Name:  Command Console
Type (Category):  Equipment (Other)
Reference:  Tactical Operations: Advanced Units & Equipment (p. 112)

Description:
Actually little more than a second cockpit mounted behind the main console, the Cockpit Command Console allows a high-level commander to focus on “real time” strategy in the field, while largely leaving a unit’s operation to its pilot. First employed during the Star League era, but lost to the Succession Wars’ scavenger culture, some command units today occasionally sport modified cockpits that mimic these “dual cockpit” systems.

Game Rules:
A unit using a Cockpit Command Console adds a second MechWarrior damage condition monitor to its record sheet, to reflect the commander occupying the command console. During any End Phase, this “secondary warrior” may swap positions with the unit’s pilot (or vehicle commander), effectively becoming the unit’s pilot (or vehicle commander) while the other warrior takes on the secondary position.

For ’Mech and fighter units (but not vehicles), the secondary warrior suffers no damage from ammunition explosions, though heat effects and damage done to the cockpit location (or vehicle commander slot) does affect both warriors. (In a ’Mech, both warriors must make Piloting Skill Rolls to avoid damage in the event of a fall.) If the primary cockpit slot in a BattleMech or aerospace unit is destroyed, the secondary pilot automatically takes over the unit (though any initiative modifiers provided by the system are lost in the process). If both cockpit slots are destroyed, the unit is considered destroyed per standard gameplay rules for cockpit destruction.

The second MechWarrior may spot for any type of indirect fire (LRMs, artillery, and so on), without incurring the +1 modifier to any attacks from the unit, and ignores the +1 modifier to the indirect fire attack due to any such weapon attacks.

Finally, if the second warrior is the overall commander of a given force, the force commander’s presence in a Command Console provides a +2 Initiative modifier for the unit’s side as long as the force commander is not the warrior engaged in operating the unit in any way (including moving the unit, making attacks, or making any Piloting Skill Rolls except for those to avoid damage in a fall). To receive this benefit, however, the Command Console unit must be of the heavy or assault weight classes and feature Advanced Fire Control (which is an optional system on non-military units such as IndustrialMechs and Support Vehicles, but is incorporated automatically on all BattleMechs, Combat Vehicles, and Fighters). If, for any reason, the force commander must act as the unit’s pilot or gunner for any reason other than to avoid damage from falling, the Initiative modifier does not apply for the following turn. Command Console Initiative modifiers are not cumulative, even if a force has multiple units with this item.

BattleMechsIndustrialMechsCombat Vehicles

Prototype Date:	~2625
Production Date:	2631
Extinction Date:	~2850
Recovery Date:	~3030

BattleMech Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
Special Unit Abilities

MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  Cockpit
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Command Console

Prototype Date:	~2625
Production Date:	2631
Extinction Date:	—
Recovery Date:	—

BattleMech Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
Special Unit Abilities

MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  Cockpit
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Command Console

Prototype Date:	~2625
Production Date:	2631
Extinction Date:	~2850
Recovery Date:	~3030

IndustrialMech Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
Special Unit Abilities

MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  Cockpit
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Command Console

Prototype Date:	~2625
Production Date:	2631
Extinction Date:	—
Recovery Date:	—

IndustrialMech Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
Special Unit Abilities

MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  Cockpit
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Command Console

Prototype Date:	~2625
Production Date:	2631
Extinction Date:	~2850
Recovery Date:	~3030

Combat Vehicle Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
Special Unit Abilities

MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  ISTankCockpitCommandConsole
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Command Console

Prototype Date:	~2625
Production Date:	2631
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
Special Unit Abilities

MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  ISTankCockpitCommandConsole
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Command Console