Fuel Use & Orbital Mechanics
I have found that the fuel rules in Mekton Z+ are fairly useless when it comes to flying about in deep space. After all, 1000km is nothing in orbit and, for system-spanning ships is positively pathetic. It is even worse if you are running a semi-realistic Mekton campaign, such as Jovian Chronicles. And when it comes to keeping track of fuel it is just too much. I use a set of house rules which, while simple and playable, still keep players worried about whether the technicians remembered to fill the tank!
For mecha in space, instead of measuring fuel duration in kilometers, I use Burn Units (BU). Each BU is the equivalent of 250km of fuel in terms of cost, space and weight. Thus, a mech with the minimum fuel on board would carry 4BU (1000km) worth of fuel.
Simply stated, expenditure of a BU allows a mech in space to change its orbit. For a mech to leave its carrier (without an assisted launch) takes 1BU. Interception of enemy units in a different orbital trajectory requires another BU, as does evacuating the scene of a battle, getting away from a doomed orbital colony and returing to base at the end of it all. Actual fuel exenditure during combat is minimal compared to these, but each dogfight in space can be reckoned to take up 1BU.
Landing on planets and other bodies requires a mech to enter the appropriate orbit (at least 1BU). To land on bodies without an atmosphere requires the use of fuel equal to twice the surface gravity of the body. Landing on planets with an atmosphere still requires a suitable Re-Entry System or Environmental Protection. Taking off requires boosterpacks, Transat Ability or a mecha with large amounts of thrusters. Fuel expenditure in BU is equal to four times the surface gravity due to the fact there is a hell of a lot of effort to be made in getting back up the gravity well.
There is no such a thing as a fraction of a BU. If fractional BUs are used then round the fuel used to the nearest BU and put it down to circumstances. It does balance out in the end and the players will be relieved as often as they curse their luck.
Written By Jon Wilson
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