The Paladin EBA (by MacKenzie Coker with input and modification by me)
When developing the Demon-Buster power armor, the design team of Jaymz LaFlamme and MacKenzie Coker also developed a companion EBA, for the pilots. They wanted something heavier than ride armor or a flight suit. If the Demon-Buster was actually taken out of commission, then the enemy was dangerous. Having to hit the ground in a flight suit would likely result in near instant death, at the very least an unarmored pilot would make a quick snack for many supernatural evils. Even if the foe had joined the Power Armor in defeat, the Demon-Buster was in theory deployed against extremely lethal combatants. Stronger armor would be appreciated in such circumstance.
As this armor would serve as both pilot armor and a EBA survival suit, they based their design off the experimental NG-A12 Anti-Ballistic Armor. Burt Turner was called in to assist, and the Paladin was born. It borrows the Anti-Ballistic design features from the NG-A12, but maintains as much mobility as possible, to aid the Pilot in driving the Demon-Buster. Thankfully the Demon-Buster is a LARGE power armor, akin to the Glitter Boy, Samson, and Ulti-max. You ‘sit/ride’ the Demon-Buster more than ‘wear’ it. So there’s more room inside for the pilot and thus, the Pilot can wear their Paladin armor when "suited up".
Due to the highly kinetic and bombastic style of combat that the power armor specializes, the pilot would suffer a good bit of jostling inside. They are strapped in with a multi point harness, but the Paladin armor’s kinetic absorption and redistribution keeps the Pilot safer than a simple flight suit or other EBA would. Trading blows with the supernatural results in a lot of force being thrown out and taken in. The air cushion of the EBA also softens blows ‘felt’ inside the PA, and protects the pilot from crashes and falls.
Lastly the Paladin was designed specifically to match the Demon-Buster in look and feel. The styling on both, mirror and match one another and the color pallets reflect and compliment. When you see a D-B pilot out side of his power armor, you KNOW who he is and what he does. Northern Gun has also designed a special run of the man-sized Bangstick Hammer. The “NG-B21” have been nicknamed “Thunderstrike”. It has the same stats and offensive capability as the NG-B20, but is styled to compliment the Paladin EBA. The pilots use the Mjolnir Hammer when in their power armor and the Thunderstrike when on foot.
Paladin EBA: NGX-AB-665
Weight: 15kg
Mobility: Fair-Good. The Paladin was designed for maximum flexibility, while retaining the Anti-Ballistic properties of it’s forbearer. -7% to climb skills and -10% to Prowl, Acrobatics, and Gymnastics.
Scale: Massive
Structure By location:
Head/Helmet: 40
Arms: 35 ea
Hands: 10 ea
Legs: 45 ea
Feet: 15 ea
Main Body: 80
NG-B21:
Armour Level: 10
Armour Protection: automatically stops up to and including the equivalent of attacks that do 2d4+1/9 damage in a single attack/blast regardless of if the strike roll equals/exceeds the Armour Level. Any attacks that do the equivalent of 1d6x10/60 damage only require a successful strike roll to cause damage without need to equal/exceed the Armour Level. All other attacks (2d4+2/10 to 1d4x10+19/59 damage) require the usual of the strike needing to equal/exceed the Armour Level.
Special Feature:
Impact Absorbing Systems: Armor takes half damage from all kinetic attacks, including punches, kicks, falls, impact damage, and explosions. If the character also manages to roll with impact/fall, damage is reduced by half again. Also, the character wearing the armor suffers only 20% of the usual damage from falls and crashes.
Size: Custom fit to the purchase but no larger than 2m tall.
Power System: Rechargeable Batter pack powers the EBA systems. It has a 72 hour charge and is automatically recharged anytime the pilot is "plugged into" the Demon Buster
Cost: 62,000 credits.
Note: When purchasing the Demon-Buster power armor, a suit of Paladin armor is automatically included in matching color scheme and style. The ‘Cost’ listed here is for a Replacement suit of Paladin armor. Also note, that as part of the mystique and Espirit de corps fostered with the Demon-Buster pilots/owners, by Northern Gun, that the Paladin armor and Thunderstrike hammers will only be sold to verified Demon-Buster pilots/owners.
NG-B21 "Thunderstrike"
Purpose - Self-Defense
Range - Melee
Damage - 3d6 (normal damage) per "Hammer" strike plus punch damage. 4d6 (massive damage) when triggering an explosive shell, 5d6 (normal damage) for a standard 12 gauge buckshot shell, or 1d4x10+10 (normal damage) for a 12 gauge solid slug during the strike.
Rate of Fire - NA
Payload - 8 shells. 4 on each side of the "head".
Note - The Thuderstrike is stored in a compartment on the back of the Demon Buster that automatically opens when the Pilot exits the unit.
Systems of Note:
Radio Communications - directional short-range radio with a range of 10km. Has basic encryption capabilities. Also has a built-in loudspeaker that can go as high as 90 decibels
Complete Environmental Sealing - A completely computer controlled life support system that includes: internal cooling and temperature control, air purification and circulation systems (gas filtration, humidifier/dehumidifier) that engages when needed and can recirculate breathable air for up to 6 hours if necessary, computer controlled independent oxygen supply and purge system that has up to 4 hours of breathable air that automatically engages in low oxygen or contaminated air environments, insulated high temperature resistant shielding for up to 150 degrees centigrade (normal fires do no damage though nuclear, plasma, and magical fires do full damage), radiation shielded up to 150 rads, polarized and light sensitive/adjusting tinted viewport (+3 to save against bright flashes IE the Blinding Flash Spell or Flash Grenades).
Heads-up-Display - This shows any pertinent information the pilot needs while in or out of the Demon Buster PA. Direction, temperature, systems monitoring, etc.
References
Rifts RPG Books
Rifts Equipment - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Rifts_Equipment
Rifts Rhodium - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Rifts_(Rhodium)
Rhodium RPG - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/The_Rhodium_RPG_System
World of Jaymz - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Worldofjaymz_Wiki