Power Armor Type Character

[Benrocks1980]

Hey Y’all, I’m a long time Rifts player from the 90s . I only recently got into Heroes Unlimited. My son really wants to play an Iron Man type character. Any tips for doing that in HE? Im kind of at a loss. Our team is going to be kind of a cross between The Avengers, X-Men, and The Justice League.

[Grazzik]

Well, to do a PA OCC in HU2 by RAW, you'd probably look at the Robotics OCC (HU2 pg 192), under the Robot Exoskeleton Pilot option.

However, as a former Rifts player, if there is a Rifts OCC that you prefer (Glitterboy, CS, NGR, NG, etc.) just use that one. Anything MDC convert 1:1 to SDC and use the AR equivalents you can find throughout HU. Though if you want a bit of challenge in the game, to compensate for the lack of any real superpowers, you could play a 1:10 SDC game to allow the PA to take / deal out a bit more punishment.

[taalismn]

The Gizmo class from Powers Unlimited 2 works along those line.

The Supersoldier class from Powers Unlimited 2 can similarly be modified skill-wise and by liberally defining the character's super-vehicle. You'd also have the added bonus of taking superpowers or cybernetics/bionics.

Similarly, if you're going with the pilot-inventor schtick, the Natural Genius from Powers Unlimited 2 can take appropriate skill programs as part of their 'other' skills, plus they get all sorts of nice mental powers like Find Weakness.

If you don't have Powers Unlimited 2 but just the basic rulebook, try modifying one of the Hardware characters by swapping a few skills for Robot Mechanics/Electronics and the appropriate piloting skills. There's no canon Robot Hardware profile in the basic book, but there's at least one Robot Hardware fan-brewed profile out on the web.

You'll still have to build a suit using the Robotics class, though.

[Benrocks1980]

Thanks for the replies!

[Stone Gargoyle]

The Pilot Robot skill from the Aliens Unlimited Galaxy Guide is helpful and is free to those who choose the piloted robot/power armor option which is covered in the Heroes Unlimited 2nd Edition main book.

[Regularguy]

You could also fake it: for example, a three-major-powers Experiment with (a) an APS that would grant flight and blasting and resistance to injury and not needing to breathe and so on, but which the hero typically only activates while wearing his custom-made suit of armor; and (b) Mechano-Link, which he uses to act like a computer-hacking tech genius whether in the armor or out of it; and, well, (c) a third power to help the whole effect along.

[taalismn]

You could also fake it: for example, a three-major-powers Experiment with (a) an APS that would grant flight and blasting and resistance to injury and not needing to breathe and so on, but which the hero typically only activates while wearing his custom-made suit of armor; and (b) Mechano-Link, which he uses to act like a computer-hacking tech genius whether in the armor or out of it; and, well, (c) a third power to help the whole effect along.

I've done something like that with a cyber-biotech implant system that gives the character life support, flight, and an armor APS, so it's doable.

[Regularguy]

I was thinking APS Void: fly around, blast stuff, go without air, compensate for bright light or total darkness, and so on — plus you’re protected from cold and radiation and the like, but if that third power is Invulnerability (while you’re always acting like you’re a squishy human inside a tough suit of armor, or acting like you could die from a stray bullet as you dramatically scramble to get to said armor, or acting like it’s the armor that lets you perform any superhuman feats of strength), that’s just gilding the lily.