ARMORED TROOPER

An RPG of small mecha and big conspiracies
By Sean Patten OVERVIEW
VOTOMS is a light set of combat, campaign, and role-playing rules you can use to play in the gritty, war-torn Astragius Galaxy.  Make a character, choose an AT, interact with your teammates, confront your enemies, earn experience, and expose the dark secrets of the world of Votoms!
COMPONENTS
To play VOTOMS, you will need:

• AT and foot troop Models. 1/48, 1/60, or Gashapon AT FIGURES are ideal, and most any 28mm sci-fi figures will work for foot troops.
• Scenery.  TERRAIN makes combat more interesting and immersive, and gives your games a visual point of reference for roleplaying events.
  
• 6-sided dice.  It's handy to have at least five per player.
• Markers and Record Sheets.  Print one page of MARKERS. Print one RECORD SHEET per player or NPC.
  
• Sticks.  Each player will need a MEASURING STICK, marked off in 6 inch increments.  One "stick" is a single 6" segment.   Sticks are used for measuring movement and attack ranges.
• A table.  You'll need a table (or for larger games, a floor) to play on.  You can decorate your table with SCENERY to make the game more interesting too!  Scenery should block line of sight and provide cover.
• Sounds!  Right click and save this SOUNDBOARD (Note: to stop the walk sound, just right click the button).  And hunt down some of the original soundtracks, they're classic!
  

  PERSONAL STATS AND SKILLS 

STATS	FIGHTING	RESEARCHING	DAMAGING	ESCAPING	SURVIVING	SOCIALIZING
STRENGTH	MELEE	INTIMIDATE	SMASH	BREAK	ENDURE	PROTECT
DEXTERITY	DODGE	SEARCH	DISMANTLE	EVADE	IMPROVISE	ASSIST
INTELLIGENCE	AIM	STUDY	DEMOLITION	HACK	FIRST AID	UNDERSTAND
CHARISMA	SCARE	SPY	DIVERT	TRICK	PERSUADE	CHARM

Stats (strength, etc) can be from 1 to 4.  Skill groups (fighting, etc) can be from 1 to 4.  

LEVEL	1	2	3	4
COST	1	3	6	10

AT SKILLS- These skills are only used when piloting an AT or other vehicle, unless noted with an *asterisk. 
If the GM approves, when upgrading your character, you may sell off a previous skill to help pay for a better one.

ATTACK SKILLS	Benefits	Prerequisite	Max Level	Cost (xp)
AT Marksman	May reroll 1 die when firing a  ranged weapon	Dex 1 / 2 / 3	3	1 / 3 / 5
AT Brawler	May reroll 1 die when meleeing or defending in melee	Str 1 / 2 / 3	3	1 / 3 / 5
Advise*	Any ally may reroll 1 die when attacking, once per turn	Chr 1 / 2 / 3	3	1 / 3 / 5
AT Prediction	May reroll 1 OPPONENT die when firing a ranged weapon	Dex or Int 3	1	5
AT Killing Blow	May add +1 to any 1 die when attacking within 1 stick	Int 2	1	5
AT Drive By	May spend an action firing in the MIDDLE of a move.	Dex or Int 2	1	5
AT Dual Fire	May fire one additional weapon as part of a single attack.	Dex or Int 3	2	4 / 8

 

DEFENSE SKILLS	Benefits	Prerequisite	Max Level	Cost (xp)
AT Dodge	May reroll 1 die when defending with MOVE	Dex 1 / 2 / 3	3	1 / 3 / 5
AT Repair	May roll +1 die when rolling for REPAIR.	Int 1 / 2 / 3	3	1 / 3 / 5
Warn*	Any ally may reroll 1 die when defending, once per turn	Chr 1 / 2 / 3	3	1 / 3 / 5
AT Evade	May reroll 1 OPPONENT die when defending with move	Int 2	1	5
AT Block	May reroll 1 die when defending with ARMOR	Int 2	1	2
AT Deflect	Any attack that destroys your AT will do 1 hit and a stun instead.	Str or Int 2	1	3
AT Grapple	Reduce incoming melee damage by 1, but lose an action next turn.	Str 2	1	3

SKILL CHECKS

• SKILL CHECK: To make a skill check, ADD together your stat value and your skill group value.  roll that many dice as a contested roll against the target dice for the challenge as determined by the GM. 
  For example, if in a bar fight, you would roll your MELEE against the target's melee (typically 2 dice).  If you had strength 2 and combat 4, you would roll six dice!
• BURN FATE: If you ever fail a life threatening skill check, you may permanently use up a single experience point to automatically make the check.  (If you don't have any XP, you can go into the negative until you earn some).
• SURPRISE MOVE:  Sometimes you'll want to try something crazy in order to stay alive, something not covered by the normal rules or that would normally take an action to do when you don't have any (for example, kicking a grenade back at the thrower).  You can try a surprise move, but you must follow these three rules:
  1. You may only use one surprise move once per game, and it can't be something someone else has already done before.
  2. You must describe the move in a suitably unique and cool fashion, and let the GM decide what kind of skill check to use.
  3. If you fail your skill check, you must BURN FATE to ensure the surprise move succeeds!  (see below).

EARNING XP / GILDANS

• EXPERIENCE:  Start the game with 15 XP for stats and skill groups, and 1 XP for AT skills.  Earn 2 XP per game.  The GM may award additional XP as they see fit, but this should only be for special cases, and usually come with an additional CHALLENGE.
• CHALLENGES: May start with up to 5 extra XP by taking challenges, as approved by the GM: these are difficulties the player must grapple with during the campaign.  The more XP they give, the more challenging they should be!
  
• MONEY: Start the game with 600 Gildan.  Typically you'll earn 20 Gildan per game, depending on the scenario and what you do during the game.  Up to 500 Gildan worth of expended, lost, or damaged equipment will be replaced for free per game.
  

PERSONAL COMBAT
The following rules apply when your characters fight man-to-man.  When fighting with ATs, just use the stats and combat rules listed in the AT section below. 

• SHOOTING: To shoot, a PC must spend an action.  Roll dice based on the weapon, plus 1 reroll / point of AIM.  Defender may use their DODGE skill to defend.  If they have no dodge skill, they defend with 1 die.  If in cover, they may add +1 die.  If the attacker is BEHIND the target, the target is at -1 die to defend!
• RANGE: Unless your weapon is LONG RANGE, roll 1 less die for every 2 sticks away the target is.  Weapons with RAPID FIRE may do so only at targets within 1 stick.

• MELEE: If a character ends a move action next to their target, they may melee.  Roll Melee skill vs. target's melee skill.  If they have no skill, they defend with 1 die.  The winner does damage (even if the defender wins!).
  

• DAMAGE:  If the attacker wins with no overkill, the target is STUNNED (-1 to their next die roll).  All infantry have only ONE hit, so if they take 1 or more overkill, an NPC or enemy will be killed, and a player character will be WOUNDED.  Wounded characters get only 1 action, and are at -1 to all their die rolls.

PERSONAL WEAPONS	Dice	Special	anti- AT?	Cost
Pistol	1	Snap Fire	no	10
Submachinegun	2	Rapid Fire	no	20
Rifle	2	Aim	no	20
Sniper Rifle	2	Aim, Long Range	no	40
Armor Magnum	1	Snap Fire	yes	30
AT Rifle	2	Aim	yes	50
Grenade	2	Blast, Ammo 1	yes	10
Bazooka	3	Aim, Blast, Ammo 4	yes	40

SNAP FIRE: May make one free attack on any enemy before they melee or after they ambush.
RAPID FIRE: may shoot twice with one action if all targets are within 1 stick.
AIM: If only firing the weapon once this turn, may add +1 to any one of the weapon's dice rolled.
KNOCKBACK: If you win when firing, the target will fall off if next to an edge;  if next to a wall, they will take a STUN in addition to any damage.
BLAST: Any models within 1 stick of the target will also be hit- remove the highest die and apply the rest to the other models.  Does Knockback too.
LONG RANGE: Does not take range penalties.
AMMO: This is the number of times the weapon can be fired before it runs out.

ENEMY INFANTRY	Run/Swim	ARMOR	Melee	Shooting	Cost (Gildan)
Foot Soldier	1	1	1	1 die	20
Sniper	1	1	1	1 die, Aim, Long Range.	50
Machine Gunner Team	1	1 (2 hits)	1	2 dice, Rapid Fire 1 stick.  -1 action when 1 hit taken.	50
Missile Launcher Team	1	1 (2 hits)	1	2 dice, Long Range, Blast.  -1 action when 1 hit taken.	50
Armor Hunter	1	1	2	2 dice, Aim.	50

These are stats to use when fighting enemy infantry with ATs.  Follow the rules for AT combat (below).

ATS and other vehicles	Run	Dash	Swim	ARMOR	Melee	Mounted Weapons	Cost
XATL-01-DT Zwerg	1	3	1	2	2	Mounted Machine Guns	200
ATM-09-ST Scopedog	2	3	1	3	3		300
ATM-09-GC Brutishdog	2	4	1	3	3	Arm Gun (as GAT-22C)	400
ATM-09-BC Boxing Dog	2	3	1	3	5		500
ATM-09-WR Marshydog	2	2	2	3	3		300
BATM-03 Fatty	2	2	2	3	3		300
ATH-06-WP Diving Beetle	2	2	2	4	3		400
ATH-14-WP Standing Turtle	2	2	2	4	3	Mounted Machine Guns	400
ATH-Q-64 Berserga WP	2	2	2	4	4		500
XATH-02 Strike Dog	2	4	2	4	3	Arm Gun (as GAT-22C)	500
BATH-XXX Ecrivisse	2	4	1	4	5	Mounted Machine Gun, Dual Missile	600
ASTRAD Main Battle Tank	1	2	1	5	1		600
AT CARRY trailer truck	--	2	1	4	1	Mounted Machine Gun.  Transports 4 ATs.	200
BUGGY	--	3	1	2	1		100

AT WEAPONS	Dice	Special	Mount	Cost
Mounted Machine Guns	2	Rapid Fire, Snap Fire	Mounted	--
Dual Missile Pod	4	Aim, Ammo 2	Mounted	50
GAT-22 Heavy Machinegun	3	Rapid Fire, Aim	Handheld	150
GAT-22C Heavy Machinegun (Carbine)	3	Rapid Fire, Snap Fire	Handheld	150
Built-in Grenade Launcher	4	Blast	GAT-22	--
HRAT-23 Hand Rocket Launcher	4	Knockback	Handheld	100
SAT-03 Solid Shooter	4	Aim, Blast, Long Range, Ammo 8	Handheld	150
SMAT-38 Rocket Pod	1/rocket	Salvo, Blast, Ammo 9	Mounted	100
GAT-19 Mid Machine Gun	3	Rapid Fire	Handheld	70
GAT-49 Pentatrooper	3	Aim	Handheld	50
FTAT-16 Flamethrower	3	Area, Burn, Volatile	Handheld	100
GAT-35 Long Gun	5	Area, Charge, Aim	Handheld	200
MAT-02 Mortar	4	Indirect, Blast, Long Range, Ammo 4	Mounted	100
HGAT-01 Hand Grenade	4	Blast, Ammo 1	Handheld	20

RAPID FIRE: may shoot twice with one action if all targets are within 2 sticks.
AIM: If only firing the weapon once this turn, may add +1 to any one of the weapon's dice rolled.
SNAP FIRE: May make one free attack on any enemy before they melee or after they ambush.
KNOCKBACK: If you win when firing, the target will fall off if next to an edge;  if next to a wall, they will take a STUN in addition to any damage.
BLAST: Any models within 1 stick of the target will also be hit- remove the highest die and apply the rest to the other models.  Does Knockback too.
LONG RANGE: Does not take range penalties.
AMMO: This is the number of times the weapon can be fired before it runs out.
SALVO: Choose how many shots to fire (ammo -1 per shot).  Roll that many dice, plus one, for the attack.
AREA: Hits all targets within a 1 stick diameter.
BURN: Ignores cover.  Reveals hidden models.
VOLATILE: Roll 1 die when your unit takes damage.  On a 6, the weapon explodes as a 3 die blast with you at the center!
CHARGE: Takes 3 actions to fully charge, and 1 to fire.
INDIRECT: Ignores front cover if targets are more than 1 stick away.


ACTIONS
Units do things by performing ACTIONS.  A Unit can perform TWO actions each turn.  It may perform the same type of action TWICE if they wish!  For example, in one turn a Unit could move two times.  Here are all the types of actions Unit can perform:

• MOVE. Move in any direction, distance based on move type.  Dash must be on smooth ground (ramps okay, stairs no!).  May not move through terrain, but an AT using running move may climb terrain that is less than twice their height.  A unit may move BACKWARD at -1 stick (to avoid exposing their back to the enemy).  This only slows the unit down while making the backward move, it does not affect the number of dice the unit rolls if defending with move.
• CHARGING:  If a unit ends a move action next to an enemy unit, it may make a free melee attack at the end of its move!
  
• ATTACK.  A Unit can perform a shooting attack or a melee attack (see combat below).
• PICK UP. Some objectives can be collected by spending an action to pick them up.
• REPAIR.  A pilot may attempt to repair their AT (or an adjacent one).  Roll 1 die- on a 6, remove one point of damage.

AT COMBAT
Units can attack by SHOOTING or by MELEEING.  First, you'll need to understand how contested die rolls work by reading this page.

• SHOOTING: To shoot, a Unit must spend an action.  Roll dice based on the weapon.  Defender may use MOVE or ARMOR to defend.  If using move, they may use 1 die per point of move for the terrain they are on.  For Armor, roll one die per point of armor.  Remember that damage reduces a unit's armor!   Units in COVER may add 1 die when defending with ARMOR.  If the attacker is BEHIND the target, the target is at -1 die to defend!
• RANGE: Unless your weapon is LONG RANGE, roll 1 less die for every 2 sticks away the target is.  Weapons with RAPID FIRE may do so only at targets within 2 sticks.
  

• MELEE: If a unit ends its move next to an enemy unit, it may make 1 melee attack for free at the end of its move!  If the unit does not move, it must spend an action to melee an adjacent target.  The target may choose to defend with MOVE or ARMOR exactly as ranged combat above, OR they may choose to defend with MELEE!  If defending with melee, the attacking and defending units roll their melee dice value.    If the defender wins, they can do damage to the attacker!

DAMAGE

• STUN: If the attacker wins with no overkill, the target is STUNNED.  Place a -1 marker next to the target: their next die roll (defend, attack, etc). will be at -1 die!
• DAMAGE:If the attacker wins with overkill, the target loses one point of ARMOR per overkill.  Damage does NOT affect the units' speed or attack abilities.
  
• DESTROYED:  If they have no armor left, the unit is destroyed.  PCs may bail out (switch to a foot model).  Minor enemies are simply killed.  If a unit is destroyed with MORE overkill than their number of remaining hits, the unit EXPLODES, rolling 2 dice against any unit within 1 stick and doing knockback.
  

TERRAIN RULES

• LINE OF SIGHT.  When setting up terrain, be sure to include pieces that are big enough for ATs to hide behind!  If you can't see an enemy unit from your unit, you can't attack it.
• COVER.  If you can see an enemy target, but it is partially obscured by terrain, the target may roll an extra die when defending with ARMOR.
• WATER TERRAIN.  Waterproof units may HIDE in water as part of a move action.  While hidden, they cannot be attacked except by other waterproof units, who may attack in melee.  Water does NOT provide cover!

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