Items of Power - Usage Question

[CBIrish]

Hey folks!

I like to toy with character ideas and was thinking up an Emissary of Power with an item of power that manifests differently for each bearer - in the case of my theoretical character, a leather jacket.  One thing I'm unclear on, though - if an Item of Power is indestructible (short of the specific means mentioned in the entry) does this count as armor? I don't want to do anything game breaking, but the manifestation meshes perfectly with the concept (who would say no to free armor?).

I went looking for a thread that covers this but after 4-5 pages, my eyes started to cross and I decided to post this.  Any thoughts?

[Barodahn]

Yes item of power is unbreakable except for specific specific means and yes it can provide armor, that is covered under the it is what it is. 

[CBIrish]

Sorry, I should have made my original post more specific -

I know the entry specifically mentions armor being an Item of Power and therefore providing protection.  What I wasn't clear on was if a more physically flimsy item (leather jacket vs. plate mail) would provide protection solely because it is an IoP, not due to any inherent qualities of the item.

[Doc Nova]

Personally, if it were reasonable, I'd allow it.  The universal Item of Power sub-power, "It Is What It Is" does allow for all sorts of interpretations.  A Sword of the Cross, for example, gets to act like a sword in all ways, for cutting, parrying, prying, leaning, and stirring.  I can't see anything wrong with the same thing applying to a suit of plate armor.  Of course, since it is what it is, you'll also have to contend with the weight, the heat, and the laughs...

[luminos]

my interpretation - you can still be damaged, even through the jacket as normal, but the jacket itself is unharmed.

Alternatively, you can just say that its armor 1 or 2.  I don't think that would break anything too much.

[Deadmanwalking]

yeah, I'd allow it as Armor: 1 or 2, I mean a Sword of the Cross can slice right through fire-doors, I see no reason a jacket shouldn't be able to provide some basic armor.

[GruffAndTumble]

To play devil's advocate for a moment, an unbreakable skin covering is not the same thing as armor. It might prevent an axe from cutting you, but odds are low that your average jacket will be able to dissipate the concentrated striking force of an axe head--which can be incredibly deadly, cutting edge or no.

[Doc Nova]

Yeah, upon reading the OP more thoroughly (sigh...reading is good!), I'd have to say that the Item of Power would need to have been a piece of armor to begin with.  If you were carrying Aegis (Zeus' shield, as I recall) I could argue it providing some armor as "it is what it is" (in this case, a shield).  But, just because the Item is unbreakable means nothing for the flesh, bones, ligaments, and muscle beneath it.  A bullet might not make a wicked wound tunnel, but the force would be undiminished and you'd wind up with broken bones, torn muscle, internal bleeding, and all of the things that can make staying alive a real challenge.

[JustinS]

Also, indestructible can be implemented in other ways.

You can have it get ripped, and get better, either off camera, or as a instant effect...

[Barodahn]

I would just go and say it is an "armored leather jacket"
http://www.leatherup.com/p/Fabric-Motorcycle-Jackets/Xelement-CF-624-Armored-Race-Motorcycle-Jacket/115632.html
Something like this maybe.

[Baron Hazard]

i'm not sure i'd allow something too flimsy to provide an armor bonus because its an IoP without the player taking inhuman toughness+.

in this case i'd allow, say, a leather jacket to be armor 1, but i'd not allow an IoP silk shirt to have an inherent armor bonus.

[Barodahn]

but i'd not allow an IoP silk shirt to have an inherent armor bonus.

Valid argument, but you might want to re-think the "silk" arguement.  16 layers of silk stops bullets, lol.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/379338.stm

[Baron Hazard]

and if he was wearing 16 layers of silk i'd say "sure" however your standard silk shirt is generally pretty thin