The Prowler is another old, reliable, Northern Gun favorite, espe- cially among adventurers and explorers. It is a bit slower than some other models but handles extremely well, can stop on a dime and is designed to fly silently. Its small size makes it easy to conceal. The “whisper” feature makes the vehicle completely silent except for a barely perceptible hissing when traveling at speeds below 36 miles per hour (57.6 km). This enables those with the Prowl skill to effec- tively move the hovercycle silently, the same as their Prowl skill! Of course, no amount of muffling or prowling ability will hide the pilot when out in the open – ideal for urban and woodland settings.
NG-230 Prowler
Vehicle Type: Combat Hovercycle. Crew: One rider; no space for a passenger. M.D.C. by Location:
* Large Hover Jet (1; rear) – 38 * Small Hover Jet (1; rear) – 15 Side Hover Jets (2) – 30 each
* Undercarriage Directional Jets (4) – 5 each * Side Stabilizing Wings (2) – 18 each * Tail Fin (1; large) – 28
* Forward Headlights (1) – 4 * Forward Laser Turret (1) – 6 Windshield (1) – 18
** Main Body – 80 (104 with deluxe armor)
* A single asterisk indicates small and/or difficult targets to hit and requires the attacker to make a “Called Shot,” and even then
the attacker is -4 to strike. The rider, hunched down, low to the body of the hovercycle, is equally difficult to hit.
** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body shuts the vehicle down completely, making it useless.
Special Bonuses: +5% to piloting skill. Prowl ability: The driver can
apply his own Prowl skill (if he has one) to the driving of the NG-230 Prowler whenever he’s trying to be quiet and drive unnoticed close to the ground, along ground cover, in shadow, etc., and at a slow rate of speed. If the pilot doesn’t have a Prowl skill, the base ability of the vehicle is 20%.
In all cases, to Prowl, the speed of the vehicle cannot exceed 35 mph (56 km). Note that the side mounted booster jets and stabilizers with the whisper feature are often mistaken for mini-missile launch- ers. Two shot mini-missile launchers are sometimes mounted on the front sides or sides of the seat near the tail. Comes standard with a nose laser turret that can rotate 180 degrees side to side and has a 40 degree up and down arc of fire.
Penalties: Multi-shot missile pods or more than three weapon sys-
tems reduces speed by 5% per each, reduces the Prowl ability -20% and negates the +5% piloting bonus. The hovercycle is not designed to be a flyer and suffers a -10% piloting penalty for every 30 feet (9.1 m) above the ground; the higher it goes the wobblier it gets.
Maximum Speed: 190 mph (304 km).
Maximum Altitude: 700 feet (213 m) and handle drops of up to 900
feet (274 m).
Maximum Range: 900 miles (1,440 km).
Engine: Typically a combustion or electric engine; nuclear is avail-
able.
Height: 3.7 feet (1.13 m). Length: 7 feet, 3 inches (2.2 m). Weight: 700 1bs (315 kg).
Additional Weapon Systems: Optional. Any. One additional
weapon can be added to each side at an additional cost. However, this diminishes the aerodynamics and reduces speed by 5% per each extra weapon. Additional weapons are never part of any special dis- count offers, and the full price applies even during sales. One nose gun on a simple turret is standard (customer’s choice) as part of the hovercycle’s cost.
Cost: 142,000 credits gasoline engine, 198,000 credits electric,
780,000 for Solid Oxide and 995,000 for nuclear with a 10 year life. Add 30% to M.D.C. of the main body for the deluxe, armored model, but also add 30% to the cost and reduce speed by 10%. Note: This
vehicle is only occasionally purchased and used by the CS military.
NG-320 Rampage (new)
The Rampage has the shape, styling and handling of a traditional hovercycle. It is sturdy, reliable and fast. Its stubby wings and ex- tra thrusters provide better control for high-speed races and stunt driving, and its heavy armor makes it ideal for adventuring and ex- ploration. As a result, it has become an instant hit amongst explor- ers, mercenaries, bandits, raiders, pirates, Headhunters, Juicers, and men-at-arms of all kinds. The wings and combat capabilities make it unappealing to City Rats and urban criminals, but it would make an excellent interceptor for police forces and lawmen.
Design team leaders Andy “Fly Boy” McElvary, Michael Bara- kofsky and Daniel Garza are the madmen behind this fast, deadly
combat hovercycle and gave it enough M.D.C. armor, speed and fire- power to make it a true combat hovercycle. Even with these features, the Rampage remains maneuverable, can stop on a dime, make dead drops from 1,500 feet (457 m), and can take a beating in the field. As
with all weapons on these new, “winged” combat hovercycles, the Rampage’s dual nose gun and two wing guns come standard with every bike. Getting a Rampage without weapons is a custom order and saves the buyer 100,000 credits, but he’ll have to wait 2D6+10 days to get it.
NG-320 Rampage
Vehicle Type: Winged Combat Hovercycle. Crew: One rider; no space for a passenger. M.D.C. by Location:
* Rear Hover Jet (1, tail, large) – 75 * Concealed Directional Jets (10) – 6 each * Undercarriage Hover Jets (6) – 15 each * Wings (4, toward the back) – 45 each
** Wing Thrusters (4, toward the back) – 40 each ** Wing Guns (2, one on each side) – 30 each Tail Fin (1) – 32
* Dual Nose Gun (1, shielded) – 45 * Forward Headlights (2) – 6 each * Running Lights (8; small) – 3 each Windshield (1) – 20
*** Main Body – 155
* A single asterisk indicates small and/or difficult targets to hit and requires the attacker to make a “Called Shot,” and even then the attacker is -5 to strike. The rider, hunched down, low to the body of the hovercycle, is equally difficult to hit.
** Requires a “Called Shot” to hit (-5 to strike). Depleting the M.D.C. of a wing thruster shuts it down and leaves it damaged beyond repair; it must be completely replaced. There are four wing thrusters. Each time one is lost, reduce maximum speed and
maximum possible altitude by 15%, and inflict a -3% piloting skill penalty. The loss of wing thrusters also reduces the dead drop by 15% for each thruster lost. Losing two thrusters on one side
doubles the piloting penalty. Note: Even if all four wing thrust-
ers are destroyed, the Rampage can still hover, just at a vastly reduced speed (72 mph/115 km) and height (maximum elevation above the ground is 48 feet/14.6 m).
Losing one wing, but not a thruster, reduces speed by 10% and inflicts a -12% piloting penalty. Losing both wings reduces speed by 30% and inflicts a -24% piloting penalty.
Losing one wing thruster, as long as the wing remains intact, reduces speed by 10% and imposes a -5% piloting penalty.
*** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body shuts the vehicle down completely, making it useless. Note: No additional M.D.C.
can be added.
Special Bonuses: Low profile and better control makes it a bit more
difficult to hit: +1 to dodge at speeds below 100 mph (160 km), +2 to dodge at greater speeds. It also has considerable M.D.C. compared to most hovercycles.
Penalties: -5% on piloting skill roll when making sudden stops, trick
moves and elaborate stunts or evasive action. The hovercycle is not designed to be a flyer and suffers a -5% piloting penalty for every 30 feet (9.1 m) above the ground; the higher it goes the wobblier it gets.
With the addition of wings, width becomes a factor not normally a concern for hovercycles which are, by tradition, narrow one-man ve- hicles along the lines of motorcycles. This limits where the Rampage can go. At ten and a half feet wide (3.2 m), narrow alleys are impass- able and the hovercycle is not well suited to forests for the same reason. In even modest forests the vehicle must travel above the tree line to avoid smashing into trees and getting tangled in vines and branches. On the other hand, it is fantastic on the prairie, in deserts
and the wide open spaces of the New West, Southwest and Northern Mexico.
Weapon Penalties: No penalties for the built-in weapon systems,
the usual apply for add-on weapons.
Maximum Speed: 180 mph (288 km).
Maximum Altitude: 90 feet (27.4 m), but typically hovers at 3-12
feet (0.9 to 3.7 m) above the ground; can handle drops of up to 1,500 feet (457 m).
Maximum Range: 1,000 miles (1,600 km).
Engine: Typically a combustion or electric engine; nuclear is avail-
able.
Height: 5.9 feet (1.8 m). Length: 8.5 feet (2.6 m).
Width: 10.6 feet (3.23 m); see width considerations and penalties
above.
Weight: 1,126 lbs (507 kg).
Cost: 379,000 credits gasoline engine or 455,000 credits for electric,
845,000 for Solid Oxide, or 1.4 million for nuclear with a 10 year life. Note: This vehicle has not ever been purchased and used by the
CS military. Hugely popular amongst men-at-arms and customers living in wide open spaces.
Weapon Systems:
1. Over and Under Nose Gun (1): This fire-linked, dual weapon
system typically combines a plasma ejector (top barrel) and a la- ser (smaller second barrel underneath). It is forward facing but has a 45 degree up and down arc of fire.
Primary Purpose: Assault and Anti-Vehicle. Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Range: Plasma: 1,600 feet (488 m). Laser: 2,000 feet (610 m). Mega-Damage: Plasma (over): 4D6 M.D. Laser (under): 2D6 M.D.; 6D6 M.D. combined.
Rate of Fire: Each single or simultaneous dual shot counts as one melee attack.
Payload: Plasma: 12 (has two E-Clips). Laser: 40 shots (has two E- Clips). Both are unlimited if linked to a nuclear power supply. Weapon Cost: 135,000 credits including turret and all features.
2. Wing Guns (1): Mounted under each wing is a basic turret con-
taining an energy weapon. Comes standard issue with the NG- HL40 Short-Range Light Laser because of its superior payload
per E-Clip, but can be replaced by ANY of the modular energy weapons for hovercycles. Fire-linked, the driver can shoot one or both simultaneously at the same target.
Primary Purpose: Assault and Anti-Vehicle. Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Range: 1,200 feet (366 m).
Mega-Damage: 1D6 M.D. per single shot or 2D6 M.D. per double blast when both wing guns shoot at the same time at the same target. Rate of Fire: Single shot only. Each shot counts as one melee attack. Payload: 160 single blasts (80 shots per laser as each has two E- Clips). Unlimited if linked to a nuclear power supply.
3. Additional Weapon Systems: Optional: Any. One additional
weapon can be added to each side in the front, each at an addition- al cost. However, this is not recommended as it diminishes the aerodynamics and reduces speed by 5% per each extra weapon. Additional weapons are never part of any special discount offers, and the full price applies even during sales.
4. Long-Range Communications System: Can link to helmet radio
and boosts any short-range system to 50 miles (80 km). That’s what the antenna on the right side is for.