Chassis

Initially all you have to work with is either a 'Prowler' two legged chassis or a 'Kouger' tank. Unfortunately the tank's sub weapon only had mines available so I based all of my development around the two legged chassis. Later on when you have multi-legs and flyers available, I didn't put the time in to create a program to make them as lethal as my cheaper two legs. The legged robots have a wider choice of movement chips, which makes programming them easier. In general I never fitted any equipment to a bot that had a higher level than the chassis. This keeps your costs and manufacturing requirements down.

Engine

Start off by picking the engine that will support the highest weight for the level of the chassis. Once you've got all the other equipment loaded you can change the engine to a smaller one that'll support the robot. I always seemed to end up using the Tyron Z1, though.

Main Weapon

Note: all figures are from the Prowler I chassis, I assume the others are similar.

The assault rifle has less range, fire power and the same chance of hitting as a laser. Which probably explains why I've never used one.

I've always ended up using lasers, mainly because I never spent enough time on getting the movement program of shotgun based unit sorted. Sending a shotgun toting 'bot infront of a laser firing unit results in dead shotgun bot. Use the most powerfull oscillator you can buy, 120 shots is fine for my 'firing loads' Prowler (although three combats in the same turn will use it all). The Vypor with its double shot, needs 200.

Secondary Weapons

You have a choice (depending on the chassis) of rockets, missiles, large missiles or mines. I've always preferred rockets with the shotgun style bomblet dispersal (Snake, Hercules and Panther), doesn't have the impact of a missile but its harder to avoid, and can't be jammed. They are best launched at ranges from 100m (submunition breakout is about 60m) to 150m. At 100m a single rocket will cover the side of a tank, longer ranges will hit multiple targets. A near miss will put the targets temperature to 100% causing heat related damage for bots without temperature cutouts.

Large missiles carry a lot of punch, but a Prowler can only carry one compared to eight rockets. The usual problem with sofistikated movement applies to mines.

CPU's

Note: The size is the area you can actually change, the manufacturers figures include the border in their area calculations.

In my experience the most important parts of a CPU are its area, speed and level. Moving to different sized processor, done correctly, takes hours to redesign the program. Faster CPU's are always better, making everything your robot does quicker. I tend to limit the level to that of the chassis. Cost, process and weight are irrelevent, they make such a small part of the whole robot.

I based my initial software about the CP-478FX, since it offered the most space for a level 1 processor and its available in turn one. Upgrade it to a A-RIS662P2 when available, without having to redesign your software.

Fuel Tank

Since my smashing software does so little moving, I found a 40 litre tank would do. But a 70 litre tank (easier to select) would use about 10% in one combat, since the units normally start off with enough reloads for ten combats, a 70 litre tank would make some sense. Although only the Vypor bots with armour repair are likely to ever last that long. Use a smaller tank if you need the weight allowance.

Armour

Armour, Schmarmour.

Only tanks can carry lots of armour, and lets face it, they need it. A good way of making your vehicle very heavy and easy to overheat. Pick 25mm and move along.

Optional Equipment

The only two leg that might need a cooler was the double firing Vypor, and then its only marginal. A missile jammer is always useful, but you'll still need to couple it with some dodge code in your software. So use that extra space to pack in an armour repair device (tech level and weight allowing). Before you know it, you bots will be finishing combats having sustained no damage. Shame the armour repair doesn't work outside of combat.