CS Civilian Vehicle Manufacturers

[MikelAmroni]

A long time ago I was working up some CS car manufacturer imprints, and came up with this list:

CS: Empire Motor Cars (based in Chi-Town): Known for their luxury vehicles and sports cars, this manufacturer does a fair business in the rural utility vehicle market, as well as heavy vehicles for utilities and large companies. They are the oldest Coalition vehicle manufacturer, havign acquired most of its competitors. They hold 1/2 of the government contract for the production of combat capable hovercraft for use by the military and police. They exclusively produce the pursuit hovercycles and pursuit hovercraft for using in most ISS forces in the Coalition.

CS: Iron Heart Automotive Consortium: When you think truck, you think IHA. Since coming into its own during the Campaign of Unity, IHAC has been known for its rock solid performing trucks, and mining equipment. This focus on heavy equipment leaves them a bit behind Empire and El Dorado, but their sales don't reflect any kind of weakness. Empire is still well known for the utility market, but even there they are second fiddle to the new kid. It is not uncommon for third parties to end up with "scrapped" dump trucks and other heavy haulers and convert them to a poor man's gun truck. Several young mercenary companies use them as easily converted cargo carriers and limited use APCs. The CS levies fines for those that do this in CS territory, but unless they are used in acts of aggression against CS targets, they are not confiscated or destroyed. This of course does not apply if the owner is a D-bee or magic user, but then most exceptions don't exist for either of these type of people.

CS: El Dorado Automotive: El Dorado Automotive, and its subsidiary El Dorado Marine, have long been a major power in the politics of El Dorado, and welcomed adoption into the CS as a full member state. The company was founded some thirty years ago by Michael Kirk, a successful operator who decided to go into business not just fixing, but making cars and boats. They hold a substantial part of the government contract for patrol boats for this end of the Mississippi, and are a major supplier of marine engines for nearly every community south of Chi-town. Their cars are considered among the most rugged in the business, and it is a widely held belief that you could survive a direct missile hit to the car that destroyed the car. While this is an overstatement, they are sturdy craft. Some malcontents modify them for combat, and they are very popular on the combat racing circuits. But while they are known for their survivability and ease of repair, they are not known for their comfort. One of the biggest complaint by drivers is that they have to have a good dentist to fix them up after a ride in the country off road. All in all, their affordability and the fact that they are hard to hurt make them very valued on the open civilian market.

Lone Star Automotive: Lone Star Automotive is a newer company specializing in hover vehicles and off road vehicles, perfect for the Lone Star back country! While they lack some of the well established links of the northern states, they have a wide open market in Lone Star, and even into Arizona, though they don't realize it. Their off road and hover vehicles are very popular among ranchers and miners.

Well I finally came up with an image for the EMC Pursuit. Stats I'll have up in a bit, but here's the ad for the vehicle. You'll probably find it familiar. I used several different existing hovercycles as parts for this one. While all the work is mine, most of the core concepts were Braeux (used the hovercycles in WB 16 for guides). Using the Vehicle Building rules in Rifters 50 and 51, I intend to come up with a full product line for each, from ATVs to Semis and Construction vehicles (where applicable), as well as a few common modifications (some legal, some illegal). Those I can, I'll come up with pictures for. This is not going to be a quick project, but I intend for it to be an expansive one. These aren't military vehicles (with a few notable exceptions, like this one), but rather the kinds of civilian vehicles the OCCs suggest. I mean you can port over stats and descriptions based on Triax 2 (and I intend to include a lot of those as the actual stats - well references to them - to go with the pictures and fluff I come up with for each), but that shouldn't be the end of the creativity.

Urban Pursuit Hovercycle - I.S.S. Special

[taalismn]

Much welcomed flavor about our favorite police state. Of COURSE the CS is going to have car companies, but will they follow the same course as the old Soviet Union, with rugged, but problematic, 'people's cars' for the regular population, and big Zil-like limos for the Party faithful?

[taalismn]

They could make over engineered cars like 1930's Germany.

Of course only people have cars would be the elite or those who live in rural areas; all others must take public transportation since there would be limited parking space.

"Make a Statement for Humanity! Run over a D-Bee today in our new Superion, the latest urban sedan from Empire Motors!"

[renfield]

I like the names, very cool! I may look at writing up one or two sets of wheels for those myself...

[MikelAmroni]

So far I have the American (hover sedan - no tagline yet) and the Comet (Wheeled sports car - "The Sports Car that could only come from Chi-Town." a play on the dodge charger commercials). This is all for Empire Motor Cars. No stats yet (in large part because there are serviceable stats in Triax which will work until I rebuild them)

I'll update the initial post with my stuff. I'm trying to conform to the kind of advertising you'd see on Fox or NBC - high road feel with low blow messages. Empire focuses more on its legacy (it is the oldest manufacturer in the CS), which IHAC has more of a rough and tumble feel to both its advertising and car line. Think of it almost like Peterbuilt or Caterpillar got into cars as a side business. They'd still be big on their trucks and equipment, but would have a decent civilian line - especially rural work trucks and RVs. El Dorado would have that new kid on the rise feel (think Toyota four or five years ago, or Ford after the loans). El Dorado has a more varied market, so its less on anti-dbee and more on human ingenuity and design. It gets to be marketable to the CS proper, without completely alienating their civilian non-human market (depend on the era involved).

[MikelAmroni]

Rhino-Buffalo Heavy Cargo Haulers

The Rhino-Buffalo line of trucks are large and imposing heavy haulers with all of the subtlety and tenacity of its namesake. It is Iron Heart Automotive's premiere vehicle line and the backbone of the infrastructure within each state. Interstate traffic is handled by ship, train, and the occasional air cargo flight by DHT, but all local and regional traffic is handled the old fashioned way. Local and independent haulers all tend to be the same basic design as they have been for centuries, with slight stylistic variations based on year and specific model (not to mention brands and manufacturers). Those vehicles, however, are not Rhino-Buffaloes. Even modified with armor plating, as many operators and outfits like Golden Age Weaponsmiths do, they will never match the quality that IHAC packs in all of it's Rhino-Buffalo series.

When the Coalition States were looking for a new APC, IHAC was ready with a proven product, the Rhino-Buffalo. The end result was the Mark VII Slayer. That same performance profile that made it perfect for moving a large amounts of cargo meant that with changed gearing and transmission equipment, it could move faster, even with the increased armor. In the end they merely managed a 25% increase in top speed under full load. The redesign teams considered it a success and piled on armor, weapons, and space for weapons. The irony is that nothing short of a complete redesign could have completed the same result, so there is little hope of any aftermarket redesign coming close to the Slayer.

Regardless the entire series of vehicles is very popular in the industrial market, with a brisk trade with mining companies, cargo hauling concerns and approved mercenary companies and settlements. More than a few of the older ones have ended up in the hands of adventurers throughout North America. Their durability and ease of repair makes them quite popular. Unlike the Slayer, very few of the Rhino-Buffalo series are actually nuclear powered - it is far too expensive, and diesel is too readily available for the average civilian company with the ability to actually purchase the vehicles themselves. Electrical drive versions are also quite popular, often buying a single nuclear version to recharge the other vehicles in a convoy. The vehicles feature long range radios, basic sensors, a basic set of sleeping quarters for a team of two-four drivers, with food and water

Tractor/Trailer Version
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff24 ... railer.jpg

M.D.C. by location
Tractor
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff24 ... ractor.jpg
*Windshield - 50
*Side Windows (2) - 20
Puncture Proof Wheels (4) - 8
*Access Hatch (2) - 50
*Fifth Wheel Trailer Connection - 25
**Main Body - 125

Trailer
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff24 ... railer.jpg
Main Body - 225
*Fifth Wheel Connection - 25
Puncture Proof Wheels (4) - 8
* Every item marked by a single asterisk is small and/or difficult to strike. An attacker must make a "called shot" to hit and even then he is -3 to strike.
** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the truck down completely, rendering it useless.
Destroying one wheel reduces speed by 40%. Destroying any two wheels reduces speed by 80% and induces a penalty of -40% to the piloting skill.

Speed
Land: 60 mph (128.7 km) maximum at full load. Cruise is a much more sedate 45 mph (72 kph). Without a load, increase the top speed to 80 mph; cruising speed remains the same.
Water: None
Flying: None
Statistical Data
Height: 18 feet (5.4 m) tall
Width: 15 feet (4.6m)
Length: 15 feet (4.6m)
Weight: 22 tons unloaded.
Cargo: Aside from a small area for personal equipment and food and water, the cab has little to no cargo storage. The trailer can be any of a number of more or less traditional trailers or intermodal container trailers, or it can be the custom produced trailer made by IHAC for the Rhino-Buffalo. This trailer will hold two 40 foot containers end to end, and is used mostly for long distance hauling. Vehicle carriers are also common, especially in moving vehicles to the dealerships that sell them. (I am shying away from a definite cargo limit until I do some research).

Sensor System and Features of Note:
A. Six high impact, puncture proof tires, designed by Triax, but now created in Iron Heart.
B. Automatic locking hatches opened by voice recognition
and/or by number code punched in on an eight digit key pad.
C. Homing beacon and long-range radio communication.
D. Radio Communication: Long Range, directional communication system with an effective range of about 500 miles (800 km), as well as a directional, sort-range radio. Range is about 5-10 miles (5-16 km). Plus a built in loudspeaker: 80 decibels.
E. External Audio Pick-up: A sound amplification listening system that can pick up a whisper at 150 feet.
F. Complete environmental pilot and crew compartment: The compartment can usually seat 2 to 4 people and is reinforced to protect the people from mega-damage. It is air tight, pressurized and suitable for use in all hostile environments, including under water (500 foot max. depth) and space. The following features are included.
• Computer controlled life support system.
• Internal cooling and temperature control.
• Air purification and circulation systems, gas filtration, humidifier/dehumidifier automatically engages when needed. Can recirculate breathable air for up to four weeks before getting to stale to breathe.
• Computer controlled, independent oxygen supply and purge system that automatically engages in low oxygen or contaminated air environments. Twelve hour oxygen supply.
• Insulated, high temperature resistant shielding for up to 400 degrees centigrade. Normal fires do no damage. Nuclear, plasma, and magic fires do full damage.
• Radiation shielded.
• Polarized and light sensitive/adjusting tinted visor.

Cargo Van Version
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff24 ... rgovan.jpg
M.D.C. by location
*Windshield - 50
*Side Windows (2) - 20
Puncture Proof Wheels (8) - 8
*Access Hatch (4) - 50
**Main Body - 200
* Every item marked by a single asterisk is small and/or difficult to strike. An attacker must make a "called shot" to hit and even then he is -3 to strike.
** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the truck down completely, rendering it useless.
Destroying two wheels reduces speed by 20%. Destroying three on one side reduces speed by 40% and induces a penalty of -40% to the piloting skill. Destroying four wheels on one side reduces speed by 60%; same penalty.

Speed
Land: 60 mph (128.7 km) maximum at full load. Cruise is a much more sedate 45 mph (72 kph). Without a load, increase the top speed to 80 mph; cruising speed remains the same.
Water: None
Flying: None
Statistical Data
Height: 18 feet (5.4 m) tall
Width: 15 feet (4.6m)
Length: 44 feet (4.6m)
Weight: 22 tons unloaded.
Cargo: Aside from a small area for personal equipment and food and water, the cab has little to no cargo storage. The cargo area is essentially the same as a 40 foot intermodal cargo container, with access from the back and both sides (I am shying away from a definite cargo limit until I do some research).

Sensor System and Features of Note:
A. Eight high impact, puncture proof tires, designed by Triax, but now created in Iron Heart.
B. Automatic locking hatches opened by voice recognition
and/or by number code punched in on an eight digit key pad.
C. Homing beacon and long-range radio communication.
D. Radio Communication: Long Range, directional communication system with an effective range of about 500 miles (800 km), as well as a directional, sort-range radio. Range is about 5-10 miles (5-16 km). Plus a built in loudspeaker: 80 decibels.
E. External Audio Pick-up: A sound amplification listening system that can pick up a whisper at 150 feet.
F. Complete environmental pilot and crew compartment: The compartment can usually seat 2 to 4 people and is reinforced to protect the people from mega-damage. It is air tight, pressurized and suitable for use in all hostile environments, including under water (500 foot max. depth) and space. The following features are included.
• Computer controlled life support system.
• Internal cooling and temperature control.
• Air purification and circulation systems, gas filtration, humidifier/dehumidifier automatically engages when needed. Can recirculate breathable air for up to four weeks before getting to stale to breathe.
• Computer controlled, independent oxygen supply and purge system that automatically engages in low oxygen or contaminated air environments. Twelve hour oxygen supply.
• Insulated, high temperature resistant shielding for up to 400 degrees centigrade. Normal fires do no damage. Nuclear, plasma, and magic fires do full damage.
• Radiation shielded.
• Polarized and light sensitive/adjusting tinted visor.

Tanker/Fire truck/etc
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff24 ... tanker.jpg
M.D.C. by location
*Windshield - 50
*Side Windows (2) - 20
Puncture Proof Wheels (8) - 8
*Access Hatch (2; front) - 50
*Pump Access Hatch (2; both sides) - 50
Tank - 150
**Main Body - 150
* Every item marked by a single asterisk is small and/or difficult to strike. An attacker must make a "called shot" to hit and even then he is -3 to strike.
** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the truck down completely, rendering it useless.
Destroying two wheels reduces speed by 20%. Destroying three on one side reduces speed by 40% and induces a penalty of -40% to the piloting skill. Destroying four wheels on one side reduces speed by 60%; same penalty.

Speed
Land: 60 mph (128.7 km) maximum at full load. Cruise is a much more sedate 45 mph (72 kph). Without a load, increase the top speed to 80 mph; cruising speed remains the same.
Water: None
Flying: None
Statistical Data
Height: 18 feet (5.4 m) tall
Width: 15 feet (4.6m)
Length: 44 feet (4.6m)
Weight: 22 tons unloaded.
Cargo: Aside from a small area for personal equipment and food and water, the cab has little to no cargo storage. The cargo area is essentially the same as a 40 foot intermodal cargo container, with access from the back and both sides (I am shying away from a definite cargo limit until I do some research).

Sensor System and Features of Note:
A. Eight high impact, puncture proof tires, designed by Triax, but now created in Iron Heart.
B. Automatic locking hatches opened by voice recognition
and/or by number code punched in on an eight digit key pad.
C. Homing beacon and long-range radio communication.
D. Radio Communication: Long Range, directional communication system with an effective range of about 500 miles (800 km), as well as a directional, sort-range radio. Range is about 5-10 miles (5-16 km). Plus a built in loudspeaker: 80 decibels.
E. External Audio Pick-up: A sound amplification listening system that can pick up a whisper at 150 feet.
F. Complete environmental pilot and crew compartment: The compartment can usually seat 2 to 4 people and is reinforced to protect the people from mega-damage. It is air tight, pressurized and suitable for use in all hostile environments, including under water (500 foot max. depth) and space. The following features are included.
• Computer controlled life support system.
• Internal cooling and temperature control.
• Air purification and circulation systems, gas filtration, humidifier/dehumidifier automatically engages when needed. Can recirculate breathable air for up to four weeks before getting to stale to breathe.
• Computer controlled, independent oxygen supply and purge system that automatically engages in low oxygen or contaminated air environments. Twelve hour oxygen supply.
• Insulated, high temperature resistant shielding for up to 400 degrees centigrade. Normal fires do no damage. Nuclear, plasma, and magic fires do full damage.
• Radiation shielded.
• Polarized and light sensitive/adjusting tinted visor.

Dump Truck
(Stats forthcoming)

[keir451]

HOORAAAAYYYY!!!! I've been waiting for someone to come up w/"regular" vehicles, it's even OK (like you need MY ok ) that they seem based on the Mk vAPC chassis. Makes building them fairly easy and cheap.
I like 'em so much I give them 2 thumbs up.

[taalismn]

Mike, that is one suitably stodgy, ugly, utilitarian vehicle that ought to do very well across the CS, and be on many adventurers' 'steal as a matter of convenience' list. Thank you and congrats.

[MikelAmroni]

I basically stripped the death's head and weapons off the Mark VII APC from CWC and then cut it down for the Tractor version. The tanker version is easy enough and I should have that done soon - the dump truck version is a bit harder. Glad everyone likes. I gave it the same protection as the mini-hauler from WB5. And like most really good work vehicles, they don't need to be pretty, they need to be effective. I figured the Mark VII APC had to be based on something.

[MikelAmroni]

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff24 ... tanker.jpg

Posted the stats up above. Working on a couple of trailers.

[glitterboy2098]

you know, the two 'patrol car' types are just begging for lightly protected civilian models. you got your cheap utility version and your fancy sports cars version just going by looks, and you should be able to 'el camino' a truck version of the basic patrol car by stretching the frame..

[MikelAmroni]

Added more on the tractor/trailer, redid the pic a little. The tractor is now more in line with it's stats. It's a 65 foot trailer.

[jaymz]

Mike between you and Killer Cyborg you guys should corroborate and make the CS Civilian Sourcebook or somesuch. I think it would go over REALLY well as people like flavour material for the masses not JUST military gear.

[Omega6]

Are you going to post the stats for the Urban Pursuit Hovercycle? I would like to see them.

[taalismn]

Mike between you and Killer Cyborg you guys should corroborate and make the CS Civilian Sourcebook or somesuch. I think it would go over REALLY well as people like flavour material for the masses not JUST military gear.

And remember: "A Strong Economy is a Strong Weapon! Strong at Home, Strong on the Battlefield!"*

*because the more robust the economy, the more the people can be asked to sacrifice to the war effort. Plus all those assembly lines can be converted over to war material, and those trained technicians recruited to repair equipment trucked back from the front(or the technicians themselves moved to repair depots closer to the action).

[MikelAmroni]

Are you going to post the stats for the Urban Pursuit Hovercycle? I would like to see them.

To be honest, I never made them, I'll get some up in the next few days.

I also added a new company up top:

Lone Star Automotive: Lone Star Automotive is a newer company specializing in hover vehicles and off road vehicles, perfect for the Lone Star back country! While they lack some of the well established links of the northern states, they have a wide open market in Lone Star, and even into Arizona, though they don't realize it. Their off road and hover vehicles are very popular among ranchers and miners.

[Aramanthus]

Hi Mike. Have you done any more with this? I would love to see more of these vehicles.

[MikelAmroni]

Long awaited. Critiques welcome. I basically combined the NG-230 Prowler, the NG-400 Stinger, and the NG-480 Turbo. I made it a rather fragile creature, but agile and stable despite this. Strong frame, thin armor.

AFHC-490 Urban Pursuit Light Patrol Hovercycle
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff24 ... rcycle.jpg

The AFHC-490 Urban Pursuit is a sleek, low profile hovercycle with excellent handling and speed manufactured by Empire Motors and purchased wholesale by the ISS. It was developed in partnership with Northern Gun/Ishpeming, who use these capable hovercycles for their own internal security.
The engineers wanted to combine the stability of the Stinger (NG-400/AFHC-400) with the agility of the Turbo (NG-480/AFHC-480). After extensive retooling and about twenty kitbashes, the team from Empire (with their NG Liason) made a breakthrough that became the AFHC-490 Urban Pursuit Hovercycle.
The design goal was always to create a sturdy, stable hovercycle for the I.S.S. While the Prowler, Stinger, and even the Turbo were useful, the I.S.S. wanted the capabilities of all three in one bike to reduce maintenance costs. They also required that the maintenance not be so out of the ordinary as to require retraining motor-pool staff.
The Urban Pursuit has the same whisper quiet engines as the prowler, but uses a ball hover jet for increased agility and manuevering, vital in urban pursuit. The combination of the whisper-mode of the Prowler and the increased agility make this a wonderful, if fragile addition to I.S.S. This is perhaps its greatest failing. To lighten up the bike to get the required agility, armor had to be reduced to levels deemed unworthy of front line combat vehicles, but perfect for the I.S.S.'s more low key needs.
Nickname: "The Urban Pursuit"
Model Type: AFHC-490
Class: Combat Hovercycle
Crew: One rider; no space for a passenger.
Special Bonuses & Penalties:

Superior Handling: The Urban Pursuit handles well and the driver gets a +2 to dodge and a +10% bonus to his piloting skill for basic driving and maneuvers. The increased stability gained by using the AFHC-400 frame removed the front heavy penalties of the Turbo and increased the handling of the hovercycle. Lightening the frame and armor gives the hover-ball jet-thruster the ability to make the side-to-side boosts capable of covering significant distance, allowing for greater agility.
Prowl ability: The driver can apply his prowl skill (if he has one) to the driving of the AFHC-490 Urban Pursuit whenever he's trying to be quiet and drive unnoticed (close to the ground, along ground cover, in shadow, etc.). 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).

M.D.C. by Location:
* Rear Hover Ball Jet Housing (2) — 30 each
* Rear Jet Boosters (2) — 25 each
* Undercarriage Directional Jets (8) — 3 each
* Forward Headlights (2) — 7 each
* C-1T Laser Turret — 25
Reinforced Windshield (1) —16
**Main Body — 65
* Every item marked by a single asterisk is small and/or difficult to strike. An attacker must make a "called shot" to hit and even then he is -3 to strike.
Destroying one of the rear hover jets reduces speed by 20%. Destroying one of the rear jets reduces speed by 20%.
** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body completely destroys the vehicle.
Speed
Flying: 220 mph (352 kph), but cruising speed is considered to range between 80 and 150 mph (128 and 240 km). VTOL capable, can hover stationary; retractable landing gear. Maximum altitude is limited to about 400 feet (122 m). and can handle drops of up to 400 ft (122m).
Water: The Urban Pursuit can also skim across the surface of water at a speed of 100 mph (160 km/85 knots). It is not a submersible and will sink like a rock if the hover jets are turned off.
Flying Range: The nuclear power supply gives the vehicle decades of life. The Urban Pursuit is a workhorse that can be flown continuously for 96 hours without fear of overheating, although the driver will give out far before then.
Statistical Data
Length: 12 feet (3.6 m)
Weight: 700 lbs (315 kg)
Cargo: Minimal storage space. There is a holster/slot for a rifle or carbine on each side of the seat, in the space in front of the knees. Alternately a messenger bag sized satchel can be placed here. For I.S.S. patrols, a bag with a computer and commicator will be on one side, with a rifle or carbine on the other side.
Power System: Nuclear, average energy life is 20 years.
Weapon Systems
1. C-1T Laser Turret (1): One single-barrel laser built into a nose turret is located in the front of the hovercycle. It is capable of 60 degree rotation and arc of fire.
Primary Purpose: Anti-personnel
Secondary Purpose: Defense
Mega-Damage: 2D6 per blast
Range: 2000 feet (610m)
Rate of Fire: Equal to the number of hand to hand attacks per melee round of the pilot or gunner (usually 4 to 6).
Payload: Effectively unlimited.
2. Sensors/Equipment: Short-range radio, infrared and thermal optics, and short-range radar.

[abtex]

Nice. Any more in the works?

[keir451]

What about farming equipment? Those CS farmers most likely aren't using the old "ox(en) and a plow" scenario.