RX-78 GUNDAM

The following material is an adaptation of mecha from Mobile Suit Gundam, a popular Japanese mecha animation series that aired in 1979 spawned a large number of sequels. Please feel free to use, copy, and distribute it as you see fit. All I ask is that you give proper credit and do not claim that it is your own work. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

RX-78 GUNDAM
from MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM

RPG Stats by DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mcs.net)
Background info provided by THE GUNDAM PROJECT

BACKGROUND

When the Jion Archduchy separated from the Earth Federation in UC (Universal Century) 0054, the Jion military leaders knew that an eventual war with the Federation was inevitable. They also knew that their small space navy had no hope of winning against the superior Federation forces, so they instructed the Jion scientists to begin development of a new type of weapon that would be small enough to be cheaply and quickly produced, but powerful enough to give the Jion forces an advantage over their Federation counterparts.

The first major triumph for the Jion scientists was the discovery of the Minovski Particles. These particles generate an unstable magnetic field that absorbs most forms of energy instead of reflecting it. Although they have a fairly short life span, the Minovski particles had two major benefits. The first was that by scattering them in space, the Jions could create combat areas where all radio and radar based systems were effectively useless. This dramatically changed the rules of space combat, forcing spacecraft to rely on visual sensors only.

The second major application of Minovski Particles was in the creation of a new form radiation shielding, which was very thin and light yet hundreds of times stronger than lead for containing radiation. This new shielding allowed the creation of extremely small, very powerful reactors. The Jion engineers used these new systems to their maximum potential, creating a completely new form of one-man fighter craft, the "Mobile Suit". This 60-foot tall humanoid robot soldier was extremely fast and could stop and turn on a dime. They could also be equipped with weapons that were just as powerful as spaceship cannons. Although they were not heavily armored, the combination of speed and firepower made them ideal for combat in Minovski-jammed areas. The first combat- ready mobile suit, the MS-05 Zaku, was rolled out in UC 0075. A much improved model, the MS-06 Zaku II, began production in UC 0078.

Initially, the Federation generals viewed the idea of 60 foot tall fighting robots as idiotic at best, but they quickly changed their minds when the Jion Archduchy declared war on the Earth Federation in early 0079. Within three weeks, Jion forces heavily supported by the new Zakus destroyed 80% of the Federation space navy. Jion troops then invaded Earth and succeeded in capturing North America, Central America, and large regions of Europe and Asia. Within one month of the Jion Archduchy's declaration of war, defeat seemed inevitable for the Federation forces.

The Federation quickly began "Project Victory," an operation whose sole purpose was to produce a superior mobile suit design for Federation forces. This project culminated with the construction of the RX-78 Gundam, a general-purpose mobile suit that was far superior to the Jion's MS-06 Zaku. The Gundam was equipped with the best technology the Federation could offer. It was designed around the revolutionary "Core Block" system, a modular system that allowed for quick maintenance and replacement of the Gundam's systems. The Gundam's armor was constructed of Lunar Titanium, a new metal that was extremely strong but also very light. While incapable of withstanding hits from a mega particle beam, Lunar Titanium could handle direct hits from the Zaku's 120mm autocannon. Finally, the Gundam was armed with a beam rifle and two beam sabers, which were the most destructive mobile suit weapons yet produced.

Three Gundam prototypes were constructed, but two of them (#1 and #3) were destroyed before they ever saw combat. The #2 prototype survived and was piloted by Ensign Amuro Rey throughout the war. The Jions responded to Project Victory by developing their own advanced mobile suits. Some, like the MS-14 Geloog, were technically more powerful than the Gundam. However, Amuro Rey's emerging "New Type" powers allowed him to pilot the Gundam with incredible skill, enabling him to defeat anything the Jion forces threw at him. Eventually, the Federation engineers succeeded in developing a mass production version of the Gundam (the RGM-79 "GM") and the tide of battle turned in favor of the Federation forces. The Federation succeeded in driving the Jion forces off of Earth, and eventually the Jion Archduchy collapsed after its ruling family, the Zabi, were killed in the "Battle of Abowaku". The Federation negotiated a peace treaty with the post-Zabi Jion Republic in early UC 0080, thus ending the One Year War.

The RX-78 Gundam prototype #2 was destroyed in the Battle of Abowaku. A fourth prototype, the RX-78NT1 "Alex" was constructed especially for Amuro Rey in late UC 0079. However, the new Gundam could not be delivered to him in time for the Battle of Abowaku, and the "Alex" was destroyed by Jion forces a week before the war ended. The Gundam and GM mobile suits became the symbol of Federation military power after the end of the war.
 

RPG STATS

M.D.C. BY LOCATION:

     Head                                100
     Vulcan Cannons (2, Head)             25 each
     Arms (2)                            100 each
     Hands (2)                            50 each
     Legs (2)                            150 each
(1)  Upper Torso                         350
(1)  Lower Torso                         250
     Backpack/Thrusters                  150
(2)  FF-X7 Core Fighter                  175

     1.9 Megawatt Beam Rifle             100
     .38 Megawatt Beam Sabers (2-4)       25 each
     270 mm HyperBazooka                 100
     Shield                              150

NOTES:

1. Destruction of the upper torso will render the arms, head, and backpack inoperative. Destruction of the lower torso will render the legs inoperative. In both cases either part can be ejected from the core fighter once it has become inoperative. Any additional damage done to the upper torso after it has been destroyed will go to the Core Fighter. (See Core Block System below)
2. If the Core Fighter is destroyed, then the Gundam MS will also be rendered inoperable. (See Core Block System below)

SPEEDS

STATISTICS

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. HEAD-MOUNTED 60mm VULCAN CANNONS: The only built-in armaments on the RX-78 Gundam are two vulcan cannons mounted in the head of the mobile suit. These two cannons are mounted on either side of the antenna and are fixed forward. The pilot must move the Gundam's head in order to aim the cannons. Both cannons fire at the same time, though one cannon will function if the other is destroyed.

    

   • Primary Purpose: Defense
   • Secondary Purpose: Close-range Assault
   • Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 M.D. per burst (60 rounds from both cannons). A single round does 1D6 M.D.
   • Range: 3000ft (900m)
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to the pilot's combined number of attacks.
   • Payload: 600 rounds per cannon, which is enough for 20 combined bursts. Note: The ammo bins for the two cannons are NOT linked; if one cannon is destroyed the ammo feed CANNOT be automatically switched to the other cannon.

    

2. 1.9 MW BEAM RIFLE: This hand-held particle cannon is the main weapon for the RX-78 Gundam, and is easily as powerful as the main cannons mounted on Federation or Jion warships. It works by confining and accelerating mega particles in a strong magnetic field, and then ejects them in a tremendous blast of energy. Mega particles are produced when Minovski particles go through a degeneration and fusion process. Warships normally hook their beam cannons up to generators that can produce mega particles on the fly, thus resulting in an almost unlimited supply of ammo. Since the Gundam does not have room for the bulky generator equipment, the mega particles are instead pre-generated and stored in an energy capacitor for later use. The result is an MS-sized gun that packs the same punch as warship weapons but has a limited ammo supply.

   The original beam rifle for the RX-78 Gundam had the energy capacitor built directly into the gun, which meant that it could only be recharged at a base or ship and couldn't be exchanged in the field. Later models of the beam rifle included a modular capacitor that could be exchanged in the field (much like an energy clip). These modified rifles did not become widely spread until 0082-0083, however.

   One Beam Rifle is usually assigned to the Gundam, though a second one can be stored on the inside of the shield if necessary.

    

   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Mega-Damage: 4D6x10 M.D. per blast. Bursts are not possible.
   • Range: 6000ft (1800m)
   • Rate of Fire: Maximum of 3 shots per melee round.
   • Payload: 20 shots maximum. The rifle must be recharged at a base or mothership after it is depleted. It CANNOT be replaced in the middle of a battle.

   NOTE: The first versions of this weapon had technical problems that caused it to malfunction with extended use. After the first shot, roll a 1d10 every time the weapon is fired. On a roll of 1 the gun malfunctions and cannot be fired again until serviced by technicians. These design flaws were finally corrected shortly before the Battle of Abowaku.

    

3. 0.38 MW BEAM SABERS: These revolutionary mecha-sized melee weapon were first used on the Gundam mobile suit. The beam saber works on the same principle as the beam rifle, except that the mega particles are captured and stored in a strong electromagnetic field instead of projected in a beam. The result is a concentrated energy blade which is one of the deadliest weapons in the Gundam universe.

   The beam saber only contains enough energy and mega particles for about 60 seconds of continuous use. When not in use, the beam sabers are stored in the backpack of the mecha, where they are recharged by the Gundam's reactor. The Gundam can switch the beam saber on and off while holding it, in order to conserve power. Once totally depleted it takes 30 minutes for a beam saber to recharge to full capacity.

   The Gundam carries two beam sabers mounted on its backpack. An additional two sabers (fully charged) can be stored on the inside of the shield.

    

   • Primary Purpose: Melee Combat
   • Secondary Purpose: Defense
   • Mega-Damage: 5d6x10 M.D.
   • Range: The blade has a range of 15-30 ft (5-10 m) and is adjustable.
   • Payload: The beam sabers can function continuously for 60 seconds (4 melee rounds) before running out of power). Once discharged, the beam saber must be returned to the Gundam's backpack where it can recharge at a rate of 1 second of power per 30 seconds of charging.

    

4. 270 mm HYPERBAZOOKA: This optional weapon is essentially an enormous rocket launcher for the mobile suit. It fires large UNGUIDED chemically-propelled rockets with high explosive warheads. These missiles are unguided because Minovski particle jamming renders most forms of tracking systems useless in the Gundam universe. Therefore the designers decided to remove the tracking systems in the rockets and replace them with more powerful explosives.

   ONE hyperbazooka can be mounted on the back of the Gundam. Due to its bulk and low payload, this weapons is usually reserved for missions involving heavy assault.

    

   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Mega-Damage: 3d6x10 M.D. per missile.
   • Rate of Fire: One missile at a time.
   • Payload: 5 missiles (1 in the barrel plus 4 in a clip)
   • Range: 5 miles (8 km).

    

5. OPTIONAL HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT: Punch does 3D6 M.D., Body Block does 3D6 M.D., Kick does 4D6 M.D., Leap Kick does 5D6 M.D., Stomp does 3D6 M.D., but is limited to targets no more than 16 feet tall. Body flip does 2D6 M.D. Pilots who have experience with giant robots get full bonuses from Robot Basic combat training.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR MOST MOBILE SUITS

• OPTICAL TARGETING SYSTEM: Mobile Suits have very sophisticated optical tracking systems to assist the pilot in targeting. This system provides the pilot with a +2 to hit when using projectile or beam weapons (such as the beam rifle, hyperbazooka, or vulcan cannons on the Gundam). However, since the tracking system is optical, the target must be IN DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT from the MS in order to get the bonus.
• COMBAT COMPUTER: Contains data on up to 120 different vehicles (both friend and foe). Can call up and project data on the HUD screens in the cockpit.
• "SKIN TOUCH" COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM: Mobile Suits have sensitive microphones in their cockpits that can pick up a pilot's voice and project it to vibrating devices on the surface of the hand. By grasping hands with another Mobile Suit, the first mecha can transmit these vibrations to the other mecha. Sensors on the other mecha translate these vibrations into sounds and projects them via speakers in the cockpit. The result is a secure method of communication between mecha that cannot be intercepted by enemy scanners.
• LASER COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM: Although the original Gundam prototype did not have this system, later mobile suits included a laser communications system that allowed mecha to communicate over long distances. The only disadvantage was that the mobile suits had to be looking at each other in order to communicate.
• RADIO COMMUNICATIONS: Backup; usually doesn't work due to Minovski interference.
• EXPLOSIVE JOINTS: In event of severe damage to the Gundam, the torso sections could be jettisoned allowing the pilot to escape in the core fighter.
• COMPLETE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SYSTEM: Identical to the system described on Pg. 214 of the Rifts RPG book.

SPECIAL GUNDAM EQUIPMENT:
THE CORE BLOCK SYSTEM

The core block system was a revolutionary way of designing mobile suits, first implemented on the Gundam MS. The idea was to include the combat computer and cockpit of the mecha (and the pilot; the three most valuable parts) in a central modular unit that could be ejected and recovered if the mobile suit was ever destroyed. (NOTE: later core fighters designed in 0083 also contained the mecha's reactor) The core unit would be modular, so that it could be transferred to another mobile suit body while the original one was being repaired (thus reducing down-time for pilots). The modular aspects of the core block system would also allow the mobile suit to be customized to different environments and equipped with special weaponry for unusual missions.

The designers of the Gundam then took this concept one step further, and designed the central unit so that it could transform into a fully functional plane when not attached to a Gundam body. This would allow the pilot to escape with the most valuable systems of the mecha in case the Gundam ever got destroyed in battle. Although some designers envisioned using the "Core Fighter" as a combat fighter, it proved to be rather ill-suited for that role. The Core Fighter is too slow to be an effective combat aircraft, and its armaments are too light to do serious damage to most mobile suits. Later on during the war an external unit (called the "Core Booster") was developed, which could be attached to the Core Fighter and turn it into a fairly powerful heavy fighter.

The Core Block system benefited the Gundam several times during the war. However, the system proved too expensive to include in all Federation mecha, and was therefore not included in later mass-production versions of the Gundam. Eventually the Core Block System was scrapped in favor of the Linear Seat System; a virtual environment display system that provided much more visual information for the pilot of the mecha.

THE CORE FIGHTER

M.D.C. BY LOCATION:

(1)  Reinforced Cockpit             150
     Autocannons (4, 2 per side)    25 each
(2)  Main Body                      175
(3)  Wings (2)                      75 each
(3)  Tail                           50

NOTES:

1. Destruction of the Core Fighter Cockpit will render the mecha inoperable and probably kill the pilot.
2. Destruction of the Core Fighter Main Body will destroy the Core Fighter. In addition, the loss of the main generator will render the Gundam inoperable.
3. Destruction of the Core Fighter Wings or Tail will cause the fighter to crash.

SPEEDS/STATISTICS

WEAPON SYSTEMS

1. 25mm AUTOCANNONS: A pair of autocannons is mounted on each side of the nose of the plane. All four cannons fire together unless one or more is damaged/destroyed.

    

   • Mega-Damage: 4D6 M.D. per burst. (1D6 per cannon)
   • Range: 3000ft (900m)
   • Rate of Fire: 6 bursts per melee
   • Payload: Enough for 20 attacks; approximately 400 rounds.

    

2. AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES: The core fighter also carries two missile launchers for air-to-air combat. Each missile launcher contains 4 missiles which are concealed within the engine block when not in use.

    

   • Mega-Damage: 1d6x10 M.D. per missile
   • Rate of Fire: 1 missile per launcher per round (2 total/round)
   • Payload: 4 missiles/launcher (8 total)
   • Range: 3 miles (4.8 km)
   • Speed: 500 mph (804 kmph)

COMBAT BONUSES FOR MOBILE SUIT COMBAT TRAINING:

NOTE: These bonuses do NOT take into consideration special NewType piloting abilities.

• Three hand to hand attacks per melee (plus those of pilot).
• Body flip/throw.
• Body block/tackle/ram.
• Kick attack.
• +2 to strike.
• +4 to parry.
• +3 to dodge.
• +3 to roll with punch, fall, or impact (explosion), reducing damage by half.
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand to hand.
• One additional attack at level five.
• One additional attack at level ten.

GM NOTES FOR RIFTS GAMES

The RX-78 Gundam probably isn't powerful enough to be of very much interest to Rifts characters. Although fairly agile for its size, the mecha is too big for the guerilla-style combat that is most common on Rifts earth. The armor is also fairly weak when compared to other Rifts mecha, though Northern Gun or Triax may be able to come up with something that could replace it. The damage capacity of the mecha is respectable, but even so the players probably won't want to run around with a 60 ft tall mecha that sticks out like a sore thumb on the landscape.

The only possible interest the Gundam might have is in the Minovski technology it contains. Rifts technology does contains systems that are equal to or superior to the Gundam's capabilities, but the technology in the RX-78 eventually becomes the basis for smaller, faster, and DEADLIER mecha in the Gundam continuity. Such mecha can be seen in shows like Gundam: Char's Counterattack, Gundam F91, and Victory Gundam. Extended research into Minovski physics by Rifts engineers may eventually produce designs that are just as powerful.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

• "MECHA FILE: ANALYSIS OF THE GUNDAM RX-78" from ANIMAG, written by James Teal
• MS ENCYCLOPEDIA 3.0, published by B-Club
• MECHA PRESS #1, published by Ianus Publications
• UC HERALD #1 AND #2, written by Tonghyun Kim and Noel Gamboa
• 1/144 SCALE HG RX-78 GUNDAM PLASTIC MODEL, produced by Bandai Toys

SPECIAL THANKS

...to MARK SIMMONS (also an original Animag staff member), whose extensive comments and corrections resulted in a much better representation of the official RX-78 Gundam, now complete with Bandai's continuity changes. :-)

A NOTE TO PURISTS

I didn't have time to rewatch the three Gundam movies again, so you'll have to forgive me if there's something in the original show that my stats don't reflect. I am very much open to comments and corrections, however, so if you know something I don't please contact me and I'll fix the problem. Thanks!