Hey guys, I've got a runner with no cyberwear and I'm trying to max out my armor.
I had been wearing an urban explorer, but there's gotta be something more stylish and less sucky.
Any ideas?

Body 3 = Armor up to 6 before encumbrance issues (SR4A 161)
Assuming a Strength of 2, any of the 6/4 armors (of which there are a lot) with Softweave from WAR! will have an encumbrance of 4/4.
FFBA half body armor (AR 48) = 4/1 for an encum of 2/1. PPP Shin guards for 0/1 would round it out.
That's a total of 10/6 armor.
The big expense here is softweaving your armor.

Wellp, this thread ended up exactly where I thought it would. It's a valid method and all, but only if your GM allows WAR! stuff anyway. Mine doesn't allow softweave, and I'm loath to pull out some of the other tricks in there simply because I'd rather not escalate the arms race that quickly. I'm already playing a minigun-toting Troll, and that feels like enough (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

I feel like we need our own corollary to Godwin's Law for Dumpshock and WAR! coming up in threads.

FFBA comes to mind, if your GM allows it.
Also, if you're a runner without cyberware and don't need that much mobility (like if you're a [summoner] mage, a rigger or a hacker) you can easily pick whatever armor you want...

I believe somewhere in Arsenal there is a note about having the armor custom tailored to fit you and change the encurambance calculation. ALternativly I know there is a line that says "Ignore encurambance if it the character is wearing only one piece of armor."

I missed, in the question, where I should ignore certain books. I fail to see how FFBA (with it's -2 to encum) is any less cheesy than softweave's -2 to encum. If you want no cheese, then pick a 6/4 armor and be done with it. If you want the FFBA cheese and NOT the softweave cheese then the Berwick shirt and trousers (4/3 total) with FFBA half do the job, though I prefer the Synergist longcoat (4/2) (and FFBA half) for RP reasons (plus the concealability modifier).

Complaining because I answered someone else's question as they asked it just because you have a personal problem with a book does not make this a more helpful place. If you have a better answer, please give it.

Both are optional rules, Miri.

Well yes.. but using an optional rule is about the only way the OP is going to get around the limitations to wear something heaver then a Urban Explorers Jumpsuit.

Millspec Armor. You can get plenty of mods on it that increase your ability to wear armor without penalty (str mods and mobility upgrades). I have a 3 body 1 str character who has 13/13 armor

Milspec armor is just a little bit conspicuous... but yeah a good option when you can get away with it, since it gives up to bodyx3 naturally.

Segway Terrier or a Horseman with a Rigger Coccoon. There's 20 armor right there.

EDIT: I'm sorry - 24 for the Horseman and 21 for the Terrier.

There are precisely 4 ways to get better armor than you already have.

1)Softweave
2)Form Fitting Body Armor
3)MilSpec Armor
4)"Optional Rules." There's like a zillion and I don't want to list all of them individually, but they amount to "beg your GM to let you wear more armor."

Because they stack? Also, my group considers FFBA to be cheese, along with PPP.

(And besides, if the low-body character cheeses with FFBA/Softweave, then the high body troll will too, and so will the opposition, and in the end he'll end up back where he started: not enough armor, only now it'll feel like everyone is using Nerf guns).

I'ma drive around in my Segway Terrier with a Rigger's Coccoon with a full turret and Distinctive Style vehicle mod to make it look like a Dalek.

*nodsnods* And in real life when I'm at the table I will wear a metal collar so that when I yell out "EXTERMINATE" my tablemates can't strangle me.

Note: You can wear armor inside the Rigger Coccoon also.

So when you ask the question, then you can put those in the "banned" list. If everyone has to answer the OP's question with houserules other than the OP's houserules, this is going to get very confusing.

That's exactly right. That's what he chose when he went for Body 3 instead of body 4 or 5. And yes, all the cheese turns guns into Nerf guns. I didn't write the cheese so it's not my problem. Our group has it's own house rules, but I don't pretend everyone else is playing by them.

what about the Exoskeleton from Attitude ?
I don't own the Attitude (yet ,because I'm waiting for the German Lifestyle 2073) but I remember a discussion here that it can be Armored up

HokaHey
Medicineman

And thus your argument is invalid. Just because you didn't write the cheese doesn't mean it's not cheese.



Because every character ever has 4 or 5 body. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/indifferent.gif)

Again, Draco, I have no clue what you're mad about, but it's not my problem. Someone other than you asked a question. I answered it using the rules as they exist instead of using your group's personal houserules. Get offended all you want, but I'm not playing by your house rules.

Well, this went downhill pretty fast.

QUICKLY LET US TALK ABOUT POSESSION SPIRITS INHABITING DIKOTED GEL PACKED ARMOR.

ALSO... i never understood why people aren't just taking the penalties. If you are AMAZINGLY good -Reaction/Agility or compensate with skill- why not take the penalties? It's not that you need to kill people any HARDER. Protect yourself.

On the other side, if you don't USE agility/raction that much... you don't lose that much either.

I know it is a "bad" deal trading in like 2 points armor for a possible die on all attack and all dodges, but depending on situation, it might be ok.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) = mad, angry
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/indifferent.gif) = straight face, disgusted, grim, no expression

I am not angry. I am simply pointing out that what you said doesn't make sense.

Summerstorm: Because you could just have 1 less agility and 1 more Body, wear the 2 more armor, and come out with a net +1 reaction and +1 damage resistance over where you'd be by encumbering yourself?

But, it made Perfect Sense according to the rules as they are written.