Can anyone give me a rational in-universe reason for the KoJ having an objectively better power armour than Jeanne d'Arc when she's a top-shelf product for the Neo-Vatican?
There's no need to look for a rational reason, CB only works by following the rule of cool, the reflex reproduction of pop culture, and sometimes commercial imperatives. If there were rationality, there wouldn't be so many units, which leads to the problem of having different styles that are really perceptible, or that are different even though they're the same unit (orcs or intruders, for example), like the meme narration of orcs, aquilas and knight fathers that all look alike. Faced with the workload, Gutier must not have much time to give to rewriting the whole universe with each change, of which there are many. Otherwise I'd point out that there's a story AI, Sybilla, that CB did for the series, I asked your question as is and here's what she said: https://infinityuniverse.ai/ Hi, I am the Infinite Assistant, an Artificial Intelligence answering players' questions about the Infinity Universe //USER ID:1829481/10-A | DATE 20250114/18:28 Can anyone give me a rational in-universe reason for the KoJ having an objectively better power armour than Jeanne d'Arc when she's a top-shelf product for the Neo-Vatican? //DATA BASE INTELLIGENCE | DATE 20250114/18:28 In the HumanSphere universe, the Knights of Justice (KoJ) are equipped with advanced experimental armor, like the ORC Armiger MkIV, which is designed for increased mobility and close combat efficiency. This armor is a result of a special training and technology-upgrading program aimed at enhancing the survival and combat capabilities of these elite units. While Joan of Arc is indeed a top-shelf product for the Neo-Vatican and excels in leadership and adaptability, her equipment, including the lighter mobility armor, is balanced for strategic versatility rather than purely for raw combat effectiveness. Thus, the KoJ's armor might be objectively better in terms of combat specifications due to its specific development focus on engaging and surviving in high-risk tactical roles.
It isn't. Troopers stats can reflect the arms and armament they use. In this case, Jeanne's power armour (which could rely on an array of sensors, HUD, software, and cube uplink technology to provide those stats, equipment, skills, etc.) may be giving her extremely advanced/experimental targeting systems (BS15 and X-Visor), servo-musculature (PH15), life support (NWI), combat awareness (Tactical Awareness), and freedom of movement (Martial Arts Lvl3). Her armour could be a one-off, a highly experimental prototype that no human could ever hope to pilot because of the physical or mental demands it requires of its user. In comparison, the KoJ's armour could be using more proven (but still extremely advanced) technology that is easier to manufacture and operates more within the confines of human limitations. Under those design constraints, they found a way to boost the environmental protection more than any other PanOceanian armour to date. In the Infinity universe, armour isn't just your ARM/BTS stat.
MA is decoupled from the armour the models have. Even if we assume it's connected there are loads of models that have an odd relation like HI with high MA and LI also with high MA, etc., etc. There's also Wizzy's post that implies that it's an experimental suit designed for close combat The KoJ also has BS 14 which implies a super veteran knight, which implies that she would have 15 even with it. I can easily understand the gameplay reason since she would be extremely expensive with that armour and I'm unsure if she would be worth the cost. The closest that makes sense is Wizzy's "It's an experimental suit," and then the question would be how long it would have to be in test. The armour has been in test for over half a decade now. At some point, it's no longer a prototype.
The design of her Armor is meant to be Inspiring first, practical second. It is more important for her to be seen than to keep her protected.
Don't know... Jeanne has several stats better than KoJ and a different set of skills... If we take that as a whole, maybe the Jeanne's amour or battle suit is better than the one the KoJ has. As others said before I do, don't look only at ARM and BTS.
