[Joush]

It allows Body x 3 armor for encumberance, while normal armor is body x 2, save for FF that works out to effectively body x 4. Generaly, stacked armor is more effiecent, but in some cases military armor works better.

[Crash_00]

The mods they have available are very very nice. Also, for lower Body characters, military armor allows 3xBod in armor before being encumbered. Between the mobility mod (Military armor only), Strength mod (again military armor only), gelpacks and softweave a Body 3 and Str 2 character can manage to get  17/15 (Medium Mil Armor) with no penalty. Stacking armor he could get up to 11 without suffering penalties.

Of course if you're running around with a high body and/or character, you can get Steampunk Suit (7/7) w/ DA Coating (3/1) and Full Form fit (6/2) for 16/10 and look completely casual.

[Mirikon]

Armor mods? Coolness factor? Concepts that don't involve minmaxing the best armor rating you can get?

Some things you can put in Milspec armor that you can't do with a Lined coat, for instance:
Strength Enhancement - Does not count against your augmented max. Start with a troll, add muscle replacement, and give him a claymore. See where I'm going here?

Ruthenium Polymer Coating - Same as with a Chameleon Suit, except much heavier armor.

Chemical Seal - Perfect for when you don't want to deal with toxins spraying in the air.

Vision mods built into the helmet - Ultrasound, etc.

Implant weapons in the armor - Cyberspurs, and other fun things.

In other words, STOCK milspec armor is far too noticable for most situations, true, but when you start customizing it, you can get fun things.

Plus, I have a former Red Samurai who kept his old armor when he escaped the SCIRE.

[Tsuzua]

Military armor is great for low body dudes (low being body 4 or less).  Our technomancer basically lives in a suit of heavy military armor.  And there are some handy widgets you can get.  However, it isn't for being OMG tough! as commonly billed as and actually costs an amount you care about.  That's why I can't get that excited about it.

The Ares HVBR is a beast and worthy option for fire support.  I just don't know how many people use battle rifles in their games (either due to not owning War! or house rules).

Speaking of stuff from War!, don't forget the Hussar.  It's amazingly well armored (armor 18) though anything that'll break though that will almost certainly blow it up.   While it can be a challenge to find, it's actually pretty cheap at 7500Y.  Slap on a GE Heavy Autocannon and it'll vaporize anything it hits.  If you want to save cash, I also like the Flash Flood for dealing with normal dudes.

[UmaroVI]

Yeah, MilSpec is for people who aren't primary combatants - and thus have low body. Stacked armor is better for a serious combatant; milspec is a good way to get medium-high armor with very low body scores, but it caps out.

[Digital_Viking]

Thanks guys - even with some of the minmax ( <3 my efficiency experts out there!) lots of good advice I can pass on to my friend, things I didn't think of. One question about Battle Rifles - do they use Longarms or Automatics? I might have missed it in War! but I saw nothing that said specifically.

[Tsuzua]

Thanks guys - even with some of the minmax ( <3 my efficiency experts out there!) lots of good advice I can pass on to my friend, things I didn't think of. One question about Battle Rifles - do they use Longarms or Automatics? I might have missed it in War! but I saw nothing that said specifically.

It's automatics.  They don't say in War! but it's mentioned as the skill for battle rifles in Gun Heaven. 

[CanRay]

Unless you're using the old term for "Battle Rifle", in which case it's Longarms, and that's a rifle you got from WWI/WWII. 

[JustADude]

Thanks guys - even with some of the minmax ( <3 my efficiency experts out there!) lots of good advice I can pass on to my friend, things I didn't think of. One question about Battle Rifles - do they use Longarms or Automatics? I might have missed it in War! but I saw nothing that said specifically.

It's automatics.  They don't say in War! but it's mentioned as the skill for battle rifles in Gun Heaven.

Actually, IIRC, they say it's treated in all ways as an Assault Rifle, except it uses Sporting Rifle ranges.

[Tsuzua]

Actually, IIRC, they say it's treated in all ways as an Assault Rifle, except it uses Sporting Rifle ranges.

It just says that it can take modifications and accessories like an assault rifle.  The text does compares and contrasts battle and assault rifles fluffwise, but that doesn't mean anything per se.  Now it was almost certain that the skill would be Automatics.  I personally think it should have been Longarms since that skills needs all the love it can get.

[Xzylvador]

Like was said before, Gun Heaven mentions they use Automatics skill.
Of course, that's an optional book and as always, GM's got the last word.

[JustADude]

Actually, IIRC, they say it's treated in all ways as an Assault Rifle, except it uses Sporting Rifle ranges.

It just says that it can take modifications and accessories like an assault rifle.  The text does compares and contrasts battle and assault rifles fluffwise, but that doesn't mean anything per se.  Now it was almost certain that the skill would be Automatics.  I personally think it should have been Longarms since that skills needs all the love it can get.

If a GM house-ruled it to be so, I wouldn't bitch as long as I could shuffle my Automatics skill over to Longarms. Being able to efficiently load out for a heavily modded HVBR + Barrett on the same character =