Invid in Battletech Part 2: More Rides!

Following up here is part two of my Invid designs.

Now I had to REALLY stretch my conversion guidelines from the previous installment.  Palladium both has massive stats inflation (much of it to make it competitive with Rifts, a game infamous for making its already stupidly overpowered machinery in the core rules inferior to the neverending supplement mill..) and is presumably trying to fit into what hard info actually exists for Robotech.  Except when you have the Glaug Officer's Battlepod (what you BT fans know of as the Marauder) running close to 300 kph its just ridiculous and has to be eased up to fit into Battletech's closer to hard sci fi setting and tech levels.

Savvy BT mech designers will also take issue to my designs as most are NOT optimized.  This is both as in the campaign I will use these in the Invid are merely getting used to the idea of not only warfare, but mechanical warfare and my attempts to keep the designs as close to what is written down in the Palladium RPG without making them completely useless designs.



Invid Armored Scout  (First appearance: 3041)

Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: X/X-X-D
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 2,619,583 C-Bills
Battle Value: 712

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 100 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 180 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    2  Medium Pulse Lasers
    2  Retractable Blades
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    43 points                1.50
    Internal Locations: 1 HD, 1 LT, 1 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             100                       1.50
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 6 Improved
    Jump Jet Locations: 3 LT, 3 RT                                         6.00
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               1.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV -  76                  4.00
    Armor Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 2 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL

                                                      Internal       Armor    
                                                      Structure      Factor  
                                                Head     3            9      
                                        Center Torso     8            12      
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  3      
                                           L/R Torso     6            9      
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  3      
                                             L/R Arm     4            7      
                                             L/R Leg     6            7      

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retractable Blade                            RA        -         3         2.00
Retractable Blade                            LA        -         3         2.00
Medium Pulse Laser                           RT        4         1         2.00
Medium Pulse Laser                           LT        4         1         2.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 3

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      3    Points: 7
4/6j       2       2       0       0      1     0   Structure:  1
Special Abilities: MEL, SAW, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA

The Armored Scout is the primary combat unit of the Invid Mechanized Forces.  Seeing action in both Clan Space and the Inner Sphere this was the first Invid mech with ranged weapons.  Like the Scout, it uses Clan technology recovered during their initial "Invinid" combat forms.  While their bioweapon units had some success against the Clans, their mechs continued to push the Invid back in spite of the Lictor and Genestealer infiltration units.  The Armored Scout was the Invid's first unit to attempt to fight back.



Invid Trooper (First Appearance: 3041)

Mass: 40 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: X/X-X-D
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 8,000,160 C-Bills
Battle Value: 729

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 240 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 270 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    2  Retractable Blades
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      67 points                4.00
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             240                       6.00
    Walking MP: 6
    Running MP: 9
    Jumping MP: 9 Improved
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 3 LT, 3 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       9.00
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             11                        1.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 137                  9.00

                                                      Internal       Armor    
                                                      Structure      Factor  
                                                Head     3            9      
                                        Center Torso     12           18      
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  6      
                                           L/R Torso     10           15      
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  5      
                                             L/R Arm     6            12      
                                             L/R Leg     10           20      

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retractable Blade                            RA        -         3         2.50
Retractable Blade                            LA        -         3         2.50
                                            Free Critical Slots: 17

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      5    Points: 7
6/9j       0       0       0       0      2     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: MEL, SAW, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA

The second Invid mech after the Scout, the Trooper was designed to be heavier and faster as to be more survivable than the Scout unit.  However much like the Scout, the lack of ranged weapons made the Trooper little more than a fast support unit to their Invinid conventional forces.



Invid Shock Trooper (First Appearance: 3042) 

Mass: 45 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: X/X-X-D
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 9,242,590 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,842

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 225 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 240 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    2  ER Large Lasers
    1  ER Medium Laser
    2  Retractable Blades
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    75 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 2 LT, 1 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             225                       5.00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 8 Improved
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 3 LT, 2 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       8.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             10(20)                    0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 153                  8.00
    Armor Locations: 1 LT, 2 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA

                                                      Internal       Armor    
                                                      Structure      Factor  
                                                Head     3            9      
                                        Center Torso     14           20      
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  8      
                                           L/R Torso     11           16      
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  6      
                                             L/R Arm     7            14      
                                             L/R Leg     11           22      

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retractable Blade                            RA        -         4         3.00
Retractable Blade                            LA        -         4         3.00
ER Large Laser                               RT        12        1         4.00
ER Large Laser                               LT        12        1         4.00
ER Medium Laser                              HD        5         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 0

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      5    Points: 18
5/8j       2       2       2       0      2     1   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: MEL, SAW, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA

The first effective combat mecha of the Invid forces, the Shock Trooper was able to effectively support the Invinid troops with its long range weapons.  Taking what they had learned from the Armored Scout, the Shock Trooper was heavier than its prototype Trooper, and had a more evolved pilot.  However it is also the first Invid unit to suffer from severe heat issues in spite of being slower than the Trooper.  In early actions Clan mechwarriors were able to pick off the Shock Troopers whenever they would overheat.  Later on the Shock Troopers managed to learn from early mistakes and had a rhythmic firing system to stay cool.

Invid Pincer (First Appearance: 3048)

Mass: 60 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-D
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 14,677,760 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,550

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 300 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 240 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    2  ER PPCs
    2  ER Micro Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    99 points                3.00
    Internal Locations: 2 RT, 2 LA, 3 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             300                       9.50
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 8 Improved
    Jump Jet Locations: 3 LT, 3 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                            16.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             13(26)                    3.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 191                 10.00
    Armor Locations: 4 LA, 3 RA

                                                      Internal       Armor    
                                                      Structure      Factor  
                                                Head     3            9      
                                        Center Torso     20           28      
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  10      
                                           L/R Torso     14           20      
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  8      
                                             L/R Arm     10           18      
                                             L/R Leg     14           26      

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER PPC                                       RT        15        2         6.00
ER PPC                                       LT        15        2         6.00
2 ER Micro Lasers                            CT        2         2         0.50
                                            Free Critical Slots: 5

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 26
5/8j       3       3       3       0      3     0   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA

An evolution of the Shock Trooper, the Pincer was both a smarter combatant and more effective at its primary role of infantry support.  With 2 ER PPCs it was seemingly an upgraded Shock Trooper, albeit one that removed the close combat equipment entirely, merely having a pair of ER Micro Lasers to fend off close attacks.  These units are still rare in the Inner Sphere and have not been sighted in Clan Space at all, being the first evidence that the Invid Regent and Regess both had different opinions of how to deal with humanity, but how they treated their own children.  

Invid Royal Commander Prototype (First Appearance: 3050)

Mass: 55 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-D-D
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 13,303,211 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,382

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 385 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 75.6 km/h
Maximum Speed: 118.8 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    6  ER Medium Lasers
    2  LRM-5s
    1  ER Small Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    91 points                3.00
    Internal Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             385                      22.00
    Walking MP: 7
    Running MP: 11
    Jumping MP: 5 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 2 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                             2.50
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             13(26)                    3.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 153                  8.00
    Armor Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT, 2 LA, 1 RA
    CASE Locations: CT                                                     0.00

                                                      Internal       Armor    
                                                      Structure      Factor  
                                                Head     3            9      
                                        Center Torso     18           20      
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  8      
                                           L/R Torso     13           18      
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  8      
                                             L/R Arm     9            15      
                                             L/R Leg     13           17      

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 ER Medium Lasers                           RA        15        3         3.00
3 ER Medium Lasers                           LA        15        3         3.00
LRM-5                                        RT        2         1         1.00
LRM-5                                        LT        2         1         1.00
ER Small Laser                               HD        2         1         0.50
@LRM-5 (24)                                  CT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 14

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      5    Points: 24
7/3j       4       4       1       0      2     0   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1

Another of the Regess only units, the Royal Commander Prototypes continued to eschew close combat weaponry.  This was also the first unit to use missile weapons, this time a pair of LRM 5s with the ammunition in the main body.  Most surprising to the few units recovered mostly intact, the cockpit was no longer a biological soup with a sluglike Invid creature inside, but a proper cockpit with what looked like biological equivalents of proper Battlemech controls.  No pilots have ever been recovered however.  Given that previous Invid mecha had a creature that seemed to live in the cockpit and would die within minutes of removal, this became worrisome to intelligence units throughout the Inner Sphere.  The Invid showed repeated adaptation and evolution.  What were they evolving INTO?

Invid Royal Commander (First Appearance: 3051)

Mass: 55 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-D-D
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 12,980,811 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,128

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 385 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 75.6 km/h
Maximum Speed: 118.8 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    3  Medium Pulse Lasers
    4  LRM-5s
    1  ER Small Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    91 points                3.00
    Internal Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LA, 2 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             385                      22.00
    Walking MP: 7
    Running MP: 11
    Jumping MP: 5 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 2 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                             2.50
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             10(20)                    0.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 153                  8.00
    Armor Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT, 2 LA, 1 RA
    CASE Locations: LT, RT                                                 0.00

                                                      Internal       Armor    
                                                      Structure      Factor  
                                                Head     3            9      
                                        Center Torso     18           20      
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  8      
                                           L/R Torso     13           18      
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  8      
                                             L/R Arm     9            15      
                                             L/R Leg     13           17      

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Medium Pulse Lasers                        RA        12        3         6.00
2 LRM-5s                                     RT        4         2         2.00
2 LRM-5s                                     LT        4         2         2.00
ER Small Laser                               HD        2         1         0.50
@LRM-5 (24)                                  RT        -         1         1.00
@LRM-5 (24)                                  LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 14

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      5    Points: 21
7/3j       3       3       0       0      2     0   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, LRM 1/1/1, IF 1

Exceedingly rare compared to the blue and white prototypes, these Royal Commanders removed one of the suites of arm Medium Lasers to turn the other's into a trio of Pulse Mediums.  The missile racks were doubled, and the ammunition was increased and put into the side torsos increasing the unit's pilot safety and durability.  Reports are still sporadic, but some (unreliable) eyewitness reports state these units are piloted by Humans with what looks like a normal cockpit with mechanical controls.  None of these units have ever been recovered, the machines either being removed from the battlefield by other Invid mecha, or self destructing.

Invid Overlord (First Appearance: 3053)

Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-D-D
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 14,806,660 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,403

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 325 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    2  ER Large Lasers
    2  ER Medium Lasers
    2  SRM-4s
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   104 points                3.50
    Internal Locations: 1 HD, 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 2 LA, 1 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             325                      12.00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 5 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LL, 2 RL                                   5.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             21(42)                   11.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 3 LT, 3 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA
Gyro:               Standard                                               4.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 211                 11.00
    Armor Locations: 3 LA, 4 RA
    CASE Locations: LT, RT                                                 0.00

                                                      Internal       Armor    
                                                      Structure      Factor  
                                                Head     3            9      
                                        Center Torso     21           28      
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  14      
                                           L/R Torso     15           20      
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  10      
                                             L/R Arm     10           20      
                                             L/R Leg     15           30      

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Medium Laser                              RA        5         1         1.00
ER Medium Laser                              LA        5         1         1.00
ER Large Laser                               RT        12        1         4.00
SRM-4                                        RT        3         1         1.00
ER Large Laser                               LT        12        1         4.00
SRM-4                                        LT        3         1         1.00
@SRM-4 (25)                                  RT        -         1         1.00
@SRM-4 (25)                                  LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 0

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 24
5j         4       4       2       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, SRM 1/1/0

The current final evolution of Invid mech forces, the Overlord seems to be a unit that fights in tandem with the Royal Command mechs and like that unit seems more designed to fight mech on mech than to merely support the biological ground forces.  Much like the Royal Command mechs, no pilots have ever been recovered from these mecha, dead or alive.  In 3055 and later there were rumors of a LAM version of this mech weighing 5 tons more but if they do exist they are exceedingly rare.

Special Rules and Notes:  The Royal Commander Prototype only takes half the normal Invid damage for head hits, while the Royal Commander and Overlord work completely like normal mechs.

For folks with the Palladium Robotech RPG books you will note I had to seriously ignore listed ground speeds to even remotely make for useful mecha at all.  But as this is bringing the Invid into Battletech and not the other way around, some fudging was required.   While the Invid are canonically supposed to have Plasma weaponry I really don't like the BT Plasma rules and went with Laser weapons primarily.  I used Dark Ages tech levels so they could have some legal form of close combat weaponry in the earlier models to keep it as close to their anime designs as possible.  I wanted to give all beam weapon mechs Pulse but the weight restrictions would not always allow it if I wanted to keep the same number of weapon mounts as their originals.

I am not getting into deep explanations of the Invid and how they could fit into Battletech as my play group knows of my blog and I don't want to give away too much too soon.  But should we keep playing I will update with more background information and those mysterious Invinid biotrooper units...

Invid in Battletech: Making Canon Nerds Cry!

Yes.  I want to make Invid mecha from Robotech in Battletech.
Now I have Palladium's Robotech: Shadow Chronicles RPG, Battletech Total Warfare, and the amazing program Solaris Skunk Werks.

I am going to give you all some rough conversion guides from Palladium to Battletech and some examples.

Tech Level:  To do Invid close enough to their show counterparts, the first thing we need to do is choose a tech level.  For Invid and the way I may use them in my own games, we shall choose Dark Ages Clantech level.  This way we get access to some of the close combat weapons regular BT era Clanners would never touch, while still getting all the fly perks of Clan technology.

Let us start with rough conversions.  To follow along, open your hardback version of Shadow Chronicles to page 14.

Weight:  Robotech has mecha MUCH lighter than Battletech uses.  We can get a rough approximation based on the venerable VF1 series Veritech/Valkyrie.  Or as we know it in Battletech, the LAM Wasp or Stinger.  In Battletech they are 30 tons.  In Robotech they are 15 tons.  Ok our baseline is double all Robotech weights (rounding up) to get to a decent Battletech one.

(Sadly our wee Invid Scout is 4.5 tons.  So doubling it is 9.  Or 10 to make an even 5.  Its not a mech.  However.. Protomechs ARE lighter.  Sweet!  Maximum size of a Protomech is 9 tons.  We can make this work. Given that I don't have the Tech Manual I cannot properly make the Scouts as Protomechs.)

So for alternate takes we can say anything 8 tons or lighter gets quadrupled if you don't want to mess with Protomech tech.

Speed: Another easy one.  Just convert the running speed as close as you can over, with every 11 kph being roughly 1 Running movement factor in Battletech.

(The Invid Scout is said to run in the 60 kph range.  So its a 4/6 movement.)

Given how Robotech mecha are properly supposed to die really fast but hit hard we are gonna assume they all use XL engines.  All Robotech mechs get XLs.

For Jump speed if the mecha can fly or leap just give it maximum Jump Jets to match the engine.  Its not perfect but it will do well enough for our purposes.  Since in Robotech the Invid fly and we are using Dark Age era Clan Tech we will use Improved Jump Jets so they can jump further.

Heat Sinks: This being Robotech mecha are capable of firing generally without worry.  Give em Double Heat Sinks and make sure to try to cover most of the heat costs every turn.

(As some of our Invid mecha don't even have guns they do not need extra Heat Sinks.)

Weaponry:  You kind of have to eyeball these.  Mini Missiles or Short Ranged Missiles are easily SRMs, probably Streaks in most Robotech cases.  LRMs will be your longer ranged missiles unless they are big ones ala Reflex Missiles or similar which would be Arrow 4s.  All our Invid generally have claws so they are integrated Close Combat stuff.

(Our Invid Scout gets Retractable Blades.)

Armor and Structure:  In general Robotech Mecha should have both Endo Steel and Ferro Fibrous but having both of them plus Double Heat Sinks AND XL Engines will generally be impossible.  Try to give all Robotech mecha Endo Steel when possible.

(For our Invid Scout it will have 6 slots left after giving it Endo Steel so no more space is gonna allow for Ferro Fibrous.)

For normal armor points the best bet is to use up all remaining tonnage on armor.  If you want a good rough conversion from Palladium assume 2/3rd the total armor points as the Main Body "Big" Damage in the Robotech rules for bad guy grunt units.  For "Hero" mecha cut the armor points from the first edition Robotech RPG to a third if you have it, or quarter the points from the Shadow Chronicles edition.

(Our Invid Scout has 100 Main Body "Big" Damage in Robotech.  2/3rds of that is 66.  We have 4.5 tons left for armor or 72 armor points.  A 20 ton mech can only carry 69 points of armor so we are wasting 3 points.  Close enough for government work.  Looking at the Veritech, 1st ed RT gave it 250 and 2nd 350.  In Battletech the LAM Wasp and Stinger have 80 Armor.  So roughly 83 points from a 1st ed conversion, or 88 from Shadow Chronicles.  PRETTY CLOSE.)

For amounts just use Solaris Skunk Werks and let it auto allocate most stuff outside of where weapons go based on the information from the Palladium RPG as best you can.  Extra unallocated armor points should probably just go to the main body.

And there you have it!  Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezie conversions based on our pal the Veritech.  Or Valkyrie, or Stinger.  Whatever name you like.  You can probably convert everything close based on my formula, or at least close enough for fun purposes.

And if you are using it for RPGs and the like such as I am you can even have special rules.  Like for Invid Eye hits.  Just call that any head hit causes D3 pilot wounds, and if the internal structure of the head is penetrated it is D6 wounds.  On either result even if the pilot makes their check to stay awake they may either walk or fire next turn but not both.  (Also as a GM this would allow for MUCH faster NPC casualties, moving the game along.)

For Gunnery and Piloting just eyeball how good you want your pilots to be.  Since I am using the X-Plorers rules light Sci Fi RPG for my RPG rules we can also generally say the average Invid pilot would be 1st level or a 5/6 with 10-13s in its stats and a Soldier (So a +1 with their chosen weapons, probably the blades for the CC Invid Scouts and Troopers, and their main guns for the Armored Scout and Shock Trooper.) as its class.  The levels should go up for the other 3 Invid Mecha.  3rd level for the Enforcer with all 13-15 stats, probably a 4/5, the Commanders as 5th to 7th levels (Corg and Sera would be the latter) with at least 2 17-19 stats and a 3/4 or 3/3, and Overlords being probably 4-5th levels and somewhere in between Enforcer and Commander pilots.  (So probably 4/4s or 3/4s.)

So let's see our little Invid Scout:

Invid Scout

Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: X/X-X-D
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 1,952,240 C-Bills
Battle Value: 326

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 80 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 180 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    2  Retractable Blades
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    33 points                1.00
    Internal Locations: 1 HD, 2 LT, 1 RT, 2 LA, 1 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine              80                       1.50
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 6 Improved
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       6.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             10(20)                    0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT, 2 LA, 1 RA
Gyro:               Standard                                               1.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  69                  4.50

                                                      Internal       Armor    
                                                      Structure      Factor  
                                                Head     3            9      
                                        Center Torso     6            9      
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  3      
                                           L/R Torso     5            8      
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  2      
                                             L/R Arm     3            6      
                                             L/R Leg     4            8      

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retractable Blade                            RA        -         2         1.50
Retractable Blade                            LA        -         2         1.50
                                            Free Critical Slots: 6

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 3
4/6j       0       0       0       0      1     0   Structure:  1
Special Abilities: MEL, SAW, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA

Join me in the next post where I stat out the rest of the main Invid mecha!