Author Topic: Really mechanised Battle Armour? (Read 3467 times)

worktroll · « **on:** 18 January 2012, 17:06:52 »

Okay, another posted had a question about mechanised BA - eg. riding on 'Mechs.

And I had a mental image of a point of Elementals, all riding those three-wheeled Harley Davidsons ... or a squad of Hauberks driving those little six-wheelers that the Banana Splits used to drive ...

Wouldn't it make sense to have small vehicles with decent ground speeds (4/6 or above) to move the slower, heavier BA around? They could ride these to or even into the edge of battle, then deploy when they get where they wanted. In fluff terms, the personal transports could also carry spare ammo, powerpacks, energy drinks etc (that hump on the Cavalier's back? Not mentioning brand names, but it's a mother of a boost. And you have to ask what gives the Kage wings ... :D )

I know you can go boring with an APC of some form. But can't you imagine the intimidation factor of Gnomes riding choppers? Or a Purifier squad playing with their mimetics and going all Ghost Rider on some unsuspecting PBI? Or just the flexibility to get otherwise slow BA into battle more quickly, without having to resort to armoured Spam in a can?

Discuss :)

W.

Weirdo · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 January 2012, 17:15:40 »

Can you imagine the suspension needed to carry a Gnome across rough terrain at speed? I love the idea, but I'd make the 'bikes' very fragile, and limited to the best terrain.

worktroll · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 January 2012, 17:20:51 »

Or massively heavy - say 3 tons with a 1.5 ton payload and no armour to speak of (just enough to keep mud off the BA). We have wheeled & tracked vehicles moving at high speed over normal terrain as it is.

Additional thought - the BA could plug into the bike's power supply while riding, and save battery life.

(you know I have to kitbash this now ....)

W.

Weirdo · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 January 2012, 17:27:52 »

You have to, and I may try as well. They'll have to accept low-light fighting penalties, because of the obligatory sunglasses.

sillybrit · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 January 2012, 17:31:17 »

Yes, it makes a lot of sense and technically they've appeared in the Wolf Pack novel - those small hovercraft that were described as little more than a frame and a fusion engine, that the Elementals could hang on the outside. I use 5t OmniVehicles as the closest possible copy within the rules

worktroll · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 January 2012, 18:11:29 »

I'm seeing a 5-ton wheeled omnivehicle, moving at (say) 6/9 or higher, charging over rough terrain.

With 5 Golem Elementals clinging to it for dear life.

It's called ... the Keystone. For obvious reasons.

(Is there a Keaton bloodname??)

W.

Blackjack Jones · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 January 2012, 18:24:28 »

Quote from: worktroll on 18 January 2012, 18:11:29

I'm seeing a 5-ton wheeled omnivehicle, moving at (say) 6/9 or higher, charging over rough terrain.

With 5 Golem Elementals clinging to it for dear life.

It's called ... the Keystone. For obvious reasons.

(Is there a Keaton bloodname??)

W.

For some reason I'm imagining them hanging on to a Mini-Monster Truck bouncing over the landscape.
Maybe Vehicular Jump Jets to get a little more air? ;D

Maybe the downside would be they only could take them for trials on Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!!!

Moonsword · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 January 2012, 18:30:45 »

It's probably a good thing for everyone's sanity that Omni support vehicles can't use the mechanized infantry rules.

EDIT: Those of you who are wondering why I say that, keep in mind that said rules don't make allowances for vehicle tonnage. If they were allowed for support vehicles, we could theoretically design a very small unicycle for these purposes.

Personally, I'd establish a hard minimum of at least 2x intended BA passenger tonnage to use the mechanized infantry rules for my own games (leaving the smallest canon OmniMech safely able to move more BA than it can actually embark anyway), but the rules don't actually establish any minimums at all.

Ian Sharpe · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 January 2012, 18:31:01 »

Would love an Omni-Bren Gun Carrier for these purposes.

worktroll · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 January 2012, 18:36:58 »

I have to do an omni-Unicycle squad now ... Raidend might suit ;)

Weirdo · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 January 2012, 18:45:46 »

Nonono. An Omni-Vespa.

Khymerion · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 January 2012, 18:47:34 »

I want to see this concept so very badly. I love the idea of tiny power armors having their own personal rides.

Battle armors that plug into mini-hover skirts and skiing across the battlefield at ridiculous speeds (Black Star team time) or to truly see the fun of the wheeled or tracked 'mechanized' battle armors (cyclones!).

Also...

Quote from: Weirdo on 18 January 2012, 18:45:46

Nonono. An Omni-Vespa.

I want to see an elemental riding one of those!

Blackjack Jones · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 January 2012, 19:11:54 »

On a slightly more serious note than my last post, let's go to the wayback machine and look at some
of the things the US Military thought might be cool ways to transport infantry back in the 60's and later.

Not all that impressive when a lot of the suits have JJ's already, but I'm sure the other guy would
say otherwise once he saw a Kanazuchi on one outside a 12th story window on its way to the
roof of a 20 story building.

sillybrit · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 January 2012, 19:17:30 »

I knew I'd posted a 5t Omni Battle Armor carrier at some point.

verybad · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 January 2012, 19:28:34 »

Just thinking of how many BAs weigh as much as an SUV.

Self driven transport seems a bit awkward. If it's already gotta be the size of a combat vehicle in order to get speed advantages (over unmounted BAs) then it may as well BE a combat vehicle.

deathfrombeyond · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 January 2012, 20:02:33 »

Why does this make me think of the Peel P50 that I saw on Top Gear? Might need to be upscaled a bit for the weight of the Battle Armor. ;D

Hellraiser · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 January 2012, 21:04:57 »

Basically it sounds like it was an Omni-SavanahMaster/Skimmer, maybe no weapons & armor for a bigger engine.

As for the cycle thing, I have a hard time picturing a Kanazuchi riding a bike steering w/ oversized claws across the battlefield.

But the Omni Hover concept is canon & I wish we had stats.

deathfrombeyond · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 January 2012, 21:10:41 »

Oh, I was also reminded of infantry troopers that were issued bicycles in the World Wars.

I want to see a Kanazuchi trooper furiously pedalling on a bicycle designed for Battle Armor! ;D

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 January 2012, 00:38:07 »

I suddenly have an image of a Golem on a Segway.

Jellico · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 January 2012, 03:36:09 »

We all realise the omni part doesn't help with the assault armour right?

Ian Sharpe · « **Reply #20 on:** 19 January 2012, 03:46:10 »

Two segways for assault armour, one for each foot then. :)

worktroll · « **Reply #21 on:** 19 January 2012, 04:35:16 »

Quote from: Jellico on 19 January 2012, 03:36:09

We all realise the omni part doesn't help with the assault armour right?

Thus the pressing need for Vespas for your Kanazuchi, and Banana-Split-mobiles for your Hauberks!

W.

Khymerion · « **Reply #22 on:** 19 January 2012, 08:50:57 »

Quote from: worktroll on 19 January 2012, 04:35:16

Thus the pressing need for Vespas for your Kanazuchi, and Banana-Split-mobiles for your Hauberks!

W.

Motorized roller skates for quad PA.

georgiaboy · « **Reply #23 on:** 19 January 2012, 12:10:54 »

Was a set on paper back Post Apocalyptic books in the 1980's about an American company of troops in powered armour, riding on nuclear powered trikes. The Series of books was titled "C.A.D.S." by J. Sievert.