Update on Armies of the Fifth Frontier War

[boggo2300]

Yes it is, ever since the first description in CT:

"Battle Dress— The ultimate in battle armor, military battle dress consists of a complete vacuum-suit-like array of metal, synthetic and electronic armor. The values given for protection using battle dress are for the basic suit, without electronic or other enhancements. Battle dress is strictly military, and not available to civilians in most circumstances. When available, base price is around CR 200,000 per suit. Vacc suit skill is required before an individual can even think of using battle dress. In the powered mode, battle dress doubles personal strength, and eliminates any endurance requirements or restrictions"
"Battle Dress (Cr200.000; TL 13): The ultimate in individual protection, battle dress is an advanced and powered version of combat armor. Battle dress enhances the strength and senses of individuals wearing it with variable feedback personal controls, servopowered limbs, and various kinds of electronic assistance. The individual wearing battle dress is effectively doubled in strength and given unlimited
endurance (for lifting, carrying, and fighting purposes; not for wounds received)
and receives a DM of +2 for surprise."

"Battle Dress: The ultimate in battle armor, military battle dress is a complete vacuum suit-like array of metal, synthetic, and electronic armor. In addition to allowing use of PGMP-13 and FGMP-14, battle dress provides vacuum protection, and (through feedback linkages) doubles personal strength for the individual wearing it. Hits taken in vacuum are doubled. Battle dress skill is required for the use of battle dress."

"A soldier in battle dress may carry up to 100 kg without being encumbered, and may carry up to 200 kg while encumbered"

but not in Mongoose Traveller 2e

Unless you add the mods to a slot for it

 

[Sigtrygg]

Where did I ever say I was talking about the battledress in MgT2e?

But since you mention it, the core rulebook has Str and Dex augmentaion:

"Battle Dress: The premier personal armour, battle dress is a powered form of combat armour but much tougher. The servomotors vastly increase the user’s speed and strength, increasing STR and DEX by +4 while wearing the armour. Damage to the wearer’s characteristics is calculated as normal but the bonus values from the armour are used for all other purposes such as melee damage or skill checks. An on-board Computer/2 gives tactical advice and updates, and the suit is commonly outfitted with numerous upgrades.
The suit is fully enclosed, with a six-hour air supply and gives substantial protection against NBC (nuclear/biological/chemical) hazards. All weapons used while wearing battle dress count as having the Scope trait.
TL14: This more advanced battle dress is considerably stronger, granting STR +6 and upgrades the internal systems to Computer/3.

 

[boggo2300]

Where did I ever say I was talking about the battledress in MgT2e?

But since you mention it, the core rulebook has Str and Dex augmentaion:

"Battle Dress: The premier personal armour, battle dress is a powered form of combat armour but much tougher. The servomotors vastly increase the user’s speed and strength, increasing STR and DEX by +4 while wearing the armour. Damage to the wearer’s characteristics is calculated as normal but the bonus values from the armour are used for all other purposes such as melee damage or skill checks. An on-board Computer/2 gives tactical advice and updates, and the suit is commonly outfitted with numerous upgrades.
The suit is fully enclosed, with a six-hour air supply and gives substantial protection against NBC (nuclear/biological/chemical) hazards. All weapons used while wearing battle dress count as having the Scope trait.
TL14: This more advanced battle dress is considerably stronger, granting STR +6 and upgrades the internal systems to Computer/3.

posting on the Mongoose forums, in a thread about a Mongoose 2e Traveller supplement...

It does, and I stand corrected. I never look at equipment in the Core rules anymore, too many inconsistencies with the CSC

 

[Vormaerin]

We are talking about what battle dress should be since it appears it is being revised in the new book. So that does not limit the discussion to the current iteration of the rules.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Well now you mention the CSC:

"Battle dress enhances the strength and senses of individuals with variable feedback personal controls, servo-powered limbs and assorted electronic assistance."

"Operators wearing battle dress are treated as having enhanced characteristics (usually STR and DEX) for carrying equipment and modifiers in combat but not for taking damage. Theseenhancements are listed in the description."

page 39 then gives the basic characteristics of each suit with no slots filled, and they all enhance ST and Dex. You could then fill slots with the modification, enhanced strength will add to the Str increase already granted, and the enhanced mobility will raise Dex by the additional.

 

[boggo2300]

Well now you mention the CSC:

"Battle dress enhances the strength and senses of individuals with variable feedback personal controls, servo-powered limbs and assorted electronic assistance."

"Operators wearing battle dress are treated as having enhanced characteristics (usually STR and DEX) for carrying equipment and modifiers in combat but not for taking damage. Theseenhancements are listed in the description."

page 39 then gives the basic characteristics of each suit with no slots filled, and they all enhance ST and Dex. You could then fill slots with the modification, enhanced strength will add to the Str increase already granted, and the enhanced mobility will raise Dex by the additional.

So it does, wow, you can load a suit of Artillery Battledress (Improved or Advanced) to STR +16

 

[Sigtrygg]

Yup, I never really bothered with the CSC, but looking at it now I wonder what they have in mind for a new take on battledress considering the options already offered in that book.

The only area I can see it lacking is in networking, sensors, EW and drones.

 

[boggo2300]

sounds like they are only talking about the artistic representation of it though

 

[MasterGwydion]

sounds like they are only talking about the artistic representation of it though

My guess would be that the writer of the book never saw the art before they wrote it. Usually, the art comes after the writing.

 

[collins355]

I assume, from the reference to T5 in the first Post, that we're heading for something like this...

 

[Condottiere]

You're going to need anti drone point defence.

 

[boggo2300]

I assume, from the reference to T5 in the first Post, that we're heading for something like this...

View attachment 5128

Honestly I'd be ok with low tech (TL13) Battledress looking like that, but it seems very clunky looking for more advanced suits

 

[Takei]

Like this?View attachment 5111

This is about as heavy as I'd like to see it go. If I was talking in CT Striker terms this would be TL14+ Battle Dress.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I figure the higher tech the battledress, the slimmer and more form-fitting the armor ought to be.

 

[OldGuy59]

When players ask me about Battle Dress, and how quickly they can 'put it on', I show them this:



Source: https://www.freelancetraveller.com/features/gallery/mag/bdress.html

Also, this explains why Battle Dress doesn't fit in a hand-carried duffle bag. There is a reason this stuff is expensive, and requires support infrastructure.