Description

Battleoids are large (between 5 and 20 meters in height), piloted walking vehicles.  In contrast, suits of powered armor  are worn like clothing, and are typically less than 5 Meters tall.  Their larger cousins, the Titans, are usually over 25 meters tall, and are always piloted by a crew as opposed to the single pilot of a battleoid. 

Battleoids are commonly used in warfare where they combine the flexibility of infantry with the firepower and durability of an armored vehicle, as well as a big advantage in size.  Battleoids also have peaceful uses, primarily in heavy construction and civil engineering functions.  Battleoids typically have fully sealed life-support systems, and find use in a variety of hostile environments from underwater to deep space.

There are two main types of control systems for a battleoid.  The first is used in most mass-produced models, and has a traditional cockpit with control panels, heads-up displays, and a pilot's seat.  This control scheme relies on artificial intelligence algorithms for most of the coordination and agility needed to perform its tasks.  The other control scheme interfaces directly with the pilot's nervous system, and is often found in high-end or custom-built battleoids.  These units are typically tailored to their pilots, and give much more precise control than the standard interface.  The trade-off of better control is the risk of feedback to the pilot if the battleoid's systems are damaged.  Also, there is further risk of damage to the pilot in the event that he or she needs to eject out of the cockpit while still engaged with the neural link.  Elite warriors often die with their machines, rather than ejecting in cases of catastrophic damage.

History

The first battleoids were developed for entertainment.  They crushed cars, breathed fire, and fought each other in packed arenas for the amusement of an audience.  Later, the design was adapted to use in construction and earth-moving, before making its way into the military.

Types of Battleoid

The Empire of 1,000,000 Suns uses civil-defense battleoids to protect cities.

The Convergence Scout Walker is a fearsome terror-weapon.

The John-Henry is a heavy-duty battleoid designed for construction applications.

The Holy Empire of Man used the Retribution-class battleoid extensively in military operations.

The Strider was made by Danforth Galactic and widely used across the galaxy as a mobile watchtower.

Famous Battleoids

Shinigami is a legendary battleoid that was built in the E1MS, used by pirates during Era-1, and rebels during Era-2.