Just thought I'd start a thread mentioning interesting rule tweaks you can do with Fate.

Debating some options on how to treat armor in a SciFi Fate game I'm working on, I came up with an interesting direction for fantasy games:

Armor is a skill, primarily defensive. It's generally folded together that having Armor 3 means you have skill in using good medium armor, and have the resources/skills to own a set of armor.

Armor is used as defense against physical damage, and possibly in other effects. The advantage over Athletics (which is more Dodge): Armor defense rolls can be made even if the character is unaware of an attack, when the character is slowed or immobilized, and against area attacks.

Being caught without armor is an easy compel.

This works for a setting where armor is highlighted.


For my scifi game I went a different way, with armor ratings based mostly on scale. Generally anyone with military background or combat skills can justify basic armor.

Sufficient armor gives a defense floor of 0 (minimum defense result; which isn't spectacular, but prevents some defense flubs), good armor has defense floor of 2. Overwhelming armor simply stops attacks.

Rating is along the lines of 'personal scale, vehicle, ship.'

So, a handgun vs. personal armor, defense floor of 0. A laser handgun (lasers are Weak) vs. personal armor // handgun vs. armored car, defense floor of 2.
(And laser handgun can't affect armored car, handgun can't affect a space ship, except through special moves)

Also, armor can be invoked to defend, which can capture those 'lucky glances'


So, what cool ideas have you come up with?