Which Armour Should I Use ?

[Cambo]

Moved from Class Discussion Thread DDO Armour Selector

While an extension of the definitive AC thread I thought it worth while separating as I have seen a lot of threads asking which Armour should I use...and the answer is........it depends....

Basically the Armour you should use can be determined on several factors;
a) Armour Class (Combination of Dex Bonus and Armour Bonus)
b) Armour Restrictions (What proficiencies you have)
c) Skill Penalties (ie. a rogue Fighter wont normally wear +5 Full Plate due to the -5 to sneak, swim etc)
d) Spellcaster Penalty (Arcane Spell Failure)
e) Enhancements on the Armour

Now I cannot make judgments on d) and e) for you but I can help with a) b) c) to help get you the max A/C for your Dex Bonus and Armour proficiency with minimum skill penalty.

I have done this in 2 ways, firstly with the following list of all base armour types and their stats and secondly by creating a MS Access utility where you can input your Dex bonus, max acceptable skill penalty and proficiencies (IE limit armour type if required) and the utility will rank the top 25 Armour's to suit you. The list will include +1 - +5.

I have not included any license to run MS Access if you have MS Access you should be able to use it (I saved it as 97 for compatibility).

Feel free to change it however you like. Download 1.4 from here
Ver 1.1 Static Loot Option, Ver 1.2 Added Darkleaf Ver 1.3 Added Vendor Armour and allowance for armour mastery Enhancements
Ver 1.4 removed Darkleaf Breastplate, Added all named armour and robes from current (10th Jan 07) Definitive Static Rewards and Unique Chest Loot thread.

The A/C Armour Type List

Table originally posted by grimblackblade I have added "Mithral" & "Darkleaf" (Thanks RAM) armour versions as these base material impacts your Dex bonus (ie higher AC) and added ASF of all armour and expanded a little on the data.

AB=Armour Bonus DB=Dex Bonus SCP=Skill Check Penalty
ASF% = Archean Spell Failure % AC=Max Armour Class (+5)=+5 Version

. . . . . . . . . . /AB /DB /SCP /AC /(+5) /ASF
Light Armor
Leather Armour....../ 2 / 6 / 0. / 8 /(13) /10%
Studded Leather...../ 3 / 5 / 0. / 8 /(13) /15%
Chain Shirt........./ 4 / 4 / -1 / 8 /(13) /20%
Padded Armour......./ 1 / 8 / 0. / 9 /(14) / 5%
Elven Chainmal....../ 5 / 4 / -1 / 9 /(14) /20%
Mithral Chain Shirt./ 4 / 6 / 0. / 10/(15) /10%
Mithral Breastplate./ 5 / 5 / 0. / 10/(15) /15%

Medium Armor
Chainmail.........../ 5 / 2 / -4 / 7 /(12) /30%
Hide Armour........./ 3 / 4 / -2 / 7 /(12) /20%
Scalemail.........../ 7 / 0 / -3 / 7 /(12) /25%
Breastplate........./ 5 / 3 / -3 / 8 /(13) /25%
Brigandine........../ 5 / 3 / -3 / 8 /(13) /35%
Darkleaf Bandedmail./ 6 / 2 / -3 / 8 /(13) /30%
Mithral Splintmail../ 6 / 2 / -3 / 8 /(13) /30%
Mithral HalfPlate.../ 7 / 2 / -1 / 9 /(14) /30%
Mithral FullPlate.../ 8 / 3 / -2 / 11/(16) /25%

Heavy Armor
Splintmail........../ 6 / 0 / -6 / 6 /(11) /40%
Half Plate........../ 7 / 0 / -4 / 7 /(12) /40%
Banded Mail........./ 6 / 1 / -5 / 7 /(12) /35%
Full Plate........../ 8 / 1 / -5 / 9 /(14) /35%

NB: when selecting an armour type to look for be aware that if you reach medium encumbrance your max Dex bonus will drop to 3 (including when wearing robes - particularly of not for halfling dex based characters ie. low str & 2/4 carry capacity of halfling).

ASF
ASF from Shields and armor Stack
Bards ignore ASF for bard spells while wearing light armor (but not shields)

No Armor

• At about 30Dex (+10 Dex Bonus) it may be better to move to robes;
• You may benefit from Armored bracers up to +7 (+7 are rare) or Mage Armour Spell +4
• At 28 Dexterity with +7 Armoured bracers you can match the best AC of any armour (Without armour enhancements)
• It's great to enable a Quick switch in of Robe Enhancements

Of course I have neglected the all important issue of "how it looks" which totally supersedes A/C and this post...I know it is totally uncool to wear ugly armour, unless of course you play a Dwarf with 6 Charisma.

Armour Prefix and Suffix Definitions work in progress.

Amour Base Material - all materials are mutually exclusive

• Mithral.-Mithral (Elven) increases the Max Dex Bonus by 2, Reduces Skill Penalty by 3, reduces armour type by 1 (eg Medium to light), and Reduces ASF by 10%
• Darkleaf - Darkleaf increases the Max Dex Bonus by 1, Reduces Skill Penalty by 2, reduces armour type by 1 class (eg Medium to light), and Reduces ASF by 5%. (It has been suggested that Druids can wear Darkleaf Bandedmail without spell failure)
• Darkweave - TBA
• Adamantine - Damage Reduction Light DR1/Medium DR2/Heavy DR3
• Flametouched Iron - +1 (resistance bonus) to saves vs Evil spell attacks (non stacking with resistance item or stability)
• Blueshine - Makes the armour immune to acid and rust and grants +3 to hide skill

Prefixes - all prefixes mutually exclusive

• Deathblock - Protects from Death spells (e.g. Finger of Death)
• Fearsome - Causes Fear in attacker when a hit is scored (Save vs Fear)
• Fire Guard, lesser/ guard- 1d4/1d6/1d8 Fire damage to attacker when hit Also Available in Lightning, Cold, sonic and Acid versions
• Twilight - Reduces ASF by 10% (Stacks with Mithral & Darkleaf)***
• Mobility - Grants the mobility feat while wearing armour (ie +4 AC when Tumbling)

Suffixes - all suffixes are mutually exclusive

• Fire Resistance, Lesser, Improved, Greater - 3/10/20/30 Fire Damage Reduction Also Available in Lightning, Cold, Sonic and Acid versions.
• Invulnerability - DR/5 Magic
• Power I-X - 10 - 90 spell points (10 per power point)**
• Magi - 100 Spell Points**
• Silent Moves, Improved, Greater - +5/10/15 to Move Silently Skill
• Shadow, Improved, Greater - +5/10/15 to Hide In Shadow Skill
• Stability - +2 Deflection bonus, +2 resistance (Saves) Niether bonus stacks with other deflection (protection) and save bonus (True Neutral characers Only)
• Greater Stability (Named Item only) - +4 Deflection bonus, +4 resistance (Saves) Niether bonus stacks with other deflection (protection) and save bonus (True Neutral characters Only)
• Fortification - Light, Moderate, Heavy 25,75,100% protection from critical hit damage and sneak attack damage.
• AxeBlock - DR 5/Piercing, Bludgeoning
• SpearBlock - DR 5/Slashing, Bludgeoning
• HammerBlock - DR 5/Slashing, Piercing
• Spell Resistance (x) - Provides X spell resistance
• False Life - Lesser/False Life/Improved 5/10/20 additional hit points
• Command - +2 all Cha (non stacking) based skill -6 hide
• Wizardry I/II/III/IV/V/VI - 25 spell points per Wizardy Level (ie VI = 150)**
• Any Spell in 1,3 or 5 Click Types - In theory it could be any spell, but I have never seen Raise Dead or Cure spells on armour...Types seen include (Haste, Stat boosts, tumble, jump, inflict wounds, bless solid fog, web, mage armour, poison, doom, bane, prayer, divine power, divine grace, invisibility, lesser restore, shield)

**Power, Magi and Wizardry do not stack from items

Now you know which armour you want, Where do you get it ?

All standard armour can be found at vendors up to +1 (Not Mithral/Elven) otherwise you need to go treasure hunting, or go to the Auction House.

Named Loot Armour and Locations
Already Listed in the MS Access Database or the Definitive Static Rewards & Named Loot thread

Named Loot Armour may differ from the standard amrour properties and have different pre-fix and suffixes not avaiable to random drops (e.g. Stinkpelt's Hide is hide armour with 6 Max Dex Bonus, Thats 2 more than normal but has a -1 Cha penalty).

I'll put the list here one day soon.

[Viglin]

Very Very nice list, especially useful to those who dont know pnp rules.

[Cambo]

Hey Vig,
Saw a lot of other people like you, Cforce, The Cataclysm and others providing resources that I use so thought I would try and return the effort.

Thanks for the feedback, good to hear its on the right track.
Hope the family are well.

Note to all: All feedback is welcomed to improve this post.

[Matuse]

Just a couple of corrections, under the material types, you have Medium armor listed twice, the last one should ready Heavy, DR:3.

Also, "Stability" is a suffix, not a prefix.

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by Matuse

Just a couple of corrections, under the material types, you have Medium armor listed twice, the last one should ready Heavy, DR:3.

Also, "Stability" is a suffix, not a prefix.

Thanks...Fixed in a jif..was a bit late when doing some of this...

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by Conejo

every type of armor has a different ASF value.
not all Light armor is 15%, etc etc.

Padded 5%
Leather 10%
Studded Leather 15%
Chain Shirt 20%
Hide 20%
Breastplate 25%
Scalemail 25%
Chainmail 30%
Banded Mail 35%
Full Plate 35%
Splint Mail 40%
Half Plate 40%

Buckler 5%
Light Shield 5%
Heavy Shield 15%
Tower Shield 50%


Mithril reduces metal armor/shields by 10%
Twilight reduces any armor/shields (including mithril) by 10%
ASF from Shields and armor Stack.
Bards ignore ASF while wearing light armor (but not shields)

Thanks Conejo

[UtherSRG]

Originally Posted by Cambo

AxeBlock - Blocks 5pts Slash damage
SpearBlock - Blocks 5pts Pierce damage
HammerBlock - Blocks 5pts Bludgeon damage

This is not quite true. It's really....
AxeBlock - DR 5/Piercing, Bludgeoning
SpearBlock - DR 5/Slashing, Bludgeoning
HammerBlock - DR 5/Slashing, Piercing

The reason for the distinction is that in DDO (unlike PnP), DR affects all damage types. AxeBlock blocks 5 points off *all* damage types, except Piercing and Bludgeoning. If the only damage you are taking is not P or B, the first 5 points are ignored.

[Cambo]

Thanks Uther

[liamfrancais]

will a protection necklace or armor bracers stack with an armors bonus and or together. In other words is a +5 protection necklace the same as +5 armor bracers? I know the bracers don't give you +10 when worn with +5 armor so are they only useful when wearing a robe?

[Cambo]

Armour Bracers is the same as armour bonus on armour and will stack with protection.

protection items do not stack with shield of faith

I currrently have +5 armour bracers +11 dex bonus and +5 protection cloak and +2 natural armour ring (invaders reward) for an unbuffed ac of 33.

[liamfrancais]

Thanks for the info cambo and nice ac by the way. I have been trying different configurations and like the +4 protection neclace with +5 nightforge plate for ac but have to sacrafice +5 con bonus and 30 hp to wear it so I will keep tweeking.

[Cambo]

For a more comprehensive list of Armour Class and equipment / enhancments and magic items to increase it see the Definitive AC Thread.

I've tried to expand on pruely things of an armour nature here, no need reinventing someone elses good work.

[Borror0]

Hey Cambo, even though on wikify this? Would save you some explanation, would make it clearer? Don't cha think?

Very nice guide I must say. I don't have to add everything I'd like on the wiki, but I'd like to ask you if you could! That guide is really cool, and I think the wiki format could improve it!

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by Borror0

Hey Cambo, even though on wikify this? Would save you some explanation, would make it clearer? Don't cha think?

Very nice guide I must say. I don't have to add everything I'd like on the wiki, but I'd like to ask you if you could! That guide is really cool, and I think the wiki format could improve it!

Thanks Borro,
Looked at the wikki and little confused..it would mean breaking up all the data I have consilidated above. I consolidated it cause its handier all together not spread over 4-5 clicks.

Ill look at again with an open mind after ive had some sleep...might be just a bit addled right now

NB RE Edit Just added Blueshine and mobility..

[The_Cataclysm]

Originally Posted by Cambo

NB RE Edit Just added Blueshine and mobility..

Blueshine is actually a prefix.

[Borror0]

Originally Posted by Cambo

Thanks Borro,
Looked at the wikki and little confused..it would mean breaking up all the data I have consilidated above. I consolidated it cause its handier all together not spread over 4-5 clicks.

Ill look at again with an open mind after ive had some sleep...might be just a bit addled right now

NB RE Edit Just added Blueshine and mobility..

Not really "breaking it down", well kinda. Lots of it would go in one page... but would hvae to written in other pages to. Some will simply figure elsewhere as they totally belong on a different page, but they will be in the "See also" at the bottom. Don't worry, I'll help you with this!

The biggest attrait of the wiki is that someone going: What the heck is ASF could click on ASF and learn what it is, save explanation.

When I talked about breaking information, I mostly meant breaking the Preffix and Suffix into a different page. That page would be this one. However, imagine it has a better layout and everything is up to date!

You talked about wanting to have all the information in one place, but the wiki is the same place, and you can explain even more. You can't start explaining asics in your guide, as it would make it hard to follow, on the wiki a simple [[word]] and you're done. Now, image the equipment page, but with all the information on Sacrement's weapon attribute guide, all the information on The Cataclysm's Unique Loot guide, all the information on Sani Medicor's guide to Clothing enhancement!

Now, link the Quest section with the unique loot, create categories for each weapon attribute so we can find them better. The possibilities are infinite! The wiki has an huge potential. but for now it is an huge mess, trying to clean up and update.. but I cannot do this alone, or it'll take too long. That's why I'm asking for help. I thought picking people that made guides is logical as those people already have the will to sacrifice so free time to help the community.

So, what ya think?

[Cambo]

Sounds good Borro
Will look at it again and help out.

This stuff is kinda irrelevant for people who have been here a while but invaluable to newbies.

How do we ensure newbies know about the wiki ?

Cambo

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by The Cataclysm

Blueshine is actually a prefix.

Thanks

[Borror0]

Originally Posted by Cambo

Sounds good Borro
Will look at it again and help out.

This stuff is kinda irrelevant for people who have been here a while but invaluable to newbies.

How do we ensure newbies know about the wiki ?

Cambo

The best solution is to talk about it a lot. I mean, how would they learn about your guide?

The trick is, if we can gather enough information on the wiki, they'd only have to hear abut it once. Say, a newb ask a question about, say Armor Class on the newbie forum. I answer with a link to the wiki. Now, that newb might try to search the wiki next time he has a question. Also, maybe that friend will talk to his other friend and guildies about the wiki. So, next time they'll have a question, they'll know where to look.

The hard part is to attract enough editors to the wiki. Without editors, the wiki is nothing. Currenty, I ca say we have... 5 steady editors. Now, those editors mostly concentrate on a specific section. Say we get an editor or two for each section, we'd be golden.

For example, I concentrate on major reformating, structuration, filling missing pages, enhancements since they need major updating (most of them are left at pre-mod 3.3). One guy takes care of the Wilderness Adventure Areas. Peerless makes Templates and such for us, but he doesn't play the game. NameisToad newbie/ general stuff, like the Glossary. Now, if we get someone willing to enter data about equipments, we'd have an other section that'd be updated.

You see, a newbie might not know about the wiki at first, but I've seen ppl not knowing what AC was at about lv 7... The point is, the more information we have, the more we will attract, the more we'll be accurate. See how the guides here are up to date, we could do the same on the wiki, and even better since the wiki format allows better explanation.

Now, once I'm done with that annoying Multiclass page (I'm working on it since a while and I'm sick of it, really long. But I'm more than halfway done the total revamp of it so no point to stop.), I'll move onto the Newbie Guides. I'll make sure to give a link to the information you will provide us.

Now, the best way to make the wii know, is to talk about it. I link to the wiki everytime I can, if the information is up to date and true. If not, I add it to my to-do list. The best way someone can help, if he doesn't want to go on heavy editing, is to view the Recent Changes and correct anything he finds inaccurate and add missing information.

EDIT: I see you have regisetred on the wiki. Please fill the edit summary when you change something.