Hey everyone, new GM here. I had a question about a decision one of my PCs made during our last session. He's a Bothan smuggler-pilot who started out with Heavy Clothing giving him 1 soak plus his brawn of 1 giving him a total of 2 soak. He later purchased Padded Armor and argued that he should be able to wear that type of armor over his Heavy Clothing if its like the Padded Armor law enforcement might use. (another PC had to point it out because he didn't try to discuss it with me) All in all it only gives him a total soak of 4 but I couldn't find anything in the CRB that said he specifically could not do this. I just wanted to see what other GMs, experienced or not, thought about it. Like if he is breaking any rules or not.

I'd say no. Like as a comparison, we'll use Laminate Armor. Laminate armor, you obviously can't wear anything thick underneath, because it attaches to a tight bodysuit. So all that soak is built into the heavy plastoid plating itself, and not the bodysuit. Padded armor, on the other hand, is lighter and has the same soak. What can you infer from this? That it probably means the padded armor itself isn't as strong or durable as laminate armor, so the clothing underneath is probably heavy clothing itself.

But besides that, there is one instance I can see where you can stack on certain armors and get bonus soak from them. With heavy clothing/armored clothing/or any other less bulky "armor" being worn with the Tracker Utility Vest worn on top. And yes, the Vest doesn't add soak by itself, but it could get Superior built into it, and then you could reasonably stack soak from multiple armors.

You can't.

I do however have 4 sets of armor that I wear though out any given adventure.

Stealth suit (Mountaineering armor) for when I need to infiltrate.

Heavy Battle Armor for when I know a fight is going to happen

Armored Clothing for everyday wear

Imperial Officer Suit (Heavy Clothing)

Star Wars isn't really known for it's armor, at least movie-wise. The system also isn't that rules heavy either; it's assumed you reload "off screen", for example.

If you do decide to layer armor, however, two things I would do is see what the munchkinest combinations are to see if you're okay with them in your game, and to have the -3 encumbrance rule for wearing armor only apply to one set of armor, to simulate the layering as hampering movement.

If you do decide to layer armor, however, two things I would do is see what the munchkinest combinations are to see if you're okay with them in your game, and to have the -3 encumbrance rule for wearing armor only apply to one set of armor, to simulate the layering as hampering movement.

I was going to essentially say that.

There are no rules specifically saying "yes" or "no" that I can find, but I think it's one of those things most people kind of take for assumption.

I actively play airsoft (google if you don't know), my primary loadout is a military contractor (tactical pants and vest, pistol, m4, knife). I've tried layering clothing and armor - it really and truely does affect your encomberance. All forms of armor are designed to fit a certain way. There are some that are designed to be worn with multiple layers/other forms of defence, but most are intended to be the only one. That being said, it is very possible to use multiple forms, but it slows you down or hinders you (and sometimes it's a lot).

If you're ok with it happening, let it happen and modify it however you need to make it work.

If you really don't like the idea, talk with the player and let them know why.

See, I disagree. It states in CRB on 207: " Different sources of soak stack, such as heavy armor and subdermal plating. Multiple applications of the same source do not stack - a character cannot wear three suits of heavy assault armor and stack the soak bonuses from each"

Now, maybe some people take this to mean "multiple applications" refers to "armor" in general, I do not however. When you look at the source books, there are various pieces of armor included, take for instance the SOF book and it's catch vest and overcoat. These each have a value of soak to them. Does this mean my character basically walks around with nothing but a jacket on? or a vest? It seems ridiculous to me to think so. The catch vest is simply nothing more than a kevler vest style piece of armor. There is no reason this could not be worn under heavy clothing. And on top of that, there is no reason you couldn't wear the overcoat on top of all of that.

Now don't misunderstand me, I'm NOT a min/max style player...I actually hate that stuff, but I think it is within reason to assume a player could wear different pieces of armor at the same time. I think it's up to the GM and the group to decide what is reasonable and what isn't, or if any hindrance issues are involved. I think someone wanting to wear laminate on top of padded with an overcoat is probably going out of bounds...but I don't think someone wearing armored clothing and the overcoat is. I think it's up to the group to decide really.

But I guess it's all in the interpretation. If different sources of soak stack, then what could be these "different sources"? And when they say "multiple applications of the same source", what does the same source mean? Armor in general? Then what else provides soak? Maybe cover? I don't think so because it's already been stated that you get the soak for the cover or your armor, but not both. So it can't be that.

I'm pretty sure that your only allowed one suit of armor. Regular clothes are not heavy clothes. Heavy clothes consist of several layers of thick clothing. It's not padded armor, but it's more than just a shirt and some pants. I wouldn't let him do it. Because as soon as you open that can of worms you're going to find the players asking for all sorts of things based on "logic" or "reason" that do nothing but make players "uber" or more powerful.

If they keep insisting, then give them what they want and remember that you get to use the same rules. I'd start with an opponent that has five guns hooked to his hand and he pulls all five triggers at once. One with each finger.

I allow it only if the armor grants different bonuses. I do not let the bonuses stack, but allow the highest of the sets. This really only happens in cases like the environmental outfits and the web belt armors. In those cases, the character enjoys the soak from one and the environmental protection from the other.

In any case, I combine the total encumbrance before reducing the standard 3.

Hey everyone, new GM here. I had a question about a decision one of my PCs made during our last session. He's a Bothan smuggler-pilot who started out with Heavy Clothing giving him 1 soak plus his brawn of 1 giving him a total of 2 soak. He later purchased Padded Armor and argued that he should be able to wear that type of armor over his Heavy Clothing if its like the Padded Armor law enforcement might use. (another PC had to point it out because he didn't try to discuss it with me) All in all it only gives him a total soak of 4 but I couldn't find anything in the CRB that said he specifically could not do this. I just wanted to see what other GMs, experienced or not, thought about it. Like if he is breaking any rules or not.

You can't stack identical sources of soak but RAW doesn't prevent a player from armor stacking, so long as it isn't the same type of armor. Remember that Encumbrance is a thing in EotE and should be enforced to encourage game balance. Stacking too much armor is going to put serious limits on how much your average character is going to be able to carry without a penalty.

Take the best armor worn. Use those stats. Call it a day.

You can have players waddle into combat with layers of clothing/armor at your table, but it's not what the rules intend for you to do.

I really don't like the idea of layering armors at all. In fact, in Enter the Unknown, the "Tracker Utility Vest" sounds like something you could toss over body armor, but even that I wouldn't allow, because it's classified as "armor and clothing" in the book. The description makes it sound simply like a vest that you toss on and increases your Encumbrance threshold. But I say "nay", it's armor, you only get one.

If you feel like giving FFG more of your money, there is the Age of Rebellion beta, which has Web Gear, which essentially does the same thing as a Tracker Utility Vest, but it's called an "item" and not "clothing/armor" in that book, so that I allow.

I'm pretty sure that your only allowed one suit of armor. Regular clothes are not heavy clothes. Heavy clothes consist of several layers of thick clothing. It's not padded armor, but it's more than just a shirt and some pants. I wouldn't let him do it. Because as soon as you open that can of worms you're going to find the players asking for all sorts of things based on "logic" or "reason" that do nothing but make players "uber" or more powerful.

To be fair, any particular armor type is represented in many ways within the rules. There are Imperial officers with uniforms that are equivalent to Heavy Clothing, and they always have the option of throwing a blast vest and helmet over that for what should be additional protection.

For those that go with the 'only one form of armor' - do you include the personal force field? Can a character wear something like padded armor and still have a personal force field? If both are allowed together then the door to combining armor types isn't entirely shut.

IMO, you can't wear multiple suits of armor. "Heavy clothing" is probably pretty heavy. to put something on top of that seems unweildy.

But, even if you could justify it, there's a related rule saying that armor and cover do not stack. That you just take the higher of the two. The same could be said about armor. Wearing 2 sets doesn't grant additional benefits anyway .

I allow it only if the armor grants different bonuses. I do not let the bonuses stack, but allow the highest of the sets. This really only happens in cases like the environmental outfits and the web belt armors. In those cases, the character enjoys the soak from one and the environmental protection from the other.

In any case, I combine the total encumbrance before reducing the standard 3.

This seems like the a fair way to do it. I'd be careful though of the liberal use of Backpacks, satchels, Utility belt and such to reduce this. It's one thing to use a pack to hold equipment it's another to Munchkin it to wear more armor...

I allow it only if the armor grants different bonuses. I do not let the bonuses stack, but allow the highest of the sets. This really only happens in cases like the environmental outfits and the web belt armors. In those cases, the character enjoys the soak from one and the environmental protection from the other.

In any case, I combine the total encumbrance before reducing the standard 3.

This seems like the a fair way to do it. I'd be careful though of the liberal use of Backpacks, satchels, Utility belt and such to reduce this. It's one thing to use a pack to hold equipment it's another to Munchkin it to wear more armor...

Absolutely. Thankfully my players don't try shenanigans like that.

Wow, thanks for the response, everyone. I appreciate this!

In addition to what others have said, it's a good idea to keep a consistent policy for the sake of player expectations and your own sanity. If they're allowed to stack armor soak, they might carry that idea across to other features, such as cybernetic implants, Aim or Assist maneuvers, equipment that increases encumberance threshholds, droid "upgrades", repeated check attempts, etc.

But, even if you could justify it, there's a related rule saying that armor and cover do not stack. That you just take the higher of the two. The same could be said about armor. Wearing 2 sets doesn't grant additional benefits anyway .

There's a small problem with this interpretation. CRB p. 207 does tell us, " Multiple sources of defense do not stack. " However, later on the same page, we read, " Different sources of soak stack. " (as quoted by djext1 above). So the idea of taking the best bonus of the lot is, in the strictest sense of the rules , incorrect.

I think the idea of using logic makes more sense, and it's what FFG repeatedly calls the players and GMs to do throughout their books (e.g., a vest being worn under an overcoat makes sense, for a total soak of 2 or 3). I would say that at some point it gets ridiculous, as wearing that much clothing/armor would make you a walking marshmallow, and some things won't fit over others. (e.g. heavy battle armor over laminate would not fit). Also, the RAW accommodates that with encumbrance.

Ultimately, you have to come to argeement with your players. If you're ok with munchkinly stuff, then have fun with it, and have the bad guys play by the same rules. If you're not keen on it, talk with your players, and work it out amongst yourselves. Otherwise, people won't have fun, and that's the point of a game in the first place.

In other gaming systems, you technically can stack armor if it makes sense, but the bonuses get reduced the more you put on. Also, you should note that some suits of armor cover more of the body, and that may come into play with or without layering.

Personally, like everyone above has said, common sense trumps everything else. Putting a utility vest on over the laminate won't do much else besides giving you pockets in my opinion. Also consider that, again, some types of armor would make sense to stack, like the aforementioned blast vest over heavy clothing.

My approach to this has been as follows:

You only get the encumbrance reduction to your primary suit (i.e. the one closest to your skin) or whatever makes more sense to be "properly distributed" across the body. Any armor you wear over this gets the full Encumbrance Value.

For example, wearing a suit of Armored Clothing under a Blast Vest (in the form of Padded Armor) would allow the character to only get the Encumbrance reduction for the clothing.

(Optional) Reduce the Defense bonus by 1. If the armor does not include a defense bonus, then reduce the soak value by one.

I'm not huge on this one, but if your players are crunching the numbers and being jerks about it, this is something to consider implementing. The narration element behind it can be "The second suit doesn't fit as well, and isn't as effective.

(Optional) Raise the encumbrance values of one or both. A good rule of thumb is either negate the reduced encumbrance rule or raise each extra layer of armor's encumbrance by 1. With this ruling, Armored Clothing's encumbrance is reduced as normal, but putting on a Catch Vest with a Nomad's Coat will add a total of 4 Encumbrance (1 for the Vest, 1 for the Coat, +2 for the two extra layers).

Also, don't forget about called shots. While it adds black dice, it can mean the difference in damage as you target a place that isn't covered by layers upon layers of armor. . .

I hope that helps out!

Multiple sources of soak stack, I don't see the problem here since they are suffering the full encumberance of carrying all that gear (since as far as I am aware, wearing it is -3 to encumberance, and I can't see why you couldn't stack anything ontop of lamate or heavy battle armour, with approiate penalties). I would also expect social implications for carrying around so much gear. Of course, if they go into a situation armed for bear, then it's approiate. Just remember that the system offers methods in dealing with this, setback dice for being so enburdened, his mere pressence drawing a huge amount of unwanted attention e.c.t. I would do the same if players wore anything heavier then armoured clothing, since anything more is unnecessary for personal protection in the empires opinon, in my opinon.

Though if their ships get sarrounded by stormtroopers and they come striding out like that, thats serious westerner gold right there, since it reminds me of an austrailian criminal who fastioned his own suit of armour who got involved in a huge gunfight and survived to be publicly excuted, admitively he had multiple gunshot wounds (largely bursing, as the armour took the impact) and a huge concussion since while his armour did exactly what he intended it to do. the racket created from the impacts must have been quite something to hear. So on the odd occation, it might be a change of pace.

One could perhaps introduce a layer rating (LR) to armor types- values of 1, 2, or 3, and the layer limit anyone could wear is a total rating of 3. Something like heavy clothing, catch vest, nomad's coat (each LR1), padded armor (LR2), and so on. Then limit defense to the lowest/worst among the layers worn, but allow soak to stack. Lastly, to represent encumbrance issues for layering armor (wearing more than one type of armor), increase the total encumbrance of armor worn +1 per LR before reducing the total encumbrance -3 for it being worn.

Wow, a ton of great stuff in here. I feel that the designers intent of this game and system was to wear one type of armor at a time. Otherwise, we would have a ton of different types of armor pieces that you could piecemeal together to create your own suit of uber-badassness. So, my initial thought is No, you cannot wear two sets or armor together.

The way I see it there are a couple of different possibilities here:

1. Let them do it. Congratulations, you win the game. Hooray!

2. Let them do it, but the second set's encumberacne is not reduced for being "worn" it remains as being carried. I would also upgrade the difficulty of any checks that they did by at least one challenge die, if not two.

I believe each armor is an addition from the type before it. What I mean is that Armored Clothing is already made from Heavy Clothing. SO Armored clothing is Heavy Clothing with parts from armor added to it. Therefore you are already wearing Heavy Clothing. Add in more Heavy Clothing and you are going to look like Ralphie's little brother from Christmas Story! You won't be able to move, let alone breathe in that get up. Wear two pairs of blue jeans at the same time and run 50 meters.

Heavy Clothing 0/1

Armored Clothing 1/1

Padded Armor 0/2 This is Heavy Clothing with additional energy absorbing "plates" improving your soak value, not your defense.

Laminate Armor 0/2 A cocoon that protects you, doesn't make you tougher to hit, but can eat up a little of the damage

Heavy Battle Armor 1/2...well, it's big..and heavy...

And guess what, the CRB says cover improves your defense by 1, so just take cover.

Now can I take some stats of one and add it to another? Guess what, you sure can. It's called Jury rigging. and it a talent! I can improve my gear with that talent.

It's your games and table...or "virtual" tables, do what you feel is right. But for me, if people want to add Heavy Clothing and Padded armor together, then they will need that talent, otherwise, there really is no point to that talent. So thats my two credits worth.

If going by what is "reasonable" consider that a heavy cloak can count as heavy clothing, and that heavy battle armor can be just a vest and helmet. Both of those could be worn together, and it might even be "reasonable" to some to wear heavy battle armor (the vest and helmet type) over a suit of padded armor.

To go along with my padded-laminate-heavy-cloth-palladium armor:

Those guys forgot their outer layer of Ewok hide.