I thought the armor values for body parts averaged, ie. :

(arm+arm+leg+leg+torso) / 5

gave you the 'natural body' armor to which worn armor was added.

Hi Peter,

> I sent this message quite a while ago, and as you guys are usually quick in your responses, I wonder if the message got lost. It could be that it is a difficult question, and you need time to figure it out, and if so please forgive me for bothering you with this repeat send.

No, I just haven't gotten around to answering yet. I'll take a quick shot at it here.

I understand how the calculation for BOD, AGI and STR works for determining the average values for those Attributes in a character. It is not clear to me how armor works. There seem to be two options to deal with it. Does either of them apply?

1) ARMOR IN INCREMENTS

In a character who is not cybered, wearing an armored vest, which covers only the torso, gives that character an armor value equal to that of the vest. Covering only the head with a helmet adds to the armor rating of the individual, rather than requiring an averaging calculation. A small shield does the same. It would seem, then, that adding armor to a cyberlimb would also increment the overall armor rating of the character, rather than requiring an average to be calculated.

Particularly if only one cyberlimb had armor, and the other limbs, cyber- or otherwise, did not, an averaging would require using a value of 0 for those limbs in the calculation.

The way it was intentioned, IIRC, was that cyberlimb armor really only applied when that particular limb was targeted with an attack (like a called shot, or only that part of the person isn't behind cover). So it doesn't normally get added to the character's overall Armor rating. This was partly for simplicity. It's a bit different from helmets and shields because helmets cover a more vital area and shields cover more of the body.

I can see an argument for adding at least part of the value in, however, so I would allow it. In that case, I'd add the average Armor value, though (using non-armored limbs as a 0).

2) ‘NATURAL’ ARMOR

Following that idea of the value of 0 for unarmored limbs, worn armor adds onto an averaged natural body armor of 0, which could be augmented by cyberlimbs. Only after the average ‘natural’ armor value is calculated is the worn armor value added. This would then pretty well require all five cyberlimbs to be armored before it would have any effect.

Cyberlimb armor should be treated as "natural" and not worn armor, yeah.

B))
If cyberlimbs have armor enhancement, is it reasonable to presume that this armor value is considered ‘internal’, and therefore does not count in the encumbrance calculation on p.149 of SR4?

Correct.

I hope that helps (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

:: Rob Boyle ::
Shadowrun Developer for FanPro LLC
info@shadowrunrpg.com ~ www.shadowrunrpg.com

An email conversation dated Feb. 8, 2007 between me and Rob Boyle on the Shadowrun help site:



So, it's definitely SR4, and while I don't think there was an 'official' missive on this issue, I went with Rob's opinion to average the limbs (elsewhere 'limbs' was defined as arms, legs and torso, but not head) for my games.


Peter

yeah so?
that's one of the few advantages of cyberlimbs as they are regarded in SR4 right now . . one of the many bad points of SR3 limbs was the simple fact that armor was averaged . . ok, back in the day it was pretty easy to get mucho armor and body to resist with . . after the fact of dodge and combat pool dice . .
if i don't have the averaging wrong, if you have ONE ARM with 6 armor built into it, you get +6 armor . . if you have TWO ARMS with 6 armor built into EACH of them, you get, due to averaging . . 6 armor . . having paid double essence and money costs . .