Personal Point Defense Technology
"I was giving a speech on Mars when someone took a shot at me with a macro-sling. I was on Mars, so I was wearing my PPD, but I swear it was a little slow this time. Remind me to up B-045's pay, just in case he's disgruntled. That one almost parted my hair."
Personal Point Defense
PPD jackets are jackets worn over clothing and armor. They must be the outermost layer of garment. The jackets themselvers are Monocrys, Nanoweave, Martian Silk, or Retro-Reflective. They are covered at regular intervals, usually 6-8 inches, with studs at least the Size of a thumbnail, though some decorative examples extend into genuine spikes. These studs are actually tiny laser turrets, which use the jacket's on-board SI to detect incoming projectiles and focus fire laser and pressor beams onto them, causing them to burst, deform in flight and miss, or lose enough momentum to harmlessly bounce off the wearer's chestplate. This system is the best defense against smartguns and gyrocs, and as part of a combination of defenses to blunt the impact of Gravitic Slingers. These garments come in the following styles, from least to most protective: LBV, bomber jacket, jacket, long coat, and trechcoat. It's also possible to get a load bearing rig of any Size for only PPD Protection at a negligible cost compared to the PPD system itself. Any of these styles can come with an optional hood for better head Protection. A standard PPD array requires at least a B Class Battery to operate properly.
Statistics
Use the CCC/CCU table for the stats of the jackets, add 1 weight for each location the garment covers. When an enemy projectile would hit a protected location, make a defense roll based on the IQ of the RI, SI, or AI controlling it, or in the case of a Cybernetic or MMI control the IQ of the connected character. Note: if using MMI or Cybernetics, the character must be aware of and able to see the projectile's angle of attack. If the defense succeeds, the projectile is pushed away and disabled, possibly hitting a target behind the protected character. If the defense rolls is successful by three or more, the projectile is instead destroyed harmlessly. If the attack would hit a limb adjacent to the areas protected by a character's PPD, they may still attempt a defense, but the roll is IQ-3.
A PPD costs $3,000 for each limb covered in addition to the underlying jacket.
Mods
A number of mods are possible for a PPD array. These improve the power output, accuracy, or sensory range. Their cost is a multiplier on the base price, and must be applied to EACH limb to protect that limb properly.
Power Output: By upgrading the power supply of the battery, an additionaly +1 can be added to the defense rolls for each step up. Each step doubles the cost of the PPD, and obviously requires a larger battery.
Power Efficiency: By upgrading the power efficiency, more can be done with less. A more discreet power supply is harder to target, cheaper to replace, and lighter to transport. To use a Class A battery with no loss of functionality, add 1.5x the cost to the PPD array.
Accuracy: Adding a telescoping radar array to the PPD system consists of a bundle of antennae the Size of an index finger to either side of the protectee, typically one on each shoulder. This need not stick out, and can be seamlessly incorporated into a garment. This allows projectiles to be 'seen' with pinpoint radar so long as they are travelling at under half of light speed (and, let's face it, if their projectiles are going half light speed or faster, you're going to be dead before you know they pulled the trigger). This allows much better targeting of incoming, and more precision responses. As a bonus, it also functions for the connected intelligence in general, RADAR mapping the wearer's surroundings within 200 yards. As a bonus, this can detect incoming through concealment, so long as radar waves can penetrate. The primary downside is that the system projects RADAR and can be detected by radio-wave detecting sensors within 200 yards. LC 2, $20,000
Sensory Range: This sensor suite is a larger nodule consisting of two fist-sized bundles of various antennae fine tuned for range. The sheer amount of information coming in from these sensors is too much for anything short of a genius-level (IE: non-portable) AI to process. As such, all information except that of small, fast moving objects is filtered out. This allows the connected intelligence to detect projectiles much further away. This results in anyone within 30 yards being potentially shielded by one PPD array from any shots originating more than 200 yards away. This array is common for bodyguards and is considered an anti-sniper measure. Cost $120,000.
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