- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
I have a feeling that you are capable of choosing the character you wish to play as. If you watch many of the videos that deal with Firefight, you'll see when they are in the lobby, or in game, they have the nicknames "MCKY," which is of course for Mickey. "ROME," for of course Romeo. "DUCH," for Dutch, and so on.
I believe you get to choose your character, and then what they mean by armor permutations is that you'll be able to change things like their chest plates, shoulders, and so on. It'll still be the character, just change different parts of their armor.
Also if you watch another one of the demos, the person says as you're playing Firefight you'll be able to experience each ODST's first person dialog, each ODST has their own unique dialog they use for Firefight.
Though of course that's just my take on it from watching all the videos.