Outline for a future work. Faces and apparel to be added. Inspired by an RP that took place 4 years ago.

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[Armor Design Memo]

Regularly do I research on armors today and throughout history, along with the defenses being planned for the future (passive, active, and reactive defenses). This in mind, I've considered the scenario in which attempting to block a projectile becomes useless or the projectile in mind exceeds the threat level rated for the armor, and figure ways in which such armors can still remain relevant and not just turn into lead costumes on the battlefield.

Since the advent of gunpowder, it had become increasingly cheap to fell a man in armor, the average man having access to powerful projectile weapons that decrease the amount of effort and training required to provide an able force. Following that, an arms race between thicker armor and better guns, until eventually economics determined guns to be a more viable defense. After all, one could hit from a distance with a rifle, running circles around a man burdened by thick iron. Even had the armor pieces been more strategically placed to lessen the burden, overall the extra weight just meant more energy to expend, especially when going on the offensive, or just scouting around.

Armor would return in later years, primarily as a defense against lesser threats since rifles and good aim were pointless to defend against. All the heavier armor would instead be placed on motorized platforms that could better tolerate the load burden of these loads of steel, as in the case of tanks. For the average troop though? Pretty much restricted to a simple helmet, vehicle operators more likely to have better coverage since they weren't doing much footwork, though still limited because they needed to move around in such confined spaces.

After the space race, personal body armor started making a comeback, but not necessarily to turn men into bullet sponges, and indeed acknowledging there were still some threats that shouldn't be faced with unprotected flesh. Be you on a motorcycle or in the middle of a riot, your protection may not be bulletproof but it was still sufficient for the purpose without being too restrictive. For troops, they had the option of something light that would protect from occasional shots to the vitals. Not your knight in shining armor fantasy, but far from being a one-hit-kill victim.

Then comes these powered exoskeletons, of which will increase the burden tolerance necessary to carry out operations requiring few operatives, as well as giving elite troops the edge they need against larger numbers. And of course, there are materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and diamond nanothreads/ribbons that are far stronger than steel and barely burden the wearer, while still providing protection against bullets. In this possible future, good-ol' gunpowder and reinforced lead won't be sufficient to penetrate an increasingly better armored soldier, who may have both a high performance powered exoskeleton AND the latest in space elevator material, while weapons such as railguns are restricted to large powered platforms such as ships. Then again, who's to say the same technology used to keep an exoskeleton powered may also be used to power a miniaturized railgun? It's the knights and the muskets all over again.

But should one go back to running around naked again? I say, no, especially in an increasingly hostile battlefield. However, I'd also say armor shouldn't be so focused primarily on blocking stuff, but partially designed as a second skeleton or a brace to keep the body from falling apart, or protect against other immobilizing threats such as heat exhaustion and blood loss. A kind of handy first-aid kit if you will, as there WILL be those occasional threats that are essentially unblockable, yet still require something to keep the body from falling to the ground in one hit to the knee. Do know, armor is something to be used to buy a little more time or maintain momentum when taking the offensive, not just protect outright. The armor isn't necessarily itself a solution, but a means to help find or carry the solution in the face of imminent demise.

That reminds me, shields are good too. Shields need some love.

Just a little memo for myself, should I draw more armors.