Most Inner Sphere powered armors, in trying to compete with the archetypical Clan Elemental battle armor, suffer from Compromise Syndrome. Some sacrifice missiles for jump-capability, some sacrifice armor for heavier weaponry, and so on. The TME-PBA-02 Heavy Personal Battle Armor is the ultimate compromise. Designed to be as adaptable as Elemental battle armor, it achieves this by using less common equipment and loadouts.
It achieves a healthy balance by optimizing its weapons loadout to be low-mass and high-power. With two fully-articulated hands, a trooper with HPBA can wield any typical "gun-shaped" standard or support infantry weapon. Most HPBAs are shipped out with semi-portable particle cannon or "Hellbore" assault lasers. Two standard weapon mounts, one on each forearm, can supplement the HPBA's capabilities greatly. The standard loadout for these hardpoints are a needle rifle and a grenade launcher. One support-class weapons hardpoint is mounted on the shoulder; a support laser (standard or extended range), single-tube short-range missile launcher (four rounds ammunition), or a single-tube long-range missile launcher (four rounds ammunition), may be equipped here. This allows HPBA to sport a fair amount of protection and firepower without expending mobility.
MECHWARRIOR: THIRD EDITION RULES
Non-Combat Information |
Combat Statistics |
| Equipment Ratings: F / E / F Cost: 350,000 C-Bills Weight: N/A (8,050kg) Power Use: N/A Power Output: 20 per second Contains: |
Armor Values (M/B/E/X): 7 / 7 / 7 / 6 Coverage: Full Attribute Modifiers: STR+2, DEX-1 Melee AP: 1 Target Size Modifier: +0 Movement Modifier: -1 / -2 / -3 |
Energy weapons may be powered and energy packs repowered from the HBPA's excess power output.
HBPA is armed with:
A hand-held weapon (anything up to 50kg) but user must roll weapon skill rather than Gunnery/Humanoid.
A shoulder-mounted support weapon (any up to 120kg) that uses Gunnery/Humanoid skill.
Two forearm-mounted standard weapons (any up to 15kg) that uses Gunnery/Humanoid skill.
BATTLETECH RULES
HBPA has 3 MP Jump. HBPA has an Armor Value of 6 points, plus 1 additional point representing the trooper inside.
BATTLETECH WEAPONS CHART |
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| Weapons Type | Weapon | Effects |
| Hand-Held Light Support Weapon (1 choice) | Semi-Portable Particle Cannon | Small Laser (but with 2 damage) |
| Hellbore Assault Laser | Short Range: 1 Med. Range: 2 Dmg: 1 | |
| Support Machine Gun | Machine Gun | |
| Shoulder-Mounted Heavy Support Weapon (1 choice) | SRM Launcher | 1-tube SRM |
| LRM Launcher | 1-tube LRM | |
| Support Laser | Small Laser | |
| ER Support Laser | ER Small Laser | |
| Forearm-Mounted Standard Weapons (2 choices) | Grenade Launcher | Can lay down smoke |
| Needle Rifle | D3 damage against infantry | |
| Heavy Gyrojet Gun | Machine Gun (but with 1 damage) | |
POSSIBLE FIRE PROFILES IN A SINGLE TURN (BattleTech) |
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| Shoulder-mounted weapon with: Hand-Held Weapon OR One Forearm-Mounted Weapon |
Hand-Held weapon with: Shoulder-mounted weapon OR One Forearm-Mounted Weapon |
Both Forearm-Mounted Weapons |