How does armor work in Solar Echoes? (part 4)

Armor isn't always appropriate for every situation encountered in Solar Echoes, so characters will need to make important choices on missions. For instance, if characters are undercover, attending a formal dinner banquet wearing obvious armor will expose the operatives for who they are. Sometimes dressing in civilian clothing is necessary to carry out the careful planning of a delicate mission, so characters will have to improvise if the situation suddenly turns hostile. In other scenarios, the toughest, most protective armor might be entirely impractical—if characters need to swim, for instance, bulky armor may make that impossible and increase the risk of drowning. Despite circumstances, characters need to protect themselves. This is where talents and the use of cover can make a huge difference. Some talents, like Impromptu Shield, allow you to use an object from your immediate environment to protect yourself from an attack. Using your environment is key to reducing or entirely avoiding damage, and cover can not only make it more difficult to hit you, but it can also serve as a form of damage reduction. For instance, if you have ducked down behind a large chunk of ice, the ice itself will provide armor 2 with a hardness of 10. Even a piece of glass provides some protection, affording you armor 1 with hardness 2, though of course the after-effects of shattering glass might cause more problems. Utilizing cover can make a big difference in a battle, especially if you find yourself in a firefight without any armor.