Does the Armor Storm soldier's enhanced tank ability give you a free suit of armor?

[Ravingdork]

Some in my group are under the impression that it does, while others are adamant that it does not.

If so, how might it interact with Starfinder Armory's upgrade options for powered armor? Can they upgrade it for free each level as part of this ability? Or do they just get a free level 5 armor at 5th-level and have to upgrade it normally (paying appropriate costs and whatnot) thereafter?

[Zoggy Grav]

Uh, no.

It gives you a free upgrade SLOT on whatever armor you are wearing, which you can fill with a half-price upgrade. It doesn't upgrade your armor to a different armor type or model.

Like, I wear Golemforged III, with 2 upgrade slots. I have Infrared Sensors and an Electrostatic Field. But since I am a level 5 Armor Storm Soldier, I get a third slot, for which I buy a Thermal Capacitor for 1900 credits (half of the normal cost of 3800).

[SirShua]

No free set of armor. The ability simply says you gain the power armor proficiency, and any armor you acquire you can add one additional upgrade slot. Upgrades in that slot are half the normal cost. This is the "access to improved armor".

[Name Violation]

Ravingdork wrote:

Some in my group are under the impression that it does, while others are adamant that it does not.

If so, how might it interact with Starfinder Armory's upgrade options for powered armor? Can they upgrade it for free each level as part of this ability? Or do they just get a free level 5 armor at 5th-level and have to upgrade it normally (paying appropriate costs and whatnot) thereafter?

Enhanced Tank (Ex) 5th Level

You gain the Powered Armored Proficiency feat and access to improved armor. This might be the result of your own engineering abilities, having earned the trust of contacts that can get you experimental equipment, or a powerful patron giving you gear not available to the general public to help you achieve mutual goals. You can add one more upgrade to your armor than its normal maximum number of upgrade slots. If you add this bonus upgrade to heavy armor, you can select an upgrade normally limited to powered armor. An upgrade placed in this bonus slot costs half the normal credit amount.

Where is the implication that it gives a free set of armor?

[Ravingdork]

Name Violation wrote:

Where is the implication that it gives a free set of armor?

You gain...access to improved armor. This might be the result of your own engineering abilities, having earned the trust of contacts that can get you experimental equipment, or a powerful patron giving you gear not available to the general public.

[Name Violation]

Ravingdork wrote:

Name Violation wrote:

Where is the implication that it gives a free set of armor?

You gain...access to improved armor. This might be the result of your own engineering abilities, having earned the trust of contacts that can get you experimental equipment, or a powerful patron giving you gear not available to the general public.

Having access =/= getting a free suit of armor. The bonus is the extra item slot and n upgrade for half price.

You can add one more upgrade to your armor than its normal maximum number of upgrade slots. If you add this bonus upgrade to heavy armor, you can select an upgrade normally limited to powered armor. An upgrade placed in this bonus slot costs half the normal credit amount.

This is "crunch". The the half price upgrade is what it calls out providing as a game mechanic. The rest is the "fluff" making it sound nice for the roleplay aspect. If the intent was to give you a free set of armor it would have been worded in a way to make this more obvious.

[Name Violation]

Option b is it does give you free armor. Buuuuuuut there isn't any listed limitation of item level or cost, so free level 20 armor for all 5th level armorstorms.