If a character is wearing padded armor and a personal deflector shield, what is their Encumbrance?
Padded is 2 and the Shield is 3 when not worn, and you reduce it by 3 when worn - so the answer seems like it would either be 0 or 2.
Armor Encumbrance question
Since each is its own armour, I'd treat them as independent armours, so it would be 0. However, since they're both armour, one might say that you can't wear both at once.
-EF
If the armor's encumbrance is 0, 1, 2, or 3 when not worn, it becomes 0. Heavier armors become the listed just -3. Shield Generators count for this too.
At first glance, seems like 0.
Padded: 2 (-3 for being worn) = 0
Shield 3 (-3 for being worn) = 0
0+0=0 
one might say that you can't wear both at once.
That's a good point. Is it clarified anywhere?
No, you can wear them both, but the bonuses do not stack. You would retain the highest of the two in each category. +2 soak from the padded armor and +2 defense from the shield
one might say that you can't wear both at once.
That's a good point. Is it clarified anywhere?
Page 207. They can both be worn. If multiple items that provide defense are worn, you take the highest.
If multiple items with soak are worn, they DO stack, as long as they are not the same type of item (IE - you can't wear three suits of padded and get 3x their soak value, or count a suit of padded under a suit of battle armor.)
So yes, padded armor and a shield are defense 2, soak 2. Padded armor, a shield, and implant armor would be defense 2, soak 3.
That's a good point. Is it clarified anywhere?one might say that you can't wear both at once.
Page 207. They can both be worn. If multiple items that provide defense are worn, you take the highest.
If multiple items with soak are worn, they DO stack, as long as they are not the same type of item (IE - you can't wear three suits of padded and get 3x their soak value, or count a suit of padded under a suit of battle armor.)
So yes, padded armor and a shield are defense 2, soak 2. Padded armor, a shield, and implant armor would be defense 2, soak 3.
Thanks for finding that! I usually post at work, so the only book I bring to work is the AoR beta.
-EF
I would apply the 3 enc discount individually in this case. They are worn differently (not like wearing two layers of armor), so it makes sense.
I think this is one of those things where common sense and judgement will do better than a catch-all rule.
So yes, padded armor and a shield are defense 2, soak 2.
Now if I understand this right, behind cover and using a vibrosword, he'd still have only a defense of 2.
Q: The rulebook states that different sources of defense don't stack. Is this referring to different sources of personal defense, such as multiple layers of armor, or to any sources of defense, such as armor and cover.
A: Unless a source of defense specifically states that it stacks with other sources of defense, then it does not stack. Armor and cover, for example, do not stack; a character can only benefit from one of these sources of defense at a time.
Now if I understand this right, behind cover and using a vibrosword, he'd still have only a defense of 2.So yes, padded armor and a shield are defense 2, soak 2.
Q: The rulebook states that different sources of defense don't stack. Is this referring to different sources of personal defense, such as multiple layers of armor, or to any sources of defense, such as armor and cover.
A: Unless a source of defense specifically states that it stacks with other sources of defense, then it does not stack. Armor and cover, for example, do not stack; a character can only benefit from one of these sources of defense at a time.
Correct. If you are wearing padded armor and a shield generator the your defense will not benefit from cover unless that cover gives you a greater defense value than your generator. Since your generator is defense 2, you would have to find cover with a defense of 3 to gain any benefit.
Also, multiple layers of worn armor do not stack. You only count the highest value and apply it to your soak. The only exception is implant armor as it is not worn. Mechanically it is the same as the enduring talent, thus it stacks with worn armor.