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How many actions does it take to don a suit of power armor?

I remember reading this somewhere, but I can't remember any of the specifics. If you know the answer, please be sure to include the book and page reference. Thanks in advance for the help!

3 minutes minimum. Would be my guess.

Yeah, one melee round would be my guess too. It just kills me because I know I've read it before. Well, perhaps some kind sage of gaming wisdom will save the day with a solid reference. In the meantime I'll look into Triax, thanks!

macksting wrote:

Grell wrote:Yeah, one melee round would be my guess too.

For the exoskeleton with partial coverage, right?

Well the power armor in question here is a SAM. I'll be sure to let you guys know what I find!

Grell wrote:

macksting wrote:

Grell wrote:Yeah, one melee round would be my guess too.

For the exoskeleton with partial coverage, right?

Well the power armor in question here is a SAM. I'll be sure to let you guys know what I find!

I always assumed hte Power Armours in Rifts worked similarily as the power suits in BGC. You step in the it lifts itslef and locks into place around you.....15 seconds/1 melee sounds about right for such a thing........

Suiting up GM Guide pg 42

The real question is "How Many Actions Would It Take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?"

4, three to lick, one to bite.

Ziggurat the Eternal wrote:4, three to lick, one to bite.

I hated that owl.....

Thanks for the hit on the GM's Guide, Zor. I don't have that one, so I'm hoping the information is a reprint from the earlier mentioned Triax book.

Grell wrote:Thanks for the hit on the GM's Guide, Zor. I don't have that one, so I'm hoping the information is a reprint from the earlier mentioned Triax book.

I was going to wait until I got home yesterday to look and post. I don't have the book with me at work, but I do have a 'quick sheet' as a Word doc that I have various rules and where they are located. Here is what I have in my doc.

Suiting up GM Guide pg 42
Suiting up in Body Armour: 1D4+4 Rounds if man-at-arms. 1D4+4 Minutes if not man-at-arms. ½ time to take off.
Suiting up in PA/Robot: 1 Minute/3 Minutes

ZorValachan wrote:

Grell wrote:Thanks for the hit on the GM's Guide, Zor. I don't have that one, so I'm hoping the information is a reprint from the earlier mentioned Triax book.

I was going to wait until I got home yesterday to look and post. I don't have the book with me at work, but I do have a 'quick sheet' as a Word doc that I have various rules and where they are located. Here is what I have in my doc.

Suiting up GM Guide pg 42
Suiting up in Body Armour: 1D4+4 Rounds if man-at-arms. 1D4+4 Minutes if not man-at-arms. ½ time to take off.
Suiting up in PA/Robot: 1 Minute/3 Minutes

That's incredibly helpful of you, thanks. That information looks so familiar and just what I need at the moment. Thanks!

The duty uniform of an actively flying pilot is their flightsuit, so yes while on duty that is what they wear. They do not, however, wear their G-suit or any other equipment until they are sent out.

Actually, considering how long it takes before a pilot will fire up their engines on a fighter, a 3 minute power up for a robot is pretty fast. Bear in mind that pilots have to personally inspect the vehicle before getting strapped in and powering up. The process on a F-16, last I saw ran at least 10 minutes between pilot arrival and power up.

Grell wrote:The duty uniform of an actively flying pilot is their flightsuit, so yes while on duty that is what they wear. They do not, however, wear their G-suit or any other equipment until they are sent out.

Actually, considering how long it takes before a pilot will fire up their engines on a fighter, a 3 minute power up for a robot is pretty fast. Bear in mind that pilots have to personally inspect the vehicle before getting strapped in and powering up. The process on a F-16, last I saw ran at least 10 minutes between pilot arrival and power up.

Usually in a combat zone though "ready" flights are kept at an already high alert status. I woudl guess that pilots are suited up and ready to go on a moments notice with their planes near ready to go as to minimize pilot to power up/take off times.

What I described is how things go down normally. Having not been privy to any scrambles, I can't say for sure, but I hear that pilots are authorized to launch themselves without a launch crew present (kicking chocks, strap in, etc) and I hear it can be done in a couple of minutes. So, the 3 minute span for a robot would make sense, especially if the future tech makes certain technical aspects easier to accomplish.

Jaymz, you may have a point on pilots on alert status. Truth be told, I'm not sure how they handle that but your logic makes sense and that's pretty much what I'd assume. I was merely talking earlier about standard, day-to-day things.

Here is the house rule we use:

The Game Master wrote:How long does it take to suit-up in EBA?

All "Men of Arms" O.C.C.'s take 1d4+4 melees to suit-up.
All other types of PCs take 1d4+4 minutes to suit-up.
This rule also applies to suiting-up in Power Armor Suits with one addition: If the pilot has a prep team assisting with the power-up, etc. reduce to one minute.
Hopping into a Robotic Vehicle takes one full melee irregardless of O.C.C.

Grell wrote:What I described is how things go down normally. Having not been privy to any scrambles, I can't say for sure, but I hear that pilots are authorized to launch themselves without a launch crew present (kicking chocks, strap in, etc) and I hear it can be done in a couple of minutes. So, the 3 minute span for a robot would make sense, especially if the future tech makes certain technical aspects easier to accomplish.

Jaymz, you may have a point on pilots on alert status. Truth be told, I'm not sure how they handle that but your logic makes sense and that's pretty much what I'd assume. I was merely talking earlier about standard, day-to-day things.

No worries I knew what you meant dude. I was merely adding to it. I knwo in the star wars universe they actually have fighters hot and ready to go with pilots strapped in when on alert status duty....I belevie they do it on the US Carriers as well with alert status fighter already on deck ready to go, pilot inside and waiting...though I may be wrong...

In my GM's Guide the Suiting up is on page 41

Grell wrote:What I described is how things go down normally. Having not been privy to any scrambles, I can't say for sure, but I hear that pilots are authorized to launch themselves without a launch crew present (kicking chocks, strap in, etc) and I hear it can be done in a couple of minutes. So, the 3 minute span for a robot would make sense, especially if the future tech makes certain technical aspects easier to accomplish.

Jaymz, you may have a point on pilots on alert status. Truth be told, I'm not sure how they handle that but your logic makes sense and that's pretty much what I'd assume. I was merely talking earlier about standard, day-to-day things.

Having been one of the "launch crew" at an alert cell in the Air Force, I can tell you that from the start of the klaxon until the plane broke ground was 3 minutes! I launched F-15s out of King Salmon, AK in the early '90s. As the crew chief, I would run to the plane, climb into the seat, start the #2 engine, climb out of the seat as the pilot was climbing the ladder, check basis systems (hydraulics and power generators), pull chocks and direct the plane out of the cell.

I would assume that in the "civilized" locations (CS, NGR, etc.) the PA units have both pilots AND maintenance crews and that those units on the borders sit in states of "Alert" readiness. I would also assume that those crews would operate in about the same way we did in Alaska. The maintenance/launch crewman would start the system boot/systems check while the pilot completed suiting up for operations, then the launch crewman would shift to "launch" duties and the pilot would get into the PA and get moving. Since the whole thing is computerized and mecha-based, the crewman could do most of his duties from a laptop or hand-held device standing next to the PA. I reckon it would take a total of 1.5 minutes.

In "field" locations (small units with no base of operations, Rangers, lone wandering PA pilots, etc.), the pilot would have to perform all of the duties on his own (boot up/systems check and suiting up), so it would take a bit longer; however, since he would be required to do this every time, he should be quite proficient and have a developed procedure for this. I would say, the novice would take 3+ minutes, while the veteran would be able to be in action within 1.5 minutes or less.

That having been said, 15 seconds per Melee Round; 3 minutes = 12 Melee Rounds; 1.5 minutes = 6 Melee Rounds. I would give 1-5 Level PA pilots a 3 minute suit-up/launch time (2 minute [1d6+2 Melees] with a crew), 6-10 Level - 2 minutes (~1.5 minutes[1d4+2 Melees] w/crew), 11-15 Level - 1.5 minutes (~1 minute [1d4 Melees] w/crew).

The above suppositions are based on the Rifts setting. In Robotech, all mecha have crews (except in New Generation), so the launch times are quick; plus, the mecha are more organic than those in other settings, so the launch times are twice as fast. In Skaypers, the mecha are completely organic, so the launch times become almost automatic. For Heroes, I would say, think Iron Man (the movie) - say, one to 1.5 Melees to be armored and in action.

Just my $0.45.