The S-Mart "Gorilla" is one of the few heavy combat units that S-mart markets. Despite this fact, the "Gorilla" is actually one of the best types of heavy ground combat power armor on the market! One of the unique aspects of this type of power armor is it's interface system. This system uses a full virtual reality suite, with five individual sensor systems spread out across the armor unit, most disguised to appear flush with the body, to provide statistical data almost before he could ask for it, a full panoramic view with high resolution graphics that make the pilot see as though he were not wearing armor at all! Another of it's high selling points is it's heavy weapons, all of which has made this unit coveted by many individuals and organizations. Desert Star makes these units available to it's power armor pilots, but is not a standard issue.
The S-Mart SM-PA01 "Gorilla" Model Type: SM-PA01 Class: Heavy Strategic Military Assault Exoskeleton. Crew: 1 M.D.C. by Location:
*Head-120
Arms(2)-140each
Legs(2)-210 each
*Back Blast Packs(2)-55 each
40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher-75
**Main Body-335
* These designated areas of the armor are small and difficult targets to hit, so therefore may only be struck with a penalty of -3 to strike.
** Once the MDC of the "Gorilla" is depleted, the armor is in tatters resulting in a total systems shut down. Performance: Maximum Running Speed: 60 mph; Note that the act of running does tire out it's operator, but at 15% the usual fatigue rate. Leaping: The powerful robot legs can leap 15' high or across. Maximum Flying Speed: Not Possible; The armor unit is simply too bulky and heavy to be carried by a conventional jet pack, and serious modifications would have to be made for the mounting of a power armor jet thruster unit. Maximum Swimming Speed: 4 mph using typical swimming type motions, or the unit may run along the bottom of the ocean at half it's normal running speed. Maximum Safe Diving Depth: The unit is safe from the water tight seal being ruptured up to 150' in depth.
Statistical Data: Height: 8' Width: 5' Length: 4'6" Weight: 470 Lbs. Physical Strength: Equal to a PS of 35. Power System: Nuclear; 5 year average energy life. Cargo: None. Market Cost: This unit is regularly sold on the open market for 3.2 million credits, however Allied Nations get these units at a cost of 2.2 million credits.
System Notes: Virtual Reality Interface System: As mentioned before this system allows a pilot to call on data and calculations even faster than a normal HUD equipped power armor pilot. Additionally, the unit is not weakened by the presence of a vulnerable area such as a visor. The unit is instead equipped with five sensor units placed around the armor, and disguised to be flush with the body and head of the "Gorilla", which prevents all but the most knowledged of opponents from blinding the "Gorilla". Another aspect of this system is that the "Gorilla" can focus and fire up to four different weapon systems, if available, at the same time, costing only ONE attack. One must remember that the pilot inside "sees" via a high resolution graphic scene as interpreted by the system, meaning that the pilot sees as though he is not even in a power armor unit, but as if he were standing out in the field with nothing on his head at all, but with all these calculations and small windows always around his/her peripherals. Light Polarization Lense: This system automatically adjusts light filters to prevent the unit's pilot from
being blinded by sudden explosions or blasts of light. Infrared Optics: This allows the unit's pilot to see into the infrared spectrum of light, and differentiate heat sources up to 2,000' away. Passive Nightvision: Allows the pilot of the unit to see up to 2,000' in the dark. Image Enhancement: This permits a unit's pilot to zoom in on anything received on his/her optics system. Telescopic Optics: This enhances a pilot's vision to 6,000'. Military Radio & Scrambler: 500 mile range. Ribbon Cannister: An Anti-Missile system that is essentially only a chaff dispenser. This upper back mounted device has three separate uses, and each use renders any and all radar guided ordinance/tracking targeted upon the unit to lose track of their target on a roll of 01-70%. This will also discourage laser guided weapons, taking away all guidance bonuses. It only lasts for about 10 seconds. Smoke Cannister: Another countermeasures device that discourages Infrared guided weapons and distorts Thermal emissions! All attacks leveled at the unit while protected by this "smoke screen" will be conducted at a -3 to strike. This smoke can be expelled up to six times before needing to be "recharged. Each use will see it's smoke dissipate after 15 seconds. Infrared Baffeling: The "Gorilla" has been specifically designed to be very difficult to spot on infrared and thermal optics. All of those trying to spot such suits may only do so at a -20% on their Optics Systems or Read Sensory Systems Skills, whichever applies to the situation. Other Systems: This unit also has all of the other standard features of Power Armor as described in the Main RIFTS Book including Environmental systems, Heat and Radiation Shielding, Radar (50 mile range!), Combat Computer, etc.
Weapon Systems:
1.Rapid Fire Field Cannon-12 (RFFC-12): This rapid fire field cannon is intended to be the primary integral weapon system. (A rapid fire field cannon is a cannon that fires two rounds, one a nano-second after the other, propelled by standard propellants as well as electro-magnetic acceleration, using the same basic principles of a rail gun.). It is mounted in the right forearm to permit proper aim and directional capabilities. Primary Purpose: Anti-Armor Secondary Purpose: Anti-Personel Mega-Damage: 2D4x10MD per dual shells fired. (3' Blast Radius for both shells combined.) Rate of Fire: Dual Rapid Fire Shells only! Maximum Effective Range: 1,650' Payload: 60 Dual Shell Bursts
2.Ramjet Machine Cannon (RMC-1): This weapon was placed to defend the unit against lightly armored opponents. In grappling, troops specialized with this suit are trained to fire this weapon into the visor or sensor system of the adversary, as a means to free the unit to back away and use heavier weapons. It can be found mounted in the left forearm. Primary Purpose: Anti Personel Secondary Purpose: Defense Mega-Damage: 4D6MD per burst of ten rounds. 1D4MD per single round. Rate of Fire: Standard; Aimed, Burst, Wild. Maximum Effective Range: 1,200' Payload: 60 shots per clip; 3 clips are carried, and come with the suit.
3.Flechette Backblast Cannister: This heavy rear mounted weapon is designed to detour opponents from sneaking up behind the unit. On command it will release a concentrated blast of flechettes, powerful enough to shred lightly armored adversaries and severely damage those that are armored more heavily. Primary Purpose: Anti-Personel Secondary Purpose: Defense Mega-Damage: 1D4x10MD (40 flechettes spread 120 degrees around the rear of the unit.) Rate of Fire: Flechette Bursts only! Maximum Effective Range: 90' Payload: 6 Flechette Bursts of 40 rounds each
4.Minilet Backblast Cannister: This device is a heavy weapon that is designed to disable and destroy large groups of vehicles or troops. It releases a cloud of minilets, small clearish disks about the size of a half dollar. If someone is walking/driving and not expecting a trap/attack, then that is when this weapon is best used. The entire cloud that is released adheres to the ground, and all those deployed will detonate if only ONE of them is stepped upon! If all fifty minilets are released, the blast is devastating. Imagine...4D6x50MD!! Primary Purpose: Anti-Personel Secondary Purpose: Anti-Armor Mega-Damage: 4D6MD per minilet. Maximum Effective Range: 150' Rate of Fire: From 1 to all 50 at once! Payload: 50 minilets in the launcher.
5.40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher Pistol: This Grenade Launcher is the standard issue "sidearm" for the "Gorilla". It is essentially a semi automatic pistol that fires Grenades. Primary Purpose: Anti-Armor Secondary Purpose: Anti-Personel Mega-Damage: 1D4X10MD to a 3' area per AP grenade. Maximum Effective Range: 3,000' Rate of Fire: Standard; Aimed, Burst, Wild. Payload: 20 Gernades Per Clip; 3 clips are carried, and come with the suit.
6.Hand to Hand Combat Abilities:
+2 Attacks (+1 additional attack at levels 3, 9, and 15.)
+2 to Strike
+4 to Strike with all integral weapon systems
+3 to Parry
+3 to Dodge
+4 to Roll
Damages:
Punch: 2D4MD
Kick: 3D4MD
Leap Kick: 3D6MD
Body Flip/Throw: 2D6MD
Body Block/Tackle: 2D6MD
The picture used above is available courtesy of R. Talsorian's "Cyberpunk 2020®" as seen in their now discontinued source book Maximum Metal. In the source book it is seen as the Militech Commando, a power armor unit produced by a huge American Conglomeration. This is by no means an attempt to steal the hard working efforts of R. Talsorian Inc's authors or artists, but merely used here as a means of utilizing interesting designs from their source materials, inside of Palladium Books' RIFTS.
A special thanks goes out to Marauder, who scanned this picture and provided it to me, only after many hours of begging and groveling. ;o)
