From:	Patrick Goodman remo@***.net
Subject:	Questions of great importance (Steve, Jon, RA:S people especially)
Date:	Thu, 2 Sep 1999 22:18:48 -0500

> > Pretty damn quick, as I recall. I don't have SHADOWTECH anywhere
> > close to me at the moment, but I seem to recall that it could change
> > in small fractions of a second. The local group hasn't met him yet,
> > but there's a baddie in my game world somewhere with a ruthenium suit
> > of the type being discussed, and as I interpret things, it's about
> > Predator-fast. You're still going to get a blur when he's moving, but
> > when he's holding still, it's spooky.
>
> Shadowtech sez about 100/th of a second to change the polymer cells. If
> you allow maybe a few more hundredths to do the sampling and the math and
> then the transmission, you're talking about complete color changes in
> about 20/th of a second or less.

I'm assuming that there's been a SOTA upgrade in processor power and
scanning technology in the ten years or so since ruthenium polymers were
introduced. A pretty significant one, at that.

> I don't think it would be predator good, while moving, but certainly
> almost invisible while stationary.

I can see arguments either way on the "Predator good" issue; since he's an
NPC, and I'm inclined to like this sort of system, it's going to be pretty
close, though it works on a different principle.

Besides, everyone knows that the closest to a Predator's camoflage comes not
from ruthenium polymer fibers, but from Mother Nature. Wanna panic some
PCs? Sic a bandersnatch or two on them. It works. Honest.

> Don't forget though, the polymers can be damaged fairly easily
> if the armor is hit by weapons fire.

I'm thinking that the polymers would be bonded with the material, and then
coated with an acrylic laminate of some sort to toughen it. It's still not
going to be perfect, or indestructible, but it will be tougher.

--
(>) Texas 2-Step
El Paso: Never surrender. Never forget. Never forgive.