Panthera Manufacturing “Tiger” Robot Vehicle:

While in general two legged humanoid type robots are more popular, there are a number of four legged robot designs. They have plenty of advantages such as far superior balance. One of the manufacturers of such designs is the company Panthera Manufacturing. A relatively young company, they produce “feline” type robot designs. Relatively small, the produce only a relatively few vehicles a year compared to companies such as Northern Gun. Still, these vehicles are very well engineered and have been described as being virtually hand built.

These vehicles generally do not attract the interest in mercenary companies or military forces. Instead, these robot vehicles are mostly marketed to individuals. They can sometimes be found in mercenary companies but are not standard issue but instead are the property of the pilot. A number of adventurers and freelancers also own these robot vehicles.

At around thirty tons, the Tiger is the second largest vehicle the company produces with only the Smilodon, also known as the “Sabre Tooth,” being actually larger. It was the second large robot design produced by Panthera Manufacturing with the Leopard being the first design produced by the company. Even though rarely operated in large groups, the Tiger does make a good support vehicle when operated with the slightly older Leopard design. While not as well armored as the Smilodon, the Tiger is better armored than either the Cheetah or Leopard designs.

Panthera Manufacturing does not produce much in the way of weapon systems or electronics, instead preferring to buy off the shelf systems and components. This actually makes their designs easier to repair than many designs produced by other small companies. Many of the systems used in Panthera designs are manufactured by Northern Gun.

One major exception to this with designs produced by Panthera Manufacturing is the is an extremely sophisticated control system. The company designs are more responsive than those produced by a great number of other companies and allow the vehicle to react much like a real feline creature might. This includes the ability to leap, pounce, make claw strikes, and attack with bites. Even so, the Tiger is far more likely to engage in long range combat and if fact is better equipped for long range combat than most Panthera robot designs.

Similar to the Leopard, top speed for the Tiger is around one hundred miles per hour with a more common cruising speed of around sixty miles per hour. Also similar, the Tiger can leap up to around one hundred and twenty feet with a running start. A modified version of the same advanced fusion plant used in the Leopard is used in the Tiger. Produced by Northern Gun, the fusion reactor is designed to operate for upwards of two decades between refueling and only requires minimal maintenance.

In common with most other Panthera Manufacturing designs, the Tiger is armed with a single NG-H155 Howitzer Rail Gun originally designed for the Hunter Mobile Gun. Having a longer range than most rail guns and able to fire extremely heavy bursts, the rail gun is designed to fire forward only and is mounted along the spine of the Tiger. The heavy rail gun can however angle up to twenty degrees. A total of eight thousand rounds of ammunition are carried for the heavy rail gun. Compared to the Northern Gun Hunter designs, the Tiger is a much more stable gun platform.

On either side of the rail gun however the Tiger is equipped with six shot “short” medium range missile box launcher. A total of twelve of these missiles are carried with no reloads. Carrying the short version of the medium range missiles allows more to be carried than might otherwise be mounted. Unlike the heavy rail gun, these box launchers are produced by Wellington Industries who also manufacture most of the these special “short” medium range missiles. A single launcher can be emptied in a single volley but are more commonly fire one at a time or in volleys of two.

For secondary weaponry, the Tiger mounts the same semi concealed mini-missile launchers in the shoulders and plasma ejectors on the head. Like the howitzer rail gun, both secondary systems are manufactured by Northern Gun. . Each semi-concealed missile launcher has nine mini-missiles for a total of eighteen mini-missiles. Most common missiles carried are plasma and armor piercing warheads but other mini-missile types can also be carried. Powered by the fusion plant, the two NG-E12 Heavy Plasma Ejectors can be fired together. Mounted in the head allows them to be angled up to sixty degrees to either side.

The Tiger’s cockpit is a modified version of the cockpit designed originally for the Leopard. The most important modification of the cockpit of the Tiger is the fire control systems for the medium range missiles. Otherwise, the cockpit is designed for a single pilot with two passengers. There is also a special storage compartment for emergency gear. To give better protection, the cockpit is mounted inside of the main body of the Tiger. The cockpit is fully environmental with a similar life support system to other robot vehicle designs.

While there is no direct view from the cockpit, there is a sophisticated camera system to allow the pilot to see around the Tiger. There is a full robot sensor suite including among other things a thermal camera systems, high end magnification, long range targeting suit, and a medium range radar system. With the medium range missiles, the radar system is more vital than with most other robot vehicles produced by Panthera. All of the electronic systems are produced by Northern Gun.

Model Type: PM-03-TI Tiger

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
	WI-88M “Short” Medium Range Launchers (2 - Sides of Rail Gun):	60 each
	[1] NG-E12 Heavy Plasma Ejectors (2, Sides of Head):	30 each
	Retractable Missile Launchers (2, Shoulder / Body):	100 each
	[2] Front Legs (2):	220 each
	[2] Rear Legs (2):	250 each
	[3] Head:	240
	[4] Main Body:	550
	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: 17.6 feet (5.36 meters) at shoulders and 19.2 feet (5.85 meters) with howitzer rail gun / missile launchers.

Width: 9.0 feet (2.74 meters).

Length: 24.8 feet (7.56 meters).

Weight: 28.5 tons (25.85 metric tons) empty and 35.4 tons (32.11 tons) fully loaded.

Physical Strength: Equal to a P.S. 42

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: 45 million credits. Due to rarity, can often cost considerably more.

Weapon Systems

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.
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.
Two (2) WI-88M “Short” Medium Range Box Launchers: Mounted to either side of the howitzer rail gun are box launchers which fire a “shortened” version of medium range missiles with ranges of around ten miles. Otherwise, the missiles are identical in speed and warhead to normal length medium range missiles. The system is designed to be able to target multiple incoming missiles simultaneously.

Maximum Effective Range: 10 miles (16 km)

Mega Damage: As per medium range missile type (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) “short” medium range missiles.

Payload: Twelve (12) total, six (6) “short” medium range missiles in each launcher.
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.
Hand to Hand Combat: Rather than use a weapon, the pilot can engage in mega-damage hand to hand combat.

Bite: 1D6x10 M.D.

Restrained Kick: 1D6 M.D.

Full Strength Claw Kick: 4D6 M.D.

Power Claw Kick: 8D6 M.D. but counts as two melee attacks.

Pounce Claw Kick: 2D4x10 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.

Two hand to hand attacks per melee (plus pilots)
+2 to roll with punch, fall, or impact (explosion), reducing damage by half.
Kick attack
+2 to strike
+2 to parry
+4 to dodge
Critical strikes same as pilots hand to hand.
One additional hand to hand attack at levels five (5) and ten (10).

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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