Flak Armor vs Ballistic Vest

[Sleepy Fremen]

What is the difference between the TL8 ballistic vest from the Merc book and the TL8 flak jacket from the Core Rulebook? The TL8 Flak Jacket offers one more point of armor, is a kg lighter, but is cheaper. They are both described as bulky obviously military armor. Other than the fact that the TL8 flak jacket is slightly lighter what is the advantage of the ballistic vest? Also the descriptions seem to describe the same garment. Am I missing something?

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

Just for variety probably.

 

[Jeraa]

The Ballistic vest has two prices listed. Its description says Cr200, but the table says Cr400.

If you assume that the description is correct, and the ballistic vest costs Cr200, then it falls in between the TL 7 flak jacket and the TL 8 flak jacket.

TL 7 Flak Jacket - Cr100, 2kg, AR 4
TL 8 Ballistic Vest - Cr 200, 1 kg, AR 5
TL 8 Flak Jacket - Cr 300, 2 kg, AR 6

The ballistic vest is a trade off. Its slightly less encumbering and slightly cheaper, but also slightly less protective.

Also, don't assume that everything is available across the who tech level. It possible that the TL 8 ballistic vest is introduced in the beginning of the TL, with the TL 8 flak jacket being developed later and replacing it.

Edit: Central Supply Catalog lists the ballistic vest at Cr200. It also says the vest can be concealed beneath a light jacket, while the flak jacket is much more obvious.

 

[Sleepy Fremen]

The Ballistic vest has two prices listed. Its description says Cr200, but the table says Cr400.

If you assume that the description is correct, and the ballistic vest costs Cr200, then it falls in between the TL 7 flak jacket and the TL 8 flak jacket.

TL 7 Flak Jacket - Cr100, 2kg, AR 4
TL 8 Ballistic Vest - Cr 200, 1 kg, AR 5
TL 8 Flak Jacket - Cr 300, 2 kg, AR 6

The ballistic vest is a trade off. Its slightly less encumbering and slightly cheaper, but also slightly less protective.

Also, don't assume that everything is available across the who tech level. It possible that the TL 8 ballistic vest is introduced in the beginning of the TL, with the TL 8 flak jacket being developed later and replacing it.

So its sort of like a lighter TL 7.5 armor a bit. The description still confuses me a bit, since both the flak jacket and ballistic vest seem to describe the same armor.

 

[Jeraa]

So its sort of like a lighter TL 7.5 armor a bit. The description still confuses me a bit, since both the flak jacket and ballistic vest seem to describe the same armor.

They are the same, more or less.

Think of the ballistic vests as what an undercover cop would wear. You see them get shot in the movies, and think they die, but then they get up and open their shirt to reveal a ballistic vest that saved their lives.

The flak jacket, then, would be what US soldiers currently wear into battle.

(Though in reality, flak jackets are designed to protect against explosive fragments, such as from grenades, not bullets. Though some limited protection from bullets was possible. Some people call newer ballistic vests flak jackets, though thats not really correct.)

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

So its sort of like a lighter TL 7.5 armor a bit. The description still confuses me a bit, since both the flak jacket and ballistic vest seem to describe the same armor.

One is a vest and one is a jacket. Their companies gave them different names (ballistic, flak). Price has nothing to do with form/function of an item anyway. Some places charge retail. Some places are unloading stuff. Some characters have good broker skills. Some places add conditions for buying some items.

Min/max players will fuss over the TL and COST and AR, etc. Artists will be concerned with what the item looks like so they can draw it for their character the way it is to be worn.