Panthera Manufacturing “Leopard” Robot Vehicle:


A small specialized company, Panthera Manufacturing builds a variety of four legged robot vehicles based on various “Feline” type creatures. Production is modest compared to much larger companies such as Northern Gun with only comparative handfuls of these vehicles built per year. It might be best to describe the vehicles as virtually hand built.


Only certain customers, those interested in these unusual designs generally purchase these designs. As a result, they are rarely operate as part of either a military or a mercenary company’s standard equipment. A number of individual mercenaries who operate their own vehicles do have some as well as a number of adventurers owning these feline robot vehicles.


The first giant robot design produced by Panthera Manufacturing is the Leopard. Later designs include the Smilodon and Cheetah designs. The Leopard is among the most common designs with probably twice as many as Leopards produces as all other giant robot designs combined. Not as well armored or armed than the Smilodon, it is still quite a bit faster. Compared to the Cheetah, the Leopard is not quite as fast but in exchange is better armored. The Leopard and Cheetah are similarly armed however.


As with other Panthera designs, the Leopard uses mostly systems produced by other companies mostly Northern Gun system. One of the biggest exceptions to this is an extremely sophisticated control system. Gives incredible maneuverability with the Panthera designs being among the most maneuverable designs with the ability to leap, pounce, make claw strikes, and attack with bites. Compared to the later Smilodon, it lacks the vibro-saber teeth but is extremely effective slash attacks. Still, the robot vehicle mostly engages in long range combat than in close combat.


Top speed for the Leopard design is around one hundred miles per hour with a cruise speed of around sixty miles per hour. With a running start, the Leopard can leap up to around one hundred and twenty feet in a single leap. Power for the robot vehicle is provided by an advanced fusion reactor manufactured by Northern Gun Industries with modified versions of the same reactor being used in other Panthera Manufacturing designs. The reactor is designed for low maintenance and can operate for up to two decades without needing to be refueled.


The Leopard was the prototype for weapon systems carried on other robot designs produced by Panthera Manufacturing. All are Northern Gun produced weapon systems. Most important of these is a single NG-H155 Howitzer Rail Gun originally designed for the Hunter Mobile Gun. Unlike the Hunter Mobile Gun, the rail gun is fixed to fire forward although it can angle upwards up to twenty degrees. Mounted along the spine, the Leopard does not have the stability issues of the Northern Gun design. While dwarfed in range by the Glitter Boy boom gun, the rail gun has longer range than most rail gun designs and also inflicts greater damage. A total of eight thousand rounds are carried for the rail gun.


Secondary weaponry includes lighter plasma weaponry and mini-missile launchers. Mounted in the head are twin NG-E12 Heavy Plasma Ejectors which are able to be fired together. Because the neck is flexible, the plasma guns have the ability to rotate up to sixty degrees to either side. Power for the plasma weaponry is pulled from the fusion plant giving it an almost an effectively unlimited payload. Fitted in the shoulders are a pair of semi-concealed mini-missile launchers. Each has a capacity of nine mini-missiles for a total of eighteen mini-missiles. Normal payload are usually dominated by armor piercing and plasma warheads although other warhead types an also be carried.


The cockpits of other Panthera giant robot vehicle designs are based on the cockpit of the Leopard with the Cheetah being a smaller and more cramped version although other designs are more similar to those fitted in the Leopard. Mounted in the main hull of the Leopard, the cockpit is designed for two passengers in addition to the pilot. There is also a reasonable sized storage compartment behind the cockpit. Also produced by Northern Gun Industries, a sophisticated sensor suite is fitted including all of the standard robot sensors including radar. There is no direct view from the cockpit instead relying on camera systems. Full life support systems are also fitted to the robot vehicle’s cockpit.


Model Type: PM-02-LE Leopard

Vehicle Type: Quadruped All Terrain Combat Robot

Crew: One with space for two passengers


M.D.C. by Location:

 

NG-H155 Howitzer Rail Gun (1, Above Shoulders):

120

 

[1] NG-E12 Heavy Plasma Ejectors (2, Sides of Head):

30 each

 

Retractable Missile Launchers (2, Shoulder / Body):

100 each

 

[2] Front Legs (2):

160 each

 

[2] Rear Legs (2):

200 each

 

[3] Head:

200

 

[4] Main Body:

450

 

Reinforced Pilots Compartment (Main Body):

150

Notes:

[1] These locations are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “called shot,” but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.

[2] One leg can be destroyed while retaining most of the robot vehicle’s mobility. If one leg is destroyed, reduce top speed by 25% and the vehicle has -10% to piloting rolls as well as -2 to strike, parry, and dodge.

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the head sensor will impair the pilots sensory and targeting equipment. Long-Range radar is greatly diminished, leaving an effective range of one mile (1.6 km). Radio and laser communications are lost. Short range radio backup provides a 60 mile (96 km) range. Laser targeting is destroyed causing a -1 to strike.

[4] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the Robot Vehicle down completely, rendering it useless.


Speed:

Running: 100 mph (160.9 kph) maximum speed. Cruising speed is generally about 60 mph (96.6 kph).

Leaping: Powerful legs allow robot to leap 50 feet (15.2 meters) up and 80 feet (24.4 meters) across from a standing position and 60 feet (18.3 meters) up and 120 feet (36.6 meters) across with a short running start.

Underwater: It can walk along the bottom of the sea floor at 25% of maximum speed and has a maximum ocean depth of 1 mile (1.6 km).

Range: Limited only by the crew's endurance. Emergency food and air supply will keep the pilot alive for up to two weeks.


Statistical Data:

Height:  16.8 feet (4.75 meters) at shoulders and 18.4 feet (5.61 meters) with howitzer rail gun.

Width:   8.2 feet (2.50 meters).

Length:  22.4 feet (6.83 meters).

Weight: 21.2 tons (19.23 metric tons) empty and 26.6 tons (24.13 tons) fully loaded.

Physical Strength: Equal to a P.S. 40

Power System: Nuclear Fusion with average life span of 20 years.

Cargo: A 4 x 4 x 3 foot (1.2 x 1.2 x 0.9 meters) storage bin for extra equipment and weapons.

Black Market Cost: 36 million credits. Due to rarity, can often cost considerably more.


Weapon Systems

  1. One (1) NG-H155 Rapid Fire Howitzer Rail Gun: Mounted above the main body of the feline robot is a single heavy rail gun. It is fixed forward although can angle up to twenty degrees upwards. Weapon is otherwise basically the weapon system from the NG-V7 Hunter Mobile Gun.

    Maximum Effective Range: 6,000 feet (1,828 meters).

    Mega Damage: Short Burst of 40 rounds: 1D6x10. Long Burst of 80 rounds: 2D6x10.

    Rate of Fire: Equal to the pilots combined hand to hand of gunner (usually 5 or 6).

    Payload: Carries 8,000 (200 short burst or 100 long bursts) rounds in internal drum magazine.

  2. Two (2) NG-E12 Heavy Plasma Ejectors: Mounted in the head, they are powerful secondary weapons which fires a blast of plasma. Being mounted in the head enables the weapon to be able to be targeted off centerline. Able to track targets up to sixty degrees from side to side. Power is pulled from the fusion reactor for an effectively unlimited payload.

    Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (610 meters).

    Mega Damage: Singe Mount: 1D6x10 per plasma blast. Both Mounts: 2D6x10 per twin plasma blast.

    Rate of Fire: Equal to the pilot’s hand to hand attacks.

    Payload: Effectively Unlimited.

  3. Two (2) Concealed Shoulder Mounted Mini-Missile Launchers: Built into each shoulder of the feline robot vehicle is a retractable mini-missile launcher. Each launcher has nine mini-missiles for a total of eighteen mini-missiles.

    Maximum Effective Range: Varies with mini-missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile type. Typically armor piercing and plasma (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), four (4), or six (6) mini-missiles.

    Payload: Eighteen (18) total, nine (9) mini-missiles in each launcher.

  4. Hand to Hand Combat: Rather than use a weapon, the pilot can engage in mega-damage hand to hand combat.

    Bite:1D4x10 M.D.

    Restrained Kick:1D4 M.D.

    Full Strength Claw Kick:3D6 M.D.

    Power Claw Kick:6D6 M.D. but counts as two melee attacks.

    Pounce Claw Kick: 1D6x10+20 M.D. but counts as two melee attacks. Uses all four sets of claws simultaneously.

HAND TO HAND BONUSES:

For “Elite” combat use the listed bonuses and number of attacks, otherwise use Robot Combat basic. All of the Panthera Manufacturing designs use the same “Elite” combat skill even though bonuses are slightly different for the various designs.


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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2014, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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