No idea how to build this...

[Pinkie Pyro]

So, I'm trying to make a space marine in power armor, with a laser rifle, and have absolutely no idea where to start, any suggestions?

I do not need anyone saying "If you wanted to play space marines play 40K" or stuff like that.

[OldTrees1]

Hmm.

Power Armor can be done with the custom magic item guidelines but I would need some details of what it does in your mind.

A laser rifle can be found in the middle of the DMG. Alternatively you could make a custom Longbow that shoots force arrows and pretend it is a laser rifle.

So for a build you want Ranged Combat optimization and Wealth optimization.

[Marlowe]

Planar Handbook has "Mechanus Gear", which is essential super-heavy Plate Armour that slows you even more. You might find some enhancements that make it a little more usable.

As for the laser riflebolter, I don't know. Maybe have 4 levels of warlock to get Deceive Item and use wands? Make all your invocations 24-hr buffs that you cast before donning your armour in the morning?

[Tommy2255]

I'm actually looking into something similar, although I have a more precise need: I'm looking to have power armor that will bump up a CR 6 guard to a CR 12 threat, preferably without being as useful to a more powerful character (so that the players don't start wondering why these scrubs are getting all the good toys while the heroes who saved our kingdom are just getting level appropriate rewards and some land). But in looking at this, I've found quite a few old threads about this:

There's homebrew equipment on this wiki (http://dungeons.wikia.com/wiki/Power_Armor_%283.5e_Equipment%29)

There's a more module design on dandwiki (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Power_Suit_%283.5e_Equipment%29)

There's even an old thread here on GitP (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-155365.html) with links to a couple different versions and a description apparently copy pasted from an even older thread on a Star Wars forum.

This is a question as old as the internet, possibly older. I hope the wisdom of the ancients can guide you in this.

Edit: link formatting

[Threadnaught]

I do not need anyone saying "If you wanted to play space marines play 40K" or stuff like that.

It would be easier yes, but I assume you mean 3.5 yes?

And am I also correct in assuming that you want as official as possible?


Clockwork Armor seems to be the way to go to get you your armour suit, it's official material in the online articles, but I'm not sure whether or not linking to archived articles is allowed.
Not sure how to do the rifle though, I would suggest Crossbow optimization, but I know nothing about it and it could end poorly.

[OldTrees1]

I'm actually looking into something similar, although I have a more precise need: I'm looking to have power armor that will bump up a CR 6 guard to a CR 12 threat, preferably without as useful to a more powerful character (so that the players don't start wondering why these scrubs are getting all the good toys while the heroes who saved our kingdom are just getting level appropriate rewards and some land). But in looking at this, I've found quite a few old threads about this:


This is much harder and I don't know if it is possible to make a +6CR armor that will not boost the PC power (even merely by selling the item for loads of gp)

[Blackhawk748]

I feel Golem Armor needs to be mentioned here, as it is basically Power Armor. The Bolter is simply a Force Heavy Crossbow of Speed with Self Loading on it. Yes its expensive, but it also shoots a lot.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Symbiotic Creature template in Savage Species, using an Awakened Tree (large size 4 HD, or huge size 8 HD, no advancement*) as the host, and your PC of choice (tiny size with a large tree, or small size with a huge tree) as the guest. Your PC should probably be an Artificer, able to craft and use an array of wands, rods, and various other magical items.

*An Awakened Tree uses the stats of an Animated Object, which has no advancement entry. A Symbiotic Creature uses the advancement of the host, so you cannot gain levels while attached, though there's nothing prohibiting you from gaining experience points. You could just wait until you have enough xp to gain a level and detach to level up your character, though it takes a full day of complete rest to reattach. You can also detach if the host would die, sort of an "Eject! Eject!" situation, and you would only need to awaken another large/huge tree to have a new host, along with the full day of rest of course.

For your ray gun, look no further than Hank's Energy Bow (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20061227a), adapted for cosmetic purposes but otherwise mechanically identical to the original. You'll want to take Zen Archery to use your Wis bonus instead of your Dex bonus with ranged attacks. An alternative would be to take Soulbow (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20060403a&page=2), which fires Mind Arrows for a similar effect and can even use TWF or Multiweapon Fighting (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsterFeats.htm#multiweaponFighting) with them (how many forelimbs does an animated tree have?) but they wouldn't come from a device.

[Tommy2255]

This is much harder and I don't know if it is possible to make a +6CR armor that will not boost the PC power (even merely by selling the item for loads of gp)

It's literally a gift from an actual god, who would probably be pretty offended if they sold it. And it doesn't have to not increase their power, it just has to be something that's more effective if the limited number of suits available were given to weak people who would be greatly benefited rather than people who can already take care of themselves. I'm thinking of approaching it sort of like polymorph replacing ability scores. If the suit is set up to put forth power equivalent to a 22 strength score, it's going to be very useful to an NPC, but not so much to the party fighter who already has a 24. The problem is that big numbers just aren't enough to be competitive, it needs special abilities too, but flight is very useful and valuable to a CR 6 melee based character than to a level 12 Wizard who can just cast the spell and not have to give up the item slots. The biggest balance point of any magic item is the opportunity cost of not having the slot available for something else (as well as the actual cost), and there are a lot of things that are super worth having at low level that are available in easier ways without wasting an item slot at high level. Even really cool things like energy blasters in the arms aren't going to scale with level. There's no reason why it would deal more damage based on the suit's pilot.

[Seclora]

I'm currently playing in a game that uses D20future and 3.5, so my instinct is to just say 'use their power armor and weapons with 3.5 feats and classes'. Not sure what you're planning on doing play-wise though, so I'll just leave that where it is.

Instead, I will direct you towards the Ethergaunts, from the Fiend Folio. While hardly space marines, they do have a rather interesting non-magical weapon that deals force damage on a ranged touch attack and also functions as a two-handed slashing weapon. Beyond the reloading problem(you can't), and the problem where the Ethergaunts hate everything on the material plane, good exotic weapon.
That ought to cover the laser rifle I think.

[(Un)Inspired]

The tech guide in pathfinder has a bevy of laser rifles and power armor. In 3.5 the DMG has a laser rifle as someone said and Here's (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/cw/20070212a) the link for 3.5 power armor.

No third party or homebrew needed.

Just slap your favorite combat class in their ( cleric, archivist, crusader etc) and you're good to go.

[atemu1234]

I recommend refluffing either or both clockwork and mechanus gear armors. Rules for futuristic weapons are in the DMG. Maybe use some stuff from D20 Future?

[Threadnaught]

Perhaps you could add on a Feat Tax for using the Armour and/or gun, maybe link each gun to t's user, anyone other than it's dedicated user tries using the gun and it gives Negative Levels to the wielder.

[Psyren]

The tech guide in pathfinder has a bevy of laser rifles and power armor. In 3.5 the DMG has a laser rifle as someone said and Here's (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/cw/20070212a) the link for 3.5 power armor.

No third party or homebrew needed.

Just slap your favorite combat class in their ( cleric, archivist, crusader etc) and you're good to go.

This, and a bunch of it is on the SRD. Power Armor (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/armor/technological-armor)

[(Un)Inspired]

This, and a bunch of it is on the SRD. Power Armor (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/armor/technological-armor)

Huh I forgot about those. I'm a fan of pathfinders actual Powered Armor myself although it is an artifact.

[Urpriest]

Warforged Warlock is a pretty common stand-in for a guy in a laser-shooting mech suit.

[Firest Kathon]

I do not have much time right now, so I am just tossing this out there:

Aegis (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/aegis)/Soulknife (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife)(Soulbolt (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife/archetypes/dreamscarred-press/soulbolt))/Metaforge (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/psionic-prestige-classes/metaforge). Add Soul Archer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/psionic-prestige-classes/soul-archer) to taste.