Mixing Low-Tech armour rules with Ultra-Tech materials?

[Kalzazz]

Hmmmm, Low Tech armor weighs Torso x3.05

Ultra Tech weighs Torso x4

Any idea the difference?

[Tyneras]

Isn't the definition of what the "Torso" is different in LT and UT? I think some locations changed in LT, but no books with me at the moment.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

Hmmmm, Low Tech armor weighs Torso x3.05

Ultra Tech weighs Torso x4

Any idea the difference?

What low tech calls 'torso' armor ultra-tech calls 'torso + groin' armor. Using comparable weights (20 lb full suit in UT, 7 lb torso armor in LT)
Skull: UT says 1 lb, LT says 1.4 lb
Face: UT says 1 lb, LT says 0.7 lb
Head: UT says 2 lb, LT says 2.1 lb
Neck: UT says 0.5 lb, LT says 0.35 lb
Torso: UT says 7 lb, LT says 7 lb
Chest: UT says 5 lb, LT says 5.25 lb
Abdomen (Groin in UT): UT says 2 lb, LT says 1.75 lb
Arms: UT says 2.5 lb, LT says 3.5 lb
Hands: UT says 1 lb, LT says 0.7 lb
Legs: UT says 5 lb, LT says 7 lb
Feet: UT says 2 lb, LT says 0.7 lb
Total: UT says 20 lb, LT says 21.35 lb.

Much of this is just rounding, though UT weights are notably low for many armor types (a TL 9 reflex vest has an areal density of 0.4 lb/sf, which is less than half the weight of a TL 8 level IIIa vest that provides similar protection).

[Michael Thayne]

While we're at it, does anyone see any problems with combining the rules in High-Tech for high-tech versions of low-tech armors with the armor rules and stats in Low-Tech?

[Tyneras]

That is one thing I wondered about. In LT, armor defends itself from damage at DR-1, so a DR 5 chest plate defends itself from damage with DR 4, which is good for the DR numbers and granularity at that scale. But what about UT armor, with DR 100 or more? Does it defend itself with DR 99? or is the DR-1 a result of the small numbers, and would it be more accurate to be something like 90% of DR (at LT armor values, that would round off to DR-1)?

[jacobmuller]

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

Hmmmm, Low Tech armor weighs Torso x3.05
Ultra Tech weighs Torso x4
Any idea the difference?

UT is more like 2.86... Torso plus Groin vs 1.
And LT isn't 3.05, it's 2.85. The Hands/Legs 10% is only for separate hands/legs.
As I fell asleep I realised the Arm and Leg breakdowns make more sense as Shoulder 10/ Upper arm 10/ elbow 5/ forearm 15/ hand 10 and thigh 45/ knee 5/ shin 40/ foot 10.

But re OP: nope, I ain't done that yet. It might be nice to do it and get a (is it) Dan Howard(?)-ish UT booklet of typical suits.

[Kalzazz]

Technomancer suggests for things like Fortify increase DR by 5% if DR is greater than 20

I think Id use 10% though, and lower by 10% for cheap

So Hardened Commando Battlesuit DR 115, Cheap 95

And modify ST bonuses etc the same

[benz72]

It would be really nice to see an integrated approach to this.

LT, HT, UT all using the same rules (percentage based for scale, with notes about how low level granularity rounds out). I think it would help make the 'Universal' label more accurate.

[DemiBenson]

Originally Posted by benz72

It would be really nice to see an integrated approach to this.

LT, HT, UT all using the same rules (percentage based for scale, with notes about how low level granularity rounds out). I think it would help make the 'Universal' label more accurate.

I'd love to see that. I'm working on one combining LT and MA locations, but it never occurred to me to mix in UT.

[lexington]

Originally Posted by benz72

It would be really nice to see an integrated approach to this.

LT, HT, UT all using the same rules (percentage based for scale, with notes about how low level granularity rounds out). I think it would help make the 'Universal' label more accurate.

Absolutely. Seems like it would be an incredible amount of work, though.