Armor and Cover

🛡️ Armor & Cover

“The difference between a living Edgerunner and a dead one is usually about 11 SP.”

This covers all forms of protection — worn armor, cyberware armor, cover objects, and shields. Understanding protection is the key to survival.

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⚡ Quick Reference

Protection At A Glance

Damage Resolution:

1. Attacker rolls damage dice
2. Subtract your SP → remaining damages HP
3. If ANY damage got through → armor ablates by 1 SP

Armor	SP	Penalty	Cost
Leathers	4	0	20eb
Kevlar	7	0	50eb
Light Armorjack	11	0	100eb
Heavy Armorjack	13	-2	500eb
Metalgear	18	-4	5,000eb

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🛡️ How Armor Works

The Damage Sequence

When you are hit by an attack:

1. Attacker rolls damage (e.g., 3d6)
2. Subtract your SP from damage
3. Remaining = HP damage
4. If ANY damage got through → Armor ablates -1 SP

Example: Taking Hits

Your Armor: Light Armorjack SP 11

Shot	Damage	- SP	HP Lost	Ablates?	New SP
1	15	-11	4	Yes	10
2	8	-10	0	No	10
3	14	-10	4	Yes	9
4	9	-9	0	No	9

Key insight: If the attack deals EXACTLY your SP or less, NO ablation!

The Ablation Death Spiral

Every hit that penetrates weakens your armor. After enough hits, that SP 11 becomes SP 5, and suddenly pistols are lethal again.

Track Your SP!

Write your current SP next to your armor. Update it EVERY time you take penetrating damage.

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📍 Armor Locations

Location	What It Covers	When Used
Body	Torso, arms, legs	All attacks (default)
Head	Head/face	Only if Aimed Shot at head

Head Armor is CRITICAL!

• Aimed Shots to head deal ×2 damage after armor
• Without head armor, a single headshot can flatline you
• Always buy a helmet!

Example: Why Helmets Matter

Heavy Pistol headshot: 3d6 = 12 damage

Without helmet (SP 0):

• 12 penetrates → 12 × 2 = 24 HP damage
• That’s enough to drop most characters!

With helmet (SP 7):

• 12 - 7 = 5 penetrates → 5 × 2 = 10 HP damage
• Painful, but survivable.

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🔻 Ablation Rules

Situation	Ablation
Damage penetrates armor	-1 SP
Armor-Piercing ammo	-2 SP
Armor blocks ALL damage	No ablation
Rubber/Stun ammo	No ablation
Melee that penetrates	-1 SP

Armor-Piercing Is Devastating

AP ammo ablates by 2 per hit. After just 3 hits, your SP 11 is now SP 5.

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🛡️ Armor Table

Wearable Armor

Armor Type	SP	Penalty	Cost	Notes
Leathers	4	0	20eb	Nomad style, barely armor
Kevlar®	7	0	50eb	Vests, suits, jackets
Light Armorjack	11	0	100eb	Standard ‘runner gear
Bodyweight Suit	11	0	1,000eb	Netrunner skinsuit
Medium Armorjack	12	-2	100eb	Noticeable protection
Heavy Armorjack	13	-2	500eb	Obvious military-grade
Flak	15	-4	500eb	Full military kit
Metalgear®	18	-4	5,000eb	Walking tank

Cyberware Armor

Cyberware	SP	Notes
Skin Weave	7	Body + head, doesn’t stack, heals 1 SP/day
Subdermal Armor	11	Body + head, doesn’t stack, heals 1 SP/day

Armor Penalty

Heavy armor reduces REF, DEX, and MOVE by the penalty listed.

• Take the worst penalty once (even if wearing armor on multiple locations)
• This affects Initiative (REF), attacks (REF/DEX), dodging (DEX), movement (MOVE)

Example: Metalgear Penalty

Normal stats: REF 8, DEX 7, MOVE 6 With Metalgear (-4): REF 4, DEX 3, MOVE 2

You’re almost impossible to hurt… but you can barely move or aim.

Armor Does NOT Stack

If wearing multiple armor on the same location → use highest SP only.

Example: Layering

Kevlar vest (SP 7) under Light Armorjack (SP 11) = SP 11 (not 18!)

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🪨 Cover

What Counts as Cover?

You’re in cover if you’re fully behind something that stops bullets.

The Cover Rules

• No “partial” cover — you’re in or you’re out
• If they have line of sight → you’re NOT in cover
• Cover doesn’t give “+2 defense” — it blocks attacks entirely
• Cover can be destroyed

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🎯 Attacking Someone in Cover

You have TWO options:

Option	What You Do	What Happens
Wait for them to pop out	Ready an Action (“When they shoot, I shoot”)	Attack them normally when they expose themselves
Shoot the cover	Target the cover object (auto-hit)	Damage the cover’s HP. When HP = 0, cover is gone

You Cannot Attack Through Cover

If someone is fully behind cover and not exposed, you cannot target them. You must:

1. Destroy the cover first, OR
2. Flank them (move until you have line of sight), OR
3. Wait for them to pop out to attack

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🛡️ When Someone Attacks FROM Cover

When a character in cover takes an action (like shooting), they must briefly expose themselves.

During that moment:

• They can be attacked (they’re visible)
• They can dodge/evade normally
• Cover does NOT provide SP — it’s either blocking you or it’s not

Example: Shootout Behind Walls

Situation: Enemy is behind a concrete pillar. They pop out to shoot you.

Your held action: “When they pop out, I shoot.”

Resolution:

1. Enemy pops out, fires at you
2. Your held action triggers — you fire at them
3. Both of you roll Attack vs Evasion normally
4. Cover is NOT involved (you’re both exposed during the exchange)

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💥 Shooting AT Cover (To Destroy It)

You can target cover directly. This auto-hits (no roll needed — it’s a stationary object).

Damage goes against the cover’s HP, not SP.

Example: Destroying Cover

Enemy behind wooden door (HP 10).

Turn 1: You fire Heavy Pistol (3d6 = 11). Door: 10 - 11 = Destroyed!

Turn 2: Enemy has no cover. You can attack them directly.

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🔫 Shooting THROUGH Cover

Homebrew: Penetration Rules

The CRB does not have a mechanic for shooting through cover. Cover is binary — you’re fully behind it (can’t be targeted) or you’re not. The section below is a homebrew option for GMs who want more tactical depth.

If your table uses this homebrew, thin cover can be penetrated:

1. Roll attack vs target’s Evasion normally
2. If you hit, damage is reduced by the cover’s SP (see table)
3. You must know (or guess) where the target is

Homebrew Material SP Table

Material	SP (Blocks Damage)	Notes
Plaster/Drywall	5	Office walls, apartments
Thin Wood	5	Doors, furniture
Thick Wood	10	Trees, heavy furniture
Thin Metal	10	Car doors, appliances
Thick Metal	15	Engine blocks, steel plates
Bulletproof Glass	15	Bank windows, armored cars
Thin Concrete	15	Interior walls
Thick Concrete	20	Pillars, bunkers
Thin Stone	15	Decorative walls
Thick Stone	25	Building foundations

Example: Shooting Through a Wall (Homebrew)

Situation: You know enemy is behind a drywall (SP 5). You fire blindly.

Attack: You roll vs DV 17 (shooting blind, no perception) If you hit: Your 3d6 = 12 damage → 12 - 5 (wall SP) - 11 (enemy SP) = 0 HP

Thin cover blocks some damage but you CAN hit through it.

Blind Fire Penalty

Shooting at someone you can’t see = DV 17 (or +4 to their Evasion). You’re guessing where they are.

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🤖 NPC Cover Tactics (GM Reference)

What should NPCs do against players in cover?

NPC Intelligence	Cover Behavior
Mooks (low)	Keep shooting at cover until it breaks, or get frustrated and charge
Trained (medium)	Flank for line of sight, use grenades, or lay suppressive fire
Elite (high)	Coordinate flanking, destroy cover first, use smoke/flashbangs

Recommended NPC Actions:

Situation	NPC Action
Player behind wood/drywall	Shoot through it (SP 5-10 reduction)
Player behind concrete/metal	Flank OR destroy cover OR wait for pop-out
Player uses suppressive fire	Take cover themselves, wait it out
Stalemate behind cover	Lob grenade, force movement

Keep Combat Moving

Standing cover fights get boring. Have NPCs flank, throw furniture, or threaten to “cook a grenade” to force players out.

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Cover Hit Points

Material	Thick HP	Thin HP
Steel	50	25
Stone	40	20
Bulletproof Glass	30	15
Concrete	25	15
Wood	20	10
Plaster/Foam/Plastic	15	5

Cover Restrictions

• Thick cover is too heavy to move without BODY 10+ or special equipment.
• Steel cover cannot be damaged by Brawling or Martial Arts attacks unless the attacker has a Cyberarm or BODY 10+.

Common Cover

Object	Material	HP
Bank Vault Door	Thick Steel	50
Engine Block	Thick Steel	50
Hydrant	Thick Steel	50
Shipping Container	Thick Steel	50
Boulder	Thick Stone	40
Bank Window Glass	Thick BP Glass	30
Car Door	Thin Steel	25
Metal Door	Thin Steel	25
Refrigerator	Thin Steel	25
Data Term	Thick Concrete	25
Utility Pole	Thick Concrete	25
Bar	Thick Wood	20
Tree	Thick Wood	20
Log Cabin Wall	Thick Wood	20
Statue	Thin Stone	20
Office Wall	Thick Plaster	15
Sofa	Thick Plaster	15
BP Windshield	Thin/Thick BP Glass	15/30
Prison Visitation Glass	Thin BP Glass	15
Overturned Table	Thin Wood	10
Wooden Door	Thin Wood	10
Wardrobe	Thin Wood	10
Office Cubicle	—	0
Regular Windshield	—	0

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💥 Destroying Cover

You can attack a 2m × 2m section of cover directly.

Example: Shooting Their Cover

Enemy behind a wooden door (10 HP).

Shot 1: Assault Rifle, 5d6 = 18 damage Door: 10 - 18 = Destroyed!

Now they have no cover. Next shot hits THEM.

Explosives Love Cover

Grenade launchers and rockets damage 10m × 10m. One grenade can destroy cover for your whole team.

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💣 Explosives vs. Cover

The Full Damage Rule

If an explosive would destroy cover, the target takes FULL explosive damage — not the leftover!

Example: Grenade vs. Cover

Enemy behind thin wood (10 HP). You throw a grenade.

Grenade damage: 6d6 = 22

If Cover Survives	If Cover Destroyed
22 < cover HP	22 > 10 HP ✓
Target takes: 0	Target takes: 22 (minus personal SP)

The cover exploded WITH the grenade. They get the full blast.

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🛡️ Shields

Portable cover you can carry.

Shield Type	HP	Cost	Notes
Bulletproof Shield	10	100eb	Transparent polycarbonate
Corpse Shield	BODY	Free	”Previously a person”

Using a Shield

• Requires one hand (can’t use that hand for anything else)
• You’re considered in cover while wielding
• When attacked, you can interpose (put the shield in the way)
• If you interpose → you cannot dodge that attack
• Shield takes full damage to HP
• At 0 HP → shield destroyed
• Equipping/Dropping costs an Action

Example: Shield in Combat

You hold a Bulletproof Shield (10 HP). Enemy fires, hits for 14.

You interpose:

• Shield takes the entire attack to its HP → 10 - 14 = Destroyed!
• You take: 0 damage (shield absorbed the full hit)

If the shot had been 8 damage:

• Shield takes 8 → HP drops to 2
• You take: 0 damage

Next attack — shield is gone, you’re exposed!

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😈 Armor & Cover Tricks

Things Players Often Forget

Tactic	How	Why
Shoot their cover	Target cover, not person	Destroy it, then hit them
Explosives bypass	Grenade where they’re hiding	If cover dies, they take full damage
Ablation tracking	Write SP in pencil	Armor degrades fast
Head armor!	Buy a helmet	Headshots are ×2 damage
Flank for line of sight	Move to see behind cover	Cover only works if you can’t be seen
Create cover	Flip tables, park cars	Environment is cover too
Corpse shields	Dead enemies = free cover	BODY HP of cover
Repair armor	Tech + Downtime	Don’t fight at SP 3

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❓ Quick Answer Reference

Does armor stack?

No! Only the highest SP counts. Kevlar under Armorjack = 11 SP, not 18.

Does melee ablate armor?

Yes! If melee damage penetrates, armor ablates by 1 SP (same as ranged).

Can I shoot through walls?

Yes! Thin materials (drywall, wood) can be shot through. Roll Attack vs Evasion (with blind fire penalty DV 17 if you can’t see them). Damage is reduced by the wall’s SP. But you’re guessing where they are.

Does Subdermal Armor stack with worn armor?

No! Cyberware armor doesn’t stack with worn armor. Use higher SP.

What if cover partially protects me?

No partial cover. Either they have line of sight (no cover) or they don’t (full cover). Move fully behind objects.

Can I repair armor mid-combat?

No. Armor repair requires downtime and a Tech skill check.

Do explosives damage people behind cover?

Only if the cover is destroyed. If cover survives, target takes 0 damage. If cover is destroyed by the blast, target takes FULL damage.

If NPCs shoot at my cover, can I evade?

No. They’re targeting the cover object, not you. The cover takes damage to its HP. You don’t dodge — the cover absorbs it. When the cover’s HP reaches 0, it’s destroyed and you’re exposed.

If I'm in cover and someone shoots at ME, can I evade?

Only if you’re exposed. If you’re fully behind cover, they CAN’T target you (they must target the cover). If you pop out to attack or they flank you, THEN you can evade normally.

Does cover provide SP like armor?

No — cover provides HP, not SP. Cover blocks attacks entirely (you can’t be targeted). It’s not like armor where damage “goes through minus SP.” Exception: shooting THROUGH thin cover uses cover SP.

Should NPCs shoot at cover or walk around it?

Depends on intelligence. Mooks shoot at cover. Trained guards flank or use grenades. Elites coordinate. See “NPC Cover Tactics” section above.

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🔗 Related Topics

• Combat — All combat rules
• Damage and Wounds — Taking damage
• Ranged Combat — Shooting
• Melee Combat — Human shields, grappling

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(Source: Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook, pp. 182-186)