Power armor?

[jeffhartsell]

How would you stat futuristic armor in a fantasy game for NPCs?

I considered power armor as +11 armor with up to +3 dex, provides darkvision 60', low-light vision, see invisibility, and boosts STR and DEX +2.

Was thinking it should have DR 2/adamantine as well.

For a one-off I used a 40k inquisitor, psyker, chaos marines, dreadnaughts, and corrupted imperial guard against a group of 15th-level gestalt characters. Was interesting. The BBEG had psionic powers.

I want to standardize the futuristic equipment so I can use it in a campaign when the group runs into these outsiders from another plane.

 

[Jack Simth]

It doesn't strike me as making sense that a 20-foot mech, where the pilot is completely encased in the torso, should enhance the pilot's strength for sword swings....

I'd be more inclined to treat it as a form of golem that the pilot controls, with it's own AC, Strength, Dexterity, Hit Points, senses, and the like, but using the pilot's Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, BAB, and the like (for most things).

Also, I'd give it BlindSense (or perhaps BlindSight) over See Invisiblity; the Sonar lets you know something's there that isn't picked up on the camera, but not what, and the resolution is much, much lower (also - how the heck does a camera pick up something on the Etherial Plane?).

Basically, stat out a golem, remove what doesn't make sense (e.g., Magic Immunity, immunity to charms, phantasms, and the like; BAB, Int, Wis, and Charisma) and replace those with the pilot's abilities (so the Fighter is much better at hitting things with a mech than is the Cleric). Mind you, it also requires a skill check (Mech Pilot(Int)(Trained Only)) in order to work properly (similar to controlling an untrained mount in combat, but different DC's for different functions); so while the Wizard can get it to do what he wants more often (use Darkvision, low-light vision, climb a ladder...), the Fighter hits more accurately when he finally does get it to do what he wants (break things).

Also, possibly give it ranks in certain skills (based on an ability score of -) that replace the pilot's (e.g., Listen: that sound amplification makes it fairly easy to hear that mis-step, but just gets in the way of someone who already could, and the definition is lost for the step that wasn't mis-placed on the other side of the room; Spot: sure, the threat-highlighting software running on a screen at 10,000 pixels per inch that's 30x30 inches is great for letting you know that the mouse behind you isn't a threat, but that the big metal blob on the other side of the curtain is... but if you already knew about the mouse, and could read the serial numbers on the other mech with your own eyes despite the curtain, then the screen's highlighting just distracts you from noticing the teltale sign of that land-mine you are about to step on.....) Sure, at those tech-levels, they will probably be decent aids.... but I'd want the 20th level sword-wielding Fighter to cut it to ribbons, the Rouge-20 to sneak past it (and maybe find a chink in the armor and cut a fuel line (Sneak Attack!)), the Cleric-20 to turn it against it's masters with Animate Object (wouldn't that just be cool... well, when not in the pilot's seat....) and the Wizard-20 to blast it into oblivion.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Another GoO reference , but I've heard it's a very good book: Guardians of Order's d20 Mecha. Everything I've seen from that company has been exceptionally good, so far. On the other hand, I can't give any kind of personal opinion on the content of this particular book, as I've not even had a chance to see it.

Here's JoeGKushner's EN World review, anyway.

Just an alternative, if house rules don't seem to be cutting it.



I think the golem idea posted above sounds cool, mind you.

 

[Storyteller01]

Take a look at Factory. Basically, that's what they are. The only real diference is the use of the Pilot skill to replace Climb, Jump, and a few others.

DS actually has power armor that is much smaller than the 20 ft mech (more akin to Rifts SAMAS). Servos boost Str and endurance, and the system provides minor sensors.

 

[the Jester]

For powered armor (rather than magical mecha) I think your stats sound about right. Maybe make the str and dex bonuses +4?

Er, what level are your pcs? That affects how cool this stuff should be, too.

 

[Jack Simth]

My intent was Science mecha, not magic mecha, just using the same basic mechanics as magic golems - really, other than decision-making, how much difference is there, from a game mechanics standpoint, from an Animated Object of a large, four-wheeled carriage and a science-based car? Okay - the car needs fuel (unless it's solar, nuclear, or some such.....) a watchful driver, and maintenence (of course, by real-world physicis, so does a sword.....), while the Animated Object can be told to go forward and avoid hazards until something physically mangles it (or the spell expires). I start with a golem as a conceptual framework - for the most part, I want my mech to have most the capabilities of a golem (heavy lifting, smashing things, taking a beating), some enhanced senses (Darkvision/BlindSight/Spot & Listen ranks), possibly some ranged weapon abilities (e.g., an Ex version of Scorching Ray, perhaps an Ex Lightning Bolt or Fireball, maybe even Magic Missle... or just lots of auto-reloading Crossbow Bolts....). I use such, because they have pricing guidelines already in existance, so I can work out a starting point for about what they should cost, rather than pulling a price completely out of the air to start with.

 

[The Edge]

Just trying to get wht you mean straight. Do you mean the PCs, of ye olde times, come across a advanced civilisation (or just a few people) of techo times?

In my d20 future game power armour grants a strength bonus of +4 but has a max dex bonus of 0. I use a damage reduction system for armours, and a fairly average powersuits damage reduction ranges from 10 to 12 (enough to make most pistols worthless and rifles only minimaly useful). This is concerning a roughly man sized suit, at about 7ft.

There are also larger suits at say 14ft and then full blown mechs rangeing from 10 to 20 meters (Ive forgoten the measurement in ft). These dont give a strength bonus as the character cant have any meaningfull efect on something so big, and his arms arent in the mechs arms any way. So these are given their own str rating, which varys with make and quality and can be upgraded with the right parts.

Any such suits/mechs can have varying systems and special sensors which could give all sorts of abillitys; eg, as you said, darkvision , low-light vision, see invisibility...

I dont realy know how you would compare DR to AC.
I would agree that a +4 boost seems better. I presume you imagine the suits to quite advanced if they actually increase dexterity; mine are rather slow to respond so that why they impose a penalty instead.

 

[Infiniti2000]

If you have access to Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (or click on this conversion link), you'll find some stuff on Powered Armor and other futuristic weaponry and gadgets.

 

[Aaron L]

I prefer Mecha Crusade rules over GoOs book.

 

[Azlan]

While a Str bonus makes sense, I don't see how powered armor should give a Dex bonus. After all, powered armor shouldn't improve your Balance, Tumble, and Move Silently checks, nor your Reflex saves. However, powered armor should give you an attack bonus with ranged weapons because of the armor's optics and other targetting enhancements. It should also provide damage resistance, as well as energy resistance vs cold, heat, and acid damage.