Using Light Plate AND Masterwork Chain...

from Elemental Forums

I'm thinking of trying that out in my next custom game. My reasoning is that decent swords make an appearance much later than hammers. Usually, when I get to chainmail I see plenty of clubs/hammers but not many swords. At the same time, later on swords actually become pretty good, and Masterwork Chain makes sense.

 

Come to think of it, Ironeers really need some Super Plate as a racial ability.

 

Thoughts?

7,535 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Together they seem kind of strange thematically.  I believe, but might be wrong, they both have the same base defense, but Chain is lighter and bonuses against cutting instead of blunt.  Hmm.  It's not a bad thought process, but the only thing that comes to mind is who you are facing.  In late games against Gilden or Yithril, they tend to use troops with the Maul or one handed Maul, the Sledge.  But, you can produce more units that are strong against blunt earlier, even if they are not as strong as full plate...I think it would work fine, overall I think you will break even against blunt and be stronger against cutting attacks

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I do this for a lot of my custom factions. Because champion gear is essentially plate on crack anyways. If I want plate, I'd research that, if I want masterwork chain I'd research that. It gives you choice on what you want to end up with. If I mix the two, I get resist to both.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

This is something I have some trouble with as well as I have been attempting to balance the armor, and make more than one upgrade for it.  It doesn't make a lot of sense as the light plate is for all intensive purposes regular plate, then the plate would be a field plate, and the champions would be full plate.  Its a rough system in my opinion, to which I don't have a solid answer as whats the best way to attack the problem.

Basically I just think there needs to be a bigger spread of armors and then more upgrades.  We have a magic system but its barely touched for gear unlike E:WoM.  Meh just rambling while I ponder what to do.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Lord, reply 1
Together they seem kind of strange thematically...
End of Lord's quote

Absolutely. I'm looking at this strictly from a practical perspective.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Masterwork Chain is enough for me, usually putting it on custom factions. Champion's can tank up a few select knights and heroes if necessary. Cheaper, lighter, faster, defense through tactics. Clever positioning (spec. w/ mounted troops) combined with some decent healing can create almost immortal troops. Wellspring wellspring wellspring. Keeping units light enough to escape and move in healthier units to block the aggressor works for me fairly well. Abandoning my usual 'roman styled' approach to battles. That is using expendable units (or an arrow barrage, give me pilums damn it!) to go forth and die then bring in the big guns, who only get better since they live longer and attain more experience.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Yeah, the argument for light plate is less convincing than masterwork chain. It's a matter of preference really. I usually pick it because you get stuck with it for quite some time (the last armors are very late on the tree), so it's just better to have a more reliable set of armor in between (not as good against cutting, but better against the other 2 types). I also only use a couple of pieces of armor at a time (due to init penalties) so the weight isn't as much of a problem.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Kalin, reply 7
I also only use a couple of pieces of armor at a time (due to init penalties) so the weight isn't as much of a problem.
End of Kalin's quote

Play Capitar/Mancer, it's awfully lonely. You get pretty ponies who can load up on tones of gear!