Looking at how the armor and class system works nowdays and
how simplistic it is. I felt it could improve a lot just by adding some deep and customization to the way it works.
Atm we have a single type of armor for every class in the game, padded, leather, chain, scale and plate. and the only way to get a mix is to run 2 classes, let say a swordman using t2 vanguar armor for the extra slash resist.
The idea i had was to make armor layered and usable across classes with certain restrictions. and make the crafter make a full set of armor/layer on each craft, instead of making every part of the set.
Each layer of armor giving a specific protection, with some kind of diminishing return for balance.
For this system to work a rework on wounds/fractures/bleeding will have to be done aswell.
And damage done reduced for people using 1 hand wep and shield
first lets separete the armors by kind:
The gambesons (padded armor)
Leather armor
Lamellar armor (basically leather, with metallic parts)
Hauberk (chain mail)
Scale armor
half plate (medium armor with plates atatched to critical spots)
Full plate (the medieval tank favourite)
Every of this having light, medium and heavy variants for the sake of feeling the progresion of leveling from a class to the next.
so, lets add some depth
Gambesons, chain and leather armor are first layer, they are really light and dependant on wich kind of defense you prioritice.
The gambeson providing an even resistance to all kind of damage while the leather giving more resistance to piercing/slash but less to chopp/blunt, and chain giving really good slash/piercing but none to blunt.
Gambeson
slash: 8%
Piercing: 8%
Chop: 10%
Blunt: 10%
Leather
slash: 13%
piercing: 13%
Chop: 5%
blunt: 5%
Chain
slash: 15%
piercing 15%
chop 6%
blunt 0%
So now we have a choise to do go for the more even defense or get the extra protection for certain class of damage.
Now the second layer armor, will be balanced per class and weight
Lamellar have the lowest impact on movement speed accross all second layer armor.
giving mediocre defense vs piercing/slash but a bit more against chop/blunt
Scale is a bit heavier than lamellar , have a medium penalty to move speed, giving a bit more protection in general but getting more damage from blunt and gives some problems if the warrior try to shot while wearing it.
The half and the full plate armors are the heaviest ones, they give lots of slash/piercing/chop resist but are weak against blunt damage and also limit the turning speed (speed damage bonus) a little and really screw the aiming of the warrior using them.
second layer armor will be the one setting your play style
Go full archer with a light armor that gives little protection but allows you to snipe. get a scale one, more protection but worse aim, or go yolo shoting anywere in your shiny full plate.
Be a pikeman fully equiped to fight lancers but get rekt by someone with a hammer or axe
Go full berserk in your full plate while you run at mediocre speed but looking at how everything just bounce of your armor. or just run arround in your light armor evading being hit while you screw your enemies with your gigant axe,
armor stats will have to be checked but im just trowing an idea, want to know what you guys think about my little wall of text.
