Here's the question, if I have an armor that provides soak, and an armor that provides defense, and I wear both, do they stack? I know it's "better of both" for defenses and soak, but what about this?

For instance, let's say I have "Steelskin" Anti-Concussive Armor, it provides me with a soak of 3. Can I add TX-3 Combat Flight Suit underneath it, to get the +1 defenses that it provides in addition to the Steelskin armor? What about a Personal Deflector Shield for a +2 to defenses? Could I add in a Second Skin instead even though it has a Soak Value solely for the +1 Defense it provides?

Thanks to anyone who can answer this question for me.

I'd rule no, and while I don't think that the rules mention this possibility one way or the other I seem to recall a podcast or something where one of the devs stated that you're only supposed to wear one suit of armour at a time.

But sure, if you want to allow it at your table then there's no one stopping you.

I believe its one armor, one bonus (soak and defense) at a time. You could make a house rule that you can stack armors, but you would take some SERIOUS penalties to your encumbrance and agility due to wearing layer upon layer of armors.

I think it's not RAI but it's also not technically against RAW. I would say common sense is necessary. I'd personally be ok with the personal shield armor combo very likely, but 2 suits of armor is just munchkin BS for my tastes.

A lot of people let the personal shield armor combo slide, because defense and armor in general are very likely to get an overhaul and right now people don't know.

If you are the GM I would tread very carefully here. you do not want a player with like 12 armor attachments on 3 sets of armor he is wearing.

As I have posted elsewhere I would strongly suggest a defense cap of 4 setback no matter what.

If however its used for roleplay or creative circumstances I would encourage it. For example a player in a skin tight stealth suit puts on storm trooper laminate to get into a base. Then once he is inside he loses the laminate and makes his way to the main computers through the ventalation system.

Just to throw my 2 credits in the ring, I'm also in the energy shield + armour = yes but armour + armour = no camp.

My reasoning for this is that a physical shield counts as a weapon with deflect and/or defensive, so it will add to your armours defence stats while you are using it. These shields are not that expensive relatively speaking for what they provide, although the good ones are somewhat rare.

The personal deflector shield, while classed as armour, is almost as rare and just as expensive as a light-sabre, so we should be talking about some seriously good gear!

Personal house rule: re-stat the personal deflector to be defence 0, soak 0 but with the deflect and defensive qualities at 2.

As for wearing 2 physical armours, in my mind the best one works and the other one just adds weight. If you can wear them together at all! Armoured clothing under a concealing robe, go for it. Flak vest over the top of laminate armour... umm...

I think it's not RAI but it's also not technically against RAW. I would say common sense is necessary. I'd personally be ok with the personal shield armor combo very likely, but 2 suits of armor is just munchkin BS for my tastes.

Second skin armor under clothes and a kamperdine tailored armored jacket over the clothing.

I think the problem of allowing this is the disparity between price and rarity.

Padded Armour is 500cr, Enc 2 & Rarity 2.

The Holographic Costume is 750cr, Enc 2 & Rarity 8

That gives you Defence 1, Soak 2 for 1250cr and 2 Encumbrance.

The cheapest single armour that can provide that is the Armoured Robes, 4500cr, 5 encumbrance (so 2 when worn), Rarity 8... but it's Restricted as well.

Personally I think allowing it would upset the games balance with armour, but really only in the early game. Once the PC's begin getting the powerful armour it will basically be the same. One thing I would never allow is the stacking of values. If 2 different types of Armour are worn then you choose the best Defence and best Soak, not adding them together.