[TW 2013] Body armor and Trama plates

[Lundgren]

About tanks, I once read a comment by a GM "the players wanted a tank; I was evil enough to give them one." I think that group, after a while, considered a bicycle to be an upgrade.

Originally Posted by Michael Lewis

What about knock down and stunning? Would a rifle bullet knock down and stun a PC if he was hit wearing trama plates?

An unprepared human is very easy to make losing his balance. There was a video a couple of years ago of a US soldier taking a hit in his west. As I recall, he got wobbly and fell down to a sitting position, looked a bit surprised for a second while his brain sorted out what just happened, and then got up and behind the vehicle he was next to.

I have seen people ending up on their ass for not having a proper firing stance while firing a 7.62N weapon or a 12 gauge shotgun. Being hit with one of those, and no penetration, would probably be like being hit with a fist (and we are not talking professional boxer here).

Most people, when they are afraid, raise their "center of gravity" and will have a really piss poor balance. If someone points a gun I know or at least have reason to suspect is loaded at me, and says "BOO!", I would most likely fall down. A loud sudden bang would be even more effective.

Pumped up on adrenalin and in the middle of being active in combat (perhaps charging over a street), I'm not sure that many would even register a round from an assault rifle if it is stopped by the plate.

Basically: the physical force of being hit by a round is equal or less than the force the the shooter receives from the gun.