Heat

From Invasion3042 Wiki

By definition, heat is a relatively high degree of warmth. For a BattleMech this can be caused by several factors:

• ambient air temperature;
• use of jump jets;
• use of weapons, particularly energy weapons; and/or
• enemy weapons such as flame throwers.

Heat build-up is a serious issue for any mech since it causes components to overheat and malfunction. Consequences range from decreased weapon accuracy to the mech shutting until it is sufficiently cooled down. In extreme cases, overheated mechs have been known to blow up.

Heat is dissipated via heat sinks in a mech, the amount depending on how many heat sinks are installed. This can be enhanced by standing in water and/or fighting on a cold planet. On the other hand, fighting on a hot planet increases the amount of heat generated. The best thing for a pilot to control heat accumulation, however, is knowledge. Knowing the mechs heat limitations and how much heat each weapon generates, then appropriately limiting weapons fire, is the single best thing any pilot can and must do.

Battle Armor and vehicles do not currently produce heat in Invasion 3042.

The environment a 'mech fights in has an effect upon its ability to dissipate excess heat. A positive heat modifier, such as on the planet Wyatt, will reduce heat dissipation by that amount. A negative heat modifier, such as on the planet Al Na'ir, will increase heat dissipation by the amount listed in the planet's information on the Starmap. Whether or not the 'mech in question carries single or double heat sinks does not matter - the number listed is related to the total amount of heat generated, not the number of heat sinks the 'mech carries. For example, on Wyatt, the heat modifier is +1. If a 'mech creates 5 heat after movement and firing its weapons, it will receive 6 heat instead (before heat sinks). Conversely, on Al Na'ir, where the heat modifier is -4, this same 'mech performing the same action would only receive 1 heat before heat sinks are taken into account.