[martinchaen]

All right, first off, 5 internet points to the first one who gets the subject reference.

Secondly, I found an awesome airsoft mask that I'll be using as my mental image for a Ballistic Mask (except it would also include a balaclava like hood, styled to fit whatever armor the character is currently wearing):
http://www.popularairsoft.com/news/devtac-ronin-mask-pre-order

How cool is that thing! In your opinion, what does the Ballistic Mask look like?

Also, what kind of gear would you add to a Ballistic Mask if you were to use it, considering it has 2 more capacity than your standard helmet?

Personally, since it's both very obvious looking and very obviously combat oriented, I'd go with something that would help in those situations
Gear:
[2] Gas Mask/Respirator (gas mask if the GM would allow it)
[1] Micro-transceiver
[1] Trodes (again for the adept without implants)

Vision Enhancements (if allowed, I don't see why they wouldn't seeing as a helmet can take them):
[1] Flare Compensation
[1] Image Link/HUD (for an Adept without implants)
[1] Ultrasound Sensor (instead of the ultrasound sensor which takes 2 cap)

Sensors:
[1] Olfactory Scanner

[SlowDeck]

I need to do more research and grab a Payday before I come up with things to put in the ballistic mask...

Though, right now, I'm imagining a hockey mask made out of very durable materials...

[The other Bandit]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?231746-Taiwan-s-special-forces-ballistic-mask


Solid choices on the gadgets! If you cover your face you might as well have a gasmask/respirator. Built in tranceiver makes sense and the trodes are genius, I allways forget about them!


Question from the technology standpoint:

Today those masks limit your vision to an extent, but in 2070 would it be possible to have a mask without eye holes (solid slab of steel/kevlar/ceramic in front of your face) and still have perfect vision through built in cameras?

My longsword adept will use something looking like this:

http://www.evike.com/products/40064/

Edit for internet cred:   Army of Two?

Edit for more linky links:

http://www.firearmstalk.com/Ballistic-Face-Shields.html

[CanRay]

Always figured they looked something like in Army Of Two or Payday, with a cloth backing made of Shadowrun's armored cloth rather than just the straps used today.  Possibly the "Half-Masks" showed in one of the links in order to allow for helmets.  Considering Shadowrunners tend to be individualistic, they're almost sure to be painted in some manner (just like warpaint used to be part of Shadowrunning in the '50s.).

With the huge amount of cameras in Shadowrun, I figure they're a pretty much must-have item for heavy corporate jobs where you can't be bothered with the surveillance system (Decker is used somewhere else, can't hack multiple independent systems, Technomancer is hung over and barely able to be on the 'run at all.).

I'd talk about the gear packed into them, but each of the myriad characters I have would have different gear for different reasons.  Be hard to list them all.

[martinchaen]

The other Bandit
Nice, I personally really like this one, but imagine it matte black: http://www.evike.com/products/40063/
I think I prefer the elongated shape of these, as it would better protect your noggin, and the detailing is absolutely gorgeous. I can really imagine something like this being a ritualistic focus for an Adept.

I think it's completely plausible to combine the visual feeds of Audio and Imaging Devices, and/or Sensors like Ultrasound, with a trode net for "normal" vision through said devices. So yes, as a GM I would certainly allow you to create a mask without eye holes, and allow you to use sensors and imaging/audio devices for your sensory input. That would potentially leave you vulnerable to jamming, however, at least under the current rules, which is why I would allow it


CanRay
Care to provide us with some examples, at least?

I'm building a Kensei Adept right now, and am curious to hear what other people do with their gear. I wholeheartedly agree on the custom aspect of a lot of gear, and ballistic masks certainly is no exception as far as I'm concerned.

[Namikaze]

FYI, those evike masks are derived from the Acolyte of Star Wars: The Old Republic Online.

[firebug]

With the size of devices in modern-day Shadowrun, a helmet could probably be a combination commlink/sensor array.  Sure, it getting damaged would likely be costly, but the game doesn't have armor repair bills (something that'd be better off put in Lifestyle costs anyways) so no worry.

My character, Firebug, used the 6 capacity in her helmet to buy a Sensor Array, which according to the chart, had a max rating of 2 (counting it as "Headware" even though it'd also somehow be just as limited to put one in contact lenses or an RFID chip).  It has a camera (which has Image Link and Smartlink), a microphone (no upgrades), an olfactory sensor, a motion sensor, ultrasound...  Etc.

Hers still has a visible faceplate (though it's tinted so you can't see her face), but she could prettymuch just view the world entirely through the array and not lose out on anything while using EW in place of Perception (and thus being better at it).  More or less the same as it would be for a rigger who's jumped into a drone, though not as precise.

In fact, if 4th edition TM echoes existed, I'd probably do something like buy the powers that would let her jump into the helmet sensors while still being fully conscious and in control of her body.  That'd be neat.

[The other Bandit]

@ martinchaen:     

Oh the plain one IS really gorgeous! Imagine it black but with worn off edges and a few scratches, would look total badass!
On the addons for masks I got one thing I would put in every mask: Climacontrol!  Running with gasmasks is a b**ch and somehow getting a good airflow behind the mask would surely be a good  thing.
Any chance you can get into detail of the build you are going for with your kensai? For my longsword specialist right now I am bouncing back between adept and streetsam builds, it is for a low power starting campaign, but power levels will go up quickly after the introduction campaign. So I am allways looking for good ways to plan this build and still be flavourfull and effective.

@firebug:               

Am I the only one that thinks its weird that you cannot put a bigger sensor suit in a helmet? I mean the is precious little room in ones head to put stuff in, there should be more room in a helmet/mask?!
Same thought goes for cybereyes. Its cool that you can get IR vision, low light and a camera in there, but shouldn´t vision enhancements in big external visors be able to be even better? Bigger cameras,  larger IR lenses, bigger optic chips?
Oh and I allways forget that you can use electronic warfare for perception with sensors! Thats really cool flavour for a character, being able to ignore ghostpings of ultrasound readings, interpret IR readouts from surfaces and all that scientific stuff!

[martinchaen]

Sure thing, The other Bandit, I'm finishing up the build right now, as a matter of fact.

Thanks for everyone's input; and cheers, Namikaze, I did not know that.

[The other Bandit]

Just bought Run&Gun ... and they have half swording and chainmail in it 
Oh my... I gotta spend some time building my Paladin now 

[PittsburghRPGA]

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/23871/i/arctiva-windshield-balaclava?WT.ac=SLIsearch

But then, I'm a biker and never been on a SWAT team, so I think of the neoprene biker masks only made of a kevlar softweave of the techno future.

Eric

[GrimWulf]

http://payday.wikia.com/wiki/Masks_(Payday_2)

This is exactly what I pictured after reading the entry.

[SlowDeck]

http://images.halloweencostumes.com/products/2419/1-1/richard-nixon-mask.jpg

That is my ballistic mask.

[JimmyCrisis]

Don't forget the Renraku Reds with their Mempo masks.  Although I guess they wear hardened military armor anyway.

Still! My ex-red samurai character would wear one, if they survived to 2075 anyway.

[PiXeL01]

I would definitely wear something out of Army of Two. So many awesome designs.