Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 AnimeSniper Sep 15, 2008 13:44:05	Most GM's have probably encountered, or not, the difficulty of designing vehicles that are not in the Source Materia Books... Thus I have decided to take the task of compiling a beta set of rules/guidelines that can be used for constructing both Civilian and Military vehicles! Nix4 has his own construction guidelines, with links to the docs., on the threads here but I have opted to ask my fellow posters to list their own homebrew/house rules/ideas if they have any! Please list if the rules are specific or cross-applicable? I have begun the MilCon Rules with stuff from Nix4's rules as reference! And with that let the helping begin! Please note that I am merely looking for suggestions with creating a set of Construction Guidelines. What I have so far! Please note that I working from a train of thought in regards to materia I am working on and from the standpoint of running a campaign in the PL +8 ranges. Included below are some ideas that I have developed for rules/guidelines to be followed when constructing Off-the-Top-of-the-Head Vehicles, including starships, for use in the D20 Game Campaign Universe. Most Materia used in vehicles construction will progress with the Progression Levels of the campaign. However, higher Progression Level (PL+9) will logically entail that Materia components will logically become stronger, lighter, and smaller and faster in the realm of computers! I will also include the construction style used in the PS1 Game ‘Warzone 2100⁚’ which goes as or follows thusly; chassis (armor type is already selected), propulsion, weapons or auxiliary support unit (support units encompass Sensors, Field Repair turret, Command Turret, VTOL Sensor, etc.). Writings in RED and RED, indicates new text addendum or -RED- of new description text and RED the beginning of where black text that has been added to the listings of Nix4 from his own Military Vehicle Construction Rules which are in BLACK. -Chassis- (Vehicle Type)With higher Progression Levels, Vehicle Chassis’s will be made out of stronger lighter materia to lighten overall vehicle weight while increasing the weight that the chassis can handle! Example; Vehicle overall weight is 65 tons but with stronger lighter materia the vehicle is 5 tons lighter allowing for more weapons, armor, etc. to be added. Also, new materia may come into being designed as composites. A chassis is capable of handling a set amount of weight which it can handle before stressing the framework! This weight limit includes the engine weight, armor, weapons, support systems, munitions locker (Number of shells * Shell Weight = Total Weight) that it can handle before the framework is stressed. Placing too much weight on the chassis can cause it to buckle and snap after a while. Chassis’s (from Nix4) 1. Drones- Drones, according to Nix4’s document, run the size range from Fine to Medium. Going on this course of logic, then the first four drones; Assassin, Hunter Seeker, Limpet, and Recon that are listed can be easily carried by the soldiers of a combat unit. Each unit could carry a specific type or a combination of types into combat. Assassin (F) – Single use drone designed to locate target and using itself deliver a munitions payload, usually High Explosive and some form of shrapnel. Weapon is derived from the Claymore mine. Hunter Seeker (S) – Multi-purpose-use drone designed to locate target and release its variable munitions payload before returning to the base location for refueling and rearming. Limpet (T) – Single use drone designed to locate target and then attach itself against the hull, miniaturized primarily from the design for attacks against enemy orbital warships before detonating its High Explosive payload. Limpet could also entail that the drone is the type that a soldier can drop in or near the path of possible enemy mechanized forces before springing forward to attach themselves to the vehicles. Recon (D) – Multi-use drone designed for reconnaissance purposes only. Mini Tank (M) - A very small vehicle designed to assist infantry. 2. UAV’s- UAV’s according to Nix4’s document, run the size range from Small to Huge. Helicopter (S) – Propeller driven drone controlled by a soldier at a safe location. Air-Superiority (M) – Pilot-less planes with air-to-air weaponry flown either by an A.I. program or by pilot from a remote location. Ground-Superiority (M) - Pilot-less planes with air-to-ground weaponry flown either by an A.I. program or by pilot from a remote location. Small Bomber (S) - Medium Bomber (M) - Large Bomber (L)- Air Recon (S) – Heavy Air Recon (H) - 3. Tanks- Tanks, according to Nix4’s document, run the size range of Huge to Colossal. Cruiser Tank (H) - Fast and mobile to exploit weaknesses in enemy defense or to defend against fast moving assaults. Light Tank (H) - Mobile tanks produced in large numbers for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering operations. Infantry Tank (G) - Tank designed to combat infantry. Medium Tank (G) - Tanks designed with a specific role and design in armament. Heavy Tank (G) - Heavily armored general purpose tanks. Super Heavy Tank (G) - Extremely heavy tanks designed for anti-mecha combat or heavy combat duty or to defend fortified installations where mobility is not necessary. Mobile Artillery (G) - Tank equipped with a very large cannon for long range bombardments. Mammoth Tank - Heavier than Super Heavy Tanks, designed against fortified or lightly armored orbital bombardment. Often used against mecha. Titan Tank (G) - The largest moving weapon platforms designed to defend planetary installations against orbital attack and heavy mecha assaults. Super-Titan Tank (C) - A mega heavy assault platform used for specialized assaults on heavily fortified or armored targets. Assault Striker (H) - Light weight multi-axle wheeled vehicle, typically designed to carry a large weapon and missile platforms. Similar to a Cruiser Tank but using wheels and often carrying a lighter weapon. 4. APCs (Armored Personnel Carrier) - APC’s, according to Nix4’s document, run the size range of Large to Gargantuan. Small Personnel Carrier (L) - Designed to deliver a single squad of soldiers quickly to a drop-off location. These are typically wheeled or amphibious vehicles that are lightly armored. Medium Personnel Carrier (H) - A heavy vehicle designed to take more troops to a hostile drop-off. Lightly armored and typically using treads allow this vehicle to survive mortar rounds and light gun fire. Large Personnel Carrier (G) - Largest chassis for troop transport. These are always treaded and armored to survived direct hits from light tanks. Typically using a small turret mounted machine gun. 5. Trucks Civilian Trucks- Basic unarmored Civilian trucks confiscated by the military to ferry troops and supplies thru the battlefield. Military Trucks- Heavy duty trucks capable of carrying either supplies or soldiers in bulk. 6. Cars Generals’ Staff Car- 7. Aircraft- Any vehicle capable of Atmospheric flight through any planetary environs.- Helicopter (G) - Personnel Transport (G) - Air-Superiority (G) - Ground-Superiority (G) – VTOL (G) - TAVTOL (G) - TAF-Superiority (G) - Small Bomber (G) - Medium Bomber (G) - Large Bomber (C) - Recon (G) - 8. Boats- Boats, especially of the military variety are normally designed to carry troops into combat Medium (M) - Large (L) - Huge (H) - Gargantuan (G) - Colossal (C)- 9. Starships- Vehicle construction in regards to Starships varies in the area of size in regards to the Tiny and Small size in that they are normally developed as remote-operated weapon platforms for ship or planetary defense. Tiny (T) – Weapon platforms, primarily independent limpet satellite mines linked to a Central Command Center located either planetside in a hardened structure, starship, or on a space station. Small (S) - Weapon platforms, primarily independent satellites linked to a Central Command Center located either planetside in a hardened structure, starship, or on a space station. Medium (M) – Spacecraft, either single or two manned, primarily a TAF ship. Large (L) - Huge (H) - Gargantuan (G) - Colossal (C) - Supra-Colossal (.5*C) - -Armor-In the game, ‘Warzone 2100⁚’ the player has the then armor type already preselected and applied to the Chassis. However, in the D20 universe the Progression Level of the campaign will dictate what armor is available unless the GM decides on allowing the introduction of created Armor Materia outside the normal D20 armor list. New created armor will have to have proper stats according to where the armor would be on the Progression Levels and the benefits of having it over the existing D20 armor. What are the benefits of giving this new armor to the players over the existing armor materia provided? However, in the case of existing armor, I believe aside from the base HP and Hardness that a vehicle should be able to have the amount increased by a multiplier fold with a decrease in speed based on the armor used. Or that instead of a flat base HP for each chassis type that the GM allows for the roll of a single dice, one for each chassis type or for vehicle size and then multiply the outcome by the armor Hardness and the HP listed. Listed below are the size ranges from Nix4’s document which has been posted on the D20 forums. Size Ranges (from Nix4) Size Crew Size Mod Length Weight Base HP Hardness Defense Slots Fine 0* +8 6 in. or less 1/8 lb. or less 1 0 18 0 Diminutive 0* +4 6in. - 1 ft. 1/8 - 1 lb. 1 0 14 0 Tiny 0* +2 1-2 ft. 1-8 lb. 1 0 12 0 Small 0* +1 2-4 ft. 8-60 lb. 1 5 11 1 Medium 1-2 0 4-8 ft. 60-500 lb. 1-16 5 10 3 Large 1-3 (3)** -1 9-16 ft. 500-4000 lb. 16-48 5 9 4 Huge 1-4 (6)** -2 17-32 ft. 2-16 tons 48-108 5 8 5 Gargantuan 4 (12) ** -4 33-64 ft. 16-125 tons 108-212 5 6 6 Colossal 8 (24)** -8 65-128 ft. 125-1000 tons 212-420 10 2 8 *A vehicle with a minimum crew of zero must be either driven/piloted by a smaller creature, or must be built as a robotic vehicle. ** Potential passenger capacity. Modify for Progress Levels 6+ When designing a vehicle frame from a progress level between 6 and 9 one discovers the hit points of the vehicle as noted on the table above, and then multiplies the vehicles hit points and hardness by a certain number, depending on the progress level of the vehicles frame, as noted on the table below. Progress Level HP Multiple Hardness Multiple Defense Multiple 6 1 1.5 1 7 2 2 1.5 8 3 2.5 2 9 4 3 2.5 Thus a PL 9 Colossal Gundanium armored tank can have after rolling a D12, Rolled ten; then 10*(24 (Armor Hardness)+10)= 340*3= 1,020 Hardness and 10*212-420= 2,120-4,200*4= 8,480-16,800 Hp and a 10*(2*2.5)= 50 Defense. Thus we have a score of; Defense 50, Hardness 1,020, and HP 8,480-16,800 for a PL 9 Colossal Gundanium Armored Tank of the Titan Class and we haven’t gotten to the weapon platforms/etcetera yet... Remember that to figure out the Defense, Hardness, and HP of the vehicle to; Defense: Dice roll*(Defense * PL Mod) = Actual amount. Hardness: Dice roll*(Armor Hardness + Table Size Mod) = Total * PL= Actual amount. HP: Dice roll*(Base HP *PL Mod) = Actual amount. Some will argue that I have given the tank too much HP, Hardness, Defense, and etcetera when I have merely looked at the existing vehicles, mecha, and starships and merely felt that the stats were severely lacking. However, I have since begun a modifications multiplier table based on the munitions that the weapon is firing. Example: Your character is equipped with a Beretta 90mm... Roll your dice and take the damage you just rolled and multiply by 5 for a medium weapon. However some will say that is too much damage for an NPC to survive but not if the NPC is wearing a Neo-Kevlar light vest with Cerama-steel plate inserts; Vest +14with Plates +8(14 + 8)= 22*2= 54 AC bonus with a minus 2 penalty to climbing, jumping, etcetera. Of course, this table is workable and may need some minor tweaking! In addition, Drones under the Medium size category DO NOT get the benefit of the Multiplier -My Armor Multiplier Table- (For stating Armor) Dice Roll Multiplier 4 By Drones Vehicles Personnel Armor Power Armor Mecha Starships Munitions Load Damage D4= Fine 0 1 -4 3 5 7 1 D6= Diminutive, Tiny & Small 0 1 -2 3 5 7 3 D8= Medium .5 1 2 3 5 7 5 D10= Large & Huge 1 1 2 3 5 7 7 D12= Gargantuan & Colossal 1 1 2 3 5 7 9 Planetary Installations Defensive/Offensive 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.5x Damage Roll Orbital Installations Defensive/Offensive 0 0 0 0 0 0 5x Damage Roll -Created Weapons- In regards to normal weapons, I believe that the dice listed in the current D20 edition are decently stated, for the PL’s listed in the books except when it comes to higher PL’s and GM or player created weaponry after they have been properly devised, stated, and described in detail. However, from viewing other postings of created weaponry on the D20 forums, I have noticed that some weaponry require the rolling of multiple dice, some in the excerpt of twenty or more. I believe that a rolling of a number of dice, i.e. five D10 and then multiply by four to roll instead of rolling twenty D10’s. This is, personally I believe, better than rolling the twenty dice. Also, in lieu of my Armor stating multiplier table, I have created a list -My Damage Multiplier Table- (For Created Higher PL Weaponry) Of course, this table is also workable and may need some minor tweaking! Intended Unit Size Dice Roll Multiplier 4 By Personnel & Vehicle Handguns SMP/SMG’s Shotguns Assault Rifles Sniper Rifles D4= Fine 0 0 0 0 0 D6= Diminutive, Tiny & Small 0 0 0 0 0 D8= Medium 1 2 3 3 5 Vehicle & Power Armor/Mecha Handgun SMP’s/SMG’s Shotguns Assault Rifles Sniper Rifles D10= Large & Huge 2 4 6 6 7 Vehicle & Mecha/Etc. Bombard Guns Assault Cannons Precision Howitzer D10= Large & Huge 0 0 5 5 7 D12= Gargantuan & Colossal 1 1 7 7 9 Planetary Installations Defensive/Offensive 0 0 9 9 11 Orbital Installations Defensive/Offensive 0 0 9 9 11 Intended Unit Size Dice Roll Multiplier 4 By Personnel & Vehicle Light Machine Guns Medium Machine Guns Heavy Machine Guns Grenade Launchers & Mines Rocket Launchers D4= Fine 0 0 0 0 0 D6= Diminutive, Tiny & Small 0 0 0 0 0 D8= Medium 1 2 3 5 7 Vehicle & Power Armor/Mecha Light Autocannon Medium Autocannon Heavy Autocannon Grenade Shot & Mines Rocket Pods D10= Large & Huge 3 4 5 7 9 Vehicle & Mecha/Etc. D12= Gargantuan & Colossal 5 6 7 9 11 Planetary Installations Defensive/Offensive 3 5 7 6 8 Orbital Installations Defensive/Offensive 4 6 9 8 10 -Suspension/Propulsion- Suspension/Propulsion entails the method with which the vehicle moves about the ground and aerial based battlefield. Suspension systems include wheels, treads, half-tracks, hover, floating, VTOL and TAVTOL technologies, TAF, and thrusters. VTOL and TAVTOL technologies are intended for aircraft when proper airfield runways are at a limitation. Also, at higher Progression Levels, newer and more efficient alternative fuels and power plants come into development. (Wheels, Treads, Half-Tracks, Hover, Floating, VTOL, TAVTOL, TAF, Thrusters) Wheeled- Most availably used platform and used in the design for fast moving vehicles with mobility and agility over toughness. Active Suspension PL 6+ This is a computer controlled suspension that reads the terrain before the vehicle and adjusts the suspensions accordingly creating a much smoother ride and a more stable driving platform. Purchase DC: 10, Maneuverability Modifier +2 Additional Axles PL 5+ Adding more axles allows for a more stable platform but reduces the maneuverability slightly. If one tire is destroyed, there are others to maintain the vehicle. There is a limit of 4 axles on a vehicle. Some vehicles are capable of having more than four axles, with the maximum being eight with an even higher negative maneuverability modifier. Such vehicles are normally of the heavy military transport/construction type. Purchase DC: 10, Maneuverability Modifier -1 (regardless of additional axles, limit 4) Treads- The most traditional platform for tanks and vehicles required to traverse common, rough, and vast uneven terrain. (2 to 4 treads) Additional Treads PL 6+ Instead of using two treads, future designs allowed for 4 separate treads which allowed for greater maneuverability at additional cost. Only two additional treads may be purchased. Purchase DC: 10, Maneuverability Modifier +1 Half-tracks- Vehicles with a single-wheeled axle in front and set of treads in the rear. Hover- Hover tanks are a very popular and flexible platform at higher PL's. Able to traverse most terrains easily and are very silent. Floating- Are able to be buoyant on liquid surfaces such as water and are limited to that environ. VTOL (PL 5) - VTOL technology allows for the establishment of airfields where space is at a limitation and a normal runway is not feasible. VTOL aircraft are capable of taking off from a landing space no larger than the aircraft. TAVTOL (PL 6-7) - TAVTOL technology is the successor to VTOL technology allowing for aircraft to enter and exit planetary environs by utilizing the Trans-Atmospheric engine developed in the late 22nd century. TAF (PL 6-7) - TAF or Trans Atmospheric Fighter is the successor to conventional atmospheric aircraft. Like the TAVTOL, TAF aircraft utilize the Trans-Atmospheric engine developed in the late 22nd century. Thrusters (PL 7) - Designed for atmospheric or space combat. Allows for limited maneuverability but not full flight. Essentially creates a slow moving vehicle that can turn and maneuver to shoot but prone to more agile and fast moving targets. -Turrets & Pods- (from Nix4’s) A characteristic component of any military vehicle is its weapon platforms. A vehicles ability to deliver munitions’ as fast and accurately as possible makes it more potent on the battlefield. Below are some options for selecting a turret or pod. Turrets are a structural addition to the vehicle and are included into the chassis. Because of this, they share the same hardness and defense values. Pods however are extensions added that externally mount a weapon platform with little or no protection. In addition, the mechanism that turrets are built upon, they are able to stabilize and rotate their weapons no matter what direction the vehicle is moving. This allows a heavily armored vehicle greater mobility and flexibility on the field. Turrets Type Size Slots Hardness Defense Purchase DC PL Small S 1 ** ** 5 5 Medium M 2 ** ** 6 5 Large L 3 ** ** 7 5 Huge H 4 ** ** 8 5 Gargantuan G 5 ** ** 9 5 Colossal C 6 ** ** 10 5 ** - Same Hardness and Defense of the tank chassis that uses the turret. Pods are smaller weapon platforms typically designed to mount a single weapon. They are often used on flying craft that don't need the ability to rotate a weapon in order to deliver a munitions’. These are often mounted externally to the chassis of the vehicle and are often unarmored as they are very difficult to target. Pods Type Size Slots Hardness Defense Purchase DC PL Diminutive D 1 0 5 3 5 Tiny T 2 0 8 4 5 Small S 3 2 9 5 5 Medium M 4 3 10 6 5 -Weapons- Similar to chassis development, the higher Progression Levels allow for newer and deadlier weaponry made out of stronger lighter materia to be wielded by the vehicle crew. Chemical-based munitions, mainly shells, give way for energy based weapons; linear rail cannons, plasma weapons, linear rail mortars, gauss weapons, and various others weapons. Some planetary governments still use chemical based munitions either due to maintenance cost of the weapons systems or the unavailability of the weapon systems. (Weapon Platforms) Linear Rail Cannons (PL6) - With the advent of fusion technology, Linear Rail weaponry were then feasible as the means to power the systems were now available. Linear Rail Cannons have since replaced the weaponry on all vehicles that formerly used chemical based munitions. Linear Rail Mortars (PL6) - With the advent of fusion technology, Linear Rail weaponry were then feasible as the means to power the systems were now available. Linear Rail Mortars have since replaced the weaponry on all vehicles that formerly used chemical based munitions. Linear Antiaircraft (PL6) - With the advent of fusion technology, Linear Rail weaponry were then feasible as the means to power the systems were now available. Linear Antiaircraft guns have since replaced the weaponry on all AA vehicles and AA platforms that formerly used chemical based munitions. Energy Weapons (PL8) – Encompasses all energy weaponry including lasers, Particle Projection Cannons, etcetera. Gauss Weapons (PL6-7) - Plasma Weapons (PL6-7) - MAC (PL9) – MAC (Magnetic Accelerator Cannons) are massive starship sized weapons capable of firing a shell or any attainable Materia weighing a set amount at a target. -Auxiliary aka Support Platforms- Auxiliary Turrets on vehicles provide much needed support to the vehicle combat units of the future battlefield. Whether it is the form of refueling and resupply of vehicles to hauling injured soldiers to the rear lines via trucks or VTOL’s. Higher Progression Levels, PL decided at the GM’s discretion, the ability of Repair Turrets is seen as coming into production for removal of damaged vehicles from the battlefield. With the advent of Repair Turrets, Nano-Armor welders, and VTOL Cargo Winches combat vehicles of the higher Progression Levels can be fixed while in between combat operations. (Auxiliary Platforms) Sensors Turret (PL5) - Sensor turrets allow for vehicles with artillery type weapons to target accurately over obstructions, i.e. mountains/buildings, at an enemy position. Sensor turrets give a +20-75, GM’s discretion, to rolls. Smaller sensor turrets can be equipped to vehicles of the 'Large' size and above category aptly known as the ‘Micro-sensor’ taking up one slot space. Micro-Sensor Turret (PL6) - Micro-Sensor turrets are the miniaturized version of a normal Sensor turret taking up a vehicle slot in place of a weapon platform. Micro-Sensor turrets are upgradeable in +4-5 increments with each hardware/software upgrade that the GM allows. VTOL Sensor Turret (PL5) - VTOL sensor turrets allow for the location of enemy VTOL’s and aircraft and give an early warning to vehicles equipped with antiaircraft weaponry. Vehicles with AA equipped turret gain a bonus (+) to their AC rolls and a bonus (+) to attack rolls. Repair Turret (PL5.5) - Initially designed as a recovery vehicle for retrieving salvageable damaged vehicles from the battlefields either during or after combat. With the addition of the Multi-armature system and Nano-armor welder the Repair turret is able to repair damage in and on the battlefield. VTOL Winch (PL5.5) - VTOL Winches were initially designed as a deployment method to deliver vehicles into the battlefield from the deployment area. Command Turret (PL6) - Command turrets give any vehicle combat unit an edge, by targeting or painting, the key locations that are to be destroyed first before anything else. This is done by a precision tuned laser and a Joint Unit Command Module system. The Command turret can also target any threats to the combat unit by alerting all units to the first enemy unit that approaches them. Shield Turret (PL8) – Shield turrets give a vehicle combat unit momentary coverage by enveloping the unit in a protective dome of energy. Turret (PL) - Link to nix4's doc... http://sites.google.com/site/d20futurecampaign/new-d20-rules/mlitary-vehicle-construction
#2 AnimeSniper Sep 17, 2008 18:38:21	Added Nix4's link to his MilCon Sheet on the first post!
#3 AnimeSniper Sep 19, 2008 19:04:22	Just an update that I will post some more to the first post soon.... after chassis selection I have listed armor with a few mods and a multiplier table.... added TAF Trans-Atmospheric Fighter to propulsio... after turrets and pods added a brief higher weaponry list and auxiliary support turrets
#4 AnimeSniper Sep 22, 2008 9:14:26	Added more to the first post and can anyone tell me how to do the little drop box windows? Or how to incorporate Tables into the post simply put... Help me figure out how to do make the post easier for you the viewer to read ?