Star Wars Universe Roleplaying Game

The Next Generation of Star Wars Tabletop Adventure

    Armor Upgrades in SWURPG

    Armor upgrades in SWURPG let you tune a character’s defenses to match their role and playstyle. Instead of handing out huge raw bonuses, these systems focus on targeted improvements: damage resistance against specific threats, small AC boosts, better mobility, and skill support.

    This upgrade system is inspired by the classic Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) approach to modular armor overlays and underlays, reimagined for SWURPG’s modern mechanics and balance framework.

    Overlays and Underlays

    Armor in SWURPG can be enhanced in two main ways:

    Basic Rule: An armor set can normally benefit from one Overlay and one Underlay at a time. Installing, swapping, or removing upgrades may require time, tools, and a Mechanic or Tech Specialist at the GM’s discretion.

    Some upgrades list a specific Armor Type (such as Light, Medium, Heavy, or Light/Medium). Those upgrades can only be installed on armor of that type. If the Armor Type is listed as Any, it can be used on any non-shield armor, subject to GM approval.

    Damage Resistance and Stacking Rules

    Several armor upgrades grant Damage Resistance (DR) against specific damage types such as Energy, Kinetic (Bludgeoning/Piercing/Slashing), Fire, or Cold. DR reduces damage taken from that type by a flat amount each time you are hit.

    Damage Resistance Stacking:
    A character only benefits from one Damage Resistance value per damage type. If multiple upgrades would grant DR to the same damage type (for example, two sources of DR vs Energy), you use the highest single value and ignore the lower ones. Different damage types still stack normally.

    Game Masters are encouraged to treat these values as guidelines. In a high-powered, Force-heavy campaign you might allow access to strong DR earlier; in a grittier, low-tech story you may restrict advanced upgrades to military armories, elite guilds, or unique story rewards.

    Types of Armor Upgrades

    Most armor upgrades fall into a few clear categories:

    GM Guidance: Not every upgrade needs to be available in every port. Stealth or environmental mods might be common on Outer Rim worlds, while advanced biorestorative linings are better suited as rewards from medical research facilities, elite units, or story-critical factions.

    Example Armor Loadouts

    Stealth Operative (Light Armor):
    A scout in Light armor might combine Stealth Plating II (Overlay) with a Strengthening Underlay I for better infiltration, climbing, and resisting forced movement, without relying on heavy DR or AC boosts.
    Frontline Vanguard (Medium Armor):
    A tanky character in Medium armor could take Ballistic Plating II (Overlay) and Armorweave Underlay II, gaining solid DR versus both kinetic and energy attacks while still leaving room for class-based defensive traits.
    Heavy Trooper (Heavy Armor):
    A heavy infantry build might run Heavy Bonded Plates I (Overlay) for AC and a Flexible Underlay I to claw back some Dexterity bonus, trading a bit of Speed for higher front-line durability.

    Armor Upgrades Table

    The table below lists official SWURPG armor upgrades, including their category, cost, armor type restrictions, AC bonuses (if any), recommended level, and detailed effects. Game Masters may introduce variant or custom upgrades using these as benchmarks for power and pricing.

    ο»ΏNameCategoryCostArmor TypeAC BonusRecommended LevelSpecial
    Stealth Plating IOverlay1500Light03+1 to Stealth checks while wearing this armor.
    Stealth Plating IIOverlay3000Light05+2 to Stealth checks while wearing this armor.
    Stealth Plating IIIOverlay6000Light08+2 to Stealth checks and +1 to Acrobatics checks while wearing this armor.
    Thermal Shielding IOverlay2000Any03You gain Damage Resistance 1 vs Fire damage.
    Thermal Shielding IIOverlay3500Any06You gain Damage Resistance 2 vs Fire damage.
    Thermal Shielding IIIOverlay5000Any09You gain Damage Resistance 3 vs Fire damage.
    Ablative Energy Plating IOverlay2500Medium/Heavy05You gain Damage Resistance 1 vs Energy damage; –1 to Stealth checks.
    Ablative Energy Plating IIOverlay4000Medium/Heavy08You gain Damage Resistance 2 vs Energy damage; –2 to Stealth checks.
    Ablative Energy Plating IIIOverlay6000Medium/Heavy011You gain Damage Resistance 3 vs Energy damage; –2 to Stealth checks.
    Ballistic Plating IOverlay2500Medium/Heavy05You gain Damage Resistance 1 vs Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.
    Ballistic Plating IIOverlay4000Medium/Heavy08You gain Damage Resistance 2 vs Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.
    Ballistic Plating IIIOverlay6000Medium/Heavy011You gain Damage Resistance 3 vs Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.
    Bonded Plates IOverlay2000Medium14Your armor grants an additional +1 bonus to AC.
    Bonded Plates IIOverlay4000Medium28Your armor grants an additional +2 bonus to AC; –1 to Stealth checks.
    Heavy Bonded Plates IOverlay2000Heavy15Your armor grants an additional +1 bonus to AC; your Speed is reduced by 5 ft (to a minimum of 10 ft).
    Heavy Bonded Plates IIOverlay4000Heavy29Your armor grants an additional +2 bonus to AC; your Speed is reduced by 5 ft and you suffer –1 to Stealth checks.
    Biorestorative Underlay IUnderlay6000Any07Regeneration 1 while you are at or below half your maximum HP (does not function while at 0 HP).
    Biorestorative Underlay IIUnderlay12000Any09Regeneration 1 as above; allies gain +1 to Treat Injury checks made to heal you.
    Biorestorative Underlay IIIUnderlay25000Any011Regeneration 2 while you are at or below half your maximum HP (does not function while at 0 HP).
    Environmental Underlay IUnderlay3000Any04You gain Damage Resistance 1 vs Cold and Fire damage.
    Environmental Underlay IIUnderlay4500Any07You gain Damage Resistance 2 vs Cold and Fire damage.
    Environmental Underlay IIIUnderlay6000Any010You gain Damage Resistance 3 vs Cold and Fire damage.
    Armorweave Underlay IUnderlay2500Light/Medium04You gain Damage Resistance 1 vs Energy damage.
    Armorweave Underlay IIUnderlay4000Light/Medium07You gain Damage Resistance 2 vs Energy damage.
    Armorweave Underlay IIIUnderlay5500Light/Medium010You gain Damage Resistance 3 vs Energy damage.
    Durasteel Underlay IUnderlay2500Light/Medium04You gain Damage Resistance 1 vs Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.
    Durasteel Underlay IIUnderlay4000Light/Medium07You gain Damage Resistance 2 vs Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.
    Durasteel Underlay IIIUnderlay5500Light/Medium010You gain Damage Resistance 3 vs Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.
    Strengthening Underlay IUnderlay3000Light/Medium03+1 to Athletics checks and Strength checks to resist being shoved or knocked prone.
    Strengthening Underlay IIUnderlay6000Light/Medium06+1 to Athletics and Endurance checks; +1 to Strength checks to resist being shoved or knocked prone.
    Strengthening Underlay IIIUnderlay10000Light/Medium09+2 to Athletics checks and +1 to Endurance checks.
    Flexible Underlay IUnderlay3000Heavy05Increase this armor’s maximum Dexterity bonus by +1.
    Flexible Underlay IIUnderlay6000Heavy08Increase this armor’s maximum Dexterity bonus by +1 and gain +1 to Acrobatics checks while wearing it.
    Flexible Underlay IIIUnderlay12000Heavy011Increase this armor’s maximum Dexterity bonus by +2 total and gain +1 to Acrobatics checks while wearing it.
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    Related Equipment Rules

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