Engine Cores

Fusion engines are defined by their engine rating. In BTA3062, engine cores are used as replaceable equipment allowing the player to increase or decrease the overall size and power of an engine. The larger the engine core, the faster the 'Mech moves. Note that some 'Mechs are limited to a certain engine core range depending on their size. As an example, a 20t Locust cannot fit anything larger than a 195 core.

For 'Mechs, their maximum walking momentum is directly proportional to engine rating. For instance, a 30-ton Spider BattleMech with a 240 Pitban Fusion Engine is able to generate the same maximum momentum of a 60-ton Merlin with the same engine, but because the Merlin masses twice the Spider, the Spider's maximum velocity is twice that of the Merlin.

All fusion cores require a minimum of 10 heat sinks internally or externally in order for the 'Mech to operate, with extra heat sinks permitted in a 'Mech's potentially in the core itself if it is large enough (see E-Cooling for more information). The 250 core is the minimum sized core that can mount 10 heat sinks internally. Below this size bracket the core can't fit the minimum number of sinks and requires additional heat sinks to be added to the 'Mech (though these extra sinks don't cost any weight, until you go above 10). Cores scale in increments of 25 in regards to their restricted or expanded space available, e.g. a 200 rated engine requires 2 additional heat sinks to be fitted, a 225 engine requires only one, a 250 engine requires no additional heat sinks and a 275 rated engine has space for an additional heat sink that can be added using the E-Cooling +1 gear. The table below details which cores provide space for additional cooling (275 and above) and which require additional heat sinks and how many (245 and below).

Size	Mass	Engine Heat Sinks
050	2.5	-8
055	2.5	-8
060	2.5	-8
065	3	-8
070	3	-8
075	3	-7
080	3.5	-7
085	3.5	-7
090	4	-7
095	4	-7
100	4	-6
105	5.5	-6
110	5.5	-6
115	6	-6
120	6	-6
125	6	-5
130	6.5	-5
135	6.5	-5
140	7	-5
145	7	-5
150	7.5	-4
155	7.5	-4
160	8	-4
165	8	-4
170	8	-4
175	9	-3
180	9	-3
185	9.5	-3
190	9.5	-3
195	10	-3
200	10.5	-2
205	11.5	-2
210	12	-2
215	12.5	-2
220	13	-2
225	13	-1
230	13.5	-1
235	14	-1
240	14.5	-1
245	15	-1
250	15.5	0
255	16	0
260	16.5	0
265	17	0
270	17.5	0
275	18.5	+1
280	19	+1
285	19.5	+1
290	20.5	+1
295	21	+1
300	22	+2
305	23.5	+2
310	24.5	+2
315	25.5	+2
320	26.5	+2
325	27.5	+3
330	28.5	+3
335	29.5	+3
340	31	+3
345	32.5	+3
350	33.5	+4
355	35.5	+4
360	37	+4
365	38.5	+4
370	40.5	+4
375	42.5	+5
380	45	+5
385	47.5	+5
390	50	+5
395	53	+5
400	56.5	+6