CTD - Combat Armor

[Fred the Goat]

No nicotine, and no pipe dreams. So low an' dirty, it's downright mean.

 

|-|ELL ELEVATOR!

 

Oh, right, sorry...ok. Uh, I don't remember ever actually posting my Uniform X-net entry for general criticism, so here it is. Man, I'm getting tired of bypassing the filter.

 

[uPDATED TEXT]

 

BTW, I'd like to invite everyone to *shudder* critique my idea of a lack of helmet because of alien power system resonance *sigh* . Psi resonance has also been suggested, but I've been resistant to the idea.

Armor_Uniform.txtFetching info...

Edited July 24, 2003 by Fred the Goat

[Fred the Goat]

...And here's my brand spanking new Personal Armor entry. Feast, merciless dogs, feast on my dreams.

 

[uPDATE]

 

Okay, new text - go ahead and post it up for now, Gold. Everybody tell me what you think.

Armor_Personal_Armor.txtFetching info...

Edited July 24, 2003 by Fred the Goat

[Guest Jim69]

Like the solider quote, :: Nice touch

[Cpt. Boxershorts]

I like it alot, especially the part about protecting the agent from the armor itself. Nice touch, it really keeps up the "we just barely know what the fsck we're doing" feeling.

 

-The Captain

[Fred the Goat]

Thanks! I just hope the swearing isn't a bit much, even if it's bl--ped out. I dunno. That's for the higher ups to decide, more than us CT guys, I guess.

 

[EDIT]

 

Dammit. Psysiological. I'll change it when I'm sure there's nothing else.

Edited July 23, 2003 by Fred the Goat

[Kenshiro]

Reads well, makes sense, tastes great, less filling! Really good work and I agree with Box's remarks. I felt it fills in nicely on what inspired them to make a fricking suit of armor out of alloys; you could accept that in X-Com, but I always wondered why - it was if they just rolled out of bed and said, "let's make some exoskeletons!"

 

The solider part was pretty good, though considering the general audience we're marketing to might want to trim down the expletives. Yeah, they're censored, yeah, soldiers really talk like that, but it might be a distraction from the content.

 

Another suggestion is to break up the paragraphs a little. The columns are gonna be a lot narrower in the X-Net and they will go on for between 2-3 times longer when they go in there. Might be a bit overwhelming that way.

 

Again, great work all around. Aside from above I felt everything was a bullseye.

[GreatGold]

Hey -

 

Excellent entry! I love how well it works in conjunction with the Alien Alloy entry. Some really goos stuff there. About the quote, we should keep it PG-13 for now. It can always be changed later.

 

Let me know if the latest version is the one you want me to post to the Asset Page.

 

Gold

[miceless]

  Uniform Entry said:

He was bad, but he lived.

What exactly do you mean by that? Do you mean the explosion was bad, but he was ok or do you mean he was an idiot for setting it off, but he lived? Seems a bit strangely worded to me.

 

  Personal Armor Entry said:

Initial attempts to combine the alloys with other forms of armor, icluding any of the various materials present in Monoflex, was unsuccessful.

I think you mean 'including' and 'were' unsuccessful.

 

  Personal Armor Entry said:

Each suit is manufactured to the specifications of the individual.

This doesnt fit with the gameplay. Are we going to completely ignore this?

 

I would definitely remove the expletives. Also, Jeremy seems to have completely changed personalities since he made the comment about the normal combat suit. I would use a different name. Not that he cant change personalities as a result of combat, but some variety is good.

 

EDIT: Typos

Edited July 23, 2003 by miceless

[GreatGold]

  Quote

This doesnt fit with the gameplay. Are we going to completely ignore this?

I would say yes. The reason game-play is not effected is explained, so the player wil understand this. Although, perhaps another sentace should be added to the effect of "Unfortunately, due to the rate of combat casualties, it was not economicaly feasable to fit the uniforms to individuals as was intended. This, in effect, negated some of the armors effectiveness. We will just need to make due for the moment. Blah blah blah."

 

I think that might clear it up more?

Gold

[j'ordos]

Or perhaps it's possible to remodel the armor to a new user, so basically it

1) self adjusts to the wearer, or

2) a certain procedure can be followed to allow the armor to take on a new form and proportions, to a limited degree (size has to remain fairly equal)

[mikker]

Thats a good idea j'ordos. After heating it up to a little above 120 C, then putting it onto a skulpture of the next wearer, and cooling it down, and voila! you have a new armor!

[GreatGold]

Heres a thought -

 

Since the alloy is organic in nature, how about just figuring out what it likes to eat the most, and hosing the operative in that. Then you put the bad fitting armor in, it senses the nutrional sludge, and bends to come in contact with it. Not a lot of bend, but enough to change from a generic fit to a more personalized one.

 

Gold

[Aosar]

  Quote

Each suit is manufactured to the specifications of the individual. While generic sizes work to some extent, they are somewhat uncomfortable and awkward due to the nature ofthe material and the fact that it cannot be combined with buttons or zippers, only hooks,and so must fit well to be put on at all.

 

Personally I think that the complete opposite would be better. You should IMO ditch that and elaborate on the fact that due to the strange [organic, semi-organic?] nature of the alien alloys, the armor is extremely fexible and confortable. E.g. you could explain how the organic nature of the alloy makes it gather minerals from the air and from the sweat of the user, possibly using those minerals for self repair? That would also explain how the suit is in perfect shape untill the 'host' dies...

[Fred the Goat]

Alright, I suppose I'll delete the swears... -_-

 

  miceless said:

  Uniform Entry said:

He was bad, but he lived.

What exactly do you mean by that?

 

Huh...I take it yer not speakin' th' 'Mericun English. Must be from Yirrup. He was bad as in he was "bad off" as in he was really badly injured. Hmm...and now I'm torn between staying true to Jeremy's 'Mericun mannerisms, and keeping with the internationalism of the game. I'll see if I can do both.

 

  miceless said:

I think you mean 'including' and 'were' unsuccessful.

 

Oi...and I pride myself on my editorial abilities. Two in one sentence, and I didn't catch it reading through. That really is substandard for me. Bleh. Thanks, I'll fix that.

 

  miceless said:

  Personal Armor Entry said:

Each suit is manufactured to the specifications of the individual.

This doesnt fit with the gameplay. Are we going to completely ignore this?

 

I dunno. Below is what I was looking at for ideas. Here, I was talking about height and weight, but I was also thinking of leaving room for a couple different armor looks. I'll look at it again.

 

  miceless said:

Jeremy seems to have completely changed personalities since he made the comment about the normal combat suit. I would use a different name.

 

No! Never! Actually, I was kinda thinking of keeping the same grunt throughout the armors. Maybe he'd get to ensign by the time I got to flying suits. You're right, though, I was thinking of that too. Remember that he was talking about a traumatic experience in the first one, and an embarassing situation in the second. All the same, yeah, maybe I'll change it a little.

 

  GreatGold said:

Since the alloy is organic in nature, how about just figuring out what it likes to eat the most, and hosing the operative in that.

 

  Aosar said:

You should IMO ditch that and elaborate on the fact that due to the strange [organic, semi-organic?] nature of the alien alloys, the armor is extremely fexible and confortable.

 

Meh... For once I'm disagreeing with Gold! Holy Wally Gator. Remeber that the alien alloy is primarily metal and ceramic. It makes ship hulls and rifle muzzles. It's more like a strange, freaky alien...well...alloy than that gooey crap the aliens in X-C3 built their stuff out of. Although the operative-hosing idea is pretty freaky and cool, I think I'll stick to creating the metal mold, and putting the semi-organic alloy stuff in that. That said, I may use that 120 degrees idea. The problem, of course, is saying that you can modify the stuff easily without leaving room for the humans to make an alien alloy-killing weapon. I wonder what an alloy composed of Niobium, Osmium, Tungsten and Molybdenum mixed with traces of Platinum would re-form at? Or how to reform it once it's merged with a superconductor? By the way buttons and zippers don't work because it fuses with itself somewhat, so no zippers, and it's metal, so no buttonholes. Just thought I'd share. It's also somewhat flexible, but only at the really thin parts (like the blond guy's hoodie thing) or else muzzles would droop.

 

P.S. sorry about the length of the entry.

 

[EDITED FOR CLARITY AND BECAUSE I CAN]

Edited July 24, 2003 by Fred the Goat

[miceless]

I like something along the idea of what Aosar said. It gives it a more alien feel to the alloy, and also makes it fit in with the gameplay.

 

However, something along the remold it at 120 degrees would also work. As long as we explain it to some extent, i thing thats fine.

 

Apart from that, be sure to post a new version when you get round to making the changes.

[Fred the Goat]

Oh, yeah, BTW look up to the top for the new versions. I'll post the new personal armor here, too. I made some changes, but not really the ones I thought I would, or the ones other people suggested, so read over the armor and tell me what you think. I did make the armor mould to the wearer, to some extent. I'm reluctant to say it eats your sweat, because then I'd have to explain why it doesn't eat you, and there aren't many minerals in the air for it to eat either, but if someone comes up with a good way to explain it eating stuff, I'm all ears. It would certainly add a freaky alien dimension to the armor. I was thinking about absorbing CO2, also, but that isn't very badass (plant armor? I guess it IS made out of alien plants...), and then I'd also prefer some way of explaining how it got the energy to convert CO2 into useable material. I dunno. Keep throwing stuff at me.

 

[EDIT - FORGOT TO ACTUALLY POST THE NEW ARMOR]

Armor_Personal_Armor.txtFetching info...

Edited July 28, 2003 by Fred the Goat

[tzuchan]

Something about the fluff text in the BDU CTD keeps poking at me...

 

It says that a the trooper was engulfed in a fireball and was hurt pretty bad, but his uniform wasn't even warm. So how was he hurt? Doesn't sound like he was hurt by the fire... Maybe shrapnel?

[miceless]

I like Jeremy, hes much better now. Seems the therapy you sent him to worked wonders.

 

  Fred the Goat on Jul 28 2003 said:

...and the effects of damage on the alien alloys is still being tested.

I think you mean '... are still being tested.' -_-

 

 

  Fred the Goat on Jul 28 2003 said:

I did make the armor mould to the wearer, to some extent.

Yes, much better.

 

  Fred the Goat on Jul 28 2003 said:

I'm reluctant to say it eats your sweat, because then I'd have to explain why it doesn't eat you, and there aren't many minerals in the air for it to eat either, but if someone comes up with a good way to explain it eating stuff, I'm all ears. 

Yeah, i think it could be improved, Ill have a think.

 

  Fred the Goat on Jul 28 2003 said:

I was thinking about absorbing CO2, also, but that isn't very badass (plant armor?  I guess it IS made out of alien plants...), and then I'd also prefer some way of explaining how it got the energy to convert CO2 into useable material.

The energy could come from the body heat of the wearer and/or the environment its in. You can tie that in with the tthermal conductivity bits you already have.

 

  Fred the Goat on Jul 28 2003 said:

Keep throwing stuff at me

<Looks for a brick>

 

  tzuchan on Jul 28 2003 said:

Something about the fluff text in the BDU CTD keeps poking at me...

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/poke1.GIF

 

  tzuchan on Jul 28 2003 said:

It says that a the trooper was engulfed in a fireball and was hurt pretty bad, but his uniform wasn't even warm. So how was he hurt? Doesn't sound like he was hurt by the fire... Maybe shrapnel?

You have a point. I had assumed it was shrapnel myself.

[Cpt. Boxershorts]

In the alien alloys text, it 'fed' simply by having the appropriate substance placed against certain areas. Otherwise, to repair itself it would just take material from the undamaged sections.

 

-The Captain

[GreatGold]

Hey -

 

Looking very nice, and I do like this quote better than the previous one. My only concern is with the Art Department. We have a pretty detailed physical description of the Personal Armor, and I just want to make sure its in line with what the Art Department is thinking.

 

Now, since they havent got a concept art for it yet, though, I think what we have is great. And if anything, they should design it around that description. If an Art person would comment, though, I'd feel better.

 

Otherwise, looking VERY good. I'll update the Asset List with the latest draft tonight.

 

Gold

[miceless]

There is some talk on what general alien alloy items would look like somwhere. Surely that would apply here as the armor is just one chunk of alloy.

[Deimos]

  GreatGold said:

Hey -

 

Looking very nice, and I do like this quote better than the previous one.  My only concern is with the Art Department.  We have a pretty detailed physical description of the Personal Armor, and I just want to make sure its in line with what the Art Department is thinking.

 

Now, since they havent got a concept art for it yet, though, I think what we have is great.  And if anything, they should design it around that description.  If an Art person would comment, though, I'd feel better.

 

Otherwise, looking VERY good.  I'll update the Asset List with the latest draft tonight.

 

Gold

Here is the topic that has the concept work for all the armour types in it. Please check it before writing up anything as the armour will progress through this way.

[miceless]

Hmmm, those armors dont really fit with the idea that they are one big grown piece.

[Fred the Goat]

Okay, about the fireball - the BDU doesn't cover the whole body. Imagine if a fireball washes over you while you wear a fireproof bodysuit - with no head protection whatsoever. I'll let the image come to you.

 

  miceless said:

I think you mean '... are still being tested.'

 

D'oh. Yeah, ok.

 

  miceless said:

The energy could come from the body heat of the wearer and/or the environment its in. You can tie that in with the tthermal conductivity bits you already have.

 

  Cpt. Boxershorts said:

In the alien alloys text, it 'fed' simply by having the appropriate substance placed against certain areas. Otherwise, to repair itself it would just take material from the undamaged sections.

 

Well, really you need a temperature difference to make energy, which could be the difference between the insulative fibergel and the outside temperature. Better yet, some sugar to burn would be the best thing. Hmm...the second idea is more true to alloys, but unless you hold a sectoid body against your armor, it'll run out of material to repair. I dunno. Keep it coming, I'll change it when we've got something really good.

 

As for the Armor Drawings...dammit. Well, I do have to say, a few people in the art department are saying the same thing I thought when I saw those drawings, especially the improved one - it looks like a power suit.

 

  LordT said:

Looks good . Just dont make it so good that the Power Suit gets obselete 

 

And just because there are creases in the armor doesn't mean it's not one piece...but yeah, that looks pretty different. Camoflaged rather than shiny, helmeted rather than hooded, and generally very earth-combat-suit-like. Dammit. I don't have time to rewrite now, I'll edit it later. In the meantime, input! How do we solve this problem? Ugh.

[GreatGold]

  Quote

Here is the topic that has the concept work for all the armour types in it. Please check it before writing up anything as the armour will progress through this way.

Well, I've been following that thread closely, and although there are definitive Power and Flying Armor designs, there isnt really a definitive one for Personal Armor. Also, the ones that have been made, seem to have nothing to do with Alien Alloys. This could present a problem. Perhaps the art people could create a varient that falls more in line with the text, as there isnt a final (or even draft) Personal Armor?

 

Gold

[tzuchan]

  Quote

Okay, about the fireball - the BDU doesn't cover the whole body. Imagine if a fireball washes over you while you wear a fireproof bodysuit - with no head protection whatsoever. I'll let the image come to you. 

 

Nevertheless, what you said sounded like although the BDU itself wasn't damaged, the person wearing it would still be hurt. Maybe you ought to add a line saying that he suffered thrid degree burns on his face, but wasn't hurt anywhere else...

[miceless]

I have to agree with tzuchan here. I think the meaning comes across but the wording is a little weird. Perhaps change it to burns, or use 'knocked about' or something.

 

Umm, now that i come to think about it you may already have done this. If you have, then ignore me, its early.

[Fred the Goat]

nope, I haven't, and you're right, it is a bit confusing, so I will. Consider it changed. I'll even post it here again so you don't have to flip back to page 1.

Armor_Uniform.txtFetching info...

[Fred the Goat]

And here's the armor, again. I hope Gold is right about the art department's version. The camo armor could be the uniform, and the freaky alienish version could be power armor. Neither of them really looks like the original Personal armor. (or anything else from the original, for that matter, but that's why we're making a remake, I guess)

Armor_Personal_Armor.txtFetching info...

[Guest Azrael]

COMBAT ARMOR

X-Net://Pegasus.Net/Equipment/Combat Armor

 

The Alien menace is a threat beyond anything we could have ever prepared ourselves for, nothing we could have ever planned for. We are rapidly finding ourselves outmanned, outmaneuvered, and outgunned. This war requires a new kind of soldier to fight a new kind of enemy. We have to respond quickly and effectively, minimizing both their strengths and our weaknesses. Reports reveal that the distinct Alien species are either heavily armored or possess thick hides which appear to be bulletproof in a small degree, this obliges us to make use of new, vastly powerful weapons. This, however, is not enough. We need to stem the losses we are sustaining in the face of the awesome killing power of the enemy’s technology. To this end, we have used what we know about the material known as Alien Composites they use in their hulls and equipment to create a new kind of personal armor. This will finally bring us to an equal footing with the Alien threat.

 

Once X-Corps’ scientists and technicians discovered how to manufacture and control a stable culture of the organic component of the Aliens' incredibly robust Composites, it was relatively simple to mold it into an armored suit, well suited for X-Corps’ particular tactical needs. Initial attempts to combine the Composites with other forms of armor, including any of the various materials present in Monoflex, were unsuccessful. No process our science teams used could fuse the strange material with any other substance. The enzymes present seemed to recognize anything unlike the Composites themselves, and either reject it as foreign, or incorporate it, molecule by molecule, into the layers of the Alien material. This has posed some problem, since the ceramic layer of the material itself acts as a superconductor, making the suit rise or lower instantly to the surrounding temperature.

 

Scientists have yet to discover what method of physiological or technical enhancement allows the Aliens themselves to withstand this variation in temperature, so we have incorporated a fibergel undergarment into the armor's design. Although it has been found that the danger posed by the Composites' voracious enzymes can be bypassed simply by allowing the organic layer to form a complete silicon and carbon cellule mesh throughout the outer metallic layer before exposing anyone to the material, the properties of the organic layer are still largely unknown, and the effects of damage on the Alien Composites is still being tested. Therefore, the enzyme-resistant fibergel undergarment is considered necessary for the time being, as environmental protection, additional energy protection, and protection from the armor itself.

 

The armor consists of one large, continuous segment of material. Alien Composites are sturdy and rigid where thick, and elastic and flexible where thin, so it was actually relatively simple for our technicians to put together a full suit of body armor for our soldiers. The suits are manufactured in generic sizes, which, after being worn for less than a day, will conform to the measurements of the individual soldier, long-term stresses causing the organic layer to "re-shuffle" the other layers to a comfortable fit. Due to the nature of the material and the fact that it cannot be formed into buttons or zippers, hooks are used for securing. It is formed into a single piece body suit which attaches along the back, so that to put it on, a soldier steps into it like a fencing vest. Cleated boots, gloves, an open hood, and holsters, pockets, and hooks at the waist are all incorporated into this design. A backpack made of the same material hooks onto the back. These are all similar in construction to the Battle Dress Uniform, including the attached headset and HUD, and the glove's personal readout.

 

"I'll tell you what, I did not wanna put that thing on after I heard what happened to that poor pencilneck, Gunter or...uh...Gregor, yeah, Gregor Rothfuss. But you know, the guys, uh... they were kinda hasslin' me and jokin', you know, givin' me crap, so I sucked it up and put it on. Hehe...hasn't eaten me yet. I swear I'm gonna pound those little Grey smurfs for making me put that thing on. It's weird stuff, man, we shouldn't even be touching it. Pop the bugs and leave their toys for the scientists. That's what I say. You don't put it on."

- Private Jeremy Cowley