Battletech Design Designation System

Version, Variant, Or New

All designs may be classified as either a "Version", a "Variant", or "New". These designations indicate the extent of a design's difference from the original. These terms apply only to designs included on this web site. Published designs do not, unfortunately, differentiate between the concept of a Variant and a Version.

Versions are changes to existing designs in which the battlemech or vehicle chassis remains the same. Typically this involves the changing of the weapons, other equipment, or amount of armor, but may include replacing the type of armor. The engine type and size, and the type of internal structure may not change in a Version. Versions are indicated by adding a dash (-) and a two digit number after the design name (ex. HBK-4P-01). If such a Version is further modified, a lower case letter will be added to the designation (ex. HBK-4P-01a).

Variants are changes to the basic chassis of a battlemech or vehicle which still retain the outward appearance of the original mech or vehicle. The three most common causes to designate a design as a Variant are changes to the size of the engine, the type of the engine, or the type of the internal structure. Extensive or radical redesigns of a mech's or vehicle's weapons and equipment may also cause a design to be designated as a Variant. Variants are indicated by a change in the last one or two number/character groups of a design's identifier (ex. FS-9M becomes the FS-9S due, in part, to the change in the internal structure). The only change not permitted for a Variant is a change in the tonnage of the design. Note that all published designs use the Variant method for changing the identifier for a mech or vehicle, regardless of how extensive or minor the changes actually may be.

New designs involve the creation of a type of battlemech or vehicle which did not previously exist as a published design, or a version or variant of such a design. New designs have no relationships to existing designs, so may be given new names and identifiers, as desired.

Updated 20 June 1999.