Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

This is a place for G.M.s and GM wannabes to share ideas and their own methods of play. It is not a locked forum so be aware your players may be watching!

Moderators: Immortals, Supreme Beings, Old Ones

User avatar
SpiritInterface
Hero
Posts: 887
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2005 9:48 pm
Location: Visalia, CA

Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by SpiritInterface »

Would Reactive Armor(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_armour) work against energy weapons such as a Laser Rifle, Ion beam Rifle, Particle Beam Rifle, Plasma Cartridge Rifle? Would the reactive blocks be activate by these weapons or would they just burn through them to the regular armor?
Veni Vidi Vici
Una Salus Victis Nullam Sperare Salutem
Sic vis pacem, Para bellum
Audentes fortuna iuvat
O Tolmon Nika
Oderint Dum Metuant
User avatar
Marcethus
Champion
Posts: 2162
Joined: Mon May 03, 2004 8:42 pm
Location: The Accordlands
Contact:

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Marcethus »

I vaguely recall seeing something in one of the rifts books with something like the mentioned Electric Reactive Armor. I just can't for the life of me remember what book it was in. I think it was a Naruni or Megaversal Legion vehicle but I can't easily get to my SA2 book to confirm. And I know it's not in Mercenaries.
Image
User avatar
glitterboy2098
Rifts® Trivia Master
Posts: 13318
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2003 3:37 pm
Location: Missouri
Contact:

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by glitterboy2098 »

probably not.
Author of Rifts: Deep Frontier (Rifter 70)
Author of Rifts:Scandinavia (current project)
Image
* All fantasy should have a solid base in reality.
* Good sense about trivialities is better than nonsense about things that matter.

-Max Beerbohm
Visit my Website
User avatar
SpiritInterface
Hero
Posts: 887
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2005 9:48 pm
Location: Visalia, CA

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by SpiritInterface »

It came up in an HU campaign that a hardware hero armed with an AT-230(Rifts WB-08 pg-125) was firing at a North Korean version of the T-90 and the question was what would happen to the reactive armor. Would it detonate nullifying the shot, would it ablate again nullifying the shot. or would the shot burn through (reducing the damage by 10-15 percent) and the shot then hit the armor underneath.
Veni Vidi Vici
Una Salus Victis Nullam Sperare Salutem
Sic vis pacem, Para bellum
Audentes fortuna iuvat
O Tolmon Nika
Oderint Dum Metuant
Duster
D-Bee
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:45 am
Comment: Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Duster »

As I can find no references or rules regarding reactive armor in any of my books, I can only base my OPINION on how such armor is designed to work.

Reactive armor protects against an explosive penetrator by introducing a reciprocal explosive force. The speed at which the "protective" explosion moves is hoped to be high enough to overcome or at least minimize the speed at which the "attacking" explosion is moving, minimizing or eliminating the damaging effects of the attack.

The explosives used in reactive armor blocks are very powerful, but also very stable. It is questionable if a laser or other energy weapon would set a block off. I would say probably not to a laser or ion weapon, but likely for a particle beam. Solid penetrators such as sabot rounds, rail guns, gauss weapons (non-explosive), bullets (including incendiary and tracer), and so on will be ignored by the reactive armor. At most, these attacks would only see their damage reduced by having to first pass through the reactive armor block.

Even in the event of an energy weapon detonating a block, the speed at which the beam, pulse, energetic "projectile", etc. moves means that the underlying armor is already damaged BEFORE the reactive armor block actually even explodes.

Hope this helps until someone else is able to find a rule in one of te many books I don't have.
guardiandashi
Hero
Posts: 1437
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:21 am

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by guardiandashi »

I just skimmed SA2 and didn't find anything like reactive armor, other than the Archons ceramic armor which takes 1/2 damage from energy weapons, but double damage from "impact" weapons
User avatar
Glistam
Megaversal® Ambassador
Posts: 3631
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2005 2:09 pm
Comment: The silent thief of Rozrehxeson.
Location: Connecticut
Contact:

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Glistam »

After a quick skim of the Wikipedia article I would put Reactive Armor in one of these two terms:

Option #1 Reactive Armor reduces explosive damage to 10% of its normal value and reduces the damage from other kinetic attacks by half! Called shots can be made to bypass this damage reduction. Energy attacks do normal damage. A.R. is unchanged.

Option #2 Reactive Armor allows the A.R. to be applied versus explosive attacks, and increases the A.R. versus kinetic attacks by 2. The A.R. versus energy attacks is unchanged.
Zerebus: "I like MDC. MDC is a hundred times better than SDC."

kiralon: "...the best way to kill an old one is to crash a moon into it."

Image

Temporal Wizard O.C.C. update 0.8 | Rifts random encounters
New Fire magic | New Temporal magic
Grim Gulf, the Nightlands version of Century Station

Let Chaos Magic flow in your campaigns.
User avatar
Jefffar
Supreme Being
Posts: 8579
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2000 1:01 am
Comment: Being a moderator doesn't mean I speak for Palladium Books. It just makes me the lifeguard at their pool.
Location: Unreality
Contact:

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Jefffar »

It would have to depend on the nature of the reactive armour, but modern ERA would be readily set off by energy weapons while providing no real impact on the effectiveness of said weapons.

So, depending on how the rules for reactive armour work in your game, I'd say energy weapons either bypass it entirely, or it has no additional protective effect against energy weapons.
Official Hero of the Megaverse

Dead Boy wrote:All hail Jefffar... King of the Mods

Co-Holder with Ice Dragon of the "Lando Calrissian" award for Smooth. - Novastar

Palladium Forums of the Megaverse Rules

If you need to contact Palladium Books for any reason, click here.
User avatar
flatline
Knight
Posts: 6153
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 7:05 pm
Location: Memphis, TN

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by flatline »

Jefffar wrote:It would have to depend on the nature of the reactive armour, but modern ERA would be readily set off by energy weapons while providing no real impact on the effectiveness of said weapons.


A laser beam is often a series of laser pulses with enough time between pulses so that the vapor/smoke/particulates from the previous pulse has a chance to clear and not block or otherwise interfere with the following pulse. The explosion from reactive armor would put a whole lot more material in the path of the next pulse, so it's possible that lasers would do less damage.

I don't know if the effect would be enough to worry about, though.

--flatline
I don't care about canon answers. I'm interested in good, well-reasoned answers and, perhaps, a short discussion of how that answer is supported or contradicted by canon.

If I don't provide a book and page number, then don't assume that I'm describing canon. I'll tell you if I'm describing canon.
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17737
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

The only DEW that would be most readily effected by Reactive Armor are Plasma Beams and Plasma melee weapons.

There is a Sci-Fi anime called Aldnoah.Zero that the main char uses reactive armor to 'blow out' plasma swords wielded by the other mecha to protect his mecha.

With the other DEWs it depends on the duration & magnitude of the beam.

DEW: Directed Energy Weapon
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
guardiandashi
Hero
Posts: 1437
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:21 am

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by guardiandashi »

drewkitty ~..~ wrote:The only DEW that would be most readily effected by Reactive Armor are Plasma Beams and Plasma melee weapons.

There is a Sci-Fi anime called Aldnoah.Zero that the main char uses reactive armor to 'blow out' plasma swords wielded by the other mecha to protect his mecha.

With the other DEWs it depends on the duration & magnitude of the beam.

DEW: Directed Energy Weapon


the other "big" reactive armor user that Immediately comes to mind to me, is the "bolos" of course they are so bloody nasty that they always have layered defenses, and can often get crippling hits on themselves in one shot.

several of the higher mark Bolos were written up as having a super high durability armor plating "meters thick" backed up /reinforced with "energy shields" anti-plasma weapon reactive armor segments (and layers) over the warhull, projected energy shields that can absorb, and deflect energy weapons and batteries of dual purpose "infinite repeaters" that are commonly used as point defense, and anti personnel/ secondary weapon batteries. in addition they often have mortars, and /or cruise missile launchers. there is a reason they are classified as continental siege weapons.
User avatar
SpiritInterface
Hero
Posts: 887
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2005 9:48 pm
Location: Visalia, CA

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by SpiritInterface »

The reason for the question came about because in a Heroes game the GM was having a hero team going up against North Korean Blackwind MBTs and one of the heroes has an Ion Blaster that fires and energy bolt and he was wondering what effect the reactive armor blocks would have.

As it turned out the HKs came in fighting Israeli doctrine and not soviet which was a mistake.
Veni Vidi Vici
Una Salus Victis Nullam Sperare Salutem
Sic vis pacem, Para bellum
Audentes fortuna iuvat
O Tolmon Nika
Oderint Dum Metuant
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17737
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

2nd thoughts

Reactive armor would not 'react' till the DEW's damage bleeds through the outer skin of the r-armor to set off the explosive in the r-armor.

Thus the r-armor would just add a little bit (relitively) of extra SDC verses DEWs. And a little bit of 'hanabi' (fireworks) that go off in the middle of the battle.
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
User avatar
Alrik Vas
Knight
Posts: 4810
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:20 pm
Comment: Don't waste your time gloating over a wounded enemy. Pull the damn trigger.
Location: Right behind you.

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Alrik Vas »

If the bolt travels at the speed of light, I don't see reactive armor being able to react in time. I guess it depends on how the system detects the incoming danger, but my gut tells me it wouldn't be effective to something going that fast.

Not that you couldn't set it up to defend against that sort of thing, but you'd have to know your enemy employs weapons of that type.

That's the thing about military hardware. They often make the armor to protect against known weapons. If a weapon is unknown, there's a decent chance there isn't a substantial defense for it.
Mark Hall wrote:Y'all seem to assume that Palladium books are written with the same exacting precision with which they are analyzed. I think that is... ambitious.

Talk from the Edge: Operation Dead Lift, Operation Reload, Operation Human Devil, Operation Handshake, Operation Windfall 1, Operation Windfall 2, Operation Sniper Wolf, Operation Natural 20
User avatar
say652
Palladin
Posts: 6609
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:32 am
Comment: Avid Cyborg and Braka Braka enthusiast.
Location: 'Murica

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by say652 »

After a little research two called shots to the same spot make reactive armor obsolete anyway.
User avatar
Alrik Vas
Knight
Posts: 4810
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:20 pm
Comment: Don't waste your time gloating over a wounded enemy. Pull the damn trigger.
Location: Right behind you.

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Alrik Vas »

say652 wrote:After a little research two called shots to the same spot make reactive armor obsolete anyway.

While that's true...in palladium that's 4 actions, out of the average 4 actions for most basic trained soldiers.

If the tank doesn't kill you while you're setting up the first shot, you're lucky. :D
Mark Hall wrote:Y'all seem to assume that Palladium books are written with the same exacting precision with which they are analyzed. I think that is... ambitious.

Talk from the Edge: Operation Dead Lift, Operation Reload, Operation Human Devil, Operation Handshake, Operation Windfall 1, Operation Windfall 2, Operation Sniper Wolf, Operation Natural 20
User avatar
flatline
Knight
Posts: 6153
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 7:05 pm
Location: Memphis, TN

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by flatline »

Alrik Vas wrote:
say652 wrote:After a little research two called shots to the same spot make reactive armor obsolete anyway.

While that's true...in palladium that's 4 actions, out of the average 4 actions for most basic trained soldiers.

If the tank doesn't kill you while you're setting up the first shot, you're lucky. :D


Probably counts as a small target, too, with whatever the appropriate penalty is.

--flatline
I don't care about canon answers. I'm interested in good, well-reasoned answers and, perhaps, a short discussion of how that answer is supported or contradicted by canon.

If I don't provide a book and page number, then don't assume that I'm describing canon. I'll tell you if I'm describing canon.
User avatar
Jefffar
Supreme Being
Posts: 8579
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2000 1:01 am
Comment: Being a moderator doesn't mean I speak for Palladium Books. It just makes me the lifeguard at their pool.
Location: Unreality
Contact:

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Jefffar »

Depending on the model, those blocks can only be a few inches by a few inches, so probably harder than a headshot, especially on a moving tank (which, after the first hit, it's probably going to be) and ignores other defensive systems the tank might engage while under attack (like smoke launchers, adding a nice -6 or worse penalty to the attack).
Official Hero of the Megaverse

Dead Boy wrote:All hail Jefffar... King of the Mods

Co-Holder with Ice Dragon of the "Lando Calrissian" award for Smooth. - Novastar

Palladium Forums of the Megaverse Rules

If you need to contact Palladium Books for any reason, click here.
User avatar
ShadowLogan
Palladin
Posts: 7401
Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:50 am
Location: WI

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by ShadowLogan »

Marcethus wrote:I vaguely recall seeing something in one of the rifts books with something like the mentioned Electric Reactive Armor. I just can't for the life of me remember what book it was in. I think it was a Naruni or Megaversal Legion vehicle but I can't easily get to my SA2 book to confirm. And I know it's not in Mercenaries.

I don't know about Electric Reactive Armor, but Phaseworld's Draygon Industries (DB6) has the body armor equivalent of a variable laser rifle for defense (instead of offense) that augments normal laser resistant materials (initially 1/2 damage, but the system will reduce it to 1/10 given enough time).

MercOps and/or Naruni Wave 2 might also have something with NG/Naruni materials.

Jefffar wrote:It would have to depend on the nature of the reactive armour, but modern ERA would be readily set off by energy weapons while providing no real impact on the effectiveness of said weapons.


As a reactionary element I agree, there likely isn't going to be any real benefit. The technology really isn't designed to interact with DEW.

However "pre-emptive" elements do exist in Mutants In Orbit ship systems that RAW would have an impact (pg83-4: Chaff Thrower, Sand Caster), though these are space systems so on the ground/air their duration might not be as good (without some form of assistance). They are said to reduce laser damage (varying degree), and each offers other advantages.
User avatar
Natasha
Champion
Posts: 3161
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:26 pm
Comment: Doomed to crumble unless we grow, and strengthen our communication.

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Natasha »

ShadowLogan wrote:
Marcethus wrote:I vaguely recall seeing something in one of the rifts books with something like the mentioned Electric Reactive Armor. I just can't for the life of me remember what book it was in. I think it was a Naruni or Megaversal Legion vehicle but I can't easily get to my SA2 book to confirm. And I know it's not in Mercenaries.

I don't know about Electric Reactive Armor, but Phaseworld's Draygon Industries (DB6) has the body armor equivalent of a variable laser rifle for defense (instead of offense) that augments normal laser resistant materials (initially 1/2 damage, but the system will reduce it to 1/10 given enough time).

MercOps and/or Naruni Wave 2 might also have something with NG/Naruni materials.

Jefffar wrote:It would have to depend on the nature of the reactive armour, but modern ERA would be readily set off by energy weapons while providing no real impact on the effectiveness of said weapons.


As a reactionary element I agree, there likely isn't going to be any real benefit. The technology really isn't designed to interact with DEW.

However "pre-emptive" elements do exist in Mutants In Orbit ship systems that RAW would have an impact (pg83-4: Chaff Thrower, Sand Caster), though these are space systems so on the ground/air their duration might not be as good (without some form of assistance). They are said to reduce laser damage (varying degree), and each offers other advantages.

Ironically, those defences would have a chance of being effective in atmosphere; in space, they would just disperse in straight lines away from each other rather than stay in a cloud.
User avatar
Alrik Vas
Knight
Posts: 4810
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:20 pm
Comment: Don't waste your time gloating over a wounded enemy. Pull the damn trigger.
Location: Right behind you.

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Alrik Vas »

SHHHHHHH...no logic while RPG physics is talking. :P
Mark Hall wrote:Y'all seem to assume that Palladium books are written with the same exacting precision with which they are analyzed. I think that is... ambitious.

Talk from the Edge: Operation Dead Lift, Operation Reload, Operation Human Devil, Operation Handshake, Operation Windfall 1, Operation Windfall 2, Operation Sniper Wolf, Operation Natural 20
User avatar
Natasha
Champion
Posts: 3161
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:26 pm
Comment: Doomed to crumble unless we grow, and strengthen our communication.

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Natasha »

:p

You can still enjoy the irony. :wink:
User avatar
Alrik Vas
Knight
Posts: 4810
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:20 pm
Comment: Don't waste your time gloating over a wounded enemy. Pull the damn trigger.
Location: Right behind you.

Re: Reactive Armor vs Energy Weapons

Unread post by Alrik Vas »

I do, and it's delicious. Though, they just wanted to give you a way to defend against missiles and thought a cloud of space junk was a good answer. Oh well, right?
Mark Hall wrote:Y'all seem to assume that Palladium books are written with the same exacting precision with which they are analyzed. I think that is... ambitious.

Talk from the Edge: Operation Dead Lift, Operation Reload, Operation Human Devil, Operation Handshake, Operation Windfall 1, Operation Windfall 2, Operation Sniper Wolf, Operation Natural 20
Post Reply

Return to “G.M.s Forum”