GAT-X103 Buster Gundam

Disclaimers:
1. I do not own nor am I affiliated with BANDAI, which owns the anime Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, and have copyrights to the anime character and mecha information stated below. All credit regarding the anime should go to BANDAI.
2. I am also not the owner or affiliated with Palladium Books, whose RPG game format I am using to adapt Mobile Suit Gundam Seed characters and mecha for private gaming purposes. All credit regarding the RPG should go to Palladium.
3. I am working on this game only for NON-PROFIT purposes.





GAT-X103 Buster Gundam


RPG Notes:

Mecha Designed by: BANDAI
RPG format by: PALLADIUM BOOKS
RPG Stats by: Ultimate Coordinator (ultimatecoordinator7@yahoo.com.ph)
Text Format Adapted From: DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mediaone.net)
Background info adapted from MECHA ANIME HQ (http://www.mahq.net)


Background Information

With the outbreak of war, the Earth Alliance's Atlantic Federation begins a secret project to develop mobile suits to counter ZAFT's mass-produced ZGMF-1017 GINN as well as operate free of interference from the N-Jammers.

The GAT-X103 Buster Gundam is one of five initial prototype mobile suits that the Alliance develops secretly with the Orb Union. As an artillery mobile suit, the Buster Gundam's main armament consists of a 350mm gun launcher and a 94mm high-energy rifle. These two weapons can be used independently or both interchangeably combined to form two powerful long-range weapons.

The Buster Gundam is also equipped with two 6-barrel missile pod launchers on its shoulders. Like the other prototype Gundams, the Buster Gundam is equipped with the new Phase Shift (PS) armor technology. When in Phase Shift mode, the Buster Gundam is nearly impervious to attacks from shell-firing artillery or melee weapons. However, use of Phase Shift for extended periods of time is a massive drain on the battery-powered reactor.

Later on, the Earth Alliance introduces the GAT/A-01E2 Buster Dagger, a simplified mass-production version of the Buster Gundam

On January 25, C.E. 71, the Buster Gundam was stolen by ZAFT pilot Dearka Elsman during ZAFT's assault on the neutral colony Heliopolis. Following the escape of the Earth Alliance battleship Archangel, Dearka and his Buster Gundam continue to harass the Archangel’s crew during the later period of the war. In one battle near the Orb Union, the Buster Gundam is seriously damaged, forcing Dearka to surrender. He is captured by the Archangel and is held captive until the Archangel defects from the Earth Alliance to the Orb forces.

When the Earth Alliance attacks Orb, Dearka reclaims the Buster Gundam and fights alongside the Archangel to defend Miriallia Haw. In the last battle of the war on September 26, C.E. 71, the Buster Gundam is heavily damaged while fighting Rau Le Creuset's ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam.




Primary Data

Unit Type: Mobile Suit
Class: Prototype Long Distance Artillery Mobile Suit
Manufacturer: OMNI Enforcer (EAF)-Morganraete (Orb)
Primary Factory: Heliopolis Colony (Orb)/Onogoro Island, Orb
First Deployment: January 25, CE 71
Production Run: 1
Operators: Earth Alliance Forces (EAF); Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty (ZAFT)
Crew: One (1) Pilot. There is space for one passenger but no seat (stand at side or back of pilot, or sit on pilot’s lap)
Operating System:
General Unilateral Neuro-link Dispersive Autonomic Maneuver (G.U.N.D.A.M.) Synthesis System Version NV8-N099
Weapons Systems:
Mobile Suit Mode:
• 350mm Gun Launcher
• 94mm High-Energy Rifle
• 220mm Six-Barrel Missile Launchers
Docked Rifle Modes:
• 350mm Anti-Armor Shotgun
• 94mm Hyper Impulse Sniper Rifle


MDC by Location

Head 100
Hands (2) 50 each
Arms 100 each
Shoulders (2) 150 each
Legs (2) 200 each
Main Body 300
Six-Barrel Missile Launchers (2) 200 each
Gun Launcher 150
High-Energy Rifle 150
Anti-Armor Shotgun 300
Hyper Impulse Sniper Rifle 300

Notes:

1. Destroying the head of the Buster Gundam will knock the mobile suit’s primary sensors, including all the optics systems (infrared, night vision, thermal) Radar and communications will not be affected.
2. Depleting the MDC of the Main Body will destroy the mobile suit. If online, the ultra-compact energy battery of the MS will explode, causing an additional 1d4 x 100 MDC of damage to all units within 100 meters of the MS. There is NO automatic ejection of the pilot should the MS explodes. If the pilot succeeds in shutting down before or if the battery charge is depleted when the main body MDC is depleted, there is no explosion and the MS is shut down. The pilot can successfully escape from the MS cockpit.
3. Depleting the MDC or severing the legs of the Buster will prohibit the mobile suit from walking or running, although jet-assisted leaps and flight can be possible, but flight speed is cut in half


Technical Data

Head Height: 18.86 meters
Weight: 84.2 metric tons

Movement Speeds:

Running:
120 mph (192 kph). Walking speed is 30-40 mph (60-80kph).
Leaping
50 feet (15m) high or 70 feet (21m) long without thrusters
Flying, Atmosphere:
• 500mph/800kph with max flight ceiling of 5000 feet. Mach 1.4 (1000mph/1600kph) with a maximum ceiling of 10000 feet with the Guul Subflight System.
• The Buster Gundam is capable of flight and aerial maneuvering in atmosphere only in short periods of time (1-4 rounds) before needing to land, without the Guul Subflight Lifter. The Buster is also capable of reentry from space to earth’s atmosphere, with a maximum safe controlled drop entry velocity of Mach 4.2 (2814mph/4502kph) at the outer layers of the atmosphere. However, it is not capable of achieving escape velocity to break thru Earth’s gravity into space without additional rocket assistance. Structural G-limits are +23.5 to –17.5 Earth gravities.
Flying, Space
• Mach 1.4 (1000mph/1600kph). Mach 2.8 (2000mph/3200kph) with the Guul Subflight System



Power Systems Data

Power Plant: Type 2 Ultra-compact Energy Battery, Auxiliary Power Unit
Energy Units (full charge):
• Type 2 Ultra-compact Energy Battery: 1250 EU
• Auxiliary Power Unit: 125 EU
Energy Use:
• Idle: 1 EU per round
• Walking: 2 EU per round
• Running: 3 EU per round
• Underwater: 4 EU per round
• Flying (Atmosphere/Space): 5 EU per round

Weapons Systems:

I. Mobile Suit Mode

1) 350mm Gun Launcher – As a primary fire-support weapon, the Buster Gundam mounts a 350mm gun launcher mounted behind the right arm, hand held in use. The launcher is used to fire high explosive rounds for tactical support fire. The gun launcher can be docked with the 94mm high-energy rifle in two modes to form more potent weapons.
• Primary Purpose: Support Artillery
• Range: 12000 feet (3600 meters)
• Damage: 4d6 x 10 MD
• Rate of Fire: one shot per attack. Number of total attacks equal to number of attacks of pilot and mobile suit
• Payload: 60 rounds
• Power Usage: 5 EU per attack

2) 94mm High-Energy Beam Rifle –The Buster also carries a 94mm high-energy rifle, primarily as a sniper weapon. As with the other beam weapons of the Strike and the other first four mobile suits of the GAT-X series, this is a prototype for future, mass-produced beam weaponry to be equipped on newer, more advanced mobile suits. Consequently, the Buster’s beam rifle uses more power than normal beam rifles, and is a test bed for experimentation and improvements in beam weaponry. The beam rifle is mounted behind Buster’s left hand, and is hand-held when in use. The high-energy rifle can be docked with the 350mm gun launcher in two modes to form more potent weapons.
• Primary Purpose: Assault
• Secondary Purpose: Anti-mobile suit
• Range: 12000 feet (3600 meters) in atmosphere; 24000 feet (7200 meters) in space
• Damage: 4d6 x 10 MD per shot, the energy rifle can cannot fire bursts
• Rate of Fire: One shot per attack. Number of total attacks equal to number of attacks of pilot and mobile suit.
• Payload: reliant on power supplied by mobile suit.
• Power Usage: 30 EU per attack

3) 220mm Six-Barrel Missile Launcher – As an anti-mobile suit support weapon, the Buster is equipped with a 220mm six-barrel missile launcher. The left shoulder launcher has six (6) short-ranged armor-piercing missiles.
• Primary Purpose: Assault
• Secondary Purpose: Anti-mobile suit
• Range: 5 miles / 8 km. (8000 meters)
• Damage: 1d6 MD per missile.
• Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 3, 4, 5, or all (6). The number of volleys is equal to the number of attacks of the pilot and the Buster combined. A volley, regardless of the number of missiles fired, counts as one attack
• Payload: Six (6) short-ranged, armor-piercing missiles
• Power Usage: 5 EU per attack

4) Hand To Hand Combat – If necessary, the Buster can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The Buster is agile and can execute most typical hand-to-hand combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, etc.

Damage:
• Restrained Punch: 1d6 MD
• Full Strength Punch: 3d6 MD
• “Booster” Punch: 5d6 MD (counts as two attacks)
• Tear/Pry with Hand Actuators: 2d6 MD
• Kick: 2d4 MD
• Leap Kick: 3d6 MD
• Body Flip/Throw: 4d6 MD
• Stomp: 2d6 MD (only effective against objects up to the height of the MS’ knees)



II. Docked Armament Modes

1) 350mm Gun Shotgun – when the gun launcher and high-energy rifle are docked, with the gun launcher in front, the two weapons form a 350mm Gun Shotgun. The combined power of the two weapons doubles the effective range of the weapon, which is the same as the gun launcher. The Gun Shotgun uses the same ammunition as the gun launcher, but the muzzle velocity is increased for doubled damage capacity. The power usage of the Gun shotgun is equal to that of the gun launcher and high-energy rifle combined (35 EU per shot).
• Primary Purpose: Support Artillery
• Range: 24000 feet (7200 meters)
• Damage: 8d6 x 10 MD
• Rate of Fire: one shot per attack. Number of total attacks equal to number of attacks of pilot and mobile suit
• Payload: 60 rounds
• Power Usage: 35 EU per attack

2) 94mm Hyper Impulse Sniper - when the gun launcher and high-energy rifle are docked, with the high-energy rifle in front, the two weapons form a 94mm Hyper Impulse Rifle. The combined power of the two weapons doubles the effective range of the weapon, which is the same as the high-energy rifle. The Hyper Impulse Sniper Rifle has increased damage capacity for every shot. The Hyper Impulse Sniper Rifle also has a +4 bonus to strike when in use. The power usage of the Gun shotgun is equal to that of the gun launcher and high-energy rifle combined (35 EU per shot).
• Primary Purpose: Assault
• Secondary Purpose: Anti-mobile suit
• Range: 24000 feet (7200 meters) in atmosphere; 48000 feet (14400 meters) in space
• Damage: 2d6 x 50 MD per shot, the impulse sniper rifle can cannot fire bursts
• Rate of Fire: One shot per attack. Number of total attacks equal to number of attacks of pilot and mobile suit.
• Payload: reliant on power supplied by mobile suit.
• Power Usage: 35 EU per attack

III. Optional Use of the Guul Subflight Lifter

Guul Subflight Lifter – The Buster can be equipped with the Guul Subflight Lifter that gives the MS the capability of atmospheric flight. The mobile suit docks with the Guul via hard points on the Guul and the mobile suit’s foot actuators. The Guul increases the mobile suit flying speed in atmosphere and space, and adds an additional weapon in the form of two six-barrel missile launchers. It also has a built in Type 1 energy battery to power the lifter and augment the power of attached mobile suits. The Guul is the predecessor of the Fatum-00 subflight lifter of the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam. Unlike the Fatum-00, the Guul cannot be used as a separate remote-control fighter.

Destroying the Guul still allows the mobile suit the ability to fight but can only use the weapons in the main body of the mobile suit, and limits the flight capabilities and decrease the maximum speed to that of the mobile suit.

1) 220mm Six-Barrel Missile Launcher (2) – As an anti-mobile suit support weapon, the Guul is equipped with two 220mm six-barrel missile launchers, mounted on the wing pods of the subflight lifter.
• Primary Purpose: Assault
• Secondary Purpose: Anti-mobile suit
• Range: 5 miles / 8 km. (8000 meters)
• Damage: 1d6 MD per missile.
• Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 or all (12). The number of volleys is equal to the number of attacks of the pilot and the Buster combined. A volley, regardless of the number of missiles fired, counts as one attack
• Payload: Six (6) short-ranged, armor-piercing missiles, per launcher, for a total of 12 missiles
• Power Usage: 5 EU per attack



2) Dodge Bonus - When used, the Guul Subflight Lifter gives dodge bonuses of +1 in atmosphere, +2 in space.


Combat Notes:
Docked Armament Mode – The buster can dock its two primary weapons (gun launcher and high-energy rifle) to form two more potent weapons configurations with increased range and damage capacity. To dock/undock the weapons the pilot must use one attack per round. The docked armaments use both hands to fire. It can be fired with one hand but with a –6 to strike penalty.

Standard Equipment

General Unilateral Neuro-link Dispersive Autonomic Maneuver (G.U.N.D.A.M.) Synthesis System – This was the first OS created, and was used for the Earth Alliance’s G Project. The GAT-X102 Duel, GAT-X103 Buster, GAT-X105 Strike, GAT-X207 Blitz and GAT-X303 Aegis used this OS. As originally implemented, the G.U.N.D.A.M Synthesis System was incomplete and can only be used clumsily by Natural pilots. Kira Yamato completed and corrected the system by early June CE 71. Orb's MBF-P01 Astray Gold Frame, MBF-P02 Astray Red Flame, MBF-P03 Astray Blue Frame, MBF-02 Strike Rouge and ORB-01 Akatsuki also use a clone of the G.U.N.D.A.M Synthesis System, which along with other G Project technology was copied by Morganraete on Heliopolis. It is possible, though unconfirmed, that both the EA’s and Orb’s mass-production mobile suits use a variant of the G.U.N.D.A.M Synthesis System that is refined for use by Natural pilots.

Ultra-compact Energy Battery – The main power plant of the Buster is a Type 2 ultra-compact energy battery that provides the power required to operate the mobile suit and its component systems. The battery is rechargeable, using conduits that connect to an external power source at a base or carrier vessel. Recharging time for the Buster’ battery is 1 hour for a full charge. The weapons systems and phase shift armor of the Buster rely on the power provided by the energy battery, and they drain energy from the power supply with their use. If the energy battery is drained, the weapons are powerless and cannot be used. The only weapons functioning will be the Iglestellung CIWS, which can draw power from the APU.

Phase Shift Armor – The Buster is equipped with Phase Shift Armor technology, which provides the MS protection against projectile (projectile, impact, high explosive and missile attacks. The phase shift armor uses 2 EU from the Buster’ main battery for every round that the armor is online. The phase shift armor absorbs the damage from these weapons, to a maximum of 90 MD per attack. MDC attacks with damage more than 90 MD will minus 90 MD from the damage, while excess damage will be HALVED before it is applied to the mobile suit’s MDC. However, phase shift armor drains an additional 3 EU for every round that the MS is hit with projectile weapons and missile fire. The phase shift armor is effective as long as the Buster has energy units (EU) left to power the MS from its main energy. If the battery is offline or runs out of power (0 or less EU), the phase shift armor will shut down (phase shift down) and the MS is venerable to all projectile attacks (takes full damage). Beam weapons will always penetrate phase shift armor, and cause full damage to the Buster, but will not drain EU for the phase shift armor hit. When the phase shift armor is online, it manifest in the form of the physical colors of the mobile suit. The colors depend on and are set via updating the settings of the mobile suit’s operating system. When the phase shift armor is offline or out of power, the entire mobile suit will be colored a uniform flat gray.

Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) – The Buster’ has an auxiliary power unit that provides reserve power supply rated at 10% of the main Type 2 battery’s power capacity should the primary energy battery is drained or shut down. The APU provides the MS emergency power for its essential systems, such as radio communications, internal cockpit and instrumentation lighting, main computer operation, cockpit hatch, ventilation, etc. These systems use a minimal amount of power (1 EU per round) at idle. The APU provides power for the Iglestellung CIWS even if the main battery is shut down. The APU also provides power for maneuvering (walking, running, leaping, flying) to allow the MS to withdraw from battle and/or return to its base, as long as the APU has energy left. If the APU’s energy is zero or less EU, the MS loses all power and all of its systems are shut down until the primary battery or APU is recharged.

Internal Mainframe Computer – The Buster is equipped with an advanced mainframe computer than controls the various systems of the mobile suit. The computer uses the G.U.N.D.A.M. Synthesis System as its operating system. The computer also collects, correlate and analyze data coming from the mobile suits sensors, and relays information to the pilot via the multi function displays (MFD) on the console, heads-up display (HUD) and virtual environment screens. The computer can track and identify up to 500 targets simultaneously, analyze and specify threats and incoming missile fire, and store information in its database. It optimizes the multiple mechanical, electronic and power systems of the Buster to suit the situation and current conditions. It evaluates the threats to the mobile suit and counters and compensates by optimizing the mobile suit to face the threat. It is partly responsible for the mobile suit’s maneuverability and bonuses to parrying, dodging and roll defense. The Pilot can also optimize the system if he has the Computer Programming (GUNDAM OS) skill.

External Audio Pickup – A sound amplification system that can pick up sound at normal decibels up to 300 feet away.

Heat and Radiation Shields – Special shielding that prevents penetration into the cockpit and internals of the mobile of life-threatening heat and radiation. The shields also give the Buster the protection while it enters Earth’s atmosphere from orbit. An alarm system is linked to internal sensor that can detect ruptures in the shielding and the amount of heat and radiation is registered.

Emergency Homing Signal Beacon – The Buster carries three homing beacon which sends out a signal to allow a rescue units to locate the mobile suit if it is disabled. One is an internal beacon mounted in the cockpit. The other two beacons can be deployed from its internal mounts on the mobile suit’s arms. These are buoyant and can stay afloat in water even in rough seas. The range of the signal is an arc of 400 miles (640 km) and can continuously send for 100 hours. The signal is a clearly broadcasted international distress signal that is easily recognizable by most computers onboard vehicles, ships and mobile suits.

Laser Targeting System – Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in attacking enemy targets and hostiles. It is partly responsible for the mobile suit’s strike bonuses. It also used as a indirect fire targeting system to “paint” targets for long ranged, indirect fire artillery and missile systems.

Loudspeaker – An external loudspeaker system is built into the MS, which can amplify the pilot’s voice up to 90 decibels.

Optics: Infrared – Range: 1000 feet (600 meters). This optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the naked eye, but detectable by the MS’ sensors. The system allows the pilot to detect objects, even hidden or concealed ones, via their IR reflective signatures. The beam will be visible to anyone with IR sensitive optics, however.

Optics: Nightvision – Range 1000 feet (600 meters). A passive light imaging intensifier that emits no light of its own, but relies on the ambient light which is electronically amplified to produce a visible picture.

Optics: Thermal Imaging – Range: 1000 feet (600 meters). A passive optical heat sensor that detects radiation projected by warm objects and converts that data into false-colored visible images.

Radar – 300 miles (480 km) range. Passive and active scanning sensors interconnected with the various optic systems and the mainframe computer.

Sonar – 50 miles (80km) range. Passive and active underwater scanning sensors interconnected with the various optic systems and the mainframe computer.

Self-Destruct System – To prevent the capture of the mobile suit, the pilot can activate the MS’ self-destruct system, which will cause the MS to explode after a delay of up to 60 minutes, depending on the settings of the pilot. The system requires a numeric code to be entered via the hidden keypad in the right armrest of the pilot’s seat. The explosion will spread along a 100 meter arc, and causes 1d4 x 100 MD to all units within the arc. The mobile suit will be destroyed and all internal systems incinerated. The pilot must manually escape from the cockpit before the explosion to survive.

Standard Survival Kit – The Buster comes equipped with a portable survival kit for the pilot. Inside a reinforced compartment behind the pilot’s seat is a backpack with a flashlight, four hand flares, two rocket flares, a compass, infrared distancing binoculars, a small mirror, a multi-tool pocket knife, dehydrated and concentrated food for 7 days for one person, and a first aid kit.

Life Support System – The Buster’ cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air conditioning and ventilation feeds to the pilot’s flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The pilot’s suit also contains an upper and lower g-suit that promotes blood circulation during high-g turns and maneuvering, thus decreasing the possibility of the pilot blacking out in combat.

Virtual Environment Cockpit – The Buster is equipped with an innovative cockpit display system layout that provides monitors for a 180 degrees view along front arc of the outside environment even though the cockpit is nestled inside the main body of mobile suit. This clear and wide view is partly responsible for the strike/parry/dodge/roll bonuses of the MS.






Combat Bonuses From GAT-X103 Buster Gundam Combat Training

Basic Training for Mobile Suit pilots
• Requires Pilot Mobile Suit
• 2 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot)
• Add one additional action/attack at levels three, nine and fifteen.
• +1 on initiative
• +1 to strike
• +1 to parry
• +1 to dodge
• No bonus to dodge in space.
• +1 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
• No leap dodge
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.

















Advanced training for pilots specializing in the GAT-X103 Buster Gundam.
• Requires Mobile Suit Combat: GAT-X103 Buster
• 4 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot)
• Add one additional action/attack at levels two, five, seven, and ten.
• +2 on initiative
• +2 to strike
• +4 additional strike bonus with hyper impulse sniper rifle
• +3 to parry
• +3 to in atmosphere
• +2 additional bonus to dodge when in space
• +2 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
• +3 to leap dodge. A leap dodge is an automatic dodge that causes no loss of attacks per melee. The mobile suits are so maneuverable that the pilot can dodge an attack while moving to counterattack an enemy.
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.
• Body block/tackle/ram - 2D4 M.D. plus a 50% chance of knocking an opponent down, causing him to loose initiative and one attack that melee round.








References Used In This Design:

• Mecha Anime HQ http://www.mahq.net
• Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Anime Episodes 1-50, from BANDAI
• 1/100 Scale Aile Strike Gundam Plastic Model by BANDAI
• 1/60 Scale Freedom Gundam Plastic Model by BANDAI
• 1/60 Scale Force Impulse Gundam Plastic Model by BANDAI