Combine (equipment)

Description
Created in the Pre-Flight Era, the Combine  is a modern version of an agricultural tool used to cultivate food stocks grown from farms. The equipment appears to be an open rectangular box that contains multiple spinning blades which are used to cut down desired crops to be processed. Harvested crops are then passed out from other end of the Combine through a relay of hoses or conveyor belts and into a storage bay.

It can be used as an improvised physical attack weapon, but only for those desperate enough to try when fighting armored units; however it can be savage against conventional infantry.

Typical units equipped with a Combine are known as AgroMechs. Examples of these include Harvester Ant and Harvester-Class IndustrialMechs.

Game Play Rules
When a Combine is used as Melee weapon, on the Physical Attack Phase, a unit using a Combine has a -2 To-Hit Modifier and inflicts 3 hit points damaged against a armored opponent. Against conventional Infantry targets, 1D6 is rolled instead.

Damage to inflicted a location; such as a Mech's arm actuator, effects To-Hit roll but does not effect Combine's damage value.

Support Vehicles if equipped with a Combine are restricted from being to use it in combat.

Construction Rules
This equipment can be mounted on BattleMechs, IndustrialMechs, Combat and Support Vehicle units may mount a Combine.

It's Tech Rating is B and takes 4 Critical slots on a Mech type, while only taking 1 on Vehicles. The availability for the equipment is rated (per 3067) C-C-C and has never been lostech.

A single Combine maybe in mounted one arm actuator location, with hand actuator removed. A Quad 'Mech and IndustrialMech may also install Combine can be mounted in it's side torso, limited to a one per section.

Wheeled and Tracked Support and Combat Vehicles may mount the Combine. The equipment installation is limited to the Turret, Front and Back locations only.

A mounting restrictions for both Mechs and Vehicles also notes that Combine can not be mounted in same location with the following equipment; backhoe, chainsaw, Dual Saw, Heavy-Duty Pile Driver, Mining Drill, Rock Cutter, and Wrecking Ball.