Wanted: Armor advice...

[Logic]

[See bottom for edit]

So, here's the rub...

Been away for some time because of work. Now my work days and hours are set in stone so I'm back, but so much has changed.

Level 50 ranger. Never took to bows (although I am a fletching master as a result) so months before I left I switched to THWs and I loved it. The armor I used since about level 30ish is 5x brig with somewhat critical padding (if I remember correctly) and it's served me well.

However, since my return, there's been ensorcelling, fusion, enhancing items, all that kind of thing. My training in armor use is about 55 ranks, and that's just where my extra points go when I get a level and train. I max thws, max perception, get one spell, and single train in CMs, dodging, PT, climb or swimming, FA & survival. Might have missed something, but you get the idea.

My question is this; for a ranger who uses THWs, what kind of an upgrade would benifit me most. I'm not sure if I should go up an armor sub group, go up an enchant, or go down an enchant in favor of an enhancive armor or fusion armor... ect...
I just don't know what would make for a good upgrade. Your insight and advice is appreciated.

EDIT: Looking for 5X-6X double chain, or augmented chain. Dont need anything fancy; I'm not very rich.

[Gelston]

Do you hunt in the open? I didn't see you list hiding, but either way... It is plausible for you to train up to 110 ranks of armor use and wear chain hauberk, which is what I'd do if I were a melee ranger anyways.

[Logic]

Ya I don't bother with hiding/ambushing. All out in the open. I'll post my skills/stats when I get home.

[Gelston]

Okay, cool. You'll want hauberk once you can get to 110 armor use. It provides a minimum spell hindrance (11%) and gives chain protection everywhere. Brig is good and all, but me personally, if I'm sitting out in the open, I want the strongest armor I can reasonably get.

[loxe]

many rangers opt for augmented chain (70) ranks and 9% spell hindrance and forgo the head protection of hauberk. I personally used a set of fgb up to about 50 and loved it, then i tried some unpadded 5x aug chain, and never looked back. currently in a set of 7x tier 3 aug chain forest armor with HCP.

[BriarFox]

Hauberk would be a great goal at 110 ranks, Gelston's right. In the meantime, find a decent set of double chain, which you can wear with 50 ranks, or bump things up to 70 and wear augmented chain. Throw some temp HDP on it from the Adventurer's Guild if you don't have anything better.

Edit: The spell hindrance is really the deciding factor between augmented chain and hauberk. I cast tons of spells and still prefer hauberk, but some people find the extra spell hindrance (11% vs. 9%) not to be worth the cost.

[Logic]

Nice! Like the feedback. So, losing the padding won't be too much of a big deal if I move to chain. Anyone have a chain shirt or aug chain for sale? I spose once I get the ranks up there is can supplement whatever I find with greaves (assuming the mechanics for adding greaves is the same).

[Daiyon]

Spell hindrance is what keeps me in lighter armor. I can wear full plate, but it still hinders my vanish and spellcasting. In the postcap era, you will almost never be hit, so the extra protection doesn't really get applied to your hunts anymore, but you will still get hindered on spells. I always consider the future when dealing with armor, especially if planning to upgrade it long term.