Name:  Improved Heavy Medium Laser
Type (Category):  Weapon (Energy)
Reference:  Tactical Operations: Advanced Units & Equipment (p. 133)

Description:
While the ER Pulse Laser project was apparently not well supported among the Clans, the success of the Star Adders’ heavy laser spurred many Clans to seek a remedy for that weapon’s targeting shortcomings. Concerned about the sensor-disrupting and health-endangering radiation emissions of these weapons, but unwilling to compromise on their sheer destructive power, Clan engineers focused on the weakly shielded “plasma lasing mechanism” that generated so much trouble.

Though simpler solutions included additional shielding, Clan Goliath Scorpion reportedly hit upon a more elegant solution meshing limited shielding with a modified plasma lasing chemistry. The only drawback was the more powerful capacitors needed to power these weapons, which are prone to Gauss-like explosions if damaged in combat.

Game Rules:
Improved Heavy Lasers do not suffer the usual +1 to-hit modifier associated with standard Heavy Lasers. In addition, when an Improved Heavy Laser takes a critical hit, it explodes in the same manner as a Gauss Rifle, but with a damage value equal to half the Improved Heavy Laser’s damage. (For instance, an Improved Small Heavy Laser will explode for 3 points [6 damage ÷ 2 = 3], while an Improved Heavy Large Laser will explode for 8 points [16 ÷ 2 = 8].)

BattleMechsIndustrialMechsProtoMechsCombat Vehicles

Prototype Date:	3069
Production Date:	3079
Extinction Date:	—
Recovery Date:	—

BattleMech Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
MegaMek Output → Weapon List:  Improved Heavy Medium Laser
MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  CLImprovedMediumHeavyLaser
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Improved Heavy Medium Laser

Prototype Date:	3069
Production Date:	3079
Extinction Date:	—
Recovery Date:	—

IndustrialMech Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
MegaMek Output → Weapon List:  Improved Heavy Medium Laser
MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  CLImprovedMediumHeavyLaser
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Improved Heavy Medium Laser

Prototype Date:	3069
Production Date:	3079
Extinction Date:	—
Recovery Date:	—

ProtoMech Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
MegaMek Output → Weapon List:  Improved Heavy Medium Laser
MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  CLImprovedMediumHeavyLaser
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Improved Heavy Medium Laser

Prototype Date:	3069
Production Date:	3079
Extinction Date:	—
Recovery Date:	—

Combat Vehicle Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
MegaMek Output → Weapon List:  Improved Heavy Medium Laser
MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  CLImprovedMediumHeavyLaser
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Improved Heavy Medium Laser