Dog Boy Power Armor Suit
The Thunder Hound is unique in that this power armor was not created for human beings, but for Dog Boys – the genetically engi- neered animal-men created by the tens of thousands by the Coalition States. The idea actually came from the CS, who has been toying with the idea of upgrading the Psi-Hounds (their official name) with better body armor and even a power armor suit. The CS considers the so-called “Dog Boys” as less than human and therefore unfit to use heavy weapons, armor and power armor. However, after decades of deployment as CS defenders, protectors and law enforcement of- ficers, Dog Boys have proven themselves to be more loyal and com- mitted to protecting humanity than many humans themselves. Dog Boys are to always remain grunts operating on the streets and in the trenches, subservient to humans, and never trained in skills such as piloting, computers, medicine, science or engineering, but they are being considered for getting an expanded range of weapons, gear and armor to better serve and protect humanity in their roles as police, soldiers and monster hunters. This suits Dog Boys perfectly as they are still dominated by instincts, and those instincts are to befriend, protect and serve humanity.
Dog Boys are, by nature, hunters and enemies of the supernatural and the monstrous. Dog Boys enjoy working with humans, uphold- ing the “law of the pack” (i.e. human society) and tracking down and destroying their enemies. Even ordinary canines instinctively recog- nize evil supernatural beings as dangerous predators and natural en- emies to themselves and humanity. As such, Dog Boys stand against evil supernatural beings and try to protect others from their wicked- ness and predatory ways. Though some supernatural monsters like
vampires can control canines and other animals, the beasts do not
serve them willingly and run away at the first opportunity. Dog Boys are intelligent and strong-willed enough that supernatural creatures that can control animals cannot summon or control them. If anything, Dog Boys feel and loathe the presence of such supernatural fiends more than any other demonic being.
The Coalition States has not decided whether it wants to give “non-humans” – even loyal ones like the Dog Boys – the level of power that a suit of power armor represents. As a result, they have shelved the project, putting it on indefinite hold. However, the de- sign team led by Cassandra Burke, Lee Carroll, Derek Japser
and William Bailey liked the idea so much, they have continued to
develop Northern Gun’s own power armor for canine humanoids. They were able to change the armor enough to look different from the CS proposed Dog Boy power armor project, and have sold it as the “little brother” to the NG-V61 Gunwolf robot monster slayer. In-
deed, the Thunder Hound suit comes in a few variations: one suitable for completely human pilots (it has a similar but different helmet and neck area), one specifically for Dog Boys, and another customizable for canine humanoids and D-Bees (unofficial). Because the Thunder Hound power armor was originally designed for the Coalition States, there are still some traces of the Coalition’s signature “Dead Boy” skeleton motif, but not so much so that it is confused with CS troops or provokes the CS in any way.
The Dog Boy Basic Model of DX-001 Thunder Hound Power Armor. Since Dog Boys are not allowed to learn a skill like Pilot
Robots & Power Armor, the suit is designed to be simple and intui-
tive. There are not a lot of bells and whistles, making it just a notch or two above full environmental body armor. In short, the Dog Boy puts
the suit on as if it were any other plate body armor, and pretty much goes about his business as usual. The canine soldiers immediately notice that they don’t feel the weight of the armor (it’s supported by the robot exoskeleton) and recognize that they are able to run faster and leap farther than they can without the armor, due to the exoskel- eton and Robot P.S. augmentation built into the suit.
Since Dog Boys have natural advanced senses as well as the abil- ity to detect supernatural evil and magic, the helmet of suits going to Dog Boys is designed to open and flip up at the jaw line, clam-shell style, so they can look out, free of the helmet to use their natural senses as normal (most notably, advanced sense of smell, hearing and psionics). Many walk around like this most of the time so ob- servers encounter a fur-covered canine face inside the wide open jaws of a mechanical canine head/helmet. It actually looks impres- sive and intimidating. Most Dog Boys close the helmet only when they know they are about to enter into combat. The helmet can also be removed completely, and some carry it around in hand or in a backpack or bag until they need it.
Dog Boys remain creatures of instinct and nature, and possess en- hanced senses in the first place, so they have little interest in wearing a helmet even if it offers telescopic vision, nightvision, Heads-Up Display, and many of the other features humans rely upon. At least a third don’t even like walking around inside a “tin can” and prefer to wear partial or full suits of non-environmental body armor, rather than a fully enclosed EBA or power armor. As a result, other than a retractable Vibro-Blade and UEL (Universal Energy Link) in each forearm, the DX-001 Thunder Hound has no built-in weapons nor much in the way of enhanced optics or sensors.
Freeborn and Rogue Dog Boys from all over North America have heard about the DX-001 power armor designed for them, but only a small percentage have come forward to purchase one. Cost is part of the problem. Since Dog Boys not in the service of the CS are considered dangerous renegades and feral beasts, most free and independent Psi-Hounds must operate under the radar. Unless one has acquired a considerable amount of money or is part of a larger mercenary company or group of adventurers willing to purchase a suit for him, most independent Dog Boys simply don’t have the money for one. The HX-002 human model outsells the Dog Boy model six to one. Over time, this may change, and many a Dog Boy has expressed gratitude for NG making the suit available on the open market. While some Dog Boys hate wearing confining armor, others see the tenacious looking DX-001 Thunder Hound power armor as a better way to fight the supernatural and assist their comrades in the field.
Word on the street has it that there are also modified versions available from NG to accommodate feline humaniods and D-Bee morphology (i.e. Grackle-Tooths, etc.) for the right price and be- hind closed doors. Northern Gun publicly denies this and accuses the Black Market (specifically labeling uncooperative agents within the organization) of stealing and modifying their power armors for D-Bees. That is a flat-out lie. NG is making D-Bee customized DBX- 003 armor. The “official” denial is to appease any rising Coalition concerns and preserve their relationship with the nation of human supremacists.
Thunder Hound Power Armor
Model Type: NG DX-001 (Dog Boy). Note: The HX-02 (human)
is exactly the same but has a forearm weapon (20 M.D.C. each) per each arm and extra optics and sensors. The DB-003 (D-Bees) is the same a the DX-001 but costs an additional 250,000 credits for cus- tomization.
Class: Armored Infantry Assault Suit. Crew: One.
M.D.C. by Location:
* Head – 90 Arms (2) – 60 each Legs (2) – 100 each
Jump Jets (4 per lower leg) – 10 each Hard-Shell EBA Backpack – 35 * UEL Cables (2) – 6 each
* Vibro-Blades (2, one each forearm) – 30 each ** Main Body – 185
* A single asterisk indicates a small and difficult target to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “Called Shot,” and even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
Destroying the head/helmet eliminates all forms of optical and sensory enhancement, leaving the pilot to rely on his own human (or other) senses without any of the bonuses granted to him by the Robot Combat skill. If the helmet is destroyed underwater, the wearer suffers from exposure to deep sea pressure at depths great- er than 220 feet (67 m), and takes 2D6 S.D.C./Hit Point damage per melee round and all bonuses are reduced by half.
** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the armor down completely, making it useless.
Speed:
Running: 90 mph (144 km) maximum. Note that the act of running does tire out its operator, but at 10% of the usual fatigue rate for Dog Boys even at maximum speed. (That’s 20% for human at high speeds, but fatigue is reduced to 10% when maintaining a speed of 50 mph/80 km or less.)
Leaping: The powerful robot legs can leap up to 20 feet (6.1 m) high or across unassisted by the jet boosters, increase by 50% with a run- ning start (30% for humans). A jet booster assisted leap can propel the Thunder Hound suit up to 60 feet (18.3 m) high or across; in- crease by 50% with a running start (30% for humans).
VTOL Leaps Upward: The Thunder Hound has a limited jet jump system built into the lower legs to provide additional lift and distance when running. They are designed to enable the armor to leap straight up and down or at an angle to reach floors and rooftops above street level and to pounce upon giant monsters and opponents.
Power Jumping Travel: Not possible.
Flying: None. Even momentary hovering above the ground is not possible.
Cat-Like Landings from Heights: The Thunder Hound can drop or leap down, using its back and leg thrusters to land without risk of damage, from heights as great as 200 feet (61 m), using its thrusters to slow its descent, land softly on its feet and be ready for action.
Drops from heights greater than 200 feet (61 m) up to 400 feet (122 m) are trickier. The power armor is likely to survive the land- ing but may take damage. Roll 1D20 to determine the success of the
landing. On a roll of 1-10 the suit hits the ground hard, takes 4D6
M.D. and the operator loses 1D4 melee actions/attacks before he’s back up on his feet. On a roll of 11-20 the pilot sticks the landing,
and can continue to move/jump/run without damage or delay. Drops from greater heights are not possible without potentially life-threat- ening damage: 2D6x10 M.D. to the power armor, 1D4x10 S.D.C./ Hit Point damage to the wearer inside the armor, and the operator is stunned for 1D4 melee rounds before he recovers from the fall and is able to take action again.
Water: The power armor is not designed for use in the water, but can swim at 12 mph (19 km or 10.3 knots) or walk along the bottom of a body of water at 10 mph (16 km or 8.6 knots). Maximum depth is 500 feet (152 m). The act of swimming or walking underwater does tire out its operator, but at 10% of the usual fatigue rate for Dog Boys, 20% for humans.
Statistical Data:
Height: Man-sized, 5.6 to 8 feet (1.7 to 2.4 m) depending on the size of the wearer.
Width: 3-4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m) depending on the size of the wearer. Length: 2-4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 m) depending on the size of the wearer. Weight: 440 lbs (198 kg).
Physical Strength: Robot P.S. of 28. Cargo: None.
Power System: Nuclear; average energy life is 12 years. Solid Oxide and electric battery versions are also available.
Cost: 975,000 credits for nuclear, 650,000 Solid Oxide and 340,000 electric battery. Add 200,000 credits for the HX-002 model with forearm weapons and additional optics and sensors. Add 250,000-
500,000 credits to the DBX-003 for nonhuman customization to make the armor fit and function to the requirements of the D-Bee’s body.
Weapon Systems:
1. Forearm Vibro-Blades: Each forearm has a retractable Vibro-
Blade concealed in the forearm for hand to hand combat. Primary Purpose: Close Combat.
Secondary Purpose: Defense. Range: Arm’s reach/melee combat.
Mega-Damage: 1D6 M.D. per strike in hand to hand combat Silver-Plated: Since the wearer is likely to be engaging in combat against the supernatural and creatures of magic, the blades are silver- plated and inflict double damage to creatures vulnerable to silver.
2. NG DX-011 Vibro-Chainsaw Sword: The Thunder Hound’s
signature weapon is a three foot (0.9 m) long, handheld, M.D.C. chainsaw sword with silver-plated teeth. It is used for fighting Xiticix and other monsters, as well as slicing open M.D.C. locks, hatches, hive walls and the hulls of vehicles. It is usually worn on the back or hung from the hip.
Primary Purpose: Assault and Anti-Monster. Secondary Purpose: Anti-Armor and Defense.
Range: Melee combat, three feet (0.9 m) beyond arm’s reach. Mega-Damage: Slash: 4D6 M.D. Power Strike (pressing it hard against the target): 1D4x10 M.D., but counts as two melee attacks. Rate of Fire: Each attack counts as one melee action.
Payload: Effectively unlimited when connected to the UEL system. One hour of use with one standard E-Clip.
3. Handheld Weapons: A handheld NG side arm (energy pis-
tol) and NG laser or ion rifle are a standard part of the Thunder Hound’s gear. Additional or alternative weapons and side arms such as a Vibro-Sword, Neural Mace, shotgun, grenades, flares, anti-monster weaponry, wooden stakes and mallet (actually the power armor is strong enough to pound in a wooden stake with its own hand), magic items (not officially encouraged by NG) and other weapons and equipment may be carried on one or two belts around the waist, or in a carrying bag or backpack. Rifles with a strap can be slung over the shoulder.
UEL – Universal Energy Link (2, one in each forearm): The Universal Energy Link is concealed under a layer of forearm plat- ing. When needed, the plate opens and extends enough for the E- Clip connector of the UEL and cable to be removed and plugged into the weapon. The plate armor snaps back into place and a thin cable runs from the back of the forearm, near the wrist, to the weapon in hand. This provides unlimited payload when plugged into any energy weapon that takes an E-Clip and does 1D6x10 or less per attack. The Thunder Hound has one UEL in each forearm.
4. Hand to Hand Combat: Rather than use a weapon, the wearer
can engage in Mega-Damage hand to hand combat. All the Dog Boy’s usual bonuses apply, plus he gets the following bonuses from this power armor: +1 attack per melee round, +1 on initia- tive, +1 to strike, parry, dodge and disarm, and +1 to roll with impact. Note: The usual bonuses of Basic or Elite Ground-Based
Power Armor Training on page 351 or 352 of Rifts® Ultimate Edition do not apply to MOST Dog Boys because the mutants
are NOT given such training. In the rare case that a freeborn Dog Boy is able to learn this skill, ignore the bonuses listed above and use those from the power armor skill. Damage is based on the Robotic P.S. of 28.
Restrained Punch – 1D4 M.D. Full Strength Punch – 1D6 M.D.
Power Punch – 2D6 M.D., but counts as two melee attacks. Kick – 2D4 M.D.
Leap Kick – 2D8 M.D., but counts as two melee attacks.
5. Sensor Systems and Features of Note: All the features common
to power armor.