Armor Rating vs. Natural Armor Rating

[jaymz]

Official ruling out of HU2 at least.

anythig higher than a 4 bonuses included is a hit.

NOrmal AR - strike roll higher than the AR damges the wearer of the armour, striek below the ar damages the armour

Natural AR (also for vehicle AR) - Strike higher than the AR damges the person/creature. Strike roll lower than the AR does nothign whatsoever except maybe sting a bit like a slap to teh face.

[drewkitty ~..~]

Natural AR (also Called Robotic AR) - Strike higher than the AR damages the person/creature/armor/vehical, starting with the SDC first. Strike roll lower than the AR does no damage whatsoever.

This does not mean that there are no momentum transfer due to being hit.

[Nekira Sudacne]

As I have thought.

What about the "Natural roles"? I heard a number of people this past weekend at the OH mention that a "Natural" roll (on the dice) was needed to damage natural armor.

These people are wrong. it's a fairly common mistake, though.

[drewkitty ~..~]

As I have thought.

What about the "Natural roles"? I heard a number of people this past weekend at the OH mention that a "Natural" roll (on the dice) was needed to damage natural armor.

If it is the GM saying that, then those are his rules. Otherwise it is the total to strike roll with bonuses.

However, the gm should 'inform' you what sort of house rules he has before playing. If it is going to be a campaign.
If a pick up game, just roll with it and have fun.

[sHaka]

Away from books, but what about explosions and natural AR (I've less experience with SDC settings)?

[Nekira Sudacne]

Away from books, but what about explosions and natural AR (I've less experience with SDC settings)?

What about them? Explosions don't get special rules.

[drewkitty ~..~]

If there are special rules it will state them in the "Super Power listing", in the Class listing, or the ability listing. otherwise they follow the the normal rules.

If I was to follow any specific listing it would be the one from APS: Metal.

[sHaka]

Away from books, but what about explosions and natural AR (I've less experience with SDC settings)?

What about them? Explosions don't get special rules.

I just mean, a character with a natural AR of 12 walks into a booby-trapped room that detonates around him.

As there's no strike roll - the character is automatically hit - does the GM just chuck a D20 to see if the explosion gets through the character's natural defences?

[Nekira Sudacne]

Away from books, but what about explosions and natural AR (I've less experience with SDC settings)?

What about them? Explosions don't get special rules.

I just mean, a character with a natural AR of 12 walks into a booby-trapped room that detonates around him.

As there's no strike roll - the character is automatically hit - does the GM just chuck a D20 to see if the explosion gets through the character's natural defences?

technically, yes.

[drewkitty ~..~]

So, just so that I'm clear, let me do a quick scenario. A character currently has an SDC on 35. She gains a power that give her heavy natural armor (AR 10, SDC +60). What I've read on this post indicates that the character's SDC goes to 95 and it now takes a strike of 11 or higher to damage the character. Strikes 10 or less have no effect. Is this correct?

correct

Another question: can the natural armor ever lose enough SDC to become broken and therefore ineffective? ...snip

yes, once the reaches 0 SDC.

[The Beast]

I have heard a number of UN-official thoughts and rules on the difference and would like an official ruling / outline please.

In a nut shell this is what I understand:
Armor Rating = the number with bonuses needed to circumvent the protection of the armor (e.g. A.R.: 12, die roll with bonuses 14 (10+4), damages the S.D.C. it grants)
Natural Armor Rating = the number with bonuses needed to any damage (e.g. A.R.: 14, die roll with bonuses 16 (12+4), does damage).

I know some people use Natural A.R. as the Natural die roll; I also know people that say a Natural roll of 2-4 is also a miss no matter what the bonus is. Please clarify on the Armor Rating Question and the 2-4 Natural roll as well if you are feeling productive.

With ranged weapons, a die roll of 4 or less is a miss, regardless of any bonus that would increase it above a 4 (IIRC, RUE increases this to 8 once the target is a certain distance away). In melee combat, you can add bonuses in, and as long as the result is 5 or higher, you have a chance to hit your target. However, IIRC, a die roll of 1 is always a miss.