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Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ Optimizing Armor
Posted by: Nerdynick Mar 27 2010, 11:09 PM
My friend and I came up with the most ridiculously armored character we had ever seen awhile back (the most reliable way of killing him being ramming him with a jet). I believe his armor was somewhere around 50/40 without being significantly encumbered, if memory serves. Anyway, I'd just like to see how high the dumpshock community can the armor rating without being encumbered.
Posted by: Khyron Mar 27 2010, 11:23 PM
Now, are we talking about individual armor or trying to strap on 99 milspec armor sets?
Posted by: Nerdynick Mar 27 2010, 11:37 PM
Heavy milspec is just fine
Posted by: Stahlseele Mar 27 2010, 11:38 PM
Well, there WAS the BRICK Built somewhere around here . .
Posted by: Dumori Mar 28 2010, 04:57 PM
There was the thred where one guy to to over 100/100 but it was very iffy IIRC.
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Mar 28 2010, 07:06 PM
Very Iffy indeed... It raped the rules so hard that it was completely obnoxious... That being said... I can always tip my hat to someone who is capable of such rules mischief, even if I would never allow it at a table that I ran...
Keep the Faith
Posted by: Dumori Mar 28 2010, 07:21 PM
I think it got to 200/200 but we ripped some of that down as it was just totaly braking the rules.
Posted by: Falconer Mar 28 2010, 08:11 PM
He was relying a lot on using multiple layers of barriers between him and the shooter IIRC, on top of other effects.
IE: rigger inside an armored drone, inside an armored cocoon. Then came a lot of armor from cyber, worn, friendly mages casting and maintaining on him (why they'd bother giving him even more armor I don't know)... etc. Channeling to get himself possessed for even more body and worn armor, and ItNW armor added... etc.
When you start running into that, you need to start using heavy duty armor penetrators and even then you get limited effect... APDS from a -3AP rifle... -7 AP... well adding modified barrier armor rating of vehicle is 13 dice more to him from initial 20... cocoon again add modified barrier rating of 20-7==13 again... So there are ways to reduce some totals a bit more like that.
Posted by: Dumori Mar 28 2010, 08:13 PM
Basically he was imume to all damge but could only use VR cos he had so much crap on him.
Posted by: Stahlseele Mar 28 2010, 08:17 PM
He was basically a Jar-Brain, but with the whole body still intact.
Posted by: Glyph Mar 28 2010, 08:28 PM
Sticking solely to worn armor, the heavy military armor is not the most optimal, since you can't stack other armor with it. It is optimal for upper-end grunts, but for a character with a high Body (usually a troll), you are better off with SWAT armor, a full-body suit of FFBA, and the full set of PPP (sans helmet).
For metatype, trolls are good, although you can get better natural armor with some of the infected and SURGE options from Runner's Companion. For 'ware, a combination of orthoskin or dermal sheathing and titanium bone lacing gives the best bonus to armor. For adept powers, mystic armor can add to that (and an adept with 'ware could conceivably have both - you have to optimize carefully there, though, or the hit to magic, and thus the maximum level of mystic armor, could exceed what you gain with the 'ware). With mages, you add the armor spell and possession spirits to the mix.
Generally, though, it is a matter of tradeoffs. You can get pretty good soaking ability up to a certain point, but past that point it starts cutting into other things such as dodging ability, offensive ability, etc. Plus, a bit of metagaming is a good thing. If you have a character who can soak most damage, you have a powerful character. If you have a character who laughs at Panther cannon shots, you will find that the GM will (usually) start paying an uncomfortable amount of attention to your character, devising ways to either overwhelm or circumvent your massive armor advantage. After all, his job is to "challenge" you.
Posted by: Glyph Mar 28 2010, 08:30 PM
Oh, and I'm not that familiar with the cyberlimb rules, but there is the option of a fully chromed-out character, instead of the bone lacing/dermal sheath option.
Posted by: Tycho Mar 28 2010, 08:33 PM
The best combination is mutlible layers of FFFB.
cya
Tycho
Posted by: kjones Mar 29 2010, 02:17 AM
cya
Tycho
FFFB = Form Fitting Fabulous Body?
ITYM FFBA, and I hope to god that FFBA doesn't stack with itself.
Posted by: Faraday Mar 29 2010, 02:25 AM
ITYM FFBA, and I hope to god that FFBA doesn't stack with itself.
In the mind of a sane GM, it doesn't.
Posted by: kjones Mar 29 2010, 02:52 AM
Let's just say, anyone tries to pull that shit at my table, they'll wish they were wearing some armor IRL.
Posted by: Fatum Mar 30 2010, 04:47 PM
Well, if you're feeling like a dick, there's always mind control - have fun trying to punch through that armor as your sammy rips you to shreds.
If you're not - there are spectacular ways to deal with highly armored threats at the opposition's disposal, are there not? Most groups I've played with would greet a sammy killed with an anti-tank shell or shot in an attack run by something like A-10 by much cheering.
Posted by: Nerdynick Mar 31 2010, 12:59 AM
I know that. I'm not trying to make a character with this, its just an experiment in optimization.
Posted by: Tycho Mar 31 2010, 06:32 AM
Who talks about a sane GM? its RAW here and the FFBA stacks with everything.
So if you want the maximum armor rating so Take your Body/1.5 and wear as many FFBA Fullbody Armors. Than you have to add some things for Impact Armor.
I won't allow it in my games, but RAW it is legal and surely the best armor you can have.
cya
Tycho
Posted by: Faraday Mar 31 2010, 06:58 AM
So if you want the maximum armor rating so Take your Body/1.5 and wear as many FFBA Fullbody Armors. Than you have to add some things for Impact Armor.
I won't allow it in my games, but RAW it is legal and surely the best armor you can have.
cya
Tycho
I suppose if a GM wanted to make an example, they could make a tin man troll ghoul prime runner with 21 body and 14 layers of FFBA and some PPPtech to improve the impact armor. That'd end up as 84 Ballistic/33 Impact armor.
Try having your players shoot through 105 soak dice (that's an average stage down of THIRTY-FIVE DV) and when they're all spent, ask them if they'd like FFBA to still stack.
Posted by: Glyph Mar 31 2010, 07:30 AM
It's not RAW, it's "creative" rules interpretation. It's like another poster, who said that if you had aptitude, and a skill of 7, then you could still get a skill of 6 or two skills of 5, in addition to that, since there was no restriction on skills of 7.
Such a runner could call himself Philly Steak - lots of oniony layers, and cheeeeesy.
Posted by: Faraday Mar 31 2010, 08:16 AM
Another one for the signature.
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