SWRPG - wtf is with battleframes???

[genshou]

Battleframes in the Star Wars RPG sound like they could either be utterly useless or the ultimate munchkin's armor. But the descriptive text is just a wee bit (like this much --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------) vague as to just how a battleframe works. Anybody got any ideas? I'm kind of using it in an online game and want to know how it works since I'm the GM.

 

[genshou]

bumpity bumpity

There, I've bumped my thread up. SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING!!!

 

[Darrin Drader]

Its a conspiracy to force you to contact custserv@wizards.com.

Come on, I dare ya.

 

[genshou]

Yeah... a conspiracy. I read through Jedi Counseling, and it wasn't covered there. Then I sent the question to Jedi Counseling. Is custserv@wizards.com any better?

 

[Faraer]

It didn't ring a bell. The Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia has no entry for 'battleframe'.

But armour in Star Wars is symbol rather than having any particular damage-protection value, and I suspect an accurate SW RPG wouldn't have those kinds of game rules for armour.

 

[genshou]

It didn't ring a bell. The Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia has no entry for 'battleframe'.

But armour in Star Wars is symbol rather than having any particular damage-protection value, and I suspect an accurate SW RPG wouldn't have those kinds of game rules for armour.

Yeah, but I was actually referring to the ability of the battleframe as a weapon mount. It is able to hold up to 3 heavy weapons and their energy source/ammunition. My question has to do with what the rules are on using those weapons. Obviously, the ability for one character to use 3 E-Webs per round would be kinda overpowered, but if all the armor does is provide mobile mounts for the weapons, it's kind of useless.

Does anybody have any idea where the battleframe came from in the first place? I've never seen it in any Star Wars movie/novel/comic.

 

[Darrin Drader]

Yeah, but I was actually referring to the ability of the battleframe as a weapon mount. It is able to hold up to 3 heavy weapons and their energy source/ammunition. My question has to do with what the rules are on using those weapons. Obviously, the ability for one character to use 3 E-Webs per round would be kinda overpowered, but if all the armor does is provide mobile mounts for the weapons, it's kind of useless.

Does anybody have any idea where the battleframe came from in the first place? I've never seen it in any Star Wars movie/novel/comic.

I've got your email. I think these are modeled after small sized mechs, but beyond that I don't have any clarification for you yet. I'll check with Chris Perkins and possibly J.D. and see what else I can find out. If you can wait for it, I'll email you back early next week.

 

[genshou]

I've got your email. I think these are modeled after small sized mechs, but beyond that I don't have any clarification for you yet. I'll check with Chris Perkins and possibly J.D. and see what else I can find out. If you can wait for it, I'll email you back early next week.

Sure. I can wait. It's for an online PbEM game, and the players are still making their characters, so there's no real hurry.

In case anyone actually cares, the game is here. It is a d20 Modern game set in the future, with some Star Wars equipment and using the VP/WP system. No, I am not looking for players. I already have too many

 

[genshou]

thanks for the help

I got the official declaration from Wizards Customer Service. As a kind act to all the people who will view this thread, here is the answer I was given:

The battleframe is from the Star Wars expanded universe and has appeared previously in The Essential Guide series by Del Rey Books. (If I'm not mistaken, they sort of look like skeletal, spidery walkers with people in them.)

Although it has weapon mounts, a battleframe doesn't allow its "wearer" to use more weapons or make more attacks than he normally could during a round. However, the "wearer" doesn't need to draw a mounted weapon to fire it and can switch between mounted weapons as a free action. It doesn't say so in the rules, but I would suggest that Large weapons take up two weapon mount slots. An installed E-Web blaster mounted to the battleframe can be fired by one person (the battleframe's "wearer").

Installing or removing a weapon from the battleframe should take about 1 hour per weapon and requires the use of a tool kit.

Christopher Perkins
Design Manager, RPG R&D
Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

Thanks, Chris (and Darrin for sending to to Chris in the first place)!

 

[genshou]

Now for more...

Well, now that that's over with, I have another question. What about mechs? The battleframe is sorta like a mech, but would a true mech count as a vehicle rather than an armor? What do you people think? I'm looking at the Armor Shrikes and Double-edges from Blue Gender and thinking that maybe I need a vehicle for a true "mech," and the battleframe is just a cheap alternative for less-adequately funded military units. Feedback...?