Protective covers, How do they work rulewise? Options

[Dakka Dakka]

The BBB says that the protective covers confer both Ballistic and Impact armor bonuses of +2 to the eye area. What does that mean?

Since SR4(A) does not have hit locations, it is impossible to target the eye area specifically, so when does the bonus apply? In accordance with the rules for Cyberlimbs it should always apply, but that would be overpowered.

[Saint Sithney]

Resisting called shots to target sensitive areas for extra damage?

[Ravor]

Mostly for fluff reasons, they are really nothing more than the safety glasses of 2070.

[Dakka Dakka]

Resisting called shots to target sensitive areas for extra damage?

This would be a nice compromise but unfortunately the rules don't support or contradict it.

[Adarael]

It's pretty much an automatic out for any PC who has sand/caustic liquid/other nasty crap thrown in his eyes and thereby blinds him. It may do damage, but it won't blind them.

[Dakka Dakka]

It's pretty much an automatic out for any PC who has sand/caustic liquid/other nasty crap thrown in his eyes and thereby blinds him. It may do damage, but it won't blind them.

I can't find anything that supports this in the rulebooks and it would only be +1 against most of those liquids. It's a good idea though.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I see them as simply Stylized Goggles that provide protection agaisnt particles, dust, etc...
As for the Ballistic and Impact values, they have NEVER come up in our games... EVER...

Keep the Faith

[Ayeohx]

Like others have said they are used to counter getting crap in your eyes. I don't think that they are sealed systems though so I don't think they work as scuba goggles, but that's your call.

Realize this: They look freakin lame. omg... so lame. I'm sure that someone somewhere has awesome protective covers but for the most part they look goofy. 1st edition had some detailed pics I think as well as some of the other later books.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Like others have said they are used to counter getting crap in your eyes. I don't think that they are sealed systems though so I don't think they work as scuba goggles, but that's your call.

Realize this: They look freakin lame. omg... so lame. I'm sure that someone somewhere has awesome protective covers but for the most part they look goofy. 1st edition had some detailed pics I think as well as some of the other later books.

That is what casemodding is for...

Keep the Faith

[Shrike30]

I've always assumed that they were like armored contacts that were anchored to the bones of the eye socket, actually; one of my characters got them casemodded to look more like low-profile goggles. They've always been listed as cyberware, not equipment, which makes me think they're semipermanently attached to the character, even with a 0 essence cost.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I've always assumed that they were like armored contacts that were anchored to the bones of the eye socket, actually; one of my characters got them casemodded to look more like low-profile goggles. They've always been listed as cyberware, not equipment, which makes me think they're semipermanently attached to the character, even with a 0 essence cost.

They are attached to the orbital ridge and outer sockets of the eye...
Cyberware indeed... NO Essence Cost...

Keep the Faith

[cndblank]

They are sealed and since they are usually used with cybereyes.....

As to Lame, well they were all the rage in 2050s. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Like others have said they are used to counter getting crap in your eyes. I don't think that they are sealed systems though so I don't think they work as scuba goggles, but that's your call.

Realize this: They look freakin lame. omg... so lame. I'm sure that someone somewhere has awesome protective covers but for the most part they look goofy. 1st edition had some detailed pics I think as well as some of the other later books.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

They are sealed and since they are usually used with cybereyes.....

As to Lame, well they were all the rage in 2050s. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

You know how fads are... they always come back around....

Keep the Faith

[Adarael]

I can't find anything that supports this in the rulebooks and it would only be +1 against most of those liquids. It's a good idea though.

No, that's true, but there are similar things that have no rules, like "Do wearing hip waders prevent you from getting wet," or, "Do having criminals wear gloves impede subsequent forensics investigations?" I'm fine with people being unblindable by substances if they get such stuff implanted.

[TeknoDragon]

They exist due to a significant character in Neuromancer having them, I think.

[Saint Sithney]

I blame the Desert Wars.
Getting irradiated sand in your cybereyes is some drek though..

[OneTrikPony]

As to protective covers looking Stupid;
I'm guessing you're judging the looks of the protective covers from the cover of the Street Samurai Catalog or illustration of the street samurai on page 62 of the Second Edition BBB. In which case I'd have to agree with you.

Except those are both horible examples that no one could posibly take seriously.

1. the street samurai on SRII pp. 62 does not have protective covers, (check his gear listing), so the only excuse is that it's probably another crapy Laubinstine illustration.

2. which ever Numbnuts artist did the cover for the Street Sam Catalog also decided that the guy's rifle needed to run a datacord outside his body to the jack in his temple, and apparently he has either his femoral artery or hydralic lines running to his knee on the outside of his pants.

The point is the Devs through the years have allowed some artists (notice I don't call them illustrators) WAY to much leeway in describeing the setting. So if a picture "looks stupid"--which is usually what people say when it's not logical or consistent with the setting--it's probably not something you want to use to describe your campaign or character. Throw it out.

Protective covers do attach to the obital ridge and work just like nictating membranes; Under the Eyelid.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

As to protective covers looking Stupid;
I'm guessing you're judging the looks of the protective covers from the cover of the Street Samurai Catalog or illustration of the street samurai on page 62 of the Second Edition BBB. In which case I'd have to agree with you.

Except those are both horible examples that no one could posibly take seriously.

1. the street samurai on SRII pp. 62 does not have protective covers, (check his gear listing), so the only excuse is that it's probably another crapy Laubinstine illustration.

2. which ever Numbnuts artist did the cover for the Street Sam Catalog also decided that the guy's rifle needed to run a datacord outside his body to the jack in his temple, and apparently he has either his femoral artery or hydralic lines running to his knee on the outside of his pants.

The point is the Devs through the years have allowed some artists (notice I don't call them illustrators) WAY to much leeway in describeing the setting. So if a picture "looks stupid"--which is usually what people say when it's not logical or consistent with the setting--it's probably not something you want to use to describe your campaign or character. Throw it out.

Protective covers do attach to the obital ridge and work just like nictating membranes; Under the Eyelid.

Nope, I am gonna have to disagree on the under the eyelid thing... I have always pictured them as going from orbital ridge to the bottom of the socket, OVER the eyes (much like custom fitted sunglasses), sealing the outer surfaces from irritating substances...

Of course, you obviously disagree, but that is okay...

Keep the Faith

[Ravor]

I ahve a hard time imaging something that was small enough to fit under the eylid as being remotely capable of provided any armor whatsoever...

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I ahve a hard time imaging something that was small enough to fit under the eylid as being remotely capable of provided any armor whatsoever...

I was kind of thinking the same thing...

Keep the Faith

[OneTrikPony]

I ahve a hard time imaging something that was small enough to fit under the eylid as being remotely capable of provided any armor whatsoever...

you mean with todays tech or in the world were we have several who new materials science applications like
plascrete,
plasteel,
ferrocreet,
Densiplast,
Hyperalloy,
Room temperature supper conductors
dikote (what there's no dikote? I swear I had a dikote sword 5 years ago now where'd i put that?) Balistic armor rating 10, balistic armor rating 14 (with no encumberance)
Ceramic bone laceing,
flexible dermal sheaths rating 3 that require a perception test to notice,
the power of a tazer in a 22 calibur bullet,
Mono wire,
everything that nano technology can make...

I'm pretty sure that they can put a little hemisphere of of some type of translucent material that has an armor rating up in the orbit of the eye with out too much problem.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

you mean with todays tech or in the world were we have several who new materials science applications like
plascrete,
plasteel,
ferrocreet,
Densiplast,
Hyperalloy,
Room temperature supper conductors
dikote (what there's no dikote? I swear I had a dikote sword 5 years ago now where'd i put that?) Balistic armor rating 10, balistic armor rating 14 (with no encumberance)
Ceramic bone laceing,
flexible dermal sheaths rating 3 that require a perception test to notice,
the power of a tazer in a 22 calibur bullet,
Mono wire,
everything that nano technology can make...

I'm pretty sure that they can put a little hemisphere of of some type of translucent material that has an armor rating up in the orbit of the eye with out too much problem.

Not saying it is not possible... Just that it would be too small to really provide that amount of ballistic protection mounted on the inside fo the Eye, rather than on the outside Upper Ridge and Orbital Socket... When you get under the eyelid, you are underneath the orbiatal ridge at that point, it would interfere with the smooth operation of the eye... any extensive reconstruction of the orbital ridge to accomodate it would cost essence...

Keep the Faith

[Ravor]

Besides, one has to think things through, if you could get armor from something that small why don't people make actual armor from the stuff and have everyone walk around bouncing bulletes off of their chests with their shiney new 100 Armor Rating?

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Besides, one has to think things through, if you could get armor from something that small why don't people make actual armor from the stuff and have everyone walk around bouncing bulletes off of their chests with their shiney new 100 Armor Rating?

Well, There is always that as well...

Keep the Faith