Armor

As with weapons, T5 doesn't give you a list of armor you can buy, but instead gives you a set of rules from which to make custom armor. This is a little involved it you have to do it on paper, but fortunately the same folks who make the online "gunmaker" tool also made an "armormaker" (which you've probably seen if you looked at the gunmaker tool already). Before getting started with the armormaker tool, here are some notes on armor, and some starting limitations for our game.

In T5 "Armor" is a catchall term for any kind of protective gear. In true T5 rulebook form, "Armor" is also specific type of "Armor" (yes really. p225 if you care).

T5 armor can be "powered" or "un-powered", "braced" or "un-braced" and "morphic" or "non-morphic." "Powered" armor has enhanced physical capabilities, "Braced" armor is structured internally to withstand force (like recoil), and "Morphic" just means its similar in shape to the user. Here are some examples:

1. Leather Armor (un-powered, un-braced, morphic)

2. Plate Mail (un-powered, braced, morphic)

3. Fallout 4 Power Armor (powered, braced, morphic)

4. Power Loader Ripley uses to kill the Xenomorph Queen in "Aliens" (powered, braced, non-morphic)

Here are the 5 basic types of armor along with power, bracing and morphic characteristics:

1. Dress - Ultimate battle armor. Powered, Morphic and Braced.

2. Suits - Basic protective suits (hazmat, vacc., etc.) Un-powered, Morphic and Un-braced

3. Armor - Anything powered and morphic that isn't "Dress." Powered, Morphic, Un-braced

4. Unit - Like Ripley's Power Loader, more of a machine. Powered, Non-Morphic, Braced or Un-Braced

5. Item - Standalone pieces of equipment like shields or helmets. Powered or Un-Powered, Morphic or Non-Morphic, Braced or Un-Braced.

armor provides one or more of the following protections:

1. Armor - protection against bullets, frag and physical blows

2. Cage - protection against Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)

3. Flashproof - protection against Flash (bright light)

4. Radproof - protection against Radiation

5. Soundproof - protection against sonic attacks

6. PsiShield - projection from psionic activity (we're not using psionics)

7. Insulated - protection against heat, cold and shock (electrical)

8. Sealed - protection against harmful liquids and gasses

Note for our game: If you have "Insulated" armor, we'll have to specify whether its thermal (hot and/or cold) and/or electrical.

Using the amormaker tool is just like using the gunmaker tool. Go to the link (Traveller 5 Armor Maker) and select from the pulldowns:

Stage - Burden - (blank) - Descriptor - Type

I've listed the various options below, although there are some on the tool that aren't in T5. Starting limitations for our game:

1. Stage - Standard, Basic, Improved, Modified

2. Burden - Vlight, Light, Medium, Small

3. Descriptor - Assault, Combat, Combat Env, Environ, Exploration, Hazmat, Hot, Labor, Police, Prospector, Protected, Vacc

4. Type - Suit (keeping it all low-caliber to start with)

Armor Descriptors:

1. None/Blank - armor has no modifications or effects

2. Carrier - armor item for carrying weapins/gear (must be specific for weapons)

3. Assault - Relatively light, for short term operation

4. Battle - Protection against most battlefield threats

5. Boarding - Tailored for Zero-G operations

6. Cold - Protection against low temp environments

7. Combat - Medium term operations

8. Drop - Structured to protect against temp extremes from orbital entry and battlefield dangers

9. Environ - Protects against typical enviro threats, temp, vacc, flash

10. Combat Environ - Same as Environ but with some standard battlefield protections

11. Exploration - Long term use against typical world surface environmental threats

12. Hazmat - protection against hazardous materials

13. Hostile Environ - Extreme Environ

14. Hot - Protection against high temp environments

15. Police - Protection against "police" type hazards

16. Prospector - Hostile Environ with included survey and search tools

17. Sapper - Combat Environ with combat engineer functions (?)

18. Vacc - Protection against vaccuum

19. Labor - Provides enhanced strength

Armor Burden:

1. Disposable - Manufactured from inexpensive material. Not meant to last more than a few days

2. Heavy - Significantly heavier than standard with improved durability and protection

3. Light - Armor is significantly lighter than standard, but with less protection and durability

4. Medium - Standard weight, durability and protection

5. Vlight - Very light, significant reduction in protection

6. Oversize - Oversized armor, about double that of standard (must always be powered)

7. Titan - Even bigger than Oversize (about 3x standard armor)

Armor Stage: (effects based on technological cycle)

1. None/Blank - No effects based on stage

2. Advanced - armor is significantly better than standard. Increased damage.

3. Alternate - armor uses alternate technology to achieve effects

4. Basic - armor is stripped down design with greater weight but reduced cost

5. Early - armor is preliminary design available through mass production but still some flaws

6. Enhanced - armor includes additional features

7. Experimental - armor is hand made test model

8. Improved - armor has minor improvements

9. Modified - armor features improvements

10. Ultimate - armor is best possible for type

11. Prototype - armor is hand made

12. Remote - armor is remotely operated.

13. Standard - Same as None