Ranger Armor?

[leifastagsweed]

So I'm looking to move up in the armor ranks and unsure which direction to go. I currently am wearing some 5x brig. Any advice on the next step?

[BriarFox]

50 ranks for double chain, then 70 for augmented, then 110 for hauberk.

[leifastagsweed]

Ok, thanks for the training tips, but I just mean generally, for a ranger, which one is a good choice? Do you mean topping out at the hauberk? Would there ever be a good reason for me to wear plate?

[Axhinde]

Your hindrance will jump a noticeable amount above brig, most don't go past augmented I imagine.

[FibGS4]

Augmented is probably the most common.

Heavy spell users tend to drop down to brigadine (or even doubles). More physical builds eventually land in hauberk.

[Drew]

Most rangers should end up in hauberk IMO, but augmented is ok. Just whenever you get killed by a headshot you'll regret it.

[leifastagsweed]

Yeah, I cast a lot so I hate the hindrance with the brig, but...I also hate dying.

[Drew]

Hindrance is 9% in augmented, 11 in hauberk. I prefer hauberk because it protects the 4 spots that cause the most death crits, head, neck, left and right eye better than augmented for a measly 2% failure rate.

[droit]

I cast a lot and the extra 2% hindrance in hauberk drove me nuts. I'm back down to augmented chain and much happier for it.

[Drazaan]

What your decision really comes down to is the additional hindrance (+2%) worth the extra protection (head, neck, and eyes) for wearing heavier armor between augment chain and hauberk. Minor factors at play are CvA differences and action penalty differences. Very minor differences we are talking here between augmented chain and hauberk. Being more exposed is worth the freedom of having a lower spell failure rate to some players.

It seems that there's more good suits of hauberk available than augmented chain and so that may come into play as well if you are looking for higher-end gear.

My plan right now is get 77 ranks of armor use so I can wear augmented chain and have the versatility of throwing on my brig when wanting less hindrance and receive over-training benefits for it.

[Tatetrick]

If I have a 8x very heavy crit padded chain shirt, and I wear it with vambraces, is there any disadvantage to this over having a 8x very heavy crit padded double chain?

Does the padding from the shirt extend to the vambraces?

[droit]

If I have a 8x very heavy crit padded chain shirt, and I wear it with vambraces, is there any disadvantage to this over having a 8x very heavy crit padded double chain?

Does the padding from the shirt extend to the vambraces?

Assuming the vambraces aren't padded or flared or anything like that (enhancives are fine), the armor padding will work as normal over your full body.

Wearing armor accessories basically gives you all the penalties of the higher AsG while providing only a few of the advantages. What you gain is the chain crit divisor on your arms, meaning it will take slightly more damage to achieve the same crit ranks when hit on your arm. Your AvD and CvA will remain at torso chain levels, if I remember correctly, but your spell hindrance and armor penalty will increase as if you were wearing double chain--and if you do not have the required armor use ranks for double chain, you may even see an RT increase.

Basically,all else being equal, it's always better to wear the proper AsG than it is to use accessories to achieve a pseudo-AsG. That being said, 8x VHCP armor is very hard to come by, and that's one of the few instances where using accessories is a wise choice.

[Drew]

If I have a 8x very heavy crit padded chain shirt, and I wear it with vambraces, is there any disadvantage to this over having a 8x very heavy crit padded double chain?

Does the padding from the shirt extend to the vambraces?


Yes it will. The disadvantage is that torso armour has TERRIBLE AvDs. It all depends on the weapon used but sometimes the difference between torso chain and hauberk can be like having minus 3 enchants when you factor in the AvD. The difference won't be as bad between torso and double chain but it's still like gimping yourself some DS on every swing.

If you look at the AvD differences: http://www.krakiipedia.org/wiki/Two-Handed_Weapons you'll see that torso loses essentially 4 DS to double. Also you will be slightly easier to hit with CS spells.


On top of all that I think torso chain is the hardest chain to sell, there is no class for which it is a natural fit. At least double chain sorta makes sense for some ranger archers (although there's no real good reason not to be in aug chain eventually).

[Tatetrick]

Thanks Droit! I really appreciate the clarity in your answer.

Is the AvD difference between a chain shirt and hauberk significant?

[droit]

About 12 points, so I'd say yes.

[Drakefang]

http://www.krakiipedia.org/wiki/AvD

Sheesh, nevermind. Droit is captain on the ball today. It's 12 points. However the above will show you the other armors you might be considering, as well. He boiled it down but you may want more info and that's pretty descriptive.

Here's a listing of all hindrances for all armor types. This should interest you some, as well. You have to find the balance that works for you. Hindrance versus protection. Generally, protection is better but there are many instances in this game where a good offense is better than a good defense. You may find it benefits you more to not miss a cast than the not die from some random head shot.

http://www.krakiipedia.org/wiki/Armor_hindrance

[Axhinde]

Plus, I think the crit padding is halved on accessories that aren't similarly padded. I could be wrong.

[Drakefang]

If they are completely unpadded, then you are incorrect. If they have any sort of padding, then you are correct.

HCP armor + unpadded accessory = HCP still all over.
HCP armor + SWDP accessory = HCP anywhere but the accessory location and SWCP (5) + FDP (3) where the accessory is.

[Axhinde]

Thanks for clearing that up.

[Tea & Strumpets]

I'd train for heavy armor, but wear FGB until you can afford the other armor types with heavy crit padding. Heavy crit padding is helpful for avoiding those annoying insta-deaths from maneuver attacks.

[leifastagsweed]

So I trained up to 50 ranks and got some 5x chain.

Failures messages read 42%.

WTF?

[Drew]

Is it double chain? If so you are wearing a helm of some sort and maybe leg greaves.

[leifastagsweed]

Is it double chain? If so you are wearing a helm of some sort and maybe leg greaves.

Yes and yes. I took off the helm and torc, and now much better.

Thanks again for the advice, guys!

[Ayamei]

Just read all of this, I have 60 ranks to use double chain. Do you need 50 or 60?

[Showal]

http://www.krakiipedia.org/wiki/Armor_Use

50 ranks.

[Buckwheet]

But 60 to train down the maneuver penalty. So I would stick with the 60.

[Ayamei]

So do rangers not have to worry about the manuever penalty, which it appears that you need 60 ranks to negate?

[Buckwheet]

With things like mobility they are much better at avoiding.

However, I believe the end game armor would be aug chain and hauberk.

So getting to 60 isn't going to hurt you much towards that goal.

[Ayamei]

I'm going to keep my 60 ranks for now. I'm really staying in doubles for RP reasons I guess. I wear an armor concealer, and I like the idea of my ranger wearing only a chain shirt that is hidden, and chain anything would make stalking hard, especially around your legs.

[Asha]

Doubles ftw. I try never to leave hiding though. I think it helps.