light armor vs. heavy armor

[Gary Ratchford]

I was wondering if there is some kind of unwritten guideline to assigning armor points (especially in the early game). In other words, if you are a fighter, for instance....should you go for heavy armor early on or both light and heavy armor? or if you are a magic user or thief...should you stay with light armor? I was curious about this, because some rpg's sort of restrict certain classes to certain types of armor, but this game has no such restrictions. I am not a newcomer to rpg's, but, having played a lot of "D&D" like games, with srtict class restrictions....I guess you could say that, as far as this game goes...I sorta feel like a newcomer. Anyway, does anyone have any successful formulas or ideas to share?

[silverkitty]

Well, you can wear any armor as any "class" (since it's a classless RPG, beyond the title and initial skill point), however:

a) you probably don't want to invest more than the first point into armor skills. there are minor benefits to high levels of armor skill, easily outweighed by getting skill in repair or more weapon/magic skills instead. If you intend to go pure melee, you might find a point in both light and heavy allows you to protect yourself cheaper early on, BUT the point in light armor will probably seem like a waste of 3 skill points later in the game.

b) casting of magical elemental and divination spells is limited (when enemies are nearby) to having less than a certain amount of weight (based on strength and possibly also concentration) "on your hands" (i.e. counting weapon and gloves and shield) - so typically anyone magic reliant (including melee people who like to buff a lot) will be switching suits a lot, or just forgoing a shield and possibly gloves (and almost certainly not using heavy gloves).

c) certain challenges are broken if you put on heavy armor. the Untouchable challenge is broken if you put any ANY armor.

For example, my first run I was a mage that wore some armor (some people go with "no armor" and just use spells - especially because of the Untouchable challenge) - so I got a point of light armor because, while I could just as easily wear heavy armor by the game standards, I knew I wanted ultimately to wear light gloves and why spend point on both types?

[Gary Ratchford]

Well, you can wear any armor as any "class" (since it's a classless RPG, beyond the title and initial skill point), however:

a) you probably don't want to invest more than the first point into armor skills. there are minor benefits to high levels of armor skill, easily outweighed by getting skill in repair or more weapon/magic skills instead. If you intend to go pure melee, you might find a point in both light and heavy allows you to protect yourself cheaper early on, BUT the point in light armor will probably seem like a waste of 3 skill points later in the game.

b) casting of magical elemental and divination spells is limited (when enemies are nearby) to having less than a certain amount of weight (based on strength and possibly also concentration) "on your hands" (i.e. counting weapon and gloves and shield) - so typically anyone magic reliant (including melee people who like to buff a lot) will be switching suits a lot, or just forgoing a shield and possibly gloves (and almost certainly not using heavy gloves).

c) certain challenges are broken if you put on heavy armor. the Untouchable challenge is broken if you put any ANY armor.

For example, my first run I was a mage that wore some armor (some people go with "no armor" and just use spells - especially because of the Untouchable challenge) - so I got a point of light armor because, while I could just as easily wear heavy armor by the game standards, I knew I wanted ultimately to wear light gloves and why spend point on both types?

Thanks for the info. I will certainly keep your advice in mind. The "untouchable challenge" is something I never thought about. Being successful at that, would be quite hard indeed. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on this. I think I will start me a new game.

[Gorgon Rider]

Keep in ind you can find books to give you that first skill point free. In my latest run I was lucky enough to find both the heavy armor and light armor skill books early on, so got to use both types. I mixed and matched like a madman. Found it very handy to be able to wear both types.

[KillingMoon]

Keep an eye on your armour rating while you're playing.

I'm a bit new to armour in games in general, and I was surprised to see my defense going down as I put on my first piece of armour - I was unskilled at the time.
It appears the game substracts a few points from your armour rating to start with. You can wear armour without the skill, but then it need to be some decent pieces to outweigh the penalty for being unskilled.
Also bear in mind that armour wears off in combat, so it costs money to wear armour.
Add the encumbrance problems, and you'll understand that you more or less need to know what you're doing if you're starting with armour.

That first point in an armour skill is indeed nice, to get rid of the penalty, but adding more points will only very gradually see your defense improving. It's probably still possible to become a walking fortress, and nice to try and get there, but I would only advise you to do that if you really fancy it. It's very much a choice in this rpg, not a must do thing.

[SpottedShroom]

As far as I can tell, light armor is almost entirely superior to heavy armor. It's available earlier, costs less, and weighs less. The intended advantage of heavy armor is that it increases damage reduction faster, but as currently implemented damage reduction is pretty useless. Upon reflection, though, heavy armor may be easier to find in shops in the middle to late game.

The only time I've taken heavy armor was for my "money is no object" broken levels of mercantile playthrough. After all, it looks cool :)

[KillingMoon]

As far as I can tell, light armor is almost entirely superior to heavy armor.

Yes, that's my observation as well. It needs repair quicker, but when heavy armour needs repair it's very costly.
The damage reduction from heavy armour doesn't seem bigger; once I found two pieces of light armour, a cloak and a torso I think, both armour rating 5, on a dead body in Eastwillow under the well.
That's right at the start of the game, and you wouldn't find any heavy armour better than that soon.