Total Warfare Q & A
Custom
Weapon/Equipment Data Files for Total Warfare
While the current HeavyMetal programs do not completely support all of the
new equipment, Leon Shirow has generously supplied custom weapons files for all
of the programs, making it possible to design using all of the latest equipment.
These files are installed using an automated setup program, which can update
all of your HeavyMetal programs at once. Down the setup from the
Data Files for Programs page. Q: What is Total Warfare?
A: Previously, a new book would introduce new information, equipment and
rules for using that equipment, and each new book would add a few items. As a
result, tournament-legal rules and equipment will be found in literally dozens
of books, scattered around in a manner difficult, or for some, impossible, to
find.
Total Warfare is the first in a series of BattleTech books which changes
the manner in which information is presented. Total Warfare is the rulebook
in this series, and contains the basic rules for playing BattleTech
using all tournament-legal rules. These aren't called Level 1 or Level 2
anymore; as far as rules levels are concerned, there is only standard, or
tournament-legal rules, and advanced rules. Advanced rules will be the subject
of future books in the series.
Notice I stated that Total Warfare is a rulebook, and I used that
wording for a reason: It has rules for using all the tournament-legal
equipment, but not for designing with it. For example, some new
equipment is included in Total Warfare, but the size (crits) and mass (tons) for
that equipment is not given; those will be the subject of the Classic
BattleTech TechManual,
which was released in 2007.
Q: Are BattleTech rules and equipment changing?
A: Not really. Over 95% of the rules and equipment will be the same as
they've been for a very long time. The main thing that Total Warfare does is to
clarify rules that have been ambiguous, and put all standard rules into a single
publication. However, there are some new or revised rules, some of which have
been adopted from Maximum Tech and other sources. In addition, there are
some new weapons and equipment. Again, some have been adopted from MaxTech,
while others are new to the game. But the vast majority of rules and equipment
are not changing.
Q: When was Total Warfare released?
A: Total Warfare was released in August of 2006 and the
TechManual, was released in March 2007, both first in PDF format, and
later in hardcopy. Tactical Operations and Strategic
Operations came much later.
Q: How will Total Warfare series affect the HeavyMetal programs?
A: In most ways not much. As most of the rules and equipment are the
same as previous, the HeavyMetal programs, such as HeavyMetal Pro, can be used
as they are. All Level 2 equipment (by the old rules) are still legal as
tournament-legal in Total Warfare. However, starting with HMPro, the programs
will have major upgrades to add a wealth of new features and improvements, and
when doing that, any changes in Total Warfare that affect the programs, such
as new record sheet designs, will be done at that time.
Q: Do the HeavyMetal programs have Total Warfare rules and equipment in them?
A: The programs don't really have rules as such in them, so that isn't very
applicable. But in the short term, the current HeavyMetal programs will not have
the new Total Warfare equipment in them. In the meantime, custom weapons data files have been created that
add almost all of the new equipment from not only Total Warfare & the TechManual,
but also the advanced equipment from Tactical Operations. You can download a
single setup program that places all of the custom files in place for all of
your programs from the Data Files for
Programs page.Q:
Are you saying that I can't use the
Total
Warfare rules until the new programs come out??
A: No, I'm not. As I stated above, over 95% of the rules and equipment are
the same; you've already got them. Most of the rules don't affect the programs
themselves, but rather how you play the game, so there's no problem there. As to
the new equipment, all of the HeavyMetal programs have custom weapons editors,
making it simple to add the new Total Warfare equipment as information for it
becomes available. The new record sheet designs are not required; the old ones
work just fine, and will be used for quite some time to come. But when the new
programs come out, it will make playing BattleTech according to the new
rules and equipment in Total Warfare even easier, and add a new dimension to
your play. If you have any
other questions concerning how Total Warfare meshes with the HeavyMetal
series of programs, please don't hesitate to email me at: rick@heavymetalpro.com
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