Talk:Power armor

Power Armor Development
I was wondering if we could organize the power armors by design date, and also mark which are simply variants of others.

For example, it seems clear that T-45d came before T-51b. We also know that the 3 Enclave suits (Adv. Mk I, Adv. Mk II, and Tesla) came after the T series, since they were developed by the Enclave after the war.

It also seems reasonable that the Capital Wasteland BoS/Outcast/Army/Medic armor is the equivalent of the Midwestern Brotherhood Advanced Power Armor. I make this connection based on DR values and using the Enclave Advanced Power Armor Mk II as the Rosetta Stone.
 * In all Fallout games besides Fallout 3, the Enclave Advanced Power Armor Mk II has a DR of 60, which is the same as the Midwestern Brotherhood Advanced Power Armor. In Fallout 3, the Enclave Advanced Power Armor Mk II has a DR of 40, which is the same as all the other power armor suits save the Tesla armor and the T-51b...

One thing that's puzzling is that the BoS armor is equivalent to the Enclave armors, in DR if not in Rad Resistance, even though the BoS armor is based on pre-war suits whereas the Enclave armors have been developed after the war and are considered superior (at least by the Enclave).

What I'm most curious about is the T-51b suit. The T-51b suit is the only one to have more DR in Fallout 3 than in the previous games. In general a pre-Fallout 3 DR of 60 = a Fallout 3 DR of 40, but the T-51b goes from 40 to 50. Perhaps Fallout 3's T-51b suit is actually based on the Hardened T-51b suit from previous Fallout games, but even then, that suit had a DR of 50 in the pre-Fallout 3 games, which means it should still have lower DR in Fallout 3. I call shenanighans on Fallout 3's T-51b suit and say that it goes against cannon. Servius 18:49, 4 December 2008 (UTC)

What interests me is if there are specific DRs for different types of damage. In the previous FOs there were different resistances to physical and fire damage and such. Does that exist? I seem to feel that Mirelurks are less resistant to energy weapons than small guns, but is it just a matter of weapons having different armor penetration, or are there hidden values for different types of resistances? If it does, that might actually account for different types of armor with the same DR, but different hidden values. --76.64.54.60 19:08, 4 December 2008 (UTC)
 * No, it doesn't seem like there are different types of DR anymore. Ausir 00:52, 18 December 2008 (UTC)

Hands
Why doesn't the power armor cover your hands in Fallout 3?

Bethesda obviously want your hands out for some reason.

Most likely because if it did cover your hands, you would have restricted movement of your fingers, which would most likely lower your science, lockpick, repair, medicine, etc. and would make your sniping skill with the "infiltrator", Scoped .44 Magnum, Sniper Rifle, Tesla Cannon, and etc. have more sway in non-V.A.T.S. mode, which would take more programming for an unnecessary feature of the game. Brotherhood of Steel Paladin 21:49, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * the armor covers up your right hand only /the armor provides it's own glove like hand protection

the left hand isn't covered because of the pip-boy and you need to see the pip-boy Lancer AR 04:18, 5 July 2009 (UTC) Yea, seriosly, wouldnt your hands like melt off when your being radiated?!--Bayonetta 04:40, 5 July 2009 (UTC)

I see plating on the top of the finger like on the knuckle but maybe its so Stimpacks/ weapon use can be used properly without having to take off the gauntlet to use most weapons and stimpacks. KiTTeN SmasHeR 21:37, July 1, 2010 (UTC)KiTTeN SmasHeRKiTTeN SmasHeR 21:37, July 1, 2010 (UTC)

Fallout 3 helmet glitch (bug?)
I was playing Fallout on my ps3 and killed an Enclave soldier wearing power armor, and I noticed somthing weird. I cut off his head and took his armor and noticed that the head was still wearing the helmet. I started trying this on other forms of power armor and they all had the same result. I'm not sure if its a bug because its happened multiple times. has anyone else had this happen? --BOSPalidan 02:54, October 3, 2009 (UTC)
 * Happens to me a lot, no idea why. Setimir92 21:20, December 13, 2009 (UTC)

same with me Chiefsean16 20:03, January 24, 2010 (UTC)

It happens with all armors and clothing. I think it's because the game doesn't know that the leg, arm or head are part of the actual person that you looted the equipment so they stay. I've seen it with Enclave, Talon Company and several other types. KnightNapier 02:29, July 2, 2010 (UTC)

Star Wars
I just wanted to bring to everyone's attention how much the basic fallout 3 power armor looks like an Imperial Storm Trooper. Opinions? (67.167.229.227 01:59, 11 July 2009 (UTC))

I can see where you're getting that.

This is why I really wanted to get, upon purchase of game and console (Yes, I really did buy an XBox360 just to play FO3) Aryeonos 02:02, September 12, 2009 (UTC)

Stimpacks
How do you inject Stimpacks while your wearing Power Armor? Especially if you trying to heal your limbs. Any idea? the Mercenary

I guess, for the T-51B winterized, you put it in the tan parts of the armor, which might have less armor than where the plated parts are.

I think maybe stimpacks have really hard needles that can puncture the armor, which has deteriorated in the post-nuclear world anyway.

That would be why they leave the hand unarmoured, to inject stuff through it.


 * except they don't really leave the hand unarmored. I would imagine that there's a needle on the inside of the suit which is inserted into a blood vessel when the wearer puts it on, and connected to a one way valve. This way, stimpacks could be injected in much the same way a doctor or nurse can deliver drugs through an IV with a syringe. It wouldn't make sense to leave it vulnerable like that since it's supposed to provide full NBC protection. The military thinks about that sort of thing, you know. Consider that it's possible to drink water through most modern military gas masks without putting the wearer at risk.ComradeJim270 16:16, August 26, 2010 (UTC)

Do Power Helmets have a HUD?
Do you think if you wear a power helmet in real life it will have a heads up display? The reason I'm asking this is because I'm makng a machinima which will show someones view when wearing their helmet. --Chiefsean16 21:08, December 13, 2009 (UTC)
 * I doubt it. The T-51b had to have a helmet-mounted lamp for providing illumination and a drop-down primitive NVG device and it was the apex of pre-War pre-war protection technology. http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/fallout/images/thumb/4/4a/Naglowaa_se.gif/11px-Naglowaa_se.gif Tagaziel (call!) 21:16, December 13, 2009 (UTC)
 * I'd imagine that maybe the Enclave power armors might have it, maybe Tesla and Hellfire, even if it'd be something rudimentary like infra-red vision. Setimir92 21:19, December 13, 2009 (UTC)

Swimming
I find it amazing that one can swim with power armor on in Fallout 3. Almost 50 pounds of metal, added to the 200 or so pounds of human, is sure to make one sink like a stone. Damn bethesda's lack of realism! Tzaro the Outcast 15:01, January 17, 2010 (UTC)

Well since both in canon AND in-game the power armor gives people super human strength(canon) or a bonous of +1 strength(in-Game) Perhaps its bouneses provide the right amount of strength to be able to swim.


 * Especially since you can take away that 200 pounds of human. Seeing how humans are made mostly of water, you are neutrally buoyant. That's why corpses float.BOSPalidan 05:43, January 28, 2011 (UTC)

VB Power Helmet
In Van Buren, the power helmet is a separate item like in Fallout 3 and is described with "A power helmet for use with the T-51b power armor. Build to be the ultimate in pre-war protection. The power helmet has a tendency to dull the wearer's senses with its thick visor, layers of metal and polymer padding." Shouldn't it be named too, somehow? --Mr.Lexx 22:15, February 2, 2010 (UTC)
 * Well, it should be mentioned on the VB armor's page. Like F3, helmets go on the armor pages! Nitty Tok. 22:16, February 2, 2010 (UTC)
 * Yeah, instead of separate pages, we keep helmets on their matching armor's pages. Ausir(talk) 22:20, February 2, 2010 (UTC)

Source for "60,000 watt" output for T-51 powerplant?
What's the source for the info on the T-51's powerplant outputting 60 KW? --MadCat221 21:22, July 1, 2010 (UTC)
 * Minature Fisson or Fusion Generator Mr White 21:30, July 1, 2010 (UTC)
 * Fallout 1 dialogue files. Ausir(talk) 21:57, July 1, 2010 (UTC)

Usability in New Vegas?
I know that power armor appears in several forms in New Vegas, but I saw nothing regarding perks or training for power armor, so is it usable by the player in the newest game? -- User:Griever0311

Yes it is. You can get it by completing the Brotherhood of Steel quests or the Enclave quest. I suggest doing the Enclave one first because you get better armor.

Customization
I was thinking they could add a customization tool for future projects such as Fallout 4 or Fallout Online in which you can add a signature styling to your power armor (or any armor or gun for that matter) for a more personalized experience while gaming. It's evident that this has already been thought of by the developers through the difference between Outcast and Brotherhood and Regular Power Armor, and in Talon Company and Reilly's Ranger Combat Armor in Fallout 3, and in Weapon Mods in Fallout: New Vegas, and even weapon enchantment in TES Franchise. Now I'm not saying you should put weapon enchantments on a Machete, but if they could apply this more to future games, I believe it could be a small step in creating a better gaming experience.--Blueking112 04:54, March 7, 2011 (UTC)

The so-called "advanced power armor mk II"
So, I've said this before, but now it seems even more clear...

I don't believe the armor with the aforementioned name can be the same armor in both Fallout 2 and Fallout 3, for several reasons:

a.) If it was, it would appear the same in both 3 and New Vegas, yet the fact it does not and that New Vegas is considered canon and published by Bethesda at the very least suggests that they are not the same, and the Fallout 3 armor is not simply a different interpretation of the Fallout 2 armor

b.) The Fallout 3 armor is not only inferior to the Remnants Power Armor (this could be argued down to a simple difference in game mechanics), but it is inferior to T-51b in the game in which it appears, which is simply impossible if it's the same as the Fallout 2 armor

c.) There is no instance anywhere in the Fallout universe of Enclave personnel referring to the Fallout 3 armor as "Advanced Power Armor Mk. II". It is only referred to as such by the Brotherhood and Outcasts, neither of which can be confirmed to know what the armor is actually called by the Enclave. This designation may simply be one assigned by the Brotherhood itself, in which case we could be given the same name for two different models of armor without contradiction. What the Enclave calls "Advanced Power Armor Mk. II" may not be the same as what the BoS calls "Advanced Power Armor Mk. II"

d.) The Brotherhood's contact with the Enclave prior to Fallout 3's events was fairly limited: when the two encountered each other, the Brotherhood troops were likely too busy trying to survive to get a good look at the Enclave armor, at least not in detail. This allows for the possibility that the Brotherhood personnel don't even notice the difference in appearance. If some did during those encounters, it's doubtful they would have had the means or the desire to take, say, photographs of it, so those hearing about it second-hand would likely be incapable of telling the difference. This is an especially important point, because aside from Casdin or Lyons, it's unlikely anyone in the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood or Outcasts is old enough to have ever seen the Fallout 2 armor, and the fact those two are alive suggests they didn't get a close look either.

Given all that, it seems evident to me that they're not the same model. Likely, the Fallout 3 armor was made to be easier to manufacture because the Enclave no longer had the ability to mass-produce the Fallout 2 models. The only indication we have that the armor is the same is speculation by ill-informed members of the Brotherhood.

Thoughts? It's probably clear from that long-winded diatribe that this is one point I'm somewhat passionate about, and I'm certainly not averse to discussing it. Oh... forgot to sign this. ComradeJim270 23:55, July 21, 2011 (UTC)

If the developers say its the Mk2 then its the Mk2. Its got worse stats than the T-51b as there's only one set of that in the vanilla game, whereas there's an infinite number of the Mk2 available relatively shortly into the game.


 * Gameplay inconsistency. Anyway, it's marked on the item that the Mk II was redesigned after the destruction of the main base of the Enclave, the Oil Rig, and thus the remnants power armor appeared in Fallout: New Vegas can be a Mk II of 2241 (Fallout 2) and not a Mk I and of course not a Mk II of 2277 (Fallout 3). Itachou [~talk~] 12:06, July 26, 2011 (UTC)

I don't recall any indication from the Enclave itself that the advanced power armor was redesigned while keeping the same designation, but I haven't played the game in some time. Would you mind telling me where you got that information? I'd be interested to see it. That would certainly offer another in-universe explanation for the inconsistency. It also fits with my theory that the Enclave may have adopted an inferior but easier to manufacture power armor, though that's still just speculation of course. ComradeJim270 04:16, July 28, 2011 (UTC)

Horringan's power armor
Is it worth mentioning here?

Getting it on
How do you get the suit on? The suit and pants are all in one, so I can get it on nor off. Undead Hat 17:48, September 25, 2011 (UTC)

enclave midwest
midwest bos armor looks very very similar to east cost enclave armor for some reason(probably fo3enclave design is based on game art from bos or something irl but) maybe midwest fought some enclave or found a cache of it, so east coast enclave probably brought some of that tech from a more midwestern area's base?

Survival bonus
Shouldnt the T51b and Advance Power Armor Mk2 have a survival bonus? In the description of your armor in NcWriChi.msg fallout 2 it states that it does.--Ant2242 20:47, 30 April 2012 (UTC)

APA development
What reference do we have that the X-01 is the APA? Does the APA use the same power armor frame as the earlier models? If so why does the back of the APA look completely different? Could it have a completely different internal structure? What about the composition of the suit pieces themselves? When the Enclave developed new suits wouldn't they use the lessons they learned from their own developments? I believe that this line and the APA page should be changed to reflect this.--Ant2242 (talk) 14:35, 28 April 2016 (UTC)