In Rogue Trader, can just anyone use Powered Armor (rules-wise, not story-wise)?
Given the one free aquisition to start, the whole team could begin with Powered Armor. That I can avoid easily enough with story reasons. But when the characters later defeat someone wearing power armor, is there something to prevent them using it?
Ki_Ryn said:
In Rogue Trader, can just anyone use Powered Armor (rules-wise, not story-wise)?
Yes, if it fits and doesn't use a special interface.
Ki_Ryn said:
... But when the characters later defeat someone wearing power armor, is there something to prevent them using it?
Is the armor intact?
Can they repair and maintain the suit?
Can they get it fitted to their character?
Does the control interface of the armor require an MIU or another unique implant to control? If so, can the player acquire what's needed?
Power Armor, IMO, should be heinously expensive to maintain and operate, even for a Rogue Trader. I think regular upkeep rolls should be required for it and I have a power source chart I use that is seperate from the armor itself:
Poor Quality Power Source: 1d5 hours opertaional time
Common Quality Power Source - 5+1d5 hours opertaional time
Good Quality Power Source: 1d5 days opertaional time
Best Quality Power Source: 5+1d5 days opertaional time
I start Poor Quality power sources at Rare availability.
I'm not opposed to players having powerful things, I just like them to understand that some things are a rare sight even to Rogue Traders and the like.
Power armour is Extremely Rare. If they can acquire it and / or the GM allows it they can start with it - personally I didn't allow the PCs in my game to start with power armour.
That aside anyone with Tech-Use and Trade Armorer should be able to keep it running. If you want to modify/repair it you need a properly trained Tech priest (again Tech-Use, Trade Armorer maybe some other GM assigned skills needed).
Thats it.
Your players, if they are smart, will do whatever they can to increase their survivability. Allow them to do this. I've found over the decades that its best to enjoy their ingenuity and let them hang themselves with the consequences of their actions.
You can get nearly the SAME protection from a BEST suit of Storm Trooper Armour as Light Power Armour. It doesn't have all the same bells and whistles but its better than flak armour.
Remember its a sandbox game and making rules to make things more complex does just that, make sit more complex.
Side Note: A composite bow with mono arrows and a red dot wielded by a competent bowman can kill a guy in power armor (a few shots or RF if its a major NPC - or have a hundred bowmen pepper their buts if they come out of cover). So its not like they are going to be invulnerable in it.
Yes, everyone can use power armor in RT. (really liked the idea about power sources!)
As for using the armor, you have to consider that they killed the guy inside so the armor has most likely taken alot of abuse during the fight.
You can allow them to try and repair it and either get a fully functional power armor or take away certain subsystems that they were able to repair.
If not don't let them have it. It's broken/destroyed. Depending on the situation you might also allow them to return said armor to the chapter (might want to skip how it got trashed) and earn some good will for either killing a renegade or returning the armor of a fallen battlebrother.
It is also possible (although extremely difficult) that players can put their hands on Power Armour that don't have a limited battery, like the Sororitas Power Armour. Or they can find a way to upgrade their Power Armour with one of such Power Sources.
How would you handle such an adquisition?
PS: I really liked the Power Source Quality rule. Would you have to roll the time when you purchase the Power Source or every time you recharge your Armour?
Maese Mateo said:
It is also possible (although extremely difficult) that players can put their hands on Power Armour that don't have a limited battery, like the Sororitas Power Armour. Or they can find a way to upgrade their Power Armour with one of such Power Sources.
How would you handle such an adquisition?
I put them as Unique items that the owners don't want to let go of. This kind of item should not be an acquisition but an endevor unto itself, and a very dangerous endevor at that.
Maese Mateo said:
PS: I really liked the Power Source Quality rule. Would you have to roll the time when you purchase the Power Source or every time you recharge your Armour?
Play it how you feel best, but I like the variable every time the suit is powered up. To me, that unpredictability is what is entertaining and keeps the players nervous.