The lightest body armor in Rifts

[Hystrix]

I was making up a mage type character (a human Death Walker from Rifter 8 to be specific), and I was wonding what people thought was the lightest body armor out there that still offers some protection (at least 30 MDC).

Here's the thing this character has a PS of 9. Trying to be somewhat realistic (for Rifts anyway), I wanted to play up the fact that he isn't very strong and can't carry much. Plus he's a mage, and he can't were anything too clunky.

The other thing is that I don't want him to start with any magic armor at 1st level. I'm looking for reletivly light, mobile, conventional body armor. I thought about Triax Plain Clothes, but were talking maybe 15-18 MDC, and I may still go with that. The reason I ask is that GM's guide, which should be useful, dosn't list the weight of the different types of armor. So in this case, it's usless...anyway...

Thoughts?

[Dustin Fireblade]

In the back of...one of the Dinosaur Swamp books (sorry not sure which one), Northern Gun has armored clothing that I believe can get you to 30 MDC and provides light enviromental protection as well.

[Hystrix]

In the back of...one of the Dinosaur Swamp books (sorry not sure which one), Northern Gun has armored clothing that I believe can get you to 30 MDC and provides light enviromental protection as well.

Your the man Dustin! I'll check that out!

[runebeo]

Cyber armor implants in the first core book, has A.R. 16 and 50 M.D.C. I think nearly every adventurer really would have too consider it. Better to gets some M.D. implant protection before you need bionic replacements.

[mobuttu]

Ckeck this list of MDC clothing. You might find something that fits your requirements.

[Shorty Lickens]

I dont consider MDC clothing to be actual body armor as such, so my answer would be Plastic Man.

[Sureshot]

I dont consider MDC clothing to be actual body armor as such, so my answer would be Plastic Man.

Agreed. Unless I am mistaken this is the lightest suit of armor around.

[TiekoSora]

Check the Naruni armor in the Naruni 2 book, their stuff is superior to pretty much any other armor in the same classification (light, medium, heavy, assault).

[Anthar]

I dont consider MDC clothing to be actual body armor as such, so my answer would be Plastic Man.

Agreed. Unless I am mistaken this is the lightest suit of armor around.

And the dorkiest.

[johnkretzer]

You could look into Force fields

[Mack]

If weight is your concern, there's better choices than Plastic Man (only 35 MDC at 13 lbs)

From the RMB:
--Urban Warrior, 50 MDC at 11 lbs, environmental
--Crusader, 55 MDC at 11 lbs, environmental
--The CS CA-2, 50 MDC at 9 lbs, environmental (Very good MDC to weight ratio, just avoid the CS or have it customized)
--Dog Pack Light Riot, 30 MDC at 8 lbs, non-environmental (about as light as you'll get)

From Triax (the first one):
--T-42 Commando Scout, 70 MDC at only 12 lbs, environmental (Very good MDC to weight ratio)

From Merc Ops:
--NG Stalker Suit, 12 MDC at only 3 lbs (but you'll need to add a helmet)

And in New West:
--Branaghan Overcoat: 28 MDC at only 6 lbs (but it's a duster not full armor)

And, of course, there's the Naruni forcefields, but I don't think your character was headed that direction.

[Hystrix]

There's better choices than Plastic Man out there.

From the RMB:
--Urban Warrior, 50 MDC at 11 lbs, environmental
--Crusader, 55 MDC at 11 lbs, environmental
--The CS CA-2, 50 MDC at 9 lbs, environmental (Very good MDC to weight ratio, just avoid the CS or have it customized)
--Dog Pack Light Riot, 30 MDC at 8 lbs, non-environmental (about as light as you'll get)

From Triax (the first one): T-42 Commando Scout, 70 MDC at only 12 lbs, environmental (Very good MDC to weight ratio)

And in New West there's the Branaghan Overcoat: 28 MDC at only 6 lbs.

Cool. I'm likin' the New West armor.

[Dustin Fireblade]

--Crusader, 55 MDC at 11 lbs, environmental

The Crusader EBA got a major change in RUE.

It's now 95 MDC, 21 pounds, and a -15% prowl penalty


By contrast, the Urban Warrior kept it's MDC and weight, and its prowl penalty lowered to -5%.

[Mack]

--Crusader, 55 MDC at 11 lbs, environmental

The Crusader EBA got a major change in RUE.

It's now 95 MDC, 21 pounds, and a -15% prowl penalty

By contrast, the Urban Warrior kept it's MDC and weight, and its prowl penalty lowered to -5%.

Hmph.

My personal, grossly non-canon opinion is that RUE has a new version of the Crusader armor for 109PA, and the original version is still out in circulation.

[Shorty Lickens]

--Crusader, 55 MDC at 11 lbs, environmental

The Crusader EBA got a major change in RUE.

It's now 95 MDC, 21 pounds, and a -15% prowl penalty

By contrast, the Urban Warrior kept it's MDC and weight, and its prowl penalty lowered to -5%.

Hmph.

My personal, grossly non-canon opinion is that RUE has a new version of the Crusader armor for 109PA, and the original version is still out in circulation.

That sounds fine to me.
Does not make sense that all of a sudden the very fabric of my Rifts universe suddenly changed and everyone who had mid-grade armor is now all of a sudden wearing heavy armor. I like a lot of the material in the Ultimate Edition but it doesnt always work in an ongoing campaign. Next game we run (if ever) we are starting all over again with the new rules from scratch and we're going to have to work real hard to forget everything from the classic rule book we've been using for two decades.

[abtex]

If you do not mind stuff from the Forums there is always Brieghtling and Sons Leather Goods Co.

[kaid]

If you want to hug a tree millienium tree leaves are probably about the lightest MDC armor you are going to get short of a forcefield generator of some kind.

[Hystrix]

If you do not mind stuff from the Forums there is always Brieghtling and Sons Leather Goods Co.

That is kind of interesting stuff, though I'm tempted to use the Branaghan Overcoat from New West...

[Supergyro]

Didn't England have Leaf armor that was really light?

[Shark_Force]

Didn't England have Leaf armor that was really light?

that would be the previously-mentioned millenium tree leaf armor.

[grandmaster z0b]

--Crusader, 55 MDC at 11 lbs, environmental

The Crusader EBA got a major change in RUE.

It's now 95 MDC, 21 pounds, and a -15% prowl penalty

By contrast, the Urban Warrior kept it's MDC and weight, and its prowl penalty lowered to -5%.

Hmph.

My personal, grossly non-canon opinion is that RUE has a new version of the Crusader armor for 109PA, and the original version is still out in circulation.

Yeah, I think the thing was that the old Crusader was probably a little too good: it's environmental, 55 MDC for no prowl penalty, plus it only cost 40 000 credits which was the same as the light CS armor, has 5 less MDC and is -10% prowl. It was slightly more expensive than most of the other armors offered in the RMB but for the extra 10 000 credits you get a much better product than the Juicer Plate, the Bushman or the Urban Warrior.