Topic: Favorite Armor Type

[Pittfiend]

I was reading through alot of the "Problems with Arms Law" and I was just wondering what most people prefer to use.  I personally use AT 4 for almost all my characters. Generally you don't get hit until a 90+ roll. There are often other AT that get crtis on lower rolls.  The only draw backs I find with it is it has a higher max damage/crit and animal attacks.  But for "normal" rolls and weapons it works fine.
What is your favorite armor type and why?

[Apeman]

Go big or go home...

From a purely survival perspective (I am not afraid to kill off PC's), my players (those who survived any length of time) either went big with AT 20 or stayed with AT 1.  Anyone in between did so for Roleplaying purposes and generally had a grand old time with their dying gasp from a crit that wouldn't have happened if they had gone AT 20 or stuck with AT 1.

[Ecthelion]

Favourite ATs are 10 and 14, for Fighters AT 18. All still offer acceptable maneuver and Qu penalties.

Pittfiend: AT 4 for normal characters is IMO not contained in the rules. Instead AT 3 & 4 are described as animal hides. When producing armor from such hides, the resulting armor gives protection of AT 9 or 10. Or is there somewhere in the (core) rules an armor that can be purchased normally and that grants AT 4?

[Fidoric]

I think you are right Ecthelion. AT3 & 4 are specifically living animals AT. With their hides, you can produce either soft leather armors (AT 5-8) or rigid leather (AT 9 & 10). AT 11 & 12 are also living animals hides.
Otherwise AT 12 would be my favorite.

[markc]

 I have shifted characters to AT2 instead of AT1, so the most common are chain AT13 and leather AT5.

MDC

[yammahoper]

Depends on character type, but I start out fighter types in 13/14 and move up to 17/18 first chance I get.  But I use a very smooth rank devolpment scheme to maximize my development usually, so i dont get inot the plate until 4th-5th level, with exceptoins of course.

In the 10' Pole book, a padded cloth armor is sold as AT 3.

I don't run a lot of settings were AT 20 is available or appropriate, but I do like having it when I can.

lynn

[Ecthelion]

In the 10' Pole book, a padded cloth armor is sold as AT 3.

Yes, I have seen this. But we never use this as IMHO this gives the "no armor" users too big an advantage. If AT 3 would be allowed there would probably be almost no good reason to develop any ranks in the leather armor types.

[MidKnight]

For our group...

AT-14 & AT-18

[yammahoper]

In the 10' Pole book, a padded cloth armor is sold as AT 3.

Yes, I have seen this. But we never use this as IMHO this gives the "no armor" users too big an advantage. If AT 3 would be allowed there would probably be almost no good reason to develop any ranks in the leather armor types.

I agree and have never used it either.  The other poster may want to continue to allow AT 3-4 so I thought a little "official" rule type data might help support his position to do so.

Hey, if I played at his table, I would LOVE it and happpily consider a no armor sneaky or semi spell user (I normally play pures, don't care for semis because if ya wanna cast spells and rely on magic, why rely on anything else?).

lynn

[PiXeL01]

depending on characters actually. Lately though I have found myself in 9s and 10s when I have time to get those greaves on (a Montebanc and a Cleric). For fighters I would go 17/18, for casters at1. My magician was working up skill in trancendence to get a at13 on, but then he took a heavy bolt in the eye.

[Pittfiend]

Ok, so I did some reading and the AT3 and 4 are indeed for living animals.  When i was younger and my dad was the GM he let us have AT4, but usually made us work for it. I guess I never realized he was letting us bend the rules a bit.
So when I wasn't "cheating" I use 9

[vroomfogle]

I've done the same thing as markc - no one is AT 1, basic clothing/robes/whatnot is AT 2.  AT 1 is reserved for special creatures like skeletons.   This makes wearing no armor far worse than before, and makes wearing ROBES a roleplaying decision, rather then a bad decision.

By far AT 2 is therefore the most common armor in my campaigns, in fact I would say it's exclusively AT 2.   Sometimes one might wear an AT 9 or 10.

[Fidoric]

I didn't think about that earlier, but it's brilliant. Giving everybody a default AT2 is really a good motivation to get some ranks in armor. I like that. However, is it not a little detrimential (I wonder if the word exist  ) for the warrior-monk ? He could still use his adrenal defense, but he is also more easily hit.

[Arioch]

I've done the same thing: to have AT1 you must be naked (or wearing only minimal clothings), if you are dressed the default AT is #2.
Monks are a little easier to hit, but AD still protects them well so don't worry: they're not going to become "underpowered" this way.

[mathhatt]

My ranger has an elven tunic that protects as AT 12. I like this one

But for any non-magic piece of armor, I like 14 or 18.

[munchy]

I agree with Ecthelion, AT 10 for most character, rangers, rogue to some extent, and a lot of the companion professions, really nice one. For fighter I also usually go for AT 18 which I prefer to AT 14 - can't really explain why.

[Fidoric]

Maybe fighters look better in plate armor 

[munchy]

Maybe fighters look better in plate armor 

Possible, actually quite possible. On the other hand, you usually see elves in chainmail or laen plate armour. I would say that it always depends on the style of character you are playing and it should. If a chain mail is better fitting the character concept, you should go for that instead of plate armour even if the protection is better. There is always a magical jerkin or a collar that protects as if the character wore AT 20 around in some treasure hoard.

[PiXeL01]

I agree with munchy on the armor choice for fighters depend on character concepts. I usually imaging light and highly maneuverable fighters wearing chain at max, while the heavy hard swinging types would be in plate.
Next fighter I make will be in chain (at 13 14), accompanied by a normal shield, broad sword and a light crossbow ...

[Dark Schneider]

For typical adventure AT18, good protection and moderate penalty, as you don't know what you need to do it is a good mix.

For channeling users, and thieves, rangers, etc. AT10. semi-spell users that develops 'trascend armor' can use AT14.

So, the base with greaves are the best IMO.