[JustADude]

Okay, for those that don't know what it is, Iron Will is an exoskeleton frame that is "worn", but is given vehicle stats in the stat-block table. Here's the exact writeup:

Iron Will: iron Will is an exoskeleton used to augment the user’s strength for laborious tasks. it is 2.5 meters tall and weighs 200 kg. It has no autonomy, nor was it built for any remote piloting. When worn, treat the wearer’s strength as 8, but reduce their agility by 1. iron Will can be treated as a vehicle for upgrades.

IRON WILL
Handl  Accel  Speed  Pilot   Body  Arm  Sens  Avail   Cost
+0       —/—         0       0          6       4       1       14    3,500¥

My question is, then, how does one calculate damage for someone wearing it? From the way it's written up I would assume that you use vehicle rules and attacks made on the person are treated as attacks on a vehicle (unless you specify you're shooting at the person inside the exoskeleton, of course), but I wanted to get other people's opinions on this before I go messing around with things.

I plan on having some of them, or something with similar stats, show up in my game eventually, and I want to know how its handled so I can figure out how the NPC group in question would be modifying it.

[Tsuzua]

It really depends on what the Iron Will is.  Is it a worn device like military armor or a vehicle?  If it's the latter, then you treat it like anyone riding in a vehicle.  If it's the former, then I don't really know.  I could see it just something you wear and the body and armor only apply on attacks directly against it and not the wearer.  Or it uses the normal vehicle rules regardless.

The line "Iron Will can be treated as a vehicle for upgrades" implies it is not in fact a vehicle.  Or it could be a poorly written clarification that it is a vehicle even though it can't move on its own.  Normally I would go with straight reading (that it is not a vehicle), but that leaves the question of what an Iron Will is and how it works.  Also to be fair, poor writing isn't exactly uncommon in SR.

[SunRunner]

Well since it gets a vehicle stat line and the mention to use vehicle upgrade rules, I would pretty much go with it being a vehicle.

[squee_nabob]

It looks like a vehicle, and quacks like a vehicle, but may not actually be a vehicle. Has there been any errata to Attitude explaining how to use Iron Will? I've never seen anyone do it in missions.

[CanRay]

Errata???

[Mäx]

Errata???

What is this wierd think you're talking about?
 

[squee_nabob]

Fair enough all, I retract my overly optimistic statement.

[Barracuda_Kali]

It's 2.5 meters tall... has vehicle stats... I'm willing to bet it works like armor, because it reads like this thing:



Where all the insect spirit queens at?

[CanRay]

I want one of those when I have to go up against Plant Spirits!

"Get away from her you BIRCH!!!"

[Barracuda_Kali]

I want one of those when I have to go up against Plant Spirits!

"Get away from her you BIRCH!!!"

I know, right? This thing is required to enter the mosh pit at a trog rock concert.

[JustADude]

Well, since there's room for interpretation and I'm the GM, I'm going to rule that these things will get treated as vehicles as far as attacks go... including the standard ability to bypass them and just shoot the pilot if you're smart enough.

[Crash_00]

This makes me want to bring out my monster suit I designed.

HM-987 "Fire at Will" Assault Suit
At Heeland and Mitch we take your soldier's health as out top priority. With the newest addition to our armor line, we've raised the bar even higher. The new HM-987 will not only protect your soldier to a degree no other suit on the market can, but will also lay down suppressive fire or even a demolitions barrage if needed all by itself.

Restriction vary by Nation. Mounted weaponry is intended for use with friendly fire nodes listed, Heeland and Mitch is not liable for the misuse of the HM-987. Call for details on variations and sizes.

Handl Accel Speed Pilot Body Arm Sens Avail
  +0    —/—    0     0    6    4    1   14
Modifications
-Armor 12 -2400-
-Personal Armor 10 -5000-
-Weapon Mount [Norma, Flexible, Remote] - 4,000

--Vindicator Mini-Gun -5500-
---[Pilot Upgrade 6, Additional Clip, Smartlink, -26050-
---Trigger Removal, Underbarrel Weapon: ArmTech MGL-18]
---Acc: Thermal Flashlight, Skinlink, Gas Vent III -2850-
---Smartlink Camera: Mark 74 Smartlink, Image Link -1200-
---Autosoft: Targeting (Heavy Weapons) 4 -4000-
--ArmTech MGL-18  -12000-
---[Pilot Upgrade 6, Additional Clip, Smartlink, -39050-
---Trigger Removal]
---Acc: Skinlink -50-
---Smartlink Camera: Mark 74 Smartlink, Image Link -1200-
---Autosoft: Targeting (Heavy Weapons) 4 -4000-

-Special Armor Mod: Non-conductivity 6 -4200

"Assault Pilot Suit"
Hvy. Military Armor with Helmet -39500-
Strength Upgrade 3
Chemical Seal

15,100¥  Modified Iron Will before weaponry and weapon mount
111,000¥ Total for Modified Iron Will
150,500¥ Total for Modified Iron Will and Assault Pilot Suit

Add 500¥ for Metahuman fitting. Suit is not available in Troll sizes
without considerable customization, call store for details.

Total "Armor" is 28/26 for anyone inside (only 18/16 counts for encumbrance and stun vs. lethal). Of course for 151k it better be kick ass.

[JustADude]

Gas Vent III

Small beans, given the total cost, but IIRC, don't drone/vehicle mounted weapons completely ignore recoil, and wouldn't that mean GV3 is totally redundant?

Also, I assume you realize that a fixed mount (Over the shoulder, I assume, since it's flexible and not a 360 turret?) running Autosoft would leave you free to carry around something else in your "treated as Strength 8" hands, like an Assault Cannon, right?

EDIT: Also, since the thing counts as a vehicle, one might even reasonably mount some of the lighter "Main Gun" weapons on it, like the GE Vigilant, which is the Vindicator's big brother.

[Crash_00]

I see it as shoulder mounted for some reason. Yes on the recoil, but there is the rule that the recoil compensation for vehicles can be limited to the vehicles body (not a bad rule really). Also, its just for the advanced feel. While there may not be a game effect (depending on your GM), having your shoulder wrenched around like someone is jackhammering it can't feel good.

Of course you have room in your strength 8 hands. Where else are you going to hold your SoyCaf and AmberGel while the suit does its work? 

[JustADude]

I see it as shoulder mounted for some reason. Yes on the recoil, but there is the rule that the recoil compensation for vehicles can be limited to the vehicles body (not a bad rule really). Also, its just for the advanced feel. While there may not be a game effect (depending on your GM), having your shoulder wrenched around like someone is jackhammering it can't feel good.

Of course you have room in your strength 8 hands. Where else are you going to hold your SoyCaf and AmberGel while the suit does its work? 

I was thinking of an Astronaut-style sippy-pouch bulb stuck inside the suit with you, actually.