Not all layouts are exactly 7' in height, they vary dramatically from design to design. What would convince a designer then to produce a suit of power armor like the Glitterboy or the Samson that tower over the heads of types like the SAMAS or the Triax Predator? There are three reasons why S-Mart does so. Firstly a large suit of power armor is intimidating. Aside from Intelligence trained soldiers, and fellow power armor pilots, few are familiar with the abilities of various suits of power armor, thus an extremely large suit is more likely to win a stand-off by a mere show of force without ever having to use the weapons or abilities. The second reason is price. Using more primitive components like pneumatics, hydraulics, rather than compact nano-tech synthetic musculature the weight increases - but the price drops. The only other drawback to this is that the amount of space for systems (S.R.) decreases. The third reason is to use all the same high tech synthetic musculature that a normal suit would utilize, BUT by increasing the size of the layout additional S.R. space becomes available. This not only aids in power armor creation, but gives potential for future development of the type. The table below shows two separate sets of values for each height available. (The heights described have a 2-3" variable, which means they may be somewhat taller, or somewhat shorter without effecting the differences in the S.R. or Costs.) The first describes the modern layouts involving synthetic musculature and the best of electronics, equivalent to the systems found in most power armor systems across RIFTS Earth. The second set describes Pneumatics & Hydraulics, which although obsolete according to common standards, provides a useful alternative allowing for cheap power armor, such as those in the Chipwell category, as well as for some utility types. NOTE: In addition to these spaces an additional 15 spaces are provided for the power system and various environmental systems.

      Not all power armor needs to be combat capable, and as a result S-Mart offers "reduced standards" layouts, composed of lesser grades of material, without the systems being protected from damage quite so well, and without them being double or even triple safeguarded with backup electronics in case of battle damage. For power armor produced like this reduce the final M.D.C. per head, arms, legs, and main body by 50% after completing Step II on the power armor design sequence page. This reduces the cost of the Layout by 30%. Furthermore if this suit encounters combat there is a 01-80% chance that the portion of the body struck will shut down with an attack inflicting more than 10% of that location's damage capacity. At a cost of 20,000 credits the systems may be somewhat protected, shutting down only 1D4 systems if 10% of the main body's damage capacity is depleted. If more than 50% of the main body's damage capacity is depleted then, there is a 20%+5% chance per M.D. point over that 50% inflicted, that all systems, save for the environmental protection, will shut down. (Provided that it has environmental protection.)

      Adding strength is more difficult than one would expect. Without reinforcement, the P.S. of the Layout can only be increased by up to 5 points. For every 1 P.S., over the base P.S. of the Layout, desired it will cost 10% of the base price of the Layout. Reinforcing the Layout (at a cost of 200,000 credits) will allow the strength to be increased by an additional 5 P.S. points - each at the cost of 20% of the Layout base cost. Weight increases by 2% per point of P.S. added for the first five, and by 5% per point of P.S. added for the next five - up to the maximum of ten.

      Adding Speed is a difficult feat as well requiring the manufacturer to build up the drive systems with better electronics, replacing typical drive motors, and increasing the electrical output of the reactor in place. The first number in the Layout table listing of Spd. is the base speed of the Layout while the second number is the maximum speed the Layout is capable of with modifications. For every 5 mph over the base speed desired it will cost 1% of the base price of the Layout. For every 5 mph over the base speed increase weight by 2.5%.