Operación de armadura (STR)
This broad skill allows a hero to become accustomed to wearing armor, negating some or all of the penalties associated with its use. All types of armor except those listed on TABLE P41: LIGHT-DUTY ARMOR have an action check and Dexterity resistance modifier penalty. Wearing any of these types of armor effectively is difficult unless a character is trained in Armor Operation.
Having just the broad skill allows a hero to reduce the action check and Dexterity resistance modifier penalty of any type of armor by 1 step. An action check penalty can be reduced from +1 to 0, or from +2 to +1, and so on—but this benefit never provides a bonus. A Dexterity resistance modifier penalty can be similarly offset, perhaps returning the character’s resistance modifier to its original value.
A character with the broad skill who is decked out in armor can attempt any actions he wants, though some strenuous physical activities (jumping, running, climbing, etc.) may require an Armor Operation check. In general, an Ordinary result on this skill check indicates a half effect (run at one-half the normal rate, for example), while a Good result or better indicates a full effect (run at the normal rate).
Untrained
For a hero untrained in Armor Operation, an action check and Dexterity resistance modifier penalty associated with any type of armor always applies. An untrained hero can’t do anything but walk and make simple attacks while using any armor that carries an action check and resistance modifier penalty. Simple attacks are just that—no rank benefits, such as the double-strike benefit related to the Melee Weapons specialty skills, can be employed by an untrained character who is wearing cumbersome armor. Also, an untrained character can’t use any type of powered armor.