Background of the Nextgen Consortium
The Nextgen Consortium had humble beginnings in a garage where it's founders tinkered with less-than-legally acquired military technology. Without "proper" education and training in handling, modifying, and maintaining equipment, these tinkerers wound up creating
very unique equipment. Most notable, at least initially, was the creation of the
Magnetar Assault Platform which utilized an energy cartridge that could passively recharge (albeit slower than an active combatant would prefer), though most importantly the original weapon, an energy-based assault rifle, was reduced to it's most basic systems and was able to have a pair of homemade barrels attached to the weapon that distinctly altered performance.
They'd also managed to get their hands on a military transport, the Sunderer, and went about tinkering with it to hell and back. The founders took a Hard Light generator, upsized it, and integrated it with the Sunderer's systems. The generator, when activated, created a bubble out of a Hard Light mesh centered on the Sunderer. The prototype
Sunderer-S exploded, of course, but not before they realized they were on to something.
After the loss of the garage and a few fingers the founders of the Nextgen Consortium garnered attention from a local arms manufacturing company and were allowed to
legally continue their work. Thanks to skillful business acumen those tinkerers made enough money to take what they learned of the arms business and start off on their own. While NC designs were often found in the hands of, ah, criminal elements, it was not completely the doing of the NC - the modularity of their weaponry and unique vehicle production added an x-factor that most standard militarys try to avoid. However, as humanity's borders stretch ever-further, the UPA acknowledges that the NC may have perhaps the best mindset for arming troops responsible for conquering and defeating enemies of mankind across the galaxy.
This brings us to today, where they prepare to engage in a perpetual war for the sake of weapons testing.
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It is now the first Design Phase! The prelim turns are special, and for this one you will be able to create TWO designs. You are to propose, discuss, and vote for further additions to your list of equipment! Do look it over, as the above mentioned equipment is only a taste of what you have.
WHEN DESIGNING FIREARMS MAKE SURE TO MENTION WHICH CLASS/CLASSES IT'S DESIGNATED FOR. This is to ensure loadout diversity and is meant to further aid in differentiating the teams (ex. a side may focus on close-up Infiltrator kits while another prefers to make fearsome Heavy Assaults). You can make equipment for all classes but it will likely not end up as stronk as a focused design, but remember your army uses Uncertified troops as the bulk of their forces, and they'll have all firearms scattered throughout based on cost. Note you can change the names of the equipment I've given you if you want to create a theme.
You do not need to specify loadouts until your last preliminary turn, since you'll probably be making some changes before then.
Each Loadout will require the following (just so you know what to plan ahead for): A Primary and Secondary Weapon, some form of their Class-defining equipment, and up to three Auxiliary Equipment (grenades, extra ammo, combat stims, etc. - as always ask about a proposal if you're not sure about something fitting). Something like grenades can give multiples per slot depending on the design. And before it's asked, yes the holes in the armory (no melee weapon, no sidearm, very limited vehicles, etc.) are intentional, this is just a solid base to work off of.
Magnetar Assault Platform: The Magnetar Assault Platform is a weapon that, at it's base, has no barrel or focal lenses for firing through. Each model comes with two easily swappable barrels - the Rifle Module and the Scattergun Module. This allows the Magnetar to be swapped from a 5mm (representing beam size) assault rifle-like gun to a weapon resembling a 12-gauge shotgun on the fly. The energy cartridge holds enough power for thirty Rifle or ten Scattergun shots and takes a full eight seconds to charge back up after being fully depleted. Firing during this recharge time can cause weapon failure. Carrying around extra barrels can be cumbersome (though this is slightly offset by not needing to carry around loads of ammo magazines), and the weapon does have reliability issues, but it's effectiveness in Close to Medium range engagements cannot be emphasized enough. Usable by: All Classes (CHEAP)
Alcor Heavy Weapons Platform: The Alcor is a cumbersome heavy weapon with a high-capacity energy cartridge. It features two Behavioral Modules which can be installed in a slot at the side of the weapon to drastically change it's performance, though they are very fragile and so it's not likely to see someone carrying both around. The first is the Eta Module which programs the internal systems to behave like a 5mm Light Machine Gun capable of firing 100 rounds before needing to recharge for ten seconds. The Delta Module causes the Alcor to fire a sustained beam for about a second before safety features cut it off to prevent melting the weapon. This can be fired eight times before needing to recharge. The Eta Module is most effective at Medium range while the Delta Module is best at Long and Extreme ranges. Usable by: Infiltrators (Delta Module), Heavy Assaults (Eta Module) (VERY EXPENSIVE)
Basic Nanite Cloaking System: A small module that uses Nanites to divert light around the wearer. It provides invisibility to the naked eye for twelve seconds before requiring a full minute to recharge, though movement drains charge much faster. Infiltrator Class Item (VERY EXPENSIVE)
Basic Jump Pack: A backpack utilizing jet boosters to provide upward thrust in order to reach high ground or reduce speed when descending. The boost can be sustained for five seconds before needing to recharge for twenty seconds. Light Assault Class Item (VERY EXPENSIVE)
Basic Medical Applicator: A small handgun-shaped healing tool that uses Nanites to mend wound slowly (for active battlefield standards) and is unable to Revivify fallen comrades before the Nanite Revivication Process respawns them at a secured base. Combat Medic Class Item (VERY EXPENSIVE)
Basic Repair Tool: A device that uses Nanites to mend constructions and vehicles at a snail's pace. They are prone to overheating during extended usage, often requiring multiple breaks to fully repair even mild combat damage. Engineer Class Item (VERY EXPENSIVE)
Basic Overshield Generator: A module that, when activated, projects a mesh of Hard Light against it's user. This shielding can deflect or absorb some incoming fire but will fail under a significant or sustained attack. The barrier can be held for thirty seconds and requires two minutes without use to fully recharge. Heavy Assault Class Item (VERY EXPENSIVE)
Sunderer-S Troop Transport: The Sunderer-S is a combat transport capable of carrying ten fully-equipped soldiers to battle and providing protection from small arms with 15mm armor all-around. This six-wheeled battle bus can reach speeds of 80km/h on favorable terrain. The Sunderer-S is unarmed but comes equipped with a Hard Light Shield Projector which deploys a bubble of hard light mesh centered on the vehicle while active. High velocity objects, such as bullets or laser fire, are stopped by the shield, though soldiers can pass through it freely (although with a slight tingle at the back of the neck). The shield draws power from the engine, so the vehicle is required to be running and immobile to use it. The shield also fails under sustained or heavy enough fire, and will often need an engineer to repair the system. (VERY EXPENSIVE)
Nebula VTOL Air Transport: The Nebula is a hefty aircraft capable of transporting 20 soldiers over and onto a battlefield. It has heavy armor plating on it's belly to deter ground fire and can reach speeds of 450km/h. The back of the craft houses the primary hatch for loading and unloading troops and supplies, and a bay hatch in the belly of the craft can open up to allow quick disembarking without the need for the aircraft to fully land. The bay is not directly beneath the seating for troops, so there's no need to worry about accidentally dropping a very squishy payload. (VERY EXPENSIVE)
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Topic: WarBiz Arms Race // Nextgen Consortium Thread (Turn 5 Revision Phase) (Read 14028 times)