Realism of the dimensions on the Ares Predator aside, I like this artist's style both in generic low-detail/schematic type pictures (as in the Predator or the Medkit on the DeviantArt site) as well as highly detailed ones. Definitely has some Bradstreet in him. Top-notch.

Actually, it says, "Do U Want a Troll-Sized Penis".

Sorry for the ++ []++ but it is an old typing habit that I have had a tough time getting rid of, as i worked for nextel's insurance fraud department and i had to personalize my notes in a claim in a straight-up non color text program, which was further used in editing/game design for a few jobs.

Anyway, thanks for the positive comments on the work. It makes doing the stuff worth it (that and i am a Shadowrun fan as well). As for the drones: I wanted to make a generic type of realistic combat drone as I couldn't see how the current stuff (even the stuff on the SR4 cover) could maintain its flight characteristics with weapons, ammo and the ultimate in aerodynamic nightmares, armor. The brief i recieved was alot more generic than the final product so i used a bunch of stuff from the first Rigger Book and the Fields of Fire book as a base and throwing in some of the combat drones that are being worked on for military use today. I wanted to give the combat drones the bulk and size of something that would realistically be able to fire in flight without recoil playing havoc. And the idea of vectored thrust and armor for a hover drone in my mind would be a slimmed down version of a T-bird, since armor would create so much drag, while maintaining a rounded shape to shrug off some radar. Now for recon/spy or lightly armed drones, it can be anything but from what i do know about military equipment is that it is bulky and choked full of redundant systems because they are going to take damage by design. As to not looking like current drones, remember the fun of the Rigger book 2.0 and the fact that you could put a panther cannon and a prop blade in a toaster and make it a drone with a few good exploding die rolls.

Every runner should have a Gun Like Alucard does (wee blakkie.. Hellsing = one of the best there is.. ) Failing that, A Predator.. Seriously, only objection I could have to the Predator is that the handle may be half an inch or so to short.. but other than that.. a loovley gun..


(*gets his runner a composite copy of Alucards Gun with Intergral smartlink and gasvent.. *)

I hey, alucard just has a handgun.. if you want anythign bigger.. ofc Victorias cannon will do..

As an aside on the Predator, does anyone else think this looks any better as every Samurai's favourite hand-cannon? It certainly gets around the 'sawn-off rifle' look, and if my scaling is accurate makes it about the same size as a Desert Eagle- a Heavy Pistol if ever there was one.

-JH.

I really like the design. Big and Nasty is what the Predator has always been supposed to be.
Cheers to ++ [ tfxr ]3.0 ++. It's good to see that the artist has done some homework too.

Max

Thanks once again...and if I had my choice of sawn-off rifles in Shadowrun it would be the bladerunner rip-off .233 Pistol from the Fallout CRPG. Now that was a gun.

Ah Fallout. I wonder when they'll make another game... or a table top version...

Well, there is Degenesis.

the SPECIAL system was written out for pen-and-paper gaming. there's a free PDF somewhere online, but it doesn't pop up on the first page when i google it. someone else will have to track it down.

ok, i had to do a bunch of digging for this (10 whole minutes, dagnabbit!).

at first i was only able to find hints, and a french site where the guy was working on a book, but as near as i could tell (my french ain't all that impressive) it wasn't finished... but, after extensive searching (5th page of google, i think), i have discovered limitted amounts of information:

1) the game is called Fallout Warfare.
2) it came free with fallout tactics: brotherhood of steel.
3) it also comes with the Fallout Radioactive set (or whatever it's called... a compendium of all the fallout games).
4) it is supposed to be free here. i am now going to attempt to download it... which is hard, because it isn't at all clearly labelled

i will let you know if i have better success...

[edit] aha! think i've got it... the FOWrules.zip and FOWcounter.zip files are most likely it... i was just blind, is all =P [/edit]

[edit2] corrected the typo on the URL... thank you jervinator [/edit2]

hrmmm... ok, not quite what i was thinking actually... the FOW files are indeed Fallout Warfare, however they are not an RPG per se (they are actually wargame rules basically).

there is supposed to be an actual fallout PNP game at this site, but that site seems to have a slight problem with not existing right now.

however, that does mean that the rules are probably out there... somewhere... and the company knows about them, and describes them as 'fine' in the FOW files (not sure what that is supposed to mean, exactly, but whatever)

good luck finding it...

Jaid - You made a slight typographical error. I believe you meant for that first link to go here.

it could be that that bit on the end is used to help weigh down the barrel to help with recoil. i can't remember what they're called.

Oddly enough, they're called "barrel weights". Like in the discontinued USP Match.

The real reason the Predator has such a hugely bulky frame is that someone had the bright idea to tack a lot of crap onto the Beretta 93R used for the original Robocop gun.

"Angelina gets a Photoshop lesson in gun safety!"

Maybe so. However, it doesn't look like it would be much bigger than the HK Mk23 SOCOM. Honestly, when it comes to pistols, I don't think the size of the weapon itself does any more "discouragement" than simply having a firearm in the first place.

Then again, since when has marketing ever really been logical?

I did a little work on the pic just now. My revision now closely matches the proportions of the Mk23.

Mk23 is known as a large, but at least practical combat handgun.

Anyone want to host it so everyone can take a look?