This week’s article should be a fairly quick one! Last article we created an Infiltrator Mech for RakTech. Now, I’d like to make the vehicle side of this infiltrator mech. The start of the Mech chapter in Tech Revolution has two important sidebars. The first is about making a larger mech out of smaller mechs, similar to Voltron, Power Rangers, or Super Sentai. The next side-bar on pg. 93 talks about transforming from a vehicle to a mech. Typically the mech form should not be more than one size category larger than the vehicle (so a Large Vehicle could become a Huge Mech, but probably not a Gargantuan Mech). Now lets get going on the ‘base’ version of the vehicle that an Infiltrator Mech can transform into!
Step 0: Vehicle Concept
This one is fairly straightforward, I want to make something sporty and James Bond-ish that can possibly hide some weapons. Possibly pretty fast too!
Step 1: Array
Just like when creating an NPC in Starfinder a lot of the basics are going to be based on the array selected here. But more like Creature Companions, there isn’t so much a choice as just selecting the level that we want the vehicle to be. Since the Mech was for 1-2 5th or 6th level operators, I’m going to go on the slightly higher-end and say the vehicle is a 6th level vehicle.
Step 2: Vehicle Type Graft
In Step 2, we get our first chance at choosing what kind of vehicle this will really be: boat, cruiser, cycle, fast flyer, hovering flyer, submersible, tank, truck, walker. While none of those read like they are a fast car, we’re going to go with Cruiser for now. Just as with a creature’s graft, this adjusts the base statistics we were given in Step 1.
Step 3: Vehicle Size Graft
The easy steps just keep coming! If I’m wanting a car and we know that the Mech is Huge sized, then the Vehicle should really either be Large or Huge. We don’t want to have a bunch of cargo or a lot of passengers when in vehicle mode so we’ll stick with Large.
We could stop here at this point, the next two steps are technically optional. However! These next two steps are honestly the highlight of the custom vehicle rules, allowing to make the vehicle “your own”.
Step 4 (Optional): Vehicle Origin Graft
Where does the vehicle come from? If we were using the fun new mechanic class option for an experimental vehicle alternate class feature, we get some adjustments to the base stats here (mostly decrease in price and an added modification slot). As I look at the other two provided, factory-made and prototype, neither of them feels correct. While I believe that RakTech has a factory to make these, they are not mass-produced willy-nilly. They are likely only sold to a shortlist of approved customers. However, these vehicles aren’t a prototype as well. There might be some prototyped versions that have different special grafts out there though for custom orders by the customer.
Step 5 (Optional): Special Grafts
We’re able to apply up to two of these grafts. We’re given 10 special grafts to adjust our vehicle further. I’m sure that it is a fine line between a special graft and a vehicle modification that when designing those pieces needs to be carefully considered. I imagine part of the process is determining if the option would require a major overhaul of the vehicle. If it does, it might actually be a special graft and not a modification. That’s just my thought though. Our list of grafts are all-terrain, amphibious, armored, computer-assisted controls, hover, hybrid aircraft, junk, luxury, racer, and transport. Racer is a must for that sleek look and increase in speed that our spies might want. The next one probably has a split between the type of consumer. Either amphibious or hybrid aircraft.
What about Vehicle Modifications?
While RakTech salespeople might have some strong suggestions for their discerning customers, the RakTech Muotta can easily accommodate two modifications. With that being said, here is our new vehicle!
RakTech Muotta Level 6
Price 10,750
Large air and land vehicle ( 10ft. wide, 10 ft. long, 5ft. high)
Speed 40 ft., full 1,250 ft, 55mph
EAC 17; KAC 18; Cover Improved cover
HP 66 (33); Hardness 5
Attack (Collision) 5d8 B (DC 14)
Modifiers +0 Piloting, -2 attack (-4 at full speed)
Passengers 2
Description
Sold by RakTech as a sleek sports car, it surprised many of their customers when it also turned out to be a fairly sleek personal jet as well. There are rumors that some of these Muotta’s are more than meets the eyes though.
Conclusion
As I was putting together the stat block for the RakTech Muotta, I realized there is no reason a company like RakTech wouldn’t make more “mundane” versions of this vehicle that does not transform into the Infiltrator. In fact, it would be better for them to get a whole bunch of these vehicles out into the world to better protect the secrecy of the few Infiltrators out in the galaxy. At the price point of this vehicle and its fair flimsiness compared to more combat-oriented vehicles in this level range, it is likely only the rich and very rich would have a RakTech Muotta.
Let me know what you think of the RakTech Muotta on our Discord! Tune in for my next installment!
Photo by Simon Clay, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.
