Body armor in the Summer Options

[sunnyside]

So in my game I'm about to have a guy wandering around in Phoenix in 100 degree summer weather wearing an armored jacket or longcoat.

Would you guys do anything about that or just let it go? I'm thinking at least giving them BO by noon if they're outside and have them stick out a bit even in crowds.

[tsuyoshikentsu]

This day and age? He's probably got the damn thing temperature-controlled.

[kzt]

I've talked to people who have spent an Iraqi summer in full armor (like 70 pound vests). It sucks to do this at 130 degrees, but it's doable if you are in good shape and have lots of water and electrolytes.

It's not practical now to cool body armor, but it's something the army spends a significant amount of money on. With the battery tech that seems to be handwaved I'd assume that you can do this in SR. It does mean you are going to be putting out a ton of heat and look very interesting in long IR.

But in Phoenix in summer I'd expect everyone middle class or up is doing this.

[sunnyside]

Hmmm. Yeah. I could see coolant systems for the summer being popular. Not even just for armor but sort of as a reverse coat. Just have something with some micro freon converters in the back.

But no I wasn't worried about them being able to physically handle it, unless they were outside a long time or got stuck without liquids. More of a matter of comfort and sticking out.

[kzt]

Anyone wearing a jacket in Phoenix outside in the summer sticks out now. I'm not so sure about the future, particuarly if you could be more comfortable with a jacket on that off. But an armored jacket is essentially just body armor. It or the longcoat would certainly stick out if you don't have lots of people wearing obvious body armor.

Of course ,they could go for the upscale look... (I hate flash sites, as you can't link to the page you want to go...). Select english, products, MC Black or Gold collections.

[Adarael]

Any dude wandering Arizona in a jacket needs to start making progressively more difficult body tests - or survival tests - not to pass the hell out. Target: Wastelands had rules on it, actually, which could easily be adapted for SR4. I mean, there's no way you could argue Phoenix DOESN'T somehow qualify as a desert just because it's also a city.

[sunnyside]

Any dude wandering Arizona in a jacket needs to start making progressively more difficult body tests - or survival tests - not to pass the hell out. Target: Wastelands had rules on it, actually, which could easily be adapted for SR4. I mean, there's no way you could argue Phoenix DOESN'T somehow qualify as a desert just because it's also a city.

I thnk the distinction is that in phoenix you can step inside an airconditioned gas station or something and chug some gatoraid or what have you.

Still it'd be a lot of sweat without cooling.

[Platinum Dragon]

People adapt to different climates too. Here in southern Australia, 22 degrees is t-shirt weather, but in India they put jumpers on. O.o

There are practical limits, but if he has his longcoat on all the time he'd acclimate to it somewhat. Sure, he'd be sweating, but let's be honest, so is everyone else.

Of course, if he pays for a luxury model with an internal cooling unit, he might bet odd looks but he'd feel fine.

[HappyDaze]

Use the armor rules as written but use 1.5 x Body or even 1 x Body for really high temps as the limit before penalties apply instead of the usual 2 x Body.

[Isath]

About the odd looks... if every one from the lower middleclass on will be wearing clothing with cooling units, the guy in question might not stick out so much (at least in some areas). You would however be able to tell, that he has a certain minimum of funds, to afford that stuff - not being poor will stand out in poor areas. If he is wearing obvious bodyarmor, he will ofcause, almost alway stand out - hot or not.

[Siege]

Any dude wandering Arizona in a jacket needs to start making progressively more difficult body tests - or survival tests - not to pass the hell out. Target: Wastelands had rules on it, actually, which could easily be adapted for SR4. I mean, there's no way you could argue Phoenix DOESN'T somehow qualify as a desert just because it's also a city.

Keep in mind, any physical exertion cuts your functional time damn near in half. Arizona is a dry heat, which helps in some respects, but you also tend not to notice just how hot it is until you're a borderline heat case.

The difference between Tucson and Iraq? Iraq has more crap in the air.

-Siege

[Wesley Street]

More food for thought: a very good quality leather jacket actually breathes and keeps a body cool so you'll often see men and women wearing them even in the height of summer in L.A.. I'd imagine that the armor lining of the 2070s is some type of porous microfiber that allows for both comfort and protection without the need for an artificial cooling system.

[Tarantula]

As far as all this "obvious armor" crap, most people in shadowrun wear something. Even if its just armored clothing. The longcoats and stuff aren't "obvious armor" anymore than wearing a normal jacket is now.

Now, mill-spec stuff, and that, is excessive unless you're in swat or something, but just weaing an armored jacket or vest or something? Not sticking out at all.

[Frosty Medic]

As far as all this "obvious armor" crap, most people in shadowrun wear something. Even if its just armored clothing. The longcoats and stuff aren't "obvious armor" anymore than wearing a normal jacket is now.

Now, mill-spec stuff, and that, is excessive unless you're in swat or something, but just weaing an armored jacket or vest or something? Not sticking out at all.

But armored jackets and vests are mil-spec. They're the equivalent of a flak jacket, or a heavy Kevlar patrol vest. Granted, that's nothing compared to hardened armor, though.

[Ol' Scratch]

But armored jackets and vests are mil-spec. They're the equivalent of a flak jacket, or a heavy Kevlar patrol vest. Granted, that's nothing compared to hardened armor, though.

What?

Armored Jackets and Vest are not mil-spec. At all.

[Wesley Street]

We need a RAW definition of mil-spec armor before this degrades into "yes it is/no it isn't". Because I don't know the difference other than the loose categories in Arsenal and BBB. If it has a restricted or forbidden rating next to it, it's military or security grade armor, correct?

[Chrysalis]

Anything which is 12F/R+ is military or law enforcement.

-Chrysalis

[Tarantula]

"They're the equivalent of a flak jacket, or a heavy Kevlar patrol vest." Sure, with futuretech materials that basically let you have a jacket thats as good as a flak jacket, but still looks pretty much like an everyday jacket. TO the point where most everyone has standard vets/jackets/clothing in their wardrobes.

To boot, out of the armor listed, only chameleon suits, and full body armor is restritcted at all.

Also, there is a very distinct section that is military armor in arsenal, page 50. Under the heading "Military grade armor" and is called light, medium, or heavy military armor. Just a guess here, but I'm pretty sure military armor is mil-spec gear.

Surprise Surprise, all milspec is F.

[WeaverMount]

>military armor is mil-spec gear
It even says that parenthetically. 4th ed mil-spec is armor that is custom fitted and encumbers at x3 body rather than x2, and can receive the specially listed mods.

[Ol' Scratch]

>military armor is mil-spec gear
It even says that parenthetically. 4th ed mil-spec is armor that is custom fitted and encumbers at x3 body rather than x2, and can receive the specially listed mods.

No. That's a trait of mil-spec armor, but it is not limited to mil-spec armor.

[Tarantula]

No. That's a trait of mil-spec armor, but it is not limited to mil-spec armor.

Really? Arse, 50, "Each suit must be custom-fit to an individual, tailored to her specifi c body contours and range of motion. This decreases the armor’s encumbrance (see p. 148, SR4); the character wearing the armor is only encumbered if either armor rating exceeds the character’s Body x 3."

Since no other armor has this text, it is in fact, limited to mil-spec armor.

[WeaverMount]

... ? Do you care to point out the non-mil-spec armor that uses either of those runs, or the mil-spec armor that doesn't?I'm pretty sure that: Mil-spec IFF x3 bod for encumbrance and takes mil-spec mods.

[Ol' Scratch]

Arsenal p. 44, "Tweaking Armor Encumbrance."

[nezumi]

Do keep in mind, if it's hot enough to restrict people from wearing jackets and coats, that also means they (PCs and NPCs alike) will have more trouble concealing weapons. Doesn't help much against dedicated guards who carry openly, but against other covert baddies, it's at least some consolation.

[Tarantula]

Arsenal p. 44, "Tweaking Armor Encumbrance."

Optional rule. By that logic, just say you're doing it where customized armor ignores any encumbrance. Better than mil-spec and totally legal to boot! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)