

The following options are available to complete your Vehicle:

Armor – 1 Bp for each row of 10
Engine Upgrade – 2 Bp (+1 Mv first upgrade, +1 Tp second upgrade, limit 2 upgrades)
Hull Options:
-Cargo Bay – 1 Bp for a Cargo Capacity of 1 Troop Unit, Limit 2
-Turret – Ultra-Lights and Lights may equip one Light item, Mediums may equip one Medium item, Limit 1
-Static Mount – Lights may equip two Light items, Mediums may equip two Medium items, Counts as 2 Hull Options


The biggest change is the introduction of "Hull Options". This is just an easy way of setting the limits on Cargo Bays and Weapons. They are similar to a Mech's hardpoints. With these rules, the different combinations are:

Ultra-Lights:
-1 Turret Item
-1 Cargo Bay

Lights and Mediums:
-1 Turret Item
-1 Cargo Bay
-1 Turret Item and 1 Cargo Bay
-2 Cargo Bays
-1 Static Mount (2 Items Targetting Front Arc Only)

Keep in mind that it is not required to take any Hull Options, you can always spend the available Bp on more Armor or Engine upgrades.


Thanks to DaveTheLost for bringing up some tough questions and pointing out the areas that needed attention.

[eilif]

I notice that the Max BP for light and ultra light vehicles above are less than the Max BP values in Section 8.2 "Vehicles". Which takes precedence?

[Dagger]

The current version of the rules takes precedence. If you downloaded Mech Attack recently then you have the current version. If you're not sure, you can always re-download the product from WarGameVault.com to get the most recent version.

[eilif]

Thanks for the clarification. I've only had the rules for a couple weeks. The higher numbers make more sense.

One more clarification. It looks like tanks can only have one gun in the turret or two fixed ahead. Not one fixed and one in the turret or two in the turret. Am I reading this correctly? If so I may have to house rule to better accomadate the MWDA vehicles I'm statting up.

It seems to be a fine balance. I want to keep Mechs as the dominant forces on the battlefield (like BT fluff) but I'd like vehicles to be a real threat also.

[WaffleM]

Yep, one item in the turret OR two in the static mount. The turrets get a 360 degree firing arc, but the static mount weapons may only fire into their front arc.

[Dagger]

Ditto...

We did it that way to accommodate the modular nature of the cardstock models... but feel free to use house rules to better fit the MWDA figs.

Maybe substitute the Cargo Bay with a Static Weapon Bay that can mount 1 item only... that way a Light or Medium vehicle can have one weapon in a turret and one weapon static mounted in the "Weapon Bay". An Ultra-Light vehicle could have one or the other (only one Hull Option).

[eilif]

I like that last option. Trading the weapon mount for the cargo bay is a good trade-off and it should make for smooth use of the existing critical hit chart. Most troop transports only have one weapon anyway. If it overpowers vehicles, I can always up the weapons cost for vehicles with a turret and hull weapon.