From: Christopher Downes-Ward <Christopher_Downes-Ward@a...>
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 21:12:24 +0100
Subject: [DSII][SGII]Cyborgs, Robots and the like
Having recently "aquired" a copy of the "Fourth corporate war" Book-2 I
have been thinking about simulating some of the battles described in it using
DSII and SGII. This should fit as the smallest forces are Squads and the
largest is a couple of battalions. There are however two problems. 1) Most of
the combat is in heavily urbanised terrain 2) Some of the combat forces are
Cyborgs Skipping (1) for a moment, the question is how do I simulate Cyberpunk
2020 style Cyborgs in DSII and SGII First thoughts: Having human brains
cyborgs should be subject to morale, however in CP2020 most cyborgs are, not
to put too fine a point on it, nuts with superiority complexes. There are two
main sizes of cyborg, one is about the size of a suit of power armour, and the
other about the size of a class 1 infantry walker (3.4m tall 1.2 tons weight).
So treat the cyborgs as power armour or walkers. However I need some crome to
distinguish a cyborg from a suit of power armour. Incidently power armour,
called ACPA, exists in CP2020. Suggestion: In DSII I make cyborgs harder to
kill by making them like power armour equiped with APSWs but 6 hits to kill
and in SGII I try for a similar effect by loading them down with gear:
International Electric Cybernetics "Dragoon" Military-Use Full
Conversion Cyborg Armour: D12 Move: 12" (D12x2) Enhanced Electronic Sensors
(D8) 4 Weapon Mounts:
Rhinemetal EMG-85 railgun Firepower=D8, Impact=D12
40mm Grenade Launcher Firepower=D12, Impact=D8*
GMS/P with EnhancedGuidance Impact=D12
Close Combat Weapon to cause terror
In CP2020 this Cyborg has a behavioural inhibitor to stop it going loony
but which also removes most of its initiative. Elite troops with class 3
leaders?
For the larger Cyborgs which are treated as walkers how about giving them 6
spaces to play with?
Arasaka "Dai-Oni" Military-Use Full Conversion Cyborg
FGP power plant Size Class = 1, Basic Signature = D10, Stealth Level = 1,
Effective target die=D12 Mobility Class=Combat walker, Basic Move=12, Points
value=98?
Fircon=Enhanced, ECM=Enhanced (D8) Armour=1/1
RFAC/1 (right arm)
MDC/1 (held)
GMS/L (enhanced=D8) (left arm)
APSW, Smoke Dischargers
The other thing I have been pondering is how to simulate robots, not the
giant Ogre's but smaller, dumber systems again about the size of an infantry
walker. Ok I admit it i have some GW epic plastic robots I want to use. My
thoughts on this always lead me to create some sort of written orders along
the lines of "advance to objective A, then engage anything that engages you in
close combat and if nothing is doing that shoot at the nearest enemy unit".
This however seems quite clunky, it might work with a referee to "interpret"
but as I have trouble rustling up one other player yet alone two I like to see
if the list has any better ideas.
Chris