"Weight of your armor encumbers your movement"

[Speusippus]

What does it mean exactly when the weight of my armor encumbers my movement?

I thought it meant you were slowed down, but I've got a piece of armor which gives me the "encumbers your movement" message when I put it on--but which doesn't slow me down. In fact, it speeds me up, because it adds two to my strength meaning my burden is now less, causing the "slow (-1)" message (that appears when I'm not wearing this armor) to disappear.

I figure there are at least two explanations:

1. I misunderstand what armor encumbrance does. (It doesn't seem to change any of my combat values, though, so I'm not sure what else it could do if not slow me down.)

2. This is a minor bug--it gives me the "encumbrance" message before checking to see whether I am in fact encumbered given the new strength added by the armor itself.

[Malak Darkhunter]

Do you ever notice the different armor types, the heavier the armor, the more you suffer a to-hit value on your attack. You will see something like
Bar Chain Mail [-3] (18+0). The -3 is a penalty to attack, due to your armor type. It dosen't really mean you suffer a movement penalty. So in your case you got stronger, allowing you to carry more of a burden, but you suffered a penalty to attack due to the Stiffness of the armor type. ie, you can't move as freely in heavy armor as you can with say leather armor. Note that armor encumberance also affects the amount of mana you have, so the lighter the armor the more mana you have.

[buzzkill]

It's a poorly worded message. "The sheer weight of your armour interferes with your ability to cast spells." would be better, and even that could use some improvement.

[Derakon]

Malak's not right here. The message refers solely to weight; if you had a lightweight armor that had a penalty to-hit (e.g. leather scale mail) then you wouldn't get the message.

When you get this message, the game is telling you that your maximum mana has been reduced. That's all. The mana penalty isn't usually significant at all (unless you're a really young mage who just found full plate armor), so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Malak Darkhunter]

Malak's not right here. The message refers solely to weight; if you had a lightweight armor that had a penalty to-hit (e.g. leather scale mail) then you wouldn't get the message.

When you get this message, the game is telling you that your maximum mana has been reduced. That's all. The mana penalty isn't usually significant at all (unless you're a really young mage who just found full plate armor), so I wouldn't worry about it.

Notice I said that it affects the amount of mana you have? Without knowing exactly what type of armor is being wore, I gave a general reason for it.

[Malak Darkhunter]

Malak's not right here. The message refers solely to weight; if you had a lightweight armor that had a penalty to-hit (e.g. leather scale mail) then you wouldn't get the message.

When you get this message, the game is telling you that your maximum mana has been reduced. That's all. The mana penalty isn't usually significant at all (unless you're a really young mage who just found full plate armor), so I wouldn't worry about it.

I have notice that it is pretty significant, I have seen my mana cut in half do to heavier armor types, and not full plate armor either.

[Speusippus]

It's metal brigandine armor of the rohirrim, and I can now confirm that yes, it's the mana points that are being affected.

In my case, luckily, it only reduces my total mana pool by a single point so I think I'll keep wearing it.

[Magnate]

It's metal brigandine armor of the rohirrim, and I can now confirm that yes, it's the mana points that are being affected.

In my case, luckily, it only reduces my total mana pool by a single point so I think I'll keep wearing it.

It's linear. Once you pass a certain threshold (which varies by class), each extra pound of armour costs you a mana point. Only affects mages, rogues, rangers.

[miyazaki]

It's linear. Once you pass a certain threshold (which varies by class), each extra pound of armour costs you a mana point. Only affects mages, rogues, rangers.

Does it affect fail rates for spells?

[Magnate]

Does it affect fail rates for spells?

No, just mana. Same goes for gloves - you lose mana (about 1/3 I think), but no effect on fail rates. You mage-casters have it easy ...

[stalza]

It's linear. Once you pass a certain threshold (which varies by class), each extra pound of armour costs you a mana point. Only affects mages, rogues, rangers.

It affects my paladin, so I'm guessing that it affects all spellcasters.

[Magnate]

It affects my paladin, so I'm guessing that it affects all spellcasters.

Ooops, my mistake. The gloves thing only affects those three, the armour weight limit does indeed affect all casters (though they don't all have the same limit).

[fyonn]

I have notice that it is pretty significant, I have seen my mana cut in half do to heavier armor types, and not full plate armor either.

ha! my clvl 26 half troll rogue just found a set of adamantite plate mail on the floor on dlvl 23 and it cut his SP from 23 to 1... made a few quid at the armoury though..

dave

[Netbrian]

Has removing this penalty altogether been considered at all? To a certain extent, it can contribute to the TMJ problem, and heavy armor is already underpowered. Honestly, if a mage is willing to put up with the weight and to-hit penalties, I say let them and don't punish them further.

[Magnate]

Has removing this penalty altogether been considered at all? To a certain extent, it can contribute to the TMJ problem, and heavy armor is already underpowered. Honestly, if a mage is willing to put up with the weight and to-hit penalties, I say let them and don't punish them further.

This is a very good point. I am planning to look at heavy armour at some point during 3.1.3's development, and I think it's worth considering this. My initial feeling is that I'd rather play about with the scale than remove the penalty altogether (i.e. allow mages to wear slightly more armour, but not unlimited), but it's definitely worth reviewing.

Thanks for the idea.