| From: | Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Aztech Armoured Troopers |
| Date: | Wed, 20 May 1998 14:21:56 -0400 |
>Good points, though I was thinking more along the lines of two types of
>these units: volunteers, who can dismount whenever they choose (the true
>'Armoured Troopers'),
Okay, these folks are probably not much more than a common rigger than,
skilled in piloting a very different sort of combat vehicle. Their VCR's
might be betaware, but specially tuned for these combat walkers. Say, and
extra +2 to Initiative with the walkers, but -1d6 on all other vehicles.
They would probably have edges and flaws (if you use them) built around
this general premise of extreme vehicle specialization.
They'd probably be hell on wheels though...
While it would be possible to create this using a anthropoid drone frame, I
get the impression that you can't load that frame style with lots of
goodies. You'd probably be better off with a "walker" frame that isn't
anthropoid. These references are from R2, so you'd need that to really
design a proper version of these things, unless we can get Mike or Keith or
someone to do it for you.
Hey, what about "powered armor" that is permanently wired into the pilot?
A hybrid of a cyborg and a anthropoid drone? Another wacky thought I suppose.
>and 'permanents' ('Berserkers').
>The permanents would be death-row or multiple-lifetime prisoners who get
>their sentences commuted to life-service in a Berserker unit. And
>between the deterioration you mentioned, the developing mental problems
>(MAJOR-LEAGUE cyber-psychosis!), and the potential for violent death 'in
>the line of duty', life would be about a year at most. (<Evil thought
>strikes> But what if they use cybermancy to keep their Berserkers on
>line? <shudder>)
Now these poor bastards are more of what I think about when I recall ED-209
from RoboCop 2.
Theoretically, you could put these poor fraggers in a "rigger tank" sort of
thing (and honestly, would they need arms and legs then? VCR's are brain
implants after all, and removing arms and legs would reduce tank size...),
pump nutrients into their bodies and keep them wacked out on BTLs.
If a "Berserker" ODs on BTLs, you'd simply pull out the "tank" and
slide in
a new one, like a clip on a handgun. And considering what's being done to
the body and the brain, I doubt life-expectancy is terribly long. Which
would mean they would have to be very good at what they do. The BTLs are
probably hyped up combat sims, with a "mega-orgasm" effect when the user
"kills" someone in the simsense film. Probably would have something
similar but interactive for training purposes.
Sh*t. Frightening thought. That same sort of training would create some
seriously f*cked up and wicked serial killers. The most intense pleasure
in the world derived from taking the life or another...that's pretty damn
good motivation for plenty of folks. But as long as the military retains
total control over these sick f*cks, it's no problem right? <evil corporate
grin>
I doubt they'd use cybermancy for these fraggers though, since that process
is supposed to be expensive and somewhat inconvinient. Besides, there's
always more "volunteers" on death row, right? Much cheaper that way.
Yes, this is wacked out. No, this is not the sort of thing appropriate for
the majority of SR campaigns. But as near as I can tell, it would be
possible to do.
>You're an inspired, evil man, Erik. I gotta love it.
On occassion. My players actually fear me, in that good way of "What's he
going to challenge us with next?" Throw in a raised "Spock" eyebrow, a
Joker-like evil grin and a giggle/laugh straight out of Lovecraft novel and
you can guess why I sometimes scare the daylights out of some of my players...
>I was actually going to throw it at my (low-power) players as a hint:
>you see one of these things, you don't try to shoot it out; you *RUN
>AWAY*. Otherwise, they'd just be in the background - special
>assault-platoons attached to the Azzie heavy-infantry brigades staring
>across the border at Cal-Free and CAS.
I'll have to keep this in mind when I decide it's time to tangle with the
Azzies on their home turf. Probably won't be a while though; they are
still doing the traditional type of runs right now.
Erik J.
"Oh, the silent helicopters and the men in black fatigues? They're just my
car pool to work."
