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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Lost Muse" data-source="post: 2673127" data-attributes="member: 18546">Disclaimer:  This book was provided to me as part of the PDF Review Project.Battle Armor II: Bigger, Tougher, Cooler is an e-Book published by Interactive Design Adventures (IDA).  The e-Book is 26 pages long: two pages are the front and back covers, one page is lost to the open game licence, one page for the credits, one page for the table of contents, and one page of printable stand-up figures, leaving 20 pages for Powered Armor.  The layout of the e-Book is standard two column layout, with a few sidebars throughout the text.  There is a border along the side of each page, but it does not look like it would take a lot of ink to print.  The interior art is all black and white line art – again, very easy on the printer – and depicts the armor well enough to envision what it looks like.  There are both men and women drawn using the armor, which is a nice touch.  There aren’t any bookmarks in this e-Book, but the table of contents is comprehensive enough that they are not really necessary.The Introduction talks about powered armor in d20 campaigns, and how many other books relegate armor to a less useful and often glossed over part of equipment, and then compares users of power armor to the ideal knights of the past.  This is an apt comparison, and really helps to set the tone for the rest of the e-Book, and the light in which it is meant to be taken.Next up is a list of definitions for the suits of Power Armor.  Power Armor may be made from Composite Materials, which increase its durability, but are at the cutting edge of technology.  Notes are given on increasing price as the progress level of any item increases.  In addition, each suit has a load out of equipment that is always considered “in hand” and ready to use.  A suit may also have a “gear web” for carrying extra equipment. As if that was not enough, each suit also has a “ready rack” which can hold one item.  The ready rack essentially grants the quick draw feat for that particular item.  Finally, there may be “Weapon Mounts” on each suit – the weapons mounted are always ready to use.  The information on Composite Materials really reminded me of suits from RIFTS – and the explanation of Mega Damage – fortunately, there is no such mechanic in the d20 System.Following the definitions, is an explanation of how to read each entry – this is definitely necessary, as the format diverges from the standard d20 explanations.  Some notable information from this section: some armors slow characters down, while others have a set rate that they move at.  Likewise, some suits augment their user’s abilities, while others work at a set level.  It is good that not all of the Power Armor simply works at a set level, and the variety makes it easier for a GM to pick up this product and drop one or two pieces into an existing campaign without having to suddenly equip everyone with Power Armor to preserve game balance.Next up there are 15 different suits of armor – I’ve only included reviews of four of them here because I think you should buy this book if you need Power Armor in your campaign.The ARES Command Suit is one of the original Power Armors invented – available from Progress Level 6 – 8, it is able to fly, links up to outside sensors, has a force field, a decent weapons load out, and is able to run for an unlimited amount of time (although at PL 6 and 7 regular maintenance is required).  The Purchase DC is sufficiently high to prevent most people from ever affording it, but most Players are not most people.  Although not as effective at certain tasks as other Power Armor, the ARES is definitely well rounded.  The story included in the description also gave me a few ideas for adventures, which any RPG supplement should strive to do.Next up, the Cavalier.  The Cavalier is an earlier PL suit than the ARES, available at PL 5 (or PL 4 for a pulps campaign).  It is designed to “protect the user, and make him strong.”  This is accomplished through micromotors giving the suit a fixed strength of 20, and DR 4/- against firearms.  This suit has a 6 hour battery life.  Moving on, we have the Extreme Programming Uniform.  This Power Armor is designed for contestants on reality TV – in a program where they hunt each other down and try to knock their opponents out with rubber bullets.  Available at PL 5, and very inexpensive compared to other suits, this one is designed to make its wearer look good more than anything else (granting +1 to Charisma based skills).  This is one of the female armors – and the picture depicts a woman with sizable breasts.  As a concept, it is not one I would use in any campaign, although it is a little off the wall.The Gatecrasher was also made “famous” in a broadcast; against three opponents of older power Armors in an illegal broadcast.  As a heavy armor, the Gatecrasher is made to crack open static defences.  It can charge a target using the power from several systems in concert, and deal 6d6 to an object ignoring half its hardness; however, the pilot takes a -6 to attack and defence while doing so.  This armor may fly for up to two hours, and also has another system allowing the pilot to jump 40 feet at a time.  Combined with unlimited endurance, the Gatecrasher is able to operate for long periods of time without refuelling.  This suit reminds me a lot of the Glitter-Boy armor from RIFTS (although it does not have the big shoulder cannon, nor does it shine); however, the art looks a lot like Skeletor from the He-Man series.I recommend this e-Book for anyone who likes power armor and wants to include it in their games – a few years ago I ran a Mechwarrior-based d20 Modern campaign, and would have definitely found a book like this one useful.  While the art is good enough, some of it is kind of cheesy, and some of the histories for the suits assume a background that is not fully explained anywhere in the book.  3 out of 5 stars.</blockquote>

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