Outlander cycle?

[HeatDeath]

Apparently it's on the stock vehicle list in the pocketbox too. Hc 2.

[swordtart]

Originally Posted by HeatDeath

Apparently it's on the stock vehicle list in the pocketbox too. Hc 2.

Yes, it made it all the way to the B&W Car Wars Deluxe Edition but was no longer present from Compendium 2 onwards.

The listing shows the option as a second linked MG rather than an RL (it's the Shogun 200 that has the RL option).

There is a sidecar that goes with it. This has a RL which would need to be fired instead of the main armament as it can't be linked. I would dump the RL, and have a rider with hand weapons or a pintle gun instead. It does however have improved suspension so would increase the HC to 3.

The main issue with the sidecar or the 2 gun version is that you lose what I consider the main advantage of the Outlander which is the acceleration. The basic Outlander could hide in a side street and catch up a vehicle moving at road speeds from a standing start by the time the rider had begun to get his sustained fire from the MG. Of course an MG is pretty pathetic against a combat vehicle, but against the 20pt armour of many of the contemporary vehicles (or an urban runabout) it was adequate (especially with a pack attack).

I reworked it to use modern components to enhance the capability (without altering the basic structure and falls into the scope of a retrofit) and it becomes more credible.

Outlander Redux by Swordtart:
Heavy Cycle; Cycle chassis; Heavy suspension; Super Cycle PP w/HDHTMs; 2 Hvy Duty tires. Driver. Machine Gun w/20xStandard. Pillion Passenger; HD Shocks. 2x9 pt. LRFP Hubs, 1x9 pt. LRFP Guards F; 1x9 pt. LRFP Guards B; 2x9 pt., 2 spc. LRFP CA (Plant, Rider); 2x9 pt., 1 spc. LRFP CA (MG, Pillion*).

Cost: $7,338, Wgt: 1,240,
HC: 2, Top Speed: 160 (105), Accel: 10 (20).

It can still carry 60lb of cargo (e.g. personal gear) without affecting the Accel. That means the Pillion passenger (who has a 360 arc of fire) can carry something pretty chunky. Alternatively you can add conventional armour.

Whilst you lose the 15 Acc of the original, the HDHTMs will bring it to 20 in stern chase. The addition of 4 sets of CA, wheel guards and hubs. and upgrading from Std to HD tires adds resilience. HD shocks means you can actually weather some of the fire that now strips your armour rather than components per the original design.

The cost is almost double, but it is much more resilient.

Alternatively if you want to double down on that speed advantage...

Outlander Speedball Redux by Swordtart:
Heavy Cycle; Streamlining; Cycle chassis; Heavy suspension; Super Cycle PP w/HDHTMs; 2 Standard Radial tires. Driver. Machine Gun w/20xStandard. HD Shocks. 2 pts. Plastic (F: 1 R: 0 L: 0 B: 1 T: 0 U: 0); 2x1 pt. Plastic Hubs, 1x1 pt. Plastic Guards F; 2x1 pt. Plastic Hubs, 1x1 pt. Plastic Guards B; 1x2 pt., 2 spc. Plastic CA (Plant); 1x5 pt., 1 spc. Plastic CA (MG).
Cargo 18lb (Acc 15) or 318lb (Acc 10)
Cost: $6,479, Wgt: 988, HC: 3, Top Speed: 197.5 (130), Accel: 15 (30).

The Std tires of the original have been upgraded to Radials giving a welcome HC boost (which you will need if you are doing 197.5 MPH). Wheel guards and hubs have been added to make the wheels more resilient to gunfire (and virtually immune to hand weapons). Some conventional armour has been retained to allow streamlining but CA has been used instead to bring the protection back up for the main components. There is 18lb spare for personal equipment (IBA for rider usually).

*CA for Pillion may not fit with your interpretation of the rules so you might save this weight and cost.

[Dr Rick]

Thank you all! Since it seems to be the default gang leader cycle I was expecting something marginally less... rubbish :). I'll will probably slightly upskill the original a la Swordtart's designs, and keep working on the rather more competent "Inlander" I started on last night...

[swordtart]

The best gang leader cycle is generally a trike :)