Glitter Boy
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In the Rifts role-playing game, a Glitter Boy is a suit of power armor known for both its highly reflective laser-resistant armor, and the powerful railgun that is the signature weapon of the original model. It is used as a name for the pilots who wear the armor as well. The Glitter Boy is one of the definitive images of the Rifts RPG, and appears nigh-universally across the brand. The Glitter Boy appears in the Rifts prequel game Chaos Earth, under its original name of the Chromium Guardsman.
The Glitter Boy was one of the most powerful units in the original RIFTS rulebook, and remains one of the most powerful Human built power armors in all its forms. The original Glitter boy was notable for its high armor value (770 M.D.C for the chest/mainbody, higher than most giant robots) and its high powered weapon, the boom gun (which does 3D6x10 M.D.C. per shot, one of the most powerful infantry scale weapons in the game.)
See also: SAMAS
[edit] Known Variations
[edit] USA-G10 a.k.a. Chromium Guardsman
The G-10 is the original Glitter Boy that reshaped the world before, during, and after the apocalypse that changed the world. Some historical records rumor that a conflict ("Guada Marta incident," in which a squad of GBs were said to have dispatched a small army) involving Glitter Boys contributed to the conflict that sparked the cataclysm in the first place. Though originally created by the pre-Rifts United States, plans for its manufacture were unearthed and isolated examples of the armor found stored in ruined military installations leading to it being reverse engineered, allowed its use in the Post-Apocalyptic era. Its only armament is the "Boom Gun," a powerful shoulder-mounted railgun (actually a coilgun) that causes a deafening sonic boom when fired. The Boom Gun is so powerful that the Glitter Boy has to anchor itself to the ground to keep it from being thrown backwards with every shot. Used primarily in North and South America and Japan, later upgrades by Free Quebec include the addition of a light antipersonnel laser and a retractable vibro-sword, similar to the Triax model. The USA-G10 is also one of the few examples of power armor that are designed to accommodate a pilot for days or weeks at a time, complete with drinking water reserves and a high-protein nutrient paste; though it must be noted that long-duration use will adversely affect the pilot's muscle tone.
- Tri-Galactic Military Services, a mercenary company operating in the Phase World universe, operates an entire company of Glitter Boys, dubbed "The Golden Horde". The Horde is said to have single-handedly blasted an entire mountain stronghold to rubble, including a good portion of the mountain itself.
- In the Chaos Earth environment, the Glitter Boy is a powerful weapon used by NEMA in the defense of the remnants of humanity. It should be noted that the Chaos Earth version is called the Chromium Guardsman, after the reflective alloys it's made out of.
[edit] Triax TX-550(Cyclops)
Due to an exchange of technologies with Free Quebec, the German company Triax managed to create this sleeker, smaller version of the Glitter Boy. It has the same Boom Gun as the G-10, but also carries additional armaments in the form of a small laser, missiles, and a vibro-blade. Used by both the NGR and Free Quebec.
[edit] USA-G13: GB-Mark III Space Glitter Boy Mark III
This is a space-borne version of the original G-10, nearly identical except for modifications to allow it to operate in Zero Gravity. Used almost exclusively in the Orbital Community floating above Rifts' Earth. Though not described in-game, it is believed that the spaced-based Glitter Boys use a rocket or jet based anti-recoil system to replace the diamond tipped anti-sway pillons that are an integral part of the standard Glitter Boy's recoil suppression system.
[edit] USA-G14: GB-Mark IV Space Glitter Boy Mark IV
A more heavily armored version of the Mark III, armed with a heavy Particle Beam Cannon.
[edit] USA-G15: GB Mark V Space Glitter Boy Mark V
A new design, with a smaller Particle Beam Cannon, and additional laser armament.
[edit] Japanese "Point" Glitter Boy
A smaller variation of the Glitter Boy designed for Reconnaissance missions (the armor is painted in camouflage in the field). Typically armed with a rapid-fire laser cannon as its main armament, with an arm-mounted light railgun for defense.
[edit] Japanese "Hawkeye" Glitter Boy
Another variation used by the Republic of Japan. The Hawkeye has the same rapid-firing laser as the Point Glitter Boy, but also uses medium-range missiles for its primary duty of protecting other Glitter Boys from airborne attackers.
[edit] Glitter Boy 7
A variation typically found in South America. Armed with a multi-barreled laser cannon and gatling railgun. Many G7s are built for female pilots.
[edit] QGB-2-20 Glitter Girl
A new design created by Free Quebec, the Glitter Girl is a Reconnaissance and Intelligence-oriented suit. As its name suggests, the 2-20 is made exclusively for female pilots. Armed with a heavy assault cannon for sniper work and combat, and missiles.
[edit] QPA-98 Side Kick
An original Power Armor design, the Side Kick was created by Free Quebec to protect their Glitter Boys on the field of battle. Armed with a rapid-fire Grenade launcher, a powerful jet pack, and the same laser-resistant armor as the Glitter Boys, the Side Kick is a stalwart defender of the Glitter Boy legions of Free Quebec.
[edit] QGB-3-30 Tarantula
A mostly successful attempt by Free Quebec at an alternate armament and stabilization system for the Glitter Boy. Covered in stabilization fins that give it its name, the Tarantula is armed with a combination plasma cannon, laser, and rapid-fire railgun as its main weapons, as well as a back-up ion blaster and vibro-blade.
[edit] QGB-7-70 Taurus
A Quebec-made Artillery variation of the Glitter Boy. Armed with either a pair of high-powered mortars, or laser cannons.
[edit] QGB-8-88 Silver Wolf
A "light" combat version of the Glitter Boy designed for special operations. Armed with missiles, vibroblades, lasers, and a heavy particle cannon.
[edit] USA-G13 Chromium Guardsman Mk. III
Another type of USA-G13 is used by NEMA descendants known as The Republicans. This lighter version wields a smaller railgun that doesn't need the pylon and thruster system to keep stabilized, or a heavy variable frequency Laser cannon.
[edit] USA-GA100 Chromium Troop Armor a.k.a. Little Brother
A smaller, man-sized armor similar to the Quebec Side Kick. The Little brother is armed with a forearm-mounted laser and vibroblade, and typically carries a staff-like rod that can fire energy blasts or be used in close-quarters combat.
[edit] Trivia
The Glitter Boy (and its pilot) was the first character created by Kevin Siembieda for the game that would eventually be called Rifts, and was meant to be the central character class of the game. Then, both the game and the armor were known as Boomers. The names were changed when Siembieda found out that the anime Bubblegum Crisis used the name for the deadly androids found in the series.
The 'boomgun' is called a railgun, but operates more like a coilgun in how it is depicted, using magnets to accelerate a cluster of projectiles down a barrel.
