The Pitbahn RCX-1A is classified by the militaries of the non-unified Earth as a Mech, Mecha (both short for 'mechanized'), WWP (pronounced 'whip', for Walking Weapons Platform), Walker, MEMA (Motion Extended Mechanized Armor), and other colorful acronyms. In brief, it is the 'tank' of the future -- intended to go into combat against conventional tanks and other large combat walkers like itself.
This vehicle masses substantially more than conventional armor, mainly because it is required to apply more thrust to a smaller area of ground than tracked or wheeled vehicles to achieve equivalent speeds, and thus requires a larger power plant. This extra mass is all for the better, however, as the walker is able to mount larger, more powerful field weapons (and ignore any recoil problems --- it's heavy) than its tracked and wheeled counterparts.
An earlier version of this vehicle would lack arms and a sensor pod 'head'.
One final note: There is potential in this vehicle, simply because it can only be constructed at higher technological levels, to become "aware" (completely at the GM's discretion). Also, IMHO, the pilot does not have wear any sort of "neuro-helmet" or other ridiculous apparatus to control the machine. The on-board computers decipher a standard set of mnemonic phrases to control most arm functions, whereas weapons and motion are controlled through a side-stick and peddles. The pilot may extend the set of mnemonics if the vehicle is regularly used by he or she (but the machine always retains the original basic set for maintenance purposes). Control systems, of course, improve over time, so controlling the machine by thought isn't out of reach -- just improbable when this vehicle is introduced.
This is in the Envoy meta-format -- by Peter Adkinson, the Wizards of the Coast, and all the experts ( : ).
Name of Vehicle/Entity Pitbahn RCX-1A
The Pitbahn is a walking combat vehicle that would most likely be used in planetary assaults and holding actions in high-tech roleplaying games. This vehicle might also appear in alternate worlds just to throw everything out of kilter (imagine the US government sending one through a doorway into another dimension to scout about and report back -- big walking armored machine vs. Dragons and Elves...heh heh).
The pilot's skill levels in Mind and Dexterity replace those values listed below when the machine has a pilot. Also, for comparison, today's Abram's Main Battle Tank would be Strength 30, Size 20, Constitution 15 and would have no Mind, Dexterity, Social, or Spirit attributes..
Body Strength 40 Constitution 40 Size 40 Mind Memory 5 (300 terabytes of long-term storage) Reasoning 10 (+) Perception 20 Dexterity Agility 10 Coordination 10 Quickness 15 (+) Social 5 (usually would not apply) Appearance 5 (for average human) 50+ (for tank jockeys) Communication 10 (over laser communicator/radio/voice) Spirit 5 (there's potential here...) Willpower 25 (if "aware") Movement 30 m/s (note: this is both on-road and off-road speed) 90 km/h Combat Shunt (Particle Beam Weapons (in arms)) 0 Rank 50 ROF 1 N/A Tactical Missile (in torso) +5 Rank 20 ROF 2 20 Anti-personnel rotary gun (in torso) 15 Rank 15 ROF 100 40000
The 'Shunt' are long range particle beam weapons which the PB mounts in arm sockets (shown in the picture as hooded "sleeves" over the actual arm). No skill level is given because these heavy weapons require a pilot. Tactical missiles, which are medium range guided rockets, are located in the torso of the machine, under armor plating. The PB pilot may fire these with a +5 to the appropiate skill. The anti-personnel minigun is used against ground troops who venture too close to the legs of the machine (and thus pose a threat) -- it is extremely short range, but may fire without the pilot's assistance (i. e. depressing the trigger). The ROF is Rate of Fire for the listed weapon per combat turn. The number of shots usually aboard is also listed (the Shunt draws power directly from the onboard fusion reactor).
Armor (Laminated mono-crystalline and flexible plastics) 30 Skills Dodge (the machine can dodge attacks by itself!) 15/Pilot's skill Parry (when fighting another walker) Pilot's skill Unarmed combat (against another walker) Pilot's skill Detect (wide spectrum scanning) 15 Stealth (escape detection by WS scans) 10 Surveillance (notice anything unusual) 15 Shunt (particle beam weapon) Pilot's skill See Combat Tactical Missile +5 to Pilot's skill See Combat Anti-personnel rotary gun 15/Pilot's skill See Combat
To drive the PB, the pilot must have a skill for Walker, or something similar. And, of course, any weapons skills for the vehicle.
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