Star*Drive Saturday: Heavy Armor

Last week we covered the lighter conventional armor, this week it is:

HEAVY ARMOR

Heavy armor is restrictive and bulky. Those without proper training find them awkward to use. The following armors have Restriction values. That number is subtracted by your character's Fighting score and the resulting number is the penalty you take to your Movement and Initiative while wearing the armor. Example: The attack armor has a restriction value of 3. A character with a +2 Fighting score would take a -1 penalty to his Movement and Initiative. However, a character with a -1 Fighting score would be severely hindered by the armor, taking a -4 penalty to his Movement and Initiative. If you have a high enough Fighting score, you cannot have your Movement or Initiative increased above their normal value. Example: A character with a +3 Fighting score wearing cerametal armor (restriction value 2) does not gain a +1 bonus to Movement and Initiative while wearing the armor.

(Fighting Score) - (Restriction Value) = Penalty to Initiative and Movement while wearing the armor [maximum 0]

Attack Armor
Cost: 1,200 cr
Protection: V
Restriction: 3
Earliest forms of true attack armor are improvements of typical assault gear. A breastplate and helmet of lightweight polymere guards the user's vital areas, while flexible CF weaves cover the limbs.

• At a cost of 1,000 credits, you may have the following electronic equipment built-in to this armor:
• Targeting system - Built-in binoculars reduces the long range penalty -1.
• Image enhancement system - The binoculars include night-vision and infrared capability, removing the penalty to shooting in low-light conditions.
• Communication suite - Allows communication over long distances with others that have sync'd comm gear.
• Trauma pack - Two med-kits are attached at the thigh packets, and one at the small of the back.

Cerametal Armor
Cost: 1,500 cr
Protection: V
Restriction: 2
One of the latest developments of heavy unpowered armor. Cerametal technology combines lightweight ceramic weaves with more standard armor materials. The cerametal plates cover most of the body, including the head. The protection is fantastic by previous standards for the weight, and is less restrictive.

• At a cost of 1,000 credits, you may have the electronic equipment listed, under attack armor above, built-in to this armor.

Body Tank
Cost: 9,000 cr
Protection: X
Restriction: 6
Special: Grants a +3 bonus to strength checks.
The invention of sturdy, small, and powerful servos makes the powered "body tank" armor possible. Most of the armor consists of neutronite alloy plating, with only a few awkward joints made of carbonate fiber. A body tank is just that - a heavy, full suit of armor turns the soldier wearing it into a mobile fortress. Systems included in the body tank are:

• Targeting system - Built-in binoculars reduces the long range penalty -1.
• Image enhancement system - The binoculars include night-vision and infrared capability, removing the penalty to shooting in low-light conditions.
• Communication suite - Allows communication over long distances with others that have sync'd comm gear.
• Trauma Pack type II - Contains two automatic med-kits that activate when the suit's occupant suffers damage.
• Threat receiver - An electromagnetic/infrared sensor detects active fire control and rangefinding systems directed at the wearer. You gain a +1 bonus to awareness tests to detect such threats.
• Smart display - Geomapping system provides a view of the surrounding area, granting the user a +1 bonus to tactics tests.
• Laser designator - Helmet-mounted device allows the soldier to instantly relay requests for fire support and air strikes through his data uplink.
• Built in shoulder mounted Bantam Launcher

Recon Body Tank
Cost: 10,000 cr
Protection: X
Restriction: 5
Special: Grants a +3 bonus to strength checks.
The recon body tank is lighter and more expensive than the regular version, but somewhat more common. It features the same on-board systems as the standard body tank.

Zero-G Body Tank
Cost: 12,000 cr
Protection: X
Restriction: 7
Special: Grants a +4 bonus to strength checks.
The heaviest armor available and is equipped with all the features of the standard body tank in a suit slightly larger than the normal body tank. It also includes the following additional features:

• Air/space radar - A small but powerful radar system allows a soldier to keep an eye on enemy aircraft or spacecraft movements.
• Oxygen supply - Fully sealed suit and has a supply of oxygen for up to 10 hours.
• Instead of the bantam launcher, the purchaser of the zero-g body tank can include any one of the following on the shoulder mount:
• Grenade launcher - With 2 loads of 6. They feed into the gun independently, so the wielder can choose which load to fire from.
• Heavy charge machine gun - Double load.
• Arc gun - Double load.
• Mass cannon - Double load.
• Plasma gun - Double load.
• Quantum mini-gun - Double load.

Khe! Burund (Weren Mail)
Cost: 500 cr (the cost does not need to be increased for fitting a weren)
Protection: V
Restriction: 1 (for weren), 4 (for everyone else)
Normally chain mail doesn't stand up to modern weaponry, but it's different for weren. Their variation of chain mail is much thicker and tougher than any ancient human designs. Developed within the last hundred years on their homeworld to resist musket balls, the khe! burund is a hauberk of chain mail with stiff leather straps woven between the links, worn over a leather arming coat. The coat covers the wearer's arms to the elbow, the legs to the knee, and includes a hood. Favored by many weren mercenaries and expatriates because it's an element of weren technology that stands up to human weapons. Just like the flintlock pistol, it has become an emblem of weren tradition in the face of overwhelming change.
 
Had'niltas (Mechalus Armor)
Cost: 1,100 cr
Protection: V (for mechalus), L (for everyone else)
Restriction: 0 (for mechalus, 2 (for everyone else)
Special: Grants a +2 bonus to strength checks for mechalus. No bonus for everyone else.
An outstanding example of alien technology, the mechalus had'niltas is a superior suit of powered armor. Unlike the bulky plated suits developed by human armorers, the had'niltas is light and flexible. It consists of a full-body jumpsuit or wrap of advanced fabric. Inside the suit's fabric is layers of liquid metal containing millions of nanocircuits. These instantly respond to any attack, hardening the suit at the point of impact and dissipating heat or energy. The suit reacts to mechalus biocircuitry, so it's worn like second skin for a mechalus, but awkward and unresponsive to anyone else.