TEXT: The Modern Dispatch
  auto combat tools
  Page 
  Content Manager: 
  phil reed, chris davis
  Layout: 
  Chris Davis
  Requires the use of the d20 Modern Roleplaying 
  Game, published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
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  of the d20 System License version 6.0.  A copy 
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  com/d20.
  #96
  Auto Combat Tools
  by Philip Reed
  A popular feature of many post-apocalyptic 
  campaigns is the “road warrior,” the individual armed 
  with gun and car that sets off into the wasteland 
  in search of adventure. In this issue of the Modern 
  Dispatch I’ve put together an assortment of new feats 
  and vehicle equipment to assist GMs and players 
  in creating their own auto combat campaign. These 
  tools are by no means an exhaustive collection for 
  use in auto combat campaigns but are, rather, merely 
  a stepping stone you can use to reach your perfect 
  auto combat campaign.
  In addition to feats and equipment, an optional 
  critical hits system for vehicles – and a look at 
  optional road conditions – has been included for your 
  enjoyment.
  Open Game Content
  All of the text in this PDF is designated as open game 
  content. The graphics, artwork, and layout of the PDF 
  are not open and this PDF may not be distributed 
  without the permission of the author.
  About the Author
  Philip Reed has been working professionally in the 
  roleplaying game industry since 1995. In that time 
  he has worked for such companies as West End 
  Games, Privateer Press, and Scrye Magazine. Today, 
  in addition to working on this new PDF, Philip also 
  spent time tearing down an old, ugly fence. To learn 
  more about Philip Reed – and Ronin Arts – please 
  visit www.roninarts.com. The official Ronin Arts 
  forum can be found at www.raforums.com.
  Feats
  The following feats were designed with driving 
  – especially automotive combat – in mind. As always, 
  these feats must be approved by your gamemaster 
  before they may be selected.
  Brake!
  You can come to a stop quicker than most other 
  drivers.
  Prerequisite: Vehicle Expert.
  Benefit: When you declare your speed category for 
  the round you can choose to drop your speed by up to 
  two categories slower than your current speed (your 
  acceleration speed is unaffected).
  Normal: You may only decrease your speed category 
  by one step each round.
  Combat Driving
  You are especially adept at driving under fire.
  Prerequisite: Vehicle Expert.
  Benefit: You gain a +2 competence bonus to 
  all Concentration checks made while Driving. 
  Additionally, whenever your vehicle is hit by 
  weapon’s fire, but before damage is rolled, you may 
  make a Drive check as a free action. If your Drive 
  check result is greater than the attack roll of the 
  weapon that hit you then you manage to jerk the 
  wheel in time to avoid the full impact of the weapon; 
  the attack does one-half damage (round down).
  
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  auto combat tools
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  Critical This!
  Your accuracy with vehicle-mounted weapons is 
  spectacular.
  Prerequisite: Vehicle Expert, Weapon Focus (any 
  vehicle-mounted weapon).
  Benefit: When you score a critical on a vehicle you 
  may select the result from the table (see box).
  Normal: On a critical you roll for effect.
  Hard Core Racer
  You’ve become one with your vehicle, capable of 
  pushing it harder and faster than it was designed to 
  handle.
  Prerequisites: Vehicle Expert, Vehicle Focus, Drive 
  6 ranks.
  Benefit: You can coax more power out of your 
  chosen vehicle, increasing its maximum speed by 
  25% (round up) without affecting its fuel economy.
  Hold Her Steady
  While driving you manage to keep your vehicle 
  steady enough – no matter the speed – that you and 
  your crew are unaffected by the vehicle’s speed.
  Prerequisites: Vehicle Expert, Vehicle Focus, Drive 
  10 ranks.
  Benefit: The check/roll modifier due to your vehicle’s 
  speed is completely eliminated; you (and your crew) 
  suffer no penalties to attack or skill checks.
  Improved Bootleg Turn
  With a quick spin of the wheel and expert braking 
  you execute a perfect bootleg turn.
  Prerequisites: Stunt Driver, Vehicle Expert, Vehicle 
  Focus.
  Benefit: The DC of any bootleg turn that you attempt 
  is reduced as follows:
  Facing Change
  DC
  45 degrees
  0
  90 degrees
  5
  135 degrees
  135
  180 degrees
  15
  Additionally, the distance you must move in a straight 
  line before you may attempt a bootleg turn is reduced 
  by 1 square.
  Improved Defensive Driving
  You’re skilled at driving defensively in combat 
  situations.
  Prerequisites: Combat Driving, Vehicle Expert.
  Benefit: When driving defensively you gain a +2 
  dodge bonus to your vehicle’s defense and you and 
  your vehicle’s occupants suffer only a -2 penalty on 
  attack rolls.
  Normal: Driving defensively imposes a -4 penalty on 
  attack rolls.
  Improved Sideswipe
  You know just where to hit an opponent’s vehicle to 
  maximize damage.
  Prerequisites: Stunt Driver, Vehicle Expert, Vehicle 
  Focus.
  Benefit: The number of dice of damage that you 
  inflict on an opponent during a sideswipe is increased 
  by 50% (round up). The damage that your vehicle 
  suffers is not doubled.
  Normal: Both vehicles involved in a sideswipe suffer 
  equal damage.
  Critical Hits
  Like characters, vehicles can suffer from the effects of a critical hit. Unlike characters, though, a critical 
  hit’s exact effect is determined by rolling 1d10 and consulting the following chart:
  1-5
  Normal Critical. The effect of the critical is normal, increased damage, as if the vehicle were a 
  character.
  6
  Crew Hit. Roll randomly to determine affected crewmember. The attack inflicts damage to 
  the vehicle and 25% of the rolled damage amount (roll down) against the randomly selected 
  crewmember.
  7
  System. One communications or electrical system – rolled randomly – is completely destroyed by 
  the attack.
  8
  Engine hit (minor). The vehicle’s top speed is decreased by 25% (round down). A successful 
  Repair check (DC 20) and two hours of time is required to repair this damage.
  9
  Engine hit (major). The engine is destroyed. The vehicle’s speed decreases by one category each 
  round until it comes to a stop. The engine cannot be repaired and must be completely replaced.
  10
  Fuel Tank. Roll 1d6 – on a roll of 1 the tank explodes, inflicting 5d10 points of damage to the 
  vehicle and 3d10 points of damage to each crewmember.
  
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  auto combat tools
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  Improved Vehicle Dodge
  You are highly skilled at twisting the wheel, 
  accelerating, and otherwise manipulating your 
  vehicle to dodge obstacles and attacks.
  Prerequisites: Dexterity 15, Drive 8 ranks, Vehicle 
  Expert, Vehicle Dodge.
  Benefit: Your Vehicle Dodge benefit is increased 
  from +1 against a selected opponent to +3.
  One Hand on the Wheel
  You can use a one-handed weapon – such as a pistol 
  – while driving without penalty.
  Prerequisites: Vehicle Expert, Weapon Focus (one-
  handed weapon).
  Benefit: You may take a full attack action – in 
  addition to a move action – while driving.
  Normal: A driver cannot take a full attack action 
  while driving since controlling the vehicle requires a 
  move action. 
  Redline
  No one drives like you!
  Prerequisites: Combat Driving, Hard Core Racer, 
  Vehicle Expert, Vehicle Focus, Drive 6 ranks.
  Benefit: You gain a +2 competence bonus to all 
  Driving checks and the maximum speed of your 
  chosen vehicle is increased by 50% (round up) 
  without affecting its fuel economy. This speed 
  increases replaces the increase gained from Hard 
  Core Racer.
  Rubber to the Road
  You can push your vehicle’s acceleration, moving to 
  your top speed faster than most other drivers.
  Prerequisite: Vehicle Expert.
  Benefit: When you declare your speed category for 
  the round you can choose to go up to two categories 
  faster than your current speed (your deceleration 
  speed is unaffected).
  Normal: You may only increase your speed category 
  by one step each round.
  Stunt Driver
  Your skill behind the wheel when performing a 
  vehicle stunt is legendary.
  Prerequisites: Vehicle Expert, Vehicle Focus.
  Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to Drive checks when 
  attempting vehicle stunts.
  Vehicle Charge
  You know how to push your vehicle to inflict 
  devastating damage on opponents.
  Prerequisites: Vehicle Expert, Vehicle Ram.
  Benefit: The base amount of damage inflicted on 
  a rammed vehicle is increased by +5 dice (before 
  doubling, see Vehicle Ram). The damage that your 
  vehicle suffers is not affected.
  Normal: Both vehicles involved in a ram suffer equal 
  damage.
  Vehicle Focus
  You are proficient with a specific type of vehicle.
  Prerequisite: Drive 4 ranks.
  Benefit: You add a +1 to all Drive rolls made when 
  driving your selected vehicle.
  Special: You may gain this feat multiple times, each 
  time selecting a different vehicle type.
  Vehicle Ram
  You know how to slam your vehicle into opponents 
  in order to inflict serious damage.
  Prerequisite: Vehicle Expert.
  Benefit: The number of dice of damage that you 
  inflict on an opponent during a ram is doubled. The 
  damage that your vehicle suffers is not doubled.
  Normal: Both vehicles involved in a ram suffer equal 
  damage.
  Vehicle Equipment
  In campaigns in which automotive combat is 
  commonplace, it’s extremely likely that drivers will 
  want to modify their cars, attempting to make them 
  more combat-worthy vehicles. The following new 
  equipment options will help when it comes time to 
  customize your ride.
  Installing any of these options requires a Craft 
  check (DC equal to the item’s purchase DC) and a 
  number of hours of time equal to one-half the item’s 
  purchase DC (unless otherwise indicated in the item’s 
  description).
  Armored Body
  The vehicle’s frame and external shell are reinforced, 
  increasing the vehicle’s hardness by 25% (round up) 
  and hit points by 50% (round up).
  Example: A Crown Victoria with an armored body 
  has hardness 7 and 51 hit points.
  Purchase DC: One-half vehicle’s base purchase DC.
  Restriction: Restricted (+2)
  Armored Wheel
  The vehicle’s wheels are protected by armored 
  guards, providing each wheel with one-quarter cover.
  Purchase DC: 12
  Restriction: Licensed (+1)
  Enhanced Engine
  The vehicle’s engine is heavily modified, components 
  bolted on, parts monkeyed with, and the engine 
  
  The Modern Dispatch
  auto combat tools
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  completely overhauled and improved. The top speed 
  of the vehicle is increased by 25% (round up).
  Purchase DC: 5 + one-half the base purchase DC of 
  the modified vehicle.
  Restriction: None
  Extra Fuel Tank
  A second fuel tank is added to the vehicle, doubling 
  its range. Additionally, this modification makes the 
  vehicle more susceptible to damage from a fuel tank 
  hit (on a roll of 2 in 6 the tank explodes, see box on 
  p. 00).
  Purchase DC: 12
  Restriction: None
  Hardened Windows
  Using a more durable glass-like material, all of the 
  vehicle’s windows hit points are increased to 6 each.
  Purchase DC: 15
  Restriction: Licensed (+1)
  Off-Road Suspension
  The vehicle is equipped with an improved suspension 
  that allows it to better travel over rough roads (or off-
  road). See box.
  Purchase DC: 10 + one-half the base purchase DC 
  of the modified vehicle.
  Restriction: None
  BEGIN BOX
  END BOX
  Ramplate
  A heavy, steel plate is mounted on the front of the 
  vehicle, increasing the amount of damage the vehicle 
  inflicts against rammed targets; the damage caused 
  by the vehicle in a ram is increased by +5d10 while 
  the damage the ramplate-equipped vehicle suffers is 
  unaffected.
  Purchase DC: 22
  Restriction: Restricted (+2)
  Roll Cage
  The vehicle is equipped with a steel cage that 
  completely wraps around the occupants, protecting 
  them from damage during a roll (occupants suffer no 
  damage during a roll). Additionally, the vehicle itself 
  Road Conditions
  The roads in most auto combat campaigns are rarely well-maintained. Instead, most roads are damaged 
  in some way, making them more difficult to drive on. For a quick and dirty way of taking these imperfect 
  roads into account use the following table.
  Road Condition
  Drive Penalty
  Maximum Speed
  Perfect
  None
  All-Out
  Slightly Damaged
  -2
  All-Out
  Moderately Damaged
  -4
  Highway Speed
  Heavily Damaged
  -6
  Street Speed
  Effectively Destroyed
  -8
  Alley Speed
  Drive Penalty: The modifier the driver suffers when driving on the road in question.
  Maximum Speed: The highest speed a vehicle can achieve while driving on the road in question. A vehicle 
  equipped with off-road suspension can achieve a top speed one step higher than listed here.
  Example: A vehicle with off-road suspension driving on a heavily damaged road may reach the “Highway 
  Speed” category.
  Road Conditions
  Perfect
  The road is undamaged and well-maintained.
  Slightly Damaged
  Minor cracks and pot holes dot the road’s surface.
  Moderately Damaged
  In addition to the above, some small sections of the road are missing and 
  wrecks block the road every dozen miles or so.
  Heavily Damaged
  As above but wrecks are encountered every six miles and larger sections of 
  the road have been completely destroyed.
  Effectively Destroyed
  As above but wrecks appear every mile or so and, in places, the road is 
  reduced to hard, broken pieces.
  
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  auto combat tools
  Page 
  suffers damage as if it were traveling one-half of its 
  actual speed (round down).
  Purchase DC: 18
  Restriction: None
   
  Run-Flat Tires
  The vehicle is equipped with specially-designed tires 
  that continue to function even when flat. Each flat tire 
  imposes a -2 penalty on Drive checks (instead of the 
  usual -4). These tires require only one hour to install 
  (for each pair) and a check DC of 5.
  Purchase DC: 10 per tire.
  Restriction: Licensed (+1)
  Vehicle Spikes
  Jagged, metal spikes protrude from the vehicle’s 
  body, not only making it a fearsome-looking machine 
  but also increasing the damage inflicted on soft 
  targets (like people) during a collision. In a collision, 
  soft targets suffer an additional 2d20 points of 
  damage as the metal spikes tear into their body.
  Purchase DC: 18
  Restriction: Restricted (+2)
  Weapon Mount
  A custom-mount is installed in the vehicle, allowing 
  the vehicle to carry a weapon in the modified 
  position. Depending on the campaign in question, 
  this mount takes the form of a hole cut in the side, 
  a computer-assisted stable platform connected 
  directly to the driver’s controls, or a few bolts and a 
  complicated, manual firing system. Purchase DC and 
  restriction reflect the mount only; the weapon must be 
  purchased separately.
  Purchase DC: 6 (bolted on), 10 (hole in vehicle), 18 
  (computerized system)
  Restriction: None/None/Restricted (+2)
  
  The Modern Dispatch
  auto combat tools
  Page 6
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  Modern System Reference Document Copyright 2002-
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  Stan!, Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker,  
  based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip 
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  Horizons: Redline Copyright 2003, Fantasy Flight Games, 
  Inc.
  Modern Dispatch #96 2006, Ronin Arts; Author Philip 
  Reed
  
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