Background (as per mecha HQ)
The third mobile suit developed under the Earth Federation Forces' top-secret "Project V," the RX-78 Gundam series sees final assembly and rollout at the Side 7 research colony under the supervision of engineer Tem Ray. The Gundam is designed as a fast, close-combat mobile suit and is the first to feature several new technologies, including the energy cap-based beam rifle (making the Gundam the first mobile suit to pack the firepower of a battleship) and beam saber. Three prototypes are constructed, although only one unit, the RX-78-2, survives a Zeon attack on Side 7 when Project V is discovered by Zeon ace pilot Char Aznable. The RX-78-2, having been commandeered by Ray's young son Amuro, fends off the attack and is transferred to the assault carrier White Base. Amuro Ray continues to serve as the Gundam's pilot for the remainder of the One Year War, being White Base's mobile front line of defense.
Although designed with "high performance" in mind, the Gundam is simply outmatched by its own pilot: Amuro's emerging Newtype abilities increasingly allow him to push the Gundam beyond its design limits. This has the often-annoying result of the Gundam's motors and joints getting burned out or overloaded simply because it can't keep up with Amuro's reflexes. A later field upgrade (first utilized on the RX-78-3 Gundam "G-3") involves coating the joints with an electromagnetic solution, thus reducing the motors' and joints' friction, and increasing the Gundam's performance to a point where it can keep up with Amuro's reaction time. Another factor that contributes to the Gundam's success is its "learning computer" system, which allows the mobile suit to "learn" from - and adapt to - the pilot's input. The data from the learning computer system is later incorporated into the Federation's first mass-production model mobile suit, the RGM-79 GM.
The Gundam's service record - and that of Amuro Ray - continually draw the attention of the Zeon forces - and particularly Char - until the end of the war, thus providing the distraction the Federation Forces need to complete construction of its GM units. The Gundam is finally destroyed at the Battle of A Baoa Qu in a fight against Char, piloting the MSN-02 Zeong mobile suit, although Amuro survives. The Gundam itself becomes the most famous mobile suit of the One Year War - even more famous than its young pilot, whose own abilities are the keys to the Gundam's performance, perhaps more so than the abilities of the Gundam itself.
Model Type - RX-78-2 Gundam
Class - Mobile Suit
Crew - 1
MDC By Location
Head - 165
Main Body - 600
Arms - 200 ea
Hands - 80 ea
Legs - 325 ea
Feet - 150 ea
Beam Gun - 200
Beam Sabres - 65 ea
Vulcan Guns - 40 ea
Backpack - 200
Tower Shield - 400
Note - the head can only be hit by a called shot and is -3 to strike.
AR - 18 (Vehicle AR)
Armour - Stops up to and including the equivalent of standard 90mm rounds (1d4x10md)
Note - these statistics are for use in, and to be consistent only within, the UC Gundam Universe. Use in other settings like Robotech or Rifts would need modification.
Speed
Running - 165 km/h
Space - Mach 3
Leaping - 200m
Statistics
Height - 18.5m overall
Length - 4.3m
Width - 7.4m
Weight - 43.4 tons empty, 60 tons max
PS - 70 Robotic Lift - 35 tons, Carry - 17.5 tons
Cargo - minimal pilot and survival gear
Power System - Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1380 kW
Cost - Unknown
Weapons
Weapon Type - 60mm Vulcan Guns (2)
Primary Purpose - Anti-vehicle/missile
Range - 2400m
Damage - 4d6md per round. x3 for short bursts (1 attack, 20 rounds), x5 for medium bursts (1 attack, 50 rounds), x8 long bursts (2 attack, 100 rounds). Guns can be fired in tandem.
Rate Of Fire - equal to pilots attacks.
Payload - 400 rounds armour piercing explosive
Bonuses - +1 strike
Weapon Type - Beam Gun (1). This is on par with the moderate guns of most space ships in use.
Primary Purpose - anti-mecha
Range - 5000m
Damage - 6d6x10md
Rate Of Fire - equal to pilots attacks
Payload - 16 shots
Bonuses - +2 strike
Weapon Type - Beam sabres (2)
Primary Purpose - anti-mecha
Range - melee
Damage - 5d6x10md
Rate Of Fire - na
Payload - 90 seconds (6 melees) of use before needing a recharge
Bonuses - na
Optional Weapons and Add-On Systems
Hyper Bazooka (1)
Primary Purpose - anti-mecha
Range - 5km
Damage - 1d6x100md
Rate Of Fire - one at time equal to pilot's attacks
Payload - 6
Bonuses - -2 strike against fast moving targets such as other mecha
Gundam Hammer (1)
Primary Purpose - anti-mecha
Range - melee
Damage - 5d6md plus punch damage
Rate Of Fire - na
Payload - na
Bonuses - na
Hyper Hammer (1)
Primary Purpose - anti-mecha
Range - melee
Damage - 1d6x10md plus punch damage
Rate Of Fire - na
Payload - na
Bonuses - na
Bonuses and Penalties
Use Robot/Vehicle Elite training plus the following:
+2 strike ranged
+2 dodge (when later refitted with magnetic joint coatings)
+20% piloting rolls
Punch - 1d6x10md
Kick - 2d4x10+10md
Restrained Punch - 2d6md
Body block/tackle - 5d6md
Systems of Note
Sensors - Range - 5700m (include - Telescopic, Thermal, Radar, Infra-red)
Communications - 200km
Targeting System - +2 Strike
Re-entry cooling system
Learning Computer - once it has had 10 battles to analyze the unit can essentially pilot itself and give an increased bonus of +2 strike, +2 dodge, and +20% piloting to the pilot as the computer can "react" in "anticipation" of current events during a battle.
References Used
Wikipedia
Mecha HQ
Mecha Press Magazine
