The scorched Sierra power armor is a piece of armor in the Fallout: New Vegas add-on Lonesome Road.

Background

The T-45 powered combat infantry armor was the first design pressed into service in the Sino-American War,[1] with its first deployments taking place on the Alaskan Front to counter the Chinese offensive. The speed at which it had to be deployed, less than two years after the development of power armor began, resulted in the creation of a stop-gap model utilizing existing technologies and manufacturing techniques. This temporary solution would eventually become the mainstay of American power armor units, especially as subsequent upgrades reduced the impact of the mobility problems that plagued the early production runs.[2][3] The most important was the implementation of back-mounted fusion packs, rather than relying on the limited supply of small energy cells, consumed by the armor at an alarming rate.[4]

The T-45 model D (its most popular variant) is designed for a single operator and is patterned closely after the human silhouette. It consists of three layers. The first is a black body suit worn by the operator for comfort, insulation, and protection from injuries that may be sustained during the armor's operation. The second layer of the armor is part of the power armor proper. Commonly referred to as recon armor when used on its own, it is a full body suit made of thick, processed fabric with integrated metal plating that serves as a platform for attaching the armor and on-board hardware.[5] The recon armor is, in effect, the underlying chassis of the T-45d power armor model. Its attachment points and power cell plug at the nape of the neck are essential for the operation of the full T-45d power armor, as the third layer consists of the armor, the fusion power cell, as well as the hydraulics and servomotors that allow the operator to carry heavy ordnance into combat and bear the weight of the armor. The helmet completes the third layer and includes an air filtration system, a bullet-proof vision slit,[6] an electric lamp, and external ports that allow the operator to listen to his surroundings and double as attachments points for extensions. The standard upgrade is a drop-down ocular.[7][8]

The ability to operate crew-served weapons and heavy ordnance alone is one of the key advantages offered by the T-45d power armor. Although the T-45d (and indeed, no power armor to date) had no built-in weapons, the operator could use any kind of weapon that could be fired by an infantryman.[3] Protection came in second. The use of steel plating offered a considerable advantage against most small arms and used existing technologies and materials, allowing the U.S. to quickly manufacture and deploy T-45d suits.[7] However, the armor had its limits and as the war with China dragged on, it became insufficient in both the ability to deploy firepower and protect the operator. However, as the T-51 power armor model did not arrive until 2076, the T-45d became the workhorse of the American military and a test-bed for related technologies.[3]

Following the Great War, the T-45d power armor became a rare sight and a powerful asset for anyone who can procure such a suit. The principal operator of the armor is the Brotherhood of Steel and its children chapters, with the largest known numbers being utilized by the rogue Lyons' Brotherhood of Steel and the loyalist Outcasts. In general, off-duty troops and trainees prefer to wear the armor without the armored layer, allowing them to quickly deploy when needed, but without the encumbrance of full power armor.

Variant details

An unique variant of the standard T-45d power armor fielded by the New California Republic Army, the Sierra power armor is exceedingly rare and to date only a single soldier, Colonel Royez, is known to have used one. Instead of the base dark grey color of the T-45d, the Sierra power armor has an unique livery: Purple with golden accents on the edges, with additional neon green and red highlights on arbitrary points of the armor. A taxidermied bear's head has also replaced the left pauldron, held in place by a pair of bronze clips bearing the Republic's star.[9]

The Sierra power armor has been upgraded with additional onboard medical systems, helping regenerate the injuries of the user, and a back-mounted power pack superior to the production-run power cells the standard T-45d uses.[10]

Characteristics

This suit of armor is one of the heaviest suits in the game, providing a Damage Threshold of 24 and is more durable than most heavy armors. It also grants a bonus of +25% to Fire Resistance and +1 to Strength. Most notably, it is unique in giving a health regeneration bonus of 2 HP per second. This applies to all NPC's, so Royez and companions benefit from this aspect.

It can be repaired with power armor. Its corresponding helmet does not appear in the game, although all the assets are included in the game's files. Despite its appearance, the suit is not considered faction armor, therefore it can be safely worn in any location without repercussions.

Locations

Long 15: Worn by Colonel Royez, if the NCR is nuked at the end of Lonesome Road.

Behind the scenes

The armor was inspired by a mod made for the PC version of New Vegas . In an interview with Chris Avellone, he said " The armor was something one of the staff members saw, and we thought it would be the coolest thing to put in one of the last add-ons for Vegas. "

. In an interview with Chris Avellone, he said " " J.E. Sawyer set up the armor stats and balanced it against the rest of the game.[11][12]

References