Combat skin: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

(Cleaned up organization of the page.)
Line 3: Line 3:
{{Cleanup}}
{{Cleanup}}


'''Combat Skin''' is a Forerunner term used to talk about body armor. It is presumed to have a classification system from Class 1 to at least Class 12.  There may be more higher classes after 12.  According to [[343 Guilty Spark]], the [[MJOLNIR armour]] is ranked on this scale as Class 2.<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], page 240</ref>
'''Combat Skin''' is a Forerunner term relating to body armor (either generally or in reference to powered armor). The Forerunners had a classification system for combat skins, running from Class 1 to at least Class 12.  According to [[343 Guilty Spark]], the [[MJOLNIR armour]] is ranked on this scale as Class 2.<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], page 240</ref>


==Armor of the Forerunner==
==Armor of the Forerunner==


Not much is known about Combat Skin. It first comes up in [[Halo]] in the level [[Library (Level)|Library]] when [[343 Guilty Spark]] wonders why the [[Master Chief]] had brought "such ineffective weapons" to combat the [[Flood]], and recommends that the Chief upgrades from the [[MJOLNIR armor]], which, according to some Forerunner ranking system, the criteria of which is not gone into, is only '''Class 2'''. (Note: This takes place before the upgrade mentioned in the beginning of the Halo 2 game). Guilty Spark suggests Master Chief that he upgrade to a '''Class 12 Combat Skin''', which he says is necessary to combat the Flood.
Not much is known about Combat Skin. The term first comes up in [[Halo]] in the level [[Library (Level)|Library]] when [[343 Guilty Spark]] wonders why the [[Master Chief]] had brought "such ineffective weapons" to combat the [[Flood]], and recommends that the Chief upgrades from the [[MJOLNIR armor]], which, according to some Forerunner ranking system, the criteria of which is not gone into, is only '''Class 2'''. (Note: This takes place before the upgrade mentioned in the beginning of the Halo 2 game). Guilty Spark suggests Master Chief that he upgrade to a '''Class 12 Combat Skin''', which he says is necessary to combat the Flood.


==What Does the Class System Mean==
This implies that the Forerunners made extensive use of armor, presumably powered armor, to the extent where there were at least twelve ranks of effectiveness or usability.


Due to the fact that not much information is known about Combat skin, there is some debate on what exactly the Combat Skin refers to.  The confusion is made worse by various quotes from the halo Universe:
==What Does the Class System Mean?==


As shown above, 343 says that Master Chief should upgrade his armor, thus referring to Combat Skin as a type of armor where the MJOLNIR armor is Class 2. However, 343 later talks about the Flood changing the atmosphere and says "Your Environment Suit should serve you well..." implying that the MJOLNIR armor in Forerunner terms is an Environment Suit. This could also mean that a Class 12 Combat Skin isn't stronger than a Class 2, simply a Class 12 is the ideal Skin for combating the flood, while the Class 2 works well as an Environment Suit. The differing nomenclature has led some to believe that the two items 343 refers to are different, i.e. your armor is what he refers to as the 'Environment Suit', and your 'Combat Skin' is the Chief's flesh and body. However, this too is contradicted when in [[Halo: The Flood]] the Master Chief, upon hearing this he should upgrade from Class 2 to 12, thinks, "If there's a battle suit six times more powerful than the MJOLNIR armor, I'll be first in line to try it on," perhaps implying that the Combat Skin classes are indeed ranked according to strength, although this is simply the Chief's opinion on the meaning. It could also suggest that the Master Chief's armour is a class 2 combat skin, but serves as an 'Environment Suit' as well.<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], page 240</ref> this can also be sugested by the fact that the MJOLNIR armor is used for combat (combat skin) but has a supply of oxygen for 'enviornments' lacking thereof (enviornment suit).
Because so little is mentioned about combat skins, there is much speculation about exactly what the combat skin rating indicates. The obvious interpretation is that the combat skin ranking system measures raw power, and that a class 12 combat skin is 10 ranks higher in protection and power than a class 2. This happens to be Master Chief's interpretation; "If there's a battle suit six times more powerful than the MJOLNIR armor, I'll be first in line to try it on."<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], page 240</ref>


Another set of theories is that 'Combat Skin' seems to be ranked on power. One could also assume it's a synonym for 'Environment Suit', or possibly a suit of armor can be one or both of these. For example a class 2 and a class 12 could serve the same purpose as an 'Environment Suit', while the class 12 is just much more powerful as a 'Combat Skin'. Class 12 'Combat Skin's could be better in both categories, and perhaps the 343 was just implying it was better than nothing. Bungie would probably go with the most literal interpretation, that being that the suits are ranked on power in general, 1 being the least powerful and 12 being the most powerful.
Another interpretation is that the class system does not measure raw power, but rather classifies armor by its role. Later in the game, 343 talks about the Flood changing the atmosphere and says "Your Environment Suit should serve you well..." It could be a class 2 combat skin functions well as an environment suit, whereas a class 12 combat skin is specifically designed for combating the Flood.
 
The difference in nomenclature has led some to believe that the two items 343 refers to are different, i.e. armor is an "environment suit" and the body is the "combat skin."  Another theory posits that "environment suit" and "combat skin" could be synonyms; another states that a combat skin may also be an environment suit. An example: a HAZMAT suit is an environment suit, but has no further use in combat, while a suit of Kevlar provides physical protection but no environmental protection. The Master Chief's "combat skin" also functions as an "environment suit;" this can overlap with other theories, as a useful environment suit may lack in either pure power or suitability for its role in combat.


==Sources==  
==Sources==  

Revision as of 05:06, June 12, 2007


Help.png
This article does not meet the wiki's general standards and/or standards on layouts. You can help by cleaning this article.

Combat Skin is a Forerunner term relating to body armor (either generally or in reference to powered armor). The Forerunners had a classification system for combat skins, running from Class 1 to at least Class 12. According to 343 Guilty Spark, the MJOLNIR armour is ranked on this scale as Class 2.[1]

Armor of the Forerunner

Not much is known about Combat Skin. The term first comes up in Halo in the level Library when 343 Guilty Spark wonders why the Master Chief had brought "such ineffective weapons" to combat the Flood, and recommends that the Chief upgrades from the MJOLNIR armor, which, according to some Forerunner ranking system, the criteria of which is not gone into, is only Class 2. (Note: This takes place before the upgrade mentioned in the beginning of the Halo 2 game). Guilty Spark suggests Master Chief that he upgrade to a Class 12 Combat Skin, which he says is necessary to combat the Flood.

This implies that the Forerunners made extensive use of armor, presumably powered armor, to the extent where there were at least twelve ranks of effectiveness or usability.

What Does the Class System Mean?

Because so little is mentioned about combat skins, there is much speculation about exactly what the combat skin rating indicates. The obvious interpretation is that the combat skin ranking system measures raw power, and that a class 12 combat skin is 10 ranks higher in protection and power than a class 2. This happens to be Master Chief's interpretation; "If there's a battle suit six times more powerful than the MJOLNIR armor, I'll be first in line to try it on."[2]

Another interpretation is that the class system does not measure raw power, but rather classifies armor by its role. Later in the game, 343 talks about the Flood changing the atmosphere and says "Your Environment Suit should serve you well..." It could be a class 2 combat skin functions well as an environment suit, whereas a class 12 combat skin is specifically designed for combating the Flood.

The difference in nomenclature has led some to believe that the two items 343 refers to are different, i.e. armor is an "environment suit" and the body is the "combat skin." Another theory posits that "environment suit" and "combat skin" could be synonyms; another states that a combat skin may also be an environment suit. An example: a HAZMAT suit is an environment suit, but has no further use in combat, while a suit of Kevlar provides physical protection but no environmental protection. The Master Chief's "combat skin" also functions as an "environment suit;" this can overlap with other theories, as a useful environment suit may lack in either pure power or suitability for its role in combat.

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 240
  2. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 240

Related Links