Rigger idea Options

[Fu-Man Chu]

I was thinking about a Rigger character and I wanted to see what ideas had been done around this before: Have there been ideas about a Rigger that jacks into the JIM Driving Exoskeleton. I figure with a VCR 3 (Essence 5, 300K) and the JIM Suit - that's the equivalent of +6 +3d6 to init with a Combat Pool of Reaction +6! That's pretty difficult to get with just Wired (which cost 500K). In addition, there's a Str boost to 7 (to 10), and Armor Rating (Ballistic I assume) of 6! What do you guys think?

[Fygg Nuuton]

well, the problem is unless your underwater, you arent going anywhere. and its not a vehicle,. so you cant rig it.

[Sphynx]

Yeah, statistics given for the suit are for in-water. I'd not allow for the 'driving' of it via a VCR (It's not driving, it's just body movement), and would increase all TN's for interactions above water by at LEAST 4. It's just not made for surface work, and is very bulky.

Sphynx

[Siege]

If you absolutely gotta have mecha, I think "Rigger 3" has numbers for anthropod vehicles.

-Siege

[Fu-Man Chu]

[Fygg Nuuton]

but try for an anthroform, they kick nine different types of ass

[Velocity]

[Stonecougar]

Actually...

Hate to burst collective bubbles, but it does say in the description of the JIM suit that "A suit may be modified for rigger interface, which eliminates these penalties and confers the benefits of a vehicle control rig. Riggers jacked into a JIM suit substitute their Control Pool for the Combat Pool."

So, what you get is a suit that on a normal user is bulky, slow, and hideously unusable. But with a rigger in it, it turns into Power armor, a la Starship Troopers.

And yes, those stats are for underwater. But what's to say it *can't* be used on land? Or in outer space? The difference would be so minimal as to be inconsequential. My rigger has one in his closet for those really nasty missions when heavy security armor just won't do it...

[Person 404]

Just because a machine (or anything else) works underwater doesn't mean it will above water. The thing is most likely calibrated/constructed so as to take the environment into effect; lifting a given weight underwater is much easier than doing it above water, and out of the water, a JIM would have to have much more powerful motors, bearings, joints, etc. to stand up and move around than under it. The difference is far from inconsequential.

[Stonecougar]

Actually, at the depths the JIM suit is designed for working at, the motors *are* more powerful. We're talking Marianas-trench depths here, where anything less would be crushed, and water doesn't help with weight that much, since you're fighting so many atmospheres of pressure. Therefore, if anything, the JIM suit would be overpowered for work on land.

But then, I don't know much about physics, so I could be wrong.

[mfb]

um, i'm not a physics major, but wouldn't lifting something underwater actually be harder? given that you've got to move the object through a much thicker medium, and whatnot.

[Person 404]

Friction is greater, but buoyancy starts to play a role. If you've got a bathtub, a barbell, and some time, you can prove to yourself that it can be easier to lift a given weight in water than air. I don't have Rigger 3, so I wasn't aware that this thing was for extreme depths (though I suppose I could have guessed). In that case, The JIM might require some adjustments to work on land, but I can't see that it would require anything extreme (unless the JIM heavily depends on a water environment for cooling, or somesuch).

[Stonecougar]

That's what I figured... it's for extreme depths, and I don't think water cooling is an issue. Honestly, I'd think it should be an option to have it electronic-ed up so that it could be easily switched back and forth... think about how suddenly, you don't need a forklift... how about a troll in a JIM suit? Suddenly that pallet of rebar is a lot easier to lift... and, once rigged, it becomes a very effective piece of equipment... you won't be dancing anytime soon while wearing one, but it does become effectively rigger power armor.

[Fu-Man Chu]

[Buzzed]

The suit becomes less boyant in air, A LOT LESS BOYANT. Same rule applies for depth in water, the deeper you go, the more boyant you get as the water pressure wants to shove that air upward more and more, even if it means crushing you to get the air out.

So working above water would simply not work for the JIM. It would be like having a ton of iron chained to each of your limbs. Good luck being able to stand up.

[Stonecougar]

Well, we can debate this 'till we're blue in the face, but the one that really counts is your GM.

I have flexible, easy going GM's who are willing to let things go for cinematic effect, 'cuz they know I won't cheese it. Other GM's aren't so lenient.

All in all, ask your GM. That'll be your final answer.

[TinkerGnome]

Looking at rigger 3, building your own exo-suit based off one of those shouldn't be hard at all. Use the large anthroform, boost the CF to six or better and put in a standard seat. You're starting out with strength 9, and you can add armor till you're sick of it (with the right engine, 11 points isn't a problem).

Of course, actually doing all this would be subject to GM permission and all that.

[edit]Where are the JIM diving suits mentioned, exactly?[/edit]

[John Campbell]

[Stonecougar]

JIMs are on page 57 of the Cannon Companion.

[FlakJacket]