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Hello! So quick question for all you vets and GMs out there. I am running a Headhunter Assassin in a mid level SDC rifts game. I recently picked up pilot power armor and am looking for one that would fit an assassin. I know that's a bit of a contradictory statement but the game is so big there must be something out there. I know of the "Jumper/Leaper" lightweight power armour (can't remember the exact name) but it seems a little lack luster and the "Black Fist" out of Nurani wave 2 but that's simply too expensive and unavailable for the pre coalition war time line we are running. So is there any additional options you guys would recommend? Or even a modification recommendations for the Leaper/Jumper power armour if not?

bossinater101 wrote:Hello! So quick question for all you vets and GMs out there. I am running a Headhunter Assassin in a mid level SDC rifts game. I recently picked up pilot power armor and am looking for one that would fit an assassin. I know that's a bit of a contradictory statement but the game is so big there must be something out there. I know of the "Jumper/Leaper" lightweight power armour (can't remember the exact name) but it seems a little lack luster and the "Black Fist" out of Nurani wave 2 but that's simply too expensive and unavailable for the pre coalition war time line we are running. So is there any additional options you guys would recommend? Or even a modification recommendations for the Leaper/Jumper power armour if not?

NG-X32 Coyote from Northern Gun 2 is explicitly designed for spies and assassins.

It has no penalties to stealth and is so lightweight and thin that you can actually wear civilian clothing over it and wear it in public without standing out, but it does provide true Robotic strength, enhanced running and leaping (though not to the same degree as a terrain hopper), nuclear power lifespan and concealed built in laser gun and vibro-blade for assassin work, and even camera optics so it can record what the pilot sees (Also designed for spy work recall).

There is also a suit of PA from japan that has no prowl penalty.
ATPA-85 power spy
Rifts japan page 143.
MDC is 110.
(no PA in the book is listed as having robot ps, that may be do to the age of the book)
It also has a light energy weapon built into the chest and pair of vibro blades.
While lacking heavy weapons It has features that make it good for stealth assassin types.
Is noted that any jet pack can be used and they can be tied into the power supply.

Draw back is it is from japan.

Depends on style of assassination, and what the targets are like.
I mean, any dude in a Glitterboy could walk up and crush the target's skull with his hand if there wasn't much in the way of mega-damage security guards.

Or, of course, shoot off the target's head from 2 miles away.

The leaping PA you're thinking of is likely either the Jackrabbit from the Arzno book, or the Triax Terrain Hopper.

The NG Night Reaper has a lot of stealth-related capabilities, and is pretty cheap. The Mirage out of Mercenaries adds some TW functionality, including low grade supernatural strength. Custom-made TW-modified armor doesn't grant quite as many abilities as the Mirage, but offers more choice. It's arguable that different layers of a character's armor could be outfitted with TW effects, such as modifying a NG Stalker suit which is worn under PA.

Do you know a page number for the mirage?

All power armors are appropriate for an assassin, if you don't care about collateral damage.

Nothing says "Ok, you're dead" like a quartet of guided missiles.

My first question is.....where is the game going to start? the supply of what armor the char will have at the beginning would be limited to what is available to the char.

Then, it was already asked, what style of assassination, is your char going to do? Or did you just pick the Assassin h2h because it was available?

If your char is going to be more a sniper...than the Nauruni optical camouflage armor might be the way to go.

Or if your char is just a headhunter that is just doing the job....any.

Mark Hall wrote:All power armors are appropriate for an assassin, if you don't care about collateral damage.

Nothing says "Ok, you're dead" like a quartet of guided missiles.

The "Shock and Awe" school of assassination. I like it!

I mean, it really depends on what you consider an assassin. Most real world ones aren't super ninjas who sneak around unseen, bypass security systems, and quietly eliminate you in your sleep before disappearing into the night. Most just come right up to you, pop a cap in your face and two in your chest, then take off before the authorities show up.

The same holds up in the game, too. Of the four classes in the RUE that are Assassin-adjacent, only one of them (Crazies) even get Prowl as a baseline skill. The other three being Headhunters, Juicers, and City Rats, where only one of those are intrinsically sneaky by their nature; Headhunters and Juicers are a bit on the loud side, relatively speaking at least.

But that's really just semantics. I realize the original poster was interested in the more cinematic take.

That said, I'd honestly avoid power armor altogether for that concept. Even though they have some stealthy options available, the whole idea of power armor runs contrary to the "silent ninja" ideal, at least in my head. If you're really good at your job, you shouldn't even need armor to begin with.

But, roleplaying games where open combat is the norm. So there's that to consider, too.

bossinater101 wrote:Do you know a page number for the mirage?

I am so sorry; I misspoke. The Mirage TW Power Armor is found in Black Market, pp 184-5.

bossinater101 wrote:Hello! So quick question for all you vets and GMs out there. I am running a Headhunter Assassin in a mid level SDC rifts game. I recently picked up pilot power armor and am looking for one that would fit an assassin. I know that's a bit of a contradictory statement but the game is so big there must be something out there. I know of the "Jumper/Leaper" lightweight power armour (can't remember the exact name) but it seems a little lack luster and the "Black Fist" out of Nurani wave 2 but that's simply too expensive and unavailable for the pre coalition war time line we are running. So is there any additional options you guys would recommend? Or even a modification recommendations for the Leaper/Jumper power armour if not?

Standardized Full Conversion Cyborg Chassis do exist for the role of assassination. Given their size (and GM approval) you could have a suit of PA modeled to mimic just about any FCCC's from WB5/WB8/WB14/WB17/WB22 and call it a day, weather the unit is mass produced or a custom job is again going to be up to the GM.

As for actual suits of Power Armor for an assassin it's going to come down to what is their modus opererandi (sp?) and how and why they want to integrate the suit (if at all) into their operations.

Kraynic wrote:

Mark Hall wrote:All power armors are appropriate for an assassin, if you don't care about collateral damage.

Nothing says "Ok, you're dead" like a quartet of guided missiles.

The "Shock and Awe" school of assassination. I like it!

In the Vlad Taltos novels, there's a pair of assassins known as "the Sword and Dagger of the Jhereg." The Easterner did use a dagger, but the Dragaeran used a big ******* greatsword. Why? Because if you want to kill someone quickly, seven feet of steel is a good option.

In Rifts, easiest is to blow people up.