PPC Capacitor

The PPC Capacitor is an extra component that can be added to any type of Particle Projection Cannon. Its main purpose is to inflict more damage on an enemy in one shot. However, this comes at the expense of significantly raising the heat generated by each shot. It also needs to charge before firing.

Game Rules
The Capacitor must be located in the same location as the PPC to which it is mounted. The Capacitor is required to be charged before the PPC capacitor-charged shot is fired. So long as the capacitor is charged, the next shot fired by the associated PPC deals an additional five damage and increases the heat generated from firing that weapon by five points. If the associated PPC is not fired by the end of the firing phase, the energy may be permitted to dissipate, generating no heat, or else retain the charge, generating another five points of heat. The associated PPC may not be fired on the same turn that the capacitor is charged.

Compatibility
The PPC Capacitor is compatible with both standard and ER versions of the PPC, including Clan versions of the weapon. The PPC Capacitor can be mounted on Combat Vehicles or other units which do not track heat (except for ProtoMechs) provided they carry enough heat sinks to compensate for what the PPC Capacitor produces when it is used, along with the heat produced by the PPC itself.

Critical Hit effects: One critical hit to the Capacitor disables both the capacitor and the associated PPC, although the PPC is not considered damaged and may be rendered usable for combat with a five minute repair check at easy difficulty. Two critical hits to a PPC Capacitor renders it completely destroyed, and one hit causes a difficult repair job which costs 75% of the purchase price and takes three days of repair time.

Vehicle PPC capacitor optional rules
This is a balancing change because capacitors are an unusually bad deal when utilized in vehicles. This acts as a boost to already existing vehicles with PPC capacitors and enough heatsinks by letting them fire charged every turn (at the risk of explosion); for newly constructed vehicles, it allows to dispense of heat sinks for regular operation.  PPC capacitors mounted on a vehicle does NOT require extra heat sinks on vehicle for normal operation - the slots and tonnage taken by the capacitor are deemed sufficient for normal operation. If the extra heat sinks are added, then can be set to "continous charge" mode in any moment in combat. This means it is always charged, giving the +5 damage every turn if needed, and doesn't discharge when fired - the disadvantage being of course, this capacitor will explode like a Gauss when critted. You can deactivate the perma-charge in your unit's turn, before firing (in which case it won't apply the bonus, but you won't be subjected to the explosion if critted that turn).