There are a couple of core rules that have changed that I’ve noticed:
Partial Cover
- BattleTech circa early 1990’s (BattleTech compendium p24): If you have partial cover it USED to be a -2 to hit (worse at the time), but all hits are punch location table.
- Current Classic BattleTech (Total Warfare p102) : It’s now a +1 to hit (same as walking difficulty modifier) and you roll on the main damage location chart. If you hit the legs, the shot hits the cover and the mech takes no damage.
- Commentary: This is very nice as in the old edition I was AFRAID to get into partial cover as my chances to be hit with a head shot when from 1/36 to 1/6.
Jump Jets & Water
- BattleTech circa early 1990’s (BattleTech compendium p15-16): A Mech could freely jump out of water.
- Current Classic BattleTech (Total Warfare p53-54): Now a mech has to have jump jets out of water to fire them. If the mech is in level 1 water, then only torso jets can fire. If the mech is in level 2 water, no jets can fire.
- Commentary: I’m a little “forgainst” this change. It makes sense, but no sense (technically) at the same time. It’s a FUSION reactor spilling its superheated plasma into jets to make the brick fly. This shouldn’t be stopped by a little H20. HOWEVER game wise I like this, this keeps Mechs from jumping in and out of water every turn like a jack in the box and coerces a bit more strategy to the player.
Anyone else have access to both sets of rules and noticed anything else (I’m only working with ‘mech rules at the moment)?
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