Armor value question

[Calbanite]

Currently my GM has stated that lasers ignore the listed armor value. If the book states a separate value against lasers (reflect for example) that is the value to be used. He insists that regular armor doesn't stop laser/energy fire according to the rules.

From what I've pieced together from the forums posts, this is incorrect.

Also, the Core Book states that multiple layers of armor are additive, whereas the supply catalog applies stacking penalties for armor.

Would I add the values of Combat Armor and Reflective together? Or would I take my combat armor rating and then add half of the reflect rating if dealing with energy weapons?

 

[Old timer]

Your GM is incorrect, armour stops damage, so if you are wearing combat armour, it stops its rating in damage, no matter what its source. Reflec and ablative provide extra armour against lasers, so they would stack.
For example, if you are wearing TL12 combat armour, it provides 14 armour against any damage, so if shot at by an ACR, it would reduce the damage by 14. If a laser hit you, it would reduce the damage by 14. If you are wearing Reflec, you would gain 10 extra points of armour when reducing the damage of a laser hit, so laser damage would be reduced by 24.

 

[locarno24]

Also, the Core Book states that multiple layers of armor are additive

Where it says they can be combined. Hence the comment in the core rules that "Reflec can be worn with other armour".

Protec suits in mercenary are the same - they're intended to be a high-tech version of a padded jack worn under plate.

If you're going to start using CSC, then pretty much use it exclusively. I'm quite happy with the core books only - Traveller, Mercenary, High Guard because nothing irks me like umpty-ump sliiiight rules variations of the same gun, all of which are simply 'better' than the normal one (a common problem with RPG supplements).

Ultimately, if the GM is totally insistant, you're not going to get past him (and it may be intentional if he's wanting to make it a house rule, or its a facet of the universe your game is set in), but to be clear, nowhere in any traveller rulebook does it say laser weapons ignore armour.

I would hash this out with respect to spacecraft as well - the concept that lasers ignore spacecraft armour is a much, much bigger deal than on the ground, where, if it comes right down to it, you smile, nod and add a reflec layer to everything...