Hmm, got old rules for that some where. Lookin now!
Got it! The rules themselves were likely created by someone else over ten plus years ago, overview fluff is mine. Straight out of the Mystic X Campaign, some parts are redacted to protect certain realms I'll be using in the future.
Enjoy!!
HoverMech
Overview Numerous hybrid designs were attempted by the Terran Hegemony and later the Star League. These hybrids endeavored to bring out the total potential of their parent designs. The most successful of these projects were Land-Air Mechs or LAMs capable of great speed for reconnaissance and hit-and-run attacks. However, there were notable failures like the Goony Bird or Thorizer project of the 24th century. Apparently this didn’t prevent the Star League from trying further hybrid designs.
Research on HoverMechs began on <redacted> which was part of the Star League’s Project Achilles, special research project begun by First Lord Nicholas. There are several advantages to the HoverMech, as it is able to utilize extra speed resulting from the suspension factors of Hovercraft. This allows it to cruise into battle at hovercraft-like speeds without the use of the volatile fuels that made LAMs so costly and hazardous to use. In addition, in the intermediate mode (or HoverMech mode which is between Hovertank mode and Mech mode) the HoverMech becomes a stable support platform that allow it many of the same benefits as a QuadMech. Finally, when entering battle the HoverMech can transform into a BattleMech for maximum battlefield resilience.
Apparently completed just after the Star League had fallen the HoverMech project remained on <redacted> until the formation of the <redacted>. The <redacted> Military Forces recognized the benefits to this highly advanced design and incorporated it into it’s table of organization and equipment.
Construction A HoverMech can weigh up to 50 tons, with conversion machinery taking up 10% of that tonnage. The engine rating and size (for BattleMech mode) is chosen and walking and running speeds are calculated as normal. However, the minimum engine weight of 20% for the HoverMechs overall tonnage must be observed. Cruise and flank speeds for Hovercraft mode are calculated by adding in the Suspension Factor for the appropriate mech tonnage listed in the SF table for hovercraft to the engine rating of the mech, and then calculating cruise and flank per normal hovercraft rules. For example, a 40 ton, 7-11 HTM (280 engine rating), has an effective engine rating in Hovercraft mode of: 280 + 175 (SF) = 455, giving it cruise and flank speeds of 11-17, a significant advantage. In HoverMech mode, the HM has a movement of 1/3rd its Battlemech movement rates (2-3 in this case). Jump jets may be mounted as normal for a mech, and jumping ability is not affected in any of the transformation modes. Each intermediate transformation requires one turn. HoverMechs cannot carry MASC however.
Modifications A HoverMech fires as normal in BattleMech and HoverMech modes. In Hovercraft mode, the HoverMechs weapons fire as normal except in that all weapons that fire in the forward arc of the Mech normally may now fire into the arm arcs as well. Effectively, the entire upper body of the HoverMech has become one huge turret on top of the hip joint of the HoverMech. Also in HoverMech mode it gains several of a QuadMechs movement abilities (see special case rules page 75 & 77 of BattleTech Master Rules).
Hovercraft Mode Hit Table While in Battle and Hover Mech modes, the HoverMech uses the standard BattleMech hit table for assessing hits against it. While in Hovercraft mode the HoverMech uses a modified Hovercraft hit table:
Roll Front / Back Side (Left / Right)
2 CT (Critical) LT/RT (Critical)
3 RL (Critical #1) LA/RA
4 RL (Critical #2) LL/RL (Critical #1)
5 RA LL/RL (Critical #2)
6 RT LA/RA
7 CT LT/RT
8 LT CT/CT
9 LA RT/LT
10 LL (Critical #2) RL/LL (Critical #2)
11 LL (Critical #1) RA/LA
12 Head (Critical #3) Head (Critical #3)
Special Critical Effects: (None of these affect the HoverMech in BattleMech mode)
Critical Effect #1: Make a piloting roll. A successful piloting roll results in the loss of 1 MP (cruise, all others recalculated). A failed piloting roll results in the destruction of the HTM's
hover jets, causing a crash and skid per BTech skid rules. No further movement is then possible for the HTM while in Hover Mode. Damage is taken as normal for the HTM in Hover mode.
Critical Effect #2: -1 MP (cruise, all others recalculated) due to damage to hoverjets.
Critical Effect #3: Torso joint freezes. Forward arc weapons (including weapons on the arms of the mech normally) may now only fire into the forward arc. When in Battlemech mode, the mech may no longer torso twist. Destruction of either leg while in Hovercraft mode results in an immediate crash and skid.
During TransformationConversion: Movement Restriction: Firing Modifier:
BattleMech to HoverMech 1/2 BattleMech movement +3 To hit
HoverMech to BattleMech 1/2 HoverMech movement +3 To hit
HoverMech to Hovercraft Normal HoverMech movement Not Allowed
Hovercraft to HoverMech Hovercraft movement Not Allowed
Critical Hit RestrictionsCritical Hit: Conversion Disabled:
Gyro, Hip BattleMech to HoverMech, HoverMech to BattleMech
Shoulder, Upper Arm HoverMech to Hovercraft
Upper, Lower Leg All conversions disabled
Terrain Restrictions HTMs in Hovertank mode may not cross wooded hexes, though they may pass over water unimpeded.
Mechwarrior Rules In order to operate a HoverMech a character must have the following four skills; Gunnery BattleMech and Conventional plus Piloting / Mech and Drive.
Availability<redacted>
Shadow and Eclispse class HoverMechMass: 40 tons
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: EndoSteel 2
Engine: 280 XL 8
Walking MP: 7 (2)
Running MP: 11 (3)
Jumping MP: 0
Cruise MP: 11
Flank MP: 17
Heat Sinks: 11 (22) 1
Gyro: 3
Cockpit: 3
Armor Factor: 104 6.5
Area Internal Structure Armor Value
Head 3 9
Center Torso 12 14 / 5
R/L Torso 10 12 / 4
R/L Arm 6 10
R/L Leg 10 12
Weapons and Ammo: Location Criticals Mass
4 Medium Lasers Right Torso 4 4
4 Medium Lasers Left Torso 4 4
TAG Head 1 1
Guardian ECM Suite Center Torso 2 1.5
