Body Plating

Body plating covers any situation where armored plastics and metals are layered over and directly anchored to the skin. The armor is microscopically porous, allowing the skin underneath to breathe, and made by sandwiching an ablative plastic shell with energy absorbing micro cellular honeycomb.

Body plating doesn't make you any stronger or faster, but it's perfect for the cyborg who wants all over protection all the time - and doesn't care who knows it. It is the ultimate expression of the "metal is better than meat" philosophy; the body-plated look more like robots than they do humans, and are impervious to most of the physical damage that besets us mere mortals. Body plating also includes specialized mounts for sensors as well as body armor.

Body plating is sold in parts, each covering a specific area. It may be placed directly on the skin, or layered over a linear frame exoskeleton for the ultimate in cyborg chic.

Cowl: This is a body plate that covers the skull. It is anchored by mini-bolts to the scalp, and resembles the old skullcaps from bad science fiction or fantasy epics. SP=25.

Faceplate: The standard faceplate covers the entire face, with ports for breathing, eating and seeing. The armored plastic material is woven with fine myomar muscle fibers and is relatively flexible. Facial nervelinks allow limited (and somewhat stiff) changes of expression. This modification doesn't have to be ugly; many people find the silvery contours and smooth features quite attractive; somewhat like the "sexy robot" airbrushings of the late 20th century. However, many cyborgs like to have their faceplates sculpted into bizarre and often frightening images; monsters out of mythology, or terrifying robotic shapes. It's up to you. SP=25.

Torso Plate: This section covers the entire upper and tower torso, back and front, with expansion joints at the sides, groin and waist to allow free movement. (SP=25). Reduce your REF by -3.

Front Optic Mount: This mount allows up to five cyberoptics to be installed in a shielded cluster in the upper face. The eyes are removed and the orbital sockets used to mount the receiver hardware for the optic mount. Optic mounts come in several styles: there are thin visor slits (ala Robocop), rotating camera clusters (like an old fashioned movie camera), or one main optic with smaller ones arranged in a circle around it. Needless to say, this really screws up your attractiveness stat, automatically reducing it to -1.

Sensory Extensions: These are flattened antennae and optic mounts, about a foot to two feet long. A single cyberoptic and a microphone are mounted in the tip, allowing you to observe things around corners without sticking your whole body into the line of fire. Sensory "booms" are usually mounted on the head or on the upper spine.