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 |