NG-EX10 Gladius Light

Exo-Skeleton Battle Armor
The Gladius was one of Northern Gun’s first attempts at expanding its power armor product line and making man-sized suits. As such, it was given a helmet and appearance reminiscent of the popular Samson, but had bare-bones robotic augmentation. Despite this, the Gladius proved to be extremely popular with excellent sales.
Compared to current power armor, the Gladius is a dinosaur, yet it remains quite popular and is still manufactured without change or upgrade. The Gladius Light cannot have any weapons built into the armor that draw power from the suit because it drains the battery in minutes. It cannot fly and it cannot outrun most vehicles, but it does enhance the wearer’s speed and strength, and provides much more protection than a non-powered suit of conventional body armor. The main selling points are the armor’s incredibly low price tag of 150,000 credits, reliability and good armor protection. For adventurers and mercenaries just starting out, the Gladius Light is the perfect “heavy” body armor with light enhancements.
Instead of a nuclear power pack (the most expensive part of any suit), it uses a rechargeable battery. The battery can be recharged by any vehicle or facility with a nuclear power plant or other generator (it takes 2 hours to recharge), and it lasts for 96 hours of continuous use (4-12 days, depending on how often the suit is used). As long as there is a market for this inexpensive power armor, NG will continue to produce the Gladius.

Gladius Light Power Armor

Model Type: NG-EX10
Class: Armored Infantry Light Exo-Skeleton.
Crew: One.
M.D.C. by Location:

* Head – 70
* Shoulders (2) – 45 each
Arms (2) – 50 each
Legs (2) – 65 each
** Main Body – 180

* A single asterisk indicates a small and/or difficult target to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “Called Shot,” and even then the attacker is -3 to strike.
** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the power armor down completely, making it useless.

Speed

Running: 40 mph (64 km) maximum. Note that the act of running does tire out its operator, but at 30% of the usual fatigue rate at high speeds. Fatigue is reduced to 20% when maintaining a speed of 20 mph (32 km) or less.
Leaping: The enhanced robot legs can leap up to 10 feet (3 m) high or across; increase height or distance by 30% with a running start.
Flying: None.
Water: None. The Gladius sinks like a rock in water.

Statistical Data

Height: Man-sized; 5 to 7.6 feet (1.5 to 2.3 m) depending on the size of the purchaser.
Width: 2-3 feet (0.6 tp 0.9 m) depending on the size of the purchaser.
Length: 1.6 to 4 feet (0.4 to 1.2 m) depending on the size of the purchaser.
Weight: 80-104 lbs (36 to 46 kg) depending on the size of the purchaser.
Physical Strength: Robot P.S. of 20.
Cargo: None.
Power System: Electric battery.
Cost: 150,000 credits for the complete, enhanced exo-skeleton suit. Only comes with an electric battery.

Weapon Systems

1. None: The wearer must use handheld weapons such as energy rifles, pistols, shotguns, Vibro-Blades and light rail guns. Additional weapons, grenades and gear may be carried on belts and straps worn over the armor at the waist and across the chest, as well as in a backpack and/or hand-carried satchels and bags.
2. Hand to Hand Combat: Rather than use a weapon, the pilot can engage in Mega-Damage hand to hand combat. Note: Only bonuses from Robot (and Power Armor) Combat: Basic, on page 352 of Rifts® Ultimate Edition, apply to the wearer of the Gladius Light armor regardless of his other power armor skills or experience.
Elite Ground-Based Power Armor Training does NOT apply in this particular case.
Damage as per Robotic P.S. of 20.

Restrained Punch – 2D6 S.D.C.
Full Strength – 1D4 M.D.
Power Punch – 2D4 M.D., but counts as two melee actions.
Kick – 1D4 M.D.
Leap Kick – 2D6 M.D., but counts as two melee actions.

3. Sensor Systems and Features of Note: The Gladius has only the basic features common to most Environmental Body Armor (EBA), NOT power armor; see page 52 of this book. The following items can be added for an extra cost.
Optional Upgrade: Helmet Light: Similar to a miner’s lamp. The light is usually mounted on the top or on one side of the helmet. Cost: 1,200 credits.
Optional Upgrade: Head Cam: A dashboard-style digital camera usually mounted on the top or on one side of the helmet. Can store up to 96 hours of video and 4,000 still pictures. Cost: 3,500 credits.
Optional Upgrade: Language Translator: Standard unit but it is built into the helmet. Cost: 10,000 credits.
Optional Voice Modulation: The mouthpiece of the helmet includes a built-in loudspeaker to serve as a bullhorn, a language translator and voice modulator (changes/disguises the wearer’s voice; 20 different variations). Cost: 13,500 credits.

NG-EX10 Gladius Light