Armored Wings?

Anders · 08-05-2024, 11:42 AM

With Winged Flight, is the default assumption that they can be armored or not? What would be the value of a trait that alters the default?

Anthony · 08-05-2024, 12:08 PM

Absent limitations, the DR advantage applies to all locations, but whether you can wear armor is unspecified.

Anders · 08-05-2024, 12:12 PM

I mean *wear* armor. And I really should have asked myself this question when I wrote Winged Folk... :embarrassed:

ravenfish · 08-05-2024, 01:01 PM

Dungeon Fantasy 3 says, vis-à-vis Winged Elves, "wings cannot be armored; the options are leaving them exposed or folding them inside armor, making it impossible to fly." I don't know how much one can reliably generalize that, but it gives something concrete at least.

EDIT: From a realism standpoint, it makes sense to require wings to remain unarmored. Even a small amount of ice on an airplane wing can interfere with lift, and of course covering over feathers would have even worse effects.

whswhs · 08-05-2024, 01:39 PM

A parallel is No Legs (Aquatic), where "If your mobility depends on fins, masts, paddles, or sails that you can't armor . . . -5 points." Wings would seem to be comparable.

Varyon · 08-05-2024, 01:41 PM

Wings should be possible to armor by default; as they are crippled like Arms, I would use the same stats as Arm Armor for them (and with the same Armor Gap as the armpit; I'd further state this gap can only be targeted from the Side or Rear, assuming wings on the back). Armor for Small Wings should be around half the weight as armor for Wings. If your wings cannot be armored, that's a further Limitation; I'd be inclined to call it -15% on Winged (for a total of -40%) or -10% on Small Wings (total -20%).

Anthony · 08-05-2024, 02:39 PM

Realistically wings should be impossible to armor without magic or ultratech, but the winged flight limitation isn't clearly priced for it (flight is oddly priced; it's very cheap for an exotic advantage that's as effective as it is).

There should probably be some sort of disadvantage for "can't wear armor (on location X)" but there currently isn't one.

JulianLW · 08-05-2024, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony

That would be 'wings that flap'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anders

I mean *wear* armor. And I really should have asked myself this question when I wrote Winged Folk... :embarrassed:

... .

Anthony · 08-05-2024, 09:19 PM

Not sure what point you're making. Essentially all fantasy creatures with wings have wings modeled on animals (most commonly birds, but you also see bat and insect), and armoring something like that without destroying its aerodynamics isn't something we could do today, let alone something TL 3 armorers could do.

RyanW · 08-06-2024, 02:26 AM

Realistically speaking, there's little difference between "wing armor that doesn't hinder flight" and "hang glider". It should be impossible at TL5 or less, unless the winged folk are advanced in aerodynamics (which is not terribly implausible).

Flapping with any meaningful armor (short of something like fantasy spider-silk or ultra tech nano fiber) would be exhausting.

08-05-2024, 11:42 AM	#1
Anders Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden	Armored Wings? With Winged Flight, is the default assumption that they can be armored or not? What would be the value of a trait that alters the default? __________________ “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” Marcus Aurelius Author of Winged Folk. The GURPS Discord. Drop by and say hi!

08-05-2024, 12:08 PM	#2
Anthony Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Berkeley, CA	Re: Armored Wings? Absent limitations, the DR advantage applies to all locations, but whether you can wear armor is unspecified. __________________ My GURPS site and Blog.

08-05-2024, 12:12 PM	#3
Anders Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden	Re: Armored Wings? I mean wear armor. And I really should have asked myself this question when I wrote Winged Folk... :embarrassed: __________________ “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” Marcus Aurelius Author of Winged Folk. The GURPS Discord. Drop by and say hi!

08-05-2024, 01:01 PM	#4
ravenfish Join Date: May 2007	Re: Armored Wings? Dungeon Fantasy 3 says, vis-à-vis Winged Elves, "wings cannot be armored; the options are leaving them exposed or folding them inside armor, making it impossible to fly." I don't know how much one can reliably generalize that, but it gives something concrete at least. EDIT: From a realism standpoint, it makes sense to require wings to remain unarmored. Even a small amount of ice on an airplane wing can interfere with lift, and of course covering over feathers would have even worse effects. __________________ I predicted GURPS:Dungeon Fantasy several hours before it came out and all I got was this lousy sig. Last edited by ravenfish; 08-05-2024 at 01:09 PM.

08-05-2024, 01:39 PM	#5
whswhs Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS	Re: Armored Wings? A parallel is No Legs (Aquatic), where "If your mobility depends on fins, masts, paddles, or sails that you can't armor . . . -5 points." Wings would seem to be comparable. __________________ Bill Stoddard I don't think we're in Oz any more.

08-05-2024, 01:41 PM	#6
Varyon Join Date: Jun 2013	Re: Armored Wings? Wings should be possible to armor by default; as they are crippled like Arms, I would use the same stats as Arm Armor for them (and with the same Armor Gap as the armpit; I'd further state this gap can only be targeted from the Side or Rear, assuming wings on the back). Armor for Small Wings should be around half the weight as armor for Wings. If your wings cannot be armored, that's a further Limitation; I'd be inclined to call it -15% on Winged (for a total of -40%) or -10% on Small Wings (total -20%). __________________ GURPS Overhaul

08-05-2024, 02:39 PM	#7
Anthony Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Berkeley, CA	Re: Armored Wings? Realistically wings should be impossible to armor without magic or ultratech, but the winged flight limitation isn't clearly priced for it (flight is oddly priced; it's very cheap for an exotic advantage that's as effective as it is). There should probably be some sort of disadvantage for "can't wear armor (on location X)" but there currently isn't one. __________________ My GURPS site and Blog.

08-05-2024, 09:19 PM	#9
Anthony Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Berkeley, CA	Re: Armored Wings? Not sure what point you're making. Essentially all fantasy creatures with wings have wings modeled on animals (most commonly birds, but you also see bat and insect), and armoring something like that without destroying its aerodynamics isn't something we could do today, let alone something TL 3 armorers could do. __________________ My GURPS site and Blog.

08-06-2024, 02:26 AM	#10
RyanW ☣ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast NC	Re: Armored Wings? Realistically speaking, there's little difference between "wing armor that doesn't hinder flight" and "hang glider". It should be impossible at TL5 or less, unless the winged folk are advanced in aerodynamics (which is not terribly implausible). Flapping with any meaningful armor (short of something like fantasy spider-silk or ultra tech nano fiber) would be exhausting. __________________ RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats.