Fortitude appears as a series of small panels that are worn at various points on the body (chest, upper arms, lower arms, thighs, calves, and head). These panels are dull black in appearance, and they have a set of thick wires going to a small backpack unit.

Fortitude is a supplemental armor system. It uses an electromagnetic pulse field to slow metallic projectiles. There is no true "visible" effect, at least not within the normal visual spectrum. When an incoming metallic object is detected by a field sensing device, Fortitude pulses out a supplemental field to slow the projectile. The overall effect creates a massive EMP emmision (completely fragging EMAVS, sensors, and associated devices, much like a wideband jamming device would do) that lasts only a brief time. This field effect acts, in effect, as supplemental armor.

The mechanics behind Fortitude are simple. If a metallic or magnetic item is fired at the wearer, the system kicks-in and provides the equivalent of six points of armor (cumulative with all armor worn or possessed). The user of the Fortitude system cannot override this effect -- if multiple shots or bursts are fired, each individual bullet or item fires the system up. Once the system charges are expended, the system no longer functions.

For game purposes, assume that most bullets and grenades will be metallic in nature. Gel and stun rounds, however, are not metallic. Monofilament whips are also non-metallic. Magnetically shielded items (full magnetic/Gaussian shielding) pass through the field unaffected, as well.
 

Tool

[Field phenomenon? Chummer, take your techno-speak to another corner of the site. Who the frag cares if it's "applied physics" if it keeps your hoop intact for another day. This system would be incredible -- if only you could find one on the market.]

Les

[You ought to care. There's no magic when it comes to tech.]

Tool

[Well, that's not exactly true these days, either ...]

CyMan Sam

[Back off, man -- I'm a scientist.]

Tool