Ultra-Tech: Hardlight Armor

Ultra-Tech: Hardlight Armor

As a very delayed follow-up to my Hardlight Guns post, here we have hardlight armor. It was made partially because TL 11 LC 3 armor really needs some help.

Hardlight Mesh

This is a mesh of small cells with light emitters and exotic material lenses that solidify the light, providing protection from incoming fire. It is not very good at stopping physical projectiles, but is very effective against energy weapons, including hardlight guns. This armor provides full protection against energy weapons (lasers, hardlight guns, plasma, blasters, pulsars), and uses its reduced DR against physical projectiles.

Hardlight mesh armor must be powered to work. It is activated with a Ready maneuver, and if you have multiple pieces of hardlight mesh armor, you can activate all of them with a single maneuver. This makes hardlight mesh armor susceptible to microwave disruptors (p. UT121).

TL	Description	DR	Location	Cost	Weight	Power	LC
11^	Hardlight Mesh Bodysuit	60/24*	body, limbs	$1,800	3	C/12 hr.	3
11^	Hardlight Mesh Full Helmet	60/24*	skull, eyes, face	$700	1.5	2B/12 hr.	3
11^	Hardlight Mesh Gloves	50/20*	hands	$100	neg.	2B/12 hr.	3
11^	Hardlight Mesh Jacket	60/24*	arms, torso	$900	1.5	C/14 hr.	3
11^	Hardlight Mesh Suit	60/24*	all	$2,400	4	C/10 hr.	3
11^	Hardlight Mesh Trousers	60/24*	groin, legs	$560	1.4	2B/10 hr.	3
11^	Hardlight Mesh Vest	60/24*	torso	$600	1	C/16 hr.	3

Hardlight Shell

In inactive state, this armor looks like a wireframe worn over clothing or flexible armor. When activated, the wireframe extends to a distance of a few inches from the body, rigidifies, and creates a shell of hard light. This aspect makes it impossible to armor hands and feet effectively. This armor provides full protection against energy weapons (lasers, hardlight guns, plasma, blasters, pulsars), and uses its reduced DR against physical projectiles.

Hardlight shell armor must be powered to work. It is activated with a Ready maneuver, and if you have multiple pieces of hardlight shell armor, you can activate all of them with a single maneuver. This makes hardlight shell armor susceptible to microwave disruptors (p. UT121).

Hardlight shell gloves can include and additional wireframe sleeve that is attached to the weapon, protecting it when active. The weapon’s barrel still can be targeted at an additional -8 penalty. The increase in power consumption is negligible, but the cost increases by $200. Without this additional piece, the wearer of active hardlight shell gloves effectively has No Fine Manipulators.

TL	Description	DR	Location	Cost	Weight	Power	LC
11^	Hardlight Shell Bodysuit	100/50	body, limbs	$2,700	3	C/6 hr.	2
11^	Hardlight Shell Full Helmet	100/50	skull, eyes, face	$1,000	1.5	2B/6 hr.	2
11^	Hardlight Shell Gloves	100/50	hands	$200	neg.	2B/6 hr.	2
11^	Hardlight Shell Jacket	100/50	arms, torso	$1,500	1.5	C/7 hr.	2
11^	Hardlight Shell Suit	100/50	all	$3,600	4	C/5 hr.	2
11^	Hardlight Shell Trousers	100/50	groin, legs	$900	1.4	2B/5 hr.	2
11^	Hardlight Shell Vest	100/50	torso	$900	1	C/8 hr.	2