Subdermal armor

[hal]

Originally Posted by Anders

I think a mesh is the best option. Or just ignore the silliness and go ahead according to the rule of cool.

Different strokes for Different Folks. :)

No Offense, and I TRULY mean it when I say "different strokes" - not as a demeaning thing, but more along the lines of "If that's what makes people happy, I'm not going to rain on their parade - far from it."

That being said - for me to research what it takes to make armor that is subdermal using David Pulver's Pyramid articles means that I want/need something solid to back things up. When I peruse "near future" science articles or view videos showing the potential of things - or even BLACK MIRROR on Netflix, I'm always looking at it for "hmm, how might that play out in real life?"

I have NEVER liked the rules from GURPS ULTRATECH for building robots using character points. I dream of the day where I get my hands on the newer GURPS VEHICLE DESIGN system (hopefully before I die) so that I can play around with crafting vehicles that are tighter than what the GURPS VEHICLES second edition crafted. For now - I use GURPS ROBOTS with some add hoc changes to draw in both computers from GURPS 4e and use the concept that software is software, hardware is hardware, and Robots are NOT player characters in the slightest. Do I have AI's in my Sci-fi games? Yup, but they're software based and hardware based and no amount of character points will ever change them. They are effectively NPCS or perhaps simply put - equipment.

Now, if I felt for one second, that people would join in a long running thread on "what would life be like if using GURPS ULTRATECH and GURPS BIOTECH combined for TL 9, I'd go item by item and ask myself "What effects will that have on life." Just like this Subdermal armor. I remember my days in high school biology and diasecting cats and mudpuppies and the like and having to separate connective tissue from the muscles and skin. I know what it is like to have my skin burn as it heals from an injury - and having subdermal armor implanted just makes me react at a level of "oh man that's gotta hurt".

THAT is why I've enjoyed being a GM using GURPS. The "What if this were real" has always guided me. Not too long ago, my wife and I visited the USS CONSTELLATION where I banged my head no less than 6 times, once harshly. The humidity below decks was overbearing. The spaciousness below decks is not readily apparent when GURPS uses 3 foot wide hexes and looks impossibly narrow on paper. I've been at shooting ranges where firing a 9mm is a pop and a .45 is a BOOM, and know what it sounds like to have a small war (seemingly) at the range. It is visercal to say the least. EVERYTHING I see and do in real life makes me say "Gotta save this for a gaming session someday" ;)

So, rule of Cool? I stay away because for me, the less I force my players to hit the "I believe" button over and over, the more they can just suspend belief and enjoy the story.

One of these days, I probably should post my vehicle designs of cars from CYBERPUNK 2077 put in GURPS terms. One of these days, I should take the time to build the armor for TL 9 in terms of a built up armory and list it. Hell, one of these days I'm going to use the same system from Pyramid to revamp the Armor in GURPS ULTRATECH for 3e. ;)

God Help me when I retire, as I'm going to go nuts with the enforced inactivity. :(

[David Johnston2]

I will say that it's my assumption that anyone who has "subdermal armor" has artificial skin to go with it so capillaries are not an issue. The synthetic skin does have tactile sensors and the armor does have chinks, but they are concealed so you'd need expertise to exploit them.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

I will say that it's my assumption that anyone who has "subdermal armor" has artificial skin to go with it so capillaries are not an issue.

At that point it's not 'subdermal', it's just replacing skin with armor.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Anthony

At that point it's not 'subdermal', it's just replacing skin with armor.

"Subdermal" is thus marketing. Seriously, no cyberpunk setting I've ever seen could have had any rules about truth in advertising.

[Donny Brook]

Originally Posted by TGLS

Pick 1:
A) A heavily armoured cup and harness.
B) Castration
C) Only bothering heavily cybering out women.

D) retractable genitals

[ravenfish]

Originally Posted by johndallman

"Subdermal" is thus marketing. Seriously, no cyberpunk setting I've ever seen could have had any rules about truth in advertising.

If it is the skin rather than being under the skin, it probably should be called "dermal" armor- and marketing would go along with that, since sounds like it should better than "sub-dermal" armor.

[Of course, marketing is also pushing for embedded mail type chain armor to block incoming attacks. Not only does it allow nerves and capillaries to pass through, it can be sold as "block chain".]

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by ravenfish

If it is the skin rather than being under the skin, it probably should be called "dermal" armor- and marketing would go along with that, since sounds like it should better than "sub-dermal" armor.

[Of course, marketing is also pushing for embedded mail type chain armor to block incoming attacks. Not only does it allow nerves and capillaries to pass through, it can be sold as "block chain".]

"'Dermal Armour' is the name used by That Other Brand for their ugly, makes you look like a troll, replacement skin armour. Our offering is indistinguishable from natural skin and allows you to retain your natural sense of touch (enhancements available). Thus we've labelled ours Subdermal Armour to emphasise its sleek low-profile nature."

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Anthony

At that point it's not 'subdermal', it's just replacing skin with armor.

No, there's still a layer that isn't armour but just a cosmetic soft, warm and flexible layer complete with tactile sensors which hides the actual armour underneath which will be exposed if someone starts shooting and cutting. It's basically the same skin life-like androids use.

[The Colonel]

The other fun part about sub-dermal armour is how you look after a fight - because the skin is going to split and tear off in handfuls as you get hit. You'll probably find that it's a good thing most of your nerves were destroyed when they implanted the stuff and you will look hideous - like the Terminator with its meat-jacket torn up. Repair is going to mean having skin re-grafted all over. Artificial skin probably seems the best idea at this point - after all, you've had most of your meat body removed already, what difference does a bit more make? As for your junk? That probably needed to be removed when they replaced your pelvis to install those leg upgrades you had done - certainly wouldn't want to get it trapped when running at 60mph or so, would you? These are the sort of things from which cyberpsychosis originates - imagine being the sort of person that can look at a bullet hole in their arm and think "meh, it'll buff out". Might be cool, but it ain't human.