Dragoon Combat Armor

(Version 1.02 - Last Modified: 03/30/2003)

All Dragoons are constructed off of the same basic design, even though the Dragoon body is not manufactured in large quantities, no effort is made to vary the design. All Dragoons have the same capabilities and the same weapon systems. Since the collapse of Aiur, some groups of Protoss have used alien technology to modify several Dragoons to give them additional weapon systems such as external missile launchers, but no changes have been made to the basic design.

The basic shape of the Dragoon shell in not humanoid, instead it resembles an insect; from the center of the bionic shell are four legs. On top of the core is a powerful Phase Disruptor and on the bottom rests a sensor array. Very few humanoid races could cope with the inhuman shape of the Dragoon shell, but because of the mental discipline of the Protoss they are able to train their minds away from thinking of a humanoid body to a four-legged one. Unfortunately, since a Dragoon is expensive to create and requires a Protoss to sacrifice his life, the Dragoons are uncommon. During times of peace the number of Dragoons rarely expands, but many new Dragoon bodies are created for when they are needed during a war. After the invasion of Aiur, many Protoss willingly sacrificed their lives in order to provide their minds for the Dragoon bodies to help defend their colonies.

M.D.C. by location:

• Phase Disruptor - 150
• Leb Vibro-Blades (2) - 50 each
• Front Legs (2) - 150 each *
• Rear Legs (2) - 250 each *
• Sensor Array - 100 **
• Engine Thrusters (4, bottom of each leg) - 40 each
• Main Body - 450 ***
• Reinforced Pilot's Compartment - 100
• Shield Generator - 300 ****


M.D.C. Armor Rating: 9 (See Mega-Damage Properties for more details on M.D.C. Armor Ratings and M.D.C. Weapon Ratings)
Notes:

*	If one of the legs is destroyed, speed is reduced by 25%, if two legs are destroyed, then the Dragoon will crawl at a speed of 5 mph (8 km/h), and if three legs are destroyed, then the Dragoon will crawl at a speed of 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
**	The Sensor Array is a small target and protected by the legs, making it a difficult to strike, an attacker is required to make a "called shot" and has a penalty of -4 to strike.
***	Depleting the M.D.C. of the Main Body will put the Dragoon out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, except for life support. If the reinforced pilot’s compartment is destroyed, the Dragoon borg will be killed.
****	The shield generator creates a powerful shield around the Dragoon. The shield regenerates at a rate of 5 M.D.C. per melee, even if it is completely depleted.

Speed:

• Running: 100 mph (161 km/h)
• Leaping: The Dragoon can leap 15' (4.6 m) high or 25' (7.6 m) across without the aid of the anti-gravity generator, or it can leap 60' (18.3 m) high or 100' (30.5 m) across using the generator.
• Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum cruise speed is 93.2 mph (150 km/h), with a maximum ceiling of 2000’ (610 m). The Dragon can only fly for two minutes before the engines need to cool down for five minutes.
• Sublight: The cyborg is not really designed for sublight travel, but it can accelerate at a rate of 5 miles per second (8 km/s).
• Underwater: The Dragoon can walk along the bottom at 25% of its running speed, and has a maximum depth tolerance of 2 miles (3.2 km).
• Maximum Range: Effectively unlimited by drive system.

Statistical Data:

• Height: 10' (3.1 m)
• Width: 15' (4.6 m)
• Length: 15' (4.6 m)
• Weight: 4 tons (3.6 metric tons)
• Reactor System: Khaydarin Crystal Reactor with a life span of 150 years.
• Propulsion System: Anti-Gravity Generator
• Physical Strength: Equal to a robotic P.S. of 36.
• Physical Prowess: Equal to a P.P. of 26.
• Market Cost: Not available on any market. The design of the Dragoons are a closely held secret of the Protoss, as is all technology related to it.

Weapon Systems:

1. Phase Disruptor
   The cannon, located on top of the armor, is the main weapon of the Dragoon. It is a long-range weapon that is used to provide cover fire for the Zealot Warriors and to attack targets that are in the air and out of reach of the Zealots. The Phase Disrupter works by disrupting electrons at the point of intact by placing them slightly out of phase. With the electrons out of phase, the protons repel from each other and the area around the point of impact disintegrates. The cannon is located in a turret and can rotate 360 degrees and has an arc of fire of 210 degrees. This weapon is considered to be the equivalent of a particle beam weapon.
   • Range: 3 miles (4.8 m) underwater, 6 miles (9.7 km) through atmosphere, and 48 miles (77.2 km) in space.
   • Damage: 3D4x10 M.D. per shot
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 10
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand-to-hand attacks (usually 4 to 6).
   • Payload: Effectively Unlimited
   • Bonus: +5 to strike
2. Leg Vibro-Blades (2)
   Each front leg of the Dragoon is equipped with special, razor sharp, mega-damage alloy that can be used to physically attack an enemy.
   • Range: Each leg can extend up to 15' (4.6 m) away from the main body.
   • Damage: 5D6 M.D. per strike
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 15
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand-to-hand attacks (usually 4 to 6).
   • Payload: Effectively Unlimited
3. Hand to Hand Combat
   Rather than use a weapon, the Dragoon can engage in hand-to-hand combat. All bonuses listed below are in addition to the Dragoon's combat bonuses.
   • Bonuses:
     • +1 attack per melee at levels 1, 6, and 11
     • +2 to roll with punch, fall, or impact (reduces damage by half)
     • +3 to strike, applicable to all weapon systems and hand-to-hand combat
     • +2 to dodge
     • +3 to initiative
     • +5 to pull punch
     • Body Block/Tackle, counts as two attacks, does 1D6 M.D. and the target is knocked down, losing initiative and one attack that melee. The target has a 20%, or their Maintain Balance skill, whichever is higher, to prevent being knocked down. If not knocked down, the target does not lose initiative, but still loses one attack that melee.
   • Damage:
     • Restrained Leg Strike: 1D6 M.D. (with a Weapon Rating of 10)
     • Full Strength Leg Strike: 3D6 M.D. (with a Weapon Rating of 10)
     • Power Leg Strike: 5D6 M.D. (counts as two attacks, with a Weapon Rating of 10)
     • Body Block/Tackle: 1D6 M.D. (with a Weapon Rating of 10)

Special Systems:

1. Standard Cybernetic Systems
   The Dragoon Combat Armor is equipped with the following cybernetic systems: Full 20/20 Enhanced Color Vision (360 degrees of vision), Multi-Optics Eye, Amplified Audio, Built-in Language Translator, Built-in Loudspeaker, Clock Calendar, Gyro-Compass, and Psionic Electromagnetic Dampers.
2. Tactile Sensitivity
   Even though the Dragoon is made entirely of metal, it has amazing tactile sensitivity, equal to 80% of what a normal Protoss can experience. Most non-Protoss cannot believe that such a high sensitivity is possible and dismiss most proof as wild exaggerations, but it is true. Using Psyramic Alloys, the Dragoon is able to experience nearly perfect tactile information from its metallic skin.
3. Crystal Communicator
   The Dragoon has a device that holds a 2 lb (0.9 kg) Khaydarin Crystal. The crystal allows communication with other Crystal Communicators at a range of 500 miles (804.7 km) and with other communication devices at half that range.
4. Sensor Array
   The Dragoon has a 3 lb (1.4 kg) Khaydarin Crystal that provides the cyborg with the following psionic powers that are constantly in effect: Detect Psionics, See the Invisible, and Sense Magic. All psionic powers are used at fifth level of experience.