Recap of Possible Errata submission with recommendations that, I hope, makes more sense over my original comment;-):
There seems be an disconnect between the Select Hard & Strong Points (4) and Select Payload Pallet (10) vehicle construction rules.
Select Hard & Strong Points (4) states that:
1 - Hard points are necessary to mount a missile launcher, auto/projectile cannon, or payload pallet.
2. All vehicles have a minimum number of valid strong points, just as a side effect of solid construction. This number is equal to the mass of the vehicle (in metric tons) divided by 100. All vehicles have at least 2 strong points.
3. Example 1: Gary is satisfied with the two free strong points. He doesn't buy any others.
In the example on p. 109 after Determine Targeting Bonus (9) Gary appears to mount both Blaster Cannons on one of the two inherent strong points.
From the example associated with Select Payload Pallet (10) p. 110
Example: Gary’s TMAC will not be used for delivering payloads, nevertheless, it should have something. Gary selects a single compact torpedo, which at his tech level is Mark 10. The pallet masses 1 metric ton and has 1 kiloliter of volume. The torpedo weighs a mere .25 metric tons. It takes 1 power to target and fire, and ¢26,000 (¢1,000 for the pallet, ¢25,000 for the torpedo).
From the example on the payload pallet Gary appears to have incorrectly mounted the compact torpedo/payload pallet on a strong point per
Hard points are necessary to mount a missile launcher, auto/projectile cannon, or payload pallet.
Adding a hard point at either Select Hard & Strong Points (4) or Select Payload Pallet (10) is required. This adds 2 tons, 2 kiloliters, and a cost of ¢800 to the design as part of the new construction.
If the payload pallet is a modification after the hull frame has been completed the cost is going to be, I think, ¢6,800 (CAT Cost Mult for XVI x Hard Point XVI Cost), per
Adding after the fact requires more work, and the cost is multiplied by the cost multiplier of the material (the base, not the total).
Recommendation 1:
Insert text to the Payload Pallet example concerning the need to add a hard point.
Example: To accommodate the payload pallet Gary must add a hard point to the TMAC. Referring to the Strong and Hard Points chart on page 98 installing a hard point to a CAT XVI hull frame requires 2 tons, 2 kiloliters, and a cost of ¢800.
Recommendation 2:
Insert text to the Hard & Strong point example to include the possibility of carrying non-energy weapons.
Example: Gary wants a little more flexibility in the TMAC's weapons mix and buys a hard point. Referring to the Strong and Hard Points chart below he installs a hard point to the CAT XVI hull frame which requires 2 tons of mass, 2 kiloliters of volume, and a cost of ¢800.
By adding the hard point the intermediate and final calculations will be adjusted by the appropriate amounts.