Robot Handbook - How to apply armour on a robot?

[Inquisitorbob]

I have a player creating a TL 12 Robot that's size 3, basically 4 base slots. It is not clear how to work the Robot armor. He wants 40 points of armor on a size 3 robot. So according to the TL 12 Robot that' would be 40 X 0.4% = 16% of his 4 base slots which is 0.64 slots. What does the column under Robot Armor Max per slot mean?
Does it mean that a size 3 robot with 4 base slots can have a maximum of 4 slots X 3 max per slot = maximum 12 armor?

 

[Geir]

I have a player creating a TL 12 Robot that's size 3, basically 4 base slots. It is not clear how to work the Robot armor. He wants 40 points of armor on a size 3 robot. So according to the TL 12 Robot that' would be 40 X 0.4% = 16% of his 4 base slots which is 0.64 slots. What does the column under Robot Armor Max per slot mean?
Does it mean that a size 3 robot with 4 base slots can have a maximum of 4 slots X 3 max per slot = maximum 12 armor?

Yes. And that would eat all the slots. Unless you ripped off the arms....
The principal is the relationship between surface area - where armour is applied and volume. For instance, you can easily put 10 centimetres thick armour on something the size of a car, but good luck getting that thickness of armour on something the size of a shoebox. So a max of 3 Armour per Slot (at TL12) is limiting on a Size 3 robot, but wouldn't be a big deal on a Size 8 juggernaut.

Forty points of armour on the surface a size 3 robot would be more material than Size 3 would support, volume-wise - you'd need 14 slots just for amour, which puts you at a Size 5 or bigger robot.

 

[Reisender]

Yes. And that would eat all the slots. Unless you ripped off the arms....
The principal is the relationship between surface area - where armour is applied and volume. For instance, you can easily put 10 centimetres thick armour on something the size of a car, but good luck getting that thickness of armour on something the size of a shoebox. So a max of 3 Armour per Slot (at TL12) is limiting on a Size 3 robot, but wouldn't be a big deal on a Size 8 juggernaut.

Forty points of armour on the surface a size 3 robot would be more material than Size 3 would support, volume-wise - you'd need 14 slots just for amour, which puts you at a Size 5 or bigger robot.

So it is "Max per Base Slot" rather than "Max. per Slot", as removing manipulators increases the slots in the chassis but decreases the surface area?

 

[Inquisitorbob]

Thanks for the replies

 

[Geir]

So it is "Max per Base Slot" rather than "Max. per Slot", as removing manipulators increases the slots in the chassis but decreases the surface area?

No, Max per Slot. It's simpler and you could always 'smear' (melt?) the manipulators into a coating of armour.

 

[Reisender]

No, Max per Slot. It's simpler and you could always 'smear' (melt?) the manipulators into a coating of armour.

Thanks for the clarification.