| From: | Seth Buntain <enthar@*******.EECS.NWU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Power Armor, the Idea. |
| Date: | Sun, 5 Dec 1993 13:33:50 -0600 |
in shadowrun. I havent been able to find anything on it in any of the
material that I have looked at, so... time to post some house rules and see
what everyone thinks. Maybe in the end we can get a reasonable set of rules
together.
Now the actual concept isnt too far fetched, and shadowrun certainly has the
technology available. To whit, they have the materials for decent, light
wieght armor. They have efficient, clean, light and compact power source of
n unnamed type (built into cyber arms yes?). They have fast and powerful
hydralics or some similiar method of moving mechanical limbs around in a
semblance of normalcy and with (potentially) great strenght. And finally,
(and most diffulcult) they have a control system that allows for very fast
commands from human occupants, the Rigger gear.
Thus, powered armor would be very similar to a strangely moved vehicle, and
would be run by riggers mostly (although the possibility exists for data jack
piloting of the suit, it just would be VERY clumsy and awkward.)
Ok, the basic suits then.
Ares 'High Threat' Combat Suit
Catch the wave of the future! From Ares Security Systems(tm), world renowned
makers of high quality security hardware, comes the new 'High Threat' Combat
Suit! This is not your ordinary combat body armor. Using technology usually
reserved for advanced cyberware, the 'High Threat' Combat Suit removes all the
disadvatages of old, heavy and encumbering body armor. Now, with just a
months training, your company can create a Maximum Force response team for
half the cost of cyber, and with many other added advantages, like simple
transferall of the suit to new pilots, rather than cybering a new person after
every casualty. And ease of repair! The list goes on and on. For a full
demonstration, please drop by and talk to one of our sales representitives
Today!
Handling Speed B/A Sig Apilot Cost
'High Threat' * * 2/6 8 * 100,000 nY
Sensors: Security I
ECM/ECCM: Security I/Security I
The basic security model carries one firm point.
The advanced security model can upgrade to a hard point for 5000 nY
Military grade versions carry 1 firmpoint and 1 hard point automatically.
All models can add one firmpoint for 3000 nY
(Locations: Firmpoints are on the arms, Hard points are over the shoulder).
(note the armor is using the conversions listed in the back of the Shadorun II
rules, which say to multiply vehicle armor listed in the RBB by 3 to make it
compatible with the new rules.)
* Rules for Handling, Speed, and Apilot *
Handling is equal to 10 - the rigger pilots modified reaction. Anything that
modifies reaction for normal riggers will modify this target number.
Speed is tricky. Because the suit is basically humonoid, I felt it best to
give it a Speed based on the standard Shadowrun II movement rules. Now I know
that they are rather clumsy, but basically all movement in a combat suit can
be considered running, except no penelties are applied (automatic gyro
stabilzation) The base is still the modified riggers quickness, and the
multiple is 5. The skill used for increasing running speed is Pilot: Cmbt
Suit, instead of Athletics. Thus, a rigger with a quickness of 5, who rolls a
22 for initiative, could run a base of 75 meters per 3 second Combat Turn,
which translates to about 90 kilometer an hour, or 56.25 mph. This 90 kmph is
used as the before-the-slash speed, if useing the vehicle combat rules. More
on this later.
Auto Pilot can be anything you really want, but if there is one at all, it
must be a minimum of level 3. (to handle the much more complex task of moving
a upright humanoid shape). As usual, 'normal' autopilots cannot fire any of
the weapons on board the suit. (Gm's fiat on autopilot 5 and above)
**
Ok, to take a look at the worse case, munchkinous circumstance (which would be
the standard circumstance given the way most players think :)
Rigger Joe
Vehical Control Rig 2
Smartlink
Quickness 6
Intelligence 6
Reaction 6 (10)
Initiative 10 + 3d6
Pilot: Combat Suit 6
Gunnery 6
Military Grade Combat suit:
Handling = 10 - reaction = 0 which means 2 (minumum)
Speed = 108 kmph base (with an absolute maximum of 162 kmph)
Reduced to 96kmph base (with max 130kmph)
B/A: 2/6 is the base, modified to 4/12 (per standard rules)
Sig: 8
Apilot: 4 (probobly)
Sensors: Security II
ECM/ECCM: Security II/ Security II
Weapons:
LMG in right arm firmpoint
Grenade Launcher in left arm firmpoint
A micro turret containing a multi launcher missle system (which IMHO takes
only 2 cf to mount, but if you dont like that put a Vanquisher Minigun with 4
pts of recoil comp in instead) in the over the shoulder hard point.
Cost: 414,200 nY
**
Now the suit itself offers the equivalent of 8 point of recoil compensation to
all its weapons (an advanced gyro and 'shoulder pads') However, movement will
take up some of that (per normal running rules).
Comparing this advanced suit to a Street Sam who has spent aprox 600,000 nY
tells you this: The suit carries bigger guns, and more armor. The Street Sam
is more versatile, and can go places and not call the entire army down on him.
Trivia and bits:
Most Powered Combat suits use personal combat rules, except that they have
vehicle grade armor and weapons. If they fight vehicles, they use the vehicle
rules.
Just in case it matters, the suits add 1 ft (32cm) and 600lbs (270kg) to anyone
wearing them. The modified suit above would add 1.5 ft (50cm) and 800lbs
(360kg) to anyone wearing it. Thus, keep you suit on well reinforced
surfaces, or hard packed dirt, else you might have problems. ('What do you
MEAN normal houses dont have concrete floors!' :)
The sig is of course vehicular signature. Trying to use stealth in a suit is
rather amusing, but if you want, apply a modifier of 2x the body of the suit
to target numbers for stealth. And only when you are moving SLOWLY.
Adding flight or 'boosted jump' capabilities would be possible, but very
expensive. Say, base cost of 100,000 nY for 10 assisted jumps of 30 or so
meters. True flight...well, thats really pushing it. 500,000 nY, flight
speed of 50/150, double penelties for added armor, economy .5 km per liter,
fuel 50 liters. Adds another 200lbs (90kg) to the suit. GMs ruling on
wheather to let it exist or not.
**
That about covers everything. Id appriecitate comments, flames, discussion,
or being pointed towards already existing rules. Sorry about the lenght,
sometimes i get carried away :)
--
Seth Buntain | (Space available for nifty quote)
Enthar the Eternal, Andrew the Awesome |
(V 1.01) GE d -p+ c++ l u e+(*) m(++) s/- !n h- f+ g- w+ t+(++) r+(++) !y
"It's a damn poor man who can't spell a wyrd in more than one way!"
-Thomas Jefferson
My opinions, comments and even facts are all mine.
