Armor System¶
Overview¶
The armor system in UO:X provides protection against physical damage and elemental attacks. Armor pieces can be crafted from various materials, each offering different levels of protection, durability, and stat requirements. The quality of craftsmanship and the materials used significantly impact an armor piece's effectiveness in combat.
Armor Types¶
UO:X features several distinct armor material types, each with unique characteristics:
Material Categories¶
| Material Type | Base Protection | Meditation Allowance | Typical Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloth | Minimal | Full | Very Light |
| Leather | Light | Full | Light |
| Studded Leather | Light-Medium | Half | Medium |
| Bone | Medium | None | Medium |
| Ringmail | Medium | None | Heavy |
| Chainmail | Medium-Heavy | None | Heavy |
| Plate | Heavy | None | Very Heavy |
Meditation Restrictions¶
- Full Meditation: Leather armor allows unrestricted meditation
- Half Meditation: Studded leather reduces meditation effectiveness by half
- No Meditation: Metal and bone armors prevent meditation entirely
Armor Rating Calculation¶
Your total armor protection is determined by several factors:
Base Armor Rating¶
Each armor piece has a base armor rating that varies by type:
| Armor Type | Base AR (Chest) |
|---|---|
| Leather | 13 |
| Studded | 16 |
| Ringmail | 22 |
| Chainmail | 28 |
| Bone | 30 |
| Plate | 40 |
Quality Bonuses¶
The quality of craftsmanship affects armor rating:
- Regular Quality: No bonus
- Exceptional Quality: +8 AR bonus
Protection Levels¶
Magical protection enchantments add significant bonuses:
| Protection Level | AR Bonus |
|---|---|
| Defense | +6 |
| Guarding | +11 |
| Hardening | +16 |
| Fortification | +21 |
| Invulnerability | +26 |
Note: Protection levels add +10 base AR plus +5 per level on this server.
Material Bonuses¶
Colored metals and special leathers provide additional armor rating:
Metal Armor Bonuses¶
| Material | AR Bonus |
|---|---|
| Dull Copper | +2 |
| Shadow Iron | +4 |
| Copper | +6 |
| Bronze | +8 |
| Gold | +10 |
| Agapite | +12 |
| Verite | +14 |
| Valorite | +16 |
Leather Armor Bonuses¶
| Material | AR Bonus |
|---|---|
| Spined Leather | +10 |
| Horned Leather | +13 |
| Barbed Leather | +16 |
Armor Scaling by Body Location¶
Different body locations provide varying levels of protection based on coverage:
| Body Location | Protection Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Gorget (Neck) | 7% |
| Gloves | 7% |
| Arms | 14% |
| Helmet | 15% |
| Legs | 22% |
| Chest | 35% |
| Shield | 7% |
Damage Absorption¶
When you take damage, your armor absorbs a portion based on your scaled armor rating:
- Absorption Range: 50% to 100% of your scaled armor rating
- Example: With 50 scaled AR, you'll absorb between 25-50 damage per hit
- The actual absorption is random within this range
Durability System¶
Hit Points¶
All armor has durability measured in hit points:
- Initial Durability: Randomly assigned when created (varies by armor type)
- Current/Max Display: Shows as "Durability X / Y" in item properties
Durability Levels¶
Magical durability enchantments increase maximum hit points:
| Durability Level | HP Bonus |
|---|---|
| Durable | +20% |
| Substantial | +50% |
| Massive | +70% |
| Fortified | +100% |
| Indestructible | +120% |
Exceptional quality adds an additional +20% to maximum durability.
Durability Loss¶
Armor takes damage when you're hit in combat:
- 25% chance per hit to lose durability
- Bashing weapons cause more durability damage (based on damage absorbed)
- Other weapons cause 0-1 durability loss per hit
- When current HP reaches 0, the armor continues to function but loses max HP
- Armor is destroyed when max HP reaches 0
Example Durability Ranges¶
| Armor Type | Min HP | Max HP |
|---|---|---|
| Leather Chest | 30 | 40 |
| Studded Chest | 35 | 45 |
| Ringmail Chest | 40 | 50 |
| Chainmail Chest | 45 | 60 |
| Bone Chest | 25 | 30 |
| Plate Chest | 50 | 65 |
Stat Requirements and Bonuses¶
Strength Requirements¶
Each armor type requires minimum strength to equip:
| Armor Type | Strength Required |
|---|---|
| Leather | 15 |
| Studded | 35 |
| Ringmail | 20 |
| Chainmail | 20 |
| Bone | 40 |
| Plate | 60 |
Dexterity Penalties¶
Heavier armors impose dexterity penalties:
| Armor Type | Dexterity Penalty |
|---|---|
| Leather | 0 |
| Studded | 0 |
| Ringmail | -2 |
| Chainmail | -5 |
| Bone | -6 |
| Plate | -8 |
Important: These penalties reduce your effective dexterity while wearing the armor.
Elemental Resistances¶
Each armor type provides base resistance to different damage types:
Plate Armor Resistances¶
| Resistance Type | Base Value |
|---|---|
| Physical | 5% |
| Fire | 3% |
| Cold | 2% |
| Poison | 3% |
| Energy | 2% |
Chainmail Resistances¶
| Resistance Type | Base Value |
|---|---|
| Physical | 4% |
| Fire | 4% |
| Cold | 4% |
| Poison | 1% |
| Energy | 2% |
Leather Resistances¶
| Resistance Type | Base Value |
|---|---|
| Physical | 2% |
| Fire | 4% |
| Cold | 3% |
| Poison | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
Studded Leather Resistances¶
| Resistance Type | Base Value |
|---|---|
| Physical | 2% |
| Fire | 4% |
| Cold | 3% |
| Poison | 3% |
| Energy | 4% |
Ringmail Resistances¶
| Resistance Type | Base Value |
|---|---|
| Physical | 3% |
| Fire | 3% |
| Cold | 1% |
| Poison | 5% |
| Energy | 3% |
Bone Armor Resistances¶
| Resistance Type | Base Value |
|---|---|
| Physical | 3% |
| Fire | 3% |
| Cold | 4% |
| Poison | 2% |
| Energy | 4% |
Additional Resistance Bonuses¶
- Protection Levels: Add +1 to +4 to all resistances based on enchantment level
- Colored Materials: Provide resistance bonuses specific to each material type
- Exceptional Crafting: May provide resistance bonuses when crafted exceptionally
Crafting Armor¶
Quality Levels¶
Crafted armor comes in three quality levels:
- Low Quality: Reduced effectiveness (rarely produced)
- Regular Quality: Standard armor with base statistics
- Exceptional Quality: +8 AR bonus, +20% durability, possible resistance bonuses
Crafter's Mark¶
Armor crafted by players can bear the crafter's name, indicating: - Who created the piece - Potential quality guarantee - Craftsmanship pride
Player-Constructed Benefits¶
Player-crafted armor: - Can be exceptional quality - May have enhanced durability - Shows crafter's name - Starts fully identified
Identification¶
Unidentified magical armor displays as "an unidentified [armor type]" and hides: - Durability level - Protection level - True magical properties
Use the Item Identification skill or an identification service to reveal these properties.
Combat Strategies¶
Choosing Armor Type¶
For Mages and Bards: - Use leather armor for full meditation - Prioritize mana regeneration over protection - Consider studded leather for slightly better protection with half meditation
For Warriors: - Plate armor provides maximum protection - Accept dexterity penalties for superior defense - Ensure sufficient strength to wear heavy armor
For Dexterity Builds: - Leather or studded leather maintains agility - Chainmail offers compromise between protection and mobility - Avoid plate armor's heavy dexterity penalty
Armor Maintenance¶
- Monitor Durability: Check armor condition regularly
- Carry Backups: Keep spare armor pieces for extended adventures
- Repair Early: Don't wait until armor is severely damaged
- Protect Valuable Pieces: Use less valuable armor for routine activities
Material Selection¶
For Maximum Protection: - Valorite plate armor (highest AR bonus) - Exceptional quality with Invulnerability enchantment - Accept high strength requirements and dexterity penalties
For Balanced Performance: - Bronze or Gold metal armor (moderate bonuses) - Horned leather for meditation-capable characters - Exceptional quality for durability
For Budget Builds: - Regular iron or regular leather - Focus on exceptional quality over material - Upgrade gradually as resources allow
Tips for Players¶
- Match Armor to Role: Mages need meditation, warriors need protection
- Check Requirements: Ensure you meet strength requirements before purchasing
- Consider Weight: Heavy armor affects stamina and movement
- Protect Your Investment: Expensive armor deserves careful use
- Layer Appropriately: Some armor pieces can be worn together, others conflict
- Repair Regularly: Damaged armor provides reduced protection
- Identify Before Use: Know what you're wearing in combat
- Plan for Penalties: Account for dexterity loss in your build
- Mix and Match: Different pieces can use different materials for optimization
- Store Safely: Keep valuable armor in secure locations when not in use
Armor Slots¶
Characters can wear armor on multiple body locations:
- Head: Helmets and other headwear
- Neck: Gorgets
- Chest: Chest armor (tunics, breastplates)
- Arms: Arm protection
- Hands: Gloves and gauntlets
- Legs: Leg armor (leggings, greaves)
- Shield: Held in hand for additional protection
Note: Some clothing slots conflict with armor slots. You cannot wear both a shirt and chest armor, for example.