Armor Listings

Related Rules

• Skills: Usage and Improvement
• Modern Weapons List
• Melee Weapons List
• Archaic Weapons List

Armor Descriptions

Armor is used to help protect the wearer from weapon's fire. However, weapons continue to advance and even modern armor is only somewhat effective against state-of-the-art weaponry. Note that different armor may cover different areas of the body and that some armor is not effective against all types of weapons. Armor can be bulky and cumbersome as well as heavy, consequently, some types of armor may include penalties for the wearer.

A few types of armor listed here have special options available for them. These are noted in the descriptions and the costs are noted in the armor tables that follow the descriptions.

Leather

A natural or synthetic hard leather vest designed to protect the wearer from slashing and thrusting weapons. Somewhat effective against Melee and Archaic Weapons but ineffective against Direct Fire Weapons.

Leather is available in a vest which protects the chest and abdomen or in a jacket (called jack) which also protects the arms.

Mail

Mail, also called chain mail, is composed of light leather or cloth with a metal mesh covering. The covering may be small rings or metal plates and may be attached to the leather or worn over the leather or cloth. Mail is effective against Melee and most Archaic Weapons but is ineffective against Direct Fire Weapons.

Mail is available as a vest, protecting the chest and abdomen, as half mail, protecting only the chest, or as full mail, protecting all body parts except the head.

Plate

Large metal plates joined together with flexible joints, effectively encasing the wearer in metal. Because of its weight, sometimes used in conjunction with mail to provide increased protection of vital areas but using only mail on the less critical areas. This is sometimes referred to as partial Plate. Plate is effective against Melee and most Archaic Weapons but is only effective against Direct Fire Weapons with a penetration of Nil.

Plate is available as breastplate, covering the chest and abdomen or as full plate, covering all the body except the head.

Flak

A heavy cloth vest into which ceramic or metal plates are place to provide protection primarily against Direct Fire Weapons. Flak tends to be bulky and heavy.

Flak only comes as a vest protecting the chest and abdomen.

Ballistic Cloth

A synthetic fabric that is designed to prevent the penetration of projectiles by distributing the energy of impact over the area protected by the Cloth. It is not effective against edged Melee Weapons.

Ballistic Cloth (or sometimes just called Cloth) can be purchased as a vest, protecting the chest and abdomen, a jacket adding protection to the arms, or as a suit protecting all parts except the head.

Ballistic Weave

A synthetic fabric similar to Ballistic Cloth and sometimes referred to as Mesh. Mesh is woven in such a way as to provide protection against edged Melee Weapons in addition to Direct Fire Weapons.

Ballistic Weave can be purchased as a vest, protecting the chest and abdomen, a jacket adding protection to the arms, or as a suit protecting all parts except the head.

Combat Environment Suit

Basically, a Ballistic Weave suit that is made air tight and includes thermal signature dampening. Suit provides protection against chemical and biological agents as well as protection against cold and heat. Suit will also provide short term protection against vacuum (typically less then 30 minutes). Suits come with gloves, boots, and a plastic 'bubble' helm to make it airtight. It is equipped with a filter/respirator system.

An optional chill can is required for complete thermal signature removal. Other options include camouflage, custom tailoring, and chameleon.

Reflec Armor

Reflec is a suit of reflective material that can be worn under other clothing or some armors. It has only one purpose, to defend against laser weapons fire. It offers no protection against other forms of weapons fire nor armed or unarmed melee attacks. Reflec can also be applied to the surface of hard armors such as Combat Armor and Battle Dress.

Combat Armor

A complete suit of advanced composites providing some of the most advanced armor protection available. The suit also protects against chemical and biological agents and, much like the Combat Environment Suit, can mask thermal signature. The suit also provides protection from heat and cold. Combat Armor can be equipped with with limited life support providing about 1 hour of air or can be equipped with full life support providing the same capabilities as hardened vacc suits. This suit also includes a fully armored helm.

Other options available include camouflage, chameleon capability, reflec coating, HUD gear, and battlefield intelligence computers. All suits are equipped with basic communications gear and suit environment monitors and controls. Starting at TL 12, suits are self-sealing for purposes of atmosphere containment.

Battle Dress

The ultimate in protection, Battle Dress is essentially a powered version of Combat Armor. It augments the STR, DEX, and END of the wearer. It is equipped with an array of advanced sensors and battlefield intelligence computers. Battle Dress is enhanced with inertial dampening systems to allow the wearer to fire High Energy Weapons and absorb the significant recoil involved.

Other options available include camouflage, chameleon capability, and reflec coating. All suits are equipped with basic communications gear and suit environment monitors and controls. Starting at TL 12, suits are self-sealing for purposes of atmosphere containment.

Helms and Helmets

At the differing tech levels there are various armored helms or helmets (helms cover all or most of the head and face while helmets only partially cover the head and usually none of the face). Helms and helmets are available in most of the materials listed above. In practice, helms and helmets tend to provide a lower armor value then the material might imply due to the need to maintain a reasonable weight.

Armor Tables

Notes

• Parenthetical armor values are used only against melee attacks (armed or unarmed).
• Armor values shown in square brackets are used only against laser weapon attacks.
• Helms provide protection for the entire head (including the face) while helmets only protect the top and back of the head.
• Cloth based armors offer no protection against cutting or slashing weapons such as swords or knives.

¹ Custom Fitted reduces the effective weight of the suit by 20% while worn. It has no effect on the weight while carried (the real weight).