THE VR-135 FORAGER

BACKGROUND

The VR-135 Forager is boxy in appearance, like the VR-152, but is smaller and less bulky. The cyclone has a very "utilitarian" look to it, being designed expressly for the survival of the pilot and little else. Despite its smaller appearance, the VR-135 is perhaps the most durable of all the new cyclones. Forager Pilots usually have the standard CVR-4 body armor, since it is the standard armor of mecha pilots.

SCHEMATICS

RPG STATS

M.D.C. BY LOCATION:

    Motorcycle Mode                  Battlesuit Mode
    ----------------------------     ----------------------------
    Headlight           5            Tires (2, rear)        5
    Front Tire          5            Thrusters (rear)       60
    Rear Tire           5            Forearm Shields (2)    50
    Storage Box (2)     2 each       Leg Shields (2)        100
    Thrusters (rear)    60           Head                   70
(1) Main Body           300      (1) Main Body              300

(2) CVR-4 (Standard Military Armor)                      70
(2) CVR-3 (Standard Military Armor, Support Personnel)   50

1. Depleting the M.D.C. of the Main Body will shut the mecha down completely.
2. Depleting the M.D.C. of the body armor will destroy it and very likely kill the wearer (10% chance of survival).

CVR-4C Heavy Armor is incompatible with the VR-135 Forager.

SPECIFICATIONS

Motorcycle Mode:

Maximum Speed: 210 mph (336 kmph)

Cruising Speed: 80 mph (128 kmph)

Turbo Boost Fwd: 40 ft (12 m) horizontal

Turbo Boost Up: 20 ft (6 m) vertical

Battloid Mode:

Running: 60 mph (96 kmph)

Flying: 180 mph (288 kmph)

Leaping: 20 ft (6 m)

Thruster Leap: 100 ft (30 m)

Height:

Battloid: 7.0 ft (2.1 m)

Motorcycle: 3.6 ft (1.1 m)

Width:

Battloid: 3.4 ft (1.0 m)

Motorcycle: 1.6 ft (0.5 m)

Length:

Battloid: 3.1 ft (0.9 m)

Motorcycle: 5.0 ft (1.5 m)

Weight:200 lbs (90 kg)

Cargo:

The VR-135 has detachable cargo boxes that are connected to the rear of the bike like saddlebags. The size of each container is 18 inches tall by 20 inches wide by 18 inches deep. In addition, the VR-135 has four concealed pouches on the sides of the mecha, in the thigh armor plates (where the GR-187 is located on other Cyclones). These pouches are each 6 inches long by 4 inches wide by 2 inches deep, and are usually used to hold items like medical kits, tools, or extra ammo clips. A passenger can also ride seated behind the driver. The VR-135 can hold 250 lbs (110 kg) in addition to the rider. Reduce maximum speed by 20% for every additional 50 lbs (22 kg) over the limit and add -1 to dodge.

Unlike its predecessors, the storage boxes of the new cyclones do NOT drop off when they convert to battloid mode. Instead, the boxes are shifted to the lower back, just below the thruster packs and covering the butt of the pilot. The passenger, however, isn't so lucky. The thigh pouches are a physical part of the cyclone and do not disconnect. They are fully protected by the cyclone's thigh armor.

Main Engine: FF-600 Fusion/Protoculture Engine

Range:

2 protoculture cells will power the cyclone for approximately 12 months before needing refueling. The backup system can operate on 1 protoculture cell for 6 months at no penalty. Constant flying will drain the protoculture cells twice as quickly for all models. As a final backup, the cyclone can run on fusion power alone for up to 400 miles on a full tank of fuel, but maximum speed is reduced 15% and constant flying is impossible. The fusion engine runs off hydrogen, so any hydrogen-rich liquid (like water or ammonia) can be used for fuel. Extra gas from the fusion engine is released through an exhaust port.

Color Scheme:

Normally REF mecha are painted in camouflage schemes that match the location where they are stationed. However, due to the nature of the Forager's purpose it is hard to predict exactly where the cyclone will be used. Most Foragers are painted in a dull tan/brown color scheme (similar to desert mecha), but some mecha pilots take it on themselves to customize their syrvival cyclones to their tastes. As usual, each cyclone is streamlined in a color corresponding to the position of the pilot. Enlisted Pilots have their cyclones streamlined in Blue, Aces and low-ranking Officers in Red, and Platoon Leaders in Green.

WEAPON SYSTEMS

1. GR-103 MINI-MISSILE LAUNCHER (2). The main weapon of older cyclones has remained mostly unchanged in the newer models. The launchers have been updated with newer technology which makes them more resilient to damage and easier to repair (+20% to repair rolls). In motorcycle mode, the two missile launchers are side by side in the nose of the cycle. In battloid mode, the missile launchers are divided, with one on each shoulder of the mecha. Both launchers hold 6 mini-missiles (usually armor-piercing).
   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Aircraft, Anti-Mecha
   • Missile Type: Any type of REF Mini-missile EXCEPT Plasma. High-explosive are standard-issue for the VR-135 Battler II.
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, six, or all. Remember, a volley counts as one melee attack regardless of the number of missiles.
   • Range: Varies with missile type; 20 ft to 1 mile.
   • Payload: 6 missiles per each launcher, for a total capacity of 12.

2. MODULAR WEAPON SYSTEMS. As with all REF Cyclones, the arm shields of the VR-135 Forager are designed to interface with one of the GR-series weapon modules. One weapon module can be mounted on each forearm shield, and it is not necessary to mount the same modules on each shield. The Cyclone's onboard computer system will automatically recognize which weapon module is installed and adjust the HUD displays on the pilot's helmet accordingly. Any GR-series weapon module can be used.

   Typical VR-135s are assigned two GR-215 MISSILE LAUNCHER/BEAM CANNON units, though different weapons may be assigned if necessary or desired. Click HERE for a complete listing of cyclone weapon modules.

3. Hand-to-Hand Combat. Punch does 1D4 M.D. Kick does 1D4 M.D. (The VR-135 Forager has an equivalent strength of PS 50) Leap Kick does 2D4 M.D. Body Flip or Body Block does 1D4 M.D.

4. Any type of hand-held weapon can be fired by the pilot while in cyclone armor, including the new Gallant 1000 Multi-Weapon System.

5. Any other cyclone weapon pod can be substituted for the GR-215, both from the newer cyclone models and the older ones.

STANDARD SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT FOR ALL MILITARY CYCLONES

• LASER-RESISTANT CERAMIC COATING: 1/2 damage from laser attacks.
• ENHANCED RADAR WITH HEADS-UP DISPLAY: Range: 10 miles. Can identify and track up to 40 different targets.
• TARGETING COMPUTER: Uses helmet display instead of retractable sensor of older models. Provides the pilot with +3 to strike with missiles and +2 to strike with other weapon systems (Beam Cannons, Lasers, etc.). Range: 4000 ft (609 m).
• RADIO COMMUNICATIONS: Boosts standard radio in CVR-series armors to 10 mile (16 km) range.
• MISCELLANEOUS INDICATORS: Altitude, Speed, Power status, Time, Date, Direction, etc. All controlled by on-board computer.

http://www.mcs.net/~deitrich/index.html deitrich@mcs.net

Last Updated: Friday, 18-Jan-08 02:59:14 PST