PERFORMANCE INPROVEMENT DEVICES

 These devices can improve a vehicles's performance on the road. All require time in the shop for installation and testing before the owners can use them. The general operations of the vehicles have not changed from the Star Frontiers Alpha Dawn rules.

 Air Brakes: Air brakes are pneumatic panels that are fitted into the rear sections of a vehicle. They cannot be seen easily. When activated they jut out and create drag, thus stopping the vehicle faster. A vehicle using air brakes adds 20 meters/turn to its deceleration rate.

 A driver using air brakes for emergency braking adds +20 to his Reaction Speed for the purpose of keeping the vehicle under control. The installation time is 10 days. Air brakes can be installed on all vehicles except construction machinery, research vehicles, and otehr special-purpose machines.

 Auto-Extinguisher: The auto-extinguisher comprises of a series of spray nozzles mounted on the inside and outside of a vehicle with lines running to a pressurized tank in the vehicle's storage compartment. The tank contains foam similar to that found in an extinguish foam grenade. The spray puts out any fire in one turn.

 When a vehicle thus equipped rolls, the system is automatically turned on and the vehicle is foamed down. This automatically lowers the Roll and Burn result of a crash to a Roll result.

 After one use, the entire auto-extinguish system must be replaced, unless it was activated manually, in which case only the tank must be refilled. The system can be activated manually if the vehicle is on fire for reasons other than acrash. The fire will be extinguished in one turn. The installation time is two weeks. The auto-extinguish system can be installed on all non-cycle vehicles.

 Gyrostabilizer: The gyrostabilizer is attached to theunderside of a vehicle. Its function is to immediately stabilize a vehicle while cornering, thus the vehicle's turn speed is improved by 20%. For example, a ground car, whose normal maximum safe turn speed is 80 meters/turn, has an additional 16 meters/turn (80 x .20 = 16) of turn speed when a gyrostabilizer is attached making its new maximum safe turn speed 96 meters/turn. The gyrostabilizer has no effect on rolls.

 The installation time is 12 days and the gyrostabilizer can be installed on any car, cycle, or transport.

 Rocket Booster: The rocket booster pack is a rectangular unit that must be installed in the very center of the vehicle's rear. It has four tubes which have directional propellant charges in them. Each time a charge is ignited the vehicles speed is increased by 30 meters/turn for one turn only.

 Only one charge can be ignited per turn, unless the entire fourpack is ignited. This is a desperate measure for those rare instances when a superburst of speed is needed: jumping ramps, ramming through obstacles, etc.

 This additional speed may exceed the vehicle's normal maximum speed rate. No more than one rocket booster may be attached to a vehicle. Additional charges can be purchased and the tube mounting is reusable, but each vehicle type has its own rocket booster pack and mounting specially designed for its size and shape.

 Ignition is controlled from the cockpit. Characters who are five meters directly befind the rocket booster when it is fired suffer 6d10 points of damage. Installation timme is five days; the rocket booster can be installed on ground cars, ground cycles, hover cars, hovercycles, and explorers.

 VEHICULAR ARMOR

 Strangely enough, the need for vehicular bodyarmor came about as a result of peaceful exploration. Maddened beasts and natives on newly discovered planets often would attack vehicles before any retreate or protectioncould be arranged.

 Desiring more protection for their employees, the various exploration concerns creates an expensive spray-on synthetic armor that would help nullify nearly all kinds of damage. This spray is extremely thick and can be used on structures and vehicles. The armoring process is applied in layers. The number of the layers determines the resistance to damage.

 Spray armor is heavy and slows the vehicle down, so normal vehicles that are armored usually do not have a lot of layers, unless they intend to move slowly. For every layer added to a vehicle the following modifications must be made.

• The vehicle will take an additional 25 points of damage before it is penetrated. All the armor resistance must be negated before damage requries consulting the Vehicle Damage Table.
• The vehicle's maximum speed is lowered: atmospheric craft by 40 mph per layer, all others by 15 kph per layer.
• In a crash, passengers suffer damage as if from a crash at a speed 10 meters/turn less for each layer of armor. For example, if a vehicle with two layers of armor crashes at 40 meters/turn, the passengers suffer damage as if the crash were only at 20 meters/turn (1d10 points of damage).
• Each layer of armor can only absorb a total of 25 points of damage; it is destroyed once this amount of damage has been done. New layers may be sprayed on to replace the old ones. Instalation time is six days for every armor layer applied. Vehiclular armor can be applied to all vehicles.

 Referees may wish to create new heavyduty transport vehicles with multiple parabatteries and motors that can maintain a decent speed while still being heavily armored. This would be a natural development by security services transporting valuable goods, military forces, and criminals to prsion or trial.

 VEHICULAR WEAPONRY

 Vehicle-mounted weaponry is not common on the Frontier outside of the military and law enforcement forces. Even criminals are loathe to mount easily-spotted weapons on vehicles. It is illegal to have mounted weapons on a vehicle unless a permit has been granted by Star Law. These permits are issued for dangerous explorations, ambassadorial vehicles, etc. Any other vehicle possessing a mounted weapon may legally be destroyed on sight.

 The referee has great leeway when it comes to vehicluar weaponry because it can easily unbalance a game. Here are some guidelines, however, if you wish to pursue this subject.

 1) This section is not intended for the creation of military of paramilitary vehicles, only private or corporate vehicles.

 2) Remember that the combat modifiers for vehicle-to-vehicle combat covered in the Star Frontiers Alpha Dawn game (Range, movement, and target size) also apply to mounted vehicular weapons.

 3) Try not to create a killer vehicle or a society that fosters such; it would tend to detract from the purpose of the game.

 4) There are two different types of mounted weapons: fixed mount (see Vehicle-Sight progit on following pages) and swivel mount (refereed to in the Mind-Mount progit).

4a) Fixed-mount weapons are bolted right to the vehicle and usually set at a fixed range. These weapons are directional and to fire in another direction would require the entire vehicle to turn. Fixed weapons would normally be found on ground cars, cycles, explorers, aircars, and jetcopters. Common fixed weapons: lasers, proton beams, auto-weapons, MLTCs, grenade launchers, and some rifle types on smaller vehicles.

4b) Swivel-mount weapons are manned weapons that are affixed to a post or ring with a swivel mount that allows them to be povoted in all directions. Swivel mounts would normally be found on ground and hover cars, ground and hover transports, explorers, and larger jetcopters. Common swivel-mount weapons include some of the medium-ordinance weapons, such as the laser Ke-5000, rafflur M-10, sonic devastator, and larger MLTCs.

 VEHICULAR COMPUTER

 The vehicle computer, or VC, is a progit-accepting computer designed in the same fashion as a bodycomp, except the VC is mounted in the vehicle's cockpit and linked to all of the vehicle's functions. It has 12 ports and uses the same type of power packs and processor packs as a bodycomp.

 Usually situated behind the driver' seat in a reinforced case,the VC's controls can be mounted between the front seats, one the dashboard, on the steering wheel, on the roof, or wherever the referee or player wants them. Installation time is three weeks.

 The VC can be isntalled in all vehicles except glijets and floater discs (see the New Vehicles section).

 Vehicle progits are desigend exclusively for use with a vehicle computer. Even the progit types listed here that are defined as identical types to bodycomp progits will perform those functions only when attached to a VC.

 VC PROGITS--TYPE A

 Audio-Act: This progit performs the same function as a bodycomp Audio-Act progit.

 Comp-Talk: This progit performs the same function as a bodycomp Comp-Talk progit.

 Dis-Viz: This progit performs the same function as a bodycomp Dis-Viz, except the information is projected onto the windshield.

 Fuel-Scan: This progit monitors the parabattery's output vs. use. It conserves energy whenever possible and increases the Range by 25%.

 Help-Beam: This progit performs the same functions as a bodycomp Help-Beam progit. It can be linked to a Vehicle-Scan progit for automatic activation.

 Help-Call: This progit performs the same function as a bodycomp Help-Call progit. It can belinked to a Vehicle-Scan progit for automatic activation.

 Help-Drive: This progit assists the maneuvering mechanism in such a manner as to subtract 30 from the dice roll after the player has lost ontrol of the vehicle and is determining the vehicle's fate on the Control Table.

 For example, Ralph attempts a dangerous maneuver and misses his Reaction Speed roll, thus losing control of his vehicle. He rolls a 1d100 for a result of 97. To this he adds his speed perfurn, which was 105 kph. Normally the result would have been 202 and Ralph would have been in a spin, but since he had his Help-Drive progit assisting him his final number is actually 202 - 30 = 172, which means Ralph is in a much more favorable skid.

 Skid-Hold: This progit coordinates the vehicle's functions in such a manner as to add +20 to the driver's Reaction Speed when performing a Skid Turn.

 Turn-Quik: This progit coordinates the vehicle's functions in such a manner as to add a +15 to the driver's Reaction Speed when performing a Short Corner Turn.

 War-Bump: This progit coordinates the vehicle's functions in such a manner as to add a +20 to the driver's Reaction Speed when performing or evading a Bumping maneuver.

 VC PROGITS--TYPE B

 Comm-Link: This progit performs the same function as a bodycomp Comm-Link progit.

 Dis-Map: (Must be used with Dis-Viz.) This progit contains multiple maps. The maps can be for a huge city, a good-sized country, or a small continent. Thousands of different Dis-Map progits are available covering every explored area in the Frontier. The progit can show an overall view of its contents or zoom in on any locale for more specifics. It will show all known roads, streets, forests, navigational hazards, etc.

 Holo-Map: (Must be used with Dis-Viz, Dis-Map, and a miniholographic projector.) This progit is a sophisticated holographic program that enhances the Dis-Map by showing a three-dimensional view of a specific area map. Holo-Map progits also come in thousands of types that will interlink with their Dis-Map counterparts.

 Para-Scan: This progit monitors the parabatteries used for nonvehivular functions, such as to power vehicular weapons. It gives a contant update on teh status of the system, how many hows are left, etc. If the system is damaged, the Para-Scan gives an indication of the location and extent of the damage.

 Plot-Map: (Must be used with Audio-Act, Geological-CAS, and omnoculars.) This progit will automatically map for an individual in much the same amnenr as a bodycomp Map-Scan progit. The main difference in this progit is the accuracy that the program demands. Consequently, a Geological-CAS is used for precise geological descriptions and omnoculars are necessaryu for range and height measurements.

 Prog-Lock: This progit performs the same funciton as a bodycomp Prog-Lock progit.

 Prog-Switch: This progit performs the same function as a bodycomp Prog-Switch progit.

 Vehicle-Scan: This progit has a full systems check program that can either be set to update the operator every few minutes or hours on the vehicle's condition or can simply wait for activation to perform a vehicle scan. This progit is usually linked to a Comp-Talk progit so the driver need not take his eyes off the road, sky, etc.

 VC PROGITS--TYPE C

 Crash-Wish: This progit performs in similar fashion to the bodycomp's Death-Wish progit but activates certain mechanisms (such as a Help-Beam progit) upon a crash. The definition of a crash can be outlined by the player character at the time of purchase to be anything from a simple fender bender to a devastating Roll and Burn.

 Vehicle-Sight: This progit links to a single fixed mounted vehicle weapon. It acts as a stabilizing device for it. It adds a +2 Column Shift combat modifier when the weapon is fired.

 VC PROGITS--TYPE D

 Master-Comp: This rogit performs the smae function as a bodycomp Master-Comp progit.

 Mind-Drive: This progit performs the same function as teh bodycomp Mind-Drive progit.

 Mind-Mount: This progit performs the same function as a bodycomp Mind-Mount progit and is used for swivel-mount weapons on vehicles.

 NEW VEHICLES

 The following vehicles are available to Landfleet and Star Law forces. They are also illegally used by pirates, terrorists, and mercenaries. They cannot be rented. The three new vehicles listed have no Vehicle Data Table update because they all fall under the category of "aircar" and are not affected by ground conditions.

 FLIT BOARD

Cost: Top/Cruise Speed: Passengers: Cargo Limit:

15,000 Cr 200 kph/100 kph Pilot only 10 kg, 1 cubic meter

A flit board is a vertical take-off and landing craft (VTOL). While it takes off vertically like a helicopter (using small jets instead of blades), it flies forwarrd like a jet. Designed for one person, it is about 3 meters long andthe pilot flies it prone, belly-down. The pilot ues a simple joystick and foot pedals to control it. He straps himself onto the board, because the only body structures besides the base are the nosecone and windshieldon the front.

 In the very center of the flit board's nosecone is a muzzle port. This can either be fitted with a rifle, long rifle, or medium-ordinance weapon. It is considered a fixed mount. The flit board is incredibly quiet and a favorite of the Star Law Posse. The flit board uses a Type 3 parabattery.

 FLOATER DISK

Cost: Top/Cruise Speed: Passengers: Cargo Limit:

3,000 Cr 20 kph/10 kph Pilot only Unencumbered pilot

The floater disk is a 1.5-meter diameter disk that is 45 cm thick. It normally floats on a cushion of air about 50 centimeters above ground, but can raise itself to heights of 20 meters with the use of its microthrusters. It can maintain this altitude for up to five minutes. It has a single T-bar rising straight up from the middle. The pilot stands on the disk, his feet fitted into special built-in boots, and flies the vehicle while standing in front of the T-bar, his body strapped to it.

 One of the greatest advantages of the floater disk is its almost instantaneous ability to turn 360 degrees, offering the pilot a complete field of fire. It is used by Star Lawmen when they have to patrol on foot or within large, open buildings. Landfleet soldiers use them for guard duty and patrol. Second-story thieves love them. They are operated by pressure points activated by the pilot's feet. The floater disk can be equipped with powerlights, a loudspeaker, a micromissile launcher, and one pistol-sized weapon. The floater disk uses a Type 1 parabattery.

 AIR TRANSPORT

Cost: Top/Cruise Speed: Passengers: Cargo Limit:

120,000 Cr 750 kph/250 kph 3 or 12 10,000 kg, 40 cubic meters

This vehicle can be thought of as a large aircar. It comes in two styles: a cargo transport with passenger room for three, or a troop transport with room for nine troopers in the back. In both styles the middle of the cab's roof is fitted with a hatch and a swivel mount on which a weapon can be attached.

 Numerous variations of these two designs have been used, including: MLTCs mounted on the roof of an assualt troop carrier, conversions in the cargo space to carry and unload, in flight, numerous manned flit boards, and a completely armored body unit for transportaion of valuables. The normal air transport uses two Type 4 parabatteries.