# What is power armor anyway?

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/what-is-power-armor-anyway/15463>\
**Category:** The Bunker\
**Created:** [May 9, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/what-is-power-armor-anyway/15463 "2018-05-09T03:00:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 3

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**Author:** ![darktoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@darktoes](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/darktoes)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 3:25am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/what-is-power-armor-anyway/15463/3 "2018-05-09T03:25:41Z")

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> [@Armor Up! A mod to make armor more better. New PA Utilities pack!](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/armor-up-a-mod-to-make-armor-more-better-new-pa-utilities-pack/15449/10):
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> No, because by the time you get those armours, you typically already have at least around 10k max bionic power and a reliable power source (since they are considered endgame stuff).

I’ve had PA sets far earlier than that in the game, and it’s basically the only way to really balance. As far as I’m concerned, making it difficult to use for early-midgame characters is the main concern, since all bets are pretty much off for lategame.

I won’t lie, I didn’t understand the thing about sports and gardening hoes.

> [@Armor Up! A mod to make armor more better. New PA Utilities pack!](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/armor-up-a-mod-to-make-armor-more-better-new-pa-utilities-pack/15449/10):
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> Yes, but needs to be dependant on the STR stat. An athlete is gonna fare much better with all the dead metal around him than some wimp (like myself).

That’s basically dealt with within encumbrance, to a degree.

> [@Armor Up! A mod to make armor more better. New PA Utilities pack!](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/armor-up-a-mod-to-make-armor-more-better-new-pa-utilities-pack/15449/10):
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> This is the ONLY reason to turn the armour on, and more importantly, Power Armour as a concept is all about freeing the person wearing it from any concerns regarding the weight and bulk of the gear (and maybe even giving the user some more strength and agility, in advanced armour designs). Power Armour IS normal armour with added servos and/or a forcefield.

ALL armor is restrictive to a degree. The only way you get full freedom of movement is if you’re naked. The more armor you put on something, the less it can move.  
Even just the added weight means it takes more energy to stop moving arms and legs and such, which exerts a moment on the overall body which you have to resist.

> [@Armor Up! A mod to make armor more better. New PA Utilities pack!](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/armor-up-a-mod-to-make-armor-more-better-new-pa-utilities-pack/15449/10):
>
> I’m honestly surprised that the PA already lacks gas protection. It does have the Climate Control capability, but lacks filters. Come on, that helmet is an ideal place to put some filters into.

Basic PA is a prototype. It works as armor, but not much else (in my mind).

> [@Armor Up! A mod to make armor more better. New PA Utilities pack!](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/armor-up-a-mod-to-make-armor-more-better-new-pa-utilities-pack/15449/10):
>
> No electrical protection? You kidding me? A whole set made of steel - and the shock runs through the human body? This suit is a walking Faraday Cage, powered or not.

Depends how it’s set up. You’d probably be fine, but it’s still a prototype. It might even be made of nonconductive ceramics on most parts so any electricity is forced to go through your body.

> [@Armor Up! A mod to make armor more better. New PA Utilities pack!](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/armor-up-a-mod-to-make-armor-more-better-new-pa-utilities-pack/15449/10):
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> Acid? Come on, alloys are resistant to acids, and any engineer that has a diploma is going to cover all the joints in the armour with some sorts of rubber or plastics, as it always happens in any equipment with moving parts that is being exposed to the elements.

Again, prototype. This thing probably didn’t make it out of basic testing and it was for the military no less, so the cheaper the better.  
My main point about basic PA is it isn’t properly sealed, so acid, gas, or radiation will work it’s way in one way or another. Just imagine a basic frame with some body armor welded on.

> [@Armor Up! A mod to make armor more better. New PA Utilities pack!](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/armor-up-a-mod-to-make-armor-more-better-new-pa-utilities-pack/15449/10):
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> the RM13 set is useless in the way it is present ingame today.

That’s exactly what I’m trying to fix with the Crysis-esque modes.

> [@Armor Up! A mod to make armor more better. New PA Utilities pack!](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/armor-up-a-mod-to-make-armor-more-better-new-pa-utilities-pack/15449/10):
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> And, finally, the Power Armour Suit is an exoskeleton. This way it MUST allow its user to shoot heavy (~6 kg for Laser Cannon lol can’t see why it can’t be fired just like a normal rifle) weapons without any support (i.e. act as a support for coding purposes).

Not necessarily. It depends how strong it is and how much it’s carrying, among lots of other things.  
That said, I definitely think at least the Mk2 versions should act as mounted weapon support, but that’s not something I can do with JSON.

> [@Armor Up! A mod to make armor more better. New PA Utilities pack!](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/armor-up-a-mod-to-make-armor-more-better-new-pa-utilities-pack/15449/11):
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> RM13 lasts a lot longer if you turn the armor off when you’re not in combat. And Plutonium Cells are plentiful if you’re killing cybernetic zombies regularly.

Yeah, but it’s still a pain in the butt. And pretty much useless if you have a set and don’t do regular lab diving.  
I get why it’s set up the way it is, but it’s unrealistic and the only case of something like that in the game. If it was a weapon or something I could understand, but armor powered with a special resource seems silly to me when it’s not even overly special.

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